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Click for JULY 2005 BlueBook Entries
All Times are Eastern
(New York City) Time Zone.
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 23:47:07 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 22:01:38 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 22:00:40 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 21:24:14 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 20:43:21 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 20:28:42 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 17:31:25 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 16:51:12 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 16:31:39 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 15:53:09 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 15:13:44 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 15:11:17 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 14:58:01 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 14:36:01 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 13:56:17 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 11:56:16 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 11:20:07 ET
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Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 10:24:59 ET
Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 09:19:11 ET
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Date: Thurs, June 30, 2005, 00:01:39 ET
Date: Wed, June 29, 2005, 22:17:54 ET
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Date: Wed, June 29, 2005, 11:35:10 ET
Date: Wed, June 29, 2005, 11:20:07 ET
Date: Wed, June 29, 2005, 09:57:38 ET
Date: Tues, June 28, 2005, 12:01:18 ET
Date: Tues, June 28, 2005, 10:45:22 ET
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Date: Tues, June 28, 2005, 07:50:32 ET
Date: Tues, June 28, 2005, 07:47:20 ET
Date: Mon, June 27, 2005, 17:25:22 ET
Date: Mon, June 27, 2005, 16:52:37 ET
Date: Mon, June 27, 2005, 14:15:05 ET
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Date: Mon, June 27, 2005, 11:00:41 ET
Date: Mon, June 27, 2005, 10:58:06 ET
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Date: Sun, June 26, 2005, 23:54:26 ET
Date: Sun, June 26, 2005, 12:21:29 ET
Date: Sun, June 26, 2005, 11:23:48 ET
Date: Sun, June 26, 2005, 09:49:30 ET
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Date: Sun, June 26, 2005, 01:09:36 ET
Date: Sat, June 25, 2005, 17:39:17 ET
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Date: Sat, June 25, 2005, 00:54:24 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 23:38:00 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 17:01:28 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 15:36:02 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 14:59:54 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 13:35:22 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 12:48:19 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 12:47:54 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 12:43:37 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 09:11:41 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 06:01:02 ET
Date: Fri, June 24, 2005, 00:22:10 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 19:03:30 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 17:19:46 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 13:25:59 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 13:22:06 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 13:12:23 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 13:09:00 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 12:28:24 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 10:44:56 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 10:15:20 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 07:58:33 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 02:03:21 ET
Date: Thurs, June 23, 2005, 00:46:08 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 23:18:02 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 20:35:54 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 19:56:44 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 17:05:28 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 16:20:30 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 15:17:00 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 15:07:11 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 14:27:57 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 10:13:02 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 04:06:48 ET
Date: Wed, June 22, 2005, 01:03:55 ET
Date: Tues, June 21, 2005, 23:30:58 ET
Date: Tues, June 21, 2005, 18:10:41 ET
Date: Tues, June 21, 2005, 18:09:21 ET
Date: Tues, June 21, 2005, 13:36:14 ET
Date: Tues, June 21, 2005, 10:02:16 ET
Date: Tues, June 21, 2005, 08:57:04 ET
Date: Mon, June 20, 2005, 21:33:11 ET
Date: Mon, June 20, 2005, 20:16:19 ET
Date: Mon, June 20, 2005, 06:25:42 ET
Date: Mon, June 20, 2005, 00:04:52 ET
Date: Sun, June 19, 2005, 12:36:51 ET
Date: Sun, June 19, 2005, 12:31:06 ET
Date: Sun, June 19, 2005, 11:45:57 ET
Date: Sat, June 18, 2005, 16:20:42 ET
Date: Sat, June 18, 2005, 11:04:31 ET
Date: Sat, June 18, 2005, 06:23:55 ET
Date: Fri, June 17, 2005, 22:06:46 ET
Date: Fri, June 17, 2005, 21:54:37 ET
Date: Fri, June 17, 2005, 10:34:20 ET
Date: Fri, June 17, 2005, 06:40:43 ET
Date: Fri, June 17, 2005, 03:47:35 ET
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Date: Thurs, June 16, 2005, 22:30:15 ET
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Date: Thurs, June 16, 2005, 19:33:56 ET
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Date: Thurs, June 16, 2005, 16:30:08 ET
Date: Thurs, June 16, 2005, 14:35:58 ET
Date: Thurs, June 16, 2005, 13:45:18 ET
Date: Wed, June 15, 2005, 18:59:16 ET
Date: Wed, June 15, 2005, 13:02:30 ET
Date: Wed, June 15, 2005, 12:30:52 ET
Date: Wed, June 15, 2005, 10:24:18 ET
Date: Wed, June 15, 2005, 09:51:48 ET
Date: Wed, June 15, 2005, 08:00:54 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 23:28:01 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 19:49:27 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 18:13:53 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 17:21:29 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 15:55:36 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 12:22:13 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 09:52:46 ET
Date: Tues, June 14, 2005, 01:05:38 ET
Date: Mon, June 13, 2005, 16:39:13 ET
Date: Mon, June 13, 2005, 8:51:01 ET
Date: Mon, June 13, 2005, 08:20:50 ET
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Date: Mon, June 13, 2005, 00:13:55 ET
Date: Sun, June 12, 2005, 23:55:32 ET
Date: Sun, June 12, 2005, 13:45:35 ET
Date: Sun, June 12, 2005, 13:04:49 ET
Date: Sun, June 12, 2005, 09:38:17 ET
Date: Sun, June 12, 2005, 02:23:29 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 15:18:06 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 14:58:02 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 14:36:19 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 11:21:18 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 10:36:29 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 10:13:53 ET
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Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 08:20:38 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 07:54:25 ET
Date: Sat, June 11, 2005, 03:34:37 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 23:49:01 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 23:30:18 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 22:40:45 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 22:20:35 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 22:13:34 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 21:52:56 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 21:27:25 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 21:10:49 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 20:57:27 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 20:47:37 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 20:38:15 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 19:45:10 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 19:07:09 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 18:15:19 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 16:18:19 ET
Date: Fri, June 10, 2005, 10:17:20 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 23:01:58 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 16:18:31 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 14:43:34 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 14:09:57 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 13:54:54 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 12:10:25 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 12:05:51 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 11:56:02 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 10:58:03 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 09:15:01 ET
Date: Thurs, June 09, 2005, 07:52:12 ET
Date: Wed, June 08, 2005, 10:43:23 ET
Date: Wed, June 08, 2005, 07:35:50 ET
Date: Wed, June 08, 2005, 04:30:13 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 18:24:24 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 18:22:03 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 18:11:43 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 18:08:41 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 17:59:34 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 17:34:58 ET
Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 14:34:14 ET
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Date: Tues, June 07, 2005, 11:42:05 ET
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Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 22:44:57 ET
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Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 20:38:45 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 20:22:15 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 17:17:11 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 13:27:46 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 12:55:51 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 11:37:44 ET
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Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 11:27:47 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 11:23:49 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 10:01:09 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 09:48:37 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 01:41:19 ET
Date: Mon, June 06, 2005, 00:13:10 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 23:48:00 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 22:25:42 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 21:46:27 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 20:02:24 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 19:20:24 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 18:16:14 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 16:31:17 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 14:34:57 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 13:46:46 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 12:42:15 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 12:36:24 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 11:42:19 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 09:11:58 ET
Date: Sun, June 05, 2005, 08:27:40 ET
Date: Sat, June 04, 2005, 21:22:03 ET
Date: Sat, June 04, 2005, 18:34:08 ET
Date: Sat, June 04, 2005, 17:46:17 ET
Date: Sat, June 04, 2005, 17:11:52 ET
Date: Sat, June 04, 2005, 16:55:16 ET
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Date: Wed, June 01, 2005, 03:31:14 ET
JUNE 2005 BlueBook Entries
Posted by: Ann, BorneoThanks Jim - you are much more diplomatic than I! But some posters need to understand the term "respect".
Posted by: Rajah , Oh my, if he's doing overdubs, this could only take, let's see, 48 track digital, hunh, is he fixin to use all those on a *bossanova* record?
Kevorkian would have been perfect for a SD project, though. Although the gruesome parallel with putting a record out of its misery would make him karmically inadviseable. I mean, what's that coefficient of drag?
Spring is 10 months away, that seems like a lot of time to tweak around. Put it in the particle accelerator and set the dial for late September.
Posted by: hoops, Just one comment to a few of you; like someone's music or not, assuming your are at all familiar with it, I think the trash talk is really outta line. How about a little respect, you know?
I'm not saying you have to like someone's music, but have some class.
jim
Posted by: PQ, NYCAnd oh he played in Drew Zingg's group too.
Posted by: FACW,
Raj: Is this the motto at Avatar Studios you've been cryin' for:
"ALL Pro Tools HD ALL the time!"
and don't forget: "the world's largest collection of Pultec equalizers..8 in every room!!"
My ears are poppin'
My guess is Donald's was originally drawn to Dr. Kevorkian as the Engineer, but see below
http://prosoundnews.com/articles/article_1907.shtml
Gretchen - woah, 3 months in a row...bet the 3rd is just to check out Norah Jones & Dolly
Parton.
http://prosoundnews.com/articles/article_2017.shtml
"And, Donald Fagen recently camped out in Avatar's SSL 9000 J-equipped Studio B doing various overdubs with Avatar engineer Brian Montgomery, assisted by Chad Lupo. Also in B, producer/engineer David Bendeth mixed a track for Hollywood Records' Breaking Benjamin, while also assisted by Lupo."
Sounds late in recording... looks like only 18 months of drum loop sync-ing to go!!!!
StudioB:
http://www.avatarstudios.net/rooms/studio_b.html
Oh, crap: SONY 3348 48 Track Digital*
48 track!...make that 26 more months to go...at this rate Jeff Lynne will have to finish the album.
Posted by: Jaco, Asks AgainPQ - The Stern bassist comment........?
Posted by: PGE, "We folk like to take it easy"So what did Walter get while visiting 60 East Third St, N.Y.? Some new tasty riddims?
http://www.jammyland.com/scrapbook2.htm (second photo from the top)
Posted by: hoops, Great finds, Gretchen! Awesome! I bet next Spring we get the album.
Just a reminder that today is the last day to make your Ramada reservation for the Cincinnati Danfest. You get a little discount...call 513-671-6600 and ask for "Ear of the Beholder" discount. This is the Ramada where the Danfest will be so be there to hang with everyone and not have to worry about traveling later.
I, among others, wasn't at all bashing or disrespecting Peter Q's taste in music. I was just hoping he would tell us about the show which "burned down the house." I think a lot of the heated discussion could have been avoided if Peter simply filled us in on the details about this fine show, with some attention as well to Keith's role in the performance. Not sure why the evasive angling from PQ. Oh well.
Just two weeks until I leave for Cincy weekend!
Who else is going? Is a chat in order?
jim
Posted by: Gretchen, still searchingWhile searching for Fagen info, google offered me this:
http://www.blueprintsrecords.com/first4.htm
Has anyone heard of this release? Forgive me if it's been mentioned here before, but I can't recall it. Anyway, there are no sound clips available, but I picked it up at Amazon.com for 75 cents! There are more to go around, I'll give it a listen when it arrives and report back.
G (off from school and into trouble)
Posted by: SteveeDan, I'm right hereAFTER YOUR FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES ARE OVER,
WHY NOT EXTEND THAT PARTY ???
PRETZEL LOGIC WILL BE PERFORMING THURSDAY NIGHT JULY 7TH AT
LA VE LEE IN STUDIO CITY.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT DAN TUNES WILL BE PERFORMED INCLUDING SOME WE HAVEN'T PLAYED IN A LONG WHILE. WHETHER YOU'VE SEEN US RECENTLY OR NOT FOR A LONG TIME, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS ONE.
OUR WONDERKID WORLD CLASS SAX PLAYER BENNY G. IS BACK WITH HIS MASTERS DEGREE AND HE WILL BE GRACING OUR STAGE AS HE MAKES HIS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE BAND.
WE'VE CHOSEN TO PLAY SOME SELECT "DEEP CUTS". THIS ONE'S FOR THE DIE-HARD DAN FANS !!!
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Also, for those of you not going to Cincinatti, you can see us play for the city of Yorba Linda (the birthplace of Richard M. Nixon) on Sunday afternoon July 17th. If it's anything like it was last year, this ones' going to be great.
Is there gas in the car ??? YES THERE'S GAS IN THE CAR !!!
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Awaiting the orchids...Sheesh...
That's a good find, G...
Keep digging!
SOH
Posted by: angel, Good find, Gretchen!
Anyone see that one of the mentioned Engineers is Elliot Scheiner?
Posted by: Rajah, Well, heck, that's the best news in a while, he's grinding it out all summer, atta boy, DF. It appears this one is taking longer to record than EMG. I'm thinkin that live tracking experiment has given way to the more tried and true method. By my count, this is at least the third extended period of recording since last summer/fall, Hawaii in the early part of '05, now this.
Posted by: Gretchen, Apparently Donald has been busy the last 3 months:
http://www.avatarstudios.net/news/whos_in/index.html
Perhaps this is a good sign?
G
Posted by: fife, baltimore,ehAnne,
They must be Dan Fans, they also used Deacon Blue in a scene from last seasons episode and not just a 30 sec sound bit either. It makes sense they'd use the Dan, LA, high end Professionals, morally bankrupt characters, makes sense to me!
Posted by: Rajah, Here's your Mort Fega, the inspiration for Lester the Nightfly:
http://www.donaldfagen.com/writing/mortfega.html
Posted by: Alkali, NYCsomeone pass me a Lemonce, please.
who's mort strega?
i know who mort saul is...
or is it spelled more salt?
did someone say Alanis morisette and rap?!
run for your life!
Peace
A.
Posted by: bassicinstinct, Nottingham UKGirlfriend:
Amen to each and every word of that. :-)
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - and slowly returning to normalJust been watching a pirate DVD of "Nip-Tuck" (please don't moralize anyone, try buying originals down here!!). Anyway, some party/club scene and the background music is "Peg". Anyone know of any significance to this or is the producer just a Dan fan?
Posted by: Girlfriend, riding the trainGetting ready to watch Wimbledon...at least someone eventually wins those volleys.
PQ obviously has eclectic taste in music. Some of us are gonna like it, some not. SO WHAT?
Many of the rest of us are stuck in a Stepford Dan groove. I'm ok with that. Are you?
And further, do I really care what PQ thinks of my taste in music or who Carlock chooses to play with?
Bugger, no. Pass the scones.
Posted by: Peter , NYCLOL! OK, between the antipahty to rap, the Knopfler show, and your proximity to NYC I know who you are now. Nice try Bill! LOL.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo Days - or is it daze?10 days - no phone, no internet - have gone way beyond cold turkey - how sad am I????
Anyway, with "normal service" now resumed, I log on to find a war has yet again unleashed itself in the Blue Book. Get a life you people (I should talk!!)!! Be thankful that you CAN go to live gigs, call up your buddies and log on when ever you want!!!
Ann
Posted by: FACW, erratum
The timbre of the *saxophone*
Posted by: Fagen Audio Crack Whore,
Raj: I think fortunately Joe Walsh co-wrote that one - great guitar...
Peter: Here we go again. I thought it was Affirmation?... which sounds only vaguely like the intro to EMG... The song Two Down and One Across is from one of the best jazz albums of the 90s, Songbook. Run, down't walk to Goody's or Amazon and buy this one. Kenny Kirkland, Jeff "Tain" Watts as well as Kenny Garrett are in top form. Lyrical bop. Sounds like he's channeling Kenny Dorham's trumpet as much as Coltrane's sax
The timbre of the trumpet may resemble Weiskopf (although Garrett sounds a little smoother), but they're not even close to the same notes or delivery. Im sorry, I just don't hear it.
The Intro to EMG is basically a play on the BRIDGE of EMG, followed a take on the Verse and chorus of the song. I'm 100% confident that Coltrane and Garrett wrote none of the above, especially since Affirmation and Two Down & One Across doesn't resemble the melody lines of the EMG intro. Different key too.
Now, one thing that IS similar between EMG and Two Down and One Across intros (but not so much Affirmation). There bears some resemblence between the drumming of Tain on Two Down & One Across and Keith Carlock's intro to EMG. Both are stellar. However, there's only one Tain.
Posted by: Daddy G., NJHere's a piece by a Steve Polevoi looking back at an EMG show of 2 years ago at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles. I found it an interesting read even if he does refer to "Aja" as "a weak song to open a show."
Rural Hipsters: Steely Dan at the Mid-State Fair
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=855
Posted by: Rajah, La Strega, (the Witch), is a clear, syrupy Italian liquore guaranteed to strip the chrome off your trailer hitch. One bottle will last the normal toper at least three years. Grappa is smooth in comparison.
Sambuca is safer, drop three coffee beans in there and microwave on high for 10 seconds.
A la salute!
Posted by: Jaco, BonatologyPQ - What's that about Stern's bassist?
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, In the DenRajah...
Pour me a Strega, would ya cuz?
SOH
Posted by: PQ, NYC Sweetheart - How can an artist who is signed to a record label be undiscovered???? You may want to consult your neurologist about that.
Tell you what, let's let you continue to make a fool of yourself with your review. Tell us more about how a bassist who plays for Mike Stern is "outclassed," LOL.
I cannot wait for the much bigger things to come in a couple months. Stay tuned!
Posted by: PQ, NYCExactly what I mean - Kenny Garrett's tribute to A Love Supreme, the intro to One Down, Two Across, 1997. You think it's an accident that both Kenny Garrett and Weiskopf happen to be Coltrane scholars?
Posted by: Puzzled, ?????Hmmm, the Coltrane blast is derivative of a song that came out in 1997? Uh, I believe it was inspired by the intro to "A Love Supreme," was it not?
By the way, it's Mort Fega.
Posted by: Rajah, Kidding aside, I admire PQ's eclecticism and his willingness to embrace new music. Now details, Peter, I need details. But fouggettabou, there's nobody who puts out quality stuff like our Steelers. Even the much maligned EMG is a helluva fun summer record, a lighthearted look at everything just gone to hell. Like a paper umbrella and a twist of lime in your Arsenic. If that makes me a Stepford Danner, well, guilty.
Posted by: Alkali, NYC"...they stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast."
oh no, even more eagles lyrics!
turn up the eagles the nay boors are listening.
Peace
A.
Posted by: Rajah, The coming attraction,
The drop of a name...
Oh, no, Eagles' lyrics!
Help me, I'm melting...
Baba All My Lovely Wickedness Rajah
Posted by: angel, Here's a whole list of who's who in Woodstock.
http://www.woodstockmusicshop.com/woodstock_pages/woodstock-whoswho.htm
Posted by: angel, FACW: Ezra Titus mentions Woodstock multiple times in his first Snarky's Migration on DonaldFagen.com. He indicates that he grew up there.
http://www.donaldfagen.com/countermoon/snarkysmigration.html
Also, that Fagen Video Concepts for Jazz/Rock Piano, was taped in the Catskills and that EMG work was done at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY.
Posted by: hoops, Good comments...Thanks for the link too. Further elaborating on the Woodstock thread...Fagen's Woodstock connection (via Libby Titus who been part of the scene there for decades) is how the Fagen/Rundgren tour (that now seems to be off) got stoked. Titus and Rundgren have been Woodstock pals for years. Perhaps it's what led to the Rundgrens and Titus-Fagens being on the same island in Hawaii.
Back in a bit.
jim
Posted by: Chris, Albany, NYMu- It's true, my Pat Metheny friends have told me that Pat has home in Woodstock which makes sense to me now because I saw Pat at the 1993 Steely Dan show in Saratoga, NY (which is very close to Woodstock). I heard years ago that Donald bought Bob Dylan's old Byrdcliffe Manor mansion in Woodstock. Levon Helm was once married to Donald's current wife Libby Tittus so that sounds right about Levon living in Woodstock.
Posted by: FACW , Wow, Dr. Fagen has a house in Woodstock near Pat Metheny and Levon Helm...
http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2005/06/29/flocking_to_woodstock/?page=2
Is this accurate? I mean the source is the Globe, almost as unreliable as the NY Times or CIA...
Posted by: PQ, NYCLOL! What a joke. The show *rocked* like a motherfucker!
Posted by: Daddy G., Online after the summer rainhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0506260432jun26,1,3850414.story?coll=chi-entertainmentfront-hed
Can Billy Corgan beat the curse of the reunited?
By Mark Caro, Tribune entertainment reporter
The above article discusses the "curse" of reunited bands not being able to recapture glory and contains this Steely mention...
[ Steely Dan may have won a Grammy for its 2000 album "Two Against Nature," which arrived 20 years after "Gaucho," but longtime fans don't consider the band's sterile output of this millennium comparable to its best work of the '70s." ]
I think it would have been more accurate to use the word "some" or even "many" before the term "longtime fans".
I'm sure there is some truth to what Mr. Caro says, but personally I just don't agree. This Stepford Dan Fan finds the new stuff to be right up there with the rest of the Dan catalog. I've always kind of considered SD to be more rock-oriented through "Royal Scam" and more jazz-oriented with "Aja" & "Gaucho." To me "2vN" and "EMG" just followed right in line as sort of a natural progression despite the interregnum. Oh, BTW I like both Dan's equally. There are some artists who put out three or four CDs and then seem to "jump the shark" (for me personally). The Dan have never even approached the shark.
________________________
Clint Black's still drumming on "Josie" as one of his encore songs...
One newcomer, one old pro -- both pretty hot
http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-country28.html
[ The encore included one of Black's concert staples, a cover of Steely Dan's "Josie" in which he plays drums. Acknowledging the unusual context for this selection, Black quipped, "We figured you should hear some Steely Dan at your country show." ]
Right on, Clint!
Posted by: Rajah, No follow-up on the Steely Dan Deputy woman on RENO 911. The character didn't fit the Steely Dan Girl profile, frankly, apart from the fact she packed a loaded gun. And she also did the "hook em horns" move which is a better fit with Thin Lizzy, Megadeath, Rob Zombie or AC/DC. Steely Dan people bop their heads alot.
