©2001-2017 Posts: by author and James J. McKay; Page Design by jim mckay - flat hat design
All posts should be properly cited if referenced elsewhere. Used by kind permission only.
April, May & June 2017 Posts
Click for most recent BlueBook entries.
Date: Sat, July 1, 2017, 15:17 ET
Posted by:Don Patrol, Mtl
Happy Canada Day to all the Canuck Bbookers,and an early Happy 4th to my US pals! And have a great day the rest of the world!
Peace
Date: Fri, June 30, 2017, 17:58:01 ET
Posted by:Trey, PA
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/billy-joel-is-angry-19800904
"You know, there's been an evolution in my music. For instance, 52nd Street was a much different album than The Stranger. It had a harder edge, although there was still orchestration on it. But I think people thought we were going to go into a jazz vein in, say, a Steely Dan sense. I was getting hung up on public reaction to my work."
Date: Fri, June 30, 2017, 15:20:10 ET
Posted by: on the quick,
Doc Mu:
Billy Joel has said that he intended "52nd Street" to be an homage to the jazz of 52nd Street. Was Steely Dan also inspired by similar jazz? Obviously yes. Do I think Billy Joel liked Steely Dan, at least then in the 1970s? Yes. But those two songs and any on "52nd Street" could have happened even if there was never a Steely Dan. That said, I think Billy appreciates Steely Dan, I hope he appreciates Steely Dan, but I also have never seen where he has said that.
Date: Fri, June 30, 2017, 02:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Was Billy Joel a fan of Steely Dan? Listen to Zanzibar and Rosalinda's Eyes, and you'll have your answer.
Date: Wed, June 28, 2017, 18:17:12 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
Procol Harum was one of Billy Joel's favorite groups when he was coming up. He talked about some of his influences on a "Howard Stern" interview a few years ago. "Steely Dan" wasn't mentioned during that particular interview.
Date: Wed, June 28, 2017, 01:52:23 ET
Posted by: Search,k
You have to scroll to the bottom of the page it takes you to.
Date: Tues, June 27, 2017, 21:38:47 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Inquiring Minds: I also had the same question about "Search's" post about Billy Joel liking Steely Dan. The link didn't clearly take me to a page where Billy Joel talked about SD. However, I used "Search In This Book" underneath the miniature picture of the book cover on the left side and lo and behold, there were two appearances of Steely Dan. The book claims that Thomas Jefferson Kay, "who later worked with Steely Dan", was not a good fit for producing the Hassles' second album. "As much as Billy would be a fan of (Steely Dan), the eccentric Kaye was probably not the best producer for the Hassles."
So, yeah, the author claims that Billy would eventually be a Steely Dan fan, but the author demonstrates one of my pet peeves of music bios like this: where, when, in what context did Billy Joel specifically and actively say he liked Steely Dan? I sure can't find it anywhere. All that can be said for sure is that the author thinks Bj likes SD. Maybe there's something about the author that I don't understand--maybe I'm missing something.
Date: Tues, June 27, 2017, 16:20:23 ET
Posted by: Inquiring Minds, want to know
C Search K - How did you determine from the link you posted that Billy Joel "is indeed a fan of SD"?
http://tinyurl.com/y793b5fd
Date: Tues, June 27, 2017, 16:20:23 ET
Posted by: Mike in NYC, NYC
Can anyone tell me who plays the sweet guitar at the end of Deacon Blues (is it Larry Carlton or Lee Ritenour) and at the end of I Got The News (is it Larry Carlton or Dean Parks; I know Walter Becker plays on News but I don't think that is him although of course I could be wrong). Thanks!
Date: Tues, June 27, 2017, 15:28:34 ET
Posted by: Abu, Somewhere between my tablet and my laptop
Here is the link to the aforementioned praise of Donald & Walter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7M6UhcclA8
Date: Tues, June 27, 2017, 15:21:10 ET
Posted by: Abu, A Terrible Addiction
A guy writes: He vividly remember the day when he first heard Reelin'. Even though he was 4,000 miles away, he still recalls that day. Since then, he has been terribly addicted to SD. The guy's name is one Nicholas Gurney, who has recorded four covers. But he also did his own original "in praise of Donald and Walter" called Terrible Addiction. Decent tribute tune. Not sure where he was when he first heard Elliott Randall's guitar licks, but apparently it was 4000 miles from LA? Haha, I still don't know how to copy and paste on my tablet. It is fairly new for me. Not quite up to speed with this stuff. I will have to make a separate post on my laptop with the link..lol
Date: Mon, June 26, 2017, 20:35:58 ET
Posted by: Jim,
Pete Fogel writes on Facebook:
Join us on June 30th at 7:00 P.M. for the CD/Book release party for The Steely Dan Sessions: Interpretations of Unrealized Classics and the Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left To Know About This Elusive Band at The Bitter End. I'll be joined by New York's premier Steely Dan cover band, King of the World. See you there!
*******
Anthony Robustelli writes on Facebook:
Although The Steely Dan Sessions: Interpretations of Unrealized Classics won't be officially released until July 11th, here's a taste of what you can expect from this new endeavor. If you can't wait until then, you can get a free copy at the CD/Book release party at The Bitter End on June 30th at 6:45 P.M.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RaoSq6ndfTM
For more information on The Bitter End including schedule, directions, etc:
http://www.bitterend.com/
Date: Sun, June 25, 2017, 22:49:01 ET
Posted by: Geno, NY
"Italianized" version of Raindrops.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oewBBCFWLvI
Date: Sun, June 25, 2017, 15:41:09 ET
Posted by: search, k
According to the Billy Joel definitive biography, he had some early dealings with Thomas Jefferson Kaye and that he is indeed a fan of SD.
http://tinyurl.com/y793b5fd
Date: Sun, June 25, 2017, 14:57:09 ET
Posted by: random dude, UK
Sorry guys, there seems to be a Norm Harris in-joke which I am not privy to.I But if he is a revered figure amongst you mysterious colonials, I stand corrected!
Date: Sun, June 25, 2017, 10:57:56 ET
Posted by: Don Breithaupt, Los Angeles
Solidly Dan-adjacent plug: Once again this year, I'll be music directing (and playing keyboards for) perennial Time Out New York Critics' Pick NYC ROCKS THE CANADIAN SONGBOOK on July 1 at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater. Our army of Gotham-based talent includes Carolyn Leonhart, Michael Leonhart and Vickie Cave! We'll be doing songs by Joni Mitchell, Robbie Robertson, Leonard Cohen, The Guess Who, Neil Young, Rush and many more Canuck icons... If you're in the area, make the scene.
https://www.publictheater.org/Tickets/Calendar/PlayDetailsCollection/Joes-Pub/2017/C/Canada-Day/?SiteTheme=JoesPub
Date: Sat, June 24, 2017, 21:57:45 ET
Posted by: Mike in NYC, NYC
Can anyone tell me who plays the sweet guitar at the end of Deacon Blues (is it Larry Carlton or Lee Ritenour) and at the end of I Got The News (is it Larry Carlton or Dean Parks; I know Walter Becker plays on News but I don't think that is him although of course I could be wrong). Thanks!
Date: Sat, June 24, 2017, 168:11:19 ET
Posted by: J,
Radom Dude:
That's no "cheesy guitar shop owner"--that's Norm Harris, a beloved dealer and consultant to some of the world's greatest guitar players, including Larry Carlton.
Norm Harris.
Date: Sat, June 24, 2017, 10:52:14 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Paul C: Walter Becker. Bar by Bar.
Date: Sat, June 24, 2017, 03:10:11 ET
Posted by: random dude, UK
Apologies if posted already - Larry Carlton with cheesy guitar shop owner. Notable for how he decided to do the Kid solo note for note on stage with SD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0-d2tjXBfc
Date: Fri, June 23, 2017, 20:42:34 ET
Posted by: drewslo, San Luis Obispo
I believe Mr. Becker takes the Pretzel Logic solo
Date: Fri, June 23, 2017, 10:38:50 ET
Posted by: BadpopegregSneakers, MKE
Howard, been anxiously awaiting word on any Beacon shows myself. There is that window still available and that would be right before the London and Dublin shows. So either there won't be any, maybe because DF has decided that there really is no America anymore. ;) Or their deal with the Classic East stadium show has a radius clause and they can't announce anything in that area until after that show happens (or if/when it sells out). The end of July would still allow enough time to to promote the fewer number of shows I would think. So I'm hoping that's the case. Otherwise I will be kicking myself for not going to Vegas, which I did just decide to do for the Van Morrison shows at Ceasar's at the end of January,
Date: Fri, June 23, 2017, 10:23:23 ET
Posted by: Paul Ciprio,
Hi -
New to the Bluebook.
Anyone know who takes the guitar solo on "Pretzel Logic" studio version?
Thanks!
Date: Thurs, June 22, 2017, 17:59:59 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, still here
Iridium had an expensive looking HD camera there ... mounted on a ceiling post in the center of the small basement club. Wow! Great acoustics !
Fortunately great ceiling acoustic insulation. So that we couldn't hear the commotion upstairs from the tourist-trap karaoke waiters on the lunch counter singing Bohemian Rhapsody.
p.s.
In my previous post, I meant to type that I wished that they had played MORE than just those two Steely Dan tunes.
Date: Thurs, June 22, 2017, 17:01:34 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos
The Iridium used to stream some shows and post some show videos, but form a quick look at the website it looks like those days are gone. That's too bad, because I would love to be able to watch that Beard/Herington show.
Date: Thurs, June 22, 2017, 15:03:45 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, still here
Went to hear Jon Herrington and Jim Beard at The Iridium... A nice jazz dinner club near Times Square, NYC. Both great players.
They played an Instrumental set comprised of mostly jazz standards and original tunes from each guy's solo stuff. Two more Steely Dan tunes were played. The first was "Here At The Western World," introduced by Herrington, referring to their other, more lucrative gig without ever mentioning the name Steely Dan. Later they played "Gaucho".
Really enjoyed their music... I wish there was one or two SD songs played though.
JH mentioned to the audience that he and Beard have been playing together for 36 years... which I thought was interesting and didn't know... That would pre-date either of their tenures with SD, I think.
They ended with an amusing cover of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations".
Date: Thurs, June 22, 2017, 01:42:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Abu: Very nice find.
Here's some deceptive millennial jazzz from Lake Street Dive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL89nJ1so9bCqkOxJIBzCOiLM5T9x2XjXE&v=EV1LFbZozs8
Date: Wed, June 21, 2017, 20:20:21 ET
Posted by: Kyle, N
I can't imagine Don & Walt having any enthusiasm for rerecording 2A.
Date: Wed, June 21, 2017, 19:39:23 ET
Posted by: Alter Cocker, Oy! Shvantz
Re-recording 2nd Arrangement would probably be as exciting to Don and Walt as finally having foreskin restoration surgery after all these decades. Vey is mir!
Date: Wed, June 21, 2017, 18:54:01 ET
Posted by: Howard, Scarsdale
So it looks like if the Dan are going to have an October stand at the Beacon this year, it's going to have to be sometime between October 15-27. All the other dates are booked up.
When do you think that we will hear some news?
Date: Wed, June 21, 2017, 18:22:29 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
KD, I like your ideas. Especially seeing "The Second Arrangement" getting its just do in the studio.
I could see them doing Fallon only because Donald appeared with his fellow Dukes of September doing "I'll Be Good to You" back on 6/15/12...thank you DVR for remembering that date.
Date: Wed, June 21, 2017, 17:03:09 ET
Posted by: Steve, -
KD:
I'd quibble here and there, but you're right, they could have made a great SD album from those sessions. Walter could spice up Donald's lyrics on his solo stuff. DF could add his horn magic. If Donald had simply sung lead on some of the Circus Money tracks, that would have been enough to brand them as Steely Dan. Klein's production is really good. He would be great as a Steely Dan producer.
I don't think Donald and Walter would tolerate being on Fallon. It seems they stayed away from Letterman for years. Maybe they would do the other Jimmy or Colbert. You never know.
Date: Wed, June 21, 2017, 16:25:23 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
I spent a lot of time listening to tracks from Circus Money, Morph and Sunken Condos this week, I've had a lot of time of late, alternating tracks and just wishing some of the tunes could have made it into a Steely Dan session.
If Steely Dan got back together to re-record Second Arrangement, and just that song, it would make them and a record company money $2.99 at a time. It would get them on Fallon's shitty Tonight Show, the story behind the song's erasure is enough for scores of aggregator posts on some huge sites, and it might be enough (paired with the replaying of a hit) to get them on SNL.
Go full Yacht Rock with it, with the touring band. Gorgeous.
Then get back in the studio with those kids that Donald has been palling around with, kick Walter a bass and let's get one more Steely Dan album in.
Date: Mon, June 19, 2017, 11:47:34 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Oh, and I'm not gone. (Nor do I believe is M/O/D/P.) Sometimes you just have to pick your spots.
Date: Mon, June 19, 2017, 11:45:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Sure I've seen it before, not sure if I ever commented on it. Fabulous cover. This song sounds great stripped down and especially gussied up, IMO. Larry (one of my all time favorite electric guitar players) is in top form, but lets the band take some of the (original) guitar leads. Flute work is very nice. Gotta love it.
Great material played, sympathetically, by a great band. Really, what's not to like?
Date: Mon, June 19, 2017, 01:28:23 ET
Posted by: Abu, Big Band with Larry Carlton
The video of Larry Carlton performing Kid Charlemagne with the SWR Big Band is below, for those that might have missed it a couple of months or so ago. It has been taken down on YouTube, but it is now on Dailymotion, at least for now.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5r68gm
Date: Sun, June 18, 2017, 14:35:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Boz actually grew up in the Dallas area, where he met Steve Miller, not the SF Bay - I guess Daryl should have known, but w/e.
Daryl is a SD fan for sure. No change of headlining/sharing with SD though.
Not sure SD will tour much more has a headliner anyway - the Azoff packages offer more $$ for less. The shed tours are getting old for Walter...
Date: Sun, June 18, 2017, 09:49:09 ET
Posted by: hoops,
Robbie: Ditto.
Date: Sun, June 18, 2017, 09:03:45 ET
Posted by: Robbie,
Are M/O/D/P and The Dean OK? Vacation or something? Miss them.
Date: Sat, June 17, 2017, 16:15:34 ET
Posted by: Milt, CT
I like Daryl Hall's webcasts, but I think he's got a bit too much of an ego to open for SD.
Here he suggests that Boz Scaggs would be a good opener for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igkyajvrm-8
It would be a concession that although they are commercially superior to the Dan, they are artistically inferior.
Date: Sat, June 17, 2017, 09:39:27 ET
Posted by: Mark, TX
I don't have a problem per se with singles. But as Ryan points out, when you hear the first single prior to listening to the album, you always think of it that way. Tomorrow's Girls, H Gang, Cousin Dupree, Not the Same without You and Blues Beach have retained a "singles stigma" for me.
And it has nothing to do with it being a first single, but Rikki, despite its high charting, is easily one of my least listened to SD tracks. I don't play albums sequentially or in their entirely, and there's other songs off Pretzel Logic I'd rather cherry pick.
Date: Sat, June 17, 2017, 04:25:46 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
With some of the unusual touring by SD this Summer, I wouldn't be surprised if next year they tour on the road with "The Doobie Brothers" or "Hall & Oates".
I really would like to see them tour with "Hall & Oates". They put on a great show but I was surprised by how short their set was when I saw them in Clearwater, FL a few years back.
Seemed like they only played for 80-90 minutes.
They could open for the Dan, tear the place up and then "SD" can do what only they can do.
It would be a great night of music for sure.
Date: Fri, June 16, 2017, 14:31:31 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Thurs, June 15, 2017, 08:23:02 ET
Posted by: Ryan, PA
Blues Beach should not have been put out as a pre-album release single or otherwise promoted as being EMG's "hit." It makes you view the song in a different context. It would have been better to discover it when listening to the whole CD, like Green Book. But that's how the industry's marketing works.
As an example, if Snowbound were promoted as an introductory single, I probably wouldn't have liked it. In the back of my mind I'm thinking "the purpose of this song is to be a hit, and it's failing." But I was introduced to it just listening to the CD and it was my favorite on Kamakiriad. So a few months later when the single and video flopped, I didn't care.
I've argued that SD and other bands should ask the hard core fans for input on singles.
Tomorrow's Girls was a good first single from Kama, but I agree the second pick would be Snowbound, then Florida Room.
TvN: The first single selected was supposed to be Janie Runaway, but there was too much Sax, rather than sex. Never really dug Cousin Dupree. Wet Side Story (replacing Dupree), Jack of Speed would be tempting...but I would have released an edited West of Hollywood or Almost Gothic first.
EMG - this is much easier
Pixeleen
Lunch with Gina
Everything Must Go
Greenbook
in that order. Never Blues Beach or TLM in a million years as a single.
Morph: Wrong singles released
The Night Belongs to Mona is the strongest song and my second single. Great Pagoda of Funn is the lead single, edited if needed.
Circus $: Again, wrong single released. Downtown Canon in a Secretariat Runaway as a single.
No better way to introduce the album and lead single than "I cracked the code."
Can't really argue with I'm Not the Same without You as the lead single. Weather in My Head is my 4th single.
Good Stuff - 2nd single
Miss Marlene - 3rd single from Sunken Condos.
Date: Thurs, June 15, 2017, 23:43:32 ET
Posted by: Updraught, West of Philly
Jon Herington and Jim Beard put on an excellent instrumental "jazz" show at the Kennett Flash tonight, playing not only their own songs, but some classic jazz tunes, pop songs, and a superb version of Gaucho.
They are two exceptional musicians, like most all Steely Dan alumni. Highly recommend seeing the show if they are coming to your area.
Date: Thurs, June 15, 2017, 12:00:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
KD: That's a good article. Live tracked as a band of 6 on analog tape with subsequent digital touch-ups on the overdubs and mixing. Just before EMG was released there was an article released ID'ing digital tweaking after analogue recording, that I posted. Anons (the irascible webdrone, allegedly someone deep in the organization) howled in protest. This and other post-EMG articles set the record straight.
Digital Dubbing
Once Scheiner had recorded the band at Sear, the project continued with overdub recording, which was, perhaps surprisingly, done on digital multitrack. "One of the problems with analogue tape," explains Becker, "is that as you continue to work on a piece of tape the sound deteriorates. So after recording the basic tracks on analogue we transferred them to a 16-bit Sony 3348, used this for overdubs, and when it was time to mix we used the original analogue 24-track and locked it up with the overdubs on 3348. While we did overdubs we also did some editing on computer. There are a few manipulations that are much easier to do on a workstation."
"Walter and Donald had some trying experiences in the 1970s with analogue," Scheiner points out. "One of the most annoying things was the shedding of tape. After a while you found most of the oxide lying in front of the headstack. Nobody wanted to deal with that, so once we finished with analogue we put the analogue tapes away until the mix. For me the sound of the basic tracks after they had been dumped into digital was no comparison to how they had sounded in analogue. But overdubbing is a lot easier in digital."
Date: Thurs, June 15, 2017, 08:23:02 ET
Posted by: Ryan, PA
Blues Beach should not have been put out as a pre-album release single or otherwise promoted as being EMG's "hit." It makes you view the song in a different context. It would have been better to discover it when listening to the whole CD, like Green Book. But that's how the industry's marketing works.
As an example, if Snowbound were promoted as an introductory single, I probably wouldn't have liked it. In the back of my mind I'm thinking "the purpose of this song is to be a hit, and it's failing." But I was introduced to it just listening to the CD and it was my favorite on Kamakiriad. So a few months later when the single and video flopped, I didn't care.
Date: Wed, June 14, 2017, 14:42:32 ET
Posted by: Mike in NYC, NYC
Re: Steve and Blues Beach. It's nice to hear someone else praising that boppin' little song. I always liked it a lot but rarely see anyone mention it. It does sound to me like one line ("before suddenly falling apart") is stumbled over, but maybe it's just me. Anyone else notice something funny about how that line is sung?
Date: Wed, June 14, 2017, 12:52:34 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh
KD, that article is wonderful. DF should collaborate with them.
Date: Tues, June 13, 2017, 17:37:37 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
John Mulaney gets it:
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/lifestyle/7832739/oh-hello-stars-nick-kroll-and-john-mulaney-on-steely-dan
Date: Tues, June 13, 2017, 13:55:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
JT has a nice version of 2ndA out there as well. Smooth and faithful rendition of the attempted reboot
There's a longer clip of the original with Ed Greene or Porcaro on drums...man, it is slinky as hell...makes the engineer Charlie Foxtrot all the more painful. Not sure why they didn't try the reboot with the original band rather than Gadd and Wendell...but that's history.
The Kulee Baba full demo features Marotta on drums, I believe.
Date: Tues, June 13, 2017, 13:47:11 ET
Posted by: Abu, Extra Extra
Doc, yes John Tabacco did a great job on that cover. Did you hear the extra added line(s) added to the tune? He wrote me in an email a while back, telling me he hoped DF and WB didn't mind. I think the song is enhanced by it. John T also collaborated with the late Nigey Lennon on a cover of Brain Tap Shuffle, complete with an outro that her late companion Frank Zappa would approve of. I thought I read somewhere that Nigey was working on another cover but it was not released when she died. Maybe someone else has heard of it.
Date: Tues, June 13, 2017, 13:04:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Abu: John Tobacco's take on "Oh Wow, It's You Again" is amazing.
Some may remember this as part of a compilation put together by musicians on the Yellow Book years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAKgY9oJCT8
Date: Tues, June 13, 2017, 13:00:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,
Soul M
Ween "Pandy Fackler"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y7o0e3F2Fg
Pretty Dannish
The Decemberists "The Perfect Crime Pt II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUv5VspWedk
Roxy Music + Neil Finn/Crowded House revival albums; not Dannish
Eagles Of Death Metal "Now I'm A Fool"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub2tu6VAszY
Only a fool would release it.
KD, Steve: Back to front is the gateway on EMG.
Still can't stand BB and LM. TIMTM - great song and killer bridge.
Date: Mon, June 12, 2017, 21:16:53 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
Thanks KD for your comments. I enjoyed them. I think the album is a fine one...its the evolution of "Steely Dan" and I for one, would pee my pants if I knew there was one more album somewhere in our future's.
..and if that's not to be...hopefully one more Fagen album
sometime in the next 10 years.
Date: Mon, June 12, 2017, 21:12:39 ET
Posted by: Abu, Sunning on the Mountain
Nicely done cover version of the pre-Dan tune Sun Mountain done by one Rich Whitely. He has done a couple of recordings. The YouTube cover is just vocal and acoustic guitar. He also did one on Soundcloud, which includes drums, piano and bass. The latter was recorded in the studio, but never released on CD or anywhere else. See what you think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws175gw7yao
https://soundcloud.com/richwhiteley/sun-mountain-1
Date: Mon, June 12, 2017, 20:24:28 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, San Jose
KD,
I actually read the R.A. Lafferty book after that interview came out. "the world's first transcendental (and pipe-smoking) computer, which can change the past retrospectively" sounds pretty cool, right?
It wasn't as impressive as I'd hoped, but maybe someone else had better luck with it!
Date: Mon, June 12, 2017, 20:24:56 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
SoulMonkey:
"Pandy Feckler" is one of those that caught my ear the first I've heard it. I also always thought that Ween's "Mister Richard Smoker" might pair nicely with "East St Louis Toodle-OO".
Date: Mon, June 12, 2017, 17:43:23 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Just listened to EMG, mindful of Steve's comments and a recent re-read of an old Sounds piece on the two, which pegged Lunch With Gina and Things I Miss the Most as having been recorded prior to 9-11. Not trying to be a downer, but, eh.
http://www.soundonsound.com/people/steely-dan
It's a masterful album, and Blues Beach took on a rougher edge (for whatever reason) after hearing what fun Steve had with it, just now. The title track was a little embarrassing to listen to all the way through, considering what's happened to us in recent months, but that go-to band sizzled, McCracken was killer and steady, Becker's bass playing was fantastic and Green Book was an absolute highlight.
Thanks for the suggestion, Steve. Still haven't done the album back to front yet ...
Date: Mon, June 12, 2017, 16:03:45 ET
Posted by: SoulMonkey, Louisville, Ky
Amy, check these out
Ween "Pandy Fackler"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y7o0e3F2Fg
The Decemberists "The Perfect Crime Pt II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUv5VspWedk
Eagles Of Death Metal "Now I'm A Fool"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub2tu6VAszY
Date: Sun, June 11, 2017, 07:34:23 ET
Posted by: Abu, Way back, in '92
Here is an early Monkey House tune from Don B and the gang's first album (1992). It is called We Never Knew Each Other.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3TxdR5uq_E
Date: Sat, June 10, 2017, 18:01:45 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
I was listening to some "Steely Dan" today and enjoyed
"Blues Beach". I'm surprised that this fun, pop tune is seemingly always trashed when discussed by "hardcore" Dan-fans.
Personally I thought it was a throwback to SD pop hits like "Rikki" or "Any Major Dude". So much of the rest of "Everything Must Go" seemed too dark..same with "Morph the Cat".
"Steely Dan" to me is joyful music which really uplifts you
so I respect "Blues Beach" for delivering that on that particular album.
Date: Sat, June 10, 2017, 13:25:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Listening more intently to Crosby's live She's Got to be Somewhere. Within the SD sphere, the chord progressions remind me a lot more of Monkey House (Revolver, I Could Do Without the Moonlight, Death by Improvement) than Aja. 21st Century Dan is a little closer...specifically Paging Audrey and Morph the Cat, maybe Good Stuff.
Literally good stuff, regardless. Just my take.
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 19:10:56 ET
Posted by: Pete Evans, Manchester UK
Thanks for all your brilliant work Jim. From all Dan find in the UK.
PS we are looking forward to the London gig on October.
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 18:50:08 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
The latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out this evening around 6 pm NYC time. It covered May 11-June 9, 2017. The previous Dandom DIgest covered April 25-May 10, 2017.
The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:
- REDUX: Steely Dan To Play Dublin & London, UK
- NOW AVAILABLE: 1-Day Classic East & West Tickets
- REDUX: Official Donald Fagen & The Nightflys Tour Announced
- Two more DF Japanese Dates
- H2O Added to Dublin Blues Fest
- Deacon Frey, Vince Gill join Eagles for Classic Shows with SD
- Official Tin Foil Hat Video
- Todd Rundgren Discusses Collaborating with DF
- Ultimate Classic Rock on Tin Foil Hat
- DF to Appear on Derek Smalls’ New Solo Project
- David Crosby Sounding Very Steely
- Re: David Crosby Sounding Very Steely
- “Velvet Underground is Opposite of SD”
- DF Performs with Rock Academy Students
- 13 YO Pianist Unveils SD Medley
- New Catherine Russell Interview on ABC7 NYC
- Jeff Baxter Addresses Space Innovation
- "SD FAQ” Book Party with King of the World Cover Band Party
- Pre-SPOILER: Greenwich Town Party with SD featuring Larry Carlton
- SPOILER: Greenwich Town Party with SD featuring Larry Carlton
- SPOILER: More: Greenwich Town Party with SD featuring Larry Carlton
- SPOILER: Photos Greenwich Town Party
- Not A SPOILER: Larry Carlton on Josie
- Not A SPOILER: LC reunited with 335
- SPOILER: Compete Greenwich Town Party Show
I f you are a subscriber, you should already have received it. If you don't see it, check your spam filters first; then, if it's not there, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com.
As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you did get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.
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Also, if you wrote something for this most recent Dandom Digest and it didn't appear, please email me as well. It's been ages since the last edition so perhaps something slipped through the cracks.
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates. (Please note: I have no idea if Donald Fagen's official newsletter is currently active. It's been a few years since I've received anything from it.)
---
Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom. Pete, DB, Ben, and Gus.
As always, thank you for your support and writings through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and especially thinking of Mark, Bill, and Fezzie, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.
