Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

How many guesses do you want ? No suggestions as to type of music ?

I immediately thought of
Rickie Lee Jones album 1979, Joan Armatrading Me Myself I 1980 but these are
probably too early. Mid to late eighties you might be thinking of Suzanne
Vega 1985 and the Tracy Chapman 1988. Sure there will be loads of
suggestions.

"Tyrone Slothrop" wrote in message
...
Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

In article ,
"Tyrone Slothrop" wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes?

Stephen

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some
audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went
to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various
qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female
singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard
benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various
qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've
forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have
been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of
audiophile benchmark
recordings?

"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes?

That was in the '90's I believe (I first thought of her
"The Hunter" album). How about Amanda McBroom on
Sheffield Lab?

-Tip

"Tyrone Slothrop" wrote in message
...
Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

One of them was:
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2621171

In article ,
"Tip" wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some
audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went
to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various
qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female
singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard
benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various
qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've
forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have
been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of
audiophile benchmark
recordings?

"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes?

That was in the '90's I believe (I first thought of her
"The Hunter" album).

1986. Perfect timing for the anecdote.

How about Amanda McBroom on Sheffield Lab?

Sure. Recorded 1980.

Stephen

Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker, I've Got The Music In Me on
Scheffield, perhaps?

Per.

MINe 109 wrote:


In article ,
"Tip" wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some
audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went
to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various
qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female
singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard
benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various
qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've
forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have
been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of
audiophile benchmark
recordings?

"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes?

That was in the '90's I believe (I first thought of her
"The Hunter" album).

1986. Perfect timing for the anecdote.

How about Amanda McBroom on Sheffield Lab?

Sure. Recorded 1980.

Stephen

Another great Sheffield female vocalist recording of note, although
perhaps recorded in the late 70's, would be the Thelma Houston
(Whitney's aunt) & Pressure Cooker release of "I've Got The Music in
Me". This LP was certainly used a lot in audio salons as a
demonstration record.

(For a great CD female vocalist demonstration recording, I'd recommend
Jacintha's release of "Here's To Ben" (which is also available on vinyl
and worth owning).

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:
Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in
the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name
of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing
that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

Pressure Cooker

Thelma Houston

Amanda McBroom - "Ive got the Music In Me" - Sheffield Records ---
most Sheffield records - most Deutsche Grammophon - most Mercury
classics using Neumann microphones with Mercury's ultra-simple mike
placement. Although on an old Columbia recording played back through
Bozak "symphony" speakers, you could distinctly hear Artur Rubinstein
humming along as he played the music

On 21 Feb 2005 14:56:51 GMT, "Tyrone Slothrop"
wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:
Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

When I did my comparisons, I frequently used "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan
Baez and "I've Got The Music In Me" by Thelma Houston and the Pressure
Cookers. The latter is a direct-to-disc LP. Those were very popular
discs in audio stores.

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

There are a couple of recordings which I find very useful
in terms of evaluation. They aren't what you'd call
exceptional audiophile, direc-to-disc recordings. But
they are very, very useful for evaluating audio gear
nonetheless.

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - Impulse Records
================================================== ===
The voice of Johnny Hartman is particularly revealing
of mid-range colorations. And besides, whenever you
take this recording to an audio show and listen to it
for evaluations, people keep asking, "Who *IS* that?"
This is one of the all-time great recordings that is
a *must have* for any music lover's collection.


Scott Hamilton is a good wind who is blowing us no ill
Concord Jazz
================================================== ====
This recording is very interesting for the 3D quality
of imaging and instrument placement. You'll also find
that the timbre of the tenor sax is also revealing of
mid-range anamolies. I have this recording on both
vinyl and CD. There is a striking difference in imaging
between the two with the vinyl being far superior in
both imaging and tonal balance. This could be quite
useful for evaluations of various kinds.


British Band Classics - Eastman Wind Ensemble
Mercury Records/Mercury Golden Classics
================================================== =====
A fine recording of great concert band literature
from Mercury's great 50's vintage efforts. Good
imaging and tonal balance. And it's great music
besides. I first heard this recording being used
by Tom Norton back in the 70's when I knew him during
my days in the Air Force. Tom was an Air Force pilot
at the time and pubilished his own audio magazine
called Stereopus.

