Enrico Caruso:

The Best of: (1958)

The Voice of The Century: (1962)

Enrico Caruso was the first international multi-media celebrity, and damn what a voice. He made some 206 recordings from 1904-1920, and came along right as commercial recordings were coming into fashion. For a time his records were given away as demo records with the purchase of Victrolas. Because of this many rural Americans were exposed to opera for the first time, and his influence was guaranteed. Elvis and Mahalia Jackson citied his records as important. You can really hear it in Elvis' latter day performances. Now, I'm not a big opera fan by any stretch of the imagination, but some people transcend genres, and Caruso is one of those. I don't need to understand the language or story to understand the emotion emanating from his throat.  I also think something is added by the roughness and scratchiness of the recordings themselves and the vinyl they rest upon.  

John Cage:

Variations IV, Vol. II (assisted by David Tudor): (196?)

Culled from the wildly popular marathon of a six hour concert at Feigen-Palmer Gallery in L.A. in 1965, this album mixes Cage and associates live performance with audience sound to create a vast auditory painting. A spectacular representation of Cage's belief that any sound or combination of sounds can be music that is completely free from rule, law or dogma. Listening to this record you hear the birth of sampling. Cage was a fearless pioneer on many fronts. 

Etudes Boreales (1978) Ryoanji (1983): (1985)

It's been said that minimalist art makes people the most uncomfortable. If you feel that way, then this record is not for you. John Cage believed in the use of silence, which is put to good use here on record one, Etudes Boreales, first with solo prepared piano, and then with solo cello. In this minimalist composition it becomes inevitable that your mind will fill in the pauses, and rest with sounds from your surrounding. Even the slight pops and clicks of the vinyl seemed planned. Side three combines the two solo instruments into a dance like conversation. Record two, side two, Ryoanji, is a 20 plus minute composition for voice and percussion. Slightly less minimalistic, but still representative of Cage's taste and style emitting a grace in its execution that is as soothing as a breathing exercise. While this music may be a turn off to some, I find it relaxing, and incredibly visual.