Just finished many hours of reading about .NET changes for 4.0… I was getting a bit tired and needed a change of pace, so I was listening to some music. As luck would have it, I heard two songs that were basically first takes. They were Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez and Wake Up and Lose You by Lobelia.
Diamonds and Rust
Some time back I ran across this YouTube version of Joan Baez, Diamonds and Rust – Live 1975. I love the acoustic guitar and the beautiful sound, all “on the spot”. Frankly, I’m always amazed when someone can play an instrument and sing at the same time.
Wake Up and Lose You
And shortly after that I heard Wake Up and Lose you by Lobelia. I’d first heard it on the Slash Dot Review in January 2005. I recalled that Andrew McCaskey stated she performed that piece in a single sitting. They pointed to garageband.com. Recently I found the information on bandcamp.com and there is stated, “This is my accidental album. 
10 songs; one take. It was recorded at Power Base Studios in Nebraska and was just meant to be a demo of a new piano; a Petrof grand.” I think her song was grand!
Certainly examples of excellence!