Agree! Fits perfectly. By the way, I found the video on youtube. It's called "Los Angeles 4K - California Glow - Scenic Drive". At 40 min length, it a nice background for a whole album.
The intro to your video was pretty cool! Driving in your car at night listening to Steely Dan .... Nothing else is better! My Dad used to get up on Saturday mornings in the 70s and play his vinyl and I remember that memory, my Dad passed away September11 , 2021 and so I'm going try and carry on his tradition playing records on Saturday mornings! Thanks for sharing your video and I subscribed to your channel! 🤘🏾😊
This is unreal tim. You put so much work into all your videos. This is even a step above. Please don’t stop! Haha. Keep them coming. I’ve learned a ton from your channel.
Thanks for the rundown on S.D. vinyl . I watched it this morning and stopped in at the Detroit Record Club to see what they had. After reviewing 5 copies of The Royal Scam I was lucky to find an original VG+ copy in M- jacket still in the shrink wrap. It has the AZ flower/seagull in the dead wax. I also purchased a nice kendun of Katy Lied based on your prior video. Keep up the great content! 👍🏻
Yours is one of the very few vinyl channels I subscribe to. I think you're doing a fantastic job. Hats off and much love to you and your continuing endeavours! 🔥❤🔥
It's nice to see something that is sometimes lacking in the VC; someone who does the homework instead of talking out their ass. Excellent presentation. However, check our pronunciation of Bodhisattva. I've been with Steely Dan from the beginning and I'm old enough to say that.
This superb band really needs an analogue remastering series. The albums generally sound very good but someone like Kevin Gray could, i'm sure, work wonders. Just hope the original master tapes can be found.
@@Universityofvinyl … Steely Dan purists and hardcore collectors are already aware of the fact that the vast majority of the band’s original master tapes were reportedly destroyed in 2008 MCA/UMG vault fire on the Universal Studios/Hollywood backlot that ravaged many recording companies’ stored catalogs of film and audio master recordings. Walter Fagen has publicly commented on the sad loss of much of the band’s past audio catalog and of all their lost hard labor…
I wonder if Becker and Fagen would have approved. The original master tapes have not disappeared. Instead they were saved by Fagen and Roger Nichols by making a digital - not analog - copy of them because the tapes were deteriorating as analog tapes tend to do. And digital of course is the way to go if you have any respect for the artistic output of the creators. The Citizen Steely Dan box on cd is the closest approach to the original artistic output we have.
Thanks for this great session! The Royal Scam was also the first SD album where they used the Hohner Clavinet prominently, obviously popularized by Stevie Wonder, adding another layer of funk and edginess to the music. I've loved Steely Dan for 50 years. Their music is never outdated, still fresh and essential due to the stories and subject matter, the craftsmanship of the compositions, and in no small part the engineering/sound quality. It's also satisfying to see that a younger generation is discovering and digging their music.
One of the greatest videos you have ever done Tim! I really enjoyed it! It would be great at the end of part 2 of this series to have a 30-60 second summary of all of your Steely Dan pressing recommendations. Can’t wait for similar videos like this from you. Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith best pressings would be great for you to cover someday. Keep up the great work!
"Katy Leid" had a particularly harsh sound, especially the cymbals; they sound very compressed. It turns out there was a mistake in the original recording process! IIRC, use of a dBx encoder/decoder.
Great video Tim. I have to thank my friend from high school Glen Nakamura for turning me on to Steely Dan around the time of Katy Lied. I have the Brian Gardner flower on side 1 and birds on side 2 and it sounds fantastic.
Great breakdown Tim , I noticed a Sax Player who was in " The Crusaders " appears on one of Steely Dan's Albums I seem to find when crate digging of late I look more at the sleeve notes for Certain Musicians / Engineers Mastering Engineers even if i don't no the group ! because at the end of the day its all about the music and recordings than the hype of the bands !
I don't understand how I didn't come across this video series until now!! 10 months later. So cool to listen to another SD nut. Great info on these recordings. I just received my UHQR copy of Countdown and have decided that I will be forced into buying all of them!! Great video, I'm moving onto part 2 shortly.
Just watching this tonite…10 months down the road. Found the early ABC pressings to be a bit muddled, thought it was me after so much fanfare for the ABC vinyls, and thanks to you’re recommendation, just purchased a first black ABC pressing that I’m excited to see a difference. Really enjoying your content, keep it up, just subscribed.
So much good information here. I am listening to all 3 videos for the second time. Can’t Buy a Thrill was released when I was in high school and I have been a fan ever since. I was so fortunate to have the music available in that time. The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many many more. And of course, Steely Dan. Many great memories.
Over the years I've tried and I've tried, over and over I've given it my best shot and I've just come to the realization that I can't, I just can't do it. I'm not sure what it is. I know I should but I don't, I just can't. I do appreciate your effort and passion so thumbs up.
Despite the fact my collection of these really epic Albums is all over the Place in regards of their pedigree, i love em all and will take em over to my next life.
I congratulate one 1 year of making some of the best videos about vinyls in the VC. You are a true professor of quality music. Thank you for all the classes I have attended.
