"The Royal Scam" by STEELY DAN (2008 and 2011 Japan-Only 'SHM-CD' Reissue in MINI LP ARTWORK) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Crossed A Diamond With A Pearl..."

The Dan's fifth studio platter "The Royal Scam" arrived with some serious anticipation on the part of fans and musician insiders alike (I can remember Robert Plant of Zeppelin raving about its musical structures at the time) - and typically it didn't disappoint.

Continuing on from the Praying Mantis artwork of 1975's "Katy Lied" (itself a wee bit of a cynical beast) – Donald Fagen and Walter Becker's 1976 LP opus saw a fractured social and political world reflected in snarling reptiles atop cold unfeeling skyscrapers ready to devour a homeless man trying to get some forty-winks at the base of their monetary pedestals. "…I've got a case of dynamite…I could hold out here all night…" - screamed one of the album's miscreants in the lyrics to "Don't Take Me Alive" and you're fairly certain that he's to be taken seriously or seriously taken out - whichever arrives first.

Steely Dan's "The Royal Scam" was not Laura Ashley nice – it hissed and sneered and felt harsh - and you can understand now why the upbeat "Here At The Western World" (recorded apparently at the same sessions) was left off the album – it just didn't fit into the holes-in-my-shoes real-world cruelty of "The Royal Scam". I've always loved the song and it would eventually turn up on the ABC Records "Greatest Hits" double-album in 1977 much to the band's chagrin (they hadn't given permission to its release) and has remained an unexpected highlight on retrospective compilations and Box Set reissues ever since.

But in 2018 – what version of the Danster's fifth album do you buy on CD? For such an audiophile band – there's actually only three choices for "The Royal Scam". First up is the Fagen/Becker approved 1999 remaster that is widely available in every territory – the UK variant is MCA Records 811 708-2 (Barcode 5011781170825) and can be bought for under a five spot if you're on a budget. Third and latest is a Japanese 'Free Soul 20th Anniversary' reissue from 21 May 2014 on Geffen/Universal UICY-76193 (Barcode 4988005821515) that comes in a plain jewel case with an Obi strip.

But the second reissue is the one I want to deal with – the Japanese-only reissue in MINI LP REPRO ARTWORK on the 'SHM-CD FORMAT' which uses the 1999 Fagen/Becker/Nichols Remaster. Our poison first came to us in the land of the rising sun 25 June 2008 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93519 sporting the newish SHM-CD format – a Super High Materials disc promising better fidelity (a different sort of CD playable on all machines). This version was then 'reissued' 29 Dec 2011 (again in Japan) with the same catalogue number, the same mini repro LP artwork and the same Barcode 4988005518330. If you copy and paste 'either' barcode above into the search bar on Amazon - you will get the different entries and their varying prices [Note: with regard to repro artwork there was also a Japanese 'paper sleeve collection' issue released 3 May 2000 with Mini LP Repro artwork on MCA Records MVCZ-10076 (Barcode 4988067040565) – itself reissued 14 March 2007 - but nether were on the SHM-CD format]. Let's get to the music...

1. Kid Charlemagne [Side 1]

2. The Caves Of Altamira

3. Don't Take Me Alive

4. Sign In Strange

5. The Fez

6. Green Earrings [Side 2]

7. Haitian Divorce

8. Everything You Did

9. The Royal Scam

The original vinyl album first appeared in May 1976 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-931 and June 1976 in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5161. Produced by GARY KAZT – the album peaked at No. 15 on the US LP charts. The core band was Singer and Keyboardist Donald Fagen, Bassist Walter Becker and Guitarist Dennis Dias with a host of session players…

LEAD VOCALS: Donald Fagen

GUITARS: Walter Becker, Larry Carlton, Dennis Dias, Dean Parks and Elliot Randall

KEYBOARDS: Donald Fagen, Victor Feldman, Paul Griffin and Don Grolnick

BASS: Walter Becker and Chuck Rainey

DRUMS: Rick Marotta and Bernard Purdie

PERCUSSION: Gary Coleman and Victor Feldman

HORNS: Chuck and Bob Findley, Slyde Hyde, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson and John Klemmer

BACKING VOCALS: Donald Fagen, Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Shirley Matthews, Michael McDonald (of The Doobie Brothers) and Timothy B. Schmit (of The Eagles)

The Japanese 5" facsimile sleeve uses the American artwork with the inner card sleeve also replicated. Additionally it also comes with the 1999 fold-out booklet by Fagen/Becker from the international CD releases, its own 16-page white booklet with all liner notes in Japanese (unfortunately), an Obi strip and a protective plastic re-sealable outer. The fold-out Fagen/Becker inlay wisely prints the lyrics on one side so you can actually read them as well as all the recording credits (unfortunately neither took the time to explain who played what on what track). The Remaster was carried out by original album Engineer ROGER NICHOLS at Digital Atomics Studios in Miami and like Producer Gary Katz - Roger Nichols is a name synonymous with the band and their sound.

