Reading a biography on Steely Dan by Brian Sweet was inspirational enough for this writer to enter the world of Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals) and Walter Becker (guitar, bass), the members behind Steely Dan, and review the band’s 1976 album, ‘The Royal Scam’, consisting of nine, expectedly disparate tracks. As per the band’s wont, the duo are supported on this album by a sterling set of back-up musicians.

The opening track, Kid Charlemagne, features the amazing guitar work of Larry Carlton whose talent is showcased virtually throughout the entire album. In talking about intriguing collaborations, rapper Kanye West prevailed upon the band via a handwritten letter for permission to sample the song on his 2007 track, Champion. Meanwhile, Carlton outdoes himself on Don't Take Me Alive, which would certainly not be out of place on an album by the Eagles, but more of the Eagles later.

The mid-tempo The Caves of Altamira features the wailing solo tenor sax of John Klemmer, with other horns playing in the background. The ballad of Sign In Stranger features the mellow piano playing of Paul Griffin, and the more commercial The Fez features guitar work from member Walter Becker. Reggae makes a surprise appearance on Haitian Divorce featuring Dean Parks utilizing the talk box guitar, which really was brought into popular music culture by the likes of Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh, the latter musician going onto join the Eagles. Nevertheless, in comparison to the previously referred tracks, there appear to be two throwaway songs in Green Earrings and intriguingly enough, the title track.

While Everything You Did has an opening not dissimilar to the Eagles’ Witchy Woman, it further solidifies the Steely Dan connect with the Eagles as it contains the following lyrics: "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbours are listening".

Apparently, Steely Dan member Walter Becker's girlfriend was a huge fan of the Eagles. However, the saga does not end here… In 1976, on the title track of the ‘Hotel California’ album, the Eagles included the line: "They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast" and, as co-writer Glenn Frey subsequently explained, "We just wanted to allude to Steely Dan rather than mentioning them outright, so 'Dan' got changed to 'knives'”. To continue with the Eagles connect, vocalist and bassist with Poco, Timothy B. Schmit, who sang backing vocals on The Royal Scam, subsequently went onto join the Eagles a year later, and the sound engineer of ‘The Royal Scam’, Elliot Scheiner, went onto co-produce the Eagles ‘Hell Freezes Over’ album and mixed their ‘Long Road Out Of Eden’ album too. And, in case this was not mentioned earlier, both bands also have a common manager in Irving Azoff.

The lyrics on ‘The Royal Scam’ remain as impenetrable as any other Steely Dan album, which is more than made up by some of their most accomplished and enjoyable music. Becker and Fagen certainly appear to have written the ultimate “outlaw” album here not unlike, once again the Eagles, who released ‘Desperado’ in 1973, as Steely Dan run through robbing banks (Don’t Take Me Alive) jewel thieves (Green Earrings), jealous lovers (Everything You Did), and marriage being the primary cause of Haitian Divorce.

In conclusion, ‘The Royal Scam’ is indeed an interesting album and, although there is nothing to be overtly critical about it, Steely Dan had certainly recorded better albums prior, and most certainly thereafter.

Released on: May 1976

Recorded: November 1975–March 1976

Duration: 41.12minutes

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Parag Kamani

Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.