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Click for APRIL 2006 BlueBook Entries
MARCH 2006 BlueBook Entries
All Times are Eastern (New York City) Time Zone.
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| | While there is no set topic, discussion should be vaguely Steely Dan tangential. |
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 23:53:17 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 23:47:25 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 23:06:26 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 22:56:46 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 22:16:25 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 22:14:27 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 21:57:34 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 21:36:05 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 20:53:40 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 20:23:55 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 20:14:54 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 20:09:02 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 20:04:10 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 19:56:42 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 19:49:31 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 19:40:41 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 19:39:24 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 19:34:28 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 19:16:15 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 18:50:15 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 18:22:49 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 17:59:39 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 16:35:55 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 15:38:31 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 15:27:25 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 14:40:28 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 14:19:28 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 14:16:06 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:38:39 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:37:09 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:33:45 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:32:26 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:15:13 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:11:41 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:07:09 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 13:03:43 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 12:57:50 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 10:05:31 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 09:54:34 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 09:15:52 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 08:23:13 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 08:14:46 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 08:08:35 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 07:37:06 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 07:07:37 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 07:05:23 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 04:45:10 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 03:22:58 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 01:07:10 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 00:18:28 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 00:14:01 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 00:09:28 ET
Date: Fri, March 31, 2006, 00:05:58 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:57:14 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:41:24 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:39:51 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:28:12 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:24:52 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:24:36 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:19:11 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 23:06:29 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:57:39 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:48:24 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:33:09 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:29:13 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:21:43 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:07:23 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 22:04:20 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 21:51:49 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 21:18:20 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:56:48 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:52:41 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:35:21 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:35:11 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:26:22 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:25:53 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:22:51 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 20:09:12 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 19:51:00 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 19:23:28 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 19:02:04 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 18:59:06 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 18:54:25 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 18:39:49 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 18:20:10 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 18:11:17 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 17:10:41 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:44:18 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:35:51 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:30:20 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:29:51 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:29:20 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:26:57 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:11:44 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:09:14 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 16:07:14 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 15:57:24 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 15:51:42 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 15:29:22 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 15:15:22 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:59:35 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:52:33 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:40:50 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:34:42 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:23:47 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:05:54 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 14:03:14 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 13:33:12 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 13:28:01 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 13:23:46 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 13:03:04 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 13:00:36 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:54:07 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:46:11 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:42:52 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:39:03 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:37:57 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:37:49 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:34:30 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:30:23 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:30:09 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:14:23 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:12:52 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:06:38 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 12:02:09 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:58:56 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:47:52 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:36:01 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:31:07 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:26:03 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:25:28 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:24:07 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:10:29 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:08:30 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 11:02:26 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 10:51:42 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 10:50:30 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 10:48:33 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 10:39:56 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 10:37:43 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 10:27:39 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 09:49:25 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 09:18:28 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 09:15:27 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 09:04:36 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 09:01:19 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 08:57:49 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 08:51:49 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 07:48:52 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 07:47:50 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 07:42:54 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 07:25:31 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 02:59:14 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 02:51:00 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 00:56:19 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 00:52:26 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 00:39:20 ET
Date: Thurs, March 30, 2006, 00:17:55 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 23:56:18 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 23:51:59 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 23:31:27 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 22:57:06 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 22:49:27 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 22:33:20 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 20:52:19 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 20:44:59 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 19:44:56 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 19:41:35 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 19:07:13 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 18:52:47 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 18:29:13 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 18:00:31 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 17:25:50 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 17:13:10 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 17:00:01 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 16:54:25 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 16:44:34 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 16:05:19 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:52:31 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:49:49 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:48:10 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:44:57 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:44:36 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:41:08 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:23:20 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:09:57 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:08:24 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:05:17 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 15:02:46 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:55:27 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:51:30 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:48:48 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:45:58 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:38:43 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:32:42 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:31:39 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:29:05 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:27:37 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:22:42 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 14:20:12 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:57:45 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:54:40 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:48:23 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:46:20 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:45:51 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:35:58 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:35:07 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:31:05 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:12:07 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:08:39 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 13:01:30 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:53:44 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:49:30 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:40:15 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:30:00 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:25:23 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:22:45 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:21:22 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:18:36 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:17:17 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:03:13 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 12:00:20 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:53:08 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:46:22 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:44:05 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:40:03 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:32:31 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:28:09 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:15:57 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 11:01:13 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 10:19:27 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 10:03:55 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 09:09:19 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 08:21:29 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 07:33:39 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 07:28:27 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 03:26:29 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 01:50:29 ET
Date: Wed, March 29, 2006, 01:42:37 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 22:33:18 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 22:22:54 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 22:11:55 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 22:04:13 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 20:54:52 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 19:30:06 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 19:16:59 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 18:06:59 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 18:06:50 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:59:40 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:47:54 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:40:36 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:39:33 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:34:38 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:31:08 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 17:14:29 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 16:44:29 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 16:13:22 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 16:13:10 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 16:08:02 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:38:12 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:34:58 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:34:07 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:30:43 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:29:54 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:09:44 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:03:44 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 15:02:22 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 14:44:34 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 14:33:01 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 14:23:03 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 14:16:34 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 14:15:37 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:54:23 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:54:14 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:54:02 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:49:57 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:37:43 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:35:45 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:25:15 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:22:11 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:06:52 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 13:05:18 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 12:56:54 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 12:54:28 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 12:41:52 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 12:33:25 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 12:05:23 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 12:02:09 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 11:40:21 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 11:38:35 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 11:33:12 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 11:22:22 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 11:05:41 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 10:24:59 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 09:34:48 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 09:23:30 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 09:20:21 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 08:42:23 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 08:07:01 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 07:58:57 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 07:41:22 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 06:34:40 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 06:23:56 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 05:06:28 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 03:43:17 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 03:40:04 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 03:28:48 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 02:43:17 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 02:34:38 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 02:17:26 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 01:48:52 ET
Date: Tues, March 28, 2006, 00:08:42 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 22:59:24 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 22:46:30 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 20:26:16 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 19:26:30 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 18:12:34 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 18:03:01 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 17:54:57 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 17:51:34 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 17:44:08 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 17:42:02 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 17:36:36 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 17:11:37 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 16:56:22 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 16:53:17 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 16:47:30 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 16:30:24 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 16:29:54 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 16:18:27 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 15:27:23 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 15:22:31 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 15:21:14 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 15:18:39 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 15:11:56 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:29:39 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:24:24 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:23:54 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:20:46 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:18:09 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:09:15 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:07:12 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:04:35 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:02:43 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:01:54 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 14:00:43 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:57:48 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:56:15 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:50:33 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:50:15 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:48:53 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:35:16 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:13:32 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:12:22 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:11:50 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:03:01 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 13:00:28 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 12:31:37 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 12:29:32 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 12:25:26 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 12:22:17 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 12:15:22 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 12:08:21 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 11:59:35 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 11:48:36 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 11:42:57 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 11:35:29 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 10:54:04 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 10:39:35 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 10:37:31 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 09:56:18 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 09:34:36 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 09:29:51 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 07:56:44 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 05:01:06 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 02:45:32 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 01:47:41 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 01:30:45 ET
Date: Mon, March 27, 2006, 00:33:40 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 23:21:58 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 23:13:53 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 22:50:32 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 22:46:52 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 22:28:30 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 21:12:15 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:48:11 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:42:35 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:25:00 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:17:48 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:12:57 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:12:19 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 20:01:15 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 19:53:55 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 19:47:19 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 19:13:36 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 18:38:10 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 18:20:07 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 18:13:05 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 17:31:33 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 17:24:05 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 14:03:09 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 13:45:28 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 13:42:01 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 13:30:27 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 13:25:40 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 11:19:24 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 11:11:38 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 11:08:04 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 11:07:57 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 11:06:19 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 11:04:33 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 10:07:37 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 09:30:10 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 08:58:12 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 08:26:33 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 08:08:39 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 04:27:17 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 01:33:51 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 01:21:20 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 00:43:45 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 00:42:04 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 00:23:33 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 00:18:36 ET
Date: Sun, March 26, 2006, 00:01:35 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 20:56:58 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 20:40:20 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 20:16:41 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 19:49:22 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 19:31:54 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 17:31:58 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 16:42:06 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 16:14:25 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 16:10:29 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 15:30:29 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 15:29:55 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 15:27:09 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 15:21:23 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 14:26:13 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 13:55:14 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 13:33:01 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 12:55:45 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 12:33:35 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 12:30:57 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 11:59:45 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 11:22:10 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 11:11:08 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 10:57:41 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 10:18:50 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 09:29:57 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 09:17:19 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 08:57:44 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 08:29:13 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 08:11:40 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 07:17:37 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 02:28:44 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 02:07:34 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 00:08:27 ET
Date: Sat, March 25, 2006, 00:00:21 ET
Date: Fri, March 24, 2006, 23:03:18 ET
Date: Fri, March 24, 2006, 22:04:32 ET
Date: Fri, March 24, 2006, 21:12:31 ET
Date: Fri, March 24, 2006, 20:18:27 ET
Date: Fri, March 24, 2006, 19:56:08 ET
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Posted by: lester, back in the mnt topscool-of-the-evening... you out there? I owe you an apology. When I saw your handle I missed the fact that it's the opening line of "Tomorrow's Girls".... and made a semi rude reference to it being the opening of the old Classics 4 "spooky" (which was a pretty good tune in its day, by the way) I didn't realize it till the opening bars last night of "tomorrow's girls" in S an Diego. Actually DF did TWO cuts off of KAMA that night... and they were spectaucular... in many ways "Countermoon" was one of the best performances of the evening... Having said that, I don't think I'm contradicting my comments about KAMA not being as compelling as a lot of the other DF/SD stuff... but the terrific performances of those Thursday evening certainly proved there's nothing lacking in the tunes... maybe the compelling issue might suggest something overproduced or too controlled on the album... Because BOTH were incredible Thursday... from what I've read here on this board I don't think DF did two tunes off of KAMA any night but 3/30... He only did "Teahouse on the Tracks" in Chicago. As EVERY tune started out in Chicago the crowd lit up... Most all solos got a loud round of applause and cheering... Which NEVER happened last night... But Donald did SEVEN different tunes from what we got in Chicago... THREE for the encore... and I think it was one of the only other times than Chicago they did "What I do" ... now it would be hard to say that ANYTHING topped the Howard Levy Harmonica solo in Chicago... but it was neat to hear Herringon's guitar solo Last Night... It was great.
And we got IGY in the encore... and like in Chicago, finished with "Viva Viva R&R" Which was super.
Donald got horse again, Thursday Night.. but seemed to go with it better than in Chicago... Pretty amazing all in all!
Posted by: The Bending End, SteveeDan......shocking story. So sorry. My wife is a nurse practitioner and I intend to show her your story.
I'm a recovered alcoholic and substance abuser myself, so I'm intimately familar with addictions [recreational, in my case] and the damage they can cause.
I've been direct and honest with my children regarding my own history [they never saw any of this...it was all 24+ years ago]. I think they've actually taken it to heart. I hope...
God bless,
Bill
Posted by: The Bending End, Bodhisattva"what album...convinced you that SD was much more than just a band, but an extraordinary, special, life-changing phenomenom"
Countdown To Ecstasy
I was a 1st-semester sophomore in college in the fall of '73 [age 51 now] and listening to this quite a bit. One of my courses that semester was an Eastern Philosophy course. After a few weeks of this course, combined with occasional listening to CTE, it finally struck me as to what was actually happening in the song "Bodhisattva" and I got the biggest kick out of it -- and them -- from that point forward. "Gonna sell my house in town"...LOL. I didn't know much about Becker & Fagen at the time, but it made a big impression on me that they must be rather well-educated -- yet they were some sort of rock act. They were certainly very humorous and talented.
I was existing in such an abstract world back then [Mathematics major] that it also made a big impression on me [especially once I found out that they had gone to Bard] that they seemed very accomplished at APPLYING their knowledge and talents within a creative process. I admired them.
Posted by: Wonko The Sane, (aka paul, ph, etc)in agreement with greg
album = collection, not any specific recording medium, so an album is an album on a cd is an album on a vinyl is an album on cassette is an album on an 8-eight track (well, maybe not so much) is an album on mp3.
Posted by: Greg Moonspank, White PlainsQuote:
<<<<For those of us late “40 somethings” or older, I’d love to know what album (they were called that back then)>>>>>
Us 20-somethings still call bands' new records "albums" now. One can say: "Donald has a new album out". It is still as perfectly normal and understood as "don has a new cd out".
Posted by: Almost Gothic Negative Girl, Monterey, CaliforniaAnn ~ Capricorn here. Husband is a big Dan fan; we attended the Oakland show together, and he's (another) Pisces.
Steveedan ~ Man, that is really heartwrenching. Thanks for sharing that here. This place can be a little rough at times, so I pretty much quit posting for awhile, or even reading, until Morph appeared. But there are truly a lot of fine folks here, and you have always been one of them. Hope the Santa Barbara experience is wonderful for you tonight, and that you can hold some of that joy in your heart in the days ahead.
Love and light ~
Music and peace ~
Let's keep the positive thoughts flowing here on the Blue.
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, All things considered......I'd rather be in Santa Barbara...
It's been ages since I've posted for myriad reasons but I just wanted to pop in and say "thanks"...It was so nice to do a bit of touring and see the best people I know once again (you all know who you are...) See you again in late summer...
As far as the 5.1 DVD-A mix on MTC...I've clearly got major subwoofer response on my set-up (analog inputs)...Not sure if the problem potentially lies in the digital/optical transfer of the sound if you are not using analog...
Lastly...Stevee, I'm glad you chose to attend the show tonight...My thoughts are with you and Jona, still...
SoH
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - and still in the cloudsStar signs:
As I'm back to the dreaded slave cave on Monday, I won't have so much time on my hands, so I'm closing the star sign head count at Midnight (ET) on Sunday, 2nd April. So if any of you haven't given me your star sign yet, please pass it on if you so wish, then my "sampling" will hopefully be as statistically reliable as possible.
Current totals: Aries: 11, Pisces: 7 All others: 24
I'll give the full breakdown next week, then maybe someone who knows more about star signs than I (LWO??) can analyse the results.
Stevee:
Welcome back. Thank you so much for what you have written. I have a friend going down the same road that you have described. I'm going to give her a copy of what you've written and also pass it on to my GP for his reference if you don't mind. It can't be easy for you right now, but tonight's concert I'm sure will lift your spirits. My prayers are with you and Jona. I have included your wife in the Aries total.
To anyone going to tonight's concert:
If any of you get the chance to speak with Don and/or any of the band, please pass on my best regards to them and thank them for producing such a fantastic album and making Borneo ROCK!!!!!!!
Peace to all!
Ann
Posted by: Kamkiriad, Bay AreaDean -
I agree! Katy was my favorite Dan release until EMG came out. Today, I'll call it a tie. I'm also 49, but have adopted Joe jackson line........"Nineteen Forever." Hey!!! 19
Posted by: NYB, with a whole of his half-life left to carry on...Steveedan,
Thanks. I'll bet that was harder to write than it was to read. Good luck to you bro, and God bless.
P.S.) Roger Nichols is now writing a monthly column for "Sound On Sound" magazine.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr06/articles/rogernichols_0406.htm
Posted by: W1P, LAStevee -- freaking tragic story. But I think that you are doing the 100% absolute right thing by going to see the music you love tonight! Hang in there -- you have a lot of support all around town and in cyberspace
Posted by: Rajah, Santa BarbaraWaiting to receive Steven for the big farewell show tonight, this is one of the things in life he loves the very most and we're gonna treat him to it in style. Gretchen is passed out at the beachfront hotel after two drinks at the James Joyce. The buses have been here since we arrived around midday.
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)I'm pretty much with you, Kami. I bought CBAT on a lark because I loved the cover (which I NEVER do). A week or two after, buying (and loving) the album, I started to hear "Do it Again" on the radio. It had a Santana-esque sound to me. Reelin in the Years followed...at least on the Buffalo area stations I listened to.
Countdown quickly became my favorite album (and sometimes still is, BTW)...and, like you, Katy Lied convinced me this was something quite special.
I still have a problem deciding which SD album is my favorite, but CTE, KL and EMG probably show up more than the others (note: that they all make an appearance at one time or another).
Oh...and since I'm 49, I guess that qualifies me as "late 40's". But, damn...I still fell like I'm 12 (with good fake ID).
Posted by: Wonko The Sane, (aka paul, ph, etc)Woah, just read the little snippet in the digest about the missing .1 on the DVD-A, and he's right!! There's very minimal subwoofer unless I pull it from the LFE using a third-party audio processor! I don't know if that's a bad thing or good...? I didn't miss the extra sub punch until it was pointed out.
Just incase anybody wants to know, Shangri-La on DVD-A isn't so spectacular.... I like the CD better. There's got to be a maximum of 3 instruments playing at any given point anyway... I couldn't imagine how it would be possible to mix that over 6 channels. Needed Mr Elliot, methinks.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the pharmecudical industry is even more evil than Big Tobacco or the oil companies. I hate them bastards.
Posted by: moonbeam, vinyl landmorph the cat on vinyl due april 25,2006
acousticsounds.com
also check out dave dimartino's blog over on yahoo
he wrote a book on steely dan in the 80's that never came out
the whole book is on there. great info from hodder and dias
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaFor those of us late “40 somethings” or older, I’d love to know what album (they were called that back then) convinced you that SD was much more than just a band, but an extraordinary, special, life-changing phenomenom. For me it was with the release of Katy Lied.
I discovered the Dan at the very beginning of the run. Both “Do it Again” and “Reelin” were being played on KROQ in Los Angeles, and they instantly made an impact. I immediately ran out and purchased CBAT (Less than $3.00, including tax!). I liked the entire LP and started to advise anybody that would listen to me about this great but quirky band from Boston (remember back then? They were called a Boston band….how ridiculous!)
When Countdown was released I bought it immediately and was blown away by the production quality. It had a more sophisticated sound than CBAT, Fagen’s vocals on each cut was a refreshing change from Palmer and Hodder. Years later reading that Fagen decided to take the lead vocal reigns because the other vocalists couldn’t supply the right attitude made perfect sense. Pretzel Logic reminded me more of CBAT with its varied mix of musical styles.
Katy Lied knocked me into the next biosphere! It was the first LP I’d heard that was a true hybrid of Rock and Jazz. It provided me with a question I still cannot completely answer: Is Steely Dan Rock inspired Jazz or Jazz inspired Rock?
Posted by: suedave, wishin' I was in Santa BarbaraSteveeDan,
We're on your side. Draw strengh from Donald and us. Be your bad self and enjoy the show tonight.
Posted by: Little Wild One, when the demon is at your doorMy only wish, Stevee, is that I could be there to give you a hug and buy you a beer. Have a good time tonight, shed some tears and know that you are surrounded by the family of Dan.
In Don we trust.
Posted by: shy la, shy to shy, hush hush, eye to eyei have a question on the michael brecker album don't try this at home the long synthesizer intro in first tune it's been real is that the same jim beard playing in walter album
Posted by: hoops, The latest edition of the Dandom Digest has just been mailed, this time covering the past three days or so, March 28-31, 2006.
If you are a subscriber, you should see it in your email box within the next 12 hours. Again, If you don't receive it, please email me. Some people have been having problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.
The following are the subjects of this particular edition of the Dandom Digest
• What a good year!
• RE: New SD Tribute CD with Al DiMeola, Jay Graydon, Elliot Randall, more
• Q & A with DF in RS
• Another Morph review
• slate's fagen review
• MTC - DVD Audio
• audio anomaly in MTC track???
• Don's Health
• REDUX: Becker & Klein Writing Together
• • • T I C K E T E X C H A N G E • • •
• 2 Tix for Santa Barbara, 3/31
• Banyan Trees Ticket Exchange 2006
• • • SPOILERS • • •
• • • SPOILERS • • •
• • • SPOILERS • • •
• SPOILER: Temecula
• SPOILER: Review for The Wiltern
• SPOILER: Oakland was the Paramount
• SPOILER IF YOU CLICK THE LINK to Oakland Review
• SPOILER: Oakland Review
• SPOILERS: Viejas 3/30 -- the funk monster flies on Thursday?
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter"—definitely not to be confused with the glorious Official steelydan.com, walterbecker.com or donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists—please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest
jim
Posted by: moray eel, shyStevee:
Thanks for being open and honest about a very personal event. The information that you provided may have just saved the life of someone else. I hope you have a great time at the concert tonight and I wish you the best of luck in the days ahead.
m.e.
Posted by: The Doctor, Portsmouth, EnglandAnn........that's for me to know and for you to find out...God, I'm such a tease...and as a penalty for having the nerve to continue with this bestial theme, the least I can offer is a drink when and wherever you next hit blighty !...awaiting your call !
Posted by: SteveeDan, Totally NumbI want to thank everyone who has sent me and my son condolences.
The outpouring of love and support over this past week has been overwealming. Jona and I are doing the best we can under the circumstances. Many people (family, friends, the pretzel logic folk, and you guys here on the Blue) have stepped up to offer me assistance.
I cannot thank you all enough.
I have a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT or should this be called ...
a very important health announcement.
*** TO ALL USERS (RECREATIONAL OR MEDICINAL) OF HYDROCODONE MEDICATION ***
Hydrocodone is one of the two significant active ingredients in pills such as:
Vicoden
Lortab
Lorcet
Percodan
Percocet
Norco
... and others ...
Everybody knows that the body can build a tolerance (and a really massive dependence) upon these medications. Getting off of these medications can be extremely difficult. In fact, it is widely known these days that kicking the habit of these medications is actually more difficult than kicking heroin.
Why is this true ? Only the drug labs can tell you, but, for those of you who don't know ... hydrocodone medications are opiates. These medications are essentially SYNTHETIC HEROIN !!!
This was on Oprah a few years back, if you need more proof.
My wife took these medications over a 10 year period for various aches and pains, and then, she needed another form of mediation to get off of these pills. The other medication was also an opiate whose sole purpose is to help people to step down off of the vicoden type medication - - essentially a detox drug.
This is what my wife was doing. She was getting off of hydrocodone medications. She was doing great. She was leading a normal typical life and things were going fine. She was handling all of her routine Motherly and Wifely duties normally and excellently.
She was not sick.
So what happened to her ?
Another active ingredient to the above mentioned hydrocodone medications is (acetemediphine - probably misspelled) also known as Tylenol. Over the 10 year period, the Tylenol part of these pills was constantly attacking my wife's liver. She was taking liver testing regularly. All the tests came back normal.
Unbeknownced to both my wife and me, these medications were pummeling her liver day after day. We didn't know about it and just went on with our normal everyday lives.
Then, suddenly, last week, my wife got really ill. She slept for a couple of days around the clock and only got up to eat a little, or use the bathroom. I checked on her constantly. Then, the next day, it hit my wife like a ton of bricks. Multiple systems shut down swiftly.
Her liver failed. Her kidneys failed, and as a result of this, her sugar dropped very low and she suffered a stroke in the pons (or ponsi) part of the brain (it's deep inside the brain, and cannot be operated on). I rushed her to the hospital last Thursday (8 days ago) and she couldn't be saved. We lost her on Sunday afternoon just a couple of weeks before her 41st birthday.
The doctor told me that there was no way to stop my wife's liver from failing. Even if I had brought her to the hospital (as if I had ESP or something) 10 days earlier and told them to monitor the liver and get ready to save her when it failed, nothing could have prevented her liver from failing.
I AM WRITING THIS AWFUL STORY TO INFORM YOU ALL (AND YOUR LOVED ONES) ABOUT THE DANGER OF USING DRUGS OVER A PROLONGED TIME THAT CONTAIN TYLENOL.
TELL YOUR DOCTORS WHAT TO DO, DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
My son and I will get over this tragedy one day and go forward. We will be fine in the end. But neither of us will ever get over losing her. My wife's story doesn't have a happy ending, but hopefully, my son'S, and mine will.
By the way my wife is an Aries too !!! Can we count her ?
Again thank you all for your kindnesses.
I'M HEADING TO SANTA BARBARA TONIGHT TO SEE FAGEN !!!
(And I played piano today for the first time in 2 weeks ...)
SteveeDan
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaWhy did San Diego get an additional encore tune and Oakland didn't?
....and it was IGY to boot. Confirms it..........Donald thought the Oakland crowd was lame, or as I witnessed, way too sedate.
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore,ehGeez what gave Donald's age away, it must of been the grey hair. 58 is not old! Screw those critics that gave Morph one listen and decided it's fate. They are not Gods, they do not control the universe. Did they actually listen to Morph, put the head phones on and hear each note of each instrument? Doubt it very much. I'm still catching things off the old CDs and I've listened to those hundreds of times! That is the one thing that I love about the Dan and Don, each time I listen I hear something different. That was my rant for the day.
Thanks
Posted by: Buzz, C-BusFrom Jambands.com
The Royal Dan
As Donald Fagen releases his next studio album, Morph the Cat, a number of notable guitarists will reinterpret the Steely Dan founder’s own back catalogue. Produced by Jeff Richman, The Royal Dan will consist of 10 Steely Dan numbers reinterpreted by a number of well-known guitarists including Jimmy Herring (“The Fez”), Robben Ford ("Peg"), Steve Morse ("Bodhisattva"), Jay Graydon ("Home at Last"), Al DiMeola ("Aja"), Steve Lukather ("Pretzel Logic"), Mike Stern ("Dirty Work"), Frank Gambale ("FM") and Elliot Randall ("Hey Nineteen"). Richman will lead the disc’s support back which features saxophonist Ernie Watts, keyboardist Peter Wolf, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.
Posted by: Donad's old, nycDonald fagen used to be great.
WTF happened?
Donald Fagen - Morph The Cat review
The "eagerly anticipated" solo album from one half of American smooth duo Steely Dan. Mr Fagen has given the world a lot over the years and if he and his Dan colleague Walter Becker are praised for nothing else in their long and illustrious careers it was writing and recording 1977's Aja album. The pinnacle of smooth grooving, and no mistake.
MTC is apparently being compared with that great record. Pay such observations scant heed. Sure, this is not a bad record, dripping as it does with the kind of bop-along modern jazz rock and soul that has become Fagen's trademark. But comparable with Aja it ain't, despite the frighteningly similar arrangements on songs like H Gang - that saxophone solo sounds verrry familiar, etc - while the vocal harmonies prove another link with past, one that merely serves to remind the listener how great he used to be.
If we have to wait another 13 years for the next Fagen solo effort one hopes it will be a tad more imaginative than this effort.
Rating:
Released: 20th March 2006
Posted by: Rico Bandalucci, Piazza del Popolo"This guy wasn't even born when the Nightfly came out." Yeah so? All those PhD dissertations on Beethoven at Harvard, wuz they born when Beethoven came out?
Posted by: Earl, A boy named Sue...I mean Jacky"Fagen's current work is more suited for airport cocktail bars than for jazz epics".
I live in North Carolina and know that reviewer Jacky Brammer. He's a 19 year old student at the University of North Carolina. Not somebody I would call a "professional" by any means. This guy wasn't even born when the Nightfly came out. His opinion about Steely Dan (or music in general for that matter) means nothing to me. Oh, you can reach Jacky (Jacky is a guy by the way) at artsdesk@unc.edu
Posted by: moonbeam, vinyl landmorph vinyl acousticsounds.com also dave dimartino steely dan book yahoo 360 blog
Posted by: its what I do, whre i do itfuck jacky ...
Posted by: back2bass6, lawn "Kama is a great album. Don's played pretty much the whole album this tour."
a quote from BOB....
what the ^&*%$$)__!!!!!
Posted by: Mer., BostonMr. Brammer's review smacks of his generation- wanting information and music in neat little 3-4 min. sound bites.... just what SD is (and has been) up against in their musical career(s). Oh well, I think he's missed the mark.....
Posted by: jimmer, salads n sunok so everyone can have an opinion, mine is that its a very good album and yes some of the songs are perhaps stretched a little too long, but as far as morph being airport music and don being over the hill i feel that......
"only a fool would say that"!
btw- anyone have anything definitive about donald going back out perhaps to the southland
Posted by: thirdworldman, la louvredon't you just love these assheads who, for lack of anything better to do, and possesing a juvenile sense of humor, use someone elses' online nicname? really clever, and so witty! normally one would have to frequent a bowling alley to be able to associate with the likes of such a cerebral giant.
Posted by: Lar, Donald's old, - 20 reviews of MTC gets 5 stars and one review gets 3 stars. DF should hang it up? Maybe YOU should hang it up!
Posted by: Donald's old, v-gasMaybe its time for Don to hang it up?
Steely Dan member releases mediocre disc
By: Jacky Brammer, Staff WriterIssue date: 3/30/06 Section: DiversionsPrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 MUSICREVIEW
Donald Fagen
Morph the Cat
3 Stars
It has been 13 years since Donald Fagen's last release and three years since the last Steely Dan album (although it's been 30 years since the band's best material).
But even with all that down time, the material on Fagen's Morph the Cat sounds tired.
As one half of the seminal jazz-rock band Steely Dan, Fagen has a wealth of experience in song crafting and arrangements.
But it's hard to shake the notion that he sounds like an artist who needs a break.
With piano, guitar, drums and tenor sax present on most tracks, the album stays at home within the jazz-rock genre.
But with age, Fagen's classic sound has drifted away from his strong suit and more into the adult contemporary vein.
As an artist, that puts Fagen at a paradox.
Whereas his older style would have been more equipped for improvisational solos and extended codas, the neutered twang of Fagen's current work is more suited for airport cocktail bars than for jazz epics.
But the musician in him is not willing to concede the higher ground to the limits of his style.
With only one track at less than five and a half minutes, the songs tend to extend well past the necessary conclusion into what could be loosely called "jam sessions." And what should come off as righteous crescendoes and climaxes instead becomes tired and trite.
All is not lost, though. Fagen excels as a songwriter where he weaves empathic tales of lost love and lust at first sight.
Particularly moving is "What I Do."
On the track, Fagen imagines a beyond-the-grave conversation between himself and Ray Charles in which the Georgia icon explains his purpose on Earth and in Heaven:
"Yes, I come to play, and I bring big soul/Well I could rock long before they named it/Rock 'n' roll/ It's what I do."
While the lyrics succeed as stand-alone narratives, the notes fail to complement adequately the stories.
And that adds to the larger problem with the incompatibility of the song length to the musical style - at least to younger ears.
Perhaps this is a sign of a move toward adult contemporary greatness for Fagen. If that's the case, then maybe it's a kind of a step forward, but for more information on that, you'll have to ask your parents.
Posted by: ouch, stungsometimes the truth hurts....
Posted by: JIMMMER, fezhey backtobass,,,i agree that don coulda cut out some dan tunes, we've all heard them before, i did feel robbed that he dissed kama, and played chuck berry and teagrden etc,,, but he's a star in his "glamour profession" and can do what he feels like,,,, next thing we'll wanna sue him for playing too long!
Posted by: steelydoc, @ the LidoTaurus, birthday on 4/22...keep those presents/email gift cards coming!
I have to agree with DF and Lexi:
I lived in LA for 7 years...the concert audience is different out there, its all about being seen, not seeing the concert. Heck, even baseball games are different out there. I went to a few Dodgers games, and the crowds are so laid back, mellow and they actually seem disinterested in the game for the most part. It's nice that you don't have tons of rowdy drunks, but it's a very unusual vibe out there...just my opinion....
PS: just received my Rolling Stone magazine in the mailbox, yet another Q & A session with Donald...great stuff....
Posted by: ThirdWorldManure, Ooh that smell..."Keep it coming Dandom"? Please... let's not.
I think we got a fairly representative sample here, one that should be reasonably satisfying. And you have made your point, whatever it was.
I want me a live record of this Nightfly run, a real one.
Thank you.
Posted by: Ann, Still in the Stars!!Aries: 10
Pisces: 7
All the others: 22
Keep 'em coming Dandom!!
Paul: Are you asleep!!!!
Ann
Posted by: rt, nv You do have to admit it it was a low blow to the LA fans.
Posted by: tonez, here @ the western worldLooks like that Harrington weenie edited out the part that made it obvious he didn't actually go to the Oakland show, the part about DF "strongly featuring the new record"...
Posted by: thirdworldmanfuhur, aquipisces, if it matters at all
Posted by: thirdworldmaniac, inside a hall of rock and sanddoes anyone have a link to video filmed live during the df band tour?
would be cool to see...
Posted by: SS, HKRamble on Eric...a lot of people who have been to shows can relate.
By my count, there were just three SD songs in that set. Four if you count Here at the Western World. That might be the fewest during the tour. I know a lot of people I spoke with wanted more DF and less SD. Still, I can't quite complain about what I saw....just wish I had seen what you saw, too.
Concur with others on DF's voice. Seemed rough at times, but hard to pin the reason. His voice sounded strong and rich at Temecula. But the sound there was stunningly good. Coincidence ? At worst I found his voice inconsistent. I think he WAS ducking some higher notes...and the chorus of The Goodbye Look seemed like a strain. But I didn't go away thinking he was breaking down. And he didn't seem frustrated.
Ah yes....old Christmas trees as driving hazards. SueDave and I nearly had a nasty choice. Luckily the tree shifted to the edge of our lane.
I have now seen Rajah's posting pad...where the turban hums after lights out. I would have expected nothing less. Eccentric, stately and homey all at once. Know that if you want to go deep, he has a small library at his disposal.
After a tour through the legendary Amoeba records in Los Angeles, I can tell you that many titles, especially the jazz DVD concerts, are offered at just a fraction of the price here in the eastern world. Sold by people who have never heard of the artists in shops thick with Marlboro smoke and blaring Cantonese Pop music....the price is less than U.S. $4 for not one, but two discs....a current album, plus the artists greatest hits, and often remastered in HDCD. I got copies of TVN and EMG that way. Concert DVDs are less than U.S. $5. Go the the Mainland and it's lower still. At Amoeba, I saw the Miles Davis in Montreal DVD for about U.S. $22. My buddy got it in Shanghai for around Seventy Five cents.
We're still lacking here though on rare stuff.
Much better chance of finding that in Japan. If anyone wants to catch the rumoured SD dates in Japan later in the year, you won't be disappointed. There are ways to get it done without breaking the bank and I assure you it would be memorable. There's nowhere quite like Japan.
Posted by: eric, san diego, caHere is the setlist for San Diego, CA 3/30/06
Here at the Western World
Greenflower Street
The Nightfly
New Frontier
What I Do
Home at Last
Goodbye Look
Countermoon
Maxine
Tomorrows Girls
Brite Nitegown
Black Friday
Encore
Pretzel Logic
IGY
Viva Rock N Roll
[ ]
The show was spectacular.. Donald looked and sounded great, and boy did this band cook.. I loved every second of it. Great solos all around, and I'm glad the backup singers got a chance to showcase their talents on a couple of songs. I'm still in heaven from tonight... Forgive me for rambling...
Posted by: Little Wild One, still dancingRest of the story:
Maxine
Tomorrows Girls
Brite Nitegown
Black Friday
Encore
Pretzel Logic
IGY
Viva Rock N Roll
Posted by: The Bending End, Rhode IslandSagittarius...which I've just discovered is "inharmonius" with Pisces.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaLeo, Precoitus rising...
Posted by: Little Wild One, one of the dancing drunk peopleJeez, this is a tough crowd. Hope I don't get cyber mugged for posting this (Scroll on by lawn dude).
Tonight thus far:
Here at the Western World
Greenflower Street
The Nightfly
New Frontier
What I Do
Home at Last
Goodbye Look
Countermoon
It's that way only if you're one of the lucky ones, SueDave. What's that old saying? Live long enough to be a pain in the ass to your kids...guess we're starting early.
Posted by: seriously, lameOver reaction, if you ask me.
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)Hey, KAa...as i said I'm new here. Don't let me drive you away. As with any online community, there are all types. I've lurked her for years...but just started posting lately.
I apologize if I'm out of line...i certainly don't think I'm "King" (and I don't think anything i posted implies that). But, if you take someone's reported off-hand statement personally, well, you probably won't last long in any online communities I've been a part of.
Just IMO...really.
Posted by: LA Kat, Hey Dean, I'm not a longstanding member here or anywhere else either, so I had no idea I was breaking some fan rule of which you are king. Frankly if DF didn't want any individual member of his audience to be offended maybe he shouldn'ty have made blanket statements about the crowd. Did you read it? No matter, I'm logging out for good and glad to know you'll compliment the door hitting me on my ass on the way out. So much for fan communities, if what I've posted here really makes me come across as an asshole.
Posted by: suedave, yeah, rightRajah - you da man!
Sheeit. Donald Fagen Syndrome (DFS) has set in. Still devoted to Maxine after what I'd heard in Temecula. That tune was seriously under appreciated by the audience but no matter to me. Maxine and The Nightfly have taken over my brain. Can't play it loud enough to get satisfaction with the kids in the house. It isn't supposed to be this way, is it?
SS - thanks for the fun ride to the airport. I'm glad you are able to negotiate dead xmas trees on the freeway! You've got a place to stay in southern PNW as well.
BTW, I agree totally with LWO. Lexi - you go girl.
Posted by: Almost Gothic Negative Girl, Monterey, CaliforniaOakland show was terrific. Donald was straining, but giving it his all. He was having vocal difficulties, which caused him to shout alot of the lyrics. But he was having a good time, and seemed happy to be there. The Paramount is a beautiful theater. I grew up in Oakland, and used to go to movies there. They remodeled it over 30 years ago, and I was there for opening night. It was Boz Skaggs, with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. Boz came out in a Tux for the first set; and then changed in to a burgundy velvet smoking jacket for the second. Steve Miller joined him, and it was truly memorable.
I hadn't been back there since, so it was great to see that the place is still really clean and elegant inside. We took a long road trip from Monterey, to the 49er gold country, enjoying the storm which was running through California. Saw lots of wildflowers, varmints, and even tornado-type clouds. One of them touched-down in the Central Valley; we were very close to it. Not something you see here often, so it was a wonderful harbinger as we neared the City.
Stayed at a great place in Alameda in the yacht-harbor area, with a beautiful view of the Oakland Hills, the Mormon Temple, the City, the harbor--too cool; we had boats and birds and squirrels outside our deck, and it was very peaceful.
The concert was all I could have expected, after reading the reviews here, and seeing SD many times. Maxine, Nightfly, and Brite Nightgown were my favorites of the evening. The crowd was relatively good; appreciative, energetic, with not too much of the over-drunk bs and shouting-at-Donald crap that sometimes happens.
With Donald's voice being a bit rough, the girls were workin' extra hard. I could hardly take my eyes off them! The sound was not perfect, and I couldn't hear the bass that much, although I could feel it at times. I expected more help on vocals from Jeff Young, but didn't get it. The band had some clusterfuck moments to my ears, but they also got some totally incredible jazzy-spaced-out jams goin' on, which just completely rocked the house.
All in all, I am so happy that I was there, and I hope that Mr. Fagen does another early summer tour, before he and Walter hit the road with the Steely Dan machine. I know I'll be there for both of them.
Posted by: Nazman, Still standingAries, not too far from the Piscean border...
For my birthday treated myself to the Magnificent One. No words to describe my pleasure in having his company and experiencing his legacy first hand. He seemed very into the show. Great jams. Magnificent hall. Place was packed. Buzzing. Not sure the crowd was lame (like someone else said) but that was my only night on this tour. Every song was a classic. Work of genius. Was blown away that he did Maxine. Felt it was a personal gift of sorts.
At times thought the volume was way too high. Makes it harder to appreciate the essence. Fagen is too good for volume issues. Not sure Krantz is the best fit but how would that matter when the Magnificent One is in his element.. Another night to remember...
Looking forward to SD this fall...
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)I'm far too new of a community participant (certainly haven't earned "member" status) to make this comment...but, here goes:
LA Kat...are you an asshole or do you just play one on The Blue Book?
I'm going to go WAY out on a limb here and guess DF wasn't talking about you (especially if that helps you feel better).
How can you let something like THAT bother you? Sheesh.
Posted by: LA Kat, Thanks for the buzzkill Donald. Another creepy post from "lexi"/DF over on DF.com. Explaining after the fact what was wrong with the Wiltern gig and especially what was wrong with US, the audience! Thanks a lot DF. I thought I had a good time and that you and your band played really well. But now thanks to your public whining I know better. Is anyone beginning to miss the days when SD was silent and mysterious?
Posted by: Little Wild One, all outside accessWord from the Viejas venue is that it is cold and the band is all outfitted in jackets and scarves...At sound check, Donald quips, "I need fffing gloves."
Jonny, you are so right. No complaints here other than I wish I could have gone to another show and heard more.
NYB, I'll check out your chart if you send me your data. Ouch, Ann. I know all about that tail sting. Trust me!
Posted by: Ann, Still in the Stars!!Art!! Ooooh!! Sting in the tail! Dangerous!!
Ann
Posted by: Art, Almost forgot.
Ann, Scorpio but on the cusp with Libra. Oct. 24.
Posted by: Art Pepper, with Jack SheldonDaddy G. - I caught those great photos on the SFGate site and started to alert the masses, then saw your post. I've got the one where he's gettin' down on the keyboard (not the fist-in-the-air one) as my wallpaper. I put the screen to a black background. It looks great.
Speaking of photos... there's a photograph of Don in the booklet with the Morph cd that I find quite interesting. I would even say haunting and mildly disturbing in a way. It's the picture on the page with the Morph the Cat Reprise lyrics. He has a somewhat wry smile on his face and his suit looks too large for him. With his feet together and his hands clasped, I really hate to even say this but it reminds me of a corpse in a casket. Could he have been thinking this when choosing the pics for the cover? This is one of the most unusual pictures of DF that I've seen.
I think a lot of us were treating H-Gang as a throw-away but the more I hear it the more I like it. The chorus really has a memorable hook that's simple and straightforward. It actually reminds me a lot of something akin to a Boz Scaggs song from the Seventies.
Faith, Magic, Myth, Reality? I would recommend a book by Holger Kersten called "Jesus Lived in India". Very enlightening.
Posted by: Ann, Bad-spelling-landWhoops!! Mean "genteel", not gentile.....but maybe that too!
Ann
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlantaVirgo!
Posted by: PivotalPete, CaliforniaSaw the Oakland show. Sprung for this "AllAccess" deal and it was terrific. Maybe the best part was when DF walked alone onto the stage, as the sound check was starting, sat down at one of the keyboards, and just began playing a mellow jazz tune. It was like "I'm watching my (our) idol just entertaining himself" and, of course, he can really play. Only downside was a couple guys behind us *talking* pretty loud while Donald was soloing. Gave em a glare and they quieted down. I mean, we had to wait two hours between the sound check and the concert -- giving them plenty of time to show how many fascinating hip stories they could tell each other.
Took my 17-year-old daughter (long story) and on the way to the show was playing stuff off my iPod. Had her play "Countermoon" and said I suspected he'd play it. Later at the sound check DF is reviewing the setlist and notes there aren't any Kama songs on it. Jeff Young (keyboards/vocals) says: "Hey, Donald, maybe we should do Countermoon?" So they rehearsed it and then did it. Kinda cosmic for me. Personally I was happier with more NF than Kama. (They discussed doing Snowbound and dedided against it, which seemed like a good call). In fact overall thought the setlist was excellent. You can always complain, with so much material. BTW I liked the HATWW arrangement -- it may be melancholy in some sense, but it's also an advertisement for the place, so the more up-tempo stuff was not off-putting to me. Also liked the slightly altered melody on the chorus of Home at Last, which normally might have been disappointing as that song is as close to perfect as any every recorded.
Anyway, after the soundcheck we got to chat with Weiskopf, Young and Krantz and they were all really pleasant. Only challenge: KC was being interviewed, apparently, by Drum magazine on stage and he'd rip off some long, loud solos to it was really hard to hear at times. I asked "So they're putting the drumming in the *magazine*? And Wayne K said "That's why it has to be so loud." It was funny -- but perhaps you had to be there ...
