Instant 'Dan Collection
Posted by: woodface on 02 July 2003
I bought 5 steely dan albums on Saturday, 'Two Against Nature' was on CD but the rest are 2nd hand vinyl. I got Aja for £2! Of the ones I bought 'Can't buy a thrill' is my current fave. the others are 'Goucho' and one which I cannot remember the name of but has 'ecstassy' in the title with a wierd pink cover? I still think they can be a bit clinical but you cannot knock the craft which goes into each release.
Posted on: 02 July 2003 by j8hn
Are you prepared to reveal your sources 
Posted on: 03 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
Countdown to Ecstasy - geeen cover with pink figures.
Can't buy a thrill is a great starting point and a very easy album (in Dan terms) to get into.
Give all the albums some time and you should get past the perception of a clinical approach. As a body of consistent work there is no other band to touch them IMO.
Can't buy a thrill is a great starting point and a very easy album (in Dan terms) to get into.
Give all the albums some time and you should get past the perception of a clinical approach. As a body of consistent work there is no other band to touch them IMO.
Posted on: 03 July 2003 by Pete
5 down, 4 to go... But you'll want Nightfly too, and probably Kamakiriad and 11 Tracks of Whack as well.
The "clinical" should go when you get more into the songs, which are more than just something to hang glossy production and hot chops on. Pretzel Logic is, perhaps, the most "organic" Dan album so maybe work from there.
I don't have a particular favourite these days, though most of them have been cited as a favourite at some point (all except Gaucho of the original run).
A band for whom a single "best of" collection is a waste of space, as there just isn't anything worth leaving off.
Pete.
The "clinical" should go when you get more into the songs, which are more than just something to hang glossy production and hot chops on. Pretzel Logic is, perhaps, the most "organic" Dan album so maybe work from there.
I don't have a particular favourite these days, though most of them have been cited as a favourite at some point (all except Gaucho of the original run).
A band for whom a single "best of" collection is a waste of space, as there just isn't anything worth leaving off.
Pete.
Posted on: 04 July 2003 by woodface
Just got the latest one on vinyl, just need to find the time to listen to them now! The new release seems to have divided opinion but I will let you know what i think.
Posted on: 04 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
Mark
Look for another copy, yours is knackered!
A good pressing of Gaucho is sooo far from compressed sounding. It won the best engineered album at the 1981 grammys. On a good deck this album sounds stunning, three dimentional and totally dynamic.
Look for another copy, yours is knackered!
A good pressing of Gaucho is sooo far from compressed sounding. It won the best engineered album at the 1981 grammys. On a good deck this album sounds stunning, three dimentional and totally dynamic.
Posted on: 04 July 2003 by MichaelC
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
Mark
Look for another copy, yours is knackered!
A good pressing of Gaucho is sooo far from compressed sounding. It won the best engineered album at the 1981 grammys. On a good deck this album sounds stunning, three dimentional and totally dynamic.
I'll second that - the production is simply first + rate.
This is, though, a laid back recording in terms of musical style.
Rgds
Mike
Posted on: 05 July 2003 by J.N.
'Citizen Steely Dan'
Is an excellent re-mastered 4 disc box set that runs all the tracks from 'Thrill' to 'Gaucho' in their proper order, with a few extras.
If you want the ultimate quality on CD; Japanese produced discs are the way to go.
I'm an avid 'Dan' fan and have just received the new one - 'Everything Must Go'.
What a load of lightweight jazz/funk crap!
Is an excellent re-mastered 4 disc box set that runs all the tracks from 'Thrill' to 'Gaucho' in their proper order, with a few extras.
If you want the ultimate quality on CD; Japanese produced discs are the way to go.
I'm an avid 'Dan' fan and have just received the new one - 'Everything Must Go'.
What a load of lightweight jazz/funk crap!
Posted on: 07 July 2003 by Bhoyo
quote:
Originally posted by J.N.:
I'm an avid 'Dan' fan and have just received the new one - 'Everything Must Go'.
What a load of lightweight jazz/funk crap!
Stick with it, J.N. For me, it started to sound like the real thing after the fourth play.
Posted on: 07 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
ditto.
I think it is great.
I think it is great.
Posted on: 07 July 2003 by Pete
quote:
Originally posted by J.N.:
What a load of lightweight jazz/funk crap!
It's not really jazz/funk of any description and it isn't crap, so "Nul Points" for description there, I'm afraid. As Bhoyo suggests, just leave it on repeat play and it's quite likely to sink in quite soon.
I remember feeling Royal Scam, Aja, Gaucho and 2 Against Nature were rather shadows of past glories on first acquaintance. Ah well, we all make mistakes, said the Dalek climbing off the dustbin...
Pete.
Posted on: 07 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
"Citizen Steely Dan'
Is an excellent re-mastered 4 disc box set that runs all the tracks from 'Thrill' to 'Gaucho' in their proper order, with a few extras."
The mastering on this boxed set is not as good as the most recent CD album remasters. You can spot these as they all have extra liner notes from DF and WB.
These new ones are the best they have ever sounded on the silver disk. Still a way short of decent vinyl pressings IMO.
Is an excellent re-mastered 4 disc box set that runs all the tracks from 'Thrill' to 'Gaucho' in their proper order, with a few extras."
The mastering on this boxed set is not as good as the most recent CD album remasters. You can spot these as they all have extra liner notes from DF and WB.
These new ones are the best they have ever sounded on the silver disk. Still a way short of decent vinyl pressings IMO.
Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
'Here at the Western World' alone is worth the entrance fee.
Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Minky
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
'Here at the Western World' alone is worth the entrance fee.
I used to feckin love that song but now when I try to remember how it went I keep arriving at "Deacon blues". I must be getting musical alzheimers.
Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
Knock twice, rap with your cane
feels nice, your out of the rain.....
too good to forget!!
feels nice, your out of the rain.....
too good to forget!!
Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Minky
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
Knock twice, rap with your cane
feels nice, your out of the rain.....
too good to forget!!
Phew, I knew it was in there somewhere !
Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Jonathan Hales
Funny (and satisfying) to hear someone talk some sense on thie site for a change.
'Here at the Western World' is my favourite Dan song ever and is blessed with one of the simplest but greatest guitar solos ever to be plucked by man.
J.N. Lightweight Jazz/funk for 'Everything must go?
I think the worst thing you can do is take the thing too seriously. I sense you might have taken the tunes out of context with the sentiment messrs Fagen and Becker are pushing with the bunch of themes in the songs.
Judging the songs alone (and harshly) is a bit like a film reviewer slagging off but conceding they had the sound muted during the entire sitting.
I term the album 'impossibly catchy'. Again you have to take the whole thing in an overall Steely Dan historical context and in that sense the true believers will understand. Perhaps David Gray will keep you warmer at night?
The new album is a huge achievement, in fact its a masterpiece. I cant get it out off my home or car stereos, nothing else can touch it right now.
Cheers,
J.
[This message was edited by Jonathan Hales on WEDNESDAY 09 July 2003 at 00:43.]
[This message was edited by Jonathan Hales on WEDNESDAY 09 July 2003 at 00:44.]
'Here at the Western World' is my favourite Dan song ever and is blessed with one of the simplest but greatest guitar solos ever to be plucked by man.
J.N. Lightweight Jazz/funk for 'Everything must go?
I think the worst thing you can do is take the thing too seriously. I sense you might have taken the tunes out of context with the sentiment messrs Fagen and Becker are pushing with the bunch of themes in the songs.
Judging the songs alone (and harshly) is a bit like a film reviewer slagging off but conceding they had the sound muted during the entire sitting.
I term the album 'impossibly catchy'. Again you have to take the whole thing in an overall Steely Dan historical context and in that sense the true believers will understand. Perhaps David Gray will keep you warmer at night?
The new album is a huge achievement, in fact its a masterpiece. I cant get it out off my home or car stereos, nothing else can touch it right now.
Cheers,
J.
[This message was edited by Jonathan Hales on WEDNESDAY 09 July 2003 at 00:43.]
[This message was edited by Jonathan Hales on WEDNESDAY 09 July 2003 at 00:44.]
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
"and in that sense the true believers will understand"
As a chief disciple of the cult of Dandom I can only concur.
"The new album is a huge achievement"
Seconded. The sax out on the title track and the harmonies on Pixeleen are just a couple of highlights on a fantastically consistent and rewarding album.
My favourite album of the year.
As a chief disciple of the cult of Dandom I can only concur.
"The new album is a huge achievement"
Seconded. The sax out on the title track and the harmonies on Pixeleen are just a couple of highlights on a fantastically consistent and rewarding album.
My favourite album of the year.
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by P
I really like "The Fart" in the RH channel on the runout to Godwacker. Makes me laugh everytime I hear it.
P
P
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
They used over twenty session farters before they got that take. The control and dexterity in that rip are second to none.
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by woodface
Having listened to the new Steely Dan release and, being a relatively recent covert to the cause, I think it is a truely great record! I would say it is my album of the year so far, the title track is probably the catchiest song ever! Personally I think it is right up there with their best stuff.
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
Woodface.
Glad that you are getting into this record.
How are you getting on with the other Dan albums you picked up? Have you got the Royal scam yet? It is a must buy (although all the others are as well if you ask me!).
Glad that you are getting into this record.
How are you getting on with the other Dan albums you picked up? Have you got the Royal scam yet? It is a must buy (although all the others are as well if you ask me!).
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Pete
quote:
Originally posted by woodface:
the title track is probably the catchiest song ever!
Maybe not that good, but the lyric is a real classic Dan down at heel deadpan. The "Can you dig it Miss Fugazi" verse cracks me up every time, and that's a lot of times on recent form.
My nom for a "catchiest Dan" is probably Josie, thanks to that splendid one chord riff proving that less really can be more. Though Rikki Don't Lose That Number is amazingly hook-tastic, of course, and then what about... (etc, etc., cont. http://www.p94.com)
Pete.
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Simon Matthews
I will show my stupidity...what does the "Can you dig it Miss Fugazi" line mean?
In terms of the catchiest Dan tune how about:
The Fez
Only a fool would say that
FM
Or the bit on walk between the raindrops (on the nightfly) when they all go "Oooooooh Miami"
In terms of the catchiest Dan tune how about:
The Fez
Only a fool would say that
FM
Or the bit on walk between the raindrops (on the nightfly) when they all go "Oooooooh Miami"
Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Bhoyo
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Matthews:
Or the bit on walk between the raindrops (on the nightfly) when they all go "Oooooooh Miami"
Miami? I thought it was "whammy."
The catchiest pour moi are Babylon Sisters and Haitian Divorce. Oh, and Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More. And Doctor Wu. And lots more...
Posted on: 10 July 2003 by woodface
This was the first 'Dan album I bought and I think it is pretty good with side 2 being better than side one. Overall I would put it on a level with Gaucho but not as good as 'can't buy a thrill' or the new release. Of the nominations for the catchiest 'dan song FM certainly rivals my earlier nomination.