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September 2002 BlueBook Entries

Gents I posted this already on the yellow .......but I know yous in the blue are an entirely diff audience (in the main, DrMu excepted lol)

Axemen all ... Anybody know anything about "FRAMUS" guitars I just inherited my Dads and I'm trying to trace the origin and model etc It's a cutaway accoustic, double f soundholes , at least 1958 maybe earlier ...any pointers would be apprec (very little found on the web so far)

It's at the menders @ the mo' My Mother had it up in attic (not the best place for an antique). Its having a thorough check up, and bridge replacement (def strictly acoustic.)There was a whole lotta 50's sheet music up there as well incl some Burt Weedon lol

I have a pic if that would help ....mail me @ above address


hoops addition: Below is the photo. Click to enlarge.

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Date: Thurs, September 26, 2002, 11:05:36
Posted by: hoops, again

µ–

Right on…also my understanding is that the DVD-A has a helluva lot more quality and capabilities than SACD, BUT, as I noted a few weeks ago, Sony is heavily pushing SACD in the consumer electronics market via weekly ads at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. Of course, Sony doesn't make a DVD-A-capable player, but if consumers keep getting barraged by ads and sales for SACD players, that's the format that's going to get adopted, regardless of whether it's better than DVD-A. (Look at MS-DOS vs the other operating systems which were better but didn't get adopted.)

I think proponents of DVD-A need to get more players on sale and in ads and drop the price of DVD-A discs to the same as CDs, or maybe bundle DVD-A's with CD versions. That might be a loss-leader but it would get more interest going.

Speaking of DVD-A, are the DVD-A's of "The Nightfly" still on for next month (October)? Van Morrison's "Moondance" DVD-A seems to be postponed again and again.

All this from somebody who doesn't yet own a DVD-A system :-)

h

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Date: Thurs, September 26, 2002, 10:56:33
Posted by: hoops,

B.—

Indeed that is great news. Glad to hear there are 11 tracks at least in progress. I think they said on "2vN Words + Music" CD that they had something like 20 for 2vN with half of those making the final cut. And, of course, that's not to say that there aren't more tracks in progress that Herington hasn't played on. I guess we don't have any idea what these tracks are…I wonder if jk's publication of song title listings from a few weeks ago are any indication of some of the new ones? I wonder if any of these were started at the 2vN sessions?

I guess the biggest question is how much time for perfection? This gives us a glimmer of hope. Now let's just hope the upcoming war doesn't throw the economics of touring in the toilet.

Great news!

hoops

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Date: Thurs, September 26, 2002, 10:40:22
Posted by: From the Tom Traver's Super 70s Show,

TOP TEN REQUESTED SONGS HEARD DURING "SUPER 70'S SHOW" AT KID SHELLEENS LAST THURSDAY NIGHT !

1. Thank You For Being A Friend - Andrew Gold (1978)
2. Maggie May - Rod Stewart (1971)
3. Cold As Ice - Foreigner (1977)
4. Say Goodbye To Hollywood - Billy Joel (1976)
5. Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
6. Dance Sister Dance - The Rolling Stones (1975)
7. Albert Flasher - The Guess Who (1972)
8. REELIN' IN THE YEARS-STEELY DAN (1972)
9. Still The Same - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (1978)
10. I Wish - Stevie Wonder (1976)

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Date: Thurs, September 26, 2002, 06:18:38
Posted by: Beerberian@jonherington.com,

A new Steely Dan album is well on the way to being finished. Jon played on 11 tracks of the tracking sessions with Walter Becker on bass, Donald Fagen on keys, Ted Baker on keys, Keith Carlock on drums, and Hugh McCracken on guitar. Elliot Scheiner was engineering.

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Date: Thurs, September 26, 2002, 04:55:13
Posted by: Beerberian @ Work, I just said that

Hoops/Mu I heard that the Stones are re-releasing their whole back catalogue on dual layer CD/SACD next month ?????

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Date: Thurs, September 26, 2002, 00:03:52
Posted by: DrMµ, Tejas

Hoops: My understanding is that SACD is Sony's format. It has a completely different type of coding than DVD-A. I'm not sure whether this will be the 00's version of Beta vs. VHS...BTW, TvN on DVD-A is crystalline, warm, immediate, sparkling and superb...

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Date: Wed, September 25, 2002, 18:03:41
Posted by: hoops,

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the New York Times' "Circuits" section had a Q & A on SACD but neglected to cover DVD-A or even mention it. The past week's "Circuits" section (9.19.02) addresses DVD-A:

--------

Q. A few weeks ago you wrote about Super Audio CD; what is this other new format, DVD-Audio?

A. DVD-Audio is another high-fidelity format designed to produce music on discs that sounds richer and more detailed than what standard compact-disc technology currently yields.

The DVD standard allows for far more data storage than a conventional compact disc does, and that translates to more complex sound and greater clarity. The DVD-Audio format can hold audio and video data, plus small movie clips, photographs, and displays of lyrics and song information.

Several record companies, including Warner Music, Universal Music, BMG Music Entertainment and EMI Music, have announced plans to make albums available in the DVD-Audio format. DVD-Audio albums are already available in stores and online from merchants like Amazon .com and CDNow. Album prices run about $20, slightly more than traditional CD's.

DVD-Audio discs, which first surfaced on the market in 2000, can be played on special DVD-Audio players. Most can also be played on DVD video players, but the discs do not work on regular CD players or computer DVD drives.

DVD-Audio players can nonetheless play CD's and DVD video discs. Panasonic, Technics and RCA are among the companies making DVD-Audio players, and it is possible to find one for less than $300.

The Digital Audio Guide has a Frequently Asked Questions section on the DVD-Audio format at http://www.digitalaudioguide.com/faq/dvd-audio/faq_intro.htm You can also find more information at http://www.dvd-audioworld.com

--------

The part I thought was interesting was that Universal might be doing DVD-A, since I thought they were committed exclusively to the SACD camp. Universal, of course, distributes the classic first seven Steely Dan studio albums.

Also, in the same section, J & R Music World has a Panasonic DVD-A surround system:$399.99 for 500w total, Dolby Digital and Pro Logic/DTS, 5-disc (DVD-Audio/DVD-V/CDR & RW/MP3) changer, 5 stellites and subwoofer. (PAN SCHT95).

I suspect that this is an entry-level system.

h

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Date: Tues, September 24, 2002, 18:12:33
Posted by: Sean, Quincy Ma

Marian McPartland is something else. It's amazing how she can glide on those keys and play every note with perfection. She's a remarkable person who is, btw, no lightweight, spring chicken. She's one of the last of that great era of Jazz musicians in the 1950's

On her radio show, she is an incredible improvisor and interviewer. Because of her demeanor and her chops, she can get any guest to open up on explaining his or her creative process. She's a grand lady as you said, Hoops.

Check out this photo of Marian McPartland with Basie, Monk, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, Horace Silver and Dizzy Gillespie. McPartland is towards the right side of the photo and to the left of Monk. She is wearing a sleeveless dress.

http://www.harlem.org/index.html

Sean

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Date: Tues, September 24, 2002, 17:38:13
Posted by: Scott ,

Wanted to provdie an update/review of a new Minneapolis-based Steely Dan tribute band called THE STEELY BAND. As far as I can tell, they just started playing formal gigs in the past 2-3 months or so. I was able to catch them on a double-bill with the Belfast Cowboys (a Van Morrison tribute band) this past weekend.

The Belfast Cowboys lead off the evening, and I have to give them at least a little plug as they were impressive! They had a nine-piece band, (two guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, trombone, trumpet and two sax players) and focused on Morrison numbers from the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies (a period when Van made extensive use of a horn section). The vocalist was a dead ringer for the Van Morrison “sound,” and although I am not that knowledgeable about Morrison’s work, it was a most enjoyable set.

On to the STEELY BAND. (By the way, I am not affiliated with these people in any way)

WHO:
STEELY BAND is a group of 13 musicians: 4 singers (2 male, 2 female), 2 guitarists, 1 bass player, 1 drummer, 1 keyboardist, 2 saxophonists, 1 trumpeter and 1 trombonist. It makes for a lot of people on stage!

WHAT:
STEELY BAND is exclusively a Steely Dan tribute band. On this evening they played songs from every album except Two Against Nature. There were no real surprises as to the songs selected. The setlist (and because of the double-billing with the Belfast Cowboys, they only played one long set) was largely made up of songs frequently heard on Steely Dan tours – “Black Friday,” “Night By Night,” “Reeling in the Years,” etc.

MY IMPRESSIONS:
Overall I have nothing but great things to say about the STEELY BAND. For what its worth:
· The guitarists were very good. Solos for “Kid Charlemagne” and “My Old School” were dead on. They struggled a little bit with “Bodhisattva,” but no one’s perfect.
· The singers were for the most part quite good. The two male singers took turns with the lead vocals, though neither of them sounded that much like Donald (but who does). The female backups hit their notes quite well, and, like the SD Y2K tour, they sang the lead on “Dirty Work.” The group opened the set interestingly enough with “Black Cow” and the gals nailed the harmony perfectly. The same cannot be said however, for “Peg,” but after watching Michael McDonald working through the harmonies of that song on the Aja DVD, I am convinced that it is no easy matter.
· The keyboardist, who was more or less the de-facto leader, had his own occasional spins to the songs that were appreciated. For the fading refrains on “Hey 19” he had this funky keyboard with a long tube attached that looked like a kid’s toy. As he blew through the tube and played the keys, the sound was very effective.
· Unfortunately, the horns were on the other end of the stage from my vantage point so I could not get a good read on them. They appeared to be very competent, but I really can’t say much more until I seem them again. The horn microphones were acting up a bit as well. (It happens…)

Admittedly, the group took a bit getting used to. The singers and the bass player are jumping and dancing almost constantly. At first this was kind of a distraction, as it is not something one would normally expect on stage at a Steely Dan “venue.” But after awhile it became somewhat infectious. The performers were having a great time up there! And as I watched and listened to the first live Steely Dan music I had experienced since Dallas, July 2000, I could not help but feel uplifted and longing for a Steely Dan tour 2003!

THE STEELY BAND has Wednesday night gigs in Minneapolis for the rest of the year. (www.steelyband.com) I will certainly check them out as often as I am able.

Scott

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Date: Tues, September 24, 2002, 10:11:23
Posted by: Toya La Jolla, San Diego

What's the word on the big bash at Le Bar Bat last night? Wish I coulda come but my Lear Jet was out of fuel. Did any Steely Dan alums show?

Toy

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 22:53:56
Posted by: Sean, Quincy, MA

Happy birthday to John Coltrane, Ray Charles and Les McCann, wherever they may be.

Sean

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 20:48:14
Posted by: hoops,

There's several musically kindred jazz acts making stops in Chicago in the next month. I thought I would write about them since, after they leave Chicago, maybe they will hit your neck of the woods.

Yesterday, at the last minute, I caught Danilo Perez Trio at Chicago's Jazz Showcase. Jazz Showcase has been around for 50 years and has moved from the Bismark Hotel in the south Loop area to Grand and Clark in River North. It's really a great place. Very intimate and not too touristy, at least when I have experienced it.

Perez was in residence for the past week along with bassist Ben Street and drummer/percussionist Adam Cruz. Perez first came to attention as a result of a Donald Fagen comment in "Jazziz" in 1996. Last Spring and again a few weeks ago, I saw Perez at the Jazzfest, as part of Wayne Shorter Quintet. This time it was much smaller, much more intimate and very cool. As I listed to the Panamanian and Monk influences in his music and watched him play up close (there were maybe 30 people in the audience for this matinée performance), it really gave me a better sense of his playing and personna. After a couple of numbers, I had this thought, "He reminds me a touch of Stevie Wonder. I wonder if Perez was at all influenced by him. I wonder if Stevie Wonder likes his playing." Maybe it's how Perez moves all around with these mannerisms as he plays and smiles so much, I dunno. Well, a couple of more numbers later and Perez plays Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed." So I guess I got my answer! Perez is very animated and enthusiastic, as are Street and Cruz.

Perez also did some Monk and, of course, with the place being so intimate, Perez hung out at the bar a bit and chatted with people. Like Stevee Dan commented last week regarding Bob Shephard, it's a buzz. It's great to know that these players, while extraordinarily talented, also seem like good people.

After about 90 minutes of playing, the trio left the stage but Perez said for us to "wait for a treat." The "treat" turned out to be Danilo having Joe Segal, the owner of Jazz Showcase for so many years, come up and play drums on an encore. Joe is in his 70s and he seemed quietly thrilled as he played with Perez. So it was a great show.

Meanwhile, I found that the Jazz Showcase has a great month coming up and I hope you can find that these acts are headed to your area next if you aren't in Chicago.

Starting tomorrow, for the whole week, Marian McPartland Trio (The Piano Jazz Lady) will be taking up residency. As I mentioned recently, McPartland reminds me quite a bit of "La Grande Dame de Dandom, " the late Maggi McCoy. McPartland's radio show, "Piano Jazz" has been on NPR since the late 70s. It's always a great show for jazz lovers. So I am looking forward to that.

THEN, the following week, starting October 1, Chris Potter and his quartet— Kevin Hays, Scott Colley, and Bill Stewart—spend the week. Will he do "Janie Runaway" or Steely Dan? Who knows but it would be cool. I'm looking forward to that. The Baltimore - D.C. Danfest group along with Ed Beatty were supposed to have seen Chris Potter in D.C. last week, but I haven't hear back. It would be great to hear what the sets were like.

Later in the month, Mose Allison spends a week. I first got turned on to this Jazz Philosopher as a result of Van Morrison tribute several years ago. And of course, several Allison numbers were etched into my conscious without even realizing it. (Like "one of These Days" and "If You Live.") So I am excited at the prospect of seeing him.

So like I said, maybe these are headed your way after they hit Chicago.

h

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 19:39:33
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Keith/Mr. Kat: I think Zman isn't signing in to slam the Bluebook; rather he's signing to comment on "Tristan's" post. He's participating in the discussion and agrees with Tristan's view that there is too much political discussion here. That said, I also agree with you that a little bit of political and other non-music/very tangentially Dan discussion has indeed lubed the way for more discussion of the Dan kind. As long as the proportions don't get out of hand, it's an OK thing.

But really, I think there can be other ways of better defining the music discussion here and that's being worked on by myself and some others. So that should surface soon.

h

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 19:38:15
Posted by: Zman,

Mr. Kat -

I guess 2 comments about political reference not chat, outeigh my comments on Skunk Baxter.

a few answers......

Kat says............
Let me get this straight. There's been pretty much nothing but solid music and Dan talk here for the past week and over 20-something posts. And then you come on and whine about political chat???? If you were really concerned about Dan-only content, you would talk even more about music and not bring up the political stuff.

Most of my post had to do with Skunk Baxter or did you read it?

Kat says........
Walter is in NYC which is a good sign. What do you say about that?

Probably in town for a sandwich at Dean and Deluca.

Kat says........
And how about that benefit concert in NYC tonight? Do you think Donald will show up unannounced????

No

Kat says
Zman, if you don't occasionally let your hair down and talk just a touch about other stuff, you have no sense of where our other posters are coming from.

I am not interested in Earl's view on Saddam Hussein but give me some Dan stuff and I am listening.

Ligthen up Kat...I did'nt mean to rile you up but if it got you to post a comment then thats what this is all about....I think....BTW
don't have enough hair to let down anymore.

