STEELY DAN : GOING MOBILE

1. Intro
2. Bodhisattva
3. The Boston Rag
4. Do It Again
5. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
6. King of the World
7. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
8. Pretzel Logic
9. Your Gold Teeth II
10. Reelin' in the Years
11. This All Too Mobile Home

Label : Smokin'

Venue : The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California, USA

Recording Date : March 20, 1974

Length : 55:03

Quality : FM recording (A+)

Review (Rate Your Music) : There are many reasons to purchase live albums, certainly some of those reasons are better than others, with the results of these recordings being iffy at best … though occasionally a gem arises, with this, Steely Dan recorded live at the Record Plant in Los Angeles back in 1974, before a small invited audience, will forever remain as one of those time honored live classics that stands as a pinnacle for those who never managed to see the band when Steely Dan was actually a band. That last line is important, because in 1974 Steely Dan was a band, composed of the musicians who put those early albums together, staggering the world with a series of songs that will remain in rotation for all time. Certainly you are able to see Steely Dan today, but that aspect means that you’re actually seeing Donal Fagen and Walter Becker along with an orchestra of sorts … very good of course, but a mere shadow when compared to this outing, one that’s played lively, with some extended solos and jams that are impossible to capture today, as the music is so entirely structured, rather than by an outfit who’s heads where in the right place, the music was fresh, and each player was delighted to showcase a sound that was quickly changing the musical world. This album has been recorded well, capturing the spirit of Steely Dan in an unforgettable manner, an album that’s laced with everything you could hope for, managing to stand on its own, a keeper, a flawless delight, a near musical documentary, with songs so tight and well played, they’ll make you shutter with giggles when compared to what you’ll hear today. This album has been released with a variety of jackets over the years, however, they all contain the same brilliant music. Despite what’s indicated here, this album has been circulating forever, first as a cassette tape, reel to reel, a vinyl album, and of course as a compact disc. It’s odd to me that no one has taken the time to track down the original source material, though that may be impossible at this date, and reprocessed this gem, as with quality speakers, you are going to hear a bit of tap hiss at higher volumes, though at a normal listening level, you’ll hear nothing to distract you.

Review (AllMusic) : This 1974 Steely Dan set was recorded live in front of a small studio audience at Los Angeles' famed Record Plant Studios. It was broadcast live on KMET-FM and has previously only been available in bootleg form. Compared to the Dan's signature studio polish, this set, while impeccably performed, is a bit unbalanced and contains some sonic flaws that might turn some listeners off. However, it would be a shame to miss this spirited set from the Pretzel Logic era; Going Mobile is notable not only for its casual offhand vibe and predictably heroic musicianship, but for the inclusion of a couple of prime rarities in the form of the previously unreleased "Your Gold Teeth II" and "This All Too Mobile Home." If the drums are a bit too up-front and the vocals occasionally dip in and out, the set itself is a flawless document of a great American band in its heyday.