Steely Dan Album: “The Royal Scam [Remaster]”

Description :

Steely Dan: Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards); Walter Becker (guitar, bass). Additional personnel: Larry Carlton, Elliot Randall, Dean Parks, Dennis Dias (guitar); Chuck Findley, Bob Findley, Slyde Hyde, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson, John Klemmer (horns); Victor Feldman (keyboards, percussion); Paul Griffin, Don Grolnick (keyboards); Chuck Rainey (bass); Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta (drums); Gary Coleman (percussion); Venetta Fields, Clydie KIng, Sherlie Matthews, Tim Schmit, Michael McDonald (background vocals). Recorded at ABC Studios, Los Angeles, California and A&R Studios, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Digitally remastered by Roger Nichols (Digital Atomics, Miami, Florida). All tracks have been digitally remastered. It was the year of America's bicentennial celebration, but on 1976's THE ROYAL SCAM, Steely Dan masterminds Fagen and Becker did not share in the exultant spirit of the times. The title track--a vision of fallen America from the point of view of immigrants--has a mock-celebratory chorus: "See the glory of the Royal Scam," which typifies SCAM's heartfelt cynicism. In their next two releases (their last), Steely Dan's sound would smoothen and incorporate less rock. This is perhaps their darkest record, and for a band known for its arch mixture of L.A. cool and ennui, that's saying something. Guitar heroes were roundly worshipped in the '70s, and two of the record's standout tracks, "Kid Charlemagne" and "Don't Take Me Alive," feature incendiary axe work by Larry Carlton. Interestingly, both glorify outsiders: The former tells the story of legendary drug chemist Owsley Stanley, and the latter is a first-person account of a murderer on the lam. Other highlights: the crisp "Green Earrings" the lounge-chair funk of "Haitian Divorce" and the inscrutable "Fez," whose principal lyric is "I'm never gonna do it without the fez on/don't make me do it without the fez on."

Die hard rock fans who cringe at the sound of horn sections and piano solos often dismiss Steely Dan with comments such as, "but they're JAZZ," as though uttering a dirty word. I think The Royal Scam would be a good place to begin for those who may be willing to give Fagen and Becker another chance. Try the following: program Kid Charlemagne, Don't Take Me Alive, The Fez, and Green Earrings on your CD player, put on your headphones, pump up the volume, and by the end of the last track you'll be in air guitar heaven! Then start playing the entire CD from beginning to end several times in a row (it is designed as a concept album), listen to the lyrics carefully (it can be like poetry, obscure but worth the effort of interpretation), and I'll bet (like so many of my at-first resistant friends), you'll become a convert, ready to try more of their recordings (perhaps Countdown to Ecstacy would be a good next choice). Steely Dan's music is NOT jazz (although they have fused its elements into their sound seamlessly), but like the best jazz (not the "smooth" psuedo-fusion variety), it may at first seem too complex or disjointed to an ear accustomed to and expecting the easy pleasures of formulaic top 40 hits. But once the Dan's music has insinuated itself deep into your system (mind, heart, and soul), the intoxicating pleasures that it ultimately does give up will never grow tired, dated or stale. Steely Dan is timeless. Trust me!

Steely Dan reached their peak in many ways with The Royal Scam. Although slightly less focused than Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam is probably their best instrumental effort, better even than Katy Lied. The guitar solo on "Kid Charlemagne" (reportedly by Larry Carlton) has been rightly hailed as one of the best in all of recorded rock, but it isn't even the best guitar solo on this album. That title goes to the solo on the bridge of "The Fez," which is only slightly better than the one on the intro of "Don't Take Me Alive." Other instrumental highlights include the horns (and particularly the tenor sax solo) on "Caves of Altamira," and the lead guitar on "Haitian Divorce." The rhythm tracks feature the great Bernard Purdie's drums on (according to his web site) about half of the songs, but whoever is playing, there isn't a less than excellent instrumental performance on the entire album. Yes, the lyrics are exceedingly dark and brooding, but are delivered as only Fagen could deliver at his hard-edged best. Superbly arranged and performed, The Royal Scam deserves the honor of being called Becker and Fagen's masterpiece.

The Royal Scam, more than any other Steely Dan album, balances their meticulously-smooth arrangements with an edgy spontanaeity. The opening track, Kid Charlemange, is perhaps the most addictive song the band has ever produced, with a hook equal to "Do it Again" or "Rikki" but with far more substance (no coincidence they played this one twice when I saw them in '94). The musical theme of the album is a brilliant balance between Fagen & Becker's song construction and the incredible guitar solos of Carlton & Co. Lyrically, it appears to be a loose concept album set in society's underworld. Despite the connections, however, each song remains its own musical entity; from the guitar-driven "Don't Take Me Alive," the piano-bang "Sign in Stranger," and the slow-developing title track, there is not a weak one on the album. This album is the most tightly connected combination of rock and jazz, of complexity and aggression, ever produced.

This was the first Steely Dan album I ever heard/bought (many decades ago), and although Aja is now my favourite (just) this remains the one I return to the most.

There are many great moments but the high point for me is the wonderful guitar solo, played by Larry Carlton, at the end of Kid Charlemagne.

Kid Charlemagne is typical of the whole album, which is full of fantastic grooves typified by The Fez and Green Earrings. However these grooves are actually played by musicians rather than machines (as is the tendency these days).

I'm not great on lyrics, but even I can spot some of the humour in these songs.

So to sum up, quality song-writing, top quality musicians and great production means an essential purchase for either the Steely Dan fan who has somehow missed this album, or if you're of a younger generation and want to try something different.

The Royal Scam happens to be my favorite Steely Dan Album. There isn't a song that I skip over on this 1976 classic.

The Royal Scam is a delightful Rock/Pop Jazz fusion album. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker along with a classy collection of musicians deliver a number of memorable songs...Kid Charlemagne, The Caves Of Altimira, Don't Take Me Alive, Haitian Divorce and the title track. Fagen and Becker's combination of distinctive music and offbeat lyrics have made them one of Rock's most endearing outfits to this day.

The Remastered editions are a delight, both in sound quality and packaging... complete lyrics and insightful and witty liner notes by Fagen and Becker themselves.