The first two songs Steely Dan played at their May 15 show at the Tokyo International Forum -- "The Boston Rag" and " Bodhisattva" -- come from their second record, "Countdown to Ecstasy," which happens to be their least-selling album as well as my personal favorite. I should have been giddy with appreciation, but I was less impressed by the songs themselves than I was by the fact that they were playing them.

When they made that album back in 1973, Steely Dan was still touring, still an organic band. By the next record, however, they had been reduced to their songwriting essence, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who, already disillusioned with the rock life, abandoned live performances altogether.

In the mid-'90s the two agreed to tour again for the first time in 20 years, ostensibly to record a live album. Having been studio nerds for the better part of their careers, their feeling was that if you couldn't bring the audience to the studio, you brought the studio to the audience, which meant lots of high-priced musicians and well-rehearsed shows.