"best" version for "Toccata and Fugue D minor?

I realize that you asked about redbook CD recordings, but for the benefit of others, I'll mention two LP's and one SACD that feature good versions of the "D-Minor".

I'm partial to these versions of the "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor":
1. "Magnum Opus", an LP released by Wilson Audio in the 1980's and featuring the Flentrop organ in St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle (n longer in print, but well worth owning if you find a good used copy);
2. a direct-to-disk LP by CrystalClear featuring Virgil Fox playing the organ in the "Crystal Cathedral" (Garden Grove Community Church in Los Angeles. (This was re-released on an inferior CD version on the budget LaserLight label. For more info, click on this link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001VNE/103-7419193-2295801?v=glance)
3. Sony Classical SACD re-issue of E. Power Biggs playing the 4 antiphonal organs in the Cathedral of Freiburg. This SACD has great sound and very good performances of Bach's great Toccatas and Fugues, including the "D-Minor". On a good surround system, the sound is IMPRESSIVE.

SD, the Fox recording is the one I was speaking of, and was released, I believe on the Bainbridge label, as The Digital Fox. Sound was never that great, even on the vinyl, as the organ seems quite close-miked and accordingly dry, but you're right, the digital version is not nearly as good as the vinyl.

I know you asked for CD but there is an LP version that really should be heard. E> Power Biggs has been mentioned, one particular album set he put out has him doing an organ tour of Germany and Holland, playing on organs built by APR SCHNITGER(1648-1719) organs Bach himself might have played on. The sound is quite different from modern organs, lighter, airier, higher, if you can get a hold of it and have it transferred to CD you will be quite amazed. I know I was. It is on Columbia Stereo M2S 697 or Mono M2L 297.
Sorry for the digression but it should be heard to hear what Bach wrote/composed as he would have heard it.

I have many, many recordings of this as an organist myself. The M. Murray listed above is the first that comes to mind for power and slam (great reeds, and the low D pedal entrance has the most oomph of any recording I've heard) though I agree that his performances can be somewhat boring - he does this piece OK though. The Bigg's Freiburg is my favorite though, just because it's really cool (especially if you have the 5 channel SACD version and the system to play it on) and Biggs is great. If recording quality is not an issue, hear it on the largest organ of all time, available on the Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society website, though the recording was made in the 30's or 40's (though it's still pretty good).

RCPrince: The Bainbridge LP was a re-issue of the original CrystalClear direct-to-disk. I have several copies of the D-to-D version, and have also heard the Bainbridge edition, and the original CrystalClear D-to-D LP is far superior.

There is one other version of the "D-Minor" that I also like. The CD is "One of a Kind - The Music of JSB", played by William Porter, and released on the Loft Recordings label (LRCD 1025). The organ is a new instrument built for Pacific Lutheran University (located in Tacoma, WA) by Paul Fritts & Company. Fritts builds organs in the northern German tradition, and the PLU organ -- while not a large instrument (54 stops and 80 ranks) -- has a very clear tone in a hall with a 3-4 second delay time. Porter uses very expressive old fingering practices and simple registrations, which makes his playing immediate and articulate. The CD was recorded in 24-bit digital. For more info, here's the link: http://www.gothicrecords.com/

For serious organ enthusiasts, take a look at the catalog of organ recordings available through the Organ Historical Society: http://www.organsociety.org/
Of particular interest is their re-release of the 3 Dorian recordings by Jean Guillou, priced at $17 for all 3 CD's. Here's the link: www.ohscatalog.com/guorspon3cds.html