Hi Fletch! There are a few records before 1984 that were digitally recorded, like Ry Cooder's "Bop till you drop, from 1979-which was the first record with a considerable hit to be recorded fully digital-and states so on the cover! I think that Steely Dan had tried but gave up, due to the quality of the technology. But you are right, they sound so much better and they are so cheap (the mass produced ones, or the undesirable-otherwise they can fetch high prices) you can't let them go.