Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings: Can't Buy A Thrill

I have the "forum favorite" I guess (Japan for US with the 37040) Its a little lean on the bass but other than that its fine. I dont know why but I just feel like this album never has the sound that it deserves no matter the mastering. On vinyl the speakers corner got a little closer but it just seems to be missing something....

 

That's the thing: it's not a spectacular sounding recording to begin with. Esp. compared to their later releases which are stellar.

 

See here for the different masterings of this album.

I have mastering 3 in the list linked above and think that and mastering 5 are the forum favorites.

 

Thanks guys. I was able to find a Japan for USA MCAD 37040 on ebay for sale. Again, thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I don't have this title in any format right now so this was a great help.

 

I have mastering 1, 2 & 3 which should cover everything as the rest are all simply level shifts. 3 is my personal favourite as 1 & 2 both have issues. Mastering 3 appears to be the only unremastered version for this album.

 

I have the Japan-for-U.S., Japanese 20P2, box set, and current remastered CDs, and I much prefer the two Japanese pressings. They have the warmest sound to me. The current remaster is too bright, but I feel that way about all the current Steely Dan remasters.

 

Some small updates:

Mastering 1:
88.4/88.4/88.4/88.4/88.4/88.4/88.3/88.3/88.3/88.4

MCA Remaster 1998 MCD-11886 / Matrix: MCD11886 11886-2 01 + (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
93.2/98.8/94.9/93.4/94.7/98.8/91.9/91.0/90.2/91.2

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 410981 / Matrix: MCAD4109811 Y2D22 MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
92.1/94.1/89.4/94.3/88.6/91.3/89.6/89.5/98.3/97.0

MCA DMCL 1769 (artwork) MCAD-31192 (disc) / Matrix: MCAD-37040-1T23
MCA 250 448-2 (Made in Germany by Record Service GmbH) / Matrix: MCAD-37040
MCA 250 448-2 FRANCE WE 835 (MCAD 37040) Manufactured in Germany / Matrix: 250 448-2 SRC-01
MCA MCAD-31192 / Matrix: MCAD-37040-A7E
MCA MCAD-37040 DIDX-369 Manufractured in Japan for USA / Matrix: MCAD 37040 M2C11
MCA 20P2 Manufractured in Japan / Matrix: 20P2-2099 1M TO
MCA USA (artwork UK) DMCL 1769 (artwork) MCAD 31192 (disc) MCAD-31192 JVC 1T (matrix)
MCA MCAD-31192 DIDY-369 (artwork) MCAD-37040 DIDY 000369 CRC (disc) / Matrix: DIDX-000369 2
MCA MCD 01769, DMCL 1769 Germany / Matrix: SONOPRESS K-4067/ MCD01769 A DSC4
MCA MCAD-31192 USA (full artwork) / Matrix: 1AMCD31192 02 B

Mastering 4 (level adjusted version of mastering 2):
94.3/100.0/96.0/94.5/95.8/100.0/93.0/92.1/91.3/92.3

MCA USA? MCAD-31192 / Matrix: MCAD31192 A60801Ec mfg by UNI
MCA Canada MCBBD-31192 (listed as ADD???) / Matrix: L387 MCBBD31192 #50517Y23
MCA ? MCAD-31192 / Matrix: MCAD-31992-1-2C 1 5 MFD by JVC

Mastering 5 (level adjusted version of mastering 3):
89.6/91.6/87.0/91.8/86.2/88.9/87.2/87.1/95.7/94.4

MCA MCLD 19017 mastered by Nimbus UK CD / Matrix: DMCL 1769 · 1:6 MASTERED BY NIMBUS
MCA DMCL 1769 (artwork and disc) / Matrix: DMCL 1769 mastered by Nimbus

 

If 31192 and 37040 have the same mastering, where are the pre-1991 copies of Can't Buy a Thrill that were made from the "wrong masters"? Did that only affect other Steely Dan albums?

 

We've been wondering about this before. These mythical cds made from "wrong masters" haven't so far been identified. I'm starting to think they don't exist.

 

I have a copy of "Can't Buy A Thrill" by Steely Dan on CD that I'm sure I bought in the mid-80's, perhaps among the first CD's I ever bought. I've read through most of this thread, and I don't see exactly what I have listed here. Maybe someone can help me identify this thing.

