Re-mastered Aja

Polkitup2

Makes me think about getting a turntable.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=39750

outlander

Fantastic lp! I have an original pressing and the sound is incredible. Be warned if you decide to pick up a turntable you may not get much use out of your cd player anymore. In the two years since I bought my new TT, I have only played one cd on my home system. I probably have 600 cd’s but just can’t stand the sound compared to a lp (and yes I have a decent cd player). So now cd’s are for the car and lp’s are for the house,
O

TroyD

I have the MFSL, it'd be interesting to compare.

BDT

hearingimpared

Someone has a thread on this already. I too have the MFSL and that is the only reason I've not purchased this new release. I am waiting to hear some reviews on this new one.

mhardy6647

I don't think it needed to be remastered. The very original ABC pressings are excellent. I also think the MoFi is terrific (though modern, revisionist history has been less kind to the Stan Riker half-speed mastered, and somewhat tweaked, MoFi's).

schwarcw

****, Aja sounded good to me on 8 track back in the day. A masterpiece!

hearingimpared

schwarcw wrote: »

****, Aja sounded good to me on 8 track back in the day. A masterpiece!

You old bastage, I don't remember AJA on 8 track!!!

dragon1952

Aja was never on 8 track...give me a break...lol!

SCompRacer

dragon1952 wrote: »

Aja was never on 8 track...give me a break...lol!

Say what?

hearingimpared

SCompRacer wrote: »

Say what?

Another old bastage heard from!!!

Wow Rich I can't believe you were able to dig that up. I loved 8 track, I thought it had more balls than cassette.

I can't believe how cheap that is going for. That has to be one of the very few that is still floating around. If I purchased that I would frame it and mount it on the wall in my music room.

G-2

Wow, talk about going to the "back of the rack" nice shot; almost brings a tear to our eye

dragon1952

Obviously a pirated copy made by some amateur, no doubt

Spacedeckman

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I don't think it needed to be remastered. The very original ABC pressings are excellent. I also think the MoFi is terrific (though modern, revisionist history has been less kind to the Stan Riker half-speed mastered, and somewhat tweaked, MoFi's).

I tend to agree, they did a really good job on that album.

Mark

hearingimpared

mhardy6647 wrote: »

I don't think it needed to be remastered. The very original ABC pressings are excellent. I also think the MoFi is terrific (though modern, revisionist history has been less kind to the Stan Riker half-speed mastered, and somewhat tweaked, MoFi's).

I have both the mass produced pressing and the MFSL and they are both very, very good. I absolutely agree with you.

Wardsweb

This is one of my all time favorite albums. I grew up with it's lyrics and incredible arrangements. It's a recording that I've actually grown more fond of and appreciative as my music knowledge has expanded and grown in depth and understanding.

There are a dozen vinyl pressings of this album, of which, I own 9 copies of 6 different pressings and am always looking for good copies of the others. This can be tough as many are from other countries. The colored vinyl from Canada is more visual than sonic, but I have the yellow and the red. The US pressings are standards in my book. The music at it's best for me is between the MFSL and the Simply Vinyl albums. These are absolutely stellar.

Now for the uninitiated, getting inside the music of AJA:

1) Black Cow

This track features memorable solo performances by the late, great Victor Feldman (fender rhodes) and a young Tom Scott (tenor sax). It’s also worth noting that Tom Scott wrote ALL of the horn arrangements on Aja, the first time his unique phrasing and styling were heard outside of his solo releases. Trivia fact: drummer Paul Humphrey made his mark on the old TV show “Name That Tune”.

2) Aja

The title track is part jazz and part rock structured almost like a three part symphony; musically speaking, it has a head and chorus, but what would be the bridge features some of the most virtuoso free-form Tenor Sax (Wayne Shorter of Weather Report fame) and Drum (all-time great session drummer Steve Gadd) solos ever recorded. In fact, studying the transcribed Steve Gadd drum solo this was one of those performances you “learn” how to play your instrument from. Trivia fact: if you listen carefully, you can hear Timothy B. Schmit’s (of Eagles fame) high backing vocals in support of Donald Fagen.

3) Deacon Blues

This track became an instant classic for both its lyrics and solo tenor sax performance by Pete Christlieb. In fact, you can still find this big band jazz arrangement in the performance books of many high-school and college jazz bands. This was the lone track featuring Walter Becker on bass, quite a departure from the band’s early days where he was the featured bassist. Trivia fact: remember those screaming sax solos you used to hear from the Tonight Show band coming out of commercial breaks? That was none other than Pete Christlieb.

