Most rock & roll bands are a tightly wound unit that developed their music through years of playing in garages and clubs around their hometown. Steely Dan never subscribed to that aesthetic. As the vehicle for the songwriting of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan defied all rock & roll conventions…
"Do It Again", "FM", "Bodhisattva" are only a few of the very intriguing songs that the duo of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have given us through the years. After a several year absence in 1996 they hit the road on another great tour. This time with a crackerjack band that featured fusion wunderkind Wayne Krantz, they proceeded to amaze audiences in arenas all over the US, For those unfortunateones who counln't make it to one of the gigs, this document we now present to you is a fitting consolation prize. For thoes fortunate ones who were there, sitting and relieve the memories of one of those fabulous nights.
These two concerts come from a period when the band were at the point of headlining their own concerts but shortly after these concerts the band decided to concentrate on studio recordings rather than concert performances.
The Sultans of Swing are at it again! Fresh from the success of their Two Against Nature record, Donald Fagen & Walter Becker decided to assult nature in their own way and assembled their troops for a 3 continent world tour. Mixing several of their long standing commarades in arms, such as Cornelius Bumpus (tenor Sax), Tom Barney (Bass) and Ricky Lawson (Drums) with newcomers to the Dan world such as Jon Herrington on guitar, they dazzled audiences world wide with both old chestnuts such as "My Old School" and "FM", together with new soon-to-be-standards such as "Cousin Dupree" and "Jack Of Speed". Prepare yorself to deal with the miracle of musical virtuosity! Prepare thyself for a massive dose of live Steely Dan.
Steely Dan have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and helped define the sountrack of the 70s with hits including Rikki Dont Lose That Number, Hey Nineteen and Do It Again, culled from their seven platinum albums issued between 1972 and 1980. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. This 2CD set contains the full show, recorded on September 1st 1993. Official FM Broadcast.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were remarkable craftsmen from the start, as Steely Dan's debut, Can't Buy a Thrill, illustrates. Each song is tightly constructed, with interlocking chords and gracefully interwoven melodies, buoyed by clever, cryptic lyrics. All of these are hallmarks of Steely Dan's signature sound, but what is most remarkable about the record is the way it differs from their later albums. Of course, one of the most notable differences is the presence of vocalist David Palmer, a professional blue-eyed soul vocalist who oversings the handful of tracks where he takes the lead. Palmer's very presence signals the one major flaw with the album – in an attempt to appeal to a wide audience, Becker and Fagen tempered their wildest impulses with mainstream pop techniques.
Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story, 1972–1980 is a two-disc compilation album by Steely Dan, released in 2000.
Throughout the '70s, musical trends would come and go, but Steely Dan always remained true to their own blend of Jazz, Pop and Rock. The songs were clever and melodic, the musicianship was top notch and the production was stellar. The band, led by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, were adored by musicians and non-musicians alike and even the critics eventually warmed up to them. While the band called it a day in 1980 (reuniting a decade and a half later), their fan base continued to grow and their original albums became prized possessions in record collections everywhere. This triple disc collection contains 47 tracks including hits and album tracks released 1972-80. Features 'Do It Again', 'Peg', 'Reelin' in the Years', 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', 'FM', and many others.
2009 two CD compilation. Steely Dan have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and helped define the soundtrack of the '70s with hits including 'F.M.,' 'Reelin' in the Years,' 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number,' 'Peg,' and 'Hey Nineteen' (amongst others), culled from their seven platinum albums issued between 1972 and 1980. They reunited in the early '90s and have toured throughout the decade and beyond, releasing multi-Grammy winner Two Against Nature in 2000 and it's acclaimed follow-up Everything Must Go in 2003. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Features 33 tracks. Universal.