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I didn't really become aware of Steely Dan until their biggest hit, 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', reached #4 on the Billboard charts in 1974. '74 was totally bitchin' and that song will always Waybac Machine me to the Summer of '74 within a matter of seconds. (Thank you, Mister Peabody, you brainy dog!)
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The music of Steely Dan was always slick, sophisticated and somewhat strange -- yes, a wee bit bizarre. But strange / bizarre in a goot way. To me, Donald Fagen & Walter Becker are like the Rocky & Bullwinkle of Rock music.
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Over the decades I owned a fair number of Steely Dan albums. I know that 'Aja' was their biggest non-compilation seller; however, my favorite was always 'Katy Lied' (1975). The cover was as weird as the songs, and that LP spent a LOT of time on my turntable. It was one of 2 or maybe 3 albums I would put on when I didn't really know what I was in the mood to hear. Somehow 'Katy Lied' always hit the spot and those tracks took me to some very different kind of place!
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"The Dan" mentions booze, hooch, evidence in a goot number of their songs (all of which I like). But, for this installment of Battle Of The Bands' Battle Of The Booze, I decided to run with two relatively obscure Dan tunes from the 'Katy Lied' album. Please vote for your favorite between them, and then please also visit the other BOTBers and drop your two cents in their comment sections.
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I plan to return here on November 8th with my own vote and the final tally.
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Bad sneakers and a Piña Colada, my friend
Stompin' on the avenue by Radio City with a transistor and a large sum of money to spend
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BAD SNEAKERS
by Steely Dan
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Daddy don't drive in that El Dorado no more
He don't travel on down to the neighborhood liquor store
Lucy still loves her Coke and Rum
But she sits alone 'cause her Daddy can't come
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DADDY DON'T LIVE IN THAT NEW YORK CITY NO MORE
by Steely Dan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjf9QQKjRzc
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Be well & stay safe, all y'all!
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~ Stephen T McKatydid McCarthy
I've always liked Steely Dan. Sophisticated is a good word; worldly - without the wrinkles ;-) Both songs are good. I listened to Bad Sneakers twice, not to help me decide, but because I really wanted to hear it again. I vote for Bad Sneakers!
ReplyDeletedIEDRE ~
DeleteI know a LOT of Steely Dan songs (far more than just the hits), but there are very few Dan songs I would feel confident in explaining to someone else.
As I wrote in the blog bit, Fagen & Becker were like Rocky & Bullwinkle, but they hired incredible session musicians who brought in an element of Boris & Natasha. To boil it all down to merely two words, I would describe their music as "Street Smart".
Thanks for bringing two shots of "kirschwasser" for the punch bowl.
(Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "kirs-wassat?" Google it. And keep in mind that it's hooch mentioned in the Steely Dan song 'Babylon Sisters'... which I love.)
~ DogG-Boy
Interesting battle, Stephen! I don't remember either of these Steely Dan songs, but the second one is groovy! ☺ Please give my vote to Daddy.
ReplyDeleteDEBBIE D'DOGLADY ~
DeleteI would have described it as "funky", but I completely get your meaning.
Daddy has your vote!
Thanks for bringing some Crown Royal whiskey for the punch bowl, my friend.
I may be a li'l bit slow in getting around in this round, but I hereby promise to get my BOTB "bote" in on your contest before time runs out. If I fail, I will "pisseth against a wall"* and post it on YouTube for the whole world to see.
[* Believe it or not, that ridiculous expression comes from the King James Version of The Holy Bible. And, believe it or not, some high-falutin, holier-than-thou person sitting behind me at Dodger Stadium in 1990 took offense when I told my girlfriend that I had to "go pee". PEOPLE! "It would be a better world without them".]
~ Stephen
I liked both of these, but liked "Bad Sneakers" a little better, so that's what I'm going with.