What is a SHM-CD and does it sound better than the standard 1999 issue that's available very cheaply? Some say yes, others say it's a con. It was developed in 2008 by JVC as a brand new form of CD with far better retrieval capabilities. The problem is that they are ONLY available in JAPAN and usually at considerably higher cost. Also one of the biggest arguments put forward 'against' them is that you need a high-end player to get the best out of these CDs. I don't agree. I own about 25 of these beauties and the sound on all is more than impressive - it's in the musicality - it's in the details.

From the moment the Funk keyboards of "Kid Charlemagne" kick in - you can feel the oomph. Larry Carlton's amazingly musical yet off-kilter fretwork feels more pronounced too and as Donald roars "...is there gas in the car.." like he's just swallowed a whole tin of prunes and is in a fretful hurry to get somewhere - you can safely say job done. But if I'm honest (and it's strange for such an audiophile band) - the Production values seem to take a massive audio plunge on track 2 - one of my all-time fave Steely Dan songs - "The Caves Of Altamira". Just when you were hoping that the brass section so integral to the songs grower melody would feel beefier - you only get a very slight improvement and you have to crank the 'before the fall...when they wrote it on the wall' tune to get any real power out of it. The lyrics still affect me after all these decades - "...the busy world was not for me...so I went and found my own..." - but the sound is good rather than great. It's odd because both "Don't Take Me Alive" and "Sign In Stranger" (Pepe has a scar from ear to ear - he'll make your mug-shots disappear) are the opposite - sonic marvels that kick with the force of an ornery mule - the guitars and brass-breaks in both pumping out of your living-room speakers with bad intent. It's like the Production on "The Caves Of Altamira" slipped somehow - I don't know. But what I do know is that the Side 1 finisher "The Fez" sounds way more alive as it shuffles to its holy man end on swirling keyboards and spitting camels (won't be able to do it without your fez on boys).

Over on Side 2 the full blown grubby cynic kicks in with "Green Earrings" - its curve-ball keyboard notes snaking out of your speakers like they're about to spit at your granny asleep in the rocking-chair by the fire. As Fagen hisses snatches of words (the rings of rare design) - you afraid to dance along with it lest it be some kind of mortal sin and a pissed-off God is watching. No such problem with the unlikely single "Haitian Divorce" where Babs and Clean Willie are in love (they say). No tears and no remorse as they get their quickie separation and Charlie gets to put more lotion in his kinky hair as the Preacher's face turns red. Even know it's a fantastic groove, the voice-box guitar only adding to its kinky so-and-so rhythms. We're then hit with what I feel is the album sleeper - "Everything You Did" where Donald wants to hear everything in the filthy mind of a roller skater as he threatens to get a gun and shoot down her lover. And it ends on the long and builder-magisterial title track where we 'feel the glory' of "The Royal Scam" - that bank of stunning female backing vocals giving the Blues Drone Beat such underlying power (trouble in the city of St. John and the Promised Land). It's a great end to a really great album. And "Aja" would follow in 1977 cementing their musical and innovative legend way beyond the decade...

To sum up - yes these SHM-CD reissue suckers are pricey - and they really should be domestically available at a much cheaper price. But if you've any love for this stunning Seventies band - then you owe it to yourself to indulge in one. Problem - you'll probably want the other 6 titles in this series on this format too and your bank manager will definitely want your guts for garters. Now back to the entirely reasonable rational in the lyrics from just another scurvy brother - "...I'm a book-keeper's son...I don't want to shoot no one...I crossed my old man back in Oregon...Don't take me alive..." Nice one Don…nice one son…

              By way of info on STEELY DAN Japanese Audiophile CDs and their variants 
                                               This list is accurate to June 2018...

SHM-CD (Jewel Case AND Mini Repro LP Artwork Versions):

1. "Can't Buy A Thrill" (1972)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-20122 (Barcode 4988005639240) – 1999 Remaster

(ii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93515 (Barcode 4988005518293) – 1999 Remaster

2. "Countdown To Ecstasy" (1973)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-25036 (Barcode 4988005677754) – 1999 Remaster

(ii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93516 (Barcode 4988005518309) – 1999 Remaster

(iii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD re-released 30 July 2014 on Geffen/Universal UICY-76427 (Barcode 4988005831552) - features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes and HR Cutting on the Disc

3. "Pretzel Logic" (1974)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-25037 (Barcode 4988005677761) – 1999 Remaster