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 18:35:40
Posted by: Mr Kat, Owings Mills, MD

Zman---

Let me get this straight. There's been pretty much nothing but solid music and Dan talk here for the past week and over 20-something posts. And then you come on and whine about political chat???? If you were really concerned about Dan-only content, you would talk even more about music and not bring up the political stuff.

Walter is in NYC which is a good sign. What do you say about that? How about Dodo? I never heard of him but maybe now is the time to ask what the hell this guy is known for. And how about that benefit concert in NYC tonight? Do you think Donald will show up unannounced????

For me, the music discussion HERE has been great. Although I don't always post, I always check it out. This place is my preferred place rather than wading through the spam of the alt group or all the self-indulgence of the Yellow Book (maybe that's what you are confusing this place with).

Zman, if you don't occasionally let your hair down and talk just a touch about other stuff, you have no sense of where our other posters are coming from. In fact, I didn't like it the first year or so when Hoops only let music posts appear. It was too uptight. Much better now. Yeah, I would be pissed if this place became the yellow pages, not my preference. It's a great balance.

But this place is healthily focused.

And btw Hoops, don't let the bastards get you down.

Mr Kat
aka Keith

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 18:05:13
Posted by: ZMAN, las vegas, nv

I have been an occasional reader of the Bluebook and I must say that for a Dan related forum there seems to be more debate on politics and sports than there is about the Dan and there works. I am a Dan fanatic who like many on the Bluebook admires the music first and then the artists or supporting cast that D & F select. The most recent
posts on Skunk Baxter have been passionate on both sides of the musical fence which is just the point I would like to make. Carlton, Graydon, Randall and Skunk have all had there place in a particular time with the Dan and were used as the perfect fit for the album or piece they played on. To pick one player over the other is ridiculous
its not who is better but who was the best man for the job. Skunk is raw energy which is what the Dan were in the 70's, Graydon, Carlton
were the smoother riffs for the Royal Scam and Aja, John Herrington
is more of the lets play it the way D & F want it ...by the book or close to the vest. Kudos to Tristan for the guts to write a small book and defend his hero and kudos to all that defend there own favorite player........I liked them all in there own way just like D & F did......there all a piece of the Dan puzzle....Enjoy them all!
and lets keep talking about the Dan....I can go to CNN for my politics.

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 12:51:05
Posted by: Bill M./h, "Where's Dodo"

Some of you may remember the official SD website had a "Where's Dodo" page at one time. "Dodo" is noneother than the reculsive bebop piano genius Michael "Dodo" Marmarosa. He dropped out of the music world some 40 years ago.

Dodo passed away at 76 last week here in Pittsburgh.

See:http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/20020920marmarosa0920p2.asp

For Don and Walt's references to him, see http://www.steelydan.com/dodofound.html and http://www.steelydan.com/oldindex11.html

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Date: Mon, September 23, 2002, 09:56:55
Posted by: Funk-Filled Night,

For those in the NYC area this Monday (9/23)-- Le Bar Bat is hosting
a benefit for original Tower of Power bass player Francis Rocco
Prestia, who recently underwent a successful liver transplant.

Here's the info from Rocco's site ( http://www.francisroccoprestia.com):

NEW YORK CITY BENEFIT GIG. Many of New York's world-renowned bass players (Will Lee, Matt Garrison, Bakithi Kumalo, Neil Jason, Lonnie Plaxico, and Francisco Centeno; check back for complete list), several Tower of Power alumni, and other special guests will be performing with Lee Finkelstein and Funk Filharmonik during "An Evening for the ROC" on Monday, September 23, 2002, beginning at 9:30 p.m., at Le Bar Bat, 311 West 57th Street, New York, New York.

Scheduled to appear are ELEVEN Tower of Power alumni: Lenny Pickett (saxophone), Norbert Stachel (saxophone), Greg Adams (trumpet), Tom Bowes (vocals), Brent Carter (vocals), David Mann (saxophone), Don Harris (trumpet), John Scarpulla (saxophone), Barry Danielian (trumpet), Tom Timko (saxophone), and Al Chez (trumpet). Will Lee and Al Chez are members of the CBS Orchestra (Late Night with David
Letterman). Other artists are yet to be announced. Host and MC: Chris Jisi from Bass Player Magazine (Chris is the interviewer on Rocco's video). Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra are expected to come down as well

This is going to be a huge, funk-filled evening of entertainment!
Admission is $20.00 at the door. 100% of proceeds from this event go directly to the Rocco Prestia Medical Fund. More details forthcoming.

If you are anywhere on the East Coast and you miss this gig, you will never forgive yourself! For venue information, call Le Bar Bat at 212-307-7228 or visit their Web site at:

http://www.lebarbat.com

For more information, contact Frank Abadie, Jr. at: fabayport@aol.com.

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Date: Sun, September 22, 2002, 18:10:02
Posted by: WJAZ...trying out the blue book...,

I caught a interesting quote on the JumptheShark.com website that deals with TV shows that took a nosedive somewhere in their run...the quote is from someone referring to Green Acres...
"Never jumped. The most imaginative comedy in TV history. Worked on two levels: 1st-those who took it literally & thought they were watching a harmless network comedy. 2nd-a hilarious dark bizarre trip into warpville. This show is the Steely Dan of sitcoms..."
Arnold the pig would be proud...

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Date: Sun, September 22, 2002, 16:09:32
Posted by: Sean, Quincy, MA

MIB: a Spring 2000 Rolling Stone issue said that Walter maintains a residence in Manhattan as well. Makes sense since he records there with Fagen. Glad to hear he's been sited. I would hate for him to stay glued to those studios 24/7.

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Date: Sun, September 22, 2002, 15:18:05
Posted by: Men In Black, TX

Sekaer...I thought WB lived in Hawaii?? Did you speak with him? Was the women on his arm a "junkie girl"? Please tell more!!

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Date: Sat, September 21, 2002, 23:12:26
Posted by: Steveedan, Back from the Museum

Sharkdeville - I would really LOVE to hear your approach to the Steely Dan songs that you are planning to cover. YGTII is my all-time favorite Dan tune. Have you heard Herbie Hancock's version of this? Let me know if you haven't.

The Bob Sheppard Quartet played in the courtyard of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last night. It was a great performance. Bob is always great, and his band was great too. He played 3 sets. I met Mark, my friend and guitar player, from our band there. He gave me a copy of Glengarry Glen Ross and his own transcription of the main title of the film (Track #1 on the CD). We are thinking of using this song as a set opener for our band from time to time.

Hoops, I thought you might like to know that.

Have a great weekend everyone.

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Date: Sat, September 21, 2002, 23:02:44
Posted by: N. Cognito,

Michael "Dodo" Marmarosa, a piano wunderkind who was for about a decade one of the most sought-after pianists in the history of jazz, died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack. He was 76.

http://www.postgazette.com/obituaries/20020920marmarosa0920p2.asp

http://www.steelydan.com/dodofound.html

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Date: Sat, September 21, 2002, 22:08:28
Posted by: Sekaer,

Tried to send this before...here goes again

Thought I relate a Walter sighting yesterday. In a cab cruising up Madison Avenue somewhere in the 60s (streets) around 2pm (indian summer-windows open--looked just like the last days of Rome, folks) when guess who I spotted slowly crossing in front of my stopped cab, all dressed in black accompanied by an elegant lady, Mona Lisa grin on his mug, but the man himself. Speakin for post-apocayptic, glittering yet detumescent Gotham, there is no more perfect music for our moment than the Dan, and what a comfort to our very own...well you known the guy who wrote Satyricon (not Fellini, kids) passively persisting with the rest of us

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Date: Sat, September 21, 2002, 21:06:28
Posted by: Sekaer,

Just thought I'd offer an official Walter sighting yesterday. In a taxi going up Madison Avenue in the 60s around 2pm, indian summer-windows open(indistinguishable from the last days of Rome, folks) and who should I see slowly crossing the street in front of the stopped cab, all dressed in black on the arm of an elegant lady, with a real Mona Lisa grin on his mug, but the man himself. Speakin' for post-apocalyptic, detumescent yet still glittery NYC, there is no more appropriate music for right now than the Dan and it feels good to see the ole WB is stickin' wid Gotham

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Date: Sat, September 21, 2002, 11:46:39
Posted by: sharkdeville, 24 floors up in NYC

I'm a little late, but I wanted to jump in on the Skunk diskussion anyway.

Great post "Tristan", and after looking up the word "percipient", I gotta say... thanks!

As for Skunk... I concur! I still place him in my top 3 Dan guitarists, alongside Denny and Walter. He's one of the most unique players in history, and no one else could have come up with the things he played on "Rikki", "My Old School", "Bodhisattva", etc.
And he does still play. He recently turned up to jam with the one & only Brian Wilson for a tribute to Brian's late brother and fellow Beach Boy, Carl. Before that he was part of an all-star band that featured the late, great John Entwistle on bass. He was also interviewed extensively in the 10-part 'History of Rock'n'Roll' documentary produced by the R'n'R Hall of Fame. He does some picking on there too, with a great demonstration of rockabilly guitar.

A couple corrections to your post that I feel I should point out:

Unless there's a quadrophonic mix that reveals otherwise, "With A Gun" contains no pedal steel guitar. Just the snappy twang of Skunk's hotrodded Telecaster.
And the legato lines you hear on "Charlie Freak", as well as the various guitar parts on "Barrytown" are actually that of Skunk's pedal steel.
Steels were used a lot in the 70s to simulate strings, which is just what Skunk was doing on "Charlie Freak"... I believe he named that tune and "Razor Boy" as the two tracks he was proudest of.

And Randy, although you claim that pedal steel guitar would hardly have been appropriate on any Steely Dan material after 1974, they used one on "FM" ...though more for a sound effect than a musical one. You can hear it at the very beginning of the song. I can't remember the guy's name, but he's listed in the 'Decade' liner notes.

Furthermore, there is a rather large community of pedal steel guitarists who play jazz, from swing to bop. Pedal steel wizard Buddy Emmons cut his landmark 'Steel Guitar Jazz' album back in '63, which Quincy Jones offered to produce, and on which the great Jerome Richardson ("Dirty Work", "Parker's Band", etc.) blew some fine solos.
Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder both used pedal steel on some of their classic 70s albums to great effect.
Skunk might not have been the favored steel guitarist for later Dan material, but players like Emmons, Curly Chalker, Doug Jernigan, etc. could have pulled it off for sure.

I'm a pedal steel player myself, and I'm working on a recording project which will include a number of Dan tunes on the steel. I started with "Your Gold Teeth II".
Steelman Joe Goldmark covered both "Pearl of the Quarter" and "The Fez" on his 'All Over the Road' album.

Lastly, I want to clarify that Skunk's blazing "Barrytown" solo of 3/10/74 was not played on a pedal steel, but a stringbender guitar. This is a device that is applied to a standard guitar, which, like the pedals on a pedal steel, raises the pitch of a specific string (usually the B-string, which is why the device is also called a B-bender)...
Skunk also used the B-bender on "Rikki" during that same set.

For more examples of a B-bender, turn up the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling", Arlo Guthrie's "Coming in to Los Angeles", or any Byrds album from '68 on ('Live at the Fillmore West' is my favorite). The device was invented by legendary Byrd and session guitarist Clarence White, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver in July of '73.

I always liked Donald's statement that when they started they "were into jazz, but also liked the Byrds".

I guess that's about it. Long live Skunk, regardless of his politics, and I'd sure love to see him and Denny sit in with Don & Walter just one more time. And I would LOVE to see an official release of a complete show or two (hell, all of 'em!) from '73/'74, not to mention that first Dan single, "Dallas"! It's a classic!!!

p.s.- are you sure it's Skunk on "Only a Fool" and "Monkey in Your Soul"??? I would have guessed Denny and Walter respectively.

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Date: Fri, September 20, 2002, 17:08:59
Posted by: Steveedan, In the Laughing Corner

Cosmic WOW --

I get so many of those letters (from different sources) it is rediculous. I once got a letter (a real letter via snail mail) with the same scam. I couldn't believe it. I guess there are people who think that they have been "chosen" to lend support to a rich but desperately in trouble family with their "9-1-1" call for help.

The only thing being liberated is the chosen sucker's money from their own bank account to some cheater from Africa.

After reading this great post (everybody, if you haven't already, you gotta read the link that Cosmic WOW listed), it makes it even easier to cast a blind eye on these scaming spammers (not to be confused with scrubbing bubbles ...)

By the way, ... I'd gladly pay you Wednesday for a hamburger today.


Steveedan

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Date: Fri, September 20, 2002, 13:17:17
Posted by: Cosmic WoW,

I keep getting the Kizombe Spam Letters, maybe you are too. Someone sent me this URL of a site where this lady started scamming him back. It's very funny, and Walter-Becker-like.

Check out this URL from Elizabeth Hanes, Humorist, for "The Kizombe Correspondence" Or maybe you have seen it alreay. Funny.

http://www.elizabethhanes.com/humorist/kizombe2.htm


WoW-me

¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸

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Date: Thurs, September 19, 2002, 16:16:52
Posted by: W1P,

Here's another TvN/Rising timeline coincidence.

Beck just released Sea Change which is the second Lp to get 5 stars from Rolling Stone this year -- the first? The Rising. So, looks like Beck is going to be nominated in the Best Album category. Sound familiar? Midnight Vultures, anyone?

---

Date: Thurs, September 19, 2002, 13:34:19
Posted by: DrMµ, Tejas

Hoops! Dude, great work - looks crisp! I don't feel too bad, Dr. Fagen isn't sure when Gaucho was released either!

---

Date: Thurs, September 19, 2002, 04:21:34
Posted by: Dr Beerberian, in the lab

Hmmmmmm selective scientific proof .... I can prove that consumption of Tomato Ketchup increases your liklihood of perishing in an aeroplane crash .... interesting

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Date: Thurs, September 19, 2002, 02:59:41
Posted by: Her Bother, burning

Mu! Love the time line! Great job!

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Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 22:36:30
Posted by: hoops,

µ—

Now that I go over your time-line, I think it is a correlation entertaining to consider, but I sure wouldn't bet the market on it. :-)

I beg to differ on the timing of some the Steely Dan dates, but all in all, pretty amusing stuff.

h

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Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 20:15:49
Posted by: Steveedan,

Hi Bruce(Norm),


I completely agree with you on Baxter's 3/10/74 Barrytown solo.
Talk to you soon.


Bruce(Dan)

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 16:08:37
Posted by: norm,

Howard - yes, my name is Bruce, and so is everyone else's, even if they don't realize it.

re: Baxter - the 3/10/74 concert recording - his solo on Barrytown takes the song one level up from the original, in my opinion. Considering how definitive their studio versions are, that's saying plenty.

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 13:30:06
Posted by: W1P,

Tomorrow night: Tribute the Movie in LA SILVERLAKE FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, September 19th @ 9:00 p.m. Vista Theater, 4473 Sunset Dr.(Hollywood & Sunset) For tickets please call 866-468-3399. This is a hysterical and touching documentary on what makes tribute bands tick -- the only downside is that the W1P footage got left on the cutting room floor!

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Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 13:22:26
Posted by: W1P, Silver Lake

Tomorrow night: Tribute the Movie in LA SILVERLAKE FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, September 19th @ 9:00 p.m. Vista Theater, 4473 Sunset Dr.(Hollywood & Sunset) For tickets please call 866-468-3399

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Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 12:40:16
Posted by: W1P, wch1ispink@aol.com

Come on people -- Skunk recorded the solo on Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" -- what more proof do you need of guitar genius? Oh yeah and he's playing the acrylic guitar on Spirit's "I Got A Line on You" video circa 1984. Given the Randy California connection to Walter, this is conclusive evidence that Skunk rules the universe.

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Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 10:58:14
Posted by: hoops, chicago

µ--

Looks pretty good on my browser.

I'll see that it gets' formatted to your satisfaction this afternoon.

Thanks to you and everyone else for the posts.

jim

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 10:50:27
Posted by: DrMµ,

sorry folks - the formatting disappeared - these boards must work like Telex....

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Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 10:48:14
Posted by: DrMµ, Tejas

Tristan et al: excellent posts. There's no doubst that what we really need a is new Steely Dan album. I've prepared a timeline of SD milestones (the good times and the bad) with critical US events (nothing is tangential to Steely Dan!)... Conicidence? acausal Synchronicity? or Meta-Physical causality? You decide!

Year	Steely Dan	US News
1969	Walter drops out of school W&D "Can't Sell a Thrill" at the Brill Jay & Americans best gig around	Nixon elected 'Nam rages on
1972	SD 1st album released late in yr. 2 hit singles	End of direct American participation in "Nam Hits by Chicago are not in front of Dem convention
1974	Rikki becomes SD best selling single W&D out of hock.	Nixon Resigns
1977	SD masterpiece Aja released, unexpected hit	Nixon/Ford era ends
1979	SD mired in studio struggling to finish Gaucho	Americans in Embassy held hostage by Iran Iggles release Long Run - unexpected hit "Misery Index" hits all-time high
1980	October surprise - Gaucho finally released Hey 19 a hit in early 81	bogus haircuts outlawed Disco dead
1981	SD breaks up	Hostages released Country sinks into recession
1982	The Nightfly released	Economy starts long road to recovery
ca.1986	SD, 2nd Fagen albums aborted	Really bad tax reform passed Ark-La-Tex and Oklahoma oil bust that area sinks into economic Depression causes S&L collapse increasing deficit 1987 stock correction portends economic slowdown of early 90s
1988	Fagen finishes soundtrack to Bright Lights, Big City that includes Century's End	"Mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall."
1993, 1994	Fagen, Becker solo albums released	Economy bounces back
1996-99	SD mired in studio making TvN	Clinton Scandal after scandal
2000	Two Against Nature released	Economy best ever
Last half of 2001	SD mired in the studio yet again	Economy collapses; yet again 9/11

Need I say more...

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 10:02:26
Posted by: Beeberian, Chateau Nuit sans Wogga Wogga

Mind if I call you all Bruce .......to avoid confusion ??

Surely the argument is immaterial - Guitarists Come and Go ..the one constancy of class is the Music of messrs Becker & Fagen .....that said I'm a sucker for pedal steel

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 08:21:12
Posted by: Howard, P.S

... and did anyone else find such a successful and "tasteful use of the spinal vibrato" in a Steely Dan guitar solo?

No, it was Mr B.

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 08:11:02
Posted by: Howard (aka "Bruce from pommyland"),

Norm: Is your name not Bruce?

(sorry, it's a reflex thing, can't be controlled)

Re: Jeff Baxter. It took me a while to fully appreciate his playing, but more recent access to various 70s concert recordings, and more careful listening to earlier albums, has confirmed in my mind that Mr Baxter played some superb guitar. It IS very difficult to compare guitar solos and players from different albums because the style of music in albums like Aja and Royal Scam is so different to earlier albums. So I won't try and judge Baxter in relation to Dias, Carlton, Becker and the gang. What I will say is each of them, certainly including Baxter, has recorded a number of excellent guitar solos on Dan albums of various eras.

What Jeff Baxter had, which none of the others had to the same degree, is an energy, a rock'n'roll-fired enthusiasm and creativity that often resulted is some great, raw-edged playing. Not that this was the only thing he was good at, but much of his best work has this hard-edged drive. The live work certainly confirms this.

His pedal steel work is another string to his bow, and is a touch that was very effectively used on some of the early tracks (not to mention being half of the inspiration for the group name).

I agree with Randy's post too about the reasons for him leaving Steely Dan. I don't think there was every any question about him not being a "good enough player" to stay. His leaving was largely driven by the enthusiasm he had for touring over studio work, which was essentially the opposite of what D+W were thinking.

The fact that he has some "unusual" views these days shouldn't detract from the fact that he made an invaluable contribution to the Steely Dan sound in the early years, and displayed a fine talent on the guitar.

Howard

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 01:35:12
Posted by: n, I meant...

"the emblem of our LAND" - jeez...

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 01:33:55
Posted by: norm,

Stevee - the MOJO thread is at http://ubb2.mojo4music.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=006999&p=1 - to no one's great surprise, it seems that the Skipster couldn't keep himself away for long, even if he is going by another name (or two, or three). When one lives in Australia, one does what one can to find a hobby.

"This here's the wattle, the emblem of our hand,
you can stick it in a bottle, you can hold it in your hand"

...and, of course, Rule Number Six: there is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Rule Number Six!

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 01:14:19
Posted by: Pete,

For those in the NYC area this Monday (9/23)-- Le Bar Bat is hosting a benefit for original Tower of Power bass player Francis Rocco Prestia, who recently underwent a successful liver transplant.

Here's the info from Rocco's site (http://www.francisroccoprestia.com):

NEW YORK CITY BENEFIT GIG. Many of New York's world-renowned bass players (Will Lee, Matt Garrison, Bakithi Kumalo, Neil Jason, Lonnie Plaxico, and Francisco Centeno; check back for complete list), several Tower of Power alumni, and other special guests will be performing with Lee Finkelstein and Funk Filharmonik during "An Evening for the ROC" on Monday, September 23, 2002, beginning at 9:30 p.m., at Le Bar Bat, 311 West 57th Street, New York, New York.

Scheduled to appear are ELEVEN Tower of Power alumni: Lenny Pickett (saxophone), Norbert Stachel (saxophone), Greg Adams (trumpet), Tom Bowes (vocals), Brent Carter (vocals), David Mann (saxophone), Don Harris (trumpet), John Scarpulla (saxophone), Barry Danielian (trumpet), Tom Timko (saxophone), and Al Chez (trumpet). Will Lee and Al Chez are members of the CBS Orchestra (Late Night with David Letterman). Other artists are yet to be announced. Host and MC: Chris Jisi from Bass Player Magazine (Chris is the interviewer on Rocco's video). Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra are expected to come down as well

This is going to be a huge, funk-filled evening of entertainment! Admission is $20.00 at the door. 100% of proceeds from this event go directly to the Rocco Prestia Medical Fund. More details forthcoming. If you are anywhere on the East Coast and you miss this gig, you will never forgive yourself! For venue information, call Le Bar Bat at 212-307-7228 or visit their Web site at: http://www.lebarbat.com . For more information, contact Frank Abadie, Jr. at: fabayport@aol.com .

---

Date: Wed, September 18, 2002, 00:48:50
Posted by: Steveedan,

Randy - I totally agree with your assessments of the guitar slinger discussion. I am also pleased to see your mention of the fact that the growth shown by Becker and Fagan over the years was tremendous and not often done by musicians and composers of "popular" song.

The U.S. may be on the brink of war, but these discussions are what I am here for. Many thanks to Randy and to Tristan (and the others who are still talking "Dan").


Steve

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Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 20:55:22
Posted by: Randy, NJ/USA

P.S. - the following should also be noted:

1. Pedal Steel Guitar would hardly have been appropriate on any of the Steely Dan material after 1974;

2. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's departure from the band appears to stem from Becker and Fagen's reluctance to tour, the increasing control Becker and Fagen were taking in regards to arrangements, and (minor) personality and musical direction differences.

3. Becker and Fagen could not have done what they wanted to with the original band (excepting Denny Dias, which is why he was present through 'Aja').

(This is in no way meant to diminish the most notable contributions of Mr. Baxter to Steely Dan; see last post)

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

---

Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 20:36:56
Posted by: Randy, NJ/USA

Steely-folk-

There seems little point in comparing guitarists who have played on various Steely Dan recordings; one can hardly give a sensible argument that could properly express how Larry Carlton is "better" than Denny Dias; each had their own attributes and played brilliantly in their own style. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen carefully chose each soloist for any given number, matching the player stylistically to the tune; I can think of no instance where one player would have made more of a beneficial contribution to a song than another, though a good example of "personal opinion" is my claim that both the solo (as played by Wayne Krantz) and the positively threatening arrangement of "Jack of Speed" performed on the 1996 tour were more interesting than the subsequently more cautionary studio version; this is of course a rare instance wherein I favor the contribution of someone else over Walter Becker, as his solos and contributions (along with those of Denny Dias) tend to be my favorite. (At the same time I favor the later material over the earlier, though there's nothing I don't like - go figure.)

Noting the time and effort clearly put into the writing, arranging and recording of each song, all the contributions from the musicians are staggering, and I am not one to give praise easily, but Jeff Baxter is stellar, particulary on "Night By Night" and "The Boston Rag," Denny Dias is tasteful and swinging on "Your Gold Teeth II," "Bodhisattva," and "Aja"; Larry Carlton is exemplary on "Kid Charlemagne" and "Don't Take Me Alive," and Walter Becker is perfect on "Black Friday," "Pretzel Logic," "Josie," "Home at Last," and "I Got The News" to name just a few.

Elliot Randall played lead on "Reeling In The Years" not because he was a better guitarist per se, but because he was able to deliver what Becker and Fagen were after; perhaps on another day Jeff Baxter may have cut it. One comment allegedly attributed to Becker, Fagen or perhaps Gary Katz was that musicians who played with Steely Dan frequently asked "what was wrong with the last take?" when asked to make another attempt, with the response being that there was nothing "wrong" with any given take, it was simply that they (Becker and Fagen) were after some other effect; a more succinct assessment of who plays what and why in regards to Steely Dan probably cannot be found.

The rate of growth seen over the career(s) of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen is truly impressive; to think that they were able to actually expand upon the sophistication, harmonic complexity and inherent skill of tracks found on 'Katy Lied' (1975), to later do what was found on 'Aja' (1977), 'Gaucho' (1980), and 'Two Against Nature' (2000) is proof that said composers (and all the musicians found on any respective album) were certainly some of the most talented people in the history of popular music - or, to put it another way, "you won't believe what the boys are blowin'..."*

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

* "Parker's Band," from Steely Dan's 'Pretzel Logic' (1974)

---

Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 19:53:13
Posted by: Steveedan,

Tristan - I too enjoyed your epic post tremendously. Thank you for thinking that I am (synonym:) shrewd. I must admit that I love Skunk AND those who followed him. I think it is noteworthy to remember that Skunk played in the "nuclear band" more rock than jazz period of Steely Dan, while the other stellar session musicians played in the "Steely Dan as a concept" projects that followed Pretzel Logic. What I am saying is that the context in which these various musicians played for the band should also be taken into consideration.

By the way, my given name is Steven (I go by Steve), but I certainly admit that I went for a Dan-ish twist.

Norm de Plume - which Mojo thread were you talking about? I did a search at the site and I am not sure which one you are refering to. Also, how did it go this past weekend? I was tied up (nearly literally). E-mail me or call me at your convenience.

See you all soon (I am always reading ...


(You-Know-Who)Dan

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Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 18:57:04
Posted by: Kelly Dwyer, Chi

Dennis, I think the "These LA Cats are starting to make us sound like a couple of Goddamn Pussies" was more a reaction to 'Katy Lied,' an album Skunk didn't have anything to do with.

Different times, different players. Graydon and Khan and all those other brilliant studio wanks would have sucked on "My Old School," "Change of the Guard," or those live shows. And Skunk would have been clueless (or too much, whatever) on "Babylon Sisters."

Together, in harmony...

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Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 18:54:04
Posted by: Kelly Dwyer, Chi

Hoops, a belated thanks for all the work that went into the Chicago Danfest. Had a great time, and a thousand thanks for the kickass scrapbook you put together. Bathroom reading for years, my man, you rule.

Tristan rules nearly as much. Terrific post, Tristan, great ideas, and thanks for sticking to your guns. Skunk was bloody brilliant, and I still think those quarter-step/half-harmonic bends he gave us should be re-named "Skunks." And if you don't work for Skunk or Dinky personally, then damn, you are a superfan. Looking forward to your next post, you're a great read.

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Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 16:07:07
Posted by: Peg, NOT in lockup, just visiting

Just for the record, Sir Tristan Almighty:
My real name is really Peg. Really. Okay, to get picky, on my Birth Certificate it says PEGGY. But all my pals call me Peg. So, I have done no thieving, stealing, or even Xeroxing in using a Steely Dan-type name because it really IS my name.
Effervescently and Affably and Reverentially Yours,
Peg

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Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 15:41:33
Posted by: Dennis, Chicago

Tristan,

I've been playing guitar for almost 20 years, maybe my standards are a little high. BUT, my opinion (we all have them) hasn't changed about Skunk and obviously you didn't pick up on the sarcasm in my retraction. I've listened to him a lot over the years and yes he's done some great things for Dan, great steel work, the Rikki solo is a classic but to compare him to the likes of Larry Carlton, Dean Parks, Denny Dias, Jay Graydon, WB, etc. etc. is ridiculous.

If you listen to the Royal Scam and the later albums you hopefully will hear what I hear and that is that all of those guitar parts are deadly true and fit the songs beautifully, as well all of the parts were played by virtuosic guitarists and played with incredible grace. Something I DON'T THINK Skunk has. This is just my opinion and last I checked that's what this board is for. If they were happy with his playing why did they get rid of him? Because he wasn't EVOLVING and never has. What's he done? I agree he is a good guitar player but fits in with the Doobie Brothers Reunion much better as someone said in an earlier post.

Also, read the most recent liner notes to the Royal Scam, Becker and Fagen heard themselves on the radio and concluded: "These LA Cats are starting to make us sound like a couple of Goddamn Pussies" and then went on to praise the likes of Bernard Purdie, Larry Carlton and the rest of the crew that recorded on Royal Scam. Obviously they were much happier with the results after they cleaned house. Enough said I think.

Another thing, just call yourself Tristan from now on if that's your name because you make yourself look ridiculous.

---

Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 14:01:19
Posted by: bill belacheck,

Is it true ?
That Nik Carter of the Backstreet Boys
is going to portray Jay Black of Jay and the Americans
in an upcoming TV special in November ? Get the bucket
out so I can wretch !

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Date: Tues, September 17, 2002, 03:58:30
Posted by: Her Brother, Chinatown

Who cares about those old shows (1974) anyway? Every set list was the same, every song was played the same....You've heard "The Record Plant"??...You've heard them all. No biggie...

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Date: Mon, September 16, 2002, 20:44:38
Posted by: My two piasters,

Piaster One: A clean Steely Dan live album from 1974? YES

Piaster Two: "pshaw!" Who talks like that?

---

Date: Mon, September 16, 2002, 20:13:32
Posted by: Dan Akroyd, Tristan, You Ignorant Slut (just kidding)

Tristan, etc, III,

The Skunk himself says that we are fools for talking about music and Steely Dan because, in his words, "it's not important"; and that is why he insists on talking about missile defense whenever someone interviews him about music. So if Jeff had his druthers, we wouldn't be having this chat and would instead be talking more politics than the touch that The Bluebook does.

