What was Steely Dan’s best-selling album?
While the 1970s may seem monotone and bleak through a modern lens—with its often questionable haircuts and fashion choices—the decade was profoundly significant. Music, in particular, experienced a remarkably fertile period. It began with the aftermath of the countercultural collapse and ended with the avant-garde innovations of post-punk—all within the span of nine years. This was the era when music ceased to be linear, instead branching out into countless shapes, strands, and forms. Few bands embody this multifaceted spirit more than Steely Dan.
There’s no surprise that Steely Dan rose to prominence not long after they formed in 1971. They were perfect for the spirit of the decade. Formed and led by misanthropic Bard College friends Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, the pair had long hated hippies and were glad to see the back of the movement despite having long hair and looking very similar to its masses of adherents.
Explicit parallels aside, spiritually and musically, the pair were much different from their Cream and Led Zeppelin-loving peers. Both were jazz aficionados, with Fagen travelling to New York City’s storied clubs when just a child to catch some of the genre’s pioneers, such as Miles Davis and Charlie Mingus, in action. A gig by the latter changed his life.
As well as these masters of technique and musical refinement, Steely Dan were also greatly inspired by The Fugs and Frank Zappa’s work with The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. These rock artists were emulsifying the form with a substantial hit of the avant-garde, taking it to new heights musically and, perhaps more importantly, weaponising a sharp form of black comedy that appealed to their cynical outlooks.
The juxtaposition between the shimmering musical refinement of Steely Dan’s sonics, their potent melodies, and their dark lyrics created a winning formula. They had mass appeal, but their true messaging was often covered by the lush, captivating nature of their compositions, meaning that consumers would flock to buy their albums, and only a select few – the most discerning – would truly heed what the pair were discussing. From themes of incest to paedophilia, it says a lot about the duo’s artistic merit that they managed to sneak such controversial tales under people’s noses.
Although we could spend all day discussing the themes and ethos of the band, their success was ultimately built on the strength of their music. In an undeniable stroke of brilliance, Steely Dan’s songs were packed with irresistible hooks that appealed to the masses while maintaining a remarkable level of sophistication and technical mastery that has earned the admiration of hipsters and music purists across generations. This depth and craftsmanship make them one of the definitive bands of the 1970s. They possessed a complexity and precision that far surpassed most of their contemporaries—even Frank Zappa.
So, what is Steely Dan’s best-selling album?
While Steely Dan started how they meant to go on with 1972’s debut Can’t Buy a Thrill and laid the foundation of their jazz-rock fusion, it was with 1977’s Aja that they reached their critical and commercial peak. By then, the pair had long since worked exclusively with session musicians. The band of musical gunslingers featured on the first three records either departed or were fired following 1974’s Pretzel Logic. Since that watershed moment, Becker and Fagen were free to move the project closer to their ultimate vision with an even tighter grip on proceedings.
That’s precisely what they did on Aja, which is the most musically sophisticated moment in their oeuvre, even more so than their long-awaited 2000 return, the aptly named Two Against Nature. Utilising the talents of nearly 40 esteemed session musicians to bring it to life, the record spawned the hits ‘Peg’, ‘Deacon Blues’ and ‘Josie’. Perhaps the most famous element of the album is the dual solos of saxophonist Wayne Shorter and drummer Steve Gadd on the album track, which solidified the record’s prominence. The album remains Steely Dan’s best-selling album, with 2,300,000 sales.
