Steve gadd was definitely on the very top of his game during the Asia album I think his stuff is amazing. I think all of his stuff is amazing but he fit so well into the Aja album
Love seeing the love for Katy Lied. It seems to usually ranked towards the bottom of the 70s Steely Dan albums from many fans. I think it is Fagan's best vocal album, then you add in Michael McDonald's backup vocals, they make the album sound so crisp and polished. Each song is very catchy and beautiful. I'm starting to get into Steely Dan and have only listened to the first six albums so far and I love them all.
And that’s what’s so great about Steely Dan. Of the original 7, Katy Lied is probably in my bottom 2. Whereas Countdown to Ecstasy is probably my favorite, but a lot of people have it a lot lower. Fans don’t have a general consensus the way they do with bands like Beatles, Stones, Zep, etc. I think that really says a lot about the band.
1. Ajà - This is still the most perfect album possible for me. I love every song on it, always have, always will. I just can't get tired of any of these songs. Great lyrics. Great music. Perfect album. Jason - What gives? It's interesting to have a contrarian opinion, but come on. (6/5 stars - impossibly great) 2. The Royal Scam - It's probably their most daring album musically. It's not as listenable to me as Ajà, but I love it nonetheless. Kid Charlemagne is a masterpiece, Jason. Go back to school. (5/5 stars) 3. Gaucho - Joe, don't be a pansy. This is a 5-star album. The smooth, mellow musical sound covering the subversive lyrics is a brilliant juxtaposition. (5/5 stars). 4. Can't Buy a Thrill - Not a bad song on it, and the organ intro to Do It Again is legendary. The only problem is that the hit songs got so much radio play. (4.5/5 stars) 5. Countdown to Ecstacy - Bodhisattva is one of my favorite songs, but I don't feel like the rest of the songs are up to the fantastic opener. King of the World is how to write an anti-nuke song (Sting should have taken notes before writing the awful Walking in Your Footsteps) (4.5/5 stars) 6. Katie Lied. Really good songs. Really good album. Great lyrics. It's Steely Dan. (4/5 stars) 7. Pretzel Logic - Rikki Don't Lose That Number is one of the best soft rock songs of all time. This album feels a little scattered to me overall, though (3.5/5 stars) 8. Two Against Nature - It's kind of a worse version of Gaucho (3/5 stars) 9. Everything Must Go - Seems like songs that didn't make Two Against Nature. (2.5/5 stars)
Pretty much agree with everything, but probably would've ranked Pretzel Logic higher. (Also disagree that Walking In Your Footsteps is an awful song--it's actually one of my favorites from Synchronicity).
1. Gaucho - Definitely didn’t start out as my favorite album, but has become the one I listen to the most. Smooth and funky. 2. Royal Scam - Could be tied for first. Completely solid album. Perhaps their darkest. The songs stick with me. 3. Aja - Perfection. Really tied with the top three. Aja may be my favorite Dan song. 4. Countdown to Ecstasy - Their most rocking and probably underrated overall. Production just isn’t where they soon will be. 5. Katy Lied - Really tied with Pretzel Logic. Love Dr. Wu, precursor to where they’ll go with Aja. 6. Pretzel Logic - Love the album, if not every song. Too da loo feels a bit unnecessary. Still solid. 7. Can’t Buy a Thrill - Great album with some of their best songs, just not big on Palmer’s vocals. Lacks that Fagen sardonic edge. 8. Two Against Nature - Great return, solid songs, if not quite at the level of the classic seven. 9. Everything Must Go - Feels like the songs that didn’t make the cut for Two Against. Still great, but ultimately uneven. Steely Dan are probably my favorite band, next to The Beatles and the Grateful Dead. Just the best when it comes to musicianship, production, lyrics and song writing. My personal theory is that I actually think they’re the "anti-yacht rock" band though. Which is ironic, seeing as how they’ve become the poster child for this relatively new "genre." My reasoning is that they lyrically champion the underdogs and "losers" of the world, while satirizing and mocking the elites, those most likely to have yachts. Calling them "yacht rock" is almost like missing the joke. Guess that leads to the question of wether a band is defined by their audience, or the band itself? Either way, I love this group and could listen to them all day, and even Fagen’s solo output. It’s just, pretty much, the best music out there imo.
I think the Yacht Rock term itself was a joke. I'm pretty sure it was coined by the 2000s web mockumentary series of the same name which followed Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, and all these artists they were connected to. I don't know how it worked it's way into mainstream culture, because it doesn't seem like that many people saw the actual series (if you didn't, it's hilarious).
I was born in 1961 and grew up listening to Steely Dan. The Dan were huge in my HS and were well listened to in College. Almost impossible to rank the top 7. But I'll try. 9. Everything Must Go 8. Two Against Nature 7. Gaucho 6. Countdown to Ecstasy 5. Katy Lied 4. Pretzel Logic 3. Can't Buy a Thrill 2. Aja 1. The Royal Scam
Thank you for the video. Steely dan and Pink Floyd are my favourite 70s Bands. My Ranking: 9. Everything Must Go 8. Two Against Nature 7. Countdown To Ecstasy 6. Katy Lied 5. The Royal Scam 4. Aja 3. Gaucho 2. Pretzel Logic 1. Can"t Buy A Thrill BUT I LOVE EVERY ALBUM OF THEM !
I loved Steely Dan when I was a kid in the 70’s and still love them. I think they hold the distinction of producing less filler than any band in history. Pretty much every song on those first 7 albums are just top notch. Incredibly consistent brilliance.
I have been a Steely Dan fan since 1973. I remember seeing them on "In Concert", a short-lived taped concert show on Friday nights. Been a fan ever since. They have never been in my top 5 bands, but always floated around somewhere in the 6-20 range. My rankings: 1. Katy Lied - 5 star 2. Aja - 4.5 star 3. Countdown to Ecstasy - 4.5 star 4. Pretzel Logic - 4.5 star 5. Royal Scam - 4 star 6. Gaucho - 3.5 star 7. Can't Buy a Thrill - 3.5 star 8. Two Against Nature - 3.5 star 9. Everything Must Go - 3 star Needless to say, I think Joe was pretty spot on with his rankings. The only difference we have is flipping 6 and 7. Good job, Joe.
"In Concert" was a GROUND BREAKING SHOW!! It was the first time you saw pretty raw live rock concert footage on late night network TV. I think this is the first time I saw Grand Funk Railroad.
Absolutely no one in the world has ever sounded like Steely Dan. They set a very high bar for anyone who wants to explore new ideas inside the confines of a structured song. I can never come up with a "if you like A, you'll like B" suggestion for either The Doors or Steely Dan. Maybe the suggestion is, if you like The Doors, you'll like Steely Dan.
Thank you guys 🙏..an absolute pleasure listening to you rank one of the most consistently brilliant bands that ever existed ( and even half asleep, you all did a brilliant job 😂)..nice seeing Joe try to restrain himself from “fanboyisms” about a band he obviously loves ..and failing 😊… My list and they’re all five stars bar the last 2 ( which are 4.5) , so not restraining my fanboy worship at all: 1. Can’t Buy a Thrill 2. AJA 3.Katy Lied 4. Pretzel Logic 5. Countdown to Ecstacy 6 . The Royal Scam 7. Gaucho 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything Must Go
I’m so glad you guys did this! Easily my favorite band. My ranking for fun would be: 1. Countdown to Ecstasy 2. Aja 3. Can’t Buy a Thrill 4. Katy Lied 5. The Royal Scam 6. Gaucho 7. Pretzel Logic 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything Must Go
@@bramleydragon I’d probably put it above Pretzel Logic I’d say, but that’s a tough call. It’s a good selection of songs but I don’t think their live performances can beat out most of their studio albums, they just sound so clean.
Hi! I’m a big lifelong fan, so i think i might just have to rank ‘em, impossible as it may seem: 9. Everything Must Go 8. Two Against Nature 7. Gaucho 6. Aja 5. Can’t Buy a Thrill 4. Pretzel Logic 3. Katy Lied 2- The Royal Scam 1. Countdown to Ecstasy PS: I got into them after buying «The Nightfly» when it was released.
Enjoyed this one. Totally agree with Jason's thoughts on the trajectory of their popularity. Twenty years ago I was embarrassed to say how much I liked certain Steely Dan songs. I'm still not head over heels for their discography as a whole. Pretzel Logic and Aja are my favorite albums. Some of them I need to revisit for their deep cuts, like Katy Lied and Countdown to Ecstasy. Cheers!
100% agreed, in addition to The Fez, Home at Last, Josie, etc. Beautiful bluesy solo on What a Shame About Me as well. Wasn't thrilled with the overall tone of his guitar on the final 2 albums, thought they were rather monochromatic, and they could have spiced things up for style contrast with the extremely nimble and talented Jon Herington, who was already their touring lead by 2000.
Hi Jon..hope the gang get you back on for Series 2 of “Recordmendations” ( whenever that happens).. have checked out your channel a few times and have to say you’ve got an excellent show( and a new subscriber 👊🏻)…glad to bump into you in the comments supporting the boys as they take on the mighty Dan....( and understand your’s and Jason’s views on Steely Dans recent popularity rise..which partly I think comes from the hip hop/ rnb audiences who rate Steely Dan highly ( obviously the jazz/ funk groove elements of their later work being particularly appealing to them)
Listography of the year. 1. Gaucho (it was all leading to this, the top of the mountain. swap out 'My Rival' for 'The Second Arrangement' and it's even more impressive.) 2. The Royal Scam (the Steely Dan-e-ist) 3. Aja 4. Katy Lied 5. Everything Must Go (big fan of this one. even Fagen thinks it's underrated.) 6. Pretzel Logic 7. Countdown to Ecstasy 8. Can't Buy a Thrill 9. Two Against Nature (good but too middle-aged man sounding)
100% agree with the royal scam being the "steely dan-e-ist". when my friends asked for a good album to introduce them to steely dan, i always said to start with the royal scam.
Agree with your comment on The Royal Scam....................and it contains one of my favorite Steely Dan songs of all time (Green Earrings). Slight disagreement about Gaucho and Aja--I would've swapped their positions. Agree with everything else though!
Steely Dan was fortunate enough to be recording their incredible catalogue during the greatest analogue era in recording history. It doesn't take away from the fact that their songs are fantastic, in fact it just adds to it. Great job guys !
Yep. Songs can only sound truly amazing in their time periods. The Beatles wouldnt be as praised as they are if they didnt exist in the 60s, and neither would Steely Dan in the 70s. You have to be innovative while being during your time to be amazing.
So glad you guys did Steely Dan. I grew up with this band and at the time I never heard anything like them before they actually got me into Jazz and they have all the styles of music I love and are definitely in my top 10 groups.
1 Aja 2 Royal Scam 3 Gaucho 4 Two Against Nature 5 Katy Lied 6 Everything must go 7 Countdown to Ecstasy ! IMO 😊 Donald Fagen solo Albums The Nightfly and Morph the Cat are outstanding !
As a British person, I have no idea about Steely Dan. But hearing your glowing recommendation of the band made me interested. Then when I saw the awesome artwork of Royal Scam, I was just like... I gotta hear that record. High ranked or not. It must be heard. I checked out a couple tracks from it and it immediately feels like something I can learn to appreciate. I will check back when I have a wider knowledge but colour me intrigued.
Had to tear myself away from listening to Beans in your Ears to rank my second favorite band of all time. I like Joe's description of Aja as an album to put on at a dinner part to impress people. For me it's a perfect album. 1. Aja 2.Countdown to Ecstasy 3.Pretzel Logic 4. Royal Scam 5. Katy Lied 6.Can't Buy a Thrill 7. Gaucho-
I'm late to the party but here's my Steely Dan album rankings. I'll leave out the last two because I never heard them in their entirety. 7. Gaucho 6. The Royal Scam 5. Pretzel Logic 4. Aja 3. Katy Lied 2. Can't Buy a Thrill 1. Countdown to Ecstasy I'm closest to Jason's ranking on this one, I think. One and two can flip flop. Back in the day, my guitar teacher showed me the Reelin' in the Years chords, modes and leads. Sort of a Mixolydian/Dorian stew. It was a tricky thing to learn. So, Thrill is my sentimental favorite. I love the whole album. However, Countdown is exceptional to my ears. I think Jason explained it pretty well. Thanks gents.
