Donkey Kong Forum

Other Lists => Steve's List Forum => Topic started by: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 04:25:26 am

Title: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 04:25:26 am

Listed in chronological order:

#
    Song Title    Album   
Year
1
    Turn That Heartbeat Over Again    Can't Buy a Thrill   
1972
2
    Pearl of the Quarter    Countdown to Ecstasy   
1973
3
    Night by Night    Pretzel Logic   
1974
4
    The Caves of Altamira    The Royal Scam   
1976
5
    Glamour Profession    Gaucho   
1980

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on October 03, 2013, 05:04:59 am
Quote from: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 04:25:26 am

Listed in chronological order:

#
    Song Title    Album   
Year
1
    Turn That Heartbeat Over Again    Can't Buy a Thrill   
1972
2
    Pearl of the Quarter    Countdown to Ecstasy   
1973
3
    Night by Night    Pretzel Logic   
1974
4
    The Caves of Altamira    The Royal Scam   
1976
5
    Glamour Profession    Gaucho   
1980

Love it.  Countdown to Ecstasy is easily my favorite SD album as a whole but I'd probably rank Caves as my #1 given these options.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: homerwannabee on October 03, 2013, 06:14:13 am
OK, decided to check out their music after all these years of not listening to them.  I know a couple of their songs apparently, but the reality is they sound too much like elevator music for my taste.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on October 03, 2013, 08:10:15 am
Essentially, they are jazz for people like me who think jazz is kind of neat but somewhat difficult to listen to, so they added hooks and melody to it.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 01:09:52 pm
Quote from: pwnasaurus on October 03, 2013, 08:10:15 am
Essentially, they are jazz for people like me who think jazz is kind of neat but somewhat difficult to listen to, so they added hooks and melody to it.

That's a pretty good explanation.  I was going to post something trivial and silly, like . . .

Level 14 elevator music, to be more precise.   8)

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on October 03, 2013, 02:16:48 pm
Quote from: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 01:09:52 pm
Quote from: pwnasaurus on October 03, 2013, 08:10:15 am
Essentially, they are jazz for people like me who think jazz is kind of neat but somewhat difficult to listen to, so they added hooks and melody to it.

That's a pretty good explanation.  I was going to post something trivial and silly, like . . .

Level 14 elevator music, to be more precise.   8)

And it is as complex as trying to complete L14 elevators if Kong was constantly throwing regular and wild barrels during it as well as springs simultaneously.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: corky on October 03, 2013, 03:40:07 pm
Funny you started this thread.  There has been a lot of talk about Phish covering a Steely Dan album for Halloween.  Complete speculation, but quite a few people seem to be on board.  Come on Pretzel Logic...
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 06:33:16 pm
Quote from: corky on October 03, 2013, 03:40:07 pm
Funny you started this thread.  There has been a lot of talk about Phish covering a Steely Dan album for Halloween.  Complete speculation, but quite a few people seem to be on board.  Come on Pretzel Logic...

Great news, even if it is just speculation.  I hope it materializes.

My personal choice would be "Countdown to Ecstasy", although they can't go wrong with any of the first 7 album releases ("Two Against Nature" hasn't quite grown on me yet, and I have never listened to "Everything Must Go").

I'd love to hear Trey nail the guitar parts on both "My Old School" and "Bodhisattva".

Did they have a horn section on stage when they played Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" in its entirety?

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 08:02:45 pm

I forwarded this topic to a good friend in Calabasas, CA.

His response appears below (with his permission):

Quote
I offer "My Old School" from Countdown to Ecstasy.  Although it did spend 9 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973, and ultimately reached No. 63, it should have been No. 1, and therefore qualifies as overlooked.

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: corky on October 05, 2013, 12:02:24 pm
Quote from: stella_blue on October 03, 2013, 06:33:16 pm
Did they have a horn section on stage when they played Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus" in its entirety?

Not to my recollection, however they did have Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings when they covered Exile on Main Street, so horns are not out of the realm of possibility.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: giv on October 11, 2013, 09:02:18 am
The Boston Rag

http://youtu.be/a65Zmzbv62s (http://youtu.be/a65Zmzbv62s)
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on October 11, 2013, 09:30:50 am
Quote from: giv on October 11, 2013, 09:02:18 am
The Boston Rag

http://youtu.be/a65Zmzbv62s (http://youtu.be/a65Zmzbv62s)

Yer.  That's my favorite SD song, followed closely by Kid Charlemagne.  We need to cover The Boston Rag one day George....
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on October 12, 2013, 09:36:07 am
Quote from: giv on October 11, 2013, 09:02:18 am
The Boston Rag

A quality selection, George.

Here are a couple of other honorable mentions.  I hesitate to classify them as overlooked, but they receive far less radio play than most of Steely Dan's "hits".

#
    Song Title    Album   
Year
6
    Razor Boy    Countdown to Ecstasy   
1973
7
    Chain Lightning    Katy Lied   
1975

Here's an early demo version of "Chain Lightning":

[noembed]Steely Dan - Katy Lied - Outtakes and Rough Mixes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpbCjZGziTQ)[/noembed]

I also enjoyed this clip of Donald Fagen talking about the structure of the song (even though I know nothing about music theory or composition):

[noembed]Donald Fagen talks about "Chain Lightning" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_KCcxFKTuk)[/noembed]

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on October 12, 2013, 02:15:58 pm

Steve, I think you'll appreciate this.

