Audiogon "RECORDINGS TO DIE FOR" list


I've been listening to some of my favorite recordings this weekend and was wondering what others on Audiogon felt were there favorites. We have all seen the Stereophile "Records to Die For", The Absolute Sounds recommended list, Music Directs' list, The Golden Ear, etc. now I'm hoping to assemble the Audiogon "Recordings To Die For". Please list your five favorite recordings, the ones you listen to over and over or play for friends. I would assume the sonic quality is excellent in that this is an audiophile site. The performance and enjoy ability should also be excellent. Please leave your top five, even if they are already chosen so we can discover the very top for the Audiogon listeners. ALSO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CRITICIZING OTHERS OPINIONS AND JUST LEAVE YOUR FAVORITES!

August 2002: I have compiled a summary and a full printer-friendly list of all of the recommendations below.
click here to view summary
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1.Jacintha-Here's to Ben
2.Lightnin' Hopkins-Goin' Away
3.Stan Getz Jao Gilberto-Getz Gilberto
4.Doug MacLeod-You Can't Take My Blues
5.Mighty Sam McLain-Give It Up to Love
#1 - Ry Cooder's "Bop 'Til You Drop" - as I understand it, this was the world's first pop CD - simply amazing, I will *never* get tired of this one. Buy it NOW!

#2 - Danny Gatton "Cruisin' Deuces" - Danny may be gone, but he'll never be forgotten - the finest guitar player this world has ever seen or heard. This rendition of "You Won't Matter Anymore" is spectacular!

#3 - Bruce Hornsby and The Other Ones - Unbelievably good live recording - "St. Stephen" just blows you away right from the opening chords.

#4 - Camel "A Live Record" - speaking of great live records, this is the first one I've ever heard that sounded better than the studio mixes. The entire Snow Goose Suite on disc 2 is marvelous. The crowd knows how to keep their mouths shut, too, thank God.

#5 - Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark" - there are SO many good tunes on this release that I don't know where to begin - but I'll have to vote for "Big Yellow Taxi" as the best of the lot. "Raised on Robbery" rocks the house, too.
FIVE????? hahahaha!!!!
.kraftwerk-electric cafe-their BEST!
.osamu-osamu-japanese fusion jazz? his music eventually got classified in with new age. too bad. this is groundbreaking. one of minnie rippertons best vocalizations on record.
.patricia barber-a distortion fo love-what a musician.
.bela fleck-flight of the cosmic hippo-title cut is THE bass demo, especially for checking the woof to sub transition.
.miles davis/gil evans set on mosaic. DED quiet, beautiful perfs. nice vinyl! same for the miles/coltrane set on the same label/format.
.michael franks-sleeping gypsy-michael is very underrated as a jazz entity. the song-in the eye of the storm-was just what i needed to hear when things got messy in my marriage. that and the following:
.dan hicks and his hot licks-wheres the money?-al schmitt engineered this and its sooooo natural sounding. the song-is this my happy home?-was the second song that hit the spot during my pre divorce period.
.holst/the planets suite/zubin mehta/LA phil-maybe one of the greatest performance/recordings of all time. my $3 copy in A- cond is THE way to hear this but its been rereleased on vinyl and cd (a 2cd set with some j.williams and r.strauss).
.shirley horn-you wont forget me (w/miles d on one cut)-&-the main ingredient-the benchmark for female singer, AND shes a great pianist as well. her-look of love-on the ingredient disc TOWERS over diana kralls limpid version.
.dire straits-on the night-electrifyingly ALIVE from the first few seconds all the
way thru.
.mahlers 1st/tennestedt/LA phil (not the NY)-captivating and verrrrry well recorded.
.annie ross on the 'short cuts' soundtrack. to hell with love indeed!
.finally-kurt elling-the messenger-intelligent jazz, superior scatting, and hobgood is a world class jazz pianist.
.so there you have it, my five. oh, theres more, just give me time.
.....regards......tr
I just got thru listening to Whiskeytown's "Strangers Almanac" and would be shocked if anyone doe'snt love this album!Awesome!!