Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 21:39:26 ET
Posted by: godwhacker,

But I was wrong about the Becker title.
Mu got that one. His receptors are sculpted alright.
Hey, I'm impressed.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 21:30:56 ET
Posted by: godwhacker, extraordinaire

Yes and how dared you doubt it.

Hi there, ole.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 20:41:42 ET
Posted by: oleander, hot off the presses, if you can call it that

Well, a month or so more I can take. I would be interested in knowing why....

Those mp3 grabs are looking better by the day:

Rolling Stone 918, 3/20/03:

IN THE STUDIO

Steely Dan
"Everything Must GO"
Due out June

For their follow-up to the Grammy-winning "Two Against Nature," Steely Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen decided to forgo "Nature's" high-tech approach and record the album live in the studio, using analog machines. Becker takes over lead vocals for the first time in the band's history on "Slang of Ages." And in the title track, Fagen sings, "I move to dissolve the corporation in a pool of margaritas....We're going out of business/Everything must go." Does this mark the end of Steely Dan? "Interpret that however you want," Fagen says. "These days it sounds like the general state of the planet."

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 18:57:20 ET
Posted by: Point well taken, but

Hitler, spare us the noise. we already know yellowsux. post it there not here, since they don't seem to know.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 18:37:27 ET
Posted by: steelydoubt,

well i had to go to school to today so i could not stay home and record piano jazz off the radio. so i gave my grandma instructions on how to record it off the radio and got it all set up before i left for school. well she forgot untill 11:45 (it started at 11) so ok at least i got black friday WRONG! my mother turned the volume all the way down on the radio even though i told her TWO WEEKS in advance and reminder her on a daily basis! but because she was pissed at me for using the phone line for internet (i live with my grandmother. my mom is a guest in this house because she cant keep an apartment or MOTEL ROOM for that matter. one of the many reasons i dont live with her) so because she is "sick" and cant go to work she stays home and gets a chance to piss me off by turning the radio volume all the way down so i record 140 minutes of silence.


all in all this was a great day for me and as you can tell i am pretty pissed about now.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 18:04:23 ET
Posted by: Professor Schneid, NYC

Hitler: brilliant discussion and thoughtful insights - you outta run for office or something. Give Georgie something to worry about........."hmmmmmm, Al-Qaeda, Saddam, and now, Christ!, (sssssssssssssssssnort!) NAZIS"
-Schneid Remark

Anyone figure out why the delay to 6/10?

Poll: Does 6/10 stick? If not, new release points......

The Prof

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 17:29:46 ET
Posted by: Hitler in Spring time,

Goosestep while chanting:

Yellowsux Yellowsux Yellowsux Yellowsux Yellowsux Yellowsux


und now:


Fall Tour Fall Tour Fall Tour Fall Tour Fall Tour Fall Tour

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 16:34:40 ET
Posted by: sharkdeville, asheville

Check out 2 Fagen videos (Century's End, Snowbound) as well as Rock & Soul playing "Pretzel Logic" with the Zingman goin off:

http://search.launch.yahoo.com/search/lsearch/video?p=Fagen

I'd love to see "Tomorrow's Girls" sometime...
Is Kama coming to DVD-A???

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 16:09:09 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Yep, ODP lists official release date now as June 10.

Earl

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 15:51:44 ET
Posted by: db,

it's official
-----Original Message-----
From: duncan butterfield [mailto:xxx.xxxxxxx.xxxxx.xxxxxxxx.com]
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 8:43 AM
To: Burland, Luke
Subject: steely dan release

Q
has it been put back ?
i read some rumours
cheers
db


A
June 10


shite shite shite bollock fuck nob

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 13:46:51 ET
Posted by: ,

Your ego? Beats me.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 13:46:05 ET
Posted by: hoops,

LOL!

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 13:34:54 ET
Posted by: ,

Hoops, where's my ego?

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 12:22:28 ET
Posted by: hoops,

TGF and others:
As you point out, obviously every forum has its own personality and people have a choice to go to the one that best matches their preferences, although none is perfect. Don't like here or there? Then don't go.

I think the very act of expressing an opinion is an act of ego.

A few years back, I was telling Pat that the SIS GB is uinque since it could be argued that some of those regulars could very well be the people Steely Dan write about in their songs. Pat and I both had a good laugh about that.

It's not that I care more about Steely Dan than the upcoming war, but personally I don't like to obsess about it all the time, everywhere and on every station or website. Simply my preference.

"Stay tuned to sd.com" Sure. I'm not saying we shouldn't schmooze or speculate or gossip. It's good in that it builds excitement. But unlike other bands, SD is pretty upfront with their fans via the web site. So I'm glad that Metzger posted his rumor and I am simply balancing that with another perspective that is also valid.

This "Piano Jazz" show is indeed quite amazing. I look at it like like getting a Steely Dan EP. We have new versions of "Josie" and "Chain Lightning" (now we have three versions) and then we have a new version of "Black Friday." There there are a couple of covers to put along side "East St Louis Toodle-OO." "Limbo Jazz" is totally awesome. "Hesitation Blues" reminds me of something off NY Rock and Soul, as I think someone else pointed out.

I was listening to the PJ version of "Josie" this morning on the way to work. I replayed it several times. I know PJ features Baldwin pianos but at times it sounds like Fagen's piano is an acoustic with certain electronic elements. Any one else have opinions or ideas on this?

I am also floored at Jay Leonhardt's upright bass. Hearing just the piano, bass and drums really is giving me a new perspective on "Josie." And there's Walter who solos on all three Steely Dan originals. That's really amazing too, especkially during "Chain Lightning." Bascially, this show was "Steely Dan Unplugged" (save for Walter's guitar) without all the knee jerk MTV baggage of the MTV series.

BTW: Has Walter ever played acoutic guitar on a record?

I spoke about this idea of "helping a friend with a copy." I do want others who didn't get a chance to hear or tape the show the opportunity to do so. So I am going to make a number of copies and just send them. Please, I can't accept money, but would prefer to help those who might be able to help some others get a copy as well, i.e those who could burn a couple for others who don't have a burner. Boston Rag and Bob were big in helping with this. At least I hope it would hold us over until we get an official release someday which I am sure will sound better.

jim

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 10:33:05 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Beerberian: At the yellow you have to scroll down at least 1/2way to find anything that could be considered remotely Steely Dan related.

Sure there is "egojousting" over here. At least it is typically contained to Steely Dan chatter, instead of pointless debate about politics that will get everyone nowhere. There was a time of political debate in this forum, and while it creates a lot of interest, it also destroys the forum for those who are more interested in Steely Dan than war.

And I would like to see how your friend's quotation fits into the mindless drivel that paints the pages of the yellow book. I would think that D+W's true passion is around music not politics, although I wouldn't say they are opinionless at all. I would suspect they might be more enthused by a conversation about the sorry state of the music industry instead of the perils of war. And again, I'm not saying they don't care about politics, but I would bet that they would rather discuss + play music than talk about Saddam/Chirac vs. Bush/Blair.

I think you'll have egos anywhere you go. A number of us are musicians to varying degrees. A joke I've heard is this: How many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: 20. One to change it, and 19 to comment on how they would have done it better. So I don't think anyone will argue that ego's are present here, it's just we wield them in ways that tend to more closely follow Dan topics.

St. Al shouldn't feel bashed. If he has the type of guestbook that he wants, then why is it being considered bashing? They probably have more regular posters than the blue, but does that make it better? Maybe from the community sense. From a topical sense, this guestbook is probably more concise (although tangentially tends to get stretched even here from time to time). So everyone gets what they want, and hopefully everyone goes home happy.

Earl

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 09:23:48 ET
Posted by: Beerberian, Harmonic Correctness

Hey Guys you really are not trying to say that this here forum has no ego jousting going on? You guys may major on clever trevor analysis of every chord/note/silence/bon mots But to quote my good friend Fingers Shotan



"It's NOT about fame or fortune, deals and egos.
It's for the love of the music and the people who share that music with us."

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 09:15:08 ET
Posted by: A Well Wisher,

"self-indulgent, petty melodrama" Sounds Like the basis of a damn good Steely Dan Album

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 08:22:50 ET
Posted by: godwhacker, not throwing that baby out with the bath water

"Yet, I was disgusted at the very minimal collective attention given this momentous Piano Jazz appearance by the regulars of the other forum you mention, Randy. My single post there about Steely Dan's appearance on "Piano Jazz" drew no response. I don't believe the host of the forum even mentioned the Piano Jazz show, much less commented on Steely Dan's appearance. It seems the majority of those who contribute at that forum view it as a venue in which they themselves are the focus, with the music of Steely Dan relegated to be but a backdrop of the expression of each poster's self-indulgent, petty melodrama."

That's the only part I agree with. Very well put.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 07:30:54 ET
Posted by: godwhacker, FYI

Back In 2000, Steely Dan offered some decent sounding 30 second snippets of each of the songs. And that was besides the contests and teasers, which were far more numerous then.
Gee, I wonder why that is.
But Thomas Broberg offered the whole thing on his discography page, in 64kbps format.

Not a sound was heard here, btw.

And what does Metzger mean by "source"? A trusted source? A reliable inside source? Or just a source?

If it is pushed back to June, well... stay tuned to SD.com, I guess.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 06:18:01 ET
Posted by: Mao McKay, no google toodle-oo

Yes, "stay tuned to sd.com", as in stay put and shut up.
Or watch paint dry, whatever you're more comfortable with at the time.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 05:46:17 ET
Posted by: FTD, bouquets and billets doux

I totally disagree. Randy's double post struck me as somewhat of a faux pas, considering it was an exact copy of a posted item already seen elsewhere, itself refering to a thread over there and had little to do with the discussion developing right here at the time, really.
It did not seem "appropriate" at all, contrary to what was claimed.
Frankly, it also sounded a little self-serving, in both substance and approach.
It seemed totally out of place and unfortunately, it was sorta long as well.

But seriously...
No sound. No song.
We're talking song titles here and you calling it "sabotage" might be a tad strong, in my opinion. I think I know where that line of taste is about to be crossed, by the way.
We're big people, you and I, right?
If I come across something I find inapproriate, I'll spare you the anguish.
The Boston Rag is right, read up.
Not only that, if you knew about file swapping, you'd know that it ain't all it's cracked up to be.
Not everything on earth is available there, far from it. If you're lucky, you might find tha b-side jewel that's out of print. That is, if you're really, really tenacious in your efforts, sure. But mostly you'll have a much easier time getting the singles, stuff you would record off the radio yesteryear anyway, you know.
So let's not overblow the importance of this when it comes to the record companies woes. They're responsible for the content proposed and that's a big problem nowadays, as B Rag pointed out. If you got nothing to offer, you get nothing in return. that's sort of an age old principle at work, right?
And Hoops, thanks a lot for the appreciative gesture. So I gather you too would rather have the likes of YGK self=promoting than get any exclusive, cutting edge Dan content. I thought this was an "alternative" to the self-serving, self-involved stances that have rotten the yellow.
Now it looks like a matter of time before the Blue turns to Yellow. You learn everyday.
Point taken here, don't worry.
I know what you're about too. Not that stupid and been around long enough to know what to expect from the "keepers of Dandom". I'm not commenting any further, for your sake.

About "sabotaging the maturing of the Dan genius" or something the same.
Am I going to jail for reporting what I saw now? Man, I keep forgetting this is China.

Well, seriously, what can I say?
Things have changed out there and guess what, there's the Internet. Sure, it's one more handy tool for the market-oriented among us but also, it can lead to information mayhem the likes of which are unheard of. Ask Bill Clinton about Drudge. It gets harder to handle, to control what happens surrounding a product.
You know... leaks happen.
But I don't think this compromises anything, in terms of their marketing strategy... huh... maturing of the genius, or very little. I find it just raises the anticipation level note (except for Hoops, who knew all that already but good dog, he don't tell, of course). It's a teaser, a puzzler we snatched for ourselves, us, the starving fandom, reigned in by co-opted forum owners. But it's harmless, really. And last but not least, it makes people talk Steely Dan talk.
Hard to find anything wrong with that these days.

Date: Fri, February 28, 2003, 00:07:50 ET
Posted by: Rag,,,again,

I just wrote in '75 that WBCN was playing Scam. It was actually April of 1976. I think RS came out in the third week of May, 1976.

Just the facts M'am.

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 23:42:52 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Waiting for the pre-release of EMG

TGF - Please don't make me or other rabid fans feel guilty wanting some details about the new tracks. That's part of the fun, like looking around in closets for Xmas presents when you were a kid.

I seriously doubt there is any pressure on Donald and Walter to get the CD out. They've probably been done with it for a couple of months. It's in the marketing and packaging stage now.

Also, Steely Dan has a long history of advancing tracks before the release date. I remember in 1975, WBCN in Boston played side 2 of The Royal Scam 3 WEEKS BEFORE the release date. I remember getting the DJ on the phone and yelling at him "WHAT ABOUT SIDE ONE!?!?". The next day I did hear Kid Charlemagne and in the next few weeks I heard most of the album again. However, I was still at the record store at 10:00AM the morning it was released and couldn't get home fast enough to play it.

IN 1977, WBCN gave out 100 copies of 'Aja' in early October well before the release date. I remember my dad yelling at me to get off the phone when I tried to be "correct caller" throughout the week. I was pissed that some slob who didn't know SD from shinola was probably picking up the album before me.

"Gaucho" and Fagen's "The Nightfly" had advance singles of "Hey Nineteen" and "I.G.Y." that you could buy in stores well before the release date. I also remember driving in my car and hearing the opening notes of IGY for the first time and KNOWING it was Fagen before the vocals kicked in.

Song talk, rumours, who plays what, sequence of songs, hearing tracks for the first time , collecting CDs and being a fanatic of the band - is what makes music fun!

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 22:58:01 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, MM @ Scullers

For those Dan fans in the Boston area - Marian McPartland will be playing at Scullers Jazz Club on Friday and Saturday night, Feb. 28 and March 1. I believe she is doing 2 shows each night and tix are $24. I'm going to try and make it Saturday night. Maybe I can give a shout out for "HOW ABOUT STAR EYES?!".

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 22:21:17 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Hey everyone.

Lee, you are right, they had short excerpt clips and I vaguely recall that maybe Reprise had these low quality MP3s for 2vN. Even then, some people were dumb enough to assume that MP3's were finally quality and then erroneously bitched about sound quality. Who knows this time. Just stay tuned to sd.com.

Jesse, given the number of delays on Kama, AiA, Gaucho remaster, etc., two or three delays from the original date wouldn't surprise me at all, although sd.com still says May 6.

TGF, we can only hope that those genius fruits don't get sabataged--please, hopefully we won't squeeze too hard.

Very Facinating, Steely Doubt

Great posts Randy, thanks. You make some great points. My understanding is that Steely Dan's original royalty deal with ABC sucked big time, and of course those 1968-71 demos net Walter and Donald nothing, if I am correct. Good luck with Carlton.

Those complaining about the Grammys should vote in the People's Choice Awards. Better yet, maybe these bands could compete in The Dannys. We all know who wins everytime: STEELY DAN! LOL.

Well, I better stop for now.

Hi YGK.

jim

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 21:28:00 ET
Posted by: Lee, Searching my memory

Not to disagree at all with TGF and his major themes, but I do remember that the Dan, via their website or via links on their website, did provide lower quality mp3's of 2VN prior to the official release. My memory is a little hazy, but I think that at first there were low quality clips of the songs. Then about a month before release date, there were complete, but low quality full versions of the songs. Of course this set of circumstances was officially endorsed, and thus conforms to the ideals embraced in TGF's post. I hope those with better memories can fill in the blanks and/or correct any of the above points.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 20:48:00 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

I just looked at Andy Metzger's site, and it says that "Everything Must Go" has been pushed back to June 10th. Is this true?? This waiting game is torture!

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 19:33:59 ET
Posted by: TGF,

Dear Randy,

Your writing demonstrates much understanding of the scope of the manner in which a musical artist's new work is introduced and promoted to the general public. I applaud and admire you for your eloquence and standing up for your position with backbone and gusto.

The attitudes and actions of today's music distribution system certainly demonstrate that its interest lays in preserving itself rather than serving our world as a vehicle for getting music to the public. It's no wonder the public, in a search for meaningful music, has attempted to bypass these intermediary, self-serving gatekeepers. It is an outrageous challenge to our very liberty that the music industrial machine continues to repress new modes of music delivery and expression to simply satisfy their greed. We who seek and support the highest quality of musical craft must hold our ground.

In this particular thread, the position expounded is that Steely Dan's imminent release has been compromised to the public in advance of its May 6 official U.S. release date. Given the strict standards of quality control for which Steely Dan is known, I can't fathom Walter Becker and Donald Fagen purposefully leaking inferior MP3 versions of their music in advance of release. To the contrary, they would want to control the release in the highest and most positive sense of the definition of the word control. My impression from Steely Dan newsletters of 2000, circa the release of "Two Against Nature," was they were not pleased with advanced details of the album being breached outside of the realm of their terms. What's more, consider the absolute precision with which albums like "Kamakiriad" and "Alive In America" were prepared and released. These albums had release dates that were repeatedly rolled back so as to provide time for additional tweaking and and adjustment of even the most minute detail. There was even a rumor that the second, post-release pressing of "Kamakiriad" incorporated a seemingly minor adjustment to several seconds of music. Yet, this elegantly demonstrates how important and deliberate their processes are--they are never flippant in this respect.

No, I cannot believe Steely Dan would move to intentionally leak their recordings--or even the album's song titles--as a form of promotional gimmicktry or obfuscation . Moreover, those who choose to advance leak such tracks, song titles or other album details, add outside pressure to our esteemed duo to bring the actual final release to the public. To be sure, we are incredibly eager to hear the next work of Steely Dan. It's very understandable. But by parlaying these leaked details and tracks, the result is to provide inappropriate and meddlesome pressure to the complete recording and release process that is an integral part to the music of Steely Dan.

In short, we should contribute to the support of Steely Dan's upcoming release by giving them space to complete and release details of this sure-to-be-stellar album on their terms rather than on the timetable of impatient, although well-meaning, fans like us. To do otherwise is to sabotage the fruits of the Steely Dan Genius.

In the past month, Steely Dan's noted and much-awaited appearance on the legendary "Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz" was an important event and accomplishment since Steely Dan presented their music for the first time in the form of what was essentially a jazz quintet featuring one of the last living legends of Jazz's greatest era.

To be certain, world events are of a frighteningly serious nature these days and we all should be involved. Furthermore, I respect that Steely Dan fans need and have a right to choose forums that best match their vantage of band appreciation.

Yet, I was disgusted at the very minimal collective attention given this momentous Piano Jazz appearance by the regulars of the other forum you mention, Randy. My single post there about Steely Dan's appearance on "Piano Jazz" drew no response. I don't believe the host of the forum even mentioned the Piano Jazz show, much less commented on Steely Dan's appearance. It seems the majority of those who contribute at that forum view it as a venue in which they themselves are the focus, with the music of Steely Dan relegated to be but a backdrop of the expression of each poster's self-indulgent, petty melodrama. It's sad to consider that Saddam Hussein and George Bush's antics, combined with sheer self-indulgence, supplanted interest in this great opportunity to hear the music of Steely Dan anew.

Randy, I am glad you have opted to present your thoughts here in this forum which I've just recently come to appreciate. I remember well your intelligent contributions elsewhere; yet, I have found the perusal and consideration of thoughts in that forum to be an act of tedious and unsatisfying sifting though what is mostly rubbish.

Auspiciously, this forum operated by Hoops and alt.music.steelydan are informative, provocative and focused in its discussion of Steely Dan. I hope that you will choose to continue to contribute your intelligent thoughts to these virtual round-tables for all things Dan. I look forward to savoring your words and offering replies worthy of your eloquent articulations.

Submitted,

TGF

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 18:38:30 ET
Posted by: steelydoubt,

well just to see if the mp3s were even close to real i compressed one as a zip and found that it was about 6 KILOBYTES from an mp3 that was 5.4 megabytes. wierd

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 12:55:42 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/USA

Steely-folk,

The following was posted in response to a statement someone made on St. Al's 'Sign In Stranger Guestbook.' It appears in terms of subject matter that it is applicable here on Hoops' 'Blue Book' as well; for those not "in the know" (I've seen some new posters here or so I thought), I'm a professional musician and music historian, so you know who's writing all this shit. To wit:

Record companies do not "intentionally leak" anything when there is a new forthcoming release; this has been an issue between artists and record companies for as long as there's been a record industry. Describing it as an "intentional leak" is a disservice; it's more of an affront to artist’s rights via blatantly illegal activity, all of which have nothing to do with getting the music "out there" via a "leak."

The issue is this: when artists/bands want an assessment of precisely how many records/CDs have been sold, they ask to have their catalog audited. This procedure determines how many records were sold. The problem is, the number the record companies start with is 90% of the records/CDs manufactured (not 100%); record companies contend that the other elusive 10% goes out the window via promotional copies (reviewers, radio stations, etc.); artists contend firstly that 10% is too a high a number for unaccountable "promotion" and that they should still receive royalties on 100%. Considering how much the record company is making on the recording to begin with (if the artist has made one million, you can bet the record company made 12 million), accountability for 100% of recordings "sold" is not unreasonable.

Not only that, but there is also the issue of regular instances wherein recordings went out illegally RIGHT FROM THE PLACE OF MANUFACTURE, a situation that would allow a record company to make money on the recording without having to pay any accountable royalties on recordings sold. (Since they weren't "sold," they are unaccounted for when it comes time to tally artist's royalties.) Many artists have suggested then that they should be paid royalties based on records/CDs MANUFACTURED for projected sale as opposed to SOLD, based on the enormous losses taken with this non-declared company policy.

As always, big business takes and screws. The contracts young bands foolishly sign today are so legally "rigged" from line 1 it's an insult. Some bands sign contracts wherein they write and record all their own music via a sizeable advance from a record company (like a loan), thus putting them in a situation where they owe the company money and don't own their own recordings (standard music biz practice).

Now the money owed to the company is taken from the band's royalties (like a lien) before they even see it, so when the record starts to sell, they see no money. In some instances the band literally has to PAY THE RECORD COMPANY to be on the road to support the record they wrote and conceived, now owned by the record company. A tour expense account is given (against royalties), so unless the album is huge, the band are in a perpetual state of owing the company money (known as "unrecouped"). As the record sells, all the money goes to the record company until the band has paid its "debt" (which may never happen).

In addition, no contract is guaranteed. The company has the right to drop the band at any time for any reason, and may secure the rights to release any solo work from any given band member should all this shit result in the band's splitting up altogether. Bands sign contracts like this every day, thinking "getting signed" by a major label is the way to go. It's the way to go all right.

"Name" artists (like Steely Dan) have clout to set up higher royalty rates and can sometimes even retain ownership of their masters (McCartney, Van Morrison and Paul Simon are some of the artists who have done this). That way, if an artist leaves a company, they take their catalog with them. With a sizeable built-in fan base, they are unrecouped in a few weeks in regards to new recordings, as the record's sales overtake production costs. Having a solid sales reputation and name recognition ameliorate the hassle of finding a lucrative contract. If a company can't offer something worthwhile, Becker and Fagen can go elsewhere. Regardless, if one takes manufacturing and promotion off the top, you still have a situation wherein Steely Dan make can make two million on sales alone (before "airplay" royalties), with the record company making ten million. It's simply how the record business works.

"Where did the bastard run / is he still around..." - Steely Dan, "Everything You Did"

Randy / NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

P.S. Still waiting for confirmation from Larry Carlton on the '75 'Katy Lied' sessions; stay tuned-

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 12:11:36 ET
Posted by: I know, it's

Mark in Boston- It's legit.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 11:53:24 ET
Posted by: I know, it's

Mark in Boston- It's legit.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 11:34:07 ET
Posted by: Flowers.com,

No way these are the tracks FTD.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 11:18:55 ET
Posted by: FTD,

Boston Rag - Right. Right. Wrong. The "costolomy bag" and others related in that post, that is just someone failing to be funny again.
Really, 9 tracks, lots of humor implied. Judging from the context, this is believable. Didn't believe it at first, not until I checked the source. Very high bandwidth, corporate-type connection. Perhaps a couple of legit servers were left naked out there, their contents available for browsing for a little while? There was not just Dan but many acts from the Reprise catalog, some already commercially available, others not. That is what I saw.
Forgot to write down the new Fleetwood Mac tracks though. Sorry for all of you who might have been interested in such a thing.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 11:08:30 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, You gotta be kidding...

FTD - So you think the titles are real??? Godwhacker? The Last Mall? Did somebody post they saw Ol' Colostomy Bag???? I think Donald and Walter are playing a big joke on the SD community. Although you might be right about trying to screw up the peer-to-peer sites. The SD Webdrone one did some phony pages on the ODP to cut down on spam (or so I heard).

You know, even if the songs were leaked to an Mp3 site and I had the songs, it would never stop me from buying the product on May 6. In part because I have the entire SD catalog (in all formats from 8-track to DVD-A)and need to have the real thing. Also in part that I want to support the artist.
I don't agree when the record companies claim that downloading is destroying the music industry. It's the terrible product that's causing the slump. I look at the 70's as a golden age of rock n' roll albums. What do we have today? Mostly rap and boy bands? Does anyone else feel this way?

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 10:48:27 ET
Posted by: FTD, signed sealed delivered...

Or maybe "and that's when she jumped the turnstile" - "things I miss the most". hmm

Becker sings Godwhacker.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 10:45:19 ET
Posted by: FTD, already stranded on that desert island called "Dandom"

"Is that a horseshoe crab?" I say is from "slang of ages".
And that's when she jumped the turnstile" I see in "lunch with gina" or "pixelene". Yep.

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 07:21:05 ET
Posted by: Larry, jersey

Duh,Turning myself in?????????????????

Date: Thurs, February 27, 2003, 05:59:10 ET
Posted by: FTD, greetings

I believe these are dummy files put up by the record company to discourage swapping. It's obvious by the list of act they are serving, all from Reprise. So not only do you get the titles of the Next One but also Fleetwood Mac's next one.
Makes sense.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 23:32:43 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

I'm sick of reading comments about how the Grammy voters vote based on quality and not hype. What you need to realize is that the Grammys don't mean shit. Last year, a bland Sonny Rollins record beat out Dave Holland's "Not For Nothin", and Pat Martino's "Live At Yoshi's", two killin' records. This year, Herbie Hancock's "Live At Massey Hall" beat out one of the best records of all time, Wayne Shorter's "Footprints Live". That's JIVE. They probably just picked a record at random. How about the year that Celine Dion beat out Beck's "Odelay" and Radiohead's "OK Computer" for best album. I think it's great that Steely Dan won, but do you really think that after winning, that it actually meant something to them as musicians? Anyone who needs a Grammy award to feel validated is in it for the wrong reasons.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 22:09:01 ET
Posted by: Careful,

Larry...

Duh. Says below. But really smart turning yourself in in the process.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 21:26:31 ET
Posted by: Larry, Jersey

Where are these Steely Dan mp3 from?????

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 21:05:43 ET
Posted by: Hutch, ..

Hey, wasn't it that Hutch guy over on the GB that put up that link to the Steely Dan/Maurice Gibb joke?

Gee. I think it was that guy Hutch!

Of course it was totally ignored on the yellow cause they're so busy busting each others' balls over the war.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 20:23:51 ET
Posted by: FTD, for further ref

Two users serving or servers, frankenstine331_41648 and PolarMan311_30060. These are full with the latest Reprise Records acts, Linkin Park and so on, the ones you see featured on the Reprise site. The new Fleetwood Mac too. hmmm
Can't hear it. But this could be it, in terms of titles. Weird stuff. over

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 19:54:35 ET
Posted by: FTD, mental note

And if you browse the user in question's whole stash, he/she/it also has some Zwan, Madonna, Lil' Kim... Zwan is on Reprise Records too. And the titles for the other artists in the list are genuine. This is strange. If it's a hoax, it's fairly elaborate.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 19:39:44 ET
Posted by: FTD,

Yes, you are the only one.
But the others I've mentionned check out. They're still there. Now served by PolarMan on a T3 line.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 19:24:27 ET
Posted by: me2,

i also found trax...am i the only who found.....

05-steely dan-tongue in groove.mp3
08a-steely dan-ol' colostomy bag-instrumntl.mp3
04-steely dan-show me yours i'll show you mine.mp3
06-steel dan-your cheatin heart w norah jones.mp3

YOU be da judge

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 19:19:34 ET
Posted by: FTD, in bloom baby

Frankenstine. That's the name of the user who serves the files.
More titles:

Steely.Dan--The.Last.Mall.mp3
05 steely dan_blues.beach.mp3
08.steely.dan_green.book.mp3
Steely Dan Godwhacker.mp3

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 19:04:05 ET
Posted by: FTD, as seen on WinMx

It's true what they said. But it smells like foul play or something. The mp3's don't work, as somebody pointed out. But just for the heck of it, I'll show what I've found looking in there.

