My dad got me into Steely Dan. They're AMAZING. My faves are Bad sneakers, Deacon Blues and hey 19. I was lucky enough to see them with my dad live the year I turned 19. And favorite album it to hard to choose.

This was awesome dude. I'm a huge Dan fan and your analysis made me remember sections of their discography that I had distanced myself from. You're so right, the vignettes at the end of Pretzel are wonderful. That being said, I have to take a different angle on my list: 1. Aja 2. Royal Scam 3. Gaucho 4. Katy Lied 5. Pretzel Logic 6. Can't Buy a Thrill 7. Two Against Nature 8. Showbiz Kids 9. Everything Must Go For me, it's almost impossible to choose how to rank everything that falls below Gaucho, saving Everything Must Go, which is inevitably a clear 9th.

I never hear much about Razor Boy but i love the bitter yet sorrowful lyrics Will you still have a song to sing when the Razor Boy comes and takes your fancy things away Will you still be singing it on that cold and windy day

Massive Steely Dan fan and your choices are very interesting and brilliant

OK, I was skeptical about watching a Steely Dan ranking from a guy in a Rush t-shirt, but you hit the right notes. You get these guys. I'd rank Katy Lied and Countdown to Ecstasy higher, personally, but everybody's got their own list. Also, one track that keeps drawing me back ever since I bought Can't Buy A Thrill when it first came out (I'm that old) is "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again." I don't know what it's about (I didn't realize until recently that "Only A Fool Would Say That" was a response to John Lennon's 1971 "Imagine"), but I've been fascinated with it for about 50 years now. "Doctor Wu" is another indispensable one for me. But I'll leave you with a lyric that still blows my mind -- and that couldn't have come from anyone else: "Who is the gaucho amigo/Why is he standing/In your spangled leather poncho/And your elevator shoes/Bodacious cowboys/Such as your friend/Will never be welcome here/High in the custerdome." That can't be improved upon.

Nice Video Matt. I think you have that ranking just about right, I would probably switch their first two albums around but agree with everything else. I also love the straight ahead tunes as much as the jazzier tracks, the Dan albums are phenomenal.

Definitely in my top 5 bands.

I've only learned of the 'Yacht Rock' genre. There are a few songs by Steely Dan that I recommend for that genre. I appreciate your acknowledgement of the "Dr. Wu" track from the Katy Lied album. I also agree with you about "Black Cow". I had almost missed the praise for that song.

Thanks. You are a very young Dandom fan! I am impressed with your knowledge and seem to appreciate their music. Very surprised you did not mention "King of the World" as one of the best of the CTE album. Almost as good as the title and last song off the Royal Scam.

My order is exactly the same. And for pretty much the same reasons. Cheers.

Saw them in Atlanta in 2004. No way they could play all their songs. My Old School was a crowd favorite.

Matt, for many years - and I lived through the '70s - "Pretzel Logic" was my favorite SD album for all the reasons you mentioned. But I'm rating "Aja" slightly higher these days. My #3 is "The Royal Scam" which contains the staggering "Green Earrings" with those two stellar guitar solos; that song is my #3 favorite after "Doctor Wu" which is my #1 (props to Phil Woods for his transcendent alto sax solo) and "Reelin In The Years", my number 2.

Just started listening to Steely Dan and have only listed to Aja. It was good but I’m looking for more similar to “Fire in the Hole” from C.B.A.T. Which album would sound closest to that song?

I agree with your ranking except the last two. I would swap Aja and The Royal Scam. The Royal Scam is my favorite due to the guitar driven songs. I'm a guitarist myself and the Bass and Lead guitars on this album are just incredible. Larry Carltons lead on Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive are second to none. I also love Bernard Purdie's drums on those tunes. Like you I love all of their albums and listen to all of them regularly, but for me its Royal Scam.

An excellent review of their catalogue. I really enjoy hearing a younger generation’s perspective on music that I grew up with . It’s refreshing , and more often than not , very educational. I was 19 when Can’t Buy a Thrill came out , and was well on my way down the progressive rock rabbit hole . When I first heard Do It Again , and Reeling In the Years , I was hooked immediately . Anyway , here’s my ranking , and as you said , there’s little to choose between their top 5 or 6 ( or 7 )albums . In order of preference : Katy Lied. ( Dr. Wu is my favourite song by them ). Countdown to Ecstasy Can’t Buy a Thrill Pretzel Logic The Royal Scam Aja. ( for me , Home at Last is the hidden gem on this one ) Gaucho And the last 2 in order . I love Aja , but sometimes some of the sharp corners that appear on their other albums are a bit too rounded off on this one . Of course this list is fluid , and could change a bit from week to week . Thank you for the fresh perspective that you offered in your video . Keep up the great work !!

Exactly the same ranking for me, but I switched Pretzel for Katy....although I could be wrong.......

Some surprises here; but I'm bias as I had Countdown to Ecstasy as my second favourite as it was my first Steely Dan album back in the day; but for sure it was more rock than jazz; excellent that you mention the 2 best tracks, Boston Rag and Razor Boy.......................but of course it had to be Aja at #1, no matter how you cut it; every other album was vying for second place.