These guys have been a favorite of mine since childhood. Probably my second favorite band overall (Beatles). 1. Aja (top 5 album of all time) 2. The Royal Scam (very close to #1) 3. Can't Buy a Thrill 4. Gaucho 5. Pretzel Logic 6. Katy Lied 7. Countdown to Ecstasy 8. Everything Must Go 9. Two Against Nature
Great video. Really enjoyed it, but I disagree with the Royal Scam placing. I just picked it up on vinyl and it is so much better than I remember, definitely in my top 3 behind Countdown & Can't Buy a Thrill. Great song writing, brilliant production, awesome playing, even the album cover evokes the sound of the record.
Steely Dan is a band that I heard a lot on FM radio when I was a teen. I liked what I heard but always thought that they were for "older people." And then, like Joe suggests, I got to my midlife and I began listening to them all the time. Absolutely love them.
255 comments and only 138 likes. I find this maddening. These boys put together a wonderful review session and obviously spent HOURS / DAYS / WEEKS listening to this music to review. You don't have to agree with their opinion, but CLICK THE DAMN LIKE BUTTON FOR THEIR EFFORT! Having said all that... I've got "Can't Buy A Thrill" at #1 and Aja at #2... but I've got to listen to them all over again, so thank you for the impetus.
Agree. Clicking "like" is as easy as will get. I have no idea why so many people seem to have a problem with it. You do it to support the channel. More likes + more comments = Bigger impact.
Right behind you . Addicted to this channel since I started watching a few months ago. Would hit 100 likes if I could . Deserves a bigger audience ( and they’ll get it ) but we need to keep supporting …these guys deserve so much for the work they put in …Power to Listography 👊🏻❤️
Easy list, the band has been with me since their first note was released, I think I know every note from their first six albums by heart. The remaining three albums are other people's favourites but not mine, one another occasion I said that the duo was turning pleasant boredom into an art form there. 9. Everything Must Go 2,5 8. Two Against Nature 3,0 7. Gaucho 3,0 6. Aja 4,0 5. Pretzel Logic 4,5 4. The Royal Scam 4,5 3. Katy Lied 5,0 2. Can't Buy a Thrill 5,0 1. Countdown to Ecstasy 5,0
It is very astonishing for me to read the comments and so many people mentioning of how they found the band in their "grown up" years etc. I was 13 when Can't Buy a Thrill was released and I immediately loved it. Just try to imagine that band releasing their great albums 1972-75 with all their enormous contemporaries pumping out their masterworks as well. They stood their ground against some of the biggest 5 star albums ever released...
@@roxannewalsh i didnt know steely dan until rikki dont lose that number. i was i guess 14 but didnt really grasp the band until aja i said in my ranking above royal scam was my fav for awhile but relistening to pretzel logic a couple times this week. it was an old crush coming back great album. great catalog
This band is so in my wheelhouse. I've been into Steely Dan since the the late 1980s. I love their first 6 albums. Katy Lied is my favorite. Joe, don't try heroin
Their popularity has exploded. It happened for me about 10 years ago after hearing Aja all the way through for the first time. Everyone I’ve talked to since then has had a warm reception to the band. Maybe it’s about getting older.
I appreciate how you mainly struggle to find something negative to say about these albums. There is no reason to pretend that the great first run of seven records is anything less than remarkable. I'm old: I've been following Steely Dan from the start, since "Do It Again" first appeared on the radio. (I much preferred the second single released from the first album, "Reelin' in the Years.") 9 Everything Must Go 8 Two Against Nature 7 Gaucho 6 Pretzel Logic 5 Aja 4 Can't Buy a Thrill 3 The Royal Scam 2 Katy Lied 1 Countdown to Ecstasy ("My Old School" was my favorite song in 1973, and I have never grown tired of hearing it. I know it's ear candy--I know that it's all hooks--but what's wrong with hooks?)
I will have to agree that Countdown is #1, Your Gold Teeth is as solid as it gets. After that I have mixed emotions on the rest but I do love Pretzel Logic and Royal Scam
My favourite three Steely Dan albums are 1. Can't buy a thrill....so exciting orginal and wherever I have been in life Steely Dan had always been with me when I use to have long drinking sessions with Steely Dan albums playing all the while....stopped drinking now though....lol 2.Aja 3.Gaucho Long live Donald Fagen
Perhaps not the band to put on if you're looking to "rock the house" but for just about any other listening experience they were superb. Clever arrangements, interesting lyrics and top shelf musicianship. Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago were the first to successfully combine jazz sensibilities into rock music, but Steely Dan took it to the next level. #1 Katy Lied. #2 The Royal Scam. #3 Pretzel Logic. #4 Aja. #5 Can't Buy a Thrill. #6 Countdown to Ecstasy. #7 Gaucho. #8 Two Against Nature. #9 Everything Must Go.
1. Aja 5/5 2. Can’t Buy a Thrill 5/5 3. The Royal Scam 4.5/5 4. Countdown to Ecstasy 4.5/5 5. Pretzel Logic 4.5/5 6. Katy Lied 4/5 7. Gaucho 4/5 8. Two Against Nature 2.5/5 9. Everything Must Go 2.5/5
Getting close to fanboy status for Joe. Steely Dan, Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Dwight Yoakum! If i find out you really like Cake and Tool i might have to demand a signed 8x10. But I digress, great lists guys, looking forward to songs tomorrow. My list 1. Can't Buy a Thrill 2. Aja 3. Countdown to Ecstasy 4. Katy Lied 5. Pretzel Logic 6. The Royal Scam 7. Gaucho 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything Must Go
1. Aja (4.5 stars) 2. Countdown to Ecstasy (4.5) 3. Pretzel Logic (4.5) 4. Katy Lied (4.5) 5. Can’t Buy A Thrill (4) (almost 4.5) 6. The Royal Scam (4) 7. Gaucho (3.5) (almost 4) 8. Two Against Nature (3.5) 9. Everything Must Go (3) I’ve said before that Steely Dan are probably my favorite band among those who don’t quite have a 5 star album for me (maybe if I were more of a lyrics person that wouldn’t be the case, and there’s always the possibility of my getting more crotchety as I progress through my 40’s and into my 50’s 😂) but definitely one I’m quite often in the mood to listen to. Always immaculate playing and really catchy melodies, and the top 6 albums are maybe even closer in quality for me than the top 6 Beatles albums, as The Royal Scam is also on the higher end of 4 for me. I always arbitrarily say Aja is my favorite on account of “Black Cow” being my favorite song in their catalog, but it’s really a coin flip between that and Countdown for me - there’s something to be said for that more organic full band feel like Jason pointed out.
Yeah, the fact that 'Countdown' was made by a real band is what ultimately tips me in its direction. That, and I think Aja has one ho-hum song on it ("I Got The News") whereas I love every track on 'Countdown.'
Well done as usual mates! I listened to a few Steely Dan albums this past week and found them to be great background music for visiting with people. I am in no way prepared to rate and rank these albums but from what I've heard, great. As for their cool factor, it was always obvious they wouldn't be cool to certain rock audiences, but ever since this guy in high school who I thought was cool told me he was into Steely Dan, I thought they were a cool band.
Ha you mean lift music?...I thought as much for at least 4 out of 9 albums.....but yeah they are so cool on every album....but alot of the time it turns me cold❄️🌨️😰
Thought I was a Doobie Brothers hater but saw them open for Santana a few years back and they were terrific ! As far as ranking Steely Dan whatever one I'm listening to is the best, probably the greatest American band 👍
Very interesting post! I always have felt that the more" perfect" the playing and production became with Steely Dan (from Royal Scam onwards) also coincided with a deterioration in the quality of the songwriting. I have jazzer friends who fell the opposite but for them it's probably more the playing than the song. The musicianship on Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take me Alive is stellar but Im not sure the songs themselves are anything fabulous. To bet honest there was a better match of pop sensability and hipster jazz style in the first four albums. They sounded more organic as a band and I still feel Skunk Baxter was my favourite guitarist ever in the band. Kudos to Denny Dias too!
When I hear someone likes steely Dan I say wow we have the same taste in music. Then you realize how many people can like steely Dan but for 1000 different reasons. You will never find the same top 10 steely Dan song list from any 2 steely Dan fans. Incredible.
I love Steely Dan, and I'll post my list later.. But I want to share what makes Listography stand out among all these other youtubers... I appreciate that you all are musicians, and so you talk a lot about recording technique and production and guitar tunings and pedal steel, and such. Especially Jason, but really, all three of you talk often about sound, and I find it very interesting, and it makes me listen to records differently. So thank you!
Yeah, I would second this. I also like hearing discussion about production choices, instrumentation, effects, etc. It's a lot better than, "This song is great or this album is great." I don't need a full Rick Beato in-depth analysis, but a little about what makes it great is much appreciated.
Really excited for this one ☝️… Steely Dan my new favourite band.. my predictions for top spot: Jason - Pretzel Logic Kramzer - Aja Joe - Countdown to Ecstasy
The Ringer recently published a piece on the Steely Dan renaissance. I'm not worldly enough anymore to know how accurate it is, but in my own world, youtoob channels like yours and reaction channels seem to be at the forefront of renewed interest in their music. The article mentions their acerbic lyrics as being an attraction for Millennials entering their "soft middle age", but I have my doubts as to whether or not most people even recognize that quality in their lyrics, present company excepted of course.
Ok, just watched all of it. Great runthrough, as always, and also great explanations about what ended where. Anyway, here’s my list: 9. Everything Must Go 8. Two Against Nature 7. Countdown To Ecstacy 6. Katy Lied 5. Gaucho 4. Can’t Buy A Thrill 3. Pretzel Logic 2. Aja 1. The Royal Scam Not easy, and the Top 7 is all essential!
My top 5 are all in my album top 200. None of the others actually make my top 500. Never warmed to Countdown that much and Gaucho is too sterile for me. Still like them a lot but just not enough. 1. Aja 2. Katy Lied 3. Can't buy a thrill 4. The Royal Scam 5. Pretzel Logic 6. Countdown to ecstacy 7. Gaucho 8. Two against nature 9. Everything must go Actually an artist I had heard about but not really got to know anything beyond their hits until the last decade.
Have you guys ever come around to give their last two albums another chance? They are fantastic. I am going through a heavy Everything Must Go phase now. From tracks 4-7 it's nothing but bangers! Godwhacker, Slang of Ages, Green Book and Pixeleen, awesome vibes
Thanks for doing the Dan and giving me some different perspectives on one of my long time favourite bands. So here's how I'm ranking their albums, which are all good, as of today: 1. The Royal Scam (love it start to finish, 5 stars) 2. Can't Buy A Thrill (5 as well, so many great and catchy songs) 3. Aja (perfection) 4. Countdown To Ecstasy (great record, ugly cover art, why?) 5. Pretzel Logic (still 4,5 stars, Any Major Dude Will Tell You) 6. Gaucho (still perfection from the Sisters to the amazing Third World Man. Shake it!) 7. Katy Lied (still 4 stars, ugly cover, again why?) 8. Two Against Nature (not as great as the classic period, good reunion anyway, 3,5) 9. Everything Must Go (3 stars) Still waiting for the 12 hour episode on The Fall.
Well done and very tough to rank the albums from the initial classic period. Katy Lied is seriously underrated and I'm glad Joe picked it as his number one. Even with the DBX debacle and obvious problems with the album's sound in places it may be the album I enjoy most from beginning to end overall. I'm not a huge fan of the second half of Pretzel Logic. 1) Katy Lied 2) Countdown to Ecstasy 3) The Royal Scam 4) Aja 5) Can't Buy a Thrill 6) Pretzel Logic 7) Gaucho Don't care about the other two. I do like Fagan's solo albums quite a lot. the variation in Listography and viewer rankings is a testament to the greatness of this band. I couls swap my rankings around a few different ways and still be happy. Looking forward the Elliott.
