Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings: Countdown to ecstasy

This thread is to check out all the different masterings of Countdown to ecstasy. If you have anything not listed here, please post a catalogue number and matrix number, in a similar way to the discs already listed. If you have a new mastering post EAC levels as well.

This thread is purely to identify the EAC levels of all different masterings and where to find those masterings, so if you can't post EAC levels don't bother to post about masterings not yet listed. Also don't start discussions about which one's best, we can save that discussion until we have collected pretty much everything that is out there.

Here's what I have found so far myself:

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

MCA Remaster 1998 MCD-11887 / Matrix: MCD11887 111 887-2 01 + (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
93.3/92.7/93.3/94.0/94.0/93.4/90.1/94.4

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109811 Y2D MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
81.9/79.5/88.1/84.1/92.3/92.3/71.9/84.2

MCA UK DMCL 1654 (artwork) MCAD-37041 DIDX-372 Japan for USA (disc) / Matrix: MCAD-37041-U3E12

 

1985 WG Cat no- 250 628-2. Booklet has MCAD-37041 and disc has MCAD-37041 DIDX372. Barcode on back inlay cover

Inner disc matrix- 250 628-2 EM 2


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
---------------------------------------------------------
1 | 0:00.00 | 5:20.20 | 0 | 24019
2 | 5:20.20 | 3:11.25 | 24020 | 38369
3 | 8:31.45 | 5:40.72 | 38370 | 63941
4 | 14:12.42 | 7:02.33 | 63942 | 95624
5 | 21:15.00 | 5:25.55 | 95625 | 120054
6 | 26:40.55 | 5:47.00 | 120055 | 146079
7 | 32:27.55 | 3:50.60 | 146080 | 163389
8 | 36:18.40 | 5:03.55 | 163390 | 186169


Track 1

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track01.wav

Timing problem 0:00:32

Peak level 81.9 %
Copy CRC B02FE27C
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [97268AC8]
Copy finished

Track 2

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track02.wav

Peak level 79.5 %
Copy CRC 0BE37A1B
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [5A8B6DD8]
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track03.wav

Peak level 88.1 %
Copy CRC 43530036
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [240F59F4]
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track04.wav

Peak level 84.1 %
Copy CRC CE690B8E
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [47659927]
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track05.wav

Peak level 92.3 %
Copy CRC 47592C51
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [3E9CB023]
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track06.wav

Peak level 92.3 %
Copy CRC 5431DE99
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [7D5421B4]
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track07.wav

Peak level 71.9 %
Copy CRC 349589EE
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [E9957F9F]
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename C:\Users\Ewen\Documents\Track08.wav

Peak level 84.2 %
Copy CRC 450CBF36
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [1360E72E]
Copy OK

 

C'mon, there must be some people here with a US remaster or recent SHM master.

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

MCA Remaster 1998 MCD-11887 / Matrix: MCD11887 111 887-2 01 + (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
93.3/92.7/93.3/94.0/94.0/93.4/90.1/94.4

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109811 Y2D MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
81.9/79.5/88.1/84.1/92.3/92.3/71.9/84.2

MCA UK DMCL 1654 (artwork) MCAD-37041 DIDX-372 Japan for USA (disc) / Matrix: MCAD-37041-U3E12
MCA WG 250-628-2 (artwork) MCAD-37041 (booklet) MCAD-37041 DIDX372 (disc) / Matrix: ?????

 

Catagloue number (artwork and disc): MCLD 19018
Credit (artwork): Distributed by BMG Records (UK) Ltd.
Matrix: A0249 DMCL 1654, MASTERED BY NIMBUS

Track 1 Peak level 79.8 %
Track 2 Peak level 77.4 %
Track 3 Peak level 85.8 %
Track 4 Peak level 81.8 %
Track 5 Peak level 89.9 %
Track 6 Peak level 89.8 %
Track 7 Peak level 70.0 %
Track 8 Peak level 81.8 %

Based on the numbers, this might be related to Mastering 3.

 

I notice that you haven't listed the matrix for the WG 250-628-2

I put it at the top of the EAC log.

