Well mastered Compact Disks

On those MFSL SACDs I alluded to: I note that your OP was referring to red-book, but that’s what my CD player was when I first tried them. The red-book layer sounded so good I bought a SA10 to see what I might be missing that was on SACD.

Ecm Bobo Stenson are my go to when i want to evaluate cables,ect.

Cantando

War orphans

Goodbye

Bono Stenson +1

I think the MFSL red-book of Eric Clapton/Slowhand and sounds quite good.  Another one I did NOT choose simply because it is a reissue of a  Moldy But Goody Blast From The Past--I chose it because the guitar work seems to float in the air and Clapton's vocals show the strain of the excesses he was indulging in during that period.  

Recently I played the live red-book Patty Larking/Agogo which was the first time I've listened to it since I upgraded my CD player and preamp.  I am not a musician, so I don't know the vocabulary to describe the sound of a guitarist hitting the strings, but it sounded right-up-front/in-my-face and I felt like I could almost feel air exuding out.  Which I realize is unrealistic, but it's the way I felt when I listened.

Many CDs on the GRP label are very well produced and recorded, one in particular is Dave Grusin's "Homage to Duke". Performers include Clark Terry on trumpet and "mumbles", Tom Scott, Eddie Daniels, Brian Bromberg, Harvey Mason. Unusually well recorded cymbals which is very rare to hear on CD along with great dynamics.