Best songs/albums for tube amps

[shafesk]

Hello everyone,

Having recently purchased a tube amp, I found that albums which are recorded in analogue sound better while digitally recorded songs sound quite the same as a solid state setup. For example, Nitin Sawhneys London Underground album, while an excellent recording still sounds very digital. This got me thinking, what are the best songs/albums to listen over a tube amp?

My reccomendations are:

Nina Simone-Feeling Good,

Elvis Costello-She,

U2-With or Without You,

Kings of Leon-Aha Shake Heartbeat (album),

Pink Floyd-Momentary Lapse of Judgement, Dark Side of The Moon, The Division Bell and pretty much anything they ever recorded,

Bob Marley and The Wailers-Tribute to the Legend (album),

Bob Dylan-Bob Dylan (album),

Beatles-Anthology 1 & 2 (album),

Hypnogaja-Acoustic Sunset-Live at The Longhouse (album),

Pearl Jam-Binaural

Will do more listening and post again, meanwhile-does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[chebby]

Some of what you list was digitally recorded. Pink Floyd's Division Bell - for instance - used DAT recorders and digitally synthesised instruments like drum machines for the recording.

U2's 'With or without you' (Joshua Tree)was recorded used a digital (10 bit) mixing desk.

You will probably find that a lot of what you consider 'analogue' used digital technology somewhere in recording, mixing or mastering/re-mastering (or even in the instruments themselves).

Digital technology in studios became commonplace years before CDs did, and even pre-digital recordings were subsequently re-mastered in digital quite early on.

 

[acalex]

I actually have a tube amp at home and I think it really shines with Jazz, vocals, acoustic, some blues and folk.

Whenever there is a voice with one/two instruments, that's the best for the gear! I thought it was REALLY impressive with old vinyls also...so I tend to agree with you that analogue sound is a great matching for tubes!

Which tube amp did you buy?

 

[Overdose]

what are the best songs/albums to listen over a tube amp?

The best albums/songs to listen to are the ones you like. It doesn't matter how good a recording is if the music is c**p.

 

[shafesk]

Some of what you list was digitally recorded. Pink Floyd's Division Bell - for instance - used DAT recorders and digitally synthesised instruments like drum machines for the recording.

U2's 'With or without you' (Joshua Tree)was recorded used a digital (10 bit) mixing desk.

You will probably find that a lot of what you consider 'analogue' used digital technology somewhere in recording, mixing or mastering/re-mastering (or even in the instruments themselves).

Digital technology in studios became commonplace years before CDs did, and even pre-digital recordings were subsequently re-mastered in digital quite early on.

Thank you, I never knew these were digital recordings tbh. However, what I am tryng to say is that they do sound analogue. Compared to say Lady Gaga (eek!) a lossless file of With or Without You still sounds like its playing on vinyl. I am just looking for some good quality music which sounds like vinyl

 

[shafesk]

I actually have a tube amp at home and I think it really shines with Jazz, vocals, acoustic, some blues and folk.

Whenever there is a voice with one/two instruments, that's the best for the gear! I thought it was REALLY impressive with old vinyls also...so I tend to agree with you that analogue sound is a great matching for tubes!

Which tube amp did you buy?

I absolutely agree with you, it just sounds live, don't care about any measurements, nothing really matters as long as it sounds like the artist is in your room. I bought a Cayin a-55 t. Cracking little amp for the money. I see you've got a Vincent, how do you find it with your setup?

 

[shafesk]

what are the best songs/albums to listen over a tube amp?

The best albums/songs to listen to are the ones you like. It doesn't matter how good a recording is if the music is c**p.

I partly agree and partly disagree. Although if a well recorded song is crap I don't listen to it, I have trouble listening to good songs if the recording is rubbish for example Kings of Leon-Use somebody sounds horrid, but I think its a lovely song. The thing is, I've always found my set up to influence the kind of music I like, hence the forum topic.

 

[acalex]

I actually have a tube amp at home and I think it really shines with Jazz, vocals, acoustic, some blues and folk.

Whenever there is a voice with one/two instruments, that's the best for the gear! I thought it was REALLY impressive with old vinyls also...so I tend to agree with you that analogue sound is a great matching for tubes!

Which tube amp did you buy?

I absolutely agree with you, it just sounds live, don't care about any measurements, nothing really matters as long as it sounds like the artist is in your room. I bought a Cayin a-55 t. Cracking little amp for the money. I see you've got a Vincent, how do you find it with your setup?

Yes, it sounds live and soundstage is stunning also. I love almost everything on my tube amp...expecially simple jazz and female voices.

