kickoff

The initial success of 'Can't buy a Thrill' and its hit singles would be a heavy burden for any band, but despite some press criticism, they continued in top form with 'Countdown to Ecstacy', the 'difficult' second album. This saw the appearance of Roger ' the immortal' Nichols in the control room, and he has been with them ever since. Next up was Pretzel Logic in 1974, including 'Rikki dont lose that number', an appeal to guitarist Rick Derringer to get back in touch. Katy Lied was next, followed by the Royal Scam in '76. At about this time they were becoming more and more demanding in the studio, and their legendary reputation amongst session players was building. Although daunting, a request by Fagen and Becker to play on their record was much sought after by session musos, and they attracted nothing but the best. Mark Knopfler, of Dire Straits fame, was asked to do a guitar solo on 'Gaucho', but was disappointed when his contribution was mixed so low in the final production that he could hardly hear it.
Gaucho came after the seminal 'Aja' and proved to be their final studio album for over 20 years. Although a masterpiece, Becker and Fagen did not enjoy making the record,, and added to legal and management problems at the time they went hundreds of thousands over budget in making the album. Several 'Best of' compilations and film work was released, but as a band, they did not look like reappearing after 'Gaucho'.

During their break from recording, Fagen returned to stay in New York City, with Becker becoming ensconsed in Hawaii.
Fagen went through therapy to try and cure his 'writer's block' and began to enjoy the vibrancy of the city again. He returned in 1982 with 'The Nightfly' yet another classic album. Semi-autobiographical, it was more or less a concept album, but was true genius.
Becker produced a lot of music from his studio, for artists as diverse as Rickie Lee Jones and China Crisis. Additionally he did a lot of work for Wyndham Hill, a jazz label. He also married and started a family.
His solo offering was 11 Tracks of Whack, a cool album which saw Fagen return to co-write some tracks. Fagen himself, having overcome his problems released Kamakiriad, his second solo offering. around about 92/93, the New York Rock and Soul Review began, with such members as Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald. Phoebe Snow and Fagens wife-to-be, Libby Titus. This saw them back on the road, starting an unstoppable rollercoaster that is still running today.

In 1996, Steely Dan announced that they would tour the world again. After the shambolic way in which their last tour ended in the seventies, most of us didn't dare to dream of such a thing, but indeed it happened, and boy, what a show they put on.
On completing the tour, the band wrote and recorded Two Against Nature, which saw a new Steely Dan album on the shelves for the first time in 20 years.
As witty and erudite as ever, Becker and Fagen, along with all of the other members of the band, past and present, continue to create great sounding music, sometimes impenetrable, but often funny lyrics, and great looking backing singers!

As Robert Burns would say; Lang may their Lum Reek
Translation; may they continue to go from strength to strength.