Steely Dan at the Record Plant, LA 03-20-74

I’ve always thought Steely Dan was a pretty boss outfit with an amazing song catalog. So I’m only a little surprised at how smokin’ this in-studio performance from March 20, 1974 is. Before they set out on their legendary Spring/Summer ’74 tour in support of the Pretzel Logic album, Steely Dan stopped by at the Record Plant in LA to record this brief set. Bootlegs from numerous stops on the Pretzel Logic tour are very similar, but the Pre-FM sound quality here is exceptional.

The core of Steely Dan is keyboardist/songwriter Donald Fagan and guitarist/bassist/songwriter Walter Becker. For this tour they filled it out with two guitarists, Danny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder, percussionist/vocalist Royce Jones and keyboardist/vocalist Michael McDonald. It’s a hot lineup, and seems especially dialed-in for this performance. (Near the end you can hear someone in the band say “doin’ great guys, let’s keep it up.”)

The two-guitar sound didn’t originate with Steely Dan, but the 80s bands that really pushed it as a sound clearly are echoing the open interval duets and trade-off shredfests of Davis and Baxter. However, good things often don’t last long. This was the last touring lineup for the band for over 20 years. Basically, Fagan didn’t want to be a “greatest hits” band and he didn’t think the audience was up for the more intellectually challenging jazz-fusion tunes he wanted to play. File this lineup under good while it lasted.

To get the blood flowing, the band launches into a speedy and intricate Bodhisattva. Great guitar work and some tight drumming on this live standard. Next up is a great performance of the lesser known “Boston Rag.” A rousing performance, especially as the slow mid-section blues breakdown with great guitar distortion melds in to a final chorus urging “Bring back the Boston rag.” I wish somebody would. This song’s hot. The familiar “Do It Again” gets the speed treatment, but is still rock solid. Priceless hook obviously.

One of my favorite tracks here is “Any Major Dude will Tell You” from the Pretzel Logic album. The bittersweet delivery of Royce Jones is perfect for the lyrics, basically a cheer-up job that isn’t quite convincing. (Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you my friend/ any minor world that breaks apart falls together again). Great rhythmic contrast. This one always puts a smile on my face. King of the World features great synth work, I believe from McDonald, and awesome guitar crunch and wah-wah effects.

Some of the coolest stuff in the set comes next, with an excellent rendition of the tune “Pretzel Logic.” Great piano-driven jams and a neat McDonald vocal bust out in the “where did you get those shoes” chorus. The instrumental “My Gold Teeth (II)” Jam indicates somewhat the direction that Fagan thought the band was heading in. Interesting stuff. We close out with a solid rendition of the standard “Reelin’ in the Years” followed by “This All Too Mobile Home” with more great dueling guitar work.

Top to bottom, this set is phenomenal. I’d love to have a “My Old School,” but the track selection is solid, the performance is on point and enthusiastic, and the sound quality is superb. Enjoy!

Download Steely Dan Live at the Record Plant, LA 3-20-74

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Next Week: Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Band compilation