Steely Dan is an American jazz rock band which formed in 1972. The band was… Read Full Bio ↴Steely Dan is an American jazz rock band which formed in 1972. The band was formed by Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards) and Walter Becker (guitar, bass), who met in 1967 while both attended Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, and began a songwriting partnership shortly thereafter.
Their music is characterized by dark, witty lyrical narratives, obscure lyrical allusions and complex, jazz-influenced instrumentation and chord sequences, overlying more ordinary popular song structures. Their fastidious standards in the studio and use of world-class sessions players has also been a hallmark of their work. For this, special credit should be given to their long-time producer Gary Katz and engineer Roger Nichols.
The band was originally a six-piece consisting of Fagen, Becker, David Palmer (vocals), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (guitar), Denny Dias (guitar) and Jim Hodder (drums), but by 1975, only Fagen and Becker remained.
The band's history can be divided into three stages. In its original conception, the group was a relatively conventional rock band that toured from 1972 to 1974, releasing the singles-chart successes, 'Do It Again', 'Reelin' in the Years', 'My Old School' and 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'. The group's name was derived from a series of dildos in the 1959 novel, 'Naked Lunch' by the avant-garde writer, William S. Burroughs; the phrase first used in the lyrics of an early, pre-Steely Dan Fagen/Becker song, Soul Ram.
In its second stage (1975 - 1980) the group, now consisting solely of Fagen and Becker, became a purely studio-based act, their album releases showing a growing obsession with polished production values, and whose output became increasingly jazz-orientated, culminating in the highly successful 'Aja' (1977) and 'Gaucho' (1980). The two split in 1981 following a tumultuous recording process for the latter album, and personal problems for both members.
In the Eighties, Fagen released his seminal debut album, 'The Nightfly', and took time away from the music industry, whilst Becker, after recovering from drug dependence, was in frequent work as a producer.
The third stage came when Fagen and Becker reunited in 1993, followed by a world tour (their first touring dates in 20 years). In 2000, the Grammy-award-winning 'Two Against Nature' was released to critical and surprising commercial success. Its successor followed swiftly, 'Everything Must Go' being released in 2003. The two albums show a more relaxed attitude to production, less morbid lyrical themes and an upbeat jazz pop sound, but with the characteristic wit and musical complexity of their 20th century work remaining.
Walter Becker passed away on September 3, 2017. This was followed by legal action between Becker's estate and Fagen over ownership of material. Fagen with additional bandmates continues to tour as Steely Dan.
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Steely Dan's homepage
Wikipedia article
Their music is characterized by dark, witty lyrical narratives, obscure lyrical allusions and complex, jazz-influenced instrumentation and chord sequences, overlying more ordinary popular song structures. Their fastidious standards in the studio and use of world-class sessions players has also been a hallmark of their work. For this, special credit should be given to their long-time producer Gary Katz and engineer Roger Nichols.
The band was originally a six-piece consisting of Fagen, Becker, David Palmer (vocals), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (guitar), Denny Dias (guitar) and Jim Hodder (drums), but by 1975, only Fagen and Becker remained.
The band's history can be divided into three stages. In its original conception, the group was a relatively conventional rock band that toured from 1972 to 1974, releasing the singles-chart successes, 'Do It Again', 'Reelin' in the Years', 'My Old School' and 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'. The group's name was derived from a series of dildos in the 1959 novel, 'Naked Lunch' by the avant-garde writer, William S. Burroughs; the phrase first used in the lyrics of an early, pre-Steely Dan Fagen/Becker song, Soul Ram.
In its second stage (1975 - 1980) the group, now consisting solely of Fagen and Becker, became a purely studio-based act, their album releases showing a growing obsession with polished production values, and whose output became increasingly jazz-orientated, culminating in the highly successful 'Aja' (1977) and 'Gaucho' (1980). The two split in 1981 following a tumultuous recording process for the latter album, and personal problems for both members.
In the Eighties, Fagen released his seminal debut album, 'The Nightfly', and took time away from the music industry, whilst Becker, after recovering from drug dependence, was in frequent work as a producer.
The third stage came when Fagen and Becker reunited in 1993, followed by a world tour (their first touring dates in 20 years). In 2000, the Grammy-award-winning 'Two Against Nature' was released to critical and surprising commercial success. Its successor followed swiftly, 'Everything Must Go' being released in 2003. The two albums show a more relaxed attitude to production, less morbid lyrical themes and an upbeat jazz pop sound, but with the characteristic wit and musical complexity of their 20th century work remaining.