Now, Hoops, I'm shocked...shocked to find a person in your demographic group, a man of your palpable erudition, whom does not carry cable or satellite. What on earth do you do without the Cartoon Channel, TV Land, HBO, Skin-a-Max, the Fox News Channel babes, 15 baseball games a night and the sine qua non of pay TV, Mario Battaglia's Italian Kitchen???
Jesus H. Dan, Jim, where the hell are your priorities???
Baba Deeply Disillusioned Rajah
Posted by: hoops, Forgot to post before:
PQ: While I don't like Weber's tone, it's not appropriate to take it down, but it is appropriate to respond with...
Weber: What PeteQ said was that he H + O were the first to conduct a tour including "Rock + Soul" in the name -- not that they invented it.
So if you wanted to argue, you could discuss whether that was accurate.
BTW: I've been listening to the Rascals who I would safely bet inspired Hall and Oates.
jim
Posted by: hoops, Kama is such a great dissertation on funk!
I keep hearing about the SD fan on "Reno 911"--any more action in that respect on the latest episode? I don't get cable.
jim
Posted by: Still Sparkin', HKNice thread on funk. I've got a few things to track down.
Particularly like the references to SD and funk. Any idea the band is guilty of 'funk lite' is like saying their guitars aren't good enough, or the drummers aren't up to scratch, or they couldn't get a country feel if they wanted it. EVERYTHING was/is done with authority. Without being a funk afficianado (hence the questions), I'd have been surprised to find they stumbled when doing the funk thing. They don't stumble. In the same way Prince doesn't stumble. Ballads, rockers, jazz feel...and funk....Prince gets what he wants, too.
If you haven't already seen it, Prince with Larry Graham and a cast of thousands in Rave unto the Year 2000 is well worth it. Ditto the show from Vegas in 2003.
Posted by: bassicinstinct, Nottingham UKGina:
You go girl!!
N
Posted by: Ringmaster Dan, No/YesRight on about getting the word out about others' sites, events, etc. Very satifying this intertwingled link bizness, you know!
R.M. Dan
Posted by: Gina, Mizar5Nope. (as in answering the question "is it all about you" ...)
Hey Robyn, longtime lurker now coming out to post :-)
Have to spank your fingernails for posting that negative comment about websites "getting off" on posting info etc etc. The goal of websites such as Mizar5 is to be a portal and work WITH and FOR artists and musicians like Carolyn Leonhart, with their permission and cooperation even. So you're a bit misinformed and your judgment off base :-)
You could be constructive and help spread the news, right?
Posted by: FACW , A: If it's good to ya, it's gotta be good for ya
Chrysler: I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Al Jackson Jr. played on the great soul recordings of Sam & Dave, Albert King!!, and the amazing Rev. Al Green. Al Jackson Jr. and Willie Mitchell worked magic with Al Green. Great horn emphasis that was perfect with Rev. Al's vocals. Willie really knew how to record drums - the cymbal is so clear on the intro to "Let's Stay Together." That's a song that Al Jackson Jr. co-wrote and man, that's one of the finest recordings ever even in my book. He co-wrote Call Me, I'm Still in Love with You, Hear I Am and played drums on a good number of the Rev's singles - worth picking up Al Green's greatest hits just to hear Al. It's a shame Al Jackson Jr. was murdered in the mid-70s. He would have been awesome on a Dan track
Posted by: Alkali, NYCMy wife and i just got back from a long weekend in Saratoga springs
we had the pleasure of attending the jazz festival there.
as hot and quasi-unbearable, the temperature was (95),
we still enjoyed a terrific line up of musicians i.e. Michael Brecker, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Stanley Clarke, John Pizarelli, Mike Stern amoung others.
we sweated like two Jews at a arab funeral but were cooled by the music and libations, wish you all were there. it would have been nice to be with more people who appreciate good music rather than the lot that were there only because they happened upon some tickets.
anyway, speaking of funk and Stanley Clarke:
on Return to forever's "romantic warrior" record he plays in the bridge of the "dual of.." cut the tasiest funk chop i have ever heard
for any of you who haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it, get the record! you'll not be dissapointed.
FACW: I'll have you know that i've remixed EMG and i know enjow it more, have you ever thought of producing?
HOOPS: Congrats! please don't ever stop.
Peace
A
Posted by: FACW, Chrysler: It's a real pleasure talking about the Dan's R&B roots - something that can't be mined enough, and the lineage of those veins that feed funk and Steely Dan couldn't be more important.
Soul finger the song and album is a real Blast from the past - summer of love - 1967. parallels Sam & Dave, and right into Sly, then Funkadelic and EWF. Al Jackson Jr. sets a groove that you can hear in Cousin Dupree, Gaslighting Abbie, Janie Runaway. Countermoon and Abbie are about as FUNK-ed up as you can get. The term "lite" certainly is peculiar for a band that records stuff like West of Hollywood...
It should also be mentioned that Gamble & Huff & Thom Bell brought some real arrangement sophistication (Me & Mrs. Jones, O'Jays, Delfonics) to funk and R&B without taking out the soul. Earth, Wind and Fire mined that jazz vein heavily and added a dimension using mighty horn charts that Steely Dan exploited on Scam, Aja, Gaucho, and beyond...
Posted by: PQ, SeattleWeber don't you get tired of Hoops deleting every post you make?
Posted by: Web Boy, Trenton, NJ TodayHoops... Yes, I see Hall & Oates is touring with Todd this Fall. Maybe Peter Q is right. Since DF bailed out of the tour, Todd figured he'd ask Hall & Oates since (in PQ's words) "Hall & Oates were the very first people to come up/invent Rock & Soul" Peter Q... you're a genius!
WB
Posted by: PQ, Seattle WA, todayNYC people! Tuesday night at Club 17 - LT, vocals; Keith Carlock, drums; Andy Galore, bass; Marcus Wolf, guitar. Everybody get out and celebrate LT's CD!!!
Posted by: Chrysler, PAThank you, bassicinstinct, for mentioning the Bar-Kays, not to be confused with the Mar-Keys. Place the Bar-Kays chronologically between BT&theMGs and the Meters on my little list of representative Southern/Memphis/Stax/Volt Sound funk musicians. Shame on me for not mentioning them-- "Soulfinger" is THE SINGLE GREATEST funk/groove number EVER, period.
FACW: As usual, perceptive, salient points, concerning the funk heritage of Steely Dan. What always got my goat about several reviews of both 2vN and EMG was that the reviewers (Time magazine, for one) somewhat dismissively labeled the rhythms on those two albums as "lite funk," as if ALL funk had to be of the heavy Parlaiment/Funkadelic variety to be considered "real" funk. Whatta bunch of philistine ignoramuses . . .
Posted by: bassicinstinct, Nottingham UK
No, it was the Bar Kays who recorded "Soulfinger".
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - and no phone/internet for 6 days - Cold turkey!!.....speaking of the Mar-Kays, did they do something called "Soul Finger", mid 60s?
Posted by: Daddy G., NJI see in the latest Dandom Digest a mention of a band called Turin Brakes with a professed Steely admiration. As usual, I know absolutely nothing of such new-fangled bands, but it IS a little bit of a coincidence in that earlier today I was reading the new CD reviews in the Philly Inquirer Arts & Entertainment section and the new Turin Brakes CD "JackInABox" is reviewed.
Also reviewed was the new "Bill Charlap Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul" CD.
Since they're short and only available online for one week from the date of publication, I thought I'd post'em here in case they're of interest....
From http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/entertainment/11975792.htm ...
______________________________________________________________________
Turin Brakes
JackInABox
(Astralwerks ****)
Funny how some people spend endless time and money and use every bell and whistle to achieve pop perfection, while others nail it through the simplest of means, almost accidentally.
It's no accident that British duo Turin Brakes have a pop masterpiece in third album JackInABox. There's serious craft at work, but it's first-take, gut-instinct kind of stuff. To try and perfect the blissful "Come and Go" would sap it of its indie-blokes- having-a-go-at-bossa-nova charm.
That mind-set makes for an album full of well-designed songs, all in the key of a gorgeous summer sunset.
Some surge like wildfire and make you want to shake something, such as "Red Moon" with its "Hey Ya!"-inspired beat. Others, like the far-beyond-smitten "Above the Clouds" and "Forever," deliver a message of love that is clear and not the least bit trite.
- Reviewed by Patrick Berkery
______________________________________________________________________
Bill Charlap
Plays George Gershwin:
The American Soul
(Blue Note ***1/2)
It sounds as if pianist Bill Charlap does not play the tunes of George Gershwin because he should. The guy does it, perhaps, because they inspire him. The composer's work conjures up the world of his late father, Moose, who wrote the music for Peter Pan, and his mother, singer Sandy Stewart, who toured with Benny Goodman.
This is exceedingly well-covered terrain. But Charlap, who delved into Leonard Bernstein's oeuvre on his last CD, makes this the most heartfelt music around. The set includes three trio numbers, featuring his bandmates of close to a decade: bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington.
Then Charlap, in a first for him, invites in four horns - trumpeter Nicholas Payton, trombonist Slide Hampton, altoist Phil Woods, and tenor man Frank Wess - for six more tunes. Among the offerings is a long and sensual take of "How Long Has This Been Going On?" and a reworking of "A Foggy Day," which features Charlap's sly lines, qualifying as caresses. And Woods adds some impetuous fire to " 'S Wonderful."
Charlap closes up this artistic set with a solo take of "Soon" that hits few notes - just the good ones.
- Reviewed by Karl Stark
Posted by: Halcion Nights, Over Anxious Town
Booker T & the MG's? Wow, I remember them. I used to play "Time is Tight" on my (now buried) red Farfisa.
//C
Posted by: FACW, Chrysler, yeah, the Stax rhythm Section is heard in the dry, alien funk of Kamakiriad & TvN. The big whack groove drums of Al Jackson, Jr of the Mar-kays/Stax is the key! A human metronome - something that Fagen was really after. Put Al Jackson Jr. together with Graham's bass, some organic attitude by the Meters, James Brown horns and that's the basis for what we (or at least I) think of as classic funk: Clinton, Rick James, and Prince. Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan dug deeper into the Ray Charles, Horace Silver mines.
Kama's horns are a combo of cool jazz and James Brown/Stax soul (ex. Countermoon). Whereas TvN throws in the cool jazz horns of Miles/Silver/West Coast Cool jazz scene of Mulligan, Baker, Getz instead of the soul horns of James Brown on top of the Stax/funk rhythm section. The horn chart on the TvN title track sounds like its lifted straight out of Miles' catalog. The horns on Aja and Gaucho are a little more West Coast jazz than Miles.
Posted by: Chrys, addendumWow, amazing what you can find by digging thru the net-- the ORIGINAL STAX house band was not Booker T. & the MGs, but the legendary Mar-Keys, who were founded in 1958(!), a good 4 years before BT&theMGs. And the record label was originally SATELLITE before it was changed to STAX. Both Steve Cropper and Donald "Duck" Dunn were founding members of the Mar-Keys. So place the Mar-Keys first in the Memphis/Stax Sound listing.
Posted by: Chrysler, FunkytownI guess I was going back a lot further into the origins of funk. It is true that what we normally think of as funk refers to modern funk (James Brown > Motown "Funk Brothers" family of musicians > Sly > Clinton > Wonder > Prince > today's funk). But the term "funky" WAS used way back in the early 50s to describe both Horace Silver's and Ray Charles' music. I suppose also there were two basic streams of funk stemming from way back then: POP (Ray > James Brown > continue the above list), and JAZZ (Horace > Herbie Hancock > Les McCann > Ramsey Lewis > George Duke > Brecker Brothers > and on and on). Wait, you better make that THREE streams-- MEMPHIS/STAX SOUND (Booker T. and the MGs > Meters > Medeski, Martin & Wood > John Scofield > Greg Kurstin/Geggy Tah > the Bad Plus). Now the Meters may have been from Nawlins, but they were CLEARLY influenced by Booker T. & company, who should be given credit for the whole currently thriving organ-based jam-funk school, IMHO. Of course, there's a hell of a lot of overlap in the above "schools of funk," I don't want to gloss over that!
Posted by: hoops, I noticed that Hall and Oates is touring with Todd Rundgren in late August and early September.
Posted by: Rajah, I just have a couple Meters tunes on some compilations and oh man, I'd like to get to know their stuff better. Them, P-Funk, a also for me a guy named Delbert McClinton, and Gov't Mule as well, share a singular drive in their sound, a real idea of what it is they're going for, sharply defined style, in many ways it's very basic stuff but the roots be fresh, the presentations honest and original.
There's a Knitting Factory here as well on Hollwood Blvd inside the gigantic Mall/Kodak Theatre/designer shops and tourist trap monstrosity. Our Dr. Wu played there two years ago maybe and it was a very sterile room. Brand new building, expensive acoustic wood panneling, neo-deco bar. Great sound, nice backstage, underground parking but no soul.
Posted by: hoops, My Rickie Lee Jones mini-box arrived today, just a little while ago. Of course there is the great essay by Walter Becker which is included. (Thanks SoH for giving the advance look.) A great album that not only reminds me of how great RLJ is, but also how the album "Flying Cowboys" is a nice prelude to "11 Tracks of Whack," at least in my book.
I was listening to "Beautiful Morning" and "Groovin'" by the Rascals and was reminded also of "Blues Beach." Thinking back to NY Rock and Soul Revue, "Blues Beach" seems so much like a tribute in that sense.
Be well.
jim
Posted by: FACW, Gov'tMule: Outstanding point! Aaron Neville's first solo career in the 60s (Tell it Like it Is), the instrumental Meters (Art Neville, Allan Touissant), and the Neville Brothers (Fiyou on the Bayou, Yellow Moon - this is one to check out) are a nice tour through New Orelans R&B. Meters were funky and smooth - they might have used 'funky" first to in a song title? Organ and bass were the focus. Little Feat once Paul Berrere joined were probably heavily influenced. The reasons it's such an excellent point is that the smooth funk rhythm section, bass & drums, used by Steely Dan a humber of songs resembles the Meters' version probably more than Clinton's. Janie Runaway, Gaslighting Abbie, Peg, Black Cow on and on...
Posted by: Soon time for the Halcion night...,
When I was younger, and much more innocent than I am these days, I always thought Fagen sang "...give us some fucked up music" (FM).
I never gave it a second thought how that "fucked up music" would "treat us nice"... So, well, at that time I was a wellknown, for my dear ones at least, I was a wellknown, uh... let me put it this way; I never thought longer than my nose - if that is an expression in English.
If not, I guess you catch my raft anyway.
//C
Posted by: GovtMule, PhillyAhhh FUNK! If you haven't checked out New Orleans' finest, The Meters, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. George Clinton gives them credit for truly creating the genre. Bassist George Porter Jr. is perhaps the funkiest cat alive.
Posted by: FACW, Chrysler: Yeah, I think funk evolved with the electric bass and combining R&B, soul, jazz, and rock. I suppose James Brown put the guts and grunts in the jump blues. Sly and the Family Stone marketed a perfect, fun nascent funk style. Their bassist Larry Graham supposedly was the first to use the slap bass technique (See Peg segment in Making of Aja). To me though the creators of modern funk were George Clinton, bassist Bootsy Collins and Parliament/Funkadelic. Fun, strange, danceable, happy - I way preferred Bootsy & the gang as a teen over say Pink Floyd, and a lot closer to Steely Dan. Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder (Maybe your Baby & many more) used a lot of the funk ideas in their music. Unfortuntely, the thumpa beat of funk was hijacked and mutated by commerical disco, which oddly enough did retain some of the jazz elements. Having said that the sound of disco probably first popped up on Stevie Wonder's Tuesday Heartbreak from the classic album Talking Book in 1972... then thank goodness for Rick James, bitch!! and Prince who carried funk into the 80s.
TvN - has a funk rhythm section under 50s cool jazz
EMG - has more of a rock rhythm section under 40s blues/jazz
Posted by: pH, Speaking of funk...
It's interesting how Fagen emphasizes the FUNKED UP in "FM" so that if you hadn't read the lyrics, you could very easily confuse it with something else.
But they at Steely Dan do that sort of switcheroo a lot, I find them all the time, but I can only think this at the moment:
In "Lunch with Gina", "Coffee and a kiss" I originally cornfused with "Coffee and a killing" (the change in pitch during the middle of the word makes it sound like multiple syllables)
Actually, it's probably just my brain playing tricks on me, it thinks a certain word should go somewhere that it doesn't and inserts it anyway, but that makes for some interesting peripitia when I finally do get the right lyrics.
Congrats Jim on the blue book anniversary!
You might like to know the book looks moderately good on my Axim x30 Pocket PC (though the header image gets a little screwed up), which has only a 320x240 screen.
Cheers!
Posted by: Chrysler, PAHorace Silver and Ray Charles are usually given credit for taking the rhythms of gospel, "jump" blues, and early R & B, combining and transforming them into the "funky" style. That led to "hard" bop, "soul" jazz, and eventually to what we think of as modern R&B and funk. The development of the electric bass also had a lot to do with it. Just off the top of my head.
Posted by: Lou Cheng (Theron Brady), Greenflower StreetAngel,
ìDid anyone notice that Michael is not playing trumpet, but wurlitzer piano?î
I did not even notice that till you mentioned it. I love the wurlitzer!
Never been to NYC (itís about two hours away), but it would be nice to go to this.
I see Carolyn Leonhart has a new updated we-site up and running, it really looks nice.
You can hear her sing ìIím in the mood for loveî and there is an endorsement from DF also.
Posted by: Halcyon days & Halcion nights,
According to my dictionary "funk" means "fright", "alarm"...
//C
Posted by: Still Sparkin', steamin' sub tropical
Where did funk come from ? What did it come from ? When ? Who were the first purveyors ?
Cheers
Posted by: Get your tickets now!, Cincinnati, OhioHere are some audio clips from the Cincinnati based Steely Dan tribute band "Aja". Looking forward to the July 17th Danfest with Purdie, Barney and company!
http://www.ajamusic.net/audio-video.htm
Posted by: Joey, " Today is the Blue's 4th birthday, thanks to all of you. "
Well , CONGRATULATIONS Hoopsie !!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BLUE !!!!!!
J. Fly
Posted by: C @ Barely Town, You got my mail?
Posted by: Robyn, Lurker here. Been reading for the past couple of months.
Just wanted to point out that you can get the Carolyn Leonhart info DIRECT from her website or emailed to you from her newsletter email list. carolynleonhart.com It's an AWESOME SITE (!!!!) As it should be since Carolyn is an awesome performer in so many ways. I don't know why some sites get off on reprinting other sites' info as if it is theirs.
R.
Posted by: angel, I read the Carolyn message over on Mizar 5 yesterday and my first impression was that Michael had come out to the West Coast. We have a Knitting Factory here. When I read the number 1 train to Franklyn, I was first wondering if it might be Chicago (and me a native NYer who even knows the title of the book "Taking of Pelham 1 2 3"). I have been away too many years I guess.
Did anyone notice that Michael is not playing trumpet, but wurlitzer piano? Reminds me of him playing keys during "Daddy Don't Live", on the tail end of the EMG tour. What a surprise that was to me.
Posted by: hoops, Hey Paul C. Thanks for the heads up on the Piano Jazz review. Great to see a sighting, but of course, RS is so ridiclous it's hard to take them seriously. "Mojo," "Uncut," "Q" are all so much better from a music vantage...too bad the US subscription rates are prohibitive. I used to get RS since I had an educator's rate for $12.95 or so a year, figuring it would be worth it for the couple of times a year D + W might be mentioned but I let it lapse after 16 years of getting it.
jim
Posted by: hoops , "Live and Let Live" -- Please email me . THANKS!
Posted by: Subway Maven, UndergroundThat would mean you take the Number 1 train to Franklin St. NYC subway lines have numbers. Number 1 is not the 2 or the 3, but the 1. Franklin St is the station, see? Not Times Sq or Union Sq or Grand Central, but Franklin St, see?
Knitting Factory is at 74 Leonard St. Of course it's NYC.
Posted by: Dicky Lewis, L8come fly with me.lets fly ,lets fly away
Posted by: Lou Cheng (Theron Brady), Greenflower StreetHoops,
Congratulations from me also!
Re: The break-up thing, I must have misheard, maybe it was something Freudian or something with the last album being called ìEverything Must Go.î
All,
Donít know how many others are on the Carolyn Leonhart mailing list (info@carolynleonhart.com ), but I received this message entitled ìMy brother Michael at The Knitting Factoryî regarding a show by Michael Leonhart and the album by his new band:
***
Hey all,
Just a little note to let you know that my brother, Michael Leonhart,
will be performing music from his new album, "The SUZY LATTIMORE ep"
with his brand new band at---
the Tap Bar in the KNITTING FACTORY
74 leonard street (1 train to Franklin st.)
Wednesday, JUNE 29th 11pm (1 set only)
the band is:
Michael on VOCALS and wurlitzer piano
Gary Wang on guitar
John Montagna on bass
Diego Voglino on drums
Hope to see you there!
Peace-
Carolyn
***
Does anyone know in what town the ìKNITTING FACTORYî is in?
I am assuming NYC but am not sure.
Also, does anyone know what ì1 train to Franklin st.î means?
Posted by: Rajah, Harrison Memorial LibraryPaul, 2.5 is maybe fair for the Piano Jazz record. It has a few great things on it and I really love it, but no, I can see if you were to give AJA, Kind of Blue, Love Supreme, Sgt. Pepper, DSM say, 4 to 7 stars, strickly on the Steely Dan scale now which is waaay more unforgiving than your regular set of standards, OK, 2.5 sounds right.
Posted by: Paul Carrack, asdfSomeone just called me, Rolling Stone just gave a 2.5-star review to the McPartland CD release. I don't have the issue with me and am a little busy right now, but apparently it wasn't that long a review.
Didn't that disc come out, like, four/five months ago?
Posted by: Ouch!, Sorry for the double.
Posted by: Halcyon Days & Halcion Nights, Deep Blue
Uhum Hoops, it's "Wadenius".
Posted by: Halcyon Days, Deep BlueUhum Hoops, it's "Wadenius".
