Favorite Counting Crows Songs
As a follow-up to my recent ranking of the studio albums from Steely Dan, here is a list of my current top 25 favorite Steely Dan songs. Overall, this is more difficult than ranking the albums, as there are so many good to great songs to consider and come up with an absolute favorites list. In addition, favorite songs tend to change more readily with time and circumstances, thus this list represents what I am thinking today, and would probably change if reconsidered next week, month, or year (although the very top are pretty solid and probably won't change much). Anyway, here is a list of my current top 25 favorite Steely Dan songs (with album indicated in parentheses-see key below). As with my album rankings, the songs list also is weighted more towards the earlier albums (as they are my favorites) and no songs from the later albums (post-Aja) made the top 25 (but still contain many very good songs). Although in previous lists, I have also included my 5 least favorite songs - ones that I really don't like, I couldn't do that with Steely Dan, as I couldn't really come up with any Steely Dan songs that I just don't like at all (the worst that can be said is that there are some that are a bit dull, but still usually enjoyable). Anyway, here are my favorites, which is just the tip of the iceberg, as their catalog is filled with great songs.
25. Reelin' in the Years (CBaT)
24. Rose Darling (KL)
23. Sign in Stranger (TRS)
22. Deacon Blues (A)
21. Do It Again (CBaT)
20. Home at Last (A)
19. Pearl of the Quarter (CtE)
18. Change of the Guard (CBaT)
17. With a Gun (PL)
16. Rikki Don't Lose That Number (PL)
15. FM (NA)
14. Aja (A)
13. The Caves of Altamira (TRS)
12. Razor Boy (CtE)
11. Night By Night (PL)
10. Your Gold Teeth (CtE)
9. Don't Take Me Alive (TRS)
8. Chain Lightning (KL)
7. Kid Charlemagne (RS)
6. Only A Fool Would Say That (CBaT)
5. Parker's Band (PL)
4. King of the World (CtE)
3. Any Major Dude (PL)
2. My Old School (CtE)
1. Bodhisattva (CtE)
(A) - Aja (1977)
(TRS) - The Royal Scam (1976)
(KL) - Katy Lied (1975)
(PL) - Pretzel Logic (1974)
(CtE) - Countdown to Ecsasy (1973)
(CBaT) - Can't Buy a Thrill (1972)
(NA) - Non-Album Track
So, what are your favorite (or not favorite) Steely Dan songs?
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Favorite Steely Dan Songs - Addendum to Steely Dan Album Ranking List
Sunday, November 21, 2021
BB's Album Rankings - Steely Dan
BB's Album Rankings
Steely Dan
It’s about time for another of my artist album rankings, and up this time is another of my favorite artists, Steely Dan, with their totally unique jazz-funk-soul-pop-rock style and sound as well as their usually cryptic, biting, ironic lyrics and tales of losers, creeps, and miscreants. Starting off with quirky, oddball jazz-tinged pop-rock songs that developed slowly over the years into more finely crafted pop-tinged jazz-funk grooves featuring impeccable production, arrangements, and musicianship. Steely Dan consists primarily of the songwriting-performing duo of Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards) and Walter Becker (bass, guitar) usually backed by various session and studio musicians. Although Steely Dan was first formed in 1971, Fagen and Becker had been working together as songwriters and performers in various bands since 1967, when they met at Bard College. The original lineup of Steely Dan (which started out as an actual rock band) consisted of guitarists Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter and Denny Dias, and drummer Jim Hodder joining Fagen and Becker. When they got their record contract (ABC Dunhill), the label wasn’t satisfied with Fagen as lead vocalist (and Fagen wasn’t that comfortable as a vocalist either), so David Palmer was added to share vocalist duties. Although their first (pre-album) single, ‘Dallas’ tanked, their first album, Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972), was a major success, scoring multiple hit singles, and establishing the band as major players in top 40 rock. That first album featured a more pop-rock sound than subsequent albums with more jazz influences, but served to introduce the band and their unique sound to the world. Their 2nd album, Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) was darker, more eclectic, less-pop-oriented, but allowed the band to stretch out, explore, and develop their style to a greater degree. By the third album, Pretzel Logic (1974), Fagen and Becker, who were not satisfied with the sound of their early albums, began exerting more control over all aspects of the recording process, and brought in guest artists and session musicians to meet their demanding expectations. By the 4th album, Katy Lied (1975), Steely Dan was no longer an actual band, but were Fagen and Becker and whatever session musicians they used for each song. Their sound also moved farther away from rock as more jazz and a softer, slower jazz-funk groove dominated. Aja (1977) completed this transition with a predominantly cool jazz-funk vibe throughout as well as stellar production and musicianship throughout. But the follow-up to that, Gaucho (1980) was a troubled much-delayed production, marred by recording session mishaps, Becker involved in a near-fatal car accident, and record company disputes, which prompted Fagen and Becker to call it quits following its completion. They both went on to do solo albums and shows for many years, until getting back together in 1993 to form a touring version of Steely Dan featuring a Big Band lineup (with horns, etc.). They continued touring without releasing any new material for several years, until in 2000, they released their first new album in 20 years, Two Against Nature (2000). This return was highly successful, garnering 3 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Another new album was released in 2003, Everything Must Go, which would be the last studio album for Steely Dan. However, their Big Band Dan touring act continued for several more years. Walter Becker died after a battle with esophageal cancer in September 2017. Donald Fagen continues to perform with a current version of the Steely Dan Big Band.