Very hard to rank since to me I think of Steely Dan more in terms of my favorite songs, so I will start by listing my favorite songs on each album. Can't Buy a Thrill - Reeling in the Years, Do It Again, Kings, Fire in the Hole Countdown to Ecstasy- My Old School, King of the World, Your Gold Teeth, Razor Boy has he seen Razor Face from Madman Across the Water? and Bodhisatta Pretzel Logic- Night by Night, Rikki Don't Lose that Number, Any Major Dude and Pretzel Logic Katy Lied - Black Friday (my favorite guitar and some of their best lyrics but far too short), Gold Teeth II, Any World that I'm Welcome To, Bad Sneakers, Everybody's Gone to the Movies, Doctor Woo Royal Scam - Kid Charlemagne, Don't Take Me Alive, The Fez, Green Ear Rings. Sign In Stranger, The Royal Scam and The Caves Of Altamira Asa- Deacon Blues, Aja, Peg and Josie Based on number of favorite songs on each of these albums which are the ones I listen to the most, 1. Royal Scam with 7 songs 2. tied for second Countdown for Ecstasy and Katy Lied with 5 songs each 3. tied for third Can't Buy a Thrill, Pretzel Logic and Asa with 4 songs each
Jason mentioned the guitar solo on Third World Man and it’s “crunch” sound. Not sure how well known it is but that was the one song that was recorded in LA during the Royal Scam sessions. The rest of Gaucho was recorded in NY. There were apparently quite a few mishaps during the sessions with one important song being accidentally erased-‘The Second Arrangement’. Probably why Third World Man was dug up and remixed. Fits the album quite nicely . As always, I enjoyed the list. Thanks, guys
Thanks again boys…Great work. Each of you have your strengths, but sometimes the sum is better than the parts, as evidenced today by your averaged list vs. my list. Switch Aja and Pretzel Logic and they’re identical! Now that’s kismet, as I’m sure any major dude will tell you.
Queen + Steely Dan makes me oh so happy! Steely Dan started for me in record stores. I saw their music and heard two talk about them. Saw more and more of their name on internet as well and one day I took a chance on "Can't Buy a Thrill" on CD. Listened to about half of the record and realized "I like this. I want more of it" and not before long had all the classic albums. While the albums are different and there is a small evolution on all of them they also have a consistent quality. Hard to rank even if you love them like Joe, like them plenty like Kramzer or like them some like Jason. I think I fall in between Joe and Kramzer. In ranking terms more like Kramzer but feelings more similar to Joe. Reelin' In the Years and Josie have different starts to the songs but both contain some of my favorite starts to any song I've ever heard. Just so melodic and tasty! I think the ranking comes down to liking the early band and that influence or the more jazzy influence of later years. I like both equally so is a mix for me. I actually put "Two Against Nature" on my IPod before seeing this so will give that record a new chance very soon. I haven't heard much of Everything Must Go so I will only rank the classic albums. 7. Countdown to Ecstasy I like the album and the more "live"-feeling as Jason states but as a whole this album haven't grabbed me as much as the others. That might change in time though. 6. The Royal Scam This album has more "meat" on it than several others but with Steely Dan I actually prefer the bit more simplistic approach and feel some of the longer songs overstay it's welcome. Not in a bad way but compared to the albums with better ranking... I don't return to this as often. I've seen several have this as their favorite and I don't blame them.. Just not my choice. 5. Gaucho This is the album I listen most to for some reason. It is very slick and not as diverse as the other classic albums but very enjoyable nonetheless. 4. Katy Lied The middle album and the middle ranking. Imagine that. I think many songs are memorable and it has that middle quality in a good way. You get a bit of everything on this one. 3. Can't Buy a Thrill Just a great debut and to me the most rocking. At least the kind of rocking I enjoy. Several of the biggest hits and and a good way to start listening to the band if you come from a pop/rock/hardrock perspective. 2. Aja The big one. What seems to be their masterpeice. Also quite jazzy. I talk about the "meat" and here is where the meat is most interesting to me. I feel the longer songs get better the more you listen instead of just wishing they were a bit shorter. 1. Pretzel Logic Both Joe and Kramzer would like this to be longer. I love it because it's so to the point and catchy. Some albums that are like one hour long leaves me with thoughts like "OK. Don't need to hear this band in a while now". This album to me is the opposite. It's a short and sweet ride that makes me wanting more. The flow of the albums is terrific for me. For those looking and this or heard about Steely Dan and get turned off by the word "jazz". Give it a shot. This is NOT jazz in the way many think. It's no twelve minutes with only trumpet or strange improvisation or something that might turn many people off. It is pop, rock, jazz and other influences done in a way I think many would enjoy. It has a very unique sound and I guess that is why we chat about it here. I think Jason is right. This could have been a band left in the 70's with a few jazz-heads only but it seems like they have reached quite a big audience!
Steely Dan is a top 10 if not top 5 band for me. I have a clear #1, and 7 through 9, ranking 2-6 was nearly a toss up as they’re all great. If I rank them tomorrow, #2 might be #6 and vice versa. But as for today 9. Everything Must Go 8. Two Against Nature. Everyone seems to have these two as 8 and 9 in this order 7. Katy Lied. I agree with Kram, it’s the only one of the classic seven albums I don’t absolutely love. 6. The Royal Scam 5. Can’t Buy a Thrill 4. Countdown to Ecstasy 3. Pretzel Logic 2. Gaucho 1. Aja. Deacon Blues and the title track are both sonic perfection
Don't know if you guys saw what Bill Janovitz from Buffalo Tom Tweeted yesterday, but it fits in with this quite well: @billjanovitz · Oysters, Joni Mitchell, and Steely Dan: joy-giving aspects of life that I heretofore thought little of and have embraced with unbridled enthusiasm in - that generously estimated time period - middle age. I’ll learn to play the saxophone, I’ll play just what I feel.
I resisted Steely Dan for a long time but I’ve been on a bit of a jazz binge recently (mostly 50s-60s stuff plus Kamasi Washington’s The Epic) so I felt like now was the time to dive in. Started with Aja and it just floored me. Then your list landed a couple of days later, so its given me food for thought on where to go next 👍
Wonderful show, my top 9 would have to be: 1) Gaucho (1980) 2) The Royal Scam (1980) 3) Aja (1977) 4) Katy Lied (1975) 5) Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) 6) Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) 7) Pretzel Logic (1974) 8) Everything Must Go (2003) 9) Two Against Nature (2000)
Very interesting discussion and evaluation as always - very informative and enjoyable at the same time, you can really feel the appreciation on this one
Love the sound of Fagen's voice and I just generally love the sound of this band's recordings, especially their jazzier grooves. I am a big fan of Aja and Gaucho, but they have plenty of jazz influence sprinkled throughout their catalog. Great playing all the way around. One of the things that keeps Steely Dan from being one of my favorite bands are the lyrics. I am ambivalent about what Fagen is singing, for the most part. I'm just interested in his voice as an instrument. I'm sure the lyrics are smart and witty and clever and as biting as everyone says they are, but they don't resonate with me the way the lyrics of my favorite bands do.
Their lyrics aren't the most emotionally profound, I'll give you that. But you have to admire their intellectual dexterity and the sort of crooked angle at which they're viewing everything.
Forgot to mention how much I love their funk influences too. These guys get sampled a lot for a reason. They always recruited top shelf rhythm sections, which is what keeps them from being a garden-variety yacht rock outfit.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I guess when it comes to lyrics I prefer hot and immediate over cool and detached. Fagen is one example in a long tradition of writers willing to skewer society's winners and beautiful people and treat them with a healthy dose of skepticism, so that aspect of their lyricism doesn't stand out as much. I like it, but it doesn't strike me as remarkable.
Whoa. Was not expecting these guys at all. Really appreciate the diversity of your guys' review lists. Have to admit, though, I was bummed to hear how much one (or all?) of you hate The Police. Oh, well!
Also, watched (or rather, listened to) the vid and a few comments ran through my head. Here are some I can remember... 1. The reason for the lack of warmth in TWO AGAINST NATURE and EVERYTHING MUST GO was that Gary Katz was no longer producing for them. And yeah, there was a noticeable difference. B. Don't know who said this but I, too, have never understood the appeal of "Kid Charlemagne." It's fine but that's about it for me. III. KATY LIED is an album that never gets the love it deserves. Glad to hear that one of you selected it as your Number One. Which... ever one that was. BONUS: Do any of you know what the song "Chain Lightning" is about? It's maybe one of their slimiest character profiles. Thanks again!
1. Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) 5/5 2. Aja (1977) 5/5 3. Can't Buy A Thrill (1972) 4.5/5 4. Pretzel Logic (1974) 4.5/5 5. Katy Lied (1975) 4.5/5 6. The Royal Scam (1976) 4.5/5 7. Gaucho (1980) 3.5/5 8. Two Against Nature (2000) 2.5/5 9. Everything Must Go (2003) 2/5 CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER: 4.5 Can't Buy A Thrill (1972) 5.0 Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) 4.5 Pretzel Logic (1974) 4.5 Katy Lied (1975) 4.5 The Royal Scam (1976) 5.0 Aja (1977) 3.5 Gaucho (1980) 2.5 Two Against Nature (2000) 2.0 Everything Must Go (2003) There's a theory out there that says all the best rock 'n roll lyricists are Jewish. No doubt Fagan and Becker's dazzling wordcraft is one of its main data points. Some people think Steely Dan's music is a little *too* slick and accomplished but I'm not one of them. Being a music theory nerd I find these guys endlessly fascinating. Their first 6 albums are almost uniformly great. I can't blame anyone for putting them in any order (although I do think Countdown To Ecstasy stands out the most- it's one of those albums where every track is a mini-masterpiece.) MY RATING SYSTEM: 5.0 = major classic 4.5 = minor classic 4.0 = great 3.5 = very good 3.0 = good 2.5 = fair 2.0 = poor 1.5 = awful 1.0 = historically awful I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore. Anything I rate 3.5 stars or higher is an album I'm enthusiastic about and would likely revisit at some point.
@@179rich I'm not sure it's possible to digest Steely Dan's dense combination of music and lyrics in only one week but I'm glad you tried. I've been listening to them for more than 25 years and only recently have I felt like I've got them pinned down.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Yeah I didn't really look at the lyrics going through all their stuff this week. It could lift them even higher up in my estimation, if the lyrics are as good as everyone says.
I wussed out and didn't rank buuttt if I did I think I too would go for Countdown to Ecstasy. Their outlaw character vignettes are to me rivaled by only Grateful Dead -and maybe every autobiographical(?) song by Bon Scott.
I'd feel very apologetic towards whatever album I ranked #6 as I find the first 6 to be top shelf. Shout out to Phil Hartman for his Aja cover. (I mean- he didn't cover the song or the album, but he did produce the image we see on the album cover)
I discovered the band in the early 90's and have listened to all of their records numerous times. My ranking would look something like this: 1. The Royal Scam (1976) 2. Gaucho (1980) 3. Aja (1977) 4. Katy Lied (1975) 5. Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) 6. Two Against Nature (2000) 7. Pretzel Logic (1974) 8. Can't Buy A Thrill (1972) 9. Everything Must Go (2003)
I must be weird because Katy Lied is my favourite. 1. Katy Lied 2. Aja 3. Pretzel Logic 4. Can't Buy A Thrill 5. Countdown to Ecstacy 6. Gaucho 7. Royal Scam 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything I never rated Royal Scam - remember being very disappointed when it came out.
Never bought anything by S Dan. But I know a lot of their work and I am leaving out a lot of popular stuff I don't like. There are my favorite songs, not cds, in pretty much fav order 1. Any World that I'm Welcome too 2. Deacon Blues 3. Any major Dude 4. FM 5 My Old School 6. Rikki Don't lose that number 7. Show biz Kids 8. Katy Lied 9. Doctor Wu 10. Peg / Don't Take Me Alive/ Dirty Work
Younger me never was into Steely Dan at all. My feelings about them were probably about like Seth Rogan's in Knocked Up. Didn't like any of their singles, none of it. I don't know what exactly changed, but I gave them a chance in my late 20s/early 30s, and started to appreciate them a bit more. They're probably still not a top artist for me -- I don't think I'd put them up there with the Beatles or Stones or Dylan -- but I think all their 70s output is pretty solid. They definitely have some singles in the 70s that will be cracking my SOTY Top 10 lists and maybe topping 1 or 2.
I also came to love them as an adult- and they'd easily be in my top 100 rock/pop artists ever. But I can't quite bring myself to say they would be top 50. There are just too many amazing artists who've come along over the last 60+ years.
