JULY 2004 BlueBook Entries

Date: Sat, July 31, 2004, 21:33:37 ET
Posted by: fife, it's a happy place

Hey anyone into chatting this evening? Steely, Elton, Young so far on the menu, though I feel Byrne coming on.
Fife

Date: Sat, July 31, 2004, 19:30:15 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Nomaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

Hoops - Garciaparra is on his way to Chi-town and is now a Cubbie. A little Steely irony going from one doomed franchise to another!

SOH - Great hearing from you. I was thinking of "The Senator's Daughter" Thursday night while I was watching Kerry's daughters at the DNC. Perfect pop music for sure. Burt Bacharach, Donald Fagen and Adam Schlesinger - 3 different generations - all craftsmen cut from the same cloth. Put them together in a room and you would have the best song ever written.

Hopefully August will bring us the first of many reports on the progress of Donald's new one. Anyone in NYC who sees or hears anything - please let us know!

Mark in Boston

Date: Sat, July 31, 2004, 13:53:43 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Pescara, Italy

The SACD CD of Gaucho pales in comparison to the DVD-A to my thinking. Glamour Profession is astounding, this is a song I skipped for about 15 years cause it was sooo disco. So wrong Rajah has been my middle name. I found it in the racks at -- Tower was it, Grette, a few weeks ago? Our Pixie Princess also found me Apogee, finally, that day and Repunzel, the neo bee bop tune penned by our boys, has been my constant companion ever since. I ride around this beach town on my cousin's Vespa (how do these women ride a motorcycle with short skirts on, BTW, ouch?) with it on. Yeah, life's tough.

Gee-Gee, my tea cozy bunches up when you talk of things technical. Can I come by one day soon and check out your --- system, sugar, I mean your DVD- eh?

Baba E L'era Dell Terzo Mondo Swami and Pass the Ravioli Rajah.

Date: Fri, July 30, 2004, 23:52:36 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, hmmmmmmmm

Chat empty on a Friday night? Found myself the lone loser in there all by myself. At the same time watching Bill Mahr, who's guest Ralph Nader just said "Funk the Republicans!" That was worth seeing.....too funny. Didn't realize Nader knew what funk was, lol!

G

Date: Fri, July 30, 2004, 22:21:13 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Amity Gardens

TO: Boston Rag

Mark...Finally picked up "Utopia Parkway"

What a killer collection of perfect pop!

Thanks for the heads-up on FOW all those months ago...

SOH

Date: Fri, July 30, 2004, 10:08:53 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Everyone's gone on vacation.......except for me

Yesterday I ordered a copy of the Gaucho hybrid SACD, now I'll actually be able to compare it to the DVD-A, which I now find pretty hard to measure up to. More from the Steely test kitchen later....
G

Date: Fri, July 30, 2004, 02:37:54 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Seaside

Okay...

I hate to be the one dragging on this SACD/DVD-A thing, but I have just finished listening to Beck's "Sea Change" on SACD and it is by far the most amazing thing I have ever heard in multi-channel audio...The disc is a true SACD (not a hybrid) and I have no idea if this makes a difference or not, nor do I know if the actual SACD player makes it sound so...I would assume that the 5.1 mix (done by none other than Elliot Scheiner) would sound the same on a hybrid as it does on a true SACD but when this disc is played through my receiver on the 6-channel direct input (as compared to a single optical feed) it is truly astounding...Better-sounding by miles than the Gaucho hybrid SACD...Perhaps it's because Beck's latest was engineered some 20+ years later, but it is truly awe-inspiring sound...Let the debate continue...

SOH

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 17:54:03 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Lester: thanks for the input. The suggested "anything goes" board would be just that--anything goes, no moderation. But actually, as I understand it--Trout aside--the SIS GB had more moderation in the past year or so than this place so maybe having an anything must go board was more essential there.

Anyways, as usual, as soon as I ask, interest gets less.

Thanks you Lester and others for the comments. I'm pretty open.

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 17:03:10 ET
Posted by: hoops,

All this talk about getting new sound systems, SACD players and DVD-A players, not to mention someone discussing the music of the 80s and some events making me think back to the 80s got me listening to the music I really was into in the 80s, especially the first CDs I purchased with my first CD player back in 1989. They were:
* Steely Dan "Aja" (1984 remaster)
* Steely Dan "Gaucho" (1984 remaster)
* Paul Simon "Still Crazy After All These Years"
* 10,000 Maniacs "In My Tribe"

I recently discovered that I still have my long boxes from these (Remember those?)

Despite there being a drought of Steely Dan music, there were some great albums I still listen to from the 1980s, aside from "Gaucho" and "Nightfly."

10,000 Maniacs' "In My Tribe" is still an incredible album. In general Natalie Merchant's lyrics tend to be a little too serious and dramatic but on "In My Tribe," the late Rob Buck's amazing guitar work and the incredible rhythm section really sweeten the songs and make you want to take NM's message to heart. What an incredible album—still. This would be an amazing album to hear in DVD-A.

Paul Simon's "Graceland" was an amazing album too. Not only did it show Paul was back, it really took him to a new level. There were several controversies surrounding this album, between the controversy with some anti-apartheid laws, what some saw as PS exploiting native African music and some unhappiness Los Lobos expressed about working with Simon. But what a great album. Same for 1990's "Rhythm of the Saints" which was the next step up.

R.E.M.'s IRS albums were awesome—I'll pass on most of their Warners catalog—but if I had to choose only one it would be "Life's Rich Pageant." Between "Begin The Begin," "Fall On Me," "What If We Gave It Away," "Cuyahoga" and rest, it was an awesome album. Miles Standish proud, indeed.

Peter Gabriel's "So" is probably viewed by many PG's album as having too much mass appeal but I look at it in terms of how it was something different that indeed had a lot of mass appeal. What an incredible groove on "Sledgehammer" (and too bad PG keeps recycling it). I guess what impresses me with this album is how PG make drum tracks sound so organic.

Dire Strait's "Brothers In Arms" is not, IMHO, their best album and like "So" it brought them mainstream success—enough of "Money for Nothing"—but this album sounds soooo DAMN GOOD! The sound quality is amazing.

Bob Dylan's "Oh Mercy" was a great album, his first with Daniel Lanois, whom Bob later (after "Time Out of Mind") said he didn't like working with so much. But incredibly atmospheric. Poetry set to music.

Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man." Along with "Ten New Songs"—the album which for me coincidentally captured the mood of 9/11—" is one of his best albums. Listening to this, it's hilarious to think how many record stores file him in the "Folk" section. Here the drum tracks and synths are used to the point of parody and it's awesome. Just a sublime album that, like Steely Dan records, I still discovers a new nuance or two every time I listen and also captures the "attitude." By the way, at the end of September, LC has a new album coming out, "Dear Heather."

I'm sure I'm missing a few others, but these come to mind.

jim

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 16:42:08 ET
Posted by: Joey ,

" Joey, yes, she's still around. Rent "The Swimming Pool," the best movie I've seen in years! "

Thanks G.

I will rent it this weekend

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:284693

J.

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 16:38:30 ET
Posted by: father william, south of joey

Gretchen - good work. DVD-A is fine. The DVD-A version of EMG is obviously much better than the CD version. I wonder if the CD is supposed to be Brand X.

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 16:33:19 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, 4:30 limbo

Joey, yes, she's still around. Rent "The Swimming Pool," the best movie I've seen in years!
G

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 14:33:12 ET
Posted by: Joey ,

" OK, since my confusion on Sunday regarding my new Pioneer DV-563A, I finally used my mantra of "What would Charlotte Rampling DO?"

Pretty Funny G .


" The Verdict " WAS a great movie ................Er , is she still in " The Business " ?!?!?!

Developing .......................................

Jacky !

http://www.theavengers.tv/forever/pnote-rampling.htm

Date: Thurs, July 29, 2004, 06:14:04 ET
Posted by: Rajah , Mountains of Abruzzi, a thousand years roll by

Carissimi - che gioia esquisita!

The only thing to be heard for miles last night was the sound of Katy Lied coming from the tiny stereo I purchased for the parental units years ago. I am with you Doctor Wu. My cousins are burning copies as I tap hereon.

Happy Belated birthday, Southie-boy. Ya know how they say life begins at 40? Lies, Joe. It's death son, death begins at forty. [rim shot] Kidding punkin, you are a young man so don't start thinkin you have to act your age. Rave on my sleek and soulful cyber-prince!

Steve, see you on the 11th, girlfriend.

Gretchen, my thoughts all stray to you...

Rome tonight, see you at piazza Navona. I was in Trastevere at this bar...actually Scotty, I'm meeting my boy Len from Melbourne later this evening. We'll surely raise a glass in your honor.

Ciao baby, ciao and baci all around.

Date: Wed, July 28, 2004, 23:28:59 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Hope is on the way

OK, since my confusion on Sunday regarding my new Pioneer DV-563A, I finally used my mantra of "What would Charlotte Rampling DO?" and proceeded to figure the damn thing out. Once set up properly through the stereo system and TV, the Nightfly DVD-A was superb!! A test of Gaucho is next, though I have to obtain the SACD to do a fair comparasin. Hey, on the DVD A of nightfly, just after "I know you're mad about Brubeck" I heard someone, whether Donald or another, echoing "Bruuuuubeeeek" out of my right speaker twice. Anyone else hear this? Do I have too much time on my hands? If so, my backyard shouldn't look like the setting for the "African Queen." Yikes.
Goodnight to all,
G

Date: Wed, July 28, 2004, 11:26:21 ET
Posted by: Lester, Cutting to the Chase

Looks like St. Al is closing up shop soon. Thanks for the memories....

For what it's worth, I tend to agree with a recent post by Peter Q on St. Al's site: "Personally I think it's kind of a waste to nurture a base of contacts for years and then just throw it away. On this and other Dan boards I've met at least 20 people who are going to have gold stars in my Rolodex. If you've been posting here or anywhere for any amount of time the chances are you have met someone who can help you make your life a miracle and reach your dearest goals...and you may not not even realize it!"

As for an alternative companion site, hoops, that is nice of you to offer for those who feel the need to post about everything and anything, but do you really want to have to police it or worry about the content? Worse than herding cats, in my opinion.

I never can finish Dr. Mu's political posts, but I am always struck by his closing line: "Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist but you will have ceased to live."

A new solo cd by Fagen would brighten my existence. Til then, we do the 9 to 5 and reminisce....

Date: Tues, July 27, 2004, 22:55:09 ET
Posted by: Zappin', Watermelon In Easter Hay

Need I say more?

Date: Tues, July 27, 2004, 20:35:35 ET
Posted by: Birthday Boy, Stateline +365

Thank you "C.C."

Date: Tues, July 27, 2004, 16:26:56 ET
Posted by: Joey ,

" Happy Birthday, Baby! "

Thanks , but " The Joey " does not turn forty until this Sunday ( August 1st ) .

Word !

J.

Date: Tues, July 27, 2004, 16:01:33 ET
Posted by: Your Louise, the quatah

Who's birthday is it?

Date: Tues, July 27, 2004, 14:14:47 ET
Posted by: C.C., Stateline

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Date: Tues, July 27, 2004, 11:00:26 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, south of Boston

Fr. William, thanks for the info - but, forgive my stupidity here, do I need a Pioneer cd player in order for the SACD feature to work? I used to be good at this stuff.....technology is moving too fast.

G

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 23:59:41 ET
Posted by: father williiam, east of vail

oops - ... 6 channel output of the Pioneer feeding the 6 channel input of the Yamaha...

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 23:26:17 ET
Posted by: father william, east of aspen

Gretchen - I have the Pioneer DV-563A used with a Yamaha-5650 amplifier. Getting DVD-A to work is a snap in that all is needed is a digital cable connecting the two but SACD is more of a pain in that it requires using the 6 channel output of the Pioneer feeding the 6 channel input of the Pioneer and setting Imitial Settings | Options | SACD Playback | Multi -ch Area. I don't have access to mine right now so I'm just reading from the manual. So far, the DVD-A recordings seem to sound better, at least the mix seems better on the discs that I have.

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 21:41:32 ET
Posted by: hoops,

One more thing:

I still see the 1998/1999-era DTS 5.1 of "Gaucho" for sale as new (and more) than the 2004 DVD-A of "Gaucho" which also inlcuded a non-DVD-a Surround version. Buyer Beware!

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 21:39:21 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, entangled in wires

Thanks for the compliment, Steve.
I wish only I was smart enough to figure out how to hook up this sacd/dvd-a etc..... I understand how to use the dvd function, but the sacd is a mystery. If anyone can offer techno help, please feel free. I refuse to give up the ship, and I will not return the device to Best Buy and tell the clerk to "shove it."
Theresa, you go girl! She's my new heroine.........back to my instruction manual

G

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 21:39:13 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Really quick:

I'd say the difference between the 1993 and 2000 CD remasters of "Gaucho" was up a notch.

The difference between the 2000 remaster of "Gaucho" and the 2003 CD-audio remaster that comes with the SACD of "Gaucho" is up yet another notch.

The difference between the 2003 SACD version and included 2003 CD-Audio remaster of "Gaucho" (on the same disc) is maybe a notch or a 1.5 notches better with the SACD.

I own the DVD-A of "Gaucho" as well as the SACD; as someone pointed out, you can enjoy the DVD-A to some extent just as well in a plain DVD player.

HOWEVER: IMHO, the DVD-A of "Gaucho" played on a true DVD-A system is 3-4 notches above the SACD and is much better than simply playing it on plain DVD player.

I've heard rave reviews of some multichip Toshibas in general BUT I've also heard that some multi-format players that do both SACD and DVD-A aren't up to par in one format or another. So beware.

Me, I own nothing special. But after hearing true DVD-A of "Gaucho" I'm a believer in DVD-A and not all that interested in SACD.

BTW: the DVD-A of Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" also blows the SACD version out of the water.

jim

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 16:43:18 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @ work

Funny I should drop by today. I just set up my new DVD-A player with my new 6.1 receiver last night. Still have my same crappy 11 year old speakers (I've got a set of 6 JBL's on the way) and it was a little late in the evening to test it at full volume, but.........what a difference the equipment made. Still need to work out some kinks but I was mucho impressed with the adv.res. surround mixes. I also added 2vN, Pet Sounds and The Rat Pack Live at the Villa Venice to my DVD-A collection. I'm going to have to find the DTS Gaucho and see how that matches up. It's a relatively low cost system too, DVD-A 5 disc changer, $129.00 and the receiver was $284.00. They didn't have the original $399 receiver I wanted (I needed instant gratifacation)so I took a step down without loosing much of the functionality. Stop in at your local Circuit City and get your own!!! (I oughta get something from them for that shameless plug)

KC

p.s. - tick - tock - tick - tock

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 14:25:06 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan, Irvine, CA (1994 - in Headphones)

It's great to see everybody writing in.
Cheers to our friends Down Under, and our Hong Kong correspondant.
SOH - such a deal on a disk player !!!
Gretchen - you are as smart as you are beautiful (according to your star crossed Rajneesh TurbanMeister).

My introduction to Keith Jarrett was his Koln Concert double LP. I really love that one, but, I don't believe that it is all that representative of what the Keith mastery is all about. I do love it though. It's a great CD to listen to while having a massage ...
(Keep it clean, kids ...)

Hey Rahjjjjjjj ... I was watching the news yesterday (Sunday) about Lance Armstrong's historical 6th Tour de France victory and they mentioned that Robin Williams and Cheryl Crow were in Paris to cheer him on ... and that Cheryl is his girlfriend (OK, ... for the ladies present ... Lance is Cheryl's boyfriend ... now that we've straightened that one out ...)

