The Royal Scam

[P. Aaron]

It started one day when I heard those late summer bugs. The ones that have that continual reedy sound...like crickets but more sustained.

Then I heard that song..."The Royal Scam", and there's that reedy sounding keyboard throughout the song.

So I go get a Steely Dan collection, being too cheap to buy the whole catalogue. None feature "The Royal Scam" so for another $1.00 I get the album on vinyl. (I'll buy that for a Dollar!)

I musta heard all of these songs a kazillion times when Steely Dan was "gold" on the radio and yet it struck me (only now it seems) how well crafted these recordings are...So well played, entirely POP, with sophistication. (I reminisce...)

I don't even know who the musicians are, but they're good.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Woodchuck]

Dude, Steely Dan is life. The rest is just insignificant stuff!
They had many first call musos play for them. Players like Chuck Rainey, Bernie Purdie, Skunk Baxter, Cornelious Bumpus (RIP), etc.

 

[P. Aaron]

Dude, Steely Dan is life. The rest is just insignificant stuff!
They had many first call musos play for them. Players like Chuck Rainey, Bernie Purdie, Skunk Baxter, Cornelious Bumpus (RIP), etc.

It would be quite an education to watch these guys lay down studio tracks y'know?

What passes for "pop" these days after what used to be...it hurts.

 

[jerry]

What passes for "pop" these days after what used to be...it hurts.

Aint that the truth!!! Maybe I'm just old

 

[dbaser]

"Sign In Stranger" "The Fez" "Everything You Did" .... sighhhh

I can't recall how many times I have copied (legally) "Gaucho" and "The Royal Scam" ... CD's tend to melt here in Alabama!

Honorable mention the the album "Aja" ... learning "Home At Last" and "I Got the News" presently... I'm such a Steely Dan fanatic!


Oops.. I got sidetracked... yes.. Steely Dan, old and new, examplify studio recording. Tight and loose at the same time... awesome stuff...

BTW, I saw the Glass City All-Stars in Toledo, OH a few years back and they all but nailed every Steely Dan/Donald Fagen song I requested. Guess that's why they are a tribute band, huh?

Great stuff...

 

[mr. eff]

I believe those bugs are called cicadas...all over the place in texas.

 

[oldrocker]

They had many first call musos play for them. Players like Chuck Rainey, Bernie Purdie, Skunk Baxter, Cornelious Bumpus (RIP), etc.

Don't forget Larry Carlton, I know he's only a guitar player, but, "Don't Take Me Alive" is still great.

 

[Commreman]

Check out Chuck Rainey's groove on "Kid Charlemagne". Learning that one will keep you busy for weeks!

 

[burk48237]

Dude, Didn't I try to tell you that a couple of months ago? Listen to the Burk They are among my all time favorite Rock groups

 

[Ostinato]

I love that talk box solo on Haitian Divorce...BTW get the "Citizen" box set. Definitely worth it for hardcore fans.

 

[P. Aaron]

Dude, Didn't I try to tell you that a couple of months ago? Listen to the Burk They are among my all time favorite Rock groups

I've always dug the music, and I heard the songs many, many times. But only recently have I taken to really listening to them and realizing all that went into putting them together.

The craziest thing about a well done song(s)...there's so much to them, and if they're well done, the details can seem so subtle, one can miss them.

 

[jerry]

It would be quite an education to watch these guys lay down studio tracks

Check out the making of AJA DVD

 

[burk48237]

Check out the making of AJA DVD

+1

 

[cdef]

For those of you gentlemen who haven't heard it, may I also recommend the Dan's 2000 comeback album "Two Against Nature". It's all there: fabulous songwriting, beautiful charts, super grooves, great humor, incredible playing. Chris Potter's extended tenor solo on "West Of Hollywood" brings tears to my eyes every time. And I'm still working on Tom Barney's bass part on "Gaslighting Abbie". This is a record that's been on our band boombox in hotel rooms after just about every gig for the last few years. I must've heard it close to a hundred times, and it never fails to move the spirit.

 

[cowsgomoo]

quality quality quality - they don't come classier and better crafted than Steely Dan

one thing i've found is that there's no other band to touch Steely Dan for having records you put on at any time of the day for any mood you 're in... their music just fits no matter what... on balance I probably love Frank Zappa's music more than Donald & Walter's, but there has to be a specific time and a place for Frank... the Dan just work 24/7

purrrrrfection

 

[Brad Johnson]

SD has always been way ahead of the curve as far as production. I know they obsess over everything but it shows in the final product. Everything sits perfectly in the mix.

 

[P. Aaron]

SD has always been way ahead of the curve as far as production. I know they obsess over everything but it shows in the final product. Everything sits perfectly in the mix.

Bein' idealistic in wishing today's POP would grow up into something a little less insulting.

Still waitin', but no luck.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Bein' idealistic in wishing today's POP would grow up into something a little less insulting.

Still waitin', but no luck.

There's actually a lot of decent Pop-type music out there... it's just not as popular as the bigger mainstream stuff and it's a little harder to find.

 

[baba]

Check out Chuck Rainey's groove on "Kid Charlemagne". Learning that one will keep you busy for weeks!

We cover that one. Amazing bass line, it was a bass lesson just learning the song.

 

[BuffaloBass]

Heard Becker/Fagan spent over two years in the studio on one album and got themselves into some pretty serious personal debt. Incredible. Great creators backed by the best studio guys around.