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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
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!
dave1980
70 posts
 
1. Gino Vanelli’s Powerful People 1974
2. I second Take Five, Dave Brubeck
3. Chuck Mangione’s Children of Sanchez 1978
4. The Feeling of Jazz by Dianne Reeves with Wynton Marsalis

My first choice ( a “GREAT” prentation track chosen then by the store) Im a senior in HS and listen to this in North Miami Beach at the very first Sound Advice store (now long gone high-end chain started with drug money). Saved up and bought my first pair of Infinity’s. Gino still has an amazing voice! The entire album “POWERFUL PEOPLE” is stellar. 

# 2 A top 5 all-time jazz hit 

# 4 last year in Tampa Florida “made me” buy new speakers replacing B&W N802’s with Paradigm Persona 7F’s. A Very good digital presentation track listen to it and you can understand the store using it as a great demo track.

# 3 the percussion and Chuck’s flugelhorn are terrific!

Happy listening to all, looking forward to everyone’s responses..
Dave

larry5729's avatar
larry5729
1,008 posts
 
Haelos Full Circle Album:  Pray
                                           Dust
                                            Earth Not Above

NOTE:  People are surprise by such an undiscovered group from the UK

Beck Albumn:  Heart is a Drum
                         Morning
NOTE:  Heard this plenty at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest

London Grammar:  Hey Now

Weltentraum Live Albumn by Michael Wollny
Little Person

NOTE:  Best demo for bass extension you will ever hear

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mastercraft1990
19 posts
 
Billie Jean. Winterplay
Tin Pan Alley. SRV
Jack of Speed. Steely Dan
Melody. Stones
Weird Fishes. Radiohead
These are more of a list of speaker test songs. They will definitely show you how the different styles sound but they won’t really blow your hair back. 
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