The majority of my listening is to classical music. In doing evaluations, tweaks, adjustments, etc. I generally focus on some of my best sounding recordings, but like Roxy54 I also usually assess a few mediocre to poor sounding recordings, often 1960's rock, pop, or folk.
Following are some of the best sounding recordings, that I use frequently. Unfortunately many are out of print, but may still be findable.
Dvorak "New World Symphony," Horenstein/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chesky CD31 (CD).
Beethoven "Waldstein" Sonata, Paul Badura-Skoda playing an 1815 Hammerflügel, Astree AS73 (LP)
Beethoven, Sonata for Violin and Piano Op. 96, Abel/Steinberg, Wilson Audio W-8315 (LP)
Chopin, Piano Sonata No. 3, Hyperion Knight, Wilson Audio WCD-9129 (CD)
"Images Galantes de la Renaissance," Polyphonia Antiqua, Pierre Verany PV 4791 (LP)
"Danses Anciennes de Hongrie," Clemencic Consort, Harmonia Mundi France HM1003 (LP)
Others that range from excellent to poor sonically but are often useful:
"A Dorian Portrait" (sampler of tracks from the Dorian classical catalog) (DOR 90004) (CD)
Giacomo Puccini, "Greatest Hits," CBS MLK-45809 (especially the arias sung by Dame Kiri te Kanawa) (CD)
"Silver Linings, songs by Jerome Kern," Joan Morris (mezzo-soprano) and William Bolcom (piano), Arabesque Z6515 (CD)
The Seekers, EMI Recordings 1964-1968 (4 CD Set)
"Projections," The Blues Project, Verve Folkways FTS/FT-3008 (LP); also contained in "The Blues Project Anthology," Chronicles/Polydor 31452-9758-2 (2 CD Set)
Regards,
-- Al
Following are some of the best sounding recordings, that I use frequently. Unfortunately many are out of print, but may still be findable.
Dvorak "New World Symphony," Horenstein/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chesky CD31 (CD).
Beethoven "Waldstein" Sonata, Paul Badura-Skoda playing an 1815 Hammerflügel, Astree AS73 (LP)
Beethoven, Sonata for Violin and Piano Op. 96, Abel/Steinberg, Wilson Audio W-8315 (LP)
Chopin, Piano Sonata No. 3, Hyperion Knight, Wilson Audio WCD-9129 (CD)
"Images Galantes de la Renaissance," Polyphonia Antiqua, Pierre Verany PV 4791 (LP)
"Danses Anciennes de Hongrie," Clemencic Consort, Harmonia Mundi France HM1003 (LP)
Others that range from excellent to poor sonically but are often useful:
"A Dorian Portrait" (sampler of tracks from the Dorian classical catalog) (DOR 90004) (CD)
Giacomo Puccini, "Greatest Hits," CBS MLK-45809 (especially the arias sung by Dame Kiri te Kanawa) (CD)
"Silver Linings, songs by Jerome Kern," Joan Morris (mezzo-soprano) and William Bolcom (piano), Arabesque Z6515 (CD)
The Seekers, EMI Recordings 1964-1968 (4 CD Set)
"Projections," The Blues Project, Verve Folkways FTS/FT-3008 (LP); also contained in "The Blues Project Anthology," Chronicles/Polydor 31452-9758-2 (2 CD Set)
Regards,
-- Al