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AUDIO FORUMS >> Music >> Best sounding song or album
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Message started by Donnie on 03/13/25 at 02:40:20

Title: Best sounding song or album
Post by Donnie on 03/13/25 at 02:40:20

I'm trying to find out the consensus of what is the best sounding song or album available.

I know that there are a few albums that must stand out head and shoulders above the rest.

I'm not talking "The best" as in performances or significance, just what sounds the best, personal taste be damned.

My money is that it probably is some jazz or symphonic recording that I will be quite ignorant of, but I'm trying to open my horizons to hear quality recordings.

There is a lot of expensive gear sitting in my listening room that needs a good work out.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by CAJames on 03/13/25 at 06:24:52

A lot of people, including me, would say the best sound is the 4th movement of Scheherazade recorded by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony on RCA Living Stereo. Two songs that I think are very well recorded and have been using as test/demo tracks for a long time are Spanish Harlem by Rebecca Pidgeon and Girl From Ipanema from Getz and Gilberto. YMMV as always.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by Geno on 03/13/25 at 16:56:55

Agree with CA on the Scheherazade by Reiner.

One of my favorite references for sound quality is, Sonny Rollins - Way Out West.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by SnowMan on 03/13/25 at 19:03:47

I doubt the OP will find consensus on "the best" sounding recordings, but Patricia Barber's Companion album is one of the most amazing live recordings I've ever heard. And the performance is excellent. It's a jazz quintet in a nightclub setting, with Barber on piano/organ/vocals doing a mix of radical reinterpretations of classic rock and pop songs (e.g. "The Beat Goes On," "Black Magic Woman") and a selection of her own tunes. Michael Arnopol's acoustic bass is recorded as well as (maybe better than) any bass I've heard on any studio recording.

This is audiophile showroom demo material.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by CAJames on 03/13/25 at 20:04:41

+1 for Way Out West. I have several versions of it, my current favorite is a DSD download from HDTT.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by Doug on 03/14/25 at 03:51:10

Man o man.....there are so many great recordings in the generalized classical space. I find Trevor Pinnock's early 80's recording with the English Concert of Handel's Water Music to be spectacular in every way.

My favorite awesome sounding jazz recording is Dick Hyman's From the Age of Swing on Reference Recordings. The red-book CD is phenomenal. If you have a way to play RR's HRx version, and you can obtain a copy of it, it's stunning--almost unbelievable!

My pop music choice would be the Dire Straits song, Money for Nothing. When you want to display your system's muscle and ability to play loud and clean, this recording is the perfect choice. I also love the way the instruments and voices have been placed on the sound stage. It's a fantastic recording!

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by Dominick on 03/14/25 at 21:05:41

Oh Geez….there are so many that come to mind in all of the genres. I will echo Doug’s recommendation on the Dire Straits Money for nothing. I have this on vinyl, cut from the original analog tapes…and it’s a great in terms of the instrument separation and soundstage. It’s a go to album when I have friends over who have never listened to high end system.

Another favorite is Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” on vinyl that is Pressed at Pallas Records. The detail, clarity, and music separation is very good. I have the Japanese 1st pressing which is even better…but the Pallas pressing runs a close second.

One modern day jazz recording that is just amazing is Kirsten Edkins “Shapes and Sounds” on vinyl from Kevin Gray at Cohearent Records. What makes this extra special is that it was recorded on an all analog/tube system. This system was custom built over the span of 15 years by Kevin himself. There are no transistors or IC’s anywhere in the signal path. Michael Fremer himself rated this album and 8 out of 10 for the music, and an 11 out of 10 for the sound. I would say this is a must have just for the sound.

I’ll add more later on..but this is a nice primer for now

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by CAJames on 03/14/25 at 23:42:14

JMO/FWIW/YMMV but in terms of pure production values I think Telegraph Road is the best Dire Straits song and the one I use to show off my system. It is also a great song in its own right. I’m a big Dire Straits fan and there is nothing at all wrong with Money for Nothing except I still haven’t recovered from it being played to death in the early days of MTV. I have DS on both Japanese vinyl and SACD and it all sounds great.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by The other Lon on 03/15/25 at 00:44:40

A few of my favorites currently are Brian Bromberg’s LaFaro, Ron Carter / Foursight Stockholm Volume 1, and Time Ray’s Excursions and Adventures.

The first two have some of the best sounding double bass.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by Dominick on 03/15/25 at 00:55:32

Quote:

I’m a big Dire Straits fan and there is nothing at all wrong with Money for Nothing except I still haven’t recovered from it being played to death in the early days of MTV.

Ditto….I couldn’t agree more!! I only use Money for Nothing due to its familiarity. Telegraph Road is amazing, and it really rocks!! Dire Straits was my first CD back in the day that was fully digital and had the DDD symbol on the back of the Jewel case.

Title: Re: Best sounding song or album
Post by Lon on 03/15/25 at 01:36:40

I'm different from many here. I enjoyed Dire Straits' first album when released, but never got into them afterwards to any extent, no matter how good the recordings may be.

I found a really great sounding recording lately, Norma Winstone's "Best Kept Secret." The whole recording is so naturally presented, all instruments vivid and realistic sounding, and her lovely voice well captured.

Another favorite from my first decades of collecting music is Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Stone Flower." The sections and the soloists are given to us in such pleasant form, and I keep hearing little nuances anew or for the first time as I listen to different issues over the years.

A final suggestion: Duke Ellington "Jazz Party" (in stereo in particular). This was recorded in one of the most amazing studios of the last century by amazingly talented engineering, and has the most clarity of a recorded large space I've experienced in the home. And thrilling music, at least for me.