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jfleischh View Drop Down
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Points: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Steely Dan, Prog-related?
    Posted: April 18 2007 at 00:37
I wanted a general opinion on Steely Dan and progarchives.  What are the chances of Steely Dan being submitted as a Prog-related band?  I will admit that I am a HUGE  fan, so I am extremely biased.  But I do feel that Steely Dan shares a lot of the same qualities that are characterstic of progressive rock.  I don't mean to bore anyone, but here are some reasons why I thought that SD could possibly make it onto PA. 
 
First off, they have NEVER written a love song.  The topics of their songs are extremely varied from drug-dealers, to divorce, to science-fiction, to completely undecipherable.  I mean, the lyrics are some of the best and most complex ever written!  Also, it is obvious that their music has a large infusion of jazz and reggae.  Some of their songs are very progressive in nature, such as the title track from Aja (described by Walter and Donald as a "journey through time and space").  Other songs that are more progressive include, Your Gold Teeth, Grean Earrings, and Third World Man.  The musicianship in Steely Dan in terms of playing, arrangement, and composition are top-notch.  My last point is that I have found that most people who enjoy progressive rock also are fans of Steely Dan.
 
Is this possible, or am I reaching too far here?      
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Points: 8191 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 00:39
Honestly, I think you could reach a little further.
 
In my opinion, Steely Dan could fit under Art Rock although that may be a little sketchy. But prog-related? Most certainly!
Beauty will save the world.
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Points: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 00:42
One more thing, Steely Dan's music is very emotional.  Sometimes I almost cry when listening to songs like Deacon Blues or Third World Man.  Cry
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Points: 21342 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 00:43
It's hard to say. I really do love Steely Dan, but then again I don't really think they have a place here. Just because a lot of prog fans like Steely Dan doesn't automatically make them progressive or even prog-related. More and more these days I think that prog-related is just an excuse to get every band we like onto the site, with or without progressive merit or any real or viable relation to progressive music (the latest addition, Blue Oyster Cult, was just another in a series of odd additions; yet Jeff Beck, who was added a few days ago, I feel has a place here in more than just prog-related).

Sure Steely Dan have some "progressive" songs and ideas, but I really don't feel that they are a prog band, let alone prog-related. They surely were forward-thinking, but I don't really think they have a place here.
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Points: 3323 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 01:01
Originally posted by Cygnus X-2 Cygnus X-2 wrote:

It's hard to say. I really do love Steely Dan, but then again I don't really think they have a place here. Just because a lot of prog fans like Steely Dan doesn't automatically make them progressive or even prog-related. More and more these days I think that prog-related is just an excuse to get every band we like onto the site, with or without progressive merit or any real or viable relation to progressive music (the latest addition, Blue Oyster Cult, was just another in a series of odd additions; yet Jeff Beck, who was added a few days ago, I feel has a place here in more than just prog-related).

Sure Steely Dan have some "progressive" songs and ideas, but I really don't feel that they are a prog band, let alone prog-related. They surely were forward-thinking, but I don't really think they have a place here.
 
if they were from England you might have a more receptive crowd, ie - Jeff Beck, 10cc, Fairport Convention, Roger Hodgson, Iron Maiden?, Queen, Super Furry Animals? Talk Talk, etc. Confused
 
I would not call Steely Dan progressive rock ,although I love what they did, as well as Jeff Beck and Queen. Some things are not progressive rock but better remembered as psychedelic art rock or progressive psychedelic fusion by advanced or well trained artists? Clown


Edited by DallasBryan - April 18 2007 at 01:08
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Peter View Drop Down
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Points: 9669 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 01:12
Originally posted by Cygnus X-2 Cygnus X-2 wrote:

It's hard to say. I really do love Steely Dan, but then again I don't really think they have a place here. Just because a lot of prog fans like Steely Dan doesn't automatically make them progressive or even prog-related. More and more these days I think that prog-related is just an excuse to get every band we like onto the site, with or without progressive merit or any real or viable relation to progressive music (the latest addition, Blue Oyster Cult, was just another in a series of odd additions; yet Jeff Beck, who was added a few days ago, I feel has a place here in more than just prog-related).

Sure Steely Dan have some "progressive" songs and ideas, but I really don't feel that they are a prog band, let alone prog-related. They surely were forward-thinking, but I don't really think they have a place here.
 
Just what Cyggie said.Clap
 
Good band -- very good at what they do But that's not enough to warrant inclusion, IMO.
*********************************************************************************************
 
Lots of non-prog bands -- American, English or outer Mongolian -- are better than average, & well worth listening to. 
 
But "prog" is not meant equate to "good," and thus be purely subjective. I think "progressive" is taken too literally by too many. It's a real pity it was dubbed that, in a way. Perhaps if it had been called by a non pre-existing word (such as I posited elsewhere, with "zog"), we would not be in this permanent state of confusion and argument as to the qualities and boundaries of this form that isn't a form. Ermm
 
I imagine there's potential conflict and disagreement in any categorization of musical forms (and the more numerous and narrow the categories, the more the potential for disagreement as to placement). Perhaps only the long-ago art can be clearly "nailed into place."  (Classical, baroque, renaissance, romantic, Irish traditional, Victorian, etc.)
 
