Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings: A Decade of Steely Dan

This is the one I have (Japan for USA), same details except total time, which is 68:09 (in two different players.)

Matrix on mine is MCAD 5570 M5E/3

 

Update

Mastering 1:
97.3/ 84.5/ 89.1/ 89.1/ 93.3/ 80.6/93.2/ 92.7/ 89.7/ 98.8/ 78.7/ 94.8/ 93.4/ 93.9

Mastering 2: (original Ludwig/Nichols )
94.0/ 100/ 93.4/ 91.0/ 76.1/ 86.3/ 86.2/ 91.0/ 67.8/ 79.2/ 44.4/ 88.8/ 96.4/ 100

MCAD- 5570 DIDX 306, matrix: MCAD5570 10/88 2DA3, made in USA, Mfd. for BMG Direct Marketing
MCAD- 5570 DIDX 306, matrix: DIDX-306 2896 613 03, Mfd. in W. Germany for MCA , no barcode (has crackle at 23s on BS & cold stop after partial fade on DIA)
MCAD-5570 DIDX 306, matrix: MCAD 5570 M5E21, Made in Japan, no barcode (has crackle on BS, and fade on DIA)

Mastering 3:
66.7/ 82.9/ 69.0/ 68.1/ 63.3/ 65.0/ 65.4/ 67.4/ 57.7/ 62.9/ 37.0/ 66.7/ 65.0/ 70.3

MCAD-5570 DIDY 306 , matrix: DIDY-000306, made in USA (CRC) no barcode
BartK, Yesterday at 5:43 PM Report

Thanks for the responses, and keep 'em coming. It really is starting to clear up. If someone could post some peaks for the Gold disc, and the Meadows remaster , which may share the same mastering, we would just about have this thing nailed.

Also, from just looking at the numbers for mastering 3, could this be a level shifted version of mastering 2?

 

Meadows is same as Mastering 1.

 

I don't have EAC, but here is what I gathered from DR meter on my copy maybe you can figure it out from that.

Long fade out on DOI, I don't hear a crackle at 0:23 on Bad Sneakers.

DIDX-306
MCAD-5570
Matrix: D1-54635 1A5 D75
Mfd. for RCA Direct Marketing Inc. under License D 154135

Compiled and remastered by Gary Katz

Code:

DR14-0.87 dB-16.93 dB01 FM.m4a
DR14-0.52 dB-16.60 dB02 Black Friday.m4a
DR14-0.75 dB-17.81 dB03 Babylon Sisters.m4a
DR14-1.06 dB-16.91 dB04 Deacon Blues.m4a
DR12-2.39 dB-16.93 dB05 Bodhisattva.m4a
DR15-1.29 dB-18.75 dB06 Hey Nineteen.m4a
DR12-2.29 dB-16.73 dB07 Do It Again.m4a
DR12-0.93 dB-15.87 dB08 Peg.m4a
DR12-3.77 dB-19.54 dB09 Rikki Don't Lose That Number.m4a
DR12-2.31 dB-16.94 dB10 Reeling in the Years.m4a
DR13-7.43 dB-22.87 dB11 East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.m4a
DR13-1.08 dB-15.83 dB12 Kid Charlemagne.m4a
DR14-0.43 dB-17.02 dB13 My Old School.m4a
DR14-0.52 dB-17.12 dB14 Bad Sneakers.m4a

 

I have:

MCAD-5570
DIDX-306
Japan for USA
Cold end on DIA and crackle on BS
Total time 68:09

Matrix MCAD 5570 M3E02

 

Yes, it's the same. Purchased it direct from Columbia House back in early 1989.

 

My CD is like this one except it says "A DECADE OF STEELY DAN" at the top and the "manufactured" blurb is over the MCAD-5570
DIDX-306, the "produced blurb" is under it. No bar code, red spine.

I think the Matrix is S6F1 but I really can't see it well enough to be sure.

 

Thanks for the additional data. I'll get it added soon. In the meantime I had a chance to give a closer headphone listen to my MCAD-5570, mfd. by BMG, that I picked up a couple of days ago. It turns out that on my copy, "Do It Again" does begin to fade at around 5:39 , but it does not fade totally to silence before the track ends and in fact has a cold stop. This is confirmed by Andreas' mention of a partial fade on his copy. So, to anyone who reported a cold stop on DIA on their MCAD-5570, is the track fading as it stops? Also, to anyone who reported a fade out, please go back and listen to see if DIA fades all the way to silence before the end of the track. I have a feeling that this song is actually the same on all MCAD-5570, mastering 2 and people are just listening differently.

