Steely Dan Aja UHQR w/ Fagen, Grundman, Schnee, Kassem, Kaplan: Discuss Recording and Reissue

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the classic Steely Dan Aja on UHQR clarity vinyl, as Donald Fagen reminisces with award-winning recording engineer Bill Schnee, mastering engineer Bernie Grundman, the Tracking Angle’s Fred Kaplan and Analogue Productions’ own Chad Kassem.
Steely Dan - Aja UHQR
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Chairman at the Board : Recording the Soundtrack of a Generation
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[@Phoebedumplings]

Donald should do an interview with Rick Beato…Rick has interviewed Bernard, Chuck and Larry, the icing on the cake would be Donald, if you guys could help….

[@acousticsoundsks]

Agreed.

[@nickstrapko7549]

Theres a intervew with Michael Mcdonald comming

[@mjsmcd]

Yup ​@@nickstrapko7549

[@PeachesChrenko]

Totally agree

[@Phoebedumplings]

There’s enough people he’s interviewed who must have Donald’s number!? Without wanting to be morbid, this needs to happen sooner rather than later, Ricks interviews are fabulous, recent gems have been Michael Omartian and Jimmy Webb

[@johnborzini5610]

Donald drops a new album is planned. What a nice New Years surprise 🎉

[@WhizMitchell]

Great interview and insight on such a legendary record. I love this album, Aja, it helped change my view of music, blending genres, sound frequency, and how music is created.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Got this in a few weeks ago!! STUNNING WORK guys. ❤❤❤❤

[@dirkwegener174]

And thanks for 75 Atlantic Series ….❤Genesis 🎸🎸🎸

[@winstonschwarz1636]

Very informative but maybe you chaps should invest in a better internet connection/computer. I love Donald sitting in front of his books and trying to read the titles freezing the picture is impossible.

[@Carlito_Sway]

I speak for all of us contemporary vinyl collectors when I say we ADORE the ritual- that's the point. Having the physical object, holding it in your hands, admiring the artwork, poring over the liner notes, listening on "the big speakers", it's all part of ACTIVE listening! Cassettes are booming too, among smaller artists who want to offer physical media to their audiences! I collect on both formats, as well as CD and digital- they all have their place in enjoying great music!!!!

[@MrRom92DAW]

I am a contemporary collector, but I have been collecting for 30 years, so perhaps I have been in it longer than many people currently in the game, and maybe with that comes a different point of view. I can’t say I personally LOVE or adore the ritual, rather I tolerate it because that’s what often leads to the best sound. I love the end result.

[@Billthemusicman]

So true!

[@Universityofvinyl]

Donald looks great! 🙏🏻

[@knockshinnoch1950]

This was an enthralling discussion. Capturing these memories of experts in their field is like spun gold. A very important document for future generations of music lovers.

[@graemeferdinands5856]

All hail to absolute ROYALTY, in this video! Greatness! 🤩👑 This is the discussion we all wanted to hear! A revelation! Thank you! 🙏

[@danmartinez5502]

I have the first press and a promo version. The reissue Chad is just outstanding a great job. Thank you for all you do. I have been collecting vinyl for 5 decades . Looking forward to Gaucho.

[@tonejunkeee]

listening to BG and DF talk about EQ and bass response is just pure gold. plenty of gems here

[@michaelmorgenbesser7026]

Wonderful clarifying conversation. I would just like to say that I'm a 74 year old lifelong musician, a former classical pianist who was on a full scholarship who taught myself guitar and played professionally, mostly in Greenwich Village for 21 years. I know that I hear things that few others can hear. When this masterpiece came out, I used to frequent stereo stores trying to find the best speakers I could find for as little as possible, a lot. Virtually every store I went into was playing this album. Incredibly, this damn thing sounded great on EVERYTHING. To this day it amazes me. How can a record sound great on every single speaker? Thanks Donald and Walter, and everyone involved in the creation of this masterpiece. David Crosby's favorite album.

[@williamtaylor5193]

Acoustic Sounds---great selection, great quality, great service, great company!!

