STEELY DAN

It was 1980 and my girlfriend at the time was sitting right up next to me on the old Holden ( HT model) bench seat and what comes on the radio but Steely Dan singing Hey Nineteen the single off their new album Gaucho.I was horrified not because they were on the radio but for me then when I was 21 I thought what happened. Gone was any thing that resembled the bands music form early days and I thought this is too slick for its own good but over time I have grown to actually love the album but back then I said "see ya later" to the Dan and could someone please put on Bruce Springsteen in the car cassette.

Around the late nineties I actually purchased the album primarily it was in the bargain bin and even though I disliked the single and Babylon Sister there must be a couple of good tracks,it is Steely Dan. Well you betcha there was and that was called Gaucho once again the tilte track grabbed a hold of me and that was that, they were back and for me in the entirety. They had a dispute over the song writing of the tune and the album was plagued with Personal problems and Techinical as well. One completed track was practically erased by mistake and was dumped. Donald Fagen was not happy.

As you may have read my feelings on the first two tracks well I have grown to like them since and both really set the feeling for this album with funk influence but the 4th track Gaucho is maybe their best song, writing dispute or not that the Dan ever did. Glamour Profession is one great number as well Mark Knopfler makes an appearance in the following track Time Out of Mind and the core of the album seems to be within these three tracks.

With a cast of Jazz musicians and anybody else who worked in session music Steely Dan did it again but It was a long time coming for me.

They got a name for the winners in the world I want a name when I lose . Well that was not the case for the slick sixth album that was released by Steely Dan in 1977 with a sound that seemed just right for the time. Heavily influenced by Funk,Jazz and Rock and considered the bands best album by many of the critics.

Once again Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are at the helm and are Steely Dan as there is no one left but Denny Dias on guitar from the the original band and his appearance would be the last. Denny Dias was a true original as he could have been considered the actual founder of the band as it was he who advertised for the two main members. The three girls are here. Venetta Fields.Sherlie Matthews, Clydie King and a few others,including Mike McDonald doing backing vocals. There are seven guitarists alone making contributions to this album including Walter Becker and a different drummer is used on every song except Bernard Purdle ( Highly regarded session musician) gets to do two, Deacon Blues and Home at Last. Massive Production that had to be as close to perfect that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker could achieve as usual with thir approach to recording. An absolute giant of Jazz makes a contribution that being Wayne Shorter who provided the solo to the title track Aja and most likely at the time was glad to have the work.

Black Cow is the song that gets the album underway and is one funk cocktail from begining to end with the backing vocalists singing the highs and Donald Fagen doing the rest.. The title track is up second with a jazz and rock influence and Wayne Shorter leaves his stamp on the tune and could be considered the best track of the album but for me the following Deacon Blues and the song Home at Last are really the only primarily straight rock songs on the album and too this day are still my favourites as they were back in 1977 when I purchased the record. There is not a shabby track on this album either as the prevoius album The Royal Scam but this was the album that made the band a legend in modern contempary music.

I often wonder at the time of release if the music would have been funked up as much if the music scene at the time was not primarily disco and soul and that was really the only style getting the majority of airplay but whatever it really was a hybrid sounding album and one that I immediately liked and around then for me rock music and prog were in a bit of a decline.

Masterpiece definitely but no more than their other albums that I have reviewed and I started to miss the more rock and pop sound of the band from earlier days. All the same this is a must have album and one that I still play 32 years later.

Skyscrapers with snakes heads and a well dressed bum, Steely Dan have album number five on sale in May 1976. Once again the list of musicians who particapated is enormous. All compositions are written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker with the usual variety of Rock ,Funk, Pop and Jazz within the songs. Larry Carlton on guitar appears and makes a large contribution to the album, Denny Dias is still hanging in there and that is just only two from five listed doing guitar on this album so another big Production was done by Gary Katz. Special mention must go to the Backing singers on the album with those three girls,Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews who were one red hot group of session singers at the time and appeared with so many other great artists, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan. Neil Diamond, Quincy Jones and there are plenty more. This was their 2nd album with Steely Dan as they were also on the debut Can't Buy a Thrill and Sherlie Matthews appears on her own on the previous album Katy Lied.Michael McDonald contributes with some vocals but is a full time Doobie Brother now.

