Countdown to Ecstasy

Countdown to Ecstasy
Studio album by Steely Dan
Released	July, 1973
Recorded	Early 1973, Village Recorder, Santa Monica, CA, Caribou Ranch, Nederland, CO
Genre	Jazz rock
Length	41:04
Label	ABC
Producer	Gary Katz
Steely Dan chronology
Can't Buy a Thrill (1972) Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) Pretzel Logic (1974)

Countdown to Ecstasy is the second album by rock group Steely Dan, released in July 1973. The album was written and recorded in rushed sessions between live concerts and produced two Billboard Hot 100 hits^[1], "Show Biz Kids" and "My Old School", which have continued to be popular both on radio and in concert^{[citation needed]}.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Robert Christgau	(A)[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]

Countdown to Ecstasy was well regarded as a sophomore effort coming in higher by many reviewers than its high rated predecessor. "[T]he Steelies strike gold and really boogie" is how the reviewer put it in Rolling Stone^[5]

History

The album was originally released in two-channel stereo and also in a special four-channel quadrophonic mix. There are some significant musical differences between the two mixes.

A live version of the song "Bodhisattva" was used as the B-side for both "Hey Nineteen" and "Babylon Sisters", released as singles in the 1980s.

"Bodhisattva" is a playable track in the video game Rock Band 2, while "My Old School" is featured as downloadable content.

The cover art to the album originally included only the three pink figures seated up front, but because there were five musicians who played on the album (they are pictured on the back) the two ghostly figures to the left were added by the record company to "balance" it out.

Track listing

All songs written by Becker and Fagen.

Side one

1. "Bodhisattva" – 5:19
2. "Razor Boy" – 3:11
3. "The Boston Rag" – 5:40
4. "Your Gold Teeth" – 7:02

Side two

5. "Show Biz Kids" – 5:25
6. "My Old School" – 5:47
7. "Pearl of the Quarter" – 3:50
8. "King of the World" – 5:04

Personnel

Steely Dan

• Donald Fagen - piano, electric piano, synthesizer, vocals
• Walter Becker - electric bass, harmonica, vocals
• Ray Brown - string bass on "Razor Boy"
• Denny Dias - guitar, Stereo Mixmaster General
• Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - guitar, pedal steel guitar
• Ben Benay - acoustic guitar
• Rick Derringer - slide guitar on "Show Biz Kids"
• Jim Hodder - drums, percussion, vocals
• Victor Feldman - vibes, marimba, percussion
• Ernie Watts - saxophone
• Johnny Rotella - saxophone
• Lanny Morgan - saxophone
• Bill Perkins - saxophone
• Sherlie Matthews - background vocals
• Myrna Matthews - background vocals
• Patricia Hall - background vocals
• David Palmer - background vocals
• Royce Jones - background vocals
• James Rolleston - background vocals
• Michael Fennelly - background vocals
• Jake Richardson - cowbell

Covers

• American rock band Toto covered "Bodhisattva" on their 2002 Through the Looking Glass album.
• American swing band Brian Setzer Orchestra covered "Bodhisattva" in 2000 for the movie Me, Myself & Irene soundtrack.

Production

• Producer: Gary Katz
• Engineer: Roger Nichols
• Assistant engineer - Miss Natalie
• Album design: Dotty of Hollywood
• Photography: Ed Caraeff

Reissue

• Reissue Producers: Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
• Remastering engineer: Roger Nichols
• Reissue design: Red Herring Design, New York City
• Consultant: Daniel Levitin

Charts

Album^[6]

Year	Chart	Position
1973	Pop Albums	35

Pop Singles^[1]

Year	Single	Label & number	Position
1973	"My Old School" (B-side: "Pearl Of The Quarter)	ABC 11396	63
1973	"Show Biz Kids" (B-side: "Razor Boy")	ABC 11382	61

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Countdown to Ecstasy - Steely Dan > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles at Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2004.
2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Countdown to Ecstasy at Allmusic. Retrieved 24 October 2004.
3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Steely Dan > Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=steely+dan. Retrieved 5 March 2006. 
4. ^ Blashill, Pat (October 30, 2003). "The Rolling Stone Hall of Fame: The Greatest Albums Ever Made: Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy > Review". Rolling Stone (934): p. 96. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071112074036/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/steelydan/albums/album/90998/review/5940553/countdown_to_ecstasy. Retrieved 22 August 2007. 
5. ^ Logan, David (August 16, 1973). "Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy > Album Review". Rolling Stone (141). http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/countdown-to-ecstasy-19730816. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
6. ^ Countdown to Ecstasy - Steely Dan > Charts & Awards > Billboard Album at Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2004.

External links

• Complete lyrics