Peg 12 Deacon Blues 6 Black Cow 2 Josie 1 Aja 1 I Got The News 0 Home At Last 0
You knew it was inevitable...The Steely Dan Song Poll
― Zeno, Sunday, 15 June 2008 21:53 (fifteen years ago) link
The title track all the way for me.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 16 June 2008 12:11 (fifteen years ago) link
Deacon Blues for sure
― baaderonixx, Monday, 16 June 2008 12:29 (fifteen years ago) link
"Deacon Blues" no doubt, but I love "Home At Last" and "Black Cow" and "Peg" and "I Got The News" too. I tend to rep for Countdown or Royal Scam as my favorite Dan album since they're a little underrated compared to this one, but Aja really is unfuckwithable.
― some dude, Monday, 16 June 2008 12:47 (fifteen years ago) link
^ Agree with that post in it's entirety, except to substitute Josie for Peg.
― Frogman Henry, Monday, 16 June 2008 13:29 (fifteen years ago) link
"I tend to rep for Countdown or Royal Scam as my favorite Dan album since they're a little underrated compared to this one"
depends who you ask.Countdown To Ecstasy is the favourite Dan record for many fans, including myself. Steely Dan themselvs don't like the record so much, and they said somewhere that the people who think Ecstasy is the best Dan record are crazy.
― Zeno, Monday, 16 June 2008 14:22 (fifteen years ago) link
Black Cow this week. But what the hell is it about? A drink?
― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 16 June 2008 17:26 (fifteen years ago) link
And if so, what is the recipe?
― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 16 June 2008 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Ahh, the internet. When I tried to look this up a few years ago I found nothing. Now I am overwhelmed with info. So root beer and ice cream and chocolate source? In a bar?
― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 16 June 2008 17:32 (fifteen years ago) link
John Justen and Fluffy Bear Will Drink Your Big Black Cow and Get Out Of Here
― some dude, Monday, 16 June 2008 17:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Four recipes here, incl. a Green Cow. One of these surely will screen out the sorrow, but where are you tomorrow?
― scampering alpaca, Monday, 16 June 2008 17:35 (fifteen years ago) link
in the corner of my eye, i saw you in http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1267/769783020_c6606269c7.jpg?v=0 you were very high.
― Zeno, Monday, 16 June 2008 17:40 (fifteen years ago) link
Is it too late to change the title of this thread to "Take your big black POLL and get out of here"?
― ablaeser, Friday, 20 June 2008 01:13 (fifteen years ago) link
LEARN TO WERK THE SAXUHPHONE
― Curt1s Stephens, Friday, 20 June 2008 02:03 (fifteen years ago) link
this may be the first time i've ever agreed with geir. the last half is sex.
― strgn, Friday, 20 June 2008 02:14 (fifteen years ago) link
of 'aja'
― strgn, Friday, 20 June 2008 03:44 (fifteen years ago) link
the song
I'm at the point of disliking this album, but I vote "Deacon Blues." Other than "Peg," the rest is stuff they perfected on Gaucho
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 June 2008 03:48 (fifteen years ago) link
We need a Gaucho poll. Geir, start one!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 June 2008 03:58 (fifteen years ago) link
This is my least favorite Steely Dan album, but it's still not bad. "Peg" and "Deacon Blues" are my favorite tracks.
― o. nate, Friday, 20 June 2008 17:15 (fifteen years ago) link
(I guess Alfred and I see eye to eye on this one.)
-- Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:48 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link
I don't hear much of anything on Gaucho that resembles "Black Cow" or "Home At Last" or "Aja," especially not anything better.
― some dude, Friday, 20 June 2008 17:21 (fifteen years ago) link
I think they took off a bit too much of the disco from Royal Scam to Aja, but they brought some of it back on Gaucho.
