Ranking The Steely Dan Albums

[@gorancabrajic3240]

Fantastic episode, so many great albums. Countdown to Ecstasy Is my favorite. Cheers my friend and prog on.

[@TheProgCorner]

That’s a perfect album. I think they had three of those!!!

[@johnmedland3399]

Great list Scot, Aja is amazing especially the title track. My fave Dan track of all time is on your runner up - Don't Take Me Alive is such a classic. Cheers!

[@TheProgCorner]

Two of my favorite albums!!!

[@rongreen8962]

What I love about the Dan world is that any ranking of the albums is acceptable. All the material is that strong.

[@TheProgCorner]

You know it!!!

[@brucybabyy7355]

love all steely dan! in ,93 buddy a me were in Anaheim leaving the motel for the NHRA winter nationals . as we drove out that morning in our mustang convertible rental . just about to turn on to the highway. " do it again " came on so perfect on a beautiful February morning! will never forget.

[@TheProgCorner]

Fantastic!!! They don’t write ‘em like that anymore!!!

[@markspooner1224]

A Steely Dan ranking, that's great! I wouldn't argue with that ranking it's pretty spot on. My favourite has to be Countdown, I can sing along to all the songs on the album and 'Any man left on the Rio Grande Is the king of the world As far as I know' is just a terrific lyric (also shine in your Japan).

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m doing a Top Lyricist episode soon…

[@markspooner1224]

@@TheProgCorner Great!

[@garyolshan4177]

Good show and your enthusiasm for the Dan is well deserved. . Guacho is flawless for me, and Glamour Profession is one of the greatest songs by any band in rock history! They could make a fucking movie about all the L.A :characters and drug culture in the 70s.

[@adelharduslange9955]

I haven't heard all of them, but this made me really want to go back to them. Of the ones I've listened to so far 'Aja' would probably be my favorite as well. Thanks for the video Scot!

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you!!!! 👍👍👍

[@adelharduslange9955]

@@TheProgCorner Also, thanks for suggesting Love Supreme! I can't get enough of the Flower Kings now, complete change of heart! I'm seeing them live this Saturday, super stoked!

[@TheProgCorner]

Wow!!!!! So jealous!!!

[@shuriflwrs]

right on dude! terrific video, Royal Scam and EMG are my favorite

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!! Love the Dan!!!!

[@robertharvey2604]

So excited to see this video. I love these guys. Growing up I always heard the hits on FM radio but never got into them until later in life. But as time has gone on I find myself listening to them more and more. Great songwriting and musicianship. Aja is also my favorite of theirs. As of now I would go: 2. Royal Scam 3. Countdown 4. Pretzel Logic 5. Can't Buy a Thrill 6. Katy 7. Gaucho 8. Two Against 9. Everything

[@TheProgCorner]

Excellent!!!

[@stevecowder4774]

Great ranking. I’d have to go with “ Countdown “ as my #1 favorite album. They really peaked early with that one and Pretzel Logic. However, “ Aja “ is a dandy and I can’t agree more with that pounding drum solo on that song. I like Royal Scam but I absolutely LOVE the cover art on that one. I think it’s one of the most wicked and well designed covers from the entire 1970s.

[@TheProgCorner]

Funny, Fagen HATED that artwork!!!

[@stevecowder4774]

@TheProgCorner That's okay. He's an artist and his own worst critic 😆.

[@howie5th]

Side note for Countdown to Ecstasy: My favorite two songs from this album are the last two. Pearl of the Quarter and King of the World. How often are the last two songs of an album great?

[@TheProgCorner]

King Of The World!!!! Amazing track.

[@dangerdolls]

I love Steely Dan. I had the first two Steely Dan albums when I only had about six total albums. That said I'm a contrarian when it comes to this "band" in that I prefer the band version more than the (To my ears more sterile) later studio version. I now know of course that my vision of what the band could be was diametrically opposed to the vision of Becker and Fagen. So they spent their career moving away from me. LOL My ranking looks like... 1. Countdown to Ecstasy 2. Pretzel Logic 3. Can't Buy a Thrill 4. Katy Lied 5. The Royal Scam 6. Aja 7. Gaucho 8. Two Against Nature 9. Everything Must Go

[@TheProgCorner]

I hate it when bands do that!!!!!

