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Riding high on the success of their debut CAN'T BUY A THRILL, Steely Dan put together what was, on the surface, their most commercial and straightforward album. "Bodhisattva," for example, which opens the album, works a driving, jump-blues groove that seems at odds with the band's laid-back, jazz inclinations. The heavy, bluesy stomp of "The Boston Rag" and the slinky, edgy boogie of "Show Biz Kids" may make it seem as though Steely Dan was vying for favor with their more roots-oriented pop-rock contemporaries.
Nothing could be further from the truth, however. COUNTDOWN TO ECSTACY is more ambitious, complex, and layered than its predecessor, with a heavier dose of jazz fusion, more subtle and textured arrangements, and an even higher level of studio craftsmanship. Both "Razor Boy" and "Your Gold Teeth" demonstrate flashes of Latin flavor-- marimba-driven bop in the former, and salsa-cum-lounge jazz in the latter. The presence of session musicians--drummer Jim Hodder and guitarists Jeff Baxter and Denny Diaz--fleshes out Donald Fagen and Walter Becker's superb songwriting and playing, making for an excellent and overlooked addition to the band's catalogue.
Audio Mixer: Denny Dias.
Audio Remasterer: Roger Nichols .
Liner Note Authors: Donald Fagen; Walter Becker.
Recording information: Caribou Ranch, Nederland, CO; Village Recorder, Santa Monica, CA; Village Recorders, Santa Monica, CA.
Photographer: Ed Caraeff.
Unknown Contributor Role: Denny Dias.
Arranger: Jimmie Haskell.
Steely Dan: Jeff Baxter (pedal steel guitar); Walter Becker (bass instrument); Jim Hodder (background vocals); Donald Fagen, Denny Dias.
Personnel: Walter Becker (vocals, guitar, harmonica, bass guitar); Donald Fagen (vocals, piano, electric piano, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion); David Palmer (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); Jim Hodder (vocals, drums, percussion); Sherlie Matthews, Patricia Hall, Royce Jones, Michael Fennelly, James Rolleston, Myrna Matthews (vocals, background vocals); Ben Benay (guitar, acoustic guitar); Rick Derringer (guitar, slide guitar); Jeff Baxter (guitar, steel guitar); Denny Diaz, Denny Dias (guitar); Ernie Watts, John Rotella, Lanny Morgan, Bill Perkins (saxophone); Victor Feldman (keyboards, vibraphone, marimba, percussion); Sherlie Mathews, Pam Hall (background vocals).
Additional personnel: Ray Brown (12-string bass); Victor Feldman, Ernie Watts, John Rotella, Lanny Morgan, Rick Derringer, Bill Perkins, Ben Benay.
Remastered
Rolling Stone (4/11/02, p.106) - Ranked #13 in Rolling Stone's "50 Coolest Records". Rolling Stone (8/16/73, p.54) - "...[their] ability to play four-to-five minute rock songs in a jaunty, up-tempo fashion without becoming redundant or superfluous...may well make Steely Dan the American dance-band alternative to Slade..."
Musical Maturation It was apparent from their initial effort (Can't Buy A Thrill") that Becker, Fagen, & Co. were going to be a prominent force on the pop music scene. The Dan's second effort proved to be even more ambitious than their first and showed how much a band could mature in just one year. Tracks on the album run the gammut seamlessly from the raucous "Bodhisattva" to the mellow and somewhat sentimental "Pearl of the Quarter". Other noteworthy pieces include the psuedo-proto-rap "Show Biz Kids", "My Old School" which has become a perennial favorite of alumni everywhere, and the wonderfully cool "Your Gold Teeth". Despite having one less member (David Palmer departs after the first album), Steely Dan does not lose a step - indeed they move forward. The hallmark expert musicianship of The Dan has already begun to take shape as the works are more complex but never perplexing - just give a listen to the depth of the solo guitars on "My Old School" or "Show Biz Kids". It was clear in 1973 that Steely Dan was going to pave the way for modern rock and set the standard for their own progression and for the progression of rock in general. Submitted by beer (Waltham, MA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Ecstasy Achieved Though not as commercially successful as their debut album, "Countdown To Ecstasy" is considered the album that initially hooked many a hardcore Dan fan. It's easy to see why...the group came into its slow and painful maturation process as Donald Fagen now handled all the lead vocals (following David Palmer's departure) and the eight tracks were all bona-fide classics. The lyrics, of course, are enigmatic and impenetrable, but that was always part of Steely Dan's charm (it took me a while to learn who Cathy Berberian really was). The music flows pleasantly from jazz-pop, sizzling guitar rock to blues and a nice tinge of country (on "Pearl of the Quarter"). A certified must for every record collection; any man left on the Rio Grande should own it. Submitted by Will-T (Lawrenceburg IN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
How Good Well I ordered this album from the columbia record club.How long ago was that?This past weekend I was at the New Orleans jazzfest.Saw Walter & Donald up close.Great young drummer.Means Something.Know what I mean. Submitted by davidgambinocars (u.s.a.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The first fully-fledged 'Dan' album This album represents the beginning in my view of Becker and Fagen's real musical project. After Can't Buy a Thrill, the uniquely quirky, complex musicality that they really wished to explore was brought to the fore. There are no Eagles/Doobie Brothers-sounding musical interludes here. The real Dan sound and attitude have arrived with this one! A must have for any serious Dan fan, and any self-respecting rock album collector. Submitted by boris_boy (Brisbane, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Caution! Wear your T-shirts! My favorite SD album. Got hooked on Razor Boy,drawn in by Pearl of the Quarter, and gutted by Show Biz Kids and one of my favorite Steely Dan songs-King of the (Freakin) World. Mesmerized by Boston Rag--a musical masterpiece. And this was in the late 70's! I have STP to keep me shocked these days. These boys must have went to Julliard of something. And if you hear from my Louise,tell her I'm doin' fine. Submitted by Rmmstl (St. Louis, MO) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Musical Maturation
Ecstasy Achieved
The first fully-fledged 'Dan' album
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