A couple of books: Eminent Hipsters by DF and Reelin' in the Years, by Brian Sweet.

Not read them like...

 

Eminent Hipsters is a short fun read for hardcore fans only. It led me to posting a Boswell Sisters link on hits Forum. Never thought he'd reference them.

For non hardcore fans it's a lasy piece worth dipping into in the smallest room. He even gives up half way through and turns it into a diary of how boring life on the road is.

How's that for objectivity. Not read the other.

IMO any Forum that has more interest in the Eagles than Steely Dan is not for me.


Happy Christmas Everyone.

 

IMO any Forum that has more interest in the Eagles than Steely Dan is not for me.

Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you my friend
Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again
When the demon is at your door
In the morning it won't be there no more
Any major dude will tell you

Great song! I think I feel some Squonk's tears welling up. I might have to put on A Trick of the Tail. I hope you don't have anything against Genesis.

 

I think that the Dan enjoyed being deliberately obscure with their lyrics.

 

I have all of the Dan's 70s albums, except for Gaucho. Never warmed to that overly slick, and not too grand follow up to Aja. But where else to go after Aja? They had pretty much exhausted all of the possibilites by that point. The only other album I've purchased in the past 25 years is Fagen's Morph The Cat, which I found sorely lacking. The music doesn't sound inspired at all. Probably good for people who like immaculate productions to show off their audio systems, but the songs and performances don't do anything for me.

 

I have all of the Dan's 70s albums, except for Gaucho. Never warmed to that overly slick, and not too grand follow up to Aja. But where else to go after Aja? They had pretty much exhausted all of the possibilites by that point. The only other album I've purchased in the past 25 years is Fagen's Morph The Cat, which I found sorely lacking. The music doesn't sound inspired at all. Probably good for people who like immaculate productions to show off their audio systems, but the songs and performances don't do anything for me.

Hey... Don't be such a snob!! LOL! Just kidding! :lol:

But seriously, Becker and Fagen have always taken great care with their sound and are open to the possibilities that new ways of recording offer. Gaucho and Nightfly sound fabulous in 5.1 surround!! Today I've been listening to Two Against Nature and Everything Must Go in surround. The separation of the Lead & Backing vocals is wonderful.

And... don't get me started on their early albums! I (and many others) have been waiting and waiting for modern Hirez reissues of the original Quad mixes of Can't Buy a Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, and Pretzel Logic. It would also be a dream come true if Elliot Scheiner would get a 5.1 mix of Royal Scam, Katy Lied, and Aja out...although the multitracks for the songs Black Cow and Aja seem to be lost. Fagen has even offered a $600 reward to anyone who can find them. Has anyone seen them?

 

I very much enjoyed Fagen's "The Nightfly" about a circa 1960 disc jockey's night of music and conversation. Having been around in that time period, the album gives me a highly nostalgic feeling.

 

The revelation for me about Steely Dan is that they basically used their voices as a horn section.

As far as lyrics and obscure messages, sometimes they are not very subtle at all. The song "Barrytown" is a thinly-veiled negative statement about gay men. Of course, this does not surprise me, coming from Fagen. Maybe he was sensitive about his name being similar to the term "***," and he got bullied in junior high about it, and the song was his revenge. Perhaps it is a deeply-ingrained religious/cultural bias, served up LA style.

 

Not thought that about Fagen but I can see it. Van Morrison definitely sings like that.

So you are playing the game? Very cool post. You don't really believe the boys have an LA style, do you. But you illustrate the dangers inherent in their approach, it leaves a song open to ANY interpretation. And when you can't be sure the narrator stance isn't ironic, you aren't left with much more than a couple of smart arses showing off.

But their lyrics are just perfect for their music and their best work was when they were trying to please themselves and experimenting with different forms. It works a treat for me.

I guess I'll have to buy the biography.
Check out the possible meanings to which you've added another(unlikely one.).

http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/103336/

I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
Barrytown people got to be from another world

Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

 

Check out the possible meanings to which you've added another(unlikely one.).

Unlikely? It's about as subtle as a Mac truck. OKAY, MAN, PROVE YOUR CASE LIKE I DO: LINE BY LINE.