Fly about as low, be so cool,
Jim
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 10:17:44 ET
Posted by: -,
13-Year-Old Pianist Owen York Unveils Steely Dan Medley
Watch talented pianist Owen York combine over two dozen Steely Dan songs into one seamless medley.
https://www.jambase.com/article/13-year-old-pianist-owen-york-unveils-steely-dan-medley
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 10:03:08 ET
Posted by: -,
Deacon Frey and Vince Gill joining the Eagles for Classic East and West weekends.
http://www.countrycommon.com/eagles-vince-gill/
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 10:00:33 ET
Posted by: Perhaps posted before?,
Todd Rundgren and Donald Fagen Take on Donald Trump in Video for ‘Tin Foil Hat’
Read More: Todd Rundgren and Donald Fagen Take on Donald Trump in Video for 'Tin Foil Hat' | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/todd-rundgren-tin-foil-hat/?trackback=tsmclip
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:59:16 ET
Posted by: Amy,
A dear friend sent this to me today. Comments section includes a link to the video of Reelin' In The Years on Donnie and Marie that we are so sick of anymore.
The Opposite of The Velvet Underground is Steely Dan
by JOHN HOLBO on DECEMBER 8, 2016
Just like dog is the opposite of cat.
http://crookedtimber.org/2016/12/08/the-opposite-of-the-velvet-underground-is-steely-dan/
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:55:13 ET
Posted by: Scott,
Steely Dan's Donald Fagen performs with Paul Green Rock Academy students
John W. Barry , Poughkeepsie Journal 6:55 p.m. ET June 3, 2017
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2017/06/03/steely-dans-donald-fagen-performs-paul-green-rock-academy-students/368439001
Donald Fagen, co-founder of the rock band Steely Dan and a graduate of Bard College in Annandale, performed with teenage music students Friday night at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.
Fagen, a longtime Woodstock resident, joined members of the Paul Green Rock Academy Friday night for their Best of Season Show. Students ages 10-17 from the music school, which is based in Saugerties, performed with Fagen on the Steely Dan songs, “Do It Again,” “Reelin' In The Years,” Kid Charlemagne” and “Peg.”
“I felt elated and so proud of my kids, who very much held their own on stage with a true rock lengend,” Green said.
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:53:21 ET
Posted by: Cat's Meow,
Catherine Russell was interviewed a few days ago on ABC7 NYC:
http://abc7ny.com/society/here-and-now-on-june-4-2017-catherine-russell/2060991/http%3A%2F%2Fabc7ny.com%2F2060991%2F
Here and Now on June 4, 2017: Catherine Russell
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:51:25 ET
Posted by: baXter,
From SpaceNews.com
"Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter, a national security consultant who often leads wargame red teams and a founding member of American jazz rock band Steely Dan said the U.S. government will need small satellites and advanced technologies to address growing threats from potential adversaries. Photo Credit of Jeff and his crazy moustache USGIF
See more at: http://spacenews.com/u-s-government-should-reduce-impediments-to-commercial-space-innovation/#sthash.Gm1bF65o.dpuf
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:48:42 ET
Posted by: -,
Pete Fogel wrote elsewhere on the web
"Join us on June 30th at 7:00 P.M. for the CD/Book release party for The Steely Dan Sessions: Interpretations of Unrealized Classics and the Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left To Know About This Elusive Band at The Bitter End. I'll be joined by New York's premier Steely Dan cover band, King of the World. See you there!"
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:46:42 ET
Posted by: Angelle,
Harry Shearer To Release Spinal Tap Bassist Derek Smalls Solo Album
http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/06/08/harry-shearer-to-release-spinal-tap-bassist-derek-smalls-solo-album/
"Shearer talked about the project with GQ, saying it will “shed light on the travails of partying hard in one’s twilight years.” The album is already turning out to be stacked with killer musicians: Steely Dan’s Donald Fagan, Peter Frampton, and Steve Vai, just to name a few. Spinal Tap’s problem of ill-fated drummers may be continuing, as Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith tweeted a photo of himself with Dave Grohl and Jim Keltner in the studio working on the album."
Date: Fri, June 09, 2017, 09:44:26 ET
Posted by: Chris,
Most misplaced instruments never find their way home, but Larry Carlton was reunited with his famous six-string yesterday.
Airline Returns Larry Carlton's Iconic 335 a Month Later
Larry Carlton took to Facebook yesterday to announce that Air Berlin had found and returned his famous cherry burst 335.
https://reverb.com/news/airline-returns-larry-carltons-iconic-335-a-month-later?utm_campaign=1612019_bloglarrycarlton&utm_medium=FB&utm_source=FB
Date: Fri, June 08, 2017, 06:03:23 ET
Posted by: Troy, M.D.
And JJ's Invisible Man sounds a bit like Your Gold Teeth II. Meanwhile, SD's Pretzel Logic sounds a bit like Horace Silver's African Queen. Maybe Don and Walt were homaging Silver given Rikki is also on that album, oft discussed as having some of Song For My Father as an intro. Homages are common in jazz circles. Tell that to Keith Jarrett.
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 23:24:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
rhythm - not sure what autocorrect had in mind.
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 23:36:12 ET
Posted by: Roy, MD
Breaking us in Two (which concludes the JJ Podcast)sounds a lot like the Badfinger song Day after Day.
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 22:07:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Don - I'm in your corner.
On the Dunes and Snowbound are spectacular, but I'm less enamored by the morethrumrhythm oriented tunes on Kama. I will say this - the horn charts are spectacular on Kama.
TvN is an interesting beast. Melodies and harmonies have a late 50s hard bop and kool jazz edge...but many are kind of ditties...almost off of commercial ads and incident movie and TV show soundtracks of the time. The production on TvN is highly layered, with an emphasis on communication between the instruments rather than melody and accompaniment. Almost Gothic, Negative Girl, and West of Hollywood are my favorite songs. Potter's sax is a highlight.
EMG's jazz base is a little more late 40s, birth of jazz kind of thing. I think the second half is far stronger. Greenback, Pixeleen, Lunch with gina and the Title track are spectacular songs. things I Miss the Most has real potential in sophisticated comedy. Blues Beach and Last Mall just don't really work for me. I play the album in reverse order. I think Fagen's melodies become more robust from TvN to EMG and then Morph and Sunken Condos, which is close to the magic of The Nightly for me in sections.
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 20:17:23 ET
Posted by: fagenism, She go (I cry)
In my book, Morph packs the peaks of Don's entire solo catalogue: The Great Pagoda Of Funn and The Night Belongs To Mona.
*
MrHopeTelevision strikes again. Mr Sam in glorious 8-bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLh9OKoaLL0
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 18:42:56 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
Excuse me if this has been covered. Alec Baldwin interviews Joe Jackson. Towards the very end, he talks about his love for Steely Dan and how he attended "Countdown to Ecstasy" night at The Beacon. JJ marvels that SD pretty much played all songs from before 1981. He says he's not sure he could do that.
http://www.wnyc.org/story/joe-jackson-suffers-no-fools/
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 18:34:56 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
Don:
Sounds like a good fight to me!
Date: Thurs, June 08, 2017, 08:03:10 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Los Ageles
My two cents (which is, like, 2.7 cents Canadian): I'll take EMG and Morph over 2VN and Kama. Carlock alone is reason enough, but even removing him from the equation, I think the songwriting — and DF's singing — is better on the '03 and '06 releases. "Green Book" is the best track on a Dan album since 1980. Fight me.
Date: Wed, June 07, 2017, 16:45:34 ET
Posted by: Paul,
I remember Donald was collaborating with Jobim, maybe a dozen years. Did either release something from their collaboration?
Date: Tues, June 06, 2017, 17:24:43 ET
Posted by: hoops,
PQ: pls email me or call. Thanks,
Jim
Date: Tues, June 06, 2017, 16:50:01 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
Fagen performed with high school students at what is apparently a forerunner to the School of Rock movie, at the Paul Green Rock Academy.
Story here:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2017/06/03/steely-dans-donald-fagen-performs-paul-green-rock-academy-students/368439001/
The group playing Do it Again, Fagen singing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD1wTs52d18
Date: Mon, June 05, 2017, 22:06:03 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl
We'll be seeing Cat during the Mtl Jazzfest early July. Looking forward to it!
Date: Mon, June 05, 2017, 14:55:14 ET
Posted by: Stevie Dan, Philly
Dangential: Finally got to see former SD b/u vocalist Catherine Russell sat night at Dazzle Jazz club in Denver with her trio. Man is she the real deal! Been wanting to see her solo since she moved on from SD to do her own thing. Catch her if you can. And her trio are killer musicians too!
Date: Mon, June 05, 2017, 09:35:03 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Thanks for the link, kz.
Robbie: nobody likes everything--but I don't hear IGY and Last Mall being so similar. (IGY and Miss Marlene, I think a case might be made, not that I'm saying that's bad thing.)
That said, what are you favorite high point of SD and DF?
Date: Sun, June 04, 2017, 22:07:09 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, NYC
Steely Dan - May 27, 2017 - Greenwich, CT - Complete show :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxAItw7dIa8
Date: Sun, June 04, 2017, 22:25:09 ET
Posted by: Robbie, DE
I consider EMG and Morph the Cat the low point of the respective SD/Fagen discographies. As Strainer has pointed out, a lot of EMG was lifted from Fagen's earlier solo catalog. Last Mall = IGY, Green Book = Teahouse, Godwhacker = Green Flower Street, title Track = Big Noise, NY. As they are my least favorite and have gotten by far the fewest listens, one redeeming quality is that when I do give them the occasional spin, I find that they aren't 100% ingrained into my brain like all the other albums. It's kind of cool that I don't remember all the lyrics or the track sequences or hear something that I had forgotten about. It's not something I'll ever experience again with all the other albums, even if I didn't play them again until 2030.
Date: Sun, June 04, 2017, 01:57:56 ET
Posted by: Jerry, Manchester England
Just been listening to BBC 6music (brilliant station btw) and heard these guys introduced as 'you can hear the Fagen Steely Dan' influence. The track played was 'long time coming'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvpzV05EkDs
Date: Sun, June 04, 2017, 00:55:45 ET
Posted by: SS, HK
The Dangential part is that Philliganes played on The Nightfly album, notably Maxine.
This is a great and funny romp through some very familiar tunes while demoing an instrument.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=svX6WRWBP8o
Date: Sat, June 03, 2017, 20:16:17:45 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, Somewhere else
Photos from Steely Dan at GTP:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bywukak-o6lBaHNHNDBhenAwMFE?usp=sharing
Date: Sat, June 03, 2017, 19:05:17 ET
Posted by: Bob, Casual Lurker.
Looking forward to the Classic East weekend. Can't wait.
Date: Sat, June 03, 2017, 17:08:09 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Thanks for the report, Casual Fan. JJ's not a stage-patter kind of guy--he really has interesting things to say. And yes, he does maintain his voice quite well. Always thought it would be cool if he and Walter did a tour together.
Date: Sat, June 03, 2017, 15:46:06 ET
Posted by: Finally, Flushing
Just Announced-
The Classic East - 1 Day Ticket: 7.29
Citi Field
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D00527DBA0B4F58?brand=&tm_link=tm_homeA_h1
Date: Fri, June 02, 2017, 23:26:45 ET
Posted by: Casual Fan, Orlando
Reporting in. This was the second show of the JJ tour. First, we did get a very strong Night by Night, and before the song Jackson mentioned both Fagan and Becker as big influences. I saw a video of this from last year's JJ tour on YouTube and it seemed like a pretty similar intro, but hearing it live can't be beat. Many of my fellow concert goers joined me afterward in remarking how strong Jackson's voice is, and it's quite remarkable, especially with no breaks over a 2 hour plus show.
Highly recommend it if he comes to your area. And FYI, he is a showman, has some fun, and there's a few things in there that will entertain folks even in the less popular parts of his set list.
Last observation is that he's not at all shy about talking. It's not idle chatter. He gives a few insights about inspiration for some of his songs, that I did not recognize. And it added a lot, I thought, to hear how such a gifted songwriter had a thought that evolved into a recorded song.
Date: Fri, June 02, 2017, 19:29:06 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Enjoy Joe Jackson, Casual Fan. And for others, as myself, Casual Fan, et al have oft discussed, awesome version of King of The World on JJ's 2000 Live NYC album. If you search out there somewhere, there's a nice version of Junkie Girl as well.
Date: Fri, June 02, 2017, 19:27:07 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
I'm hearing a bit of the title track from Morph The Cat in Tin Foil hat.
Date: Fri, June 02, 2017, 13:45:43 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
Seeing Joe Jackson here tonight, and as noted many times here he frequently adds an SD cover to his setlist. I'll post on the board if he does. I think last tour it was Night By Night.
I saw SD at Beacon last year for CTE night and someone said they though Jackson was there. Would love to hear a good cover of King of the World. Hope they planted the seed on that ...
CF
Date: Fri, June 2, 2017, 01:39:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,
Steven: You mean much of the lyrics. "with a girl from East of here" That's Donald...and I presume most of the more straightforward stuff is Rundgren.
Music-wise, it's mostly Fagen.
Date: Thurs, June 1, 2017, 15:01:30 ET
Posted by: Steven ,
With all due respect to your opinion Mu, Tin Foil Hat is a Rundgren song with a few Fagen elements. There's no way I would become a Steely Dan or Donald Fagen fan based on Tin Foil Hat. It's a hooky ditty. But sick of it.
Date: Thurs, June 1, 2017, 06:15:00 ET
Posted by: Phil , Pau
http://www.thedailybeast.com/van-dyke-parks-on-how-songwriters-are-getting-screwed-in-the-digital-age
Dangential, Van Dyke Parks on how the music business has evolved over the years, [ originally published three years ago. ]
Date: Wed, May 31, 2017, 20:53:24 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Tin Foil Hat is growing on me...like moss.
It has some stick to the ribs chords, a little bit of bluesy piano. Has a bit of the feel Nightly and Sunken Condos possess.
Could use a bridge or solo...but a week ago I thought it would be a tune that I grew tired of...but nope, not really.
Deceptive. Fagen does it agin...
Date: Tues, May 30, 2017, 13:32:48 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Beaver, the wording in that article is very confusing--at least to me. I read it as saying H&O/Isaak will be playing in Dublin on the 29th. SD is playing in London on the 29th. But your information seems to be correct. But I wouldn't have been able to put it together from that article.
And, yes, a Beacon run is looking a bit less likely unless it is much shorter and/or time shifted.
Date: Tues, May 30, 2017, 14:48:45 ET
Posted by: Chris , NH
Bob Lefsetz loves Tin Foil Hat:
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2017/05/29/tin-foil-hat/
Date: Tues, May 30, 2017, 13:43:30 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, still here
WB introduces LC
@ GTP 5-27-2017:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eRfA4BTUJw
Date: Tues, May 30, 2017, 13:32:48 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Beaver, the wording in that article is very confusing--at least to me. I read it as saying H&O/Isaak will be playing in Dublin on the 29th. SD is playing in London on the 29th. But your information seems to be correct. But I wouldn't have been able to put it together from that article.
And, yes, a Beacon run is looking a bit less likely unless it is much shorter and/or time shifted.
Date: Tues, May 30, 2017, 12:48:56 ET
Posted by: The Beaver,
It's been announced that Hall and Oates and Chris Isaak wil open for Steely Dan at their October 29 date in Dublin.
http://entertainment.ie/music/news/Hall-amp-Oates-and-Chris-Isaak-join-Steely-Dan-at-BluesFest-in-Dublin-this-October/393838.htm
Meanwhile, sure seems like Beacon dates are less and less likely this October, don't you think??
Date: Mon, May 29, 2017, 14:58:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Thanks, P: there is is. Pretty close to offensive, but I'm glad. Art shouldn't be comfortable. chord progressions remind me of EMG title track, Security Joan over a familiar shuffle...that's Miss Marlene. A bit straight ahead. Could use a bridge, but high quality stuff.
Date: Mon, May 29, 2017, 14:52:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
CT: The main solo is close to note for note, but there's some spontaneity on the outtro - I prefer to mix up the equations. LC sounds as good as ever
Date: Mon, May 29, 2017, 14:05:56 ET
Posted by: Row Jimmy, CT/NYC
I was at the Greenwich show. I bought my ticket off Craigslist for price a day before the show after e-mailing the town and asking if I could go. (I don't live in Greenwich, but nearby.)
I took my 6-year-old. His first concert ever. He loves SD (knows all the albums and songs--his favorite songs are Rose Darling and Night by Night).
It was a predictable show, but enjoyable. My son really enjoyed it and said he wanted to see them again.
Larry Carlton was a nice surprise. He was a little bit timid, but expected as that is likely his personality and he does not know the songs as well as Herington (or has not played them as much lately).
I have to piggy-back on the others talking about the audience. Most of the people there were not there to see SD. The fair really is just a place to be seen. The CEOs and money there was so obvious. Becker, in his rap, referenced all the money in Greenwich ("Daddy don't drive in that Austin Martin no more...") and talked about insider trading and such. The seating was annoying as people would set up these huge areas of saved seating and not even hang out there for more than 5 minutes at a time. No scruples whatsoever. And, where I was sitting, no one was clapping or reacting to the music. Luckily, they started packing up 30 minutes into SD's set. So predictable.
Overall, I was glad to go and enjoyed myself. Cheaper than taking my kid to the Beacon (although he will probably ask to go to that now) and getting a hotel room for the night. And I love the music.
Date: Mon, May 29, 2017, 13:06:10 ET
Posted by: Thanks, P., -
Official Tin Foil Hat video. (I guess Trump fans can skip.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=los9WulxBjM
Date: Mon, May 29, 2017, 13:00:21 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
M/O/D/P: Glad to hear from you.
Jim
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 22:55:54 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P,
450 miles due south of the 49th parallel
Big thanks to BadSneakers for the recent posts. I wish I could have been there. Sorry - but not at all surprised - to hear about the obnoxious drunken cloth-eared ADHD types around you. Personally, aside from seeing DF & The Nightflyers this summer in St. Augustine, I have no plans to attend any more live shows this year, mostly due to those aforementioned obnoxious drunken cloth-eared ADHD types. All it takes to ruin a great evening is the injection of an asshole or two, and, circa 2017 the Common Asshole (Assholicus obnoxiousi) is not exactly an endangered species. And, sadly, its preferred habitat appears to be the concert hall, according to recent studies anyways.
Hoops - I agree re: Crosby's latest vs. Rundgren & Fagen's recent forgettable/regrettable offering. Sure, Crosby's had his fair share of ups & downs musically and otherwise, but he obviously still has the ability to come up with something interesting, eminently listenable and timeless - with the accent on "timeless". The whole "Let's write an obvious song or sophomoric comedy skit about the current American President" schtick has now officially been strip-mined past the bedrock. I fully understand that the losing side of the last election in the US is still angry, bitter, and intransigent, but as a relative outsider I am tired of hearing about it every goddamned day. And I never did give a flying melodica about what any celebrity - three quarters brain dead or reasonably intelligent - thinks about the fecal extravaganza that western politics has become. No...really...
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 21:00:01 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Thanks to BadSneakers, Hoops and everyone else for all the recent news, and great links. Good to hear Larry changed it up a bit on the solos. I loved how he played with the outro solo on KC. I probably would have prefered he start the main solo with his album solo, then take off. But I understand. I doubt Donald will chastise him for this, after all it is his solo---and he is Larry Fucking Carlton.
Too bad about those drunk, chatty, screamers, BS. I really can't complain if it's before the concert (or between songs), although it's still annoying, but there is really no excuse for it during the performance. Too bad there isn't a way to eliminate that crap, the way Hoops did with the delayed posting.
And M/O/D/P, when you come back above ground. Email, text, call me or just send a smoke signal. We have much to discuss.
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 18:17:23 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, Home at last
I stood next to a couple of intoxicated twenty-somethings near the front before SD took the stage. She talked very loud. "We're down near the front, left side," she yelled into her phone. "I'll wave my arms so you can see me!" Oh great, I thought... another loud drunk kid...
Her friend was even more obnoxious. She sucked down so no one would see her drink an airline size shot bottle of vodka. "Woo-hoo!" she screamed.
When Steely Dan started playing, they began a high-pitched shrieking, that was so annoying that several people asked them to please stop. When Walter was about a few minutes into his Hey Nineteen rambling rap, one of the girls said, "I completely lost whatever it is he's taking about..."
During Aja, when DF picked up his melodica, I saw that - for some reason - he was performing wearing a green hooded raincoat. His voice sounded a bit strained at times... Definitely relied on the backup singers.
Great guitar interplay between WB and LC in some tunes, like Time Out Of Mind.
On other songs, WB played unseen from the side of the stage.
Dirty Work featured beautiful guitar accompaniment by Carlton. I think he played his red Gibson the entire time.
He played good solos on many tunes, especially Peg, Reeling. Like Herrington, his soloing on certain tunes evoked signature phrases from the records' solos while making them his own.
DF dedicated the encore, Pretzel Logic to Gregg Allman, who had just died.
DF also shouted out to the previous band, "How about Alabama Shakes?" With a grin he added, "Very entertaining!"
Thanks for the ticket - to (you-know-who-you-are)
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 16:15:34 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago, sadly not Greenwich, CT
Thanks to whomever posted LC on Kid Charlemagne from last night.
This has been posted before, probably several times, but I also just again enjoyed Larry with Travis Carlton, Gene Coye on Josie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K45iMT_SxWc
BadSneakers:
Thanks for the set list (Now displayed). Just in followup -- please email me at jjmckay at me dot com when convenient, if you feel like it. Thanks for your patience.
Jim
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 12:53:34 ET
Posted by: CT, LC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvRyHBL2T-w
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 10:05:34 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago, sadly not Greenwich, CT
Thanks for the list. I was hoping someone would report. Very appreciative. Thanks for the set list.
Best.
Jim
Date: Sun, May 28, 2017, 00:30:01 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, just back from Greenwich Town Party
Just got back from Greenwich Town Party.
Alabama Shakes, played a great set before Steely Dan. Fantastic young band.
Steely Dan took the stage at 8:25pm.
Surprise: Jon Herrington not present. In his place: Larry Carlton!
Bodhisattva
Black Friday
Hey 19
Aja
Show Biz Kids
Black Cow
Daddy Don't Live in that NYC
Time Out Of Mind
Dirty Work
I Want To Do (Band Intros)
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Kid Charlemagne
ENCORE: Pretzel Logic (DF dedicated the song to Greg Allman)
Date: Sat, May 27, 2017, 10:27:09 ET
Posted by: Steven,
Larry Carlton guesting at tonight's Greenwich CT Town Party.
So. Very. Cool.
Date: Sat, May 27, 2017, 16:47:27 ET
Posted by: Duane, Road that goes on forever...
R.I.P. Gregg Allman
http://abc7ny.com/entertainment/gregg-allman-of-the-allman-brothers-band-dies-at-age-69/2044311/
Date: Sat, May 27, 2017, 15:19:10 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland
Fagenism
Re: Aunt Leslie
Man, that is indeed good shit.
Today has been a good day and that has put the biggest smile on my face thus far.......
Date: Sat, May 27, 2017, 13:11:05 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Have to say that the David Crosby's "She's Got To Be Somewhere" is topping my internal charts over Tin Foil Hat. And the ladies in his band reminds me a touch of a Prince performance. Tangentially, "Yvette In English" by another big Dan Fan, Joni Mitchell (from "Turbulent Indigo", 1994), has been in regular rotation on my personal list for some time, especially in the pre-dawn hours. Co-written with David Crosby. Have only been a casual CSN(Y) fan over the years, and I could do without some of the tabloid fodder around Crosby over the years, but good music!
Date: Sat, May 27, 2017, 08:15:23 ET
Posted by: fagenism, She go (I cry)
Jack Stratton - Vulfpeck's bandleader - has confirmed that the line from 1612 is, indeed, a Purdie reference. Purdie ended up playing Kid Charlemagne live with the boys a while back. Check youtube.
Also check out the tune Aunt Leslie, off of Vulfpeck's latest album, The Beautiful Game. Very much plays like a tribute to King Of The World. Good shit.
In other news, Morph The Cat is sounding mighty fine this summer.
There's a strange new music in the street.
Date: Sat, May 27, 2017, 00:17:23 ET
Posted by: Chris, Nh
KD got it - the lyrics are:
"Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway/Frank Sinatra," just as Purdie lists them in the making of Aja.
"Frank Sinatra" is spoken the same way Purdie says it in the making of Aja clip.
They are big SD/Purdie fans (and even hired Purdie at a gig a summer or two back, where they covered Kid Charlemagne pretty damn well).
The band is actually a four piece rhythm section, but they collaborate with the vocalist, Antwon Stanley, fairly often. I think the tuba in the live video I linked was part of Colbert's house band.
Date: Fri, May 26, 2017, 19:26:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
KD: The hand gestures and pantomime drumming? I never would have gotten that...was pouring over the music, shorts, lyrics.
Amusing now that I'm focused on the visual.
Date: Fri, May 26, 2017, 18:07:33 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Steve M (and possibly others):
https://youtu.be/_ldtieSEyQM?t=36
The singer apes Purdie.
Date: Fri, May 26, 2017, 12:18:18 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland
Didn't spot the Dan/Purdie reference in the Vulfpeck tune Chris but 2 basses AND a tuba??
Jeez, that's some bottom end!
Date: Fri, May 26, 2017, 00:24:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Prairie Wins and Chrome Dreams II post-Briggs are solid. TBH Neil Young's not really my cup of tea in general...
VulfPeck - nice stuff. First tuba and Fender Rhodes combo in a pop band??
Date: Thurs, May 25, 2017, 22:51:23 ET
Posted by: Shakey, Sugar Mountain
Crosby wasn't referring to Neil. He idolizes Neil and NY is the only artist left from the 60s/70s still making new and socially relevant music, challenging big money corporations and politicians, standing up for the environment, and not merely resting on his laurels and hits, challenging himself by playing exciting blistering music live with young bands (Promise of the Real). He's a 70+ rocker who has legions of teenage and 20 something fans. Neil saved Crosby's life several times by forcing him to get clean, and Crosby wishes his career was 1/10th as good as Neil's.
Date: Thurs, May 25, 2017, 21:15:12 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Good find Chris, that whole DVD (the Peg scene, the McDonald isolated, Purdie) has really taken on another life since hitting YouTube. We were making jokes with our Purdie impression in college, it's nice to see it carry over to the next generation.
Date: Thurs, May 25, 2017, 19:34:10 ET
Posted by: Bobby, CA
How come nobody's talking about the private Greenwich Town Party gig with Steely Dan this Saturday? Larry Carlton mentioned in his Facebook page that he's rehearsing with Steely Dan for three days so I guess he will be the substitute guitarist for Jon Herington. Sure wish I was going. The residents in Greenwich, CT sure are lucky.
Date: Thurs, May 25, 2017, 16:46:34 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh
I know some people here enjoy the band Vulfpeck. Someone just pointed out to me that there's a fairly obscure Steely Dan/Purdie reference in their song '1612'. See if you can spot it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiiWR6436Eg
Date: Thurs, May 25, 2017, 10:45:10 ET
Posted by: Chris, NYC
We have a winner, folks! no more emails, please.
the correct answer, is of course:
Woodrow Wilson
John Kennedy
James "Jimmy" Carter
Date: Thurs, May 25, 2017, 00:12:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Sorry for the (delayed) double post. I guess that's the downside of the delayed moderated posting---and my drinking (or lack of drinking). The upside of the delay seems to be paying off, big time. Anyway, my bad. Carry on.
Date: Wed, May 24, 2017, 22:36:34 ET
Posted by: Abu, Covered up
Here is a SD tune that is rarely covered. The Chris Vasi Trio does Everything Must Go. It is an instrumental with acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. Nice to hear it done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvWyuuAPhis
Date: Wed, May 24, 2017, 16:02:03 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!
drewslo, thanks. That sounds about right to me.
