2025 Posts

Date: Thurs, January 01, 2026, 10:07:28 ET
Posted by: moray eel, 2

Happy New Year, Bluebook, 2026!

Five years ago, Fagen told Rolling Stone that he had spent the pandemic writing songs to fill up a new album. He had already recorded demos for the songs.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/steely-dan-donald-fagen-new-album-1235132/

m.e.

Date: Thurs, December 25, 2025, 07:21:17 ET
Posted by: Michael,

＊　.　 * .'　＊ ★ ＊　　'＊　　　*
＊　　.　'　　+:..:+ 　　'　 ' 　＊
.　　　＊　　☆☆☆　＊　　　.
　　*　　'　+:...+....:+　　＊
'　　　　'　☆☆☆☆☆　　　＊　'　　
　＊　* '　+:...:+＠+:...:+ 　　　'　　*
＊　.　　.☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ＊　'　*　.
　　.　　+:..:+&+:...:+:...:+
　*　.　☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆　＊　'　　　*
'　.　　+:...:+♡+:...:+�+:..:+
.　*　☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆　　'　*
　　.+:..:+♡+:..:+@+:..:+♡+:..:+
　.　　　　　.　▨ 　 '　' ＊　　　　　*
🅼🅴🆁🆁🆈 🅲🅷🆁🅸🆂🆃🅼🅰🆂

Date: Wed, December 24, 2025, 23:11:55 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

"Although I learned.."

Should be

"Although I lurk..."

Date: Wed, December 24, 2025, 23:10:06 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! Happy Festivus for the rest of us! Happy new year!

Although I learned, for reasons I've explained, very grateful for all of you and our friendship for all these years. Wishing you much health and happiness in the coming year. Thanks again.

🎅🧑‍🎄🎄🛷☃️🫂🥰😍

Gratefully,

Jim aka hoops

Date: Wed, December 24, 2025, 21:15:18 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Following up

Wait a minute.

Wait Just One Goddamned Minnit.

I just realized that last post of mine had ABSOLUTLELY NOTHING to do with our favorite band, or with anything even remotely connected to S/D.

For shame. I think.

Although I refuse to apologize for the previous contribution, I really do understand how some here might take exception to my vulgar intrusion. To those good people, I can only say in my own defense, that I hereby pledge to, in 2026, contribute ONLY Steely Dan-related contributions...providing that there are, to come, some crumbs thrown our way, perhaps even some new material from DF. Or some re-releases. Something. Anything.

Remember all those set-list complainers from years back?

"They didn't play this/they played that too often"

Now that we don't have any live Steely Dan at all, I hope those whiny shits are happy about all the live shows they didn't attend because of the "setlist".

One last bitter shot - I just had to do it

M/O/D/P
PS - "It's always easier to ask for forgiveness, after the fact, than it is to ask for permission"

Date: Wed, December 24, 2025, 20:47:02 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Your Christmas Eve Puke-Streaked Tunic Extravaganza!!

So, it seems that we have a few bits of unfinished business at hand here - and it's nearing the end of the year, yet again...

Nicholas Urfe - That AI analysis from a few weeks back was anything but academic, and anything but scientifically/rigorously accurate I'm afraid - and thank goodness for that, my island-bound pal. It sure was entertaining, though. Even though it missed a number of important points. As "AI" so often does. "AI" is, after all, "artificial", no?

The AI sez I'm not an author. OK - So what about my 2005 New York Times bestseller? ("We Built This City: The Untold Story Of Arena Rock Superstars Journey And Their Rise To Arena Rock Mega-Superstardom"). Or my 2021 critically-acclaimed art-book ("coffee table book") that photographically & meticulously documents Bruce Springsteen's extensive personal collection of vintage metal lunch-buckets? Or my upcoming mega-release, to be published by McGraw-Hill in 2026, "Taylor Swift: The True Story Of A Glamorous Billionaire Pop Star And How She Got Her Fabulous Rhinestone-Encrusted Anus"?

Moral of the story? "AI" doesn't always get it right. Sorry for the disappointing news, folks.

But...but...still we try, don't we? Don't we? Of course we do. We slog on, that's what we do. So, in that spirit, I dutifully tried again...

Question: "How many metal lunch-buckets does Bruce Springsteen own?"

The Goggle/AI response:

"There is no verifiable public information on the exact number of metal lunch-buckets or lunchboxes that Bruce Springsteen personally owns. A 2019 Spin�magazine article refers metaphorically to "Bruce Springsteen's lunchpail" and its extensive travels as an icon of his working-class image and career, rather than a literal object or collection. Another article notes that while the members of the E Street Band don't always eat meat sandwiches out of metal lunch boxes, it is a key part of their "hardworking Joes" image. The actual number of lunchboxes he might have as personal memorabilia or for daily use remains unknown to the public."

Aw, fer corn's sakes. I mean, really...�

The sad part of all this is that we, the general public, may never know the correct answer to this puzzling - but oh-so-important - question.

Have a Happy Christmas everybody!!

M/O/D/P
PS - "PS"

Date: Sat, December 20, 2025, 16:51:51 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Good stuff, Doc.
Royal Scam was my first SD, got it together with Jaco debut LP.
We knew it was all great but maybe not how great, since there was no real point of reference.
The beauty was, it was all and 100% on vinyl.
What was that format called anyways?
I only now it wasn't wav, flac, aiff, mp3, wma, midi, 24bit...

Date: Thurs, December 18, 2025, 20:22:42 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Lutz - nice. I'm a fan of Brand X's debut. Phil Collins at this peak, along with Genesis' A Trick of the Tail - about 1976.

George Benson's Weekend in LA also from '78

Pat Metheny Group - eponymous debut album.

https://youtu.be/QFQ0e6NY0FE?si=RFmVxtE6lYMxCINf

Sea Level - On the Edge from 1978 - a bit more swampy R&B and funk in their fusion.

https://youtu.be/R_3BnHtlh7k?si=UsJzNVl5qaVCNyLG

Date: Thurs, December 18, 2025, 15:30:06 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Good list, Doc Mu,

a few others I loved and owned as a teenager in '78

Lenny White ‎� The Adventures of Astral Pirates
Brand X - Masques
The Brecker Brothers � Heavy Metal Be-Bop
Return To Forever � Live The Complete Concert
Passport � Sky Blue
( Doldinger just passed away a couple of moths ago)

Date: Wed, December 17, 2025, 18:58:28 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Some cool discoveries for you to check out.


Kyle Lacy - When You Get Home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbWCPPlQZWo

Joel Sarakula - Bitcoin Bro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my7O9rp5_LU

FORAGER - WDYGBR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgVp-sZaWgU

Holly Palmer - Metamorphosis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBYMyB8FOao

Nicky Egan - Simple Exchanges

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJOA4Nwsixk

Date: Wed, December 17, 2025, 16:34:33 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

EVH and volcano - unexpected in 1978, made Janie cry.

other '78 highlights: FM, of course

Bill Bruford: Feels Good to Me (Holdsworth, Berlin)

UK - UK: Bruford, Holdsworth, Wetton, Jobson

Al DiMeola: Casino

Gino Vanelli: Brother to Brother

Weather Report: 8:30 (Erskine on drums)

Date: Wed, December 17, 2025, 15:31:26 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Runnin' with the Devil

<<I'm now moving on to Feb. 1978 releases...>>

Just in time to hear a new band�s debut album called Van Halen.

Date: Wed, December 17, 2025, 13:26:52 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, US

Hund,

I was in college in 1992, so it's not something that would have been on my radar much before that. The two songs from the album I was familiar with via radio, Warewolves of London and Lawyers, Guns, and Money, never piqued my interest to explore the rest of the album. But it turns out there's a bunch of songs on it that I like better than those two.

I'm now moving on to Feb. 1978 releases...

Date: Wed, December 17, 2025, 11:30:16 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Time Tunnel

Jimmie, I get crap all the time because I�m a slow eating guy. I�ve always been like that and try to tell people that it�s healthier. But you Jimmie, take the cake�.which my wife�s German friend (I�m not German, my wife is) ate with her face right up against mine as I was still finishing up my dinner the other night to give me the message, GERMANS WILL NOT WAIT FOR DESSERT!!!!

Jimmie is obviously the slow listening guy. First, Zevon�s EB was released in January 1978! �like 3 months after Aja. You bought it 14 years later and just got into it now. WTAF? I�m the slow eating guy and I can�t even relate.

Date: Wed, December 17, 2025, 08:53:50 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, US

Been listening to Warren Zevon's Excitable Boy CD a lot lately. I purchased it in 1992 based on the Rolling Stone Record Guide's 5 star rating, but never got into it until now. Similarly, I purchased Walter's 11 TOW in 1994, but it took me a full decade to come around to it. I now see a lot of similarities between Zevon and Walter's solo works. Anyone know if Walter was a fan of Warren?

Date: Fri, December 12, 2025, 10:10:06 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

All is not exactly quiet on the DF front�

he�s been sitting in at the Midnight Rambles at The Barn in Woodstock. he reportedly sang lead on King Harvest a couple weeks ago (fingers crossed some video will appear but phone filming is frowned upon) and it looks like he will be part of their New Years Eve bash as well

Date: Sun, December 07, 2025, 17:29:04 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Browbeating CM ski patrol to open new terrain tomorrow

<<That's cute , Hund - but what if O'Leary told you the same thing?>>

After I stated I would request my own deep tracks setlist which would require HATWW among others? He�s probably never heard of HATWW so of course he would think/say same thing to me. I think Lutz is O�Leary. Kevin, you can come clean here. Some of us will accept you. It�s hip to be square�.well��..not really.

Date: Sun, December 07, 2025, 04:38:41 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

"which proves one can still have bad taste even in a specific area where they actually have good taste".
That's cute , Hund - but what if O'Leary told you the same thing?
We all agree SD is good taste, that'a easy.
What, if a guy 1000 x more successful than of most us here does not agree of what your 'good side' is and can back it up?
That's why it's wise to not assume or project.

Date: Sun, December 07, 2025, 04:38:08 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

"which proves one can still have bad taste even in a specific area where they actually have good taste".
That's cute , Hund - but what if O'Leary told you the same thing?
We all agree SD is good taste, that'a easy.
What, if a guy 1000 x more successful than of most us here does not agree of what your 'good side' is and can back it up?
That's why it's wise to not assume or project.

Date: Sat, December 06, 2025, 15:42:01 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd,

I was semi watching a CNN news show last night�think it as Abby Phillip�s. The round table guests were ending the show with which music artist they each would pick to play for them if they were president. Kevin O'Leary, Shark Tank Trumper blowhard, picked Steely Dan, by far the best choice of any of the commentators. He said something like I would have them play Josie and all their hits�.which proves one can still have bad taste even in a specific area where they actually have good taste.

Date: Sat, December 06, 2025, 11:15:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Haven't been doing much lately. Been caught up in numerous things, but I did enjoy this new song from Fujii Kaze.

Casket Girl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFOu5r-OuQ4


All's quiet on the DF front.

Date: Thurs, December 04, 2025, 19:18:10 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8D9EwLHVgg&list=RDA8D9EwLHVgg&start_radio=1

Remastered version of this cover of Ike I&T Turner classic from the 2000 rehearsals, I believe.
Don't think it made any of the songlists, regrettably.

Date: Wed, December 03, 2025, 17:11:50 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Keith Carlock on a podcast from '23.
Maybe old news to some but I just came across it.
Lots of SD insights and nuggets.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast/id1316200737?i=1000631849077

Date: Thurs, November 27, 2025, 21:00:09 ET
Posted by: Ace, And Why See?

Peter Criss - "Beth" - 11/21/25 - Cutting Room, NYC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmI0cWMlX2E

Peter Criss - vocals
Paul Schaeffer - piano
Catherine Russell - vocals

This one-off performance was part of a VIP event to raise money for the Music Treatment Foundation during the 2025 Underwater Sunshine Fest on the weekend of November 21st and 22nd. at the Cutting Room, in NYC. MTF provides medical treatment for musicians who cannot afford it. The USF is a non-profit annual music festival to celebrate new music in NYC.

Date: Thurs, November 27, 2025, 16:55:24 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Happy Thanksgiving to the Bluebook. Check these out.

Donald Fagen Synergy ad.

https://i.redd.it/o1zkfvwjsx9a1.jpg

Donald Fagen Yamaha ad.

https://i.redd.it/7dqxloj6rgyf1.jpeg



Feast your ears upon these fine offerings.


Donny Ben�t - Bernard's Boogie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl4M-KxOuZM

Silvertwin - Good To You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjrMoKJ-V_8

Greg Phillinganes - Lazy Nina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJMelsJukC0

The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OHuQ2-4aUM

冨田ラボ (Tomita Lab) - DRIVE WILD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b29t7V5CBmk

Date: Thurs, November 27, 2025, 14:49:02 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve M: Yeah, Maybe God-eye View is the aftermath of Somebody's Saturday Night...

Last chance: Could you make it baby if you only had one more one
Fast break: You think the world is waiting while you're gettin' your bikini done
Screen pass: Like a blind side tackle boiling up from way behind
Cheap shot: You can feel it coming but you know it's gonna blow your mind
So you rock so - and you skank so -
Well if you think so - why not say so

Date: Thurs, November 27, 2025, 13:49:27 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

All good and true but throw a little good old-fashioned smut into the mix Doc Mu and I think you have the measure of the man....

Somebody�s Saturday night says, oh, I get it
You want to go where no man�s ever been
Down in the coal mine, goin' down
Turn around, push, push, turn around
Digging up the gold and carrying it back again

Date: Wed, November 26, 2025, 13:06:07 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Walter's fatalism of the human condition is on full display in C$ and 11 ToW.

His ability to intertwine slang with existential personal character narratives. Global, yet granular. Downtown Cannon and paging Audrey are really fine recordings and more "pop" songs in structure...but Selfish Gene, Darkling Down, and God's Eye View aare wickedly clever.

Selfish Gene illustrates the behavioral programming with fair and superior than all of Richard Dawkins books...it's nothing any dog breeder or Mendel didn't know...by personalizing Gene:

"Itty bitty girl sippin' Grenadine
Look who's talking to Selfish Gene
There's a place way down in Brentwood
Out to Georgio's we all g'wine
The ma�tre �d's gonna take care of everything
He's a personal friend of mine
What a prize you are
Honey don't you scratch my new car"

"Why
Must every time I turn my ship around
Some bastard come
And knock my skyline down"

The call and response on God's Eye View. lol No matter what - you end up here.


Breakdown: Of the last resistance and the partisans fold their tent
Mind meld: Like a permanent picture of your pussyprint in cement
Big bang: It's a bible story with a plot twist at the end
History: And whatever happened well it's happening here again

It's the god's eye view
This is where the deal goes down
Girl you better get right
With the facts on the ground
It's the god's eye view
Everything they say is so
No original sins
The house always wins

Date: Wed, November 26, 2025, 10:24:33 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

M/O/D/P opened the AI door, so I barreled right through it and asked it about M/O/D/P. I don't think that the Blue will be overtaken by AI any time soon.

You said:
M/O/D/P on the Bluebook on dandom.com
ChatGPT said:

Do you mean M/O/D/P on Dandom.com�s The Bluebook guest-book (forum)? If so � here�s what I see.

✅ What M/O/D/P appears to be

On the Dandom.com �guestbook� (forum/discussion board), there are many posts by a user calling themselves M/O/D/P, Bluebook Stain & Sewage Spill Cleanup Department.
Dandom
+1

That user seems to use humor, sarcasm, and a kind of self-parody style (talking about being �smug and superior,� �the art of being smug and superior,� etc.). Example:

�yes, I am really like that. All the time, �24/7� � I am totally dedicated to my art. The art of being smug and superior, that is.�
Dandom

In other posts M/O/D/P rebukes trolls or what they see as obnoxious posts, positioning themselves as defending certain values or standards (at least in their view).
Dandom
+2
Dandom
+2

So M/O/D/P appears to be a pseudonymous discussion-forum poster on the Dandom.com Bluebook guestbook � not an official author, not a published �Bluebook� guide author, but a commenter / member of the forum community.

⚠️ What �The Bluebook� on Dandom.com is not (or is ambiguous)

This �Bluebook� on Dandom.com seems to not be the same as the widely known legal citation manual The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. The �Bluebook� on Dandom appears to be a forum/guestbook for fans (likely music fans, given the context in the posts about shows, recordings, and bands).
Dandom
+2
Dandom
+2

The posts mention bands, concerts, and music, which strongly suggests the �Bluebook� on Dandom is more like a �fan guestbook� or discussion board � often those sites adopt playful names like �Bluebook.� For example, in a 2018 post, M/O/D/P writes about a �Steely Dan�-related subject (�post-2012 shows � Classic Rock outfit �AC/DC� � personal attack on the late Walter Becker�).
Dandom

Thus the �Bluebook� there is not the legal citation style guide but rather a community forum / guestbook of Dandom.com.

🎯 So: �M/O/D/P on the Bluebook on dandom.com� � What that means

It refers to a specific user (M/O/D/P) posting on a fan-forum / guestbook on Dandom.com, titled �Bluebook.�

That user is pseudonymous and seems to be a recurring contributor, often posting in a distinctive, sarcastic / humorous / self-deprecating style.

The content is informal � discussing music, bands, concerts, criticisms of other posters � not legal citation or academic matters.

Date: Tues, November 25, 2025, 22:05:45 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

M/O/D/P...an entire Bluebook post devoted to the subject of puke stains? Could this be a Bluebook first? I think it might just be.�

I also enjoyed your post immensely, or at least as immensely as I allow myself to enjoy things these days. Which is to say, pretty immensely.

Between the recent Springsteen stuff and now the vomit, I find I'm lost for words - except for these ones, of course.

Consider me forever in your debt, good sir.

Outre M/O/D/P!!

Date: Tues, November 25, 2025, 20:01:06 ET
Posted by: Denise, BOS

M/O/D/P, enjoyed your post immensely.

Tried it again as walter becker puke-streaked tunic - results:

An example of his unique, darkly humorous and vivid songwriting style ... The lyric is part of a series of rhetorical questions about his legacy and what will remain after he is gone ... possibly "pain-killer induced" in retrospect but contributing to the song's "ridiculously smart... so funny and yet so deliciously--and troublingly--dark" tone.

Troubled, but smirking here too.

Date: Mon, November 24, 2025, 20:57:54 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Pummeling a Deceased Equine

OK - sorry, one last vitally-essential thing: While writing that bit I posted here late last week, I was thinking of quoting a lyric from WB's "Darkling Down", but I wasn't 100% certain that I had it right...so with only the very best of intentions I entered the following lyric fragment into the Goggle search engine:

"Who will wear this puke-stained tunic?"

Here is the "match" I received:

"The user's question, "Who will wear this puke-stained tunic?", appears to refer to a specific, unidentified event, situation, or fictional story, and is not a general knowledge question. The provided search results discuss general methods for cleaning vomit stains, literary excerpts involving stained garments, and transcripts of various discussions, but none identify a specific person slated to wear a "puke-stained tunic" in a known context.

Without additional context regarding the origin of this question (e.g., a specific book, play, movie, or real-life event), it is impossible to determine who will wear the tunic in question".

My goodness gracious.

Now, I did not know Walter...I wasn't fortunate enough to have ever met him - I never even got to exchange emails with him as some here did - but I'd like to think that an "AI" response like the one above might just have brought a smirk to his face. It surely brought one to mine.

Of course, savvy readers know the correct lyric is "puke-STREAKED tunic", not "puke-stained tunic". Lord knows what I must have been thinking.

M/O/D/P

PS - "Literary excerpts involving stained garments"
PPS - "It is impossible to determine who will wear the tunic in question". And now it looks like we may never know. Sad, isn't it?
PPS - "Slated"

Date: Sat, November 22, 2025, 00:42:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Mamas Gun (Andy Platts other band) bringing the Rock n' Soul on their new one:

Food for the Flames:

https://youtu.be/ndawFEt-bPQ?si=2T8x1IKyWBvO4pbQ

Very nice bass line and guitar solo. Another finely crafted one.

Date: Fri, November 21, 2025, 19:37:41 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, "Who will wear this puke-streaked tunic?"

I think it's important that I follow up on my movie review from last week, so here's a nice short story involving a former co-worker from long ago. This fellow was/is a major Bruce Springsteen fan - don't start laughing now - and everybody he spoke to, everybody he ever interacted with was, *ahem*, made well aware of this. I never held this embarrassing information against him, though - that's not how I work. Anyways, I hadn't touched base with him for quite some time, and even though we'd never discussed music in our brief, sporadic communications, it seemed like the prudent thing to alert him to a recent review of the Springsteen biopic that appeared recently here on The Bluebook.

So I sent out an email message - anybody here ever do that?

My message: "Hey, I found this review of the new Springsteen biopic on a Steely Dan discussion board. Sounds like the film might be a real winner. The reviewer apparently enjoyed the movie - have you seen it yet? What do you think?"

Of course, I provided him with the link and everything. So he could find the review. Of course, he replied. He's a Springsteen Fan.

His reply? - "I don't get it. Most of those scenes weren't even IN the movie. What's with the lunch-pail thing? I don't get it. And most of the song titles are all wrong. I think the guy who wrote this review must of [sic] seen a different movie. Or if this guy thinks he's some kind of expert movie critic, he doesn't get it at all. Is the review supposed to be serious or funny? I don't get it".

Looks like he didn't "get it".

Did you?

M/O/D/P
PS - Note to self: See to it that another two million is added to Nicholas Urfe's burgeoning portfolio.
PPS - "I'm looking for my tunic. Where is that damn puke-streaked tunic??"

Date: Fri, November 21, 2025, 09:29:35 ET
Posted by: Michael, correction...

The Kirinji track should be called 'What a Night'.

Date: Fri, November 21, 2025, 09:14:39 ET
Posted by: Michael,

The sheer quantity of great new music has been staggering to say the least. Remarkably skilled artists adept at blending genres into their own unique thing can be found everywhere.


Kirinji - 素敵な夜 (Nice Night)

https://youtu.be/yx_DHIhKDaA

Hiatus Kaiyote - Nakamarra

https://youtu.be/Uo0c3TECDkM

Rex Orange County - Take A Drive

https://youtu.be/P8-3tc_qfbQ

Phoebe Rings - Through the Hidden Hours

https://youtu.be/pAvu8ghpnls

Kit Sebastian - Mechanics of Love (Stripped)

https://youtu.be/lMfacnaQxgM

Benny Sings - Castle

https://youtu.be/Ug5ewlgYbzU

Mei Semones - Get used to it

https://youtu.be/c_HjxlvMvlg

Date: Wed, November 19, 2025, 18:23:55 ET
Posted by: A CD of Shaming of the True, Is available on eBay

More than one, as it happens.

GOOD NEWS!!

It's not that hard to find. https://www.ebay.com/itm/286820626908?_skw=The+Shaming+of+the+True%27+by+Kevin+Gilbert&epid=6491966&itmmeta=01KAF6KNGF7QE45Q01HND3PXFZ&hash=item42c7d771dc:g:smUAAeSwU5poxv8s&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fvfW7VqXV96WzFiVRufiML3n2Buiap5Chq7nabBoyBvBQKL3HWPF4bErOR2NBgpCyDGJd27xIa8pcBULZ5opkA9kg2soKDJQ41uevxhkomMq29eSN2Y4Mv4fvKlG7hPgnP1Za%2F2YzD5Iw4A06DjigDGTj3NLoQFlN%2F3IlFUFxuR6GOrOX1p966G4mzCZ1SM%2BleMAdYcZp7dHIuih7TXebokLwP%2BgI8h5QNIEStHwVDj1mwLLX4XDufxxXsnvrDanKE1jtXPbYsRqyphwiVbLJPYsBTwXvi2RQptlm03bQpDA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7LYzubTZg

Date: Wed, November 19, 2025, 13:12:38 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Waiting for snow

Steven, if you find it can you please let me know? Danke.

Date: Wed, November 19, 2025, 11:05:41 ET
Posted by: Steven Onbo, FL

Anyone able to email the sound files to the album 'The Shaming of the True' by Kevin Gilbert? Have SD rarities I can recompense. Thank you very much.

Date: Wed, November 19, 2025, 10:51:26 ET
Posted by: spnspr, Where I'm Needed

Hey guys. I haven't checked the page in a while, but I'm happy to still see it's active. I'm probably the youngest user here, lol. I recently bought a midi controller keyboard and have been teaching myself how to play it and make some crappy music, but I'm having a lot of fun. If you guys have any recommendations on what to listen to for inspiration for this kind of thing, let me know. Hope you guys are doing well, and have a good Thanksgiving if you celebrate.

Date: Sun, November 16, 2025, 15:27:32 ET
Posted by: Abu, CA

.
IMHO, the following link is a jazz improv version of Green Earrings, which I think is pretty good. See what you think. These guys ("Good Stuff") are one of the better SD cover bands.
.
https://youtu.be/qGoeKBuCR6Q?si=hXJEIrm8MRmYU4dT
.
Abu
.

Date: Sat, November 15, 2025, 17:19:08 ET
Posted by: Jerry, A

Which SD lyric comes to mind?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8Dv1Hkb/

Date: Sat, November 15, 2025, 11:23:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Jamiroquai - Your Window It's a Crazy Television

https://youtu.be/vdO-OpoHA2c

Here is an unreleased track from their RDLS album. Icy cool funk. Surprised this was left off the album.

Date: Sat, November 15, 2025, 10:37:47 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

M/O/D/P - I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that insightful (inciteful?) movie review. I wasn't planning on seeing the movie, mostly due to the distasteful subject matter, (not to mention the insane cost of going to a movie these days), but after reading that review I think I have to see it now.�

I just hope I don't tear up during that Christmas scene, though. Metal lunch pails and broken down second hand Christmas trees get me every time.

It turns out that some things hurt more, much more than cars & girls...

Date: Sat, November 15, 2025, 09:18:39 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Donny Ben�t : Back in the Studio - School's Out

https://youtu.be/pBwqd5ZLTW8

( ͡� ͜ʖ ͡�)

Date: Sat, November 15, 2025, 08:11:06 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I'm not going to lower myself to the same level as man-children who do nothing but insult.

MTV began as a pop-rock focused channel. That's what they were. Most black artists at that time focused more on R&B and didn't have music videos. Some of those that did were considered too risqu� to air such as Rick James' 'Superfreak'. Going into the 90s MTV began airing "reality TV" shows, movies, cartoons, and other things to replace their music programming. The video killed the radio star.

Date: Sat, November 15, 2025, 02:55:31 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael was born a "poor grizzled old black man."

Thanks for confirming you didn't live through the era... Let's ask ChatGPT using a naive inquiry (not logged in) for an unbiased answer.

Q: Did MTV deliberately not promote and show black R&B artists in the 1980s?

A: "Short answer: MTV did not officially have a stated policy excluding Black R&B artists in the early 1980s, but in practice the channel rarely aired Black artists and effectively limited them through programming decisions.

Did MTV Actively Exclude Black Artists?

There was no written policy stating �don�t play Black artists.�
However, in practice:

MTV rarely played R&B, funk, or soul videos in its first few years.

Executives claimed that most R&B videos �didn�t fit the rock format,� a justification many critics viewed as a cover for racial bias.

In 1983, MTV executives publicly argued that the channel was �album-oriented rock� and that videos by Black R&B artists �weren�t rock.�

After Billie Jean?

From that point on, MTV gradually aired more videos by Black artists, including Prince, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, and later more hip-hop acts."


Ironically, as a video I posted stated, Prince sold big when he removed the bass from his biggest #1 hits When Doves Cry and Kiss so they sounded less R&B.

The Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston of the 1980s were pop, not R&B.

So I posed a ChatGPT question about a major and respected R&B artist of the 1970s and 1980s - Patti LaBelle - one of the greatest live R&B voices of all time IMO.

What was R&B artist Patti LaBelle's biggest hit in the 1980s?

"Patti LaBelle�s biggest hit of the 1980s was �On My Own� (1986), her duet with Michael McDonald.

It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100,

Also hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart,

And became one of the decade�s signature ballads."


So, it's the major cross-over hit On My Own, a duet with our own Michael McDonald. It's a great song by Burt Bacharach and Carol Bayer Sager (lyrics). Bacharach of course had great success with Whitney's aunt Dionne Warwick in the 1960s, and a great inspiration for Donald Fagen.

So here is On My Own.

https://youtu.be/KsH63qJlIMM?si=c04PKqXEH7la-7D4


Here's Dionne Warwick singing Miles Davis' favorite: Alfie (Bacharach, Hal David) - one of the all time greats:

https://youtu.be/4NPAz8-O29U?si=4T8oT_aLZuCkzEvl


and Donald Fagen's favorite - Land of Make Believe:

https://youtu.be/x806JxAXqOk?si=blBiJfuCowcIfNXC

Date: Fri, November 14, 2025, 21:10:32 ET
Posted by: Michael,

This playlist features early 80s music videos from black artists. The dancing suit in 'Rockit' disturbed when I was younger. It was like something out of a horror movie.


Prince - Little Red Corvette

https://youtu.be/v0KpfrJE4zw

Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie

https://youtu.be/EsyUa63NM1E

Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

https://youtu.be/UG8_f0HdlMQ

Herbie Hancock - Rockit

https://youtu.be/GHhD4PD75zY

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It

https://youtu.be/oGpFcHTxjZs

Date: Fri, November 14, 2025, 18:51:48 ET
Posted by: Michael,

There's nothing left for me to prove. The success of black artists is documented historical fact. Artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington came from affluent families and were showered with praise and critical acclaim.

Miles Davis: �If somebody told me I only had an hour to live, I�d spend it choking a white man. I�d do it nice and slow.� What a swell guy.

Date: Fri, November 14, 2025, 17:54:51 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Shakespeare once wrote that "the truth will out," which seems to leave a lot of room for interpretation. Will it come out, go out, run out, peter out, blow out...you get my drift. We now also know that M/O/D/P's love for The Boss will out, whatever that means. One thing we know for sure, though, is that M/O/D/P never disappoints with the situation screams (he despises a sloppy metaphor). I have made a small fortune piggybacking on M/O/D/P's interpretation of the zeitgeist, and I don't plan to stop now.

Outre M/O/D/P!

Date: Fri, November 14, 2025, 13:32:21 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Birdland

Michael knows everything about music, black people/history, and Michael Jackson.

<<Michael must be relatively young or grew up in upstate Wisconsin.>>

I know he sounds very pasteurized white, but Michael is actually an old black man who was a Harlem street kid back in the day.

Date: Thurs, November 13, 2025, 21:43:20 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, I TOLD you it was "hastily-written"

"Pick a target, hone in on it, and THEN shit-kick the fucker from a million different angles until it gurgles - then, continue"

Edited for the dreaded "typo-graphical error"...

Date: Thurs, November 13, 2025, 21:13:16 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, WARNING: This post contains "content"

Let me be perfectly clear - I'm posting this hastily-written movie review because Nicholas Urfe, a beloved & much-respected contributor here (and a damn decent fellow who often tragically struggles to differentiate between reality and illusion, as long-time Bloobook readers know), because he just said the situation was "screaming". I'm not entirely sure what he means, but I trust the guy 110% and I can't stand screaming, so...here we go...again...��

As Vladimir from Minsk noted, quite some time ago now (October 22, according to my careful research), recently the moviegoing public was treated to a motion picture about the life of Arena Rock Superstar Legend Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen. I for one could hardly wait for the opening date, just so I could experience the theatrical experience, because for me, anyways, there's really nothing quite like "experiencing" so many precious little LED screens between me and the big screen, and of course I adore seeing the many happy cell-phone users in attendance - those delightful folks who say, "Well, I need to do SOMETHING while the movie is on!!" as they busily attend to their charming little devices non-stop, as the film unfolds in the background! Modern-day movie-going is so immersive!�

So, of course I decided to go all-out for the highly-anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic, "Please Deliver Me To Nowhere". First day/first showing/first one in the lineup to buy tickets, and I can tell you that it was definitely well worth the effort! This one sure lived up to the advance hype, and more.�

Highlights? Really too many to mention, but I'll do it because I enjoy mentioning things.