I'm with Joe- love me some Steely Dan. Here's my ranking: 1. Royal Scam 2. Katy Lied 3. Pretzel Logic 4. Countdown to Ecstasy 5. Can't Buy a Thrill 6. Aja 7. Gaucho 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything Must Go (including this album)
One thing I had forgotten about Steely Dan: serious earworm generating capacity. I cannot get the chorus to Josie out of my head! It's been churning up there overnight. 🤪
TRIVIA: 22:53 The original cover concept was to have a little girl looking into an adult XXX bookshop (yes, before VHS, it was "dirty books and magazines" mostly , but they did have 8MM films too). The record company was all "No way". LOL. P.S. you guys should toss in, at the end "I love / hate this album cover" just as a tidbit !
Thank you for doing a Steely Dan show. Truly one of the greatest pop/rock/jazz/fusion bands of all time. *Extremely* surprised and confused that Jason and Kram don't think SD would be in their Top 100 Artists... !?!?!? That just doesn't compute whatsoever. Their 7-album main canon is just astonishing on so many levels and captures the spirit and flavor of the mid-late 70s so deliciously. All 7 albums are 5-stars. I am not really interested in TAN or EMG. 7. PL 6. KL 5. CTE 4. G 3. CBAT 2. A 1. TRS I ***love*** all 7 so so much, but Thrill, Aja, and Scam are 3 of my all-time favorite by any artist. Listo 4ever🎶🎉🙏🔥 Ps. Definitely don't get the Doobies hate. I love the Doobies, the TJ era especially.
Agree with your rankings overall Jason and also your comments about your top 2 but would go with Can’t Buy a Thrill at number 1. 2 great albums out of the block in the early 70s. Very nice. Would also go 4.5 stars for both though.
1. Can't Buy a Thrill 2. Aja 3. Pretzel Logic 4. The Royal Scam 5. Countdown to Ecstasy 6. Katy Lied 7. Gaucho 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything Must Go
Yes! Steely Dan, certainly one of my favorite all-time bands (so I'm with Joe on that front). I love all of their classic period albums, but my No.1 was never in doubt, as it has been always my favorite since it first came out. Great to hear all of your comments, even those I disagree with. Anyway, here are my rankings: 9. Two Against Nature. As stated, it was great to hear a new album by them after so many years, and it is fine, but just doesn't live up to the earlier period stuff. Relatively speaking songs not that memorable. 8. Everything Must Go. I guess I like this a bit more than most, as I think the top three tracks, Things I Miss The Most, Last Mall, and Everything Must Go, are all great and better than anything on 2AN. But still, just not quite classic Dan. 7. Gaucho. My least favorite of the 'classics'. And I did not like this one at all when it first came out (except for Babylon Sisters). But over the years I have warmed to it. Quite good, but still a bit too perfect and sterile, and too much of the smooth jazz vibe throughout. 6. Katy Lied. This was the first of their albums that kind of softened their sound and style, less of a rock feel, but still has many great pop-rock songs. 5. Aja. Outstanding production, arrangements, musicianship throughout. Just a great sound. Yet I still prefer their earlier songs that had more of a rock and band feel to them. 4. Royal Scam. Great album, great guitar work and killer songs throughout. More rockin' than Katy Lied. Outstanding. 3. Can't Buy a Thrill. Great debut. Totally unique sound relative to anything else at that time. Great pop hooks and melodies. More pop-rock than subsequent albums, but all great tracks. 2. Pretzel Logic. They're still a rock band at this point and deliver an album of stellar tracks here. Perhaps a bit more eclectic than Can't Buy a Thrill, but great from start to finish. 1. Countdown to Ecstasy. This is the One! The Holy Grail of Steely Dan Albums. Blazing start with Bodhisattva, perhaps the greatest album-opening track of all-time. This one rocks from start to finish, and they are a real band here (and Skunk Baxter's guitar solos are tremendous). Contains the four pillars of Dan-dom: Bodhisattva, Your Gold Teeth, My Old School, and King of the World. Perhaps the quirkiest of all their albums (Show Biz Kids is flat-out weird), but fantastic stuff all around. Never been another album like this, even among Steely Dan albums.
Eric, yes I noticed that, and that rarely happens (that my tastes match up that closely with others). You have great taste. Would like to see if we agree on other artists as well.
1. Aja 2. Katy Lied 3. Gaucho 4. The Royal Scam 5. Everything Must Go 6. Two Against Nature 7. Countdown To Ecstasy 8. Can’t Buy A Thrill 9. Pretzel Logic And for extra credit 1. Morph The Cat 2. Kamakiriad 3. 11 Tracks Of Whack 4. Circus Money 5. The Nightfly 6. Sunken Condos
I actually got to listen to all the albums this week. I didn't have a lot of knowledge of Steely Dan's albums before this week beyond Can't Buy a Thrill which I picked up awhile back. I do remember them not being looked upon favourably in the past so I think that's why I never explored them back then. I had been meaning to check them out anyway since it seems the last couple years all I've heard was glowing praise for them so I definitely felt I was missing out. I think I'd need to listen more to do a formal ranking. I will say on first impressions Pretzel Logic and Katy Lied stood out the most to me and I did listen to both of those twice. There was something about those two especially that spoke to me. But I'm glad I did this. It's interesting to see how all you rankings came out differently in the end.
Katy Lied is my favorite, with Countdown to Ecstasy a very close second. The comments on these albums by the guys who ranked them Number 1 added to my understanding of them. Through the years, I've had mixed feelings about Aja. It came out in the fall of my freshman year of college so I felt the immediate impact of it as a sophisticated, superbly produced mainstream pop jazz album. But it's just not as creative as the earlier albums.
Steely Dan’s career can definitely be split into 2 distinct phases, with Aja marking the point for me where they abandoned all pretence of being a band and just became a project for Becker and Fagen. Whilst I have a lot of admiration for the brilliant musicianship and production of their later work, it just sounds a little too polished and sterile for me. I therefore tend to prefer listening to their first 5 albums, with the fabulous Pretzel Logic being my favourite: 9. Everything Must Go (3 stars) 8. Two Against Nature (3 stars) 7. Gaucho (3.5 stars) 6. Katy Lied (3.5 stars) 5. Aja (4 stars) 4. Countdown To Ecstasy (4 stars) 3. The Royal Scam (4.5 stars) 2. Can’t Buy A Thrill (4.5 stars) 1. Pretzel Logic (5 stars)
For me, the greatness of Steely Dan was their ability to fuse jazz elements with the rock song format which I think they perfected with Pretzel Logic, The ones before that were leading up to that masterpiece and though, the Royal Scam has some great songs their tendency to indulge in virtuoso musicianship starts to take hold - and Aja though rightly hailed as a tour-de-force of musicianship shows how far they had gone towards alienating an audience and becoming elitist and indulgent. Basically, when punk and new wave came along (and disco), their time was up. Joe's mention of the songs of Pretzel Logic being too short I would say is its strength. All the musicianship is there in the service of the songs and no solo or extended jam outstays its welcome as it does on Aja. Still a seminal band with a lot of top quality stuff in their catalogue 9 Everything Must Go 8 Two Against Nature 7 Gaucho 6. Aja 5. Countdown To Ecstasy 4The Royal Scam 3. Katy Lied 2 Can't Buy A Thrill NUMBER ONE: PRETZEL LOGIC
I saw Steely Dan in 2000 at Riverbend in Cincinnati and it was an amazing show. They sounded amazing and they gave a jaw dropping performance. I've never seen a band in concert that sounded as good as them.
Thanks guys. I'm closest to Jason's ranking on the Dan. The songwriting was wonderful on those early albums but the further they went into the studio it all started to sound like the soundtrack to a pseuds dinner party. Still great, but the magic and innocence was gone.
My Ranking : 1) Aja 2) Can't Buy a Thrill, Royal Scam, Katy Lied, Countdown to Ecstasy , Pretzel Logic ----------------- ------------------- 3) Gaucho ------------------ ------------------ 15) All the "new junk".
Pretty hard discography to rank. I wouldn't say I'm a huge Steely Dan fan, but most of their albums are really good, and some of them pretty close to five stars. 9. Everything Must Go (2003) ★★½ 8. Two Against Nature (2000) ★★★ 7. Gaucho (1980) ★★★½ 6. The Royal Scam (1976) ★★★½ 5. Katy Lied (1975) ★★★★ 4. Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) ★★★★ 3. Pretzel Logic (1974) ★★★★ 2. Aja (1977) ★★★★½ 1. Can't Buy a Thrill (1972) ★★★★½ ★★★★★ - Masterpiece ★★★★½ - Really great ★★★★ - Great ★★★½ - Really good ★★★ - Good ★★½ - OK ★★ - Bad ★½ - Really bad ★ - Awful ½ - The worst
Had to pause the video to say that The Royal Scam at 7 seems really harsh. Side A of that record is peak Steely Dan to me.
Indeed.
The Royal Scam is my fave 🏆
Aja is a masterpiece - did anyone mention Steve Gadd’s drum solo? It’s legendary!
aja is hands down my favorite steely dan song, and brings up the quality of an album that, to me, is monotonous.
Yeah, Steve Gadd on the song Aja is some of the absolute best drumming in recorded history, and they don't even acknowledge it.
No brainer
Steve gadd was definitely on the very top of his game during the Asia album I think his stuff is amazing. I think all of his stuff is amazing but he fit so well into the Aja album
Sorry. Stupid phone. AJA! LOL
Love seeing the love for Katy Lied. It seems to usually ranked towards the bottom of the 70s Steely Dan albums from many fans. I think it is Fagan's best vocal album, then you add in Michael McDonald's backup vocals, they make the album sound so crisp and polished. Each song is very catchy and beautiful. I'm starting to get into Steely Dan and have only listened to the first six albums so far and I love them all.
And that’s what’s so great about Steely Dan. Of the original 7, Katy Lied is probably in my bottom 2. Whereas Countdown to Ecstasy is probably my favorite, but a lot of people have it a lot lower. Fans don’t have a general consensus the way they do with bands like Beatles, Stones, Zep, etc. I think that really says a lot about the band.
Katy lied is my favorite 🎉
The first six albums are indispensable.
I can't believe they weren't happy with the production on this album, it is excellent
I can't believe they weren't happy with the production on this album, it is excellent
1. Ajà - This is still the most perfect album possible for me. I love every song on it, always have, always will. I just can't get tired of any of these songs. Great lyrics. Great music. Perfect album. Jason - What gives? It's interesting to have a contrarian opinion, but come on. (6/5 stars - impossibly great)
2. The Royal Scam - It's probably their most daring album musically. It's not as listenable to me as Ajà, but I love it nonetheless. Kid Charlemagne is a masterpiece, Jason. Go back to school. (5/5 stars)
3. Gaucho - Joe, don't be a pansy. This is a 5-star album. The smooth, mellow musical sound covering the subversive lyrics is a brilliant juxtaposition. (5/5 stars).
4. Can't Buy a Thrill - Not a bad song on it, and the organ intro to Do It Again is legendary. The only problem is that the hit songs got so much radio play. (4.5/5 stars)
5. Countdown to Ecstacy - Bodhisattva is one of my favorite songs, but I don't feel like the rest of the songs are up to the fantastic opener. King of the World is how to write an anti-nuke song (Sting should have taken notes before writing the awful Walking in Your Footsteps) (4.5/5 stars)
6. Katie Lied. Really good songs. Really good album. Great lyrics. It's Steely Dan. (4/5 stars)
7. Pretzel Logic - Rikki Don't Lose That Number is one of the best soft rock songs of all time. This album feels a little scattered to me overall, though (3.5/5 stars)
8. Two Against Nature - It's kind of a worse version of Gaucho (3/5 stars)
9. Everything Must Go - Seems like songs that didn't make Two Against Nature. (2.5/5 stars)
Brilliant analysis
Pretty much agree with everything, but probably would've ranked Pretzel Logic higher. (Also disagree that Walking In Your Footsteps is an awful song--it's actually one of my favorites from Synchronicity).
Royal Scam might be my favorite. The Kid Charlemagne solo is insanely good. Bit of an icy dark album it's great.
1. Gaucho - Definitely didn’t start out as my favorite album, but has become the one I listen to the most. Smooth and funky.