Also, Becker and Fagen deliver scathingly blunt commentary on The Bushes, via Fall of 1992, yet, you say it's not a viable topic from time to time. The Bluebook does a great job of discussing all facets of Dandom. It never excessively dwells on politics but without such occasional discussions, you'd be ignoring a facet of the Dan and most of their fans.

Sure, what Dan Fan wouldn't like a new Steely Dan live album from the early 70s? I would, BUTTTTT....... Fact is that Donald and Walter apparently don't. Wish it weren't so, but that is the way it is. I would suspect they think: Don't all the various boots and record plant show recordings capture 73 and 74 already????? All in the Deep, Deep 70s, the Paleozoic era of Steely Dan. Not today.

Despite their political differences, I'd wager Donald and Walter were glad they had Skunk back then. But like an old college roommate you leave in the past, so is Skunk. People change.

I guess I heard that they can't do a DTS of the Aja album because some tapes are missing, but maybe they could compile the various quadraphonic mixes from the earlier albums along with the Aja stuff they do have and make a DTS-DVD-AUDIOcompilation. That is an iota more likely than a 1974 Steely Dan concert CD.


Finally, don't get me wrong, Baxter is a talented fella. I wish he'd give up this missile stuff and get back to what he is best at. But to be honest, there is something a helluva lot more intriguing about the bee-bop, almost oriental, Ellington-like playing of Denny Dias that I would much rather hear over Skunk. I love Walter's playing too. Walter and Denny would be hot on the next album. Let Skuck do Doobie reunions. That's where he belongs, not that there is anything wrong with the Doobies.

---

Date: Mon, September 16, 2002, 18:37:48
Posted by: Tristan Gustave Fabriani III, Esq., CEO & El Supremeo, Pretzel Logic & Analysis, Inc., San Francisco, CA, The Fall of '02

Launching Missiles In Defense Of The Illustrious Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter:
A Further Chapter In The Perennial Steely Dan 'Guitar Wars' Debate

The following protracted missive is a response to several comments posted in The Bluebook regarding not only my Appeal to D&W urging the release of some live SD concerts from the 70s (1/21/02 - 20:50:32) but also the quality of the guitar contribution of Jeff Baxter to the Steely Dan catalogue.  Before treating of either subject, however, I must bellyache mightily, with all manner of lamentation, moaning and bewailing, over the interminable slogging I had to do through the bog of political squabbles that comprised the majority of Bluebook entries for a couple of months.  A debate over D&W's left-wing penchant (cf. 'Fall of '92'; ''that right-wing hooey '' (lyrics to 'JoS' from 2vN)) and Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter's Republican affiliation and accompanying work on the 'Star Wars' missile defense system is barely tangential.  Evaluations of the political pros and cons of the Bush and Clinton eras from conservatives and liberals more properly belong on discussion forums devoted to 'Politically Incorrect' or 'The McLaughlin Group' than on a discussion site purporting to be about 'Dandom.'

While the majority of the topical postings—i.e., that actually concerned the music and history of either the 'Dan and/or its many and remarkable alumni — were insightful and informative, there unfortunately lurked in their midst 'the insidious encroachment' of a few entries that were filled possibly 'with zeal and well meaning' but definitely 'without understanding.'  Of the latter kind, the one posting that ranked heads, shoulders, knees and toes above all others for its unbridled ignorance was the gross misreading and misinterpretation of my Appeal by a certain 'Earl' from Delaware.  This equestrian posterior missed not only the barn door but also the barn itself and even the entire farm when he opined that I was asking D&W to issue a live 1974 Steely Dan concert instead of , rather than in addition to, a new Steely Dan studio recording:  'Sorry, Tristan, I'll take a new studio album any day' I'd be extremely bitter if I were to miss out on new music because some guy wants to hear a garbled version of the way they played 'Fire in the Hole' back in '73 or '74.' (1/29/02 - 08:14:20).

What manifestly inscrutable reasoning leads to the conclusion that the two are mutually exclusive!  My Appeal quoted no less an authority than Peter Erskine about the fiery lead guitar of Jeff Baxter on 'Fire in the Hole' at the May 1973 concert at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco—as proof of the high esteem in which the early Steely Dan concerts were held ' and I, and perhaps most everyone else in The Loyal Fandom, ought to consider Peter Erskine a Major Dude, even if he does not hail from Delaware.  Since D&W are in no hurry to issue a new SD album—yet another summer hath passed, alas, with the 'no tour' posting on their website—a nice 'interim' (to quote my Appeal) issuance of some live 1974 concerts would certainly be a welcome treat of treats for all members of The Loyal Fandom, excepting, apparently, one luckless pedestrian.  Even Jerome Aniton in his least lucid state would have discerned this and declared that, were Earl's boundless illogic to prevail:  'You c'n tell awl yo' frien' t'marrah, that they met' out owna damn good thang''  And what might that be?  Why' 'the best thang evah happen to Seattle back in '74...' of course!  The original 'Dan at its zenith, delivering the tunes from the first three LPs with an unparalleled intensity and gusto—'down to the nitty gritty.'  On the horizon looms the prospect of having the original soundboard tape of the July 1, 1974 SD concert in Seattle professionally mixed and issued on CD by the soundman from the Pretzel Logic tour, Stuart 'Dinky' Dawson.  What can one possibly say to a Danfan who turns down the mouth-watering prospect of having a full concert of this absolutely dynamite line-up performing at full throttle, refined and honed by almost five months of live performance?  I can think of one searing phrase, too onerous for any Danfan worthy of the appellation to bear, fittingly uttered with a steely visage, complete with deeply furrowed eyebrows, fearsome glowering and a throat clearing or two conveying the most ominous disapproval:  'Solamente un tonto le dicere eso.'

Not inconsiderable umbrage was also taken at my selection of pseudonym— 'Tristan Gustave Fabriani III, Esq.' — as Earl petulantly chided 'our friend Tristan who has to plagiarize a particular duo to come up with a name.' (ibid., 1/29/02)  Oh, pshaw!  A vast array of Bluebook and Digest contributors ascribe the authorship of their respective contributions to pseudonyms no less vulnerable to the same opprobrium, to wit:  the peerlessly perspicacious 'Steveedan,' the effervescently affable 'Peg,' the impressively insightful 'Razor Boy,' the splendidly sagacious 'Mister Sam,' the arrestingly charming and savvy 'Oleander,' and the generous, and indefatigable, 'Hoops' himself, without whose generosity this forum would not be possible.  Have profound rantings of Delawarean provenance lambasted these worthy contributors for their lack of authenticity in titles of authorship?  Even a hasty glance at my (rather distinguished) choice of pseudonym would instantly, even effortlessly, perceive that in the realm of 'Dandom such imitation is the best form of flattery, constituting a particularly deferential nod to that very 'heart of Steely Dan' identified in the original liner notes to 'Aja.'  Further, such creative nomenclature, deriving as it does from the mythical Realm of Dandom, not only constitutes a source of mirth and merriment but also suggests a creative variation on a theme wholly appropriate to that select and most eminent of pastimes'namely, the discussion of All Things 'Dan.

Fresh out of the starting gate stall and galloping a mere nose behind Delaware Earl was Chicago's 'Dennis.'  His posting proffered the audacious assertions that it was right for D&W to have jettisoned Baxter in favor of various studio heavies and that Jeff Baxter merely 'did some OK things with the Dan' but 'plays sorta like a weeny on some of it' (7/2/02 - 12:53:43).  It must be acknowledged that this very Dennis did indeed later proffer a very brief retraction of his remark about Jeff Baxter—'I take back everything I said about Skunk Baxter.  I love him.'  7/8/02 - 17:01:15—but he completely failed to articulate precisely how he came to acquire a worthy appreciation of the Skunk.  Terse retraction or no, it is manifestly anathema that anyone in The Loyal Fandom has for even a fleeting moment entertained so ghastly an opinion concerning Jeff Baxter's guitar work on the first three Steely Dan LP's.  What follows will permanently put such a view to rest.

Let me treat of Dennis' assertion that some of Jeff Baxter's playing was just 'OK' by contending that Jeff Baxter's guitar work throughout the first three Steely Dan LPs was inspired and brilliant; moreover, that he was easily the 'Dan's finest and most versatile guitarist; and even further, that the totality and richness of the guitar work which he contributed to the first three Steely Dan LPs far exceeds that of any other guitar player who has played on any three SD LPs and, indeed, throughout the entire SD catalogue.

The liner notes to 'Can't Buy A Thrill' concerning Baxter's solo on 'Change of the Guard' praise its 'raw energy.' While the rest of the song may be a bit too sugary and lack the forward motion and stronger rhythmic pulse that it really needed to be an overall success, that guitar solo is an absolute doozy.  And not all the guitar work on 'Reelin' in the Years' is by Elliott Randall, although some incorrectly think otherwise.  The 'surf parts' that are played during each chorus were played by Jeff Baxter.  They are edgy and powerful, and, indeed, an indispensable component of the success of the song as a guitar showcase, as well as the perfect prelude to, and complement of, Randall's great solos.

I will add here a very significant something for the record--namely, that the first three Steely Dan LP's were also issued in Quadraphonic sound, and on certain tracks from each LP, the Quad mix constitutes an almost completely different, in each case vastly improved, version.  The Quad mix of 'Reelin' in the Years' includes many of the other 'surf parts' that the Skunk played on each of the three choruses which were for some inexplicable reason omitted from the Stereophonic mix.  These additional parts render this guitar-gloried song even more impressive.  To savor this delightful mix check out: http://www.broberg.pp.se/sd_sound.htm.

On 'Bodhisattva,' Jeff Baxter's incendiary guitar work throughout fires that roaring boogie like jet fuel.  Even the phenomenal sound of his guitar alone on that song is worthy of wonderment.  His highly acclaimed solos on 'My Old School' are justly praised for their stylistic diversity and inventiveness.  It's sad that we don't get to hear the rest of his playing toward the latter part of that tune where the sound level diminishes just as he begins to really rev up the riffs.  One may only wonder what other phenomenal licks he played as that terribly premature and thoroughly accursed fade-out begins.

Who can sufficiently praise the 'raw energy' of Jeff's guitar work on 'Night By Night'?  Baxter's two solos on this song have always left me flat-out astonished, from the captivating and particularly gutsy opening notes and throughout.  Gary Katz particularly admired these solos.  Had this superb tune been released as a single it would doubtless have charted big-time, and those two solos would doubtless have received wide acclaim.  Unfortunately, this tune was also faded out rather than allowed to continue to the end so that we could hear the rest of Baxter's inspired playing and maybe even hear a crescendo wind up comparable to the thunderous ending of 'Bodhisattva' which Jeff Baxter was all over.  The release of 'Night By Night' as a single would also have been the perfect follow-up to the first 'Pretzel Logic' single, namely 'Rikki, Don't Lose That Number,' on which Jeff Baxter's legendary solo has received superlative case praise from every critic in the music field and to which I can add nothing that has not already been said many times over in many ways.

Perhaps the only Baxter solo that does not quite deliver on the liner notes' promise regarding the manifestation of a 'wild boy' is the solo he played on 'The Boston Rag.'  The haunting, almost exorcistic, legato introduction, followed by pianissimo hammer-ons (a technical oxymoron?) are followed by a solo that, although it does become more animated as the tune goes on, does not quite attain either to the phenomenal energy or the dominant sound that Baxter holds forth on 'Bodhisattva.'  It should be noted, however, that on the Quadraphonic version of 'The Boston Rag' one can very clearly hear a second solo guitar played concurrently with Baxter's solo, and this mix is somewhat more lively than the Stereophonic. See http://www.broberg.pp.se/sd_sound.htm.

However, the aforementioned 'wild boy' promised on the liner notes of 'Countdown To Ecstasy' was fully manifested in live performance on the 1974 Pretzel Logic tour, as anyone who ever heard Baxter's soaring solos on 'The Boston Rag' knows only too well.  Donald Fagen often ecstatically shouted 'Yes!' in the middle of these brilliant outings.  Hopefully, Danfans will one day (sooner than later, I pine) get to hear an officially-released, complete Steely Dan concert if only D&W will at long last graciously deign to grant Stuart 'Dinky' Dawson their kind permission to issue on the Rykodisc label the live SD concert of July 1, 1974 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington, which Dinky Dawson rates as one of the finest concerts with the highest energy from the Pretzel Logic tour.  Here may be fittingly quoted the welcome concurrence with my Appeal of the Anima 'Jersey: 'Tristan, whoever you are, you are right.  I would DIE for new Steely Dan stuff, even if it were dusted off from the attic!  Don't our boys realize they are sitting on a GOLDMINE!!!' (Michelle, NJ, 1/28/02 - 18:02:44)  The profound truths of her observation are to be appreciated by those who have ears to hear.

The foregoing evaluation of Jeff Baxter's contribution to the Steely Dan catalogue, which focuses exclusively on the stinging rock-oriented solos, is, however, very far from complete.  There were a goodly number of tunes on the early LPs which simply were not intense rock numbers and on which the most scorching riffs would have been plainly ridiculous.  On such tunes, however, Jeff Baxter's playing is no less a marvel.  Allow me to query forth, O Danfans: since the Skunk's departure from the 'Dan, have we heard one single song —nay, rather, note — from a melodious pedal steel guitar?  It was pedal steel guitar that graced the 'Dan's very first, albeit short-lived, single, 'Dallas,' that was released prior to the issuance of 'Can't Buy A Thrill' but ultimately was not included on the LP.  While the harmonies that accompany Jim Hodder's lead vocals on 'Dallas' were also quite impressive, it is Baxter's mellifluous pedal steel playing that emerges as the song's highlight.  (If you don't already have this track via the 'Plus Four' 12' LP issued years ago in the UK, check out http://www.broberg.pp.se/sd_sound.htm).  CBAT's 'Fire in the Hole' also featured uncanny pedal steel phrases conveying no less than 'the cunning of the insane' and some very sweet lines on 'Brooklyn.'

Moving on to 'Countdown to Ecstasy,' we find The Bluebook's 'Mister Sam' providing a very fine overall estimation of the pedal steel contribution of Jeff Baxter on this LP (7/2/02 - 20:51:11).  And the percipient 'SharkdeVille' gets 'A+' for characterizing Baxter's pedal steel guitar on 'Razor Boy' as 'sublime' (7/9/02 - 17:20:09).   ('Razor Boy' is also one of Jeff Baxter's two all-time favorite 'Dan tunes.)  The very same sublimity (both in terms of tone and the quality of playing) may without exaggeration be attributed to Baxter's lovely pedal steel guitar playing on 'Pearl of the Quarter.'

