Steely Dan - Sail the Waterway (Better Quality)

[@timothycowart217]

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, The Dan has thrown away better music than many artists have ever made in their whole careers.

[@1968dogg]

May their quality haunt lesser musicians..

[@mikedag1176]

So true. So TRUE.

[@thomassicard3733]

WIN the INTERNET!! You did...

[@joeburgerant8514]

The Danny boys r 2 good man

[@Kalabrens]

Agreed

[@terrytaukus5502]

Over the years my absolute favourite band has changed from time to time. CSNY, Chicago, Beatles and others. But the deeper I explore SD music they are now my all time fave. Wish Fagen would put an album together of the tracks that haven't made the cut. That would be something for us SD tragics.

[@justinhennig8072]

I’m a huge Steely Dan fan and this is one of their best… great storytelling, nostalgia, imagery, and tasteful musicianship …So baffled why it never made a record😢

[@davidanthonylambert9533]

It's about time this song and 'Dallas' were released on an ''Expanded' 'Can't Buy A Thrill!

[@briannasmith7966]

PLEASE

[@jeffevangelho9909]

I have been a fan of Steely Dan since the 70's and this is the first time I have heard this song and "Dallas." I really like them both.

[@imme.7106]

These are excellent examples of Steely Dan's ability to write a good pop song."Dallas"is not "Aja";but they have their place!

[@rosston59]

Seem to remember that I bought a 12 inch single with Dallas and Sail the Waterway on it sometime in the 70s in the UK but my memory could be playing tricks. Can anyone out there confirm this record did exist? Edit to add - I will check Brian Sweet's biography.

[@theavitaravitar1884]

@@rosston59 your right Dallas and the B side is this song

[@sotampacane]

@@theavitaravitar1884 Yep, and I recall Poco covered Dallas too on one of their fine records (Head over Heels)

[@Sulkanator]

The geniuses that are Fagen and Becker obviously make the call on songs that make albums but as a LONG time Steely Dan enthusiast I have to tell you: I love this song.

[@tylerthompson1842]

Same, it could’ve been on a album. Hard to believe they put all this effort into tracking just to scrap it

[@franksulka3346]

"The Tiiiiiiiiiide is high." Freaking love this song.

[@danharvey8979]

All the Dan's tunes are awesome, including this one

[@TheStuport]

+Dan Harvey The Dan of Steel....VERY blessed they were around during my youth! Cheers

[@Oldmotherhell]

I'm hearing early Todd Rundgren all over this thing. And it's good!

[@brodyoxnard9370]

I hear the theme from Cheers everytime. BRAVO!!! so brilliant, human, brave.

[@typodhitzemann6851]

Don't hear that, but it is good

[@livelikeitshows1802]

“You wanna go where everybody knows your name”

[@gonebabygone4116]

I stumbled on Dallas in someone else's playlist and I've become a trifle enchanted with this 'stinko' piece of music, mostly for the novelty of it. I'd have never recognized it as Steely Dan if it weren't for the chatter about it in comments. I plan on slipping it into playlists with some other early 70s stuff and teasing my friends as they try to identify it.

[@tiluriso]

Stll baffled, why Don and Walt decided to shelf this tune - What an amazing gorgeous melodic pop tune...so Early 1970s...yet timeless...

[@gesco7087]

They may hate it but to me it's a wee gem. Damn, been listening to these guys for 30 years and I still love their work.

[@sotampacane]

This song is brilliant. It definitely should have found its way to the box set if not one of their actual albums

[@joelcopen3920]

Damn, I had a recording of this song off a college radio program circa 1981 - the DJ had a "bootleg" recording of it...Boy have I missed this song!! Thanks for posting it!

[@JohnHH59]

Love this song. Love this version. Unconventional Dan song, but what a gem!

[@dena6254]

Ian a Steely Dan from the beginning. I’ve never heard this song. Love it! 🎶💗🌸

[@craigamarnick1133]

Per the book I’m reading, “Quantum Criminals” this song and “Dallas” preceded their first album and “Do it Again.” Both songs were virtually ignored.

[@pgo301]

Thank You for posting and so happy to find yet another song. I hope there's more in the SD official vault too.

[@davidcufc]

I can only assume the reason why Steely Dan didn't like this song and 'Dallas' was because the lyrics are just standard. Musically both songs are superb.

[@Peter-ih2tn]

The lyrics to this are brilliant and original. "it feels so good ON YOU" come on here...

[@edd7812]

I Echo the comments of many others here being a Dan fan since the release of Can't Buy a Thrill... this is a really nice tune as is Dallas. Really great guitar work in this song!!!

[@mksland3884]

Can't believe this is the first time I have heard this and just heard Dallas for the first time!

[@ChristopherSoltis5]

same

[@mikegoggins9758]

I love the Dan Never heard this before This would have been a hit for sure

[@andyinoregon]

After seeing Steely Dan in concert at the U. of Toledo on April 21, 1974, I discovered the 45-single "Dallas/Sail the Waterway" the following September in the audio listening library at Bowling Green State U. Shortly after that their ABC/Dunhill Records labelmates Poco performed an even better version of "Dallas" on their album "Head Over Heels." Well worth checking out.

[@imme.7106]

Dang Andy!; You really got to hear the coolest stuff... live!; I worked in a record store in 1976 and was priveleged to have the"rare" long playing 45 rpm record with "Dallas"on it!. Like "Rikki don't lose that number"(which I know you also saw performed live!);Steely Dan could write "pop hit" style material. Is there anything cool you HAVEN'T seen!🤣

[@andyinoregon]

@@imme.7106 It helped that I turned 13 one month before I saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Ironically, my first concert was future Steely Dan session guitarist Rick Derringer and his band The McCoys in the fall of 1965. I was 14 and he had just turned 18 with his first hit record "Hang On Sloopy." I'll save the rest for your channel's discussion section.

[@imme.7106]

@@andyinoregon your stories are really quite amazing! Thanks for sharing! FYI; I'm watching the sunrise over the Manhattan skyline (I'm not rich,just really lucky to be in cozy place with a killer view!...) But....I always imagined that I would end up in Oregon.Among the many places I lived(The Dalles ,Portland, Coos bay(yucky yet beautiful!?!) and Medford.. When I lived in Coos bay;I listened to the Kamakiriad album.. especially the song"on the dunes"Hopefully not "too much information"?! It's just that the name"andyinoregon" makes me wonder...;are you in Eugene?....or perhaps over the cascades in Bend?; You can keep that a mystery...but please keep the stories coming!; You can't make that stuff up! Can you imagine if we could have had access to all of these obscure recordings, alternate studio takes,and live performances?!; Adds a whole new angle to what I thought I knew! Take care; sorry so long-winded!

[@andyinoregon]

@@imme.7106 Your last thought says it all. I was a good student in school, but if the endless jukebox that is KZbin had existed back then I never would have gotten my homework done.

[@imme.7106]

@@andyinoregonI found many alternative ways to avoid doing homework ;without an internet ,back then! 😵🤫

[@egyptianminor]

This should have been an early !970s Pop smash. What a beautiful, melodic, uplifting tune...

[@laceybarkley5739]

There is nothing special about this song at all and it did not stand out in 1972. You'd have to go back in a time machine and delete the top 500 singles from that year for this song to even have a chance to chart. Even then it wouldn't. It's pleasant. It's not hit material.

[@daleschmitt2163]

@@laceybarkley5739 I like the song's chords, imagery, etc. I prefer it over MANY 1972 hits.

[@egyptianminor]

@@laceybarkley5739 No one records something simply because it is 'hit material', no one knows in advance., they record and release stuff if they believe it has a chance, at least the talented and intelligent writers do. One reason it didn't 'chart' is because it was put out in a 'promo' single w/ 'Dallas' on the b side, w/ very limited distribution, meaning it was not really 'released' or promoted. It was put out later as a Denny Dohrty single, but as an ex Mammas and the Papas he had a ton o baggage to shed and a pst to surpass...but in hindsight, I say it COULD have stood a better chance of becoming a hit once 'Can't Buy A Thrill' became a surprise hit - no one was expecting a gold record for sure...There are no bad songs on that album and for you to say there is 'nothing special' about it is something you can only do now because it wasn't included in the album and it sold w/ the , DESPITE not including this tune. But to call it 'not stand' out?...This song has perfect form, great chord changes, melodic and lyrical pop sounds perfectly attired to early 1970s chart......No way there are 500 songs better than this in 1972, so speak for yourself....Only a handful like Carol King and few others were doing Pop w/ these changes back then....Might not be among their best but losing out to those 500 you call?..No...Becker and Fagen sure had 'simplified' their material once they moved out to L.A. in 1971, material that was more simple and conventional in comparison to their self described 'more sophisticated but also more pretentious' late 1960s stuff. Meaning they new exactly this very type of material here had much better chance of selling , this type of material could have been included on the debut album easily, it would not be an outlier at all as you make it seem.