On a similar note, my MCAD-5570 does in fact have the very brief crackling as the 22-23s mark of Bad Sneakers in the left channel. When I listened on my computer speakers earlier, I did not notice it since it is so brief and faint. I only could hear it on my headphones. So to anyone who has a MCAD-5570, mastering 2 and reported you had no crackle, go back and give it another close listen if you get a chance.

Finally, I listened to my CRC manufactured MCAD-5570, mastering 3 for these same two issues. On DIA, it comes to a cold stop as it is fading, just like my other copy. Also, I think I can still hear the crackle on BS, but it is even much fainter than the mastering 2 version.

 

Yes.

On mine, slight crackle only in left channel.

 

Manufactured in Japan mastering #2
Matrix# 32XD-149 11A3 +++++

 

Manufactured in West Germany mastering #2
Matrix# DIDX-306 2896 613 03 *

 

For those who have more than one mastering, which one do you prefer?

 

Mastering 2 (original Ludwig/Nichols) and mastering 3(possibly a level shifted version of #2) sound nearly identical in the brief comparison I was able to do this afternoon. The one difference is that the brief crackling noise on Bad Sneakers in #2 is pretty much inaudible in #3; possibly due to the level shifting.

 

Thanks! So it's between 1 and 2/3 then. Anyone compare those?

 

Update.

Mastering 1: (Glenn Meadows remaster)
97.3/ 84.5/ 89.1/ 89.1/ 93.3/ 80.6/93.2/ 92.7/ 89.7/ 98.8/ 78.7/ 94.8/ 93.4/ 93.9

MCAD- 11553

Mastering 2: (original Ludwig/Nichols)
94.0/ 100/ 93.4/ 91.0/ 76.1/ 86.3/ 86.2/ 91.0/ 67.8/ 79.2/ 44.4/ 88.8/ 96.4/ 100

MCAD- 5570 DIDX 306, matrix: MCAD5570 10/88 2DA3, made in USA, Mfd. for BMG Direct Marketing (crackle on BS and cold stop after partial fade on DIA)
MCAD- 5570 DIDX 306, matrix: DIDX-306 2896 613 03, Mfd. in W. Germany for MCA , no barcode (has crackle at 23s on BS & cold stop after partial fade on DIA)
MCAD-5570 DIDX 306, matrix: MCAD 5570 M5E21, Made in Japan, no barcode (has crackle on BS, and fade on DIA)
MCAD-5570 DIDX 306, matrix: 32XD-149 11A3, Made in Japan

Mastering 3:
66.7/ 82.9/ 69.0/ 68.1/ 63.3/ 65.0/ 65.4/ 67.4/ 57.7/ 62.9/ 37.0/ 66.7/ 65.0/ 70.3

MCAD-5570 DIDY 306 , matrix: DIDY-000306, made in USA (CRC) no barcode
Thanks for all of the additional data. We could still use some data on the MCA gold disc if someone has that disc. Otherwise, I think there is enough here to guide anyone who wants to acquire a copy of this disc in the future.

 

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. This has been fun.

I want to offer a couple of conclusions based on the data gathered so far.

1) It appears that all pressings of this CD with the original catalog number MCAD-5570 DIDX 306, have the same Ludwig/Nichols mastering(#2 in this thread).

1a) It was discussed whether track 7, "Do It Again" has a cold ending on some copies. The evidence seems to indicate that this track starts to fade around 5:39 but eventually ends cold and does not fade to total silence. This should be the case on all copies. If anyone has a copy that fades to total silence before the track ends, please chime in with your matrix data.

1b)Similarly, on track 14, "Bad Sneakers", the crackling in the left channel at the 22-23s mark is so brief and faint that people who reported their copy didn't have it most likely just missed it. If anyone with a MCAD-5570 DIDX 306 truly cannot detect this crackling after giving a close listen (headphones may be necessary), once again please report your matrix data.

2)The only MCAD-5570 that was showed different peaks was the Columbia Record Club(CRC) pressing whose full catalog number ends in DIDY 306. This copy(mastering #3) is likely derived from mastering #2 but has been level shifted. This version still has the partial fade with a cold stop on DIA. The crackle on Bad Sneakers on this version is pretty much inaudible.

We didn't get very much data on the Glenn Meadows remaster, MCAD-11553 (mastering #1). From reading other threads discussing this CD, most people reported that it is louder that the original Ludwig/Nichols and did not sound as good.
.
There is still a little bit of info we never got; so if anyone would like to contribute a set of EAC peaks for the MCA gold disc, that would be great.

Anyway, thanks again.

Tim

 

Thanks, Tim. Good summary/Information. I am just glad I don't have to hunt down another obscure early version...

