What is the VERY BEST CD album you've ever heard?


Just like with records, I came across releases on CD that were never popular, but bring lots of interesting music and so I started collecting CDs that do have collectible value for the reason of a great and rare music presented.

So far album "Sauce Hollandaise" by Ashra is on my #1 desirable list

"Best Band You've Never Heard In Your Life" by Frank Zappa is my 2nd best CD I've ever heard. 

 

czarivey

Fitting category of pop band to Beatles is simple because they are pop somewhere above 90% of their career. We can call it pop-rock as well that will match even better.

There are bands that very hard to fit into any category, but the're obscure and rare and definitely not Beatles or any RR hall of fame artists. 

Maybe good example of Goz of Kermeur. Their self-titled album I think is third on my list.

A 1990 CD by the Music & Arts label called Glenn Gould - Previously Unreleased Performances of Works by J.S. Bach, 1957-1969.
This is a tough CD to find. I lucked out. It’s on YouTube. There’s also a live performance on YouTube of his unbelievable performance/conducting of Cantata No. 54.

It’s a favorite because it’s so hard to find, is not available in any media other than YouTube and contains such incredible music.

There is a version of the Soundtrack to David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive on multiple formats (the vinyl pressing goes for $400-$700 presently on Discogs) but the CD is great if for the sole reason it a) doesn’t cost $500, and b) has Rebekah Del Rio’s performance of “Llorando” (an a cappella Spanish version of Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying’) which may be the greatest vocal performance I’ve ever heard.

A lot of Todd Garfinkle's MA Recordings qualify. Off-beat international music minimally miked in carefully selected, acoustically lively locales.

I don't see the need to ram music into categories like whether something is 'rock' or 'pop' - people who don't like it won't see any difference between them and (most) people who like them don't really care what you call it. 

@tylermunns - 'Mulholland Dr' is my favorite movie; I've had the CD since it came out; shame I missed out on the LP, but such great music; I think the title theme is one of Badalamenti's very best.... 

Beatles isn't a rock band. It's pure pop. Calling it rock is delusional.

That's a bit bizarre. Obviously, you're not aware of the rock tracks.