[@DavidGCroft]

Just fabulous.

[@Sulkanator]

100% agree. "You know the tideeeee is high..." Love it.

[@cedarwaxwing3509]

God, that two part harmony guitar lead (presumably played by Baxter and Dias) sends chills down the spine.

[@KarlSharicz]

Both this song and the flip side Dallas are reminiscent of the early Steely Dan compositions. Their first drummer Jimmy Hodder sang Dallas and if you ever knew Jim as the lead singer/drummer with the Boston-based band Bead Game you'd certainly hear the connection.

[@andyinoregon]

Well said, Karl. I grew up on a farm in western Ohio and late at night I listened to Boston's WBZ -- Radio 103 on the A.M. dial, and became acquainted with bands like Orpheus and Ultimate Spinach. Both Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Hodder were playing in Boston bands before moving to L. A. in 1972 at the behest of studio producer Gary Katz.

[@steviedee9868]

Later for the haters....I love this, especially the coda/fade.

[@johnruffles8407]

Thr Dan have been the soundtrack to my life since 1973 .... this was a single released in UK in 73 ... with Sale the Waterways on the flip . Neither songs representative of things to come from Becker and Fagen .... but still nostalgic Dan songs

[@brettrosenberg]

There's a lot of bands from the northeast '71-'72 that sound sort of like this--piano-based post-Woodstock stuff, but the Dan thing is already intact and blasting through the facade

[@jbrown7403]

I approve! I need more! ♥️👍

[@TheLedoux111]

This song and Dallas and something called Giles of The River were all part of sessions the boys did with Denny Doherty that collapsed before anything was released. If you know Denny's solo work these cuts make a lot more sense than they do as Steely songs. We've been trying to find the original recordings for quite some time with no luck.

[@tiluriso]

I just checked that link, and the Doherty 'Of All The Things' CD. Even thought the tracking lists 'Sail The Waterway', and there are mentions of many of the session players involved, there is no mention whatsoever of Becker and Fagen being a part of it - which for a 2002 release would have been a big blunder. Have you listened to it? Because since the record is a compilation of Doherty's solo career, and there's no mention of B&F, I'm assuming, the album features an unreleased version with Doherty himself on lead vocals, in other words, that it is not, the Fagen sung, SD version, which had 'Dallas' on the flip side.

[@tiluriso]

I believe that 'Giles of The River' was written for (and recorded by) Steppenwolf's John Kay's solo project. Since the 1972 Denny Doherty's version is in a different key, this Fagen sung recording might have been a dual purposed thing, both a 'promo' for the up-and-coming Steely Dan debut and as a fancy 'demo' for the upcoming Doherty version. The arrangements are very similar same, the main differences is are the subtle string-section and different song key for Doherty's version.

[@gdj6298]

Doherty recorded 'Giles of the River' and 'Sail the waterway' in 1972 as demos for himself, hoping to get a solo record deal. Becker and Fagen were not involved, but Gary Katz and Roger Nichols were. SD's version of 'Sail' was released in June 1972 as the B-side of 'Dallas' 'Giles of the River' was not written specifically for John Kay but he recorded it in 1973. (This is from Brian Sweet's book 'Reelin in the Years').

[@ECWaxman]

Great song to go cruising on the Atlantic intracoastal waterway.

[@bizarre1970]

The jacket in the image is an LP edited by Japan that was released in 1978. With this LP, Steely Dan's phantom debut song was introduced for the first time in Japan. Anyway, when will this song and Dallas be digitized? Also, are stereo masters not made for these two songs?

[@Vectrex4Life]

How could this have been left off Can't Buy a Thrill and Citizen Steely Dan? I know it was because Donald and Walter didn't like it enough to include it on either one, but come on now, it's not bad at all.