I knew you'd be checking in from Europe. The pace of life is a bit slower there, so the activity of cyber-corresponding seems like a natural. Have a great time at home in "Itlee" with the family. When you get back, shake off your jeg lagged jiggy self ... see you at rehearsal on Wednesday night (August 11th) at UNCLE OK?

** NEWSFLASH **
VERIFIED REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THAT A CRAZED TURBAN-CLAD RAJAH HAS BEEN RUNNING AMOK THROUGH CONTINENTAL EUROPE.

PARENTS - HIDE YOUR DAUGHTERS !!!
NO ONE IS SAFE.


SteveeDan





Rajah runs amok in Europe, ... Itly

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 08:10:08 ET
Posted by: Peter Q, Brooklyn

Michelle - if you want a Jarrett record from the time B&F were influenced by his stuff, get one of his CDs with Jan Garabek on sax. For solo piano, The Sun Bear concerts, all 29 sides, are probably unsurpassed. For jazz, the trio CDs with Gary Peacock on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums.

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 04:15:13 ET
Posted by: Scotty, Sydney

Sparkin' hows things in HK? Which shop in Melbourne? I'm down there in a couple of weeks.

The setup I had when you visited is different now. I had the DVD-A player with a stereo amp and speakers. Even with that setup, the DVD-A player did make a huge difference to sound quality. Then there was a quantum leap when I got a 6.1 surround amp and speakers. Now its just ridiculous. There is too much for one pair of ears to absorb.

Its interesting to note the different approaches the sound engineers take to the surround mix. There is no doubt in my mind that Elliot Scheiner is by far the master of this relatively new craft. Non SD DVD-A's that I have seem to be mixed without too much thought or seperation (at least the ones I have). Although still very good, they just don't compare with the SD and DF's solo DVD-A's. With the latter, the seperation of instrument and in many cases, vocals, is absolute. Somehow the sum of all the individual tracks combine to form sonic excellence. Very much like their live performances, IMHO. Anyway, thats my two bobs worth.

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 03:33:04 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

Anyone can get a big sonic boost from DVD-As if they just run them through their DVD-video players, so long as they're hooked up to your stereo.

You don't need a specific DVD or SACD player...or even surround sound.

I spent parts of the weekend going back and forth between the Kama DVD-A surround mix and the stereo mix. I had read that Kama in surround is great..and I can see why. All the little extras would end up in the rear speakers (yes ???) For me, Kama in stereo is fabulous. I can play the surround mix louder without distortion...but it doesn't have the detail, and DF's voice sounds a little strange. I have a limited edition Kama gold CD that no longer matters if the DVD-A is anywhere near by.

Different though for the Nightfly. Right away you would say the surround mix -- even without surround speakers -- is the way to go. The depth of the sound and the separation of instruments is astonishing. The stereo mix sounds underpowered and muffled by comparison.

So, on two different discs from the same artist I get a different DVD-A experience.

I bought one SACD (PF's Dark Side) and without an SACD player it automatically gave me the same sound I would get on a CD player...so I've yet to hear an SACD the way it's supposed to be heard...I just know there's cash outlay to get that far.

Scotty, there was a dedicated DVD-A/SACD section at a shop in Melbourne I was in. That's where I got the Nightfly.

Date: Mon, July 26, 2004, 00:33:30 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, The Test Kitchen

I'm sure Pete's system is well above and beyond what I own but I can honestly say that these soon-to-be 41 year-old ears can detect nary a difference in sonic surround quality between the Gaucho SACD and the DVD-A...I only own 2 other SACD's ("Amelia's Song" by Warren Bernhardt and "Mobilize" by Grant Lee Phillips) and they both sound quite impressive as well...Hell, even if the SACD sound is one notch below DVD-A (and it may well be) I can't wait to finally hear what we've been missing (like on Gaucho) when the SD catalogue is released in this format as there's no news of any upcoming Dan releases on DVD-A that I'm aware of...

SOH

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 22:32:39 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, not zen, that's for damn sure

OK, so I get the Pioneer SACD player at Best Buy (thanks for the tip, Joe), but unfortunately it's still in it's box due to my attention being diverted by an angry puppy, an area rug, and my hardwood floors. At $99, it's worth a try, if I can figure out how to hook it up to my Bose system (I was not able to purchase an actual SACD, as the selection was dismal). My best listening these days comes while in my car. The simple pleasures.
Scotty, what a hell of a great idea about Nightfly! Why don't you propose it to SD? It's just quirky enough to be a hit.
Has anyone heard the cd "Brian Lynch meets Bill Charlap?" Heard it today first time, definitely worth checking out.
Goodnight all,
G

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 21:45:03 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Not sure what sound system SoH has -- good be great-- and my sound system kinda sucks, but I heard both the DVD-A and SACD of "Gaucho" on Pete Fogels' SACD and DVD-A surround system and all in attendence agreed that the DVD-A sound blew the SACD outta the water. In fact, after that experience, I don't even care about SACD except for the fact "Gaucho" (and presumably any other SD SACDs) also include new stereo mixes which sound mucho better on my standard, non-surround car stereo.

DVD-A, YAY! All IMHO.

jim

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 21:37:29 ET
Posted by: Scotty, Sydney

Rajah, I'm waiting for the "so I was in this bar...." story.

South, I've read a heap of stuff on DVD-A Vs SACD and all of it suggests DVD-A is a better medium (some even suggest that technically, CD is better than SACD). I'd be very interested to hear your views once you get around to comparing both versions of Gaucho. So shake a leg mate, and get on with it!

Are both these formats generally available State side? Over here, you have to special order them in. I've yet to see a DVD-A or SACD stand in any record store. Yes cousins, things move a little slower over here.

Is there any truth to the rumour that The Nightfly will become a broadway musical? Just kidding, but who knows what the next "direction" will be......

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 18:16:11 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Champs Ellysees

Bravo Monsieur Armstrong! After Donald and Joni, the greatest American ever. Stopped at the Place de Sarbonne today outside my hotel and listened to a 10 piece string ensemble, 5 violinists, two contro violins, two cellists and bowed upright bass playing Vivaldi and Bach. They were playin real good... for free.

Tonight, the bar in the spotlight: The Aussie Bar off Rue San Jacques. On any continent, the Australians are the very best comrades in tou le monde. You can never go wrong in their company, full stop. Saw Sheryl Crowe at the Buddah Bar last night. Think the orgy scene in Eyes Wide Shut. Not a particular fave of mine at all but a great performer nonetheless.

Americans are greatly loved by the Parisiens, so do not believe any comments or propaganda to the contrary. Our governments wish to alienate us, but the natural affection of our peoples sing in harmony to the contrary. Great, great people of the heart.

Now, back to the bar. Wish you were here, Gretchen. How about a Danfest in Paris in 2005? Just me and you? OK, and any number of our dear denizens of Dandom.

Bullet train to Milan in the morning...

Baba Sun King Rajah

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 12:18:44 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, hoping to brighten a dreary Sunday...

I'm going to Best Buy. Report later.....

G

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 10:29:59 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu, Off to the Nearest Best Buy

SoH: Congrats on your purchase! The Pioneer DV-563A is getting rave reviews! Surprisingly close to the high end Yamaha. The Age of the Universal Chip is HERE for the consumer! No longer any need to worry about SACD/DVD-A wars - the outcome of VHS vs. Beta is averted. The MSRP for the 563-A is $249 with a range from $149 (Comp USA) to $249. Are you sure that wasn't the back of a truck Near Best Buy? One helluva deal


http://www.hometheatermag.com/dvdplayers/1203pioneer/

http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review895_main4473.html

Date: Sun, July 25, 2004, 00:31:30 ET
Posted by: Roy.Scam, about 1969 or so

Rajah~ Your comment about Joni Mitchell being big in Paris sent me back to some obscure pages of the musical diary in my brain. I was reminded of the first few times she kicked my ass: Hearing Both Sides Now, seeing her sing at a funeral in some 60's movie, discovering the songs For Free and Chelsea Morning, and mostly cueing up a new slab of vinyl about the time the Paris Peace Talks were degenerating, and hearing her say,"Sitting in a Cafe in Paris , France, reading the news and it sure looks bad: They never gave peace a chance; just a dream some of us had."
Some woman she was and is. The French got that one right.

Date: Sat, July 24, 2004, 23:42:51 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Zooming on the couch...

Okay...

For all of us fence-sitters awaiting the release of the catalogue on SACD, I give you this...

I bought a combination SACD/DVD-A player this afternoon at Best Buy for...wait for it...$99 bucks! It's a Pioneer DV-563A, and in addition to the two key playback features mentioned above it also handles CD/DVD-R, CD/DVD-RW, Super VCD, MP3, JPEG and photo CD's as well...

The Gaucho SACD sounds incredible (maybe better than the DVD-A but I have yet to compare the two)...

This player will certainly not stack up against a Denon-quality machine for a grand or more, but for under a hun it's a hell of a deal...

SOH

Date: Sat, July 24, 2004, 16:14:17 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Good to hear from anyone, 'spec Scotty and Alan. Good on yer!

Speaking of dates in Dan history, I put on my Steely Dan FM 96 T-shirt today and was reminded by its back that 8 years ago, the loyal Dandom would be hanging out in Holmdel, NJ for the second of two SD shows at the Garden State Arts Center. Today it's the PNC. No Jones Beach shows that year.

Any other comments on a second "anything goes" board?

jim

Date: Sat, July 24, 2004, 10:35:02 ET
Posted by: Scotty & Alan, Sydney - very early Sunday morning

Hi Folks,

Alan came up to Sydney to visit for the weekend and came up loaded with steely gifts. The "Danny's" video (thanks Toya) was priceless.

After many beers, we headed down to the Narrabeen Sands Hotel (my local) and secured a spot for a few cool ales. We watched a guy set up a keyboard and PA and, get this, his first song was Rikki. 1 year to the day of the 2k3 tour start and here we are, half a world away, minding our own business and the local pub puts on a one man band and the he starts off with an SD tune. THAT is Dan Karma !!! He wansn't bad either.

2 more SD song followed in the set (MOS and Reelin).

Just woke SOH and had a great yarn on the dog and bone.

Where ever you go, there WILL be an SD reference.

It's just the way it is.

Cheers big ears !!!

Scotty & Alan

Date: Sat, July 24, 2004, 08:13:13 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Paris

I stalk the record shops here in the Latin Quarter for SD and related stuff. After all, sitting in cafes and shopping is the best part of Paris, I mean, how much can you take of the Louvre and the Pantheon? Always interesting to see what sort of Americana fills the shelves. Mostly 2VN and AJA in the racks but wow, is Joni ever big here. Very excited to hear of her collection. The nore I revisit her, the more astounded I am at her body of work. The lady really knows herself. And of course, a ton of golden age bee bop everywhere.

Go Monsieur Armstrong. What a mench. Tres fort!

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 22:35:10 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu,

Michelle: I'd really have to recommend Gaucho. The sax, horns and Donald's singing really beef up that Jarrett vamp...

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 16:51:13 ET
Posted by: Pam, snorkeling in the yard

The rain today reminds me of soggy PNC last year....the thought of new Donald when I'm still reeling over the old Donald is almost too much to compute!

Pam

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 16:41:08 ET
Posted by: ed beatty, biscayne bay -cuban gentleman sleeping nearby

Hi,
I've heard I've been missed?
Well life has been busy -good thing the EMG tour was last year
I would not havemade it to my shows.
Exciting news about donald I do say

Well off I go for a Cuban Breeze

ed

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 16:21:50 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, lonesome for '03

Do I ever miss laat summer. Perhaps next year at this time?
I'm listening to Weather Report's "Mr.Gone" and it reminds me faintly of Donald's solo style.
Anyone in chat later for a 1 year group reminiscence?

G

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 16:08:14 ET
Posted by: Michelle,

It was great to get the Digest today, I am so excited about the new DF record, it really is making my day.

On another note, can anyone make a recommendation to me for a first Keith Jarrett record? I feel like a dork for asking this, but I
was at the record store and I couldn't decide and it popped into my head that I remember someone making a recommendation once, I could be totally wrong in that.

Hope everyone is well - Michelle

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 16:06:44 ET
Posted by: Pam,

Hey!

In reply to hoops' question, I checked out the Kama liner notes, and found "Tenor Sax (solo on Track 2): Illinois Elohainu".

P

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 15:09:33 ET
Posted by: hoops, THE DANNYS: Your Votes for the Best of the 2003

-----------------------------------------------------------------

HERE"S A GREAT QUOTE FROM ONE OF THE RETURNED DANNY BALLOTS that harkens back to one year ago today:

"Ok, this really happened. During the inaugural show (Costa Mesa. 7.23.03), South of Hollywood called Little Wild One on his cell phone. While at least 15 or 20 folks hung on breathlessly in dandom.com's Green Room chat room, the setlist was relayed simultaneously. WE WERE ALL BUGGIN'!!!!!""

Indeed!

A whole year gone by already? So it has...

What better way to recall it all when they wrote it on the wall...well..Here's the PART II results of the Dannys. You remember, right? Back last Spring, the 1500 or so Danfans here at the Dandom Digest, plus, fans at alt.music.steely-dan, the Sign In Stranger Guestbook, and the Danfan groups at Yahoo! Were invited to vote for their favorite fan gatherings, Steely Dan shows and more.

This second phase of the awards are related to the Steely Dan shows themselves on the 2003 tour. In the event someone added interesting or funny commentary to their vote, these were saved and tacked on the end of each category.

You will also remember that the third part of the Dannys Ballot included a segment where fans were encouraged to create their own Danny Award category and then award the Danny to someone. These 'Do-It-Yourself" Dannys are forthcoming in a future Dandom Digest.

Without further adieu,

PART II: AWARDS RELATED TO THE ACTUAL STEELY DAN SHOWS OF THE 2003 TOUR

---------------------------------------------

20. Venue with the Coolest Security

WINNER: Toronto

COMMENTS:

"Toronto. ..after mistakingly seating us 9th row centre for about 20 minutes, they relocated us to our seats closer to Donald and apologized for the 'inconvenience' and gave us VIP passes"

"Jones Beach: we came, we sang, we drank."

"Tahoe. No harm, no foul.".

"Maui.. towards the end of the show they just let everybody up near the stage."

---------------------------------------------

21. Venue with Most-Nazi-like Security

BIGGEST LOSER: THE GORGE
RUNNER UP: MOHEGAN SUN

COMMENTS:

"The Gorge, as always. Phoenix was shitty too."

"I guess Mohegan Sun since it's a casino."

"The Gorge, George, Washington The assholes kicked out a Danfan because he wore a cool Steely Dan lanyard!"

"Concord. The Bay Area is full of underpaid, self-righteous assholes posing as security guards."

"Honolulu--they asked dancers to sit down. Please! This was the LAST SHOW OF THE TOUR!!!"

"Mohegan Sun… they even searched some of the people before letting them into the arena."

"The Gorge must rate right up there."

---------------------------------------------

22. Best Concession Stand Food or Beverage Item

WINNER: KETTLE CORN, MAUI
RUNNER UP: FRIED TWINKIES, PASO ROBLES

COMMENTS:

"Kettle Corn Maui (Ask Alan, he bought, everyone ate.)"

"Fried Twinkies sipped in chocolaty sauce."

"Honolulu - the cocktails they served in the giant plastic glasses."

"The selection of beers at Tahoe was impressive. For $6, a choice is nice."

---------------------------------------------

23. Worst Concession Stand Food or Beverage Item

BIGGEST LOSER: COFFEE AT BLOSSOM/CLEVELAND

COMMENTS:

"Blossom had pretty lousy coffee."

"The coffee at Cleveland Sucked! It tasted like one part real coffee diluted to 20 parts water."

"$6 beers with NO choice (at Molson/Toronto)"

"The food stands at Saratoga Springs were pretty ordinary."