If you were to work in an audiophile shop, you'd hear
people always bringing the same recordings - Amanda McBroom
or some Telarc recording of The Planets. People are always
playing Mars or some other loud, complex orchestral track.
Go into a shop with these recordings and you'll get a great
reception from the dealer who will be pleased to hear great
music that is unfamiliar.

Russ Button

Sorry, Chung is right - Thelma Houston is the singer

On 21 Feb 2005 23:44:27 GMT, Stu-R wrote:

Amanda McBroom - "Ive got the Music In Me" - Sheffield Records ---
most Sheffield records - most Deutsche Grammophon - most Mercury
classics using Neumann microphones with Mercury's ultra-simple mike
placement. Although on an old Columbia recording played back through
Bozak "symphony" speakers, you could distinctly hear Artur Rubinstein
humming along as he played the music

On 21 Feb 2005 14:56:51 GMT, "Tyrone Slothrop"
wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have been...
================================================== ==

Harry Pearson of The Abso!ute Sound always had a soft spot for Dusty
Springfield in "The Look Of Love" from "Casino Royale."

-GP

On 21 Feb 2005 21:04:45 GMT, MINe 109
wrote:

In article ,
"Tip" wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some
audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went
to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various
qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female
singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard
benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various
qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've
forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have
been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of
audiophile benchmark
recordings?

"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes?

That was in the '90's I believe (I first thought of her
"The Hunter" album).

1986. Perfect timing for the anecdote.

How about Amanda McBroom on Sheffield Lab?

Sure. Recorded 1980.

Or the classic 'demo' album from Sheffield - Thelma Houston's "I've
Got The Music In Me"? An earlier recording, but often thought to be
the best ever.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Russ Button wrote:

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - Impulse Records
================================================== ===
The voice of Johnny Hartman is particularly revealing
of mid-range colorations. And besides, whenever you
take this recording to an audio show and listen to it
for evaluations, people keep asking, "Who *IS* that?"
This is one of the all-time great recordings that is
a *must have* for any music lover's collection.


This recording is available in new vinyl from:

http://www.geocities.com/recordgroove33/Jazz_new.html

Other than that, does anyone have any sources for new
vinyl? Is there much to choose from anymore?


Scott Hamilton is a good wind who is blowing us no ill
Concord Jazz

I looked on EBay and Froogle and couldn't find any
used copies of this recording. It's a great one though
and I recommend putting this on your list of recordings
to find.


British Band Classics - Eastman Wind Ensemble
Mercury Records/Mercury Golden Classics

There is currently a copy of this on EBay at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

The auction finishes Feb-25-05 14:21:18 EST

There are no current bidders with the beginning
bid at $9.95.

Russ

"Russ Button" wrote in message
...
Tyrone Slothrop wrote:

Does anyone know what this recording might have been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of audiophile benchmark
recordings?

There are a couple of recordings which I find very useful
in terms of evaluation. They aren't what you'd call
exceptional audiophile, direc-to-disc recordings. But
they are very, very useful for evaluating audio gear
nonetheless.

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - Impulse Records
================================================== ===
The voice of Johnny Hartman is particularly revealing
of mid-range colorations. And besides, whenever you
take this recording to an audio show and listen to it
for evaluations, people keep asking, "Who *IS* that?"
This is one of the all-time great recordings that is
a *must have* for any music lover's collection.


Scott Hamilton is a good wind who is blowing us no ill
Concord Jazz
================================================== ====
This recording is very interesting for the 3D quality
of imaging and instrument placement. You'll also find
that the timbre of the tenor sax is also revealing of
mid-range anamolies. I have this recording on both
vinyl and CD. There is a striking difference in imaging
between the two with the vinyl being far superior in
both imaging and tonal balance. This could be quite
useful for evaluations of various kinds.


British Band Classics - Eastman Wind Ensemble
Mercury Records/Mercury Golden Classics
================================================== =====
A fine recording of great concert band literature
from Mercury's great 50's vintage efforts. Good
imaging and tonal balance. And it's great music
besides. I first heard this recording being used
by Tom Norton back in the 70's when I knew him during
my days in the Air Force. Tom was an Air Force pilot
at the time and pubilished his own audio magazine
called Stereopus.

