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/ News

Go Back, Jack, Do It Again: Steely Dan's Discography Gets Overhaul from UMe, Analogue Productions

September 16, 2022 By Joe Marchese 24 Comments

Steely Dan Cant Buy a Thrill

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

Between 1972 and 1980, Steely Dan - the loose unit of like-minded musicians and singers led by songwriter-producers Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - released seven albums on the ABC and MCA labels.  While Steely Dan was never a "singles artist," charting just three top ten hits, the band's albums were era-defining affairs; six of their LPs have attained at least Platinum status in the United States, with the seventh respectably going Gold.  Now, that epochal catalogue defined by immaculate production, top-notch musicianship, irresistible pop hooks, intricate jazz-based arrangements, and quirky, biting lyrics is returning to vinyl in a partnership between UMe and Analogue Productions.

All seven original ABC/MCA Steely Dan albums will be available as standard 33-1/3 RPM 180-gram black vinyl editions via Geffen/UMe, and as limited-edition premium 45 RPM versions on Ultra High-Quality Vinyl (UHQR) from Analogue Productions.  The label arm of audiophile storefront Acoustic Sounds will also release the catalogue in stereo hybrid SACD format (playable on all CD players).

The campaign, overseen by Donald Fagen, begins on November 4 with a 50th anniversary edition of the Dan's debut, 1972's Can't Buy a Thrill.  The album found Becker and Fagen mining a fully-formed sound that was broadly in a soft rock vein but incorporated diverse influences including the jazz sensibility that would define their later records.  The top 20 album success yielded two hit singles (the sly "Do It Again" and buoyant "Reelin' in the Years") and also included the future rock-era standard "Dirty Work," the latter of which was sung by original lead vocalist David Palmer.

Keyboardist Donald Fagen assumed lead vocal duties for 1973's Countdown to Ecstasy, once again joined by bassist Becker, guitarists Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Denny Dias, and drummer Jim Hodder.  The album (which spun off the moderate hits "My Old School" and "Show Biz Kids" and the fan favorite "Bodhisattva") augured for the Dan's future as it welcomed jazz veterans Ernie Watts, Ray Brown, and Victor Feldman as well as rock guitarist Rick Derringer.  On 1974's Pretzel Logic, the band, producer Gary Katz, and engineer Roger Nichols restored Steely Dan to the charts with the slinky top five hit "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number."  It would be the final album to feature the full original line-up as Becker and Fagen became more reliant on studio musicians and singers - in this case, including Watts, Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit, Michael Omartian, Toto's David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, The Crusaders' Wilton Felder, "Pink Panther" saxophone legend Plas Johnson, and veteran bassist Chuck Rainey. Becker also began to assume guitar duties as well as bass, previewing the departure of Skunk Baxter for The Doobie Brothers.  Pretzel Logic was also Steely Dan's final album to be released during their time as a touring outfit; soon, Becker and Fagen would concentrate exclusively on the studio and its infinite possibilities.

Katy Lied (1975) welcomed keyboardist-singer (and future Doobie) Michael McDonald to the fold along with a host of familiar names including Wrecking Crew drum legend Hal Blaine (who brought his singular style to "Any World (That I'm Welcome To))," guitarist Larry Carlton, saxophonist Phil Woods, and the returning Paich, Porcaro, Feldman, and company.  The album continued, and refined, the sleek sound of its predecessor with such tracks as the top 40 entry "Black Friday."  For The Royal Scam (1976), Becker, Fagen, and their all-star band embraced a more guitar-oriented sound though hardly a more straightforward one.  Of the album's three singles, "Kid Charlemagne" and "The Fez" both placed in the lower reaches of the Hot 100.