---------------------------------------------

24. Venue with Best Potties

WINNER: MAUI

COMMENTS:

"Toronto VIP lounge"

"There was room to 'partake' in Albuquerque, but the line was looong. It wins though above the Gorge and Portland."

"Maui - outdoor troughs for the blokes, very cool."

"Maui, heaps of them."


---------------------------------------------

25. Venue with Scariest Potties

WINNER: THE GORGE
RUNNERUP: ROSELAND

COMMENTS:

"Roseland (too far)"

"Syracuse, the line ups went on for ever..."

"The Gorge, peeing off a cliff would have been better."

"Syracuse - the queues were unbelievable."

"Hershey...they were at a football stadium in the next county. So was the beer line. Go figure."

---------------------------------------------

26. Venue with Best Parking or Means of Transportation

WINNER: ROSELAND!!

COMMENTS:

"Toronto cabs."

"The Gorge ... everything has a view, and the walk in from the campground is amazing, too."

"Roseland, both nights, Subway"

"Dallas, easy in...drink-eat-socialize, easy out. The chauffeur was cute too."

"The New York State Fair, Syracuse. Had plenty of buses to shuttle you to the ground."

"We took a limo to the Honolulu show, singing Steely Dan tunes along the way."

---------------------------------------------

27. Venue with Worst Parking or Means of Transportation

LOSER: NISSAN

COMMENTS:

"Mohegan Sun, cuz the ride home was brutal with the highway construction."

"Jones Beach parking was great...the trip to get there was...The Ride From HELL."

"Nissan, the place was a mud bath after the thunder storm."

---------------------------------------------

28. Venue with Best Sound

WINNER: Overwhelmingly, HERSHEY

COMMENTS:

"Roseland, baby! There's nothing like having your Dan up in your face and having Donald so close he could spit on you."

"Not a techie...Tahoe (or maybe it was the company)."

"Pete Fogel says Hershey...and Pete is never wrong about these things."

---------------------------------------------

29. Venue with Worst Sound

LOSER: MOHEGAN SUN

COMMENTS:

"Tahoe. The mains went out in the middle of a song. The band played for three minuntes with NO SOUND! The monitors didn't work either. But I was sitting six rows from the front, and I am pleased to say, everyone kept rolling along, missing nary a note."

"Jones Beach, from my seat at least.

"Costa Mesa via cell phone. (Note: This included the interludes wherein said cell phone holder was mumbling and stumbling about in a drunken stupor and being asked to leave by security.)"

---------------------------------------------

30. Venue From Hell of the Year

LOSER: PASO ROBLES

COMMENTS:

"verizon arena--nh: it was like the used cell phones for speakers"
Phoenix

"Mohegan Sun, cuz the ride home was brutal with the highway construction"

"Nissan - only becuase of the weather."

"PASO ROBLES -JACK DANIELS AND COW SHIT SMELL PERMEATED."

"Paso Robles...DF: "What is that thing?" It was the ejector seat."

---------------------------------------------

31. Best Venue of the Year

WINNER: ROSELAND
RUNNER UP: MAUI

COMMENTS:

"Maui (I think it was a high school)."

"Roseland, baby! There's no better place to see the Dan than at a crowded ballroom in New York City, surrounded by people you didn't know earler, but are now your best Danfriends."

"The Gorge, it's just too beautiful to not nominate."

"ALL OF THEM (I'm getting nostalgic now...)."

"Maui, the outdoor setting surrounded by palm trees with the volcano back drop was just so unreal."

---------------------------------------------

32. Audience Member of the Year-Female

WINNER: TOYA BEANS aka Danfiend of ILLINOIS
RUNNERS UP: LADY BAYSIDE of NEW YORK and Little Wild One of TEXAS

COMMENTS:

"Can I nominate myself? Margaret Canning is the best audience member! Especially where I was sitting at the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey. I was surrounded by forty-somethings who came with their spouses and their children, not me! I came with my mom and knew all the words to all the songs and almost cried during "Peg" and was dressed fabulously (I have pictures!) and was just the coolest person there. Except for my fellow Danfans that I met at Roseland a month later who just happened to be a lot closer to the front than I was at PNC. But at the Roseland shows, Toya was definately awesome. She and I led a Steely Dan sing-along before the concert started (Saturday, Sept. 13 - I was there for both shows, but Saturday was the best one for me.)"

"Danfiend at Roseland...'I LOVE you, Donald!' which cause DF to say, 'It's getting scary!'

"Gretchen, even though I've never met her."

---------------------------------------------

33. Audience Member of the Year-Male

WINNER: ALAN of AUSTRALIA and SOUTH OF HOLLYWOOD of CALIFORNIA
Runner up: MR. SAM of MARYLAND

COMMENTS:

"There were so many fabulous people I met at the Roseland shows, but some names escape me. There was a guy named Stan with the crowd I was in, he was pretty cool."

"Hoops! It was great to dance & sing to MOS with you in Concord!"

---------------------------------------------

34. Audience of the Year

WINNER: ROSELAND, SATURDAY NIGHT

RUNNERS UP: BOSTON/MANSFIELD, CAMDEN, CHICAGO

COMMENTS:

"I agree with WB: Roseland Saturday night..."

"It's all about Roseland. Even Walter said so."

"Roseland both nights Walter said so!!!!"

"Maui, everyone was so laid back"

"Roseland, since they all stood up just like it's supposed to be!"

---------------------------------------------

35. Best Official Steely Dan Item Sold at Shows

WINNER: STEELY DAN KEYCHAIN
RUNNERS UP: Aja Shirt, Sweatshirt.

COMMENTS:

"I indeed passed up a deal like that."

"Sun visors. Well, technically they were given away..."

"Shit, I loved those 'Aja' T-shirts, but the poster was my favorite. And the sweatshirt. And the messenger bag."

"The retro key chains. Sadly for us, mine has disappeared. (hint to D&W: we need an online store for old tour merchandise)"

"Well I GOT a GM mastercard but wanted a STEELY DAN MASTERCARD!"

"All of them."

---------------------------------------------

36. Most Exciting Moment During a Steely Dan Show

OVERWHELMING WINNER: WB SAYING ROSELAND SHOW WAS BEST EVER

RUNNER-UP: Charlap at Jones Beach

COMMENTS:

"Start of "Caves of Altamira" -- Getting to hear it "LIVE"!!"

"When Donald said "I'm buggin, I'm buggin pigeons" in San Diego."

" WB saying the Roseland show was the greatest ever."

"Every single moment of every single show. Can't decide."

"On September 12, I went to see Steely Dan at Roseland by myself and got there really early and was able to stand close to the stage. I was standing in front of Don's keyboard, so he was able to look right at me when he came out. That was really cool. But for me, aside from that, I'd have to say that when I saw them in August at PNC Bank Arts Center, and Don and Walt walked onstage, I was in hysterics. Here was my favorite band and I was worried I would never see them tour again (I was blessed to see them in 2000) and now it had been three years and I owned everything they made and was so excited to see them again, it was a huge thrill."

"Carlock's solo, Walter's intro of Donald."

"Front row, Albuquerque, directly in front of the most amazing man (DF) in the world, and hearing the opening of EMG as tears streamed down my face and I silently communed with the man and the music."

"Finally hearing 'Lunch With Gina" and EMG at Roseland."

"The opening of EMG at Roseland AND THEN when they went into 'Lunch With Gina'."

"When the entire crew donned floating "Cornelius head" t-shirts at the Concord show after he received the Bunsen Prize."

"For me it was at Jones Beach, my first ever Steely Dan Show when Donald and Walter walked on stage."

"Donald and Walter coming on stage at Roseland on Friday."

"Godwacker at Jones Beach when Bill Charlap made a guest appearance."

"Ok, this really happened. During the inaugural show (Costa Mesa. 7.23.03), South of Hollywood called Little Wild One on his cell phone. While at least 15 or 20 folks hung on breathlessly in dandom.com's Green Room chat room, the setlist was relayed simultaneously. WE WERE ALL BUGGIN'!!!!!""

"The first few notes of 'Lunch With Gina' @ Shelby Farms, Memphis."

---------------------------------------------

37. Best Performance of a Song at a Specific Steely Dan Show

WINNER: "Everything Must Go" Roseland, Saturday Night

COMMENTS:

"That's a toughie. But I must say, it was really cool to hear 'Time Outta Mind ' live for the first time. I love that song - love it! And 'Hey Nineteen' too. My mom dubbed that 'my song' because I got turned on to Steely Dan when I was 19, so it has a special place in my heart. Especially when they segued from 'Janie Runaway' to 'Hey Nineteen.' Beautiful!"

---------------------------------------------

38. Best Song Performed Overall at most Steely Dan Shows

WINNER: LUNCH WITH GINA

COMMENTS:

"To repeat from before, that's a toughie. But I must say, it was really cool to hear 'Time Outta Mind ' live for the first time. I love that song - love it! And 'Hey Nineteen' too. My mom dubbed that 'my song' because I got turned on to Steely Dan when I was 19, so it has a special place in my heart. Especially when they segued from 'Janie Runaway' to 'Hey Nineteen.' Beautiful!"

"'Caves of Altamira' was my fav this year...sounded bright and snappy at every show"

---------------------------------------------

39. M.V.P. Steely Dan Orchestra 2003 (aside from Donald and Walter)

WINNER: KEITH CARLOCK

RUNNERS UP: Bumpus and Jon Herington

---------------------------------------------

40. Steely Dan Show of the Year

WINNER: ROSELAND, SATURDAY NIGHT

RUNNERS UP: Roseland Friday Night, Boston, Chicago, Maui, Concord

COMMENTS:

"Concord, 'Bumpus Day. 4 Oct 200'"

"Maui, for reasons explained previously."

"Roseland baby! September 13th! Roseland!"

"The Gorge, even though my seats were lame."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

COMING SOON TO THE DANDOM DIGEST:

The "Do It Yourself " Dannys Results

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 14:57:32 ET
Posted by: h,

BTW: I will post the results here in a little bit.

See ya in a few.

jim

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 14:49:10 ET
Posted by: hoops,

The latest Dandom Digest covering July 5-23 has just been sent. There's a story about who on the sessions for Donald's new album and that recording is starting later this summer--so the word goes. So that's why there is another Digest so soon.

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. The main reason I am in the habit of announcing this here is because some people have been having problems with delivery the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.

The following are the subjects of this Digest:

—SIGN UP: New **Official** donaldfagen.com Newsletter
—REDUX: A Rumor about the New Donald Record

—THE DANNYS: Your Votes for the Best of the 2003 Steely Dan Shows
———Venue with the Coolest Security
———Venue with Most-Nazi-like Security
———Best Concession Stand Food or Beverage Item
———Worst Concession Stand Food or Beverage Item
——— Venue with Best Potties
———Venue with Scariest Potties
———Venue with Best Parking or Means of Transportation
———Venue with Worst Parking or Means of Transportation
———Venue with Best Sound
———Venue with Worst Sound
———Venue From Hell of the Year
———Best Venue of the Year
———Audience Member of the Year-Female
———Audience Member of the Year-Male
———Audience of the Year
———Best Official Steely Dan Item Sold at Shows
———Most Exciting Moment During a Steely Dan Show
———Best Performance of a Song at a Specific Steely Dan Show
———Best Song Performed Overall at most Steely Dan Shows
———M.V.P. Steely Dan Orchestra 2003
———Steely Dan Show of the Year

—A List Of Dan Tributes Worldwide
—Steely Dan Cover Bands
—45's/B sides
—Oh, wow it's you again (Yellow Peril CD)

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

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 11:32:26 ET
Posted by: Gretchen,

The info SOH posted recently has a link to a really good station, WXPN in Philadelphia, which I've been enjoying this morning. A very nice variety of music, from Joss Stone to War, and even SD. The first song I heard was "Chain Lightning!"

G

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 11:13:29 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Illinois Jacquet has died.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-obit-jacquet,1,5852693.story?coll=chi-news-hed

I don't have my "Kamakiriad" album with me, but I remember that there was a clever reference in the credits to him. Something maybe to do with a synth line that was like his horn? Maybe someone could refresh my memory.

Date: Fri, July 23, 2004, 09:54:39 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, under the weathah

Hoops, thanks for the Wacky Pack article, I'm still laughing at Peter Panhandler Peanut Butter. Anyway, I'd love to have a combination Danfest/SACD realease party. Even though the date is still unknown, we can still start planning. Anyone interested or have ideas? Please email me!
As a huge Joni Mitchell fan, I'm definitely going to get the new release. Joni would do well to realease a book of her artwork as well, as she's a wonderful painter. The whole idea of a "themed" release makes me wonder, if SD were to do this, what could be the theme and what songs of theirs would be appropriate to include?

G

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 23:54:32 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, West Of Hackensack

Mark...

Great to hear about the FOW show...Check this link for a great music web site and a 2003 Top 50 I know you'll like...

http://worldcafe.org/cdstore.php

SOH

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 22:37:15 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Copley Plaza

Just got in from a terrific FREE summer concert. Fountains of Wayne played a great 70 minute set in Copley Plaza on the lawn of the Trinity Church. Beautiful summer night and great tunes. Adam Schlesinger looking like Donald Fagen circa 1977 with long black hair and big RayBans. It's funny, "Welcome Interstate Managers" was released on the same day as "Everything Must Go". I thought for sure that FOW would be buried by the competition but 13 months later, they're on their third single and the CD is still selling strong.

Hoops - Thanks for the Wacky Packages package! Your idea about an alt board sounds great.

Mark in Boston

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 16:46:33 ET
Posted by: h,

Thanks for the heads up on the re-emergence of these, Joey. Thanks also to someone else who commented on this as well as Raj who gave us hopeful gossip. Gretchen, maybe this could be a focus of your Danfest.

I've had some requests that a second, unmomderated, "anything goes" board like the blue be opened. to complement this. What does everyone think? Should users have to sign in.

Thanks for your thoughts--as always, open to suggestions posted here or in private.

jim

P.S. Anyone see Ed lately?

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 16:42:14 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Joni Mitchell has a new compilation album coming out and has the following request (from jonimitchell.com) (From this point on is a writing written by the webmaster of jm.com and not me, hoopsie.

========


THE BEGINNING OF SURVIVAL
Release date: 7-27-04

Joni calls her latest set "commentaries on the world in which we live," and the timing for this release couldn't be better. She's taken much of her most socially-conscious music from the 1980s and 90s, and put it together to form "not just a collection, but a play" for this beautiful package that also includes some of her latest paintings. Let's all support Joni by picking this one up from your local retailer as soon as it's released! Or...

ORDER NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

THE WORD:
(7/19/04)

Joni has a favor to ask of you. Joni and I talked for some time tonight about all of us getting a little "conspiracy" together for the release of The Beginning of Survival. How can you help? By purchasing the CD on July 27, the day it's due in stores. Tell your friends. Let's help Joni get her new CD onto the charts.

There's a very good reason for this: Joni wants to make sure that there are future collections as beautiful as this one's going to be. It's an unfortunate truth that how a CD sells when it first comes out can make or break an artist's chances for having a say on future releases. Joni doesn't want what she considers her best work to end up "in Geffen's basement." She wants to be sure that she can continue to give us releases with her latest paintings, more than just a disc inside a plastic box.

Joni's really happy with this CD. "When they see it, they'll love it, and they'll want to share it with people," she told me. "Buy two and hold on to one of them to give away as a Christmas present!" I promised her I would, of course, and hope you all will too.

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 15:37:31 ET
Posted by: Joey ,

" I'm taking this as encouraging news:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bmoura/msacdpln.htm "

Thanks G. !

J.

