Another in Uncut’s UMG series, out today in all good newsagents.
http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/introducing-ultimate-music-guide-steely-dan-102278
Dan Klaxon
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
High hopes for that elusive Tom Petty one.
It’s been a long, long wait for the Prince one (18 months since his death).
Not sure if I’m misreading, but your post sounds like you’re still waiting for the Prince one? It came out a couple of months ago.
http://www.uncut.co.uk/publication/uncut/ultimate-music-guide-prince
Bou’ time that Dan Fogelberg got his due recognition.
When somebody gets this please post and let us know if it tells you what the songs are about. I like Steely Dan a lot but I don’t have a clue what the lyrics refer to. They are usually obtuse, opaque and downright obscure. I am a lyrics person and love the tunes but always rather narked I don’t have a clue what they are on about.
Is it just me?
Some great resources online for all that stuff Art. Check out the sitemap on the official website which directs you to various explanatory interviews. There’s also the Steely Dan Dictionary site which explains Lost Wages/Boston Rag/Do what again to your heart’s content.
They are all about drugs. All of them.
and/or sex – The Fez being a prime example
I think those two subjects sum them up admirably. The sex part of the repertoire is generally somewhat pervy.
These are where I’ve been getting most of my Dan education from over the past few months:
http://www.songfacts.com/artist-steely_dan.php
http://songmeanings.com/artist/view/songs/643/
I’m still in shock that Chain Lightning might about a couple of old Nazis reminiscing about attending a Hitler Youth rally. And as for Green Earrings…
Got it at lunch time – only had a brief flick through but couple of things stood out. The Royal Scam seemed to have most tracks with 5 stars. Hey Nineteen only had 3 stars which for me was strange as it is the best Dan song post Aja. Also the Walter Becker albums don’t rate particularly highly.
Will spend more time on it tonight.
Becker songs tend to be less commercial, lacking hooks and choruses. Fagen brought the catchiness to the party, on the whole. Having said that, the Becker albums have a great deal more depth. There is a lot going on in those songs, lots of narrative threads, sub-plots, plunges into the darkness, all tempered by a delightful way with words.
I think Walter Becker was the Dan’s wordsmith and in charge of the groove. Donald Fagen was initial ideas, musical refinement and getting stuff done. But maybe I’m wrong.
It was very much a joint venture and not clear cut as to who was responsible for what overall. As Becker put it, they would take a subject from an odd or perverse perpspective and see how far they could run with it. And sure, Walt’s perspective was perhaps more warped than Don’s. I think on the question of groove, you only have to listen to Fagen’s solo albums to understand he knows how to lay down a groove.
Dan klaxon?
I like the Partridge franchise a great deal but I’ve never found this bit funny, and I’m clueless as to why it’s become effectively Coogan’s Don’t’ Mention the War/Del Falls Through The Bar/Stairway to Heaven moment.
That should be “….do your Frank Spencer!”
It’s weird – I’ve never even seen that episode but know that clip really well and find it funny possibly just by having seen it so much (although Lyn corpsing in the background might have something to do with it). I sense a thread coming on for the weekend…