[@larrysmith5249]

Great ranking. The thing about their catalog is that they are all so good, every ranking is the correct ranking.

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

Well wicked ranking. Some great albums - some I knew. What a band. What was different? Sound was much clearer and you were like nearly restrained? I love the channel man. Keep it going. All the best. Dave✅✅

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m trying to control myself!!!!

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

@@TheProgCorner well it was still a cracking review

[@TheProgCorner]

Thanks!!!! I’m just doing what I do!!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

​@@TheProgCornerControl? Why? Lol!😎

[@raydunn8262]

Fun Fact: Some AM stations replaced the F on FM with the A from Aja; they didn't want to promote FM radio. When FM was a hit, AM radio stations were still chugging along, barely. FM is the title song of the movie that didn't do well.

[@TheProgCorner]

The movie was terrible.

[@mikaelsvanberg6300]

9. Two Against Nature 8. Everything Must Go 7. Gaucho 6. The Royal Scam 5. Pretzel Logic 4. Countdown To Ecstasy 3. Aja 2. Katy Lied 1. Can't Buy A Thrill

[@mikaelsvanberg6300]

One cool thing about Dan is that all rankings seems to be different, although Aja is mostly number one.

[@TheProgCorner]

I can’t argue with that!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@TheProgCorner AJA is a masterpiece!👍😎

[@mikereiss4216]

I need to step up my Steely Dan collection. I've heard all or most over the years but am only really familiar with a few. Pretzel Logic is really great and I have a soft spot for CBAT which doesn't sound like any of their later albums (not as much jazz influence imo but still great especially side one which is a perfect album side imo).

[@TheProgCorner]

Side One is perfect.

[@theboris700]

I need to know music similar to Aja, which is a masterpiece I can't stop listening to. Any recommendations, please? I couldn't find anything that sounds as good AND combines jazz and rock so perfectly.

[@TheProgCorner]

I honestly don’t think anyone ever came close to this sound. A true of of a kind!!! (The Royal Scam and Gaucho are probably the next best thing…)

[@soberobserver1646]

Yes, Gaucho. Listen to it immediately!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

“Only a Fool would Say that”. Man I play that song all the time. Great band all albums are really good.

[@TheProgCorner]

Love them!!!! Always have!!!!

[@marcelob4132]

My Top 3 regarding consistency: The darkish Royal Scam, the rocky Countdown To Ecstasy and the jazzy AJA ,of course

[@TheProgCorner]

That’s the right Top Three!!! 👍👍👍

[@donbrown9215]

That was good aja is also my favorite. Thank you so much for my signed CD u guys did a really good job it's in my car CD player as we speak yeah I'm an old guy with an old car but it's got CD n cassette player

[@TheProgCorner]

That’s all you need!!!!

[@kellyl6883]

Steely Dan were never quite prog , but their jazz rock was phenomenal. Aja would be my favourite, its just mastered and redorded so bloody well.

[@chriskarley384]

Great video!! I only flip flopped a couple of your slottings.What a great run of albums!! You are so dead on about the song Aja!! Just incredible musicianship and Steve Gadd's contribution is redonkulous😂!!!!

[@TheProgCorner]

Head spinning.

[@qgge]

great video! we have the same top three, aja is my favourite album of all time

[@TheProgCorner]

Aja is perfect. A stunning record. Probably the best sounding album I’ve ever heard (but I’m no audiophile…)

[@pelegrim3264]

This is very unexpected and pleasant! For me, Steely Dan is the perfect band, they don't have bad albums, they don't have bad songs. Just yesterday I enjoyed listening to Aja and Gaucho. Here's my ranking of all these great albums: 9.Everything Must Go 8.Two Against Nature 7.The Royal Scam 6.Can't Buy A Thrill 5.Katy Lied 4.Gaucho 3.Aja 2.Pretzel Logic 1.Countdown To Ecstasy. I also read somewhere that Countdown To Ecstasy was or is the favorite album of Dave Gregory from XTC, based on this album he made his beautiful arrangements in Skylarking!

