Back in the late 1970s, the punk rock movement arose as a reaction to the sophisticated, mellow pop of the day from the likes of Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles, and Steely Dan, most of it associated with the West Coast. It’s interesting that there has been a lot of retro music drawing on 1960s British Invasion, Motown and Memphis soul, and even back to rockabilly. But there has not been a lot of musicians and bands drawing on that 1970s pop scene, which has come to be called “yacht rock.” But this week, we have a group that really goes in for the sound, being very authentic and doing it with impressive production quality. The group, actually a duo, call themselves Young Gun Silver Fox, and their new fifth album is called Pleasure.

The group derives their name from Andy Platts, who is the young gun, and Shawn Lee, is in his sixties with long chest-length gray hair, is who is the Silver Fox. The duo is based in the UK, but Lee is an American ex-pat. Both have had previous extensive experience, with Platts being the lead vocalist in the band Mama’s Gun, and Lee being a busy producer, composer and had also several albums under the name Ping Pong Orchestra. Lee also created the music for the video game Bully. The two met over Myspace in 2005, sharing an interest in 1970s pop. That led to their debut album in 2015 called West End Coast a combination of the West End of London where they worked, and the West Coast American pop that was their inspiration. What was intended as one-off project turned out to be quite successful in the UK, so the two have continued Young Gun Silver Fox as an ongoing collaboration -- with the two living rather far apart and collaborating by sharing files. The duo plays most of the instruments by way of overdubbing. The result is an impressive album, with the musical sophistication of Steely Dan and some of the melodic pop of and hints of soul of Stevie Wonder. There are also hints of a disco beat and 1970s Philly soul. Normally, an album as decisively retro like this would be mostly a curiosity, and a reminder that it’s not hard to find the original recordings from that decade. But Young Gun Silver Fox really hit it out of the ballpark, so to speak, with their excellent period songwriting, and super production. With current digital technology allowing much more layering and overdubbing, at times, they out-Steely Dan Steely Dan. In fact the influence by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker is very much on display, from the pristine drum sound, to the vocal layering to the occasional tight horn arrangements, to the distinctive chord changes that defined Steely Dan’s music. Young Gun Silver Fox gets it all just right. Lyrically, though, the album is not up to the often sardonic tone of Steely Dan. The overall album is a but more monochromatic than the kind of variety you might find on a Steely Dan album.

Opening is a song that is retro nostalgia all the way both musically lyrically. It’s called Stevie and Sly and the words pay tribute to Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone. <<>>

A bit more upbeat with a 1970s Philly soul-influenced sound is Born to Dream, which also shows its abundant Steely Dan influence, from the keyboard sound, to the chord changes, to the layered vocals. <<>>

Another track that is the epitome of 1970s mellow pop is Late Night Last Train, with love song lyrics. <<>>

Also with more of the Seventies Philly sound is Burning Daylight. Andy Platt’s falsetto vocals are impressive. <<>>

I suppose it wouldn’t be 1970s pop without a little disco influence. What amounts to being the title track, Just for Pleasure has the beat with lyrics to match. <<>>

The slow ballad on the album is a song called The Greatest Loser which does have its share of musical cliches, though it’s still well done. <<>>

In terms of being a great pop song, my vote is for the track called Put Up Your Dukes, replete with more Steely Dan touches but with a more straight ahead melodic hook that can stick with you. <<>>

The albums closes with a tune called One Horse Race which goes in for the melodic pop sound, and lots of vocal sweetening, as they say in the business. <<>>

British based Andy Platts and Shawn Lee, a/k/a Young Gun Silver Fox have obviously immersed themselves in 1970s West Coast pop, especially Steely Dan. They have absolutely nailed it on their new fifth album Pleasure. The production quality is awe inspiring, which I think outweighs the cliches from the era that their music also invokes. And even when they they are in the emulation mode, their music is always stays on the tasteful side. They may not have contributions from the superb studio musicians, especially the horn players that Steely Dan and other parts of the West Coast scene employed in supporting roles, but the fruits of their labor are sweet indeed.

Our grade for audio quality is an “A” for the clarity and sonic fastidiousness that was a Steely Dan trademark.

Of the various retro scenes going on, there are not many groups doing this kind of sophisticated 1970s pop, perhaps because it’s not easy to get it right, Young Gun Silver Fox definitely get it right, and provide a great reminder of the good side of the 1970s scene.

(c) Copyright 2025 George D. Graham. All rights reserved.
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<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

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