Steely Dan Newsletter | Issue 55
Why did Steely Dan name their song 'Barrytown'?
Movie dancing set to Steely Dan
Andrew Sullivan posted this video on his column this week as a “mental health break”. It comprises old movie clips of great dancing, all set to Steely Dan’s “Only a fool would say that.”
The first clip of Astaire and Rita Hayworth is one of my favorites. And I hope you recognize Cagney in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Finally, one of the greatest movie performances of dance was the Nicholas Brothers, shown young and old.
Why did Steely Dan name their song 'Barrytown'?
Die hard Steely Dan fans have made a few references that might give us an idea as to why the band named a song after a 100 person hamlet. Barrytown once hosted a seminary of the Unification Church, founded by South Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon who was later accused of starting a cult.
Five Deep Cuts Underscore the Overlooked Brilliance of Steely Dan’s ‘Katy Lied’
Released in March 1975, the often-overlooked Katy Lied marked the first album after the breakup of Steely Dan’s original lineup. From now on, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker would choose from among music’s most talented and sought-after sessions players. As the following five deep cuts show, Katy Lied was better for it.
Steely Dan's "Gaucho" Is a Masterpiece About Being Past Your Prime
What do you look for in a song? I’ve spent years asking myself this. Am I a lyrics guy? Is it the actual music, like the piano or guitar or whatever instrument is leading the pack? Does it have to be one or the other? Can it be a case-by-case scenario? If so, out of the countless hours I’ve spent in my lifetime with the headphones on or a record playing nearby, has one musician or group brought me more happiness overall?
The one band Steely Dan thought nobody could match
Whether they said it themselves remains a mystery, but plenty of others have said it for them; when Steely Dan emerged in the 1970s, they effortlessly began pedalling a brand of ‘smart rock’.
Complete List Of Steely Dan Songs From A to Z
Steely Dan emerged from the creative partnership of Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker, who met at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1967. Their mutual appreciation for jazz, rock, and complex lyricism laid the foundation for a collaboration that would redefine 1970s rock music.
💬 The excellent Expanding Dan newsletter
The shared delusions of Fever Dreams
Catching up with the creator of the Web 1.0 Steely Dan lyric interpretations site.
📷 The awesome Barney Hurley X account
Barney Hurley is no longer with us, but his X account will forever be loved and truly essential for fans of Steely Dan (and so many other related, legendary artists).
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan at the Savoy Hotel, London, UK on their 1976 European promotional tour
Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen of The Dukes of September take the stage at the 10th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, 2010
💿 Steely Dan: Every Song Ranked
There’s no story anywhere in music like Steely Dan.
Have a GREAT day! 😎