Top 3 songs to evaluate a system


Hi everyone,

So here is the question: what are your Top 3 music pieces to evaluate a system?

The songs should be complementary to cover a wider range of features, but not necessary. If you only listen to one type of music, it would make sense to only evaluate with this type.

Bonus: identify one good part of the piece where you pay extra attention because this is where the difference between systems is more visible.

I'll start:

Holly Cole Trio - Girl Talk - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Highlight: The vibrating cord at 1:59

MaMuse - All The Way - Glorious
Highlight - The clean guitar and the high drum beat that rythm the whole piece

Metallica - ... And Justice for All (Remastered) - One
Highlight - The first drums at 0:53, but the whole guitar as well


Doing this myself, I realize it's very hard to only pick 3!!

papyneau
No one here familiar with

Terry Evans - Blues for Thought ?

Rickie Lee Jones - S/T Still a fantastic recording very hard to get right.

Michael Bublé - Meets Madison Square Garden. If you can crank this to 12 and it still sounds real, full and balanced - you´re there!

Sinatra - Las Vegas live recordings. Same as Bublé.
Capricio Italian, The London Symphony, w/Kenneth Alwyn
1812 Overture, same as above, flip side
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms, any one
And when you're there...Exile on Main Street is a great great record.
Especially the deluxe remasters with alternative takes
- Gordon Lightfoot: "Me And Bobby McGee". This recording stopped Bill Johnson in his tracks when Walter Davies (Last Record Preservative products) played it for him and I. Bottleneck guitar by Ry Cooder.

- David Lindley: "Mercury Blues".

- Stevie Wonder: "Superstition".

- T Bone Burnett: "Driving Wheel".

- Holst "The Planets"; Sir Adrian Boult conducting The New Philharmonia Orchestra (EMI ASD2301).
1) The old original vinyl LP recording of Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, "Whipped Cream". All cuts are great, especially the first "A Taste of Honey".  Simply and well recorded - every horn and instrument on a stage, in its own place, with life like timber and presence.

2) The CD of Jack Johnson "Brushfire Fairytales" especially track 3. A very crisp and detailed infusion of percussion, symbols, chimes and bells as well as Jack's very clear and present vocals.

3) MFSL's Original Master Recording LP of Neil Diamond "Hot August Night". The whole album (double album) is incredible, particularly cut 3 on Side 3 "Morningside". All instruments and vocals are crystal clear, clean and emotionally involving.

If I could pick one more, it would be Van Morrison's "Avalon Sunset" final track "These Are The Days". The arrangement, vocals and instruments (particularly the strings) will pull you in...... 


Jim