The opening scene where a young Bruce, pathetically dressed in filthy, tattered rags and surrounded by downtrodden, work-worn family at Christmas, opens a colorful Yuletide package to find his very first all-metal lunch-bucket, well, that breathtaking scene is a real tear-jerker, let me tell you! The Springsteen family, as loyal fans know, were dirt-poor, hard-working-class folk, but they managed to scrape enough money together that Christmas to get a little something for the young budding musician. There wasn't enough for a cheap guitar or even a pair of Spandex��pants - those things would come later - but the single tear in the little future Boss's eye tells the story beautifully. As the camera pans out to show the family gathered around the pitiful, second-hand Christmas tree, we see (and hear) the young Springsteen start to bang out a simple rhythm on the lunch-pail...the crude-yet-revelatory beginnings of a rudimentary "Thunder River"! WOW!!

The film is chock-full of carefully-crafted sentimental moments, from little Bruce's fateful first encounter with the back seat of a car - "Get your rotten ass in the back seat, you horrid little wretch!" screams his withered old Aunt Mildred (wonderfully portrayed by an AI version of the late Agnes Moorehead in a terrifying circa-1966 flashback), to a teenage Springsteen's disappointing first live rock concert where the feature act (an early incarnation of The Captain & Tenille) plays for a mere two and a half hours, much to the disgust of the movie's young protagonist. "When I become a big rock star, I'll play for at least SIX HOURS!!" shouts the crestfallen future Boss. The moment is marvelous and cinematic...simply wonderful. And cinematic.� �

I won't spoil the movie for those few of you who haven't yet seen it, but I really should mention the brilliant expository scene near the end - so I will. It's a flashback moment where a wet-behind-the-ears Bruce gets severely reprimanded by the school Principal after failing yet another basic grade-school-level literacy test. Instead of sobbing or howling hysterically as he receives The Strap ("ouch"!), the future Stadium Rock Icon calmly, softly, and defiantly hums the melody to his future chart-topping beloved mega-hit, "Darkness On The Edge Of My Home Town". And so another Golden Moment in cinema history is born!� �

As EC/NY alludes to, I may have, in the distant past, made a dismissive or even disparaging comment or two about Mr.�Springsteen�here - in the distant past, of course. I suppose that I should apologize for those comments. That WAS the apology, by the way� �

In conclusion, after seeing this great epic of a film several times now I would definitely agree with those folks who say that Bruce Springsteen is a city of contrasts.

M/O/D/P

PS - It isn't "plagiarism" if I steal from myself - it's "The Humor Of Repetition".
PPS - "Pick a target, hone in on it, and the shit-kick the fucker from a million different angles until it gurgles - then, continue" - M/O/D/P, in an epic poem, many, many years ago now.�
PPPS - Quoting myself here isn't plagiarism either...perhaps a bit obnoxious & self-serving, but technically not "plagiarism"...
PPPPS - "PPPPPS"�

Date: Thurs, November 13, 2025, 17:29:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

That went over my head. I'm in the tri-state area. Should SD fans in Wisconsin feel ashamed?

Date: Thurs, November 13, 2025, 15:01:01 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

EC, it looks like we don't need the Boss for a good dust-up, although when it comes to dust-ups (dusts-up?), I'm partial to the Springsteen kind. The situation screams for M/O/D/P's input.

I'm going to have to wait until I can pop some popcorn to really dig in to the Doc Mu - Michael situation, but on a quick scan, "Michael must be relatively young or grew up in upstate Wisconsin" is going to be hard to beat.

Date: Thurs, November 13, 2025, 09:34:49 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Not saying there's no distinction between black and white music stylistically, but when it comes to performances it's not so clear cut.

Date: Thurs, November 13, 2025, 02:21:14 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

It ain't what you here - it's what *they* see.

Besides, if you can't hear the difference between the Commodores and Richie's recordings you might as well be tone deaf.

I'll let this man speak - about 5 min. in. Good to see Sunset Studios and Peggy "Mac" MacReady - nice little video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CftjP-MYJC4

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 21:51:15 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

As enjoyable as these recent bits of musical history bickering have been, I would *respectfully* submit that it's high time for some Springsteen humor here on The Blue. I mean, a new movie in theaters (I think it's still in theaters), a massive 4-disc re-release of "Nebraska" (My God!)...yes, the time is right for another Bluebook discussion of The Boss and his body of work. At the very least it might help to clear the air, and prevent things from getting messy (again). Or start another messy situation (again). I'm not sure.

M/O/D/P? Dr. H�nd? Nicholas Urfe?

Anyone?

Ed
ps - I can't write worth a damn or I'd do it myself!

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 20:57:20 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I can't hear performers' skin complexion through their instruments, but that's just me. ////////

To my mind there's only two kinds of music: music I like and everything else. It isn't a binary choice between black or white. There are both good and bad musicians in every walk of life.

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 20:26:00 ET
Posted by: thankyou, thankyou

This has been, Black Music Mischaracterized by the Whitest People

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 18:00:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Did The Supremes also have to tour Europe to escape from the racism of having 12 number one singles in America? I'm being facetious.

That aside, James Jamerson's bass lines helped lay the foundation for funk music in the following decade. Credit where credit's due.

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 17:37:18 ET
Posted by: Michael,

"AOR was dying by the mid 80s, but there's no question that MTV and record companies whitewashed music in the 80s...and frankly there was a long history in the 50s and 60s until Berry Gordy established the Motown empire and Atlantic Records/Memphis/Chicago began recording it."

MTV didn't "whitewash" anything. You're constructing a false narrative off a flimsy pretext. More pop artists at the time happened to be white which (wait for it...) was and still is the majority of the country. Do you similarly ascribe a racist motive behind music stations not playing as much black music as the local majorities in Japan, Italy or Peru?

"Black music was always underground - see a 100 Donald Fagen interviews."

Just because Donald says something doesn't make it the gospel truth. He falsely claimed in an interview that the film Whiplash was about whites portraying themselves as having invented jazz (it didn't) and in another interview claimed it was racist that a Bill Evans album outsold Miles Davis' Kind of Blue.

"But MTV wouldn't play initially the singles off Thriller"

MTV had aired numerous music videos by black artists prior to 'Billie Jean' including by Prince, Tina Turner, Herbie Hancock, and Donna Summer. Instead of blaming MTV maybe you should blame the record labels for not making more music videos for their roster of black artists.

"Michael continues to move the goalposts. My contention was that MTV resisted exposure of black R&B artists in the 80s and into the 90s. Absolutely accurate."

Demonstrably false and I didn't move anything, I directly refuted your claims.

"They promoted hair metal in the mid to late 80s, rap after the Aerosmith "duet.""

Hair metal was very popular at that time and it drew in ratings. Today there's an even spread between white and black artists in mainstream music, yet the quality of the songwriting sucks across the board.

"In the 90s Grunge and Rap and some Indy white rock dominated whatever music videos there were. Proportionally, the power pop movement, R&B, and jazz were stronger in Europe. Again, nothing new - many black jazz artists after WWII toured in Europe where they faced less racism."

If R&B and jazz aren't selling as much in America as the flavor of the month commercial pap, it *must* be due to racism.

"Without black underground music, there would have been no Steely Dan."

Define underground. Black jazz and be-bop was anything but underground. Artists such as Louis Armstrong and the like played to sold out venues of mostly white people who were far and away black artists' most ardent supporters.

"Record companies always want to sell albums. But listen (I can't recommend it) to 80s Lionel Richie or even Whitney Houston. The production has been whitewashed for broad audiences. That's nothing new. It wasn't until 1998 that Whitney released an R&B album. There were hints on Bodyguard, but that's a David Foster production."

Again with this vapid "whitewashing" claim. Lionel Richie decided to split with The Commodores and pursue his own solo venture with that "whitewashed" sound, whatever the hell that implies.

Roy Eldridge, a jazz trumpeter, once claimed that he could tell a jazz player's race just by listening. In a double-blind test he guessed wrong on almost every musician played for him.

What have we learned today? That if black artists aren't succeeding then it's white people's fault, and if you don't like the sound of their albums then that's also white people's fault. Why not drop the pretense and admit you hate white people?

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 13:03:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

My last comment or two on this. Michael continues to move the goalposts. My contention was that MTV resisted exposure of black R&B artists in the 80s and into the 90s. Absolutely accurate.

They promoted hair metal in the mid to late 80s, rap after the Aerosmith "duet."

In the 90s Grunge and Rap and some Indy white rock dominated whatever music videos there were. Proportionally, the power pop movement, R&B, and jazz were stronger in Europe. Again, nothing new - many black jazz artists after WWII toured in Europe where they faced less racism.

Without black underground music, there would have been no Steely Dan.


Record companies always want to sell albums. But listen (I can't recommend it) to 80s Lionel Richie or even Whitney Houston. The production has been whitewashed for broad audiences. That's nothing new. It wasn't until 1998 that Whitney released an R&B album. There were hints on Bodyguard, but that's a David Foster production.

Compare the organic sound of Lionel with the Commodores (jazzers) vs. Lionel on his solo fare with bland pay for play musicians. Och - the 80s stuff didn't age well.

Oh, Stevie W had only 2 #1 hits in the 80s: I Just Called to Say I Love You - unbelievably generic for Stevie.

And Part-time Lover (hey, at least Luther Vandross got some exposure!) Nice song if too digital (not through with Buzz)

Out.

I leave you with MJ singing Stevie from Off the Wall - both at their peak:

I Can't Help It

https://youtu.be/re3MOe1SBOs?si=J25KObCTJ4GplmED

(somehow never a single)

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 12:36:31 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Chart - AOR was dying by the mid 80s, but there's no question that MTV and record companies whitewashed music in the 80s...and frankly there was a long history in the 50s and 60s until Berry Gordy established the Motown empire and Atlantic Records/Memphis/Chicago began recording it.

You are correct. But we remember it real time.

Black music was always underground - see a 100 Donald Fagen interviews.

Hell, jazz was the "jungle music" and opposed by the long hairs - classic music afficianados. Benny Goodman's Concert in Carnegie Hall (1938) with a mixed race orchestra in was a massive breakthrough at the time.

Did certain artists break through? MJ always had a mystique and 1979's Off the Wall sold well.

But MTV wouldn't play initially the singles off Thriller -

https://power1069fm.com/2025/03/11/mtv-initially-refused-to-play-this-michael-jackson-video/#:~:text=MTV%20initially%20refused%20to%20air,the%20air%2C%20all%20our%20product.

"The song �Billie Jean� by Michael Jackson was released on January 3, 1983, and quickly hit number one, where it stayed for seven weeks.

MTV initially refused to air the music video for �Billie Jean� because executives felt black music did not fit into the rock-centered programming.

The president of CBS Records, Walter Yetnikoff, threatened MTV by saying, �I�m pulling everything we have off the air, all our product. I�m not going to give you any more videos.�

The music video for �Billie Jean� was finally aired on MTV on March 10, more than two months after the song was released and after it had hit number one."


Michael must be relatively young or grew up in upstate Wisconsin.

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 12:19:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Prince was AOR funk before (the album) 1999.

Tracks from Controversy and Dirty Mind on AOR and pre-MTV videos helped generate and underground following before the singles (1999, Little Red Corvette) and 1999 album hit it big. There were no Top 40 singles from Dirty Mind and Controversy. Underground videos and AOR tracks sold the mystique.

This was near the end of the era where DJs could play what they want. Also, the payola really flowed. Hey, it worked for Aja in the middle of disco and Fleetwood Mac crazes!


Was Prince hoping to sell albums and singles? You bet. But he had to control the narrative.

"Am I black or white
Am I straight or gay?" on an F#7sus4 vamp (yes Prince used a lot of weird jazz chords - father was a jazz musician)

https://youtu.be/4gazNwzC4H0?si=smcDfvqrRem3Y3I2

Keep in mind fwiw that Prince recorded everything (all instruments) and vocals himself at Sunset Studios except backing vocals on a couple of tracks (Lisa Coleman) overdubbed on 2-3 songs and additional keyboards on another.

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 07:54:11 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Prince wasn't an AOR artist. He was more pop-rock and funk fusion. Purple Rain was a massive success with its own dedicated full-feature film to boot.

Anyone can claim that they were discriminated against, but that's technically hearsay. The evidence proves that black artists were afforded the same opportunities as white artists and were among the top selling artists in spite of their minority status. No record label is saying no to money.

Date: Wed, November 12, 2025, 07:33:15 ET
Posted by: Chart, Nerd

Black artists were discriminated against on AOR radio. When Prince was the most popular artist in the country in the summer of 1984, he was #27 in airplay on AOR well below Scandal and has-beens Elton John and Glenn Frey.

Date: Tues, November 11, 2025, 10:25:34 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Blacks comprised roughly 10-12% of the total U.S. population during the 1980s yet comprise half of the artists with top hits.

Artists with four or more #1 singles in the 1980s.

Michael Jackson 9
Madonna 7
Whitney Houston 7
Phil Collins 7
George Michael 5
Lionel Richie 5
Hall & Oates 5
Stevie Wonder 4
Bon Jovi 4
Prince 4

Wait, we're not done. Here's artists featured in the top of charts for the most weeks.

Michael Jackson 27
Lionel Richie 21
Paul McCartney 16
George Michael 16
Stevie Wonder 15
Madonna 15
Olivia Newton-John 14
Diana Ross 13
Whitney Houston 13
Phil Collins 13

Again, half of them are black and they occupy the top two positions. Doesn't look like they were being held down.

Date: Tues, November 11, 2025, 09:44:08 ET
Posted by: Michael,

So they say. 'Billie Jean', 'Bad' and especially 'Thriller' were HUGE successes. MTV played those on heavy rotation. I would know, I used to see them on MTV all the time. Michael Jackson was part of the cultural zeitgeist due to The Jackson 5. (They even had their own cartoon called Jackson 5ive.) To claim that he and other black artists were being held back by some mysterious force is reaching.

I mean if their intent was to hold back black artists then why bother promoting them? Why not just shun them entirely? Make it make sense.

Luther Vandross became much bigger going into the 90s.

Chaka Khan had a massive hit in the 80s with her cover of Prince's 'I Feel For You', but then she was already a successful artist from the 70s with numerous hit songs. One of my favorites of hers is 'Stronger Than Before', written by Burt Bacharach, Bruce Roberts and Carole Bayer Sager.

https://youtu.be/lmjVNwDGzKM

"Musicquarium have 4 monster songs. In Square Circle and Characters weren't better than SW's 70s fare because NOTHING is. But it's better that 98% of the crap white MTV artists were doling out. Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan were peaking. Again."

What are you on about? White artists were producing more hit songs during the 80s than black artists. That's all there is to it. There wasn't some grand conspiracy afoot. Black artists simply weren't putting out as much material with commercial potential as white artists were. The market ultimately determines winners and losers (payola scandal notwithstanding) and more people wanted stuff by Hall & Oates, Toto, Spandau Ballet, Phil Collins, Chicago, and Kenny Loggins at that time.

Unless I'm not reading the fine print, there's no rule that there must be market parity based on skin complexion. Nobody told consumers *not* to buy music from black artists. Record shop owners weren't putting all the black artists in the far corner. Even going back to the days of Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis most of their financial support came from white people, so this argument that black artists were being held back by racist forces doesn't wash.

Plastic 80s synth sounds weren't a good fit for R&B artists, most of the time.

Al Jarreau was a good artist with the misfortune of some of the corniest song lyrics. Sure, he *sounded* good (due in large part to top session players) but never really had a chance against commercial heavyweights of the time.

Here's a verse from his song 'Morning'.

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

Mornin' Mister Radio
Mornin' little Cheerios
Mornin' sister oriole
Did I tell you everything is fine
In my mind?

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

I'm sorry, I just can't relate.

George Benson was more of a crossover R&B/pop artist who established himself from the outset as a popular jazz guitarist who scatted over phrases. But he did manage to find success with 'Give Me The Night', 'Turn Your Love Around', '20/20' and some others.

The Brecker Brothers couldn't sell their albums because the whole music scene had changed drastically. Most jazz-fusion didn't sell big numbers because the market wasn't there for it. Airplay and Pages were AOR artists from the late 70s into the early 80s of which there was a slew. They got lost in the mix along with countless others. Larry Lee, Eric Tagg, Frankie Bleu. The list goes on and on.

Wait... I just realized, most of them are white. Does that mean there was a grand conspiracy to hold back white artists? �\_(ツ)_/�

Whitney Houston was massively successful.

"Anita Baker was one of the few R&B/jazz artists who received a modicum of publicity. The record companies didn't support black R&B artists and many dropped out."

Dude, do you hear yourself? 'Sweet Love' and 'Caught Up In The Rapture' got plenty of airplay and were very successful.

But who am I kidding? Yes, despite numerous successes, record labels conspired to hold back black artists. *sigh*

Date: Mon, November 10, 2025, 22:46:38 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

And now for some palate cleansing from Zappa and the Mothers...with George Duke and Chester Thompson.

Inca Roads live:

https://youtu.be/buaF5dN44Oo?si=rbYOi4EV_gNtZZU0

Date: Mon, November 10, 2025, 22:34:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve: Nice find! I listened to a lot of jazz radio in the 90s and 00s through my computer - back when Apple music had Radio and I could pick up KJAZ, WBGO.

Tim Cook has pretty much destroyed Apple. He removed capability, connectivity, access, ability to replace HDs, upgrade RAM, etc.

Yeah, Hucknall subversively went back his roots and not many noticed. Stay is a very overlooked album.

Date: Mon, November 10, 2025, 22:27:33 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael - you have to be kidding. It took nearly an Act of God to get MJ on MTV...and Billie Jean.

Luther Vandross got limited love, occasionally on VH1.

Chaka Khan

Musicquarium have 4 monster songs. In Square Circle and Characters weren't better than SW's 70s fare because NOTHING is. But it's better that 98% of the crap white MTV artists were doling out. Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan were peaking. Again.

Kool & the Gang sounded poppy, but they were at the core jazzers...but didn't get much MTV love. Al Jarreau and George Benson stopped selling. Fusion artists (ex. Yellowjackets) could sell records. Branford Marsalis' group hitched a ride to Sting to make ends meet. The Brecker Bros. couldn't sell their great albums. Jay Graydon remade Airplya - it was much better - couldn't seel an album. Allan effing Holdsworth made some of the greatest and most daring fusion albums ever and died penniless about a decade ago. I met him on tour in Baton Rouge back in the mid 80s. A prince of a man. He did some guest guitar work for Level 42 - great stuff! Never got on MTV.

There's Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, but I considered them more pop than R&B until Whitney's My Love is Your Love (1998) before drugs did her in.

Anita Baker was one of the few R&B/jazz artists who received a modicum of publicity. The record companies didn't support black R&B artists and many dropped out.

After the Nightfly, it was a good decade for The Donald and Walter to sit out.

Date: Mon, November 10, 2025, 13:45:35 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

We have a DAB radio station here in the UK called Jazz FM which increasingly is our default station when we're out in the car. It plays a decent mixture of Jazz, blues, soul, funk etc and one of the best things about it is that it gives airtime to relatively new, unknown, possibly unsigned acts like this which should tick all the boxes for fans of the music that we've been discussing on here recently but with their own, fresh, funky twist. Nice to see this kind of thing is still, well....... "a thing!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2FU7tqkVGI&list=RDY2FU7tqkVGI&start_radio=1

ps: Big fan of "Death of the Cool" Doc Mu,since you originally linked to it here a while back. Lot's of friends, family etc hearing what I'm playing clearly love it, ask who it is and are then surprised when I tell them "it's Simply Red....".

Date: Sun, November 09, 2025, 08:17:04 ET
Posted by: Michael,

MTV had become so popular by the mid-80s that it could set commercial trends, and so R&B fell out of vogue in favor of hair metal, synth-pop, light ballads, and dance music. Had artists such as Stevie Wonder and EW&F put out material as strong as their 70s output then there's no way the labels would've sidelined them, but most of the R&B stuff from around that time lacked that special something, with few exceptions such as Windjammer's 'Tossing and Turning'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1uqpZdjyk4

Anita Baker (US) and Sade (UK) found success in the 80s as well.

It wouldn't be until the early 90s when R&B would return with the emergence of Philly's New Jack swing which fused R&B and dance-pop with jazzy chords and vocal harmonies. By the mid-90s it had reached its zenith, the market became oversaturated, and then grunge rock appeared.

As with every style R&B has experienced commercial ups and downs, but that doesn't mean artists ceased making it.

With all due respect to Jay Graydon, that wasn't a revelatory statement. Hindsight is 20/20.

Date: Sat, November 08, 2025, 18:40:07 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

We were focusing on the 90s and 00s R&B and acid jazz artists in UK/US. MTV pretty much shut out black R&B exposure in the 80s. Besides Michael Jackson, very little black music made MTV and VH1 screens in the 80s, continuing into the 90s. Rap leverages a foothold after the "duet" between Aerosmith and Run DMC.

One of the consequences of the "blackout" was a falloff in jazz/fusion artists making the charts. George Benson, Al Jarreau are classic examples.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZGiVzIr8Qg

Jay Graydon is on record - after the mid 80s jazzers and fusion got almost no airplay in American after the mid 80s.

Date: Sat, November 08, 2025, 17:56:51 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, R&B has always been more popular Stateside than in the UK. Stevie Wonder, EW&F, Ray Charles, The Isley Brothers, The Stylistics, The Delfonics as you mentioned both, and a plethora of other American artists prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Generally the UK tends to have better rock, prog and funk artists, the latter due to their seamless integration of jazz, plus they produced some of the best pop artists. UK labels also seem better at finding and nuturing talent than ours. Our labels are less forgiving of artists who fail to make an early impact...

Jay Kay was never considered a tremendous vocalist. He's more of a specialized novelty, much akin to Donald Fagen. He has more trouble hitting notes today due to being an older gent but back in his prime not only could he sing extremely well but do so while dancing and leaping around the stage. Watch his Live at Montreux performance from 2003. That required tremendous endurance and he's hitting some *high* notes.

Plenty of artists are much more popular in the UK and Europe than in America, Simply Red being a case in point. Holding Back The Years was far and away their biggest hit Stateside, whereas their other material failed to have the same commercial impact. It certainly failed to leave a lasting impression on me. That's why Simply Red's considered a one-hit wonder from our side of the pond regardless of what goes on elsewhere. Mick Hucknall may have incredible vocal chops but then so do plenty of singers. Doesn't mean their material is great. Anita Baker is a tremendous vocalist but I only really like a handful of her songs. Lisa Stansfield, again, amazing voice, only one good song. I wish it weren't so but that's how it goes. I can only speak for myself. Your mileage may vary.

On the other side of the equation, not only does Lindsey Webster have a great voice but also has a quiver of great songs to really shine. There are artists who aren't contenders for best vocalist but more than compensate through sheer songwriting skill. Burt Bacharach was a phenomenal songwriter, composer and arranger (credit to lyricist Hal David) but was anything except an accomplished vocalist. Regardless, I love his music and don't mind his singing. Something Big is a wonderful song.

Date: Sat, November 08, 2025, 14:21:03 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Duh. Of course, a modicum of analysis, that I provided, demonstrates the groups and approaches for Jamiroquai and Simply Red are quite different.. although both illustrate an original point I had that R&B and acid-jazz were FAR MORE POPULAR in the UK than the US.

My simple point was about Jay Kay's VOCALS. He was always a stylist and he can hardly stay in key now live. That's all. Jamiroquai was a favorite back in the 90s. Really nice production and arrangements and more depth in musicianship.. I wish they have been promoted better in the US.


You then stated that Simply Red was a one-hit wonder. That is demonstratibly FALSE in the US and especially in Britain.

Simply Red is a quality COMMERCIAL product. And they have the chops and musicians to be a legit live act. Simply Red began as a political protest band. Most of Picture Book songs have social connotations and have significant Steely edge. Unfortunately, Hucknall got away from lyrical depth after the first album. Stars was the #1 album in 1991 and 1992 in Britain - it's a solid commercial product. However, I felt that 2007's Stay was a bit of a comeback as Hucknall bit the hand that fed him.


The Death of the Cool uses humor in a subversive manner, Little Englander is just nasty. TV Money is closer to the debut album in messaging. The Debris cover is fantastic. Good Times Have Done Me Wrong has some blues and Little Feat leanings.

The "love" songs are more sophisticated - Lady with Jools Holland. Oh! What a Girl - has a sharp horn chart. Production is more 70s - even a touch of Thom Bell. Hucknall could flat deliver on the vocals - and that counts for something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErxrKRzhGJg&list=RDErxrKRzhGJg&start_radio=1


The country seems to be decaying right now (mental, moral, spiritual decline), much like the 70s in a way, except more gentrified.

That reminds me of the Thom Bell (jazz musician, arranger) Philly R&B pop songs of the early 1970s (and I'd bet Fagen listened to some of the groups he produced just for the production, Hall and Oates should have taken more notes, but their early albums weren't bad). Bell wrote the music, produced, arranged (masterfully) some pop and commercial classics. Linda Creed wrote most of the lyrics - and sure, it's commercial fair with love songs, occasional mild protest...and some of the compositions possessed more depth. When music could be commercial and of high quality. Sure, much higher quality overall than Simply Red with the same quality of vocal prowess.

Nice altered blues construction, layered, sophisticated production, chord changes, modulation. Ear candy with jazz and R&B snuck in.

Delfonics - Didn't I Blow Your Mind this Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM6kZabHf4w&list=RDgM6kZabHf4w&start_radio=1

Stylistics - People Make the World Go Round

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3STx4BrLjFc&start_radio=1


Stylistics - Betch By Golly Wow (yeah, the one Prince covered)

https://youtu.be/HxZ83WxhMnU?si=29XgeEBEEfTFItwv


Can we talk about how Bell recorded those rhythm tracks?

Date: Sat, November 08, 2025, 09:11:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, sales figures are in no way indicative of quality. Taylor Swift's sold over 75 million albums, far surpassing either Jamiroquai or Simply Red. Does that mean she's a better artist than either of them? I certainly don't think so.

Comparing Simply Red to Jamiroquai is apples and oranges. Jamiroquai's acid-jazz sound, which moved into electronic nu-disco territory subsequent to TWM and Synkronized, doesn't have the same mainstream appeal as Simply Red's traditional soul-pop approach, their lyrics seem focused much more on romance and relationships, i.e. things women adore, hence why romance novels tend to sell by the millions.

To date Steely Dan have sold over 40 million albums, which is great, but considerably less than either Simply Red or Taylor Swift, which doesn't really mean anything to me. When it comes to quality output I *strongly* favor SD.

"If you or I could write a song this tight, I'm sure we would."

Maybe we could but neither of us have access to top level musicians to work on material with (unless you do?), let alone have a multi-billion dollar label to help with production and marketing. Success isn't simply a matter of skill and talent but is just as much about being in the right place at the right time.

Date: Sat, November 08, 2025, 00:24:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Nicholas - I'd agree about the visuals that Bernie Taupin paints. And EJ could really go with the flow and write a composition worthy of the landscape and story that Taupin penned...and both melody and lyrics interdependent.

While Taupin flows...Steely Dan songs are like quanta of impressionist visions that are strung together by sound and rhyme that somehow paste together a narrative that sounds great and with compelling imagery, but whose meaning is often a puzzle. It's a unique type of literary storytelling set to music.

Most pop music of the rock era is strewn with personal statements, experiences, anthems

So, if a fan throws out a line to a song, another instantly provides the next line.

On the hill, the stuff was lace with kerosene

But yours was kitchen clean

Everyone stopped to stare at your technicolor motorhome

Every A frame had your number on the wall

You must have had it all

You'd go to LA on a dare

And you'd go it alone


Influenced by Dylan, but with another dimension.

Date: Fri, November 07, 2025, 23:56:57 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Ummmm...Simply Red has sold 50M albums. Jamiroquai has sold 26M.

Jamiroquai's Emergency on Planet Earth, Return of the Space Cowboy never charted in the US...both great albums - #1 and #2 in the UK. Traveling without Moving is the highest US charting album at #24.

Virtual Insanity climbed to #38 in the US - their only hit single here.


All 13 Simply Red albums were Top 10 in Britain. 4 #1s, 3 #2, a #3 Stars weas the #1 album in the UK for two consecutive years.

32 Top 40 songs in the UK.

12 singles charted in the US. Two #1s, 2 more top 10.

Simply Red is a pop/soul group that should a fleeting tendency toward jazz and band arrangements on Picture Book. I agree - they could have done more...the group became a Mick Hucknall vehicle. Picture Book, Stars, Life, Stay are all very good albums though IMO.

Mick Hucknall is a virtuoso singer. Jay Kay is a stylist and the years have taken a toll.

Hucknall's songs are well structured with decent chord progressions, hooks, melodies...even if not high on the innovation end.

If you or I could write a song this tight, I'm sure we would. lol

Death of the Cool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7vua8alKVM&list=OLAK5uy_lmmRixmbxKYksUdsS-Xp3K7A4qOfuNkTk

Jamiroquoi's songs are less structured and integrated into the production.

So that's where the differences is - Jamiroquoi's arrangements fuse jazz, funk, R&B seamlessly. The arrangements and production are far more intricate and sophisticated, with much more room for improvisation. The musicianship, including the horns and bass are superior on their albums. Over the course of a song recording there are bends and asides with chord patterns and harmonies that are more jazzy than the SR discography..

Jamiroquai is definitely more like Bluey/Incognito than Simply Red, but his/their acid jazz is more acid and less smooth. Jamiroquai live is as good as the record, although Jay Kay's antics can be distracting. Simply Red is far better live than in the studio IMO. They don't take the chances in the studio that Jamiroquai does.

Two great artists who are far more recognized in the UK than the US.

I would recommend Jamiroquai's first three albums.

Date: Fri, November 07, 2025, 17:34:56 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Doc and Dean, Madman Across the Water is Peak EJ as far as I'm concerned. Bernie's lyrics are SD-like in that he paints enough of a picture to get you started, and then you can fill in an entire backstory from your own imagination. Danny Bailey was an under-the-radar treasure on Yellow Brick Road.

Date: Fri, November 07, 2025, 17:12:46 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Jamiroquai were formed in 1992. Virtual Insanity was released in 1996 along with their album 'Traveling Without Moving' which I consider their best alongside their previous album 'The Return of the Space Cowboy'. Acid-jazz at its finest.

Simply Red is kind of like A-ha in that I only really like one song from each of their respective catalogs, those being Holding Back The Years and Take On Me. Both Mick Hucknall and Morten Harket are great vocalists but it's a shame that their material doesn't really exploit their talents in the best way. I guess that's why they're known as one hit wonders, which is a shame. I wish they had five or ten songs as good as their big hits. Hall & Oates managed to write quite a good number of memorable songs which is why they enjoyed more longevity than many of their contemporaries.

Date: Fri, November 07, 2025, 16:42:15 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Pretty good. Jay Kay's vocals are a little flat, but they can "fix" that in the studio. Virtual Insanity was a consistent and catch opus - back in the early 90s.


The sound is a bit like Simply Red on the clips.

