Steely Dan: The Music of Walter Becker & Donald Fagen

One of the biggest names in the musical landscape of the 1970s, Steely Dan released a string of albums that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in a recording studio. With albums like 'The Royal Scam' and 'Aja', the songs of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen drew from their love of jazz, their ability to write memorable pop hooks and their penchant for subversive humour to produce a catalogue of unparalleled brilliance. With worldwide album sales in excess of 40 million copies, the durability of their songs has made Becker and Fagen one of the most celebrated writing partnerships in popular music.

This book gives an overview of Steely Dan's career while investigating every track recorded across the nine Steely Dan studio albums, plus Becker and Fagen's six solo albums. There is also a discussion of the official live albums and joint collaborations, the duo's early, largely unreleased, recordings and other tracks recorded under the Steely Dan name, making this a comprehensive guide for both fans of the band's work or newcomers to the fascinating world of Steely Dan.

About the Author

A music fan for as long as he can remember, Jez Rowden worked in record shops for many years, absorbing music of all kinds. He enjoys many genres and has been involved in writing album and concert reviews, mostly within the progressive rock field, for nearly 15 years. He also acted as editor for the 'Dutch Progressive Rock Pages' (DPRP) website and, more latterly, 'The Progressive Aspect' (TPA) which he helped found in 2013. The music of Steely Dan fascinated him from first hearing, the appeal growing stronger as the years go by. An avid gig goer, he is hampered by living in Swansea.