Were amazing up to 1980.
Not so sure about their second coming.

seem to remember there was a song on countdown to ecstacy that i liked

hav'nt heard much to be honest

:applaud:

one of the best bands of the mid 70s IMO (even if that seems to be quite an easy thing) - also one should listen precisely to the often pretty sarcastic lyrics

[one of the best bands of the mid 70s IMO (even if that seems to be quite an easy thing) - also one should listen precisely to the often pretty sarcastic lyrics]

Quite right - should appeal to Fall fans for that very reason. The Dan get unfairly lumped in with 70s dinosaur rock acts.

Knee jerk reaction for me is Countdown. Though Katy Lied, Royal Scam and Aja are quite nearly as good. Pretzel Logic could have been a masterpiece but is too short to be satisfying - needs at least one or two songs to end it properly.

Don't be too quick to discount the Dan - do yourself a favor and pick up Countdown, Katy Lied or Royal Scam to start. Don't delay! ^_^

Pretty much how I feel about them.

Countdown would be the easy choice--Aja would be better if the title song didn't go on so long and one or two more tunes were added. I voted for Pretzel Logic--not a bad track on it, a near perfect "pop" album. I remember driving through a very rural area of Ohio listening to "With A Gun" on the car tape player--enjoyable and qutie surreal.

Were amazing up to 1975 or76. Countdown to Ecstasy is one of my all time favorite LPs

Never heard em unfortunately. But I do know that their comes from a monster dildo in William Burroughs' 'Naked Lunch'.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........................























Nope.

:applaud:

Bit too easy coffee table jazz listening for me.
But I do like 'Do It Again'.
For a big famous band with a lot of fans n' album sales/ tours etc etc its unusual ...but I think I'm right in saying that there's very little film footage of them from the '70s - just 1 clip I believe of 'Do It Again....'

That's because they didn't tour that much. Fagen and Becker are actually somewhat reclusive.

Coffeetable jazz might apply to their recent work, which I don't care for or even Gaucho, but the early to mid 70s music is brilliant integration of jazz, blues and pop/rock. Fagen's lyrics and delivery can be devastating at times.

Don't judge them on their radio hits. You have to listen to them in the context of their albums.

Point taken.
A lot of my pals were into them way back but I found them a bit too smooth.
I did find them very enigmatic, sophisticated and challenging but I never made enuff effort.
Mebbe one of these days I will.

smug bollocks

They did appear live on an American TV show--The Midnight Special, I believe--circa '73. Don't know if the tape of this is still in existence. The show's ususal format featured multple musical guests who would each do two songs during the program.

Yeah, that is a really, errrr, hyperhydrotic perf. Chevy used to sweat, too, though, didn't he?

I have only made an effort to check out this band in the iPod era. I bought 2 or 3 cd's (Can't Buy, Katy, maybe Countdown, yet I have no idea what songs are on what albums -- they always come up in the context of a thoroughly shuffled playlist, shining like gems in the '77 (or whenever) shitheap. I guess I know that "Dr. Wu" is on Katy Lied but that's it.

:confused:

Neither hydrotic nor hyperhydrotic appear in the online dictionary I just checked. Either you're hitting the weed a bit early today, Cleanville, or you need to translate that and the Chevy business.

Prior to recording, Chevy Chase, the Sat Nite Live actor, was a Steely Dan band member. Albeit briefly.

The way I've read that story, Chase (Chevy, not our own fallchase) was briefly a member of a group Fagen and Becker had called The Bad Rock Group while all three were students at Bard College. Chevy played drums. Fagen and Becker claim to not remember him, which is either (1) false and consistent with their reputation for being difficult, or (2) true, due to the drug-drenched student culture of the late '60s, maaaaaan......

theoretically i ought to detest steely dan and their aor faux-jazz ripoffs. too smooth too clever too produced

but in practice they do have some songs that i like a good deal. not really their hits other than dirty work which i am fond of

each of their albums from the 70s have a track or two that i really like

pearl of the quarter comes to mind they were pretty cool at times but i dont have much listening room for them. i like stuff with a more raw edge for the most part

Definitions of [usually spelt] Hyperhidrosis [sometimes spelt Hyperhydrosis] on the Web:

Commonly noted as sweaty palms and feet. Patients generally note increased sweating in the palms of their hands, feet and possibly also in the trunk.
www.bcm.edu/neurosurgery/definitions.htm

Excessive perspiration in the face, hands, and feet defined as sweat that exceeds what is necessary to regulate the bodies temperature.
www.excessive-sweating.net/hyperhidrosis_definitions.html

Excessive sweating
www.dbs-stn.org/glossary1.asp

A condition characterized by excessive sweating of the palms, is also frequently associated with excessive perspiration involving the hands, face, and soles of the feet, as well as the armpits, chest or back.
www.usctransplant.org/heart/glossary.html

Profuse uncontrolled sweating.
www.mctsurgeons.com/glossary.htm

excessive and profuse perspiration
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Primary hyperhidrosis is the medical condition characterized by abnormally increased perspiration, in excess of that required for regulation of body temperature. Some patients afflicted with the condition experience a distinct reduction in the quality of life. Sufferers feel at a loss of control because perspiration takes place independent of temperature and emotional state.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperhidrosis

It is but a short trip from hyperhydrosis to my neologism. Speaking of trips, I think the ref. to "drug-drenched" is suff. on the nose to betray you as hip to my 'nuendo.

