Steely Dan... What Do You Think???

I thought that (NY) was the bulk of the fall tour.

They head out in the Winter to Europe.

 

They're playing some cities, including my own. That was the reason for posing the question, not about the Beacon Theater.

 

Ah, sorry wasn't aware they were playing in Oct. prior to the Beacon.

I searched and did find dates between the 1st and 14th. I wouldn't doubt the setlist is similar to the summer tunes they performed. But we'll see after the Oct. 1 Altria Theater show.

 

Just imagine you're 17 years old and buying Aja sight (and band) unseen based on some obscure production Grammy award you saw that album get one night in 1978. Cool album cover! So you drop the needle and hear "Black Cow" for the first time through your brand new Polk Audio speakers.

I know what my reaction was: "Whoooooooooah. What the hell?" It's jazzy, but not jazz. Funky, but not funk. Poppy, but those 2 weirdos on the back of the album sure as hell ain't the Captain and Tennille. They look like me and my dork buddies! And the lyrics in those songs . . . sounds like they took the same classes I'm taking.

To me, Becker and Fagen/Steely Dan are sui generis. They don't sound like anything else, before or since. My favorite band.

 

Awesome tale of 1978. The Dan still captivates and amazes me to this day. I'll spin the Cisco reissue of Aja tonight.

 

Even if it's dropping "Josie" or "Peg" in favor of "Deacon Blues." Love that a few Nightfly tracks have been worked in.

 

Nightfly is da bomb!

 

Have tickets for October 6 at The Stranahan Theatre in Toledo.

Between rows 5-15, centre aisle, on the aisle.

Saw Maynard Ferguson there in 7th grade, I think (early-mid '70s).

.

 

Love Steely Dan. To me they didn't hit a bum note in their first run through (and including) Gaucho.

 

You spend two years laying down the rhythm section for one five-minute track?

 

I first heard them via the Haitian Divorce single here in the UK.
I've liked them ever since and have all their albums.

 

I wish I could.

 

I just can't get enough of the Dan right now... so I've started listening to the solo albums. The Nightfly is starting to grow on me, while I'm having a little trouble getting into Kamakiriad.

Other than that, there isn't a single Steely Dan album (or song) I don't like so far.

 

I love Kamakiraid. Its basically a Steely Dan album and slots into their catalog flawlessly.

 

Hear, Hear. Just got done listening to Can't Buy a Thrill 3 times in a row. To my ears, these guys were perfect jazz, rock band,

 

Like I've said before, given Becker's massive contributions musically, Kamakiriad should have gone out under the Steely Dan name. Becker made a bigger contribution to that album than he did to Gaucho.

 

As I choose to continually beat a dead horse, here's my thoughts on the Dan albums (including Fagen and Becker solo):

- The "Classic 7": No doubt, their best works!
- The Nightfly: What everyone else seems to think...
- Kamakiriad, 11 Tracks of Whack: Good, not great. But maybe I need to listen to them more...
- Two Against Nature: A stellar comeback album for the Dan!
- Everything Must Go: An easier first listen than 2vN, but I feel said album is superior.
- Morph The Cat: Call me crazy, but just the first listen already makes me think that this is Fagen's greatest work.

As for Circus Money and Sunken Condos, I'm getting the feeling that I'm looking forward to the latter more than the former.

 

My stepdad was a huge fan but I always found them quite bland. I do however often play the track Jack Of Speed to test my equipment.

 

Great sound test tune indeed.

 

A recent reply reminded me of this thread...I was curious your opinion of the show you recently attended?

 

Very enthusiastic audience. Fagan responded well, and was as animated as he can be. The band was hot that night! Entered thinking that it'd probably be last pass (4th time seeing them seemed enough). Left wanting to do it again.

As mentioned, the set list could use more revitalization: swap "Peg" and "Joise" for "Deacon Blues" and "FM." Throw in something from left field too, like maybe "Here at the Western World." Like that Nightly material is being integrated.

 

Nice. Yeah, I saw them in July and would love to see them again.

Keith Carlock (drums) and Freddie Washington (bass) have immense skills playing live and perfect foundations for those grooves.

I'd love to hear Night by Night live!