03-steely dan-everything must go.mp3
09-steely dan-lunch with gina.mp3
01-steely dan-things I miss the most.mp3
07-steely dan-slang of ages.mp3
02-steely dan-pixelene.mp3

You be the judge.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 15:28:17 ET
Posted by: db,

Sorry to say WAER is only reaching UK @ 96kbph.
(well in my house anyway)

Did I mention that i fitted a second hard drive for recording purposes only.
(you can pick the lower end size ones cheap these days...about £10.00 per gb is the rule)


Would love to hear the 320...version though


thanks to M.M, D.F & W.B for two weeks of great jazz !!!!

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 14:46:51 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Dennis: Thanks for the link. Guitar Player mag a couple of months ago had a lesson on some Lukather riffs, and indicated the surpise the author received when he realized the number of fusion records to which Lukather contributed.

Earl

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 12:19:12 ET
Posted by: Dennis , Chicago

You can find a whole bunch of stuff that Lukather played on at:

www.audiophileimports.com

Just do a search for Steve Lukather.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 11:01:18 ET
Posted by: Here's one,

Here's the answers to all our questions.

http://www.brokennewz.com/entertainment/steelybeegees.asp

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 10:21:31 ET
Posted by: The Boss, yeah, right,

The Rising was a generic, bland Springsteen album with a ton-o' hype. It's not like he didn't get any Grammys at all. Many of the Boss's fans are full of themselves and ungracious losers as well, too bad for normal Bruce fans. If Springsteen had won album of the year, it wouldn't have been any different than Steely Dan winning, except the Dan's album was a hell of a lot better and unlike Bruce, the Grammys had never recognized Steely Dan.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 09:20:56 ET
Posted by: N. Cognito,

FWIW, MSNBC is also the network that fired Donahue six months later. Final show this Friday night.

Date: Wed, February 26, 2003, 08:19:44 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

One final point about Norah's award. I like the choice simply because it shows that the awards handed out to Santana and Steely Dan were probably not "Lifetime Achievement Awards" like some people alleged. If that were the case, Springsteen would have won hands down.

Personally I think, kind of like Mu stated, that the people voting pay more attention to the musical qualities rather than the hype. MSNBC would not like it because they are a Clear-Channel-type entity. Do they want to see mega-corporations do well? Of course. Therefore it behooves them to justify why mega-corporate Bruce Springsteen cannot win against what amounts to a third party candidate, Blue Note's Norah Jones.

One of the few issues I probably lean a little to the left on. Mark it down.

Earl

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 23:38:13 ET
Posted by: µ - typos,

throw

hints

move

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 23:34:47 ET
Posted by: µ,

Ironically, the engineers and producers who value musicianship, composition, and quality, y'know, the ones that voted for TvN in 2001 - were the same folks that voted for Norah...the backlash is to be expected in a throwaway society...I saw Norah in one of those small venues in Austin out of one of those hot August Texas eves...seating 1200... Her voice and the upright bass permeated the wood of the theatre, as warm blue and red washed off the stage. We should all so lucky to hear and see music like that...turn the amps down from 11 to 1. thow out the hardware, let's do it right. Hits from da boyz regarding a possible more to smaller venues with better acoustics will be music to my ears...The University of Texas, for example, has a super fine Performaing Arts Center...


Wayyydda minute here: "Throw out the hardware, let's do it right..." Everything Must Go???? hmmmmmmmmm...no digital, no ProTools, no sequencing, no nanosecond snare sync-lock, no over over over dubbing...

...no caffeine, no protein, no booze or nico-tine...remember, everything gives you cancer...there's no cure, there's no answer...


Predictions, Mortonnnn!! I want a name when I lose - Cubs... The CUBS will awaken from near a *century* of hibernation to take the NL and World Series by storm! Pryor wins 25! "Dust" off your toothpick - get it ready...gonna beat them damn Yankees...you heard it here first.

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 23:23:37 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Boston Rag: I find it hard to believe that Lukather never appeared on a Steely Dan album. He just seems to fit the mold of a Steely Dan guitarist, not to mention the obvious connection with Jeff Porcaro.

Regarding the MSNBC article: the one obvious link between 2VN, O Brother, and Norah Jones is that they each are a deviation from the norm. Springsteen's album sounds like every other bit of drivel out there. In my opinion, John Mayer's album _Room for Squares_ deserved Best Album more than Springsteen's. Jones music was refreshing, something that sounded different than everything else out there, and catchy. I find her a happy medium between Etta James and Patsy Cline. Springsteen can't even carry a melody in his songs.

The bottom line is twofold: 1) Every year, the record industry looks for the formula to ensure success. So far, that formula has failed at the Grammy level, but not at the level of sales. 2) The Grammys, like the Oscars, are a more artistic forum. There are some obvious political choices made, but for the most part I feel that the Grammy's tend to honor the most deserving candidate. It's like one expects Star Wars to make tons of money, but when it comes to artistic awards, it tends to get left out because it's too bland.

Finally, remember that MSNBC was also the channel that hired Phil Donahue. Obviously their judgment is a little lacking.

Earl

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 22:31:33 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Toto's Bodhisattva

I finally broke down today and bought Toto's Through The Looking Glass which is a CD of cover tunes. Let me tell you, I was blown away by Steve Lukather's guitar solo(s) on Bodhisattva. Not too many tracks make me say "Holy Shit!!" when I listen to it but this one might be the best guitar solo since Larry Carlton's classic work on The Royal Scam album. Do yourself a favor and check it out!!

Mark in Boston

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 22:22:17 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Star Eyes

JW - I've listened to the show about six times now and every time I hear it, I think that Donald was told to request Star Eyes. Either that or pick from 3 songs that Marian had ready to play. I don't blame her - it's show business (though she's no show biz kid - pardon the pun).

Mark in Boston

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 22:11:24 ET
Posted by: Those Syracusians,

WAER FM in Syracuse did a fine job with Piano Jazz. It was indeed streamed at 320+ kbps AND the local DJ introduced the show by saying how much he was looking forward to Steely Dan being on it. Whooo hooo!

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 20:25:06 ET
Posted by: Just Wondering,

I just heard the part where Marian asks what she should play.

And Donald says, "How about 'Star Eyes'?"

Is this rehearsed? Or is this really spontaneous???

Donald sounds less than spontaneous in his response or maybe I am wrong.

Just Wondering.

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 19:47:28 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

Eminem's album is far superior? Steely Dan is forgettable? That just ruined my day. Ten years after Eminem's last record comes out, let's see if they start a magazine for him. I hate when people tell me I don't like Eminem because I don't like hip hop, because it's totally false, in several ways. One, I like hip hop, when it's done well, eg, The Roots, Blackalicious, and two, people who like hip hop hate Eminem's guts. That's why most of Eminem's fans are either pubescent boys trying to act rough, or Britney Spears fans who think they're being cool by expanding their taste. Eminem is a complete whiny bitch of a lyricist, and a slightly below average MC. But why am I telling you this, as you already know.

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 19:02:48 ET
Posted by: PJMPBRBR,

Ooops! Despite what it says at pianojazz.org, it's actually at 8:00 PM ET not 7:00

One more hour! Get ready!

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 18:57:54 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, WAER

I'm ready but I'm pretty sure it's on at 8:00PM ET.

We'll see......


Mark in Boston

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 18:42:19 ET
Posted by: MP, PJ, Boston Rag, Boston Raga,

One of the last chances to catch the Steely Dan installment of Piano Jazz. Up in 20 minutes at 7 PM ET at http://www.waer.org

Highest Resolution I've seen the show broadcasted at, for Real Player, 352.8kps

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 18:28:08 ET
Posted by: YGK, New York

I'm tentatively planning on First weekend for jazzfest - there was a great gathering last year with much fun and stories......and great music.....
looking forward to it.........
Thinking we can bet we'll catch Ornette........

Hoops: you'll have some new tunage soon, bud.........hope you and flower are well..........

ygk

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 17:42:52 ET
Posted by: Ruby, east village

Little Wild One- I don't know about you or anybody else, but...I'm up saving up my money for the Steely Dan shows. Not going to waste a trip to New Orleans when the $ could be better spent on Donald and Walter.

later

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 14:56:38 ET
Posted by: David,

Had Bruce won, then the columns would be about how an old fogey like Bruce nixed fresh material by a newcomer like Norah Jones. BTW #1: You rarely hear, "Norah Jones, aka Norah Shankar, daughter of the sitar master." BTW #2: Bruce's album was like a impersonation of his former self. BTW #3: Bruce's guitarist, Van Zandt, is whining in today's media, "Bruce was robbed!" Gimme a break.

MS and NBC are such huge conglomerates that I'm sure one hand (SNL) doesn't know what the other is doing (MSNBC). Didn't CNN dis SD for winning a couple of years ago? Two Against Nature's distributor and CNN are owned by AOL/Time/Warner/Whatever.

Overall, on a scale of 1-5, I'd give Bruce a 4.5 or 4.8 out of 5.0. But what puts me off from being a fan is how there's this idea he's like a 6.0 out of 5.0. C'mon, the Grammys are a popularity contest of sorts, designed to generate sales. I'm sure there are more than a few fertl of artists who deserved attention but weren't connected enought to get nominated. Now those are who were robbed.

Mike posted about Norah winning a Grammy her first year while Steely Dan had to wait decades for their Grammy. Well, Norah was on Piano Jazz her first year and Steely Dan had to wait decades to be on. Now THAT'S an injustice! ;-) Aja was Steely Dan's album when Piano Jazz debuted.

Did the Sealy Matress company design Aretha Franklin's dress?

Oy!

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 14:09:09 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One, Rodeo Houston

Although I must confess to being hypnotized by differing elements in each SD release, "Katy Lied" is also my personal fav. In layman's terms, the solos are right-on, the selections are balanced (not too heavy, not too light) and the groove is to die for.

Hey, Matt (and Hey Mike, for that matter), provided that there is an '03 tour of some sort to look forward to, maybe the Danfest plans can include regional "hostels" to help defray lodging costs for would-be, uhhh, followers. I'm not exactly a camper, but that is one option (ala The Gorge KOA). If Houston is on the list, my place is too! Waterbeds for everyone!

Speaking of travels, is anyone in greater Dandom planning to do the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in late April/early May? I hear good things about the first weekend, but doubt that I will be able to shuck my end of the season soccer obligations which coincide with that time of year.

69 days and counting 'til EMG....

Date: Tues, February 25, 2003, 13:23:04 ET
Posted by: FTD, hate mail

"That’s why Steely Dan’s forgettable “Two Against Nature” beat Eminem’s far superior “Marshall Mathers LP” for best album in 2001."

Look Mu, after the SNL snide remark of a week ago, MSNBC's on the offensive again. It's that new concept of preemptive strikes at work here, no doubt.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/877035.asp

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 21:00:36 ET
Posted by: PJ Fan,

Piano Jazz wasn't on Penn radio as stated below. Hoping tomorrow night works out. Otherwise, any Dan pals who can do me the fav?

CBAT is my fav Dan album since it is so much like a twisted Lovin Spoonfuls album. Brighatti Brothers indeed. The Becker Fagen demos, while not Steely Dan albums (in several ways) are vastly underrated as well. I always feel good when I listen to them. Too bad Becker and Fagen get no royalties on them.

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 13:51:13 ET
Posted by: Jaco, UK

Hooray for Pat Metheny for winning best contempory jazz album at the Grammys!


Regards



Jaco

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 12:07:44 ET
Posted by: David,

Perhaps another reason Norah Jones seems not too many steps away from the Dan: She could easily pass for a member of the Bare Mid-riffs, or at least Carolyn Leonhart's cousin. Like Carolyn or Vicki Cave, Norah Jones could have been on the caberet circuit.

Regauarding the Steey Dan as Jam Band thread, didn't we get a taste of that with the extended drum solo on Josie? Fagen comes out of the Ellington tradition. Although there were many solos in Ellington's bands, Duke always carefully orchestrated them to some extent. At the same time there was some room to stretch. I suspect Donald writes out, "Jon, come in here. play this many bars, you need to hook up with Shep at this point, play three more bars and bring it back."

I know of several Danfans who followed Steely Dan around on tour, but, I agree, the fact the set list doesn't vary from night to night makes Steely Dan a lot less appealing to follow around than say, Dave Mathews or Phish.

Shneyer feter won't leave! Burrrrrrrrr!

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 01:16:35 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

If I had the money to lose, I would follow Steely Dan too. Also, in the last year or two, Steely Dan has ousted Phish as my favourite band (besides Miles Davis, of course). However, I think the most exciting thing about a Phish show is the your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine unpredictability of each show. For Steely Dan, look at the setlists for two shows even in the same city. Almost exactly the same. This is what turns people off not wanting to see them more than once. Not geography. I'm sure there are some people who saw much of the last tour, but look at the parking lot at a Phish show. There's always more out-of-state licence plates then there are in-state. One thing that Steely Dan has the clear edge over Phish, is records. No Phish (studio) record comes close to the worst Steely Dan record (if such a record existed).

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 00:18:25 ET
Posted by: Mike Grammie (not My Grammy),

Norah Jones cleans up at the Grammys. Am I the only one who felt like she was on the same side as Donald and Walter? Not sure that is correct, but somehow feels like that way. Maybe because she was on Piano Jazz before Steely Dan. Then again, where da heck does she get off winning Album of the Year after Steely Dan had to wait 28 years?

Stevie Wonder and Take Six won also. Yayyy! Pretty indifferent about the rest. Alan Jackson, Dixie Chicks and all current country music SUCKS!

Speaking of Piano Jazz, I'm surprised no one's commented on Donald's piano playing on the show. Kick ass! Loose the synths, Rhodes and Melodica, Donald should only play a Baldwin or whatever grand piano of his choosing.

Looks like we will have quite a wait for Steely Dan and Piano Jazz to be released officially. I was in the store today and picked up the just-released Dave Brubeck on Piano Jazz from March 23, 1984. The rest of the piano jazz shows are also from the late 70's to mid 80's. Oh well, guess we'll get the official realease around 2017.

Brubeck and McPartland are awesome on Take Five, BTW.

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 00:17:25 ET
Posted by: Matt, chattanooga

Jesse...
What's this about young people not being willing to follow to Steely Dan? I myself am young (in a relative sort of way) and I followed Steely Dan on tour duing the Summer of 2000. Jams, length of songs, and even diversity of sets weren't even part of what I was doing. I'll admit that Steely Dan doesn't have a community of followers like many of the so-called jam bands do, but the group of show goers that I got to know on the tour were no less enthusiastic because of it.

I think it has more to do with the core demographic of Steely Dan not being able to pick up anchor and follow the tour(s) around the country. Having do so, I promise that the shows are not booked to be easy to follow or keep up with. Of course, I'd love to do it again...and will if given any chance at all that I won't loose the massive amounts of money I did last time.

Matt

Date: Mon, February 24, 2003, 00:00:16 ET
Posted by: µ,

I have felt the same way hoops does about the fair lady Katy for many years - the lipstick is a bit smudged because of the DBX debacle. The re re masters have given her a bit of a makeover and Chain Lightning seems to have been affected the the technical difficulties least - having said said the fidelity is far better than 99% of the 70s recordins.
In a nutshell, Katy Lied is simply the greatest album from a unique vision created as Steely Dan by Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, and their producer Gary Katz. After they quit touring in 1974, the "band" per se broke up. Pretzel Logic represented a transition album to the "studio rat" phase. In 1975's "Katy Lied, Fagen and Becker used that core of studio musicians: Michael Omartian, Michael McDonald, Denny Dias, Larry Carlton, Victor Feldman and recorded a surrealistic masterpiece which harkens to the 50's cool jazz (Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, etc) in recording strategy and purpose. The performances are first rate as plan and expression merge. The guitar solo on Your Gold Teeth II may be one of my favorites of all time. The surreal Katy Lied is nothing like the first 3 (which were a rock band playing jazz quite subversively) or the last 3 which were studio rat hyperproduced Picasso pop paintings. More guts in this album than the rest along with beautiful, haunting melodies.

Date: Sun, February 23, 2003, 23:41:09 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Peg - Check this out...

http://www.jambands.com/june99/ghosts.html

Date: Sun, February 23, 2003, 18:24:55 ET
Posted by: FTD , wake up call

Very well...
but there's just one slight problem.
Phish sucks.

Date: Sun, February 23, 2003, 16:09:14 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

Peg, I don't think you get it. Do you honestly think that if "Bodhisattva" or "Black Friday" went on for 20 minutes, that it would be a good thing? Phish doesn't just stretch out every song for the sake of playing long songs. They do it if it's appropriate for the music. That's why there are many Phish tunes that normally don't go beyond 5 or 6 minutes. I cannot think of one Steely Dan tune that would sound good if it went on for that long. Maybe they could do something with "The Royal Scam", but besides that, 4 to 8 minutes is all that is required for their tunes. Also, I highly doubt young people would start touring with Steely Dan. The thing that makes people want to see every night of a Phish tour, is because they are completely unpredictable. Each night is a completely different set list (which obviously can't be said for the Dan), the long jams on tunes like "You Enjoy Myself", and "Bathtub Gin", as well as many other tunes, are completely different each night (which is the complete oppposite for the Dan, besides improvised solos), and Phish is simply more ambitious, mixing up different genres, inviting other musicians to sit in, and busting out cover tunes, sometimes without any rehearsal. I'm not bad-mouthing the Dan, as I think Don and Walt are the best rock songwriters and arrangers of all time. However, as a live act, I will be satisfied seeing 2 or 3 Dan shows, and twice or three times as many Phish shows.

Date: Sun, February 23, 2003, 15:33:38 ET
Posted by: Peg, In all keys

Duncan, if you still need a cat please let me know. My two have taken over the known universe (i.e., my house) and I would be glad to get rid of one of them. Then maybe half the universe would be mine again (maybe).

I must say amen in the discussion about Royal Scam. Beats every other Dan album. It rocks, it's sarcastic, it's funny, it's inspiring, it's even got green earrings.

Hey, what with Phish here in town this weekend for two shows and me being amongst Phish-head folks the other night, I was thinking, "What if the Dan were a jam band..." It would definitely be better than Phish. Quality jams with real musicians! ("Sue me if I play too long..." -- hey, they were ahead of their time!)

They could make more $$ if younger folk were added to the fan base, and they would definitely be raising the bar when it comes to musical quality. Who cares if hippie wanna-bes were added to the masses. A lot of us were, or close to it. Anyway, imagine a 20-minute version of Bodissatva, or Black Friday.....! And a nice, big spot to jam-dance in front of the stage....I think this is mandatory now. :)

Date: Sun, February 23, 2003, 13:01:06 ET
Posted by: Dan Fan No. 342,

Piano Jazz with Donald and Walter was the tops I get the impression this will be one of their few appearances preceeding the new album. Hoops, count me in on any tape or CD trees. This needs to get in the hands of the Dan fans.

My favorite album is Pretzel Logic, although there are no bad albums in the Steely Dan cannon. Only great and incredibly great. Pretzel logic is tops in my book because there are all these short, compact songs that work so well in that format. Yet, they could also be expanded as the situation calls for.

Katy Lied is up there too.

Norah Jones and Bruce Springsteen will clean up at the Grammys tonight, as if it matters.

Take 'er easy.

Date: Sun, February 23, 2003, 00:27:39 ET
Posted by: Tom, New Baltimore MI

Feb 03 Prosound News says that Elliott Scheiner is designing a DVD-A system to be installed at the factory by one of the Detroit-based carmakers. Awesome! Hopefully Steely Dan will be on the demo CD. Any word if there will be SACD of the 70's SD albums?

Tom

Date: Sat, February 22, 2003, 18:58:02 ET
Posted by: David,

NY Rock and Soul Review pal Boz Scaggs has a new album coming out in a month or two. It's called "But Beautiful" and features Boz with a jazz quartet covering classic American ballads and song standards. I hope it's better that when Rod Stewart did a similar album. It's gotta be.

Date: Sat, February 22, 2003, 12:31:34 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Holy Man...

No you are not the only one who thinks that The Royal Scam is the best offering of the Dan. I have long stated that it is my absolute favorite. I will never deny the "near perfection" and polish of Aja. It stands alone. But it is not The Royal Scam. TRS is what I would hope that SD would return to. The cynicism, anger, social commentary...etc.etc. But most importantly, the music. IMHO, TRS rocks unlike any other SD album. The ripping guitars are inspirational and they would do well to include "some" of that same energy on the "the new one."

Nope...Holy Man, you are not alone.

-Paige

Date: Sat, February 22, 2003, 12:22:56 ET
Posted by: Sean, Quincy, MA

Was reading about the very tragic RI nightclub fire in today's paper. I didn't realize that Ashley Kahn used to work for Britney Spears.

"If you're a band that's still running on the fumes of the 80's and playing at small venues, then you may be dealing with people at those places who have limited experience working with different production requirments," said Ashley Kahn, an author and former tour manager for BRITNEY SPEARS and Paul Simon. "It's Spinal Tap at its worst, trying to replicate knee-jerk arena-rock showmanship, but on a very small level. That can be a dangerous thing."

The Coltrane and Miles author worked for BRITNEY SPEARS!???!

Well put, Holy Man. I love Royal Scam too. It's the Fan's Album.

Sean

Date: Sat, February 22, 2003, 06:29:54 ET
Posted by: YourHolyMan,

Thought I'd waddle over to the blue since the yellow seems to be down. To be honest, I'm rather impressed with the low-noise of this place and actual Dan content.

The NME story below is a mixed bag. We've heard most of this before. Yet, it does jog the memory. What is Gary Katz up to these days? Given the boys' track record from the past decade, it's safe to say Katz was a glom, hanging on to the boys coattails.

I see the "run around" just as Rob does. The rest of the article is full of the author being so impressed with his own wordiness that fact takes a back seat. But it did make me think, "WHAT IS MY FAVORITE STEELY DAN ALBUM?"

THE ROYAL SCAM!

Why? The sarcasm is cranked to perfect volume. It's a musicians' musicians album. It's one hot album. There's not a bad or even OK track on that one since every one of them is outstanding. Caves of Altimira has those kick ass horns. Don't Take Me Alive has that searing guitar solo. Haitian Divorce has great lyrics, great guitar and great reggae. The Fez is high satire with Disco played superbly bad as it deserves to be played. I mean that in the complementary way. Kid Charlemagne is great. It was a great second set closer too. Speaking of which, I hope they bring Green Earrings back-see comments on The Fez. The title track is raw with acridity. One of the great epic Dan songs. Only recently, did I make more of a connection with it and Do It Again. They both have that dark attitude, athough Royal Scam is really pissed off in a bigger way. If I had to question anything, maybe it would be the album cover which is kinda lame, if you ask me.

I also think Katy Lied is an outstanding album. I don't get why the writer thinks the title is obscure. It leads me to believe he only gave it one listen.

Granted we all love The Royal Scam. You have to as a Steely Dan fan. But am I the only one who thinks it's the best?

Here's hoping we start getting more info on the next album in the next few weeks. I've been grooving on Two Against Nature. Some people were saying it's not as good as the old MCA albums. Pshaw! It's great! Very dense and full of depth.

Date: Fri, February 21, 2003, 20:08:24 ET
Posted by: Rob,

What if you used iMovie to divide the AIFF or MP3 file of the whole Marian McPartland show into separate tracks?

I thought "your gift for the run around" in Gold Teeth was innuendo for the monkey woman being gifted at oral sex, not about some girlfriend giving a guy the runaround.

Date: Fri, February 21, 2003, 17:27:43 ET
Posted by: duncan,

Whatever !!!
I've been busy this week...Hey i lost a cat
happy birthday Walt.


''I liked it...Inspiring''

Date: Fri, February 21, 2003, 15:59:49 ET
Posted by: A,

I also thought it was cool when McPartland corrected Donald, but then it was a little over the top when she told him to stand in the corner for 30 minutes while Walter snickered under his breath. (Maybe my station's version of Piano Jazz was different??????)

Steely Dan.com's Lyrics page has a place for Everything must Go but no lyrics yet. No new songs registered at www.ascap.com either. Soon?

Date: Fri, February 21, 2003, 11:42:48 ET
Posted by: hoops,

OK…so when I first saw this article I was impressed by this really cool montage that accompanied it. It included photos of everything from the "Pretzel Logic" pretzel vendor to Duke Ellington and more. And it seemed pretty extensive. And Steve Clarke helped write it—so many of his other Dan articles have been pretty classic.

Then I started reading it. I thought, "OK, the author is playing along with the Tristan Fabriani joke…," at least I assumed so. Well, as you go along it's pretty clear these two think Tristan is for real. Randall plays on "Royal Scam?" And sorry..."Katy Lied" is probably the Steely Dan album I'd pick as my favorite, assuming I could ever pick a favorite. So maybe this article below has value in that the mistakes raise the topics of what the correct answers are. Hey go ahead everyone, disagree with me, I wish you would.

Be sure to catch PJ in the next few days. "Limbo Jazz" has been stuck in my brain.

jim

Date: Fri, February 21, 2003, 11:25:31 ET
Posted by: New Musical Express, August 13, 1977

---

STEELY DAN PRETZEL LOGIC MAGIC
THE STEELY SCAM,TOODLE-OO
by MAX BELL & STEVE CLARKE

---

While the poor people sleepin’ with the shade on the light
While the poor people sleepin' all the stars come out at night
—Show Biz Kids

Before the fall when they wrote it on the wall
When there wasn't even any Hollywood
—The Caves Of Altamira

Turn up The Eagles, the neighbours are listening
—Everything You Did

"Becker and Fagen are interesting characters; sort of isolationists by nature. 7hey live in these houses in Malibu, not near anybody, and I have a feeling LA helps them keep their music going on a certain leve—they're almost laughing at the people in their songs. "
—Elliott Randall, sessioner who worked with Steely Dan

ORTHODOXY has never really been Steely Dan's forte. A rock band, and simultaneously not a rock band, the Dan is essentially the collective vision of two droll East Coast jazz buffs turned songwriters who on the surface have very little to do with rock and roll.

As Walter Becker, who, with Donald Fagen, is Steely Dan, once said, "We play rock and roll, but we swing when we play. We want that ongoing flow, that lightness, that forward rush of jazz."
Mike McDonald, now with The Doobie Brothers, who worked with the duo on their fourth and weakest album, "Katy Lied", said that Fagen and Becker would have preferred to have been born Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington respectively.

And yet these two have collaborated to more inspired effect than any two songwriters band members working in rock since Lennon and McCartney. In stretching their own talents, utilising the studio to maximum effect, and having the taste to call upon the most suitable session men, Steely Dan prove once and for all that intellect is no barrier to creative excellence in rock.

Moreover, their music, with its post-Woodstock feet, is as relevant to the '70s in its own way as that of any of their more illustrious contemporaries. And as the sleeve note on their debut album states so well, they're not out to pull the wool over anybody's eyes (or are they?).

Gushed forth rock critic Tristan Fabriani: "It has been said many times and in many ways that what the world needs now is another rock 'n' roll band, This could very well be the one of which the pundits spoke."

As things turned out, Tristan had a point.

BECKER AND FAGEN, renowned for their good looks and sharp clothes, met up at Bard College in Upstate New York sometime in the '60s. Fagen was to describe the encounter thus: "I was walking past this small building that they used for entertainment of the student body, who were very idle and bored most of the term. And I heard what I assumed was Howlin' Wolf playing in this particular building,

"I walked in and there was Walter with this red Epiphone guitar."

The two discovered they had a mutual interest in Jazz. Mainstream stuff, like Ellington, Parker and Davies, none of this high falutin' fusion business. All right, so it hadn't been invented then, but if it had, Walt and Don would doubtless have turned their purist noses up at it.

Becker quipped: "I remember when I bought my first copy of 'Birth Of The Cool' by Miles Davis. I took the record out of the jacket and found that it weighed seven pounds.

"I knew this was a musical landmark…fewer, but thicker records."

Like these were hep cats, man. Into jazz. Not R&B, the usual tap root for aspiring rock musicians.

On quitting the campus, Becker and Fagen headed for New York City to peddle their songs. For three years they sought in vain for a sympathetic record company during which time they were reduced to playing as sidemen for Jay And The Americans, a clean cut white vocal harmony group, big on ballads and dramatics. Hardly Becker and Fagen's bowl of chicken soup.

ABC employee Gary Katz (Becker later remarked, “ABC was in the market for a producer with a Fu Manchu moustache to producc their underground records")" came to their rescue and the three of them collaborated to write and perform on an abortive album for a female protégée of Katz's. Becker and Fagen wound up with a gig as staff writers for ABC. While hardly emulating the kind of success reaped by such pop writers as Goffin-King and Paul Simon in the Brill Building, Becker and Fagen's stint as house composers meant that one of their songs, “ Mean To Shine," was recorded by Barbra Streisand.

Meantimg, Katz—in thegrand tradition—had gone out West and at his behest Becker and Fagen also hot tailed it to LA to see their rock and roll Eldorado. Prior to leaving, they answered an ad in New York’s upmarket equivalent to “Time Out,” “The Village Voice,” which enticingly read, “Bass and keyboard player with jazz chops requires gig.” Lo and behold, when “rock’s odd couple” (actually Ian MacDonald’s lick) turned up in Hicksville, Long Island there was the plump, appealing figure of verbose Denny Dias, a wild man of rock if ever there was one

Till this day he’s still with Walt and Don – playing very fine guitar. Must have been some snarl up with the copy writers the Village Voice's ad dept. Either than or Dias is pretty adaptable.