Cheers.
Date: Wed, May 24, 2017, 12:35:15 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Thanks, drewslo. Makes perfect sense. And I agree with Crosby on this one, if he was referring to Young. I respect Neil, for the most part. But some of his newer stuff is well---let's just say it's "not for me".
Date: Tues, May 23, 2017, 21:20:45 ET
Posted by: drewslo, San Luis Obispo
David Briggs who was Neil's producer died in the 90's.
Date: Tues, May 23, 2017, 12:51:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Drewslo - you could be right - Crosby is on the outs with Young also. lol
Young is shacking up with Darryl Hannah...so not sure who died - manager??
Date: Tues, May 23, 2017, 12:48:59 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Dean: Not sure, but it could be Graham Nash.
Crosby can be blunt. Nash and Crosby are on the outs because Crosby laid some "truth" (which is in the eye of the beholder) on him, and Nash feels disrespected big time.
Crosby was the least cited of the songwriters in CSNY, but the more recent stuff with his son and band is pretty good. He sobered up and is on his path. I've heard Crosby is not exactly fan friendly...but that's his deal.
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 23:35:45 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
drewslo, thanks. But (not belabor the point for too much longer) who is the person in Neil's life who died?
Fred, whatever you say, chief.
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 22:04:07 ET
Posted by: drewslo, San Luis Obispo
It's getting off topic but Crosby is referring to Neil Young in the interview quoted below.
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 20:10:02 ET
Posted by: Fred, PA
Dean wrote...
"Barney, I think you missed the point. Listen to Crosby's song on that link. Very Danesque."
...and gets reeled in!
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 19:35:43 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour! Another Round.
Of course, it's well known Crosby is a big Steely Dan fan. His new song just wears his fandom on it's sleeve, so to speak. If you have doubts, here are a couple interviews where he is quite upfront about it:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/david-crosby-talks-trump-kanye-what-prison-taught-him-w441968
http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/02/04/david-crosby-feature-interview-croz/
I have a question for all you aficionados. In the Rolling Stone interview there is this exchange:
////What's the worst part of success?
Success has been very dangerous for me. You take a young kid, like I was in the Byrds, and give him a million dollars, they're gonna screw up. What's the kid's name with the tattoos that keeps getting in trouble?
Justin Bieber?
Yeah. That's what happens with success with young, ignorant kids. Also, success eventually eats up bands. You start out and you're all excited and it's really good and it's wonderful. But after a while, it devolves into a thing where you just turn on the smoke machine and play your hits. And that's a success thing. That's what makes you do that, since it's a path of least resistance to the money. Not my thing, man. Doesn't do it for me.
You also surround yourself with people that never say the word "no."
Yes. I could name a couple of my friends who do exactly that. They exist in a world where the only people that talk to them are the people that work for them. All they hear is, "Oh, sweetie baby, everything you say is deathless prose." Well, that doesn't help! You need somebody to say, "You're on the right track, but you're not there yet." Or "No, that's not your best work." Too often artists just hear, "Oh, sweetie, you're fantastic!"
They think those people are their friends, but they're on the payroll.
Yeah, they're not your friends. They're just kissing your butt. There's a perfect example of that, a person we both know. I'm not gonna say whose name it is, but it really fits. [Laughs]
I think I know what friend you're talking about here. …
Yeah. There's probably been three or four bad records in a row.
With people around him that don't tell him that.
That's a big part of it.
He used to have someone around him that would help with that, but that person died and …
Yes! That person! Oh, so you know exactly who I'm talking about! [Laughs]\\\\\
Anyone have a clue as to who it is they are talking about, here?
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 19:30:01 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, way west of Lost Wages
Hey Lee,
The guitarist is Jeff Pevar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Pevar
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 18:31:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!
Barney, I think you missed the point. Listen to Crosby's song on that link. Very Danesque.
Date: Mon, May 22, 2017, 18:28:14 ET
Posted by: Lee, down in Tampa, Where else?
Crosby's song really DOES sound a lot like Steely Dan. He was famously quoted saying that Aja was his favorite album in his collection, so it makes sense.
Nice band.....noticed five singing voices, which is more than the usual music ensemble.....resulting in great execution of the song's very nice harmonies.
Is that Frampton on the left in the clip playing guitar? I'm not sure. I have noticed over the last few years his playing in the backup bands on a few specials/tribute TV shows....George Harrison being one, I think.
Posting was unavailable from about 1:00 pm, Sunday,May 21 to 6:00 pm today, Monday, May 22.
Date: Sun, May 21, 2017, 12:03:10 ET
Posted by: Barney Beacon, NJ
KD
"David Crosby really, really wants to be in Steely Dan"
Where is that even insinuated in that RS article? Steely Dan name isn't even brought up. I guess it's your own personal opinion. Click bait!
Date: Sat, May 20, 2017, 10:38:34 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
KD:
Indeed! Just like Dr Mu and kuleebaba said.
Date: Fri, May 19, 2017, 20:59:34 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, blah
KD -- wow!! No kidding.
Date: Fri, May 19, 2017, 15:11:20 ET; Updated: Sun, May 21, 2017
Posted by: Alkali, board in the office
reading through "tin foil hat" it occurred to me that it would be something to transverse parola via many dan song.
then i thought why not turn it into a contest, cause i wanted to, so here's three songs about presidents, if'n you can guess who correctly you will win in the immortal words of one immortal gene shepherd
"a major prize"
I could be wrong but I have seen your films before
You were the man that I saw acting on a score
You honed your craft but you gave them something more
oh ray gun
oh ray gun
You will be what you are just that plain
Did you play the old red man with that peace in your hand
And leave him lying about his reign?
You were the founders and the actors of the guild
Until you ran for the house upon the hill
you clapped your hands when you won ah what a thrill
oh ray gun
oh ray gun
You will see it to the end anyway
Did you flay the other gang with a line in the sand
And leave him lying about his fame?
When you chose to use the tool
And you've seen all the star wars movies
further the plan
alone you will stand
I understand that you will soon be beatin' down
oh ray gun
oh ray gunn
You will be what you are just insane
Did you play the old red man with that peace in your hand
And leave him lying with the blame?
girls if you give some hum
bubba-rampage is your man
He's always filming, having fun
Showing his shorts in the den
Come on, come on
Soon you will be a queen
I think you know what that means
please tell your mama
not daddy just mama
cause she may be itchin to sin
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
Everyone comes to the movie
right there in oval oh
Listen to what I say
He wants to show you his way
Right down the carpet with open jaws
To teach you a new way to pray
Come on, come on
Soon it will lead to hate
grabbing your ankles can wait
We know you're used to
being a whore
Sorry, but thanks for the date
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
Kids if you need to run
See what you never have seen
Throw down that pillow and kneel right down
To stuff the election machine
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
Everyone comes to the movie
right here in oval oh
I vote once and you vote more
It's a scam to help you
I can't read stuff bout you no more
And you see white like it's a sin
and you can block em in
while you ascend
I fear the monkey on the throne
Won't you turn that shemop round?
I can tell it's downbeat
Where's that fatwah sword I found?
But homey you don't think that it's wrong
To be a vietcong?
you'll sack all my things for another four years
make it clear
I hear the honky in your tone
Date: Fri, May 19, 2017, 15:01:23 ET
Posted by: Chad, NM
Since many of us bring our Steely Dan on plane trips, this is required reading.
http://www.airsafe.com/issues/baggage/sextoy.htm
Date: Fri, May 19, 2017, 02:01:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, left of the Rio Grande
KD: Holy crap, it sounds like GreenBook!! lol
Date: Thur, May 18, 2017, 14:37:56 ET
Posted by: Mark, TX
Todd Rundgren on how he discussed a collaboration with Fagen over dinner.
http://www.rttnews.com/2776013/todd-rundgren-advises-trump-supporters-to-avoid-his-shows.aspx
Date: Thur, May 18, 2017, 11:21:34 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
David Crosby really, really wants to be in Steely Dan:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-david-crosbys-shes-got-to-be-somewhere-on-fallon-w482918
Date: Thur, May 18, 2017, 03:01:23 ET
Posted by: Van City Grill,
That Gibson piece Any Mount of World is still on the steely Dan site
https://www.steelydan.com/2vngibson.html
Date: Wed, May 17, 2017, 16:03:29 ET
Posted by: Phan Phread,
Fred:
As you point out, it's old news, but it's interesting to revisit after a few years. Bowling is becoming bigger and bigger with hipsters in the past couple of years. The Times did a story on it recently. I guess that means it's hip, huh? :-) Maybe Donald will next do a post-ironic song about a Jean Shepherd-era table tennis tragedy. He could call it "Put Your Eye Out."
I guess DF was ahead of his time again.
Date: Wed, May 17, 2017, 16:02:30 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos
Armadillo, please see item #29 under "Misc. Fan Utterances."
http://steelydan.com/deadletter.html
I hadn't scanned that page in a while. There's some hilarity there.
Date: Wed, May 17, 2017, 14:25:30 ET
Posted by: Armadillo,
I see that Glenn Frey's son, Deacon Fry, will be taking the place of his dad on Classic East and West shows. With a name like Deaon, one has to wonder if his name at least partially inspired by Steely Dan's Deacon Blues.
I can't attend those shows but wishing a blast to here who are lucky enough to go.
Date: Wed, May 17, 2017, 12:58:03 ET
Posted by: Larry Fan, CA
Between The Royal Scam and Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark, there's not a few weeks that don't go by that I don't play both of those album. And it's all because of Larry Carlton. Not only is Larry an amazing player, he really seems like a really decent guy. A great combination.
Date: Wed, May 17, 2017, 12:00:04 ET
Posted by: Fred, Bedrock Bowl
Not recent news, but Miss Marlene's old haunt closed.
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/bowlmor-lanes-closes-article-1.1857949
Guess it just wasn't the same without her. Reply
Date: Tues, May 16, 2017, 06:32:45 ET
Posted by: PGE, Looking east...
Two more dates in Japan listen on Donald's events/Facebook page:
September 20: Osaka Festival Hall
September 22: Nagoya International Conference Center
If you can read Japanese you may get more out of this link than I did:
http://t.pia.jp/pia/event/event.do?eventCd=1721581&afid=Q05&tid=1717569_001
Date: Mon, May 15, 2017, 16:49:49 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Awesome show by Amy Helm and company last night at City Winery, Chicago. Everyone was top-notch including the guitarist--but the guitarist was not Connor Kennedy. Maybe he's busy rehearsing with Donald Fagen and the other Nightflyers, or something.
BTW: Amy introduced the band, but other than Cashdollar and Silver, I couldn't hear who they were. I've googled but no definite results. Anyone know the indentities of the guitarist, the opening vocalist (if I understand correctly she is the guitarist's spouse) and the drummer? All great. Thanks.
Date: Mon, May 15, 2017, 14:07:55 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland
The subject of Love and Money and in particular their 1988 Gary Katz produced album 'Strange Kind of Love' comes up here on a regular basis.
Well, L&M mainman James Grant has a new dance/soul music project called 'The Korvids'
Here's a link to a Gary Katz produced remix of the single from the album
(might not be to everyone's taste but we don't hear much of what Katz is up to these days, personally I was just getting into the guitar solo when it faded out!)
Hope the YouTube link works where you are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHfe_pfP5k&index=5&list=PL02FVkdRZD_NPY2PE0SWJdgkPrtQsTJRc
Date: Mon, May 15, 2017, 12:52:39 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
https://www.pollstar.com/article/tollett-confirms-no-desert-trip-131715
No Led Zeppelin reunion in the desert, apparently.
But, in better news ...
"That being said, there is a baby boomer event still on the books: the bi-coastal concerts in July featuring Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Journey and others called Classic East and Classic West."
Steely Dan = "others"
Date: Mon, May 15, 2017, 10:40:23 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe
Fear & Loathing
https://www.yahoo.com/music/collaborations-album-todd-rundgren-talks-loving-reznor-fagen-150024609.html
Date: Sun, May 14, 2017, 23:21:45 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA
I came across this article about a week ago. As I read through this I wasn't expecting anything Dangential, but I was mistaken.
https://aeon.co/essays/why-do-your-musical-tastes-get-frozen-over-in-your-twenties
Date: Sun, May 14, 2017, 21:57:56 ET
Posted by: sdv, up on the hill
Todd Rundgren talks Tin Foil Hat...
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/todd-rundgren-collaborations-album-trent-reznor-trump-interview-1202425953/
Date: Sat, May 13, 2017, 18:38:18
Posted by: Paul,
Kurt
Thanks for the link to the Sun-Times story on Any Helm's gig in Chicago tomorrow night.
The Sun-Times had a typo that omitted the time. (Doors open at 6 pm/show at 8 pm) It turns out that the Sun-Times article is based on the info/Press Relase at City Winery/Chicago.
Here's the link to that as well as connections to buy tix.
Amy Helm featuring Cindy Cashdollar and special guest Connor Kennedy - 5/14/17
http://www.citywinery.com/chicago/tickets/amy-helm-the-handsome-strangers-5-14-17.html
Date: Sat, May 13, 2017, 14:36:33
Posted by: Not to be anal, but
AMY HELM
With: Connor Kennedy
When: p.m. May 14
Where: City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph
Tickets: $20-$28
Is that how they do times in Chicago? Sometime after 12 and before 11:59PM.
Date: Sat, May 13, 2017, 14:05:07
Posted by: danbk99, Belly of the Beast
This All Too Mobile Hearse: The Last Days of Kasey Kasem ...
Date: Sat, May 13, 2017, 06:30:23
Posted by: Security Joan, Elsewhere
Nicholas & Hoops: Outside of the political discussion, and as to whether people "get" their stuff when played in public places, I think it's brilliant that ANY Steely Dan songs find their way to Kroger playlists. As Hoops suggests, the Muzak programmer may indeed be in on the joke, but I think it's simply someone liking the groove and oblivious to the message. Either way, it is welcome subversion. (Walter once said with usual snark, "It's universally agreed our music is the best possible rock music to play in a supermarket")
(Hoops knows the following, I think) This is something I've found interesting enough to map out in a mobile app, and the great writer William Gibson is equally fascinated by it - unfortunately, the only online link to his essay "Any 'Mount of World", about standing in the frozen food aisle and deciding that Steely Dan is the "most subversive pop music" ever, has gone dead. The essay *can* be found in his book "Dislike That Particular Flavor."
My site on this -- woefully neglected lately - is at www.yestheresgasinthecar.com/dantrack
I'll try to get the Gibson essay up there, if I can get approval. It's too good to not be online!!
Date: Fri, May 12, 2017, 12:52:39
Posted by: Kurt, CA
Story about Amy Helm in advance of a weekend show in Chicago with Connor Kennedy.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/amy-helm-carving-out-her-own-musical-niche-legacy/
Date: Fri, May 12, 2017, 10:30:23
Posted by: hoops, chicago
KD: wrote:
>
> That's not me saying "It occurred to me today" in front of my post as
> some sort of sarcastic dig, just a ha-ha happenstance.
>
KD: Technical glitch on my end. Sorry about that. Somehow popegreg's post mashed up with yours. Thanks for your gracious response about it.
Jim
Date: Thurs, May 11, 2017, 20:38:34
Posted by: KD, asdf
That's not me saying "It occurred to me today" in front of my post as some sort of sarcastic dig, just a ha-ha happenstance.
RE: The UK dates -- awesome, maybe it will spark up some more in the winter. And, also: We're better than the Doobie Brothers, officially.
Date: Thurs, May 11, 2017, 19:48:23
Posted by: Alkali, NYC
a good one for Obuma's inauguration woudld have been Monkey in your soul followed of course by Becker's inane drool.
Date: Thurs, May 11, 2017, 13:04:56 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
It occurred to me today: Never noticed Michael Leonhart sneaking over to add keys during the 2000 tour:
https://youtu.be/DX0C5Qj44NU?t=2533
Walter's playing is on fire in this concert.
Date: Thurs, May 11, 2017, 11:20:13 ET
Posted by: Vincent, Egan
[ received as empty post ]
Date: Thurs, May 11, 2017, 02:47:23 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
It occurred to me today: If Walter played 45's inauguration and was changing up lyrics to suit the occasion, I can think of a few Steely Dan songs that would be appropriate:
Russia Don't Lose That Number
Gaslighting America
Here At The End Of The Western World
I Got The Fake News
Dirty Work (dedicated to James Comey)
Hey Ivanka
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 21:12:43 ET
Posted by: hoops, rainy chicago
It occurred to me today:
If Walter had been invited to play Trump's Inauguration, he could have performed, "Book of Liars."
Maybe he could book-end "Tin Foil Hat" with updated lyrics in "Book of Liars '17".
Just a thought, not much.
Jim
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 21:10:25 ET
Posted by: hoops, rainy chicago
The latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out this evening around 8:30 pm NYC time. It covered April 25-May 10, 2017. The previous Dandom DIgest covered April 19-24, 2017.
The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:
- ***SD To Play Dublin & London, UK***
- Listen to Fagen/Rundgren's New "Tin Foil Hat"
- Lyrics to "Tin Foil Hat"
- Rolling Stone on DF/Nightflyers Tour
- Pollstar on DF/Nightflyers Tour
- Nightflyers & Kate Pierson
- REDUX: Official Donald Fagen & The Nightflys Tour Announced
- UpDaTe: RUMORMILL: NYC Beacon SD Shows in October?
- REDUX: ON SALE NOW! on Classic West and Classic East Bill
- REDUX: SD Headline Greenwich Town Party
- REDUX: An Evening with Herington/Beard
- SPOILER: 4/25: Santa Barbara
- SPOILER: 4/26: Las Vega$
- SPOILER: 4/26: Las Vega$
If you are a subscriber, you should already have received it. If you don't see it, check your spam filters first; then, if it's not there, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com.
As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you did get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.
Also, if you wrote something for this most recent Dandom Digest and it didn't appear, please email me as well. It's been ages since the last edition so perhaps something slipped through the cracks.
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates. (Please note: I have no idea if Donald Fagen's official newsletter is currently active. It's been a few years since I've received anything from it.)
---
Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom. Pete, DB, Ben, and Gus.
As always, thank you for your support and writings through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and especially thinking of Mark, Bill, and Fezzie, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.
Fly about as low, be so cool,
Jim
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 21:08:30 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl
Hope it doesn't sound like the Big O!
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 14:36:45 ET
Posted by: John Dungworth, Once brewed UK
Anybody know if there will be any more UK or European dates?
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 13:09:56 ET
Posted by: Gil, TX
The O2 arena in London looks like a mini Montreal Olympic Stadium.
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 10:16:29 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
I guess I should have mentioned how happy I am for those Eurofans who have been waiting so long for our heroes to cross the pond before getting back to Beacon speculation. I will have to refrain for an appropriate period of time. Yeah, Europe!
OK. Done.
Kreg, that makes sense with DF already playing there in August. I guess we'll have to see as they are definitely changing things up this year. I'm already looking at airfare and AirBnB for around those possible October dates. :)
Toni, I'm not sure how different the evil Ticketbastard is in the UK but things I can suggest:
If you can get someone else to try too try too, that increases your chances of getting good seats. Do make sure you are in communication before completing the checkout process so you don't get stuck with extra seats.
Use multiple devices like a computer, tablet and phone to search at the same time. Don't use multiple browsers or tabs on the same computer (in fact, in the US you will usually lose whatever tickets you have in your cart if you do that). Take your time checking out (but keep an eye on the countdown clock) if you find seats you like but keep checking on your other devices. Tickets will get put back out there when people run out of time or give up their cart.
I tend to use a desktop computer and an iPad, but on my phone I use the Live Nation app instead of going to ticketmaster.com. It uses TM but it's a lot faster and easier to use, especially when you're using multiple devices. You won't have that in the UK but check to see if there is some kind of app for your phone.
Last, make sure you are already signed in to your account on those devices so you don't have to enter everything.
Good luck!
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 09:43:18 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Should we start some sort of dartboard for potential covers Donald and the kids might play this summer?
What about, here's a weird one, "Funk #48?" Not with Fagen singing lead, of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkZepbHIrvE
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 08:00:00 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos
Toni, I always turn to Dante before going to Ticketbastard: "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017, 04:54:45 ET
Posted by: John Countwright, Little Snoring, UK
Admittedly good to hear about the one show in London, even if it is a poor venue but does anyone on here have any idea whether there might be more shows in Europe?
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 22:51:23 ET
Posted by: Gino F., Fort Myers, FLA
In response to Steven, US - Complaining about everything from setlists to band configuration to venues to tour timing to Walter's Hey Nineteen raps to the color of the damn seats in the theater to the very existence of the tours themselves is a longstanding Bluebook tradition. A (mercifully small) number of folks here are just not happy unless they're letting us all know how not happy they are. Then they're, y'know, "happy". Sort of.
Although, to be fair, things have been pretty upbeat (and a lot more civil) recently since we went into time-delayed "moderated mode". Sure, of course it's "good"...even if it makes for safe, fairly dull/straightforward (if nonetheless informative) reading.
I should count my blessings. At least nobody has tried to post more stupid crap about "Bon Jovi" recently. That we know of...
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 17:37:33 ET
Posted by: Steven, US
Why do some people come here and whine that there will be a Steely Dan show that's not exactly as they like when no one here can do anything about it. Yeah, the London show is heartbreaking--that is, for anyone who cannot attend any sort of show without undergoing great financial and logistical hardship. Yet, there are plenty of fans who won't let that any way dampen their enthusiasm. I suggest complainers stay home so there's a chance for tickets to be purhcased by fans who won't let the aforementioned hardships dampen any ethusiasm and joy they have for seeing Steely Dan.
Count your lucky stars.
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 17:29:34 ET
Posted by: Jonjo Cruddup, Wombwell UK
Disappointed there's only one UK gig and it's on a Sunday night in a massive tent next to the river Thames...
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 16:51:23 ET
Posted by: Toni, Europ
Slightly off topic; does anyone have some advice for getting good seats with ticketmaster. Seeing the Dan over hear is pretty rare so I'd like to make most of it.
Additionally what would you guys expect when they say they have the doobies as a special guest?
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 15:54:56 ET
Posted by: Stephen, london
no disrespect lads and ladies, but I don't care about the beacon scheduling or not, we've been living off crumbs (1.5 decades)over here
so rejoice, rejoice let us wallow in the great news, London AND Dublin
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 15:02:39 ET
Posted by: Kreg, KS
If there is a Beacon run, I wouldn't expect any "warm up" shows at the Capitol because A. Fagen's already playing two solo shows there and B. It would cut into Beacon ticket sales.
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 14:36:29 ET
Posted by: John Bestbefore, UK, Wath-upon-Dearne
One UK date and a Sunday....is that it? Ring out the past for good King John
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 11:47:00 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
Wow, the boys are going overseas, right around the time a Beacon run would also be likely.
Encouraging!
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 10:26:43 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
Thanks Bad Sneakers, I have relayed the corrected lyrics to my post over on the UT board and given a well deserved nod to your efforts, too.
CF likely.
Encouraging!
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 09:37:56 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
Well now with the London and Dublin shows on October 28-29, it sure would make sense for any Beacon shows to be in that October 15-25 range. So maybe 2 Capitol Theater shows as a warm up and maybe 5 at the Beacon seems likely. Here's hoping that's the case!
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 09:21:34 ET
Posted by: European Tour,
Dublin and London in October!!
https://www.steelydan.com/#bluesfest
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 07:13:23 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR
Really enjoyed revisiting the Shoreline '93 show, and to note how much younger we all looked back then. Struck by how many new/unfamiliar pieces were in the set list- 2 new WB songs, 3 Kamakiriad and 2 Nightfly songs. Wonder why they changed their thinking so dramatically on that front. In light of Carlock's brilliance, I'd forgotten what a good drummer Erskine had been, and how interesting Drew Zing's guitar work was. And the Deacon Blue/Tomorrow's Girls segment is one of the all-time best moments in any of SD's tours.
Anyone know why Donald's Portland OR show still hasn't gone on sale?
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 06:58:28 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
It looks like, if there are Beacon shows in October, there can't be as many this year. They've now got Tedeschi Trucks Band from October 6-14 and Kevin James on October 28-29. The Kevin James shows are being taped for a Netflix special, so I would think production setup for that would exclude any dates earlier that week. So maybe October 16-25 would be about the only open window. Hoping I'm wrong.
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 06:18:00 ET
Posted by: Bren, London
My goodness...at last...Steely Dan comes to London Town in October!!
Date: Tues, May 09, 2017, 06:17:31 ET
Posted by: Lewis, BCN-CAT
London's calling
And a night on the Liffey
Date: Mon, May 08, 2017, 13:41:22 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, writes
Suggest posting the CORRECT lyrics... Since these things propagate quickly, might as well be correct.
Thanks to those who posted corrections...
________________________________________
THE MAN IN THE TIN FOIL HAT
He’s coming down the escalator
With a girl from east of here
He wants to make the country greater
We got nothing left to fear
Because the man in the tin foil hat
Is sitting on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d’etat
But it's gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is tweeting like a teenage girl
He puts the Pluto in plutocrat
But it’s gonna be huge, huge, huge new world
He hasn’t got the time for losers
’Less they do as he commands
He’s writing checks to his accusers
With those tiny little hands
Because the man in the tin foil hat
Is sittin’ on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d’etat
But it’s gonna be huge, huge, huge new world
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is gonna drain the swamp tonight
And fill it up with alternative facts
And its gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is tweeting like a teenage girl
He puts the Pluto in plutocrat
‘Cause it’s gonna be huge, huge, huge new world
Because the man in the tin foil hat
Is sittin’ on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d’etat
And it's gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
Date: Sun, May 07, 2017, 22:11:34 ET
Posted by: Casual fan, Orlando
Kyle, it was I who posted that video and the lyrics, as transcribed by Bad Sneakers n that UT board. I probably should have at least hinted at the source to give credit, but no one on one anonymous board would likely know of the other.
Date: Sun, May 07, 2017, 16:01:01 ET
Posted by: SoulMonkey, Louisville, Ky
Dean, interesting take on the Dominance & Submission angle. While I agree that Don and Todd are not taking inspiration from BOC, I see the similarity. I'm a huge BOC fan along with SD. Two of my five favorite bands. I have a handful of friends I've met over the years that LOVE both bands. An odd combination for sure.
I've spoken with Buck Dharma at length about SD and Fagen inparticular. He is a diehard SD and Fagen fan btw. He told me that when Morph came out, he couldn't get it out of the stereo.
Date: Sun, May 07, 2017, 12:21:34 ET
Posted by: Frank, NY
How JJ feels about pickles is exactly how I feel about California and their obsession with giving avocados with sandwiches. I'll always take a pickle.
Date: Sat, May 06, 2017, 22:02:34 ET
Posted by: Katz's, Deli
Casey Kasem explaining Joe Jackson's dislike of pickles. Sorry couldn't resist.
https://youtu.be/TbMZmPH2iJE?t=16m27s
Date: Sat, May 06, 2017, 20:55:34 ET
Posted by: Gino F., I can't sleep either
Thanks to the contributor who posted those Casey Kasem links. I was never a fan of the guy, or of "countdowns", but those clips brought back some memories - a surprisingly good feeling - with a bit of cornball nostalgia and historical context in the mix.
Sometimes I wish it was 1978 again...
Date: Sat, May 06, 2017, 16:32:48 ET
Posted by: Greg M, NY
"Casey Kasem's final years could inspire another Steely Dan song lyric.">>"
You mean when his corpse was above ground for an inordinate amount of time and shipped around the country? Yes, I believe you're correct...
Date: Sat, May 06, 2017, 12:39:48 ET
Posted by: Steven,
Casey Kasem's final years could inspire another Steely Dan song lyric.