Could go on for a while. One other tidbit I found interesting: they ran through Maxine a couple-three times and Jeff Y did a perfect, lush version of the piano intro. Turns out they never got any charts or anything; he just figured it out off the record.
I'd do the AA thing, even though it's expensive, if it's offered for SD. Just be prepared for the food and wine to go quickly. We had great seats. Right behind where the heavy guy who raised a fuss (mentioned earlier) ended up sitting. Turns out he and his wife were over from Australia and had already been to two previous shows. So guess he could be choosy.
Posted by: Ann, Still in the Stars!!Good Morning All!
10.50am here in Borneo......and the head count is:
Aries: 9, all the others: 24, with Pisces strongly featured!
Thank you everyone who has contributed their sign up to now....
Keep 'em coming!
Had a Borneo experience this morning!!!! For weeks now a troop of monkeys have been visiting us for food. While I was throwing them some bits of apples, etc, the alpha male came running at me in a very aggressive way!!! Agh!!! Maybe he thought I was one of them and his next conquest!! Think I'll stick with more gentile activities!!!
The Doctor: Well....(to continue the bestial thread).....it all depends which half is the horse! Could be quite interesting!!
Peace to all!!
Ann
Posted by: jonny, @ playroom.bunkerWhen I caught Don & Co. I was disappointed not to get a lot of MTC, because I think it's superb. But all was forgiven with the inclusion of: "The Goodbye Look," "Third World Man" and "Black Cow." Seems to me, ANYthing we get from the guy is an exquisite musical gift, and to carp about what WASN'T played is something I'm unable to relate to personally, but I can understand where it comes from.
But I think it also illustrates that he and SD are unique and special in all the world. What other group, ANYwhere, inspires the sort of passionate debate about concert setlist inclusions and exclusions? It's hard to imagine the same kind of discussion among fans coming, say, from an Eagles 12th "Farewell Tour" concert or the Dead or Billy Joel or Elton or the Stones for that matter. And certainly no one cares what tunes Destiny's Child, Britney or Ludakris, to name just a few that are current, pull out at a concert, because it's all the same song. But what our guys do transcends anything ever done in pop music. People who get it, get it and love it above all else. Basically, us.
If they continue to tour and Donald's voice can hold out, and Mike McD. gets tossed in to the mix, then it's just another chance to sit for a couple of hours and let their magic wash over me. And so anything they want to play is fine. To those who would sit at a show and find something to be displeased about--I don't think you guys really and truly get it.
Posted by: Ghandi, random thoughtsIf it has tits or a motor, expect trouble.
Posted by: Zero Crossing, Funny B2B6, everyone has thier own ideas as to what Donald was "supposed" to play on this tour. Logically you would think he would be doing mainly MTC songs to push his new cd, but he's not. You think he should be concentrating on Kama songs, I can understand that too, but ultimately it's up to the artist as to what gets played. I think you should be happy that you got to see the one and possibly only Donald Fagen tour in history and just forget about what you think he should have played.
Posted by: Gretchen, SS, you were a wonderful guest and I'm happy to have you as a new member of my Dan family. Please consider coming for the summer tour, you always have a place to stay.
G
Posted by: Rajah, we're missin youOur Sparki-Doo from Hong Kong was, quite prediciably, the best houseguest ever and he and SOH and Geoff remain the most eligible bachelors on here.
Together, they comprise their very own H Gang; or maybe that should be P-Gang...[rim shot]...gotcha, thank you.
I thought I was cool...turns out, no, it's a guy called, "ss."
Posted by: SS, HKBob...I saw one Kama song (Snowbound) while attending three shows. Not enough for me, but yeah I'm over it.
Posted by: W1P, Not on the road againI'd like to go but have burned my "capital" with Mrs. Pink for this week because I need to be gone all day Saturday at the Ojai Classic Rock Festival. And I only earned that capital by agreeing to let her go to The Strokes tonight while I babysit. I'm trying to send AP in my place. Start the projection machine
Posted by: Bob, Hey, Back2Bass6. Kama is a great album. Don's played pretty much the whole album this tour. Just he didn't feel like it the night you went to the show. Sorta like a conversation where you don't get to discuss it all. Get over it and hope for next time.
Posted by: SS, back in AjaPisces...Gemini rising.
Posted by: back2bass6, lawn guylandapparantly....kamakiriad has been squashed for the most part on this tour, there is no denying this...thank god i was at westbury, where he did 3 kama tunes, including tomorrows girls.
why DF has chosen to disregard this amazing album on this tour is perplexing. Please do not respons with what a genius he is, or, he must have a reason, or, he prefers playing black cow and pretzel logic and viva rock and roll, all three of those, albeit great tunes, are an absolute bore for dan fans who have seen them
during their last tour(S)
with a library of great material, why, on a DF solo tour, must he play "greatest hits" while "your gold teeth" and "on the dunes" and so many others get ignored?
cmon all you dan heads (i am one) rationalize this?
and you freaks who think there is a glitch when DF sings "upper broadway" have as much soul as engelbert humperdink.
and thanks for not giving us song lists...DF had maybe 25 ready for the tour.
glad i saw him, i love MTC, DF is vital and important, but I will never understand his complete disregard (for the most part) of KAMA. It is inexcusable, but not as bad as fucking eric clapton playing a fender without a wha wha pedal at the cream concerts. Glad i didnt spend a penny on that, so my memories of "tales of brave ulysses" are still intact and pure
Posted by: Rajah , OK, suedave, I'm getting you a Kitty-T tomorow night.
Penny, I still listen to my vinyl of Katy Lied. I dislike the CD and the version on Citizen Steely Dan. However, the way the piano was recorded on that record is still awesome. Just what gives with the vocal tracks, I dunno but from what we can glean, Donald and Walter were sorely disappointed as well.
Mer - yeah, where is all the Virgo presence? Hunh, something amiss there...
Posted by: Mer., BostonI'm a Virgo- would have thought I'd have seen more Virgos in this informal Zodiacal survey--- you know, those leaning toward perfection, practicality...... (my husband insists that this is why the Boston show included such a "stayed" affect in the audience). He's a diehard Springsteen fan and enjoyed doing comparative surveys of Dan vs. Springtseen fans....
Posted by: Javier Moreno, Oakland, CADear Danheads:
Yes, I was there at the Oakland show too, and I enjoyed the Nightfly album... I just loved it. It was the kind of concert I expected. I wanted more of the Kamakiriad album, honestly.
Well, if you understand Spanish, you can check my review on my blog:
http://cacaorock.blogspot.com
And that saxophonist Walt, he's pretty bad, honestly. I didn't like any of his messy solos. That Leonhardt trumpet guy played the best solo of the night on the Misery and The Blues track....
Posted by: PennyK, This is a terribly embarrassing question to post, BUT here goes.
I sort of didn't keep up with the Dan for a long time - (my mommying years), but got back into them a few years ago. Also couldn't keep up because of money issues. I had to backtrack for Kamakiriad, but have kept up with everything since EMG in a timely fashion (meaning the second every CD was released).
I am just now replacing my original LPs, believe it or not.(I had Show Biz Kids, but I had an overwhelming urge to hear Rose Darling.) When I listened to Katy Lied last night on CD, it sounded so different! Is this because of the remastering? Everything sounds so echo-y...and Donald sounds so Dylany. Help!
Posted by: suedave, should be workinAn Aries wishin' I was going to another DF show. F*ck that Harrington guy - what we think is way more important.
Posted by: Rajah, Who is coming to Santa Barbara tomorrow night for the big blow-out? Pink, are you on the road? Mark Wilson, where are you? Please chime in. Looks like the Santa Barbara Brewing Co. might fill the bill:
http://www.sbbrewco.com/dinnerpage.shtml
There's also a place called the James Joyce Tavern, I think, anyway, this is it for the Donald Fagen Band for quite a while I guess. Donald gave us his best, he carried the ball and hung in there, I wouldn't have expected anything less.
Now you Alpine Valley people are gonna freeze your collective tushies tonight...bundle up, temperatures in the low 40s. Aja, are you going?
Jesus, I just hope Donald doesn't blow out his pipes in the cold and comes limping in to Santa B.
Posted by: Greg Moonspank, issues with spellingAnd i bet cymbals are SYMBOLS too.
Posted by: Connie, In the vineyard (and back to reality)Thanks POC and Wicked Librarian for the great Danfest in Oakland. It was great seeing everyone again and meeting Geoff et al. (Boston Rag, give him a call or an email.).
I am still smiling and buzzing from hearing Donald and the band.
Yes, I also heard comments from the guy next to me about no H-Gang. I feel fortunate to hang with people who appreciated hearing Third World Man, Countermoon, etc.
Posted by: Don/Danfiend, ChiLeo
Posted by: Oldbunny, IlinoisGemini
That Harrington review is a joke. The guy is clearly trying to BS his way through a concert review he HAD to write, even though he was unfamiliar with the band and music. "But..." he thinks, "who'll know the difference? How many fans can Steely Dan have out there, and how many could possiby see this review? I'll just say snide things and they'll think I'm smart!"
And I bet Neil "Pert" enjoys being mentioned in the paper, too.
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)Here's a short review i wrote for a few Fagen/SD friends. Figured I'd share it here:
The venue was the Oakland Paramount Theater. This is a beautiful place with a great history...the sound is NOT it's best feature, however. I attended the concert with the fabulous Caresse (who The Senator refers to as, "The Pulchritudinous One"). Needless to say we had a perfect little concert-ready buzz on. We sat near-center in the lower part of the balcony.
First observation is the tour has taken its toll on Donald's voice. The reports from earlier concerts were of a strong-voiced Fagen. While he was a trooper, and sang his heart out, his voice was clearly fading and straining. Second observation is DF was in a great mood, seemingly. Joked and ad-libbed like I've never heard him do before. Final global thought: While the band is essentially players from previous Steely Dan concerts (and albums), and about half the songs were SD tunes...this was nothing like a SD concert. The vibe and sound were totally different.
Here at the Western World (I wasn't crazy about the new arrangement...and I normally like the re-arranged live versions. There were the typical 1st song sound issues, too. Not bad...but, thankfully it got MUCH better)
Green Flower Street Nice, professional...still some sound issues. A great song that was well executed.
The Nightfly WOW...in the second half of this song the band went into "space jazz" mode. I’ve never seen (or expected) this from SD or Fagen in the past. Donald did some nice spacy keyboard stuff while the rest of the band jammed airy jazz.
New Frontier Again, great song, well done. God damn, DF knows how to use his backup singers.
Maxine The fourth straight song from the Nightfly album! This is what REALLY turned the concert up full for me. I love this song and they did an absolutely beautiful version. Carolyn did the bull work on vocals and she was awesome.
Home at Last The sound issues are long a thing of the past. This is where drummer Keith Carlock really mesmerizes with incredible symbol work. A thing of sonic beauty.
Black Cow No surprises...but great, nonetheless.
The Goodbye Look Another Nightfly song...excellent. Great change of tempo and a lot of energy
Third World Man This is a dramatic tune and it worked perfectly in concert. Donald's voice starts to get stronger during this song and it pretty much got better for the rest of the show.
Countermoon The lone song from the Kamikiriad album and a nice choice. It's amazing how different the last four songs are stylistically. The amazing range of DF's writing and the bands musical abilities is really apparent...and then, it's taken to an even higher level with the next tune.
Misery & The Blues This is the song written by Charlie Lavere for the old jazz trombonist Jack Teagarden. This MAY have been the highlight of the night (although I may say that a few times...so don't hold me to it). The solos on this were hard jazz...far harder than SD ever gets in concert. Stunning really. Drummer KC was outrageous in this song and Fagen was VERY animated...doing his Ray Charles shtick (but, w/o sunglasses).
Bright Nightgown Surprisingly, the only song from DF's new album, Morph the Cat. I thought DF might do more funk, seeing as the location has been home to some of the great soul and funk bands of all time. The funkiness of this song made up for there being only one funk song. This was terrific.
Black Friday Probably a better version than I've seen SD do. Another classic SD song done as well as it can be done.
(Encore)
Pretzel Logic Always a treat live. Keyboardist Young does a nice job...the girls wail...terrific solos...what more can you ask for. Another song where Fagen is animated and sounds great.
Viva Rock n Roll This is a fun, obscure Chuck Berry tune. I'm sure CB's band never played it like this. Incredibly, DF's voice sounds its best on the final few songs of the concert. He belted this one...that's for sure.
The guy next to me grumbled about them not playing H-Gang (the single off the new album). And I heard another guy say the same thing on the way out. But, DF doesn't care about "singles". I'm sure that was the record company's choice, anyway.
All in all a first-rate, first-class concert. About 100 minutes of, mostly, non-stop music.
Get ready for a Steely Dan tour this summer. Rumor has it they will tour with Michael McDonald...but, I'll probably go see it anyway.
Posted by: NYB, Pisces here too. So how do you figure out all that Sun, Moon, Sign stuff?
Posted by: hoops, Sorry if I missed a post on this from earlier but heads up that the April 2006 issue of the UK mag, "Uncut" gives MTC 5 out of 5 stars. It's 2/3 of a page with a large photo of DF and 2 Q & A items. Writer says the last couple of SD albums lacked the quality of songwriting on MTC. (I don't agree with the songwriting comment, btw; thought all three albums have stupendous songwriting.) I would have bough the mag but the store I saw it at wanted $10 for it. A bit costly for such a short review. Will have to check out uncut.co.uk or something.
jim
Posted by: dc, wa When you mentioned Ricky Lawson.I was down in front at the Wiltern.There was some talk about Ricky and Keith.About there different drumming styles.I think they both are great drummers.I became friends with Ricky.I go see him when plays in LA.He has quite an accomplished record when it comes to playing with different artists.also as a writer and arranger.
Posted by: ed_beatty, @workPisces
Posted by: Kelli, OregonProud Capricorn
1-10
Posted by: dc, wa I agree all 3 "Do it" "Here at the Western" and "Reelin" all great.
Posted by: hoops, Loved the 1993/'94 version of "Reelin'" Stands along side the '73 version on equal footing. In some ways like the '93/'94 version better and in others I like the '73 version better.
Loved the 1995/'96 version of "Do It Again." Same comment as for "Reelin'." Remember how DF said he would never play DIA and then he did at Roseland '95. What a thrill!
Only heard the '96 version of "Rikki" twice and I thought it was a touch too mellow compared to the '74 version. Maybe it was where I was at in the audience but it seemed to lack the energy of the '74 version.
"Here At the Western World 2006" was interesting as I always love different spins and takes on SD songs, but a couple of listens to DF's cover of the SD song (as I think of it) left me wishing for the SD version as part of the 2006 SD summer set list.
I also loved Walter's version of "Jack of Speed" in 1996. More sped up and bluesier. I'll never forget the last show of 2000 at Düsseldorf where it seemed that even DF was surprised when Ricky Lawson kicked off JOS with a faster beat.
Posted by: Kamkiriad, Bay AreaRe-arrangement of "Reelin," especially the version on "Alive in America" is the best cut on the CD. Love it!
Posted by: dc, wa ON tours past SD did a re-arragment of "Reelin in the years" did anyone care for that.
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaIn response to Lou Chang's observations of the Paramount show, My observations from Row "B" Center:
1. Crowd was Lame (did you pick up on Don's "Do we need to take your tempature" comment?)
2. Re-arrangement of Western World was hard to follow, and I've probably heard it 1,000+ times. I DISAGREE strongly on the re-arrangement of Do it Again from the EMG Tour. It was fabulous and IMO the highlight of the shows I saw.
3. Nightfly selections live were tre cool.
4. Paramount is a beautiful building, sound, at least in the very front was indeed a problem.
5. Wouldn't want to be in a group that would have me as a member. Thus havent been to any Danfests.
6. Religious experience anytime DF or SD plays!
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaI'm a sag, 11/27 and I spin Kama way more than Nightfly.......not that there is anything wrong with it!
Posted by: Star, naked star I have a confession/for three years I have had a Security Joan thing for my dentist's dental assistant/I make up false pain as an excuse to go there/sometimes I even pay cash for work my insurance will not cover/I call on the phone just to her say "bicuspid molar"/ I wish Donald will write a song Toothache Marie
Posted by: Jon, .I think the reason no rebuttal was elicted by the claim that watching "The Terminal" obviated the need to listen to "Security Joan", was that it was such a bonehead statement as to not warrant a response.
Until now.
Posted by: The Doctor, Portsmouth, EnglandHoops...belated thanks for the back catalogue update...once again, in Hoops we trust.
P.S....Ann....Sagittarius....half man,half horse...yeah, I know, in my dreams !!!
Posted by: PQ, NYCNo longer true. Becker is composing songs with Larry Klein. And the birdie also says...
Posted by: Lou Chang, SeattleGeneral Observations from Oakland show:
1) Crowd was lame
2) Re-arrangment of Western World was lame. SD did the same thing to Do It Again. Western World and Do It Again are serious, sad, haunting tunes. Re-arranging them as Vegas-like showtunes is very off-putting. The essence of the song is gone. Very disappointing.
3) Totally incredible to hear almost all of Nightfly.
4) Great venue, sound was questionable.
5) Actually stumbled onto the Danfest for the first time. Cool.
6) Great show!
Posted by: Declan, memphisBetter yet, why do all of PQ's posts end with "LOL"? Is it because he's a nutter.
Kind of ticked Don passed on playing "Here at the Western World" during the Midwest swing. A fine arrangement that I would have loved to hear live. And that's about the only quibble I have.
Posted by: Ram Dass, You have the most important connection to the band, your affinity for the music. This is all that is required.
Posted by: Eric, san diego, caI'm going to be at the san diego show tonight, close to the right side in row 6 if anyone else here is going there, swing by and see me. I will be wearing a brown jacket :-P I have no connections with the band, except that I'm a loyal fan. Hope to see some other bluebookers there :)
Eric
Posted by: Rajah , The Terminal has nothing whatever to do with Security Joan out side of the setting. Period.
Peter, Steely Dan is a great place for an accomplished musician who perhaps needs a little exposure, or a little cash, and is willing to be a farmhand on the Steely Dan Ranch for a time. This has been their history. They jettisoned the band after their third album and commited themselves to this free-form arrangment with rspect to their featured players. Once a player gained a little of that cross-over noteriety, they invariably want to strike out on their own. There's no room for another songwriter in any Steely Dan band, D&W rule with an iron hand, this is their thing and you can hitch a ride to the next stop. It's a system that really works well for both them and the player.
Jon Herington has said that in all the years he has been working with Donald he has never been told what to play and how to play it, once he said Donald came over and said, "hey, Jon, in that opening to [some Steely Dan song on the setlist], could you...ah...oh listen, forget it."
So Donald I have to believe respects the judgment of the people he's hired, he hired them cause they are such ace players and so does not instruct them or tell them what to play or, like an insecure director in the theatre, gives them a line reading. However, if you're in Don's band and also have designs on your own career as a songwriter, the Steely Dan train can only be ridden for a finite time, an alternative form of transportation a few days a week.
Posted by: PF, western USToo bad to hear "No DVD" for DF‘06. You’d figure something like that would sell like crazy with all the fans who prob couldn’t catch a show.
Ann in Borneo,
Sagittarius, exactly 9 months after Valentine’s day 1970. The only time on record that my parents ever actually did ‘it’.
Posted by: fp, nycPeter q- What the fuck does Chris Potter and Paul Motian have to do with Jim Harrington's review? Stop trying to beat down everything Becker and Fagen does. You have some serious mental problems.
Posted by: THIRDWORLDMAN, JFKI have been perusing older posts and something caught my eye that didn't quite mesh; namely, a similarity between the movie "The Terminal" and the lyrics to DF's "Security Joan".
In Security Joan, an anonymous male character falls for a female airport SECURITY GUARD.
In The Terminal, an unfortunate Tom Hanks plays a character who tries every day to get his papers stamped to gain access to the US, but the female CUSTOMS AGENT is unable to comply. There is no romantic connection at any time between she and he.
A sub-plot has another airline employee, (baggage handler or something of the sort) in love with said Customs Agent. He proposes, they get together, blah blah blah.
How can you possibly draw a connection between the two?
Someone posted "I feel as though I've already heard the song" and that it was bordering on plagiarism.
Plagiarism?
Whatever are you talking about?
Is the male character in "Security Joan" an airline employee?!?
no...
Is the female character in "The Terminal" a security gaurd?!?
no...
bewildered in the baggage claim area...TWM
Posted by: NYB, "After witnessing Fagen's show in Oakland, which strongly featured the new record, one has to wonder what took him so long? "Morph" doesn't stray from the Steely Dan musical blueprint one iota, except that it is almost totally bereft of memorable songs. There's certainly nothing on it that is comparable to such Steely hits as "Hey Nineteen," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "Peg" and "Babylon Sister.""
Uh... did this guy listen to Pagoda of Funn and Mona or not? It's getting really stupid out there people.
Posted by: ps, Angel, how about more details about when you peed, how many times your burped and the color of the t-shirt seller's own shirts. How were the rest rooms?
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)Nice review, Angel. Put me in the "Aquarius" group.
Posted by: Pisces, and my name is Gretchen, laFloat on, all.
G
Posted by: hoops, chicagoSun Sign = Cancer
Moon Sign = Capricorn
Rising Sign = Sagittarius
Jupiter = Aries
Posted by: princessofcairo, los felizthanks to everyone who attended the oakland danfest! i hope everyone had a blast. the show was awesome, of course. great to see pete and all the others.
-poc (aries: 3 april)
Posted by: angel, Rright between Donald and Walters birthdays, which is a nice place to beTones and I are the well known aquarians in the Steely Dan Guest Book community. :-)
--
For any who care about such things, my review of the Monday show is posted over on Mizar 5.
http://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5net/index.php
Posted by: PQ, NYCThe errors in the Harrington review are pretty unprofessional and the fact checkers at his paper seem to have been asleep. But the central point he is trying to inarticulately make - he doesn't know how to express the idea - was made more clearly by no less an authority than Chris Potter in the February 2006 Downbeat:
(After touring with Steely Dan in 1994, Donald Fagen asked Potter to go back out on the road on the next tour. But the saxophonist turned Fagen down. "I have a lot of respect for Steely Dan," Potter said. "But Paul Motian asked me at the same time to go out with him. That was a crossroads. I chose Paul because the situation offered me more musical input. It was the right move.")
Without carrying on like a bunch of six year olds, let's discuss rationally the pros and cons. Go read the archives of this board from March 2004 if you want to carry on like a child. LOL!!
Posted by: Ann, In the Stars!!It's 1.30am in Darkest Borneo and I'm off to bed folks! Keep those star signs rolling in and I'll give you the latest head count in the morning! Currently Aries: 7, all the others totalled: 10.
Sweet dreams!
Ann
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)Here is the letter I sent to the Jim Harrington's editor (and cc'd to Harrington):
I'm sure you get many angry letters after one of your reviewers gives an unfavorable review. The aftermath of Jim Harrington's review of Donald Fagen's performance at Oakland's Paramount Theater won't come as a surprise then.
I'll let the other Fagen and Steely Dan fans point out just how off-base Mr. Harrington's review was. I'd like to focus on, what I believe are, two major fundamental problems with the review.
The most obvious mistake is Mr. Harrington's observation that the show, "strongly featured the new record". Really? For the record, the band played exactly ONE song off of the spectacular new album, Morph the Cat ("Bright Nitegown"). Compare this to the FIVE songs the band played from Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly. Did Mr. Harrington even attend this concert? Was he so woefully unprepared to review the artist that he hadn't bothered to listen to his work prior to the concert? I cannot comprehend how a professional could make this big of an error if he preformed his task seriously and while somewhat sober.
That leads me to the second fundamental problem with this review. How could Jim Harrington be assigned to review an artist with whom he is largely unfamiliar (and whom he obviously regards unfavorably)? I don't think the reviewer needs to be a fan of the artist (or genre) being reviewed...but, I can't imagine why you would send a guy who doesn't like the artist to review said artist.
How do I know Mr. Harrington is ignorant of the work of Mr. Fagen and Steely Dan? He makes it pretty clear by referring to Fagen's music as "relaxing and inoffensive". Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of Steely Dan would understand they are considered to be one the most subversive bands in modern pop music over the past 35 years. Of course, he would have to listen to (and understand) the lyrics to know that. Or he could just read one of the hundreds of articles written addressing this very issue.
Harrington continues to show his ignorance by referring to Home at Last as "perhaps the least likable track from 1977's 'Aja'". Say what? That may be Harrington's opinion, but I guarantee you that is not the feeling among Steely Dan aficionados (or knowledgeable reviewers).
Had Mr. Harrington done his homework, he would have seen the silly "elevator music" shtick used as far back as the late 1970's (and as recently as two weeks ago in a Reuters' interview). The response to that "observation"? “I don’t care what they say,” Fagen told Reuters in an interview. “They play Mozart in supermarkets too. There’s nothing you can do about it!” Perhaps you can send Mr. Harrington to review the San Francisco Symphony next.
One last point: What can you say about a music critic who espouses, "perfection is best left for the elevator"?
Posted by: Ann, In the Stars!!Pam....at the moment...yes!!...but the day after Skunk Baxter if that's any compensation!!
LWO: Now the Don/Walt star interaction would be VERY interesting!! I leave that one to an expert like you!!
DJ: Didn't know Da Vinci was one of us...unfortunately, so was Adolf Hitler!!
Ann
Posted by: Little Wild One, A-typical TaurusAnn, honey, besides Steely Dan, astrology is my other passion. Been doing charts since I was a teenager.
It would appear that Pisces and Aries seem to be in the majority. I know the Geminis and Leos out there just haven't piped up yet.
Interesting really, Donald is a Capricorn and Walter is a Pisces. In my spare time, I'll have to check out how they "work" star-wise.
Posted by: PQ, NYCThis Jamband tribute - wow! I can't wait to hear what Mike Stern can do with Dirty Work. Isn't he the best player of ballads on guitar in like the last 50 years? Great choice.
And Ernie Watts on sax! Fuck! I just bought his latest album, Spirit Song, the other day. Whoo hoo hoo! Very powerful playing. I wish someone here would get this disc; listen to how he absolutely goes off on tenor sax on the title tune; then discuss, Why doesn't Donald Fagen ever let a sax player just go off like that? This is part of what this Jim Harirngton guy is saying.
Posted by: Pam, What, am I the only Sagittarius here? Dec 14th :) And I spin Kama more than Nightfly, too.
Posted by: Daddy G., NJDig the 2 pics with that SFgate/SFChronicle review...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/chronicle/archive/2006/03/30/DDG6THVIFE1.DTL
Posted by: Ann, In the Stars!!Neck and neck: Aries: 7, all the others: 7
This is getting interesting!!!!
Posted by: DJ, Shy-townWell, the day the Titanic sunk, Lincoln died, taxes are due and DaVinci and myself were born on April 15th.
Posted by: You, may prefer thishttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/03/30/DDG6THVIFE1.DTL
Posted by: Danfiend, ChiHey Steely Dan Fam
MTC has been living in my cd player for two weeks already, but just before it came out there was another disk I couldn't stop listening to. I HAVE to introduce y'all to William Kurk. He has been making a name for himself here in Chicago as a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. What's even better is that he's a huge Don and Dan fan. Donald and Walter's influence figures prominently in his work, but he has a voice and style all his own. Someone turned me on to it and I'm glad they did. I know you guys will LOVE it too!
You can find his disk "The Sound: Volume 1" at CdBaby.com, Towerrecords.com, and his website at williamkurk.com. I've heard from local musicians that he's currently in the studio working on "The Sound: Volume 2" and it's phenomenal. Check it out!
Toya
Posted by: Little Wild One, flushingOf all the reviews, this one pisses me off the most. It's a SOLO tour, why the hell would he do the stuff that SD is best known for?
Elevator music? I'm not even gonna waste my time e-mailing him. But I fully support those who do.
Go Lexi.
Posted by: Ann, In the stars6 Aries, 7 all the others
Keep 'em coming folks of Dandom!
Posted by: Danfiend, Chi
Posted by: Rajah, He had a couple glaring errors in there but that's par for the course as well, but you have to admit the line about comparing the Donald Fagen Band to, "Shakespearean actors in a Drano commercial," is darn funny, c'mon.
First we had the Generation Gap, then we had the Mineshaft Gap, finally now I think the empirical evidence warrants the chistening of a whole new gap, the Steely Dan Gap.
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, PAThe review by Jim Harrington seems to touch on the performer/entertainer vs. musician bit. I will take all the great CDs and DVDs I can listen to from SD and pass on the rock-n-roll performance by a middle-aged hump jumping around in an English school boy outfit (Now that’s entertainment baby!!!).
Also, isn't it amazing we you know the facts about something that is written in the press how often they get it wrong? These guys must be really lazy and obviously no one reviews their work because the correct information is so easy to obtain these days.
Posted by: JG , nvHappy B-day to you also Ann
Posted by: Write him, tell him what an ass he hisRiding the elevator with Donald Fagen
By Jim Harrington, STAFF WRITER
jharrington@angnewspapers.com
Posted by: Only a Fool would Say That, Jim Harrington, STAFF WRITER said : "After witnessing Fagen's show in Oakland, which strongly featured the new record, one has to wonder what took him so long?"
This goes to show you how full of shit this reviewer is. Fagen played one (1) song from Morph in Oakland. Right here this guys credibility is shot to hell. He couldn't wait to write this review so he could throw in his "elevator" crap. It's amazing how this guy even has a job.
Oh yeah, Harrington says: "Songs such as "Home at Last," which is perhaps the least likable track from 1977's "Aja"
another brilliant remark Jim
Posted by: Rajah , Although the review by Jim Harrington posted below is scathing, he does give Fagen his due, however grudgingly. I think this reviewer more accurately captures what I hear the majority of Steely Dan-haters feel, it's undeniable that the way the music is constructed and Don's style of play irks a whole sector of music fans. Steely Dan may just have more anti-fans than fans. Even if they pretty much get it like this reviewer, they reject the form and execution itself.
He likes Angus Young? The guy in the short pants?
Appropos.
Posted by: Lester, mnt topsAnn... you know that saying "Death and Taxes"???? Well I have the double whammy... my day is April 16th.. one day after IRS filing is due!
Posted by: ygk, nycand mine was Monday, the 27th....and like I like to say when everyone forgets it, is that "March 27th is Sarah Vaughn's Birthday"
ygk
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - Rocks to the sound of MTC!!Oooops!! Sorry guys, didn't mean Kid Clean, I mean RJ Squirrel!!!
(Old age!!)
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - Rocks to the sound of MTC!!Wow!! JG...day before me! Happy birthday for then!
Aries still ahead!!: 4, all the other signs: 7.
Keep 'em coming Dandom!!
Kid Clean: Yep it's pretty cool!! Same owners as the Beverly Hills Hotel!! It's our Big Boss' 60th birthday in July, so we're hoping for something big! When it was his 50th birthday we had free concerts from Michael Jackson (before all the law suits!!), Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Seal. Who knows, maybe our Big Boss is really cool and appreciates the Dan. Now that WOULD make my year, to get them playing here!! Who knows!!
Looks like 15th April's announcement will determine my future this year!
Peace to all!!
Ann (Boogying in the jungle!!)
Posted by: scoots, minneapolisHis name seems to get mentioned in the bluebook occasionally so I hope this qualifies as a "tangentially" Steely Dan note - I just received an email announcing a short Joe Jackson tour this June. (If nothing else the tie could be that Jackson was worked a bit with Todd Runtgren, who certainly has SD ties.) I hear Joe puts on a great show.
http://www.joejackson.com/tourdates.htm
Posted by: ws, nv To Jim Harrington Inside bay area F-you
Posted by: Audi, quattro I once had an Aries back in the days. Later on I upgraded to a Taurus. But that's before Saturn hit the market.
Hope this help.
Posted by: sucks, he saidhttp://www.insidebayarea.com/bayarealiving/ci_3654406
Posted by: JG, calAnn
April 3
Posted by: Kid Clean, waking up
May 18th - Taurus
I spin Kama more than Nightfly.
KC
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, Squelched by RealityAnn, "urbane" indeed and a lovely Jack Nicklaus golf course to boot. In actuality I am the one in the "sticks" it seems. All jungle fantasies now ruined, no more native drums echoing in the distance...bwana no ju-ju.
Re: Kama, Florida Room is one of my top 5 favorite songs so I can't knock it.
Posted by: IDTC, Librabobot, there's a guy here in the USA who does a radio talk show parody that has to be heard to be believed. His name is Phil Hendrie. He stands with Spike Milligan as one of the two greatest comic artists in human history.
HISTORY'S COMIC TIMELINE:
---(everyone else)---SPIKE MILLIGAN...PHIL HENDRIE---(everyone else)---
If you don't know the work of either of those two names, you don't know what comedy is. Don't bother throwing Aristophanes or Twain at me.
Posted by: Ann, BorneoLester: does that make you Taurus.....or yet another Aries??
Ann
Posted by: Lester, mnt topsMichelle in Oakland... 40 wasn't anywhere near as bad as 30... I didn't let any body mention it was my birthday for 30... not even the kids... 50 wasn't even as bad.... now 58 next month... I'll tell you later!
Posted by: Michelle in Oakland, OaklandLibra.
Well, I am still coming down from last night's show at the Paramount, what an amazing night. We did the 5-star thing and I was skeptical in part because I am suspicious of these things and because it took some scraping money-wise, but it was totally worth it, no doubt in mind, I will never forget last night. My husband and I sat front row right in front of Donald. I was the dorky woman in the green shirt who cried tears of joy about 8 times that afternoon and night. Here at the Western World and Nightfly were the highlights for me and just hearing Donald playing keyboard at the beginning of soundcheck before the rest of the band got there. That and winning the autographed photo at the raffle. We have had such an unbeilevably crappy last 12 months and for a few hours I forgot about everything else and felt young and alive and just thrilled to be somewhere and it was really good to know I still have it in me to feel like that in the year I turn 40.
Somewhat still hungover, but happy. Cheers to you all.
Posted by: Lester, tops of the mntsTo "Spooky" cooloftheeveningclassics4
(good tune good group)
I'm NOT picking on the Songs much less the lyrics on KAMA... Countermoon, Snowbound, Teahouse, Florida Room, and Tomorrow's Girls are great.... Teahouse TOTALLY rocked the Chicago Theatre two weeks ago... I would love to hear it again... but it was live... and there was something just (and this sounds like I don't like it.. which I do!) uh, how can I put it... inaccessible??? Antiseptic??? what?? Just like I said... not as compelling as a lot of the other stuff....
Is that putting it down???? I don't mean it that way.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - no pygmies hereOk, up to now we've got 3 Aries, and one each of Taurus, Piscies, Virgo and Cancer. Looks like the Aries are winning. Come on folks...tell me your sign!!
RJ Squirrel: Borneo, 3rd largest island in the world (debatable), S.E.Asia. Equator goes through the middle of it. Split between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei (my bit - on the edge of the South China Sea). Home of the orang utan and rainforest (Pygmies live in Africa).
Rajah: Your fantasies are fascinating!! However, far from the truth! If any of you go to the following website, you will see that life here for me is strictly "urbane", as the mosquitoes in the jungle like me for dinner. Only miss the UK for its sense of humour and live music.....and, of course, the Off-Spring.
http://www.empire.com.bn/
www.jis.edu.bn
Peace to all!
Ann
Posted by: In the cool of the evening, in the last light of the triple sunYour not my sister
Not my mother
Significant other
You're one of tomorrow's girls
That's why you don't get Kama
Posted by: Little Wild One, from the foot ofLester, ME TOO! One of my dear friends, Boston Rag, had to talk me down from the ledge on Kama.
It's just not accessible. Sorry folks.
Posted by: Declan, memphisOr, it could be about the narrator wishing a girl named "Rikki" would call him.
Posted by: Sherpa, Direct from LhasaHoops et. al.
The EW article does "reveal" another twist to the Rikki debate--unrequited love of a prof's wife....could be a "PC" interpretation cooked up to get thru the interview and not attract negative energy during this critical, initial period of Morph promotion?? Maybe not--but possible--no??
Let's presume that the narrator in the song is an older gay dude who perhaps had attempted the seduction of a confused younger dude (Rikki--which in and of itself could certainly be a dude's pet name), whom he learned about from his "friend in town" that went a bit awry. The underlying premise then becomes--well this time it went a little bad--but if you have a change of heart, give me a call and we'll try this again.
When this "presumption" is made, the song portrays the aforementioned scenario far better than a young hetero male's adolescent crush on an older, "unavailable" woman. Furthermore, continuing to apply this "non-hetero" presumption, one will find that there are about three or four OTHER cuts on Pretzel that take on interpretations quite different than what the casual (unadulterated?) listener might surmise.
The "neutral" ground on this debate is that the narrator on Rikki is a PUSHER- very apropos for the times (early 1970's) and that Rikki had a bad trip for his first foray into the drug scene--but then is encouraged not to give up......
Posted by: Lester, mnt topsRelative to the Audioholics review... Don't know about ranking it higher than "Everything Must Go"... That's real difficult...EMG has turned into one of my standard favotires... "Things I miss the most" is the most entertaining "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" songs EVER.... but I can't speak from experience over that being married once and currently for 37 years... and still going strong (Hopefully!) "Godwhackers", "Pixeleen"... "Lunch with Gina" all right up there.... but I would say while there's nothing to pick about Kama... it somehow just isn't as compelling... know what I mean???
I love lot's of the tracks... but I just don't go to it first... in fact, I had to get it off the shelf and into the CD changer in the Truck to re-familiarize myself with it before we went off to the Chicago show.... What do you think????
Posted by: me, hereI miss the variety of bands/musicians/soloists that we used to see on Donald Fagen (and Steely Dan) releases.
Agreed.
I think this CD is stronger than the last Steely Dan release (Everything Must Go)
Agreed
and MUCH stronger than the last Donald Fagen solo release (Kamakiriad)
I don't agree.
Posted by: edbeatty, @site of best show on df 2006 tourOne more chime in
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avsoftware/cd_other/donaldfagenmorphcat.php
ed
Posted by: Razorboy, with a capital RCrazy Cat Terrorizes Connecticut Town
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060329/D8GL7P580.html
Mar 29, 7:24 AM (ET)
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) - Residents of the neighborhood of Sunset Circle say they have been terrorized by a crazy cat named Lewis. Lewis for his part has been uniquely cited, personally issued a restraining order by the town's animal control officer.
"He looks like Felix the Cat and has six toes on each foot, each with a long claw," Janet Kettman, a neighbor said Monday. "They are formidable weapons."
The neighbors said those weapons, along with catlike stealth, have allowed Lewis to attack at least a half dozen people and ambush the Avon lady as she was getting out of her car.
Some of those who were bitten and scratched ended up seeking treatment at area hospitals.
Animal Control Officer Rachel Solveira placed a restraining order on him. It was the first time such an action was taken against a cat in Fairfield.
In effect, Lewis is under house arrest, forbidden to leave his home.
Solveira also arrested the cat's owner, Ruth Cisero, charging her with failing to comply with the restraining order and reckless endangerment.
---
hmmmmmm... curious
Posted by: Rajah , breaking the 4th wallAlfie, Annie Hall, (a lot of Woody's), Ferris Beuhler's Day Off, Spaceballs, When Harry Met Sally and the Muppet movies. I think the Muppets and FB are H Wood.
Posted by: Provincial Ruben, Tall County, ARWhy, yes it is. Thanx. Long time voyuer; seldom poster. I'm a week behind. I read slow. I type slower. 2space; excess(ie: absent) thought. There's a place called Argonne where ordinary guys developed particularly nasty cases of dyn-o-mite. Don't worry about being taken alive-- unless you're a cockroach. B&F once described as 'worms' by corp exec.
Why do I (and maybe you) like MtC? Because the other does the one so well. Some cat comes to NYC after college daze. A bunch of fickle mushheads make him (and his 'partner in crime') into Gods of a sort. Hey, he was high above the town. It's fans like us that stargaze. This was all just thrust upon him. He gave us every chance to back out.
So he must form a band-- thanks, ABC/Dunhill! I thought no one (ok, maybe Kurt Cobain or Keith Whitley) would ever beat Neil Young and "The Needle and the Damage Done," but here you have it in a nutcase. When the 'show' is 'down' enough times, it's probably easier to 'get off the stage, boy' than to face a 'kickfight.'
Principal's unreliable, he'd better reinvent the gig. I swear I hear, "...it's not a game I play/ to mug T and A..."
What do superheroes do? They face death. Ooh, gotta run baths. Tone arm lifts; it returns; you flip album. Maybe I won't be back.
Posted by: speaking to the audience, In one of Tony Randall's films from the 60's, I think "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter" or something like that, Tony Randall speaks to the audience. That was a big name Hollywood film.
Posted by: Alan, Ocean Beach, SFCounterMoon - The location of the VIP 2nd row seats were, in fact, great. However, it was the size (or lack of) of the seats that made the seating not so ideal. Trying to fit 2 extra large blokes into seats designed for school kids did not work. This is something that AllAccess should review for future shows.
It was also noted, by others who shall remain nameless, that the closeness of the seating arrangements made sitting beside some Don Fans who had neglacted to bathe less than pleasant.
All that aside, the show was excellent and the front row end seat that I landed in made for a wonderful viewing experience.
Congrats on winning your autographed t-shirt - enjoy it!
Posted by: Aja, from that other bookWas catching up on posts on the yellow when I read the news of Steveedan's wife. Life is just so cruel sometimes. Steveedan, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
On another note, was happy to catch up with ed and Lady Bayside this weekend after the Temecula show. NYC, here I come!
Aja
Posted by: hoops, I agree that I think the EW article is very revealing in terms of new stuff. Like all that information about "My Old School" really puts a lot of discussion to rest, or at least moves it on to some new discussion. Note too that the article does not actually put the "Rikki" debate fully to rest, but it sure does give some new info. I wonder if Brian Sweet will revise his book as a result of some of these interviews.
As for being direct rather than elusive, I think it goes back to that "third personna" that enters the room when Walter and Donald get together—known as Mr. Steely Dan. Mr. Steely Dan is elusive. I believe I stated this before, but again, in some ways, I think it's better when meanings and such are ambiguous. Sure, it creates debate and uncertainty and arguments and consideration of all sorts of possibilities...but that's my point. I think it's better than being told exactly what a song is about.
jim
Posted by: Kamkiriad, Bay AreaSpeaking of the EW article, it is one of the very best written on the subject of DF, SD etc. I've attempted to read everything on the subject over the past 30 years, and frankly its mostly a bunch of regurgation. This article actually had facts never revealed. Also, the Donald Fagen I saw last night explaining the motivation and theme of most of the songs played, plus the Donald Fagen that gave a brief comment on each song on MTC, is not the same guy who would've
poo-pooed such a concept years back. He's obviously mellowing!
Posted by: S.K., Vegas was great! Great to meet so many of you.
Saw Elton John at Caesar's last night and spoke with his Bassist, Bob Birch, who said he loves MTC. Also spoke with Elton guitarist Davey Johnstone
and he said,
"Steely Dan, they're great, I saw them a few years ago." Of course, Davey was also on tour with Elton circa 1973 when Steely Dan was an opener for Elton.
Posted by: Hollywood Convention Forbids, Speaking to the AudienceIN ancnet Greek plays the chorus speaks to the audience, like in Thornton Wilder's Our Town. In a major budget, studio backed, Hollywodd produced, big name star film, you will not see this before Fight Club. It does not exist.
Posted by: Mike F., NYCTHANK YOU to everyone who mentioned the Entertainment Weekly article. I just went to a store and they still had one copy of last week's issue. It's always worth it to ask them if they have any old copies leftover. Best, Mike
Posted by: Rajah, Dunno where this thread started but speaking directly to the audience goes back to the Aeschylus, (think of the Chorus in Woody's Mighty Aphrodite)in fact when the device of two people, two characters, speaking directly to each other on stage was introduced it caused rioting, disrespectful to the gods it seems. Best at this device were the plays from the English Restoration period, characters coming downstage and whispering asides in sottovoce to the crowd, giving them some inside information. Works best with farce.
