Steely Dan: "Antiheroes for the Seventies"
I am a big fan of Seventies music, in fact I think its probably the greatest decade for music since, well, ever! So I was surprised to read that Rolling Stone magazine described this band as "the perfect musical antiheroes for the Seventies.", given that I think they are one of the many champions of the diverse and new sounds that were being produced back then.
I find it odd that during a time where it was important to get out there and promote your material, Steely Dan were predominately a studio only band during their heyday and did not perform live between 1975 and 1993 (okay, they did split up in 81 for 12 years), but still, odd! Walter Brecker (Bass & Guitar) and Donald Fagen (Piano & Saxaphone) got together in the late sixties formed a couple of local covers bands (inlcuding one with Chevy Chase on drums), and eventually going on to back up several stars of the time as session musicians and then eventually on into the songwriting game. When they started to write their own material for other people, they quickly realised that their brand of music was too complex for other artists to perform so decided to do it themselves. The name Steely Dan came from an object known as the 'Steely Dan III from Yokohama', referred to in the William Burroughs novel 'The Naked Lunch' and is in fact a dildo!.... Now that's imagination!
I was listening to my ipod today and a Steely Dan track came on through the magic that is shuffle. I then went back to re-listen to the albums I have, and although there was some definite filler here and there, it's just undeniable that these guys and the army of session musicians they used throughout their career were just incrediby talented chaps. Their legendary eye for detail and uncompromising arrangements, can be heard in every single record.
The two tracks I have selected for your aural pleasure tonight are but a very small, but great example of their unique blendof Pop,Rock & Jazz.
Taken from their 5th Album, 1975's 'The Royal Scam' this is 'Sign in Stranger'. Check out the absolutely amazing piano solo from Fagen.
Following on from this track I went back to listen to a track from their debut album. 1972's 'Can't Buy a Thrill'. 'Reelin' in the Years' has to be one of my all time favourite songs, and definitely features my favourite Guitar solo of all time! It's so good infact, that none other than Jimmy Page maintains that guitarist Elliott Randall's work is his favourite guitar solo of all time. High Praise indeed!
FACT: Becker and Fagen used at least 42 different studio musicians, 11 engineers, and took over a year to record the tracks that resulted in 1980's 'Gaucho'.
Now that's being a perfectionist!!!
I find it odd that during a time where it was important to get out there and promote your material, Steely Dan were predominately a studio only band during their heyday and did not perform live between 1975 and 1993 (okay, they did split up in 81 for 12 years), but still, odd! Walter Brecker (Bass & Guitar) and Donald Fagen (Piano & Saxaphone) got together in the late sixties formed a couple of local covers bands (inlcuding one with Chevy Chase on drums), and eventually going on to back up several stars of the time as session musicians and then eventually on into the songwriting game. When they started to write their own material for other people, they quickly realised that their brand of music was too complex for other artists to perform so decided to do it themselves. The name Steely Dan came from an object known as the 'Steely Dan III from Yokohama', referred to in the William Burroughs novel 'The Naked Lunch' and is in fact a dildo!.... Now that's imagination!
I was listening to my ipod today and a Steely Dan track came on through the magic that is shuffle. I then went back to re-listen to the albums I have, and although there was some definite filler here and there, it's just undeniable that these guys and the army of session musicians they used throughout their career were just incrediby talented chaps. Their legendary eye for detail and uncompromising arrangements, can be heard in every single record.
The two tracks I have selected for your aural pleasure tonight are but a very small, but great example of their unique blendof Pop,Rock & Jazz.
Taken from their 5th Album, 1975's 'The Royal Scam' this is 'Sign in Stranger'. Check out the absolutely amazing piano solo from Fagen.
Following on from this track I went back to listen to a track from their debut album. 1972's 'Can't Buy a Thrill'. 'Reelin' in the Years' has to be one of my all time favourite songs, and definitely features my favourite Guitar solo of all time! It's so good infact, that none other than Jimmy Page maintains that guitarist Elliott Randall's work is his favourite guitar solo of all time. High Praise indeed!
FACT: Becker and Fagen used at least 42 different studio musicians, 11 engineers, and took over a year to record the tracks that resulted in 1980's 'Gaucho'.
Now that's being a perfectionist!!!
posted by Jon @ 22:32
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