January 2003 BlueBook Entries

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 22:03:17 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Dennis and Randy:
That's good news. It would be a shame to see his life wrecked over this.

Dennis:
Good luck with the Gig. http://www.katylied.tv

All:
The clavinet thread has been cool.

SueDave:
I haven't purchased the second book on "Kind of Blue" but I remember glancing at it in the book store and thinking it was kinda rushed. Will give it a second lookover.

DJ:
Thanks for the comments on Bird and Dizzy.

Remember that Phil Woods is supposed to be on with Marian McPartland in the upcoming week. That's 11 am Chicago time on http://www.wbez.org or 91.5 fm for me.

Cool posts everyone.

jim

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 20:43:07 ET
Posted by: µ,

Randy: Thanks for sharing that. Given that the history of an accused sexual predator is admissible evidence in court, then this treatise written By Pete Townshend a year BEFORE his arrest has great legal relevence. You have convinced me now given this info, which would be public information, that it is most likely that Pete is telling the truth...and the implementation of the British law has become Draconian in nature and would damage real progress towards managing this grave problem. The passage regarding Tommy really gave me the creeps, in an Oliver Twist way or worse. Perhaps it was the awful movie, but I never thought of Tommy's plight in that manner. I can really see a link to sexual abuse now. That deaf, dumb, and blind kid - a child who has been abused, blocks those memories out if possible...The rock opera then may have been a creative path for that to be expressed by Pete's subconscious - just never occured to me before...

Which reminds me, I've always thought of Kamakiriad, which is a real bookend to The Nightfly, as a series of subconsciously driven surreal dreams as the protagonist works out his fears of the near future...i.e., writing creatively, recording, touring etc. Anybody else feel this way? It fits in with the 50s lithograph B-movie merged with 50s ads of progress and fashion...whereas the Alice in wonderland mirror image is The Nightfly as a post-modern view back into the mind of the man as a teen looking optimistically into the future using the imperfect point of view of the cynical adult...but then that's now explained in the DVD-A liner notes...

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 19:04:47 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/USA

While this may be "off topic," it is important; below is the text to a piece I wrote regarding the whole issue with Pete Townshend; it was written the week the news story broke, and ties in with the previous post:

(TEXT AS FOLLOWS)

In regards to the recent news concerning Pete Townshend, I thought I would note to those who may (or may not) care that I am a regular reader of Townshend's site, which includes Pete's "Diary" entries, a number of which involved Pete's distress over the availability of child pornography on the Internet; in one entry (the link to which can be found below via a site other than Pete's), he discussed a friend who had experienced abuse that he had met through his work as a fund-raiser for a drugs and alcohol abuse program. In general, it appears that what has happened via the news media has largely been a misunderstanding; other diary entries (from last year) on Townshend's site dealt with other elements of Townshend's interest in ridding the Internet of child pornography; he specifically posted (as well as having been very vocal in general, particularly in England) about the availability of images on the net; Townshend mentioned that he came across numerous porn sites simply by typing the word "sex" into the Google search engine (he does have a teenage son, making this a valid concern and consideration); Townshend also reported through his site diary entries that some search engines were limiting or considering limiting ALL viewing through predetermined filtering (which he appeared to be against based on free speech issues unrelated to pornography).

In addition, it has been reported for some time that Townshend has been working on his autobiography, and his admission of various sorts of unusual behavior on the part of a somewhat mentally-ill grandmother he stayed with for an extended time as a child were also previously widely reported (more so in England that the U.S.) What was not known was that Townshend had suffered some form of sexual abuse at the hands of this aforementioned grandmother, which was part of the root of his research concerning his autobiography as well as his tentatively planned campaign against child pornography. Townshend was well versed with the research required for a book project, as he worked for a time in the nineteen-eighties as an editor at Faber & Faber, a publishing house in England; while Townshend may have committed a crime under British law simply by way of locating sites containing child pornography (granted a somewhat naive approach to his research), I would hate to see a complete lack of consideration before judgment among fans and the press until all the surrounding issues are made clear, since much of what relates to Townshend's arrest was discussed openly on his website during the course of last year.

It largely appears that the "witch hunt" tactics of the British authorities ignored the issue of context in Townshend's case, and much of the American press specifically did a great disservice to the public by reporting the story in a much sensationalized and biased fashion. It is difficult to launch a campaign against something if one has no concept of it's ease of availability and content; I highly doubt Townshend would have discussed this topic (and his findings) so openly during the course of last year if he was also attempting to download and distribute illicit photos of children. He may have been in error in terms of his approach, but I hardly think he should now be viewed (or convicted as) a pedophile.

Here's a link to one of Townshend's (six page) diary entries from last year concerning this issue:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/petetownshend1.html

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 16:45:23 ET
Posted by: ds, chicago

Pete Townshend may have some proof in his battle to clear his name against child-pornography allegations.

Britain's Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which works "to minimize the availability of illegal Internet content, particularly child abuse images," has announced that Townshend contacted the organization last year regarding some of the websites he had found while allegedly doing research into pedophilia. The IWF denied any such communication when Townshend was arrested earlier this month, but has now been able to produce some emails from last summer and autumn that seemingly back up the Who leader's claims.

Townshend issued this statement on his website (petetownshend.com): "You may recall that among the media frenzy of a couple of weeks ago, representatives of the Internet Watch Foundation told the press and the news stations that they had never heard from me. I, of course, know that I did communicate with them several times last year, and they have now supplied to us copies of my emails to them, one in August and the rest in November. My lawyers have written to the founder of the IWF, Mark Stephens, who was adamant that they had never heard from me, asking for an explanation."

For it's part, the IWF says it had no choice but to deny any prior contact with Townshend: "Because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, we are unable to comment or disclose information about the personal details of individuals who make reports to us unless they give their permission."

Townshend was arrested and released on bail on January 13 after British police searched his house as part of Operation Ore, an ongoing pedophilia investigation. He has so far not been charged with any crime. He was taken in as part of an ongoing investigation into Internet child pornography around the world after his name and credit-card information was found at a pedophile website. Townshend has admitted visiting a handful of child-pornography sites and using his credit card to enter one, although he claims he was doing research for his upcoming autobiography, and that the book will include a claim of sexual abuse between the ages of five and six-and-a-half years old while he lived with his maternal grandmother (the alleged abuse came from a male friend of his grandmother's).

In an interview with the British tabloid The Sun published before he was taken into custody, Townshend said, "I am angry about child porn on the Internet, and deeply wounded at the inference that I might be a pedophile. I have looked at child porn sites maybe three or four times in all, the front pages and previews. But I have only entered once using a credit card and I have never downloaded. With hindsight it was very foolish, but I felt so angered about what was going on, it blurred my judgment...I have never purchased any forms of child pornography or wished to own any...I was stupid to try to deal with my anger about child porn on the Internet alone. We must try to stop it but if we can't do that we should invest our energy in helping victims of abuse...it is important that the police are able to convince themselves that--if I did anything illegal--I did it purely for research. I am not a pedophile...I sincerely believed that the police would know my history as someone who works tirelessly to help the abused, and that since 1978 I have run a charity which has contributed millions to organizations working to prevent violence and abuse."

-- Bruce Simon, New York

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 14:55:55 ET
Posted by: sharkdeVille, down in tampa

The clavinet features prominently in the music of Stevie Wonder. Think "Superstition"...
he even sings about clavinets on a few tunes.

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 10:59:28 ET
Posted by: Danfan,

What you are referring to is Steely Dan's appearance on NBC's Today Show. I was unable to tape the appearance but there are some awesome photos of it at Fogel's Fotos: http://www.asan.com/users/petefogel/today.htm

The Today show also has released a compilation CD of songs taken from this series and another is a possibility. However, no word on whether that such a CD would include a Steely Dan track.

Let's hope they do it again this spring on the Today Show.

I thought it was funny that they performed in front of a Dean & Deluca's and I was proud that the Montana Steely Dan fans were represented.

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 10:55:19 ET
Posted by: Martin, Germany

Hi ,

this is martin from germany.

thanks for keeping up this site. it's a valuable source of s information to me.

can you give me advice where i can get in contact with collectors of sd audio/video material.

While being in NYC in May 2000 (not knowing of dandom), sat in front of my hotel-room tv-set being confronted with a live performance of the 2000 sd-band on "breakfast tv" at rockefeller center. (must have been may 6th, 2000)

I immediately took a cab there but nearly missed the whole show. I was able to video-tape "black friday".

Do you think there's anyone out there who can help me out with a complete recording?

thanks in advance and best wishes

martin

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 07:49:10 ET
Posted by: Howard,

Clavinet?

Short answer: a Clavinet is a bit like a harpsichord with electric guitar pickups.

Longer answers:
http://www.soundofmusic.se/synth/clavinet/clavinet.htm
http://www.melmusic.com.au/articles/Clav.html

Google is a wonderful thing...

Howard

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 05:24:56 ET
Posted by: Clas , Stockholm

A Clavinet origins from those old Harpsichords.

Howard can tell you more about it.

Date: Fri, January 31, 2003, 00:06:57 ET
Posted by: suedave,

See it for yourself:

http://www.howeart.net/imagesNEW/DoubleHelix.jpg

Question for you all: when I go to amaxon.com, as I usually spell it, which thankfully gets me to the right place, I see at least three books out on Kind of Blue.


The 1st, the Kahn book (very good rating), the third, The Making of Kind of Blue: Miles Davis and His Masterpiece by Eric Nisenson (not a good rating)

The second, Miles Davis Kind of Blue by Hal Leonard (Editor), has this in it's review: "For musicians in the know, this book can only enhance one's ardor for the album Quincy Jones calls his 'orange juice' and Donald Fagen hails as 'The Bible.'" Does anyone know if this is as good as the Kahn booK?

I'm glad that the 'playing in the back of the stage' Walter, has finally moved to the front, but it seems real fans always had him there. Nice show.

Hoops, thanks for continuing to post all these great articles!

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 18:51:54 ET
Posted by: Michelle, NJ

That is so neat, DJ! I had never caught the bit about "a dizzy weekend smacked into a trance." Neato!

I like the confessional.

What exactly is a clavinet ? How is it different from an Electric piano or Synth?

The Love Supreme topic is a good one. Maybe someone can suggest an approach to getting into it.

Mich

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 17:11:50 ET
Posted by: DJ, Chicago

Relaxin' at the Camarillo

Ah yes, a nice hour lunch with a 1/2 bottle of Pinot Grigio and an hour to kill at work so thought I would lay down a few thoughts about the book I am reading lately, Bird Lives!: The High Life and Hard Times of Charlie (Yardbird) Parker. I am sure quite a few of the dandom folks have read this, but I am finding it an interesting read. Ross Russell definitely has a knack for getting across the feelings, moods, and genius of Parker and the whole start of the bop era in general.

I would imagine that Walt and Don were on top of this the year it came out in 1973 it's topics resonate through Parker's Band which came out a year later. Who knows? I was 4 at the time.

I wonder about the lyrics "We will spend a dizzy weekend smacked into a trance" since it proves no secret that Charlie was jealous of Dizzy's fame and recognition at the time. The passage is probably just one of those subtle things that dan fans marvel over for no reason, or were the boys jousting in Dizzy's name to the song? We can get into the 'smacked' business here too since Charlie did love his Horse.

