Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy SHM-SACD on 7/30/2014

Countdown to Ecstasy is the only SHM-SACD coming today. This order includes Platinum SHM-CDs of Countdown to Ecstasy and Brothers in Arms. (I already have the SHM-SACD of Brothers in Arms.)

 

I, too, expect to give the Ecstasy SHM-SACD a spin tonght. Hopefully, the powers that be in Japan are continuing to employee terrific mastering engineers in the UK (or wherever it is that these particular tapes are kept).

 

My preorder placed 2 months ago included Countdown to Ecstasy and both Free titles released on 30 July 14. Strangely while the Steely Dan SHM-SACD is now in-stock in my order, the Free SHM-SACDs are still "processed" . So huge demand for Free?

 

Free S/T will be released August 27th, that is why your order is being held up.

 

You are right about the release date of S/T. But my order included the other 2 FREE titles released today (7/30): Live and Tons of Sobs.

 

Oh, I forgot about "Live". My pre-ordered copy of "Tons of Sobs" shipped a couple days ago.

 

Pre-ordered Countdown SACD - not shipped yet - can't wait (although I am happy with all the remasters)..........what I am really waiting for is that Super Session 5.1 SACD audio fidelity disc due Aug 19th !!

 

First spin as I type. Very initial impression of the SHM-SACD is that the mastering is similar to what we've been getting in recent months. My current go to for Countdown is the Japan 18P2, which I haven't spun in a while. That said, I just can't imagine I'll find that the old redbook holds a candle. My early vote is decidedly in favor of DEFINITIVE.

 

Thanks!

Who in the US did the tape transfer to DSD?

 

I only see mention of Roger Nichols at Riversound. Thinking that is an old credit.

 

....the last page in the booklet, where you sees the the txt "www.facebook.com/umkami"...on top of that page....

 

Toshio Asami is the product manager but there is nothing at all in English which refers to the DSD engineer.

 

What is the packaging like on these. Is it like the "deluxe" boxes used for Breakfast in America and Disraeli Gears?

 

Look here....
Universal Japan has updated their SHM-SACD website....and here is a picture of "the Royal Scam" cover....

http://www.universal-music.co.jp/international/sacd/

 

I thought that the Roger Nichols and the Dan boys determined that the original analog tapes of the whole catalog were rapidly deteriorating back in the early 80s and transferred everything to digital.

How are they going back to the original tapes now, 30 years later?

 

Yeah.

 

Good. Thanks.

 

Don't get too excited, somebody put up the wrong picture.

 

It's a hidden message what to come.....

 

Cranking it up for the 2nd listen. So far, so amazing!

 

It would be interesting knowing what analog tapes they used. Did they found some good dub tapes in the archives? (copy of the originals?)

LOS ANGELES -- MCA Records accidentally used inferior master tapes in the manufacturing of seven Steely Dan compact discs, the label has admitted.
"All of Steely Dan's original albums, from 1972's "Can't Buy A Thrill" through 1980's "Gaucho," were transferred to CD from the proper master tapes for their initial run in 1985; but subsequent pressings, including current warehouse and retailer stock, were made from faulty masters."

"The tapes used to master the inferior Steely Dan CDs were the original analog masters; but according to Roger Nichols, one of Steely Dan's recording engineers, they were in terrible shape, due to improper storage, and had poor fidelity. In 1981, Nichols meticulously transferred them to new 3M digital masters, in anticipation of demand for CD catalog reissues. Although MCA used the new digital masters for an initial release in 1985, subsequent runs were mistakenly made from the old analog masters, which have been steadily deteriorating."

http://granatino.com/sdresource/18crime.htm

 

I have ordered the SHM-SACD, so now I can listen for myself

 

Would love to hear your impressions Bill of the Steely Dan disc so if you can drop em a pm.

 

I agree. Flat, clean, space around everything. I'm hearing things I've never heard before!

 

From what you hear, is it possible they used the 16/50.0 kHz 3M tape?
Because I have heard some really nice 3M-to-DSD transfers that sounded significantly better than their CD counterparts, Rickie Lee Jones "Pirates" on MoFi SACD is one of them. Those early 3M machines was built to sound like analog with very audiophile sounding class A electronics....