Steely Dan Katy Lied Numbered Limited Edition UHQR 200g 45rpm 2LP Box Set

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Michael Fremer Rated 9/10 Music, 8/10 Sound!

Analog Planet Rated 11/10 Music, 9/10 Sound!

Katy Lied, Steely Dan's fourth studio album, originally released in 1975 by ABC Records, was certified gold-selling and peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. charts. The single "Black Friday" also charted at No. 37. Showcasing the band's blend of jazz, rock and pop music, its songs explore themes of betrayal, deception, and disillusionment with a sophisticated and cynical edge.

From the opening track "Black Friday" with its upbeat tempo and biting lyrics about a stock market crash, to the mournful ballad "Doctor Wu," Katy Lied delivers a range of musical styles and emotions. The album's standout tracks include "Bad Sneakers," a catchy and upbeat tune about a drug dealer, and "Chain Lightning," a dynamic rock song with a powerful guitar solo.

One of the defining features of Katy Lied is Steely Dan's meticulous production techniques, which included multiple studio overdubs and the use of top-notch session musicians. The result is a polished and nuanced sound that highlights the band's musical virtuosity and attention to detail.

Pitchfork noted: "(Katy Lied) captures Steely Dan in the thick of it all, still hungry and energized by their early burst of creativity but not taking anything for granted. Before Katy Lied, Steely Dan was a rock band, but this is the record where they became something else."

Founded by core members Walter Becker (bass) and Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards), Steely Dan's popularity rose throughout the late 1970s on, and their seven albums throughout that period of time blended elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop. Steely Dan created a sophisticated, distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio. Becker and Fagen, with producer Gary Katz, gradually changed Steely Dan from a performing band to a studio project, hiring session musicians to record their compositions. The duo didn't perform live between 1974 and 1993. But their popularity nevertheless grew throughout the '70s as their albums became critical favorites and their singles became staples of Adult Oriented Radio and pop radio stations.

Katy Lied marks the first appearance of singer Michael McDonald on a Steely Dan album. Best known for his soulful voice as a member of the Doobie Brothers, McDonald is a five-time Grammy winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Doobie Brothers in 2020.

The album cover features a picture of a katydid, a "singing" (stridulating) insect related to crickets and grasshoppers. This is most likely a pun on the album's title; the "singing" of a katydid sounds as though they're saying "Katy did, Katy didn't." Lyrics in the song "Doctor Wu" include "Katy tried, I was halfway crucified" and "Katy lies, you can see it in her eyes." The premise of the theme of Katy "lying" is based on a quote from Denny Dias when he came to the studio to play on "Your Gold Teeth II." Jeff Porcaro, then only 21 years old, played drums on all the songs except "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)," which features legendary session drummer Hal Blaine.

After a brief battle with esophageal cancer, Walter Becker died on September 3, 2017 at the age of 67. Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2001. VH1 ranked Steely Dan at No. 82 on their list of the 100 Greatest Musical Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone ranked them No. 15 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.

This stereo UHQR reissue will be limited to 20,000 copies, with gold foil individually numbered jackets, housed in a premium slipcase with a wooden dowel spine.

Overall, Katy Lied is a masterful album that showcases Steely Dan's unique sound and stands as a testament to the band's enduring legacy in the world of rock and jazz fusion.

I don't care how you've previously consumed this album, play this UHQR edition and you're likely to have a 'heard it for the first time' experience—at least on some tracks. I did, and I've been listening to this record for just short of 50 years. Not the best sounding Steely Dan album by far but the best sounding version of it that I've heard. Based on that, if we had a third knob for 'reissue quality relative to previous versions,' it would get a 10 or 11. But based on its intrinsic sound quality, 8 will do.

This UHQR pressing of Katy Lied isn't just an upgrade — it's a remastering-class-worthy revelation. Katy Lied performs a sonic miracle — sharpening the resolution, unveiling hidden nuances, and vastly expanding the soundscape.