'Pretzel Logic' was the third and final Steely Dan LP to be issued in both Stereophonic and Quadraphonic sound, and although the latter mixes do not significantly differ from the former except for greater clarity on the various guitar parts on 'Barrytown,' Baxter's pedal steel on 'East St. Louis Toodle-oo,' 'Barrytown' and 'With A Gun' is exemplary.  When the 'Dan played 'Barrytown' live in '74, Baxter's pedal steel playing made this tune soar.  In fine, the Skunk's outstanding pedal steel guitar on the first three LPs (and in concert) was one of the original 'Dan's most endearing and intriguing elements.  In the post-Skunk era, we may tunefully lament according to the following re-lyrics:

I stepped upon the platform
A truth 'bout Skunk was spilled:
His pedal steel guitarist's shoes
Have since remained unfilled

Consider also Walter Becker's comments given in an interview regarding Baxter's 'charming Ecoplex' technique on the supporting guitar work in 'King of the World' as well as a later statement of his that Baxter's solo on 'Any Major Dude' was 'a model of economy and precision'.  (On the 1974 Pretzel Logic tour, Baxter soloed on this tune on pedal steel guitar.)  From a miscellaneous perspective, 'Midnight Cruiser' required diamond-hard notes for its solo; 'Monkey in Your Soul' needed rather light-hearted solo lines to contrast with the brooding quality of the lyrics; and the increasingly haunting and intense legato notes played throughout 'Charlie Freak' enliven and brighten an otherwise difficult, if not impossible, to redeem tune.  All solos were from the Skunk.

And lastly, there are parts from the first three LPs where Baxter plays extensive rhythm guitar.  Wes Montgomery himself would undoubtedly have beamed at the exquisite and buoyant Baxter chords that propel along 'Only A Fool Would Say That' (Jeff's solo on this tune is also a delightful, tasty piece of work).  But far, far more importantly, consider his guitar work on 'Do It Again.'  I have always admired the tasty rhythm guitar that insinuates its way in and out of the beginning and ending of this song, but have always wondered why only barely audible glimpses of this guitar are otherwise heard.  It is unfortunate that the rest of Baxter's rhythm guitar work is not given sufficient or consistent prominence throughout the entire Stereophonic mix.

But to my unutterable glee, the Quadraphonic mix contains a much more audible account than the Stereophonic of Jeff Baxter's complete rhythm guitar contribution to 'Do It Again.'  It should be added that nowhere more than on this song (with the exception of his solos on 'My Old School') does the Skunk demonstrate his singular facility for diverse guitar phrasings.  For this versatility to showcase on the typically more mundane rhythm guitar component of a song is unusual--except, of course, when Jeff Baxter is minding the frets.  But that's not all.  If one listens to the Quad mix with a first-rate set of headphones, there is to be found an even richer will abundance of aural guitar subtleties as there is yet a another quite audible rhythm guitar on the right channel delivering some really jazzy, at times definitively funky, rhythm riffs along with a splendid array of angular 'pick harmonics' of both the single string and chordal variety.  While there are traces of Skunk's style in the way this guitar is played, there are also traces of Denny Dias' style, and it's a kernel of a mystery to the entire staff of Pretzel Logic & Analysis, Inc., as to precisely whose contribution is at issue here.  (Dansleuths of the world, unite!)

But the Quadraphonic version of 'Do It Again' is a vastly improved mix of the original song not only because everything that Jeff Baxter played on the tune can be clearly heard but also because one can also distinguish with far greater clarity the notes and chord progressions in Donald Fagen's keyboard solo, particularly in the solo's latter half, that in the Stereophonic mix run together in a kind of sonic blur.  And so the Quadraphonic mix of 'Do It Again' is vastly preferable to the Stereophonic on two major accounts, and I can say without exaggeration I have shelved the latter altogether.  (As of this writing, I am unfortunately unaware of any URL with this track conveniently posted on it.)

(I digress here, with all curmudgeonliness, to revisit the complaint previously expressed in my Appeal to D&W regarding the ad nauseum re-issuance of the Steely Dan studio tracks at the expense of live concert recordings by adding that it is unfortunate that the Quadraphonic mixes of the first three LPs were not re-issued, even as special 'bonus tracks.'  No doubt, one day we will see yet another repackaging of the studio recordings.  When that day inexorably comes to pass, let's hope that the re-issues will include the Quadraphonic mixes from the first three LP's (at least those tracks that significantly differ from the Stereophonic mixes) since the Loyal Fandom may already choose from an incredible glut of Stereophonic re-packages, to which with all niggardliness but one 'officially released' live track from '74 has been added.)

Withal, Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter's contribution to the early catalogue of SD simply cannot be gainsaid.  The totality and diversity of his contributions run the gamut of stinging and highly acclaimed electric guitar solos, to exquisite, melodious pedal steel, to tasty jazz chords and solos, to diversely phrased and exceptional rhythm guitar work, along with a notable smattering of techniques than enliven the lesser tunes.  In vain will anyone search for a guitarist who has amassed so comparably brilliant and rich a contribution to the Steely Dan catalogue.

In conclusion, to The Illustrious Skunk himself, I hoist a cavernous tankard topped with Anchor Steam (San Francisco's very own and very fine local brew) and in all earnestness propose a toast regarding a novel subject:  To a solo album!  We really do deserve one; not because we want 'just another solo album from just another famous guitar player from just another famous band'— an alleged syndrome, you once conveniently purported, justifies eschewing your obligation to your fans to record a CD or two of Skunkmeisterly compositions — but because your guitar playing combines brilliance, chops, creativity and wit as absolutely no one else can or does.

Fraternally in 'Dandom,

Tristan Gustave Fabriani III, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer & El Supremo
Pretzel Logic & Analysis, Inc.
San Francisco, California
The Fall of '02

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Date: Sat, September 14, 2002, 20:42:43
Posted by: DrMµ, Tejas

hoops, earl, sam, little wild: While W does sounds just like the Midland west Texas boy that he is, he DID outline succinctly the plan on 1/29/02 in the State of the Union address. Here is an excerpt below. I would like to be more convinced of an imminent threat or the link between Al-Qaeda and Saddam, although Parasoula, Saddam's escaped ex-mistress ID'd Osama and Saddam together with money changing hands as well this week on ABC...


"...Our nation will continue to be steadfast and patient and persistent in the pursuit of two great objectives.  First, we will shut down terrorist camps, disrupt terrorist plans, and bring terrorists to justice.  And, second, we must prevent the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world.  (Applause.)
Our military has put the terror training camps of Afghanistan out of business, yet camps still exist in at least a dozen countries.  A terrorist underworld -- including groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Jaish-i-Mohammed -- operates in remote jungles and deserts, and hides in the centers of large cities.
While the most visible military action is in Afghanistan, America is acting elsewhere.  We now have troops in the Philippines, helping to train that country's armed forces to go after terrorist cells that have executed an American, and still hold hostages.  Our soldiers, working with the Bosnian government, seized terrorists who were plotting to bomb our embassy.  OurNavy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block the shipment of weapons and the establishment of terrorist camps in Somalia.
My hope is that all nations will heed our call, and eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten their countries and our own.  Many nations are acting forcefully.  Pakistan is now cracking down on terror, and I admire the strong leadership of President Musharraf.  (Applause.)
But some governments will be timid in the face of terror.  And make no mistake about it:  If they do not act, America will.  (Applause.)
Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction.  Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September the 11th.  But we know their true nature.  North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.
Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.
Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror.  The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade.  This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens -- leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children.  This is a regime that agreed to international inspections -- then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world.
States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.  By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger.  They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred.  They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States.  In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic.
***We will work closely with our coalition*** to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction.  We will develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect America and our allies from sudden attack.  (Applause.) And all nations should know:  America will do what is necessary to ensure our nation's security.
***We'll be deliberate, yet time is not on our side. I will not wait on events, while dangers gather.***  I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer.  The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons.  (Applause.)
Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only begun.  This campaign may not be finished on our watch -- yet it must be and it will be waged on our watch.
We can't stop short.  If we stop now -- leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked -- our sense of security would be false and temporary.  History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom's fight.  (Applause.)


Now I'm a registered Democrat who's conservative in fiscal and foreign policy and a libertarian in social public policy, but I'm surprised that those in the news media on the far left who have criticized Bush for ulterior political motives have not picked up on the most obvious one. There is the possibility that this could be very personal - Saddam did try to execute his Dad (41) out of office...

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Date: Fri, September 13, 2002, 23:04:34
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

Interesting discussion on our current situation. One of the things I've learned is that even "conservatives" can be reasonable, if they are intelligent writers (Citizen).

Not to keep this issue going fezo, but...you wrote:

Paige: About my confining Neil to eternal damnation for "Let's Roll" . . . I think what the folks did on that plane in Pennsylvania is as close to a sacred act as we can get in this country. Any commercialization of those events, whether it in song or by a football team (Florida State), just has never set right with me.

If I'm not mistaken, "Let's Roll" was pre-released before the current album came out from Niel (several weeks before). Also, I believe that Niel allowed "free" downloads of the song (and still does). In addition, radio stations gave away free CDs with the song on it almost immediatly upon its release. At least they did here in Santa Barbara (KTYD).

As I mentioned before, I too was disgusted with the "patriotic commercialism" that takes advantage of a terrible event. That has not changed.

I simply saw "Let's Roll" as an honest and sincere tribute to the bravery of those on Flight 93. I think that this is undeniable and speaks to the nature of who Niel is.

Musically speaking...It was good to hear Niel do something a little heavier (something I wish Steely Dan would go back to...i.e. The Royal Scam). Granted..."Let's Roll" got a little old after it was played to death. But that happens with a lot of songs.

-Paige

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Date: Fri, September 13, 2002, 19:39:28
Posted by: norm,

Over at the MOJO board, someone decided to start another Steely Dan thread - only this time, the guy is a major fan. Meanwhile, the guy who calls himself Skip Spence has been laying low since he became persona non grata a few weeks ago over some transgression or other. He then made a big hissy fit and slammed the door behind him, saying he was Leaving For Good - reminds me of Cartman on South Park: "Screw you guys, I'm going hoooome!" Things have been a lot more civil in general ever since his grand exit, but now that this new Dan thread has started, it remains to be seen how well the ol' boy can control himself. (I was going to say, "It will be interesting to see..." but actually it won't.)

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Date: Fri, September 13, 2002, 16:47:41
Posted by: Cosmic WoW,

Hi everyone.

Was glad to hear that George Harrison's final album, "Brainwashed," will be out in late November. The album was finished by his son, Dhani, and Jeff Lynne, who produced the album.

:-/

I was also saddened to learn that Warren Zevon has inoperable lung cancer. His stuff is not unlike Walter Becker's solo album.

Comic WoE is me.

:-(

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Date: Fri, September 13, 2002, 11:27:35
Posted by: Earl, A Dugout That My Dad Built

I will respond to your PS. I definitely overstated my opinion, but there are many liberals that do that all the time (i.e. Bush poisoning the water w/ arsenic, the confirmation of Priscilla Owen for the Circuit Court would mean that abortion would go out the window, etc). I do believe that other countries are extremely jealous of our situation.

The thing I don't understand is how Kofi Annan can expect anyone to take the UN seriously when they allow the resolutions to which Hussein agreed to be pissed on by the dictator. If the United Nations were legitimate, they would force Hussein to allow people in there. But it's not legit, it's a farce. I don't think we should immediately attack Iraq, but I do think we need to put our feet down and set a deadline for him to let the UN in to inspect. But the UN just doesn't care.

I expect an apology for your libelous musings on here. I guess you have a degree in psychology to be able to substantiate your allegations.

Earl

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Date: Fri, September 13, 2002, 08:35:30
Posted by: Whatevah happens,

Heard "Brooklyn" on the radio this morning on the way to work. The CBAT version. First time I ever heard it played. Today's a fun day.

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Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 18:25:30
Posted by: Citizen Sam, Safe at Home in Anytown, USA

HOOPS: I concur about W's lack of verbal eloquence being a problem. Presidential speech is mostly about public persuasion (ie, "using the bully pulpit" as Teddy Roosevelt used to say.) More often than not, though, W comes across as a poor public speaker, and it detracts from the persuasiveness of his ideas. Perhaps, he ought to re-allocate some hours that he currently spends running & weight-lifting to attend a remedial workshop on Public Speaking?


EARL: Of the 19 Sept. 11th hijackers, 15 were Saudis. bin Laden is also a Saudi. Annually, millions of dollars in "charitable giving" by Saudis gets routinely laundered to terrorist groups. So, if "links" to terrorism are a legitimate litmus test of which countries we should attack in the war against terrorism, then why do we always give Saudi Arabia a free pass? That said, little or no evidence has surfaced of links between Hussein and al-Qaeda or bin Laden . . . yet.

Unfortunately, the administration's obsession with Saddam didn't start after 9/11. Instead, it reflects an 11-year old debate over whether Bush41 erred in stopping short of Baghdad at the end of the Gulf War. [I can still remember a Spring 2001 episode of PBS's Frontline that focused squarely on this issue, and the likelihood of Bush43 going to war against Iraq before 2004. FYI, the documentary concluded that the Bush administration was preparing for war even before the inauguration.]

Worse, the sudden sense of urgency on Iraq seems based less on a sense of imminent threat than on a desperate need to manufacture a campaign issue. In case you haven't noticed, Bush's poll numbers have softened considerably in the last 5 months, and for good reason. The economy sucks (double dip recession?), the stock market continues to stagnate, bin Laden remains elusive, and Bush's goodwill bump from 9/11 is beginning to fade (shades of Bush41?) Heaven forbid that the public ever realizes what a failure this administration has been, or begins to genuinely focus on administration ties to scandals like ENRON, Halliburton, and Lincoln Bedroom II.

Personally, I despise Saddam, but I don't fear him. At this point in history, it's clear he is focused on self-preservation (much like Libya's Qaddafi after Reagan bombed him twice.) The "No Fly Zones" in the north and south of Iraq continue to hamper his military mobility. (Hell, we even bomb his early warning radar installations whenever he dares to turn them on!) And, his ability to wage war against his neighbors is so diminished that even they (ie, Iran, Kuwait, S.Arabia, and Turkey) vigorously oppose an attack on Iraq.

Further, should Saddam ever obtain a nulear bomb (and, that is a Lotto-like long shot given our intense scrutiny over shipments in & out of Iraq), recent CIA and UN assessments limit his missile delivery capability to a 400 mile radius. That may be a concern of Israel (and they are more than capable of defending themselves thank you), but it hardly has me worrying about an Iraqi nuclear attack on the USA. I'm decidedly more concerned about the possibility of nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attacks from terrorist suitcase bombs or suicide bombers. Unfortunately, a unilateral attack on Iraq will only distract the administation's attention from these threats, and it may well erode the cooperation that we need from Muslim countries to pre-emptively thwart such terrorist attacks.

Make no mistake Earl. I am no dove, and I am not a liberal. I believe in balanced budgets, free trade, the death penalty, and the projection of US military might where necessary. I understood the necessity for aggressive and decisive US action in the Persian Gulf the minute I heard that Hussein had invaded Kuwaitt in August 1990. I supported Bush41 whole-heartedly, and thought he did a masterful job. I also appreciated why it was necessary for us to take military action in the Balkans. Sometimes, it's not enough just to own a big stick. You have to be willing to use it.

Earl, you are right when you say we should do everything we can to make Iraq live up to it's past UN commitments. Admittedly, Clinton dropped the ball on this toward the end of his second term. Now, though, Little Bush would be wise to heed his daddy's example, and start listening to the likes of Powell, Scowcroft, Baker, Eagleburger, and Schwarzkopf. Rashly and impatiently going it alone would be a military and foreign policy disaster. Much as you may turn a deaf ear to this Earl, these are conservative, Republican voices questioning Bush43's judgment, NOT liberal, Democratic ones.

