Steely Dan Fan's BlueBook-dandom.com's Guestbook

All Times are Eastern (New York City) Time Zone.

Chat often convenes around 9:00 p.m. NYC time/8:00 p.m. Chicago Time
While there is no set topic, discussion should be vaguely Steely Dan tangential.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 20:16:11 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Dash,

You done broke the code...at least for me. Now I remember where I've heard/read that name before:

http://radiodupree.blogspot.com/2008/03/circus-money-here-late-mayearly-june.html

Excellent work, Dash!

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 19:17:48 ET
Posted by: Dash LaRue,

Per-Gunnar Eriksson has a favorite recording artist!

http://www.pergunnareriksson.se/eilert.html

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 18:18:42 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

The man has patents. What more can you say, really?

http://www.patentgenius.com/inventor/ErikssonPerGunnar.html

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 17:53:28 ET
Posted by: Eva,

Those clips are hysterical! I wonder if Walter will dance on stage like that this summer.

Pete I heard about that Niel Diamond show from my friend who is the worlds biggest Neil fan. She couldn't believe it was the same place as the Steely Dan party. Sure wish I could be there! Now, if Donald or Walter were going to show up to do a show like that......

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 17:21:57 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, eh

Those clips freaked my cats out I laughed so hard. Great to see that goofballs are alive and well in the USA.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 17:09:16 ET
Posted by: Dash LaRue,

Very nice viral videos! Now that is the way to market in the year 2008! Hmmm, isn't the email address in the post one of Walter's many monikers? Perhaps used during the first tour of Eurpoe in 2000?
Anyhoo, Wally looks like he has been working on the "Circus Bong" in those two clips.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 16:28:21 ET
Posted by: Matt, Chattanooga, TN

Friend of Scape,

Thanks to you, I am now totally psyched about Selfish Gene.

I honestly haven't looked forward to an album this much since 2VN.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 16:20:48 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

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

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 16:18:12 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Giggling at the Manatee Bar

Spacegrace,

What the fuck? I'm laughing my ass off, here. Thank God it's happy hour, here at the Manatee. That just killed me!

BTW, it sounded GREAT!

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 16:01:32 ET
Posted by: tonybass, camarillo

Chris-

Morph, Kama and the Nightfly only sound like SD when it comes to lead vocals and horn arrangements IMO...song-wise and groove-wise they sound different...probably less Becker influenced. The C$ samples sound a lot more like SD to me...especially the two post 90's SD albums. 11TOW sounds like WB was going for something COMPLETELY different.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 15:30:06 ET
Posted by: Friend of Scapegrace99, Two short clips on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/scapegrace99

49 sec + 27 sec...

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 14:40:30 ET
Posted by: TJ, DK

Chris, I encunter the same problem. Can't stop listening. It's so hypnotic!!

One interesting thing in regard to the Donald vs Walt discussion: Donald is definitely the one with a passion for complex jazz inspired harmony. Becker is more of a groove oriented blues man. The (lack of)bridges reveal it all.

When listening to a Steely Dan/Donald Fagen album the first time, I usually don't understand what just hit me. With Walter I feel more at home.

It's gonna be interesting if Walters album can stand repeated listening. Theoretically the music is much less complex - but something else is going on!

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 13:56:23 ET
Posted by: Professor Irwin C.,

Chris

What problem(s)are there with MTC as far as being overly derivative of earlier Steely Dan? I agree that Don's solo songs drag out too long too often.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 12:24:49 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I'm trying to force myself to stop listening to Door Number Two so I don't get burnt out on it before the album comes out. I haven't been doing very well so far.

Great to have Chris Potter back. Unmistakable Steely Dan without being overly derivative of earlier work, which I think was the main problem with MTC (and something a lot of reviewers pointed out). Walter's singing in a way Fagen just can't, taking advantage of its unique qualities. Bleak lyrics. Tight arrangement -- doesn't ride out the ending for too long.

Becker is also obviously the tech-friendly one: Fagen's site is ugly, the "No Business/Show Business" sections make it difficult to navigate, songs start playing automatically on pages, and his newsletters are HTML with images and fonts and background colors. Becker's site is simple, straightforward and intuitive. Plain text newsletters, fan-friendly pre orders (the FLAC is a nice touch).

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 12:09:10 ET
Posted by: AnnaBanana, Margaritaville

Oh yes. They sell other JB stuff but not JB tickets. I just meant that people are buying tickets. They are excited about the shows they will be going to. They head over and buy shit from Mailboat.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 12:07:52 ET
Posted by: AnnaBanana, Margaritaville

Obviously it's Jimmy Buffet's label.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 11:56:27 ET
Posted by: Donald Rumsfeld-Fagen, Stewing about Mohammad Atta, that Egyptian-cum-Hamburger in Paradise

Mailboat does more than sell Jimmy Buffett trinkets; the man founded the label.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 11:56:22 ET
Posted by: WB's #1 fan,

Thanks for ruining my day Anna

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 11:46:10 ET
Posted by: AnnaBanana, Margaritaville

The invoice numbers at Mailboat store include orders for all their artists.

That includes Chris Issak, Boz Scaggs, and others totally about a dozen or so. But most notable of all is that it sells Jimmy Buffet CDs and tracks. His new tour is kicking off and his tickets and CDs are selling.

Walter's new album sounds like it will be great, but most of those invoice numbers are for Jimmy Buffet commodities.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 11:38:39 ET
Posted by: ferat, HKndTCFxgsXMFR

oboLMW nice to meet you, <a href="http://index11.beropkas.net">anti dioksil mik</a>, http://index11.beropkas.net anti dioksil mik, 02977, <a href="http://index8.beropkas.net">load der cloas</a>, http://index8.beropkas.net load der cloas, ephk,

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 08:45:59 ET
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KY

Geoff, for me:

ORDER NUMBER:7526
DATE ORDERED:14-May-2008 06:05am

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 08:33:28 ET
Posted by: Geoff & Diego the cat, My Wiggy Pad

D R-F: You're dead right Walter's right to the lions share.

I noticed my invoice number was around 5000 or something, and I was on early yesterday; I think this is the first thing that Walt has sold through his store, so it looks like sales are pretty good already. Anyone else remember there invoice number and approximate time of purchase?

Geoff

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 08:13:19 ET
Posted by: bkzjkkhu, qkflvCQN

84yq5i <a href="http://mwauxwlahdmd.com/">mwauxwlahdmd</a>, [url=http://mwpseaekruwu.com/]mwpseaekruwu[/url], [link=http://uexkdcpbfoqp.com/]uexkdcpbfoqp[/link], http://uvkqrxhrprmm.com/

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 05:34:38 ET
Posted by: Donald Rumsfeld-Fagen, ...

Did anyone catch that it looks like WB is releasing Circus Money on his own?

The credits to "Door Number Two" say that Mailboat is distributing and manufacturing C$, while the actual copyright is owned by 5 OVER 12, which I assume is WB's own label, created especially for C$. (http://www.5over12.com redirects to WB.com)

Seems like a good business strategy to me. The album's not going to sell much at all, so WB might as well keep the lion's share of the sales rather than give 90 percent to some record company that won't be able to understand his record, let alone promote it.

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 01:27:14 ET
Posted by: Pete Fogel , NYC

Attending the After Beacon Party at the Bitter End on 6/21?

We are compiling a priority list for people who will be attending the party at the Bitter End after the Steely Dan Beacon Theater show on June 21st in New York City.

If you will be attending the After Party and want to be on a list that will give you priority admission (you'll have a better chance of getting in), email pfogelATnyc.rr.com with the subject "After Party", send us your name and the number of people who will be arriving to the Bitter End with you (i.e. Warren Kruger + 1). Only one email from your party.

This is a priority list and will not guarantee admission. However, you will have priority over those not on the list.

The Bitter End is a small club, and for those of you who have attended any of these parties in the past, you will see it is not like Le Bar Bat. We are expecting a busy night as it is, so I want to do what I can to make sure people here and those traveling in will be able to get in after the Beacon show.

Even those of you that I know will be attending, please email me again so I don't forget to include you.

Email - pfogelATnyc.rr.com (replace "AT" with "@")
Subject - After Party

Include your name plus the number of people that will be with you

Thanks,
Pete
http://www.myspace.com/razorboymusic

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2008, 01:17:15 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, eh

Happy Birthday LWO. Enjoy your party that was one hell of an invite! Have a drink for my Dad his is today. 74 years old and still kicking, whoohoo!
Fife

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 23:52:14 ET
Posted by: a year older, but still fun!

And lest we forget, today is 10 years since the Chairman of the Board left this earthly realm.

Thanks for all the wishes! Life is much richer for knowing all of you!

P.S. Thanks to WB for the day's first gift. That could be the man or the tiger...you decide.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 20:51:29 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Dash,

It didn't surprise me too much, as "more coming soon ...** " is at the top of the concert list on Steelydan.com, and has been, for some time.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 20:41:22 ET
Posted by: Dash LaRue,

Jesus, instead of whining, why didn't you just ask for the link.
Here you go -
http://walterbecker.mailboatstore.com
I found it interesting that Walter said that more shows still could be added to the tour in the email.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 20:25:14 ET
Posted by: remailers R Us, door #2

check your junk mail folder or spam filter -- newsletters sometimes end up there

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 20:10:23 ET
Posted by: dissed in cyberland,

Are there many others who normally receive the WB Newsletter who didn't receive the pre-offer?
I even tried to re-sign up, but received an email I'm already on the list, but I still haven't gotten the recent Newsletter.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 20:07:49 ET
Posted by: Dissed, in ATL

GREAT! I get all the WB newsletters EXCEPT the one w/ the pre-sale stuff.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 18:54:27 ET
Posted by: ALL, CAPS

AH, DOOR #2 - THE GATEWAY TO THE COALMINE!!!

I'm workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down down down
Workin' in a coal mine
Whop! about to slip down
Workin' in a coal mine
Goin' down down down
Workin' in a coal mine
Whop! about to slip down

Cos I'm on call in the mornin'
Oh I go by the coal
But when Saturday goes around
I'm too tired for havin' fun (Too tired for having fun)

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 17:20:10 ET
Posted by: TJ, DK

Just ordered Circus Money as FLAC. Walter is a tech genius and he certainly knows how to treat fans! Bravo!!!

And I love Door no 2 - I think.