Mick Hucknall revived Simply Red about 10 years ago, but retired not long after Stay when his vocals were still on top of their game. Simply Red could infuse a bit of late 60s rock into their sound. Hucknall can sound even more compelling live...great soundboard recording from Sydney in 2010.

Your Mirror:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NifiGV_j07w&list=OLAK5uy_mc-dNC50q7z700i01mjNY8eFBZ6MznLhU

To sing this type of R&B, you need spot on, near pitch perfect vocals and crazy control.

Stars:

https://youtu.be/3ks4qQGO0JU?si=dA6ujtFFiHIZawSy

Date: Fri, November 07, 2025, 10:15:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Some incredible stuff on offer.

This Simon Grey track sounds like something straight out of Stevie Wonder's 70s catalog. I'm not even exaggerating.
The Olympians deliver soul funk goodness, reminiscent of old library music from the vaults of KPM and Bruton.
Har Mar Superstar offers a unique pop-soul fusion which wouldn't sound out of place on classic AM radio, combining elements of Rundgren, Hall & Oates and other artists of the era.
Johnny Burgos is a total throwback to Marvin Gaye + Al Green. Great stuff through and through.
Terreno Baldio is a Brazilian prog-rock band from the 70s with a strong Gentle Giant influence that incorporate lush, moody jazz and folk.


Simon Grey - Run & Hide feat. Tony Momrelle

https://youtu.be/o1x-vES-qHs

The Olympians - Sirens of Jupiter

https://youtu.be/X-Utrjsc2ao

Har Mar Superstar - Where We Began

https://youtu.be/BDekzNDlPA8

Johnny Burgos - Growing On Me

https://youtu.be/7zoeX-OWKFc

Terreno Baldio - Primavera (Spring)

https://youtu.be/1eVorI6ZQvQ


Jamiroquai debuted three new tracks from the forthcoming album during their Barcelona live show which while sounding good have more of an electo-disco feel than the classic acid-jazz sound. I'm still optimistic for the new album.

Disco Stays the Same

https://youtu.be/6JgfdmlkPUk

Shadow in the Night

https://youtu.be/XnoRGDOJT9M

Queen Machine

https://youtu.be/MaosyOZH438

Date: Sat, November 01, 2025, 21:52:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: Re arrangements:

Steely Dan = Bluey > YGSF > LeFlex > Most of the popular universe.

Songwriting: Becker/Fagen > YGSF > Bluey = LeFlex


LeFlex as a vocalist concentrates on the vocal sound, harmonies, placement up front, but because the keys/synths are rhythmic doesn't mean they are simple.

But YGSF use ProTools as much as LeFlex - however, their soundscape couldn't be much different. The dry drums, guitar effectively. Shawn Lee is the professional producer and does a lot of the arranging, but Andy Platts has his own study and has chops. Most of their most recent album was recorded in Andy's studio and some was finished in Shawn's. I'd argue that this album is their Rudy Van Gelder special as it was recorded in a matter of days last holiday season.

Speaking of organic, late 70s, dry, a little jazzy...I thought about one of Macca's best of the era. The title track from London Town. I'm pretty certain it was recorded in Abbey Road. George Martin wasn't in the room, but it almost sounds as if he is. Meticulous. Not super complex, but a lot of nice touches with maj7, diminished, suspended cords and a beautifully developed melody. Nice modulation between E minor and A minor IIRC. Really nice arrangements and Paul plays some violin in addition to synths, bass. Paul spent a lot of time until Flaming Pie (maybe Tug of War) skirting around and avoiding his Beatle roots. He embraced it - and would be a nice companion piece. Wistful lyrics with nice imagery, and some of Paul's better prose - as if John was looking over the other shoulder.

Anyway, the appropriate high level of thought/care is in this one, like the aforementioned artists.

https://youtu.be/XS3nMOmLZWU?si=K2mSYVFq6cC7VVoM

Date: Sat, November 01, 2025, 13:57:29 ET
Posted by: TO Danfan, Correction

Jeff Porcaro played on Human Touch. The drummer on Lucky Town was Gary Mallabar.

On another note...if you are a fan of Bruce and/or Neil Young you must be happy like me at the large amount of music released from the archives. Lots of it is good. Hoping for new stuff from Donald soon.

Game 7. Do or Die.
LETS GO BLUE JAYS!!

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 18:53:16 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Yes, George Benson made a lot of great material. Back around that time there was a large revolving door of talent hopping between albums. Rod Temperton was a huge staple during the whole boogie-pop thing which he exceled at, but really was good at anything he put his mind to. You can hear some Stevie Wonder influence creeping into some of George's 70s output. Nature Boy from his 'In Flight' album, with Claus Ogerman providing lush orchestral arrangements, is a good example.

https://youtu.be/TB68gc7i4YE

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 18:35:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, there are elements of sophistication in Le Flex's harmonies, voice leading, things like that, but his arrangements aren't nearly as demanding on capturing masterful takes in the studio as more organic stuff like YGSF or Steely Dan is. They're on two different ends of the spectrum.

YGSF rely much more on studio smarts, which is mainly Shawn's task than Andy's from what I gather, to achieve an *authentic* 70s sound, by utilizing a wide assortment of instruments and finding the right balance between function and nuance. Le Flex's production have that glistening sheen which is one of his hallmarks, extremely well mixed and mastered, more in the vein of 80s and 90s pop-dance which emphasizes electronic sounds. I appreciate what each artist has to offer.

I think Le Flex's core strength is his ability to craft melodies with instant appear along with those great jazzy chords, along with a deft sense of groove. There are no hurdles for the listener to overcome.

I still prefer the horns in SD's 70s/80s stuff over TAN or EMG, although I do think Almost Gothic has one of their absolute best horn arrangements, due in part to those amazing chords.

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 18:14:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael. George Benson's Give Me the Night Album is a high quality pop/jazz/R&B album and in the YGSF groove over their last 2 albums. Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton's pen, Benson, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenhour, Greg Phillenganes, George Duke, Abe Laboriel, Carlos Vega, Jerry Hey, Patti Austin - the Usual Suspects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0TVgow_CVM&list=OLAK5uy_mntGTphsYKIsl_p8n9bohZzt-UwXs8La8&index=3

Production, musicianship, charts, very good songwriting. Some is on the discoey groove, but at a high standard.

TOD: Great Gary US Bonds story. I knew the origin story with Bruce, but couldn't do it half as much justice. Just that alone is why I can't *hate* Bruce. On the right night, Born to Run does it's iconic thing. I think I knew that Jeff Porcaro played on Human Touch. Evidently, Randy "Dawg" Jackson played bass after his Aretha and Journey gigs.

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 17:51:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

I was thinking about Shawn/Andy's ability to write a finally crafted song vs. the arrangements. Bluey's arrangements are generally more sophisticated (significantly so) than YGSF or Le Flex, but closer to LeFlex in song composition. Bluey's arrangements are at virtual Steely Dan level - although the chord progressions are not as complex as SD from Katy Lied on.

Indeed, Le Flex's strength is the production, but the rhythm and keyboard arrangements are sophisticated, while groove oriented, for sure.


JMO, one could compare RS, Aja, Gaucho...and more

Gaucho arguably has the most sophisticated songs, Aja has the most sophisticated arrangements. The best grooves for me are on The Royal Scam and some of my favorite arrangements. Plus the attitude.

Despite the stellar horn arrangements on Aja by Tom Scott, I'd argue that some of the horn charts on Kamakiriad, EMG might be even better. Kama has a resurgence for me in quality and listenability. The grooves sound more lively than ever.

Partly because lossless streaming provide more data/bandwidth (DVD-A level) than a crappy old CD...I don't think it is a coincidence that the resurgence in appreciation of SD and Fagen genius by the kidz is directly related the e-means we have to hear high quality sound and the engineering product sound like their songs were recorded yesterday (on headphones).

Countermoon:

https://youtu.be/NFW5qS8Zru8?si=Ocs4u1zWaLh1laLf


Florida Room - studio:

https://youtu.be/wzw-mcIJpbI?si=e9_065ECuDZKikoF


Lunch with Gina:

https://youtu.be/FqqYmxwg6zk?si=NdJ-PaGrlNZlXvN6

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 17:51:44 ET
Posted by: Steve Yeager, AZ

As someone once married into the Steely Dan family ... go Jays.

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 17:47:24 ET
Posted by: TO Danfan, Waiting for Jays to win it

Lutz another Dan connection to Bruce is Jeff Porcaro. He played drums on Human Touch and Lucky Town albums. Bruce wanted him to tour but he was busy with Toto. I saw Cindy with Springsteen and she was great. In interviews she talks about how awesome it is working with both bands.

Gary US Bonds was a fallen star who was down to playing lowdown clubs. Bruce was driving by, saw his name on the marquis and went in.
He asked Gary if he could play a song with him. Gary didn't know who he was but he did notice the crowd going nuts. They played Quarter to Three a song I saw Bruce play first time I saw him 1978.That night at the club rebooted Gary US Bonds career big time.

Some folks on here like me seem to appreciate 60's R&B and Soul. And Donald definitely does. I recommend Bruce's covers album Only The Strong Survive. 15 great songs and to my old ears excellent production. Night Shift is my favorite but they are all good.

Cheers to all and
GO JAYS GO!!

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 10:20:44 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist.


Kirinji - Unseen Dancer (feat. Tomomi Oda)

https://youtu.be/N1ltkczczCM

Ginger Root - Weather

https://youtu.be/e8j2ipFkvlI

Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Jamais tout � fait

https://youtu.be/CBIjRQ9fw80

Hazel English - Baby Blue

https://youtu.be/qogSKWTLNCw

Luna Li - You Didn't Have To Go

https://youtu.be/yFqVQoQYpm8

George Benson - Give Me The Night

https://youtu.be/Omnpu8mzX4c


When I was younger 'Give Me The Night' creeped me out because I imagined Frankenstein singing those deep background vocals.

Date: Fri, October 31, 2025, 08:40:21 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, Andy and Shawn are masters of that 70s jazz, funk and soul sound with a generous sprinkling of early 80s AOR flavor, whereas Le Flex is strictly in the dance-pop-ballad realm. Don't go into Le Flex looking for sophisticated arrangements or acerbic wit loaded with cryptic double entendres. Think banana split or tapioca pudding with a calypso lemonade on the side, not so much five-star culinary experience. More romantic, less cerebral.

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 21:15:22 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I had forgotten - Gary US Bonds crushes this cover of the Boxtop's Soul Deep.


https://youtu.be/i0tahrODTmk?si=dtyjMjs-63k5QinG

#soulmatters

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 21:05:42 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Dean: Tumbleweed and Madman Across the Water are fantastic. Paul Buckmaster did the string arrangements. After Yellow Brick Road, I'm pretty much out.

Levon, Tiny Dancer are his peak for me. The title track is really interesting, too.

https://youtu.be/nq4J_n6vMYo?si=PJlOBCb21O4JjkCh


That reminds me - Gary "US" Bonds had a couple of hits (Quarter to 3) in the 60s. Bruce produced and wrote an album in the 80s that was the most Bruce of all...and in Gary US Bonds' hands I thought it actually worked. lol

Out of Work - could there be a more Bruce Springsteen title? The band is looser... like The Wild, Innocent and the E Street Shuffle and they even swing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkhSoOC6jEc&list=RDQkhSoOC6jEc&start_radio=1

I think it's how Bonds hits the pocket with the staccato vocals like, well a BOSS. When his vocals becomes another instrument, good things happen.

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 20:38:00 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby! Take 3

Mu, Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle is a great album. I've said it for years and I'll say it again. But it's actually the only Bruce album I find remotely listenable.

I feel similarly about Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection (great fucking album!), though I can tolerate a bit more of Elton's earlier work.

And for the record I saw Clarence Clemmons with his own band somewhere in Buffalo or Rochester I think. And he SUCKED. What a disappointment.

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 20:34:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Dean - I couldn't find it. Here's Florida Room, though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-JDwLJhQf4

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 20:31:41 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Sorry, my bad on that link. Premature confirmation. But there are several vids from that particular show. Maybe Atlantic City is there as well. Not really interested in doing more treasure hunt work tonight.

But a clue would help, Gabe, if you have any more info.

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 20:29:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I mean Bruce was the inspiration for this Prefab Sprout classic:


https://youtu.be/jEJdfDD4dVg?si=x2CNdERu9G__wAV6


My preference in the Bruce discography would have to be Wild, The Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle...the anti-Nebraska.

David Sancious brought another dimension and an R&B/funk/jazzy vibe.

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 20:28:21 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Gabe, is this the video you referred to?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RalySk1EsLk

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 20:18:50 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

LeFlex and Bluey (Jean Paul Maunick) are both absolute pros. Highly musical with careful attention to the soundscape. I agree that their consistency is remarkable. Shawn Lee of YGSF has that ability to make everything he creates sound great with nice balance separation between instruments. Super clean.

Incognito had 4 top 10 jazz albums in the 90s.


LeFlex and Bluey's compositions are interesting, and Bluey features great chord changes and horn chart - they aren't at the Andy Platts (with Shawn Lee) level or certainly Walter/Donald, Stevie Wonder, Beatles...but they are gifted in production. Bluey is also a multi-instrumentalist as well as arranger and producer.

Bluey's Incognito - Deep Waters (1993) Maysa Leak on lead vocals. Has that Sade-like groove. Layered production, delicious keyboards, muted trumpet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNi1vcb6uVU&list=RDdNi1vcb6uVU&start_radio=1


Into You - Killer arrangements and production - 31 years later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG6RE1-LYS0&list=RDxG6RE1-LYS0&start_radio=1

Date: Thurs, October 30, 2025, 11:33:23 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

There was a recent video of Donald sitting in with Amy Helm & co for their cover of Springsteen's Atlantic City.

Date: Wed, October 29, 2025, 23:04:05 ET
Posted by: OBAO, OBAO

While the movie is still in theatres, I would submit that listening to a Steely Dan song on full blast in movie theatre speakers is well worth any amount of waiting, ticket.

Sneak in the side door if you have to. Peel out after Jerome's solo.

Date: Wed, October 29, 2025, 17:13:20 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

I'll bite: The only time when Springsteen comes to mind in relation to SD for me is when I remember that Cindy Mizelle was also Bruce's back up singer.
Other than that, in terms of comparison, a 400 lbs NFL linebacker running a 100 yard race against Usain Bolt would come to mind.

Date: Tues, October 28, 2025, 22:32:32 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

Vlad - Hey, good to hear from you again...it's been a long time since we had a message from Minsk. As far as M/O/D/P & his educational bits about The Boss (as usually spurred by encouragement from Nicholas Urfe and *others*), it's been an even longer time since we've been graced with any in-depth/high-minded Springsteen commentary here. Sadly. I too was hoping that the Springsteen biopic might�lead to some disturbances on The Blue, but so far it hasn't happened. Too bad, especially for those of us who come here for the laughs (as opposed to the drier/unfunny/straightforward stuff). Oh well.

I know that this dumb topic has been well covered already, but today I see on the MSN News home page that new attention is being given to DF's profane (but appropriate) phone response to the goofball who made the recent "yacht rock" documentary. Slow news day and everything, I guess. Some of the reader comments on the side of the video story are pretty perceptive, though.� �

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/peopleandplaces/hear-steely-dan-musician-s-response-when-asked-to-participate-in-yacht-rock-documentary/vi-AA1voFCS?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=f9548405bc1f49559daaee27d28f5810&ei=13#details

Date: Mon, October 27, 2025, 17:09:41 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Agreed Doc, Le Flex is similar to George Michael vocally. That was the first thing I noticed about him when I heard his debut album. Le Flex collaborating with Bluey/Incognito or Jamiroquai would be awesome.

Even though he doesn't venture much outside the realm of 80s+90s dance-pop, his material is top notch, extremely consistent and very well produced. He's a great artist. While some might hold his *sameness* against him, I think consistency in quality output is something most artists lack. Any time an artist ventures outside of whatever they become known for, people tend to incessantly complain about how they want things to go back to the original sound. Most artists are lucky to have even one or two noteworthy albums, but Le Flex's entire discography ticks the right boxes for me. Fresh pop grooves with a side order of smooth ballads and some jazzy chords. Yes please, I'll have some of that. Another great thing about Le Flex is that he releases a steady flow of material. No waiting years on end for him to deliver something new.

Recently Le Flex did a collab 'Come Over' with Dabeull.

https://youtu.be/Hu6vI2oXRj0

Dabeull cooking up grooves INDASTUDIO.

https://youtu.be/utUk-sB5x2U

Date: Mon, October 27, 2025, 14:35:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Le Flex has not specifically collaborated with Bluey yet. That would be amazing. Le Flex has the grooves and a very good voice that's his own with a hint of a jazzier George Michael.

Yeah, Swing Out Sister, Simply Red, Jamiroquai - a lot of acid jazz/R&B acts were much bigger hits in the UK than in the US. Stars was the #1 selling album of the year when released. I don't think WB/Giant promoted Kamakiriad in the UK/Europe but it could have sold much more across the pond. (the market is smaller, so there's that)...

Date: Mon, October 27, 2025, 14:13:06 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

RIP Jack DeJohnette

Date: Mon, October 27, 2025, 07:28:32 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, nice tracks. UK jazz-funk tends to be very strong. I can't find anything referencing Le Flex collaborating on that Bluey track.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/4520842-Le-Flex?superFilter=Credits

Le Flex's lush dance-pop + Bluey's soulful acid-jazz would make for a great collab.

Date: Sun, October 26, 2025, 17:25:04 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Bluey's "band" Incognito: Nothing Makes Me Feel Better from 2024. Nice horn chart.

https://youtu.be/tVjAQZ9ltc8?si=toDdbpV3MPopWYOV

Into You:

https://youtu.be/xG6RE1-LYS0?si=8HPo3UKvshF12_DW

with Citrus Sun. How about the guitar licks?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPuMH4scK0I


If Dr. Fagen releases another album - Bluey would be a great (co)producer.

Date: Sun, October 26, 2025, 17:14:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Sundown is a winner on the pop/R&B/jazz fusion end. High end production for a digital product. Very 90s Euro/British...but it works.

Le Flex appears to collaborate - Bluey would be a good fit.

DAT Bass on Stronger.

https://youtu.be/y9QARgnELFc?si=5826L0dkM6zvHo7-

Date: Fri, October 24, 2025, 22:37:30 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

London Girls is one of my faves. Old school/new school.

Live YGSF, Studio Mamas Gun studio albums out in the near future.

Date: Fri, October 24, 2025, 18:30:22 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist. Still no word on Donald's new album. From what I hear Jamiroquai's new album is wrapping up production. Excited to hear about a new album dropping soon from Mamas Gun (thanks Doc). Should be good.


СОЮЗ / SOYUZ - Крок / Krok (Step)

https://youtu.be/GqdwkjHNAK8

Mamas Gun - London Girls

https://youtu.be/tKq4SXlKwEU

Mae Powell - Contact High

https://youtu.be/mljoOq_stvM

Le Flex - Sundown

https://youtu.be/8X7YVs7sofU

BREIMEN - Aliens

https://youtu.be/n7mnyGbJCOU


No idea what this Steely Knives Guestbook Companion thing is. Is it a compilation of tracks from other artists that sound like Steely Dan?

Date: Thurs, October 23, 2025, 16:45:44 ET
Posted by: aoofc, donsnewalbum

Anybody got any info on a series of mp3s called the Steely Knives Guestbook Companion (Title may not be correct but something similar), They appeared on the old Steely Damned website about 8-10 years ago. All the tracks were very Dan sounding. I used to have a CD of them but sadly lost it

Date: Wed, October 22, 2025, 19:37:54 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Anthony Jackson was a giant. RIP.
Of course his work with SD is great, he was also instrumental on Steve Khan's fantastic 80's Lp's.
Eyewitness, Casa Loco ect.
Always wanted to see him play live, it finally happened in 2013 with
Mike Stern's Band, also feat. Randy Brecker & Keith Carlock.
What a gig that was.
Stern was referring to Anthony's bass as "The m-fucker"...

Date: Wed, October 22, 2025, 19:07:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

RIP Anthony Jackson.

Date: Wed, October 22, 2025, 16:30:14 ET
Posted by: Vladimir, Minsk

Vlad says there is nice talkings on the Blue but too bad for no concerts or new albums. So Vlad is want to know what the Mr. M/O/D/P is think about the movie Springsteen. I am not for much liking the Springsteen but maybe Mr. M/O/D/P can finally wins me over. I am not liking the line in the movie where Springsteen talks about Steely Dan "I can't stand those smooth bastards."

Vlad outs!

Date: Tues, October 21, 2025, 23:12:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

RIP Anthony Jackson. Sad news indeed. May there be infinite Brut and Charisma for AJ.

Date: Tues, October 21, 2025, 17:52:43 ET
Posted by: Abu, Sad News

.
https://consequence.net/2025/10/anthony-jackson-bassist-dead/

Date: Tues, October 21, 2025, 12:32:24 ET
Posted by: Abu, RIP

Anthony Jackson passed away on October 19. Great bass player who played on Gaucho and The Nightly. RIP Mr. Jackson
.

Date: Sun, October 19, 2025, 22:21:30 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

For a full circle...just past the neo-soul era Andy Platts' other band Mamas Gun (named after the Erykah Badu album) released its first single/song Pots of Gold in 2009:

https://youtu.be/HBmM9rhH8AQ?si=m85aEnoJhYzXHO4k


- Mamas Gun has finished recording a new album out in the next few months.

Date: Sun, October 19, 2025, 22:13:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Chris,

I'm a fan of the 90s and early 00s new-soul movement with jazz inflections. I don't know or have as many albums (e.g., Mamas Gun) and songs from the era as I'd like...but it's easy to explore now. Then I had a new/first academic job and a family to begin raising.

You can tell though that Voodoo, Boz Scaggs' Dig, and Simply Red's Life are from the same era with a spread of pop and R&B. There's Prince and Stevie influences in there. Arguably the Royal Scam's funk was was ahead of it's time.


I can hear a bit of the shuffle in Playa Playa ironically on Slinky Thing.

https://youtu.be/3XvANBiNg4U?si=y-01HSAAZx1X24Rh

Walter's Girlfriend has some R&B overlap on the musical Venn diagram.

https://youtu.be/mk_lDegn74U?si=Xw5ea7cjeLO-xI1C


Jordan Rakei, Tom Misch and other current artists were heavily influenced by music of the era.

Date: Sun, October 19, 2025, 02:24:55 ET
Posted by: ages, go

I tried talking up Voodoo at the Yellow Book when the album came out, it did not go over with posters back then! Based on recent posts, doubt it will now.

Always thought Donald would do a killer version of "When We Get By."

Date: Sat, October 18, 2025, 20:44:26 ET
Posted by: Chris, Nh

Potentially unpopular opinion: Gaucho and Voodoo are tied for the best records of all time.

RIP D�Angelo.

Date: Thurs, October 16, 2025, 08:18:44 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Mainstream pop is filled with rudimentary chord progressions and shallowly produced walls of sound. There's no rich textures or nuances, nor imaginative arrangements to be found. It all sounds the same to me. Sounds are processed exactly the same across the board; there's nothing that sets artists apart. How anyone could like such a thing, let alone be impressed by it, boggles the mind.

Now hear me out. I'm not saying new music isn't good, obviously, since I generally post a lot of great new stuff. But you don't really hear it coming out of mainstream acts, except for the occasional odd song or two, usually from an established artist like The Doobie Brothers ('Learn to Let Go' is one of their best tunes in decades). I cannot for the life of me understand *why* anyone would want to listen to the same mundane melody over a looping chord progression. It doesn't make sense. Old video game music used to loop incessantly, more out of necessity due to memory limitations, but at least they had the courtesy to keep you engaged with catchy melodies, inventive chords and arrangements.

Quality standards need to vastly improve in mainstream music.

Date: Wed, October 15, 2025, 18:47:19 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

SIAP posted (meaning loo lazzy to scroll backwards in time to look). Speaking of SD tip of the fez Art Crimes, some Joker put together this AI tribute, really a mashup of SD ditties into something kind of new but mostly old.

WENDEL LXIX extracted, mutated, and extrapolated Fagen's vocals remarkably well and if you can hear fast, there are elements of FM, Josie and dozens of SD songs in there. There is such an overwhelming number of copyright infringements that they couldn't possibly get convicted...assuming a non AI plaintiff could even be corralled.

So...there's accidentally a verse, and a chorus. The weird middle 8 sounds more like China Crisis, but one of AI's better efforts overall, with self-referential...OK not really unless AI sang about itself. Good for a laugh if nothing else.

https://youtu.be/rnWG57jCe0s?si=1O61bmlQkzxG9Ucl

Date: Wed, October 15, 2025, 18:26:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: Yeah, Toxic Vegan reveled in bringing their goods in a fantasy Studio Dan tribute LP that became a clever reality. The producers were probably sick of babysitting young pop kidz with I - vi - IV - V chord progressions and no sense of harmonies...they'd have to write the arrangements, play or hire sessions folks (that are left) to play the instruments, and hope sell maybe 20,000 copies or hit a million Spotify stream.

So, Dillon O'Brien and another producer wrote, arranged and corraled a crew to play just what they feel. The quality of the recording is very good, as one would expect, especially with Parks and the gang at hand. I also appreciate their sense of humor.

It maybe just me, but a lot of post- post- modern pop is devoid of humor. TV lounges somewhere between Monkey House and Steely Dan on the cynical humor scale.

Many of the characters use self-deprecating, sometimes intentional, sometimes not, in considering their state of loserdom.

For anyone who has received those family Christmas updates from friends, and you know who you are...here's one for you (title track) lol:

https://youtu.be/f18Ofo1uWyk?si=FzY8fki4vEL0kTdo


And for everything "radical" professors are accused of...

https://youtu.be/Q4GSl5NxzFQ?si=GSgEpZgZ9xNJ-wx9

Date: Wed, October 15, 2025, 07:01:43 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Donny Ben�t returns with his new song 'School's Out'. Funky as ever. No relation to Alice Cooper's song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g3DF7EHDDU

Date: Sat, October 11, 2025, 10:31:39 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, US

Oleander,

Those Ollabelle shows at Woodstock were early 2007. I was at the second show on a Sat. night. Some of the Dandomites met up for dinner before the show.

Date: Sat, October 11, 2025, 09:44:44 ET
Posted by: Michael, sizzling like an isotope

I wanted to put together a playlist with a special emphasis on great horn charts, except rather than lean on the usual EW&F/Tower of Power stuff I decided to focus on less common material. Hope you enjoy.


Chicago - Call on Me

https://youtu.be/h_da0XhKtrI

Juan Luis Guerra - Oficio de Enamorado

https://youtu.be/jamAOaiN-Pw

Steely Dan - Almost Gothic

https://youtu.be/UL33dIYfoCo

Neil Richardson - Busy Spectacle

https://youtu.be/TUHMaSm5N4o

Steve Khan - The Little Ones

https://youtu.be/q_StT0Ye_nI

Date: Thurs, October 09, 2025, 21:24:57 ET
Posted by: oleander, down in the bottom

Jimmie�

Whoa! Thank you for that lil interview w Dr. Fagen. I�d never seen it either.

Takes me back to going to Woodstock w Number One Son to see Dr. Fagen with Phoebe Snow & Amy Helm�s Ollabelle. Dank winter night. Nice cozy venue. Help me with when that was, fam. Unfortunately, some extremely drunk dude keeled over out of his chair & smashed against a side screen with an ungodly crash & I spent the rest of the show monitoring him for a closed head injury. Bummer. Was anyone else there?
'

Date: Thurs, October 09, 2025, 19:38:04 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Schlitz

When you�re out of Schlitz, you�re out of beer.

https://youtu.be/JL0mH76XJ3A?si=vU08abYtKVnLtb99

m.e

Date: Sun, October 05, 2025, 21:02:05 ET
Posted by: JoeJoe, Chicago-ish

Was at a college football game this weekend. Marching band comes out at halftime for the usual performance. First tune: PEG!

Date: Fri, October 03, 2025, 13:52:46 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

also, OBAA is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, and the non-musical Steely Dan nod was great.

Date: Fri, October 03, 2025, 13:51:51 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

I recall an interview where DF and/or WB said they basically license their music to films/tv whenever its asked (and of course paid) for. (Could be misremembering this). They're a lot pickier about clearing samples. And -- one thing I endlessly respect them for -- advertisements seem to be a no go.

Date: Wed, October 01, 2025, 08:14:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, I first found out about Toxic Vegan from here. Maybe you posted Robo Girl? I can't remember. Anyway, their sole album is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish, filled with nods to SD. They even brought in some of the usual suspects like Dean Parks. Production is crisp and clean. Too bad they never did a follow-up.

Date: Tues, September 30, 2025, 19:35:06 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Tangentially related to DW...I chuckled in an impressed way on how the truly made up band Toxic Vegan turned Dirty Work sideways and made it a NOLA shuffle on Sister Easy Street:

https://youtu.be/vSkaOBgCeW0?si=6oUKReV3vucY1Cqg


Catchy as hell.

Also loved the excessive imagery and the Larry Carltonism accents on Your Ace in the Hole:

https://youtu.be/3ooN3l1c--0?si=mEilzROLayo6Zpfh

Date: Tues, September 30, 2025, 19:21:55 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

This Ole song is kind of MOR for me, but check out Jay Graydon shredding. Find a Way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwaXmLHQitQ&list=RDcwaXmLHQitQ&start_radio=1

I really enjoyed the Tomi Malm collaboration. He's a keyboard wunderkind with a real feel for harmonies, chord progressions and works with dome damn fine musicians: Colaiuta, Acuna, Tim Pierce, Neil Stubenhaus,

A nice one here, although a bit too much pitch correction for my taste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAHA90-nqP4&list=RDUAHA90-nqP4&start_radio=1

Date: Tues, September 30, 2025, 19:14:09 ET
Posted by: BC Bill, BC

Thanks Gabe. I can imagine why creators like DW. As to why DF approves�maybe he feels or figures that it�s already been �ruined� �or something�by having been used so many times, so giving it away again may not feel so unpleasant? Who knows

Date: Tues, September 30, 2025, 08:57:20 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

Yes, DW is the song I had in mind. Like the movie American Hustle, it's featured in the movie but not on the soundtrack CD.

Date: Tues, September 30, 2025, 01:03:21 ET
Posted by: Bill again, Bc

listening to the opening track. Looks like Chopin getting a nice little royalty bump

Date: Tues, September 30, 2025, 00:57:52 ET
Posted by: BC Bill, Bc

Thanks. So Gabe is DW the often-used tune you noticed?

I must say this text on the soundtrack wiki page was a little more confusing than a completely inscrutable paragraph:
�Some of the pieces involved the Steely Dan's 1972 song "Dirty Work" which served as the center of the theme song for the specific duration based on the rhythm and melody for that theme being particularly acute�

Date: Mon, September 29, 2025, 21:52:57 ET
Posted by: It's, Here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Battle_After_Another_(soundtrack)

Date: Mon, September 29, 2025, 18:07:41 ET
Posted by: BC Bill, Um..

Gabe - please do tell! I�ve been on the lookout for Sd music use but am not exactly plugged in to the �cultural mainstream�. Sightings of SD music is of interest, I would think � especially for those of us that are definitely NOT likely to sample lots of movies, commercials, whatevers. Thanks for sharing :-)

Date: Mon, September 29, 2025, 13:15:54 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

No spoilers, but it seems that a certain SD song either has high demand for movie/TV licensing, or it's just one that Fagen is more willing to license out.

Date: Mon, September 29, 2025, 09:56:21 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

3 hour movies are too long for me to see in a movie theater at my age and general fidgety condition. If I decide to watch one, it's at home. Over a period of a couple days, probably.