I imagine jazz and country sites have their own particular blurring, overlapping sub-genres: "That's not cool jazz -- that's smooth jazz! Formulaic elevatior muzak!" "Waddaya mean, Shania is Country Rock? She's pop! New Country at best!"
 
And so on, to the end of time....
 


Edited by Peter - April 18 2007 at 01:16
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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Points: 29630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 01:13
Well, progressive music for me is not narrowly defined.  Steely Dan certainly has a place here: Jazz Rock/Fusion.  I've been wondering what took so long for Jeff Beck to be added for crying out loud!  Don't get me started on Stomu Yamashta....
 
King of the World is one of my all time favorites from the band.


Edited by Slartibartfast - April 18 2007 at 01:15
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Peter View Drop Down
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Points: 9669 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 01:30

In the end, of course, in terms of the individual's ability and freedom to enjoy what he wants, think of it as he wants, and arrange his own collection, compilation discs and listening sessions as he deems fit  -- NONE OFTHIS MATTERS.Stern%20Smile

 
"Prog" or not, "related" or not, just enjoy your Steely Dan, and whatever else you like in the vast universe of music that's out there for us!
 
You like pasta best as breakfast? As dessert? As underwear liner? That's your call, and does not affect me or my dining habits and pleasures in the least.
 
You'll never get as many unique humans as we have gathered here to agree upon musical tastes -- so why should we contankerous, opinionated, diverse & unique individuals agree on the categorization of that music?
 
Carry on -- here or not, I like the band. Nothing changes that.
 
What's that? You'll simply DIE if you can't review & applaud their albums? Just do so elsewhere -- Amazon, perhaps.Smile


Edited by Peter - April 18 2007 at 15:49
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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Peter View Drop Down
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Points: 9669 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 01:36
Wrong forum section for a non-PA-listed band, BTW. This thread will be moved in.....
 
 
 
What time is it in Britain? Wakey wakey, Tony, Bob & Jim! We free-spirited colonials have left the place in disorder again! Wink
"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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tormat1985 View Drop Down
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Points: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 03:09
i think steely dan should get a spot on here why not t
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Points: 15585 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 03:16
Steely Dan have been discussed a number of times in the suggest bands section, where this thread should have been started.
 
(Now moved)
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Points: 2459 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 03:27
I love Steely Dan just as much as my favourite prog bands.

But are they prog? Just a few thoughts.

- I remember an interview from the 1970s in which Becker & Fagen were asked about Yes. The question was something like: "You make complex music, and so do prog bands, so what do you think of Yes etc.?" The answer (I paraphrase): "Yes make their songs as complicated as possible just for the hell of it. We're into different things!"

- "Aja" is one of Steely Dan's most fascinating tracks. Perhaps you'd like to call it "prog" because its main melody is interrupted by a virtuoso instrumental middle section. But this middle section has little or nothing in common with the music of the most popular bands in, for example, the Prog Archives Top Twenty (even though it's directly related to Weather Report or Mahavishnu style fusion). On the other hand, if you listen to some of 10CC's more ambitious tracks (the intro to HOW DARE YOU, for example, or "I'm Mandy fly me"), you'll immediately notice the resemblance to classic prog...
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Points: 32995 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 03:59
Of course they will be added, along with The Who.
 
A, B, C, D , E, F etc. are here so it follows X, Y, and Z will be here too.
 
Of this I have absolutely no doubt.
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Points: 8238 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 08:47
This comes up every once in a while, don't it?  If "Blue Oyster Cult" belongs here then the Dan's certainly do!  Their music is eclectic, to be sure, but positively progressive in my book.
"Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain
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akin View Drop Down
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Points: 976 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 09:26
Thousands of artists were eclectic and had some "progressive" songs, mainly till mid-seventies since most of the rock music was influenced by classical, jazz and psychedelic music.

Elton John prog? Bee Gees prog? Cat Stevens prog? Black Sabbath prog? All of them had some songs influenced by progressive rock.

Just a thing to think about.
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Points: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 10:12
Originally posted by Easy Livin Easy Livin wrote:

Steely Dan have been discussed a number of times in the suggest bands section, where this thread should have been started.
 
(Now moved)
 
I searched "steely dan" before posting it and did NOT see any results in the suggested bands section or else where.  The only place I saw it was in a poll on favorite SD albums.  Unless certain threads are deleted after awhile.
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Points: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 10:14
Look, I'll be more careful of which section I begin threads in from now on, but I really thought that SD could be considered prog-related or even rock/jazz fusion.  I was NOT doing this just because I really like the band. 
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Points: 5109 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 11:26
I love Steely Dan. They never recorded a bad song. Wonderful stuff, but they don't belong here.
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Points: 15585 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 11:31
Here's a few too look at.Wink
 
Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminPoll: Steely Dan
E-Dub

Replies: 29
Views: 219

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan
Posted: 17 January 2007 at 13:13
Awesome band! Your favorite? Torn between Aja and The Royal Scam.