Artwork & Spine: MCAD-37040, DIDX-369
(c) 1972, 1985 MCA Records, Inc. (p) 1972 MCA Records, Inc.
Original artwork (not plaid back)
MATRIX: M C A D 3 7 0 4 0 - U 5 E 1 1 (may be U 5 E : 1) Hard to read.
No other stamps, nothing inside the clear disc center.
Nothing indicates place of manufacture (USA, Japan, Germany, etc.)
No UPC/Barcode

I have no equipment to measure volume levels (EAC?), but it sounds fine, no discernible vocal or instrumental distortions., at least to my 64-year-old ears.

Hope I didn't just muddy up the works

 

I just did a double-check, and the label on my CD copy DOES SAY: "Manufactured in Japan for MCA"

 

I am pretty sure that's an example of mastering 3. Great sounding CD, indeed!

 

Hi Andreas,

After double-checking the label and seeing that it was, indeed, manufactured in Japan, it now sounds like the 1st Cousin to this one listed under Mastering #3:

MCA MCAD-37040 DIDX-369 Manufractured in Japan for USA / Matrix: MCAD 37040 M2C11

So, you're probably right. And, yep -- It's a great sounding CD!

Thanks so much

Now, does anyone know if this might be a "first pressing" or something of a rarity?

 

Another one of mastering 4 here:

MCA USA? MCAD-31192 / Matrix: MCAD31192 A60801Ec mfg by UNI

Mine has full artwork on the back, the "new" MCA logo, a barcode in the upper right of the back, and ADD on the disc itself.

I bought both this and "Can't Buy A Thrill" yesterday, hoping I'd get an 80's master, but instead I've apparently got the Glenn Meadows master, which is my second-least favorite (the 1998-2000 remasters by Nichols are my *least* favorite). Plus I already have the "Citizen" box. Back to the hunt! This thread helps a lot--thanks, mdekoning!

 

I came across this version recently of "Can't Buy A Thrill":

Release Date:
1985

CD (Front):
MCA MCD 01769, DMCL 1769

Matrix:
MCD-01769 13 A2 /Mastered by DADC Austria

Back:
Distributed by BMG Ariola
Printed in Germany
LC 1056
Barcode: 5011781176926
D: GM
F: BM 720

Peak Levels:
92.1/94.1/89.4/94.3/88.6/91.3/89.6/89.5/98.3/97.0


I think this puts it in the "Mastering 3" catagory

 

So I picked up a copy of Can't Buy A Thrill.

Compact Disc Digital Audio on right side of hub.
MCAD-37040 DIDX-369 to the right of Compact Disc Digital Audio.
Manufactured in Japan for MCA Records, Inc.
MCAD-37040 bottom left hand side on inner booklet.
DIDX-369 bottom right hand side on inner booklet.
DIDX-369, MCAD-37040 on bottom of spine.
Back cover, MCAD-37040 bottom left.
Back cover, DIDX-369 bottom right.

Numbers around hub are hard to read, but I think it says MCAD 37040 M2C1 (is that the matrix?)

EAC log:

Track 01: 92.1 %.
Track 02: 94.1 %.
Track 03: 89.4 %.
Track 04: 94.3 %.
Track 05: 88.6 %.
Track 06: 91.3 %.
Track 07: 89.6 %.
Track 08: 89.5 %.
Track 09: 98.3 %.
Track 10: 97.0 %.

 

I have a copy of this CD, but my EAC levels are different than any on the full list. The artwork says "MCAD-31192" on the lower left corner. On the right of the disc it says "ADD" then, under that, it has the "CDDA" logo and the code "MCAD-31192".
Under these two things it says "Manufactured by Cinram for MCA Records Canada. Then it lists the distributor and "Unauthorized copying is [etc]..." Then, under this, it says "Produced by Gary Katz" followed by "All songs written by [etc]... All songs ASCAP". Lastly on the disc, it says "1972 MCA Records, Inc.". The silver inner-ring of the disc says as follows: "#910710FF MCAD-31192 MFG BY CINRAM". The clear part at the centre of the disc just has a single number "9" on it. The back of the case is Plaid, with the tracklist in the centre followed by "Produced by Gary Katz". At the bottom left it says MCAD-31192; at the bottom centre is the "MCA RECORDS" logo; and at the bottom right it has the "ADD" logo. The barcode is 0 7673-11192-2 9.
The only year I can find on this copy is 1972.

