Test music for new gear

Great list. I always bring with me a variety of artists in decent to not so very well recorded CDs. Then if the system plays the not so well recorded CDs well, then you know you've got some great gear. I always bring Joni Mitchell music to hear how well the equipment reproduces lovely soprano voice and how well it brings out her piano. "For the Roses" is an acoustic excellent (more acoustic) test CD for that. Earlier Beatles recordings with minimal bass are also good test CDs. Another important test is how well the system reproduces drum slam. So my short list off the bat would be:

For the Roses, Court & Spark (various cuts)- Joni Mitchell

Anticipation - Carly Simon (great test for drum slam)

Penny Lane - Beatles (Paul's bass is most prominent)

These Days - Jackson Browne (acoustic guitar licks and great vocal harmonies, piano; how well does the gear separate all of these instruments and vocals)?

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture - How well the gear handles the cannons and the brass winds too?

Chain Reaction - The Crusaders

Again, how well equipment reproduces the acoustic piano is always an effective test. I had read that years ago.

Toni Braxton...yeah that's good stuff.

If you want a new bass track, allow me to suggest Ozark Mountain Railroad from Deep in the Blues by James Cotton with Joe Lewis Walker & Charlie Haden.
Overall, one damn fine blues cd featuring great harmonica.

I hate to dredge up an old thread but this is just the discussion I was looking for. I was interested to see a concise list of others' test material. Hopefully others will find it interesting as well.

I'd simply like to add to the list R.E.M. - Belong. Its a great song for treble extension, imaging clarity, midrange accuracy, tight bass, (fairly) deep bass, and dynamics. If you don't know it, give it a listen. If you do know it, i think you'll agree with me.

Rob Z.

A superb recording for really everything imo is Kieth Richards' 'Talk Is Cheap'. Also Dylan's 'Oh Mercy' and 'UTRS'. Throw in Roger Waters' 'Radio Kaos', 'Pro's and Cons', and 'Final Cut'.

Go to Soundstage.com/referencediscs to see what Soundstage! writers use and why they do.

Csontos, I suspect your record/CD collection has a lot in common with mine. Based on your musical recommendations over the past months. Main Offender is also great, as I am sure you know well.

The Stones' 'Voodoo Lounge' is probably as good as it gets, especially for testing since imo, Mic's compilation sucks. The only two cuts I listen to on that one are Kieth's.

Now I know we are brothers separated at birth! I have argued with all my friends about Voodoo lounge, feel it to be one of their very best records.

My reference;

Jamie Cullum - twentysomething (2004).

I like Voodoo Lounge as well.

Man, I need to get Voodoo Lounge now.

Thanks.