2. Royal Scam - Could be tied for first. Completely solid album. Perhaps their darkest. The songs stick with me.
3. Aja - Perfection. Really tied with the top three. Aja may be my favorite Dan song.
4. Countdown to Ecstasy - Their most rocking and probably underrated overall. Production just isn’t where they soon will be.
5. Katy Lied - Really tied with Pretzel Logic. Love Dr. Wu, precursor to where they’ll go with Aja.
6. Pretzel Logic - Love the album, if not every song. Too da loo feels a bit unnecessary. Still solid.
7. Can’t Buy a Thrill - Great album with some of their best songs, just not big on Palmer’s vocals. Lacks that Fagen sardonic edge.
8. Two Against Nature - Great return, solid songs, if not quite at the level of the classic seven.
9. Everything Must Go - Feels like the songs that didn’t make the cut for Two Against. Still great, but ultimately uneven.
Steely Dan are probably my favorite band, next to The Beatles and the Grateful Dead. Just the best when it comes to musicianship, production, lyrics and song writing. My personal theory is that I actually think they’re the "anti-yacht rock" band though. Which is ironic, seeing as how they’ve become the poster child for this relatively new "genre." My reasoning is that they lyrically champion the underdogs and "losers" of the world, while satirizing and mocking the elites, those most likely to have yachts. Calling them "yacht rock" is almost like missing the joke. Guess that leads to the question of wether a band is defined by their audience, or the band itself? Either way, I love this group and could listen to them all day, and even Fagen’s solo output. It’s just, pretty much, the best music out there imo.
WOW thanks for that man
I think the Yacht Rock term itself was a joke. I'm pretty sure it was coined by the 2000s web mockumentary series of the same name which followed Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, and all these artists they were connected to. I don't know how it worked it's way into mainstream culture, because it doesn't seem like that many people saw the actual series (if you didn't, it's hilarious).
Gaucho is their most sophisticated music by far, try learning that album if you're a player.
Gaucho was the Dan album I never really liked but I think I prefere it to Aja now
I agree with you with Gaucho. My most listened to Steely Dan.
I was born in 1961 and grew up listening to Steely Dan. The Dan were huge in my HS and were well listened to in College. Almost impossible to rank the top 7. But I'll try.
9. Everything Must Go
8. Two Against Nature
7. Gaucho
6. Countdown to Ecstasy
5. Katy Lied
4. Pretzel Logic
3. Can't Buy a Thrill
2. Aja
1. The Royal Scam
Thank you for the video. Steely dan and Pink Floyd are my favourite 70s Bands. My Ranking:
9. Everything Must Go
8. Two Against Nature
7. Countdown To Ecstasy
6. Katy Lied
5. The Royal Scam
4. Aja
3. Gaucho
2. Pretzel Logic
1. Can"t Buy A Thrill
BUT I LOVE EVERY ALBUM OF THEM !
I loved Steely Dan when I was a kid in the 70’s and still love them. I think they hold the distinction of producing less filler than any band in history. Pretty much every song on those first 7 albums are just top notch. Incredibly consistent brilliance.
I have been a Steely Dan fan since 1973. I remember seeing them on "In Concert", a short-lived taped concert show on Friday nights. Been a fan ever since. They have never been in my top 5 bands, but always floated around somewhere in the 6-20 range. My rankings:
1. Katy Lied - 5 star
2. Aja - 4.5 star
3. Countdown to Ecstasy - 4.5 star
4. Pretzel Logic - 4.5 star
5. Royal Scam - 4 star
6. Gaucho - 3.5 star
7. Can't Buy a Thrill - 3.5 star
8. Two Against Nature - 3.5 star
9. Everything Must Go - 3 star
Needless to say, I think Joe was pretty spot on with his rankings. The only difference we have is flipping 6 and 7. Good job, Joe.
Agree with top 6 order
"In Concert" was a GROUND BREAKING SHOW!! It was the first time you saw pretty raw live rock concert footage on late night network TV. I think this is the first time I saw Grand Funk Railroad.
Absolutely no one in the world has ever sounded like Steely Dan. They set a very high bar for anyone who wants to explore new ideas inside the confines of a structured song. I can never come up with a "if you like A, you'll like B" suggestion for either The Doors or Steely Dan. Maybe the suggestion is, if you like The Doors, you'll like Steely Dan.
Thank you guys 🙏..an absolute pleasure listening to you rank one of the most consistently brilliant bands that ever existed ( and even half asleep, you all did a brilliant job 😂)..nice seeing Joe try to restrain himself from “fanboyisms” about a band he obviously loves ..and failing 😊…
My list and they’re all five stars bar the last 2 ( which are 4.5) , so not restraining my fanboy worship at all:
1. Can’t Buy a Thrill
2. AJA
3.Katy Lied
4. Pretzel Logic
5. Countdown to Ecstacy
6 . The Royal Scam
7. Gaucho
8. Two Against Nature
9. Everything Must Go
I’m so glad you guys did this! Easily my favorite band. My ranking for fun would be:
1. Countdown to Ecstasy
2. Aja
3. Can’t Buy a Thrill
4. Katy Lied
5. The Royal Scam
6. Gaucho
7. Pretzel Logic
8. Two Against Nature
9. Everything Must Go
If you included the live one 'Alive In America' where would you put it?
King of the World best track off countdown imo
@@bramleydragon I’d probably put it above Pretzel Logic I’d say, but that’s a tough call. It’s a good selection of songs but I don’t think their live performances can beat out most of their studio albums, they just sound so clean.
@@steelydan3263 I agree, that song and the Boston Rag are my favorites
@@viscose_matt Oh yes, the musicianship and production are second to none
Hi!
I’m a big lifelong fan, so i think i might just have to rank ‘em, impossible as it may seem:
9. Everything Must Go
8. Two Against Nature
7. Gaucho
6. Aja
5. Can’t Buy a Thrill
4. Pretzel Logic
3. Katy Lied
2- The Royal Scam
1. Countdown to Ecstasy
PS: I got into them after buying «The Nightfly» when it was released.
Enjoyed this one. Totally agree with Jason's thoughts on the trajectory of their popularity. Twenty years ago I was embarrassed to say how much I liked certain Steely Dan songs. I'm still not head over heels for their discography as a whole. Pretzel Logic and Aja are my favorite albums. Some of them I need to revisit for their deep cuts, like Katy Lied and Countdown to Ecstasy. Cheers!
100% agreed, in addition to The Fez, Home at Last, Josie, etc. Beautiful bluesy solo on What a Shame About Me as well. Wasn't thrilled with the overall tone of his guitar on the final 2 albums, thought they were rather monochromatic, and they could have spiced things up for style contrast with the extremely nimble and talented Jon Herington, who was already their touring lead by 2000.
Hi Jon..hope the gang get you back on for Series 2 of “Recordmendations” ( whenever that happens).. have checked out your channel a few times and have to say you’ve got an excellent show( and a new subscriber 👊🏻)…glad to bump into you in the comments supporting the boys as they take on the mighty Dan....( and understand your’s and Jason’s views on Steely Dans recent popularity rise..which partly I think comes from the hip hop/ rnb audiences who rate Steely Dan highly ( obviously the jazz/ funk groove elements of their later work being particularly appealing to them)
@@deathfromabove77 Hey, thanks for the kind words. ✌🏻
Even though I really disagree with a lot of the rankings here, I can’t help but love the diverse tastes of Steely Dan fans!
9. Everything Must Go
8. Two Against Nature
7. Katy Lied
6. Gaucho
5. Countdown to Ecstacy
4. Pretzel Logic
3. Aja
2. Royal Scam
1. Can't Buy A Thrill
this list hurts to read
Listography of the year.
1. Gaucho (it was all leading to this, the top of the mountain. swap out 'My Rival' for 'The Second Arrangement' and it's even more impressive.)
2. The Royal Scam (the Steely Dan-e-ist)
3. Aja
4. Katy Lied
5. Everything Must Go (big fan of this one. even Fagen thinks it's underrated.)
6. Pretzel Logic
7. Countdown to Ecstasy
8. Can't Buy a Thrill
9. Two Against Nature (good but too middle-aged man sounding)
100% agree with the royal scam being the "steely dan-e-ist". when my friends asked for a good album to introduce them to steely dan, i always said to start with the royal scam.
@@hoopsmccann639 I recently rediscovered The Royal Scam and for some reason it really clicked with me. Hugely underrated album.
Agree with your comment on The Royal Scam....................and it contains one of my favorite Steely Dan songs of all time (Green Earrings). Slight disagreement about Gaucho and Aja--I would've swapped their positions. Agree with everything else though!
Steely Dan was fortunate enough to be recording their incredible catalogue during the greatest analogue era in recording history. It doesn't take away from the fact that their songs are fantastic, in fact it just adds to it. Great job guys !
Yep. Songs can only sound truly amazing in their time periods. The Beatles wouldnt be as praised as they are if they didnt exist in the 60s, and neither would Steely Dan in the 70s. You have to be innovative while being during your time to be amazing.
So glad you guys did Steely Dan. I grew up with this band and at the time I never heard anything like them before they actually got me into Jazz and they have all the styles of music I love and are definitely in my top 10 groups.
1 Aja 2 Royal Scam 3 Gaucho 4 Two Against Nature 5 Katy Lied 6 Everything must go 7 Countdown to Ecstasy !
IMO 😊
Donald Fagen solo Albums The Nightfly and Morph the Cat are outstanding !
As a British person, I have no idea about Steely Dan. But hearing your glowing recommendation of the band made me interested. Then when I saw the awesome artwork of Royal Scam, I was just like... I gotta hear that record. High ranked or not. It must be heard. I checked out a couple tracks from it and it immediately feels like something I can learn to appreciate. I will check back when I have a wider knowledge but colour me intrigued.
Well , what do you think one year on ?
Aja. Get that one.
@@michaeldy3157 Gaucho imho.
Get Pretzel Logic. It’s the best mix of the more rocking and the smooth stuff. Aja’s way too smooth!
@@fraseredk7433 great one. But aja made them superstars..
Had to tear myself away from listening to Beans in your Ears to rank my second favorite band of all time. I like Joe's description of Aja as an album to put on at a dinner part to impress people. For me it's a perfect album. 1. Aja 2.Countdown to Ecstasy 3.Pretzel Logic 4. Royal Scam 5. Katy Lied 6.Can't Buy a Thrill 7. Gaucho-
I'm with Joe on this one. Although, I think every Steely Dan record from the 70s has been my number 1 at some point.
I'm late to the party but here's my Steely Dan album rankings. I'll leave out the last two because I never heard them in their entirety.
7. Gaucho
6. The Royal Scam
5. Pretzel Logic
4. Aja
3. Katy Lied
2. Can't Buy a Thrill
1. Countdown to Ecstasy
I'm closest to Jason's ranking on this one, I think. One and two can flip flop. Back in the day, my guitar teacher showed me the Reelin' in the Years chords, modes and leads. Sort of a Mixolydian/Dorian stew. It was a tricky thing to learn. So, Thrill is my sentimental favorite. I love the whole album. However, Countdown is exceptional to my ears. I think Jason explained it pretty well. Thanks gents.
These guys have been a favorite of mine since childhood. Probably my second favorite band overall (Beatles).
1. Aja (top 5 album of all time)
2. The Royal Scam (very close to #1)
3. Can't Buy a Thrill
4. Gaucho
5. Pretzel Logic
6. Katy Lied
7. Countdown to Ecstasy
8. Everything Must Go
9. Two Against Nature
Aja is “personally” my favorite album they’ve done, it’s so amazing, never get tired of it. Probably my favorite album ever.
And here it is finally. Sweet! Looking forward to watching guys!
Great video. Really enjoyed it, but I disagree with the Royal Scam placing. I just picked it up on vinyl and it is so much better than I remember, definitely in my top 3 behind Countdown & Can't Buy a Thrill. Great song writing, brilliant production, awesome playing, even the album cover evokes the sound of the record.
Loved Royal Scam....I know it doesn't compare but the audio I heard was a recording of the vinyl....loved hearing the needle crackles👍....warming
Steely Dan is a band that I heard a lot on FM radio when I was a teen. I liked what I heard but always thought that they were for "older people." And then, like Joe suggests, I got to my midlife and I began listening to them all the time. Absolutely love them.