A bit of non-music trivia from the book: Charlie ate 20 hamburgers at one sitting, he also won a pizza eating contest, and my favorite did 16 double shots of whiskey in two hours before a set.

Anyway, rambling on here. Can't wait for "Everything Must Go" and possibility of a tour and whatnot. I am unfortunately out of town this weekend or I would be all over the Katy Lied gig.

dj

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 16:17:04 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

The new deluxe "A Love Supreme" is very, very essential to any jazz collection, as it has the only live version of the "A Love Supreme" suite, that the quartet ever played (at the 1965 Antibes Jazz Festival), and it also has the alternate takes with Archie Shepp and Art Davis. Great stuff.

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 15:27:42 ET
Posted by: In the Spirit of Steely Dan, A little humor

CONFESSIONAL

An old man walks into a confessional. The following conversation ensues:

Man: I am 92 years old, have a wonderful wife of 70 years, many beautiful children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Yesterday, I picked up two college girls, hitchhiking. We went to a motel, where I had sex with each of them three times.

Priest: Are you sorry for your sins?

Man: What sins?

Priest: What kind of a Catholic are you?

Man: I'm Jewish

Priest: Why are you telling me all this?

Man: I'm telling everybody.

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 14:52:25 ET
Posted by: Howard,

David - there are a lot of Steely Dan tracks that use the Clavinet.

Some have already been mentioned (Night by Night, Green Earrings). Others include Peg, Black Cow, Babylon Sisters, and I'm sure there are other tracks from Royal Scam and earlier albums that haven't been mentioned yet...

Howard

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 14:35:14 ET
Posted by: Duncan, db

for the UK Folks...
re: feb 11th 03
''Dear Duncan,
I hope I am able to help. GMT isn't too commonly used in the US, but I looked it up on a web site and Eastern time in the states corresponds to 0500 GMT. Central time, 0600 GMT. Mountain time is 0700 GMT and Pacific time is 0800 GMT. So if it is midnight here (I am eastern time), does that mean it is 5:00 AM in the UK?
The best thing to do, I think, would be to scout out a station. For example, tonight on WBGO out of Newark, NJ (eastern time) Piano Jazz airs at 7:00 pm. So, if the above calculations are correct, you should be able to hear the show between Midnight and 1AM. Of course, if that is too late for you, I'm sure you can find another station that airs PJ in our afternoon, your evening, or in our morning, your afternoon. Again, our web site, www.pianojazz.org should have all the programming information including times and time zones.
The Steely Dan program begins airing on Feb 11th and unfortunately, it will not be available to listen to after it has been broadcast. Stations have roughly a two week period in which to air the Piano Jazz program, so you may be able to listen once on one station, and find the program again on another station, the next week.
We will surely rebroadcast this program at some point, but I cannot tell you when. Most likely it will be at least a year before it is rebroadcast.
I hope that helps. Good luck in your search.
***** ****
Production Assistant



try live streaming from
www.wbgo.org

happy listening all

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 14:31:37 ET
Posted by: Clas , Stockholm

David - unless I'm totally wrong, there's a Clavinet on "Greenearrings".

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 13:22:17 ET
Posted by: H&A,

Depending on how your feel about "‘70s retro festivals" , the below quoted review could be considered slander.

Road warrior work ethic? Is he talking about the same band?

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 12:01:13 ET
Posted by: The "Not-Previously-On-The-Internet-As-Far-As-I-Know" , Classic & Crusty Article Series

New Musical Express
May 25, 1974
An Interview by Steve Clarke
Individual Pix of Becker and Fagen by Joe Stevens

---

Reelin’
in from
Woolies

YEP. WOOLWORTH'S WAS WHERE
WALTER BECKER GOT TURNED ON
AND DONALD FAGEN GOT HIS
TICKET TO RIDE FROM THE
BEATLES. TOGETHER THEY'RE
THE CORE OF STEELY DAN, AN
AMERICAN CULT BAND CATCHING
ON IN BRITAIN

WOOLWORTH'S seems hardly the place to get turned on to rock music—that's where Walter Becker's ears started to twitch at the sounds of The Beatles' "No Reply" (side one, track - one "Beatles For Sale"). And that convinced him there was more to rock than three chords.

For Becker's songwriting partner, Donald Fagen—the two are the writing force behind Steely Dan—it was "Ticket To Ride", heard on the radio one summer that nibbled a hole in his prejudice against rock music.

Becker, however, is still prejudiced against rock and doesn't like it if there aren't enough chord changes, unless it's played extremely well.

Steely Dan, hailed as positively the best American band of the 70s, have finally made it to Britain after one false start. You remember, they were supposed to be coming before—and according to them that tour was never booked in the first place:"The story was a complete and utter fabrication," claims Becker.

Although each musician in the group counts, it's Becker and Fagen's songwriting that really makes Steely Dan something special. Both of them have similar backgrounds and attitude, getting into jazz a long time before appreciating rock.

Fagen, he says he's done this bio speel about two million times now: he learned to play piano and a little alto-sax as a child, taking his licks from jazz records, and tried to play like Red Garland who is Miles Davis's old piano player. "I picked up that style. Later I found that I could pick up almost any style from records."

He admits one reason why he got info jazz was to be hip. But when he started buying good jazz records he realized the music was for him. Fagen and Becker met at Bard College."Walter was the only person I knew who used to listen to the same jazz stations—New York jazz stations which are now defunct…so's jazz, as a matter of fact."

He whines his story in a definitive New York accent. Dressed in T-shirt, jeans and white sneakers with a red flash and wearing heavy-framed glasses, still looking like a college academic.

"We more or less thought along the same lines and we both had a rather bizarre sense of lyrics," he says.

The songwriting-partnership is a real one, although Fagen says he usually comes up with most of the source idea and then they take it from there, each one adding a line here, a line there.

Becker and Fagen eventually ended up as staff-writers for ABC Dunhill across the country in Los Angeles. That lasted only six months, during which time they wrote songs for, among others, Barbara Streisand.

Says Fagen: "We weren’t doing so good 'cause we're sort of funny. When you're writing for other artists it's difficult to get them to do songs if the lyrics aren't absolutely banal."

And that's really why Steely Dan was formed.

THE EXACT formation of the group is a little difficult to pin down, although Becker and Fagen and Gary Katz (their producer and also a long-time friend of theirs) stress that the process wasn't in any way loose.

"Every day we'd bring in another musician or two, and the president of the ' company told him he was in the band.

"They (ABC Dunhill) really didn't know what was going on. See, we had a little office with a piano. Finally we moved out of the office and moved into this other little room and set up our equipment and stopped writing songs and started rehearsing.

"It was a sort of a secret.”

"But we just weren't able to find all the musicians we wanted within one phone call. We needed people who could negotiate the chord changes and stuff and the same time we needed guys who'd work for nothing—and they're very difficult to find."

Fagen says Katz kept the record company cool—they were still under the impression Becker and Fagen were staff-writers—and kept them in the dark about what they were doing.

Anyway, there are currently eight in the band—a nucleus of five (Becker, Fagen, drummer Jim Holder, guitarists Jeff Baxter and Denny Dias) plus second drummer Jerry Porcaro, keyboard-player Mike MacDonald and percussionist Royce Jones.

"We're a big noisy band now," comments Fagen.

For one American tour the group were augmented by several black back-up chicks, but dropped them because that was getting too much like show business.

Fagen sees the band as a flexible, unit: "It's kind of a workshop…'cause we're always juggling musicians around—although lately the eight musicians we have now seem to be working out very well. The band as it stands is now quite stable."

At one time there was another singer, David Palmer, but things didn't work out and he ended up singing on only a couple of tracks on their debut "Can't Buy A Thrill" album.

Back to Fagen: "I did most of the singing on the first album and on the albums since. But then we realised that in order to sell records you have to go out and actually play."It was very difficult to convince me to get up in front of people and sing. But finally I got enough, courage to do it, And I’ve been getting into it slowly. Now it's come together pretty well."

"Can't Buy A Thrill" was recorded over a couple of months before the group ever worked live. In fact Becker and Fagen had done very little live work at all then, although the rest of the musicians had been on the road with various outfits.

"The first album was more or less experimental. I think the latest one comes closest to what we've been wanting to do," says Fagen.

Two American hit singles came from "Thrill", "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In The Years.”

Now, if like me, you were under the impression Becker and Fagen didn’t compose “Do It Again” (it’s described on the sleeve as traditional) then you’re wrong.

You should never believe anything it ever says on a Steely Dan record. It's mostly a bunch of lies and bullshit that we write just to confuse the listener. But we did write it sort of like a ballad, and it told a story,” illuminates Fagen.

AND NOW let's talk a little about Becker and Fagen's fascinating lyrics.

"We don't necessarily try to communicate any specific thing to the listener. It's more or less we try to communicate an impression, and the listener has the freedom to interpret as he wants, says Fagen.

I can see what he means. I thought - Pretzel Logic—the song, not the actual album—was a totally surreal lyric with no real meaning. But according to Fagen it's about time travel:

"When it says, ’I stepped up on the platform / The man gave me the news', we conceived the platform as a teleportation device. And there are other key lines like ’I’ve never met Napoleon but I plan to find the time' ,

"What we're actually saying is I plan to find the time in that he lived in."

And here's Fagen's conception of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", the single from "Pretzel Logic":

"That's a very simple love song to a young lady. I always thought it was a rather erotic, decadent sort of thing. Here you find a guy, a rather rich gentleman living in a resort, and he somehow manages to capture this young lady."And what about "Show Biz Kids" from "Countdown To Ecstasy". Exactly what is it that those girls chant incessantly?"You go to Lost Wages,” meaning Las Vegas. Like, it's a kind of joke in the United States to call Las Vegas 'Lost Wages' 'cause it's a gambling centre.

”’Through With Buzz' was just about a more-or-less platonic relationship between two young people. There's nothing really sexual about it until one, of the young people in the relationship realises he's being used and starts having paranoid fantasies and breaks off the relationship. There's no symbolism or anything. We never used puns."It's a very saccharine sounding track with a very cynical lyric. We often do that for an ironic purpose. That is to juxtapose a rather bitter against rather sweet music."

I suggested that the "Pretzel Logic" album seemed their most accessible album.

"We really don't think about it. The record company was starting to get annoyed with us because they couldn't get a single off 'Countdown To Ecstasy'. The only thing we did was tightened up the arrangements. The songs weren't quite so long. And 'Night By Night' was basically written for commercial purposes.”

When we recorded ‘Do It Again' we thought it was something we could sort of stretch out on and take solos. I did a long solo—about six minutes—it ended up as the single"

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 11:29:12 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Hey!

Joe, Keith, David others;

I received Ashley Kahn's "A Love Supreme" book for Christmas. I've been swamped with several other books I have to read or review for school, so it hasn't gotten the attention I'd like to give it, but with at least a few others here reading it as well, I'm sure it will pull me a long into paying more attention. Kahn's book on "Kind of Blue" was great and helped me to appreciate that album even more. Fagen is briefly quoted in that one as well.