//C
Posted by: hoops, James L. in Ottawa sent me this link to an interview with Wayne Shorter that is short but excellent. It's on Billboard.com so check it tout de suite before it goes away.
http://www.billboard.com/bb/feature/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000966682
Posted by: hoops, In follow-up to the the Waddenius and Rainey writings about Steely Dan, etc., it's really not that shocking or taboo or whatever as some have written here, in the Digest or in private emails to me. Remember that Pete Fogel pressed this topic near the end of the "Plush" video. Walter and Donald's response, not to mention the way Pete posed the topic of how some musicians are mad at them, is dead on and pretty damn funny.
jim
BTW: Hey thanks for the "thanks for the blue" notes. (blush).
Posted by: Halcion Nights, Elsewherere the Chuck Rainey writings about Steely Dan and Fagen, read the interview with Georg Wadenius at the Mizar 5:
http://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5/gw.html
Very interesting.
These writings reminds me not to confuse the masters with the masterpieces.
//C
Posted by: fife, baltimore,ehCongratulations Hoops! I've really enjoyed your site for the past 3 years. It gave me a feeling of community that I had been missing for quite awhile, I tried going back to the RC church but my idols had changed;)! It has also given me a wealth of knowledge about the Boys that I hadn't a clue about before. I've also had the chance to meet some really nice folks, the gang from the Toronto Danfest and the gang from the Dannies last year in NYC. BwaySteve, I will always cherish the acoustic performance you bestowed on myself and Mr.Sam when we came to visit, a preview of a wonderful performance at the Dannies! Last but not least Thanks for Mr.Sam, if the blue and green didn't exist I'd still be looking for that special one that wouldn't blink twice if I put on Gaucho for the umpteenth time!
Thanks Hoops for everything!
Posted by: HeyMike, These Suburban StreetsOnly 4 years??--seems like I have stuck my head in here longer than that! Thanks Hoopster!
Posted by: Chrysler, PACongratulations hoops! I know I've only been here for less than a year, but I just want to say what a stimulating, informative, diverse, and smart board the Blue is. Eureka, you got a cool thing happenin here!
That alarming DJ "newsflash" sounds like typical misinformed (or invented) philistine DJ bullshit, that's all. A lot of those guys desperately want their listeners to know how "with it" and "happenin'" they are, as a way to shock themselves into the radio audience's consciousness, in order to bolster their egos and ratings. It's funny.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - 8,500 miles south-west of HolliwoodCongratulations to the Blue!!!!!
...and a million thanks to Jim for all you do for us!! My life in the jungle is now much better because of what you do for us!!
Keep up the good work!
Ann
Posted by: bwaySteve, homeHappy Birthday
Has it been that long ?
What a class group. What a great bunch of dedicated fans. Thanks Jim for your dedication.I have met so many unique people through this board and can call a few real friends.It is hard to describe to most people what we all find it so easy to understand.
bwaySteve
Posted by: alan, 8000 miles Southwest of HollywoodHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BLUE !!!!
and congratulations Jim
Hip Hip HOORAY!!!
Posted by: hoops, EMR: I don't think they have ever played Mexico.
Lou Chang: I'm with Fife on this. Besides, to play devil's advocate, I don't think in this day in age they would even bother to say they have broken up or whatever. Too trendy ;-)
Bill: I've had a hard time digesting it; it would be easier to dismiss if it were a third party website rather than Chuck's own site. Hard to say what happens behind closed doors. Chuck was at the Dallas 00 show and introduced in the audience. I, for one, will give it more thought.
Today is the Blue's 4th birthday, thanks to all of you.
jim
Posted by: Bill, ParisHi again, Danfans! I just took the trouble of searching last year's archives for "Rainey" and found some (limited) discussion of the article.
I guess what most made Rainey's critique of SD seem credible was his willingness to say things that put himself in a less-than-favorable light. It made his commentary seem less like a bitter rant and more like a sober appraisal of what it might be like for talented but limited musicians to work with one another.
Reminded me how much of creativity is, at the end of the day, collaborative.
End of profundities!
Bill O.
Posted by: Bill, ParisHello there Danfans,
I'm still hoping to hear someone else's thoughts on this article:
http://www.chuckrainey.com/bassmanual/makingmusic_sd_1.htm
I found it balanced, well-written, and, frankly, it's helped me put the whole SD phenomenon into perspective.
Cheers, Bill
Posted by: Theron Brady (Lou Cheng), Greenflower StreetAh, thank God, thanks, I was on the verge of depression.
All I remember thinking was ìno more Steely Dan shows, this canít be real.î
Thanks.
Posted by: fife, baltimore,ehTheron if you check the posts from yesterday you will see a post regarding the break-up of Steely Dan on this date in 1981, perhaps that was what the DJ was refering to. Don and Walt are like a couple that can't go on without each other even though they desire to do so. Yeah they're great on their own The nightfly, Kamkiriad, and 11 tracks of whack can attest to that, but they are on fire when they get together.
Posted by: Theron Brady (Lou Cheng), Greenflower StreetI was listening to the radio yesterday while driving because there was a Steely Dan song on.
The DJ came on and said that Walter Becker and Donald Fagen ìhad announced the END of Steely Dan.î He said they were permanently ìcalling it quitsî for Steely Dan and he went on to talk about how they had made a come back with ìfourteen great years of touringî in the 90ís and 2000, etc.
I could hardy believe this and became extremely upset so I checked the news section of the Steely Dan website and then came here and could find nothing about it.
Please, please for the love of Pete tell me this was some kind of prank sent out to the radio stations or something.
If somebody who is ìin the knowî will confirm that this is not so I would really appreciate it.
Theron
Posted by: gakochan, Hello one and all
Thought some of you might be interested in this 2-track Dan promo CD from 2000:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4740208841&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT
Cheers
g
Posted by: Erich Maria Remarkable, Cancun
Has Steely Dan ever played in Mexico?
Posted by: Ann, BorneoRe: the Skunk - I was eventually able to get the web site referring to Jeff Baxter's performance at a military hospital.
Alkali - I agree entirely!! While the whole of the popular music world is rushing around promoting Live 8 (and themselves in a few cases!), Jeff gets down to grass roots level and takes the trouble to do something to help someone directly, without any big fuss. A true humanitarian if you ask me! Wish there were a few more in the world like him.
Keep up the good work Jeff!
Ann
Posted by: hoops, chat anyone?
Posted by: hoops, Link to Les Paul item:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/arts/music/21les.html?
Posted by: hoops, Today's NY Times has a review of Les Paul's 90th Birthday bash at Carnegie.
Speaking of RLJ, Donald also plays on the title track of her album, "Pirates." Not that he is all that discernable. Seems like he's kinda back in the mix.
jim
Posted by: Big Fan, at work, but not for longLunchtime contest on the Springfield, Ma station - what band broke up today in 1981 but has since gotten back together - Steely Dan, ZZ Top or CCR. I'm yelling the answer, but the first two callers got it wrong anyway. Third guy got it right by default.
Posted by: Alkali, NYCIt was inspiring to see Jeff ìskunkî Baxter doing a gig for our soldier/heroes.
He is one of only a handful of artists who have their priorityís straight
When it comes to politics. Itís shamefully rare to see it these days.
I am an artist and I see the vast majority of my peers swimming in a cloudy pool of Kantian babble.
So to discover that Baxter not only played for the cause but is an expert in missile defense was a breath of fresh air!
Anyway, les Paul! Another recording?!, He might catch up to Zappa yet!
Wouldnít it be nice if all Gibsonís including Les Paulís were off limits to the likes of?
Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, Keith Richards, Prince, U2 etc?
And could only be sold to real musicians?
ìWhat a beautiful world this would beÖ.î
Peace
Alkali
Posted by: hoops, Thanks for the notes SoH! I'm also glad these are getting out to the RLJ fans in advance. I was excited when they emailed they had charged my credit card; thanks to you, I don't have to wait for the USPS!
I've always felt that the 'Flying Cowboys' album was a great lead in to 11TOW. Listen to that and then 11TOW and it seems so natural that WB would do his solo album.
Among others, listening to "Ghostyhead" these days.
jim
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, CoolsvilleMy copy of Rickie Lee Jones' "Duchess of Coolsville-An Anthology" arrived today...
The song selections (48 of them) are impeccable, the sound quality is breath-taking and Disc 3 of live/unreleased demos is like hearing her for the first time all over again...Wow...
Walter Becker's liner notes are as follows:
"I got a call from Gary Gersh, who at the time was an A&R man at Geffen Records. I'd known Gary for a while, and he and I had more or less resolved to do something togehter at some point, although nothing had come along as yet that was of common interest. But now he had something that he knew I would want to work on. "This is the real thing,' he said. 'It's Rickie Lee.'
"When I met up with Rickie I discovered that she had lots of material. She had demos that were so good I couldn't imagine not using them on the record, as is or with minor changes or additions. 'Rodeo Girl' and 'Ghost Train' were both Rickie's demos that she had done some years before. There were multiple versions of some tunes."
"All the versions were good, had great things in them, yet they couldn't really be reconciled; we would have to choose one and forget the others. And with all that, there were new things she was writing every day that demanded consideration. There was just a ton of material."
"At our first meeting I suggested to Rickie that we get a band together, rehearse them, and then go into the studio to get performances. She was dumbfounded. 'Why would I want to do that? There won't be any surprises that way.' Once we started recording, I came to understand that she was always looking for the spontaneous, the unexpected, the unique musical moment which could not be concocted or duplicated. This was her source of inspiration for performance, her first principle, and she stuck with it throughout."
"As I came to know her, I discovered that Rickie was supersmart, ultra-intuitive, warm, funny, passionate about music and all sorts of things, and a great storyteller. She was very present in everthing she did and capable of great and sudden transports of feeling and affect, which made her most exciting and delightful to hang with and to work with. I saw over and over how the power of and depth of her writing and her musicianship derived from her commitment to life, to experience, to herself. Of course, I already understood from her work that this must be the case--in other words, it really wasn't necessary to know her personally to know that she was for real. Nevertheless, working together and becoming friends only strengthened my sense of what a great artist she is."
"When one is offered a job producing so-and-so's record, one is well advised to think long and hard about what is being asked for and what is likely to happen if one says yes. But when I got the chance to work with Rickie, I jumped at it--because, after all, she was (and is) one of the all-time heavies, one of a handful of truly important performers to have come along in the pop era. Although none of the legion of emulators she has inspired is, strictly speaking, worthy of comparison to her, the fact remains that her influence on the evolution of the singer-songwriter tradition is unquestionable. Then, as now, everything that Rickie does as an artist and a musician matters. Her recordings will reward the listener again and again."
Amen, Walter...Amen
SOH
Posted by: hoops, I'm just amazed about Les Paul coming out with a new album(!)
As I think was mentioned, NPR had a segment on Les Paul and the new album recently.
jim
Posted by: PQ, Monterey, CAHow about a Rite of Passage dinner at Aja on 58th St and 1st Ave? Either that, or naming your dog Tricky Chord Changes.
Posted by: Little Wild One, wjazJust spent the ultimate dad's day night dancing with my youngest to the sounds of the Nightfly...
Can anyone think of a better post modernist primer?
(C'mon PQ, I know you can do it...)
Posted by: Daddy G., NJA nice piece in today's Philly Inquirer on Les Paul....
90 YEARS A MUSIC MAN *
By Annette John-Hall, Inquirer staff writer
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/special_packages/inquirer_magazine/11909447.htm
(* Free online registration required to view Inquirer articles for one week from date of publication.)
Some excerpts:
______________________________________________________________________
Paul, who is being honored tonight with a star-studded birthday tribute at Carnegie Hall (he turned 90 June 9), remains young at heart, even with a ticker that survived quintuple bypass surgery.
______________________________________________________________________
"All for Paul," tonight at Carnegie Hall, features such guitar luminaries as Jose Feliciano, Peter Frampton and Pat Martino. A PBS crew has been following Paul around for almost a year for a documentary. A collection of his recordings with his former wife, Mary Ford, has been reissued as Best of: 90th Birthday Edition. But perhaps his most exciting project is his new all-star CD, Les Paul and Friends, Paul's first recording since 1978.
The CD, which features Paul in duets with Frampton, Clapton and Joss Stone, among others, covers classic rock as well as standards like "Caravan," "but in a new way," says producer Fran Cathcart.
______________________________________________________________________
"I knew of Les Paul when I was 11 years old," says [Pat] Martino, 61, whose father listened to Paul's records in the family's South Philly home. "I sat in front of the record player trying to copy his solos, which was impossible to do because they were electronically sequenced - a technique he invented."
______________________________________________________________________
"I was always very sound-conscious... . I was very determined to make the finest-quality record I could make," he says. "If I'm playing 'Over the Rainbow' and I'm playing it the way I want to hear it, I'm the happiest guy in the world."
A cruel irony is that today, the man who is known as the father of innovative sound can hardly hear. Paul, who wears hearing aids in both ears, does painstaking sound checks before his shows. But they're more for the audience. During a performance, "the first note from a piano wipes me out," he says. "The hearing aids can't take it. From then on I'm on automatic pilot. The only thing I know is what key we're in. Other than that I'm flying blind."
______________________________________________________________________
Back at the Iridium, he's improvising, interpreting, nimbly picking a frenetic run on "Misty." His performance is inspiring, considering that he suffers from degenerative arthritis in both hands. "My fingers don't bend at all." He finds a way, though, just as he figured out a way to play after surviving a near-fatal car accident in 1948. Then he persuaded doctors to permanently set his shattered right arm into a guitar-playing position. A little arthritis won't stop him.
"The greatest thing of all about Les is his enjoyment of life," says Martino, who has endured his own health problems. After suffering an aneurysm in 1980, he had to relearn how to play the guitar. "Les has a level of compassion as a human being, and has the ability to creatively confront challenges. He's lived a rich and prosperous life."
______________________________________________________________________
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - and lonely!!!Where are you all????
Since the password was re-introduced, hardly anyone has posted!!!
It's lonely down here in darkest Borneo withour your banter!!
Posted by: hoops,
The latest Dandom Digest has been sent, this time covering June 11-18, 2005.
If you are a subscriber, you should see it in your email box within the next 12 hours. If you don't receive it, please email me. Again, the main reason I am in the habit of announcing this here is because some people have been having problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.
The following are the subjects of this particular edition of the Dandom Digest:
ó STEELY DAN FEST '05 - SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2005
ó Special Hotel Rates for Danfest 2005 in Cin-City
ó Jeff Baxter Radio Show
ó Jeff Baxter Sighting: June 7 at Walter Reed
ó Danfan's perspective on Jose' Neto
ó steely dan and marion mcpartland CD
ó Re: steely dan and marion mcpartland CD
ó REDUX: 2nd Anniversary of EMG Contest
ó ENTRY 1: EMG: Two years later
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter (definitely not to be confused with the glorious Official steelydan.com or Official donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists), please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest
jim
Posted by: wearing a , white stetson hatthis is probably one gig Jeff has done that he would like to forget...
http://au.search.launch.yahoo.com/mf/?type=video&id=15265313
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - Cool and Funky!!Hey Paul!!
Great minds think alike!!!!!
Your first choice was actually my second!! Many thanks.
So, people of Dandom, this is going to be my list. It has to have been a classic rock hit!! Any negative comments, don't waste your time - any positive suggestions, welcome! I was hoping to make it a 100% British list, but with a slight concession over Jimi Hendrix as we discovered him! I would have put in some Santana otherwise.
1. Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits - because of the SD connection and it's dedicated to the super-cool, His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Brunei - great guy - as it's his birthday on 15th July!!
2. Won't get fooled again by the Who - Coz I won't!!
3. Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix - Coz I am!
4. Love Hurts by Nazareth - Coz it does, and for the obvious Skunk connection, and as a tribute to the recently departed Jim Capaldi who also recorded it.
5. Badge by Cream - Coz it's awsome.
6. Whole Lotta Love, or Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin coz they're the ultimate British rock classics!!
Of course, all the above give my age and origins away!! (I started young!!!!)
Let's hope he chooses one of mine, then I get to talk to the great man himself!!
Rock on!!
Ann
Posted by: pH, Won't Get Fooled Again (The Who)
Gold, It's In The (Pink Floyd) <- This one would be **AWESOME**
Derek and the Dominos' "I Looked Away" would be a good one, though not british of course.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - darkest at 3amWow!!!! It IS for real!!!
3am this morning - woken from a deep sleep by a lady from Jeff's radio show!!! It MUST be for real if they're taking the trouble to phone darkest Borneo!!!
I need my selection soon and the "chat" with the Skunkster will be on 2nd July (if he likes any of my selections)!! The show is pre-recorded and I'm not sure when it's going out or which radio station it is. She did mention Pacific time, so must be LA??
So for obvious reasons I'm making mine a distinctly British list - any suggestions guys??
She did mention the Who and Stones as suggestions (so Rajah, don't bother to listen tune in....not your genre!!).
Shame I won't get to hear the show though!! But if any of you dedicated members of the community would like to record it for me....
Ann
Posted by: ed Beatty, living on the fault lineHi,
Its been quite the R&R week
We've been rolling with the Homies- so knock on wood
thanks
Ed
Posted by: Peter, Philadelphia PAHey Stevee - on the David Johansen album featuring Keith Carlock there is a song called Deep Blue Sea - great guitar # for Skunk.
Paul - surely Can You Fly by Freedy Johnston is a close as rock-oriented pop music gets to absolute perfection.
Posted by: SteveeDan, Choosing tunes for Skunk to playHey Raj - -
Thanks for the suggestions. I should have mentioned in my last post that I would be grateful to those of you who might want to suggest songs for Jeff Skunk Baxter to play. After all, I learned about this show right here on the Blue, and since we are all sort of together (when things are going right, right Hoops?), I would be VERY INTERESTED to know what songs you would suggest.
I promise you that I really did receive this phone call. I have until 3 PM PST to write back to the Baxter Show with my requests.
So, anyone who wants to give me suggestions, please do not hesitate.
Just remember we cannot suggest Steely Dan or Doobie Bros. songs.
Thanks Gang.
SteveeDan
Posted by: Rajah, L.A., you shook meStevee -
Any of these would compliment Skunk's style, keeping in mind he did do pretty much straight-on 70s radio rock along with that old country/western & bluegrass feel...
Act Naturally - Carl Perkins
Pipeline - the Ventures
Go and Say Goodbye - Buffalo Springfield
Memory of Elizabeth Reed - Allman Bros
Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo - Rick Derringer
I Looked Away - Derek & Dominoes
Love Struck Baby - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Posted by: FACW, pH: Even though some of the tunes and lyrics are not Ben Folds' best, the album Songs for Silverman is highly crafted and sounds great. In additon, there are some classic songs and recordings: You to Thank, Jesusland, Landed, Trusted, Time, Prison Food. Gracie, Sentimental Guy, Give Judy My Notice are other highlights. The tracks on a good system or headphones have real punch - live tracking. Imagine the entire EMG as loose as Godwhacker and Lunch with Gina. Yes there are some folks under 40 who still can record great music.
Posted by: hoops, chicagoHow does that SD DVD-A sound during a Southern Californian earthquake? Rockin and a rollin... Hope Ed, SOH, R + G, Steveee, and rest are Rockin and a rollin' in the best sense.
Posted by: pH, Hmm... I oughta check for new posts before submitting one that took a half hour to write...
Yeah, classical is good. I've been into Gershwin lately.
Posted by: SteveeDan, At home and out of trouble ...THIS IS NOT A JOKE !!
I just received a phone call from someone from the Jeff Baxter Show. They contacted me and asked me to return an e-mail to them listing 5 to 6 songs that I would like Mr. Baxter to play. The stipulation is that I cannot select any Steely Dan or Doobie Bros songs. They can be rock and roll songs (from, say, The Beatles to Led Zeppelin).
If Jeff likes the songs that I have selected, he will contact me by telephone and play one of the selections for me over the phone, and then our entire conversation will be aired on the show.
I really didn't believe at first that this show was real in the first place, but, evidently, it is.
We'll see what happens.
Who'da thunkit ???
SteveeDan
Posted by: pH, I don't wanna fade away...What gets at me, mostly, is that these people are CONSTANTLY playing their shitty music. At work, in the car, at home, outside, at school, everywhere and all the time. At work I've got my stuff on to drown out theirs, but in most cases, I could do with some silence. Granted, the daily drudgery does get kind of tedious and "music" helps speed along the hours, but it's also nice to be alone with one's own thoughts... that's where creativity/imagination/etc are supposed to come in, which are qualities, I believe, today's crowd (in general) have forgotten about.
Ugh, I must sound like the old farts that complained when The Beatles made their debut.
And of course, I try to be open-minded. I would never want to get to the point of believing "all modern media is crap" or anything stupid like that, but the quality of the popular music scene is quite degraded nowadays. I can count the number of albums released after 2000 that I own on one hand.
PQ: I'm going to check your suggestions out. In a way, I'ld like to prove myself wrong.
Posted by: Peter, BrooklynWell if you're in a place where you're forced to listen to conventional radio I can tell you how to stimulate your mind and your emotions all day long and it applies no matter where you are,in any setting, in any part of the world - just put on the classical music station. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt in all kinds of tests and experiments that people who regularly listen to Mozart, Beethoven, Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, etc., are far happier and more successful than people who don't. The answer to your question Paul is yes.
Angel - I understand. But there's so much hip, fresh new jazzy pop music all over the place these days it makes me die when people say there's no good new music. It's very close minded or perhaps indicative of not searching very hard.
Posted by: angel, Rajah: Thanks so much for that glimpse into D & W's future offerings. :-)
Peter: What I was speaking of is the stuff I hear (as I walk the Steets of LA). I don't drive a car while here, so I hear stuff coming from vehicles with their tops down, their windows open, etc. You know, that LA thing. The sound of a city and I must admit, it basically does not impress me. Most of the stuff I hear coming out of peoples headphones (can't they get some headphones that don't leak sound into my air?) :-) also doesn't impress me much. But that could be the fact that it usually is just the bass alone, getting through.
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.ph - I don't know that it's strictly speaking a function of native intellect or acquired knowledge. I tend to think of a person's ability to appreciate something, be it a song or a painting, a book, a movie, a piece of furniture, a really nice car, a fantastic lookin' woman, a really cool table saw, whatever -- it's more a function of your sensibilities, ability to relate, connect, be open to something, feel something.