So incredibly understated! Something completely new. Elegant as nothing I've ever heard from the Dan. Almost minimalistic in it's approach. for now: interesting.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 13:10:51 ET
Posted by: outkast, apple store

Happy birthday

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 11:35:32 ET
Posted by: Another B-day?,

Happy Birthday LWO! And I know that you're not as old as your liver!

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 10:51:48 ET
Posted by: prez logic, Woogo bound?

Say it ain't so, another birthday for LWO...

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 10:26:09 ET
Posted by: Geoff, The Office (BBC)

Kate Markovitz is a James Taylor BG vocalist. She's myspace buddies with Windy Wagner.

geoff

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 10:00:16 ET
Posted by: Geoff, Plano

Dan - I got Door Number Two too. Yes great Pooter solo, but I'll have to wait until tonight and some decent speakers to hear this thing properly. I like the washed out mask on the '1 song down load' pdf... and now we know who the BG Vocals are too

Happy Birthday Gail!

Geoff

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 09:57:13 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

I got Door Number Two as well.

Sounds freakin' awesome.

KC

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 09:47:09 ET
Posted by: Craig B, AV CA

The Soboba casino made famous by Steely Dan is in the news again. Two of Riverside Counties finest blew away 2 NA's on the Soboba property. You will remember last year or so a lake nearby filled with SD Fans urine after a beer guzzling SD concert help put out wildfires in the area

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 08:11:34 ET
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KY

I just ordered my copy through that presale. The immediate MP3 download you are given is not a choice -- I don't know if it's the same for everybody, but it just gave me a link to download Door Number Two. Great song though -- Chris Potter has a very nice tenor sax solo in it.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 06:16:56 ET
Posted by: Yummy...!, WB Pre-order

The difficult thing of course being to pick the track for immediate download.
Paging Audrey? Circus Money? Downtown Canon?

Decisions, decisions... :)

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 06:06:23 ET
Posted by: travellin' fan, you know

Can it be another year already?

Is this yet another milestone that has been reached ??

29 AGAIN ???

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Littlewildone !!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Wed, May 14, 2008, 02:12:05 ET
Posted by: Gina/Mizar5, sun mountain

check your mail for the WB newsletter and offer to buy the new album first with some extra stuff attached

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 23:31:04 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest just went out, this one covering April 22-May 13, 2008.

If you are a subscriber, you should receive it within the next 8 hours. As usual, if you don't receive it, please email me. Some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc.

The following are the subjects of the Dandom Digest for April 1-8, 2008

√ The Push for "Circus Money" is On!
√ First Impressions: WB clips
√ THINK FAST, SD!: More Dates Out West Added

*****

√ UpDaTe! THINK FAST, SD FANS!!
Sat 6/21: A Post-SD Concert Party in NYC Not To Be Missed!

*****
√ Jon Herington album re-released
√ Individual Items Version of Dandom Digest
√ REDUX, REDUX, REDUX: Don't Miss out! Get these E-newsletters

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

Jim

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 15:53:02 ET
Posted by: Matt, Chattanooga, TN

I'm not saying that more songs makes a better album, just pointing out that taking a song on a Walter Becker album and pointing out how it's not like it might be on a Donald Fagen album is fairly futile. In doing so, I noticed that we have as many Walter Becker solo songs as we do Donald Fagen solo songs.

And I don't feel cheated by Morph reprise either, I just don't consider it to be it's own song independent of Morph the Cat. That's not to say I don't enjoy it, or that I like it any less.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 15:14:45 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Yes, Matt

Tracks-per-album is how I judge my music. /sarcasm

I NEVER feel cheated by hearing Morph reprise.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 15:05:25 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Thanks, Pete.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 14:57:57 ET
Posted by: Matt, Chattanooga, TN

TJ, the other notable thing that would be different about Somebody's Saturday Night were it on a Donald album is that it wouldn't exist because it would be more than 8 songs into the album and not Door Number Two (Reprise).

Walter is definitely giving us more bang for the buck, song-wise, than Donald ever did. In fact, if you figure tracks per album (and don't count Morph (reprise)), with C$ and 11ToW, Walter has given the same number of songs that Donald has over Nightfly, Kama, and Morph.

I know, you can add Rhymes or Shanghai for Fagen, or Medical Science and Ghost of Hipness Past for Becker, but basing it just on songs per album, we're tied folks.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 14:51:45 ET
Posted by: Pete, NYC

We have been getting a lot of emails from people coming in from all over the world, and we would hate for them and people from the Bluebook not to be able to get in to the after party at The Bitter End. So, we will be setting up a list that will give you priority admission, all but guaranteeing entrance to the club. We will have more information on this in the next week or so.

If some of you aren't familiar with The Bitter End, it is one of the most well respected venues in the country. Neil Diamond performed a "secret show" at The Bitter End last Wednesday. If you want to see a clip of this which gives you a good idea of the room and the history, there is a video on my MySpace page from "CBS Sunday Morning" that aired this past weekend.

http://www.myspace.com/razorboymusic

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 13:28:29 ET
Posted by: Girl Margaret, Work

Reidar - unless Pete's doing something special, my guess would be that Bitter End tickets will be sold at the door.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2008, 11:48:05 ET
Posted by: Reidar (Radar), Norway, near the Northpole

Thanks you for answers further down the page, I have now extended my stay so that I will now attend all the six concerts which means that I will also be able to go to the official "DanFest" at Bitter End. I did cost me a lot extra, but for me it will be a once in a lifetime experience, and something I'll never gonna forget. But how and where can I buy a ticket to the "DanFest"?? On the frontpage it says click here for tickets but that leads to the concert tickets on the Steely Dan page. It will be a shame if I was to miss the party.
Looking forward to see you Dan fans in NYC.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2008, 14:12:34 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

What?!?!? You mean that all of the pedophilic homosexual drug abusing disfunctional born-on-another-planet future-men aren't AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL?!?!?

Date: Mon, May 12, 2008, 14:04:03 ET
Posted by: Lars,

Just finished listening to Walter Becker's new clips. Is it me or does it sound just like 11TOW with a better production?

Date: Mon, May 12, 2008, 12:56:26 ET
Posted by: Pentagon, dc

Common sense conclusion: the narrator is neither Walter nor Larry but...a CHARACTER

Date: Mon, May 12, 2008, 12:34:03 ET
Posted by: Donald Rumsfeld-Fagen, Banishment

Post-modern feminist Steely Dan apologist's conclusion: The troglodytic Larry Klein wrote the lyric. Walt is blameless.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2008, 12:17:41 ET
Posted by: Donald Rumsfeld-Fagen, Retirement

Hutch, yes, you're right, the lyric must be

I get along, in fact I do all right
Being somebody's Saturday night

But I don't think this is an expression of guilt or shame or some deep realization.

The double standard is hard at work here: The girl is "none too bright"," not "watertight," "*just* somebody's Saturday night," someone worthy of the narrator's scorn.

The narrator, on the other hand, gets along, in fact, he does all right.

Post-modern feminist's conclusion: Wally is a misogynist Neanderthal intent on preserving gender stereotypes and the objectification of women.

Steely Dan enthusiast's conclusion: Keith Carlock is a fucking rock.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2008, 05:47:47 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Roma

Sleeze-bucket. Perfect. I love it. Walty is the quintessential sleeze-bucket. Backs to the wall and hats off to him. Haven't heard that term in years...

Walter's record is gonna shock us all, I can feel it.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 23:33:12 ET
Posted by: art imitates life,

Another important stylistic difference between Walt and Don is that Don's songs kind of idolize women, he puts them on a pedestal in sort of a romantic idealistic way (Tomorrow's Girls). Nothing particularly lecherous, but at times almost sappy and at times not getting the girl. At times frustrated that he can't get the young ones (Hey19 and Pixeleen, probably Don's thematically)) and insecure in his relationships (Maxine and Pagoda are examples). In life he's been the straight shooter and married going on 15 years.

Walt is more of the sleaze bucket, any lovin' is good lovin, who will take what he can get, he'll go for whatever goes for him. Anything that will "Slang" him. Somebody's Saturday Night is another such song, and that lyric at the end with Walt looking at his disheveled self in the mirror he ends up feeling dirty and used, like maybe it wasn't worth the thrill.

In life, of The Two, Walt has had the more checkered past and it shows up in his art.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 19:51:01 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Hutch,

I think you have the correct lyric.

What I get from this is, the narrator (Walter) realizing that he, too, is simply "Somebody's Saturday Night"...much like the woman he is singing about.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 19:42:55 ET
Posted by: Hutch, rva

D.R. Fagen - Enjoyed reading the lyrics you heard. Pretty much on the mark and it was fun to read along listening to the track.

The last verse however holds the key to interpretation.
I hear:

I've been born with a second sight
Now I'm looking in the mirror at Somebody's Saturday Night
I get along, in fact I do all right
Bein' Somebody's Saturday Night

Instead of: Me and Somebody's Saturday Night.

Is that last line the difference between the girl and the pimp?

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 17:54:24 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Malibu

TJ-

Some nice observations. I still
feel that this will become a staple
for Walter during the upcoming tour.
And I will wager that a horn chart
will be added. I'm looking forward
to it. I have been listening to the
track a lot in my car and at the house
- it can be downloaded as an MP3 as someone
pointed out from the code in the Rolling
Stone script. I hope Donald will add his
vocals to the chorus this summer. As far
as the outro goes, you cannot deny that it
has a major Steely Dan "fade out".

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 17:16:07 ET
Posted by: TJ, DK

"Somebodys Saturday Night" shows the difference between Donald and Walter anno 2008 in several ways - in my opinion. Taking the Rolling Stone interview into account they might be growing seperate ways these days - maybe not a bad thing for a future Steely Dan album:

1. The guitar in the general groove is much more in front of the mix and more dirty and distorted. Very much Walter.

2. The female backup vocals are more blues oriented. They sound like the live version of Cousin Dupree. I suspect that Donald like it more subtle.

3. The guitar solo is almost experimental for Walter. Exciting and new.

4. The bridge is not as harmonically complex as it would have been if Donald wrote it. It would have been twice as long building to a higher and more contrasting climax.

5 There's no horns on the track. Seems Walt wanted to keep it simple and spontanious with a live feel. Donald would have written a horn chart to contrast the other melodic lines.

