BB's Album Rankings - Steely Dan

 

BB's Album Rankings

Steely Dan

It’s about time for another of my artist album rankings, and up this time is another of my favorite artists, Steely Dan, with their totally unique jazz-funk-soul-pop-rock style and sound as well as their usually cryptic, biting, ironic lyrics and tales of losers, creeps, and miscreants. Starting off with quirky, oddball jazz-tinged pop-rock songs that developed slowly over the years into more finely crafted pop-tinged jazz-funk grooves featuring impeccable production, arrangements, and musicianship. Steely Dan consists primarily of the songwriting-performing duo of Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards) and Walter Becker (bass, guitar) usually backed by various session and studio musicians. Although Steely Dan was first formed in 1971, Fagen and Becker had been working together as songwriters and performers in various bands since 1967, when they met at Bard College. The original lineup of Steely Dan (which started out as an actual rock band) consisted of guitarists Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter and Denny Dias, and drummer Jim Hodder joining Fagen and Becker. When they got their record contract (ABC Dunhill), the label wasn’t satisfied with Fagen as lead vocalist (and Fagen wasn’t that comfortable as a vocalist either), so David Palmer was added to share vocalist duties. Although their first (pre-album) single, ‘Dallas’ tanked, their first album, Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972), was a major success, scoring multiple hit singles, and establishing the band as major players in top 40 rock. That first album featured a more pop-rock sound than subsequent albums with more jazz influences, but served to introduce the band and their unique sound to the world. Their 2^nd album, Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) was darker, more eclectic, less-pop-oriented, but allowed the band to stretch out, explore, and develop their style to a greater degree. By the third album, Pretzel Logic (1974), Fagen and Becker, who were not satisfied with the sound of their early albums, began exerting more control over all aspects of the recording process, and brought in guest artists and session musicians to meet their demanding expectations. By the 4^th album, Katy Lied (1975), Steely Dan was no longer an actual band, but were Fagen and Becker and whatever session musicians they used for each song.  Their sound also moved farther away from rock as more jazz and a softer, slower jazz-funk groove dominated. Aja (1977) completed this transition with a predominantly cool jazz-funk vibe throughout as well as stellar production and musicianship throughout. But the follow-up to that, Gaucho (1980) was a troubled much-delayed production, marred by recording session mishaps, Becker involved in a near-fatal car accident, and record company disputes, which prompted Fagen and Becker to call it quits following its completion. They both went on to do solo albums and shows for many years, until getting back together in 1993 to form a touring version of Steely Dan featuring a Big Band lineup (with horns, etc.). They continued touring without releasing any new material for several years, until in 2000, they released their first new album in 20 years, Two Against Nature (2000). This return was highly successful, garnering 3 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Another new album was released in 2003, Everything Must Go, which would be the last studio album for Steely Dan. However, their Big Band Dan touring act continued for several more years. Walter Becker died after a battle with esophageal cancer in September 2017. Donald Fagen continues to perform with a current version of the Steely Dan Big Band.

So, Steely Dan’s recording career consisted of 9 studio albums released between 1972 and 2003 (with a 20 year gap from 1980-2000). Here are my rankings and brief comments on each album. As always, these rankings are based solely my own personal preferences and opinions and not any other measures of popularity, critical acclaim, or commercial success. This is just how I rank them from my least favorite to most favorite. All of these rank as at least good, and many as great to exceptional. Really, you can’t go wrong with any Steely Dan album, but I have my definite preferences (as I’m sure you do as well).

9. Two Against Nature (2000) 

Steely Dan made a big splash with this comeback album, their first in 20 years, and it was great to hear the unique songs and style of Steely Dan again (There is just no one else that sounds like Steely Dan). However, although the album successfully resurrects their style and warped vision once again, this is still their overall weakest collection of songs. Other than ‘Two Against Nature’ and ‘Cousin Dupree’, which stand out as the best (and most different) tracks, most of the rest of the album consists of the same slow jazz-funk groove, and relative to the rest of their catalog, are just somewhat lackluster and not very memorable. Still a decent album, but their weakest overall. Best songs-‘Two Against Nature’, ‘Cousin Dupree’, ‘Jack of Speed’. Weakest songs-‘Almost Gothic’, ‘Negative Girl’, ‘West of Hollywood’ (3ó)

8. Everything Must Go (2003) 

Although this has some of the same issues as 2AN (some lackluster songs, same slow jazz groove), it has a warmer, more engaging feel throughout as well as overall better songs, which make it a much more enjoyable listen. The best songs here are better than anything from 2AN, and ‘Everything Must Go’ makes for a fine and fitting final song for the band. But these later albums just can’t quite live up to the earlier period albums. Best songs-‘Last Mall’, ‘Things I Miss the Most’, ‘Everything Must Go’, ‘Godwhacker’. Weakest songs-‘Green Book’, ‘Lunch with Gina’ (3ó).

