Steely Dan appreciation thread

Listening to Pretzel Logic this morning before work, and I'm struck how much better the production is on this album than the other Dan's I've heard, even Aja (IMO). It is very clear and a bit sweet sounding.

 

It really helps to get the “best” masterings. I followed the advice in this thread and all the CDs I have sound excellent:

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thre...fferent-masterings-the-summary-thread.561226/

The production quality really is very good on all the CDs. You just need the right masterings to hear it.

 

Listening to the MFSL Gaucho and enjoying it immensely..dB


EDIT - looking at those lists - the MFSL don't fare that well. Am going to have to dig out my other discs to see what version they are . thanks for the link @winders

 

I have both the recommended early Aja and the MFSL and I prefer the latter. The bass is especially better.

 

My senior year in high school I wore out my first copy of Can’t Buy a Thrill. That album and Aja are my two favorites. Not an off song on either one. The others always seem to have at least one song that misses the mark. But that’s true of almost all albums. To have two that don’t have a dude is pretty damn impressive.

 

In high school, 1974 to 1979, I wasn’t listening to much Steely Dan. Not until Aja came out anyway. I was more top 40 oriented then and was putting together mix tapes with the most popular songs. The only groups I was listening to full albums were Queen and Kansas.

Now, all I seem to listen to is full albums. I can queue up all 7 of my Steely Dan albums in Roon and listen to them straight through and not skip a track. I can do that with the 7 Van Morrison albums I have as well.

 

King of the World is such a killer tune ! one of my favs.