Instead, W should work the phones and diplomatic channels to gain broad-based support for US-sponsored, UN Resolutions that focus the world spotlight squarely on Saddam. If Iraq cooperates, great. We achieve our ends peacefully. If he doesn't cooperate, though, it's there for all the world to see, and we instantly gain the moral high ground. At that point, a new round of diplomacy will yield plenty of military and financial support from reluctant allies, and Bush can ratchet up the pressure on Saddam with threats of multilateral military action. If threats don't work, Bush will have earned the moral authority to start spilling the blood of our enemies, allies, sons, and daughters. To date, he HAS NOT earned that authority.

Finally, if and when we do go to war, it's important that we abide by the lessons of Vietnam & the Gulf War. As Powell and Schwarzkopff explained in 1990-1:
1. We should have a clearly articulated purpose and set of goals.
2. The administration must build maximal public support for war before letting the bombs fly.
3. When we do attack, we must do so with over-whelming force.
4. Before stepping into a potential quagmire, we should have a well-defined exit strategy in place.

Bush41's administration provided the blueprint for how Bush43 should proceed, and sonny boy "would be prudent" to do his homework this time around. Simply winging it in anticipation of earning yet another "Gentleman C" just isn't good enough in matters as serious as this.

Respectfully,
Citizen Sam

PS - Sorry Earl, but to suggest that the whole world is secretly plotting against us and wishing for us to get nuked IS PARANOID & DELUSIONAL. It is also highly delusional (and more than a bit Orwellian) to boldly proclaim that "War = Peace. Plain and simple." Perhaps you over-stated your case Wednesday, but I can't read your mind. I can only read your words, and that post screamed "mental illness."

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Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 18:14:01
Posted by: Shotan, Birmingham, UK

UK BLUE BOOKERS
-----PLUGSVILLE-----------------------------------

THE DANNY STEEL ORCHESTRA...clearly 'Dan
The UK's finest 12-piece tribute to the venerable STEELY DAN
are appearing on
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15th at
THE OLD MILL
Westheath Road, (near the railway station), Northfield, Birmingham, UK
tel: 0121 475 1337
Performing tracks from all the albums in a stunning, ALL LIVE, 2 hour show
guaranteed to thrill die hard fans and newcomers alike.
And admission is FREE!!!
NOW come up with an excuse for not showing up!!!!


Meet up with mad mick Eric Kelly..flying in again all the way from Dublin, Ireland to mix the sound!!!!
Press flesh with Ian (Beerberian) Monckton, the lovely lithesome Morag and Penno the Axemancub!

See ya there??????

"close your eyes and you'll be there, it's everything they say..."
www.dannysteelorchestra.co.uk

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Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 17:26:24
Posted by: Dennis, Chicago

Did anyone watch the Concert for America last night? How do thousands of people ALL clap on the downbeat at the same time? Al Green finally got them to clap on the offbeats but had to show them how!

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Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 13:37:22
Posted by: HeyMike, Chicago suburbs

Hoops....ding ding ding ding It was Bill July 1998. I have to give you the "dork" stuff. In his speach today he gave to the UN he said "nucular" and "KiLOWmeters". One the other hand it is refreshing not having Steve Speilberg and Barb Strisand running around the white house thinking thier running things.

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Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 11:40:57
Posted by: Peg, Spendin my birthday in Spain

Well how about politics and music again... Once again they ran the NYC musical salute on VH-1 last night. Once again I decided that The Who had some of the most positive energy going that night. Amen?
On to other news: Wow the John Mayer CD is awwesome. His voice will remind you of Michael Franks. His lyrics have been a bit influenced by all of the Alternative hoo-ha, but not enough to make them too banal. Very sweet. Highly recommended are both the full CD titled Room for Squares, plus the 4-song import CD -- the latter has 2 tunes not on the big one --a cover of a Stevie Ray Vaughan tune called "Lenny" that smoothes your rough edges ever so well, plus a cover of Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary."
Feliz cumpleanos a me; al Espana hoy! :)

---

Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 10:57:55
Posted by: Little Wild One, H-ton

Bravo hoops! My thoughts exactly on the Clinton Letterman appearance.

And, as further proof of W's speaking prowess, Maureen Dowd recently had an OpEd in the NY Times that speaks volumes about where his attentions generally are (For those of you who don't know me, I am not the computer jock that many of you are, so the following is the address.) Good luck accessing it.


Treadmills of His Mind
August 25, 2002
By MAUREEN DOWD

I don't know enough about what the president is up to on
Iraq. But I know too much about what the president is up to
on a run.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/25/opinion/25DOWD.html?ex=1032795490&ei=1&en=a17c51c33d0a27b7

Interestingly, William Safire also wrote an OpEd piece earlier this week about the use of the Gettysburg Address at Ground Zero services. He was all for it based on the oft-repeated themes of birth, death and re-birth in the speech. I must respectfully disagree, but only because I have too many emotional feelings about the Civil War, what it stood for in our country and the grace of President Lincoln during that period in our history.

Hey, I think he was even a Republican, right Earl? See, my politics are not totally corrupted.

---

Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 10:39:19
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Hey Mike;

I'm going to answer "Bill Clinton for 400." I think that's what he basically said last night on Letterman. Maybe you are referring to someone else.

While I sure can't stand listening to Bush, I haven't exactly yearned for the days of listening to Clinton, either.

All I can imagine is that Letterman's staff tried to get Bush on the show last night but couldn't so they got new New Yorker Bill Clinton in instead. That said, Clinton explained his position (And perhaps it's Bush's position too if W could explain it) on Iraq in a way that was eloquent, understandable and potentially persuasive According to Mr. Bill, Bob Dole feels the same way.

Opinions on Iraq aside, it was incredibly refreshing to hear someone (Clinton) speak with eloquence and sound intelligent when they speak. I have gotten so used to Bush, I had forgotten what a dork yahoo he sounds like. Bush is an ammatuer speaker, and whether or not he shares my views, he does not have sufficiant speaking skills or eloquence to expres views and lead sway in the world arena.

I'm not always hot on Bill but after last night I can't believe W is supposedly leader of the free world. What a shame about US. No wonder we're losing most of the rest of the world. Bush sounds like an admonishing cranky old priest. What a dork.

h

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Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 08:25:27
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

I said "They are unrelated, that's true", what I meant to say is "With the information the public has, they are unrelated, that's true."

Oh yeah, and there may be a spelling/grammatical error in there too...the lesson being that proofreading posts is a good thing.

Earl

---

Date: Thurs, September 12, 2002, 08:21:14
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Sam: So, if Iraq has supported Al-Qaeda financially in their terrorist attacks, then we should hold back? What if the CIA has information that links Hussein and bin-Laden?

They are unrelated, that's true. And Bush is trying to make up for his father's mistake. But in reality I think that we're trying to scare Hussein into opening up his country to weapons inspectors.

And to clarify, next to Israel, I'd say we're the most despised country in the world. Rival countries SHOULD be scared of our might and are. The problem with Saddam is that, in halting the Gulf War, he signed a treaty that said he would not build nuclear or biological weapons, which we are pretty certain he is doing now. He has barred the weapons inspectors from his country, which is a stipulation in the treaty. So the treaty is null and void. I just pray to God that you guys are nowhere near a target for one of Hussein's missles if and when he decides he hates America enough to use them.

But to finish my point about being hated, look at the UN. We are supporting everyone's rear with what amounts to alimony, and what do they do? They go down to South Africa and urinate on our name. They say that we need to give more money, that we are greedy SOB's. And we're the one's keeping them afloat. These countries should be thankful that we are so gracious as to give them ANY aid. Most countries wouldn't stand for this constant insulting that we get from our supposed allies.

If you disagree with the left, your paranoid schizophrenic. Or you must have contracted some mind-clouding bacteria that makes you delirious. Or your stupid. Never mind the fact you're right, it's too tough to fight fact with fiction. Instead, it's easier to find your used syringe needle, or your daughters in the bar at 18 (which I'm sure the same press had done when they were 18), or make it sound like your a bluthering idiot. If you haven't noticed, these are all tactics used by the press/liberal left to attempt to slander George W. Bush. Too bad the truth shines through all of all the attempted mudslinging and character assault.

Earl

---

Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 23:13:10
Posted by: HeyMike, The Washington Zoo

"This [Hussein]regime threatens the safety of his people, the stability of his region, and the security of the rest of us. Someday, some way, I guarantee you he'll use the arsenal. Let there be no doubt, we are prepared to act. I know that the people we may call upon in uniform are ready. The American people have to be ready as well."


Guess who??

---

Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 23:07:07
Posted by: HeyMike, Can only see the top of the Sears Tower

Sam "lofty notions like Democracy and Liberty" ??

Yikes

---

Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 19:40:22
Posted by: hoops, chicago

I had my own share of random thoughts about today.

At first I was annoyed when the Television and radio announcers started making commentary over the reading of the names. Like when they explained that this was for the Sept 11 attacks...ummm no kidding. But then after about 20 minutes, I guess the talk overs were maybe a little more understandable. It began to sound like a commencement ceremony. Anyhow, I rarely watch television and I simply hate all these graphics they insert on the screen.

In someways, it reminded me of watching the anti-thesis of the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Later, I popped into a deli for lunch and they had the TV on with Tom Brokaw interviewing the families of the victims in what was like talk show format. He asked one husband whose wife of many years was killed, "Has the last year been easy?" Brokaw has always gotten on my nerves, maybe because he sucks up to Bill Gates so much, but this really got to me. And of course they had that stupid logo/icon, "America Remembers" in the corner of the screen the whole time.

Later I wondered how it must feel for some of these people in so far as if it were one of my parents who were killed, I'd hate having to share their murder on TV with all of America.

I work about 1/2 mile from the Sears Tower. (My office is just a few hundred feet from the "Circle Interchange" of I-90 / I-94 / I-290.) Depending on where you are in our office, you have a full view of the Sears Tower from roughly the 30th floor and up, to the point of where you can make out some details in each window. Ever since last year, I can't look at the Sears Tower without morbidly imagining the horror of what a plane being flown into it. Fortunately, my own view looks out on the loft apartment district along West Jackson, Van Buren, etc, near Peoria Street so I am not so preoccupied with those thoughts.

These poor people in New York who lost loved ones must be going through a lot to lose someone, I don't know how they handle having their grief dissected on TV day-in and day-out. I've usually had the luxury of dealing with loss of a loved one without having to discuss it. These people must see it everywhere and it would drive me crazy if I were in their shoes. Then again, that's just me.

I don't know if it was the 2000 election or 9/11/01, but the 2000 tour and all that happened in the 1990s seems a long ways away.

Thanks for allowing me the indulgence.

h

---

Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 18:52:11
Posted by: fezo, homeofthebrave

Earl: Sorry to read that the pharmacies were closed today in your part of the country

Paige: About my confining Neil to eternal damnation for "Let's Roll" . . . I think what the folks did on that plane in Pennsylvania is as close to a sacred act as we can get in this country. Any commercialization of those events, whether it in song or by a football team (Florida State), just has never set right with me.

So did Pataki really read the entire Gettysburg Address today?

That would have been more appropriate for an Oklahoma City commemoration

---

Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 17:23:18
Posted by: Mister Sam, 50 Miles from the Pentagon

If Earl is to be believed, then:
1. the whole world is against us
2. the whole world secretly wants to nuke us
3. any citizen who dares disagree with the administration is a traitor
4. the media, academia, & non-Republicans all seek to persecute Earl & his fellow Republicans
5. education = ignorance & naivete
6. war = peace

Based on what you just wrote Earl, I must conclude that the only thing more stunning than your bullshit is your total lack of grasp on reality. Please Earl, I implore you to seek out professional help. Sadly, your last post sounds like a textbook case of schizophrenia mixed with paranoid delusions and a messiah/persecution complex.


LWO: I didn't see Pataki's speech, but I agree with you regarding the Gettysburg Address. It's a wonderfully passionate and eloquent speech, but it is totally inappropriate for this occasion (save, perhaps, in passing reference to the passengers who died in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.) The G.A. speaks of Union soldiers making the supreme sacrifice to ensure that government of the people, by the people, and for the people will not perish from the face of the Earth. 9/11 was a whole other animal.

The victims of 9/11 were mostly civilians, not soldiers. They were senselessly slaughtered in the name of hate and blind rage; they did not die fighting in the defense of democracy. Furthermore, the courageous firefighters who selflessly gave their lives did so in an attempt to save lives, not to preserve the Union or advance lofty notions like democracy & liberty. Yes, most of the victims were martyrs and many others were heroes, but a reading of the G.A. falls woefully short of acknowledging this. Pataki had the opportunity to offer the nation some original and heartfelt reflections on lessons or inspiration we might take from this senseless tragedy. Apparently, he wasn't up to that task.

That said, I sincerely hope that W does a better job than Pataki in this evening's address to the nation and tomorrow's address to the UN. Unfortunately, though, I'm anticipating that he will use the occasion to try and draw wholly inappropriate links between the lessons from 9/11 and his desire to wage a vendetta war against Iraq. One has little or nothing to do with the other and it is NOT un-American to point that out Earl.

---

Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 15:34:13
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

Gettysburg Address = speech given at a pivotal juncture in the Civil War, and inspired the Union troops to conquer the Rebels. What would be more fitting than a speech that brought about one of the great decisive victories in United States history? Especially in a time when the disloyal "educated" public (media, scholars, liberal politicians) are boo-hooing everything the government tries to do to return control of this country to the people. Right now it's in the control of a bunch of Arabs over in the Middle East, because the news you hear about is terrorism related. We are consumed by the fear of a future attack. The rest of the world wants us to keep out of Iraq for two reasons: 1) Because they want Saddam to develop a nuke to annihilate us (because they like seeing us suffer), and 2) Because if we are willing to and can annihilate Saddam's regime, that shows the world that we are still the bosses.

Peace is a result of victory in war. Plain and simple.

Earl

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Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 15:07:08
Posted by: Little Wild One, Back from the Windy City

Just wanted to share this with all of you in BB land. I'm plagiarizing an email sent by one of the names on the wall of the high-rise-located firm I work for.

After all, occasionally even lawyers are good for something.

"I hope that each of us will take comfort today from the love of our families, the support of our friends and our appreciation for each other [BB related insert: regardless of our differences of opinion] and renew ourselves with a STEELY resolve to go on about our daily lives undeterred by the unspeakable acts of those who--could they do so--would oppress us all and destroy the spirit that makes us all Americans, by birth or choice, uniquely free."

Hello to all the fine folks from the Chicago Dan/Jazz fest. Thanks to you I have another full page in the SD section of my scrapbook and I hope I can return the hospitality sometime soon!

Speaking of differnces of opinion (and plagiarism), did anyone do a double take on Pataki reading the Gettysburg Address this am at the Ground Zero service? At first(as whenever I hear it spoken), I was touched by the eloquence of the words...then the more I thought about it, the less I thought it was appropriate.

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Date: Wed, September 11, 2002, 12:27:42
Posted by: Mr.Sticks,

Please join Steely Fan Band LIVE!
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT...September 13,2002-8:30pm
We'll be making our monthly appearance at the Studio Cafe in beautiful Newport Beach,Ca.
100 Main Street at the Balboa Pier
Free to get in !!!!