(ii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93517 (Barcode 4988005518316) – 1999 Remaster

(iii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD re-released 24 September 2014 on Geffen/Universal UICY-76524 (Barcode 4988005838209) - features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes and HR Cutting on the Disc

4. "Katy Lied" (1975)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-25038 (Barcode 4988005677778) – 1999 Remaster

(ii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93518 (Barcode 4988005518323) – 1999 Remaster

5. "The Royal Scam" (1976)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-25039 (Barcode 4988005677785)

(ii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93519 (Barcode 4988005518330)

Version (ii) was originally issued 25 June 2008 with the same artwork, catalogue number and barcode. The 29 Dec 2011 version is technically a reissue

6. "Aja" (1977)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 23 January 2008 on Geffen/Universal UICY-90764 (Barcode 4988005502070)

(ii) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 24 June 2009 on Geffen/Universal UICY-91430 (Barcode 4988005560810)

(iii) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD re-released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-25040 (Barcode 4988005677792)

(iv) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD re-released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93520 (Barcode 4988005518347)

(v) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD re-released 25 September 2013 on Geffen/Universal UICY-75768 (Barcode 4988005782274) – HR Cutting

(vi) Non SHM CD Issue (standard CD) in a Standard Jewel Case re-released 17 May 2017 on Geffen/Universal UICY-78312 (Barcode 4988031220726)

7. "Gaucho" (1980)

(i) Standard Jewel Case SHM-CD released 12 October 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-25041 (Barcode 4988005677808)

(ii) Mini LP Repro Artwork SHM-CD released 29 December 2011 on Geffen/Universal UICY-93521 (Barcode 4988005518354)

PLATINUM SHM-CD (Mini LP Repro Artwork inside a White Bordered Box):

"Can't Buy A Thrill", "Katy Lied" and "The Royal Scam" – not issued on this format as of March 2018

1. "Countdown To Ecstasy" (1973)

(i) Released 30 July 2014 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9566 (Barcode 4988005831590) - features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes

2. "Pretzel Logic" (1974)

(i) Released 24 September 2014 on Geffen/Universal UICY-40085 (Barcode 4988005838155)

3. "Aja" (1977)

(i) Released 25 September 2013 on Geffen/Universal UICY-40007 (Barcode 4988005782175)

SHM-SACD:

These Japanese SHM-SACD releases require a CD player that has SUPER AUDIO playback facilities - they will NOT PLAY IN A STANDARD PLAYER. There are two variants of Remasters - 2010 DSD versions done exclusively in Japan and based on Japanese original analogue tapes – and 2014 variants based on US analogue tapes with HR Disc Cutting. The 2014 variants come in white-bordered boxes like the Platinum SHM-CD issues.

"Can't Buy A Thrill" and "Katy Lied" – not issued on this format as of March 2018

1. "Countdown To Ecstasy"

(i) Released 30 July 2014 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9566 (Barcode 4988005831590) – Cardboard Sleeve Mini LP Packaging - features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes and HR Cutting on the Disc

(ii) Released 24 August 2016 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-15005 (Barcode 4988031161814) – Standard Jewel Case Reissue - features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes

2. "Pretzel Logic" (1974)

(i) Released 24 September 2014 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9568 (Barcode 4988005838223) - Cardboard Sleeve Mini LP Packaging - features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes and HR Cutting on the Disc

(ii) Released 24 August 2016 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-15004 (Barcode 4988031161807) – Standard Jewel Case Reissue -- features 2014 DSD Remastering from original US analogue master tapes

3. "The Royal Scam" (1976)

(i) Released 28 September 2011 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9501 (Barcode 4988005653628) – Withdrawn

4. "Aja" (1977)

(i) Released 30 June 2010 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9026 (Barcode 498800 5614384) – features 2010 DSD Remastering

(ii) Re-released 26 November 2014 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9591 (Barcode 4988005857439) –features 2010 DSD Remastering

5. "Gaucho" (1980)

(i) Released 24 October 2010 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9039 (Barcode 4988005633330) in oversized Card Repro Artwork

(ii) Released 26 November 2014 on Geffen/Universal UIGY-9592 (Barcode 4988005857446) in SACD Jewel Case

UHQCD with MQA-Technology

(Ultimate Hi Quality CD encoded with Master Quality Authenticated Tech)  

1. "Pretzel Logic" (1974) – released 20 June 2018 on Geffen/Universal UICY-40199 (Barcode 4988031277430)

2. "The Royal Scam" (1976) – released 20 June 2018 on Geffen/Universal UICY-40200 (Barcode 4988031277447)

3. "Aja" (1977) – released 20 June 2018 on Geffen/Universal UICY-40201 (Barcode 4988031277454)