Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

General Banter => The Circular File => Topic started by: SunnyDaze on September 02, 2011, 01:38:16 AM

Title: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: SunnyDaze on September 02, 2011, 01:38:16 AM
Through some Donnie Darko-esque experience, you find out that you've got approximately an hour left on this Earth. Of course, you walk in to your listening room and you contemplatively stare at your records, CD's, or and other media. Which album do you put on?

For me, it could be no other album than Pet Sounds.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on September 02, 2011, 05:47:18 AM
Considering the mood I'd be in after finding out I only have 1 hour to live and can only listen to one album, I thing I would go with Tool AEnima
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 02, 2011, 08:13:40 AM
Probably Sgt Pepper
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Reverend on September 02, 2011, 11:41:01 AM
Drive Like Jehu "Yank Crime"
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Anders on September 02, 2011, 12:10:03 PM
For me it would be one of the Manneheim Steamroller Fresh Aire LPs.
Maybe the second one.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: bmwr75 on September 02, 2011, 02:10:04 PM
If I only got a hour to live, it probably ain't going to be spent selecting an album to listen to.   >:D
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: SunnyDaze on September 02, 2011, 05:23:34 PM
I realize that's not likely to be anyone's true final actions, that's why this thread assumes that they will be your final actions.

I know you've got a completely sealed 180 gram WHAM! album somewhere that'd come out in that final hour, Scott!  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on September 02, 2011, 06:00:57 PM
Sunny - I just realized I do not have Pet Sounds in vinyl,  so this thread has manufactured a need I did not have earlier today - thanks for nothing, buddy.

BTW - are you using the reel-to-reel machine much?  Tom gave me (as part of the purchase of my first rt-707) a boatload of tapes.  They are great recording media, even if the original recordings have lost their luster.  I will gladly gift you a bunch of those if you want them - I have way too many.  I can drop them off at Tom's or just PM me your mailing address.  I still have to send you the component cable anyway. 

Pepe
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 02, 2011, 06:11:08 PM
If I only got a hour to live, it probably ain't going to be spent selecting an album to listen to.   >:D

That why this thread exists.   So when the day comes you will know which album to grab.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: F1nut on September 02, 2011, 07:18:54 PM
That's an easy one. Aimee Mann-Lost In Space on Mofi SACD.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: SunnyDaze on September 02, 2011, 07:41:45 PM
Honestly Pepe, I haven't even gone through it yet. My assistantship is 20 hours a week, plus the scholarship addendum requires about 15-20 hours of research and work per week. I don't have time to post on here, let alone rip that beast apart. (Yet I find time to post on here anyhow.)

F1, tell me how stupid I am for not owning an SACD player... Is it THAT much of an audible difference?  ;D
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Bunni on September 02, 2011, 08:35:41 PM
Hmmm..I just don't know.  Maybe the soundtrack from Oh Brother Where Art Thou, or perhaps NiN Closer, Marilyn Manson Lest We Forget or Tainted Love (love his version), Vivaldi Four Seasons, Beatles, Rammstein, Kraftwerk...My tastes are way to eclectic to choose.   I love it all except Rap and Country.

I'd miss my computer more I think...we've shared so much together!

Of course spending time with my husband and children would be nice too.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: mbskeam on September 02, 2011, 09:25:42 PM
pinkFloyd, The Wall
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Zoot Horn on September 02, 2011, 10:27:15 PM
Electric ladyland
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on September 02, 2011, 10:40:30 PM
I have a sony sacd player ready for ya any time...
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: rgpit on September 02, 2011, 11:27:48 PM
Beggars Banquet
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: F1nut on September 02, 2011, 11:50:13 PM
Quote
Is it THAT much of an audible difference?     

The short answer is yes.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Anders on September 03, 2011, 12:50:40 AM
There's a YouTube video with Michael Fremer and a bunch of recording (mastering) engineers comparing vinyl to CD to SACD.
They all say CD sucks and SACD is OK but you can actually hear how much better the vinyl is.

I have a DVD/SACD player which is a high-end Sony but I have very few SACDs.

Deep Listening: Why Audio Quality Matters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY5hI98HEi0#)
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: tinpan on September 03, 2011, 07:07:33 AM
Lhasa

I like F1 Nut's  Aimee Mann pick and Bunni's Brother Where Art Thou
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on September 03, 2011, 08:28:11 AM
My Sony SACD player seats unused. It is not high-end at all - really a DVD player with SACD as a extra feature.  I own 4 SACDs.  As a CD player,  the unit is laughably inferior to the Phillips CD-80, so there is that.  If I did set it up,  I am back to the 4 SACDs I own.  Selection is a bit scarce,  thought it has gotten better and cheaper (down to $13 a CD).  But I can get the vinyl for each one of those at half that price or less,  and the selection of vinyl is huge.  So why do it? 

Having written all that,  F1nut's opinion is to be taken seriously,  so I may test the SACD thing one more time.

One thing about SACDs:  you can raise the volume to your heart's content without worrying about feedback, which an issue (for me anyway) at very high SPL w vinyl.

OBG
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 03, 2011, 11:09:55 AM
Mastering over media.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Kingman on September 04, 2011, 10:44:09 AM
Let me go out with a bang.... O0
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: SunnyDaze on September 04, 2011, 08:16:38 PM
Oh, I take F1's opinion very seriously. When I do finally make the hi-fi southern tour, I'd love to listen what he and a few others have to say and offer in terms of advice and of course gear. 

