I'd love it if, when one clicks on the "Album Info" link, they'd actually get info on "Pretzel Logic" instead of "A Decade of Steely Dan." Feh... I love the Dan (and never mind that the band's namesake is a dildo in "Naked Lunch"), and they're currently ON TOUR!!!! Quite the stellar batch of musicians and vocalists, too. Before I die, I want to see these guys in concert, because I've loved their music since "Can't Buy A Thrill."
I hope you got to see them Cynaera!
I went to see them a few years ago and it was a religious experience.
Man, talk about having your head spin - I was just chatting online with an old friend I haven't seen in years, we were talking about being at a party and hearing this song, the first time we had heard Steely Dan. And now it hits my earphones almost 40 years later to the day.
Sheesh, I am unconnected, as Kurt Vonnegut would say.
According to critic Viscount LaCarte (is that a real name?): Arguably The Dan's hardest rocking tune (ostensibly about people dabbling in eastern philosophy as if it was a trifle,)
Bill followed this up with Kula Shaker - Tattva, which might just qualify as that "dabbling". I really like both songs, though.
Jeff Baxter did his stint with the Doobie Brothers. At one point, he was so apathetic (or lazy) that he went onstage in his bathrobe and slippers. It didn't hinder his performance - if anything, it raised the bar for "underdressing." To me, anyone who doesn't give a whooping funt about what they wear onstage as long as they can deliver scorching performances is effin' awright in my book.
I remember seeing them during this period (Cornell's Barton Hall in 1979). Skunk sat in an easy chair the whole concert. And played really really well.
Blues rock meets Buddhist mysticism. Hmm. It shouldn't work but...I don't know if it does or not. A fence-sitting 5 from the Nottingham jury. Here's a link to the Wikipedia article on Bodhisattva if anyone's interested.
Denny Dias and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter executed the searing solos on this one, Dias taking the spotlight position.
According to critic Viscount LaCarte (is that a real name?): Arguably The Dan's hardest rocking tune (ostensibly about people dabbling in eastern philosophy as if it was a trifle,) opens their second album, allaying any fears that they were just a flash-in-the-pan. From the opening snare-hits to the closing ringing licks courtesy of Jeff Baxter, the record is just relentless. The high point of the song is Denny Dias' guitar solo, putting to rest any doubt that he was anything but an (garbled term) player. There are no words that can adequately convey the depth and breadth of his playing. Crank it up.
oops, see Boxman already covered this subject. Here it is again, for another perspective: Boxman wrote:
That first guitar solo (a "be-bop" solo) one of the most mind boggling things I have ever heard, and I mean that in the best way. That is Denny Dias. I would love to see some footage of him playing it live (which I have heard on audio) because I do not know how someone can move their left hand across so much real estate on a guitar's neck. Just incredible. The second solo, a more "rock" solo, is the great Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.
I am a "late comer" with respect to Steely Dan, but the more I listen to them, the more impressed I am, especially given the talent displayed (not only by Becker & Fagen, but the incredibly talented musicians they had play on their albums).
Jeff Baxter did his stint with the Doobie Brothers. At one point, he was so apathetic (or lazy) that he went onstage in his bathrobe and slippers. It didn't hinder his performance - if anything, it raised the bar for "underdressing." To me, anyone who doesn't give a whooping funt about what they wear onstage as long as they can deliver scorching performances is effin' awright in my book.
I'd love it if, when one clicks on the "Album Info" link, they'd actually get info on "Pretzel Logic" instead of "A Decade of Steely Dan." Feh... I love the Dan (and never mind that the band's namesake is a dildo in "Naked Lunch"), and they're currently ON TOUR!!!! Quite the stellar batch of musicians and vocalists, too. Before I die, I want to see these guys in concert, because I've loved their music since "Can't Buy A Thrill."
Denny Dias and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter executed the searing solos on this one, Dias taking the spotlight position. Baxter is currently a Department of Defense consultant on guided missile systems. Taught himself and convinced the Pentagon Brass he had the "outta the box" viewpoint to add something to the mix.
According to critic Viscount LaCarte (is that a real name?): Arguably The Dan's hardest rocking tune (ostensibly about people dabbling in eastern philosophy as if it was a trifle,) opens their second album, allaying any fears that they were just a flash-in-the-pan. From the opening snare-hits to the closing ringing licks courtesy of Jeff Baxter, the record is just relentless. The high point of the song is Denny Dias' guitar solo, putting to rest any doubt that he was anything but an (garbled term) player. There are no words that can adequately convey the depth and breadth of his playing. Crank it up.
oops, see Boxman already covered this subject. Here it is again, for another perspective: Boxman wrote:
That first guitar solo (a "be-bop" solo) one of the most mind boggling things I have ever heard, and I mean that in the best way. That is Denny Dias. I would love to see some footage of him playing it live (which I have heard on audio) because I do not know how someone can move their left hand across so much real estate on a guitar's neck. Just incredible. The second solo, a more "rock" solo, is the great Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.
I am a "late comer" with respect to Steely Dan, but the more I listen to them, the more impressed I am, especially given the talent displayed (not only by Becker & Fagen, but the incredibly talented musicians they had play on their albums).
Well, Boxman - it's not Denny Dias, but this guy has some pretty good chops:
Kcar wrote: "but as I've gotten older I realize that Becker and Fagan were amazingly good."
Great couple of albums -this and their slinky first "big" single "Déjà Vu"-also the name of another platinum album. These guys were musician's musicians.
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