Date: Sat, May 06, 2017, 10:12:16 ET
Posted by: ,
[ received as empty post ]
Date: Sat, May 06, 2017, 03:43:56 ET
Posted by: Can't sleep, so you get this
Here's Casey Kasem on the March 18, 1978 American Top 40 show announcing Peg as the biggest dropper of the week, falling 21 notches.
https://youtu.be/0l00bN_wSjM?t=8m52s
Deacon Blues climbing the charts in May 1978
https://youtu.be/lZYaPDcDNCU?t=12m30
IGY entering the charts on Oct 30, 1982
https://youtu.be/sHNGRnumY0g?t=7m54s
Rikki a couple of weeks off its peak in Aug 1974.
https://youtu.be/0djreB0xWLo?t=11m37s
Josie
https://youtu.be/9pOumEfA11s?t=13m44s
Black Friday
https://youtu.be/5MTjwOwITV0?t=3m6s
Time out of Mind
https://youtu.be/xGZKDhHb0m0?t=19m36s
Do it Again entering the Top 10
https://youtu.be/_vyg51nbUtM?t=25m42s
Reeling climbing the charts
https://youtu.be/4fSO4lVAPC8?t=14m14s
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 21:25:39 ET
Posted by: Abu, "Left"-- up to me
The Dean was referring to the Monkey House tune What Exactly Is It That You Do All Day, where Don B adds a couple of vocalized (spoken) words within the tune. Specifically "At least to a doofus like me", and later: "Shit just wasn't right". More spoken words in a MH tune were on the previous Headquarters release, where about half of the tune You on the Brain were spoken, to good effect, I might add. And, on Second Avenue Subway, "what train", "one day" and "some day" are also spoken. Don't know if Don B's inspiration was Don F or not. Perhaps when Don B interviewed Don F for the Aja book, they traded some stuff.
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 19:02:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!
Inquiring Minds, I'm referring specifically to similar vocal tricks used on Monkey House's Left album. An clear example is from the song Top Ten List ("to review"). I'm pretty sure there is another instance of a similar vocal trick on Left, but it isn't coming to mind, at the moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuBB5oEzlPQ
Do I REALLY think Don and Todd got that from Monkey House? I really have no idea, but probably not. Honestly just a shout out to Don B. And one I figured might amuse (and would be fairly obvious to) those who have listened to Left. Certainly similar odd vocals have been injected into songs from other bands, in the past. "Radios appear" from Blue Oyster Cult's hysterical Dominance and Submission comes to mind as I type. Not exactly the same as what's going on here, but similar enough, I think. But I rather doubt Don and Todd got that influence from BOC. But if you want to hear it, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpKJUa6IoBs
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 18:07:29 ET
Posted by: Kyle, NJ
It didn't take long for the lyrics (as posted by Bad Sneakers) to propagate.
http://www.volnation.com/forum/politics/274103-tin-foil-hat.html
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 15:37:15 ET
Posted by: Inquiring Minds, want to know
Dean: Monkey House influence? Can you elaborate on that? Are you saying that Rundgren and Fagen were influenced by Monkey House? Or am I reading that wrong?
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 14:28:34 ET
Posted by: sdv, also, it's
gonna drain the swamp tonight
not
gonna bring us one tonight
(; .
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 14:47:34 ET
Posted by: sdv, pluto
"we got nothin' left to fear"
Date: Fri, May 05, 2017, 11:29:54 ET
Posted by: Barney Beacon, NJ
Is gonna bring us one tonight
And fill it up with alternative facts
And its gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
"Is gonna drain the swamp tonight"
Not...Is gonna bring us one tonight
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 21:52:39 ET
Posted by: Abu, The Swamp
On the third to last stanza, I believe it might be:
Is gonna drain the swamp tonight
And fill it up with alternative facts
And its gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 21:39:56 ET
Posted by: re Ambrose,
Regarding Ambrose now being a lawyer - that is crazy. Sad if he changed careers bc life as a musician was too hard - from what I heard from his work with SD, he was amazing. Or awesome if he simply wasn't fulfilled from his career.
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 21:11:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Bad Sneakers, the "redacted lyric" you refer to is "We've got nothing left to fear." I mentioned it in my last post. But I believe you probably already knew that. Dunno I'd call that "redacted" though.
I'm clearly hearing "Because the man in the tin foil hat..." and not "Cause", the first time it is sung.
Replace "Is gonna bring us one tonight" with "Is gonna drain the swamp tonight".
Other than that, I think you got it right.
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 18:56:53 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, Here
Corrections welcome ...
Also... the monstrous redacted lyric?
THE MAN IN THE TIN FOIL HAT
He’s coming down the escalator
With a girl from east of here
He wants to make the country greater
[ REDACTED ]
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is sitting on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d’etat
But its gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is tweeting like a teenage girl
He puts the Pluto in plutocrat
But it’s gonna be huge, huge, huge new world
He hasn’t got the time for losers
’less they do as he commands
He’s writing checks to his accusers
With those tiny little hands
Because the man in the tin foil hat
Is sittin’ on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d’etat
But it’s gonna be huge, huge, huge new world
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is gonna bring us one tonight
And fill it up with alternative facts
And its gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
’Cause the man in the tin foil hat
Is tweeting like a teenage girl
He puts the Pluto in plutocrat
‘Cause it’s gonna be huge, huge, huge new world
Because the man in the tin foil hat
Is sittin’ on the throne tonight
It kinda feels like a coup d’etat
And its gonna be great, tremendous, amazing and all that
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 17:55:55 ET
Posted by: Abu, Between Manhattan and Mexico City
Here, in my opinion, is one of the finest covers to come along in a long time. It was transcribed, performed and recorded by one Scott Sheriff, who says it was a "labor of love" to make this version of Donald's classic Maxine. He sings an excellent four-part layer of the vocal with harmonies, shown on the screen simultaneously. Also layered in are separate tracks for bass, drums, guitar, three keyboards, and four different horns. I'm not sure how all of that works. Perhaps some are digitally done. He does play the keyboards himself. It sounds very well executed to my ears, all around. Mark Douthit does the sax solo, who is seen playing on the vid (Mark recorded his own SD cover of What a Shame About Me in 2002. He is currently touring with Michael McDonald). Scott Sheriff performs in one of the better SD tribute bands called Twelve Against Nature, whose cover of the Second Arrangement is very good. Check out this fantastic cover, which as he says is "an homage to one of the greatest recordings ever released."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD16wzXJsUU
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 16:22:45 ET
Posted by: More Random, stuff
Ari Ambrose is now in another profession.
[He's now a noted immigration lawyer with a practice in NYC.]
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 14:47:34 ET
Posted by: Random, Sh*t
A novella was published in 1980 called Nightflyers by George R.R Martin. A movie based on it was released in 1987.
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 13:25:39 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Like Adrian, I like (but don't LOVE) Tin Foil Hat. Yes, the lyrics are a bit obvious---but there are a few (previously mentioned) that are clever. My biggest issue: No classic bridge, or particularly dramatic instrumental break, that changes the time signature or key. In the words of James Brown, "Take it to the bridge!"
I hear a little Monkey House influence: "We've got nothing left to fear."
KD, I attended the show at Shoreline in '93. I can tell you is, when they started into the opening medley, all I thought was WOW! I was completely blissed-out. I don't think I considered whether they would play any of the songs later in the concert.
And who cool is it that Sunim Koria stopped by The Blue? I hope he gets back to writing some music, he can share with us.
Date: Thu, May 04, 2017, 08:35:12 ET
Posted by: Adrian, Milw.
Tin Foil Hat moves me about as much as their cover of Rhymes. It's OK, but it's far from one of the first tracks that I'd introduce someone to Donald or Steely Dan. I don't like Donald Trump at all, but the lyrics are kinda high school level. I think it works better as an instrumental.
Some years back, maybe 2005 or so, there was talk that Donald was working with Anonio Carlos Jobim. I think one track came of that. Was that ever released? Thank you.
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 19:26:34 ET
Posted by: OrangeTom, Backwoods
KD: I figured at the time that the opening was like a Broadway overture previewing what songs would be performed. Nope.
The '93 show is certainly a time capsule. Mainly familiar, though I really don't remember DF front and center on "Home At Last". The show I saw was in the D.C. suburbs. Walter was a lot more animated in his delivery of "Fall of '92" there.
From his other solo, "electrons dancing in the frozen crystal dawn" will always remain one of my favorite lines.
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 17:38:27 ET
Posted by: Barney Beacon, NJ
Don Breithaut : "I figure the "girl from east of here" is Melania"
That was real tough one! Ha!
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 17:38:27 ET
Posted by: Barney Beacon, NJ
Don Breithaut : "I figure the "girl from east of here" is Melania"
That was real tough one! Ha!
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 15:29:29 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos
Jim, it sounds like I took as general comments that were intended to be specific. I see your point.
And I hope that you are right that people who are selecting the retail store music are getting a good laugh - I hadn't thought of it from that angle.
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 15:15:09 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
I don't agree with that suggestion either, Nicholas. I sure hope you don't mean my words. There are and have been plenty of conservatives (political or social or...) here and elsewhere who do indeed "get" what the songs are about. And plenty, regardless of political or philosophical like the music without understanding the lyrics. I'm sure that contributes to some years back, SD was ranked as third most played "store/elevator muzak" in the USA. And I'm sure there's librals who don't get it, more than a few who are musicians. What I *am* saying is that through the years, we've had posts about conservative talk show hosts (like Limbaugh) featuring Steely Dan music, especially segueing at commercial breaks, with lyrics that conflict with the positions expoused on their shows. I doubt that the host or their producers realize.
We could go on and on with "I heard common SD hits like 'Peg' in Safeway" and similar threads--but let's not. At the same time, as I agree with you, some, like "Everyone's Gone To the Movies" are quirky in family environments: is it the muzak programmer playing along with SD's joke? Given that a track like that (or "Rose Darlin'" and "Green Book" which I have heard in "family settings" of Jewel-Osco/Albertson's and Boston Market, respectively), I'd have to say the muzak programmer was likely getting a laugh by limboing them.
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 14:52:51 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos
I don't agree with the suggestion that conservatives are too dull by half to "get" Steely Dan lyrics, and that a conservative who thinks that he likes SD is broadcasting his ignorance to the cognoscenti. Disagreeing with the politics of an artist does not disqualify one from appreciating the art. Aren't there casual fans of all political stripes who are oblivious to what lurks in SD lyrics?
If you want to talk about somebody who has no idea of what's behind Steely Dan lyrics, find the guy who does the music for Kroger grocery stores and keeps "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" in the rotation.
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 11:45:01 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
OK. I'm done now.
- Bobby: Yes, Rush and conservatives (including talk show hosts) love SD. But like many internet trolls, they like the attitude, but they don't get that it's they that are effectively being made mocked in SD tracks. For example, through the years, there's been reports on the likes of Dandom Digest, etc. of conservative personalities playing tracks, usually the ones off "Decade," at their commerical breaks and the like.
- popegreg: Thanks for the HTML attempt. Just leave the regular link starting with http:// and that works best for our weird, archaic set up.
- Don: I don't think anyone will fight you. Pretty straightforward lyrics, like the NYTimes mini crossword I attempt with my aging mind everday. On the other hand, when DF writes with Walter, as I said yesterday, SD lyrics end up like the NY Times' Sunday crossword meets a Rubix Cube.
- Steely Dan lyrics are almost never mean or mocking...rather they are customized such that fools recognize themselves and as such that they self indict.
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 08:29:29 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Los Angeles
I figure the "girl from east of here" is Melania. Fight me if you disagree!
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 05:48:28 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
Rickie Lee Jones is publishing a memoir, and it will include discussion of her collaboration with Steely Dan.
Hopefully I got the hyperlink right:
Rickie Lee Jones Announces New Memoir Rickie Lee
http://pitchfork.com/news/73250-rickie-lee-jones-announces-new-memoir-rickie-lee
Date: Wed, May 03, 2017, 02:50:33 ET
Posted by: Bobby, CA
Is Rush Limbaugh really a Steely Dan fan? The very thought of it makes me sick. I know Ann Coulter is a Deadhead and loves the Grateful Dead but I never heard Limbaugh praising Steely Dan. Tin Foil Hat is a really good song. Very catchy melody. I'd like to hear Donald sing this on his solo tour but I kind of doubt he will due to the strong political overtones.
By the way, Michael McDonald has announced his new album called "Wide Open" will be released on September 15. It features Branford Marsalis, Marcus Miller and Robben Ford. I suppose some tracks will be released soon.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 22:52:09 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
RIP, Col Bruce:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9gXADKqiIA
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 22:34:19 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh
Doc, I thought the same thing about the "Girl from east of here" line.
Overall, I enjoy the song, but felt that it wasn't lyrically Fagen's best work (if it is his work). There's a lot of tepid anti-Trump "satire" in popular media and I feel like this doesn't really distinguish itself too much from that pile. I don't mind that he's overtly political and I sure as hell don't sympathize with his target. I just wish he had a little more to say.
Also, the use of software instruments is pretty obvious here, similar to the way it was in Rhymes. Almost a little ... chintzy?
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 18:39:01 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chi ca go (I cry)
Fagenism
Good examples on Rundgren's lyrics
The version of Ryhmes with Fagen and Rundgren is OK, but it just sounds generic enough to be somewhere between most any late night TV show band and a them to the next CSI series. Donald isn't essential to that performance, IMHO. I could think of a few others who could have done vocals on that. But I suspect DF enjoyed recording it.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 17:59:34 ET
Posted by: fagenism, She go (I cry)
@hoops
Always found Rundgren to be a really wonderful singer and composer, but cringe-worthy lyricist. The following masterpiece comes to mind:
Tell me, are we alive, or just a dying planet?
What are the chances?
Ask the man in your heart for the answers
With that said... Many of his classics are timeless. And his collaboration with Don on that Rhymes cover fucking SWINGS.
Over and out.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 15:11:23 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy
R.I.P. Col. Bruce!
http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/05/02/526538126/colonel-bruce-hampton-dies-after-collapsing-on-stage-during-his-own-birthday-con?scrlybrkr=be055f01
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 14:46:35 ET
Posted by: Paul, PA
I was thinking of taking a drive to check out the Mid Hudson Valley music scene. Anyone venues anyone can recommend? How's the food at Daryl Hall's club?
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 14:22:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
hoops: Yeah, I'd agree that the music is mostly Fagen, lyrics are mostly Todd.
A few lines that Fagen *could* have written:
"He comes down the escalator, with a girl from East of Here."
Escalator matches the rhythm nicely, "east of here" is vague enough to describe something foreign, but interesting. Adds irony, considering Trump's view on immigration.
"It feels like a coup d'Etat" has the feel of Mary Close the Garden Door
"He puts the Pluto in Plutocrat" Probably Todd, but it sounds enough like Walter and jokey that it should have been a Donald quip.
"...amazing AND ALL THAT" has a Letterman snarky feel, so it could be Donald. The rest of the lyrics sound all Todd...
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 14:05:23 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
That link that Dr. Mu posted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEZPVxhjwSE
For those that went to the early reunion shows, how did it feel to be met with the medley to start?
How quickly did "oh my God, Steely Dan is actually back and playing live" turn into "so, I guess we're not hearing them sing Aja tonight?"
If at all?
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 14:00:00 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Yeah, the Rundgren lyrics got me too. Thanks for putting it up though, guys, interesting song.
Here's a cool shot of Fagen leading the boys with a laptop perched above his Fender, MXR-90 in full glory:
http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2017/04/27/donald-fagen-nightflyers-steely-dan-tour-dates/#sthash.9VImWkZG.dpbs
Saw Kennedy playing a Strat in this one. Very interested to see his approach.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 13:27:01 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
I like Tin Foil Hat but as others have pointed out, the lyrics are different from a Steely Dan song, more direct and less oblique.
Fagen solo lyrics lean towards having obscure references which you can research and largely figure out. Everyone knows Tin Foil Hat is about Trump and it's very witty to say the least.
A Steely Dan song is always great than the sum of Walter and Donald. With Walter on board, people often aren't 100% sure what's being talked about and the abiguity is on going ponderance.The cluesless think it's them in the best way when it's them in the funniest way. (Clearly Steely Dan fan Rush Limbaugh hasn't the slightest idea...)
I can't help but ponder that if Walter were on board for Tin Foil Hat, the song would be so snarky and oblique that Trump himself would likely be so flattered that he'd tweet that it was one yuge, magnificent tribute to him by Mr. Steely Dan.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 12:57:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, Left of the Rio Grande
On youtube, folks. Appropriately released/posted on May Day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GknsBhsYiL0
Put on your hat and dancing shoes. "Kinda feels like a Coup d'Etat."
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 12:55:16 ET
Posted by: fagenism, She go (I cry)
@chris
Well said!
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 12:43:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, Left of the Rio Grande
teve - that's absolutely fantastic! ...and that's the music! It reminds me a lot of 80s Fagen: Nightly, Century's End, Big Noise New York, Lazy Nina, Love will Make it Right
"He puts the Pluto in plutocrat!" lol
haha this should be released as a Single.
This is why I hope Donald keeps recording. He's still got it.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 12:34:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
As for the Big Band paradigm...it's hard to beat the original in sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEZPVxhjwSE
This soundboard is the closest to a good live experience.
AiA, with some overdubbing and all, is fine...but I would have released this as the live album, Whole lotta energy and nuance to be picked up.
DF Tour - sure it's cheaper...but it's something different. Fagen seems to be relishing mentorship of young guys in studio, at one-off gigs, and now on the road. He enjoys being busy. Walter, less so. Plus August playing in shed in the south is no longer his thing - it isn't mine either! IIWII
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 11:10:12 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Los Angeles
What Hugh said.
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 10:51:29 ET
Posted by: Josey, Mass
RIP Col. Bruce Hampton! Collapsed and died last night at his 70th Birthday celebration at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe, Derek Trucks, Duane Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Warren Haynes, etc, etc. They were all there to celebrate and play. At the end of the night, Col. Bruce collapsed. Made it to the hospital but died there.
Long time, no post here recently. Hope everyone's well!
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 10:08:34 ET
Posted by: Flipkid, Red Srare
If Connor Kennedy can play slide guitar, I'd love to hear The Nightflyers do the "original" version of Show Biz Kids...
Date: Tues, May 02, 2017, 23:06:09 ET
Posted by: dee gee em pee at mail dot, SE USA
I saw this Dan quiz online. It was pretty easy if you are a die-hard fan. Some of it, tricky if not. Enjoy...
http://www.triviala.com/quizzes/view/music/bands/the-ultimate-steely-dan-knowledge-quiz/33220
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 23:06:09 ET
Posted by: chris, nh
Whatever Fagen's motivations - and you can bet $ was one of 'em - I'm excited to see a new band. The current Steely Dan band phenomenal, but they've been together longer than the original Steely Dan band ... new blood is in the SD DNA, to mix a metaphor.
The current band has perfected live Steely Dan. They can play literally anything in the catalog with aplomb. So let's fuck it up with a 4-piece of 20-somethings.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 20:43:17 ET
Posted by: Ports, mpls
Donald and Phoebe Snow in Woodstock...Home at last w/no horns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDjH1379iA0
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 18:15:19 ET
Posted by: Bobby, CA
There's a whole mess of old videos on YouTube of Donald's new band. Of course they weren't called The Nightflyers back then. Will Bryant's hammond organ will probably play a key role. Based on what I've seen and heard on YouTube, The Nightflyers will have a very heavy blues based raw organic sound as opposed to the smooth sheen polished style of Steely Dan. Maybe a mixture of Steve Winwood, Gregg Allman, Bruce Hornsby, Booker T. & the MGs and Medeski, Martin & Wood. I could be wrong though. This is all just early speculation.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 15:04:00 ET
Posted by: pfogelATNnycDOTrrDot, NYC
FYI....Fagen has been doing unadvertised club gigs with this new band for the past 8 months all over the Woodstock area. It's not going to be like the band is brand new and unrehearsed when the tour starts. Fagen has known and has been playing on and off with Connor Kennedy for the past 10 years. Connor was teenage guitar prodigy growing in the Woodstock area. He also came out as a guest at one of the Beacon SD shows about 5-6 years ago. All the guys in the band sing great. No need for additional back ground singers. A few of these kids even sound like chicks when they harmonize. Personally speaking, I'm really looking forward to this tour!
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 14:29:23 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
I was in a hurry and didn't actually type much, which allowed for people to take it wherever they wanted.
It's not a Fuck You to any person or band or style or sensibility, it's just another Fuck You in a long career of Fuck Yous
Fuck You, I'm going to be the only guy that learns to write songs like the Velvet Underground (every other old demo from Don and Walt sounds like Oh! Sweet Nuthin), and then forgets it to make more impressive sounds.
Fuck You, we don't need to tour.
Fuck You, we don't need a band.
Fuck You, the drummer doesn't need water.
Fuck You, I'm done with the 1980s.
Fuck You, I'll work in analog.
Fuck You, I'll record in an illegal apartment.
Fuck You, I'll spend the cash I made at the casino going out and playing with some Good-Time Kids during the summer. I'm not going to add Chicago or Hall and Oates to the bill in order to sell more tickets.
It's not a flip off, Fagen doesn't do that. He wants to get funky in an entirely different way and I, like the rest of you, can't wait.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 14:03:45 ET
Posted by: iv,
I'm eager to see interviews with the new members of DF's band. Would be fascinating to hear how this came about, what it's been like working with DF, challenges they've faced, how they've grown, etc.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 13:30:01 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Pete, I'm great. Email sent.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 13:09:34 ET
Posted by: pfogelATNnycDOTrrDot, NYC
Hi Dean - How are you? Maybe I'll see you at the Miami show?
KD-- I think you're way off on your assessment of DF's new band/tour.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 13:05:23 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
I've grown accustomed to the SD band as currently configured, more or less, and really think it works well with the SD catalogue. And as I posted the other day I do wonder how some of the voicing will be reconstructed with this band. And I also admit I will miss the horns -- truly just an underappreciated component of "pop" or "rock" music these days, generally.
But, there is no way DF puts himself or others out there without FULL confidence that they will deliver a product that people want to hear. So he's found some young guns, and will do some arranging we don't know. Meh, that's what made me an SD fan in the first place -- the pleasantly unexpected. (TM)
TM = I own the trademark to that name (The Pleasantly Unexpected)for a future band, should I ever learn how to play anything).
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 12:48:36 ET
Posted by: Jack, NV
The statement Fagen is making with this band has to do with the fact that he now has the same first name as the President. And being that he's a democrat, he was sure to hire some kid named Kennedy. He doesn't want anyone confusing him for Trump. Yeah, that's it. Not sure where you get your wild, unfounded ideas KD.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 11:56:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
KD, to whom, exactly is the Fagen band/tour a "Fuck You"? The fans? Azoff? His current band? And what makes you think Fagen is interested in giving a "Fuck you" to ANYBODY or anything? The bullshit people project onto others is so completely absurd. We have yet to even hear this band, playing whatever material they are going to play, and some already think they know exactly what the band will/won't, can/cannot, do. I'm thinking we may want to actually HEAR them before making any pronouncements.
I doubt Donald would approach this tour half-assed, or with any less professionalism than he has in the past. Don isn't a "punk rock" guy, thankfully. Consider this: Dylan toured with a group of musicians that would become "The Band" in the 60's. With the exception of Garth, none of the musicians were known for having any particular chops. Robbie was a decent guitar player, but it would be easy to miss that from his work with Hawkins. I mean, he's no Roy Buchanan. But, given the material, and the way they played together, it was fabulous. They grew to become The Band, and very few people question their musical ability, now. They were spectacular players in the genre---and had a LOT of genre versatility, too.
Now, I'm not saying these guys are "The Band". I'm just saying, who knows? The youtube stuff I've seen makes it hard to know. They really aren't playing very complex stuff, for the most part. Doesn't mean they can't, doesn't mean they won't. Or vice versa.
Anyone making definitive statements about this band, and tour, should back it up with evidence---or properly admit they are simply guessing. I know I'm just guessing---and hoping.
BTW, thanks for the Judith Hill and Love and Money links.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 10:25:39 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Fagen's band is a big Fuck You, hopefully a reaction to the Dukes frustration, and after 14 years with the same band I'm giddy in anticipation.
No way these guys, even if they're all prodigies, are going to be anywhere near as versatile or, let's be honest, "great" in the typical sense that most of the seat-dancers expect. That's fine, though.
All I could ask -- all I'd give anything for -- is for Walter to hop on the tour. Just two guitars, two amps.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 06:23:34 ET
Posted by: Hugh,
New song with Todd is great. The lyrics are a bit nore obvious than a Steely Dan song. SD songs tend toward being more oblique.
Date: Mon, May 01, 2017, 04:49:34 ET
Posted by: Big Trev, Barcelona
Hey wgdrummer. As far as I know Donald's exact contribution to Strange Kind Of Love was never stated, but this track sounds like it must be him to my ears at least. The chord voicings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETI7yao-I-8
Give it a listen.
The whole album is great by the way
Date: Sun, April 30, 2017, 23:21:34 ET
Posted by: bIKEMANN17, Colorado
Let me be the first to say that Song Tin Foil Hat is just great!! Thanks
Date: Sun, April 30, 2017, 19:38:09 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Here's a link to a collaboration between Todd Rundgren and Donald Fagen on Tin Foil Hat. It will be on Todd's forthcoming album on May 12. It sounds a lot like a Steely Dan song. Republicans are especially going to be happy with the song. I got it to work on my smart phone but not sure if it will work on every platform. Also don't let the graphics deceive you. Note: The licensing is set up that you can only play it three times every two weeks. I guess you can listen on different browsers and devices.
https://m.mixcloud.com/ClosertotheEdge/closer-to-the-edge-4-27-2017mp32755mb/
Date: Sun, April 30, 2017, 18:57:34 ET
Posted by: wgdrummer, west of brooklyn
Anybody know the track that Donald Fagen played on on an album called "Strange Kind of Love" bu the band Love And Money in 1988? Album produced by Gary Katz? Tnx
Date: Sun, April 30, 2017, 10:17:09 ET
Posted by: Chet,
Who's worried about not having a horn section? It's obviously not an issue.
https://youtu.be/YDAFsFeskKE?t=4m30s
Date: Sun, April 30, 2017, 04:09:34 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Las Vegas, NV
Opaline Theatre 29 April 2017
Setlist and brief report:
INTRO: Fan It, Janet ~8:05 PM
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Two Against Nature
Dirty Work (Ladies rotating vocals)
Bodhisattva
Home At Last
Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More (WB Vocals)
I Want To (Do Everything For You); Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
ENCORE: Pretzel Logic
OUTRO: Untouchables Theme ~10:05 PM
The band was on fire tonight from start to finish, clearly in a festive mood for this finale to the Venetian run. For me, one of the highlights was Michael Leonhart's solo on Dirty Work. Herington, strong as usual throughout the evening, was exceptional on Reelin'. Walter's lead work was solid on Two Against Nature, Home At Last, and Pretzel Logic. For PL, he seemed a bit higher in the mix than I recall for the Beacon shows we saw last year; an improvement, IMHO, but not quite high enough for my taste. Donald's vocals were at least as strong tonight as they were on Wednesday, and I don't recall any flaws in his performance, unless you count substituting "absolutely" for "absitively" in TAN (I don't). Overall, another outstanding performance. There were no surprises, but we didn't expect any for this casino run. So we got what we came for this trip; two nights of great music, superbly executed. We're going to skip the Classic shows, so we're now looking forward to September at the Masonic.
Date: Sat, April 29, 2017, 17:18:23 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida
Big Trev
Whoops, I was typing fast and reversed the first two albums. Chronilogical dyslexia if you will. In those days the local newspapers used to review every concert. Maybe someone could try and dig up at least a review or two from those tours and gleen some set list info. Back then everyone was just enjoying the music, sans cell phone cameras to record all of the details. The good old days.
