Date: Tues, March 21, 2023, 23:11:58 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

modifying my post from March 23, 2003… Feeling even more gratitude for everyone. And of course, sad also to miss those were gone, starting with Walter, along with Marc and Bill, and so many others.

----
THANK YOU FOR 30 YEARS!

It was thirty years ago on March 23, 1993, that I started a mail list for Steely Dan fans based at my work server at the NSF Science & Technology Center for Superconductivity based at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign along with Northwestern University and University of Chicago. At the time, I was taking a break from working in and teaching architecture to pay off some student loans; so I took a job as an IT manager for a group of world renowned physicists. (One of those I worked for actually won a Noble Prize a few years later. I just worked on his PowerPoints.) It was the very first resource on the internet dedicated to Steely Dan fans. Our email address was steelydan@stcs.mrl. uiuc.edu —long enough for you? It was an outgrowth of a group of us fans at rec.music.gdead with hopes of starting rec.music. steelydan. For the rec. music groups, often you had to start as a mail list to prove interest. I never thought that the web or the internet would become as ubiquitous as it has. Some of you will remember that we used to have a Digest EVERY DAY, 365 days-a-year, when there wasn't anything else dedicated to Steely Dan on the net. (the alt group and Banyan Trees wasn't yet around). I think it was also about 30 years ago this weekend that tickets for the 1993 tour went on sale. I remember getting them for Chicago, Detroit and Indy.

After 30 years, it's been pretty amazing!

Thank you all for everything!!

Sincerely,

Jim aka hoops

Date: Tues, March 21, 2023, 23:04:18 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Regarding the last post, as I remember it was in probably April or so the whole EMG album was found streaming entirely, although in not the greatest audio quality, on one of the Microsoft forums. It disappeared super quick. That was when we used to have the GreenRoom chat supplementing the BlueBook. Several of us in the GreenRoomhad an impromptu listening party with that unofficial stream. I also remember the first two singles surfacing, as well as some interviews on the radio with Donald and Walter.

The blue book goes back to June 2001. You can actually can scroll down and link back to pretty much every bluebook post. So if you wanna go back 20 years, you probably can for most stuff. I was just scanning the March 2003 posts.

I was just scanning the March 2003 posts. I found a nice reminder that 20 years ago I made a post about the 10th anniversary of the Dandom Digest on March 23, 2003. Now this Thursday it'll be 30 years. And yes, the Dandom Digest still comes out on average something like once a month. Of course, back in 1993 it was every day.

Date: Tues, March 21, 2023, 22:30:31 ET
Posted by: 2003, 2003

anyone remember listening to the EMG stream, this time of year, 2003?

Date: Mon, March 20, 2023, 00:37:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Interesting point about Blues Beach, because it seems to work better after Godwhacker, as in going through the flotsam and jetsam post God Whacking.

TIMTM is a wry look at everything missed in the aftermath. The Last Mall, literally pulls the plug on the whole thing.

Date: Sun, March 19, 2023, 11:03:22 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Back with more great music for you to enjoy.

George Duke - Summer Breezin'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H45YSf3__f4

Paul Cherry - Between Me and Chicago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qMjAtWNXn4

Paul Cherry - Back On The Music!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aN8be9lekI

Mndsgn - Hope You're Doin' Better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Kk0a3IAY0

Fabio Concato - Domenica Bestiale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_20M1kzVSQ

Date: Sat, March 18, 2023, 09:01:05 ET
Posted by: Skip, US

Here's another (I think) recent Gadd interview about Aja.

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

Date: Sat, March 18, 2023, 07:26:26 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Back with more music.

Genevieve Artadi - Visionary

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

Mayer Hawthorne - Back Seat Lover

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

Kazumi Watanabe & Al Di Meola - Spain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfOQVZ_b3C8

Tom Scott - Car Wars

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

Yukika - Loving You

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

Ciao.

Date: Thurs, March 16, 2023, 11:03:26 ET
Posted by: dirk,

RIP Jim Gordon

Date: Wed, March 15, 2023, 20:59:37 ET
Posted by: Michael,

More great stuff.

14 Bis - Vale Do Pavao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_9L3y3n234

Gal Costa - Olhos Do Coração

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ5Y5HGEObw

Aca Seca Trio - Carcará

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IG_xQ5F5k

Juan Luis Guerra - Oficio De Enamorado

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

Date: Wed, March 15, 2023, 16:11:05 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Chris, some of the stuff I happen to randomly come across while looking up various artists while others I've gotten from scouring different sources. There's no static method to me finding stuff. Like for instance take that Katona Klári track. I happened upon it while looking up Hungarian music one day. It resonated with me despite not understanding what she's singing about. Figured maybe someone else would appreciate it so I posted it on here. A similar story goes with that Antis track. Was looking up Lithuanian music and stumbled upon that video. It was pretty wacky to watch but something about the music was strangely appealing.

I always purchase music that I like, that is when it's readily available. I'm not spending no $60-70 for an import CD of an obscure AOR artist from the early 1980s. I've been wanting to acquire Eric Tagg's Dreamwalkin' album for awhile now but it's always exorbitantly priced and not available through digital services like iTunes. Similarly, I've been wanting to get this track from library composer Geoff Bastow titled Up Market for a long time which is on a Bruton album The Video Age / BRI 11 but has yet to make its way to digital services. BRI 1 through 10 are readily available though. Ugh.

Listen to how good this is.

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

Date: Wed, March 15, 2023, 13:28:35 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Michael - I try to avoid it but still keep a subscription for discovery (which I then buy from the artist or Bandcamp when I like it - not into renting music). Hate to say it but the algorithm has me dialed in. But it's funny, I keep seeing stuff in my discover weekly just before or after you post about them, so maybe I'll cut out the middle man at some point. Where are you coming across this stuff?

Doc - I do the same with EMG. Probably got the idea from you or someone else here years ago. I don't typically feel the need to mess with album sequencing but between Side B being stronger than Side A, title track's opening and The Last Mall's ending etc ... it really does work better.