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 14:42:23 ET
Posted by: Rajah , en route to Left Bank

Grette - if indeed the early records are being worked on out here at present, as I am persuaded they are, it would be at least until the autumn leaves caress your window pane but hopefully before you hear old winter's song.

au revoir,
Renne le Chateau Rajah

Date: Thurs, July 22, 2004, 12:10:37 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, How soon is soon?

I'm taking this as encouraging news:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bmoura/msacdpln.htm

"Coming Soon" is better than nothing.............

When the releases are done, should we have a release party? I think so.

Impatiently yours,
G

Date: Wed, July 21, 2004, 09:42:37 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, purple haze

Peter, is it pure coincidence or by intention that you're using Amethyst, which happens to be Walter's birthstone?

SOH, I can hope only that Boz extends his tour to New York like he did last fall, where I saw him in the very intimate setting of Joe's Pub. Great show.

G

Date: Wed, July 21, 2004, 06:40:22 ET
Posted by: Peter Q, Brooklyn

New! The discussion that has become an underground legend all around the world, The Truth According To Steely Dan, has moved to www.danfannovel.com/forum In future discussions the modality of Steely Dan lyrics, ie uses of the conditional words "Should" and "Could", will be studied. And remember, Amethyst Secrets, TDFNV1, in stores and on Amazon this fall!

Date: Wed, July 21, 2004, 02:52:18 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Two Down Then Left

Life is good tonight...


Just got in from seeing our old friend Jon Herington ripping it up with Boz Scaggs and his super-fine band at Humphrey's on the Bay on a perfect evening in San Diego...


All the tunes you'd expect from Boz (JH's solo on Breakdown Dead Ahead had "Kid C" flavour all over it) and some you wouldn't (a KILLER cover of The Crusaders "Streetlife" with another top-shelf Herington lead break)...


Oh how I long for those crazy, hazy days of last summer...


SOH

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 19:38:05 ET
Posted by: princessofcairo, north of hollywood

A link http:// to a story I wrote which contains a reference to the Dan...

http://ameliaray.net/writ/gumbo.html

poc

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 19:34:27 ET
Posted by: Randy,

Steely-folk,

In reference to the post concerning Joni Mitchell, 'Shadows and Light' was recorded (live) and released in 1980 -- with the band consisting of Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius, among others -- while Pastorius' demise did not come until later in 1987.

Randy
Music History Site
http://hometown.aol.com/nightfly62/nightfly.html

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 16:51:44 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Gretchen, sweetheart that was a great read, how did I miss that? Pot smoking recording equipment? Yikes, keep your hands off my stash. Are they really past their OCD studio days? Won't know till Don's record surfaces. And I wonder if we'll ever hear their version of "Carey" by Joni? Did Don camp it up at the end on "...I said - oh you're a mean ole daddy but you're out of sight..." Think of the open note at the end of Black Cow, same technique might have been used to great effect.

I hear unconfirmed rumors from separate sources that the SACDs are being worked on as we speak out here in Santa Monica.

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004,  14:38:16 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, the edge of reason

You're welcome! Check out this link, too, it's hilarious!


http://jibjab.com/


G

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 14:34:52 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Wow, Gretchen! if it was up before, I sure missed it. What an awesome article. THANKS!

jim

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 12:48:07 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, burning incense

Has anyone seen this?
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug03/articles/steelydan.htm

Suede mocassins? Fleece? What's their world coming to? By the way, today was supposed to be the day for all of the SACD's to be released. That's why I'm in such a funk, maybe. Oh, what could have been.......

G

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 10:58:16 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Sparks - that would indubitably qualify as my personal hell. I'd rather see Crosby, Stills & Nash do time steps to "Teach Your Children" and "Our House."

How about Don & Walt with straw hat and cane? Me and My Shadow? Tea For Two? Ragtime Cowboy Joe? Stop me when you recognize something...

Baba Buck & Wing Swami

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 03:58:58 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

Stevee -- 1980 for that show. Must have been the same tour you saw, right ?

Gino oddities -- ever notice how he went for fat sweet chords but little in the way of vocal harmonies...I Just Wanna Stop and a few others exluded ? Lots of backing vocals, but unison stuff.

How about Englebert, Tom J. and Gino together on the same bill !

Date: Tues, July 20, 2004, 01:54:02 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan, Heavens (on the way) to Mergatroid

Or just even even

>Steven<

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 21:46:35 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

Worser even.

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 20:56:39 ET
Posted by: Rajah, packin up

MuMu - We just didn't get it as young men. Maybe it's for the best. Woulda done even worst damage. I seriously did not expect this response to Gino. Cripes, what's next? Barrys White and Manilow?

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 20:41:17 ET
Posted by: DoctorMu, catholicguiltpurgatory

Rajah: "You Gotta Move" Great synth and I think clavinet Bump and Grind, especially made for vinyl warmth - I do remember his brother did the programming. More Soul than the post-modern American Idol urban music. The more I think back - when I played the occasional Gino Vanelli, more young women meandered around the dorm. Damn, I was so drunk and stoopid in college!! I WANT A WAY-BACK MACHINE!! NOW! I'd have Gino Blasting 24/7! Like an Estrogen magnet.


"Youth is wasted on the young"

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 19:14:12 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan,

Sparkin' - I purchased my copy of Shadows And Light from a vendor in Hong Kong about a year before it became available in the USA. I think that concert was in Santa Barbara, California in either 1982 or 1983, just before the tragic and untimely death of Jaco Pastorius.

Gretchen - as for the techno Gino, I didn't like it either. I was amazed to see that he was still recording music and being released, but it was a big let down for me. I never play that CD. I do periodically play tracks from his first 4 records.

Kid Clean - did you get my e-mail letter from last night?


SteveeDan

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 17:17:24 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

In response to BR's question: A. - After I made a copy for myself, of course. Imagine the reward for this rightous move.

KC

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 15:09:03 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, I hate the 80's!

Not to bring up this forgettable subject again, but didn't Gino Vanelli do some techno sounding poppy thing in the 80's called "Black Cars Look Better in the Shade?" I truly hated that style.....

Back in that decade of excess, the musical efforts to me were dreary and bland. Except for Dire Straits, Donald Fagen, and Pat Metheny, I pretty much listened to a lot of WBLS out of New York. That's when rap/hip hop was new and interesting, with artists like Grandmaster Flash, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte and Eric B and Rakim coming into view. Also, the r&b scene was hot, with D Train, Gladys Knight, the Manhattans, Grace Jones, Nona Hendrix, and scores of other artists that saved me from the musical doldrums in that decade.

G

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 10:50:15 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

What truly would be genius is if I could get ANY sexual favors for a listen to a Steely Dan rough cut recording.

Sparky - I gotta get that Shadows & Light DVD...forget female singer/songwriter, Joni might have been the best solo in this format ever, period.

Date: Mon, July 19, 2004, 09:46:18 ET
Posted by: Joey ,

" I'd copy it four times and send one each to Skunk Baxter, Denny Dias and Rick Derringer. Tell them to finish it off for them. Keep the other one and barter it for sexual favors. Those would be the right moves. "

Pure Genius .


You make Joey giggle !

Date: Sun, July 18, 2004, 21:52:04 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

Joni's Shadows and Light with Jaco, Pat M., et al has been out on DVD for about a year. The live set in a great natural amphitheatre must have been around the same time you caught the show Stevee. Strange and effective use of Rebel Without a Cause visuals at the beginning. Lots to offer throughout.

Date: Sun, July 18, 2004, 19:07:23 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan,

Yeah, ... I wouldn't compare Gino to Joni.

Joni Mitchell uses a lot of different "open tunings". This fact is well known in many circles. I remember (from over 20 years ago) when a young Pat Metheny was commenting to me about these tunings. When Joni Mitchell played at the Berkeley Jazz Festival (back in 1980), her guitar tech had all of her acoustic guitars lined up and was tuning them using one of those strobe (red light) tuning machines in various open tunings.

I noticed that this guitar tech had an open note pad with all of Joni's open tunings written out. I hastily wrote them down and I don't even play guitar ! I gave a copy of these tunings to Pat Metheny.

Joni sang a beautiful acoustic rendition of Woodstock at the Berkeley Greek Theater as the sun was going down over Mount Tamelpius. It was an incredibly beautiful moment. All the women in the audience were paying reverent attention to Joni as if she were an evangelist.

But, let me tell you what the women were doing at those Gino Vannelli concerts ... oh my my !!!


SteveeDan

Date: Sun, July 18, 2004, 17:05:13 ET
Posted by: Rajah, the garge and back yard with Joni

Been listening to a rotation of Court & Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter all weekend. What an incredible storyteller Joni is. She'll take you way inside herself and then pivot on a dime and with clarity observe outside herself, sometimes in the same song. Her guitar tunings are so original, she defies conventional rhythm and rigid time signature and she sings like a disembodied being. Wow, nobody like Joni.

Vanelli, ver-schmelly!

Date: Sun, July 18, 2004, 03:07:36 ET
Posted by: The Lyric God(dess), The bachanal

OH MY GOD OR GODDESS

That may well be the worst lyric ever written.

Date: Sat, July 17, 2004, 23:45:27 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, The Axis of Pain/Pleasure

Oh my god...

For the longest time now with these latest posts regarding El Gino, I'm thinking that he's the guy who sang "Into The Night"...

"She's just sixteen years old...Leave her alone THEY say..."

But...wait for it...I WAS WRONG!

That classic was warbled by the infamous Benny Mardones!!!

How poor of me to be so memory-deficient when it comes to such forgettable music!

SOH

Date: Sat, July 17, 2004, 23:27:29 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan,

I really liked the first 4 Gino Vannelli albums. My favorite one had to be "People Gotta Move". He reminded me in vocal quality of Stevie Wonder (a little bit), and he used keyboards for the majority of his tracks, so, naturally, I liked that a lot.

People Gotta Move
Jack Miraculous
Son Of A New York Gun

These were the three songs on People Gotta Move, that, for their time, I really thought were great. Fun to play too. Gino's brother Ross did a lot of the keyboard playing and programming.

Graham Lear was the drummer until he left to join Santana around the "Moonflower" era. Graham could play drum rolls with one hand. I saw him do it, it was amazing.

... Over a long time ago, ... oh yeah ...


SteveeDan

Date: Sat, July 17, 2004, 22:26:43 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, almost dreary Sunday....

I would listen to it many times over, enjoying in the deliciously secret indulgence I was privy to. I'd tell no one. However, I'd want it returned safely to Donald, with no one intercepting. Anything else would be a violation of his wishes and his privacy. I'd contact the management, but though I don't actually know anyone of Steely Dan Inc, I'd stipulate I must hand the cd to the man himself. We could meet somewhere discreet which he would later be inspired to write a song about...I'd ask him if I could design the cover for the disc. And I'd tell no one.............

G

Date: Sat, July 17, 2004, 22:22:15 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One, painting the lair

Quel dilemma, BR.

I would do all of the below, except for D. More specifically and in this order, b(plus make ONE copy), a, and c. Oh, yeah, and I would tell the Starbucks dude(tte) FWIW. But finders, keepers...no Starbucks lost and found for that precious cargo.

Date: Sat, July 17, 2004, 11:50:08 ET
Posted by: Rajah, garage clearance days

I'd copy it four times and send one each to Skunk Baxter, Denny Dias and Rick Derringer. Tell them to finish it off for them. Keep the other one and barter it for sexual favors. Those would be the right moves.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 23:17:05 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Look what I found!

I was just reading an AP story of how U2 has either lost or had stolen, an unfinished copy of their new CD. Yikes! It got me thinking.......

What if you were in NYC and popped into Starbucks for a cup of coffee and you see on the table next to you an unmarked CD. Nobody is around, you look to see if somebody left it. Nobody. You pop in your CD Walkman and ....OH....MY....GOD!! Is that Fagen? What song is this???? You then hear 5 more tracks and you discover you have the new tunes Donald has been writing for his forthcoming CD.

The Bluebook question is:

A.) Do you try to contact DF or his management?
B.) Do you keep it for your own private eargasms?
C.) Do you rent out Roseland and have a Bluebook listening party?
D.) Do you become an Ebay whore and sell it for $$$$
E.) Do you be a dink and give it to the Starbucks clerk and leave.


Pondering.....pondering.....pondering.....hmmmmmmmm.


Mark in Boston

P.S. Hey LWO! That's a loaded question asking "What's Up" in the same post you were talking about Cialis! How are ya kid?!

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 22:48:03 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

Here it is:

http://www.royalscam.com/vannelli.htm

I think it's the pet project of one of the band members, Mike Caputo, who has his own picture right beside one of Gino. The images though are almost too similar to believe. There's also a lengthy explanation of how the Vannelli thing came about....so it's legit.

I always thought Gino would have been prime fodder for SCTV -- the music aside.

Sloshing through typhoon rains to pick up my Kama DVD-A today....hardly a deterrent.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 19:47:19 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

Alack, mi Joey, I will not return from the old country until the 10th. Damn, as the man said. I'll miss them and one of my beloved PL shows. We rely on you for a full report, mon ami. We miss your nuzzles around here, BTW, and nibbles a-course.

Who's Sorry Now,
Baba O'Rajah

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 17:53:27 ET
Posted by: Joey ,

" I love those Vanelis too. They are hard to find in size 10 1/2, though.
Baba Low Spark of High Heeled Rajah "

Speaking of " Baba " .................................

Please Don't forget my Rajah that one of your favs will be performing very soon at the newly refurbished Hollywood Bowl :

" Upcoming WHO gigs:
Japan - Jul 24 & 25
Australia - Jul 28, 29 & 31
Honolulu - Aug 03
Maui - Aug 04
Shoreline - Aug 07
Hollywood Bowl - Aug 09 "

Enjoy !

J.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 16:37:49 ET
Posted by: Rajah, just us girls

I love those Vanelis too. They are hard to find in size 10 1/2, though.

Baba Low Spark of High Heeled Rajah

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 15:43:05 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, wearing clogs

LWO: I thought of Vaneli shoes, too! Didn't think anyone else would recall that brand. It's a girl thing, I guess, lol!
G

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 15:43:02 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, wearing clogs

LWO: I thought of Vaneli shoes, too! Didn't think anyone else would recall that brand. It's a girl thing, I guess, lol!
G

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 15:40:05 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One, the Shoe Aisle

Not to mention the VANELi mirrored s-teelyandals that I wore to damn near every concert last summer.

Hey, hoops. When do we get the (as you referred to 'em) "hilarious" comments from the Danny's voting? The midsummer doldrums have hit and I could use a good laugh about now. And a good flashback...

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 14:49:09 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

How 'bout Gino Vanilli????

I Just Wanna Stop so Blame It on the Rain Rajah

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 14:35:17 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, up the country

Admit it, Hoops, you're trying to get us to discuss how Milli Vanilli would have sounded doing Dan tunes.......oh, those awful costumes.....

G

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 14:34:44 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

Hoops - We're going to Vanelli Helly, a-course.

Lunching With Gino,
Right in Your Face Rajah

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 14:09:42 ET
Posted by: hoops,

I dunno. Gino Vannelli has always kinda struck me as Tom Jones for Steely Dan fans. There was always that crisp production on GV. Yeah, that' s probably it.

And then there was the Grammy scandal involving Minnelli Vannelli, the Liza Minnelli/Gino Vannelli cover (or do you say tribute) band which...well, I'm not sure where I am going with this...

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 13:30:31 ET
Posted by: Rajah, drinkin you all up

Sparky - you're kidding me about the Gino, right? No, you couldn't make a thing like that up. Gotta watch out what I wish for.

My aversion to choral singing does represent an alarming gap in my range of appreciation but there it is. All I can hear is the Four Freshmen and the Ray Coniff Singers. Don't hate me.

