These EAC peak levels: 100.0/100.0/94.1/100.0/100.0/100.0/79.2/92.3/89.2/100.0 Every 37XXX catalogue number should be fine. Another indication that your disc has Steve's mastering is the obvious drop in the level of the tape hiss at the start of "Bad Sneakers".
I checked the timing and it is 35:29, which would indicate it is not the SH mastering I have. Bummer. Evan
Another confirmed Steve Hoffman mastering to add here. The Japanese for Japan 1st pressing. Catalog #18P2-2694. The matrix reads 18P2-2694 1M TO. Has the letters ADD on the CD face along with the JASRAC labeling. The back artwork is Green Plaid with no UPC code as it's on the OBI instead. Here's the peak levels according to EAC. 100.0 %/100.0 %/94.1 %/100.0 %/100.0 %/100.0 %/79.2 %/92.3 %/89.2 %/100.0 %
I wonder if these we're still in print in Europe well into the 90s. I have mastering #3 and matrix has "Made in Germany". My SH mastering of Aja is "Made in Germany by PMDC". Maybe these we're the versions in print until late 90's remasters? We're the Meadows' masterings available in Europe outside of Citizen box set? Oh, and i still have no idea what are the "bad masterings" that according to Nichols were available sometime between mid 80s and early 90s. Has these versions been identified? And most importantly: how do they sound?
Glenn Meadows mastered discs have been around since about 1991 in the US, I once had a Can't Buy A Thrill disc which I bought in France which matched the Citizen mastering (but then level-adjusted). But that's all I know. No, they've never been spotted. Several albums have more than 1 unremastered mastering, but nobody has yet been able to figure out which ones are right and which ones are wrong. With the exception of Gaucho. Roger Nichols mentions a speed issue, which does exist on some unremastered discs. I own a copy of one of these. Strangely this issue wasn't corrected for either the Citizen boxed set or the 2000 remaster.
Here's another American Hoffman with no DIDX or DIDY on anything: MCAD-31194 on spine, lower left of booklet back, lower left of tray insert, and on disc Manufactured in USA and ADD SPARS code on disc Matrix MCAD-37043-A43 with no plant identification bug/plant artwork with UPC on back insert
I believe there is a minor error in the matrix code stated for the Swiss disk, Mastering 4, above: My copy of this disk contains the following data: MCA (CD: Made in Switzerland, Packaging: Manufactured in Germany by Record Service GmbH. Alsdorf) Cat #: 250 494-2 (CD and Packaging), MCAD-37043 (Packaging only) Barcode: none Matrix: W 250494-2 1124 477 01 * Peak Levels: 97.7/97.7/92.0/97.7/97.7/97.7/77.4/90.2/87.2/97.7 That is, there is a zero 0 missing before the last 1 at the end of the matrix number. It may also be interesting to note that while the CD was pressed in Switzerland, the inserts were in fact manufactured in Germany.
Another update for Mastering 3 (Steve Hoffman's version): 100.0/100.0/94.1/100.0/100.0/100.0/79.2/92.3/89.2/100.0 MCA 250 494-2 (MCAD-37043) (Warner Distribution, Made in Germany by Record Service Alsdorf) Matrix: 229250494-2 RSA Martin
I remember I bought my Steely Dan CDs 1992. Around that time the MCA distribution and manufacturing changed from Warner to BMG Ariola here. My Aja and Katy Lied have still Warner catalog numbers (and have Steve's mastering, as it seems) - but I've seen the later BMG Ariola versions listed with the same masterings in these threads. They were in print until the remasters came... Martin
Here's another oddball...this from an early (1989ish) Canadian Cinram Pressing: 93.3/93.3/87.8/93.3/93.3/93.3/73.9/86.1/83.3/93.3 MCAD-31194/MFG By Cinram (on inner hub) Matrix: #880107CC (on inner hub) Cheers! VP
I already had Steve's version on this disc, as follows: Today, I picked up a disc that is also the Hoffman mastering (EAC levels shown below), but in a variant I do not see listed in this thread: 100.0/100.0/94.2/100.0/100.0/100.0/79.3/79.3/92.3/89.3/100.0 (I rounded to nearest 10th, so the decimals may differ by 1. MCA USA MCAD 31194 DIDY-373 / Matrix: DIDX-000373 6 This is a CRC pressing with full artwork, white spine w/black text No UPC Made in USA. 1975/1985 dates on rear.
