Steely Dan – The Royal Scam
Label: | ABC Records – ABCD-931, ABC Records – ABCD 931 |
---|---|
Format: | |
Country: | US |
Released: | |
Genre: | Rock |
Style: | Pop Rock, Jazz-Rock |
Tracklist
A1 | Kid Charlemagne | 4:38 | |
A2 | The Caves Of Altamira | 3:33 | |
A3 | Don't Take Me Alive | 4:18 | |
A4 | Sign In Stranger | 4:22 | |
A5 | The Fez | 3:59 | |
B1 | Green Earrings | 4:05 | |
B2 | Haitian Divorce | 5:50 | |
B3 | Everything You Did | 3:54 | |
B4 | The Royal Scam | 6:31 |
Companies, etc.
- Record Company – ABC Records, Inc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – ABC Records, Inc.
- Copyright © – ABC Records, Inc.
- Engineered At – ABC Recording Studios
- Engineered At – A&R Studios
- Lacquer Cut At – Allen Zentz Mastering
- Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria
- Published By – ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc.
- Published By – American Broadcasting Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – American Broadcasting Music, Inc.
- Published By – Red Giant Music
- Copyright © – Red Giant Inc.
- Published By – E.L.D.G. Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – ELDG Music, Inc.
Credits
- Arranged By [Horns] – Chuck Findley, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker
- Art Direction, Design – Ed Caraeff
- Artwork [Cover Art] – Charlie Ganse, Zox (3)
- Backing Vocals [Back-Up Vocals] – Clydie King, Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Sherlie Matthews, Tim Schmit*, Venetta Fields
- Bass – Chuck Rainey, Walter Becker
- Drums – Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta
- Engineer [A&R Studios] – Elliot Shiner*
- Engineer [ABC Studios] – Roger Nichols
- Engineer [Mix Down] – Barney Perkins, Roger Nichols
- Guitar – Dean Parks, Dennis Dias*, Elliot Randall*, Larry Carlton, Walter Becker
- Horns – Bob Findley, Chuck Findley, Jim Horn, John Klemmer, Plas Johnson, Slyde Hyde
- Keyboards – Don Grolnick, Donald Fagen, Paul Griffin, Victor Feldman
- Lacquer Cut By [Runout Etching ⁀⁀ ⁀⁀] – Brian Gardner (tracks: B1 to B4)
- Lacquer Cut By [Runout Etching ❀] – Brian Gardner (tracks: A1 to A5)
- Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
- Other [Nurse] – Karen Stanley
- Percussion – Gary Coleman, Victor Feldman
- Producer – Gary Katz
- Songwriter [All Songs Written By] – Donald Fagen, Walter Becker
- Technician [Techno] – Bob DeAvila, Buns, Jerry*, John (113), Leslie (25), Roy (27), Stuart Dawson*, Warren Wallace
- Typography [Typographic Design], Design [Typographic Design] – Tom Nikosey
- Written-By – Paul L. Griffin* (tracks: A5)
Notes
Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria, pressing denoted by "S" etched in runouts.
Mastering symbols on this version: "flower" motif etching on side A, "bird/seagulls in flight" motif etching on side B.
ABC multicolor concentric circle labels. Track A5 appears on three lines.
Issued with printed cardstock inner sleeve with lyrics and artwork.
Jacket with silver print.
First cat. # (ABCD-931) on labels.
Second cat. # (ABCD 931) on jacket front, spine.
℗©1976, ABC Records, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.
Engineered at ABC Studios in Los Angeles and at A&R Studios in New York.
Track publishers on labels:
A1, A3, A4, B1 to B4: ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (BMI)
A2: American Broadcasting Music, Inc./Red Giant Music (ASCAP)
A5: ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc./E.L.D.G. Music, Inc. (BMI)
Track publishers on inner sleeve:
A1, A3, A4, B1 to B4: ©1976 ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (BMI)
A2: ©1976 American Broadcasting Music, Inc./Red Giant, Inc. (ASCAP)
A5: ©1976 ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (BMI) ELDG Music, Inc. (BMI)
Special thanks to Larry Carlton and Mr. Garry Sherman.
Mastering symbols on this version: "flower" motif etching on side A, "bird/seagulls in flight" motif etching on side B.
ABC multicolor concentric circle labels. Track A5 appears on three lines.
Issued with printed cardstock inner sleeve with lyrics and artwork.
Jacket with silver print.
First cat. # (ABCD-931) on labels.
Second cat. # (ABCD 931) on jacket front, spine.
℗©1976, ABC Records, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.
Engineered at ABC Studios in Los Angeles and at A&R Studios in New York.
