Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings: The Royal Scam

Moving on to The Royal Scam:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26

Remember that any pressing not yet listed here should be posted as a reply, even if it's not a different mastering. If it is a different mastering please list the EAC levels as well.

 

Same levels are found on the following disc:
MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708
Dsitributed by BMG Ariola
Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC

 

how about japan for USA

 

My 37XXX matrix disc is a Japan for USA CD that somehow ended up in a USA 31XXX case.

 

An updated list:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC

 

Looks like I have an identical disc. Mine is from the Compact Disc Compact Price series (purple plaid back) and has the same ADD SPARS code on the back, but AAD on the disc!

Cat. No. (on cover): MCAD-31193
Cat. No. (on disc): MCAD-31193
Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14

EAC: 96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

 

An updated list:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14

 

bump

 

bump

THE ROYAL SCAM

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14

 

Bump

 

Here's another one of mastering 3:

MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 (alu hub) / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5626/ MCD01708 B

 

I have a copy with the purple plaid back cover and a MCAD 31193 cat. number. The matrix number on the inner ring of the disk is 31193-1 MFD by JVC.

 

which mastering is considered the best?

 

Another update:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14
MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 (alu hub) / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5626/ MCD01708 B

brucefan, I've heard all of the 3 masterings listed here and I'd rate them like this:

Mastering 3
Mastering 1
Mastering 2

Mastering 3 is definitely the best of these 3. It's like hearing the album for the first time. The difference between 1 and 2 is less big, although #2 suffers from too much NR.

 

Mastering 3

MCA Germany 250 505-2 (MCAD 37044)
Matrix: 250 505-2 SRC-02

 

OK, I don't see mine. 088 112 051-2 with 0739215814 on the inner hub MFG by Matsushita Universal Media Services. Has 1999 copyright on back.

 

3rd Uncle Bob, can you post EAC peak levels to identify your disc's mastering?

Another update:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14
MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 (alu hub) / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5626/ MCD01708 B
MCA Germany 250 505-2 (MCAD 37044) / Matrix: 250 505-2 SRC-02

 

... was mastering 3 done by our host?

 

No, Steve only mastered Aja and Katy lied discs.

 

I still have yet to hear those. It would be cool if Canada started using those two masterings for their "cheaper" versions.

I finally got my hands on mastering #3 (31193 - Add on back cover and AAD on disc)(I also recently found the original "Pretzal Logic", "Countdown To Ecstacy", and "Can't Buy A Thrill" discs as well). I'd been looking for a definitive mastering for this one for awhile. Before this, I only had the '99 remaster (which sounds halfway decent in it's own right). The original CD has that warm, bouncy feel to it (and it's very light and non-fatigueing) like the Bob Ludwig mastering of "Kid Charlemagne" (not to mention everything else) on the "Greatest Hits" LP. That's the sound I was looking for with "The Royal Scam", although I really wish he had done a mastering for the entire "Royal Scam" LP. That's why I wish that their were more songs from that album on the "Greatest Hits" set. "Aja" too.

 

Here are the peak levels for the first Japanese issue, catalog number 20P2-2115. The matrix code is "20P2-2115 1M TO".

So it matches mastering #3.

 

An update:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14
MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 (alu hub) / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5626/ MCD01708 B
MCA Germany 250 505-2 (MCAD 37044) / Matrix: 250 505-2 SRC-02
MCA Japan 20P2-2115 / Matrix: 20P2-2115 1M TO

 

MCA USA MCAD-31193/Matrix: MCAD-31193-1 1D 1S MFD BY JVC

is essentially a Mastering 2: 94.8/93.6/92.4/100.0/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7
(with the exception of track 4-Sign In Stranger).

This disc is an example of earlier posts concerning the Citizen Steely Dan mastering being available through some of these plaid back-packaged discs.

 

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14
MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 (alu hub) / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5626/ MCD01708 B
MCA Germany 250 505-2 (MCAD 37044) / Matrix: 250 505-2 SRC-02
MCA Japan 20P2-2115 / Matrix: 20P2-2115 1M TO

Mastering 4 (same as mastering 4, expect track 4):
94.8/93.6/92.4/100.0/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA USA MCAD-31193 / Matrix: MCAD-31193-1 1D 1S MFD BY JVC

 

A summary to clear things up a bit. I guess we have the following group of masterings:

Mastering 3
Original mid 80s mastering, done by Roger Nichols? All 80s CDs seem to have this mastering.

Mastering 2 & 4
1991 Glenn Meadows mastering. Like with all the albums that came before it, it already existed on an early 31XXX CD. Strangely, where earlier albums were level adjusted for the Citizen boxed set, this one is identical. Except for a different "Sign In Stranger" peak level. Apparently something was fixed?

Mastering 1
1999 remastering. According to Brian Sweet's biography done by Roger Nichols, but there's no other source that confirms this.

And a corrected overview of all data:

Mastering 1:
94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.3

MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-811708 / Matrix: 50117 811 708-2 03 # (Made in Germany by Universal M&L)

Mastering 2:
94.8/93.6/92.4/98.8/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109813 Y1C1C MFD BY JVC

Mastering 3:
96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4

MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 26
MCA Germany MCD 01708 / DMCL 1708 (BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD 01708 50169 141 02, Made In Germany by MMDC
MCA USA MCAD-31193 (listed as ADD on back cover but AAD on disc???) / Matrix: MCAD-37044-1T 14
MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 (alu hub) / Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5626/ MCD01708 B
MCA Germany 250 505-2 (MCAD 37044) / Matrix: 250 505-2 SRC-02
MCA Japan 20P2-2115 / Matrix: 20P2-2115 1M TO

Mastering 4 (same as mastering 2, expect track 4):
94.8/93.6/92.4/100.0/96.2/96.2/96.9/93.2/95.7

MCA USA MCAD-31193 / Matrix: MCAD-31193-1 1D 1S MFD BY JVC