6. The outro is very very short. Looking at Morph, Donald would probably have kept it going for at least 1 minute more.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 09:58:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

There's no meiosis & mitosis with halitosis.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 01:43:15 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

A real New Englander finds that 10 F is, "a little chilly."

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 00:22:14 ET
Posted by: orrr,

dumb and dumber

Date: Sun, May 11, 2008, 00:11:44 ET
Posted by: Errr, No,

That would be Trailer Trash and Euro Trash.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 23:15:39 ET
Posted by: Euler,

Oh yeah.

I was all excited and tingly about the Higher Mathematics, that I overlooked that.

I would say that a more fitting lyric to describe what the math function was modeling, in layman's terms

It changed, as it grew, it acceleraaaated too..

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 23:10:30 ET
Posted by: hz, yo yo yo

deano and rajo off the cool list - quelles twats.

trailer trash and expatriot - whoopee

hz

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 22:56:36 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Euler,

The title of the article, "Some babies grow in a peculiar way" is a lyric from Steely Dan's Haitian Divorce.

But, you knew that, right?

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 22:54:37 ET
Posted by: Steely Dan reference finder, Made in Haiti

Lyrics from Haitian Divorce:

"Tearful reunion in the USA
Day by day those memories fade away
Some babies grow in a peculiar way <------------!
It changed, it grew, and everybody knew"

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 22:30:29 ET
Posted by: Euler, Dresden, GE

hey kulee

WTF? That article is about some exponential growth function. Where's the Steely reference?

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 22:13:28 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, Charlotte

A Steely Dan reference in the rarefied world of computational complexity (in this case, referring to growth rate of functions):

http://andysresearch.blogspot.com/2008/04/some-babies-grow-in-peculiar-way.html

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 21:55:44 ET
Posted by: lfmvyn, jSlzamtVvtw

arVm1Q <a href="http://ieomkpmrkkac.com/">ieomkpmrkkac</a>, [url=http://wkzleczsnnxr.com/]wkzleczsnnxr[/url], [link=http://njegwtnvlhay.com/]njegwtnvlhay[/link], http://gxpnpdrnjvlw.com/

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 20:39:26 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Roma

Dean, no need to apologize. New Englanders need to cop to their shit. But, of course, they never will.

A pox on them.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 17:10:30 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

My apologies for playing around and starting this.

Hey, how about that Steely Dan?

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 17:00:16 ET
Posted by: Father Time, True History

Paul -
You forgot the "rich" Slave Trade.

Even after slavery was outlawed in the North, ships out of New England continued to carry thousands of Africans to the American South. Some 156,000 slaves were brought to the United States in the period 1801-08, almost all of them on ships that sailed from New England ports that had recently outlawed slavery.

"The effects of the New England slave trade were momentous. It was one of the foundations of New England's economic structure; it created a wealthy class of slave-trading merchants, while the profits derived from this commerce stimulated cultural development and philanthropy. --Lorenzo Johnston Greene, “The Negro in Colonial New England, 1620-1776,”

"To this day, it's difficult to find an old North institution of any antiquity that isn't tainted by slavery. Ezra Stiles imported slaves while president of Yale. Six slave merchants served as mayor of Philadelphia. Even a liberal bastion like Brown University has the shameful blot on its escutcheon. It is named for the Brown brothers, Nicholas, John, Joseph, and Moses, manufacturers and traders who shipped salt, lumber, meat -- and slaves. And like many business families of the time, the Browns had indirect connections to slavery via rum distilling. John Brown, who paid half the cost of the college's first library, became the first Rhode Islander prosecuted under the federal Slave Trade Act of 1794 and had to forfeit his slave ship. Historical evidence also indicates that slaves were used at the family's candle factory in Providence, its ironworks in Scituate, and to build Brown's University Hall."

A Rich proud history indeed, but oh those great schools it funded.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 16:45:16 ET
Posted by: Paul Revere, Freedom Trail

John Smith & The Dean - It's very hard to be humble when you have the best schools, hospitals and sports teams in the country. Oh yeah - the rich history too.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 15:55:24 ET
Posted by: hahaha,

lmao at The Dean's goodnight kiss interpretation.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 12:56:55 ET
Posted by: John Smith, shining up my buckle

Ain't nothin' humble about New Englanders. Although they certainly have every reason to be. They are, by and large, a conservative bunch in their modus vivendi but a liberal populace at the polls. They decry the racial strife in our great cities like NY, Chicago and LA but they command no moral high ground on the issue for the simple reason that they do not live in a diverse society. The closest they have to people of colour are the Italians. And they don't like them all that much.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 11:12:47 ET
Posted by: Gina/Mizar5, Swedish Ginger Cookie Mountain

http://www.last.fm/music/Georg+Wadenius/+videos/5770737

just another musical interlude, vaguely dannerished, but very smooth.

Georg Wadenius, a 2nd clip from his gig in Stockholm

have a good weekend

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 10:48:12 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Thanks, Gretch. That's great to know.

Although, I must admit, I never associate "humble" with New Englanders.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 10:05:16 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Old Saybrook, near Guilford

Guilford's a great town, as is the rest of the CT shoreline. A big arts community with the humbleness of old New England beach towns. A lot to offer without all of that Fairfield County snobbery and BS.

G

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 09:45:42 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Actually, Traveler, I think the key word in Chris' post was "Google".

On the CT side of the LI Sound, and halfway between NYC and Boston. Hell, I don't think I'm white enough or rich enough to DRIVE through that town.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 05:53:52 ET
Posted by: Frank Sinatra, not ready to face the light

Look, don't remind me of those friggin Electric Prunes. I came home to Mia one night way back in 67 after filming all day on "Lady in Cement," a movie co-starring that prohibitive piece of bragiole named Rachel Welch. Man did I wanna nail that broad but I was married, see, and that stuff wasn't something I did anymore at my age. So I comes through the door and what does Mia have spinning on the turntable? "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night." She knew I hated all the new music from Elvis in '56 onward through the British Invasion and all that long-haired shit but this goddam psyhchedelic crap was the limit. There she was, high as a kite on weed and dancing around in that baby-doll minidress. I didn't even take my hat and coat off. I went into the kitchen where Jilly was dropping a coupla nice pork ribs into the ragu and said, "buddy, it's over for me here. Handle it." Left Burbank twenty minutes later on the bird and was back in the Springs in forty minutes.

Never looked back.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 02:02:23 ET
Posted by: fellow, traveller

so chris - you're saying that guillyville is and hour and a half from umass?

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 01:57:53 ET
Posted by: horse drawn plum, okgr[koepo[=p

the prunes were great. tight. happy to be playing and PSYCHEDELIC. BABY.

ENJOYING SOME CHERRY GARCIA TO CELEBRATE.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2008, 01:20:50 ET
Posted by: Dave From Acquisitions, Central Mass

Re:Oracle's having had too much to dream last night...
I just returned from seeing The Electric Prunes at Pearl St. in Northampton, MA.
Mark

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 23:55:46 ET
Posted by: chris, working (sadly not in the coal mine)

cheese zoots, i had to google guilford, but it turns out i probably drove through it a few times during the year i spent going to school in western mass. its 20 minutes to keene (home of NH's number one party school) and another hour or so to my hometown of concord, the capital of this great state.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 22:38:58 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Then there's this ditty from Stephen Thomas Erlewine's (Allmusic.com) American Idol blog:

"To me, the real atrocity of last night was that group sing on “Reelin’ in the Years.” I have no problem with Steely Dan on the show, of course — if anything, the great Walter Becker and Donald Fagen would be my dream judges/mentors, rivaling that legendary episode with Quentin Tarantino as guest judge — but this was an outright embarrassment, with each line getting more ridiculous, culminating in David Archuleta botching lyrics once again. The only thing they can do to make up for this is to have a Becker/Fagen night next year, preferably early in the season when the show has enough contestants to be interesting to watch."

As I'm sure most of you know, Stephen T is the reviewer for most of the SD albums on allmusic.com.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 22:26:39 ET
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, eh

Funny they ended the second show in Bearsville in 07 with that song.

There's a few us in chat if your interested by the way.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 19:28:48 ET
Posted by: Nothin' Original Here,,,,

Lee Dorsey started Workin' In A Coalmine in 1966, goin' down, down, down.

Reminds me I'm fresh out of KY. Off to the local pharmacy. Tonite. it's gonna be Someone Else's FRIDAY Night.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 19:25:32 ET
Posted by: all ears, NJ

with all the he says she says,
I hear "the demon in me says" (which makes sense if the following "just you watch me" is what he would 'say')

although "the demon in recess" would be a better lyric

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 18:38:26 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Well, Mr Murray, I see your point. Of course, the "available light" changes from place-to-place and situation-to-situation.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 18:34:28 ET
Posted by: Robert E. Murray, Crandall Canyon, UT

No, Dean, I don't think that the song is quite so lewd. I do like how the narrator loses all need for in the protagonist when his demon goes into recess, despite the lengths she just went to for him.

I've known enough "Somebody's Saturday Night" types to know the perverse joy that Mr. Becker must have taken in writing such a cruel and hilarious lyric.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 18:28:26 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Mr. Murray,

Are you suggesting the Legendary Goodnight Kiss is a post-cornhole BJ?

Time for another shot, methinks.

Bartender!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 18:23:56 ET
Posted by: Robert E. Murray, Crandall Canyon, UT

"The demon in recess" - one of the all-time great SD lyrics.

Especially in context:

..You wouldn't kick a good girl out on a night like this
...the demon in recess
Just you watch me, pucker up darling for my legendary goodnight kiss

Even better when you consider the coal mining that had just taken place.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 18:05:49 ET
Posted by: they always, coalmine with the great ones

hey folks - if some of my posts seem to be not as great as others, its because the omnipotent god, his high holiness mr mck has been adding and subtracting his own hershey kisses.

something akin to - for example [editors note: blah blah frickin blah] would be more appropriate. ¿don't you think?

its good to be king, i guess. drop a coin in my piss bucket.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 17:52:58 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard

Denise -

I can't make the NY shows and would love to go to the after party but....I am so jazzed that we are going to see the boys 3 Saturday nights in a row all within driving distance! Wicked Librarian and I are planning our roadtrips to Tahoe and Murphys. We hope to organize a Danfest at Ironstone. WL works in Berkeley and lives in Oakland. So no airports, no airplanes, but ouch! the price of gas.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 17:42:35 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Wow, the freakin' Blue is hysterical today. Good job, Dan fans.

