Countdown to Ecstasy

***Countdown to Ecstasy*** is the second studio album by the band Steely Dan, released in July 1973 by ABC Records. It was recorded in early 1973, and didn't have much of a tour. The band appearedon many TV broadcasts to support the record however. The album didn't generate a hit single, so it was not as popular as 1972's *Can't Buy a Thrill*.

## Background

After vocalist David Palmer left the group in early 1973, keyboardist Donald Fagen became the automatic lead vocalist. Unlike the rock-influenced sound of the first one, *Countdown to Ecstasy* features more of a jazz-inspired sound that Fagen and bassist / songwriter Walter Becker enjoyed more. Instead of 3 to 4 minute pop-rock songs with energetic music and lyrics, *Countdown to Ecstasy* features 4 to 6 minute rock tunes with more jazz influences sprinkled in, like more advanced chords and instrumental jams in the middle or end of songs like "Bodhisattva" and the acclaimed "Your Gold Teeth". At this time in the early 1970s, jazz fusion was becoming more popular with artists like Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.

The songs "Bodhisattva" and "My Old School" come from the *Can't Buy a Thrill* days, and while more fleshed out than they would have been on *Can't Buy a Thrill*, they definitely have a more pop influenced sound, and were performed in concerts from 1972. It is one of the favorites by fans, but at the time, it was not very popular for the jazz sound, inspiring a more simple rock and blues sound on their next record *Pretzel Logic*.

## Musical and Lyrical Themes

This is commonly believed to be the first in a trilogy of Steely Dan albums with *Pretzel Logic* and *Katy Lied* that are connected lyrically. Rob Sheffield said that Fagen and Becker's lyrics on the album depicted America as "one big Las Vegas... with gangsters and gurus hustling for souls to take." Like other Steely Dan songs, most of the lyrics on the album are sung by "armchair intellectuals" and "gentlemen losers" and the lyrics themselves are cynical and depraved.

While not like songs on *Katy Lied* where the songs are sung by or about people like prostitutes, pedophiles, and heroin addicts, the lyrics on this album seem like they are coming from real depressed cynics, like in "Pearl of the Quarter" or "Razor Boy", downtempo, melancholic songs. "Pearl of the Quarter" may have melancholic lyrics, but the music in that song is a gentle country-esque instrumental with jazz chord progressions. The final song, "King of the World", describes an Earth destroyed by nuclear warfare, where 99% of humanity is decimated. The most polarizing song, "Show Biz Kids", talks about people in show business and how selfish and snobby they really are. Though a large amount of songs nowadays are about this, this was unique in 1973. "Your Gold Teeth" talks about a jaded grifter who uses her attractiveness to get ahead.

## Packaging and marketing

As stated before, the album didn't get much of a tour, it still got a tour. The Countdown to Ecstasy Tour was mostly made up of opening sets and TV appearances. The title is a joke about rationalizing spirituality. The cover art was painted by Fagen's girlfriend at the time, Dorothy White. The cover art for this album has become somewhat of a meme, with 3 figures on the album art having silly faces. It was disputed due to 5 people being in the band and 3 figures on the cover. However, before decisions could be made, the proofs were stolen.

The album wasn't marketed as heavily as *Can't Buy a Thrill*, so it did not generate a hit single and was not certified gold until 1978. However, it reached 35 on the Billboard charts, and remained there for 34 weeks. The song "My Old School" became a minor hit for the band, as well as "Show Biz Kids".

## Track listing

1. "Bodhisattva" **– 5:18**
2. "Razor Boy" **– 3:10**
3. "The Boston Rag" **– 5:40**
4. "Your Gold Teeth" **– 6:58**
5. "Show Biz Kids" **– 5:24**
6. "My Old School" **– 5:45**
7. "Pearl of the Quarter" **– 3:50**
8. "King of the World" **– 5:00**

## Personnel

**Steely Dan**

* Donald Fagen – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer
* Walter Becker – bass, harmonica, backing vocals
* Denny Dias – electric guitar
* Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – electric guitar, pedal steel guitar
* Jim Hodder – drums, percussion, backing vocals

**Session Musicians**

* Ray Brown – string bass on "Razor Boy"
* Ben Benay – acoustic guitar
* Rick Derrenger – slide guitar on "Show-Biz Kids"
* Victor Feldman – vibraphone, marimba, percussion
* Ernie Watts – saxophone on "My Old School"
* John Rotella – saxophone on "My Old School"
* Lanny Morgan – saxophone on "My Old School"
* Bill Perkins – saxophone on "My Old School"
* Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals on "My Old School"
* Myrna Matthews – backing vocals on "My Old School"
* Patricia Hall – backing vocals on "My Old School"
* David Palmer – backing vocals on "My Old School"
* James Rolleston – backing vocals on "My Old School"
* Michael Fennelly – backing vocals on "My Old School"