FEATURE:
The Great American Songbook
IN THIS PHOTO: Steely Dan pictured in 1972 (including Donald Fagen (back right) and Walter Becker (far right)/PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images/colorised and edited by Nostalgia Rock
Steely Dan
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THE next outing…
of The Great American Songbook will feature a modern-day icon. Someone who has set touring records and is considered one of the greatest artists ever. This series focuses on a great American act. I compile a twenty-song mixtape that takes in essential songs from throughout their career. This edition is about Steely Dan. A group I feature a lot, I will include other bands real soon enough. I want to come back to them as it provides another opportunity to highlight their distinct and unique music. With no real modern equivalent, there is something bittersweet about listening to Steely Dan. The lack of modern-day followers. However, it is nice that we have the original sort of untarnished by lesser groups trying to copy their sound. I will use this space to select what I think are the twenty Steely Dan songs you need to listen to. From their incredible 1972 debut album, Can’t Buy a Thrill to their final album, 2003’s Everything Must Go, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen – they are the core members and songwriters but performed with other musicians – have crafted a catalogue that is more interesting and character-rich as any in music. You may know this group and be familiar with their music or do not know them at all. I hope that this mixtape…
STIRS your soul.