Will try to actually post something this weekend. For now, more summer music...
Steely Dan and their pair of "Gold Teeth" songs. A good example, I think, of a band in transition.
"Your Gold Teeth," from their second album, Countdown to Ecstasy (1973), features the Dan's first extended excursion into a more jazz-inflected sound. The driving groove is still propelled, however, by the Latin percussion and heavier rock guitar common in their first albums, with definite hints at "Do It Again," the big hit from their debut LP the year before.
"Your Gold Teeth II" comes from the band's fourth album, Katy Lied (1975), the center point of the band's career (or at least the first part: 1972-1980), which captures both the grungier rock sound of their earlier work ("Black Friday") and the more sophisticated and often elegant jazz tones of the future ("Doctor Wu"). The musical journey Fagen and Becker embark on here will ultimately lead them to the soundscape of Aja, their masterpiece from 1977.
Enjoy.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Your Gold Teeth I & II
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5 comments:
Groovy.
Nice, William. I wasn't familiar with either of those tunes because I've never heard either of those albums all the way through. They've aged very well, as good jazz always does, haven't they? In fact, most of their stuff has aged well. I like very much the jazz motifs they put together on Fagen's Kamakiriad (1993), the album which sort of led to their reunion.
You're dead-on right in calling Steely Dan summer music. I have lots of great summer memories of their songs... Do It Again, Rikki Don't Lose That Number and Reelin' In The Years in particular.
Liam,
Glad you grooved on the music. You ever much into Steely Dan?
Jeff,
You should definitely give those two albums a listen - They're actually my favorite Dan albums. though I also like Aja a lot.
I should listen again to Kamakiriad - haven't heard it since it came out.
Yeah, I have good memories of driving out to the lake listening to those albums. I even made my own special Steely Dan Summer Mix.
I think I had Aja. Steely Dan now stands in the category of those groups I wouldn't buy an album of, but am always happy to hear on the radio.
William,
Looking forward to you screning some movies soon.
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