Artists · Rock & Pop
Steely Dan. Two minds, a changing cast.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were the centre; their songs were played by an ever-changing cast: first their own band, then hand-picked session players in Los Angeles and New York. Nine studio albums from 1972 to 2003, seven of them as UHQR, two as double LPs at 45 rpm – and all nine as hybrid SACDs.
Tap a cover – you jump straight to the album.
01 / Who played where?
Two minds, a changing cast
On the first albums there is still a band: Becker and Fagen with Denny Dias, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Jim Hodder. Session players arrive as early as “Pretzel Logic”; from “Katy Lied” on they stop touring and assemble the right line-up for each song. The chart shows who can be heard on which album – tap a name.
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Plus guests for a single moment: Wayne Shorter plays the tenor saxophone solo on the title track of “Aja”, Phil Woods the alto saxophone solo on “Doctor Wu”, Mark Knopfler the guitar solo on “Time Out of Mind” and Ray Brown the double bass on “Razor Boy”. Wayne Shorter in our shop: “Introducing Wayne Shorter” →
In the magazine: Steely Dan: Behind the perfection →
“This is the last installment in the Steely Dan UHQR series … All masterpieces – all of them, in my opinion, amazing. And now it’s done. What an achievement.”
“My personal favourite among the audiophile reissues of 2022: the Steely Dan UHQRs – I really couldn’t decide between Can’t Buy a Thrill and Countdown to Ecstasy. The brilliance of this music, the way it’s transported through this super-flat Clarity Vinyl, the amazing mastering by Bernie Grundman … in my opinion, a very, very well-deserved number one.”
02 / All albums
All 9 studio albums, from the band to the return
In order of release. Prices and availability come live from the shop.
1972–1974 · The band
Becker and Fagen with Denny Dias, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Jim Hodder – plus David Palmer as a singer on the debut. Session players already join on “Pretzel Logic”.
released 1972
Can’t Buy a Thrill
Steely Dan
Among others: Denny Dias, Jeff Baxter, Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Victor Feldman, Elliott Randall
Released in November 1972, recorded that August at the Village Recorder in Los Angeles – and Donald Fagen is not yet the only singer: David Palmer takes “Dirty Work” and “Brooklyn”, drummer Jim Hodder “Midnite Cruiser”.
“I’d give the original white-label promo copy an eight – and the UHQR a ten.”
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
released 1973
Countdown to Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Among others: Denny Dias, Jeff Baxter, Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Victor Feldman, Rick Derringer
Released in July 1973, recorded between tour dates: now Fagen sings all eight songs, and Ray Brown plays double bass on “Razor Boy”.
“You prove that you can do it better than the original … With this UHQR, Analogue Productions really did it again.”
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
released 1974
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Among others: Denny Dias, Jeff Baxter, Jim Hodder, Victor Feldman, Chuck Rainey, Dean Parks, Michael Omartian, Jeff Porcaro
Eleven short pieces from February 1974, including “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, the band’s biggest hit. On Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley’s “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo”, Becker plays the trumpet part on talkbox guitar and Baxter the trombone on steel guitar.
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
1975–1980 · In the studio
No more touring: for every song Becker and Fagen assemble the right musicians, in Los Angeles and New York.
released 1975
Katy Lied
Steely Dan
Among others: Denny Dias, Victor Feldman, Elliott Randall, Rick Derringer, Chuck Rainey, Dean Parks, Michael Omartian, Jeff Porcaro, Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton
1975, without a touring band: twenty-year-old Jeff Porcaro drums on nine of the ten tracks, Phil Woods plays the alto saxophone solo on “Doctor Wu” – and Michael McDonald appears on a Steely Dan album for the first time.
“If you like the music, you won’t hear better-sounding records.”
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
released 1976
The Royal Scam
Steely Dan
Among others: Denny Dias, Victor Feldman, Elliott Randall, Chuck Rainey, Dean Parks, Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta
1976, the fifth studio album: Larry Carlton’s solo on “Kid Charlemagne” is the most familiar way in. Bernard Purdie drums on most of the album, Chuck Rainey plays bass.
“The Royal Scam is on a par with all the others.”
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
released 1977
Aja
Steely Dan
Among others: Denny Dias, Victor Feldman, Chuck Rainey, Dean Parks, Michael Omartian, Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd, Tom Scott
Seven songs from 1977, almost every one with a different drummer: Steve Gadd on the title track, where Wayne Shorter plays the tenor saxophone solo, Bernard Purdie on “Deacon Blues” and “Home at Last”, Rick Marotta on “Peg”.
“I think I just listened to the audiophile reissue of 2023.”
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
released 1980
Gaucho
Steely Dan
Among others: Victor Feldman, Rick Derringer, Chuck Rainey, Jeff Porcaro, Michael McDonald, Larry Carlton, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd, Tom Scott
Made in New York and Los Angeles between 1978 and 1980, released in November 1980: seven tracks, Mark Knopfler plays the guitar solo on “Time Out of Mind” – and “The Second Arrangement” was largely lost to an accidental erasure.
“They are on the same level … a killer duo: Gaucho and Aja.”