 

Well . . . maybe. I have a Ludwig/Nichols mastered A Decade of Steely Dan CD (MCAD-5570, DIDX 306) made in the USA (has the “D” logo for DADC in the clear plastic hub) with matrix number DIDX-000306 12, no barcode, and which has identical EAC peak levels to those listed for Mastering 2 except for the last track, Bad Sneakers:

94.0/ 100.0/ 93.4/ 91.0/ 76.1/ 86.3/ 86.2/ 91.0/ 67.8/ 79.2/ 44.4/ 88.8/ 96.4/ 97.7

Code:

Steely Dan / A Decade Of Steely Dan
 
Track  1
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\01 - FM.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:02.00
  Peak level 94.0 %
  Extraction speed 1.2 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 30BB8633
  Copy CRC 30BB8633
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [5CC68608]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  2
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\02 - Black Friday.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:00.02
  Peak level 100.0 %
  Extraction speed 1.1 X
  Track quality 99.9 %
  Test CRC 3249E024
  Copy CRC 3249E024
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [7AC856B4]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  3
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\03 - Babylon Sisters.wav
  Peak level 93.4 %
  Extraction speed 1.5 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC D4CCEBB0
  Copy CRC D4CCEBB0
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [7EAD6D5A]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  4
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\04 - Deacon Blues.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.90
  Peak level 91.0 %
  Extraction speed 1.7 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 44ABAA1D
  Copy CRC 44ABAA1D
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [6C18EC09]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  5
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\05 - Bodhisattva.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:02.29
  Peak level 76.1 %
  Extraction speed 1.8 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 738BCC39
  Copy CRC 738BCC39
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [3FCCFD2E]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  6
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\06 - Hey Nineteen.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.93
  Peak level 86.3 %
  Extraction speed 1.9 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 780903C7
  Copy CRC 780903C7
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [142E51A2]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  7
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\07 - Do It Again.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:03.33
  Peak level 86.2 %
  Extraction speed 2.0 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 820D7E03
  Copy CRC 820D7E03
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [15A91F35]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  8
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\08 - Peg.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.06
  Peak level 91.0 %
  Extraction speed 2.0 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 38221CE0
  Copy CRC 38221CE0
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [7E43241A]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  9
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\09 - Rikki Don't Lose That Number.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:00.60
  Peak level 67.8 %
  Extraction speed 2.1 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 7CD11897
  Copy CRC 7CD11897
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [EC8A51B4]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 10
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\10 - Reeling In The Years.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:00.93
  Peak level 79.2 %
  Extraction speed 2.2 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC B8DB8C76
  Copy CRC B8DB8C76
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [D6A532EE]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 11
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\11 - East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:02.33
  Peak level 44.4 %
  Extraction speed 2.0 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 8951213E
  Copy CRC 8951213E
  Accurately ripped (confidence 17)  [569F3A7F]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 12
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\12 - Kid Charlemagne.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:00.77
  Peak level 88.8 %
  Extraction speed 2.3 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC D3F5A79F
  Copy CRC D3F5A79F
  Accurately ripped (confidence 16)  [06CEB725]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 13
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\13 - My Old School.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.77
  Peak level 96.4 %
  Extraction speed 2.4 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 614A8276
  Copy CRC 614A8276
  Accurately ripped (confidence 15)  [85D5098F]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 14
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan\14 - Bad Sneakers.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.97
  Peak level 97.7 %
  Extraction speed 2.3 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 683F5BBC
  Copy CRC 683F5BBC
  Accurately ripped (confidence 16)  [77258E86]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
 
All tracks accurately ripped
No errors occurred

Could those who have a Ludwig/Nichols mastered CD with different matrix numbers recheck their EAC extraction logs to verify the peak levels for Bad Sneakers?

The fade on the outro of Do It Again on my Ludwig/Nichols CD begins around 5:35 and continues until around 5:54 when it ends abruptly. This is similar to what others have described for the Ludwig/Nichols mastering(s).

However, I detected no crackling at the 22-23 second mark in the left channel of Bad Sneakers during multiple listens with and without headphones on several different occasions.

 

Interesting. It sounds like MCA put out a version that corrected the Bad Sneakers crackling issue. If you acquired your copy new, do you remember when you purchased it?

 

Could you double check and make sure your copy has a DIDX 306 catalog number and matrix, and not a DIDY 306 on both? The matrix you posted is nearly identical to my CRC copy (mastering 3) which does not have the crackling in BS.

