If you could only play one song to audition equipment, what would it be?

slovell said:
Donald Fagen - Ruby Baby
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One of my favorite Anthony Jackson bass tracks A nice system will easily reveal how much nuance went into his track compared to a mediocre system that will make it sound repetitive and Larry Carltons playing in the fade of the song is so perfectly placed.

cason said:
Probably Janis Ian, “Bright Lights and Promises” from her “Between the Lines” album. If a system gets female voice, piano and cello right; can do drums well and manages Janis without sibilance, I’ll probably be happy. Or I could use “Lover’s Lullaby” - last cut on the B side- which is a real test for sibilance.
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I have a RL stamper of that LP, exceptional recording.


I agree with @turnitup on using School from Supertramp also, still remember being blown away the first time I played an original copy of that LP and that was after hearing some of the songs countless times on the radio. As recordings go I consider it a must own for serious listeners, loving their original style of music is just an added bonus for me.
 
BMWCCA said:
Great suggestions from all of you!

If I had to pick just one, it would be Cousin Dupree from Steely Dan's Two Against Nature CD.

The next up would probably be Way Down Deep from Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter CD.
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Yes! Way Down Deep is my pick too. I'll have to get out Two Against Nature and listen closely to Dupree. Steely Dan stuff is recorded very well (eg. Aja).
 
Seems whatever song someone likes best is the best song to evaluate a system.
Makes sense in that if you like a band or genre, whatever system does that thing best would be the best system for the listener.

I was trying to think bigger than that ..... (timber, tone, resonance, decay, clarity, resolution, image, sound stage, separation of instruments & placement in space, etc).
Maybe I'm over thinking it.
 
Bob in WI said:
Seems whatever song someone likes best is the best song to evaluate a system.
Makes sense in that if you like a band or genre, whatever system does that thing best would be the best system for the listener.

I was trying to think bigger than that ..... (timber, tone, resonance, decay, clarity, resolution, image, sound stage, separation of instruments & placement in space, etc).
Maybe I'm over thinking it.
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I don't think you have or are...but I think those categories of evaluation are baked-in to most peoples responses and choices. I myself love the attack and decay of piano...which is why (among other reasons) I like the Joe Jackson song I mentioned...not that there aren't others.
 
The third movement (Adagio) from Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) is high on my list.

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Prediction: This thread will have 1900 pages in 15 years, and every song ever recorded will be mentioned!

I'm going with "Dancing Cheek to Cheek" by Eva Cassidy. I'm pretty certain I've heard it on every system change over the past 20 years.

 
I don't have anything in particular I use to "test" equipment with anymore but for a couple of years I always played CSNY's "Carry On" first whenever I got something new. Just a weird ritual, I guess, but a great song I was familiar with that I always enjoyed hearing.
 
Interesting question. Back in my college days I was the guy in the dorm with the loud stereo 1978-1980. I did the twice annual all-dorm parties. For some reason Steely Dan’s “Do it again”became the first song played when the sound system was set up for each party, the system check song.

I also agree with those above stating “Time” and Dire Straits songs would be good.
 
Agree with Steely Dan's Aja album.
For just one song I would choose Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me." Lots of jazz elements in the rythm section. Her vocals. Guitar solo in the middle. Crystal clear female vocals is a make it/break it for me with speakers and is the reason I chose my Triangle BRO3's over the Klipsch RP-600M's. The Klipsch made it sound like she was singing with her hand in front of her mouth.
 
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