Geoffreybombom
pfm Member
Showing my age, the first Hot August Night.
So you just set up a new turntable. What's the first record you stick on and why?
- Thread starter Subharmonicon
- Start date
docstocker
pfm Member
Helen Watson - Blue Slipper
SONDEKNZ
Kiwi, now living in Hangzhou, CHINA
More than just one first choice.
First-up could be any one of these tracks, depending on how I’m feeling.
You probably know the albums. These are the songs:
MICHAEL FRANKS, UNDERNEATH THE APPLE TREE
MARC MOULIN, INTO THE DARK
MATT BIANCO, SNEAKING OUT THE BACK DOOR
ENYA, THE HUMMING
RAY LAMONTAGNE, YOU CAN BRING ME FLOWERS
RAY LAMONTAGNE, A MURMURATION OF STARLINGS
RY COODER, DAVENPORT BLUES / SHINE / NOBODY (You just can’t split these buggers…)
RY COODER, YELLOW ROSES
RY COODER, GO ON HOME GIRL / THE VERY THING THAT MAKES YOU RICH (MAKES ME POOR)
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION, NEW FAVORITE
GOTAN PROJECT, QUEREMOS PAZ
PAUL SIMON, TENDERNESS / TAKE ME TO THE MARDI GRAS
ART GARFUNKEL, AND I KNOW
LEONARD COHEN, IN MY SECRET LIFE
ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER, THE WHITE WINDS & THE WHITE BOAT
JOE COCKER, TALKING BACK TO THE NIGHT
RHYE, THE FALL, ONE OF THOSE SUMMER DAYS
TRACY CHAPMAN, MOUNTAINS O’ THINGS
BEN HARPER, PLEASE ME LIKE YOU WANT TO
STEVE WINWOOD, SPANISH DANCER / NIGHT TRAIN
THE BLUE NILE, A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER, TOCCATA
CHOPIN, NOCTURNES, NIKITA MAGALOFF
AIR, UNIVERSAL TRAVELER / MIKE MILLS / ANOTHER DAY / ALONE IN KYOTO
ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, THE RAVEN / THE TELL-TALE HEART
CAROL KIDD, WE’LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN
GRACE JONES, I’VE SEEN THAT FACE BEFORE (LIBERTANGO)
JANIS IAN, HIS HANDS
STEVIE WONDER, MAYBE YOUR BABY / SUPERSTITION
SIMPLY RED, PICTURE BOOK
JOHN FAHEY, STEAMBOAT GWINE ‘ROUND DE BEND
K.D. LANG, STILL THRIVES THIS LOVE
KEB’ MO’, TELL EVERYBODY I KNOW
LARRY CARLTON, HIGH STEPPIN’
STACEY KENT, ISN’T IT A PITY? / YOU ARE THERE
STEELY DAN, FM
STEELY DAN, HEY NINETEEN, GLAMOUR PROFESSION, GAUCHO
DONALD FAGEN, NEW FRONTIER
FLEETWOOD MAC, WARM WAYS
FLEETWOOD MAC, NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN
FRIEDMANN, SENTIMENTAL ELEGANCE
STEVE EARLE, HOMETOWN BLUES / BEN MCCULLOCH
SHARON ROBINSON, PARTY FOR THE LONELY
GERSHWIN, RHAPSODY IN BLUE, EUGENE LIST, ERICH KUNZEL CINCINNATI SO
TALK TALK, TOMORROW STARTED
TWIN PEAKS ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK, AUDREYS DANCE
WILLIE NELSON, SEPTEMBER SONG
DAVE GRUSIN, SUITE FROM THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR
DAFT PUNK, WITHIN / INSTANT CRUSH
DIANA KRALL, PEEL ME A GRAPE
VIVALDI, THE FOR SEASONS, SUMMER (ADAGIO), NILS-ERIK SPARF, DROTTNINGHOLM BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
DIRE STRAITS, PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS
DIRE STRAITS, YOU AND YOUR FRIEND
MARK KNOPFLER, QUALITY SHOE / COYOTE
MARK KNOPFLER, RIVER TOWNS
THE CHRISTIANS, …AND THAT’S WHY
BOB DYLAN, EVERYTHING IS BROKEN
THE THE, UNCERTAIN SMILE / THE TWILIGHT HOUR / SOUL MINING
FREDDIE MERCURY, MR. BAD GUY
GOLDFRAPP, LOVELY HEAD
Why one of these tracks?
Well for me, these tracks represent simply fantastic music - of most genres - extremely well recorded.
