Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 23:18:45 ET
Posted by: Circus Doobie,

'As far as drugs and music goes: I have just the odd sip of alcohol to go by, but doesn't a slight buzz after an intake of whatever make most, if not all, music sound and "feel" better?'

Yes, most music. The WB stuff though morphs into something else. Just an opinion. And not to be tested while driving, though the drop in road deaths would be considerable if all drinking drivers became smoking drivers. And donut sales would go up.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 22:12:45 ET
Posted by: Steely Fan, NJ

I scoped out the Wellmont tonight. There is a bulldozer inside and it looks a wreck. Seems like it would be a tall order to have it ready in 8 weeks, but what do I know? The neighborhood has places abound where Danfests could be held.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 22:09:47 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, by the sea

Thanks, Doc Mu. I'd appoint you to my cabinet any day! xo

G

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 21:00:28 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, eh

Anyone up for a gab? Hanging in the green procrastinating life.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 18:22:45 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

That's great Hutch (and @Hutch). I love this Randall remark:


"... I started the 'roadmap' for my new interpretation of REELIN' before the turn of the century. I've always heard a 'different spin' on this great tune - from the moment Donald and Walter played me the unfinished track, I heard the 2 harmony guitars in the interludes, knowing that one day I'd interpret those phrases using the Celtic instruments they were meant for..."

What's all this now?

:#)

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 18:10:14 ET
Posted by: @Hutch, Re: elliott, tasmin and bruce thomas

Looks like Elliott picked Chuck before Bruce:

http://www.elliott-randall.com/cd.htm#c1

No mention of Bruce on the track/CD.

Haven't heard the version of Reelin' (apparently released back in 2006) but I've always liked Tasmine's voice. So even without Bruce Thomas' bass I guess I'll head on over to iTunes to get me a copy.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 17:11:04 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Funny that the name Elvis Costello just came up. I was just now reading an interview with Bruce Thomas (ex bassist for the Attractions) certainly one of the most inventive bassists since Sir Paul IMO.

In the interview he was asked about recent projects...

I played live bass on an album for Tasmin Archer a while back. There are two or three good tunes on it from the bass-playing point of view. At the time, Tasmin was also recording vocals on a new version of “Reelin’ in the Years” for an Elliott Randall album. I took the liberty of overdubbing a bass part on it that was mega fun, but whether he’ll use it or not is open to question—apparently he’s using an up-and-coming bass player called Chuck Rainey on the sessions (grins).

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 17:02:30 ET
Posted by: D Crosby,

"Bob Marley" (aka "The Dean" - wink, wink) -

Cute, comeback. Just don't drive after your little tokies, OK,
Puffy?

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 16:38:18 ET
Posted by: "My" Aja, View from Sweden ... where else?

I had just that very day spontaneously bought a copy of Elvis Costello's My Aim Is True just based on the cool cover. Yes, kids, back in the day of vinyl that could happen! And we were visiting a family we knew thanks to my sister being friends with the girl in the family. They had an exchange student from the US there and somehow she ended up borrowing me her copy of Aja.

I took it home and played it. And I remember being immediately fascinated by the music. I had never heard anything like it. It was more complex and the lyrics ... Well, I understood some of it, but was intrigued by the words I heard. And I couldn't stop playing it. Deacon Blues was the one. I think I even tried to translate the lyrics once. No chance...

Had to return the copy to the girl from the States but quickly got my own Aja to listen to. Usually headphones to hear the details. Ogling the insert and trying to decipher the lyrics.

It took me some time but I suddenly realised that I had heard this group Steely Dan before. A few years earlier when Haitian Divorce was a hit in the UK. A song I had liked from the first time I heard it.
So I went looking for the previous albums and was surprised and disappointed when they called it quits after Gaucho. But that's another story as well as HIStory.

As far as drugs and music goes: I have just the odd sip of alcohol to go by, but doesn't a slight buzz after an intake of whatever make most, if not all, music sound and "feel" better?

Oh yeah: Thanks to the girl who borrowed me her copy of Aja all those years ago!

/PGE

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 15:15:40 ET
Posted by: Chan, Boston

One of my favorite Aja memories is owning it on 8 Track. I must have listened to it hundreds of times in my 1978 Toyota Corolla Deluxe.

Many years later I had one of those once in a lifetime Steely moments. My son and I, Kid C, went skiing out west for our first time ever in 2005. Our first morning out, we were the first in line for the town lift in Park City. As we were getting ready to get off the lift, the ski area was playing music over the loudspeaker system. We could not believe that on our first day, the first song we heard was Deacon Blues being played on a local classic rock station. It set the tone for a great day.

Here on Boston's northshore we have two restaurants named The Black Cow. The owner is a big Steely Dan fan. One is in a small town called Hamilton, the other on the water in Newburyport. If you get the chance, check either out. Excellent food and ambiance.

Just a few of my Aja thoughts and memories. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 15:01:49 ET
Posted by: Dishwife,

Chris -

Good insight - re: "The Fall of '92".
I had a very very good friend who devolved into a yuppie shithead because he got so caught up in greed and status. Working for and Digital/IBM...where are those companies today and who the f''k would even remember him now?

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 13:49:34 ET
Posted by: More Memories,

Demo Black Cow is great stuff. Can you hear the pedal on the piano ?

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 13:01:18 ET
Posted by: Bob, Atlanta

The Dean - it's enough to make you want to head to the Manatee early, huh? As always, enjoyed your posts.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 12:54:21 ET
Posted by: top, hat

top however many bluewriters:

1. whatever nom d'plume mr. pete writes under

2. whatever nom d'plume ms. shari writes under

3. walts dopp

4.bikemann

5. hey zeus

6. lisa g

7. deanoo

8. the scofflaw living in europe


those who should be banned from writing here:
Q
hoops
anyone named mike
anyone named bill
people from the middle of the country reporting on the various tours. boring!

again thank you for letting me post, lo, these many years. and though i always post in our heroes' spirit of humor, musicianship, irony and hipness, you should read this now as it most assuredly will be removed.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 12:24:36 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Dishwife - That's the narrator being dopey, not WB. I think Fall of 92 is hilarious. Yuppies are downgraded in part due to an economic downturn, but likely their own stupidity played a part as well, and their love was so shallow that they broke up over losing a few vacation homes. At the end of the song, the narrator is still probably doing alright, in the sense that he can still probably pay rent on a more modest apartment and can still feed himself, but he has to get rid of his dog and assumes that his ex lover is now a prostitute all because of those "Nazis in Washington DC."

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 12:11:04 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

OMG, here we go again. Is this a site focused on music, specifically Steely Dan music, or is this a place for people with nothing better to do to attack others for every word they write? Yes, sometimes people are idiots but come on, who here is perfect?

And another thing, it is my understanding that politics should NOT be discussed here. Nobody's mind is going to be changed, especially at this point, so save the rest of us from having to read though it and please try not to piss off Hoops, who has clearly made his opinion on this subject known.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 11:45:45 ET
Posted by: Bob Marley,

Give it a rest Hammer. You're starting to sound like a fool.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 11:42:26 ET
Posted by: J Hammer,

Dean -
It didn't say you weren't driving either.

:+)

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 11:29:47 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

SP,

Read my post again (we have some slow learners, here). I WAS diggin C$ before getting stoned.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 11:22:11 ET
Posted by: SARAH PALEN,

Dean - Yes I do. What took you so f^%King long to realize how great C$ is? I got it on the first listen! And then I got stoned!

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 11:15:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Hammewr,

I didn't say I was driving. Read it again.

And, SP, notice I threw one off topic line into an otherwise totally Dan centric post. Sorry, I won't do it again. BTW, do you have ANYTHING Dan-related to add, or are you just a dbag?

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 10:56:44 ET
Posted by: SARAH PALEN, Nome

Dean - You mean it's all right to discuss football but not politics here? Make up your mind please.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 10:49:54 ET
Posted by: A Dishwife,

RE: "The Fall of '92":

Lyrically I cringe for WB every time I hear those lyrics - so dopey for him!

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 10:46:25 ET
Posted by: J Hammer,

Dean -

Nice to know you were driving stoned.
Let us all know when next time.

:+)

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 10:14:24 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Black Cow is simply awesome. But, I'll tell you what kicked it up to a different level, for me, some 20 years after I first heard it. I'm sure you recall Andy Metzger's old SD site, where he had a nice collection of live cuts, demos, alternative mixes, etc.

Well, there was a solo piano version of Black Cow with Donald simply playing and singing the tune. (Actually, I think there were two versions. Both good, but one superb.) For some odd reason, it really drove home, what I already knew, Black Cow is a wonderful song. And, it's a wonderful song without all of the things I thought made it so wonderful.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer the Aja version, to the stripped down demo, but every once in a while, I play that demo to try and relive that experience. I assume you have heard that demo, but just in case you haven't, you may want to give it a listen.

And, speaking of C$ and drugs (nice disclaimer, BTW), I have to agree with your take there, too. I was really enjoying C$ and it was growing on my nicely. Then, one day, I was beautifully tinged (not zombie-stoned, but "enlightened") as I left a friend's house. In the car, as soon as the car started, Darkling Down started playing. It just blew me away. That changed the way I listened to C$ for the next couple of times.

Opening Sunday in the NFL. WooHoo! Go Bills!

:#)

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 09:46:52 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, blacked out on the stairs

1977 I was still going to UW Milw and working as an assistant manager at Toys R us! I remember playing the crap out of aja. We had an older lady that worked the pick up door where you picked up bikes and cribs and stuff named Peg. A sweet gal and I couldnt shake the song every time she worked.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 03:23:37 ET
Posted by: Aja memories,

Peabody, I can't remember the very first time I heard Aja, but I was 16 when the record came out and probably at that time only owned CBAT. I wasn't much of a record buyer until later, more a radio listener.

The lasting memory of the album is from about a year later sitting in a GMC Jimmy, strategically parked so as not to be bothered. Sunday afternoon smoking up some honey oil as Black Cow played. We were out of it in the nicest way. That song inparticular 'resonates.' If it took time for other SD songs to reveal themselves to me, it was not so for Black Cow. I always thought I got all of it right away. I hope I'm wrong.

I still think it's about the coolest song I know. I used to imagine I was on my own, that Black Cow was part of my private reserve of music underloved by other people but honored by me. But I've heard it played now a few times live and it almost always draws a special gasp of excitement from the crowd when it starts.