― o. nate, Friday, 20 June 2008 17:25 (fifteen years ago) link
It's been said many times on the Gaucho thread, but I'll repeat: they wrote masterfully about ennui, dessication, and despair on Gaucho. I'm not sure what "Black Cow" and "Home At Last" are about beyond their instrumental virtuosity. I mean, they're pretty, I don't skip the tracks, but so what?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:14 (fifteen years ago) link
Good, I will listen to this today. I have to vote for "Peg," but it's sad that I can't also vote for "Deacon Blues." (Nothing like a Steely Dan poll to bring everyone out of the woodwork.)
― _Rockist__Scientist_, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Sorry, didn't realize you evaluate songs as if they're text and not music.
― some dude, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:22 (fifteen years ago) link
black cow seems like it's about a splintering relationship or friendship, i haven't figured it yet.
― omar little, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:25 (fifteen years ago) link
I didn't realize you wouldn't read my post correctly.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:27 (fifteen years ago) link
I think he read it perfectly fine...? I mean, why do the songs have to be "about" anything unless you're someone who privileges lyrics?
― jaymc, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Songs can't say what they mean through music? My post said nothing about lyrics.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:32 (fifteen years ago) link
So the chord changes and solos on Aja don't communicate ennui, dessication, and despair as well as they do on Gaucho. Gotcha.
― some dude, Friday, 20 June 2008 18:35 (fifteen years ago) link
1977 was an off year for the mu major chord.
― David R., Friday, 20 June 2008 19:09 (fifteen years ago) link
they wrote masterfully about ennui, dessication, and despair on Gaucho. I'm not sure what "Black Cow" and "Home At Last" are about beyond their instrumental virtuosity. I mean, they're pretty, I don't skip the tracks, but so what?
How about buying a collection of good poems instead then?
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 20 June 2008 21:16 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― ILX System, Friday, 20 June 2008 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
I like Geir when he's saucy.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 21 June 2008 00:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― ILX System, Saturday, 21 June 2008 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
drink scotch whiskey all night long
― PappaWheelie V, Sunday, 22 June 2008 03:29 (fifteen years ago) link
So when's the "Pretzel Logic" one? (my favourite by them besides "Aja")
― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 22 June 2008 18:36 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm pleasantly shocked by the landslide for Deacon Blues. Well done, ILM.
― ablaeser, Monday, 23 June 2008 02:11 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, Steely Dan totally rocked the Beacon yesterday, great show.
― ablaeser, Monday, 23 June 2008 02:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Surprised that "I Got the News" and "Josie" did so poorly. Those would be my 3rd and 4th picks.
― o. nate, Monday, 23 June 2008 17:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Hey- I was at that Beacon show too. Good show - would have liked to hear a few more pre-Royal Scam tunes, but good stuff.
― o. nate, Monday, 23 June 2008 17:06 (fifteen years ago) link
I saw the tuesday night show at the beacon... I wish becker didn't sing on gaucho or do that narrative bit on hey nineteen. both were a little embarrassing. maybe fagen felt he had to throw him a bone since they played one of his solo tracks?
anyway, great show otherwise! and they played more gaucho material than aja, if memory serves. so the dan like gaucho better too!
― original bgm, Monday, 23 June 2008 18:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Beacon Duels
― PappaWheelie V, Monday, 23 June 2008 18:45 (fifteen years ago) link
According to my faulty memory this is what they played off each album on Saturday:
Can't Buy: nada Countdown: Showbiz Kids Pretzel: Parker's Band Katy Lied: nada Royal Scam: Kid Charlemagne, Don't Take Me Alive, The Fez (instrumental bit only), Green Earrings, Royal Scam Aja: Peg, I Got the News, Josie Gaucho: Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Glamour Profession, Gaucho
And they also played "New Frontier" off of Fagen's Nightfly and "Two Against Nature".
― o. nate, Monday, 23 June 2008 19:04 (fifteen years ago) link
how was "Glamor Profession"?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 23 June 2008 19:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Sounded great. The band was in fine form.
― o. nate, Monday, 23 June 2008 19:11 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh, I forgot they played one non-album track: "FM".