Now for the EAC Log:

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 18. December 2014, 17:14

Unknown Artist / Unknown Title

Used drive : HL-DT-STDVDRAM GH24NS90 Adapter: 4 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : No
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Not detected, thus appended to previous track

Used output format : Internal WAV Routines
Sample format : 44.100 Hz; 16 Bit; Stereo


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
---------------------------------------------------------
1 | 0:00.00 | 5:55.20 | 0 | 26644
2 | 5:55.20 | 3:09.62 | 26645 | 40881
3 | 9:05.07 | 3:47.68 | 40882 | 57974
4 | 12:53.00 | 4:08.72 | 57975 | 76646
5 | 17:01.72 | 2:57.50 | 76647 | 89971
6 | 19:59.47 | 4:34.53 | 89972 | 110574
7 | 24:34.25 | 3:27.35 | 110575 | 126134
8 | 28:01.60 | 4:21.32 | 126135 | 145741
9 | 32:23.17 | 3:36.55 | 145742 | 161996
10 | 35:59.72 | 5:00.13 | 161997 | 184509


Track 1

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\01 Track01.wav

Peak level 94.2 %
Extraction speed 6.4 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 5D3EDD8D
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [7A2CF784] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\02 Track02.wav

Peak level 96.3 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 4CA2CF40
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [9960A445] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\03 Track03.wav

Peak level 91.4 %
Extraction speed 2.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 2B1B466A
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [F198D7F1] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\04 Track04.wav

Peak level 96.5 %
Extraction speed 2.5 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Copy CRC 3A3A11CC
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [18DADE6A] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\05 Track05.wav

Peak level 90.6 %
Extraction speed 2.7 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 80EECFC1
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [5ABC58D5] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\06 Track06.wav

Peak level 93.4 %
Extraction speed 2.8 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 264CA6EC
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [E5A8FCA9] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\07 Track07.wav

Peak level 91.7 %
Extraction speed 2.9 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Copy CRC 86F48B18
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [F58E711B] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\08 Track08.wav

Peak level 91.6 %
Extraction speed 3.0 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC BC5F20DB
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [33A271F6] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 9

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\09 Track09.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 3.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC 6311CADD
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [C002CD9C] (AR v1)
Copy OK

Track 10

Filename C:\Users\Jon\Music\In Use\Steely Dan\Can't Buy a Thrill\WAVE\10 Track10.wav

Peak level 99.2 %
Extraction speed 3.3 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC D749140D
Accurately ripped (confidence 4) [000FC56F] (AR v1)
Copy OK


All tracks accurately ripped

No errors occurred

End of status report

 

This one from '87?:
http://www.discogs.com/Steely-Dan-Cant-Buy-A-Thrill/release/1870456
Weird the '90 US used the same "MCAD-31192"!:
http://www.discogs.com/Steely-Dan-Cant-Buy-A-Thrill/release/2645463
contains pics of the back cover & disc as well.

How's the sound???

 

I've never thought there was anything wrong with the sound. I don't have anything to compare it to however. To me, it sounds like the Vocals and Drums are dominant in the mix. The vocals are very intimate, but the symbols, on the other hand, are very held back. Snare drum and high hat are up-front. Other percussion such as tambourine is bright and shiny sounding. The lead guitar is also very shiny yet detailed. I can hear things such as acoustic guitar and maracas at the very edges of the sound-stage (also very up-front). Last but not least, the bass is very detailed with a low-mid sound, though it sounds a little held back to me. The mix is not what I would consider "warm", but it's very clean and refined. I didn't notice any obvious tape anomalies.

 

I've never thought there was anything wrong with the sound. I don't have anything to compare it to however. To me, it sounds like the Vocals and Drums are dominant in the mix. The vocals are very intimate, but the symbols, on the other hand, are very held back. Snare drum and high hat are up-front. Other percussion such as tambourine is bright and shiny sounding. The lead guitar is also very shiny yet detailed. I can hear things such as acoustic guitar and maracas at the very edges of the sound-stage (also very up-front). Last but not least, the bass is very detailed with a low-mid sound, though it sounds a little held back to me. The mix is not what I would consider "warm", but it's very clean and refined. I didn't notice any obvious tape anomalies.

Here are some scans of my copy:
Front + Back - http://puu.sh/dBicK/da9b238711.jpg
Disc + Inlay - http://puu.sh/dBilp/40e03fe9a6.jpg
Liner Notes - http://puu.sh/dBiGi/67de56b1b6.jpg
Side - http://puu.sh/dBip0/cc23489151.jpg

I think mine is most likely from 1987, since it has that "compact disc compact price" logo on the inlay. According to "http://www.trademarkia.com/compact-disc-compact-price-73757218.html", the earliest use of this logo was in 1987.