And, yes, Tumbleweed Connection is one of the all time great albums, IMO. It's too bad what became of EJ. I think the same thing about Bruce whenever I hear the spectacular The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 17:25:50 ET
Posted by: cheee zoots, what a suit

ATTENTION CASUAL FAN: no one gives a rat's coalmine!

¿hey chris, seriously, how long does it take to get to guilford from somewhere where there are people? i'm betting you can't get there from here.

supermarket: nice touch. buy me some fireworks.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 17:21:11 ET
Posted by: old stuff, worth a glance or more

http://everything-must-go.com/morningscan.11.html

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 16:58:33 ET
Posted by: Matt, chattanooga, TN

Slouched in a booth at Pamela's pissed til dawn.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 16:29:31 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Martial - after re-reading the lyrics, I do believe you're right. Can't wait til I hear this one in the supermarket.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 16:29:29 ET
Posted by: Casual fan, Guilt

MUST INSERT NAME:

You know, well after I posted the link and my thoughts, I started to feel kind of bad about it. It started as sharing my amusement that the Dan had reached the point where there was an arrangement made for a high school orchestra to play and isn't that sort of a statement about how ... ironically ordinary?... they had become. I mean, when I was in Junior High my band did a pretty mean version of Boogie Nights.

But it got away from me. And in retrospect I say more power to 'em! They could pick a lot worse to learn from, right?

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 15:32:16 ET
Posted by: martial, tuckered

yes, you got it DONALD - its a song, in part, about the good ol hershey highway tango.

in that case, she'll take 5 over 12 any day of the week. ouch.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 15:23:27 ET
Posted by: Gourmand , de jour

hey raj , you're in roma. what, did they run out of Ortolan in paree?

otherwise - of course, tumbleweed is good - but that's Reginald Kenneth Dwight. it doesn't count.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 15:13:40 ET
Posted by: Donald Rumsfeld-Fagen, Undisclosed

My deciphering of the lyrics of "Somebody's Saturday Night." Care to check them for accuracy? The bridge was especially hard to interpret.

Somebody's Saturday Night seems pleased to meet you
Slouched in a hoof and Pamela's pissed 'til dawn
Drink-drink, cigarette. talkie-talk, drinkie-drink, smokey-smoke, cigarette
Up to the room with the beddie-by going on

Somebody's Saturday night says, "Oh, I get it"
You want to go where no man's ever been
Down in the coal mine, going down, turn around, push-push, turn around
Digging up the coal and can it back again

She looked good in the available light
She was somebody's Saturday night
She said it ain't wrong but it's not quite right
I guess it's somebody's Saturday night

Somebody's Saturday Night says, "Hey, it's raining
You wouldn't kick a good girl out on a night like this"
He says, she says, the demon in recess, just you watch me
Pucker up darling for my legendary goodnight kiss

She's no fool but she's none too bright
She's just somebody's Saturday night
She stays cool if not water-tight
Such is somebody's Saturday night

You'll meet a girl, one more is up and gone
Leaving nobody to blame the whole thing on, baby

Somebody's Saturday Night is walking in the moonlight
Praying on the beads of a beatnik rosary
Thinking nobody gives it exactly the way that you want it
And no one forgets about the money-back guarantee

I've been born with a second sight
Now I'm looking in the mirror at Somebody's Saturday Night
I get along, in fact I do all right
Me and Somebody's Saturday Night

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 14:41:26 ET
Posted by: old but still nice to see, audiophile

http://www.audaud.com/audaud/best2003.html

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 14:29:00 ET
Posted by: 5 over 15, math class

Just noticed that 5over12.com now goes to becker's site. Last week it was an error.

Anyone know or guess at the significance of 5 over 12?

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 14:09:06 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Oracle - You had too much to dream last night.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 13:50:06 ET
Posted by: tom, Lubbock Texas

That guy that likes Elton John is correct. Before Elton became a fat lesbian, he released a Superb album entitled "tumbleweed connection".
It is wonderful. I am a dedicated Steely dan fan and Love this elton john album. GET IT.
http://www.superseventies.com/johnelton2.html

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 12:56:47 ET
Posted by: The, Oracle

Last night I had a dream that included, among other things, Amy Poehler, Steely Dan, and David Lynch. As far as the Steely Dan part, the 08 tour began, and they played all new songs.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 12:51:17 ET
Posted by: angel,

Jamie: Thanks for the interview info.

I tried to get down to San Diego last weekend, but lack of sleep and the high price of gas, deterred me. I really wanted to see the Damned play again. It's been years.

Denise: Can't go to NY in June. Hubby says once this summer is enough. Sigh...

--

I really like Somebody's Saturday Night. Nice cut.
Good going, Walter!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 12:21:58 ET
Posted by: VERY, happy to see you

congrats bobbo00 you are the newest person on my cool list.

ok. before anyone gets carried away, no one here would ever consider actually shooting hoops - unless rajah is DINO raja. some elton john fan will probably take care of that for us, anyway.

elton john. now that's funny!!!!!!

anywho, if we shoot hoops, who would save Chicago??

nyc - don't leave until you get rolled by a hooker at least once.

ps. got one response to my singles listing. very kinky to "do it" with a sexy gal singing patty smyth tunes in a full yankees uniform - i still have the cleat marks!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 12:09:09 ET
Posted by: Chad, Bangor, ME

Rajah - Thanks! The Chelsea Hotel! What a great idea! I'm going to check into that right now. So the "A" train can shuffle me back and fourth between the Beacon and the Bitter End? Sounds like a plan. Will you be attending the shows in New York City Rajah?

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 12:01:31 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Roma

Chad, you want the Chelsea Hotel, site of many famous encountres des artistes. Just don't share any needles while you're there. Actually, if you are staying for an extended period of time, just stay on the Westside around old Madison Square, circa 23rd street, so you can train up and down the "A" train corridor. Many small downtown boutique hotels, all on the net...

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:51:41 ET
Posted by: Chad, Bangor, ME

I'm flying into NYC for the shows on 6/20 and 6/21. Does anybody know of any good hotels in between the Beacon and the Bitter End? I'm really looking forward to going to the after party. The Bitter End looks like a very cool place to watch an intimate show. Look at these pixs.

http://www.thetripwire.com/news/2008/5/8/gallery-neil-diamond-the-bitter-end-nyc

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:41:18 ET
Posted by: prez logic, still in limbo

Hey Denise...the odds of prez logic visiting that New York City once more are increasing...up to around 2 to 1...still waiting on a schedule matter to finalize but it's looking better...

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:38:09 ET
Posted by: Bobbo, recruiting the Great Unwashed

And,

Let me tell you about Bubba. He's a guy at work, and fairly "countrified." Right about my age. Bubba is an enigma, and going through a very gratifying era of his life. Everybody digs Bubba: he's a gentle, unassuming guy, great for conversation, a lifelong reformed Catholic, and his little heeler is probably his best friend, other than his wife of many years.

A couple of months ago, Bubba came over to my laminator and said, "You know, I bought a Steely Dan album."

"Really, Bub, which one?" I've seen this particular New Fascination before, of course.

"It's the 'Essential Steely Dan'. I couldn't get that 'Reelin' in the Years' out of my head...It was only eight bucks at Wal-Mart, so I got it."

"Well that's cool, Bubba, but be careful...There's a whole 'nother world of wicked-wild subject matter in there, and if you don't watch it, soon you'll be going to two shows a year, like me." Just playin' around with the guy, who has better taste in art, film and music than most day-to-day acquaintances at Ye Olde Salt Mine.

But Bubba wasn't finished; he was obviously looking for something. "Well, that's what I wanted to ask you. Is that 'Things I Miss the Most' on an album? I've never heard THAT one, before..." For all of his positive qualities, Bubba was obviously so susceptible to this New Steely Phase that the need to find more Dan music had hit him before it occurred to him that it might be in the liner notes. But you know me: I was happy to help out.

Wonder if he's going to dig EVERTHING MUST GO? God bless the child who's got his own; another Steely Freak, just beginning his journey. Does the old heart good when I see it firsthand...selah.

Okay,
Bobbo

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:36:51 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Roma

Hah, that IS a knee-slapper there, brother Bo...

Steely Dan has been remunerated handsomely for the American Idol rendering of "Reelin in the Years." So though it may offend your sensibilities, let's consider for a moment the real possiblility that a nice easy paycheck like that ain't goin' amiss with our boys. Actually, it's quite a tribute to a long-lost forgotten top 40 hit. Fortunes rise and fall, and if you're lucky twice, they rise once more.

But you're right, Dean, the choreography was atrocious. Donald wiggles in his seat better than that.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:23:12 ET
Posted by: bobbo, wabbit hunting...huh-huh-huh.

"Looking for a sporty girl to shoot Hoops..."?!

Now, that is either very fuckin' funny, or as snarky as I'd like to be...yikes!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 11:17:00 ET
Posted by: suedave, gettin' ready

Honey I will be there
Yes I'll be there

Denise, will you be there too?

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:18:09 ET
Posted by: tiny fan,

Casual fan-Thanks for the link to "American Idol 7 - Top 4 Group Song - Reelin' In the Years"

I liked it! I thought is was very well done. I've seen a lot worse when it comes to singers/bands trying to cover Steely Dan!

Though I'm still trying to figure out why anybody here would be interested in reading an interview with Hank Easton?

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 10:08:52 ET
Posted by: Larry,

Reidar- Change your tickets and come out for the last few shows instead. You won't want to miss June 21!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 09:55:27 ET
Posted by: MUST INSERT NAME, LEFT BLANK

Nobody expects high school ball players to compete with the Yankees. Why all the bashing of high school bands, young AI contestants, etc. who cover Steely Dan?

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 09:39:56 ET
Posted by: nyc, tourism board

RADAR- ok. spend a LITTLE time with danny freeks but the best place to find out what's happening during Steely Dan week in NYC is to sign up for the email list NYC at DANDOM dot COM. There are something close to 200 people who will be attending Danfan events all week--some like you who are also planning other "official" events before Saturday. Of course, Saturday 6/21 will probably be the best event of the whole 9 nine days. So email hoopster at hoopsATdandomDOTcom and get added to the list. You can talk here and reach a handful of attendees but you're gonna miss out on the bulk of the fun if you don't get on that list.