My concern with SACD is exactly that, availability. The media is there if I make the effort and wish to expend the fundage on said media. I just don't have either of those precious resources at the moment. I didn't even bring anything to grad school that requires tinkering.

That being said, I've never really looked all that hard for SACD material. Is it THAT scarce or can a trip to Best Buy once a week keep me content?

AND... is there a HUGE difference between low grade and high end SACD units? I mean... the obvious answer will most likely be yes... but... I'll be a dumbass and ask anyhow.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: wkhanna on September 04, 2011, 08:33:47 PM
Re the OT……..
I am in a dilemma.
I do not know of a version of Beethoven’s 9th that comes in at less the 60 minutes!
Were in world would you edit out the extra 5 to 9 minutes of music (depending on which performance you choose)?
Certainly not the finale!
And definitely not one second of the opening passage!
Yet I know of some who totally by-pass the second movement all together when listening to this Masterwork!?!?!?
Absolute heresy!!!!!!!

Anyway, therein lays my conundrum.
Only 60 minutes to listen to 65+ minutes of my last bit of music forever.
Life is so cruel; maybe I’ll just put the 9mm in my mouth and be done with all!

But wait! There is that ‘Greatest Broadway Show Tunes of All Times’ CD my wife has…….
Wonder what the play-time on that one is ?
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Anders on September 04, 2011, 09:03:45 PM
Absolute heresy ? I have a direct to disc LP that's just the final movement of the 9th !
Stunning dynamics ! My father always gave me a hard time for buying it.

Ohhhh and speaking of differences...
The main difference I hear between a cheap CD player and a good CD player is in sound-stage width.
A cheap CD player sounds like you pushed the mono button in.

I don't think Best Buy has any SACDs anymore.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: SunnyDaze on September 04, 2011, 11:15:28 PM
Anders, I don't know if I'd say I noticed staging and width when I did a major upgrade in the CD player department. What I did notice was an increase in dynamics and in "presence". Everything seems more alive.

Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: bmwr75 on September 05, 2011, 08:42:31 AM
Best Buy hardly has any CDs anymore.  Last time I was in one a couple of months ago, I couldn't even find the CD section.  Had to ask an associate where they were........the few CDs they had were stuck in the back corner of the store.  SAD!!!!


Absolute heresy ? I have a direct to disc LP that's just the final movement of the 9th !
Stunning dynamics ! My father always gave me a hard time for buying it.

Ohhhh and speaking of differences...
The main difference I hear between a cheap CD player and a good CD player is in sound-stage width.
A cheap CD player sounds like you pushed the mono button in.

I don't think Best Buy has any SACDs anymore.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on September 05, 2011, 09:38:00 AM
There are still a few SACDs left on Amazon.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: hewlew1 on October 13, 2011, 08:31:49 PM
Genisis Foxtrot
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: icravcarver on October 13, 2011, 10:27:26 PM
I guess it would come down to if I had knowledge of "how" is was about to die.  In other words, what manner of death.  Serene peaceful fall asleep and never wake up death or a horrible, tragic, painful, cut down in my prime death.  For this reason, I have a few possible selections.

Scenario 1 - peaceful passing - I would have to say Pink Floyd - Meddle (on vinyl)
Scenario 2 - painful passing - Definitely would be Slip Knot - All Hope is Gone (again on vinyl).

There is also the other options of picking songs of particular albums to fill the entire hour but this obviously would take forever, and by time I compiled the list, I would be dead and not enjoyed any of my collection.

Some close runners up:
The Band - The Last Waltz
Grateful Dead - Skeletons from the Closet
Neil Young - Harvest
Tool - Undertow
Pearl Jam - Ten
Janes Addiction - Nothings Shocking
Black Sabbath  or Ozzy - pick an album any album
Genesis - Trick of the Tail
Jimi Hendrix - anything from this mad man

If I thought about it more, I would have to put the 9 mm in my mouth!  The thought of having to choose would drive me to do it!

Neil
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Kingman on October 14, 2011, 10:35:38 AM
Genisis Foxtrot
Welcome aboard Harry!!!  :)
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: MacGeek on October 14, 2011, 05:22:27 PM
Warren Zevon, or maybe some of Harry Neilson seem to suit death.  I am sure there are others.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Zoot Horn on October 15, 2011, 08:15:56 AM
Electricladyland
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: hewlew1 on October 15, 2011, 06:44:13 PM
Thanks Wayne
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: treitz3 on October 16, 2011, 12:51:07 PM
Oh, this is an easy one for me. Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" album, Mo-Fi edition. Maybe the audio Gods would grant me the extra time to complete the album because they can recognize a great concert when they hear one.

Ooooooooh yeah, Little Feat Live baby!!! I would die a happy man.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: SunnyDaze on October 16, 2011, 01:30:50 PM
Ha. Willin' on that album is stellar. Actually, the whole album is just wonderful. Great choice!
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Anders on October 16, 2011, 02:11:07 PM
Looks like I got my Mo-Fi LPs of Waiting for Columbus at Jerry's for $30 years ago.
Title: Re: You have one hour to live. Which album do you put on?
Post by: Mr. M-500t on October 20, 2011, 09:10:40 PM
I'd have to say The Little River Band. (Cool Change)