[@TheProgCorner]

I love Dave Gregory!!!!

[@pelegrim3264]

@@TheProgCorner I am also a musician and play bass, guitar and keyboards for myself. And I wrote somewhere here that Drums And Wires is my favorite XTC album, largely because of what Dave does there with his guitar, along with Andy Partridge. Very unusual guitar parts, twitchy, extraordinary, for example Nigel, Helicopter, Scissor Man and etc. And the way he arranged the keyboards is also fantastic, take for example Ballet For A Rainy Day, Rook, Chalkhills And Children... This is another aspect in which these nice guys from Swindon can be classified as prog! Progressive Pop? I don’t know. 😃

[@TheProgCorner]

XTC is my third favorite band ever (after Yes and Genesis!!!)

[@pelegrim3264]

@@TheProgCorner Mine definitely too) (After The Rolling Stones and King Crimson.)

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!!!

[@PJprog]

Fantastic band. Love Steely Dan , my top 3 : 1. The Royal Scam. 2. Aja. 3. Katy Lied. But I'm going to talk about Rosie Vela's Zazu album that you mentioned at the top of the programme Scot. IT'S AWESOME !!! It has a production quality equal to Aja , in the way its recorded by Gary Katz. Phenomenal pristine quality. A great test disc for hi-fi , I used it a lot in the mid eighties. Catchy song hooks....you just know it's Steely Dan DNA !! And what a beautiful , rich , goosebump-inducing voice Rosie has. Can't big it up enough this record !! They are such a talented bunch this crowd. Many thanks Scot. 😍

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, I gotta check that Zazu record out. Been hearing about it for years!!!

[@michaelfurbank3504]

Thanks from the UK for your fantastic reviews and your good wishes to our beloved King - but on a point of detail it was Chucky 1st who had his head snipped off.

[@TheProgCorner]

Off with his head!!! I get my Chucky’s all confused!!!

[@peterhopewell9431]

Hi Scot greetings from the UK. Love your channel but must correct it was Chuckie the first who had his head cut off not Chuckie the second. Keep up the great job.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, apparently I wasn’t paying attention in History class!!!!

[@TigerMtnKing]

I knew Aja was going to be number 1 before you even started Scot. How could it not be, it's genius! 🤩

[@TheProgCorner]

Just had to be!!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

​@@TheProgCornerMasterpiece!😎

[@AlmostEthical]

Well played, Scot, though I'd put Pretzel Logic way lower. Over the years I've found that the albums that I keep wanting to listen to are Countdown to Ecstasy and the Royal Scam. The former for the amazing music and the latter for some of the best lyrics I've ever heard.

[@TheProgCorner]

Good call.

[@danny1959]

I think that Dennis Dias actually wound up mixing Katy Lied after they had technical issues regarding some new Dolby noise reduction technology. Nobody else could face it, apparently.

[@TheProgCorner]

I did not know that!!! Very cool.

[@Sammeep02]

Ah yes, the Dan. When I started collecting vinyl and first took over my Mom's vinyl collection a 45 of Deacon Blues was in the mix. I put it on and I'm like "holy sh!t, this is amazing." Only a Fool... , Rikki Don't and Time Out of Mind among my favorites as well.

[@TheProgCorner]

I love Rikki. One of my favorite songs ever!!!

[@Sammeep02]

Ps. I saw the Wheel of Yes thing you were on. It was so amazing. I was pleasantly surprised to see 90125 in S tier WHERE IT BELONGS. I saw a comment on there that was like "90125 in S tier? What are you smoking? It should be C tier." For me, anything B tier and above is positive. I didn't wanna piss em off but I had the urge to respond "I'm not smoking I'm drinking - drinking 'listen to the intro of Changes and tell me it's not prog' juice"

[@dasan1829]