Re: drugs and SD music. People have been getting high and listening to music for years. It's not worth starting a new habit over (you have been warned) but if that's familiar ground for you, both of Walter Becker's albums (and demos) come across in a really unusual way if you're high.

Date: Sun, September 07, 2008, 01:35:44 ET
Posted by: DC, DC

Always wondered why people feel the need to educate other people about their political choices. It's counterproductive in many cases, as in rewriting the lyrics to songs. It has an adverse affect on people's opinions as their brains are messed with.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 23:51:58 ET
Posted by: confucius say,

center yourself in all matters.

refrain from taking sides.

be able to debate either side.

appreciate Doc Mu's art for art's sake, don't get your panties in a wad because you have some sort of problem with the content.

to get one's panties in a wad is the sign of an immature and weak mind.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 23:44:21 ET
Posted by: Steven Pomorantz,

Dean- And don't forget about "those Nazi's down in Washington" that WB use to sing about.

By the way, I HATE SARAH PALEN!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 23:40:18 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

T-Girl,

Hey, I may be wrong about that, you know. As Gretchen noted, this is Jim's sandbox, we just play in it. I really can't speak for what is, and isn't OK, with him. You may have a better handle on the situation than I.

My impression is he wants to try to keep the board fairly Dangential, for the most part, and has taken us to school a few times recently, when things went too far astray.

I know we have ventured into politics when it was Dangential, such as the discussions around some of the stuff from Morph (Mary Shut the Garden Door comes to mind), but don't recall straight-up political bickering. But, I haven't been here forever, like many of you.

Anyway, that was just all IMO, and I think that goes without saying.

Have a great night.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 23:35:34 ET
Posted by: pauly,

Dean - You're 100% correct. This forum should just be about SD and music. I apologize. I just get all riled up when these dummies are talking about how great Sarah Palen is based on a speech that somebody else wrote.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 23:21:24 ET
Posted by: Tomorrow's Girl, Dan-related

I'm sorry. I didn't know political discussion was off limits now. I can remember when it got pretty heated on the bluebook.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 22:28:00 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Gretchen is clearly a lot hotter than Palin and has my vote ;)

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 22:26:36 ET
Posted by: peabody here, wayback machine

The Dean helped out very much. Cool.

It is not about being over 40, or the state of being in one's 20's or 30's, but a recollection of what you thought of Aja if you were alive, were already a Danfan and can still remember basically what you were doing and the reaction relative to what your opinion was of the Dan at that point in time.

Some say that the release of Aja was the most abrupt sea change in Dan history and as such provoked some strong feelings in those that were there from the beginning, or certainly with it coming out right after Royal Scam.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 22:07:59 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore

Anyone up for a chat? Discussion perhaps of the upcoming AC show?
Fife

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 22:01:14 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, blowin' in the wind

I agree with Dean. This is not a political discussion board, it's SD and tangentially SD, and Doc's parody of Sara using Pixeleen was relative, but an all out partisan discussion doesn't belong here. We're all good people, and I'm sure if we were all together personally we'd have a very colorful discussion of today's candidates. This is Jim's site, however, he pays the bills, and we need to respect that. There's plenty of time for politics outside the blue.

G

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 21:41:35 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

peabody,

Sorry can't help you out, on this one. I have some real specific memories from some of my past SD moments, (for example, my reaction to hearing Countdown for the first time, after loving CBAT)...but my initial reaction to Aja must be lost in some of those brain cells, I managed to destroy.

I can say this: By the time Aja came out, I had pretty much cracked the code, with regard to how to best (for me) experience a new Dan release. Starting with Katy Lied, I simply accepted that, since EVERYTHING they had done to date had been outstanding, it was likely that this new thing was outstanding, too. I also knew that I would probably have to spend some time with it, before I would really "get it". If things didn't sound quite right at first, I knew it was my problem...and that they would, in time, sound perfect.

Also, I was loving SD's evolution toward more, and more, jazz-oriented material, so I don't think it was a surprise, and it certainly wasn't a disappointment. As I was only 20, I may have, initially, missed some of the smoking guitar that was so prevalent on Scam and I may have been a little concerned about, what some might call, the slight influence of disco, in the sound.

I can tell you that I had to buy several copies of the album within a very short time. We played the shit out of that album.


A little aside. Are we really going to turn the Blue into a political pissing contest? Even though it isn't my cup-o-tea (rewriting song lyrics...especially great song lyrics), at least Dr Mu tried to make it Dangential. He took some time and effort to put together a clever post. Quite frankly, the rebuttals have been as shallow and insipid as...well...I won't go there.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 21:32:22 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, over 40 and proud

Peabody, I'm 45 and never felt (even looked) better in my life. Most of the bluebookers I know and love (with the exception of our fabulous girl M. and Alan's and my son Matt) are over 40 as well, and they are an exceptionally youthful (and sexy) group, they all know who they are. I wouldn't go back to my 20's or 30's if ya paid me.

G

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 21:15:36 ET
Posted by: Tomorrow's Girl, direct from Lhasa

Pauly

That's not so. But you have to admit that McCain/Palin is the winning ticket.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 20:31:05 ET
Posted by: peabody here, the wayback machine

There have been a few responses to their experience of the initial release of Aja back in '77. There would be more responses I suppose, cuz you gotta be prolly over 40 to play.

Still gonna hold mine in abeyance.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 20:29:22 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Heavy Weather

Margaret, you're right.......I went down to the point this afternoon and the water was churning and everything was steel grey and windy and I got "Home at Last" into my thoughts and had to put Aja on when I got home. Would make a great title for a painting......

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 20:09:33 ET
Posted by: pauly,

Tomorrow's Girl - Sarah Palin is legend.....in her own mind!

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 20:02:06 ET
Posted by: Girl Margaret, Cortlandt Manor, NY

Ah, Gretchen, I couldn't agree more with "Aja" on a stormy night, but I prefer "Home at Last" for rainy listening. The line "It's just the calm before the storm" always makes my heart beat a little faster as a storm is about to approach. But just the opening chords to Deacon Blues, in any setting, is inevitably going to cause a smile to cross my face. It almost never fails.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 19:42:11 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, what a great night

Aja is sounding delicious on this stormy, windy night. It almost reminds me of the night 31 years ago when I first fell in love with the album as "Deacon Blues" played on WPLR in New Haven. Some things never change, and that's a good thing.

G

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 19:08:36 ET
Posted by: Tomorrow's Girl, posting from up North

Dr MU
I think naming Palin as Republican VP candidate is brilliant and has the Dems running scared.
But your rewriting of 'Pixeleen' was not brilliant.

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 09:56:43 ET
Posted by: Hanna, blowing up a storm

Thanks, Bob et al., regarding the reference to Elton John's 11-17-70 live CD. Obviously, I'm not "up" on my Elton John info :-)

Date: Sat, September 06, 2008, 00:33:51 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, Eternal Path

Someone just asked me if I'd noticed the way AARP Health Plan, in its latest TV ad, pirates the melody/rhythm from "Trans-Island Skyway." The person says there are slight differences, enough to get by without a lawsuit apparently, but overall shameless in borrowing the tune.

I'm not familiar with the ad and am drawing a blank on finding it online anywhere. Has anyone else seen it and noticed the similarity? Can anyone find it online anywhere? Just curious about it now. Thanks.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 16:55:36 ET
Posted by: SF Dan Fan, San Francisco

Here is a link to a revisitng of gaucho by the author, an album he did not like at first but has come to appreciate. Some interesting interpretation of the lyrics.

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/steely-dan-gaucho.htm

I always like Gaucho, especially Babylon Sisters and Hey 19. But Time out of Mind and Glamour profession are also great songs. The title track is a little fluffy for my taste, but it's not that bad a song, especailly with the conotation the lyrics evoke.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 16:51:32 ET
Posted by: Bob, Atlanta

...or it may go by three titles if we include the variation "17Nov70" (BTW, it's a live album which is the other parallel the poster was suggesting...can it really be almost 38 years since it was recorded?...I guess so if its been 36 years since CBAT).

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 16:02:22 ET
Posted by: @Bob, Re: Elton's live album

"11-17-70"? Only of you got the US version. Here in the old world that live album is titled "17-11-70".

Steely Dan's live album will of course go by two different titles as well :-)

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 15:36:52 ET
Posted by: Bob, Atlanta

Hanna -

"11-17-70" was one of the first Elton John albums

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 15:34:35 ET
Posted by: Sandman,

Barry - Source?

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 14:20:51 ET
Posted by: Barry,

NY Shows coming...

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 13:45:29 ET
Posted by: Hanna, blowing up a storm

Okay, RNA:
I give up. Why would SD have "11-17-08" as the title of a live CD??

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 12:12:40 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard

SF Dan Fan -

RE: Santa Rosa venue

I talked to the box office manager of Wells Fargo Center for the Arts when I was standing in line to buy tickets for the SD shows. I marveled at how WFCA could afford SD for 2 nights. She replied that 'they were losing money on these shows but it's what the community wants.'. She never mentioned that SD gave them a break.

But it is also the same venue where HBO has been filming a lot of comedy shows for TV - George Carlin, Dana Carvey, et al so they may be making it up there.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 11:46:40 ET
Posted by: SteelyDana, hunkering down for Hanna

ooops.....typo. Pixeleen is what I meant to type.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 11:45:08 ET
Posted by: SteelyDanaa, hunkering down for Hanna

Gretchen,
Scroll back down to sunday, Aug. 31. Doc Mu composed a clever re-wording of Pixaleen involving Sarah :-)

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 10:09:12 ET
Posted by: Steven Pomorantz,

Gretchen - Cindy is fine as long as her husband keep running his campaign on fear.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 08:38:56 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, awaiting the nor'easter

Cindy has exquisite taste and the bank account to satisfy it, however, she does need to tone it down quite a bit during the campaign so she doesn't appear so far removed from the average American.

Sarah Palin kinda reminds me of a grownup Pixeleen.


G

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 02:21:43 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu , in the backseat of a midprice luxury car

Dean: Sorry, that was just McCain Zombie see Zombie Do effect tonight...

Speaking of Green Earrings, how about that fab outfit on Cindy?

Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600




RS dumped the original Aja review because of embarrassment and ridicule...that's still no reason not to give Gaucho some love. Dunno if it's available anywhere online

Here's a link ID'ing the Art Crime

http://www.geocities.com/stephenvincent/sdfbiblio.html

Rolling Stone 11/3/77 p.56 "Dazed At The Dude Ranch"

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 01:36:57 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Doc Mu,

What happened to your post? Did you fall asleep mid sentence?