For an high-larious reading of "(you cum from) Barrytown" go here.

On edit: In tailgate news, Brent Mussberger (US sports announcer and drinking game) was cited for an open container violation. He was drinking beer in a car, but was not the driver.

Royal Scam. Love it.

i love 'em and their coffe table LPs

I've recently been playing a compilation in the car a lot - perfect summer driving music, but I feel I'm missing something of their famously satirical lyrics, is it all US references - like does Haitian Divorce mean something, like Big Black's Colombian Necktie? I dunno. Is there a glossary somewhere I could consult?

In the meantime I shall continue to soak up those super-smooth sounds and jazzy chord progressions with increasing pleasure. Current faves are My Old School, Peg and Reelin' In The Years - but what any of them mean I have noooo idea.

I understand why people might feel reluctant to like them (myself included) with all that jazzy noodling and showy-off cleverness, but it is SO well-crafted it's like a well-made bit of classical architecture or a grand master painting, whether you're into that stuff or not.

Yes, there is one:

http://www.steelydandictionary.com/

No separate entry about Haitian Divorce. However here is a discussion about the song's meaining:

http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=103355

Thank You very much - I don't normally pay no mind to lyrics, but I do feel I'm missing quite a few jokes.

I always find it odd just how many people have The Nightfly, no matter what other stuff they're into.

Not only Fall fans have a go at deciphering their favourite group's lyrics. :whistle:

In the 70s I used to study the lyric sheets to every Dan album. Think I gave up this kind of thing sometime in the mid 80s, at the latest when CDs came along.

Excellent band.

Pretzel Logic for me (Barrytown on right now), allthough it's pretty close between everything up to 1980. Fantastic songwriting, and it's a pity many people can't see past the friction-less sound...

On the later output, I think they sound like I guess their 'enemies' claimed they always did - smoothness without much substance...

Recently gave Pretzel Logic a spin and was surprised at how lame the vocals are. For a 1970s FM band, Fagen really had a weak voice.

Agree with the assertions that up until 1980 they were great, Especially The Royal Scam IMO. Liked 2 Against Nature also, but did not like Everything Must Go.

I would say that Donald Fagen's 3 solo albums are a lot better than any of the reunion output.

I loved Haitian Divorce* as a kid, but couldn't afford the Royal Scam, so it never went further till recently - must rectify that.

*In the recent Best Use Of Guitar That Sounds Like A Pig poll, it beat Pink Floyd and Peter Frampton hands down :)

When I was a kid I had a mate who insisted on playing me Steely Dan. He kept on and on... but I never got it. One lyric which stuck in my head was about pan-frying big ones and throwing back little ones. I hated that lyric... it wasn't very punk.

In the beginning Steely Dan had another singer besides Donald Fagen. David Palmer handled most vocals onstage and partly sang on the debut album. Fortunately he soon left because Fagen's voice (regardless how weak it may actually be) fits the songs so much better.

Live he still seems to be a bit reluctant, though. I recently heard a recording from the current tour on which several old songs have lead vocals by either his partner Walter Becker or the female backing singers.

I'm afraid my attitude to "The Dan" is akin to that I have to Frank Zappa inasmuch as I may have given the act short shrift due to the demeanour of their fans rather than the music itself. Most of the fans I've met have been wankers- resolutely stuck in a mid seventies sixth form mind set.
I once opined, rather measuredly I thought- and not that long ago, at a party that Steely Dan's music was one that I could admire rather than love. I was assailed with vitriol by a bunch of tossers who talked about meaningless "musical" criteria and qualities which seem to me utterly tedious.

That said, I do like "Pretzel Logic", a lovely pop album (and their is no higher praise than that).

I can see how that would be tough, I guess I'm lucky in that I don't know anyone who doesn't wince when I mention them.

I did that in reverse - in the 90s, having just about weaned myself off my punk snobbery, I thought I'd give Steely Dan a whirl as people were always banging on about them. So I borrowed a few CDs from the library (which seems a positively quaint concept in these download days) - Jesus, what a load of sterile, boring shit.

To be fair though, years later I did become quite partial to the song Dirty Work after it was used in that documentary about the New York Cosmos. So I'm prepared to concede that they're not entirely loathsome.

I always thought their 1st album was the most musically diverse.

On the whole, they were just okay. But come to think of it, I wouldnt mind hearing the album with 'Kid Charlemagne' on it again.

I think they started to take themselvess too seriously by the mid-70's.

Aja was the most disappointing.

I **hate** that song! :grrr: :devil2: :finger: :banghead: :rollover: :rant: :sick: :confused: :angry:

I think you can guess which option I voted...


Rikki Don't Lose that Number is the only song I've ever rated. It's not bad, tho it stole it's tune and bassline from an old jazz number.

Aw, c'mon...a cod-reggae beat, a guitar that sounds like a pig, some slightly conservative sentiments, what's not to like? :)

It's fucking annoying.

And I do have a sense of humour actually.

:devil2:

'Mmmm...nice. Bob Harris