I'm a young and new Steely Dan listener but have quickly picked up their music and are now one of my favourite bands. Always interesting to see people's rankings and opinions on the albums, and your ranking is the most similar I've seen to how I'd rank them: 1. Aja (10/10) Phenomenal album with no misses, Peg is one of my favourite 2 SD tracks and Aja (the title track) would also easily make my top 5 SD tracks. Love Michael McDonald's heavy presence here too (I love his work with the Doobie Brothers and on Christopher Cross's self titled album too). Masterpiece. 2. Countdown to Ecstasy (10/10) Interchangeable with Aja for top spot, perhaps I'm a little biased as this was the first SD album I heard in full which kickstarted my love for them. Show Biz Kids is my other favourite SD song alongside Peg, the live version of it on The Midnight Special is spectacular and the slide guitar work is something else entirely. Love the varying guitar sounds across the whole album too. Overall, a more refined and jazz-influenced Can't Buy A Thrill. 3. The Royal Scam (9.5/10) Many wonderful tracks like Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive. Also love the talkbox on Haitian Divorce in the chorus interchanging with Fagen's vocals, almost like it's a song with 2 lead singers. (Gap between my "perfect 3" albums and the rest) 4. Can't Buy a Thrill (8.5/10) Some classics and lovely guitar solos and piano playing but has 1 or 2 weaker songs along with some really pop-sounding songs that I'm not the biggest fan of. 5. Katy Lied (8/10) The middle ground album sound-wise between band-era SD and session-era SD, and it has a lot of great songs but some stuff is not quite as refined or as layered compared with their better music. 6. Gaucho (7/10) The "main 7" album I'm least interested in largely because the vocals of both Fagen and the backing singers don't land with me quite the same way as the albums before and the music doesn't quite have that bite to it. The music is all still well crafted though. 7. Pretzel Logic (6.5/10) From the high of CTE to the low (SD's low anyway) of Pretzel Logic. Some great songs with my 2 favourite being Night By Night and Pretzel Logic but there is some real filler music in my opinion especially towards the end of the album, and the album is one of the shortest they have anyway. Katy Lied is the middle ground between the band's musical styles but this album doesn't quite fit anywhere to me. 8. Two Against Nature (6/10) + 9. Everything Must Go (6/10) I echo your points, a few great songs to take away and nice to hear some more music from them. Great video overall!

[@TheProgCorner]

Nicely done!!!

[@DJCrAzYGuYTube]

I am finally going to listen to some Steely Dan albums. I have only heard Reelin'!

[@TheProgCorner]

You deserve the best!!!

[@MrHobo71]

Katy Lied is my favorite, followed by the royal scam.

[@philipmorrissey9142]

I can't argue with those choices man! Pretzel Logic, Royal Scam and Aja would generally alternate as my favourite on any given day

[@TheProgCorner]

What a band!!!!

[@philipmorrissey9142]

@@TheProgCorner completely man!

[@michaelbaucom4019]

1) The Royal Scam 2) Aja 3) Countdown To Ecstasy 4) Pretzel Logic 5) Katy Lied 6) Can't Buy A Thrill 7) Two Against Nature 8) Gaucho 9) Everything Must Go Used to like Gaucho more, other than Babylon Sisters and Time Out Of Mind, I've grown a bit tired of it. Everything Must Go...they finally came clean about wanting to be jazz artists instead of being " rock " artists. Aja used to be #1 until about ten years ago, The Royal Scam has a bit more rock on it is why it is #1 now. Shoutout to the song " Here at the Western World ", which missed the cut(!!) for The Royal Scam album, it showed up on a greatest hits collection. Countdown To Ecstasy being a third best album!! For most artists, CTE would be a masterpiece of masterpieces. This shows how strong/great/gifted Steely Dan is These are all creme de la creme albums, no duds anywhere...shoutout to the song FM too...a great soundtrack(all kinds of stars/legends on it)..mediocre movie RIP Walter Becker, you are missed

[@TheProgCorner]

I love that song!!!!!

[@minsterhill]

Hey Scot great show. Never ever reference Rolling stone bunch of crap! These guys are way higher. Another fantastic work SL!

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you!!!

[@brianoakley980]

UK here ...Back in the day (1970s) if you went into ANY Hi-Fi store.. Remember those? If you wanted to listen to any piece of Equipment...Speakers..Amplifiers..Cartridge..then they would put a Steely Dan record on to show how fantastic the items sound...cos Any Steely Dan record SOUNDED so darn good...I think any order in the premium 6 LPs is probably right on any given day?

