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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Kid Charlemagne |
| 2. The Caves Of Altamira |
| 3. Don't Take Me Alive |
| 4. Sign In Stranger |
| 5. The Fez |
| 6. Green Earrings |
| 7. Haitian Divorce |
| 8. Everything You Did |
| 9. The Royal Scam |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ever the primary conceit of mainstays Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, 1976's The Royal Scam marks the first time the Steely Dan duo actually owned up to the fact. Musically, it's their edgiest, most guitar-driven record (thanks to Becker and a murderer's row of session greats that includes Larry Carlton, Elliot Randall, Dean Parks, and Denny Dias). Lyrically, the songs cut an ever-sardonic, presciently discomforting slice of modern life that was a couple decades ahead of the game (who else was extolling the virtues of condom-couture, à la "The Fez", mid-Me Decade?). Though it didn't garner the radio attention of Aja, its more jazz-suffused, multi-platinum follow-up, Scam boasts a diverse, occasionally muscular musical rhetoric and some of the Dan's most telling portraits (the deranged, yet all-too-familiar killer of "Don't Take Me Alive", "Kid Charlemagne"'s drug-culture celebrity, the tropical convenience of a "Haitian Divorce"). Small wonder many Dan fans consider it their best. --Jerry McCulley
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
To the uninitiated comments about Becker and Fagen’s attention to detail and the demonstration quality of their sound might imply some absence of passion, but their perfectionism is never to the detriment of the soul of the music (at least, up to Aja). The most notable feature of their approach is the way they are able to mould a disparate band of session players into a bona fide band – irrespective of the changes in personnel or the meticulous re-recording involved.
Many see Countdown to Ecstasy or Aja as the Dan’s twin peaks, but I would have to add this as the mid-panel of a triptych of stunning musical masterpieces. Veering more towards West Coast rock, the songs run the gamut of subject matter from LSD merchants, through double-dealing desperadoes, to marital bust-ups and racial tensions, encompassing a range of idioms, but from the opening bars of Kid Charlemagne to the close of the majestic Royal Scam, there is a unity and pulse that binds them all together into one kaleidoscopic vision of America.
As with all Dan’s albums, there is so much going on, lyrically and musically, so many outstanding contributions (even if just a few bars) that these songs stand the kind of repeated listening that few other artist’s material could bear. Well, I’ve been listening to these songs for nearly thirty years and they still sound as fresh as they did in 1977. The guitar parts alone are just as riveting – a masterclass in how to play coruscating breaks without hogging the limelight!
If you only buy three Dan albums, this HAS to be one – but you really NEED all from Can’t Buy a Thrill to Aja.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The consistancy of the Becker/Fagan output never ceases to amaze me. It's difficult to choose a favourite from the first six offerings, however it just all came together on this fine LP. From the driving opener 'Kid Charlamagne' to the brooding horn riff on the title track which ends the album. Its an emotional and uplifting experience. Take the achingly beautiful guitar work on 'Don't take me alive', matching perfectly with the lyric.
Many would argue 'Aja' was their peak. I would have to disagree. Much as I love 'AJA' it lacked the sheer emotion of the 'Royal Scam' and it's predecessors possessed.
A final thought: I can't think of another band who could class their first SIX albums and essential, can you?
Many would argue 'Aja' was their peak. I would have to disagree. Much as I love 'AJA' it lacked the sheer emotion of the 'Royal Scam' and it's predecessors possessed.
A final thought: I can't think of another band who could class their first SIX albums and essential, can you?
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Music Royalty
Who has a favourite Dan album? Apart from every fan? It's a hard choice to make from their first 8 or 9 albums given the exquisite quality of the writing and musicianship on them... Read more
Published 3 months ago by DENNIS WHITLOCK
modern jazz-rock
Can't help it : these really worked out long symphonies in jazzy rock style always work for me this as well as in the background as during an exhaustive listening session.
Published 16 months ago by Stephan Franck
Guitar heaven
Royal Scam catches Steely Dan right in the middle of the 70's and the arc as recording artists. Gone are the prog pop songs that define theor earlier work and yet to come are the... Read more
Published on 7 May 2010 by Alister King
A Transitional Album
The Royal Scam has a couple of the most catchy and commercial songs Steely Dan has ever recorded - "The Fez" and "Haitian Divorce" - both songs greatly influenced by reggae. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2010 by Morten Vindberg
Don't take me alive.
The weakest (in my opinion) of the Dan's early career. There's something not quite right about the production and it all tails off rather badly. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2009 by A. Willard
Yet Another Classic
For some reason when I first heard this album (and I've been a Dan fan for a long long time) it didn't really grip me, but as these things tend to do once I bought a new copy on CD... Read more
Published on 25 July 2008 by F. Boddy
Never gonna do it without the fez on
That line from The Fez has always struck me as wonderfully cool. As a piece of music its pretty infectious too. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2008 by D. J. H. Thorn
Worth it for "Kid Charlemagne" and "Haitian Divorce"....
Rating: 6.5/10
Best tracks: "Haitian Divorce", "Kid Charlemagne", "Don't Take Me Alive", "Everything You Did". Read more
Best tracks: "Haitian Divorce", "Kid Charlemagne", "Don't Take Me Alive", "Everything You Did". Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2007 by New Gold Dreamer
Re-discovery
Many years ago I owned this album on vinyl. I was a Dan fan, but The Royal Scam wasn't my favourite. Last Christmas a friend gave me it as a present. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2007 by Wah Wah Banjo
Simply brilliant
This album is nothing short of pure brilliance. The songs, muscianship, melody, production are all faultless. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2004 by R. Harris
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