STEELY DAN — Katy Lied (review)

STEELY DAN — Katy Lied album cover Album · 1975 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Matt
With a bizzare mention of the recording equipment used on the session on the back cover of Katy Lied, rumour was the two main men of the band were not happy with the finished product. I was and still am today. This may not be the best album from the band but neither is this a poor effort as this album contains the songs "Black Friday", "Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More","Doctor Wu","Chain Lightning" and "Bad Sneakers". Not a bad list and there are even some more worth a mention but as the backing band had basically fractured with the departure of all the members bar Denny Dias. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were needing more musicians,. Victor Feldman returns on vibes, Jeff Porcaro who was a session musician on Pretzel Logic gets the main role on drums this time around, Rick Derringer makes an appearance and Phil Woods does a lovely little sax solo,.The list of musicians is almost endless as it was for the previous album Pretzel Logic but even through all these issues the quality remains. Released in 1975 on the ABC record label and "Black Friday" is the tune that leads us in with its gradual build up in volume at the intro and we are off with one great rock tune with Australian flavour all over it and of course is one of my favourites from the record ( Black Friday was a Huge Bush Fire Disaster in 1939 which unfotunately has been long eclipsed by others )." Bad Sneakers" follows on and one great Denny Dias guitar solo is part of the tunes best moment.."Rose Darling" is number three and quite a nice pop/rock combo. "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City" is one great funk tune which is the 4th track but the following song "Doctor Wu" with Phil Woods providing the sax is a high point for the record which unfortunately does not seem to carry on with side two but although there is not a bad one the last two tracks from side 2 do not seem to do it."Chain Lighting" would be the best with your "Gold Teeth II "

A transitional album perhaps but only in band but the two core members were still writing all the material and following their own path into contempary music history. A great record from a great time.

Jeff Skunk Baxter and Mike McDonald did not land on the scrap heap they joined The Doobie Brothers and sold many a record with them.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Down Where The Bluebonnets Grow Classic (1920s) Jazz
THE JOYMAKERS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Through the Wave of Blue Jazz Related Improv/Composition
PHILIP CLEMO
Buy this album from MMA partners
For the Love Makers Vocal Jazz
HANNAH GILL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Spooky Jazz Vol. 2 Vocal Jazz
HANNAH GILL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Música Imaginaria 21st Century Modern
BALDO MARTINEZ
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Let's Move
ALEPH QUINTET
js· 8 hours ago
Música Imaginaria
BALDO MARTINEZ
snobb· 9 hours ago
Puttin' On The Ritz
THE NEW WONDERS
js· 22 hours ago
Wet Weather Wet
THE WRONG OBJECT
js· 1 day ago
Michael Kiwanuka - Lowdown (parts i and ii)
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed