Just got two Steely Dan Nichols' remasters

I picked up "Katy Lied" and "Aja" from the local Borders (the only place to go since Tower is no more) and I have to say I like them very much. Gone is the horrible "no noise" the permeats "Citizen Steely Dan". These have life in them. If anything, there might be slightly too much "high end" on "Aja" for my tastes but, overall, I really like these. Thanks for the suggestions concerning these I received in a previous thread. These purchases were well worth it.

Ed

 

Are these the current versions?

 

Yeah, they are. They are the 1999 remasters.

Ed

 

I sold most of mine. IMO you should try and get a listen to the originals for me it was like night and day (others will say different). The originals being cleaner.

You will usually find some for sale on the marketplace link above.

 

Okay, I'll seek those out. To be honest, I never heard the original CD pressings. Thanks for the tip!

Ed

 

I sold all current (1999) remasters & bought "Citizen Steely Dan". IMHO, this box sounds more natural. Remasters are hard for my ears

 

IS there actually NR on Citizen Steely Dan? I don't hear any artifacts. I'd assume that the reason it sounds so clean is because the recordings were clean to start with, and that the tapes were stored well. Steely Dan didn't f#$k around in the studio. Even the Nichols remasters sound very clean, albeit with lots of top end.

 

I had the first cds (early 90's?), then upgraded(?) them with the box set, and finally the new remasters.
The only thing that got lost to my ears, starting from the box set, was the full intro of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number": edited on the box set and not fixed on the new remasters.

 

Was that missing introduction from Rikki ever corrected?

 

I don't think so. Maybe it was a CD timing issue, where they couldn't fit it?

 

Yes, Rikki is correct on the latest remasters. Go ahead and search for the old versions if you are into the collecting thing. For music and gorgeous sound, you will be hard pressed to beat the 1999 remasters.

- Joe

 

The remasters are fine but the 1st CD releases sound smoother.

 

I'll keep the 1999 remasters just because of the new liner notes. One of the funniest things that's ever been printed in a CD booklet.

 

But the treble is jack up too much on the Nichols remasters. It hurts for me to listen to them.

MCA issued a best Of CD several months ago that sound better than what we've been getting in a decade. I wish someone would do a new set of remasters using this more mild EQ.

 

The 45 version of Rikki... does not have the LP intro.

 

I usually don't mind bright cd's, but the remaster of "Countdown To Ecstacy" definitely grates on the ears. Are the others as bad as this one?

 

Correction: The CD comp to get with better SD sound is the Definitive Collection on Geffen. It's woefully lacking in the tracks department, but it's better than having to search out the old 1985 Decade CD.

 

Anyone know anything about the new compilation that's coming out later this year? Presumably this one will take 2VN and EMG into account...

 

Like El Bacho, I only have the '99 remasters for the liner notes. O.K., I am also a completist. I never listen to these discs because they are jacked up -- too bright. The original MCA discs (Japanese pressings) are far better in my opinion.

I just got the Citizen Steely Dan box and will be interested to compare it to the original MCA discs.

 

I belive the first cds were 78/79 or so on mca.

 

If it sounds like the Definitive Collection I just mentioned, it will be a winner! Already, that Definitive Collection CD has allowed me to get rid of my MCA Ultimate Master Disc version of A Decade Of Steely Dan, mastered by Glenn Meadows, the same guy who did the boxed set.

There is no mastering or comp producer listed on that Definitive Collection that I can see. Too bad, because they deserve praise for not screwing with the tapes for once!

 

Impossible! The CD didn't even come out until 1982.

 

why did you dump "Decade", Grant?

 

Wow! I didnt care for the Definitive Collection and keep my decade of SD on mca but thats me and i've heard others say they liked the D Collection also.