― o. nate, Monday, 23 June 2008 19:14 (fifteen years ago) link
"home at last" way underrated
― deej, Monday, 14 July 2008 18:09 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm somewhat surprised at the lack of love "I Got the News" got. Personally I'd take it over "Aja" or "Home at Last."
― ablaeser, Tuesday, 15 July 2008 00:04 (fifteen years ago) link
I used to think that I Got The News was the only dud here, but I've learned to love the herky-jerk rhythm and Victor Feldman's piano
I'm not particularly bothered by it today but I do think I see his point. The part is not in the same league as songs on the rest of the album.
Also worth noting that I believe Roger Nichols didn't have the same involvement in the engineering of this record as compared to the others, which helps explain Aja didn't *sound* quite as lush as the records before and after it (tho it is certainly every bit as smooth if not more so).
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 15 September 2017 15:27 (six years ago) link
Side one of Aja takes a great steaming shit all over side one of Gaucho.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 15 September 2017 18:59 (six years ago) link
Counterpoint: no it doesn't
― this iphone speaks many languages (DJP), Friday, 15 September 2017 19:10 (six years ago) link
the real answer might be that whatever Steely Dan album out of the first 7 is your favorite, you're right (mine changes all the time.)
― nomar, Friday, 15 September 2017 19:17 (six years ago) link
I agree with nomar.
― Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 15 September 2017 19:23 (six years ago) link
xp to naive teen idol
that's really interesting. i wasn't talking about the drum performance in particular (which I agree is not the best) but the rhythm of the song in general as defined by the bassline. keeps the whole thing off-balance and makes the lyrics seem even weirder than they already are
― rock and roll tucci coo (voodoo chili), Friday, 15 September 2017 21:16 (six years ago) link
man "Stand by the Seawall" is niiiice
― she carries a torch. two torches, actually (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Friday, 15 September 2017 21:53 (six years ago) link
Glamour Profession, My Rival and Time Out Of Mind are my favorite Gaucho songs. „Show me my rival, I'll match him whim for whim now“ is the quintessential Steely Dan battlecry
― gospodin simmel, Thursday, September 14, 2017 11:45 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Yeah those three are heart of gaucho for me as well
― harbinger of failure (Jon not Jon), Thursday, September 14, 2017
dude "Third World Man"
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 15 September 2017 22:18 (six years ago) link
Gaucho the song is the defining moment of their career for me. The perfect climax right near the very end of their first run.
― the last famous person you were surprised to discover was actually (man alive), Saturday, 16 September 2017 00:54 (six years ago) link
Yes
― calstars, Saturday, 16 September 2017 02:59 (six years ago) link
Let me be clear, I consider gaucho a perfect album and I love every song on it, but those three songs I love especially madly
― harbinger of failure (Jon not Jon), Saturday, 16 September 2017 03:39 (six years ago) link
Whenever I put Gaucho on, which admittedly isn't often and mostly when it crops up in conversation, it's very rare that I make it to the end of side one, finding myself wanting to turn it off about a couple of minutes into 'Glamour Profession' ' if I do make it to side two, then I find myself wanting to switch it off after the title track. It's a shame that 'Third World Man' is buried at the end.
Mark Knopfler is on Gaucho, but I find Brothers in Arms a more engaging record.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Saturday, 16 September 2017 07:52 (six years ago) link
Not enough FPs in the world...
― Moodles, Saturday, 16 September 2017 11:43 (six years ago) link
https://youtu.be/Ghp88V3Qm8w
Jay Graydon breaks down his solo on Peg
― calstars, Sunday, 16 June 2019 06:32 (four years ago) link
nice clip, thanks for sharing. love watching virtuoso guitar dudes talk with a guitar in their hands, it's like half words half licks.