Conversely, I think if you're sensibilities are honed too sharply, you can become overly discerning and downright picky -- then you risk cutting yourself off from some more simple or, for lack of a better term, popular offerings.
I mean, there might be some good things in the Lynyrd Skynyrd catalogue for all I know but, at this point, I seriously doubt my ability to access it now. On the other hand, Steely Dan could release an album of gastrointestinal sound effects and I'd hail it as the next Rhapsody in Blue.
Posted by: pH, twisting by the poolPQ: Good stuff might be coming out every day, but does it show up on the radio? NO. Because nobody listens to it. Well, we do, but the majority of people today don't.
Ann and angel, thanks for the encouragement...this is brutal, if I didn't have headphones, I think my brain would be melting...
That brings up another idea, we're all pretty intelligent people around here, perhaps it takes a certain level of intellect to have good taste in music? Hmm...
Take care everybody.
Posted by: Peter Q, www.peterq.netI keep reading posts about the "music of today" - what are we referring to, exactly? Has anybody here ever gone to
www.ubiquityecords.com
www.txmusicgroup.com
www.alligator.com
And these are barely the tip of the iceberg. There's incredible, exciting, interesting new music comng out virtually *every day*. I don't get it.
Posted by: angel, pH: You help restore my faith in the younger generation. You are very cool and I am proud to hang here with someone so discerning. My 14 year old has similar problems with the music of today and that is good to see.
Posted by: Pam, in the bleachersDaddy, it was only worth an indignant smirk. The world just doesn't get our boys, do they?
Posted by: Daddy G., NJPam, Just wanted to say thanks for the synopsis on Reno 911. I was curious. Sounds like it would have been good for a chuckle or two.
Posted by: Ann, BorneoHey Paul,
We invented cool!!!! So you've joined a good club!
I know what you're suffereing. A couple of weeks back I had to attent a school prom for the leavers. Very up-market venue, great food, everyone looking their best, etc - then the DJ comes on and plays hip-hop, rap, etc and had the kids gyrating around and dragging me up on the dance floor thinking they were doing me a favour!!!! It was the smoke machine that finally killed it for me (and my ear drums were exploding!)- nearly got gassed!! So how you cope all day with the mindless stuff I don't know (I sound like my own mother now!!!!).
Why not suggest to them that you'd like to introduce them to the latest trend in music, and stick "CBaTh" on - or maybe something like "Showbiz kids" - they'll like the expletives in that!! Tell them that you think these SD dudes are Eminem's younger brothers or something - any port in a storm just to get them to listen to it!! If they don't like the music, then resort to the head set. At least you'll be happy in your SD world!!
Good luck, and keep us posted - you are one cool dude!! Would you like to meet my daughter, also 18 and not into hip-hop!?????
Posted by: Rajah, We saw it too, Pam, I don't get it. That woman was suppose to be a ex-Reno Deputy who had just gotten out of Jail and decided what she really wanted to do with her life is follow Steely Dan around. She compared her Dan obsession with the Dead head crew and that just like the Dead were for some people, Steely Dan songs were the "soundtrack of her life." Which reminded me of what a certain ex-Nutmegger stated here on Blue a while back. She denies it now of course. The gnarly upside about following the Steely Dan Caravan around is that it leaves you one helluva lotta down time to do other things.
But touring with REO Speedwagon? Never. They do have standards after all. Now if they had paired them with, say, Foghat, THAT wouldda been funny.
In other news, the announcement that Pink Floyd will be reuniting for the Live 8 concert has had quite an effect on our W1P. Yup, seems the news has caused a strange and unforseen reaction in the lad. His prostate has inexplicably swollen up to the size of a beach ball and he is currently hovering 500 feet above Encino, California, tethered to his Pink-mobile in the driveway. Hang in there, Pinkimon, we're trying to figure out a way to drain that thing and bring you back down. Excitable boy.
Posted by: pH, I'm just growing oldGeneral rantings about modern music:
I'm working in a job where I'm actually with other people, about 4 other people at the same time, and they like to run music while they work. They're all under 30, so naturally they play modern music from the local pop/rock radio station. You have might guessed already that I've got issues. Is it too blatent to just say "this music SUCKS"? Because it does. I mean, I knew I would be stuck with this crap for a long time, so I tried to get into it, tried to like it, etc., but it's just really, really bad. But why?? I know in the past I've complained about 70s/80s pop stars like Billy Joel, but I'ld rather listen to him all day then this modern shit for an hour. I hate 80s music, but I can at least stand it. I generally dislike any pop from before '63, but same case there. This modern stuff makes me want to (a) throw up, (b) kill somebody, and/or (c) kill myself. So why is it so popular? I mean, I'm not that uptight a guy to be bitter toward anything new... I'm a computer scientist for chrissake! And I'm 18!! Here's what I think is going on: these new kids don't know there's anything better. They've constantly got this crap being shoved down their throats by the music industries, television, movies, etc., and they listen to this stuff because they're used to it. Usually when I show the typical modern pop fan some good stuff (like Steely Dan), they're instantly in love. "Wow! This is awesome," is a typical response, even from Can't Buy a Thrill.
Once in a while I watch the guest band on Late Nite with Conan, and usually I laugh harder watching them than I do during his jokes. They are so insolently stupid, and you can tell the people genuinly think they're "cool". It's such a hilarious facade.
Well, this is a new job, so I don't have enough leeway to tell anybody that they're listening to crap and "may I suggest something?" So I'm taking some headphones and my mp3 player today. I'm late. Take care everybody, and keep in mind that an 18 year-old thinks you're all cooler than his own generation.
Posted by: Pam, NVI was breezing around satellite-land last night, and caught the Reno 911 Steely Dan bit. A blonde, 40ish woman dressed in a tight pink top and looking slightly inebriated stated that she was a Babylon Sister, and her goal was to get SD to change the title of 'Hey Nineteen' to 'Hey Thirty-five and Holding'. Her location was stated as the Steely Dan/REO Speedwagon tour. Kinda funny.
Posted by: edb, onthe road againHi,
The link provided is an excellent source of audio/video reviews
and this one links to the Toshiba sd6915.
http://audioreview.com/Multiple%20DVD%20Players/Toshiba/PRD_325235_2759crx.aspx
Ed
Posted by: Rajah, Cincinnati is not to be confused with my home town, Cleveland, Ohio, City of Light.
Baba Burn On Big River Rajah
Posted by: Steely DanFest 2005, ClevelandJust a reminder that there is dramatically reduced pricing on rooms at the Ramada Plaza provided you reserve by July 1. The rooms are reduced to about $66.00. The Ramada Plaza is where the Steely Dan Fest will be held.
Reserve now while there are still rooms.
Posted by: Bob`, I see J & R has the following SACD and DVD-AUDIO player on sale for $100. Wonder if it's any good.......
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3980978
Posted by: Doc Mu, Raj: Our daughter overlapped a lot with Asperger's with a recent evaluation. Still she has displayed years ago elements of other autism specturm such as PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental delay) and something called mixed expressive-receptive language disorder (after looking at the symptoms, who doesn't). We insisted on mainstreaming her from day one - she does well is shcool across the board Autism spectrum is rare is females and very rare in people who are creative. She has the disposition of an artist but is also a sweet kid. She has a great sense of direction, and can find her way home, but when it comes to quite a number of other "common sense" tasks, stuff we take for granted, she has to be taught, and then she acts them out. I remember when she was in pre-school trough second grade - she would come home, and act out the entire day with dolls, adding a lot of writer's embellishement - this occurred almost every day.
She is a natural singer - perfect pitch in hearing and singing, although her voice is not well developed yet, also very natural on piano which she started this year and dancing - more so than her very externally motivated brother. She digs putting on her own plays, filming with the digital video camera. She used to practice barbershop singing with her GrandDad years ago. Not robotic at all - definintely does her own thing - and she has charisma not usually seen in autism spectrum by the book. The problem the last few years has been social interaction - she tends to clam up, a d definitely has a comfort zone. But she interacts with he brother well. She's 2 or 3 years behind the other girls here and in physical maturity as well (there are a few perks about this in post-modern society). She plays well with her younger brother and have worked out extremely elaborate stories together over the years on stacks of notebooks or "journals" as they call them. Woe unto the parent who throws one away accidentally from years ago. It's a bond that reminds me in a way of the mind-meld Donald Fagen and Walter Becker share. They are probably the best thing that could have happened to each other. He brings her to reality, she brings him into the fantasy realm.
Posted by: Daddy G., Opening for a Steely Dan groupie?I don't get this channel, but some of you may want to check it out. From cnn.com at http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/13/ew.best.tue/ ....
______________________________________________________________________
Tonight's Best TV
Tuesday, June 14
By Alynda Wheat
Entertainment Weekly's daily guide to notable shows:
10-10:30 PM
SEASON PREMIERE: RENO 911! (Comedy Central, TV-14-L) Few shows can connect prison, senior citizens, and "American Idol" auditions -- but, then again, few shows are as funny or as clever as "Reno 911!" The third season begins with the Reno officers unemployed and looking for new ways to occupy their time. Options include mall security guard, >>>>groupie for Steely Dan,<<<< or hopeful "Idol" competitor. As usual, most of the humor is silly and broad (Thomas Lennon, as Lieut. Jim Dangle, is again sporting his trademark Daisy Dukes), but in dire comedy times like these, belly laughs feel awfully good. -- Tim Stack
EW Grade: B+
______________________________________________________________________
I'm guessing there's virtually no chance Don or Walt will make an appearance, but I have no idea. I would also guess that probably the Dan stuff will not be too big a piece of the overall show, but again no idea.
Posted by: Rajah, Mu, I have a pal whose 13 year old was diagnosed with this Asperger's thing. Kid has unreal math skills, he never studies, and great at any kind of problem requiring critical thinking. But he has no conception of time and his Dad says that if he dropped him off six blocks from the house he couldn't find his way home. Strangest thing. I say get the kid an electric piano.
Posted by: Doctor Mu, Amelia Ray: Very interesting stuff. I'm intrigued by the title. Do you have family members who fit under autism spectrum? It is a political, social, or musical comment? Autism is a VERY wide umbrella from "Rainman" to Asperger's Syndrome. Some famous people "afflicted" include Bill Gates and Albert Einstein. I have a daughter who appears to fit under this umbrella, wider than the one used to shade Michael Jackson.
Something you should or may know that adds quite a bit of irony to the descriptors on your site. Folks with Autism spectrum including Asperger's appear to focus on details (a la the TV detective Monk) we mortals don't notice. Sometimes it makes them non-functional, incapable of understanding as we perceive it...or genius. indeed, a pair of musicians we all know here appear to have an obsessive ear for detail to the nanosecond. Many within the autism spectrum are throught to have differences (when compared with the rest of us) in their serotonin uptake receptors. Serotonin is a neurotrnasmitter that functions to guide key neural patterns from excessive firing. This is why many of the symptoms of autism spectrum overlap with anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder - these are all clinical manifestations of excessive reuptake. Drugs such as Prozac for depression and Zoloft for anxiety work by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin, thus increasing it to a normal level. There are many children with autism spectrum who appear not to understand, because one of the problems is expressive language impairment. But it is my experience that many (but not most) DO understand. It is only our failing to break through that limits our perception. It is we who are as narrow as we thought they were.
Posted by: hoops, Hey! Great to hear from you Amelia Ray!
For those of you who aren't familiar with Amelia Ray and her music, be sure to check out some QuickTime mov clips at:
Shoreline 2000
http://www.dandom.com/idanvention/61700-shoreline
Dallas 2000
http://www.dandom.com/idanvention/72900-dallas
Paris 2000
http://www.dandom.com/idanvention/130900-paris
Bluebook regular Phillipe is also in the Paris clips. Heck, Little Wild One, Hat2Flat and many others in the Dallas clips. ENJOY!
jim
Posted by: aray, Madrid
Howdy Hoops, everyone,
Two years since myself, Hoops and all of us got together for the Concord Danfest!
It's almost here! We're so excited! Music for Autistic People, scheduled for release in August, is available for pre-order today! All pre-ordered copies are autographed, and include tax and shipping. Total price = $18. Click <http://www.ameliaray.net/autistic.html>here to view track listing, read lyrics, and order your copy today!
This week's gigs:
15.Jun.05
King Kong Klub
http://king-kong-klub.de
Berlin, DE
18.Jun.05
Bar King
http://www.rootsisbak.net/king/index.htm
Neuch’tel, CH
19.Jun.05
CafÈ Stern
http://www.musig-im-stern.ch
Muri, CH
Next week's gig at The Bedford in London will be webcast. So get your computers ready! London is eight hours ahead of California, FYI. I'll send instructions for viewing the webcast next week, but here's the show info:
22.Jun.05
The Bedford
http://www.thebedford.co.uk
London, UK
9:00pm
Thanks!
Posted by: Due with Buzz, Sun Mountainhttp://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5net/index.php?p=179
Amelia Ray, aka the Princess of Cairo is touring across Europe and enjoying the "bright sunlight, big city" feel of Madrid, Spain before she heads for Berlin in Germany. She's been in Iceland, Reykjavik already and in the meantime also busy preparing the release of her 5th album "Music For Autistic People".
http://www.ameliaray.net/
Posted by: Ann, Borneo........and this one:
Re: Pink Floyd re-forming for Live 8 with line up: Waters/Gilmour/Mason/Wright
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4085966.stm
Posted by: Josey, Seriously contemplating CinciFor W1P and all other Floyd fans, this could potentially be huge!: http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/sns-ap-britain-pink-floyd,1,6205324.story
Posted by: Chrys, Pa PittPQ, I'm pretty sure by 1997 Randy & Eliane were kaput as a married couple; she doesn't appear on the album as a player or co-composer, but is listed as "album song sequencer." Maybe I'm wrong, but I also notice on Eliane's albums after a certain point you see (and hear) Michael Brecker as a sideman, but Randy is nowhere to be found. But apparently Randy spent a lot of time in Brazil as a result of the marriage, and extensively absorbed Brazilian music into his aesthetic.
On that album INTO THE SUN Randy throws in everything but the kitchen sink as far as arranging and composition, but unfortunately the results aren't all that striking as far as disciplined tautness of the tunes. The writing just seems too "all over the place" and a little too bland. I don't expect that at all with DF's new album, and I better not be wrong, or else!
Posted by: Ann, Borneo and needing a distraction!!!Needing a light moment of relief from marking 150 grade 9 exam scripts, where the little dears are telling me the finer points of tectonic plates, I decided to allow myself to be distracted by the blue book. Tried to get into the web site referred to in the article about Skunk Baxter performing for the patients at a military hospital. Tried various permutations, but to no avail - can't get in there!! Has anyone else had the same trouble? Maybe it's something to do with the hacker from the UK that tried to enter the military site last week - or are beings from darkest Borneo some sort of threat?? Sounded good about Jeff though. Even though I only ever saw him on stage, he always came over as being a very nice, down-to-earth sort of guy. His enegy and charismatic stage presence often stole the lime light from D & W - and the Doobies when he was with them. Has anyone heard if his TV show is for real yet?
Ah well, back to the grind stone!!
Ann
Posted by: PQ, NYCChrysler wasn't Randy Brecker married to Eliane Elias at the time? Must help when your wife is a leading Brazilo-Jazz pianist.
Posted by: Bill O., ParisDear Danfans,
I just read this fascinating (but dated!) article straight through:
http://www.chuckrainey.com/bassmanual/makingmusic_sd_1.htm
I found Rainey's comments intelligent and balanced, which lent an air of credibility to what he said.
It would be great to hear what you all thought of the article, esp those of you who seem much more knowledgeable about the personalities involved and perhaps could offer a counterpoint.
Having said this, I realize that you all might very well have already discussed this article last year, in which case perhaps someone could point me to some dates in the archive.
Tks in advance! Bill
Posted by: I Drove The Chrysler, killjoy with the hidden agendaCongratulations Hoops on the anniversaries!
Congratulations SD on the EMG anniversary! Wow, it only took you guys THREE YEARS to give us a new album!? Hey, I look at it this way-- what if we really are skatin' backwards at the speed of light? EMG --- 2vN, 3 years; Gaucho --- Aja, 3 years. That means . . . !!!!! Well, no, I guess it didn't . . .
Anyone familiar with the Randy Brecker album INTO THE SUN, from 1997? Here's the description from the album jacket:
" . . . Randy's long-anticipated INTO THE SUN masterfully blends Brazilian samba and bossa nova with contemporary jazz, funk, and rock influences. Brecker's kaleidoscopic compositions frame his inventive, harmonically adventurous--yet always soulful--trumpet and flugelhorn playing."
Sounds a lot like a description of an album we're all waiting for, don't it?
Posted by: hoops, THIS WAS JUST SUBMITTED TO THE DANDOM DIGEST:
-------------
From: "[name deleted at author's request]" <swisherb>
To: digest dandom.com
Subject: Jeff Baxter Sighting
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 14:30:25 -0400
Hey Hoops,
Happy to report that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was part of a band that performed on June 7 for patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where I work. Here's a link to a story about the gig...
http://www.dod.mil/americasupportsyou/america/stories/20226181.html
...and to one of several pictures (click on "Next" and "Previous" for more):
http://www.pentagon.mil/americasupportsyou/america/photoessays/2005-06/pe20050608a5.html
The band is the brainchild of the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, Andras Simonyi, and includes current and former bureaucrats and Washington think-tankers. Their repertoire consists of classic rock and blues standards.
The lone Steely Dan title in their hour-long set was "Rikki." It was also the newest title they played -- most of the others were from the 1960s except "China Grove," a nod to Baxter's time with the Doobie Brothers (although they recorded that title while he was still with The Dan). A former assistant secretary of state, Linc Bloomfield, did a creditable job on the vocal, and Baxter clearly had played the guitar part more than a few times before that night. Most of the other solos and many of the vocals were by Simonyi, however.
I got the chance to meet the Skunkster at the sound check, and he couldn't have been nicer. I asked him if he still keeps in touch with Becker and Fagen. "I do with Walt," he said, but I hear more often from some of the guys in the Doobies."
He was even gracious enough to sign my LP copies of "Can't Buy a Thrill" and "Pretzel Logic," both of which include huge gatefold photos of the band. "God," he marveled, looking at the picture of his 1974 self. "We were such kids!"
Bill
Posted by: PQ, NYCPaul! On Ebay there are 402 items for Steely Dan. There 689 items for Thin Lizzy. Lynott died 20 years ago.
Posted by: pH, Woah, Huey Lewis in Thin Lizzie? Did he do any of the background vocals? I think I can kind of hear his voice in "The Boys are Back in Town", but that's the extent of their music in my collection...
I've never been much a fan of Huey, he and The News were too stereotypically 80s. But, there is an SD reference in the song "Don't look back":
"Woman left for another man
Took you're car and a steely dan"
Actually, this reference could just as easily be referring to The Naked Lunch, but neat anyway.
Posted by: Ann, BorneoPQ: tell that to Queen "Lizzie"!!!!!
Posted by: Little Wild One, travel deskJust wondering...do we need a block of rooms at the venue in Cinci? I'd be happy to coordinate that with the duly designated person at the Ramada who works M-F, as I just found out. I would need an idea of how many rooms to block and for what dates.
Hoops honey, you know I love ya more than my luggage (and that includes the EMG party favor briefcase...)! Thanks for establishing this crazy little place and everything else you do behind the scenes.
Posted by: PQ, NYCAnn...I thought Midge Ure's greatest contribution to civilization was when he was the background singer in Thin Lizzy at the same time that Huey Lewis was the reed player for said titans of rock and roll.
Posted by: pH, Scooping out the roof for some trendWow, EMG was released on my birthday. Insanely cool.
And congratulations Jim! I think I hang out around the bluebook more than any other website, this is a great service you provide.
Posted by: ss, hkCheers Hoops...
Thanks for your efforts.
Posted by: Ann, BorneoCongratulations Jim for keeping us happy!!! You deserve an "honorary" award from Queen Elizabeth, as not being British, you can't have the real thing, not like these guys:
Just announced in Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honours list today:
Brian May ("Queen"'s guitarist): awarded the status of "Commander of the British Empire" (CBE) for Services to Music
Midge Ure (Ultravox and helped to organise Live Aid, and now Live 8) awarded "Officer of the British Empire" (OBE) for services to music and charity.
Quaint, eh?? But so nice that these guys have received the honour they deserve.
So, Queen Ann of Borneo awards Jim McKay the CDD (Commander of Dan Dom!!)
May the Blue and the Green rock on for many years to come!!
Ann
Posted by: SteveeDan, The Corporate Offices of Pretzel Logic, Beverly Hills, CACongrats Hoops - - Great job.
Gretchen - - You traitor !!! You mean to tell me that you won't be at our Yorba Linda gig on Sunday July 17th ??? Boy are you in deep trouble.
Besides, I convinced Skunk Baxter's gardener to make the gig as our special guest.
W1P - - well, we finally made it to the Canyon Club. Looks like we'll be starting up there in September.
New band Tee Shirts on the way. I'll make sure you all can order one.
Stevee(gonna getcha Gretchen)Dan
Posted by: Gretchen, Near HollywoodHoops,
Congrats on all the success of this site and thanks for the opportunity to meet everyone in the Dan community. I'm looking forward to Cincy - anyone have any tips on reasonable flights? And to Stan Deely, yes, Rajah is VERY VERY weird, I know better than anyone...........
Has anyone heard about Horace Silver's one night show on the Santa Monica Pier in July? Apparently this is happening, heard his interview on KJAZ last week. Should be something to see.
a very tired G
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Green with envy...HFS...
After talking to Still Sparkin' about his Martin-Logans in the Green, I now have serious speaker envy...
Miles to go before I sleep...
SOH
Posted by: hfs, HFS-WHAT A MOMENT IN SPACE AND TIMESOH.
Care to comment on the new speakers?
I'm always interested in what other danfans have for speakers
KLipsch rf-7 here
ED
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Semi-Retracting...HFS...
I suppose you could sway me with that Kama call...Hell, it's all just sooooo good on that (DVD-A) platform...Plus, some new speakers arrived today that have just totally changed the whole sound field...My neighbors will be knocking any second now...
