JS Bach - Goldberg - BasicRep.com

Well Tempered Clavier Book One
Performer: Glenn Gould (Piano)
Label: Sony Classical - Catalog: 52600

Well Tempered Clavier Book One
Performer: Kenneth Gilbert (Harpsichord)
Label: DG Archiv - Catalog: 474221

Gould Variations
Best of Glenn Gould's Bach
Performer: Glenn Gould (Piano)
Label: Sony Classical - Catalog: 89344

Solo Piano Works

Bach's solo keyboard work The Goldberg Variations is a study in the wonders of a variation on a theme. Bach transforms a simple melody in ways that can still astound us today. The performer that is most closely associated with this work is Glenn Gould. His 1955 recording was a landmark that brought the Variations into the Basic Repertoire. The 1955 Gould recording is part of my Essential CD Collection.
Also, BBC has a nice article on The Goldberg Variations here: 'The Goldberg Variations' by JS Bach

The first CD is the famous 1955 recording of The Goldberg Variations. Gould also recorded these again in 1982, and it is a great recording, but I think that his first recording has more historical value and is still great after all of these years. The 1955 version sings along at a dazzling speed, but does not seem rushed. The later 1982 recording is more deliberate, but no less rewarding. One note on Gould: he has a tendency to hum along with the music and tap his foot, especially in the 1982 recording.
UPDATE - Sony has released both both Gould versions on a 3CD set, including a bonus interview disc. Apparently Sony felt that the 1982 digital recording was too harsh, and has mastered the 1982 performance from an analog backup recording. Since the price for the single 1982 disc is about the same as the State Of Wonder set, I would definitely recommend the set. Personally, the analog sound really sounde richer than the digital one released originally.

Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier is a set of works in 2 books, each with 48 movements, and each book is spread over 2 CDs. The choice of Book One CD recordings is a bit up to your view on interpretations. Glenn Gould puts his personal mark on these pieces, and treats them as musical works, and not mere keyboard exercises. They are beautiful to listen to, however, strictly speaking, the interpretations are not really pure Bach. GOuld performs these pieces on piano. For a more traditional approach, Gilbert on Archiv gives a nice recording on harpichord.

If you would like a nice CD of various Bach piano works, Sony has The Gould Variations, which sample Goldberg, Well-Tempered Clavier and other works by
Glen Gould.