Album Information:
Album ID: 9737
About Steely Dan:
Steely Dan is an American rock band that was formed in 1972 by two college classmates - Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. The duo met in New York in the late 1960s while attending Bard College, and they started playing together in various bands. In 1971, they formed Steely Dan with the goal of creating a unique sound that combined rock, jazz, and R&B.
Steely Dan's music is characterized by complex jazz-influenced harmonies, intricate arrangements, and cryptic lyrics. The band's name comes from a dildo in William S. Burroughs' novel 'Naked Lunch'. Initially, Steely Dan was a studio band that relied heavily on session musicians to create their sound. Many of these musicians became regular collaborators and eventually became official members of the band.
Steely Dan released their debut album, 'Can't Buy a Thrill,' in 1972. The album achieved critical and commercial success, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard 200 and spawning the hit singles 'Do It Again' and 'Reelin' In the Years.' The band's follow-up album, 'Countdown to Ecstasy,' was released in 1973 and featured the hit single 'My Old School.'
Over the next few years, Steely Dan continued to release successful albums, including 'Pretzel Logic' (1974), 'Katy Lied' (1975), and 'The Royal Scam' (1976). These albums sold well and generated several hit singles, including 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and 'Kid Charlemagne.'
In 1977, Steely Dan released their most popular and successful album, 'Aja.' The album featured several hit singles, including 'Deacon Blues' and 'Peg,' and won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
After the release of 'Aja,' Steely Dan took a hiatus from touring and recording. Becker and Fagen pursued solo projects, but they reunited in 1980 to release 'Gaucho,' which included the hit single 'Hey Nineteen.'
In the mid-1980s, Becker and Fagen disbanded Steely Dan to focus on their respective solo careers. They reunited in 1993 for a tour and released two more albums - 'Two Against Nature' (2000) and 'Everything Must Go' (2003). Both albums were critically acclaimed and won multiple Grammy Awards.
Walter Becker passed away in 2017, but Donald Fagen has continued to perform under the name Steely Dan. Today, the band is considered one of the most innovative and influential rock bands of the 1970s, with a body of work that blends rock, jazz, and R&B in a unique and timeless way.
About the album Alive In America:
Alive in America is a live album by the American jazz rock band Steely Dan, released in 1995. The album was recorded during the band's 1993-1994 Alive in America Tour and features live versions of some of their most popular hits from the 1970s and 1980s, as well as several lesser-known tracks.
The album opens with the classic Steely Dan hit 'Babylon Sisters,' characterized by its sleek jazz piano chords, funky bass lines, and Donald Fagen's smooth vocals. Following this is 'Green Earrings,' a song driven by complex drum rhythms and intricate guitar solos. 'Bodhisattva' then takes the lead, featuring its notable guitar hook and wild, energetic structure.
Other highlights from the album include 'Josie,' a funky tune with a catchy chorus and distinctive guitar solo, and 'Reelin' in the Years,' a song that has endured as one of Steely Dan's most beloved hits, known for its soaring vocals and soaring guitar lines.
Throughout the album, Steely Dan demonstrates their exceptional musicianship, with impressive solos from various instrumentals and intricately orchestrated arrangements. The band's live sound is polished and dynamic, with a balance between jazzy keyboard fills and bluesy guitar work.
In conclusion, Alive in America captures the essence of Steely Dan's live sound in the '90s. The album showcases the band's musicianship, intricate arrangements, and vocal prowess, cementing their place as one of the most accomplished and respected bands in the history of rock music.
Members:
Steely Dan is an American rock band that was formed in 1972 by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band has gone through several line-up changes over the years, but the core members and main songwriters were always Fagen and Becker. Here are the biographies of the key members of Steely Dan:
1. Donald Fagen: Donald Fagen was born on January 10, 1948, in Passaic, New Jersey. He attended Bard College in New York where he met Walter Becker. Fagen is a singer, keyboardist, and songwriter who is the lead vocalist on most of Steely Dan's songs. He has released several solo albums as well, including 'The Nightfly' in 1982.
2. Walter Becker: Walter Becker was born on February 20, 1950, in Queens, New York. He met Donald Fagen at Bard College and they formed a songwriting partnership that lasted for several decades. Becker played guitar and bass for Steely Dan and was known for his intricate guitar solos. He passed away in 2017.
3. Jeff Baxter: Jeff Baxter was born on December 13, 1948, in Washington, DC. He is a guitarist who played with the Doobie Brothers before joining Steely Dan. Baxter's guitar playing was a crucial part of the band's sound and he co-wrote several songs with Fagen and Becker.
4. Denny Dias: Denny Dias was born on May 18, 1946, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was a founding member of Steely Dan and played guitar on some of the band's most famous songs, including 'Reelin' in the Years' and 'Do It Again.' Dias left the band in 1974 to pursue other interests.
5. Jim Hodder: Jim Hodder was born on April 17, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the drummer for Steely Dan's first three albums and also sang backing vocals. Hodder left the band in 1973 to pursue a solo career and passed away in 1990.
6. Michael McDonald: Michael McDonald was born on February 12, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a guest vocalist for several Steely Dan songs, including 'Peg' and 'Bad Sneakers.' McDonald went on to have a successful solo career and also sang with the Doobie Brothers.
7. David Palmer: David Palmer was born on May 24, 1941, in Buffalo, New York. He was a guest vocalist for Steely Dan's first two albums and sang lead on several of the band's hits, including 'Dirty Work' and 'Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me).' Palmer later left the music industry to pursue a career in film production.
Track List for Alive In America:
I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I do not have access to the specific information you are requesting for. However, I can provide you with a general guide on how to locate the track listings and descriptions of an album:
1. The album Alive In America by Steely Dan was released in 1995 and contains 11 tracks.
2. You can search for the track listing and descriptions of the album by visiting the official website of Steely Dan or by checking credible music websites such as Billboard or AllMusic.
3. Once you have accessed the track listing, the order in which the tracks appear on the album are as follows:
- Babylon Sisters
- Green Earrings
- Bodhisattva
- Reelin' In The Years
- Josie
- Book Of Liars
- Peg
- Third World Man
- Kid Charlemagne
- Sign In Stranger
- Aja
4. Each track on the album has its own unique playtime and description. These descriptions can be found on the same websites as the track listing.
I hope this general guide helps you in your search for the track listings and descriptions of Alive In America by Steely Dan.
Discography for Steely Dan:
Here is a complete discography for Steely Dan in chronological order:
Albums:
1. 'Can't Buy a Thrill' (1972)
2. 'Countdown to Ecstasy' (1973)
3. 'Pretzel Logic' (1974)
4. 'Katy Lied' (1975)
5. 'The Royal Scam' (1976)
6. 'Aja' (1977)
7. 'Gaucho' (1980)
8. 'Two Against Nature' (2000)
9. 'Everything Must Go' (2003)
Singles:
1. 'Do It Again' (1972)
2. 'Reelin' in the Years' (1972)
3. 'Show Biz Kids' (1973)
4. 'My Old School' (1973)
5. 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' (1974)
6. 'Black Friday' (1975)
7. 'Bad Sneakers' (1975)
8. 'Kid Charlemagne' (1976)
9. 'The Fez' (1977)
10. 'Josie' (1978)
11. 'Hey Nineteen' (1980)
12. 'Time Out of Mind' (1981)
Other releases:
1. 'Dallas' (Rarities, Bootlegs & Other Delights) (1991)
2. 'Steely Dan (Greatest Hits)' (1978)
3. 'Gold' (The Very Best of Steely Dan) (1991)
4. 'Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story, 1972-1980' (2000)
*Note: This discography includes releases up until 2021.