Glad to find another multi-channel music fan here. Can you recommend any particular "must have" classical titles? My tastes and knowledge in that arena aren't as sophisticated as I'd like to pretend.
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What are you listening to? Part III
- Thread starter S.B.G
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I only started to opportunistically collect some SACDs relatively recently, I have not checked for "definitive" recordings, sorry.
It's the 35th Anniversary of the release of Billy Joel's LP "The Nylon Curtain". Been listening to that. Still holds up well, after all these years.
Listening to "Brave Sir Robin" from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Max Richter - Modular Astronomy
...His album "Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works" is haunting.
(the youtube version sounds like mono, maybe it was on purpose to keep people from downloading it I don't know, but the actual piece on the album sounds much, much better...)
Oh and another one while I'm at it, Transformation (same album)
...His album "Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works" is haunting.
(the youtube version sounds like mono, maybe it was on purpose to keep people from downloading it I don't know, but the actual piece on the album sounds much, much better...)
Oh and another one while I'm at it, Transformation (same album)
If you get a chance, track down the Spamalot Original Broadway recording, it's just amazing, and so funny, this is one of the big songs, featuring the brilliant Sara Ramirez and Tim Curry (plus the entire cast) ...
(Saw this in NYC, probably my favorite show of all time)
His music for the [excellent] HBO show, The Leftovers, was brilliant ...
Listening to? Well, I sampled and ordered the following (several genres, several eras and several speaker configurations!):
On the listening front... a variety of things but mostly a few back-to-back listens to Cat Stevens' new The Laughing Apple and last year's You Want It Darker, Leonard Cohen's final album -- and my most listened to album in years. My constant companion.
- Ray Charles Genius After Hours (mono SACD) I had no idea he ever recorded this kind of album: Instrumental (all or perhaps mostly) jazzy, bluesy music with a simple trio with a late night vibe. All it's missing is the clinking of glasses and the murmuring voices of the last few stragglers at the bar. This and Cooke below... those will be the treasures I'm most anticipating.
- Lucinda Williams This Sweet Old World (pre-order CD) This is the 25th anniversary of her album Sweet Old World. Unhappy with its sound, rather than re-package/remaster/remix the original album, she opted to re-record (most of its songs -- and re-work and retitle another). Can't say I'm too impressed with the bits I've heard but the title track is among my favorite songs (my preferred is Emmylou Harris' cover with Neil Young on harmonica and Steve Earle on acoustic guitar) so for a measly $7.99 I opted to buy the whole thing instead of that key track.
- Sam Cooke Night Beat (3-channel stereo SACD) The other day I began catching up/binging on Ken Burns' Vietnam. Being me, I couldn't not notice the songs. Plenty of Dylan but I've got that covered threefold. With the help of the handy SoundCloud app, I identified "Mean Old World" (I posted it above). Love at first
sightlisten. Sampled other tracks. Loved 'em. Another great late night recording to go with Ray above. It's available very cheap but I opted for the audiophile release. I shouldn'a but I did... and it's a-gonna sound glorious in those quiet hours when Saturday night spoons with Sunday morning. - Van Cliburne Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 (3 channel stereo SACD). Stumbled on this while cherry-picking audiophile recordings. Dirt cheap on Amazon. More importantly, these RCA 3-channel "Living Stereo" CDs sound wonderful. Most importantly, I've long wanted a better performance of this Tchaikovsky piece and Rachmaninoff is a composer I'm woefully under-exposed to.
- Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions (stereo SACD): Their most well-regarded album is my third favorite in their catalog behind Black-Eyed Man and my favorite, Pale Sun Crescent Moon. Still, this is the album that set them on their course. Sitting around a single mic, this group (four siblings and a few friends) recorded a mix of canonical country/blues and a few originals (including the wistful "Misguided Angel"). Another great late night record. Subdued, humble and perfect for those empty tables at the bar.
- Sly & the Family Stone Greatest Hits (mono & quadraphonic SACD): Last but not least is the album that should be played before all those above. Jubilant, upbeat, full-bodied and soulful. This has sat in my wishlist for ages and it's time to remedy that. My house backs up to a lake with a 2-mile walking path. On nice days I used to sit on the back deck, blasting the music, getting text requests from one of my neighbors and fake, jokey complaints from another while people walking their dogs would wonder where behind those trees the music came echoing from. It's been a while. This album will give me an excuse to pollute the everyday people of my neighborhood with a joyful noise.
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Anything by The Doors in my book deserves at least 2 thumbs up.
Dreadnought soundtrack in the PS4 theme (my PS4 is on and updating games right now).
(love Ambient Space Music)
(love Ambient Space Music)