I will say Blues Beach has grown on me over the years ... I remember my first impression being that they were going for another Cousin Dupree, but it's a darker, lyrics a little more opaque, a few more musical left turns.

Date: Tues, March 14, 2023, 20:24:09 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Daylight

I would suggest that the Aja content begins at 34 minutes.

m.e.

Date: Tues, March 14, 2023, 19:46:35 ET
Posted by: W, C

Thanks for the Gadd video. Aja at 36:55.

Date: Tues, March 14, 2023, 18:16:25 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Steve

Steve Gadd interviewed by Rick Beato.

https://youtu.be/j8762lBtu9A

m.e.

Date: Sun, March 12, 2023, 16:55:52 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Jimmie: Absolutely. The new/added intro on NE corridor on Things I Miss the MOst is fantastic.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkkHX9uBaLg

...and the live performance of TIMTM overall has a lot more energy and organic feel. I also prefer this version to the album. The Last Mall and Blues Beach also distract from a superb and underrated album. When I play the tracks, I usually do it in reverse order. The intro to the title track emulates John Coltrane's beginning on A Love Supreme.

EMG
Lunch With Gina
Pixeleen
GreenBook
Slang of Ages
Godwhacker

are by far the strongest tracks on Everything Must Go.

then,
Blues Beach
TIMTM (live)
Last Mall (which ends suddenly as if nuked)

to finish up.

Date: Sun, March 12, 2023, 16:40:57 ET
Posted by: Jimmie, C

A nice surprise on N.E. Corridor for me has been Things I Miss the Most. I didn't think the version that made it on to EMG did it justice (a criticism that could perhaps be leveled against that entire album.) But this live recording of it with the extended intro just works better for me. I'll take it over the studio version any day.

Date: Sun, March 12, 2023, 16:26:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Agreed.

On the Japanese pressing of Ticket to Shangri La there's a gorgeous bonus track called Chances Are. I want it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYc2G-PfU10

Date: Sun, March 12, 2023, 15:32:31 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: The Three Sacred Souls track reminds me of some of the retro songs from Andy Platts other half, Mamas Gun. Tracks that could have ineed been recorded 50 years ago, but unfortunately largely ignored today.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gwc1i4fDxg

Although Steely Dan was/is packaged under "classic rock," their musici had a lot more in common with Atlantic Records, Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell/Philly sound that the rock of the 70s and even the Beatles as well.

Date: Sun, March 12, 2023, 09:44:16 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, this YGSF song is a new release. Andy Platts co-wrote Moonshine with Rod Temperton back in 2006, years before forming YGSF with Shawn Lee. I guess they felt the time was right to do justice to this track with years of experience under their belts. Fittingly it sounds like something recorded decades ago. There's just something unique about Rod Temperton's sense of harmonic movement married to his carefully constructed lyrics which aggrandizes the listening experience. Credit also goes to Andy as he had a role in its creation. How a song this delectable gets neglected while mainstream tosh gets millions of listens is beyond me. It's shameful how much excellent music is out there wallowing in obscurity.

If you enjoy soulful throwbacks then you can't miss with Thee Sacred Souls. Here's their track Easier Said Than Done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PN_-fY7hL8

Date: Sat, March 11, 2023, 23:24:12 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

A new digital release from Young Gun Silver Fox, written by Andy Platts and the late Rod Temperton (Michael Jackson, Shaka Khan)

I can hear both Platts (more in the verses) and Temperton (more in the chorus) in this one. Game knows game. Another pop masterpiece from YGSF...I assume recorded before Temperton's passing in 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JanUcDurQ0

Date: Sat, March 11, 2023, 19:44:05 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Works for me.

Full disclaimer: I don't have a Spotify account. I just enjoy sharing good music I come across.

Date: Sat, March 11, 2023, 17:35:32 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

Michael, our Spotify algorithms must be in sync ...

Date: Thurs, March 09, 2023, 16:48:01 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Wouldn't you know it, not even 24 hours after I mentioned Benny Sings new album he goes and drops another track from it, Pygamas ft. Remi Wolf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbDpLAE1CeU

Most jazz-fusion listeners are familiar with Return to Forever's Light As A Feather album but as it turns out Romantic Warrior is their top selling album with over a half-million copies sold in the US. Definitely worth a listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA7OGf2Laj4

Date: Wed, March 08, 2023, 22:08:49 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Two tracks from LA-based French psychedelic pop group Pearl & The Oysters off their new album Coast 2 Coast which drops April 21st.

❍ Paraiso

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssQ3soZX9nc

❍ Pacific Ave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQYHrLRRFE0

Benny Sings new album Young Hearts comes out March 24th. Here's the title track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z5giY3udnE

Date: Wed, March 08, 2023, 06:47:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Excellent song by Hungarian singer Katona Klári titled Vigyél el (Take Me) from 1981.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT-1VFH6Dps

Then there's Lithuanian group Antis with the thoroughly weird but enjoyable Klasėj Mane Kalbina (They Talk To Me In Class) from 1986.

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

Finally, we close with UK group Prep with the infectious 15th Floor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faOiQg1BjKk

Date: Tues, March 07, 2023, 20:37:28 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

I freaking love Circus Money. It is pretty dub-oriented, sure, but there are a lot of bangers on there.

Fagen's recent solo work *sounds* better, sure, but C$ has better songs.

Date: Mon, March 06, 2023, 08:57:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Hoops, I hadn't heard 'She's Got To Be Somewhere' before. Really nice SD-ish track. Thanks for sharing.

Date: Sun, March 05, 2023, 21:50:34 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

In the Dandom Digest below, the link to the performance of "Wooden Ships" by Steely Dan with David Crosby is incorrect. The correct link is https://youtu.be/BoebEunmPZ8

Date: Sun, March 05, 2023, 19:12:54 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest for January 1-March 5, 2023 emailed out about an hour ago. You should have received it between 5:45 pm and 7 pm ET/NYC Time. ! The latest edition of the Dandom Digest (Vol. 31, No. 1). The previous regular Dandom Digest covered Aug 15-Dec 31, 2022.