This is the one I picked up over the summer. There's an inadvertent repeated "79.3" in the string above, yes? EAC gives me 100.0/100.0/94.1/100.0/100.0/100.0/79.2/92.3/89.2/100.0.
Another update: Mastering 1: 98.4/98.8/98.8/98.8/98.8/98.8/98.8/98.8/98.8/98.8 MCA Remaster 1999 MCD-11916 / Matrix: MCD-11916 00088 111 916-2 01 (Made in Germany by Universal M&L) Mastering 2: 84.5/93.9/93.8/85.1/87.5/97.0/96.1/87.5/90.9/94.5 MCA Citizen boxed set MCAD 4-10981 / Matrix: MCAD 4109812 Y1D3A MFD BY JVC Mastering 3 (Steve Hoffman's version): 100.0/100.0/94.1/100.0/100.0/100.0/79.2/92.3/89.2/100.0 MCA MCD 01800/DMCL 1800 (Distributed by BMG Ariola) Matrix:SONOPRESS I-5630 / MCD01800 A, DS2, IFPI 0764 MCA MCD 01800/DMCL 1800 (Distributed by BMG Ariola) Matrix: SONOPRESS I-5630 / MCD01800 A IFPI L022 DS2 MCA Japan for USA MCAD-37043 DIDX 373 (full artwork) / Matrix: MCAD-37043-U2E14 MCA USA MCAD-31194 (Compact Price/Plaid-back) / Matrix: MCAD-37043-A4E MCA MCD 01800/DMCL 1800 (Distributed by BMG Ariola) / Matrix: MCD01800 50169153 01 MADE IN GERMANY MCA USA MCAD-31194 (full artwork) / Matrix: MCAD-37043-A43 MCA Japan for Japan 18P2-2694 / Matrix: 18P2-2694 1M TO MCA Germany 250 494-2 MCAD-37043 / Matrix: 229250494-2 RSA Mastering 4 (Steve Hoffman's master, turned down a bit??): 97.7/97.7/92.0/97.7/97.7/97.7/77.4/90.2/87.2/97.7 MCA Switzerland 250 494-2 MCAD-37043 / Matrix: W 250494-2 1124 477 1 * Mastering 5 (same source tape as mastering 2): 85.5/95.0/94.9/86.1/88.5/98.1/96.1/88.5/90.9/94.5 MCA USA MCAD-31194 (Compact Price/Plaid-back) Mfd for BMG (D100406) / Matrix: IFPI L239 D100406 1J11 MCA USA MCAD-31194 (Compact Price/Plaid-back) / Matrix: MCAD-31194-1 1C MFD BY JVC MCA ?? / Matrix: MCAD-31194-1 1C MCA MCAD-31194 MFG by UNI / Matrix: MCAD 31194 A50905CG Mastering 6 (another level adjusted Steve master?): 100/99.9/93.2/100/100/100/78.1/90.9/88.7/99.8 MCA USA MCAD 31194 DIDY-373 / Matrix: DIDX-000373 3 Mastering 7: 93.9/94.3/94.3/94.2/94.3/94.3/94.3/94.2/94.2/94.2 MCA Remaster? MFG BY UNIVERSAL / Matrix: MCAD1191603066713137 Mastering 8 (Steve;s version, turned down?): 93.3/93.3/87.8/93.3/93.3/93.3/73.9/86.1/83.3/93.3 MCA Canada MCAD-31194/MFG By Cinram / Matrix: 880107CC
here's another MCA Canada pressing: catalog number MCABD-31194 / MFG BY CINRAM / Matrix: #920107EE. the only date on the CD and accompanying paperwork is 1975.
I received this one today, which appears to be a UK pressing: MCLD 19082 (Distributed by BMG Records (UK) Ltd / Mastered By Nimbus / Matrix: DMCL 1800 : 1:4