Date: Sat, April 29, 2017, 17:18:23 ET
Posted by: Craig, OR
Hey, Doc! Just remember this isn't a Steely Dan gig. Donald's piano might be placed on the opposite side of the stage. This was done when Donald played with Amy Helm & the Handsome Strangers on 3/2/15 at the City Winery in NYC. Just go online and look at the photos or on YouTube.
Date: Sat, April 29, 2017, 17:18:23 ET
Posted by: blues,
Here's DF doing Florida Room sans horns, and it's very nice, though would be way better with horns. And he also has the monstrous Adam Rogers on guitar. My impression is these kids are strong in the folk/rock/blues game but aren't jazz guys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-JDwLJhQf4
Date: Sat, April 29, 2017, 16:59:18 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Dantans might enjoy this number from Judith's Hill's debut album, co-produced with Prince not long before he passed.
Right out of the Duke of September vein...blues, soul, and jazz influences often heard in many Fagen recordings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bzPrQvs1fo
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 22:48:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean , St Augustine Beach.
Hoops, of course I can imagine those songs (and more) being done with a smaller band. Apparently I haven't been clearly communicating my question. Let me be more vague:
Here's the info I have at hand:
Fagen & Nightflyers. Donald Fagen and the band listed.
Second thing I think I know is, they will include material from the SD and DF catalog. I'm pretty sure I read that on some sort of press release, but I could just be full of shit. Just seems as though I thought that had been established.
OK, and I'd be remiss to not mention they are playing somewhat smaller venues than SD does for some shows, in most tours. (But so did his first tour, right?)
That's some nice info---but it also leaves a lot to the imagination. That leaves it to the last thing I know. I trust Donald Fagen's taste as a musical artist implicitly. If what he choses to do really disappoints me, it will be the first time that has ever happened.
An established songwriting genius with a band of young cohorts backing him up? That could be fucking Dylanesque--early period, when you think about it.) I can totally see something like that---or something else entirely.
Don has done non-Dan stints with the Rock and Soul Revue, his own band in 2006 and The Dukes. Different, with some similarities. But in his book, we know he wasn't happy on the Dukes' tour, to a large degree because the audiences weren't open to music they weren't expecting. I know Don won't pander, but he seems to be at least a bit concerned with the crowd having a good time. Nothing wrong with that.
On the other hand---wait. OK, enough. I could throw together a few other concocted possibilities, but I'll spare you.
So I'm looking for more info. But I'm always trying to separate the real documented info, from the typical good source tip, from the WAG posts. All are welcome, of course. But I'm trying to reach out to some board friendlies to clue me in on what we know, and what we really think we know.
Clear as mud. Right?
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 21:34:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu , SEA 9/13/17
8th row, Donald-side. $90, cheap like borscht! See y'all soon.
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 19:01:21 ET
Posted by: hoops , chicago
Defininely sweet, Doc Mu. Nice to crank in the car, bit nothing in my door pockets, less I get vibrations from Walter's bass. Thanks for the reminder.
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 18:31:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,
Nice hoops,
Check out this one. Back when Walter's bass was badder than bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8px0fO_es5A
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 17:02:09 ET
Posted by: hoops , chicago
Consider...You can't imagine these without horns???
Of course, I think DF will be innovative have great hornless-versions of some songs we're used to hearing with horns.
- Chain Lightning
- Do It Again
- Black Friday
- Bad Sneakers
- Your Gold Teeth II
- Any World That I'm Welcome To
- Second Arrangement
- Reelin'
- Daddy Don't Live...
- Maxine
- New Frontier
- Rikki
- Any Major Dude
- Monkey In Your Soul
- Security Joan
- Mary Shut the Garden Door
- Godwhacker
- Blues Beach
- Planet D'Rhonda
...and on...
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 16:46:07 ET
Posted by: Big Trev , Barcelona
Thanks very much Bookkeeper's son for those memories. Not sure if I should trust the memory of a someone who thinks CBAT came after CTE though! Sorry could't resist it.
Seriously though, for me, '72-'73 seems like an undocumented period in the history of Steely Dan. I've never even seen a single set list, but I live in hope of hearing some live recordings one day.
I bet Chicago were great back then as well. Thanks again.
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 16:20:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean , Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!
Hoops, I understand, and agree to an extent. I absolutely LOVE Don's solo (on piano) Black Cow demo. But demos and "McPartland in the studio" aside, there are some tunes that beg for the adornment of those extra pieces. You notice they didn't play Babylon Sister with McPartland. I'm not saying it won't happen with this small band. I'm just asking if there is any CERTAINTY to the band, as is, with no additions.
As far as "small venues" go, the St Augustine Amphitheatre seats about 3,000 and is the same venue played by Steely Dan and The Dukes, so it isn't as if they are playing some small clubs.
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 15:12:09 ET
Posted by: hoops , chicago
Dean:
Consider:With four players, some of whom will be playing electric instruments, I'm sure there will be a bit more to the sound than the examples I cite, but not at all hard for me to imagine in relatively small rooms like these (as opposed to arenas, etc.).
- Snownbound (Drums and bass mix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8px0fO_es5A- Trans Island Skyway (Drums and Bass mix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnlTd27qQ14- Black Friday, Chain Lightning, and Josie from Marian McPartland Piano Jazz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJKOcTaJ_4Q
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 15:10:29 ET
Posted by: Abu, Rarely Covered
The title track to EMG is very rarely covered. This trio (Chris Vasi) do a decent job with it, as an instrumental. See what you think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvWyuuAPhis
--
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 11:49:01 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Lewis, can you elaborate on that for us?
And, I'm perfectly willing to believe Don is going out with only those musicians listed. But is anyone CERTAIN there won't be horns, or backup vocals, added for these shows? I concur with Pete, these guys seem to be able to handle some backup vocal work (and maybe even some lead vocals---don't be too surprised). But they aren't exactly ideally suited for some of the funky vocals on SD's later albums, and Don's solo works. Just saying I wouldn't be surprised to find a horn or two, or a backup singer, or two, in the final lineup.
Date: Fri, April 28, 2017, 11:49:01 ET
Posted by: hoops,
I was just discussiing with someone how Donald Fagen tickets are about 20% less expensive for New Buffalo, (southwestern) MI, than they were for Steely Dan last year. Last year's tickets were about $170 with all fees; this year the tickets are about $140 with fees.
Date: Thurs, April 27, 2017, 19:19:34 ET
Posted by: hoops,
Thanks again, Bad Sneaks. Much appreciated.
Date: Thurs, April 27, 2017, 19:19:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
There's something weird and remarkable. Glad to hear Becker seems to be getting back in the groove. But year by year, and particularly lately Donald does seem stronger and more Boss than ever! lol Some of the latest pics are Godfather-like.
http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser__620x350/public/field/image/2189674_web1_lif_donaldfagen.jpg?itok=KOn9Seb-
http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/music/2017-04-27/ticket-tracker-donald-fagen-kings-leon-book-shows
EMG = Apocyalypse
Morph = Death
Sunken Condos and beyond = Post-apocalypso
I'm evolving at a really astounding rate of speed
Into something way cooler, than what I was before
I feel much stronger than I have in years
My mind is sharp, and my spirit's high
Now people tell me the shape of my face is changing
I've grown an inch tall since you left
What in the world is going on?
Date: Thurs, April 27, 2017, 17:18:31 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida
The show I attended was in May 1973. Steely Dan opened for Chicago, in an outdoor stadium; Tampa, Florida. Cannot remember the set list but they played most of CTE and maybe a song or two from the new album (CBAT) which was released in July of 1973. I was over 50 yards away and there were no video screens. One odd thing I do recall is the entire band coming out for the encore with baseball jersey's on throwing balls into the crowd. To this day I have no idea what that was about. If I had the slightest inkling that they would be taking the next two decades off from touring, I would have paid closer attention to details.
Date: Thurs, April 27, 2017, 12:41:31 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Las Vegas, NV
Opaline at the Venetian, 26 April 2017
Setlist and brief report:
INTRO: Fan It, Janet ~8:05 PM
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Time Out Of Mind
Razor Boy (Danettes on vocals)
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More (WB Vocals)
Green Earrings
I Want To (Do Everything For You); Band Intros
Josie
Peg
Reelin' In The Years
ENCORE: My Old School
OUTRO: Untouchables Theme ~9:55 PM
From where we were seated (front row of the balcony, a little house-left of center) the sound was clear and well balanced, IMHO. From what we could see, the balcony was full, so this show may have sold out. Early on Donald said something like, "Nice crowd - especially for a Wednesday."
Personal highlights for me included Razor Boy: I have only heard this a few times, but tonight's performance was the best I can recall. This was followed by a very tight version of Bodhisattva. Another standout tonight was Green Earrings, with Walter doing the closing guitar solo. I thought Walter performed well tonight, including the lead work on TOOM, and solos on Razor Boy, among others.
There was a brief pause before Razor Boy for a conference with Carolyn and possibly a setlist check, after which Donald said something like "Sorry I'm a little confused; well, I am in Las Vegas." Confusion aside, I thought his vocals were strong tonight. Also, I think we got one song less tonight than for the other shows posted here; Pretzel Logic was omitted.
Date: Thurs, April 27, 2017, 11:09:21 ET
Posted by: IK,
SD concert at The Venetian last night is worth a couple of comments. The mood, the people, the seating was just awesome! Seated just behind the mix so couldn't complain about that. The band gotta be the most well rehearsed, tightest, band in the world. Just amazing how everything works like a well oiled machine. WB and his storytelling was incredibly funny, and DF does just what he is supposed to - GREAT! From a technical stand point this was not very funny at all! The mix looks well balanced on the console, but delivering a concert with an average sound pressure level of 103.9 db (yes I measured it) is just (too) LOUD. There were no dynamics left - everything sounds as loud as the other.... But again the band, and Keith....OMG!
Date: Thurs, April 27, 2017, 01:09:28 ET
Posted by: Abu, Heading North in September
You were right, hoops, about the possibility of no show in So Cal. So, I have just landed tix at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga (San Jose is the nearest city). I did the AMEX pre-sale. If anyone is interested, the pre-sale ends Thursday the 27th at 10 PM Pacific. Go to the Mountain Winery website (mountainwinery.com) If prompted, the Promo code is the phone no. on the back of your AMEX CC. I am on the right side of the stage, but only 5 rows back. I'm thinking of taking Amtrak up from LA to SJ, and then spending a few days in the SF-SJ Bay area. I have also never been to a DF solo show. This one sounds unusual, but quite interesting. Fer sure, Don will come up with some clever arrangements, sans horns & gal backups.
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 11:17:26 ET
Posted by: Bikemann17,Colorado
Jim, Your lame humor is welcome anytime. Better then some of the hostilities I see here all too often. I don't post much at all here but read it every day. Some here need to lighten up a bit. Just sayin
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 21:16:20 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Bikeman17, you are very gracious to play along with my lame humor.
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 20:48:18 ET
Posted by: Bikemann17,Colorado
Thanks for the advise Jim. Funny guy you are!!!!
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 20:44:19 ET
Posted by: Felix,-
SANTA BARBARA BOWL SET LIST 4/25/2017
I think I have it right.......
Fan It Janet with just the band
Walter and Donald come on stage to wild applause
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Godwhacker
Razor Boy
Bodhisatva
Daddy Don't Live In That NYC
Do It Again
Joe Tex song featuring Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Pretzel Logic (Encore)
Untouchables (as D&W leave the stage)
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 18:33:11 ET
Posted by: Gulf Barnett,Biloxi
I think the Donald solo shows will be closest to the Piano Jazz CDs with more instrumentation but it will be a touch like 1968-71 demos.
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 14:58:23 ET
Posted by: Big Trev,Barcelona
Hey Bookeeper's son, if you can still remember that far back I'd really like to hear your memories of seeing Steely Dan in 1973. A complete set list is probably too much to ask for but anything you can share with us would be most welcome. Like for example, how did Donald and David Palmer share the vocals?
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 12:48:34 ET
Posted by: Ports,Minneapolis
Sweet, just scored front row center balcony tickets for the Nightflyers in Milwaukee. It should be interesting to see the songs in the new band format.
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 12:30:23 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Where No Sun Is Shining
Just purchased my tickets for the Clearwater Fagen show in the member presale. About 12 rows back..$95 each. For some acts this venue puts a premium on tickets in the first ten rows. In this case the premium was $80 per ticket, which includes a pre-show buffet meal. Have gone that route before and decided to save the money. Even though I have seen SD a ton of times over the years stretching back to 1973, I have not been to a DF solo show. Looking forward to it.
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 12:00:01 ET
Posted by: hoops,chicago
Bikeman17, you wrote:
>
> "NEED A DATE IN COLORADO!!!!"
>
Just suggesting: Try the personal ads for Colorado at the Craigs list site. You can even do a keyword search for preferred religion affiliations, hobbies, and other fetishes.
Seriously, I know more than a few need to vent if there's no show nearby, necessitating financial and logistical hardship to experience one one of these potentially exciting shows. At the same time, many of us are lamenting the same; moreover, I can't recall the last time a posted plea here on this forum swayed Donald, Walter, and/or their associates to adjust their touring plans--and that's based on a very vain presumption of the unlikelihood that anyone like that reads what is posted here. Just saying.
Besties,
Jim
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 09:55:01 ET
Posted by: Bikemann17, Colorado Springs
Surprised nobody has mentioned the great Piano Jazz CD as a likely direction for the Fagen tour. I always hoped for this type of stripped down show and this seems to be it!!!! NEED A DATE IN COLORADO!!!!
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 06:38:01 ET
Posted by: popegreg,MKE
Thanks for the response regarding Four Winds, Hoops. Looks like I'm gonna pass as I think I'd have to stay overnight there (after working the night before) and the stupid casino hotel won't let you book any weekends for July-August-September. I called them and they're not sold out, the dates are just not "in the system yet." Pretty dumb when you have a concert announced for one of those weekends. I see someone on Trip Advisor had the same issue with a different concert and the lame response was that they will have packages that include a room, 2 tickets and dinner available later. Umm, no thanks, I'd rather buy good seats now while they're out there for the Amex presale. That person ended up staying nearby, but I'd much rather just stumble back to a room that's right there.
I guess I just have to be happy that there's a show in my hometown at my second favorite local venue, plus more money saved for some Beacon shows in October!
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 23:42:44 ET
Posted by: hoops,
Reminder: As always during the past 16 years, posters have the option of including their actual address in their post. However, if a valid address is not included, There' no guarantee that a post will appear. This is to combat "factually questionable posts" or intentially bogus posts, etc. If you don't want to include your email address in your post, you have the option of confidentially leaving your email address (or cell phone) on file with me by emailing jjmckay AT me.com. That way I can comunicate with you about your post. Thank you.
Date: Wed, April 26, 2017, 20:54:57 ET
Posted by: Dan Album Owner Since 72, Colorado Springs
No shows in New England? We love DF, WB and SD. Come on over, Summer is great in Boston. hoops-to-Phil: You even have to travel a couple of hours away from L.A. and Chicago, among many others, to get to a show. Even the NYC shows are barely in the NYC Tristate area.
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 19:06:28 ET
Posted by: UH,
"SD toured without horns in the early 70s"
In contrast to early Dan, Fagen's solo stuff is replete with rich jazz harmony, instrumental layering, and horns. I'm not saying it can't be interesting, but that observation is irrelevant.
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 18:30:19 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Scored Austin City Limits tix.
The New Frontier.
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 17:20:51 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
The latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out yesterday evening around 7:00 pm NYC time. It covered April 19-24, 2017. The previous Dandom DIgest covered April 1-18, 2017.
The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:
- NOW! Steely Dan Reel In The Chips For The Rest of This Week in NV & CA
- ***Official Donald Fagen & The Nightflys Tour Announced***
- REDUX: DF & Nighflyers Headline Jazz Fest, 9/23 & 24, Tokyo
- RUMORMILL: NYC Beacon SD Shows in October?
- Poughkeepsie Journal on DF & The Nightflys
- The Nightly Players Sample
- OPINION: Donald's New Band
- OPINION: DF Going For Something Different
- REDUX: ON SALE NOW! on Classic West and Classic East Bill
- REDUX: SD Headline Greenwich Town Party
- Old News from 1985
- Catherine Russell Nominated for Jazz Journalists Award
- SPOILER: Vegas 4/22: "Great"
f you are a subscriber, you should already have received it. If you don't see it, check your spam filters first; then, if it's not there, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com.
As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you did get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.
Also, if you wrote something for this most recent Dandom Digest and it didn't appear, please email me as well. It's been ages since the last edition so perhaps something slipped through the cracks.
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates. (Please note: I have no idea if Donald Fagen's official newsletter is currently active. It's been a few years since I've received anything from it.)
---
Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom. Pete, DB, Ben, and Gus.
As always, thank you for your support and writings through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and especially thinking of Mark, Bill, and Fezzie, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.
Fly about as low, be so cool,
Jim
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 17:00:49 ET
Posted by: The Charmer,
With these 26 Fagen shows, plus the month in Vegas, the Classic West and East, and the potenial Beacon shows......well, it's like Christmas 8 months early.
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 16:02:31 ET
Posted by: FYI,
KD. Your question was answered here on the Blue at 20:42 on April 20:
"The Connor Kennedy we're talking about is a guitarist who currently backs Amy Helm. He is not the young hockey phenom nor RFK's grandson who dated Taylor Swift."
Jimmie. The link to the Rolling Stone interview about the tour was already posted here last night.
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 13:29:06 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Now, is Connor Kennedy the NHL player that dated Taylor Swift?
(you know when you text someone something specific about a product just to see if it shows up on their Google ads the next day?)
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 11:31:02 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, US
Rolling Stone news on the DF tour
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steely-dans-donald-fagen-plots-tour-with-new-solo-band-w478591
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 09:41:29 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida
I saw SD in May 1973 and there were no horns or background singers on that date.
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 09:36:29 ET
Posted by: SteelyDon, SteelCity
This is very exciting to have a Solo Tour pending! This guy loves touring now and it's just amazing to continue to watch him do the exact opposite of others in his musical generation. I, like others, am very curious to hear what these songs will song like without backing horn section. But I think a stripped down version will be must see! Only decision now is HOW MANY shows can I get to!
Date: Tues, April 25, 2017, 00:18:09 ET
Posted by: Fly By Nighter, On the Nightshift
Yeeeehaaaa!!
Nashville, Milwaukee, New Buffalo MI, Louisville, Indianapolis....and at small cool theaters mostly ala the 2013 tour! Finally some good news for the middle of the country. I'm down for at least 2 shows. Boooyaaa!
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 23:58:59 ET
Posted by: pfogelATNnycDOTrrDot, NYC
I'm really excited to see a few of these DF shows. I heard these kids singing 'Seven Bridges Road' and believe me, no extra backup singers are needed for this tour. They all sing really well. A few of them even sound like chicks...lol
Can't wait!
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 23:46:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, Left of the Rio Grande
https://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=830620
The fix is in. Last piasters to be spent either Austin City Limits
With Fagen leading the group on keyboard and vocals, the Nightflyers includes Connor Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Lee Falco (drums, vocals), Brandon Morrison (bass, vocals) and Will Bryant (keyboards, vocals). An announcement notes that Fagen and the quartet have been working together the past few years near his home in Woodstock, N.Y.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 21:52:01 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
Did Steely Dan have a horn section and female backup singers when they first toured back in 1972? No they didn't. Maybe Donald wants to explore the early roots of Steely Dan with this small band configuration It's too early to tell. In 2015 Donald's new Nightflyers group backed up Kate Pierson of The B-52s. Here's two videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0D5ZyckAsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woR3jUdX5ng
There's a lot more scattered around YouTube. You just have to look.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 21:42:38 ET
Posted by: - (Roll Ing Stone, 'merry cuh
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steely-dans-donald-fagen-plots-tour-with-new-solo-band-w478591
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 17:00:24 ET
Posted by: Steven,
Chris NH.....Beacon dates aren't even a rumor yet. I'm just commenting that the tour calendar suggests it as a possibility.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 16:57:12 ET
Posted by: PJ, Upstate New York
NEWS
Steely Dan's Donald Fagen enlists Ulster musicians for backing band
John W. Barry | Poughkeepsie Journal
Updated 2 hours ago
Donald Fagen, co-founder of the rock band Steely Dan and a graduate of Bard College in Annandale, will be backed by four Ulster County musicians when he tours the U.S. and Japan beginning in August.
Continues...
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2017/04/24/steely-dans-donald-fagen-enlists-ulster-musicians-backing-band/100838384/
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 16:53:50 ET
Posted by: Linkster, Upstate New York
YouTube video of Connor Kennedy, et. al. Connor was born about the same time that the New York Rock and Soul Revue had their US tour in 1992. The other players were born just around the time Steely Dan played Rosland Ballroom in 1995. Wow! I feel old.
"Stand Back" - Connor Kennedy with Scott Sharrard and The Brickyard Band
Published on Jun 16, 2016
6/15/16 at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC.
Connor Kennedy - guitar and vocal, Scott Sharrard - guitar,
Adam Minkoff - bass, Eric Finland - keyboards, Diego Voglino and Moses Patrou - drums, Reggie Pittman - trumpet, Kenny Brooks - sax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a29Ev7kYca0&feature=youtu.be
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 15:11:53 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh
Steven - At this point it's just a rumor, or maybe pure conjecture.
KD, I think you're right that this might be the new paradigm. Residencies and festivals for SD, Fagen doing what he wants. Works for me.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 15:10:23 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
A slimmed down back up band makes sense for a Fagen solo tour, but hard to see how he can have no female backing singers. Thinking of how one would re-arrange Nightfly or New Frontier. And no horns on IGY?
I've enjoyed hearing new arrangements in Dan shows, and they worked hard on those, you could tell, to get a sound that worked for that band and those crowds. Will be curious to see how he re-does some of those songs.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 13:59:03 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
PopeGreg: I saw Steely Dan at Four Winds last year and was quite happy. It's a 75-minute drive from downtown Chicago. Free parking. The distance weeds out the lightweight SD fans who only want to hear the Decade CD played in its entirety. The sound was great, the people and fans were great. Lots of places for fans to meet and chat. It's not Roseland or Thalia Hall, but I give it a thumbs up!
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 13:44:46 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
Yes! A Milwaukee show at the Riverside! I am so psyched! Sucks that there's no Chicago show though. Anyone who's seen the Dan at that casino in New Buffalo care to share their thoughts on the venue? I'm tempted but it's about a 3 hour drive.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 13:20:34 ET
Posted by: Steven, Planning my tour budget
Any rumors as to whether Steely Dan will do a Fall NYC residency at The Beacon after the Nightflys tour is over? It seems doable. The Beacon's schedule is open from October 5-27, DF is playing Westchester County in August, but otherwise no dates in NYC. But then weren't Beacon tickets slow to sell last fall? Maybe that would have them take a year off from the Beacon.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 12:40:07 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
If this is the way it goes from here on out, it's a sensible change. A residency, which means the band needs to get its shit together for a month or so (which is apparently the case, great to hear Walter playing well and Donald belting it out too), and then Fagen picking his flavor of the summer.
Meanwhile, Walter doesn't have to mime along to songs he never played on, in an outdoor stage in some random state in the middle of August. Good deal for all involved, though I'll badly miss hearing him play live this summer.
Great news on Donald's new approach, too. Looking forward to seeing him have fun with a funky, little band.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 12:37:10 ET
Posted by: hm,
Small band, no horns, no female backing vox. Fagen must be going for something different here.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 09:14:56 ET
Posted by: Jim, -
For those so inclined, a photo of Donald and his band for the solo tour is featured in the Twitter feed box at the upper left corner of this page. Put your cursor over Donald's face WITH clicking holding down your mouse button and then move the cursor. ThxP.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 09:09:24 ET
Posted by: Stan, Tulsa
Lee Falco, Connor Kennedy and probably the others as well are in their early 20s. What's he going to call them, Playstation babies?
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 08:27:02 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
The Nightflyers are Connor Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Lee Falco (drums, vocals), Brandon Morrison (bass, vocals) and Will Bryant (keyboards, vocals). Previously, the foursome have been performing together in haunts, joints, dives, and even a few reputable establishments, up and down New York's Hudson River Valley and beyond.
Date: Mon, April 24, 2017, 08:07:20 ET
Posted by: DonaldFagen.com/Facenook, US & Japan
Donald Fagen has a new special project taking to the road this summer: Donald Fagen and The Nightflyers. Set to begin on August 3rd and 4th at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, the U.S. tour leg will hit two dozen cities before wrapping at San Francisco’s The Masonic on Sept. 16. Following the U.S. dates, the band will travel to Japan for select performances. On tour, Donald Fagen and The Nightflyers will play songs from Fagen’s celebrated solo albums, Steely Dan hits, plus, as promised by Fagen, “some swell surprises.” Click here for a full list of dates and on sale details: http://smarturl.it/DonaldFagenEvents
SOME DATES ON SALE NOW (as noted)
AUG
3 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Capitol Theatre
Thu 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY
AUG
4 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Capitol Theatre
Fri 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY
AUG
8 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at The Fillmore
Tue 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater
Miami Beach, FL ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
9 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Ruth Eckard Hall
Wed 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Ruth Eckard Hall, Backstage
Clearwater, FL ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
11 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Hard Rock Live
Fri 8 PM EDT · Tony Favia is going Hard Rock Live Orlando
Orlando, FL
AUG
12 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
Sat 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Saint Augustine, FL ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
14 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Montgomery PAC
Mon 8 PM · by Donald Fagen The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre at Renaissance Montgomery
Montgomery, AL ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
16 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Woodruff Arts Center
Wed 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen The Woodruff Arts Center
Atlanta, GA
AUG
17 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Cape Fear Stage
Thu 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, NC
AUG
19 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Tivoli Theatre
Sat 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Tivoli Theatre • Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium • Walker Theatre
Chattanooga, TN ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
20 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Sun 8 PM · by Donald Fagen Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Nashville, TN ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
22 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Palace
Tue 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Louisville Palace
Louisville, KY ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
23 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Taft Theatre
Wed 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Taft Theatre
Cincinnati, OH ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
25 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Hard Rock Live
Fri 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park
Northfield, OH ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
26 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Four Winds Casino
Sat 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Four Winds Casinos
New Buffalo, MI
AUG
28 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Murat Theatre
Mon 8 PM EDT · by Donald Fagen Old National Centre
Indianapolis, IN ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
AUG
29 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Riverside Theater
Tue 8 PM · by Donald Fagen Pabst / Riverside / Turner Hall (116 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee)
Milwaukee, WI
AUG
31 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Stiefel Theatre
Thu 8 PM · by Donald Fagen Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Salina, KS
SEP
2 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at ACL Live at Moody Theater
Sat 8 PM · by Donald Fagen ACL Live
Austin, TX
SEP
3 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Majestic Theatre
Sun 8 PM · by Donald Fagen Majestic & Empire Theatres
San Antonio, TX
SEP
12 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Tue 8 PM PDT · by Donald Fagen Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Portland, OR
SEP
13 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at The Paramount
Wed 8 PM PDT · by Donald Fagen Paramount Theatre
Seattle, WA ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
SEP
15 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Mountain Winery
Fri 8 PM PDT · by Donald Fagen The Mountain Winery
Saratoga, CA ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
SEP
16 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at The Masonic
Sat 8 PM PDT · by Donald Fagen The Masonic
San Francisco, CA
SEP
23 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Yokohama Blue Note Jazz Fest
Sat 11 AM UTC+09 · by Donald Fagen 横浜赤レンガ倉庫（Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse）
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
SEP
24 Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers at Yokohama Blue Note Jazz Fest
Sun 11 AM UTC+09 · by Donald Fagen 横浜赤レンガ倉庫（Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse）
Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan ON SALE NOW -- SEE donaldfagen.com / DF's Official Facebook page for a link to sales.
