Steely Dan: "Steely Dan's name has been popping up as a hip musical crush. Remember, this glossy bop-pop was the indifferent aristocracy to punk rock's stone-throwing in the late 70's. People fought

isn't Glamour Profession about Len Bias?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Bias

― Iago Galdston, Monday, March 9, 2015 2:33 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Seems unlikely, given that it was recorded when he was in high school.

It's definitely about a drug deal who makes deliveries to basketball players and celebrities though.

*dealer

I hesistate to agree only because the female background vocalists dominate, so I imagine a group of attractive women laughing at the Gaucho behind his back.

I do think of the speaker articulating his thoughts in part to elicit amused agreement from the women at the party / gathering, for sure. It makes me feel really bad for the gaucho tbh. Like when the speaker says "don't tell me he'll wait in the car," I feel like I'm about to be told "go wait in the car" and I'm going to have to just suck it up and wait out there, no internet, maybe some 8-tracks, who knows how long I'll be out there. Except that's not good enough for the anti-Gaucho, who wants to drop me off at the onramp. Show love to the Gaucho you assholes not everybody has your sterling cocaine cowboy fashion sense and you're not all as cool as you actually think you are

It's definitely important to the song that the speaker (of the verses) himself is not a true "heavy roller," but a smalltime guy trying to break into the bigtime, hence his extra-anxious reaction to the gaucho.

right yeah that is important and in part explains why he's being such a dick

I think the sleaziness of the Haitian Divorce narrative justifies that guitar effect

― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 4:02 PM (6 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

how is this not the board description yet

also, how is "explain Steely Dan lyrics" not already a college course

how much does the scenario in "Gaucho" owe to Springsteen's "Meeting Across the River"?

also Lou Reed's "Street Hassle"

how much does the scenario in "Gaucho" owe to Springsteen's "Meeting Across the River"?

― bernard snowy, Monday, March 9, 2015 6:05 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

also Lou Reed's "Street Hassle"

― ancient texts, things that can't be pre-dated (President Keyes)

I'd love to hear Walter Becker's response to these

Challop alert: Kid Charlemagne is overrated. Too busy, both musically and lyrically.

you crazy

but threads like this make me love ILX

It's good, but it's too uptight, the bouncy bass, the bouncy keyboards, the heavy-handed open hi-hat and snare hits, the way he crams in the lyrics

It would be cool to hear a sparer arrangement of it, don't know if there's a demo out there or something

yeah there are lots of demos and stuff out there for everything from Katy Lied through Gaucho....

did you realize you were a challop in their eyes

Kid Charlemagne is not my favorite, however it might have the best Steely guitar solo, and Don and Walt didn't fuck around w/r/t guitar solos

the best SD solo is "Green Earrings" hands fucking down, IF ONLY for the moment it ends, like a bomb going off

I'll put in my vote for the "Your Gold Teeth II" solo

give me the four 'My Old School' solos. so weird and awesome. Walter is great, but Baxter is just ridiculous.

Yeah, those solos are out of this world.

I achieved something of a dream of mine by learning to play them all last summer and basically that was all I played on guitar for like a month. A few weeks ago though, I remembered that I had done that and went to try to play them and had totally forgotten everything.

I was actually just admiring the guitar solo on Aja, it's beautiful. I never payed as much attention to it because I'm usually just anticipating the awesome Steve Gadd fills at the point where it comes in.

don't worry how's life, skunk probably can't remember them either

Love Skunk. I was an idiot about Can't Buy a Thrill during the poll because I kinda viewed Countdown to Ecstasy as the better formed version of that kind of Steely Dan. 'Reelin' In The Years' is maybe a boring choice for best guitar solo, but it might also be the best guitar solo.

xxp Aja solo is definitely impressive for the way he complements the oh so pivotal policeman's whistle

The solo on the Royal Scam is one of my favorite short/simple solos ever.

In re Aja, what I really like is the solo starting around 4:13. I'm actually not sure it's even the same guitarist -- the sound definitely changes but that might just be an effect getting turned off.

put me in the my old school crew

best guitar solo on aja is peg

would have said aja before seeing this:

(start @ 4:10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waIBA6_0GQc

yes i'm sure 100% of ppl posting to this thread have already seen this

Yeah I think a lot about how picky they were based on that clip.

Also obviously the sneaky bass player who just had to slap, the part where they embarrass Michael McDonald's vocals, etc.

and bernard purdie bringing in his two signs

Uptown, Uptown.

I will never get tired of that clip. Christ those McDonald harmonies are the sweetest thing in the world

sw00ds, Vic Perry, and I talk a long time about Gaucho.

http://rockcritics.com/2015/04/06/steely-dan-podcast-part-three/

Cool! Can't wait to hear it!

sweet

*pauses maron*

Gaucho is playing in Chipotle right now.

The burrito of ennui

do they charge for the guaaac? yes, they charge for the guaaaac.

Can't Buy A Grill

The Pez

Oh and upthread that Orbit stuff about SD is woeful

"...3 or 4.....5...6...7 or 8 players"

do they charge for the guaaac? yes, they charge for the guaaaac.

love u for this

Carne fajitas
Now that the deal
Has
Been done
I'm the one

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/steely-dan-donald-fagen-coachella-tour-diary-part-one-20150407

crying tears of joy rn