Donald Fagen and Walter Becker closed ranks, quit touring, and released the most cynical and guitar-heavy of their albums. After four albums (Can't Buy a Thrill in 1972,
Countdown to Ecstasy in 1973, Pretzel Logic in 1974, and Katy Lied in 1975), Donald Fagen and Walter Becker enlisted the help of session guitarists like Larry Carlton, Elliott Randall, Dean Parks and founding member Denny Dias. The effect is to create a slick and complex version of their funked-up reggae jazz grooves. 'The Royal Scam' went gold and hit number fifteen in the US and eleven in the UK.
http://www.steelydan.com/
'Kid Charlemagne' was inspired by counter-culture guru Owsley.
"Careful what you carry
'Cause the man is wise
'Don't Take Me Alive' describes a hostage situation.
"I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't want to shoot no one
Well I crossed my old man back in Oregon"
'Sign In Stranger' evokes Philip K. Dick's 'Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said'
"Do you have a dark spot on your past
Leave it to my man he'll fix it fast"
'The Royal Scam' details the deception of the American Dream from the perspective of immigrants from Puerto Rico.
"And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime"
'The Royal Scam'
full album:
All songs by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted.
Side one
1. "Kid Charlemagne" Guitar solo by Larry Carlton 4:38
2. "The Caves of Altamira" Tenor saxophone solo by John Klemmer 3:34
3. "Don't Take Me Alive" Guitar solo by Larry Carlton 4:16
4. "Sign In Stranger" Piano solo by Paul Griffin, guitar solo by Elliott Randall 4:23
5. "The Fez" (Becker, Fagen, Paul Griffin) Guitar solo by Walter Becker 4:01
Side two
6. "Green Earrings" Guitar solos by Denny Dias (1st) and Elliott Randall (2nd) 4:05
7. "Haitian Divorce" Talk box guitar solo by Dean Parks, altered by Walter Becker 5:53
8. "Everything You Did" Guitar solo by Larry Carlton 3:55
9. "The Royal Scam" Guitar solo by Larry Carlton 6:28
No comments:
Post a Comment