Posted by: TJ, DKGretchen, I was quite taken by Eugenides' Middlesex, and Franzen's decription of family ties (or lack fo it) in american middleclass is priceless.
I guess it's "V" then, thanks!
Posted by: PQ, Hollywood, CA*Sigh* Let the
Posted by: the little walter, Holy Grail was 1975. Admittedly not a Hollywood film.
Posted by: the little walter, In Monty Python and the Holy Grail a central theme was to make references that it was only a movie, with lots of asides directly to the camera, mixing of medieval with modern times, etc... with half the characters not ever realizing the "movie" aspect.
Posted by: hoops, There's so many posts here I want to reply to but not as much time as I would like.
Doctor, if you are in the market to replace/update the masters of your Dan CDs, there have been several iterations. As of the moment, the following are the versions to get, with some notes about some first run mistake to look for, in case you get one and find you need to exchange that. Also, there is a possibility that there will a sort of update on some other ABC titles. See below this list.
CBAT, CTE: Get the 1998 copyrighted versions, most recent masters out there at the moment.
Pretzel, Katy, Royal Scam, Aja: Get the 1999 copyrighted versions, most recent masters out there at the moment. Watch for some copies of Pretzel which are missing the intro to Rikki; watch for some copies of Katy which list the songs in the wrong order.
Gaucho: If you can find it, get the SACD/CD hybrid disc, copyrighted 2003. This will play in stereo on even the cheapest of CD players; if you have the special SACD player and setup, you will hear a surround version. There are also two other current versions of "Gaucho"—one is a DTS 5.1version mastered circa 1998/99 and another is a DVD-A version mastered circa 2003/04. Often DVD-A and DTS are on the same disc but that is not the case here.
Also there are DVD-A's of 2vN, EMG, Kama, and The Nightfly.
There will be a box of all three of Fagen's CDs this year.
There is also word that Aja, Scam, Pretzel and CTE are masted in SACD/CD hybrid but it is uncertain when they will be out. I think this year would be great. If so, that would make the other CD's I mention above relatively obsolete.
I would love for a DVD-A of 11TOW.
Funny eveyone forgets that "Alive In America" has never been out in DVD-A.
Hope that helps.
jim
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaWhat chance do you think Donald and Woody Allen know each other on a more than casual basis? They may live in the same building on the upper east side. Attend the same Synagogue? THey are actually quite similar, except Woody has proven to be a REAL pervert, while DF see's himself as one in a "personal joke" kinda way.
Who knows: Maybe "everyone's gone to the movies" is woody and his step daughter??????????
Posted by: scats, elsewherehow is Fagen pulling off playing only one MtC tune?
I would love to hear 5 or more nightfly tunes
a kama hear or there
but two covers and only 1-2 MtC tunes?
shame on those taking the beer breaks during the new stuff
now if he's only love to tour the southland
question - is Donald playing the more intricate Philiganes parts from Maxine and other tunes?
Posted by: W1P, LAI swear G is not me. Thanks to Pete, I got to meet Chris Adamson too and I relayed a message from Chris to Alan Parsons who lives in SB if you get my drift
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)Wwll, as long as I decided to post once:
Kurt Vonnegut I'm sure, would be considered a genius and an influence to writers and musicians of a certain age. (So would Bukowski and Hunter Thompson...but, I digress...)
Jonathan Lethem may just be the "new Vonnegut".
Posted by: The Doctor, Portsmouth, EnglandLadies and gentlemen,boys and girls,
Apologies if this is a bit of a dull question to which the answer may/should be common knowledge...but...I bought all of the early Dan albums many moons ago as soon as they came out on CD, however, now when you listen the last two offerings and MTC etc, the sound, production etc on the old stuff, especially when I drop them down onto MP3 is, well, crap. All the Talking Heads stuff has recently be polished and re released here in the UK, and it's like listening to different albums. So, at last, the question...has or will the early Dan stuff every been re released post polishing ? (Yes, that's right, my grasp of the correct technical terminology is'nt that great is it !)
Posted by: me, hereSpeaking of countermoons...
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1906655,00.html
Posted by: Roger Ebert, .PQ - I seem to remember Ferris Bueller talking to the camera quite a bit back in 1983. I'd hardly call John Hughes a genius.
The tracking shot in Hitchcock's 'Frenzy' when we go in the door, up the stairs, and then back out is pretty neat too.
Posted by: PQ, NYCOK doc I'll amend - Fincher has Pitt and Norton address the viewer so as to comment that's it 'only a movie'. Like when in Godard films you can see the boom mike hanging over the actors heads.
Or like in Show Biz Kids when the lyric "I've been around the world" was clearly not the case in 1973.
IN V. the jazz sax player who's based on Monk and Parker is named 'McClinitc Sphere.'
Posted by: steelydoc, @ the LidoPQ: didn't see Panic Room, but check out the great steadicam shot in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta enters the Copa...incredible! ...also, Woody Allen spoke to the camera in "Annie Hall" in 1976...it was original 30 years ago!
Posted by: Gretchen, Both Jonathan Franzen and Jeffery Eugenides' works would appeal to many Dan fans. If you haven't read Franzen's "The Corrections," pick it up, you're in for a treat. Check out these websites:
http://www.bloomsbury.com/authors/microsite.asp?id=214
www.jonathanfranzen.com
G
Posted by: Kamkiriad, Bay AreaOakland Set List
Here at the Western World
Green Flower Street
The Nightfly
New Frontier
Maxine
Home at last
Black Cow
The Goodbye Look
Third World Man
Countermoon
Misery & The Blues
Bright Nightgown
Black Friday
(Encore)
Pretzel Logic
Viva Rock n Roll
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, PAArtistic brilliance? Tough one, what is the definition and evidence? Do you have to influence others to be brilliant? Who has been influenced by SD? Not a knock, maybe nobody else is capable of advancing or improving the form.
Not sure Kubrick influenced anybody either my droogies but I love him.
Interesting quote from Woody Allen on genius/influence:
I was in conversation with Martin Scorcese some time ago and I was pointing out that, in my opinion, I-- and I’m not saying this pejoratively-- I have influenced nobody, whereas Marty, everytime I go to a movie, I see his influence. Correctly so, because he’s a brilliant director. I’ve seen Altman’s influence; Coppola’s influence. But mine, I don’t really see. There are certain people in every field that do not influence. They can do perfectly good work, I’m not denigrating my work. Like in jazz, for example, Charlie Parker was a monstrous influence everywhere, but Thelonious Monk, who is a definite genius, has no real heritage. Practically nobody was influenced by him. I feel that I’ve influenced nobody. I would be very surprised if my picture was up on someone’s wall. It may be, but I just would be surprised.
Full interview:
http://www.rkpuma.com/woody.htm
Posted by: Research Dept, LibraryHeroin Times on Pynchon and Dan lyrics:
www.herointimes.com/oct04/flashback.html
Posted by: Lexi says, 3/29/2006
My brother Lewis, a longtime subscriber to CrimeLine L.A. News, sent me this DF–related clipping:
Phil Gallo, an associate editor at Variety, the entertainment industry newspaper, was found dead last night in an alley in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. The cause of death was suffocation due to having his head way, way up his ass.
Gallo, who had published a less than favorable review of a performance by the Donald Fagen Band in Monday's edition, had apparently been seen earlier that evening entering a brothel on Crenshaw and Western that specializes in providing craniorecteurs like Gallo with the sort of thrills they crave.
Dennis DeMerde, the proprietor of the brothel, Club Scuttlebutt, told CrimeLine L.A. that Gallo had come in "about nine in the evening. I remember exactly because Richard Cromelin of the L.A. Times, who was just leaving, asked me for the correct time. Paul seemed, I don't know, kind of hyper or manic or whatever. He was really determined to get his head way, way up in there. He had called earlier to reserve Jock and Billy. They're our edgiest, as well as our most expensive, F.I.T. (Forcible Ingress Team)."
But somewhere, somehow, something went wrong. Anthony "Jock" Bibbage and William "Billy" Vance are being held for questioning. Funeral information will be announced tomorrow pending notification of all family members.]
Paul, we hardly knew ye...
Lexi
Posted by: PQ, NYCStart with V. There is no other experience like it in the world. As it begins Benny Profane comes to New York and takes a job as an alligator hunter in the NY sewer tunnels under the city.
Posted by: Thomas Pynchon, LA foothillsyo for bein the most famous writer in the world and goin 40 years without even bein photographed, even by paparazzi - pretty good huh? and a simpsons episode about me to boot
Posted by: TJ, DKI've read my Coupland and Ellis, all of Auster, moved on to Franzen and Eugenides and battled DeLillo's Underworld. Now I think I'm ready for Pynchon.
But where to start??
Posted by: Rajah , Stanley Kubrick. Perfectionist. Recluse. Anything but prolific.
You go Alan, don't let those 5-Star Nazis push you around.
Fight the 5-Star Power.
Posted by: LA Kat, Wil and WesWell the wait was worth the wait if you know what I mean. The Wiltern show was tasty indeed, even tho the local reviews noted a sameness to the energy level which was true enough, I say energy isn't all about tempo, but also musicianship and there was plenty of that on stage. By the way speaking of reviews I seem to be the only one reading the "lexi says" on donald's site, but I'm surprised how much reviews are mentioned. Yes it's in a humorous vein but it sounds a little creepy too. Maybe that's the point. Anyway I thought the show was aces. Was tempted to try to catch one of the last No Ca shows but my day gig calls. Enjoy all those who will see a show, and if you are on the fence get off your butt and GO!
Posted by: PQ, NYCYeah Bobot. David Fincher. There is an unedited tracking shot in Panic Room the likes of which no one has ever attempted before in the history of movies. Also in Fight Club he breaks the ultimate Hollywood convention/taboo in one scene where Brad Pitt and Edward Norton look directly into the camera and speak to the viewer, which is something else that's never been done or allowed in a Hollywood film, God kows how he got away with it. And the chess player Magnus Carlsson is 13 years old and ranked in the top 20 in the world.
No artist of any kind anywhere in the world today is quite on the level of Thomas Pynchon, however, and Becker and Fagen are great fans of his.
Posted by: Rick Goeld, Drying outFagen's Concert at the Wiltern was great (LUKE you said it all). For me, New Frontier was outstanding (John Herington on guitar! and Freddie Washington on bass!)
I saw Alan Rosenberg and Marge Helgenberger, and Kevin Pollak (well, maybe it was Kevin Pollak).
Nice to meet so many fans at the Opus Bar before the show (Pete, Shari, Cathy, Ed Beatty, Don (or was it Dan?), Chris (W1P) from Hong Kong (Joe-Saaaannnnn), and of course Rajah and the lovely Gretchen.
I got soaked the next day driving down to Orange County and then back up to LAX. Two inches of rain! I could not navigate between the raindrops. Fortunately, Phoenix is a great place to dry off.
Hope to see more of you at the summer SD+MMcD tour (if there is one)
Rick Goeld
www.searchingforsteelydan.com
Posted by: G, cal Bobot- Roger Waters
Posted by: Little Wild One, on a bus called...APRIL 15 announcement for August dates? I must be dreaming...
HFS
Posted by: bobot, SwedenHey all!
I had an interesting discussion with my brother the other day. We are both massive Fagen fans and consider him a true genious, and the discussion was about whether we know of any other geniouses living today, who are active in other artforms. And we did, in fact, come up with at least one name - Christopher Guest, the director of "A mighty wind", "Best in show", "Waiting for Guffman", and member of "Spinal tap". For some reason he is brilliant in a way that is similar to Doctor Fagen - he has extremely loyal fans, he doesn't seem to be too interested in publicity, he masters his somewhat personal style to its fullest, and so on.
My question is this: do you know about other directors, artists, musicians and so on, who you consider to be in the same league as Mr Fagen, when it comes to... hmmm... artistic brilliance?
Also, it would be great to know if I have any fellow Guest fans in the Steely Dan community. For those of you who have not seen his films: words can not describe how amazing the movies mentioned above are.
Take care all,
bobot
Posted by: Counter Moon, these seats are filled with tearsKamkiriad- I was at the 5 star last night in Oakland as well.The show was really good! What was up with that big Australian baby crying about his seats? Go back down under if you don't like your first row seat. You're no better than the rest of us mate.
The 5 star was great (I won an autographed t-shirt at the raffle) Dana (our host) was awesome, as was the sound check and the first row seats. I'll be back with the 5 Star for McDonald and Steely this summer!
Posted by: the little walter, Alkali, you asked if we had a problem with dissention? You view yourself as a dissenter? Against? Alas, no problem either way.
you riff thusly: "Blue colored leftists don’t usually put up an augment (you mean argument?) or show any sign of individuallality (individuality). Are you ok?"
Not a leftist. I dress "right". Arguments and individuality - apparently the time for those is past. But with tears and hearts breaking and remorse.
Sorry about directly calling you a name. My bad.
Posted by: Rajah , strange pussySkip to the end of this for the kicker:
http://www.connpost.com/news/ci_3646541
Posted by: jeffpublic, SF Bay AreaAt the Oakland show last night I noticed what looked very much like a trash can sitting between the two guitar amps. Anyone know what this was for? I was thinking that this might have been for the spit valves of the horn players. However, it was a bit out of their way. You'd think they'd hide that behind the guitar amps rather than put it on display between them.
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, PAAnn,
I am a Cancer (7/19) which is a real bad name for a Zodiac sign (who came up with this shit?). Anyway, please send "National Geographic type" photos of female pygmies (or any indigenous females, or yourself) while I look up where in the hell Borneo is. Thank you.
Posted by: seth2112, cleveland, via tamp, fl and nycword out of SIR studio's in NY is that a press conference has been announced for april 15th to announce the dan/mcdonald summer tour to start in august in camden, nj on the waterfront.
Posted by: Little Wild One, me-owlThat cat article is hilarious. Did you notice his name is "Lewis" no doubt crouching on the Fair-lawn?
I bet DF is freaking beat. I've only been to three shows and I know I am.....
Posted by: Alkali, NYCTJ: Thank you.
LITTLEWALTER & RAZORBOY: eh? Problem with dissention? Blue colored leftists don’t usually put up an augment or show any sign of individuallality. Are you ok?
Posted by: Alkali, NYC
Posted by: Geoff, Sobering up
Kamakiriad,
That annoying bastard was that freakin' Aussie Alan. Fortunately a drug deal negotiated by his girlfriend Jeri prevented the incident from escalating into a Fosters-induced brawl, as they where hustled off to seats in the front row.
"Winge and win", as they say down under.
Posted by: Jenny, Fredneck, MDYup. Pisces. March 7th. GREAT bday gift at the Warner on the 6th!
Posted by: Rajah, bad kittyhttp://apnews.myway.com/article/20060329/D8GL7P580.html
Meowww...
Ann, honey, might you be over Borneo? Are the bamboo walls closing in, darlin? Do you miss bangers 'n mash and the occasional old toad in the hole, nudge nudge? Prrr'haps a nice Drambuie shandy down to the local publican, chat up some rough young bloke and retire to his garret for a bit a the ol' slap n tickle? I always picture you in full jungle khakis, shotgun, pith helmet with the long netting tied back like Maureen O'Sullivan before she gets abducted by Tarzan. I picture these things. Or are you converting the heathen to the ways of the Lord out there? Perhaps assisting pygmies to fashion lean-to mud huts in the bush? We can only wonder what in blazes goes down in Borneo but leave it to Donald to have a fan there...it figures somehow.
Me, I'm a Virgo, Virgo rising (hopefully) but my cell-mate Rajah sprang fully Turbaned it is told from the head of the river-goddess, born under the star of Daibu, Light of the East, ruler of the upper and lower kingdoms and personal haberdasher to the crowned heads of Botswana. Fly me.
Posted by: SD, CA Something alittle interesting. Talked to Chris Donalds road manger.His voice is heard on Pink Floyds Dark Side of the Moon."Ive been mad fuckin years absolutely years"
Posted by: Fife, sunny baltimore, ehAries here, March 26th. Count nine months back and that brings you to the height of Wedding season. Makes sense, eh.
Posted by: Linda Goodman, watching the skiesAnn, when the DF tour news broke, we somewhat unscientifically determined that there was an abundance of Pisces that frequent this forum, as their birthdays fell near a particular show or date.
Personally, I have counseled several Geminis and several Leos. Always on the lookout for other interesting combos though!
Sign me
Taurus, Aries rising
Posted by: I see, Thanks 'The Dean'....Countermoon I would have liked.
Posted by: iowaboy, mnt topsOakland! Where's the set list for Tuesday the 28th???? I'm getting all revved up for San Diego....
Posted by: Morph , my veteranarianhttp://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/odd.jsp?floc=ns-tos-news-h-06&feature=newz_0306cat_terrorizes
Posted by: The Dean, San Francisco (in the dreaded Marina)To "just asking":
He played a GREAT version of Countermoon. Only one from Morph, too...Bright Nitegown. I thought we might get more funk in Oaktown...but this was so funky it made up for it.
As a vetern of many SD live shows, I was surprised Don's show was VERY different from a SD gig. Same songs, totally different vibe.
After some early sound problems, the show was just awesome. (The sound in the P-mont is not the greatest, unfortunately.)
The tour has clearly taken its toll on DF's voice. He was struggling a little, but pulled it off. Not the strong instrument described by those who went to the early shows. DF was relaxed and, I think, in a good moood. He joked more than I remember.
The band, of course, was as good as a band gets. The stuff KC did on the symbols during Home at Last is mesmorizing. He also showed off (in a good way) during Misry.
I thought Misry and Viva Rock and Roll were welcome elements to the show. One highlight for me was Maxine. I'm really glad they played that.
The guy next to me was pissed they didn't play H-Gang ("that's the song I paid for", he grumbled). Screw 'em.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - and dimented!Napolean: Happy belated birthday
Kamkiriad: Snap, I still feel 18!!
Two related links there....as it's MY birthday next Tuesday!! (55...agh!!!). Anyways, it got me thinking about horoscopes and star signs....and wondering if any of the star signs are significantly represented amongst us die hard SD fans.
Napolean and I are Aries. Are there any more of us out there? Tell us your star signs and let's do a head count of which signs are most likely to produce an SD fan!
(OK, if you think I've gone completely mad, sorry, it's just with frustration at not being able to see these fantastic concerts that you're all raving on about. I have to have something to occupy my thoughts!!!!)
Peace to all!
Ann
Posted by: Mike F., NYCI'm sorry if I missed some of the posts on this one but did someone say there is a connection between Security Joan and a Tom Hanks movie? Do you mean The Terminal? I haven't seen it yet but may rent it in that case. Also, if you do a search on google for Security Joan, one of the most bizzarre things comes up:
http://thesurrealist.co.uk/trivia.pl?subject=Security%20Joan&gender=f
Posted by: just asking, eh ?, what played from Kama in Oakland ?
Posted by: PQ, NYCIn Vedanta there are only 2 forms of enlightenment - one, your life is full of synchronicity; two, you simply stop worrying about anything, ever, at all.
Walter produced an album by a disciple of these principles. Gotta read the texts on Walter's site carefully.
Also, last point on religion. Making fun of Christians who believe God is in a piece of bread is like pointing out Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison and saying All rock stars OD on drugs.
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaDon in OAK-town was fabulous. The Paramount is a great venue and Don and the Boys (& Girls!) were great. I got to the theatre about a half hour early and took my 2nd row center seat. I noticed that an usher and DF represnetative were trying to apease a guy who was COMPLAINING that his all access seat (2nd row in the Orchestra pit) wasn't good enough. His problenm seemed to be with the seat size as opposed to the general location. THe ushwer asked everyone around my area if we'd trade with the guy - no takers. The permanent seats were very wide and comfortable as opposed to the pit's temporary-type non-folding variety chair. The DF rep said to the guy - "Look, you got a seat inches from the band, you got to go to the sound check, got a parking pass - WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT!!!!" Don should write a song about this guy. Title? the obvious "What Do you Want?"
Impressions of the Show:
Western World was an interesting number to kick off the show, but like another Bluebook contributor, I had a hard time keeping up with the new arrangement. I usually like the re-arrangements (Do it Again from 2vN tour was my favorite number) but this one didn't really work for me.
Goodbye Look, Bright Nightgown, and Misry and the Blues were SMOKIN!
No "Peg" and "Josie" is always a good thing. Would have liked more from Morph and maybe one more from Kamakiriad and maybe one less from Nightfly.
Don's crowd, like those at SD shows are getting progressively older. Don claimed in an interview that every time he puts out a solo effort he has to re-introduce himself to the youngsters working at the record company; they don't know him. I say this with some degree of irony as I'll be 50 this year and discovered Steely Dan in early '73 with the relase of CBAT. I guess I just THINK I'm still a teenager!
Cant complain though. Got to see my musical hero upfront and personal, and look forward to multiple visits on the upcoming SD tour.
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
Kind of amusing how the websites posted by both Ann & Jolly are both promoting a drug, however from different sides of the spectrum.
KC
Posted by: Rajah, 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.'The closest Vedic deity to Morph might be Soma, an intoxicant-god that stirred people's minds up, probably some extract which was pressed, fermented and imbibed. Vedic deities were not considered all-powerful. Does Morph have any limitations? Can't his power be subverted by simply leaving Manhattan?
Posted by: At the Wiltern..., ?Donald Fagen's solo act takes an obscure twist at Wiltern LG
By Richard Cromelin, L.A. Times Staff Writer
http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-et-fagen29mar29,0,3458182.story?coll=cl-music
Posted by: Napoleon, UKIt was my 23rd Birthday yesterday and what an anti climax (again). Oh well, to celebrate I watched James Bond Diamonds are Forever and giggled all the way through because of Mr Wind and Mr Kid's resemblence to our good friends Mr Becker and Mr Fagen. Has anybody else spotted this!
Posted by: Jolly Roger, CusterdomeThis site will help Mona, and anyone else who's a bit down.
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6812#Neurogenesis
Posted by: Dr. Thrill, Maybe this site could help Mona, and anyone else who's a bit down.
www.harley-davidson.com
Posted by: Ann, BorneoMaybe this site could help Mona, and anyone else who's a bit down.
http://www.depressionhurts.com/index.jsp
Peace to you all
Ann
Posted by: Geoff, Alan & Jeri we are drunk, 18A Oakland
DF was solo on stage for a good 15 mins before anyone else showed up. ML came out and joined in on drums. The guitar tech jammed too.
ML moved to DF keyboard. JY joined in on vocals.
Countermoon
Maxine
Gospelichious Cindy on IGY
Mercy Mercy Mercy
After all this KC had an interview with Modern Drummer.
then the show opened with here westwern world
Green Flower Street and so on
Goodbye look
zzzzzz
Posted by: iowaboy, By the way, not too many comments about the venues for the shows other than that the Hard Rock was a bit hot and sweaty (isn't it always???). The Chicago theatre was something else.. for a small town kid... it was pretty awe inspiring.. Huge... great looking... nicely restored hasn't it been???? Checking it out was almost (but not quite) worth the trip to Chicago alone. Now we'll see how it compares to the Outdoor setting outside of Alpine CA Thursday Night!
Posted by: Scouser, CAAll our love Steve. Tony and Karen
Posted by: Brat, OttawaOK thanks.
I guess it's one of those Steely-Dan-isms (H-Gang is very SD)
Posted by: Paul, 6x9=42Somebody on the bluebook earlier mentioned that they misheard "Hinktown" as "Hicktown".... I think the actual lyric might just be a wordplay on the misheard. Even if such isn't the case, it's hilarious to listen to.
Just a side note, which has nothing to do with anything, really:
"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something more bizarrely inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
From LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING by Douglas Adams
Posted by: Brat, OttawaTell me about Hinktown. Google gives not answers except that a hink pink is a rhyming setof words and that a hink is "a reaping hook".
So is Hinktown slang for something ?
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaPAUL--An earlier post characterized the Dalai Lama as a theologian of calibre--but he is viewed as an anachronism in the latter day scheme of things. And WE Sherpas should know!
The emergent deity among the Sherpa cognoscenti, is, indeed, MORPH THE CAT. As a matter of fact, he is looming over near Everest as we speak! It is the physical evidence of Morph, unlike any prior deity in human history that gives him the crediblity posessed by none other thus far. That is the view from here, on high.
I am curious to know about the Vedic perpective on this--how about it HAJI?? Errrr... RAJAH??
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Raj: No reason to read past here:
"H Gang," the most fully conceived tune on Donald Fagen's first solo disc in 13 years..."
No that H-Gang is less than a good song, but C'mon! Guy's a troll.
Posted by: angel, Yes on 42 Paul. :-)
Rajah: Reviewer doesn't seem to know and appreciate Fagen and his music. Last night was exactly what Fagen (solo works) are about. If you are not into "Fagengruven", you have no right to comment, in my opinion.
But since when is the world fair.
Posted by: Paul, waiting on my doorstep for UPS to bring the 5.1 Kamakiriad...Brite Nitegown: "10mg of Chronax will whip you back through time, past hebrew kings - and furry things"
Could "furry things" be a reference to Morph himself? If so, Donald would be indicating that Morph the Kitty has been around since the beginning of humanity. And in that case, could that be a connection to my idea of Morph being World Religion? Religion has been for as long as people have wanted the answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything - or since people have been around, basically. Thoughts?
In my opinion, 42.
Posted by: Paul, john,
3k budget??? holy crap!!! i use my computer and a $100 set of 5.1 speakers/amp/sub (200 watts still aint bad).
for speakers, i suggest you try partsexpress.com, and for the playter, i dont have any suggestions except buy a 7.1 channel 48/96kHz sound blaster Audigy for your PC. (they don't make 5.1's anymore)
Posted by: Brutus Charisma, Crystal Blue, as I know Donald, he refers to his three albums as a "trilogy" as a means of covering his butt. JUST in case he kicks off between now and his next solo adventure - he's "safe". At least there would be a nice closure to the life of an semi-eccentric, quasi-iconoclast, a good and caring soul who possessed many brilliant enthusiasms in his lifetime.
BC
Posted by: Rajah, Here's another genius music reviewer from that industry rag, Variety:
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117930051?categoryid=1266&cs=1
Yeah, he's been spanked by email. He writes me back saying that on the recordings 3rdWM, Mary and Goodbye Look do indeed bear disparate time signatures and beats per minute but not as they were rendered to us last night by Mr. Carlock.
Please help me kick this moron's ass.
Posted by: angel, Still Sparkin': It was truly a pleasure to meet you. So little time, so many regrets. My biggest one was not getting to talk with you more (we can blame my Roseland "Husband" for that). :-)
For me, the encore of "Pretzel Logic" was the be all and end all of the evening. That song on the Plush, was what drew me back to the Dan in 2000 and having the pleasure of hearing it performed by such a wonderful set of musicians, was truly a high point of the evening.
My son mentioned that he wanted to hear the song where Donald sings that they "fired off a flare". I told him that was "Snowbound" and that it was actually done a few times during the tour. Anyone know if they did any cool lighting effect, when he sang that line, to make it look like a flare is set off?
Gretch, Rajah, Ed, Pete, Shari, and Felice it was great. Thanks for adding to the evening.
Posted by: W1P, Feels Like SeattleSpotted Lee Sklar in the crowd last night too.
Best moment of the night:
Don: "What do you want to hear"
Crowd: "Shout, shout, indisciperable, *(&SD(FD*&(^%567656UIhasf, Free Bird"
Don: "Wayne, do you know free bird?"
Wayne: blank stare at the pedal board
[PS -- Wayne is the man! And he uses the same Bogner rig used by John Stack!]
Posted by: TJ, DKAlkali, good work. Interesting take. It makes sense, but It'll never be my Mona, which really is the beauty of SD lyrics.
Posted by: Geoff, OaklandKamakiriad - something unexpected always happens at soundcheck. See you there.
Posted by: Steely Jan, Kamakirad. I did the all access thing Sat. at Temecula. Donald did not appear to notice we were there. We sat about half way back in the arena and had to be quiet. The sound check and the entire all access production was great, but I would not count on much attention from Donald. Email me if you want more details.
Posted by: SS, Rainy LAYes, no Kama tunes again last night and I only heard one (Snowbound) among the three shows I went to. At first I was disappointed, but got over it. I'm not sure I would have wanted DF to drop Black Cow or Third World Man or Home at Last. They were great every night and well received, especially Black Cow. Pretzel Logic and Black Friday I wouldn't have missed, but a lot of people in the crowd loved those songs.
A lot of hootin' and hollerin' at the Wiltern during the songs. Eight minutes of Here at the Western World to start....solos from Herington and Krantz. These guys were really something all night long - Herington I think better than the previous two shows. They played the Third World Man solo together (but not in unison, great harmonies) to greater effect than before. The Nightfly was a highlight again because of DF's twisted vocal. A different take every night on that and the further he gets away from 'singing' the better it sounds. Long, mellow extro but not a fade.
Herington on the fills and solo for New Frontier.
Herington again on Maxine and Carolyn Leonhart punched the verse with much more authority than in Temecula on Satuday night. Weiskopf sax solo.
'Alrighty, what a night' from DF as he did the band intros.
'What, what ??? You're a funny bunch !'
Strong support from the audience for the band as it was introduced.
DF running up and down the Rhodes noodling before the next song - 'Going to do that again, I liked it so much.' Then it was Home at Last...the Michael Leonhart trumpet solo, (also Herington). Different, jazzier chords in 'found my home at last.' Big ovation...and the requisite 'Freebird' yelled out from the audience, to which DF responded, although I couldn't make out what he said.
And a crowd roar for the start of Black Cow. Very funked up...solos for Jeff Young and Weiskopf.
Then another of the highlights - The Goodbye Look. Not easy to hear where they're going at the start. It's Krantz playing guitar where on the album, it's a synthesizer I think doing some kind of vibes/marimba thing. Krantz is all over the song. DF seems to struggle with the chorus. One thing that was different last night - DF threw in some Rhodes shots during the extended extro. Was very jazzy. Song got a huge ovation.
Mary Shut the Garden door became a bathroom break song....(Weiskopf solo)..and the same for Misr'y and the Blues, which was a shame (Weiskopf and Leonhart solos). There's a lot in that song, including a great feel change, and it's long.
Brite Nitegown was as always - fabulous. Krantz solo.
Then Black Friday...and maybe the best solo I'd seen Jon Herington play in the three shows I saw.
Extra long break after this before the encore...Pretzel Logic and Viva Rock n Roll.
A treat to see this three times. Didn't expect the shows to be this good.
And a big part of it was the people. To my travelling companions Gail, Sue, Karen and Toya...and my hosts in LA Rajah and Gretchen and the man who made it happen in Temecula - Ed Beatty.....thank you for helping me get this done. A tremendous relief to be welcomed in this way.
Hello to Pete and Shari and Cathy and Angel as well - more long termers with the passion...and anyone else who checks in here and wonders if there's anytime you can really just talk about Steely Dan and the music and not get told to shut up. Yes.
Posted by: the little walter, Alkali, you ARE the new asshole you would rip for Noam. Now go back to your expensive toys, listen to Morph again, and leave thinking to the qualified.
Posted by: razorboy, Did someone bring up the name of Noam Chump-sky?
It’s a good thing that he’s not Steely Dan tangential; I would have had fun tearing his theories a new one.
You don't have to be an asshole, Alkali. Just sayin'.
Posted by: THE FITTEST, OF THE FITTESTdon t know if it#s been posted before.
the so-called fagen "Trilogy" seems to be
a "sell-out"/ "buy three for the price of two" - trilogy
there will be no bonus tracks.
warner will release massive trilogys:
alice cooper, foreigner, a-ha, otis redding, zz top,......
look for example the grateful dead-trilogy:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000B6VUC0/qid=1143579653/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_11_4/302-8050092-2154400
it must be fagens humor or desperation to call his opus trilogy...
Posted by: john, nycJust heard the title track on an npr station while in michigan. It sounds cool on the radio. That could be a single if it was promoted correctly.
Sounds so differant from everything else being played on the radio these days.
People would like it if they could only hear it instead of green day and jack johnson over and over ad nauseum.
I need to buy a 5.1 system to get the full effect. Any ideas as to what to buy with a 3k budget?
Posted by: T Saxe, Grand RapidsFagen did nothing on that all access deal...except play "Maxine" and "Morph the Cat" in the sound check. He didn't play "Maxine" in the show, so it was cool. Three band members came out for the meet & greet, q & a session.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCWow, a Dan tribute C.D. would be fine.
Especially with players like Dimeola (his staccato playing can go from 0 to 60 in about 3.5 seconds)
Gambale (with that innovative sweeping technique will leave your mouth open)
and of course Stern's aggressive style.
Woo-hoo can't wait!
Did someone bring up the name of Noam Chump-sky?
It’s a good thing that he’s not Steely Dan tangential; I would have had fun tearing his theories a new one.
A
Posted by: Kamkiriad, Bay AreaDF tonight in OAK-town!!!! Gonna be great. Question to anyone who did the allaccess thing. Stupid question, knowing DF, but does even acknowledge those who paid him the HUGE premium? I mean, a hello, a hand shake, smile, insult?????? I'd pay $500 to meet him, but if all you get is a word with Keith Carlock...............
Appreciate all who answer!
Posted by: Rajah, I just spoke with Stevee and he asked me to pass something along to you all. He hasn't had time to read the Blue of course, he has a million and one very unsavory tasks to undertake right now, his phone is ringing off the hook. But as someone suggested to me to do last night, when I told him of the outpouring of concern and care both here and from his friends from last night's Wiltern show he was deeply and genuinely moved and asked me to tell each and every one of you all how much he sincerely appreciates that moral support right now. It perked him up if such a thing is even possible at this moment. He intends to read every one of your kind and heartfelt words. I realize they're just words, but sometimes words mean a lot, especially when they flow so freely from your heart.
That band was tight last night, they played like the aces they are. Nothing dragged, not even Black Friday. Keith got a few more licks in there, Carolyn wowed 'em on the Maxine verse, Donald was on it, he was Donald Fagen last night, Maestro and bandleader extrordinaire, no blown lyrics and nary a clam in earshot. He doesn't ad-lib, he don't tell no stories and he don't spank hecklers, he just plays. If you wanna hear stories, read Brian Sweet cause the more Donald opens up in these interview the more we realize the Sweet book was manufactured from whole cloth.
Thanks to everyone who came over to Opus, this crowd, old and young, have a lot of class, just like the rest of you, Blue.
Posted by: Gretchen, LAThe Wiltern show in LA last night was stellar. The sound was beautifully clear, and the performance flawless and energetic. I think this has been the best on this particular tour so far, and I wish only our dear friend Stevee could have been there to share it with us.
Steve, our thoughts have been with you since last Friday morning. You know you are loved, and you know my number, which you can use anytime, anywhere.
G
Posted by: PF, DenverJust the possibility of meeting Carolyn Leonhart in person would be worth the VIP price alone, right guys? (yow!) Especially if your city went wingding-less for the DF tour anyway.
Posted by: Little Wild One, skatin' backwardPQ, buddy, you been the poster boy for the 5 stars this whole tour and you didn't pony up? WTF!
But I think we're saying the same thing. And, Gary, thank you and it's good to have you on board. Some of us live here permanently, i.e., not just during tour years.
Toya, back at ya, baby! mmmmmwahhh
Posted by: Toya, ChicagoHoops
I want you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me and the greater Dandom. You and I must talk before the summer shows. Drop me a line or an email.
Toya
Posted by: Gary, calI bought 5* for the Temecula show.It was a great time.I would do it again.I met alot of great people.I just found the blue a short time ago.I had know idea or even knew about wingdings or danfests.And I have seen SD 7 times and DF twice.But finding the blue now I know.I would have liked to come to a pre party wingding.But not knowing anyone it made it hard. Maybe if there is a SD tour I will come check it out.Iam a major fan since 77.I would be happy to support it by kicking in some money for the people who put on these partys. sorry for any typos.
Posted by: hoops, Ed, Gail, others. Thanks again. Great stories!
Posted by: hoops, Wow. I'm dumbfounded. Being a Jerkoff is all about self-stimulation, right? I guess that's been proven.
Posted by: PQ, NYCWell anyone who excoriates Hoop for the work he does here is a jerkoff. He works very hard. I disagree big time with the anon policy because it allows and encourages know nothing jerkoffs to pretend that they have brass balls, and because I don't really understand why having a little advance news about Steely Dan is treated here like we were dealing in national security secrets, but que sera sera.
As for "sit with PQ and the suits" - not quite. I didn't buy a single VIP ticket.
Posted by: Gary, Cal Hoops - Replyed to your E-mail.Hope you got it. Thanks
Posted by: Paul, I recently picked up the Gaucho DVD-A from Best Buy on clearance for 5 bucks, and I've noticed some differences between it and the SACD. #1...the sound quality is MUCH crisper/cleaner, a drastic improvement. #2...on Babylon Sisters and Hey Nineteen, Don's vocals don't seem to be separated out during the chorus on the DVD, which I kind of liked from the SACD. #3... Hoops' missing conga roll on My Rival, I'm not hearing it either, thought you'd like to know.
A much worth-it purchase! Just bought the Kama DVD yesterday from eBay, can't wait for it to arrive.
(PS, for those of you on the fence about the Morph DVD-A, I would highly suggest you pick it up. There are no musical differences like on TvN, but this album definetely sounds like it was MADE to be 5 channel)
Stevie, if you're in the neighborhood, check your email. Again, I am deeply saddened by your loss.
Posted by: Little Wild One, mis'ry & the end of the tour bluesI don't begrudge anyone his/her 5 star experience. Further, for what I have spent on extra show tickets, party favors and accommodations for the folks that have shown up, I could have bought a slew of 5 star seats. It's just my opinion, of course, but I'd rather sit in the cheap seats with those of my kind. (Not everyone likes to be hugged during "Home at Last," after all!)
Some of you know this story, but just tell me one 5 star experience to rival this: a young girl (20's) of modest means living in the midwest loves Steely Dan. She boards a train for NYC with no idea where she is staying but she just knows she has to see them at Roseland. She's read about the Danfests and "knows" some of the usual suspects. Fast forward to Friday, preshow at the Novotel. She meets the gang and, just like in the movies, she's set pretty much for a weekend she will never forget.
True story, I saw this young lady again at the Chicago DF show. Three years gone by and she is still talking about how she can never repay the folks who took her in and helped her have such an unforgettable experience.
So, really, to each his own. You can hang with PQ and the suits in the 5 stars (hey, you might get a copy of his book) and I'll be handing out lite-up ice cubes and magnetic wands in the luckless pedestrian section. Or you can do BOF. Yeah, that's the ticket. DO BOF.
Posted by: Reality, It's myth that Hoops supposedly puts forth all this effort. If it were really of any import Fagen and lackeys would take note and give him all access tags like Pete Fogel. And if Hoops were a fan, he'd pay Fagen his due by paying for VIP tickets.
Posted by: NYB, First of all, most bands these days have a VIP thing going on. Have you checked out the VIP tickets for the Blondie/Cars tour this summer? I think they're something like $365 bucks a piece. They also some kind of "Premium Seat Auction" going on with Ticketmaster. Who knows what those seats will go for? Maybe $1000 dollars each?
Posted by: Non-ChristianSequitor, MorphLand"Posted by: little walter, hey PQ
PQ, isn't it odd that you have to defend religion by calling people names and passing judgement? WWJD, eh?"
Rather, what would Chuck Norris Do?
find out....
http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/index.html
Posted by: Dan and DonFiend For Life!!!, Back in Chi, RegretablyFirst of all I wish to express my deepest condolences to my dear friend Stevee Dan! Godspeed to you and your family.
Secondly, I need to express my deepest gratitude to Still Sparkin', SueDave, LadyBayside, and LWO. You are the most amazingly intelligent, hospitable, dedicated, and fun people I've ever met! I look forward to Doing it Again with you guys soon!!! My fingers are crossed for sooner than later!
Alan, you were missed profoundly on Saturday, but I'd rather have you for a short while than not at all!
Ed Beatty, I owe you for more than you know! That's all I have to say! Thank You!
LWO, there is no one more deserving of a connection with Donald than you! No matter what, he doesn't love you as much as I do!!!! Thanks You infinitely My Sister! May we do this many more times for many more years!!!
Lastly Donald, Danke Schoen to you too, my brother! I have learned more about being a musician, songwriter, and bandleader from you than I did from years of music school. Also, Congratulations! Morph is an absolute triumph! I was quite discouraged about my own music and the state of the industry in general, but no more! If I can make an album a tenth as good as yours within my career I'd be incredulous! You got a fan in me for life!
As for the rest of my Steely family, I'll be seeing you guys this summer God and Dan willing.
Until then
Don/Danfiend
Posted by: PQ, NYCJim, I hear what you're saying but I would be curious to know - other than being bitter at being unable to buy a VIP ticket, why would anyone complain about the price of one? I really can't recall even one person who did the package saying it wasn't worth it, can you?
Over and above that, we live in a free market society. Donald is selling entertainment services and he is entitled to get whatever the market will allow. As it should be, IMHO.
Posted by: hoops, Thanks, Ed.
Len, I've heard that too. Could you email me privately? THANKS!
Posted by: Gary, Cal Hoops- sent you an e-mail. Hope you got it let me know.
Posted by: Len, Irvine, CaWhat it looks like to me - Hoop's and St. Al's danfest are great and I for one really appreciate what they do but.....
they don't get you into sound check, they don't get you first row center seats, they don't give you all you can drink and they don't give you all you can eat. Enough said.
Posted by: ed beatty, rainy so californiaHoops
Your unselfish and tireless efforts are well known and what ever you have recieved is no where near the payback for the time and effort expended in sharing dandom.
thank you
my friend
Places like this exist out of sharing.
Ed
Posted by: Len, Irvine, CaHoops..I loved the 5 Star and EVERYBODY that I spoke with last night in LA loved it as well. Dayna told us that it went over so well that it's going to happen again for the SD tour this Summer. The only people I know that are trashing the 5 Star package are the people that can't afford it.
Laters
Posted by: hoops, Paging "G". Could you email me? I need to talk to you about your posts as somehow they are causing a technical problem for the Blue (It's not a content problem.) THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
jim
Posted by: hoops, I have a lot of different perspectives on this, and, like I said in the past, some are conflicted. I did 4-star twice, mainly because I though these shows were going to sell out in minutes. I'm still shocked they didn't.
I think if people want it then it's a good deal and people seem to want it. A lot of people have gone in with a raised eyebrow but took a chance and they come from teh VIP very satisfied. Besides, it's not the only option to see the show. Furthermore, legally, they would be a sort of legally vulnerable position with certain parts of the VIP—Q & A with the band, souncheck, etc—without there being a sort of contract of charging (so I understand) How do they otherwise decide which fans could come to the soundcheck, etc? Have a test? Hey, untimately DF deserves to get compensated for the good will he has built up.
At the same time, another vantage is that I do this place out my love and fanaticism. I sure don't make money on this place—it costs me—and there are times when problems have it needing my attention and resources when I sometimes least want that. I've declined money, donations, etc for this place because I don't want people saying I do this for the money, although I have been generously comped tickets on more than a few occassions thanks to Walter Becker. (I say that with thanks and humility and not hype or self-aggrandizement). Dandom has been about helping every fan regardless of their financial resources share the things we know and love via Danfests, ticket exchanges, chat, sharing special deals, even help people who can't afford it get tickets, sending out alerts when shows get cancelled, etc. So it could be argued that the 5-star and this place seek to achieve many of the same goals but coming from completely opposite starting points.
