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Total ratings: 1800
Length: 3:48
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I was halfway crucified
I was on the other side
Of no tomorrow
You walked in
And my life began again
Just when I'd spent the last piaster
I could borrow
All night long
We would sing that stupid song
And every word we sang
I knew was true
Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
Are you crazy are you high
Or just an ordinary guy
Have you done all you can do
Are you with me Doctor
Don't seem right
I've been strung out here all night
I've been waiting for the taste
You said you'd bring to me
Biscayne Bay
Where the Cuban gentlemen sleep all day
I went searching for the song
You used to sing to me
Katy lies
You could see it in her eyes
But imagine my surprise
When I saw you
Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
She is lovely yes she's sly
And you're an ordinary guy
Has she finally got to you
Can you hear me Doctor
But who is Dr. Wu?
i found this:
https://www.songfacts.com/fact...
i kind of like all the answers.
In the 70s I was swept up in the punk rock scene. It would have been social misery among my friends to like Steely Dan, so I didn’t! However, 30 years later, while supposedly working, we found an old piano and a friend sat down and played this song. It was a gateway moment for me to discover Steely Dan. Its good when you get the chance to correct the folly of youth!
Everyone in my 100% polyester-clad yacht club loves this song.
Then they have better taste in music than they do in clothing.
Different things hit us differently. I tear up every time I hear this tune, which is right after I spend the last piaster I can borrow.
The album is Katy Lied.
And this song asserts that "Katy lies / you can see it in her eyes."
Look at that album cover: it's a Katydid
and who should know better than you, Steely_D? Best wishes from London to Biscayne Bay! pxd
the soup starter
medium rare fillet steak with mash and veg
pint of lager
and please tell the lounge act to SHUT THE FUCK UP
Their best song from this album.
Is this their best album, or the other five they put out in the 1970s?
Just a phenomenal band.
RIP Walter B.
I think Aja is almost universally declared their best album.
I happen to agree.
This was the theme of their 2011 tour, a truly stunning live show. May they continue in perpetuity.
Hearing this makes me stop doing what I was doing just to listen
"Don't seem right
I've been strung out here all night
I've been waiting for the taste
You said you'd bring to me"
Definitely enjoy music here much more than the vocals
He may be subjected to no end of grief over this tune.
Like I say, to each his own...
Long live RP!!
My favorite SD song.
Great, crytpic lyrics. But also, very heart felt.
Great instrumentation, piano and sax.
You can sinag along to it.
Short song: like gossamer. It's gone quite quickly.
Different things hit us differently. I tear up every time I hear this tune, which is right after I spend the last piaster I can borrow.
The album is Katy Lied.
And this song asserts that "Katy lies / you can see it in her eyes."
Look at that album cover: it's a Katydid
I sold turntables (and other audio equipment) in a retail store back in the day and used to use the Dan to demonstrate just how good our high end turntables could sound. Your comment speaks volume about you.
You managed not to take your grandma's advice
+ One Time on King Crimson's Thrak album
+ Doctor Wu by Steely Dan on the Katy Lied album
FWIW, the wife adores Steely Dan and can listen to the music several days in a row.
Is it that your ears were made by Fisher Price?
a few "Godlike too........like this one "10" !
Jazz rock ambassadors to the universe.
ppopp wrote:
OMG OMG OMG - you better get your ears checked!!!! Easily one of the best of the best, la creme de la creme, superb bands of our time. Respectfully - of course.
Some people believe the world is interested in hearing them complain.
This, like most Steely Dan tunes, is truly outstanding music.
It's a shame that today's bands don't even attempt or even try this approach to R&R music.
You had me right until the last paragraph.
Becker and Fagan were meticulous in their approach to every song but it really stands out here.
Is this their best album, or the other five they put out in the 1970s?
Just a phenomenal band.
RIP Walter B.
Not sure whether it's SD's best album (although it is superb!), that would have to be AJa, but I do think that this is just an outstanding tune.
The production is different, but we have the Asian overtones, the jazzy quality, and the cool instrumental fade out just like Aja.
Agreed. Good call SD!
SD put out some of the best music EVER...
100% in agreement with what you said.
I think because it's short and sweet, but has all the elements of a great SD song, and all the elements are quite potent. Hook, hooks, and hooks.
100% in agreement with what you said.
Me too! I listen to Steely Dan and think its a snooze.
Absolutely!!!
Is this their best album, or the other five they put out in the 1970s?
Just a phenomenal band.
RIP Walter B.
Is this their best album, or the other five they put out in the 1970s?
Just a phenomenal band.
RIP Walter B.
And, yes, she's heard all the jokes.
It's a shame that today's bands don't even attempt or even try this approach to R&R music.
The album is Katy Lied.
And this song asserts that "Katy lies / you can see it in her eyes."
Look at that album cover: it's a Katydid.
I love it when someone puts so much thought into what they're doing.
(and check my location)
I had something similar happen about 20 years ago.. Leafing through the used vinyl in the local shop, and a song came on, and I went up and asked the clerk what the heck it was. He handed me Dummy by Portishead...
I was already a SD fan by then, but that started an obsession with Triphop, or it was called in the 90's.
Ahhh...record stores....I miss you so! Actually, I miss Silver Platters from the day, it was before you could just Youtube or Google whatever you wanted and presto there it was. And by the time I was buying only CDs (i.e. mid 90s) that store just felt like xmas morning....so many choices and only $xx to spend. Then after that I'd go to the 2nd hand record stores, where you get a customer experience somewhat like the following (from Barry, played by Jack Black, in the movie High Fidelity):
Customer: Hi, do you have the song "I Just Called To Say I Love You?" It's for my daughter's birthday. Barry: Yea we have it. Customer: Great great... Well, can I have it? Barry: No, you can't. Customer: Why not?! Barry: Because it's sentimental tacky crap that's why. Do we look like a store that sells "I Just Called to Say I Love You"? Go to the mall! Customer: What's your problem?! Barry: Do you even know your daughter? There's no way she likes that song! Oh oh oh wait! Is she in a coma? Customer: Oh, okay buddy. I didn't know it was Pick on the Middle-Aged Square Guy Day. My apologies. I'll be on my way. Barry: Buh-bye! Customer: F#$k you
Now that's a great story and one that I can relate to. And it also makes me think about how young kids today purchase and listen to their music. Pretty good chance that the encounter you describe is not to likely to have a chance to occur. Shame really.
I had something similar happen about 20 years ago.. Leafing through the used vinyl in the local shop, and a song came on, and I went up and asked the clerk what the heck it was. He handed me Dummy by Portishead...
I was already a SD fan by then, but that started an obsession with Triphop, or it was called in the 90's.
And maybe like Becker and Fagan, who see the world in a wonderful and strange way.
And maybe like the sax player (Tom Scott? David Sanborn?)
During the late 80's I was in a record shop (For younger listeners that's a place were vinyl was stored in alphabetical order and where old time people purchased their music) and this song came on. I asked the rather attractive cashier what it was and agreed on how good it sounded. She returned with the album and said to my horror it was Seely Dan! There was no way I was looking like a fool I was in font such a pretty girl so I bought it. While I never saw that girl again the encounter started a life long love of Sreely Dan.
Now that's a great story and one that I can relate to. And it also makes me think about how young kids today purchase and listen to their music. Pretty good chance that the encounter you describe is not to likely to have a chance to occur. Shame really.
The production is different, but we have the Asian overtones, the jazzy quality, and the cool instrumental fade out just like Aja.
Bought tix for the middle week of their upcoming LV residency. Very excited as you might guess.
During the late 80's I was in a record shop (For younger listeners that's a place were vinyl was stored in alphabetical order and where old time people purchased their music) and this song came on. I asked the rather attractive cashier what it was and agreed on how good it sounded. She returned with the album and said to my horror it was Seely Dan! There was no way I was looking like a fool I was in font such a pretty girl so I bought it. While I never saw that girl again the encounter started a life long love of Sreely Dan.