SOH
Posted by: ed Beatty, east of HollywoodSOH,
I have to respectfully disagree with you.
KAMAKIRIAD ON DVD-AUDIO
WOW
and by the way...GIRLFRIEND-
Welcome to WB...
"And all the jiveasses and the true believers
The bullshit givers and receivers
Here today tomorrow gone
To the triage tent in the great beyond
Wherein the angel tangoes with the infidel"
WALTER BECKER CIRCA 199X
P.S. Hoops
You are the best and your dedication to us and SD is profound.
Under the Dictionary defintion of "friend" it says to see you.
Ed (southeast of Hollywood) B.
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Slang MeHoops...
Congrats and best anniversary wishes on this virtual netherworld you've created!
Can't believe it's 2 years today since the release of EMG...As I listen to it right now (I shelved it for a while for no good reason other than over-play) I've got to agree with Rajah...Godwhacker, Green Book, Pixeleen and Lunch With Gina are as good in their own way as anything they've ever done and I have yet to find a DVD-A that sounds better than EMG...
SOH
Posted by: hoops , The latest Dandom Digest has been sent, this time covering June 4-10, 2005.
If you are a subscriber, you should see it in your email box within the next 12 hours. If you don't receive it, please email me. Again, the main reason I am in the habit of announcing this here is because some people have been having problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.
The following are the subjects of this particular edition of the Dandom Digest:
ó 2nd Anniversary of EMG and Contest
ó Purdie Added! North American DanFest 05' Initial Press Release
ó The Dan get the closer on The OnionÆ's school mix
ó early Chicago
ó Chicago's Robert Lamm
ó Jose' Neto
ó A Rather Unsettling Interview with Chuck Rainey
ó Don Felder: Steely Dan "Fantastic"
ó REDUX: Did your Writing show up in the Dandom Digest?
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter (definitely not to be confused with the glorious Official steelydan.com or Official donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists), please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest
jim
Posted by: Anon-hotep III, driving in a chariotThe Pharoah of the Upper and Lower kingdoms raises his curved stick and long brush in tribute to...
STEELY DAN!!!!
All Hail.
Posted by: Girlfriend, tangling with the infidelsYeah, and don't start that crap about hero worship either.
I got an ipod recently...does anyone give a shit what I listen to more than anything?
Didn't think so. It's Walter Becker's collective works. Which I hated and threw in the back seat of the car the first couple times I listen to it on cd.
Medical science is helpless....
Posted by: hoops, Rajah, thanks! It's all good. MonkeyMan, I should give you a proverbial slap upside the head for hating without giving it a chance or even saying why.
jim
Posted by: Rajah , GW, Greenbook, Pixeleen and Gina are as well done as any of the best of their work. I'd really like to hear someone try to recreate any of these, haven't yet.
And my compliments on the milestones, Hoopsterissimo.
Posted by: MonkeyManX, in your soulTrue, it may be an anniversary, but EMG was a sorry excuse for an album. I don't play it at all any more. In fact, never have but a handful of times.
Posted by: hoops, Happy Anniversary everyone!
Two years ago today was the US Release of "Everything Must Go!"
Of course, some of us remember the sneak peak that was posted in mono-phonic somewhere on MSN.com for a few hours the previous month. That was pretty amazing since several of us were listening on-line all together commenting in the Green Room.
Speaking of anniversaries and the Green Room, the Green recently turned two years old and this here BlueBook turns FOUR later this month, not to mention the Dandom Digest is in its 14th year and what is today's Dandom.com is in its 11th year. Thanks to everyone for making it possible.
Wow!
Be well little doggies.
jim
Posted by: Steely Dan Fest '05, Cincinnati
Posted by: pH, grokking the shape of things to go Loosely on the subject of FACW's post, "Two Against Nature" is probably the best SD song to test a new subwoofer, though there are a lot of other good ones, like "FM" and "Royal Scam".
Posted by: FACW,
Bass check:
http://caraudiomag.com/testreports/0507cae_ppi/
Posted by: pH, with plenty of javaI was searching google for any new info on Fagen's next album and came across this, I think the page has been linked to before here, but here's some direct quotes:
Mizar 5 Interview with Erika Luckett http://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5/el.html)
"M5: The CD release for "Unexpected" took place on the island of Kauai... Donald Fagen was in the audience and wanted you on his new yet to be released album. Can you tell us something about this, like what it's been like working with him and how well do you know the music of Steely Dan or Donald Fagen and are there any favorite tunes?
EL: Donald Fagen's "Nightfly" was one of my favorite albums as a teenager. My brother turned me onto Steely Dan's music and I was immediately drawn by the brilliant navigation between jazz, rock and smart lyrics. As someone who feels so at home in the hybrid center zone, my introduction to Steely Dan's music was a bit like a homecoming. Needless to say, when I heard that Donald Fagen would be sitting in with wonderful local artist, Kirk Smart, who was opening the show for me on Kauai, I was honored and thrilled. Donald's wife gave me a CD with some rough tracks of a beautiful song he wrote with Tom Jobim's grandson, Daniel Jobim. The song is entitled "Orchids in the Summer Rain". It was really lovely. That's all I know..."
Intriguing... that means there's a CD floating around, hmm.... I'm off to eBay. :)
Posted by: hoops,
From: "Pete Fogel"
To: "hoops"
Subject: Re: You on CNN?
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 15:39:40 -0400
Hey Jim,
Yeah, that was me. I taped a segment for CNN a few nights ago. I didn't realize it was going to be aired in Europe. The producer told me that it should air here in the States tomorrow (Friday the 10th) at noon (ET) on CNN. He said he doesn't have control of when it airs but it's scheduled for noon tomorrow. The segment has nothing to do with Steely Dan even though I was wearing "my Steely Dan T-shirt". It's about the music business in general and about "Kenny's Castaways" which is celebrating its 40 year anniversary this year (1965-2005).
[ Kenny's Castaways is a very well known room on Bleecker Street and is the venue Pete Fogel now books. Kenny's has lunched the careers of Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, the NY Dolls and the Ramones all back in the 70's. Their website is at http://www.kennyscastaways.net. ]
Give me a ring in the next week or so and we'll discuss the Ohio Danfest. , I'm looking forward to seeing everybody in Cincinnati . Both Tom Barney and Bernard Purdie are looking forward to it as well.
Best,
Pete
Posted by: hoops, Thanks, Pepe.
I will see what I can find out.
jim
Posted by: Rajah, Pepe - CNN Int'l usually runs its spots over and over during any one day so chances are good you might be able to catch that again some time tonight.
Posted by: Pepe, with a scar from ear to earWhoaaa! I'm on a gig in Europe for another few days, but it's like Steely Dan is EVERYWHERE! This is the soonest I could get to a place to post this.
Earlier, I was in an office reception area where they had a TV with CNN Int'l. I'm reading and all of of a sudden I catch an interview with a guy with an Aja album cover T-shirt! I am 99.9% sure it was Pete Fogel! Anyone else catch this? What was it all about?
Maybe it will run some more today in the USA.
Pepe
Posted by: Stan Deely, I love Carolyn Lionharts background vocals on Pixeleen and other selected tracks on EMG.
There is a girl here locally who is 18 sounds like her . I met her a at a meeting I was at and let her listen to it. She agreed. She is going to Juliard..."dahling"
Maybe she will come back and sing background for me here in 5 years when I finally learn the keyboard....although I can belt out a good version of Pretzel Logic....hell, atleast it makes my 2 year old laugh.
Posted by: Rajah, We're all weirdos on this Blue bus, amigo.
I wa born a ramblin' man.
Posted by: Stan Deely, Raj-
You are wierd and I had a bit of trouble following you but I enjoyed your rambling. Thanks for the input. I agree with women on a mission. Several references come to mind "make love to these women", "cover every game in town" even Becker singing "Slang" "tommorows for squares but tonights for real", "crazy little place I know called be there now", of course you could go on more than I could but I agree.
Posted by: Rajah, Ah, the three most thrilling and seldom used words in Blue, "you were right." Well, if you think you can coax me out with some cheap, quick and dirty flattery...you'd be right.
Gina and Countermoon share both musical and lyrical elements. Musically, you have those vampy guitar chords, raggetty, syncopated, funky blues, as swampy-Delta as Steely Dan gets. A slinky stripper with dance skills(!) could make some cash lap-dancing Countermoon and Gina. Love to hear them cover "Polk Salad Annie," or "Born on the Bayou." These melodies all "bump" along riding the guitars then at various junctures get a smooth and strong "pull" (the blue tractor beam in Countermoon?) from the brass. The theme of being chased down, spitewaves threatening in Countermoon (flipside of Gaslighting Abbey), having to duck into Nino's to elude the ubiquitous Ms. Gina (think Mercedes Ruehle in Married to the Mob). This theme is one of their favorites.
Mr. Steely Dan has lots of Harpies in hot pursuit, demons, spectres, incubi, along with the most relentless of creatures: women on a mission. It's his own fault, he generally doesn't pick up after himself and tends to leave a mess in his wake. If only his Mother had made him clean his room a bit more, he might not have had all these problems.
Posted by: Stan Deely, knockin on woodI lost my copy of 2VN!!!!! I have looked for it for 3 weeks now and have no clue where it is.
My 2 year old said Blues Beach the other day. I was so excited.
I still find it amazing that I cannot hardly listen to anything else but Steely Dan.
I have tried.
Posted by: Stan Deely, I'll wait till 20 pastHello Friends-
Sorry I have not posted for a few weeks (like everyone missed me right). I have been in the process of transferring to a new office here in the building. I didn't even get to check e-mail for 4 days.
I was listening to "Lunch With Gina" Monday night and I wanted to make an observation. Quite a few months ago, I was on here discussing Kamakiriad and how I really liked it. Someone made the observation that LWG had the same feeling of "Countermoon". I listened to both at the time and had not heard LWG yet because I just picked up EMG.I just want to say to whoever that was YOU WERE RIGHT. I wasn't even listening for it and picked up on it. I listened to it at the time but did not hear the comparison. I did Monday night....WOW.
Posted by: ed Beatty, rolling with the HomiesDid I post this before..
I hope not
http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/timcain/index.php?m=200502
Posted by: Howard, Stevee - I'll have to try that second chord of yours. I was never 100% happy with what I played there, and yours has an extra G in it so maybe that's what I was missing?
Howard
Posted by: Still Sparkin', hk
Peter Q...Remembrance I've only heard once through a friend, but will get a copy. The one I own by Cecil Taylor is with drummer Gunter Sommer recorded in East Berlin in 1988.
The one with Maholo I like more. I think the percussion is more varied.
If you can measure any of this by groove, I think they got into a better one. Although it's free form, if i get really relaxed and drift off just a bit it starts to come in. What sounds completely random can take a little shape, and on the cd with Maholo even more so and actually gets pretty exciting.
Don't know what this would be like live. Maybe better at home. Would love to see Cecil Taylor on a DVD....and can't imagine what his hands and arms look like - how strong they must be.
Posted by: Peter, BrooklynWalt Weiskopf of Steely Dan was kind enough to answer a few questions for me which I will have up shortly. Caught the quintet at Smoke last week.
Posted by: Rajah, Poetic justice then that it took place in the hall where Dolphy did his thing, in my mind he was one of the godfathers of the so-called free jazz form; his second incarnation on the scene was challenging to the ear.
Dolphy's, "Out to Lunch" album is still a classic and as I've droned on before, first time I heard the opening horn strains of the title track of 2vN, it sprang to mind immediately.
Posted by: Yes, we're gonna have a wing ding, remembering HOF weekHoping to hear that some of the loyal Dandom in the PA and IL tri-state areas will make the trek to Cincinnati. If you have never met "Pretty Purdie," than you methedí out on a dam good thang.
A flock of geese in labor?
Posted by: hoops, Peter, I know your last comment was directed to everyone in general, but to clarify in general as well, I though the album, "Song X" was interesting...but the acoustics for that particular performance in 1986 made it insufferable and painful. It was the wrong venue for that kinda of show. I would say about 1/3 of the audience left.
Posted by: Peter, BrooklynSong X and anything in the free mode can certainly sound like a flock of geese in labor; on the other hand, the effort that is required to listen is definitely repaid if one can stick it out. There is more real blood, sweat and tears on some Ornette Coleman songs than most rock bands can manage on ten albums.
Believe it or not, Cecil Taylor is even harder to listen to than that. Sonny Murray is the other drummer who tortured himself playing with Taylor, I've been trying to think of the name all day.
Posted by: hoops , I think I posted about "Song X' a while back. When I caught the show in support of the album, it was in a hall with hard plaster everywhere. In fact, it's the same venue where Eric Dolphy's "The Illinois Concert" takes place, Foelinger Auditorium in Urbana, Illinois. Anyways, between the disonance that goes with the "Song X" material and the terrible acoustics, it was unbearable. I had to leave after about 40 min.
jim
Posted by: SteveeDan, Hi Howard --
I think the name you've mentioned for the first of those two HD chords we're talking about is more correct.
The notes I play on keyboard for both of these chords is as follows:
(right hand notes in ascending order / bass note)
A-C#-D# / A (A -5), and, (maybe the A in the right hand is actually a G# (the Major 7th interval. I think I usually play it with the A though.))
G-Bb-Db-Eb / Bb (Eb/Bb)
Posted by: hoops,
BREAKING NEWS!
This just in...
CONFIRMED!
The Danfest in Cincinnati will feature guests
Tom Barney
&
BERNARD PURDIE!
This is going to be incredible! I bet Jon will have to get a bigger venue.
"Be there now!"
Back in a bit...
jim
Posted by: Ann, BorneoAngel: Thanks for the info re-"the hand". I always suspected that it belonged to "the Immortal".
"That" Paul Young (Sad Cafe)sadly passed away a few years back. I seem to be writing this too often these days about music greats....."am I just growing old?" (and how old would D&W be when they wrote that line?? - Scarey!!)
Thanks to Dandom in general, and Jim in particular, for enriching my existence and opening new doors, that don't exist here on fantasy Island.
Ann
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons IslandPQ - Maybe one day I'll get to a place where I can begin to develope a better appreciation of the free form stuff. Just not there at this point in time. In all fairness, I would need to hear Song X again. Who knows? It might mean more to me now than way back when when I first heard it.
Posted by: Peter , NYCWow. It's hard to even discuss in speech, almost impossible, but Song X is like pop fluff ear candy compared to the Taylor/Maholo album, if you can believe it. I know it sounds crazy but it's true.
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandPQ - not really. Can't listen to Zero Tolerance For Silence either.
Posted by: Peter, NYCJ - you don't dig Song X?
Posted by: Howard, @the_grottoStevee - those two HD chords are pretty weird, it's true. Unexpected, yet they still lead you in a smooth progression.
I'd say A-5 for the first (A A C# Eb). A add b5 could imply a basic A chord (A C# E) to which you then add an Eb?
I struggled for quite a while on the second chord, but hear the main notes as Bb Bb Db Eb. Basically the top two notes (C# Eb, or Db Eb if you prefer) stay the same in both chords and only the bass moves up from A to Bb. I call that second chord Bmadd4 - but it's a real git to hear properly...
Howard
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandSparkin - I can't say I've ever heard of Maholo - which doesn't mean anything. Like I said last night, there's so many great players. The music you describe sounds like it goes beyond my level of appreciation. Never got into the free form stuff. Metheny - arguably my favorite musician - has done a few of those type compositions and I can't listen to them.
Posted by: PQ, NYCSparklin - Remembrance is available on the Tower Records website, they always have it in stock. I'm amazed and pleasantly surprised you listen to Taylor, almost the complete antithesis of Steely Dan. I heard him many times with another free drummer, Milford Graves. Not easy listening.
A very accessible Taylor disciple was Don Pullen, who IMHO has to be considered in the top five jazz pianists of all time. He played like Taylor but in a way you could syand to listen to for more than 10 minutes. His solos were eye popping - he would hit the keysd with his fists, knuckles, the back of his hand, sometimes even his elbow or forearm. No wonder Mingus kept him as the pianist during The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady periods.
Posted by: Still Sparkin', hkJosey, that percussionist I mentioned to you is Louis Maholo, an expatriate South African. The album I heard him on with Cecil Taylor is called Remembrance...although on a search for the album, nothing at all came up.
I'm out of my depth on this, but I don't think it's wrong to call it 'experimental.' No enduring structure.
Posted by: angel, Ann: That picture is on the back of Countdown to Ecstasy and that arm is Roger Nichols, I believe.
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandHoops - JJ and Fagen together - now THAT would be spectacular! Especially if Fagen's new one has that tinge of latin that's been rumored about. They could share musicians on that tour. While JJ's music isn't necessarily latin, he's got several cd's that have a ton of latin elements to them. Sue Hadjopoulos (sp?) is the percussionist who's always out on tour with JJ when he's got the full band thing going. Talk about someone who knows her way around percussion! She's so much fun to watch. Anyone familiar with "Night and Day" and "Night and Day II" knows what she adds to his sound. I'd recommend to anyone to go get JJ's 25th anniversary dvd - put it on - and watch one helluva band!
Posted by: FACW, Geoff: ...and sang the Squeeze classic Tempted. THAT Paul Young was lead singer of a rock/jazz/pop group Sad CafÈ (Run Home Girl) who had 3 great albums before Mike & the Mechanics in the late 70s, early 80s - 2 produced by Eric Stewart of 10cc fame...
Posted by: Geoff, pH - Didn't Paul Carrack sing vocals on Mike and the Mechanics, along with Paul Young, (Not the same Paul Young who had a few solo Blue-eyed soul hits who used to be in The Cue Tips).
'Making of AJA' is nearly as important as 'Aja' itself. My favorite part is Dean Parks demonstrating 100% clean Em7 execution, and making a comment like "I have to say the most scrutiny was on the drummer"
Posted by: hoops, pH, as Angel implores, GO OUT AND GET THE "AJA" DVD. It's essential. Immediate highlights that flash into my mind are D + W discussing and demo'ing the various guitar solos considered for "Peg," Michael McDonald's isolated backing vocals on "Peg" and the garbage can lid on "Josie." GET IT! I can't imagine any Danfan hesitating.
To be more specific about SoH discussion about who, as a second choice after Walter, would you see paired with DF on a solo tour, I have been thinking for sometime, that Joe Jackson would be the cat's pajamas. They both got attitude, they both have this encyclopedic knowlegde of blues and jazz; JJ's is the Brit with the NYC thing goin' and DF's the NY'er with the English literary background, They seem like a natural pair, with all due respect to the immense talents of TR. But truth is, a new SD tour is my first pick.
Ann, I think "Aja" works OK as a CD cover as does "Gaucho," but still the hugeness of an LP blows the "Aja" CD cover size away. I've never been fully satisfied with the CD artwork for "Katy Lied" (If you got the first issue of KL on CD, the long boxóremember thoseó was the only place for some of the LP artwork). I've never especially cared for the cover of "The Royal Scam" in any format. I remember reading somewhere, that TRS cover started out in life as the cover of a Van Morrison album that was abandoned. Any truth to that? And on the CD of EMG, I think it gets lost on some that two watches have their faces tinted. On the other hand, I think it might be easier to "get" the phallic imagery of the shadows on the CD cover of 2vN than it is on the LP.
A beautiful and touching post, Bway. *Thank You*.
Laters!
jim
Posted by: Ann, Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 21:47:39 +0800 (BNT)
Hi Y'All,
Do you ever mourne the passing of the vinyl album? I know all you sad
techno-freaks out there will now be passing out in shock, amazed at my
naivity and lack of appreciation for re-digitalized/re-anythingized little
shiny discs (or are THEY now out-dated technology??). Anyway, the thing I
really mourne for is album art - it's just not the same on something
that's about 4 inches square!!! Can you imagine if 33 years ago you had
picked up a minute copy of "Can't buy a thrill"? Would it have had the
same impact on the casual browser as the "LP"-sized collage we all know
and love? Would the image on the front of Aja have been noticed at all??
And then there were the sleeve notes and acknowledgements that I would
pour over in my quiet hours, as a Dan information-starved
early-twenties-something, stuck in grimey, industrial N.W England - what
pleasure they brought!!
But best of all were the "in" talk and tricks that our heroes would play
on the unsuspecting fan. Maybe someone can help me with something I've
pondered over for years - if it's been discussed before, please accept my
apologies now, as a relative new-comer to the Blue Book. Look on the back
cover of - I think - either Countdown to Ecstacy or Can't buy a thrill -
not sure as my vinyl LPs are sitting in a box back in grimey Lancashire -
on the back is a photo of our heroes and band in a studio (I think)
sitting/standing behind a mixing desk (?) and/or table. There is a hand
draped over the edge of the table. Can anyone tell me who it belongs
to??? It seems to be totally detached from anyone in the room. Any ideas
who's it is??
Re-Skunk's TV show: I've had an email from the "producer" wanting my
phone number. Anyone else heard?? Is it for real or a hoax?? Certainly
the best offer I'll get all week - real OR hoax!!!
See ya,
Ann
Posted by: Rajah, Good on ya, Bway, great songs are worth covering, reviving, re-interpreting and always revisiting. Musicians love to play the Steely Dan. Is there a better recommendation of their work than that?
Posted by: bwaySteve, home todayI wanted to thank you Jim for your mention the other day.Last night I played my versions of Kid Charlemagne and Lunch with Gina at my favorite open mic.This place is attended by some talented kids.It's a beautiful room with great sound.Everyone pretty much sticks to originals to get their shit out there and get approval for their efforts.Well, I get such an amazing response from the kids who have not heard this material. I have turned many of them on to Steely Dan.People have told me it has changed their songwriting.The old timers always go nuts. They have never heard such songs done in a solo-acoustic presentation.This type of performance is challenging because I execute at least 2 chorings per beat more than the average picker and to sing along with it takes everything I've got. It took me a year to get Kid Charlemagne to a point where I wouldn't mess up the chords or forget the lyrics.Maybe doing this is keeping my mind viable.
