Slideshow: 22 Demo Albums that Actually Rock
Gov't Mule, The Deep End, Vol. 1

22 Demo Albums that Actually Rock

Put the sleepy jazz and classical music away -- it's time to test your audio system on all kinds of rock for you to hear in a new way.
Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz
Def Leppard, Hysteria
AC/DC, Back in Black
Living Colour, Vivid
Live, Throwing Copper
Tool, 10,000 Days
Jeff Beck, Blow by Blow
Alex Skolnick Trio, Goodbye to Romance: Standards for a New Generation
The Who, Who's Next
Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon
Queen, A Night at the Opera
Led Zeppelin, IV (Zoso or Symbols)
Steely Dan, Aja
Jimi Hendrix, Axis: Bold as Love
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Slide 19 of 22
Gov't Mule, The Deep End, Vol. 1

The jammy Allman Bros. disciple Gov’t Mule turned tragedy into treasures with The Deep End, Vol. 1 (and succeeding second volume). After bassist Allen Woody died, the group, led by slide guitar extraordinaire Warren Haynes, conducted a musical experiment by recording each song with a different bassist. And not just anyone grabbed off the street (or neighboring recording studio)—but some of the most famous bass players the music world has to offer.

There’s plenty for you to discover on this exceptionally recorded album, but obviously putting a keen ear on the bass lines is foremost in your audio demos. Plus many of the guest bass players, like Cream’s Jack Bruce, Phish’s Mike Gordon and Funkadelic’s Bootsy Collins sing background vocals too. Then try to figure out which tracks you hear the likes of Flea, Roger Glover and John Entwistle.

Signature Test Track: “Soulshine” There are harder rocking songs on the album, but “Soulshine” just like the Allmans played it too, has mass appeal. It also features Chuck Leavell on organ and wurlitzer—you may remember him playing one of the sweetest piano solos in rock history on the Allmans “Jessica” instrumental classic.

Read more: 22 Demo Albums that Actually Rock