Track publishers on labels:
A1, A3, A4, B1 to B4: ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (BMI)
A2: American Broadcasting Music, Inc./Red Giant Music (ASCAP)
A5: ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc./E.L.D.G. Music, Inc. (BMI)
Track publishers on inner sleeve:
A1, A3, A4, B1 to B4: ©1976 ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (BMI)
A2: ©1976 American Broadcasting Music, Inc./Red Giant, Inc. (ASCAP)
A5: ©1976 ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (BMI) ELDG Music, Inc. (BMI)
Special thanks to Larry Carlton and Mr. Garry Sherman.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Pressing Plant ID: S
- Rights Society: BMI
- Rights Society: ASCAP
- Matrix / Runout (Side A label): ABCD-931-A
- Matrix / Runout (Side B label): ABCD-931-B
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A-1A AZ [Flowers] S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B-1A AZ [Seagulls] S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 2 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A 1C AZ [Flowers] S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 2 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B-1B AZ [Seagulls] S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 3 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A-1D AZ [Flowers] A28 S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 3 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B-1B AZ [Seagulls] E I S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 4 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A 1C AZ [Flowers] I S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 4 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B-1B AZ [Seagulls] E I S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 5 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A 1D AZ [Flowers] A9 S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 5 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B•1B AZ [Seagulls] A5 I S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 6 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A-1D AZ [Flowers] S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 6 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B•1B AZ [Seagulls] A I S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 7 runout - A-side etched): ABCD-931-A 1D AZ [Flowers] A8 S
- Matrix / Runout (Variant 7 runout - B-side etched): ABCD-931-B•1B AZ [Seagulls] A4 S
Other Versions (5 of 216)
View AllTitle (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Royal Scam (LP, Album, Repress, Stereo) | ABC Records, ABC Records | ABCL 5161, ABCD 931 | UK | 1976 | |||
Recently Edited | The Royal Scam (LP, Album) | ABC Records | 27 552 XOT | Netherlands | 1976 | ||
The Royal Scam (LP, Album, Promo, Stereo, Santa Maria Press) | ABC Records | ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | |||
The Royal Scam (8-Track Cartridge, Album) | ABC Records | 8022-931 H | US | 1976 | |||
Recently Edited | The Royal Scam (LP, Album) | ABC Records | ABC 421 | Italy | 1976 |
Recommendations
Reviews
- Steely Dan's The Royal Scam (1976) is a captivating journey through the band's signature blend of jazz-infused rock, cynical lyrics, and immaculate studio production. Released at the height of their creative powers, the album showcases their ability to craft intricate arrangements and deliver them with a cool detachment that has become synonymous with their sound.
The Royal Scam is an album of contrasts. The music is often upbeat and catchy, with infectious grooves and soaring guitar solos, yet the lyrics paint a picture of urban decay, disillusionment, and the darker side of the American dream. This juxtaposition creates a unique tension that is both fascinating and unsettling.
The album features a stellar lineup of session musicians, including guitarists Larry Carlton and Elliott Randall, drummer Bernard Purdie, and saxophonist Pete Christlieb. Their contributions, combined with the meticulous production of Gary Katz, create a sonic landscape that is both detailed and expansive.
Standout tracks include "Kid Charlemagne," a funky and energetic tribute to the notorious LSD chemist Owsley Stanley, and "The Caves of Altamira," a haunting ballad that explores themes of history and memory. "Haitian Divorce" is a cynical take on love and relationships, while "Don't Take Me Alive" is a dramatic tale of a desperate criminal.
The Royal Scam is not an easy listen. It's an album that demands attention and rewards repeated listens. Its complex arrangements, cryptic lyrics, and masterful musicianship reveal new layers with each playthrough. While it may not be as widely celebrated as Aja, The Royal Scam is a crucial piece of the Steely Dan puzzle, showcasing their unique blend of cynicism, sophistication, and sonic brilliance. It captures the band at a pivotal moment, reflecting the anxieties and uncertainties of the mid-1970s while pushing their musical boundaries. - Side A sounds a bit loud and possibly some distortion on certain chorus sections. This could just be due to previous ownership and usage before I got this. Side B better balanced, more headroom, easier on the ears and more enjoyable. Overall great detail, presence and production value noted.
- Edited one year agoHow many compete Steely Dan collections have I gone through in the past 33 years?
1990: the cassettes from the 3 dollar bin.
1992- 93: the CDs, most high jacked from Columbia House.
2001: the Brooklyn LP stash, followed 8 years later by
2009: the LA LP stash. One stop shopping at a thrift store on Hollywood Blvd. Probably one dude's collection.
2017: all sold off. Made a go of mp3s. Meh.
2023: another some dude's Steely Dan collection. Smelling like smoke and cologne, at the local record shop. Lotta first US and UK presses. Nice.
I'll probably go for used copies of the direct cerebral interface too.
The SD guitar album. But then every SD album is the SD guitar album. 'Pretty' Purdy got the call for tub work based on the strength of his Beatles sessions. Donald Fagen pronounces 'Oregon' like a true New Yorker. The title track tells the heartbreaking tale of how LaGuardia Airport got its name. The Fez may be a prophylactic. - Edited 2 years ago"Don't Take Me Alive", is one of the best guitar intros of all time! Fantastic album to boot!!
- These records honestly don't need audiophile reissues – the originals sound incredible and on par with any Analogue Productions or MOFI pressings in my collection. This original issue is sublime, if you can find a VG+ or NM copy.
- Edited 2 years agoThink I read something about the original masters burning up in a hollywood studio fire along with other renown artists catalogs. So if a repress comes out it will most likely be digital
- Hi would anyone be willing to sell ONLY the printed inner vinyl sleeve? I got a copy the other day and it's missing the inner sleeve :(
- Edited 3 years agoMy copy has two side A labels <and no side B> but is in shrink with a "Includes the hit single Kid Charlamagne" hype sticker. Great pressing and sounds fantastic.
- OK here is my question to buy Steely Dan records is a pain in the ass. ABC records pretty much sucked as MCA did let's be honest. I bought this copy it turns out. https://www.discogs.com/Steely-Dan-The-Royal-Scam/release/11142165 ... Does anyone know was this a great copy... What copy is the best copy flowers seagulls Brian Gardner Allen Zentz................... WTF ?????????????
Release
For sale on Discogs
Sell a copy65 copies from $3.61
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