And first time in NYC???!! - wow you gotta immerse yourself in the greatest city on earth. walk everywhere(subway and cabs - must be experienced though) - do not sleep (nyc doesn't).

the culture, the architecture, restaurants, famous sites, etc - those are what you want to concentrate on!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2008, 04:39:20 ET
Posted by: Reidar (Radar), Norway, near the Northpole

Since I will be in New York for the first time in my life, I would really like to know where Dan fans are going to meet before and after the conserts. I will attend the four first conserts so I will be missing the "official" Dan-Fest at the 21th. Which is a shame, but anyway it would be nice to meet some of you before and after a consert for a drink or two.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 23:07:57 ET
Posted by: Jamie, Sunny Side of San Diego

Greetings and salutations ever e 1. I have been busy, so I have not been around as much as usual. I moved - from hellish Tampa to glorious San Diego, my hometown....so a belated hellow and HNE and all that good stuff...this is why I posted [ from SDREADER.COM APRIL30]

Which One’s Steely, Which One’s Dan?
By Jay Allen Sanford | Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Text size: A | A | A
Send to a Friend | E-mail the Editor
Printer Friendly
Hank Easton is the guitarist for the Steely Damned, a local Steely Dan tribute band also featuring members of Rockola. The New York native began playing guitar at age five and was classically trained as a teen at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He moved to Southern California after graduating from Ohio State University in 1985.

While best known for playing jazz and blues, Easton has lately been nursing his inner rocker on the electric guitar. He says his playing is influenced by the likes of Hendrix, Beck, Clapton, Carlos Santana, Steve Howe, and even Peter Frampton. A highlight of Easton’s Steely Damned set is a medley reproducing the guitar solos from several Steely Dan guitarists, including Larry Carlton, Denny Dias, Elliott Randall, Rick Derringer, and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Steely aficionados typically marvel at how Easton slips from one guitarist’s signature riff to the next — the jaw-dropping medley frequently earns him standing ovations. The first time I viewed it on YouTube, I gave him one too, standing right there in front of my computer.

Easton released three CDs in 2007: Snapshots, Nylon and Steel, and Eleven. His albums feature some of San Diego’s best-known singers, including Tony Davis, Keni Yarbro, Leonard Tucker, and John Toomey.

In addition to the Steely Damned, Easton performs around town solo — currently appearing at Trisler’s Wine Bar in Mission Valley every Thursday — and with his four-piece fusion band, the Hank Easton Group.

WHO’S ON YOUR FAVORITE iPOD PLAYLISTS?

1. “James Taylor. Great writer and a great singer. I love the natural flow of his music and his productions. He’s one of the few artists whose new music is as good as his older work.”

2. “Steely Dan. All their music up through Gaucho, including [Donald] Fagen’s album The Nightfly, an awe-inspiring collection of work. Top-notch studio musicians on every song and always perfectly produced.”

3. “Stevie Wonder. Incredible voice, writing, and musicianship. One man shouldn’t be allowed to have that much talent!”

4. “Elton John. All the old stuff — I love the songwriting and the productions. Especially on the earliest tunes, when his voice was still incredible.”

DESERT-ISLAND DVDs?

1. “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Great story, with classic Jack Nicholson at his best.”

2. “Spinal Tap. I get a good belly laugh every time I watch it. In fact, I named one of my CDs 11, after a gag in the movie about amps with a volume knob that goes higher than 10.”

3. “The Sting. Lots of twists and turns in the plot and an all-star cast.”

4. “Dirty Harry. I’ll need at least one great Clint Eastwood film.”

FAVORITE STEELY DAN GUITAR RIFF?

“Larry Carlton’s in ‘Kid Charlemagne’ is probably my favorite overall. The two solos are a perfect mix of jazz and rock: melodic and powerful, with incredible tone highlighting the chord changes perfectly and wowing the listener. He takes a great song and makes it an incredible song, which is what a solo should do.”

WALTER BECKER OR DONALD FAGEN?

“After listening to the respective solo works by both Steely Dan main men and seeing both of them at live shows, I’d have to say Fagen. Although I do love some of Becker’s guitar solos, like ‘Bad Sneakers’ and ‘Josie,’ to name two. They work well together, though, that’s for sure.”

INSTRUMENT YOU WISH YOU PLAYED?

“I think I picked the right instrument, although I wish I were a great keyboardist. I would like to sit down at the piano and just play whatever I want, like I do on the guitar. Also, it would be a lot easier to lay keyboard parts in the studio.”

YOUR WORST JOBS?

1. “Bus boy: Disgusting work, little pay, and you’re treated like a lower life form.”

2. “Dishwasher: Same as above.”

3. “Cleaning boats: Really hard work with really bad pay. Plus, many people who own a yacht are fastidious, ungrateful, and cheap.”

WHERE DO YOU HANG OUT?

“Anthology, because first and foremost it was designed for live music. Also, Humphrey’s, because I know a lot of other people who hang out there.”

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 20:02:01 ET
Posted by: D, H

BTW...roll call for NYC: Prez Logic, will you be there? Gail & Ed? Sue? All the Chumash crowd???

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 19:59:23 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Chris & Doc Mu...what is the prejudice against sax solos by music execs? Does it always have to be a guitar solo? Is it rooted in any kind of real logic or metrics? Sounds like idiocy to me. Just my 2 cents.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 19:08:00 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

OK, just saw the AI version of Reelin'.

Let me repeat my earlier comment:

The Horror!

Also, that may be the worst choreography ever.

I will need several shots to wipe that from my memory, Bartender...

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 18:31:49 ET
Posted by: The Big Guy, Brisbane, Australia

OK - I was late with the news about "Reelin" on American Idol and SixWire. Took a peek, but couldn't watch the videos all the way through.

However,kind of cool to see SD covers on prime time TV. And if it makes even one person want to hear the original song as it was recorded by SD, and converts them into a Dan Fan, well - that's got to be a good thing.

Keep on rockin' in the real world.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 17:53:59 ET
Posted by: no, just glad to see you - correction #1

All this talk about singles. Since when did this become a singles site?

I'll give it a shot:

Male Steely Dan geeko with plenty of time on his hands seeks - no, demands - a well rounded gal a la Miss Stein in Blazing Saddles or Monica Bellucci to accompany me to Danfests (more excitement than most females can handle, I tell you - what with all the incredible sexy dudes just dripping IN IT there!) and to compare and contrast the harmonic complexities of Sail the Waterway v. Pixelene.

Ability to serve up a nice Breeze or hot coco and short skirts a plus - no thighhigh boots, please. Boots of a certain gray area of coloring - very desirable.

Also, looking for a sporty girl to shoot Hoops.

If my election lasts for more than four hours, we are both (all) in big trouble.

GOD BLESS AMERICA! Whee.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 16:33:42 ET
Posted by: jvmyudal, yurDPajFXWSVtT

Z2FqS7 <a href="http://dwsodhbnkplc.com/">dwsodhbnkplc</a>, [url=http://aolfgxtkopih.com/]aolfgxtkopih[/url], [link=http://dpmxnhvisnva.com/]dpmxnhvisnva[/link], http://cashflefxxpg.com/

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 11:04:03 ET
Posted by: Paul Chernin [drummer for Doctor Wu Band], STEELY POSTERS for sale / Los Angeles

Hi all,

I have a few dozen Steely Dan posters that I have collected over the years. Some are common, and some are very rare. All are framed, and excellent condition, and in storage. If there are any serious collectors out there who may be interested in purchasing this collection, please contact me for details.

Thanks.

Paul

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 10:57:49 ET
Posted by: or, just happy to see you

All this talk about singles. Since when did this become a singles site?

I'll give it a shot:

Male Steely Dan geeko with plenty of time on his hands seeks - no demands - a well rounded gal a la Miss Stein in Blazing Saddles or Monica Bellucci to accompany me to Danfests (more excitement than most females can handle, I tell you - what with all the incredible sexy dudes just dripping in it there!) and to compare and contrast the harmonic complexities of Saill the Waterway v. Pixelene.

Ability to pour a nice Breeze or hot coco and short skirts a plus - no thighhigh boots, please. Boots of a certain gray area of coloring - very desirable.

Also, looking for a sporty girl to shoot Hoops.

If my election lasts for more than four hours, we are both in big trouble.

GOD BLESS AMERICA! Whee.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 10:50:59 ET
Posted by: George, in Paris

It was a horrid, pathetic spectacle. Millions of potential Danfans are now lost forever.

By the way, Somebody's Saturday Night continues in the fine tradition of wrapping things that aren't normally discussed in polite company in the lyrics of a catchy tune. (To paraphrase a previous post, when you hear "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" in the grocery store, the subversion is complete.")

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 10:29:07 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, disgusted

I refuse to watch American Idol, it's a prime example of the idiocy that is American pop culture. I saw a clip of these horrid performers on "Today" and couldn't believe my eyes. They must be stopped.

G

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 10:15:12 ET
Posted by: Casual fan, State of Denial

Here's the video and, sadly, the audio as well, for the American Idol show featuring the top four contestants singing Reeling. Someone please tell me that the Dan are locked in a room somewhere rehearsing and do not see this. For I fear that if they do, they may cancel the tour in protest/disgust/lamentation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lNv38nqH9U

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 09:27:45 ET
Posted by: heymike, Chgo

I have never seen a minute of American Idol, but I have the creeps.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2008, 00:41:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Chris: Too much sex on the radio is OK, but not too much sax.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 23:31:14 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

"Reelin In..." was also played on another shitty music-related contest show, last year. Sixwire was runner-up on Fox's crapfest "The Next Great American Band"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8DP0XjI_Ws

The horror!

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 23:17:37 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Malibu

Steely Dan on "American Idol"?
I don't know how I feel about that.
Part of me gets the "douche chills"
and then part of me thinks, "Hey,
they chose the song and it's a popular
show - any publicity is good promo".
Can you imagine one of those "special"
episodes when music stars come on and
coach the contestants for an evening
of their music. Taskmasters & rapier
wits Don & Walt would reduce them to
tears like a Gore Vidal interview gone
awry. Though I would pay to see that.
Don't get me started on the current
state of British influenced American
Television.

Paddy Chayefsky was a genius.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 21:39:02 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Speaking of singles, I remember hearing that Don and Walt wanted Jamie Runaway to be the first single from TvN, but the record execs said "no" because it had a sax solo.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 21:11:42 ET
Posted by: cj,

They must of gave there approval interesting and smart.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 21:09:36 ET
Posted by: cj,

I never thought i would here a steely dan song on american idol. Hopefully they get tons of downloads for reeling.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 21:08:27 ET
Posted by: V, What the...?