Quick question: Do you have a link to the first RS Aja review (Dazed...)? I can't find it anywhere , but seem to recall it. Apparently, about a month later, they printed this, very favorable (but without stars) review, and it's the only one that has any Internet traction (and the only one the RS archives seems to list):

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/steelydan/albums/album/214470/review/6067722/aja

Date: Fri, September 05, 2008, 00:03:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

The original RS review of Guacho in 1980 gave it 4 1/2 stars...unfortunately, revisionist history and the need to remix WENDEL out has plummeted it's stock among the never was'es. ONE star down from TOW last year. Truly, Gaucho is one great set of Show Tunes. Too bad 2nd A, Kulee Baba, and Can't Write Home About You were left on the cutting floor...if CDs were the standard format back then, one or two might have made it.

Aja received on 3 stars in the infamous "Dazed at the Dude ranch review." Phil Hartman's glossy back & white with the splash of red glossy cover was the most beautiful LP cover art I'd ever seen and the music inside even more elegant...I think they've mercifully



"My first response is "Who gives a shit what the Rolling Stone thinks?"

But, actually, you raise an interesting question.

Like all mags, RS is a product of its writers and editors, as well as the times. In the late 70's and early 80's punk, and other rawer forms of rock, were popular and ruled among the writers and editors of RS. They looked down their pointy noses at The Dan's perfection and production. Even those writers who had previously praised SD work, were now looking for something different than what SD was delivering. SD's progression to a jazzier sound, likely didn't help their standing among these writers, either.

Even among some SD fans, Gaucho was considered a step down from Aja...less intricate, and some thought, more of a "manufactured" sound. Add in the negative issues Don and Walt were having, and you have a work that, at the time, even they seemed to be keeping a distance from.

So, given all that, I'm thinking Gaucho barely got the time of day from the RS staff, who were busy taking, very seriously, the garbage music of the day. Even with that said, you'd have to be deaf and mentally challenged to give Gaucho only one star.

I would guess that, if/when RS ever does another review of music from that era, from scratch, Gaucho would fair quite well. It is an album that has aged beautifully, and sounds as fresh now as it did when it was released. It is also, now free of the jumble of popular mediocre jazz fusion that surrounded it when it was released.

So, bottom line, Gaucho was screwed in that guide, but it's not hard to see why it happened."

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 21:29:20 ET
Posted by: RNA, On Location

Any chance the 11/17 gig is for a live CD to be called 11-17-08?

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 20:46:16 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Janie,

Regarding shows scheduled prior to their formal announcement on steelydan.com, this has already happened a few times this year. I believe it was Lurker Ray who first spotted a show on another site, I don't recall where. Subsequent to that, I think that I found the June 28 Camden show on a ticket broker's site a week or two before its formal announcement. Also, the Pala show was bouncing on and off of the Ticketmaster site for at least a few weeks before its formal posting on steelydan.com. So fortunately these unofficial dates have at least a reasonable chance of becoming official, based on this year's data at least.

GW

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 17:11:16 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Odds and Ends...

JoeM, the year-round Dan tour sounds great. But, I wonder if that delays the next album. Also, it might keep Walter from touring with his own band, for a while. I won't complain either way, though.

SF, I think the last time I saw SD play "Reelin" in concert, the opening riffs were by the horn section. Am I mistaken? Also, I thought Walter said there was no new material for a new album. I could be mistaken about what he actually said, though. He may have said that they've been too busy to record a new album. Any of you, with better recall, remember?

NJ, I believe you are correct about Walter living in NYC. Of course, that doesn't mean he might not be relaxing in Hawaii for a while.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 17:10:33 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

Does anyone but me think it's odd seeing all these listings of fall shows without any mention of them on steelydan.com? In your experience, is there any truth to the "rumors"?

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 17:10:24 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Odds and Ends...

JoeM, the year-round Dan tour sounds great. But, I wonder if that delays the next album. Also, it might keep Walter from touring with his own band, for a while. I won't complain either way, though.

SF, I think the last time I saw SD play "Reelin" in concert, the opening riffs were by the horn section. Am I mistaken? Also, I thought Walter said there was no new material for a new album. I could be mistaken about what he actually said, though. He may have said that they've been too busy to record a new album. Any of you, with better recall, remember?

NJ, I believe you are correct about Walter living in NYC. Of course, that doesn't mean he might not be relaxing in Hawaii for a while.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 16:51:49 ET
Posted by: angel, Cold, Daring, No Flies On Me

How can a person who uses "angel" as her handle choose any other Steely Dan album then Royal Scam. :-)

It's their "guitar" album and always appreciated by this fan.

Purdie, Carlton, Rainy all adding to the mix. Favorite song is Don't Take Me Alive...but Green Earrings is number 2.


First Steely Dan song I remember is Rikki and it became part of the sound track to my summer. I spent 6 weeks crossing the Country with my family in 1974 and heard it all the time. Still a great song, too.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 16:08:00 ET
Posted by: NJ Dan Fan,

"WB is probably back home in Hawaii"

SF Dan Fan- I just read an article saying he lives in NYC full time now.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 15:47:02 ET
Posted by: SF Dan Fan, San Francisco

Connie and Hutch, thanks for your responses to Reelin' and the last set of Fall dates here in NorCal. I also read the website for Wells Fargo Center where they mention their offer to SD to play there. Given the ticket prices were comparable to other venues here, SD got paid. But the venue is sooooo small that they must have appealed to DF's and WB's altruistic nature, given it is a "center for the arts".

Even if Reelin' has a different arrangement, I would love to see it performed live. Peg live starts out with the horn section, so Reelin' could be done the same way. I think they're probably sick of the song and don't want to perform it anymore. Too bad.

As for the new November dates at the Wellmont, Mohegan and Atlantic City, could it be they are planning a new album release? WB is probably back home in Hawaii. Why would he fly all the way back to the East Coast for only a few more dates? Unless afterwards they start preproduction on a new album for a Spring realease.

Any thoughts.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 15:38:28 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Borgata

2 Steely Dan dates at the Wellmont Theater, Montclair NJ:


http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/09/wellmont_theatr.html

WellmontTheater.com is operational, but without any listings yet. See below for a list of some of the already-scheduled shows...


The Wellmont Theatre - initial 2008 schedule *
11/01 - Dave Barnes, Everybody Else & Hanson (The Walk Tour)
11/02 - Matisyahu
11/08 - Bill Maher
11/11 - The Decemberists
11/14 - Wolf Parade
11/15 - Martin Sexton & Ryan Montbleau Band
11/17 - Steely Dan
11/18 - Steely Dan
11/22 - Al Green
11/23 - Brian Wilson
12/04 - B.B. King
12/05 - John Prine
12/06 - Get The Led Out - Trib. To Led Zeppelin
12/30 - Dark Star Orchestra
02/13/2009 - Rufus Wainwright

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 15:17:09 ET
Posted by: JoeM,

Howdy folks,

Apparently we officially have a fall leg of the summer Steely Dan tour. What with the Atlantic City date and now just reading an ad in the CT Post for the Mohegan Sun Casino up here in CT. There's a mention of a November 21 date featuring our favorite musical combo. Tickets to go on sale September 21.

Maybe they're a permanent road show now like their hero's Duke Ellington and company. Don't know about you guys but I can definitely get used to seeing these guys "live" year round for the duration. It doesn't get much better than this.

Joe

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 15:15:29 ET
Posted by: SteelyDana, va

In case this hasn't already been mentioned>>>>>
Folks over at Radio Dupree received an autographed copy of C$ from WB, himself. Pic of signed CD cover is on Radio Dupree homepage.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 14:10:41 ET
Posted by: Yawn Wenner, er, I mean Loser

I thought I remember hearing somewhere that Aja did not get a very good review in Rolling Stone at the time of its release. However, years later (after seeing they got it wrong), the rating was "revised" and is now given more stars than it originally received.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 10:15:53 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Dan,

My first response is "Who gives a shit what the Rolling Stone thinks?"

But, actually, you raise an interesting question.

Like all mags, RS is a product of its writers and editors, as well as the times. In the late 70's and early 80's punk, and other rawer forms of rock, were popular and ruled among the writers and editors of RS. They looked down their pointy noses at The Dan's perfection and production. Even those writers who had previously praised SD work, were now looking for something different than what SD was delivering. SD's progression to a jazzier sound, likely didn't help their standing among these writers, either.

Even among some SD fans, Gaucho was considered a step down from Aja...less intricate, and some thought, more of a "manufactured" sound. Add in the negative issues Don and Walt were having, and you have a work that, at the time, even they seemed to be keeping a distance from.

So, given all that, I'm thinking Gaucho barely got the time of day from the RS staff, who were busy taking, very seriously, the garbage music of the day. Even with that said, you'd have to be deaf and mentally challenged to give Gaucho only one star.

I would guess that, if/when RS ever does another review of music from that era, from scratch, Gaucho would fair quite well. It is an album that has aged beautifully, and sounds as fresh now as it did when it was released. It is also, now free of the jumble of popular mediocre jazz fusion that surrounded it when it was released.

So, bottom line, Gaucho was screwed in that guide, but it's not hard to see why it happened.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 08:54:44 ET
Posted by: Dan Historian, n-e-s-w

The New Rolling Stone Record Guide (1983) reviewed most Dan Albums favorably, but gives only one star to Gaucho. "Music which passes for jazz in Holiday Inn lounges and lyrics which pass for poetry in freshman English classes."

Any thoughts?

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2008, 00:19:16 ET
Posted by: Tomorrows Girl, on Sarah's side

Y'all have to dig out 'Royal Scam'? I listen to it every other day, at least. I love it. It was my first Steely Dan album. And I think Green Earrings and Caves are golden. Earrings I know the story, Caves I haven't a clue as to the meaning of the song but the music is beautiful. Of course Kid C is a favorite. :-)

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 21:36:38 ET
Posted by: gentleman loser, nz

"Caves" through headphones:

The toms are set to alternate sides. Each drum roll pulls your head. Try swaying side to side in time to the song with headphones on.

And the descending major 7th chords before the sax solo. Shouldn't make sense musically, but somehow it does.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 21:03:35 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Brutus,

Speaking of Green Earrings, this is one song that really shines on a good set of headphones. For some reason, the guitar response to Donald's "Greek" and "Medallion" really shoots through the brain on a nice pair of Sennheiser's. The outro you mentioned, just sizzles.

While I love the tune no matter where I hear it, it is something special through headphones.


