«Today’s Lyrics Are Pathetically Bad» Rick Beato

These are four singer/songwriters/guitarist who have been doing it at a high level for decades:  Dave Alvin, Janis Ian, Richard Thompson and Joan Armatrading.

But let's talk Steely Dan.

There's a video where Rick Beato talks about how the song "Aja" changed what he thought popular music could be.  The man loves Steely Dan.  There are numerous video where he gets deep into The Dan Universe.

Becker/Fagen wrote some wonderful lyrics.  Give a listen to "Pearl Of the Quarter", "Glamour Profession", "Cousin Dupree" or "Lunch With Gina".  They were storytellers.

"From the Bottom" has an detailed video of the bass playing on Fagen's "The Nightfly".  If you're serious about the album, it's a must watch.

If you're into the blues you gotta' love Blues Hammer...

@bdp24 Blues Hammer is Blues Hammer and you just have to accept it as such.  I guess you can say they're sincere.  There's a story about Sonny Boy Williams when he used the Yardbirds as his backing band while touring England.  I don't have the exact quote, but he said something along the lines of "these boys want badly to play the blues -- and they do".

Despite what Sonny Boy said I love the Yardbirds doing "I'm A Man".

It may not really be blues, but it is inspired.  How can you not like Jeff Beck and his Fender Esquire?

@bdp24 thanks for the correction on the name