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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Who would laugh at Johnny Mathis? He is a great singer and has had an extraordinarily long and productive career.

BTW-I have read that as a collegian in 1954, he posted a high jump record of 6' 5-1/2" which was about 2 inches short of the then existing Olympic record.

He was often referred to as "the best all-around athlete to come out of the San Francisco Bay Area." How's that for the singer of "Chances Are"!
Rebecca Pidgeon, The Raven. Bought this a few years ago and listened to it once. It was recorded in 1994 and was transferred to SACD hybrid by Chesky a few years ago. When I purchased my SACD player about six weeks ago, I listened to it as it was the only SACD I owned. What a revelation! Finest sound I have ever heard including all of my vinyl. It sounds sensational in CD Redbook also. Wendy's Style Shop, cut 10 is my favorite. I listen to it over and over just to hear the sound quality. My family is going to have me committed pretty soon. Spanish Harlem is good too but a little too much reverberation. For the first time I have heard drums sound like real drums. The are other great songs on this recording also.

Another great recording is Allison Krauss and Union Station Live. New Favorite is my favorite cut. Holographic sound.
Shaver - Tramp on Your Street
Ten Years After - A Space in Time
Danny Gatton - Cruisin' Dueces
Brian Auger - Closer to It
Willie Nelson - Across the Borderline
Audience - House on the Hill
All the Lyle Lovett recordings I've heard sound great. One of my favorite show-off tracks is Penguins from I Love Everybody.

Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley.

Keith Jarrett playing Handel's Suites for Piano.

Steely Dan, Two Against Nature

John Scofield, A Go Go
For those of you who appreciate solid drums and funky bass...
Chili Peppers "Funky Monks" & "Walkabout"

and if you really like bass you've got to hear
Travis Larson Band "Georgia on my Mind" w/phenom bassist Victor Wooten (It's on iTunes I believe)