Steely Dan - Aja
Remastering? Remixing? Reissuing? Really?
I watched a video today on YouTube about my all time absolute favorite album. What's all the hubbub bub? Why are they reissuing a master classic album like Steely Dan's Aja? How do you improve on perfection? Well, let's talk about it, shall we?
Here's the video:
Okay so, how important is this for diehard fans and audiophiles of this album? What would be the point of repainting the Mona Lisa? There must be something to it. It's all over YouTube right now. Everyone's doing reviews on it. It seems the overall consensus is about half and half. Some say that they won't spend the $150 for what is being called a "UHQR" (Ultra-High Quality Record) version of arguably one of the most perfect vinyl recordings ever made. If I had the extra hundred and fifty bucks just lying around, I think I might buy it, mostly out of curiosity.
I know what I know about this album. I've known the significance of this album all of my life. I bought my first copy in 1978, a few months after it was released. It was abundantly clear to me at the age of 15, that this album was a masterpiece - and I didn't know anything about Steely Dan back then. I knew that the songs on this album were extremely important. Every song was perfect.
In the years to come, this album would become legendary in the audiophile world as it became the high standard album to be listened to on high-end super stereo systems. I regard this album as the best vinyl album of all time. Most would probably agree with me. So, why do we need an alleged "better" version of it? Is it because of the new technology that exists now? Is it because they actually did figure out a way to perfect perfection? I don't know.
Part of me says, "Don't mess with it", because it represents a time in music history that maybe shouldn't be manipulated. There's something to be said for authenticity and originality. The sounds, the music, the mixes, the balances and the feel of this album all belong to 1977. It represents a time long gone. It represents the most incredible decade of music ever recorded. "Aja" is a time capsule that should maybe be left unopened. We grew up with this album. It is a snapshot of a very special time in our lives. Why do we need to hear it - differently, now?
The other part of me is quite curious to know - what if it actually is better than the original? I guess - that is the part of me that would love to hear the original studio tracks before they were mixed. That's the album I'd like to listen to. Maybe I need to hear it and make my own educated assessment of it. Anybody got a hundred and fifty bucks they can lend to me?