ReplyDeleteSIR JOHN ~
DeleteI know a ton - A TON - of Steely Dan songs! (Er-- well... maybe not a literal "ton", since most songs weigh very little.) And off the top of my noggin, I can't think of a single Steely Dan song that I actively dislike. I'm not sure if I could say that about any other musical artist whom I am familiar with. (Er-- well... perhaps Roger Miller, Jim Stafford, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. But then, since all three of them were so similar, that kinda makes total sense.)
~ D-FensDogG
If you like Steely Dan, then we have another one to add to the list. I always really liked them and believe they are one of the most talented band ever. Maybe THE most. Check out all the names of players in that band through the years:
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Steely_Dan_members
They stopped playing live in 1974, and - as I think I recounted on some blog of yours a while back - I saw them live just before they stopped touring. It was the first rock concert I ever bought tickets for and went to on my own. I had been to countless operas, symphonies, musicals, and jazz concerts with my parents. And I had been to Disneyland Grad Night (waaaaay early, at age 15... though not a grad!) and saw real rock bands. But Steely Dan was the first real live rock concert I paid money to see and I even took a girl on a date. (Meh on that part.) That concert set a pretty high standard! I'll never forget them ending their last encore with "Reelin' in the Years." One-by-one the band members left the stage until just the TWO drummers were left, drumming in unison to the "ba-ba-BA-ba, ba-ba-BA-ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba BOP ba" beat of that song. Then the lights went out as they stopped. This concert didn't QUITE make my top ten, but it was close!
So, I still have the album with these songs on it. Like 'em both. I am going to vote for "Daddy" in this battle. Now I can't get that groovy and weird guitar riff outta my head! It starts immediately and sets the perfect tone for the song.
Sixgun McItchtyfinger
SIXGUN McITCHYFINGER
Delete(also known as Sheboyganboy Six,
Sir Six-A-Lot, Sir Sixy, and The
Amazing Sixwell) ~
Terrific comment, my friend.
And you'll be pleased to know that I added Steely Dan to our list of Musical Agreements, bringing us to a whopping 14 now!
Yeah, Steely Dan always included exceptional musicianship. The songs were all so quirky, but the music and arrangements were absolutely top-notch. Interestingly, that web page you indicated states that the original band's final concert was in '74 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. That's the place where, two years later, I saw my very first Rock concert (Styx opening for Journey).
>>... I'll never forget them ending their last encore with "Reelin' in the Years."
Man, I LOVE 'Reelin' In The Years'! Definitely one of my very, very favorite Dan songs. Right in there with 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and 'Do It Again'.
Also high on my list is 'My Old School', 'Babylon Sisters', 'Deacon Blues' and 'Kid Charlemagne'. How about the guitar solo in that last one? Hokey-Smoke!
The 'Katy Lied' album didn't have a single Top 40 hit on it but, man, the whole album hangs together beautifully and is so weirdly memorable.
Thanks for coming by with some non-alcoholic mix for the punch bowl, Sixy!
~ D-FensDogG
I've had a few bad sneakers in my day:)) I enjoyed that song so I am going with that!
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteHa! I've never had any bad sneakers, but I've had some well-made cowboy boots.
Maybe I'll write a song that goes like this:
Good footwear and a pina colada, my friend
Stompin' on the avenue by Century City with an old Walkman and a small sum of money to spend
Thanks for bringing a bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry for the punch bowl! (Not to be confused with Harvey the púca.)
~ D-FensDogG
VOTE = DADDY DON'T LIVE...
ReplyDeleteOh, my. This one was tough for me, Kemo Sabe! I am a huge Steely Dan fan. Katy Lied is also my favorite of their LPs. I like, like, like both of these tunes. Truthfully, I'm not even sure what specifically brought Daddy to the fore. I think I just flipped a mental coin and it turned up Daddy. Also, the artistry involved in composing and performing a song with a long phrase like that, well, just wow. ~Ed.
EDUARDO ~
DeleteYes, indeed, this is a toughie. Right now, the contest is tied up at 3-3. I also dig BOTH of these songs nearly equally, so I know I haven't made it too easy on the listeners this round.