The album is Katy Lied.
And this song asserts that "Katy lies / you can see it in her eyes."
Look at that album cover: it's a Katydid.
I love it when someone puts so much thought into what they're doing.
(and check my location)
Hey man, you get it! Behold the wonders of Steely Dan! Every song...its this way.
Super Happy Up-coming B'Day treatment_bound : )
love Steely Dan (was Doctor Wu a Tony Randall movie? )
The Tony Randall movie was named "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao".
Did someone say a "ditty?" This is a tight little jazz tune wrapped in a pop-song's ABAB structure. Excellent musicianship and fabulous production- thanks also to Phil Woods, Victor Feldman, and Larry Carlton for that album. Kind weird audio quality on that LP compared to Aja for example which is pure hi-fi heaven!
Yeah, I was thinking about that. Today's late teens and the 20-30 crowd have for the most-part embraced the classic rock warhorses of yesteryear (Zep, Stones, Beatles, etc.).
But does Steely Dan get any love today by the retro hipsters?
P.S.-Happy belated #56, hayduke2! I'll be joing you there in 7 weeks.
Remember when we were young, and 56 seemed like "almost DEAD"! Where the hell did the time go?
When I was a kid, my dad, who was a master of weird New York City slang and curses in like 14 different languages, used the term "piastre" to mean, if I may be quite precise: "a coin of such little value it wasn't worth picking up from the street."
The album is Katy Lied.
And this song asserts that "Katy lies / you can see it in her eyes."
Look at that album cover: it's a Katydid.
I love it when someone puts so much thought into what they're doing.
(and check my location)
Yeah, I was thinking about that. Today's late teens and the 20-30 crowd have for the most-part embraced the classic rock warhorses of yesteryear (Zep, Stones, Beatles, etc.).
But does Steely Dan get any love today by the retro hipsters?
P.S.-Happy belated #56, hayduke2! I'll be joing you there in 7 weeks.
Remember when we were young, and 56 seemed like "almost DEAD"! Where the hell did the time go?
Super Happy Up-coming B'Day treatment_bound : )
love Steely Dan (was Doctor Wu a Tony Randall movie? )
... figure of speech, used as a synonym for dollar, because it is more lyrical. Maybe?
I graduated high school that year is this album permeated the airwaves. These guys are still as great now as they were 41 years later! Bravo!!
Great musicianship.
Nice hooks with both melodics and harmonics.
You can sing along, dance to it, drive to it, space out to it. Reminice to it. Look to the future.
I was just sitting here listening and thinking about how much I love Steely Dan.. Smooth, heartfelt, jazzy, cool, soothing.. so much awesome music by these guys.. Sorry it doesn't do that for you!
thanks bill I was jonesing for some dan and just when I was down to the last piaster I could borrow
where else indeed
it's fine. You don't have to like them. The world is full of different tastes.
Yeah, I was thinking about that. Today's late teens and the 20-30 crowd have for the most-part embraced the classic rock warhorses of yesteryear (Zep, Stones, Beatles, etc.).
But does Steely Dan get any love today by the retro hipsters?
P.S.-Happy belated #56, hayduke2! I'll be joing you there in 7 weeks.
Remember when we were young, and 56 seemed like "almost DEAD"! Where the hell did the time go?
Very nice melodics. The harmonics are better. The musicianship is the best.
And the strange and cryptic lyrics make you go...what the f@#$?
Combined, you listen to this song in Feb 2015 and it still sounds new...like it was 1975.
But who in the hell is Katy and the other person?
And I ain't even gonna ask about the good doctor.
.... Bill, what he meant to say was lot's more Steely Dan please.
A wicked lot more SD, is really what this guy meant.
DM
I rated it an 8
kooky, solid and endearingly lovable, cause you know it won't be filling your space for more than a few minutes
i found this:
https://www.songfacts.com/fact...
i kind of like all the answers.
What about "Fuckin Wu" from Deadwood?