As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. With email filters and spam, what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a "naughty" word. At any rate, if you don't see it in your in box, let me know by sending an email at jjmckay at me dot com. I've also included. the full contents below for your convenience and BlueBook discussion.

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest/index.html

For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydanofficial com, sdarchive com, walterbecker com, walterbeckermedia com, donaldfagen com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates.

As the Dandom Digest marks 30 years, thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom.

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

DANDOM DIGEST

JANUARY 1–MARCH 5, 2023
Yr. 31, No. 1

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

IN THIS DANDOM DIGEST

Donald's Next One Album? 2023 Tour?
Celebrating Walter With "Makers of Cringe"

UPDATE: 1972-80 Albums Reissue Project

PASSINGS
Wayne Shorter: 1933-2003
Jeff Young, RIP
David Crosby, 1941-2023
Donald & Walter on Burt Bacharach

NEW! Noted Journalist Jake Malooley's "Expanding Dan"
MUST SEE: New Video From Monkey House (and More!)

New from Catherine Russell
Walt Weiskopf's "Other Jewels" at 2 Million & Counting
Keith Carlock on Tour
REMINDER: Calling All Current SD Orchestra Members & Alums

Followed by

PRETZEL LOGIC

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Donald's Next One Album? 2023 Tour?
From: Jim McKay
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2023

Fans are always asking if Donald has a new album coming and also when will the Steely Dan Orchestra be touring again.

We haven't heard anything directly from Donald in recent months, but let's not forget his September 30, 2021 interview with Jon Blistein at "Rolling Stone". Donald said that during the pandemic lockdown, he had written enough songs to fill out a new album and had even recorded demos. Saying some of the songs are "personal," he mentioned a track with a working title of "The Stellar Bartender."

In late December 2022, a British tabloid site said he was recording some more...which is plausible. However, the site is a bit dubious. Still, we do have the "Rolling Stone" interview with Donald from about 17 months ago, in September 2021.

2023 Tour? "If you see something, say something!" So far there's no word on a 2023 tour by Donald and the band. Will Donald take the year off? Will the band tour again this summer, like clock work? Will Donald work on the aforementioned recording first, and then undertake a tour? As of the mailing of this edition of the Dandom Digest, there's no official word. In previous years, early March is when we have started seeing summer shed dates being announced. So if you see anything, it would be appreciated if you would email jjmckay@me.com. The. info will be passed along to the Greater Dandom. Thank you.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Celebrating Walter With "Makers of Cringe"
Date: February 20, 2023

The Walter Becker Media Project (from Matthew Kerns and Walter's widow, Delia Becker), invites the greater Dandom to celebrate what would have been Walter's 73rd birthday with three different outtakes of "Cringemaker."

Check them out at https://www.walterbeckermedia.com/forum/rarities-unreleased/many-makers-of-cringe

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: UPDATE: 1972-80 Albums Reissue Project
From: Jim McKay
Date: Sat, March 4, 2023

A few updates since last Dandom Digest on the status of the new Steely Dan vinyl and SACD/CD hybrid reissues.

-- Acoustic Sounds' SACD/CD hybrid disc of "Can't Buy A Thrill" (CBAT) was released the third week of January 2023. The SACD/CD versions of "Two Against Nature" (2vN) and "Everything Must Go" (EMG) came out this past November. I've given the CD audio layers several listens; they do sound great, although I haven't been able to listen to it in SACD. (I have a Toshiba SACD player and Denon 6.1 SACD capable receiver, but there is a software incompatibility I've not been able to resolve.) Note that on 2vN, they left in place the original typos of Jon Herington's name. As Walter said at the time, something to the effect, "Now that Jon works for us, he can afford a couple of extra consonants in his name."

I've also been enjoying the CD layer of Acoustic Sounds' SACD/CD of "Can't Buy A Thrill." In all three cases, the artwork largely remains consistent with the original artwork, of course adapted for these formats. Of course there are some very minor exceptions, like a Geffen logo replaces the ABC Record logo because Disney and not Universal owns the rights to that; the original CD for 2vN was a shade of orange and the DVD-A was a shade of green...but the black on this SACD/CD audio is the same as the 2000 German LP version that Warner/Reprise/Giant issued but was not approved by D+W.

Like many of us, my own opinion is also shaded by the limitations of my particular audio set up as well as any imperfections in my hearing, My thought is that these are likely to be the last reissues of these recordings with Donald Fagen and Bernie Grundman* being involved so I'll spring for them. They are nice to look forward to. (*Bernie was limited in his involvememt in 2vN.)

Looking forward to hearing from others who have acquired these and how they compare with previous versions. Finally, one random note: Donald's new liner notes written for the 45 RPM vinyl version of CBAT do not appear with this new SACD/CD.

Some additional notes about these re-releases as of early March 2023:

-- I spoke with Acoustic Sounds as to when the SACD/CD of "Countdown To Ecstasy" and the double LP, 45 RPM 200 g clear vinyl of "Pretzel Logic" would ship. They still have no date. Furthermore, they expect it will take a couple of years before they finish with all seven albums.

-- UMe/Geffen has no information on when the the single LP 33-1/3 RPM, 180 g black vinyl of "Countdown to Ecstasy" will hit the streets.

-- Last time, I mentioned some were experiencing an anomaly with UMe/Geffen's single LP 33-1/3 RPM, 180 g black vinyl of "Can't Buy A Thrill." I have since tried my copy with a different stylus and then a different turntable. I still get a slight drop out at the opening note of "Only A Fool Would Say That." Most won't notice, but us picky fans do. Others have had similar experiences.

Please consult the previous Dandom Digest of remasters discussion from the last Dandom Digest, Vol. 30, No. 9, Aug 15-Dec 31, 2022 for additional details. Scroll down this page to around the January 9, 2023 for the full text of that edition.