If it were truly a Battle of the booze, Daddy would definitely get my support because Rum (specifically Cruzan Black Strap Rum) and Coke over Pina Colada for me. But there's that little umbrella that comes in the Bad Sneakers cocktail. What's a booze hound to do?
Thanks for bringing a pint of Cruzan rum for the punch bowl, mi amigo!
~ D-FensDogG
Howdy, my friend! You put up two songs I don't even remember or never heard before now. I kinda think if i were a drinking person, I'd probably go for a Pina Colada. It's fruity and don't they put little umbrellas in the drink? Not that this influenced my decision but I do happen to like the sound of the first song best. It just has a cool vibe to my ear this morning. My vote goes to BAD SNEAKERS. Have a bandtastic week, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteHola, CAThy!
DeleteIndeed the pina colada has often been served with a Billy Barty umbrella. I like those those things. They just look so tropical vacation-like. And, a subtheme I have going on here is that BOTH song-drinks contain rum. (Only the booze hounds in my audience would pick up on that fact.)
You fooled me this time, CAThy. I had a hunch that you would bote for Daddy in New York. It'll probably come as no surprise to you then that I have never made any money playing a "hunch" at the race tracks. (Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Turf Paradise - not a one of them have honored my hunches.)
Thank you for bringing a box of umbrellas for garnishing the pina coladas, my friend!
~ D-FensDogG
HA! Billy Barty reference! I make them all the time and nobody knows what the heck I'm talking about, except a few REALLY old people! It figures that you'd have that (tiny) weapon in your arsenal!
DeleteSix
:^D Sir Six, back in the day, it seemed like you couldn't turn on the TV without seeing Billy Barty in something!
DeleteIf I had to pick a favorite though, it would be in Moonlighting (which I still love!), season 2, episode 18, titled 'Camille'. Terrific episode, and it had one of those classic Moonlighting chase scene endings, which was hysterically funny, and included Big Billy Barty. If you can find that one on some streaming service, I recommend watching it. Not one of my Top 10 Moonlighting episodes, but I still graded it an "A".
~ D-FensDogG
Usually, I'm moved to cast a vote on these unknowns is mostly by the melody since I can't understand the lyrics all that way. So, the music literally has to move either my body or my mental state. :)
DeleteCAThy ~
DeleteSeeing as how a great many of my very favorite recordings are instrumentals (e.g., Pat Metheny, Glenn Miller, Henry Mancini, Dave Brubeck, Brian Auger, etc.), it's safe to say that I am also a "music first" person.
~ D-FensDogG
If there's three certainties in life, it's that I like my drinks strong, my women women, and my Dans steely.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great battle. I love both songs, and found it really hard to pick between the two. I had to keep coming back to this one to see if I could finally decide. Ultimately, Bad Sneakers gets my toe tappin' just a bit more, so I'll give it to that one, even if I'd much prefer a Coke and rum (or maybe even a rum and Coke, if I'm feeling froggy) over a Pina Colada.
~Chief Julio
CHIEF RUNS-WITH-SCISSORS ~
Delete>>... "I like my drinks strong, my women women, and my Dans steely."
We are very similar! However...
I like my Dans Danny, my women overseas, and my drinks strong. Even so, I'll shamefacedly confess that occasionally - just for the sake of flavor & variety - I'll add an ounce of Wild Turkey 101 to my glass of 190-proof Everclear. (As Siegfried said, "Well, once in awhile it doesn't hurt".)
Also, I am more of a Rum & Coke guy than I am a Coke & Rum guy. Only rich Rock stars like Steely and Dan can afford the Coke and Rum order.
Thank you for bringing a 750ml bottle of Maker's Mark for the punch bowl, Booze Bruhthuh!
~ D-FensDogG
Well, there went the long comment I started writing and now I can't figure out how to get it back.
DeleteWell, crap.