Thanks for your recommendations. Found a black label pressing of Steely Dan’s first album “Can’t Buy a Thrill” at the Keystone Record Collectors show. Not cheap $70 but what the heck. Can’t wait to run it through the cleaner and play it.
@@Universityofvinyl keep the recommendations coming. Saw a VG RL today LZ II thought they were nuts. Also I saw an early pressing of REM Green but no RL. This monthly show allows you to mine deep for stuff people come from all over the mid Atlantic region once a month for this show.
Great video thanks Tim. Funnily enough today I picked up a NM 1977 Canadian press of Aja on translucent red vinyl. I was a bit dubious at first as hadn’t heard of it, but after a quick look on Discogs I was convinced I should buy it - and I have to say after a wet clean it sounds absolutely fantastic, much better than my other copy!! 😀
@@Universityofvinyl yeah it does sound great - this is the red translucent pressing that I picked up at the weekend. From what I can gather there is also a yellow version tho..
A really great job. The intro video is awesome so HD! I’m on a 36 hour shift at the power plant during the blizzard. Going to take a break and read another suggestion from you “The Complete Guide to the music of Steely Dan By Brian Sweet. Thank You
This is an excellent video installment Tim. I am a huge Dan fan and have copies of most of the first press lps that i bought when the albums released. I still am looking for a clean Kendun pressing of Katy Lied but that search continues. Looking forward to Part II.
I have the ABC Black Label copy of Countdown ... and Pretzel Logic. Thanks for the great info. Now I know what to go out and get at my local and area record shops. Oh ! I also have a copy of Steely Dan Gold. In the deadwax it has the Masterdisk etching and the famous RL. Fantastic clean clean copy.
Steely Dan definitely fills the room when I spin their records. Aja, Can't Buy A Thrill, Greatest Hits, are 3 must haves. They're as important as a Roxy Music or say, Devo. Tight, professional and creative. Optimizing the 1970s sound.
Yes back in like 85...I was in a Newberry store on long island ny,and I found in the basement clearance section...like all of Steely Dan's albums at that time for like 1.99 cleance....and yes they sounded great...even then I had a Realistic Reciever a big one and Bose 901s2 a Technics SL 1350 TT with Shure v15 cart and it sound great....yes they were very well recorded...I remember buying other clearance stuff to CDs were starting up ....
Early ABC/Dunhill Records are the best! MCA dropped the ball on reissues from many early labels :( I used to have a bunch in my stolen collection, but I seek them out when crate digging. I'm on a fixed income, so your reviews are awesome!
In the early 80s, I snatched up " the early years" released 83, and an ABC Uk12inch ep Fours circa 78, that had Dallas and Sail the Waterway. Also got Canadian ABC pressings of aja and Can't buy on colored vinyl
Well kudos to you Tim on your fantastic presentation of one of the most iconic bands in American music history, Steely Dan. It was a pleasure to learn a lot about the band's roots and development, as well as the nuances of the vinyl variations of each of the first 5 studio albums. Unfortunately, I'm 0/5 when it comes at having the stellar pressing that you have in your collection and I concur with your sentiment that the MCA pressings lack a great deal in comparison with the dynamics and separation that the black label ABC pressings have from the first 3 records, as well as the concentric circle pressings on albums 4 & 5. If there's any album pressings in my collection I would like to upgrade in their entirety it's hands down my Steely Dan collection. So thanks very much for the details you provided on this subject which has for some time eluded me to no end. Cheers !
Really well done video/documentary. I’m certain that you spent a good deal of time, and it is appreciated. I hope all three parts get more views, as there is really good information here! Work on Pink Floyd next. Please!
I was always disappointed with the MCA pressings of the Steely Dan LPs, but I bought "Gold" back in college and it always sounded fantastic! I'm not a big greatest hits guy so I later traded it. I had to buy a new copy of the original pressing last year. It sounds amazing!
Thanks for the interesting video on one of my fav all time bands. I have ABC label Canadian pressings of all except Countdown to Ecstasy, only have it on CD I need to track down a vinyl copy of it. All the ABC labels I have are the Yellow/Blue one, I don't think any of the Can pressings have the black abc label although I could be wrong, I'll be on the lookout for one for sure. Cheers
Great video Tim. Fabulous insight into the pressings. Might be a good idea check out the UK probe label especially on CDTE & Pretzel. I have various pressings & UK Probe of Pretzel is the best to my ears. All the best ✌️❤️
Discovered Steely Dan this summer. Aja (ab1006) and Can’t Buy a Thrill (abc black label) are in my collection and they sound fantastic. Still looking for Allen Zentz Royal Scam and Kendun Katy Lied
Just found a copy of the Quadraphonic release of Can’t Buy a Thrill which I don’t think you mentioned in the video. It’s quite different from all the other recordings including the UHQR. On Reeling in the Years you hear guitar fills you don’t hear anywhere else. So cool!
Really enjoyable and knowledgeable video, well done! I have all of the recommended pressings, luckily, except for Katy Lied (oh, and I think that insect on the cover is a Katydid, if Iam not mistaken...) and Gaucho, which are both MCA pressings. Katy Lied sounds particularly bad, so I am definitely on the lookout for the concentric circles ABC label.
