Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings: The Royal Scam

Am getting excited about the Royal Scam and Aja shows here in Toronto next week and decided to run my cd's through eac to confirm which mastering I have.

My Japan for US is same as mastering 3

However, I have found another mastering to add to the list. It is a plaidback manufactured in Canada by Cinram with matrix and catalogue numbers: MCAD-31193. With the exception of track 1 it appears to be a somewhat level-shifted version of Mastering 3. Anyone know anything about this one?


Track 1
Peak level 96.4 %
Track 2
Peak level 88.0 %
Track 3
Peak level 94.2 %
Track 4
Peak level 94.2 %
Track 5
Peak level 94.2 %
Track 6
Peak level 90.9 %
Track 7
Peak level 90.8 %
Track 8
Peak level 94.2 %
Track 9
Peak level 94.2 %

 

Mastering 3 & 5
Original mid 80s mastering, done by Roger Nichols? All 80s CDs seem to have this mastering. Mastering 5 is a level adjusted copy, except for track 1 which appears to be at the same level.

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

Mastering 5 (level adjusted copy of mastering 3, except for track 1)
96.4/88.0/94.2/94.2/94.2/90.9/90.8/94.2/94.2

MCA Canada MCAD-31193 (made by Cinram) / Matrix: MCAD-31193

 

same here

 

I have this one. Does your copy have a green plaid tray card instead of a purple one?

 

I found another CD with mastering 3

MCA Germany 811 708-2 MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 / Matrix: MCD01708 811 708-2 /
MADE IN GERMANY E IFPI L001 IFPI 0117

 

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 Germany 811 708-2 MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 / Matrix: MCD01708 811 708-2

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

Mastering 5 (level adjusted copy of mastering 3, except for track 1)
96.4/88.0/94.2/94.2/94.2/90.9/90.8/94.2/94.2

MCA Canada MCAD-31193 (made by Cinram) / Matrix: MCAD-31193

 

this is now coming as a Japanese SHM-SACD, and I have high hopes it'll be the definitive version.

 

Have you heard the 20P2 pressing yet Todd? Every CD on this list, except for MCA Germany MCD 01708 DMCL 1708 and MCA Germany 811 708-2 MCD 01708 DMCL 1708, has been bettered by the 20P2 IMO.

 

No, but that's one of the reasons I'm hoping the new SHM-SACD will be definitive. Tracking down those obscure old Japanese releases is a big pain...

 

Look at the overview of different masterings above. There's only 1 unremastered version of this album available, the only differences being slight level changes. The 20P2 is NOT a unique mastering, but the same mastering that can be found on EVERY unremastered CD. There's no need for hunting down expensive Japanese discs if the same mastering can be found on discs that are all over the used bins.

 

I have this one:

MCLD 19083 (Made in England) / DMCL 1708 : 2:2 Mastered by Nimbus

94.0/87.8/93.5/94.0/93.8/90.8/90.6/93.8/93.8

 

I just bought a purple-plaid MCAD-31193/Matrix: MCAD-31193 1T 1i MFD BY JVC (the "1i" is not shiny like the rest of the lettering). Does anyone know anything about this version?

 

Another mastering 4: MCAD31193 A60731Ed MFG BY UNI

This one has ADD SPAR.

 

I have an MCA Japan MCAD-37044 / MCAD-37044-U2E10

96.4/90.1/96.4/96.4/96.4/93.0/93.0/96.4/96.4 (MASTERING 3)

 

The Japanese SHM-CD of this title has

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

 

One more Mastering 3. This one's a CRC, which I believe means Columbia Record Club (silkscreened on label side under catalog number).

Made in USA
MCAD-31193
DIDY000370
CRC (in bolder typeface than above)

SPARS code ADD

Full artwork back with tiny CRC in upper right-hand corner. No barcode.

Matrix DIDX-000370 3

 

Mine has same EAC as mastering #1:
1976/1999 MCA Records USA, I believe manufactured in USA (white label-sticker on top of jewel case). Liner notes says : Digitally remastered by Roger Nichols at Digital Atomics, Miami.
Barcode 0 08811 20512 6
IFPI L327 DIDX-151144
IFPI 50DF

 

So I picked up a copy of The Royal Scam. So I have Master 3 done by Roger Nichols in the mid-80s?

Compact Disc Digital Audio on right side of hub.
MCAD-37044 DIDX-370 to the right of Compact Disc Digital Audio.
Manufactured in Japan for MCA Records, Inc.
MCAD-37044 bottom left hand side on inner booklet.
DIDX-370 bottom right hand side on inner booklet.
DIDX-370, MCAD-37044 on bottom of spine.
Back cover, MCAD-37044 bottom left.
Back cover, DIDX-370 bottom right.

Numbers around hub are hard to read, but I think it says MCAD 37044 M1E1 (is that the matrix?)

EAC log:

Track 1: 96.4 %.
Track 2: 90.1 %.
Track 3: 96.4 %.
Track 4: 96.4 %.
Track 5: 96.4 %.
Track 6: 93.0 %.
Track 7: 93.0 %.
Track 8: 96.4 %.
Track 9: 96.4 %.

I have the SACD Hybrid of Guacho, the 1999 remaster of Aja and SHM-SACD of Aja.

Still on the lookout for the other CDs! The hunt begins!

 

Is it sonically good? How is it compared to item from mastering # 3 & 5 ?
I'm looking for a good sounding royal scam, should I just focus on mastering # 3 & 5 ?
Thanks for any help.

 

That's the one I have, too. Made in Japan. Less top-end, slightly muffled, compared to my US first press vinyl.

 

I've just picked up MCLD 19083 Made in England thinking it was the 80's version but now it seems it's got different EAC values and rateyourmusic states it was released in 1992. Could this be a level-shifted version of Mastering 3? I have nothing else to compare it to, I'm enjoying it but I'm curious to hear more opinions.