Regarding "What It Looks Like To Me"'s post, thanks for appreciating what myself (and other like StAl) do. Are the 5-stars replacing the Danfests? To an extent. I know at Chicago, there were people we usually see at the Wingding who instead went to the 5-Star. Noah, Geoff, Steve, Lisa are some names that come to mind of who missed at the Chicago WingDing. At the same time, I don't think it means the end of Danfests either. Regarding your grass-roots v. suits perspective, it's pretty clear that Donald doesn't care for being involved in the fan scene and prefers that others handle those sorts of things; at least a few years ago, Walter seems to get a positive vibe and draw energy from that. Comparing df.com and wb.com, it's pretty clear that sd.com is from Walter's side of the aisle. I enjoyed sd.com a lot more for various reasons, especially the content. I was disappointed there wasn't as many "writhings" in 2003 and hope there will be many more at sd.com or wb.com It's clear that wb.com and sd.com have different personalities so perhaps that's why they have separate sites.
PQ: You don't know that someone does or doesn't have money to buy 5-star. Also it's nice you go to ask those question but it's kinda crappy to us when you don't share the answers you know we all want to hear. Places like this exist out of sharing.
jim
Posted by: Alkali, NYCStevee,
i'm very sorry for your incredible loss, my thoughts and hopes are with you.
Posted by: G, Cal Went to the 5*VIP in Temecula.ITs what you get.Soundcheck,dinner,all you can drink,some nice gifts plus front and center seats for the show.Q and A with band members and production crew.So thats 6 hours of great entertainment.3 hrs of seeing DF and the band counting soundcheck and concert.Went to the wiltern also did not have VIP but scored 4th row center.Spent a total for both shows 752 bucks.Iam a big fan and met a great bunch of people.And that was for 2 people.
Posted by: PQ, NYCTranslation - you can't afford a VIP ticket. The problem is not that it costs too much, it's that you can't afford it.
Posted by: little walter, Wow, PQ.
First your deep insights into religion, and now the Cold War and world politics. What's next, a book on Steely Dan?
Keep it coming.
Posted by: PQ, NYCWhat bullshit. If you can't afford a VIP ticket,why don't you just say that? I say more power to Don, charge a $1000 for the ticket if people will pay it. We had this little cold war with Russia for 80 years, in case you missed it. We believed in profit, they didn't. We won.
Posted by: What it Looks Like To Me, This I love All Access business looks more and more like Fagen wants to cash in on all the good will that StAl's, Hoops' and others have brought to the Steely Dan community through the years. Face it, I love All Access is about paid Dan Fests. It's grass roots vs the suits. Fagen sides with the suits.
Posted by: ., .http:www.iloveallacess.com/dfagen5star
Posted by: Little Wild One, staring at a blank wallWelcome, Pickel. Sometimes it takes that sudden unexpected jolt in your life to realize that you need to embrace the really good things that you feel passionate about.
Boston has a great fan base and you're one of the lucky ones. Don't let that stop you from venturing out to meet the rest of the Wreck-less crew, though!
Posted by: Pickel, Boston My first post to this forum. Inspired by Stevees loss and the need to express my condolences as part of the greater "Family of Dan". I've never met most of you (at least knowingly) but you've seen me at every Steely Dan related concert in the Boston area since 1992. I'm not into some of the heavier analysis that often goes on but scored 5th row dead center seats for Donald's concert in Boston and had the time of my life.
My Dan fanaticism started when I first heard a band at my college play "My Old School" in 1975. Found out it was a Steely Dan tune and the rest, as they say, is history!
Again, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Stevee and his family.
Posted by: PQ, NYCWhat an unexpectected treat to run into a Blue Booker at the 55 Bar last night for the Van Davis gig! Ted Baker sat in on electric piano. Some of us had questions for him about Walter's album. Van Davis was on fire, if you're into instrumental jazzrock it's a must CD.
Posted by: NYB, Back2Bass6,
Fagen isn't going to have DFB perform any songs that haven't been well rehearsed. Besides, the average ticketholder is seeing this show for the first time and hasn't followed the setlist from show to show. Only the hardcore fans are doing that. As far as Kama goes, didn't DFB play "Snowbound" on a couple of these dates? I think if you follow ANY BAND you'll find that they pretty much stick to a certain repertoire of well-rehearsed material. And knowing how Donald feels about mistakes it should be obvious that he's going to want to stick to songs that he feels have the least possibility for error.
Maybe if there were a few songs that Donald felt comfortable performing solo, without any accompaniment, you might hear a few additional tunes performed but I don't see that happening.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo and saddenedTo Stevee Dan and Greater Dandom:
I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say how sorry I am to hear about Stevee's wife. I know how important his family is to him. My deepest sympathies are with you Stevee. In view of some of the postings of the last few days, pertaining to religious beliefs and issues, please could we put our differences aside, as we all have our own ways of achieving spiritual fulfillment. Could each of us communicate with the Great Energy Source (whatever we perceive it to be) and ask for Stevee to be given the strength to cope with his great loss.
Peace to all,
Ann
Posted by: Little Wild One, the honeymoon is ovahFirst off, I agree that most of us could do without "Black Cow" and "Home at Last," etc., every show, HOWEVER, he has to play to the average fan to a certain extent. As it is, without an intermission, even us diehards had to choose our pee breaks carefully and the casual fan most certainly would choose a less know DF tune or cover for that.
BTW, Donald notices this stuff. His receptors are sculpted.
Secondly, if the regurgitated setlist makes you want to hurl, then I say Get the ffing Bucket! The good news, for you, I guess is that you only have to hear it a few more times. And then you can go away because you surely aren't interested in listening to the other banal shit that goes down here when there is no setlist to talk about.
Hi Geoff and Alan! Missed you guys in Temecula.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCOk, I know that there was a rather extensive dialogue here on the blue regarding the meaning behind “Mona” a few posts back.
My buddy Jeff and I spent an hour or so on Saturday deciphering the lyrics;
Now before you dismiss this explanation please keep an open mind and allow it to sink into your veins.
Here’s what we came up with:
Mona’s become a child of the night
When she goes out
Its only for bare necessities
[Mona’s become a vampire, she’ll not venture out doors unless absolutely necessary,
“child of the night”, “night crawlers” etc. are common names for vampires]
She says she’s had it up to here with light
[everyone knows that vampires don’t care for light]
While the city sleeps
That’s when she comes alive
[Alive in the sense that they are dormant during the day and feed by night]
Yes the night belongs to Mona
When she’s dancing all alone
[someone suggested that Mona is depressed, I don’t know any depressed person who dances or that feels pretty]
Forty floors above the city
[the number of floors is insignificant, what’s significant is that they live and fly above a sleeping city]
CDs spinnin’ [music is a vehicle of allure, blood suckers charm their victims into submission]
AC hummin’ [vampires despise heat, it’s the cold that they are drawn to, as in coffins, caves etc]
Feelin’ pretty [megalomania and narcissism are typical vampire traits]
Sometimes she’ll call at some unholy hour [very obvious]
She wants to talk
All of this grim and funny stuff [again, charm is an agent of deception]
Then she’ll go all quiet in her Chelsea tower [count Dracul king of Romania ruled from what was described as a towering castle]
And thats when we wait
To see how the story ends [if you’ll recall your Romanian history, it’s citizens awaited instruction from their blood thirsty king known as Vlad the impalor]
Cause the night belongs to Mona
When she’s dancing all alone
Forty floors above the city
CDs spinnin’
AC hummin’
Feelin’ pretty
Was it the fire downtown
That turned her world around
Was it some guy or lots of different things
[it was suggested that the ‘fire’ reference here is the 9/11 tragedy or perhaps a euphemism for sex.
Vampires and sex go hand in hand, the eyes enchant and seduce.
I like to think that Mona has turned evil because of 9/11, some guy and lots of different things.
I mean, what better way of getting even with evil than to go beyond it?]
We all wonder where she’s gone
That sunny girl we used to know
Now every night we get the Mona Show
[Mona still exists, she’s no longer sunny but dark and every night she proves it]
Maybe its good that she’s above it all
Things don’t seem as dark
When you’re already dressed in black
We try not to see the writing on the wall
What happens tomorrow
[until they descended, everything down here seems normal, Mona isn’t mourning, she’s not even almost Gothic, she’s beyond it.]
When the moonrays
Get so bright
When she rises
Towards the starlight
Miles above
The city’s heat
Will she fall hard
Or float softly to the street
[the moon rays are what bring out the living dead, however they are killed by the brightness of light and burn like wood to ash, therefore, if she is still in any way human she will fall hard, otherwise, she’ll float like ash down to the streets]
Tonight the night belongs to Mona
When she’s dancing all alone
Forty floors above the city
CDs spinnin’
AC hummin’
Feelin’ pretty
Posted by: Chrysler, PAFirst and foremost, heartfelt condolences to StevieDan and family.
And to FlipKid: The "body and blood" meaning comes from the Gospels, specifically the Last Supper story. It's neither Catholic nor Protestant, it's universally Christian, despite some differences of interpretation.
My goat is got, too, when some talk of Catholicism as some kind of quasi-Christian cult...
Posted by: back2bass6, lawn guylandyou know...
another DF show without KAMA tunes?
MTC is great, Donald is vital, and truly a work of art. That being said, how the fuck can you have a DF concert, not do any KAMA, and continue to do a "greatest hits show?"
For gods sake, enough Black Cow and Pretzel Logic already!
IF your are going to ignore 33 percent of YOUR album contributions entirely, stop with the "usual stuff" and give us some gems!
And if i see another set list, I will vomit. You are like dead fans of the 60s and 70s, regurgitating what tunes DF does every friggin night. Hey folks, he only has about 20 for this tour anyway.
Posted by: Howard, Chrysler - thanks for the sus chord details. There's one or two I hadn't picked up, or would usually write under another name, but some chords I just hear differently:
"1) the intro V chord"
- agreed
"2) right after "...make my flight" an accented, repeated sus chord...
"
- agreed
"3) resolves to another accented sus chord"
- I don't hear this, I hear it resolving to a Bb7.
"4) the subdominant-functioning bVII 13 sus"
- I would write this as Ab/Gb, but I guess you could consider it an Ab13sus4.
"5) right after "...angel straight from heaven" although it quickly resolves"
- OK, but this is just a passing chord. I wouldn't count this as a key chord in the sequence.
"6) right after "...never felt so clean""
- again, I would write it Db/Eb, but Db9sus4 is another option.
"7) right on "terrorist""
- this sounds like a Gm11 chord to me (G F Bb C)
"8) right on "Security""
- this sounds like a plain F7 to me
I guess a fair summary might be there are a couple more sus4 chords than I first thought, but maybe not as many as you first thought?
I still hear the Joan harmony as fairly plain, straight-ahead blues (with a couple of twists). It's some of the other songs (Mona, Pagoda) that has the real harmonic spice, for me anyway.
Howard
Posted by: NYB, http://www.marghelgenberger.com/gb/index.php
Posted by: Luke, MARY Shut the Garden Door
Posted by: Luke, Review for The Wiltern
Got to the Wiltern and after parking saw Pete, Shari, Rajah, and his wife right away. Did the file in shortly thereafter, a bottle of water, were told that we were to be as quiet as wallpaper, and off to the soundcheck at the very rear of the auditorium. Soundcheck included Maxine a few times, Black Friday, Viva, Viva Rock and Roll, and Brite Nightgown whilst Elliot Scheiner floated about. Had a long Q and A with Jon Harrington, Freddie Washington, The keyboard player (can’t recall his name), the lovely Carolyn and Cindi (?, Sandi), Chris Adams (production manager), and the sound guy. Up stairs for food and drinks which included the distribution of goodie bags and show tix, plus some kick ass prizes raffled off. The crowd was filing in as we were ushered down to our first three row seats about 8-10 feet away from a 5 foot high stage. Here at the Western World was great; hard to adjust to the new tempo after hearing it the album way for so many years. Then four hot shots from The Nightfly: Green Flower Street, The Nightfly (with Donald stretching the syllables to their maximum capacity), a somewhat softer sounding New Frontier, and then Maxine with the visually stunning girls picking up a majority of the lines. Maxine’s grove was a nice segue way into Home at Last with the chorus changes that we have been seeing in the past few SD tours/NYR&SR. And not like the show wasn’t cooking already, but right after Home at Last, it seemed to gain even more shit-hot momentum with the ever-loved Black Cow and a balls-out, guitar-syncopated Third World Man. Our first taste of MTC came with Mark Shut the Garden Door and maybe it was just because I was so close to the stage, but it was like too many people hadn’t heard or were into it as the previous tracks with a lot of people getting up for drinks, etcetera. Didn’t seem like the even-more-gaunt-under-lights DF noticed or cared as he primed us for his outstanding version of Misery and the Blues with an elongated and blazing sax part from Walt Weiskopf (spelling?). Brite Nightgown was next, and after Misery’s punching groove, the funking jam on this cut pushed it over the top; truly better live than on the album and maybe the really do say fuck with the fella and not fight, who knows. Black Friday was very close to the soundcheck version and DF bid us a momentary farewell. Upon his return, my elbows (along with several others’) were resting on the stage as we clamored to get as close as possible (I was only maybe 6-8 feet while the people to the right of me I know were getting some complementary DF saliva) as they jammed through Pretzel Logic. As we were ushered back to our seats, they played Viva (was hoping for IGY as some of the previous nights). Afterwards, almost got backstage with Alan Rosenberg (DF’s cousin) and the Marg Helgenburg (who I got to talk to for about 5 minutes), but no such luck. Also heard Jodie Foster and Ted Danson were there, but I didn’t see them. Then off to the Opus for a quick couple of drinks and then home to the bluebook.
5 Star rocked and I’m already looking forward to SD/ McSD this summer!
Good to see everyone, night.
Posted by: deaconblue, venice beachThe Wiltern tonight was great but Temecula was heaven
The acoustic sound quality in the Wiltern was very bad. Maybe it was because i was on floor4.
The should forbidden the people to get beverages during the show.i was constantly disturbed.On the seat next to me was a stoned drunked guy that at a moment began to sleep and felt over another person before him.
WHAT A SHAME
My impressions during the two last shows:
Great were Here at the Western world, i really love that version
The Aja songs
the other Steely Dan songs
Night bright gown
But generally all the songs had a great performence.
Just maybe the only negative moment on the two shows was Mary shut the garden door.Not really a live song. Maybe it will grows with the time.
And last but not least: i spend 8 days of this year in LA (great city) and i can tell you it were the most unforgetable one. THANK YOU DON
Very sorry i couldnt meet the other Dan fans at the Wingding tonight but i arrived very late at the Wiltern(7.50pm).There s gonna be other opportunitis>
By the way, it was really nice to meet you in Temecula dear Steely Don!Dont forget to send me the things you promissed me.
Bye Bye LA, it was great to be there
Posted by: angel, WilternNothing from Kamakiriad, which I thought was a real shame.
But it was a great night! I got shivers during the 3rd World Man
duel guitar solo.
Dr. Fagen was just great! A real treat to see him so confident and in control.
Good to see so many of you, including Still Sparkin'. A true pleasure.
Steveedan, you were missed. My condolences to you and J.
Set List
Here at the Western World
Green Flower Street
The Nightfly
New Frontier
Maxine
Home At Last
Black Cow
Goodbye Look
Third World Man
Mary Shut the Garden Door
Misery & The Blues
Brite Nightgown
Black Friday
Encore
Pretzel Logic
Viva Rock N Roll
Posted by: Duncan, Stevie
Terrible news.
I'm thinking of you today
Duncan,Linda,Daniel & Oliver
Posted by: Jaydubz, Laurel CanyonKiller show at the Wiltern - thanks Mr. Fagen!
Posted by: call me MS, that's pronounced MIZGoing back a few days - Alkali - I think your response to Girlfriend was about as insensitive as your original post about the MS. title. The title is there to show R-E-S-P-E-C-T not marital status. Kinda like MR. but better
Fortunately you redeemed yourself with the Porche comment.
Posted by: Wiltern Fly, on the wallSightings so far: Ted Danson, Jodie Foster, Alan Rosenberg, Marg Helgenberger, Eliott Scheiner
Donald chatty, band on fiyahhh, same setlist as Temecula up to The Goodbye Look.
Posted by: Nashcat, NashvilleQUOTE from the Digest:
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:37:59 -0500
From: "Jason Efron" <jaedog@verizon.net>
Subject: RE: Subject: audio anomaly in MTC track???
To: <digest@dandom.com>
It sounds like the "hesitation" at 1:09 of the title track is just a
case of Donald having to fit a lyric into a musical space which
doesn't allow for enough syllables. The liner notes say that the
line is supposed to be, "from Tompkins Square to Upper Broadway." In
reality it sounds more like, "from Tompkins Square to 'Per Broadway."
When I first heard this line I assumed he was saying "Old Broadway"
because of the number of syllables but that wouldn't make any sense.
--JaeDog
JaeDog, you might differentiate between the CD and the DVD. My CD does clearly include the hurried first syllable of "Upper." The DVD does not. No matter on which player/computer I spin it, that first syllable just isn't there.
Nashcat
Posted by: Boston Rag, .Stevie - It was great talking to you via phone the night of the Beacon show. I had no idea your wife was so ill at the time. I'm so sorry. Stay strong. Sending thoughts and prayers from 3,000 miles away.
Mark in Boston
Posted by: hoops, The latest edition of the Dandom Digest has just been mailed, this time covering the past three days or so, March 25-27, 2006.
If you are a subscriber, you should see it in your email box within the next 12 hours. Again, If you don't receive it, please email me. Some people have been having problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.
The following are the subjects of this particular edition of the Dandom Digest
• Becker & Klein Writing Together
• New SD Tribute CD with Al DiMeola, Jay Graydon, Elliot Randall, more
• joe pass???
• Warmth of Morph/Surprise
• RE: Subject: audio anomaly in MTC track???
• european tour?
• Re: european tour?
• SLATE: "Who Is Morph the Cat?"
• And the Fagen articles just keep on comin'
• more Morph
• REDUX: "Rhymes" alone
• REDUX: Howard Levy
• L.A. Wing Ding
• Oakland Wing Ding: The Great Paramount of Funn
• San Diego WingDing "so laid back it's almost horizontal"
• • • T I C K E T E X C H A N G E • • •
• 2 Tix for Santa Barbara, 3/31
• FS: Pair for Wiltern
• Banyan Trees Ticket Exchange 2006
• • • SPOILERS • • •
• • • SPOILERS • • •
• • • SPOILERS • • •
• SPOILER: Denver Show Miracle and Set List
• SPOILER: Vegas, baby! (Submitted as cell phone text mssge)
• SPOILER: Vegas, more...
• SPOILER: Hot Weekend in Vegas & Temecula
• SPOILER: Fab Weekend in Vegas & Temecula
• SPOILER: Temecula 2006
• SPOILER REQUEST: Boston setlist
• SPOILER: RE: Boston DFB '06 Setlist
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter"—definitely not to be confused with the glorious Official steelydan.com, walterbecker.com or donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists—please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest
jim
Posted by: NYB, Oh my God, very sorry to hear the news Steviedan.
Having lost my brother during the 2003 SD tour and my mom last summer I have some idea of how you feel right now. Please take care of yourself and know that as devastating as this is you will heal and you will find a way to go on. God bless you and your family at this time.
NYB
Posted by: Still Sparkin', LAStevee....a shocker to hear about this. Believe that people are thinking about you and find strength where and when you can. You'll get through.
Posted by: PQ, NYC TJ - Larry Klein is a great bassist; was married to Joni Mitchell at one time; and has produced albums for many well known artists.
Posted by: Joey, " I just received word that StevieDan's wife passed away suddenly.
Our very heart-felt condolences go out to Steve C. and his family. "
Stevie ..........................
I am very sorry for your loss and my heart-felt condolences go out to your family and yourself .
Joey !
Posted by: TJ, DKI'm sorry Stevie, though I did not know you. My grandmom past away 3 hours ago, under better circumstances, she had been ill for a long time, so in many ways it is a relief, but still it's a tough part of life.
To keep the blue moveing: "At the moment he (Larry Klein) is co-writing songs with Walter Becker for a CD the two of them will bring out sometime soon".
Who is Larry Klein, could anyone give a short biography, some time?
Posted by: W1P, The WilternStevee, man this is hard news to take. I just want to wish you and Jonah strength through this toughest time imaginable. I know that you two have the spirit to keep it together. Please call me if there is anything I can do.
Posted by: iowaboy, Pan-Fried... Thanks!! So nothing from the Kamikiriad CD SAturday??? I gotta say, I like Snowbound... in Chicago they did Countermoon... 'nother good one... but, having to choose, I'd go with Maxine in either case!
Posted by: suedave, sighCondolences to SteveeDan on your sad news. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Posted by: pan-fried, the caves of king chesterfieldiowaguy, looks like Saturday had the same setlist as Vegas except Snowbound was replaced by Maxine.
Posted by: Flipkid, Blue StateStevie C: words seem inadequate to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Please be well.
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KYStevee, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this terrible time. Be strong, my friend. Be strong.
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
Stevee Dan - I can't believe you'd have the time or energy to stop in here but in case you do.... I'm very sorry to hear of your loss, I can't even imagine what you and your family are going through right now. Many here have sent their prayers already and you can add mine to the list. If there is anything I can do for you please just ask.
Peace,
Chris
Posted by: Fife and Mr.Sam, BaltimoreSteve- Our deepest condolences on your loss
Fionna and Sam
Posted by: iowaboy, Has anybody posted a set list from Saturday night yet????
Posted by: News, News DeskBecker and Klein writing a lot of songs together:
www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-pidgeon/huff-post-exclusive-music_b_8132.html
Posted by: BwaySteve, completely blownStevee, I am shocked , sick.
May you find in your grief and in the thoughts of those who support and who love you , something to sustain you in the days and months ahead.My heart goes out to you and to your son.
You should have no more sorrow.
Posted by: steelydoc, down at the LidoStevie, my deepest sympathy.
Posted by: HeyMike, gloomy chicagoCondolences Stevie. When things don't make sense, I always play some Dan.
Posted by: Little Wild One, Storms ragedSteelyMom, one of the preshow attendees Saturday night, gave us the news that Steve's wife was quite ill. And, while we did not know the critical nature of her condition, we all shared a quiet moment reflecting on his absence, considering his love for all things Dan and Don and a hope for the best for his wife.
I sent him a private e-mail this morning, before this sad news broke (and before I even posted here about the weekend), because he was and is in my thoughts.
Posted by: Doc Mu , SteveEDan: Shocked and saddended to hear of your loss. Please accept my most sincere and heartfelt condolances to you and your family
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons IslandStevie - cannot find words to express how sorry I am to hear of your loss.
Posted by: Rajah, Hoops, it is true, Lisa Chernove beloved wife and mother passed away early Saturday morning. It is not my place to make an announcement like this so I just clammed up but since it is out there, it's out there. Steve is bearing up as well as can be expected, this all happened so suddenly. There's a private ceremony for the family today I'm told.
Posted by: PQ, NYC What? I just spoke with him the other day. Steve - my thoughts are with you. Condolences.
Posted by: edbeatty, sadMy deepest condolences to Steve
ed beatty
Posted by: hoops, chicago
I just received word that StevieDan's wife passed away suddenly.
Our very heart-felt condolences go out to Steve C. and his family.
Sincerely,
jim
Posted by: Jerome Aniton, over in WattsEnough! Get back to the Steely discussions! Or we gonna met out on a damn good thing...
Posted by: Rajah , No offense taken.
I was standing with my Dad on the side of the street in his little town in Abruzzi some years ago watching the procession pass by of Santa Gemma, the patron saint of our town about whom the story is told that rather than relinquish her Maidenhead to the evil Duke Ruggerio of Celano in the 15th century, she chose instead to be imprisoned in the the dungeon of Castel Celano until such time as she saw the light. Well she never did and died after 40 or so years in the dungeon only to return and peform the requisite three miracles for canonization as a Saint. They're carrying her 500 year+ prsserved body on a bier through the streets, ghastly prcatice really, so I says to my Pop, I says, "c'mon, Pop, you don't really believe in all this stuff?" He pivoted on me and got up in my grill and barked in no uncertain terms, "look, you can believe what you want to believe, but do not fuck with what I believe."
Needless to say, I haven't made a crack like that in his presence since.
Posted by: ., . See what you guys started
Posted by: Flipkid, Blue State"Er, uh, Catholicism and Christianity aren't the same thing Flipkid, doi."
You'll have to excuse me... I come from a broken home: Mom was Catholic, Dad was Protestant. LOL!
Posted by: Noam Chomsky, whereverusaNoam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
From CelebAtheists
Linguist/Social Commentator
Chomsky, the founder of modern Linguistics, is also among the leading leftist thinkers in the world. Some of his quotes:
"The Bible is probably the most genocidal book ever written."
"You can see that in the polls too. I was just looking at a study by an American sociologist (published in England) of comparative religious attitudes in various countries. The figures are shocking. Three quarters of the American population literally believe in religious miracles. The numbers who believe in the devil, in resurrection, in God doing this and that -- it's astonishing. These numbers aren't duplicated anywhere else in the industrial world. You'd have to maybe go to mosques in Iran or do a poll among old ladies in Sicily to get numbers like this. Yet this is the American population."
"Just a couple of years ago, there was a study of what people thought of evolution. The percentage of the population that believe in Darwinian evolution at that point was 9% -- not all that much above statistical error. About half the population believed in divinely-guided evolution, Catholic church doctrine. About 40% thought the world was created a few thousand years ago."
---
From ZNet's ChomskyChat (www.lbbs.org):
1998 May 17
Reply from [Noam Chomsky], to Darrenn Bills, on "Definition of God."
How do I define God? I don't. Divinities have been understood in various ways in the cultural traditions that we know. Take, say, the core of the established religions today: the Bible. It is basically polytheistic, with the warrior God demanding of his chosen people that they not worship the other Gods and destroy those who do -- in an extremely brutal way, in fact. It would be hard to find a more genocidal text in the literary canon, or a more violent and destructive character than the God who was to be worshipped. So that's one definition.
In the Prophets, one finds (sometimes) a different conception, much more humane. That's why the Prophets (the "dissident intellectuals" of their day) were persecuted, imprisoned, driven into the desert, etc. -- other reasons included their geopolitical analysis, unwelcome to power. The intellectuals who were honored and privileged were those who centuries later were called "false prophets." More or less a cultural universal. There were different conceptions of divinity associated with these tendencies, and Greek and Zoroastrian influences are probable causes for later monotheistic tendencies (how one evaluates these are a different matter).
Looking beyond, we find other conceptions, of many kinds. But I have nothing to propose. People who find such conceptions important for themselves have every right to frame them as they like. Personally, I don't. That's why you haven't found my "thoughts on this [for you] criticaI question." I have none, because I see no need for them (apart from the -- often extremely interesting and revealing -- inquiry into human culture an history).
As for "First Principles," basing them on divinities is, I think, a very bad idea. That leaves anyone free to pick the "first principles" they choose on other grounds, and to disguise the choices as "what God commands." If its the warrior God of the Bible, the First Principles are horrendous (in the basic texts) and often uplifting -- in Amos, for example; but recall that he made it clear that he was no intellectual (no "prophet," as the obscure Hebrew word is translated), but an ordinary farmer.
If you like Maslow's choices, fine, then say so. But nothing is gained by investing them with divinity, and a great deal is lost: specifically, the opportunity to question, elaborate, modify, or reject them. But these are basic elements of decent human life and thought, I believe.
If you want to use the word "God" to refer to "what you are and what you want" -- well, that's a terminological decision, not a substantive one. And a bad terminological decision, I think, for the reasons just mentioned.
Is "reality an accident"? Could the laws of nature have been other than what they are? Maybe one can make some sense of such questions, but bringing divinity into the story helps not at all. It only adds confusion and deflects serious thought and inquiry.
Is it "possible that the nature of reality could be a living urge towards freedom"? As Bakunin put it, is an "instinct for freedom" part of human nature, maybe part of organic nature? Could be. I hope so. But we don't know. But again, bringing divinity in just adds confusion and bars serious inquiry and action, in my opinion.
Others feel differently. They feel they need to ground their beliefs and hopes in something they call "God." OK. I don't legislate for others, but if they want my advice (no reason why they should), it's more or less as above.
On the linguistic work, it bears on these issues only tangentially, by seeking to explore some aspects of our essential and distinctive human nature. An exciting enterprise, I think, but these questions are barely touched.
---
A reader provides another quote from Noam Chomsky regarding religion. It's taken from ZNet's ChomskyChat archive at http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/other/chomchatarch.htm.
That "religion is inherently irrational" is surely true. Why one set of beliefs that are offered without argument or evidence rather than another? On the claim that "religion will die out in the next few hundred years unless it incorporates science for its explanation for cosmological events of the universe," possibly that is correct, if you mean organized religion (the Church in Rome, for example), but then they've moved in that direction long ago. As for religion being "a part of every observable society," if what is meant is that every society we know has sought to find some explanation for matters of deep human concern that we do not begin to understand (death, the origins of the universe, etc.), that's doubtless true. If one wants to call the constructs developed "religion," OK. I don't see what that implies, apart from the fact -- I presume it is a fact -- that people seek answers to hard questions, and where understanding reaches limits (very quickly, in most areas), they speculate, construct myths, etc. To draw conclusions about "human nature" from historical constructs of dominant societies in the past few thousand years seems to me quite a stretch. On "submission to an authoritarian God," that's part of some belief systems, not others. As for monotheism, I think a strong case can be made that that's not to be found in the Old Testament, pre-Babylonian exile, and may well have its roots in non-Semitic cultures, as often argued. On the divinity "allowing suffering to exist," there's a vast literature. As for "our model of god," we can "revamp" it if we have one. Not having one, I can't revamp it, or suggest how others should. On religion in an anarchistic society, I would agree with the classic anarchist slogan "Ni Dieu, ni Maitre" (No god, no master). I don't see the justification for either, but individuals make their own choices, just as I make mine.
---
A poster to the [message board] had come across a quote which prompted me, the Editor, to place Chomsky in the 'ambiguous' category.
"He {Noam Chomsky} has now reached the conclusion that some "divine superengineer" endowed humans with the power of language where formerly they had none. In short, language is not the product of impersonal evolution. Language demands structure and innate understanding of structures, etc. He is in search of a universal grammar. His theories, whether he knows it or not, point to an Intelligent Designer. Another name for this One is God. It is amazing how all branches of science are pointing towards the Creator." -- New York Times, 5 December 1998.
Reader DLM pursued and received a clarification from Chomsky himself, via Michael Albert the Sysop at ZNET (in late December 1999):
"Whoever you are quoting is misquoting an interview with a NY Times reporter who wanted to know about current work in linguistics that I'm involved in. In trying to explain some points, I suggested an "evolutionary fable," which had nothing to do with anything "divine" (that was inserted by the reporter) but with an imaginary engineer who had the task of inserting a language faculty in a brain in an optimal fashion. She reported it, accurately, as a fable, intended to illustrate a point graphically. No one who is within any realm of discourse I even remotely take part in doubts that language, like everything else about humans, is the product of evolution. But evolution has many mysteries, as every biologist knows. To say that some part of the organic world is the result of evolution is close to truism; beyond truism the interesting (and mostly unsolved) questions arise." --Noam Chomsky
Chomsky is now restored to the atheist section.
---
In the ChomskyChat public discussion forum, Chomsky was asked if he believes in a God. He replied in a message dated January 18, 2000:
Do I believe in God? Can't answer, I'm afraid. I'm not being flippant, but I don't understand the question. What is it that I am supposed to believe or not believe in? Are you asking whether I believe there is something not in the universe (or the universes, if there are (maybe infinitely) many of them), and that somehow stands above them? I've never heard of any reason for believing that. Something else? What. There are many concepts of spirituality, among them, various notions of divinity developed in the Judaeo-Christian-Islamic religions. Within these the concepts vary greatly. St. Augustine and others, for example, argued that one should not take seriously the Biblical account of God as an exaggerated human, and other Biblical accounts, because they were crafted so as to make the intended message intelligible to humans -- and on such grounds, he argued, organized religion ought to accept persuasive conclusions of science, a conception that Galileo appealed to (in vain) when he faced Papal censure.
Anyway, without clarification of a kind I have never seen, I don't know whether I believe or don't believe in whatever a questioner has in mind.
I don't see how one can "believe in organized religion." What does it mean to believe in an organization? One can join it, support it, oppose it, accept its doctrines or reject them. There are many kinds of organized religion. People associate themselves with some of them, or not, for all sorts of reasons, maybe belief in some of their doctrines.
Who wrote the Bible? Current scholarship, to my knowledge, assumes that the material that constitutes the Old Testament was put together from various oral and folk traditions (many of them going far back) in the Hellenistic period. That was one of several currents, of which the collection that formed the New Testament was another. Biblical archaeology was developed early in this century in an effort to substantiate the authenticity of the Biblical account. It's by now generally recognized in Biblical scholarship that
[I]t has done the opposite. The Bible is not a historical text, and has only vague resemblances to what took place, as far as can be reconstructed. For example, whether Israel ever existed is not clear; if so, it was probably a small kingdom somewhere in the hills, apparently virtually unknown to the Egyptians. That's my understanding, from casual reading; I haven't followed recent work closely.
Importance, relevance, historical-social impact? These are enormous questions. I can't try to address them at this level of generality; it requires at least an article, better a book or many books.
Elements of the Christian fundamentalist right are one of the strongest components of "support for Israel" -- support in a odd sense, because they presumably want to see it destroyed in a cosmic battle at Armageddon, after which all the proper souls will ascend to heaven -- or so I understand, again, not from close reading. They have provided enormous economic aid, again of a dubious sort. One of their goals seems to be to rebuild the Temple, which means destroying the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which presumably means war with the Arab world -- one of the goals, perhaps, in fulfilling the prophecy of Armageddon. So they strongly support Israeli power and expansionism, and help fund it and lobby for it; but they also support actions that are very harmful and objectionable to most of its population -- as do Jewish fundamentalist groups, mostly rooted in the US, which, after all, is one of the most extreme religious fundamentalist societies in the world.
Noam Chomsky
Retrieved from "http://www.celebatheists.com/mediawiki-1.5.7/index.php?title=Noam_Chomsky"
Posted by: Flipkid, Blue StateAnn in Borneo: you're welcome. If you liked that quote, here's another.
"Men never do evil so completly and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."-- Blaise Pascal
Posted by: Flipkid, Blue StateSorry, Raj... just trying to make a point. If I offended, I apologize.
Posted by: Rajah, easy nowSteely Dan themes are rife Christian allusions, we have noted this many times. Christian history and practices offer a veritable trove of poetic imagery, I don't think there's much of a deeper or unified reason for its use.
Flip, although I was given more Catholic instruction than anybody but a Priest should have and while I have my reservations to say the least about a lot of stuff the Church has pumped out over the centuries, I am not comfortable with anyone bandying their opinions about the sacraments such as they are. The Eucharist is one of the most sacred symbols in the Catholic rite and many folks would bristle at your characterization of it as a "crappy wafer." I ain't down with that, Brotha, you're off-side on that one.
Posted by: Woody Allen took nude glamour shots, of his stepdaughter while he was marriedto Mia Farrow. Woody Allen is a real life sicko pervert who married his daughter and is much more depraved than the fictional Cousin Dupree.
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
Someone posted a link to 'Stolen Dan' a few days ago and I just listened to the clip, it sounds like "The Little River Band appearing as Steely Dan", at least from the vocalist. The music does sound pretty darn good though.
KC
Posted by: Jesus Christ, JerusalemSteely Dan lyrics by the way are LACED with Christian imagery on every single album.
Er, uh, Catholicism and Christianity aren't the same thing Flipkid, doi.
Posted by: Flipkid, Blue StateTo all those who take umbrage at the suggestion that Christianity is tantamount to a belief in magic:
Angels? Actual invisible dead people watching over you?
Water "miraculously" turned into wine?
The Catholic church's continuing insistence that a crappy little wafer and a shot glass of grape juice ACTUALLY BECOME the body and blood of Christ?
None of this sounds like "magic" to you??
I'll admit, some of it definately isn't magic. Like these chowderheads who insist that they see Jesus' face in pancake batter or somesuch. That's not magic; that's just goofy.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCI was referring to Mia Farrow, not his step daughter-wife.
I wonder what's worse, being married to your step daughter or lusting after your cousin.
Guitar world has recently listed the top 100 guitar solos of all time:
1) Stairway to heaven-Led Zeppelin
2) Eruption-Van Halen
3) Free bird-Lynard Skynard
40) Reelin’ in the years-Steely Dan
Oh well, there's always next year.
Posted by: Bob, "Donald made some real audience connections that others can tell you about..."
YES! Someone DO tell us!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Santa, "And finally, both (Donald Fagen and Woody Allen) are Jewish."
Which is why it's pretty strange that Donald would come up with a line like "Christmas without the chinzy stuff". What's Christmas to Donald Fagen? Did he convert to Christianity like Bob Dylan did?
Posted by: Dantana, L.A.Schezwan Dumplings @ Mr. Chow 6 p.m. tonight
Posted by: Kid Clean, @lunch
Little Walter - nicely put
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/ohio/entertainment/music/14175581.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_music
Don't know if this one's been put up or not yet. It's an Akron paper but the writers from LA and appears to be in search of a friggin' clue. I wonder what he listens to if he doesn't condsider Morph to be pushing the musical envelope.
KC
Posted by: little walter, PQ, I guess that is just the point.
The Dalai Lama, Jesus, Muhammad - most of the revered folks were not trying to be religious or to have a theology. They were trying to discover a pure, inclusive way of life. It's the followers, the "believers" that oversimplify the life-messages into dogma with exclusive rules they can judge others by.
Spirituality is not religion. Theology is not spirituality. But music is magic, and you don't have to "believe" in it.
Posted by: Woody Allen is married to, his stepdaughterAnd his stepdaughter was never married before. Woody Allen is more likely to be a typical perverted character in a Steely Dan song, than a contemporary of Donald Fagen's.
Posted by: Rajah, higher groundJoseph Campbell came closest to strinking a chord. Seems like some kind of spiritual life is helpful and comforting but organized religion scares the crap outta me. Makes for excellent reading though, amazing what human beings have done in the name of their faith, sometimes great often times terrible.
I see Woody Allen as a tragic figure, I don't see Donald that way.
Posted by: PQ, NYCHey LWO I'm glad you got to talk with Fagen. Couldn't happen to a nicer person. Congrats!
Posted by: Alkali, NYCThe more I think about it, the more I find similarities between Donald Fagen and Woody Allen:
Both are musicians.
Both are well read.
Both are liberal.
Both have their own bands.
Both are wordsmith’s.
Both are married to divorcees.
Both live and write extensively about New York.
Both are obsessed with women.
Both are perfectionists.
Both wear glasses.
Both have religious doubts, however WILL wear skull caps at religious events.
And finally, both are Jewish.
Coincidence? I think not!
Posted by: Little Wild One, looks like a lot of rainWithout going into overkill, thanks to those who have posted for the fine accounts of the weekend's events. For me, shining moments such as these take a while to process, so, for now, my extreme gratitude to everyone for the comraderie and the laughs.
While I may not believe in magic, per se, I do believe in Dan Karma and, for those of you who haven't yet experienced it, once you have, you will never be the same.
As always, thanks to hoops for being the conduit. To everyone headed to the last of "the cat's" leg of the tour this week, have a blast and try reaching out to meet someone new. Their life and yours may be much richer for it.
Posted by: The Bending End, Rhode IslandMy personal experience has been that the magic is real..."belief" is too weak of a word.
MTC is sprinkled with various religious/spiritual/afterlife-related references. DF may be somewhat cynical -- as I would expect from most New Yorkers -- but I sense that he's not completely a non-believer.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCThe Vegas and Temecula shows sound almost magical, wish I was there.
I would have liked to have seen Zing again.
Speaking of Vegas and magic, when we were there last year my wife and I caught Penn and Teller at the Rio, these guys made a Porsche 911 disappear from the stage.
Holy crap!
I now believe in both magic and religion.
Come to think of it, a friend of mine had his Porsche disappear from a parking space in the east village a couple of years back….
But, he kept the faith that the police would recover it and they did.
Now, I don’t know what to believe in.
Posted by: PQ, NYCI'm not defending religion. I'm not religious. But I know that anyone who deigns to equate theologians of the caliber of the Dali Lama with "magic" is completely clueless about what religion is.
Posted by: little walter, hey PQPQ, isn't it odd that you have to defend religion by calling people names and passing judgement? WWJD, eh?
Posted by: Rajah, back from the DunesSee you all tonight at the Opus Bar and Grill, 3760 Wilshire Blvd., steps away from the Wiltern Theatre in the very self-same Wiltern Bldg., how easy is that? I'm already dressed in black. Happy Hour 5 to 7, then it gets pricier, Grette and I, our esteemed house guest, the one and only Still Sparkin from Hong freakin Kong, W1P, Mrs. W1P, friends of the Pink, Angel and hubster, Deaconblue who is apparently out on the loose somewhere in the Basin, Pete & Shari of course and some Dr. Wu and PL boys I trust.
It's getting down to the nitty-gritty, after reading all your very fine coments from the last few days it seems the band is really feeling its oats now. Lots of Donald's old friends in attendance tonight so he will no doubt have his supermost super-cool goin on.
Somebody mentioned that people will always view Steely Dan as an LA band, in some ways the ultimate LA band because of the nature of the narrator, Mr. Steely Dan, the very picture of a skeevy LA guy in the ultimate LA album, Gaucho. I think they've left that particular stage of Steely Dandom far behind by now, many many miles back in the mirror but recalling always that objects do appear larger and closer in the rearview. Lookin good.
Posted by: PQ, NYCOnly because Fagen commented on relgion, so I guess it's 'Steely Dan tangential': anyone who thinks an atheistic religion such as Buddhism, or even serious Christian theology like Paul Tillich or Karl Barth, has anything to do with believing in magic, is an ignoramus. You sound like a barefoot hick in the mountains of Kentucky scratching their ass with a pitchfork.
Not all religious inquiry is about jerkoffs like Pat Robertson.
Posted by: Ann, BorneoHey Flipkid!!
Thanks for the quote!! I must save that one!! Must send it to my ex with the "scary beard"!!
Peace to all,
Ann
Posted by: Jenny, Fredneck, MDHey everyone: a brief diversion from Morph
I was continuing loading my ipod with some of my more obscure CDs, and came upon a little gem I'd forgotten about, a tribute CD to Jeff Porcaro.
"Tribute to Jeff", by David Garfield and Friends
http://www.creatchy.com/DG_pages/Jeff_tribute.html
This CD has a couple of songs dan related; check out the cover of Babylon Sisters, and my personal favorite, E minor shuffle, related to Black Friday.
The other song on there I love is a cover of Al Green's "Let's stay together". It has many wonderful harmonies by great voices that include Michael McDonald and David Pack. This song is a little "smooth jazzy", but since I'm really taken by good harmony, its great.
Enjoy!
Posted by: zoomlv, laswagesBecause so many people have been asking and must have missed my post on Saturday.....
Here is the Vegas set list:
Here at the Western World
Green Flower Street
The Nightfly
New Frontier
Snowbound
Home At Last
Black Cow
Goodbye Look
Third World Man
Mary Shut the Garden Door
Mis'ry & The Blues
Brite Nightgown ( amazing guitar work)
Black Friday
IGY - encore
Pretzel Logic - w/Drew Zingg
Posted by: Flipkid, Blue State"Good people will do good things, and bad people will do bad things. But for good people to do bad things... that takes religion."-- Stephen Weinberg
Posted by: G, Cal Great review of the Temecula Show.Now I dont have to give one.Its 4:30AM monday.I just didnt want the East coast Danheads not to know what happened in Temecula.Was dead center in front of DF.It was very hot. Felt sorry for Donald but he and the band gave us 100%plus.Now back to sleep.4th row for the Wiltern tonite cant wait. Hoops do you still want me to E-mail you. "What was the set list in LV?"
Posted by: Morpheus, On the move!Any photos of any show out there??
Posted by: Still Sparkin', More or less HollywoodGreat, hot weekend shows in Las Vegas and Temecula.
Las Vegas was a cooking atmosphere. Small'ish room, not a theatre. Boxy and smoky, fold up chairs on a flat floor. Nothing like the pristine and perfect Pechanga theatre in Temecula, which had much better sound, lighting and seats. It's a couple of years old and seemingly state of the art, but it was too hot. DF was mopping sweat from his face and head from the start of the night. Some lucky girl got his towel after the show.
A different experience from Friday night at The Joint at the Hardrock Hotel, where people were packed more tightly together. It was raw in Vegas and the crowd got into the show faster. The new uptempo opener, and tone setter, Here at the Western World, hummed along and the energy stayed up for the whole show. That was the first of six Steely Dan songs (Home at Last/Black Cow/Third World Man/Black Friday/Pretzel Logic featuring Drew Zingg). Just Snowbound from Kama, two from Morph (Mary and the Nitegown) and five from The Nightfly (G-flower St./Nightfly/New Frontier/Goodbye Look/IGY in the encore)...plus Misery and the Blues.
Band was tight and very comfortable both nights but there was something extra on Friday night...a more urgent and charged vibe. DF was a rocking tangle of gestures and expressions. It was like he was channeling something. He held the audience tightly all night, except on Misery and Blues when some people took a Slang of Ages style break. He chided them later, 'that wasn't so bad, was it ?'
The set lists were just one song apart. In Saturday's show, substitute Snowbound with Maxine. Carolyn Leonhart sang the verse and it was nicely handled, but it took me a bit to adjust to her approach after hearing it done the same way for 25 years. Entirely different phrasing and nuances.
The Goodbye Look is a winner. The mini jam at the end seemed extended in Saturday's show. Lots of jazzed up chords and room to stretch for Wayne Krantz, who was hot both nights. He and Herrington work well together.
Crowd took a little while longer to come into it Saturday. The five people behind us never got into it all - they were removed in a group coma about two thirds of the way through. Really seemed like a case of free tickets to the wrong people. Usher tried to kick six of us out of our seats during the second song then finally had to accept while we were standing in the aisle dancing that we really did have the right seats (but not before suggesting to one of our party that she had a fake ticket.)
A guy three or four seats down caught DF flat out in a quiet moment: 'Donald, play something for Cornelius.'
DF rolled with it, said okay we will and they launched into Brite Nitegown. Scheduled, but particularly good.
LWO stole another quiet moment - a great piece of timing with an 'I love you, Donald.' And it worked. 'I love you, too' he said back. There was general amazement and no small amount of analysis later by women who've been proclaiming that in concert for years.
The Saturday crowd particularly liked Black Cow. Kama was completely shut out.
Carlock was locked in. He didn't get much chance to bust out either night....but played very tasty fills on Home at Last. Little eruptions. I was able to appreciate him and Freddy Washington more Saturday because the bass sounded much cleaner that on Friday night.
I had a fabulous time meeting LWO and SueDave, who helped me get here and organized pre parties for the two shows, and Danfiend and Lady Bayside who exposed me to new music and very safe gambling, respectively. Many laughs with you all, and you too Alan - but you left too early.
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Mighty Malaise-ya
http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/27/music/13756220&sec=music
Posted by: suedave, homeI'm home from a fab weekend with friends familiar and new thanks to Donald and his incredible band who gave us two awesome shows in Las Vegas and in Temecula this weekend!
The Joint was a very intimite venue and our group had central seats 10 rows back. I could hear great separation of nearly all the instruments and vocals. The large monitors gave everyone an upclose view of all the action. I think the audience in Las Vegas was one who mostly traveled for Donald - die hard fans like us...and the band, who was tight - picked up on the electric vibe...the audience was energized and the set list awesome. A cookin' version of H@TWW opened the show. A show hightlight for me was how Donald accentuated the Lester parts in the Nightfly - respect the seven second delaaaaaayyyyah! Donald and the audience were buzzin'. Donald made some real audience connections that others can tell you about better than I can (if they haven't already). Also it was great to be introduced to Misery & the Blues - a 30 or 40's tune that should be remembered and sought out - who the hell is Jack Teagarden anyways? I guess I need to do some research and I think it'll be a fun adventure into a style of music that doesn't often get spotlighted.
The band was hot on the Temecula leg of the show too, so we danced the famous Merengue - another great crowd who really did move - up to the front by the end of the night. The sound in this place was a 12 out of 10 - incredibly rich and perfect to support a beautiful rendition of Maxine that brought tears to my eyes. I think its become my favorite DF song. Many other musical highlights for this show too, Donald allowed for a bit more musical interlude within the songs which seemed to help the show feel more relaxed (than at the Beacon). New solos from the previous night in some of the same songs kept it fresh.
And most of all it was an honor and a thrill to hang out with many of the folks from here - Gail, Karen, Toya, Chris, Pete, Shari, Ed, Alan, Kathy, SteelyMom, and more - those of our kind. Sad to have the weekend coming to an end but I'll stay optimistic about a summer tour so I can Do It Again. xoxoxo
Posted by: the little walter in my head, Light, electricity, gum - discoveries of humanity? Um, all existed before and will exist after.
Now Steely Dan, that's a positive development of humanity for sure. And if it ends in a fireball, at least we got to hear some great tunes for 30+ years.
Posted by: moray eel, sHey SK:
http://www.steelydanarchive.com/sounds/#gaucho
m.e.
Posted by: skmusic, ChicagoHi all -- can anyone shed some light on the tune "The Second Arrangement?" Did/does it exist in any hearable media? Was it originally to be on Gaucho? Thanks!
Posted by: Tribute to the Gods, somewhere in SoCaWhat an amazing weekend for the Don Fagen Band.
Last night's Temecula show was maybe the tour's finest so far in terms of how hot and in the groove the band played. The theatre's acoustics were fantasitic.
The Vegas show was one big party and the band responded very well to the karma of the room. Donald seemed to really enjoy the evening. A huge surprise awaited the Dan and Don faithful as Donald called out for everyone to welcome Drew Zingg for the band's encore. Drew Zingg was fantastic bringing his special flair and style back to Donald music.
What a weekend in the Western World.........
Posted by: iowaboy, pg utYEAH... we need setlists on comments about the last couple of nights' shows! Come on... give us the blow by blow... the good, the bad, the ugly...the phonomenol... Don't keep us in the dark... Chicago WUZ great... and we're looking forward to "Dan" Diego Thursday!
Posted by: Doc Mu, ...and as far as i know he is not dating Amy Helm...
Posted by: Allah, Keep it up assholes and I'm gonna cause a power outage at the Wiltern tommorrow night.
Posted by: the little walter in my head, Hey BrutusSeems Brutus Charisma believes in magic.
"ignoring history and trusting way too much on his 5 or 6 senses for answers." Unlike the 5 or 6 senses that programmed you to be religious in the first place. Trust your own brain please - of course you have to know how to use it first.
"maybe he thinks this is all there is - poor guy." I'm sure he'd welcome you superior, all-knowing pity. Religion provides lots of opportunities to feel superior, don't it?
If your religion worked, you would never feel compelled to defend it.
Mark Twain wrote: "Faith is believing what you know ain't so."
Posted by: Brutus Charisma, The only difference is that lately DF's a lot funnier than Woody.
BC
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, Donald Fagen reminds me ofWoody Allen. In fact MTC could be made into a Woody Allen film. Security Joan would make a very funny bit and the whole terrorism angst, paranoia and fear of death themes are right in Allen’s wheel house. DF and Woody have a lot in common.
Posted by: Allah, Screw Julie! I am not!
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, Morph is God"Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire cat."
(Sir Julian Huxley / 1887-1975)
Posted by: Brutus Charisma, As a tag to my previous post, let me inquire of you, dear readers of the Crystal Blue, in a world where nuclear annihilation is possible/probable in/on any given hour/day/week/month/year, where will DF's cache of pop tunes be - let alone what will become of all the truly great discoveries of mankind like light,electricity,Dentyne Gum?
BC
Posted by: Allah, Actually he was kinda countin' on the 40 virgins thing.
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,
Re: In a recent magazine interview Mr. Fagen was quoted as saying "Religious people scare me, any adult who still believes in magic in general."
I hope what DF was referring to was religious FANATICS like Saddam,etal, who use religion as an excuse to behave like poopheads.
If he doesn't believe in something beyond what we're all groping with Here at The Western or Eastern World for that matter, he's ignoring history and trusting way too much on his 5 or 6 senses for answers.
Maybe that's why he's obsessed with death - maybe he thinks this is all there is - poor guy.
Posted by: seth2112, clevland, via tampa, fl and nycwhere are the latest set lists??
df goes west and the book dries up??
we need set lists fom vegas and temecula please.
and any show nuances, please.
Posted by: PQ, NYCBecker & Klein are apparently collaborating on songs; see the 4th footnote on the Tip of the Iceberg page on WB's site.
Posted by: Check It, Cjeckin ItIt's too bad Donald takes the simpleton view that religion is equivalent to magic. If you read Walter's site, and see some of his recent activity, it's obvious *he* doesn't.
Posted by: Daddy G., NJThe Philadelphia Inquirer today lists the top 10 selling albums in "the region" and Morph is #10, though as we already know it debuted nationally at only #26. Take it for what it's worth.
Just for laughs, here's the full list of what the Philly area's buying more than Morph...
(THIS WEEK/LAST WEEK locally (THIS WEEK nationally)
1/3 (1) -- High School Musical, Soundtrack
2/2 (2) -- James Blunt, Back to Bedlam
3/1 (4) -- No-Yo, In My Own Words
4/5 (7) -- Matisyahu, Youth
5/10 (13) -- Andrea Bocelli, Amore
6/- (9) -- Fall Out Boy, From Under The Cork Tree
7/7 (12) -- Mary J. Blige, Breakthrough
8/4 (16) -- David Gilmour, On An Island
9/8 (10) -- Jack Johnson & Friends, Curious George: Singalongs
10/- (26) -- Donald Fagen, Morph The Cat
Posted by: Thirdworldman, visiting her family in Mao, Dominican RepublicChrysler,
you wrote " But don't forget, "God is in the details."
Are you familier at all with Donald's thoughts on organized religion?
In a recent magazine interview Mr. Fagen was quoted as saying "Religeous people scare me, any adult who still believes in magic in general"
Gotta love it.
Posted by: TJ, DKDF solo!
But as long as someone cross the atlantic, I don't really care!
Posted by: fezo, riddle me thisfrom the perspective of anyone unable to see DF's spring tour, what's your preference for the summer concert season:
(1) Walter and Donald back together trotting out the old live chestnuts like Josie and Peg for the 5,012 time
(2) DF solo giving the rest of us the chance to hear such jems like Snowbound and Nightfly for the first time live
Posted by: Brutus Charima, "That's when we wait ... to see how the STO-WEE ends. 'Cause tonight belongs to Mona."
DF is such a goofball(STO-WEE)!
BC
Posted by: Art Pepper, Razorboy - Fagen is double tracking his vocal there. Singing on one track in a straightforward phrasing that follows the downbeat. The second track has him singing the line with slightly off-the-beat phrasing. This produces a really cool effect I think.
Posted by: G, CAJamminjoe -Had 5* VIP last night in Temecula. You wont be disappointed.It was great.Sound check was about 55min.Then some Q and A with band members. Then Chris the manager talked to us.We were treated just great.
Posted by: jamminjoe, HollywoodThis is Jamminjoe-originally a Jersey boy- now living in Hollywood.I just discovered this blog-Cant wait for the wiltern show. I spent the $ for the 5 star vip package. From what everyone is saying, it is worth it. Looking to meet other dan heads in the area. See you Mon night in the 1st 5 rows! Jamminjoe
Posted by: Razorboy, In that greasy chair OK, somebody with a keen ear, help me out
Brite Nitegown
Brite Nightgown
You can't fight with the fella
In the Brite Nightgown
That's what I hear until about the third chorus repeat in the outtro
Then it changes slightly, and it sounds something like:
Brite Nightgown
Brite Nightgown
You can't fight can't fight with the fella
In the Brite Nightgown
But it's not quite that.
I know you've all heard the same and know exactly what I'm referring to. Tell me what it is.
Posted by: G, Cal Great show at Temecula.Great seats dead center in front DF.Cant wait for the Wiltern tommrow.What a great bunch of people at 5*VIP.Thank you DF the band and crew.
Posted by: w.c fields, stage fronmtBTW
Brite Night is too short...
God was it good live last night
Posted by: its what he did ands what he did it with..., Temecula showits alll about the towel last night..
Ask Toya
BTW
The band was smoking...
it couldl have been the best show of the tour so far...
ask the people who drifted to the stage front and sang along during the encores
He says Don don’t despair - just take some time
You find your bad self - you’re gonna do just fine
Its what I do - its what I do
It’s not some game I play
It’s in my DNA
Its what I do
its what we all enjoyed last night
thanks Donald
Posted by: G, Cal Hoops-tried to E-mail you Would not go through .What was the LV setlist.
Posted by: Q, TPAOkay, Jim, so maybe Walter is going to show DF what a reeaally cool Jazz album is like. I don't know.
My main point is that we hopefully get 3 treats (or at least 2 "for sure") instead of one.
Other than that, I try not to analyze and deconstruct Becker/Fagen music too much - I'm too busy enjoying it. I let it wash over me like a much needed shower for the soul.
I leave the rest to the experts on the bluebook and at the various media outlets.
Posted by: G, Cal
Posted by: Chrysler, PATJ: Yeah, I hear what you're saying and I do basically agree. You and Howard are talking about the "macrostructure" and I'm talking about the "microstructure." But don't forget, "God is in the details."
Incidentally, in addition to labeling the chords of a given tonality, Roman numerals are also used in generic chord descriptions, as in II / I, III / I, V / I, bVII / I, etc. You find that type of description in jazz analysis all the time. So the I would refer in this case to the root tone of a given chord, not to the tonal center of a given composition.
Posted by: NYB, Fagen believes that technology now rules us, not the other way around. Which is why he no longer fears death.
"It's so complicated just to use the phone these days that you figure the human lifespan is just about right," he says. "You have to memorize so many numbers and acronyms, why bother to go on? At this point, technology is finally making life so difficult, but it's funny, because people don't seem to be aware of it -- how much time it's taking out of their day. But I'm acutely aware of it, to the point where I don't even want to make a phone call anymore."
Now THAT is damned funny! Laughed my ass off when I read that...
Posted by: Art Pepper, Yes that's a fluegel horn that Michael plays on occasion. To me it sounds a bit more like a French horn than a trombone. But hey, what do I know ..I'm an alto player. Started out on clarinet. Spent a couple stints in the joint. Put out some damn good jazz records though.
Posted by: scats, wouldn't you like to knowif vegas is any indication
glad to see IGY in the encore spot and more importantly Viva Chuck Berry off the setlist
Posted by: ru with me drhoo, chicagoDeclan
Leonhart mentioned in chicago that the Fleugelhorn is closer to the trombone in sound; since there's no trombone in the horn section, he pulls the fl-horn out in its place. At least that was one application...Teahouse, perhaps.
Posted by: Declan, memphisForgot to ask:
has anyone noticed Mike Leonhart playing a flugelhorn on certain songs? Or is this just some strange supratrumpet?
Posted by: Brooklynowes, Tompkins SquareHey guys, I really can't wait to see Don on the second leg. I heard this teenager play in the city, one song he played sounded exactly like dan, he dedicated it to Becker and Fagen. It's called something Yuppie, check it out www.myspace.com/thealexrubinproject I think this is the artist's demo site, he hasn't recorded the tune professionally yet, check it out.
www.myspace.com/thealexrubinproject
Posted by: Dimension Skipper, Eternal PathSome good stuff in this piece...
FAGEN KEEPS HIS COOL
By Tom Lanham, San Francisco Chronicle
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/26/PKGRIHOK3L1.DTL
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlantaOr actually .99 pounds.
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlanta$.99, what the hec!!! Rhymes is another funky one! Damn, how I love his voice. There's a quality to there I've never heard before. A raspiness at times. He's having fun on this one folks. Listen how he sings ...
"Like a KING without his throne" or "BUST yo way in."
Wow! And the Donettes!!
Posted by: Declan, memphisHere's the Rolling Stone interview:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/qa/story/9519861/donald_fagen_gets_inspired
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - Rocks to the sound of MTC!!Hi Y'All,
Re-the glitch, my copy of MTC is from the UK, and I can't hear any glitch, just Donald saying "upper" very fast, but he would have to to fit everything in. Having said that, my equipment isn't the best and I'm mainly listening to it through headphones while sitting at the computer.....and it's just getting better with every spin!!
Come on Don and Walt, give us the go ahead re a summer tour. If I don't book my flights soon, I'll never get out of this place!!!
Peace to all,
Ann
Posted by: Chris, nhCool Donald Fagen interview in the new issue of Rolling Stone (with Simon Cowell, etc on the cover).
Posted by: NYB, http://www.slate.com/id/2138489/
Posted by: thirdworldman, goin' to L.A. on a dareRazorboy-
check it: http://www.7digital.com/stores/productDetail.aspx?shop=122&sid=330976
short clip of "Rhymes" - for whatever it's worth, it did not grab me at first, but as we all know some sd/df songs take a few listens...
Posted by: Razorboy, by the Shrine of the MartyrQuestion:
Does anyone know where to hear Rhymes for no charge on the net?
I'll settle for a 30 second clip.
Anyone?
By the way, I read a review of MTC on jazzpolice.com
"This isn’t "smooth jazz," and while it could be classified as adult-contemporary, perhaps, thematically it's too clever and strange for that. Morph The Cat is an album that's too laid-back to get the blood flowing and too busy to be relaxing. Donald Fagen straddles many intersecting lines, which may make him unclassifiable, but also somewhat original. And, often, just plain weird."
The author seems to lament this fact. I say "WONDERFUL!!" I suspect that Donald didn't have "relaxing" in mind, thankfully.
Posted by: The Bending End, Rhode IslandI can't seem to find an Internet site with the same information, but today's Providence Journal lists the Top 10 best-selling CDs, both locally and nationally, and Morph the Cat comes in at #3 on the local list.
Posted by: NYB, I hear ya SteelyDon.
If it would've been repeated 15 times or 17 times it would've been wrong.
Posted by: SteelyDon, anyplace to which I am welcome to16 times the chorus is repeated at the end of Brite Nitegown...I just counted for fun.
Posted by: Pam, working for a livingUmmm, is it me but weren't the titles of the MTC songs correct on donaldfagen.com/discography? I just looked and I see "Moana" and "Mars" instead of Mary. Maybe it was always like that and I didn't notice or maybe somebody is goofing around?
Posted by: Look, And SeeMaybe if y'all saw the picture of Walt's bass between the cutouts of Bird and Diz on his website?
Posted by: NYB, "At the same time, when I saw that Jim Beard and Larry Klein were involved in Becker's album, my impulse was and still is that perhaps Walter's album will be much more jazz oriented than MTC." (Hoops)
Damn...
And I had high hopes for this album too.
Posted by: me, here
Donald Fagen - Back to Annadale
The origins of Steely Dan -- Donald Fagen returns to campus and revisits the
origin of his old grudge
by Rob Brunner
On Halloween 1967, a party is raging inside Ward Manor, an Elizabethan-style
mansion-turned-dorm at Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. On a small
stage set up in the corner of the common room, a band called the Leather
Canary tears through the Rolling Stones' ''Dandelion,'' Moby Grape's ''Hey
Grandma,'' and Willie Dixon's ''Spoonful,'' along with a few recently penned
originals. It's a typical late-'60s student shindig - most of the audience
is tripping on acid - but it's hardly an ordinary band. Behind the drums is
Chevy Chase, familiar around campus as a gifted musician and good-natured
goofball who's been known to drop his pants after losing late-night games of
''dare'' poker. Just in front of him is a long-haired muso named Walter
Becker, one of the school's most accomplished guitarists. And the shy singer
behind the electric piano? That's Don Fagen, decked out in a leather jacket
with feathers attached to it (hence the band's name). Just a few years
later, Chase will find fame as one of the greatest comedians of his
generation. Fagen and Becker, meanwhile, will evolve into Steely Dan, score
huge hits with songs like ''Rikki Don't Lose That Number'' and ''Reelin' in
the Years,'' and create several of the most beloved and enduring albums of
the 1970s. And in 1973, on their second LP, they will record ''My Old
School,'' an angry kiss-off that, for reasons that have never been entirely
clear, takes a very public swipe at Bard. ''California tumbles into the
sea/That'll be the day I go back to Annandale,'' Fagen famously sings. ''I'm
never going back to my old school.'' You can practically hear him sneer.
Almost four decades after that Halloween gig, Donald Fagen is back at Ward
Manor, gazing around the very same common room. In many ways, this quiet
lounge - its ornate wood-paneled walls and elaborately plastered ceiling
unchanged after all these years - is where Steely Dan sputtered to life.
Fagen and Becker both lived here, and they wrote their first, now-forgotten
songs together on an old piano that disappeared from the corner years ago.
But despite this room's heavy history, Fagen, exploring the dorm's dark
halls for the first time since college, seems a bit underwhelmed. ''Looks
pretty much the way I remembered it,'' he says with a shrug.
If Fagen is reluctant to reminisce about beginnings, perhaps it's because
these days he's more interested in how things end. His new album, Morph the
Cat, is a typically wry and unflinching look at death. ''I was just 58 the
other day,'' he says, sitting down at a table only a few feet from where the
Leather Canary performed. ''You start to realize that you don't have that
much time left. And also my mother died in 2003, which was a big shock to
me. So it's something I've been thinking of.''
Morph is the third in a semiautobiographical trilogy, following 1982's The
Nightfly, a look at his youth in New Jersey, and 1993's Kamakiriad, a
surreal take on his middle years. On this latest installment, Fagen taps
into the undercurrent of fear that's defined life in New York City after
9/11, weaving dirty bombs and burning buildings, airport security and
authoritarian governments into deceptively upbeat-sounding tunes about a
variety of tragic situations. Though most of the new CD's songs aren't
overtly personal, some are based on fact, including the disc's most direct
take on mortality, ''Brite Nitegown.'' ''I was mugged on the Upper East
Side,'' says Fagen. ''I was almost sure I was going to buy it there. Two
huge dudes sat me down and said, 'Give us all your money, we've got a gun.'
They took the cash and booked. I sat there for a few minutes. Then I started
to shake.''
When Fagen arrived at Bard in 1965, he was shy and bookish, a kid from the
Jersey burbs who smoked a bit of pot and played a lot of piano. ''Don sort
of looked like a crow most of the time,'' says Chevy Chase. ''He'd walk
around with this beak of a nose and he always wore black clothing and looked
down with his hands in his pockets. People thought he was kind of weird and
quiet. They didn't realize that he was really intelligent, a very funny,
bright guy.'' A fan of bebop and Beat poetry, Fagen quickly fell in with a
bohemian crowd. ''He hung out with some bizarre Bard students who were too
dark and mysterious for some other people,'' says Terence Boylan, a friend
and musical collaborator at Bard. ''They never came out of their room, they
stayed up all night. They looked like ghosts - black turtlenecks and skin so
white that it looked like yogurt. Absolutely no activity, chain-smoking
Lucky Strikes and dope. [Fagen was] immersed in an entirely Beat attitude.
Very hip, very chip-on-the-shoulder, very jazz, very hat-down-over-the-eyes,
saying, 'Hey, man, that's not cooool.'''
Today, as Fagen wanders around Bard, that lost world starts to come back. He
stops in front of Stone Row, a series of Gothic-style buildings at the
center of campus. Here is Fagen's freshman dorm, Potter, where he lived next
to Lonnie Yongue, the leader of that boho Bard scene. Yongue would later
show up in the 1973 Steely Dan tune ''The Boston Rag'' as a ''kingpin'' who
goes on a two-day drug bender. ''Lonnie was king of Potter, that's for
sure,'' says Fagen, gazing up at the imposing stone structure.
Bard was - and still is - an intensely creative environment, and Fagen soon
found his way into regular jam sessions, which popped up all over campus. In
Sottery Hall, Chevy Chase might be playing ''bad jazz'' with his singer
girlfriend, Blythe Danner, while in a little practice room called Bard Hall,
Fagen and Boylan might be rehearsing a 10-piece wall-of-sound version of
''Like a Rolling Stone'' for a class project. Fagen was already an
accomplished pianist, and he started playing in a series of semi-serious and
short-lived jazz and rock groups. At first, nothing really clicked. ''One of
the problems in those days was finding a guitar player,'' he says. ''There
were a few guitarists at school, but most still sounded like they were Dick
Dale or one of the Ventures. They hadn't quite figured out how to play
blues. They sounded sort of amateurish.'' One day in 1967, Fagen happened by
a long-gone campus coffee shop, the Red Balloon. ''I hear this guy
practicing, and it sounded very professional and contemporary,'' he says.
''It sounded like, you know, like a black person, really. And that was
Walter. I walked in and introduced myself to him. I just said, 'Do you want
to be in a band?'''
Fagen and Becker quickly forged the intimate collaborative relationship that
would eventually form the core of Steely Dan. ''We had a lot of common
musical background,'' says Becker. ''Donald and I had listened to the same
jazz radio stations, we had all the same records, and there weren't that
many jazz fans around at that time in our particular age group. Making rock
& roll that was more sophisticated harmonically and more jazzlike was
something that we had a common interest in.'' While at Bard, Fagen and
Becker started concocting the distinctive jazz-rock sound that they've
pursued over the course of nine studio albums together, including two recent
comeback discs (2000's Two Against Nature, which won an Album of the Year
Grammy, and 2003's Everything Must Go). Their trademark groove has evolved
over the years, but it hasn't really changed much. Predictably, Morph the
Cat sounds exactly like a Steely Dan record. ''On the one hand, it's not
like I think it's any huge departure,'' says Fagen. ''I'm not that
interested in revolutionizing music. But it happened the right way. I did
the tracks in 10 days and that was it. It just worked.''
Becker produced and played on Fagen's last solo album, Kamakiriad, but he
was completely uninvolved with Morph. ''We just decided to take a break and
do separate projects for a while,'' says Fagen, who doesn't rule out another
Steely Dan record but says there are no firm plans at the moment. And the
band will continue to tour, most likely playing dates this summer after
Fagen completes a solo road outing (his first ever).
These days, Becker lives in Hawaii much of the time, and the two chat only
sporadically. In fact, Fagen isn't even sure if Becker has heard his new
work. ''It's the kind of thing that we don't talk much about, actually,''
says Fagen. ''I would be interested, but... When I was halfway through, he
said, 'How's your album coming?' I said, 'Oh, it's the usual s -- -.' That's
the only conversation we ever had about it.''
Tucked in the woods behind Stone Row, down a narrow path many students never
notice, sits a one-room, octagonal stone structure known as the Observatory.
It is there that Fagen most wants to visit. ''I used to practice here,'' he
explains, gazing around the room, which, it turns out, was converted into an
office in the early '70s. This isolated space was one of Fagen's most
cherished escapes. ''There was nothing in there but a grand piano,'' he
says. ''I had wonderful hours in here practicing scales, things that no one
else should hear, you know? I'd write tunes in here, too. And if you were
rejected by someone you were in love with, you could scream. I was always in
love with someone [who] ignored me completely. That was my Bard experience.
There was a Sorrows of Young Werther vibe about it.''
One such unrequited crush might have been a professor's young wife named
Rikki Ducornet, whose first name will be familiar to Steely Dan fans. Fagen
won't admit it - he's always been extremely reluctant to explain his songs -
but it's easy to imagine that Ducornet was the inspiration for one of his
band's most famous tunes, ''Rikki Don't Lose That Number.'' ''I remember we
had a great conversation and he did suggest I call him, which never
happened,'' says Ducornet, now a well-regarded novelist and artist. ''But I
know he thought I was cute. And I was cute,'' she laughs. ''I was very
tempted to call him, but I thought it might be a bit risky. I was very
enchanted with him and with the music. It was so evident from the get-go
that he was wildly talented. Being a young faculty wife and, I believe,
pregnant at the time, I behaved myself, let's say. Years later, I walked
into a record store and heard his voice and thought, 'That's Fagen. And
that's my name!'''
Fagen would have better luck with a former Bard student named Libby Titus,
whom he encountered on campus in 1966 and married 27 years later. And that's
hardly his only happy memory of the school. ''I was coming straight from a
housing development in New Jersey, so it was great,'' he says. ''I loved the
teachers and the girls, you know. I had friends here. Probably the only time
in my life,'' he says with a laugh, ''that I actually had friends.''
So why, if Fagen harbors such fond memories of his alma mater, did he and
Becker pen the nasty ''My Old School''?
Later on the Bard tour, an answer finally starts to emerge. On the edge of
campus sits the small mid-19th-century house that used to be Adolph's, the
school's most legendary hangout. In the late '60s, you never knew who'd show
up in this out-of-the-way bar. A pair of Rolling Stones might drop in, or
Bob Dylan and Bobby Neuwirth, who would come over from Woodstock. ''Bard was
a very hip place,'' says Boylan, who used to let Dylan crash in his dorm
room. Across the street from the former Adolph's still sits a now-famous
pump, which to this day doesn't work because, as Dylan noted in
''Subterranean Homesick Blues,'' ''the vandals took the handles.'' ''It was
a rocking bar,'' says Fagen, climbing the stairs to the front porch. ''The
girls really danced in those days.'' He walks into the entryway of the
building, now converted into Bard offices. There's little evidence of its
former life as the coolest joint in Dutchess County. ''There's no reason to
go any further,'' he says after taking a quick glance around.
But just outside of Adolph's, he sees it. The house. ''Right there is the
house that I was busted in,'' he says, gesturing toward a two-story
structure nearby. Here, finally, lies the story behind ''My Old School.'' It
was around 5 a.m., a Thursday in May 1969, when a swarm of sheriff's
deputies descended on Bard, sweeping through dorms and off-campus
residences, including this small house, where Fagen lived with a roommate.
''They went up and down the halls, knocking on doors,'' says Boylan, who was
in his room at Ward Manor at the time. ''Toilets were flushing everywhere to
get rid of any pot that you had. I threw mine out the window. All you had to
do was say to the cop, 'What are you doing?' They'd say, 'That's it,
resisting arrest.' Somebody would say, 'What the hell is going on?' 'Oh,
profanity! Arrest him.''' Fagen, Becker, and Fagen's girlfriend, Dorothy
White, were all dragged off to jail.
''These were the days when there was a 'war on longhairs,' as they used to
call it,'' says Fagen, ''and Bard's in this kind of rural district. They
picked up about 50 kids just at random. There were a few warrants, and one
was for me, which was based totally on false testimony. They handcuffed our
hands behind our backs and put us in a paddy wagon and took us off to the
Dutchess County Jail. They took all of the boys, about 35 of us, most with
really long hair, and shaved our heads. I remember some of them were crying.
I don't think any of them had seen their head for three or four years. It
didn't make that much difference to me. But it was scary, you know? To hear
the cell-block door slam shut, the whole business with the handcuffs and the
paddy wagon. I'd never been arrested or put in jail before.''
Bard hired a lawyer and bailed out the 50 or so students who'd been hauled
in during the raid. Problem was, Becker and White weren't technically
students at the time. ''I asked them to bail my girlfriend out,'' says
Fagen. ''She had nothing to do with this and was just visiting me. And they
refused to do it. So when graduation time came I protested by not going. My
case had already been dismissed-they had withdrawn the charges, actually. So
I was sitting on a bench in front of Stone Row with my father and lawyer,
just watching the graduation. A lot of the students were also angry because
apparently the school had let an undercover policeman be planted in the
building and grounds department. Their cooperation with the investigation
was despicable.''
Four years later, Fagen and Becker released ''My Old School.'' While Fagen
says the song is ''not literal'' (and Becker insists he ''never thought of
it as an angry-sounding song; I think of it as a funny song''), he
acknowledges that there was real fury behind the ''never going back''
chorus. ''I don't know how serious we were [about never returning],'' he
says, ''but at the time both of us were very pissed off at the school,
that's for sure.'' Fagen kept his promise for 16 years. Then, in 1985, he
returned to campus for the first time, to accept an honorary doctorate. What
finally made him relent and go back to Annandale? He thinks for a moment, as
if pondering the question for the very first time. ''Well, you know. I'm not
one to hold a grudge.''
(Posted:03/17/06)
Posted by: hoops, Several Danfests of note coming up:
Temecula (tonight)
Kaching! Kaching! Pechenga Wing Ding!
http://www.dandom.com/danfests/sd
Oakland
Oakland Wing Ding: The Great Paramount of Funn
http://www.dandom.com/bayarea
San Diego
San Diego WingDing "so laid back it's almost horizontal"
http://www.dandom.com/danfests/sd
Not sure if Gretchen and Rajah are hosting an L.A. and/or Santa Barbara Danfest.
jim
Posted by: hoops, Q: Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but I have been thinking the opposite. First of all, since the tour started I've been thinking that DF's seems to be focussing on Rock and Blues and pulling back a just touch on the jazz influences. At the same time, when I saw that Jim Beard and Larry Klein were involved in Becker's album, my impulse was and still is that perhaps Walter's album will be much more jazz oriented than MTC. Time will tell.
Sounds like a great show last night...and IGY & Pretzel Logic as encores was what I was hoping for since before the tour. Too bad I couldn't make it!
Here's hoping I can make Santa Barbara.
Posted by: hoops, Could the person who posted the following, please email me privately. (It's not about the content but I need your help with a technical issue.) Thanks.
"Sounds like someone must have got stuck in the back row."
"What was the setlist for the LV shows"
Posted by: G, After Donald gives me my swiftkick. I will say thanks. Then I will say see you at the Wiltern. Then I will put my sandwitch container in my Donald Fagen lunch box. Now to Temecula to spend all my money on DF Tshirts one for everyone. Then send Hoops on a 2 week vacation to Hawaii. I am so glad I have so much money. Now you go write your book.
Posted by: Doc Mu, "Sat, March 25, 2006, 02:25:35 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu, Yes fife
I was aware you might need pschiatric treatment and even spelled correctly some time to sort through your past and see why you like to escape by smoking so often. It seems to be a clear cut case of self medication for depression and a habit. Is that what you are trying to tell the board? We support you so speak up. Put the joint out and clear your mind. Express yourself."
is NOT mine, but thanks for playing Trout. There will be a lovely parting gift for you, and a swift kick in the **s!
Posted by: Q, TPAZoom, my man - glad to hear the live show was everything I told you it was!
Call me today!
Brite Night was the one to die for in the shows I saw - seems to be a universal sentiment based on the posts.
Now looks like Walter is coming with quite a salvo!(as if we would expect any less from him...)
Looks like DFs Jazz oriented masterpiece VS WBs raucus guitars rock oriented(? - guessing here) prospective mastpiece ("vs" not meant in a divisive way...for you conspiracy minded cynics)
Can't wait to see what Walter and his boys have in store for us.
Morph is old hat now - it's time for Walter to shine, eh?
(Not that Morph will be leaving my car CD cartridge...)
How lucky we all in retrospect that we are having 2 tricks, treats & surprises instead of one! Now we just hope for the third surprise - The coming together of our artistic heroes, however that unfolds.
Viva, viva, viva!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: zoomlv, laswagesVegas set list:
Here at the Western World
Green Flower Street
The Nightfly
New Frontier
Snowbound
Home At Last
Black Cow
Goodbye Look
Third World Man
Mary Shut the Garden Door
Mis'ry & The Blues
Brite Nightgown ( amazing guitar work)
Black Friday
IGY - encore
Pretzel Logic - w/Drew Zingg
Posted by: ., . What was setlist for the LV show
Posted by: zoomlv, laswagesWOW, the vegas show was amazing, the band was hot Donald was very talkative and animated the room was a buzz throughout......and Drew Zingg to boot on Pretzel Logic, Herrington, Zingg and Krantz together on stage at the same time!
Posted by: ., . Sounds like someone must have got stuck in the back row.
Posted by: Khnum, Yeah... and I don't wanna hear any of those "Comfortably KHNUM" jokes either okay?
Just thought I'd tellya that up front...
Posted by: Khnum, innundation creationSay... you guys are pretty good a picking a song apart. So how good are you at CREATING one?
Khnum give you a 3.5 out of 10 on this one.
Posted by: Gary, Cal Today is the day.Donald Fagen in Temecula.Looking foward to the 5*VIP.Also yesterday ticketbastard released tickets for the Wiltern show.Scorerd 2 tickets 4th row center.Someone is watching over me.Also found out that Freddie Washington will be working on a cd with a friend of mine.WAAhoo.
Posted by: TJ, DKChrysler, now I see your point. As a basic functional chord the sus only appears twice (thi intro V7 and the substited sub), but as a coloring effect it appears all over the place.
I think Howard and I draw a dividing line between chords that are basic and vital functions and chord which are altered as we go a long, just to add color.
Example: Bb7 often is varied with Eb/Bb, for the color. But basically it's still a Bb7.
You agree?
Posted by: Chrysler, PAHoward, TJ: OK, here we go--
I meant bVII / I generically, not specifically.
The chord built on the bVII (GbMAJ7 / Ab = Ab 13 sus) is FUNCTIONING as the blues-form subdominant. Yes, it's a substitute for the standard IV chord. Dominant or dominant sus chords built on the bVII have subdominant function, even though they're not the true subdominant IV chord. We can go into that at length later if you'd like.
My bad, you guys are right about the intro minor 11 chords. But that particular voicing (R b7 b3 11) has kind of an ambiguous, quartal/secundal sound to it, don't you think? It doesn't sound like a tertian-derived chord (even though it is), which is what threw me off at first.
Did I say I hear at least six sus chords? I should have said eight. Here they are:
1) the intro V chord
2) right after "...make my flight" an accented, repeated sus chord...
3) resolves to another accented sus chord
4) the subdominant-functioning bVII 13 sus
5) right after "...angel straight from heaven" although it quickly resolves
6) right after "...never felt so clean"
7) right on "terrorist"
8) right on "Security"
Posted by: T.C.F.B.R., TJ,
What part of "...the Committee requests that you re-think and re-submit your response in such a way as to find agreement with NYB's position" is giving you trouble? Unfortunately the committee has no choice but to invalidate your response and to delete your submission once again. In order to ensure success in your endeavor, we suggest that you verify that all subsequent responses are in alignment with the rationale of NYB BEFORE RE-SUBMISSION.
The Committee For Bluebook Responses thanks you for your participation in this very important discussion. Please feel free to re-submit your ideas for futher disapproval as often as you like.
Thank You,
T.C.F.B.R.
Posted by: back2bass6, lawn guylandthe glitch
i will listen yet again (after my latte) to that line, but, first listen, i found it wonderfully sycopated and funky.
And you know, as DF and SD are two of the most vital folks (bands) still around, on my first and current listen to Brite Nitegown, DF does the cool "prince" kinda vocal, dontcha think?
Prince is awesome. James Brown, Jim Hendrix, all rolled into one. Yeah yeah yeah, i know, he is kinda poppy and stuff, but the man is KILLER in concert, and gets awfully awfully groovy most of the time.
Shame About Me and Almost Gothic...bets Dan tunes ever
god.."its kinda like the opposite of an aerial view..." i cant get over that
Posted by: TJ, DKIn respect of T.C.F.B.R. I'll give it another go.
Your plot is elaborate and meaningful, but to me also a little to obvious. But I'll buy your version if you care to explain the guys and lot's of different things.
My ultimate take:
1. 9/11 triggered the depression
2. The guy(s) is/are the reason she wants the world nad maybe her self to believe.
3. But actually her state of mind is created by lots of different things.
Posted by: in all the time ive known you, I still dont know what you meandeaconblue--you hate this place so much, how did you even get in by the way? Just leave
Posted by: Alkali, NYCThe vocal bug exists in 2 of my CD's. The other three that i have, which i bought via Reprise directly, are perfect.
It’s got to be on some pressings.
DEACON: allow me to first offer my condolences that you are in L.A.
you see, L.A. is not really a city, although a sundry of citizens are duped into believing that it is, L.A. actually is a large, and rather greasy, spot amongst palm trees that resembles a relatively large town but, is in reality a large trailer park (think Beverly Hill billies)in other words, trailer trash with an income.
devoid and completely bankrupt of culture, education and morality.
I can't help you with the food, son. i suggest walking west with a fishing pole or east with a snake hook and sack.
Posted by: bwaySteve, walking the streets after midnightYou guys have some great imaginations.
I have found looking up at the puffy clouds extremely relaxing yet stimulating as well.
My 12 year old said she used to do that a lot when she was a kid.
Posted by: deaconblue, two days ago BRUSSELS now VENIECE BEACHI`m really very satisfied after two days LA. It`s a great city, very strange and full off extremes in all senses. It`s quiet different from Miami.
And tomorrow i surely will have the first highlight of my holidays in Temecula.
And after that straight to The Wiltern.
Oh,one thing! American food sucks!!!
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons IslandMy buddy BT just phoned me from the Vegas show and gave me a thirty second soundbyte of "Black Cow"! I can now say I heard a piece of the Fagen show. While my life is still utterly incomplete, it was nice.
Posted by: jorainbo, IndianapolisI also noticed the glitch in the title track. As much of a perfectionist as Fagen has proven to be, I'm sure even a minor glitch like this would make him cringe.
Posted by: Greg Moonspank, White Plains, NY<<<"From Tompkins Square to ....Upper Broadway.
Is it just me or do any of you hear this also?
Perhaps I just got a bad CD or my ears are getting
old.
- Vasu Kilaru
It's NOT just you... mine does it, too.>>>
MINE TOO!!! I think its a glitch. The groove doesn't falter, so it sounds like it's a glitch in just the vocals. I cringe every time it comes along.
Posted by: Nashcat, NashvilleQUOTE:
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:04:16 -0800 (PST)
From: v kilaru <almostgothic2000@yahoo.com>
Subject: audio anomaly in MTC track???
To: digest@dandom.com
Love the album, but...
I was listening to the title track when at the
1:08/1:09 mark there is a funny break or transition.
Sounds like hesitation in the lyrics or something. It
happens right when the lyrics go from:
"From Tompkins Square to ....Upper Broadway.
Is it just me or do any of you hear this also?
Perhaps I just got a bad CD or my ears are getting
old.
- Vasu Kilaru
It's NOT just you... mine does it, too.
Posted by: hoops, chicagoThe Dandom Digest marks 13 years and kicks off its 14th year with a Digest covering March 15-24, 2006.
If you are a subscriber, you should see it in your email box within the next 12 hours. Again, If you don't receive it, please email me. Some people have been having problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.
The following are the subjects of this particular edition of the Dandom Digest
• WB.com Update! Hints About Upcoming Album
• Fagen Charts!
• Donald number nine
• audio anomaly in MTC track???
• bonus track Rhymes
• Rhymes...
• "Rhymes" alone
• iTunes Liner Notes, Lyrics?
• Howard Levy
• Any filming going on?
• Essential Reading: DF in "Entertainment Weekly"
• more fagen articles
• E! Online on Morph (it's not a drug)
• Undercover.com - Morph The Cat (album review)
• More Fagen
• Village Voice on Fagen Album
• bbc.co.uk/music - Post your comments about the album review
• Vega$ Wing Ding
• Kaching! Kaching! Pechenga Wing Ding!
• Oakland Wing Ding: The Great Paramount of Funn
• San Diego WingDing "so laid back it's almost horizontal"
• • • DANDOM DIGEST TURNS LUCKY THIRTEEN! • • •
T I C K E T E X C H A N G E
• NEW: : 2 Tix for Santa Barbara, 3/31
• Update: TWO Vegas Tix Available
• NEW: FS, Row E, Temecula Ticket
• NEW: FS: Pair for Wiltern
• Banyan Trees Ticket Exchange 2006
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
• SPOILEResque: Query
• SPOILER: Nice Chitown review
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter"—definitely not to be confused with the glorious Official steelydan.com, walterbecker.com or donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists—please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest
jim
Posted by: T.C.F.B.R., please be seatedTJ,
The Committee For Bluebook Responses has determined your response to be "not meaningful". Therefore the Committee requests that you re-think and re-submit your response in such a way as to find agreement with NYB's position. Until then, the committee has no choice but to consider your insights in this matter to be null and void.