Website Update:
Our website will be back up soon as we are making updates ..Look for steelyfanband.net soon!
Bookings and Info:1-877-679-7677

Thanks

---

Date: Tues, September 10, 2002, 17:37:39
Posted by: bwaySteve, ny metro area

I have finally gotten the respect for my irony that I truly deserved.

thanhk you

or as we say on my planet

thank you

---

Date: Tues, September 10, 2002, 12:42:32
Posted by: Won't you see things my way?,

Imagine being a Steely Dan fan and being banned from Steely Dan concerts for life? What cruel and unusual punishment that would be. Still, I think the following sentence is helping to reform a citizen.

 

Sad, sad Monday: Foreigner fan banned for life

September 10, 2002

BY DAN ROZEK STAFF REPORTER



He's banned from seeing the band.

A West Chicago man, accused of jumping on stage at Naperville's July 4th Ribfest and stealing a $6,000 guitar from the rock band Foreigner, struck a deal Monday with DuPage County prosecutors that keeps him out of jail but still carries a stiff penalty for a fan of a band that had a string of hits in the 1970s and '80s.

"He's not to attend any Foreigner concerts, ever again," prosecutor Joe Colsant said of Jason Sanderson, 27.

Sanderson, who was charged with swiping the guitar from the stage after the band completed its set, was arrested at the festival with the guitar still in his hands and charged with two misdemeanors: theft and resisting a police officer.

In the deal reached Monday, he pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer, and prosecutors agreed to drop the theft charge.

DuPage County Judge Richard Lucas ordered Sanderson to perform five days of community service and placed him on conditional discharge, a type of probation.

Prosecutors, though, wanted the punishment to fit the crime, so they insisted on permanently banning Sanderson from ever seeing a Foreigner show.

"We had to do something," Colsant said.

No one from Foreigner--whose current incarnation features just two of its original six members--was in court Monday when Sanderson agreed to the plea deal. Sanderson couldn't be reached for comment later Monday. But he can still see the band if he wants--on VH1.

---

Date: Tues, September 10, 2002, 12:29:23
Posted by: Ionic Iconic Laconic Ironic,

Actually that irony is both cool AND often dry, but with occassional bursts of steam.

---

Date: Tues, September 10, 2002, 12:21:13
Posted by: Ironic Iron Icon,

Actually Steely Dan use a cool type of irony. Never hot. Not their style.

I^3

---

Date: Tues, September 10, 2002, 08:28:25
Posted by: Gina, Amsterdam Mountain

Ironing requires heat, doesn't it?

---

Date: Tues, September 10, 2002, 04:41:24
Posted by: Stev-a-lah Dan, Slipping from sanity

But Bway, it is good to strike while the irony is hot.

---

Date: Mon, September 09, 2002, 15:43:24
Posted by: bwaySteve, ny metro area

This weekend we were simulcasting horse racing from Australia. One of the tracks was "Musswell Brook" . I asked the uplink guy if he liked Steely Dan. He said , " Who?" Then I spoke to the earthstation.
" Did you know that Musswell Brook was mentioned in a Steely Dan Lyric in the song "Black Friday ?"
" I don't know that one " , He answered."but I love Steely Dan".
It is a peculiar let down when you can't share your irony .

---

Date: Mon, September 09, 2002, 14:22:48
Posted by: W1P,

"In order to protect our UNION, formed in seventeen76, we must insist on civilized STANDARDs of international behavior. Make no mistake, we SHELL not EXXONerate Saddam for his actions. We will MOBILize to meet this threat to vital interests in the Persian GULF until an AMOCOble solution is reached. Our best strategy is to BPrepared. Failing that, we ARCOming to kick your ass. So I urge all Americans and all TEXACOns to GETTY up for war in your all too mobile and technicolor motor homes"

---

Date: Mon, September 09, 2002, 13:34:18
Posted by: Citgo, Fenway Park

Perhaps said by the Georges Bush:

"We SHELL not EXXONerate Saddam for his actions. We will MOBILize to meet this threat to vital interests in the Persian GULF until an AMOCOble solution is reached. Our best strategy is to BPrepared. Failing that, we ARCOming to kick your ass."

---

Date: Mon, September 09, 2002, 10:42:02
Posted by: Beerberian @ the Castle Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh, as above

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President of the United States. I am beginning to believe it.

Clarence Seward Darrow (1857-1938) US lawyer. Attrib.

---

Date: Mon, September 09, 2002, 10:22:42
Posted by: Julius Caesar, Rome

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind.

" And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so.

"How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."

Good King Richard? The Royal Scam?

---

Date: Sun, September 08, 2002, 23:06:26
Posted by: Dave,

My fellow Dan Friends.

A year since the capitol of Dandom was rocked in such an awful way. Although one gets numb to it after a while and It's now coming back to me.

Peace and love to you all, fellow Dan Fans and to your family and friends. And may we keep the faith together through the storms we may weather in the future.

Happy 5763,

Dave

---

Date: Sat, September 07, 2002, 23:54:22
Posted by: Paige, Santa Barbara

I continue to "re-introduce" myself to 2VN.
Pulled up to a stop light downtown Santa Barbara...2VN playing "Janie Runaway." Another car pulls up next to me...red convertable with a beautiful blond behand the wheel. She couldn't have been over 20. She looks over at me to get my attention...I turn down the CD player. The light turns green as she yells to me..."I'm almost gothic." Strange encounter.

fezo...stated:

"9/11 music? Neil Young belongs in hell for "Lets Roll"

I don't get it. I thought "Let's Roll" was an excellent and even somewhat chilling tribute song.

Now if you are referring to the commercialism...how can you avoid it. What concerns me is the late night "ronco-like" ads selling US flags and "christian" flags as a "patriotic" package you can put on your car. Now, that's taking advantage! Shame on them.

-Paige

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Date: Sat, September 07, 2002, 13:38:39
Posted by: katylied, chicago

katylied is performing tonight at rorys 701 lakestreet addison il. thanks to heymke reminding me to post it

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Date: Sat, September 07, 2002, 11:16:26
Posted by: fezo, playgroundinthesand

What I don't get about the 9/11 reoccuring rehash is what I've heard at least five times on t.v. the last day and half. Somehow a bunch of whacked out terrorists crashing planes into buildings is supposed to have made me proud to be a American again?

Does not compute.

I'm not sure if I would go as far with the media bashing though--too much like shooting the messenger. To a great degree, the media gives the people what they want. Patriotism sells (don't let the terrorists win, buy a new car today) and just like it was the high ratings which got the press to start plugging American Idol incessantly, the jingoism which supposedly passes as fair and balanced news coverage these days brings in the viewers. I just saw some clown on Fox proclaim how great the economy has been doing in the last year. I guess if you ignore the recession and the collapse of the stock market in the last six months it's been just peachy. How was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Do not mean to single out Fox. All the networks are just as red, white, and biased.

9/11 music? Neil Young belongs in hell for "Lets Roll".

Of the all the tribute concerts, I recall most fondly the Concert for New York. I loved the opening with Bowie doing "Heroes" and there was something achingly poignant about Daltrey's vocal on "Behind Blue Eyes".

---

Date: Sat, September 07, 2002, 04:35:34
Posted by: Steveedan,

Did I mention that our band Pretzel Logic now has a fully operational website?

Weell, if I didn't, then I am now ... at your leisure, please visit

www.pretzellogicband.com and take a look, and a listen to us ... and drop us a line if you are so inclined.

The site is in its infancy, so, individual bios and photos are not all up yet, but, I would like to know what you think about the site America, and the rest of the world too.

I still haven't told the stories about our last gig. A little too much week in my week ... plus the US OPEN ... go Sampras ...

It's coming soon ... (as if you are all waiting for it with baited breath ...)

It's all good ...

---

Date: Fri, September 06, 2002, 18:22:26
Posted by: ed beatty, washington d.c

Hey,
Washington Dan Fans and fans of Chris Potter.
Chris potter Quartet is at the Blues Alley Club in Georgetown
Sept 17 and 18th.

I'm going ...How about YOU?

Hoops can ya sign me up for the washington danfest list


Ed (still in D.C ) BEATTY

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Date: Fri, September 06, 2002, 09:48:31
Posted by: Big Fan , at work - moving one floor down Monday

Diamond Rio mentions Steely Dan.
http://www.cmt.com/news/feat/drio.090402.jhtml

This guy had a job at Walter's studio in Hawaii - how do I getthat job?
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,54938,00.html

Went to see Sheryl Crow last night. This is the fourth time my wife and I have seen her. We originally saw her 10/17/94 at the now gone Sting in New Britian - I think cover was $5 - about 200 people in an old dance hall - no seats. I mention this here beacuse of three things:
1. She does make refrence to Steely Dan in one of her early songs.
2. I wore my Y2K tour black polo shirt last night. I didn't have to show my ticket to get in after Michelle Branch played because the usher said he remember my shirt. While I have a lot of SD shirts, I rarely wear them - I just saw a 93 tour Aja t shirt went for $57 on ebay.
3. My wife and and I only went to this one concert this year. 2 Seats - face value $104, two babysitters - the early one for right after school, and then the older one in relief that could stay up past midnight on a schhol night, etc. etc. At least it wasn't lke McCartney - $250 a seat. It's just not easy. I miss going to SD concerts!!!!! I will have 5 weeks of vaction next year so I'm hoping there will be a tour.

---

Date: Thurs, September 05, 2002, 15:57:42
Posted by: Whatevah happens,

Hoops, agreed on SACD, and one other intresting thing from the Scheinner interview was that they are considering a SACD release for Gaucho..

---

Date: Thurs, September 05, 2002, 15:45:28
Posted by: Shotan, Birmingham, UK

THE DANNY STEEL ORCHESTRA...clearly 'Dan
The UK's finest 12-piece tribute to STEELY DAN
are appearing on
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7th at
THE LAMP TAVERN
116 High Street, Queen's Cross, Dudley, DY1 1QT, West Midlands, UK
tel: 01384 254129
Performing tracks from all the albums in a stunning, ALL LIVE, 2 hour show
guaranteed to thrill die hard fans and newcomers alike

"close your eyes and you'll be there, it's everything they say..."
www.dannysteelorchestra.co.uk

---

Date: Thurs, September 05, 2002, 13:46:14
Posted by: hoops,

The "Q & A" column in the "Circuits" section of today's "New York Times" discusses SACD with the headline, "Miss the Sound of Vinyl? Try Super Audio CDs."

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/05/technology/circuits/05ASKK.html

It's a good explanation but the author never even mentions DVD-A.

---

Date: Thurs, September 05, 2002, 12:58:16
Posted by: Cosmic WoW, WoWland

Hoops

I heard last week that Sony is finally pulling the plug on Beta. Seems better VHS and DVD has finally killed it completely. Between Beta and MiniDisc, Sony doesn't give up easily.

WoW


¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸,ø º°`°º ø,¸¸

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Date: Thurs, September 05, 2002, 12:29:02
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Ed: Thanks for breaking the news to the greater Dandom about the "DVD-Audioworld.com" news on "The Nightfly." It was the third week in October 1982 that I got my first copy of "The Nighfly," whattaway to celebrate the anniversary. It's beginning to look like a DVD-A system is going to become a necessity for me. ALSO; thanks for Whatevah for the update.

As I have said, I'm sold on DVD-A over SACD, but SACD sure seems like it is gaining the mass market momentum. Any audiophile is going to go to a top notch shop that carries DVD-A players, but all I see at the mainstream electronic retailers is SACD equipment, usually from Sony. Hoping that Sony's huge push in the mass market doesn't kill DVD-A. J & R has DVD-A advertised, but check out Sunday sales circulars from Best Buy and Circuit City and all you see are SACD systems from Sony. Cheap systems at that. Although they are probably inferior $2xx systems, Sony is getting these into consumers hands, and, as we have seen with VHS/Beta, DOS/Mac, and DAT, the format becomes a success just because everyone else has one, not because it's the best. Look at how DVD players have really taken off —in large thanks to the fact you can buy an el cheapo (and el mediocre) player for $70 at Osco Drug and the like.

And then there is how Sony has some great titles out only on SACD. Classic Miles Davis, Brubeck, etc.

[ BTW: I was looking through the SACD and DVD-A rack last week and they have The Simpsons! Yow! ]

Hopefully, DVD-A won't die because of Sony's push and hopefully something will happen where audio manufacturers end up with more players that support both formats. Toshiba makes such a player. But with Sony hardware having a large consumer market and carried with the mass market stores, plus their catalog on SACD, I'm concerned about DVD-A making it.

I hope someone can allay my concerns.

h

---

Date: Thurs, September 05, 2002, 08:36:25
Posted by: Earl, Delaware

John: The media is awful. They have always been out to instruct people as to what they should listen to, and they continue to add things to that list. Such great gems of recent years are: all the talk about this stupid "American Idol" show, which meaningless awards show has the actress w/ the best dress on, and how brilliant the 9/11 tribute songs/etc are. I think inspiration is good as a songwriter, but there's also the corrupting effect of money. People will use anything to make a buck, and it's sad these dudes are using a tragedy to line their pockets. The thing that irritates me about the media is that they are puppets for corporations, not only making money off the articles they publish, but making money off of the subject of the articles. (i.e. MTV having a vested interest in an artist also promoting their music). And yet the media is the first to cry when there is even a hint that the same could be happening with a Republican politician.

As far as a Dan 9/11 song, I have contended that Fagen and Becker will make a reference of some sort to the 9/11 tragedy; they ARE New Yorkers for goodness sake. With how often the New York skyline is shown in the "Making of Aja" video, I'm sure that they have a lot of feelings regarding 9/11. I doubt they'd write a complete song about it, because the Dan has rarely been straightforward about any song they write.

Earl

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 19:58:41
Posted by: ed beatty, still in d.c.

Hi,
Look at what i found..

http://www.dvd-audioworld.com/dvd-audio_news.htm



Ed (awaiting tour and new cd patiently) Beatty

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 19:31:55
Posted by: hoops, chicago

John—

I hear you. That comedian on NPR, David Sedarus (sp?) had a great feature on This American Life on that topic, about the media telling people how to feel and perceive 9-11 and how he resented it. It's as if the media suggests our feelings aren't good enough, or at least we buy into it.

I'm not nuts about most any of the musical 9-11 tributes. That one telethon where Dave Matthews sang by himself and Paul Simon did "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was moving. But that was about it for me.

Someone said all the really good pop-culture tributes were done before 9-11. I think they are mostly right. If anything, Leonard Cohen's "Ten New Songs" really captures the mood and feelings for me, and, of course, it was made just before 9-11. Of all the albums that have come out in the past year, I'd say that's the one I listen to most, by far, and it's because, indirectly, on a spiritual level, it really addresses 9-11. All IMHO.

Still haven't finished my writings on Chicago DanFest/Chicago JazzFest. Working on it and the pics. Thanks to those who have asked.

h

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 18:35:37
Posted by: John, Erie, PA

With the the anniversary of the WTC attack approaching, am I the only one sick of the news, television, and the media in general telling us what is "good" and what is "bad" in terms of memorials and tributes? I'm really getting tired of of TV, News and Radio telling me how to feel, that I should feel touched by Bruce Springsteen's latest album or Neil Young's "Let's Roll" or some of the lame rap that is out there. I'm tired of the media telling me how and what to feel. I want to feel for myself.

I'm ready to turn my TV off and stop reading the papers until after next week.

Which leads me to this thought. Will Donald and Walter reference 9/11 at all in their next album? What do you think?