But the reviews seem to be quite positive, so I may have to give it a go. I still haven't watched The Irishman, due to its length. I'll get to it someday...well, unless I croak first that is.

Date: Sun, September 28, 2025, 16:12:10 ET
Posted by: Vintage, Studio

Disclaimer: it�s a near three hour movie and if it�s not your thing, you will not want to sit through it for the SD content.

Date: Sun, September 28, 2025, 11:34:24 ET
Posted by: oleander, pynchoniverse

Heads up:

Not one, but two Dan nods in the just-out "One Battle After Another."

Which see.

Date: Sun, September 28, 2025, 08:46:18 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I've been listening to Ole for well over a decade. The first song of his that really grabbed my attention was 'Stepping Up' with its rollicking groove, superb horns and killer guitar solos by Ole, especially during the outro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQP8r3zqo5E

'Touch The Sky' is a Japan exclusive bonus track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZKV_GtFbGw

Don't miss 'Are You Real' by Tomi Malm featuring Ole on vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmM6R0kC0cY

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 21:03:53 ET
Posted by: Abu, At, not Ate

My location was simply "At Home", not Ate. LOL
.

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 20:38:19 ET
Posted by: Abu, Just Ate Home

Ole B�rud has a definite history of Steely Dan stuff. Him and the Ett Fett Storband (Big Band) covered a few SD tunes back in 2012, including the NEVER covered Pixeleen, which can be heard here:
.
https://youtu.be/-sH5L_5BddY?si=PAEEvjLDjRMjOyTe
.
Also he covered Babylon Sisters in the studio with the same band:
.
https://youtu.be/UJUYxevXHfo?si=CePmGRx10cP2k3Ze
.
Then, he was one of three featured vocalists on this excellent cover of the Second Arrangement (which I posted a year or more ago here):
.
https://youtu.be/CEEJLxHNxfM?si=S2xEYhoJxw5PpP7w
.
(It is well worth listening multiple times!)
.

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 16:48:54 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Oh yeah, I've heard Kent Nishimura's covers. His ability to blend different parts together in a nuanced way makes his covers endearing. From a technical aspect his playing is precise and captures the essence of what makes the song tick.

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 12:59:59 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Listened to that Ole Borund 'Sleepwalking' track once this morning before I went out for my usual 15 mile bike ride. The chorus was with me throughout....good earworm stuff.

Have a listen to this fella though, okay, it's just an SD cover but it's ridiculously good for one man and an acoustic guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nixuOGzZSMs&list=RDnixuOGzZSMs&start_radio=1

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 11:57:49 ET
Posted by: Michael,

It's about knowing how to implement extensions in a functional manner rather than using them superfluously. Todd Rundgren developed his own functional style. His sensibilities are different than, say, Donald Fagen's, more eccentric perhaps, but they share commonalities. There's only 12 notes spread across several octaves which everyone has to work with.

State Cows songs share a lot in common with Ole Borud. I think 'Center of the Sun' is a good example. It's got that strong AOR vibe, tasty guitar work and bouncy jazz chords, like a cross between MM-era Doobies and SD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrHzLg3VrXk

'Hold On' is another example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90KQKCPWQ64

I agree with you about 'The Night Belongs to Mona'. That is one of DF's best.

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 10:33:08 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Yeah, the Ole B�rud songs have song structures that are more YGSF and Todd Rundgren than State Cows. Nice horn chart on Perfect Polaroid - a touch of Swing Out Sister

Rudgren's original Love is the Answer (You can Google England Dan and John For Doley's version)

https://youtu.be/Wp6gpFwNhAQ?si=OGnQWL-s25dPsB-A

Here's Foxes and Fossils cover - it's fabulous - especially the harmonies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWnIkIiVRPQ&list=RDNWnIkIiVRPQ&start_radio=1

The chord changes (in sound) remind me of arguably Donald Fagen's finest composition: The Night Belongs to Mona. The verse, chorus are spectacular. Then the bridge and last verse raise the melodic and harmonic stakes and infuse some brilliant story telling. Deliberately and amazingly open ended.

https://youtu.be/fSXneIKQslw?si=NPa7IpzMTdalnXjx

Rundgren uses more conventional strategy minor 7ths to dig into darkness and emotion while Fagen uses flatted 9ths and 13ths along with minot 7ths in the verse, a suspended chord or two and a mutated minor add9 on "Mona" to get that dark yet beautiful sound juxtaposed against the maj7ths. Mona is a masterclass of harmonies.

Date: Sat, September 27, 2025, 07:49:41 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Perfect Polaroid, another excellent new song from Ole Borud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtS-Dmcxppg

Date: Fri, September 26, 2025, 18:09:19 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Ole Borud is back with Sleepwalking Again, another glistening track awash in that warm AOR sound, not dissimilar to YGSF and State Cows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2XEWBPYFvM

Date: Wed, September 24, 2025, 09:51:45 ET
Posted by: Michael, sweet treats and surprises

Kit Sebastian - Certain Things You Can't Explain (I'll Just Let Myself Go)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_axtmVIVO0

Louis Cole - grooving out

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5hPn8pyxVn0

Larry Carlton - Strikes Twice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqeXvn2RB1I

Peel Dream Magazine - Venus In Nadir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BudTHsxVjA

土岐麻子 (Toki Asako) - ロマンチック (Romantic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyEewxs-f4s

Date: Tues, September 23, 2025, 11:49:14 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thanks, Doc

Date: Tues, September 23, 2025, 00:21:53 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Watching the Detectives

Good detective work Doc Mu. It�s like finding Waldo (Donald). I went deep into the rabbit hole tonight and found him playing backup piano and yes, hawking �hot pretzles� during intermission complete with the misspelled sign and dressed like the unlicensed vendor whom Katz never paid. But the pretzles were not 15 cent but $15. And the tickets were $150, not $5.50. And DF is on the verge of releasing his new album, �Not the 70s Anymore�. I�m really excited for the new extended modern version of Through With Buzz.

Date: Mon, September 22, 2025, 22:02:04 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

From the magical world of Instagram:


amyhelmmusic

1w
POV: Amy spots you at the @helmfamilymidnightramble

You can't be in the room if you don't get a ticket!

Visit LevonHelm.com for upcoming show including rambles on September 20, October 4, November 1, and November 28
🎥 @mulographynyc featuring @tonyleonemusic @lavonathon_ @jeffhillbass @scott.sharrard @zach_djanikian @eriklawrencemusic @stevenbernsteinmusic @jaycollinsband @brianmitchellmusic and Donald Fagen

He's probably playing piano. A bit of backup singing.

Date: Mon, September 22, 2025, 18:58:03 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Stand By the Seawall is a great example of Steely Fusion. Loved the direction and those chord changes. Gadd and Rainey are really plying off each other.


Coincidentally with the title...I can hear some of that early Sea Level fusion.

Rain in Spain

https://youtu.be/_YEytw-hozI?si=q_-OkioEocgJVxeI

Storm Warning

https://youtu.be/qyjN2PW54l4?si=2Z1OyxfiHjvMqJHv


Midnight Pass

https://youtu.be/rTGRhMtSbpE?si=bPvXtneV5BCRuHFD


I expected SD 2.0 to try a bit more stretching out like West of Hollywood, and there are plenty of great solos, but they largely stayed close to altered blues structures with jazzy infusion.

Date: Mon, September 22, 2025, 12:54:13 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�nd, Through With Buzz

<<pf, where are you getting this Fagen Woodstock information? I'm not doubting you, but there is nothing at levonhelm.com. The last 2 dates you mention have the special guest as TBA, but the others have the guest posted. I'm guessing Don won't be the special guest, but rather in the band, from what you posted.

Just wondering where this is being advertised.>>

Who the fuck knows? 🤣 It was clear as mud. As one of the dates posted by the not so major dude has already passed, does anyone know if this was just total bs? Even if it wasn�t total bs, why would pf post �Donald Fagen is being advertised to be appearing at shows in Woodstock Sept 20, October 4, November 1 and November 28. He most likely won't be singing, just playing piano. See LevonHelm.com� when it was not advertised while referencing a site where it wasn�t advertised either�.with no further explanation or information? Maybe DF warmed up the audience with a bit of Brubeck or maybe he was just hawking hot pretzels?

Date: Sun, September 21, 2025, 09:32:49 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, US

Never saw this posted, although it's been up for almost a year.

Toast To Freedom - Interview - Donald Fagen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaCEChCpAv0

Date: Sat, September 20, 2025, 18:20:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I enjoy Michael Franks. Your Secret's Safe With Me is one of my favorites of his. It reminds me of Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz.


Check this out. Nolan Potter creates a song in under three hours. Very cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B7vSRPh5zs


New song by Benny Sings, Caviar feat Mathilda Homer.

https://youtu.be/-rvyqMG05y8


I forgot to add Stand By The Seawall as one of SD's most fusion-esque tracks. Part of it formed the basis for Aja. Steve Gadd's drumming sounds incredible as always.

https://youtu.be/YTtfr64cEzM

Date: Sat, September 20, 2025, 11:58:48 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Some blasts from the past.

I had forgotten that Michael Franks' Your Secret's Safe with Me was his highest charting single peaking at #4 on the AC in the mid 80s. Produced by Rob Mounsey, it has a secret sauce Steely bounce...not surprising considering the collection of usual suspects:

Rob Mounsey: Keyboards, synths
Chris Parker: Drums
Neil Jason: bass
Steve Khan: guitar
background vocals: Will Lee, Rob Mounsey

Steve Khan's work here is so in the pocket. Delicious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbgCbLydoeY&list=RDGbgCbLydoeY&start_radio=1&rv=3Y71iDvCYXA


All I Need should have been a single from Blue Pacific. Walter produced.

https://youtu.be/MlCTeDS345I?si=hgXSAlG0JB_6lW08

Peter Erskine: Drums
Alex Acuna: Percussion
Neil Stubenhaus: Bass
John Beasley: Keyboards (icy)
"Not Through With" Buzz Feiten: Acoustic guitar (masterful)
Dean Parks: Electric guitar


It's strange that I find Anthony Robustelli's SD Songbook endlessly weird and TG that fuller SD demos and almost finished products have been unearthed from the Jurassic passed since then...yet his solo stuff from Comfort is So Rare has an odd appeal that is part fusion, Part funk, part Simply Red (who doesn't like Fairground?).

Temporary Clown:

https://youtu.be/5Ak8Wh7BsG4?si=jZARbkNa76fwwmN6

Queen of the Screen:

https://youtu.be/-aXyeYMXQVQ?si=nJoz_LNuXsKhwOjj

Date: Fri, September 19, 2025, 16:13:37 ET
Posted by: Michael,

That's a good list to which I would add Doctor Wu, The Caves of Altamira and Deacon Blues for their backing arrangements and solo sections which have a lot of that 1970s fusion feel to them.

Date: Fri, September 19, 2025, 10:54:16 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I guess I was thinking about songs/recording with a jazz fusion in the classical sense: Miles Davis, Weather Report etc.

Steely Dan has always been their own jazz fusion with R&B, funk, blues, and rock injected in at various doses.

Thundercat had the fusion cranked up to 11 on an alien world. Songs/recording in the Dan discography that are more fusiony than usual. Your mileage may vary.

instrumental interlude:
Turn That Heartbeat Over Again
Your Gold Teeth
Your Gold Teeth II
Green Earrings
The Fez

Aja

True Companion

The Nighfly title track

Snowbound

West of Hollywood

Greenbook

Brite Nightgown

JMO

Date: Fri, September 19, 2025, 00:41:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

?? I don't hear West of Hollywood in the drums. WoH drum are as stiff as they come. All kinds of fills here with tasty keyboard accents and chord progressions. The analogy is stretching the musical content and adding a far out drum set...on a planet far, far from here.

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2025, 18:21:43 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I dunno Doc, but I like the feel of the piece. You hear West of Hollywood in there? The drum part reminds me of Van Halen's 'Hot For Teacher'.

Pierre Piscitelli does a great breakdown of the keyboard parts for Deacon Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-FNwIwBpoM

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2025, 14:59:02 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Getting Close to Happy Hour

pf, where are you getting this Fagen Woodstock information? I'm not doubting you, but there is nothing at levonhelm.com. The last 2 dates you mention have the special guest as TBA, but the others have the guest posted. I'm guessing Don won't be the special guest, but rather in the band, from what you posted.

Just wondering where this is being advertised.

Thanks.

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2025, 13:03:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Nice fusiony sound with Omar Hakim on Children of the Baked Potato.

West of Hollywood on Mizar 5?

Date: Thurs, September 18, 2025, 06:57:14 ET
Posted by: Michael,

For those interested, here's two new songs by Thundercat.

'I Wish I Didn�t Waste Your Time'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeBoIujRE9s

'Children of the Baked Potato (feat. Remi Wolf)'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qA2zGAH4jI

Date: Wed, September 17, 2025, 23:00:09 ET
Posted by: Abu, Outside the MH Headquarters

.
For those who may have never heard it, here is the tune that Don B and his Monkey House people did not include on their 2012 album Headquarters. It is entitled "I'm Not That Guy". Decent song that should be heard:
.
https://youtu.be/Q-4d-Tcihlk?si=_rCCdlgk2J8Tz_-z
.

Date: Tues, September 16, 2025, 16:08:09 ET
Posted by: pf, -

Donald Fagen is being advertised to be appearing at shows in Woodstock Sept 20, October 4, November 1 and November 28. He most likely won't be singing, just playing piano. See LevonHelm.com

Date: Sat, September 13, 2025, 14:21:22 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

For those interested in vast discourse with mind-expanding overanalysis and theoretical meanderings of the Steely Dan oeuvres, please consult the recently archived and iconic Fever Dreams page. Recently archived. See the glory:

https://feverdreams.whatsmykarma.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Date: Fri, September 12, 2025, 12:59:14 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Hope someone records this!

https://bapacthousandoaks.com/show-details/musicians-of-steely-dan

Date: Thurs, September 11, 2025, 11:21:59 ET
Posted by: Michael,

An excerpt from Michael Watts' interview with Fagen, Becker and Katz for Melody Maker, 1976:

Do you see a specific mood for each album?

Donald: You know, I don't listen to them after we've made them. In a restaurant the other night, some guys from the record company played it while we were eating, some old record of ours, and it sounds like some other group to me, really, in a lotta ways.

Walter: We do try to put together a programme of songs that somehow hangs together.

Donald: But mostly that's things like tempo.

Walter: Yeah, not in terms of themes, really.

Donald: In other words, we don't wanna have too many songs with a very moderate tempo on one album; we like to break up the musical flow. But lyrically we feel we write the songs and the album will take care of itself. We sequence for sound rather than for narrative potential; we sequence for how it affects the ear, rather than cerebrally.

Gary: There's no concept. Never.

______________________________________________




New stuff for you to enjoy.


Steven Bamidele - The Fool feat. Sly5thAve

https://youtu.be/U3L2Qgwfdug

Ardhito Pramono - Waking Up Together With You

https://youtu.be/EqUdC4hnvcA

Yazmin Lacey - Two Steps

https://youtu.be/QpYASS6ybZA

FKJ - Moments (Part 2)

https://youtu.be/FUiuVbELliA

Nusantara Beat - Tamat

https://youtu.be/hgxU73fAyco

Kaidi Tatham - Misty Garden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXvz_F3RMeg

Date: Tues, September 09, 2025, 13:44:37 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Speaking of which - Jon Herrington with Boz on an old Late Night with Craig Kilborn.

Payday live:

https://youtu.be/gHNmxEyzZZg?si=v_xxlE4zdF2xxcbq

Date: Fri, September 05, 2025, 16:14:49 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Nice little bluesy Boz Scaggs song that has some Walter spirit in it.

Desire:

https://youtu.be/P-AnoOCXZNE?si=Ql2gYsoKv6sOIOau

Boz, Greg Pillinganes, David Paich wrote this one. It be like that, sometimes.

Date: Fri, September 05, 2025, 10:51:13 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Nice story, Steve. Thanks for sharing.

The spirit of Walter is always with us

Date: Fri, September 05, 2025, 03:27:09 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

sorry, the DJ was Johnnie Walker

Date: Fri, September 05, 2025, 03:25:45 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

I've told this story before but sod it, I'll repeat myself.

It was the late legendary British DJ who announced Walter's passing on his Sunday afternoon Sounds of the Seventies radio show. My wife and I were in the car heading out of Edinburgh after visiting my daughter. We sat in stunned silence for about 10 mins then both said at the same time "hey, did you notice The Queen just drove past us?"

She had a residence in Edinburgh and the familiar dark red Rolls Royce had passed us at exactly the time JW announced Walter's passing. I like to think she looked suitably upset......

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2025, 23:08:47 ET
Posted by: WT, F

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8BKVpFD/

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2025, 22:53:31 ET
Posted by: oleander, day late, dollar short

Missing Dr. Becker, like, the most.

Love & fellow-feeling to y'all steadfast Danfans.

Date: Thurs, September 04, 2025, 20:46:37 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Why...Must every time I turn my ship around
Some bastard come
And knock my skyline down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFMcijqDOX8&list=RDlFMcijqDOX8&start_radio=1

My son and I had seen an epic concert by Donald Fagen & the Nightflyers at the Austin City Limits Theater the night before. En fuego! Unfortunately, the ACL fools fools didn't record the proceedings from the concert for posterity and broadcast.

We got home late, and in the morning, my daughter woke me up with the sad news.

Don't think I've ever fully recovered. We could use Walt more than ever now.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2025, 16:07:07 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy

Eight years after you skipped dimensions, we're still beaming the Becker vibes-thank you, Walter.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2025, 15:22:48 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Miss you Walt!
Peace.

Date: Wed, September 03, 2025,  00:00:01 ET
Posted by: The Greater Dandom, Everwhere

Date: Mon, August 25, 2025, 18:15:55 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Here's an oldie but goodie from Al Jarreau that has that Kamakiriad party vibe.

Roof Garden

https://youtu.be/bqw1TXI5rn0?si=odLkB5lYU3Sw0oCd

From the Grammy winning album "Breakin Away" produced by Jay Graydon, Very tastily done and holds up today. See the usual suspects below and we know why...

Fender Rhodes: George Duke
Bass: Abe Laboriel
Guitar: Jay Graydon
Drums: Steve Gadd
Trumpet: Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley
Trombone: Bill Reichenbach Jr.

This Time and the eponymous albums are Graydon produced disks worth checking out as well.

Date: Sun, August 24, 2025, 19:27:09 ET
Posted by: Greg, Lake Hāwea, NZ

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteelyDan/comments/1ms8nlt/donald_fagen_out_playing_at_woodstock_volunteers/#lightbox

Date: Sat, August 23, 2025, 19:54:48 ET
Posted by: Kuleebaba, Rasa album

Thanks cjb, that's fascinating! Such a timepiece, I can't imagine that being made at almost any other time but the late 70s.

The vocalist was 16 at the time:
https://wearethemutants.com/2019/03/21/turning-the-wheels-of-time-rasas-everything-you-see-is-me-1978/

Date: Sat, August 23, 2025, 14:56:06 ET
Posted by: cjb, YVR

Have we talked about Rasa's EVERYTHING YOU SEE IS ME (1978), or its lead single "Questions in My Mind"?

"The album combines soft funk rhythm, soul vocals, and devotional subject matter into a polished set of mid-tempo tracks and ballads. Distributed through Hare Krishna temples and events, the album features spiritual messaging with studio-level musicianship and accessible, secular stylings. It remains Rasa�s only release and one of the first Krishna-conscious records to feature modern production and songwriting structures rather than chant-based formats."

Vocalist busting out DF phrasing all the way through, & not nearly as terrible as it sounds. Randy Brecker on trumpet.

Date: Sat, August 23, 2025, 07:07:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Speaking of stellar, check out these new jazz/funk/soul finds. You won't be disappointed.


Michael Mayo - Giant Steps

https://youtu.be/OkkLhdCMEHs

Jalen Ngonda - If You Don't Want My Love

https://youtu.be/B6AHb9W_LkM

Tres Leches - Make Friends

https://youtu.be/vG9KJtMPaHQ

Soulpersona & Carl Hudson - Moonraker

https://youtu.be/eTd5EYr-VRM

Say She She - Under the Sun

https://youtu.be/myfh98pdGAo

Date: Sat, August 23, 2025, 06:51:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Lutz, yeah, The Stellar Bartender.

Thanks for the heads up. State Cows had released a new album back in March, so it's exciting that there's already a new song, Inside of My Mind. More cool AOR music? Yes please.

https://youtu.be/AfGoY2pDwrw

Date: Fri, August 22, 2025, 22:22:55 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Michael, wasn't there also talk about a 'favorite bartender song' in the works for the new one?
New State Cows single is out on Apple Music as well.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2025, 16:28:56 ET
Posted by: Michael,

DF was also seen this month at Woodstock Volunteers Day as a stand-in keyboardist for the band Roche Collins, with Amy Helm on vocals. He was playing a KORG SV-2S.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2025, 11:47:51 ET
Posted by: info, cabo

df was seen playing with amy helm's son at levon's barn back in april.

Date: Fri, August 22, 2025, 07:09:50 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Nicholas, that would be hilarious. The bar owners would get a kick out of it, although I'm sure that some of their patrons quote DF lines from time to time.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2025, 17:46:05 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Nice point, Michael. Two of my favorite DF lyric snippets are, "Won't you pour me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchen?" and "Lou Chang burns with rage." Actually, I'll take the whole Lou Chang verse, but that's more than a snippet.

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2025, 11:25:37 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Here's some stuff I think you'll find interesting. Enjoy.


Rapallo - Play to Lose

https://youtu.be/X8L-vlpNCBk

YONLAPA - I'm Just Like That

https://youtu.be/jbhxT5imcaE

Plastic Plastic - With Me

https://youtu.be/aKg9LZX9Vl4

TOMOO - LUCKY

https://youtu.be/B6W3pvmWmX0

Castle Rat - Wizard

https://youtu.be/iWKmiTwjjHA

Date: Thurs, August 21, 2025, 07:14:23 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I wonder if anyone's asked the bartender, "Won't you pour me Cuban Breeze, Gretchen?"

Date: Tues, August 19, 2025, 07:16:43 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

�3.00 or $4.00 for a whisky, that's pretty good. Japanese whisky is generally excellent too.

Date: Mon, August 18, 2025, 18:04:00 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Did you know there's a music bar in the Shibuya district of Tokyo called Nightfly bearing the likeness of the man himself, Donald Fagen. Vinyl records line the walls and the atmosphere is decidedly retro. Check it out.

https://nightfly.tokyo/

Date: Sun, August 17, 2025, 16:30:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

TBH, I had not realized that one of Shawn Lee's early projects Saint Etienne in their acid jazz days was part of The Sopranos lore:

Wood Cabin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsCbZrig4c4&list=RDzsCbZrig4c4&start_radio=1


It's a reminder of how much British and European music over the past 35 years was lost on Americans unless in a TV show, commercial, or movie - the post-modern jukebox.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2025, 15:57:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve M: Exquisite channeling from The Great American Songbook and som Paddy McAloon. Nick Lowe has always been a great songwriter, and largely under the radar here in the US. Probably most here would be aware of Lowe's popular peak in the UK with the great Rockpile. Dave Edmunds recent cardiac arrest and illness were a reminder of that tight, iconic band: Nick Lowe, (bass, vocals), Dave Edmunds (guitar, vocals), Billy Bremner (lead guitar), Terry Williams (drums - later part of Dire Straits. Technically, Rockpile had a single album under that name as a group, but essentially the Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds solo albums were Rockpile albums. They were so tight.



I was a odd kid - preferring the few late 50s jazz albums (Brubeck's Time Out, Stan Getz, Art Blakey) my Dad had. I wasn't as much of a Big Band fan (the majority of his collection). Preferred the Chicago blues played on some of the transistor radios in Chicagoland to most of the popular music. The harmonies in the instrumentation and vocals of the mid to late 60s pop were appealing thought (we didn't know about the Wrecking Crew at the time).

Later, we first heard SD from a neighbor who bought their first album fresh when Do it Again came out.. with a sitar analog playing jazz bop lines (WTF??). Were they white or black? - they kind of sound black. We open the foldout inside cover - they have their Cali tans on - we're still not completely sure. I was more drawn to the odder, jazzier Fire in the Hole, Only a Fool Would Say That, and Turn That Heartbeat Over Again vs. the hits. There was a lot of high fidelity soul/R&B produced in the first half of the 70s (Thom Bell, Curtis Mayfield, Motown) - R&B/jazz chord progressions and harmonies. It took the jazzier Pretzel Logic (OMG Night By Night) and Katy Lied releases to really get hooked and go back to Countdown. It was always about those chord progressions and harmonies. The sardonic lyric content was lagniappe.

When the Royal Scam was released we marveled at the fidelity, funk, and musicianship...and the rest is history.


Back to Nick Lowe and that power pop era. The better of them - Rockpile, Squeeze, Cars, Split Enz could write a song, harmonize, and knew how to make the product super musical. It's not a coincidence that one of Elvis Costello's best work Armed Forces was produced by Nick Lowe and featured Lowe's what's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding. Costello always seemed to work better with a collaborator (Lowe, Bacharach, McCartney, Allen Toussaint) or filtered through another artist (Linda Ronstadt, Rockpile).

Lowe produced the Rockile group and solo albums (Jesus of Cool, Labour of Lust, etc) - he understood how to get the high fidelity sound even on an album that was analog and mostly live.

Edmunds/Rockpile covering Girls Talk and making it great:

https://youtu.be/qSOjXj2uXN0?si=Tfow3gEYQXjUZmKR

Rockpile's lone American mini-hit, also a cover:

https://youtu.be/65Ia4Qti6_s?si=JkH0Vtf8J-pga92_

Lowe/Rockpile:

https://youtu.be/b0l3QWUXVho?si=xoOIM6Fy7D6J7JL_

Yes, that's Carlene Carter.

https://youtu.be/BDbUEydkuR8?si=TXpg2rKl-mZwKqk6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX1BX3b0A_M&list=RDKX1BX3b0A_M&start_radio=1

So, it Goes has a Reelin/Thin Lizzy storytelling vibe

https://youtu.be/UCaf8woXAeM?si=gfztLxgfeTYnH7nF

Lowe with Edmunds

https://youtu.be/KX1BX3b0A_M?si=flWmDSmLAwslq22U

https://youtu.be/Kn1CXbf2xF8?si=e--cZsMvmwrlDvai



Rockpile was so tight, really understood space, and Lowe made the recordings so balanced.

Before there was Pro-Tools, there were pros.

Date: Sun, August 17, 2025, 14:23:49 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Doc

My offering of an example of quality penmanship, with wit, irony and timeless melody who can at least be mentioned in the same breath as Hal and Burt is Mr Nicholas Drain Lowe esq.

Try these 3 for starters (first 2 have great vids)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCeMiP2zgtM&list=RDtCeMiP2zgtM&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBhsWuTgNQo&list=RDuBhsWuTgNQo&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA9Ej9qKRJY&list=RDvA9Ej9qKRJY&start_radio=1

In terms of the Kenny Kirkland inspired discussion (fantastic by the way). I wonder how many people are like me and were basically turned on to jazz by post CBAT Steely Dan? I grew up on a diet of radio pop, glam, hard rock then post-punk. Jazz was considered something for weirdos. I know SD were not jazz but they were jazz inspired, the harmonic structure, chord voicings, complexity of the progressions, etc etc. I think they primed my palate, tuned my ears and softened me up for something better, ultimately much more satisfying then endless variations of the 1-4-5 progression and triads, a bit like moving on from Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal to the Islay Malts such as Laphroaig and Lagavulin. Not just the music itself but Donald especially, name-checking his jazz heroes and prompting me to check them out and grow to love them

Oh and Nick Lowe famously rhymed �Rick Astley� with �Ghastly� in a song and for that alone he deserves your respect!

Date: Sat, August 16, 2025, 16:34:52 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

An absolute tragedy in both cases. Funn you should mention Evans...I really thought of Kenny Kirkland as Bill Evans' heir...they could stretch the music while remaining true to the galaxy going on in the band. Damn shame - way too early.

With Anthony Jackson and Steve Jordan on Scofield's Who's Who album - Cassidae:

https://youtu.be/6xiVlNJ_AvQ?si=YS1WSmZ3oHx3gjow


I know a lot of folks are cold to Wynton Marsalis, but the Black Codes from the Underground album with Branford, Jeff Tain Watts, Kenny Kirkland is next level... before they defected to Branford's albums and Sting-o. Kirkland and Branford created an interconnectivity that livens everything. Wynton was never the same.

Delfeayo's Dilemma - Kenny is spectacular.

https://youtu.be/sVfXF_SUHAs?si=FsC93o0gx6_eSuUY

Branford and Wynton play the theme on Delfeayo's Dilemma in unison much like Joe Henderson and Kenny Dorham back in the day - who were magic together.

https://youtu.be/T5luluFRtak?si=bwJ4upQ91tnhHDPt

https://youtu.be/9gTqGYeppWM?si=DaHIJBWpoiGQSzqY

McCoy Tyner on piano here on these classics:

https://youtu.be/UBzD4_9Kl2Y?si=z3PM2C4Z6-m_lBYY

https://youtu.be/rAGx3QWAqlo?si=elzqChLG1fjw35VK

Date: Fri, August 15, 2025, 18:18:23 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Kenny Kirkland was special, Doc. Only got to see him twice, he left us so early.
Would have loved to see him that time he played with John Scofield, was funky as hell with Sting too. His CD stands out.
Sadly kind of went the same way Bill Evans did.

Date: Mon, August 11, 2025, 20:11:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I can't believe it's been over 25 years. RIP Kenny Kirkland. The apex of American music and arguably Western music. Right here:

https://youtu.be/89nKf1zCSfc?si=ONkiX7Khq6GwxSvE

Date: Mon, August 11, 2025, 00:20:39 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

While we waiting and stealing time for a DF new one...this deep track on YGSF is a real grower. The rising harmonic elements and modulations are superb, reflected by the horn chart. How about that baseline?

https://youtu.be/qIh0VK09HvU?si=R2iZEbsuCpBEqgDK

Multiple listens/doses are recommended.

As well crafted as Andy Platts and Shawn Lee approach penmanship, I've been wondering if anyone or anything reached Gerswhin or Bacharach/Hal Davis levels. Nuanced irony.

Paddy McAloon got close a few times (Appetite, Nightingales, Hey Manhattan)...this one from Jordan: the Comeback...about pretending to avoid the delusions of love.

https://youtu.be/07RoD2mD_WI?si=gEEouBikkaGM5ghP

Love Will Make it Right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIsD9C7Rk6c&list=RDjIsD9C7Rk6c&start_radio=1

Century's End

https://youtu.be/Uji6k153RwU?si=508fbk7O1sKdw7gQ

Date: Sun, August 10, 2025, 20:16:44 ET
Posted by: Mr.BingBong, HappyLand

I'm sure Libby's illness and passing slowed Donald's plans for a new record.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2025, 16:31:13 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Both songs are great. Laboriel has played on over 4,000 recordings for artists such as Ray Charles, Christopher Cross and Herbie Hancock to name a few.

Date: Thurs, August 07, 2025, 11:47:18 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, C

Abraham Laboriel played bass on Rise. I believe New Frontier is his sole SD affiliated credit.

Date: Wed, August 06, 2025, 13:39:57 ET
Posted by: Happy Kyne, Fernwood

Hal with Jim Keltner (L) and Gary Lewis (1965)
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10169241853755385&set=gm.10161476678687888&idorvanity=8750692887

Oblique-ish:
Gary Lewis & The Playboys - 1966
From left: Dave Walker, Tommy Tripplehorn, Gary Lewis, Carl Radle, & John West.
https://www.facebook.com/carlradle/photos/a.10150966811761798/10153845945051798/?type=3

Date: Wed, August 06, 2025, 10:21:44 ET
Posted by: Michael,

It's been four years since Donald had mentioned working on new material, including the intriguingly titled 'The Stellar Bartender'. Back in December 2023 it was mentioned briefly while Donald was discussing recording and reissues of SD albums with Bill Schnee, Bernie Grundman, Fred Kaplan and Chad Kassem.

https://youtu.be/IZdcOb2OnyY?t=3229

Fred Kaplan: "So Donald, you're preparing to make a new album. Are you gonna put that out on vinyl?"
Donald Fagen: "I'd love to, sure."
Bernie Grundman: "Oh, you have to nowadays. Everybody wants vinyl."

That was the last we heard about it. Has Donald been busy in the studio?

______________________________

More music worth checking out. I hear a new Jamiroquai single might drop within the next several months. I'll keep you posted.


Herb Alpert - Rise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7O3eYJptTc

Incognito feat. Zebulon Ellis - Strangers Become Friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuk9Pp2ybTI

Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPkjnRIdQXQ

Nolan Potter - Commander of the Clowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Y6Q4tdSes

Big Horizon - Tired Eyes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upHYT5-_CO4

Yasuyuki Horigome (堀込泰行) - Summer Sinner (夏の罪人)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS4aBN3rCHs

Date: Tues, August 05, 2025, 10:15:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Mae Powell: Contact High

https://youtu.be/oWuKxPcF6UY?si=6KBS0alfTMry-KZ0

Date: Sat, August 02, 2025, 20:24:31 ET
Posted by: chris, Nh

I feel that live Steely Dan is a thing of the past. I hope I am wrong.

Date: Fri, August 01, 2025, 18:17:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

New one from Shawn Lee (YGSF) and Kelly Finnegan:

https://youtu.be/tQVgQiaxCk4?si=F1Uk-tOrHP4hmH1E

Date: Wed, July 30, 2025, 18:35:28 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, Jeff Porcaro tribute concert

This is the first I've heard of this, but there was a tribute concert for Jeff Porcaro in 1992: "This concert featured an all-star lineup that included Toto, Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen, Denny Dias, Boz Scaggs, Don Henley, Eddie Van Halen, David Crosby & George Harrison."

Donald and Denny play Chain Lightning and Josie.

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn25K17mNIY
Archive mp3 download: https://archive.org/details/toto-1992-jeff-porcaro-tribute-la-klos-fm

Date: Wed, July 30, 2025, 10:24:46 ET
Posted by: Doc,

Dean - Thanks for the link. About as good as an open mic recording...and you're always dependent.

I love the title track from Crashbox and Return of the Mayfly and Moving in Time from the new one.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW-jUbfW7qI&list=PLCUdZD8xQ44_66LWbCsPGHpzot3ul61XV&index=5

Ironically, Remember the Audio is my favorite MH album with Headquarters a close second. Both are deep albums that resonate - Audio's tunes dig a little deep, are jazzier, and have more attitude.

Date: Mon, July 28, 2025, 23:03:33 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

CJB's post made me curious. In case these haven't been posted here before, there are 6 videos from the MH Lula Lounge show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYQBk9F0PyM&list=PLCUdZD8xQ44_66LWbCsPGHpzot3ul61XV

I haven't watched them yet so will not comment

Date: Mon, July 28, 2025, 21:33:41 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thanks for the great MH report, CJB.

Not surprised by any of that. Including the large outdoor festival, for this little known act. Would love to see than live at a small venue.

Date: Mon, July 28, 2025, 13:38:49 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

In June I flew to Toronto to see Monkey House's album release party/show at the Lula Lounge, and then followed up last week to see them headline the Sun Life Waterloo Jazz Festival, and have a couple observations:

1. They're great live, but were definitely better in the smaller venue, with Don standing behind a small keyboard on a pedestal. The Lula Lounge crowd, like me, was really into the 2+ hour double set, & the band played with terrific energy. The same songs, played with Don seated behind a huge piano on an outdoor festival stage, had the older more mainstream crowd predictably befuddled.

2. Much space in Don's songs for musicians to stretch out and solo, & he had a lot of praise for his collaborators, repeatedly naming soloists for the crowd(s).

3. I understand the logistics of rehearsing such complex songs, but I don't recall anything from REMEMBER THE AUDIO being played on either night, & I think some of this album's more straight-ahead numbers might have landed better with the dozy outdoor festival crowd.

4. The Lula Lounge gig was one of the better live shows I've seen, and I would definitely travel to see the band perform in a smaller venue.

5. Lots of opportunities to meet the band! Don closed out the festival set by announcing, "We're all gonna be back at the merch table after we finish playing, please come by and say 'Hi!'"

Date: Fri, July 25, 2025, 11:31:05 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Time to take a trip back to Japan. You won't believe what's been cooking over there. This is top shelf stuff.



Fujii Kaze - "masshiro" (pure white)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwgL4C2WaU8

Gen Hoshino - Eureka

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJS-dnAiiFE

Ryusenkei & Hitomitoi - Kanashiikurai Diamond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lPBa4-MUFo

Ohashi Trio - エトセトラ (Et cetera)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmwk6fqjw08

Goethe - Dear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6tEPca5u0

恋よ、踊り出せ (Love, Start Dancing) - from00 feat. Cocolashika

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ic-fxCqT-o

Date: Wed, July 23, 2025, 17:42:49 ET
Posted by: Michael,

The Wayback Machine is a useful resource for the history of websites. It's an option, that's all. Not every website has the benefit of having a dedicated fanbase archiving their contents.

Date: Wed, July 23, 2025, 17:10:39 ET
Posted by: Bill, BC

Mu and others interested in particular with wb/DF writings.
ICYI, the �SD In Print� index page on the sd archive site collects links to most of them - memos, gag threads, wb;s morning memos etc. A good jump page to get to the bulk of their writing �96-�17

https://sdarchive.com/inprint.html

Date: Tues, July 22, 2025, 21:24:46 ET
Posted by: Bcbill, Again

Speaking of early SD online and the fans, a WSJ writer wanted to do a whole article on the SD fan culture way back when. But settled for a short memo on sd.com. Wait�.here it is !
https://sdarchive.com/toth.html

Thank you sdarchive and sd archive search box!

Date: Tues, July 22, 2025, 20:25:35 ET
Posted by: Bc bill, Bc of course

But the thing about the �classic� sd.com was that it was an additive enterprise�don�t believe much was ever actually taken down entirely across all its years�it just got reshuffled into categories as time went on and the material piled up and navigation aids were created and changes.

And so the archive site sdarchive.com is the same (it even has a front page archive section, showing the front pages at various dates). Now maybe the wayback machine can reveal very dynamic info abt how the site was changing through time�or show a different or edited layout of some page, but I�ve always felt sd.com and its archive site was unique in that they were actually ARCHIVAL.

Date: Sat, July 19, 2025, 06:32:17 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, you can also use the Wayback Machine. It saves websites at random intervals over the course of time which you can peruse at your leisure. Here's the complete archive for steelydan.com.

https://web.archive.org/web/20250901000000*/steelydan.com

Date: Fri, July 18, 2025, 13:48:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Collective writings. I have some deadlines this afternoon, but will still take in a Dear Craig letter or two:


http://sdarchive.com/wbmemos.html

Date: Fri, July 18, 2025, 13:41:48 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I'll leave you all to dig your own rabbit holes...but sometimes what's on the internet stays on the internet...


Links to some old chats. Back in the Jurassic period of the 'net.

http://sdarchive.com/chats.html

Date: Fri, July 18, 2025, 13:39:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Unfortunately, the old steelydan.com site morphed into whatever the new site is...and Walter's Letters to Craig etc. are gone...they may be out in the ther somewhere.

Here's an interview from 2011 from the SD Reader with Walter alone.

https://steelydanreader.com/2011/06/11/interview-walter-becker/

More from the SD archive.

http://sdarchive.com/halloffame2.html

Date: Fri, July 18, 2025, 09:46:45 ET
Posted by: Jon, Fl

It is said that Fagen sang the backing vocals on a 1974 track called A Fool Like You by Tim Moore. I had never heard it before.

Date: Fri, July 18, 2025, 07:57:24 ET
Posted by: Jon, Fl

It is said that Fagen sang the backing vocals on a 1974 track called A Fool Like You by Tim Moore. I had never heard it before.

Date: Fri, July 18, 2025, 06:37:40 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Chris, Walaka was one name Walter used, I believe (a Hawaiian form of Walter.)

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 18:21:23 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, C

Now your voice on my machine is more alive than what you are...

https://www.reuters.com/en/pioneering-skydiver-felix-baumgartner-dies-while-paragliding-italy-2025-07-17/

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 17:02:01 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Happy, thanks for the link. I just wish they would have done a few closeups. But good to see, anyway.

Tommy Tedesco was a terrific musician, from my hometown Niagara Falls NY. Oddly enough he and my brother were inducted into the Niagara Falls Music HOF in the inaugural year of that organization. Both posthumously unfortunately. And let's just say there career paths weren't similar at all. But still an honor for him. Wish he was alive to have experienced it.

I attended the 50th High School Reunion this past weekend, and bumped into a member of my class who was also recently voted into that HOF. Now begins the post vacation "recovery vacation".

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 14:46:48 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Excellent interview Hoops, thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I very much miss the Web 1.0 days. I found many communities of interesting people sharing my interests. Steely Dan was one of them. Thanks for all you do to keep it going.

I have to ask - do you have any examples or memories of specific Walter posts you'd be able to share? I mostly want to know what kind of pseudonyms he used ...

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 13:34:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Happy - may be a Jay Graydon sighting. Fernwood Tonight. What a classic - Fernwood and SCTV and Python were my go-tos.

There was a motley crewed Yellow Book prior to the Blue, hosted by St. Al, with Pete Fogel as an early guest. It became a bit more wild wild west (the good natured trolling vs. darker anon interwebz thing) and folded its tent 20 years ago. It did beget Oleander's illustrious collection of Fever Dreams overanalysis of the SD lore and other spinoffs.

Blue has always been more of the fan - concert assembling site, fwiw.

Yellow + Blue = Green Book

Congrats for all still with us.

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 12:43:16 ET
Posted by: Happy, Kyne

When giants walked the earth, brief glimpse of Skunk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co55F-243q8

PS been a SD fanatic since release of CBAT and was fortunate enough to see them (Al Stewart opened) in '74 at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit w/ Porcaro, MacDonald. Fagen in same leather jacket as on PL...recall him announcing KOTW as 'a far-flung glimpse into the future'. So fine, so young.

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 12:43:12 ET
Posted by: Happy, Kyne

When giants walked the earth, brief glimpse of Skunk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co55F-243q8

PS been a SD fanatic since release of CBAT and was fortunate enough to see them (Al Stewart opened) in '74 at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit w/ Porcaro, MacDonald. Fagen in same leather jacket as on PL...recall him announcing KOTW as 'a far-flung glimpse into the future'. So fine, so young.

Date: Thurs, July 17, 2025, 09:31:32 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Great interview Jim, a trip down memory lane.

I don't remember the exact point in time when I discovered Dandom but it had to be sometime around 2000, probably in my quest to find out more about Steely Dan's forthcoming album TAN, as well as to find what was then considered by many to be the holy grail of SD oddities, a complete version of The Second Arrangement. Back then I was digging and digging for SD-related stuff across the internet.

It's been almost 25 years since the BlueBook first began. Incredible how time flies. Used to see many regulars on here. Young Wu, Lurker Ray, Rajah.... Like many others I spent the early years lurking, checking in to see what was new in the world of SD, staying for the colorful conversations, sharp wit and humorous banter. Scrolling past the walls of spam. Learning many interesting factoids about Steely Dan and other things. I could sense real comradery within the fandom. There was nothing else quite like it and nothing else could replace it.

Good times.

Date: Wed, July 16, 2025, 19:47:11 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

I've written this in the Dandom Facebook page� Yesterday and an edit from today. A real interesting overview of the classic Internet 1.0 of Steely Dan fans, of which so many here have been part of.

---------
UPDATE: I have read this. A huge thank you to Jake who has done a really great summary. I'm glad to see so many different people through the years mentioned. Quite a lot to write about and condense so well. (Of course, I should expect that since he is a world class writer.) It was a little hard to read because it brought back so many different memories and different things. And of course, missing a few people who have passed on and are no longer with us, starting with Walter. It's a fitting tribute to the overall Internet culture and the many people who made things so special, not the least of which were Donald and especially Walter. The years have gone by-- hard to believe. So grateful for all of you. Thank you.

ORIGINAL POST:I have to admit: I've not read this yet. I'm having an action packed day of busy. However, based on the interview which I participated, I would say there is a lot of great things about the fans, especially from the 1990s through the 2010s-- but most of all, it's really a tribute to Donald and especially Walter, who, as corny as this may sound, really love(d) us true fans. Jake Malooley is a second or perhaps third generation Steely Dan fan is a world-renowned writer and editor, among other things, so there's his perspective as well.

----------
As I read this, you don't need substack to read this.

https://open.substack.com/pub/expandingdan/p/jim-mckay-interview-dandom-digest?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Date: Wed, July 16, 2025, 09:12:51 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I have a question. Who is AI music really a threat to? It creates vapid, soulless tripe. In that regard it has a lot in common with mainstream music. (Hmm, maybe I just answered my own question...)

If your job entails producing highly generic and derivative crap for mainstream acts then maaaaybe your job is on the line, I don't know, but one thing I do know for certain is that AI music won't make anyone cease supporting real artists, attending concerts, or buying merch. It's a tool, a program trained to identify patterns and emulate things. How that suddenly became this big issue I don't know. Literally *every artist* copies from other artists to a certain degree, almost none of whom pay the sources for their inspiration.

Chess engines like Stockfish have absorbed the games of every great player, past and present, and are far superior to any human player in terms of ability to predict and play the most optimal moves, but none of these engines haven't replaced any of the top chess players.

For over a decade there's been Vocaloid concerts. What they do is compose some music and put computer generated vocals of this virtual singer named Hatsune Miku, then project her image on a glass screen to sing and dance along with the music. These concerts make a lot of money, but she's not real, she's an anime-inspired virtual singer. Nobody in their right mind would consider it a threat to real artists.

Here's the thing. AI cannot replace real artists. There's no realistic scenario whereby I dispose of my music collection to replace it with AI. Never gonna happen. No AI program will make me stop listening to and connecting with real artists. Rest assured, my Steely Dan collection is safe.

Date: Mon, July 14, 2025, 07:26:28 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Thanks for sharing. Great to see such skilled performers together doing their thing.

Date: Mon, July 14, 2025, 02:02:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I'm going to add some Tom Misch to Jordan Rakei and Jarrod Lawson on the Tingsek tunes:

Rakei & Misch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnf_Brn-zdA

Date: Sun, July 13, 2025, 17:42:46 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Have I got a discovery for you guys. Magnus Tingsek is a singer-songwriter from Sweden who writes gripping soul-infused pop. His voice is evocative of great modern soul artists such as Jordan Rakei and Jarrod Lawson. His eighth album Lights Out Association, released February 28th, is majestic from start to finish. Here's a few tracks to whet your appetite.


Finish Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_iMN-zEgyE

Paragon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABlQ2KxeZoY

Inspiration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBIv1z5OdhM



https://tingsek.bandcamp.com/album/lights-out-association

Date: Sat, July 12, 2025, 19:57:39 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Abu: Yes! And that transition to the guitar solo after the "Tonight, you're still on my mind..." is gold.

Date: Sat, July 12, 2025, 19:09:40 ET
Posted by: Abu, Near Mt. Belzoni

.
Doc, definitely the bridge on The Nightly connects all the dots, not the least is musically, the last line "Tonight you're still on my mind" is pure perfection. DF really hit a grand slam there.
.

Date: Sat, July 12, 2025, 10:48:44 ET
Posted by: Michael,

My SD listening choices usually depend on the mood I'm in at a given moment in time.

If I'm feeling laid-back I may put on Here At The Western World, Any Major Dude With Tell You, Babylon Sisters, stuff like that.

If I want something to bop along with then Throw Back The Little Ones, Your Gold Teeth, and Peg are good choices.

When I need something with a more visceral edge I'll likely go with Everything You Did, King Of The World, Kulee Baba.

Steely Dan works on a multitude of levels. I can enjoy it casually or on a more cerebral level, analyzing how certain songs are layered and constructed, immerse myself in their artistic merits. There's a slew of possibilities.

Date: Sat, July 12, 2025, 10:21:29 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, you could make a playlist every day, SD or not, and it wouldn't need to be confined to two songs on a given album.

Some songs I've been listening to lately.

Donald Fagen - Maxine
Silvertwin - If That's Love (I Don't Want It)
El Michels Affair - Anticipate feat. Clairo
Men At Work - Overkill
Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues
Fleetwood Mac - Big Love
Young Gun Silver Fox - Late Night Last Train
SUMIN & slom - GOODBYE

et cetera...

Date: Sat, July 12, 2025, 00:23:46 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael:

Rather than a Best of Steely Dan, I would assemble My favorite SD Tracks on today, July 11, 2025. Every day is a new view. Two from every album - I tend to be eclectic with the catalog - your mileage again may vary:

Fire in the Hole
Turn that Heartbeat Over Again
Razor Boy
King of the World
Night By Night
Pretzel Logic
Dr. Wu (Duh!)
Your Gold Teeth II
Green Earrings
Caves of Altamira
Black Cow
Aja
Glamour Profession
Gaucho
Almost Gothic
West of Hollywood
Pixeleen
Lunch with Gina

Date: Sat, July 12, 2025, 00:13:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

The bridges on Tomorrow's Girls and Snowbound are appropriately other worldly. As is the bridge on Sign in Stranger.

How about that bridge on Green Flower Street? "...I'm drifting. A thousand years roll by."

Then the bridge on Mona is exquisite...leading to that last verse and he sticks the dismount (so to speak): "what happens tomorrow when the moon rays get so bright when she rises to the starlight miles above the city streets. Will she fall hard or float softly to the street." where we can *feel* both possibilities.

If there's a bridge that connects the story, character, and narrator it's the bridge on The Nightly. (Are we seeing a pattern here?)

The Durand Jones and Indications album Flowers is out.

Here is Paradise.

https://youtu.be/weVHYye3NHs?si=mTFiGSNj4MRaeHPG

Date: Fri, July 11, 2025, 09:32:41 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, a conundrum: put together a best of SD album. Too many great songs to choose from. It would be easier to weed out the handful of tracks I don't particularly care for. Start with the Citizen Steely Dan box set which is four CDs, I guess that would leave three CDs worth of content, maybe a little more? Then start factoring in unreleased material and stuff they wrote for other artists like Proud To Be Your Slave for Diamond Head and we're right back at four CDs. :D

Abu, yeah, Tomorrow's Girls is def a keeper for sure. Both that and Snowbound are my favorites on Kamakiriad.

Date: Thurs, July 10, 2025, 22:27:29 ET
Posted by: Abu, Good Good Stiff

Doc Mu, what I meant was I am also a fan of Brad Goldsmith's cover of Good Stuff. I commented on it, inquiring if any more DF covers are forthcoming. Hopefully so. He left the door open.
.

Date: Thurs, July 10, 2025, 22:02:55 ET
Posted by: Abu, SoCal

Michael, my Top 10 DF tunes are possibly identical to yours. Great choices. The bridge on Tomorrow's Girls is outrageously phenomenal, with the girls background vocals on the "warm night breezes start rolling in off the sea" as the coolest DF backup vocals of all time. And Doc Mu, I agree with you as well.

A great Monkey House EPK posted 3 days ago. The bass player Pat Kilbride especially likes the nice ballads Don B included on this release. I like em too.

Here's the link to the MH EPK:

https://youtu.be/DY5pb9g76ko?si=gEHIf0LNMkObJrmu
.

Date: Thurs, July 10, 2025, 21:00:22 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I'll go with my baker's dozen, thank you. So many pan fried big ones in the sea.


Speaking of which, the Seaweed Horns fluoresce Danishly on a very tasty live version of Moonshine by the illustrious YGSF:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZH2KPzNq9U

Date: Thurs, July 10, 2025, 16:39:23 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, I was thinking of including The Goodbye Look but Maxine won out. I had to limit myself to ten tracks. Maxine is epic from start to finish and features one of Donald's best vocal performances ever, intensely sleek and soulful. Those harmonies at the coda... it's like another world. Too sublime not to include. 10 out of 10.

Date: Thurs, July 10, 2025, 10:00:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Solid Fagen list. Mona is one of the top tier compositions and recording that is not given enough accolades. The addition to the list that comes to mind would be Good Stuff.

Good Dan/Fagen covers are hard to find, but I like this DIY cover by Brad Goldsmith. It's got a lot of attitude, and dig the guitar substitution and licks in the breaks.

https://youtu.be/MxwkKl-_UgM?si=pdIG8O29WVgrRX9D

The Goodbye Look would be my other nomination. On the Dunes as well.

Date: Thurs, July 10, 2025, 07:52:31 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Been awhile folks. Got some great stuff to share with you.


El Michels Affair - Anticipate feat. Clairo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebcvdzqk9EI

Drugdealer - Real Thing (feat. Weyes Blood)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3QeyNtuz8M

Silvertwin - If That's Love (I Don't Want It)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8p2Rnq_L-8

Katsushika Trio かつしかトリオ - Red Express

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OFjVb1QoBA

James Iwa - Lucky Star feat. Erin Kimberly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKOpD92MgP0

Oberbaum - Solitude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A91jGiKo9co


All's been quiet on the DF front for some time now. In the absence of news just for the heck of it assembled my own Donald solo * best of * album in chronological order, limiting myself to ten tracks as per convention.

01. IGY
02. Maxine
03. The Nightfly
04. Century's End
05. Tomorrow's Girls
06. Snowbound
07. The Great Pagoda Of Funn
08. The Night Belongs To Mona
09. I'm Not The Same Without You
10. Miss Marlene

Date: Sun, July 06, 2025, 22:13:39 ET
Posted by: hoops, aka Jim

Don Patrol, Dean, Denise , Michael and all the good Danizens here;

Thank you for the birthday wishes. I really appreciate it. Forgive me if I get too personal here or off Steely Dan topic, but having a nice quiet weekend. I'm a bit low profile here as I'm a little preoccupied trying to get back into the workforce after caretaking/hospicing a couple of family members for several years.. But my health is doing OK. I read the bluebook a little differently (each post comes to me via email, assuming it doesn't get intercepted by my spam filters.) But I do follow things here. Maybe a year or two ago I made some big soap box confession about how the group runs a little better when I step back behind the bluebook's proverbial curtains.

Anyway, I really appreciate the conversation and the camaraderie here after all these years. Can you believe it's been 24 years since we started here on the blue?

So my very bizarre and eclectic resume presents some challenges in matching a final career act/position. How do you place a guy who has a couple architecture degrees, teaches his graduate architecture and design, worked on the Internet 1.0 and 1.1, does community engagement, architectural preservation, social-political advocacy, and loves music and writes a lot? Just a weird skill set for a guy turning 62--But I feel like a kid, no doubt in part thanks to hanging out with you fine people here. Y'all's sense of humor, not to mention the aforementioned camaraderie, you know?

Enough about me. I hope everyone here is experiencing happiness and especially health, as Walter would say, "despite it all."

Gratefully,

Jim aka hoops

Date: Sun, July 06, 2025, 19:54:44 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Reggae Sunday!

All the best, Jim. I hope it's a good one

Date: Sun, July 06, 2025, 19:11:59 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Hi Jim, best wishes for your birthday. Hope you are having a great weekend.

Date: Sun, July 06, 2025, 17:46:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Happy Birthday Hoops!!! We haven't heard from you in awhile. Hope you're doing good.

Date: Sun, July 06, 2025, 13:06:22 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol , Mtl

Happy B-day to our main man Hoops!!
Thanks for everything you do for us!
Peace

Date: Sat, July 05, 2025, 22:33:09 ET
Posted by: Finmgt, Illinois

Do you need a loan today for your business or personal purposes?
Contact us today for the best loan deals online.

Date: Sat, July 05, 2025, 04:04:52 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ7U7ODRJTA&list=RDlQ7U7ODRJTA&start_radio=1

Date: Fri, July 04, 2025, 19:25:04 ET
Posted by: curious, the burning north

No, that's the interview for New York Rock & Soul Review from 1991. The Kamakiriad interview was from spring or summer of 1993.

But thanks for looking.

Date: Fri, July 04, 2025, 13:26:45 ET
Posted by: Link, Wray

This it?

https://freshairarchive.org/segments/musician-donald-fagen

Date: Fri, July 04, 2025, 13:04:51 ET
Posted by: curious, the burning north

A question for the experts:
Does anyone recall in the run-up to the 1993 Kamakiriad release that Donald Fagan did an interview on Fresh Air with Terry Gross? In the interview Terry Gross suggests the lyric "a virus wearing pumps and pearls" is harsh and Fagen tells her if she doesn't like it she should write her own songs, or something similar. I used to have this on cassette but can no longer find it and this interview does not appear in the Fresh Air archives (only a June 1993 Kamakiriad review by Ken Tucker).

Am I imagining this interview?

Date: Thurs, July 03, 2025, 07:29:39 ET
Posted by: dirk, western world

The Steely Dan Dictionary has been updated recently :

https://steelydandictionary.com/new

Date: Tues, July 01, 2025, 14:01:00 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol , Canada

Happy Canada Day to all the "Danucks" here!! And an early Happy 4th of July to my American Danbuds!!
Peace.

Date: Mon, June 16, 2025, 15:24:47 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

So...when Jeff Porcaro was working out the drums and the 6/8, 9/8 beats, etc. Donald had him listen to some Mingus sextet albums with Dannie Richmond on the skins. I found a couple of live performance in Scandanavia. Quite a few black jazz artists played in Europe back in the 1950s and early 60s to escape Jim Crow laws and blatant racism without the need of a Green Book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAn_gyNcvN4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIN-1R4XiW0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJwjvtnma8g

Date: Sat, June 14, 2025, 08:32:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Sly & The Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg0tFRea0wA

The Beach Boys - Sail on, Sailor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQOaLP-qPmk


Both songs are related somehow. Do you know how? Scroll down for the answer.*



New songs worth checking out.


Z� Ibarra - Infinito em n�s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKeYKO2LPgQ

Luna Li - Minnie Says (with tg.blk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jkdqr5tI0Y

Swimming Bell - Meet My Shadow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvavD5NRd1c

Christopher Haynes - Carol

https://soundcloud.com/christopher-haynes-10/carol



Bonus - Ray Charles with The Beach Boys - Sail On, Sailor (filmed in Hawaii, December 1986)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zFlvqTDVSE




* Answer: Both songs, along with Toto's 'Hold The Line', served as inspiration for the Genesis song 'Misunderstanding'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_L-S-0Gc4I

Date: Wed, June 11, 2025, 22:57:02 ET
Posted by: Abu, Deep in the Monkey House

.
Great f#&@ing album: Crashbox
.

Date: Wed, June 11, 2025, 22:28:49 ET
Posted by: Gil, R

Roaring of the Lamb = Throw Back the Little Ones
I Can�t Function = What a Shame About Me

Date: Wed, June 11, 2025, 19:10:16 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

RIP Brian Wilson


And I have to agree with one thing Post post said. I also am FAR more interested in Don and Walt's influences than I am in bands that show being influenced by them. I just have a hard time dealing with city pop, electronic pop, and other soulless music that have "jazz/SD chords" but very little else going on. Yes, there are exceptions here and there that appeal to me, but not many. But hey, that's me. We all are entitled to our own tastes.

Date: Wed, June 11, 2025, 15:09:39 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Music should sound good. At least I think it should. SD worked hard to make their albums sound as good as possible.

More sad news. Brian Wilson passed away at 82, same age as Sly. Time waits for nobody. RIP.

Date: Wed, June 11, 2025, 13:55:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Sounding good isn't the idea here, Michael. lol

Date: Wed, June 11, 2025, 07:41:29 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Human feel is a critical component of my enjoyment listening to SD because it is constructed upon organic sounds, sounds which are absent here. AI mashing together a bunch of proto-SD tracks with other SD/DF tracks doesn't sound good. Something important is lost in translation from human to computer. No way D&W would have approved of releasing something of such lackluster quality.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 23:54:32 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

lol A Little Sugar = parts from The Night Belongs to Mona. This may have taken less human time than I thought.

Will bother with the rest later.

Does this mean Donald runs through the Jungle and sues himself? Can he put John Fogerty on retainer?

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 23:46:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Android Warehouse cannibalized Morph the Cat. I should have recognized it sooner. lol

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 23:42:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Yeah, I'm listening to a portion of Android Warehouse and the challenge will be which recordings did A1Sauce cannibalize to create these Frankenstein's monsters? Mutating flatted 11ths is a dangerous game.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 23:32:17 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Not to point out the obvious, but the A1 alien tracks are naturally a virtual realization of one of Walter's (in)famous Dear Craig letters on the original Steely Dan site podcast section, if we can call it that.

https://sdarchive.com/furry.html

I believe one of the other Dear Craig letters led to bribing the R&RHOF with honey mustard - I assume using creole mustard. Walter was "convinced this is an honor."

I would use "imitation" in more of a funhouse carnival way. The tracks' source song material are indeed those pre-Dan demos (allegedly) that floated around in various forms without compensation for W&D. So this is the alternative Universe version of repacking the pre-Dan tracks and slapping that SD - the Furry Years sticker on it. It's quite an elaborate joke.

Those are in some sense the pre-Dan songs (yes, the lyrics are weird - German pop war hymns or something. As you all know some of the early pre-Dan tracks eventually were pan-fried on future albums.

AI has sucked the life out of real vocals and instrumentation from recorded material! So that IS Donald's voice, sampled from TvN and some of the other 21st Century Dan collection, hybridized with gecko DNA or something, cloned on eBola, and edited with CRISPR/cas9 and extra A1 Sauce to whatever that is... The keyboards, drums, other instruments were lifted by Wendel IV and mutated with adenovirus69 on a 2-D Mizar5 gel electrophoresis...and then back to lacquer. Instruments, vocals, songs are Steely Dan or proto-Steely. More than a forgery. They've taken originals (I hear some of the Almost Gothic Rhodes on The Old Regime) and created Zombies.

This level of an ART CRIME has to receive *some* kudos for blatant balsiness! lol Days, weeks, possibly months of human time and easily ...three tenths of a second AI time, which is like an eternity of ion matrix of the iClouds beating heart. Probably took enough electrical power to light a small city in China, and by that we mean about 8.5M people.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 19:04:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

It's unrealistic to expect other artists to match D&W's uncanny talent for writing lyrics. What I think is jarring is when singers attempt to emulate Donald's vocal nuances and inflections.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 16:48:29 ET
Posted by: Post, post

not a fan of MH but very happy to see the community embrace an LP, happy for DB, he is very talented and an engaging writer.

I don't know where the other poster was coming from but I don't really want to hear Steely Dan-esque music. I'll listen to their influences, I listen to a lot of City Pop because I can't compare the lyrics to Don and Walt's, because I don't understand them. Anything else pales, badly.

Like that Crosby song from a few years back. Music is great, if a rip-off, lyrics are an embarrassment. (This is not a comment on MH because I haven't heard the lyrics or music.)

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 16:42:51 ET
Posted by: Michael,

P.S. None of that's meant to invalidate anyone's opinion, positive or negative, with regards to MH. They're an acquired taste, I get that.

