After the thread about differences between 16/44.1 and 24/192 being largely inaudible, and indeed the likelihood that audible differences are down to mastering, here's a link to Bob Katz's "Honor Roll" of what he considers to be the best sounding and mastered cd's, and his reasons for choosing them. Many are from the sixties to the nineties - not much recent - well, that is, recorded after 2000 - makes it.
I found it an interesting read...
There's a few we'll all know there, but also many new to me, at least.
http://www.digido.com/media/honor-roll.html