Definitive/Best versions of Steely Dan Albums

[jimmymiro12]

So another member posted something specifically about Gaucho's best album version. I was planning on asking the question too but I wanted to know the definitive/best versions of each album.

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

[blu2]

Originally Posted by jimmymiro12

So another member posted something specifically about Gaucho's best album version. I was planning on asking the question too but I wanted to know the definitive/best versions of each album.

I purchased an Aja import which was mastered by Steve Hoffman

You may wish to check the stevehoffman.tv forum for this kind of thing. There's probably oodles of threads already which cover.

Google "best <title> stevehoffman" and your almost certain to find something.

(Personally I have the Citizen Dan box, a clone of the Hoffman Aja mastering, and the HDTRACKS Gaucho. I've never had the urge to track down a lot of different masterings for comparison)

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

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by blu2

You may wish to check the stevehoffman.tv forum for this kind of thing. There's probably oodles of threads already which cover.

Google "best <title> stevehoffman" and your almost certain to find something.

(Personally I have the Citizen Dan box, a clone of the Hoffman Aja mastering, and the HDTRACKS Gaucho. I've never had the urge to track down a lot of different masterings for comparison)

I love Steve Hoffman but the "gorts" on his board do not lend themselves to the most open discussions of the digital versions. The conclusion is invariably pro-Hoffman versions at the expense of more recent versions using better equipment. My ears prefer the recent Aja SHM SACD. I'm hopeful that the SHM SACD Royal Scam will follow suit and the others will appear from Japan too.

[StuntmanMike]

Originally Posted by blu2

You may wish to check the stevehoffman.tv forum for this kind of thing. There's probably oodles of threads already which cover.

Google "best <title> stevehoffman" and your almost certain to find something.

(Personally I have the Citizen Dan box, a clone of the Hoffman Aja mastering, and the HDTRACKS Gaucho. I've never had the urge to track down a lot of different masterings for comparison)

The Citizen Dan box set is well known for being time compressed to fit everything in, and thus bastardizes SD's catalog.

[Grand Bob]

I have several versions of "Aja", but the best IMO is the vinyl Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Original Master Recording. It contains nuances that don't seem to exist on the digital versions.

[StuntmanMike]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

I have several versions of "Aja", but the best IMO is the vinyl Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Original Master Recording. It contains nuances that don't seem to exist on the digital versions.

Every vinyl junkie says that.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by StuntmanMike

Every vinyl junkie says that.

I'm actually in the process of trying to get rid of (sell) most of my vinyl. I'm keeping just 100 LPs, but among those 100 that I'm keeping is that MFSL version of Aja.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by StuntmanMike

Every vinyl junkie says that.

Maybe it's because in this case it's true.

[StuntmanMike]

Originally Posted by John72953

Maybe it's because in this case it's true.

Every vinyl junkie says that too. Especially the ones that paid hundreds of dollars for their MoFi Aja vinyl.

[Crimson King]

I prefer my old ABC/MCA first pressing vinyl LP's! They rock!