In LA, Katz recruited drummer Jim Hodder and guitarist Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, who actually bears more resemblance to a walrus, from an obscure Boston band Ultimate Spinach who must have been into hallucinogenics of some description. With the addition of vocalist David Palmer, and naming themselves after a particularly active dildo from William Burrough's “The Naked, Lunch,” Steely Dan was complete. Ironically the subsequent album (released by ABC in 1972) was called "Can't Buy A Thrill".

The record bad none of the pock marks of a debut album. Steely Dan sounded like a totally evolved identity and potential didn't enter into it. Moreover, the band's undeniable, individual and collective virtuosity didn't get the better of them for one moment. Economy and tightness were keywords in the Steely Dan modus operandi.

As composers, Becker and Fagen encompassed a wide variety of styles, musically and in terms of subject matter. Such was their consummate skill that on ”Can’t Buy A Thrill,” they were simultaneously smart ass and self-effacing without landing on their backsides; witness the cryptic liner note accompanying each song.

I More to the point, there wasn’t a bad track on the album. Superficially, all was well in Becker and Fagen's world. But underneath often-mellifluous melody lines cynicism, irony and sarcasm were rife. In "Reelin'ln The Years,” like the album's opener "Do it Again" — an American Top Five single — Fagen in his technically limited but brutally effective nonchalant sneer hits back at a girl who's done the dirt on him.

Familiar territory for a pop song, but Fagen and Becker are adept at writing a lyric which hits home, something often ignored in the light of the two's shuck-and-jive routines: Steely Dan put-downs often have the contemptuous venom of a Dylan song.

Guitarist Elliot Randall guests on the song to turn in an epic solo. Death-defying heavy metal. Right on target. And ruthlessly economical.

"Do it Again" was the album's most immediate cut. The juxtaposition of Hodder's swirling percussion, Denny Dias' sinuous electric sitar and Fagen's terse Moog lines creates a sensuous combination of music for the mind and body. It was essentially an exotic dance record. Lyrically obscure, "Do It Again" traces the life of a compulsive loser. The imagery introduces Steely Dan's obsession with images of contemporary decadence:

Now, you'll swear and kick and beg us that you're not a gamblin'man.
Then you'll find you're back in Vegas with a handle in your hand.
Your black cards could Make you money so you hide them when you’re abl
In the land of milk and honey you mustput them on the table.

Steely Dan had no illusions about the American Dream; be it the romance of the Wild West or its 20th Century counterpart. Becker and Fagen put the lyric in past and future time, something they'd repeat in later songs.

Another perennial Steely Dan theme given an airing here is Becker and Fagen’s predilection for nostalgia as in the yeenagers’s shattered illusions of “Midnight Cruiser.” The song reads like an overheard conversation between two people who meet ten years on and, with its doleful melody, captures the tragedy of lost youth.

"Kings" shows that Becker and Fagen probably read a few books at college and is the first of a series of examples of the Dan's historical name dropping, albeit deliberately misleading. In a different vein, the musical irony of "Only A Fool Would Say That" shows that the Dan are not party to any dumb hippy jive, another recurrent subject.

All in all, Steely Dan gave the American market something which owed little to any rock tradition and provided much-needed critical standards that only emphasised the pitiful state of the then current scene.

Steely Dan were pioneers and they'd only just crossed the first border.

WHEREAS “CAN'T Buy A Thrill" was, despite its surfeit of inspired technique, primarily a song album, the subsequent "Countdown To Ecstasy- was a playing album. There are fewer songs, the mood is cogent and the band sound tougher.

Not only is it a genuine progression on their debut elpee (the true test of a major artist), "Countdown To Ecstasy,” as its title and packaging implies, is less accessible but ultimately more satisfying. Everything a second album should be.

Apart from David Palmer's relegation to background vocals (and his sweet style would have seemed out of,place on an album like “Countdown"), Steely Dan was as before

“Bodhissatva” was the perfect opener (as if realising this, Steely Dan opened their sets with it on their 1973 British tour, their only European visit). Jim Hodder propels our heroes into spontaneous spiritual nirvana. George Harrison never sounded like this. Becker and Fagen put the finger on rock stars who trade in their silver spoons from far-fetched Oriental mysticism which taxes the pocket.

Behind the chuckles Baxter and Dias set about the riffing like rock and roll was going out of fashion.

Incorporatingsome truly sublime be-bop phrases into his chops, Dias duets with Fagen in jazzier mood while Baxter makes with the hard stuff.

By contrast, Steely Dan resurrect the Latin American rhythm for “Razor Boy" and keep the solos on a tight leash. . Sideman Vic Feldman
supplies ethereal vibes while the 'Skunk' and Ray Brown keep things easy with steel and string bass respectively.

Once again,, the melody belies Fagen's best Brooklyn sneer as he sticks the knife into some unfortunate old flame in New Jersey. As usual with Becker and Fagen they're quick to criticise strictly middle,class values. Later on "Your Gold Teeth", Fagen continues the assualt on women who give you the runaround, while the "Giant Girlfriend" crops up again on side two's "My Old School".

While the atmosphere on "Countdown" is pure West Coast affluent Los Angeles with a great deal of mainstream jazz piano cool from Don, the group remember,their East Coast roots on “The Boston Rag.” The year is 1965 and everybody is getting smashed. Fagen, with characteristic nopnchalence, drawls:Lonnie swept theplayroom,And he swallowed up all he foundIt was 48 hours 'til Lonnie came around

Baxter confirms his position as one of the '70s great rock guitarists as the band go through some astonishing time changes with the kind of panache previously the territory of masters.

And the Dan don't exactly blow it on "Your Gold Teeth.” Notice the iconoclastic fusion of styles as they weld together shades of the blues and the Orient. All life is here. .Steely Dan play with all the finesse of a croupier dealing blackjack. And it is from a band who three tracks earlier were laying it down hard.

Becker and Fagen keep the venom flowing on side two's tart opener, "Show Biz Kids". The Dan have been spying on the people next door and don't like what they see. As the song demonstrates so well, these two know how to make a valid social comment without losing their sense of humour. The Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon of rock list the show,biz kids' assets:

They got the house on the corner
With the rug inside
They got the booze they need
All that rnoney can buy
They got the shapely bods
They got the Steely Dan T-shirts
And for the coup-de-gras
They're outrageous

"Becker and Fagen were probably just cheesed off that they never got the invitation to drop by Bel Air, snort up Peru and dust off the salt cellars at Gregg's pad. "Show Biz Kids" was their third American single, but unlike the other two it bombed. Even Rick Derringer's lethal slide assault couldn't persuade the public into buying it.

Outrageous.

"My Old School" did nothing to repeat Steely Dan's initial flurry of singles success. It's more nostalgia, this time petulant collegiate remembrances from the boys as they recollect those dismal days with the history books and a wild girlfriend. The lightweight melody, offset against a muscular horn arrangement, shows the Dan aren't adverse to a bit of good clean fun.

The following "Pearl Of The Quarter," is overloaded with black humour. Fagen sings about some pure sucker who lost his heart to a cajun queen. Only trouble is her profession is not altogether compatible with romance. Ooh la la. Skunk gets decidedly lyrical on pedal steel on this splendid piece of musical irony.

The album ends with Steely Dan at their finest. And on "King Of The World" the band are, for once, deadly serious. The lyric is apocalyptic, the scenario a post-nuclear attack with the ,song's bitter protagonist attempting to make contact with anyone left in the same predicament.

Metaphorically, the references to the Rio Grande and "the ruins of - I Santa Fe" point to the myth of the American "promised land". Fagen keeps back the acid, holding the Frightening Irony Of It All back until the closing stanza:

If you come around
No more pain and no regrets
Watch the sun go down
Smoking cobalt cigaettes There’s no need to hide Taking things the easy way
If I stay insidem
I might live until Saturday

Much is madeof Steely Dan's musical expertise and, true to form, they turn in a peerless performance here, but their skill as lyricists puts them on an equal footing with Dylan, Morrison and Joni Mitchell.

The introduction perfectly evokes the sinister world outside the fallout shelter. Insane Voices babble in confusion and Fagen's characteristically terse Moog solo emphasizes the incongruity of the optimism:

Show me where you are
You and I will spend this day Driving in my car
Through the ruins of Santa Fe
Countdown to ecstasy indeed.

SO HOW do you follow a classic album—with another one, of course. Whether it was a deliberate ploy or not, Steely Dan's third album "Pretzel Logic" (a pretzel is a sour tasting confection of haphazard shape sold in America, doubtless imported by the Jewish community) combined the accessibility of “Can’t Buy A Thrill” with the ruthless clarity of “:Countdown to Ecstasy” without compromising either.It also introduced into the band a contemporary funk which Steely Dan at this stage in their evolution used entirely to their advantage, something which wouldn’t quite better of them but would perhaps introduce a certain feeling of sterility into their music at a later juncture.

As a result, “Pretzel Logic” gave Steely Dan their biggest commercial success to date. The album’s cover is a black and white shot of a pretzel vendor outside New York’s Central Park in the midst of the annual freeze-out. As per usual, the Dan kept a low-profile inside the gatefold looking as cheerful as ever.Despite the plethora of proverbial session men (and yes, Jim Gordon was present…) Steely Dan had lost none of their corporate identity, even if it’s true to say that despite Fagen’s vocals they sounded like a different band to that which recorded “Countdown.”

In contrast to the somber arrangements of “Countdown,” “Pretzel Logic” is hardly lush, but it does utilize light and shade with polished precision. Gary Katz, an integral part of the set-up, ensure that production is as sympathetic as it had always been and even more adventurous.

With 11 cuts on the album, Becker and Fgaen were recording shorter tracks and solos, but vibing off their musicians to more inspired effect than previously. The opening “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” is a perfect example of this. An idiosyncratic love song underpinned by David Paich’s lilting electric piano motif (the album’s dominant instrument), “Rikki” is very compact and hyper-commercial. And while Baxter’s solo isn’t that long, it’s highly effective featuring as it does some beautifully fluid playing. For once, Becker’s playing is up front. See what we meant about the black influences?

In case you might have though that the Dan had gone soft, the subsequent “Night By Night,” a graphic portrait of life in the city, would change your mind. The combination of blaring horns and tense guitar riffing (very funky) emphasizes the lyric's devil-may-care urban philosophy. EI Skunk plays a muthah of a solo, guttural and piercing. New York, New York, it's a wonderful town ...

"Any Major Dude Will Tell You" - note the jive - oozes street-cool optimism and is punctuated by lovely Moog and guitar figures from Walter and Denny respectively. The 'up' feel is continued on "Barrytown" which brings put some old skeletons from the graduate closet. Fagen puts forward the man in the street's attitude to needle a college clique obsessed with their hipness. You can't out-cool the Dan.

On a lesser album Steely Dan's gimmicky approach to "East St Louis Toodle-OO” would have jarred, but here it stands as an affectionate nod to Duke Ellington, an acknowledged influence on the group besides being an allusion to Borroughs' "The Naked Lunch". However, side two's "Parker's Band,” an infectious tribute to 'Bird', is inspired. The musicians' enthusiasm and skill, as the music rushes headlong in joyous celebration, is quite dazzling; Steely Dan playing at their best.

And the exuberance of "Parker's Band" spills onto the next cut—“Through With Buzz", a tale of adolescent disenchantment which perfectly captures the naive wariness of teenage companionship. Not since George Martin's work with The Beatles had strings been so well used on a rock record.

The truly sublime title cut slows down the pace without dampening the euphoria. Here Steely Dan are the last word in cool. Dig the nostalgia, bathe in the bathos: I have never met Napoleon But l plan to find the time Because he looks so lonely on that hill They tell me he was lonely, he's lonely still

Those days are gone for ever, over a long time ago Oh yeah

Though structured like a blues, Steely Dan's execution transcends the form. Did Led Zeppelin ever swing like this? Throughout "Pretzel Logic," the Dan's horn arrangements are devilishly inspired and here they are used in such a way to send shivers up your spine.

Steely Dan have always known how to pace their records, and by sandwiching "With A Gun" between "Pretzel Logic" and "Charlie Freak" they demonstrate again just how good they are at presenting their material. "With A Gun" - with its breezy melody and neo-CSN vocal harmonies - is deceptively lightweight (in actual fact, it's another loser's tale evoking dual images of the Old West and modem corruption) and as such builds up the drama for "Charlie Freak" and what is unquestionably "Pretzel Logic's" heaviest lyric.

For "Freak", Fagen adopts the persona of an unscrupulous pawn broker who rips off a desperate junkie. With maximum ruthlessness Fagen wallows in his despicable act:
Poor man he showed his hand So righteous was his need And me so wise I bought his prize for chicken feed

Fagen's deceptively joyous piano riff (shades of the classics) not only perfectly evokes images of a brutal New York winter, but also captures the frozen indifference which meets the social outcast's plight: Poor kid he over-did Embraced the spreading haze And while he sighed His body died In fifteen ways
The closing "Monkey In Your Soul" may not have been in the same class as "Charlie Freak", seeing as how it sounds like it came about after some in-studio jamming. Even so, it's the Dan at their dirtiest, Jim Hom's standard raunch sax strung around a funky groove. If it's a filler, it's still great.

So there you have it, three classic albums in a row, Steely Dan bringing musical and literary devices into rock with an intelligence equaled by few in either the '60s or the '70s.

Until now Steely Dan's track record had been immaculate and at last they were getting through to an increasing number of the rock audience. However, internal problems had reared their ugly heads.

Since their ignominious exit from the concert hall in 1974 the Dan had virtually ceased to exist as a live unit. Rumours of a total split were rife and the continual postponement of their fourth album only added fuel to the doubts.

In fact, Hodder and Baxter had left--doubtless bored with the lack of live performances and the concomitant lifestyle, Baxter had taken refuge with the much maligned Doobie Brothers, a band not noted for their ability to push forward the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll.

Jim Hodder left to form his own band though little had been heard of him since. Surprisingly, Becker and Fagen missed these two stalwarts on the ensuing “Katy Lied,” like a blind man misses a white stick: “Katy Lied” was a bad Steely Dan record.

TO ALL intents and purposes the Dan were no longer a band. Judging from the credits on "Katy lied" (and the overall lack of inspiration seeped through to the cover, not to mention the lame esoterica of the title) drummer Jeff Porcaro - used to good effect on their British tour in tandem with Hodder -and keyboard player Mike McDonald had joined Becker, Fagen and Dias as the group nexus.

Otherwise, "Katy lied" was down to a who's who of session men - a sure sign of a creative impasse - and the more Becker, Fagen and Katz strived for perfection the more sterile and convoluted the affair became. Katz himself had overproduced, particularly on the drums. it wasn't as if Porcaro was a suitable replacement for Hodder, anyway. And despite an abundance of guitar virtuosity Steely Dan lacked pizzazz.

What's more, the material seemed contrived. Becker and Fagen's wit is glib and frequently jars. Side one doesn't even begin to take off until track four—"Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More” —Fagen delivering the song in his archetypal adenoidal whine. Even then the lyrics smack of an overlong sojourn on the West Coast, the duo failing to evoke the atmosphere of the Big Apple, something they'd done so well on "Pretzel Logic".

Side two is better - with far more continuity and a higher percentage of original melodies; far too often on "Katy Lied" Becker and Fagen seem short of ideas and intent on obscurity for its own sake. Witness "Your Gold Teeth" which failed to be more than a nice tune. Previously a Becker-Fagen song had always been more than the sum of its parts.

"Chain Lightning" attempts to reiterate an old idea and almost succeeds. "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" is perhaps the only perfect marriage of melody and lyric on the album, with its depressed, doleful yearning.

For the first time Steely Dan received mixed reviews. However, its overt inferiority - as these things seldom do - didn't stop it selling.

Aficionados awaited the next release with trepidation. Elliot Randall, who had contributed to the band since its inception, was asked to join for an aborted tour, but declined.

It was clear by now that Becker and Fagen wanted no part of the conventional trappings of rock and roll fame and were running the risk of trying the patience of even their most committed fans. Word filtered through of their in studio intransigence.

Rick Derringer told of their insistence on perfection. Maybe they were just plain difficult to work with.

THEN THE ENSUING "The Royal Scam" didn't resolve the Dan's creative crisis but recaptured some lost ground. Any pretence of a band democracy had vanished. Denny Dias was even relegated-to third place on the guitar credits. And The Crusaders' Larry Carlton got most of the axe action.

As far as songwriting went, Becker and Fagen were back on form. The lyrics are more substantial and better crafted than on "Katy Lied". It could be argued that the words on "The Royal Scam" are Steely Dan's finest ever. The opener, "Kid Charlemagne" (the title itself indicating Fagen's penchant for history and how the song's subject, like Charlemagne, is now a thing of the past), is great. Like Tom Wolfe's “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test,” the song manages to convey the impression of the psychedelic ‘60s particularly the part played by acid chemist Robert Stanley Owsley, without striking any mood other than ambivalence. The style is unromantic, precise and factual, as Becker and Fagen in the heyday of Haight -Ashbury or some such other LSD crazed place with minimal nostalgia.

Now your patrons have all
Left you in the red
Your low-rent friends are dead
T his life can be very strange
All those day-glo freaks
Who used to paint the face
They've joined the human race
Some things will never change
Son you were mistaken
You are obsolete
Look at all the white-men
On the street.

The lyric is bitingly realistic, always Steely Dan's forte.

"The Caves Of Altamira" is the Dan daydreaming again, incorporating the birth pangs of intellectual curiosity as well as taking a swipe at American culture. "Don't Take Me Alive" brings you back to the harsh reality of living in the city in the '70s. Becker and Fagen draw a Perfect thumbnail sketch of a cornered criminal—*pace* "Dog Day Afternoon" - An unusual scenario for a song. RandaIl's lurching guitar adds to the tension.

The setting shifts to another newsreel for "Sign In Stranger". Images of seediness abound. In contrast to "Don't Take Me Alive", there is no law in this scenario. The protagonist is full of obsequious contempt for the 'stranger' to this desperate part of the Third World, the other side of the coin to "The Royal Scam". The Dan wheel out suitably exotic percussion and ethnic rhythm.

Aside from the irritating smartness of "The Fez" and the slightness of "Green Earrings", the album's only moment of light relief is the ribald "Haitian Divorce", a British hit single. Larry Carlton retreads a tasty lick from The Crusaders' "Southern Comfort” while Fagen makes with the barbed point. The language is pidgin English as the Dan trace the couple's progress from America to the land of Papa Doc and the Ton-Ton Macoute.

Just as "Countdown To Ecstasy” had culminated in "King Of The World", "The Royal Scam" follows suit, leaving its title track - the most overt piece of political and social comment on the album - until last. And Becker and Fagen's gift for the sardonic comes into force again. Images of colonialism, enigmatic though they are, had appeared throughout the record. Now, Becker and Fagen lay all their cards on the table and tell it straight.

The song deals with the fate of Puerto Rican immigrants seeking riches on the streets of New York and their eventual and inevitable ensnarement in the ghetto. An inspired horn arrangement by the main-men and Chuck Findley conjures up the ideal ambience for the immigrants' lost innocence. Having come to America with nothing, they find their Eldorado on the end of a synnge:

By the blackened wall he does it all
He thinks he's died and gone to heaven
Now the tale is told by the old man
Back home he reads the letter
How they are paid in gold just to babble
In the back room all night and waste the time
And they wandered in from the city of St John without a dime
See the glory of theRoyal Scam

A contemporary "West Side Story". So, "The Royal Scam" had reaffirmed Becker and Fagen’s literary talents. Their talent for characterisation is scarcely equaled in rock and on the album they had sharpened their observations even further. However, while the melody lines - unlike those on the previous "Katy Lied" - are once more inspired, the album lacks spontaneity, doubtless because the musicians involved are not paying as a band.

IF STEELY Dan are ever to recapture the intoxicating excellence of their first three albums, they'll probably have to do it by once again working as a more cohesive unit. They still haven't toured since 1974. Currently there is talk that they'll tour America around Christmas and will pay a long overdue visit to these shores sometime next year. A new album, possibly a double (and Presumably this would help Steely Dan to disengage from ABC, for whom they've previously aired their displeasure. - and sign with Warners) is planned for no later than September release under the tentative title of "Aja", but then you never know with the Dan, certainly one of the '70s rock bands who prove just how limitless the genre can be.

Lyrics reproduced by permission Anchor Music.

Date: Fri, February 21, 2003, 10:08:42 ET
Posted by: Mahovah,

Caught Piano Jazz last night, awesome. Anyone who hasn't caught it yet and still has a chance, don't miss it. It's a rare thing to hear D&W playing in such an intimate setting. The closest thing I can compare it to is those "bass, drums and vocals only" mixes from Kamakiriad, where you can hear each player so clearly. It was wonderful to hear Walter's beautiful guitar solos so vividly. Since he was the only guitar player there, it was easy to pick out. Not so easy on the piano, where it was tough to understand what was Donald and what was Marian on some cuts. But regardless, this show is great. How about Marian correcting Donald on the Mercer Ellington thing?? See, everyone makes mistakes

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 22:27:25 ET
Posted by: John,

Last Sunday's New York Times had a big story on Norah Jones in the Arts section. I mention this since she was on the Piano Jazz show a few weeks ago. She's very young and it talks about how here huge fan base consists mostly of those who are at least ten years older than her. Then they discuss this what they call "Adult Music" which is pretty much anything but rap and hip hop. I guess our friends Becker and Fagen fit into this category. So it says that Adult music is making a huge market comeback. Hopefully, bodes well for the next Steely Dan album. That would be great if they won Album of the Year again in 2004, just to prove the 2001 naysayers wrong. It's been two years already. And three since Two Against Nature came out. Time flies!

Happy Birthday, Walter. And many more!

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 19:53:07 ET
Posted by: Sean, Quincy

Happy Birthday to Walter Becker!

According to March 2003 "Keyboard," Dan Fan Joe Jackson is going on a mega tour this year, in support of his album, "Volume 4." The tour also marks the 25th anniversary of "Look Sharp."

Also interested in analogue, the new album was recorded "completely without computers---no Pro Tools, no sequencers, none of that stuff. Live to 24-track tape."

Jackson's version of "King of The World" rocks!

Sean

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 14:30:54 ET
Posted by: FTD, Becker Birthday Web Bouquet

http://www.belleville.com/mld/newsdemocrat/5217483.htm
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/news/5217483.htm
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/5217483.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030219_2083.html
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/5217483.htm
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/5217483.htm
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/5217483.htm
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030219&Category=APA&ArtNo=302191055&Ref=AR
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030219&Category=APA&ArtNo=302191055&Ref=AR
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/5217483.htm
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/5217483.htm
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/5217483.htm
http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030219&Category=APA&ArtNo=302191055&Ref=AR
http://www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/ap_story.html/National/AP.V4035.AP-History.html
http://www.austin360.com/aas/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V4035.AP-History.html
http://pennlive.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0804_BC_History&&news&newsflash-national
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/5218511.htm
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030217-043227-2594r
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Feb/02202003/thursday/31109.asp
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewLeisure.asp?Page=%5CLeisure%5Carchive%5C200302%5CLEI20030220a.html
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=7115758&BRD=2311&PAG=461&dept_id=482260&rfi=6
http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/news/stories/20030220/localnews/1024204.html
http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/news/stories/20030220/opinion/1026395.html
...

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 12:12:49 ET
Posted by: Moonflower,

Happy Birthday Walter!!!!!!!!

'flower

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 12:09:41 ET
Posted by: Your Embellished Birthday Horoscope by Joyce Jilson (the live one) & Sydney Omarr (the dead one), Warning: Manufactured in facility that processes nuts, may contain embellishments appended to the original readings.

Joyce Jilson (The Live One) says:
IF FEB. 20 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Abundant riches are more than money can buy this year—but you'll manage to make some impressive purchases along the way, Your Gearslutness. Romantic and sensitive, you have a lot of love to give and receive through the spring. A new diet or health program could give you a natural makeover in April. Best signs for love are Gemini and Libra. Your lucky numbers this year are 13, 24, 22, 34 and 1. New project comes to public light in May. It is received with gusto and acclaim. Ignore naysayers.

Sydney Omarr (The Dead One) says:
IF FEB. 20 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: You are emotional and can be moody, but you are always alert to meet a crisis. You are sensitive, creative and loyal. However, at times you choose the wrong person, and this results in emotional bruise. Capricorn, Cancer natives play major roles in your life. They could have the letters B, K or T in their names. Social activities accelerate during March. August will be most creative, romantic and profitable month. June through December will be perfect for regular travel activities in support of newly completed creative endeavor. You will be greeted with much applause and many ovations. Bask in the limelight! You DESERVE IT!

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 11:05:53 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag & The Greater Dandom,

Happy Birthday Walter!

It's a Pineapple / Coconut cake from Maui. Consume with Zombie in a cocoa shell.

******
|||||
*********
*~~~~~~~*
* *
*****************
* *
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
* *

*****************
-------------------------------

Mark in Boston,
& Danfans everywhere

Date: Thurs, February 20, 2003, 00:49:11 ET
Posted by: Duncan,

Another sculpted reception in the bag.

To anyone taping the piano jazz show on cassette.
There is an instrumental break of around 10 seconds on the show that will enable you to turn over the cassette.

They are timed at
16:42
27:48
45.00

Marion's comment on her sister-swapping boyfriend really tickled Walt. (Evil chuckle)
It would make a great Steely Dan song.

I'm wondering what happened to the shows outtakes.

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 23:58:33 ET
Posted by: suedave,

µ, thanks once again! I'm tuned in and ready to record in a few minutes. Also other osX users here are a few more to catch the show this way @ 128

http://wemu.org/ - Saturday 6pm ET? (Michigan)
http://wpsu.psu.edu/default1.html - Sat 8pm ET

The other thing that's fun about checking out all these various public radio stations is the chance to hear other great music too. The other day I tuned in on a great blues set.

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 19:45:08 ET
Posted by: Rich,

BTW: One place you can get "Audio Hijack" from is http://mac.swissonline.ch/preview/286194.html

Rich

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 19:36:30 ET
Posted by: Richard Wolfe,

Regarding capturing Piano Jazz on your Macs:

Someone from a Mac user group (called "The Rest of Us") recommended a shareware utility called "Audio Hijack." I think it is pretty cool.

Basically, it launches any application as a subtask and can capture that application's audio without the need to connect any cables. You can continue to listen to the audio while it's recording (unlike other solutions). This app makes it trivial to take an audio stream from RealOne or Windows Media Player and stick it into iTunes/iPods. It's he best sixteen bucks I've spent in the last month or so. :)

It's pretty darn cool!

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 19:35:57 ET
Posted by: µ,

Suedavid and other Mac OS X users as well as PC users: KCSM in San Mateo, CA will be broadcasting PianoJazz with Steely Dan TONIGHT Wednesday, Feburary 19 @ 9pm PST, 10 pm MST 11pm CST, 12am EST:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kcsm/arts.artsmain?action=viewArticle&pid=160&sid=10&id=417575
choose from iTunes, RealPlayer WMP, etc.

LISTEN is on the upper left side

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 18:18:50 ET
Posted by: Michelle, NJ

Hi Snowbunnies!

Somone was telling me that Steely Dan played one or two private, corporate shows during the 2000 tour. Is this correct? Have they ever performed such a show?

Mich
"Let's sleep in today."

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 18:05:30 ET
Posted by: Per-Gunnar Eriksson, Slightly south of the North Pole

Boston Rag/Mark:

Thanks for the info on WAER! Wading through these sites and signals I missed that one. Will be great to hear "Piano Jazz" in as good a quality as possible!

That being said if you like Steely Dan the show is worth catching whatever signal you get. And if you happen to miss 'em all there will still be ways to catch Marian & the boys :-)

P-G E

P.S. Yes; the first part of my e-mail adress contains a no and a spam that should be removed to mail me directly.

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 16:30:47 ET
Posted by: duncan,

I'm planning to catch tonights KCSM broadcast @ 9.00pm US (5.00amUK)
It's at an acceptable 64kbph.

Much better that my last too copies 20/32kbph.

Sorry to say my little computer can't handle the WAER stream though.

Really i'm just killing time till the weekend till WUCF is on 126kbph.

It will be nice to listen to the difference when all the votes are in.


would it be legal to re-broadcast the programme ?


db

having an early night !!!!

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 13:59:48 ET
Posted by: sharkdeville, down in tampa

I'm fixing to listen to it online for the first time (can't wait!) in a couple minutes on:

http://www.wicn.org/

It will air again on this station on Sunday, 2/23 at 4pm Eastern Standard Time if you miss it today. It's on several other stations this week as well!

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 11:53:46 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Phillippe, others.

Don't worry! There's still another week to catch Piano Jazz.

Although the site indicates dates their appearance Feb 11, that actually means for two weeks beginning Feb 11. It will air at vairous times through next Tuesday, Feb 25.

There were a few stations I've caught on the 'net in the past week that plan to air the PJ with Steely Dan this upcoming week.