And, Gus, the Dan fans I know LOVE Caves. Stunning chord changes.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 20:09:42 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

RE: "Green Earrings":

It doesn't get much more mental than Elliott Randall's outro gtr. solo. F***ing cuckoo!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 19:53:25 ET
Posted by: GusMahler, Long Island, NY

re: Royal Scam - some of my favorite Dan moments are on that album. Certainly "Caves" is easily a top-5 Dan pick of mine, and I admit to loving the brief but amazing drum break before the guitar solo in Green Earrings - so tight!

What's the general consensus on "Caves"? - the tried-and-true DanFans I know personally can take it or leave it for the most part, but I can't tell you how much I dig that tune!

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 19:14:23 ET
Posted by: peabody here, the wayback machine

Of late I have thought of the Royal Scam and I too dug it out, and it was like I was taken back to a long-gone time and place. It's ALL good. What a record.

Here is one for the graybeards and gray straight haired former flower chicks:

Holding that thought about Royal Scam, recalling your impression of the Dan at that time as a band and going back into your fog-shrouded possibly distorted perception of the past of 32 years ago,
where were you, what were you doing, and what was your initial reaction to Aja LP or first songs you heard when you first heard them?

I will give my recollection which came back to me as clear as day after that recent Scam listen. So as to not bias any responses I will withhold the tale my initial reaction, but will provide it within about 24 hours.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 18:34:36 ET
Posted by: Travelling Minstrel, The Southland

After seeing all the setlists from this years tour, I dug out The Royal Scam last night.

What an album!

How much would I have liked to hear and see the opening medley? Well, very much indeed. Out of all of their songs The Royal Scam was the one that I thought they would not try live- it must have been epic. How about the way the drums seem to morph into a bit of a Purdie shuffle during the fade out? Did Carlock do this live?

On another note, Haitian Divorce! Can anyone think of any other song in the entire history of recorded music to tastefully use either voice-box or "syndrums"? I thought not. Sheer brilliance.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 18:30:38 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Hodder,

Noted.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 17:13:17 ET
Posted by: gentleman loser, nz

"In the morning you go gunnin..." Double-tracked sure, but one of the most sure-footed and committed first lines of all time. Prince and D'Angelo are two others who come to mind, but no one else nails it better - especially with such complex voicings - than Donald Fagen in the studio. And then as everyone has recently seen and heard (after getting warmed up by the sounds of it), he still pulls it off live in the flesh.

You try and record with your own voice "Cold. Daring" bang on, then do it again over the top of yourself. The harmonies: "Be your holy man"; "I run to you"; hell, even "...home to stay, we're gonna park in the street". Work those parts out, then try to sing them. Even with the help of tab or sheet music - very difficult, nigh impossible. Ring in Michael McDonald and Tim Schmit for good measure. And his single-recorded voice - "I hear you are singing a song of the past"; "Soon you will be 18"; even the drained and weary "I was grinding through my day gig...".

It's a whole lot more than vocally putting mere attitude in the songs or being The Voice of Steely Dan, for the simple fact that not everyone can do what he does.

I have always liked Walter's voice even from 11 Tracks, probably for the same reason I like C$. The yang to Nightfly/Kama/Morph. You cannot tell those stories any other way.

And from its extensive use in C$, I would guess that it was Walter Becker who first commissioned the easy-on-the-ear (and probably on the eye), but simultaneously venomous female backing vocal setup from Show Biz Kids onwards.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 15:59:03 ET
Posted by: Hodder, Texas

Dean - Actually, Hodder sang two songs if you count Dallas.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 14:53:22 ET
Posted by: MikeA, Seattle

Hoops: I had a similar revelation when hearing Door #2 the first few times. The punchline observation is spot on.
Another inside joke it would seem...

As for the vocals WB or DF...Donald is the voice of Steely Dan. My favorite stuff is where he layers his own vocals in harmony. Always like that silky smooth quality when he does that. He multitracks himself as good or better than anyone. "Ruby" and "Maxine" are great examples that comes to mind, but there are a bunch more from the earlier days as well.

Having said all that Walter is awesome as well on "his" SD and solo tunes. To me, he is not better or worse, just different.

MikeA

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 14:11:26 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

With WB, you might never know what could have been.

DF has done so much more singing. Things happen when you sing for that long. WB hasn't had that kind of work and experience singing.

And WB does not have a particularly powerful voice.

So, they're really not the same at all.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 12:34:29 ET
Posted by: hoops, pretty busy

Really busy these days so I only caught the last 3-4 posts...

The "Walter's singing" thread comes up about every three months or so.

The corollary is that there are people who don't like Steely Dan -- and it's because they don't like Donald's voice.

Anyhow, if you scroll to May 27-29 or so, you will see lots more discussion on that topic.

Here's what I wrote then:


======from May 29======

I keep starting on writing *everything* that's so great about "Door Number Two" and I never get it finished.

I have like about 20 notes on this but what says it all for me is this: I had to go on a five hour drive for a business meeting about two weeks ago. It was the first time I listened to "Door Number Two" in its entirety. Of the ten hours I spent driving that day, I probably listened to "Door Number Two" for about six hours of that. It gave me exactly that feeling I had when I was a kid or teen when I'd get a 45 RPM or hear a song on the radio for the first time and I'd want to hear it again and again and again and...

I have to explain that the clip at WB.com didn't do the song any service. To be honest, I didn't expect to like "Door Number Two" that much based on the clip. Hearing the full track has really raised my expectations for the album, not to mention the chills in my spine.

And the voice bit. Now in one of the new interviews with Walter he even says something along the lines that he wishes he had Steely Dan's vocalist for this album. I have to emphatically disagree.

Objectively, Donald doesn't have a beautiful voice either. It's an acquired taste. After 35 years of listening to Steely Dan albums he's what we "know" as Steely Dan's singing voice.

God help me, I am required to have those in my personal and professional life who don't like Steely Dan. What most frequently don't they like? Donald "sings like our nasally relatives from Brooklyn". Yet, some of those (same) people love "Eleven Tracks of Whack".

While Donald has that "Attitude" which has become the trademark Steely Dan sound. More than a couple of people have pointed out that Walter is storyteller. I'll go further: Walter's a joke teller and a humorist.

The first few times I played Door 2, I hadn't seen the lyrics and I simply had the pre-conceived notion that it was going to be a takeoff on the game show "Let's Make A Deal". (Hey, in 2006 it was the "Price is Right", you know?) I really hadn't figured out what was going on in the song. For the first 30 seconds it was like, "OK. Why is everyone singing quietly so as not to wake the baby?" But then I realized I'm driving along and I have a big grin on my face. I was ready to crack up-—like you know someone's pulling your leg or is telling a joke and you're waiting for the punch line.

By the time Walter sings, "...three pigs" or the bit about "...my height and weight", I'm cracking up!

To appropriate part of one of my favorite comments about Steely Dan: when listening to Walter's songs, you're never completely sure what these characters in his songs are doing, but you're very certain they shouldn't be doing it --and it sure is funny!

I bet the reason the album took a couple of years was that the whole studio was cracking up during the sessions.

Sooo... if Donald sings with a almost perpetual sneer, Walter sings as if he's telling a joke and we're all about to crack up laughing.

Like Steve Martin or even Mark Twain, Walter could be a stand-up comedian--but is best as humorist. As I've said many times, he is truly a great American humorist. To dismiss his work because of the tonal qualities of his voice, vocal range or because it's not what one is used to is to miss out on his genius delivery. Put him on the spectrum between Mark Twain and the Leonard Cohen material of the past twenty years.

Jim

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 12:13:22 ET
Posted by: Bobbo, out West

Well,

I've always (since '03 and "Slang of Ages" at any rate-or-pace), ALWAYS wanted to hear Walter WAIL a "spoken" vocal, a-la David Byrne's "Life During Peacetime" or "Burning Down the House", for sure! But alas, it'll be Goddamned 2014 before his next outing for vocals...forsooth, oh-no!

But Donald is THE vocalist in the group; what they do live, I think, is the Bestest Inclusion of All Parts of the Sum...afro-wigs, and all. Don't you think? It's really cool when Walt gets to do one on a tour, but listen: THAT IS NOT THE STATIC QUO (status is implied by usage, get me?). Thank the Gods that Walter has put together his own thing on the side, and I love both projects, by now. He's aces, in my book, for sure. "And I happen to have a book." Kurt Russell says that in a current cult film in its infancy, and I agree.

Walt is okay, in my book. And everybody I meet goes in the book.



Okay,
Bobbo

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:47:37 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

I agree, Donald IS the voice of Steely Dan. Here we are, comparing Walter to Warren Zevon, etc. but is there ANYONE else who sounds quite like Donald?

And, btw, I happen to really like Donald's speaking voice; seems like he's always on the verge of cracking up to some inside joke!

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:45:53 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Well, Dana,

Walt has sung exactly ONE Steely Dan song, on their official recorded works. He, on occasion sings a song or two, in concert (which I like) and has demonstrated that he has a good voice, and can sing, in his solo works (particularly C$).

David Palmer has sung on more Steely Dan songs than Walt, and Jim Hodder has sung on just as many. It is really hard to argue, IMO, that Donald is not the voice of Steely Dan. (Again, that doesn't mean that Walt can take the occasional vocal. It isn't either/or here.)

With that said, David Palmer and Jim Hodder sang on the first album, and yet Steely Dan did not fold...in fact they were rather successful. I think that suggests that SD might have survived a Walt vocal or two, in the early years.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:40:14 ET
Posted by: AnonTwit, @home

Sunburned and exhausted from the dehydration from the complications of Mexican water, I feel I should weigh in.

Mulholland drive is, imho, a dream within a dream; pay attention to the blue box.

I think that Fagen wouldn't fit over Walter's material. That being said, Walter is the voice of his own band. And it works.

Likewise, Steely Dan's lead vox should naturally be Donald. The fit it just too obvious.

But I did think that Walter singing "Gaucho" was a noble twist and one that ultimately worked.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:31:34 ET
Posted by: SteelyDana, listening

Why can't DF and WB both be considered THE singers of Steely Dan?
They both have skills and talents that work very well together, and, separately.
I do agree that WB has the better "disc jockey" voice, but, I love listening to both DF and WB talk on the 2vN DVD.
Just my 2 piasters.......

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:29:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Attacking the wrong guy, Prick. I never suggested that Walt should displace Don.