With the Coltrane book, I've only made it through the forward and most of the introduction. I also went through the index to look for Becker and Fagen. Based only on that, it's really an intriguing book. I have a mixed bag of spiritual influences and have always sensed the spirituality of "A Love Supreme" so now I eagerly anticipate reading about its genesis and background. At the same time, I think some of what I have read in the intro is rather hyperbolic.

Of course, I'm excited that Fagen is quoted three times (and disappointed Becker is not); however, having simply read the quotes out of the context of the whole book, I'm not really sure they add much except to say that Donald Fagen is awed by Coltrane, which we Danfans already knew. Again, perhaps that's an unfair assessment for me to make at this point.

I only own the same version Joe, Keith and others own. The jacket notes and a couple of other comments in the book so far suggest that it is ideal to have the double-CD version, although I sure can't tell yet how essential it is to appreciating the book or the album.

Speaking of Fagen getting quoted and Becker not, it still annoys me that on the "Storytellers" DVD, they depict Steely Dan with just a picture of Donald, as if he were Mr. Steely Dan. One of the shots on the VHS version does include Walter. To me it is just as bad as an article that refers to Steely Dan as "him" and "he."

Randy:

I think it's admirable to seek out Sweet since maybe he will have an angle or info that we don't know about. I also think that Sweet's book is an essential starting point, especially for casual fans wishing to gain a greater understanding of Steely Dan's background. I've had a couple contacts with Sweet in the past three years, including once when he attempted to re-start "Metal Leg" right before 2vN came out. In talking with him, my impression is that he's moved on from Steely Dan and that it's not something that holds his interest as it once did. Furthermore, I find that much of his book was essentially a compilation of articles you can find on the web (like at Granatino's SD Resource), Fogel/Pascador-era "Metal Legs" and Sweet's conjecture presented as fact. (My only complaints about the book were that it had no index and that Sweet tends to connect-the-dots when in fact he doesn't have all of the dots.) Sweet broke ground in that he was able to get all these sources together as never before; yet some ten years later, I think there are other sources that are more knowledgeable or appreciative of what the Dan are up to these days. (No, I'm not putting myself in that enlightened group.) Simply my two piasters.

Re: Audio Revolution:
The two most popular Chicago area rock critics don't get Steely Dan at all; I'm already feeling pissed off thinking of their potential reviews.

Enuff of me already.

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 09:54:36 ET
Posted by: Joe Murtha,

Kieth: A Kahn treatise of "Time Out" works for me. Certainly as essential a jazz album as you stated. Personally, I'd like to see Kahn do a "Blues and the Abstract Truth" as well.

I would agree that Walter's take on Coltrane is conspicuous in it's absence and would have been fascinating.

Don't know much about the 2-CD Love Supreme. Maybe it includes some tracking from the legendary second day session which included additional bassist Art Davis and Archie Shepp? Don't know. The 20-bit single CD copy suffices for me.

Cool observation regarding Sony studios, Miles and the Dan. I never connected those two dates.

David: Congenial is the word for Mr. Charlap, huh. Very soft spoken and unassuming.

I was lucky enough to catch Phil Woods at the Hartford Jazz Fest last year. Joe Sample's Trio was on the same bill. What a night that was. Anyhow, another Woods solo on a Dan record would suit me just fine. Who knows?

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 09:35:22 ET
Posted by: The Ear ,

David: There's a clavinet part on "Night by Night" (Pretzel Logic), mixed kinda low...probably the most integral use of clav, though, was on the unreleased track "You Got the Bear"...guess that doesn't count, does it?

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 09:33:53 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/USA

Steely-folk:

I am in the midst of some further research on Steely Dan; actually one should say I am continually researching Steely Dan, since it has been ongoing (with heaps of other stellar musicians), for the last twenty-three some odd years; but that aside, I recently have made an attempt (with the generous assistance of veteran rock journalist Chris Charlesworth) to contact Brian Sweet, the author of 'Steely Dan: Reelin' In The Years'; should there be any response (dependent upon content), I will post whatever would be of interest to all of you.

One element which I am attempting to clarify is the involvement (or lack thereof) of Larry Carlton in the 1975 'Katy Lied' sessions; he is regularly "over-credited" with performances on those sessions, when there is apparently evidence that he was a late edition to the sessions and thus was ONLY invited to add rhythm guitar parts to one of the last songs cut for the sessions, "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More." There are other issues which shall remain classified until further factual information can be obtained (he said with a literary flourish), i.e., any further findings will be posted here if and when they become available. Stay tuned.

"No static at all..." - Steely Dan, 'FM'

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 08:54:55 ET
Posted by: Pepe,

Hey David, yes the clavinet was on the Aja album, I think Joe Sample played one on Black Cow in fact. Also check out the book "The Wild Boys" by Burroughs.

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 08:34:20 ET
Posted by: Jaco, Clavinet

David: Most certainly. Listen to "Kid Charlemagne" , for example.




Regards




Jaco

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 07:05:30 ET
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KY

Take numero seven: Good to see the word is still spreading, but did you check out AudioRevolution's review of 2vN? This might be the most inaccurate article I have ever read. Pay particular attention to the third paragraph. Here it is:

"Five years ago, I don’t think that anyone, even the Psychic Friends Network, could have predicted that in the year 2000, two of the hottest albums on the charts would be by Santana and Steely Dan. The jazz-pop-R&B brainchild of Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, Steely Dan is back with their new album ‘Two Against Nature.’

It’s been over 20 years since Steely Dan released a studio album and it appears that all of the musical trends that have occurred in these past years have not influenced the band in any way, shape or form. You aren’t going to be surprised with a Steely Dan rap or grunge guitar track popping up on the album. A staple of classic rock stations, with hit songs such as "Reelin’ in the Years" and "Ricky Don’t Lose That Number," Steely Dan picks up where they left off with their last studio release ‘Gaucho.’

Although they have not released any studio albums in that time span, they have remained a steady touring act, going out on the road virtually every year, playing smaller club venues, state fair concerts and ‘70s retro festivals around the world. This road warrior work ethic has served the band well, keeping their musical chops, up and the band is as tight as ever on "Two Against Nature." However, the fact that they never stray from their patented sound is a failing. I would think that somewhere along the line, some other influences would have found their way into Walter Becker and Donald Fagan's songwriting repertoire.

Devout Steely Dan fans may be thankful that this new album sounds as if it had been written and recorded in the late ‘70s. To a certain extent, this is exactly what I expected to hear. With that in mind, I don’t feel that there is much to get excited about on 'Two Against Nature.' The Steely Dan sound is there and the recording clarity is excellent, but the great pop hooks and catchy rhythms that brought them such success are just not here on this album."

-- Bryan Dailey
Music Editor - AudioRevolution.com

"Smaller club venues, state fair concerts and ‘70s retro festivals around the world"???? I'm glad "the band is as tight as ever" though. Jeez, I think I know where I won't be getting my news from.

;-)

El Sup

Date: Thurs, January 30, 2003, 06:15:14 ET
Posted by: avg, espresso daily grind

Take numero seven. The word still spreads:

http://www.audiorevolution.com/news/0103/29.steelydan.shtml

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 22:18:57 ET
Posted by: David,

I was not aware of the new Coltrane book. The Miles book was great. Another author did one too. On the way home tonight I went and picked up Kahn's A Love Supreme Book. Kudos to Joe. Maybe we could all read it like one of those Winter Reading Projects. It would be a great way to while away the winter hours.

I got to see Charlap in Minneapolis/St Paul when I was on business before the holidays. Very congenial. Very much a gentleman. He signed CDs and chatted with everyone. When I told him I was a Steely Dan fan, he also said he played on the next album. Will Phil Woods also be on the next album----since they both appear together so much?

I understand that Steely Dan is from Burroughs' The Naked Lunch but I was wondering how else to get started with approaching Burroughs' work from the vantage of a Steely Dan fan. Which recordings should I get? Which other books? I think that would be a great page: it could be called BilldoeDan.com or something.

Triva question that I don't have the answer to. Has a clavinet ever appeared on a Steely Dan track?

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 16:12:20 ET
Posted by: Michelle, Princeton Junction NJ

Hi everyone!

I remember in thePBS show when Walter was asked what his favorite of "all the albums" was. The reporter meant Steely Dan albums. Walter cleverly replied, "Kind of Blue." He's a stitch! It is a great album, though. I've had a bit harder time appreciating A Love Supreme. The tracks are so long so it's in bigger bites.

I think it's so sad about Pete Townsend. Now he is a marked man, like when George Michael was found beating his monkey in the toilet in L.A. Of course, Pete is a genius and Geo Michael is not. Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey! Speaking of monkeys, does Michael Jackson still have one? Sorry, couldn't resist!

See ya!

Mich

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 14:52:08 ET
Posted by: Keith, Owings Mills, MD

Hi Joe. I just recently acquired the Coltrane book after also being impressed by Kahn's Miles book. I wonder if Kahn will go on to a book on Brubeck's Time Out? Seems like a candidate, if you ask me. Those three, Kind of Blue, A Love Supreme and Time Out are the three most essential late 50/early 60s Jazz albums ever.

I haven't gotten to the part where Fagen offers his comments but how come they don't include Walter? His opinion is just as valuable.

One very cool Steely Dan connection to Kahn's Kind of Blue book. For this book, Kahn was able to arrange for the original master of Kind of Blue to be played. They had not been played in years for any audience. These tapes were played at Sony Studios on 54th Street in Manhattan in Mid-January 2000. The very next event in the same studio was the taping of Steely Dan's PBS special aka the plush video. Pretty amazing, old and new history happening in those four walls,

I've noticed that there is a new double CD version of A Love Supreme. Is this worth buying? I already have the 20-bit mastered CD from a few years ago.

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 12:28:52 ET
Posted by: Joe Murtha,

Hoops! et al,

Just copying some recent blathering from the yellow book, Jim...

"Everything Must Go"?

May 6th can't get here soon enough for me.

Working on CDSD Rev 3.0 and a Next One screensaver. Any suggestions
on content are more than welcome.

2003 shaping up pretty well so far.

New Dan in May and our man William Gibson out with a new tome, "Pattern Recognition". The review I read has Mr. Gibson deferring his cyberpunk prose style for a more Pynchon-esque treatment this time out.Sounds interesting, no? I'll have to pick this one up for sure. I wonder if we'll stumble upon the requisite Dan allusion here and there? Hmmmm...

Apparently D&W have decided to return the favor and tip their hat to Gibson on the new one.

Haven't been here for a while. Has anyone mentioned Fagen's excellent
comments in Ashley Kahn's recent Coltrane tribute? Don't know if this
is old news but this one and Kahn's "Kind of Blue" chronicle are definite keepers in my book.

In Kahn's "Love Supreme" tribute, Fagen comments at length regarding
Van Gelder's unique studio recording techniques.

Fagen on Coltrane: "I've always been attracted to music that scares
me. Like Coltranes saxophone playing."

There are a few other choice Fagen-isms sprinkled here and there as
well.

Caught The Bill Charlap Trio Saturday night at "Smoke" in NYC. A set of entirely stunning standards. Bill Evans incarnate. Just fantastic musicianship throughout. Ron Carter was amazing, as always.

A quick chat with Bill before the set. He said he played on (2) tunes from "Everything Must Go" and that they were both "really rockin' tunes" with "very tight grooves."