I was just flipping channels...to hear the American Idol contestants singing "Reelin' in the Years". Wow...

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 20:23:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Doc,

Regarding the singles from Morph, you are right on the $$. I also thought that Security Joan would have been the best choice for a single. Nowhere near the best tune, but it's the most immediate and very Pop.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 18:08:06 ET
Posted by: Doc ,

sorry Audrey. I'm looking forward to the full length version of your song.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 18:00:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

DaddyG: Could be. H Gang was the firstg "single" from Morph. Actually charted in the Smooth Jazz arena. Second "single" was What I Do. Security Joan would have been my choice. Not that it's the best song. It's very good - but catchy with nice guitar solos.

I'm still perplexed why Lunch With Gina and Pixeleen were not the singles from EMG.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 16:06:55 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Thanks P-G, now that you mention it, yes I do recall "H-Gang" being the first "single" as such from Morph. And I think I vaguely recall "What I Do" being the followup. Guess I had a brain cramp back there, although the concept of singles isn't what it used to be, I know, at least not for our boys' most recent releases anyway.

My question re WB's "SSN" remains. I suppose time may tell, as they say...

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 15:58:50 ET
Posted by: Bomzhang, CzGeMvyZ

It's so interesting:,

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 14:40:45 ET
Posted by: More from Carolyn L, Chances Are - The Romantic Music Of Robert Allen

May 26 is date set for Carolyn's new solo album Chances Are - The Romantic Music Of Robert Allen.

Tracks:
1 Chances Are
2 I Don't Regret A Thing
3 Come To Me
4 You Are Never Far Away From Me
5 Everybody Loves A Lover
6 Meantime
7 It's Not For Me To Say
8 Play For Keeps
9 It Could Have Been Worse
10 No Such Luck
11 Teacher, Teacher
12 I'm Loving You A Lot
13 Moments To Remember

From the pressrelease:
"The timeless music of Robert Allen has been covered and interpreted by a string of prestigious voices for more than fifty years.
Born in New York in 1927, Robert Allen became a professional musician soon after leaving school and, after playing piano for some years in various jazz clubs, found his ideal lyricist in Al Stillman in 1953.

The pair were very successful and wrote classic melodies such as You Alone and To Know You Is to Love You for Perry Como, and Chances Are and It's Not for Me to Say for Johnny Mathis, Doris Day, The Four Lads, Nat King Cole , Billie Holiday, Cliff Richard, Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John,Barry Manilow, Paul Anka and Garth Brooks are just some of the fine interpreters of his music.

Now, a contemporary and fresh approach to some classic Allen songs is given by a talented American singer, Carolyn Leonhart taking Robert's music stylistically back to its jazz origins."

I stumbled upo the album on emusic.com Europe we're it's already available for (legal) download.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 14:27:00 ET
Posted by: Audrey's being paged, physical singles

H-Gang was available as a "download single" and both that song and What I Do exists as radio promo singles, but that is - I think - it.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 14:16:19 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

I wonder if the availability of "Somebody's Saturday Night" in any way indicates it may be the first single from C$. Or do they even release singles anymore? Were there any official singles from Morph? I don't recall hearing of any.

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 13:40:48 ET
Posted by: TJ, DK

"A lot of the things that Donald and I have worked on in recent years have been built from the ground up. And I get too old and too bored to do that anymore. And this is just much more fun. You have a bunch of people there and they all are contributing to the thing at the point where its taking shape for the first time, so you get a much richer — to me — a much richer texture to the thing."

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 13:09:37 ET
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlanta

A killer song indeed!! Walt is the man!
And I believe you are correct Dean, no
"else's" in there to my ears.

lovethisgig

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 09:10:08 ET
Posted by: heymike, ouch

http://thedaily.washington.edu/2008/5/7/uw-medical-center-denies-transplant-man-dies/

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 07:23:40 ET
Posted by: Pixeleen, Hidden in the code of the Rolling Stone interview

http://download.rbn.com/rstone/rstone/download/smokingsection/walterbecker.mp3

Date: Wed, May 07, 2008, 00:30:35 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Malibu - Enjoying The Weber Fire Pit On The Veranda

So Carolyn won't be joing us after
all out West. I figured as much.
Actually I'm looking forward to
hearing something different like at
Roseland 2003!
I recorded "Somebody's Saturday Night"
in WAV format and I'm basting it right
now on the veranda. Killer. It clearly
will be a staple during this summer's tour.
Laid back vocal, it's got the girls,
Walter solo space and a chance to add horns.
I'd love to hear Donald add on the chorus
with the girls! I can't wait.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 23:21:22 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach

Two quick things that have yet to be mentioned (I think):

1. That's a terrific little embedded player on rollingstone.com.

2. Boz's kid screwed up the lyrics, a bit, it seems. Austin writes, "She's no fool/But she's none too bright/She's just somebody else's Saturday night." I don't hear the word "else's" in that line, anywhere. Does anyone else? (I don't think it's a big deal, and it's not meant as a criticism of Scaggs. I just wonder if I missed something or if it was a RS mistake.)

And, here's one thing that has already been mentioned:

Out-fucking-standing! That's a killer song, Walt.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 22:15:17 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Damn, that's one fine recording. Kudos to Walter, Larry Klein, Jim Beard, and the Usual Suspects Band.

Hey Raj, that was a mini-bridge!! Awesome chorus.

It's ALIVE,

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 19:36:10 ET
Posted by: pge - yeah me again, F5, F5, F5!

Sorry for previous post about news already posted here by others. Forgot to update the browser so it didn't show the latest posts until I hade made mine...

That's technology for you. OK. So to make at least some kind of addition I'd like to add that the full version of SSN sounds fine ;)

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 19:34:19 ET
Posted by: Ken, NYC

I just received this email on my Myspace account from Pete Fogel. Neil Diamond just sold out Madison Square Garden for three shows in August. If he can show up and play at the Bitter End, maybe Donald and/or Walter can make it in on June 21!!
_____________________

"Legendary singer, songwriter and performer Neil Diamond (myspace.com/neildiamond) will perform at a special free show, Wednesday, May 7th at New York City's The Bitter End.

This show is 18 and up and admission is on a first come, first served basis. So get there early and stay in line. Not many people know about this. This is a special notice to all my Myspace friends.

Neil Diamond starts his world tour on May 24th. The tour includes three sold out shows at NYC Madison Square Garden in August.

Pete Fogel"

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 19:32:08 ET
Posted by: PGE, Up north

Full song (Somebody's Saturday Night) + article over on Rolling Stone!

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20721773/qa_steely_dans_walter_becker

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 18:19:17 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

The look on Walter's face right after Donald nixxed "Dr. Wu" at Soboba was worse than any rotten tomato toss. Donald is a stick in the mud. And always will be. Some people just don't know how to have fun and please the crowd. Maybe that's one of the reasons he's such an incredible songwriter. He doesn't pander and he will not bend.

OK, so be it.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 18:04:13 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

I think he was talking about all of the "Peg" signs. I carry one with me wherever I go, just in case.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 17:22:18 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One,

I, for one, NEVER threw a rotten tomato.......

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 17:06:13 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

First of all, I dig the tune. :-)

Some interesting stuff in the interview, but I'd consider these the biggies...
___________________________

AS: I notice a lot of Jamaican influence on 11 Tracks of Whack, as well.

WB: I had started listening to that way back in those days and at one point Donald [Fagen] and I actually experimented with the idea of doing an album with reggae-type beats on it in the Eighties. I think "Snowbound" that was eventually on one of his albums was from that period. And the original version of "West of Hollywood" was from that period. It's always fascinated me the way they use the same elements of rhythm and blues playing, but they turn them around in a way and yet they still get a great feel on it, you know? And as a rhythm section guy, those rhythm sections are sort of the ultimate — the tightness of it, the complexity of the feels.
___________________________

AS: "Circus Money" is the only song on the record that you wrote without Larry. But I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that it's also the title of the record.

WB: That was just a coincidence. Larry and I were going back and forth. He was coming to New York and I was going to California. He was working on other things and so on. And that particular tune I wrote during a holiday when he was I think on a vacation somewhere and I had taken some friends and dropped them off at the Big Apple Circus and I came home and had this idea for this thing. It's allusive with an "a." You don't exactly know what it means. So it's allusive and illusive. It feels like it must mean something, but you're not such which of the many things that it might mean it would be. I just thought it was a nice combination of words for a title.

AS: As far as your mentality going into the studio — and perhaps feeling more comfortable behind the microphone — how is this process different from 11 Tracks of Whack?

WB: I was definitely more comfortable singing, plus a lot of the singing for 11 Tracks I just did myself with the engineer, so it was a little more tedious. There was a learning curve for me as a singer making tracks that I got out of the way making 11 Tracks. And also, I realized I wanted to make this record with basically the same band, or slight permutations on the same band. Doing all the tracks and getting that kind of unity of playing and concept and feel. Playing without clicks and stuff like that, so it would be like the good old days of, you know, where the musicians set the tempos and the feels and everything. So that was the main thing that changed it. So once we had the basic tracks, which we did in 10 days or something, the basic music of the thing was there, you know? And it didn?t need to be invented as you go along. A lot of the things that Donald and I have worked on in recent years have been built from the ground up. And I get too old and too bored to do that anymore. And this is just much more fun. You have a bunch of people there and they all are contributing to the thing at the point where its taking shape for the first time, so you get a much richer — to me — a much richer texture to the thing.
___________________________

AS: Is another Walter Becker show in the works?

WB: Oh, I don't actually know, because we're gonna go out and do the Steely Dan tour and that's gonna pretty much occupy a big chunk of time for me, and energy. At some point, it might be nice to do something, although at that point, I'll probably want to do something slightly different. I don't know if I would aspire to actually re-create the stuff I recorded. It might be more fun to play live with a slightly different format, with more blowing and stuff like that. Maybe.

AS: And the Steely Dan tour? What have you guys thought up for that?

