what are the "must have" CD's


For years, I've invested in quality sound equipment and have a small collection of CD's of different types.....but I realize that there are problaby some "must have" CD's that really show just how good (or bad) a system really is. This isn't a quest for who your favorite female singer is...or what orchestra you like the best....I'm really after sonic quality and sonic range (gotta show off the sub and boomy rock probably isn't the best way to do it).

I'm open to suggestions in most any musical category...the only qualification is that the CD has to be readily available and not some collector's item.

If there is already a list somewhere..please point me to it....or post your suggestions.
ghstudio
ZZ top's Greatest Hits Cd has a lot of tracks with very low bass that can really rattle a room. Also Via Las Vegas has some nifty sonics contained within it.

Big bandfs come to mind as well, and the one's I like to play for people are:
Illinois Jacquette "Jacquetes Got It"
Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band "Swingin' for the Fences" & "XXL"
Johnny Nocturne Band "Million Dollar Secret"

Larry Carlton's "Sapphire Blue" is a killer front to back.

Milt Jackson's "burning in the Woodshed" is super and his vibraphone never sounded better amidst his bands covers of some pop & jazz standards.

Santana also puts out some great low end noise on both "Supernatrual" & "Shaman".

Fourplay's "heartfelt" will show off your rig top to bottom with Bob James' & Larry Carlton renditions of jazz on acid.

Quincy Jones' "Q's Jook Joint" runs the gamut of RB soul and is a lot of fun cover to cover containing and exhibiting all those audiophile traits one wants to have on tap... imaging, pace, extension, noise floor, etc., as do most of those named above.
For classical, the RCA Living Stereo hybrid SACDs are good to collect. Vibrant recordings from the Golden Age of Stereo and good to great performances.
Sid42,

I cannot believe you mentioned that Thom Rhotella CD and that cut. Twenty years ago when I got back into high-end audio, I went to a dealer in Phoenix and they were playing that cut on that CD through their best system. I bought the CD immediately and used it back then when auditioning equipment and testing bass and dynamics and it always brings back fond memories.

Every few years I pull it out and play that track (and track #7) thinking it will have lost its magic and I'll realize I am glorifying an old fond memory and every time I am wrong - IT STILL ROCKS!!!!!

Thanks, as soon as I hit the "send" button, I am gonna go pull the CD out and see how it sounds through my Rockports!!!
Here is a short list of what seems to make my system shine :

Steely Dan - Aja (remastered),
Supertramp - Crime of the Century (remastered)
Widespread Panic - Another Joyous Occasion
Steve Earl - Train a Comin
Nora Jones - Come Away With Me
Eagles - The Long Run
George Benson - Anthology
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
U2 - The Joshua Tree (remasterd/expanded)
Pink Floyd - The Wall