“My Old School” is inspired by a drug bust involving Walter Becker and Donald Fagen at Bard College, “King of the World” explores a post-Nuclear holocaust United States, and “Show Biz Kids” satirizes contemporary Los Angeles lifestyles. It explores topics such as drug abuse, class envy, and West Coast excess. Jim Hodder’s drumming eschews rock music for pop and jazz grooves.īop-style jazz soloing is set in the context of a pop song on “Bodhisattva.”Ĭommenting on the album’s style and production, Tom Hull says it is “clean, almost slick,” with “no dissonance, no clutter,” reminiscent of 1940s bop and “the overproduced early 60s pop rock.”Ĭountdown to Ecstasy has lyrical themes similar to Can’t Buy A Thrill. “The Boston Rag” develops from a jazzy song to unrefined playing by the band, including a distorted guitar solo by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
“My Old School” features reverent horns and aggressive piano riffs and guitar solos. It comprises uptempo, four-to-five-minute rock songs, which, apart from the bluesy vamps of “Bodhisattva” and “Show Biz Kids,” are subtly textured and feature jazz-inspired interludes.Ĭountdown to Ecstasy was the only album written by Steely Dan for a live band. Like Steely Dan’s 1972 debut album Can’t Buy A Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy has a rock sound that exhibits a strong influence from jazz. Steely Dan created a sophisticated, distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio.īecker and Fagen, with producer Gary Katz, gradually changed Steely Dan from a performing band to a studio project, hiring session musicians to record their compositions.īut their popularity nevertheless grew throughout the ’70s as their albums became critical favorites and their singles became staples of Adult Oriented Radio and pop radio stations. Steely Dan’s second studio album, originally released in 1973 by ABC Records, was certified gold-selling by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 500,000 copies in the U.S.įounded by core members Walter Becker (bass) and Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards), Steely Dan’s popularity rose throughout the late 1970s on, and their seven albums throughout that period of time blended elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop. Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing Purest possible pressing and most visually stunning presentation and packaging!
Pressed at Quality Record Pressings using 200-gram Clarity Vinyl®
Mastered directly from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman Countdown To Ecstasy - Steely Dan’s gold-selling second studio album now on UHQR!ĭefinitive reissue Ultra High Quality Record, the pinnacle of high-quality vinyl!Ĥ5 RPM LP release limited to 15,000 numbered copies
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