Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy

Countdown To Ecstasy — Steely Dan's gold-selling second studio album reissue

Hybrid Stereo SACD release from Analogue Productions!

Mastered direct to DSD from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman

Plays in all CD and SACD players

Steely Dan's second studio album, originally released in 1973 by ABC Records, was certified gold-selling by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 500,000 copies in the U.S. 

Founded by core members Walter Becker (bass) and Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards), Steely Dan's popularity rose throughout the late 1970s on, and their seven albums throughout that period of time blended elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop. Steely Dan created a sophisticated, distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio. Becker and Fagen, with producer Gary Katz, gradually changed Steely Dan from a performing band to a studio project, hiring session musicians to record their compositions. The duo didn't perform live between 1974 and 1993. But their popularity nevertheless grew throughout the '70s as their albums became critical favorites and their singles became staples of Adult Oriented Radio and pop radio stations.

Like Steely Dan's 1972 debut album Can't Buy A Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy has a rock sound that exhibits a strong influence from jazz. It comprises uptempo, four-to-five-minute rock songs, which, apart from the bluesy vamps of "Bodhisattva" and "Show Biz Kids," are subtly textured and feature jazz-inspired interludes. Countdown to Ecstasy was the only album written by Steely Dan for a live band. "My Old School" features reverent horns and aggressive piano riffs and guitar solos. "The Boston Rag" develops from a jazzy song to unrefined playing by the band, including a distorted guitar solo by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. Jim Hodder's drumming eschews rock music for pop and jazz grooves. Bop-style jazz soloing is set in the context of a pop song on "Bodhisattva". Commenting on the album's style and production, Tom Hull says it is "clean, almost slick", with "no dissonance, no clutter," reminiscent of 1940s bop and "the overproduced early 60s pop rock."

Countdown to Ecstasy has lyrical themes similar to Can't Buy A Thrill. It explores topics such as drug abuse, class envy, and West Coast excess. "My Old School" is inspired by a drug bust involving Walter Becker and Donald Fagen at Bard College, "King of the World" explores a post-Nuclear holocaust United States, and "Show Biz Kids" satirizes contemporary Los Angeles lifestyles.

Rolling Stone described Countdown To Ecstasy as "another dose of mainstream rock and roll, restating the basic themes of Can't Buy A Thrill, but this time concentrating a bit more on the rocking side of their style."

The original cover painting was by Fagen's then-girlfriend Dorothy White. At the insistence of ABC Records president Jay Lasker, however, several figures had to be added when he found the discrepancy between five band members and three figures on the cover unacceptable. The proofs for the album cover were later stolen during a dispute over the final layout. The back cover features an orchid surrounded by the band and their recording equipment.

After a brief battle with esophageal cancer, Walter Becker died on September 3, 2017 at the age of 67. Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2001. VH1 ranked Steely Dan at No. 82 on their list of the 100 Greatest Musical Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone ranked them No. 15 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.

 

 

1. Bodhisattva

2. Razor Boy

3. The Boston Rag

4. Your Gold Teeth

5. Show Biz Kids

6. My Old School

7. Pearl Of The Quarter

8. King Of The World

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 3 person(s) rated this product.

My ears can't believe how good this sounds! posted on 02/11/2024 5 Stars Reviewer: Chris I love this album and I've listened to it over and over again on many different formats. I have an original ABC pressing, a CD from MCA in 1985, the 1999 Nichols remaster, and now this. I think this is the best I've ever heard this album sound. The instrument separation is incredible. You hear every minute detail, from the entire drum kit to a tambourine to the delicious sounding distortion on the guitars. If you like Steely Dan, you owe it yourself to get this remaster. Both the CD layer (Redbook) and the SACD layer sound incredible.

The definitive version! posted on 07/05/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: PGK These Analogue Productions Steely SACD reissues are really the definitive version of these classic albums. It’s like listening to the master tapes. A very accurate, true and honest transfer from the masters. Nothing needs to be added because The Dan did it right back in the day…. So sit back and enjoy these recordings in the best possible fidelity you are likely to ever hear at this point in what I consider to be the definitive audio format, SACD.

One of the best sounding SACDs I have posted on 06/24/2023 5 Stars Exceptional Product. I have an original vinyl 1st pressing ABC but wanted this digital edition mostly to rip to my phone. This red book edition was the best digital I have heard until I played the SACD. What separation and clarity of instruments! I loved the recent 1st album SACD and this might even be better sound quality which is as saying a lot. Definitely worth buying to have digital even for the red book edition only. I did not feel it necessary to spend $150 for the vinyl which might be out of your price range or you are OK with an original vinyl pressing. I am sure it is outrageously good though.

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