In fact, I quite clearly stated that Don was a better singer and is the voice of Steely Dan.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:27:45 ET
Posted by: Anon prick,

"If Walter had been the lead singer of SD since day one, they wouldn't have made it past two albums"

Yeah,somebody gets it! Dean do you understand? Who gives a crap about a singers "speaking voice". Donald Fagen sings songs. He doesn't put on poetry readings!

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:26:59 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, Enjoy Every Sandwich

I hear some Zevon in not only Bob, but Upside, Selfish Gene, Do you Remember the Name. Both have that gravely baritone voice, but it's the edge and on upside the open soundscape.

C$ is simply a great sounding recording...the best balance in the soundscape since Aja...the mix is a treatise in natural sounding pop studio recordings. Klein and Beard get a lot of props

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 11:00:01 ET
Posted by: The Fez, 1

If Walter had been the lead singer of SD since day one, they wouldn't have made it past two albums. While I'm sure that some of you will try to make some case for Walt, you're the exception and not the norm.

Donald Fagen is THE singer for Steely Dan.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 10:57:16 ET
Posted by: Closer an unconfirmed but..., still not in Europe

Just to keep steelydan.com alert... ;)

A blog post about the refurbished Wellmont Theater in Montclair, N.J. has Steely Dan inked in for November 17 & 18. Added below the schedule: "some of these dates are not 100% confirmed".

But it looks like the officially announced November 22 date might not be the only one in November.

Link to the post:

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/09/wellmont_theatr.html

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 10:53:36 ET
Posted by: prez logic, butting in

IMHO Jon Herington and band sounded like the Jayhawks at the Bitter End and I loved it...

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 09:45:17 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

David Letterman on Warren Zevon in Rolling Stone:

In the Rolling Stone article, Letterman discusses guests including Madonna, Oprah Winfrey and Howard Stern, with the most moving remarks about musician Warren Zevon, who appeared on "Late Show" shortly before his 2003 death from cancer.

Letterman recalled his "heartbreaking" meeting with Zevon in a dressing room after the show.

"Here's a guy who had months to live and we're making small talk. And as we're talking, he's taking his guitar strap and hooking it, wrapping it around, then he puts the guitar into the case and he flips the snaps on the case and says, `Here, I want you to have this, take good care of it.' And I just started sobbing.

"He was giving me the guitar that he always used on the show. I felt like, `I can't be in this movie, I didn't get my lines.' That was very tough," Letterman said.

RIP Warren.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 09:37:28 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

I hear shades of Zevon in Bob, and Boz Scaggs in Downtown Canon.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to catch Jon H at the Bitter End. I will have to re-listen to the youtube clips.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 09:33:24 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Borgata

Girl Margaret and Jason

I agree with the Warren Zevon comparison, I've thought that since 11TOW...

I also thought that Jon Herington sounded like Joe Walsh at the Bitter End after-party. Any thoughts on that? I was pleasantly surprised, didn't know what Jon was going to sound like.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 09:17:48 ET
Posted by: Girl Margaret, Cortlandt Manor, NY

Jason, it's funny you compared Walter to Warron Zevon. I always thought that "Bob is Not Your Uncle Anymore" would have been a great song for Zevon to sing. Actually, if I didn't know better and heard that song for the first time, I would have thought WZ was singing it.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 01:10:39 ET
Posted by: tom, in texas

Help Please - gotta have it.
I am very much in love with Circus Money and want to buy the bonus track "dark horse dub" can anyone direct me to where I can buy the single song, or snag it by any means possible. I already have the U.S. release. Thanks in advance, Tom

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 00:46:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu , Streets of Rappongi

DC: I dunno. Appears that life is imitating art to me.

Woah, looks the the tour is over here. Carry on.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2008, 00:08:57 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Actually Jason, Walter may, indeed, have a better voice than Walter. As you note, he does have a better and richer speaking voice. And, he is learning to sing with that voice. Doing a good job, too, IMO.

But, I still think Donald is a far better singer, overall. Of course, he has years more experience than Walt. And, as has been noted here many times, Don's voice is getting better, it seems. Certainly he sounds better in concert and still sounds quite strong on the most recent recordings.

I don't really look at this as a either/or situation, though. Hopefully, they find a way to expand Walt's vocal contributions to the band, while also retaining Donald's amazing contributions.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 19:56:09 ET
Posted by: Jason G.,

I am not an extreme WB booster, but will concede the folowing:

I wouldn't say that DF is a "better" singer than WB. They have different styles. WB, I would say has the better voice for Warren Zevon or Zappa sort of stuff. He needs the right songs, and it appears that he got them on C$. I also think WB was a wise choice for Slang. Picture DF doing songs like Selfish Gene or Somebody's Saturday Night. WB has the sleazy, subversive timbre to pull it off.

Of the two, I would vote WB as the better "broadcast voice". During the Sirius guest DJ sessions, I much preferred WB as being the DJ over DF on several levels.

Listen to DF the next time he does an interview and you'll find has some kind of mushy lisp going on and his voice lacks that clarity of enunciation that is desirable to be an effective radio professional. DF sounds like an older man who is losing the clarity of speaking voice, while WB could be mistaken for a man 20 years younger, like one of those "cool" alternative dudes that dominated radio in the late 80's and 90's.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 18:27:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

I'm not sure I would call Walter a "Great" singer...at least not yet. But, I like his voice and he seems to have really stepped it up, vocally, for this new one. I have stated before (and I will do so again), the vocals (lead and background) are a real strength of Circus Money.

Yes, Walter is self-deprecating about his vocal ability (as he is about his guitar playing), but he clearly has become more comfortable singing, and he admits that.

I'd love to hear him take a band in concert, and sing his, and a smattering of Dan (and others'), songs...like what Donald did with his band. And, I NEVER complain when Walter sings a song or two, at a Dan concert. I consider it a treat.

With that said, Donald is the voice of the Dan and is a better singer than Walter. But, that doesn't mean that, on the next Dan album, Walter can't/won't/shouldn't take the lead on a song or two. I'd love that.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 18:05:11 ET
Posted by: Bob Who Is Not Your Uncle Anymore, Not In That New York City No More

Does anyone really think that Walter Becker is not a great singer?

Apparently Walter Becker himself thinks that he is a bad singer, but I really don't understand the people who say this when he sings Steely Dan songs in concert, or his own songs. They're not used to hearing him, sure, but what's bad about his voice? He has a Jackson Browne/Bruce Springsteen kind of vibe which people don't associate with Steely Dan, but I just don't see how anyone can say it's <em>bad</em>.

And <em>11 Tracks of Whack</em> and <em>Circus Money</em> are <em>great</em> albums.

Thank you for listening.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 16:26:55 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

GM,

I'm in too, for both shows!! Should be fun!

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 15:38:34 ET
Posted by: Girl Margaret, This clean city

Word, Dugan. Let's get back to the music (and the David Lynch), shall we?

Tomorrow night: Showbiz Kids at BB Kings.
Monday night: Carlock with Oz Noy at Bitter End.

Who's in? I'm all in.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 15:25:58 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Kid Clean, I love David Lynch but I can't really put the pieces together in Mullholland Drive. I've read some explanations that seem to make some sense, but in general I don't think there's really anything to "get" that will tie it up in a neat little bow. I think Lynch is interested primarily in bringing his dreams and nightmares to the screen.

If you really want a mind fuck, check out INLAND EMPIRE. Makes Mullholand Drive look like, I don't know, Casablanca. Totally non-linear collection of scenes mostly starring Laura Dern. It's a 3+ hour ordeal but well worth it.

Also, to make this tangentially-Dan:

"Isn't it a shame how David Lynch films have this fabulous idea behind them, and yet, they're so tedious to actually watch. His films should really be a shot of him behind a desk in an uncomfortable-looking sports jacket with patches on the elbows, smoking a pipe and briefly describing the plot, the mise en scene, the shots, the casting and so on, and that would be it."

http://donaldfagen.com/lexisays.php?pnum=4&tnum=53

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 15:20:26 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

Incorrect? What exactly does THAT mean? Let me have a minute to scan that one through my Rosetta Stone-a-Rack-a-cycle...

Our, "Observer," is pretty transparent, is it not so? The self destruction was mutual, have you not realized that as yet? It takes two to make a thing go right and anyone who believes something that went, well, South, shall we say, completely due to another's fault is just not in touch.

Coward? Wow, again, walk a mile in my shoes, spend a little "time" with me.

Hoops, if people think I've given this forum some of its best moments, I remain gratified.

Check out my shit at "judged and hung before trial.com."

Peace to you all.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 11:36:25 ET
Posted by: Dugan, This Dirty City

Right on to Hoops. I posted a e-mail last week saying (in effect), "Hey SD fans, yer fave drummer is playing for 10 bucks for 100 people in the Village next week!" and it was glossed over by all this drama. Let's get real, kids...look right in front of your face and there will be SWEET MUSIC.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 11:24:13 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

A huge reason this place was started at effort and cost was because some other forums had turned heavily into discussion of other fans' private lives, etc. I discovered we were losing input from those who knew more than myself or others. Given my role in this forum, I don't even want this to be a discussion about me, unless it's very directly SD-related. I even prefer it when people leave birthday wishes to me off line.

Whether I agree with Rajah's SD posts all the time--more than a few are wonderful, some are just plain incorrect--it's clear others have a fascination with him. For those with that fascination and level of reverence, I suggest that you start a separate webpage or MySpace or FaceBook page in tribute. There he will get his due and here we can focus more on Steely Dan rather than fan personalities. It's at the root of why the extra effort is made to have the BlueBook.

Thank you.

Jim

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 10:30:28 ET
Posted by: Observer who does know the truth,

Scouser, you are talking out of your ass. You are a big part of why Rajah was led down the path of self destruction.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 06:32:34 ET
Posted by: Chucjmes,

Free galleries <a href=http://www.youngsexydolls.com>nude teen girl</a> online!

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 06:32:08 ET
Posted by: Scouser, Planet Earth

Man hold me back !
First..........................

AnonTwat.. Sorry AnonTwit......and lets not forget to give a big hello to that other sad total lack of soul talent playing metronome twat ( Handle )I know the truth.. la. Coward .
( I know the truth. la. ) Dude the games up mate your not fooling anyone with that sorry ass handle mate.

I have had the great pleasure of knowing Raj for many years and it makes me so angry to read the comments that one or two dickheads are posting about this man.

Yes Raj has no sense of place or decorum at times but thats what makes him Raj, and anyone who knows and loves him gets it.

Scouser......................