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

PASSINGS

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Wayne Shorter: 1933-2003

Jazz legend Wayne Shorter has passed away. Wayne IS history and there will never be anyone else like him again. For some of us Steely Dan fans, perhaps the first time we were conscious of Shorter was his incredible contribution to the title track of "Aja".

From Shorter's official Facebook page on March 2, 2023:
"Today at 4am, Wayne Shorter peacefully continued on his immense journey into the unknown. He was surrounded by loving family. In his words, 'It’s time to go get a new body and come back to continue the mission.'" —Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

Official Wayne Shorter web site
https://wayneshorterofficial.com

Downbeat offers this thorough piece on the life of Wayne Shorter.
https://downbeat.com/news/detail/in-memoriam-wayne-shorter-1933-2023

Far Out Magazine: "How Steely Dan got Wayne Shorter to Play on "Aja"
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/steely-dan-got-wayne-shorter-to-play-aja/

Mr. Shorter: See you the next time around...

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Jeff Young, RIP

Jeff Young passed away on February 23, 2023 after an 18-month battle with cancer. Jeff and Donald and Walter have crossed paths on some milestone projects and tours, most notably the Little Big Band, New York Rock and Soul Review, Donald Fagen's 2006 solo tour and the 2006 Steely Dan tour. Jeff was especially noted for his Hammond organ talents and his vocals.

Pete Fogel writes, "I'll always remember Jeff from the very beginning, before Steely Dan got back together. He was such an intricate part of 'The Little Big Band'.... The group that backed Donald in those small clubs in NYC pre-1993. They would always start off the show with 'Inner City Blues' by Marvin Gaye. Jeff would sing the sh1t out of it!" Pete notes he booked Jeff in 1994 as part of the Zrew Zingg Band at Le Bar Bat where Jeff Young's sang on a revamped (gospel) version of Reelin In The Years.

Drew Zingg Band featuring Jeff Young, Zrew Zingg, Gary Gold, and Nicole Hart, January 12, 1994
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iULSCRrdH5I&t=2417s (fades in).

Reporter offers some background on Jeff's career:
https://reporter.memorialmedias.com/jeff-young-obituary-keyboard-player-with-jackson-browne-has-passed-away/

Given the outpouring on social media, Jeff is already greatly missed.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: David Crosby, 1941-2023

David Crosby passed away January 18, 2023.

Crosby was of course a musical legend; but moreover, in recent years, he really let his Steely Dan flag fly, declaring Our Favorite Duo HIS #1 Favorite.

In 2017, Crosby released what might be best be described as a Steely Dan homage, "She's got to be somewhere."

This was followed up with an outright collaboration with Donald Fagen, the writing of "Rodriguez For a Night."

And finally, Croz was clearly kerflempt to be a guest performing with the Steely Dan Orchestra at The Beacon. Fagen & Co. paid tribute by backing Cros for the his classic CSN track "Wooden Ships".

After all that, the greater Dandom speculated on the possibility of future collaborations with Donald. Unless there is some unreleased material, that sadly won't happen.

"She's Got To Be Somewhere" (2017)
https://youtu.be/2wMNOiqx7q8

"Rodriguez For A Night" (2021) Co-written with Donald Fagen
https://youtu.be/2s4g9PhYthU

"Wooden Ships" (October 15, 2019) Steely Dan Orchestra featuring David Crosby, The Beacon Theatre, NYC
https://youtu.be/2wMNOiqx7q8

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Donald & Walter on Burt Bacharach

Burt Bacharach passed away at the age of 94 on February 8, 2023. The American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music

Give a listen to the likes of Steely Dan's "Almost Gothic" and it's clear that Becker & Fagen were influenced by Bacharach.

"Burt Bacharach is pop songs with Ravel-like chords"--Donald Fagen

"I don't think we were trying to imitate any of the top songwriters, except in a roundabout way the very arty songs Burt Bacharach had written for Dionne Warwick. Those were an immense source of inspiration for us, but we weren't trying to copy them: his pieces had these formal, Stravinsky-esque angularities that were reminiscent of 20th century classical music. We were impressed by how far out he was able to get and still make it sound sort of like pop music." --.Walter Becker

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: NEW! Noted Journalist Jake Malooley's "Expanding Dan"

Expanding Dan is a newsletter about Steely Dan, the musicians and artists on the Dan’s vast and varied musical tree, and the stories they have to tell. It includes original interviews, oral histories, audio stories, and more transmissions from the Danverse.

Jake Malooley is a journalist who has written about music, crime, sports, film, books, media, science, technology, and numerous other subjects for The New York Times, New York magazine, Rolling Stone, The Ringer, Wired, Esquire, ESPN, Bon Appétit, and The Guardian, among other publications. Jake is also a contributing features writer at Chicago magazine and before that he was editor in chief of the Chicago Reader. (For those not familiar, it's the Chicago answer to the Village Voice.)

Jake's 10,000 word, 50th anniversary oral history of Steely Dan was featured in the November 2022 issue of "Wax Poetics" magazine. While the print issue is apparently sold out, Jake made a number of contacts. developing an extensive network of those who have figured in Steely Dan history. As such interviews with the likes of Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Gary Katz, Elliot Scheiner, Denny Dias, Chuck Rainey, Bernard Purdie, Bernie Grundman, and so many more are featured, with more to come, including oral histories, audio stories, and celebrity fan stories.

Jake writes: "This is a world that you’re welcome to. As a paid subscriber, you’ll get every new edition of Expanding Dan sent directly to your inbox, access to the archives, plus invitations to special events such as subscribers-only talks with guests from the Danverse. I’m asking the Substack minimum: $5 per month ($60 annually). Every subscription directly supports the labor—hours of reporting, interviewing, transcribing, writing, and editing—required to bring you original journalism about the so-called Manson and Starkweather of rock ’n’ roll."

For me, some highlights of recent editions of "Expanding Dan" have included Patti Mitsui discussing the iconic cover design of "Aja"; the story of how Michael McDonald came to join Steely Dan; and SNL's James Austin Johnson on how he became a Steely Dan fan. I'm the kind of fans who has bought 24 or 30 copies of "Aja" hoping to hear something a little different. While you may have heard some of this before, there's some new details, not to mention a different perspective that sheds new light.

