Best song for immediate impact when presenting or testing?
Well, I fall back on a couple of old demo faves -- Stimela by Hugh Masekela and Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon. My go-to standards for male vocal and female vocal. Stimela by Hugh Masekela https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjPrcRjN0VM Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RMTEWsGGEg |
Thanks to all who joined this conversation in the spirit intended. I'll listen to all. As mentioned, I usually start with Aaron Neville's Feels Like Rain. Next is Time After Time, Eva Cassidy. Taj Mahal: Queen Bee. Angelique Kidjo, Summertime. Girl From Ipanema, Getz Gilberto (this song played on a good system in 1995, brought me into hi quality systems). Then I take requests, and finish up with The End by the Beatles. If they're in the mood for something downbeat, You Want it Darker, by Leonard Cohen. Fudai - shame. |
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I’m curious. What does it say about the ears, listening skills and sought for sound quality on this entire forum when so few classical cuts or movements are mentioned. A system either can or cannot re create the experience of a full symphony orchestra in full stride on a great recording. Voice of known artists also, solo instruments also. Everything else is color and whatever sounds good to you. Nothing wrong with that but not the same thing. Among many others I could mention I suggest Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring Leonard Bernstein New York Philharmonic. For the record I listen to rock and jazz as much as classical. |
F.K.A Twigs, self-titled EP, side 2 Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer, side 1 LP 1 Marion Hill, Act One (expanded 2 LP set), side C Goldfrapp, Silver Eye, the whole damn thing Noisia, Split The Atom, title track G.O.L. The Sensation Of Tone, Angelica In Delerium Bassnectar, Reflective Part 1 and 2, side 1 The Dazz Band, Let It Whip Commodores, self-titled, Brick House That should do it for starters. . . Steve |
Hhmmm... if I really want to test the quality of a sound system in respect of spatiality and impact to new listeners my choices are: Roger Waters - The ballad of Bill Hubbard (Amused to death) => the more on the left side the radio speaker is, the better the sound system Malia - Don´t explain (Black orchid) => the vibraphon is behind (!!!) the listener Eurythmics - I love you like a ball and chain (Be yourself tonight) => close to the end of the song the voices are marching around you Fever Ray - Keep the streets empty for me (Fever ray) => the intro sound dots are moving from down left to higher right Yello - Takla makan (Touch Yello) => the soundscape of a virtual movie plot can make people stunned |
Siri's Svale Band – Blackbird (1st cut) - sold many a speaker. Joseph Audio used it as their demo SF Stereophile show in '80s? Makes you want to start smoking again . . . and by a ticket to Norway. |
In the 1970’s JBL put out an LP intended to be used to evaluate the sound of their new L100 loudspeaker. The LP contains tracks from commercially released albums, one of which is "Donovan’s Colors" from Van Dyke Parks’ Song Cycle album. The recording contains many different instruments (including harpsichord), as well as some non-instrument sound effects. The song (and the entire album) is as musically interesting as it is sonically stunning. Song Cycle was Van Dyke’s first project after he finished his work with Brian Wilson on the ill-fated Smile album. Song Cycle is very unique, and many will find it not only odd and strange, but also a little spooky. Parks’ is a very, very smart guy, perhaps a genius. Speaking of odd, strange, and spooky, for a look at what Smile was going to be (a musical representation and celebration of Manifest Destiny), and why it would have been such a milestone album (beating Sgt. Pepper to the marketplace as was intended), listen to "Fall Breaks And Back To Winter (Woody Woodpecker Symphony)" on the Beach Boys’ Smiley Smile album. Now THAT is what I consider Progressive music. The Beach Boys Progressive?! No, Brian Wilson. Don’t believe it? Go ahead, listen to "FBABTW". It makes Progressive bands sound downright traditional! |
I agree that you can easily select music for impact that doesn't do much other than show off one or two characteristics of a given piece of equipment. Like a lot of others here, I have a ton of music that I listen to that gives the whole picture of a system. Recently I upgraded my entire system and spent two hours listening to hi-res files, SACD, CD and vinyl to be sure that the combination of gear I was considering delivered me to that place where its just the music. I'm a rock & roll guy so 90% of my collection is just that. Here's a partial list of the music I used to evaluate my new system: "Hotel California" from the Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (digital) "Lines on My Face" from a 40 year old original vinyl pressing of Frampton Comes Alive "The Chain" from Fleetwood Mac - The Dance (vinyl & digital) "Squonk" from Genesis - A Trick of the Tail (digital) "No Quarter" from Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day (digital) "Gaucho" from Steely Dan - Gaucho (digital) "On an Island" from David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk (digital) "Brothers in Arms" from Dire Straits - On the Night (digital) "Captain Fanstastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy" from Elton John - Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy (digital & vinyl) There is so much more, but you get the drift. As you can tell, I'm all about live and classic rock. Can't help that I am a child of the 60's, 70's and 80's. Whatever you do, remember, its about the music not the gear. The gear is simply a vehicle. |