Also chatted with Mr. Carter. What a class gentleman he is. Very impressive individual.

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 12:16:43 ET
Posted by: Big Fan,

So many articles - I can’t remember what has been posted and what hasn't.

Here's one I don't think was posted: I could provide links to all of the current articles - Billboard, Rolling Stone etc in one place if anyone is interested.

Pacific Business News of all places:
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2003/01/20/daily32.html

I know it was mentioned the first day of the news release - that Manic Street Preachers has an album by the same name "Everything Must Go” from 1996. Do you think SD had to get a release to use the same title? I have to admit that it crossed my mind that the ODP was having some fun about the title and then the story got repeated on the online news community. Is there any chance that's not really the title?

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 11:43:12 ET
Posted by: Scallion, down on the farm

http://www.theonion.com/onion3903/index.html


Picture of Pete Townshend with caption: "Can't Explain"

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 10:46:07 ET
Posted by: Peg,

Peg's Quick Concert report: Charlie Haden is about is a close to God as one can achieve on an upright bass. Gonsalvo Rubalcabas is astounding...a sense of joy similar to Monk. They're playing in Cleveland soon, and more dates as well.

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 06:21:15 ET
Posted by: avg, ain't nada in Chicaga...

Eleven Whacky Ways to capture and keep the piano jazz:

- You catch the stream on one hand and on the other hand, you manually insert it into the hard drive.
- You buy the show transcript, have tribute bands reenact it live.
- You tape Roger to the chair and then, you tape the radio show analog.
- Aww.. scrap it. Everything must go.
- You produce a clone of yourself, young. You download your memory into it and hope for timely reruns.
- You listen to every occurence of the show, commit it to memory, then burn it to DVD-R.
- Repeat Zeohippus ten times, real fast, then hold your breath indefinitely.
- You run as a Republican. Once elected, you use your clout to change NPR's status from public to private. Then, you use what's left Daddy's bread to buy it.
- You look up Marian_plays_with_Steely_Dan(3).zip on Kazaa, with the porn filter on.
- You dance in place, paint the face and act like you belong here.
- You stop waiting for the RIAA inspections to resume and you go it alone.

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 01:59:47 ET
Posted by: Gambler, rolling again

Good catch on the Newsday bit, avg

Date: Wed, January 29, 2003, 01:58:14 ET
Posted by: Gambler, at Rambler's

The amount of time elapsed between the release of Aja and Gaucho is about the same as the amount of time elapsed between the release of Two Against Nature and Everything Must Go.

Youwannamakeabet that the release date for Everything Must Go slips to late May or June? May be.....

Gambler

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 13:15:38 ET
Posted by: avg , late edition

http://www.newsday.com/business/columnists/ny-pigear3106299jan28,0,7880590.column?coll=ny-business-columnists

"But Congress has yet to formally address the salvo fired last March by South Carolina's Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings, who essentially wants to embed copy-protection controls in all PCs and consumer electronic devices. Bottom line: you'll be severely restricted in copying Steely Dan's "Aja" to your MP3 player or iPod."

Touché. Great choice, exemplary.

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 12:57:00 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Looks like two great minds were checking out the PJ site at the same time. As if I hadn't said it enough, I'm very excited about this show.

As mentioned yesterday, I'm planning to catch the stream to my hard drive for the Steely Dan appearance. If nothing else, maybe we can do a tree. Looking forward to any suggestions folks might have about doing this to get a primo recording.

Here in Chicago (and on the net), WBEZ (91.5, http://www.wbez.org ) will likely air Steely Dan on Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m. Chicago/Central Standard time.

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 12:55:35 ET
Posted by: µ, Tejas

Lester: Check out under "where to listen." Many of the stations use Windows Media Player to stream rather than Real Crappy Audio. WinMP I've found has far better sound quality and can be downloaded for PCs or Macs. Plus NPR has placed a great emphasis on the quality of thier audio - this is heard even in their news programs..

You don't have to stick to your state - you may have to play around to find the best stream...

http://www.tpr.org/ from San Antonio is a start (8pm Sat CST for Piano Jazz)...


bon chance...

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 11:41:04 ET
Posted by: Lester the Dayfly ,

I just checked the "Piano Jazz" website...it claims Becker and Fagen's appearance begins airing February 11 and that the featured selections include "Peg," "Josie," "Mood Indigo" (!) and "Hesitation Blues" (wonder which "Hesitation Blues" this refers to).

Now if I could only listen to the show on my trusty radio...there's no FM station with a decent signal in my area that carries the program.

I do hate those awful Real Audio streams (sigh)...anybody planning on recording the show?

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 11:35:16 ET
Posted by: Piano Jazz Site,

http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/upcomingguests.html

Start Date-Check local listings
January 28
Phil Woods
Saxophonist Phil Woods is a true master of bebop. Whether weaving jazz improvisations with the other members of his group or playing feisty crackling licks on cool solos, Woods' playing is always compelling. He built up his amazing technique with Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Buddy Rich, and his Quartet, redefining bebop his way.
Featured Songs: "How About You" and "Fine and Dandy"

February 11
Steely Dan
Steely Dan guitarist Walter Becker and singer/pianist Donald Fagen grew up listening to Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker -- and all of these influences can be heard in their unique style. Since the late '60s, the duo has been honing their integration of jazz and rock, continuing to move ahead in their musical explorations.
Featured Songs: "Josie," "Chain Lightning," "Mood Indigo," and "Hesitation Blues"

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 10:23:42 ET
Posted by: Ruthie,

hey everybody in the NYC area, the Piano Jazz date with SD is Thursday Feb. 20 (WB's birthday!) on WBGO (88.3), from 7pm- 8pm

Date: Tues, January 28, 2003, 00:43:11 ET
Posted by: Rob Meany, Minneapolis

Hey folks:

I'm in a Minneapolis band called Terramara. Listeners are constantly
comparing our sound with the illustrious Steely Dan. We are not worthy, but I would admit the influence and there are definitely similarities in style. That said I thought I would spread the word and see what members of the Dandom think. We have mp3s and other info up on our sites:

http://www.mp3.com/terramara
http://www.cdbaby.com/terramara
http://www.terramara.com

Any feedback or tongue lashings are welcome.

Rob Meany
Terramara

P.S. If you are in near the Minneapolis/St. Paul, you may want to check out a new Steely Dan cover band called Steely Band. They are a thirteen-piece and really pull it off.

Date: Mon, January 27, 2003, 23:09:16 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Michelle...

Nice post. Proof once again, that love hurts.

-Paige

Date: Mon, January 27, 2003, 18:47:49 ET
Posted by: shark deVille, countin down in tampa

Does anyone here listen to Ween?


At their core, they're two mega-talented punks from Jersey with a perverted sense of humor, as well as a knack for writing interesting chord progressions, great hooks, and hilarious and bizarre lyrics in just about any genre of music. (sound familiar?)

Their first albums were just the two of them (Dean & Gene) helming a 4-track, playing all the instruments. As their cult following increased, so did their clout and their past several albums have been real studio affairs. They frequently employ top-notch studio guys to fill a part here, add a solo there.

Their most recent album 'White Pepper' is great listening, and there's a tune on there called "Pandy Fackler" that's been compared to Steely Dan more than once. One critic even called Dean's vocal a "dead-on Fagen", but I don't quite hear it.

You will undoubtedly hear the similarities to the Dan on that tune, and it's possible that it's a tongue-in-cheek nod to the boys. There's a great outside keyboard break, a "horn-y" arrangement, and some very jazzy chords. And it's a character study that would surely make Donald & Walter smirk... Pandy Fackler is a mentally retarded prostitute.

There's also a "tribute" to Jimmy Buffett on this album called (get this) 'Bananas & Blow'... and a superb thrash metal ode to a Burt Reynolds classic: "Stroker Ace"...

Some of these tributes, like these guys do with Buffett, and Steely Dan did with the Eagles are definitely tongue-in-cheek, and pretty hilarious.

There's even some almost touching songs on this album.

Seriously, check these guys out!
Go to allmusic.com and punch in Ween. Their bio sounds like a warped description of D&W.

Date: Mon, January 27, 2003, 17:58:45 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

PianoJazz with Marian McPartland will air a segment with Phil Woods starting tomorrow. Then, of course, in a couple of weeks, we have Becker and Fagen and McPartland.

I have access to a PowerBook G4/667 w/ OS 9.2.1 & 10.2.3 with 12 GB free, defragged disk space, iTunes, Real player, and Toast Titatnium and a 10BaseT connection. And that's what I have done in the past. But was wondering if anyone had any suggestions etc or new approaches I should consider with spending little money.

Thanks!

Date: Mon, January 27, 2003, 17:16:39 ET
Posted by: avg, for the record

take six:

http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=212019

Date: Mon, January 27, 2003, 16:20:15 ET
Posted by: Michelle, Princeton Jct, NJ

I was reminded of another take on Katy Lied:

"The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off."

Just a little over three months left!

Mich

Date: Mon, January 27, 2003, 13:12:05 ET
Posted by: Cool review I'd forgotten about,

Here's a cool review from 1996 that someone on the yellow posted about:

http://www.post-gazette.com/soundscene/pages/20010125steely06.asp

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 23:57:49 ET
Posted by: meredith, texas

thought I would deurk and ask some questions.

am i the only one who doesn't understand the line about the horseshoe crab? granted, it's steely dan so it must be dirty or illicit, but i feel like i missed a class in street smarts. i haven't the foggiest idea of what this is. don't feel like you have to be too explicit though.

also, the title everything must go seems a little ominous to me. i expect it will make more sense when we get the cd.

that's it. hope to see you at a danfest this year.

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 15:25:00 ET
Posted by: Peg, it will come back to me...

Well here I am, the blessed winner of a horseshoe crab hunt and now realize that I cannot find my horseshoe crab lasso. (Will Rogers, where are you?) In case anybody has wondered, 'tis a short, boring story of how I came up with the exact date of May 6...let it suffice that Bob Dylan was involved. ("Isis, oh Isis..."). Thank you, Ole, and Hoopsie, too, for giving me the chance to guess. You guys are the best.

The title Everything Must Go has had me wondering. Will the cover have a FOR SALE! sign, a dog walk area, or a freeway? Or the same flamingos from 2VN, this time being carted to the dumpster?

I have to put in a plug here for an awesome funk -- and I mean funk like it's supposed to be -- jam band called Garage Majal. If you Dan people ever get a chance to hear them, go.

As a magazine editor I'm always reading press releases and my God, what fun that Dan press release is, and oh what fun it must have been for the person who wrote it. As I read it I was wondering who it was, whether the Boys approved it, etc., etc. Can't wait to see if they'll be on morning TV again! (Somehow I just doubt it!!)

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 14:49:19 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag,

Happy Super Sunday!

I had a Super Saturday yesterday, groovin' to the DTS Surround of "The Nightfly" that I won with Hoop's latest contest! Thanks again Hoops! The Nightfly has always been one of my favorite discs.
I really love the mix on the DVD-A. When Donald sings "I know you're mad about Brubeck....BRU-BECK". It really leaps out at you!
Eargasmic!!!