You can read all about it--and subscribe--at https://expandingdan.substack.com/about

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: MUST SEE: New Video From Monkey House (and More!)
.
Congratulations to Monkey House for their new video for their rack "New York Owes You Nothing", featuring Don Breithaupt and Michael Leonhart. When I first encountered the video, I thought it had already won an award...but we will have to wait a little longer for the inevitable.

Video: New York Owes You Nothing (2023) Monkey House featuring Michael Leonhart and Don Breithaupt
https://youtu.be/s2IshzfauOM

"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I was just listening to this track in the car, and realizing that I love it and appreciate it more every time I play it. This vid is the icing on the cake"--Nancy Fielding

"This video does wonders in capturing the mood. Michael screams NYC." --Phil Biondi

"Smooth as silk." --Paige Waldron

And if you haven't already, be sure to listen to Monkey House's 2022 best album yet, "Remember The Audio." A sure bet for any Steely Dan, here's the latest glowing review (of many) from Inside Musicast's Eddy Cabello who features it on his 2022 "Best of" list:

"If you’re already a fan of Monkey House and love their music, then this review won’t be news to your ears! Because you already know what this Canadian-based band is all about – hooky, vibey, jazzy, sultry, and sophisticated tunes that bleed coolness...On Remember the Audio, Breithaupt brings in reinforcements in the form of some of the greatest studio players in the music scene – guitarist Drew Zingg, singer Lucy Woodward, horn players Michael Leonhart and Randy Brecker and others who add musical frosting to the already-sublime album. Let me say that the collaborations are not cosmetic, they are purposefully injected Breithaupt's already wonderful arrangement, making the album an excellent listening experience for all.

CD ORDER
https://www.amazon.com/Remember-Audio-Monkey-House/dp/B09ZYQ2XYZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BMQQOICM46IV&keywords=monkey+house&qid=1654295488&s=music&sprefix=monkey+house%2Cpopular%2C156&sr=1-1

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/remember-the-audio/1622910747?itsct=music_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1&app=itunes

STREAM
https://monkeyhouse.lnk.tt/RTAPR

And don't forget Don Breithaupt's acclaimed 33-1/3 Book, "Aja".

The definitive 2007 book...features conversations between Don Breithaupt and Donald Fagen on Steely Dan's landmark album.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0826427839/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_NBJE25YDFYKZR8Q3E3YA

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: New from Catherine & Luis Russell

Catherine Russell is associated with three new recordings from Dot Time Records

"I Want To Talk About You" is Cat's new digital single released for Valentine's Day and Black History Month. Proceeds benefit the Jazz Foundation of America. For more details and to order (just $1), https://www.dottimerecords.com/product/catherinerusselliwanttotalkaboutyou/

Cat's latest album, "Send For Me", is now out on luxurious vinyl. I ordered mine and it arrived 72 hours later! Sounds amazing! https://www.dottimerecords.com/product/catherine-russell-send-for-me-vinyl/

Finally, Dot Time has just released music from the vault by Catherine's legendary father, Luis Russell. Order "Luis Russell: At the Swing Cat's Ball" at https://www.dottimerecords.com/product/luisrussellattheswingcatsball/

Catherine is also on tour. Check out https://www.catherinerussell.net for more details on her upcoming performances--and so much more.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Walt Weiskopf's "Other Jewels" at 2 Million & Counting

Walt Weiskopf is celebrating 2,012,868 streams (and counting) of "Other Jewels." Check it out on Spotify and other streaming services.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Keith Carlock on Tour

Keith is on tour as part of Krantz-Carlock-LeFebvre. After spending early March in Tennesee, the trio heads to Europe for more dates during the third and fourth weeks of March.

More details can be found at http://keithcarlock.com

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: REMINDER: Calling All Current SD Orchestra Members & Alums

The Dandom Digest wants to do its part to help get the word out about your latest project, be it a mini-tour, guest appearances, new music release (your own or by others where you appear) workshops, etc.. The Dandom Digest goes to approximately 1,750 hardcore Steely Dan fans. Email JJMcKAY at me.com with your PR or other info when your release is approaching. Thank you!

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

PRETZEL LOGIC*

"Aja
When all my dime dancin' is through
I run to you."

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

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES:

* Submissions? Posts? Email JJMcKay at me.com

* LEGAL ISSUES? Bugs? Problems?? Immediate attention needed? Email JJMcKay. at ME .com

* TO GET THE DANDOM DIGEST at a new email address, send a message with the words "Add Me" in the topic to ADD-ME@dandom.com from the address/email account you wish to add.

* TO STOP your subscription, send a message with the words "Remove Me" in the topic to REMOVE-ME at dandom.com

* Use any email account you want for a removal request, but please include the address you want deleted in the body of the message.

* TOO COMPLICATED? Alternatively, Email JJMcKay at me.com to achieve similar results instead of what I described.

DISCLAIMER:
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by, for and about the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydanofficial com, sdarchive com, walterbecker com, walterbeckermedia com, donaldfagen com, and other media outlets of Steely Dan and associates.

Original portions of this Dandom Digest ©2022, ©2023 James J. McKay. All Rights Reserved.
Other portions copyrighted by the original author and presented under fair use.
*"Aja" lyrics by Becker/Fagen, ©1977, admin by Universal.

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

Walter Becker
1950 - 2017

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

END OF DIGEST

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

Date: Sun, March 05, 2023, 09:21:50 ET
Posted by: RIP, DL

Bad couple of weeks for the Jackson Browne camp.

Date: Sat, March 04, 2023, 15:58:24 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, More bad news

RIP David Lindley.

The Rolling Stone website is referring to him as a "soft rock" performer.

His version of "Mercury Blues", the song he's probably best known for by the general public, is hardy "soft" anything. If you haven't heard it, you're missing out.

His playing wasn't "soft" either.

The accomplished slide guitar player I saw live a handful of times over the years certainly wasn't "soft". David Lindley was a gifted musician. He'll be missed...

