The energy is maintained by the infectious “My Old School,” an up-tempo boogie with lyrics that tell the story of a drug bust back in Fagen and Becker’s college days. Lyrically, Fagen is at his cynical best, skewering the privilege of the Los Angeles entertainment elite. One of Steely Dan’s signature tunes, “Show Biz Kids” is given momentum by a heavy, repetitive groove that gives Dias, Baxter, and Rick Derringer ample opportunity to showcase their bluesy guitar licks. Over the course of the tour, Becker and producer Gary Katz persuaded Fagen to step into the spotlight and Palmer left the group.īuy the vinyl version of Steely Dan’s Countdown to Ecstasy now. The singer had joined during the recording of the debut, most notably taking lead vocals on “Dirty Work” and the plan was that he’d sing lead vocals live, as Donald Fagen had been reticent to take the mic. What’s more, things weren’t working out with vocalist David Palmer. The band had initially been a studio-based proposition and, when it came to playing the shows, they were under-rehearsed. The success of Can’t Buy A Thrill put pressure on Steely Dan to tour. The jazz and blues influences that Walter Becker and Donald Fagen initially bonded over are felt more keenly and the performances hit heavier and swing harder than before. While Steely Dan’s debut album, Can’t Buy A Thrill, was a huge hit and features some of their most beloved songs, their second album, Countdown To Ecstasy, was the point where the band really established an identity.
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