John

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 17:11:17
Posted by: Tom Travers, DE

TOP 10 SINGLES FROM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 1971

  1. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney
2. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - The Bee Gees
3. Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
4. Spanish Harlem - Aretha Franklin
5. Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
6. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
7. Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
8. Signs - Five Man Electrical Band
9. Liar - Three Dog Night
10. I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth

TOP 10 ALBUMS FROM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 1971

   1. Tapestry - Carole King
2. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour - The Moody Blues
3. Ram - Paul & Linda McCartney
4. Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart
5. Who's Next - The Who
6. Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon - James Taylor
7. Aqualung - Jethro Tull
8. Carpenters - Carpenters
9. Jesus Christ Superstar - Various Artists
10. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

TOP 10 SINGLES FROM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 1981

  1. Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
2. Slow Hand - The Pointer Sisters 
3. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks /w Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
4. Urgent - Foreigner
5. (There's) No Gettin' Over Me - Ronnie Milsap
6. Queen Of Hearts - Juice Newton
7. Who's Crying Now - Journey
8. Lady (You Bring Me Up) - The Commodores
9. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
10. Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not) - Joey Scarbury

TOP 10 ALBUMS FROM THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7, 1981

  1. Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
2. 4 - Foreigner
3. Escape - Journey
4. Precious Time - Pat Benatar
5. Don't Say No - Billy Squier
6. Pirates - Ricki Lee Jones
7. Working Class Dog - Rick Springfield
8. Street Songs - Rick James
9. Long Distance Voyager - The Moody Blues
10. Hi Infidelity - REO Speedwagon

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 14:34:50
Posted by: Whatevah happens,

For those waiting for the DVD-Audio surround sound version of The Nightfly: the wait may soon be over. There is an interview with Elliott Shiner in the October issue of Sound & Vision magazine. The reporter says he has already heard an advance copy of it and he sayd, "I can assure longtime fans of this acclaimed recording that they won't be disappointed."

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 13:32:25
Posted by: hoops, chicago, wishing i was in s.f.

TONIGHT!

S.F. Bay area Dan Fans unite for dinner and a concert!

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WED 9.4.02
S.F. BAY AREA DANFEST
8pm (dinner, music at 9pm)
Bacar
448 Brannan
San Francisco
http://www.bacarsf.com

Featuring the Music of:
Justin morell & His Band
(performing the music of Steely Dan)
http://www.justinmorell.com

Email the great host, Amelia Ray at amelia@ameliaray.net if you need more info and/or plan to attend.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH SAN FRANCISCO BAY (S.F., Oakland, Moutain View, San Jose) AREA FANS!
Join the S.F. Bay Area Mail List by sending email to majordomo@dandom.com with only the following text in the body of the message:

subscribe bayarea

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I sure wish I could go! The Justin Morell CD is one of my favorites in the past year. A great album!

Hope to hear reports of how it was.

Be well and party for me. And as always, hats off to Amelia Ray!!!

hoops

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 10:57:10
Posted by: DJ,

Yes, checking in after seeing Katy Lied at the Vision club on Friday. I missed some of the first set so if anyone has the setlist please post it. Having never seen Steely Dan live it was cool to hear the tunes live for the first time. 'Sign In Stranger' and 'Jack of Speed' took on new meanings after hearing them live. Anyway, thanks to hoops for the Steely articles you gave me. It was good to hook up with some fans and drink a few dozen beers.

Cheers to hugging the back up singers!
Jeers to loud club music!

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 09:29:57
Posted by: W1P, LA

Alberta Cover Groupie and others: If you live in CA, MN, CO or WA -- Tribute the Movie is coming your way. It's a funny, touching and sometimes vaugely disturbing documentary on what makes cover bands errr tribute bands tick. http://www.tributethemovie.com (Also, Hoops/Katy Lied, it looks like this film also will soon be screened at the Chicago Film Festival -- details to follow)

SILVERLAKE FILM FESTIVAL: Thursday, September 19th @ 7:00 p.m. Vista Theater, 4473 Sunset Dr.(Hollywood & Sunset) For tickets please call 866-468-3399

SOUND UNSEEN (MINNEAPOLIS): Saturday & Sunday September 21st & 22nd @ 9:45 p.m. Oak Street Cinema

ASPEN FILM FESTIVAL: Friday, September 27th TIME TBA

THE EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT (SEATTLE): October 23rd 7 & 8:45pm 325 5th Ave. N at the Seattle Center. Tickets at the door.

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Date: Wed, September 04, 2002, 08:51:36
Posted by: Beerberian doin his 9 - 5,

Spinnin' the "new" Larry C Album "Deep into It" A more soulful side to Mr Carlton than I've seen before .........NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Date: Tues, September 03, 2002, 23:34:12
Posted by: Razorboy, Wonderful Waukesha, WI

A little snipet from the latest R.S.

"I want this record to be perfect. Meticulously perfect. Steely Dan-perfect." Dave Grohl on the new Foo Fighters album 'One by One'. Turns out they scrapped thier first go at it and re-did all the songs.

That's all, back to your regular programing.

Razor

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Date: Tues, September 03, 2002, 20:45:17
Posted by: Peg, hiding 'neath the DEET

Earl, thanks for the info and to you and others for keeping up this chord discussion. It's been fun. I've been wondering, which song by Steely Dan do you musicians out there admire most just from a chord change-structural standpoint? For example, I've been impressed by Haitian Divorce for the way it covers so many bases...it uses that minor key in the chorus to such a grand effect. West of Hollywood is another amazing one. So's Almost Gothic.
Tonight whilst trying to avoid the West Nile mosquitos and wash the car, I was surmising about when the Next One will appear and how it will sound. Will it be like the Last One, only more pop-ish? Or less -- to the point where it's solid jazz? Will it have more songs about older men going after younger chicks? Will they dream of a Grammy again and go full-tilt-market-blitz again, with TV appearances, etc.? Did they win Grammy for the Last One because of a combination of sentiment amongst the one older folks voting, who knew they deserved one, or because voters had a strong dislike for Eminem?
Yikes! Gotta go, think I hear a mosquito.

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Date: Tues, September 03, 2002, 19:28:29
Posted by: Randy, NJ/USA

Steely-folk:

I noted some time ago that I felt that guitarist Andy Summers would be stylistically well-suited for working with Steely Dan, and it now appears that some Steely Dan alumni may turn up on Summers' next recording. Keyboard player John Beasley and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (as well as bassist Abraham Laboriel) have allegedly been recording with Summers for the sessions to complete his next album-

Randy/NIGHTFLY62@aol.com

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Date: Tues, September 03, 2002, 16:08:26
Posted by: hoops, chicago

hey everyone...

still getting back after this past weekend's Chicago DanFest/Chicago JazzFest. Thanks to everyone for a great time. Doug Shapiro doesn't head back until tonight, so if anyone is up for meeting us for dinner let us know.

I'll put up the photos from all three nights in the next couple of days.

It was a lot of fun and a lot of great music. I've been so busy that I haven't been able to make as many Katy Lied gigs as I would like; I've averaged seeing them once every couple of months. That said, every time I see them, they get better and better. Wayne Shorter was even better than when I saw him and his quartet last spring (see Mary Ann's Trib post below). This was the first time I heard Phil Woods in person and this guy is as smooth and rich sounding in person as he is on the "Dr. Wu" solo. What a fucking amazing solo!

Speaking of Phil Woods, we were discussing the remastered "Katy Lied"'s new liner notes. Any more explanation about the size of Phil's entourage? What's that all about?

Aside from Pretzel Logic, I know there are two pairs of cover bands that share names. The only thing I would find creepy is if some local cover band called itself "Steely Dan."

[ Then again, someone argued a while back that the Steely Dan Orchestras of the past ten years were the ultimate Steely cover band of the original recordings. That's not what I am referring to here. ]

When I was moving I collected and sorted through all my saved newspaper and magazine article clippings about Steely Dan and the New York Rock and Soul Revue. I am simply floored that it's been almost ten years since Kama, and the '92 NYRnSR tours and '93 SD tours. We're all getting older.

Will write more, especially about the Danfest, later. Thanks to everyone who helped make it a great time.

Be well and play nice.

h

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Date: Tues, September 03, 2002, 15:29:35
Posted by: Steveedan,

I hope everyone had a nice weekend ...

I sent Don of Toronto an e-mail informing him of my domain name. We'll see what he chooses to do. In the meantime, I post here and also at St. Al's more than he does. I am in Los Angeles, he is in Canada. Unless he wants to try to outdo my media blitz, to me the point is moot. So to Lazy Nina and to Dr. Mu I thank you for your humble opinions ... but I have chosen NOT to follow it.

When I have finished other work I will come back to give you guys the "color" of our fantastic show at the Fiesta Hermosa Festival from Saturday August 31st and also our set list. That list will certainly seperate the men from the boys. And we be THE MEN. Thank you verrry much.

Oh, I almost forgot ... our website is up and running now. Please visit us at www.pretzellogicband.com
... We love to tour the Southland ...


Steveedan (Founder, Bandleader, Musical Director, and Keyboard Man for Pretzel Logic - A Steely Dan Revue

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Date: Tues, September 03, 2002, 04:54:34
Posted by: W1P,

Hey Don, does Pink Floyd still want to make you kill yourself? It also appears that Don's been at this longer than Steeve -- let's play the name game.

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 23:39:00
Posted by: Huge Fan, Denver

Don from Monkey House? Are you in the Steely tribute band Don? I loved your version of Lazy Nina as well!

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 20:05:34
Posted by: Mary Ann Shiffeur,

Hi Jim, and everyone!

Thanks for the great time last night and watching our chairs too!

This was in the on-line edition of today's Tribune. The story didn't include last night's set though. Phill Woods is incredible!

Mary Ann

From Chicago Tribune 2 sep 02

The fates also smiled upon the festival on Saturday, when Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra gave bluesy, stylish support to Jimmy Heath, who beautifully finessed the triple-threat roles of guest conductor, arranger and tenor saxophone soloist.

Carla Cook may not be the most accomplished scat singer in jazz (far from it), but the sheer voluptuousness of her instrument justly won over the crowd and set the stage for the signal achievement of the night, a brilliant performance by the Wayne Shorter Quartet.

If Shorter's (relatively) new band acquitted itself well in Orchestra Hall early this year, it proved even tighter, more focused and effective on this occasion.

Shorter and his younger partners have become so closely attuned to one another, in fact, that they seem to telepathically anticipate when a colleague is going to leap into the fray.

In a music as rhythmically volatile, melodically elliptical and texturally free-ranging as Shorter now is pursuing, nothing less will do. But to hear drummer Brian Blade, pianist Danilo Perez and bassist John Patitucci slipping into and out of the ensemble texture at the drop of a sixteenth note is to behold one of the great, emerging ensembles of the decade.

This quartet appears to be rejuvenating Shorter, 69, a composer-saxophonist who already has had more artistic lives than most.

By successfully articulating such complex ideas in an outdoor environment, Shorter's band reaffirmed its rising stature and gave the Chicago Jazz Festival a bona fide triumph.

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 19:55:18
Posted by: DrMµ, Tejas

Lazy: WOW, Monkey House's Lazy Nina is my FAVORITE Dan/Fagen cover over all, better than Babs,Diana Ross, Ivy, Sneaker, Rickie Lee Jones Show Biz Kidz, and even more fab than Joe Jackson's King of the World, Ben Folds' Barrytown and Greg Phillinganes cover of the same song with similar production. on the MH version the Fagenesque synth harmonica and horn chart really shine...great use of spacing...

Don is an author of 70s music redux books as well: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-9730988-9965534

It is an honor, sir...SteveE, it appears the new name of your band is Lochs and Pretzels ;-)

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 17:39:50
Posted by: Lazy Nina, watching Soul Train....

W1P- If it's the same Don from Monkey House (who did a great cover of Lazy Nina with permission from DF) I think Steeve should change the name of his band. Why should Don? Don is a pro! He doesn't have/need a day job.

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 16:30:03
Posted by: W1P,

Hey Don, good luck in Toronto with your PL -- although I think you might want to consider a different name to avoid confusion with Steevee's band. How about Through With Buzz? LOL

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 15:43:00
Posted by: Don Breithaupt, Toronto

Red Alert! SD fans in the Detroit area should be aware that PRETZEL LOGIC, a 10-pc Toronto-based SD tribute made up of A-list players & singers, will be appearing in the showroom at the Point Edward Charity Casino in Sarnia, Ontario on September 12-14 (straight up Interstate 94, then across the bridge into Canada). Set list includes everything from Reeling In The Years to Cousin Dupree. Kinky souls welcome.

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 15:08:45
Posted by: Andy Metzger,

Hello!

As you may or may not have noticed, my page has not been up for a few weeks now. The server it was stored on died and as a result, the site went down and I lost about two weeks' worth of e-mail. It's also been about two weeks (!) since I've been able to get online. If you've sent me an e-mail in the last few weeks and haven't got a response I'll get back to you in the next few days (if I even got your e-mail! Resend if you don't hear back soon). Also, I will try to get my site back up ASAP but I can't give you a date yet. I'm just trying to catch up on what Dan news I might have missed (if any).

Catch up with you all later.

Andy

P.S. Re the diminished chord examples-- The first two chords (the arpeggios) in West of Hollywood come to mind as an example of half diminished chords in SD tunes.

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Date: Mon, September 02, 2002, 04:50:05
Posted by: Shotan, Birmingham, England

For COVER GROUPIE:

THE DANNY STEEL ORCHESTRA...clearly 'Dan
THe DOG & TRUMPET, Coventry, England, August 31st

"You know- there was fire in that hole
I stepped up on the platform, the man gave me the news…………….The Band, (He actually said “Steely Dan” - understandable confusion) aren’t on for another two hours , BUT there IS a support act ????? Oh and it gets worse - The bar’s not open yet, Howabout you go round the corner to my mates converted church/bistro and come back @ 09:15 - Anyways two/three V expensive lagers later - I spent a lot of money and I spent a lot of time……….

We duly return to The Hall of ROCK and sand (AKA Dog & Trumpet Coventry) “The support” (I never did get their name) are having a few musical differences and even more amp problems – somethin’ to do with ins , outs BUT no shake it all abouts !!Never fear tho’ The DSO, heroes that they are, sort out two tin cans and some string to get the show on the road (well, on the verge anyways) No way was Neil’s 1100 note amp gonna get violated by teenage angst …….

A well meaning, but too long set ensues – highlight - Lady vocalist shouts out to her Mother over by the bar “shut the f*** up talkin’ …this one’s for you Mom …I love you………..

Anyways on to the Main course , Suddenly the music hits you; it's a bird in flight that just can't quit you. You got to come on, man, and take a piece of Mister Hopcroft's band……..

Fingers my old friend step on in and let me shake your hand So glad that you're here again………. Brilliant set as always - Mr Hughes' Alto Sax was sublime, an honour to behold, truly !! Glynn 47 out of 10 (even after you let Penno touch the magic axe – pics to follow) Hey who was that loud mouthed drunk who requested “Pretzel Logic” ? – errrr…… that would be me then !! I'm not one to look behind, I know that times must change, BUT I have NEVER heard that track done better !!!! You All - Made alive a worldly wonder Often told but never seen. Next time Paul make sure there’s tape running !!!!!! Please ………"
The trip we made to Coventry is etched upon my mind

Ian Monckton .......A Steely Dan (and DSO) aficianado.

www.dannysteelorchestra.co.uk
"close your eyes and you'll be there, it's everything they say..."

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August 2002 BlueBook Entries

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