Thank You,
T.C.F.B.R.
Posted by: Razorboy, In that greasy chairNice Chitown review:
Donald Fagen Band at the Chicago Theatre
Posted: 2006-03-22
By Paul Olson
Donald Fagen Band
Chicago Theatre, Chicago
March 18, 2006
Steely Dan founder/vocalist Donald Fagen’s concert at the storied Chicago Theatre wasn’t exactly the sound of surprise—this isn’t a jamband he’s fronting and anyone who came expecting loose, improvisational flights of fancy was destined to be disappointed. But the full house knew pretty much exactly what to expect, and they got it: Fagen on electric piano fronting a whip-tight ten-piece band; consistently satisfying performances of songs from Fagen’s three albums; slick, gleaming Fagen/Dan grooves; some Steely Dan tunes; and finally, a chance to throw their approval at the architect of a wildly successful, revered and unique jazz/rock hybrid sound.
While this was Fagen’s first-ever solo tour in support of his splendid new CD Morph the Cat, anyone who’s attended a Steely Dan concert in the last few years would recognize the general band format and even some of the players. The group consisted of two guitarists (Wayne Krantz and Jon Herington), a second keyboardist (Jeff Young, who also sang backup), two backup vocalists (Cindy Mizelle and Carolyn Leonhart), saxophone (Walt Weiskopf), trumpet (Mike Leonhart), drums (Keith Carlock) and bass guitar (Freddie Washington)—and, at center stage, the bandleader. Hunched over his electric piano, jerking his head in time to the group’s oiled yup-funk with his trademark unergonomic posture of shoulders almost grazing his ears, the ectomorphic Fagen resembled no one so much as The Simpsons bartender Moe Szyslak, but the audience threw American Idol-style adoration his way from the moment he walked onstage.
The band started off with “Green Flower Street,” one of three consecutive tunes from Fagen’s 1982 solo debut The Nightfly. A reviewer doesn’t have to stretch for imagery to describe how it and the rest of the evening sounded: if you have the album, put it on. It sounded like that—arrangement-wise, no one was trying to reinvent the material.
“[Fagen's] never been about anarchy or abandon--there’s always a veneer of cool in his work--but those restrictions understood, this is probably the funkiest touring band playing this spring.”
It also sounded, well, pretty great—the band made the anxious uptempo choogle of “Green Flower Street” sound like they’d been playing it for years; they were, unsurprisingly, very tight. A note-perfect “The Nightfly” followed, enlivened by a crackling Krantz guitar solo and a new coda in which Weiskopf’s tenor lines were decorated by some entwining Rhodes filigree from the leader. Not that it needed any improvement on the original—it’s one of my favorite songs and here I simply fell into stupefied rock-concert fave-tune ecstasy. “New Frontier” might have been even better, as the crowd erupted at the sound of the song’s beloved vamp figure before Washington and Carlock simply murdered the groove (Washington was, to my ears, the MVP of this talent-crowded stage). There’s something odd about hearing a fellow audience member sing along with lines like “Till I finally make up my mind/To learn design and study overseas”—but it was a good kind of odd.
“Teahouse on the Tracks” (from Fagen’s 1993 Kamakiriad album) isn’t his best tune by any means and its lyrics actually stray into banal territory—not something often suggested about his arch, sharply-etched words. But its great horn chart was deftly covered by Weiskopf and Mike Leonhardt (Leonhart’s open-horn solo also negotiated some tricky group stop-time sections) and Cindy Mizelle’s solo vocal on the tag was pure bliss. “Brite Nitegown,” Fagen’s new tune commemorating the Grim Reaper, overstays its welcome by a couple of minutes on Morph the Cat, but the same arrangement live was effervescent, steamroller funk with a searing solo from Krantz that would have fit in just about anywhere on Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam.
Still, the Steely Dan songbook loomed large in the expectations of the crowd, and when Fagen started the Rhodes intro to “Home at Last,” the response was unambiguous. Fagen changed the vocal phrasing on the choruses to keep it interesting as Carlock worked the tune’s classic ride-cymbal groove and Young contributed some lovely organ that was surpassed only by his solo on the next tune, “Black Cow,” another hit from Dan’s Aja. Weiskopf’s tenor solo here was one of the evening’s high points and Fagen’s vocal betrayed no boredom with this twenty-nine-year-old song—“drink your big black cow and get out of here” sounded as irritably dismissive as ever.
The set continued with an initially nondescript, then ferociously swinging “The Goodbye Look,” a fire-and-brimstone take on Steely Dan’s “Third World Man” featuring Fagen’s best vocal of the show (Mizelle and Carolyn Leonhart’s vocals were equally fine) and, from the new album, “Mary Shut the Garden Door,” introduced by the leader as “one of my paranoid songs.” This one had some monstrously authoritative bass guitar from Washington and a winning tenor solo from Weiskopf over Fagen’s minimal, almost Basie-like single-note Rhodes plonks.
Local harmonica whiz Howard Levy joined the band for “What I Do,” Fagen’s deep-soul conversation with the ghost of Ray Charles, which was followed by “Misery and the Blues,” a Jack Teagarden tribute with an unerring kick/snare pulse from Carlock and reach-for-the-moon, high-octave trumpet solo from Michael Leonhart worthy of—and, perhaps, paying tribute to—Teagarden’s longtime employer Louis Armstrong. The set closed with a leave-em-happy version of Steely Dan’s “FM,” and after a brief encore of Chuck Berry's “Viva Rock and Roll,” that was it—fourteen tunes, ninety minutes. The fans, of course, wanted more—but one suspects that this is the maximum concert length to ensure that Fagen’s never-invulnerable vocal chords, which showed strain occasionally, make it through a tour. Great though the band is, the leader’s the essential member, and he has to sing.
Fagen and band played some classic songs—and some new ones—impeccably. He’s never been about anarchy or abandon—there’s always a veneer of cool in his work—but those restrictions understood, this is probably the funkiest touring band playing this spring. This is very much a group worth seeing live.
Posted by: TJ, DKNYB, Don't ever take things personal on a board like this.
But actually I don't think your plot is meaningful. But that's just my opinion, and I'm just happy you have another.
Keep it coming!
Posted by: Razorboy, On the Wolverine up to AnnandaleDonald's timing is simply impeccable. I got this email today:
Donald's new, critically acclaimed album, Morph The Cat is now in stores everywhere. The album features 8 brand new tracks including the single "H Gang." Click HERE to order your copy.
Donald is on tour through the end of March. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.
Be sure to check out the newly re-launched DonaldFagen.com for all the latest news and updates.
DonaldFagen.com
WarnerBrosRecords.com
*******************************
Well then, this IS news! I best run out and get this Morph the Cat CD. Oh wait, I've already seen him live in DC and I've already spun the CD sime dozen times, disecting every split second.
I must admit, with all of my anticipation for EMG, I found it, by Dan standards, underwhelming. Solid, well crafted, but for me, the "it" factor was missing. Had the duo run out of passion? Were the creative juices drying up?
Dan fans are among the most discerning, critical fans alive, as far as my experience can see. We expect that unmistakable groove, that sheen, that confident, sardonic edge. Morph satisfies. Perhaps it's not up to the standards of those who want to capture the rapture of Scam or Aja. Nonetheless, this is very, very good shit.
Posted by: gary, cal Wiltern LA or ticketmaster just opened more seats. Just bought 2 floor 1 row ddd
Posted by: NYB, Damn... that should be "on him like a bad cold."
Hoops when are we gonna get a PREVIEW button on this post thing?
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, ehSorry about repeating the e-mail news. As I was composing my rant a few of you beat me to it lol!
Posted by: NYB, TJ,
Okay after further review I've decided that you're right. There is NO WAY that Donald Fagen is smart enough or insightful enough to come up with a plot as elaborate and meaningful as the one I have concieved. Therefore, we will henceforth refer to the 9/11 plot as "The NYB/Mona Plot" and any further usage of it will require that royalties be paid to NYB Enterprises Inc.
Should Donald decided to invoke the "NYB/Mona Plot" in any future interviews without the expressed written permission of NYB Enterprises Inc., my corporate legal team will be on him like bad cold.
Thank You,
NYB
Rock & Roll Philosopher
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
you beat me by 8 seconds TJ!
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, ehWell I finally got an e-mail from DonaldFagen.com telling me about the release of Morph and the Tour. A little late, eh. It pains me that Don's record company has done so little in advertising Morph. I went into Barnes and Noble at the Inner Harbour and it wasn't even stocked and I've yet to see it on the rack for new releases but hey Barry Manilow was there! What the f**k! Thanks for letting me rant, eh!
Here's the e-mail, what a joke!
Donald's new, critically acclaimed album, Morph The Cat is now in stores everywhere. The album features 8 brand new tracks including the single "H Gang." Donald is on tour through the end of March. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
I just got an email from Donald Fagen! His new album Morph the Cat is now available. He's also on tour through the end of March. I can get more information at his updated website Donaldfagen.com.
What a crack PR staff. Or should I say a PR staff on crack.
KC
Posted by: TJ, DKI just received a Donald Fagen newsletter: Album in stores now....
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaWondering if Mona's "AC Hummer" comes with batteries included??
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaALKALI--I'll try not to, and I agree NOTHING wrong with it--no judging. I might even KEEP some of those songs! But just one more for today....
What if "MON-A" and this is a BIG if, taking into consideration DF's penchant for things "Caribbean", as well as DF/SD's "track record" is actually an anagram for "A-"MON"?? We should plug that in and see if MONA takes on yet ANOTHER meaning.......
Posted by: pan-fried, pass the prozacmaybe there’s some kind of illicit drug activity going on with Mona too. She’s depressed, maybe self-medicating with whatever, calling her friend-parent-sibling-etc at some unholy hour, babbling grim and funny stuff (high?), then goes all quiet (nod?). She sleeps all day, apparently doesn’t work. Then there’s that last verse ‘when the moonrays get so bright, when she rises towards the starlight’.. this just ‘smacks’ of some kind of drug use to me. She can’t stand the light, even the moonlight seems too bright sometimes, so by getting high, in ‘rising towards the starlight’ she hopes to soften the fall/crash/depression? The fall could be metaphor for committing suicide but also for a negative mood swing or a drug comedown.
I mean, she’s not so depressed that she can’t find pleasure in dancing alone to CD’s with the AC hummin and felling pretty right? At least when she’s ‘high’ on the 40th floor, late at night, all alone.
I don’t know, the drug might not even be illicit. Maybe it’s one of those tv drugs like paxil.
Posted by: Err, No, The Petri Dish of Your MindTo say that DTMA was inspired by the movie is not to say that it is a literal re-telling of it, any more than Morph the Cat is a literal re-telling of the French story about a giant dream-cat floating over Paris. Is it?
A huge major motion picture - the star was the hottest movier star in the world the time - about a guy who takes hostages in a bank, with an agent of the law (Charles Durning, in a great role) with a MEGAPHONE...yadda yadda...Donald Fagen went to a party at the home of the director of this movie...come on bub.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCSHERP: I’ve risen like the Phoenix and flyin’ like an Eagle on black Friday.
But, please don’t tell me any more of those Homo Dan references…..
not that there’s anything wrong with being a homosexual……
KC: F*** the ProzaK, I’ve got some good Jack Herer and White widow that’ll clear up any mental ailment…and then some.
Another reason Dog Day can’t be about DTMA(and visa versa) is that in the movie the crowd was with the perpetrator unlike the evil crowd in the song.
Besides where was the dynamite in the movie? where??
Hey, did someone delete my Happy Birthday Elton John?
Posted by: TJ, DKFife, I'm with you! NYB, I still think that dressed in black is a metafor for beeing depressed.
If Mona is depressed over loosing family in 9/11, why would Donald ask: some guys? Lots of different things?
That doesn't make sense.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaNYB--DF is a great man, 911 a great tragedy, your interpretation--well-justified, as was FIFE's.
Now, having said that, as far as I KNOW, VICTORIA'S SECRET does, indeed, come in BLACK....No??
It's ALLLLLL GOOD.......
Posted by: NYB, "The Fire Downtown"...
First we have to consider WHO is writing/performing this song.
Donald Fagen is the quintessential New Yorker. Fagen can live anywhere on earth that he chooses to, but WHERE does he choose to live? New York City... He's in LOVE with New York. He's ALWAYS been in love with New York. Hell, he was pissed off at his old man for more than half his life for moving him to Kendall Park, New Jersey for Chrissakes. And Kendall Park aint that far from Manhattan!
No. I can assure you that when Donald Fagen uses the words "Uptown" or "Downtown" he's talking about Manhattan, he's not talking about sexual double-entendre or anything like that. "The Fire Downtown" refers to THE FIRE downtown, in other words... the World Trade Center tragedy.
Now let's put this together with the fact that Mona dances "all alone" as a result of "the fire downtown". Also, being "dressed in black" stands for something. Dressing in black is a sign of mourning, not just depression. Mona mourns for something/someone in this song. Mona, Mourner... almost rhymes doesn't it? Also, the imagery that goes along with jumping from a tall building is somewhat reminicent of who some of the World Trade Center victims chose to do rather than die from the fire. I'm sorry but from my perspective it seems that this song has ALOT to do with 9/11 and Mona is a picture of all those who lost loved ones in the attack that day.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaFIFE--I'm feeling ya. Your interpretation is quite possible, and not to be trivialized. But there are are many peels in this onion. DF/SD, as we have seen work on MANY levels--we are going to see more to come--just this week I have had 20 to 30 year old "interpretations" to reconsider.....
Posted by: Dan of Steel, MetropolisWhat's with all the Freddie Washington talk? Juan Epstein and Arnold Horshack are, pound for pound, much better talents.
Posted by: Fife, Baltimore, ehYour kidding right? It's obvious that Mona is suffering from depression and anxiety, the two walk hand in hand The more research they do the more they find that chronic depression and anxiety is an inheritated condition. It's pretty clear to me that it was triggered by 9/11. Wearing black though is not a sign that you're depressed. I'd say that Donald is using it to describe the feeling more then wardrobe. Another symptom of depression and anxiety; weird sleeping patterns. Mona sleeps all day and is awake all night. Anxiety rears it's dark ugly head mostly at night. The fear of death is so overwhelming that sometimes it would seem easier just to end it all. This would also explain the late phone calls, the relief of hearing someone's voice no matter the hour. A lack of libido or of any pleasure is also a sign. These are all clear cut symptoms, read any medical text and you'll find them. Well perhaps not in the weird skin diseases text but definately in the pschiatric ones!
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaERR, NO---It also says "Fade to Black"--cinematic move--but this IS Haiti, we're talkin here. Kinky (Hair??). Not a far stretch over 20 years to "lit brothers"--we mellow with age.
BTW--Would you say you are a GAUCHO/SCAM kinda person??
Posted by: Just Mixing it Up, Another entendreThe fire downtown = feeling horny, down there.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaDO IT AGAIN--I knew that (google)--daughter of Lena Horne, author etc. Just trying to maintain focus on the possible "erogenous" influences on this music...
Posted by: Errr, No, Inside JokesterSherpa - that's "dolly back" shots. Dog Day Afternoon is loaded with a type of cinematic angle called 'dolly back.' Haitian Divorce contains the lyric 'dolly back." It's one of 100s of self referential jokes.
Like 'My Rival'is a song about detectives featuring guys from a band called Eyewitness, Steve Khan and Anthony Jackson.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaHEY CLEAN--maybe a shot (if STD)..OR...mebbe.. a BOOTY CALL..at that "unholy" hour...??
Posted by: Do It Again Sherpa!, You Have Fans Among UsGail Lumet is the wife of Sidney Lumet, the director of Dog Day Afternoon.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaERR, NO--How did you make the connection--Dog Day=DTMA? Back shots?--sheesh!!
KDawg--That name "Gail" IS androgynous--Hmmm...could be a clue..BUT--I'm sticking with ERR, NO on this one...
ALKALI--Are you over being killed???
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
Sherpa - lol. Interesting take on fire downtown, nothing a shot can't clear up, right.
RE: Mona discussion: Maybe she always dresses in black, a goth perhaps, there is no point of reference though. Any thoughts on who she's 'calling at some unholy hour'? Who is the storyteller? I would refer to depression as an illness or disorder rather than a disease. You can't 'catch' it from someone else. Cause and effect, yes, but ultimately something inside of us is disturbed regardless of the 'outside' source or condition.
Cripes, anyone one got some prozaK?
KC
Posted by: PQ, NYCDidn't Don say in an article quoted here yesterday that he read a story by an 18th century French author who wrote a story of a giant dream-cat floating over Paris? Hard to believe that DTMA is not in some way inspired by Dog Day Afternoon.
There'a another quote on Granatino's where Donald says Walter was reading Thomas Pynchon in the early days. These are the names of some characters from Pynchon's most accessible novel, The Crying of Lot 49. Might they be an influence/inspiration for some of the names that show up in Dan songs?
Stanley Koteks
Randolph Driblette
Dr. Hilarius
Oedipa Maas
Mucho Maas (her husband)
The Paranoids (a rock and roll band)
Pierce Inverarity
John Nefastis
Posted by: KDawg, Mt. BelzoniFrom an interview
http://www.granatino.com/sdresource/32296.htm
----------------
Moderator: D&W, Is there any connection between the movie Dog Day Afternoon and Don't Take Me Alive?
Donald: I once went to a party at Gail Lumet's apartment.
----------------
Don...tap dancing as usual!!!
SFC
Posted by: Err, No, John Cazale's Sex ChangeEspecially when you consider how many dolly back shots there are in Dog Day Afternoon, get the pun, huh, huh?
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaALKALI, ERRR, NO, et al--
ERR, NO was dead nuts ON about Dog Day Afternoon being the basis for DTMA. Our student group, and perhaps the teacher? were too "innocent" to consider that interpretation circa 1978.
I, too, NO longer like DTMA, and if you think THAT is killing YOU, go back into Pretzel Logic--and you might be WORSE than killed!
Even back then I was kinda "suspicious" of RIKKI, but as I am going thru it, with this "new" perspective consider--"with a GUN"?; Monkeys in the soul?? Barrytown people got to be from "another" world"?? Any MAJOR DUDE?? FIRE in the HOLE??
I have felt like this only twice before in my life--just before I carried my ELTON JOHN, then later my GEORGE MICHAEL records to the dumpster...need to regroup, go thru the catalogue, and maybe obliterate certain "select" chunks of it!
With this DF/SD track record--to those of you trying to decode Mona's "FIRE DOWNTOWN", takes on quite another meaning... No??
DISCUSS
Posted by: angel (Non Apple person), How does one get the lyrics to a tune they buy from someone like ITunes? As in you spend your 99 cents and get, just the tune?
Can anyone explain it to me. Thanks.
Posted by: Howard, Chrys - OK, so you would call a Db/Eb chord Eb9sus4. But, as TJ asked, do you actually hear this 9sus4 chord in Joan?
I don't think the chromatically ascending chords in the intro have stacked 4ths. To my ears, it's basically Bbm11 Bm11 F7sus4 (voiced as [Bb Ab Db Eb], [B A D E], [F Bb Eb F]). That F7sus4 is the only sus chord I hear in the song (though I haven't yet worked out all the chords, so I may have missed some). Can you point specifically to where in the song you hear the other sus chords?
Howard
Posted by: TJ, DK"Was it the fire that turned her world around? Was it some guys?" The rational causes that make sense to everyone.
No, it probably was "Lots of different things"...
Posted by: princessofcairo, San Francisco(email me, and i'll send you the t-shirt graphic)
"The Great Paramount of Funn"
Oakland Danfest
28 March 2006
5pm:
Pre-dinner drinks at Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon
48 Webster Street in Jack London Square
Oakland CA 94607
510-839-6761
http://www.heinoldsfirstandlastchance.com/
Made from the timbers of a whaling ship, this bar is one of the few spots in Jack London Square with a real connection to the writer who gave the Square its name. You aren't going to be able to escape the history while you're there, either: if you can get out without someone showing you the picture of Jack London, age ten, face down in an encyclopedia right where you're sitting, you're really lucky. Heinold's has been right where it is now since 1883, as the wharf and the world have changed around it; it's sort of a funny feeling to sit there and think about it. And think about it you may; the combination of the small, dark, memorabilia-encrusted room with a few beers and the steeply slanted floors could make anyone philosophical.
6pm:
Dinner at Jack's Bistro
One Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
510-444-7171
http://www.jacksbistro.com/lunch-dinner-menu.html
7:30 - head to the Paramount for the Donald Fagen concert!!
Oakland Paramount
2025 Broadway between 20th and 21st Streets
Oakland, CA
http://www.paramounttheatre.com/
Transportation:
Take the Ferry to Jack London Square or Bart to the Paramount. The Paramount is a short cab ride from Jack London Square.
Ferry information: http://www.eastbayferry.com/
Bart information: http://bart.gov/index.asp
To reserve your Danfest T-shirt, email Amelia Ray with your T-shirt size. Shirts will be distributed at pre-concert festivities, and cost $12 a piece. If you will not be attending the Danfest, but would like to order a T-shirt, please send a check or money order for $15 (includes shipping and handling), and a nice note to:
Holliday Cullimore
1411 67th Street
Berkeley, CA 94702
Thanks, and hope to see you on the 28th!!
Posted by: TJ, DKygk, My Mistake. Of course its cause and effect. What I meant was that reasons can be multiple and subtle.
For people with depression it is often impossible to pinpoint what the reason is, is my impression. Mona might be having that problem to, as depression has grown into a disease affecting large segment of populations around the world.
I see the reason in Mona's case as beeing a more collective reason. She's not a unique case but an image of something general.
Posted by: YGK, nycTJ: depression doesn't come from nothing. Trust me. you don't just wake up and "are depressed". It's cause and effect.
cheers!
ygk
Posted by: TJ, DKNYB, maybe just depressed as in depressed over appearently nothing. A theme that links with Morph the cat as a metaphor for the current state of affairs in USA.
Posted by: Joey , " So the bad news: "Rhymes" is no longer available on ITunes!!! It looks like they took the track off and lowered the price of Morph.
The good news: I found a British site called 7Digital where you can download the indiviual track for L.99! Here's the URL:
http://www.7digital.com/stores/productDetail.aspx?shop=122&sid=330976
Wow! It's Don at his snarly best! "
Bless You for the link !!!!
I LOVE " Rhymes "
Snarly !
Posted by: TJ, DKChrys, bVII/I is synonymous with dominant 9 sus (omit 5) allright, but where do you hear that in the song? As you can see below it is really only Gb/ab, that belongs in sus chord heaven.
Posted by: studio7dave, chicagoYoung racketeers and teenage models laughing on the grass...
MTC is very much about the herb.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCDon't't Al Queady and Talibanski play horns for Blood, Sweat and tears?
Posted by: Plaza at West 42nd St, LimeHouseIt was tough trying to hear Steely Dan when they moved back to NY in 1978....WLIR and somehow...WRVR...the black...christian...jazz station started playing them.....Steely Dan was tooo lite for the old prog rockers...too full of rock aspirations for the jazz folks to give a shit...but there were moments where the jazz folks got it: Your Gold Teeth...Black Cow...Aja....the rock folks just gave up ...because...they're pathetic....I mean can WBAB play Morph???? fug em
we move on
Life is Cool- Pat Matheny was here last week
http://www.live365.com/stations/singapore365
Posted by: Chrys, PATJ & Howard: bVII/I is synonymous, as far as I usually think of it, with dominant 9 sus. The only tone missing is the expendable 5th.
Aren't the chromatically ascending intro chords some kind of stacked 4ths voicing?
In consideration of the above, I hear at least six sus chords throughout (one cycle of) the song. Sus chord heaven enuff for me...
Rajah: Are you sure Leo said to Chas, "I now crown you HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR...?" As far as I've read, that title of the political entity and its ruler wasn't used until Fifteen-hundred something. It's a construct of later historians, if I recall. I'll look it up...
Posted by: BwaySteve, hey heyIs Donald Fagen Al Green or is it the other way around ?
Posted by: F.Scot Fitzmemory, @east GatsbyFreddie Washington is groovnatious...Walt...you have shown them ...Ted baker...cool licks...Charlap would be proud....Keith...somehow you lock it all together....and it grooves...Donald...the vocals...the fender...the humour....please remember some of us did actually listen to RVR ourselves...John and crew the guitar sound is mindblowingly cool
but I digress...
I have a vison of a Dias/McDonald reunion...a Katy Lied of eruptions...a sonic tour of Nippon and Singapura....an opium induced charade and a new Steely Dan double ablum for May 24, 2008!
Posted by: NYB, Yes TJ... but depressed over what? Why does Mona dance "all alone"? And why does she want to kill herself?
Posted by: TJ, DKNYB, the fire downtown is obviously 9/11, but dressed in black means depressed. Happiness is relative to your state of mind, so to Mona things might not look that dark, cause she's already "dressed" in black
Posted by: not all of us stayed, in NYMorph is basically an exercise in shedding all of the gloom of the Bush jr. erar....it is a celebration of......those little things that...make NYC wonderful.....911 was a blast into the sphere of all of us who enjoy....religiously Mannny Hanny....was it a plot...was it them...was it us?.....It is hard to enjoy a guiness when your not sure if that crazy bloke at the end of the bar may be spying on you.....and for Jewish people like Donald...life is a shaken upside down world....zionism doesn't seem to woik....but it is ok to be Jewish and not be a hard liner.....Fagen is a Chomsky file.....only now discovering his gaelic/gallic paternal side........the album is a triumph....Brite Nitegown is awesome!!!!!!!
but I digress
ps thanks for someone mentioning babylon LI recently....I miss Belmont State park
Posted by: NYB, And further...
"Things don't seem as dark when YOU'RE ALREADY DRESSED IN BLACK."
Why is Mona dressed in black? You dress in black for a funeral no?
Posted by: Daddy G., NJThis is all I know of Stolen Dan...
http://www.newroadmusic.nl/newroad/bandsartiesten/stolendan.html
Click "Download Hier" to listen to a short medley of "Josie," "Jack of Speed," and "Bad Sneakers." (I'm assuming it hasn't changed since I downloaded it quite a while ago.)
========================================
More DF/Morph reviews and commentary...
FUSION JAZZ MAKES A COMEBACK
By Jennifer Hein - Staff Writer
http://spectrum.buffalo.edu/article.php?id=26350
________________________________________
ANXIETY JACKS UP 'MORPH THE CAT'
By Marty Hughley, Oregon Live
http://tinyurl.com/rfn7s
________________________________________
SOUNDS FROM THEIR BANDS LINGER IN SOLO
By Howard Cohen, Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/14165768.htm
Thumbs up for DF's "Morph", down for David Gilmour's "On An Island" in this sorta blended short review.
________________________________________
AN UNABASHED FAN OF STEELY DAN (MINISTER OF CULTURE)
By Michael Heaton, Cleveland Plain Dealer Columnist
http://tinyurl.com/s6dj2
Posted by: pan-fried, big al'saka the 'wall of hair'
Posted by: NYB, Just developing that thought a little...
Mona dances all alone. Why? Was it "the fire downtown"? Did Mona lose her husband/boyfriend in the 9/11 tragedy?
Posted by: NYB, "Was it the fire downtown that turned the world around?"
A 9/11 reference?
Posted by: Alkali, NYCLA CAT: it's a kinda cute piece in 'Lexi' (the bar scenario) I like the part:
"Moreover, DF wants to say that he will certainly not be inviting “any of the aesthetically challenged, sexually repressed crypto-fascist anti-semites around the country who have reviewed my work poorly, and that goes for any critics who write negative pieces during the next couple of months, too.”
So does anybody really know what the song "MTC" is all about?
I mean, are we to believe that it's based on Revel’s liner notes and some obscure century old French poet?
It’s possible. Fagen does mention another Frenchie, Rabelais.
Or is it, as was posted, about his childhood memories and recent woes that lent sweetness to them?
Or is it, as my friend Jeff says "Dude, it's all about the herb. just like in 'Puff the Dragon' 'Morph the Cat' ya get it? or when he sings about "high above Manhattan...” and "what exactly does he want/this Rabelaisian puff of smoke/to make you feel all warm inside/like you heard a good joke" it's all about the mind-food, man"
I have to confess that at the time it made sense to me, and then again so did the other interpretations.
Posted by: TJ, DKHoward, You're rigth. I just assumed the Cm11 in my head, but it is actually a Cm11/f which is the same as F7sus4. The bass goes Bb-B-F-F (an octave lower) and not Bb-B-C-F. As I said I didn't spend much time on it, and there are some things in the end of the chorus I'm not certain is correct.
Posted by: KDawg, Mt. BelzoniHas anyone heard of Stolen Dan? They do this remix of "Time Out Of Mind" that is infectious. If anyone has any info on this group, please let me know. I can't find a shred of info on them.
Thanks!!!
SFC
Posted by: Howard, TJ: I haven't worked out the Joan chords in much detail, but one comment on the intro chords - I don't hear a Cm11 before the F7sus4. Other than that, I think what you wrote is right: Bbm11 Bm11 F7sus4. As you wrote before, voice the m11 chords as 1 b7 b3 4, then the top three notes just slide up twice as the bass moves to B and F.
(... although there's a bit more to it than that, because the guitar in one channel plays some higher chords over this sequence that adds to the basic harmony)
Chrys: where abouts in the song do you hear this subdominant 9 sus chord? I only hear a sub-dominant (Eb7 or Eb9) in the line just before the chorus, and I don't hear a sus4 part to it.
Anyway, maybe we use different names for the same chord. Are you thinking of a chord like Eb Ab Db F ? I'd call this Db/Eb, but maybe you call this Eb9sus4?
I've almost finished working out the Mona chords. Now THAT'S what I call a Donald harmonic treat!
Howard
Posted by: Jaco, UKHi everyone. Sorry to change to flow but could anyone give me any info on Donald Fagen's contribution to the soundtrack of Glengarry Glen Ross?
I understand it was "Blue Lou" or something like that...a search isn't really bringing up much useful info.
Cheers everyone.
Regards
Jaco
PS Loving MTC. top tracks = Security Joan, Mary Shut the Garden Door and The Night Belongs to Mona.
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlantaFurry things!!
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1778&e=2&u=/060323/482/la10903230005
Posted by: seth2112, cleveland, via tampa,fl and nycgreat fagen interview in the newest issue of NY Magazine. why is the dan always scribed as an LA Sound? anyway, read on...its the issue with ronny perlmen from revlon on the cover.irony, huh?
Posted by: thirdworldman, high in the Custerdome
Heres an interesting bit of info-
Write Melissa Ruggieri at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 300 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219, call (804) 649-6120 or e-mail mruggieri @timesdispatch.com
let her know just what you think of her "review"...
Posted by: Ebola Monkey Shrieking, The jungleWell, if one song was a little long and another didn't have the perfect guitar solo, it seems we're still talking about a good album altogether. I think Morph has it all. It's not at all unidirectional. Certain songs will appeal more to certain tastes. I'm just glad there's something for everybody as opposed to nothing for anybody. - Good album, I say.
Posted by: Chris, nhSeems to my like Rhymes was just a track that was never finished... I doubt Donald would put a track that sounded that midi-ish on ANY record. I like the songwriting but it really sounds like a videogame underneath all that. Perhaps the real guitar and extra vocals were added after the decision to release it as a bonus track was made.
Posted by: thirdworldman, sofaboundTo: "Can Someone"
You asked about how anyone can say "Pagoda" only has a few chords-you and I , and anyone with even a fraction of the brain cells they were born with can hear more than that going on. Anyone, that is, but a music critic. Anyone but someone who is supposed to have a working knowledge of music, someone who should be so well versed that they are actually qualified to make distinctions between good and bad. Sadly, these same "critics" review cd's by "50 cent" and "Ying Yang Twins", and actually treat their genre of "music" as viable. Scary.
We're talking apples and oranges, and they dont even know the difference.
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlantaFor the record, Nitegown does not go on 2 minutes too long. In fact, it's too short, which necessitates my looping it. And let me check ... yeah ... just as I suspected, Krantz does indeed play his butt off in the outro.
lovethisfunk
Posted by: Art Pepper, Hinktown (with my alto)Hooty-Hoo - Here's a photo of Donald and his beautiful wife Libby...
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/0874-asc/Events/0874-asc/fagendon.ald?path=pgallery&path_key=Fagen,%20Donald
Posted by: Eric, San Diego, CAI have two tickets (together) for Donald Fagen available for The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27, 06. The seats are in the Upper Level Mezzanine Section, Row C, Seats 125 and 127. The price I paid for both, including various Ticketmaster fees is $167.40. I am asking $100.00 to $125.00. If interested, please email me at: steelydanmusicfan@yahoo.com - Thank you.
Eric
Posted by: Brutus Charisma, Danfansters!
Yes indeed MTC is a very rare and special offering in this culture of Artistic Nothingness.
Consider yourselves special as the goofy graspers of DF's granfaloonery! He likes the fact that you're out there listening, thinking, imagining and pretending. Because, dear Crystal Blue, he is not unlike you.
But, Dear Steelies, however terrific our DanMan, we must some day implore of him: A) Why Oh Why was "Brite" 2 minutes too long and why wasn't Mr. Krantz allowed to play his butt off in the outro to create some freaky-frenzy? (DandyDon is, after all, "lookin' at da fella in the "Brite Nitegown") and Z) Does he secretly consider "Joan" basically a good song without a "bridge"?
BC
Posted by: Mr. Kotter, "According to Fagen, the idea for a song about a "vast ghostly cat-thing" came to him years ago, after he read the LP liner notes to a recording of Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit, the great spooky piano suite inspired by a book of the same title by the otherwise obscure 19th-century French poet Aloysius Bertrand."
Which explains why nobody knows what the hell he's talking about.
Posted by: hoops, Good friend has a single or a pair in the 4th row for Vegas for sale for tomorrow night. Please email me if interested. At cost.
jim
Posted by: LA Kat, still hereWell, I sort of can't believe no one else here has commented on the "lexi Says" entries on donald's site. Is this a return to the humorous tour dispatches of sd days gone by? or, something else> what do others think? I'm sure not going to be the first (or only) person to post my opinion...
counting down to the W LG 3/27
Posted by: Boston Rag, Get down with your bad self Donald!Some bad news/good news. Tonight I finally caved and had to get "Rhymes". I was going to wait until the trilogy was released as a box but who knows when that will be.
So the bad news: "Rhymes" is no longer available on ITunes!!! It looks like they took the track off and lowered the price of Morph.
The good news: I found a British site called 7Digital where you can download the indiviual track for L.99! Here's the URL:
http://www.7digital.com/stores/productDetail.aspx?shop=122&sid=330976
Wow! It's Don at his snarly best!
Mark in Boston
Posted by: AnyMajorDude, LA boundI'm flying down to LA from Oakland this Sunday or Monday for the Monday night show. Does anyone have advice on where to stay, what to do, etc.? I have VIP tickets and need to be at the Wiltern at 3:45 pm.
Thanks!
Posted by: TJ, DKFred Kaplan makes some interesting points on morph:
http://www.slate.com/id/2138489/
First the name: Morph. Is it short for Morpheus, the god of dreams? Is Morph putting the citizens to sleep? In the Play Mediarefrain, Fagen sings of how Morph's spell makes you feel:
It's kind of like an Arctic mindbath
Cool and sweet and slightly rough
Liquid light on New York City
Like Christmas without the chintzy stuff
"Arctic mindbath"—isn't that briskly evocative of Alzheimer's, the disease that numbed Fagen's mother's mind? When I interviewed Fagen for a New York Times profile, I offered up this interpretation. He said he didn't have that meaning in mind, but that the idea sent a tingle up his spine, so maybe there's something to it. Later in the song, he sings:
Like you heard an Arlen tune
Or bought yourself a crazy hat
Fagen's mother was a child singer in the Catskills. When he was growing up in the Jersey suburbs, she sang standards around the house, and she had a special penchant for Harold Arlen tunes. And, by the way, she met her husband while working in the office of a hat maker.
According to Fagen, the idea for a song about a "vast ghostly cat-thing" came to him years ago, after he read the LP liner notes to a recording of Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit, the great spooky piano suite inspired by a book of the same title by the otherwise obscure 19th-century French poet Aloysius Bertrand. The liner notes referred to another Bertrand poem about a cat hovering in the skies over Paris, looking in on various people's lives.
Posted by: steelywonder, my cubicleHere is what Richmond's Ruggieri had to say after a Billy Joel concert last week:
Who among today's forgettable mall rats with guitars has offered the searing insight of [Billy] Joel's "Entertainer," a guy who realized before he tasted his first royalty check that "Today I am your champion, I may have won your hearts. But I know the game, you'll forget my name, and I won't be here in another year if I don't stay on the charts"?
No need to answer, because there isn't one.
Posted by: bwaySteve, epicenter of NYCCatch the short but revealing interview of Fagen in Performing Songwriter magazine.He goes into some of the challenges writing the kinds of songs he does, comments on the ownership of his mastery and reveals his views on himself as an entertainer.
Have any of you found yourselves watching the skys more since MTC was released ?
Posted by: Paul, Was at bestbuy today on an emergency IT call (normally I would stay far from the place), and all of the SACD's were on clearance! So I picked up the Gaucho DVD-A (the ONLY dan hi-res album they had there, and only one copy of), DSOTM SACD, and Sketches of Spain SACD for $5 each! Yay!
Posted by: TJ, DKOh sorry.
H=B In parts of Europe B is H (Very confusing)
So its Bm11, not Hm11 for most of you. 11 is at the top of the voicing in the intro by the way
Posted by: pan-fried, pass the prozacI miss uncle walt too joey. At the very least maybe we get a becker solo tour this summer? yes, positive thoughts everyone.
Iowaboy, I don’t dislike FM or anything, I’m sure it rocked da house. There’s just so many other tunes I’d rather hear. And I can dig on your IGY nostalgia, I’m only in my thirties and I get goosebumps from the whole concept laid out in that song. Spandex jackets, man.
Posted by: chord question, What is an "H" chord, as in Hm11?
The only scale tones I know are CDEFGABC
Posted by: ., .http://members.home.nl/hans.verlouw/SteelyDanDatabase/index.htm
Posted by: Can someone, tell mehow anyone could say Pagoda has few chord changes? That's gotta be one of the more complex Dan Universe songs in recent years.
Posted by: TJ, DKThe discussion about Joan beeing god/bad, simple/complex made me tjeck out a few of the chords. I eventually ended up transcribing the whole tune.
I know it's not interesting for all, but hope some of you will enjoy. Whether it's complex or not, the truth seems to be somewhere in between.
Intro: Bbm11 Hm11 Cm11 F7sus4
Verse: Bb7 - - - Gb/ab - Bb7 - C7 Eb7 F7
Chorus: Bb7 Em7 A7 Abmaj Gm7 C7 Abmaj D7 (Love)Ebmaj Gm7 Ebmaj F7 Eb7 Bb7
(I only spent about 15 minutes on it, so it's probably not 100% accurate - Some 9 and other extensions probably need to be added)
Posted by: .., .http://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5net/index.php?m=200601
Posted by: Alkali, NYCI’ve been to Hicksville, and I ain’t going back no way no how.
To change the subject just a tad be sure and watch CNBC(I never thought I would say that) tonight as a debate featuring a hero of mine Dr. Yaron Brook the issue of FCC indecency fines today, March 23, 2006, between 5 and 6 pm Eastern (2 and 3 Pacific),"Kudlow and Company"
Its Dan related in a round-about-way.
Remember you can’t run away from taxes, the F.C.C. and the fella in the brite nightgown.
Posted by: Joey, Talked to a roadie before the show who said he’s trying to get on for the ‘summer tour’. He coulda been full of sh*t but man I hope there is one. "
pan-fried .......................
We simply MUST have postive thoughts !!!!!
I miss my Walter Becker
J. " Snuggles " Fly !
Posted by: iowaboy, pg utPan-fried... If you had heard the way FM was performed Saturday Night in Chicago, you might not be glad they traded it for Black Friday at the Denver show.. but on the other hand.. I wasn't there in Denver to hear the Black Friday performance. The FM Saturday Night extra cool... the way they reworked, dragged out, the vocal on the "eFFFF-EEEMMMM!" was just too much for me! Of course.. you got IGY and we didn't... IGY is the ultimate for guys my age (58 like DF) 1957-58... everyday at School in 4th and 5th grade...every week in the Weekly Reader IGY this IGY that... science Match and technology was gonna SAVE THE WORLD! Sputniks and race for space... it's all there... I'm hoping he does in San Diego next week... we'll be there!
Posted by: NYB, Pete, anything worth having is worth working for. So you're half right. But the main point of the song is about love and the fear of losing it.
Posted by: PQ, BrooklynBy the way, the cover of Morph is kinda channeling the last scenes of the Monk documentary from PBS is it not?
Posted by: ., . There are 5 towns in the U.S. named security joan.
Posted by: PQ, NYCBill -
The magic will sonn fade
Without a doubt
We'll have to work my love
Just to keep the flame from going out
This refers to how much work it is to keep a relationship on fire long after the initial novelties wear off. After The Thrill Is Gone, like the Eagles sang LOL.
Posted by: Jon, @ his yellow stripeDenver Post review simply serves as yet another reminder of the maxim: "Those who can't do, critique."
Posted by: Rajah, Somebody said there's a Hinktown, NY near Bearsville, I never heard of it but I gather Don wanted to convey the notion of a "hick-town," but didn't want to offend...well... Hicks everywhere, godluvum. Hicksville, Long Island I heard of...
Posted by: ., . Hinktown- just a hole in wall town
Posted by: The original , MaxineHey, what are talking about?? I wanted Donald, way back when!
Posted by: NYB, Actually Pete, it's about having something special and the FEAR losing it and becoming just like everybody else.
Posted by: kamkiriad, Bay AreaHinktown? Anybody got a guess?
Keep it Real - Or Whatever
Posted by: PQ, NYCDennis Chambers, Adam Rodgers, Herington, Vinnie Coliauta, are all Jim Beard cronies from way back. They're all on the Beard-produced masterpiece Starfish & The Moon by the sax player Bill Evans. Carolyn Leonhart's on that too. I still can't believe Beard is working with Walter. How fucking cool is that!
Isn't Pagoda about keeping the newness and the freshness alive in a relationship after the initial thrill wears off and you realize your sig other really does burp and fart like everybody else?
Posted by: C Squared, East Tennesseethanks for clueing me in.
CD's still spinnin'
C^2
Posted by: C Squared, East TennesseeIt's really nice for love to finally bloom in Donald's songs, but it's also kinda weird that his guy's finally got a girl who wants him, too.
C^2
Posted by: Rajah, Chronax is an imaginary drug Donald has concocted that has the ability to send you back in time, CHRON-ological. Apparently 10 milligrams is sufficient to get you back past Hebrew Kings and furry things (whooly-mammouth beasties). The Fella has been around a long time and nothing ever changes, can't fight em, he's gonna getcha.
Posted by: C Squared, East Tennessee, but not Pigeon ForgeOK, I give up. What is Chronax? Googling only turns up role-playing definitions, and some European electric shock therapy. Staying home to raise m' boys really leaves me out of the loop.
Mrs. C^2
Posted by: NYB, "Security, What I do and Mona are lovely but I really can't get behind H Gang and especially Pagoda. Pagoda really seems depressing to me; I'll give it time maybe I'll change my mind. But it is all about death..." (Jenny)
Pagoda Of Funn isn't about death Jenny, it's about ESCAPE. Actually it's another love song for Libby, but ultimately it's about escapism. Escape from the crazy world outside. Escape from "pain and lies". But mostly about Love.
On the other hand...
A Pagoda is a house of worship. Or in some countries, simply a house.
