I had a couple of Steely Dan albums in high school, Cant Buy a Thrill and Pretzel Logic, I liked Thrill but don’t remember much about Pretzel Logic. After high school, they released Aja, which I never really got into at the time. Fast forward to about a year ago. Bought Aja on CD and was really enjoying it. About a month ago, I saw that the CD club offered Two Against Nature and picked it up. I like it, seems to take up where Aja left off. I especially like “Cousin Dupree.” Why is this a “sellout?” Because it seems so close to Aja, or because it won a Grammy? For not hearing anything new out of them for decades, I thought that album was quite good.
The four disc set Citizen Steely Dan has all of their (pre-original breakup) albums and a couple B-sides and live tracks. Get everything in one go and it will be cheaper in the long run.
Man, you nailed the whole attraction of SD for me right there! Listening to them sometimes reminds me I’m not as hip as I think I am, and it keeps me “grounded”. 
Announcement at the “free” concert in the park: “You’re expected to pay for the entertainment by visiting the sponsor’s booths and buying stuff!”
I can see by what you carry…
Damn, now I wish I had a Steely Dan name. Shine In Your Japan, maybe?
There was a (BBC2?) documentary on SD, IIRC specifically about Aja, with Becker and Fagen (and the session guys) explaining songs and arrangements. This included playing back the multitrack and soloing various parts including: [M-MacD]Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeggggg[/M-MacD] and the backing vocal parts: “shadow falls - all in threedee - foreign movie”. Also had the bass player (whose name I really should remember) showing how he snuck in some slap bass in the chorus after specifically being told not to by B&F.
I don’t remember if they explained what Peg is about. Though they did cover the other songs. They really went to a lot of trouble making that album.
The bass player was Chuck Rainey and funny you should mention the slap bass. I was playing bass along with the song when my brother, a talented musician, came storming in the room and said, “Why the hell are you slapping the bass during the chorus? That’s not how it goes!” I insisted it did. 10 years later he finally admitted to me that he listened to it after our argument and the chorus was indeed slapped. I think it’s unusual but very cool.
Chuck Rainey ::doh:: thanks Kid
But seeing this is Steely Dan it is very tastefully done. If he’d tried some Mark King style wankery I think they would have had him killed there and then.
What is the name of the song where Michael MacDonald sings the line: ‘The Cuervo Gold, the fine Co-lumbian’? I only have the album I’m listening to on MD so don’t have track names. As you might be able to tell I really dig MacDonalds backing vocals.
Hey Nineteen (83.7% sure)
Your 100% correct.
Off the top of me head-
Razor Boy
Charlie Freak
Felonious
The Wolverine of New Anondale
Clean Willie (from “Haitian Divorce” [?] Afficionados may correct me if I’m mishearing the lyric)
The El Supremo
squonk
Rose Darling
Gaslighting Abbie
godwhacker
Deacon Blues
(There’s a Doctor Wu here, isn’t there?)
Some may recognize this squonk’s handle from the aforementioned Walter Becker solo CD.
My friend (who introduced me to ‘The Dan’) has ‘The Fez On’ as his login name for a major instant messaging service. I thought it was pretty cool.
Are you being sarcastic or do you now see it the way I’ve always seen it?
Agreed!
Razor Boy is my alternative gaming nickname when KidCharlemagne is taken.
It’s Wolverine up to Annandale (a train). And while we’re on that song, might as well throw in:
Chino
Daddy Gee.
Not specific enough a reference though.
Squonk is also from Any Major Dude (Have you ever seen a squonk’s tears? Well look at mine.)
As for other names:
Babylon Sister *
Ruby Baby (DF) *
Cathy Berberian
Any Major Dude *
Midnight Cruiser
Pearl of the Quarter
Rikki
Monkey in Your Soul *
Snake Mary
Mr. LaPage (for a pedophile)
Mizar Five
Broadway Duchess *
BUT…none better than Kid Charlemagne!
Ah! Too good.
Crossed a diamond with a pearl there, Kid.
btw, the guitar solo on the fade in “K.C.” is only one of my favorite intrumental breaks evah. Who was that, Michael Brecker (?)
Good news, my friend is in the process of recording every Steely dan album to MD for me now, woo freakin hoo! Has anyone else here noticed that Donald Fagen sort of resembles Mr Burns?
That was Larry Carlton and is, imo, the best guitar solo ever recorded. I learned the solo and the outro note for note and it’s a blast to play. Other songs with great outros that require careful listening include:
Peg, My Old, School, Bodhisattva, King of the World, many others.
Some of you may want to participate in this thread:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4925346#post4925346
Hey Kid, I’m listening to my MD at work trying to find a cool lyric to add to your story, lets just hope I don’t get fired. Good idea BTW.