[@67Pepper]

A gathering of the industry heavies, very enjoyable! Bernie is 80 years old and still going strong, great to hear all of the stories. I was surprised to hear Mr. Fagan say that he and Walter offered a $600- reward for the return of the lost master tapes, funny. 32:22 High praise from the man himself.

[@rolandsiegert4858]

Thank you for this fascinating discussion and for bringing all these legends together.

[@garycrisp6631]

Great stuff. But do you know what, for once I'd like to hear Donald talking about the making of Sunken Condos. Love the sound of that album. It's got the holy grail of clarity & warmth. I definitely think it's his best solo album.

[@EddieG1888]

The recent Grundman release of Aja on vinyl is absolutely stunning, I've been listening to the album since I was 15 (so around 35 years and counting) and I was hearing details I've never ever heard before. Fabulous. The Gaucho release on the other hand, has been nothing but hassle for me. I've had two copies now from The Sound Of Vinyl, and both have had a significant skip at exactly 1 minute in to Babylon Sisters. I suspect a pressing fault, but TSOV deny this is the case. EDIT: If this was filmed at the same time it was uploaded, I'd just like to add that its good to see Donald back to full fitness again after his recent illness and hospitalisation.

[@puffnpluky76]

I gotta hear Donald explaining how they found Jeff Porcaro and what it was like working with him. I heard he was often used on the first rough demo of songs that later used other drummers.

[@bobberndt9744]

I can't afford being à 'true hi-fi audiophile' but I can hear many of the subtle adjustments that most people miss. I find this discussion FASCINATING !! 👍✨️

[@tomtompkins7546]

There are only a handful of people in this world for whom I would turn into a blithering idiot if I ever met them. Donald Fagen is one of them. Paul McCartney is another.

[@rixvspinner]

I have the AB1006 original US California pressed ABC Records AJA. It has always sounded great to me. Then I compared it to a friends copy of the UHQR45 and was very impressed. Bernie had another kick at the can with mastering AJA and did a superb job. I have to get this QRP UHQR45 one day. This was great to see the panel especially of course, Donald Fagen.

[@robertwoodward9231]

I have those and all the others that were engeneered very well and I won't be getting this one, simply because my kids will be using it as a Frisbee when another far better one drops in 20 years.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I think the AB-1006 still holds its own with the UHQR in some cases, with the UHQR perhaps just edging out in the lead. It was fun comparing these two. 😎 I doubt anything will sound better than this in 20+ years though, unless it's on R2R maybe, or unless they find the true original master tape and do something with that, if it even still exists. 🤷🏻

[@mistermac56]

@@R3TR0R4V3 it may have been lost in the Universal Studios fire in 2008, where precious video and audio master tapes were destroyed. UMG disputes the number of lost audio master tapes between 118K and 175K. Fortunately, UMG has an excellent temperature and humidity controlled vault today.

[@robertwoodward9231]

@@R3TR0R4V3 That's a good question..and of course you are right.

[@SmallPersonRoo]

@@mistermac56the Aja master tape has been missing since the 80s

[@DrummerDanVa]

Fascinating discussion!

[@newwave80skid]

So many greats still alive and kicking

[@omerktee9261]

What a treasure. I would like to add the luck of bottom I've experienced with those tunes just made them for what they are ,at least in my world.

[@derekduncan-tm2yj]

Aja uhqr sounds amazing and I love these kinds of videos with the people who are involved. I can’t wait for the next ones

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

It sounds amazing but unfortunately the album is Steeley fking Dan ☺️

[@67Pepper]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Okey Dokey.

[@bonzostarr]

What a killer discussion!! Aja has made so many parties and listening sessions cooler!! Thanks to all of you for your artistry and passion!

[@psmith3001]

Word on the street is there is a movie coming that is based around the making of the Aja album. Who are the "two" main leads who will be the actors?

[@MrRom92DAW]

I’d love to hear more from Schnee on his work with Sheffield Lab and those direct to disc sessions, it’s not often we get to hear from people who actually worked on those demanding style of sessions

[@billschnee8219]

Have you read my book that covers it?

