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Playlists of test tracks I use (Installment No. 1 of 5)

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Posted on April 18, 2024 at 08:43:55
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 8022
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000



Back when I was writing for the semi-famous independent automotive-news website "The Truth About Cars," the managing editor was Jack Baruth. Jack later worked for Road & Track, and then for Hagerty Media, where I wrote a few music columns for him.

Jack asked me to write something for his Substack blog "Avoidable Contact Forever," so I returned to the Evergreen subject of music tracks for the subjective evaluation of loudspeaker drivers (and also completed loudspeakers). The tracks are up on Qobuz and Tidal as playlists, linked to from the articles.

Which of course is an idiosyncratic decision process. So, I have created five playlists and written annotations as to why each track makes sense to me for the purpose. Installment No. 1 is up at the attached link; the others will follow once a week going forward.

1) Voices: Male, Female, and Group
2) Instrumental Music: Small-Scale Soundscapes
3) Diverse Music: Large-Scale Soundscapes (Part 1 of 2)
4) Diverse Music: Large-Scale Soundscapes (Part 2 of 2)
5) Pleasures, Both Guilty and Innocent

One I think novel wrinkle is that when I discuss large-scale soundscapes, in Installment No. 3, I discuss three different recordings of "Also Sprach Zarathustra," and in Installment No. 4, I discuss three different recordings of "Carmina Burana."

In the same vein, in Installment No. 2, I discuss four different solo-piano tracks. BUT! two of the tracks were recorded by different pianists playing the same piano in the same recording venue, recorded by the same engineer! Those four tracks really do reward close listening!

So far, there are more than 100 comments, and some of them are a bit unbuttoned, but that's modern life.

all my best,

john

 

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RE: Playlists of test tracks I use (Installment No. 1 of 5), posted on April 23, 2024 at 13:30:51
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15742
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
Excellent! JM.

 

RE: Playlists of test tracks I use (Installments Nos. 2 and 3), posted on April 29, 2024 at 16:28:55
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 8022
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000
In Installment No. 2, among other instruments, I discuss four different solo-piano tracks. BUT! two of the tracks were recorded by different pianists playing the same piano in the same recording venue, recorded by the same engineer! Those four tracks really do reward close listening.

In Installment No. 3, I discuss three different recordings of "Also Sprach Zarathustra."

The link is to No. 3, which has at the top links back to installments 2 and 1.

The featured track are on Qobuz and Tidal playlists. However, Tidal recently informed me that all Complimentary/Industry/Media free subscriptions would shortly go The Way of All Flesh.

ciao,

john

 

RE: Playlists of test tracks I use (Installments Nos. 2 and 3), posted on May 3, 2024 at 16:18:40
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15742
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
Music Heals- JM.

 

RE: Playlists of test tracks I use (Installment No. 1 of 5), posted on May 8, 2024 at 16:08:09
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4592
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
John,
Many thanks for sharing!

As always, your insights, knowledge and experiences add texture to your writing, making it compelling reading!

I have always loved the Nightfly, if only some of the old Steely Dan albums were as well recorded...

I also share your love/appreciation for the Ella track on Verve
If I had time and money, I would chase down the entire Verve catalogue...
Happy Listening

 

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