UHQR · 45 RPM200 g Clarity Vinyl
SACD
2000–2003 · The return
Twenty years after “Gaucho”, Becker and Fagen come back with two new studio albums.
released 2000
Two Against Nature
Steely Dan
Twenty years after “Gaucho”, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen return: from “Gaslighting Abbie” to “West of Hollywood” – the album won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Vinyl · 45 RPM2 LPs
SACD
released 2003
Everything Must Go
Steely Dan
Among others: Keith Carlock
The last studio album with Walter Becker: Keith Carlock’s drumming gives it a current of its own, and Becker sings lead on “Slang of Ages”.
Vinyl · 45 RPM2 LPs
SACD
No album matches these filters.
03 / Guide
Where do you start?
The nine Steely Dan studio albums gathered here run from “Can’t Buy a Thrill” (1972) to “Everything Must Go” (2003): from the debut of a band with several singers via the great studio albums of the late seventies to the return after twenty years. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are the constant; around them the musicians change. We carry the albums in 18 editions – seven as UHQR, two as double LPs at 45 rpm and all nine as hybrid SACDs. Where you start depends on what you want to hear.
You want to hear Steely Dan as a band
Then start with “Can’t Buy a Thrill” and “Countdown to Ecstasy”. On the debut, several voices still share the microphone: David Palmer sings “Dirty Work”, drummer Jim Hodder “Midnite Cruiser”. On “Countdown to Ecstasy” Fagen sings all eight songs, and guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter share the solos. The album was made between tour dates, while Steely Dan was still a regularly performing band.
You want to hear how session players shape a song
Then “Aja” is your album: seven songs, and almost every one has a different drummer. Paul Humphrey plays “Black Cow”, Steve Gadd the title track, Bernard Purdie “Deacon Blues” and “Home at Last”, Rick Marotta “Peg”. On the title track Wayne Shorter plays the tenor saxophone solo. On “The Royal Scam” it pays to follow the guitars: Larry Carlton, Denny Dias, Dean Parks and Elliott Randall each take on tasks of their own.
You’re after the hits and their stories
“Do It Again” and “Reelin’ in the Years” are on “Can’t Buy a Thrill” – the lead guitar on “Reelin’ in the Years” is played by guest Elliott Randall. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” from “Pretzel Logic” became the band’s biggest hit; on the album it opens with Victor Feldman’s flapamba, which the single left out. And on “Aja” you can hear why “Peg” feels so bright and tight: Jay Graydon plays the guitar solo, Michael McDonald sings backing vocals, Tom Scott plays Lyricon.
You want to get to know late Steely Dan
After “Gaucho” it took twenty years until the next studio album. “Two Against Nature” appeared in 2000 and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. “Everything Must Go” is the last studio album with Walter Becker: he sings lead on “Slang of Ages”, and Keith Carlock’s drumming gives the album a current of its own.
Which edition suits you?
Seven albums are available as UHQR: two records at 45 rpm on 200-gram Clarity Vinyl, cut by Bernie Grundman, pressed at Quality Record Pressings, in the UHQR box with a gatefold jacket. “Two Against Nature” and “Everything Must Go” come as double LPs at 45 rpm. And all nine albums are available as hybrid SACDs: the CD layer plays on any CD player, the SACD layer needs an SACD player.
Frequently asked
Quick answers
Who sings with Steely Dan?
Mostly Donald Fagen: on “Countdown to Ecstasy” he sings all eight songs, on “Aja” all seven. On the debut “Can’t Buy a Thrill”, however, David Palmer sings too (“Dirty Work”, “Brooklyn”), and drummer Jim Hodder sings “Midnite Cruiser”. And on “Everything Must Go” Walter Becker takes the lead vocal on “Slang of Ages”.
Which Steely Dan albums are available as UHQR?
Seven: “Can’t Buy a Thrill”, “Countdown to Ecstasy”, “Pretzel Logic”, “Katy Lied”, “The Royal Scam”, “Aja” and “Gaucho” – all at 45 rpm on two records. “Two Against Nature” and “Everything Must Go” are available as double LPs at 45 rpm.
UHQR or SACD – what is the difference?
The UHQR is a record: two LPs at 45 rpm on 200-gram Clarity Vinyl, in a box with a gatefold jacket. The hybrid SACD is a disc with two layers: the CD layer plays on any CD player, the SACD layer on an SACD player. Seven albums are available in both formats, “Two Against Nature” and “Everything Must Go” as double LPs at 45 rpm and on SACD.
Who played on the Steely Dan albums?
On the first three albums the band with Denny Dias, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Jim Hodder, after that a changing cast of session players. According to our product texts, the musician heard most often after Becker and Fagen is Victor Feldman: on seven of the nine albums, ahead of Denny Dias (six) and Chuck Rainey (five).
Which tapes are the UHQRs cut from?
According to Analogue Productions, from the original master tape for “Can’t Buy a Thrill”, “Countdown to Ecstasy”, “Pretzel Logic”, “Katy Lied” and “The Royal Scam”. For “Aja” the publisher names an analogue tape copy at 15 ips, for “Gaucho” an analogue tape copy from 1980, originally equalised by Bob Ludwig. Bernie Grundman cut all seven.
Why is it called “Katy Lied”?
The title refers to “Doctor Wu”, and the original cover shows a katydid: image and wordplay meet on the sleeve.
Details from our product texts, years = year of release (as of 19 Sept 2026). Price and availability live from the shop.
