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Best song for immediate impact when presenting or testing?

I, as most of you, have my regular tunes that I play or listen to when trying out a new system or playing music for friends. My current starter is 'Feels like Rain' by Aaron Neville. It engages me immediately because I love it so, but it is also very well recorded and has a bass voice doing backup which in the right system has a real visceral impact.

I was at an Audio shop recently, listening to my standards, and wanted to show the sales consultant a piece that he might not have heard. I played 'Golden Rust' off the Miles Gurtu album. After about 30 seconds, he pulled out his device and added the song to his favorites. I asked why did he add so quickly, and he said that the opening electronica had a three dimensional stereophonic quality that made a remarkable impression right off the bat. I paraphrase lightly; that was his comment.

What pieces do you play of any genre that have an immediate impact, especially for people listening to a good system for the first time?
128x128cmjones
rabco
49 posts
 
For listeners that enjoy vocals, especially female vocals: "Bells and Roses", "If I Were a Man", or anything else really on Roseanne Cash's 10 Song Demo album. This audition made a wife of a buddy insist he upgrade his gear in several ways I suggested.

Somewhat more tawdry: "Free Me" off Joss Stone's album Colour Me Free.

OK, tawdry-er yet, Lou Reed performing "Sweet Jane" on the Live on Letterman: Music From The Late Show.

And, for flat out out crazy, ignite a party, turn it up tawdry-ness, "Snow Bunny" by Bootsy Collins off of his World Wide Funk disc.

Or, whatever they want to hear... ;-)

rcronk
52 posts
 
Qui, Qui and more Qui.  More sound in a groove than a full orchestra and you can hear every single sound.  
sejodiren's avatar
sejodiren
192 posts
 
Anything from the extensive 'Plasmatics' catalog......;-)
callglobalbob
8 posts
 
Frank Sinatra "Live at the Sands", "One for my Baby".
I appreciate the 3 dimensional clinking off the champagne glasses when the song is recognized and the buss boy cleaning off the bar.

jobman
3 posts
 
A few from my test CD's

New Years Eve on the Waterfront - Peter Schneider and the Stimulators
Temple Caves- Micky Hart, Planet Drum
Beat Hotel - Allen Taylor
A Perfect Moment - Art Garfunkel
Gravity - Jesse Cook

Always fun to learn about new music!
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