Date: Sat, March 04, 2023, 09:11:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, Elvis had a tendency to excess when left to his own devices, as did McCartney. Some artist overcompensate by adding too much sonic detail where it isn't necessary.

To my mind a good collaborator is someone who can temper excesses and bring out their best qualities. Bacharach knew how to accomplish this. He had an innate working knowledge of which details to emphasize within a given song. You'll notice that no matter who Bacharach collaborates with he always wants them to sing within the confines of his melodies, not take liberties by doing a bunch of vocal gymnastics.

Showy vocalists are a big turn-off for me. Always have been. I don't care how high someone can sing or how many runs they can do. Sing the song the way it's meant to be sung and stop showing off.

Changing gears, here's some great songs from Bobber, an artist from California with intriguing fusion of playful melodies with a gamut of unorthodox arrangements brimming with abstract energy.

Mastadon Matador

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNlc5DycdXg

Crosstalk / Orbea Bloom (feat. Keifer)

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

Crimes (Live at 8th Street Recording)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIWr7fykSmY

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 19:39:00 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

Excellent discussion of the necessity of multiple parts and collaboration to get this just right. For our ears at least.

In England the record cos insisted on a Brit like Celia Black recording many of Bacharach songs or sometimes Dusty Springfield. Dusty was a bit more R&B pop and Celia had that OG Ethel Merman thing going - both excellent singers in their own style. But there's nothing like the way Dionne Warwick would infuse the right amount of R&B and jazz/pop sensibilities that cut across class and generation. Her superior ability to inject the ideal level and type of emotion without overdoing it while singing incredibly difficult melodies. She also fit the instrumentation better than other artists covering Bacharach. She was the instrument!

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

Some artists need that yin to their yang. SD is not SD without Walter's bladelike edge.

Elvis Costello is a clever wordsmith capable of writing hummable, jingly tunes (ex. Doll revolution) but his ex-punk sensibilities and forward focalizations are pretty acidic.

It's not surprising that IMO his best stuff is largely with collaborators and other ears in recordings..with the exception of Allison, Go to Chelsea, Watching the Detectives on the first 2 Lo-Fi albums. His voice is not everyone cup of tea, but I've heard him live in concert and he's a spot on the note singer, even if his style can be grating for some.

One of his best early albums is Armed Forces, which was produced by Nick Lowe. Lowe (Rockpile, solo stuff recorded by Rockpile) who brought a level of professionalism and style - gloss that contrasted well with Costello's acrid lyrics about Northern Ireland and Oliver Cromwell:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9P_q4PoH-8


Imperial Bedroom could have been a great album, but there was no one to mitigate Costello's excesses, even with some very nice chord changes!

One of Costello's best early songs sound so much better when Welshman Dave Edmunds and the mighty Rockpile (Lowe, Edmunds, Bremner, Williams) cover Girls Talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4TzjRFfsJs

So, this is leading to the consensus best Costello wong, mostly the ones co-penned with Bacharach. Adding Bacharach's lush, moody figures, chord progressions to Costello's lyrics and catchy melodic phrases. The right amount of sweet, spicy and unami with the sour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOPXvtZvb7g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6wnmmlOrRg

Bacharach brought the purgatory Costello needed as an artist to be lifted higher.

Costello needed the iconic Allen Toussaint to transform a protest song into something compelling and palpable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71YLX4pUMW0

Arguably, McCartney's sweet and bias towards treacle needed Costello's darker Lennon editing edge to create two of the better songs for each artist on a solo album...and McCartney's discipline to life Costello's tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDRuJ1trJLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zifeVbK8b-g

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 17:24:57 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc Mu, that's a good point. Shades of how Larry Carlton worked with The Crusaders shortly before The Royal Scam. More than likely D&W heard that stuff and were impressed. Wayne's solo on Aja was actually a combination of two solos he had done after writing down the changes. It would be very interesting to hear both individually.

Wishful thinking, I know.

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 15:14:49 ET
Posted by: DonB, Toronto

RIP Wayne. Relevant excerpt from my Aja book:

Foremost among the Dan neophytes was legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, a veteran of Miles Davis’s sixties bands and cofounder (with fellow Davis alum Joe Zawinul) of the influential fusion group Weather Report. In contrast to Hollywood-embedded reedmen like Tom Scott and Ernie Watts, Shorter seldom appeared on pop records, and was initially reluctant to work with Steely Dan. “For Aja, we asked [producer] Gary Katz to see if Wayne Shorter wanted to play,” says Fagen. “The answer came back ‘no.’ So we mentioned that to Dick LaPalm, the manager of the studio we were working at [Village Recorders]. He knew Wayne from Weather Report, I guess. So he vouched for us. He said, ‘These are nice guys, they record here a lot, they seem to like a lot of old jazz records, they talk about Jackie McLean!’ So we made up a track and sent Wayne a chart. He said okay, and came in. And he was great. He took some time with it. We did a couple of takes, and he wanted to look at it some more. He said, ‘Give me a minute.’ He went over to the piano with the chart, and he was over there for a good half an hour messing with scales. Then he came back and did three or four takes, and they were all great.” Becker and Fagen must have been pleasantly surprised by Shorter’s humility, his willingness to take off the legend hat and work through their changes, like a mere mortal, with the meter running.

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 12:42:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Heavy Weather - the pinnacle of jazz fusion. Jaco
s bass on this Shorter composition is like liquid gold. Not coincidently released released a few months before Aja, which integrated a lot of fusion sensibilities...and, of course, includes Shorter's epic sax on the title track.

RIP

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 10:05:20 ET
Posted by: Steve,

Donald has a great, dry sense of humor. But I think most everyone would agree that with Walter in the mix, the songs are a lot more naughtier and hilarious. Donald by himself leans noir; with Walter, the songs are enjoyably wild, fucked-up trips.

(Also see the earlier conversation about Walter being Donald's best editor.)

