Steely Dan

When you’re listening to Steely Dan, I think you really need to have the track-by-track personnel listing at hand. In the days of vinyl, beanbag chairs, and fat headphones, this was easy: The album cover and/or liner notes were right there for reference. Now, I’m likely streaming to my Bluetooth speaker with an all-Steely random playlist, and that makes it challenging. So I made this. Bookmark it. Comment if you like it or if you know how I can improve it.

For each track, the common personnel on that track is listed below the track listing. Solos and single-track appearances are listed under the specific track.

Can’t Buy a Thrill | Countdown to Ecstasy | Pretzel Logic | Katy Lied | The Royal Scam | Aja | Gaucho

Can’t Buy a Thrill (Nov 72)

All songs written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

Side One

Do It Again – 5:56

Electric sitar solo by Denny Dias
Plastic organ solo and vocals by Donald Fagen

Dirty Work – 3:08

Saxophone solo by Jerome Richardson
Lead vocal by David Palmer

Kings – 3:45

Guitar solo by Elliot Randall
Vocal by Donald Fagen
Venetta Fields – backing vocals
Clydie King – backing vocals
Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals

Midnite Cruiser – 4:08

Guitar solo by Jeff Baxter
Vocal by Jim Hodder

Only a Fool Would Say That – 2:57

Guitar solo by Jeff Baxter
Vocals by Donald Fagen and David Palmer<

Side Two

Reelin’ in the Years – 4:37

Guitar solos by Elliott Randall
Vocal by Donald Fagen

Fire in the Hole – 3:28

Piano solo and vocal by Donald Fagen
Pedal steel guitar solo by Jeff Baxter

Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) – 4:21

Steel guitar solo by Jeff Baxter
Lead vocal by David Palmer
Venetta Fields – backing vocals
Clydie King – backing vocals
Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals

Change of the Guard – 3:39

Guitar solo by Jeff Baxter
Vocals by Donald Fagen and David Palmer

Turn That Heartbeat Over Again – 4:58

Vocals by Donald Fagen, Walter Becker and David Palmer

Personnel

David Palmer –backing vocals, lead vocals on Dirty Work and Brooklyn
Donald Fagen – acoustic and electric pianos, plastic (YC-30) organ, lead vocals (except on Dirty Work, Midnite Cruiser, and Brooklyn), backing vocals
Jeff Skunk Baxter – guitar, pedal steel guitar, spoken word on Only a Fool Would Say That
Denny Dias – guitar, electric sitar
Walter Becker – electric bass, backing vocals, dual lead vocal on Turn That Heartbeat Over Again
Jim Hodder – drums, percussion, lead vocal on Midnite Cruiser, backing vocals
Elliott Randall – guitar
Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone
Snooky Young – flugelhorn
Victor Feldman – percussion

Countdown to Ecstasy (July 73)

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
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Side One

Bodhisattva – 5:19

Denny Dias – first guitar solo
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – second guitar solo

Razor Boy – 3:11

Ray Brown – string bass

The Boston Rag – 5:40

Your Gold Teeth – 7:02

Side Two

Show Biz Kids – 5:25

Rick Derringer – slide guitar

My Old School – 5:47

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – second guitar solo
Ernie Watts, Johnny Rotella, Lanny Morgan, Bill Perkins – saxophones
Sherlie Matthews, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall — backing vocals

Pearl of the Quarter – 3:50

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – pedal steel guitar solo

King of the World – 5:04

Personnel

Donald Fagen – acoustic and electric pianos, synthesizer, lead vocals
Walter Becker – electric bass, harmonica, background vocals
Denny Dias – electric guitar, Stereo Mixmaster General
Jeff Skunk Baxter – electric and pedal steel guitars
Jim Hodder – drums, percussion, background vocals

Additional musicians

Ray Brown – string bass on Razor Boy
Ben Benay – acoustic guitar
Rick Derringer – slide guitar on Show Biz Kids (recorded at Carabou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado, courtesy of Columbia Records)
Victor Feldman – vibraphone, marimba, percussion
David Palmer, James Rolleston, Michael Fennelly – background vocals

Pretzel Logic (Feb 74)

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted.
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Side One

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – 4:30

Night by Night – 3:36

Any Major Dude Will Tell You – 3:05

Barrytown – 3:17

East St. Louis Toodle-Oo (Duke Ellington, Bubber Miley) – 2:45

Side Two

Parker’s Band – 2:36

Through with Buzz – 1:30

Pretzel Logic – 4:28

With a Gun – 2:15

Charlie Freak – 2:41

Monkey in Your Soul – 2:31

Personnel

Donald Fagen – keyboards, saxophone, lead vocals
Walter Becker – bass, guitar, background vocals
Jeff Baxter – lead guitar
Denny Dias – guitar
Jim Hodder – drums & backing vocals

