This year saw a decline in the number of DVD-Audio releases and a tipping point for SACD. All in all...a strong high performance audio library could be built just by purchasing the following top 10 from Amazon...

10. Buddy Guy - "DJ Play My Blues"
A hitherto unknown recording from Blue's best guitarist. It was taped live in a UK studio in 1981 and transferred to SACD this year. It stands up as one of Guy's most honest and real performances. In 5.1, Guy slices up the livingroom with neat little stinging strat slashes.

9. Everlast - "White Trash Beautiful"
It wasn't as strong as his previous outings, but this one glowers with a ferocity and rumble that is better felt than heard. Standouts include "This Kind of Lonely" interpolated with Hank Williams' "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry". The title track invokes visions of Lucy from the "hit" TV show, "The Trailer Park Boys"..

8. Frank Zappa - "Quadiophiliac"
Tapes for this album were discovered by Dweezil last year.
After trying to audition them on reel to reel; the Dweez soon realized that these were the makings of father Frank's foray into quadrophonic sound. Dweezil completed the project with the help of DTS and transferred it to DVD-Audio. "Quadiophiliac" sounds every bit as freaky and unpredictable as the best of Frank in the '70's. Check out the guitar solo on "Rollo"...(available at dtsentertainment.com)

7. Little Feat - "Kickin' it at the Barn"
Here's yet another under the radar DVD-Audio release that is so satisfying that long time fans can finally put Lowell George to rest. The instrumental track, "Stomp", should be required listening for all the "so called" jam bands these days. Nevermind those Grateful Dead transfers of "American Beauty" and "Workingman's Dead"...get this one directly from littlefeat.com...

6. Mark Knopfler - "Shangri-La"
Take your pick...DVD-Audio or SACD...Knopfler has never sounded more emotive or played more fluid. It simply is "more". A masterpiece that begs the exclamation, "I want my MTV" on SACD....and "Telegraph Road" and makes you wanna swing your sultans all around and remaster them in surround.....(ahem)...

5. The Allman Brothers - "Eat a Peach"
This is an early '70's masterpiece that begged...nay; demanded to be remastered. The original analog release accurately interplayed the brilliance of Dickie Betts and Duane Allman. But in SACD... these spectacular performances are clearly defined and easily identified. "Filmore East" is fantastic...but "Peach" is jubilant and joyful..