Lucy - Root Boy Slim and The Sex Change Band (with the Rootetts) were for real. Gary Katz, Donald and Walter were all involved in his first major Warners release back in the late 70's. I had the pleasure of seeing Root Boy in 1979 at the Paradise in Boston. You knew watching him that he was an accident waiting to happen. His heavy drug-taking and drinking was no act. He died about 10 years ago. He released a few more albums in the late 70's/early 80's. All of his work is out of print.

Mark in Boston

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 14:34:15 ET
Posted by: Invigler Numero-Uno,

Today's New York Times Magazine (with Bushee on the cover) has an article about Warren Zevon. Wouldn't that be a great miracle if these weren't his last days?

Or go to http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/26/magazine/26ZEVON.html?8hpib

Zevon sure could pass for Becker's cousin if not his brother.

The NYTimes mag also has a picture of Reagan morphing into W. It's scary and uncanny all at once, as is that article.

Well, I've got more invigling to do.

IN-U

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 07:09:41 ET
Posted by: avg, my usual numbers

5000 hits is about right, considering I posted. ;-)

Great stuff, Andy. Nice job on the lift.

Thomas Broberg also, is back on board. Check it out. Promising.

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 04:32:53 ET
Posted by: Mme Erzulie, Oslo, Norway

I'm just chiming in with Lisa, saying I absolutely love these old interviews and stuff. Every time I get your newsletter, it's like a tiny birthday or christmas eve or something. So keep up the excellent work!

Lisa: From what I've understood, Don and Walt respect/like The Eagles, as they've honored eachother with mentions in songs (Everything You Did and Hotel California (Steely knives)).

Date: Sun, January 26, 2003, 00:18:04 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

In reverse appearance of posts…

Andy:
I'm sure it must feel good to be back. It reminds me of when the Dandom Digest and web site went on hiatus during part of that awful year for me in 1999. It was so great to get back. Regarding your call for articles and so forth, as you probably noticed since October I've been posting "not-yet-as-far-as-I-know-on-the-Internet" Dan articles. After they appear here, I thought that they should go to some archive. John Granatino has been doing that as I suggested that to him. Otherwise the articles be lost and he's done a great job in the past. Maybe you and John could collaborate or serve as mirror sites or something. It would be cool to be able to search both your and John's collections. Good luck, thanks for letting us know you are up and thanks for telling us how we can help.

Oleander:
Maybe we could all head out to the Outer Banks and build Steely Snow Sculptures. That would be unique! Or we all get drunk and make snow angels or whatever imprints like snow horseshoe crabs. I've been saving and making frequent flier miles since last tour and I think I have enough for two round trips this tour, assuming there is one! Would be great to see at last. :-) I was listening to an NPR story on BMWs today and I thought of "Becker Motorwerks" THANKS—you're wonderful!

Mµ:
Thanks. I am aware of the geography—since I helped O. with the previously posted web page and it was what I was referring to—but thanks for the clarification. Hadn't looked at it that way.

Lisa:
Good to hear from you. Hope Kurt and Sara are well. It was at their house almost 20 years ago that my appreciation of Steely Dan moved to a new level.

Lucy:
Your post was such a sweet thank you. When I was entering the last article, I was thinking, "boy, wonder if anyone reads these…maybe I should be doing something else." Thanks to the inveiglers, too. Next week is "How Walter Discovered Jazz at Woolworth's" or something like that, followed in a week or two by "The Becker and Fagen Laugh-In" Remember Rowan and Martin?

Danfests:
As I was discussing on the Dandom Digest yesterday, the Danfests Registry and StAl's Ticket Exchange will be ramping up to full speed again. In terms of Danfests, check out http://www.dandom.com/danfests

Speaking of which, things are picking up for the Dandom Digest again. The membership list went well over 1,300 again this past week. And if you removed web crawlers and spiders, the BlueBook has been viewed over 5,000 times in the past three weeks. Before I saw that, I figured maybe 200 views in that period. Althought I'm sure that's still a pretty modest number, I had no idea. Finally, a lot of people sending me personal emails writing about the next one. People are pretty shy about sending to the Digest but there's some great stuff, better than I would write. Don't be shy.

I better get going…see you soon. I enjoy your writing.

jim

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 19:27:43 ET
Posted by: Andy, Washington, DC

Lots of good news flowing out of Dan land in the last few days. Hopefully this will be as exciting and interesting as the months leading up to 2vN were a few years ago. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that my web page is back up at http://www.andymetzger.com--much the same as it was when it went down. I'm still working on a few parts of it, but everything you need should be there.

In a few weeks I hope to get a searchable database of Steely Dan articles, interviews, news clippings, etc. up on the site. If you've got any interviews or articles or stuff like that, give me an e-mail (andy@REMOVEbest-met.com); I'm always looking for new stuff. I'll keep you posted on the progress.

See ya around,
Andy

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 19:10:41 ET
Posted by: oleander, outre banks

I am a long-time inveigler. If Paige would send me some of his medicine too I might get really good at it.

Hoops--tobogganing on the beach; quite unusual. They got about a foot more snow than we did. Mu's right; NC is a long state, but I'd hightail it to an OB DanFest in a jiffy.

jk--yer on. I say April 1.

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 18:50:46 ET
Posted by: µ,

Whereanon: the operative word is "when" - there's a statute of limitations on the net - that was 6 months ago - and only the briefest of mentions before cancellation...whatever...now, if had snowed in Kitty Hawk and Jockey's Ridge in August - THAT would be something!

h: if that was your hook - sorry

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 16:46:29 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Lisa...I'm sure that you know that Proctor is a part of Firesign Theater...the best cerebral comedy I've ever heard.

Lucy...Love your enthusiasm...I will forward some of my medication to you so that you can make it to May 6th.

-Paige

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 16:08:02 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

Lucy, are you by any chance related to Larry King? Just Wondering.

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 14:59:54 ET
Posted by: Rich, NYC

Hi!

This is my first time posting ever. This has a lot of interesting Steely Dan information. I am especially interested in any Danfan events in the NYC area. Thank you.

Rich

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 13:14:24 ET
Posted by: Where were Mu?,

Mu, I caught that Hoops is referring to Oleander's idea for all Dan Fans to gather for an Outer Banks Danfest which was postponed until another time. Go to http://www.dandom.com/danfests/raleigh There is a map of Outer Banks. Aerial Shots. Which reminds me, looking forward to another Danfest hosted by the gracious Oleander.

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 13:00:43 ET
Posted by: Lucy, Redmond, Washington

Hi!

Look out for the new Steely Dan album! Can't wait! Any word on how many songs? What's this horseshoe crab business???? Whatever, we all seem to be lapping it up! (Ewwwwww!) Lisa, some of that is pretty funny!

Speaking of lapping it up, I'm really lapping up these rare article reprints that Hoops is putting up. Am I the only one who loves these things? THANK YOU HOOPS! It must be a lot of work. I hope everyone else appreciates your efforts.

Here's some various threads that popped into my mind when reading.

Fagen has "Brooklyn drawl?" C'mon! That's Joisey.

Where Becker and Fagen talk about how they have no idea what the audience expects of us. I bet today couldn't be further from the truth with all of us fans on the net and the Steely Dan mail bag.

I thought the reference to the mood rings was a funny blast from the past. Surprised they didn't mention earth shoes too.

Steve Gadd was new to them (!) when they made Aja.

What Babs record is I mean to Shine on? Has there ever been a Becker/Fagen demo of that one released?

I like how they view Rainey and Carlton as members of their in-studio band.

They sure have taken a complete 180 on touring, haven't they?

Is "The Bees Knees" a pun on the "Bee Gees" or was that another band in the 1970s? I don't think Walter laughs at his own jokes anymore which shows you how much he has matured.

I think Only a Fool Would Say that, Chain Lighening, and most of their songs is good time music, any Steely Dan music is good time music.

Didn't Becker and Fagen learn about a Haitian Divorice from one of their recording engineers who had to get one during the making of Royal Scam? I keep thinking it was Roger Nichols or Elliott Shriner.

Do Becker and Fagen really have contempt for Jimmy Buffet in real life? And the Eagles too? I am a Parrothead. Or is this them just razzing them.

I thought Donald's comments about If a Person is on the edge we could throw him off was funny. Then I wondered, how many Steely Dan fans are on the edge? Are they out there? Like I sat next to this one fan at the Gorge who get shouting Book Keepers Son as a song request but it got nutty and then he kept shouting it even after the encore was even done.

I agree that Steely Dan should write movies because all of their songs are like movie plot lines like out of CSI or Miami Vice.

I don't remember Root Boy Slim. Is he for real? Or did they make him up?

Is this new record they are coming out with their last for Warner Brothers? Isn't Reprise for old fogey acts? If so, I think it's insulting.

Walter's Kewpie Doll's comments made me think of the Wonderwaif shirts and the Children's Fez Birth Control tip shirts in 1996.

Well that's it.

Good to see so many smiling Steely Dan Fan faces around here lately.

---Lucie

"Make Mine A Double Sam"

P.S. Hoops, How do I get the Digest again? Mine stopped coming.

Date: Sat, January 25, 2003, 12:39:14 ET
Posted by: µ ,

jk: I remember it well...only time will tell if This One's ADD or AAD - we do know it is not DDD...

hoops: believe it or not Oleander is as far from the Outer Banks as you are from Erie, PA...

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 23:13:13 ET
Posted by: Lisa Gordon, Flipping the pages and...

SD mentioned in the January '03 issue of the "Funny Times" under the article "Planet Procter"--Compiled by Phil Proctor

(BONUS: Some of these are actually funny. :P)

MORE GRANNY WINNERS
The Beatles: "I Get By With a Little Help From Depends"
Steely Dan: "Rikki Don't Lose That Clapper"
Herman's Hermits: "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker"
The Rolling Stones: "You Can't Always Pee When You Want"
Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Bad Prune Rising"
Marvin Gaye: "I Heard It Through the Grape Nuts"
The Who: "Talkin' Bout my Medication"
The Troggs: "Bald Thing"


Strange place for the Dan to show up, but it made me smile nonetheless.

Here's to the new "new one" and a great year of Steely delights. :)

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 20:38:38 ET
Posted by: C,

Good show.

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 19:21:38 ET
Posted by: jk,

did you notice the line: and finally the 5.1 mix?

jk

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 19:19:19 ET
Posted by: h,

I believe it was somewhere, jk--it was debated too, I think around November, but great to read again.

jk and everyone. As you will recall, I caught Charlap last November with Phil Woods, here in Chicago at the Jazz Showcase. I found myself by chance between then while at the bar and we had a great conversation. Both seemed like great people, aside from being great musicians. SueDave wants to organize a Danfest for Charlap's gig in Seattle. I can see that it gets listed at http://www.dandom.com/danfests Thanks for the link, jk.

Oleander: Thought of you when I saw the news and they discussd snow on the Outter Banks. LOL! I'm so skeptical of the release date so I have to wait for it to really happen on May 6. I still owe Oleander for the 2vN date contest.

Sue Dave: I am with you...who are the sax players? Don't tell me no sax…

Anyone want to join me as I inveigle tonight?

