Steely Dan. Any fans?

[TheTecknician]

I'm not a huge fan but a latter-day appreciator of their music. I only have one of their albums which is a compilation but it has some good songs. I think of those I've heard, I like 'Peg' and 'Hey Nineteen' the most. 'Deacon Blues' is a good song but it could do with being a little shorter!

I used to like Steely Dan when I was younger. I bought 3 of their LPs in my student days. I didnt really listen to them much for a good few years. But this last year I got the LPs out again and I've been listening to them, and really enjoying their music.

I love Pretzel Logic especially the track Rikki don't lose that number. And I love Can't buy a thrill - especially Do it Again and Reelin in the years, which are the tracks that first introduced me to Steely Dan all those years ago.

My third LP is The Royal Scam. I must say I've not listened to it recently so I really need to put that on again.

I'm actually quite surprised about how much I'm enjoying listening to them.

SD is one of those bands that didn't crack the British singles market, apart from Haitian Divorce. I expect their albums fared better here. Perhaps Britain didn't 'get' their style? I also like New Frontier by Donald Fagen. It sounds more Talking Heads than SD.

The original Best Of is probably a good start. All their albums are regarded as masterpieces. They became more jazzy as the years went by and Becker/Fagan assumed leadership. Royal Scam, Pretzel Logic, the stupendous Aja and Gaucho rank amongst their best. The Donald Fagan solo album Nightfly is outstanding. Legendary stories of their recording process. Can probably Google best albums.
https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/the-mojo-list/every-steely-dan-album-ranked/

Their fussiness, fastidiousness and perfectionism is legendary. Gary Katz must have had endless patience.

Can't Buy a Thrill is a total banger. All killer, no filler. Bought that when I was 17, 40 years ago and it certainly stands the test of time. Can't say I care for any of their other stuff much.

I LOVE ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️them but hey nineteen Is just horrible you need to get Aja it’s fantastic

I love them. Very underrated.

I got interested in them via De La Soul back in the 80’s, same with Daryl Hall & John Oates.

thanks OP never saw a Steely Dan love thread on here before, it’s about time. Have you seen Don with his band live on YouTube the Dukes of September Michael McDonald is in the band, he was a Doobie Brother and does the beautiful backing vocals on Peg.

Mid fifties here and I grew up with my parents listening to them. It's an extremely nostalgic sound for me. I don't know the song titles or what albums they're from but I know the songs I know! My old school, Rikki, do it again, reeling in the years.

Down at the lido they welcome you, with sausage and beer.

Name that song !

Mike Baldwin was a big fan

I like them, very distinctive sound

Their sound has stood the test of time so well.

I like them a lot, but I have to confess I prefer the songs that are less 'jazzy'. I've never been a fan of jazz.

Loved "Do it again" one of my favourite songs

Love "Peg". Recognised it first from when De la soul sampled it on "Eye no". Love Donald Fagan's solo stuff too, especially "Beautiful world". Such a distinctive voice.

I'm almost 67 and have been a fan since I was in high school. Still love them.

Yes! Loved them since the early 70s

Oh I love steely dan , been a fan since I was at school and heard do it again

Peg is a very catchy song, a real earworm! Boz Scaggs also appears with DF and Michael McDonald, although I think DF has retired from touring.

Their albums must have cost a fortune to record. Apart from the length of time they took, the fees for the studios, Gary Katz, the engineers and the stellar cast of session musicians must have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. They probably surpassed 'Good Vibrations' for costs.

It's a pity that Jeff Baxter, Denny Dias and Jim Hodder were gradually sidelined by Becker and Fagen.

I’M A FOOOOOL TO DO YOUR DIRTY WORK NO MORERRRRRR, bloody brilliant

Another fan here, early 50s - I have very musical uncles who played me Steely Dan as a toddler! Love their music, apart from creepy Hey Nineteen though. Anything with a Michael McDonald backing vocal especially.

do you remember Tony Soprano singing that in his car ? bring 'tailed by the Feds'

I'm forced to agree that Hey Nineteen has questionable lyrics. Aside from that, it's a solid mid-tempo groove. Rick Marotta plays drums on the track and Peg.

Haha no I don’t but I do now lol!