Steely Dan: Aja 2023

If there was ever an album that Analogue Productions absolutely had to nail in the UHQR series, it was Aja. This is the crown jewel. The audiophile reference disc that gets pulled out at hi fi shows and dealer demos more than perhaps any other rock record. Fagen and Becker's 1977 masterpiece won the Grammy for Best Engineered Album, and with good reason. Roger Nichols along with Bill Schnee, Al Schmitt, and Elliot Scheiner created something that remains a benchmark for studio production nearly five decades later.

Bernie Grundman cut the original 1977 pressing and he returned to cut this UHQR reissue. The source is an analog tape copy that Grundman made back in 1977 when he originally mastered the album. This is worth noting because the original flat mix tapes have never surfaced and are presumed lost. Some collectors raised concerns about this, but honestly, when the guy who cut the original is working from his own contemporary copy, I'm not losing sleep over it.

The 45 RPM presentation across four sides gives these songs the space they deserve. "Deacon Blues" takes up an entire side and finally has room to breathe. The top end sparkles without harshness, the midrange blooms with detail, and that bottom end sits right where it should. Grundman didn't mess with what wasn't broken. He let the recording speak for itself while taking full advantage of wider groove spacing and reduced inner groove distortion.

From a pressing standpoint, QRP delivered exactly what you'd expect at this tier. My copy is dead quiet, perfectly flat, and well centered across all four sides. No pops, no clicks, no inner groove distortion. The Clarity Vinyl formula continues to impress.

Packaging is the full UHQR treatment. Gold foil numbered jacket housed in a premium slipcase with a wooden dowel spine. Tip on gatefold by Stoughton with film lamination. A booklet detailing the UHQR process and certificate of inspection round it out. At around $150, it better look the part, and it does.
How does it stack up against the competition?

The 2007 Cisco pressing cut by Kevin Gray has long been the benchmark and commands serious money on the secondary market. The original ABC pressings sound excellent (see our related review) when you find clean copies.

The MoFi has its fans but tends to have some bass issues (see our related review). This UHQR sits at the top. The layering, imaging, and dynamic authority are simply unmatched. Wayne Shorter's saxophone solo on the title track is an entirely new experience.

If you're a Steely Dan completist or someone who considers Aja essential to your collection, this is the one to own. For those watching their budget who already have a clean original or the Cisco, you're not hurting. But if you want the definitive version of what many consider the definitive audiophile rock album, Analogue Productions delivered. 💰

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