The Jazz Rock powerhouse Steely Dan is a band known by all! Well, that’s what I would be saying if it was 1980. In the current year 2024 Steely Dan has become a relic, subjected to occasional plays on yacht rock radio where listeners can reel in the years and revisit their nostalgic past. However for a 17 year old boy obsessed with classic rock, blues, and jazz: Steely Dan is much more than that. Listening to Steely Dan for me feels like slipping into a rich tapestry, woven from jazz sophistication, rock coolness, and lyrical witt. It’s a sound that is slick, sharp, and seductive. Moreover, Steely Dan is not a traditional band in the sense that it has concrete members. Steely Dan really is just two guys, Vocalist and Pianist Donald Fagan and bass player Walter Becker. For the rest of the ensemble Steely Dan used session musicians, specially picked per song based on their playing style. So despite the fact that no one under 40 knows what a Steely Dan is, I decided to dive head first into the world of music criticism and rank the albums in their 70’s golden age.

7. Pretzel Logic

I want to preface this by saying that every Steely Dan Album is at least a 7/10. Pretzel logic is simply the “worst of the best.”  Released in 1974 as Steely Dan’s 3rd album,  Pretzel logic marks the end of an era since it’s the last album Steely Dan toured for before deciding to focus on honing their craft in the studio. Despite having the most tracks out of any Steely Dan album at 11, Pretzel logic favors quantity over quality. The highlight on the album is undoubtedly “Night by Night,” a true jazz rock fusion with pithy horns juxtaposed by a sharp electric guitar. Besides “Night By Night”, other standouts on Pretzel Logic Include “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, “Any Major Dude will Tell you”, and the title track. However, the rest of the album can be uneven with  “Barry Town”, “Charlie Freak”, and “Through with Buzz” among the band’s weaker moments. Despite this Pretzel logic is still able to seize a 7/10 rating to the very high high’s on the album. 

6. Countdown to Ecstasy

Steely Dan’s sophomore slump! Released in 1973 Countdown to Ecstasy has plenty of quality tracks, from the earworm “Bodhisattva”, to the powerful “Boston Rag” and “King of the World”. It also features one of my favorite Steely Dan songs in “My Old School” fueled by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter’s rousing guitar solo. Countdown to Ecstasy however is very much a mixed bag, featuring what I consider to be the worst Steely Dan song in “showbiz kids” and other duds like “your gold teeth” and the forgettable “pearl of the quarter.” Countdown to Ecstasy is still a quality 8/10 album however its fluctuating quality makes it one i don’t often find myself revisiting when given the option. 

5. Katy Lied

Here’s where the list starts getting hard because the next 5 albums have all been my “favorite” for a period of time. Ranking them now is simply a matter of preference. Katy lied is Steely Dan’s 4th album, released in 1975, and it’s the first to solely use  session musicians. Almost every song on this album is worth a listen, but the highlights are easily “Doctor Wu”, “Bad Sneakers”, “Throw Back the Little ones”, and “Your Gold Teeth II”. Each of these tracks is a certified classic: “Doctor Wu” and “Your Gold Teeth II” expertly blend jazz and rock; “Bad Sneakers” instills a sense of melancholy reminiscence though its lyrics; and “Throw Back the little ones” serves as a slick and cool end to the album. I’d give Katy lied a 8.9/10

4. Can’t Buy and Thrill

The one that started it all! Can’t buy a thrill is Steely Dan’s debut album, released in 1971, and it captures a remakerley broad range of styles. The album moves from cool soft rock with tracks like “Dirty Work”and “Brooklyn” fueled by David Palmer’s delicate vocals, to upbeat, high energy hits like “Reelin in the Years,” which showcases the band’s knack for catchy hooks and memorable guitar riffs. Can’t buy a thrill also features the bands bossa nova diss track on John Lennon with “Only a Fool Would Say that”, and drummer jim hodder on lead vocals in “Midnight Cruiser.” My personal favorite however is “Fire in the Hole” which is fueled by Donald Fagen’s phenomenal piano playing and his standout solo, adding a unique texture to the album. Can’t Buy a Thrill is a 9.3/10 and is a great place to start listening to the dan. 

3. Gaucho

Gaucho is a model of studio perfection by itself and features some of Steely Dan’s cleanest tracks. Gaucho also marks the last album before Steely Dan’s 20 year hiatus, but before they left they revolutionized the industry using one of the first drum machines nicknamed Wendel. To get an idea of how meticulous Steely Dan was when making Gaucho look no further than the first song on the album “Babylon Sisters.” The outro of “Babylon Sisters” reportedly took over 40 takes to achieve the final cut! Besides that,  “Babylon Sisters” is also a phenomenal intro to the album, setting the seedy tone. Benard Purdy’s infamous Purdy shuffle also features heavily and makes the song infectious to listen to. Other highlights on the album include Hey Nineteen, Glamour Profession, and Time out of Mind. My personal favorite song however is the title track which is headlined by Tom Scotts sweet saxophone. Also I will include the lost track “The Second Arrangement” in this section as it’s amazing in its own right despite not making the final album as a rookie sound engineer accidentally recorded over it. All in all Gaucho makes for a great send off to the band and is a 9.5/10

2. Aja

Steely Dan fans might be surprised that Aja is not my favorite Steely Dan album, though it probably should be. Aja is, without a doubt, a Steely Dan’s most accomplished album, and it’s one I consider to be perfect. On this record Steely Dan fully realized the Jazz Rock sound, pulling incredible performances from every session musician- from Tom Scots bold horns to Michael McDonald’s unmistakable backing vocals and Wayne Shorter’s evocative saxophone. Every song holds its own, but the title track and “Home at last” are particularly unforgettable.  Both tracks bring a somber, reflective tone, creating an unmistakably stylish environment that lingers long after they end. Aja is a pristine 10/10 album and is a testament to Steely Dan’s precision and artistry. 

1. Royal Scam

So how do you top Aja, I’ll tell you: the gritty noir and electric instrumentals of The Royal Scam. The Royal Scam is my favorite Steely Dan album and brings everything I love about the band into one suave album. Larry Carlton’s guitar solo on “Kid Charlemagne” is flawless, the horns on “the caves of altamira” are rapturous, the piano on “sign in stranger” is memorizing, the soundbox on “Haitian Divorce” is addictive, and the lyrics on the title track are heartbreaking. Needless to say, I love this album and will revisit it any day at any time. The Royal Scam is a 10/10 and is the greatest Steely Dan album.