[@TheProgCorner]

Absolutely!!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@TheProgCorner Was always SD and RUSH at Pacific Stereo.😎

[@danielbrodowski8446]

Really good ranking scot steely Dan were one of the best 70s bands. Totally consistent albums they just had that sound like no other my top 3 would be 1 aja w2 the royal scam and 3 Katy lied again really cool video

[@TheProgCorner]

I grew up on Steely Dan!!!

[@michaelbenz8092]

1. Katy Lied, 2. Aja, 3. Pretzel Logic, 4. Can't Buy a Thrill, 5. Royal Scam, 6. Countdown to Ecstasy, 7. Gaucho.

[@michaelbenz8092]

I'd add Two Against Nature before Gaucho and Everything Must Go after Gaucho.

[@TheProgCorner]

Gaucho has crept up on me over the years!!!

[@michaelbenz8092]

@@TheProgCorner the two singles are great.

[@eatmysteel]

Glad to see someone else with Katy Lied at the top of their list, daring to put Aja somewhere other than #1

[@TheProgCorner]

The nerve!!!!!

[@greyever7820]

1-Aja 2-Gaucho 3-The Royal Scam 4-Katy Lied 5-Pretzel Logic 6-Countdown To Ecstasy 7-Can't Buy a Thrill

[@TheProgCorner]

Aja!!!!

[@greyever7820]

@@TheProgCorner Gaucho for me is like Aja vol 2, that's why i can't help liking Gaucho. I love that sound...

[@mellotronin54]

What a band freaking genius music.

[@TheProgCorner]

Magic.

[@mellotronin54]

@@TheProgCorner My brother in law bought me Aja for Christmas when it came out probably the greatest present I have ever been given as it lead me to Carlton , Ritenour ,Gadd and Shorter. If I saw them in the credits on an album I would buy it.

[@TheProgCorner]

Absolutely!!!!

[@mellotronin54]

@@TheProgCorner And then it took me to all the great fusion bands . My life changed . Close to the Edge and Aja did that .

[@didiervandijk9713]

"Cant buy a thrill" is a masterpiece,much higher for me possibly no1.

[@arnaudb.7669]

By the way the best jazz-fusion duo of all time is Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. Keep up the good work my friend!

[@TheProgCorner]

No argument there.

[@glyde69]

Steely Dan one of those bands….I know a few of their hits (almost all of which happened to be their 1st album) but 45 years and I just never listened to them. With Apple Music, the last few years I’ve been able to fill in the blanks with bands I didn’t have all their albums. Or bands I never tried or didn’t know. So last 2 weeks I started at album 1 and ran through Steely Dan entire discography. Gave each one 3-4 full spins. I’m only at gaucho but if I had to say my favorite……ROYAL SCAM My favorite song. THE BOSTON RAG

[@TheProgCorner]

The Royal Scam is just amazing. A little darker Dan.

[@Dmy1114who]

1. Royal Scam 2 Katy Lied 3. Can't buy a thrill 4. Gaucho 5 . Aja 6. Pretzel Logic 7 Can't buy a thrill . Or all in a row . Talking about the original Steely Dan 70's

[@georgemathie8123]

This is hard to rank so many fantastic albums but here's I would do my top 5 countdown to ecstacy, Aja, the royal scam, Katy lied and pretzel logic I love this whole discography but these are the 5 I listen to the most

[@TheProgCorner]

So great. One of a kind.

[@DBTdad]

The Dan. Up there with Rush and Hackett era Genesis. Awesome group of musicians! Edit: Never forget Here in the Western World

[@TheProgCorner]

Great song!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey Scot! SD! All good. Probably the best studio band of all time. Always the best musicians in the band. To me they are a different band live in concert.🔈🔉🔊☮️☮️☮️😎

[@TheProgCorner]

For sure!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@TheProgCorner 👍😎

[@donneumann6546]

For me its 1- Asia 2-Royal Scam 3-Cant Buy A Thrill 4-Coundown To Ecstasy 5-Katy Lied 6- Pretzel Logic 7- Gaucho 8- Two Against Nature.