I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change
But over there in Barrytown (rhymes with Fairytown)they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry (a purse?) that you come from Barrytown

Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word (referring to gay murders?)
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine (my manhood?)
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair (why the reference to style?)

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled (Old Testament law?)
Barrytown people got to be from another world

Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

 

Ok now you've got me confused, I'm starting to believe you might actually mean this.

Your analysis ignores the first line

"I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change" . If your version is correct this translates as "I've got nothing against Homosexuals, but …." TThe song is about the narrators attitude to these "people from another world". It's him who is criticising them. As in most of their songs, Becker and Fagen are adopting a persona and it's hard to think of songs they've written from the perspective of Angels.

Plus your tenuous (Barry rhymes with Fairy?) references to what YOU are identifying as Gay cliché's (purses, really?) might make your own position in this debate rather suspicious. I bet you'd say some of your best friends are gay? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say you are playing along with the narrator, so well done.

Hey I said it was fun reading too much into these lyrics.

 

^^^
Now, think about the most notorious denizens of Barrytown (the real one, with a B) and see if the lyrics don't take on, if not a whole new meaning, then, at least a different target.

In this case, I would say (to skewer an old saw) you're in the right pew, but the wrong church. :lol:

 

^^^
Now, think about the most notorious denizens of Barrytown (the real one, with a B) and see if the lyrics don't take on, if not a whole new meaning, then, at least a different target.

In this case, I would say (to skewer an old saw) you're in the right pew, but the wrong church.

Okay, explain the significance of "Barrytown" which is a city in New Zealand. We're waiting.:lol:

 

next up the sublime Dr Wu.

Katy tried
I was halfway crucified
I was on the other side
Of no tomorrow
You walked in
And my life began again
Just when I'd spent the last piaster
I could borrow
All night long
We would sing that stupid song
And every word we sang
I knew was true
Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
Are you crazy are you high
Or just an ordinary guy
Have you done all you can do
Are you with me Doctor

Don't seem right
I've been strung out here all night
I've been waiting for the taste
You said you'd bring to me
Biscayne Bay
Where the Cuban gentlemen sleep all day
I went searching for the song
You used to sing to me
Katy lies
You could see it in her eyes
But imagine my surprise
When I saw you

Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
She is lovely yes she's sly
And you're an ordinary guy
Has she finally got to you
Can you hear me Doctor

 

next up the sublime Dr Wu.

Katy tried
I was halfway crucified
I was on the other side
Of no tomorrow
You walked in
And my life began again
Just when I'd spent the last piaster
I could borrow
All night long
We would sing that stupid song
And every word we sang
I knew was true
Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
Are you crazy are you high
Or just an ordinary guy
Have you done all you can do
Are you with me Doctor

Don't seem right
I've been strung out here all night
I've been waiting for the taste
You said you'd bring to me
Biscayne Bay
Where the Cuban gentlemen sleep all day
I went searching for the song
You used to sing to me
Katy lies
You could see it in her eyes
But imagine my surprise
When I saw you

Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
She is lovely yes she's sly
And you're an ordinary guy
Has she finally got to you
Can you hear me Doctor

I'm not a great fan of SD but I really like Dr. Wu, definitely my favorite tune of them

 

THE ROYAL SCAM
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime
Wearing coats that shined
Both red and green
Colors from their sunny island
From their boats of iron
They looked upon the promised land
Where surely life was sweet
On the rising tide
To New York City
Did they ride into the street
See the glory
Of the royal scam

They are hounded down
To the bottom of a bad town
Amid the ruins
Where they learn to fear
An angry race of fallen kings
Their dark companions
While the memory of
Their southern sky was clouded by
A savage winter
Every patron saint
Hung on the wall, shared the room
With twenty sinners

See the glory
Of the royal scam

By the blackened wall
He does it all
He thinks he's died and gone to heaven
Now the tale is told
By the old man back home
He reads the letter
How they are paid in gold
Just to babble in the back room
All night and waste their time
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John without a dime

See the glory
Of the royal scam

 

Challenge: Explain the lyrics to "Your Gold Teeth."

 

Challenge: Explain the lyrics to "Everyone's Gone to the Movies."

 

Dude gross - those last two are un-fun challenges. But great songs