1. Almost all songs sung by shri DKJ... especially his Renuka Devi that he sang during his last days.. Maanicka Bhushani Madhura rasa Bhaashini... Bhaanasadrusaakshini.... Parashuraama Janani.... My my my..... i still feel his very presence and his dedication and involvement in Krithi singing.. A matchless performer. My mother and younger sister were fortunate to learn from the great master for 7 years.
2. Lavanya Raama, Kanugonu, Etijenma, Sari Evvare, Alapana of Sahana, Kannada, Bhairavi, Madhyamavathi by Shri Ramnad Krishnan..
3. Shivakaamasundari (Mukhari), Rama Rama Pranasakhi (Bhairavi), Adikisukhamu, Kamakshi Shri Varalakshmi and many more from Smt.DKP... the great lady who brought the best out of DKJ...
4. All Papanasam Sivan Songs should be heard from Shri Sethalapathi Balu Mama..... Also some of the Thirupugazh songs like Sharana Kamalaalayathai... As i write tears flow from my eyes... he was a great soul... blemishless singer, pure from the heart! No need to specially mention his Viruthams... as he is hailed by every present generation singer on that aspect of music..
5. Madurai Mani Iyer's rendition of Seethavara Sangeetha, Chethashri, Shri Sathyanarayanam, Shri Shukra Bhagavantham, Brihaspathe, Diwakara Thanujam, Angarakam, Chandram Bhaja, Hecharikagaararaa used to invoke a lot of meditative effect. His nerevals and thaanams of various raagams were always ecstatic to me, pure flow of suswara gandharva gaanam!
6. Ramanatham Bhajeham, Andrivvulagam (Andal's Thiruppavai in Sindhu Bhairavi), Seshachala naayakam, Endharo Mahanubhavulu, Kotinadhulu and many songs of Shri Ariyakudi. I could imagine how he must have sung in his early days with the accompaniment of PMI and Pudukkottai pillaivaal!.
7. Madurai Somu's Madurai Arasaalum Meenakshi, Aadalai Paaduvom, Ennakavi Paadinaalum, Nallavaraye Naadu, Naalayendroru naal Varumaa, Azhagiya mayilinil aadivaa muruga, Ninaikkaadha neramillai... and many more....all of them were tailor made for him by him... Another simple soul with great artistry.
8. Shri Lalgudi's Dance of Sound Thillana album with Shyam's background music score, erode gururajan and Karaikkudi Mani's Mridangam (especially the kanada thillana where shri KRM's brilliant gap fillings).
9. Shri Balamurali's Bhadrachala Ramadasa Krithis & Thyagaraja Utsava Sampradaya Krithis
10. Shri Semmangudi's Maamava Meenakshi, Shri Raamam Ravikulaabdhi, Naavasidhi petralum, Shri Venkata Gireesam, Vadhaanyeswaram, Ranganayakam
11. Many albums of Smt. MS (especially her Annamacharya krithis).
12. Nedunuri Garu's Emayya Raama, Janaki Ramana, Aluruluguriyaga, mudhugare, Gayathi Vanamali, Sompaina Manasutho (Chellare), Ksheerasagara Vihara, Apudumanasu (Kamas), Shringara lahari, Manasaguruguha rupam, Okaparikopari, Mithri bhagyamu (Sowmithri), lekhana, Maapalavelasiga, Naan oru vilayattu bhommaya, Kannanai pani maname, Koluvaiyunnade (Devagandhari), Bhaavamulona and many more....
13. MLV amma's Thiruppavai.. i have listened to atleast 20 versions from different vidwans, but nothing was so appealing to my ears like MLV amma's album. Her renditions of Edhayya gathi, Baro krishnayya, Ayiram aayiram gopiyargal (in madhyama sruthi charukesi), theertha kariyinele speaks volumes about her emotional part of music. I thank god to have given chance for attending some of concerts.
14. MDR's Sagarashayana vibho, Budhamashrayami, Bhajare rechitha baalambika, Hariyum Haranum onre endru (with oru silar ulare... as the last line
), Kanada and Kaapi thillana. His sloka renditions especially Vikrethukaama kilagopa kanyaa in various raagams. We need one more birth to enjoy his music alone...
15. Ramani sir's idinyayama, govardhana gireesam, madhuvanthi thillana, entha mudhdho with alapana and swaras.. devagaanam!
16. Veena Balachander's great rendition of Evvare in Gangeyabhushani was a revelation!
17. Sengalipuram Dikshithar's Gurvaathapureesha Panchakam, All his Dhyanashlokams, Thyagaraja / Margabhandhu Stotrams... divine!
18. GNB's Dhavalaroopa, Sonnadhai seidhida, Dikkutheriyaadha kaatil, Kaaranam kettu vaadi, Saadhinchene, Emanipogaduthuraa, Nannubrova (bhairavam), Sudhamayee.
19. Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer's Hare panduranga, Kandhapura shanmukha, Maravakaraa nannu manmathi roopini (devagandhari), kanakanaruchiraa, his virutham's slokams and Mohanam alapana! Alas there are no 1920s and 30s recording of this Mahavidwan.
20. Where am i going to end this? I like many others... some familiar Vidwans and some un familiars as well... Entharo Mahaanubhaavulu Anthariki Vandanamu...
Not one birth is enough to listen to the ocean!