I know how these tracks sound - or should sound - and once in a blue moon, I hear something brand-new in one of these works.
For me, that is what this hobby is all about!
First-up could be any one of these tracks, depending on how I’m feeling.
You probably know the albums. These are the songs:
MICHAEL FRANKS, UNDERNEATH THE APPLE TREE
MARC MOULIN, INTO THE DARK
MATT BIANCO, SNEAKING OUT THE BACK DOOR
ENYA, THE HUMMING
RAY LAMONTAGNE, YOU CAN BRING ME FLOWERS
RAY LAMONTAGNE, A MURMURATION OF STARLINGS
RY COODER, DAVENPORT BLUES / SHINE / NOBODY (You just can’t split these buggers…)
RY COODER, YELLOW ROSES
RY COODER, GO ON HOME GIRL / THE VERY THING THAT MAKES YOU RICH (MAKES ME POOR)
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION, NEW FAVORITE
GOTAN PROJECT, QUEREMOS PAZ
PAUL SIMON, TENDERNESS / TAKE ME TO THE MARDI GRAS
ART GARFUNKEL, AND I KNOW
LEONARD COHEN, IN MY SECRET LIFE
ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER, THE WHITE WINDS & THE WHITE BOAT
JOE COCKER, TALKING BACK TO THE NIGHT
RHYE, THE FALL, ONE OF THOSE SUMMER DAYS
TRACY CHAPMAN, MOUNTAINS O’ THINGS
BEN HARPER, PLEASE ME LIKE YOU WANT TO
STEVE WINWOOD, SPANISH DANCER / NIGHT TRAIN
THE BLUE NILE, A WALK ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER, TOCCATA
CHOPIN, NOCTURNES, NIKITA MAGALOFF
AIR, UNIVERSAL TRAVELER / MIKE MILLS / ANOTHER DAY / ALONE IN KYOTO
ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, THE RAVEN / THE TELL-TALE HEART
CAROL KIDD, WE’LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN
GRACE JONES, I’VE SEEN THAT FACE BEFORE (LIBERTANGO)
JANIS IAN, HIS HANDS
STEVIE WONDER, MAYBE YOUR BABY / SUPERSTITION
SIMPLY RED, PICTURE BOOK
JOHN FAHEY, STEAMBOAT GWINE ‘ROUND DE BEND
K.D. LANG, STILL THRIVES THIS LOVE
KEB’ MO’, TELL EVERYBODY I KNOW
LARRY CARLTON, HIGH STEPPIN’
STACEY KENT, ISN’T IT A PITY? / YOU ARE THERE
STEELY DAN, FM
STEELY DAN, HEY NINETEEN, GLAMOUR PROFESSION, GAUCHO
DONALD FAGEN, NEW FRONTIER
FLEETWOOD MAC, WARM WAYS
FLEETWOOD MAC, NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN
FRIEDMANN, SENTIMENTAL ELEGANCE
STEVE EARLE, HOMETOWN BLUES / BEN MCCULLOCH
SHARON ROBINSON, PARTY FOR THE LONELY
GERSHWIN, RHAPSODY IN BLUE, EUGENE LIST, ERICH KUNZEL CINCINNATI SO
TALK TALK, TOMORROW STARTED
TWIN PEAKS ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK, AUDREYS DANCE
WILLIE NELSON, SEPTEMBER SONG
DAVE GRUSIN, SUITE FROM THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR
DAFT PUNK, WITHIN / INSTANT CRUSH
DIANA KRALL, PEEL ME A GRAPE
VIVALDI, THE FOR SEASONS, SUMMER (ADAGIO), NILS-ERIK SPARF, DROTTNINGHOLM BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
DIRE STRAITS, PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS
DIRE STRAITS, YOU AND YOUR FRIEND
MARK KNOPFLER, QUALITY SHOE / COYOTE
MARK KNOPFLER, RIVER TOWNS
THE CHRISTIANS, …AND THAT’S WHY
BOB DYLAN, EVERYTHING IS BROKEN
THE THE, UNCERTAIN SMILE / THE TWILIGHT HOUR / SOUL MINING
FREDDIE MERCURY, MR. BAD GUY
GOLDFRAPP, LOVELY HEAD
Why one of these tracks?
Well for me, these tracks represent simply fantastic music - of most genres - extremely well recorded.
I know how these tracks sound - or should sound - and once in a blue moon, I hear something brand-new in one of these works.
For me, that is what this hobby is all about!