[@MrRom92DAW]

@@billschnee8219 I have not, but I should! I’m going to go check it out from my local library

[@paparomeroalpha]

We are blessed to have Chad in our lives! Chad thank you.

[@Sckott01]

Reissue of the year. Best sounding record I've ever heard.

[@juanparra6279]

A perfect album and one of my favorite pieces of music

[@Daniel-hk3ru]

To hear from the individuals involved with Steely Dans' Aja is amazing ! Thank you, Chad ! You Make The World Sound Better !

[@PhilUKNet]

Behind Bill Schnee on the wall: 'The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi'. Could this have been an influence for the Dandy of Gamma Chi?

[@yphoenix9077]

I am so happy for all the vinyl owners, but when am I getting my SACD I've had on pre-order for over 1 year?

[@acousticsoundsks]

Probably within the next 3 months.

[@twominutepianoman9868]

It is really interesting to think that Jeff Porcaro didn’t play on any of the songs on this album.

[@F1fletch]

Great Interviews!! Looking forward to these hybrid SACD releases 😊

[@monkeyrater]

Wow! Two takes on Wayne Shorter's solo over Aja. Wish they would release BOTH takes! Thats the best sax solo over and probably the best instrumental solo ever. The fact that these guys all knew each other meant questions regular people have didnt get asked and a lot of repeat questions did get asked. I think the reason Donald left early was he got bored. Still there were interesting technical descriptions about the mastering of Aja that are interesting to hear about for those who want to know how Steely Dan got their perfect recorded sound.

[@revivalworship]

I'm reading Bill Schnee's book, Chairman At the Board. It's a great, mostly non-technical, view into what was going on in the control room during some of the greatest music of that golden age, industry notes too. Highly recommend!

[@wayne.rassman2389]

Wow. Really enjoyed listening to all on this interview

[@Jurupoca]

Glad to see Mr Fagen!

[@JB19504]

Donald, you have been my favorite forever. I play your albums and SD albums all the time. Thank you so much for what you do. I hope we get at least one more album from you. My frame of reference for this statement is Sunken Condos. I hope we get at least one more, PLEASE!! And Donald, please check out Rick Beato and grant him an interview also. P.S. We are looking at Donald in this interview as a nice guy but maybe people don't realize that this guy is the voice of Sooo many great recordings, like Josie, Babylon Sisters , Kid Charlemagne, I mean, and I am not blowing smoke up his ass but do we realize just how great this "old guy" really is??!! He is right up there with the Beatles and I mean that as my sincerest compliment.

[@xs10tl1]

Who is responsible to the Artist for master tapes? What prevents the Artist from maintaining a copy in their vault?

[@roberthurley1685]

Love this conversation ... but I gotta say I'm really really looking forward to Katy Lied and Royal Scam

[@SgtMjr]

This UHQR is the best version of Aja I have heard. It is really good, probably the best UHQR so far.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I feel sorry for you

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Likewise. I feel sorry for the schmucks that feel the need to take time out of their day to shitpost under every other comment on this channel relating to a Steely Dan release, when someone happens to praise it. We get it, man. Different strokes for different folks, ya know.. 👍

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@@R3TR0R4V3 Maybe you should stop stroking

[@Harrisongrey19]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596you are the true meaning of a “loser”

[@anthonyburke223]

Hey Chad , any chance you’ll put out an Analog productions Kamakiriad ?

[@Universityofvinyl]

Yesssss! Sorely needed

[@acousticsoundsks]

Probably not. This was a nice box set released not long ago, I suggest you find one. It has Kamakiriad in it: www.discogs.com/release/11249512-Donald-Fagen-Cheap-Xmas-Donald-Fagen-Complete

[@jimdukeproject]

You guys are awesome. Donald I learned a lot seeing how you turn chord voicing into songs. Helped me in my crafting.

[@danielzzz7232]

I am in awe. Thank you for the video and for hopefully spreading further SD/Aja's impact and beauty...

[@jeffbellin8224]

The UHQR is very good in many areas, but I feel that my original AB-1006 is an overall better listen. The UHQR has great individual imaging and staging, but the midrange of the AB is more open and immediate. The overall presentation on the original is more coherent. And I'm a big fan of cutting at 45pm. It's just that in this case, I prefer the AB better. Not in every single area, if you pick it apart, but I enjoy listening to my original more.