Pagoda of "Funn" = FUNHOUSE.
We'll build a world together in a funhouse? You see the boy is always messing with your brain! This song could alternatively be called "The Great Funhouse", no?
Posted by: Steely Jan, Thanks pan-fried, I was having a hard time doing the additions and subtractions. Good set list. I will take that tomorrow night, and the next night actually.
Posted by: Rajah, I saw Chuck at the Chicago show, he was wearing pearls and opera gloves so I don't think he's the most objective source here.
Joan is the weak sister, it compares favorably to Blues Beach, falling short of Cuz Dupree. All of them informed by Laugh Laugh Phongraph, that thing is like Donald's "Rosebud."
Posted by: Jelly, NJThank you, yet another reason to visit beautiful Buenos Aries!
Posted by: steelydoc, down at the Lidothe Gaucho artwork is carved into a wall in Buenos Aries, Argentina....here's a link for a picture
http://www.danitadelimont.com/results.asp?Image=SA01+WBI0004&pos=13
it's called Guardia Vieja Tango by israel Hoffman
Posted by: Jellyroll, NJDoes anyone know the origin of the Gaucho painting?
Posted by: Alkali, NYCLUTZ: Rogers is a terrific player, just my style of guitar lead.
Haven’t had the pleasure of hearing Chambers CD yet, but, I will.
Thanks for the recommendation.
GIRLFRIEND: I didn’t mean to offend; it just seems excessive and unnecessary,
You know, either you’re married or not…that ought to cover it.
Example: Flammable and Non Flammable.
Either the thing Flams or it doesn’t.
Posted by: Rajah, A.C.E not B.C.E.Donald has been performing in the nude for many years now, it frees his body so his mind will follow, also, he finds it puts the audience at ease and lessens the number of requests for Freebird. And naked carousing has been a Steely Dan theme for over 30 years, tradition and all that...oh...wha? ...not...Donald Fagen but Donald Ryan?
Sorry, I'll have to Google that and get back to you.
On the next Dan Illuminati Show: the hidden meaning of the runic scribblings at Altamira and how they relate to Quantum Physics. Next on the Insular Dan Channel.
Posted by: Soft Jazz Hoochie Mama, Piegon Forge, TNCan anyone onfern for me that Donald Ryan sings songs about nakedness and carousing? My son is bothering me to go to a show but I insist on wholesome sing a long events. Thank you.
Posted by: angel, Razor Boy: Better late then never with my comment to the Coda of Throw Back the Little Ones. My favorite time hearing it was when Becker and Fagen were in attendence at the Berklee College of Music Graduation Ceremony. The students performed many Steely Dan songs, including just the coda to TBTLO. It was GREAT and so unexpected.
If I remember correctly, it was played either just before a song, or just after a song (which is why it does not show in the setlist).
Here's the link.
http://www.berklee.edu/commencement/2001/webcast.html
Posted by: Lutz, SF, Alkali,
Adam Rogers sounds great with Becker I agree. I had a chance to ask him if that was ever going to happen again last June after a Patitucci Trio concert and he said that he called Becker just a couple of weeks before and nothing was planned.
Anyway his 2 composition on the new Dennis Chambers cd are absolute highlights (w/ Anthony Jackson, no less)it also has 4 new Jim Beard compositions on it.
Posted by: Girlfriend, only a fool wouldSo what's the deal with the "Ms." reference, Alkali? Some of us don't fit into either of the other categories, i.e., no longer a Missus, outgrown the Miss and like to keep those at bay guessing. It works for me!
I guess I must be numb, but the phrase "lit-up brothers" didn't phase me either. Should we have been offended by "Babylon Sisters," then?
Posted by: Alkali, NYCyea, the title track and its reprise do it for me too.
I like the way he turns 'Morph’ into a two syllable word in the closing line.
A song that I can improvise over forever, what a groove.
"Mary" is nice; it reminds me of "One time" from King Crimson.
"Mona" is difficult to sing out laud in public if you're a guy, unless you're 1) very gay or 2) very comfortable with yourself or 3) very in touch with your inner female.
"Pagoda" is just plain, as my wife said, beautifully sad.
"Brite" is spastic, putting a happy face on a sad and disturbed clown.
(Remember the torture scene in "Reservoir dogs"?)Very effective.
"What I do" those two chords 'DA-DAHMmm' seem to wind up some sort of mechanism allowing Fagen to sing his lines before the backup vocals come in and that organ repeating a simple 1,2,3.... and then again 'DA-DAHMmm'
to start the process over again, simple but it works for me.
"H Gang" & "Joan" no comment.
As much as I’m digging this CD, I can't wait for Becker's disc to happen, 11TOW was very good, and I’m sure he has allot up his sleeve
It’ll be a nice counter balance to Fagen's stuff.
And then finally, hopefully, a Steely tour.
"Salads and sun..."
Posted by: Rajah, So much for Southern hospitality.
Posted by: HollyHock, AtlantaYeah ok Rajah, sure thing pal keep checkin the net for all the jive that's fit to babble. "now go home and get your shine box"
Posted by: Kid Clean, Mindless drivel
Just looked at my set list guess from 1/23 - I scored 8 hits, not bad.
Thanks for the updates on Denver.
KC
Posted by: pan-fried, comedown bluesvillemore on the Denver show..
It looked like a sellout. The main floor was completely full and the balcony looked packed. Very laid-back vibe, lots of dope smokin as usual (main floor right side rear – youch!) A lot of 30-something loner males and supergeeks, some geriatric couples. Not a lot of chicks (hmm big surprise). Still a decent crowd, kept quiet at the right times and no Don-heckling. Lots of singalong on the Dan material. Not much dancing, most of it done uncomfortably until Pretzel Logic when everyone got up and grooved around (and I moved up to the fifth row). No special guests.
The actual setlist (thanks alan):
Here at the Western World
Green Flower Street
Nightfly
New Frontier
Snowbound
Home at Last
Black Cow
Goodbye Look
Third World Man
Mary Shut the Garden Door
Misry and the Blues
Brite Nite Gown
Black Friday
Encore:
IGY
Pretzel Logic
Donald was just so uber-cool you know. He came out, told us what he was going to play and played it. (‘some solo stuff, some tunes from the Steely Dan files, some numbers from the new album MTC..’). People seemed to like Brite Nightgown a lot and I’m sure most of em were hearing it for the first time. Misry and the Blues is terrific as a live piece. Lots of funn. Goodbye Look was incredible, basically just a long extended jam. Words don’t do justice to how these songs transform when played live, you just have to experience it yourself. The sound was really good compared to some other shows I’ve seen at the Paramount. http://www.paramountdenver.com/ The volume could’ve been a BIT louder but probably just right for the seniors in the audience (lol). Donald’s voice was right up there in the mix and the lyrics were crystal clear from my section. I thought he sounded really good vocally until he got a little crackly during Pretzel Logic. Big Deal! It was amazing. Fucking great guitar playing too. You really gotta see this show.
I’m just so happy we got Black Friday instead of FM. That made the whole night. Morph the Cat is album of the year so far and I wish we would’ve gotten a couple more of those numbers. I’m so hooked on that record right now it’s constantly playing in my head. Talked to a roadie before the show who said he’s trying to get on for the ‘summer tour’. He coulda been full of shit but man I hope there is one. I’m probably forgetting some stuff, maybe I’ll post some more later. Those of you with tickets for the upcoming shows are in for a great experience that’s not to be missed. Lucky bastards!
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverAnother review posted yesterday referred to SD as ‘yup-funk’. Lol.
Posted by: Geoff, DENAlan, Jeri, SoH, Greg, Linda, Shari, Pete:
Thanks for all your concern, help, kindness and generosity over the last few days.
I have now been bailed out in two cities. What a great bunch of people danfans are.
Geoff
Posted by: alan, Highlands RanchOk pan-fried's setlist is almost spot on except the first song for the encore was I.G.Y.
I was lucky enough to score a copy of the setlist last night and they have HATWW listed as "Leader Of The Western World."
I am wondering if this is just a mistake of has the name been changed intentionally. Perhaps someone who has a setlist from another show can shed some light on this.
Next stop for me is Los Wages...
Posted by: Jenny, Fredneck, MDAfter several days of non-stop listening to MTC (got mine in the mail on Monday) I have to say ITS ALL ABOUT THE TITLE TRACK for me! I simply cannot stop listening to the intro, lovely bass and rhythm! My favorite parts of the song are a little quirky: as was mentioned below (can't remember by whom) the "so" of "so rich is his charisma" is very raw and showcases what I like best about Donald's voice, the NY accent with the kind of skeeviness it exudes. Also I love when he sings "ooo, it's Morph the cat". Just so much like he is thrilled, but cheesily. MTC Reprise is also wonderful, with the added bonus of if you listen to them in succession, the key is changed, and its a nice modulation.
Other songs high on the list include MSTGD and Brite. The former has great chord progressions and the latter is really funky and fast.
Security, What I do and Mona are lovely but I really can't get behind H Gang and especially Pagoda. Pagoda really seems depressing to me; I'll give it time maybe I'll change my mind. But it is all about death...
Thanks for letting me share my excitement!
Posted by: Bob Weir, Steely Dan = Proto-jam rock?
What a long strange trip Ricardo's on.
Posted by: Rajah , Chrysler, don't know about that 16th century thing cause Charlemange was crowned Holy Roman Emeperor by Leo III on Christmas Day 800 BC. The first HRE was Clovis from the Merovingian house in the 5th century.
Yeah, Gasol, for goodnessake let's not convene the Dan Illuminati here, recalling 10th grade world history would turn a lot of people off. Especially if you equate curiosity over Dan lyrics with being a hateful person, OK, good luck with that, ma brotha, and stop taking those 3-pointers from the right wing, drive into the lane sometime why dontcha.
Kerthwackkk,
Holy Roman Rajah
Posted by: dantana, L.A. Band will be at Mr. Chow Monday night after show.
Posted by: Joey, " Steely Dan co-frontman Donald Fagen was supposed to play the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday night, but his trucks got stuck on snowy Nebraska highways. Fagen was forced to postpone until Wednesday, when the sold-out crowd warmed him and his band with a vocal adoration that is rare in the fickle world of rock.
Most of the audience (median age: 45-ish) was reverent during Fagen's songs, both new and old, both solo and cherry-picked from what he kept referring to as "the Steely Dan files."
"Since we're here in Colorado, I think it's only proper we do a track from the 'Kamakiriad' album called 'Snowbound,"' he said, 30 minutes into the show and before launching into the crowd favorite that described, in a way, his band's difficulties in the past 48 hours.
Fagen, whose pop-jazz concept album "Morph the Cat" hit stores two weeks ago, has mastered the art of keeping the crowd happy and interweaving the new with the old. Curiously, the two don't sound all that dissimilar.
Regardless of the band's intense and studied musicianship, a given with anything he's involved in, a Donald Fagen show can get a little old - even considering the breadth of material covered.
Though Fagen's jazz-rooted proto-jam rock was once innovative, others have picked up his lead and run with the creative ferocity he once displayed but no longer maintains. "
http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_3630056
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverWe got Black Friday last night too. Show opened with Here at the Western World and yes, we got Snowbound.
I –think- this was the setlist order (yes I was there) just not 100%...
Here at the Western World
Green Flower Street
Nightfly
New Frontier
Snowbound
Home at Last
Black Cow
Goodbye Look
Third World Man
Mary Shut the Garden Door
Misry and the Blues
Brite Nite Gown
Black Friday
Encore:
Pretzel Logic
I’m probably missing a song. Damn, can someone help?
I had a lousy seat (thanks ticketmaster). This band is TIGHT! Do not miss this show!
Sorry so short, more to come later. I slept in and got a LOT of catching up to do at the moment.
Posted by: Daddy G., NJHere's a slightly more expansive print review of the Denver show, though no full set list given...
FAGEN GLEAMS LIKE STAINLESS STEELY DAN
By Steve Knopper, Special to the News
March 23, 2006
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_spotlight/article/0,2777,DRMN_23960_4564082,00.html
Posted by: fozzy88, Under the Banyan Treesnot sure if this review has been posted yet:
http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_3630056
Posted by: Alkali, NYCGeoff: thanks for the update we were beginning to think that the stage got avalanched.
My eyes naturally and involuntarily narrow when I see this "Ms." sign in front of someone’s name, almost to the same extent as when I see Princes "Sign"
And so, "Ms." Rugierri's review doesn't bother me already suspicious when I see that thing in front of her name.
I think I’ve spent a weekend in Richmond, I don’t remember.
The "DTMA" interpretations are a bit troublesome especially the one about Dog day afternoon.
Because the motivation behind the guy in the movie doing what he did was to get enough money to pay for his boyfriend’s sex change operation.
Do you mean when he says:
"I hear my inside
The mechanized hum of another world"
This could mean a whole other thing.
Or
"I know what I've done
I know all at once who I am"
I no longer like this song.
Will you guys stop interpreting these songs, you’re killing me.
Posted by: Doc Mu, Fagen Charts!
Donald Fagen MTC debuts at # 26 on Billboard Top 200 Album chart (2 behind Barry Schnozzalo) for the week of 4-1-06:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Albums
I thought it might break into the top 10 the first week like TvN
There's some elegant call and response by Howard Levy and the horn section on Mona. Understated rhythm guitars - all that envolpe the song like a light, flowing, twirling dress. A lot of little things - the sax squawk after "...night..." followed by the classic jazz descending notes "belooonnngs to Monaaaaaa..." a stair climbing effect and then back descending during "CD spinning, A/C hummin' feelin' pretty..."
As Raj has pointed out and we anticipate the bridges are a highlight - I'm not sure there's one that connects a song together like
"Was it the fire downtown
That turned the world around (not exactly Kid C here - Levy's blues harp is tasty)
Was it some guy or lots of different things
We all wonder where she’s gone [Levy's vibrato on the blues harp shimmers]
That sunny girl we used to know [now matched by tweaking Fagen's vocals electronically to match - like faded reception]
Now every night we get the Mona Show"
There's something extremely PALPABLE about Pagoda and Mona above the beautiful melodies and harmonies - Fagen really CONNECTS on those two songs -. What I Do is not far behind. Brite Nitegown is also a favorite - a great guitar track going beyond the paradigm set up in Godwhacker
Posted by: Geoff, Denver
Opened up with Here at the Western world. They spent a lot of time on this at soundcheck. Mary and Brite in again but no What I Do or Teahouse.
Howard - JH nailed your Black Cow tab note for note!
More later got a plane to catch
Geoff
Posted by: KDawg, Mt. BelzoniHotty-Hoo: "In the H-Gang, Fagen sings Ulcimate 5-chord band instead of Ultimate."
I've been saying he sings "Ulkama" for a long time....I know he ain't singin' "Ulitmate". I'm sure there are a couple other places where the word doesn't sound like it's printed.
SFC
Posted by: Hutch, RVAMelissa Ruggieri has a tin ear like you wouldn't believe. Those of us who live in Richmond (yes, Bill this is where we live. We make the best of it.) know all about her reviews. Unless it's some new hip-hop record or some American Idol winner she pretty much pans it.
I'm quite sure she didn't listen to the whole album and I'm quite sure the underlying 9/11 references completely blew past her.
Her comment about one of the songs being "too long without even a key change" shows her complete ignorance of anything to do with music.
What is that old saying... You rise to the level of your incompetency. She's a perfect example.
I almost forgot... for those of you who decide to slam me for the above statements here's the disclaimer:
She certainly has a right to her opinion.
Oh yeah, one more thing... I think this album is a masterpiece.
Hutch
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work
What the hell happend in Denver??? Where is everybody?
Just had the opportunity to listen to Rhymes...most excellent song, really doesn't fit in with the rest of MTC though, a good choice for a b-side/bonus tune.
I'm still all about Brite Nightgown, fe-nom-in-al. However, the title cut pops into my head, a lot. Seemingly out of nowhere, "So rich is his charisma" starts rolling, then the guitar solo....
as Joeykins would say...
...Developing...
KC
Posted by: TJ, DKChrys, the subdominant should have been an Eb7, but is substituted by a Gb/ab chord, or an Ab13 if you like. Classic Donald.
Posted by: Hooty-Hoo, OBSERVATIONSWebmaster Lewis Fairlawn = Libby Fagen AKA Libby Titus
How come we don't ever see any pictures of Donald & Libby together. If you have any or know of some, post a link.
In the H-Gang, Fagen sings Ulcimate 5-chord band instead of Ultimate.
Hoop-de-doo!
Posted by: TJ, DKNYB: Good point. Direct comparison might not lead to any form of enlightenment, and complexity is not directly proportional to quality.
I. D. T. Chrysler, I'm sorry for my bad english. Didn't catch that point. I gave it another listens and must admit there are some interesting things going on, at least in the chorus. The verse is still pretty standard, at least in Dan-land.
Posted by: seth2112, cleveland, via tampa and nycwhere are all the dannies from denver? still under snow/
no set lists, no vibe, nolies, no half truths, no overpaid 5* stories? wow, come out people - we need the scoops
Posted by: thirdworldman, the slow lane of the information superhighwaySherpatollah, I think that it is the fear of having to field questions such as this that might be exactly the reason DF would be apprehensive about a Q&A session with 5 star fans. as interesting as they may be to us as fans, know what i mean?
Posted by: Chrys , and alsoHoward: The subdominant chord in "Security Joan"'s blues form is a dominant 9 sus, no? It recurs, of course, throughout the form.
I fail to understand how anyone ISN'T struck, struck to the core, by the song's brilliant, I dare say transcendent, pop immediacy.
Josey: Nay, nay! I agree with EVERYTHING you say about Metheny, except for his last half-dozen or so albums (not including THE WAY UP, which I haven't heard yet--I passed on it because I was kinda mildly disappointed with those last half-dozen). If you say THE WAY UP is really that good, I'll get me a copy.
Posted by: NYB, Mona and Pagoda Of Funn are both very elaborate songs. I think I like Pagoda just a tad more because Mona has that "Feelin' Pretty!" phrase going on, which is very nice but very difficult for the guys to sing. I mean you don't want to be caught singing "Feelin' Pretty!" in public do you? Someone might get the wrong idea...
In any case, these two songs are the "best" songs on the album (whatever that means), but all the songs are great in thier own way. I don't think a song has to be elaborate to be great, it just has to make you feel a certain way, and if it achieves that with a simple structure then it's a successful song too. The title cut is a great song too, except for the subject, which I really don't quite understand yet. Maybe if it was on The Nightfly it might be a better fit, because Nightfly was written from a childs perspective and MTC seems line up with that view.
Posted by: I. D. T. Chrysler, PAFirst off, Abu, the "thin atmosphere" part was meant as self-effacing irony--I don't think the way you think I think. And I can't help being familiar with Stravinsky--at the relatively late age of 19, with NO classical music upbringing, I ACTUALLY WALKED INTO A RECORD STORE AND BOUGHT A STRAVINSKY ALBUM. It's called CURIOSITY, Abu. Sorry if I didn't depend solely on recieved ideas from the vast world of American pop culture. AND I had a wonderfully tyrannical music history instructor in college. Lighten up, get a sense of humor, and occasionally try something beyond what you find in Rolling Stone or the TIME magazine music section will ya? Geez...
TJ: I certainly didn't mean "Security Joan" is MORE harmonically sophisticated than MTC's other tunes, but I meant what I said--it's not SECOND to any of them. You should listen for the extension of basic blues form, and the remarkable altered turnaround.
Posted by: mt, http://www.slate.com/id/2138489/
Slate review of Morph.
Posted by: Howard, Re: Security Joan - I agree with some of the comments made here. For me, this is a rather weak song compared to the rest of Morph. It has it's good points, and it's still much better than what I thought were previous "runts of the litter" (Blues Beach, Cousin Dupree etc).
As for "sus chord heaven" - I don't quite get this. I hear a single sus chord in the intro, but that's about it - most of the rest is standard blues chords plus a few other more Don/Dan like changes. In terms of chords and harmony, Joan doesn't have an awful lot going for it. It does pretty well for lyrics, mood and easy-going groove though.
Mona is currently battling Pagoda (in my head) for top spot. Something about Mona just wows me more and more, especially the chorus sequence over "above the city, CDs spinning...". Awesome melody/chords/spirit here. Love the bridge too, very nice lift, and the early entrance of the verse melody in the horns just before the actual verse reappears is great.
Mary is another strong song, as is Brite Nitegown, but probably below Mona/Pagoda for me.
All in all - a superb album. I must actually count up the guitar tracks - I've got a feeling it will beat Royal Scam hands down.
Howard
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaTHIRDWORLD, et. al.--
I would agree with you--but when DF sings "..shoot no 'one'"--he inflects it such a manner that it comes out like "JUAN", which restricts the range of choice--which is what our student group had surmised at that time. Given this limitation, the group actually had considered that DF might have used "BABYLON" (Long Island), after all DF is a New Yawkah, but that and some others was rejected as being to "metro", or banal, as it were.
Today, in retrospect, it might be postulated that a probable reason why DF did not choose BABYLON that was because, he was, at that time, probably putting together the first few tracks of the GAUCHO LP,and wanted to save BABYLON for the lead track. No??
If only DF would hold court at 5-Star we might find out for sure, where a few of the denizens of Dandom might uncover this mystery., and others. Until then, we have to rely on these PERFUNCTORY interviews that these media hacks are conducting....
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons IslandIDT Chrysler - Pat Metheny doing the same thing over and over and over? Are you kidding??? Did you hear "The Way Up"? There aren't too many musicians who remain relevant for such a length of time and offer such a diverse catalog of music. From Brightsize Life to Letter From Home to Song X to One Quiet Night to The Way Up - and a lot of great stuff in between all that! While I certainly don't like everything he's ever done (Song X), he's definitely not repeating himself.
Posted by: TJ, DKI. D. T. Chrysler, I like Joan I just don't find it as musically challenging or emotional touching as the rest. To state that:
"Joan is underpinned by sus chord heaven and subcutaneous harmonic subtlety second to none on MTC."
is simply not true. Joan is a basic blues song, with some added harmonic jazz phrases in the chorus.
One could argue that What I Do is even simpler, and it is. But beeing truly based on a minor standardform, with a composed bridge that brings something extraordinary, together with the lyrics, makes the song packed with emotion and cincerity. Joan is fun, but not everlasting.
chord heaven and subcutaneous harmonic = Pagoda of Funnnnn
Posted by: Pau Gasol, I'm hot now!QUESTIONS:
1.- Where is Rogel Nichols? Isn't he involved in the new WB project? What happens with him and the boyz?
2.- What is DF's illness? I heard something about a fall and his shoulder...
3.- RAJAH: Why do you hate everyone?
HOOPS: I think you're making a big effort supporting the Blue, but please don't convert it in a snob place, a private illuminati's club or whatever...
Posted by: Abu, in a pool of MargaritasOh, Chrysler, thank you for the Stravinski "postulate". You're right though, you're just so far above us that we could never comment about it, so you did the right thing by patting your own self on the back. Don't stop fishing for compliments, though - someday you might get one and validate your sorry self.
Posted by: I. D. T. Chrysler, PAPQ: Thangs for the memory. Beard is certainly up there as fusion composer, but Jaco's gone, Don G.'s gone, Joe Z. seems more into world rhythms than sophisticated composition, PatMeth and Yellowjackets plowing the same field over & over & over. I still give top current spot of greatest fusion composer to my main man Randy B. The lecherous geezer has yet more things to say, I wager.
Rajah: HA! Your Carolingian theory re DTMA flew 8 miles over most heads here, as did my Stravinskian postulate re MTC. Ah, the atmosphere is thin, ain't it? BTW, there was no Holy Roman Empire by name until the 16th century.
TJ: The immediacy of "Security Joan" is underpinned by sus chord heaven and subcutaneous harmonic subtlety second to none on MTC.
Uh, how many times do you suppose Ms. Ruggiero listened to MTC? Maybe once, while she was...
Posted by: TJ, DKDaddy NYB. Remember that it's 2,5 out of 4, which almost equals 4 out of 6. So it's really not that bad. But then again:
"...someone who might tell him that a seven-minute-plus song that barely changes key ("Pagoda") might not be a good idea."
Or maybe you should listen to it one more time honey.
Posted by: It's Rajah, L.AIn a frightening and dishearteningly insular turn of events, the latest other 'rajah' is getting closer to the mark. I could be obsolite, hold your applause.
LA Donfesters, the Opus Bar & Grill makes the most sense, got no guest stars, just me and Gee and Stevee, angel and hubster, the inimitable W1P I hope, all other left coasters specially the OC peeps, PL boys, Pete, Shari, yes Luke, thank you, are you with us Dr. Wu:
http://www.opusbarandgrill.com/bar.htm
It's big bar area, we can all fit, look at the pic, we talked to Bartender One yesterday and we don't need no friggin reservation. The bar at that hour on a Monday is only hoppin' depending upon the show that night. Trane, Cedric the Entertainer and Rob Zombie later in the week could clog the Opus, but we'll have it all to ourselves on 3/27/06. If any of you and your women wish to dine privately - away from the upheaval bacchanal, you could retire to the spacious, glass enclosed dining areas whilst still witnessing nameless Donfesters setting off smoke alarums nearby and spilling drinks nearby.
That's my best offer, I'll be burnin' a doob xcross Wilshire before the Metro Station whilst I await reply SVP.
Hoops, barring an invite to a cupola-covered catered affair, bluebook us, please.
Posted by: Pau Gasol, I'm hot now!Visit:
http://www.avatarstudios.net/news/whos_in/index.html
A hero of our heros is in now (Mr. Sonny Rollins). Is WB attending that? Guess...
RAJAH: My English is bueno too.
Posted by: NYB, DaddyG,
For every jerkoff like Melissa there are 20 more reviewers who love the album. She's DEFINITELY in the minority. I gaurantee Fagen will recieve at least a few Grammy nominations for this album.
Now you know why Melissa is writing for The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Not a real heavy hitting paper there is it? I've got nothing against Richmond but it is... well... Richmond after all. And hey, isn't that big George Bush country down there? Wonder if that has anything to do with it.
Posted by: The Bending End, Rhode IslandHave there been any ideas posted here regarding the very end of Brite Nitegown? i.e. those last few horn notes.
I'm wondering if there's some connection to a W. C. Fields movie.
Posted by: Dantana, L.A.The Night Belongs To Mona = Almost Gothic
Posted by: DEACONBLUE, VENICE BEACHSO I'm finally arrived here in LA and while i'm going to visit the whole area i'm still waiting for the great moment.
Hope to see you all at the pre danfest in Temecula and i hope so after the show to.
Is there a Danfest in LA on 3/27?
Posted by: Steely Jan, LV and Temecula this weekendAny set lists from Denver?
Posted by: Luke, So is the LA wingding going to be at the Opus?
Posted by: Daddy G., Only 2.5 *s?---OUCH!MUSIC REVIEW: Donald Fagen
BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
http://tinyurl.com/ljams
(NOTE: The aboveURL was ridiculously long, so I ran it through tinyURL.com to compact it. It's really a Richmond Times-Dispatch piece.)
This has got to be by far the harshest review of Morph I've seen...
______________________________________________________________________
"...while [Fagen] blended a few potent brews this time -- wonky time changes, slithering brass, humorously thoughtful lyrics -- the overall outcome is lifeless."
. . . .
"...'What I Do' and 'The Great Pagoda of Funn' especially, plod aimlessly through tedious rhythms that are more self-indulgent than engaging, the same problem noted on Steely Dan's overrated 'Everything Must Go' from 2003."
"With his Steely partner, Walter Becker, Fagen has an inescapable editor, a fellow musician to share ego space with and someone who might tell him that a seven-minute-plus song that barely changes key ('Pagoda') might not be a good idea."
"Here, for every amusing tale of an airport security worker finding love -- or at least a tryst -- with a passenger ('Security Joan') is a 'Mary Shut the Garden Door,' an astute consideration of 'a thuggish cult' that 'gains control of the government' that still conveys neither anxiety nor, well, coherence."
"When Fagen hits a metaphorical homer as on the death-sniffing 'Brite Nitegown,' his intellect is an imposing force. But, as 'Morph' repeatedly illustrates, even smarty pants can be boring."
Ms. Ruggieri's rating: 2.5 stars
Posted by: oregon, Real Oregonians pronounce it "Origun" - gun not gahn. I wonder if that ruins the song for them...
Posted by: thirdworldman, the caves of altimiraSherpy-
you posted:
"Now--DF had to name a place that would rhyme with book keepers's "son"--let's see here:
WISCON--SON? Nah. (WISCONSIN)
BOS--TON Nope.
O-RE-GON---There you have it! "
Here are the lyrics:
I'm a bookkeeper's son
I don't want to shoot no one
Well I crossed my old man back in Oregon
Don't take me alive
as you can see, "son" rhymed with "one", and has nothing to do with "Oregon" as far as the meter is concerned, (plus it doesn't rhyme) but i really like your enthusiasm! :) keep posting!
Posted by: thirdworldman, Harlem or somewhere the sameAlbum Review (as it appeared in "Billboard")
sorry if it's too long (find myself saying that all the time)
There are no surprises in sound and style on Morph the Cat, Donald Fagen's long-awaited third solo album, nor should any be expected -- ever since Steely Dan's 1980 masterwork, Gaucho, his work, either on his own or with longtime collaborator Walter Becker, has been of a piece. Each record has been sleek, sophisticated, and immaculately produced, meticulously recorded and arranged, heavy on groove and mood, which tends to mask the sly wit of the songs. When it works well -- as it did on Fagen's peerless 1982 solo debut, The Nightfly, or on Steely Dan's 2001 comeback, Two Against Nature -- the results go down smoothly upon first listen and reveal their complexity with each spin; when it doesn't quite succeed -- both 1993's Kamakiriad and the Dan's 2003 effort Everything Must Go didn't quite gel -- the albums sound good but samey on the surface and don't quite resonate. Morph the Cat belongs in the first group: at first it sounds cozily familiar, almost too familiar, but it digs deep, both as music and song. Sonically, at least superficially, it is very much a continuation of the two Steely Dan records of the new millennium -- not only does it share Fagen's aesthetic, but it was recorded with many of the same musicians who have shown up on the Dan projects. There are slight differences -- without Becker around, there's a greater emphasis on keyboards and the songs stretch on a bit longer than anything on Everything Must Go -- but this, at least on pure sonics, could have functioned as a sequel to Two Against Nature. But Morph the Cat is very much a solo affair, fitting comfortably next to his first two solo albums as a conclusion to what he calls a trilogy. If The Nightfly concerned the past and Kamakiriad was set in a hazy future, Morph the Cat is rooted in the present, teeming with the fears and insecurities of post-9/11 America. Fagen doesn't camouflage his intent with the gleefully enigmatic rhymes that have been his trademark: his words, while still knowingly sardonic, are direct, and in case you don't want to bother reading the lyrics or listening closely, he helpfully offers brief explanations of the songs (for instance, on "Mary Shut the Garden Door," he writes "Paranoia blooms when a thuggish cult gains control of the government," a statement that's not exactly veiled). On top of this unease, Fagen faces mortality throughout the album -- he talks with the ghost of Ray Charles, borrows W.C. Fields' phrase for death for "Brite Nitegown," writes about attempted suicides -- and every song seems to be about things drawing to a close. It's a little disarming to hear Fagen talk so bluntly -- although he came close to doing so on the deliberately nostalgic The Nightfly, the fact that he was writing about the past kept him at a bit of a distance -- but despite the abundance of morbid themes, Morph the Cat never sounds dour or depressing. In large part this is due to Fagen's viewpoint -- he never succumbs to mawkishness, always preferring to keep things witty and sardonic, which helps keep things from getting too heavy -- but it's also due to his smooth jazz-rock, which always sounds nimble and light. This, of course, is how Fagen's music always sounds, but here, it not only functions as a counterpoint to the darkness creeping on the edges of the album, but it's executed expertly: as spotless as this production is, it never sounds sterile, and when the songs start stretching past the five-minute mark -- two cuts are over seven minutes -- it never gets boring, because there's a genuine warmth to the clean, easy groove. More so than on Kamakiriad, or on the tight Everything Must Go, there is a sense of genuine band interplay on this record, which helps give it both consistency and heart -- something appropriate for an album that is Fagen's most personal song cycle since The Nightfly, and quite possibly his best album since then. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
P.S. MTC still does not appear on the Billboard top 200...
Posted by: lovethisgig, atlantaVery cool Milanese! I like that take. And don't forget the very end of the album, the nod to I.G.Y. Is it the mourning of a loss of youth and innocence, or a refusal to surrender the dream?
I'm REALLY diggin this album now. For me the first half, Morph thru Nitegown was more immediate, had me right from the start. Of course, I had heard 3 of the tracks before I bought the album. The last half was more difficult, didn't gel immediately. But after repeated listenings, the last half captivates. Pagoda, Mona, and Mary are completely engaging. Love this album!!
What would be cool is a live album from one of the shows included in the upcoming box set!!
lovethisgig
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaRAJAH--
Pretty MEDIEVAL stuff there! Could be possible, with DF you never really know. Did you formally study European royalty, or was it just from reading outside of academia??
BTW--I tried to get your opinion of an article I wrote a few days ago that I no longer see on the list. It was about MTC, the shows and some other stuff. Did you get to see it?? Might have been too long and was deleted--
Posted by: Rajah, oopsI always thought it was Aragon and had some connection with Philip of Aragon who gave his daughter Catherine to Henry Tudor brother to whom she was first bethrothed. It's kind of a dead end though, the song is so reminicient of Dog Day Afternoon. In the same vein, I had some Kid Charlemagne misreadings, connecting it also to the Holy Roman Emperor and the misconception that he was "Italian in their eyes," when of course he was Pepin's son,rising from Mster of the Castle or whatever he was to King to Holy Roman Emperor in two generations. Yikes!
Posted by: me, herehttp://www.ew.com/ew/article/reuters/0,24012,1175928_10_0_,00.html
Other debuts included country troupe SheDaisy's "Fortuneteller's Melody" at No. 22 with 33,000 units. Steely Dan principal Donald Fagen's third solo disc, "Morph the Cat" (Reprise), bowed at No. 26 with sales of 32,000. His last solo effort, "Kamakiriad," flew in at No. 10 13 years ago.
Posted by: Rajah, RB - Throw Back is a great tune, love that out, the lyrics are kinda funny though.
milanese - I like your takes, nice English too.
BTW, Rhymes is the morphbomb folks, what a fun performance by Don.
Posted by: SHERPA, Direct from LhasaALKALI, PAN-FRIED, ERR,NO
DON'T TAKE ME ALIVE--About 30 years ago we wrestled with the meaning of the chorus, it was for a Lit & Comp class called "Poetry of Rock". It was brought up by another student who thought DF was saying "Aragon"--which would be Spain, which might tie in with the "Altamira" references. Problem was--we could not find a copy of RS with the inner jacket that had the lyrics. When MCA bought out ABC Records, they deleted the inner sleeve that had the lyrics, and substituted that SARAN wrap--rememeber that?? We finally got hold of an older LP copy with lyrics--and found out it was "OREGON"--there was NO internet back then to research this sot of stuff.
Anyhow--ALKALI is correct-DF's dad was an accountant (book keeper,if you will)--but it has no bearing in this case--it was NOT DF that was holed-up.
The holed-up, desperate fugitive in the song says that he "crossed his old man"--he has nothing to go back to, nothing to lose, so to speak, or might suffer a WORSE fate dealt from the "old man" (drug dealer, pimp, bookie, whatever) even if he were to be taken ALIVE by the law, or released (dead meat).
Now--DF had to name a place that would rhyme with book keepers's "son"--let's see here:
WISCON--SON? Nah. (WISCONSIN)
BOS--TON Nope.
O-RE-GON---There you have it!
This was what turned out to be the "school solution". Then we moved onto our next class assignment, a GREATER lyrical challenge--which was some Neil Young tune....
RAJAH, THIRDWORLD--What is your opinion on this??
Posted by: Razorboy, chillin' at the Manatee BarGotta love Donald's attention to detail.
Not content to simply fade out, he adds interesting little effects. Listen to the very end of Mona, and you'll hear this eerie slow pulsating amid the silence.
Security Joan (still can't stop listening) ends with Washington, Carlock, and our guitarists starting a little jam session during the fade.
Of course, the main body of music is brilliant, but these subtle nuances are part of the mistique that most of us addicts love, like an inside scoop.
One of my favorite 30 seconds of music is the ending piano on Throw Back The Little Ones. Anyone concur?
Posted by: Eric, San Diego, CAI have two tickets (together) for Donald Fagen available for The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27, 06. The seats are in the Upper Level Mezzanine Section, Row C, Seats 125 and 127. The price I paid for both, including various Ticketmaster fees is $167.40. I am asking $100.00 to $125.00. If interested, please email me at: steelydanmusicfan@yahoo.com - Thank you.
Eric
Posted by: milanese, ItalyMTC: a circle, a NEW start de siecle age in the wake of old good Cat.
1st track: the awakening, Arlen, Berlin= aura(l) pop, no chintzy stuff, maybe some naivery…
2nd : cult for vocal bands, doo-woop. Then wall-of-sound–ettes . Days of freedom.
3 Black giants now! Ray Thelonious, Trane. Jazz covers of Time. Winds of wisdom.
4 Old and new funkitude: are we in’05?or in 65?Urban schizoid trends, jewish moms, ipocondria, flirting with self-destruction in funny ways, with drugs, thugs, women…
5 Escape from this madness, in your arms baby! Lover, mother?Protection.
6 Our fears become hate? Let’s fuck the fear…before the fear fuck us!!
7 Someone escapes in other ways: respect for people like Mona!
8 It’s late at night , our reason sleeps and the monsters come closer, but someone shut the door. The nightmare of Germany 1937 won’t come again!!!The garden won’t become a desert!!
9 The new start: the first step is an echo of old naivery…maybe it will protect us…
When I read “it’s about death” “end of things”etc I felt disappointed…but now the positivity of the message is clear IN EVERY SONG, every second is about hope…every line is written FOR the future. It is a manifesto of sublime wisdom. (and here in old Europe we really need to see this side of America)
Posted by: Hopeful, and . . . You mean James Beard?!?! Yes! I got one of his cookbooks. cool that he's jammin too.
Posted by: C Squared, East TennesseeUpon first glance at the liner notes of MTC, I was taken aback - like seeing a car wreck - when I saw the centerfold pic of the (I assume) NY skyline and the plane taking off. To place the lyrics of "Pagoda" on that same page is especially poignant. Would the Twin Towers obstruct our view of the airplane if they were present?
On a lighter note, I like how Morph takes over the right side of the picture on the next-to-last page where the "Morph" reprise lyrics are. And if you hold the booklet up to the light, The Don looks kinda like Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, with that riveting gaze and the Morph wispies seemingly floating on the back side of Don's head.
Swimmin' like seaweed,
C^2
Posted by: Hopeful , Newark, MDBeen star gazing. Just have to report that the book author of something about Searching for Steely Dan by Gelding(?) or whoever did not accept and show up for his interview offered in the Green Room this evening (3/22). And the guy who attacked my trumpet player did not come forward to the Green Room as challenged. The bloody buggers are forgiven. FYI.
Newark thought long and hard about what to give up for Lent--she didn't want to give up dj'ing or jamming. She shares that she has given up blue threads for Lent--blue, especially denim, is one of her best colors. She admits not having sacrificed enough [buggers] over the years and is presently and urgently inspired to "up" her faith-- Wired and prayed up is the state of affairs these days.
In this bluebook, there is some first-rate stuff; but the best part is observing the zany interactions and getting pissed off at ignoramuses. Nonetheless, Newark prefers reading Paul Levinson's The Plot to Save Socartes, at this time. The Blue Room's bubbly jibber jabber is valuable to observe--and, hey, where's green hat Thomas(?) How'd it go? It's nice to know how our band is doing. Gotta zip.
Briefly and back on the subject of Newark's favorite media theorist, what do you think happens when, say, when an author or artist is not compensated for her/his work? The quality and quantity of past, present and future output is certainly impacted. People need to be compensated for the creation of information or they will find something else to do, according to Levinson, 2000. Respect to authorship and creatorship of the invention should be a human right. So show some respect. It's practically impossible to control "bit" dissemination, for it seems to want to be free. But beware, fks, copyright protection can and is enforced online. So pay the artists fkrs. Though information such as Free Junket tunes may seem to want to be "free," according to Levinson, these works must be protected or the result will be a reduction of worthwhile information. Read Soft Edge or Real Space, OK? Let's talk. Takerezy all, Hopeful. P.S. Got valuable work to do. Raven is watching.
Posted by: fozzy88, Under the Banyan TreesGold Circle Row B (2) for the Lost Wages show Friday just sitting there on sTicketmaster. Please don't kick the chair (mine) in front of you.
Posted by: Rajah, B, I seriously had to r read your oriqinal post case i couldn't figure out what tpyo you might have made.
Every Walter pic tells a story. Has he got something to prove with that bass? Mebbe. Jim Beard, ha, I can hear PQ doin a sack dance, well, wow Donald replaces Walter with Freddie Washington and shazam, Walter has his keyboeard master, at least for one tune or one picture anyways. What would be funny is if their records sounded similar, I mean, look at that band.
Posted by: Corvid, Here At The northern WorldI see a quite greybearded Walter at the mixing board with Larry Klein. Seems they're into the postproduction phase of the new album (?)
Blogcritics' Connie Phillips has reviewed Morph, somewhat noncommittally but generally favourably. However, she claims "The horns and sax are a welcome addition to the piano and strings that are prevalent on the entire CD." Strings?
Let's get some comments going outside the Bluebook world. It's more insular in here than the production on Gaucho... ithankyou.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/03/22/182011.php
Posted by: NYB , Dammit...
That should be "Volume/Tone KNOBS".
Posted by: NYB, AHA!!!
Go to WalterBecker.com, put your cursor over the volume/tone knows on Walter's guitar and tell me what you see!
Posted by: PQ, NYC"Jim Beard's been discussed here through the years." By me and Chrysler?
I am very impressed! Beard and Steely Dan are two of the very, very few people Wayne Shorter ever sideman'd with after Weather Report.
Beard's Song of The Sun is one of the very few old CDs I'll ever dust off and give a spin. The title song is Jon Herington's best guitar solo ever.
And Hermoine Graniger is the chick in the Harry Potter stories you douchebomb Rodrigo.
Posted by: NYB, Italy,
That's an interesting observation. Could be I suppose, but probably just a coincidence...
I have another question though. On the inside of the cd there is a picture that seems to be taken looking out of the same window and down at the steet below. This picture appears to have been taken from behind Donald, as if someone was looking over his should and down at the street below. Now, what NYC streets are we looking at here? Can anyone tell from this picture? And I wonder if the people on the street are anyone we know...
Posted by: Rajah, We'll all be waiting with great expectation for the JFly's commentary after the show and if you type it with all 13 of your extremeties it'll get done even quicker!!!!
Don't make me shit the liquid waiting for your review, J-Kins.
Nuzzles
Rocky Mountain High Rajah
PS -whey, Milanese - your English is very good, you should see some of the undecipherable rambling around here.
Posted by: Little Wild One, packingCatch a cheapie to Vegas, Joey! I know where you can get a bargain hotel stay and show tickets!
Posted by: Joey, " Am I wrong, or is this the first live Maxine...evar? Well, it was far and away the highlight of the evening. Snowbound? What I Do? Huh? I could have walked out right then, and got my $73 worth. Trancendent. Can't wait to hear this one on a nice Fagen Tour 06 cd, like "Alive In America"...knowhatimean? "
Nice Review
I should be in Denver , CO this evening at the Paramount .
Joey
Posted by: C'mon Daddy, MinneapolisSomeone down the list asked for more impressions of the Minneapolis show, so here they are...
We ended up eating two tickets. Gave one to a woman before the show, who already had a ticket in the front row of the Mezz, but said if it wasn't good enough she could come down with us. She was then going to give her ticket to a street performer, but I had the seat next to me vacant for the whole show, so dunno what happened with all that.