Must get auto-hyperlinking...must get auto-hyperlinking.

h

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 19:07:02 ET
Posted by: jk,

http://www.nprjazz.org/feature/charlap_b.html

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 19:04:56 ET
Posted by: jk,

Pianist Bill Charlap
was born and raised in New York City. He is the son of
Broadway composer Moose Charlap ("Peter Pan") and singer
Sandy Stewart (Benny Goodman) and has been playing the piano
for as long as he can remember. In addition to leading his
own trio with Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington
on drums, Charlap has been a member of the Phil Woods
Quintet since 1995. He has performed with Benny Carter,
Clark Terry. Jim Hall, Al Grey, Red Mltchell, Frank Wess,
Warren Vaché, Milt Hinton, Louie Bellson and Grady
Tate among many other jazz superstars. Charlap was a member
of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet for two years in the late '8Os
and, has been accompanist of choice for several noted
vocalists-including Tony Bennett and Carol Sloane. Bill has
appeared on over 50 CDs as a sideman as well as recording
under his own name.

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 18:51:11 ET
Posted by: jk,

did someone post this already?


News
The Toy Specialists Outfits Presence Studios


Westport, CT (October 17, 2002)--New York-based rental company, The Toy Specialists at Scharff Weisberg recently supplied Presence Studios in Westport, CT with a package of outboard equipment. The equipment was used to complete Steely Dan's newest album produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, and mixed by Elliot Scheiner. The Toy Specialist's format conversion facility, TransferMat, also worked on the project, converting the 2-inch analog masters to 24-Bit Digidesign Pro Tools files for the mix and then to DASH tape for mastering.
The project is being recorded and mixed in Studio A on Presence's Neve VR-Legend 60. "We've been working on this album with Walter, Donald and Elliot for 14 months, first recording overdubs, then mixes and recalls and finally the 5.1 mix," comments Presence Partner, Jon Russell. "They are among our most discriminating clients so when they request an esoteric piece of equipment, or when they need equipment of the highest caliber, I always go to The Toy Specialists because I know they'll have it and that it will be in good shape."
The full package provided included Summit TLA-100 Limiters, Prism Dream AD-2 A-to-D Converters, Prism Dream DA-2 D-to-A converters, dbx 160SL Compressor Limiters, Meyer HD-1 Powered Monitors, Massenburg 8200 Equalizers, and Massenburg 8900 Compressors. "We have enjoyed working with all the folks at Presence Studios since their move to Westport many years ago," commented The Toy Specialists' Bill Tesar. "Jon and Kathy run a very professional operation. It's a pleasure to provide them with the latest toys for the many high profile projects conducted there."
TransferMat's involvement in the project began in the summer of 2001 when engineer Roger Nichols came to them with basic tracks for two of the songs. The tracks were recorded on 2-inch analog tape at 15 IPS with Dolby SR. TransferMat transferred the songs into Pro Tools using Apogee AD-8000 converters to create 24-bit files. The Pro Tools sessions were then transferred to DASH tape, utilizing the Apogee UV22 dithering process to feed 16-bit signal to the DASH machine. Also, on several occasions, T.J. Doherty, who had been handling most of the overdubbing sessions on the project, brought in DASH reels to be cloned via DASH lock.
The Toy Specialists at Scharff Weisberg
212-333-2206

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 16:08:08 ET
Posted by: jk,

ok - so i miscalculated my timing on the release date of emg a little bit . . .

so i'd like to be the first to guess when the single will be released or when radio starts playing it.

i'm going to say march 25 - is that a tuesday?

and let's guess the title of the single. how about: the dawn horse - new york lai - mr sam - three sisters - wanda's bodega - canadian star (with lyrics) - gold teeth III - stop yer yakkin - days of whine and tears - segway:my scooter - coolie baba - hoops' pad - the boy king - 202-456-1111 - watermelon pie - where's lisa? - another song about monkeys - wetside story - sharon - trouble time - simone - islands in the blue - sail the waterway - the steely dan show - jivie the hipster - the girl's got moxie - lay down with dogs . . . - fresh ground pepper? - jumpin'julia turnstiles - Anna Logg - carey - cinder annie - 12 step bar blues.

will walt play bass on tour?

i also have a great idea about how we all can participate and celebrate the release of emg in may!

jk



(say no to war)

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 14:37:20 ET
Posted by: Lawrence,

http://www.seaworld.org/go2camp/pictures/pictures/5-001/pages/P1010042.htm

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 13:13:43 ET
Posted by: John Dawson, Baltimore and DC

Anybody else out there ever inveigled himself?

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 12:27:05 ET
Posted by: h,

This week, the "Classic Metal Leg & Other Steely Dan Articles That As Far As I Know Have Never Been On The Internet" series covers an interview sent to me from the U.K. by Andrew Hopkins. Andrew has been collecting Steely Dan articles since the early 70s and he has generously sent a huge collection of 40-plus articles for my enjoyment and eventually yours. Thanks, to say the least, Andy!

Where possible, I've tried to reatin the British spellings, authour misspellings (to show that maybe the author doesn't know the material that well), and type sizes (like in the headline below.) This one I had to mostly type by hand since the paper is so old and yellow and can't be scanned easily.

After they appear here, "long lost" arcticles that have appeared here since last October, like perhaps the Sounds interview below, or the Chicago Tribune interview with Donald Fagen for the Rock and Soul Revue or the St. Louis Post-Dispatch review of Two Against Nature, etc. will be archived at John Granatino's very becoming Steely Dan Internet Resource site under the "Steely Dan Reading Room" page, http://www.granatino.com/sdresource/views.htm. To reflect the same sentiment of the greater Dandom, thanks very much, John!

---

Sounds
October 22, 1977
An Interview by Sylvie Simmons.

---

STEELY
DAN DARE
TO GIVE
SYLVIE SIMMONS
A MORE-OPEN-THAN-USUAL INTERVIEW

IT'S NOT every day that Steely Dan bare their souls to the public. But amid the palm trees and coke bottles at the Bel Air Hotel, all was revealed—if not all, at least a lot for Steely Dan. Warning: at times this interview degenerates into the Becker and Fagan Laugh-In, a crazy double-act in which Walter B. (bass, vocals, long hair) and Donald F. (keyboards, vocals, Brooklyn drawl, shades) play off each other with the sole purpose of pushing unstable journalists over the edge.Beach boys Becker and Fagen left their Malibu home for nearby Bel Air to promote (promote?) their latest offering, 'Aja’—follow-up to last year's 'Royal Scam', and their sixth album since the birth of the Dan in '72.

This one is not, despite the rumours they've spread to the contrary, a double album in the States (sense of humour, remember?) It just looks like one. They needed a gate-fold cover to fit all those sleeve notes on. Journalist Michael Phalen's terrifying tale of an interview rife with insults and threats and a CIA-like confiscation of the tape, a warning to would-be interviewers, balanced with some real nice guys-type praise from the president of ABC records; can they be talking about the same people?

Part I. Aja, an Oriental name of no significance, probably Korean.

Did you start out with any particular idea or concept in mind?

Fagen: We do it song by song. We don't really plan the shape of an album, except perhaps subliminally. First in this album we ended up with too many medium or slow-tempo songs, so we went in and cut a couple of up-number ones. 'Peg' was the last cut. We had a song slated for it, ‘Here At The Western World' that had originally been cut for the 'Royal Scam' album. It was laying around and we liked it a lot, but it didn't fit on 'Scam' and we thought we had too many songs in that tempo on this album, so it's still sitting around. We'll get it out sooner or later.

Are you influenced, or put under any pressure, by what your fans expect of you?

Fagen: No, not really. We really aim to please ourselves you know.

Becker: Plus we have no way of knowing what the audience expects of us.

Fagen: I think we put pressure on ourselves. I think we've topped ourselves every succeeding album in quality.

Becker: Good for you! I never know for sure. I have a good feeling about this one, but it's too hard to tell when you've been working on it for as long as we have. I mean, you can't listen to it objectively any more without dissecting it in your mind in a funny kind of way, because you know how it was put together. But I'm really proud of it. Now I can forget about it and start the next one.

Fagen: I usually think the one we just did is better than the last one. Must be something to do with our mood rings, I guess. When we were writing this our mood rings were green.

Any particular favourite?

Becker: The title song I like. It was an interesting cut. We'd gotten this drummer we didn't know but we'd heart a lot about named Steve Gadd—he was flown in from New York. We had a chart for the tune, and it was like eight pages long—three music stands in front of every musician. What's on the charts is very specific for some of the players—like the keyboards—but very open for others. Like, there's nothing written for the bass player except the chord symbols, the guitar player basically works on his own concept, and particularly the drummer—he really had to outdo himself on that one.

No track immediately offers itself as a single. Are you releasing one?

Becker: I'm sure we will, but I don't know which tune it will be. When we write the songs and prepare the album, we really don't concern ourselves with that, because we're not a good judge collectively of what's going to strike the public's ear in that way. And a lot of our things are too long—there's all kinds of restrictions in radio here, it can't be more than 2-1/2 minutes long or something.

Fagen: It's a very unlikely choice for American radio because of the length of the cut.

Becker: They're still a very puritanical society as far as the media goes. I think it's loosening up a bit, but not on Top 40 radio. You're allowed to have simulated orgasms on record

Fagen: Yes, as long as you do it quietly.

Part II. The Way We Were And The Way We Are Now.

You-started out as pop songwriters, didn't you? (After two years as back-up musicians for '60s pop-harmony group Jay And The Americans, Gary Katz, their producer, found them a cosy niche at ABC as staff songwriters. One of their pop songs, titled 'I Mean To Shine', was recorded by no less than Barbra Streisand).

Becker: Well, not really. We tried to be, but we weren't. When we came out to ABC we were hired as staff writers; we would be writing songs for their artists roster. We knew very well that what we were going to do was end up with our own band, recording our own songs, as no-one else particularly wanted to record our songs. Then and now. So we just kind of played at that for a while, then once we had the band assembled we said, hey, we're ready to record, and that's it.

We had what is now a studio at ABC, which was then under construction, making more offices for accountants or something. Anyway, there were these empty offices, and they were nailing up stuff during the day. We had all our amplifiers in one of these rooms. After six we went over there with the band and rehearsed for a couple of hours. That's where we got our first album together.

(Original members Jeff Baxter, Dave Palmer and Jim Hodder have long since passed on. The only old Dan remaining is guitarist Denny Dias. Otherwise it's session men—the best.)

How did you come across the musicians on Aja?

Becker: We hear them on records—

Fagen: We meet them at parties—

Becker: Yeah, and we ask other musicians about them, and go out and buy more records, and hear about them that way. Then we just call them up and hire them and see what happens. Sometimes we run into cases where we thought we had the perfect musicians for a particular thing, but then nothing happens and we all go home early. Usually something happens because we check out as much as we can, what kind of musicians they are, what they're capable of and best at.

They're quite happy to adapt to your concept?

Becker: It seems to happen by itself because of the nature of the songs, and because of the kind of freedom they have at the sessions. In other words, there are certain things - certain harmonics and certain motifs in our music - they do have to pay attention to. And I guess that's what takes care of the continuity in the sound. But they also have a certain freedom. There are always-sessions where they can play A little more than they do at most of the other things, and do what they do best, rather than being too confined. We never ask anybody to consciously adapt to our style. In fact a lot of musicians come here, and I don't think they have any idea of what our style is—don't know or care.

Will you ever get a permanent band together?

