Steely Dan

A band that is often maligned for A) not fitting easily into any one category of musical style and/or B) helping to launch the adult-friendly musical niches that have become known as "Adult Contemporary," "Smooth Jazz," and (the worst), "Yacht Rock." Also, since the band did little touring after the Pretzel Logic album when they became less of a band and more of a duo of precision songwriters: makers of hyper-polished studio music, accomplished through the employment of a revolving door of highly-skilled sessions musicians for the "perfect" fit to create the sounds the songwriting duo of Donald Fagen and Dan Becker envisioned. Despite their skill--and the high quality of their products--Becker and Fagen (and, to a lesser extent, producer Gary Katz) became known as very tough employers.

 Can't Buy a Thrill (1972)

Recorded in Los Angeles at the the Village Recorder in August of 1972, the album was released in November by ABC Records.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / vocals (1,3,5-7,9,10), piano, electric piano, YC-30 plastic organ
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter / electric, Spanish acoustic & pedal steel (7,8) guitars, spoken word (5)
- Denny Dias / guitar, electric sitar (1)
- Walter Becker / bass, vocals (10)
- Jim Hodder / drums, percussion, vocals (4)
With:
- Elliott Randall / guitar
- Jerome Richardson / tenor saxophone (2)
- Eugene "Snooky" Young / flugelhorn
- Victor Feldman / percussion
- David Palmer / vocals (2,5,8-10)
- Venetta Fields / backing vocals (3,8)
- Clydie King / backing vocals (3,8)
- Sherlie Matthews / backing vocals (3,8)

1. "Do It Again" (5:56)
2. "Dirty Work" (3:08)
3. "Kings" (3:45)
4. "Midnight Cruiser" (4:08)
5. "Only a Fool Would Say That" (2:57)
6. "Reelin' In the Years" (4:37)
7. "Fire in the Hole" (3:28)
8. "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)" (4:21)
9. "Change of the Guard" (3:39)
10. "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" (4:58)

Total Time 40:57

What a debut! I will NEVER forget the first time I heard "Do It Again" on the radio in Detroit--I thought I was hearing the latest Santana single, but, no! Some new kid on the block named "dan" was announcing his arrival--and what an arrival! This album burned on our record player for weeks without break. Piano, quirky cerebral lyrics, stellar lead guitar play (by sessions musician, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who later go on to greater fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers before returning to sessions work in the 1980s), and introducing the eccentric vocal talents of principle songwriter and ultra-shy Donald Fagen alternating with ultra-smooth voice of David Palmer.

Great, iconic songs: "Do It Again" (10/10), "Reelin' in the Years" (9/10); "Dirty Work" (8.75/10); "Brooklyn (owes the Charmer in Me)" (8.75/10); "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" (8.75/10); "Kings" (8.5/10), and; the "Blue Collar"-like "Only a Fool Would Say That" (8.5/10).

Not sure how proggy or even jazz-fusiony this album is but I am certainly happy to have an excuse to write and publish a review of one of my childhood's favorites.

Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)

Recorded in West Los Angeles at The Village Recorder over several months time in early 1973, the album was released in July by ABC Records.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / vocals, piano, electric piano, synthesizer
- Denny Dias / guitar, mixing
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter / guitar, pedal steel guitar
- Walter Becker / bass, harmonica, vocals
- Jim Hodder / drums, percussion, vocals
With:
- Ben Benay / acoustic guitar
- Rick Derringer / slide guitar (5)
- Ray Brown / string bass (2)
- Victor Feldman / vibes, marimba, percussion
- Jimmie Haskell / saxes arrangements (6)
- Ernie Watts / saxophone (6)
- Johnny Rotella / saxophone (6)
- Lanny Morgan / saxophone (6)
- Bill Perkins / saxophone (6)
- Sherlie Matthews - background vocals
- Myrna Matthews - background vocals
- Patricia Hall - background vocals
- David Palmer - background vocals
- Royce Jones - background vocals
- James Rolleston - background vocals
- Michael Fennelly - background vocals

1. "Bodhisattva" (5:19)
2. "Razor Boy" (3:11)
3. "The Boston Rag" (5:40)
4. "Your Gold Teeth" (7:02)
5. "Show Biz Kids" (5:25)
6. "My Old School" (5:47)
7. "Pearl of the Quarter" (3:50)
8. "King of the World" (5:04)

Total Time 41:18

Nowhere near the impact album that Can't Buy a Thrill was or up to the heights of the next album, Pretzel Logic. Is this, perchance, where the term "sophomore slump" came from? "Bodhisattva" (8.25/10), "Showbiz Kids" (8.5/10), "My Old School" (8.25/10), and "King of the World" (8.75/10) are all decent songs but none come near to the highs of "Dirty Work" or "Night by Night" much less "Do It Again" or "Rikkie Don't Lose that Number." Better off skipping this one--unless you're a collector type--and go to Pretzel Logic or even The Royal Scam. Still, what more can be said about the genius of producer Gary Katz? Some of the purely greatest sounding albums I've ever heard were produced by him, including Eye to Eye, Joe Cocker's Civilized Man, Rosie Vela's Zazu, Love and Money's Strange Kind of Love, and Laura Nyro's Walk the Dog & Light the Light as well as the entire Dan discography.