255 comments and only 138 likes. I find this maddening. These boys put together a wonderful review session and obviously spent HOURS / DAYS / WEEKS listening to this music to review. You don't have to agree with their opinion, but CLICK THE DAMN LIKE BUTTON FOR THEIR EFFORT!
Having said all that... I've got "Can't Buy A Thrill" at #1 and Aja at #2... but I've got to listen to them all over again, so thank you for the impetus.
Agree. Clicking "like" is as easy as will get. I have no idea why so many people seem to have a problem with it. You do it to support the channel. More likes + more comments = Bigger impact.
Right behind you . Addicted to this channel since I started watching a few months ago. Would hit 100 likes if I could . Deserves a bigger audience ( and they’ll get it ) but we need to keep supporting …these guys deserve so much for the work they put in …Power to Listography 👊🏻❤️
Easy list, the band has been with me since their first note was released, I think I know every note from their first six albums by heart. The remaining three albums are other people's favourites but not mine, one another occasion I said that the duo was turning pleasant boredom into an art form there.
9. Everything Must Go 2,5
8. Two Against Nature 3,0
7. Gaucho 3,0
6. Aja 4,0
5. Pretzel Logic 4,5
4. The Royal Scam 4,5
3. Katy Lied 5,0
2. Can't Buy a Thrill 5,0
1. Countdown to Ecstasy 5,0
It is very astonishing for me to read the comments and so many people mentioning of how they found the band in their "grown up" years etc. I was 13 when Can't Buy a Thrill was released and I immediately loved it. Just try to imagine that band releasing their great albums 1972-75 with all their enormous contemporaries pumping out their masterworks as well. They stood their ground against some of the biggest 5 star albums ever released...
@@roxannewalsh i didnt know steely dan until rikki dont lose that number.
i was i guess 14 but didnt really grasp the band until aja
i said in my ranking above royal scam was my fav for awhile but relistening to pretzel logic a couple times this week. it was an old crush coming back great album. great catalog
I've been waiting (not patiently) for this list. Checking my notifications hourly.
This band is so in my wheelhouse. I've been into Steely Dan since the the late 1980s. I love their first 6 albums. Katy Lied is my favorite. Joe, don't try heroin
Their popularity has exploded. It happened for me about 10 years ago after hearing Aja all the way through for the first time. Everyone I’ve talked to since then has had a warm reception to the band. Maybe it’s about getting older.
I appreciate how you mainly struggle to find something negative to say about these albums. There is no reason to pretend that the great first run of seven records is anything less than remarkable. I'm old: I've been following Steely Dan from the start, since "Do It Again" first appeared on the radio. (I much preferred the second single released from the first album, "Reelin' in the Years.")
9 Everything Must Go
8 Two Against Nature
7 Gaucho
6 Pretzel Logic
5 Aja
4 Can't Buy a Thrill
3 The Royal Scam
2 Katy Lied
1 Countdown to Ecstasy ("My Old School" was my favorite song in 1973, and I have never grown tired of hearing it. I know it's ear candy--I know that it's all hooks--but what's wrong with hooks?)
I will have to agree that Countdown is #1, Your Gold Teeth is as solid as it gets. After that I have mixed emotions on the rest but I do love Pretzel Logic and Royal Scam
My favourite three Steely Dan albums are
1. Can't buy a thrill....so exciting orginal and wherever I have been in life Steely Dan had always been with me when I use to have long drinking sessions with Steely Dan albums playing all the while....stopped drinking now though....lol
2.Aja
3.Gaucho
Long live Donald Fagen
Perhaps not the band to put on if you're looking to "rock the house" but for just about any other listening experience they were superb. Clever arrangements, interesting lyrics and top shelf musicianship. Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago were the first to successfully combine jazz sensibilities into rock music, but Steely Dan took it to the next level. #1 Katy Lied. #2 The Royal Scam. #3 Pretzel Logic. #4 Aja. #5 Can't Buy a Thrill. #6 Countdown to Ecstasy. #7 Gaucho. #8 Two Against Nature. #9 Everything Must Go.
1. Aja 5/5
2. Can’t Buy a Thrill 5/5
3. The Royal Scam 4.5/5
4. Countdown to Ecstasy 4.5/5
5. Pretzel Logic 4.5/5
6. Katy Lied 4/5
7. Gaucho 4/5
8. Two Against Nature 2.5/5
9. Everything Must Go 2.5/5
Getting close to fanboy status for Joe. Steely Dan, Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Dwight Yoakum! If i find out you really like Cake and Tool i might have to demand a signed 8x10. But I digress, great lists guys, looking forward to songs tomorrow. My list
1. Can't Buy a Thrill
2. Aja
3. Countdown to Ecstasy
4. Katy Lied
5. Pretzel Logic
6. The Royal Scam
7. Gaucho
8. Two Against Nature
9. Everything Must Go
I like Cake and Tool. But not at the same level. - Joe
Great ranking. I'm sympathetic to this list.
1. Aja (4.5 stars)
2. Countdown to Ecstasy (4.5)
3. Pretzel Logic (4.5)
4. Katy Lied (4.5)
5. Can’t Buy A Thrill (4) (almost 4.5)
6. The Royal Scam (4)
7. Gaucho (3.5) (almost 4)
8. Two Against Nature (3.5)
9. Everything Must Go (3)
I’ve said before that Steely Dan are probably my favorite band among those who don’t quite have a 5 star album for me (maybe if I were more of a lyrics person that wouldn’t be the case, and there’s always the possibility of my getting more crotchety as I progress through my 40’s and into my 50’s 😂) but definitely one I’m quite often in the mood to listen to. Always immaculate playing and really catchy melodies, and the top 6 albums are maybe even closer in quality for me than the top 6 Beatles albums, as The Royal Scam is also on the higher end of 4 for me. I always arbitrarily say Aja is my favorite on account of “Black Cow” being my favorite song in their catalog, but it’s really a coin flip between that and Countdown for me - there’s something to be said for that more organic full band feel like Jason pointed out.
Yeah, the fact that 'Countdown' was made by a real band is what ultimately tips me in its direction. That, and I think Aja has one ho-hum song on it ("I Got The News") whereas I love every track on 'Countdown.'
Well done as usual mates! I listened to a few Steely Dan albums this past week and found them to be great background music for visiting with people. I am in no way prepared to rate and rank these albums but from what I've heard, great. As for their cool factor, it was always obvious they wouldn't be cool to certain rock audiences, but ever since this guy in high school who I thought was cool told me he was into Steely Dan, I thought they were a cool band.
Ha you mean lift music?...I thought as much for at least 4 out of 9 albums.....but yeah they are so cool on every album....but alot of the time it turns me cold❄️🌨️😰
1: Aja
2: Royal Scam
3: Can't Buy a Thrill
4: Countdown to Ecstasy
5: Gaucho
6: Pretzel Logic
7: Katy Lied
8: Two Against Nature
9: Everything Must Go
Thought I was a Doobie Brothers hater but saw them open for Santana a few years back and they were terrific ! As far as ranking Steely Dan whatever one I'm listening to is the best, probably the greatest American band 👍
Very interesting post! I always have felt that the more" perfect" the playing and production became with Steely Dan (from Royal Scam onwards) also coincided with a deterioration in the quality of the songwriting. I have jazzer friends who fell the opposite but for them it's probably more the playing than the song. The musicianship on Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take me Alive is stellar but Im not sure the songs themselves are anything fabulous. To bet honest there was a better match of pop sensability and hipster jazz style in the first four albums. They sounded more organic as a band and I still feel Skunk Baxter was my favourite guitarist ever in the band. Kudos to Denny Dias too!
When I hear someone likes steely Dan I say wow we have the same taste in music. Then you realize how many people can like steely Dan but for 1000 different reasons. You will never find the same top 10 steely Dan song list from any 2 steely Dan fans. Incredible.
I love Steely Dan, and I'll post my list later.. But I want to share what makes Listography stand out among all these other youtubers... I appreciate that you all are musicians, and so you talk a lot about recording technique and production and guitar tunings and pedal steel, and such. Especially Jason, but really, all three of you talk often about sound, and I find it very interesting, and it makes me listen to records differently. So thank you!
Yeah, I would second this. I also like hearing discussion about production choices, instrumentation, effects, etc. It's a lot better than, "This song is great or this album is great." I don't need a full Rick Beato in-depth analysis, but a little about what makes it great is much appreciated.
Been waiting on this one boys
Really excited for this one ☝️… Steely Dan my new favourite band.. my predictions for top spot:
Jason - Pretzel Logic
Kramzer - Aja
Joe - Countdown to Ecstasy
Ah Jason.....I don't say this enough. Love ya. Aja is absolutely underwhelming. Infact I don't think Dan ever got over it...well done sir.👍👍👍👍👍
The Ringer recently published a piece on the Steely Dan renaissance. I'm not worldly enough anymore to know how accurate it is, but in my own world, youtoob channels like yours and reaction channels seem to be at the forefront of renewed interest in their music. The article mentions their acerbic lyrics as being an attraction for Millennials entering their "soft middle age", but I have my doubts as to whether or not most people even recognize that quality in their lyrics, present company excepted of course.
Ok, just watched all of it.
Great runthrough, as always, and also great explanations about what ended where.
Anyway, here’s my list:
9. Everything Must Go
8. Two Against Nature
7. Countdown To Ecstacy
6. Katy Lied
5. Gaucho
4. Can’t Buy A Thrill
3. Pretzel Logic
2. Aja
1. The Royal Scam
Not easy, and the Top 7 is all essential!
How can u call yourself a Steely Dan fan if you dont like Kid Charlemagne? It literally is everything Steely Dan is about wrapped up in one song.
Sometimes I think Jason wants to be the Simon Cowell of Listography
It's definately their best guitar song.
Did I call myself a Steely Dan fan?
@@TastesLikeMusic you kinda did tho 1:00:15
@@Shah-of-the-Shinebox I would go for, Don't Take Me Alive.
My top 5 are all in my album top 200. None of the others actually make my top 500. Never warmed to Countdown that much and Gaucho is too sterile for me. Still like them a lot but just not enough.
1. Aja
2. Katy Lied
3. Can't buy a thrill
4. The Royal Scam
5. Pretzel Logic
6. Countdown to ecstacy
7. Gaucho
8. Two against nature
9. Everything must go
Actually an artist I had heard about but not really got to know anything beyond their hits until the last decade.
Countdown has, for me, their most underrated song on it. King Of The World.
Have you guys ever come around to give their last two albums another chance? They are fantastic. I am going through a heavy Everything Must Go phase now. From tracks 4-7 it's nothing but bangers! Godwhacker, Slang of Ages, Green Book and Pixeleen, awesome vibes
Thanks for doing the Dan and giving me some different perspectives on one of my long time favourite bands. So here's how I'm ranking their albums, which are all good, as of today:
1. The Royal Scam (love it start to finish, 5 stars)
2. Can't Buy A Thrill (5 as well, so many great and catchy songs)
3. Aja (perfection)
4. Countdown To Ecstasy (great record, ugly cover art, why?)
5. Pretzel Logic (still 4,5 stars, Any Major Dude Will Tell You)
6. Gaucho (still perfection from the Sisters to the amazing Third World Man. Shake it!)
7. Katy Lied (still 4 stars, ugly cover, again why?)
8. Two Against Nature (not as great as the classic period, good reunion anyway, 3,5)
9. Everything Must Go (3 stars)
Still waiting for the 12 hour episode on The Fall.
Well done and very tough to rank the albums from the initial classic period. Katy Lied is seriously underrated and I'm glad Joe picked it as his number one. Even with the DBX debacle and obvious problems with the album's sound in places it may be the album I enjoy most from beginning to end overall. I'm not a huge fan of the second half of Pretzel Logic.
1) Katy Lied
2) Countdown to Ecstasy
3) The Royal Scam
4) Aja
5) Can't Buy a Thrill
6) Pretzel Logic
7) Gaucho
Don't care about the other two. I do like Fagan's solo albums quite a lot. the variation in Listography and viewer rankings is a testament to the greatness of this band. I couls swap my rankings around a few different ways and still be happy. Looking forward the Elliott.
