2. music
  3. 979524991

Audiogon "RECORDINGS TO DIE FOR" list

I've been listening to some of my favorite recordings this weekend and was wondering what others on Audiogon felt were there favorites. We have all seen the Stereophile "Records to Die For", The Absolute Sounds recommended list, Music Directs' list, The Golden Ear, etc. now I'm hoping to assemble the Audiogon "Recordings To Die For". Please list your five favorite recordings, the ones you listen to over and over or play for friends. I would assume the sonic quality is excellent in that this is an audiophile site. The performance and enjoy ability should also be excellent. Please leave your top five, even if they are already chosen so we can discover the very top for the Audiogon listeners. ALSO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CRITICIZING OTHERS OPINIONS AND JUST LEAVE YOUR FAVORITES!

August 2002: I have compiled a summary and a full printer-friendly list of all of the recommendations below.
click here to view summary
128x128jadem6
jadem6's avatar
jadem6 OP
1,074 posts
 
I guess I should start with my own top five.
1)Miles Davis, "Kind of Blue" remastered at the correct speed from the back-up tapes.
2)"Natures Realm", The Philadelphia Orchestra, Water Lily Acoustics.
3)Patricia Barber, "Cafe Blue", Re-mastered by First Impression Records, gold cd or vinyl.
4)Janis Ian, "Breaking Silence", gold cd
5)Cowboy Junkies,"Trinity Session", gold cd
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Jadem6; nice thread, but I seldom buy "audiophile" CDs, yet what I like sounds good on my system. No particular order:
(1) Cowboy Junkies "Waltz Across America"
(2) CCR "Bayou Country"; new remaster w/JVC 20bit K2 system
(3) Enigma "Cross of Changes"
(4) Melissa Etheridge, "Brave and Crazy"
(5) "Strike A Deep Chord" sub-title, "Blues for the Homeless, Various Artists. Only five is tough! Cheers. Craig
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I also do not buy CDs just because they sound good. The only CD to die for I can think of was 8 years ago. A CD reissue of an older 1973 recording Decca only released in Europe, and not on their US London label. It was Mozart piano concerto #20 and #27; Clifford Curzon pianist; English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Britten (yes, the composer). This was before eMail, so I wrote to a British friend in London, who hunted around for a copy and mailed it to me in the States. It may now be available in the US, but I am not sure. It may be under the Great Pianists of the 20th Century label or the Decca/London Masters Label. This recording should be in the collection of all who love Mozart's piano works.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Appears it is not available. But if you do not have a friend in Europe, then the other Clifford Curzon recordings with other conductors is still worth your hard earned music dollar. Curzon's Schubert Trout Quintet with the Amadeus Quartet is still my favorite even thought it was recorded in the late 1950s.
cogito
27 posts
 
1. J.S. Bach Unaccompanied Violin Sonantas and Partitas performed by Arthur Grumiaux (though I think overproduced, Itzhak Perlman's may have better texture, sound-wise, and be more liberal emotionally and in interpretation; regardless, a superb recording and performance)
2. J.S. Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites performed by Mischa Maisky (darker and slower than Rostropovich's)
3. Marhler 9th conducted by Bruno Walter (1961 version) (Or, Otto Klemperer's reading -- a tough choice)
4. Bruckner 9th conducted by Bruno Walter.
5. Shostakovich 10th conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky, live (Phillips) (Karajan's readings on 10th -- recorded it twice -- are as superb).
More to discover