[@freightdawg6762]

that was EPIC!!! ❤

[@davidpetersen7091]

Thank you for doing this. WONDERFUL!! Mr. Pete---------> aging hippie

[@McShwee]

I just bought Bill's book

[@derekkoch9734]

Please don't knock CD and SACDs. 😊

[@LetThereBeSound1]

Well done!

[@jackhill7140]

Bravo Chad, thanks for all of this. I can’t wait for Gaucho. I know it’ll be great.

[@tandmkennedy]

Great stuff gentlemen.

[@mrcasey69]

Gaucho & Aja Ultra Tape? I'll prepurchase now. :)

[@yphoenix9077]

You'll be waiting forever. Pre- purchase on for over a year now.

[@acousticsoundsks]

That would be nice.

[@marrkzulunuz]

Mr. Kassem, will you release "Aja" on Reel-to-Reel? Thanks.

[@tonynewman1694]

Are we likely to get Gaucho next or are you going to surprise us with a uhqr sneaked in first . Keep up the good wor😢

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Gaucho!!!!! Why would you waste good sound on Gaucho? At least pick good music to sound great, fking Gaucho 🤮

[@acousticsoundsks]

Gaucho is next.

[@analoguecity3454]

I love these shows, keep em comin'!

[@CaliforniaBushman]

Donald: The Cuervo Gold,... The fine Columbian. Makes it difficult for me to recall that particular session... 😊.

[@IonnaPleiades]

Is this reflected Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Ramble, which John Chambers (Ruck Benson) did not know much about Me for the house premise here, reflected house premise/promise haghi, haji, hajiki, shame, sham, spam, swein, are the words of spool (スプール ソース) to Sting, David Ken, and Gardhiv and Unas, Uganda, fpu the herbseller, who burnt the naya, soko, closets to beat them like Michael Jackson does Stevie and Mitsugu, Oe, Kobayashi Katsuya, Kushi Michio to the Russian to Aegean, if that why did you come here and asked me Why Archtures has landed on the Miir Space Center? and why did you came here later than that, while Ware cannot land and meet Yuki Hosokawa here typing the sounded PC keyboard?

[@patrickreagan6443]

I was hoping this dull group would expand on arguably the best solo in history. Steve Gadd & Wayne Shorter!

[@CaliforniaBushman]

"Massive Overdubbage" - Frank Zappa, 1979

[@RhysGreen-kk2yf]

Fabtastic!! But who is this Kaplan guy, and why is he asking such goofy questions?

[@CaliforniaBushman]

I started checking out Keith Carlock with Wayne Krantz at the 55 Bar in 1997. To this day (as a drummer) I'm still dumbfounded by his octopus-like independence with all four limbs. While simultaneously dislocating groove figures with his undeniabe, swampy, Mississippi Valley feel. All while using his own language on the instrument while improvising. Great call with Donald & Walter hiring him!

[@perigee1275]

It was fun playing my bass to Countdown to Ecstasy and it helped my chops a lot. Funny thing is I never cared if I heard any of their songs again. Then I heard what they said about John Lennon and I thought that "Imagine speaks for itself. You really don't get it?" Pretty sad.

[@keithlambe211]

The day Aja came out,I went to Penny Lane Records,Penny Lane Liverpool,with a big bag of chips and curry sauce.We put the record on the turntable and were transported to a sublime far away world, whose magical spell has only increased over the years,my favourite record ever❤

[@99tonnes]

Pretty interesting! Kind of ironic though, if that's the word, that apart from Bill Schnee's, the audio quality here is so f-ing murky. 🙄

[@KeithCopeland778]

Being an audio nerd and a bassist, this is a fantastic interview! and one of the best I've ever seen!! Aja is one of the best recordings, regardless of genre, concerning composing, arranging, musicianship, recording, mixing, mastering, and producing in history! I'm buying Bill's book!!!

[@bobhenry2411]

POSTSCRIPT: some answers come up at 10 minutes into the interview.