Date: Sun, April 23, 2017, 23:35:01 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy
Ticketbastard's showing Donald and The Nightflyers in PA on 8/5.
Date: Sun, April 23, 2017, 22:08:34 ET
Posted by: at\, Houston
Nat : What does this mean?:
"I thought Amy Helm would be likely for these solo shows. But she's scheduled to play in Canada on Sep 16"
Likely for what?
Date: Sun, April 23, 2017, 16:14:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Gerald: Lowdown remains as fine of a mid 70s single as there is...Porcaro rock that shuffle.
Al: Nooooooooooo...AH invested an entire musical language...like listening to Elvish runes in rapid succession. What a loss for music and planet Earth. It would have been cool to have Krantz and Holdsworth spin out some magic on a Fagen or Becker album. I think he'd actually be a better fit in 21St Century Dan than the canonical 7.
You all know where to look...but just a few:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bveYRBAS4dg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnhbCL53fzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ho9yJFdhIc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6pVnb95p0c
RIP Maestro.
Date: Sun, April 23, 2017, 03:07:09 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
Great, sold out show last night.
'Everyone has gone to the movies' was in the set list, a very nice surprise.
Donald's voice strong and very upfront in the mix, one can tall he's getting ready for a solo tour.
Walter had his moments, overall I look at him him at the grand master of ceremonies - fine with the fact that Don likely takes a bigger interest in the details.
Security lights flashed during all of KC followed by a brief house announcement, after which Don said 'this is a dangerous gig'
Pretzel logic encore one of the highlights, with Walt staying almost invisible half backstage to the left - playing strong- and Jon taking his center spot more or less.
Almost 2 hours with the short 2 Minute break.
Obviously there are more shows coming up but I also got this eerie sense of finality, having almost taken this for granted since the 90's and am glad I made the trip.
Date: Sun, April 23, 2017, 00:36:45 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
Saw Steely Dan twice at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga. They always sell out quickly at that venue. I remember they played good stuff like "Night by Night" and Donald's "New Frontier". People who live in Northern California are lucky to see Donald Fagen TWICE this year. In 2006 Donald only played one solo show in Oakland. I'm really stoked for this new tour.
Date: Sun, April 23, 2017, 21:33:15 ET
Posted by: Abu, So Cal
I see DF is edging closer to me. Come on, Donald!
Date: Sat, April 22, 2017, 21:45:21 ET
Posted by: Row Jimmy, CT/NYC
Ken,
My first SD show was in 1993. I have probably seen SD 10 times. I have seen the Grateful Dead 50 times (their last show was my 50th show). I have seen the Allman Brothers around 25 times. I have a boxfull of ticket stubs from all the concerts i've seen. I play the piano, guitar and trumpet. The guitar was self-taught. I have lived in St. Louis, Chicago and NYC, so I have seen plenty of good music. When I lived in St. Louis, Chuck Berry showed up and played with a Dead cover band I was watching. I went to 2 jazz feats in New Orleans before it was trendy.
I am not sure where you are coming from. Don't give me that holier than thou attitude. Where are you coming from? I know music. And I am well educated, so I know writing. And I know all the music of SD too. Nice try.
Date: Sat, April 22, 2017, 15:43:21 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Carlton: Yes, I'm rather fond of his toddler albums Born and Crawled and Pacifier Valley
Date: Sat, April 22, 2017, 13:08:39 ET
Posted by: Abu, Mountain Winery ???
The Mountain Winery in Saratoga, as of the time of this post, has a blank date for September 15th. Check back later to see if Donald gets confirmed there.
http://www.mountainwinery.com/concerts/listing/60
Date: Sat, April 22, 2017, 12:09:34 ET
Posted by: Ken, PA
Row Jimmy - Just curious. How long have you been a Steely Dan fan? About two weeks?
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 20:13:29 ET
Posted by: Sunim Koria, Leicestershire, UK
Hi,
Just passing by to say thanks for the various posts of my big band work "Sonata on a Theme of Black Cow" on this board and it's very reassuring to know it's being appreciated by Dan fans over the world. It's definitely one of my favourite works I've produced and can't believe it's been almost exactly 10 years since I wrote it! I'm ashamed to say I haven't really written a single note of music since 2012 but I'm working on putting an end to that... maybe another Steely Dan roast-up?!
Thanks again,
Sunim
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 17:29:23 ET
Posted by: Abu, Waiting for DF
https://concertwith.me/en_us/tour-dates/Donald+Fagen
Saratoga, CA at the Mountain Winery Sept 15
(according to this site)
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 16:29 ET
Posted by: Scoop Brady, SW
Old newspaper story on Fagen's return to Bard in 1985. Funny quote from Walter.
http://tinyurl.com/ke6qdgx
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 14:15:15 ET
Posted by: Carlton, NV
Dr Mu wrote
"John Mayer's been around since TvN."
Actually, he's been around since a few weeks after the release of Aja.
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 13:56:28 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
I checked Santa Barbara Bowl's website and the show is being billed as "An Evening with Steely Dan" on April 25. Maybe SD will play two sets?
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 13:39:28 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
No Donald Fagen shows went on sale today. Donald is also playing at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA on 9/15/17. I'm gonna buy tickets for that show too. Just wait for the official press release.
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 13:31:45 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh
You guys think he'll do any Sunken Condos stuff? There was plenty of new material played in '06. Or perhaps he'll focus more on the hits with the new band. Either way, I'm there ... as long as there's something other than a mid-week Clearwater show ...
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 09:38:28 ET
Posted by: Row Jimmy, CT/NYC
The book needs more flavor to it. Hoops, I think Doc Mu hit on it when he said none of the principals were interviewed. But this whole idea of just giving us the facts of how each album was made creating a setting for discussion is off. It basically leads to complete conjecture, which is senseless. That is not what I am seeking when I read a book about a band. I have read books about the Dead, Jim Morrison, Hendrix, Lennon and you get more of a flavor. The book on Steely Dan is more of an encyclopedia of facts. Again, I had an empty feeling after reading it. I appreciated a few nuggets and a general feeling of what the band was like, but it was very shallow.
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 08:02:45 ET
Posted by: Nat, AZ
I thought Amy Helm would be likely for these solo shows. But she's scheduled to play in Canada on Sep 16.
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 03:35:10 ET
Posted by: Dr., Hanging Valley Wall, Colorado
Been here in San Diego for a few weeks. Even though I'm staying in Point Loma, home of Shelter Island and Humphrey's, I wasn't planning on going to see the Dan because of a) lame same set lists. b) unreasonable ticket prices which started over $200. I went Monday night. My wife and I were thinking about kayaking to the boat docks to see the show from the water but the show wasn't sold out. I could have gotten 10th row center from the box without service charges for $185 each. There were no takers. Ended up with comp tickets I bought for $100. This place only holds 1200. No bad seats. It is my favorite place to see a concert in SoCal. To give you an idea, every seat is in front of their soundboard. Love the place and the local micros they pour.....and the fine Tango sativa.
Saw them play Rikki for the first time since my first concert ever when I saw them in high school. Also: Tonight When I Chase The Dragon (always thought that should have been the song name) and Razor Boy. All three brought me much joy and were not performed the next night.
Of course the band sounded super fine. Fagen's voice was strong. I know they play it every night but the opening - Black Cow -Aja is still awesome and brings back so many memories. On the other hand.....their best shows will always be their initial comeback tours which featured two sets and Fagen/Becker solo numbers. How I would love to see a Walter solo show featuring his two solo albums.
Going back to Colorado on Saturday so last day tomorrow I will surf and/or die.
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 02:32:49 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
There was supposed to be a presale for that San Francisco show on Wednesday. I was ready to buy tickets but the show was not in Ticketmaster's system. I still don't see the show listed on Ticketmaster or Live Nation. It might show up in the morning though.
By the way, The Charmer mentioned Donald will be using Amy Helm's band. I checked Amy's website and noticed she has a gig in Canada on 9/16/17. The same night for Donald's San Francisco show. Charmer might be wrong.
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 21:33:15 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR
Trying to front-run DF West Coast dates, I stumbled across Terence Boylan's ALIAS BOONA project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zGuaHQkqZ4
Have we discussed this yet? Sound quality is a heck of a lot better than WALK IT/TALK IT or ANDROID WAREHOUSE, or Thomas Jefferson Kaye...
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 00:57:26 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
Thank you very much, Ben. You've helped a lot of people.
Here's a link to a contest to win tickets to see Donald in San Francisco. The contest is offered by the local CBS affiliate.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/kcbs-contests-3/
Date: Fri, April 21, 2017, 00:44:16 ET
Posted by: ,
[ Blank message posted at 00:44:16 ET. Content unknown. ]
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 22:40:54 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Mayer's Rosie uses a figure "back to your room" very similar to Mork Knopfler and Dire Straits "Why Worry?' at 2:29
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_03uXQiz6eY
Hey, it works. Knopfler's steel guitar is spectacular. Mayer's playing reminds me a little bit of Drew Zingg - he's pretty solid.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 22:38:18 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy
Surfing for Donald's shows landed on info for tix on sale TOMORROW (4/21) for his show in San Fran on 9/16/17!
[Among others, saw at LiveNation.com; also, Google "Donald Fagen 9/16 San Francisco"]
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 22:10:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Ironically, I'm interested in the FAQ book to match with my observations as to the credits on Katy, Pretzel, and Scam.
John Mayer's been around since TvN. Now he's approaching 40. I usually really enjoy 1 song on each album.
This one is Rosie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np7A1bT3lrg
Kind of a Dan backbeat. A bit of a Van Morrison R&B, sigh jazz inflected vibe.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 20:42:38 ET
Posted by: FYI,
The Connor Kennedy we're talking about is a guitarist who currently backs Amy Helm. He is not the young hockey phenom nor RFK's grandson who dated Taylor Swift.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 20:01:28 ET
Posted by: Mike, NJ
Isn't Connor Kennedy also the name of that young hockey phenom?
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 18:08:09 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Row Jimmy: I will piggy back on Doc Mu's comments. As is repeated here every few weeks, Sweet's books, along with the newly released SD FAQ are great starting points for discussion. Definitive? No. But good books for hard cord Steely Dan fans to use as the basis for discussion and disagreement. Donald does of course have his Emminent Hipsters book which is an official discussion, but the holes in the story again leave much for debate. That's what actually makes those books even better. When a book is definitive, it ends discussion--but a good book makes us ask more questions. Those questions are in some ways more important than the answers.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 17:55:08 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Row Jimmy - Sweet never interviewed the principles...'nuff said.
I'm DRUNK on Drunk! schnasty chord changes...
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 17:37:10 ET
Posted by: Matt K,
Tivoli Theatre here in Chattanooga confirmed that Donald Fagen would be appearing there this year, but said that they could not release details of dates, presale info, on sale date, or ticket prices until this coming Monday, April 24th.
I can assure you I will be following up on Monday, and will let you all know what I find out.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 17:36:38 ET
Posted by: Jim,
Regarding some questions as to how the tour dates might be announced:
Over the past 20+ years, the pattern is typically one or two dates get leaked on Ticketmaster, PollStar or something a week or two early.
Occasionally, some of the more astute fans among us can interpolate when there might be a show because they know when Steely Dan band members are having solo shows. For example, in the past, if Jon Herington was going to have some JHB dates in May, or Keith Carlock was going to Drum clinics in Europe in November, we could forget about Steely Dan tour dates then. However, in this case, since all indications are that Donald will use a different band, that doesn't really apply. (For summer shows with Steely Dan, this is usually because of subscription series tickets like at Chastain or Ravinia where they go on sale a month early to members for the general public.) In some cases, part of the contract is that the show has to be announced by the promoter, venue and/or the sponsor before the performer can mention it. So that's why you may see some delays.
I think we're seeing the similar thing here. One or two venues mentioned this week; next week will see some more, and then the following week even more. Then a few stragglers. And remember, it's not unheard of for them to add shows not only at the end of the tour block but sometimes in the beginning.
I would also wager that next Friday, April 28, there will be four- five more shows on sale. Just my prediction based on observing this sort of sale since 1993.
That said, standard disclaimer: I don't have any inside or official information and I could be wrong about this.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 14:17:23 ET
Posted by: Steely Director, NOLA
Anyone found a video yet of Steely Dan playing Maynard Ferguson's "Fan It, Janet" for the intro tune? I saw Ferguson in...must have been '83 or so...I don't recall if "Fan It, Janet" was on the setlist, but I'm guessing not.
On a Dangential note, I see that the new "Guardians Of The Galaxy" movie has "Come A Little Bit Closer" by Jay and the Americans on the soundtrack. So there's that.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 10:52:39 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Connor Kennedy was discussed by someone, I can't remember who, possibly a member of his camp. I did bring up perhaps Donald changing his band as some gossamer on a site dedicated to a band with little going on. Perhaps changing out the Steely Dan vets that were in the 2006 for a different sound (and different pay scale) this time around.
Date: Thurs, April 20, 2017, 10:21:03 ET
Posted by: Marty, TX
No reports from San Diego?
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 19:48:05 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl
This was part of an email from a friend today.
"For us "die-hards" Steely Dan is more than a group, it's all that comes with it. Never mind what they choose to play for us, that's not it either. It's being there when they do it!
The excitement before a show, entering the theater, the noise before, the Show itself, and afterwards the fantastic feeling that you feel in your entire body after what you've been treated to, and then sharing this excitement with some of your best friends, and new ones you've just met."
I think that is a pretty fair description of a great evening!
Peace
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 21:33:15 ET
Posted by: Abu, CC(F)R
"Ric", I believe you were referring to the possibility of the Credence of the Revival of DF's solo tour in Clearwater. In short, that would be DF-CCR.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 21:33:15 ET
Posted by: EC, NY
I'm pretty excited about the possibility of a Fagen tour, even if it's a limited one! A season that includes both SD AND DF shows?? That's gotta be a big winner!
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 15:17:31 ET
Posted by: Row Jimmy, CT/NYC
I just wanted to comment after having read the Steely Dan book by Brian Sweet.
I am sure that he has commented regarding the book on this site and it has been discussed ad nauseam.
I have a couple of comments. I was definitely impressed with the fact digging that he did to get all of the facts for the book There is a lot there. Overall, however, I think the book really missed the stories that you typically read about in books written about bands. I was not expecting Led Zeppelin-like stories of debauchery and such. However, I was hoping for more of a feel of what it was like to be around Steely Dan. Instead, what I read was a recounting of the shuffling of musicians and the perfecting of the music in the mixing process. The only real time that I felt that I got a feeling of the environment of Steely Dan, interestingly, was in the last 10 pages of the book, when the author described Donald Fagen's relationship with Walter Becker and their wives not speaking with each other.
Why not more about Herrington? All it said was that he was brought into the band. Why not more about Carlock? All it said was that he was from Mississippi. I found that disappointing.
In looking at the forest, instead of the trees, I did get an overall feel from the book. For example, it seems that Donald Fagen enjoys performing more (although Eminent Hipsters contradicts this a bit).
Unfortunately, I think the author realized that his hands were tied as he pointed out that Fagen and Becker would not contribute to the book.
Overall, the book left me with an empty feeling. The book was a skeleton description of Steely Dan and did not provide much meat on the bones. However, maybe there is just not much depth to Fagen and Becker. Or Fagen and Becker are hiding the ball. Either way, I love the music, and always will.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 15:07:15 ET
Posted by: The Charmer,
Actually Late To The Party, I saw three Donald Fagen solo shows in 2006,
I thought it was brought up here, but it definitely was on one of the Facebook pages where Pete Fogel said Fagen wasn't having the same band as 2006.
Instead he's having the same young band that Amy Helm is touring with this spring. Includes a young guitarist that Donald really likes named Connor Kennedy.
So with that equation, I wonder if song choices will be different. With a name like The Nightflyers, probably will be similar arrangements, but with a different band from the 2006 DF tour and the Steely Dan orchestra, Fagen could decide to do a lot more tribute stuff just like he did Chuck Berry's Viva Rock and Roll or the Band stuff, just for comparison. I'm expect he will do different songs that those I mention.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 12:51:52 ET
Posted by: Ric, NM
Thanks bookkeeper, for lending credence to the Clearwater date.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 12:33:34 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper's Son, Florida
Just checked with the box office and Donald Fagen will be in Clearwater on August 9, 2017. According to the person I spoke with tickets go on sale to the general public on April 28, 2017.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 12:21:28 ET
Posted by: Tony, Hey oh!
A Fagen solo tour would be incredible. I just hope he branches it out and doesn't just tour the Midwest, as rumored. I gotta imagine the coasts have just as many if not more Dan Fans.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 11:41:33 ET
Posted by: Late to, the party
The Charmer obviously didn't see any of the 2006 Fagen tour
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 11:12:25 ET
Posted by: The Charmer,
I'm excited about Donald Fagen and the Nightflys, but part of my excitement is based on an assumption that Donald will play his solo catalog in arrangements similar to the studio albums.
However, the reality is that this could be like a solo from Dukes of September instead of a solo from Steely Dan kind of tour.
That said, I'll lean towards it being more of Donald's solo catalog because of the band being named The Nightflys.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 0:1:01:03 ET
Posted by: Tc,
https://youtu.be/7YDTDIIq_Yo
In minute 26 Thundercat talks about his love for Steely Dan.
Date: Wed, April 19, 2017, 00:20:15 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Hoops, this Digest was no disappointment at all. I find out Donald is playing in Clearwater, and apparently, on tour in the USA. At least for a few shows. I've been dying to go to Ruth Eckerd Hall, this could be a great experience.
Just have to figure out how I'm going to pull this off.....
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 23:45:58 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Many times delayed, hopefully not way too overrated, the latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out in the past couple of hours. It covers April 1-18, 2017.
The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:
- Donald Fagen Solo Show On Sale 4/21: 8/9, Clearwater, FL
- Full Fagen Tour??? DF solo Show, 8/19, Chattanooga???
- DF & Nighflyers Headline Jazz Fest, 9/23 & 24, Tokyo
- ON SALE MON 4/3 & 4/7: SD on Classic West and Classic East Bill
- REDUX: ON SALE NOW! on Classic West and Classic East Bill
- REDUX: SD Headline Greenwich Town Party
- Roger Rosenberg's "Baritonality"
- Dad Honors Son on HIs BirthdayŠRemembering Jeff Porcaro
- REDUX: New Michael Leonhart Interview talks SD
- REDUX: DF on New Todd Rundgren Album
- REDUX: An Evening with Herington/Beard
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
- SPOILER: 4/12/17: Vegas
- SPOILER: 4/14/17: Vegas
- SPOILER: 4/15/17 Vegas
- SPOILER: Las Vegas Sun Article
If you are a subscriber, you should already have received it. If you don't see it, check your spam filters first; then, if it's not there, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com.
As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you did get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.
Also, if you wrote something for this most recent Dandom Digest and it didn't appear, please email me as well. It's been ages since the last edition so perhaps something slipped through the cracks.
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates.
---
Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom. Pete, DB, Ben, and Gus.
As always, thank you for your support and writings through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and especially thinking of Mark, Bill, and Fezzie, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.
Fly about as low, be so cool,
Jim
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 22:05:04 ET
Posted by: Gino F., Sanibel Island
Now I know what I'm doing on August 9th!!
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 21:33:15 ET
Posted by: Abu, So Cal
I see DF is edging closer to me. Come on, Donald!
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 19:02:41 ET
Posted by: Christina,
Another date---but no word on tickets as of the moment...not through Ticketmaster
Donald Fagen
August 19, 2017
Tivoli Theatre
Chattanooga, TN
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 18:43:26 ET
Posted by: The Charmer,
Thanks for the great news, Jun!
This is going to be a great tour!
Fagen will be solo in Japan September 23 & 24.
Is it more than rumor that Steely Dan will come back to the Beacon in October?
That would also be great but I seem to remember something about last October's Beacon shows not selling too well.
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 18:22:46 ET
Posted by: Jun K, Japan
TicketMaster:
August 9, 2017
Donald Fagen
8 pm
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Clearwater, FL
On Sale This Friday, April 21, 2017
http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/735039?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 15:15:47 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Gerald: Lowdown remains as fine of a mid 70s single as there is...Porcaro rock that shuffle.
Al: Nooooooooooo...AH invested an entire musical language...like listening to Elvish runes in rapid succession. What a loss for music and planet Earth. It would have been cool to have Krantz and Holdsworth spin out some magic on a Fagen or Becker album. I think he'd actually be a better fit in 21St Century Dan than the canonical 7.
You all know where to look...but just a few:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bveYRBAS4dg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnhbCL53fzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ho9yJFdhIc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6pVnb95p0c
RIP Maestro.
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 09:12:09 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Hey everyone,
I know we don't usually do this here, but Steely Dan fans are known for their hearts of gold, right?
J.D. Ryznar is one of the co-creators of the Yacht Rock series, he played Michael McDonald in the films and is the co-host of one of the greatest podcasts you'll ever come across: Beyond Yacht Rock. His family is going through some stuff right now that can better be explained here:
https://www.gofundme.com/badassfightinleahryznar
J.D. is a great guy and his wife does a wonderful Anita Baker impression:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_tUvDPr5nY
Every little bit helps, and it's a shame we're crowd-sourcing medical treatment, but here we are.
Thanks chums.
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 02:25:27 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
Check out Larry Carlton's Facebook page. There's a great photo of Larry with Walter Becker and Jon Herington performing together on Saturday's Vegas show. Larry says he'll be playing 3 shows with Steely Dan in the near future.
Date: Tues, April 18, 2017, 00:20:01 ET
Posted by: This, is probably it
Connecticut show, Town Party for residents of Greenwich, special attendence details.
http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Steely-Dan-to-headline-Greenwich-Town-Party-10963981.php
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 22:17:15 ET
Posted by: Tony, Hey oh!
Did a random Connecticut show just get announced that I missed?
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 19:58:20 ET
Posted by: Sweathog, Oakland CA
Here's videos of Michael McDonald & Thundercat performing at Coachella on Saturday:
www.pitchfork.com/news/72896-coachella-2017-watch-thundercat-and-michael-mcdonald-play-show-you-the-way-what-a-fool-believes/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2s9p12QyMs
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 19:44:29 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Good to hear, Pete. Let's hope he's cranked in the mix a bit more this time around, the Azoff buildings kind of hushed his sound a little too much back in 2007.
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 17:07:32 ET
Posted by: Pete Fogel, NYC
Carlton is playing the SD shows in Connecticut, Dodger Stadium and Citi Field
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 15:35:19 ET
Posted by: JT, Vega$
15 April 2017
Fan It Janet
(Enter D& W)
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Time Out of Mind ("TOOM")
Razor Boy
Bodhisatva
Daddy Don't Live In That NYC No More
Do It Again
Joe Tex song with Band Intros
Josie
Peg
Reelin' In The Years
Reelin' In The Years (Encore)
Untouchables (as D&W leave the stage)
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 14:30:39 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
All,
Sorry, I did not see request for the youtube links I mentioned last week until this weekend, and could not search until today.
There are now 21 of them. Rather than link them all one by one, here is a link to the guy's youtube page, you can then select them.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWST9WQ9Q-ULzdws71tc6ew
Most of them are short, less than a minute. A few are longer. Good sound quality. I like Green Earrings, which is # 12. DF's voice quite strong. Poster is clearly, overall, a Carlock fan.
CF
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 09:24:29 ET
Posted by: Alkali, NYC
RIP A.H.
A.H.-V.Calaiuta-S.D.
what an artist we lost
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 00:01:35 ET
Posted by: Gavin, sad
This is bullshit. We just lost John Wetton and Greg Lake. Now we lose Holdsworth. I'm very upset about this. I just saw him play in San Pedro, CA two weeks ago with his band. He looked fine and healthy to me. I'm not going to sleep well tonight.
Date: Mon, April 17, 2017, 00:01:21 ET
Posted by: Abu, Brianized Dan
Brian McKnight is quite a successful singer, arranger, producer, and instrumentalist. Lately he has been "Brianizing", or basically covering other artists. His vids can be seen on YouTube. One of them is by his "favorite band ever in the history of bands, and music" he says in his intro to SD's Deacon Blues. Very nicely done. He plays solo electric piano and sings. Great voice. Check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA-USyXtA2A
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 16:01:32 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Is 'Barrytown' the most fully-realized of all the original band's songs? The perfect combination of the quirky, arch-Dylan stuff from the first album and the exacting, cranky craftsmanship of the second? Best match of songwriting and musicianship, with the original guys on board?
(Unless Porcaro plays drums on it, which he probably does.)
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 14:05:00 ET
Posted by: Al, Heaven
RIP Allan Holdsworth
Would've loved to hear him in the Dan.
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 14:04:43 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA
Thanks to all who have posted setlists, reports, and links. Here is another brief article.
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/apr/15/steely-dan-venetian-las-vegas-residency-concert/?utm_source=sidebar&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=sceneOnSunPromo
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 12:23:41 ET
Posted by: Lonnie the Kingpin, Vegas
Great show on Saturday April 15. Larry Carlton sits in for Kid C and MOS. What more is there to say!! What a night! We were buggin'.
LTK
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 04:49:29 ET
Posted by: Gerald, N
SD did not "spark" Toto. Boz Scaggs did.
http://www.noise11.com/news/boz-scaggs-explains-how-he-became-the-father-of-toto-20140414
But it's true that Porcaro and Paich recorded with SD on an earlier date.
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 03:32:20 ET
Posted by: See, Mtl
JT, LC in NV with SD?
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 02:50:31 ET
Posted by: ., in bed
Is somebody gonna post the setlist for tonight's show?
Date: Sun, April 16, 2017, 12:08:55 ET
Posted by: Pepe, Lost waged
LARRY CARLTON Kid C! Just that 1, then left stage. Wow
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 21:06:21 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
KD: Looks like that post got cement shoes like the rest of the Corleone family quips.
I bet a soundboard audio clip from the Venetian would sound superb. Sure beats the outdoor tin cans...
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 20:16:00 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
KD wrote:
"Possibly a case of your post not showing up immediately?"
Actually kind of the opposite. (KD, feel free to email me for more.) .
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 19:54:09 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
I've been saying unkind things about the setlist since the 2006 tour and have been posting on this board since its inception in 2001 and nobody has ever said anything about what to say -- especially in regards to criticizing The Two.
Possibly a case of your post not showing up immediately?
.
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 14:04:09 ET
Posted by: Anon, Vegas
https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/for-steely-dan-its-more-ovaltine-er-opaline-please/
.
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 10:57:06 ET
Posted by: Kenny, VA
Recently watched the classic 70s movie Days of Heaven for the first time. One scene brought to mind a couple of SD entities.
https://youtu.be/fLLQ2LIyDM0?t=1m9s
I couldn't find anything online that suggested Malick is an SD fan, but I did find this page comparing the two.
http://brightlightsfilm.com/what-do-terrence-malick-and-steely-dan-have-in-common-part-1/
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 10:09:56 ET
Posted by: JT, Vega$
I have to say, they were great last night! A very good sounding room...it was one of the best sounding shows I have ever attended. Really pristine, transparent mix out front.
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 10:01:10 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
"Daddy" might be an all-Becker song in the same way some (probably correctly) contend that "Bodhisattva" is an all-Fagen song. He might have a thing for it that I dig and understand, and sometimes Becker's version of "Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More" can be one of the highlights of the night. Here's to that taking shape yet again.
Listened to TvN loudly earlier this week while (attempting to) playing guitar along to it, and for all of our carping about how Becker's live version of the tune is superior to the recorded one (fair suggestions), it's fantastic to note just how much Becker fucking owns the recorded version of that song with that melodic bass drive and his funky guitar playing.
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 09:47:20 ET
Posted by: JT, Vega$
Last night's Setlist
14 April 2017
Fan It Janet
(Enter D& W)
Black Cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show Biz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Rikki
Dirty Work
Bodhisatva
Daddy Don't Live In That NYC No More
Time Out of Mind ("TOOM")
Joe Tex song with Band Intros
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin' In The Years
Pretzel Logic (Encore)
Untouchables (as D&W leave the stage)
Great show as always!
