Tracklist
| Kid Charlemagne | 4:38 | ||
| The Caves Of Altamira | 3:33 | ||
| Don't Take Me Alive | 4:18 | ||
| Sign In Stranger | 4:22 | ||
| The Fez | 3:59 | ||
| Green Earrings | 4:05 | ||
| Haitian Divorce | 5:50 | ||
| Everything You Did | 3:54 | ||
| The Royal Scam | 6:31 |
Credits (54)
Chuck FindleyArranged By [Horns]
Donald FagenArranged By [Horns]
Walter BeckerArranged By [Horns]
Ed CaraeffArt Direction, Design-
Charlie GanseArtwork [Cover Art]
Zox (3)Artwork [Cover Art]
Notes
The Royal Scam is the fifth album by Steely Dan, originally released by ABC Records in 1976. The album went gold and peaked at #15 on the charts. The Royal Scam features more prominent guitar work than the prior Steely Dan album, Katy Lied, which had been the first without founding guitarist Jeff Baxter. Guitarists on the recording include Walter Becker, Denny Dias, Larry Carlton, Elliott Randall and Dean Parks.
In common with other Steely Dan albums, The Royal Scam is littered with cryptic allusions to people and events both real and fictional. In a BBC interview in 2000, Becker and Fagen revealed that "Kid Charlemagne" is loosely based on Augustus Owsley Stanley, the notorious drug "chef" who was famous for manufacturing hallucinogenic compounds, and that "Caves of Altamira", based on a book by Hans Baumann, is about the loss of innocence, the narrative about a visitor to the Cave of Altamira who s his astonishment at the prehistoric drawings.
The album was re-issued by MCA Records in 1979 following the sale of the ABC Records label to MCA.
In common with other Steely Dan albums, The Royal Scam is littered with cryptic allusions to people and events both real and fictional. In a BBC interview in 2000, Becker and Fagen revealed that "Kid Charlemagne" is loosely based on Augustus Owsley Stanley, the notorious drug "chef" who was famous for manufacturing hallucinogenic compounds, and that "Caves of Altamira", based on a book by Hans Baumann, is about the loss of innocence, the narrative about a visitor to the Cave of Altamira who s his astonishment at the prehistoric drawings.
The album was re-issued by MCA Records in 1979 following the sale of the ABC Records label to MCA.
Versions
Filter by
219 versions
| Image | , | – | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Stereo, Santa Maria Pressing
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Repress, Stereo
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | UK | 1976 | UK — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – 27 552 XOT | Netherlands | 1976 | Netherlands — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Promo, Stereo, Santa Maria Press
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
8-Track Cartridge, Album
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ABC Records – 8022-931 H | US | 1976 | US — 1976 | ||||
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – ABC 421 | Italy | 1976 | Italy — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – 9022-931 | Canada | 1976 | Canada — 1976 | ||||
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Yellow
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ABC Records – 9022-931 | Canada | 1976 | Canada — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Stereo
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ABC Records – 27 552 XOT | 1976 | — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – 68.011 | 1976 | — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, PRC
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | New Zealand | 1976 | New Zealand — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Goldisc Pressing
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – 17.1088/7 | Spain | 1976 | Spain — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – AB-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – H-201433 | Spain | 1976 | Spain — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | India | 1976 | India — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | Australia | 1976 | Australia — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Stereo, Black Labels
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ABC Records – ABCL 5161 | UK | 1976 | UK — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Club Edition, RCA Music Service
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Club Edition, CRC
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | 1976 | 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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ABC Records – YX-8028-AB | Japan | 1976 | Japan — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
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Musart – 60279 | Mexico | 1976 | Mexico — 1976 | ||||
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Stereo, Terre Haute Pressing
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ABC Records – AB 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 | ||||
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Santa Maria Pressing
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
Cassette, Album
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ABC Records – MCLC 1708 | UK | 1976 | UK — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – ABCL 313 | South Africa | 1976 | South Africa — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Stereo
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Music Hall – 50-14.256 | Argentina | 1976 | Argentina — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Test Pressing, Santa Maria Pressing
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ABC Records – ABCD-931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – ABCL 0171 | South Africa | 1976 | South Africa — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Terre Haute Pressing
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ABC Records – AB 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
New Submission
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Royal Scam
Cassette, Album, Club Edition
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ABC Records – 502 20931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album
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ABC Records – ABCD 931 | US | 1976 | US — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
LP, Album, Stereo
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ABC Records – 27 552 XOT | Yugoslavia | 1976 | Yugoslavia — 1976 |
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The Royal Scam
8-Track Cartridge, Album
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ABC Records – XAB 5161 | UK | 1976 | UK — 1976 |
New Submission
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The Royal Scam
Cassette, Album, Reissue
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ABC Records – CAB 5161 | UK | 1976 | UK — 1976 |
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Recommendations
Reviews
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referencing The Royal Scam (LP, Album) 602445332489
Flat and quiet and probably the best sounding of the remasters. Nothing to complain about here!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• Audio-Technica AT-VMN95ML Microlinear Stylus
• Audio-Technica ATLP1240USBXP Turntable
• Marantz PM8600 Integrated Amplifier
• DCM Time Frame TF-275 Floor Speakers -
referencing The Royal Scam (LP, Album) 602445332489
Lovely flat, silent pressing. Sounds wonderful and fully suits the groovy, top class music. -
referencing The Royal Scam (LP, Album) 602445332489
Mine arrived flat and plays silent. Very nice sounding pressing. Worth $29 all day long! -
referencing The Royal Scam (LP, Album) 602445332489
Much better sound than the original pressing. This was always a thin/brittle sounding album and this reissue has helped to make it sound fuller. -
Edited one day ago
referencing The Royal Scam (LP, Album) 602445332489
Great cut and pressing! There’s a lot of high end though, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing, it adds some clarity.
Also to note, kid charlemagne is at the correct speed on this pressing. -
referencing The Royal Scam (LP, Album, Reissue) MCA-37044
Outstanding pressing of a Decca 'W1/W2' mastering from USA Gloversville []-G-[] plates. Clear as a bell, with fantastic bass. The punch of the drums is terrific. Vinyl is dead-silent as well... -
Steely Dan - The Royal Scam (LP, Album, San) (ABC Records, ABC Records - ABCD-931, ABCD 931)
My copy, like one of the other commenters, sounds a bit loud and a tad distorted on side A. Side B sounds gorgeous. -
Question regarding vinyl pressings for anyone in the know... My original U.S. ABC pressing runs too fast - it's not an enjoyable listen. Looking through the U.S. MCA reissues, they all seem to utilize the ABC master matrix. Does that mean all U.S. issues run too fast? Was the 1985 Steve Hoffman remaster that runs at the proper speed and has better fidelity ever used for a vinyl pressing at any point? Are there any vinyl pressings that run at the proper speed?
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Edited one month agoSounds great. A bit noisy at parts. One of my favorite records to play loud. Green Earrings & Haitian Divorce seem slightly sped up, but as someone whos listened to this album a million times in different formats, i dont mind it at all. -
We found this to replace an earlier purchase (Santa Maria Pressing) that had a needle jump near the end of Sign in Stranger. This plays flawlessly, though the sleeves need repairing.
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