WB: Well, we're revamping our show to change the pace and the flow of the show and to include songs that we haven't been doing as much recently. We haven't really started rehearsing yet, so I don't really know how it's gonna turn out. We just want to make sure it has a fresh energy for people that have come in previous years, even though they'll still get to hear basically what they wanna hear: the Steely Dan songs played more or less how they were recorded. In some cases, we'll do rewrites, segues and stuff, make it a different live experience. There's a couple songs that I'd like to do that we'll maybe get to do this year. But I hate to say in advance, in case it doesn't happen. And then fans are coming to the shows with signs and stuff, throwing rotten tomatoes at us if we don't do certain songs.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 16:31:08 ET
Posted by: Maxwell Smart, aka Daddy G.

"Missed it by that much."

OK, while composing my short blurb re the update at walterbecker.com wowie beat me to it...

;-)

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 16:29:08 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Now at walterbecker.com there's a link to:

> Full song stream + Q & A at RollingStone.com <

The song is "Somebody's Saturday Night"

The article is titled...
Walter Becker Talks Solo Album, Future of Steely Dan, Reggae

(And no, I haven't listened to the song yet.)

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 16:28:12 ET
Posted by: wowie, here

check walterbecker.com -- a link to a whole song, plus interview....gonna read and listen

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 15:56:57 ET
Posted by: ,

When you post a message, look above to see the rules pertaining to buying/selling tickets.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 13:36:33 ET
Posted by: fezman, boston

Looking for single seat june 21st,prefer down front any one that can help would be greatly appreciated..i hope its ok to seek a seat hoops,soory if not....fezzie

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 11:24:50 ET
Posted by: Beacon Tickets Available, Philadelphia

Hello friends,

2 great sets of tickets available for The Beacon Theatre:

Tues. 6/17- Orchestra Row A (5th row)
Wed. 6/18- Loge Row A (1st row of Loge)

I'm asking what I paid $345 for each pair. Shipping is on me.

Drop me an email if interested.

Thanks.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 10:57:41 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

In that '69 picture on wb.com, if you put a beard on Don, he'd look like one of the geico cavemen.

The years have been kind to him.

KC

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 09:54:04 ET
Posted by: Casual fan, I could put anything and you'd be none the wiser

Hey Dave and Fezman, could they compete with this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYDW17xtoI

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 09:53:57 ET
Posted by: Hutch, rva

I don't know if this is new or just something I overlooked before.

http://walterbecker.com/galleryA.html

Some nice photos. Walter standing in front of the Cafe Gollem in Amsterdam is priceless.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 06:50:55 ET
Posted by: fezman, boston

Hi to all,A little follow-up to Marks blurb regarding last nights high school performance.First,thanks for inviting me Mark,i had a great time and the band was GREAT.You had to see these kids,lol. EIGHT backup singers!!full brass section 3 guitarists,congas,2 drummers!! and get this an OBOE! there was even a mini Donald,this kid maybe 15 at most was scheduled to play violin and due to tech issues switched to the OBOE !! lol, the director of the band mentioned other instuments he could play but he choses the oboe,lol He was the spitting image of donald at lets say 15,it was weird to see this little guy.the whole evening was just great fun and the band played beautifully,congrats to pioneer valley H.S and looking forward to next years performance......Fezzie

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 06:07:14 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

here's part of a recent email newsletter from Carolyn Leonhart:

Greetings,

I wish you all a happy, happy Spring and to my felliow NYers, a wonderful allergy season - the likes of which we may have never seen before...

I just want to remind y'all one last time about the show I'll be doing this Wednesday, May 7th @ 8:30 pm.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, this will be one of the last solo shows I'll be doing for a few months. I am planning on doing all the local shows with Steely Dan in June, but come July, I'll be taking a bit of maternity leave while we welcome an addition to the family... Having said that, one never knows what the future holds, do they ( there is already talk about doing a guest spot at the New Haven Jazz Festival in August. I'll keep you posted)...

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 00:56:55 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Malibu

Dave -

What? No Dr. Wu?!!!!
Only ONE set!
Who do these kids think they are?!

But really, sounds like a hoot
at the Iron Horse.

Wish I could have been there.

angel - Don't worry about being
on the floor at the Honda. Remember,
it's a hockey rink. Chandeliers and
curtains can't change that. Nokia
will be the place for the LA show.
The sound and sightlines are amazing!
I'm going for the "Double-Double"
myself. LA, Paso Robles, Anaheim
and Pala. I always like to stay
within driving distance of an "In-N-Out"!

Date: Tues, May 06, 2008, 00:27:51 ET
Posted by: Dave From Acquisitions, Central Mass

Wanted to share a few details about a very cool concert I saw this evening with my buddy Paul (Fezman).
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School from Hadley, MA presented "A Tribute to Steely Dan" at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton MA. A group of talented and well rehearsed high school students on brass, woodwinds, vocals and rhythm section took to the stage to perform a sophisticated tribute to Steely Dan. During most songs there were 22 kids up on stage - a veritable Steely Dan army! The audience was made up of parents, students, and Dan fans. It was good to see the kids play Steely Dan music and appear to be having so much fun at it.
Mark

Here's the set list:

Peg

Kid Charlemagne

Green Earrings

Charlie Freak

Babylon Sisters

My Old School

Any Major Dude

Home At Last

Josie

Reelin' In The Years

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 13:24:00 ET
Posted by: angel,

Well, I may not be going to NY...sorry Ed B. :-)

But I did score tickets for both LA and Anaheim, so I am happy.

I tried for the floor at Anaheim and got told that there was nothing available in that area. At 10:05AM. Whatever...

It just never ceases to amaze me, what goes on with ticket selling.

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 11:58:07 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

As a matter of fact, yes, it is asking too much.

Dandom.com has two forums. The BlueBook is one huge SPOILER while the flagship Dandom Digest designates SPOILERS.

As reminder:
This forum is entirely a SPOILER zone. In other words, posts shouldn't be marked with SPOILER designation because that is part of the nature of the BlueBook

If you need to participate in a forum with entries marked as SPOILERS, please participate in our other, original forum, the Dandom Digest.

Subscribe details are at http://dandom.com/dandomdigest

Jim

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 11:49:09 ET
Posted by: Is it asking too much,

to start any comments on the WB clips with ***SPOILER ALERT*****

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 10:42:56 ET
Posted by: Matt, Chattanooga, TN

I do believe that I am hearing shades of I Can't Function in the brief clip for Three Picture Deal. Just maybe an intonation thing, but it feels close.

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 09:44:32 ET
Posted by: Vondar Totali,

So Connie does the synapse dealy and Think Fast mean something like WB'mask
As usual I'm lost

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 09:06:43 ET
Posted by: Looking at the schedule,

That leaves only July 7 and 8 left as possible dates unless they do 3 nights in a row (something they are obviously taking care not to do) or extend the tour. They would likely be in Canada or upstate (Westchester, etc.) NY.

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 08:16:13 ET
Posted by: Craig B,

Thanks Doc for the update

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 07:56:24 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

new date added at steelydan.com

Aug 05 - Palomar Starlight Theater - Pala CA | on sale TBA < date added

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 07:26:07 ET
Posted by: Tiny Fan,

Darling - Yeah, I guess musicians like Blue Lou Marini and Birch Johnson (who played with the "real thing") have no business making a mockery out of this great music. You my "darling", need to get a clue.

Date: Mon, May 05, 2008, 00:32:23 ET
Posted by: Darling, this side

'Nice'?

Yikes!

Some music (like SD and the Beatles) should be avoided by Broadway types, jam sessions, rukkus bar imprompus, etc.!

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 21:10:58 ET
Posted by: Nice!,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOjuhzIgqtQ&feature=related

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 15:05:09 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard

Dean -

Yup, that's the graphic but w/o "Sad Synapse is Sad". It was in the Press Democrat but probably also in the Chron.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 14:49:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Raj,

Volare! That is, indeed, good pop music. So was Louis Prima, of course. And, as you mention, Italians have been making great pop music for a loong time. Opera was pop music, in its time, if I'm not mistaken

I was referring to the "newer" Italian pop music, and quite honestly, was just using your post as a reason to link to that bizarre video.

I tend to be quite anti-pop (although I sure did like the soul music of the 60's and early 70's). But, for some reason, I've taken a liking to Pizzicato Five. Maybe because it is such an obvious throwback to an earlier era.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 14:40:05 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

Dean, very cute, I'm enjoying that Nipponese pop clip on YouTube. Good pop music is and remains a guilty pleasure for this humble auditor when rendered with that alacrity and perfect light touch. Italians tend to strangle the tender reeds of pop stuff at times but, when they do hit as did Quando Quando Quando and Volare, few can match them. The Brazilians notwithstanding. We Italians invented pop music, begining as it did in the 15th century as intermezzi to the classic Greek 5 act dramas in the priories of North Italy. So, as they say, when in Rome...

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 14:28:38 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, It's Happy Hour!

Connie,

Is this the graphic?

http://tiny.cc/hnuN3

By "this Sunday's paper" do you mean the SF Chronicle?

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 14:08:55 ET
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard

In this Sunday's paper there is a full page color ad for The Greek Theatre Concert Series by Another Planet Entertainment including "Think Fast, Steely Dan Summer Tour 2008". And right below that are graphics depicting a Presynaptic Nerve, a Synapse and a Postsynaptic Nerve and the concert date and time. It's very cool.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 13:05:45 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Heading Toward the Manatee Bar

Raj,

Italian pop? Yikes! I'm as proud of an Italian-American as there is, but I won't go near that dreck.

Japanese pop is where it's at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5CuZzIexfc

:#)

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 12:32:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Âµ,

"last thing - this reminds me that Donald went to great lengths to tune all instruments perfectly to the piano for every recording session. Sweet music."

I should reference the Nightfly recording sessions.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 12:32:24 ET
Posted by: GaijinX, 405 of the Mind

Yama digi piano intonation better than about any grands, excepting maybe high end, symphony-quality Steinways, or Bosendorfers (actually superior to most hack-steinways): maybe slightly sharp, for the El Lay-death fusion sound. A Corea does better on digi-p or elec. p than with grand............unless you can play Chopin n scriabin (my man Alex) up n down, yr better off with digi.........

