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
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Not in order, all on vinyl:
Eric Clapton & BB King, Riding With the King
Issac Stern & Zubin Metha, Brahms Violin Conc.
Glen Gould, Goldberg Variations, Bach
Stevie Ray Vaughn, Couldn't Stand the Weather
Mike Bloomfield & Al Kooper, Super Session
Eric Clapton: "Unplugged". I get a sense of the sound bouncing off of the auditorium walls, with spaciousness, and he sounds very warm. Guitar strings are crisp, and leave the speaker, coming out boldly into the room. Very warm, and very 3 dimensional. Also very upbeat, and musical. His vocal presence is very good, yet with excellent separation. Images are very well defined, with good texture, yet not too strong. Very good placement. I really like the piano also. The pacing is adds to the overall musicality, and I have found this to be 1 of 2 of my favorite cd's.
I have a record titled "Sugarloaf Express" released by JVC. It is a direct to disk record and was purchased around 1980. It has Lee Ritenour, Patrice Rushen, Abraham Laboriel, Dave Grusin, and Harvey Mason. Good music and fantastic sound. I've never seen another like it; pity it has one audible scratch on side A. That was courtesy of a college party....
al stewart the last days of the century
elp trilogy
dire straits on every street
everything by peter white
1. Grateful Dead, American Beauty. Classic. Will change your perspective. Top of my list for over 25 years.
2. Billy Joe Shaver, Gypsy Boy. (Vinyl) Dark, haunting... takes you to a different place.
3. Kris Kristofferson, Silver Tongued Devil. You either hear it or you don't. If you do, you'll never let it go.
4. Louis Armstrong, Verve. Compilation of his more soulful sessions. Simply Wonderful.
5. Guy Clark, Old Friends. Emotionally draining, accoustically captivating.