Last Friday I assessed The Doobies' new album as being too generic and I stand by that, much to my disappointment. Was really hoping for more tracks as good as Learn To Let Go, maybe something along the lines of China Grove or Another Park, Another Sunday.

Ah well. You can't win 'em all.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 16:31:19 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I couldn't find a Pitchfork article either.

Whoever's taking cheap shots at MH is likely the same guy that took a dig at DB the other day. Whatever. Other people's opinions have no bearing on my enjoyment of MH or any other artist. I like what I like and that's it.

I wish more artists were influenced by SD. Artists who are do it for the love of music. They must, because those songs don't tend to have much commercial potential, such as it is. SD really is an outlier in regards to intelligently crafted jazz-infused pop/rock with sardonic lyrics selling big numbers, to my understanding dwarfing D&W's jazz heroes by a considerable margin.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 12:07:04 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

I couldn't find the Pitchfork article. Duh

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 12:06:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thanks for the link. I could find the Pitchfork article. Seems like it could be AI (or A1 as Linda McMahon would call it) to me. But if not, you are correct about their lack of clear attribution.

Just like the gutless anon wonder that took a very cheap shot at Monkey House. Own your comments, coward.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 11:32:06 ET
Posted by: Not DB, Music that isn�t terrible

�This album, if you want to call it that, is a cheap, shallow forgery of Steely Dan, a lousy robotic imitation lacking an ounce of soul.�

You�re talking about MH, right?

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 11:04:50 ET
Posted by: Michael,

The Dean, you can type it into YT search and the tracks will appear.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=steely+dan+the+furry+years

This album, if you want to call it that, is a cheap, shallow forgery of Steely Dan, a lousy robotic imitation lacking an ounce of soul. Those responsible refuse to list themselves in the credits, probably out of sheer embarrassment. Good thing it's not for sale because if it were then they could be litigated against.

RIP Sly Stone.

Date: Tues, June 10, 2025, 10:50:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

The Furry Years album? 🤔🙃 Wish there was a link

Date: Mon, June 09, 2025, 21:05:53 ET
Posted by: Bartel Caws-Kepler, Wendel IV Labs, ONEone.SIGMAsigma.APPLEapple.2two-4four-9niner

incoming transmission \\ stream stable // failed to find host

Pitchfork Review Steely Dan Alternate Universe – The Furry Years
Giant Records / Wendel Labs
1.4

If you’re a Steely Dan fan from back when jazz chords walked the Earth, congrats on navigating the internet wormhole that led you here. Truly. That Compuserve account? The 14.4k modem? The fact that you're even reading this through what appears to be a 1998 Geocities frame inside a 2025 browser—well done. You probably clicked through from a timeline that still had Record Bar on it. I respect the hustle.

Let me toss you a milkbone while I talk to the rest of the class.

For the average Pitchfork reader (or what's left of them after the algorithm turned everything into vibes), The Furry Years might seem like an elaborate prank. A newly excavated Steely Dan album? From 1995? Ripped from an alternate timeline using a rogue AI called Wendel IV that harvests unreleased jazz-fusion oddities from the metaphysical ether? Cool concept album, bro.

But here's the thing: The Furry Years isn't a cool concept album. It’s an expensive hallucination on cruise control. It's a sound bath in lacquered regret. This isn’t the Dan you almost liked once when you were high and thought Aja was kind of deep. This is what plays in the elevator between dimensions. And it loops.

The opener, “The Old Regime,” clomps in like the reanimated bones of a deleted track from Katy Lied—except with more rotary speaker and something they call “time damage texture,” which sounds a lot like a Jazz Whopper farted through a Lexicon reverb box. “Android Warehouse” shows up again, now fully rendered in 32-bit sadness. It’s like hearing a clever friend re-tell a story they don’t believe in anymore.

But it gets worse.

“A Horse in Town”? Please. This is Steely Dan’s Pet Sematary. The corpse of their college-era songwriting, dug up and made to boogie, hoof and all. “Roaring of the Lamb”? More like “Snoring of the Bland.” If you told me this track was recorded inside a Brookstone massage chair I’d believe you.

Everything here is mid-tempo. Not cool, restrained mid-tempo. Mid. The guitars sound like they’re coming from a Lexus commercial. The horns are arranged with the same enthusiasm as a hedge fund manager arranging his sock drawer. “Soul Ram,” the album's most notorious cut with its self-referential/reverential namecheck, is either a legitimate Steely Dan sex jam or the musical equivalent of dry-humping a memory foam neck pillow. And “Oh Wow, It’s You Again”? Yeah, I said the same thing when the album restarted without me realizing.

The album was produced by alternate-universe Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, which is another way of saying “nobody wants to take credit.” The press release claims it was "retrieved" from an adjacent timeline using a quantum waveform demodulator. I call it a vibe crime.

This is less an album than a high-gloss spreadsheet of music. The liner notes mention 19 musicians, 6 editors, and a spiritual consultant who allegedly channeled lost Becker chord voicings from a hotel bar in Maui. There’s a "timecode ghost" in the right channel of track 7. Is it part of the album or just an artifact of the timeline collapse? Nobody knows. Nobody cares.

Music is supposed to feel something. Steely Dan used to sneer with style. Now they just coast on inertia, piloting this leather-appointed yacht of a record into a fogbank of self-reference. The Furry Years isn't a comeback. It's a recon mission gone wrong. It makes Kamakiriad sound like Bitches Brew. It's a jam for ghosts. And not even interesting ghosts. The kind that haunt moderately priced conference rooms.

Do yourself a favor. Activate your own four-wheel drive. Exit the timeline. Avoid the roundup.

1.4

-Alternate Universe Brent DiCrescenzo

//stream ends abruptly

Date: Mon, June 09, 2025, 18:38:44 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

RIP Sly Stone.

Hot fun, indeed. One of my favorites since I was a young teen.

A real pioneer. A musical genius. He was an influence on a generation (or two) of musicians.

Date: Mon, June 09, 2025, 16:50:19 ET
Posted by: Hot Fun, Thank U

RIP Sly Stone. Fagen cited him as an influence on Kamakiriad.

Date: Mon, June 09, 2025, 09:06:25 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

I�m occasionally reminded that it�s a testament to Becker and Fagen�s god-tier songwriting abilities that my favorite band is a jazz-fusion yacht-rock band.

Date: Sat, June 07, 2025, 22:27:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Sorry about the typos - if I'm not prompted by Word or grammerly, I don't edit.

Date: Sat, June 07, 2025, 22:24:48 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

DonB's voice is more conversational than iconic NYC sardonic attitude that obviously Donald Fagen uses. It's more like Michael Franks, but not as breathy.

I think that Headquarters and Remember the Audio have the most hook-fillowed pop songs, although RTA is even jazzier and more sophstical. Also, the lyrics are more fatalistic with shades of darkeness that provide a nice dichotmomy. RTA begins with pop-jazz song structures similar to left or QH, there is increased sophisticated especially on the tracks

Even though some of the chords and Steely band song structures are increasingly NY Owes You Nothing, We Will Meet Again, Before You and After, Major Minor, Last Days of Pompeii dig harder and more word weary. Even with an increasing Dan zeitgeist, I don't think MH really emulates Steely Dan. Not like a Pablo Cruise or non-prog Ambrosia. Before You and After is probably closest to a SD recording.

I haven't had enough listens Crashbox for a full analysis, but it is wider in range and jazzier than even RTA. Accessible for our neural net shapes, but not really for anyone absorbing pop music after say the mid 80s and the era of Wrecking Crew II. Machines and computers and quantization of plastic pop tracks became the norm instead of jazzer studio musicians playing pop.

It's seems more organic, human, with more interaction. The lyrics are less and less cutesy and jingly (hence the Michael Franks connection). Even more harmonies. They dig deeper. Edgier. Mark Kelso's drums are more intricate, jazzier. The balance and sound of the production/engineering are a step up. A little more adventurous. More attitude. And the ballads are emotive.

The title track features horns that where Chicago/Pankow should have gone after firing Foster and Cetera (although all claim it's mutual). Pankow usually arranged the horns has was pissed off when horn tracks were erased in 16 and especially 17.

Date: Sat, June 07, 2025, 19:38:27 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

It's preposterous to suggest someone else sings MH tunes.
Breithaupt writes all the songs with him being the singer at center, plays on and produces them, he literally owns each one.
His voice is an asset and it takes someone with his range to interpret this music.

Date: Sat, June 07, 2025, 15:16:02 ET
Posted by: Bartel Caws-Kepler, Wendel IV Labs, Reality one.sigma.apple.two-four-niner

Alignment Inconclusive — Need Confirm on Board Color?

Hey.
Bartel here (Wendel Labs, Subshell 3A).

Not sure if this is the blue, yellow, or purple instance of the board—hard to lock phase this week. There’s bleed from the ’93 post-tour node and something Furry keeps looping back.

Anyway, if you’re hearing “Caves of Tomorrow” under the surface hiss, don’t adjust. That’s us.

Stay unstable,
— BC-K

Date: Sat, June 07, 2025, 09:52:15 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Here are some handy methods you can use to find great music.

Tiny Desk and KEXP concerts on YouTube are both great places to discover modern music like The Sinseers and Thee Sacred Souls. They host a wide variety of talented artists performing their material live. Worth checking out. Sometimes the YouTube algorithm recommends good stuff in the sidebar.

Bandcamp is another good pipeline for finding music to suit your preferences. You can search by genre/subgenre, location or by using the search bar to type in specific artists you like and it will find similar "tagged" music.

Streaming services have playlists you can browse for stuff you may like, and sometimes artists share their own.

Date: Sat, June 07, 2025, 09:05:24 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, that's some blissful soul music right there. This is right up there with the best stuff by artists such as Marvin Gaye and Al Green, easily. Thanks for sharing.

There's such an abundance of great music being made right now, but a lot of people are being misled into thinking it's all relegated to the past and will never discover artists like Durand Jones & The Indications.

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 22:12:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Lover's Holiday: Durand Jones & the Indications

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isb-OF1Iffg


The last tune was Flower Moon.

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 21:55:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Durand Jones & the Indications - back by popular demand. Old souls are grads. of the illustrious Indiana University School of Music.

New album will be released June 27.

https://youtu.be/EiAjOPM1IpA?si=oOC_B01q94AZ9LET

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 12:38:24 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

I suppose the opinion re Don B's vocals is fair enough, it's all subjective, hell, Fagen didn't think much of his own vocals in the early days of SD!
Personally I think Don's vocals suit Monkey House well and I think he's improved technically over the course of the 5 albums I've been on board for. There's also something to be said for a songwriter singing his own songs, an element of authenticity perhaps. He would be ill-suited to the snarky element to much of SD's stuff where "bite" is very much required but works well in terms of the typical 'everyman' persona in many of his own MH songs.

Michael gave his 2 cents, that's my geographically adjusted "tuppence worth"

Where I do have a beef with Don B is this quote from the MH website which I was on just a minute ago purchasing Crashbox:

�We have true believers in the U.S., England, Japan, Sweden, Germany..."

England eh? just England?

Canadians.... you would hope they of all people would understand!

If this site wasn't so willfully antiquated I would have attached a smiley there just to make it clear that I'm kidding!

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 08:59:49 ET
Posted by: Michael,

The Doobie Brothers new album? Disappointingly generic and derivative. The MM song Learn To Let Go is easily the best track of the bunch. No contest.

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 08:33:22 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Quick thoughts after my initial listen to Crashbox.

Easily MH's most accessible album to date, chock full of lush changes and tricky syncopations without sacrificing appeal for casual listeners. Many artists who take a stab at sophisticated music such as this tend to get carried away with showing off their chops, but here the chops are strictly at the service of the music. There are a few d�j� vu spots in certain places throughout Crashbox, such as the opening to the chorus in the heartfelt Bring The Stars Down sounding a bit too close for comfort to the same in Cyndi Lauper's True Colors, although it does shift in a different direction. But these minor instances of artistic overlap don't overshadow the strength of the songwriting, the precise arrangements and performances locked in tight incandescent grooves. It's impossible to resist the cryptic jazz-pop Chasing The Muse, the post-Aja-esque Friday Night Jam, or the hyperdrive jazz-funk bop that is the album opener Return Of The Mayfly.

Overall I'm very pleased with this album and many tracks will remain in my playlist for years to come.

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 07:43:35 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I don't take issue with Don B's vocals. *shrugs* My two cents.

"Leeeet's disappear... in plain sight..." What a great song. I just downloaded Crashbox and am enjoying it thus far. Thanks guys.

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 07:37:17 ET
Posted by: Message,

Don B - you�re a musical treasure and gift to the SD world. If no one�s ever given this feedback to you, I think in the end it would only benefit you: your Monkey House music is incredible, but your voice just ruins it. You sound like an annoying children�s music vocalist. Anyone I share this music with agrees: amazing music, terrible vocals. Get a vocalist with some bite, and bring this project to the next level.

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 06:03:43 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Absolutely Doc. The pre-release stuff was already next level, and gave us more than a hunch how good this would be. The surprise "Sundaying' also so cool, a simpler, approach - updated with 2025 chords and sounds.
What really floored me is the relaxed, melodic vibe of the B-side if you will.
Generous music, not necessarily filled to the gills, the compositions speak for themselves.
Also, how good is the band and Don's keyboards.
Will be a fun weekend...

Date: Fri, June 06, 2025, 01:14:08 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Return of the Mayfly. Wow. One hell of an Intro...then the groove - swings and rocks. That keyboard solo smacks and jives.

Date: Thurs, June 05, 2025, 21:38:50 ET
Posted by: Steely who?,

The two vinyl releases of "The Royal Scam" are due out tomorrow, Friday.

Date: Thurs, June 05, 2025, 11:07:24 ET
Posted by: Michael,

We're less than 24 hours from the new MH and Doobie albums. While waiting here's some more stuff worth checking out. The Loch Ness Mouse and Frank Weber tracks are drenched in SD vibes, while The Explorers Club goes in heavy on the Brian Wilson sound.


The Loch Ness Mouse - Yolanda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoREKxzS2rk

Samurai - Maudie James

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzloWdhRgoM

Frank Weber - The old man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXSgvQs49tY

Octave Cat - Martingale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK4MLzRSy78

Dora Morelenbaum - A Melhor Sa�da

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBe17kOivY

The Explorers Club - Love So Fine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouPiYLDl3EU

Date: Wed, June 04, 2025, 17:46:42 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

I purchased the Monkey House Retrospective collection from Bandcamp last year. It's good stuff, double length and basically a best of what was recorded before 'Headquerters' I believe.
Don sent out an email this morning that promotes 'Crashbox' and this quote:

'as you�ve shown interest in our back catalog, you should know plans are afoot for a series of deluxe CD reissues. Stay tuned!
Thanks again for giving a damn,
Don'

As they all sound great, we will see if this will be remasters or box sets, perhaps with some unreleased tunes.
Heck, if 'Moving in time' is a bonus track / not released on the US Crashbox version, I would love to hear what other songs didn't make it.

Date: Mon, June 02, 2025, 12:51:55 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Belzoni,

Thanks for the heads-up! Will check it out.

I think the recordings, especially the middle tracks on Remember the Audio and some of the new material are fresh, more intricate/sophisticated than in the past. I definitely hear more of a Walter fatalistic attitude in the lyrics. Loving it.

Date: Mon, June 02, 2025, 11:03:30 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Brings back memories, Belzoni. I remember listening to those short snippets and being a bit confused. "WTF is THIS?" I'd ask myself. Why I'd ask myself is another matter completely, as I had no further information. I really didn't know what to think about several of the songs, based on that little test. But it did raise my interest and excitement.

I understood it often took me some repeated listening to really get a good handle on the song and start to appreciate/like it. And because it's The Dan, I still hear new stuff all the time. The genius keeps being revealed over time.

I'm in no way suggesting this is going to be a great release from MH. I wasn't really grabbed by one of the full songs except for the title track, which I enjoyed out of the gate. But we'll see. I think DB knows what he is doing.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 22:00:08 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Thanks, Belzoni!
Never knew of this. Will cherish these.
Sweet memories of pre EMG days come to mind, those 30 seconds advance clips many of us clicked on again and again...

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 17:48:23 ET
Posted by: Michael,

From the sound clips Crashbox sounds like it has a much more dynamic, mature sound than Remember the Audio, by which I mean it seems to have less detached parts and more natural flowing melodic lines. The songwriting is less clinical, more straightforward, dare I say commercial? There's also more overall variety. 'Return of the Mayfly', 'Disappear in Plain Sight' and 'Chasing the Muse' instantly piqued my curiosity, but the other tracks also sound good.

2025's been a great year for music thus far. Looking forward to this Friday. The Doobie Brothers new album also hits the same day, along with Phoebe Rings first album.

But let's discuss how modern songwriting sucks... :P

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 14:51:45 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland, OR

As excitement builds over next's Friday's release of the new Monkey House album, I should tell others who can't wait that you can hear minute-long previews of each of the new songs via the "Preview All" link for the album on iTunes. I've been enjoying these all month, looking forward especially to You Just Don't Know It Yet based on these snippets. (Didn't want to post anything earlier for fear they'd take it down.)

Very impressed by the quality of the 4 tracks thus far released, and still thinking that Moving In Time is the best of them, though it's not on the actual album.

Hoping that the album will be successful enough that the band will finally play some shows outside of Toronto, or at least webcast the upcoming Toronto show.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 13:19:06 ET
Posted by: Michael,

You're constantly moving the goal posts.

Few of the musicians working gigs at bars, clubs and special functions will ever make livable careers out of it. Independent artists seeking financial success inevitably have to market themselves, tour, sell merch, i.e. commodify to a certain degree. Non-classical, non-songwriter musicians who specialize in one or two instruments tend to find kindred spirits to work with. There's a healthy number of artists who are doing quite well for themselves, whether through signing to smaller labels or working in other industries such as video gaming.

Although my reach is limited I do try to promote good independent music in the hopes that others will maybe find something they like and support it. Aside from that there's not much else I can do. Unlike Rick Beato I don't have a channel with 5 million subscribers that I can use as a vehicle for promoting good music.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 12:54:55 ET
Posted by: Nope,

You just simply ignore the part about 2nd and 3rd tier artists and labels. I am not talking about the major successes and failures. I am not talking about the Marvin Gaye's. I am talking about how music is made and what that means for the working musicians behind the scenes and in bars and clubs, that you never hear of who are trying to make a living in music.

I am not burying my head in the sand, and I am in fact acknowledging reality for what it is. I am just critical of that reality, whereas you seem inclined to passively accept it as just as fine for the masses and working musicians, simply because it is.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 12:29:56 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Uh, no, I didn't ask you why worsening quality pop music matters, I said that artists both live track drums and use drum machines to illustrate that it hasn't had a material effect one way or the other in the grand scheme of things. Even going back to the 70s and 80s artists were using drum machines and quantizing across the mainstream pop spectrum. I don't like how most mainstream acts use auto-tune, so I avoid listening to it. Simple. There's plenty of other options.

Big labels aren't the sole benefactors for artists to generate money. Given how open the market has become, there's bound to be more failure stories than success stories, but that's the nature of the industry. You realize that most of the artists labels signed back in the day were also not successful, right? Many of them wound up in debt to the labels. For every Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye there were dozens upon dozens of flops, artists who lasted one or maybe two albums before getting dropped by the labels.

The industry has changed but so has the world in general. Industries which used to be widespread across the country have gone belly-up. You can choose to bury your head in the sand or accept reality for what it is. The big labels aren't interested in quality, they want mediocrity to be the standard so that they can easily manufacture more of it rather than have to rely upon the songwriting strength of artists under their umbrella to come up with hit songs they can market.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 12:15:30 ET
Posted by: Nope,

There�s a way to settle the making a living debate. One could quantify the total and per capita $ going to studio and live musicians on an inflation adjusted basis in the 70s vs now. I would be absolutely SHOCKED if it�s the same or better now. There�s just no way.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 12:10:54 ET
Posted by: Nope,

It�s not a non sequitur. You asked me why worsening quality popular music matters, and the ever more common replacement of human with machine, in the �grand scheme� and I gave a reason. Access to visibility on the internet and being able to cheaply produce your own music does not equate to income and making a living. I don�t know how many independent musicians have made this point. The point of comparing a top 40 list in 1978 v 2025 is to illustrate the steady diet to the masses, which you�ve ignored, and also to illustrate the prevalence of work for musicians. In 2025 it�s much more electronic (and IMO much lower quality music). That means there�s a ton less paid studio work for musicians. You don�t seem to understand there was a trickle down of work where maybe the best studio guys got the top 40 gigs and major labels, but that meant second and third tier guys got to feast on lesser known artists and gigs. It�s about the eco system that was around. It was much more lucrative for working musicians. Talk to any guy around then and now, you hear it incessantly in interviews. Citing top 40 is just an empiric measure brought to bear so that we�re using firm data as an anchoring point, not as an end all be all and all encompassing argument, as opposed to only using vague and unsupported assertions. And as electronic production of music becomes more common - illustrated by comparing top 40 in the 70s vs now � live musicians see less gigs for tours and bar gigs where people want to hear the music of the day (tracks and djs replace musicians, bars and weddings opt more for recorded rather than live music). You don�t seem to understand the difference between something being more common vs less common, even if something existed both in the 1970s vs today.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 11:39:32 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Non-sequitur. There's no shortage of working musicians around, with far more opportunities for musicians today than there ever was back in the days when record labels ruled the roost. Young musicians are finding gigs, both independent and joint projects to a degree never done before. Without the internet most of independent artists working today would've been put out to pasture before even getting their feet wet. Using mainstream music as your measuring stick for musicians finding work is flat-out wrong on so many levels.

No, I didn't use a false equivalency. There was plenty of garbage music back in the day, we just forgot about most of it. If Beato wants to go around claiming modern music is lacking by putting a Spotify or Apple top 10 list under a microscope then he's knowingly misrepresenting what modern music is by using the lowest common denominator he can find.

If someone did a video stream claiming modern music is so much better than what came before, showing examples with great new songs, then citing The Village People and disco as representative of how 70s music sounded, people would be raging in the live chat about how wrong that is, citing artists like Steely Dan, Toto and Chicago. Now imagine if the host simply ignored what those people in his live chat were telling him and wrapped up the stream with the conclusion that modern music is just done better in all regards. That's what Beato did except the inverse.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 11:17:01 ET
Posted by: Nope,

In my view it matters because it affects the steady diet of content the masses are fed and it reduces the work available to working musicians, and there are a multitude of second order socioeconomic and cultural consequences that result from this. If you�re going to adopt the position that popular music in the 70s was just as bad as it is now, I am simply going to disagree and charge you with making an argument of false equivalence (�there was always mediocrity� doesn�t mean the prevalence was the same). And if you�re going to argue that it hasn�t reduced work available to musicians and made it harder to make a living as a musician, I�m simply going to disagree.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 10:31:35 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Yeah but so what? What does it matter in the grand scheme of things? Artists have been doing this stuff for decades. It hasn't stopped artists from recording live drums. The existence of one thing doesn't negate the other.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 10:29:15 ET
Posted by: Nope,

Michael holy cow you�re incredibly dense. I never said it was a new thing and I never said it was stopping people from writing good music nowadays. I explicitly cited my favorite band SD using it in the 70s. And I explicitly agreed there is still good music being made nowadays. And I never said quantizing is never used to good musical effect. It�s about its relative prevalence and how it�s being overused to ill effect these days. We can disagree about that but it�s a very common opinion among respected artists, so don�t act like it�s an ignorant or out of touch take.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 10:16:20 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Not an obsession, it's an observation. I mean, if you're going to put out a click-bait video stream titled 'The Death Of Memorable Songs...Let's Talk', it's sort of implied that he intended to discuss the subject, hence the 'Let's Talk' bit and leaving the chat open. It should've been a lively discussion with people suggesting new songs for him to check out, but no, it was another excuse for him to showcase the same songs we've heard a thousand times before while IGNORING the replies.

You cited mostly established artists that have been in the industry for decades, most of whom are instrumentalists, not singer/songwriters which was the main thrust of Beato's whole 'nobody knows how to write good music anymore' diatribe. He had no intention of checking out suggestions or responding to anyone telling him what he didn't want to hear.

Beato lives in his own bubble, perpetually stuck in the past, looking through rose-tinted glasses at the most successful artists from *the glory days* while ignoring the fact that most of what came out back then was forgettable tripe. We only remember the good stuff because it rose above the prevalent mediocrity. Sure, most of today's music is also forgettable tripe but that's true of *every* generation. Nobody bases their opinion of 70s music exclusively on disco. If they did then it would be rather easy to make the case that music during that time sucked.

Here you go again with the quantizing drums argument. Are you unaware that artists have been using quantized beats and programmed sequences since at least the 70s? Stop acting like it's this new thing when it's been around for the better part of a century. Has it stopped people from writing good songs? No, of course not.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 09:21:40 ET
Posted by: Nooe,

Michael your obsession with him not responding to chat is weird and out of touch. Popular content producers w tons of fans typically don�t engage w chat in a thorough fashion. It�s like if you email Fagen, he�s probably not going to answer. It�s been like that for a long time. You have a weird hang up with him not recognizing the specific groups you keep mentioning. He doesn�t have to know about them, particularly like them, or praise them to be aware of quality modern music being produced nowadays. Not everyone I cited are older established artists, but apparently metal and prog don�t count for you. Willow is a classic singer song writer but she doesn�t count for some reason. I�m also now recalling he�s repeatedly praised Billie Eilish and Finneas, whom I don�t particularly care for, but let me guess, they don�t count for you either?

Again, re quantizing, you�re doing the exact thing you accuse him of doing. You cite groups that use real drummers to disprove that it�s happening at all. If you want to be willfully or disingenuously ignorant of the way much of popular and modern music is produced with quantizing, be my guest. If you don�t want to take Beato�s word for it, look up pretty much any drummer interview podcast and you can find plenty of the worlds best drummers complaining about it.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 08:18:57 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Nope, almost all of those musicians you listed are guitarists, not singer/songwriters, many of which have had careers in the music business for decades. Maynard sang in Tool, a band formed in 1990. Steven Wilson has been active since the 80s. Derek Trucks started prior to 2000, etcetera. These are established performers.

Beato's bone of contention is with the quality of modern songwriting, meaning songs with memorable melodies, harmonies and lyrics. Songs with staying power. As I mentioned before, people were explaining to him in the live chat that plenty of artists are writing great songs outside of the mainstream and offered some suggestions but he ignored them. There's a wide assortment of great new songs he could've cited, but he chose to relegate modern music to the Spotify list. Hardly an accurate template. Would it be fair if I cited 'Run Joey Run' by David Geddes, 'YMCA' by The Village People and 'You're Having My Baby' by Paul Anka as a snapshot of the best the 70s had to offer?

As far as technology sucking the soul out of drumming, care to cite sources? I'm hearing plenty of great drum tracks from groups all over the place including the aforementioned YGSF, Monkey House, Nolan Potter, and so on and so forth. D&W used Wendel as a tool in the studio to get the drums placed exactly where they wanted them, but I agree that I'd rather have human drums in that kind of context, although there are some exceptions where I think it does work. A lot of 90s dance tracks used drum machines to great effect.

Date: Sun, June 01, 2025, 00:22:25 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Doc, agreed - that new MH tune is rather strong tobacco.
Been blasting it and it gets better every time.
Strikes me a bit like Circus Money, Door#2, Selfish Gene, not musically but how it grows on you. After perhaps not getting it right away because of it's multi layered complexity.
We now have 3+1 outstanding new tunes, the album has 12.
Next Friday can't come soon enough.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 23:32:56 ET
Posted by: Nope,

Michael, what are you even talking about? A short list of modern musicians he�s featured and praised on his channel: Willow Smith, Mohini Dey, Zedd, Matteo Mancuso, Tosin Abasi / Animals as Leaders, Julian Lage, Steven Wilson, Derek Trucks, Maynard James Keenan, Tim Henson, Plini.

As far as technology, I personally completely agree with his view that there�s too much quantizing going on. He doesn�t rail against all of technology. He acknowledges its benefits. But it has sucked a lot of soul and feel out of the drumming. And I personally dislike when Steely Dan forced drum machines into their music. They should have stuck with the feel of any of the best drummers on the planet they were using, IMO and with all due respect to them. I agree this is one of the few times their perfectionism took them in the wrong direction, and Chuck Rainey would agree.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 19:19:24 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I don't dislike classic pop/rock or anything of the sort. I love Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Hall & Oates, Stevie Wonder, and many other older artists. But I would never present good new music to an audience and then *prove* old music sucks by showing them disco. It's disingenuous. Beato's not some neophyte, he's worked in the industry for decades so he knows exactly what he's doing when he puts those top 10 lists on his channel and makes click-bait videos about how modern music is getting worse.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 19:05:18 ET
Posted by: BosDanFan, Bos

I haven't listened to Beato - may do so after this discussion. Although I understand his fondness for "Classic" bands, I do wonder about his inclusion of the Cars as a classic and band with "important" records. I mean, I have enjoyed some of their music and even saw them live way back when, but to my mind, they are not in the same league as Steely Dan or even the other bands mentioned by Michael. Is there something special about them I have missed? I have always considered them as above average musically, but not SD level either musically or lyrically.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 18:39:51 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Beato doesn't specify "mainstream" in the context of today's music being worse. Also, way to ignore the fact that he blatantly ignores what people are saying in his chat.

Whenever any modern music is brought up on his channel it's *always* through the context of a Spotify or Apple top 10 list, knowing full well those lists are comprised of mainstream junk, thereby appearing to confirm to his viewers that Beato's correct about the sorry state of modern music. This isn't by accident. He keeps his audience enthralled by perpetuating the myth that all modern music sucks, reinforcing this blatantly wrong view as though it were a self-evident truism.

Beato knows much of his audience is comprised of retro elitists who, like him, refuse to look beyond The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, or Rush. Sure, once in awhile he'll feature this or that new guitarist with good chops, but those are a dime a dozen and really just serve as a distraction from the elephant in the room. Anyone could find countless talented singers or instrumentalists on the internet, it's not difficult to do. That's beside the point. He refuses to investigate new artists because it would contradict his myopic view that modern music sucks or is at least vastly inferior to what came before, and then his gimmick would no longer generate the kind of buzz-via-controversy he seeks for clicks on his videos.

Also, how can he rail against technology when it's what got him his audience? And since when is using a DAW to quantize a beat or off-note bad? Donald and Walter were rather notorious for their fastidious attention to sonic detail, slightly adjusting a kick drum or any other sound to place it exactly where they wanted it in a mix. Digital has streamlined that process without having to worry about tape degradation or other unwanted hurdles. Things which used to take hours can now be done in a matter of seconds. Is that a bad thing? You tell me. Audio editing technology back then wasn't really that great, especially compared to the tools at our disposal. Need we go over how DBX noise reduction ruined Katy Lied?

But he interviews SD guys so it's all good. For the record, so did a lot of rock journalists. Does that make them know-it-all gurus?

What do Young Gun Silver Fox, Kit Sebastian, Pearl & The Oysters, Nolan Potter, Liana Flores, Donny Ben�t, Fonteyn, Silvertwin, Prep, Ginger Root, Mei Semones, State Cows, The Lemon Twigs, Jake and Abe, Phoebe Rings, and Gareth Donkin all have in common?

None of these artists exist in Beato's world. They're not allowed to.

