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Steely Dan holds the title as one of the most quietly subversive pop bands of the 20th century. They managed--on their first two albums and, especially, on PRETZEL LOGIC--to combine breezy, ear-pleasing accessibility with an immensely sophisticated sensibility that upended most pop conventions. On PRETZEL LOGIC that combination is perfected, even as band masterminds Donald Fagen and Walter Becker moved deeper into jazz-influenced territory. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," the album's lead off track, is a case in point. A sinuous slice of jazz-pop that merges piano balladry with a samba-esque groove, the song became a Top Ten hit.
Though Fagen and Becker write the material and handle vocals/keyboards and bass, respectively, their recording process increasingly involved a rotating cast of session musicians, honing their studio-cobbled sound to a flawless perfection. The bar is raised in terms of musicianship here, as evidenced by the sassy cover of Duke Ellington's "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo and the bop atheleticism of "Parker's Band," a tribute to Charlie Parker. Yet Steely Dan blend their colors ever more effectively here, writing shorter, sharper compositions packed with harmonies, instrumental interplay, witty wordplay, and satisfying hooks. PRETZEL LOGIC ranks alongside AJA as one of the band's finest achievements.
Liner Note Authors: Donald Fagen; Walter Becker.
Recording information: The Village recorder, West Los Angeles, CA; Village Recorder, West Los Angeles, CA; West Recorder, West L.A., CA.
Photographer: Ed Caraeff.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Dean Parks; Victor Feldman; Michael Omartian; Chuck Rainey; Jim Gordon ; Jeff Porcaro; David Paich; Ernie Watts; Tubby Bruce; Tubby Burce; Jerome Richardson; Plas Johnson ; Wilton Felder; Ollie Mitchell; Ben Benay; Lew McCreary.
Steely Dan: Denny Dias (guitar); Walter Becker (bass instrument); Donald Fagen, Jeff Baxter.
Personnel: Walter Becker (vocals, guitar); Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards); Timothy B. Schmit (vocals); Dean Parks, Denny Diaz, Jeff Baxter, Ben Benay (guitar); Ernie Watts, Jerome Richardson, Plas Johnson (saxophone); Ollie Mitchell (trumpet); Lew McCreary (horns); Victor Feldman (keyboards, percussion); David Paich, Michael Omartian (keyboards); Jeff Porcaro, Jim Gordon , Jim Hodder (drums).
Additional personnel: Victor Feldman, Timothy B. Schmit (marimba); Chuck Rainey (bass instrument); Dean Parks, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Gordon , Michael Omartian.
Re-Issue
Uncut (3/00, p.88) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...PRETZEL LOGIC retains its reputation as the group's most melodic work..."
The best Steely Dan album? I'm willing to put money on that, if I can find a taker.
For fans of the Dan, this album is essential. You could pass up "Katy Lied" or even "The Royal Scam" (though you shouldn't) as long as you picked up "Pretzel Logic."
It has it all: pop numbers like "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Barrytown"; the retro "East St. Louis Toodle-oo" and "Parker's Band"; experimental cuts like "Charlie Freak"; and finally, the usual Dan social commentary (circa early 70s) in "Through With Buzz" and "Monkey In Your Soul."
Steely Dan has always had a reputation for excellent arrangements. This album really shows the breadth of their accomplishments in arranging.
Any major dude will tell you, "Buy it."
Submitted by a reviewer (St. Louis, MO) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The Best of the Low Lifes Over 30 yrs. later, it's really remarkable how some things get better with time. The songs, the lyrics, the stories, the musicianship, the diversity, the pop artistry- jazz, rock, soul, and country! After all of these years, I still come back to 'The Dan': tales of rouges, losers, cheap women, and crime, all with an air of poetic justice. "Ya just gotta luv da Dan!" Submitted by St.Dvy. (Windham, Me.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Jazz Influence Shines Through. Steely Dan's jazzier roots really came to the forefront with "Pretzel Logic." Following two excellent albums with extended soloing and a few lengthy pieces, the band (or should I say "concept"?) released a palatable set of compact songs (all the tracks clocked in under 5 minutes). The jazz influence is strongly evident in the flopanda introduction to "Rikki Don't Lose that Number", the cover of Duke Ellington's "East St Louis Toodle-oo", and, of course, the tip of the hat to Charlie Parker with "Parker's Band". The instrumentation is top-notch especially the guitar solo on "Rikki" and the piano lines on "Charlie Freak" and the acoustic tracks such as "With A Gun" and "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and Donald Fagen finally cuts loose with his alto sax on "East St. Louis". The Dan's entire catalogue being great, I single "Pretzel" out as perhaps their all-time finest. Submitted by Will-T (Lawrenceburg IN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A weaker one, but still cool I am a serious Dan fan, but I want to temper the positive reviews here a little.
This album I feel is one of the Dan's weaker albums. There are too many songs, and there is not as much coherency as other Steely dan albums. The juxtaposition of jazz homage ("East St. Toodle Do etc) and pure rock("Night by night" etc) does not feel quite right, and some songs are downright bad ("through with buzz"). Still there are some real gems, and songs like "Monkey in your soul" and "Any major dude will tell you" make up for the weaknesses elsewhere.
Overall still a very cool album, but not one of the Dan's better efforts. Submitted by boris_boy (Brisbane, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Smooth rock n roll Steely Dan is one of the best bands in the business. With a little bit of a jazz feel in every song, their songs are smooth and the musicianship melts together perfectly. The first 3 tracks are the best, but each one is good, if not great. You need to have this one in your collection, along with "Can't Buy a Thrill". You will not be disappointed. Submitted by kim (GC Illinois) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The best Steely Dan album?
Jazz Influence Shines Through.
A weaker one, but still cool
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