Pretzel Logic (1974)

Recorded in West Los Angeles at The Village Recorder over several months time in late 1973, the album was released on February 20 of 1974.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / lead vocals, keyboards
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter / lead & pedal steel guitars
- Denny Dias / guitar
- Walter Becker / bass, guitar
- Jim Hodder / drums, backing vocals
With:
- Ben Benay / guitar
- Dean Parks / guitar, banjo
- Victor Feldman / keyboards, percussion
- Michael Omartian / keyboards
- David Paich / keyboards
- Plas Johnson / saxophone
- Jerome Richardson / saxophone
- Ernie Watts / saxophone
- Lew McCreary / horn
- Ollie Mitchell / trumpet
- Timothy B. Schmit / bass, backing vocals
- Wilton Felder / bass
- Chuck Rainey / bass
- Jim Gordon / drums
- Jeff Porcaro / drums
- Jimmie Haskell / orchestration

1. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (4:30)
2. "Night By Night" (3:36)
3. "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" (3:05)
4. "Barrytown" (3:17)
5. "East St. Louis ToodleOo" (Duke Ellington, Bubber Miley) (2:45)
6. "Parker's Band" (2:36)
7. "Through With Buzz" (1:30)
8. "Pretzel Logic" (4:28)
9. "With A Gun" (2:15)
10. "Charlie Freak" (2:41)
11. "Monkey In Your Soul" (2:31)

Total time 33:14

One of my favorite albums as a teenager, I could not get enough (and still can't) of hearing the title song--this despite the fact that I always considered Side One one of those most rare of species, a "Perfect Side." Yes, Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (9/10), "Night by Night" (9/10), "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" (9/10), "Barrytown" (8.75/10), and "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" (4.5/5) make up, in my opinion, a perfect side of music, one that you can play straight through and never have to skip, stop, or be disappointed. Such a rare thing. Side two, on the other hand, is quite another story. The only song I like/love/always want to hear is "Pretzel Logic"--definitely a top 5 Dan song, maybe my favorite, of all-time. (No, nothing can ever top "Do It Again," Home at Last," "Babylon Sisters," or perhaps even "Kid Charlemagne.")

Then there's the question we're all wondering about: Is this really prog--even the fringes of the jazz-rock fusion sub-genre?

Katy Lied (1975)

The first album after Becker and Fagen announced their decision to stop touring--resulting in the departures of guitar virtuoso Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (to The Doobie Brothers) and drummer Jim Hodder (who became an LA sessions player). Founding member and mainstay guitarist Denny Dias decided to stay on and appears on most of the songs.

     The album was recorded in Los Angeles for ABC Records at the label's home studio over the months of November 1974 through January of 1975 and then released on March 1 of 1975. Interestingly, Becker and Fagen refused to listen to or approve of the final mix of the album due to continued technical breakdowns of newer equipment in the studio that they felt were never satisfactorily resolved.

     Katy Lied marked the debut appearances of several musicians who would become mainstays for the Dan's future records and sound--including guitarist Larry Carlton, 20-year old drummer Jeff Pocaro, keyboard specialist Michael Omartian, percussionist Victor Feldman, and background vocalist Michael McDonald.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / vocals, piano, keyboards, saxophone
- Walter Becker / bass, guitar solos (1,2)
With:
- Hugh McCracken / guitar
- Dean Parks / guitar (3)
- Larry Carlton / guitar (4)
- Denny Dias / guitar solo (7)
- Rick Derringer / guitar solo (8)
- Elliott Randall / guitar (10)
- Michael Omartian / piano, keyboards
- David Paich / piano, keyboards
- Phil Woods / alto saxophone (5)
- Jimmie Haskell / horn & horns arrangements (10)
- Bill Perkins / horn (10)
- Wilton Felder / bass
- Chuck Rainey / bass
- Jeff Porcaro / drums, halldorophone
- Hal Blaine / drums (6)
- Victor Feldman / percussion, vibes
- Michael McDonald / backing vocals
- Myrna Matthews / backing vocals (6)
- Sherlie Matthews / backing vocals (6)
- Carolyn Willis / backing vocals (6)