And Gretchen, sorry, but it's either Don or me.....OK, I hear ya, see you later then, no regrets cayote.

Baba Swami Hitcher and Prisoner of White Lines on the Freeway Rajah

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 12:17:20 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, drinking green tea.......

I love the vocals on Pretzel Logic (dreamlike), and Ruby Baby (cheers you up). Indulged in the Nightfly DVD A last night, it's sublime, just like it's creator. I can't quit Donald........

G

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 11:51:17 ET
Posted by: Josey, Drinking Margueritas

Rajah - that's funny that you mention not liking the vocal choir on those specific tunes because, where those three tunes are concerned, thats probably my favorite aspect of them. It's definitely the one thing I like the most about Pretzel Logic. The beat on Ruby Baby stands out to me the most, but I love the vocals on that as much as anything.

Kid Clean - I was just about to post where I saw that the Metheny tour ends toward the end of this month in Europe so I was thinking maybe McBride was jumping in with Krall then. Oh well, like you say, should still be a good show. I read a great review of the Atlanta show a few days ago.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 11:47:05 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

The NY area Royal Scam tribute band also does a Gino Vannelli tribute. Go figure. I like a lot of the Gino tunes, but I'm not big on the lyrics.

Don't think you can get around the choral vocals on Ruby Baby. DF said his version was a take on what the Drifters did..and both that version and Dion's have the similar backing vocals. DF's Ruby, I think, is brilliant in part because of Anthony Jackson's bass line.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 11:18:12 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

Josey - I stand corrected. Bob Hurst is playing bass and Anthony Wilson on guitar. I coulda swore I saw that McBride was touring with her. Oh well, should be a good show anyway.

KC

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 11:10:21 ET
Posted by: Rajah, something crawled up my Turban and died

Very funny, Steve, gotta have this thing fumigated now.

Buddy, we all long to be Gino Vanelli(?!?), this was your big chance. Think of the chicks you could pull in that get up... Can you at least Vogue for us behind a Keytar??? OK, well, you'll just have to stick behind that piano, I guess. Pity.

Wonder what it is about the Pretzel Logic songtitle as band name? OK, the pretzel logic of it all, is that it? Truthfully, the song itself, it's not one of my favorites, the "choral" aspect of the vocals puts me off. I had the same problem with Ruby Baby but the piano saves the day there. Chain Lightning, same thing. I was frightened by a Big Band chorus when very young. Pretzel Logic works when it's done with that raucus, almost New Orleans street parade approach, festive, a little ragged even. The stop time bridge is a Steely classic, however.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 07:30:58 ET
Posted by: Josey, Getting ready to move back to GA coast

Stevee, strange that you should mention "Brother to Brother". I just had that cd in the changer a week ago. Sounds a little dated now but I still love it. Are you familiar with his tune "Santa Rosa"? It's on the Nightwalker cd - as is the legendary Vincent Colaiuta!

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 01:27:55 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

SteveeDan: Lisa G.? Either you have me confused with some other Daddy G. out there or else this is a reference I just don't get. If the latter, please explain, otherwise I'm sorry for any confusion caused by the Daddy G. moniker. Didn't mean to confuse anybody.

Ah, the "other" Pretzel Logic (Toronto) you mention is indeed listed at tributecity.com, but there is no website listed for the band so I was unable to confirm their existence---until now thanks to you. I'm in the process of sampling each Dan band's sounds where possible. Interesting to hear the different approaches. However, >>>your<<< Pretzel Logic was one of the first such bands I became aware of and I must say I was impressed from the first time I heard your posted mp3s.

Date: Fri, July 16, 2004, 00:16:26 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan, Named after Steviedan from the Yellow (St. Al's)

Rajah, Daddy G (say hi to Lisa G. for me), and Kid Clean - - -

You might not know it but actually, the Cincinnati Pretzel Logic is "PL" #3. My band is "PL" #2, and there is a PL that predates my band by something like 10 years. They are in Toronto, and only play a couple of times a year as "Pretzel Logic".

So, Daddy G., like you said, if we don't venture out of our areas, there should be no problems. I wrote PL #3 a letter explaining the genesis of our band (PL #2) and gave them a few suggestions for getting a foothold in the club scene and building a fan base.

They seem eager to get it going, and I felt that it would be improper to behave towards then in any manner other than being totally supportive.

As for the "Stevee" song titles ... yikes Rajah. The horse you have been beating here is so far gone (and pummeled) that I don't think the glue factory is interested any longer. But, I do like the idea of being like Gino Vannelli (by the way, did you know that Jake's Dad played on "Brother To Brother"?) ... anyway, I like the Vannelli idea, but, then, I wake up and look in the mirror, and there I am. Not Gino. Not even close.

The father of one of my oldest and closest friends was a music manager back in the '60's and the '70's. Vannelli was one of his acts. I remember going to some of those early Vannelli concerts and watching the women in the audience lose their sh%t completely over this virile Italian Goombah. Gino had an incredible voice, and he had a great band.

But, as for your idea, I think I'd give that up to our Logician "Mr. Snarly". He could pull it off. If I tried that, they'd have to put up chicken wire in front of the stage, whatever good that would do.

Mr. Clean - - - I haven't forgotten. I won't let you down ... for too much longer ... I promise.

Oh, yeah, and Rajah ... be careful when you remove your turban tonight before bedtime ... Stevee put creepy surprise therein.

So, in light of all those song titles here's one for you ...

Midnight Turban Criuser (No skidmarks at all ...)


SteveeDan

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 22:19:36 ET
Posted by: Josey, Getting ready to move back to GA coast

I thought Christian McBride was out with Metheny this summer. Krall just played Atlanta a week ago. I heard about Erskine but did not catch who was on bass with her. I do know that Metheny's doing a trio tour right now in Europe with McBride and Antonio Sanchez. Maybe the schedules allow him to do both. Let me know.

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 21:19:05 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Christmas Day, OZ-style

Cobbah...

Nice Box...

Thanks Mate...

SOH

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 21:13:37 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

SteveeDan: Well, PL ain't the only doubly named SD band. Maybe you're aware, maybe you're not, but there are also two Royal Scams, one in the NY area --- http://www.royalscam.com/ --- and the other in Nashville. I guess as long as two such bands don't venture out of their home areas there won't be much problem. Any Dan was good Dan.

Though the Nashville Scam don't seem to have an active website there was a June 30 newspaper mention of them appearing:

http://tennessean.com/entertainment/music/hotspots/archives/04/06/53467655.shtml?Element_ID=53467655

Hoops' recent mention of Dan tribute bands in the Digest got me curious and digging around the web myself looking for'em. I've found 14 different SD bands with active websites and then the one Nashville Royal Scam band confirmed as existing even though there isn't any actual website.

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 20:19:35 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Skeevee Town (think all things unsavory)

Pull It Again
Stanky Work
Poon Tang Cruiser
Brooklyn(Owes This Crack-Hoe Under Me)
Turn That El Camino Over Again
Ol' Buddysattva
Your Hammered-Out Gold Teeth
My Old Reform School
King of the Projects
MulletTown
With a Home Made Gun
Haitian Divorce Court TV
Here at the Western Union
Beauty School Profession
West of Bollywood
Skankwhacker

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 18:41:41 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

If I can just get those leather britches on him, whack on a Gino Vanelli wig with a shirt unbuttoned down to there and send him out to sing, "Don't Call Me Baby," we'd see the real "Stevee Skeevy Dan!" I'd have to see his dance moves. Maybe remediate with a Denny Terrio instructional video.

Hoops - you just gave me a brilliant idea...wait now...

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 18:11:00 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

Raj & Gretch - sounds like we all missed an awesome show in NYC.

Steeeveee - I'm dienovaheah.

My sister got me tix to see Diana Krall next month. Looking forward to it very much, one Peter Erskine will be tapping the skins along with her. Not to mention Christian McBride on the bass.

KC

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 17:48:18 ET
Posted by: hoops,

It's crossed my mind that some day, a Steely Dan cover band with an appropriate niche style of interpretation would call themselves "Skeevy Dan."

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 17:38:54 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Elliot Scheiner is part of the team producing Phish's PBS TV Special that premieres in a couple of weeks:

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=69924

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 15:07:03 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

You know, Steve, maybe it's time to rethink the Pretzel Logic band name in light of all these other Pretzel Logics floating around. Now I know you're a very humble man but, aw what the hell, maybe it's time to bust this thing wide open and go for some limelight here.

Whaddya say?

Yeah, screw it, it's time for this butterfly to spread his wings and fly-boy-fly so in that selfsame spirit, here we go, hold on tight for some new names for the LA PL boys which I feel better reflects the nature of the driving spirit of the ensemble:

SteveeTown
SteveeFreak
Steveesattva
Show Biz Steves
Bad Stevens
Kid Schteeve-amagne
Stevee Boyz
Caves of Steve-a-Mira
Sign in Steve-ulla
Steve Out of Mind
Babylon Stevens
Jack Of Steeve
I Got the Schteeves
Steves I Miss the Most
Third World Steven
West of SteveeWood
Cousin Stee-Vee
Steveleen

Now what's your vocal octave range and how do you look in leather pants? I'm thinking like, Gino Vanelli meets Steely Dan.

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 12:18:29 ET
Posted by: SteveeDan,

I was wondering how long it would take before someone found the Cincy based Pretzel Logic band. They are brand new, they are about to play their debut gig. I have contacted them and wished them well, although, I must admit that I am a bit irked that they used the same name as my band without checking around first.

It's a trivial point. No big deal. What's in a name anyway? It's the performances that make or break the band, and whether the band can command a following. That's where it's at.

We are in the process of re-doing our website.

We have gigs coming up in August (2) and September (2).
Two of them are Festivals, and the other two are nightclubs.

Onward Steely Soldiers.


SteveeDan

Date: Thurs, July 15, 2004, 00:54:46 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

A new Dan tribute band---Pretzel Logic (Cincinnati)....

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/07/15/tem_ae15steelydan.html

Band's website: http://www.pretzel-logic.com/

Note: Not to be confused with Pretzel Logic (L.A.)

Date: Wed, July 14, 2004, 20:58:43 ET
Posted by: Rajah,

It was Curly's preferred.

Date: Wed, July 14, 2004, 20:43:20 ET
Posted by: roy.scam, ToonTown

I believe Daffy Duck used to score frequently with that ploy.

Date: Wed, July 14, 2004, 16:13:17 ET
Posted by: hoops,

The Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau wooed convention planners with private Michael McDonald concert:

http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2004/07/12/daily5.html?jst=b_ln_hl

"Woo," "wooing" and "wooed" are funny words. Somehow, I suspect the word came from an ancient tradition where a gentleman would approach a woman he wanted to date, and, with that love-look in his eyes, literally coo, "woo, whoo, whooooo...whooo. "

Date: Wed, July 14, 2004, 12:24:19 ET
Posted by: hoops,

DANDOM.COM. the BLUEBOOK and THE DANDOM DIGEST
will be unavailable intermittently today and tomorrow, July 14 & 15 while the folks at viaVerio (our hosting service provider) upgrade the server's kernal (ie. operating system).

So if you have tried to post before and encountered problems, try again in a little bit.

THANKS!

jim

Date: Wed, July 14, 2004, 12:10:28 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, googling.....

This was returned from a search I did on "Donald Fagen and Democratic Party:"

http://cantstopwontstop.blogspot.com/2004_02_08_cantstopwontstop_archive.html

At the beginning of the article, an unusual interpretation of the location of "Aja."

G

Date: Tues, July 13, 2004, 19:17:22 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Actually, I think the hat was for both the band's bar bill (kidding) and the house electric bill what with all those borderline-musical gizmos of theirs. They had the power.

I doubt D&F would actually have to juice any of their pals and colleagues very much if they did their own label, production and distribution. An honorarium would surely suffice. Playing with them is its own endorsement and is the ultimate showcase, ask Charlap.

I bet Hal Blaine on Any World That I'm Welcome To (last minute replacement for Porcaro is how I recall it) got the highest quote if you reconciled 70s piasters to 2004 USD.

Date: Tues, July 13, 2004, 18:30:46 ET
Posted by: Sheesh,

Rajah, Maybe Bar 55 itself is unpretentious (to say the least!), but I think passing around a hat for tips to the pay the band is very pretentious! I wonder if they'll pass around the hat in the recording studio to pay Wayne Krantz when he plays on Donald's new solo album...

Date: Tues, July 13, 2004, 17:12:03 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Very nice guy emailed me and set me straight on the Diablo boys:

July 9th@55Bar: Sean Pelton/Brian Mitchell - "House of Diablo"
Sean Pelton - Drums, Brian Mitchell - Keyboards, Clark
Gayton - Trombone and Tuba, Ed Potokar - Computer
Stuff, Avi Bortnick - Guitar

Sean Pelton is the drummer for Saturday Night Live and
Sheryl Crow. Clark Gayton is a member of the Mingus
Big Band and has played with Sting.

Date: Tues, July 13, 2004, 12:52:18 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Indeed, the guy at 55 Bar was playing a Souzafone, not a tuba, the marching band thingy with a damn melatron, yes, you heard me right, a melatron mounted and fixed on the instrument and somehow connected to the valves. Looked like he took it to the welder, mouthpiece soldered to the base of the three valves. What an unrepentent freak, he also miked it somehow, the chord trailed out of the thing. Most of the time he played trombone which should explain a lot. Keyboard man sung "I Feel Good" by James Brown and Stevie's "Superstition" through a mini-hailer of sorts, he was hilarious; drummer had bongos on a loose stand that spun around when he hammered with cushy mallets; second keyboard man had what looked like a homemade hand-held set of six dials that controlled feedback. These boys were either nuts or on shrooms. And they were as tight as they were inventive. Smokin hot and funny, funny. Los Diablos. The 55 Bar is a dive, a relic from Prohibition days, holds maybe 40 people. How they get the likes of Wayne Krantz and Mike Stern to play there is beyond me. They also pass the hat for the musicians. What a great little place. Unpretentious.

Date: Mon, July 12, 2004, 23:08:21 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, still throwing roses

I love NYC, what a great show, Charlap and Kellaway were so elegant. It was like removing yourself temporarily from the angst and trauma of the real world and indulging in their magical notes and sublime syncopation with each other. From that to a little place in the village with two very young and humble musicians, here from Israel, playing their hearts out to people like me who like doctored up martinis. We failed to mention Friday night's jaunt to 55 Bar, where there was a very eclectic group of musicians (what was their band name, David, Diablo something) who had an acid jazz/african/techno/latin sound all mixed in with a tuba attached to a little keyboard with cymballs attached to that! A mike down the tuba, and one band member abandoning the keyboard to play a triangle. At one point they drifted into an Alan Parsonesque number, the place was filled to capacity with working musicians. What a couple of nights in my favorite place on earth, NYC. Thanks for the company, David. Let's do it again. I just hope I can get the stain from my coconut noodle bowl out of my new silk dress. Ya can't take me anywhere without a bib. For God's sake. G'night all.
G

Date: Mon, July 12, 2004, 19:49:16 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Just so you know what a hitter Kellaway is from his bio: "Having been involved in more than two hundred albums, Roger has performed on piano with everyone from Quincy Jones to Michael Tilson-Thomas, Dizzy Gillespie to Yo-Yo Ma, Elvis to Ellington, Joni Mitchell to Mancini, Maureen McGovern to Natalie Cole."

So Charlap and this guy had been partners for only four nights and already the communication between them was excellent. Kellaway sorta held down the bottom of things, he was the foot stomper, while Charlap arpeggiated all over the top, doin all those waterfalls like the coda of Pixeleen. Well, more subtle little arpeggio phrases to get from here to there. It's his thing, how he moves around the keyboard. I'd really like to hear his take on Dr. Wu or those lovely arpeggios on Gold Teeth II. They were face to face and I especially enjoyed when they lifted up and showed each other their hands to help time out the end of the more stately measures, the sharp head stops on the up numbers, there was this whole lexicon of body signals.