[@hdofu]

Gullywater makes even less sense as that one fits the tone of the album.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

one "substandard"steely dan song is most other bands magnum opus.

[@steelyd2]

David Brailsford gullywater has to be the best one to never make it to official release. I’m blown away by that tune. You’re the one that got that uploaded to KZbin right? How the hell did you find that?

[@spactick]

Everything Fagen & Becker do should be saved and preserved like Van Gogh's sketches for future generations to see and watch the development and maturity of THE premiere American song writers of the 1970's

[@marisha4sure]

This song should have been on 'Can't buy a thrill'. Towards the end Steely Dan sacrificed good quality songs for jazzy pop pieces with flashy guitar solo's but i still prefer their early songs and their excellent albums from 'Can't buy a thrill' to 'The royal scam'.

[@jasonmaguire7552]

Their jazz pop made them elite. Songs like these are good but not remarkable.

[@nahnope8581]

I mean I feel like they never got "flashier" with the guitar than in CBAT and countdown to ecstacy

[@Bigeazy87]

This has the elements of the Steely Dan sound. Too bad it's largely forgotten

[@alexm.1565]

Something about the chorus reminds me of a song for a 70's commercial.

[@bristolfashion4421]

nice piece - but it's full of echos of the tracks that made it to the albums. Can see why it "hit the cutting room floor". Thanks for posting. Enjoyed it.

[@rustycz21]

That’s my Dan!!!

[@AlexAlexon3897]

Inspired! Like it.

[@wheelinthesky300]

Dallas is a Country-Western tune. Sail The Waterway isn't quite, but the guitar refrain is.

[@mauirealestatehome3340]

RIP Walter!

[@John900C]

Amen

[@Alex-pr6zv]

Reminds me a bit of Abandoned Luncheonette period H&O😢

[@railwaystationmaster]

Anyone know which Japan only cd this track c/w Dallas found its home on, its kinda odd to think SD did nt think they were worthy enough for CBAT , or subsequent official Dan releases .

[@niallwood]

+four from steely dan

[@peterasaro1914]

Damn,this is nice!

[@MrBearMelt]

this is from a japan only vinyl release

[@razorback9926]

Is this song available on a Japan CD or something? I’d like a copy of this and Dallas to add to my copy of Can’t Buy a Thrill where they belong.

[@SodaPopinski2014]

Steely Dan Yacht Rock? Whaaaat??

[@mixisixi2367]

I just received news that this was written by the late Denny Doherty.

[@seanspencer9396]

This tune sounds pleasing to me. Has a slight melancholic touch....and SD wanted to ditch this?? Uniqueness makes Steely Dan! Come on, guys!

[@PercivalGull1]

I have Sail the Waterway and Dallas on vinyl. Pity they are only mono.

[@humbertcamacho5911]

This definitely sounds like early 70’s Dan. Shades of Todd Rundgren in the chord progressions.

[@BrianBurke06]

I think this song was written about the Hudson River but I’m not sure

[@hdofu]

RIP Walter Becker...

[@Thumpalumpacus]

Who's playing guitar on this? He's lighting it up.

[@crimsonrush]

I think it's Jeff Baxter.

[@bullshot5362]

It's definitely Jeff Baxter.

[@angryscowl]

def kinda raw, but thanks, was this released in japan on cd?

[@hdofu]

@mac man not a hard one, the cd is called Steely Dan

[@dennisosborne4368]

I have read quotes that they were not keen on anything on Cant Buy a Thrill and the later the album the happier they were with it. This is a pleasant song but I can see why they are a bit embarrassed about it knowing their perfectionism. Its a long way from the sophistication and complexity of Aja or Gaucho

[@walktheworld]

Maybe it's just me, but this has the feel of an early 70s Elton John song.

[@nickgrant6934]

i am hearing the Scottish band Danny Wilson here

[@Malkmusianful]

Steely Dan be like "this song is hot garbage" and it's a song that would've been a greatest hit for another classic band Their garbage is still gold

[@musicplateau1]

Maj7th geniuses

[@jakemore2024]

Sounds better than many others..he called it ..stinko

[@daleschmitt2163]

I like this and "Dallas" very much. B and F may say "stinko" but I prefer these to "With a Gun" or "My Rival."

[@russellziske7385]

Not dark enough?