I just scored an ABC black label ABCD-808 AZ Pretzel Logic that had just come in as used to a record store. It was dusty and had some slight scuffs on the vinyl (inaudible it turns out), so I was able to snag it for $15.
Thanks for an in-depth review. Becker actually had a significant Social Anxiety Disorder that he fought to overcome. Probably contributed to his drug use. RIP🎼
The guitar on East St. Louis Toodle-loo is not a wah-wah. It is a talk box, like on Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain Way or Peter Frampton's live version of Show Me The Way. You make it sound as though Don & Walt discovered drummer Bernard Purdie. He is actually a legendary drummer who had an amazing career many years before doing SD session work. It also appears that you cut off part of the story about the Mo-Fi Katy Lied, I'd like to hear it all! Sorry for nitpicking, but I think these are important facts. Overall, a very entertaining overview of this great band and the elusive art of finding the best pressings! Looking forward to part two and your opinion of 2 Against Nature and Everything Must Go vinyl versions. Cheers!
Just spent Wednesday night watching parts 1 and 2. Excellent deep dive into the pressings, I’ve already updated my discogs wantlist for the greatest hits lp. I had the 8-track of that WAY back in the day and my first introduction to Steely Dan. I’m curious if you’ve listened to the 1980 Japanese pressings of the catalog? A lot of folks claim those are the best, but I haven’t seen very many affordable ones:/ I appreciate the detail, I actually learned a lot especially about WENDELL :) I’m glad you cover a lot with Roger Nichols, he was a great engineer and definitely contributed to their sound more than a lot of engineers. Pity about the tapes, I suspect that a lot of why the CiSco Aja’s are so coveted, since they were the last known pressings from the masters. I have an AB-1006 and it’s fine for me. Thanks again, looks like you have a great channel:)
Great series. I need to watch 3 rd one tommorow. I ended up having just 2 out of 7 , looks like I need to find others. Where can the lost gaucho album ?
I have an MCA 1980 reissue of Can’t Buy A Thrill. It sounds excellent. Not at all like what you described with the MCA recordings. The available copies for sale currently on Discogs range from $70-120.
Hey Tim really appreciate your videos, I picked up a concentric ring red orange yellow version of Cant Buy a Thrill . It has a gold Platinum plus MCA37040 stamp on the top right corner. no MCA notes on the record. Also the deadwax has the S insignia with the letter r and s stamped in it. Specialty records stamp. Do you have any information to share on this copy? I could not locate it on Discogs. Keep up the great work and lets see a deep dive into some tasty Grant Green records!
Thanks! After MCA bought out ABC in ‘78/‘79, rather than print new labels and covers, they used that MCA stamp during the interim before new MCA labels were produced. Common to see this with the Greatest Hits double LP also.
@@Universityofvinyl Thank you very much good sir. I spent a fair amount ot time and did a search for specialty record corp and It did not show up. Ive really enjoyed and purchased several og Steely Dan records based on your preferences and they get spin time on my Rega. Thanks for the knowledge
Dude I enjoyed this tremendously. One thing, you didn’t mention the Greatest Hits double album. Maybe it was only a UK thing. I’ve always pointed new listeners towards it. All the usual suspects are on there with “Here at the Western World” as an added bonus.
I have a original 1978 ABC pressing of Steely Dan's Greatest Hits in good condition. I think the sound quality is pretty good. I may try to find a black label Steely Dan ,Thrill LP in my area or online. I would assume the black label your mentioning is a US pressing, unless Canadian versions are just as good in sound quality.
I have the Royal Scam lp with the cardboard insert, and the yellow/orange abc label. But mine has T1 on both sides. A-5 on 1st side and B with a circled 4 on side 2 in the dead wax. Any ideas?
Sounds like you have a Terre Haute pressing. Do you see the Az in the deadwax also? This might be yours: www.discogs.com/release/9399986-Steely-Dan-The-Royal-Scam
I have the Katy Lied tan label MCA Pickney Platinum Plus MCA 37043 and It stacks up very well against the OG ABC first press copies of Cant buy a thrill and Pretzell logic that I own. Playing on Rega P6 Musical Fidelity M6si w EAT tube phono pre
Okay…I have two vinyl pressings of "Aja". One is the Robert Ludlum master, or mix, and the other isn’t. I wonder why I’m not hearing too much difference in sound between the two. They both sound great to my ears.
@@Universityofvinyl - I think I remember you mentioning that in a previous vid. Just started watching today’s video. Just received a Japanese pressing of Katy Lied two days ago👍👍 Keep up the great work!
Tim. I just came across Steely Dan + Fours LP in a record store. Do you have this one? I think there are two songs on here that were only released on this album-Dallas and Sail The Waterway.
Just out of interest has anyone ever seen a photograph of Donald Fagan smiling ? ...if so.I'd love to see it .....by the way they're my favourite band ever since buying Can't Buy A Thrill when it came out.
Why is most of the Steely Dan catalogue presently unavailable on vinyl? Is there a remaster series in the works? I contacted their official web site who were no help at all.