So, Steely Dan’s recording career consisted of 9 studio albums released between 1972 and 2003 (with a 20 year gap from 1980-2000). Here are my rankings and brief comments on each album. As always, these rankings are based solely my own personal preferences and opinions and not any other measures of popularity, critical acclaim, or commercial success. This is just how I rank them from my least favorite to most favorite. All of these rank as at least good, and many as great to exceptional. Really, you can’t go wrong with any Steely Dan album, but I have my definite preferences (as I’m sure you do as well).
9. Two Against Nature (2000)
Steely Dan made a big splash with this comeback album, their first in 20 years, and it was great to hear the unique songs and style of Steely Dan again (There is just no one else that sounds like Steely Dan). However, although the album successfully resurrects their style and warped vision once again, this is still their overall weakest collection of songs. Other than ‘Two Against Nature’ and ‘Cousin Dupree’, which stand out as the best (and most different) tracks, most of the rest of the album consists of the same slow jazz-funk groove, and relative to the rest of their catalog, are just somewhat lackluster and not very memorable. Still a decent album, but their weakest overall. Best songs-‘Two Against Nature’, ‘Cousin Dupree’, ‘Jack of Speed’. Weakest songs-‘Almost Gothic’, ‘Negative Girl’, ‘West of Hollywood’ (3ó)
8. Everything Must Go (2003)
Although this has some of the same issues as 2AN (some lackluster songs, same slow jazz groove), it has a warmer, more engaging feel throughout as well as overall better songs, which make it a much more enjoyable listen. The best songs here are better than anything from 2AN, and ‘Everything Must Go’ makes for a fine and fitting final song for the band. But these later albums just can’t quite live up to the earlier period albums. Best songs-‘Last Mall’, ‘Things I Miss the Most’, ‘Everything Must Go’, ‘Godwhacker’. Weakest songs-‘Green Book’, ‘Lunch with Gina’ (3ó).
7. Gaucho (1980)
Their troubled last album from the ‘classic’ period, unfortunately, has always left me cold. There are some fine tracks here as well as their usual great production and musicianship throughout. But this one stretches their softer, slower smooth jazz focus to the limit, resulting in a somewhat dull and sterile feel. Production and arrangements are a bit too perfect sounding. I prefer some of the discarded tracks from the ‘Lost Gaucho’ sessions to those that made it onto the final album. Still a quite good album, but relative to everything that came before this, a much weaker entry. Best songs-‘Babylon Sisters’, ‘Time Out of Mind’, ‘Hey Nineteen’. Weakest songs-‘My Rival’, ‘Glamour Profession’ (3.5ó)
6. Katy Lied (1975)
This was the first full album where Steely Dan was no longer an actual band and consisted entirely of Fagen-Becker, and guest artists and session players, and the result was a noticeably softer, more laidback sound and jazzier pop arrangements. But a wonderful collection of varied songs still made this a great (but less rockin’) album. Best songs-‘Chain Lightning’, ’Rose Darling’, ‘Any World Your Welcome To’, ‘Your Gold Teeth II’. Weakest songs-‘Everyone’s Gone to the Movies’, ‘Throw Back the Little Ones’. (4ó)
5. The Royal Scam (1976)
4. Aja (1977)
3. Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972).