You could hear a pin drop in there, nobody even let their forks hit the plate. I did keep refueling Gretchen's wine glass at every opportunity though, hey, I'm a gentleman, and the little angel/demoness looked thirsty so I had them bring two glasses of water for her. I didn't want her to get tipsy now. She remarked that Kellaway's body language at the piano reminded her of, who else, Donald. He actually did only he was ten years older than Donald and in better shape. Maybe Don outta move to Santa Barbara after all. New York keeps your artistic soul young but California keeps your body better-preserved. Is it better to look marvelous than to feel marvelous? Hmmm...

The twin Bosendorf grands sounded great in the room, they were miked but probably just for recording purposes cause I couldn't hear or see any amplification. Now the young violinist, Yue, has neither studied nor played in the jazz idiom and humbly pronounced herself unworthy to be up there with these two. Well, she might have been young but that comment was a winner, applause from the natives, and she quite truthfully was not put off for one solitary second in performance. She played into the general direction of a mike about 2 feet above her head and she had an EV monitor so they were goosing her a bit. 24 years old who wouldn't. [rim shot] Thank Yue.

We stopped thereafter at a nice bar in the Theatre District, Varjac's, named for the character in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Two Israeli guys in the window playing stand-up bass and a Gibson hollow body, I think, like one of Django's guitars. Baby G ordered a chocolate Martini, whatever the hell that is. (frankly, what a colossal waste of booze) I decided I sure wasn't gettin her loaded behind that confection. WTF, so I had a Boysenberry Slushy with Jelly Beans.

Next time I'm bringing sippy-cups and pure grain alcohol, sweetheart. Thank you for your company.

Date: Mon, July 12, 2004, 04:27:40 ET
Posted by: Rajah, back in LA

Well, forgodsakkes, me and Grette at Birdland for Charlap & Kellaway of course. We were respeldent in black on Saturday night, recipes to follow. That email back there, Mrs. Kravitz, was sent by the very same she in question under my name. The girl continues to defy my very existence. So be it.

Classic NY jazz venue, The Birdland, quiet, respectful but crazy crowd waiting to explode, unlike LA. Charlap is the headliner but in point of fact the show was the return of Kellaway. Charlap was merely the calling card but good enough for us.

Charlap IS New York piano right now, he plays all over town wherever he wants and stays for a week. It was Birdland this week, a happy coincidence, Kellaway is most noted and most revered by his accountant, as he remarked, for being the auteur of the tune playing while the "All in the Family" credits roll. Ka-ching but trapped in Ojai, California for many years he said. We should all be so lucky.

"Caravan" by Basie with guest violinist, "Yue," that's right, from Santa Barbara, lovely young girl who read music and by her own admission did not improvise (how often have you heard that one before, lads?) "Blue in Green" from Miles' songbook by Bill Evans. Jeez, just fuckin great. Charlap calling most of the internal cues. He really is connected. Stories, folks, the songs told stories without words the way they were rendered. A 70-ish minute set.

Grette exits to the powder room as house lights come on. Rajah cuts quicky over to the line of sychophants decending on the ever-besuited Charlap. Perfuctory handshakes lasting no more than 3 seconds. Your Rajah, "thank you, we loved Pixeleen," (who the fuck "we" were is still dubious at this point), "how'd you like working with them...," I slipped it in. "It was waaay too brief," rebounded Charlap. On to the next well-wisher.

The eyes of Steely were upon him.

Date: Sun, July 11, 2004, 16:45:01 ET
Posted by: Mrs Kravitzes, West Oak Street

and just WHO is WE ?

Date: Sat, July 10, 2004, 16:42:38 ET
Posted by: Rajah , Beacon Hotel, after 3 Bellinis

We are off to see Bill Charlap at the Birldand this evening, review to follow

Date: Fri, July 09, 2004, 13:35:35 ET
Posted by: hoops,

:-) [ blush ]

Date: Fri, July 09, 2004, 13:32:49 ET
Posted by: Josey, Atlanta

LWO - has there ever been a more clever advertising tool disguised as a disclaimer than the ol' "erections that last more than 4 hours" thing? That is brilliant! I'm thinking that probably has more positive sells results than anything else they could've thought of.

Date: Fri, July 09, 2004, 10:37:01 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One, I'm Way Deep into Home Ren-o-va-tion

Scattered thoughts for a Freaky Friday:

TOOM? Shakin' ass? Screw aisle? I knew I hated Lowe's for a reason. Next stop, Home Depot for that accent paint for the lair.

Alex Trebek, IMHO, is the epitomy of a SD fan.

Thanks for the tip, Kid Clean. The Radiators have a Houston date which I may check out.

A Halloween Danfest sounds like a winner. And the 31st is on a Sunday this year....quite incongruous for a Pagan celebration on the Sabbath, but oddly appropos for a group like us to gather, me thinks..

Cialis...hmmm. Isn't that the one that debuted the commercial on Super Bowl Sunday that states something along the lines of, "If you experience the effects of this drug for more than 4 hours, please seek medical attention?" Anyone with personal experience of this particular anomaly, please e-mail me privately. All in the interest of research, of course.

(Thanks to Ed Beatty, who is currently impost-ent for that sidebar.)

Hi Boston Rag, what's up? Sorry to have missed you in May. Hope all is well.

hoops, check the po box if you haven't been in a week or so. Hope it was a good one!

Date: Fri, July 09, 2004, 01:03:27 ET
Posted by: bwaySteve, at the Home Depot

Shakin' my ass down the screw isle listening to Time Out Of Mind.

Looking for a 4-40 1" machine screw
and a few teeny springs.They only had a 3/4" and it was brass.
What will I do ?


dance...

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 23:28:58 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, up late

Fife, I lost your number! Email me, OK? Thanks!
G

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 21:28:08 ET
Posted by: fife, the best place to be

steely=jeopardy
you know when you've made it.
potent potables
Steely Dan wouldn't want you to lose this number made of tequila, soda, and lime juice

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 15:32:32 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, status quo

Daddy G, that would be a good idea, if Libby would instead find something else to do that evening, lol! Hopefully by next week there will be more additions to the site.......

In the meantime, here's a recipie for a Mme. Erzulie-tini:

2 oz Grey Goose vanilla
2 oz. seltzer
.25 oz choc. syrup, or, even better choc. liqueur
splash of cream (or skim milk, whatever your persuasion)

Shake it up with ice, serve in a chilled martini glass, top with fresh berries. Good on a hot night.

G

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 15:21:18 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

G: I'm sure you and everyone else got the same signup choices of:

No Email -- I will read this group on the web
Email -- Send each message to me as it arrives
Abridged Email -- Get a summary of new activity each day
Digest Email -- Get all new messages in a single daily email

The default came up as "No Email" so that's what I stuck with. Don't know what would have happened if I'd tried to choose one of the others---if it would have taken or if it would have said "You can't do that."

Right now the whole thing seems to be just a read-only page of official announcements with only the one simple welcome message posted so far. I bookmarked the basic group/donaldfagen url and will use that to go back to check things periodcially, though it seems you still have to jump through a hoop or two to get the page we want.

I'm not even sure that we actually had to sign up to be able to read it. However, if functionality may expand in future I wanted to be officially signed up. At this time I think we're just supposed to await further instructions from Mr. Fairlawn as to what to do next and "keep your eyes on the sky," perhaps even "put a dollar in the kitty."

Who knows?---Maybe at some point, Donald & Libby will offer a free dinner and intimate show at his home to the first 100 subscribers or so (in weekly groups of 10 at a time). :-)

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 14:34:49 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Curiouser and Curiouser............

Once you are signed up for Donald's list, (I see there are 42 people), how do you actually get in? I can't seem to master it, I keep getting kicked back to the "subscribe" screen. He is playing tricks on us, I know it. Very cute, Donald. Very amusing.

G

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 12:34:13 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Forgot to mention... I was in the midst of composing an email to Google group support when I decided to give signing up one more try and it worked. So all I had to do was threaten to email Google support and the AI entity that is Google sensed this, decided it's rather not deal with me personally if it could help it, and decided to finally let me sign up. THAT'S what did it! (lol)

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 12:26:10 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

DF mailing list signup help?....

Found a post over on the Banyan Trees site (Thanks Duncan!) indicating that you may have to actually click on the "terms of service" and "privacy policy" links to actually be able to sign up because only then does Google think you read'em.

I don't know if this is true or not. I only know that I opened them yesterday and was still not having any luck, but that was only after initial sign-up attempts had failed. But today I clicked on those links and left'em open while I tried to join. It still wasn't working as it said there was already such an account.

Then I tried to sign in using info entered yesterday while I also had the ToS and PP pages open. Only then did I get taken to a page where I was able to click a link to have the Google confirmation email sent to me (which it seemed to be saying should have already been sent to me, but which I never received). I got it this time, anyway, clicked the link therein and now I appear to be signed up. It was a tough fight, but "Whew!"

Thought I'd post this in case it might help anyone else. To be honest, I don't know if it worked because I finally did something magically right or if Google just finally got over some hiccuping.

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 10:42:24 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

Forgot to add to my previous post that during the intermission before the Radiators started we all got to listen to almost all of 2vN. I noticed alot of shakin' and groovin' going on, it was very cool.

KC

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 09:43:59 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, a stairwell in the Custerdome

South, they could have also played a snippet of "I Got The News,", appropriate for Cialis, as well, lol.

G

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 09:11:34 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu,

Rajah: LOL. Keep 'em Rolling.

How about:

BuriedTown
Ali Baba
Civilization's End
The Goodbye Video



SoH: I heard Jack of Speed around a break

Date: Thurs, July 08, 2004, 00:57:11 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Limboland

Speaking of laughing myself silly...

I was watching the PGA's Western Open over the weekend and at least twice when CBS (?) was going into commercial breaks they played snippets of Dan and DF (Gaslighting Abbie and something from Kama, I can't remember what) which had me wondering this...

It was the CIALIS Western Open...Was the Dan music strategically targeted for a certain-aged male demographic?

I kept waiting for the post-round interview with the winner (a 40 year-old first time winner, BTW) to go something like this...

Announcer: "Nice job on your first PGA win. How did you do it?"

Winner: "It was a tough task against fierce competition, Jim. I'm just glad I was able to keep it up for the entire weekend."

Ba DUM BUMP!...I'll be here all week, folks...

SOH

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 15:30:37 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, laughing myself silly

I just had to share this, it struck me so funny. I'm listening to the Yankee game on the radio, and the stadium organ is doing a version of one of Ludacris' songs, not sure of the title...it sounds very comical on a ballpark organ, lol! Also doing the "hey" song and "Black Betty!" I need to get outside more often....

G

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 13:39:55 ET
Posted by: Rajah, meat on a bone

OK, at the risk of being investigated by John Ashcroft and Homeland Security (scary), and with no insult intended to the true sons and daughters of Islam, Allah be praised, here’s:

STEELY TERRORIST DAN

Al-Qaeda Work

Any Mujadeen Will Tell You

Only Mohammad Would Say That

Jihadist Logic

Change of the Guard (Abu Graib Prison mix)

Fatima Don’t Lose That Detonator

Dr. Abu

With a Bomb

The Caves of Al Jezeera (thanks G)

Bring Down the Western World

Saddam in the Hole

(I Fear The) The Shiite in Your Soul

Everyone’s Gone to the Jihad

Osama Don’t Live in That Kandahar City No More

Green Turban

Don’t Take Me Unexploded

Sacred Cow

Babylon Mullahs

Saudi Profession

Gaslighting Allah

Almost Barbaric

West of the Hindu Kush

Bushwhacker

Every Infidel Dog Must Go

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 13:30:26 ET
Posted by: Kid Clean, @work

I imagine Donald sitting back a laughing his ass off at all the hubub around here. I'm just glad that there's something to hubub about.

Side note: I saw the Radiators Sunday night at Summerfest for the first time. I'd been wanting to for years but it never materialized. All I can say is that if these ragin' cajun's visit your neck of the woods, go see them!!! 2 hours of great rock/blues/jazz music with a real Louisiana feel.

KC

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 12:21:24 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, at work getting ready for big race Saturday

I found this particulary interesting - sorry if already posted. Great stuff.

http://www.abc.net.au/goldcoast/stories/s1142186.htm

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 12:20:14 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, exiled on South Main St

I had a hell of a time trying to get signed up as well, and I thought just for a moment perhaps Donald was playing a sinister trick on us. Then I got through. To think I lost faith......
Anyone up for a Halloween Danfest, come dressed as your favorite Dan character? Just a thought...

G

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 12:10:53 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!!

I just tried signing up again and now it's telling me an account with that email address already exists. It's as if it took my unsuccessful signup attempts and only half registered them. I can't choose a different email address and it won't allow me to sign in under the proper one. Frustrating!

I may have to wait until the DF site is more fully functional and then see if Mr. Lewis Fairlawn can provide any assistance. In the meantime I'll keep trying, but I'm not too optimistic.

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 11:44:46 ET
Posted by: TG, dreamland

Daddy G, It took me a couple of tries also, hang in there and you'll make it soon. Doesn't it just get better!!

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 11:27:53 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Thanks for the heads up, Alan! (Or is it heads down when you're down under?)

Unfortunately it says I must have a Google account before I can sign up for the mailing list and it won't let me set up a Google account. It just keeps repeating the sign-up page no matter what info I enter.

Anyone else having the same problem? I'm curious as to whether it's kinks in the new system or just me who's "kinky." lol

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 10:26:39 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Well, OK Donald!

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 09:35:13 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, working at a sno-cone stand in Maui

Theron/Lou, Cuban Breezes for the house, on me.
Did everyone subscribe to Donald's list? This is good news............

G

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 08:16:47 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, turning that jungle music down

Raj..just Babylon Sisters. Their set list is on their site.www.reelydan.com They played most of those songs with a few exceptions as I recall.

HeyMike

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 06:46:42 ET
Posted by: alan, Shellabah

Heads up kids !

donaldfagen.com has been updated.

You can now subscribe to the Donald Fagen mailing list.

Date: Wed, July 07, 2004, 05:18:09 ET
Posted by: Theron Brady (Lou Cheng), Greenflower Street

Won’t you poor me a Cuban Breeze Gretchen?

Western World is a damn good song. I think they probably did not have enough space on RS. Either that or…

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 12:45:24 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

HeyMike - what do Reely do from Gaucho? And do any of these bands do Here at the Western World? Totally jonesing on this song. Why in the world was Western World left off of Royal Scam? Someone must have an answer...I was absent that day.

G - wishing us to CT may be hittin' and all like dat for ya but sweet thang the thought of all those white people in one place scares the crap outta me.

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 12:22:13 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, These Suburban Streets

A quick note on the Reely Dan (Katy Lied) gig last night. It is evident that many of the members have played together for a while now. I saw several familiar faces. They nailed Josie and a few others in my opinion. The crowd swelled as the sounds of SD filled the air during this festival. The rain held out too! A few crowd pleasers at the end of the last set (Reelin' and Rikki) got the crowd on their feet for a Bodhisattva encore. Dennis sounded great as usual, they will be at Harry's in Arlington Heights in August (the first place we saw them)

HeyMike

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 12:09:00 ET
Posted by: Gretchen,

OK, you all know I think the guys of Dandom are the best around. Period. I only wish you were all in CT, you can't find them like that around this neck of the woods.......they all have affectations. Yikes.