I go into this in part 1, reasons: A) many of the Master Tapes may have been lost, B) possible loss of said tapes in the MCA Fire, C) supposedly digital copies from the analog masters exist and some ‘final mix’ original tapes exist in a Pennsylvania MCA vault. We’re all in “wait and see” mode unfortunately
Go buy solid clean used copies. They are the best. They use the original studio Masters on the lathe to cut the plates to make those records back in the seventies and early 80s. There's just nothing like them. I wouldn't trade anybody my 1979 copy of Aja for a brand new 180 g copy,😁
@@Universityofvinyl ordered two UHQR Can't Buy The Thrill and Aja. What would be my third and fourth option that you can recommend. I'll stop at 4 orders. Too much. I have an OG of Royal Scam and sounds amazing.
@@froidd758 I would go with Countdown to Ecstasy and Either Pretzel or Gaucho - with Gaucho they are using the same Ludwig cut (a one-off copy) so maybe an edge to Pretzel and original master tape
That’s why dirty work never sounds as good in concert from a vocal stand point and your right the ABC black label is very good I have one as well. Got it from a private collection.
Btw, the opening montage of the drive down Sunset was amazing.
Agree! Fits perfectly. By the way, I found the video on youtube. It's called "Los Angeles 4K - California Glow - Scenic Drive". At 40 min length, it a nice background for a whole album.
You are a master sleuth! :-)
It’s a really good sounding version of The Bear too!
He needs to turn that jungle music down though
The intro to your video was pretty cool! Driving in your car at night listening to Steely Dan .... Nothing else is better! My Dad used to get up on Saturday mornings in the 70s and play his vinyl and I remember that memory, my Dad passed away September11 , 2021 and so I'm going try and carry on his tradition playing records on Saturday mornings! Thanks for sharing your video and I subscribed to your channel! 🤘🏾😊
Thank you Adrian and condolences
This is unreal tim. You put so much work into all your videos. This is even a step above. Please don’t stop! Haha. Keep them coming. I’ve learned a ton from your channel.
Thanks for the rundown on S.D. vinyl . I watched it this morning and stopped in at the Detroit Record Club to see what they had. After reviewing 5 copies of The Royal Scam I was lucky to find an original VG+ copy in M- jacket still in the shrink wrap. It has the AZ flower/seagull in the dead wax. I also purchased a nice kendun of Katy Lied based on your prior video. Keep up the great content! 👍🏻
Nice score! I wanted to visit that shop over Xmas but ran out of time
Yours is one of the very few vinyl channels I subscribe to. I think you're doing a fantastic job. Hats off and much love to you and your continuing endeavours! 🔥❤🔥
Thank you!
It's nice to see something that is sometimes lacking in the VC; someone who does the homework instead of talking out their ass. Excellent presentation. However, check our pronunciation of Bodhisattva. I've been with Steely Dan from the beginning and I'm old enough to say that.
Thanks so much, awesome! Can’t wait for 2! I’m going shopping now to finalise the collection;-)
Just bought a used copy of Can’t Buy A Thrill. Will be listening to it this weekend. Saw your copy at about the 6 minute mark
This superb band really needs an analogue remastering series. The albums generally sound very good but someone like Kevin Gray could, i'm sure, work wonders. Just hope the original master tapes can be found.
Agree!
Agree as well.
@@Universityofvinyl … Steely Dan purists and hardcore collectors are already aware of the fact that the vast majority of the band’s original master tapes were reportedly destroyed in 2008 MCA/UMG vault fire on the Universal Studios/Hollywood backlot that ravaged many recording companies’ stored catalogs of film and audio master recordings. Walter Fagen has publicly commented on the sad loss of much of the band’s past audio catalog and of all their lost hard labor…
@@twoblacklabs904 yep, I talk about this in the video, thankfully the original final mix tapes for most LPs are reportedly are intact in Pennsylvania
I wonder if Becker and Fagen would have approved. The original master tapes have not disappeared. Instead they were saved by Fagen and Roger Nichols by making a digital - not analog - copy of them because the tapes were deteriorating as analog tapes tend to do. And digital of course is the way to go if you have any respect for the artistic output of the creators. The Citizen Steely Dan box on cd is the closest approach to the original artistic output we have.
Thanks for this great session! The Royal Scam was also the first SD album where they used the Hohner Clavinet prominently, obviously popularized by Stevie Wonder, adding another layer of funk and edginess to the music. I've loved Steely Dan for 50 years. Their music is never outdated, still fresh and essential due to the stories and subject matter, the craftsmanship of the compositions, and in no small part the engineering/sound quality. It's also satisfying to see that a younger generation is discovering and digging their music.
ruclips.net/video/OOGkzzdwOcA/видео.html
Can’t Buy A Thrill Steely dan
my review
Got into both records and Steely Dan because RUclips decided this video would be good for me. Best thing that's happened to me in a long while.
Love it! Thanks for your feedback
Thanks so much Tim for this guide, I followed your advice and I'm delighted I did! Thanks for all your hard work. Fantastic stuff!