 

Here's an updated list:

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

MCA Remaster 1998 MCD-11887 / Matrix: MCD11887 111 887-2 01 + (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
93.3/92.7/93.3/94.0/94.0/93.4/90.1/94.4

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109811 Y2D MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
81.9/79.5/88.1/84.1/92.3/92.3/71.9/84.2

MCA UK DMCL 1654 (artwork) MCAD-37041 DIDX-372 Japan for USA (disc) / Matrix: MCAD-37041-U3E12
MCA WG 250-628-2 (artwork) MCAD-37041 (booklet) MCAD-37041 DIDX372 (disc) / Matrix: 250 628-2 EM 2

Mastering 4:
79.8/77.4/85.8/81.8/89.9/89.8/70.0/81.8

MCA UK MCLD 19018 (disc & artwork) Distributed by BMG Records (UK) (artwork) / Matrix: A0249 DMCL 1654, MASTERED BY NIMBUS

Mastering 3 & 4 look very similar at first, but looking at the differences between the peak levels in percentages it appears the masterings are slightly different:

2,631578947%
2,713178295%
2,680652681%
2,811735941%
2,669632925%
2,783964365%
2,714285714%
2,93398533%

The differences in these percentages are too big to call mastering 4 a louder version of mastering 3.

 

These differences could very well be just rounding errors since the peak levels are only calculated with one decimal. If somebody could post a sample of mastering 3, I could check if they stay in synch or cancel after volume adjustment.

 

mcad-31192 matrix MCAD31192 A60801Ec mfg by UNI
barcode on back w/artwork (not plaid)
copyright 1972,1972,1985


Track 1

Filename Do It Again.wav

Peak level 94.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC C0A6A928
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [1A405C72]
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename Dirty Work.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 99.8 %
Test CRC 1EE08C09
Cannot be verified as accurate (confidence 5) [A122A17D], AccurateRip returned [EF5B7DB6]
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename Kings.wav

Peak level 96.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BBE48CC6
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [81A96B3C]
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename Midnite Cruiser.wav

Peak level 94.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 2B686411
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [DDDA517C]
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename Only A Fool Would Say That.wav

Peak level 95.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 541282D5
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [6E3D8A5A]
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename Reelin' In The Years.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 94F36EC7
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [09FEF3B3]
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename Fire In The Hole.wav

Peak level 93.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D7CFEF54
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [D48E08B4]
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename Brooklyn.wav

Peak level 92.1 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B6A5BA98
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [A50A262B]
Copy OK

Track 9

Filename Change of the Guard.wav

Peak level 91.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3215CE5A
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [ADF73454]
Copy OK

Track 10

Filename Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.wav

Peak level 92.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 1831859F
Accurately ripped (confidence 5) [4EC95B90]
Copy OK

 

OK, this is what we have so far. There's still a lot more out there, so keep posting if you have a version not yet listed here.

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

MCA Remaster 1998 MCD-11887 / Matrix: MCD11887 111 887-2 01 + (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
93.3/92.7/93.3/94.0/94.0/93.4/90.1/94.4

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109811 Y2D MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
81.9/79.5/88.1/84.1/92.3/92.3/71.9/84.2

MCA UK DMCL 1654 (artwork) MCAD-37041 DIDX-372 Japan for USA (disc) / Matrix: MCAD-37041-U3E12
MCA WG 250-628-2 (artwork) MCAD-37041 (booklet) MCAD-37041 DIDX372 (disc) / Matrix: 250 628-2 EM 2

Mastering 4:
79.8/77.4/85.8/81.8/89.9/89.8/70.0/81.8

MCA UK MCLD 19018 (disc & artwork) Distributed by BMG Records (UK) (artwork) / Matrix: A0249 DMCL 1654, MASTERED BY NIMBUS

Mastering 5:
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

 

Mastering #5 is actually from Can't Buy A Thrill. It belongs in the Can't Buy A Thrill thread.

 

you are right sir.wrong thread

 

I was really surprised that my Made in Japan for USA 37041 (Full artwork, no barcode) and my Made in the USA 31156 (Plaid back with barcode , generic booklet ) both have mastering 3.

I thought the 31XXX all had the later mastering.

 

According to the best evidence I can come up with, the original mastering was reinstated around 1991. These discs will have a 37XXX matrix code near the center of the discs. The Aja disc is kinda more complicated because the packaging remained unchanged, but a brand new remastering was done in 1991. On Aja discs before 91, I read that the wrong analog mastering was used after the initial run was up (different from the original nicolis and hoffman). Identifying all these Ajas is a headache best left to the upcoming Aja mastering thread.

 

In the Can't Buy A Thrill thread you seemed to be under the impression that your Citizen box is NOT the US edition. Our discs seem to have near identical matrix numbers, with discs made by JVC. Maybe they made all the discs for worldwide release? Anyway, my US copy matches the above EAC levels.

