The legendary jazz-rock band Steely Dan showcases the songwriting of Walter Becker and Donald
Fagen. The duo met in college in 1967 and soon started playing music together. They started several
bands, including the Bad Rock Group with comedian Chevy Chase on drums. They also attempted to
become professional songwriters, but their efforts were unsuccessful despite one song being
recorded by Barbra Streisand.
They officially formed Steely Dan (a nod to William Burroughs Naked Lunch) in 1972 and released
a successful first album that produced two hit singles.
Though the band didn't perform live after
1974, Steely Dan continued to be popular and their albums were critically favored. After an
unsuccessful second LP, their success returned with their third album Pretzel Logic, which
contained the hit song Rikki Dont Lose That Number.
After Pretzel Logic the group decided to stop performing live and become a studio band. Their
sound became more jazz-influenced, and they hired a series of jazz musicians (including Wayne
Shorter) to record with them. The group had seven platinum albums issued between 1972 and 1980.
Becker and Fagan decided to split in 1981, and Fagen released a critically acclaimed solo debut
in 1982. Fagan didnt record again until 1993, when he released an album produced by Becker and
promoted by the first Steely Dan tour in 20 years. The concerts were popular with fans but,
unfortunately, the record was not.
In 2000 the duo released Two Against Nature, the first new Steely Dan album in 20 years. They
were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Theyre sharing the bill with Michael
McDonald for their Steelyard "Sugartooth" McDan and The Fab-Originees.com Tour this summer. The
tour will showcase some music from Fagans recently released solo effort, Morph the Cat, in
addition to music from Beckers upcoming release that comes out later this year.
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