The album takes off from the start with the driving Kid Charlemagne and one simply stunning guitar solo from Larry Carlton with some fantastic Backing Vocals provided by the girls and is a favourite with many who have the album. The Caves of Altamira is more low key with a some lovely saxophone throughout but with track three Larry Carlton is back with the lead guitar and The track Don't Take Me Alive is one great tune. Piano dominated funk and jazz is basically the ingredient for Sign in Stranger. Special mention must be made for the tracks the Fez and Green Earrings. Once again there is not a poor track within the album and to finish it all of we get the title song The Royal Scam and Larry is back on guitar for this one as well with one nice beat driven tune with piano as an undercurrent and Larry's Guitar and Donald Fagen's voice up front. I simply love the trumpet used throughout as well. The girls are there also and once again as with Pretzel Logic the title track is the high point of the album.

Another great effort and something unique but music was about to change and rock, prog, would take a back seat for a while when the world went disco mad. Four Stars but very close to five.

With a bizzare mention of the recording equipment used on the session on the back cover of Katy Lied, rumour was the two main men of the band were not happy with the finished product. I was and still am today. This may not be the best album from the band but neither is this a poor effort as this album contains the songs Black Friday, Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More,Doctor Wu,Chain Lightning and Bad Sneakers. Not a bad list and there are even some more worth a mention but as the backing band had basically fractured with the departure of all the members bar Denny Dias. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were needing more musicians,. Victor Feldman returns on vibes, Jeff Porcaro who was a session musician on Pretzel Logic gets the main role on drums this time around, Rick Derringer makes an appearance and Phil Woods does a lovely little sax solo as a giant of Jazz will come along and contribute one on Aja the 2nd album to follow.The list is almost endless as it was for the previous album Pretzel Logic but even through all these issues the quality remains.

Released in 1975 on the ABC record label and Black Friday is the tune that leads us in with its gradual build up in volume at the intro and we are off with one great rock tune with Australiana all over it and of course is one of my favourites from the record ( Black Friday was a Huge Bush Fire Disaster in 1939 which unfotunately has been long eclipsed by others ) Bad Sneakers follows on and one great Denny Dias guitar solo is one of the tunes best moments.Rose Darling follows is quite a nice pop/rock combo. Daddy Don't Live In That New York is one great funk tune which is the 4th track but the following song Doctor Wu with Phil Woods providing the sax is a high point from the record which unfortunately does not seem to carry on with side 2 but although there is not a bad one the last two tracks from side 2 do not seem to do it.Chain Lighting would be the best with your Gold Teeth II

A transitional album perhaps but only in band but not the two core members were still writing all the material and following their own path into contempary music history. A great record from a great time.

Jeff Skunk Baxter and Mike McDonald did not land on the scrap heap they joined The Doobie Brothers and sold many a record with them.

It was 1974 and the third Steely Dan album was upon us with jazz references all over it and even a Duke Ellington cover of his early classic East St Louis Toodle-Oo. Charlie Parker gets a mention with Parkers Band and a snip of a Horace Silver composition (Song For My Father) is used as the opening on Rikki Don't Lose That Number. Comprising eleven tracks and not a poor one with plenty of variety and an old time jazz influence which is predominate throughout the album.

The band has not changed from the previous album but there are no vibes as in the prevoius album Countdown to Ectasy but there are many extra session musicians on the album around 14 with the band, it was quite a big production. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are at the helm as usual with Gary Katz doing production. This would be the last album with the band in its entirety and after this they even stopped touring and became a studio band only.

The album commences with the big single Rikki Don't Lose That Number with that Horace Silver influence and would have been the first time the band started to gain regular airplay in Australia. Night by Night follows and is one little nice rocker with Any Major Dude to follow which is a bit down tempo to the prevoius number. There are two other tracks on side one of the record with the Ellington number being the last but over the years I really have grown to like the other side of the Album with the driving Parkers Band the quirky Through With Buzz to follow but the standout for me is the title track Pretzel Logic with that rolling melody underneath the tune. With a Gun the next track up is mainly accoustic driven but in a fairly quick time with a nice little story. It is not often that one says they like the 2nd last track on a record as usually they seem to be where the worst track is placed on many albums not so with poor unlucky in life Charlie Freak. Monkey in my Soul finishes off proceedings.

This would be there last great record for a while but the next two albums even though they are nothing to sneeze at things really hit the mark for the band with this release and it put them right on the map.

Absolutely essential for anyone who likes good music

This was the follow up "To Can't Buy a Thrill" and was released in 1973. Donald Fagen has taken over the lead vocals and David Palmer who also shared the lead duties on Can't Buy a Thrill is only doing backing vocals with numerous others listed on this album, "Countdown to Ectasy". The sound of the band has started to evolve and with this album there is a far more jazz and funk influence but still Rock primarily. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker share the song writing credits.