The stage had been set, though, for Steely Dan's most successful album and, arguably, biggest triumph.  With a lean seven tracks, Aja (1977) was all-killer, no-filler.  Jazz-rock of the highest order (with an emphasis on the jazz, thanks to the striking brass charts), Aja moved the band into a new level of musical sophistication.  While the sonics were so clean and slick that its songs have found new life on yacht rock playlists, Aja thrived on seemingly-effortless complexity.  The ode to "Peg" featuring Michael McDonald's prominent vocals, reached No. 11 on the Pop survey while the indelible portraits of "Deacon Blues" and "Josie" weren't far behind at No. 19 and No. 26.  But every track on Aja was instantly memorable, including the epic title track and the irresistible "Black Cow."  More than three years passed, however, before Steely Dan returned with their final album for 15 years.  Gaucho (1980) shared many of the same hallmarks as Aja and introduced the No. 10 hit "Hey Nineteen" and shimmering "Time Out of Mind," the latter with Mark Knopfler on guitar.  Though many found it paling in comparison only to the pinnacle that was Aja, Gaucho, a top ten LP, allowed Steely Dan to go out on top.  Two years later, Donald Fagen would carry on the Dan sound with his acclaimed solo debut The Nightfly.

All albums in this campaign have been newly remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes except for Aja, which will be mastered from an analog, non-EQ'd tape copy, and Gaucho, which will be sourced from a 1980 analog tape copy originally EQ'd by Bob Ludwig. (The press release indicates that there is no evidence the original masters containing the flat mixes of Aja and Gaucho were delivered to the record label.  As a result, it's presumed the tapes no longer exist.) Lacquers for UMe's standard 33 1/3 RPM 180-gram LPs will be cut by Alex Abrash at AA Mastering studio from high-resolution digital files of Grundman's new masters and pressed at Precision. They will be housed in reproductions of the original artwork.

The super deluxe 45 RPM UHQR editions will be pressed at Analogue Productions' Quality Record Pressings on 200-gram Clarity Vinyl and packaged in a lavish box.  Tip-on jackets have been printed by Stoughton.  They will include a booklet detailing the process of making a UHQR along with a certificate of inspection.  Each UHQR is strictly limited to 20,000 copies.

Can't Buy a Thrill arrives on November 4 in standard 180-gram vinyl from Geffen/UMe and UHQR and SACD from Analogue Productions.  You'll find pre-order links below!  Watch this space for news of other titles in the series as they roll out; in the meantime, all UHQR and SACD titles are up for pre-order at Acoustic Sounds (with release dates TBD).

Steely Dan, Can't Buy a Thrill (ABC Records ABCX-758, 1972 - reissued UMe/Analogue Productions, 2022)

180-gram Remastered LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
UHQR: Analogue Productions
Stereo Hybrid SACD: Analogue Productions

  1. Do It Again
  2. Dirty Work
  3. Kings
  4. Midnite Cruiser
  5. Only a Fool Would Say That
  6. Reelin' in the Years
  7. Fire in the Hole
  8. Brooklyn
  9. Change of the Guard
  10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again​

Categories: News Formats: CD, SACD, Vinyl Genre: Classic Rock, Pop Tags: Steely Dan

Avatar photo

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. Ben in Colorado says

    September 16, 2022 at 6:35 pm

    Excellent news! I wish that the 45 RPM records didn’t cost $150 a pop. Too rich for me. I think I might do all the SACDs though because that sounds fantastic as well.
    Steely Dan is one of my all-time favorite bands, and one of the few bands that I’ve never got tired of listening to. I don’t know what it is about the music, but it always puts me in an excellent mood.

    Reply
  2. Rob says

    September 16, 2022 at 7:26 pm

    Really excited to get updated masters of these titles. Really lusting for the UHQRs but $150 is too rich for my blood particularly in times of recession. Will probably order three out of seven UHQRs and eat Rice and Beans this fall.. things I do for my hobby.

    Reply
  3. Philip John Birtwistle says

    September 16, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    It's a shame there's no surround mixes coming out. Just imagine Aja in glorious 5.1.....

    Reply
    • Phil Cohen says

      September 17, 2022 at 9:34 am

      The multitracks for 3 of Aja's songs are missing.

      Reply
      • Philip John Birtwistle says

        September 17, 2022 at 12:51 pm

        Ah, shame!

        Reply
      • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

        September 17, 2022 at 1:53 pm

        Hopefully, modern audio separation technology will one day be used to address those missing songs. The surround mix of GAUCHO is stunning.

        Reply
  4. Galley says

    September 16, 2022 at 10:05 pm

    All nine albums will be released on SACD!

    Reply
  5. Cameron says

    September 16, 2022 at 11:26 pm

    Very happy to hear these will be released on SACD. Curious to know more about “Aja” and “Gaucho” and the speculation the masters no longer exist (lost in that warehouse fire?). Could these albums be candidates for remixes from the original multitracks? Or were those tapes burned up as well?