I just stumbled across it last night, a bonus DVD from "Everything Must Go" (2003).

It's an entertaining blend of Steely Dan and HBO's "Taxicab Confessions".

Steely Dan - Confessions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dimyNC1BytY)

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on December 12, 2013, 07:06:31 am

Yet another honorable mention:
[noembed]
Here At The Western World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkIFE2sLmkM)
[/noembed]
Originally released as the only new track on a "Greatest Hits" album, this song has continued to grow on me over the years.  I didn't realize it was initially recorded during the "Royal Scam" sessions.

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on January 02, 2014, 02:52:54 pm

A couple more to kick off the new year.  Both of these are from solo releases, but I'll overlook the technicality.  As the creator of this topic, I'm allowed to do that.   8)
[noembed]
Artist    Song Title    Album   
Year
   
YouTube
Donald FagenOn The DunesKamakiriad
1993
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZZa3MPoxKE)
Donald FagenSecurity JoanMorph The Cat
2006
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02c_ruYACvo)
[/noembed]
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on January 02, 2014, 03:14:45 pm
I've been listening to Scam a lot in the car lately and I still maintain that Caves is insanely dynamite and yet overlooked.  The opening 3 tracks on that record are near perfect.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on January 02, 2014, 04:40:27 pm
Quote from: pwnasaurus on January 02, 2014, 03:14:45 pm
I've been listening to Scam a lot in the car lately and I still maintain that Caves is insanely dynamite and yet overlooked.  The opening 3 tracks on that record are near perfect.

No argument here regarding "The Caves of Altamira".  Inexcusably overlooked.

I've assembled a little something called "The Ultimate Playlist", a collection of 400 personal favorites.  I've been listening to it while playing DK (the combination of multiple genres and shuffle mode produces some truly unique transitions).  Steely Dan is the most represented artist with 41 songs, followed by The Grateful Dead (38), Little Feat (21), Pink Floyd (15), Stevie Ray Vaughan (12), and Eric Clapton (11).

The playlist contains 6 songs from "The Royal Scam", including the opening 3 tracks.

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: bestcellar on June 04, 2014, 09:38:45 am
1) Razor Boy
2) Your Gold Teeth II
3) The Royal Scam
4) Any Major Dude Will Tell You (not really overlooked by fans of the band, though)
5) Any World That I'm Welcome To (just for the backups)
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on June 04, 2014, 11:01:20 am
Quote from: bestcellar on June 04, 2014, 09:38:45 am
1) Razor Boy
2) Your Gold Teeth II
3) The Royal Scam
4) Any Major Dude Will Tell You (not really overlooked by fans of the band, though)
5) Any World That I'm Welcome To (just for the backups)

Welcome to the forum, bestcellar!  I'm assuming you wandered in from the city of St. John, without a dime.   ;)

The inclusion of "Your Gold Teeth II" pleases me.  Thank you.

A few more lesser-known songs that have become current favorites:

Song Title        Album       
Year
Kings        Can't Buy A Thrill       
1972
Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)        Can't Buy A Thrill       
1972
Barrytown        Pretzel Logic       
1974
Charlie Freak        Pretzel Logic       
1974

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on August 25, 2014, 04:39:57 am
I've been listening a bit more to Pretzel Logic the last few days and I agree, "Barrytown" might be the most underrated Dan song that I can think of.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on August 25, 2014, 05:05:50 am
Quote from: pwnasaurus on August 25, 2014, 04:39:57 am
I've been listening a bit more to Pretzel Logic the last few days and I agree, "Barrytown" might be the most underrated Dan song that I can think of.

It's been completely ignored thus far on the 2014 tour.

Meanwhile, that Joe Tex cover has been played 30 times?  Please.   ::)

Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on August 25, 2014, 05:29:55 am
Yeah they played that every show last year as well.    FailFish

While they are only switching up like 4 songs or so per show this year, at least the variety among those 4 has been decent.
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: stella_blue on August 25, 2014, 05:32:30 am
Quote from: stella_blue on August 25, 2014, 05:05:50 am
Meanwhile, that Joe Tex cover has been played 30 times?  Please.   ::)

I'm actually being unfair.  That song has a regular spot in the setlist to give Donald Fagen a break on the vocals, and to serve as a backdrop for the band introductions.  Walter always does a fine job with those.
[noembed]
Steely Dan - I Want To (Do Everything For You) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVKDmQBwU2I)
[/noembed]
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on August 25, 2014, 05:36:51 am
I don't think it's unfair.  As someone who feels gouged by the pricing, I'd much rather hear a deep SD cut than a boring cover.   <Billy>
Title: Re: Top 5 Most Overlooked Steely Dan Songs
Post by: TheSunshineFund on August 25, 2014, 10:45:40 am
They haven't updated the setlists of any of the Canada shows yet, how come Canada no like SD?   <mad>