Give my vote to "Bad Sneakers". I just think it's a better sounding song.
Thanks for the reminder. My mind was wandering I guess.
Lee
R. LEE BOID ~
DeleteOh, I know that feeling! When a long comment I've been composing suddenly goes 'bye-'bye... I HATE IT when that happens!!
I'm not sure if "a better sounding song" qualifies as a valid reason for voting for it over its competition but... "just to be sociable, I'll take your word". ;^D
~ D-FensDogG
And Stephen...
ReplyDeleteHmmm putting a song with insane, bad sneakers and Pina Colada against a song with an El Dorado, Liquor Store and Coke and Rum makes it hard to choose. Lyrically, I might side with the Caddy and Rum but I like Bad Sneakers better as a song. I think we listened to this way back when but then again if Coke and Rum and Pina Coladas were involved It could be a false memory. And how about them Dodgers? Nice to see them beat the Yankees but they kind of beat themselves the last game. Veronica and I went to the Parade it was packed!
...AND, POOH, THAT'S NOT ALL!...
DeleteI remember going to the Dodgers parade downtown in 1988. I took the bus because I was afraid I might not be able to drive home afterwards.
I recall the first time I ever heard 'Daddy Don't Live...' and thinking: Liquor stores? Do they HAVE liquor stores in New York City?!
When I think of Eldorados, I think of Cadillacs, and when I think of Cadillacs, I think of "Tiburon". It's an association thing that you protly wouldn't un'erstan'. ;^)
And when I think of liquor stores, I think of Lucky, Seamus ("in the BACK room!"), Lee's (is that the one where "You winnah!"?), Surf, LaRoca (sp?), Bill's (which I never went into because Lucky was on "our" side of the street & I was afraid to cross Lincoln Boulevard).
And... Pooh, what's the name of that liquor store that was on the northeast corner of Main & Bay Streets? It was directly behind that liquor store where Kelly Anderson took my first (and best) publicity photo, about 2.5 lifetimes ago.
I remember showing that small, black & white wallet-sized publicity photo to a barberess in Phoenix once, asking her to cut my hair in a similar way. She asked me, "Who is that?" And THAT is when I first realized that I had become OLD!
Pooh Lynth, thanks for bringing a pint of Bacardi 151 for the community punch bowl, McBuddy!
~ D-FensDogG
POSTSCRIPT: Although I couldn't possibly tell you the name of it, I will never forget that liquor store you and I came across on a road trip, somewhere east of Bullhead City, AZ. It was the first drive-thru liquor store I had ever seen, and I remember us joking about how they were sending some seriously mixed signals.
DeleteGuffaw-Out-Loud!!
~ The Old Gray DogG
I think it was Star Liquor. The closest liquor store to the bars on Main Street. Typically, we would rush from last call to Star Liquor for reinforcements.
DeleteI just checked Google images... BINGO!
DeleteAnd that is why you are a general, Pooh.
Star Liquor, right across the street from what used to be the famous Zephyr surf shop, where Santa Monica acquired the nickname "Dogtown".
One doesn't often (or ever) see what it looked like behind Star Liquor, but when we were looking for a suitably grungy spot for an urban publicity photo, Kelly and I thought that the backside of that fine establishment would work.
Thanks for straightening out my memory, General Poohregard!
~ STMcC
Al Bondigas here. I've never heard of either one of these songs, but they both have a good sound and right from the get go you know it's Steely Dan. This battle really is difficult to rule on. I guess I'm gonna have to rule fer Bad Sneakers, but barely and by the hair of my chinny chin chin. Rulin fer Steely Dan!! That's it, that's muh rulin!!
ReplyDeleteJUDGE AL ~
DeleteI and some others agree that this was a tough Battle, even though the voting tally doesn't look like it. What was at one point a 3 to 3 tie has turned into a blowout.
Thanks for making a rulin' in this contest, Judge. Now... go and shave that chinny-chin-chin before you start lookin' like me!
~ D-FensDogG