I think the more traditional country artists have some of the cleanest recordings around. For clarity I don't think you can beat the recordings of Randy Travis. The quality of his voice is fantastic. For classical the Chesky recording of Itzhak Perlman playing Tchaikovsky violin Concerto in D is my personal favorite. His violin just hangs out in the air in front of you. For rock my money is on Dire Straits "Your Latest Trick". I love the way the sax starts out low in the background then moves right in front of you. And finally for bass I have to go with Josh Groban's "Try to Remember". |
On Agon i came across a song "Breaking Silence" by Janis Ian, that apparently was all the rage for demos when it came out in ’93. The song is a bit on the cheesy side IMO but the recording is fantastic. iIs punchy and dynamic, it has a lot of stereo field gimmicks on it and its short so it does a terrific job for demos. Its not the kind of track i would listen to for enjoyment per se but if you want an idea of what a rig is capable of this one covers several bases. My gf and I joke about the song all the time but when we were at the Hifi show in Manhattan a couple months ago it was our go to suggestion and it really worked well to identify the strengths and weaknesses of several rigs alien to our ears. |
This list gives me a nice cross-section of musical tastes and moods that I typically find myself engaging in and brings out the best in my admittedly mid-fi system: Frank Morgan "Mood Indigo" CD Miles Davis "Freddie The Freeloader" from "Kind Of Blue" Jaco Pastorius "Continuum" off his self-title debut album Bob Dylan "Things Have Changed" Lyle Lovett (anything) Pat Metheny (anything) Steely Dan (most anything, but "Only A Fool Would Say That" from "Can't Buy A Thrill" and "West Of Hollywood" off "Two Against Nature" in particular) Dave Grusin’s "Migration" CD Shivaree, track "Goodnight Moon" Jerry Joseph "Happy Book" Karl Richter’s interpretation of Bach’s "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" Alison Krauss + Union Station "Live" CD Mahler’s 9th from Claudio Abbado + Lucerne Festival Orchestra |
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For listeners that enjoy vocals, especially female vocals: "Bells and Roses", "If I Were a Man", or anything else really on Roseanne Cash's 10 Song Demo album. This audition made a wife of a buddy insist he upgrade his gear in several ways I suggested. Somewhat more tawdry: "Free Me" off Joss Stone's album Colour Me Free. OK, tawdry-er yet, Lou Reed performing "Sweet Jane" on the Live on Letterman: Music From The Late Show. And, for flat out out crazy, ignite a party, turn it up tawdry-ness, "Snow Bunny" by Bootsy Collins off of his World Wide Funk disc. Or, whatever they want to hear... ;-) |
1. Gino Vanelli’s Powerful People 1974 2. I second Take Five, Dave Brubeck 3. Chuck Mangione’s Children of Sanchez 1978 4. The Feeling of Jazz by Dianne Reeves with Wynton Marsalis My first choice ( a “GREAT” prentation track chosen then by the store) Im a senior in HS and listen to this in North Miami Beach at the very first Sound Advice store (now long gone high-end chain started with drug money). Saved up and bought my first pair of Infinity’s. Gino still has an amazing voice! The entire album “POWERFUL PEOPLE” is stellar. # 2 A top 5 all-time jazz hit # 4 last year in Tampa Florida “made me” buy new speakers replacing B&W N802’s with Paradigm Persona 7F’s. A Very good digital presentation track listen to it and you can understand the store using it as a great demo track. # 3 the percussion and Chuck’s flugelhorn are terrific! Happy listening to all, looking forward to everyone’s responses.. Dave |
Haelos Full Circle Album: Pray Dust Earth Not Above NOTE: People are surprise by such an undiscovered group from the UK Beck Albumn: Heart is a Drum Morning NOTE: Heard this plenty at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest London Grammar: Hey Now Weltentraum Live Albumn by Michael Wollny Little Person NOTE: Best demo for bass extension you will ever hear |
My main album to audition speakers for the past few years has been "Another Lifetime" by Simon Phillips. It is well written, well played and very well recorded. I got them to play it in the SVS room at Capital Audiofest a few years ago and in the 5 minutes it was playing, three different people picked-up the case to see what it was. It takes about 2 minutes for it to really get going. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz-Vs-jdJIU |
Not sure what everyones criteria for testing out a system but I don't understand how some of the listed tunes above can provide any valuable input. Just my opinion. I look for more natural recordings of instruments and vocals, something with dynamic swings, and complex passages. I want to know how a system reproduces the space in the soundstage and the tone of each instrument. Jaco Pastorius, Rickie Lee Jones POP POP, just to name a few. Happy Listening. |
Kandace Springs Breakdown La Vie (Pop Mix) Philippe Saisse Elton John Rocket Man Honky Chateau Gordon Lightfoot If You Could Read My Mind It Ain't No Use Trombone Shorty Parking Lot Symphony Lake Street Dive I Want You Back Fun Machine Whirlpool Seal The Rare Collection a-ha The Sun Always Shines on TV MTV Unplugged Summer Solstice Michael Hedges Aerial Boundaries Pure Michael Hedges Splendor in the Grass Pink Martini God of Wonders Paul Baloche (live) The Ladder Paula Cole Harbinger I Don't Know Shawn Colvin The Greatest 60's Album Along the Road Dan Fogelberg Live at Carnegie Hall Friends Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble Mr Machine Be Here Now Ray LaMontagne Til the Sun Turns Black Driving Everything But the Girl Acoustic (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay Sara Barieilles Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse The Windmills of Your Mind Alison Moyet Voice (reissue Deluxe) Cantaloop (Flip Out) Manhattan Transfer The Junction Humilitas Lesiem Auracle I didn't select these to impress people, but are some that I use in assessment of audio system performance. However, with an extreme system several of these are impressive performances. In reviewing I use lists such as this to not only tell the limits of the system's performance, but tune the system. |