4) Peg

This track was one of the two “hits” (along with Josie) from Aja. It’s been described as one of the most densely layered Top 40 recordings ever, again featuring a famous guitar solo in what is essentially a 13 bar Blues. It also featured a very memorable Michael McDonald falsetto refrain, coinciding with his emergence as a driving force (and Grammy winner) with the Doobie Brothers. Trivia fact: guitar soloist Jay Graydon (another Grammy winner) later went on to write and produce for such notable performers as Al Jarreau, George Benson, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

5) Home At Last

A clever re-telling of Homer’s Odyssey (Fagen was actually an English major in college), this track is best known for Bernard “Pretty” Purdie’s driving beat that became an instant classic among drummers (if you can lay down the Home At Last groove, you can play drums!). Purdie, who also played on Deacon Blues, was nearing the end of a career as a first-call studio musician that began in the 50’s and included some of the most famous R&B hits of the 60’s. It is also the only track on this release to feature solos by both Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Trivia fact: careful listening will once again reveal Timothy B. Schmit’s perfect backing harmonies.

6) I Got The News

While arguably the weakest track on the release, it never-the-less features a solid groove and steller background vocals by the now instantly recognizable Michael McDonald.

7) Josie

The other big hit off the release, this track is considered by some to be a rock classic. It combines typically cynical lyrics with outstanding guitar solos over yet another unique drum groove provided by Jim Keltner, another first-call session drummer from the 60’s & 70’s (who played with members of Cream and the Beatles to name a few). While the steady Chuck Rainey played bass on nearly every track, Aja features 6 different drummers on 7 tracks, unique even by today’s standards.

hearingimpared

That is and awesome breakdown Wardsweb. Do you have experience with the latest 180 gm release?

reeltrouble1

definetely get yourself a TT, well worth the time and money.

RT1

Spacedeckman

Crap, now I'm going to have to buy one. I thought I was free and clear.

Mark

Ricardo

Yet another thread on buying TT's.........come on guys..you're mean...

honda cber

oooooh re-masted! lol

i have two versions (mca and abc releases), but they are both pretty thin plates... you can really see that on the RED one.

a

honda cber

BTW, whoever mentioned steely dan, and *this* album in particular, being ones that teach musicians how to play:

spot on; so true (for me)

ill bet i have played drums to that album 100 times, though in varying degrees of F'ed-up-ness... lol

in fact, i will go out on a limb and say that the pre-comeback steely records were 25% of my lesson plan for learning drums (not bad for a guitarist, heh heh)...
a

mhardy6647

The black vinyl Aja on the right in the photo is a very late (1980's) MCA pressing. I wouldn't expect it to sound too great.

honda cber

yes, 1980, according to the label.

true, the red one seems to be a better pressing...

but hey, i am music lover 1st, vinyl collector 2nd... in truth, i often listen to the cd i recorded from the red one, as opposed to the actual record. i do have "real" cds of this album, both "aja" and "citizen steely", but i listen to the ones i ripped from vinyl more. yes, i have a version or two of all of the originals, and fagen's "nitefly" and "kamakirad" (sp?) on wax as well. "two against" and "everything" i only have on cd, however.

a

Wardsweb

Not sure if I've posted this before. I have a few copies, different pressings from around the world.

honda cber

lol... and thus passeth the cool stick...

curious---which version sounds "better" to you, and why? i really find it interesting how much quality can vary between different iterations of the "same" recording.

for example, and in keeping with the SD theme, fagen's nitefly sounds like a completely different session when comparing my vinyl version with the "original" cd release (at least, i have had it a looong time. were cd's marketed by 1982? the concept was patented mid-60's, i think, but i am not sure exactly when it became a commercially successful medium). the cd has almost no bass at all, and is fairly quiet, yet pretty dynamic for a cd (compared to current stuff)...

BTW, that record is an early example of entirely digitally recorded and mastered material. in fact, i cant think of any earlier off of the top of my head, though undoubtedly there are... it is also the album that reinforced to me what a furkin smokin guitar player larry carlton is.

a

mhardy6647

Ry Cooder's "Bop 'til You Drop" was "rock's first all-digital album"... well, all digital 'til it got to that record lathe. "All-digital" classical LP's (e.g., from Deutsche Grammophon) came a bit earlier.

hearingimpared

Wardsweb wrote: »

Not sure if I've posted this before. I have a few copies, different pressings from around the world.

I'm divorcing my wife!!!! Will you marry me?:D I love your turntable.

dragon1952

Damn...I should have kept that old kegerator. I never thought about making a speaker box out of it!

Wardsweb

hearingimpared wrote: »

I'm divorcing my wife!!!! Will you marry me?:D I love your turntable.

Sorry, I'm already married to a VERY understanding woman. Here is a little more turntable **** and yes that is Steely Dan in yellow on the platter.

hearingimpared

Wardsweb wrote: »

Sorry, I'm already married to a VERY understanding woman. Here is a little more turntable **** and yes that is Steely Dan in yellow on the platter.

D@#K tease!!!

Really, that is gorgeous!!!

lightman1

Head ....spinning legs getting weak... Edges of my vision growing dark!! fainting.. can't breathe.......