Ticket 2 Ride

Five songs from the Steely Dan catalogue. Just five. That’s not easy, the Dan had so many great songs. What are your five?

“Do It Again” (1972) Probably my favorite Steely Dan song. The first song on their first album Can’t Buy a Thrill. A top ten hit. Anytime I hear this song I’m transported back to the summer of 1973 when this song was big. The guitar solo is amazing, credited to Denny Dias. Donald Fagan also solos on their first album organ. Listen to the longer, album version.

“Kid Charlemagne” (1976) The guitar solo by Larry Carlton. When this song is discussed by music aficionados, it’s the amazing solo, more than any other aspect. The solo is almost a minute long. Incredibly, this song barely cracked the Billboard Hot 100. From the album, The Royal Scam.

“The Caves Of Altamira” (1976) Also from The Royal Scam. The tenor saxophone is provided by jazz artist John Klemmer. The Royal Scam is less critically acclaimed than previous Dan albums, but it’s one of my favorites. While it might not have pushed their music forward as some critics stated, musically, it was a great harvest.

“Deacon Blues” (1977) The album Aja was really a game changer, as Becker and Fagan moved deeper into cool jazz. Nominated for the album of the year Grammy, it became the duo’s best selling album. “Deacon Blues” is smooth and silky, sultry and hypnotic the way its gentle musical motifs swim around in your brain. Expertly played and recorded, the album was known for its long journey toward the sound in Becker and Fagan’s head. Groups of musicians rotated in and out during recording sessions.

“FM (No Static At All)” (1978) From the film FM, released on the soundtrack album. The film wasn’t so great, but the soundtrack was better. This is the great long version of the song.

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Thoughts…

Unfortunately, I could not include any songs from the excellent Gaucho. As I look back over my five, it’s obvious that I left out some deserving songs. A small list makes you think hard about your choices. Is my list the “best” five from Steely Dan? No, even though they are damn good and are easily defensible. Right now I’m thinking about substituting “Hey Nineteen” or “Babylon Sisters” for “The Caves of Altamira.” But I won’t. Tomorrow I might. Or maybe “Home At Last” for “Kid Charlemagne.”