Originally published on May 25, 1974 By Chris Welch Melody Maker MANCHESTER, England — “We’ve never been here before, but we’re going to play the best concert we’ve ever played in our lives.” Skunk Baxter delivered this terse statement in no uncertain terms to the eager fans waiting on the edge of their seats at […]
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Reelin’ in from Woolies
Yep. Woolworth’s was where Walter Becker got turned on and Donald Fagen got his Ticket to Ride from the Beatles. Together, they’re the core of Steely Dan, an American cult band catching on in Britain. Originally published on May 25, 1974 By Steve Clarke New Music Express Woolworth’s seems hardly the place to get turned […]
Stainless Steely Band
By Bud Scoppa Rolling Stone Steely Dan is the most improbable hit-singles band to emerge in ages. On its three albums, the group has developed an impressionistic approach to rock & roll that all but abandons many musical conventions and literal lyrics for an unpredictable, free-roving style. While the group considered the first album, Can’t […]
Steely Dan: Countdown To Ecstasy
Originally published on December 1, 1973 By Mick Gold Let It Rock Steely Dan is a vehicle for the songwriting talents of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who entered the music world via a two-year gig with Jay and the Americans. They say they don’t regret that period, but since they’ve lifted their name from […]
Counting Down to Headline Status: Steely Dan
Originally published on August 15, 1973 By Steven Rosen LA Free Press On Sept. 2, Steely Dan perform their first concert as headliners, that status which lifts the working-class band from the ranks of the bourgeois and places it in the stead of the nobility groups. After only two albums, the quintet has risen from […]
Album Review: Countdown to Ecstasy
Originally published on July 14, 1973 By Billboard Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy ABC ABCX 779 It’s delightful to hear an LP by an act which has had a hit single and discover how much musical ability the act has. That’s the end result of this LP: there’s lots of music, vocal and instrumental from […]
Ultimate Spinach Meets Naked Lunch’s Dildo
Originally published on April 23, 1973 By Judith Sims Rolling Stone LOS ANGELES — Steely Dan named itself after William Burroughs’ mighty dildo in Naked Lunch. “We just wanted to give the band a little more thrust than most other bands,” quipped Donald Fagen. It must have been a good idea; the group’s single, “Do […]
Steely Dan: Get Your Thrills Here
Originally published on March 10, 1973 By Penny Valentine Sounds The most exciting new band to break from the States this year is Steely Dan. Can’t Buy A Thrill is the lie of a title they chose for their first album. By parting with your hard earned currency and acquiring this collection you are faced with […]
Steely Dan: Can’t Buy A Thrill
By Andrew Tyler Disc and Music Echo This one’s already speeding up the Billboard and Cashbox charts – currently around the 30 mark and likely to jump about 20 places by next week. Quite understandable and justified let it be said. Still only a few months together, the band produce a remarkable range of sounds in the medium-to-heavy bracket […]
Concert at Max’s Kansas City
Originally published on Nov. 8, 1972 Daily Variety STEELY DAN 6 Songs 43 minutes Max’s Kansas City, New York Steely Dan, an East Coast hard-rock sextet, is making waves in their Gotham debut. They chart no new courses, but move musically and onstage as each tune gets full treatment. Bass guitarist Walter Becker and Donald […]
