CDs with heavy, fast bass and/or long drum solos

If you feel like testing the limit of the woofer, I'd highly recommend Tchaikovsky 1812. Telarc issued SACD with Erich Kunzel and Cincinatti Pops has thunderous cannon fires that will stress test the power amps and woofers.

Careful with that one! :)

When it was initially released, on LP in the early 1980's iirc, you could literally see where the cannon shots occurred by looking at the record, from even a foot or two away. On some of the shots the grooves made nearly a 90 degree angle, and the record was untrackable on many and perhaps most systems.

Reviewer comments abounded cautioning people that if they didn't keep the volume down they risked blowing up their speakers, and perhaps the amp as well. There is not only enormous low frequency energy, but enormous high frequency energy as well, during the initial "crack" of the cannon shots.

I think they may have ultimately remastered it and tamed it somewhat.

Regards,
-- Al

Al,

Yes careful is the word. Sony/Philips/Telarc have demoed their SACD's at Audio Engineering Society conventions a few times but only on what is pretty much a full fledged main monitor studio system (capable of continuous 121 db SPL with a good 10 db of headroom). The dynamics are not for the faint of heart.

That disc should have a warning on it!

A lot of good music was released in 1982 to 1984 that has these characteristics. Shadorne mentions Frankie. Second that. I also like the remixes done for Bruce Springsteen in 1984 for "Born in the USA" by Arthur Baker. Also, the 1982 dance mixes of the Clash, including "This is Radio Clash". These have been placed on many of their compilations. Great drums can also be found on Joni Mitchel's "Dreamland" and I love the rhythm section of Midnight Oil on their remixes of the "Power and the Passion".

Thinking about that period of the 80's - and yes Radio Clash on pirate satellite was AWESOME.

I've been thinking about you - London Beat (great bass riff)
Slave to the Rhythm (Hot Blooded Mix) - Grace Jones
Situation - Yaz

If you can get HIBIAS records "Old School Nation" series or look up Grand Twelve Inches by Ben Liebrand then you will find many good extended mixes that have preserved the amazing dynamics that you used to get on the old 12" 45 RPM singles that were prized by me and everyone else during that period.

Good Times - Chic
Super Freak - Rick James
We are family - Sister Sledge
She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult

...but you HAVE to find the 12" remixes - as THESE are the ones with the proper dynamics...remember the albums were often compressed to fit on a 33...

Check out HIBIAS records is a small outfit in Canada dedicated to dance club stuff (they process the bass on old 12" singles and give it a fantastic sound) - so you get the proper dynamics for professional quality systems at night clubs and not the reduced/compressed versions designed to play on ordinary consumer stereos or in a car or on radio...

the great jazz trio-at the village vanguard. tony williams drum kit should take your head off, and give the speakers a workout.