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!!!!

[@Sammeep02]

Man, I love Asia - Who can forget Sole Survivor, or Only Time Will Tell....Alpha's a great album too.

[@danielfuentes3226]

Great review Scot.Not progresive rock,but is a great band mostly a jazz fusion band.I love "Can't Buy a Thrill " is a great album.

[@TheProgCorner]

Not Prog but Prog adjacent? What a band!!!

[@danielfuentes3226]

Thanks Scot I agree.✌

[@julienchaudron9354]

Thank you for the video! I've been curious for a while about your top 10 sax groove/solo in prog. Pink floyd, the flower kings, supertramp have some great sax. Which are your favorite?

[@TheProgCorner]

Wow! What a great topic for a future episode!!! You gotta go with Floyd!!!

[@pelegrim3264]

Mel Collins and Ian MacDonald's saxophone work in King Crimson was very cool.

[@scottweaver4059]

Great great band!!! One of my favorites. Top 3 for me is 1. Countdown to Ecstasy 2. Aja 3. Pretzel Logic

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!! Long live the Dan!!!

[@puddleglumsmusiccollection9151]

The Great Michael Omartian and Michael Mcdonald on many of these also

[@TheProgCorner]

Absolutely!!!

[@Z-eb]

Nice Ranking, Scot !!!!!

[@TheProgCorner]

Yes sir!!!!

[@michaelfavreau7617]

Not a prog band ....But let me say this . Steely Dan is my favorite band of all time. Good episode. I would rank a little different with Royal Scam at #1 and Katy Lied at # 9

[@TheProgCorner]

Katy Lied is a tough one but I still like it. I like all nine. Who am I kidding???

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

The only Steely Dan albums I liked was Aja & A Decade of Steely Dan (Greatest hits) is good enough for me.

[@TheProgCorner]

Difference strokes!!!

[@andrewgoss9013]

Jim Hodder sang Midnite Cruiser.

[@TheProgCorner]

He did and I was going to mention that!!! I even had it written down on my little 3x5 cards I always use. Yeah, I was bummed and almost deleted this but life goes in. Great great song. Actually one of my favorite Dan songs!!!

[@patrishiou]

ok it's time I will finally listen to these guys 😇

[@TheProgCorner]

Do it!!!! And tell me what you think!!!

[@Astersss_]

I personally love both of SD's newest albums, and in my opinion Pretzel logic is their weakest album (7.5/10). I'd even put 2AN in my top 5 (Jack of speed is one of my absolute favorite cuts in their entire discog). What do I know, of course - I was born 2 years after their last album came out! Great video!

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@brettstrausser3846]

Steely Dan prog? No. One of my all time favorite groups? Yes! Thanks for the in depth ranking, Scot! Feel free to incorporate content from artists you respect. Just don't go too far afield...

[@TheProgCorner]

No worries there!!! I try to keep things either Prog or Prog adjacent. The Dan definitely qualifies as the latter!!!! When I go off the reservation I usually pay a steep price. 👍👍👍

[@MattCarter67]

Love ‘em

[@TheProgCorner]

Such a cool band!!!!

[@greyever7820]

Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears ranking would be great too, 1-Chicago Transit Authority 2- Chicago 16 🎉

[@TheProgCorner]

I can see a Chicago ranking happening. They were my first true love (after The Beatles but that was my Dad and older brother. Chicago was MINE!!!)

[@greyever7820]

@@TheProgCorner Mine too Scot, and i hate to see their 1976-1980 period getting bad rep. Ok, Hot Streets wasn't that good but Chicago 13 and XIV had its moments... X and XI were great albums too. 1969-1975 was already legendary. 1982-1991 good aor moments but especially 16 (1982) was literally great. Night and Day (1995?) was an ok album but i don't what they've done since 1995. That ranking would be perfect, thank you!