Here's one great bet:

Newark: WBGO-FM/88.3, http://www.wbgo.org Thursday, Feb 20 at 7 PM ET /NYC Time This is on Walter Becker's Birthday, BTW.

And then, as Boston Rag so kindly researched and confirmed, Syracuse: WAER-FM/88.3, Tuesday, Feb 25 at 7 PM ET /NYC Time . As BR points out below, this is apparently the highest quality stream of the show that will be out on the net.

Once again, AFTER the two week run is over, there will be some way here of helping others who can't get the show. But, please, no offers of bootlegs for trade or sale, etc. There's no way anyone should miss this. Thanks!

jim

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 11:51:54 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/USA

Steely-folk:

Irving Azoff has not managed Steely Dan at least since their 1981 dissolution; the current word/rumor is that Peter Asher may be handling their managerial duties (Becker and Fagen are hardly "told what to do" or "managed," so it's more of a business overseeing position in their case). Asher is best known as a producer of work by James Taylor (1977's 'JT' among others) and Linda Ronstadt; he was also half of the '60's folk duo Peter & Gordon, and is the brother of Jane Asher, once a fiancé to a Mr. Paul McCartney before Sir Paul met Linda Eastman. No word on whether Asher's role is official-

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 06:35:33 ET
Posted by: Philippe , Pau

Hello everybody, just coming back from holidays in Gaucho land ( south of Brazil ) where I drank some Cuervo gold mumbling incantations to the power of the Holly Dan , I find all those posts about the Piano jazz show . I missed it, anyone could make a copy for me, trading with other stuff is of course possible ?!
I must say I'm french as you may don't want to deal those days with a froggie !
Thanks anyway for your answers.
Philippe

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 03:46:02 ET
Posted by: Mathew Gregory, Chatsworth, Michigan

I'm not a fan of the Eagles but they had a quote about Azoff that I liked. "Irving may be satan, but he's OUR kind of satan."

Walter Becker commented in 11 Tracks of Whack words and music promo CD that Azoff was very patient and understanding with waiting for his album. There's also that story about how when Becker and Fagen decided not to tour for Aja, Azoff said it was cool. "The album is selling so well, I'm convinced you don't need to tour."

I guess these days, he manages Christine Aguilera. Doesn't even run a record company anymore. He was president of MCA Records when the first couple of 1980s rounds of SD CDs came out. Ironic, since the second round in the late 80s was screwed up.

There's a lot of people who hate Azoff too. Yet somehow, I think we Danfans can view him as a positive force in the Annals of Steely Dan.

Piano Jazz is great. It reminds me a lot of the days of the New York Rock and Soul Review. Those were very special days. Were there any radio shows, words and music CDs or TV appearances when New York Rock and Soul came out? I wonder if they will ever do a second tour like Rock and Soul.

Date: Wed, February 19, 2003, 02:54:58 ET
Posted by: Clas,

Azoff? They kicked his ass off.

Date: Tues, February 18, 2003, 17:13:34 ET
Posted by: ,

Azoff was their manager in at least from the late 70s to the time of "Gaucho." Azoff has not been their manager in years, although he was the head and half-owner of Giant Records in the 1990s through 2001 when he sold out to Warners. Giant Merchandising did handle shirts, etc. on the Rock and Soul and SD tours.

Craig Fruin of HK Management was Steely Dan's manager during the 1990s and through the 2000 tour. However, Fruin is no longer their manager. Azoff was quoted in Billboard when SD and Fruin stopped working together. It was something like Steely Dan has some very clear ideas of where they want their career to go, they are great and challenging to work with. Only Azoff said it with his usual sense of humor and attitude. He said something like "Steely Dan is managerless and in no need of a manager.

No official word on who their manager is right now, if anyone, but usually, most artists like SD would have one if they went on tour. Van Morrison is an exception to that rule. So are The Dead to some extent.

Date: Tues, February 18, 2003, 16:59:46 ET
Posted by: StAl, Seattle

Is Azoff still their manager? Thought I remember hearing about a split a few years back? It's all fuzzy anymore...

Date: Tues, February 18, 2003, 12:52:01 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, Snowbound at Work

Winston Cup racing and Steely Dan cover bands -who says those good old boys don't know good music.

We play both kinds of music here; Country and Western. (That's from the Blues Brothers if it sounds familar - I didn't make it up.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/5202754.htm

Date: Tues, February 18, 2003, 01:26:55 ET
Posted by: not so spooky, turn up the eagles

Google's summary is quoting from several different items on that cached page. The "azoff is setting up a schedule in 2003" text is from an item on that page about the Eagles

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 23:54:16 ET
Posted by: jk,

this from google. but you go to the link and it does not say this or elaborates. spooky.

1015 The FOX - FOX On The Road
... With New Album It looks like there will be a new Steely Dan album next year ... Manager
Irving Azoff is setting up an extensive itinerary for the group in 2003. ...
www.1015thefox.com/road.htm- 101k - Cached - Similar pages

jk

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 21:08:02 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Snowbound

P-GE - WAER in Syracuse, NY broadcasts at 353 Kbps! I thought the show was on tomorrow night 2/18 but it's being pre-empted for Syracuse basketball. It says on the WAER website that the Piano Jazz show with Steely Dan will air on 2/25 at 8:00PM ET. That's the broadcast and bit rate to capture!

Mark in Snowy Boston

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 20:37:32 ET
Posted by: Mr. LaPage, The Cafe D'Escargot

Piano Jazz was GREAT!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. D & W were nice, I agree. Chain Lightning was truly awesome.

Nice post from the New Musical Express from '76... I had heard that it was Paul Griffin doing the amazing piano work on Sign in Stranger. I guess it is official.

As far as piano work goes, I think it is Donald that seems to favor the right channel, and Marian the left. Could be wrong... does anyone else have a thought on it? The piano on Josie is clearly on the right, and one would think DF would start off on that one. Not sure if Marian plays on it... What is the consensus?

JL

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 18:25:14 ET
Posted by: Per-Gunnar Eriksson, Snowbound ... every winter

Funny how this Piano Jazz show seem to slip by while I try to catch it :-)

Caught the final 35 min on one day, the opening 25 the next ... Misssed all the hi quality streaming broadcasts so far and was finally able to record the WPSU 128 mp3 stream. That sounded better than expected once on a CD and played over a good set of speakers.

Howard, last night I finally did what you've done and have found that the listings at Piano Jazz's site isn't always correct. And the quality of the streaming differs greatly.

I've heard a 300+ RA stream with a constant crackling sound that took away the usefulness of it being good enough to beat the 128 mp3 in sound quality.

Also, this weekend I noticed a station broadcasting it in mono when the previous programming on that station had been all stereo!

And another station must've mixed up the right/left channels as Donald was to the left and Walter to the right ... the complete opposite to the other stations I've heard :-)

I'll see if I can catch a better broadcast this coming week/weekend. It's a great show and of course I'd like the best sounding copy I can get my mittens on. Eventually finding something like a FM direct to DAT recording or such, that will be better than any streamed offering caught over the Internet.

P-G E
Sweden

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 18:05:52 ET
Posted by: Michelle,

"Snowbound, let's sleep in today!"

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 18:02:28 ET
Posted by: Michelle, Princeton Junction, NJ

Hi EveryBody!

All the snow has a been a good excuse to stay home and be all snuggly! I'm looking forward to hearing Piano Jazz. I tried to catch it over the weekend but everything got screwed up.Whether Marion McPartland is old doesn't matter. She's a legend. She's one of the last living connections to all the jazz greats. SHE'S ONE OF THEM !!

That's a great list Howard. I think some of those stations already aired Piano Jazz. Or am I wrong? That's good news about The Nightfly, Jaco. How many DVD titles are there released? Anyone know? My father used to play A Love Supreme when I was little and I used to chant, "I love Ice Cream" over and over again instead of "A Love Supreme. "

Stay warm.

Mich

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 12:53:56 ET
Posted by: John,

What a comprehensive list, Howard!

Date: Mon, February 17, 2003, 07:31:37 ET
Posted by: Howard,

Caught most of Piano Jazz over the weekend. Interesting stuff. The "back to basics" version of Josie was especially good to hear.

For those in the UK (or Europe I guess), I put together a list of web sites that are broadcasting the show at "UK-friendly" times.
I've only covered the weekend slots, but there are a lot of these so this is usually your best bet. Folks in Europe may need to tweak the time by an hour or two as appropriate, if your time is not the same as UK time.
Thanks to Duncan for the "world clock" link (http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/search.html).

NB - you will have to check the individual sites to confirm the schedules for the Piano Jazz program. I found a few discrepancies over the weekend (sorry, haven't updated the list). Also, the sites vary as to what audio stream format they offer, and the connection quality/reliability etc. You'll need to try a few to find one that suits best. I hope this list gives you a head start - it's not an exhaustive list of all UK/Europe possibilities, but it has most of them.

Howard


FLORIDA
Orlando: WUCF-FM/89.9, Sundays at 11 AM
http://wucf.ucf.edu/
5 hours behind UK
Sundays, UK time 4 pm


WISCONSIN
Wausau: WXPR-FM/91.7, Sundays at 1 PM PT
http://www.wxpr.org/
6 hours behind UK
Sundays, UK time 7 pm


TEXAS
Texarkana: KTXK-FM/91.5, Saturdays at 3 PM
http://www.tc.cc.tx.us/ktxk/
6 hours behind UK
Saturdays, UK time 9 pm


PENNSYLVANIA
Mt. Pocono: WRTY-FM/91.1, Sundays at 1 AM ET
http://www.wrti.org
5 hours behind UK
Sundays, UK time 6 pm

Pittsburgh: WDUQ-FM/90.5, Saturdays at 1 PM ET
http://www.wduq.org/
5 hours behind UK
Saturdays, UK time 6 pm


OKLAHOMA
Ardmore: KCCU-FM/90.3, Saturdays at 1 PM CT
http://www.cameron.edu/admin/kccu/index.html
6 hours behind UK
Saturdays, UK time 7 pm


OHIO
Athens: WOUB-FM/91.3, Sundays at 1 AM
http://woub.org/radio/

Cambridge: WOUC-FM/89.1, Sundays at 1 AM
http://woub.org/radio/

Chillicothe: WOUH-FM/91.9, Sundays at 1 AM
http://woub.org/radio/

Ironton: WOUL-FM/89.1, Sundays at 1 AM
http://woub.org/radio/

Zanesville: WOUZ-FM/90.1, Sundays at 1 AM
http://woub.org/radio/

5 hours behind UK
Sundays, UK time 6 pm


MISSOURI
Cape Girardeau: KRCU-FM/90.9, Sundays at 12 PM CT
http://www4.semo.edu/krcu/

6 hours behind UK
Sundays, UK time 6 pm


MARYLAND
Princess Anne: WESM-FM/91.3, Sundays at 5 PM ET
http://www.umes.edu/wesm/

5 hours behind UK
Sundays, UK time 10 pm

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 23:51:42 ET
Posted by: oleander, how long do I have to wait

What a treat "Piano Jazz" was. Very formal, polite, but that didn't detract for me. Kind of like a Sunday visit to your favorite jazz-maven aunt. I'm used to& fond of Dave Van Ronk's version of Hesitation Blues"--didn't know the Armstrong version--I like Van Ronk's lyrics better. My take was more or less like Boston Rag's. Hope they'll make a copy available down the line. "Star Eyes"--yet another Parker perfection confection.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 21:56:10 ET
Posted by: Jaco, UK

Hey, just thought I would show that Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" is third most popular DVD-A on www.play.com after REM and the Eagles.

[Turn up the Eagles, the neighbours are listening]


I need a specific DVD-A player to get the enhanced sound of a DVD-A, correct?



Regards



Jaco

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 21:31:23 ET
Posted by: The Tavis Smiley Show, NPR

Radio interview with Ashley Kahn about his new book on the making of "A Love Supreme." From 1/2/03.

http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=899252

The show that was on some NPR stations was produced by WBGO in NJ so it might be on other stations later.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 19:10:48 ET
Posted by: ,

Cool, Duncan, Keith,

Coltrane / Love Supreme radio documentary is on http://www.wbez.org Just started a few minutes ago.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 17:27:20 ET
Posted by: Keith, Maryland

It's On Again right now! Hoooo BOY!

http://www.umes.edu/wesmlisten.html

Use Windows Media player.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 16:12:18 ET
Posted by: Duncan,

Preparation & Recording tips for ''Realplayer one''

Tips on recording Piano Jazz with Realplayer one

Preparation.
Prepare a folder to receive the broadcast file on your hardrive..IE ''Steely Dan Piano Jazz''
Familiarurize yourself with its location & if need be place links on your desktop to it.

Decide when is the most convenient time to record for you.
(Last night I got up at 2.00am to record WPSU and promptly fell asleep on the floor in front of the PC & fire)

plan a few days ahead by browsing the page listed below for certain days..IE wed/Fri
http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/listen_stations.html#alabama

click on edit / find on this page...Thur

Make a note on paper of the stations name / open them up & add them to your favourites
(new folder...radio dan)


within a few mins you should have a list of about 10-15 stations all playing the show on the day you have chosen to record.

open each station page & check for a ''listen online'' button somewhere.
those that do not have one delet from your fav's...sorry folks


open each radio station page & make a note of broadcast time...next to the name.

Adjust for time zone differences
check here
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/search.html


open each radio stations live stream in Realplayer & make a note of the KBPS
they should be between 16 -356kbps
(bigger = better)

if the kbps is high & you can hear it put a big red star next to it's name.



Preparing your computer.

without software

start/search/files named .tmp
(be careful here !!!! delete them)
start/settings /control panel/internet options
delete
cookies & delete history
start/search/files named/ cookies
delete all files found

run defrag
run scandisk (thorough)

with software optimise & speed disk.


the night before recording
dont stay up late or go out & get smashed !!!!

preparing realplayer one

click on
tools / preference / connection.
test connection.

set connection.


TURN OFF ANY SCREENSAVERS NOW


recording


PRACTICE,PRACTICE, PRACTICE

try recording a few mins of stream first.

call it sd001..I did

launch programe stream in realplayer
You should be hearing something by now !!!!

Go to tools / preferences / general
Specify download / recording folder IE ''piano-jazz Steely Dan''

Go to preferences ''CD''
Choose download media...mp3/wav/real audio ...choose bitrate.

With music streaming go to realplayer tools.
Click record from mic/line in.


‘‘Record’' window appears.


1, select source ''system mixer''
2, name clip
3, press record

Then go to ''adjust recording levels''

Tick stereo mix, close box.

after recording... try playing it back. can you here anything ?
yes continue
no scroll back



delete any unwanted files.
run defrag...again
restart computer & record.

If your unsure if the station is playing the steely dan show on the date provided, e-mail them.
there more than happy to let you know.

(hi Ken WUCF)

good luck

it will all be worth it ...Of that i can assure you.

(any computer malfunctions caused by following the above instructions are due in no part to the author of this message)

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 15:53:50 ET
Posted by: Dave,

Didn't they mention Steely Dan in another skit a couple of months ago?

Maybe one of the writers or actors is a fan and is trying to coax them on the show. If that's the case, they need a helluva lot better humor than that skit. I didn't laugh once. If anything, maybe it put them off.

The Marian McPartland show was great. Not bad moment. I'd love to have Marian as my bubbe.

Dave

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 15:52:39 ET
Posted by: Dave,

Didn't they mention Steely Dan in another skit a couple of months ago?

Maybe one of the writers or actors is a fan and is trying to coax them on the show. If that's the case, they need a helluva lot better humor than that skit. I didn't laugh once. If anything, maybe it put them off.

The Marian McPartland show was great. Not bad moment. I'd love to have Marian as my bubbe.

Dave

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 15:02:23 ET
Posted by: Larry, Jamesburg NJ

Maybe SNL is mentioning Steely Dan because they could be on the show in a short time?????? One can only hope. Larry

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 12:31:28 ET
Posted by: steelydoubt, not at work

i have noticed more sd in stores. a few months ago i heard YGTII in a mervens and last thursday i heard new frontier in the 99 cent storeand i heard green flower street in a taco bell. oh yeah and i heard deacon blues on the radio.
in the fall of 2001 i was in a wallgreens and heard chain lightning.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 12:24:52 ET
Posted by: avg, yep... those were the days

Mu - you may well have a point there. I gather the Steely Dan reference has to reach the collective unconscious at least a few weeks before a related Warner product hits the shelves. It's marketing foresight at work. Now, I'm not keeping score of these things but if NBC is not part of the Warner Empire, then it's ruthless competition. hmmm...

By the way, looking at that current ODP jpeg, ever noticed that Everything Must Go is written in the exact same shades of yellow and blue that we folks are familiar with in "Dandom"?
Don't know exactly what to make of that.

Host, what do we make of that?

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 12:07:29 ET
Posted by: µ,

avg: Don't you know it's just part of the stealth SD promo campaign for EMG along with more Dan pumped into grocery stores and malls?

I agree that SNL writing has been going down the tubes for years.

The distance between now and the original group, Eddie Murphy, the 1984 group (IMO perhaps the best writing) with Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Harry Shearer, Rich Hall, Christopher Guest and highlights from Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, the wickedly sarcastic Dennis Miller, and the underused Chris Rock group from the late 80s group grows great...

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 11:13:56 ET
Posted by: Peg (PJ, actually), Back room

It's been educational to read all the comments about the PJ show, but since I am among those who have been unable to hear it, it's also been a lesson in patience. I am awaiting my handout...like a dog at the table....

Didn't SNL just use Steely Dan in another skit/joke a couple months ago also? Wonder if they have a writer who is into them.

Loved that 1976 interview in the newsletter, Hoopsie. Can't wait to read all of the new interviews, etc., that will soon arrive in light of May 6th's release. Just think -- it's only about 2-and-a-half months from now. Yes!

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 09:21:51 ET
Posted by: maj©, Camden, NJ area

Piano Jazz in Philadelphia this AM 2/16 played a guitarist, forgot name. Does this mean they are two weeks behind, with next week being Phil Woods? I have emailed WRTI.ORG for clarification. Thanks.

PS. First post for me in ages. Looking forwards to seeing everyone again at the E-Center in Camden this summer. maj©

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 08:19:27 ET
Posted by: avg, funny haha

C'mon, people... let's not make more out of this than there really is.
When was the last time that show featured any decent comedy writing anyway?
It was back in the mid-80s, arguably, if you feel generous.
It's been downhill ever since.

"bin Laden puts out more tapes than Steely Dan". Get it?
Now I don't know about you but I am rolling on the floor laughing my ass off. Really, I'm spitting out my gold teeth and my hat just got a little flatter.
Really, how clever, eh?
For the ages, that one, I'm telling ya.

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 03:04:04 ET
Posted by: steelydoubt,

"you release more tapes then steely dan"

counting solo stuff and alive in america it really is 12

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 01:32:34 ET
Posted by: suedave,

Lee, µ, hoops: thanks for all your help! I'm at 10.2.4...StreamripperX is incredibly easy, can't wait to rip the SD show from a good source. I listened to it this afternoon on my local NPR station - I did a doubletake when Donald sung that song - Hesitation Blues - at first I thought someone else was singing! It was cool.

larry, casually, thanks for the tip on SNL, I'll see if I can stay up late enough to catch that first line.

Susan

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 00:09:13 ET
Posted by: Larry,

Just heard Steely Dan mentioned several times in a Saturday Night Live skit.Saddam On the phone with Osama complaining he makes more tapes than Steely Dan! They were mentioned a few times in the skit..Larry

Date: Sun, February 16, 2003, 00:01:19 ET
Posted by: Casually Watching SNL,

Was just just working on my computer with SNL on in the background, not really paying attention to this skit with Osama Bin Laden on the line with Sadam Hussein. All of a sudden these two start discussing Steely Dan!!! I didn't catch what the opening line about Steely Dan was, so I didn't understand the subsequent lines. The skit just ended with "Osama" asking an "assistant Al Quaeda"-type, "How many albums did Steely Dan make?" To which the assistant replied, "Including 'Best of' compilations?"

Anybody else catch this, especially the first line I had missed?

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 23:59:06 ET
Posted by: µ,

Lee, Denton, firemop: I don't know how I missed the PSU link - thought had scanned them all...but listening to the blues show - it's the best damn stream I've heard - rock solid - not a dropout in sight. First stream where one can surf on a modem and listen at the same time with no interruption in the signal...the WVIK site was only fair tonight - some of the dropouts were picked up ripping to MP3...Limbo Jazz was real nice -

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 22:13:12 ET
Posted by: Lee, Streamripperville

You are very welcome, Denton! I also got a perfect copy very easily. Really glad to help. Hopefully Streamripper will be develpoped to work with the other main formats. I have read that such a capability is in his to do list.

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 21:31:51 ET
Posted by: Denton, Davenport, Iowa

Yes, I also caught the PSU stream using Winamp and Streamripper. I
would like to thank Lee very much for the instructions on how to do this!
I don't know who you are Lee, but your advice worked great...THANKS!

I am also willing to help anyone out who couldn't get it, it is a 53.2 MB
Mp3 file. Firemop, you sound like you know more about compressing than me.
I have a website with 50MB capacity, but don't want to do anything to
get in trouble either!

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 21:15:58 ET
Posted by: Firemop, Clean Kitchen

The PSU stream was excellent, and I got the whole Piano Jazz thing very clean. I will probably compress the entire program into 4 files at 160k, and then edit out and save the individual music tracks sans commentary. I dont know that the legalities are for posting, but if John Law doesn't mind, I will figure out a way to share.

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 20:10:46 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, At Home

Well, I'm letting her rip. We'll see what I get. Connecting to PSU with the cable modem is a breeze. Wether I'm recording is another question. The show is great so far. Too bad I got 15 minutes of the Grand Old Opry first. Mary is asking to hear the early demos - I have about fice different version - should I send her one. D&W are playing Josie as I type. Anyway way to go Penn Stae with this great feed - Go Lions!!!!

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 19:12:32 ET
Posted by: Irv Mick,

Does anyone know where I can get the Subway Token from the Y2K Tour??

Thanks
Irv

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 17:55:58 ET
Posted by: µ - burning the brain dead,

Well, it's been a touch and go day in burn-land. The university server goes out an hour before Piano Jazz on KTXK in Texarkana, which streams iTune compatible, and daughter's b-ball practice...the c-geeks have no clue when and where. When the virtual sky parts about 5 of 3PM CST, it is announced that Marian's guest will be Phil Woods - they're 2 weeks behind, but after all this is a community college less than a mile from the Cousin Dupree state of Arkansas. No matter. Phil Woods will be great.

It takes a couple of minutes to set up StreamRipperX, but there are dropouts during "rebuffering" where the audio comes out. So I set it to burn onto the hard drive. ...so I mosey onto practice. Lo and behold when I get back, not only is the MP3 there on the drive, and to boot the "dropouts" heard real-time are filled in on the MP3!!! I had no idea that StreamripperX could contiue recording while rebuffering.

However, to my dismay, the last 20 minutes we lost. I forgot to turn off the screen saver (duh!), and when it kicked in - the University server thinks my computer is inactive, and cuts off the modem connection...but I know better tonight (saver is OFF) when the Rock Island Express (WVIK) hits a virtual airways at 9 PM CST. They also stream in an iTune-friendly way...

I can tell you that Marian has a few senior moments with Phil too - but she's classy - I just don't hear a lot of snobbery, just enthusiasm.

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 14:43:32 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Listened to the show. Was pretty cool. I wonder how many old-fogies tune in simply to hear that one song that McPartland does solo? Personally, I think she's an outstanding player, but might not be as up on jazz history as she lets on. Could partly be loss of memory, but she was in the prime of her life in the late 30's through the 60's. She should remember some of this stuff if it were her life. I don't fault her for her lack of knowledge when it came to the Steely Dan repertoire. I would however expect her to be a jazz expert, which it appears from some of the conversations was not there.

I would be interested if they released this, especially splitting the duo piano parts into separate channels to distinguish Fagen from McPartland. I thought it was especially interesting during the jazz covers to hear the band vamp some of those songs. Especially Becker. It would be very interesting to hear them cover a jazz tune on the new album, but history would make you think otherwise.

Earl

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 14:07:15 ET
Posted by: Duncan,

Anybody fancy a countdown clock for there PC.
I've set it to May 6th 2003
E-mail me at above addy & i'll send it your way.
db

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 13:51:31 ET
Posted by: , there you go again

"To the person..." who dared criticize the old... lady, yeah...

See? It's a habit of these people. They feign not to remember your name. It establishes this cool distance between them and the lesser known jiveasses or something. A very strange, if obvious, discursive strategy.
Well, "whoever" is the host here might benefit in considering that "avg" (three letters) is a recurring handle, much like "Mu", or "Hoops" for that matter and thus, there's really no reason to treat it any differently.
The only reason I could find that would explain how you would forget is that you're too lazy to scroll over your own gigantic posts. Btw, those things, albeit informative, are potential discussion killers, you know. So you might want to reconsider the practice in light of the newfound activity 'round these parts.
with all due respect,
yours (for now),
AVG

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 13:04:41 ET
Posted by: µ,

H: I have to agree. Marian McPartland is as senscent as anyone would want to be at 84, or at MY age for that matter. Donald was rightly impressed that she could play requests of songs she probably hasn't played in year. Her piano playing is remarkably smooth and stylized for any age. There's a wealth of stories and information that would have been gone from this earth, if she had not started Piano Jazz. Hopefully some engineer in South Carolina won't erase or lose the catalog of shows - certainly the historical record and the performing art are priceless.

It appears she DOES pick out the guests:

http://www.wusf.usf.edu/wusf-fm/programming/fmjazz_2.html

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 12:10:44 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Hey Duncan:
I would also love to hear your tips and tricks too as would everyone else, me thinks since I've been getting lots of Realplayer emails. If possible, could you just post your RealAudio tips and tricks to the Blue? It would be a real service to all of us. THANK YOU!

Following up to the person critical of McPartland not owning "Katy Lied" or knowing song titles. I was listening to my copy again today—a so-so 44 MHz version—and, if you're going to be really picky, she had to remember the correct name of "East St. Louis Toodle-OO." Now, clearly she's familiar with that one, even if she couldn't snap off the the title right away. Maybe it's age, maybe it's being awestruck to be around D + W, who knows. I DO KNOW it's incredible and unbelievable that she can play so many tunes and so incredibly well in her mid-80s. If ever reach that age, I would probably be senile, drooling and incontinent, to say nothing of performing music. She's simply amazing! Like I explained last fall, before I knew she had D + W on her show, I saw her here at this small club in Chicago and I had questions for her, knowing she was a Metal Leg subscriber. And then when she walked by, I was so awed by her, I was speechless. Andone other random thought: yes, it's like she's channelling Maggi McCoy.

My receptors feel so sculpted.

jim

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 03:53:05 ET
Posted by: Duncan,

Rob
I've tried to mail you but it bounced.

I've got some tips & tricks for realplayer for you.
addy above

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 00:46:57 ET
Posted by: h,

Good god! I'm having a DAT ATTACK!

All of a sudden, I think I need to run out and get a DAT RECORDER to capture Piano Jazz off of WBEZ this Sunday.

This too shall pass. I better call some support line LOL!

jim

Date: Sat, February 15, 2003, 00:41:10 ET
Posted by: Russ Mugnaini, Chicago metro

Can't wait for the new album!

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 23:43:52 ET
Posted by: h,

Boston:
That's great you were able to get it at such a high resolution.

µ, Rag, others:
Have you thought about how you are going to index the CD? I'm eager for suggestions. I'm hoping to get a decent CD together so that I can get a copy to those DanFans who won't have a chance to ever here this.

My feeling, now that I'm on my third listen, is that Marion is a bit flusterred being with these two. I'm sure she must be very familar since she was a subscriber to "Metal Leg" back ten years ago.

I think Donald sounds great on "Hesitation Blues." But you know, as an alternate, Walter could have been cool on the vox for that one as well.

It was funny going through the NME interview below. Obviously D + W probably have a few different ideas since then and have changed. But still, it's pretty interesting to read what they were thinking back then, about 27 years ago. One other thing: I scanned this article, but I sure don't get this writer's system of punctuation. It's sorta British but it's not. I scanned the photos that accompanied this article and I will have to get them up as well.

Paul, Herm:
YES! Definitely get the remasters! Paul is on the money.

Paige:
Good news about "The job."

jim

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 23:31:35 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag,

Hoops - yeah the WUOT broadcast was 172 Kbps so I'm real happy with the copy that I recorded! I recorded at 160 Kbps so it's almost CD quality.

Rob - Go to "Adjust Volume Levels" in the record box and make sure that the 'Stereo Mix' volume is all the way up. And also make sure that the Microphone volume is all the way down.


I thought Marian was really sweet and I thought the boys were well behaved and showed a lot of class and respect. It didn't bother me that she didn't know the SD catalog. It's just not her cup of tea.
She's 84 and you have to figure it wasn't her idea to have Donald and Walter on. Her homework was probably one listen to 2VN and it's obvious that Chris Potter and West of Hollywood is what she dug the most about it.