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 09:02:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Wayne Shorter performing his song Palladium with Weather Report. Exceptional.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QixVEoa598

RIP

BThrope, yes, Donald was the principle composer and arranger, but without Walter there wouldn't have been a Steely Dan. We can speculate on how much input he had but nothing changes the fact that was part of a songwriting duo, a collaborative effort, as were Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Doesn't matter if Walter's creative input was 50%, 25% or 10%.

No man is an island. Inevitably everybody has to depend upon other talent to realize their creative vision. Film directors wouldn't get very far without a pool of actors and stage hands. What would Steely Dan have amounted to without Roger Nichols, Gary Katz and the session players? They played an crucial role in realizing D&W's creative vision. Brian Wilson was the brains behind most of the Beach Boys' best material, but without the Wrecking Crew there wouldn't have been a Pet Sounds.

Date: Fri, March 03, 2023, 02:35:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

M/O/D/P:

Excellent synopsis. All those recrodings are excellent on Circus $.

I was thinking - is there a song that is any more Walter than God's Eye View?

https://youtu.be/TTe1w2DKAsU

I think not. It'a a call & response attitude masterpiece.

Date: Thurs, March 02, 2023, 19:44:16 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Stoicism

Oh, sorry to hear the news about Wayne Shorter. He will be missed. I feel like listening to Footprints tonight.

m.e.

Date: Thurs, March 02, 2023, 18:14:01 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, se USA

Breaking News: Wayne Shorter, a saxophone player who shaped modern jazz as one of its most admired composers, has died at 89. His career reached across more than half a century, tracking jazz’s complex evolution.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/arts/music/wayne-shorter-dead.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes

Date: Thurs, March 02, 2023, 17:57:10 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

Michael

I don’t think I was talking about differences in
the writing styles between DF and WB in
my last 2 poets.

I was addressing WB’s songs on CM specifically.




Regarding writing chops, DF was/is the better musician of the 2, without
question. When I say musician I mean someone
who is not only proficient on their particular instrument,
but someone who understands and can successfully compose, arrange, rehearse for all instruments
without the help of an outside source.


For example, ALL of the horn arrangements and vocal arrangements used
in SD shows (and on both SD new millennium CDs) from ‘93 - present, were done by DF not WB.
ALL the rehearsals and run thrus of arrangements for live shows
and in studio were led by DF.

DF wrote, arranged and rehearsed everything, not WB.

Date: Thurs, March 02, 2023, 13:02:09 ET
Posted by: Reporting on the Weather , Up there

R.I.P. Wayne Shorter

There are no words profound enough to eloquently describe his sax solo on "Aja".

Date: Thurs, March 02, 2023, 12:40:49 ET
Posted by: SDV, near the freeway

yet we know of at least 2 SD songs Donald wrote alone, and according to him there were songs Walter wrote alone. maybe we'll get a song-by-song account one day, like John Lennon did in his Playboy interview. I won't hold my breath

Date: Thurs, March 02, 2023, 07:09:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Differences in composing styles between Don and Walt have been discussed ad nauseum. Steely Dan was a collaborative effort. If Donald had the spark of an idea then Walter would light the fuse.

Date: Wed, March 01, 2023, 23:13:47 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

M/O/D/P

There are some very good ones like “Paging”,
“Selfish”, “Downtown”, “CM” and a few others.
However, there’s too much of a sameness in
genre/style - namely Reggae.
The tempos are mostly slowish.
And maybe due to WB’s lack of vocal range, the melodies
are relatively “grounded” - consequently they generally tend to lack emotional
Import - they sound restrained and measured.

Just my opinion…

Date: Wed, March 01, 2023, 20:32:41 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Heartbreak Souvenir Drinking Glass

@Don Patrol - Funny you'd ask...today of all days...because the answer up 'till this morning would have been "no"...but, as of this afternoon at approximately 2:30 pm EST...the awnswer is "yes". Seems there was a postal "processing error" [sic] that resulted in a delivery delay.

But, thankfully, all is well, now.

I am, at this very moment, ceremoniously christenting my shiny-noo 2018 Steely Dan tumbler (as if anyone under the age of 85 says "tumbler" these days) with a generous double-shot of Herradura Anejo from a beloved 2011 bottle that I just opened for the occasion. No ice...just the Happy Juice, thanks.

You, kind sir, are a true gentleman. And I thank you. Again.

M/O/D/P

PS - "Miss you Walt".
PPS - My sentiments exactly.

Date: Wed, March 01, 2023, 20:06:30 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Hey M/O/D/P, did it make it intact?

Date: Wed, March 01, 2023, 18:26:37 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Harmonious if not harmonized

Boy oh boy oh boy, I have to respectfully disagree as hard as I possibly can with the contention that "so many" of the tracks on Circus Money aren't Great Ones. The implication seems to be that none of the songs on WB's second solo release are great. Maybe I misunderstood...

That particular song-set is, for me, a sure-fire Desert Island disc. In its entirety. Not a dud or mis-step in sight. One of my all-time favorite things ever created by human hands. Bar none. I still listen to it all the time...including right now as I pound out this post on the old laptop. Name a weak track - I dare ya.

Maybe "Paging Audrey"?. No...wait a minnit...that one is pure brilliance. Defined. Might just be the best song on the album.

How about the title track? Sure, it lurches more than it forwards, I guess, but again - absolutely stellar. A metric tonne of 24 kt gold.

Don't say "Selfish Gene", or "Darkling Down" because those two are just about as "complete" and "great" as anything my cloth ears have ever heard. And they both make me laff.

Ok...maybe "Three Picture Deal" should have been on the never-to-be-completed/"just didn't happen for a variety of reasons" final Steely Dan offering. Because it's a killer track, wonderfully executed. Next-level composition.

I could go on through the rest of the songs on the album, but, as Matthew Kerns once said, somewhere (maybe here?) a list of Circus Money highlights would include the listing all the tracks, leaving nothing off.

The Soicus Monkey [sic] doesn't have any great ones on it?

I think I need a new definition of "great"...