Their wonderful debut album filled with great pop-rock songs made its mark on the top 40 and introduced their unique sound and style to the world. Contains their most straight-forward, accessible, and radio-friendly songs, showing great melodies and hooks, but also being uniquely Steely Dan. The different lead vocals (David Palmer and drummer Jim Hodder) on some songs is a bit unsettling relative to the more familiar Fagen vocals, but the songs are great. Best songs-‘Only a Fool Would Say That’, ‘Reelin’ in the Years’, ‘Do It Again’, ‘Change of the Guard’. Weakest song-‘Dirty Work’. (4.5ó )
2. Pretzel Logic (1974)
1. Countdown to Ecstasy (1973).
Ok, so it's clear that I prefer the earlier albums over the later more cool jazz-oriented albums, but I really do like them all. My top two are pretty much set in stone, but the order of the next three (Nos. 3,4,and 5) may change frequently based on what I am more in the mood for, but I consider the top 6 all great albums. Just a really unique band, nothing else quite like them. Fagen's solo albums are very good as well, particularly The Nightfly (1982) and Kamakiriad (1993). Walter Becker's solo album, 11 Tracks of Whack (1994), is also pretty good (but not as good as Fagen's solo works).
So what do you think of Steely Dan's album catalog? How would you rate and/or rank them? Lets hear from you.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Zippy No More
No more Zippy
Goodbye and good riddance to troublesome Zippyshare links
Whew! After months of working on it, I have finally managed to get rid of all the Zippyshare links here on the blog and replace them with links to other file sharing sites (Mega, solidfiles, mediafire). As those of you who download from here know, Zippyshare has deteriorated over the past few years from a fast, reliable download option to an annoying and tedious chore to download from, with numerous obnoxious ads, requiring multiple clicks and re-clicks in order to eventually get to the actual download. I had already been posting all new downloads to other services for more than the past year, but there were still literally hundreds of old links still on zippyshare. So, it has taken some time, but they are all gone now. And in the process of doing this, I have also re-upped many files that have had dead links for quite some time. So, if there were some older posts you had tried to download but had dead links, go and try them again, they should be working now. Plus, these new links do not do not readily expire (like zippyshare did after 30 days of no activity). So now, pretty much everything should have working links now, except for some old depositfile links that I have not gotten around to replacing yet (but I will try to get to these as well within the next couple months). However, I have really maxed out all my available filesharing storage space from multiple sites and multiple accounts, and may have trouble finding room for upcoming new stuff. So, if there are some of those older post downloads you've been meaning to try out, do so now while they are active, as I may need to deactivate some of the least popular posts to make room for more new and exciting stuff in the future.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that all the Zippyshare links have been replaced with new (better) ones with no (well at least dramatically fewer) downloading hassles, and that more of the old post download are now active again. Enjoy!
Sunday, November 14, 2021
The Pretenders - 2000-03-01 - Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2000-03-01
Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
FM Broadcast recording, very good quality
Bonus Tracks from 2000-02-14 San Francisco (FM)
Available in both lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions
Here's more from Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders, this one after several more years down the road. Picking up where the last show left off, following the 1987 tour, basically the entire band behind Chrissie left in 1988, leaving no Pretenders band throughout 1989 and 1990. For their next album, Chrissie then just hired session musicians to complete Packed! (1990), with Chrissie as the only official member. After that, Chrissie teamed up with guitarist Adam Seymour and began to put together a more permanent lineup while making their next album, which became Last of the Independents (1994). By the completion of that album, a new lineup of Chrissie, Adam Seymour, Andy Hobson (bass) and returning drummer Martin Chambers had emerged, and this lineup endured for over ten years, including playing on their next two albums, Viva El Amor! (1999) and Loose Screws (2002), and all intervening tours. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 with this lineup, but Chrissie made sure to acknowledge all of the musicians that had been a part of the band over the years. The band has continued in subsequent years, off and on, with different lineups, and is still active currently, with their most recent release being Hate For sale (2020). The show featured here is from the 2000 tour, and it is a great FM broadcast recording from the Toronto show. Unfortunately, as with many of the radio shows, it is only a portion of the concert (cut to fit in a 60 minute broadcast window), so I have added back in songs from their regular set that should have been played here from another show from that same tour (2000-2-14 - San Francisco, which is also an FM broadcast recording). Although this was a more complete recording of their show, the Toronto recording was better quality, so I used that for the bulk of the show, with the SF tracks added as a bonus. Enjoy this later version of Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders.