Glad the info helped! 👍🏻👍🏻
One of the greatest videos you have ever done Tim! I really enjoyed it! It would be great at the end of part 2 of this series to have a 30-60 second summary of all of your Steely Dan pressing recommendations. Can’t wait for similar videos like this from you. Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith best pressings would be great for you to cover someday. Keep up the great work!
Thanks! 👍🏻 your suggestions have been noted
Tim, this is a masterpiece. Fantastic information.
"Katy Leid" had a particularly harsh sound, especially the cymbals; they sound very compressed. It turns out there was a mistake in the original recording process! IIRC, use of a dBx encoder/decoder.
I had a DBX Akai cassette deck in the mid 80s. Don't try to play anything recorded in DBX without a decoder, they sound awful
Thank you Tim I really enjoy this direction with your videos thank you
Great video Tim. I have to thank my friend from high school Glen Nakamura for turning me on to Steely Dan around the time of Katy Lied. I have the Brian Gardner flower on side 1 and birds on side 2 and it sounds fantastic.
Great breakdown Tim , I noticed a Sax Player who was in " The Crusaders " appears on one of Steely Dan's Albums I seem to find when crate digging of late I look more at the sleeve notes for Certain Musicians / Engineers Mastering Engineers even if i don't no the group ! because at the end of the day its all about the music and recordings than the hype of the bands !
I don't understand how I didn't come across this video series until now!! 10 months later. So cool to listen to another SD nut. Great info on these recordings. I just received my UHQR copy of Countdown and have decided that I will be forced into buying all of them!! Great video, I'm moving onto part 2 shortly.
Thank you!
Just watching this tonite…10 months down the road. Found the early ABC pressings to be a bit muddled, thought it was me after so much fanfare for the ABC vinyls, and thanks to you’re recommendation, just purchased a first black ABC pressing that I’m excited to see a difference. Really enjoying your content, keep it up, just subscribed.
@@jamesdamon9876 thanks much
So much good information here. I am listening to all 3 videos for the second time. Can’t Buy a Thrill was released when I was in high school and I have been a fan ever since. I was so fortunate to have the music available in that time. The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and many many more. And of course, Steely Dan. Many great memories.
Thanks for watching
And I just want ro thank you for doing this Steely Dan episode.
A band i have enjoyed for many years.
Show Biz Kids. The slide on this is something pretty special, from Rick Derringer.
I have the Mo-Fi Katy Lied. Very smooth sounding. My one big gripe: the descending opening notes of Chain Lightning are missing.
Over the years I've tried and I've tried, over and over I've given it my best shot and I've just come to the realization that I can't, I just can't do it. I'm not sure what it is. I know I should but I don't, I just can't. I do appreciate your effort and passion so thumbs up.
Great video. I found this to be very informative and useful in sorting through all of my Steely Dan lp's.
Thanks! 👍🏻
This is a graduate level university course. Thanks for all of your great videos. I try to catch all of them!
Thx!
Greetings from the Netherlands Tim!
Really enjoyed the video,as I am a Steely Dan lover too.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks!
I never understood this new fascination with vinyl. I, for one does not miss the clicks and pops!
Despite the fact my collection of these really epic Albums is all over the Place in regards of their pedigree, i love em all and will take em over to my next life.
I congratulate one 1 year of making some of the best videos about vinyls in the VC. You are a true professor of quality music. Thank you for all the classes I have attended.
Thanks!
Thanks for your recommendations. Found a black label pressing of Steely Dan’s first album “Can’t Buy a Thrill” at the Keystone Record Collectors show. Not cheap $70 but what the heck. Can’t wait to run it through the cleaner and play it.
Those early ABC Black Labels are really hard to beat...especially if you find them in NM condition. Enjoy!
@@Universityofvinyl keep the recommendations coming. Saw a VG RL today LZ II thought they were nuts. Also I saw an early pressing of REM Green but no RL. This monthly show allows you to mine deep for stuff people come from all over the mid Atlantic region once a month for this show.
Also what’s the deal with Donald Fagan’s Night Fly side 1 having a Masterdisk RL and Side 2 Masterdisk S.P. ? I bought it but thought it was strange.
Great video thanks Tim. Funnily enough today I picked up a NM 1977 Canadian press of Aja on translucent red vinyl. I was a bit dubious at first as hadn’t heard of it, but after a quick look on Discogs I was convinced I should buy it - and I have to say after a wet clean it sounds absolutely fantastic, much better than my other copy!! 😀
I’ve heard those Canadians sound great, I think there is also a red translucent pressing
@@Universityofvinyl yeah it does sound great - this is the red translucent pressing that I picked up at the weekend. From what I can gather there is also a yellow version tho..
@@Stuck_in_the_70s oops, yes meant to say yellow, more coffee please ….
@@Universityofvinyl fair enough 😂😂😂
Great job on this! That's not just some insect on the cover of Katy Lied, it's a katydid. 😉
Epic undertaking! Thanks for the effort Tim
A really great job. The intro video is awesome so HD! I’m on a 36 hour shift at the power plant during the blizzard. Going to take a break and read another suggestion from you “The Complete Guide to the music of Steely Dan By Brian Sweet. Thank You
Wow! Great video, awesome job! I agree with your album picks on sound.