G

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 11:53:31 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

* "W. Goes Home" revisited:

I'm sure you all remember Jeanette Castillo's "W. Goes Home" / "Josie"---Heck, many of you (in the US anyway) will probably be listening to it till November. Well, I tried at the time to Google some info about Jeanette and was unsuccessful. However, this column by Mike Leonard in the Herald-Times (doesn't say what city) must have been there at the same site as Jeanette's song even then since it's dated Feb 3, 2004---I just didn't find it at the time. There doesn't appear to be an obvious link to it from the lyrics page. So I'm posting it now in case anyone wants to read a little bit about "Jeannie Castillo of Bloomington" (doesn't say what state)....

http://www.boobooday.com/column.html

An excerpt:

"The doctoral student at IU was featured in this column in late 2000 when she won a songwriting contest and saw her 'Christmas in Whoville' included in the Ron Howard film How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Obviously, Castillo is not so whimsical with her new song ["W. Goes Home"].

"The first song I wrote I called 'Hypocrisy,' to the tune of Billy Joel's 'Honesty,' " but it was too angry," she explained recently. "I wanted to go for something more hopeful."

[* Daddy G.'s disclaimer: Not trying to start political discussions / rhetoric. Ms. Castillo's political views are not necessarily representative of mine, but nevertheless I admired her effort in transforming "Josie" and wanted to find out more about her.]

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 11:48:58 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

bwayS - G-G's men are competing night and day with the spectre of no less than Donald Fagen. The woman hand stitched him a scarf and gave it to him forgodssakes. Relentless. Loving her means sharing her with Donald so it's always a game for three.

Shove over Don,
Baba Congeniality Rajah

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 01:29:56 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

Donald's two solo albums have been 'concepts.' Ahead of time it might have been possible to guess at the conceptual theme of the Nightfly, but unless you knew him personally I think it would have been much harder to guess that he would write about a sci fi car and the journeys of Kamakiriad. So, is it three for three -- another concept ? EMG had social themes. What about DF III ??? How about an old house as the narrator and bizarre stories of all the famlies that lived there ?

Date: Tues, July 06, 2004, 00:40:44 ET
Posted by: bwaySteve, out there

I hope everybody thinks it sucks and then 2 years later everybody get's it and then everybody hopes the next one is a LOT like it.

Is Donald's sexiness technically off-topic ?

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 23:25:25 ET
Posted by: Joe Thousandaire,

Krantz is a searing guitarist of the Drew Zingg Bazillion-notes variety. Is this a swing of the pendulum from the economic playing of Walter Becker? With Krantz involved, can Keith Carlock be far behind on these sessions??? Stay tuned, I guess.

"A Love Supreme" is vastly overrated, if you ask me. I just don't understand the hype.

Joe Thousandaire

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 22:43:22 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, A tropical rain forest ( or so it feels)

I am really looking forward to a new effort from Donald. (Damn, Donald is still so sexy!!) I think he's at the point where he will deliver his most elegant work to date, even surpassing Nightfly, perhaps on his way to his equivalant of "A Love Supreme." His musical sophistication has never been higher, he seems comfortable in himself, and prepared for greatness. You know, I don't look at this at all as the end of Steely Dan. It's a matter of wanting to have your "own space" and not be typecast musically, (or, in the worst case, suffocated) by what you are most famous for. The act of breaking free to do his own thing may make for even more creative works from SD as a group. However, I would be just as thrilled to see solo efforts by Donald as well as Walter, given their current musical maturity, creating in the state of the world today, a much different place than earlier recordings. I have confidence that there will be a new respect for Donald from Danfans and audiofiles, and perhaps the pure jazz enthusiasts as well. Don't ask me why, it's just my intuition. Change is good.
G

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 21:25:12 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu, walk with no raindrops

Rajah: Amen to that. No more Shed tours...Performing Arts Centers before 2006, we'll be AOK...

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 19:02:50 ET
Posted by: Josey, Back from the location of this years G8

This is, quite possibly, the best news I've enjoyed since my birthday card from SteveeDan! For what it's worth, (which is nothing) I'd love to see Gadd on a track or three. Hope everyone had a great fourth!

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 16:07:30 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Mark:
I believe you are correct...but damn exciting, huh? (blush)

Just reading about Prince having a "Purple Rain 20th Anniversary" show in New Orleans for 5 hours with the Time, Sheila E and Chaka Khan showing up. Yeeooow! What a show, huh? Prince on Piano Jazz...now that would be interesting. Of course, I'm still holding out for MM's dream guest (as quoted in a Chicago Tribune article last year): Stevie Wonder. I guess SW's album has been postponed to the third week of this month, last I heard.

Speaking of Piano Jazz, the segment airing these days is a re-air of the show with Diana Krall from 1994, I thought the show was great. Check pianojazz.org for a time when it airs your area or when you can get it on a stream.

Laters.

jim

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 13:31:45 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

We're getting somewhere. Donald with Wayne. Is this going to be the straight-ahead jazz rendering sans vocals? If he's of a mind to continue the process ala EMG, recording the full rhythm section live for each track, he might be done with 6 to 8 pieces by New Years. Tack on another 3 months to add the refinements, the soloists, the punch-outs such as they may be. It's Donald here so add another 3 to 6 months for the Fagen Factor, so wishful thinking informs that this thing could go to presses between May or August 2005. Now if he goes back to the OCD recording mode, we're screwed, we won't see this thing until June 2006. But I'm betting he's over the madness and won't do that. A modicum of live support would be in order and I pray he won't do the "shed" tours anymore. Donald belongs at this point in venues like Avery Fisher or Carneige Hall in NYC, the Wiltern in LA, the National or Kennedy Concert in DC, the Warfield in SF, Arie Crown in Chy, Massey Hall in Toronto, Severence in Cleveland, Wang Center in Boston, Sheldon in KC, the really classy concert halls. How about a lineup including Wayne Kranz, Keith of course, Lincoln Goines and Donald? I wanna see Don play piano already.

By then Walter should be ready with a cache of fresh Steely Dan themes. I'm convinced he's the essential lyricist of the Dan. The edge comes from WB.

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 09:58:01 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, These Suburban Streets

A caption came to mind while looking at Donalds Web site "Don't make me go to Chattanooga and sing "My Old School" Again!!"

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 09:56:40 ET
Posted by: Boston Rag, Happyland

Hoops - I interpreted Jesse’s post to the Digest to mean that Wayne Krantz would be recording with Donald in August. But as they say – It’s all good!

Mark in Boston

Date: Mon, July 05, 2004, 00:17:07 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu,

Bway Steve: Not really negative. The Nightfly is as good as anything in the Dan catalog...I smell the Scowled One on that kind of a roll...

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 23:47:48 ET
Posted by: bwaySteve, cloud 9.64

When I went to the site and saw that familiar scowl I was immediatly
filled with such anticipation .I'm milking this one.

And to the fans who think this means the end of Steely Dan .Why waste the precious moment with this kind of negativity ?

May we all have the good fortune to see what's around the bend.

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 21:57:11 ET
Posted by: hoops,

BTW: In a nutshell, Chris Potter is playing on the DF sessions which begin in August.

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 21:56:01 ET
Posted by: hoops,

The latest Dandom Digest covering July3 & 4 has just been sent. There's a story about who on the sessions for Donald's new album and that recording is starting later this summer--so the word goes. So that's why there is another Digest so soon.

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. The main reason I am in the habit of announcing this here is because some people have been having problems with delivery the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.

The following are the subjects of this Digest:

- Some Details on the New Donald Record
- REDUX: New donaldfagen.com website
- List of Steely Dan cover bands?
- Calling all Cover bands/Re: List of Steely Dan Cover Bands, SD Webring

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the the free Dandom Digest email newsletter (not to be confused with the glorious Official Steely Dan newsletter), please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest

SPECIAL NOTE—the Dannys for the 2003 Concerts have been delayed until next next week since I left them on my other computer. (Haven't been there since last Digest because of the holiday) So, again, until next time to find out what the Greater Dandom voted as best moment, best song, best show, MVP, etc.

jim

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 20:07:30 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Checked in to wish everyone in the USA and England a happy Independence Day!

I hear what people are saying and I'm glad "The Next Thing is Next" (our slogan here for teh past couple of months or more) is even nexter :-)

I LOVE the speculation as to what is next and having the activity at df.com is a great confirmation. But you know, sd.com has been pretty much saying "Whatever it is, it will be different." They've BEEN saying for the near future (in Dan years that's maybe 3,4, 5, 6 years) we won't have a Steely Dan album or tour. They've moved on. I have no idea about their contractural obligations --which lablel, etc. But I don't think that makes any difference to what Becker and/or Fagen will do next. You could see this coming when they had separate managers for EMG.

I wouldn't put it past them to do anotehr SD Reunion or a Becker/Fagen reunion someday or each appear on each other's albums, but last tour, I pretty much felt like they took Steely Dan as far as they could for now.

So it's fun to speculate on "The Next Thing which is Next."

Happ

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 19:49:58 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu, I know you're smokin' wherever you are

Rajah,

That's what I thought Q mean awhile back - free from contractual shackles...a new beginning...

I'm pulling for 2006 or 2005...doesn't he still do Chesterfield Kings? Better make that 2005 then. Anyway, the thing is I believe or feel is that Dr. Fagen's creative iron is HOT!! So whatever may come our way - it will be SMOKIN'!

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 16:37:16 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Red White & Blues

Mu - We have pretty much all the puzzle pieces out on the coffee table now, I tend to believe Donald has been released or extricated himself from a contractual agreement or two or three, we have reason to believe there will be new product from him/them in 2007 or so, perhaps he has canned a few solo tunes already (although unless he's recording in the middle of the night disguised as Lewis Fairlawn someone herein would've discovered it by now). But one thing for certain: the time is now for Donald Fagen, like the rest of us he ain't gettin any younger, the cotton is high as they say and king harvest will surely come. Not that he doesn't have years of productivity ahead of him but he's now positioned to deliver his most mature work. He ain't old but he ain't that young either. And I don't think he'll be swayed into slipping back into old patterns. He does have to reclaim his pipes a bit and that can be done to a large extent if he does the right things. And also like the rest of us, hey, he's gotta make money. We'll have a much clearer picture when donaldfagen.com re-launches.

And speaking of reclaiming things, Happy 228th America. Like our boys, we are the greatest, but we do have to toss out a few things and fix a few others before we can move on to the next thing.

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 11:34:28 ET
Posted by: Doctor Mu, But Keep in Mind We Got a Lot

Folks, I'm going to go on pure instinct here...and my instincts tell me that Steely Dan is Done for the forseeable future...another Dan album frankly is unlikely IMHO. I've been feeling this for some time, but have been in denial.

But this is not all bad news - at least one more Fagen solo album is going to be released in the future. During the Gaucho/Nightfly period, Dr. Fagen was on his way to writing post-modern Cole Porter type songs. More of a Gibsonesque story-telling style with a twist then the impressionistic collage of most Dan songs. Heavy chord slut stuff (ex. Kulee Baba, Nightfly title track) filled with lyrical hooks. After The Nightfly, this process came to a screeching halt (much like a change of pace after the Katy Lied noise reduction fiasco) as The Donald came to grips (or tired to) with life itself and ovecoming depression and writing without a partner.

After an aborted solo album, a few songs for other artists (Big Noise, New York), Century's End and the Bright Lights Big City soundtrack (I've never found the incidental music besides on the movie itself), and a few odd projects (ex. Monk stuff with Mr. Steve Khan), an aborted Dan album, Fagen emerged with a songwriting and recording focus on R&B and rhythm...what emerged was the NYR&SR and then Kamakiriad which was a real bookend to the Nightfly, and reunion with Walter Becker. Only Florida Room and On the Dunes had any hint of the path he was on during The Nightfly. Two Against Nature had an interesting Kama funk/cool jazz/50s TV jingle combo. EMG thought was more 40s jazz/blues...and I did hear some idease that extended stuff on the Nightfly. Things I Miss the Most. Greenbook, Pixeleen, Lunch with Gina, and the title track were starting to sound as much like the Nightfly as Kama. More emphasis on chord progressions, melody, and harmony than rhythm...

Whatever path that is - Dr. Fagen's going to go down it one more time...and I'm not sure Walter will be there.

Date: Sun, July 04, 2004, 06:02:01 ET
Posted by: Rajah, we small hours of the morning

Hoops - Now you're thinkin.

Date: Sat, July 03, 2004, 15:47:28 ET
Posted by: John, Erie, PA

That's awesome, Hoopster!

The web sites thing reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel. They have Simonandgarfunkel.com plus paulsimon.com and artgarfunkel.com. All three official sites sometimes have similar news items but each is diffferent.

Date: Sat, July 03, 2004, 15:14:03 ET
Posted by: hoops,

So you know how Jerrry Garcia, Bob Weir and the rest of the Grateful Dead would always play together but also come out with side acts and solo shows and albums? That's how I envision this next stage for D + W.

Saturday mornings are great as I zone in and out waking up and falling back to sleep. I'm sure you know what I am talking about. Anyhow, this isn't a fever dream but more of happy feeling. I fell back to sleep and my mind drifted around and about imagining *Walter's* next project. This recent talk about Donald's solo web site and potential solo album spurred me on.

In the tradition of Garcia and Grisman, maybe with the recent influence of listening to Beasley and Becker's "Mose the Fireman," I somehow "ethereally experienced" this album—Walter Becker and Dean Parks do this Mark Twain/Django Reinhart kinda thing, with other friends popping in to provide other musicial spots.

I have no idea where this came from, but the idea sure gave me this good, warm under-the-covers feeling this morning. Anyhow, it would be damn cool if something like that happened.

Just my two cents.

jim

P.S. I'm in this weird situation where I can post but I can't see what anyone else has posted in the past 12-14 hours...go figure.

Date: Sat, July 03, 2004, 13:41:18 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

I don't think it's my imagination....the Donald picture has changed on the DF.com website under construction.

Date: Sat, July 03, 2004, 01:44:14 ET
Posted by: hoops,

The latest Dandom Digest covering June 19-July 2 has just been sent. 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. The main reason I am in the habit of announcing this here is because some people have been having problems with delivery the Dandom Digest, usually because of spam filters, firewalls, etc.

The following are the subjects of this Digest:

— New donaldfagen.com website
— Steely Dan on "Piano Jazz" to re-air
— See ya Next Time: the Dannys for the 2003 Concerts
— Katy Lied/Reely Dan playing this weekend
— London Tribute Band - Stealing Dan (and Don) Tuesday July 6th
— REDUX: The BlueBook is back

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the the free Dandom Digest email newsletter (not to be confused with the glorious Official Steely Dan newsletter), please email me or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest

SPECIAL NOTE—the Dannys for the 2003 Concerts have been delayed until next time since I left them on my other computer. So, until next time to find out what the Greater Dandom voted as best moment, best song, best show, MVP, etc.

jim

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 14:59:27 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, watching the tango in Paris

"I am myself,” he once declared, “and if I have to hit my head against a brick wall to remain true to myself, I will do it.”

Good words to live by, I'd say. Rest (or be rebellious) in peace, MB.

G

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 14:39:06 ET
Posted by: Rajah, Viva Zapata

RS - Here's my favorite:

Eufemio: "if you cut those wires, it means REVOLUTION!"

--interminable beat--

Zapata: "Cut em."

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 14:23:52 ET
Posted by: roy.scam, Corleone, Virginia

RIP Mr. Brando.
My favorite Marlon Brando line was in the movie The Wild Ones. Somebody asked him what he was rebelling against and he answered, "Whad'ya got?".


On the subject of parental music, I remember Billy Vaughan's "Sail Along Silvery Moon" and Wayne Newton's "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" as two songs that make me visualize my childhood as a flat line on a heart monitor.
To quote the movie "A Mighty Wind", "We had a lot of abuse in our family. Most of it was musical."