Tracklist
01. radio host intro-
02. Samurai
03. Legalise Me
04. -talk-
05. Message of Love
06. -talk-
07. Downtown (Akron)
08. -talk-
09. My City Was Gone
10. -talk-
11. Baby's Breath
12. -talk-
13. Thin Line Between Love & Hate
14. -talk-
15. Biker
Bonus Tracks (2000-2-14-San Francisco). Inserted where these songs normally occurred
16. Who's Who
17. Human
18. Kid
19. Back on the Chain Gang
20. Don't Get Me Wrong
21. Night in My Veins
22. -band intro-
23. Popstar
24. -drum solo-
25. Middle of the Road
Bonus Tracks (2000-2-14-San Francisco). Inserted where these songs normally occurred
26. Stop Your Sobbing
27. Rabo de Nube
28. Brass in Pocket
Musicians:
Chrissie Hynde - vocals, guitar, harmonica
Adam Seymour - guitar
Andy Hobson - bass
Martin Chambers - drums, harmony vocals
Zeb Jameson - keyboards, percussion, harmony vocals
FLAC - The Pretenders_2000-03-01_Toronto_FLAC.part1.rar
The Pretenders_2000-03-01_Toronto_FLAC.part2.rar
New Link (Updated 05/23/23)
Mp3 - The Pretenders_2000-03-01_Toronto_Mp3.rar
Monday, November 8, 2021
The Pretenders - 1987-03-24 - Pavilion UIC, Chicago, IL
1987-03-24
Pavillion UIC, Chicago, IL
FM Broadcast Recording, very good quality (Complete Concert)
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions
Plus Bonus Tracks from London - 1979
Here's another great classic rock band fronted by a dynamic female vocalist, Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders. Chrissie is the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, rhythm guitarist, and driving force behind the band (as well as the only member in all incarnations of the band). Hynde, who was originally from Akron, Ohio, moved to London in 1973, where she worked with various different short-lived bands through the mid-seventies. The Pretenders were formed in 1978 with Chrissie, Pete Farndon (bass), James Honeyman-Scott (guitar), and Martin Chambers (drums). Their first single in 1979, a cover of The Kinks 'Stop Your Sobbing' grabbed attention, followed by 'Kid' and 'Brass in Pocket', all released prior to their first album, with 'Brass in Pocket' reaching No.1 in the UK. Thus, their 1st album, The Pretenders (1979), featuring driving rock with melodic pop sensibilities, debuted at No.1 on the charts, and is often considered one of the best debut albums of all-time. Their 2nd album, Pretenders II (1981), continued their strong showing, with multiple hit singles and commercial and critical success. However, turmoil lay ahead, as in 1982 Farndon was fired (for out of control drug use, and later died) and guitarist Honeyman-Scott also died from drug-related causes. Thus, the band was devastated, but continued on with some temporary fill-ins (Rockpile guitarist Billy Bremner and Big Country bassist Tony Butler) for recording 'Back in the Chain Gang' as a single, before settling on a new lineup for the next album, which was Learning to Crawl (1984), another certified hit with multiple hit singles. Over the next several years, various musicians passed in and out of the band, with Chrissie the only constant (and semi-regular appearances from drummer Martin Campbell). The show presented here, from 1987, is from a fine German FM broadcast (NDR2) of a show from Chicago IL, as this was apparently the only broadcast that featured the full show in its entirety. This tour followed the 1986 album Get Close, which featured the hit singles 'Don't Get me Wrong' and 'My Baby', and the show features songs from throughout their catalog. Bonus Tracks from a 1979 BBC show in London are included at the end to round out the 2nd CD. So, here's Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders in prime form.
Tracklist:
CD1
01.Intro NDR 2
02.Room Full Of Mirrors
03.Message Of Love
04.The Adultress
05.Time The Avenger
06.Kid
07.Light Of The Moon
08.My Baby
09.Private Life
10.Hymn To Her
11.Chill Factor
12.Back On The Chain Gang
13.My City Was Gone
14.Up The Neck
CD 2
01.Bad Boys Get Spanked
02.Middle Of The Road
03.Precious
04.Don`t Get Me Wrong
05.Brass In Pocket
06.Mystery Achievement
07.The Wait
08.NDR 2 Outro
Bonus Tracks: 1979-01-02 - Paris Theatre, London (BBC)
09.The Wait
10.Stop Your Sobbing
11.Kid
12.Cuban Slide
13.Brass In Pocket
14.Tattoed Love Boys
15. Mystery Achievement
FLAC - The Pretenders_1987-03-24_Chicago_FLAC.part1.rar
The Pretenders_1987-03-24_Chicago_FLAC.part2.rar
Mp3 - The Pretenders_1987-03-24_Chicago_Mp3.rar
New Links (Updated 05/24/23)