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s coming soon!!! I think Renaissance is next though…

[@Brewnoe]

Turned over my shopping cart ... and then

[@Brewnoe]

Q-Tip

[@jacobheaney3836]

Great Ranking Mine Would Have To Be: 1) Gaucho (1980) 2) The Royal Scam (1976) 3) Aja (1977) 4) Katy Lied (1975) 5) Countdown To Ecstasy (1973) 6) Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) 7) Pretzel Logic (1974) 8) Everything Must Go (2003) 9) Two Against Nature (2000)

[@TheProgCorner]

Gaucho!!! Nice!!!

[@shaynewest8757]

You can take the first 7 albums and throw them in the air and what ever order they land in is how Id rank them. Perfection. Here goes 1. Cant Buy A Thrill 2. Pretzel Logic 3. Royal Scam 4. Gaucho 5. Countdown To Ecstasy 6. Katy Lied 7. Aja (thats how great their first run is that even their 7th best is a masterpiece) The 2 comeback albums are interchangeable and meh.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, they were okay.

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

Is this the point when I say, it was Charles I who was beheaded following the English Civil War. His son, Charles II, returned to England many years later to take back the throne.

[@TheProgCorner]

Okay!!! I failed British History!!!!

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

Charles II was a bit of a rogue during The Restoration. Lots of mistresses, including the famous Nell Gwyn. He had a keen eye for art and architecture. Make your own comparison to our current monarch!

[@TheProgCorner]

Fair point!!!!

[@bobsala7780]

“The most interesting thing about King Charles the First is that he was 5 foot 6 inches tall at the start of his reign but only 4 foot 8 inches tall at the end of it, because of...” I’m an American, so the only things I know about British history are what I learned through Monty Python.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yes!!! (Me too.)

[@raydunn8262]

Professor of Rock claims ''Nights in White Satin' by the Moody Blues started prog rock. Is is prog rock and was it first?

[@TheProgCorner]

1967 was a critical year in the development of Prog with Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Moody Blues, Sgt Pepper, etc. There was no “first” Prog album as is evolved slowly…

[@davidkuhn3695]

Tomorrow Never Knows might be a good candidate.

[@FundamentalsUK]

Royal scam for me, as the songs are amazing. Aja close 2nd 👍🏻

[@TheProgCorner]

Definitely the Top Two for me.

[@Brewnoe]

Rank while not ranking! .. Never smoke those otters!

[@TheProgCorner]

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!!!

[@vayres7512]

Aja, Can´t buy a thrill and Pretzel logic are my top 3.

[@TheProgCorner]

So good!!!

[@manoloferrer2619]

Aja ...número 1 perfecto...ya te digo.

[@TheProgCorner]

¡Absolutamente!

[@seanwelch71]

Bow-dee-shee-vah

[@TheProgCorner]

Or something like that….

[@Sammeep02]

Booty Slappa 🤣🤣🤣

[@soberobserver1646]

Without a doubt Gaucho is their greatest album.

[@TheProgCorner]

Wow. I love it!!!

[@toddhooks9813]

So I take it that you've never listened to Aja. You should give it a try.

[@soberobserver1646]

I know it like the back of my hand. @@toddhooks9813

[@mellotronin54]

AJA then Gaucho then the rest all are great .

[@TheProgCorner]

Gaucho!!!

[@lemming9984]

I like all their albums up to Royal Scam, but after that they became a bit too "Cocktail Jazz" for me. Pretzel Logic is just wonderful.

[@TheProgCorner]

I hear you on that but Aja is just so good!!!

[@dangerdolls]

Right there with you, man!

[@charleswagner2984]

Royal Scam is better than their greatest hits album.

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey now! Just sent you an email.👍😎

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

Aja is pronounced A JA. Not Asia.

[@TheProgCorner]

Okay!!!

[@soberobserver1646]

Wrong

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@soberobserver1646]

Yes. Steely Dan pronounce it "Asia" in their documentary. I think they should know. And it's pronounced "Asia" in the song itself :)@@TheProgCorner

[@TheProgCorner]

A good point. Kevin The Trucker should know better!!!

[@saifonlawrence2044]

I prefer Zeppelin or Floyd

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, but those are like two of the greatest acts ever!!!