I have gotten enough approval from regular humans and guitar players alike to feel good about what I do. This said , I cannot avoid at least a twang of low self esteem reading analyses on the board about the chording of Steely Dan tunes .I have learned a lot from you people, even made changes in my arrangements to more "authentic" renderings.I do have a sense though that most of these discussions are more centered around playing the guitar parts themselves and not executing them with simultaneous singing as I do. For me , playing Steely Dan has become the most rewarding thing I have ever done musically. In ignorance, I used to put people down who did covers. Having spent so much of my energy doing this material, I now appreciate it so much more because I have internalized it.It has become a part of me and a means to express who I am as a person and a performer.
It still gives me a chill to think that I am more "interpreting" Dan than attempting to recreate it. Thanks to all those here who have told me they've enjoyed hearing it.
Posted by: angel, PH: Making of Aja is a MUST HAVE for the totally obsessed. The place to get into the head of Donald and Walter. Chuck Rainey shows how the bass might have been on Josie as he would have done it and then he plays it again after Walter added to it and you can tell how complex it has become. The masterpiece we know and love.
Posted by: pH, I shot the deputyAw... damn. I thought I might be talking to someone connected to Clapton, oh well.
Posted by: PQ, Monterey CAPaul Carrack also wrote one of the famous 70s hits, How Long? by a band called Ace. The person who posts here under his name is not him.
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons IslandpH - I'd definitely say it's worth buying! Very interesting hearing the comments from the musicians who took part. My only gripe with it is how in the ever living f&*k did they leave Steve Gadd out of the equation when it came to the song Aja??!! If the story's true about him having done that one in ONE TAKE - how does that NOT get mentioned?? It's the only SD tune where D and W "let the drummer get some". That's just my drummer-bias leaking out. Still - well worth the price of admission.
Posted by: pH, I shot the deputyI was just looking through the booklet of Clapton's "Reptile" album, and noticed that some cat named 'Paul Carrack' does the keyboards on the title track. Looks like he also does the wurlitzer & hammond organ on "Second Nature". He wouldn't happen to be our Paul Carrack, would it? Speak up man, that would be pretty cool if it was true.
Posted by: Jaco, UKpH - In my opinion it's definatly worth a look. Highly interesting interviews with D+W in the studio, as well as some of the session musicians playing through the songs in the live room. Some great imagary in there too. I really love the DVD.
Posted by: pH, I shot the deputySteevee, is the Making of Aja DVD worth buying? Most of the Amazon reviews don't give a good impression, but, you know, most of the Amazon reviewers aren't as into Steely Dan as most of us here are. So, is it particularly insightful and/or entertaining?
Posted by: SteveeDan, Feeling like a PinataHi Everyone - -
Today the wife and I held a birthday party for our son and 20 other 6 year olds. Cuteness and pandamonium all rolled up into one. Where's the Motrin? ... and some Ripple !!!
On Haitian Divorce, I don't know if I would want to hear a chordal reworking of the song. To me, HD is a bittersweet tale (tail?) of a relationship on the rocks. The chords seem to me to have been chosen (like in a Musical Theater number) in order to allow for the story to be told. Almost like a harlequin novel set in exotic balmy shores somewhere (I know WHERE, I just don't want to draw attention to that).
And, actually, I can tell you that there are two sequential chords that are extremely interesting and unusual. It's over the lyrics "He shouts, she bites" (1st verse), "She feels alright" (2nd verse), and "It changed, it grew" (3rd verse).
The two chords are: A add b5, and Eb7/Bb. To my ear, this is a very unusual chord change.
It's one of the many "spots" in Steely Dan songs where I just sit there and wonder why I still wonder how they came up with that. Their genius definitely speaks for itself.
It's like in "The Making Of Aja" DVD where they are listening to the other guitar solos that didn't make to the finals in "Peg" where Walter folds his arms across his chest and says "Well, that speaks for itself".
You get this fleeting feeling of understanding how brilliant their songwriting and production choices are coupled with feelings like you don't breathe the same air they do.
Hero worship clearly comes with certain inherent perils ...
Stevee(more cake?Dan
Posted by: Rajah, That would be Mel Torme, Bob.
Grado, holy cow, looks like a perfect springboard to Vienna, Budapest and Prague.
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Hoping, Waiting, WishingSo...
A bit of discussion in the GreenRoom earlier prompted this question:
Now that the DF/TR tour thing has come to pass, who (other than WB, Mike McD and the like) would make for the ultimate pairing if DF were indeed to do a tour of this sort?
SOH
Posted by: Still Sparkin', ChinaI wouldn't change or alter the HD chords. It is what it is, and I don't think it stands out as something that should be 'improved.'
It's a complete statement, right ? I can see why people like it, and Pepe, I like your take on it. Faster next time ?
I just can't say the chords hit me in the way so many other songs do, and that might be intentional.
As always the discussion illuminates.
FACW...Reelin for me instead of Ricki on your list. Maybe I'm locked into something, but my retro brain hasn't got past the Elliot Randall guitar work and the the song's driving rythym.
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Cookin'Rajah...Maybe you need to put this on your itinerary when next heading back to the homeland...
www.grado.it
That braciole recipe has had my mouth watering for days...Tonight I indulge...
SOH
Posted by: Rajah, ph, well what is "grado?" My guess is either "thank you," as in gratias or "for free," as in gratis, or an earthen incline of some type as in "grade."
But let's not forget the Playboy's Mansion's famous "grotto," legendary scene of all things illicit and kinky. I've always thought of it in that context cause the rule of thumb for Steely Dan lyrics it seems to me should be to think of the smarmiest, lured and prurient connotation remotely plausible, then take that up (or down, if you have the opposite of an aerial view) a couple notches. Nasty schoolboys of every age love their dirty-mind games. Anything for a cheap feel, metaphorically speakin'. One reason why men make up the great majority of Steely Dan fans, as per Walter's comment on Plush. Just another take on dropping your pencil to look up Teacher's skirt. It's what we do.
And just because I hear "grotto," doesn't mean it wasn't meant to be "grado," or any number of other things. The 2 are Tricksters, yeah, like the Norse god Loki as was pointed out couple days ago in reference to something completely different.
Posted by: pH, fading to blackPeter, since Grado and Grotto are completely different things, it does matter. Thanks for correcting me.
Posted by: Peter, BrooklynPaul - that's "grotto." The only reason it matters is because if you don't know what a grotto is you're missing the customary placement of a character with frayed nerves in proximity to a symbol of Christendom. Happens on every album.
Posted by: FACW, pH:
Doctor Wu and Pixeleen are my favorite song structures
Rikki is the best Rock Band Performance
Your Gold Teeth II is the Best Jazz Band Recording
Black Cow is the best Studio Recording.
Janie Runaway is the Best Summer Party Song.
Lunch with Gina is the Best Pedal to the Metal Highway Song...if you're not doing 90 mph in the outtro, something's wrong with your vehicle.
Don't ask me how I came up with these...they vary from day to day, but the frequency of faverocity fixes on these fabulous fables
Posted by: Rajah, questioning your unconscious agendaIsn't there a certain group of songs that deviate more radically from the pop-jazz-rock for which they're famous than others and does this make them a little less acessible than your Do It Agains, your My Old Schools, your Reelin in the Years?
Begin with East St. Louis Toodle-Loo, first the fact that they chose to cover it and then do it with a kind of blend of an early jazz era/Ragtime thing with a Sergio Leone/Ennio Morricone, Spaghetti Western style folded in there, in retrospect, was it an announcement that they were gonna bend some rules here?
Do Bad Sneakers, YGT II, Caves, SIS, Fez, Haitian Divorce, I Got the News, Babylon Sisters, Glamour Profession, 2vN, Greenbook, Pixeleen share something, again like a statement that they will not be held to certain forms and formulas, styles, idioms?
They draw on all manner of stuff, many times within the same song and then get kinda goofy with them besides. Remarkable just how many things they straight-out borrow and yet, at their best, the songs don't sound like any one thing in particular, so at one and the same time they're derivative of everything but have managed to compose a body of work that is pretty much unlike anything.
How'd they do that?
Posted by: hoops, I sent out an email yesterday to those I could about passwords for posting and said I would followup via email. Instead, had a slight change in plans so email me if you need your password reset.
Pepe, not so sure about writing one's own "Haitian Divorce" per se. However, I do agree in so far as I would like to hear where others *would* insert chord changed or make modifications to HD. Heck, I know there's something to be said for note-for-note performances of the SD originals, but the idea of different takes and interpretationsóincluding new chord changesóintrigues me when I hear covers of SD songs. That's what I like about everyone from Justin Morell to Bway Steve's takes. So what chord changes do some of you suggest? That could be very interesting and even help us appreciate SD's original in new ways.
Going to Chicago's GospelFest today. Thunderstorms predicted.
Mizar is a well done blog of tangentially Dan items. It is indeed off the beaten path in a fun way.
Toodles.
jim
Posted by: pH, at the gradoSparklin', you made the interesting statement that "there are a lot of SD songs tied for first place and I'd be really uncomfortable trying to sort them"... I've heard that sort of comment before, and I hope I'm not just repeating some previous discussion, but it seems to be true that most SD fans have no favorite SD song, just a lot of them that we like more than the others. Although, I can say I have a fav album, but it changes almost monthly depending on my mood.
In contrast, for every other band I like, I have favorites... The Beatles--"Drive My Car", Eric Clapton--"Layla", Pink Floyd--"Comfortably Numb", etc etc.
Is there anybody out there that DOES have a favorite?
"All Steely Dan songs are created equal, but some are more equal than others"
Posted by: Pepe, with a scar from ear to earAnyone hear back from the Skunk show or is that a hoax too?
SS, Due, you miss my point. It's not a list of names, posts, etc. It's some people most of the time, some people some of the time and some people practically not at all. I'm not commenting on all or even most posters here. Yes, with any creative endeavor, there is some indulgence. I'm talking about posters with hidden agendas that they probably aren't even conscious of, that they want to appear superior even to Steely Dan. If I name names, those who would be named would say, "Who? Me?" But others know who I mean. We've chatted about it.
Posting at its best is good food for thought and debate. Other times, it's a lame excuse for some to posture. I very much agree that chord changes, inflections etc have tremendous emotional impact. In fact, sometimes there's irony in the lack there of. That's what gets me about The Fez, a disco song with cliches and that one big stopping point. That's what gets me about Haitian. The whole thing bops along on this bright, smooth, toking reggae groove when the story is hilariously fucked up. Chord changes? Hey, it just bops right along as if nothing is wrong, as if there is anything wrong in life when you are a toking rastaman or drinking Zombies. And there is that muffled moaning counterpoint with the talk box. That is such a counterpoint. I disagree and request you write a better version of Haitian Divorce. Then obviously we will listen to it rather than Steely Dan's version. Until then....
Speaking of toking or drinking too much, those of you who fuck up boards with spam here's a message. GET HELP! GET TO A PSYCHIATRIST OR INTO BETTY FORD CLINIC!!!!
I'm outta here for a couple of weeks. See you in Cin-Cinn city, if not sooner. That means I won't respond to this debate until about June 15. Ciao and out.
Posted by: Still Sparkin', Junk BayPepe, I don't think it was me you were referring to about 'well written' posts not being well argued, but if so....
I'm not quite sure how to grade chords changes. That is, how to decide which progressions are 'better' than others. Gets a bit complicated if you start factoring in voicings, inversions, etc. Wouldn't you agree though that SD is the master of the sweet and unexpected chord change, the sublime structure, the immense payoff ??? It's a trademark.
If there is a way to objectively judge these things, that would make interesting reading/discussion.
For me there are a lot of SD songs tied for first place and I'd be really uncomfortable trying to sort them. HD is not there - for me -and I'm waiting to find out how to argue the emotional impact of chord changes.
And I've posted many times here freely admitting not only do I still not know all the words to every song, I also have a lot of them wrong, and don't use the lyrics to judge how much I like the song.
Should I be wearing a helmet in here ?
Posted by: Chrys, NW of the MonongahelaMan, did I hit several nerves with that sniper shot on Haitian Divorce!
Sparkin' expressed my thoughts exactly on HD; take note he said it's "not a failure as a song by any stretch." I LIKE HD--it's a fun, cinematic, goofy tune. And from here on I'm not gonna state about ANY SD tune that it's "well-written"-- they're ALL well-written, were talking D & W here. Only, as ss wrote, " . . .there is none I dislike, but when you stack 'em up to compare . . .," HD on a strictly musical level doesn't stack up IMHO IMHO IMHO with the GREAT Steely Dan songs. And for me, GREAT is PAR with Becker and Fagen. That's all I meant.
"Above all though SD has hit me much harder and more consistently than any other band on getting to my harmonic soft spot."
--Sparkin'
Right on the schnozzola! Me too, and except for the outro, HD's chord progressions just aren't all that striking. Ever notice the similarity of harmonic rhythm (rate of chord change) between Haitian Divorce and Babylon Sisters? Now try and tell me the chordal harmony in HD is anywhere NEAR as interesting as that in BS. Which is a big part of what separates, for me, a GOOD song from a GREAT one.
LOVE that outro, though . . .
Rajah: How do you know about the mighty Monongahela?
Posted by: Bob, Michael McDonald's "Motown II" is now out on SACD. That means the DVD-A will be out in a few more months.
Posted by: Daddy G., Dean & Deluca'sFor the full skinny on "Mrs. Fagenís Giant Braciole" and its source check out Nigey Lennon's original entry over at Mizar 5:
http://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5net/index.php?p=156
Posted by: hoops , The latest Dandom Digest has been sent, this time covering May 8-June 3, 2005.
If you are a subscriber, you should see it in your email box within the next 12 hours. If you don't receive it, please email me. Again, the main reason I am in the habit of announcing this here is because some people have been having problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.
The following are the subjects of this particular edition of the Dandom Digest:
ó North American DanFest 05' Initial Press Release
ó Becker writes for RLJ Box set
ó More Writing at df.com
ó News from Carlock, Krantz & That "Swinging Canary," Leonhart
ó Katy Lied - 30 years ago
ó Dean & Deluca Catalog Item "Not your usual take-out"
ó Did your Writing show up in the Dandom Digest?
If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter (definitely not to be confused with the glorious Official steelydan.com or Official donaldfagen.com newsletters/mail lists), please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest
jim
Posted by: DWB, ...Ringmaster Dan, thanks, just sent ya an email about it :-)
The next SD related interview we got lined up is with Warren Bernhardt. Steviedan is already working on some q's to ask, but we could always do with more, not necessarily Dan-related only... after all, mr Bernhardt is an outstanding musician in his own right and connected to key figures in the history of music and teaching...
So, if anyone has a question, do send them in :-)
Posted by: Ringmaster Dan, SD Web CircusMizar5 has this off-the-beaten-trail, tangentially-Dan quirky perspective to it that is very entertaining and insightful. I was working with its hostess, Gina, about three months ago to get it linked to the webring (and through that to sd.com) but never heard back from her after a certain point. Anyone know what happened to her? Last I heard from her was Feb 26--no response since.
Posted by: FACW, Mizar5 is a splendid audition filled with word, interviews and wonder to a Universe where art and writing are never zero sum gain. They blossom. hope you are able to merge with The Turbinator.
Posted by: Due with Buzz, Mizar5As a professional writer I fail to see why people who write well, in this or any other forum, do this "to impress themselves or others". What's this medium for then, to not use one's skill or craft? Also, I've never see anyone who writes well or good belittle any other contributor for having a lesser way with words. That's one of the nice things about this medium. There is room for everyone, kind of. These forums can offer an opportunity to people whereas realtime life makes it a struggle or a labyrinth.
The recipe is from a cookbook written by Mary Frampton, she was married to Peter Frampton at the time. The reason why it looks like spam, is because it was copied and pasted. Nigey Lennon wrote this in her With A Gun column, over at the Mizar5 website that has more Steely items, articles and peripheral trivia than we imagined we would find at the beginning in August 2004. It has no SD forum or message board, it only provides in general information about musicians, movies, art and whatever serendipity has to offer. Oh yes, almost forgot, we also did the Steve Lukather interview his Dutch (!) webmaster so graciously linked to on the Steve Lukather site. There even was more Steely Dan trivia and memories involved, if Steve hadn't decided to save some up for the book he's gonna write one day :-). Luckily we had sent the questions in a couple of emails, and Angel's questions got sent first. He answered those, and was halfway another list of q's and then decided it was way tooooo much :-) He apologized and hoped we wouldn't be mad about it.
And so Mizar5 unintentionally grew out into this sketchbook with a historical context and we like it. Especially since interesting people in the music business out there are willing to participate, one way or another. And we like to get all kinds of people involved, like in the interviews... Like Mike Dale from Australia, he dropped a few enthusiastic lines in the Google Steely Dan mailing list or group, about a band in Minneapolis. We decided to do an interview with this band, Terramara (mentioned it before here, lots of Steely Dan references) and Mike Dale is part of it, had a good list of questions.
We also asked Rajah to write one of his turban spinning monologues, like the one he did on the Steely Dan Show, remember that one? It portrays a scent of emotion involved, in a very lucid way. This thing's not often to be captured like a stilled picture.
Anyway... the more the merrier is the saying, right?
The more Steely Dan related websites (there's also a new Yahoo Steely Dan club), the more angles to be found. And it would be great if more people were active in all of this, any community or mailing list or newsletter etc etc.
Posted by: Rajah , Yeah, right on, what you said.
Posted by: Pepe, with a scar from ear to earRegarding the criticism of Haitian Divorce and the like, it seems some people are impressed with the excellent writing of themselves or others. They forget that a well-written post isn't necessarily accurate or well-argued. Happens way, way, way too much in these kind of forums.
I don't see Spam as an ingredient in Muldaur and Titus' recipe, SOH.
Posted by: Rajah, Now THAT'S a spicy recipe! Don't toy with me...
Paul and Dan need to bring it on. Do they have the stuff?
I'd be shocked and so pleased.
Posted by: mel z, MA
Dateline...
Lenox Mass: In this sleepy upscale tourist town in the picturesque Berkshire mountains, and on the week following a Wall Street Journal front-page feature on former Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's unlikely emergence as a top antiterrorist consultant to the U.S. Congress, rumors abound here that the recently- announced antimissile system for commercial jetliners, now said to be undergoing testing in the U.S. and abroad, was inspired by and is largely based upon a design developed by Skunk himself in his own secret backyard laboratory.
Details of the antimissile device currently being tested are of course classified, but there is some considerable information in the public domain about Baxter's original device, the Baxtron-7, which was originally conceived as a garage-door-opener scrambling device. Baxter developed the prototype in the '80's in order to thwart a group of troubled adolescent boys in his Mandeville Canyon neighborhood who were remotely causing Baxter's garage door to open and close at all hours of the day and night.
The futuristic design, consisting mainly of a clever adaptation of the Roland JC-120 guitar amplifier but utilizing as well elements of the Proctor-Silex CoffeeWrangler and the Arnoboss B-36 Bruiser All-Weather Chainsaw, is said to be protected by a 1992 patent filed in the Republic of Togo.
It is believed that the original prototype, which was and is the only Baxtron-7 completely handbuilt and tested by "Skunk" himself, has been permanently installed in the wetbar of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's private yacht, the "General Custer", where it has been adapted to use as an icecrusher.
Baxter, who is of average height and build and has an unpublished telephone number, could not be reached for comment.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo and cured!Cured!!
Posted by: ss, hk
Actually Dan B....the bridge to HD I like...and yes the transition to the solo, also. Best part of the song. I guess the qualifier to any of the tunes is...there is none I dislike, but when you stack 'em up to compare ????
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, In the kitchenBefore that spam (?) post gets removed, I want to tell you that that is one FINE recipe for Braciole! Wherever that mis en plas came from, it is spot on and I'm sure the Turbinator can recommend a Super Tuscan that would go well...
SOH
Posted by: Rose Darling, @ Green Flower Street
Well, after several choice pieces of advice from my loving family in this GB, I hope you are all happy to hear that I dusted off my Kamakiriad cd which has not been played in years and gave a partial listen today. Forgot how much I do like the funkiness of Trans-Island Skyway and Tomorrow's Girls. And the songs on that cd have such a crisp, crystalline sound...
countzirO:
Taoist thought: yeah, it hit home in a big way...
Geena:
incisive remark about flamethrowers...
Perhaps the best policy of all is to...ignore
Man, I'm glad you all are finding some late nineties artists to get into, but I haven't bought any new artist cd's in the last two years. I think modern pop is losing its appeal for me... and I am so sick and tired of the whiny, introspective, puky-folky crap like Jewel and Sarah MacLachlan etc. Where is the funky kick ass rock I used to know? I know you're gonna find this sick, coming from a modern humanist and feminist, but whatever happened to songs about girls, cars and fun?
davedownunder:
well said about the new cd everyone is waiting for...
fezo:
interesting evaluation...
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - and infectious!VIRUS WARNING!!
Sorry to post this here, but this is a warning to my buddies out in Dandom, as I can't email you a warning or get into the green room. Sometime in the last couple of days I got infected by a Trojan horse virus that managed to get through the "Brunet" firewall (don't really know what I'm talking about here, being technologically illiterate!! - but it sounds good!)
Anyway, if any of you out there have received an email from me in the last 2 days, please run a virus check. Or if any of you receive an email with the suffix ".bn", be warned!!
Normal service will resume as soon as I've fixed the bxxxxx!!
Ann
Posted by: Fanny Farmer, Betty Crockette Nebraska
Fortunately a few Yanks were also included, perhaps on the strong suggestion of a canny editor who recognized the limited market potential for a cookbook filled with semi-celeb versions of ’Äúbangers and mash’Ä? and/or indeterminate brown conglomerations of purported vegetal origin.
One of the credible cooks was singer Maria Muldaur, who contributed a couple of Italian-American recipes. In a note to the author introducing her recipe for ’ÄúThe Giant Braciole,’Ä? Muldaur wrote: ’ÄúHere is a great recipe for feeding a bunch of people. Actually, I got it from Libby Titus years ago when we both lived in Woodstock.’Ä? A Steely connection! For all we know, perhaps Libby and Donald still enjoy this rib-sticking, distinctly non-British delight on chilly winter nights.