This is an excellent video installment Tim. I am a huge Dan fan and have copies of most of the first press lps that i bought when the albums released. I still am looking for a clean Kendun pressing of Katy Lied but that search continues. Looking forward to Part II.
Cheers Spence!
This video was superb! Thank you for sharing!
I have the ABC Black Label copy of Countdown ... and Pretzel Logic. Thanks for the great info. Now I know what to go out and get at my local and area record shops. Oh ! I also have a copy of Steely Dan Gold. In the deadwax it has the Masterdisk etching and the famous RL. Fantastic clean clean copy.
Great job, on this much needed information that can come from this vinyl channels reviews, and interesting band facts.....🍁
Glad you enjoyed it!
Happy to hear how much you liked Count Down, I ALWAYS seem to come back to this album, so diverse. Some of Don & Walts best work!
Steely Dan definitely fills the room when I spin their records. Aja, Can't Buy A Thrill, Greatest Hits, are 3 must haves. They're as important as a Roxy Music or say, Devo. Tight, professional and creative. Optimizing the 1970s sound.
There is no way you can compare RM or Devo lyrically to SD not even close sorry
Devo??? Wtf ???
@@davidbrown3971 "tight, professional and creative" All three fit 100%
I really enjoyed your presentation Tim. They're amazing albums.
Thanks
Thanks so much for posting this video. I just ordered a copy of Can’t Buy a Thrill on the ABC Black Label.
Awesome
Streaming for convenience and discovery, cds for best quality and vinyl for the experience. IMO:). Great video brother
Cheers Si!
Yes back in like 85...I was in a Newberry store on long island ny,and I found in the basement clearance section...like all of Steely Dan's albums at that time for like 1.99 cleance....and yes they sounded great...even then I had a Realistic Reciever a big one and Bose 901s2 a Technics SL 1350 TT with Shure v15 cart and it sound great....yes they were very well recorded...I remember buying other clearance stuff to CDs were starting up ....
Right place, right time……..
Early ABC/Dunhill Records are the best! MCA dropped the ball on reissues from many early labels :(
I used to have a bunch in my stolen collection, but I seek them out when crate digging. I'm on a fixed income, so your reviews are awesome!
Thank you!
In the early 80s, I snatched up " the early years" released 83, and an ABC Uk12inch ep Fours circa 78, that had Dallas and Sail the Waterway. Also got Canadian ABC pressings of aja and Can't buy on colored vinyl
Well kudos to you Tim on your fantastic presentation of one of the most iconic bands in American music history, Steely Dan. It was a pleasure to learn a lot about the band's roots and development, as well as the nuances of the vinyl variations of each of the first 5 studio albums.
Unfortunately, I'm 0/5 when it comes at having the stellar pressing that you have in your collection and I concur with your sentiment that the MCA pressings lack a great deal in comparison with the dynamics and separation that the black label ABC pressings have from the first 3 records, as well as the concentric circle pressings on albums 4 & 5.
If there's any album pressings in my collection I would like to upgrade in their entirety it's hands down my Steely Dan collection. So thanks very much for the details you provided on this subject which has for some time eluded me to no end. Cheers !
Thanks James!
Really well done video/documentary. I’m certain that you spent a good deal of time, and it is appreciated. I hope all three parts get more views, as there is really good information here! Work on Pink Floyd next. Please!
I was always disappointed with the MCA pressings of the Steely Dan LPs, but I bought "Gold" back in college and it always sounded fantastic! I'm not a big greatest hits guy so I later traded it. I had to buy a new copy of the original pressing last year. It sounds amazing!
GREAT episode Tim!
Thank you
I discovered Steely Dan early in life. I was 8 when I heard "Peg" on the radio of my grandfather's Chrysler LeBaron. Been a fan ever since.
Thanks for the interesting video on one of my fav all time bands. I have ABC label Canadian pressings of all except Countdown to Ecstasy, only have it on CD I need to track down a vinyl copy of it. All the ABC labels I have are the Yellow/Blue one, I don't think any of the Can pressings have the black abc label although I could be wrong, I'll be on the lookout for one for sure. Cheers
Great video Tim.
Fabulous insight into the pressings.
Might be a good idea check out the UK probe label especially on CDTE & Pretzel.
I have various pressings & UK Probe of Pretzel is the best to my ears.
All the best ✌️❤️
Yeah I agree. I have a UK Probe of Pretzel Logic and Countdown to Ecstasy - both sound really excellent in my opinion.
Thankfully Analogue Productions is reissuing the catalogue on 45 rpm form original master tapes.
Discovered Steely Dan this summer. Aja (ab1006) and Can’t Buy a Thrill (abc black label) are in my collection and they sound fantastic. Still looking for Allen Zentz Royal Scam and Kendun Katy Lied
Congrats!
Just found a copy of the Quadraphonic release of Can’t Buy a Thrill which I don’t think you mentioned in the video. It’s quite different from all the other recordings including the UHQR. On Reeling in the Years you hear guitar fills you don’t hear anywhere else. So cool!