The band is still the same with the omission of David Palmer. With Denny Dias, Jeff Skunk Baxter on guitars (pedal steel as well for Skunk), Walter Becker on Bass, Jim Hodder on drums and Donald Fagen doing lead vocals, keyboards and piano. Gary Katz is the Producer on this one as he is on all of their albums from this time, up to and including Gaucho. On the early albums of Steely Dan the contribution of the two guitarists is extrraordinary with great solos and all round playing with that qiuck skippy jazz sound Denny Dias played and Jeff Baxters great solos that really make this album come alive.

There is not one bad track contained within this album and Bodhisattva is still performed in concert recently with that great groove that it contains. Vibes are provided on the next track, Razor Boy by Victor Feldman and really gives the tune its distinct sound. Track 3. The Boston Rag was the least liked song for me when I first purchased this record way back when and has grown to be the standout for me with that slow drag feel and that guitar solo from Skunk Baxter. The jazz influence is all over the next track Your Gold Teeth. Show Biz Kids is one rock,funk song that seems to stick in your head forever with the repeated line While the poor people sleepin' with the shade on the light: While the poor people sleepin' all the stars come out at night. Great stuff

There were singles that were taken off the album in the U.S but in Australia if they were issued they sure did not play them on the radio and the band was only found out by word of mouth or the odd rock paper or magazine at the time.

Another great Steely Dan record as all of them are from this period and the next album that they were to do, Pretzel Logic would really cement the bands position in rock as Steely Dan with that distinctive sound and style they had.

Masterpiece ? You Betcha

Hey, I grew up with this album. Some of my favorite songs are here. Such as "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More". "He Don't Get tight every night, pass out in that bar-room floor" (I cant stop singing it, sorry) "Rose Darling" (rose darling). "When Black Friday Comes", I'm gonna dig myself a hooooole. WHAT COULD BE BETTER IN A SD ALBUM (What the f^%$ I have white powder all over my jeans and it's not the stuff that your'e thinkin') O.K......O.K. Katy Lied............................."I Was On THE other side of NO tomorrow" You walked in and my life began again THIS ALBUM ALONG WITH "THE ROYAL SCAM" is the (shall i say) the best that "THE DAN OF STEELITH" can bring you. Go ahead, go to "AJA", but this is where i grew up, in the heart of '"Doctor Wu" and everyone's gone to the movies now we're alone at LAST

Seriously, Jeff Paccaro on drums and Roger Nichols producing... Like They Say, The Best Steely Dan Album, Ever

Near "Aja"-next really good SD album. Balanced mix of soft-rock with some funky and jazzy arrangements, perfect musicians, golden melodies, perfect ( if not too commercial, polished) production.

This is Steely Dan at their best ( near "Aja "). Yes , it 's still very pop-sound, but it's a SD trademark. But at the same way you can find highest level of instrumentation, sound balance and warm atmosphere.

Never candidates for experimentalists or avantguarde, group rich their top in 1976-1977, with this and "Aja " albums. Even if you 'hate pop-rock, it is always interesting just to hear as artistic, intelligent and high musically profesional could it be!

Typical Steely Dan, perfect sound, golden melodies, well balanced music. If you like other Stely Dan albums, you will like that one as well.

So, what the diffrence we can find there ( in comparence with earlier works? I think main difference is "Katy Lied" is more rock songs album ( in sense of Steely Dan, for sure). You hear more structurised soft-rock songs and less jazzy arrangements, it's for sure. For me the result is not bad at all. Yes, I like jazzy clothes of Steely Dan songs, but there you can see another side of their music, and it side is realy nice.

I can recommend this SD album for those who prefer more rock sound against jazzy arrangements. All in all, very strong and beautiful album.

So, when I finished with Sd debut album, I had started with the second one.

The same melodies, same perfect arrangements, same pleasant warm sound. Less r'nb or blues rock, more jazzy feelings.

First song, "Bodhisattva", is one of the worst their songs for me. Rhythmic and sharp, it is absolutely out of the contest of their comfortable sound/melody atmosphere. Step by step, song after song you are deeper and deeper in tasty world of their sweet-sour melodies and arrangements.

As with any SD album, again you can accept them as pop/soft rock band with intelligent arrangements and jazzy clothes, or just hate them as commercial unit. In that sense, their second album doesn't change your opinion. More complex and jazzy than their debut, it is firmly placed between similar musicians, like 10 cc or Supertramp.