The recipe itself is a variation on Italian-American braciole, a sort of stuffed pot roast. Regarding the cooking time, Muldaur wryly commented: ’ÄúLibby and I got carried away once and figured ’Äòif 1 1/2 hours is good, 3 hours will be better!’Äô but no! Flank steak, if really overcooked, does not get more and more tender as other cuts of meat might. It gets real stringy, so stringy that Libby said it looked more like a ’ÄòDental Floss Casserole,’Äô and though it still tasted great and the guests loved it anyway, it wasn’Äôt too elegant. So, no longer than 1 1/2 hours.’Ä?
Something to keep in mind should you be inspired to try it yourself.
Libby Titus’Äô Giant Braciole
(via Maria Muldaur)
1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 bunch parsley, chopped
1 bunch scallions, white part only, chopped
1 egg
4-5 cloves garlic, chopped
Chili powder to taste
Pepper to taste
Pignolia (pine) nuts (optional)
3 large flank steaks, pounded flat but not tenderized
3 stalks celery, washed, trimmed, and cut lengthwise in about 3 pieces
(optional)
Flour for dredging
Salt and pepper for seasoning
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes
1 cup red wine [a hearty gulping wine will suffice]
1 cup beef bouillon
Empty the sausage meat out of the casings into a large bowl. Add the cheese, parsley, scallions, egg, garlic, chili powder, pepper, and pine nuts. Mix this all together with your hands. [If you’Äôre squeamish, or just don’Äôt like to play with your food, a wooden spoon or a plastic spatula can also be used.]
Lay flank steaks out flat and spread sausage-cheese mixture evenly over them. Lay 3 slices of celery along each flank steak, lengthwise. Roll flank steaks around mixture and tie together with string or cooking twine. The steak rolls should look like large jelly rolls.
Roll braciole in flour, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Brown braciole on all sides. Add tomatoes, wine, and bouillon. Cover and simmer slowly for 1 1/2 hours, no longer than 2.
When meat is almost done, boil some water and cook 1 to 2 pounds shell macaroni or green noodles, depending on how many people. [Muldaur preferred shell macaroni over noodles. Note: One pound of shell macaroni serves about four; one pound of fettuccine or spaghetti goes a little farther.]
Remove Giant Braciole to platter and slice carefully with a sharp knife; remove string after slicing.
Muldaur: ’ÄúThe braciole will have leaked out enough goodies during cooking to create a really nice, rich sauce without your having to do anything but stir it once in awhile to keep stuff from sticking.’Ä? Drain shells and mix with sauce. Serve 1 or 2 slices of braciole to each person, with shells and sauce on the side.
Yield [my estimate]: About six large servings. Eppis essen!
Posted by: hoops, Some of the criticism of "Haitian Divorice" is BS as much as some people's criticism of "The Fez" for being a disco song. Granted, reggae isn't exactly mainstream today but it was even less so back almost 30 years ago when HD was written. What's more it's a hysterical send up of all those reggae song stereotypes. HD is a hysterical and amazingly witty masterpiece. Some of you need a proverbial smack upside the head and I almost cried with joy when I first heard it in 2003, especially as done by Walter.
Posted by: pH, aka Paul, who keeps forgetting that he changed his handleSheltered? Absolutely.
It looks like it came out wrong, but I wasn't disagreeing with the idea of the song being compared to porn. I would probably agree if I, well, saw any... er.....
Though the theme of the song is very "adult", the lyrics are rather fun to listen to, like "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" or "Rose Darling". Lots of fun.
Fagen and Becker are lascivious bastards, but I love 'em.
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KYIndeed I do Rajah. After taking a two hour nap the other afternoon, my sleep schedule has been disrupted and I have found nothing better to do at 2am than channel surf. (Though that did give me a chance to watch the epic Charles Bronson classics "Death Wish" and "Death Wish 3" back-to-back last night, surprisingly enough on one of the Cinemax channels) As an obvious fan of anything campy and intentionally/unintentionally funny, I couldn't help but watch a few minutes of those. I feel that I now -do- know too much for my own good. *shudder*
Sparkin,
I love the chord changes in Haitian Divorce and the way they work with the melody. The sound in the "got to make a get-away" line (and the equivalent line in the other stanzas) is a great one and I LOVE that transition from the bridge to the guitar solo.
Posted by: Sparkin, hkChrysler, agree Haitian Divorce doesn't stack up on the music side. For me, it's the chord changes. Not a failure as a song by any stretch - they probably got what they wanted, it's realized and complete as a song - but the changes and however they lined them up and executed don't take me anywhere.
I think it's really personal....my own sense of satisfying melody and harmony. And when I'm not uplifted/moved/roused...whatever, I to turn to the other parts of the songs. Maybe words, solos, feel, production, weirdness. Royal Scam is similar for me. Above all though SD has hit me much harder and more consistenly than any other band on getting to my harmonic soft spot.
Posted by: Rajah, All right, young gentlemen of the blue, our Paul doesn't equate the wow-wow or talk-box effects in Haitian Divorce with tasteless soft-core porn, God love him, maybe he's sheltered but you, Dan, you might know more than is good for you.
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KYCalling that stuff on Skinemax "porn" is rather generous, Paul. I view as a satire of porn. At least then it isn't just downright stupid--it's just funny.
Wait a second.
Why the hell are we actually discussing this? I'm only 21 and I feel like the "dirty old man" Donald Fagen has always aspired to be (according to interviews at least)...
Posted by: Paul, "Haitian Divorce" is my favorite on The Royal Scam. No, "Sign in Stranger" is, then "Haitian". I've never heard it compared to porn, though...
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KYRajah, there's a problem with your analogy. Unlike the Cinemax/Skinemax so-called "porno" crap they show at 2am, Haitian Divorce is actually *well-written* as well as being funny. WWE (or whatever it's called now) wrestling is more believable than the Skinemax stuff. And it also has better writing. Still hilarious stuff though.
Posted by: Nashville Dan, Nashville TNTomorrow-----Saturday:
Royal Scam Steely Dan tribute, 10 p.m., 3rd and Lindsley, 818 Third Ave. S. 259-9891. Pat Buchanan opens, 7:30 p.m.
Posted by: Rajah, That does sound like me. But no, the acting I was good at was in tights and a codpiece with funny lingo on the stage back east of the Monongahela. Camera acting takes super-subtlty and a nice face, neither of which is in overabundance here. But it was fun. Except for auditioning with monkees, that was tough cause they were subtle. Long time ago before I became a part of the military industrial complex. I had Mondays off.
But the writing silly stuff began here on Blue.
Pontifiacting just doesn't plan itself, ya know.
Chrysler - get a hold of yourself, man, Haitian Divorce is a reggae knock-off masterpiece, the one song my Cousin Fabrizio requested to hear at my 50-thousandth birthday party recently. The Talk Box. What is it that's blocking you here, brah? It's like a freaky and maybe unintentionally funny soft-core porno movie, like on that SkinoCinemax Channel I'm told, Tuesdays and Sundays, 9:00 Eastern, 6:30 Pacific, check local listings dude and get widit.
Posted by: FACW, Raj: Forget acting (maybe you have) - you should write...besides here I mean...prose, poetry, jingles, catch phrases. I can smell it from left of the Rio Grande
Posted by: Girlfriend, not@RoselandKUMBA YAH
Posted by: Rajah, BYA
Posted by: ED Beatty, @SOMEWHEREHFS
Posted by: Rajah, When I tool in and snarf down a Double Hubba Burger with the works, fries with a Diet Coke, I've been fed, I feel good. When Mama made Gniocchi with Bolognese sauce, little garlic Crustini on the side and a nice glass of Montepulciano, I felt infinite joy, a warm glow at the core of being, oneness, wholeness, a place where this crazy world made sense and where mere satisfaction was never confused with true sustenance.
Let's review:
The Eagles = Double Hubba Burgers
Steely Dan = My Mama's Gniocchi
Baba All Verklempt Now and Terribly Missing His Mama Rajah
Posted by: Wu Drummer here..., Venice Beach, Ca.Rajah,
Thanks for the nice words, and you are very welcome for last night. It was a pleasure hangin' out with you, Tony, Warren, and the ladies.
Stevee D, and Pretzel Logic... thanks for the love folks. You all kicked some serious tushy last night. GREAT show.
Pablo
Posted by: Kid Clean, @ work>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Date: Thurs, June 02, 2005, 12:27:44 ET
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - dodging the head-hunters!
"For someone like me, with no musical talents at all, I appreciate the pub guitarist who's trying his/her best to entertain me!!"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well put Ann.
The Eagles - I only saw a little of the show, my damn vcr only recorded the first half hour, but it looked and sounded pretty good. I'll admit openly that I am a fan, I saw them twice back in 94/95 and again in 2002 (at SummerFest for only $30.00!!!!!), I think. Not much recollection of the early shows, ahem, but I know the '02 show was really poorly mixed, waaaaaaay too much bass, it was difficult to hear Joe's geetar most of the time. In '94 it was like "Holy Sh*t! Hell really did freeze over" and I was just glad that I was able to get to see them (ala '93, Holy Sh*T!!! Steely Dan is touring!??!!)
The appeal for me, is the catchy, easy to sing along to, albeit not very 'deep', lyrics. I guess the same can be said for the music, not very deep but very catchy. And, of course, Mr. Walsh, who I've seen solo several times also. As someone else stated, "Joe's the best thing that ever happend to the Eagles." I believe that had it not been for him joining the band they would not have the enduring popularity that they are now cashing in on, or have been since '77.
Did anyone catch Jimmy Page whippin' out a minute or so of "Whole Lotta Love" on the NYSE before opening bell the other day? What a trip. Nothing against any corporate business types here, but there was one guy in suit & tie they showed who appeared to be rocking side to side to the music but must have been humming "I Think I Love You" to himself. Very humorous.
KC
Posted by: FACW, PQ: I hear some 'Trane in the Intro to EMG title track - but the melody line is a prelude to the brdige later on. Another example of really clever songwriting structure that permeates 2/3 of the songs on EMG
TvN in the production/insturmentation album; EMG is more of a vocals/songwriting album...
fezo: I heard about the bowling for fans. Joe Walsh's Life in the Fast Lane and In the City are probably the best parts of Hotel and Long Run
Posted by: PQ, NYCSeeing Weiskopf last night - what a difference in a jazz club than a big hall. Wondering to what degree B&F built the Coltrane intro to EMG around/for him. He's a Coltrane scholar.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo and loving it!!Corpsy - tell your folks to get back here - no SD, but lots of sun and nice people!!!!!!!!!!! feel at home-lah!!
Posted by: Chrysler, since you mention itThe outro to Haitian Divorce is BY FAR the best thing about that otherwise subpar (for D & W) tune. Speaking of the music, now, as I always do when judging songs, cause I'm a Mr. Musichead. Lyricheads might have a different opinion of HD . . .
Posted by: fezo, Monticello viewOdd Eagles memory: at their first reunion tour (when $75 seemed like a lot to pay for a ticket) in RFK, Joe Walsh bowling on stage during "Life's Been Good" and shortly thereafter Wolfman Jack wanders out and waves to the crowd.
favorite Walsh disc: the one with "Love Letters", "Here We Are Now", and "ILBT". Nice Henley background vocals on the second one.
Posted by: Corpsy V, Sun MountainRajah, i was just about to email ya again, but i see you're already letting your turban spin in favor of Carolyn... Who knows the West Coast crowd can hear a special version of Pixelene some day, right? Would be Pretzel's logic if a thing like this can be pulled off... Yes, get your hats and hooters together for a West Coast L.A. Danfest featuring miss Carolyn Leonhart...?!
Ann, I just visited with my folks and had Gado Gado for lunch...the older they get, the more they wish they were back 'home' again or never had to leave in the first place... the western world can seem very cold at a certain age i guess...
Sudah makan, sudah pulang :-)
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - DAN PANAS!!!Rajah Baby!! I think we're beginning to agree on some things!!
Great news about the Skunk!
Thanks Hoops for confirming I wasn't seeing things on the Drew Carey show - interesting they chose to play an SD song!
Corpsy V: Salamat Datang!! Kabar Baik, Terima Kasih!! Nice to see I'm not alone!!
Posted by: Rajah, All over the Skunk Show...oh yeah.
All together again at La Ve Lee tonight for Pretzel Logic Band, Tony soloing on PL, all us oldtimers at the table once again, nice. Thank you Pablo.
Drums and bass were loud out front at outset, Steve, we'll talk. Never had this problem before since I sit behind things usually, the groove was off early on. Your Guest, Tony, rendered a great Pretzel Logic and blended so well with Evan and Felice; maybe, just maybe, he's leanring to share... So great to be with all my old friends...really, jeez how often does it happen when somebody's little girl shows up 22 and radiant, her equally nubile pal in tow, both en route to New Zealand? Papa Tony knows.
And thanks for picking up the check Pablito, that was not necessary.
We need to get the Wu and the Prrzll Logiktz together. Perhaps backing Carolyn who I think should start gigging out here. It's scary, yeah, but, necessary.
Steve and Paul, whom do we know in a venue good enough for Carolyn? Jazz Bakery, Potato, Canyon Club (W1P, are you over your hissy-fit yet?) what think you?
Posted by: JeffBaxterShow, Los Angeles
This is the real deal:
Jeff ìSkunkî Baxter wants to meet you! Jeff ìSkunkî Baxter, original member of Steely Dan, former member of The Doobie Brothers, guitarist extraordinaire on hundreds of albums, jingles, and movie and TV soundtracks, is hosting a new show! He needs you to be a part of it! For more info about the show, just email your name and phone number to JEFFBAXTERSHOW@GMAIL.COM
Thank you!
Posted by: DWB, ...http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/schedule.asp
Rickie Lee Jones performing in Brooklyn, New York, FOR FREE on June 15th. Although they suggest a donation of $3...
Posted by: hoops, The Eagles are superb entertainers and performers; my problem is that primarily Don Henley takes himself way too seriously--or at least seems to as I don't know him personally. :-) Don't get me wrong, great stuff from Henley solo as well, but I don't think it's as good as Henley thinks it is :-)
As for Joe Walsh, he comes off as the complete opposite, the guy who at first seems like he's missing some smarts but he's actually very intelligent. My favorite Joe Walsh albums are "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get," "So What," and "...But Seriously Folks..." is essential listening for any fan of "Hotel California" and "The Long Run."
joewalsh.com confirms JW has guested on Drew Carey.
jim
Posted by: Corpsy V, Di sini, gunung matahariAnn, selamat malam, apa kabar?
Posted by: Rajah, Ann - there is a school of thought and it certainly can't be attacked from a marketing point of view that whatever the record-buying or movie-going or theatre-going or gallery-going public likes and spends their sawbucks on is, by a definition and unargueably, popular and successful. When I was an actor, we rehearsed some productions where we all thought it was gonna be the biggest stinker known to man and lo and behold, it was a hit on opening night, good reviews, packed houses. Then there's something you do that you really love and put your whole heart into that justs falls flat and bombs.
The people, the buying patrons, are never wrong but I know for myself that when Brown Sugar or The Long Run come on the dial, the heave-ho comes within nanoseconds.
Dido is a marvelous musician. Love her voice. Wouldn't buy a record of hers on a bet.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo - dodging the head-hunters!Key to mass success?:
Can you sing along to it? - and/or - Can you dance to it?
Enjoying the luxury of a week's holiday, as I sat on the verandah of my local yacht club this afternoon, over-looking the South China Sea, sipping on a diet coke (this country being "dry"), and generally reflecting on life, the bar staff put the Stones Greatest Hits on the PA system. It was then that it really hit me. The Stones have been doing the same basic stuff for over 40 years and are still selling records. And as "Brown Sugar" came on, I was transported back to my student days, where we would all dance AND sing along to said ditty. No complexities there of lyrics, engineering or musical ability, but sold millions.
And that's the appeal of the likes of the Eagles (who hasn't sung along to "New kid in town" or "Lying Eyes"??) and the modern day equivalent Dido. We might think them too simplistic, both lyrically and musically, but the masses like them and if their music makes us happy and lifts our spirits - that's all that matters! If it feels good, do it! We don't have to pick holes in everything and knock people all the time. For someone like me, with no musical talents at all, I appreciate the pub guitarist who's trying his/her best to entertain me!!
If we knock every semi-talented musician around, we will kill motivation to improve!
Re: the Drew Carey show, I'm pretty certain it was "Dirty Work" he was playing.
Off to hunt heads now,
Ann
Posted by: Rajah, ph - I wasn't expecting to be enlightened or riveted by them, in fact, they weren't totally embarassing, it's music the masses can understand, it has its mass appeal. That's all that can be said.
Posted by: pH, Weeeeelllll, sorry to disappoint you Raj, I guess I'm not the best performance critic. Probably because I can count the number of concerts I've been to in my entire life on one hand.
Posted by: john, michigan
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandI always loved "Sunset Grille". Thought the drum loop at the beginning was very cool. And never knew that was a guitar soloing at the end until I saw Henley in Atlanta years ago on The End Of The Innocence tour. I thought it was a great show. The only Eagles tunes he did were Hotel California, Fast Lane, and Desperado.
Posted by: ygk, -Raj: That was W. Mark Felt, aka the "Lost Eagle"
;-)
Posted by: Rajah, After watching the Eagles, in the words of Yosemite Sam, "Ahhh, ooooo....I hates them..."
Terrible, boring, moribund. Let's all sit in a row accross the stage on stools and croon these golden oldies which to me sound more and more like country music, well, country music before it became what used to be known as "southern rock." As for Don Henley playing drums, ah, ouch, I truly believe my neighbor kid across the street kid plays better than that, I mean, he can do "Smoke on the Water," at least. Plus the age-old rock n roll truism: you really can't play drums, even that rudimentary drivel provided by Henley's mediocre-at-best chops --and expect to sing as well.
Some good singing is the best thing I can say, that's when I wasn't leaving the room to do something important and exciting like sweeping the front porch.
That wasn't Don Felder up there was it, who was the guitarist on stage left?
Posted by: fezo, in the cityThere must have been a different Eagles concert on my t.v. last night. The mix sucked, Henley was even more pompous than usual (and I like the guy), and the performance bore no indicia of all the rehearsal that supposedly went into it.
It was so bad that even the one song of theirs which stands the test of time--New Kid In Town--sounded like crap.
Agree that Joe Walsh is the best thing that ever happenned to the band
Posted by: FACW, More of a Joe Walsh fan than Eagles as well, though Desperado's a pretty good song. Although I don't like Kortchmar's porduction Henley wrote some decent songs for Building the Perfect Beast and the inconsistent follow-up.
Missed most of the Spurs-Suns clincher game, but the semi-final series have displayed some great basketball - best since the 80s (post Hoops McCann era). Stoudemare's a monster. East could go either way.
Posted by: YGK, -Turn up the Eagles the neighbors are listening...........
Posted by: pH, Carrack, any other day or time I'ld agree with you on the whole "Eagles Suck" idea, but the first hour of the concert was pretty spectacular, they played all their rock-out tunes instead of the sappy country stuff. I had the mute on for most of the time after "Heartache Tonight", while I waited for "Hotel", and then I turned it off because they were playing all the sappy country stuff that makes me typically say "Eagles? Blech!"
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Flashing BackAnn...
Can't confirm the Drew Carey SHOW reference, but you stirred the memory banks for me...I saw a Joe Walsh concert maybe 8 years back in Cleveland (Carey's home town, I believe) where he actually sat in on the drums for a song or two...
SOH
Posted by: Corpsy V, ...Me is with Josey on this. Steveedan... what are the unusual questions you ask when you stalk up to a celebrity, give us an example :-)
Please?
Posted by: ss, hk
This is from Cameron Crowe Online:
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
Frey: The first working title, the name we gave it, was Mexican Reggae... We thought 'Let's really take some chances. Let's try to write in a way that we've never written before'. Steely Dan inspired us because of their lyrical bravery and willingness to go 'out there'. So, for us, Hotel California was thinking and writing outside the box....
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandStevee - share with us one or two of your more memorable encounters with the celebrity type - if you don't mind.
Posted by: Ann, Borneo..........and while you guys were watching the Eagles, I turned on the box here in head-hunter land and caught a re-run of the Drew Carey Show, where he's in a band (and has yellow hair!!)... and was that Joe Walsh with him?? Will someone out there confirm....and I caught the end of a Steely Dan song that Drew's band was playing, but can't for the life of me remember which one it was!! Unfaithful fan?? No, just degenerative memory cells brought on by old age!!!!
Rock-on Drew!
Posted by: Paul Carrack, asdfI am being completely honest when I say that I had no idea about the Eagles concert on network TV tonight. Sports fans in the audience here will understand that I was somewhere else tonight and away from the tube. I saw the KISS argument over on the Yellow and just decided to drop a random "Eagles suck" post, which really isn't that hard for me.
Went to their homepage tonight and started to watch an ancient video of them doing "In the City," which was off of "The Long Run," if I remember correctly. What horrible, horrible tripe.
Don Henley's on the same level as Pol Pot for me.
Re-read Cameron Crowe's 1977 piece on The Two late last night, it's amazing the sense of perspective that guy had back then, and at that age.
Posted by: Due with Buzz, Toronto Mountainhttp://www.writingaffairs.com/mizar5net/index.php
Wow. Eagles in Yellow and Blue, typical (head)case of synchronicity. But those phenomenas aren't off base in the universe of Steely Dan and its vibes. On a Steely note, Rosanne Agasee's debut album HOME AT LAST arrived this morning. First impression? The CD starts with the DF and WB song and really really really sounds way cool!
Canadian producer/musician Doug Riley did a superb job in arranging and producing this album, Rosanne Agasee has a warm voice and I suspect one has to hear her sing LIVE to get the full picture :-)
Not every track appeals in the same manner, and some renditions can't surpass the ones from Jazz Royalty like Ella, Sarah Vaugh or Billy Holiday ... still, this Canadian lady may take pride in this debut album...
Anyway, she can be contacted at rosanneagasee(at)rogers(dot)com should anyone want to order this CD.