 

7. Gaucho (1980)

Their troubled last album from the ‘classic’ period, unfortunately, has always left me cold. There are some fine tracks here as well as their usual great production and musicianship throughout. But this one stretches their softer, slower smooth jazz focus to the limit, resulting in a somewhat dull and sterile feel. Production and arrangements are a bit too perfect sounding. I prefer some of the discarded tracks from the ‘Lost Gaucho’ sessions to those that made it onto the final album. Still a quite good album, but relative to everything that came before this, a much weaker entry. Best songs-‘Babylon Sisters’, ‘Time Out of Mind’, ‘Hey Nineteen’. Weakest songs-‘My Rival’, ‘Glamour Profession’ (3.5ó)

6. Katy Lied (1975)

This was the first full album where Steely Dan was no longer an actual band and consisted entirely of Fagen-Becker, and guest artists and session players, and the result was a noticeably softer, more laidback sound and jazzier pop arrangements.  But a wonderful collection of varied songs still made this a great (but less rockin’) album. Best songs-‘Chain Lightning’, ’Rose Darling’, ‘Any World Your Welcome To’, ‘Your Gold Teeth II’. Weakest songs-‘Everyone’s Gone to the Movies’, ‘Throw Back the Little Ones’. (4ó)

 

5. The Royal Scam (1976) 

Great production and great use of guest musicians (Larry Carlton’s killer guitar solos on ‘Kid Charlemagne’ and ‘Don’t Take Me Alive’ are legendary). A more diverse, energetic, and edgy assortment of cool songs than on Katy Lied boosts this one up another notch.  Best songs- ‘Kid Charlemagne’, ‘The Caves of Altamira’, ‘Don’t Take Me Alive’, ‘Sign In Stranger’. Weakest-‘Everything You Did’. (4.5ó)

 

 

4. Aja (1977) 

This album marked a more distinct change in style, with the full embrace of the cool jazz-funk sound and arrangements. Remarkable and meticulous production, arrangements, and musicianship throughout raise this above the previous two (even though they have some songs I like better). Just a remarkable achievement in melding expert jazz playing with the Dan’s pop-rock melodies. Many great instrumental sections, such as Steve Gadd’s sensational drumming through the latter part of ‘Aja’, etc. (but also the end of anything much resembling rock in their catalog). Best songs-‘Aja’, ‘Deacon Blues’, ‘Home at Last’, ‘Josie’. Weakest-‘Black Cow’ (4.5ó)

 

3. Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972).

Their wonderful debut album filled with great pop-rock songs made its mark on the top 40 and introduced their unique sound and style to the world. Contains their most straight-forward, accessible, and radio-friendly songs, showing great melodies and hooks, but also being uniquely Steely Dan. The different lead vocals (David Palmer and drummer Jim Hodder) on some songs is a bit unsettling relative to the more familiar Fagen vocals, but the songs are great.  Best songs-‘Only a Fool Would Say That’, ‘Reelin’ in the Years’, ‘Do It Again’, ‘Change of the Guard’. Weakest song-‘Dirty Work’. (4.5ó )

 

2. Pretzel Logic (1974) 

Great songs in varied styles and great blend of melodic pop songs with more adventurous excursions. Incorporation of jazz more subtle here (except for the outright jazz cover of the Duke Ellington standard ‘East St.Louis Toodle-oo’). Overall lighter, more fun, and the band still rocks as well. Even has Steely Dan's version of a country song. Great album from start to finish. Best- ‘Any Major Dude’, ‘Night By Night’, ‘Parker’s Band’, ‘With a Gun’, ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’. Weakest song- ‘Charlie Freak’. (5ó)

 

 

1.  Countdown to Ecstasy (1973). 

Of their several great albums, for me, this is The One! The Holy Grail of Steely Dan Albums, and one of my all-time favorite albums. Blazing start with ‘Bodhisattva’, one of the greatest album-opening tracks ever. They are a real band here, and this one mostly rocks throughout (Skunk Baxter's guitar solos are tremendous). Contains what I consider the four pillars of Dan-dom: ‘Bodhisattva’, ‘Your Gold Teeth’, ‘My Old School’, and ‘King of the World’, but the rest are great as well. Perhaps the quirkiest, adventurous, and most eclectic of all their albums (‘Show Biz Kids’ is flat-out weird), but fantastic stuff all around. Never been another album quite like this, even among other Steely Dan albums. Best songs- the 4 pillars already mentioned, plus ‘Razor Boy’, ‘Pearl of the Quarter’.  Weak songs-none. (5ó)

Ok, so it's clear that I prefer the earlier albums over the later more cool jazz-oriented albums, but I really do like them all. My top two are pretty much set in stone, but the order of the next three (Nos. 3,4,and 5) may change frequently based on what I am more in the mood for, but I consider the top 6 all great albums. Just a really unique band, nothing else quite like them. Fagen's solo albums are very good as well, particularly The Nightfly (1982) and Kamakiriad (1993). Walter Becker's solo album, 11 Tracks of Whack (1994), is also pretty good (but not as good as Fagen's solo works).  

So what do you think of Steely Dan's album catalog? How would you rate and/or rank them? Lets hear from you.