P.S.
To BlueBook one and all. Please excuse my post

AnonTwit, at the Airport

Let's not forget difference #5:

Raja is a coward who has no sense of place or decorum.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 06:14:40 ET
Posted by: Joe Gallup,

WE care. Particularly in cases such as this where the Top Ten writers standings are affected.

Date: Tues, September 02, 2008, 00:47:08 ET
Posted by: DC, DC

DOCmu,
tried reading your pro Obambi drivel.
Lost my train of thought and was glad to have a job.
If you came up with someting original, that would be cool.
To butcher lyrics of a great SD song like this is just plain stupid,
you little misunderstood Poet.
No one gives a crap about who you vote for.

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 22:05:03 ET
Posted by: Hey, looks like The Doc is Muuuuvin Up!!,

Top 10 Blue Writers of All-Time

1. Rajah
2. Bullgoose
3. Alkali
4. Lurker Ray
5. Daddy G.
6. Angel
7. sue dave
8. Girl M.
9. Doc Mu******!!!!!
10. RJ Squirrel

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 22:02:50 ET
Posted by: warrenk,

as legendary as the guitar intro to reelin is, i freaking love the Alive In America version and would much prefer that. the piano groove with that horn arrangement is the shit.

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 21:43:32 ET
Posted by: Mr. LaPage, St Louis

Can anyone tell me if there are links on this site to all the setlists for all the past tours. I want to check individual shows I went to for setlists if at all possible.

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 21:39:54 ET
Posted by: Mr. LaPage, St Louis

Mulholland Drive is a fascinating movie that I think takes 2 or even 3 viewings to fully digest and "get". Which is on purpose, as all Lynch movies are meant to be. Look for clues, symbolism and keep in mind that Lynch doesn't always tell stories that go linearly from Point A to Point B. In other words, sometimes the events depicted are out of order. Also keep in mind he likes to use dream/flashback sequences. The movie is rich and highly rewarding, but it isn't a Disney flick you're supposed to digest like a Big Mac and move on.

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 21:31:08 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, home@last

A hair off topic perhaps, but I just tried watching Mulholland Drive by David Lynch last night and quite frankly, I didn't get it. Anyone here a Lynch fan that might shed some light on it?


KC

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 20:40:03 ET
Posted by: Steve, with a question

Was Circus Money ever reviewed by the New York Times?

Date: Mon, September 01, 2008, 00:53:56 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest just went out in the past hour or so. It covered August 26-31, 2008. We also had a Dandom Digest covering August 18-25, 2008 that went out last Tuesday.

You should already have the one for the 18th-25th and you should have the one for the 26th-31st in the next 12 hours. As usual, if you don't, please email me. Some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc.

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter—definitely not to be confused or affilliated with the glorious (and much more glamorous) Official steelydan.com, walterbecker.com and donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists—please email me or see http://dandom.com/dandomdigest

Thanks as always for your support, especially Mark, Bill and John.

Jim

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 22:14:19 ET
Posted by: siditious, St Paul

Dr Mu - nice. And tangentially Dan. I like it.

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 21:58:25 ET
Posted by: Bob,

does anybody know what Donald is up to tonight?
>wine country - Sonoma two step?
>Kauai chill time - Princeville two step?
>??

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 12:50:51 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I believe the general consensus on Kulee Baba is this: a US news team films an african tribe engaged in a ceremony called the Kulee Baba. The narrator is a member of the crew. I always got the sense it was going to be a pretty low brow story as opposed to a thoughtful documentary.

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 12:44:58 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Our man McCain spams off 20,000 email rounds
And that's when she jumps in the Piper Cub
So she swings to center of Ohio state
Double down to Limbaugh's estate
Her cell phone rings
It's, like, her stupid husband
Buy some Pampers by ten, again

Trixeleen
Surreal Dream, my three times perfect ultraVeep
Trixeleen
Born in the ice fog of Idaho
Trained to hunt and ski hard
Dropped on the Alaskan pipeline
Soaked through on Northern Exposure

And when McCain rams the clip in her mini-glock
Laser on moose walking outside the Refuge
Sarah whips ANWR contract from the black of her go-go boot
Beehive, boob, and spectacular thigh
The voters start to throb
It's your as-if reporters on FoxNews
Let's seal the deal-or whatever

Trixeleen
Rave on my cheek and soulful Miss Congeniality
Trixeleen
Worshiped by the hack James Dobson
Backed by a throng in St. Paul
Shot all in digital video
Raised seven million and change

Flash back to cold winter nights
Sarah Barracuda in ankle brace
Championship medals in your garage
Qualified because she's so different
Made Ted Stevens come clean

This is what I see
Just a girl in girlie trouble
Dancing in the video with gun, diesel, and kerosene

Trixeleen
Be good my three times perfect Beauty Queen
Trixeleen
Five born in Northern Exposure
Shot salmon in the ice fog of Washington
Dropped the Bridge to Nowhere
Soaked through all those diapers
Girl with the sweet back, whoa boy
Pitched in a trailer in Wasilia
Cast as a cool-enough yes m'am
Lusted by the cults in Utah

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 11:34:14 ET
Posted by: Tonee C,

Anybody ahve a take as to what the lyrics to "Kulee Baba" are about?

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 10:21:16 ET
Posted by: Geoff, The El Supreme new wiggy pad

GM - the new mix is up, with downloads *ON* http://www.myspace.com/saddesign

LWO - these blokes came over yesterday and moved the kitchen cabinets so the fridge fits now. I think they're going to do the new room too. Apparently they did Don Henley's house. (Not sure if we're alowed to discuss people such matters/people on the blue book, but he used to be in the Doobie brothers, who as we know, changed their name to Steely Dan when Peter Gabriel left to form Generation X)


Congrats SOH!

Date: Sun, August 31, 2008, 00:05:01 ET
Posted by: DC, DC

I have a feeling Sam Yahel will replace Jeff Young at some point.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 18:36:18 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Congrats to SOH on his marriage.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 18:22:22 ET
Posted by: Chan, Bsoton

Congratulations Joe!!!!

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 12:57:31 ET
Posted by: Girl Margaret, Cortlandt Manor, NY

Re: Reelin', it was also played the first few shows of the '06 tour, but like another song or two, it was dropped early. I remember being at the first show in Milwaukee that tour and they started playing Reelin' just like it sounded on AIA, and a lot of people didn't recognize the tune right away. I, on the other hand, recognized it instantly and jumped up and yelled out "OMG it's Reelin' in the Years!" and people looked at me like I was mad. Well...I was.

Connie, if you ever get the chance to chat with some of the crew members (and I recommend you do, as they are lovely people!), a lot of them already have work lined up as soon as the tour is over. Sometimes it's with another artist or a group or a show, or they work in a shop for a production company or whatever. That's really just the nature of working in the performing arts, period. I noticed a lot of this when I was working in summer stock theater - one gig ends and hopefully (for crew) it's on to the next gig or back to teaching (something I noticed more with theater techs than music techs). Unless you've got a steady gig with a long running Broadway show, you just gotta keep on keepin' on.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 11:18:31 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore. eh

We scored $95. seats five rows from the stage way right but close to Donald WhooHoo!

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 10:52:17 ET
Posted by: mr belzoni, funway west

hello one and all, looks like 95 bucks will get you in row 15 in atlantic city ! here's hoping they change up the show from last time and add another show in philly! hoops maybe we can meet in a-c if there is a fest ! mr B

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 09:20:41 ET
Posted by: fornetti,

I do not believe this

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 09:16:08 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Cheers

Best wishes to our friend Joe(SOH) and his bride on their wedding day tomorrow! May you have many, many years of happiness!!

G

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 07:18:27 ET
Posted by: fornetti,

I do not believe this

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 06:09:55 ET
Posted by: Instant recall (for once), @ Fife

Fife: "...an interview where Walter stated that they had no plans to do a live dvd because he didn't think you could capture the whole live jive and the atmosphere on it. I can't for the life remember where that came from but it made sense to me. Does anyone else remember that?"

It was in the August Rockline call-in show where he was asked about the possibility of a DVD.

Date: Sat, August 30, 2008, 02:53:44 ET
Posted by: MikeA, Seattle

Hey Hutch: Regarding the intro on Reelin, you are right, it would/should be the guitar that plays it. But, counting on my fingers, it seems like we only need 16 notes reproduced for the theme and then Jon might embelish from there. I think the other recurring riff was fine with the horns doing it, ala, the Alive in America version of this song.

I agree, Reelin is a signature SD song. I remember the first time I ever heard it. We were on a high school field trip waiting to take a boat trip to the channel islands in CA on a Saturday afternoon. It was too stormy so the boat ride was not happening. We sat on this damn school bus for a few hours next to the coast, just waiting. Someone had a transister radio playing (a Sony ) Anyway, the one song that really got me was Reelin that afternoon. All these years after, I still associate that memory of time and place with that song. That was also the day in 1973 when I became a Dan Fan.

MikeA

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 22:29:14 ET
Posted by: Reely Dan, Windy City

Greetings fellow jazz-rock-pop-funk-blues & soul enthusiasts! . . .

The Tribute known as REELY DAN is playing TOMORROW EVENING at the famous DURTY NELLIES Entertainment Complex in friendly neighborhood Palatine!

The show is on Ticketmaster, Tickets are also available at the door,
if you haven’t been to the newly remodeled NELLIES, it is like a scaled-down version of House of Blues. Featuring professional lights & sound, this new northwest suburban venue hosts many, many national acts every week as well as top local artists.

It is a late one: REELY DAN hits the stage at 11:00 pm, and plays to 1:30 am.

See the details below. We hope to see you all come out and support the music of the immortals, please consider joining us tomorrow night, Saturday August 30, at Durty Nellies in Palatine:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2008

REELY DAN
appearing at
DURTY NELLIES
180 N. SMITH STREET
PALATINE, ILLINOIS


REELY DAN . . . The Steely Dan Tribute Band, featuring Bob Blom, Steve Kikoen, Michael Hesiak, John Forrest, Gary Claypool, and our special guests Maggie Brown, Africa Brown, Isha Lewis, Raphael Crawford, and Ethan Bulak.

“Close your eyes and you’ll be there - a splendid time is guaranteed for all!”

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 22:09:10 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the Vineyard

SF Dan Fan - Acoording to the local Santa Rosa paper, Wells Fargo Ctr heard that SD was coming back West to play a gig in Las Vegas and made them an offer to play. I guess they couldn't refuse. Thank God!

