Steely Dan is an American jazz rock band based around musicians and songwriters Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, both of whom have also released solo work. Their music is characterized by complex jazz-influenced structures and harmonies, literate but sometimes obscure or ambiguous lyrics filled with dark sarcasm, and their musicianship and studio perfectionism. Their ability to tastefully utilize the best of sessions players has been a major hallmark as well, and special credit should be given to producer Gary Katz. The group's history is divided into three stages. In its first stage, the group was a relatively conventional rock band that toured and recorded from 1972 to 1974. In its second stage (1975 - 1980) the group became a purely studio-based act with adroit session musicians who were able to express the duo's exacting vision, and whose releases reflected a growing obsession with slick production values. Studio gloss aside, Fagen and Becker continue with their obtuse and bohemian lyrical themes that mostly deal with the underbelly of society. The third stage was a rebirth of sorts when the band returned from a 20 year hiatus, capped off with the Grammy-winning Two Against Nature, which was released in 2000. That was since followed up by Everything Must Go in 2003. Random facts: Steely Dan is known for using the mu major chord, often simply known to rock musicians as the "Steely Dan chord." Also, the guitar solo for Reelin' In The Years is purportedly one of Jimmy Page's (Led Zeppelin) favorites of all time. Steely Dan takes their name from a steam-powered strap-on dildo mentioned in William Burroughs' magnum
1 | Reeling In The Years | A Decade Of Steely Dan |
2 | I Got The News | Aja |
3 | Your Gold Teeth | Countdown to Ecstasy |
4 | Midnight Cruiser | Can't Buy a Thrill |
5 | Show Biz Kids | Memphis Blues Again |
6 | Green Earrings | The Royal Scam |
7 | Dirty Work | Live At Rainbow Theatre |
8 | Peg | Steely Dan: Live In Toronto |
9 | Kid Charlemagne | The Royal Scam |
10 | Bodhisattva | Countdown to Ecstasy |
11 | Fire In The Hole | Can't Buy a Thrill |
12 | Through With Buzz | Pretzel Logic |
13 | Your Gold Teeth II | Live At Rainbow Theatre |
14 | Pretzel Logic | Memphis Blues Again |
15 | The Boston Rag | Live At Rainbow Theatre |
16 | Hard Up Case | Live At Starplex Amphitheater |
17 | Time Out Of Mind | Steely Dan: Live In Toronto |
18 | Show Biz Kids | Countdown to Ecstasy |
19 | Jazz Intro/Dizzy's Bidness | Steely Dan: Live In Toronto |
20 | The Boston Rag | Steely Dan: Live In Los Angeles |