Steely Dan: Beyond Genius

[EricHitchmo]

Just how great are their 70s albums? Listening to a greatest hits compilation at present and it struck me that they are so good it hurts. 'Haitian divorce' for example is one of the most melodic songs ever. The best thing (other than the quality of the music and musicianship) is the acid lyrics. Anyone else love them?

not so much anymore. my dad collected there 70's s albums i have a great soft spot as i have said many times on your steely Dan threads for + Hear at the western world . + Brooklyn has the charmer under me. I love that song and David palmer singing. I collected all there later stuff so we did steely dan to the hilt Big fans all the family. mum likes My Old school. Dad likes Gaucho cd.

I find if i made a steely Dan compilation i could not have the early stuff and the later stuff on the same cd. We have between us every CD Steely has made. I think personally its done and dusted now. There using the same drummer the same guitar player all the time now where they used to very it i am not saying its a bad thing. But on the 70's cd every song was different in tempo in style now its all the same. Also as i said we have the solo albums except for Mr Becker's. Nightfly Not so high on the play list as it was the follow up gets played quite a bit We all adore Tomorrows girl for the drumming great song . Even getting to like on the dunes.
Hated the third solo of Donald fagens But that's slowly a grower now I love What i do. speshly for the end backing vocals + sound quality in general fantastic. worst steely Dan album.. whoops sorry Eric! Royal Scam.


missing verse for Brooklyn that's not on Cant by a thrill


(This verse i think is for anyone that's been in a relationship and been very much in love, and then you realized in your hearts of hearts, That person not in love with you anymore... and you know it its a awful dilemma a feeling of hopelessness. ) thats how i interpret it anyway..

My century trembles he feels the end is coming
His face is scowling inside he's on his knees

If looks and dreams could surly kill he'd long be gone from hear
Brooklyn owes the charmer under me

why did they leave such a great verse out.
if you think i am kiding you for what ever reason you can find a version of Brooklyn with that verse on a Cd just called Steely Dan on the object label recorded in the 1960's
object onn54

[Philly112]

Originally Posted by lisa burrell

. worst steely Dan album.. whoops sorry Eric! Royal Scam.

Lisa - are you resurrecting the joke thread?

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by EricHitchmo

Anyone else love them?

Me.

I don't listen to much music any more but when I do it tends to be something from that era and usuually Steely Dan or the Doobies which sounds as good now as it did 30 years ago.

[Kazuya Mishima]

I love Steely Dan. Bought "Two Against Nature" DVD on Saturday - a treat for listening to on my new amp + speakers system. Really like it - quality live recording (IMHO!).

I first got into them when I heard "FM" on late night FM radio (in the late eighties/early nineties?) - how apt!!! Loved it for years without really knowing who it was. Then re-discovered them a couple of years ago, started buying up their CDs. I particularly like any Steely Dan / featuring Michael McDonald - the liner notes for one of the albums describes it as having an unused Ferrari, if memory serves. The perception being that a vocalist of McDonald's talents was seriously underused by the Dan. (little Steely Dan / Doobies cross-pollination reference for you, IanJ).

[overkill]

I love Steely Dan's 70's stuff, but their output was a bit patchy. For example, Can't buy a thrill, Pretzel Logic, and the Royal Scam are all great albums, but Countdown to Ecstasy and Katy Lied were average at best.

Some other people that like the Doobies! Excellent! The first five albums are all great, with 'Toulouse Street' and 'The Captain and Me' amongst my all time favourites.

[Kazuya Mishima]

Originally Posted by overkill

Some other people that like the Doobies! Excellent! The first five albums are all great, with 'Toulouse Street' and 'The Captain and Me' amongst my all time favourites.

I'm ashamed to admit I only own the Greatest Hits....

Thanks for the recommendations, might buy one this weekend...

[EricHitchmo]

Originally Posted by overkill

I love Steely Dan's 70's stuff, but their output was a bit patchy. For example, Can't buy a thrill, Pretzel Logic, and the Royal Scam are all great albums, but Countdown to Ecstasy and Katy Lied were average at best.

Some other people that like the Doobies! Excellent! The first five albums are all great, with 'Toulouse Street' and 'The Captain and Me' amongst my all time favourites.

Can't believe you think countdown to ecstasy and Katy Lied are average (at best ). IMO all their albums are consistantly exceptional, especially aja.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Kazuya Mishima

I'm ashamed to admit I only own the Greatest Hits....

Thanks for the recommendations, might buy one this weekend...

If you want to watch as well as listen the "Live at Wolf Trap" DVD is worth buying

[Kazuya Mishima]

I've got the Region 1 DVD "Rockin' Down The Highway: The Wildlife Concert" but the sight of folk in mullets and check shirts jiving in the front row was always a bit off-putting....the band came across as guys who were a wee bit too old trying a bit too hard to perform to their old standard. It was recorded in 1996.

It just seemed that they didn't "rock" as "hard" as on the recorded versions....where usually I would expect a live performance to be a bit rougher and edgier than the studio version.

[overkill]

Originally Posted by EricHitchmo

Can't believe you think countdown to ecstasy and Katy Lied are average (at best ). IMO all their albums are consistantly exceptional, especially aja.

I found those two are not consistent enough. Donald Fagan in fact stated he was not happy with Katy Lied. I like AJA, but not as much as the three I mentioned.

[Kenny Glasgow]

Me like

If you search the 'tinternet you can find the albums with DTS mixes....

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Kenny Glasgow

Me like

If you search the 'tinternet you can find the albums with DTS mixes....

......if you like that kind of thing. Personally I have no problem with, or desire to, replace the vinyl copies. Surround versions offers me nothing. But, that's just my opinion. Because the production is so good Steely Dan are one of the few groups that sound great on any media. Although the first CD re-issues could be a bit murky. Since redressed I hasten to add.

[Kenny Glasgow]

If you have pre 1973 UK vinyl copies then they sound fabulous Some of the pressings after that aren't so hot IMHO although the Japanese pressings are fine sounding, the ones I've heard anyway

I personally like a lot of the "home made" dts discs as they can add a new dimension to a well loved album

[overkill]

Originally Posted by Kenny Glasgow

If you have pre 1973 UK vinyl copies then they sound fabulous Some of the pressings after that aren't so hot IMHO although the Japanese pressings are fine sounding, the ones I've heard anyway

I personally like a lot of the "home made" dts discs as they can add a new dimension to a well loved album

Must admit Kenny, I have originals of all bar Katy Lied, and they all sound excellent. That one, by comparison with the others, can sound a bit 'muddy'.