Has this been discussed? I thought about this when Walter introduced all the people behind the scenes at the last show in Santa Rosa. What happens(ed) August 28th? Are the crew, the roadies, etc. independent contractors or employees? Does everyone meet up (except Donald and Walter who have taken a plane home) and get their final check, a tour bonus and, perhaps, a thank you note from D&W? Does everyone head for the unemployment office the next day and file as "Laid off as a roadie for a legendary band" and then take the next 85 days off until November 22nd?

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 21:45:20 ET
Posted by: Hutch, Richmond

SF DanFan - I too wonder about Reelin' and why it was only played live in '93 and '94. And even then it was a drastically rearranged version.
Reelin' in the Years is probably the single most recognized song that SD ever recorded. I'll bet if most people were asked to name a Steely Dan song they would name that one.
So why haven't they performed it in it's original form? Okay, from a guitarist's point of view the intro would pretty much have to be played note for note... or damn close to get the right effect. I mean what else could you play that would really work there? So would Jon be averse to playing it almost note for note. I doubt it since he usually plays the intro to Don't Take Me Alive note for note.
Would the lyrics or feel be too dated or awkward for DF like Wu seems to be? I can't see why. Is it a Steely Dan Anthem song? You bet it is. Every bit as much as My Old School.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining, just wondering.

I really would like to know what Jon would do with that solo in the middle though.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 18:17:21 ET
Posted by: Ambrose,

Twit, congratulations on being such a stand-up American. A true spawn of the red, white and blue. We need more like you, Twit, yessiree, anonymous, cowardly, banal, all that and ready to give us exciting updates on your vacation schedule. It just doesn't get better than this.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 18:02:50 ET
Posted by: SF Dan Fan, San Francisco

Great shows to end the tour. I attended the show on Wed 27th and loved it. Looks like the set list was identical to the 26th w/ the exception of Babylon Sisters inserted for FM (which I preferred since BS is a great song). I also loved that Black Cow and Bodhisattva got played.

The show at the Berkeley Greek was also most excellent!. That set list included Everything You Did, Glamour Profession and Home at Last. They aslo did Do It Again for an encore song so at least I've seen them do one of their ultra classics.

I know folks will disagree, but not playing Reelin' and Ricki was a bummer. In fact, Reelin' would have gotten the crowd up and going right away as opposed to being more subdued until late in the show. The thing about Reelin' is that the chorus is so classic you have to sing along, which gets the crowd really into it. Too bad they did not go there.

Given that they've gotten back into touring (94, 96, 00, 03, 06-08) chances are we'll see them roll out here to NorCal again, but maybe not as much. I was surprised that they were here so many time (Berkeley, Saratoga, Stateline NV, Murphys, Saratoga-again and Santa Rosa). Especially given that they were in the Midwest and ended that leg in Dallas. Does anyone know why they came back to Norcal, given the venue sizes are small?

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 15:23:50 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, eh

I was reading over the last couple of days posts especially the Deans posts about a live dvd and an interview where Walter stated that they had no plans to do a live dvd because he didn't think you could capture the whole live jive and the atmosphere on it. I can't for the life remember where that came from but it made sense to me. Does anyone else remember that?
Plans almost solidified for AC whoohoo!

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 15:12:52 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Kid C,

I agree with your assessment of Bird. Not a GREAT movie, but pretty damn good. Forest Whitaker does a fine job as Charlie Parker.

Why not make a night of it and enjoy 'Round Midnight, too. Damn fine movie, with a superb performance by jazz sax great Dexter Gordon.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 15:03:17 ET
Posted by: SteelyDana, va

In that case, MANY thanks, Hoops !!! :-)
and thanks to Janie also.
Will put the movie on my netflix queue.....

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 14:46:09 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

Hoops has long touted the Glengarry soundtrack as a great jazz album and the movie is very good as well.

"Bird" was a very good movie, in my opinion. Don't know how historically accurate it is but it's very watchable. Forest Whitaker is an excellent actor.

KC

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 14:44:32 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

SteelyDana,

I think it was Hoops who made that recommendation. I got it too and yes, it's great!

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 14:38:46 ET
Posted by: Zitomeyer,

My bad Twit. I apologize

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 14:33:47 ET
Posted by: SteelyDana, va

Can't remember who it was on The Blue who recommended the Glengarry Glen Ross CD....but, THANK YOU !! I found it in the $2 bin at local music store and what a wonderful CD !!!! Some really beautiful, silky smooth jazz....Very nice.
And some SD notables on the liner notes:
Jeff Porcaro
Bob Shepard
and of course, D. Fagen for the song "Blue Lou"......

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 13:50:31 ET
Posted by: Dan Historian, keyboard

88 was the year of Clint Eastwood's movie Bird.
I have never seen it. Should rent it sometime.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 13:43:47 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., Parker's Band

On a blog I've been reading of late there's a "Today's birthday" widget from The Free Dictionary. Today's featured b-day person is...

Charles "Bird" Parker, Jr.
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Charlie%20Parker

He would have been 88.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 12:06:54 ET
Posted by: Zitomeyer,

Anontwit
That was fucked!

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 08:53:14 ET
Posted by: AnonTwit, on the tarmac

This is a nice little FM, especially great due to the horn solos starting near the 5 min mark, but worth it:

The band just keeps on giving and giving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu_DCV84TiU

Off to Mexico for the weekend, but all you good, law abiding citizens have a great weekend.

Date: Fri, August 29, 2008, 02:32:58 ET
Posted by: Santa Rosa Dave, Pix from Tuesday

Here's a link to some photographs of Tuesday night's show posted on the local rag's website: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=SR&Dato=20080826&Kategori=ENTERTAINMENT03&Lopenr=826009998&Ref=PH&show=galleries&template=multimedia

If the link doesn't work, just go to http://www.pressdemocrat.com and scroll down to "Top Photo Galleries" and you'll find the Dan in there.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 22:24:25 ET
Posted by: good, Dean!,

you took that poster's comments, you weren't Mean Dean, and you added some insight.

Cheerio, mate!

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 22:21:34 ET
Posted by: Fife, Home a last

Anyone up for a chat?
Fife

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 22:10:36 ET
Posted by: Jon, Benton Harbor

"Any shows they had done before or since would not measure up."

This you KNOW because you've been to every Steely Dan concert, ever.

Fool.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 21:20:56 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

While I agree it isn't likely the Dan is doing a DVD (at the Borgata, or elsewhere), it's fun speculation.

But, I seriously doubt they would pick a place like Soboba to do one, either. Based on the Plush DVD, the live stuff from Rock and Soul Revue and the PBS special, they are likely to pick a small indoor venue rather than an outdoor venue. Of course, that's just a guess.

I don't think crowd reaction is a big consideration for Steely Dan. This isn't a Bon Jovi concert we're talking about.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 20:57:41 ET
Posted by: nooooo, not the Borgata,

Borgata, not very likely. Somebody talked about low crowd energy at Santa Rosa, it ain't happenin at the Borgata. Better off doing a show in a studio and use canned applause. If they didn't produce a DVD from Soboba show they missed the best opportunity in their history. That, or they have no intention of doing live DVD's. Still, you can't rule out the possibility of a Soboba, Red Rocks or Beacon DVD someday maybe.

Any shows they had done before or since would not measure up.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 19:02:23 ET
Posted by: Conspiracy, Large Tan House

Maybe they are planning on releasing the previous Borgata show on DVD and they are going back to fill in the gaps and do a few retakes.

Basically the same setlist, but it will give them a choice of performances to pick from ...

Just a thought.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 17:16:28 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One,

Kelly Dwyer is a big SD fan....lurks around here occasionally.

It is always interesting to note when the band peaks. This year it sounds like it was late July or early August.

Oh, Banyan Nine--do we recall a lack of energy at the last shows in 2003? My memory is a bit dim on that. Must have been the jet lag.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 16:16:04 ET
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KY

Completely unexpected Steely Dan reference of the day. A double-shot of The Dan, in fact! My buddy e-mailed me a link to a story about Jay Mariotti resigning from the Chicago Sun-Times http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Jay-Mariotti-goes-away?urn=nba,104057

It includes the following: "And, as someone who apsatively refused to read his work, or watch the abomination that is Around the Horn (or, depressingly, his turns on Pardon the Interruption), I'm convinced that I have a unique view on this guy's career." And yes, the word "apsatively" is hyperlinked to the 2VN lyrics on steelydan.com. The blog entry also includes a reference to Don Henley being soulless, complete with a link to the episode of "Yacht Rock" about The Eagles vs. Steely Dan.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 15:48:21 ET
Posted by: SteelyDanaa, va

Only 85 days until the Borgata show....but who's counting?? :-)

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 15:39:33 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Heading Toward the Manatee Bar

It's too bad the crowd was so subdued in Santa Rosa. I don't need the crowd to dance (a little doesn't bother me), but a lack of energy and vocal appreciation is unfortunate.

I am told that, people who have raised from their seats to dance, at this venue, were removed from some previous concerts. That, plus the security vibe raised by alan, might help to explain the lack of great energy, by the audience.

Connie, you know why Conservative Baptists don't have sex while standing up? People might think they are dancing.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 15:33:56 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard

Good one Alan - "That, to me, is almost sacrilegious." since the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts was originally built as The Christian Life Center until its demise in 1981. Maybe the Christians are still lurking. I don't think they danced either.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 15:16:33 ET
Posted by: alan, SFO

Just wanted to add a few more thoughts about last nights show.

The sound was great. We were sitting 5th row almost dead centre and there were moments when I thought I could hear someone playing a tambourine right behind me, it was almost like surround sound at times.

Carlock was impressive as always but it was a great treat for me to see Bob Shepard play, man he can blow ! Funny watching him stand beside Leonhart though, they could almost pass as father and son.

Having a bit more time to reflect about the crowd, maybe the Nazi style of security had something to do with the fact most people behaved but I swear, out of the 26 shows I have seen since 2003 that was the first crowd ( well at least the crowd on the main floor ) that didn't get up for MOS or Kid C. That, to me, is almost sacrilegious.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 13:52:41 ET
Posted by: BillfromPgh,

I like Walter's take much better than the Disney version!

>>He also reflected on the summer tour by sharing the story of the Grasshopper and the Ant. The ant, it seems, worked hard all summer stockpiling food and preparing for winter, while the grasshopper played and played. Sure enough, when winter came, the grasshopper had no food, so he ate the ant.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 13:24:52 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard

RE: Last show of the season

As it turns out, the AC was fixed for this show. WL and I talked to the AC man and the computer had shut down on Tuesday night.