Mark in Boston

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 23:30:36 ET
Posted by: NME, June 12, 1976

New Musical Express
June 12, 1976

And now folks, stay tuned as Station WNME
brings you more of the best in leisure
entertainment with…

---

The Walter Becker
& Donald Fagen
Laugh In

---

Relax and enjoy the ride as these
fun-loving creators of STEELY DAN
display the wit and wisdom
which made them famous.
And now it's time to meet
your host, STEVE CLARKE

---

DONALD FAGEN and Walter Becker are in a flip mood.
Witness their verbal exchange regarding session musicians — "Some of them are very expensive," explains Donald, while Walter goes as far as, "Some of them are outrageously expensive", setting up his partner for, "Although we usually spare no expense."

Becker’s turn again: "Nothing's too good for us." Back to Fagen, "I mean, look at this sweater", and over to Walt, "Oh, you found a store with the cheap cashmere sweaters too?" before Donald winds up with, "No, this is my old sweater from the Army and Navy store."

And I thought we were talking about musicians.Producer Gary Katz is the fall-guy in this routine. For the majority of the time Becker and Fagen answer the questions by themselves, the stick-like Katz sitting in silence. When he does attempt to contribute anything to the conversation he is immediately told to shut up, the two composer-musicians swearing at him in mock-viciousness. He duly buttons his lip.

Steely Dan are back in town for the first time since their British tour three years ago, when a throat infection picked on Fagen, causing the entire band to make a hasty exit back to Los Angeles. Other than a handful of gigs in California shortly after the British series, Steely Dan have ceased to function as a live band, or come to that, any kind of band at all. True, there have been albums; "Katy Lied" released last year and "The Royal Scam" last month; but apart from Becker and Fagen and guitarist Denny Dias, Steely Dan, on record, have, become various configurations of session musicians playing the songs of Becker and Fagen

To an extent Becker and Fagen have rowed themselves out as musicians since the early days when the two New Yorkers would take on all bass and keyboard duties respectively, all in their bid for some kind of perfection.

There are, however, plans for Steely Dan to tour again in the relatively near future, next year in Britain and sometime before that in America, all depending on how fast they record their next two albums which will fulfill their contractual obligations with ABC. Right now they're one album behind and have two to complete by next January.

Walter puts the situation like this: "At one time we had no deadlines. We just had a number of albums to deliver. Our royalty rate was non-existent. This is true. At the time we were in England we had never gotten a statement which showed a plus. In other words, every penny that we had earned in record royalties was taken up by recording budgets — which were not inordinately large by any means — and by loans to buy amplifiers to keep us on the road, which was also something we weren't making any money out of.

"We re-negotiated that contract, so that instead of getting no record royalties, we'd get virtually no record royalties. And in return for that we'd get deadlines for albums. When we were working on this one we suddenly started getting this legal mail, harassment type mail from the record company, threatening to, do things to us if we didn't finish the album by a certain date."

Fagen spits out a couple of words which mean nothing to me. He's wearing shades, a sloppy sweater and jeans. His colleague, looking equally sharp and sporting an untrimmed beard, tells me that Donald was explaining some medieval torture devices. You see, Fagen is very much an amateur historian (apart from being a smart ass), and used this visit to Europe as an opportunity to visit the Napoleon museum in Monaco. Cursory glimpses at the song titles on the latest elpee also illustrate Fagen as historian -"Kid Charlemagne" and “The Caves Of Altamira".Regarding that next touring band, only Dias, apart from themselves, will remain from previous line-ups. Says Becker: "We've never gone out with the same band twice. It's always been different. So there's no reason to start duplicating ourselves now. Denny's got staying power vastly above that of most of his comrades."

Fagen: "He's willing to indulge us a little more than our old compatriots, although they certainly put up a good stand."

Both deny being difficult to work with, but Fagen does say they're single-minded. "If a musician likes a lot of freedom and he's not doing more or less what we want, Sometimes we can be constraining, but I don't think we're difficult. We're not mean.”
Becker puts it like this, "I would say average producers are more difficult to work with than either of us."

So how much ‘say’ does Dias have in the music, "Say?" questions Becker, almost incredulous. Fagen repeats the word too and continues, "Well, he says it when he plays. And that's about it. He's actually shown an amazing dedication to our vision, if you'll allow me to use that, for many years. Although he plays with outside groups quite a lot while we're writing or working on something else, he's always ready to play for us.

"All I can say about who will be in the next touring line-up is that it will probably include some of the people who have appeared on recent albums."

Elliot Randall? "Possibly," whines Fagen, not giving anything away. "I think the last aggregation we had was the most satisfying for both of us." Becker interrupts, continuing Fagen's sentence, "Whereas before that we had been pressured into going on the road with bands that we felt were less than adequate."

Obviously I should have gone into that one, but the smart-ass rapport between these two was still a little disconcerting. Besides, Becker was doing something very strange - he was pouring a can of Guinness into a glass which he'd just half filled with. Watneys Pale. I groan.

"Am I doing something gauche?" he asks.

Yes.

ANOTHER QUESTION. Why does it take you so long to work in the studio?

Becker's first in, "It doesn't take us that long to actually work in the studio but we do write all the songs which takes a while, and the last two albums that we've done we've run into technical trouble. When we were recording 'The Royal Scam' there was a lot of dead time waiting for studios to become free. We'd book a studio and it was no good, or we'd do some sessions that didn't pan out. We weren't quite happy with the results."

Fagen perks up, "Threw a lot of stuff away. We started out recording in New York and it turned out the equipment we were using wasn't compatible with the equipment in LA, so we had to order some new equipment. So we were basically sitting around writing some new songs waiting for the equipment to arrive so we could finish the album. The actual recording time is two or three months, but writing takes three or four months."

When you go into the studios do you always have the songs finished? Becker nods, "I remember one occasion when we were lacking a verse but that's about it."

Continuing with "The Royal Scam", Becker talks about the cover art-work.

"We had the title but we didn't have a cover so we went to see this photographer that we'd worked with before. We said we're in a kind of hurry cause we have deadlines, 'What do you have lying around the house?’ And he had a photograph of the painting that’s on the cover of the album. It’s a painting that’s hanging in a gallery somewhere in the San Fernando Valley."

Why that particular picture? Fagen answers, "It was lying around his house, but coiny dentally it did have rather a delightful relation to one of the tunes on the album." Becker chimes in, "Also it had a nice colour". Fagen finishes, "It looked vaguely purple — royal, regal."The song, of course, to which this picture had, a delightful relationship was the title cut, "The Royal Scam". So what's the song about? "About four and a half minutes," Becker answers lamely, before adding with some prompting from these quarters, "Puerto Rico and New York City both figure in ,the fabric of that lyric. You'll have to construe the rest for yourself cause," his voice becoming that of a TV quiz show host, "we don't want to ruin it for you. The mystery Is what 'makes it interesting, isn't it?"

Partly.

Fagen: "The exegis is for the critic to . . ."

Becker cuts him off, "If we were to tell you what that song meant we would be doing a dis-service to the song and we would always be lending credence to the notion that in order to enjoy the song you have to know exactly what it means, Or that it does mean exactly one thing. And it doesn't really. None of those things are true.”

"See, you can enjoy the song on so many levels," Fagen says. "People will be entertained if they can play with it themselves."

Scam itself means a confidence trick doesn't it? All three agree, Fagen going a little further, "Of course, the royal scam would mean a confidence trick on a grand, scale. That's about all I'd like to say about that song." Becker does it again, "’Cause that Puerto Rico nonsense that someone over here invented is . . . I don't know. I think it's gotten out of hand. And it's not really to the point as far as I'm concerned.

"I remember when Bob Dylan albums used to come out. What was that song? 'The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest'. That song was subject to endless scrutiny as to what sort of allegory it might be and who Frankie Lee was, Bob Dylan's mother and this and that. After a certain point totally obscured the piece of music itself in the minds of many people and I wouldn't want to encourage that kind of thing."

Fagen gets off to a slower start, "See, erhh, particularly cause that song does have a topical aspect and because of that I think it's dangerous to give specifics and it is an allegory and it is written in rather a Biblical argot. I can tell you that. The song does have rather a poetic way of expressing what we wanted to express. I'm very fond of that lyric. I wasn't totally satisfied with the way the actual track came out."

Becker does it yet again, "But that's a rare thing." Back to Fagen, “We're usually not satisfied with anything," he says lightly, "But I think all our lyrics are getting better and better - tighter. Just generally more charming and wonderful in every way."

Speaking personally, I didn't think the lyrics on "Katy Lied" were your best. Fagen disagrees, "I thought they were good, I just think that from 'Pretzel Logic' on all our lyrics have been superior to what we were doing before. More adult, if you will - not that that's such a good thing for rock 'n' roll music, but make of that what you want.

"'The Royal Scam' isn't the key song. It's regrettable that if you do name an album after one of the songs, which is something we don't do all the time, people take it for more than it is. We like each song to be listened to individually without relating to the whole album, although if you record a certain selection of songs the album will have a certain character. Generally, the cheese stands alone."

LET'S MOVE to another song - "Kid Charlemagne". "Gary'll tell you what that song is about,"says Fagen. Gary growls and mumbles a bit, but before coming up with the explanation, Fagen asks me what I think the song is about. A dealer, I tell him. Becker says I'm wrong but Katz is less into specifics, "You're in the right house," he says.

Becker: "We're talking about a man of science. A maker . . ."

Fagen: "An artist

Katz: "A chemist. A chef."

Becker gets more elaborate, "Someone who makes consciousness expanding substances of the most dramatic sensational type no longer in vogue.

"The actual nature of the drug isn't important," Fagen explains. "But you have the right idea." "We didn't have a particular guy in mind. There's no model for the song," adds Becker.

And it's Fagen's ball again, A think it's about the age, the late Sixties."

He doesn't hold it for long, cause Becker soon takes it again, "The reflections of this one particular type of person who finds himself transposed into a decade where he's no longer of any use."

"I think you can say it's about any displaced person from the Sixties," are Fagen's words. “You grew up at the same time we did. You're younger than us. I'm 28, Walter's 26. I think our songs are about people who exist all the time. Occasionally there is a reference to someone who actually exists but by and large the characters are fictitious."

You have been accused of being intentionally obscure ...

Becker answers, "It seems to us that people are intentionally dumb. A lot of our lyrics don't translate into other words. You can't put into simpler language because it might be that we evoked an image or used a word just for the sound of the word or use an image just to get a succession of images that don't make a literal flow of sense along the lines of a narrative even if they're part of a narrative. So I think when people say we're intentionally obscure a lot of our things don't ... You can't lay them out right."

Fagen: "You have to take the words and the music together. You can't make an exegis of the lyrics as if it was a poem or a novel, because put together with the music there is irony. I think probably in most of our songs we use a lot of devices that are common to literature and popular songs in gneral."

Becker chips in,. "Stand-up comedians." Fagen 'agrees.

Becker, "The fact of the matter is when we put together some of these songs we'll decide on a story that we lay out for ourselves as a framework to write a song about it. It may very well turn out that not much of that story actually makes its way into the song in a clearly identifiable form, so that story or concept we have is not essential to the song. Even in the simplest song, that no-one would accuse us of being obscure with, there may be things that we had in mind that were not evident.”

Fagen: "I think the important qualities come through. You can only do so much with a song. It's not a novel. And because we are probably more literary, we use more literary techniques."

Becker: "That's true. In many cases we're writing short story type plots into our songs." Fagen, "We can't put all the details in or we'd have a lousy or pretentious song. And we certainly don't want to do that."

Both of them have read a fair amount of science fiction, although Fagen now concentrates on non-fiction to a large extent.

When it comes to writing a song, the two of them assemble the words and music together though often it's Fagen who’ll start a song and Becker who finishes it. The way the two write together has remained remarkably the same over the years, although now it's a little more systemised. "Suffice to say that we do use a pentagram inscribed in a circle and a ouija board," Becker says dryly.

Aficionados will have noted that there's a strange composer credit on one song on the new album, "The Fez", to one Paul Griffin. It's Griffin who plays that excellent piano solo in "Sign In Stranger". The two of them explain how he came to receive a composer's credit: "He wrote the main theme," says Fagen.

Becker disagrees, "I wouldn't call it the main theme. He wrote a melody that is featured. At least he says he wrote it." Fagen, "We set up a riff and Paul started noodling around with a little moody so we developed that."

So that was written in the studio? "No," replies Becker, "But there is an instrumental melody which Paul started playing in the session and when we decided to build that melody up to a greater position, since we had some suspicion that perhaps this melody wasn't entirely Paul's invention we'd decided we'd give him composer credit in case later on some sort of scandal developed, he would take the brunt ,of the impact."

Fagen's own musical contribution as a keyboard-man has dropped considerably since the beginnings of Steely Dan, and apart from a short piece on "The Royal Scam" itself doesn't play one solo on the record, playing rhythm when he does appear. Although there are apparently several cuts where either Becker or Fagen play, there's only one, "Don't Take Me Alive", where neither one plays. Do they think a situation will arise where they don't play on the albums at all?

Becker's reply is terse, "We wouldn't exclude it," while Fagen goes on to define what he thinks they're about, "If we ever received an award for something we'd like to receive it for songwriting. At least we'd rather be recognised for that than, our musicianship although we both feel we have interesting styles as musicians."

Steely Dan are very much a Seventies' act. It's very unlikely that you'd have pop albums recorded with such high standards of musicianship and production techniques in the Sixties and impossible for some of the lyrics to have come from any other decade.

"Don't Take Me Alive" is very much a song of these troubled times, as they explain: "In Los Angeles and through the world in general, terrorism is a way of life actually for a lot of people," says Fagen. "The song was inspired by a run of news items in Los Angeles where people would barricade themselves inside an apartment house or a saloon with an arsenal of weapons. It's about individual madness rather than political situations."

They feel little affinity with anything else that is going on in rock right now and rightly say there's no direction and every-body's floundering. Fagen's heard one particular record he's liked a lot since he's been over here, though, " 'Single Bed' is probably one of the finer pieces of music I've heard in the least couple of years." Becker agrees - or at least says he does, "It's an important contemporary composition. That's what we think of rock in the Seventies."

Fagen's a little more serious, "We enjoy the Eagles. We like Phoebe Snow. Van Morrison writes interesting songs."

Fagen, "Something may come out of the Seventies.

Either it's a transition or a demise. We didn't fit into the Sixties too great. The gig we had before this one was Jay and The Americans back-up band. We'd like to think we're original. Certainly there's influences.”

Becker: "Since we've arrived here we've been compared several times to a group called 10 CC." That's ludicrous. They agree. "The last time we were here we were being compared to the Doobie Brothers," Becker adds.

But 10 CC. are very cynical, you're not. Becker's pleased, "God bless you for that cause everybody else thinks we are.

Fagen, "Everybody else seems to think we're rabid with cynicism. I think we're pretty realistic."

Right.

So where does your musical affinity rest?

Becker, "Mostly dead people."

Fagen, "I think you're better off asking who we listen to."

Mike McDonald (former Dan keyboard player and now livening up the Doobies) told me one of you wished you were Char-lie Parker while the other longed to be Duke Ellington?

"That's essentially true," Becker replies. "Although I'm sure that he would just as soon be Charlie Parker-and I would just as soon be the Duke.
We'd have a hell of a team, let me tell you that. We'd have a great band."

Everybody laughs.

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 22:04:11 ET
Posted by: µ,

h: yeah, not bad sound for Real Audio - the real one audio for System X is an improvement...this show should have been called "Old School Piano Blues"

"I think every version Charlie Parker did is the definitive version"

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 21:30:19 ET
Posted by: h,

Many PC mixers have "Wave Out Mix"

Try only that one if you have it.

Listening again right now on http://www.wuot.org/ in Knoxville.

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 21:03:24 ET
Posted by: Rob ,

By Hearing it fine but getting nothing means when I play real player I hear the broadcast as it happens but then when I go back to play what I recorded, I get a track the same length that is no sound at all. Thank you.

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 21:02:09 ET
Posted by: Rob,

OK. Been using Real Player with Super Pass Trial like Boston Rag on my PC. I hear it fine but I am getting nothing. Could someone do a step by step process ON A PC? Can't wait for the show, but have resigned myself to the fact I probably am going to miss out on recording it. Why does this have to be so hard?

For the Recording Control Sound Mixer how shall I have that set?

For record from Mic/Line In I have it set to "System Mixer"

What should these settings be. I get like minutes of no sound.

Thank you.

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 17:00:06 ET
Posted by: Paul M., Toronto

Looking forward to catching Piano Jazz this weekend. Will use WinAmp to grab it. Let's hope there is an official release some day.

Saw this one about the remasters:

>
> Hey All,
>
> Has anyone ever noticed any significant differences between
> the remastered SD catalog and the original issues on CD?
> I've been seeing them around at very cheap prices,
> but I hesitate to make the purchase if the sound quality isn't
> that much of an upgrade.
>
> Any input would be grateful.
>
> Later,
>
> Herm
>

There is a noticeable difference in them all, but especially Can't Buy a Thrill and The Royal Scam. Plus, there are upgraded liner notes from Becker and Fagen which are kinda cute.

Paul

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 14:01:25 ET
Posted by: Bill , The Great Beyond

Looking forward to the Mcpartland Jazz thing.
I understand they're gonna sound a bit like Hendrix on the show.
Although I could be wrong...

Bill - Hypothetical Spectre of the Dan world.

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 12:57:51 ET
Posted by: avg, sooo unique an angle

Big Kitty - You could certainly pick up in McPartland's attitude that same snobbish distance that makes a lot of jazzheads downright insufferable. It was there in the constant misspelling of their songs and the feigned ignorance of their work.
But we should remain tolerant of our senior citizens, I guess.
She certainly knows her jazz, despite her obvious lack of talent as an interviewer.
And Donald Fagen's singing was superb on that song. Some people will utter any nonsense just in order to differ.
Bah...

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 12:15:54 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Come here Watson, I need you!

Thanks Mu. I figured it out. Even though I selected Stereo Mix and unchecked the microphone box, you still need to turn down the volume level on the microphone to zero. If you don't, you will be recording from two sources, the radio stream and the microphone.

Mark in Boston

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 12:05:23 ET
Posted by: Bright Lights, Big Kitty, -

I can never get enough Steely Dan, but I thought the show disappointed in several respects. I know Marian McPartland is about 84 years old, but did I get it right that she didn't know the album Katy Lied? Donald's singing was anemic on Hesitation Blues, in the same way it was anemic on Bright Lights, Big City. He sounds like a yuppie New Yorker trying to sing the blues. Fagen's voice was off key in the beginning of Chain Lightning. As far as radio appearances go, it wasn't McPartland's nor Steely Dan's best, but I thought Black Friday and Josie were HOT!!!!

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 11:47:17 ET
Posted by: µ, Tejas

Mark: sounds like you're recording with the "internal mic" and thus in mono as hoops mentioned before...I think Real Crappy Audio can be converted to an MP3, which would be in stereo, but frankly I haven't tried that yet.


Talk about sculpted! Last night I had a dream. Marianne McPartland was talking me through the selection of a fan motor in an auto parts store over the loudspeaker! Any interprations, Freudian or not, would be much appreciated...

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 11:25:54 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Real Audio

OK - I have a question about Real Crappy Audio. When I listen to a radio stream, it sounds pretty good (even though it's coming from my laptop speakers). When I record the stream and playback it sounds like it's recorded inside a tin can. I've set prefs to Stereo Mix and my Line In is System Mix. I even switched to just Line In. One thing I noticed is that my microphone is open during recording (even though I have the microphone box unchecked). So if I were to cough, it would get picked up. Is it possible to just go directly into an Mp3 file with Real Crappy Audio?

Thanks!

Mark in Boston

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 10:06:05 ET
Posted by: Paige, Bakersfield via Santa Barbara

Pretty sure I got the job.

-Paige

Date: Fri, February 14, 2003, 01:02:36 ET
Posted by: suedave,

µ, hoopsie: I'm up to 9.2.1 (started really late last night). Off to finish the job, should be a snap :)

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 22:41:47 ET
Posted by: µ - got provisions and lots of beer,

WOI streaming was scrumptious...Hesitation Blues, Chain Lightning, and Black Friday were all just Charles Brown solid foundation with a twist stuff... Marianne McPartland can whip out a memory or a song she hasn't played in 20 years just like that. She loves hearing the blues a different way. Her playing is reminds me of a storyteller or writer...an interesting conversation that leads somewhere. Donald's voice sounded very good...

j: While bottled water, duct tape, plastic sheets are found in every home in Israel...a gratuitous comment over here - where is that dugout, the one with a twist of Tuesday Weld?

Gerswhin, Eillington, Donald, and Walter sculpted on the musical Mt. Rushmore..

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 21:54:36 ET
Posted by: steelydoubt, northern santa barbara county

well i just got the news that i can not stay home and record piano jazz tomorrow so i am gonng take my am/fm walkman and my md recorder to school and set it up to record in my locker i just hope it works because my reception is bad enough as it is and walkmans don't get very good reception. any suggestions?

(this just shows how determined i am)

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 21:07:07 ET
Posted by: avg, may can't come too quickly

Well, you guys were good at not giving away too much, so I'll do the same. I'll just echo the sentiment about Donald's vocal on Hesitation Blues, it is still there, very nice.
And now I get the "receptors being sculpted" remark.

And dennis - what bridge are we talking about exactly?

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 21:01:34 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Thanks Avg.

Caught it from right before the first song. Hopefully I won't spoil it but a few teasers and a couple of comments.

- Edna St. Vincent Millay
- WB & DF are Poets
- Chris Potter WOH
- Gaslighting Annie (as someone mentioned earlier)
- Duke
-.Louis
- MAC-partland, 1945

Marian:
"'Chain Lightning' is another way of doing the blues…So many ways of doing the blues, it's nice to hear another one."

Steely Dan may never be on MTV Unplugged, but this was really stripped down—perhaps this is the closest we will get.

Highlights for me were "Chain Lightning" with acoustic bass solo, and "Black Friday."

I hope this is enough to heighten the excitement without giving too much away.

h

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 20:03:56 ET
Posted by: avg, on right now

Gawd luvs Iowa:

http://www.woi.org/stream/woi-fm.ram

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 15:56:18 ET
Posted by: Theolonious, Mondo, Montana

Well the reviews are in...

Proud to hear that my "receptors have been sculpted" properly.

What an incredible treat to hear Donald and Walter in such an intimate and raw format. I'm so used to the "big" production versions of their art. It's a real delight to savor the raw essence of their incredible talent in the setting of an intelligent conversation with a musical peer.

Marianne is a true jazz legend in her own right, and I got the feeling that they wanted to interview her just to hear the old stories.

Fantastic song choices. Loved Donald's vocal on Hesitation Blues (must obtain digital version).

I can hear Marianne now... "and such nice boys too".

Well, back to lurk mode.

Just tell me where annd when, I'll be there!







Great stuff!

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 15:25:52 ET
Posted by: dennis, chicago

Come on Earl. Lighten up. I was just trying to make a point that some of the world's best musician's use or used drugs. Sure, they died early and their careers went down the tubes but they wrote some great shit before that! Hahaha. You made it sound like the Grateful Dead were the only band on the planet doing it. You also said and I quote:

"Did Steely Dan ever encourage a sizable group of people to follow them on tour and throw away their lives with drugs and communal living?"

No, they just write songs about drugs and booze, incest, adultery, child molestation etc. Get wise Earl, go to church.

Dead fans were doing a lot of drugs but I still think they were capable of making that decision for themselves, don't you? The Dead weren't hypnotizing people and making them follow the band. (It was the trippy jams, dude)

If Donald Fagen told you to jump off a bridge would you do it? Would you?

Just so you know I'm not a Dead fan either but that Phil Lesh and Friends disc is pretty good.

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 15:06:29 ET
Posted by: Theolonious, Mondo, Montana

Its on!

Joy and rapture!

(Insert sound Homer Simpson makes when he sees a doughnut here)

Life is good..

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 12:39:20 ET
Posted by: Theolonious, Mondo, Montana

Greetings all:

Piano Jazz airs here in Montana at 1:05 PM MST on KUFM. KUFM is a vtal resource out here in the sticks and you hear it everyywhere you go. I've plannned my day around the show and I'm "so excited I can barely cope".

What a bright ray of sunshine these guys bring to a bleak and psychotic media landscape. For ""those of my kind", we are doubly blessed as Hunter Thompson just released his latest "memoir" Kingdom of Fear.

Add my vote for a Gorge show this year please.

Peace is patriotic!

Ciao

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 11:15:37 ET
Posted by: j,

I tried posting this to the yellow like 20 times. It kept insisting that certain fields needed to be filled in even though they were. Maybe I have been banned. So here it is on the blue.

Bascially, I wanted to say how much I appreciate the sarcasm behind "New Frontier" It's so relavent to today. I don't understand all this business about stocking up on duct tape and plastic to seal up a room the house in case of chemical or biological attack. I mean, wasn't it just a few years ago we were told we would die of Carbon Monoxide poisoning if we sealed our houses too well? Shouldn't we buy plants too so we have oxygen? I think this is all a bunch of propaganda. "We got duct tape and lots of beer." Fagen nails it for 1962, like Anne points out, as well as for 2003.

That's all I wanted to say.

j

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 05:56:28 ET
Posted by: ANNE SULLIVAN,

PIANO JAZZ WAS INCREDIBLE! IT WAS SO EXCITING, I FELT TEARS OF JOY WHILE I WAS LISTENING TO DONALD AND WALTER. ONLY CAUGHT THE SECOND HALF OR SO. IF ONLY OUR WORLD LEADERS WOULD LISTEN TO THIS SHOW, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE FACING A POTENTIAL NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST. :-) WITH THE COLUMBIA DISASTER AND THE NUCLEAR FEARS, IT'S LIKE 1962 ALL OVER AGAIN. IT'S LIKE THE NIGHTFLY DVD RERELEASED BUT IN OUR TIME.

THANK YOU WALTER AND DONALD! I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEW RECORD AND NEXT TOUR!!!!!!

LOVE,

ANNE

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 05:02:27 ET
Posted by: db,

How we fill our time !!
I’m back at work listening to piano Jazz almost..
I got so excited I forgot to press tick for stereo mix so missed recording the first 5 mins.

Still there’s others

Kinda like a meeting of Altzheimers anonymous

‘’gaslighting annie’’
‘’west hollywood’’

Dum-Cha Dum-Cha…go the drums

Keith Carlock drums
Jay Leonhart bass
Walter Becker guitar
Donald Fagen piano

FANTASTIC !!!

Date: Thurs, February 13, 2003, 00:32:54 ET
Posted by: duncan,

piano jazz 23 mins away & I also heard the trailer... i'm wetting myself now.


''Ladies Gentlemen & Children''
No Standing in the cars, Please fasten your seatbelts.



ohhhhhhhh


http://www.kpbx.org/programs/pianojazz.htm

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 22:32:30 ET
Posted by: moray eel, heaven

Just heard the promo for Piano Jazz. Clearly, Fagen's voice is back in top form again. Damn, that sounded good.

m.e.

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 19:45:39 ET
Posted by: Samantha Williams, USA

Great site, thank you for sharing it. ;Samantha Williams</a>

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 16:09:33 ET
Posted by: father william,

Sean - 1.5 mbs cable modem

I've checked out many of the listed possible sources, many seem to be OK or very good, at least until they get loaded with too many of us. KUVO in Denver ( FM broadcast) has it listed for Wednesday, Feb. and I can record it from my Hauppauge TV/FM PC tuner board, unless I need to be away which I just found out is very possible - good news, bad news. Following instructions posted on this board earlier, I can also rip from Winamp so I'm hoping to find it there.

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 15:56:37 ET
Posted by: DJ, Chicago

Trying to make some sense out of that paragraph containing Slash, X-mas and Steely Dan. Is anyone else concerned about the album being "humorous"? I mean I love the when boys' take on subtle, black humor as in 'Haitian Divorce' and for the newer stuff 'Gaslighting Abbie' but a whole album of 'Cousin Dupree' may be a bit much. Not to say this is what they will do. But I was thinking how much I like when they display the gritty edge they have ex: 'Royal Scam', 'Fire in the Hole', 'Monkey in your Soul' and even on some of the new stuff 'West of Hollywood' they make you think about a random series of topics intended or not by creating this mood. 'Cousin' gets pretty one dimensional after awhile albeit still funny but in a harmless way that sometimes undermines how good they really are at creating scary, dark alley type music.

jes' ramblin',
DJ

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 12:58:57 ET
Posted by: Sean, Quincy MA

Hey everyone.

Still looks like a week before I get to hear Piano Jazz on the Radio.

What speed connection were you using, Father William?

Sean

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 12:47:05 ET
Posted by: father william,

WJAB had a several weeks older Piano Jazz one hour later than the posted time. Auidio quality was extremely poor with frequent droup-outs.

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 11:06:34 ET
Posted by: h,

WJAB in Alabama seems to have "The Tavis Smiley Show" on instead of PJ as listed at pianojazz.org. Oh well, guess later on there's another chance.