 

I prefer my Ludwig/Nichols CD to the Ultimate MasterDisc gold CD (MCAD-11214) mastered by Glenn Meadows. According to my database of CD rips, the matrix number of the gold disc is $MCAD-11214 Y04241 and the peak EAC levels are:

97.3/ 84.5/ 89.1/ 89.1/ 93.3/ 80.6/ 93.2/ 97.2/ 89.7/ 98.8/ 78.7/ 94.8/ 93.4/ 93.9

Code:

Steely Dan / A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)
 
Track  1
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\01 - FM.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:02.00
  Peak level 97.3 %
  Extraction speed 1.0 X
  Track quality 99.9 %
  Test CRC BAD98252
  Copy CRC BAD98252
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [7191DDFB]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  2
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\02 - Black Friday.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.54
  Peak level 84.5 %
  Extraction speed 1.1 X
  Track quality 99.9 %
  Test CRC C733F57C
  Copy CRC C733F57C
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [7381D7B9]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  3
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\03 - Babylon Sisters.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.05
  Peak level 89.1 %
  Extraction speed 1.4 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 22ABF986
  Copy CRC 22ABF986
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [748E6D32]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  4
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\04 - Deacon Blues.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:02.12
  Peak level 89.1 %
  Extraction speed 1.6 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC EBD9EF73
  Copy CRC EBD9EF73
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [80C9DD09]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  5
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\05 - Bodhisattva.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.25
  Peak level 93.3 %
  Extraction speed 1.7 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 4BC5D5C1
  Copy CRC 4BC5D5C1
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [F18EA47C]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  6
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\06 - Hey Nineteen.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:02.12
  Peak level 80.6 %
  Extraction speed 1.6 X
  Track quality 99.9 %
  Test CRC 4727192D
  Copy CRC 4727192D
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [91CD18B5]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  7
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\07 - Do It Again.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.48
  Peak level 93.2 %
  Extraction speed 1.9 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 935D4009
  Copy CRC 935D4009
  Accurately ripped (confidence 4)  [74BF3C37]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  8
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\08 - Peg.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.88
  Peak level 97.2 %
  Extraction speed 1.9 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC E1EB2861
  Copy CRC E1EB2861
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [FE225243]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track  9
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\09 - Rikki Don't Lose That Number.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.41
  Peak level 89.7 %
  Extraction speed 2.0 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 35B0C547
  Copy CRC 35B0C547
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [1C32230D]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 10
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\10 - Reeling In The Years.wav
  Peak level 98.8 %
  Extraction speed 2.1 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC C07EB0BC
  Copy CRC C07EB0BC
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [CE19F5D2]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 11
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\11 - East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:03.53
  Peak level 78.7 %
  Extraction speed 2.0 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 1D874A09
  Copy CRC 1D874A09
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [384BBB72]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 12
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\12 - Kid Charlemagne.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.90
  Peak level 94.8 %
  Extraction speed 2.2 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 930252BB
  Copy CRC 930252BB
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [016E6DC2]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 13
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\13 - My Old School.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:01.98
  Peak level 93.4 %
  Extraction speed 2.3 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 6BE3A787
  Copy CRC 6BE3A787
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [DB12C6FC]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
Track 14
  Filename G:\EAC Rips\Steely Dan - 1985 - A Decade Of Steely Dan (MCA Gold MasterDisc)\14 - Bad Sneakers.wav
  Pre-gap length  0:00:04.01
  Peak level 93.9 %
  Extraction speed 2.2 X
  Track quality 100.0 %
  Test CRC 3BA7DE9B
  Copy CRC 3BA7DE9B
  Accurately ripped (confidence 5)  [7AF92098]  (AR v2)
  Copy OK
 
All tracks accurately ripped
No errors occurred

The only difference compared with the peak levels listed for Mastering 1 is track 8 (Peg). However, the peak levels for the gold CD are in agreement with levels previously reported in this thread (see post #30) and incorrectly ascribed to the Ludwig/Nichols mastering. On the gold disc remaster there is a continuous fade on Do It Again that starts around 5:34 and ends at 5:52 before any abrupt drop in levels. I heard no crackling on Bad Sneakers on the gold disc.

 

The catalog number on the back and on the spine of the CD is DIDX-306. DIDX 000306 is printed on the face of the CD and I reconfirmed that the matrix number is DIDX-000306 12.

 

You caught and corrected my running typo in this thread. The peak level for track 8 on the Meadows remaster (mastering 1 on this thread) should be 97.2 and not 92.7; I pulled that set of peaks from the same thread you cited.

Anyway, thanks for the EAC peaks for the Gold disc; it proves that the same mastering was used for both the standard MCAD-11553 disc and the MCA gold disc.

 

OK. Thanks. This would be technically a fourth mastering of this CD. I'm guessing that the CRC copy, mastering 3, is derived from this mastering, and not the original, mastering 2. I will update shortly.