Thank you guys. Steely Dan is my all time favorite! Great video! Great job!
Very hard to rank since to me I think of Steely Dan more in terms of my favorite songs, so I will start by listing my favorite songs on each album.
Can't Buy a Thrill - Reeling in the Years, Do It Again, Kings, Fire in the Hole
Countdown to Ecstasy- My Old School, King of the World, Your Gold Teeth, Razor Boy has he seen Razor Face from Madman Across the Water? and Bodhisatta
Pretzel Logic- Night by Night, Rikki Don't Lose that Number, Any Major Dude and Pretzel Logic
Katy Lied - Black Friday (my favorite guitar and some of their best lyrics but far too short), Gold Teeth II, Any World that I'm Welcome To, Bad Sneakers, Everybody's Gone to the Movies, Doctor Woo
Royal Scam - Kid Charlemagne, Don't Take Me Alive, The Fez, Green Ear Rings. Sign In Stranger, The Royal Scam and The Caves Of Altamira
Asa- Deacon Blues, Aja, Peg and Josie
Based on number of favorite songs on each of these albums which are the ones I listen to the most,
1. Royal Scam with 7 songs
2. tied for second Countdown for Ecstasy and Katy Lied with 5 songs each
3. tied for third Can't Buy a Thrill, Pretzel Logic and Asa with 4 songs each
The only (2) bands that I originally ignored, but then learned to love are Procol Harum & Steely Dan.
With Procol Harum, I love A Whiter Shade of Pale and I like A Salty Dog as an album, but that’s it.
Jason mentioned the guitar solo on Third World Man and it’s “crunch” sound. Not sure how well known it is but that was the one song that was recorded in LA during the Royal Scam sessions. The rest of Gaucho was recorded in NY. There were apparently quite a few mishaps during the sessions with one important song being accidentally erased-‘The Second Arrangement’. Probably why Third World Man was dug up and remixed. Fits the album quite nicely . As always, I enjoyed the list. Thanks, guys
Brilliant show I am a massive Steely Dan fan and following this I am a new sibscriber to your site....brilliant Peter UK
Thanks Peter. Welcome
9. Everything Must Go ( 3.5 stars)
8. Two Against Nature ( 4 stars)
7. Katy Lied ( 4 .5 stars)
6. Gaucho ( 4 .5stars)
5. Countdown to Ecstacy ( 4.5 stars)
4. The Royal Scam ( 5 stars)
3 . Can’t Buy A Thrill ( 5 stars)
2. Pretzel Logic ( 5 stars)
1. AJA ( 5 stars)
Thanks again boys…Great work. Each of you have your strengths, but sometimes the sum is better than the parts, as evidenced today by your averaged list vs. my list. Switch Aja and Pretzel Logic and they’re identical! Now that’s kismet, as I’m sure any major dude will tell you.
Queen + Steely Dan makes me oh so happy!
Steely Dan started for me in record stores. I saw their music and heard two talk about them. Saw more and more of their name on internet as well and one day I took a chance on "Can't Buy a Thrill" on CD. Listened to about half of the record and realized "I like this. I want more of it" and not before long had all the classic albums. While the albums are different and there is a small evolution on all of them they also have a consistent quality. Hard to rank even if you love them like Joe, like them plenty like Kramzer or like them some like Jason. I think I fall in between Joe and Kramzer. In ranking terms more like Kramzer but feelings more similar to Joe.
Reelin' In the Years and Josie have different starts to the songs but both contain some of my favorite starts to any song I've ever heard. Just so melodic and tasty!
I think the ranking comes down to liking the early band and that influence or the more jazzy influence of later years. I like both equally so is a mix for me. I actually put "Two Against Nature" on my IPod before seeing this so will give that record a new chance very soon. I haven't heard much of Everything Must Go so I will only rank the classic albums.
7. Countdown to Ecstasy
I like the album and the more "live"-feeling as Jason states but as a whole this album haven't grabbed me as much as the others. That might change in time though.
6. The Royal Scam
This album has more "meat" on it than several others but with Steely Dan I actually prefer the bit more simplistic approach and feel some of the longer songs overstay it's welcome. Not in a bad way but compared to the albums with better ranking... I don't return to this as often. I've seen several have this as their favorite and I don't blame them.. Just not my choice.
5. Gaucho
This is the album I listen most to for some reason. It is very slick and not as diverse as the other classic albums but very enjoyable nonetheless.
4. Katy Lied
The middle album and the middle ranking. Imagine that. I think many songs are memorable and it has that middle quality in a good way. You get a bit of everything on this one.
3. Can't Buy a Thrill
Just a great debut and to me the most rocking. At least the kind of rocking I enjoy. Several of the biggest hits and and a good way to start listening to the band if you come from a pop/rock/hardrock perspective.
2. Aja
The big one. What seems to be their masterpeice. Also quite jazzy. I talk about the "meat" and here is where the meat is most interesting to me. I feel the longer songs get better the more you listen instead of just wishing they were a bit shorter.
1. Pretzel Logic
Both Joe and Kramzer would like this to be longer. I love it because it's so to the point and catchy. Some albums that are like one hour long leaves me with thoughts like "OK. Don't need to hear this band in a while now". This album to me is the opposite. It's a short and sweet ride that makes me wanting more. The flow of the albums is terrific for me.
For those looking and this or heard about Steely Dan and get turned off by the word "jazz". Give it a shot. This is NOT jazz in the way many think. It's no twelve minutes with only trumpet or strange improvisation or something that might turn many people off. It is pop, rock, jazz and other influences done in a way I think many would enjoy. It has a very unique sound and I guess that is why we chat about it here. I think Jason is right. This could have been a band left in the 70's with a few jazz-heads only but it seems like they have reached quite a big audience!
Steely Dan is a top 10 if not top 5 band for me. I have a clear #1, and 7 through 9, ranking 2-6 was nearly a toss up as they’re all great. If I rank them tomorrow, #2 might be #6 and vice versa. But as for today
9. Everything Must Go
8. Two Against Nature. Everyone seems to have these two as 8 and 9 in this order
7. Katy Lied. I agree with Kram, it’s the only one of the classic seven albums I don’t absolutely love.
6. The Royal Scam
5. Can’t Buy a Thrill
4. Countdown to Ecstasy
3. Pretzel Logic
2. Gaucho
1. Aja. Deacon Blues and the title track are both sonic perfection
Don't know if you guys saw what Bill Janovitz from Buffalo Tom Tweeted yesterday, but it fits in with this quite well:
@billjanovitz
·
Oysters, Joni Mitchell, and Steely Dan: joy-giving aspects of life that I heretofore thought little of and have embraced with unbridled enthusiasm in - that generously estimated time period - middle age. I’ll learn to play the saxophone, I’ll play just what I feel.
I resisted Steely Dan for a long time but I’ve been on a bit of a jazz binge recently (mostly 50s-60s stuff plus Kamasi Washington’s The Epic) so I felt like now was the time to dive in. Started with Aja and it just floored me. Then your list landed a couple of days later, so its given me food for thought on where to go next 👍
Wonderful show, my top 9 would have to be:
1) Gaucho (1980)
2) The Royal Scam (1980)
3) Aja (1977)
4) Katy Lied (1975)
5) Countdown To Ecstasy (1973)
6) Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972)
7) Pretzel Logic (1974)
8) Everything Must Go (2003)
9) Two Against Nature (2000)
After Jason put The Royal Scam at #7, Kramzer’s reaction was, “Eww”. Also, Becker and Fagan consider Aja to be their high water mark, I would agree.
His “ew” cracked me up
Very interesting discussion and evaluation as always - very informative and enjoyable at the same time, you can really feel the appreciation on this one
So glad Joe mentioned everyone’s gone To the movies and rose darling two of my favorites! Looking forward to the song list boys
Love the sound of Fagen's voice and I just generally love the sound of this band's recordings, especially their jazzier grooves. I am a big fan of Aja and Gaucho, but they have plenty of jazz influence sprinkled throughout their catalog. Great playing all the way around. One of the things that keeps Steely Dan from being one of my favorite bands are the lyrics. I am ambivalent about what Fagen is singing, for the most part. I'm just interested in his voice as an instrument. I'm sure the lyrics are smart and witty and clever and as biting as everyone says they are, but they don't resonate with me the way the lyrics of my favorite bands do.
Their lyrics aren't the most emotionally profound, I'll give you that. But you have to admire their intellectual dexterity and the sort of crooked angle at which they're viewing everything.
Forgot to mention how much I love their funk influences too. These guys get sampled a lot for a reason. They always recruited top shelf rhythm sections, which is what keeps them from being a garden-variety yacht rock outfit.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I guess when it comes to lyrics I prefer hot and immediate over cool and detached. Fagen is one example in a long tradition of writers willing to skewer society's winners and beautiful people and treat them with a healthy dose of skepticism, so that aspect of their lyricism doesn't stand out as much. I like it, but it doesn't strike me as remarkable.
Whoa. Was not expecting these guys at all. Really appreciate the diversity of your guys' review lists.
Have to admit, though, I was bummed to hear how much one (or all?) of you hate The Police.
Oh, well!
Only Jason hates them
@@TastesLikeMusic Ha. Okay. Thanks for the info.
Also, watched (or rather, listened to) the vid and a few comments ran through my head. Here are some I can remember...
1. The reason for the lack of warmth in TWO AGAINST NATURE and EVERYTHING MUST GO was that Gary Katz was no longer producing for them. And yeah, there was a noticeable difference.
B. Don't know who said this but I, too, have never understood the appeal of "Kid Charlemagne." It's fine but that's about it for me.
III. KATY LIED is an album that never gets the love it deserves. Glad to hear that one of you selected it as your Number One. Which... ever one that was.
BONUS: Do any of you know what the song "Chain Lightning" is about? It's maybe one of their slimiest character profiles.
Thanks again!
1. Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) 5/5
2. Aja (1977) 5/5
3. Can't Buy A Thrill (1972) 4.5/5
4. Pretzel Logic (1974) 4.5/5
5. Katy Lied (1975) 4.5/5
6. The Royal Scam (1976) 4.5/5
7. Gaucho (1980) 3.5/5
8. Two Against Nature (2000) 2.5/5
9. Everything Must Go (2003) 2/5
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:
4.5 Can't Buy A Thrill (1972)
5.0 Countdown To Ecstasy (1973)
4.5 Pretzel Logic (1974)
4.5 Katy Lied (1975)
4.5 The Royal Scam (1976)
5.0 Aja (1977)
3.5 Gaucho (1980)
2.5 Two Against Nature (2000)
2.0 Everything Must Go (2003)
There's a theory out there that says all the best rock 'n roll lyricists are Jewish. No doubt Fagan and Becker's dazzling wordcraft is one of its main data points. Some people think Steely Dan's music is a little *too* slick and accomplished but I'm not one of them. Being a music theory nerd I find these guys endlessly fascinating. Their first 6 albums are almost uniformly great. I can't blame anyone for putting them in any order (although I do think Countdown To Ecstasy stands out the most- it's one of those albums where every track is a mini-masterpiece.)
MY RATING SYSTEM:
5.0 = major classic
4.5 = minor classic
4.0 = great
3.5 = very good
3.0 = good
2.5 = fair
2.0 = poor
1.5 = awful
1.0 = historically awful
I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore. Anything I rate 3.5 stars or higher is an album I'm enthusiastic about and would likely revisit at some point.
I should go back and listen some more while paying attention to the lyrics.
@@179rich I'm not sure it's possible to digest Steely Dan's dense combination of music and lyrics in only one week but I'm glad you tried. I've been listening to them for more than 25 years and only recently have I felt like I've got them pinned down.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Yeah I didn't really look at the lyrics going through all their stuff this week. It could lift them even higher up in my estimation, if the lyrics are as good as everyone says.
I wussed out and didn't rank buuttt if I did I think I too would go for Countdown to Ecstasy. Their outlaw character vignettes are to me rivaled by only Grateful Dead -and maybe every autobiographical(?) song by Bon Scott.
