Product Description

Steely Dan holds the title as one of the most quietly subversive pop bands of the 20th century. They managed--on their first two albums and, especially, on PRETZEL LOGIC--to combine breezy, ear-pleasing accessibility with an immensely sophisticated sensibility that upended most pop conventions. On PRETZEL LOGIC that combination is perfected, even as band masterminds Donald Fagen and Walter Becker moved deeper into jazz-influenced territory. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", the album's lead off track, is a case in point. A sinuous slice of jazz-pop that merges piano balladry with a samba-esque groove, the song became a Top Ten hit.
Though Fagen and Becker write the material and handle vocals/keyboards and bass, respectively, their recording process increasingly involved a rotating cast of session musicians, honing their studio-cobbled sound to a flawless perfection. The bar is raised in terms of musicianship here, as evidenced by the sassy cover of Duke Ellington's "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo and the bop atheleticism of "Parker's Band", a tribute to Charlie Parker. Yet Steely Dan blend their colours ever more effectively here, writing shorter, sharper compositions packed with harmonies, instrumental interplay, witty wordplay, and satisfyinghooks. PRETZEL LOGIC ranks alongside AJA as one of the band's finest achievements.

Track Listing

1. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
2. Night By Night
3. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
4. Barrytown
5. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
6. Parker's Band
7. Through With Buzz
8. Pretzel Logic
9. With A Gun
10. Charlie Freak
11. Monkey In Your Soul

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2424 in Music
• Released on: 1999-06-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Running time: 33 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Pretzel Logic marked a transition for Steely Dan from a studio-bound rock band producing hits such as "Reeling in the Years" and "Do It Again" to a looser constellation of studio musicians under the direction of songwriters Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. That later version of Steely Dan would paint its masterpiece with Aja. Pretzel Logic is much more playful than that, and also jazzier than the albums that came before. The jazz intentions are made perfectly clear on "Parker's Band", a swinging tribute to bebop titan Charlie Parker, and a crafty cover of Duke Ellington's "East St. Louis Toodle-oo". The lyrics displayed their own twisted logic, presenting a tumble of images in search of a unifying principle that most often remained elusive. Steely Dan was that rare act that could work such purposeful obscurity to its advantage: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" was a top-five hit even though nobody had a clue as to what it was about. Or, perhaps, everybody had a clue, but nobody could agree. --John Milward

Customer Reviews

Logic defying
As ever, Steely Dan's 'Pretzel Logic' is a monument to tasteful musicianship and superb production. Its strength is its diversity, a journey through the lives of characters that may exist beneath the skyline on the cover. 'Night By Night' is funky, 'Parker's Band' swinging, 'East St Louis' old jazz, the title track blues, all sounds of the city. 'Any Major Dude' offers rare optimism and 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' a warning. These are highlights. Perhaps, for once, some of the material isn't up to their usual highest standards, notably 'Barrytown' and 'Through With Buzz,' but 'Pretzel Logic' is still worth hearing.

Annie Nightingale, where are you?
I can't hear East St Louis Toodle-oo without remembering the immortal Annie Nightingale Sunday afternoon show on Radio 1 in the mid-late 70s. Those of a certain age will recognise the track as Annie's closing theme tune, and a damn fine charismatic tune it is to this day. Not only that, but Annie got me into Steely Dan in a big way. She would often play Do It Again and Rikki Don't Lose That Number.

Consequently, I've had a cherished vinyl copy of Pretzel Logic since way back when, and still think to this day that each song is a minor gem, honed and crafted with the scrupulous attention to detail imparted by Messrs Fagen and Becker, but best appreciated as an ensemble - the whole is undoubtedly greater than the sum of the parts.

If I had to pick a weakest number, it would probably be the title track (Donald's Napoleon syndrome probably explains a lot!), but the finer characteristics of this album win out. Pretzl Logic, the album, leaves me with a smile on my face - nearly 30 years since its launch. Not a bad record (pun intended!)

A good disc, but one of their weaker offerings
As a long-time admirer of Steely Dan I would have to rate this as one of the band's weaker offerings. To someone who had never heard the band it wouldn't be the record I would try to convert them with. There are some undoubted classic tracks on the album, namely 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number', and the engaging 'Barrytown', but 'Parker's Band' however slick, is devoid of feeling, and I can't see the point of the Duke Ellington cover (much as I love the Duke).