[@jmdavison62]

Why not take hi-res digital? What would Roger Nichols do?

[@batphink2655]

Only one religion allowed to record with them? that is 'Religionist' how biased it that?

[@johndutchman]

So good.

[@stevenzagony6187]

Still would like to know what were the brand names of the speakers used for monitors.

[@troiler3]

I was a little baby when that Record came out. 🎶🎶 My old man was still jammin that when I was a child.

[@woodstockorientalrugcleani430]

Loved this discussion. I was pleased to hear Chad sing his praises for Morph. After enjoying all of the enlightening details I gleaned, this Luddite jut wants to know how to get my phone to ring out the intro to Josie!

[@GrowthruGod]

sounds like a guy getting a massage too many metaphors for me to look the other way ...

[@dalewiley9208]

Man, this was GREAT! I love Steely Dan.

[@yourhomeisyourbusiness2221]

It blows my mind that in a few, short years Aja will be 50 years old.

[@zoltannemeth8864]

that’s it! The secret of Aja’s hi-fi sound at 1:00:14 ! Seriously, love to hear these people share the magic of their work all these years later. Thank you gentlemen!

[@RyanHarris77]

I can’t believe Fred Willard was late to this epic conversation.

[@VinylGourmetTV]

Thanks guys, keep it up :)

[@thexfile.]

SACD when?

[@acousticsoundsks]

Not positive but within 3 months. Probably 2.

[@mikeryan2802]

A wonderful collaboration. Thanks to all.

[@GIBKEL]

I only wish we cared as much today. There are great bands today making great music but we will never hear them with this level of fidelity.

[@Jamko1970]

So, an EQ-ed copy tape was used. Correct?

[@MrCongamike]

Why was it mastered so hot and distorted???

[@meganhill3822]

Love Sd. So many memories. Thank you

[@CUBICUB]

Excellent

[@robbiedetroitstigermanviny8883]

Wow!!!!!

[@jorgegera9042]

Stop robbing people Chad

[@audiotomb]

Less is more - keep it natural

[@orvilleorville5020]

it actually is Christmas!

[@judmcc]

I think I remember seeing a video of Donald and Walter playing back the multi-track tapes of Aja. Do these tapes still exist? If so, two generations of analop tape can be eliminated.

[@acousticsoundsks]

Yes that's on the 'Classic Albums' series.

[@judmcc]

@@acousticsoundsks Then wouldn't it be better to go back to the original multi-track tapes, as far as sound quality, rather than use a copy of the stereo master?

[@dconsmack]

That would be a remix, not a remaster, and it would never be the same. It’s impossible to recreate the original 2 track mixdown from the multitrack, no matter how talented the mix engineer is. Doing that would be a disaster for anyone wanting the best version of the original album. It would be incredibly expensive to do that even with digital in the chain. All analogue? Same equipment used at the time? It’s not even realistic even if you’re dreaming. I can see why it’s seems like an option, but unfortunately on a technical level, it can’t even get started.

[@judmcc]

@@dconsmack Yes, but it would sound better.

[@dconsmack]

Ok.@@judmcc

[@ManuelMenchaca]

OGs 🫡

[@williamflinchum-qo6ch]

Iv,e been pondering this question for years. Did Donald and Walter ever consider hiring Jaco Pastorius to play on any of the tracks on Aja or Gaucho? I tried to ask this question through Donalds fan club on FB, but the question kept getting sensored and declined?? Thx anyone who knows!😊😊

[@mazzysmusic]

A Jah? The J is not hard 🥺

[@R3TR0R4V3]

I thought that's more or less how they pronounce it in the song.. 🤔🤷🏻

[@mazzysmusic]

@@R3TR0R4V3 it’s sung like Asia. And everyone here, including Fagan, pronounced it like that. Except the journalist. .

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Eh, well understanding lyrics was never my strong suit. 😅 I listen to the music more than anything. Oh well, at any rate, can't say I'm a big fan of the journalist. Lol

[@Jackgrahamphotograph]

Thanks Chad for this…fascinating….. thank you for what you do…. It’s important….JG

[@magog6852]

ugh the journalist guy again