Shop our Big Takeover store for back issues, t-shirts & CDs
Follow The Big Takeover
Favorite Steely Dan songs
Chronological order. I swear – despite the impression of the result – that hit status did not disqualify (the closest a Top 40 Dan song comes to making my list is “Black Friday”).
“The Boston Rag”
Nothing from the first album having made my cut (“Dirty Work” and “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)” came close), I start on 1973’s Countdown to Ecstasy with this oddly sinister little rock bolero.
“My Old School”
I have rhapsodized over this one already in the middle of this article”. I think it’s Jeff “Skunk” Baxter wailing on guitar; the harmonics in the second solo are especially imaginative. Also, any time I hear baritone saxophone in a rock song, it makes me happy.
“King of the World”
The moto perpetuo guitar winding through it provides an essential nervousness, and as I’ve mentioned, I like the chord progression.
“Night by Night”
On to 1974’s Pretzel Logic. I love the dense brass and vocal harmonies and the chugging rhythm – and, yup, another ripping guitar solo.
“Pretzel Logic”
A blues shuffle, mostly, but weirder than the norm. The vocal melisma on the last word of the second “where did you get those shoes” always makes me smile.
“Charlie Freak”
A chilling vignette about an overdose victim. The elusive, ambiguous ending continues to intrigue.
“Bad Sneakers”
Katy Lied (1975) is full of exquisite textures. On this tune I especially love Michael McDonald’s backing vocals (equally wonderful on the chorus of “Rose Darling”) adding tight, advanced harmonies.
“Any World (That I’m Welcome To)”
Fagen’s lyrics are often sardonic, but occasionally he’ll offer something more poignant, and this is possibly an example – it’s pretty hard to figure out exactly what he’s singing about (one rumor is suicide), but the refrain “any world that I’m welcome to is better than the one I come from,” and the bridge and the last verse seemingly back this up.
“Kid Charlemagne”
From SD’s darkest album, 1976’s The Royal Scam, comes this darkly funky ditty. Loosely inspired by the life of LSD entrepreneur Owlsley, this moves from triumph and fame to paranoia and disaster. Larry Carlton’s guitar playing – solos, rhythm, and obbligato – is spectacular. The epic, mysterious title track almost made the cut.
“Home at Last”
From 1977’s Aja. Inspired by Homer, and especially wry coming from a band that had given up touring. A great beat by Bernard Purdie; tasty, stinging guitar solos from original member Denny Dias on his last album with the group (he’s now a computer programmer).