Thanks! Yep, I've picked up a Quad of CBAT since I did this video and it's a very cool listen
Really enjoyable and knowledgeable video, well done! I have all of the recommended pressings, luckily, except for Katy Lied (oh, and I think that insect on the cover is a Katydid, if Iam not mistaken...) and Gaucho, which are both MCA pressings. Katy Lied sounds particularly bad, so I am definitely on the lookout for the concentric circles ABC label.
51:30 - You're describing differences in sound-stage and frequency response in different pressings. Does this imply that each pressing is remastered?
Yes
I just scored an ABC black label ABCD-808 AZ Pretzel Logic that had just come in as used to a record store. It was dusty and had some slight scuffs on the vinyl (inaudible it turns out), so I was able to snag it for $15.
Thanks for an in-depth review. Becker actually had a significant Social Anxiety Disorder that he fought to overcome. Probably contributed to his drug use. RIP🎼
The guitar on East St. Louis Toodle-loo is not a wah-wah. It is a talk box, like on Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain Way or Peter Frampton's live version of Show Me The Way. You make it sound as though Don & Walt discovered drummer Bernard Purdie. He is actually a legendary drummer who had an amazing career many years before doing SD session work. It also appears that you cut off part of the story about the Mo-Fi Katy Lied, I'd like to hear it all! Sorry for nitpicking, but I think these are important facts. Overall, a very entertaining overview of this great band and the elusive art of finding the best pressings! Looking forward to part two and your opinion of 2 Against Nature and Everything Must Go vinyl versions. Cheers!
Thanks Bill! I was going to expand on Purdie a bit more (Aretha & James Brown) but I don’t work with scripts and the thought passed me by.
Just spent Wednesday night watching parts 1 and 2. Excellent deep dive into the pressings, I’ve already updated my discogs wantlist for the greatest hits lp. I had the 8-track of that WAY back in the day and my first introduction to Steely Dan.
I’m curious if you’ve listened to the 1980 Japanese pressings of the catalog? A lot of folks claim those are the best, but I haven’t seen very many affordable ones:/
I appreciate the detail, I actually learned a lot especially about WENDELL :)
I’m glad you cover a lot with Roger Nichols, he was a great engineer and definitely contributed to their sound more than a lot of engineers.
Pity about the tapes, I suspect that a lot of why the CiSco Aja’s are so coveted, since they were the last known pressings from the masters. I have an AB-1006 and it’s fine for me.
Thanks again, looks like you have a great channel:)
Thanks for the kind words, I have zero experience with the Japanese pressings unfortunately
Katy Lied I have a UK 1st pressing which is on an ABC Black label ( flat label) which sounds very good
Great series. I need to watch 3 rd one tommorow. I ended up having just 2 out of 7 , looks like I need to find others. Where can the lost gaucho album ?
I have the album Can't Buy
A Thrill which was originally released on ABC records,1972.
That first track you played reminds me a lot of the title cut on "The Royal Scam". Maybe it was a leftover from those sessions?
I believe you are correct and they recorded it again during the Gaucho sessions but it was discarded
I have an MCA 1980 reissue of Can’t Buy A Thrill. It sounds excellent. Not at all like what you described with the MCA recordings. The available copies for sale currently on Discogs range from $70-120.
Glad it sounds great, there are always exceptions out there
The late engineer extradinaire Roger Nichols had an interview where he claimed he keeps a 1st gen backup of every session
Great job!
Thanks for the visit
Go ABC originals
The MCA ARE THIN
Glad to see Two Against Nature finally see an RSD release - it is spectacular
Love The Dan
Hey Tim really appreciate your videos, I picked up a concentric ring red orange yellow version of Cant Buy a Thrill . It has a gold Platinum plus MCA37040 stamp on the top right corner. no MCA notes on the record. Also the deadwax has the S insignia with the letter r and s stamped in it. Specialty records stamp. Do you have any information to share on this copy? I could not locate it on Discogs. Keep up the great work and lets see a deep dive into some tasty Grant Green records!
Thanks! After MCA bought out ABC in ‘78/‘79, rather than print new labels and covers, they used that MCA stamp during the interim before new MCA labels were produced. Common to see this with the Greatest Hits double LP also.
@@Universityofvinyl Thank you very much for the response! I cant find any Specialty Records Corporation copies on Discogs. Was curious if you have
@marklent Here’s one - www.discogs.com/release/13339653-Steely-Dan-Cant-Buy-A-Thrill
@@Universityofvinyl Thank you very much good sir. I spent a fair amount ot time and did a search for specialty record corp and It did not show up. Ive really enjoyed and purchased several og Steely Dan records based on your preferences and they get spin time on my Rega. Thanks for the knowledge
Mine is a simple Steely Dan vinyl guide. All of them.
I've got the yellow vinyl Can't Buy A Thrill!
Can you comment on Canadian ABC pressings? Thanks!
Dude I enjoyed this tremendously. One thing, you didn’t mention the Greatest Hits double album. Maybe it was only a UK thing. I’ve always pointed new listeners towards it. All the usual suspects are on there with “Here at the Western World” as an added bonus.
There is about a 5-min segment about that in Part 2!
I have a original 1978 ABC pressing of Steely Dan's Greatest Hits in good condition. I think the sound quality is pretty good. I may try to find a black label Steely Dan ,Thrill LP in my area or online. I would assume the black label your mentioning is a US pressing, unless Canadian versions are just as good in sound quality.
