Steely Dan

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Comment by Funky Oswald on March 7, 2010 at 2:52pm

I pasted the below exchange regarding "Custerdome" to the Lyrics thread.

Comment by Funky Oswald on March 2, 2010 at 4:36pm

The song is an absolute masterpiece, both lyrically and musically. I was rather surprised when I learned that Keith Jarret through a major fit resulting in legal proceedings due to the intro being inspired by his "Long as You Know You're Living Yours" (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXpPlBFGG_Q). Not even that close, although the groove and feel are similar. Given what popular artists get away with sampling these days I think Jarret' should have taken this tip of the hat for what it was... i.e. a homage and should have left it at that.

On the subject of "custerdome" the following are apparently Becker's and Fagen's own words on the topic:

Becker: 'It's, ah, one of the largest buildings in the world. You know, an extravagant structure with a rotating restaurant on top.'

Fagen: 'It exists only in our collective imagination. In the Steely Dan lexicon it serves as an archetype of a building that houses great corporations...' "

Comment by Tony Onstad on March 2, 2010 at 5:07am

Thanks for the research & insights--maybe the "Custerdome" is probably just symbolic of a sort of intellectually elitist realm(of most likely gay dudes),one of whom frowns on the idea of some lowly male street hustler being brought into the mix by his lover.Anyhow,it's one of their greatest tunes,imo.

Comment by Funky Oswald on February 26, 2010 at 4:22pm

This just in regarding the elusive question of what kind of animal a "Custerdome" may be. There appears to be an old observatory in Southold, NY which sometimes is reffered to as the "Custer Observatory Dome" or "Custer Dome" in short: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custer_Observatory

Now as to what bearing this may have on a couple's squabble over a (perhaps a little too close) friend of one of them, your guess is as good as mine. (But that's Messrs. Becker & Fagen for you).

Comment by Funky Oswald on February 26, 2010 at 12:37pm

That is a very good question. Becker and Fagen's lyrics are filled with obscure in-jokes and they do have a tendency to make up fictional names and places. My guess that "the Custerdome" is just one of those in-jokes which we will never really get unless we get an explanation or at least more clues from the source istelf.

I always though of Gaucho as a tell-off from one lover (most likely gay) to another for introducing a third party (most likely of latin origin) in their relationship and, for some reason, I always thought of the Custerdome as a luxury high rise living complex in one of the more fashionable parts of Manhattan... but that's my personal interpretation.

That's on the other hand the great thing about the Dan's lyrics. They're often intentionally left open ended and open for interpretation and debate.

Comment by Tony Onstad on February 26, 2010 at 1:35am

First question to throw out there--what is a "Custerdome"?

Comment by Funky Oswald on February 25, 2010 at 10:32pm

We just felt that this group was needed... although as fanatic Daniacs we might be kind of biased.