E View%20Post
Forum: Artists/Bands under evaluationHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Steely Dan
micky

Replies: 37
Views: 246

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 12:51
considering the new emphasis by the owners considering the expansion of the site.. they are not prog .. I know it.


but Prog Releated.


what do you all think.... I'm not adding them.. I have real prog groups I'm working on. Just curious as to thoughts with the way the site is now and the direction we are to take it.
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Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Steely Dan
yesfan88

Replies: 24
Views: 216

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan
Posted: 30 September 2006 at 19:12
I love Steely Dan and was just wondering if anyone else liked them. View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicTopic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Steely Dan question
DallasBryan

Replies: 3
Views: 69

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan question
Posted: 10 August 2006 at 17:52
who was the drummer in college for Fagan and Becker just previous to forming the band Steely Dan? View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Steely Dan at Nokia Theater
Chicapah

Replies: 11
Views: 92

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan at Nokia Theater
Posted: 13 July 2006 at 16:24
Having always loved their quirky style of jazz-tinged rock but never seeing them in person, I eagerly anticipated their show in the intimate and quality-sound environs of the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas last night. I was not disappointed in the least. The four-piece horn section was top-notch and the other musicians were exemplary. Tight doesn't come close to describing how they worked as a band. Standouts were the excellent guitarist Jon Harrington, who handled the difficult-to-reproduce... View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Favorite Steely Dan album?
DallasBryan

Replies: 27
Views: 246

View Post View%20Post 		Favorite Steely Dan album?
Posted: 09 July 2006 at 06:09
whats your 3 favorite Steely Dan albums? View%20Post
Forum: Suggest new bands / artistsHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: add steely dan
Blind Camel

Replies: 18
Views: 232

View Post View%20Post 		add steely dan
Posted: 19 February 2006 at 22:22
just thought id say that, since i made a thread about it in the lounge View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: steely dan
Blind Camel

Replies: 34
Views: 534

View Post View%20Post 		steely dan
Posted: 19 February 2006 at 10:09
seems like they are more progressive than some bands on here(the beatles)

yet they aren't listed on this site...oh well, they are one of my fav bands regardless. what do you guys think? anybody like steely dan?

my favorite songs are probably, reelin in the years, josie, my old school, and my all time fav deacon blues


View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: The Steely Dan Appreciation Thread
Biggles

Replies: 16
Views: 164

View Post View%20Post 		The Steely Dan Appreciation Thread
Posted: 22 November 2005 at 23:12
Easily one of my favorite bands. The first time I heard the Dan on theCountdown to Ecstasy album, I thought it was ok, but not great. But I gave it some time, and soon enough I was digging out all my parents' otherDan albums: Katy Lied, Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam, vynil pressings of Aja and Gaucho, and I went on to buy Can't Buy a Thrill for myself. I absolutely love this band. It takes serious genius to make complex jazz into million-selling pop. The music hooks you in, it's catchy... View%20Post
Forum: Discussions not related to musicTopic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Aja album by steely dan
Zooka_Jesus

Replies: 7
Views: 78

View Post View%20Post 		Aja album by steely dan
Posted: 26 August 2005 at 20:12
my dad says i would like this album because it jazz fusion and i like jazz fusion, is this album any good? View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Prog Fans and Steely Dan
beterdedthnred4

Replies: 18
Views: 278

View Post View%20Post 		Prog Fans and Steely Dan
Posted: 14 June 2005 at 05:34
My CD collection is probably 90% prog music, but one of my favorite groups of all time are the jazz-pop masters Steely Dan.

They are perhaps the only group since the Beatles to so effortlessly buck convention from within convention.They were able to allow virtuosity and creativity in their songs which were consistently successful singles and top 10 albums. Plus, their lyrics are great. "When black friday comes, I'm gonna find myself a hole, and lay down in it till I satisfy my... View%20Post
Forum: Suggest new bands / artistsTopic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Steely Dan
The Minstrel

Replies: 3
Views: 91

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan
Posted: 09 June 2005 at 01:42
Is it just me or could Steely Dan easily fit in the Fusion category of prog rock? I think they have all the credentials to be prog andwith Aja being a true masterpiece, why not add them? View%20Post
Forum: Non-Prog MusicHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminPoll: Steely Dan
gdub411

Replies: 21
Views: 500

View Post View%20Post 		Steely Dan
Posted: 14 January 2005 at 04:54
just for Dallas Bryan. View%20Post
Forum: Suggest new bands / artistsHot%20Topic%20%5bno%20new%20posts%5d Message%20Icon Topic%20AdminTopic: Is Steely Dan a progressive rock band?
madgo2

Replies: 6
Views: 205

View Post View%20Post 		Is Steely Dan a progressive rock band?
Posted: 09 January 2005 at 03:26
Ok as for the jazz leanings of Steely Dan are they considered progressive rock? View%20Post
 
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Points: 32995 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 18 2007 at 11:34
Now that should keep us going for a while....
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