1. "Black Friday" (3:33)
2. "Bad Sneakers" (3:16)
3. "Rose Darling" (2:59)
4. "Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More" (3:12)
5. "Doctor Wu" (3:59)
6. "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" (3:41)
7. "Your Gold Teeth II" (4:12)
8. "Chain Lightning" (2:57)
9. "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" (3:56)
10. "Throw Back the Little Ones" (3:11)

Total Time 34:56

The Dan bounced back from their sophomore slump with the previous year's Pretzel Logic and now they release the solid Katy Lied to universal praise and playlist favorites "Black Friday," "Bad Sneakers," "Any World (That I'm Welcome to)," "Throw Back the Little Ones," and my favorite, "Dr. Wu." Though stellar guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is now gone and playing for The Doobies, Donald, Walter, and producer-extraordinaire, Gary Katz, have gotten into the routine of enlisting a broad palette of LA studio musicians including soon-to-be regulars Jeff Pocaro (drums), Larry Carlton (guitar), and singer Michael McDonald. The new style, interestingly, was to in fact bring in a specific lineup of studio musicians for specific songs--a tactic that would be perfected for the Aja album on which no two songs had the same lineup. On Katy Lied it was the guitarists who performed a kind of revolving door according to stylistic preferences and availabilities. Also, Katy Lied illustrates the band's evolving preference for an expanded lineup of jazz-oriented musicians, including full horn section, vibes, and percussionists.

A good solid album, though not great, and, again, where's the prog?

The Royal Scam (1976)

Recorded over several months (Nov. 1975-March 1976) on two different coasts (LA and NYC) the album had its public debut on May of 1976.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / lead & backing vocals, keyboards, horn arrangements
- Walter Becker / bass, guitar, horn arrangements
With:
- Denny Dias / guitar
- Larry Carlton / guitar
- Dean Parks / guitar
- Elliott Randall / guitar
- Paul Griffin / keyboards, vocals
- Don Grolnick / keyboards
- Bob Findley / trumpet, horn arrangements
- Chuck Findley / trumpet
- Jim Horn / saxophone
- Plas Johnson / saxophone
- John Klemmer / tenor saxophone (2 solo)
- Richard Hyde / trombone
- Chuck Rainey / bass
- Rick Marotta / drums
- Bernard Purdie / drums
- Gary Coleman / percussion
- Victor Feldman / percussion, keyboards
- Timothy B. Schmit / backing vocals
- Venetta Fields / backing vocals
- Clydie King / backing vocals
- Sherlie Matthews / backing vocals
- Michael McDonald / backing vocals

1. "Kid Charlemagne" (4:38)
2. "The Caves Of Altamira" (3:33)
3. "Don't Take Me Alive" (4:16)
4. "Sign In Stranger" (4:23)
5. "The Fez" (4:01)
6. "Green Earrings" (4:05)
7. "Haitian Divorce" (5:51)
8. "Everything You Did" (3:55)
9. "The Royal Scam" (6:30)

Total time 41:12

Though I consider the band to be progressing with this album (from 1975's Katy Lied toward 1977's Aja), this album never really connects with me like Can't Buy a Thrill, Pretzel Logic, or Aja--this despite the album's opener, "Kid Charlemagne" its closer, "The Royal Scam," being two of my favorite Dan songs of all-time. The sound here is great, much better than their first three albums, but their reliance on lyrical content is too great and not enough room given to inputs from the amazing lineup of highly-accomplished studio jazz musicians.

Five star songs: "Kid Charlemagne" and "The Royal Scam."

Four star songs: "The Fez"; "The Caves of Altamira"; "Sign in Stranger", and; "Haitian Divorce".

A 3.5 star album rated down for lack of jazzy- or proggy-ness.

Aja (1977)