Rush shirt? I think you need to a Rush tier list or album ranking video.

I go Thrill, Katy, Gaucho, Scam, Aja as top 5...there are no wrong answers, and the new book is great.

I agree with AJA as "numero uno" - but: Can't believe you weren't all over the "Pretzel Logic" track - my fave Steely Dan song. Chain Lightning (Katy Lied) is a solid rocker from Rick Derringer. Best cuts on GOUCHO for me are: Babylon Sisters / Hey Nineteen / Time Out Of Mind (about heroin) I prefer Everything Must Go (Godwhacker & Green Book) over Two Against Nature (Cousin Dupree & Jack Of Speed).

That's a tough challenge to rank their albums. I have though of it many times and just can't decide. I don't care for Everything Must Go. Katy Lied is the album that got me into them so it's hard to put another above it. Now 222 years later after my friend gave me a copy of Katy Lied and Pretzel Logic, I would probably put Aja at the top, with The Royal Scam second, and Katy Lied in third.

I don’t know why no one ever describes their music as blues. Most of Fagans inspiration comes from blues heroes and he even says that in interviews. I know there are jazz and rock elements, but most of the roots are based in blues.

The track Gaucho is actually one drummer: Jeff Porcaro. They build the track around his recording. In my book the album Gaucho is SDs greatest recording.

Watching your video and interested to see your ranking. For me it flip flops between Pretzel Logic and of course, Aja in my number one spot.

They still have stereo stores?

It is funny how I think of early Dan records like cant buy a thrill and later ones like Aja but only 5 years apart. People have different focus on Dan writing such a musicians love the technical brilliance others love the words and stories, then there are the stars players people love and then just the sound of the tunes you love

Love the dan...but radiohead should have won that grammy❤

It's like you are reading my review/ranking of Steely Dan. Oh yes. Even Black Cow.

It's one man's ranking, so I have no problem with your list. Plus, "Aja" is one of my top 3 albums of all time. It should be noted that while Walter Becker played on most songs (but only sang lead on one), he didn't really play lead guitar.

9. Everything Must Go 8. Can't But a Thrill 7. Two Against Nature 6. Pretzel Logic 5. Aja 4. Katy Lied 3. Countdown to Ecstasy 2. Royal Scam 1. Gaucho Also, Fagen's Solo work is phenomenal, Kamakiriad would probably be my in the top 3, while Nightfly would be #4

Gaucho is my favourite :)

What about the live albums one of the best things is hearing them improvise

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions but this is how I'd rank them: 1. Countdown to Ecstasy 2. Aja 3. Royal Scam 4. Two Against Nature 5. Pretzel Logic 6. Can't Buy A Thrill 7. Katy Lied 8. Everything Must Go 9. Gaucho BTW, @MattOLearyMusic, Aja is _not_ spelled A-S-I-A.

You ain’t the one. Don’t think you were around when Can’t Buy a Thrill was in record stores. Best album…humbug…ok I’ll listen. Ok I listened…I quit, my first rock concert. Led Zeppelin…last Pearl Jam. Countdown is a Masterpiece…Aja is perfection

I love Aja

1. Aja 2. The Royal Scam 3.Gaucho

Do you know who I am, Matt?

I always thought Countdown was their best album. They still were a band and quickly put the album out, so they didn't have time to over do it.

To think I was listening to the sex Pistols in 1977

1. 🥨💭 (1974); A+ 2. Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972); A 3. Countdown to Ecstacy (1973); A 4. Katy Lied (1975); A- 5. Aja (1977); B+ 6. The Royal Scam (1976); B 7. Gaucho (1980); B- 8. Two Against Nature (2000); B- 9. Everything Must Go (2003); C+ Yeah, I prefer the early stuff, when they rocked lol. I don’t care that much for their later more smoothed out and un-gritty stuff. Certain songs from their late 70s period are still good and even great by themselves, but I just do not like how slick they are.

You got Goucho wrong.

I dunno . . . I think ranking Steely Dan albums (thinking of Can't Buy a Thrill through Gaucho here) is pretty subjective. I wasn't too impressed with critiques of tracks on Katy Lied.

My rating least to very best Countdown to Ecstasy ( apart from Razor Boy) not keen on this one) Katy Lied Two against Nature Everything Must Go. Can't buy a Thrill Gaucho Aja The Royal Scam Pretzel Logic.

GAUCHO THIRD TO LAST?

Brooklyn is great but I don’t care for dirty work for some reason.

Why you didnt show do it again insteed of only a fool would say that

Steely Dan albums assessed by a fellow wearing a Rush t-shirt. How could a Rush fan begin to understand what Steely Dan was? What a surprise: another me-tooer who must cite Aja as their best record. You got close with your appreciation of THE ROYAL SCAM but missed it by dismissing COUNTDOWN TO ECSTACY. I find Aja to be the most dated sounding of their good records.

I disagree: Everything must go Two against nature Gaucho Aja Royal Scam Cant buy a thrill Countdown to extacy Pretzel logic Katy lied Aja is completrly overrated.

I loathe Steely Dan they're audio equivalent of avocado on toast.

In the end I thought they sucked.

Boring.