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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Wikipedia article
Charlie Freak
Steely Dan Lyrics
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Three weight ounce pure golden ring no precious stone
Five nights without a bite
No place to lay his head
And if nobody takes him in
He'll soon be dead
On the street he spied my face I heard him hail
Poor man, he showed his hand
So righteous was his need
And me so wise I bought his prize
For chicken feed
Newfound cash soon begs to smash a state of mind
Close inspection fast revealed his favorite kind
Poor kid, he overdid
Embraced the spreading haze
And while he sighed his body died
In fifteen ways
When I heard I grabbed a cab to where he lay
'Round his arm the plastic tag read D.O.A.
Yes Jack, I gave it back
The ring I could not own
Now come my friend I'll take your hand
And lead you home
The song "Charlie Freak" by Steely Dan tells the tragic story of a homeless man named Charlie Freak and the singer's encounter with him. Charlie's only possession is a three-ounce pure golden ring with no precious stone. He has been starving for five nights with nowhere to sleep. The song talks about the harsh realities of life on the street and how Charlie will soon die if nobody takes him in. Charlie sees the singer's face and tells him his heartbreaking tale. The singer, feeling wise, buys Charlie's ring for chicken feed. Charlie soon gets his hands on some money and becomes addicted to drugs. He ultimately dies in fifteen ways, and the singer finds him dead with a plastic tag that reads D.O.A. (dead on arrival). The song ends with the singer returning Charlie's ring to him in death and leading him home.
The song's lyrics are written in a way that expresses empathy and compassion for Charlie Freak's tragic story. The instrumentation of the song is simple, with a guitar riff, minimal drums, and a keyboard melody. The song's melancholic tone captures the sadness that comes with Charlie's story. It tells the tale of a man who had no options and fell victim to his circumstances. The song is a reflection of Steely Dan's storytelling abilities and shows their willingness to tackle issues of social injustice through their music.
Line by Line Meaning
Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own
Charlie Freak was a poor man who only possessed a small, three-ounce ring made of pure gold without any precious stones.
Three weight ounce pure golden ring no precious stone
Charlie Freak's ring was made of pure gold that weighed three ounces but had no precious stones or embellishments.
Five nights without a bite
Charlie Freak had gone without food for five nights.
No place to lay his head
Charlie Freak had no shelter or home to sleep in.
And if nobody takes him in
If nobody offers him shelter or assistance, Charlie Freak will soon die.
He'll soon be dead
Without any help or support, Charlie Freak's life will soon come to an end.
On the street he spied my face I heard him hail
Charlie Freak saw the singer's face on the street and called out to him.
In our plot of frozen space he told his tale
In the cold and desolate area where they were, Charlie Freak shared his story with the singer.
Poor man, he showed his hand
Charlie Freak was honest and open about his situation and needs.
So righteous was his need
Charlie Freak had a genuine and legitimate need for help.
And me so wise I bought his prize
The singer, thinking he was smart, purchased Charlie Freak's ring for very little money.
For chicken feed
The amount paid for the ring was very little and not a fair price.
Newfound cash soon begs to smash a state of mind
Having some money suddenly created issues for Charlie Freak's mental state.
Close inspection fast revealed his favorite kind
Upon closer examination, it became obvious that Charlie Freak was addicted to drugs.
Poor kid, he overdid
Charlie Freak took too many drugs, which exacerbated his problems.
Embraced the spreading haze
Charlie Freak became lost in the foggy and disorienting effects of the drugs he took.
And while he sighed his body died
Charlie Freak died while under the influence of drugs.
In fifteen ways
Charlie Freak's death was caused by a variety of factors related to his drug use.
When I heard I grabbed a cab to where he lay
Upon learning of Charlie Freak's death, the singer rushed to where he had died.
'Round his arm the plastic tag read D.O.A.
Charlie Freak was tagged as dead on arrival at the hospital.
Yes Jack, I gave it back
The singer returned Charlie Freak's ring to him after his death.
The ring I could not own
The singer realized that he could not keep the ring that had meant so much to Charlie Freak.
Now come my friend I'll take your hand and lead you home
The singer offers to guide Charlie Freak's spirit to the afterlife or bring closure to those left behind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind