Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Found some great live performances from Steely Dan, one of the all time great bands. They've reunited for tours a few times over the last decade or so and they still sound great. Fagen and Becker are songwriting geniuses (frankly, I think considerably better than Lennon and McCartney - that'll get some outraged comments, I bet) and their songs are little masterpieces of tight harmonies and irresistible hooks.
Here's Cousin Dupree:
Here's a great version of Kid Charlemagne. Was there ever a more unlikely lead singer than Donald Fagen?
Here's FM:
Babylon Sisters:
Peg:
Janie Runaway and Hey Nineteen:
Comments
I love Steely Dan. Their music isn't easy to play, either. Probably one of the most unappreciated bands in the last 30 years.
Of course, I also like listening to Captain Beefheart, so what do I know?
Posted by: Bourgeois_Rage | October 20, 2007 10:33 AM
I am outraged!
Actually, I'm not, because I think the Beatles' super-stardom was more of a function of the time at which they arrived than it was of their talent. There's other stuff from the period during and immediately after the British Invasion that holds up better today.
Which is why you hear The Who and the Stones on the radio a lot more often than you hear the Beatles.
Posted by: Scott | October 20, 2007 11:54 AM
I agree in general, but I still think "swear and kick and beg us/find you're back in Vegas" has got to be the lamest rhyme in all of rock and roll.
Posted by: anon1234 | October 20, 2007 11:59 AM
Oh, I don't know. I think the all time lamest rock lyric is "Only time will tell if we stand the test of time."
Posted by: Ed Brayton | October 20, 2007 1:17 PM
You know, I can hear that line (Ed's) in my head, but I can't place the song.
Speaking of crap lyrics, although I love their music, ZZ Top has to take the cake for the worst compilation of lyrical offenses over the life of a band.
Posted by: Scott | October 20, 2007 2:05 PM
The song is "Why can't this be love" by Van Halen
Posted by: Ed Brayton | October 20, 2007 2:22 PM
Ok, so you like Steely Dan. (Yes, they are really good even though their songs all sound the same.)
But better song writers than The Beatles?
Say twelve Hail Mary's, take two aspirin, and call us in the morning.
Better than The Beatles, indeed. ;D
Posted by: Gingerbaker | October 20, 2007 2:34 PM
Youtube is an absolutely amazing resource for those of us who love/play music. I can get lost for hours in there. :)
Speaking of "their songs are little masterpieces of tight harmonies and irresistible hooks" - I just got reacquainted with an album I virtually wore out in high school (1970) but haven't heard since - the eponymous Poco. Wow they are good!
(Even though all their songs sound the same ;D ;D )
Posted by: Gingerbaker | October 20, 2007 2:43 PM
Mr Brayton - again, on a rainy South Florida aftrnoon, you made my day. May you come to your senses and give up the comedy and science and law - and embrace your true calling: VJ ED!
(note: I see a traditional grip drummer. I think you do this on purpose now.)
Posted by: CheezeBoy | October 20, 2007 3:12 PM
Also - speaking of Van Halen
http://warmowski.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/jump-in-pitch/
Posted by: CheezeBoy | October 20, 2007 3:14 PM
God, you couldn't pay me to see this new Van Halen tour. I love the band, been a fan since the first moment I heard Eruption blaring from my brother's record player when I was 10 years old, which is exactly why I would just cringe seeing them now with David Lee Roth "singing." Steven Hawking has a wider vocal range than David Lee Roth at this point. I would sit there feeling embarrassed for him having to mug and make faces to cover up the fact that he can't come anywhere near the notes he used to be able to hit. It would just be painful, like watching Sinatra at 75, having to read the lyrics from a teleprompter. Just stop, please.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | October 20, 2007 3:59 PM
I don't think there should be any penalties for saying "_______ were better songwriters than Lennon & McCartney". Sure, The Beatles did some great songs, but all too often their more stupid songs are given a pass. For instance, the line, "Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy" in "Rocky Raccoon". After that line, it logically follows that there should be a verse explaining why Rocky Raccoon is attracted to women with Multiple Personality Disorder, but we're left hanging.
Pete Townsend will readily admit - and if John Lennon was still alive, he'd probably do the same - Ray Davies was the best of the British Invasion songwriters.
For me, Steely Dan wasn't the same after Jeff Baxter left the band...
Posted by: Mister DNA | October 20, 2007 4:08 PM
Quote: "Steven Hawking has a wider vocal range than David Lee Roth at this point."
I just fell out of my chair.
Posted by: Scott | October 20, 2007 4:17 PM
I agree with you but meaning to Donald Fagen: he is one of the best musicians in the story of modern music, like Gershwin, Jobim, etc. The others are better known in all the world (here in Spain, Steely Dan are not well known), but mainstream music is not the point talking about quality.
Posted by: Jam | October 20, 2007 4:46 PM
It's like 2001: A Space Odyssey, man. Y'know, how you had to see the movie and read the book to get it. The other information about Rocky Raccoon is explained by Firesign Theatre in The Further Adventures of Nick Danger.
Back in college radio, I once played a song from Aja and referred to it as "the last Steely Dan album". Someone reminded me about Gaucho, so I had to amend that to "the last Steely Dan album worth remembering". I'm just saying.
As for the Beatles' success, yeah there's a lot of factors that come into it, ranging from their incredibly catchy onstage personas to the brilliance of George Martin recognizing the talent in Geoff Emerick to replace Norman Smith as engineer. Um, yeah, I'm reading Emerick's book, how could you tell? Great book, by the way.
Posted by: Johnny Vector | October 20, 2007 5:15 PM
Steely Dan,
Yes, I have to agree, When the flip of the coin came up between what band to listen too back in 72 between Frank Zappas "Just Another Band From L.A or Steely Dans "Can't Buy A Thrill" I knew my nose was on the Money when the coin stopped with Steely Dan. They surely do not get the recognition they are due for there contribution to the Music Industry over the last 40 + years.
"Did I tell you I am a Dan Fan?
BIG O
Sydney, Australia
Posted by: BIG O | October 21, 2007 5:32 PM
Oh, man - my first Dan album was on 8-track! Amazing how well the music holds up, these guys are just flat-out fantastic.
Now you know how to bring commenters out of the woodwork - just compare Beatles to someone else. But I must say Steely Dan's lyrics are smart and literate, and have meant a lot to me over the years. As has their industrial-polish musicianship. (Yeah, I've got almost everything on vinyl and CD, but I lost a couple decades ago)
Posted by: decrepitoldfool | October 21, 2007 9:47 PM
Ed,
Not to forget Little Feat and the late Lowell George. Beatles were great together but Lennon Mccartney turned pretty mediocre pnce they split. Wonder if they had a gnome writing their stuff when they were together. As for their lyrics, I'd like to start with Chuck Berry. And when I am done analysing Chuck, and if I have the time after I delve into Townshend, I will take up Lennon/McCartney.
Posted by: rimpal | October 22, 2007 8:24 PM
And Ed, how could you forget "Fire in the Hole" from "Can't Buy a Thrill"
Posted by: rimpal | October 22, 2007 8:26 PM
...you hear The Who and the Stones on the radio a lot more often than you hear the Beatles.
i'd say that's because the Classic Rock format has calcified around bands who were 'heavier' than the Beatles. the Beatles were generally more of a pop band than a Rock™ band.
but, of course the music holds up, and you can hear Beatles every hour, on any Oldies station out there. i still find all-Beatles Sunday-AM shows, from time to time, too.
Posted by: cleek | October 25, 2007 3:02 PM
Can the person who formed Wings be a genius? Lennon's post-Beatle work is .... good? Becker and Fagen = Mozart and Beethovan. Ed, you are right on target!
Posted by: mezz | November 7, 2008 9:37 PM