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So we've done Whitney and The Eagles... Steely Dan?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 165050
  • Start date Start date

Steely Dan

  • The hippest and coolest

    Votes: 104 75.9%

  • Ok but too many key changes

    Votes: 7 5.1%

  • Pretentious college stuff

    Votes: 15 10.9%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 4 2.9%

  • Meh

    Votes: 7 5.1%
  • Total voters
    137
D

Deleted member 165050

Guest
#1
... and I'm just going to throw another hat into the ring:

Steely Dan. The best, the most musically accomplished, the most intelligent, the most relevant, the best bass lines, the best guitar solos, and most definitely the coolest, jazziest college image. And although Burroughs was an evil evil man whose books should be burnt on pyres by pitchfork-wielding, smock-wearing townsfolk, quite a cool name as well.

:)
 
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#2
"Although Steely Dan's music was rooted in jazz and blues, the band's name came from a literary source--Edgar Burroughs' novel "Naked Lunch," which made mention of a "steely dan," a steam-powered adult penile toy. This playful reference fit perfectly within the framework of Steely Dan's angular arrangements and Fagen's often bitingly cynical and sarcastic lyrics."

Read more:The Origin of the Name Steely Dan
 
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#5
When I was little, I used to think perhaps the name came from a guy named Dan who played steel guitar...

I love their songs and the jazzy sound. But I never once thought of their music as college oriented. I always thought of it as more adult contemporary, or yacht rock. A bunch of engineers and fab guys (but around here none of them well off enough to own a yacht). When I was little it totally set the tone of the shop my dad worked at, still does when I think of it. Later on when I worked in an engineering shop, once again some Steely Dan songs were what I associated most with those old experienced guys. Nothing to do with "steel" in the name, but more of how both places were still doing things like they did in the 70s and that flavor was all around.

My ex used to watch the Duggars all the time. That episode where they were bringing home baby Josie, I kept thinking they should be playing "when Josie comes home"...

And I hear "Do It Again" a lot, but most of the time they cut out Donald Fagen's organ solo. Wish they wouldn't do that.
 
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#7
Stumbo said:
"Although Steely Dan's music was rooted in jazz and blues, the band's name came from a literary source--Edgar Burroughs' novel "Naked Lunch," which made mention of a "steely dan," a steam-powered adult penile toy. This playful reference fit perfectly within the framework of Steely Dan's angular arrangements and Fagen's often bitingly cynical and sarcastic lyrics."

Read more:The Origin of the Name Steely Dan
Click to expand...

If I had a dollar for every time I've been in a conversation where Steely Dan came up and someone mentioned that, I'd have something close to thirty dollars. Just a rough estimate.

Edit: Does it count if roughly 20 of those conversations with with the same three people?
 
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#8
tlc1976 said:
When I was little, I used to think perhaps the name came from a guy named Dan who played steel guitar...

I love their songs and the jazzy sound. But I never once thought of their music as college oriented. I always thought of it as more adult contemporary, or yacht rock. A bunch of engineers and fab guys (but around here none of them well off enough to own a yacht). When I was little it totally set the tone of the shop my dad worked at, still does when I think of it. Later on when I worked in an engineering shop, once again some Steely Dan songs were what I associated most with those old experienced guys. Nothing to do with "steel" in the name, but more of how both places were still doing things like they did in the 70s and that flavor was all around.

My ex used to watch the Duggars all the time. That episode where they were bringing home baby Josie, I kept thinking they should be playing "when Josie comes home"...

And I hear "Do It Again" a lot, but most of the time they cut out Donald Fagen's organ solo. Wish they wouldn't do that.
Click to expand...

The college link comes from the fact that lots of people were in college when they heard their music and the fact that they dropped more than a lot of hints relating to their time at prestigious Bard college in their songs.
 
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#9
petrus61 said:
If I had a dollar for every time I've been in a conversation where Steely Dan came up and someone mentioned that, I'd have something close to thirty dollars. Just a rough estimate.

Edit: Does it count if roughly 20 of those conversations with with the same three people?
Click to expand...
Only $13. Poorer than you thought.
 
#17
I re-visit Can't Buy A Thrill (their 1972 debut)...a lot. At this point, they were a band.
In this time frame, I was entrenched in Hard Rock. I still recall hearing "Do It Again" back then(with my Hard Rock ears)...it was so different from what I was listening to...loved it from the start.
Anyway, if you're a long-time fan, re-visit that debut album. Every tune is well-played & well-crafted...by a band. :)
Gary Katz' production is stellar, too.
 
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#19
About as far from The Funk Brothers as is possible. Impressive talents individually... they sound like session players but not a band. Not part of my formative years = no love from me.

GIBrat51 said:
Didn't like them much at all - until I realized I was listening to them with Rock 'N Roll ears. When I put my Jazz ears on... Ahhh. Much, much better...:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Could you elaborate on 'Jazz ears' please?
 
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