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 3 July 2019 18:44 (four years ago) link
The solo is great but holy shit when he toys around playing the rhythm around 5m55s is a fucking revelation... how he makes those stacked gospel chords sounds so effortless in standard barre chording... shows you how amazingly talented he is.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 3 July 2019 18:55 (four years ago) link
I'm also amazed that he can remember his exact setup including the levels on his amp, it was only 40 years ago
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 3 July 2019 19:14 (four years ago) link
https://youtu.be/DP_2r9zbaIY^ Newly uploaded clip of Donald playing the Peg chords !I’ve been going pretty Peg crazy lately
― calstars, Wednesday, 3 July 2019 19:16 (four years ago) link
"newly uploaded" my ass, lol
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 3 July 2019 21:22 (four years ago) link
Me drinking scotch whiskey all night long: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!! Me dying behind the wheel: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.— boss (@bosscrood) July 17, 2022
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 20 July 2022 00:38 (one year ago) link
Anyone heard the 45 rpm version?
― calstars, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 17:37 (one week ago) link
You’ve always been able to play it at 45 if you wanted. They have played us for absolute fools.
― Chewshabadoo, Friday, 22 March 2024 15:27 (one week ago) link
The Michael McDonald backing vocals on “I Got the News” are the best and worst thing on the album.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 22 March 2024 15:32 (one week ago) link
not really backing vocals, are they? he only turns up during the bridge and sings lead on a couple of lines
― the defenestration of prog (voodoo chili), Friday, 22 March 2024 15:39 (one week ago) link
I've never really warmed up to I Got the News
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Friday, 22 March 2024 15:42 (one week ago) link
On the doc it’s the only song not discussed at gets played during the end credits lol
― calstars, Friday, 22 March 2024 16:40 (one week ago) link
I’ll admit the first 30 seconds are underwhelming but when McD comes in all is forgiven
victor feldman does his thing on that song
― the defenestration of prog (voodoo chili), Friday, 22 March 2024 16:43 (one week ago) link
What’s “Spanish kissing”anyway
― calstars, Friday, 22 March 2024 16:48 (one week ago) link
Not sure but it glistens. Yuck.
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 22 March 2024 19:31 (one week ago) link
It's the "Green Earrings" of this record, just a chance to give the musicians an opportunity to show off.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 22 March 2024 19:33 (one week ago) link
Green Earrings is much better
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Friday, 22 March 2024 19:35 (one week ago) link
broadway duchess you monsters
― brimstead, Friday, 22 March 2024 20:10 (one week ago) link
why they always gotta give McD the weirdest lines to sing in his weird voice
― calstars, Friday, 22 March 2024 20:23 (one week ago) link
This is the Dan album I never feel like listening to but it's still fine
― Morris O’Shea Salazar (Noodle Vague), Friday, 22 March 2024 20:25 (one week ago) link
brimstead otm what is this madness. I Got the News is incredible
― J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Friday, 22 March 2024 21:04 (one week ago) link
BLAAAAAAAAAAH - tss-pa-tss-oom-pa-tss-oom-papa - BLAAH BLAAH - tss-pa-tss-oom-pa-tss-oom-pa papatapa
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Friday, 22 March 2024 21:48 (one week ago) link
Steve Gadd karaoke
― calstars, Friday, 22 March 2024 22:18 (one week ago) link
*ed greene karaoke.
fun fact, each track on aja has a different drummer
― the defenestration of prog (voodoo chili), Sunday, 24 March 2024 14:20 (six days ago) link
Doesn't Purdie play on both "Deacon Blues" and "Home at Last"?
― Wreckless Erik Satie (SlimAndSlam), Sunday, 24 March 2024 23:42 (six days ago) link
you’re right, six drummers for seven songs
― the defenestration of prog (voodoo chili), Monday, 25 March 2024 02:36 (five days ago) link
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Monday, 25 March 2024 14:47 (five days ago) link
ha i did listen to the song a couple times to see if i could catch any stray mcdonald harmonies during the verses
― the defenestration of prog (voodoo chili), Monday, 25 March 2024 14:53 (five days ago) link