Still enjoying Sunken Condos but I found a ROIO of Donald called The Sunken Soundboard from a 2006 show. There's a fair amount of Steely Dan shows as well on Traders Den and Dime.
Still enjoying Sunken Condos but I found a ROIO of Donald called The Sunken Soundboard from a 2006 show. There's a fair amount of Steely Dan shows as well on Traders Den and Dime.
I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart
Steely Dan really is its own beast isn't it?
I've read convincing arguments that they are prog, but then they've proven to have classic rock, and MOR/adult contemporary staying power. Their lyrics are anything but MOR, and are some of the most deeply subversive things I've heard. I don't know what jazzheads think of them, but it's clear that jazz is Becker & Fagen's first love, musically anyway.
Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.
Jazzers as a rule (and I'm talking people into swing, bop, post-bop etc. as opposed to smooth/elevator/R & B type jazz) appreciate the thought and complexity that goes into B & F's writing, and many jazz musicians have played on SD albums.
They are what the word "inimitable" was created to describe. There are charts available for almost everything in their catalog. Not your momma's rock band.
"My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"
President Harry S. Truman
It's prog of its own sort. If British/European prog is rock plus classical music (and some jazz), Steely Dan are a highly Americanized version of that: R&B plus jazz (with the occasional quasi-classical structure, as in the song "Aja"). You could also describe them as a vocal-oriented take on fusion, looking to standards, cool jazz, and such jazz composers as Mingus or Monk instead of the modal blowing that underpins most of that genre.
I know some jazz musicians who can't stand anything that doesn't use acoustic bass or has an even slightly distorted electric guitar. Excluding that bunch, I'd say most "jazzheads" like or love SD. I'm the first call guitar sub in a 13 piece SD tribute band and just about everybody in it plays jazz in addition to other kinds of music. The gig rarely pays more than $25 per man, so I know they're not doing it for the money.Originally Posted by notallwhowander
I love the Dan. Always have, and I suspect always will.
I dig what I've heard of Fagen's new record, so that's going on the "buy" list.
I don't really care to categorize it, but man is it good! I'm listening a lot to Morph the Cat these days and love that one! Maybe my favorite of his solo stuff. Got to get the new one!
I remember reading some years ago, that Donald Fagen didn't like the terminology "progressive rock" nor did he like being lumped in with the "Progressive Rock" scene.
Netherless, I still think the band is more of a "Rock" that uses elements of Swing, Blues and R&B in their music.
Great band.
Be a loyal plastic robot for a world that doesn't care... Frank Zappa
Not exactly prog as I define it but certainly progressive in its own right and IMHO certainly great in whatever category one wishes to put them into...!
Peace,
Alex
My feelings exactly. Never put them in the same category as Yes, Genesis, etc. but always thought they represented a take on rock/pop music that didn't compromise on intelligence.Not exactly prog as I define it but certainly progressive in its own right and IMHO certainly great in whatever category one wishes to put them into...
We just spun Royal Scam the other night and it rarely fails that I hear something on that (and most SD albums) which catches my attention and blows me away. This time it was the chord progression under the first verse in Don't Take me Alive. How do even come up with stuff like that? Mind-blowing.
Bill
Mabe they can be termed as Prog lover`s guilty pleasure
No guilt here. ABBA, well, that's a guilt trip for sure!
Dude, ABBA rules!
"My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"
President Harry S. Truman
I'll give you Waterloo and S.O.S. as perfect pop songs, but my sphincter puckers when my wife plays Mamma Mia or Fernando.
I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart
Not prog to me at all, but they're damn good.
Open minded jazzers love the Dan...and Fagen solo (less so Becker)..
Put me in the "love" camp, although my Dan listening is sporadic. I have Steely Dan moods, and then they pass. While the taste is there there's nothing sweeter, but I wouldn't want to serve it for every meal, dig? I do think their approach to pop was highly literate, musically impeccable, and strongly informed by jazz, R&B, and even some classical. However, I can understand how Fagen wouldn't want the band to be thought of as a peer of Genesis or King Crimson. Their ultimate goals seem so different than those of the "Big 5" era Prog Rock bands, even if they shared some of the same strategies in achieving those goals.
An interesting insight into the "what do jazzers think of them" question: while at Oberlin, I remember the students really digging Steely Dan, while all (or most, at least) of the jazz professors thought they were unworthy posers. I thought that was an interesting reflection on the professors, more than the students. Very "Wynton" of them, IMHO.
I only have Aja, so would be happy to see some lists of people's top three or five SD or solo albums.
The Nightfly- Fagen
Circus Money- Becker
Morph The Cat- Fagen
My faves are as follows, for what it's worth:
1) The Royal Scam
2) Can't Buy A Thrill
3) Aja
4) Pretzel Logic
I love Gaucho, but its probably the brilliant 5.1 mix that completely sold me.
That would be my list too.My faves are as follows, for what it's worth:
1) The Royal Scam
2) Can't Buy A Thrill
3) Aja
4) Pretzel Logic
They only have seven albums from 1972 to 1980. All of these are gems, imo. I like some more than others, but there are none I'd be without. You can probably find most used for peanuts, so I'd encourage you to get them all. If you get only five, start with Pretzel Logic and move forward from there, getting Katy Lied, Royal Scam, and Gaucho (Aja you already have). But seriously, get all of the 72-80 stuff. You can experiment with later albums as well. Personally I didn't like them nearly as much, but the '70s stuff is essential, imo.
Bill
Honestly, Countdown to Ecstasy is indispensable Dan for me.
Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world.
X2!! "Boston Rag" & "King Of The World" are 40% of my 5 favorite SD songs, and along with The Who, SD is one of my 2 favorite bands EVER.
"My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician, and to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference"
President Harry S. Truman
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