The Vincent is a solid state budget amp, was my first amp which is not in use now anymore. The tube I have got now is a Jadis D50RC Signature, a stunning handcrafted tube amp produced in France. Everytyime I play some music is like falling in love for the first time over and over :rockout:

 

[Anonymous]

Anything by this amazing singer, Tracy Chapman. This whole album is superb but think you'd especially appreciate Behind the Wall.

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[Anonymous]

And for Acalex........

SMASH HITS! Falling in Love....................

 

[shafesk]

Thanks StevieD, finally people sharing music...its time to partay! :dance:

 

[acalex]

I like a lot played through my tube amp something like this....

- Allan Taylor - Colour to the moon (great folk singer)

- Eva Cassidy - Songbirds

- Keb Mo - Keb mo (amazing blues album)

- Eric Clapton - Unplugged

- Barbr Jungr - Walking in the sun

- Diana Krall - The Very Best of

- Richard Bona - Revenge

- Livingstone Taylor - Ink

- Rumer - Seasons of my soul

- The Oscar Petersonb Trio - We get requests (amazing instrumental jazz album)

...and many others as well...

 

[jerry klinger]

Try the Nick Drake and Pentangle albums on vinyl. Sound wondrous through valves. As does 'Thriller' if my memory from 1984 serves!

 

[grayfair0]

david gilmour - on an island - fantastic workout for your midband and textures and guitar tones

k t tunstal - eye to the telescope - the whole cd is good but especially listen to her close mic`d track "silent sea" you`ll need a cold shower after!

steve hillage - green - very good for checking how high your highs go!

those are my 3 favourite cd`s on tube gear and are very good recordings, especially dave gilmours cd

 

[Rethep]

For me Nithin Sawney's "London Undersound" does not sound digital at all, as my speakers have a "sweet character" too.

Almost everything sounds better on a tube-amp. Even very rough music is more listenable, although with lesser bite than with ss amplification. But for a great deal you can get used to the sound, over some time. Then you never want the way back.

Albums i listened to last few months:

Supertramp - Crime of the Century

Dire Straits - Communique

The Untanks - Songs of Robert Wyatt and Anthony and the Johnsons

Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball

Tord Gustavsen Quartet - Being There

Joni Mitchell - Blue

Janis Ian - Between the lines

Nithin Sawhney - Introduction to

Portishead - Dummy

Van Morrison - Common one

Lizz Wright - Dreaming wide awake

Radiohead - OK Computer

------------------------------------------

Kari Bremnes - Gåte ved gåte

Mayra Andrade - Studio 105

Ali Farka Touré, Ry Cooder - Talking Timbuktu

Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba - Segu Blue

Afel Bocoum - Tabital Pulaaku

------------------------------------------

Gustav Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde (on Naxos label!)

Arvo Pärt - Fratres (on Naxos label)

to name a few!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi shafesk

Regardless of amplifier design - The Silver Tree by Lisa Gerrard

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[shropshire lad]

Hi shafesk

Regardless of amplifier design - The Silver Tree by Lisa Gerrard

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Rick ,

I have read you mentioning this album a couple of times now , are you familiar with her other albums , in particular Duality and The Mirror Pool , and if so how does it compare to them ?

Nick

 

[SpursGator]

I love female voices, especially though tubes. For example:

- Aimee Mann, any of her songs on the Magnola soundtrack

- Gillian Welch (any of her gorgeous albums)

- Alison Krauss (if you can find the SACD or at least the DVD of AK + Union Station live, it's the sweetest sound ever)

- Patti Smith (Horses)

- Corinne Bailey Rae (The Sea, particularly 'Are You Here')

Also:

- Bob Dylan (my favorite demo song for my amp: 'Let Me Die in my Footsteps' from the Bootleg series)

- Tom Petty (Wildflowers)

- Sufjan Stevens (the Illinois album but also, and especially, 'For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti'from the Michigan album)

- Bon Iver (the first album)

- The Wood Brothers (Ways Not to Lose) - a very stripped down New Orleans-style blues album with just a guitar and accousitc bass - if that bass sounds really really good, then you have a great amp)

Just some ideas - liked a lot of the other suggestions here - keep them coming!

 

[Macspur]

Haven't got a tube amp... next best thing Class A, but I think these albums would sound sublime!

Cara Dillon, Hill of theives

Melody Gardot, My one and only thrill

Kings of Convenience, Quiet is the new loud

Molly Parden, Time is Medicine

Kate Rusby, The girl who couldn't fly

Stacey Kent, Breakfast on the morning tram