    Reply
  6. Bruce Padgett says

    September 17, 2022 at 1:39 am

    If I read this correctly, the SACD for “Gaucho” will also be sourced from the same tape copy EQ’d for vinyl by Bob Ludwig. Wouldn’t that compromise the SACD’s potential sound quality during the mastering process? This strongly indicates that the multitracks are missing; the same probable reason why “Aja” is also using a tape copy. But at least the “Aja” copy is unequalized.

    It does make one pause and wonder what sources were used for prior audiophile versions of those two albums. Hope all involved are finally working from the absolute earliest generation tapes still available. Also, interesting that UMe must use digital files to make their own vinyl. To paraphrase the Soup Nazi, no analog for you.

    Reply
  7. Tom Heusinger says

    September 17, 2022 at 6:41 am

    What's next? REO Speedwagon on UHQR Vinyl? I tried getting into SD but I find them utterly non interesting, not to say boring. However, I am glad to see there is a market for UHQR vinyl so maybe the next Miles Davis project will be funded by this. On the corner, please, whomever it concerns 🙂

    Reply
  8. Paul English says

    September 17, 2022 at 7:04 am

    Any bonus tracks? Am thinking of 7" edits particularly.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      September 17, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      Unfortunately not, though I'd love to see those single versions (including "Dallas" and "Sail the Waterway") reissued some day.

      Reply
  9. David Irving says

    September 17, 2022 at 2:39 pm

    I just preordered the 'Can't Buy A Thrill' vinyl and the 'Aja' SACD. I'll probably end up purchasing a few more titles later.

    Reply
  10. zubb says

    September 17, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    This is great news! However, for sentimental reasons, I really wish they had resurrected the ABC and MCA labels for these, especially on the vinyl releases. The black Geffen label on Can't Buy A Thrill just looks odd. That said, I am in on all of these, mostly the SACD's

    Reply
    • Bill says

      October 12, 2022 at 6:54 pm

      I agree

      Reply
  11. Soop says

    September 18, 2022 at 7:00 am

    I wish they’d squeeze “FM” and “Western World” onto these SACDs.

    Reply
    • Bruce Padgett says

      September 18, 2022 at 8:42 pm

      Agreed. As there are three different versions of “FM”, inclusion of even one would seem fair. “Dallas” and “Sail the Waterway” should be tacked on as well. Perhaps a full rarities album is indeed planned for the future. Hope I’m still alive by the time it comes out.

      Reply
  12. Dale says

    September 18, 2022 at 11:39 am

    Such a missed opportunity not to include the quad version of Can't Buy A Thrill especially!

    Reply
  13. Jeff says

    September 18, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    Would be super nice to see the rare and very elusive pre Can’t Buy a Thrill 1972 Steely Dan 45 single “Dallas” / “Sail the Waterway” reissued. It’s never been included on any remaster, compilation or anthology CD released by the band. There’s no doubt that fans of Steely Dan would be thrilled to have those two superb songs on CD. It would also be great to have a compilation of any other rare and previously unreleased recordings that the band might’ve recorded.

    Reply
    • ed says

      September 18, 2022 at 8:25 pm

      Agreed. Unfortunately, the decision not to release those 2 tracks means that fans really can't buy a thrill. Sigh...

      Reply
    • zubb says

      September 18, 2022 at 9:32 pm

      Does anyone know if those masters survived the tragic Universal fire?

      Reply
      • Rob says

        September 19, 2022 at 4:22 pm

        Considering Steely Dan was listed as one of the many artists affected by the fire, and that they seem to have access to the 2-track masters for most of these albums, I'd guess the quad masters and other unusual items might have been burned then.

        Reply
        • Rob says

          September 19, 2022 at 4:23 pm

          I'm trying to say the 2-tracks weren't affected, but other items of theirs likely were.

          Reply
  14. Rob M says

    November 4, 2022 at 9:28 am

    Could not care less about vinyl…I’m in for the SACDs, but annoyed they won’t let us pre-order the whole batch and get free shipping on each. Other sites let you do that. I understand the premium for packing up vinyl, but not SACDs.

    Guess I’ll just wait until every OTHER release and buy them two at a time. Annoying.

    Reply

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