Walter Becker passed away on September 3, 2017. This was followed by legal action between Becker's estate and Fagen over ownership of material. Fagen with additional bandmates continues to tour as Steely Dan.
--
Steely Dan's homepage
Wikipedia article
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Citizen Steely Dan 1972-1980
Steely Dan Lyrics
Aja Up on the hill People never stare They just don't care Chine…
Any Major Dude Will Tell You I never seen you looking so bad my funky one You…
Any World (That I'm Welcome To) If I had my way I would move to another lifetime I'd…
Babylon Sisters Drive west on Sunset To the sea Turn that jungle music…
Bad Sneakers Five names that I can hardly stand to hear Including…
Barrytown I'm not one to look behind I know that times…
Black Cow In the corner of my eye I saw you in Rudy's You…
Black Friday When Black Friday comes I stand down by the door And catch…
Bodhisattva Bodhisattva, would you take me by the hand Bodhisattva, woul…
Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) A race of angels Bound with one another A dish of dollars La…
Chain Lightning Some turnout, a hundred grand Get with it we'll shake his…
Change Of The Guard If you listen you can hear it It's the laughter in…
Charlie Freak Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own…
Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More Daddy don't live in that New York City No more He don't…
Deacon Blues This is the day of the expanding man That shape is…
Dirty Work Times are hard You're afraid to pay the fee So you find…
Do It Again In the mornin' you go gunnin' for the man who…
Doctor Wu Katy tried I was halfway crucified I was on the other side O…
Don't Take Me Alive Agents of the law Luckless pedestrian I know you're out ther…
East St. Louis Toodle-oo (Intstrumental)…
Everyone's Gone to the Movies Kids if you want some fun Mr. LaPage is your man He's…
Everything You Did Where did the bastard run Is he still around Now you gotta…
Fire In The Hole I decline To walk the line They tell me that…
FM Worry the bottle Mamma, it's grapefruit wine Kick off your h…
Gaucho Just when I say "Boy we can't miss You are golden" Then you…
Glamour Profession 6:05 Outside the stadium Special delivery For Hoops McCann B…
Green Earrings Cold, daring No flies on me Sorry, angel I must take what I…
Haitian Divorce Babs and Clean Willie were in love they said So…
Here at the Western World Down at the Lido they welcome you With sausage and beer Klau…
Hey Nineteen Way back when, in '67 I was the dandy of Gamma…
Home At Last I know this super highway This bright familiar sun I…
I Got The News You In your lark You're a mark You're a screamer…
Josie We're gonna break out the hats and hooters When Josie comes…
Kid Charlemagne While the music played, you worked by candlelight Those San…
King Of The World Hello one and all Was it you I used to know Can't…
Kings Now they lay his body down Sad old men who…
Midnite Cruiser Thelonius my old friend Step on in and let me…
Monkey In Your Soul I got one and you want four It's so hard to…
My Old School I remember the thirty-five sweet goodbyes When you put me on…
My Rival The wind was driving in my face The smell of prickly…
Night by Night It's a beggars life, said the Queen of Spain But don't…
Only A Fool Would Say That A world become one of salads and sun Only a fool…
Parker's Band Savoy sides presents a new saxophone sensation It's Parker's…
Pearl Of The Quarter On the water down in New Orleans My baby's the pearl…
Peg I've seen your picture Your name in lights above it This is…
Pretzel Logic I would love to tour the Southland In a traveling…
Razor Boy I hear you are singing a song of the past I…
Reelin' In The Years Your everlasting summer You can see it fading fast So…
Rikki Don't Lose That Number We hear you're leaving, that's okay I thought our little wil…
Rose Darling Rose darling come to me Snake Mary's gone to bed All our…
Show Biz Kids CHORUS: While the poor people sleepin' With the shade on the…
Sign In Stranger Have you heard about the boom on Mizar Five People…
The Boston Rag Any news was good news And the feeling was bad at…
The Caves Of Altamira I recall when I was small How I spent my…
The Fez No I'm never gonna do it without the fez on…
The Royal Scam And they wandered in From the city of St. John…
Third World Man Johnny's playroom Is a bunker filled with sand He's become a…
Through With Buzz He takes all my money You know I'm through with Buzz…
Throw Back the Little Ones Lost in the Barrio I walk like an Injun So Carlo won't…
Time Out Of Mind Son you better be ready for love On this glory day This…
Turn That Heartbeat Over Again With stocking face I bought a gun The plan was set…
With A Gun I could be wrong but I have seen your face…
Your Gold Teeth Got a feeling I've been here before Watching as you cross…
Your Gold Teeth II Who are these children Who scheme and run wild Who speak wit…