You love Steely Dan and you know it. Between the bubbling guitar riffs of Larry Carlton (shot in the neck, so you don't have to be) and the mashed potato backing vocals of Michael McDonald (should have been shot in the neck) you can't get enough. "Hey Nineteen?" Brilliant. "Aja"? Wonderful. "Reeling in the Years"? Tired of it.
But, if you're like me, you never know what the hell Donald Fagan is babbling about. He pronounces the words just fine, but he can't seem to sing about things I actually know about. Bleeker Street? Never been there. Squonks? No clue. Muswellbrook? Totally off the charts. Steely Dan? Well, I read Naked Lunch. You'd think Walter Becker would at least explain Fagan.
Still, Steely Dan, despite the fact that their fine studio craft has been usurped by crappy classic rock stations, produced some fine music. I just don't know what it's about.
Fear not little ones! All you need is The Steely Dan Dictionary. It explains it all AND is a valid source for your term paper on the East St. Louis Toodle-oo.
And despite the fact that I never know what Fagan is singing about, I still love The Nightfly.
That's right. I like Steely Dan. So sue me. I like Neil Young and The Banana Splits too
Woah! Groovy, thanks!
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