Using the longest period of development yet in order to record and perfect this music--late 1976 through July of 1977--and multiple recording studios on both coasts, Aja was released by ABC Records on September 23, 1977. It remains the Dan's most commercially--and critically--successful album.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / lead & backing vocals, synthesizer, whistle (2)
- Walter Becker / bass (3), guitar (2,5-7)
With:
- Larry Carlton / guitar (1-3,5-7)
- Denny Dias / guitar (2)
- Lee Ritenour / guitar (3)
- Jay Graydon / guitar solo (4)
- Steve Khan / guitar (4)
- Dean Parks / guitar (6,7)
- Victor Feldman / electric piano (1,3,7), piano (5,6), vibraphone (5,6), percussion (2,4,6)
- Joe Sample / clavinet (1), electric piano (2)
- Michael Omartian / piano (2)
- Paul Griffin / electric piano & backing vocals (4)
- Don Grolnick / clavinet (4)
- Tom Scott / tenor saxophone (1), lyricon (4), horns arrangements & conducting
- Wayne Shorter / tenor saxophone (2)
- Pete Christlieb / tenor saxophone (3)
- Jim Horn / saxophone
- Plas Johnson / saxophone
- Jackie Kelso / flute & saxophone?
- Bill Perkins / flute & saxophone?
- Chuck Findley / brass
- Lou McCreary / brass
- Richard "Slyde" Hyde / brass
- Chuck Rainey / bass
- Paul Humphrey / drums (1)
- Steve Gadd / drums (2)
- Bernard Purdie / drums (3,5)
- Rick Marotta / drums (4)
- Ed Greene / drums (6)
- Gary Coleman / percussion (4)
- Jim Keltner / percussion & drums (7)
- Venetta Fields / backing vocals (1,3,6)
- Clydie King / backing vocals (1,3,6)
- Sherlie Matthews / backing vocals (1,3,6)
- Rebecca Louis / backing vocals (1,6)
- Timothy B. Schmit / backing vocals (2,5,7)
- Michael McDonald / backing vocals (4,6)

Side One:

1. "Black Cow" (5:10) starts the album off with very cool groove. Once you've played this song you can't stop: you just have to play the whole album. Amazing background vocals and horns. Lyrically astounding. I love intellect in the lyrics. (9.75/10)

2. "Aja" (8:00) is without a doubt the coolest jazz song to get pop air play! The instrumental jam is mesmerizing! I love the electric piano, "Oriental-infused" instrumental section that starts early in the third minute that culminates, of course, with STEVE GADD's amazing drum play beneath Wayne Shorter's sax solo. (14.5/15)

3. "Deacon Blues" (7:37) like "Black Cow" this song just sucks you into the coolness of the groove. Sit back and enjoy the story, enjoy the incredible background vocals and tight jazz performances. Yacht rock at its finest. (14.75/15)

Side Two:

4. "Peg" (3:57)) the "big" hit from the album is, IMO, the weakest song on the album. Tight performances can't overcome a bit too much repetition. Amazing bass line from Chuck Rainey. I love Don Grolnick's clavinet. sweet guitar solo from Jay Graydon. Nice lyricon sax from Tom Scott. I never grew accustomed to (or liked) Michael MacDonald's voice. (8.75/10)

5. "Home at Last" (5:34) a "pop" song about Ulysses! I was and still am blown away by this song (it's my favorite on the album). The extended instrumental parts are sheer magic and bliss. I want to be tied to the mast!! (10/10)

6. "I Got the News" (5:06) sounds like a funked up "Kid Charlemagne"--very cool jazz piano work, nice bass and drum work--and very tight, precise performances across the board--it's just not melodic or engaging enough for my tastes--though I do like the second motif that starts at the two-minute mark. (8.75/10)

7. "Josie" (4:33) has one of the most infectious rhythm guitar riffs ever put to vinyl. Add to that another amazing bass track from Hall-of-Famer Chuck Rainey and super tight performances from the rest of the legions and POW! a great song that hooks you in and never lets go. I always hated that this song had to end! (9.5/10)

Total Time 39:54

Though popular and get pop radio play, this album was, to me, a masterpiece of almost jazz fusion. I mean, look at the musicians involved with the project it reads like a Who's Who of the Jazz fusion scene in LA in the mid-70s: Joe Sample and Larry Carlton of the Jazz Crusaders, Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, Victor Feldman, Tom Scott, Jim Horn, Chuck Findley, Denny Dias, Jay Graydon, Steve Khan, Dean Parks, Lee Ritenour, Pete Christlieb, Don Grolnick, Michael Omartian, Richard "Slyde" Hyde, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso, Lou McCreary, Bill Perkins, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Ed Greene, and Jim Keltner and Rick Marotta!!! FAgan and Becker orchestrating a fusin big band! Tight, one of the best recorded and engineered albums I had heard up to that point (so far superior to their previous albums in terms of sound engineering). The album sounds, to this day, like a sonic wet dream.

To be sure, one of the iconic albums of the 70s--with every song evoking memories of sunshine and ease (my college days). A masterpiece that stands up over time better than 95% of the stuff that came before or since.

A/five stars; an amazing, sure-fire, timeless masterpiece of pop jazz-rock fusion. It's also one of the best sound productions ever pressed to vinyl. Another on of my Top 10 Jazz-Rock Fusion Albums of the "Classic Era's" Third Wave.

