Tag Archive for: Pretzel Logic

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Steely Dan- Pretzel Logic- Donald Fagen, the late Walter Becker

The third Steely Dan album,"Pretzel Logic" in February 1974, has always served as a distinct demarcation line in the evolution of the eclectic band led by my guests, songwriting duo Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. "Pretzel Logic" by Steely Dan is significant because it contained the #4 Billboard hit, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", with the album Top Ten in sales as well. Rolling Stone magazine ranks "Pretzel Logic" at #386 on their Top 500 Albums of All Time.

Steely Dan- Pretzel Logic 1991

Though technically not appearing as Steely Dan on the 1991 return to the stage by Donald Fagen, the New York Rock'n'Soul Revue   did include former Steely Dan background singer Michael McDonald, who sings the bridge part along with Fagen on this note perfect live version of "Pretzel Logic", the title song to the third Steely Dan album.

Steely Dan- Countdown to Ecstasy 50th Anniversary- Donald Fagen, Walter Becker

So was Steely Dan's debut success in 1972 with "Can't Buy a Thrill", spinning off two Top 15 hits and impressive Top 20 sales, a blessing or a curse when it came time less than a year later to follow it up with "Countdown to Ecstasy"? My guests Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker were too smart to get trapped into a simple binary answer here In the Studio.
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Steely Dan- Aja- Donald Fagen, the late Walter Becker

Two purveyors of progressive pop, rock, and jazz in Steely Dan, singer/piano player Fagen and the late guitarist Walter Becker,  discuss  "Aja" with Redbeard In the Studio.
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Doobie Brothers- Minute by Minute- Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, John Hartman

Back when the Doobie Brothers' Minute by Minute album was released in December 1978, I wasn't aware of the following Hollywood maxim, but the band's Warner Bros. record label apparently was. A little-known showbiz PR secret to which no one in…