Yes, US pressing but early Canadian should also be quite good
I have the Royal Scam lp with the cardboard insert, and the yellow/orange abc label. But mine has T1 on both sides. A-5 on 1st side and B with a circled 4 on side 2 in the dead wax. Any ideas?
Sounds like you have a Terre Haute pressing. Do you see the Az in the deadwax also? This might be yours: www.discogs.com/release/9399986-Steely-Dan-The-Royal-Scam
I have the Katy Lied tan label MCA Pickney Platinum Plus MCA 37043 and It stacks up very well against the OG ABC first press copies of Cant buy a thrill and Pretzell logic that I own. Playing on Rega P6 Musical Fidelity M6si w EAT tube phono pre
Good to know, nice rig!
@@Universityofvinyl Thank you sir for the vids really enjoy them. Wondering if you have listened to the Lloyd Cole in NY box set?
@@Universityofvinyl Also thanks for showing love to Husker Du and REM
@@marklent8771 not yet!
Okay…I have two vinyl pressings of "Aja". One is the Robert Ludlum master, or mix, and the other isn’t. I wonder why I’m not hearing too much difference in sound between the two. They both sound great to my ears.
Likely the same mastering plates were used but no Ludwig etching on later pressing is my guess
I've never figured out the square ABC label and the ABC building block labels
Great intro Tim! Did you drive by Whiskey A Go-Go? You must live on the LA area too. Subscribed to your instagram page👍👍
Hi Virgil! I'm actually in Colorado.....that was some file footage I found that worked perfectly for my concept! Thanks for watching and subscribing
@@Universityofvinyl - I think I remember you mentioning that in a previous vid. Just started watching today’s video. Just received a Japanese pressing of Katy Lied two days ago👍👍 Keep up the great work!
@@VintageStereoCollectorChannel Very nice! Hoping you find that Japanese pressing sublime!
This much better. Sometimes you try to say too little about too many bands. Steely Dan deserves detailed treatment.
Thanks
Are there any corroborations with Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and Thelonious Monk ? I could only imagine.
Tim. I just came across Steely Dan + Fours LP in a record store. Do you have this one? I think there are two songs on here that were only released on this album-Dallas and Sail The Waterway.
I don’t have it…
RL pressing of GAUCHO!!! DELICIOUS
You should update this including the UHQR pressings.
Might do once they’re all released
Just out of interest has anyone ever seen a photograph of Donald Fagan smiling ? ...if so.I'd love to see it .....by the way they're my favourite band ever since buying Can't Buy A Thrill when it came out.
check the inside cover of Aja for a good smiling Don
Why is most of the Steely Dan catalogue presently unavailable on vinyl? Is there a remaster series in the works? I contacted their official web site who were no help at all.
I go into this in part 1, reasons: A) many of the Master Tapes may have been lost, B) possible loss of said tapes in the MCA Fire, C) supposedly digital copies from the analog masters exist and some ‘final mix’ original tapes exist in a Pennsylvania MCA vault. We’re all in “wait and see” mode unfortunately
Go buy solid clean used copies. They are the best. They use the original studio Masters on the lathe to cut the plates to make those records back in the seventies and early 80s. There's just nothing like them. I wouldn't trade anybody my 1979 copy of Aja for a brand new 180 g copy,😁
@@bobkoep2846 hi Bob,;thanks for watching, We’re on the same page definitely- I point out the best early OG pressings to own. Cheers, Tim
I have an AZ concentric circle pressing of Pretzel Logic. Sounds really good! Is the black label AZ much different?
The important thing is the Az, Not a huge diff between black-circle
@@Universityofvinyl that's helpful thanks! looking fwd to pt2! great work
The Santa Maria pressings are said to be better than the Terre Haute
so how do you rank them personally? Now that AP UHQR are to be released, it's tough to buy them all. Just want probably 3 of them.
Great idea, I will be doing a follow up soon
@@Universityofvinyl ordered two UHQR Can't Buy The Thrill and Aja. What would be my third and fourth option that you can recommend. I'll stop at 4 orders. Too much.
I have an OG of Royal Scam and sounds amazing.
@@froidd758 I would go with Countdown to Ecstasy and Either Pretzel or Gaucho - with Gaucho they are using the same Ludwig cut (a one-off copy) so maybe an edge to Pretzel and original master tape
@@Universityofvinyl an Aja Cisco release just got auctioned at AJ Apeman Records for $280 just a couple of days ago.
Gaucho is an excellent album!
A good friend of mine may or may not have a safety copy of the master of the nightly that I want to hear so bad
Whoa…….!
That’s why dirty work never sounds as good in concert from a vocal stand point and your right the ABC black label is very good I have one as well. Got it from a private collection.
Любимая группа Rolling stones...
Gaucho was only 7 songs and 38 mins, its hard to understand why 'The Bear' was not included on it.
You probably could've saved yourself the trouble and just said 'get 1st pressings of all of these', as they're the best. 🙂
Trouble?? This was fun!
👍👍👍
It's on the rainbow label.