Additional musicians

Michael Omartian – keyboards
David Paich – keyboards
Ben Benay – guitar
Dean Parks – guitar, banjo
Plas Johnson – saxophone
Jerome Richardson – saxophone
Ernie Watts – saxophone
Ollie Mitchell – trumpet
Lew McCreary – horn
Timothy B. Schmit – bass, background vocals
Wilton Felder – bass
Chuck Rainey – bass
Jim Gordon – drums
Jeff Porcaro – drums
Victor Feldman – percussion

Katy Lied (Mar 75)

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
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Side One

Black Friday – 3:33

Walter Becker – guitar solo

Bad Sneakers – 3:16

Walter Becker – guitar solo

Rose Darling – 2:59

Dean Parks – guitar solo

Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More – 3:12

Larry Carlton – guitar

Doctor Wu – 3:59

Phil Woods – alto saxophone solo

Side Two

Everyone’s Gone to the Movies – 3:41

Myrna Matthews, Sherlie Matthews, Carolyn Willis – background vocals

Your Gold Teeth II – 4:12

Denny Dias – guitar solo

Chain Lightning – 2:57

Rick Derringer – guitar solo

Any World (That I’m Welcome To) – 3:56

Hal Blaine – drums

Throw Back the Little Ones – 3:11

Elliott Randall – guitar solo
Jimmie Haskell – horn & horn arrangement
Bill Perkins – horn on Throw Back the Little Ones

Personnel

Donald Fagen – vocals, piano, keyboards, saxophone
Walter Becker – bass, guitar (solo on Black Friday, Bad Sneakers)
Michael Omartian, David Paich – pianos, keyboards
Hugh McCracken – guitar
Denny Dias – guitar (solo on Your Gold Teeth II)
Rick Derringer – guitar (solo on Chain Lightning)
Dean Parks – guitar (solo on Rose Darling)
Elliott Randall – guitar (solo on Throw Back the Little Ones)
Wilton Felder, Chuck Rainey – bass guitars
Jeff Porcaro – drums on all songs except Any World (That I’m Welcome To)
Victor Feldman – percussion
Michael McDonald – background vocals

The Royal Scam (May 76)

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except as noted.
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Side One

Kid Charlemagne – 4:38

guitar solo by Larry Carlton

The Caves of Altamira – 3:33

tenor saxophone solo by John Klemmer

Don’t Take Me Alive – 4:16

guitar solo by Larry Carlton

Sign in Stranger – 4:23

piano solo by Paul Griffin
guitar solo by Elliott Randall

The Fez (Becker, Fagen, Paul Griffin) – 4:01

guitar solo by Walter Becker

Side Two

Green Earrings – 4:05

guitar solos by Denny Dias (1st) and Elliott Randall (2nd)

Haitian Divorce – 5:51

talk box guitar solo by Dean Parks, altered by Walter Becker

Everything You Did – 3:55

guitar solo by Larry Carlton

The Royal Scam – 6:30

guitar solo by Larry Carlton

Personnel

Donald Fagen – keyboards, vocals, background vocals
Walter Becker – bass, guitar
Paul Griffin – keyboards
Don Grolnick – keyboards
Denny Dias – guitar
Larry Carlton – guitar
Dean Parks – guitar
Elliott Randall – guitar
Jim Horn – saxophone
Plas Johnson – saxophone
John Klemmer – saxophone
Chuck Findley – trumpet
Bob Findley – horn
Dick Slyde Hyde – horn, trombone
Chuck Rainey – bass
Rick Marotta – drums
Bernard Pretty Purdie – drums
Gary Coleman – percussion
Victor Feldman – percussion, keyboards
Timothy B. Schmit – background vocals
Venetta Fields – background vocals
Clydie King – background vocals
Sherlie Matthews – background vocals
Michael McDonald – background vocals

Aja (Sep 77)

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
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Side One

Black Cow – 5:10

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer
Victor Feldman – electric piano
Joe Sample – Hohner Clavinet
Larry Carlton – guitar
Chuck Rainey – bass
Paul Humphrey – drums
Tom Scott – tenor saxophone, horn arrangements
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields, Rebecca Louis – backing vocals

Aja – 7:57

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle, backing vocals
Walter Becker – guitar
Larry Carlton – guitar
Denny Dias – guitar
Chuck Rainey – bass
Steve Gadd – drums
Victor Feldman – percussion
Joe Sample – electric piano
Michael Omartian – piano
Tom Scott – horn arrangements
Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals

Deacon Blues – 7:33

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer
Walter Becker – bass
Victor Feldman – electric piano
Larry Carlton – guitar
Lee Ritenour – guitar
Dean Parks – guitar
Bernard Purdie – drums
Tom Scott – horn arrangements
Pete Christlieb – tenor saxophone
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields – backing vocals

