Favorite Steely Dan Album

[modalmood]

Mine’s actually a tie between COUNTDOWN TO ECSTASY and THE ROYAL SCAM.

With CTE, Steely Dan built on the promise of CAN’T BUY A THRILL, a brilliant rock debut in its own right, by delivering what is IMO one of the greatest rock records of the 70s: “Bodhisattva” (That guitar solo, Holy crap.) and “My Old School” not to mention the epic “The Boston Rag” (Another incredible guitar solo. This album filled with spectacular solos.), “Show Biz Kids” and four other stellar songs. This record is the poster boy for underrated. And the sound—good god.

Similarly TRS was a culmination of sorts. And another pinnacle. Primarily because it contains more than a few of the all time great Steely Dan classics. “Kid Charlemagne”, “Don’t Take Me Alive” “Haitian Divorce”, the title track, others... It’s also the last Dan album that incorporated strong rock elements before they went full on jazz fusion with AJA and GAUCHO. Not to sound dismissive. AJA’s probably #3 for me.

 

[gtv2000]

I voted for Gaucho, but it's very close with Aja and The Royal Scam. Seeing them Tuesday night in Co Springs! My first time, get to tick another off the bucket list.

 

[Route 66]

I voted for Gaucho, but it's very close with Aja and The Royal Scam. Seeing them Tuesday night in Co Springs! My first time, get to tick another off the bucket list.

I wonder how they'll be without Walter Becker.

 

[gtv2000]

I wonder how they'll be without Walter Becker.

Yeah, I wish I could have seen them before. But I think Fagen is the more important in a performance at least.

 

[modalmood]

I wonder how they'll be without Walter Becker.

I’d be missing Skunk and Denny Diaz...

 

[Route 66]

I’d be missing Skunk and Denny Diaz...

Yeah but they weren't actual members, only hired studio musicians like Larry Carlton etc..

Becker and Fagen were the only true members of Steely Dan.

 

[modalmood]

Official members or not, Skunk Baxter and Denny Diaz were, in my opinion, a hell of a lot more important to the sound of early Steely Dan than Becker, may he rest in peace, ever was on any of their albums.

And I don’t mean that as much as an insult to Walter who was obviously extremely talented, but a compliment to the other two.

 

[dlucy]

Yeah but they weren't actual members, only hired studio musicians like Larry Carlton etc..

Becker and Fagen were the only true members of Steely Dan.

I was really surprised to hear how they swapped in and out musicians and sessions to get the best sound.

 

[Mystic]

Because it holds their two best numbers ("Doctor Wu" & "Rose Darling") and best side (1) of any SD LP and a lotta others besides: Katy Lied (1975)

 

[modalmood]

Yeah but they weren't actual members, only hired studio musicians like Larry Carlton etc..

Becker and Fagen were the only true members of Steely Dan.

GOLD! Sent it to my jazz guitar playing son in NYC. Is this from the Classic Albums series?

 

[modalmood]

When I was a kid, we used to check the listings every Sunday to see who’d be on the Midnight Special, In Concert and Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert that week. This performance was pretty much life altering...

 

[BMWCCA]

I wonder how they'll be without Walter Becker.

John Herrington plays all the guitar parts anyway. Walter added the political banter during the live sets. And that was the same nearly every year! RIP.

 

[modalmood]

I think Walter Becker was as much as anything else a foil for Donald Fagen’s personality. You can see it in that Peg video. Perhaps more important than a purely musical contributor would have been...

 

[Estring]

The one that I'm listening to at the time.

 

[Karmices]

Yeah but they weren't actual members, only hired studio musicians like Larry Carlton etc..

Becker and Fagen were the only true members of Steely Dan.

Until 1975 (Katy Lied) Steely Dan was a real band. The first 3 albums were made by the band for the most part. Starting with Katy Lied they started implementing studio musicians, but Denny Dias was still around and Michael McDonald was a touring musician with them.

 

[Jeff449]

Walter Becker was asked which of his albums was his favorite.
He said "Kind of Blue."

 

[bluesky]

'Greatest hits' - CD.

 

[DeeCee]

Tough call between Aja and Royal Scam but I think Aja by a nose.

 

[pmosher]

The best one is anyone I don’t have to listen to. Radio really ruined them for me, playing their stuff over and over again in the 70s. That and being stuck in the back seat with a driver that insisted on blasting them on a long drive.

 

[Yodathedog]

Aja. Hands down one of the best albums in any genre. Ever.