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Author Topic: Which Steely Dan to buy?  (Read 756 times)
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smoggrocks
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« on: May 19, 2006, 01:25 PM »

you know, I know and love a lot of steely dan music, but never bought any of their albums. as a drummer, I guess that's a no-no.  I'm presently downloading aja and pretzel logic, but not sure what else to buy.

what's your fave sd album, and who was the drummer on it?

I can see this itunes stuff quickly developing into a nasty little addiction...
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« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2006, 01:46 PM »

Citizen Steely Dan: 1972-1980 (BOX SET)

...has about everything you'd need .

Then round it out with the 2 from this decade.
2 Against Nature and
Everything Must Go

Then you'll be all set.


(unless you want the 3 DF solo albums and the 1 WB solo album) Wink
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« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2006, 01:47 PM »

You can't go wrong with Aja, my personal favorite Steely Dan Album.  The drummers on that album were; Steve Gadd, Paul Humphrey, Ed Greene, Jim Keltner, Rick Marotta, and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie.  

I think Aja is SD's best album to date.    
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« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2006, 01:50 PM »

Or, you could go with Gaucho.  Incidentally, that is the first album recorded completely digital.

Steve Gadd - percussion/drums, Crusher Bennett - percussion, Victor Feldman - percussion, Ralph MacDonald - percussion, Rick Marotta - drums, Nicky Marrero - percussion, timbales,  Jeff Porcaro - percussion/drums, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums  
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Chris
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\o/


« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2006, 04:20 PM »

I would also second Aja, my favourite SD album as well. Keltner lays down an AWESOME groove on "Josie" (at least I think it's Keltner...)
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« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2006, 04:43 PM »

I would say overall "try all you can", to borrow slightly from Shoeless.  However, a good introductory disc would be "Katy Lied", even though Messrs. Becker and Fagen would probably disagree.  This is pretty much their "transition" album, dating back to when they were in the middle of "jazz/rock band" and "slick, musician-borrowing studio duo".  You'll get their overall flavor this way, and it's the album I'd recommend to anyone listening to the 'Dan for the first time.  I'm also told it sounds much better these days with the remastering (this is the album upon which the first DBX noise reduction system was tested, thereby all but ruining the master tape).

Incidentally, I say this as someone who was first exposed via A Decade Of Steely Dan, with "Hey Nineteen", their last "hit" for quite a while, my first real introduction to their work.
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Chris Whitten
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« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2006, 06:26 PM »

Actually my pick would be A Decade Of Steely Dan[url]. It includes just about every important Dan Track.
AJA is the album most musicians seem to rate. My favourite is The Royal Scam.
The Dan used the same few drummers on their late 70's classic albums; Ed Greene, Jim Keltner, Jeff Porcaro and Jim Keltner. I think the three most used guys however, and the ones who almost tipify the Steely Dan drum approach, are Rick Marotta, Bernard Purdie and Steve Gadd.

Also, check out the Donal Fagen solo album 'Nightfly'. Again, superb drumming, including a standout fast-shuffle groove by Steve Jordan.
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« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2006, 06:58 PM »

Katy Lied
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« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2006, 08:02 PM »

Beyond what you have - I'll put in another vote for "Royal Scam". I just love that album.

David
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« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2006, 08:13 PM »

I like Aja the best, and if you can find a Mobile Fidelity Soundlabs cd-thats even better.  

Katy Lied 2nd
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« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2006, 11:03 AM »

Actually my pick would be 'A Decade Of Steely Dan'. It includes just about every important Dan Track.

Well, yeah.  I suppose my over-playing of the album colored my perception of its overall selection, which doesn't have all of the nitty (much of which I feel is important), but it is a nice selection.  Maybe I'll recommend both this and Katy Lied, in addition to my earlier suggestion of "all you can".

The Nightfly is often cited as being from "the better half" of Steely Dan, and it's a nifty concept album to boot, concerning youthful optimism.  You may well have heard one or two of the songs on the radio or even as bumper music.  Get that, too.
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DWdrmr
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« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2006, 12:37 PM »

Was'nt Dennis Chambers on a live album put out at least a dozen years ago?
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« Reply #12 on: May 20, 2006, 03:45 PM »

Peter Erskine certainly was.
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« Reply #13 on: May 20, 2006, 09:20 PM »

Yes, Alive in America has mostly Chambers on it, with Erskine on 2 tracks. It was recorded in 93 and 94.

My favorite:  Aja.
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« Reply #14 on: May 22, 2006, 10:53 AM »

thanks for all the great suggestions, folks. I downloaded aja and pretzel logic and turns out I know most of those tunes  Huh Grin, but that's cool, coz I'll really hone in now for drums. I'll check out royal scam next.

I don't know why, but I've never enjoyed getting compilation albums. it's more cost effective, but I prefer getting the particular vibe of one album. I like to hear what the artist was doing at a given timepoint, then if I like it, I'll check out another album, and if I'm really in love, I'll get a 'greatest hits' kinda thing.

I'm certain I've made many artists quite wealthy using this approach.  Grin
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« Reply #15 on: May 22, 2006, 11:20 AM »

I don't know why, but I've never enjoyed getting compilation albums. it's more cost effective, but I prefer getting the particular vibe of one album. I like to hear what the artist was doing at a given timepoint, then if I like it, I'll check out another album, and if I'm really in love, I'll get a 'greatest hits' kinda thing.

I subscribe to this theory as well.  I believe that the artist(s) put the album together and selected the track order to fit the vibe, or sound he or she was going for with a particular record.  

Even though I'll break an album up to put tunes on my mp3 player, I like to be able to pull a cd or album out and listen to it from start to finish from time to time.  You just can't do that with compilations and 'best of' records.
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scottboundy
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« Reply #16 on: May 24, 2006, 12:55 PM »

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