If you were to work in an audiophile shop, you'd hear
people always bringing the same recordings - Amanda McBroom
or some Telarc recording of The Planets. People are always
playing Mars or some other loud, complex orchestral track.
Go into a shop with these recordings and you'll get a great
reception from the dealer who will be pleased to hear great
music that is unfamiliar.

Russ Button

Nice post, Russ. Interestingly, at least two of these (the Johnny Hartman
and the Eastman) are/will soon be out in SACD. The Scott Hamilton may be as
well; I'm just not sure.

"Per Stromgren" wrote in
message ...
Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker, I've Got The Music
In Me on
Scheffield, perhaps?

Yes - that's it, I bet!

Speaking of direct-to-disc vinyl, my favorite is "Big
Band Jazz" with Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass on the
Umbrella label (it's sitting on my Sondek right now).
I now wish I had bought a couple of them - it's the
best Big Band jazz performance/recording I've ever
heard.

Tip

Tip wrote:

Yes - that's it, I bet!

Speaking of direct-to-disc vinyl, my favorite is "Big
Band Jazz" with Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass on the
Umbrella label (it's sitting on my Sondek right now).
I now wish I had bought a couple of them - it's the
best Big Band jazz performance/recording I've ever
heard.

The Boss Brass had great players, but I always preferred
the Basie and Ellington bands, as well as the Woody Herman
bands of the 50's. It's too bad none of them had access
to the recording technology Rob McConnell did.

What I think is one of the all-time great big band recordings
is one titled "Such Sweet Thunder", which was Ellington's
Shakespearean Suite.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=music

It's in mono because it was recorded in 1956, but it was
done pretty well all things considered. The music on that
recording is extraordinary. In particular the track titled,
"The Star-Crossed Lovers" is one of the most excrutiatingly
beautiful ballads ever recorded. It featured Johnny Hodges
and I can't think of anything ever performed that better
spoke of the wistfulness of lost love.

I've got an mp3 of it on-line at:

http://www.button.com/Russ/fave_tunes/

Coolness guys.

Russ

One recording that was outstanding was "The King James Version". This
had Harry James and his band on a Direct to Disk recording (Sheffield?).
I doubt if you could find a clean copy now.


---MIKE---

That's the one I was thinking about.............that Thelma Houston had a
good low end............very clean response.

Pete

wrote in message ...
MINe 109 wrote:


In article ,
"Tip" wrote:

Back in the late mid-80's, I was shopping for some
audiophile
equipment, including some Apogee speakers and went
to a specialty
salon. There the owner demonstrated the various
qualities of the his
equipment using a vinyl recording of a female
singer. He mentioned
that this recording was one of several standard
benchmarks used in the
audiophile community for demonstrating various
qualities, such as
"sound stage", imaging, etc. Unfortunately, I've
forgotten the name of
the artist and album title.

Does anyone know what this recording might have
been, or failing that,
might be able to give me a point to a list of
audiophile benchmark
recordings?

"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes?

That was in the '90's I believe (I first thought of her
"The Hunter" album).

1986. Perfect timing for the anecdote.

How about Amanda McBroom on Sheffield Lab?

Sure. Recorded 1980.

Stephen

Another great Sheffield female vocalist recording of note, although
perhaps recorded in the late 70's, would be the Thelma Houston
(Whitney's aunt) & Pressure Cooker release of "I've Got The Music in
Me". This LP was certainly used a lot in audio salons as a
demonstration record.

(For a great CD female vocalist demonstration recording, I'd recommend
Jacintha's release of "Here's To Ben" (which is also available on vinyl
and worth owning).

On 11 Mar 2005 20:38:40 GMT, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

That's the one I was thinking about.............that Thelma Houston had a
good low end.

Ummmm, never mind.

Kal

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
...
On 11 Mar 2005 20:38:40 GMT, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

That's the one I was thinking about.............that Thelma Houston had a
good low end.

Ummmm, never mind.

Kal

Not even a smiley face, Kal?

Harry

On 12 Mar 2005 15:39:29 GMT, "Harry Lavo" wrote:

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
...
On 11 Mar 2005 20:38:40 GMT, "Pete KE9OA"
wrote:

That's the one I was thinking about.............that Thelma Houston had a
good low end.

Ummmm, never mind.

Kal

Not even a smiley face, Kal?

Was one needed?

Kal