Side Two

Peg – 3:57

Donald Fagen – lead vocals
Victor Feldman – percussion
Paul Griffin – electric piano, backing vocals
Don Grolnick – Hohner Clavinet
Steve Khan – guitar
Jay Graydon – solo guitar
Chuck Rainey – bass
Rick Marotta – drums
Gary Coleman – percussion
Tom Scott – Lyricon, horn arrangements
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Michael McDonald – backing vocals

Home at Last – 5:34

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, backing vocals
Walter Becker – guitar solos
Victor Feldman – vibraphone, piano
Larry Carlton – guitar
Chuck Rainey – bass
Bernard Purdie – drums
Tom Scott – horn arrangements
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals

I Got the News – 5:06

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer
Walter Becker – guitar solos
Victor Feldman – vibraphone, piano
Larry Carlton – guitar solo
Dean Parks – guitar
Chuck Rainey – bass
Ed Greene – drums
Tom Scott – horn arrangements
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Michael McDonald, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews,Venetta Fields, Rebecca Louis – backing vocals

Josie – 4:33

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer, backing vocals
Walter Becker – guitar solos
Victor Feldman – electric piano
Larry Carlton – guitar
Dean Parks – guitar
Chuck Rainey – bass
Jim Keltner – drums, percussion
Tom Scott – horn arrangements
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals

Personnel

Donald Fagen – lead vocals (all tracks), synthesizer (all tracks but 4), police whistle (2), backing vocals (2, 5, 7)
Walter Becker – bass (3), guitar (2), guitar solos (5, 6, 7)
Additional musicians
Victor Feldman – electric piano (1, 3, 7), vibraphone (5, 6), piano (5, 6), percussion (2, 4)
Joe Sample – electric piano (2), Hohner Clavinet (1)
Paul Griffin – electric piano (4), backing vocals (4)
Michael Omartian – piano (2)
Don Grolnick – Hohner Clavinet (4)
Larry Carlton – guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 7), guitar solo (6)
Lee Ritenour – guitar (3)
Denny Dias (2), Dean Parks (3, 6, 7), Steve Khan (4) – guitar
Jay Graydon – solo guitar (4)
Chuck Rainey – bass (all but 3)
Paul Humphrey (1), Steve Gadd (2), Bernard Purdie (3, 5), Rick Marotta (4), Ed Greene (6) – drums
Jim Keltner – drums (7), percussion (7)
Gary Coleman – percussion (4)
Tom Scott – tenor saxophone (1), Lyricon (4), horn arrangements
Wayne Shorter (2), Pete Christlieb (3) – tenor saxophone
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass
Michael McDonald (4, 6), Timothy B. Schmit (2, 5, 7), Clydie King (1, 3, 6), Sherlie Matthews (1, 3, 6), Venetta Fields (1, 3, 6), Rebecca Louis (1, 6) – backing vocals

Gaucho (Nov 80)

All songs written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except as noted.
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Side One

Babylon Sisters – 5:55

Hey Nineteen – 5:10

Glamour Profession – 7:29

Side Two

Gaucho (Becker, Fagen, Keith Jarrett) – 5:32

Time Out of Mind – 4:14

My Rival – 4:34

Third World Man – 5:13

Personnel

Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), electric piano (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), organ (6)
Walter Becker – bass (2, 4, 5), guitar (2, 5), guitar solo (4)
Additional musicians
Rob Mounsey – piano (3, 4, 5), synthesizer (7), horn arrangement (1, 5)
Don Grolnick – electric piano (1) and Hohner Clavinet (1)
Pat Rebillot (6), Joe Sample (7) – electric piano
Steve Khan – guitar (1, 3, 4, 7), lead guitar (6)
Mark Knopfler (5), Larry Carlton (7) – lead guitar
Hugh McCracken (2, 5), Hiram Bullock (6), Rick Derringer (6) – guitar
Chuck Rainey (1, 7), Anthony Jackson (3, 6) – bass
Bernard Pretty Purdie (1), Rick Marotta (2, 5), Steve Gadd (3, 6, 7), Jeff Porcaro (4) – drums
Crusher Bennett (1, 4), Steve Gadd (2), Victor Feldman (2), Ralph McDonald (3, 6), Nicholas Marrero (6) – percussion
George Marge, Walter Kane – clarinet (1)
Tom Scott – alto saxophone and clarinet (1); tenor saxophone (1, 3, 4, 6), Lyricon (3, 6), horn arrangement (3, 4, 6)
David Sanborn – alto saxophone (5)
Michael Brecker (3, 5, 6), Dave Tofani (5) – tenor saxophone
Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone (5)
Randy Brecker – trumpet (1, 4, 5), flugelhorn (1, 6)
Wayne Andre – trombone (6)
Michael McDonald, Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, Frank Floyd, Diva Gray, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Zachary Sanders, Toni Wine – backing vocals