Beato: "You know, people say to me, Bob, that you could break artists on your YouTube channel and I say no, I can't. Just because I have a lot of people that follow my YouTube channel, that doesn't mean anything, that I can make someone successful. If somebody had an amazing song that connected with people and they came on my channel, maybe that would help a slight bit but there's very little that one person can do to help anyone's career." ( https://youtu.be/Y8qSctzVhhQ?t=3382 )

Also Beato: "I thought with my channel, talk about these things, try to introduce new audiences, younger people, to these bands like The Cars that are classic bands that were great songwriters that had important records." ( https://youtu.be/E5lY_DbUsok?t=370 )

Nice contradiction. Why do legacy artists who are known worldwide need more exposure? Independent artists are the ones who need exposure, not Pink Floyd, The Doobie Brothers or The Cars. Everyone knows who they are, including young people, and none of them are at risk of being forgotten. It's a rather incongruous argument to make that people are expected to connect with new music which they don't even know exists.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 18:11:55 ET
Posted by: Nope,

That�s funny, because he just interviewed Zedd, who makes popular music, and whose music I don�t care for at all. This idea that he criticizes everything modern is not accurate at all.

But yeah, screw the guy who is systematically interviewing every SD alum alive.

Also I�m in my 30s.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 14:21:16 ET
Posted by: Logo, logo

I'm not of an age yet where I demand my beliefs reinforced, constantly, I want to be challenged about my tastes and thoughts, not told that everyone else is full of crap.

Beato is OK if you want to nod your head in agreement and say, "yes, I too have thought this about this mainstream musical artists on a major label." Not for me.

If you're watching Beato or Joe Rogan and rolling with it, look out. It is a place to go when you are tired of thinking.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 13:28:16 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

My advice is to simply ignore the videos you have no interest in. And as has been mentioned "don't recommend channel" and "not interested". I have little interest in most of YouTube's or any algorithms suggestions. That said, I also have extremely little interest in the long playlists that are posted on this forum. I roll my eyes at some of the pop stuff that some find relevant to The Dan. So I simply rarely bother to check them out.

But I find Beato pretty damn good as an interviewer. Only occasionally interested in his guests, but when I am I'd say he is the better, and more knowledgeable of those trying to do a similar thing. He's a good musician, too. I find his opinions hit or miss sometimes, but I find most peoples' opinions hit and miss.

But I can live with ZERO suggestions/recommendations by The Tube. I just check out his channels a couple times a week.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 13:18:50 ET
Posted by: Disagree,

I disagree with you guys about Rick. The thrust of the argument is obviously about the bulk of popular music. He�s interviewing amazing jazz artists, and Steely Dan is obviously one of his favorite bands ever. He also clearly has an open musical mind interviewing more popular pop and rock artists he expresses appreciation for. I�m a huge fan and he�s doing a ton for awareness of quality music. I don�t understand your vitriol against him.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 13:14:29 ET
Posted by: Logo, logo

Rick's "I just had my first beer"-musings are as shallow as it gets, I clicked "don't recommend channel" on him back in 2020 and I don't regret it in the slightest.

I never see him unless it is here or when someone uses his name as a pejorative on social media.

Date: Sat, May 31, 2025, 11:40:08 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I'm sick of seeing Rick Beato videos pop up in my feed. The guy is like an omnipresent Nosferatu, sapping the life-force out of everything.

When he's not interviewing rock musicians from decades past he's railing against modern technology and music, including in his latest stream, 'The Death Of Memorable Songs...Let's Talk', the thrust of it being that nobody today knows how to write good music. To make his case he cherry-picks hit songs from past artists like Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and The Police to hold them up as the quality standard, then uses the Spotify Top 10 to make the case that modern music is forgettable. He states that "what is on the charts is whatever people are listening to," which is false. In the live chat people were trying to explain to him that there's plenty of great music still being made outside the mainstream but he ignored them. What's the point in having an open discussion if you're just going to ignore what's being said?

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 18:55:46 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Lutz: I think I'm *digging* MH's title track here the most. Love the use of dissonance. MONKey in their soul.

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 15:00:27 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

New MH tune available this morning!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtlINKgIRQ

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 14:25:06 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

They played The Bear on some of the 2011 West Coast shows and at the Beacon.
Was there at Mountain Windery and had goosebumps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW80Bff8lFc

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 13:11:36 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

FWIW, Fagen said The Bear was an Aja outtake on rarities night after asking Becker if it was for Aja or Gaucho.

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 11:27:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Kulee Baba captured the weird voyeurism and eventual manipulation of cable "news."

It would have been one of the best songs on an expanded Gaucho (3 sider/CD length) with legendary lyrics fit for the interwebz age.

https://youtu.be/iaQY9JesF9I?si=7B2Q-VtRW_iMNkEE

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 11:22:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

The Stand by the Seawall Suite (a fusion masterpiece) and The Bear appeared first technically from the Aja sessions. I don't know about Kind Spirit. The Bear could have fit better on Gaucho.

https://youtu.be/X4zx4DEJ05w?si=yw5UNzbnprl6u6Dh

Heartbreak Souvenir, ICWHAY, Kulee Baba, SEcond Arrangement were recorded during the Gaucho sessions.

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 07:57:33 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Was The Bear or Kind Spirit from the Aja sessions?

Date: Fri, May 30, 2025, 01:00:19 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Dan - Nice. I can really hear Steve Khan signature style. Donald's voice sounds strong despite the distortion & noise.

Unfortunately, SD did not release a three-sider and was pre-CD length.

Can't Write Home About You
Kulee Baba
The Bear
Second Arrangement
Heartbreak Souvenir (any sightings or listening?)
Kind Spirit (verses, transition unfinished re: lyrics)

Date: Thurs, May 29, 2025, 16:39:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

RIP Rick Derringer.

Date: Thurs, May 29, 2025, 16:38:34 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Hi Dan,

Thanks for sharing. ICWHAY has become one of my all time favorite SD songs. You can really hear a lot of that proto-solo Donald style starting to emerge. Those tasty chords and transitional phrases are something else. Even without horns present (every SD song doesn't *require* them, ya know) it sounds awesome. The organ (Hammond?) accompaniment works great and, as usual, I dig the lyrics.

According to Gary Katz D&W recorded 12 songs for Gaucho, 5 of which didn't make it on the album, ICWHAY being one of them. There was also The Second Arrangement, Kulee Baba, Heartbreak Souvenir, and I think Kind Spirit but I'm not certain. Would love to hear Heartbreak someday, I'm sure it's great, especially given how Steve Khan praised it and begged Donald to include it on the album. Bernard's drumming on that track is said to be incredible.

Date: Thurs, May 29, 2025, 11:25:22 ET
Posted by: Dan Belcher, Louisville, KY

@Michael, agree with you on I Can't Write Home About You. Dunno if you've heard the remastered version I did of that full band outtake version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkR3tdjWR6o

Date: Tues, May 27, 2025, 19:02:06 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Yes, RIP Rick Derringer.

Date: Tues, May 27, 2025, 12:38:33 ET
Posted by: Grim Reaper,

RIP, Rick Derringer, August 5, 1947-May 26, 2025.

Rick, while "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" actually was NOT about you losing a joint, "We know you're smokin' wherever you are."

Date: Tues, May 27, 2025, 11:20:37 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Why did D&W leave ICWHAY off Gaucho? Ugh, it's too good. Late 70s SD is peak. Nothing else captures the same essence, that sublime blend of everything good about pop/rock/jazz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay8btew0ieU

Jive Miguel's version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1EFFao9oT0



New playlist.


Calibro 35 - Lunedì Cinema ft. Marco Castello

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCCq3ogRUDM

MALIQ & D�Essentials - Senja Teduh Pelita

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPY3rSpHyFo

The Doobie Brothers - Angels & Mercy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VmJZjoo-Fg

Stereolab - Transmuted Matter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mHKS8psgm8

Phoebe Rings - Fading Star

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x6SLxhgtqg

LIONMILK - ONLY ONE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_ATrsYxpL4

Date: Fri, May 23, 2025, 17:17:31 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba,

It looks like there are several "Original Walter Becker Production" versions on Youtube for that album. Pretty cool!

From Wikipedia:
"The first single released was 'St. Saviour Square', originally recorded by Walter Becker and subsequently by Mike Thorne, whose version ended up on the album, despite the band considering Becker's version better."

Here's one for St. Saviour Square:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpEDUk4IPks

Date: Fri, May 23, 2025, 13:50:54 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Singing the Praises of Finer Things:

https://youtu.be/k2ujsk0uuAg?si=i0EQjcP6PVc3dGGs

Sorry, not sorry, if I posted a while ago.

Date: Fri, May 23, 2025, 13:47:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

It's amazing how Flaunt the Imperfection and the Walter produced songs in Diary of a Hollow House stand up after 35-40 years. Not a lot of recordings from the 80s were built to last, just to make an MTV playlist


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsFrRDx0yGg

Love those Katy Lied-esque chord progressions. Tasty guitar solo - Walter uncredited?

Date: Thurs, May 22, 2025, 16:15:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Thinking about Walter and CC today more than ever.

In your man makeup.

Coin for ME. Poverty for YOU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EYLrws2_s0

I've been a big fan of this one.

Date: Thurs, May 22, 2025, 14:55:56 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Revvin' Up in Indy

Colts owner Jim Irsay died yesterday. He's mentioned here because his priceless collection of rock and other historical artifacts includes two guitars from our favorite QuarterBeck(er):

https://collection.jimirsaycollection.com/objects/409/walter-beckers-2014-hahn-model-229

Hutt Hutt

Date: Sun, May 18, 2025, 07:35:29 ET
Posted by: Brooklyn Bridge, NY

Brooklyn owes the Mexican Navy vessel under me.

Date: Sat, May 17, 2025, 00:35:16 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

For those who haven't seen this recently posted remastered concert audio on YouTube. Not sure if it has been available on other outlets, but this was just posted a few days ago. I love that they include the intro/outro tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6guWRanokw8

Date: Thurs, May 15, 2025, 09:06:42 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Pearl & The Oysters new song 'Sous la lune mandarine' (Under the mandarin moon) released today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8iBl5Hv3pM


In other news, Daryl Hall rejects "yacht rock" designation.

https://www.stereogum.com/2307626/daryl-hall-rejects-yacht-rock-designation-a-fucking-joke-by-two-jerk-offs/news/

Hall & Oates were originally an R&B soul group which then leaned more heavily into pop as their success grew, as did many other artists.

Labels have been retroactively applied to things, such as jazz which was originally referred to as "jass music" until people humorously began covering up or removing the j outside clubs and easy speaks. Even the blues was originally an integral part of American folk music until someone realized it had more marketing potential to designate as its own thing, which turned it into this sort of formulaic song structure which its originators likely had no intention of doing. The same holds true for other song idioms which more or less conformed to certain preconceived notions to fit a marketing criteria.

Date: Wed, May 14, 2025, 11:41:10 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist chock full of goodies. Enjoy.


Silvertwin - It's Only Magic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzy2sguPW7c

Mei Semones - I can do what I want

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apfpm0G5icc

MORLEY - Star Seeds (feat. Toumani Diabat�)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvRBowBkJpw

TOPS - ICU2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuHtHin7Gl4

The Piano Choir - Effi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyEauALsGqk

Peter Evans - Ars Memoria (Live at the Jazz Gallery)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVhdCesidEg

Date: Tues, May 13, 2025, 07:43:43 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Abu, in case the file still doesn't play try renaming it to Monkey House - Moving In Time and see if that helps. It may well be that for some reason your media player has an issue playing files with names which include pluses and/or underscores ( + _ ) which are in the original file name.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2025, 07:06:14 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Done. Let me know if this works.

Date: Tues, May 13, 2025, 00:51:33 ET
Posted by: Abu, No PC, just Android

I only have an Android (dinosaur release 12, which might be the problem) and no PC, no laptop, no tablet. It's no use.

MP3, actual email shown, Michael. Would appreciate.

Abu
.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 17:41:14 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I can also change the file format to whatever you want (wav, flac, mp3) and send that as well.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 17:06:51 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Abu, sorry, it doesn't make sense to me why you can't download it to your phone. Over on the right side when I left-click on the three dots it gives the option to download without the need for any app or plug-in, which I'll refrain from until I preorder the album (I concur with Steve, it's a great song). Mind you, I'm using a PC, but I don't understand why it shouldn't work on a mobile phone, especially since you preordered the album.

What I *can* do is download the track only to email it to you and then delete it as it wouldn't be right to take something I don't rightfully own.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 16:43:55 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Abu

I feel a bit guilty about this,(Jim, feel free to delete this) but I clicked on that link you sent and was able to download and save the MP3 file in a couple of seconds, great song btw!

I did it on my PC and used an extension on my Firefox browser called Video DownloadHelper

Basically if you have a device that can run Firefox then download that extension and you're home and dry (I suspect that any other browser download manager would so similar)

ps: I will purchase the album as I have done with all other MH releases!

Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 16:03:55 ET
Posted by: Abu , Android Only

Michael,

Normally I can save files with no problem, but this does not look like a normal file. Here it is:

https://fetchapp-storage.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/MonkeyHouse-PreOrder_Crashbox/mp3-320/Moving+In+Time_Jan+21_320k.mp3

It appears the only way it works is through the internet. It plays, surely enough. But there is no way to save it and turn it into a standalone MP3 file. I have tried putting it on my Google Drive, but when I do, it doesn't play.
.

Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 07:56:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Abu, does your phone app permissions enable you to save files? If so then there should be audio converter apps you can use. Do you also have a PC or tablet? If so then wouldn't it be much easier to use that to save the song and then transfer it to your phone?

Date: Mon, May 12, 2025, 00:22:27 ET
Posted by: Abu, As Clear as Mud

.
Sorry, Lutz. I cannot make heads or tails on what I can do after reading the previous posts you mentioned. Because my file is a MP3, I likely am somewhat mentally challenged in trying to convert the (excellent) MIT tune to a plain standalone MP3. Anyone?
.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2025, 12:10:07 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Michael, the new MH to me has a little bit of a Chicago vibe, Sat. in the Park.
Don is a Chicago fan, I think even recorded something with them.
Abu, some of us had the same issue and solutions were suggested here a few weeks back by Doc Mu and Michael.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2025, 10:22:17 ET
Posted by: Abu, Pre-Ordered

.
I pre-ordered the new Monkey House album, which I did as a MP3 on my Android phone. Not being real tech-savvy, I can't figure out how to save the Moving in Time bonus song to my phone as a standalone MP3 file. The link provided seems to need the internet to play it. It says to right click the file (press and hold on a Android), but the options that provides does not include any way of saving it on my phone. Any suggestions?
.

Date: Sun, May 11, 2025, 02:08:49 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Durand Jones and the Indications are back with their retro soul, closer to Andy Platts' Mamas Gun than YGSF.

Indiana University grads - they've got the groove and chops. Nice horn chart, chord progressions, modulation.

https://youtu.be/EiAjOPM1IpA?si=herCYECdoUlK2OP4

Date: Sat, May 10, 2025, 07:49:47 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Lutz,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9ExmrjMwA

I'm getting a strong 80s sitcom vibe. Much different from MH's other Crashbox single 'Someplace On Madison'.

Date: Sat, May 10, 2025, 05:56:17 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

@DonBreithaupt on X
"The new Monkey House single is live."
Apple Music has it.

Date: Fri, May 09, 2025, 17:21:23 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Steve, vocally and stylistically she sounds very similar to Rita Lee, a popular Brazilian singer/songwriter who was also a member of Os Mutantes.

The keyboard riff in Rita's hit song Lanca Perfume was pretty much borrowed from What A Fool Believes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFIqVUrh3zw

Her song Caso S�rio (Serious Case) is so good. You must check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuulaErXY-0

Julia's Maravilhosamente Bem sounds similar to Rita's Atl�ntida.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMWRPbxUBnQ

Date: Fri, May 09, 2025, 13:43:46 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

I like that Julia Mestre stuff you posted Michael, almost sounds like a Brazilian version of some of the Japanese 'City Pop' stuff I've been listening to after a link to it was posted here a few years back.

On an unrelated matter......one week 'till YGSF live in Glasgow!

Date: Fri, May 09, 2025, 09:53:41 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Yesterday Julia Mestre released her excellent new album Maravilhosamente Bem (Marvellously Well). Here's a selection of tracks.


Maravilhosamente Bem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSqC11rIBcs

Sentimento Blues - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdxAVQOT4H4

Marinou, Limou - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NODA1ohgC38

Seu Romance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2x9x9luq38


Friendly reminder that both The Doobie Brothers and Monkey House release new albums on June 6th.

Date: Thurs, May 08, 2025, 00:08:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

M.E: thanks for the link. So, Denny was the mixmaster...and I laughed when he stated his affinity for Fire in the Hole and Turn That Heartbeat Over Again from CBAT. Those are my two favorites, and pretty jazzy numbers.

Date: Tues, May 06, 2025, 03:05:02 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Watched the very last episode of "Bosch" on Amazon. # 90. All were really good.
This one had a surprising SD reference in it:

https://www.threads.com/@glenjake/post/DIshUlQPEId?xmt=AQGzNXgEItgaqoMb3nT-8GqAiEQF9A0xJTM_H6f4cC7WKQ

Date: Mon, May 05, 2025, 21:51:20 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

moray, like you I would have liked to hear the Gold Teeth discussion. But was quite impressed overall. What a terrific and humble guy. And he spoke very highly of both Walt and Don. Impressive.

Date: Mon, May 05, 2025, 20:13:21 ET
Posted by: moray eel, S

Dean: It was a decent interview. I wish they would have talked about the solos on Your Gold Teeth and Your Gold Teeth II, but it was still fantastic to hear Denny tell some of the stories.

m.e.

Date: Mon, May 05, 2025, 19:42:32 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Finally! That sitar video teaser had me looking a few times a day.

Thanks, Mr eel

Date: Mon, May 05, 2025, 17:02:28 ET
Posted by: moray eel, M

Beato�s interview with Denny Dias.

https://youtu.be/-QBabd3dYPc?si=7ye8UASBsZp7k067

m.e.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2025, 20:27:20 ET
Posted by: moray eel, S

Comparing Donald Fagen to Stanley Kubrick:

Both born in the New York City area.
Both of Jewish descent.
Both moved to Los Angeles early in their careers.
Both got out of Los Angeles after a few years.
Both were known as perfectionists, demanding take after take.
Both released 13 major pieces of work. Kubrick=Fear and Desire through Eyes Wide Shut. Fagen=Can�t Buy a Thrill through Sunken Condos.
Both started at other companies, but found their way to Warner Brothers.
Both were table tennis enthusiasts.
Both were fans of Nabokov. Kubrick worked with Nabokov on the screenplay for Lolita. Fagen�s admiration for Nabokov is mentioned in interviews.
Both admired the writers of black comedy like Terry Southern. Southern received a writing credit for Dr. Strangelove.
Screenwriter,Jay Cocks, obtained the rights to the work that became Eyes Wide Shut. Jay Cocks also wrote an interesting review of Gaucho.
For those who require more numerology, Stanley Kubrick and Donald Jay Fagen both have 14 letters.

m.e.

Date: Sat, May 03, 2025, 07:29:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Of course songwriting is the key ingredient, the glue which makes everything else stick together. The arrangements, performances and production are the icing on the cake.

Date: Fri, May 02, 2025, 18:58:50 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

whole package (autocorrected)

Date: Fri, May 02, 2025, 18:57:47 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I'd argue it's the meticulous yet spontaneous craftsmanship that goes into the song.

Personally, besides the awesome "dry" drums, I think Shawn uses a few too many cutesy 70s effects, although some of that is the vintage gear. One Pleasure, and parts of Ticket to Shangri-Las you can hear the ghost notes and subtle rhythm changes and fills.

Andy Platts has a knack for transitions, modulations, bridges that separate the songs from even 70s SOR AOR stuff. In its full monty mode I'd argue that Burning Daylight is a better composition and fuller arrangement and production than the Ambrosia staple.


I'm not sure they are Fagen level yet (the bridge on Tomorrow's Girls or Snowbound - are you kidding me?)

But 0:38 on Born to Dream

0:47 Stevie & Sly

0:33 Put Up your Dukes

0:27 The Greatest Loser

0:43, 0:48, 0:56 Stealing Time (trifecta transitions)


and countless others. Platt's songs on Mamas Gun's Golden Days displays this kind of acumen. I think the who package here is more mature, yet connected emotionally. There's more of a loserdome set of stories.

I expect Crashbox to step up like the deep tracks on Remember the Audio.

Date: Fri, May 02, 2025, 16:34:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

One cannot help but draw comparisons with 70s and 80s since YGSF's music derives influences from artists of that era. Their music stands strong upon its own two feet regardless whether anyone notices those influences, and through it all YGSF have developed, honed and polished their own sound rather nicely.

Together Andy and Shawn capture a certain magic which no other artist today can replicate, including artists *from* the 70s and 80s. Nobody else can seamlessly transition from funk to boogie-pop to AOR while retaining such a high level of quality. YGSF truly are a class act.

Date: Fri, May 02, 2025, 12:03:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

The winners on Pleasure are not only Platts' songwriting with Shawn Lee and his production/engineering skills but the vintage gear and analog recording methodology.

YGSF has progressed more toward R&B and funk - compare with the first album. But it has been incremental. The fidelity has improved. They are up to Quincy Jones recording acumen. It's important to point out the incredible craftsmanship in the songwriting, expected and unexpected. In the Sistine chapel does one of the 100s of masterpiences painted on the wall detract from the others?

The entire album is just fantastic and digs a little deeper that their previous opuses (opi?). All winners. At this point it's easier to compare and contrast YGSF's work to itself rathern than the 70s comparisons.

My favorites for now are

The Greatest Loser - I'm not an A&R guy, but if I was this would have been the lead single - great dynamics and mega hooks. So Steely:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKGKbOgQsLI

Just for Pleasure - setting the standard. I hear as much Prince as Quincy Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMuciItHj4g

Late Night Last Train - takes the melancholy and wistfulness of Midnight in Richmond and augments the LA dreaming allegory. Love the intervals used in the chorus. Peaks when Andy sings with overdubs a ridiculous chord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssS63XI1xgw

Burnin' Daylight. It's not the Ambrosia Call and Response chorus (the Ambrosia song begins with the chorus and has a bridge, but has no verse) for me, but it's the EWF horns in the verse and Andy Platts classic transitions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9iXjiWvpCM

Holding Back the Fire - Classic Nile Rodgers rhythm guitar and another classic altered blues verse. The ability of Platts' to overdub and basically sing chords. Nice little jazzy Rhodes solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QlatMvmpCY

Date: Fri, May 02, 2025, 11:01:16 ET
Posted by: Michael,

As with Ticket to Shangri-La, Pleasure is comprised of gems which sound like long lost hits from yesteryear.

Stevie & Sly is polished soul-funk goodness. Born To Dream comfortably bops along to a McDoobies vibe.
Burning Daylight and Late Night Last Train would slip comfortably into any classic pop/rock radio setlist.
Just For Pleasure follows closely in the footsteps of the boogie-pop epitomized by Rod Temperton, while Holding Back The Fire's 70s-style funk groove summons a rich soulful harmony Stevie & Sly would be proud of.
Put Up Your Dukes and Stealing Time bring us more of that breezy AOR goodness, intimate and refreshing, like a gentle breeze in the summer shade.
The Greatest Loser is about the closest the boys come to sounding anything like Steely Dan, much along the lines of Any Major Dude.
One Horse Race is a fitting end to the album, a mellow rock number that rides the listener off into the sunset.

All in all Pleasure is another quiver in the cap of Shawn Lee and Andy Platts who continue to deliver the goods and surpass expectations, continuing along the well-trodden road they've traveled on for nearly a decade, and while it doesn't break new ground that's not really what they're attempting to do here and therefore it would be most unfair to critique them for lack of change. After all, why reinvent the wheel when the round one works fine? The boys are resolutely consistent in quality output and that counts for a lot, especially when you consider how many artists lapse creatively after a short period of time. I hope they continue doing what they do best.

Next stop, Monkey House's Crashbox.

Date: Thurs, May 01, 2025, 11:44:42 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Abu, you said, "No other artist comes close to the amount of great tunes on each record. Period." I'm not disputing this. SD didn't produce mediocre albums. EMG, which is my least favorite of theirs, still had moments of brilliance like Green Book and Lunch With Gina. Even most of their unreleased *throwaway* stuff is incredible. It boggles the mind how songs like The Bear, Kulee Baba and I Can't Write Home About You were left of the cutting room floor.

Doc, every track on 'Pleasure' sounds excellent. We'll know in less than 24 hours.

Listening to those sound clips is a strange phenomenon, like hearing some greatest hits album from an artist nobody knew about from back in the day. On TV they used to air commercials for compilation albums all the time, stuff like AM Gold, things like that. This is giving off a similar vibe, strangely familiar but brand new, and I'm here for it.

Date: Wed, April 30, 2025, 13:43:42 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Pearl of the Quarter, Change of the Guard...yeah, that's about it on the skip overs.

Date: Wed, April 30, 2025, 13:42:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Abu,

Yes - I've always been a fan of SD's "deep tracks." There's that Stevie Wonder depth to their catalog that is rare indeed. Often I like the deep tracks better than the singles.

Picking just 3 deep track favs from each album:

CBAT: Fire in the Hole, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, Only a Fool Would Say That

CTE: Razor Boy, Your Gold Teeth I, King of the World

KL: Doctor Wu, Your Gold Teeth II, Any World

RS: Caves of Altamira, Green Earrings, Don't Take Me Alive

Aja: Black Cow, Home at Last, Title track was technically not a single

Gaucho: Babylon Sisters, Glamour Profession, Gaucho

TVN: Janie Runaway (was supposed to be the lead single), Almost Gothic, West of Hollywood

EMG: Green Book, Pixeleen, Lunch with Gina

It would be easier to count the skip overs: Charlie Freak (sorry), Cousin Dupree (not sorry), Last Mall, Blues Beach - which A&R guys released the 21st Century singles?

Date: Wed, April 30, 2025, 13:07:02 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

It's higher end but more organic and digs/grooves harder and deeper. The Greatest Loser sounds like that long lost Steely song missing from the Gaucho, Aja, or Katy outtakes. Just for Pleasure is straight out of the Quincy jones playbook. More R&B digs deep on Stealing Time. All thrill. No fill. The full montys arrive at the door in two days.

Date: Wed, April 30, 2025, 12:40:21 ET
Posted by: Abu, Good, Bad & Ugly?...No, just Good

.
In my book, SD and DF (solo) tunes are always one of three things as I have rated them through the years:
.
Good
Very Good
Excellent
.
Really, only one tune in their entire catalog that I was not real fond of is Show Biz Kids. But even that song was better than most other artist's throw away tunes.

No other artist comes close to the amount of great tunes on each record. Period.
.

Date: Wed, April 30, 2025, 10:48:05 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Dr. H�ND, nothing wrong with having favorites. Everybody's got 'em. Some of my favorite non-radio hit SD tracks include Only A Fool Would Say That, Throw Back The Little Ones and Glamour Profession, but then I like roughly 90% or more of their catalog, so it's subject to change.

For the record I can't think of a single artist whose works I like 100% of. 9 out of 10 is strong for any artist.

Doc, YGSF uploaded the Side B teasers. All I can say is 'Pleasure' is shaping up to be one of the best albums of the decade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Z1-x1MvPE

If I may ask, where'd you hear that rumor about the vintage SD chorus?



Fonteyn - Holdin' On

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qm_rG3WO4Y

Sparklmami - fajas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LCfSScTeq4

Flavien Berger, La Brume - Sillons (Abyssinie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPdl0llSTCU

Stereolab - Melodie Is A Wound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nndpg90P2O8

Julia Mestre - Vampira

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5c_ZW98PJc

Date: Wed, April 30, 2025, 03:02:35 ET
Posted by: Dr. H�ND , You got to shake it baby

Ambrosia was a cool band (first two albums) until they became a SoCal version of Air Supply.

K, haven�t been here in awhile. You�re all welcome. I do remember seeing a top ridiculous 100 or something rated SD songs. I think the list itself was sketch but I find it hard to criticize Deacon Blues as a number one song. But arbitrarily rating Dan songs is dumb and a fool�s errand. Without further ado here�s my selective superior exclusive non-pedestrian top five only:

1. Here at the Western World
2. Everything You Did
3. Aja
4. Show Biz Kids or Time Out of Mind (BlueBook fan selection)
5. Rikki

Go ahead and mock me.

Date: Tues, April 29, 2025, 18:15:43 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

Yeah, I think we're going to find more of those Quincy Jones - Ted Temperton - Jay Graydon production tracks with an infusion of funk and R&B. The funny thing about Ambrosia is that they are mostly a prog band with a few R&B hits. More horns, bass, digging deeper...tastes of MJ, Kool and the Gang, EWF. That Ted Temperton co-penned Moonshine single from a couple of years ago could be a nice direction. Rumor has it that there may be a song with a chorus that is vintage SD...I've got vinyl and acetate on the way (not paying for Amazon streaming). Pre-ordered the new one from Monkey House to score that bonus track.

Date: Tues, April 29, 2025, 07:14:47 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Speaking of which, here's the Side A teaser for YGSF's new album. 'Burning Daylight' sounds awesome, even if its arrangement is almost a 1:1 copy of Ambrosia's 'Biggest Part of Me'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yle9aKLo9w0

I'm sure they'll have up the teaser for Side B soon enough. Hopefully Monkey House will upload teaser sound clips for Crashbox.

Date: Tues, April 29, 2025, 06:25:24 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Thanks guys, this will help.
Every time I�m doing this, hoping it�s that last time switching formats but who knows, perhaps things will come full circle and we�re going all vinyl again.
By then, one of Elon�s robots will have to take it out of the sleeve and put it on, then switch from a to B sides.

Date: Mon, April 28, 2025, 10:49:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

YGSF did a cool video for 'Born To Dream'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbFGhD8R9kU

May 2nd is YGSF's new album Pleasure, followed by MH's new album Crashbox on June 6th. And there's a lot more where that came from. It would be El Supremo if Donald releases a new album but we'll just have to wait and see.

I should have a new playlist sometime soon.

Date: Sun, April 27, 2025, 18:37:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Erratum:

Under Advanced Open File > Under File (upper left of the new dialog box) Do *NOT* click on a pipe rather than a file.

The sound quality was excellent.

Date: Sun, April 27, 2025, 18:33:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I'm on a Mac, for clarity.

Date: Sun, April 27, 2025, 18:32:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Lutz: I just tried a few permutations. On VLC:

File > Open File to nab individual files

File > Advanced Open File for

Files
Folders (Check on "treat as a pipe rather than a file")
CDs
Network (URL - I assume YT)
Capture Audio or Video for input from cameras or microphones

You may need to play around and find what suits you best. There are options.

Date: Sun, April 27, 2025, 07:24:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Lutz, if you have music files on your PC then you can go into the folder, use the 'select all' option and drag and drop them into VLC player, or, conversely, drag the folder itself into VLC. Using the second option may result in your playlist being non-alphabetized. If that happens simply right-click on any song in VLC and choose the 'Sort By' option to easily remedy this.

Once your playlist is properly assembled in VLC click on 'Media > Save Playlist to File' from the toolbar to save it under any title you choose.

Done.

Date: Sun, April 27, 2025, 05:54:37 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Thanks Doc and Michael,
Can one import Apple Music playlists into VCL player Michael?
It�s tiresome starting over and over again.
I thought I had it figured out when I put a Pioneer Cd/Tape combo in my truck 25 years ago.
Of course it was promptly removed via break in in San Fran.

Date: Sat, April 26, 2025, 21:10:51 ET
Posted by: Updraught, Philly Area

Thank you, Doc Mu, this worked very well!!

