Songs you use when auditioning gear


What are some of your favorite songs to play when auditioning gear?  I often listen to Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.  Just about anything off of Gaucho or Aja by Steely Dan or Joni Mitchell’s Hejira or Hissing of Summer Lawns usually gets spun up too.  Dreams, in particular, is such a great song and is recorded with the balance I really like as well as a full and wide soundstage.  Wondering what some of yours are to see what I’m missing.

128x128jastralfu

I haven't auditioned gear for quite a while, but if I was going to I'd probably use the Cowboy Junkies cover of Sweet Jane off the Analogue Productions SACD.  I have a couple of Patricia Barber Cafe Blue SACDs and I'd probably use assorted tracks from one of them.

Dorati 1812 Overture on Mercury Living Presence especially the final movement where all heck breaks out. 

Jerry Mulligan - Dragon Fly - track two - Brother Blues

Tom Scott - Smokin Section - track 5 - Ode to Billie Joe (yes that song)

Miles Davis - In a Silent Way - Side 1

Al Di Meola - The Infinite Desire - Track 6 - Invention of The Monsters and Track 10 - Race With The Devil on Turkish Highway

These tracks will show everything a system has to offer. IMHO