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 09:41:07 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Dan, the reference to Harriman and Carlyle is from the Vegas show review, posted earlier. The author did spell Carlock's name right the first time, though.
I got a belly laugh from the lone comment (at this time) on the review:
"I love SD, but I'll never forgive them for being the spark that was responsible for Toto." - Launce Rake.
Date: Sat, April 15, 2017, 04:08:01 ET
Posted by: Tom Hagen, Vegas
Don't diss the Dan. Just be glad they are gigging. See y'all again tomorrow night. Peace and love.
TH
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 20:15:59 ET
Posted by: Akli Stereopolis, SCTV
Anyone who chooses to post here as Moe Greene is OK by me.
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, ET
Posted by: ,
"Anyone know anything about these new band members Harriman and Carlyle?"
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 18:33:24 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
I think we're all Walter's biggest fans around here (I usually skip ahead to his songs when the bootleg clips come out) but man, his singing on 'Daddy' was not his best in the clip provided:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkDx5xi0Kio
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 17:57:01 ET
Posted by: Moe Greene, Vegas
It's Moe Greene again. Sorry about that. I now have a REAL review of Steely Dan's opening show with photos. Here's the link:
www.vegasseven.com/2017/04/14/steely-dan-plays-winning-hand-venetian/
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 17:36:58 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour! Another Round.
Maybe a slightly better link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/martymartinez328/videos?sort=dd&shelf_id=0&view=0
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 17:35:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!
Thanks for the "effort" Try this Link, but clearly I've already tried that. A quick glance would reveal these are all dodgy paid-for (or irrelevant) links.
There are a few here that actually work:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWST9WQ9Q-ULzdws71tc6ew
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 13:41:07 ET
Posted by: Bugsy, S
Thanks Moe, but a press release is not a review.
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 13:14:06 ET
Posted by: Moe Greene, Vegas
Moe Greene here. Here's a review of Steely Dan's opening show in Vegas:
www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/steely-dan-kicks-off-venetian-las-vegas-residency-221028
The review states that they did play Hey 19.
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 11:07:39 ET
Posted by: Try This Link, It May Work
Here's a search link to some of SD's Vegas 2017 shows. No step before Filters left out. No VCRs. If these videos are naughty, report to YouTube, their job to deal with YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/results?q=Steely+Dan+2017&sp=CAI%253D
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 09:23:39 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Casual fan, can you find the time to link at least one youtube vid? Hoops said youtube is all fair game, here. We can probably take it from there. But so far, like Steve, I've found just bogus links. I'll try to look again later, if necessary.
Date: Fri, April 14, 2017, 18:38:18 ET
Posted by: Flipkid, Red State
I know many BlueBookers won't agree with me, but this looks like a pretty tight set.
The only disappointment is no songs from 2vN or EMG. Now, is it value for money?
That's the question.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 22:41:49 ET
Posted by: Pepper Potts, NY
Somebody posted a bogus setlist from last night's show on Setlist.fm.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 21:54:08 ET
Posted by: Found 'em,in, like, 20 seconds
[Shades of showing my mom how to load a VCR]
Go to YT. Hit "Filters." Choose "Uploaded Today." Type "Steely Dan 2017" in the Search Box. Ignore the obvious Live Stream Spam. Enjoy a front row seat w/ great sound quality for the rest of the real, free clips. Many thanks to the uploader!
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 19:19:39 ET
Posted by: Steve,
BTW: Some of those YouTube links look dubious.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 18:38:18 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Casual Fan and Victor: All I'm finding on YouTube is some sort of pay per view hosted by YouTube. Where are the clips?
Thanks in advance for the links.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 16:49:19 ET
Posted by: Victor,
Great clips...luscious performances. Tasty. Thank you.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 10:57:42 ET
Posted by: casual fan, orlando
There are 20 clips of the opening show posted to youtube, by the same person, ranging in length from about 30 seconds to 4+ minutes.
Won't bother linking them.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 09:37:27 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
I suspected that these shows would be shorter casino shows despite the high ticket prices. I'm glad I decided not to make the trek, though the lack of a summer tour had me questioning that decision. I'm hoping I'll be able to make a few of the Beacon shows again in fall, but I might not be able to this time due to life circumstances. So a DF Midwest show or two is looking more and more likely as my only chance to get a nice hit off the SD pipe.
For anyone going to the Vegas shows I'm still jealous! How about some show reports? I'd love to hear about the venue, the crowd, the vibe. Just don't mention that you had In-N-Out Burger pre-show. That would put me over the edge of appropriate envy!
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 09:11:25 ET
Posted by: DeaconBlues16,
On one of the SD FB groups (not the Dandom group but another one), someone listed the setlist as follows (this is directly copy and pasted, so hence the misspellings):
Intro (sans Donald and Walter)
Black cow
Aja
Hey 19
Black Friday
Show biz kids
Kid Charlemagne
Time out of mind
Dirty work
Boddisatwa
Daddy don't live in NYC
Green earrings
Indeed I love you (intros)
Josie
Peg
My old school
Reelin' in the years
Encore: Pretzel Logic
I think it's reasonable to assume that "Indeed I love you (intros)" is the Joe Tex I Want To Do (Everything For You) song they've been using.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 09:01:32 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Agreed about the shortened set list to accomodate the casino crowd. Too long a show means the largely 50+ age crowd would be too tired to gamble after the show.
But I would sorely miss Walter's Beat-spirited stream of consciousness. Sure, just like the Dead's DrumSpace, it can be hit or miss, but often the improvisation is a hit for me.
I have a feeling this will be similar to what's played at Classic West and Classic East.
Put it in perspective. 90% of everyone who attends these shows are casual fans, some who think the singer's name is Dan. They want to hear nothing more except to hear the "Decade" CD played live end to end, plus maybe one or two more. "How come they didn't play 'Book Keeper's Son'?"
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 08:43:39 ET
Posted by: Scott, Same old Set
From the looks of it, the casino wants a 90 minute show which might explain the omission of Hey 19 and the associated blabber. I wonder how band intros were done.
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 05:54:28 ET
Posted by: Hank, sleepy
Setlist seems a bit short. Have you noticed they didn't play Hey 19 or Black Friday?
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 04:38:47 ET
Posted by: Noddy, Vegas
No surprises at first Vegas show:
Black Cow
Aja
Show Biz Kids
Kid Charlemagne
Time Out Of Mind
Dirty Work
Bodhisattva
Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More
Green Earrings
Josie
Peg
Reelin' In The Years
Pretzel Logic (encore)
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 02:19:59 ET
Posted by: Coso, -
No set yet.
But they played Green Earrings.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS0K1cZFA-K/
Date: Thurs, April 13, 2017, 01:59:06 ET
Posted by: Stevie Dan, Phila, PA
Show should be just about over. Anybody out there w/ the setlist? Please.
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 23:51:57 ET
Posted by: Coso, ,
From some posts I found on Twitter the show started an hour or so ago PST.
Hopefully we'll get a setlist.
Have they given any indication of doing albums in full during this run?
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 23:41:41 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl
See is me. Sorry 'bout that!
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 22:55:19 ET
Posted by: See,Mtl
Looking forward to hearing about opening night in Vegas.Should be interesting to hear the reactions.To all those seeing shows,have fun,and stay safe.Peace
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 22:29:00 ET
Posted by: .,waiting
I'm not going to sleep tonight until I see the setlist for tonight's show.
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 16:11:31 ET
Posted by: Bill Drummond,
Ben Jammin':
Lost wages = Las Wages
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 15:27:38 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Listening to some unofficial recordings from the Royal Scam sessions, 'Sign in Stranger' specifically, and wondering if (if only for an evening, after some strong marijuana) Fagen ever considered doing a Jarrett-styled instrumental album in the mid-1970s.
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 13:05:29 ET
Posted by: Alkali, NYC
let's make it Steely Dan acceptable...
j. geils, p. wolf, a. belew, v. calaiutta, sd
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 12:08:54 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy
Cheers to the first SD show of 2017, and to those fans joining the fun in Lost Wages! I look forward to reading reviews and gaining insight from info shared here, so please post when possible.
Reel in Those Chips!
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 03:26:40 ET
Posted by: Mark,
RIP, John Geils. Of course, I knew him for his band's early 80s rock 'n' roll/pop hits,Centerfold, Freeze Frame, and Love Stinks. Over a decade later, I learned what the local Boston music scene already knew: Geils was a terrific jazz and blues artist first. He traveled in the same circles as many of the Woodstock and Boston greats like The Band, Van Morrison, etc.
Worthy coverage:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/11/guitarist-geils-found-dead-groton-home/zSjOaYn4BN5LMxNEms2f2J/story.html
Date: Wed, April 12, 2017, 01:22:41 ET
Posted by: Abu, Empty Post = Yes to Tour
I'm really hoping DonB's blank post at 09:08 was actually invisible ink that stated: "Yes, we are seriously considering a MH tour". Perhaps Doc Mu's post, which mysteriously has the exact same time stamp of 09:08:31, somehow made Don's post disappear.
Date: Tues, April 11, 2017, 18:00:49 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
KD: Still should have been Wetside Story in it's place. Grumble grumble...
Pretty stoked if there were a DF Tour stateside. 2006 HATWW. LOVE it. Sassy and jazzy. the studio version was ideal for its time and place...by I like the funked up jazz/muzak version.
Then I'm one of the few who like the reworked Police icon Don't Stand So Close to Me with Stewart "I'm not a redneck like Sting because I fell of my horse playing Polo" Copeland playing the fake drum machine with one hand...better because the 1986 version is CREEPY and SUBVERSIVE - in an entertaining way and thus closer to the Nabokov novel...
Hard to beat the '93 SD band with Erskine, Zingg, and the "all saxophones" version of Reelin'. I just think they work better live as jazzy rather than "ClassicRock/Shlock."
2006 stuff is out there - you'll be glad you tuned in.
Date: Tues, April 11, 2017, 12:21:36 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
Always wanted to go to Massey Hall Don, many legendary live recordings speak volumes about the place.
Saw Donald at the Paramount in Oakland, one of the grand old art deco dames - (mostly) with beautiful, warm sound as well.
Glad you included Drew Zingg on your fabulous last cd.
We went to see him perform with other SD alumni around ‘93 at LeBar Bat, but haven’t heard much for a number of years.
He is playing tonight at Yoshis with a great Jazz/Funk band doing a special night of SD covers.
They also enlisted former Santana vocalist Tony Lindsay, should be interesting.
Date: Tues, April 11, 2017, 09:08:31 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Los Angeles
Date: Tues, April 11, 2017, 09:05:49 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Los Angeles
In other news, I saw the DF tour in '06 at the legendarily great-sounding Massey Hall in Toronto (it's like the Beacon only you can hear things inside it). Loved every nanosecond.
Date: Tues, April 11, 2017, 07:17:38 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
For the Stadium shows or for DF's solo tour, if he did the original version of "Here at the Western World" or dusted off "Any Major Dude..." for the first time since '96....the fans would eat it up.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 23:27:18 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
I think I've figured out a new way to enjoy the sometimes-maligned "Cousin Dupree."
Listen to it as if it were a Band song, especially a jumpy Levon Helm tune. As performed in the Rag, Mama, Rag-style, but with a 1999 Don & Walt arrangement.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 22:09:43 ET
Posted by: Ward, listening to Wayne Shorter
That reworked jazz version of Reelin' was a godsend. They played it on their 1993 tour. From what I can recall, most people in the audience was sitting down and closely listening to the song. It was glorious. At the time I was hoping Steely Dan would evolve into something like the Pat Metheny Group with a heavy emphasis on jazz.
I have high hopes for Donald's Nightfylers project. I really do. I love the black & white promo photo of Donald looking as grim as ever with a trumpet next to his face. Donald has to get back to his jazz roots and play some new really stimulating jazz-rock music.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 16:09:54 ET
Posted by: Wes, AZ
Interesting how Reelin went from being a concert rarity - they used a reworked version if it was played at all - to being a staple that is faithful to the original.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 15:14:01 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR
Perhaps one of the best things about Donald's '06 solo tour was that he expected to play for smaller crowds in more intimate venues, and didn't seem to feel obliged to focus his set list on the "hits" that typically dominate SD's set list.
To me, the tour's most memorable highlights were things that would apparently never happen at an SD show - great album tracks like The Goodbye Look, What I Do and Nightfly, rarities like HaTWW, and great covers like Misery & the Blues and Viva Rocknroll. The thought of a 2d DF tour has me hoping to hear these again, as well as stuff like Century's End, Confide in Me, Big Noise NY etc.
As well as hoping that this DF tour doesn't omit his many fans in the Pacific NW (Portland/Seattle/Vancouver).
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 13:57:22 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
Sorry for the mess, not sure if my anti spyware is acting up or we just had a outasge.
Hope this will work:
'Steve, while I have not heard the version you're talking about I believe I get what you and Dean are talking about.
My experience with HATTW at Donald's show was similar. Very interesting and likeable, I would have loved the original better, it's a gem that never gets played and some on the intricacies are missing live.
Having said that, I really loved 'Reeling' the updated one.
Most here seemed to prefer the live Western world take, it's personal I guess.
It's all good but one can see how the causal concertgoer - nevermind us scrutinizing dicks- wants to hear the memorized versions.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 13:35:17 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
Such a holy gem that never gets played and part of the intricacies are left out in the live version.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 13:30:02 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 12:46:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach. With a wicked case of tinnitus
Steve, I get what you are saying here (I think). But most of the "hits" and/or songs in high rotation on the tours, have been recorded in their traditional arrangements. So these are already preserved. In some respects, I think performing a couple/few rearrangements, might show future generations what SD is really all about (especially Live). And this might be just as important, separate themselves from the "go through motions" approach of many of these classic rock bands.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 07:42:29 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
When I saw "SD" here in Tampa last year, they tweaked
a couple of the tunes like Kid Charlemagne especially was performed
all "inside out".
For these 2 major stadium shows this summer, I hope they go back to the normal versions of their songs. Since the footage will likely be captured for future generations to enjoy.
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 01:54:34 ET
Posted by: Abu, Big Band Sonata
Back in 2014, I posted this cool tune called Sonata on a Theme of Black Cow. It was written (or arranged?) by Sunim Koria. I didn't know much about it back then. The Dean did some digging and posted this quote from a website:
http://www.qojo.co.uk/Graphics/Sunim_Koria/graphics_sunim.html
Excerpt:
"Sunim Koria is a Warwickshire based composer blending traditional and contemporary musical ideologies to create compositions of great depth and complexity.
His composition Sonata on a Theme of Black Cow was selected by the internationally acclaimed musician Tim Garland for performance by the Northern Underground Orchestra and a recording made at the Sage, Gateshead.
The album artwork is principally designed to express the dark undertones present throughout Sunim's piece, while references are made to the original Steely Dan lyrics from which the new composition is founded."
The "Sonata" was arranged for Big Band and sounds quite good. I believe The Dean, like me, thought it was pretty cool. Just thought I would share it again. For some reason, the website listed above must have been taken down. I'm glad The Dean found the info about it back three yrs ago, as I cannot find anything about it on the web. Here is the tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNSQ2SyTPNY
Date: Mon, April 10, 2017, 00:30:47 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St Augustine Beach.
Abu, if we're talking pie-in-the-sky tour ideas, I'm all for yours. Don F and Don B could even use the same band. They might be able to expand it a bit, and bring back the vibes. Or, and here's another I-know-it-isn't-going-to-happen-idea: incorporate the Snarky Puppy "fam" into the band/lineup...
OK, I'm back to earth. But that's a great idea, Abu.
Date: Sun, April 09, 2017, 19:29:35 ET
Posted by: Alkali, NYC'
watching Snow White and the huntsman on fx when low and behold a commercial for that eastwest concert thing with all of those 70 bands comes on including a clip of fagen singing reeling in the years i dont know whether to laugh or cry and to topple it all off i cant get the song Dont stop believin out of my ear ive officially become just a little less of a fanatic on a seperate note how exactly does fleetfoot mac qualify as a eastwest coast band
Date: Sun, April 09, 2017, 18:49:30 ET
Posted by: Max, Flushing
Fagen hung out in the parking lot for Shea Stadium when the Beatles played there in 1965. Citifield was built on the site of the Shea parking lot. He makes his return 52 years later.
Date: Sun, April 09, 2017, 14:36:59 ET
Posted by: Abu, Monkey Around?
Hey Don Breithaupt... just wondering if you have been batting around the idea of a Monkey House concert tour? That would be absolutely sweet. Many others here likely would agree. I'm sure you would do a show out here in the southwest Left coast, which is now your unofficial Headquarters. With all this talk of a possible Donald Fagen solo tour, how about Monkey House and DF together? That would be too sweet, guaranteed to raise any listener's blood sugar way too high.
Date: Sun, April 09, 2017, 10:13:09 ET
Posted by: Robby, Just woke up
Wouldn't it be feasible for Donald & The Nightflyers to launch a USA Summer tour right after the Classic East/West concerts in July? Donald would get a boost from crowd attendance because of the heavy publicity at these Classic East/West shows.
Date: Sun, April 09, 2017, 06:41:14 ET
Posted by: Just, Wunderin'
Any thoughts or hypotheses on when we might know if Donald is doing a solo tour in the US? Other than this month's California dates and the two weekend Classic shows in July, it seems to me that the schedule is wide open for the summer. But then again maybe he will go into the fall.
Given that we are seeing tickets go on sale for the Tokyo show, maybe will see something soon?
I know, probably no one knows right now except Donald himself. Still, it's interesting to speculate. I have such anticipation.
Date: Sat, April 08, 2017, 19:46:09 ET
Posted by: Paul,
Looking forward to the Donald Fagen shows.
Here's hoping he brings the show to North America.
I'll be first in line.
BTW: I hear that a couple weeks from now his record store day. It would have been very cool if there were Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, or Walter Becker albums available for record store day. However, there are none listed at the official record store day promo list.
Maybe next year?
Date: Sat, April 08, 2017, 19:32:23 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL
Howard Stern is a big fan of Bob Lefsetz, the guy that did the review of "Can't Buy a Thrill" on the previous posting. I think Bob covers the NY media beat for the Daily News or the Post...or did fairly recently.
I enjoy listening to Pandora Radio on the weekend and discovered a great track on an album called "The Doobie Brothers: Live at the Greek Theatre" from 1982.
Pandora occasionally has some rare cuts of things and they have introduced me to some albums that I have gone out of my way for.
Date: Sat, April 08, 2017, 17:39:28 ET
Posted by: The Charmer,
I checked out the Warner Bros./Reprise official website. They list all of the artists on the roster. Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, and Walter Becker are NOT listed as current artists.
I also went over to the Rhino Records website. They were also not listed as current artists.
While at rhinorecords.com, I did find an interesting review of Can't Buy A Thrill. Here's the link.
http://www.rhino.com/article/bob-lefsetz-welcome-to-my-world-cant-buy-a-thrill
Date: Fri, April 07, 2017, 18:43:22 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Hey KD. That's a good question. I don't have a definitive answer. I was wondering the same about their record contracts. They haven't recorded as Steely Dan in 14 years. Walter's record was on Jimmy Buffett's Mailboat label, And Dagen's Nightfly Trilogy box set seemed to be a wrap on the Warner/Reprise years. Then came Sunken Condos on Reprise. Was that a one-off extention? Etc.etc.etc.
All I know is that I wish their great records got promoted better. I know we all agree.
Date: Fri, April 07, 2017, 18:39:30 ET
Posted by: The Charmer,
Herington and 2012 interviews both great. Keep 'em coming.
Date: Fri, April 07, 2017, 13:49:39 ET
Posted by: CJB, History, baby
Did we discuss this solo DF interview already? Back in 2012?
Found in one of my feeds, just now, while searching for Japanese flight info & ticket pricing. In German; I've provided a link to a Google Translate version of the page.
https://translate.google.ca/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faz.net%2Faktuell%2Ffeuilleton%2Fpop%2Fdonald-fagen-im-interview-keine-frau-schaut-mir-noch-hinterher-11932525.html%3FprintPagedArticle%3Dtrue%23pageIndex_2&edit-text=&act=url
Date: Fri, April 07, 2017, 12:16:09 ET
Posted by: Rob, NV
Interview with Herington about upcoming Vegas gigs.
https://lasvegasmagazine.com/entertainment/2017/apr/07/steely-dan-the-venetian/#/0
Date: Fri, April 07, 2017, 00:05:53 ET
Posted by: tkt, tk
Albums dropping out of the blue is all the rage these days--examples include Wilco, Beyonce, Bowie, U2, Kendrick Lamar, and Radiohead. I could see Fagen and Leonhart pulling it off with a small group of guys and a big stack of NDAs.
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 11:29:48 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
While I agree with Ernie that's it's very unlikely that a new DF record would drop without warning, it's also important to note that it's very trendy these days to drop a new release without any advance notice. This is a big thing in R&B, Hip-Hop and even Indie Rock. The buzz that a surprise release generates is often as effective as a pre-release marketing campaign. Of course, DF is not Beyonce, and his demographic would be better served by the traditional release model.
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 20:05:39 ET
Posted by: David, aka The Charmer
Hey Gang!
Thought I would check in. It's been soooo long. Very pumped about the possibility of a Fagen solo tour not to mention the Citi Field show. Hey! It's a big attraction.
Thanks for keeping the Steely Dan Faith.
The Charmer
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 15:07:59 ET
Posted by: Kreg, R
Modern Drummer interview with Steve Gadd. His work on Aja is brought up several times.
https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/may-2017-steve-gadd-innovator/
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 13:13:34 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
In the Fantasy Land defense, at the very least some people in Donald, Azoff, Leonhart or Reprise's camp had a legitimate interest in drumming up some support with information. Even if it was limited to this message board and a pre-sale preview of 'I'm Not the Same Without You' at Rolling Stone's website.
Given the current record company situation for the three, some five years later, could we count on that? If Becker wanted to put a new disc together, is he under contract anywhere? Is Reprise's decades-old association with Donald over?
Does anyone have a clear view of their record company affiliations at this point? Are there any?
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 10:10:47 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Ernie:
Coso acknowledged that a new album likely won't be happening. At the end of their post, Coso says, "I now return you to your non-fantasy programming."
Yes, their post about a new album and the set list was a FANTASY. Please read carefully before criticizing or disagreeing. Fly low, be cool, and give a break.
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 09:31:58 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Because Donald is associated (directly and indirectly) with two of the three assholes mentioned here:
http://deadspin.com/james-dolan-called-me-an-asshole-knicks-fan-says-he-1794049930
... he'll look to play the Theatre in Chicago, if he can fill it. It's a Dolan/MSG building.
Park West would be perfect, it's the best sound in the city and I'm hoping for that because I'd get to see soundcheck. I still remember chatting up Ted Baker about his Bunsen Prize when I worked at the PW in 2002 and Baker played for another asshole in Art Garfunkel. Art berated his band, which included Warren Bernhardt, incessantly during soundcheck and pre-show.
Sorry for all the rude words. Irving Azoff started it.
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 07:23:36 ET
Posted by: Ernie, TX
Coso,
When has an album ever materialized out of nowhere with no credible reports of its progress? Last one, everyone knew he was working on it with Michael Leonhart, the name of the engineer that mastered it was reported, and the track listing was online months before its release. With record sales being what they are these days, I'd think the last thing you'd want to do is have it arrive covertly.
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 00:28:21 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
So I'm wondering where DF might head with his band, a group of Larry Campbell and Amy Helm-like Woodstock-ites to ramble with, or a jazzier group (acoustic or electric), or an attempt to approximate the typical NYC group we saw in 2006?
Date: Thurs, April 06, 2017, 00:11:43 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
It's unlikely but maybe Donald can grab Snarky Puppy as his band for the fall, imagine that would be a nice fit.
Would be a great opportunity for them as well.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 22:17:58 ET
Posted by: Coso, The Mountains
It should be interesting to see what the mixture of solo material is vs. Steely Dan.
For all we know, he could have just finished up a new album and is planning on promoting it.
In the case of no new album, and a set of 16-17 songs, I'd like to see 4 SD songs tops and an equal representation between his solo albums.
Viva Rock 'n Roll
Green Flower Street
IGY
Weather in My Head
Don't Take Me Alive
Rhymes
Springtime
The New Breed
Chain Lightning
Brite Nightgown
New Frontier
I'm Not the Same Without You
Tomorrow's Girls
Countermoon
Teahouse On the Tracks
______________________________
Pretzel Logic
My Old School
I now return you to your non-fantasy programming.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 20:11:19 ET
Posted by: popegreg, MKE
This talk of Midwest solo DF shows has me super excited (even more than I am about seeing Hall & Oates and Tears For Fears in May!).
Hoops is spot on regarding Thalia Hall. It's a beautiful venue inside and out that checks all the right boxes for me. There's the added bonus of being smack dab in Pilsen with all those great Mexican restaurants. I finally got down there in February for George Clinton Parliament/Funkadelic and some amazing pre-show tacos. Great show, I was actually a bit sore the next day from dancing my ass off. My only complaint was the pat down, they wouldn't let me bring a brownie in so I had to eat it before going in. It was one of those special brownies so I peaked a bit earlier than I wanted to for a 3 hour show. ;)
Still, the Chicago Theater seems more likely since SD has done multiple nights there and I can't see DF playing a mostly standing venue like Thalia.
I'll definitely make the trip down to Chicago, should there be a show, but I'm hoping a Milwaukee show is also in the cards. The Riverside would be awesome, but a show at the smaller Pabst Theater would be the coolest show ever. The Pabst is the best live music venue in the world. If ever your favorite artist is playing there you will not be disappointed in the sound, the sight lines, the comfort of the seating, the friendly and accommodating staff, or the price and selection of adult beverages. Plus they never pat you down and would never make you eat your brownie outside. ;)
Fingers crossed that In, the know lived up to the name!
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 18:55:33 ET
Posted by: Xavier, PA
I imagine that with this band, Fagen is shaking off the "heavy cats" that make a solo tour hard to pull of financially.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 17:38:29 ET
Posted by: Coso, The Mountains
Not too sound dismissive of SD, but I've been waiting for Donald to do some solo shows for quite a while. I missed the 2006 shows, this looks like it could be a lot of fun and a nice change of pace from the usual!
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 16:47:29 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Glad you like it, Aja1. Fun to share the things we know and love with those of our kind.
If Donald Fagen (or Walter Becker or Steely Dan) come to Chicago and play smaller venues, would love if they played Thalia Hall (amazingly like Roseland Ballroom) -- but Park West, Aragon, Riveria, The Vic and few others would do. My hunch is that he'd play Chicago Theatre or Rosemont Theatre.
Check out the photo of Thalia Hall. Saw Joe Jackson there maybe 18 months ago.
http://thaliahallchicago.com/history/
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 16:16:52 ET
Posted by: In, the know
Fagen will be doing shows in the USA this summer. With the same band he's using in Japan for thoes Sept gigs. Right now it's only Midwest and West coast dates. The only shows scheduled on the east coast are in Philadelphia and NYC.
This can change.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 15:38:28 ET
Posted by: Aja1, Newton
Hoops, thanks for recommending the New Dylan "Triplicate" album, it is kind of entrancing. I doubt I would have given it a thought if you hadn't mentioned it.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 13:03:25 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Hey KD. Some people are talking about the different band on a Facbook group. They are saying it's a band led by a young guitar prodigy out of Woodstock. His name is Conor Kennedy. He's NOT the same Conor Kennedy who dated Taylor Swift. He IS the same Conor Kennedy that Fagen invited up on stage at the Beacon Theater a few years ago to play on a Steely Dan song. Donald, of course, has a home there with Libby and is very in tune with the Woodstock music scene, to say the least. Even if the rumors are incorrect about Kennedy being on Donald's Japanese dates, he's still someone worth looking up since he has Donald's ear.
