I really think they have to be in the conversation as one of the top / greatest bands in the pop/rock era not just the US but worldwide.This is a debate that goes back ages, and my head agrees but my heart doesn't. "Charlie Freak" and "Doctor Wu" are my two favo(u)rite SD songs, and both because they're haunting -- they have plenty of soul. But even the later studio stuff like Aja I still love. Even on a not-so-great record like Gaucho they'd craft some gems. In any iteration they're still geniuses, slick as they became as studio obsessives.
Some excellent comments, gents, I would just take issue that Gaucho is a "not so great album". If that was recorded by anyone else, they would be proud of it. If the late, great Christine McVie had it as her all time favourite album and Joni Mitchell also cites it in her top 5, that's good enough for me !I really think they have to be in the conversation as one of the top / greatest bands in the pop/rock era not just the US but worldwide.
BTW these are two amazing tracks if you like soul.
I haven’t a clue which is their best album. I’ve ranted the story before that I was criminally late to the SD fan club and bought their cd box set when it came out. They “crammed” all the albums onto four cds so I never paid much attention to which track was on which album. The whole thing is just bloody marvellous though.I really struggle with deciding. I think it might be Aja, but it might be Katy Lied, or it might be Can't Buy A Thrill, but I also like The Royal Scam a lot, AND Pretzel Logic AND Countdown to Ecstasy - and even the last three they did after Aja though not as well. Hell, throw The Nightfly in there, which is a Fagen solo record, but might as well be in the canon. The fact that I struggle to decide (and have for decades now) says a lot. What a great band.
There are many of us that don't actually think De La Soul, Kanye and Lord Tariq is the greatest of recommendations.Can't agree with that, but it's all about opinions of course ! Their lyrics were probably more subversive than any punk band and there is plenty of soul in the vocals, e.g. Deacon Blues, Third World Man for example.They are adored by many black soul funk and rap artists and were sampled by many, hncluding De La Soul, Kanye West and Lord Tariq to name just 3.
Fair enough — I probably should have said not AS great vs. not SO great.Some excellent comments, gents, I would just take issue that Gaucho is a "not so great album". If that was recorded by anyone else, they would be proud of it. If the late, great Christine McVie had it as her all time favourite album and Joni Mitchell also cites it in her top 5, that's good enough for me !