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Katy Lied by: Steely Dan

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Rating: - Katydid

Containing none of their most famous hits, 'Katy Lied' is nevertheless Steely Dan's most gorgeous collection of songs. There is perhaps less invention and more commercialism in the music, but this is deceptive, for the invention is in the writing. 'Bad Sneakers' features attention-grabbing twists in both music and lyrics, as does the lovely 'Doctor Wu', though, like many of the band's songs, its meaning is elusive. The opening image of suicide on the strident 'Black Friday,' by contrast, is stark. 'Everyone's Gone To The Movies' shows them in buoyant mood. One of the strokes they pull off here is the low-key sinister melody on vibes that lies beneath the jaunty main theme. 'Your Gold Teeth II' points the way toward their jazzier moments. Every track on here is a winner, right down to the emotional final track, 'Throw Back The Little Ones.'

Rating: - A Revelation

I bought Katy Lied over 25 years ago and was a bit disappointed. After Can't Buy a Thrill, Countdown and The Royal Scam I found it a bit dull and 'muddy'. It was the Steely Dan album I played least. It was only years later that I learned Becker and Fagen were so depressed about the sound of the album even they would never listen to it.

The remastered version is a revelation. It's like seeing an Old Master that's been restored after gathering centuries of dust and grime. The colours are suddenly vibrant and the scene full of life. The sun has been let in, making Katy Lied sound much more like the precursor of The Royal Scam.

Despite its roll call of drug dealers, gangsters, paedophiles, pimps and prostitutes, it represents some of the most beautiful music ever created, by one the most underrated partnerships in rock.

Rating: - Katy Lied

I've not been a Steely Dan fanatic for very long. And I regret the lack in my musical knowledge. It started with Can't Buy A Thril and Pretzel Logic, 2 superb albums. I've also heard their other 'important' album Countdown To Ecstacy, which is a fine album. But I discovered Katy Lied just yesterday. It eclipses all their other albums by a long way, trust me! Smooth, polished, and very very heartfelt. Doctor Wu has to be the standout track; a sax solo to die for. If you are a SD fan, and don't have this album, hurry and redress the balance! If you are not, this is the one which may turn you..........

Rating: - Album number 4....

This 1975 album from Steely Dan called "Katie Lied" re-issued in 1999, is a vast improvement on the previous released version of this album.
The version before this one was so lack lustre, it sounded cold and metallic and not very inviting to the ears, where as this version is warm and full of detail the job of re-mastering has been done under the supervision of Fagen and Becker.

This is the first "Steely Dan" that has nothing but great tracks on it, from the opening "Black Friday" to the closing track "Throw back the little Ones" there are no bad tracks here.
As with all previous releases from this band the opening song is catchy, the opening line says it all for me, "When Black Friday comes down, I'll stand down by the door, and catch the grey men when they, Dive from the fourteenth floor".

The cut "Bad Sneakers" follows and has a very haunting hook and chorus "And I'm going insane, and I'm laughing at the frozen rain, and I'm so alone, Honey when they gonna send me home", great stuff.

For me the next stand out track is "Doctor Wu" the alto saxophone solo by Phil Woods is just heart stopping it sounds so good in this song.
The next song in the running order is "Everyone's gone to the Movies" with a famous back-up singer in the form of Michael McDonald of Dobbie Brothers fame clearly heard in the chorus, "Everyone's gone to the Movies, now we're alone at last".

This album closes as it starts with a strong track which is called "Throw back the little ones" this is an excellent song finishes with the line, "And gently squeeze them" and with the sound of wonderful piano playing the album comes to an end in just barely 35 minutes this piece of audio master-work is over...

Rating: - my favourite

..often dismissed as the runt of the litter by those who salivate over Aja and call that Steely Dan's Sgt. Pepper, Katy Lied was the first Dan album i heard, and to this day it's my favourite for: Black Friday, Bad Sneakers, Everyone's Gone To The Movies, Your Gold Teeth II, and especially, especially, Chain Lightning, Any World I'm Welcome To and Throw Back the Little Ones (those three, I think, are just sublime). OK it lacks the sleekness and consistency of The Royal Scam, or the stone genius of Countdown To Ecstasy. It's just my favourite, that's all.

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