I'd feel very apologetic towards whatever album I ranked #6 as I find the first 6 to be top shelf. Shout out to Phil Hartman for his Aja cover. (I mean- he didn't cover the song or the album, but he did produce the image we see on the album cover)
I discovered the band in the early 90's and have listened to all of their records numerous times. My ranking would look something like this:
1. The Royal Scam (1976)
2. Gaucho (1980)
3. Aja (1977)
4. Katy Lied (1975)
5. Countdown To Ecstasy (1973)
6. Two Against Nature (2000)
7. Pretzel Logic (1974)
8. Can't Buy A Thrill (1972)
9. Everything Must Go (2003)
I must be weird because Katy Lied is my favourite.
1. Katy Lied
2. Aja
3. Pretzel Logic
4. Can't Buy A Thrill
5. Countdown to Ecstacy
6. Gaucho
7. Royal Scam
8. Two Against Nature
9. Everything
I never rated Royal Scam - remember being very disappointed when it came out.
I've only heard 7 of the 9
1) Aja - 9.3
2) Countdown to Ecstacy - 9.3
3) Can't Buy a Thrill - 9
4) Gaucho - 8.9
5) Katy Lied - 8.7
6) Pretzel Logic - 8.6
7) The Royal Scam - 8.4
Never bought anything by S Dan. But I know a lot of their work and I am leaving out a lot of popular stuff I don't like. There are my favorite songs, not cds, in pretty much fav order
1. Any World that I'm Welcome too
2. Deacon Blues
3. Any major Dude
4. FM
5 My Old School
6. Rikki Don't lose that number
7. Show biz Kids
8. Katy Lied
9. Doctor Wu
10. Peg / Don't Take Me Alive/ Dirty Work
@@oppothumbs1 did you mean to reply to me or did you mean to reply to the video? Your list will be seen by fewer here.
I totally get it, guys. Deciphering through the Top 5 feels like a near impossible task for me as well.
Younger me never was into Steely Dan at all. My feelings about them were probably about like Seth Rogan's in Knocked Up. Didn't like any of their singles, none of it. I don't know what exactly changed, but I gave them a chance in my late 20s/early 30s, and started to appreciate them a bit more. They're probably still not a top artist for me -- I don't think I'd put them up there with the Beatles or Stones or Dylan -- but I think all their 70s output is pretty solid. They definitely have some singles in the 70s that will be cracking my SOTY Top 10 lists and maybe topping 1 or 2.
I feel pretty much the same as you, but I doubt they’ll ever crack my SOTY, given the competition. -Jason
I also came to love them as an adult- and they'd easily be in my top 100 rock/pop artists ever. But I can't quite bring myself to say they would be top 50. There are just too many amazing artists who've come along over the last 60+ years.
@@TastesLikeMusic Well, I'll have to vote with Joe those years, assuming he stops picking Beach Boys ballads at some point.
I'm with Joe- love me some Steely Dan. Here's my ranking:
1. Royal Scam
2. Katy Lied
3. Pretzel Logic
4. Countdown to Ecstasy
5. Can't Buy a Thrill
6. Aja
7. Gaucho
8. Two Against Nature
9. Everything Must Go (including this album)
Jason nails it when explaining Countdown to Ecstasy.
One thing I had forgotten about Steely Dan: serious earworm generating capacity. I cannot get the chorus to Josie out of my head! It's been churning up there overnight. 🤪
TRIVIA: 22:53 The original cover concept was to have a little girl looking into an adult XXX bookshop (yes, before VHS, it was "dirty books and magazines" mostly , but they did have 8MM films too). The record company was all "No way". LOL. P.S. you guys should toss in, at the end "I love / hate this album cover" just as a tidbit !
Thank you for doing a Steely Dan show. Truly one of the greatest pop/rock/jazz/fusion bands of all time. *Extremely* surprised and confused that Jason and Kram don't think SD would be in their Top 100 Artists... !?!?!? That just doesn't compute whatsoever. Their 7-album main canon is just astonishing on so many levels and captures the spirit and flavor of the mid-late 70s so deliciously.
All 7 albums are 5-stars. I am not really interested in TAN or EMG.
7. PL
6. KL
5. CTE
4. G
3. CBAT
2. A
1. TRS
I ***love*** all 7 so so much, but Thrill, Aja, and Scam are 3 of my all-time favorite by any artist.
Listo 4ever🎶🎉🙏🔥
Ps. Definitely don't get the Doobies hate. I love the Doobies, the TJ era especially.
I literally said at the end....top 100 band for me for sure. - kram
@@TastesLikeMusic my bad.
Agree with your rankings overall Jason and also your comments about your top 2 but would go with Can’t Buy a Thrill at number 1. 2 great albums out of the block in the early 70s. Very nice. Would also go 4.5 stars for both though.
1. Can't Buy a Thrill
2. Aja
3. Pretzel Logic
4. The Royal Scam
5. Countdown to Ecstasy
6. Katy Lied
7. Gaucho
8. Two Against Nature
9. Everything Must Go
Yes! Steely Dan, certainly one of my favorite all-time bands (so I'm with Joe on that front). I love all of their classic period albums, but my No.1 was never in doubt, as it has been always my favorite since it first came out. Great to hear all of your comments, even those I disagree with. Anyway, here are my rankings:
9. Two Against Nature. As stated, it was great to hear a new album by them after so many years, and it is fine, but just doesn't live up to the earlier period stuff. Relatively speaking songs not that memorable.
8. Everything Must Go. I guess I like this a bit more than most, as I think the top three tracks, Things I Miss The Most, Last Mall, and Everything Must Go, are all great and better than anything on 2AN. But still, just not quite classic Dan.
7. Gaucho. My least favorite of the 'classics'. And I did not like this one at all when it first came out (except for Babylon Sisters). But over the years I have warmed to it. Quite good, but still a bit too perfect and sterile, and too much of the smooth jazz vibe throughout.
6. Katy Lied. This was the first of their albums that kind of softened their sound and style, less of a rock feel, but still has many great pop-rock songs.
5. Aja. Outstanding production, arrangements, musicianship throughout. Just a great sound. Yet I still prefer their earlier songs that had more of a rock and band feel to them.
4. Royal Scam. Great album, great guitar work and killer songs throughout. More rockin' than Katy Lied. Outstanding.
3. Can't Buy a Thrill. Great debut. Totally unique sound relative to anything else at that time. Great pop hooks and melodies. More pop-rock than subsequent albums, but all great tracks.
2. Pretzel Logic. They're still a rock band at this point and deliver an album of stellar tracks here. Perhaps a bit more eclectic than Can't Buy a Thrill, but great from start to finish.
1. Countdown to Ecstasy. This is the One! The Holy Grail of Steely Dan Albums. Blazing start with Bodhisattva, perhaps the greatest album-opening track of all-time. This one rocks from start to finish, and they are a real band here (and Skunk Baxter's guitar solos are tremendous). Contains the four pillars of Dan-dom: Bodhisattva, Your Gold Teeth, My Old School, and King of the World. Perhaps the quirkiest of all their albums (Show Biz Kids is flat-out weird), but fantastic stuff all around. Never been another album like this, even among Steely Dan albums.
Your rankings are really close to mine, except 8 & 9 are swapped.
'Countdown' rules. A top 100 all-time album to me.
Eric, yes I noticed that, and that rarely happens (that my tastes match up that closely with others). You have great taste. Would like to see if we agree on other artists as well.
1. Aja
2. Katy Lied
3. Gaucho
4. The Royal Scam
5. Everything Must Go
6. Two Against Nature
7. Countdown To Ecstasy
8. Can’t Buy A Thrill
9. Pretzel Logic
And for extra credit
1. Morph The Cat
2. Kamakiriad
3. 11 Tracks Of Whack
4. Circus Money
5. The Nightfly
6. Sunken Condos
I actually got to listen to all the albums this week. I didn't have a lot of knowledge of Steely Dan's albums before this week beyond Can't Buy a Thrill which I picked up awhile back. I do remember them not being looked upon favourably in the past so I think that's why I never explored them back then. I had been meaning to check them out anyway since it seems the last couple years all I've heard was glowing praise for them so I definitely felt I was missing out.
I think I'd need to listen more to do a formal ranking. I will say on first impressions Pretzel Logic and Katy Lied stood out the most to me and I did listen to both of those twice. There was something about those two especially that spoke to me. But I'm glad I did this.
It's interesting to see how all you rankings came out differently in the end.
Katy Lied is my favorite, with Countdown to Ecstasy a very close second. The comments on these albums by the guys who ranked them Number 1 added to my understanding of them. Through the years, I've had mixed feelings about Aja. It came out in the fall of my freshman year of college so I felt the immediate impact of it as a sophisticated, superbly produced mainstream pop jazz album. But it's just not as creative as the earlier albums.
Steely Dan’s career can definitely be split into 2 distinct phases, with Aja marking the point for me where they abandoned all pretence of being a band and just became a project for Becker and Fagen. Whilst I have a lot of admiration for the brilliant musicianship and production of their later work, it just sounds a little too polished and sterile for me. I therefore tend to prefer listening to their first 5 albums, with the fabulous Pretzel Logic being my favourite:
9. Everything Must Go (3 stars)
8. Two Against Nature (3 stars)
7. Gaucho (3.5 stars)
6. Katy Lied (3.5 stars)
5. Aja (4 stars)
4. Countdown To Ecstasy (4 stars)
3. The Royal Scam (4.5 stars)
2. Can’t Buy A Thrill (4.5 stars)
1. Pretzel Logic (5 stars)
@@robertdimartino5794 that’s probably true but they didn’t tell Denny Dias that!
@@robertdimartino5794 Ha Ha Ha - as I’m English, I can’t comment on New Yorkers but they definitely imposed their will on the band.
For me, the greatness of Steely Dan was their ability to fuse jazz elements with the rock song format which I think they perfected with Pretzel Logic, The ones before that were leading up to that masterpiece and though, the Royal Scam has some great songs their tendency to indulge in virtuoso musicianship starts to take hold - and Aja though rightly hailed as a tour-de-force of musicianship shows how far they had gone towards alienating an audience and becoming elitist and indulgent. Basically, when punk and new wave came along (and disco), their time was up.
Joe's mention of the songs of Pretzel Logic being too short I would say is its strength. All the musicianship is there in the service of the songs and no solo or extended jam outstays its welcome as it does on Aja. Still a seminal band with a lot of top quality stuff in their catalogue
9 Everything Must Go
8 Two Against Nature
7 Gaucho
6. Aja
5. Countdown To Ecstasy
4The Royal Scam
3. Katy Lied
2 Can't Buy A Thrill
NUMBER ONE: PRETZEL LOGIC
I saw Steely Dan in 2000 at Riverbend in Cincinnati and it was an amazing show. They sounded amazing and they gave a jaw dropping performance. I've never seen a band in concert that sounded as good as them.
Saw them last June in Houston. Best concert I've ever been to. The band was unbelievably tight.
Thanks guys. I'm closest to Jason's ranking on the Dan. The songwriting was wonderful on those early albums but the further they went into the studio it all started to sound like the soundtrack to a pseuds dinner party. Still great, but the magic and innocence was gone.
I really enjoyed that a lot guys, I agree with Jason a lot on most of it. But it’s all subjective and just fun to discuss.
My Ranking :
1) Aja
2) Can't Buy a Thrill, Royal Scam, Katy Lied, Countdown to Ecstasy , Pretzel Logic
-----------------
-------------------
3) Gaucho
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15) All the "new junk".
Pretty hard discography to rank. I wouldn't say I'm a huge Steely Dan fan, but most of their albums are really good, and some of them pretty close to five stars.
9. Everything Must Go (2003) ★★½
8. Two Against Nature (2000) ★★★
7. Gaucho (1980) ★★★½
6. The Royal Scam (1976) ★★★½
5. Katy Lied (1975) ★★★★
4. Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) ★★★★
3. Pretzel Logic (1974) ★★★★
2. Aja (1977) ★★★★½
1. Can't Buy a Thrill (1972) ★★★★½
★★★★★ - Masterpiece
★★★★½ - Really great
★★★★ - Great
★★★½ - Really good
★★★ - Good
★★½ - OK
★★ - Bad
★½ - Really bad
★ - Awful
½ - The worst
Just tuned in this is a top 25 band for me cannot wait for this!
9. Everything must go
8. Two against nature
7. Cant buy a thrill
6. Gaucho
5. Royal Scam.
4. Katy Lied
3. Countdown to E
2. Aja
1. Pretzel Logic