US Citizen Box (MCAD 4-10981)
Disc 1, Tracks 11-16, Matrix = MCAD4109811 Y2D22 MFD BY JVC
Disc 2, Tracks 2-1, Matrix = MCAD4109812 Y1D33 MFD BY JVC

Note: the track order of King Of The World and Pearl Of The Quarter was swapped on the Citizen box, hence the Tracks 2-1 designation above. The EAC levels given by mdekoning ARE in the correct album order.

 

sorry about posting the wrong info. before yesterday i knew nothing about eac and i guess i was exited to post. i moved the info to the cbat thread

 

My copy:

Booklet has complete artwork, front and back. No barcode. Booklet has MCAD 31156.

The disc has the following; MCAD31156. DIDY 000372. CRC. Center ring around CD has DIDX-372. Made in USA.

This copy matches the third mastering. Glad to know my copy matches the Made in Japan version, so thankfully I don't have to seek that one out.

My second copy of this album has full artwork front and back, and no barcode. I cant find my case right now so I don't know the full details on the artwork. The disc has the following: MCAD 31156. Center ring: MCAD-31156-1 3D MFD BY JVC. Manufactured in USA for MCA.

This may be a 5th mastering (!). My eac peaks for this disc are:

94.4/93.8/94.4/95.1/95.1/94.5/91.2/95.5

It sounds good to me but I prefer my other disc that matches the made in Japan version.

 

Is it unusual for a Countown To Ecstasy disc with 31XXX matrix to match the EAC levels of the 37XXX matrix found on the Made In Japan for the USA discs? I thought that the 31s and the 37s differed in mastering.

 

No they aren't. CHECK THE ARCHIVE - there is a _lot_ on this topic. I posted the following in the 'Can't Buy A Thrill' thread but I guess you didn't read it. So here it is again.

"FWIW, it's been long establised round here that the UK Nimbus first run Dan CDs (DMCL/MCLD catalogue numbers) share the same digital source as the Japan for US first run pressings (with the 37xxx matrix) but are not exact clones.

In other words, although technically these are different masterings, EAC peaks vary in proportion to one another and the CDs sound very similar, if not exactly the same."

In other words, you ought to include them with the Japan for US 37XXX figures. They are almost - but not quite - identical.

 

37XXX matrix CDs can be found in nearly every packaging. Original Japan for USA CDs, later USA pressing with a 37XXX catalog #, original UK or West German pressings. The matrix is the thing you should look at when looking for an original 1985 mastering, everything else is irrelevant.

Anyway, here's an updated list:

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

MCA Remaster 1998 MCD-11887 / Matrix: MCD11887 111 887-2 01 + (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
93.3/92.7/93.3/94.0/94.0/93.4/90.1/94.4

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109811 Y2D MFD BY JVC
MCA USA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD4109811 Y2D22 MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
81.9/79.5/88.1/84.1/92.3/92.3/71.9/84.2

MCA UK DMCL 1654 (artwork) MCAD-37041 DIDX-372 Japan for USA (disc) / Matrix: MCAD-37041-U3E12
MCA WG 250-628-2 (artwork) MCAD-37041 (booklet) MCAD-37041 DIDX372 (disc) / Matrix: 250 628-2 EM 2

Mastering 4 (most likely same source tape as mastering 3 but not as loud):
79.8/77.4/85.8/81.8/89.9/89.8/70.0/81.8

MCA UK MCLD 19018 (disc & artwork) Distributed by BMG Records (UK) (artwork) / Matrix: A0249 DMCL 1654, MASTERED BY NIMBUS

 

Okay. I want to understand. A disc that had the 31XXX on the inner matrix of the CD can have the same mastering as one that has the 37XXX? I thought that 37XXX was the original mastering and 31XXX was the next mastering. There are exceptions?

 

bump

 

Except for chrswlkrc's Columbia Record Club copy,
I don't see any peak levels posted, yet, for the 31xxx matrix pressing.
So, no exceptions proven universally for this title yet.


Maybe chrswlkrc's peak levels should be grouped with the others?
Maybe someone can post non-CRC 31xxx matrix peak levels?

 

MCAD-31156 Made In The USA Plaid back, generic artwork;

81.9-79.5-88.1-84.1-92.3-92.3-71.9-84.2

This matches mastering 3

 

Sorry if this is redundant, but:
and your matrix (around the centre of the cd hole) is 31156?

 

It sure is.