One hypotheis (i.e. gossip) is that the Kennedy's band is young enough that they might make the tour more feasible. Another angle is that Donald wants to break out talented up and comers.
More to be revealed, but right now it's plausible Steely Dan water cooler talk with a touch of armchair quarterbacking.
Thanks for the link. Good stuff.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 12:16:05 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Steve, link? It would be great for Fagen to have some fun with it. I'm forever watching the video of him playing acoustic with the Leonharts + guitar, doing one of my favorite songs (and giving co-writer Libby a nod):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-JDwLJhQf4
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 11:37:53 ET
Posted by: ., Hong Kong [Really!]
I'll consider going to Tokyo for a show.
Saw the band in Osaka in 2000 at a venue that seated maybe 3-4,000. Club size gig would be different. I imagine a shorter set, and pricey.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 10:14:29 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Interesting discussion in another music forum about how DF's band for the Japan dates will be entrely different players from the Steely Dan Orchestra. If that's true, it will be interesting indeed.
Date: Wed, April 05, 2017, 00:37:41 ET
Posted by: Ed Paisley,
Well, very pumped about the Fagen shows in Japan
That's because if it gpes well there, I think he will play some dates in the US.
I do love hearing Steely Dan every summer, but it will be so cool to hear some solo Fagen that we haven't heard live in over a decade.
Can't help but be excited at the thought. .
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 21:06:40 ET
Posted by: James R., here, now
"It's not funny anymore LaPage."
Truthfully, it never was.
What a waste of time and effort.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 20:53:29 ET
Posted by: Steve,
From Joni Mitchell's web site, http://jonimitchell.com/music/album.cfm?id=29
"9. “Third World Man” performed by Steely Dan
“I never understood why “Gaucho” didn’t receive the critical acclaim of “Aja”. I’m convinced that if “Gaucho” had come first and then “Aja”, the same thing would have happened in reverse. To maintain this high standard of musicality and storytelling through two projects is most praiseworthy - but there is something ignorant and arbitrary in rock journalism - editorial policy maybe - like ‘We were kind last time, let’s kill ‘em this time!” Or maybe it was like second-date syndrome, where unrealistic expectations eclipse a plenty good reality. Of all the great songs on these two albums, the first to come to mind was ‘Third World Man’.”
The Stevie Wonder comment was from Roger Nichols.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 20:48:44 ET
Posted by: Jack, NYTimes
Fox News President Bill Shine says Fox News is like the Eagles.
I'm so thankful he didn't say t was like Steely Dan. Whew!
You can't make this shit up:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/opinion/how-is-fox-news-like-the-eagles.html?_r=0
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 20:46:49 ET
Posted by: Fred, etc.
It's not funny anymore LaPage.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 20:43:45 ET
Posted by: Steve,
Joni Mitchell said that Gaucho is as good as or better than Aja. I agree.
Stevie Wonder has said that The Nightfly is his favorite.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 19:21:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
In a completely useless exercise I have...
Katy Lied - despite the noise reduction fiasco
The Nightfly
Aja
Royal Scam
Sunken Condos
Gaucho - criminally underrated as a Broadway Musical about L.A.
Two Against Nature - multilayered voices/charts
Morph the Cat
Countdown to Ecstacy
11 ToW - Japanese version with Medical Science
Kamakiriad - horn charts are the highlight besides Tomorrow's Girls, Snowbound, and On the Dunes
Circus $ - best *sounding* recording besides maybe Aja?
Pretzel Logic
Everything Must Go - Blues Beach and Last Mall drag it way down
Can't Buy a Thrill
15 albums and arguably the weakest one is CBAT with 2 smash hits. Think about it.
On the Dunes was written in the 80s. Snowbound, too...near the time of Donald's writer's block. It fits in nicely with Lazy Nina, Big Noise New York, Love Will Make it Right, Century's End...that's what Fagen's aborted 2nd album would have sounded like - a post-modern Cole Porter/Victor Young kinda thing. What could have been...
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 18:50:29 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos
KD, regarding Kama, is there a more hypnotic song in all of the SD/DF/WB catalog than On the Dunes? Even more than Third World Man, IMO.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 18:30:21 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
After his 33-1/3 Aja book came out, I believe there was talk of Don Breithaupt doing a Nightfly book. Hoping some day.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 17:59:52 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
That's an interesting one ... "listened to the most."
Probably Aja, my favorite, then Royal Scam -- it's my wife's favorite and was in her car for years as a result. Then probably TvN, walked around college and Chicago for ages listening to that on headphones when it came out, followed by Morph, and then (due to parents' influence) Pretzel Logic.
Anyone have any weird ones in the top three?
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 16:31:54 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh
I'm with Hoops re: The Nightfly. It's probably the Steely Dan/DF/WB album I've listened to the most and it's still a rewarding listen.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 15:10:13 ET
Posted by: Aygett, Osaka
Donald Fagen & The Night Flyers
To the beat of fat R & B, harmony of jazz ... .... Steelley Dan is the group that invented the most sophisticated musicality in the history of rock. Donald Fagen singing while playing the keyboard was playing the main musical aspect of such a super group that gazed attention from the jazz world. Even as a solo, he announced 4 original works from his masterpiece, 1982 'Nightfly' to '2012' Sanken Condos'. Therefore, Fagen opens the golden circuit acquired by Steely Dan in a more ripe form. Although he has a spectacular career, he was born in 1948, so he is in his 60s. It is not old age old yet, it will surely show off <music that is not of this world though it is of this world.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 13:33:38 ET
Posted by: KD, asdf
Nightfly is pretty well up there. It's not even my favorite Donald solo album (Kamakiriad, weirdly, still does it for me; Morph at its peaks might be higher than both to these dumb ears), but it did really strike a lot of people in the same way that Aja struck others. It deservedly has turn into Steely Dan's "All Things Must Pass," even if we have little documentation of anything besides Second Arrangement carrying over from Gaucho sessions to Nightfly.
And I can totally see, for some listeners of a certain age, why they would prefer one classic over the other. Aja still has that fusion ring to it, it still has Michael McDonald and overt (in places) disco on it. Nightfly is full of New York players and a lot of Donald singing backup on his own tracks. Both approaches have their brilliant merits, obviously.
Good for Donald for striking up a new band, for what is probably some serious coin for a few appearances.
And Walter? Dude is 67, his dad died young and he was lucky to escape the 1970s with his health and humor and hands. If he doesn't feel like hitting the sheds of the midwest this summer, in 100-degree temps even at night, I can't blame the guy. He's given us more than enough.
(Just one more, though?)
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 13:12:30 ET
Posted by: Uh?, .
Hoops- Do you really believe that?
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 11:45:51 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
The Nightfly is every bit as great and as significant an album as Aja.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 11:31:57 ET
Posted by: Nat, TX
35 years after it was recorded, The Nightfly is still being used for audio benchmarks.
http://www.techhive.com/article/3187175/speakers/sonos-playbase-review-oddly-enough-it-sounds-better-playing-music-than-movie-soundtracks.html
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 10:53:41 ET
Posted by: Aja,
No. It says nothing about David Palmer, Smartass James from NY.
Buty here's a few bad translations of the Press Release based on various free on-line translators. You get what you pay for. As the cliche goes, something gets lost in translation.
Etranslator:
Fat to the beat of R & B, jazz harmony .... Group that launched the rock history most sophisticated music is, it is Steely Dan. Also received the attention from the jazz world, that was responsible for the main to become music face of such a super-group, Donald Fagen singing while playing the keyboard. He also as a solo, announced the original work of the four 1982 is a masterpiece from "The Nightfly" to "Sunken Condos" of 2012. So, Fagen is open in a more ripe form a circuit of the gold acquired by Steely Dan. Spectacular but has a career, he is 60 generations since the 1948 birth. Rather than at the age Komu aging yet, <to be of this world, music, such as not of this world> must us to show off.
Google Translate:
Fat to the beat of R & B, jazz harmony .... Group that launched the rock history Most sophisticated music is, it is Steely Dan. Also received the attention from the jazz world, that is responsible for the main to to music face He is as a solo, announced the original work of the four 1982 is a masterpiece from "The Nightfly" to "Sunken Condos" of 2012. So, Fagen is open In a more ripe form a circuit of the gold acquired by Steely Dan. Spectacular but has a career, he is 60 generations since the 1948 birth. Rather than at the age Komu aging yet, <to be of this world, music, such as Not of this world> must us to show off.
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 10:45:41 ET
Posted by: James, NY
In case you missed the press release:
ファットなR&Bのビートに、ジャズのハーモニー……。ロック史上もっとも洗練された音楽性を打ち出したグループが、スティーリー・ダンだ。ジャズ界からも注視を受けた、そんなスーパー・グループの主となる音楽面を担っていたのが、鍵盤を弾きながら歌うドナルド・フェイゲン。彼はソロとしても、代表作である1982年『ナイトフライ』から2012年の『サンケン・コンドズ』まで４枚のオリジナル作を発表。そこで、フェイゲンはスティーリー・ダンで獲得した黄金の回路をより熟した形で開いている。華々しいキャリアを持つものの、彼は1948年生まれなので60代。まだ老けこむ歳ではなく、＜この世のものであるのに、この世のものではないような音楽＞を披露してくれるに違いない。
Great to read that David Palmer is joining him!
Date: Tues, April 04, 2017, 10:21:39 ET
Posted by: Ed Paisley, Somewhere that's sane
WoW! THAT"S GREAT NEWS!
I wonder who The NIghtflyers will be.
Can't wait to hear more.............Do you think there will be US dates? I'm reminded of a couple of tours where Steely Dan warmed up in Japan first. For some reason Are the Nightflyers a different group than the Steely Dan Orchestra?
Date: Mon, April 03, 2017, 22:10:16 ET
Posted by: Charlie, Tokyo
DONALD FAGEN & The Nightflyers will headline the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Tokyo on September 23 & 24, 2017.
More deets--and US Dates???--to come!
http://bluenotejazzfestival.jp
Date: Mon, April 03, 2017, 19:10:26 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Miserable Old D.P. - Not Mindless Dull Old Poster...I think...
Hoops - Definitely no need to apologize for any technical glitches. I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't participating in or continuing the Snotty Anon Poster Tradition, all while posting something that read like a typical post by yours truly.
And, not to put too fine a point on it, but the acronym is M-O-D-P, not MDOP. Unless we have another wiseass mimic on here again...
Date: Mon, April 03, 2017, 18:51:33 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
M/D/O/P: Sorry about that. Technical issue. Your post is now corrected below...or so I think it is. Again, my apologies.
Best,
Jim
Date: Mon, April 03, 2017, 15:58:09 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Editor's Office
The "bits 'n' pieces" post without a username from April 02, 2017, 23:10:43 ET, right below Doc's "Selfish Gene/Dawkins" post, is mine. For some reason the "M/O/D/P" part didn't post after the time delay (I definitely put it there when I submitted the comment), and even stranger, the quote from Hoops about prizing self-esteem over achievement is also missing (and I know I put the quote in as well). Must be something in the water. Or the "system".
Date: Mon, April 03, 2017, 02:20:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Lutz: No problem with the musicianship at all on Bob. i guess I should think of the song like a Gaucho outtake and just enjoy the groove. I'll try it. Carlock's drumming is fabulous.
I guess it's too much to hope for the brilliance of Downtown Canon or Selfish Gene??
For the few that don't know Selfish Gene is Walter's amusing take on Richard Dawkins (not surprising for those that breed dogs) argument that genes that encode behavior.
Although Dawkins made his name via lay books (Selfish Gene, Blind Watchmaker). He published letters to Science )Bees are easily Distracted) and Nature (accidentally
suggested that the brain may have neuron turnover before anyone dreamed of such stem cells, and a couple of evolutionary articles about digger wasp behavior.
Walter's anti-hero is a party animal, as another form of loserdom, that also fits as an allegory to our society, where selfish behavior runs amuck. Like the original Dos Equis Most Interesting Man, with less heart. Arguably better than anything Dawkins came up with... in particular because the Blind Watchman paradigm has a major crack as recently espoused by Denis Noble in his recent treatise that epigenetics and other mechanisms link the environment to heredity as genomic adaptation...stay tuned.
"Selfish Gene don't serve two masters"
The Bridge is EPIC, followed by a tasty guitar solo.
Must every time I turn my ship around
Some bastard come and knock my skyline down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbQ0ybu7SFQ
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 23:10:43 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Bits 'n' pieces
6:40 pm, NYC Time, Mon, Apr 3, 2017:The post below is now correct. There was a technical difficulty that omitted some of the lines of text from the original post last evening. Apologies to M/D/O/P and everyone else.
The book mentioned earlier by KD ("The Steely Dan File") is an unqualified mess that combines shockingly poor composition with a noteworthy lack of original content and then adds an unbelievably excessive tally of spelling, grammatical, and typographic errors to create an unreadable shambles of a "book". I know this because I bought the book several years ago, and, even worse, I read it.
It is very hard to imagine that the finished product is anything other than a source of major embarrassment for its author.
I love Circus Money more than I love Tres Generaciones Anejo, and more than I love [insert another of My Favorite Things here], and even more than I love love. Curiously, The title track and "Bob Is Not Your Uncle Anymore" are my two very favorite tracks on the CD. I could try to explain the reasoning behind my feelings, but why bother? They're just "feelings" after all. And what the hell do I know, anyways?
And this quote posted by Hoops is most definitely another Money Quote:
QUOTE: - "Surrounded by affluence, enabled by the internet, and empowered by an educational system that prizes self-esteem over achievement, Americans have become more opinionated even as they have become less informed, and are now utterly intolerant of ever being told they’re wrong about almost anything."
In my own personal experience, the part about the educational system prizing "self esteem" over achievement is particularly salient & timely, and, sadly, you can include Canadians right along with Americans in that overall indictment. And probably the rest of the planet as well, now that the electronic world has overtaken the real one.
Except for the eastern half of the tiny republic of Togo - I think those guys are still OK. Nice, down-to-earth folks, those Eastern Togoans.
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 22:56:34 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago
Many times delayed, hopefully not way too overrated, the latest edition of the Dandom Digest went out in the past hour. It covers January 18-March 31, 2017.
The following are the subjects/headlines of the items in the latest newsletter:
- ON SALE MON 4/3 & 4/7: SD on Classic West and Classic East Bill
- ON SALE: See SD Reel In The Chips All April in NV & CA
- ON SALE: SD Headline Greenwich Town Party
- New Michael Leonhart Interview talks SD
- Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left To Know About This Elusive Band"
- "Steely Dan FAQ" Out Now
- Re: "Steely Dan FAQ" Out Now
- DF on New Todd Rundgren Album
- Wendel in TECnology Hall of Fame 2017
- DF, Oh Whitney, Magic
- Pete Christlieb Discusses His Deacon Blues Solo
- Jon Herington in Guitar Player
- Guitar Techniques Steely Dan Style
- An Evening with Herington/Beard
- John Wetton Doing it Again
- Love Rocks with Michael McDonald & Catherine Russell
- Mike McD & Pow Wow Do Peg, Kid C.
- Newsweek Interview with Mike McD
- Money House: Missing from Headquartersa
- DF performing Chuck Berry's Viva Viva Rock n Roll on the MTC tour. - - RIP, Chuck Berry
If you are a subscriber, you should already have received it. If you don't see it, check your spam filters first; then, if it's not there, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com.
As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. Heck, if you want, email me privately that you did get it. WIth email filters and spam what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a naughty word.
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest.
Also, if you wrote something for this most recent Dandom Digest and it didn't appear, please email me as well. It's been ages since the last edition so perhaps something slipped through the cracks.
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydan.com, walterbecker.com, donaldfagen.com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates. (BTW: If you are a subscriber to the Official Steely Dan Newseletter, you should have received a new edition last Tuesday. That's just a third-party notice from me, a fellow fan. I have nothing to do with the official SD newsletter.)
---
Thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom. Pete, DB, Ben, and Gus.
As always, thank you for your support and writings through the years, especially Pete and Shari, as well as Mr. & Mrs. Winterbottom, and especially thinking of Mark, Bill, and Fezzie, and purposely not to mention a couple of people who request anonymity.
Fly about as low, be so cool,
Jim
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 20:00:42 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF
DocMu,
I find 'Bobs uncle' especially strong, I could listen to the drums and bass alone. Sometimes the groove and sound just cuts it for me, there is no need for all these busy time changes or hooks. Different tastes I guess...
Carlock is very proud of it, I had a chance to talk to him after CM was just released when Rudder was playing in town.
Blues beach doesn't rub me the wrong way either, it has a nice flow and groove and is just in the right place imo.
I don't know how many times I listened to that 45 sec snippet that was the first taste of EMG prior to the album...
Why second guess D&W on how the sequence should have been.
I've listened to EMG so many times I might just be used to it, although when Don says 'I love it, it's wicked' that's good enough for me.
I realize, I am one of the few that likes the 2000 - now era a little better than pre '76, with the 3 in between being Nirvana.
Kinda like Zappa I guess, where a majority of fans seems to like anything before Zoot Allures better than the incredible new stuff and updated arrangements of the old with his stellar 1988 band.
No Denny Dias and no Jimmy Carl Black, I get it - but Herington and Wackerman are not merely replacements either...
Sorry for the long winded post.
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 19:45:31 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
I remember an actual shout out to Jon Herrington and the Steely Dan touring band when Daryl Hall was jamming at his House sessions, which are far more interesting than the later 80s albums, with CeLo Green, I believe. Hall I think pays attention to SD recordings...
Oates is like "the other guy" from Wham or Tears for Fears...
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 19:41:13 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,
Great new interview w/ Michael Leonhart on Bone 2 Pick w/ Michael Davis.
ML talks SD for about 15 mins. (from around 30:00 - 45:00).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5708xCRgtaE
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 15:02:36 ET
Posted by: Robby, East Coast
I saw John Oates' new memoir at the book store. Since we have some Steely Dan fans here on H&O, I scanned the index and there are no entries for Steely Dan or Donald Fagen.
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 12:54:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Triplicate - clean recording. Well-respectful, updated 1950s style recording. Beautiful instrumentation sound with Dean Parks and Charlie Sexton on guitar.
Bob Dylans vocal stylings at 75 - yeah, I'm not get through 3 albums worth of that. ;)
Date: Sun, April 02, 2017, 12:22:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Hoops - it's not completely reggae pe se. It's dub, a remixing or reggae to emphasize the drums and bass in extended pieces...as such there's a great tendency to the REPETITIVE. Cool for white kids high on meth at a dance club. More challenging for a listener. Walter on his own does his thing. Most of it works, but it's too challenging a paradigm to fill a complete album. IMO.
I understand why Walter did it. It just gets old without an interesting solo or when a melody or harmonies are going nowhere - like the title track of Bob's Not Your Uncle Anymore. Others may disagree.
Leonhart did fine as I said with a DIY backbone. The drums find the righteous groove, but IMO are just a tad flat because of the manner they were played and close mic'd. Klein would have opened up the sound. Klein's production creates space, live and jazzy. Musicianship and polish on C$ make it *sound* better that 11 ToW, but besides for Downtown Canon and Paging Audrey I find 11 ToW actually to be stronger. Both albums are good and hold their own with the complete SD/solo catalog.
I find the "singles" on TvN and EMG to be by far the weakest tracks. I'm still puzzled how Cousin Dupree made it and Westside Story did not.
EMG is far stronger on the back end. The Last Mall and Blues Beach really hurt the critical response and sales on EMG...by that time I felt D&W really didn't care if they were rewarded as on TvN. The abrupt ending of The Last Mall, signifies a nookular explosion and this is more fitting for the very end of the album. Given the intro to the title track emulates Coltrane's Ascension, I'd place it up front:
The correct order should be:
Everything Must Go - Awesome starter that sets the album paradigm
Lunch with Gina - The lead single. It's the obvious live party vibe song...and the Great Repress
Pixeleen - 2nd single where movie, video, comics merge into one
Greenbook - Yes, the internet moved from NSF, file sharing and academia to porn and snark. Stellar track and battle of the solos!
Slang of Ages - Walter skips Dimensions and set up the next track. Underrated, loungy blues jazz hybrid and delivery
Godwhacker - Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam adventure, hired to take out Mr. Big. Return of the synth blues harp.
Blues Beach - Nookyular soured take on a Laura Nyro 60s pop vein. Weird. Substitute Wetside Story in here and the album is even better.
Things I Miss the Most. Fantastic song - the quips about the Andrea Doria and meditation are classic. I'd rethink the rhythm section arrangement to a semi-shuffle (like a poppy Boz Scaggs' Miss Sun to go with the depressing lot the protagonist is in), but very strong recording.
The Last Mall - That Gospel Mornin' someone drops The Big One on Mango Duce.
In this reverse order, EMG is a GREAT album.
EMG is less layered and more straightforward in arrangements than TvN, but the live, and virtually all analog, recording still works as do the themes and song topics. Maybe even more than they did in 2003!
Date: Sat, April 01, 2017, 19:35:36 ET
Posted by: Steve, Here
Sounds pretty good, Hoops! I've been listening to The Nightfly as well as Tears for Fears Greatest Hits. I know, I deserve to be flame for the last one. Go ahead everyone. Guilty pleasure. Got stuck in my brain after they were paired up with Hall and Oates for the summer tour.
Date: Sat, April 01, 2017, 17:16:11 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
BTW: What am I listening to a lot these day?
The Everything Must Go (EMG) album and now Bob Dylan's new one, "Triplicate." I'm calling the style of Dylan's new one "roadside lounge." I love it so far. Have only listed to 1 and half CDs of the three CD set. I haven't read the credits but I can't help but think it sounds like Dean Parks is on it--but he's on everything recorded near LA. right? I also loved Dylan's previous two new albums which were in a similar vein.
Back to EMG, I'm appreciating it more than ever. "Things I Miss the Most" is such a funny answer to version of "My Favorite Things." I could carry on about every track. Very solid. Again, never a bad track on a Steely Dan album. 100% meat--no filler.
Jim
Date: Sat, April 01, 2017, 17:08:16 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago
This story doesn't have any direct SD content but it reminds me of our current Internet culture (as manifested here on the Blue and elsewhere) and is in response to Just Sayin' and The Money Quote:
"Surrounded by affluence, enabled by the internet, and empowered by an educational system that prizes self-esteem over achievement, Americans have become more opinionated even as they have become less informed, and are now utterly intolerant of ever being told they’re wrong about almost anything."
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-real-reason-americans-cant-agree-on-unemployment-or-just-about-anything-else-2017-03-29
I don't generally care for Gothic and Goth design, although there are exceptions. At the same time I appreciate when people do a good job of designing something that happens to be Gothic or Goth.
And somehow that conveys why I find it annoying when people just dismiss something Steely Dan comnected without offering reasons that are more in-depth.
=======
I don't know who said it here, but they said that they didn't understand why there was so much reggae influence on Circus Money. Actually, in my opinion, the reggae makes as much sense as a Steely Dan album being influenced by jazz.
I've looked for it but can't find where in the months leading up to the release of Circus Money, Walter (or perhaps his website) talked about how and why reggae was going to be a major influence. Specific reggae albums were cited and maybe I have my lines crossed, but I believe part of it was about Walter exploring the connection between bass and reggae. Those "writhings" and suggested recordings set me up to really appreciate Circus Money much as had his work with RLJ and DF set me up to appreciate 11 Tracks of Whack. (Later, I appreciated 'Whack" more when I also "got" China Crisis' "Flaunt the Imperfection." As far as I know, Fagen wasn't involved in "Flaunt...", but I sure hear all sorts of Steely Dan underpinnings in arrangements, progressions, "musical humor" and more that could only have come via Walter.)
So on Circus Money it's got two great bassists, Walter and Larry Klein, using reggae as a baseline/bassline -- and we all know how bass is such a fundamental part of reggae. What a great starting point.
Like someone else mentioned, some of these tracks are as sublime as those on Aja. I'm thinking Downtown Canon, and especially Paging Audrey which in my book is as sublime as Deacon Blues. I love every track on Circus Money.
Someone ( I lose track of names here) said that they would have liked to have had Larry Klein work with Donald on Sunken Condos. I think Michael Leonhart did a great job on Sunken Condos, but I'm not sure Klein and Fagen would have had the right chemistry. Not saying "no" but my own ponderings make me wonder. I will save for some other discussion. I will say, Klein's work on Circus Money changed my mind about something I used to post regularly: I now DO think someone else other than Donald and Walter (like Klein) could produce a new Steely Dan album. I just don't think we will ever see another new SD album. The best I hope for is maybe a release of official, polished versions of unreleased stuff. It would be great to finally have an official "Second Arrangement," "Kulee Baba," etc. Yet, I'm not sure D + W would want to revisit that "ancient history."
That's all for now.
Best,
Jim
Date: Sat, April 01, 2017, 15:15:37 ET
Posted by: Sid, San Diego CA
I prefer 11 Tracks of Whack over Circus Money. My favorite Walter Becker solo track is Surf and/or Die. I agree with Abu. Too much reggae on Circus Money.
Date: Sat, April 01, 2017, 15:06:54 ET
Posted by: Just Sayin',
The Money Quote, wrote:
"'Everyone's got an opinion on the Internet but few argue it responsibly.'
And it's not likely to get any better anytime soon.
Not as long as enough internetty types think that juvenile insults + name calling =
a cogent argument. You know, something a six year old might believe.
To be fair, it's not just here, it's everywhere. Remember when the internet seemed
to hold so much promise? Now look at the damn thing... "
Years ago, I just thought that the trolly behavior here was simply a distortion of Steely Dan's astute snarkiness. A tad comparable in spirit to Stalin twisting Marxism or St Paul twisting the Gospel.
Now "it's just not here, it's everywhere."
Indeed it's even all the way at the top in the White House.
"And it's not likely to get any better anytime soon."
I guess SD culture was ahead of the curve again.
--Just sayin'
Date: Fri, March 31, 2017, 22:52:48 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,
Ph-reD: Can't disagree.
The book to get is Don B's on Aja...for a learning experience.
While I think the songs are more consistent, yet varied in style and approaches...C$ has Larry Klein's production, the SD band, the Sound and mix, and some of Walter's best songs going for it: Downtown Canon, Paging Audrey, Selfish Gene, God's Eye View, Three Picture Deal, Upside looking down...but the dub stuff gets repetitive. Bob's Not Your Uncle Anymore and the title track are awful. Walter sometimes runs out of this to say on the last verse, but the the pen is sharp, it's spectacular.
Downtown Cannon and Paging Audrey are as good as anything on Aja or Katy Lied.
Ideally, Larry would have produced Sunken Condos...and it's not as sophisticated in arrangements as TvN, but I think Sunken Condos is the best album of the Dan/solo discography since the Nightly. Michael Leonard and Donald whipped up a delicious concoction. Crisp, Sharp. and very alive, despite the DIY backbone. It shines. A case in translation is the deep bloom of sound when one of the more straightforward tracks Weather in My Head was played live on Letterman. Wow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DznqCMpcQxQ
Date: Fri, March 31, 2017, 22:13:20 ET
Posted by: Abu, Jamaica, Queens or Jamaica?
Circus Money is very good lyrically. There is no doubt where much of the twisted story-lines of SD originate. The musicians are without a doubt top notch. My biggest "complaint" (for lack of a better word) is... what is with all the reggae? I don't get it, perhaps. Just one man's opinion.
Date: Fri, March 31, 2017, 20:13:45 ET
Posted by: The Money Quote, Right Here
"Everyone's got an opinion on the Internet but few argue it responsibly."
And it's not likely to get any better anytime soon.
Not as long as enough internetty types think that juvenile insults + name calling = a cogent argument. You know, something a six year old might believe.
To be fair, it's not just here, it's everywhere. Remember when the internet seemed to hold so much promise? Now look at the damn thing...
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