Fagen: We use a lot of the same players anyway. On the last three albums—like, Victor Feldman's been on all three, Chuck Rainey's always at the sessions, and Larry Carlton. We' actually have a band with a few substitutions.

Part III. In which the Dan are contented to sit In Malibu and live off the royalties.

Rumour has it that you’ll be touring the States before long.
(Steely Dan haven't toured since’74. Their only visit to Europe was a year earlier.)

Becker: Not that I know of! We had intended to tour, but the album release was delayed, so we put it off. Now we've no plans to tour.

Fagen: Making these records pretty well takes up our time. Once we've finished one we start the next. That's the reason we haven't been touring.

Becker: Touring is an expensive hobby.

Fagen: We spend money on a tour. We have an expensive set-up. We don't like playing big halls—the sound is bad. So we have 4,000 people coming in, and it's not enough money to meet the expenses of putting on a show.

Becker: And we spend a longer time preparing our albums, I guess, than other people do.

Fagen: Stevie Wonder spent 2-1/2 years on his record.

Becker: But we found from past efforts that being on the road wasn't enhancing what we were doing in the studio. So we decided that we'd do either one thing or the other.

Do you go see other bands?

Becker: Very rarely. In concert halls here you get a lousy sound, parking costs a buck and stuff like that. No.

Part IV. Lyrics, language problems, black humour and the American Dream.

Your lyrics have sometimes been called impersonal.

Becker: We don't feel the urgent need to bare our souls that Ted Nugent probably does, or Kiss or Queen or Black Death or The Bees Knees or …(collapses in laughter).

Fagen: We write the same way a writer of fiction would write. We're basically assuming-the role of a character, and for that reason it may not sound personal. But I try to assume the role and make it believable—not to the extent of doing dialects

Becker: I've heard you do dialects—

Fagen: I say his words, try to express some of his emotions, some of his problems, hang-ups—primarily the hang-ups.

Becker: This is not the Loving Spoonful. It's not real good time music. Anyway, we think those are happy thoughts.

Fagen: It's a part of life, so why not enjoy it?

Becker: Also we feel that these give us the more fertile ground that we've been trampling on for the last five years. It's bard to keep trying to write a song about something you haven't written about before—you keep coming back to the same themes. There's some truth in the fact that happy situations tend to be more or less static and-not that interesting to hear about.

Fagen: When you read a novel in which there are no rough spots for the characters to get over, if everybody did The Hustle from the first page to the last, it wouldn't be much of a novel. It wouldn't enlighten you in any way.

Do you look on your lyrics as enlightening?

Becker: Not in a Buddhist sense.

Fagen: But they do shed light on certain situations. I think a lot of people in Britain know about Haitian divorces now that probably didn't before.

Becker: Of course, you can't get a Haitian divorce any more. You used to be able to go to Haiti and get a divorce real fast. They give you this document in French with ribbons and plumes and everything, and it's recognized by the American government. In a way that's enlightening. It's a situation people probably thought we made up. There are probably people out there who think we made up the name Haiti. We've been accused of everything else.

Fagen: There are people who think we made up the word 'Aja'.

But your lyrics are nothing if not obscure.

Becker: To us it, s a perfectly straightforward story. On the other hand, if anyone finds the lyrics obscure, there's always the music. So, even if you don't know anything about Haitian divorces—

Fagen: You can always look in the Steely Dan Listener's Companion.

Becker: We feel that we use basically the English language. In the United Kingdom, I don't know if people know what the word ‘scam’ means. There was some question as to whether the word 'pretzel' makes sense to English people. There were a lot of reviewers asking us what a pretzel was.

Fagen: So it's basically just a language problem.

Becker: We hadn't anticipated either of those things. So it may appear to people in the United Kingdom that we are writing very much in code.

They're pretty cynical though, and bitterly realistic.

Becker: A lot of what you'd call bitter or cynical, we'd call funny.

Fagen: We think these are very funny songs that we're writing. And when we're writing them, we really do have a grand old time yukking it up about the lyrics'

Becker: We may have a slightly blacker sense of humour than your average person. I'm always surprised that divorces and things aren't funnier than they are. The American Dream? That’s very funny too.

What about your home, California?

Becker: I think that's very funny—it's probably the funniest of the 50 states that I know of.

Fagen: We're not as negative as the Eagles. They're totally down on California.

Becker: When we first came out here it was pretty different from New York, and it does give you a creative vacuum in which to work. It gave us some new characters and new ideas, and it gave us a laboratory-type sterile atmosphere to work in. Because if you walk down the street here in California, you'll be the only person doing it. Nobody gets out of their cars here. It's a different kind of society.

Part V. Time to light another cigarette, get some fresh gum, and discourse on books, films and fans.

Becker: We're pretty bookish guys.

Fagen: In our profession, we're as bookish as I've met. But I think that's more a reflection on what everyone else is doing than what we're doing. I think people should be asking themselves why they're so god dam illiterate.

What do you read?

Becker: I like instruction booklets a lot, science fiction and recipes. My favourite author in the English language is Vladimir Nabokov. Of course he just recently died. So 1 feel that now he's dead, he won't be writing any more, so I have nothing new to look forward to until they start publishing whatever they can find in his apartment,

Fagen: I read novels, history, anything that's lying around. The only things I don't. read much are self-help manuals or poetry.

What would you say is the effect of your lyrics on the audience?

Becker: We hear from a few psychotic fans, threatening and maligning us, or alternatively renting huge football stadiums to perform in and telling us after the fact, or writing to us in strange languages -

Fagen: If a person's on the edge, you know, we could probably throw him off.

Becker: We're just trying to cheer people up. Also we're thinking about writing a movie.

How near to a reality is that?

Becker: Very far. It's just –

Fagen: Just a gleam in Irving Azoff’s eyes.

Becker: It's the potential ringing of cash registers in our manager's mind. Irving's been encouraging us. He keeps telling us, 'Hey, if you guys can write these songs you can write movies, it's the same thing. You just fill out a couple of hundred pages with the same story on it.”

Part VII. Heroes and villains; featuring a change of record company and Irving Azoff’s strange disease.

Another quote. Mike McDonald (keyboards on 'Katy Lied,’ back-up vocals on 'Aja’) said 'you'd have liked to have been Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker.’

Becker: I'd rather be Charlie Parker than anything.

Fagen: Everyone would like to be possessed of genius.

Becker: Those are a couple of our heroes. Do you mind being Duke if I'm Charlie?

Fagen: No, I'll be Duke Ellington.

Becker: We have other heroes, other jazz musicians, but those a two are particularly outstanding examples.

Fagen: Like Root Boy Slim. (sings: "put a quarter in the juke, boogie till you puke”) He’s the sound of the ‘70s. When Root Boy goes (sings: "Awl riite") that's the sort of thing that can really get us going.

Why are you changing record companies? (Steely Dan have one more album to do with ABC before moving to Warners.)

Becker: When we realised our contract was going to be up, we shopped around.

Fagen: We were just going to sign up with ABC, but they didn't want us enough.

Becker: They weren't putting up the same amount that Warner Brothers was. And they have this nice building at Burbank, Warners—

Fagen: Knotty pine—

Becker: Very ethnic. This move will mark a new development in the band's career, because from that point on, instead of that ABC label in the centre of the records, there's going to be a WB label with palm trees—

Fagen: Coconuts, everything.

Becker: Actually the reason we signed with them was because of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck being Warner Brothers characters. We try to catch the Bugs Bunny show in the afternoons when we can. Of course, you can't see it every day, so that influenced our decision a lot.

Any other reason?

Becker: Irving Azoff, our manager, wants us to come out and socialise, mix with the other guys from the other bands a lot more now.

Fagen: We were supposed to go to the Eagles' wedding.

Becker: No, that wasn't the Eagles' wedding; it was Jimmy Buffet's wedding—

Fagen: Or birthday party.

Becker: We couldn't make it. I was in San Francisco and the wedding was in Colorado. Irving got some kind of amoeba disease which we tried to keep secret. The water supply in Colorado is a little tainted, We want people to know that so they won't go there and ski.

Part VIII. The Future

Becker: We've already started writing our next album, and of course we'll be working on the theme song for Irving Azoff's forthcoming movie (eventually titled, ‘FM’). That's about all—Donald's going to learn how to drive his new Jaguar.

Fagen: We're buying up options on science-fiction stories to be made into movies, going down to Washington D.C. to see Root Boy a lot.

Becker: We're going to branch out and start to merchandise the Steely Dan name—

Fagen: Steely Dan breakfast meats—

Becker: Kewpie dolls and things like that. Anything we can put the Steely Dan name on and sell for some of the coin of the realm. That way we can become real capitalists. That's the only thing left for us.

Fagen: Except for politics, and that's so boring.

Becker: Anyway, Irving's going to run for governor of California next year.

So I guess we're just going to keep on doing the same thing we've been doing all along—whatever that is.

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 08:24:32 ET
Posted by: take five, like now

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2003/01/20/daily32.html

avg

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 08:17:48 ET
Posted by: avg fan, rise and shine

Steely Dan's Aja part of the 2003 Grammy Hall Of Fame selection:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/230240077&ticker=

Date: Fri, January 24, 2003, 00:24:14 ET
Posted by: suedave, here in the western world

One great way to whittle away the time from now to May 6th...

My friend Stan from Kansas let me know that the one and only Larry Carlton will be playing at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley April 10-13 in Seattle. Danfest on Saturday April 12th? Mark your calendar. Tickets are not on sale yet. Thanks Stan!

Susan

Check his website to see if he is coming to your town larrycarlton.net.

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 21:43:18 ET
Posted by: oleander, out on a limulus

Ladies and gents, WE HAVE A WINNER!

Yes, the lovely PEG has won The Next Betting Pool! She guessed the release date of "Everything Must Go" ON THE NOSE!

And what will the lovely lady be taking home, Jim?

A horseshoe crab-hunting vacation with William Gibson!!

You need not be present to win.

plumb giddy... oleander

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 20:13:10 ET
Posted by: Mr. LaPage, Wishing it was May

A very good pre-Dan taste of WB singing is "I Can't Function", where HE sings lead and DF is harmonizing, at least in my opinion. This tune is on Android Warehouse (among other releases) and is one of favorites from this time in the history of this Dynamic Duo.

COME ON MAY !!!!

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 17:20:08 ET
Posted by: Kevin , B.

I'm giddy about the new album! Go Steely Dan! Go!

Very clever Mark in Boston! Granted I didn't get the Harry Potter thing either, (1990 Steely Dan album?) but, Hey Mike and Earl, I've come to expect only clever and funny jabs on the blue.

I was reading another one of those articles where the record industry execs cry they are being killed by on-line sharing and piracy. I agree that piracy causes some decline, but a recent internet study I saw claimed that people who download music off the web actually purchase more CD's , not less. The larger issue here is that record companies promote their artists as the next great hope and again they're a one hit wonder. No one buys the marketing anymore, and most popular music now all sounds the same as every record company tries to cash in on the latest fad. I find it difficult to believe that record companies are not making money, and blame piracy.

