Tower of Power – “Back To Oakland”:
Tower of Power is one of my favorite bands of all time. Why? They had the greatest horn section I had ever heard in a band like this. This recording is my favorite of the records they made. Why? The music is terrific, and the recording quality of a high level. This CD is an excellent transfer of the original analog LP recording. It’s old school, with a recording level that I would estimate to be about -3db / -4db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread. It’s so analog sounding, and has great dynamic range. The horns are to die for on this recording, and when you hear the burnished brass sound of the cymbals, you know you are listening to a recording that sets a high standard for popular music.
The King’s Singers – “The Beatles Collection”:
Want to show off your midrange and imaging? You need this record. It’s A capella music at its best. This is a wonderfully balanced recording. There are six vocalists, and each voice is discernible in the mix. The dynamic range of these solo voices is fabulous. They also cover a much broader portion of the music frequencies than you might realize, so it’s a good test for your midbass and treble too. It’s an EMI release, so the recording quality should be expected. I estimate that the recording level would put this album at about -4db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – “The Bridge”:
Karl Denson is one of my favorite sax players. He has great tone and plays with precision. He doesn’t shy away from experimenting across genres, and this record, which was released in 2002, is an excellent amalgamation of Jazz, R&B and Hip Hop, with lots of toe tapping grooves. If you are a fan of Maceo Parker, Medeski, Martin & Wood or Galactic, you will like this record. The recording is very well balanced, with excellent bass and an open, natural midrange. The voices and instruments are well placed within the soundstage and are easily discernible. The treble is nicely reproduced, with good extension. I estimate that the recording level would put this album at about -8db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread. Though it’s on the “louder” side of the scale, it has a warmth to it that makes it quite pleasing.
Luther Vandross – “Songs”:
I LOVE me some Luther! I saw him live several times and his music has served as the backdrop for many nights with the ladies. This is one recording that surprised me with how good it sounds. Luther’s voice is wonderfully recorded, open and airy, and is not lost in the mix. The bass is very natural sounding, and extended, and overall the sound is very well balanced. My surprise at the sound quality led me to read the liner notes, and low and behold, it was mastered by Bob Ludwig. Now it makes sense. I estimate that the recording level would put this album at about -7db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread.
Jose Feliciano – “From The Heart”:
I saw Jose live at the Music Instrument Museum in Phoenix earlier this year and picked up this CD after his performance. I was very surprised by what I heard when I popped this disc into the CD player because most of his previous recordings just don’t do his voice justice. This is a game changer. Jose’s voice and guitar are recorded with great clarity, and the tonal balance of this recording is excellent. The bass is well extended and detailed, and the soundstage is wide and with good depth. I estimate that the recording level would put this album at about -6db / -7db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread. Now, an aside: when you see Jose Feliciano live, you truly realize what a genius this man is. Even at his current age of 67, his guitar playing is extraordinary, and he is blessed with a unique voice and an ability to re-work classics and familiar songs in ways that often make them better than the original in my opinion. This record shows this. And if you have any doubt about what I say, check out this video and you will see what I mean: Billie Jean By Jose Feliciano of Michael Jackson - YouTube
The Bird & The Bee – “A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates”:
As a former musician, I generally deplore keyboard generated instruments. Give me the real thing. But, I got this record because I am a huge Hall & Oates fan, and was curious to see what this duo would do with these great songs. I just love Inara George’s voice. She’s “The Bird.” The keyboard programming is not my cup of tea, but except for track 3 (“Rich Girl”), which contains too many distorted sounds that are not pleasing to hear, this is a really good recording. It’s all about showcasing Inara’s voice, and it does that really well. Her voice sounds like butter and honey, with lots of air around it. The bass is excellent too, with good clarity and extension. I estimate that the recording level would put this album at about -8db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread.
Ledisi – “Lost & Found”:
If you listened to just track 1 on this record you would ask what the hell is the Buzzman talking about. He must be losing his hearing. Well, have no fear. Track 1 is a wretched live intro that is on there for no musical or sonic purpose. From an SQ standpoint, you can skip the first 3 tracks in fact. Start with track 4 and you will be pleased with what you hear. Ledisi has an excellent voice, and this recording really showcases it. Her voice is rich and airy, and never gets lost in the mix. The bass is excellent too, and the overall tonal balance is very good. The treble is not as detailed as I would have liked, but if Neo Soul is your thing, you should feel very good popping this into your player as one of your reference discs. I estimate that the recording level would put this album at about -8db on the “intrinsic loudness” level meter I have been referencing throughout this thread.