I'm sure this has been covered before, but since I'm getting a few new pieces of audio equipment, I've been running bands/tunes through my little pea brain to determine what to play first! I've got a few, but I thought I'd ask what tune(s) you play when you get a new component home? Thanks!

CD: Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing
LP: Doors - Best of the Doors CD-4

I know these like the back of my hand. That's what YOU should play: something you know inside out, so that any anomalies will just pop out at you.

Tom

Interesting... I use Sarah McLachlan's song "Angel" (which is on "Surfacing", IIRC) as one of my primary references. Also Jennifer Warnes' "Way Down Deep" from "The Hunter", and Patty Larkin's outstanding live, acoustic solo album "a gogo".

Roy Orbison's "She's A Mystery To Me" is always the first song spun up.

I use Sarah too. Been a long time since I bought anything though

A

CD : REM _ Automatic for The People & David Bowie _ 1.Outside (with Brian Eno).

LP : Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds _ Kicking Against The Pricks & Van Morrison _ Live At The Grand Opera House Belfast.

clint.

Anything by Dire Straits......Heck just play the CD or album of Love Over Gold that should do it. :thmbsp:

Anything by Dire Straits......Heck just play the CD or album of Love Over Gold that should do it. :thmbsp:

I was gonna say Love Over Gold. An excellent test for any system, new or old.


I know these like the back of my hand. That's what YOU should play: something you know inside out, so that any anomalies will just pop out at you.

That's great advice.

Steely Dan is always in first rotation for me. Although I like Sarah McLachlan, I have always liked Tori Amos better for musical enjoyment. "Hey Jupiter" from Boys for Pele is a holographic pleasure! Although some may scoff, Radiohead is a great aural pleasure. :thmbsp:

Alan Parsons-I Robot is a first play. Santana-Amigos, as well as Tracy Chapman's S/T. All vinyl of course.

The recording I always go for when I change something in my system is "Time In" by Dave Brubeck.I'm very familiar with it,and its got alot of different tones.Great for tube rolling.David

I'll play something by Leo Kottke. I also like Lowrider by War.

Frank Zappa-Apostrophe (vinyl) I know it note for note
Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon ditto
Pink Floyd-Atom Heart Mother (vinyl) As good a stereo test record as you'll find, and a great overlooked album!

I'm partial to Bandstand by Family because there is a great range of music, from the powerful opening track Burlesque to the great acoustic track My Friend the Sun. With Roger Chapman on vocals, any set of speakers will get quite a workout.

Anything by Dire Straits. :thmbsp:
Ditto that. 'Tunnel of Love' works everytime. Or put in 'Another Park, Another Sunday' by the Doobies. Man these kids today could learn a thing or two about good basslines from that album. Also 'Year of the Cat' by Al Stewart or 'How Long' by Ace (Paul Carrack). :music:

CD:

Mapleshade's Music Festival
Goran Bregovic - Tales and Songs for Weddings and Funerals
Red Planet OST

LP:
Dire Straits - Dire Straits
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
Steely Dan - Aja

Fairly standard for me and typically in that order. Afterwards, I play whatever I feel like.

- JP