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Toaster
pfm Member
Thanks for the list, SondekNZ, there's a few there I haven't heard. I suppose I usually stick on something I know really well, by artists like Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, REM, Miles Davis, Talking Heads or The Beatles. Most of the more recent stuff I play a lot, I don't have on records.
per-Sony-fied
Me in another jacket
Wooo what a list. Pretty sure I've not heard half of those & some that are recognizable sure not heard too! Don't leave many
Just seems there is a plethora of music out there & you are going to miss most of it in your lifetime.
IWC Doppel
pfm Member
Elvis Costello, 'I want you'
Ricky Lee Jones 'Easy Money'
Oscar Peterson 'You look good to me'
The main reason is In know these tracks and how they have sounded on many different systems over the last 25+ years
Ricky Lee Jones 'Easy Money'
Oscar Peterson 'You look good to me'
The main reason is In know these tracks and how they have sounded on many different systems over the last 25+ years
suzywong
Wot, no electrons?
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms: Ride Across the River, and the title track
This has been my usual test record for many years, so I know its “sound” very well.
In the CD world, I would add Camel’s Rajaz, and A Nod’s as Good as a Wink; both for their dynamics. Also something acoustic with female vocals, such as Suzanne Vega or Stevie Nicks.
This has been my usual test record for many years, so I know its “sound” very well.
In the CD world, I would add Camel’s Rajaz, and A Nod’s as Good as a Wink; both for their dynamics. Also something acoustic with female vocals, such as Suzanne Vega or Stevie Nicks.
SONDEKNZ
Kiwi, now living in Hangzhou, CHINA
My pleasure.
Very little thrills me more than finding a new favourite artist or album.
So, I took this opportunity to share my MOST favourite audiophile test tracks. Of course there are more, but this is a good run at it.
Hopefully, someone else will find a new favourite!
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SONDEKNZ
Kiwi, now living in Hangzhou, CHINA
Wooo what a list. Pretty sure I've not heard half of those & some that are recognizable sure not heard too! Don't leave many
Just seems there is a plethora of music out there & you are going to miss most of it in your lifetime.
Agreed.
There is also a lot of rubbish music out there - as anyone with a laptop can “make music” these days.
That’s why I always post - and look for - serious audiophile music recommendations.. It just saves time and energy wading through the mountains of dreck.
There is very good late model music available, but it takes some finding.
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TonyScarlett
pfm Member
If it's a new TT then I listen to Talk Talk "The Colour of Spring" usually followed by Dire Straits first album.
If it's a new CDP then it's usually Natalie Merchant "Tigerlily" followed by Tracey Chapmans first album.
All great albums that I know very well.
Weirdly I don't seem to have developed any tradition about what I listen to first on new streaming kit.
TS
If it's a new CDP then it's usually Natalie Merchant "Tigerlily" followed by Tracey Chapmans first album.
All great albums that I know very well.
Weirdly I don't seem to have developed any tradition about what I listen to first on new streaming kit.
TS
Darren L
Egalitarian
If you like Tigerlily you should have a listen to Ophelia, probably one of the best recorded, produced and mastered CDs that I own as well as being a beautiful album.
It's normally amongst my first choices when trying a new CD player.
For Lps, I normally start with Amused to Death, Mezzanine, Ben Harper (Burn to Shine) then it could be anything depending on mood & time, normally something from the new/currently listening too pile.
Along with the usual set up process these Lps will test the system in nearly all audible parameters.
TonyScarlett
pfm Member
I have Ophelia, agreed it's a beautiful album. In fact I haven't listened to it in a while so will put it on my list for a spin later on.
TS
SONDEKNZ
Kiwi, now living in Hangzhou, CHINA
I really rate NATALIE MERCHANT’s “RIVER” and “CARNIVAL” off her solo album TIGERLILY.
But I’ve never quite warmed to her subsequent albums.
I must give them another listen…
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MJS
Technical Tinkerer
Ah, some great Tony Mansfield production there.
I only recently (re)discovered New Musik and Anywhere usually goes straight on any turntable test. While you Wait is excellent for timing and finding any sibilance. Changing Minds has superb punchy analog synth bass.
John
Rack’em Up!
I like to make before/after recordings when making changes to my turntable as most of these changes are very time consuming to make and reverse. It’s very easy to hear a difference from a change and convince yourself that’s it’s “better”. Having those recordings available helps in sorting that out.
Using music that I’m not familiar seems to works better for me when doing direct comparisons.
Using music that I’m not familiar seems to works better for me when doing direct comparisons.