[@jamiewesson6606]

its like something captain and tenille would have done i think it would have made a better a side than dallas but if you heard it first would you be rushing to by cbat i think not

[@martimcshy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this song composed by Denny Doherty?

[@beardocuba]

You are wrong, sir.

[@peterevans3839]

No it was written by Walter and Donald.

[@yodaddy2941]

what is this japanese album cover from?

[@jon8021]

Japan-only album that has this song, Dallas, Do It Again, Aja, Black Friday, Kid Charlemagne, and Rikki.

[@hdofu]

@bryan speeraza wrong, it was available as a cd there, which makes it the only time these tracks appeared on cd (Officially)

[@laceybarkley5739]

Wrong. It has never officially been available on a CD anywhere on Earth. You simply have no clue whatsoever and thus should not comment at all. www.discogs.com/search/?q=steely+dan+-+dallas&format_exact=CD&type=all

[@tryinglyon]

Damn... I gotta get myself a boat

[@claimboxx]

This song sounds like the title song for a cheesy TV show. Not one of their usual amazing songs

[@typodhitzemann6851]

Great! Too bad the guys are always down about their old stuff

[@H0neybaby_23]

This song and Dallas are songs I love but they are definitely not of the dan sound. These seem like songs they would write for other bands but they're still great.

[@josemiguelmoreno2234]

Better than Eagles or CSN in their own style. IMO. Note Barrytown, too. SD could have made whatever they want. Reggae...

[@enyjuan]

april 2023

[@Peter-ih2tn]

like a bit of 'any major dude' mixed with Laura Nyro 'Stoney End'

[@JB-bc9nm]

Thank you for not putting this song on "Can't Buy A Thrill"! "Dallas" would have been a better fit but it wasn't quite good enough for the first album. It would have needed a lot more work. This will probably be the first and last time I'll hear "Sail The Waterway".

[@Peter-ih2tn]

Who cares what you listen to? Are you related to Leonard Bernstein or something? Who the hell cares!

[@Ram44]

Early yacht rock! This and Dallas are decent at best. I like Dallas a little more, if only because of the pedal steel on it. This is begging for a producer to tweak the arrangement (and it needs a better vocal melody and lyric). Alas it's just a throwaway tune that definitely wasn't worthy of Can't Buy A Thrill (my favorite Steely album and one of my favorites of all time).

[@johnlylemusic]

It’s not up to their best work, which is why it ended up on the cutting room floor.

[@edmadrid1776]

No, it's not among the great Steely, but better than Dallas and wouldn't have been the worst song on Can't Buy a Thrill

[@MrJsmith49]

+Ed Madrid It would have fit nicely at the end of side one

[@classichost]

This and Dallas are a slight level below the material that made Can't buy a thrill but it's still a beautiful song with great imagery

[@vambosian]

This was the "B" side of their first single, Dallas...."a real stinkeroo" in their own words. The 45 died a quick death....never charted.

[@AndyHoward]

In 1972, ABC distributed promotional copies of Steely Dan's first single, "Dallas", backed with "Sail the Waterway". It is unclear whether "stock" copies were ever released to the general public; the single sold so poorly that promotional copies are more abundant. The two songs were re-released on vinyl several times as b-sides and on EPs throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As of 2012, "Dallas" and "Sail the Waterway" are the only officially released Steely Dan tracks that have not been reissued on cassette or compact disc. In an interview (1995), Becker and Fagen called the songs "stinko."[23]

[@andyinoregon]

I stumbled upon "Dallas" and "Sail the Waterway" at Bowling Green State University's audio library in Sept. 1974, after seeing the band in concert for the first time the previous April at Toledo University's Memorial Fieldhouse. Loved both songs and bought Poco's album "Head Over Heels" just so I could listen to their even better version of "Dallas" over and over.

[@GnarlsGnarlington]

I can see why they tossed it. Too pop and and straightforward. No hidden meanings or obscure lyrics.

[@eddy71454]

There's an interesting version of this song on youtube covered by the Gary Bennett Band. It's a demo but I think it's better than this recording.

[@jasonrubin5545]

Good song, but it's screaming for Michael McDonald.

[@G8GT364CI]

Kind of blah and the piano is reminiscent of the beginning The Carpenters' Close to You.