Definitive/Best versions of Steely Dan Albums (2024)

I purchased an Aja import which was mastered by Steve Hoffman

Which are the best versions of the following

Aja
Can't Buy a Thirll
Countdown to Ecstacy
Gaucho
Katy Lied
Pretzel Logic
Royal Scam

Thanks in advanced for the help

well can someone please help me out because I am confused about many of the posts in the forum.

Thanks,
Jimmy

So I found out that the Aja CD I have actually wasn't mastered by Steve Hoffman.

I was looking at these

Would you believe this to be a Steve Hoffman release

http://www.discogs.com/Steely-Dan-Ka...elease/1259450

and is this Steve's mastered version
http://www.discogs.com/Steely-Dan-Aja/release/438879

Also any good places to get the rest of the collection of Steely Dan CDs and make sure i am getting the correct ones?

Would this be the right Gaucho http://cgi.ebay.com/STEELY-DAN-GAUCHO-RM-SACD-/300568050283?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item45fb407a6b

and for all the ones with the 37's that i need how should I be able to find them on the internet? I tried on Discogs but I am not seeing anything that starts with 37. Also how can I find the pre-Citizen mastering of Royal Scam?

The ones that came up with the 37 on the catalog number on Discogs are all vynil not CD. Any suggestions?

What is thought to be the difference between the 37XXX Can't Buy A Thrill and the 1998 remaster ( MCAD-11886 Matrix # MCAD11886 0562012126 MFG.BY UNIVERSAL )

Both are Remastered by Roger Nichols

EDIT : Brightness ! MCA used an incorrect mastering...okay. (found by a search of the archives)

Did a lot of different countries 1st pressings comparisons and this is what I discovered was the best sounding IMO

The 2003 Gaucho SACD is one of my faves, especially for the tasteful multichannel. Thankfully, it just never seems to go out of print even though it probably is. Make sure you get yourself a copy while they're still $15-20.

Is this right mdekoning ?????

The one thing we agree on is they're all sourced "from" the same mastering.

Instead your suggestion is to waste your time and ample money on finding a USA, or more likely a Japan for USA pressing that does sound the same. I'm not saying one doesn't exist, just that it's a lot rarer to find the SQ of that one equal USA to several multiple Japan for Japan pressings where odds are at least 50% of finding the right one.

Let's see... 11 Japan for USA pressings {rough guesstimate only to make point} at $15.00 delivered each = $165.00 cost compared to {maybe 2} Japan for Japan pressings at $45.00 delivered = $45 - $90. Add time differences for comparing and it's no contest for me.

What do you mean "find them on the internet"? Discogs is certainly not a resource to find every catalog #.

mdekoning created a series of Steely Dan threads for each album title to document catalog numbers. Using the search engine by title and user name, you can easily locate each thread.

For example:
Search for
Forum: Music Corner (include archives)
User: mdekoning
Keyword (Thread title): Steely Dan CDs Different Masterings

and you will find all of them

You will find these discs via ebay, the classifieds here (after you get enough posts) and your local record shops.

There is no one-stop-shop location to find all of these discs, nor is there one opinion as to what is the best mastering available for each. Be patient and take the time to investigate reading the various threads, their responses and links for each title here at Hoffman.

Well the thing is that I am not sure what exactly are the ones on ebay that are mastered by Roger Nichols

Thanks,
Jimmy

Have the SHM SACD of Aja and Gaucho and I like them both.Sold the Citizen box set because the sound was murky compared to the later remastered versions of all their records.
The regular(non SHM)SACD of Gaucho is also very good!

I'm optimistic that in the near future we'll have definitive new Steely Dan remasters, at least for the pre-Aja albums.