That being said, the place was still full. The State is a little smaller than the Orpheum across the street (this is where the lies and creative misinformation may be kicking in), and the floor is flatter, so the sight lines for the more vertically challenged are more difficult. My shorter female friend sat on her shoes so she could see...
We were main floor, right middle section, row M, I think. The sound during Green Flower St. wasn't quite there yet, with Don's vocals down in the mix, and just a little bit of a flat mix - not enough low or high end. This was pretty much fixed by The Nightfly.
I'd like to say here that I never thought in my life I would ever see (m)any of these tunes. I've been a Steely fan since 89, and that Donald is touring like this is just a dream come true. Can't wait for this Summer...
So...New Frontier. Again, I never thought I'd ever see some of these tunes. Fantastic. By this point we're settled in and groovin'. The sound is much better. Can't stop watching Carolyn. Don leans so far over to the right, I wonder if he's going to bob back up again, but indeed he pops back up like he always does.
The crowd around us varies in age from 25-65. You can bring your drinks into the theater from the lobby, so I nursed a Jack and Coke all night. No bathroom breaks.
Teahouse, Home At Last, Black Cow....where the heck is Snowbound?? I mean, we're in Minneapolis, right??? Well, then Don says that they're going to have a few guests tonight, so I'm thinking "Sweet! Howard Levy came up from Chicago to do a killer What I Do!....Not quite. The Steele Singers, who I'm not familiar with are introduced, and replaced Carolyn and Cindy. There were, I believe, four of them at the two mics.
Am I wrong, or is this the first live Maxine...evar? Well, it was far and away the highlight of the evening. Snowbound? What I Do? Huh? I could have walked out right then, and got my $73 worth. Trancendent. Can't wait to hear this one on a nice Fagen Tour 06 cd, like "Alive In America"...knowhatimean?
This has gotten long, so I'll just say the other highlights were:
"Won't you pour me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchen!" - we just about fell on the floor in hilarous ecstasy. That line amuses us.
Brite Nitegown, Mary - actually this was the other real highlight, Third World Man, Misr'y and the Blues, Pretzel Logic, Viva Viva.
Ok...so the whole thing truly kicked butt. After the show, we met up with some other friends who had bought VIP tickets, and saw the actual printed out setlist.
I found Viva and Misr'y on iTunes, if you want to hear them before the show. Long post. Wouldn't blame the mod for deleting it!
Posted by: italian brand,quality stuff, Italy
Anyone else here think that MTC cover is inspired by original cover of Thelonious Monk “The London Collection vol.II”?? Take a look at this web page, look down and you’ll see what I mean, is one of the last covers…
http://www.howardm.net/tsmonk/covers4.php
…the picture is small but -believe me- the photos are really similar, and to me is a GOOD THING! When I look to the two covers on my desk I think: wow, my two favourite musicians took pics for covers in the same mood!! And somewhere I read Donald like TM!! DONALD I WAIT YOU AND WALT HERE IN SOUTHERN EUROPE. I live in Milan, but I’ll go to Paris, Copenhagen and SURELY to Amsterdam if you’ll play there!!!EXCUSE ME FOR MY BAD ENGLISH!!
Posted by: Daddy G., Look! Up in the sky... It's a bird! It's a... CAT?!liveDaily Interview: Todd Rundgren of The New Cars
http://www.livedaily.com/interviews/liveDaily_Interview_Todd_Rundgren_of_The_New_Cars-9799.html?t=98
Todd on the aborted Todd/Donald tour among other things...
______________________________________________________________________
liveDaily: What did you have to take off your full playing and production plates to get involved with this project?
Todd Rundgren: I suppose that, from most of my fans' standpoint, I had already done something strange. [laughs] I put out an album called "Liars," and it was successful, and required pretty much a band and some level of production in order to present it. >>>THE PROBLEM IS THAT I'M AT A CERTAIN LEVEL WHERE I HAVE A COMMITTED FOLLOWING, ESPECIALLY IN CERTAIN REGIONS, BUT IN THE MAIN, IF I TAKE ANY SORT OF PRODUCTION OUT [ON THE ROAD] I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY.<<< So people were wondering why last year I went out with Joe Jackson and a string quartet and essentially did a solo show, which depended substantially on older material. So I was already kind of perplexing my fans, and wasn't sure what I was going to do next. I knew that I had ideas for records, and there's always a possibility of [producing work], and there's always the possibility of joining up with somebody else.
>>>WHAT I HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED ON DOING THROUGH LAST FALL AND PROBABLY INTO THIS YEAR WAS AN R&B REVIEW WITH DONALD FAGEN. BUT HE GOT INVOLVED IN FINISHING UP RECORDING [A SOLO ALBUM] AND IT TOOK UP ALL OF HIS TIME, SO WE NEVER GOT TO DO THAT.<<< So I'm always open to collaborations. I've gone out with Ringo Starr, done the "Abbey Road" tours, and have gone out as an opener for Hall & Oates essentially using their band--that's how I get around that problem of not being able to take my own band on the road at this point.
I thought, "Well, The Cars thing will satisfy a number of things." One thing that it won't satisfy is that I won't be playing a lot of my material. There's so much Cars material, it fills up most of the show, although we will do a couple of my things. From the standpoint of my audience, they'll have to be satisfied to watch me sing Cars songs. [laughs] And other aspects made it potentially a good idea from the standpoint of my own career and what I want to do, in that I'll definitely be playing for larger audiences than I usually do. And perhaps, in some sense, a generationally younger audience, which is always good.
Posted by: I.B,Q.S, Italy
so many reasons to be cryptic…business of our friends at first…please tell me only if I’m right if I say:
xxxx xxx KOFER,
I won’ t say nothing more! You all know Zombies are around us (but the Cat’s above us!!!!)
An Orthoprax Kofer is the guy who believes in nothing, yet goes to shul and keeps shabbos out of habit, or for fear of his wife and neighbors. He does the dance, and talks the talk, but, inside, he thinks it's all nonesense. Teaneck and Woodmere, havens of Modern Orthodoxy, are thought to overflow with such people. http://dovbear.blogspot.com/2005_11_27_dovbear_archive.html
The root meaning of the word kofer is "to cover". We see this from the word kapores, which was the cover on the Aron Kodesh, the Holy Ark, in the Beis Ha-Mikdash. Even the word kapparah, "atonement", is related, since through the process of atonement, sin is covered and concealed. Similarly, a Jewish kofer is a person who "covers up" the reality of his own being. (Rabbi Moshe Wolfson)
asimplejew.blogspot.com/ 2005_10_01_asimplejew_archive.html - 86k -
Posted by: alan, DenverHey pan-fried and gauchomigo et al
There few people meeting at the Paramount Cafe prior to the show tonight. Free free to come and join us.
We will be gathering around 5 ish.
Hope to see y'all there.
Posted by: pan-fried, Denversounds good gauchomigo. we'll be at the baaahhhh. (is there gas in the caaahhh?)
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverLol, I was just trying to make the point that not all songs sung in first-person are necessarily autobiographical.
Posted by: Errrr, No, Back in OregonEh? If it wuz in Oregon, how could his old man be "back in Oregon"?
DTMA is based on the Al Pacino movie Dog Day Afternoon.
Posted by: The Truth, HurtsPan-fried- "Don't Take Me Alive" was written about a real live event that took place in Oregon back in the late 60's/early 70's. Read up on your SD history now son.
Posted by: Brutus Charisma, Does anyone have the link for DF's interview in Entertainment Weekly?
Thanks
BC
Posted by: iowaboy, pgJust thought some of you folks maybe ought to check the All About Jazz web site review by Paul Olsen... The reviewer at the Chicago paper ought to check this out too...
(the show WAS terrific!)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=21144
Posted by: Gauchomigo, DenverI have a some backboard crashing out at the Tech center and will be hard pressed to get there before the show but I might leave at halftime. If I do I will look for you guys at Marlowes?
Posted by: pan-fried, Denverthank god he made it back from that 10 milligram chronax trip in time for the tour.
Posted by: steelydoc, down at the LidoYo Keith...just sent you an email, you can get a $498 round trip from Chicago to Vegas on TED, United's low-fare airline...it's still available, leaving tomorrow, return Saturday
Doc
Posted by: Alkali, NYCWell, I did read somewhere that his father was a bookkeeper for a stint.
Besides that, I heard his real name is Charlie and he must own some lotions.
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverWhy assume the song is autobiographical? Was Fagen literally the Don’t Take Me Alive guy too?
Posted by: Alkali, NYCFagen's a 'brother'?
Well, that explains the rhythm thing.
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverUnfortunately there isn’t an official wingding scheduled.
I’ll be at espn for dinner and drinks with my buddy, then head over to Paramount grill or Marlowes around 7:00 to see what’s up.
What’re your plans?
Posted by: Gauchomigo, DenverIs there pre show happenings set up for tonight's arrival of the "Nightfly" in Denver?
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverYou know, that whole tune is sung in first person. How do we know the narrator isn’t a ‘brother’ as well?
Posted by: Rajah , L.A.Yo, Wiltern Donfesters:
This is the joint in the Wiltern Bldg:
http://www.opusbarandgrill.com/bar.htm
It used to be the Atlas, the spousal unit and I stopped in last night and had a coupla pops, very nice and not too expensive, 3.50 for a beer at Happyhour between 5 and 7.
Posted by: john, nycsound quality of itunes songs is worthless. i have a mcintosh pre-amp and a rotel cd player that i run everything through. listening to my ipod is like listening to an 8 track of morph.
Posted by: NYB, "NYB- How would you know? You live on Long Island" (Fixer)
Now you know why!
:)
Posted by: Declan, memphisThere's a difference between recording digitally and listening to music in a digital medium.
You can record your sweetass traxx in analog while still mastering and putting out your finished product on a digital CD. That's how a lot of us prefer things.
Just because Walter rips on (or intelligently discusses the limitations of, whatever) LPs, it doesn't mean he can't eschew the entire analog world.
Posted by: Fixer, NYB- How would you know? You live on Long Island.
Posted by: NYB, Lemme see now, is there ANYONE who lives in Manhattan who HASN'T been mugged? Hell, even half the muggers have been mugged. Probably a few mugger-mugger's have been mugged too.
Posted by: Drew, San Luis ObispoI still have a pair of upper balcony tickets to Monday's Wiltern show. I'll accept just about any offer for them. They cost me $120.00 total - How about $50.00 total for the pair? What a deal!
They are the cheapest seats but they'll get you in there:
Mezzanine
Row M
Seats 211-212
Thanks,
Drew
Posted by: hoops, chicago, dreaming of vegasKeith, LWO, all, I hear you. The good news is there's a 4th row seat waiting for me. The bad news is I can't leave until Noon Chicago (10 AM Vegas) on Friday and the plane tickets are prohibitive ($730+) Anyone want to buy a 4th row for Friday night?
Jim Beard's been discussed here thought the years, PQ. What a line up for Walter's album! Wonder if WB will do any solo dates.
Minneapolis was supreme perfection.
jim
Posted by: Gretchen, That was REALLY uncalled for, Truth.
G
Posted by: mt, Strange that WB is at least partially recording analog. I remember him making fun of so-called audiophiles who preferred vinyl. Interesting.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCConcerning Becker's line-up:
I have absolutely nothing against Herington but,
I would have loved to hear Adam Rogers again with Becker;
What I think is a perfect pairing of tastiness and speed.
legato,legato,legato!
(Maybe he'll make an appearance)
And then a dash of Dean Parks!!!
Whoa! It’s all happening too fast!
Its feast or famine with these two.
Posted by: The Truth, I told you!Peter Q -I know what you mean. I came on here a few weeks ago when people were accusing Donald of being a raciest for the line "lit up brothers". I said Donald had gotten mugged years back and that's how that line came about. People here laughed at me. This week in Entertainment Weekly Donald talks about how he "was mugged in Manhattan" by a few lit up brothers. He said at that moment he believed he was going to meet the fella in the Brite Nightgown.
The truth always hurts! Right LaToya?
Posted by: TJ, DKi'm really looking forward to Walters solo!
Could it be that Don and walt have grown apart in their partnership? That they don't need each other the way they use to? So the future treats will come from solo efforts. Guess we'll find out.
The Bending End, Rhode Island, I think I have almost the same priority list as you - only completely upside down.
Pagoda, Morph and Mona is definitely the three big ones after 3 weeks of listening. Joan lacks musical substance and Mary is the track you need to turn up really damn high to make work. Or else it becomes muzak. Overall a fantastic album!
Posted by: Little Wild One, details, details**Sorry for the personal communique**
Earthbound, I told you I may have a solution for your dilemma, however, I haven't seen anything from you. If nothing else, send the tix back to me and I'll try to unhinge them at the venue.
Sadly, your e-mail doesn't seem to work for me...
Posted by: Earthbound, ...Livin' in the MidwestStill hanging onto a coupla VEGAS tix...
GOLD bebe! Row M
Any takers?
Hoops! What's your plan of attack?
Please E me, bro.
WILDest: I just can't reward the airlines, despite
their predicament of late - yeah, whatever - it ain't
so much a lack o' funds as it is f#@king outrageous
to try to purchase under the 7-day adv deadline.
Assbiters! SteelyDoc offered some good, and somewhat
sly, advice towards getting there but every angle
of airport code, date range and time o' day have
proven fruitless. Who'd've thunk a quickee to Vegas
would require a decade's worth o' visits to Plasma
Alliance?!
"Who's got my air miles?"
As it stands now, like today, like right now, I can
still get these tix out via 2nd Day...Urgh, I hate
to miss out on a damn good thang...
Not quite panic mode,
Keith
Posted by: Declan, memphisWalter's jamming through a gloriously tasty Orange bass head and working the analog tape machine?!?! Awesome.
Posted by: Dare We Dream It?, DARE WE!If we got Herington and Beard together maybe Bill Evans on sax isn't far behind? I need to take a heart pill.
Posted by: Alkali, NYC"Pumpkin Fat" is very coool!
My personal fav is "Chunks and Chairnobs"
Herington to Beard to Fagen=3 degrees of separation.
Beard has been criticized for playing so called "Fuzac"
But, I love his chops.
I have to dig up his CD's
Until then......
D.C. Hummin'/C.D. Spinnin':
1)Fagen "Morph the cat"
2)Weezer "Blue album"
3)Ella Fitzgerald "The essential"
4)Tchaikovsky "NCS"
5)Weather report "Mysterious traveller"
6)Weezer "Green album"
Posted by: KDawg, Mt. BelzoniDuh...wouldn't you know it...Walter employed himself! Sorry 'bout that!!! ;)
SFC
Posted by: KDawg, Mt. BelzoniLooks like Becker has emloyed some familiar people for his album...
Larry Klein, Walter Becker, Eliot Scheiner, and the I-Four All Stars (Ted Baker, Keith Carlock, Jon Herington, Dean Parks, Jim Beard).
Posted by: dleestan, chicagowhoa
Don gives us this stuff
He really just puts it all out there
this guy has a pair
Has he no shame? omg pagoda,...severed heads
I'm once again FLOORED maybe even MORE this time than ever
but Ive said that before
It is like a very diferent ray of light
I missed the live show
been lost post 911 and its prescriptions
and so i stay up all night
Mona really hits home
in one phall swoop
this phuck took almigh
Posted by: PQ, NYC'Pumpkin Fat' from Lost At The Carnival is the bomb.
Herington must have introduced Beard to Walter, he played with him all thru the 90s.
Woo hoo hoo!
www.jazzdimensions.de/interviews/the_world/1999/jim_beard.html
Obscure jazz musicians, is it?
Posted by: Alkali, NYClove "Lost at the carnival"
Posted by: PQ, NYCHa!!!!! Do you know how many times I've posted on this board about the utter greatness of the greatest producer/composer in fusion jazz, Jim Beard, to utter silence, yawns, and hostility - now he's playing with Walter? Woo hoo hoo! Major score!!!!!!!!!!
In you wanna know what you're in for, get John McLaughlin's Adventures In Radioland and listen to the first tune, Beard's The Wait. Woo hoo hoo!
Posted by: Alkali, NYCJim "Fucken" Beard?
you're fucken kidding me!
Posted by: Alkali, NYCKERMIE: i never thought that "you and i" from Pagoda sounded like Kermit.
but, i do think that when he says "So" on "Morph the cat" he sounds kinda like one of the Lollypop guild from "The Wizard of Oz"
Posted by: PQ, NYCFucken JIM BEARD is playing on Walter Becker's album. Do you guys know how big a score this is???? FUCKEN POWER!!!!!
Posted by: steelydoc, out of the rainWalter Becker has updated his website...click on the knobs on his bass to see some pix!
Posted by: The Bending End, Rhode IslandIt's hard to believe how good this recording is. It's taken me even more listens than usual to absorb it all...and I don't think I'm at the "all" point yet.
In "most-look-forward-to-hearing" sequence [subject to evolution]:
1) Mary Shut the Garden Door
2) Brite Nightgown
============================
Note: I have no problem admitting that I like Don/Dan pop-oriented tracks. These are superb, as such.
----------------------------
3) Security Joan
4) What I Do
5) H Gang
- I often call my 15-year-old daughter, Helen, "H", so I bought her the H Gang t-shirt at the Boston show and had her listen to this. An instant connection.
============================
6) The Great Pagoda of Funn
- I guess I'm not quite as enamored with this as many others here. Could still be in the evolution process...
7) Morph the Cat
8) The Night Belongs to Mona
Bill
Posted by: kermie, Luv the song, but when he says 'you and I' in Pagoda, does it not sound like Kermit the Frog??
Posted by: Mystical Sphere, LasaI just gotta say, MTC is album of the Year. Hands down. Nothing is gonna touch this. "mary" is my fav. The rest are a microclose second. magnificent DF. Please come south to Atl.
Posted by: Ann, BorneoThe subtle references to 9/11 show how this event has affected so many people, especially someone like Don, who is a native of the city. It's effects spread far and wide, even to my part of the world. It was from that date that my educated, "westernised" middle-eastern husband got sucked in to some very undesirable company, grew a beard and became increasingly antagonistic and verbally and physically violent towards his infidel wife. Was it just a coincidence that the week I received MTC, I was also granted my divorce? Life's looking so much better now!
Thanks Don!
Peace to all!
Ann
Posted by: jimmer, phlwow, backtobass6, someone who finally aprreciates almost gothic, arguably, in my opinion one of their best songs,,, also i am surprised donald hasnt played "century's end" written solely by him and also on my top 5 best ever dan songs,,
also whoever compares a new song from morph to a 60's tv show,, what show is it?
Posted by: Alkali, NYCYea, Pagoda is just so great, beautiful.
I love the phrasing when he sings "You and I...”
I wish he had repeated this throughout the song.
On "rhymes" that's definitely Krantz not Becker, I’d say.
Yea, the backing vocals are good throughout, although I wasn't sure I liked the girls singing "just one thing" on "What I do" but, I love it now.
I must say I’m still not too keen on the girls singing "your name on your list" on "Joan", the song as a whole still doesn't do much for me.
Joan and H Gang are my least favorites.
But what an impressive heavy-weight CD anyway.
"They came in under the radar/from poison skies/40 floors above the city/all watch the skies for Morph the cat...”
A
Posted by: PQ, NYCIMHO Pagoda is the most emotionally true and accurate Fagen or Dan song ever. On another note, if Mona's afraid of 9/11 style attacks she might want to re-consider that 40th floor pad.
Posted by: back2bass6, lawn guylandALMOST GOTHIC
arguably the greatest dan song ever
"...kinda like the opposite of an aerial view...."
sheesh.....
oh yeah..any one in new york wanna come hear some kick ass shit?
TONIGHT!!!
Wednesday, 3/22,
SOUL BE IT
continues to pursue the art and feel of "the groove" as we try to faithfully re-create songs and sounds from some of the greatest bands of our time; BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS, EARTH WIND & FIRE, TOWER OF POWER, and CHICAGO.
The venue....
live trax
242 petit ave
bellmore
www.livetrax.com
9 pm!
five dollars
Posted by: Chrysler, PAI hear a Stravinsky influence throughout the MTC title track, no I'm not kidding. Recall the melodies in any number of Stravinsky's Russian-nationalist and neo-classical works and compare to "Morph"; and the harmonized vocal line of "Morph"'s refrain ("...kind of like --> ...chintzy stuff")resembles certain melodic lines and harmonies from PETRUSCHKA, particularly the "Shrovetide Fair" music.
Hello? HELLO???
Also, anyone else find a 60s TV show theme influence in the melody under "Yes we'll build a world together in the Great Pagoda of Funn"?
DF, you're something else!
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, ClarificationOoops, stupid mistake in previous post:
Disney does Devo...God help us. BTW, I hate to think how much WB is making off DF for doing absolutely nothing as far as reaching any new audience. Couldn't he have sold the CD directly to the cult of SD and cut out the middle-man?
THE WB IN THE ABOVE IS WARNER BROTHERS NOT THE RIGHTEOUS WALTER BECKER.
Thank you and we now return you to your regular programming.
Posted by: TJ, DKBye the way:
Phonus Quaver is definitely Donald Fagen. Listen to the vibes solo on Mary and compare them with his synth solo's (eg. I.G.Y), and you won't have a doubt.
Who plays guitar on Rhymes? The first part spund like Walter, but later it sounds more like Krantz.
Posted by: TJ, DKI can't believe how great Pagoda is.
It's so harmonically challenging and complex, but still manages to carry around a great deal of emotionel content. This is the key to a good song. It really touches me everytime I hear it.
Try comparing it to Almost Gothic - it's so superiour. Guess that says it all...
Posted by: Greg Moonspank, White PlainsYes, it is quite possible that Donald Fagen is the best backup vocal arranger ever.
Posted by: SteelyDon, Tompkins Square or perhaps Upper BroadwayOk well its been a week and this album shows no signs of getting old. Its all I have been playing constantly as Im sure most of you have. There are many highlights I don't know where to begin.
In my opinion the unsung hero on this album are is the backing vocals and vocal harmonies.
- the chorus hook in Security Joan is sensational ("no name on your list"). Also some great piano work on that song but you have to really listen.
- Pagoda...what more can I say than simply amazing. I love the entire song but my absolute favorite part is the beginning. The line "its our love that makes it shine" when fagen comes in slightly late with "shine" is just perfect. Sounds so beautiful.
-The bridge in Mary sounds so good. The harmonies really play with my mind. I love the part "I woke up" again with Don hesitating a bit after the initial backing vocals.
Hope he does a tour in the summer along with a Steely Dan tour.
The thing that I love about his music is that without the lyrics the music is still awesome simply by itself...
Better roll the sidewalks up
SD
Posted by: Kid Clean, On the tracks
Earthbound - If anyone can pull it off, it's gotta you brother. Wish we would have had more time to hang out. I missed a bunch of people but there's always summer....(fingers crossed)
KC
Posted by: HouDanFan, HoustonWhat a great show Sat night in Chicago. My personal highlights were Nightfly, BN, BC, GFS and Mary. I would have loved to have heard Pretzel Logic, but it wasn't meant to be on this night. Just keep making records Donald, f___ all the one's that don't get it.
Also, I truly enjoyed meeting some great people from the midwest. I didn't get to say bye to the "Security Joan" sisters after the concert, so hope both of you made it home safe. Till next time...
Posted by: , Fagen says he has no concern about releasing Morph The Cat at a time when the music industry and the market seem as uncertain as the world itself. “I operate under Seventies rules no matter what time it is,” Fagen explains. “It’s a contract I have with my mind. I just keep forging on no matter what and reality doesn’t have much to do with it.”
Words of wisdom from a wise man.
Posted by: Little Wild One, the travel deskGood God, Keith, do I have to do everything for you? Check America West...I even have a "credit" you can borrow, but you gotta pay me back. Unless our man Geoff comes through with some miles and then the deal is off. Rumor has it he's loaded....with miles that is.
HeyMike, yeah, I guess that was me, doing the Stevie Nicks deal, (like that's a bad thing?) I even sing like her. Join Keith in Vegas and you may get a sample. I love to sing in casinos and I'm sure Toya, SueDave and LadyB will help out. Not to mention Still Sparkin'.
Checking out the Temecula wardrobe stuff for those worried about the Steely Dan t-shirts not filling the bill. Oh, hell, just throw a jacket over it and on with the show!
Posted by: Earthbound, West LaughalotGreetings all!
Still reelin' from the CHI show. Haven't stopped
repeat-rotating/chain-playing MTC yet. Thinking I
should select another disc or artist(yeah, right)
to play. Where or when is the brain-burn threshhold
reached? I dunno.
Not sure if I should post something on the ticket
page or rely on this forum...hoops will see this,
so I'll spread the word here first:
Here's the skinny. This pair of tickets fell outta
the sky - a WILD sky at that - in CHI the other night.
A straight-up enticement to travel if I've ever seen
one, and normally I'm a sure bet to follow-thru if
the opportunity actually presents itself in this fashion.
However, horror set in when I exhausted all flight
search possibilities and came up with a best fare from
the midwest to Lost Wages as $309 EACH WAY!!! F#@K!
Today's further attempts displayed bests in the $800s.
WTF is going on in Vegas this wknd causing such out-
landish fare schedules? Dam!(said the blind fish)
I promised Hoops that I'd contact him about us making
the run, so he certainly has dibs on one of them if
he's still interested. But, if not, I can ship them
tomorrow via UPS 2ndDay for the lucky peeps. Anyone
got any air miles they'd be willing to part with?
I even contemplated the drive, which would suck arse.
At this point I can only apologize to the compassionate
one(s) who handed 'em to me. You know I wanna be there.
***1 or 2 GOLD TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR LAS VEGAS***
That's Row M, dudes & chicks, dead center, check it out.
E me if ya like, esp. Hoops, G & E, Geoff.
Hey Rajah, we gotta add I Got The News to the SD+Mc tour
prospective list. An oft-overlooked song with scathing
lyrics, venomous solos and tricky time signature. I have
a dub of that old WestwoodOne interview of DF/WB for
Aja. They play whole songs or at least segments of every
track except(!) IGTN. Hmm...
Heading over to the GreenRoom...
L-U-V, Keith
Posted by: Ann, Borneo, 30+ degrees CHey Alan,
Hope you remembered to take your thermal underwear!!
Donald: Oh yes!!
Ann
Posted by: Boston Rag, Bad Album CoversI'm happy to report - not one SD/DF/WB cover in the bunch....
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/gallery/bad_album_covers/
Mark in Boston
Posted by: gary, cal I just received my ILAA e-mail for the Temecula show. And I was looking at the photos they took of everyone from past shows.You all look great. But a little pie eyed. Looks like everyone had fun.Some of you even got pictures with Keith.Very cool.
Posted by: PQ, NYCLA Kat - I did. Actually this Thurs night at The Cutting Room on 24th Street there is a Songwriters Hall of Fame event, kind of like a "for your consideration" type of thing, among other activities. I wonder if Mac DAvis will have a lobbyist there.
Check the Songwriting Mastery Series, soon to be out on CD:
www.patsymoore.com/indexE.html
Posted by: LA Kat, where elseso, no response at all to my post noting that D&W are nominated this year for the Songwriter's Hall of Fame . ? Hmmm. OK How about this then ... "Lexi" has posted a second update on donald's site.
glad everyone or almost everyone seems to be enjoying the shows. My day is coming soon!
LAK
Posted by: scoots, Seth:
The Minneapolis post is all the way back in yesterday morning's blogs. I realize that it's hard to navigate these days with all the verbiage being tossed about
scoots
Posted by: Eric, San Diego, CAI have two tickets (together) for Donald Fagen available for The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27, 06. The seats are in the Upper Level Mezzanine Section, Row C, Seats 125 and 127. The price I paid for both, including various Ticketmaster fees is $167.40. I am asking $125.00. If interested, please email me at: steelydanmusicfan@yahoo.com - Thank you.
Eric
Posted by: C Square, East TennesseeMy hubby and I returned from the Chicago show Sunday evening. We'd never been to Chicago, so we treated ourselves to a long weekend there. Had a MARVELOUS time. Chicagoans seem very friendly and proud of their city.
Being a Steely Dan/Donald Fagen fan since 1986, I thought I'd never hear anything from Donald after Gaucho. Then there was "Century's End", NYR&S Revue and Kama. I was in heaven! More musical morsels to enjoy. Even though we in the Dandom have two SD albums and one DF solo to add to our collections, never take Donald for granted.
I, too, was disappointed by the short show Saturday in Chicago, but WE SAW DONALD LIVE!!! - when in 1986 I thought there'd never be such a thing! It was wonderful! I sang along, hooted a few times, but I REALLY tried to rein myself in for the sake of Don-fans in front of me.
It shows how much Donald thinks of us as fans to step out of his comfort zone and give a tour. AND, it seems that he chose venues for their QUALITY, not for their quantity of seats (another nod in our direction - or he probably doesn't want to fool with doing a tour in places with lousy acoustics). The Chicago Theater was lovely, and I'm sure the sound was much better for all of us there as opposed to some basketball arena in town (not knocking the Bulls or any other sports team).
Donald is a MUSICIAN, not a PERFORMER. That was obvious as he shuffled onstage and (later) hugged Howard Levy. Kinda seemed like a graybeard professor or psychiatrist or something before he sat down at the keyboard. Ladies, do you recall how honey-smooth his voice was when he replied, "What?" to one of the hecklers in the crowd? I replay that memory over and over and over...
I wish I had the time and money to see the whole tour. It may never happen again!
It was great meeting everyone at Salvador's - Frank, Scott, Brian, Tall Man in the white SD cap (sorry I forgot your name), and everybody else slammin' Large Margaritas. Jon sold out of his CD's before I got one, but I thanked him for visiting us at the restaurant. Miller's was too crowded for us to stay, but I got A Clothespin before I left! Thanks Scott! It's such a treat to talk to people who enjoy DF and WB as much as I do. Dan- and Don-fans are the best. Thanks, Hoops, for all you do to get and keep us fans together!
I hope to comment on the album soon. You may remember me from the Chicago wing-ding - my favorite song from the new CD is "Mary Shut the Garden Door."
Posted by: Rajah, dipinto di bluDeeBlu - Yeah, you have less miles than the travelers from the Far East but you do travel against windcurrents.
Maybe you could strap a coupla stacks to rear end of that Fokker 2000 and blast some Toots behind you after take-off to give it that extra boost over the Alantic.
May you all fly like wind to the Steely Don Show.
Posted by: The Bending End, Rhode IslandThe short keyboard notes during the chorus in Mary remind me of Morse code, a means of communication that conceivably could be necessary under the circumstances described in the song (e.g. nothing but static on the radio). But I couldn't come up with anything interesting when I attempted to translate it.
Posted by: seth2112, cleveland via nyc and tampawhere are the minneapolis posts?
set lists, audience vibe, sound quality, quirky stories, made up lies and cool facts...what gives minny - whos on the ball -you betcha!
Posted by: DEACONBLUE, BRUSSELSSorry!
They were doing a little fest for his aniversery!I think he became 83 years young.
I'm dreaming that at the time our boys will be coming at Belgium they will be inviting TOOTs as special guest. THAT WOULD BE SUPER
Posted by: DEACONBLUE, BRUSSELSCONCERNING VIP TEMECULA
I received an email from ILAA. They are saying that they are still waiting for more details and hoping to send the final information today. But that's not sure.
RAJAH, you're underestimating the distance between Brussels and LA.Hope to see you there or maybe in Temecula. Be at your best, Pal!
By the way, our national proud, the great TOOTS THIELEMANS was last week at the Carnabery in NY with other greats like Herbie Hancock and Al Jarreau.They were doing a
Posted by: hoops, Through the years, SD's players, etc have been willing to show up for us (in person as they did Saturday --!!!-- or through the ol' virtual incognito here) and heck, entities like SD.com have even been kind enough to give us tactful nods or slip us some things that benefit us all. When people start posting the way to getting questionable copies of DF's records, or make pleas for bootlegs, or just decide the most intelligent way to suggest improvements and opinions is to call a member of Steely Dan a "POS," you pretty much hurt the SD community. Argue you have a right, etc, but you still really hurt us all in the long run.
I'm not saying you can't ask if it's possible to get a recording of something you can't find where you live. I'm not saying you can't criticize or explain your disappointments in a show or recording. I'm not saying you have to pretend there aren't recordings like "Second Arrangement" that have existed. And I sure don't want to know or care what you do in private email. But when you use this forum for some of the bad karmic activities mentioned in the first paragraph, then we all lose. People have a right to post but it needs to be respectful and in a way that is kind. Otherwise, I won't be able to spend all my time, money and effort here. Play nice and truly aspire to be cool with a healthy sense of humility.
Thanks for your cooperation.
jim
Posted by: susie, southlandHey Alan!! I knew Snowbound would be "your" song today. The Southland would love for him to tour right now!
Posted by: pan-fried, Denverpretty sure Maxine was perfomed in Minneapolis murph.
Posted by: Joey, " I bet Donald is thinking twice about this spring touring business.... "
Damn Straight my Dansicle
Here in Omaha , NE we have nine inches of snow on the ground ( albeit melting rapidly this afternoon )
I heard horror stories of up to two feet of friggin snow out in Central Nebraska along the I - 80 corridor .
Developing ......................
Shiver ..............
Jazzy !
Posted by: ygk, nycFrom MSNBC's Glenn Reynolds Blog:
"French university students have been rioting for over more than a week against a new labour bill recently passed by a large majority in parliament: the First Employment Contract (CPE, Contract Premier Embauche). In a country where the street is more powerful than parliament it is highly unlikely that the CPE will ever be enforced. Moreover, it looks like the CPE is going to be Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's Waterloo."
Can't you hear Walter Becker's band warming up for "my waterloo"?
ygk
Posted by: rajah, Only east of the Rockies.
Posted by: Me, hereThis makes perfect sense because Snowbound comes after Springtime.
Posted by: pan-fried, Denverdear jeepers, they're calling for snow tomorrow too!
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/80202?dayNum=1&from=36hr_fcst_undeclared
c'mon snow, give us a break until Don's outta town!
Posted by: me, herehttp://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight/article/0,2777,DRMN_23952_4558910,00.html
Posted by: ygk, nycWouldn't he love to tour the Southland? right about now?
Posted by: Girlfriend, by the crystal ballI bet Donald is thinking twice about this spring touring business....
Posted by: Rajah, longshot LouieLay ya 8 to 5 that they do Snowbound tomorrow night.
Tell me what bar you'll be in, Alan, I'll send over a round.
Kepp your muck-lucks dry, sunshine.
Posted by: alan, DenverHeads up danheads, tonights show in Denver has been postponed till tomorrow night. Trucks SNOWBOUND !!!!
Tickets for tonight will still be honored for tomorrow night.
Posted by: alan, DenverHeads up danheads, tonights show in Denver has been postponed till tomorrow night. Trucks SNOWBOUND !!!!
Tickets for tonight will still be honored for tomorrow night.
Posted by: alan, DenverHeads up danheads, tonights show in Denver has been postponed till tomorrow night. Trucks SNOWBOUND !!!!
Tickets for tonight will still be honored for tomorrow night.
Posted by: S, s Bundle up Donald. Be Safe Tonite see you and the band in Temecula.
Posted by: SS, HKFan yes...not even close to the Alan level though. You're talking near legend there.
Gaming table guru...season ticket holder in the greenroom...and a marsupial pouch full of war stories from the 2003 tour. That staple thing may never be topped. Not by me, anyway.
See you soon Al.
Posted by: Rajah, bon voyageSS- I guess you beat our Alan this time around for the longest trek, a total of 7,273 miles one way from Hong Kong to Los Angeles.
Now THAT's a Steely Dan fan.
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverGreetings to all in Dandom.
I’ll be at the Denver show tonite (T-minus nine hours, this is torture!)
Is anyone else out there going? Although there’s not an –official– wingding scheduled, I’m assuming a group will eventually gather at the Paramount Grill or Marlowes…? What are your plans?
I’ll try to post a setlist and review in the morning. Hoping for a Minneapolis-caliber show (or better)!
Chris
Posted by: pan-fried, DenverGreetings to all in Dandom.
I’ll be at the Denver show tonite (T-minus nine hours, this is torture!)
Is anyone else out there going? Although there’s not an –official– wingding scheduled, I’m assuming a group will eventually gather at the Paramount Grill or Marlowes…? What are your plans?
I’ll try to post a setlist and review in the morning. Hoping for a Minneapolis-caliber show (or better)!
Chris
Posted by: SS, almost on the runwayHoops...I'm getting worked up here.
Good news on the trend of improving shows.
If anyone gets to Las Vegas early for the Friday night show....post something here on the Blue and we can try to hook up. I'll be there by Wednesday afternoon.
Posted by: Gretchen, searching for Steely DanHere's another little article that may be of interest:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1174478_4_0_,00.html
G
Posted by: hoops, ended up in minneapolis, but now back in chicagoThanks for your patience with the spammers, etc, while I made the last minute trek to Minneapolis.
I will write more when I get all caught up but ONE POINT: Pretty much all of the nasty show reviews in the past 60 hours have been from the same two—possibly three—posters, at least one of whom couldn't possibly even been at the shows. IGNORE these fools.
Each show has gotten better and Minneapolis was a PERFECT show. Sorry I couldn't visit more in Chicago—so much in 36 hours and hoping for more.
jim
Posted by: Rajah, Very nice, Deaconblue, I appreciate that, Donald is mixing it up quite bit more than a Steely Dan tour, Donald is giving us his very best effort up there, of this there can be no doubt. I'm certain he's an intensely proud man and sufferes more than any of his fans when he perceives he wasn't absolutely perfect. But who is?
These are the tunes I could handle hearing from Mike McD:
Takin it to the Streets
It Keeps You Runnin
Minute by Minute
What a Fool Believes (thumbs up on the mash-up w/Only a Fool)
Here to Love You
One Step Closer
Real Love
Sweet Freedom
Here's a few that might prompt a cringe or two:
You Belong to Me
Ya Mo Be There
This is It
I Keep Forgettin
Here's a few covers I could handle:
Lonely Teardrops
Knock on Wood
You Are Everything
And here's the McSteely tunes in the mix
Bad Sneakers
Rose Darlin
Everyone's Gone to the Movies
Dr. Wu (last chance for this one)
Chain Lightnin' (fer shur)
Any World
Kid Charlemagne
Peg (a must)
Deacon Blues
Time Out of Mind
Babylon Sisters (is he on this one?)
Posted by: DEACONBLUE, BRUSSELSThis is the ranking of the most played songs.
1. GREENFLOWERSTREET 12 Times
NIGHTFLY
NEW FRONTIER
GOODBYE LOOK
HOME AT LAST
2. WHAT I DO 11 Times
VIVA ROCK &ROLL
3. MARY'S GARDEN DOOR 10 Times
THIRD WORLD MAN
BLACK COW
PRETZEL LOGIC
4. MISERY AND BLUES 9 Times
5. I.G.Y. 8 Times
BRITE NITE GOWN
FM
6. SNOWBOUND 7 Times
7. H GANG 6 Times
8. WESTERN WORLD 5 Times
TEAHOUSE
9. COUNTERMOON 4 Times
10. TOMORROWS GIRLS 2 Times
11. MAXINE 1 Time
MORPH THE CAT
BLACK FRIDAY
Posted by: Prodigal Son, WOW! This just in from the Michael McDonald camp!
For the SD/MMC tour they will mash What a Fool Believes and Only a Fool Would Say That into one song for the encore.
I can't wait to hear it!
Howard: I always thought you were a god. Please listen to Slang of Ages again. It is brilliant.
PS
Posted by: g, c Deaconblue-ILAA phone# 1-888 458-8297
Posted by: gary, cal Deaconblue-I also have not got any e-mail for the 5* VIP Temecula show.If I dont get anything today I will call them tommrow.
Posted by: LadyBayside, biding my time to Vegas...Deaconblue...
I did VIP for Beacon..just send an email to ILAA and ask them about the itinerary..no big deal. If you have a confirmation of your order, or an order number or something, mention it in the email, and I am sure they will resend the itinerary. Is it possible that your program saw it as spam? Maybe it got junked accidentally.
The itinerary will just detail what time you need to show up at the venue for soundcheck and 'orientation'..for us at the Beacon, it was 3:45 for an 8pm show, so just budget that kind of time.
Good luck, and I hope to see you after the show at Temecula!
LadyB
Posted by: Alkali, NYCTHIRDWORLDMAN: I'm sorry for your loss, my Dan friend; you say you're dealing with it. I'm glad to hear that. Yes, I’m very appreciative of my wife (even if she can be a pain in the ass at times, hehe!)And I know that I’m lucky to have her. Thank you.
SHERPA: at first and immediately after "Scam" I essentially felt the same way about the Dan. to the point of feeling betrayed, their music had changed, and it had become cleaner
(If that's possible), less edgy and mellow.
almost "soft-rock-ish".
But, they were evolving.
Because that's what artists do. That style that they had was gone and left alone because they’d moved to their next natural step and there was no other band to continue what they'd started.
No matter, because they'd written enough of the edgy and sharp stuff to last for a while. (At least for me)
It’s interesting how they've always had this balance happening through all of their work; that edgy/sharp stuff paired with beautiful compositions that you could envision someone like Tony Bennet singing.
For example:
CBAT: "Reelin'"/"Brooklyn"
CDTE: "YGT"/"Pearl"
PL: "Monkey"/"Barrytown"
KL: "Throw back"/"Dr.Wu"
RS: "Kid C"/"Caves"
AJA: "Josie"/"Deacon"
Gaucho: "Rival"/"TWM"
TVN: "Jack"/"Shame"
EMG: "GW"/"Things i miss"
I think 2vN is brilliant, far beyond EMG, but we all have our own favorites.
KAMA like you was a disappointment for me.
I also love Morph almost as much as FLY.
A
Posted by: DEACONBLUE, BRUSSELSMESSAGE TO ALL THE TEMECULA DANFANS WITH A VIP TICKET!
I have a ILAA VIP ticket for the Temecula show 3/27.
When i ordered it , they sended an mail saying i will receive an itinerary email 5-7 days before the show with the details about meeting time and place.
This deadline is over and till now i didn't receive anything.
Is there someone with a VIP ticket for Temecula that have received an email from ILAA?
Posted by: dunk, UKMorph entered UK chart at 35 this week
good
Posted by: HeyMike, ChicagoLWO was that you with the Stevie Nicks look going? I wasnt sure. Sorry we didnt get to hang--looks like I missed a lot of folks on Lake Street and again at Millers. I really liked Nightfly that night. I am happy to see Fagen anytime. Yes it was short and I would've liked a few more tunes but hey its his gig and he knows what he can do and do well. Always a privilege for me to see 'Don'. What I Do is becoming my fav from MTC. Good to see old friends and make some new ones. With all the stuff on your plate hoops, thanks again for putting it all together. I got my Harrington CD signed-very cool! Keith-watch your mail..
Posted by: PQ, NYCMark - either I didn't know that at all or totally forgot. Interesting. I rarely listen to it. I can't understand why a guy like this isn't in the band.
I nominate Gina for the Best Leaker re: Morph, for her call of the Ken Wessler guitar solo. Blows every other would be leaker off the map.
Posted by: Howard, Overall impression of the album is that it's quality material. Pagoda, Brite Nitegown and Mona are some of the strongest songs IMHO. No real weak tracks - Security Joan is probably my least favourite, but that's still pretty good. Both EMG and 2VN had at least a track or two that I felt let them down a bit (Cousin Dupree, Blues Beach, Slang of Ages). Morph has strong material throughout.
Haven't quite made my mind up about the final Morph reprise - it didn't seem to add much, but I've only listened a handful of times.
The mistakes and omissions in the liner notes are a bit annoying though - there seem to be quite a lot of them. Drums and bass missed off some tracks, a lot of holes in the guitar credits (some tracks list a single player for "guitar" and one other for "guitar solo", when