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 11:04:28 ET
Posted by: Nigel, UK

Re: my previous post offering to swap concerts for Piano Jazz shoe

Sorry I didn't realaise some sort of tree deal was being sorted out. Dont want to rock the boat so my offer is off.

Would still like the Piano Jazz show though as we cant get it in the UK

Please advise

N

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 10:39:48 ET
Posted by: h,

SueDave:
Writing at the same time. Yes, I have 9.2.2 as well on my blue & white G3.

Happy recording!

jim

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 10:37:32 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

This "Piano Jazz" show has got me all excited! Yes, my nipples are hard in anticipation, haven't said that in a long time.

Again, yeah, as far as I'm concerned, it's fine to go and help a Dan friend who won't be able to hear it and record it for them. It would be cruel not to, methinks. But don't be stupid--don't be out on the BlueBook swapping bootleg SD recordings for the show or selling copies of the "Piano Jazz" show.

Won't that be great if they come out with an official PJ release of this show? Wonder if it will have to wait for SD's contract with Warner's to end…

Sue Dave:
I think you can do all you want to do with Mac OS 9.x .It's worked for me. But, as pointed out, maybe it will be more reliable and less hassle to go from a good receiver to your audio in, assuming you have a Mac with the Stereo-in port.

Thanks for all the tips, µ, Avg, Andy, db, everyone.

jim

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 10:28:07 ET
Posted by: suedave,

µ my man, thanks. I'm back in the dark ages of eek 9.04 - so from a quick look at the apple site I upgrade to 9.1 then 9.2 and then take the jaguar cd out of its beautiful box and voila! I'll try that tonight, I've been putting it off for a long time now.

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 08:19:57 ET
Posted by: Ohh &,

this is my working list of the best receptions so far..

DATE STATION U.S. BROADCAST TIME
WED 12TH KPBX 10.00-11.00PM
SAT 15TH DUQ 2.00-3.00PM
SAT 15TH WPSU 8.00-9.00PM
SUN 16TH WUCF 11.00-12.00AM
WDE 19TH KUVO 6.00-7.00PM
THURS 20TH WBGO 7.00-8.00PM
FRI 21ST WUCF 10.00-11.00PM
SAT 22ND WBFO 8.00-9.00PM

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 08:17:57 ET
Posted by: db,

ref: avg


http://www.aamu.edu/wjab/

Your right though, I have no idea if it's ''the steely show''

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 08:08:51 ET
Posted by: Lars,

Anybody heard from Denny Dias lately? I read that he had some new material in 1999 but haven't seen anything on the market.

L

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 07:33:14 ET
Posted by: avg, duncan, duncan...

You know what happened to people who tried to make me look bad?
Neither do I.

But seriously.
1) Where's the stream?
2) What timezone is Alabama in yet?
#) Is it the Dan show? Doesn't say.

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 06:35:48 ET
Posted by: db,

If you can't wait that long
WJAB 10.00am this morning (GMT-6)

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 05:56:29 ET
Posted by: avg, red eye flight

If you listen, you can hear it... sort of... at 10PM Pacific, tonight:
http://www.kpbx.org/programs/pianojazz.htm

That's 1AM Eastern on Thursday morning, yeah...

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 02:26:36 ET
Posted by: db,

The best quality I've found so far for piano jazz
http://www.waer.org/webcast.html

a staggering 353kbps !!!!


I should get my first listen today courtesy of WJAB

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 01:44:55 ET
Posted by: µ,

suedavid: Get OS 10.2 (Jaguar), which usually runs as a bundle with OS 9.2, which you should have on your machine, or can update on the Apple site if you are running say OS 8.6. If 10.2 can't read the program, 9.2 will - as a cute little picture in picture window opens up when 9.2 boots up. I upgraded to 10.2 (that I pre-ordered as a package deal) about 3 hours after installing my new eMac and fiddling around with 10.1 (which runs like a beta version)...

Date: Wed, February 12, 2003, 00:40:43 ET
Posted by: suedave,

Hi all,

Can any of you tell me...if I upgrade to MacOS X tomorrow, will I still be able to run the microsoft office suite and more importantly Dreamweaver/Fireworks 4.0 as is or will I need to upgrade them? OS X seems like the only reasonable way to capture that stream.

Thanks for sending that link Andy, I missed the timing by a long shot but they are playing great music anyways, some nice blues.

Susan

Date: Tues, February 11, 2003, 21:18:56 ET
Posted by: Andy, The aforementioned site

http://www.lcc.edu/wlnz/index.htm

Date: Tues, February 11, 2003, 21:11:20 ET
Posted by: Andy, DC

Piano jazz on right now in Lansing, MI. Here's the site-- click on "listen live." It's a poor quality Live 365 feed, but what can you do--it's the first net broadcast as far as I know

Date: Tues, February 11, 2003, 15:59:52 ET
Posted by: duncan,

anybody outside the US wishing to record Piano Jazz might find this page helpfull

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/search.html

sooon !!!

Date: Tues, February 11, 2003, 10:10:08 ET
Posted by: µ, it's even better

Slash, Christmas, jazz, Steely Dan, Eliott Scheiner, and Alan Parsons

Date: Tues, February 11, 2003, 10:07:25 ET
Posted by: µ,

avg: Talk about comedy - the paragraph that snippet comes from is one of the most tortuous, stream of consciousness, non-construction I've read in ages!! The questions du jour is which of the following recreational pharmaceuticals was the author on when writing this Hall of Mirrors paragraph: heroin, LSD, angel dust, qualuudes, pot, cocaine, or some combination?

"Slash also appears on a yet-to-be-released Christmas album, along with fellow rock guitar gods Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and more, on Bop City Records, a new jazz label co-founded by producer/engineer Elliott Scheiner. A regular at AES, Scheiner is looking to be involved in a genre for which he feels a lot of affection. "Jazz is something that’s in serious danger right now, and I’m really glad to be able to take part in restoring it," he said. "We all love listening to jazz music, we grew up with it, there are still a ton of great jazz musicians out there, and this is a great chance to give back to the music that we all love so much." In other news, while it comes as no surprise that he is in the process of putting together the next Steely Dan album, Scheiner said this one figures to take on a somewhat different personality than previous records. "It’s all on analog, so it’s going to be a much more intimate feel," Scheiner said. "It’s also going to be a little more humorous, I think a lot of it is very funny. People are going to be surprised." Another familiar face at AES, Alan Parsons, is putting the pieces in place for a new solo album, which he plans on releasing early next year—although he’s not about to give away all the details. "I like to keep it quiet until the last minute," he said. "Things that have a veil of secrecy always seem to be more effective than telling the whole world what it is ahead of time. But it will be a very different approach, pretty electronic. We’ll be working with a lot of new people I’ve never worked with before."

One thiing is for certain. There will never, ever again in the history of pulp commentary be a paragraph which contains ALL the following references: Slash, jazz, Steely Dan, Eliott Scheiner, and Alan Parsons

Date: Tues, February 11, 2003, 00:34:20 ET
Posted by: steelydoubt, sabta barbara county

well i was looking on the digest and saw thet someone suggested recording piano jazz on minidisc and thats just what im gonna do. i looked for npr stations here in northern santa barbara county and found only one i could pick up well and it was 90.1 kcbx. they say its gonna be on at 11am on friday so i hope i dont screw up and not get it.

Date: Mon, February 10, 2003, 18:02:41 ET
Posted by: Michelle, NJ

Hi everyone!

It's so cool that Piano Jazz has a whole story on our beloved Donald and Walter!

Spoiling the set list, * Limbo Jazz (D. Ellington)
* Josie (Fagen/Becker)
* Mood Indigo (D. Ellington)
* Star Eyes (De Paul/Raye)
* Hesitation Blues (WC Handy)
* Things Ain't the Way They Used to Be (M. Ellington)
* Chain Lightning (Fagen/Becker)
* Black Friday (Fagen/Becker)

ANY IDEA WHICH STATION WILL AIR THIS FIRST ON THE RADIO AND THE INTERNET? I CAN'T WAIT!

Mich

Date: Mon, February 10, 2003, 17:54:06 ET
Posted by: avg, faster pussycat

Browse the piano jazz web feature on Steely Dan before they even link to it on the site. Heck, before they even pick a picture for it:

http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/previousguests/winter2003/steelydan.html

Date: Mon, February 10, 2003, 14:43:16 ET
Posted by: avg, roflmao already

http://www.prosoundnews.com/stories/2002/october/1007.5.shtml

"In other news, while it comes as no surprise that he is in the process of putting together the next Steely Dan album, Scheiner said this one figures to take on a somewhat different personality than previous records. "It’s all on analog, so it’s going to be a much more intimate feel," Scheiner said. "It’s also going to be a little more humorous, I think a lot of it is very funny. People are going to be surprised."

Date: Mon, February 10, 2003, 08:35:43 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Dennis: So, the logical followup is the only way to be a brilliant musician is to take heroin, drink a lot, and smoke a bunch of pot? How many of those individuals left this Earth before their time because of those abuses?

Warren: Becker's guitar playing is good, but I would be hard-pressed to find HIM on any guitar legends list. I'm not going to overrate (a.k.a lie) about Becker's guitar playing simply because I like Steely Dan. Becker and Fagen consider themselves songwriters before musician, and their songwriting/arranging skills put them in the top 5 all-time. As musicians, they are good, but there are better (and I'm sure they would freely admit it).

Earl

Date: Mon, February 10, 2003, 06:36:45 ET
Posted by: Duncan, work

I've managed to record some piano jazz over the weekend.

Using only 3 simple programmes all free

1, realplayer one....it's free
2, realplayer... 14day free trial update to player plus (to be cancelled at a later date)
3, an onboard stereo system mixer.


I recorded 68mins at 320kbph (mp3) & ended up with a file size of 160,167kb
I also recorded 61mins at 1142kbph (wav) & ended up with a file size of 632,779kb (618mb)

I do however have a question.

The station recorded was WUCF 89.9.
The stream was broadcast between 96 & 140kbph.

The two files I have recorded both sound the same to me, despite the difference in file size.

What exactly have I recorded, Do I really need to record at such high rates when the broadcast stream is so low.

But anyway….
The procedure with real player is thus.


Launch program page in explorer
http://wucf.ucf.edu/realbroadcast.htm


Click on player launch window
(Stream should launch in real player one programme)

realplayer then connects.

You should be hearing something by now !!!!

Go to tools / preferences / general
Specify download / recording folder IE ''piano-jazz Steely Dan''

Go to preferences ''CD''
Choose download media...mp3/wav/real audio ...choose bitrate.


With music streaming go to realplayer tools.
Click record from mic/line in.


‘‘Record’' window appears.


1, select source ''system mixer''
2, name clip
3, press record

Then go to ''adjust recording levels''

Tick stereo mix, close box.

that’s it !!!!

If you like then click realplayer/ tools/ playback statistics..


Have fun I have !!!
db

Date: Mon, February 10, 2003, 00:35:18 ET
Posted by: µ,

Jim: Yes, we have STEREO! I just tested a station streaming from the Quad City area. System OS 10.2 puts ripped files in the Users domain under the Music file...or they can be sent directly to a CD-R or anywhere else on the hard drive by hitting the "select" button under the "Download" tab in the StreamripperX window. Here's the Rock Island/Augustana station URL:

http://www2.augustana.edu/wvik/

They streamed into iTunes - many stations don't, by default, at least on my machine. I had a little trouble with buffering, but rats and fire ants have eaten through the 28k phone lines here interacting with streaming from some stations - I really should get a DSL line sometime...anyway, WVIK has a good signal, after being bufferred in, and the saved file is indeed an MP3. Piano Jazz is Sat @9 pm on WVIK...

Date: Sun, February 09, 2003, 22:24:36 ET
Posted by: hoops,

jk:
Swell idea!

Oleander, jk, others:
I'm sure one way or another, something will come through on this Piano Jazz show getting out to Dan Fans. BTW: Do I need to say I will break the legs of anyone SELLING home copies of this show?

Proofreader In the Sky:
Thanks! Where were you when I did my dissertation!? Thanks again :-)

THE BIG MISTAKE
The big mistake in my Mac recording instructions is that using the internal mic with CD Spin Doctor means a digital MONO (NOT STEREO) recording! BLECCHHHHH!

Lee, Mµ, Mike, others. Thanks millions for all the suggestions. I am going to cc:

Mµ:
I'm trying your ideas now but I take it you are saying the result is in stereo since you are grabbing an MP3 rather than relying on the internal mic.

Aray & SueDave:
The Danfests sound great!

Dave Horton:
Pete's photos were great.

jim

Date: Sun, February 09, 2003, 20:52:22 ET
Posted by: oleander, february, march, and april are the cruelest months

jk--stupendous idea.

... So shall we all write Piano Jazz starting now, and beg/demand/wheedle/politely request that they make available copies of the Steely show asap? How 'bout WITH VIDEO? (Not outside the realm of possibility....) Surely they have taken a core sample of the Steely demographic and know that we are pay dirt....

Date: Sun, February 09, 2003, 18:34:51 ET
Posted by: jk,

ok kids.

1. somebody better send me one of those high-falootin' recordings of piano jazz!

2. the publicist at reprise never emailed me back - effete snob!

so i'll give you fans my brilliant idea:

given dan fans' propensity to hold a danfest whenever - where ever - at the drop of a too flat hat, why'n the hell don't we all, instead, host "critical listening sessions" at our local high end audio stores (heas).

yeah - i know it is brilliant!

just go to your heas and say, fellas, i would like to host a day of critical listening of the new steely dan cd, emg, on may 6 in your high end listening room. sure, you can only get 5-10 people in there at the same time but we could have 5 sessions. hell - charge people $3 or something. the store could promote it in ads and benefit from visits by steely fans whom, i'm certain, are the right demographic for such a store - translating to SALES, baby!

AND YOU, yes you, GET TO HEAR THE DARN THING ON THE BEST SYSTEM POSSIBLE!


of course, if the record company was smart enough, they would have figured this out themselves and cosponsored it with say "monster cable" (i know i know monster cable ain't that high end but they get around - and it's just an example.)

pretty soon you'll be hosting a listening every tuesday and getting paid for it - or at least a discount!

ok . i know that you are getting itchy, "when do we get to have a fest?????!!! so, set it up that everyone goes to the local olive garden later that evening . when you're there you're family!!!!!!! ( i suppose that your level of enjoyment would depend on their definition of family: MICHAEL JACKSON'S, COUSIN D'S, JEROME ANITON'S, THE BOY KING'S!!!)



peace

Date: Sun, February 09, 2003, 13:22:11 ET
Posted by: Dave Horton, Albany, NY

John G, Hoops, etc,
I was a Metal Leg subscriber. I have every issue. The thing I miss the most about your transcripts are the pictures. Those fanzines had tons of really good (black&white) pictures. Any chance of getting them up one of these days? Speaking of Metal Leg, Steely Dan and the Dead. In one issue of ML I read, Walter Becker is quoted as saying (in the mid 70's) "Steely Dan was known as the Grateful Dead of Beverley Boulevard". I'm not sure what that ment, but it sure sounds funny.

Date: Sun, February 09, 2003, 12:05:22 ET
Posted by: Warren, earl of the quarter

Earl
Walter Becker's guitar style has been compared to Garcia's by many people. I guess that means you think Walter sucks as well.

If the "stereotypical" Dead head is a pot smoking hippie, guess what?

The stereotypical Dan head is a freaking forty two year old yuppie! Between you and me Earl...I'd rather hang out with a crack head then a yuppie.

Keeping it real,
Warren

Date: Sun, February 09, 2003, 05:32:15 ET
Posted by: princessofcairo, france

dallas danfest? i'll be in dallas on 5 may, just in time to buy the new album on the 6th. then naked lunch (the dan cover band) is playing in dallas on the 8th of may. is this going to be a danfest, or what?! :)

-poc

p.s. re: babyface and diane warren (gag), here's a little story i recently wrote: www.ameliaray.net/writ/dewars.shtml
imagine it's narrated by ed norton...

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 22:24:32 ET
Posted by: µ,

Here's the Texarkana URL:

http://www.texarkanacollege.edu/ktxk/listen.html

Click on "server1"

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 22:20:44 ET
Posted by: µ, Tejas

BostonRag: Yes, multiple producers is a must! Where's Babyface? Can we get a Dianne Warren song?

Lee, hoops: thanks for the info - it's about time the eMac home computer put in some more time outside office work!

suedavid: I can verify that Lee's Streamripper site contains an OS 10.2 download program. Great find, Lee! Look here:

http://streamripperx.sourceforge.net

It works with iTunes only...

The NPR texarkana station has PianoJazz on Sat @ 3pm CST with a stream picked up by iTunes - I just ran/ripped a test.

Some info from the StreamRipper Help menu:

"Using StreamRipperX (SRX)

SRX lets you record and listen to Internet radio stations that broadcast in the popular mp3 format. SRX will record a broadcast by splitting the broadcast into individual songs saved as mp3 files.

Supported radio station formats:

1. ShoutCast
2. IceCast

Currently, SRX has no support for radio stations that broadcast in RealAudio, WindowsMedia, Ogg Vorbis or Peercast.

With SRX you can group your favourite radio stations, and keep a list of recorded songs. There isn't any management of the actual song files as most users are probably already comfortable with doing this via Finder, iTunes and iPod.

To create an entry for a radio station you can

1. Drag'n'drop from iTunes, albeit one at a time... :-(
2. Drag'n'drop a web link to a Playlist e.g. from www.Shoutcast.com
3. Drag'n'drop a Playlist file (filenames end in .pls) from Finder
4. Create a new radio station and enter the details yourself

If you're feeling lazy, you might want to try using the Tuner menu to import some radio stations straight off the web.

By default, songs are saved in a directory named after the radio station. Within this directory there is a folder named 'incomplete' where songs are initially recorded. On completion, they are moved out of this directory. Many radio stations cycle through a number of songs, so duplicate recordings are likely. By defaults, duplicates are left in the 'incomplete' folder."

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 19:38:23 ET
Posted by: Lee,

One big correction to my earlier posting:

http://www.kcsm.org/fm_listen.html
WILL NOT work. I was mistaken.

http://wpsu.psu.edu/features/new_stream.html
WILL WORK and is the only NPR station that broadcasts in the proper format and at high bit rates.

One more thing I forgot, here is the tutorial on using Streamripper with Winamp:

http://streamripper.sourceforge.net/tutorial_win32.php

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 17:53:48 ET
Posted by: Mr. LaPage, Well East of Hollywood

Hoops - - -

I'm using the old-fashioned radio-to-cassette method. Thanks for the great tip on when to flip the tape! I was a little worried about that. I agree that those long 110- or 120-minute tapes can be troublesome for the very reasons you mentioned. For years I've almost exclusively used 90-minute Maxell or TDK High-bias. I'll give it a trial run tonite as here in western NC they will broadcast it at 8:00 p.m. on WCQS-FM 88.1. (Yes, Oleander & I are neighbors).

Mike, in Louisville - - -

Thanks for the great info on bonus tracks! I have most of them listed but I was not aware of the two European 2vN tracks with Cousin Dupree.

JL

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 16:13:18 ET
Posted by: Lee,

I have found a better and simpler way to record off of the net compared to my earlier post. First, Streamripper, my new software find, is easier to use than Messer, the earlier mentioned one. And because Messer goes from analogue to digital, its sound quality is lower than with Streamripper, which is all digital. Also, with Streamripper, you do not need the complication of using Lame MP3 encoder. Additionally, one can record directly into the MP3 format in one step which works well even in older, slower computers. Using Messer with slower computers, one must record first in WAV format and then encode separately in MP3 format. Not only is the 2 step method more trouble, the original WAV recording takes up more hard drive space. Streamripper only works with MPG, not Real or Windows Media formats. Thus, I have found two stations that stream in that format at 128 kps, although both stations stream at lower rates for dialup connections.

The first station, WPSU, which broadcasts Piano Jazz on Saturdays, 8 PM ET:

http://wpsu.psu.edu/features/new_stream.html

The second station, KCSM, which broadcasts the show on Wednesday nights/Thursday mornings at midnight ET:

http://www.kcsm.org/fm_listen.html

Get Winamp 2 here:

http://classic.winamp.com/download/;$sessionid$PCJMEQ5TKETWRTN24UYBCZY

Get Wow Thing plugin, which greatly increases quality of sound when playing streams or files using Winamp, here:

http://classic.winamp.com/plugins/detail.jhtml;$sessionid$TP1GIAH3PKBFLTN24UYBCZY?componentId=1724

Get Streamripper for Winamp 2 here:

http://streamripper.sourceforge.net/dl/srwa2_154.exe

All of the software mentioned in this posting is free.

Using the above software/method produces great quality very simply.

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 15:56:43 ET
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KY

Hoops: In regard to recording the Piano Jazz show, another option would be do rent a DAT recorder for a day. All the muscial instrument rental stores in my area rent them out for a relatively cheap amount. Going from radio>DAT>CD might be the best option.

That is , of course, until all the copies of the actual radio show CD start showing up on eBay. ;-)

Mike

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 15:54:44 ET
Posted by: proofreader in the sky, on the case

And "contiguous and fragmented"? How does one achieve that?

Date: Sat, February 08, 2003, 11:13:10 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Hey, less than three months until EMG is released here in the States. Woo hoo!

BTW: There is a glaring mistake in my instructions below for recording PJ using a Mac PowerBook. Will sum it up a little later on when I confirm something...or if you have already caught it, give an oinion. Has to do with the Mac input.

Fly low, be cool.

jim

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 22:33:17 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Some Ideas on Recording the Piano Jazz Show with Steely Dan

With Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” featuring Steely Dan, et al. set to begin airing next Tuesday, I’d like to encourage some discussion on the best way to record this show. I’m certainly not saying this is the best advice or the most professional ways of recording these. Rather, I’m hoping that this gets everyone started and hopefully sparks some discussion on even better recording methods that are more commonly available to folks of common computing means. I’m looking forward to comments and suggestions about these instructions.

Below are some starting points for 1) recording from radio to cassette, 2) recording from RealPlayer on your computer’s to a cassette recorder connected to your computer’s sound-output jack, and 3) recording from RealOne Player on your computer (in this example, a Macintosh using Roxio’s Toast) to a CD-R via your computer’s hard drive.

Although some of the great PJ shows are available on compact disc, there’s no word as to if and when this particular show will be released. If and when it is ever officially released, surely we all will want to purchase the professionally prepared version. In the mean time, I am certain all of us Danfans will want to home record and repeatedly listen to this show.

Special Concerns When Recording “Piano Jazz” From Radio to Audio Cassette
Needless to say, recording to cassette is still, after all these years, a commonly available, albeit inferior, recording option for those of us fortunate enough to live in an area where PJ is broadcast. As pointed out in the Official Steely Dan Newsletter, http://www.pianojazz.org (specifically http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/listen.html ) includes a complete listing of stations that carry PJ. If you plan to record to cassette tape, keep in mind that the show is an hour long but it doesn’t have commercial breaks. It often starts right on the hour and there is one or two minutes left at the end of the show, meaning it’s about 58 or 59 minutes long. Unless you get one of those 120-minute cassettes, you will have to flip your cassette at least once during the show since each side is 60 minutes long. The drawback is that these 120-minutes cassettes are expensive, hard to find, and, what I think is the most important concern, the tape is very thin so they are so prone to breakage or bunching as the tape ages.

If you end up using a shorter length tape— meaning you will have to flip the cassette during the show or alternatively insert another cassette—know that there are typically two opportunities to do this. At about 20 minutes into the show and again at about 40 minutes, there is this brief piano chord progression that is always played. It’s the same one that opens the show. Those would be the ideal times to flip the tape. You will have perhaps 30 seconds to do so. If you are not familiar with PJ and what I am talking about, you may want to give a listen to this week’s show in advance as a rehearsal. Before the recording begins, check to be sure the sound levels do not result in distortion: hopefully, your recorder will have a digital equalizer indicator to assist in this.

Listening to “Piano Jazz” via The Internet
While PJ is broadcasting in a number of areas in the USA, there are even more areas—US and elsewhere—where a radio signal cannot be picked up. If this was ten years ago, this would be a problem for many of us, but thanks to streaming audio on the Internet, there is a much greater opportunity to pick up PJ no matter where you are in the world.

There are many great media players out there—my favorite is iTunes for Macintosh and Windows MediaPlayer is also popular. However, RealPlayerBasic8 is what I recommend for this particular show. This is because most NPR affiliates default to streams designed for this player. If you don’t have the player, you can get it at http://www.real.com. Be aware that the link for downloading the free RealPlayerBasic is relatively hard to find on the page. (It’s on the lower left side.) This is probably to encourage you to try the “for fee” versions of their players and other streaming media apps. That’s not to say those aren’t worth buying: you just don’t necessarily need the pay-for versions in this particular situation.

Well in advance, visit http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/listen.html and find a station that not only airs PJ on traditional radio, but also streams it. Not all stations stream the show. Then you need to research what date and time the show airs. You might e-mail the station. Since the particular “Piano Jazz” show with Steely Dan will air at various dates and times on various stations between Tuesday, February 11 and 25, don’t assume that all stations will be airing the same “Piano Jazz” show on a give n date. It might be a particular station will be airing the preceding week’s show with Mulgrew Miller or the following week’s show with Dave Douglas. You need to check in advance.

For example, as mentioned on the BlueBook, it was found that http://www.WBGO.org FM 88.3 in the NJ/NY area is airing the Steel Dan show on Thursday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m Eastern time, while http://www.WBEZ.org FM 91.5 in Chicago / FM 89.5 in northern Indiana/southwestern Michigan is airing the show on Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m., Central / Noon, Eastern.

Another consideration is at bit rate of the broadcast. Some stations only stream at 56 kbps while others broadcast at higher rates. “Lee” wrote on the BlueBook: that http://wucf.ucf.edu (University of Central Florida public radio station) will broadcast PJ at near-CD-quality sound bit rates of 128 Kbps. If that is better, why wouldn’t you want 128 kbps? If you have a slow connection such as a 56K modem or a slower computer or both, your computer may not be able to buffer and keep up with the stream. This could result pauses, skips and jumps in the broadcast stream. Also be certain to disable any screen savers since they tend to interrupt streams.

This leads to a couple of more suggestions. 1) Try and use a connection that is DSL, cable, T1 or higher. If you don’t have such service at home, perhaps you can do this on a computer at work. 2) Be sure your hard disk is optimized and defragmented before recording the show. Briefly, optimizing and defragging makes sure that all of your computer’s free hard disk space is contiguous and fragmented defragmented. This allows your computer to better keep up with recording. A badly fragmented disk can result in hiccups, etc. in your broadcast stream. Furthermore, if you burn a CD on your computer, the disc may not burn successfully. To optimize your computer’s hard disk, Windows 2000 Pro users can use “Disk Defragmenter” (Start Menu-->Programs-->System Tools-->Disk Defragmenter ) Mac OS users could use Speed Disk which is part of Norton SystemWorks and Norton Utilities. Be certain to use a version of the Norton programs that has been updated to match your Mac’s OS version. I would recommend a minimum of 2GB of free, contiguous, optimized hard disk space.

Special Concerns When Recording “Piano Jazz” From Your Computer to Audio Cassette
To record from your computer to a cassette deck, you will need a stereo cable that can connect to your sound out jack on your Macintosh or PC. Certain Macintoshes from circa 1999-2001 have sound handled through the USB port so you will need a USB-to-analog converter device in these unusual cases.

Using techniques similar to above, you should make certain that the volume settings on your computer as well as your cassette deck are set properly to avoid distortion. Follow the tips on selecting audiocassettes that were previously mentioned.

Special Concerns When Recording “Piano Jazz” From Your Computer to CD-R

Subsequently, it was discovered that the following instructions results in a mono-recording. Please see subsequent discussion above. DO NOT FOLLOW THE LINED OUT INSTRUCTIONS OR YOU WILL HAVE A MONO RECORDING.

If you are like me, you will want to have this very special show on CD rather than audio cassette. As of this writing, I am planning to record the show on my Macintosh using the following hardware, software and instructions. I am hoping someone will follow-up with various methods for recording using a Windows PC. If no one writes in, I have a draft of instructions for that platform as well.

My particular setup is as follows:

• PowerBook G4/667 with 15 GB of contiguous, free hard disk space (optimized using Norton • Speed Disk) and CD-RW
• 10 mbs Ethernet connection
• Mac OS X (Version10.2.3)
• Roxio Toast Titatnium (Version 5.2) including CD Spin Doctor (Version 1.5.1)
• RealOnePlayer8Basic for Mac OS X (Version 9.0)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer:Mac (Version 5.2.2) with RealOne Player plug-in installed.

1) Be sure the hard drive is optimized.

2) Sound Input Settings. Go to Mac OS X “System Preferences” and open the “Sound” icon. Select the tab for “Input” and make certain it is set for “Internal Microphone.” (Mac OS 8 and 9 Users should go to Apple menu-->Control Panels--> Sound-->Input)

3) Start the Broadcast Stream. I use Internet Explorer to go to the web page for the particular station I wish to listen to and record from, obviously clicking the links to begin the streaming audio via the RealOne Player plug-in Alternatively you could just use RealOne Player directly.

4) Record and Burn I start CD Spin Doctor which is bundled with Toast Titanium. (The latest updates are available from http://www.roxio.com) Make certain that the “Input” menu is set to “Internal Microphone.” Using the instructions found on pages 161-188 of the Toast Titanium manual, record the stream, divide the tracks using the resulting wave form, name the tracks and burn the CD utilizing the “Send to Toast” button.

Here are a couple of tips with Toast when working with the waveform from “Piano Jazz.”

1) I don’t use the “Auto-Define Tracks” command. Manually define the tracks, but be very certain to make your CD Spin Doctor window as large as possible and zoom in on the waveform as much as possible. There is not much silence between “Piano Jazz” music and discussion tracks, but it is there. The point is to define the tracks at the moment of silence between tracks so you don’t have to worry about overlap of tracks.

2) After you click the “Send to Toast” button, Toast will start, but you have to manually drag your tracks from the CD Spin Doctor Window to the Toast window.

Selecting a CD-R
I don’t know if there has been anything more recent; however, I remember reading an EQ article by Roger Nichols where he suggested that the best recordable CDs were the well-known brands with a dark blue underside. Verbatim and TDK are two brands I recently purchased that fit this description.

In Closing
You should try this out in advance. I screwed up a couple of things the first time I ever did this and realized I would have done some other things differently. If you can, catch the current show of “Piano Jazz” so you can get a feel of how the show runs and how you might record it. Looking forward to your comments and suggestions and I’m looking forward to Steely Dan and friends on “Piano Jazz” even more.

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 17:35:52 ET
Posted by: HotShot, NYC

JK. Email me. Signed, Hotshot.

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 14:20:16 ET
Posted by: Dennis, Chicago

This drug discussion is stupid. If you want to condemn artists or their fan base for drug use, it's a long fucking list. Here are a few of my favorite drug addict/brilliant musicians

Louie Armstrong - smoked pot everyday
Miles Davis - coke, booze
Charlie Parker - herion, booze
Jaco Pastorius - coke, booze
Billie Holiday - heroin, booze
Jimi Hendrix - LSD, Coke, Pot, Booze (NOT HEROIN!! READ "ELECTRIC GYPSY")

Doesn't mean you have to go out and do these things Earl. A Joint here and there probably wouldn't be the worst thing for you when you post on the blue though!

All in good fun

Dennis

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 13:55:28 ET
Posted by: ds, chicago

Hoops,

Who really knows the truth? I thought the article I posted was interesting and maybe a relief to some but what celebrity wouldn't say something like that to clear his name and try to keep his career on track? My point was maybe, maybe not.

Look at the Michael Jackson interview from last night (yeah, I got sucked in). No doubt he was lying about only having 2 plastic surgeries on his nose. But, while I thought he was being sincere about loving and wanting to help children, who really knows? He lets them sleep in his bedroom while he sleeps on the floor? Maybe. He seemed sincere to me. Then again, he (Townsend too)has enough money to buy his way out of anything. Which goes back to 1993 when MJ was accused of molesting a 13 year old boy. How do we know the kid's parents didn't put him up to it for the money? How do we know Jackson isn't a pedophile? We don't and probably never will. Same with Townsend.


MHO


"Soon it will be too late. Bobbing for apples can wait. I know you're used to sixteen or more, sorry we only have eight"

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 12:27:17 ET
Posted by: hoops, chgo

Good luck, Randy!

Here in Chicago, Sunday, February 16 promises to be a big day to record from http://www.WBEZ.org/FM 91.5 in Chicago and 89.5 in southwest Michigan/northern Indiana.

As previously mentioned, Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz " show with Steely Dan airs from 11:00 a.m. to Noon. And then at 11:00 pm to Midnight, it's Wayne Shorter's from last September's Chicago Jazzfest (the one that was an event of the Chicago Danfest)

But here's something else to record:
From 6:00-8:00 p.m., they are airing a show on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." Several of those connected with the making of that landmark recording, as well as the likes of Wayne Shorter and others, will comment during the two hour show. Given last week's discussion here, it should be quite pertinent. I'm uncertain if this show is airing on other NPR stations.

So that's four hours of listening that day and what a day that will be!

jim

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 12:12:38 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/USA

Steely-folk:

I received OFFICIAL word today (2/7/03) directly from Larry Carlton on some research I've been doing (made reference to in a post here on 'the bluebook' Thurs, January 30, 2003, 09:33:53 ET); in order to get further clarification, I need someone out there who has MP3 capabilities to send me some sort of an MP3 e-mail attachment of Steely Dan's "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More" (from 'Katy Lied' [1975]); further specific details will be posted here shortly; thanks in advance-

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 11:25:11 ET
Posted by: Mike, Louisville

My $0.02 on the 3 questions:

1. Is the new one's style going to be a departure from 2vN?

I'm in agreement with the "bluesy" camp. I do think that there might be some unused 2vN material that might crop up however.

2. How many tracks do you expect to see on there?

I'm guessing a hard eleven.

3. When will we first hear a new tune?

Well, the first 2vN soundclips were up in mid/late December. That put it more than 2 months before the 2vn release date of 2/29/00. My guess would be that we will have CLIPS up on the website by the first week of March. The first track no later than April 1st.

On the same theme, I do hope we get a decent selection of bonus track on the promo and Euro singles. Things have declined steadily since Kamakiriad was released. Here is a listing of what extras were released:

Kamakiriad:

Confide in Me
Shanghai COnfidential
Big Noise, New York
Home at Last (NYRnS Revue Beacon outtake)
Snowbound (bass/drums/vocal only mix)
Trans-Island Skyway (bass/drums/vocal only mix)

11 Tracks of Whack:

Fall of '92 (studio) (promo disc)
Medical Science (extra track on Japanese pressing)

Two Against Nature:

Fall of '92 (live)*
Overture (live)*

Both of these came from the European Cousin Dupree CD-Maxi single. They represent the only bonus tracks released for 2vN.

Here's hoping for some goodies!

El Sup

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 07:28:36 ET
Posted by: Howard,

Yes, my mistake on the Negative Girl drummer - thanks for the corrections. Must have filed both Hakim and Colaiuta in the part of my brain labelled "top drummers - unusual names - worked with Sting", and they got mixed up...

Was listening to Zappa's "Joe's Garage" recently, and near the end Zappa is talking about "flying in Steve Gadd on triple scale...", then Vinnie plays what sounds like a quote from Gadd's Aja solo. Funny stuff. Then Zappa calls out "Vinnie - where's five?", and gets him to start drumming to fit a bar of his 5/4 against the band's 4/4. Mad.

"They're pretty good musicians..."

Howard

Date: Fri, February 07, 2003, 00:36:03 ET
Posted by: suedave,

Had a moment to catch up - wow!



My thoughts on the next one

1. Is the new one's style going to be a departure from 2vN? It will be a follow-on to 2VN, with a couple of Latin flavored tracks, and the rest leaning towards blues and be-bop. Walter will do a guitar solo on one track - screaming just like he did on the tour - he just held back on 2VN. The next one will be looser/more fluid than 2VN, coming off the heels of a grammy winner and knowing the fans just want more of whatever they write.

2. How many tracks do you expect to see on there? 9 tracks, 56:08

3. When will we first hear a new tune? April 1st, of course! Which should have been the release date, seeing that it is a Tuesday.

µ - can I have more, sir?

Lee - thanks for the info. Can't wait to try out all that software to see if I'm up to the challenge. Hope it runs on a Mac!

John G & Hoops - Thanks once again for making the old articles available for us to read. We weren't all lucky enough to have subscribed to it originally (wouldn't that have been cool?). I did know it was available in the early 90's for a modest fee but I couldn't afford it at the time. Reading some of the articles gives me goosebumps (especially the one with Walter at the Lonestar)!

So where can one find a schedule for the touring Bill Charlap trio?

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 23:32:12 ET
Posted by: Paige, SB

Hoops...
Thanks for the reply. Not sure if I should laugh or create a voodoo doll in your likeness and start sticking pins in it. Where should I stick the first pin???

I like this here Bluebook...tons 'o fun.

-Paige

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 20:00:26 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Paige:
Bad! Bad! We mustn't ever debate! Please don't talk like that! You haven't even begun to apologize! ( Emoticons for the humor-impaired --> ;-) )

Speaking of which, how about the first salvo in a debate where two hot topics interact:

"Macintoshes are supreme because that's the computer Jerry Garcia and the rest of the Dead use."

But what I really despise is that because I use a Mac for most of my own personal computing, people assume I don't use anything else when in fact I was—until Win Xp came out—a couple of courses away from an MCSE in Windows 2000 Administration and the majority of computer support I provide is Windows-based. And I've been simply a casual user of Unix for about 17 years. Still, most people dismiss me as a Mac-only type. I use a Mac because I'm a Windows expert, OK?? :-) Anywhoo, these days, teaching Architectural Design is more fun for me. Just saying where I come from...

Now about "Ticking." You mustn't ever talk about that song. Despite the whole Columbine High School thing, I think it is way, way, way over-rated lyrically and otherwise. It's Taupin's flawed attempt at covering Harry Chapin. Would have been better in first-person too, not to mention, it really doesn't belong on an ultra lightweight album like "Caribou."

Earl:
Exactly; The Dead's popularity was very unconventional. They never had a top ten single for their first 20+ years and their records sold little compared to the fact they were for several years the top-grossing concert tour. The majority of my family doesn't care for the Grateful Dead nor Steely Dan for that matter. There's almost always some degree of truth in stereotypes, but just speaking for myself, I don't like to limit the possibilities of people, except for the stereotypes I think of when I think of you, Earl ;-)

Dennis:
Now I'm confused. Before, I thought you were suggesting that we should never suggest that Pete Townshend's arrest suggested he was a pedophile. Then your jokes suggests he might be. What do you suggest?

Tieing some threads together, it's not a Taupin lyric but "Little Jeanie" is perhaps the worst of the worst Elton John hits. I mean how little is Jeannie? Are we talking "midget" here or is she simply underage?

µ, Rag:
Very funny!

Dennis:
No disrespect towards Jon Herington but I could go for all Walter on guitar on this one.

WhoKNows:
Great link. Printed it out to read on the subway tonight. Thanks!

The Walter's gear thread is cool.

Writing up my own little two cents on how I record shows (like Piano Jazz) off the net on to my hard drive.

jim

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 19:10:50 ET
Posted by: Paige, SB

You know, I feel kinda bad now. You see...I was the one that brought up the Dead in the first place...of course, it was only in passing. My mistake was telling that 500 year old joke about the Dead that might have started the war.

It reminds me of my passion for the Macintosh...I mean, for many Mac users, it's more than a tool. It's a statement. Further...no one better dis my Mac or I'll...I'll...(fill in the blank).

Sorry for bringing up the Dead and the fact that I "don't get it." I may not find the Dead appealing (musically), but I will defend your right to be as passionate as you want about them.

(Gawd...I hope I didn't start a Macintosh vs. PC thread). Sorry Hoops, trying my best here.

-Paige

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 18:16:57 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Hoops, Jon, and Warren,

I am fine with a respectful disagreement resolution. Obviously we all have our tastes, and although I don't like the Dead, it doesn't mean they aren't a good band by other people's standards. It's just my perspective.

And Hoops, I would without a doubt agree that not every Dead fan is a pot-smoking hippy (since that is probably the stereotypical Deadhead), but their prominence in the music business rose from a cult of a certain type of person that was very common in the mid-to-late 60's. Bands don't just make it on the scene...usually they need to have a market recognize them as worthy before they will garner national attention.

At least we have musical variety in this world...hopefully it remains that way. If it changes to the point where there is absolutely no choice (like Clear Channel and Viacom want), then we're in trouble.

Earl

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 17:13:01 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

About the Dead Debate:

I think we've beat this down the line quite a bit before. Some people aren't gonna get the Dead, fine by me, but live and let live you know?

But understand that some people dislike being dismissed based on stereotypes, including Dead Heads.

For instance, I know Earl has some contact with a church in the Chicago area called Willow Creek. While it's not my thing, my sister, as well as some friends, are members of WillowCreek and are also Dead heads. No, they don't do drugs, etc. They still listen to their albums. I also know some Dead Heads who for medical reasons don't do any drugs. (Putting aside what you view as drugs anyways...anything can be a drug or used for good in my book). Anyhow, the worst part of the Dead scene in the mid 90s wasn't the Dead Heads; it was the hanger-ons who came to the Dead scenes before shows because the impression they got from the media was that these shows were full of people doing drugs and playin' wild music. That's what it seemed to be all about. These people would show up with this stereo-type in their mind for the party scene and not get the Dead. It was really unfortunate.

As for me, over 20 years ago, I was in a studio with a big Dead Head and couldn't dig the tapes he was playing. I didn't understand the Dead. It was like the hippie's Sha-Na-Na to me, at best.

Then I did go to a Grateful Dead concert after about three years. And it was great. Indeed, it put all albums in a context and it made sense. Went to maybe a 100 shows after that.

I'm not suggesting that Earl, Paige or others put on certain Dead albums, etc. and learn to like them. That's not what I am expecting. But I do hope they might realize that they may not know entirely what they are talking about and leave it at that. These comments being made by some of the non-Dead fans are are akin to when you tell someone that you are a Steely Dan fan and they say, "Oh yeah, aren't they that nostalgia band that had a hit with 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'? That was 30 years ago. Do they pretty much play the same 3 or 4 hit songs again and again? Them and Three Dog Night. I hated that song, Steely Dan sucks."

At any rate, know that this place—the BlueBook, Dandom.com and Dandom Digest evolved out of rec.music.gdead. I think I've posted that last summer here.

Will write more later.

jim

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 16:43:57 ET
Posted by: jon,

Earl, you betray a complete and utter lack of understanding of the Dead, their music and their milieu. Are you saying that because a lyricist wrote the line (no pun intended) "Drivin' that train, high on cocaine..." that he's saying "Okay, everybody go out and do some coke"? Maybe he's telling everyone who listens to go and drive a train...

There's this thing called "free will" and every fan of both the Dead and Steely Dan can and does exercise it. Besides, I'd venture to say that there were legions of devoted Dead fans who were not in the thrall of drugs during the Dead's heyday. I make this statement because I'm one of them and I know a lot more out there.

In addition, to characterize their musical output as merely "hokie/simple rock" produced by "musical lightweights" further proves that you are clueless as to variety and richness of their musical catalog and the extensiveness of their chops. To dismissively tar with one broad stroke the band and its adherents as hopped-up dope fiends who wouldn't know what good music is due to their catatonia is just plain demagoguery.

I would suggest that you put aside your prejudice and really give a good listen to gems like "Europe '72", "Reckoning" and "Workingman's Dead" as well as some of Garcia's non-guitar output like the banjo brilliance on "Old & In the Way" or his pedal steel artistry with the New Riders and CSN & Y. Steely Dan is number one in my book--always and forever. But don't dis the Dead--they rock.

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 15:58:12 ET
Posted by: DJ, Chicago

And don't forget the re-make of 'Everone's Gone to Neverland" where in the video Mr. Jackson sets up his den for a little Home Alone time.

sorry that's bad...

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 15:33:29 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Warren,

Oh yeah, "Drivin' that train, high on cocaine"...what excellent lyrics. I'm sure your local crack dealer could come up with that one.

Did Steely Dan ever encourage a sizable group of people to follow them on tour and throw away their lives with drugs and communal living? Sure, Becker was on coke, so weren't 90% of the acts in that era. I would have to think that Becker and Fagen laugh at the Dead personally. They even wrote a song about the fallout of the lifestyle the Dead influenced/encouraged.

I would also like to challenge you on the statement about Garcia being "a helluva good guitar player." When seeing lists of guitar playing legends, I'm still trying to find one that contains his fine name. I guess the definition of "helluva good guitar player" is one who can play the right chords when they're baked out of their minds.

And finally Warren, you can't actually be serious to not "dis" them about the drugs. The Grateful Dead epitomized and virtually sanctified the druggie lifestyle. Their use/abuse of drugs (as well as their fans) is absolutely fair game. You have to take any band's audience/following into consideration when speaking about their merit, especially a band as underground and cult-driven as the Grateful Dead.

Have a good day,

Earl

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 14:53:29 ET
Posted by: Dennis, Chicago

Don't forget "Bring Back the Little Ones" with special guest Pete Townsend!

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 14:16:29 ET
Posted by: Dave,

I never thought one way or the other as to what Roger Nichols and Steely Dan thought of the Wall of Sound. Has Roger ever written about it?

I also read at Roger's site that he was good friends with John Denver. Supposedly, John Denver wanted to take Donald Fagen flying around New York City. Denver was so cheery and, well, Fagen seems not.

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 13:55:21 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag,

Mu - LOL!!

Of course the Euro single of "Get Wiggy With It" will have the bonus track "With A Gun II", produced by Phil Spector. This will lead to a five page article in EQ magazine by Roger Nichols, "The Wall Of Analog Sound - 10 Reasons Why I Hate It".

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 13:07:10 ET
Posted by: Dennis, Chicago

Hoops,

The Katy Lied gig was very well received. Packed house. For a sports bar Chicago City Limits is pretty cool. The PA, Lighting, and Stage is excellent, the sound engineer is great to work with and we had a BLAST! We saw some familiar faces, some new faces and it was nice to play these tunes again! Wish you could have been there.

The band is still very much alive even though we had a bit of a lull in gigs over the past couple of months mostly due to horn players with other commitments! We've got that squared away now and the horns sound better than ever. Also, we have added a new background singer.

We are currently working on gigs for the summer and have a bunch of new tunes added to our setlist including Throw Back the Little Ones, Third World Man and a quite a few other surprises that are sure to please. Some Chinese music perhaps?!?! :-) Can't wait for the next show and hope to see some of you there!

dS

P.S. Can't wait for Everything Must Go. I'm glad they are tracking live and hopefully there is a little more raw guitar on this one from Mr. Herrington. No disrespect to Walter but it's time to dirty up the guitars a little bit and give Jon a chance to show what he's capable of! 2VN is great but way too slick/produced for me and not enough diversity in the guitar tones and solos.

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 12:23:10 ET
Posted by: µ, Predictions, Mort-ON!!!

DATELINE: February 6, 2003 Notlanta, GA

AOL Time Warner without Ted Turner Whatever has announced that in order to right the flagging giant multimedia corporation, the new Mr. Steely Dan album Everything Must Go! will now include all talents they can scounge in the label. The new format will mirror Carlos Santana's hits "Supermarket" and "Charmin."

The album will now be 66.6 min long and consists of the following tracks:

(1) "Get Wiggy With It" Steely Dan featuring Will Smith

(2) "Can You Play a Different Guitar Solo?" Steely Dan featuring Carlos Santana

(3) "Whoa Nelly" Steely Dan featuring Nelly and Keith Jackson

(4) "Brick, Part Deux" Steely Dan featuring Ben Folds and 'da Bulls' Jay Williams

(5) "Nature Against Two" Steely Dan featuring Michael Jackson

(6) "Tantric Yogurt" Steely Dan featuring Mr. Sting and the Yoplait Five

(7) "Product Ingredients" Steely Dan featuring matchbox20

(8) "Analog on the Fire" Steely Dan reaturing the Ray Coniff Singers

(9) "Black Coda from the Underground" Steely Dan featuring Wynton Marsalis and The American Idol Winner

(10) "A Moment of Silence" Steely Dan featuring Britney Spears and Kraftwerk

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 11:48:36 ET
Posted by: Warren,

Howard- Omar didn't play on 2VN. Neg-girl was Vinny Calauta on drums.

Earl-The Doors are, uh dead to. What's your point? I know you were trying to be clever with your little pun. You know what the appel of the Dead was Earl? A bunch of really great songs. The appel was Jerry Garcia. A musical genius and a helluva good guitar player. That was "the big deal". And yes Earl, Steely Dan did make much better records then the Dead, no doubt. As far as a live show goes... the Dead kicked there ass! Oh yeah Earl.....as far as your dis on the Dead when it came to drugs goes, I have two words for you. Walter Becker.

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 10:31:25 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Randy: I agree w/ your comments...I don't think they're ditching their perfection quirks just yet. It would be interesting to speak w/ one of the session musicians to see how many takes they had to run through to get it down pat. But who knows? Maybe they have ever-so-slightly relaxed the standard that they were using in the past.

Here's another prognostication question: Aside from the already-mentioned Hugh McCracken, will there be any appearances by pre-90's Steely Dan personnel, and who if you think there will? Someone already plugged Phil Woods as a possible return soloist, but does anyone want to make a stab at this one?

Earl

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 09:06:14 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/USA

The drummer on Steely Dan's "Negative Girl" (from 'Two Against Nature') is Vinnie Colaiuta and not Omar Hakim (both of whom have the distinction of having worked with Sting).

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

P.S. Predictions for 'Everything Must Go'? There WON'T be covers, and perhaps after having spent some time on the road, this next one could be a little more biting than albums previous (relatively speaking); "looser" or "with mistakes included"? Not this band; that's enough presumptuous speculation for me-

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 08:01:12 ET
Posted by: Howard,

The New One questions:

1. I expect "Everything Must Go" to be different to 2VN, just as all SD albums have shown some kind of progression in style, orchestration, groove etc. Not sure what differences to expect - maybe an extension of some of the changes we heard in 2VN: more use of (nicely) quirky melodies, and a few more of those (nicely) "out"-sounding chords (good example of both is Negative Girl).

The other aspect that will be interesting to compare is the drumming. I know some of Keith Carlock's work with Wayne Krantz, and he can play very nice energetic, creative and polyrhythmic stuff - and there's certainly a flavour of that on the title track of 2VN (the only track he played on). I'd love to hear more like this - and if he was chosen as the principle drummer, as seems to be the case, maybe D+W have tracks that have a slightly looser, energetic groove - rather than the mostly steady but simple grooves on 2VN?

Also, Negative Girl was apparently cut virtually live, and this allowed the drummer (Omar Hakim) more creative freedom than many of the other 2VN tracks, so again this track could be a pointer of the kind of thing to expect?

2. Number of tracks? No idea - let's say 9.

3. When do we hear a snippet? I reckon we'll hear something by April.

Jaco - Walter's bass playing? Jack of Speed has some very nice (but understated) bass playing by Walter. Very original stuff.

Howard

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 07:33:40 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

I look at the contrast between the Dan and the Dead, and I see few similarities. The only things in common seem to be a distaste for mainstream America and a penchant for inebriation.
-Hokie/simple rock vs. sophisticated pop
-musical lightweights vs. musical excellence
-living for the live experience vs. pouring heart and soul into the recording process
-constant core band that only changes as members die vs. two guys who hire the best to play the best
-lead singer who lived to kill himself vs. a lead singer who took pretty good care of himself (and it shows)
-a band that played itself to death to please the hardcore fans vs. a band who did it(and are still doing it) on their terms.

I'm not condemning anyone for listening to the Dead...I just didn't understand what the big deal was. I mean, a bunch of tripping flowerchildren would listen to anything, so I could understand their initial success. But after that, the only draw I could fathom wouldbe the eternal party atmosphere that their tour appeared to bring...nice for those of us who don't plan on making much out of our lives, but not so good if you would like, say, a family or anything that looked like a bank account.

The Dead are, uh, dead.

Earl

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 06:00:39 ET
Posted by: Whoknows,

Ruth Snapper on the Noosphere, Cyberspace and Steely Dan

excellent reading:

http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/com/snap2.html

Date: Thurs, February 06, 2003, 01:42:13 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

I just want to clear something up. I am a HUGE Dead fan, and I have never once tried any drugs. We are rare, but it is possible to enjoy the Dead's music not being under the influence. On the topic of lyricists, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Robert Hunter, lyricist for many Dead tunes (almost all of the ones Jerry Garcia wrote the music for). In my opinion, Hunter is one of the best poets of our time. Read the lyrics to "Ramble On Rose", "The Days Between", "Dark Star", "Jack Straw", "Candyman", "Help On The Way", "Liberty", "Cumberland Blues", "Friend Of The Devil", and I think you get the picture. If I ever get a record deal with Blue Note, my record will include jazz fusion interpretations of "Shakedown Street" and/or "Help On The Way" with Donald Fagen on vocals. One can certainly dream!

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 20:47:54 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, A one, ana two, ana three

1. I'm predicting "Everything Must Go" will NOT have a title track. It's just a statement of the mind set for the album. Fast and loose Baby! Not as polished as we would expect from Donald and Walter. Maybe a little flaw here and there, intentionally not cleaned up! I expect a few toe tappers as well. Something along the lines of Wet Side Story - a driving beat and some great hooks.

2. There will be nine (9) songs and the CD will clock in at 54:37.
There will be 4 songs with Donald on vocals. Follow those with one with Walter, three more by Donald, and then - the ninth song will be an instrumental. Possibly a Monk or Coltrane cover.

3. On February 14 (Valentine's Day) there will be a 45 second sample of one of the tunes on the ODP, as well as a complete song list. On March 21, 3 more samples will show up on the ODP. On April 10, there will be a sign-up for Steely Dan Digest members only to pre-order the CD and get it mailed on April 22 (2 weeks before the general public).

This is what the lady on Pyschic Phone Network told me this afternoon.


Mark in Boston

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 16:22:39 ET
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Here are my expectations based on the 3 questions posed:

1) As time has progressed, they've incorporated more jazz and blues influence into the album. Since Becker plays bass on the album, you have to assume that his guitar contribution will mainly be overdub solos. I think Herington may pick up a solo on one song, but I think it will be reminiscent of 2VN with mainly Becker, a sax soloist, and probably Charlap doing some keyboard soloing. I predict that the songs may become a little simpler from an arrangement standpoint, since the rhythm section cut the tracks as a group. As far as style departure, I have this funny feeling that the tracks will take an even bigger jump towards swing + jazz. Remember that the only track Keith Carlock contributed to on 2VN was the title track, which is probably the most jazz-like number on the album. I could see them sliding even farther from pop/rock on this album (which would be pretty cool IMO). It will be interesting to find out who ends up cutting the solos on this album. They tend not to ride a musician too long, and Potter has been on 2VN and on tours with them for years.

2) 8 tracks sounds like a nice number to me.

3) I think early April will be the time some local jazz and eclectic stations will bring the first cut from the album.

My uninformed predictions...I'll be happy just to have a new one!

Earl

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 15:57:17 ET
Posted by: Randy, Northern NJ/ USA

Steely-folk:

Being in the midst of a heavy Van Morrison kick, and seeing as how his name has come up here recently, I thought I'd toss out a few CD titles of some lesser known or less revered (though not at my house) "Belfast Cowboy" albums; to wit:

1. 'A Period of Transition' (1977) - With coproduction work and keyboards from the illustrious Dr. John, this one's been very underrated by fans and critics for years, and may be my favorite;

2. 'Common One' (1980) - Long, meditative tracks suffused with jazz and a sense of calm; criticism has been lobbed at the line "Did you ever hear of Wordsworth and Coleridge, baby," but how else would such an exchange be put? (Check the lyrical context in "Summertime In England"); Brilliant and unlike any other recording by anyone;

3. 'Veedon Fleece' (1973) - A searching, probing record; Morrison was trying to find direction in his muse, his music and his life; folk, jazz and blues meet in a truly beautiful combination; unlike any other recording by anyone;

4. 'Too Long In Exile' (1993) - Morrison "returns" to his blues roots (which he never abandoned to begin with), and recorded this strong collection of songs; guest appearance by the legendary John Lee Hooker. Coming on the heels of 1991's 'Hymns to the Silence,' this album showed Van the Man was (and is) still a force to be reckoned with.

Check 'em out; you can't really go wrong-

"I know this super highway / this bright familiar sun / I guess that I'm the lucky one..."
- Steely Dan, 'Home At Last'

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 15:16:21 ET
Posted by: DJ, Chicago

1. Is the new one's style going to be a departure from 2vN?
2. How many tracks do you expect to see on there?
3. When will we first hear a new tune?

What the Hay...

1. More loose that 2VN. How vague is that? Donald calls it wiggy? Now wiggy is a old jazz term...no? I am hoping for a loose knit, bluesy/jazzy album with more backbone (as in more rough and tough guitars) so I can convert some of my Black Crowe buddies now that they are defunct.

2. 10 tunes with one long one.

3. May 6

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 14:09:43 ET
Posted by: Jaco, Walter's Gear

Hey guys

Just as a side topic: Does anyone know anything about Walter's bass gear? As he is playing bass on the new album, I would be very interested to know what basses he plays/likes playing etc.

I know Tom Barney likes ESP, Fender and MusicMan. Anyone know anything about Walter's preference?

Regards


Jaco


Any general comments on bass/Walter's bassplaying appreciated. Personally I love the line on "Snowbound"

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 13:40:46 ET
Posted by: Paige, SB

Hey Warren....No worries.
-P

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 13:05:04 ET
Posted by: Warren, and a bottle of mo

Paige- You're right. Sorry. I thought I was posting to the yellow. I'm color blind. Sorry Hoops.

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 12:53:55 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Geeze Warren...I must have hit a nerve with you regarding the Dead. Perhaps you should consider decaf.

First...You are absolutely correct....I don't get the Dead. I never have. But what I was referring to was their fans...not the band specifically. Perhaps I should have said that "I don't get the die-hard fans of the Dead...of which, you must be a member. I stated that they were an "EXCELLENT" band. Few bands reach that level in my book. Those bands that go beyond (my interpretation) of "excellent" are very few and far between.

I hope that there is room on this board for "differences of opinion" without getting personal. If not...Hoops should change the bacjground color to yellow.

Also...I don't quite get the Bono or Green Peace reference. Is this to say that I am so far to the left (in your mind) that I've been reduced to a "commie-pinko-pig?" Geeze...I hope not. After listening to Powell this morning, I'm finally convinced of the Administration's position. Wish I would have had this information a couple of months ago. But I digress.

Yes..the joke is probably older than I am...and I'm quite old. I still thought it was funny. Perhaps we should learn how to laugh at ourselves again and not take things so personally. Life is way to short.

I respect your opinion, Warren. However, don't take it personally...It's merely my "opinion."

-Paige

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 10:33:41 ET
Posted by: Warren, Shakedown Street

Paige says: "They maybe an excellent band...but that seems to be all they are" What the f*%k does that mean? With the Dead, you either get it,or you don't. The only thing that it "seems", is that you don't get it. Would you have liked them better if Jerry Garcia had joined Bono on a Green Peace mission? Would that "seem" better to you? Give me a break. Oh,and that joke about the Dead is older then you are. Speaking of pot....you should try some!

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 06:28:53 ET
Posted by: Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeg, back to you

re: Phil Spector and the Dan connection. Why didn't anyone spell it out?
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusic/feb4_clarkson-can.html

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 01:20:29 ET
Posted by: jk,

c'mon hoooooops

st. dominic's preview!

you kids wanna save muney on yer high priced shrinks!

put on SDP everyday and sing it from beginning to end at the top of your lungs wether you can sing or not.

then you'll feel better than james brown.

jk




http://www.iacenter.org/images/iraqfactsheet.pdf

Date: Wed, February 05, 2003, 00:12:39 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Hoops...

I would like to comment further on EJ and BT...but there is little time this evening.

Just one question...
Have you heard the song "Ticking?" (From Caribou)
For me...this is a wonderfully written song with lyrics (I assume) are from Bernie. It reminds me (of course) of "Don't Take Me Alive". The image when the "boy" is shot down from the police bullets...I think the line is: "And you danced like a marionette...." And "The gun felt so smooth and warm in your hand." You can't deny that some of these lyrics are wonderfully descriptive...etc. etc. And what about "Madman?" Look...I'm no EJ fanatic...His work doesn't even make it to my "best of list." However...I think Bernie is capable of writing some truly insightful lyrics, full of imagry...especially if the topic is dark.

As far as Van Morrison goes....Sorry, my friend. I have heard many speak of his place in popular music...but I don't get it. Like I don't understand the draw of the Grateful Dead. They may be an excellent band...but that seems to be all they are. They certainly don't deserve the kind of status that their die-hard fans would give them.

So...what did the one hippie say to the other hippie when they ran out of pot at the Grateful Dead Concert?

Answer: This music sucks!

-Paige

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 23:43:47 ET
Posted by: h,

Peg, others,

I've got a page coming on recording the Piano Jazz show coming?I think we will pull it all together. CD tree? I think so, as long as it's grabbed right. Thanks to Lee for hints, looking forward other comments.

jim

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 23:35:48 ET
Posted by: hoops,

jk:
Cool!

My Survey answers:

1) I think it will be a progression from 2vN. Based on the analog recording bit, I bet it will be bluesey and perhaps have a touch of the feel of "Pretzel Logic."

2) Let's see, Ten? Eight? Eleven or twelve plus a bonus track that doens't have to go anywhere--like the one track that wasn't a whack? That's a toughie. I guess it depends if there is an epic, extended track like WOH or "Aja" or "Glam Prof." Or it could have lots of short ones like "Pretzel Logic," celebrating the shorter, more rocking style of Dan since they are in the Rock Hall. Ummm...I give up...how many?

3) I think it depends if they play a new one on "Piano Jazz." Otherwise, early to mid March.

Paige:
My pleasure, but I should clariy: Taupin doesn't often make the standard of Becker/Fagen. More over there are some real stinkers. Let's set aside the obscure stuff since the general public didn't like them; BUT how about these hit Taupin lyrics that at best need some help. Warning: EJ fans get pissed off when I write things like this.

"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues"?Well, WHY **DO** THEY call it the blues??? The lyric never says. Stevie Wonder is cool on Harmonica though.

"Sad Songs Say So Much"?Lyrics were obviously lifted from a 99-cent Hallmark card.

"Rocket Man (I Think It's Gonna Be A Long, Long, Long, Long, Long, Time)"
What a cool song about an acid trip. Oh? It's supposed to be about astronauts and space travel? Kinda dumb then, 'specially when it gets to the part about raising the kids on Mars.

"I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That"
How absurd, "Now you wanna make one of four or five?" Over-the-top lyrics only a diva could sing. Then again, maybe that's why it works. Note: if you bought the "Elton John" album, play this one right after "The Cage" and you will realize they are the same song. Of course, I do think it is one of EJ's best keyboard and vocal performances. Check out the keys/vocal-only version. Steely Dan's lyrics to "Everything You Did" tells a similar story and leaves this one in the dust by comparison.

"We Built This City on Rock and Roll"
Blecchhh! 'nuff said.

BTW: "Island Girl" was rumored to be influenced by our heroes.

Although, I'm familiar with Elton John's stuff since as kid it opened me to a variety of music, it goes without saying that Steely Dan is the only perfect band in my book. I can't think of a Steely Dan recording I dislike. EJ is pretty easy to pick apart.

But really, enough EJ, how about Van Morrison? Unlike Steely Dan, he has had some misses and stinkers, but he's the only other artist who comes close to taking me where Steely Dan do, as well as a few special places that are unique. I don't know where to begin talking about Van. The recordings? The shows where he is "on" as opposed to "off"? The prickly personality? Between Steely Dan and Van, those are the only anti-depressants I ever need. Favorite Van album? "Moondance"? "Into The Music"? "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher?" "Avalon Sunset"? "Inarticulate Speech of The Heart"? "His Band and The Street Choir?" "Astral Weeks"??? "How Long Has This Been Going On"? Tough! How about the title track to the "Healing Game?" Coltrane, Muddy Waters, Mahilia Jackson, and doo wop all in one. Sublime!

jim

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 20:14:51 ET
Posted by: Peg, we'll see...

1. Departure? Yes, I think it will be in the sense that it will have more blues to it than before. I wish they would go more rock, but I have my doubts. I think a couple songs on 2VN were blatantly commercial (Cousin Dupree for example) and this one, too, may have its share of same. I am also truly hoping that this new production method they used will keep it from sounding as sterile and distanced as 2VN.

2. Number of tracks? An odd number.

3. When hear new tune? Probably not until the middle of April.
(SO much for prognostication, she says!)

I am so computerally lame that there is no way I would even attempt to "capture" the Piano Jazz show off my computer. Let alone the fact that my Mediaplayer is dead. And it is not being broadcast in my area. So, I put myself at the mercy of those wise ones who combine suchlike wisdom with kindness. I can't be the only one who needs to rely on you...I need a copy of the show on tape or CD. Help!

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 17:07:57 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

The questions...

1. Is the new one's style going to be a departure from 2vN?
2. How many tracks do you expect to see on there?
3. When will we first hear a new tune?

1) Some of the cuts will not be much of a departure from 2VN. However, I think that they will "turn it up a bit" with Harrington on lead. We may actually hear some "rock n' roll" on this one.

2) I agree. I think that this will be a shorter CD. Probably about 8 tracks...with the opening track being one of the "heavier" songs.

3) April....Mid April.

My two cents.

-Paige

PS - Thanks hoops for the corrections on the John/Taupin thread.

-Paige

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 16:43:42 ET
Posted by: Andy, DC

The woman that was found in Phil Spector's home was apparently a B-list actress named Lana Clarkson. She has a web site--www.lanaclarkson.com...take a look at it...the music is eerie to say the least.

On a more Steely subject, I haven't seen a lot of discussion/speculation about the new one. So I'll throw a few questions out there:

1. Is the new one's style going to be a departure from 2vN?
2. How many tracks do you expect to see on there?
3. When will we first hear a new tune?

I guess I'll take a crack at those.

1. I've heard secondhand that the style is supposed to be very similar to 2vN, but I'm inclined to disagree a bit. I doubt the album will be as sterile (especially the drumming) and have more of a rock/blues influence than 2vN did. I bet we get a lot of tunes in the style of Janie Runaway and less Almost Gothics or What a Shame About Mes.

2. SD has never been afraid to keep their albums short--see Aja and Gaucho. Seeing as it only took a year to do, I would guess this will be a short one--seven tracks perhaps?

3. I'd bet that we'll hear something--either through legitimate or illicit channels--by the end of March. Radio will probably pick up on it around April if the release date stays solid.

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 12:49:10 ET
Posted by: jk,

wow.

stop the presses.

i looked up the new steely keyboarder, bill charlap , on the web to see what he is all about, and there are several pictures of him.

so, i am looking at these pictures and i am thinking - i have seen this guy before! but, i have never seen the bands he has been with, so - what gives???

so i thought - ok. new york jazz dude . . . GADZOOKS!

could it be? 10-13 years ago around the time when donald and his all-star guests were kicking it at the lonestar and during the beginning of the rock & soul review - just as the co-producer of the lonestar shows, mr pete fogel, was finishing up his old and brilliant career as a bar manager - i believe that i stared at mr charlap through the bottom of a bloody mary glass as he played piano for the sunday brunch crowd at pete’s old gig in the lounge of the mayflower hotel.

of course, remembering any of those sundays after hanging with pete and the gang all weekend is almost impossible. so i contacted our swami and yes, it is confirmed!

pete booked bill charlap for about 10 -20 brunches at the famous rock hotel, "sometime in the early 90's" (maybe even the fall of '92!)

pete reports that bill is a good guy and a fantastic player. he jokingly told me that he hoped donald and walter paid charlip more than the $125 that pete got for him to play the brunch gig!

he has since lost touch with charlap, but is looking forward to talking about old times with him.

The next thing you know, d&w will be hiring bill pascador as their press agent!


jk

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 09:28:01 ET
Posted by: OBINNA, NIGERIA

PLEASE FOR THOSE OF YOU THERE IN NIGERIA I HAVE REACH THIS SIDE.MUGU

Date: Tues, February 04, 2003, 01:39:52 ET
Posted by: Lee, The fluidly dynamic streaming dimension

Relative to the Piano Jazz show, I have found free software to record what streams through your sound card. I also have found a station that will broadcast the show twice and, most importantly, will stream via the Internet in near CD quality sound bit rates of 128 Kbps.

The software, Messer:
http://www.dago.pmp.com.pl/messer/

The free mp3 encoder, called Lame, that needs to be added to the directory of the above software:
http://mitiok.free.fr/

With a speedy computer, one can record and encode to mp3 on the fly. My 300 mhz machine can't quite keep up, and if that is the case with your computer, record the show as a WAV file and then encode it into mp3 separately. You will need to test it to find out if you need to separate the tasks.

Here is the readme file for Messer, which explains everything, including integrating Lame within Messer:
http://www.dago.pmp.com.pl/messer/readme.txt

Last, the NPR station that will broadcast the show twice and in near CD quality sound bit rates of 128 Kbps (better than most I have found):
http://wucf.ucf.edu/

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 22:17:47 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Meant to ask:

How did Katy Lied go last Saturday night? It's been four months since they last performed, if I am correct.

jim

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 22:03:24 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

John:
Your response is eloquence at it's best and much more energy than "poorPoorPOOR" deserves, which is no response at all.

Thank you very much, John.

Regarding Phil Spector, he obviously was quite a genius. The first I became aware of his psychological problems was when I was reading an interview with Leonard Cohen. Cohen started work with Spector on his mid-70s album, "Death of a Ladies Man." Then in the middle of the album, Spector locked Cohen out of the sessions and he had no input on the album whatsoever from then on. Cohen hates the album and says Spector "hijacked it." It must have been interesting to be in the studio with Spector, Yoko Ono and John Lennon. Reuters and The New York Times has a bit about Spector: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/arts/entertainment-crime-spector.html

Piano Jazz with Phil Woods:
Caught Marian McPartland with Phil Woods yesterday morning on "Piano Jazz." What a great show! Definitely one of my favorites, as McPartland so often says.

Of course, we all know Woods from his amazing sax solo on "Dr. Wu." More than a few Danfans rate it as the best sax solo on a Steely Dan recording. Although McPartland's "Piano Jazz" show airs here in Chicago at 11:00 a.m. CT Sundays, the show will be aired at various times throughout most of the week. Like WBGO from the NJ/NJ area will air it this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET ( http://www.wbgo.org, as Duncan suggested last week.)

Throughout the show, McPartland and Woods enthusiastically discussed various songs from their repertoires though the years. The show went by so fast.

Among the highlights was a really great performance of "Lover Man"(one of the best I can remember). And then there was when Phil asked Marian to perform one of her songs from many years ago, that has Johnny Mercer lyrics and was recorded by Tony Bennett, "Twilight World." When asked, Marian replied hesitantly, "I guess I could fumble through…" Well, I've never seen someone fumble so gracefully! It was awesome. And then they did Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" with a "cool tempo" instead of the frequently performed "up tempo," as MP put it. Then Woods said he was used to the "100 MPH" versions. Well, you may know that I am especially fond of the Al Jarreau version on "Glengary Glen Ross" which features Peter Erskine and Bob Sherpard. It's such a fast version-I can't help but think that Phil Woods would call it the "Speed of Light version!"

It was a great show and it also helped me prepare for recording the Steely Dan appearance to CD in a couple of weeks.

Andy Siecle & Jesse:
Enjoy the Charlap show—eager to hear all that happens. Let us know, s'il vous plait.

Jack Bruce:
I was all excited the past couple of hours as I thought it was LENNY Bruce. Jack is cool, though.

LaPage:
I do remember BP but hadn't thought about that one in a long time. Thanks for the memory jog.

HeyMike:
Very Cool. Here's another for you: if you go to the Best Buy on North Avenue in Melrose Park (IL for those not familiar), the lady who runs the CD department is named Aja. Without my mentioning Steely Dan, she said she was named for the Steely Dan song. She's African-American rather than Asian, though.

Mr. Rag:
Why is it that the same people who watch the Sopranos and Kingpin get all uncomfortable about Steely Dan lyrics. The same thing, really. I know more than a few people like that. Didn't care for the new Dragnet. To his credit , he convincingly shed the Ted Bundy personna, but Jack Webb will always be gentleman Joe Friday in my mind.

Back in 1997, I had the pleasure of seeing "Smokey Joe's" with Maggi McCoy at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. I can't remember for sure if Drew played for that particular run. It was a lot of fun, though. We DID go because of the connections to "Ruby Baby" and Drew. I remember that.

Fly low, be cool.

jim

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 19:53:19 ET
Posted by: Mr. LaPage, Magnolia Blvd

One more tune that features the Clavinet:

Anyone remember Billy Preston's "Outa-Space", which hit the Top40 Charts on 5/13/72? BP uses the clavinet as the featured solo instrument. I've always admired that song, which was an instrumental which has some good electric organ as well.

JL

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 14:10:07 ET
Posted by: John Granatino, Dallas

Yikes! This just in from the AP:

ALHAMBRA, Calif. - Hall of Fame music producer Phil Spector was arrested Monday for allegedly killing a woman, deputies said.

Spector, 62, was arrested around 5 a.m. at a house in this suburb northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Efflandt said.

The body of the woman was found at the scene.

In his legendary career, Spector produced such music greats as Tina Turner and the Ramones.

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 07:55:36 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, These suburban streets

More cosmic sightings..

My son and I went to Target yesterday and of course he wanted a slurpy! The girl behind the counter was named "Rikki". Yup, her dad named her after THAT Rikki!

The planets are lining up

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 03:33:35 ET
Posted by: Jesse, Toronto

The Bill Charlap Trio will be playing in Toronto at Top O' The Senator from March 27th to March 30th. I'm excited to ask him all about "Everything Must Go". I've seen his band three times now, and they are truly great. They do a very interesting and original approach to standards.

Date: Mon, February 03, 2003, 00:49:46 ET
Posted by: John Granatino, Dallas

To "Poor People Sleeping,"

I hope that nothing I have said or done has ever represented that I am trying to take credit for the work of Brian Sweet, Pete Fogel and Bill Pascador. When I first started putting the issues onto the Web in 1995 and 1996, I sought Pete Fogel's permission, which he graciously gave to me. In addition, I have always attributed the work to the originators of the newsletter, both on my site and here in occasional postings on Hoops' board. I am in awe of their work and I'm happy to republish it so that new generations of fan can read what Brian, Pete and Bill did.

My site is intended to be a reading room for people who are interested in Steely Dan, and who would like to read what has been written about them over the years. I pay for the site's upkeep myself, I keyboard the articles in when I have free time, and that's that. I don't pretend that my own insights are better than anyone else's; I'm happy to create and maintain an archive so that current and future Steely Dan fans can learn more about the band, if they wish. If you choose not to read, that's ok too.

I also put my name on what I say and do, so that you may criticize me by name, behind the cloak of anonymity that you wear. You may want to examine your own motives.

All the best,
John

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 22:30:52 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Kingpin

NBC's highly-anticipated new series "Kingpin" debuted tonight with Steely Dan's "Do It Again" playing on the soundtrack. The song was playing in the opening minutes while showing drugs coming over the Mexican border. You can watch the first 8 minutes of the show at this URL (including the Steely Dan scene).


http://www.nbc.com/Kingpin/

One of the executive producers of "The Sopranos" directed the debut show. Last year, you may remember, season 3 of The Sopranos opened with Tony singing "Dirty Work".

Lonnie was the Kingpin.......

Mark in Boston

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 21:01:36 ET
Posted by: Andy Siecle , Only the best

Adding to the chorus of praise here for the Bill Charlap Trio tour. Amazing musicianship in the two sets played in Baltimore tonight. Charlap just has an incredible style and touch, which makes me even more anxious to hear his contribution on Everything Must Go. If the tour comes near you, you'll be glad you made the effort to see him.

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 20:27:53 ET
Posted by: this from jackbruce.com,

hey folks everyone should at least have the brilliant "songs for a tailor." i hope they re-release "a question of time." i wish they will remix and remaster all.

•••

The wait for re-releases is Over! Jack Bruce's solo records will be re-released this spring Universal Records have planned reissues of the following albums in the UK and in Europe:

7 April 2003:
1. Songs for a Tailor
2. Things We Like
3. Harmony Row
4. Out of the Storm

May 2003:
5. How's Tricks?
6. Jet Set Jewel
7. Jack Bruce and Friends Live at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester
(with Mick Taylor, Carla Bley, Ronnie Leahy and Bruce Gary.)
8. Compilation Album

Each of the CDs, with the exception of the Free Trade Hall concert and the compilation, will contain unreleased tracks or alternate takes as bonus material.

No re-releases have been planned for the U.S. Should any U.S. fans wish to see these CDs sold in the record stores, please contact Bill Levinson at Universal Records, Inc. and let him know your thoughts:
Bill Levinson, Special Projects
Universal Records, Inc.
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6026

Tel: (212) 333-8000


•••

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 18:28:45 ET
Posted by: Testing,

?

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 15:46:59 ET
Posted by: Poor People Sleepin', Wake Up

What's with all the boffo ass-kissing directed at Hoops and John Granatino for putting up the old Metal Legs? I mean if anyone should be thanked, it should be Pete Fogel and Bill Pascador. It's their hard work that keeps getting Hoops and John free tickets to Steely Dan shows so they can play the part of fawning fans. Anyone could enter these and it's a bunch of shit for those two to get all the credit. Like it's supposed to be soooo original to put someone else's work out on the web and take credit for it, which is all their sites are about.

The Pascador/Fogel issues of Metal Leg were ten times better than Brian Sweet's issues. Sweet's version even went out of business. And what happens? Sweet's versions have been out there for ages while next to nothing is done with the Pascador and Fogel issues for years. Then "(GASP)--LOOKS LIKE STEELY DAN IS GOING ON TOUR! Oh yeah, let's get up the best issues to make us look good." Hoops and John just exploit other people's efforts. When was the last time you guys did anything original? Have you guys ever written anything original of note about Steely Dan? At least some of us are on to your royal scam. It's so obvious. When will you stop leeching off others to advance your egos?

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 04:28:41 ET
Posted by: Wowie!, It's Connie Lee!

John G!
Thanks for the updated Metal Leg's! I'm not sure what issue (21 or 22?) but the interview with the engineer from the Nightfly was fantastic! Very inside stuff about the making of the record. Didn't know that the song "The Finer Things" that David Sanborn performed was originally slated to be on the Nightfly. Very cool.

Date: Sun, February 02, 2003, 00:16:56 ET
Posted by: Sean,

It's very sad, Big Fan. Hoops' post accurately reflects my thoughts as well. You, the families of the astronauts and all have my condolences.

I'm surprised that we don't hear more about Drew Zing. I expected that he would be all over the place after he toured with Steely Dan. He was with Boz Scaggs tour, I think. Didn't he play in a band for a syndicated talk show?

After reading all the posts, I went and bought the expanded 2-CD version of a Love Supreme. The booklet is substantially written by Ashley Kahn. I will have to get the book. Good thread.

John and Hoops, thanks for the Metal Legs and other articles. The Pete Fogel issues of Metal Leg are far better than the Brian Sweet issues. Good to finally see them on the web after all these years. You guys do good work.

Saw the new Rolling Stone today. The headline read, "Pete Townshend: Trial by Tabloid." Ain't that the truth. I'm sure in a few years this will be all behind Pete and we'll remember what assholes the press was. At least Rolling Stone got this one right.

Elton John has so many periods. Some of them really SUCK and his real early stuff is pretty good.

I was listening to New Frontier yesterday and realized that a certain line was even more risque that I had considered. Call me late to the party, but that line, "She loves to limbo." Yowwie!

Between the Columbia and the war. this is gonna being one bitch of a month. Let's all hang tough.

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 22:35:04 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Paige:
To be sure Bernie Taupin is under appreciated and misunderstood as well. I've met him once. He's the complete opposite of Elton John in so many ways: reclusive, rather modest, an impish Marlboro Man, and quite a womanizer. To EJ's credit, at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Elton presented his award to Bernie saying "there would be no Elton John if it weren't for Bernie Taupin." Today, Elton has prissy houses all over and Bernie happily has a ranch where he tends horses and writes country music, most recently with Willie Nelson.

Some clarifications though. The fact is that in late 1976, Taupin's life was a mess and he went away to dry out of drink and drugs--he was really fucked up and his first marriage had just ended. He did that Alice Cooper album during that time and then did his own album and married Toni Russo, sister of Rene Russo. Of course EJ had ideas he could write lyrics on his own. Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word is actually Elton's words and there's not really a lot of depth to them. The success of that song was what got EJ the idea he should try to go it separately from him.) But BT didn't take time to write poetry. Also, BT was asked to write "Don't Go Breaking My Heart and he HATES the song, always has.

Regarding Candle In The Wind, Elton was requested to sing the original version written with Marilyn Monroe in mind and EJ/BT wanted to write a whole new song. The compromise was the Candle In The Wind '97 version. I do dislike ther version they put out as a single. I thought the version from the actual funeral (which also was released) was what should have gotten the attention. All based on the premise that Prince Diana deserved that much world attention when she died. I was put off by all of that.


In the late 1990s, Taupin formed a country rock group called Farm Dogs. They released two albums, and he was insistent that everything be credited to the band instead of him. So when they toured, the ads were only to say Farmdogs. So the show I attended only had 18 attendees (in Chicago). If you like Crosby, Stills and Nash and Grateful Dead circa "Workingman's Dead," you will like their two albums. It was at that show that I briefly met him (he met everyone who came). He was very modest and it was a great show. I do agree that I think it's Bernie who is hugely responsible in part for giving more depth to Elton's work. At the same time Elton John is so addicted to being a celebrity, it significantly impairs the quality of his work. BT could easily live on royalties but he still wants to try new things.

Recently, he received his first Grammy nomination for a song he wrote for Willie Nelson. And many of the lyrics Taupin wrote for EJ's last album, Songs from The West Coast were intended for Bernie's own albums. Hence why the album is a cross between a Farmdogs record and the "Madman Across the Water" album. Between Bernie, Conductor/Arranger Paul Buckmaster and the late Gus Dudgeon, and all the money Dick James put behind him in the lat 1960s, Elton was pretty lucky to have some amazing co-horts.

Just the various stories I had heard about Elton John then in the 70s and now leaves me to believe that Becker and Fagen did and probably still do have a field day making fun of him.

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 21:57:13 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Big Fan;
This is a very sad day for us all, but of course it is so much sadder for you, your family and colleagues since it touches you on such a more personal level. Needless to say, I can only slightly grasp a few concepts of the all the amazing things you and your co-workers have contributed to the Shuttle and the space program over the years. So many people, like yourself, take some major risks, including their lives, in hopes of helping the human kind and its spirit go way, way beyond the ordinary. People like you, and those who have given their lives for the space program give us all hope that there is so much more that can be achieved. While there may be set backs, things *do* get better.

I'm sure it's got to hurt what happened today, and it will take time to overcome that. But know that so many people like myself greatly admire and are so proud of what people like you do, and what the astronauts do.

Thank you so much.

Know that so many are behind you, your colleagues and especially those who gave their lives today. You are all in our hearts.

Very sincerely,

Jim

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 21:05:34 ET
Posted by: Big Fan,

What can I say - another sad day. Two in my career. I still get sick over the last one. Doesn't make up for the hundreds of hours safe spacewalks. I must have gotten 20 phone calls. Those of you who know me know I've spent the last 20 years plus helping select the material used on the hardware used on the Shuttle and Space Station - especially the space suits and cooling systems on the Shuttle and currently the water processor system for ISSF. There must have been literally thousands of parts and blueprints for parts that I touched that were on that ship. You always fear that you've overlooked something. I'm really curious to see what happened here today. It scares me that there are reports that the cabin was getting hot just before they lost contact. Failed cooling system, damage during launch, tiles failing off.

Going to work will not be good Monday. Unfortunatly most of our managers are not origina; "space" people but money men brought in from other divisions. We are going to need a collective group hug as we try and cope with doing our current jobs which is finishing the last module for the 8 man crew and trying to determine if any of our hardware failed during landing.

I've met many of this crew, and I can't tell you how terrible I feel for their families right now.

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 12:13:32 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Drew Zingg

A couple of weeks ago someone posted to the Blue asking about Drew Zingg. Tonight on HBO Signature (and many more times in February) they are showing "Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Music of Leiber and Stoller". Drew was in the band during the Broadway run and is also on guitar for the final performance, which this program documents.
I like to think Donald had a big hand in the Leiber and Stoller revival by resurrecting "Ruby Baby" on "The Nightfly" back in 1983.

Speaking of "The Nightfly", I'm still groovin' to the DVD-A of the disc that I won on this GB. The DTS mix is superb!!!


Mark in Boston

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 11:37:32 ET
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the astronauts on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

-Paige

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 10:05:50 ET
Posted by: MorningFly,

This is so sad. All I can think of as I watch the photos of the Columbia Shuttle astronauts is that picture on the Night Fly DVD of the astronauts. Wasn't there a space catastrophy in the early 1960s? I was about -15 years old at the time.

Very sad.

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 05:52:52 ET
Posted by: Nigel, UK

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 01:35:25 ET
Posted by: duncan,

further to randys post about Mr Townshend.
the latest news from his site should make it a little clearer.

29 January 2003
Internet Watch Foundation - Updated information


Those of you that have been following the current case involving Pete will be aware he had stated that he had been in contact with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) regarding his concerns over child pornography on the Internet. At the time the story first broke the IWF denied that they had in fact heard from Pete. They have now admitted that they did in fact have communication with Pete on a number of occasions.

This is the remit of the IWF (taken from their website http://www.iwf.org.uk )

'The Internet Watch Foundation works in partnership with ISPs, Telcos, Mobile Operators, Software Providers, Police and Government, to minimise the availability of illegal Internet content particularly child abuse images. Our Internet Hotline can deal with reports of potentially illegal Internet content, such as websites, newsgroups and online groups that:

Contain images of child abuse, anywhere in the world.

Contain adult material that potentially breaches the Obscene Publications Act in the UK.

Contain criminally racist material in the UK.'

As you can see the IWF was the correct body for Pete to approach but since some of the media have reported the fact that the IWF denied receiving any communication from him we thought it was important that this updated information was published.

In response to this information Pete has said :

"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 e-mails 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."

Date: Sat, February 01, 2003, 00:57:27 ET
Posted by: John Granatino, Dallas

Happy February everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I have uploaded all of issue 20 of Metal Leg, and most of issue 21, for your reading pleasure. Just a few more left... phew!

Index page for the project is http://www.granatino.com/sdresource/mllist.htm

Comments always appreciated.

All the best,
John

January 2003 BlueBook Entries.

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