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 13:27:18 ET
Posted by: Gino, not Daddy G, Hackensack

http://www.dancingbush.com/

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 13:27:05 ET
Posted by: Pam, On the deck

G: I'm still in Kama; can't get out, except for little excursions to Quadrophenia & that Nickelback song "Figured You Out". For some reason, I really like that song. My world changed forever when I saw the PBS special, and it the rings keep getting wider and wider. You're right, the boys change your whole perspective on everything. I think Donald's appeal for me is his willingness to completely expose his snarky, sensitive, soul funky side.

I was thinking that my only other serious musician crush was/is Pete Townshend; there's something very evocative about him. Jumpsuit at Woodstock - ai chihuahua. Not feeling alert enough today to analyze what Pete & Don have in common, but it will be an interesting exercise for another day, eh?

Funny thing: My friend and I have been going to Belmar for a few years, and there's a guy who checks badges at 10th Street who looks awfully close to our Donald. He has a little scooter that he parks himself on, and my friend and I never fail to chat him up. It just tickles me, and he probably has no idea why these two chicks are so friendly to him!

:) Pam

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 13:10:07 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, back again.........

South, wouldn't you love to meet whoever named their diving business after the Dan? And what do you think goes on during those charters......hopefully they provide the music.

G

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 12:58:01 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Till the sun breaks through........the skyline.......

Daddy G, now, how would people ever get that impression, lol! Don is the groove king, he gets only better with age. I'll always have a thing for Donald. I still wonder of the whereabouts of the memento I left for him at Roseland.........
I woke up so cranky this morning, headache, dreading work, just my normal state of crabby malaise, then I saw the posts and the site, God, am I nuts or what? It made everything bad go away. It's good to be a Steely Dan girl in our Steely Dan world.
Pammy, how far did you get into the SD catalog? Was I right? has your world changed?
It's a good day, brothers and sisters.
Peace,
G

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 12:50:47 ET
Posted by: Rajah, the tomato garden with Don Corleone

Pam, in this case the "SD" would have to mean, "Sluts for Donald," lol. Wear the bonnets with 'em.

Goodnight Marlon, maybe you and Frank can finally patch it up now.

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 11:21:25 ET
Posted by: Pam, On the Dunes

That pic of Donald just confirms what I've suspected; he's the Groove Devil. Gretchen, I shared with Raj a mental image of us femme Fagen fans in Hester Prynne (sp?) aprons bearing our scarlet SDs; still cracking myself up over that one.

:) Pam

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 10:55:30 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Whew.... Well, NOW I'm starting to get my hopes up a little! Thanks for the confirmations, guys & gals. I was afraid it was gonna be one of those "What the heck is he talking about it's been that way for the past 4 years" deals. Unless you're all conspiring to pull a fast one on me here.... (LOL)

Gretchen: Once a week, eh? Careful, people might get the impression you have a thing for Donald.... <g>

Seriously, that's _especially_ good to hear. What are the odds that I, who never thought to check for such a site before, would happen to do so during the week or so that something changes? Freaky. Oh, and I did a Google web search for Lewis Fairlawn and nothing significant came up---for whatever that's worth.

Still, I've seen such "under construction" notices last for quite a long time on other sites. For now, though, let's remain hopeful and keep a virtual vigil on the site---anyone who comes across some action (even if only a new pic, anything to indicate someone actually doing something at the other end) can always post the heads up here.

In the meantime, well, there's always that cool pic of Donald for you ladies to ogle....

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 10:23:06 ET
Posted by: Rajah, singing Italian songs

Angel, Donald's pic makes me wanna sing, to a Tarantella now, two-three:

C'è 'na luna mezz'u mare
Mamma mia m'a maritare
Figlia mia a cu te dare
Mamma mia pensace tu!

Thang you boyzsa...

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 09:25:10 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, These Suburban Streets

That DF site is very cool news. Thanks for bird dogging that for us Daddy G! Several of us have seen Reely Dan here in Chicago over the past few years. Anyone gonna be there this weekend??

HeyMike

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 09:22:27 ET
Posted by: Rajah, his big debut

Gretchen - an advance roll-out for something in the not-too-distant future? The picture reminds me a bit of Alex from Clockwork Orange, a bit deranged and perverse, hey, works for me. He's focused and on a mission. Also looks a bit pissed-off, it's almost over the top but a good picture of him, it's an affirmative statement for sure. Webmaster Lewis Fairlawn sounds like a red-herring though.

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 08:12:20 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Not sleepy anymore, baby!!!!!!!!!!!

DADDY G,
Go ahead and get your hopes up!! I have been checking (at least once a week) for the possiblility of a donaldfagen.com site, and last I checked was, I believe, last weekend, where I was directed to steelydan.com. This is news!! God, I feel so much better now, something is in the works. We have something to celebrate, Dandom!! Thanks for the breaking news, Daddy. By the way, who else thinks that's a great picture of Don, in all his snarkiness? God, life is good (for now, anyway).

G

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 04:34:57 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

That's a full-on glare from DF at the website under construction.

Date: Fri, July 02, 2004, 01:42:47 ET
Posted by: angel,

I have tried Donaldfagen.com in the past and it would redirect to Steelydan.com. So Daddy G, this is definitely new news. Thanks for pointing it out.

Adding a comment to the what did I hear my parents playing, when I was young. How about a Judy Garland double album that was big in those days. I remember them wearing it out from playing it so much. Also, they loved movie tunes. For my family the soundtrack to West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Gigi were big.
On a personal level, my Mom used to play Rhapsody in Blue, when she was carrying me. She said it would make me quiet down. After I was born, she noticed the same thing. I would stop and listen, when that album was played. I find that as an adult, that particular music, still has the power to move me, even though I do not actually own the Gershwin piece. It always makes me homesick for New York City.

Rajah, just for you. :-)
When I visited the relatives in Queens, they always had Italian Music playing. No idea what it was, but when I hear it, it always brings me back to my childhood.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 23:45:53 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., Help! I'm allergic to styrofoam peanuts!

Whoa! Coooool.... Here's a picture of me BEING the box, er... cubicle:

ftp://www.rblevin.net/Humor/Peanuts%20Maximus.jpg

People have always said I was nuts---turns out they were talking about styrofoam peanuts! LOL

OK, OK, that's it for box humor! Until Boxing Day, anyway.

Hmmmm, I sense massive cringing.... :-)

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 22:50:33 ET
Posted by: Still Sparkin', China

Be the box Daddy...BE the box.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 21:49:29 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, Offshore Ozzie Diving

www.zipworld.com.au/~thor/dive/main.html

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 20:43:55 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Walter goes mining in his archives of unused material for some lost gems....

http://www.walter-becker.de/

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 19:44:27 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Thanks Rajah. I'll have to try to remember to check back to the DF site periodically to see if there's any activity at all, even just an occasional picture change. It was just one of those outta-the-blue "flash" moments where it suddenly occurred to me to look for a DF.com---just never thought of it before. Sometimes I'm so busy tryin' to think outside of the box that I forget to look IN the box. Still other times I completely misplace the box. Anyway, I'm hoping it's indicative of something meaningful about to materialize, but of course I know better than to hold my breath. As I said, I figured it very well could be something that's been there for ages, but on the off chance it wasn't I >>>HAD<<< to ask.

HeyMike.... Yeah, I was the one posted the Chicago Daily Herald piece which gave a very brief mention of a Steely Dan tribute band appearing over the holiday weekend in the Chicago area, but it didn't identify the band. Thanks for the info.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 19:31:52 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

Hey Mike - very nice sound bites from Reely Dan. We cannot have enough of these bands, in the next few years it's all we really have. What smacks me silly are the two back-up ladies, wow, they sound like real pros. Those girls bray out open wide, confidently. The horn section is hot. Again, I can't tell about the rhythm section over the weak-ass woofer and speakers on this unit of mine. They sound like a party band, free wheelin and not married to the recorded originals of these songs at all. I love that, I'm all for making these songs your own. Go Reely Dan!

Hoops, we need a first hand review of RD's performance live sometime.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 18:48:27 ET
Posted by: HeyMike, These Suburban Streets

An earlier post mentioned a Steely Dan cover band in the Chicago area. That's Reely Dan (formally Katy Lied) www.reelydan.com

Get out and support these guys--keepin the sound alive.

Peace and Out

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 17:17:08 ET
Posted by: Rajah, L.A.

DG- Dude, I think that thing is new, I remember going there maybe 3-4 months ago. Can you cut that Donny Dark 'tude with a knife or wha? Our boy looks a bit crazed. Let's hope he's also possessed and cranks something out. Has it really been 10 years since Kamakiriad?

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 17:07:51 ET
Posted by: Rajah, so go and powder your cute little pussycat nose

OK just ask Tuesday, she still has the upholstery burns, pussycat.

McCartney wote his best lyrics when he stripped himself down to bedrock emotion, he never had a true alacrity with words. Ever noticed how rudimentary the lyrics are to "Yesterday?" The words carry two, three syllables at the most. It's a perfect study in what makes a song a classic. Now I've been sick of it for, oh, bout 35 years now but give the thing its due, it's as immortal a work as anything from last century. The message is so simple, so direct, so personal, yes, so drippy. But there is not one scintilla of falseness in his performance of it. The song is the truth and the truth always resonates. When he covered "Till There Was You" in 1963, you knew this guy could sing a love song and mean it. Don could do this too, in his own way like on the Piano Jazz thing, but he rarely goes there. Paul wrote a bundle of tunes in this voice, too many to list. But it seems when otherwise not under some inspirational cloud of depression or loss, and when John wasn't there to help sort him out, his work slipped a notch down to the merely mortal level. Very little imagery which was not of a self-conscious nature. No plasticene porters with looking glass ties, pornographic priestesses, or anything dripping from a dead dog's eye, fouggettabou... John of course was a brilliant man of the language. Bent and shaped the it to his devices. He could be funny, belligerent, suicidal, defiant, paint pictures, take you inside, act a carnival barker, he could do it all. But he needed Paul's melodies much of the time. That break-up was one of the great musical blunders of all time and everyone paid a price for it. The two of them, yeah, but us as well. Take heed Don & Walt.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 16:52:50 ET
Posted by: Daddy G., NJ

Just a quickie.... This is probably no big deal, but I thought I'd post it and see if anyone knows anything about this....

For some strange reason the thought just occurred to me to enter www.donaldfagen.com as a web address to see if there even IS such a site. A web page comes up with a large B&W pic of Donald and a "New site coming soon" note. No links, nothing else except a web steward credit. Anyone know anything about this?

I know these sorts of things can stay unchanged for years on the web, so I don't know that there really IS a new site coming soon. I figure there's gotta be others who have tried this who can maybe say how long it's been there. Maybe it's a generally known thing, a web placeholder, but just not stumbled across by me till now. (And if this is the case, then I apologize in advance.)

By the way, www.walterbecker.com just displays the official Dan site, so I find it "interesting" that Donald's site doesn't do the same. Could this mean something solo is a brewin'? I won't get my hopes up unless a few others here can tell me I should. Thanks.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 15:50:39 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, Not in THAT city..............

Rajah, I suggest you go back and listen to "The Dream Weaver," cd, maybe have a little something something to fill your pipe, take 2 oxycontin and call me in the a.m.

G

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 14:54:53 ET
Posted by: Rajah, woke up fell outta bed

Tom Jones was something else. He had and still has this brute animal charisma that makes grown-up girls turned on against their better judgment, it doesn't really seem to be something under their control(oh yeah, it's rough for us stud-muffins), they don't so much swoon over him as want to do him on the nearest piece of furniture or be taken rudely by him in the tack room. This is not a guy they want to go whale-watching with, OK? They wanna go one place and one place only: ass-city. Bang him silly and leave a nasty bite. And it's what he also does to Mother and Grandmother that is quite amazing. Otherwise dignified and reticent ladies of a certain age continue to get their freak on over this hitter. Mama loved him, positively tingled with excitment when the Welsh crotch monkey started dry humping his way through "What's New Pussy Cat?" Ma, holy cripes, control yourself, the neighbors are listening. It was disturbing. Pop was not a fan, needless to say.

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 12:15:39 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Speaking of Prince and Tom Jones, it's amazing what TJ did with "Kiss," not to mention what Arif Mardin and Chaka Khan did with "I Feek For You."

Also amazing is how Tom has been married to his wife since he was a teenager. I can only handle so much of TJ but it's facinating how his appeal has lasted and that he's respected by Van Morrison, Prince and the like...there's like this fine line between Tom Jones and Neil Diamond, know what I mean? Heck, ND might even cross it one day onto Tom's side.

Been listening to "Mose The Fireman" quite a bit. I had forgotten that Walter plays banjo and mandolin on it. Another side of WB's talents.

jim

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 12:06:06 ET
Posted by: hoops,

I was thinking about the Macca thread last night. In the 70s I thought Wings was phenomenal; but as years go by I grow less and less fond of Wings and Macca's post-Beatles stuff. Move like re-listing some song credits as McCartney/Lennon don't help my opinion of him either. Yet, I still greatly appreciate his sense and ability with Melody. But this discussion made me realize why I feel at odds with his non-Beatles stuff and, moreover, the discussion has helped me to appreciate how song lyrics have changed over the years. Consider songs like "Coming Up" or "Silly Love Songs" or "Let 'em In." Great melodies…awesome arrangements. But what I realized bugs me is that Paul still writes early 60s, simple rock and roll lyrics for these otherwise more sophisticated and cerebral melodies and arrangements. With a few exceptions, I feel like his lyrics have ever matured to the sophistication of John or George or, for that matter, Steely Dan.

Not saying simple, more innocent lyrics are a bad thing, but Paul's music is so much more sophisticated by comparison that it creates this odd juxtaposition.

Been listening to a lot of Prince lately. He was sick for a show on Saturday here in Chicago (at All-State Arena) and so I hope to catch him for his fifth show here in August. Meantime, I got "Sexy M.F." running through my head like crazy. And "Little Red Corvette" is really the most sublime "hot woman as car" song ever. I get a kick whenever Prince cites Joni Mitchell as one of his biggest influences. Prince lost me a tad after "Around the World in A Day" but, man, what a talented guy.

jim

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 09:49:55 ET
Posted by: Gretchen, It's Not Unusual................

My parents actually went to see Tom Jones a couple of times. I remember watching his show on Thursday nights, it was on after "Juvenile Jury" and before "Here Come The Brides!" Now Bobby Sherman.....what a heartthrob to 7 year old girls he was! Easy come, easy go, lol!

G

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 03:38:10 ET
Posted by: Rajah, LA

The songs we were exposed in our youth left an indelible imprint. Let's share them...C'mon, get up. One time...

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 01:49:23 ET
Posted by: Little Wild One, Juror # 2342

Re: the wonder years. I really missed the Beatles, by the time I was old enough to discriminate, "Revolution" was in full swing. Although I do remember "The Long and Winding Road" as being the song to close a few teen-aged dances.

Our phonograph had Frank "High Hopes", Johnny "Chances Are" Mathis, the Kingston Trio (was that the group that sang "What did Miss is sip, boys?"), the Platters, Nat King Cole and, my personal fav, Lou Christie....I still have "Lightning Strikes" in my vinyl collection.

Elvis was WAAY too sexual for small town West Virginia. So, of course to rebel, I liked him. And Tom Jones is still a hunk of burnin' love at like, 70?

Date: Thurs, July 01, 2004, 00:39:45 ET
Posted by: SouthOfHollywood, What's New, Pussycat?

Come ON...

No one's parents but mine had any Tom Jones playing on that Buick parked in the living room?

SOH...Ohwooah...ohwooah...ohhh

June 2004 BlueBook Entries.