Arcane Links And Videos

Doctor Wu-Katy Lied 

Lodged in the middle of the album that came out in the middle of the decade in the middle of Steely Dan’s seven-album run, is one of their very best songs. A weary and funny, specific and mysterious ode to longing and loss. “Dr. Wu” gave the album its title (“Katie lies/You can see it in her eyes”) and crystalizes its essential mood. One moment it’s about drugs, the next it’s about a love triangle, and then you’re not sure what’s next or even what’s real, and weaving through it all is the saxophone solo from Phil Woods, a giant from the jazz world.  From here on out SD would feature the best soloists in the industry.  Here is a transcription of the Doctor Wu Alto Sax Solo.

——> Pdf of Doctor Wu Sax solo.

Kid Charlemange -The Royal Scam

A big hit for SD with some of the most complicated voicings in Rock and Roll. Larry Carlton still plays his guitar solo when he performs during his live show. The Rick Beatos video will fry your brain with the details associated with the structure of this tune.  

Peg from Aja

Russ Harris created a great video of the making of Peg.  He does a great job of getting at  what the experience in the studio was like during the sessions. 

And if you can’t get enough Peg the guitar solo is epic in the patheon of guitar solos. Jay Graydon was the 7th soloist Steely Dan used to record the solo.  He won the day and his solo landed on the single.  Here he is talking about how it worked.

Deacon Blues-Aja

Evan Puschak aka Nerdwriter takes us into the obsession that has embodied Steely Dan listeners.  He helps explain what it is that makes a Steely Dan tune so unique.  He breaks down Deacon Blues into its elements including the “Mu Chord” the design of the music bed (all below midrange) and the lyrics.  He also makes the case for audiofiles using Steely Dan recordings for checking the sonic range of stereo systems.

It is…… Obsessive.

SD Background Vocals 

Notoriously intricate and complicated, due to the benefits of studio layering, Becker and Fagen loved to pile up the vocal parts.  Later in their career they would create dozens of mixdowns of their songs with various background arrangements.  

Michael Mcdonald is known for singing all the background vocals on Peg from the Aja album.  His unique timbre brings a tasty blend to the harmonies and consolidates this signature sound. 

Babylon Sisters from Gaucho was mixed 176 times as the boys searched for the perfect vocal combination. 

For Vocalists

Donald Fagan started out as an English Major in College.  His lyrics are full of symbolism and intricate pronunciation making any lead vocalists work a great deal-more involved than most rock and roll simple rhymes.  On top of that SD has harmonies that demand talented background vocalists often singing half steps apart. Hold your ground and stay in tune! 

To sing  on a Steely Dan song is uniquely challenging. The lyrics are complicated. Donald Fagen started out as an English Major is College. His lyrics are full of symbolism and intricate pronunciation making any lead vocalists work a great deal-more involved than most rock and roll simple rhymes.  On top of that SD has harmonies that demand really talented background vocalists often singing a half step apart.  Its all about holding your ground and singing in tune!  Singing these parts demands real control. Michael McDonald is known for singing all the background vocals on Peg from the Aja album.  His unique timbre brings a tasty blend to the harmonies and consolidates Pegs signature sound.  

This clip isolates his backgrounds on the song.  Pick a line and try to sing along.

Also included here are some examples of our breakdown of some of the vocal harmonies.  Complete with coffee stains!

Pdf of Kid Charlemagne lyrics

For Drummers

Steve Gaad recorded the Aja drum part in 20 minutes.  One of the greatest drum solos in pop music.  Rick Beato again is a great tour guide through this session.

Bernard Purdie also memorialized the Purdie Shuffle on Steely Dan songs.  Walter and Donald loved this feel.  Here is a video about just how it works.

For guitar players only

Learn how to play the intro to Josie! Then Get your Mu chords on.  Major 7 sus 2 vs Major 9 chords.  Steely Dan loves these chords. Put the 3rd in the bass!  Descending chords by half steps.  Voicings are everything!  This video helps you understand the difference and how SD uses these changes differently than everybody else.

For Horn players

Tom Scott arranged the horn parts on the Asia and Gaucho albums.  He more recently has created a podcast.  Here is a great interview with Donald Fagan that gives some great history as well as the story of Tom creating the charts for Deacon Blues, Home at last and Peg.   

Steely Dan Lyrics

(We included the lyrics just in case you thought you knew them)

—-> Download

Other Lyrics:

Peg - Lyrics

Home at Last - Lyrics

Don’t take me alive - Lyrics

My Old School - Lyrics

Third World man - Lyrics

Night by Night - Lyrics

Josie Lyrics - Lyrics

Kid Charlemange - Lyrics

Doctor Wu Lyrics - Lyrics

Caves of Altimara - Lyrics

Pretzel Logic - Lyrics

Deacon Blues - Lyrics

FM - Lyrics

Hey Nineteen - Lyrics

Any Major Dude -  Lyrics