If Steely Dan had a different vocalist

It’s funny to hear Steely Dan and avant-garde in the same sentence.

@baylinor @mgw  Why is that funny? Using the definition as “new, unusual, or experimental ideas” then I don’t see why they wouldn’t be considered avant-garde. Look at pretty much any chart of their songs (my band played a couple and they ain’t easy relatively speaking) and you quickly appreciate how complex, intricate, and unique their compositions are, and then combine that with them bringing in different musicians for specific parts/styles and I’d call that pretty avant-garde. When a player like Mark Knopfler is basically reduced to tears during an audition and then replaced that’s a pretty clear sign they do things differently. There’s a reason SD stands out over time as a very unique and highly respected entity not unlike Pink Floyd, The Doors, etc. and it’s not because they were common, derivative, or unoriginal. In fact I’d argue SD could be considered a poster child for the term avant-garde. Anyone who tries to lump them in with other run-of-the-mill “pop” bands has absolutely no idea what they’re talking about musically IMHO, and any major dude will tell you that only a fool would say that. 😉 😝. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Hello to all you Audiogonics,

This is my first post, but the Steely Dan reference got my nostalgia juices flowing.    By way of intro, I'm "old school" going back to the days of taking my tubes to Olson Electronics with my dad to use their tube testers and buy new tubes as needed.  But back to Steely Dan.  I was not that familiar with this band until one glorious day in 1979. I was shopping for speakers and was in the local Federated Electronics. A young salesman (Mark) approached me and asked if he could help. I appreciated his unassuming manner, and I told him what I was looking for.  He then guided me to the sound dampened listening room where there was a variety of speakers, Wharfedale, Cerwin Vega, Sansui, Klipsch, Altec Lansing, Pioneer, JBL, etc.   But what caught my eye was a pair of "unusual looking speakers.  Salesman (Mark was his name I still have the receipt) noticed me admiring them.  He asked me if I would like to hear them.  Those speakers were my first exposure to the phased array Dahlquist DQ 10s.  The demo vinyl that Mark selected was Steely Dan's iconic Aja album.  I was transported to audio nirvana by both the recording and the transparency of those speakers.  Bought the speakers on the spot with a sweet deal since these were floor models in perfect condition with full warranty.  I still have them even though I "retired" them a few years ago but brought them out of retirement recently.  I upgraded the electronics myself (electronics was my field when i served in the USAF) in the mirror imaged pair with a "Silver" kit from Regnar/Dahlquist in New York.  New low oxygen copper point to point wiring, top of the line European caps, gold plated binding posts, new HF pots and sent the woofers to them for reconning.  OMG they are still great speakers improved by a pair of DIY stands that I fabricated several years ago as Mark did not have the stands available when I purchased them.  So, that's my Steely Dan story albeit a somewhat lengthy one.  Thanks for reading.

@soix

I have a handful of their albums, so I am pretty familiar with them. Regardless of how they jazzed up the pop world, their music is still a mile away from what I call avant-garde. My choice of music back then was ultra progressive with bands like Can, Beefheart, Zappa, Magma, etc...In a weird way I can better relate to Jasonborne type of music than most on here. Cables and fuses, that's a different thing lol. I was never mainstream. Give me totally different and I'm good. To each his own. Glad to hear Steely Dan rocks your world. But I already knew that.

@audiowebe Thanks for the recommendation! I have been a shameless Steely Dan fanboy from their first album. I listened to a few Monkey House tracks and I will listen to their whole catalog. The tracks I listened to are recorded with a very warm sound.

In case you haven't heard them I can recommend another band that definitely has some Dan influence (Walter Becker produced this record). The band is China Crisis and the album is Flaunt the Imperfection. The production is impeccable and every song is memorable.

Audiowebe Ive been a Dan fan starting in 1974 when I bought one of my first albums Cant buy  A thrill . Wow Monkey House is in my head Thanks If your ever in Derby City reach out Ill pour you one!