Donald wore a white sports coat and tee shirt.

Walter had basically the same Hey 19 story as the night before.

The ladies looked fantastic. All 3 wore black dresses, 2 wore wide red patent leather belts and the other a sequined bustier.

The audience did seem more sedate on the main floor than Tuesday night but the balcony was rocking.

I thought Gaucho was one of the best I have heard this tour. Walter hit it perfectly.

Alan, Jeri, Steve, Kirk and Sabrina - here's hoping for WB tour.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 13:00:55 ET
Posted by: Randall,

Horse shit there DJ
The best posts came from "the man on the run"( Camel Breath)

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 12:47:16 ET
Posted by: DJ, Shy-town

Hands down the best posts over the years go to mealreviewer and those posts concerning barna, rick the bagel, and their famous Steel Don cover band "The Sick Fruitty Bitches"!

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 11:10:30 ET
Posted by: alan, Santa Rosa CA

Well Santa Rosa Dave and beaubo have pretty much summed up last nights show. One thing I'd like to add was that both Donald and Walter mentioned that this was the last show for this season which to my interpretation means there's more to come, how much more we'll have to wait and find out.

Dean, Santa Rosa was definitely an intimate venue and the audience last night was mostly very polite, too polite in my opinion. Bands feed off energy generated from the crowd and the crowd last night was very sedate.

Connie and Holliday, it was great to see you again and Steve it was a pleasure to meet you too. Kurt and Sabrina, great to see you again too.

Donald, Walter et al, thanks again for bring your music to the masses.

Now we are off to Indy for the wedding of the world's most eligible bachelor...

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 09:47:26 ET
Posted by: Craig B,

LWO's last post was the best I've read in months.
Thank You

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 09:37:22 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Dave and beaubo,

Thanks for the reports. I have always wanted to see The Dan in an intimate (and/or "sophisticated") setting...a venue designed for serious appreciation of serious music. And, before the wolves attack, by "serious" I don't mean somber or lacking in fun. I am very serious about having fun...it is the most important thing in my life!

I am sad I had to miss these Santa Rosa shows.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 07:59:24 ET
Posted by: Rajah of Erase, Douira

Knock twice.

Rap with your cane.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 06:14:51 ET
Posted by: Little M, right here

I know that they've added one show for later this year -- Nov 22 - Borgata Event Center - Atlantic City NJ | on sale Aug 30 -- but I wonder if they'll work on another album. That's what I've been waiting for. EMG came out five years ago, after all.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 04:16:50 ET
Posted by: beaubo, Cleveland

Had a quick meetup with Connie, Alan/Jeri and Holliday before the band's farewell show! Nice to meet some fellow knowledgeable and enthusiastic Steely Dan fans.

The show's setlist mirrored that of the night before.

Band's energy was probably more revved up than the crowd,though they were rfreceptive, they seemed a bit reserved compared to other shows I've seen.

Suffice to say, its been a helll of a run, and hopefully not the last!

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 03:00:16 ET
Posted by: Al_Suarez, Tri Valley SF Bay Area

Oh, I loved the Walter Becker's lead vocals on Goucho. I like it better than the orginal, is that supposed to be OK? :-) Anyway....I very much enjoyed Becker's delivery and tones in Goucho on Tuesday.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 02:56:21 ET
Posted by: Al Suarez, Tri Valley - SF East Bay

If you want two pics from Tuesday in Santa Rosa, lemmeee know. I wish I could have see My Old School tonight - on a business trip...

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 02:41:25 ET
Posted by: Santa Rosa Dave, 8/27 Set List

I may have used up all my superlatives last night... Tonight was every bit as good, and the room seemed cooler in every sense of the word...

Becker says, "This is the last night of our tour, and I can't think of a better place or a nicer audience to share this evening with."

He also reflected on the summer tour by sharing the story of the Grasshopper and the Ant. The ant, it seems, worked hard all summer stockpiling food and preparing for winter, while the grasshopper played and played. Sure enough, when winter came, the grasshopper had no food, so he ate the ant.

After "Peg" and before the encores, Don and Walt asked all their roadies and tech people to come on stage for a round of applause as they introduced them all very quickly, reading their names from a piece of paper. "Thanks for playing along with us on that one," said DF.

WB, who seemed quite well-lighted last night, spent the whole of tonight in the shadows. Physically, I mean - musically he was right there on Front Street. At first I thought there was an actual lighting problem, but really I think he's just got some Maynard James Keenan in him (vice versa?) and last night was a fluke. Seems like he's always preferred the background, except when he's speaking or singing.

Fagen's voice was as fine as I've heard it in recent years.

Hey, have a nice life.

Set List: Wells Fargo Center, Santa Rosa, CA 8/27/08

Instrumental Intro: Everyone's Gone to the Movies / The Fez
The Royal Scam
I Got the News
Show Biz Kids
Bodhisattva
Two Against Nature
Hey Nineteen
Godwhacker
Babylon Sisters
New Frontier
Gaucho
Black Friday
Parker's Band
Josie
Aja
Love is Like an Itchin' in my Heart
Black Cow (with Sam Yahel)
Peg

My Old School
Kid Charlemagne
Instrumental Outtro: Last Tango in Paris

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 00:47:35 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Nice, belated review, Mike. Thanks.

FYI, the Mountain Winery used to be a really special venue. Now, I see they've revised it, and it seems like it is more like a typical Amphitheater, but in a really nice location. Of course, they can accommodate a bigger crowd, now.

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 00:25:23 ET
Posted by: MikeA, Seattle

Chan--I am in the same boat as you. Tommorow will be a tough day for me sending the "kid" off to college. Probably cry like a baby on the long drive home. And then, if I put Deacon Blues on while driving I may cry even more and flip the truck :)

Hey, thanks for those great observations and commentary.

MikeA

Date: Thurs, August 28, 2008, 00:18:50 ET
Posted by: MikeA, Seattle

Reporting on the Saratoga show from Sunday-sorry I had no modern communication device until now.

The Mountain Winery is aptly named. Its at the end of a long single lane, winding street. The view from on top of the mountain is spectactular. The bowl surrounding the seats and the stage reminded me of the old stunt man show setup at Universal Studios. Anyway the seating is real intimate and the stage was rather small for such a large band. I was probably about 30 rows back and the sound was awesome. The venue was really cool and organized well. If you ever have a chance, check it out!!

As I said the soumd was great. However, the ususal Steely Dan light show was nowhere to be found. They used simple spots and it was really pissing me off that all of Walter's solos were in the dark. He was the only one who did not get a spotlight. And, they had him turned down a bit. I almost went back to the mixing board and complained, but thought better of it.

Bob Shepard sat in with the Sam Y "trio" and sounded fab. Also, he was really showcased when SD played. He got a lot of blow time and it was just great to see him playing with them again.

Donald started off a bit pitchy for the 1st tune or two and just like he has in the other shows I saw, got it to together in short order.

They played FM and did not play Black Cow as was reported earlier. For me, the SD show started with a few really obnoxious dudes next to us saying that Walter should hire someone else to sing on Circus Money. And for that matter, said he sucks singing live as well. Actually, this moron did not know about CS until I told him it was out. He was a greatest hits kind of drunk dude. I got another earfull when they played Goucho.

All in all the crowd was "nice" but real reserved and we only received an encore of Kid C. in return. This crowd was quite a bit different than Seattle and St. Louis. About the same age as Seattle but not as vocal and hardly any dancing. St. Louis was a lot younger on average.

Anyway, another swank show, and very tight!!! Even impressed my jazz snob musician buddy. For me, the highlights were New Frontier, Peg (great solos!), a slowed down Pretzel Logic, and then GodWacker. And for me, it changes from show to show as far as favorites.

Saw Donald making a slow walk up a long flight of stairs after he was done. Had a towel wrapped around his neck, and seemed in no big hurry to hop in what appeared to be a Lincoln Towncar. Maybe he was killing time while Walter smoked his cig. I dunno...

Both of our SD guys seem to be in pretty good shape. Looks like they take care of themselves. But, no doubt they are a bit tired after touring coast to coast for 3 months or so.

Had a laugh in the parking lot later. We arrived at the car and I heard some guy moaning and groaning. I saw that he was pissing on a tree in the dark. I mentioned it to my friend but he did not hear me. We get in the car and he turns the headlights on. The guy was facing us in mid stream all lit up and his winky sure disappeared fast as he zipped and ran away in to the night. SORRY dude !!

MikeA

Date: Wed, August 27, 2008, 22:04:41 ET
Posted by: Janie Runaway, NY

Chan & LWO,

Every once in a while, we need someone with some sense to put it all in perspective. Thanks to you two for doing that today.

Yes, these are the best of times for Steely Dan fans -- let's enjoy them!

Chan, can't belive it's time for your son to go off to college. I met you briefly at The Bitter End and you were talking about how he had just graduated. Time certainly flies! Good luck to him, and to you too!

Date: Wed, August 27, 2008, 21:30:07 ET
Posted by: Chan, Boston

I could not agree more with you LWO. Even if I am #6 on the list!! For me the Blue, The GreenRoom and Danfests have been about making real friends with people I have enjoyed meeting and being with. I am in contact with them and of late that has satisfied my need to be connected to with those of my kind. Some have been ill, lost family members and are struggling with the same day to day issues I and most of us have to deal with. They know I am thinking of them and they thinking of me.

I have not posted here in quite awhile. I do however check in every day. I just have not been that motivated to add my two cents. I am thrilled that so many of us have once again been able to see Steely Dan this year. Who would have ever thought that they would tour three years in a row with a Fagen tour on top of that. I laugh when I read that some don't like the set lists, or the shows were too short, or they never played Dr. Wu. Do all of you understand just how lucky we have been these past few years. Concerts, Danfests, After Parties we have had it all and it has been the best!!!

Tomorrow morning, I am bringing my son to college for his first year. He has been to a few Dan shows and Danfests with me. Some of you have met him. I call him Kid C. He loves Steely Dan, however of late I hear a lot of Jim Morrison coming from his room. He tells his friends that he knows a guy that was in the Steely Dan Plush DVD, Pete Fogel, that I smuggled him a couple beers during a show, that we sat ten feet from Walter, he wears a "Do the Wu" t shirt. I bring this up, because the time we have spent together at these shows has been truly special. We will always remember them and I will always be grateful that we shared this. Do you think it really mattered to us if they played Hey 19 every time we saw them? I think not. Tomorrow will be an emotional day for sure.

Well enough rambling