[@Dmy1114who]

Royal Scam or Katy Lied . Aja is fantastic , but by putting at their best as You're on fire , sounds like you promote Bee Gees or some other Disco trash from those times...Can Buy A Thrill. Just look for the right shop

[@TheProgCorner]

Hey. For me it’s Aja and Royal Scam but they’re all great.

[@Dmy1114who]

@@TheProgCorner agree , they simply don't have even average album , including solos , which are again Steely Dan except second Walter . But Aja... personal opinion and experience last 45 years , ask anyone about Steely Dan , usually reply with Oh ! yeah -Aja!!! Means they didn't even heard other stuff. I used to trick some of my friends by playing Katy , Thrill , Gaucho or Royall , usual reply was "what the f is that".. funny

[@Dmy1114who]

@@TheProgCorner play Citizen Steely Dan box set from start to end. Find bad track ...

[@keisi1574]

​@@Dmy1114whoDisco is great music. You suck. Seriously.

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

Ranking the Steely Dan classic albums is a sterile effort. Maybe Aja became the most iconic because of the musicians involved, but there's not a single weak track among Can't Buy and Gaucho. You might aswell put it at random.

[@joe-vz6hx]

Two-horse race between Aja (the winner by a nose) over Can't Buy a Thrill and Royal Scam. The last two were easily the worst and by and large forgettable.

[@TheProgCorner]

I agree!!!

[@robertbyington7715]

Can’t Buy a Thrill can’t be that low sorry

[@TheProgCorner]

For me, the top seven are all magic.

[@robertbyington7715]

@@TheProgCorner Agreed but Aja gets rated higher because of its commercial success similar to Kansas Left O Kansas and Masque were better albums songs were too long for the radio

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍👍

[@Driver2616]

Difficult task. How can anybody rate nine almost perfect albums in order of preference? Well, here goes… 9. Katy Lied 8. Everything Must Go 7. The Royal Scam 6. Pretzel Logic 5. Can’t Buy A Thrill 4. Two Against Nature 3. Gaucho 2. Countdown To Ecstasy 1. AJA I might rearrange those titles tomorrow. Or I might not. Maybe next week…..

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s an impossible task!!! But you nailed the top two…

[@csykes23]

9. EMG 8. CBAT 7. 2AN 6. PL 5. CTE 4. KL 3. RS 2. G 1. A

[@TheProgCorner]

Looks about right.

[@dougreed2257]

But these arn't prog scot😂

[@TheProgCorner]

I know! I know!!!

[@raydunn8262]

All music lovers have common ground, unlike Congress. SD is my favorite band of all time. New Wave/ Alternative is my favorite genre. Prog Rock is my least favorite Rock genre; it's okay, and I respect it.

[@TheProgCorner]

And it’s all good!!! Common ground indeed!!!

[@marcelob4132]

Ok but I wonder what the heck you're doing on a prog Rock channel...

[@raydunn8262]

@marcelob4132 As I noted, I love Stanley Dan like the creator. The clip came up in my feed. As I also noted, I respect Prog Rock like PF Dark Side, Peter G with Genesis, and Rush. I like shorter and mostly faster stuff. Some PR is so long, Yes comes to mind.

[@TheProgCorner]

Whether a fan of Prog in general or not, I welcome all to The Prog Corner!!! No gatekeepers here!!!

[@Dmy1114who]

So predictable. Aja . Aja was also lovely adult star much better than this album. Hardly Aja is their best ....

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s all opinion based. Nothing is absolute. Music is art. We all perceive it differently. I don’t know about any porn stars. Aja does sound like the perfect name for the adult entertainment industry!!!

[@Dmy1114who]

@@TheProgCorner hah , look at the "Golden age of porn" . It's joke anyway. The late adult star loved Aja , so borrowed as her stage name . Nothing to do with the sound of Aja album . Their best ? I don't know about average Steely Dan , Fagen , Becker album . So it's Hunky Dory. Problem is again that 99 percentage of people you'll ask about Steely Dan , they know only Aha .. I wrote somewhere I played Katy , Gaucho , Scum to some people I know , reply was move that , it's boring . When I show it's the same band who made Aja , reply was radical. Oh , those were they ? Awesome... So hope you get it. 👍