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The Royal Scam is the first Steely Dan record that doesn't exhibit significant musical progress from its predecessor, but that doesn't mean the album is any less interesting. The cynicism that was suppressed on Katy Lied comes roaring to the surface on The Royal Scam -- not only are the lyrics bitter and snide, but the music is terse, broken, and weary. Not so coincidentally, the album is comprised of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's weakest set of songs since Can't Buy a Thrill. Alternating between mean-spirited bluesy vamps like "Green Earrings" and "The Fez" and jazzy soft rock numbers like "The Caves of Altamira," there's nothing particularly bad on the album, yet there are fewer standouts than before. Nevertheless, the best songs on The Royal Scam, like the sneering "Kid Charlemagne" and "Sign in Stranger," rank as genuine Steely Dan classics. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
The Royal Scam
01/01/1976 | Universal Japan
All Music Guide Review
Track Listing
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Credits
- Rick Marotta
- Drums
- Hugh McCracken
- Guitar
- Roger Nichols
- Engineer, Mixing, Digital Remastering
- Dean Parks
- Guitar
- Barney Perkins
- Mixing, Mixdown Engineer
- Bernard "Pretty" Purdie
- Drums
- Elliot Scheiner
- Engineer
- Timothy B. Schmit
- Bass, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Zox
- Cover Art
- Denny Dias
- Guitar
- Dick Hyde
- Horn
- Slyde Hyde
- Horn
- Roger Nicholas
- Engineer
- Vartan
- Reissue Art Director
- Michael Diehl
- Reissue Design
- Tom Nikosey
- Typography, Cover Art
- Dinky Dawson
- Sound Consultant
- Karen Stanley
- Nursery Rhyme
- Stuart Dinky Dawson
- Graphic Editing
- Sherlie Matthews
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Clydie King
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Elliott Randall
- Guitar
- Walter Becker
- Bass, Horn Arrangements, Liner Notes, Vocals, Guitar
- Ed Caraeff
- Art Direction, Design
- Gary Coleman
- Percussion
- Denny Diaz
- Guitar
- Venetta Fields
- Horn, Vocals (Background), Vocals
- Bob Findley
- Horn
- Chuck Findley
- Horn, Horn Arrangements
- Paul Griffin
- Keyboards, Vocals
- Jim Horn
- Horn, Saxophone
- Richard Hyde
- Trombone
- Gary Katz
- Producer
- Donald Fagen
- Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Horn Arrangements, Liner Notes, Vocals
- Michael McDonald
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Steely Dan
- Main Performer
- Larry Carlton
- Guitar
- Victor Feldman
- Percussion, Keyboards
- Don Grolnick
- Keyboards
- Plas Johnson
- Horn, Saxophone
- John Klemmer
- Horn
- Chuck Rainey
- Bass
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