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 12:30:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Raj: If it's not Sinatra, I wouldn't know. When we were touring Sicily and Italy the temp was 30-40Â°C, everything was melting including the Spanish portable band/panhandlers on the trains. I believe that accordions, Walter's "favorite" instrument, are sometimes tuned above A440...which gives Tejano music common here a strange sound to my ears. Cajun music is more bluesy so it's more normal/flatter.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 12:21:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

last thing - this reminds me that Donald went to great lengths to tune all instruments perfectly to the piano for every recording session. Sweet music.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 12:17:40 ET
Posted by: Rajah, look sharp, B#

Ok, let me narrow my statement down. Italian pop music of the last 50 years informs me. Maybe the barbarian tribes to the north and west have a different proclivity but Neopolitan songs, the heart of Italian pop music, is overwhemingly so.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 12:13:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Steinway supposedly used A436. Philharmonic pitch was A439. A440 was adopted by the international community in 1939, a little earlier that I thought, but in order to get the 3rds and 5ths equal tempered piano tuner have told me then sometimes settle in the end below A440. I have read some Euro orchestras will use A444 even though A440 is standard.

It reminds me that upright pianos out West tend to go flat in the dry air...a sound SD used in My Old School.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 11:52:46 ET
Posted by: GaijinX, 405 of the Mind

How you doin' Paso ROBLES!!!!!

Dan in central Cali! wooooo-hoooo. Parker's Band---that's FESS PARKER

Motel 6 room, cheap merlot, and grand-slam b-fast for takers, er takerettes.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 11:39:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Before A/C American pianos were tuned below A440, particularly for orchestral use. Moisture/humidity tends to make the strings go sharp. Pianos in Europe were designed for higher humidity environs and were thus tuned sharper to begin with.

With digital tuning, keys, and Yamaha pianos A440 has become standard for tuning pianos and guitars.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 11:38:32 ET
Posted by: GaijinX, 405 of the Mind

WALTER BECKER HAS A NEW ALBUM!

AH yeah. Back on bass, and featuring keyboard upgrade from DF to Ted Baker. Bodaciousness.

Rock the F. on Walt.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 11:37:55 ET
Posted by: TJ, DK

"Europeans are chronically on the sharp"

Mmm... maybe a few more examples to back up this interesting thesis?

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 05:40:29 ET
Posted by: Rajah, this side too

Europeans are chronically on the sharp, and not just their pianos, it's rare to hear a singer who isn't besotted with the belcanto of major sharps. It's extremely annoying, let me tell you. It's either that or you have some raspy-ass pop singer droning away trying to be a mix between Dylan and Springsteen. But mostly they sound like Steve Perry, beautiful tone and elasticity in the tenor range but oh so sterile and hum-drum when all is said and done.

I agree you don't necessarily have to have much of a range to be a proficient singer. Witness Satchmo, Joe Cocker, Dylan. I'm defining range here as the distance between the highest and lowest notes an instrument or voice can cover without cracking. But let's not forget timbre, dynamic and duration ranges, they all play a part. A truly great voice like the late Pavarotti in his prime had them all at his command. Very few mortals have that gift. Walter may be being goosed and tweeked by pro-tools but nonetheless I think his singing is getting much more engrossing and he certainly has more confidence.

Date: Sun, May 04, 2008, 02:56:34 ET
Posted by: Darling, This side

"Most American pianos are tuned a little flat."

More correct is: All European pianos are tuned sharp.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 22:57:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Not: I am more than aware of the difference. On 11 ToW there are flat notes as well as warbling. Hell, Sinatra sang even flatter from the 50s on. Most American pianos are tuned a little flat. Walt is stylist and a storyteller, not a Julliard virtuoso.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 22:21:51 ET
Posted by: Not Really, ..

Singing flat is when you're trying to sing in pitch, but not making it. It is noticeable, and irritating. If WB sang in a way that reminded you of that on 11 tracks of Whack, I would suggest that was conscious on his part and should not be confused with people who can not actually manage to stay in pitch even if they wanted to.

WB slides his voice all over the place, but at the end of the slide he is where he set out to be.

It's about intention. Being called a flat singer is an insult. I would not be too quick to toss that idea out there.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 16:22:38 ET
Posted by: angel,

Hey Dim Skip!

Thanks for the additional info and links on Carlock's work with Jeff Oster.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 16:09:59 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, Charlotte

I see the same thing... maybe they're about to update the clips?!

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 15:38:19 ET
Posted by: KMITB, Mt. Belzoni

Becker's clips are not loading now....anyone else have this problem?

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 15:23:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

BC: I wasn't specifically addressing tonic range - but yes, Walter's *natural* voice's range sounds limited, but not as much as one would think - almost 2 octaves in Book of Liars...but he's not singing the National Anthem! Which is why I mentioned his falsetto...extending his range on the new one.

Really: W's warbling and hitting more flat notes on 11 ToW than Kelly Clarkson. Sure, it's got character...but compare AiA where he's more in tune and in sync with a live band. That's why Downtown Canon hits ya like a jackhammer. C$ has potential to be a robust album. Even the weaker sounding songs in the latter half appear to have compelling lyrics to keep Danfans occupied for quite some time.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 14:21:07 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

Doc Mu:

Re: "To be fair, I did not mean a limited "range" as in scale. Walter's new one features a nice falsetto."

Why WOULDN'T you mean WB has a limited range? In natural/chest voice he's a bass/baritone (in treble clef: low D(ledger space below the staff) to high F(top line of the staff) - singer.
DF WAS a pretty much a tenor (in treble clef: low F (bottom space on the staff)- high G/A) - above the staff) in his 20s-30s.
Nowadays DF's a low tenor/baritone singer.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 13:13:39 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, Eternal Path

A short while back I mentioned that Jeff Oster's "Saturn Calling" and other tunes from his album "True" feature Keith Carlock on drums. A little birdie now informs me as to the other KC "True" tunes...

In addition to Saturn Calling, the first track on TRUE, KC played on:

Track 3 - SERENGETI - free download available here:
http://www.jeffoster.com/music-18.html

Track 5 - TIBET (both Tibet and Saturn Calling were mixed by the legendary Brice Swedien - he of MJ's THRILLER fame.. )

Track 6 - SOUNDS LIKE SUNSHINE

Track 7 - ONCE IN A BLUE MOONLIGHT - GREAT feel from KC on this one
and finally - if you listen to one - this is it:

Track 10 - MUMBAI - this track features KC in a HUGE way - He ROCKS...

This can be found on MySpace at...
http://www.myspace.com/jeffoster

I recommend you check out Mr. Oster's work with Mr Carlock when you can.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 12:48:53 ET
Posted by: Really ?, ..

On which songs is Becker singing flat on his first album ?

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 12:42:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Heading Toward the Manatee Bar

0's and 1's,

Interesting site. Are you familiar with this company and/or do you know anything about its methodology? I can't find a detailed explanation of their method, on their website.

The reason I ask is, I'm a media measurement guy (well, former media measurement guy, anyway). As such, I'm a little troubled by this:

"Quantcast Corporation was founded in 2005 by a team of engineers and mathematicians committed to advancing the digital media industry"

I'd feel better if an audience research professional was among the founders. Also, I'd prefer a commitment to objective measurement to a commitment to "advance the digital media industry"...but, hey, that's just me.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 12:31:42 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Buzz: To be fair, I did not mean a limited "range" as in scale. Walter's new one features a nice falsetto. I meant he sings flat on 11 ToW. The on-key sound on the new one is indeed mostly related to the more live recording paradigm. I could be wrong, but isn't this one analog like EMG?

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 12:29:14 ET
Posted by: zeros and ones, digital dmain

http://www.quantcast.com/steelydan.com

check the numbers

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 11:12:06 ET
Posted by: Larry,

Hey Wash DC- Hop on a train and come to NYC for one or two shows at the Beacon. If you have no money, stay outside the Lincoln Tunnel at one of the many cheap motels that are just minutes from Manhattan. Or you can even drive to the Atlantic City show. Stop bitching.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 09:13:20 ET
Posted by: wash, dc

You bet I'm going to whine if they play ridiculous podunk towns like Hartford and Tampa and skip DC. (And then schmucks like AnonTwit will meta-whine about people whining.)

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 03:28:40 ET
Posted by: Due with Buzz, here

it's a gorgeous saturday morning.
Dolly Parton is known for singing her songs 'just like that' and recording swifter than folks could take measurements of her non-vocabulary assets.
don't assume 'everyone' uses Pro Tools and the likes to 'cover up' or polish what can't be done realtime. that's an insult to a musician's artistry. often CD's are recorded 'realtime' as in with ALL the musicians playing 'at the same time' as if it were LIVE. Carmen Lundy, an outstanding jazz vocalist has a tendency to record that way too. you might here a little tweaking here and there, but that's what makes an album authenthic and 'real'.
and yes, Billie Holiday IS Billie because her voice, at the end anyway, sounded like a broken record.

ANON, you are right on the dot.
look what modern life did to us human beings.
we moan, groan and complain more than ever.
we need lessons in being humble and thankful again.

there will be a new Indiana Jones movie out.
has got nothing to do with the Dan, except maybe it's Harrison Ford again in the lead in one of his signature roles. like Steely Dan has a signature of its own.

I'm not the fan I used to be, hardly spin their albums these days.
but I do wish them well and applaud their appetite for touring LIVE.
you just have to respect that. period.

and Walter's singing range isn't 'limited', Mu :-)
(but you're forgiven for saying that)
Walter has a powerful and soulful delivery. There are singers with a range from Antarctica to Jupiter's invisible moon, and yet they lack every bit of genuine emotion and soul.

and what you hear on Three Picture Deal is this niftly little itsy bitsy note the grrrls sing on THREE. I love it.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 02:03:00 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

You're correct as usual, Mu, the clip of Upside Looking Down (the opposite of an aerial view) does sound lke the tail end of a bridge. A bridge made to order for Mike McDonald.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 01:27:56 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

ProTools: You make a great point. Collectively, Fagen and Becker have used every studio trick in the book; that's what they're known for, and it's a huge part of what makes Steely Dan Steely Dan. The thing that bothers me about AutoTune type stuff is that its distracting and alters the actual timbre of the voice. It's like how Fagen describes digital synths; I almost always notice it and it always takes away from my enjoyment of the track.

The other huge issue I have with it -- that doesn't necessarily apply to Steely Dan, because they were never about this kind of thing -- is the fact that little vocal imperfections give a vocalist a lot of character. How would Billie Holiday sound in the studio if she started her career in 2008?

Date: Sat, May 03, 2008, 01:23:01 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Malibu - Man The Pacific Ocean Can Be A Beautiful Thing<