Steely Dan - Katy Lied (2025 Remaster) (1975) [Hi-Res]

At long last - newly re-mastered! The jazzy and exploratory Katy Lied features fan favorites such as “Black Friday,” “Bad Sneakers,” and “Doctor Wu.” It was the first Steely Dan album after the departure of guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and drummer Jim Hodder as core duo Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s opted to cease touring and focus on studio work. In a 2019 retrospective, Pitchfork enthused, “It 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 were a rock band, but this is the record where they became something else.”

Steely Dan’s groundbreaking fourth studio album, Katy Lied. This gold-selling classic, originally released in 1975, has been meticulously remastered.

Formed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan redefined the boundaries of rock and jazz fusion with their sophisticated compositions and meticulous studio production. Pitchfork described Katy Lied as “a turning point where Steely Dan became something else entirely,” praising its thematic explorations of betrayal, disillusionment, and sophistication. Mastered directly from the original master tape by legendary engineer Bernie Grundman, Katy Lied is pressed on 200-gram Clarity Vinyl® at Quality Record Pressings. With its purest possible sound reproduction, this UHQR release delivers Steely Dan’s polished jazz-rock fusion in stunning clarity and depth.

Featuring iconic tracks like the upbeat yet biting "Black Friday," the poignant ballad "Doctor Wu," and the catchy groove of "Bad Sneakers," Katy Lied captures Steely Dan at the height of their creative powers. The album is lauded for its intricate production, innovative use of top-tier session musicians, and complex yet accessible melodies. It also marks the debut of Michael McDonald’s signature vocals within the Steely Dan soundscape.

Donald Fagen, piano, keyboards, vocals
Walter Becker, bass, guitar (solo on 1, 2)
Additional musicians:br> Denny Dias, guitar (solo on 7)
Rick Derringer, guitar (solo on 8)
Dean Parks, guitar (solo on 3)
Elliott Randall, guitar (solo on 10)
Hugh McCracken, guitar
Larry Carlton, guitar (4)
Michael Omartian, piano, keyboards
David Paich, piano, keyboards
Chuck Rainey, bass
Wilton Felder, bass
Jeff Porcaro, drums (all except 9), dorophone
Hal Blaine, drums (9)
Victor Feldman, percussion, vibraphone
Phil Woods, alto saxophone (5)
Jimmie Haskell, horn arrangement (10)
Bill Perkins, saxophone (10)[citation needed]
Michael McDonald, backing vocals
Sherlie Matthews, backing vocals (6)
Carolyn Willis, backing vocals (6)
Myrna Matthews, backing vocals (6)

Recorded November 1974–January 1975 at ABC, Los Angeles, California
Produced by Gary Katz

Digitally remastered by Bernie Grundman