I'm someone who owns over 4000 vinyl records (yes, vinyl) and then bought thousands of CDs. As I recall, one rationale from the record companies was that CDs were cheaper to make, not to mention they sounded so perfect, we'd never have to buy these again. So now I fail to see how record companies who said they were losing money when making vinyl records, and moved into making CD's because they were cheaper, now claim to be still losing money. If it costs betweem $7.99 to 9.99 for a vinyl record back then(late 80's-90's), than why does it cost $15.99-22.99 for a cd, if the reason they switched was because Cd's are cheaper to make?

The reason......soak the consumers (and the artists) for as much money as they can! You hear a lot about recording artists who have filed for bankruptcy because they have no money, or artists who are suing their record companies or accounting companies for mismanagement of their revenues from their careers. Artists need to take responsibility as well, most of us are not previlaged enough to earn anything close to what the big names get, however they should remember that their 15 minutes of fame will not last, so keep some of the money they make, don't squander it trying to live beyond their means, or else they won't have anything left beyond their careers.

Speaking of the record companies, I hope Warner Brothers does right by publicty on "Everything Must Go." Everything must go into promoting this one!

Can't wait for May to buy a thrill!

Kevin

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 16:53:10 ET
Posted by: Billboard adds,

"The group is expected to tour in support of "Everything Must Go," but no dates have yet been unveiled. "

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 16:49:59 ET
Posted by: avg fan, take 4

http://199.249.170.183/billboard/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1802879

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 16:18:40 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Dorktown

Hey Scott -

Harry Potter has a close friend named Ron Weasley.
Walter Becker has a close friend named John Beasley!

It's fuckin' amazing!!!

(Hey what is this the yellow GB? Sorry, just giddy from yesterday's news)

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 15:23:20 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, the ditch out in the valley

Scott..only if you're dork

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 14:33:58 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Scott,

After you sober up, could you please clarify what you were trying to say? Thanks.

Earl

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 14:25:41 ET
Posted by: avg fan, everything, as in everything?

Yes, trying to figure out what this means for three months... brr
And zeohippus?
ODP web feature in the meantime, I hope.

"... sex and violence in Hollywood." DAN ... that to succeed politically you MUST ... You can't
GO for the ... you have a solid, STEELY... win victories in Congress on EVERYTHING ..."
That's a start...

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 14:17:33 ET
Posted by: scott,

The last Harry Potter novel was published in 1990. In January 2003 it was announced that the much anticipated next Harry Potter book will be released later that year.

The last Steely Dan album was released in 1990. In January 2003 it was announced that their much anticipated next recording will be released later that year.

Is there a connection here?

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 14:12:07 ET
Posted by: , take 3

http://www.livedaily.citysearch.com/news/4541.html

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 14:08:21 ET
Posted by: Eric, San Diego, CA

A fall tour seems most likely to me, rather than summer. Also, I wonder if the "Everything Must Go" title has anyting to do with the falling of the WTC towers. My understanding is they started this album sometime around then. Thoughts anyone?....eb

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 14:05:47 ET
Posted by: µ,

Mr. Sam - Great story, but did you get laid?!

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 13:06:13 ET
Posted by: avg fan,

One has the feeling we'll see that news release again in various forms but for the record... press release dress rehearsal, take two:

http://www.undercover.com.au/20030123_steelydan.html

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 12:46:39 ET
Posted by: Mme Erzulie, Magnolia Boulevard

If they tour, they could call it the Everyone Must Go/Come (to the shows) Tour...

And if the tour is in the summer... that should be the cool part of the summer!

I haven't bought 11TOW yet, but I love Walter's singing on both Turn that Heartbeat over again and on the live version of Book of Liars.

And I live in Norway, by the way, so if what Warner Brothers Norway says is correct, I guess I'll be listening a good week before the rest of ya! Muahahahaha!!!

Goodbye, dear...

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 12:31:00 ET
Posted by: Mister Sam, Coincidence? You be the Judge!

Hi Folks,

Been lurking here at the Blue for the past several months, but just haven't had much to say. Thanks to all you contributors (especially you, Hoops!) for the marvelous reading material. Also, let me extend a very belated thank you to Mr. StevieDan for posting the lyrics to Mister Sam several months ago. It was much appreciated I assure you.

Anyhow, as fate would have it, yesterday, I finally experienced a cosmic display of synchronicity that I now feel compelled to share with my brothers and sisters here in Dandom Land. It's time to testify!!!

Yesterday evening, you see, I was shopping for a special bottle of Scotch to celebrate the official press release when I had another in what's become a long procession of Steely Dan shopping moments.

This particular discount liquor outlet, mind you, is a bit off the beaten path. Hence, I usually reserve going there for those times when I'm Jonesin' for something a bit exotic. As an added bonus of going there, though, the muzak service to which they subscribe broadcasts generous amounts of original Dan recordings and Dan covers (esp, the Ben Folds version of Barrytown.)

Anyhow, as I entered the store, I was immediately greeted by the wonderful intrumental break of, get this, "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again." Naturally, I smiled (thinking, "how appropriate on this glory day"), and proceeded to sing along to the final verse as I bopped through the spacious aisles toward my favorite collection of libations.

Normally, this establishment just airs the closed-circuit muzak service to which they subscribe. Hence, I was thinking that one Dan song to greet me was as good as it was gonna' get. On this visit, however, much to my surprise TTHOA was immediately followed by the adrenalin-pumping strains of "Bodhisattva". What a thrill!! I surmised instantly that a store employee was spinning Disc 1 of the Citizen Steely Dan collection.

Upon, reaching the checkout counter I inquired jubilantly as to who had the incredibly good taste in music. I figured that this paragon of culture was undoubtedly celebrating the good news of the day. My cashier, however, simply shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I don't know. Who is this, by the way?" Seeing how young and innocent this guy was, I just had to laugh and proudly proclaimed, "THAT, my friend, is Steely Dan."

At that point, my eyes quickly scanned across the other registers, and quickly locked on the eyes of a cashier two lanes over. Apparently, she had overheard my inquiry. She responded with a big warm smile, and thanked me for the compliment on her musical taste.

Sensing that I was in the company of a fellow dan fan, I asked her if she had heard the good news. Apparently, she had not. The fact that she had chosen that day and time to turn off the muzak, and spin a SD CD instead was pure coincidence! I happily passed on the news to her of The Next One's pending release.

This came as welcome, though totally unexpected, news to her. She immediately declared her intentions to buy the album as soon as it came out, and asked if I thought the band would tour this year. I told her there was no definitive tour news yet, but that I'd gladly keep her in the loop. Two degrees of Steely Dan folks. Web Drone to me to her.

Twenty minutes later, I arrived home, shook off the bitter cold, and connected to the Internet. Imagine my surprise when I surfed over to the Bluebook, and found Mu's freshly posted comments about TTHOA at the very top of the Bluebook! (Can't remember the last time that I read any references to that song here.)

Is all of this merely a coincidence? Perhaps. Then again, maybe it's just another ethereal expression of Zappa's Big Note theory. In any event, it's moments like these are apt to challenge one's long held beliefs about the order of the universe.

Dreaming about the cool part of the summer,
Mister Sam

PS - TOURING PREDICTIONS? I'm guessing that we'll see a late-Summer amphitheatre and early-Fall orchestra hall tour this time around. If you're out their listening Messrs. B&F, here are some good indoor venues you might consider (assuming they're all still standing):
* The Warner Theatre or Lincoln Theatre (Washington, DC)
* The Meyerhoff or Lyric Opera House (Baltimore, MD)
* The Stanley Theatre (Pittsburgh, PA)

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 10:30:06 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Ah...so Walter has harmonized with Donald (and others)...I stand corrected. "Turn That Heartbeat Around" is indeed an excellent song.

Job interview this morning....cross your fingers. This nightmare may be over soon.

-Paige

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 08:47:30 ET
Posted by: Pepe,

Eohippus was the ancester to the horse. In
Latin it means "dawn horse."
"Neohippus! Think about it, Neo means new, "hippus" of course
means horse and could mean "hip".

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 02:28:15 ET
Posted by: suedave,

Oooooyaaa, its a good day for the Dandom.

A tune sung by Walter? Fantastic, I love his bluesy voice. I'm sure the song will be a good fit for him, all the ones he's sung before generally are. No mention of SAX players on the new one? Think they are just background players? That's a bit odd, but hey, perhaps what must go is all the preconceptions!

Date: Thurs, January 23, 2003, 01:23:24 ET
Posted by: Sean,

Mu- I don't know? Looks to me like she's ready to give him some head.

Date: Wed, January 22, 2003, 23:24:46 ET
Posted by: µ - slap to the forehead, Cold Shower, New Mexico

Duh, the cutoff frame withstanding, it finally dawned on me that the couple in the DVD-A Maxine pic is slow dancing as young couples did on TV in the 50s - no pressing of bodies together - don't mess up that crease...

Date: Wed, January 22, 2003, 21:48:54 ET
Posted by: edbeatty, temecula,california

Hey,
Now thats what I wanted to hear about.
Are we ready for some touring?

Ed

"the summer will be so sublime"

Date: Wed, January 22, 2003, 21:48:33 ET
Posted by: µ,

re: Maxine. Her left hand seductively holds a man's left arm in a suit jacket. Note the "Pleasantville" use of red fingernails over a black and image. Look how the picture is tilted to the right, giving the woman a more vulnerable and romantic look, while the man appears more strong and towering, as if she's found a safe haven (e.g., "try to hang on"). The sweater and watch are perfect...

Date: Wed, January 22, 2003, 21:12:07 ET
Posted by: µ,

Paige: From Can't buy a Thrill, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again is the only song in the official discography that credits Walter with a Dan vocal...my guesses on this one:


With stocking face I bought a gun
The plan was set
The plan was done (Donald - far right channel. Unmistakable)

Looked at my watch
And headed for the door (David Palmer about 2:00 - doing a Donald imitation...almost - higher register and different tone)


Now the food here ain't so good no more (Walter with a Donald-like Vocal - slightly *different timbre* in left channel? could be Donald,? But I'm sticking with Walter - check out the sound later on "Paraguay")

And they've closed the package store (Walter and Donald - this I'm sure of)

CHORUS:
Love your mama, love your brother
Love 'em till they run for cover
Turn the light off, keep your shirt on
Cry a jag on me (Walter, Donald, and Palmer - pretty sure of this)

Oh Michael Oh Jesus you know I'm not to blame
You know my reputation for playing a good clean game
Oh Michael Oh Jesus I'll keep my promise when
You turn that heartbeat over again (Donald doubled up, and David Palmer)


I love this recording - may be my favorite on the first one, especially the instrumental break - but then I go for the instrumentation, tune, harmonies, and production more than lyrics...

Date: Wed, January 22, 2003, 19:23:35 ET
Posted by: angel,

Paige: They harmonized a bit on Stone Piano.

Date: Wed, January 22, 2003, 18:22:50 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

JK....

Just a few comments concerning Walter...

I've been told many times that I have not given 11TOW enough of a chance. I really tried....tried hard out of respect for Mr. Becker.

It reminds me of the old axiom that Bob Dylan is proof positive that you can become a pop/rock icon without knowing how to carry a note.

I look at Walter in the same manner.

For me (and me only apparently)...Walter represents the darker side of Steely Dan...the side that I personally like. If you listen to Donald's solo work, you don't hear the same cynicism and acer