Gaucho (1980)

Recorded over a period of three years (1978-1980) in multiple studios in both Los Angeles and New York City, Gaucho saw its MCA Records release on November 1 of 1980.

Line-up / Musicians:
- Donald Fagen / lead vocals, synthesizer & electric piano (2-6)
- Walter Becker / bass & guitar (2,4,5)
With:
- Steve Khan / electric guitar (1,3,4,6,7), acoustic guitar (7)
- Hugh McCracken / guitar (2,5)
- Mark Knopfler / lead guitar (5)
- Hiram Bullock / guitar (6)
- Rick Derringer / guitar (6)
- Larry Carlton / lead guitar (7)
- Don Grolnick / electric piano & clavinet (1)
- Rob Mounsey / piano (3-5), synthesizer (7), horns arrangements (1,5)
- Patrick Rebillot / electric piano (6)
- Joe Sample / electric piano (7)
- Tom Scott / clarinet (1), alto saxophone (1), tenor saxophone (1,3,4,6), horns arrangements (3,4,6), lyricon (3,6)
- Randy Brecker / trumpet (1,4,5), flugelhorn (1,6)
- Walter Kane / bass clarinet (1)
- George Marge / bass clarinet (1)
- Michael Brecker / tenor saxophone (3,5,6), vocals
- David Tofani / tenor saxophone (5)
- Ronnie Cuber / baritone saxophone (5)
- David Sanborn / alto saxophone (5)
- Wayne Andre / trombone (6)
- Chuck Rainey / bass (1,7)
- Anthony Jackson / bass (3,6)
- Bernard Pretty Purdie / drums (1)
- Rick Marotta / drums (2,5)
- Steve Gadd / drums (3,6,7), percussion (2)
- Jeff Porcaro / drums (4)
- Crusher Bennett / percussion (1,4)
- Victor Feldman / percussion (2)
- Ralph MacDonald / percussion (3,6)
- Nicky Marrero / timbales (6)
- Diva Gray / backing vocals (1)
- Toni Wine / backing vocals (1)
- Gordon Grody / backing vocals (1)
- Lani Groves / backing vocals (1)
- Leslie Miller / backing vocals (1,3-5)
- Patti Austin / backing vocals (1,4,5)
- Zachary Sanders / backing vocals (2,3,6)
- Frank Floyd / backing vocals (2,3,6)
- Valerie Simpson / backing vocals (3-6)
- Michael McDonald / backing vocals (5)

1. "Babylon Sisters" (5:49)
2. "Hey Nineteen" (5:06)
3. "Glamour Profession" (7:28)
4. "Gaucho (Becker, Fagen, Keith Jarrett)" (5:30)
5. "Time Out of Mind" (4:11)
6. "My Rival" (4:30)
7. "Third World Man" (5:18)

Total Time 37:52

Can a band get too glitzy?--it's music over textured, over-produced, too layered. I would argue that with 1980's Gaucho Steely Dan fell into this trap. After the world-wide adored Aja, the band had resources and swag. The album opens with three great songs--three of the band's best songs--but then takes a dive from there. Yes, listening to Side One brings back such an intensely strong feeling of nostalgia. What a year, what an era. Could life ever be better . . . . As to why Side Two never seemed to match up to the level of Aja or Side One, I think it was the jazzy, less-pop or dance nature of these songs. All three songs on Side One--"Babylon Sisters," "Hey Nineteen," and "A Glamour Profession"--were dance floor favorites--even among women. Even the Mark Knofler-manned, piano paced minor hit, "Time Out of Mind" suffers from a little too much dullness and monotony. Sound production and precision engineering has never been better than this, but the music just misses a little.

All in all, this is an album of incredible, perhaps even ground-breaking sound, perhaps the Dan's greatest contribution to music: the constitutionalization and declaration of the permanence of the phenomenon known as "Yacht Rock." 

My Favorite Steely Dan songs of all-time?

1. "Home at Last"

2. "Do It Again"
3. "Babylon Sisters"
4. "Pretzel Logic"
5. "The Royal Scam"
6. "Deacon Blues"
7. "Glamour Profession"
8. "Dr. Wu"
9. "Kid Charlemagne"
10. "Aja"
11. "Black Cow"
12. "Josie"
13. "FM (No Static at All)"
14. "Boddhisatva"
15. "Reelin' in the Years"
16. "Dirty Work"
17. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
18. "Any Major Dude Will Tell You"
19. "Any World (That I'm Welcome to)"
20. "Throw Back the Little Ones"
21. "Night By Night"
22. "Peg"

23. "The Fez"
24. "Hey, Nineteen"

25. "Haitian Divorce"