Steely Dan Band

Steely Dan is an American jazz rock band whose music also blends elements of funk, R&B, and pop.[2] Founded by core members Walter Becker and Donald ***en in 1972, the band enjoyed great critical and commercial success starting from the early 1970s until breaking up in 1981. Rolling Stone has called them "the perfect musical antiheroes for the Seventies".[3] Steely Dan reunited in 1993 and has toured steadily ever since.

 

Steely Dan
Masters of studio craft and purveyors of smart, ironic songwriting, Steely Dan had a fantastic run in the 70s. Eschewing popular trends and music industry conventions (having a band, touring, etc.) they made a unique mark on pop music. Their incorporation of jazz was also a fairly major crossover of the genre to radio.

Recommended Listen:
Aja

Crash Course:
1. Aja
2. Can't Buy a Thrill
3. Pretzel Logic

Compilation Replacement:
A Decade of Steely Dan

Signature Songs:
1. "Reelin' in the Years"
2. "Do It Again"
3. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
4. "Aja"
5. "Peg"

Personal Note:
I'm not an expert here. I have also heard Katy Lied which is on the same level of excellence. Countdown to Ecstasy is similarly adored, and Gaucho has its following too. We'll all be discovering a little together this week.

 

Loving Aja right now.

 

Ayyyyyyy, gonna be listening to a fair amount of these this week!

 

To add to the trend I saw in the unpopular opinions thread, my old roommate also studied Aja in his audio production classes, or at least one of them. My brother was listening to the vinyl we inherited from our parents the other night. I'm not super into vinyl but we have a nice setup and it sounds so stellar.

 

I feel like I need to own it in that format. It would jump right out of the speakers.

 

Reelin' In The Years is a jam

 

Fun fact:

Both Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Michael McDonald started their careers with Steely Dan before defecting to the Doobie Brothers.

They must have hated The Doobie Brothers.

 

Chevy Chase also played in band with them in college

 

As a drummer right?

 

yup

 

Cool. I've heard Aja once a while ago, and I remember being impressed by it and respecting the production a lot, but not really engaging with the songs. I'll revisit and see how I feel now.

I'm in Venice this week though, so won't have the chance until the weekend at the earliest.

 

Listening to Countdown to Ecstasy for the first time. Definitely the straightest they ever played it as a "rock" band, I feel like. Some killer songs. I've known "Bodhisattva" for ever, but stuff like "The Boston Rag" and "My Old School" is just as good. Not as exceptional as Aja and Pretzel Logic but still part of a hell of a run for them in the 70s.

 

Aja is so so good. "Peg" is probably my favorite, just such a jam.

 

How crazy is it that "Do It Again" is the first song off the band's debut album? Wow.

(i'm listening to that album now. still on track 1)

 

I didn't enjoy this as much as Aja but the singles are absolutely killer. Also it's a very very strong showing for a debut. I'm looking forward to listening to the albums between this and Aja to hear the progression.

 

I do like they they were less developed and perfectionist and they were more of a band. Gives it a distinct appeal. You'll prob like Pretzel Logic more

 

Countdown to Ecstasy fucking owns

Finally starting to get into this band

 

Anyway, been grooving to these guys hard today.

 

Been having a Steely Dan sesh recently. Making my way through in order. Listened to Countdown to Ecstasy yesterday and I love the jazzy feel to some of it.

 

Bodhisattva rips.

 

People dancing to Steely Dan (@steelydance) | Twitter

 

quality bump

 

oh hell yes

 

That page is bizarrely addictive.