What is your reference tune?

[Ken McDaniel]

What is the one track you use to press the limits of good sound? Is there a story behind it? How's it sound?




Ken

[Tom R S 4]

I can't think of one tune which does it all for me. But quite possibly my favorite is Patricia Barber, "Too Rich for My Blood". I lose myself in this one and can't leave the sweet spot. I'm basically anchored to one spot for 8 minutes.




Tempus Fugit

[KennyG]

I've got several, one is the Freeway Philarmonic's version of "Good Vibrations" on their Sonic Detour CD...Sheffield Labs.(really anything on this one)
NEXT: A la Carte Brass & Percussion's "sidewinder" or "Calcutta Cutie", off their "Boogeyin'!Swamprock, Salsa & 'Trane" CD, on Mapleshade (wildchild division)
NEXT: Big John Maher's "got my Mojo Workin'", same label as above...this sounds so good you'd swear he's right in the room with you
NEXT: Depeche Mode's "People are People", because the highs are terrible, it should sound strident, and make you feel like your ears are being pierced.
NEXT:Albert King and SRV, "in session", I like their version of "Call it Stormy Monday", recording isn't in a league with the others I've mentioned...I just like it!
LASTLY: David Benoit's "Houston" off of his Inner Motion CD, beautiful piano on the GRP recording.
O.K. two more that come to mind, Eagles Hotel California off the gold DCC disc, and anything off Janis Ian's "Breaking Silence"...actually alot more are coming to mind as I write this, but I'll stop here.
Most of my favorites with a story behind them are older recordings that aren't reference...and I can't talk about the stories behind them to just anyone. :W

[Ken McDaniel]

I guess it would have been a good idea to start off with one of my own. For those of you not familiar. Austin sports a local guitar legend by the name of Monte Montgomery. He's been around the town for years. He's also the most amazing with an acoustic guitar.

From his Mirror release, track 8, the song When will I. It is an 8 minute live recording from what used to be the Steamboat club on Sixth Street. I have never found a live track to sound so well. The imaging is incredible. The recording is so pristine, you can hear Monte's finger snapping and pulling the strings along the length of the guitar. The live crowd is enveloping.

Anytime someone wants a tour of the McDaniel Theater, this is the first song they get. Just to show the incredible advantage of pristine two-channel imaging. Then of course we go to The Matrix.




Ken

[Andrew Pratt]

Well i've got several I use

Eagles - Hotel California
Holly Cole - I can see clearly now
Leahy's - Call to dance

[Lexman]

Any speaker that replaces my Grand Prix's, must shine in the mid-range, just as my GPs do. For me, the CD that show's this capability the best is the Gold version of Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Toward's Escacy CD. Excellent recording, and many varied percussion and string sounds.

Christian McBride, "Gettin to it" for cymbols and horns, and of course, a little bass. This CD is extremely well recorded.

Sax, Joshua Redman, "Moodswing".

Female vocals: Diana Krall Stepping Out, maybe. I forget which one is my favorite, as I have 5 of her CDs, lol.

So, for me, it's reference tunes.

Lex