Rock & Pop

Zox | [Steely Dan]

The original album art for "The Royal Scam," ca. 1975

Lot closes

April 23, 03:07 PM GMT

Estimate

35,000 - 45,000 USD

Starting Bid

25,000 USD

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Lot Details

Description

102 x 102 in. Acrylic on canvas artwork for Steely Dan’s fifth studio album, The Royal Scam, released in May 1976. The large-scale canvas depicts dramatic skyscrapers that are topped with menacing Gargoyle-type heads.

The final album cover was created from this painting and a photograph by Charlie Ganse depicting a man sleeping on a bench in public.

Condition consistent with age and storage, with foxing and some stains throughout. With 3 functional original wooden stretcher bars, 1 needing repair.

The present artwork was created by Zox, a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist whose work spans film, photography, fine art, and writing. In his decades-long career, he has also created album covers for the Bee Gees, Leon Russell, Three Dog Night, The Guess Who, J.J. Cale, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, among others.

Steely Dan is the preeminent jazz-rock band of the 1970s and 80s. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were constantly breaking new ground, making a run of classic albums with smooth, meticulous production. A testament to their pursuit of perfection and craftsmanship as musicians, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.