Posted by: SteveeDan, Not sleeping, but shoud beI am much more of a Joe Walsh fan than The Eagles, but, as a songwriter (or should I say, when I had designs of being a songwriter), I would hold up many Eagles tunes as some of the great pop ballads and pop rock songs of their time. Even the sappy ones were good ... from a ballad writing standpoint. I would tire of them quickly though. It is a far transition though from, say, the ballad "Any World That I'm Welcome To (Katy Lied)" to "Best Of My Love". The latter way outsold the former, but doesn't hold a candle to the former in my book.
Joe Walsh's "So What" is one of my favorite albums. It's produced like a quiet storm. It has its calm points, and then it snarls up like a flash flood upon you. If you aren't familiar with this record, look up songs such as "Welcome To The Club" and "Turn To Stone". There is a classical piece with tons of close-up miked and loudly mixed swelling cello and a "Switched-On Bach" type synthesizer. I was taken by surprise when I first heard this tune because, hey, it's a Joe Walsh album.
I'm loving the personal account stories from the Lone Star days. It puts a deeper face of humanity on what most of us here now regard as legendary days. Those were lean times for die-hard Steely Dan fans, so, I want you to know that I'm really enjoying reading about that stuff.
Please don't shy away from the possibility of back-lashes from people who might accuse you of name-dropping to impress us. Out here in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Los Angeles in general, these sightings are commonplace. I never ask for autographs. Instead, I will go up to a celebrity that I might recognize and ask him/her a question that they might find unusual. I occasionally get a hilarious response, and it even entertains the celebrity. This is one of my quirks, I admit, but, it's fun when it happens.
So keep up the good work guys. Hoops' site lives on IN STYLE !
... Now how does the Outro section for Haitian Divorce go ?
(Just kidding boys ...)
Stevee(putting on gig face and matching shades)Dan
Posted by: Paul Carrack, asdfWhoa, just saw the Eagles-lovefest here after posting a slam on them on the Yellow.
I stand by my anti-Eagles comments, but please understand that it was not a reaction (however ironic) to the things posted here.
Posted by: Rajah, If I watch this, fair warning, I'm torturing you tomorrow over it.
Posted by: FACW, Walsh may have only 3 neurons left, but damn Rocky Mountain Way was snarly good. What a slide guitar performance - I noticed the "ghost drummer" behind Henley helps. Hard to pull off since Henley fired Felder, but then that meas MORE JOE.
Chrysler - You're way too kind. just trying to work out these lead fingers. Relearning some keyboard, but it's not like riding a bicycle...my kids are lapping me with ease.
Wynton wouldn't be caught dead playing anything like fusion. I could see Branford. Kirkland would have been around NYC too. Shaeffer and Fagen go way back.
As I remember, Letterman made a lame joke abou "SD" on the stands being for Sam Donaldson.
After Josie, Dave said "Hey those guys are pretty good!"
Paul: "the best"
Posted by: Paul, That guy is fantastic. There are few names I can think of that can play a well as he... Walter of course, Eric Clapton, Roger Taylor, David Gilmour, at least that's who comes to mind with 10 seconds of thinking about it (there are more of course, but that's who I think of immediately).
1:25 into the program and they play finally "Hotel". Hmm... what's left... I still want to hear "Fast Lane" and then I'm good.
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Oceanside-ishDearest Hoops:
Well said...
SOH
Posted by: Mr. Lapage, I'm watching for one reason only - Joe Walsh.
Posted by: pH, Supposedly the concert is live, but they keep showing clips of future songs...
Until about 45 minutes into the program, when they get to "Heartache Tonight", it's a smegging awesome concert; they're all rocking out, and Walsh is especially amazing to watch and listen to. "Life's Been Good" is pretty hilarious. Then the songs get a little slower... it's not so bad, but they still haven't played "Hotel California"!! Maybe that'll be last. TiVo it and skip the songs you don't like. I'll post some more comments when its all done.
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.Litmus Man - I'm a few hours behind you, Pacific Coast ya see. Am I gonna watch this? Don't F with my precious time, Laddie, I'm trusting your judgment, I don't have nearly as much time left as you, every channel chioce counts, do you think the Rajah will be suitably entertained?
Baba,
Does It Feel Real?
And If So I'd Like To Know.
Rajah
Posted by: pH, everybody say "I'm cool"CHANGE THE STATION RIGHT NOW
Seriously. This is the most freaking awesome televised concert I've ever seen. Of course, I've only seen one or two televised concerts, but this is AMAZING.
Posted by: Rajah, I'm watching the Indians pound the Twins. Baseball, ph. So OK I'll bite, how are they?
RajahCab Confessions:
I do like the guitarguement exiting Hotel California in some way, I do (tring to convince whom?), it's a jazzy, bluesly, Allman Brothery, little run and nicely recorded. [Hating myself in the morning.] CSN did that kinda whole thing better and right somehow in my recollection; what with Stills and Young, that was an awesome pairing of Rock styles, so the Eagles will always remain a derivative, yeah I have to say. A damn good derivative but they were neither innovators nor did they take it to another level, but, OK, provoking artists, good for the car ride to DC on the way back from Rehoboth Beach circa late 78. Tequila Sunrise reminds me too much of, well, tequila sunrises...so that, like Hey 19, are definitely outs-ville. No, it's, "I Can't Tell You Why," that's the Eagles' song I love and isn't that Tim B? Again, Frank would have made a 4 course dinner outta that song, put your hands on the Victrola, can you hear it?
Posted by: pH, the neighbors are listnen'Anybody catchin' the Eagles Farewell concert on NBC right now? I don't normally listen to the Eagles (sometimes it gets a little too country or too sappy for me), but this is pretty awesome.
Posted by: Henri Marmont, You're thinking Rounds, that form was huge in the 14th Century. Ah yes, I remember it well.
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandRaj - the songo rhythm is a lot of fun to play and sounds really cool - especially when you can start mixing it up around the kit. The 2VN beat is basically a samba. Also a lot of fun. For that matter, most all of the latin stuff is a blast to learn. It's a coordination nightmare when first getting into it. I'm by no means fluent in latin drumming - I know enough to fake it fairly well though.
Posted by: Girlfriend, googling Rock N SoulWhere is Daddy G when you need him?
And I thought the round robin started with the traveling minstrels....
Posted by: Rajah, Heck that round-robin format goes back to the package tours of the big band era. And no, I'm not old enough to remember them but I have all the Sinatra cassettes.
Would have loved to have seen Warren Haynes, one of my favorite guitar players, do something with Donald. What was he like back then, did he have that same grit or did that come with the succeeding years?
Pam, I don't think Letterman interviewed the boys really, just the usual nice intro and handshakes all round at the end. Letterman was obviously a big fan. I think I'm recalling this correctly.
Yes, it takes a heckova lot more than just a straight ahead 4/4 rock drummer to do much of this Steely Dan stuff justice. Especially anything after Countdown. Take Haitian Divorce or Sign in Stranger. You can ruin those numbers without some stylistic range be it jazz, reggae or Latin. Who here is familiar with the "Songo" rhythm? It's this top heavy thing that Stevee's drummer tried to showed me, I still can't do it and I'm not irretrievably White. But now, 2vN, that I can do, sort of anyway, ask the Cobber.
No, the man I'd like to see next in that chair would be Antonio Sanchez, he of the most recent Metheny incarnation. Oh lordy, what a polyrhythmic quiet storm. A drummer's left hand tells you a lot about what you can expect...unless like Matt Abst, he's truly ambidextrous.
Posted by: hoops, Humility isn't about playing small in some way when you are truly bigger or hiding what you know; but it is about acting in accordance with your proper place or at least being open to a greater possibility.
At the same time, wouldn't one feel stupid if they were *over*-arguing with someone who was actually involved with the New York Rock and Soul Revue and was posting as an anon?
Jim
Posted by: PQ, NYCWinton (sic) Marsalis played w. Doanld Fagen?????
Posted by: Her Brother, Last PostSteevie- The difference between my great stories and Peter Q's great stories is that I was at all those pre Steely Dan shows from 1989-1992. I was at Hades bull shitting with Noel Redding and Paul Schaffer after they got off the stage with Fagen after playing some Hendrix tunes. I was at Catch A Rising Star when Dr. John and Warren Haynes were jamming with Fagen and Phoebe Snow. I was at the China Club when Donald played Green Earings for the first time with Hiram Bullock on guitar and Winton Marsalis on horns. Peter Q wasn't.
PQ- Pat Methaney had nothing to do with getting Caro that gig. Jimmy Vivino (who's band "The Little Big Band") backed Fagen for these shows had to go to Los Angles to work on the movie sound track for "Sister Act". Joe Caro and the rest of that band was brought in by Libby Titus for that one gig only. When Vivino came back Caro and company were gone.
Are you trying to say that Fagen stole the idea for The New York Rock and Soul Revue from Hall And Oates? That's ridiculous. The "round robin" format of the rock and soul revue was around a long time before Hall and Oates were. Just because Hall & Oates had a record called "Rock and Soul" doesn't mean anything.
Posted by: Pam, on the boatPeter Erskine's site lists an interview "Steely Dan David Letterman Show 1995". Did anybody catch that?
Posted by: Chrysler, Steely Dan NationSteveeDan: Gee, thanks, man, for the cool words about my post. We're all, as someone on another board has stated, pretty hard-core SD freaks here on the Blue, ain't we? Solid, Jackson!
FACW: Extremely well thought-out essay in response to my post, dude. Without a doubt, you are the most exacting, close listener to music, of anyone I have encountered, and I don't mean just on these SD boards. With an ear like that, you should be playing/writing music. Hey, I'm 50, and I still pursue musical ambitions. Seriously, I think you have a gift there, bro.
Posted by: PQ, NYCStevee, I wasn't getting incendiary with Bro. I'm amazed that he remembers the band. That was when Joe Caro was playing alot with Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb, both ex of Pat Metheny. Actually, Metheny might have actually suggested him to Fagen. Who knows?
Posted by: SteveeDan, With Olive Branch in hand ...Hi Her Brother and PQ --
Come on guys. It 's obvious to us all that you both have some great stories to tell us. Don't go incendiary on each other. It's been said before that PQ is often perceived (literarily received ?) as arrogant, but, in truth, he's not a bad guy. Don't let his writing style be off-putting.
I would love to hear some of the "getting the old Steely Dan machine back into action" stories from the early 1990's. There's so much optimism associated with all of that.
PRETZEL LOGIC HAS A GIG TOMORROW NIGHT IN STUDIO CITY AT LA VE LEE AT 8 PM. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SONG DEBUT (for our band anyway) AND SOME OTHER SURPRISES.
A GOOD TIME IS GUARANTEED FOR ALL.
Stay happy everyone.
SteveeDan
Posted by: PQ, NYCYou think you're talking to chopped liver Bro? I could tell you things about those NY Rock N Soul days that would make your eyelashes flutter. Start with this: the concept Rock N Soul comes from Hall and Oates.
Posted by: Her Brother, GFSPeter q - Steve Ferrone did play one show with Fagen at the Lonestar. Joe Caro was on guitar, Will Lee on Bass, Leon Pendarvis on keys and Lenny Pickett on Sax. You're right, Ferrone was killer with "the Donald". If I remember, Steve was in the middle of an Eric Clapton tour at the time (1992?)
Posted by: PQ, NYCCertainly going by available recordings Erskine and Gadd are the most proficient in swing music of the drummers who have worked with the group?
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons islandAgain, my comments were not made to minimize the level of talent required to handle the drum chair for the Dan. Let's try it this way: any given drummer who has demonstrated an expertise in jazz and latin rhythms - rhythms which are significantly more difficult rhythms to play - can damn sure handle rock-n-roll! Now, perhaps Erskine's feel, for whatever reason, didn't suit Donald and Walters discerning ears. Who knows? I'd love to know what the real story is behind it all. I personally know a lot of predominantly jazz drummers who can play the shit out of rock-n-roll. And I know a lot of rock drummers - who are great at playing rock - who can't handle the intricacies of jazz or latin to save themselves. It's the difference between learning how to crawl and learning how to sprint. Especially the latin side of drumming!
SD's music, while predominantly rock, does offer some of the previously mentioned styles - YGTII and Two Against Nature immediately come to mind. I just have a hard time believing that the Dan chair was challenging to Erskine from the perspective of playing those beats. I could be wrong. One thing we would all agree on is: anyone who gets that chair can play their ass off!
Posted by: PQ, NYCAlso I said skeptical, not suspicious.
And one drummer I hope gets a gig w. Steely Dan sometime is Steve Ferrone.
Posted by: PQ, NYCBro, read the post. I said a little birdie told me D&W are not too thrilled with boots being listed on websites. You seem to think I said little birdies were whispering about...whatever you thought it was that you thought.
Posted by: Her Brother, really burning with ragePQ- Be suspicious if you may, but I have no reason to make up this story. This came right from the horses mouth(Zing). I'm not saying that's why Erskine wasn't invited back to tour, but who knows for sure?
Also Peter, you're not the only one that has "little birdies" whispering in your ear. I've been living in Manhattan for close to 30 years and was at every Hades, China Club, and Lonestar show when Fagen was making his comeback. Were you at these shows Peter? I was also a charter member of Metal Leg and got tons of inside info from Pete Fogel and Bill Pascador at the time when everything was starting to come together for the "re-emergence" of Steely Dan. I have talked to a lot of people/musicians that were close to Fagen at that time. This is way,way before Ted Baker, Jon Herington and Carolyn Leonhart came along. Shit, Keith Carlock was 8 years old when I was first chatting with Libby Titus and Jimmy Vivino at these gigs. It wasn't that hard to do because in the beginning maybe a few hundred people were at these shows. It was very easy to go up to the players in a small bar and get great information. As a matter of fact, I know the reason why Geoge Wadenious never played with Steely Dan again. But I know if I said the reason you would think I was making it up.
I also disagree with the comments that Steely Dan would be "an easy gig" for PE to play on. After all, even with all of the different musical styles incorporated into Steely Dan's music they're basically a rock and roll band. Peter Erskine is a jazz drummer.
Posted by: My Squeeze, Greenflower St.I've also heard that story about Erskine. Of course, he was asked back for Roseland Weekend '95 but nada since.
Posted by: SteveeDan, Trying to find the right wordsChrysler - something you said in your last post really hit a chord with me ... " ... but mirabile dictu why do I continue to listen to them and not skip over them? Well, for the reasons you stated-- the arranging details, the song craftsmanship, the KICK-ASS playing on all of them. ... I've stated before in more than a few posts that I LIKE Everything Must Go-- the whole thing, a whole lot, despite the nitpicking "problems" I have with it."
You've touched on something that lies at the source of why we all come around to try to pick out a deeper understanding of this music, and occasionally fall prey to heated discussions with differing opinions.
The spirit of why we all pursue Steely Dan is in your quote. You've managed to put into words that enthralling interest that I couldn't put a verbal finger on.
SteveeDan
Posted by: PQ, NYCJ - www.mizar5.net Scroll down the right to M5 Interviews
Posted by: Josey, St. Simons IslandNow my curiosity's running about Erskine. If he had nerves about that gig, it would've had to have come from venue size. There's not anything about that gig that would challenge his abilities. I don't say that to minimize the music by any means! But anyone who's versed in Erskine's abilities would know that SD's music would be a cake-walk for him - at least compared to what I've heard him play. Who knows?
PQ - where would one find the Gina interview with Wadenius?
Posted by: FACW, Chrysler: I'd have to agree that EMG and TvN are MUCH different sounding albums. Analog, live tracking, frankly less production certainly is a hallmark of EMG. But there's more. TvN on the surface sound like Steely Dan I, but with the exception of Jack of Speed - it isn't. There's a lot of Miles Davis Kind of Blue cool jazz (Walter's favorite album by Steely Dan) over a funk/Stax rhythm section. Besides for the highly polished, gleaming production - there's the full used of "multiple voices," interactive melody lines or leads on different instruments that work together. Steely Dan I is largely melody lines with accompaniment - the lead changes from vocals to guitar to piano. the instrumental breaks to My Rival are one of the few examples of multiple voices in SD I. Outtro toGaslighting Abbie, WASAM, title track!, Almost Gothic, Negative Girl, West of Hollywood are chock full of cool jazz multiple voices. Another thing that distinguishes TvN are the melodies. Ditties out of 50s TV ads or background music - as jazz faded from national singles sales, artists moved into TV, movies for that fake jazz and fake fake jazz Donald adores.
In my mind, EMG represents a return of sorts - maybeindeed a starting over. Everything Must Go. The album really makes sense if you play Piano Jazz then EMG. EMG is a parallel universe birth of rock and roll, taking late 40s jazz and blues and film noir nuances combining with a 4/4 R&B backbeat. It takes on a more immediate sound like Katy Lied or Pretzel Logic. The songs more hummable. The focus on instrumental is backing the marvelous vocal tracks and harmonies. Pixeleen is a great example, one of their finest songs - the bridge is a highlight in their career. To bad they didn't release the irresistable Lunch with Gina and Pixeleen as singles. It seems to me that on both TvN and EMG, the weakes stuff on the albums became the singles
TITTM: Maybe later 40s, early 50s Pop. I didn't notice, because the vocals harmonies are so TIGHT in the chorus - it grabs my attention like a Manet painting...
Strange about Erskine - he began his career with Stan Kenton and debuted with Weather Report with the classic live album 8:30. maybe the large venues? Years ago when the internet was a kinder, gentler place and websites were new I e-mailed Pete Erskine - he sent back a very kind reply - said he really enjoyed touring with Dan (personally I think he sounds great on AiA (GE, TWM, Book of Liars)) and would like to play on at that time the rumoured new album - (which was almost 5 years away)...he was busy with his trio work, which are worth picking up. Check out the communication between Erskine and Bernhardt on Book of Liars and in GE.
Posted by: PQ, NYC I'm skeptical. Why would Peter Erskine have nerves from playing with Steely Dan? And plenty of Dan musicians don't show up for a 2nd go round. In Gina's interview with Wadenius we definitely see some bad blood there.
Posted by: Her Brother, burning with rage............Back about ten years ago I had a long conversation with Drew Zing. As everyone knows Drew was the lead guitarist with SD in 1993. He`was also the MD (musical director) for that tour. Drew told me a very interesting story about Erskine concerning his stint with the Dan in 1993. Halfway through the tour DF and WB pulled Drew aside for a meeting about Erskine. During the sound checks Erskine was perfect, his timing, his groove, everything was right on. "The boys" noticed that when the show would start around 8:00pm Erskine was off. They couldn't figure out why he was "right on" in sound check by "way off" when the show started and asked Drew (as the MD) to help find the answer. What Drew noticed was that right before the band would go on PE would have a couple of glasses of wine to calm down his nerves. Well, apparently the wine not only calmed Peter down but also through his timing off enough that Donald and Walter were not to happy. Drew reported this information back to Becker and Fagen. I'm not sure what happened after that but Peter Erskine was never asked to do another tour with them. This is a true story that I never forgot. Pretty interesting stuff if you ask me.
Posted by: PQ, NYCJ - exactly, but if you're trying to throw a tour together and rehearse a band quickly etc., (in 1992) I would venture that Peter Erskine would be the first guy you would think of. Although the chemistry might not be there the guarantee of competence would be. I mean the guy plays with *everybody*. The discography on his website is almost beyond belief. And a little birdie told me that Don and Walt are not so thrilled that Erskine openly lists Steely Dan bootlegs on his site.
Posted by: Still Sparkin, Comb-over appreciation day
Don't get many chances to defend an SD song on this board, but I'm surprised that folks might suggest Charlie Freak is anything other than top notch.
Superb,accessible lyric about degradation and waste but with a warm twist found in few other SD songs. The vocal phrasing is truly clever, even for DF, and where he stops the piano finishes the thought. Neat.
Can't imagine where the inspiration for the sleigh bells at the end came from. Couldn't change that now, though.
If it's repetitive, it's also short. And I love the contrast with and transition to Monkey in Your Soul.
Posted by: Chrysler, PAJust to clear up any misunderstanding about my seemingly cavalier post about 3 songs on EMG: I wrote that the CLOSEST the Dan have come to selling out was those tunes; I didn't write that they actually DID sell out. I agree that they did not-- it's just that EMG is such a puzzlingly strange album for D & W, that two years later, I'm still trying to understand what it MEANS-- in regard to the musical career of The Two.
2vN, in retrospect, now appears not as the beginning of Steely Dan II, but as a grand review, a summation, of Steely Dan I. EMG is something else again-- it really sounds like the TRUE start of Steely Dan II. There's a newness to it, a freshness, an OPENNESS, that to my ears anyway is so utterly different from their previous work, that the shock & awe of the thing can be discomfiting.
But FACW, I agree to a fair extent with what you said about those three songs. TIMTM is indeed a very well-written song, despite what I think is a certain academic approach to the musical materials (thinking mainly about the cliched chromatic lines). And when the chorus goes, "The talk, and the sex, da-da-da-DA, somebody to trust . . .," how Little River Band/Fleetwood Mac poppy is THAT? But Fagen's bridge is awesome and exquisite, no doubt about it. BB is another exceedingly well-composed tune, yes it is a tribute to a lot of mid/late 60s pop bands like John Fred and his Playboy Band (remember "Judy In Disguise?") and Harper's Bizarre (remember "Winchester Cathedral?"). But is BB a STEELY DAN tune? I kind of wish they had taken a cue from Prince, and given the song to a band like Smashmouth to cover. Yeah, GW rocks but as an SD altered blues it's not quite up to the level of "Bodhisattva," "Pretzel Logic," "Jack of Speed," et al. IMHO. But I agree that the playing/singing by all concerned on it is tremendous. I think I continue to be put off just a tad by some of the poppy elements in those tunes, but mirabile dictu why do I continue to listen to them and not skip over them? Well, for the reasons you stated-- the arranging details, the song craftsmanship, the KICK-ASS playing on all of them.
I've stated before in more than a few posts that I LIKE Everything Must Go-- the whole thing, a whole lot, despite the nitpicking "problems" I have with it. The most important aspect of EMG is the almost-if-not-quite entirely new direction that B & F appear to have set with it. Assuming they're "not done yet" (Fagen's words), I think I'm gonna have to realize this is not my grandfather's Steely Dan. But that's more than cool with me. . .
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