Pretzel Logic
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Albums:
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Pretzel Logic
- Artist: Steely Dan
- Rating:
- Release Date: 1974
- Total Time: 33:14
- Type: Lyrics are included with the album
- Genre: Rock
Review
Countdown to Ecstasy wasn't half the hit that Can't Buy a Thrill was, and Steely Dan responded by trimming the lengthy instrumental jams that were scattered across Countdown and concentrating on concise songs for Pretzel Logic. While the shorter songs usually indicate a tendency toward pop conventions, that's not the case with Pretzel Logic. Instead of relying on easy hooks, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen assembled their most complex and cynical set of songs to date. Dense with harmonics, countermelodies, and bop phrasing, Pretzel Logic is vibrant with unpredictable musical juxtapositions and snide, but very funny, wordplay. Listen to how the album's hit single, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," opens with a syncopated piano line that evolves into a graceful pop melody, or how the title track winds from a blues to a jazzy chorus -- Becker and Fagen's craft has become seamless while remaining idiosyncratic and thrillingly accessible. Since the songs are now paramount, it makes sense that Pretzel Logic is less of a band-oriented album than Countdown to Ecstasy, yet it is the richest album in their catalog, one where the backhanded Dylan tribute "Barrytown" can sit comfortably next to the gorgeous "Any Major Dude Will Tell You." Steely Dan made more accomplished albums than Pretzel Logic, but they never made a better one. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi| Prettysongs (2002 Album by Angela Shella) | |
| Pretzel Park (2003 Album by 4 Way Street) |
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Pretzel Logic
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Pretzel Logic
| Pretzel Logic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Studio album by Steely Dan | ||||
| Released | March 2, 1974 | |||
| Recorded |
October 1973-January 1974 at The Village Recorder, West Los Angeles and Cherokee Studios, Chatsworth, California |
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| Genre | Jazz rock | |||
| Length | 34:02 | |||
| Label | ABC | |||
| Producer | Gary Katz | |||
| Steely Dan chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [1] |
| Robert Christgau | A+[2] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[3] |
Pretzel Logic is the third studio album by the American jazz-rock band Steely Dan, originally released in 1974. The album's opening song, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", became the band's biggest hit, reaching #4 on the charts soon after the release of the album.[4] The album itself went gold, and then platinum, reaching #8 on the charts.[5] The album was also highly regarded critically, appearing near the top of several end-of-year polls including the number one slot on NME Album of the Year and the number two spot on the Village Voice end-of-year list compiled by Robert Christgau.[6] In 2003, it was placed at number 385 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[7]
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Contents
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Overview
Steely Dan was still considered a true “group” at the time this, their third album, was released; in addition to core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, guitarists Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Denny Dias and drummer Jim Hodder (as well as multi-instrumentalist Victor Feldman) had appeared on both previous Steely Dan releases along with a host of session aces; all five appeared on the inside cover of the album, though Hodder was replaced on drums by Jim Gordon and Jeff Porcaro for the recordings (Hodder did, however, contribute backing vocals to "Parker's Band").
The tour supporting this album would be the last time any version of Steely Dan appeared live until decades later, as Becker and Fagen's disillusionment with live performance during the tour would lead both to an end of such performances and a disbanding of the Steely Dan lineup. Much of this disillusionment was due to audiences' lack of reception of more complex material. This would lead Becker and Fagen to move to being a studio duo with varied backing on following albums, still under the name Steely Dan.
One of the tracks, "Parker's Band," was a tribute to legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker.
Initial versions of the Remastered CD issue contained an abridged version of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number". This has been corrected on subsequent pressings. The album was originally released in 2 channel Stereo and also in a special 4-channel Quadrophonic mix. There are some significant musical differences between the two mixes. This was the last of three Steely Dan albums to be issued in both 2 and 4 channel formats.
Track listing
All songs written by Becker and Fagen, except where noted
Original album version
- Side 1
- "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" – 4:30
- "Night by Night" – 3:36
- "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" – 3:05
- "Barrytown" – 3:17
- "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" (Duke Ellington, Bubber Miley) – 2:45
- Side 2
- "Parker's Band" – 2:36
- "Through with Buzz" – 1:30
- "Pretzel Logic" – 4:28
- "With a Gun" – 2:15
- "Charlie Freak" – 2:41
- "Monkey in Your Soul" – 2:31
Personnel
Steely Dan
- Donald Fagen - keyboards, saxophone, lead vocals
- Walter Becker - bass, guitar, background vocals
- Michael Omartian - keyboards
- David Paich - keyboards
- Timothy B. Schmit - bass, background vocals
- Wilton Felder - bass
- Chuck Rainey - bass
- Denny Dias - guitar
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - guitar
- Ben Benay - guitar
- Dean Parks - guitar, banjo
- Plas Johnson - saxophone
- Jerome Richardson - saxophone
- Ernie Watts - saxophone
- Lew McCreary - horn
- Ollie Mitchell - trumpet
- Jim Hodder -backing vocals
- Jim Gordon - drums
- Jeff Porcaro - drums
- Victor Feldman-percussion
Production
- Producer: Gary Katz
- Engineer: Roger Nichols
- Consultant: Daniel Levitin
- Orchestration: Jimmie Haskell
- Design: David Larkham
- Art direction: Ed Caraeff
- Photography: Ed Caraeff
- Cover photo: Raeanne Rubenstein
Charts
Album[5]
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Pop Albums | 8 |
Pop Singles[4]
| Year | Single | Label & number | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | "Pretzel Logic" (3:59 edit) (B-side: "Through With Buzz") | ABC 12033 | 57 |
| 1974 | "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" (B-side: "Any Major Dude Will Tell You") | ABC 11439 | 4 |
References
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Pretzel Logic at Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2004.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Steely Dan > Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=steely+dan. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
- ^ Scoppa, Bud (May 23, 1974). "Steely Dan Pretzel Logic > Album Review". Rolling Stone (161). Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pretzel-logic-19740523. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
- ^ a b Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles at Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2004.
- ^ a b Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums at Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2004.
- ^ "The 1974 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. January 20, 1975. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres74.php. Retrieved 6 January 2005.
- ^ Levy, Joe; Steven Van Zandt (2006) [2005]. "385 | Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan". Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (3rd ed.). London: Turnaround. ISBN 1-932958-61-4. OCLC 70672814. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/pretzel-logic-steely-dan-19691231. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
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Mentioned in
Steely Dan: In Concert
(2000 Music Film)
Countdown to Ecstasy/Pretzel Logic
(1984 Album by Steely Dan)
Katy Lied
(1975 Album by Steely Dan)
Steely Dan Greatest Hits
(1979 Album by Steely Dan)
A Decade of Steely Dan
(1985 Album by Steely Dan)
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