Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings: The Summary Thread

I'll check as soon as I can (but I don't have the other version to compare it to)

 

Does anyone happen to know which Steely Dan early CDs were issued by CSR Japan? I know that Aja and Gaucho were, just curious if any of the other albums were.

Thanks.

 

None, just the big two.

MCAD/DIDX CD series with (or without) actual CSR/DADC pressings, different masterings

AJ

 

I just checked the Japan for Japan 2nd pressing, 32XD-394 track 4, matrix #11A3 and it is 83.7%. I haven't really followed but is this any different from any others? Never mind, I see it's already been covered.

 

Thanks to @princesskiki, I can report that only Aja and Gaucho were issued by CSR Japan for USA.

 

I thought the early 2000's remasters sounded a little bright

the Citizen Dan box got the mix as right as I've heard

Two Against Nature was bright in places but some of that was the recording / mixing based on the DVD-A and 24/192 Hi Rez Download
Why has a 4 time Grammy award album guaranteed sure seller not been released on vinyl

One Step - Pretty Please

 

Minus some variants, there were basically three mastering passes. The "original" 1980s CD releases, the 1990s Citizen Steely Dan Box, and the 2000 remasters.

Generalizing a bit, each successive remaster is a little bit louder, a little bit brighter and has a touch more bass added.

This isn't a hard and fast rule, mind you - but it's an easy way of quickly identifying discs purely by ear.

Cheers,
Paul

 

In the case of Steely Dan that is actually a good rule. Contrary to other artists' catalogue, the differences between different original 1980s Steely Dan CDs releases are minor, nearly all of them sound great.

 

This did appear on vinyl in Europe

Steely Dan - Two Against Nature

When I heard a copy I wasn't impressed with the sound quality. I put it down to the length of music they'd tried to cram onto 2 sides of vinyl.

 

Thanks to everyone for this thread it's a been a wonderful resource.
I've been slowly grabbing titles over the years and it's been a huge help
Thanks @Spitfire Don!
The Royal Scam
Mastering #3 Japan For US JVC DIDX-370, no barcode, no SPARS

 

I do have a US JVC Pretzel Logic, carry's the #4
But noticed a glitch on "Any Major Dude Will Tell You' right at the beginning about 1 second in.

 

My MCA USA (same mastering as yours) also has that glitch. I just checked. Never noticed it before, so thanks!

 

I have the same mastering. Are you guys talking about that little tap sound just a tick after the music starts playing?

 

I am, yes.

 

Any major glitch worth half a damn surely you'll tell us, our friend.

AJ

 

Sorry guys

 

bmoregnr - thank you so much for painstakingly arranging these lists of masters. Already taking a dive into this Steve Hoffman master of Aja and how quickly I'm noticing how much livelier his master is compared to listening to a Platinum SHM-CD version previously. Seems like the guitar solo halfway into the song got buried in places but I'll take another listen to the SHM version again.

Time to track down some early masters of the other records too. I'm not sure about the speed discrepancy I listened to on Gaucho either but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

 

Strongly seconded! Great work, @bmoregnr!

 

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Many others did the hard work, it was just a cut and paste job on my end, but I’m glad it helps. @FVDnz I’d recommend finding Steve’s Katy Lied soon. I don’t think it’s very hard to find.

 

Cheers, matey. Wish me luck.

 

I'm not sure if anybody else reported this before, but I have an early German disc that almost matches Mastering #11, except for track 5:
91.5/86.3/89.9/83.0/81.7/84.0/82.9
MCA 250 422-2 (MCAD-37220) / Germany, Record Service GmbH Alsdorf/ Matrix: 250422-2 @ 1

 

How does this mastering sound and compare with #3? Thanks

 

I'd like to get one of these SHM-CDs. Do you know which ones share the same mastering of the SHM-SACD? There are quite a few on Discogs.
Is there a Japanese online store that offers digital downloads?

 

EDIT: I've found these two:
- UICY-75893
- platinum shm-cd UICY-40018
They should have the same mastering of the SACD

 

I stumbled on this one (Japan Victor, 1995 JASRAC) yesterday at Half Price Books - Steely Dan - Aja
Did the cursory EAC rip and DR scan and it seems to not match up with any of the listed versions.
Sounded real good in the car on the way home. Punchy and great depth. The splashes and crashes were detailed nicely.
I'll have to do a listening compare with the 3 other variants I have here in the house.

100.0 /99.2 /100.0/92.0/100.0/73.8/100.0

DR17 over -19.91 dB 01 Black Cow.wav
DR16 -0.06 -20.25 dB 02 Aja.wav
DR16 over -18.56 dB 03 Deacon Blues.wav
DR14 -0.72 -19.09 dB 04 Peg.wav
DR16 over -18.27 dB 05 Home At Last.wav
DR16 -2.63 -20.70 dB 06 I Got The News.wav
DR15 over -17.15 dB 07 Josie.wav