Date: Sat, April 26, 2025, 16:36:45 ET
Posted by: Abu, Another Zingg Gem

Another Drew Zingg gem called Bird of Beauty, a video of him playing virtually throughout the 7-plus minute tune with the GamperDrums band (Chris Hamper on drums). The cam gets real close to Drew about halfway thru, with a nice bass solo by Jonathan Herrera included.

https://youtu.be/jX_pIBVyuOo?si=wVAFJzlgzlTgrDZt
.

Date: Sat, April 26, 2025, 08:33:19 ET
Posted by: Jan, F

Gaucho Trivia: Tom Scott said on Instagram that �You got to shake it baby� on the outro to Babylon Sisters was completely ad libbed by Valerie Simpson.

Date: Sat, April 26, 2025, 07:03:02 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I don't recall being as hyped for a new album as I was in the months leading up to the release of TAN. It was an event, the first new SD album in over two decades. Visiting the official website for any morsel of new info I could gleam, listening to the sound clips dozens of times in a row... There was nothing else quite like it.

Date: Fri, April 25, 2025, 18:16:20 ET
Posted by: Abu, Players Please

Drew Zingg was featured on a 2016 album by the Wide Hive Players entitled Players Please. An instrumental jazz album. Here is the Y-T link for the that album:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lImiWIz-RTfKDBo4DYLcXqTTMPYmf7a9k&si=6yxPYiPY8dJDXRmh
.

Date: Fri, April 25, 2025, 16:09:08 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Lutz, Updraught,

I found a free Switch program (Mac compatible) that I used translated the FLAC file into an AAC/mp4 file. It integrated seamlessly into Apple Music with high sound quality.

https://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html?srsltid=AfmBOor2dSsVRzyLkA8goYyqb7jniq1emrQvAT9IlObxOdPMslIZCqnM


YGSF dropped a video for Born to Dream:

The McD/SD bounce is nice. Moreso, I enjoyed the little Fageny turnaround figure 1:34 - 1:45. There's something similar on Fagen's tune for Diana Ross, although wow the chords on Love Will Make it Right (but not really) are so high end.

2:10

https://youtu.be/jIsD9C7Rk6c?si=7LCy64R85OhXExfV



Great bridge, too @ 2:08 on Born to Dream

Date: Fri, April 25, 2025, 08:22:48 ET
Posted by: Michael,

https://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Date: Fri, April 25, 2025, 08:22:03 ET
Posted by: Michael,

If I understood Doc's post he used an audio converter program to change it to something playable. For whatever reason Apple's music player isn't compatible with FLAC files so if you want to play your MH track in there you'll need to first convert it to something like a WAV file, or you could always download a more versatile audio player such as VLC media player which should do the trick.

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 21:11:35 ET
Posted by: Updraught, Philly Area

Doc Mu, I have the same issue as Lutz.

Please post if you determine a way to play the FLAC file in Apple Music.

Thanks!

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 19:50:05 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Doc, I had the same problem on IMac.
Default player QuickTime would not open it because it was a data file.
Can you share how you got it to work on Apple Music?
I downloaded the FLAC file to an older Windows computer and it works but I cannot play it in my post cd player car either. Thanks.

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 13:30:54 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Well that was easy, breezy - another version of a converter program online and we're in. I bought a hybrid recently that has a little power but doesn't sip a lot of petrol, and I don't have to charge it for 45 minutes every 200 miles (assume one can find a charging station)...the tradeoff is no CD/DVD disc player.

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 13:11:07 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Mt. B, Abu: Advance purchase was worth it. Moving in Time is so full of life story, production with a full dance of voices: piano, backing vocals, horns, etc.

Weirdly, I downloaded the FLAC file, but, oddly, it won't play on Apple music (the App Formerly Known as iTunes), but prompted me to buy yet another multimedia/audio program called Switch. No mas - I have enough streaming service, audio streaming mouths to feed! Fortunately, it will play on QuickTime player, which has be reduced to a backup system on my computer after its glory days (Tim Cook, you bastard!).

I'll figure out a hack to convert the FLAC files to Apple Music/iTunes readable files by the drop date in May.

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 13:11:06 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Mt. B, Abu: Advance purchase was worth it. Moving in Time is so full of life story, production with a full dance of voices: piano, backing vocals, horns, etc.

Weirdly, I downloaded the FLAC file, but, oddly, it won't play on Apple music (the App Formerly Known as iTunes), but prompted me to buy yet another multimedia/audio program called Switch. No mas - I have enough streaming service, audio streaming mouths to feed! Fortunately, it will play on QuickTime player, which has be reduced to a backup system on my computer after its glory days (Tim Cook, you bastard!).

I'll figure out a hack to convert the FLAC files to Apple Music/iTunes readable files by the drop date in May.

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 04:03:57 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

Abu, If you order Crashbox in advance from Alma Records, they send you a download of Moving In Time. Check here: https://shopalmarecords.com/collections/music/products/crashbox-pre-order-the-new-monkey-house-album

Excellent song, happy to send some money MH's way for all the enjoyment their music regularly gives me.

Mt. Belzoni

Date: Thurs, April 24, 2025, 00:23:54 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

A lot of great deep tracks on AM Waves. A real knack for harmonies.

Kingston Boogie:

https://youtu.be/0CNhjTbo65I?si=qzHY2JT8bV9KU0ui

Midnight in Richmond:

https://youtu.be/QH70MOQwnVg?si=RLPfWXL_L_z9IMgc

Date: Wed, April 23, 2025, 21:31:06 ET
Posted by: Abu, Moving In Time w/MH

Mt. Belzoni, or anyone else, where can I find Moving in Time by Monkey House?
.

Date: Wed, April 23, 2025, 16:48:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, 'Take It or Leave It' is one of my favorite tracks off that album.

Date: Wed, April 23, 2025, 12:49:54 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

M.E.: Dias is super dry, but he's going to lay down some good info and stories.

Michael: Very McDoobie bouncy. Much like Take it or Leave It from AM Waves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZLx6NdKaZc

Date: Wed, April 23, 2025, 09:39:54 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Another YGSF track 'Born To Dream' just dropped. It's another winner. Has an 80s feel with bouncy chords similar to 'What a Fool Believes'. Somewhat reminiscent of Hall & Oates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ji6rgPZ2E0

Date: Tues, April 22, 2025, 22:50:59 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Moray,

Thanks for the heads up

Date: Tues, April 22, 2025, 19:32:12 ET
Posted by: moray eel, RB

Denny Dias was interviewed by Rick Beato. That will be posted soon.

m.e.

Date: Tues, April 22, 2025, 17:44:45 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Sunny Indy

It ain't Random Spam, but news about The Royal Scam...

https://jambands.com/news/2025/04/22/steely-dans-the-royal-scam-will-return-to-vinyl-after-40-years/

Happy Earth Day!

Date: Sun, April 20, 2025, 18:43:25 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

Both eagerly-awaited new Monkey House tunes are wonderful. Of the two, I prefer the "bonus" track Moving In Time (really strong lyric), and recommend that folks pre-purchase at the Alma site so as not to miss out. Surprised that this cut didn't make the album.

Hoping to see the Dan get back on the road this summer. Wouldn't MH be a perfect opening act?

Mt. Belzoni

Date: Sat, April 19, 2025, 15:46:17 ET
Posted by: Abu,

.
Thank you, Michael. Both links work for me. Great MH tune, like, fer sure.
.

Date: Sat, April 19, 2025, 11:33:40 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Thank you kind sir!

Date: Sat, April 19, 2025, 11:18:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Try this.

https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=FHy3LUmDWeA

Date: Sat, April 19, 2025, 10:37:54 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Yeah, having the same problem accessing the new MH track on Y/T and Spotify. Seem to remember having the same issues initially here in the UK with previous MH releases.

Date: Fri, April 18, 2025, 17:15:10 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Lutz, if you're interested, Genevieve Artadi also did a track titled 'Know What' with Zach Phillips, best known for his work in the group Fievel is Glauque.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duiMCY2czEY

Date: Fri, April 18, 2025, 17:07:47 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Abu, try this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHy3LUmDWeA

Sublime. Definitely leaning heavily on the Aja/Gaucho Dan vibes. Nice chord changes and silky smooth horns (I'm guessing Michael Leonhart arranged the horn charts). Don's singing in on point and all involved are locked in tight to the groove. Dynamic mastering. Really good job. I'll pick up this up on iTunes.

Date: Fri, April 18, 2025, 16:52:31 ET
Posted by: Abu, It Don't Work

.
Monkey House new single shows on Spotify but it doesn't work. It says "the tracks on this release are not available"
.

Date: Fri, April 18, 2025, 14:47:18 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Monkey House single "Someplace in Madison" now on iTunes.
Great piece w Michael Leonhart solo.

Thanks for playlist, Michael.
That's the lady from Knower in the first clip, very talented.

Date: Fri, April 18, 2025, 10:43:08 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Thanks for the link Lutz. I'm gonna wait to hear at least some of MH's new album before investing to be certain I'm getting the goods. Besides, it's not out until June 6th. There's several new albums on the horizon which I'm interested in including Jamiroquai's sometime later this year.

In the meantime here's some new music worth checking out.


Genevieve Artadi with Norrbotten Big Band - Life Exploder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyC_Wndwwug

Rosie Frater-Taylor - Give & Take

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXzsFehwCEU

Azymuth - Andara�

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzCTg0Peybk

Σtella - Adagio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ByFni-WyaU

Gracie Terzian - Saints and Poets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKbCoO2jNK8

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 17:34:41 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Michael:

https://shopalmarecords.com/collections/music/products/crashbox-pre-order-the-new-monkey-house-album

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 16:40:28 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Lutz, I've searched everywhere for this Japan-only bonus track but could find no info. Where did you preorder it from?

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 16:22:50 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

After pre-ordering, downloaded bonus track "Moving in time" , which is featured on Japanese version only.
Gorgeous!

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 14:54:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Lutz: Yeah, I learned my lesson the hard way on Remember the Audio and lossless/FLAC (as in don't give me no...). Thanks for the tip on Apple Music - I traded in Spotify for Apple.

Michael, Steve: Yes, Late Night Last Train is real (organic/analog) and it's spectacular. You can't unhear that chorus in a good way. A tasty guitar solo is actually spliced in the middle of the chorus. It should be a hit in any decade...but were in sort of post music/remember the audio times.

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 13:41:37 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Don said on X that Apple Music and the other services will have the song by Friday.
I am pre ordering the upgraded FLAC 192 version, which I also did with "Remembering The Audio" and was absolutely amazing. It comes with a instantly downloadable bonus track.

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 12:51:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Hoops (AKA Fearless Leader), thanks for that update. But FYI the youtube link is currently unavailable.

I don't have a spotify account, but I'll find it somewhere.

Date: Thurs, April 17, 2025, 09:34:26 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Ladies and gentlemen, HERE IT COMES! The latest and greatest from Don Breithaupt and Monkey House! Coming June 6! The first single featuring Michael Leonhart available for your pleasure now! Check out the deets below. The next great music we're all gonna be looking forward to. Reserve your COPIES now!

Breaking: �Someplace on Madison,� the first single from the forthcoming Monkey House album Crashbox, is now live! It features a trumpet solo by the amazing Michael Leonhart, and is one of twelve songs on the new album. Crashbox drops worldwide on June 6.

PLEASE pre-save the album on your streamer of choice, or, even better, pre-order the album (selected links below). The music biz is more and more like the film biz, in that a big opening weekend is crucial. Pre-orders and pre-saves count toward things like our Billboard and iTunes chart positions.

Also: save the single to your Spotify (or other) library. Enjoy! Share! Tell your friends!

Everybody in the band, including Don, is convinced this is their best work yet, from a songwriting / performance / production standpoint! More to come...

Spotify single link: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Uvxwl9HZwompmkZtw6G9Y?si=570968bc4e4143fe

YouTube single clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJDoCJ29s68&list=OLAK5uy_npND_3UX23Wfb9a70LJTsBGgo8L2SHyMA&index=3

Amazon album pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/Crashbox-Monkey-House/dp/B095LPB6CY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LBX0LQ0RDPO8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.arYkLUFvBsfLh0gge7VGuqJBmeeHo4dNMmYVjoOh2WYuxvQS3ok2uAYUgnQop-2Fl-Mbk6Ca4wsNjHW8litNZ4tPlg69fXNfYwNqI2oP7G-29cOUwbqE3vMuwcW7LXeNTitHKKhM7gulhNcGXsMcq1Q9zakR-NdqcZ8NGJbqo_oOgkgtOhhCpLjQqANCxFNFUcHXojM2ucvqSTElU-W0jAkN52h0V40DmoP4zO6Mwdw.xbyYz6K_bjr9SKapVGQ8GuOjFUXBMBLQS7RL6m6_6hk&dib_tag=se&keywords=monkey+house&qid=1744893954&s=music&sprefix=monkey+house%2Cmusic-intl-ship%2C100&sr=1-1

ALMA store direct pre-order: https://shopalmarecords.com/collections/music/products/crashbox-pre-order-the-new-monkey-house-album

Linkfire multi-link: https://monkeyhouse.lnk.to/SomeplaceOnMadison

Date: Tues, April 15, 2025, 12:54:20 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Listened to "Late Night Last Train" for the first time (thanks for the link) then immediately after, headed out for a cycle ride as part of my ongoing attempts to stave off encroaching decrepitude. The hook from the chorus was there with me for the duration. Says it all really!

Date: Tues, April 15, 2025, 10:43:33 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I should've said *falsely present.

Date: Tues, April 15, 2025, 10:39:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Late Night Last Train is phenomenal. Had it come out in the late 70s or early 80s it would've become a hit song + radio staple.

It's truly sad how few people are aware this music even exists, especially much of the older generations caught in a perpetual cycle of listening exclusively to oldies, their perception being tainted by certain prominent social media personalities who pose as vanguards of quality music yet who choose to falsely represent the Apple or Spotify Top 10s as being representative of all modern music. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Date: Tues, April 15, 2025, 06:25:57 ET
Posted by: popegreg, In a city by a lake.

Freddie Washington makes a couple of brief appearances in the new documentary We Want The Funk, about the history of funk music. I thought it was decent but could have spent more time on some of the more obscure American funk acts instead of trying to tie it to Afro Beat to show the international influence. The doc might still be running on your local PBS station as an episode of Independent Lens, but they have also uploaded it to YouTube:

https://youtu.be/QrgV35cBHVs

Date: Sun, April 13, 2025, 21:49:04 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Reggae Sunday!

Doc, that was my first Steely Dan concert. Zing was terrific as was the entire band.

Date: Sat, April 12, 2025, 23:08:46 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Drew: That '93 tour with Zingg and Erskine. It was special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3uNhDxcYJg

Date: Sat, April 12, 2025, 22:44:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Damn. RIP Drew. Loved his tone. Don B and Drew really lifted the MH Remember the Audio album to new heights. The album's darker that previous and a little more Steely in attitude, and triggered me to dump Spotify, as my premie account continually reverted back to a reg. sub with bad audio.

The Future is Almost Gone - there's a Royal Scam vibe and Drew's solo is killer.

The deep tracks in the heart of Remember the Audio album are mighty.

Before You and After is probably my fav. Like some of Donald's Great Pagoda of Funn chords merged with a large dose of Walter fatalism. Zingg's emotive guitar solo captures the bluesy desperation of the track. It's damn good.




The new YGSF single Late Night Last Train is out - just a mega series of earworms. The chorus melody and harmonies are among/maybe their best.

https://youtu.be/ssS63XI1xgw?si=KCFXKXBdNN0WBDdX

It's also damn good.

Date: Sat, April 12, 2025, 15:54:26 ET
Posted by: Abu, Sad News

.
Sad news indeed. RIP Drew Zingg.
.

Date: Sat, April 12, 2025, 05:33:52 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBN9QY118qQ

Date: Fri, April 11, 2025, 23:13:35 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_u2hzkaJr4

Ringo Zingg
"This is all you need to appreciate Drew�s genius as a guitarist."

Date: Fri, April 11, 2025, 19:20:37 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, US

Re: the NYC tour helicopter crash. Roger Nichols wrote that John Denver once invited he and Donald on a sunset helicopter tour around Manhattan. He didn�t say if either of them took him up on it.

Date: Fri, April 11, 2025, 17:11:43 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Sad news. RIP. Abu posted a couple of tracks back in January featuring Drew.

Date: Fri, April 11, 2025, 11:09:11 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Dirk, thank you for sharing this terrible news. I really like Zing's playing. He was terrific on that tour with the boys.

Very sad. RIP Drew Zing

Date: Fri, April 11, 2025, 03:52:59 ET
Posted by: dirk, western world

RIP Drew Zingg

https://www.reddit.com/r/SteelyDan/comments/1jwbjgp/rip_drew_zingg/

Dirk

Date: Wed, April 09, 2025, 18:10:13 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist full of cool stuff.


Butcher Brown - Change in Weather Feat. MIA GLADSTONE (Official Audio)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtXmZ6qHcpc

Thee Sacred Souls - Lucid Girl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zABTJnZbRoA

Gianni Brezzo - Sprechiamo!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce6wi99IFnI

Stereolab - Aerial Troubles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJemGVwGWNE

Ultra Combo - Jungle (from "Contra")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvYhe5eHDTg

Lavinia Blackwall - The Making

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGM-Dim6wrk



Here's the tracklist for YGSF's new album 'Pleasure' which releases May 2nd.

1. Stevie & Sly
2. Born To Dream
3. Late Night Last Train
4. Burning Daylight
5. Holding Back The Fire
6. Just For Pleasure
7. Put Up Your Dukes
8. The Greatest Loser
9. Stealing Time
10. One Horse Race

Date: Mon, April 07, 2025, 07:48:48 ET
Posted by: Michael,

It's a decent solo cover, thanks for posting.

Date: Sun, April 06, 2025, 13:52:41 ET
Posted by: Abu, Emotional Charlie

Here is a decent cover of Charlie Freak, with the performer adding a little emotion and slowing it down toward the end. This SD tune is very rarely covered.

https://youtu.be/PpIC-0JPJik?si=oiOINPIfyRRPsgAC
.

Date: Thurs, April 03, 2025, 10:40:19 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Behind The Track: Stevie & Sly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNsnWJ9MneM

Date: Tues, April 01, 2025, 21:25:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

One of my favorite MH tunes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmZwPfxslcs

to contemplate the macro...

Date: Tues, April 01, 2025, 14:38:28 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

well it wasn�t a sitar on Do It Again (or Bad Sneakers) either but a Coral �sitar guitar� which is just a guitar with a modified bridge to make the strings buzz.

the sitar effect on the Doobies tune might even be played on keyboard. a lot of the �banjo� being heard in modern country music is actually done on keys.

they never played Charlie Freak but speaking of one instrument sounding like another, Skunk did a pretty convincing string section on his pedal steel. I�ve heard him say that�s his favorite thing he ever did

Date: Mon, March 31, 2025, 08:47:33 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I just found out on that Doobie Brothers track Learn to Let Go that's *not* a sitar? I guess it must be an effect pedal for guitar. Really cool sound, different than the electric sitar Denny Dias played on Do It Again.

Did Steely Dan ever play Charlie Freak live?

Date: Sun, March 30, 2025, 09:49:36 ET
Posted by: moray eel, R

Rick Beato interviews Tom Scott

https://youtu.be/HGra9K1sUIA?si=WaTJFT-Fa_43XTPs

m.e.

Date: Sat, March 29, 2025, 08:46:47 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist. Enjoy.



南波志帆 (Shiho Nanba) - プールの青は嘘の青 (The Blue of the Pool is a Lie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0hlmmbKEjY

Soft Launch - Milkshakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWQykcME0-E

Alice Ivy - Howlin� At The New Moon feat. Mayer Hawthorne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKfCiKPcm6Y

Getdown Services - Get Back Jamie (Live From Outer Town)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j28OC6OQvg

Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 - Y Ferch Ar Y Cei (with Nina Miranda)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOxYv5rhx6w


Have a great weekend.

Date: Thurs, March 27, 2025, 13:28:24 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Obviously, much better engineering and production from Jay Graydon, songwriting, and performance by Al Jarreau (Grammy winning), execution by the musicians on We're in this Love Together...But I hear elements in the Mandoo song, which were its saving grace.

Part of The Wrecking Crew 2.0 of the late 70s, early 80s.

Drums: Steve Gadd
Bass: Abe Laboriel
Rhodes: Michael Omartian
Synth: Tom Canning, Michael Boddicker
Guitars: Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather (rhythm)
Alto Saxophone: Lon Price
Engineer, Producer: Jay Graydon


We're in this Love Together

https://youtu.be/qFnSA-V4iZc?si=s8undvYbkklfj5tZ


Breakin' Away (#1 on jazz, R&B album charts) and Jarreau (#1 on jazz, #4 on R&B album charts) are fantastic albums.

Date: Thurs, March 27, 2025, 13:01:24 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Seemed MOR at first, but enough jazzy chord changes on piano. I'll allow it.

Summer Breezin' - Mandoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvRtO9v_nFM

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 22:20:02 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Yeah, the Dixie Dregs were a fusion band that used to tour in GA, North Carolina. They were a touring mainstay and recorded albums in the 70s and 80s. I saw them in NC back in the day.

The the production and engineering things about the synth bands were
1. MTV fashion
2. Biased toward the high frequency end with compressed dynamic range.

Some of that was a product of some early digital recordings and still improving noise reduction systems. But mostly, the purpose was to pierce through car radios and tinny TV speakers of the 80s.

Talk Talk's second album began a journey with producer/keyboardist Tim Friese-Greene who wrote may of the songs with Mark Hollis towards jazz and post-rock albums: Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock. The latter albums influence Coldplay's albums including runner-up to Two Against Nature at the Grammys. The title track was a worldwide hit and is excellent.

IMO, Tomorrow Started, It's a Shame (based on Luke Reinhart's novel The Dice Man, Does Caroline Know evoke a synth - Pet Sounds vibe.

https://youtu.be/N5KdAXez6Yw?si=gW9rfjJ1p-EfD985

https://youtu.be/D78T-E7nXcc?si=0P-kCT7HnBxgZN0m

https://youtu.be/lLdvpFIPReA?si=oEBix2YIzBTu306T

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 17:41:38 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, you mentioned Little Feat understanding the groove which I think in many cases the environment people grow up in rubs off in a certain way which cannot be replicated in, say, a conservatory. There are certain things musicians inherit from relatives, friends and surroundings, intangibles which are arguably more important than any music course.

By the early 80s new wave/synth-pop, punk rock and hair metal bands were in vogue. Whereas in the 70s artists could get away with hiding in the shadows (or working in the studio as D&W were wont to do), having a marketable image became a prerequisite for artists to get mainstream exposure, especially with the advent of MTV. Suddenly, even non-musicians were being marketed for mass consumption (Milli Vanilli...). In an ironic twist, one of the best things to come out of the 80s was the death of disco, but I digress.

Steve Winwood's done some interesting work, Night Train being one of his lesser known gems. The 80s had its fair share of good organic stuff. The Dixie Dregs come to mind. Steve Morse and co. were laying down some killer tracks both in the studio and on the road. Albert Lee was (and is) one of the best all-around rock/country/blues guitarists. There was no shortage of talent. Sadly, what there was was a lack of airtime for many unsung musicians who were relegated to the sidelines.

Mark Knopfler must've liked Sergio Leone, naming that track after one of his most famous movies starring Charles Bronson and Jane Fonda. While I'm on the subject, Sergio's film Duck, You Sucker!, also known as A Fistful of Dynamite, starring James Coburn and Rod Steiger is one of my favorites. Ennio Morricone's soundtrack is phenomenal, perhaps his best work.

Gi� la Testa is one of the most beautiful songs ever composed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_imFm3FdFJE

Mesa Verde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGZ7LC3vKGo

I figli morti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yao9ucvhhmY

Added bonus: Gi� la Testa (In Concerto - Venezia 10.11.07)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmdu9VAkZ4s

Now *that's* orchestration.

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 15:52:17 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Last LF: The way to experience the 80s/90s, even today Little Feat is live. I remember those ACl concerts real time - smokin' There are DVDs out there. There's a Rockpalast concert as well from 1977. Dire Straits has an iconic Rockpalast recording from 1979.

Ohnefiler - a bit smaller, but captures the 80s/90s era. I wish the sound quality was a little better. Barerre on the slide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvm-nhb9Dfw

Their studio recordings usually, but not always, couldn't quite capture the Little Feat essence. Their songs had to breathe - live is direct involvement and no background.

Here's Mark Knopfler uncomfortably and hilariously introducing (wait until he guests on TOOM) Once Upon a Time in the West from the criminally overlooked Communiqu�. From the Rockpalast concert:

https://youtu.be/5SqqFeewq_8?si=YORjRnjPpy6O-uQZ

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 14:04:26 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu. ,

This may not be popular here but Billie Eilish/Finneas, Adele (sometimes) can access R&B/soul/jazz roots and write some very good songs...but the draw of Hollywood is strong. It's a struggle in a social media world.

I think SD (D&W) were arguably saved as songwriters and artists by a lack of social media back in the 70s, despising celebrity, and hate of LA/Hollywood...even of course giving them the artistic finger on show Biz Kids, which is on purpose a single chord vamp. In the 90s and 21st Century they were grown enough to laugh at social media and explore the dark underside.

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 11:42:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

"Before there was Pro-Tools, there were pros."

- Jay Graydon

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 11:38:43 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I think the groove was understanding the blues, honky tonk, and New Orleans music (jazz, boogie, , though only Kenny Gradney (bassist) was from NOLA. Bill Payne was from Texas, and he understood "roadhouse" music. Roadhouse the movie had that B-movie working class swag, and Little Feat captured it. CCR and Little Feat encapsulated a south Louisana musical culture across the timescape, through their core was from California.

Obviously, what's missing from the late 80s/early 90s stuff is Lowell George, but in my view they were one of the few bands that could still deliver music that had a foundation in blues, taking NOLA jazz and boogie with Texas honky tonk. The R&B/jazz/blues, root-inflected music was disappearing by 1990, so it was refreshing. No Fagen. No SD. Jay Graydon produced albums (ex. Al Jarreau) were no longer selling. The great music studios were being replaced by production with computers (aka Birth of the Cruel).

Stevie Winwood's Roll with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoGHGaN_HQs

Jude Cole's on-off Start the Car were like one-offs, trying too hard.

https://youtu.be/b9sS6IhZLto?si=OU7bzAsiZVNb_Pll

Ironically, these songs remind me of the more organic Jeff Healey Band, featured in Road House.

Sting had a string of solid albums, but he's more Bartok than blues despite his jazz roots.


There have been grunge, post-punk, and alternative rock upswells against the pop/hip-hop/metal/and synth "flotsam and jetsam" that are popular...but you have to dig to find music with soul.

Teddy Swims has some feel for the blues, but time will tell if he's a flash in the pan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gWIIIr2Asw


Music today is like the NBA in 1979 just before Bird and Magic entered. The good stuff is out there, but requires a lot of excavation from Magnolia Boulevard to Minneapolis to find it.

Date: Tues, March 25, 2025, 07:48:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, it's extremely well played stuff. These guys have chops. I think Little Feat's core strength is creating good groves that you can hang your hat on. The songwriting is kind of middle-of-the-road on those '88-'90 tracks but it's serviceable and I wouldn't mind it in the background.

Funny that Rad Gumbo track was used in the Patrick Swayze cult classic Road House.

Thanks for sharing.

Date: Mon, March 24, 2025, 23:31:03 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Yeah, Waiting for Columbus is a gold standard for live recordings. The instrument separation, space, clarity of the soundboard recording is nothing shot of Roger Nichols, Al Schmidt level amazing. I suspect they overdubbed the crowd noise at appropriate times and intensity.

All That You Dream is another amazing track from the album. Written by keyboardist Bill Payne and guitarist Paul Barrere.

https://youtu.be/yXGOZkej-qY?si=FCRUUxgPFhww5Hcf

Payne has toured with the Doobies and a slew of artists. Ritchie Hayward also toured with Linda Ronstadt and was in demand for session work.

Little Feat had a bit of a comeback in the late 80s a decade after George passed. They had some good song. A few lame music critics passed the work off as SD-lite. It's not classic Lowell George area stuff but well recorded and played. They were tight at playing loose if that makes sense.

Hate to Lose your Lovin' - that's a shuffle.

https://youtu.be/Cva6Es9igz4?si=VzkAwyPfAGqsCqD1

Rad Gumbo

https://youtu.be/M5HBTdsdKvY?si=BOfm4kY9e24SMaQB

Rep. the Mambo

https://youtu.be/CbD9tP5glQY?si=3-fn_Ku6AUxM1evK

Ingenue

https://youtu.be/p7hPsqmfaHs?si=JQumOYbpBUMUCC95

Date: Mon, March 24, 2025, 19:06:06 ET
Posted by: Michael,

That sort of folk & blues sensibility rubbed off on many 60s and 70s pioneers of AM/FM pop writers. Since the song forms are simple yet can be embellished in a myriad of ways it makes it palatable for songwriters to play around with.

The sitar (electric?) on Learn to Let Go is a nice touch. Gives the arrangement a little more zest.

The Little Feat track you posted was well mixed. Good separation in the percussion section. Never heard that one before.

Date: Mon, March 24, 2025, 16:43:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: Yeah, I want' expecting that Lowell George-like slide guitar by John McFee at the beginning of Walk This Road. Very nice and bluesy.


That reminds me that in the mid 70s Steely Dan (Porcaro, Gordon), Doobie Brothers (Hartman, Knudsen), Genesis (Collins, Bruford) featured 2 drummers when playing live in their prime.

Little Feat's Hayward almost sounded like two drummers with Sam Clayton on congas and percussion.

https://youtu.be/PiutmLNt5VI?si=4-RtAUNV4-v-hOei

Date: Mon, March 24, 2025, 07:53:27 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, it really threw me off guard with how close TDB came to their early 80s sound. Pleasantly surprised. 'Learn to Let Go' is a keeper for sure. Nice chord changes in there and MM's harmonies are rich and full.

The Dean, there's plenty of similar long videos on YouTube of AI music mixes like that, usually with random made up genres assigned to them.

Date: Sun, March 23, 2025, 23:26:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Learn to Let Go - that's not bad at all. MM sounds better than expected...but he can still deliver live. And I don't hear any perceptible auto-tune/pitch correction.

Walk this Road reminds me of Fagen's Confide in Me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq6HvgClzGI

Date: Sun, March 23, 2025, 22:16:26 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thanks, Michael. That explains a lot.

Date: Sun, March 23, 2025, 16:29:48 ET
Posted by: Michael,

It's not really a new genre, it's AI music.

Date: Sun, March 23, 2025, 12:33:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Reggae Sunday!

Tech Mo, I assume Mexican Space Funk is a genre of some sort. (That's what we need, more "genres"!) Can you recommend any particular band/artist you think represents the best of the genre?

Date: Sun, March 23, 2025, 10:37:47 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

Mexican Space Funk? Do any other Dan fans like this. I do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An8zOrbqwn0

Date: Sat, March 22, 2025, 07:37:31 ET
Posted by: Michael,

On June 6th The Doobie Brothers are releasing a new album titled Walk This Road with a lineup featuring Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee. A few tracks have been released including Walk This Road, Learn to Let Go, Call Me, and Lahaina.

Have a listen to Learn to Let Go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7247hlkjPU


A few days ago Kit Sebastian released a new song, Dehliz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zasLKY0D9Ww

Date: Thurs, March 20, 2025, 14:21:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Chicago in the 80s (Cetera/Foster period and beyond)...

Date: Thurs, March 20, 2025, 14:18:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,