I just ordered two used cds of MCLD 19145 made in England from Amazon UK. I hope they are Steve's mastering.
Did you order new copies or are these from Amazon Marketplace sellers? I don't believe this version is still in print.
I have no idea freb. All I know for certain is what I've mentioned. I came in late to this thread and don't feel like going through 400 posts in detail to find or not find these computer program differences. No one knows better than Steve.
I'll give an update for sure. With all of the talk about the cds I was suprised to find them on there.
I searched on MCLD 19145 at amazon.co.uk and then e-mailed one of the Amazon Marketplace sellers whose item came up. He wrote back to say: "i have just received your enquiry on Steely Dan Aja. the 2 albums we have in have the following catalogue numbers 811 745-2 & DMCL 1745 unfortunately, these don't match up, but hopefully they may be of help regards Mike (cd warehouse)" Dunno if that was one of the ones you ordered from, but I'll hope you snagged a MCLD 19145, and that you'll report back!!
I have never seen copies of Aja with catalog numbers DMCL 1745 or 811 745-2. The latter catalog number is of the form used by Polydor/Mercury/DJM/etc. in the '80s and would not have been used for a Steely Dan CD. Furthermore, I have never seen a Steely Dan CD with a DMCL prefix.
As a follow-up, I searched around the web and found a European pressing of Aja with the following EAN: 5011781174526. Note that 811 745-2 is contained within that EAN, but 811 745-2 is not how an MCA catalog number is typically represented.
Hmmm.... I just checked the "Pretzel Logic" CD I have with a DMCL catalogue number ("Pretzel Logic" is the one Steely Dan CD I haven't yet found in an original UK "MCLD ****" issue). It appears that the artwork is from the UK but the disc inside is a US pressing (MCAD-31165). The US disc may well have been combined with the UK case at some point in its life after being sold originally (I bought it used). However, the artwork is not from the same series as my other UK Steely Dans as it lists US (MCAD31165) and international (250 495-2) catalogue numbers on the inlay card. All my other original UK issues have "MCLD ****" catalogue numbers and make no mention of other territories on the inlay card. I wonder if the "DMCL" UK's are the early 90s (1991?) remasters? Of course, don't forget that the "MCLD" original UK discs have "DMCL ****" matrix numbers - it's a confusing old mess!
The catalogue number for the cds on Amazon UK was MCLD 19145 so hopefully that is what is sent. The cds are coming from two different dealers (neither one was cd warehouse), so we'll see.
Well, I got my English pressing off Amazon UK today that Mal checked out as identical to his with EAC. He was kind enough to let me have it sent to him initially, as for some reason I couldn't use a US address with Amazon UK. I've done some ABs on my computer using my headphones. I'm no expert on holes and eq but I think there is a difference between the English pressing and the Japan CSR pressing, with the English pressing having a more full midrange. I have to say I still think the CSR pressing sounds very good and had I never found the English pressing, I would have been happy to continue to listen to it. But I'll be listening to the English pressing from now on. Am I hearing things? As far as I'm concerned, I'm done looking on this one and I can cross it off the list and just enjoy. Thanks Mal and Steve!
Steve once said that the digital masters he made of Aja were on fragile tape. Given that the U.K. discs were pressed a bit later than 1984, would his masters have still been in usable condition?
I ran across a copy of SD AJA which is the MCA 32714 made in USA version. From what I have gathered in this thread, this is the Nichols version, which Steve himself has said is not too far from his own. Is this version worth picking up? I just want to make double sure this is this the Nichols version?
What he said to me was that MCA UK seem to have used a clone of his digital master. Obviously this clone must have been made while the original was still in good condition. Anyone know when the UK discs first appeared?
Well I went ahead and bought the Steely Dan "Aja" MCA CD today. I gave it a listen, and it sounded sweet to my ears so I went for it. It's the MCAD 32714 DIDX 55 version. I've included a scan of the disc.
He shoots ... he scores!!! I just got a copy of this exact CD from England, matrix numbers and all! YESSSS!! And you know what's funny? I asked the seller if the CD label said "Made in England". He said, "Yes -- not that it'll make it sound any better." Little did he know!!!
I found a used Canadian MCABD-37214, and it times at 39:58 in my Sony CD/SACD player and 40:00 in my Rotel. Why is that? Also, it it possible that the current Canadian version is using Steve's mastering a la Who's Next?
My $3.99 score; MCAD-37214 DIDX-55 Made in Japan 1984 40:00 Smooth Jewel Case No Bar-code Even if it's not Steve's, eBay LOVES CD's pressed in Japan! It sounds very good, however "all" my previous AJA CD's have as well!?!?!?!? What's the time to look for???
My JVC (see above) has the lightest inner ring text I've ever come across: MCAD - 37214 (duh) - T6E52 (the E being especially hard it pick out. Looks like an F). Is this the magic time for the early Japanese discs that are known to be Steve's? Thanks.
I have the old CRC version. MCAD-37214 1AMCAD3721402 (CMU P 51 in clear plastic core). Returning some books to the library, I decided to browse the CD rack. Saw an old copy of Aja and decided to borrow it. mfd by JVC MCAD-37214-1 1C. To my surprise, they sounded noticably different. The JVC sounds more lively/ has more range. Mine sounds veiled by comparison. Sigh. Black Cow: :31 mark "You were high" ... both versions have a very slight glitch. On the JVC, I Got The News : 2:20 mark ("I will still be proud") sounds like a small tape glitch. Not sure if it's the disc or source material. I only compared portions, but, it's pretty obvious. The mfd by JVC , IMO, sounds noticably superior.
