Supertramp/Steely Dan Again: Try Again/Do It Again

I had to smush words in the title together to make it fit.

Inspired by AFlowerKingCrimson's "Steely Dan vs Supertramp" poll, I thought that I would pit the longest song off of each of these band's studio debut albums against each other, which also happen to have similar titles.

"Try Again" off Supertramp's eponymous album from 1970:



"Do It Again" off Steely Dan's album Can't Buy A Thrill from 1972.



I dig both songs, and "Do it Again" has been a classic radio staple for ages. That said, I go for the lesser-known "Try Again" which is a favourite of mine by Supertramp. I will be interested to hear your thoughts.

Mortte wrote: Dan´s song is the best one in that album, but anyway prefer Supertramp again.

At least at this time, each of these is my favourite song off their respective albums. It will be interesting to me to compare the results of this poll to the one that inspired it, though I expect less interest in this topic.

Edited by Logan - July 21 2018 at 12:45

While not as catchy, I find the Supertramp song memorable, and it has a groove especially in the instrumental part that really gets to me in a great way. Maybe that it's not as memorable is not a negative for me. It's a song that I could play over and over again (like with "Moon in June" by Soft Machine, although perhaps that's more memorable). One might say that it's Supertramp before they discovered a more commercial route.

Edited by Logan - July 21 2018 at 14:15

Do it Again - iconic and memorable. Try Again, less so.

The Dark Elf wrote: Do It Again is memorable; Try Again is not. It was Supertramp before Supertramp figured out who they were.

great song from the Dan but not even the best song from that album.

Micky, it seemed a good idea, especially with the parallels in title and with both being the longest off the debut albums as an accessory to that other SuperDan or SteelyTramp poll -- sorry it gets your poofy pfff. :p Perhaps I should stick to philosophical nonsense and leave it to my betters to create music polls (or if I do do music polls, perhaps I should stick to Avant Prog, Electronic, Krautrock, Zeuhl, and the like). ;)

TCat, agree that "Aja" and "Try Again" would be better matched musically. Actually, I did consider doing that, but since my first idea was to pit the longest off each debut, when I saw that the titles are practically synonymous (depending on context), I was pleased as punch. At least with both of these albums, they have similar ratings and are temporally closer. I do suspect that this would be closer battle than if I did Aja, as Aja is a high rated album, unlike the Supertramp. and I know that song is much loved.

To make it a 1977 battle, irregardless of musical qualities, perhaps I'll do an "Aja" vs. "Fool's Overture" battle. Actually, since I care about such parallelism, it would make more sense to make it the title track off Even in the Quietest Moments so that both are title tracks.

If at first you don't succeed, try try, try again.

Edited by Logan - July 21 2018 at 19:43

micky wrote: great song from the Dan but not even the best song from that album. Voted one of the greatest rock solos and one of Jimmy Pages favorites... oh the poll... pffff...

yeah...  I saw that.. but posted mainly for the Skunk sighting. Next to Jack Casady.. perhaps the coolest cat to ever grace any rock band.

oh don't get me wrong...  I like Supertramp... but I also consider everything they did up their masterpiece, Breakfast in America, to be patchy and sort of ehhh..  much like Genesis.. too much f**king around trying to be arty, intellectual and proggy and just let out the pop genius and be done with it.  True greats like the Dan could be those, few though can be.