M/O/D/P

Date: Wed, March 01, 2023, 12:05:17 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

Have you ever noticed that on both of WB’s solo
CDs the background vocals are never harmonized
as they are on all of DF’s and SD’s outputs?

Also there’s never any horns playing harmonized
backgrounds either.

So many of the songs on WB’s CM have the
potential to be great ones, but many lack “forward motion”,
a “completeness” to them.

Date: Wed, March 01, 2023, 09:23:29 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Alex Hutchings is an excellent versatile guitarist with killer melodic phrasing. Would love to hear him solo over SD songs. He'd be in demand during the session gigs heyday back in the 1970s, but these days most artists prefer the DIY approach. Fortunately there's plenty of videos to check out of him playing. Criminally underrated.

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

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

Date: Tues, February 28, 2023, 22:17:25 ET
Posted by: SDV, west of the rio grande

Dangential...
here's a fine documentary on Wes Montgomery, made by his son Robert. features interview clips with Skunk Baxter, Lee Ritenour, Pat Metheny, George Benson and more. not sure how long it will be available to watch, but it's well worth it. a huge talent cut tragically short https://indianapublicmedia.org/wesmontgomery/

Date: Tues, February 28, 2023, 10:20:06 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, da Burgh

I don't recall this being posted before (apologies if it was):

Rian Johnson, the happening writer/director, is a big music fan and in particular a big SD fan:

"The Boston Rag" reference in "Brick": https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/rian-johnson-brick-and-knives-out-interview.html

Steely Dan poster, Peg, etc., in "Glass Onion",
Walter (and Donna) couple in "Knives Out": https://www.insider.com/glass-onion-interview-easter-eggs-deleted-scene-derol-noah-segan-2023-1

He also refers to them on Twitter, but I draw the line at citing tweets.

Date: Tues, February 28, 2023, 07:52:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Steven, Doc, M/O/D/P, thanks guys for the support. We're here because of our love for music, good music at that. It's what brings us together. I enjoy reading insightful, informative, witty and funny comments by the regulars here on the Blue. I also enjoy sharing my listening tastes and have been graciously received here. Hoops has kept this place running for decades, he's the owner and we have to respect his wishes.

"It's understood that a little off-topic personal posting is good. But chronic off-topic posting can dilute collective interest. Then we all miss out on the Steely rumors and discussion which is the main reason for this place's existence."

Many of us are anxiously awaiting any morsel of news regarding Donald's new solo album and what's next for Steely Dan, but as M/O/D/P said, there's been an absence of news. Nothing we can do about it.

I'll return with some more music for you guys to check out.

RIP Jeff Young

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 23:13:31 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, A Fine Balance

QUOTE: "The Steely Dan discussion is already sparse as it is."

And therein lies the rub, SDV.

In the absence of any current actual/Steely Dan-relevant material, and in a sometimes semi-futile attempt to keep things moving here, sometimes some of us have been known, on occasion, to talk about peripheral stuff that isn't really germaine to any Steely Dan diaspora. Going off on a tangerine? Maybe, sure, sometimes. Against the rules? Yeah, technically. But, to be fair, this usually (but not always) comes after someone/something spurs a discussion - in this most recent case the spur was an insulting & gratuitous post about Eric Clapton and his views.

Sure, we'd all like to read more current information about anything Steely Dan-related. In the abscence of that, I personally enjoy the continued musings & suggestions of contributors like Michael and Doc Mu, especially when they introduce the rest of us to bits of musical magic like Young Gun Silver Fox and Dina Ögon. Nothing to do with "Steely Dan" - other than a peripheral/symbiotic connection. But some darn good music nonetheless.

I guess I've been hanging around here for around fifteen years or so now, maybe a bit more. I like it when regulars or semi-regulars or MIAs post and treat each other like friends - or even like respected adversaries. Ya wanna know what I don't appreciate? Some new arrival/anon who suddenly joins the discussion - not to talk about Steely Dan or Walter Becker or Donald Fagen even the late Jeff Young - no, to repeatedly berate & ridicule a long-time valued contributor about medical shit. Out of The Blue.

That's not "balance".

That's "unwanted intrusion".

The internet is full of places where folks can discuss their strident/"balanced" talking points. This tiny little place isn't one of them.

As Jim just pointed out, even he doesn't use this place to voice his political/social views. And he's the guy that runs (and pays for) the joint.

M/O/D/P

PS - I can't believe I got through that post without using any expletives. But, thankfully, I did. Strictly out of respect for everyone here, we understand.

PPS - I just noticed that I actually DID use the word "shit" in my post [editor's note: near the end of paragraph five]. Imagine my embarrassment...

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 20:13:26 ET
Posted by: Balance,

Steven, I'll admit to the ad hominem side bars, but not once did the core of my argumentation have anything to do with blind faith in pharma or our leaders. Contend with the nuance and content of my position. If reducing my position to blind faith in pharma is as far as you can go with it, that says it all.

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 17:41:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

"brings"

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 17:40:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

SDV: Sweet book? Really?

All graphite, all glitter dept: Agree with Hoops. All I'm going to say is I use the technology involved in research (I don't develop vaccines), but one of my brothers did develop a SARS I vaccine that led to the COVID mRNA vax. We have over a billion data points now. Don't over worry it.

It bring up our natural fear of the future and technology as humans and Sci-Fi as a means of venting. Art that expresses how our limbic system vs. left brain feeling and thinking about it.

We know that Donald is a big William Gibson and Sci-Fi fan, and vice versa. Gibson and Conroy IMO are the most talented writers of the late 20th Century. They may or may not be the best writers of the last 30 years of the 20th Century, but their skill level is unmatched. When Donald was making his "comeback" album Kamakiriad and overcoming severe writer's block and depression he I believe used the Sci-Fi cloak to protect or distance himself. In other words, he used a Sci-Fi journey with a high tech vehicle to express his apprehension in writing and recording new music.

Fagen worked out a lot of angst on Kama.

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 17:20:07 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Couple of things:

First, if you scroll down to when the acoustic sounds releases have come out, I've given my impressions. When I've posted them, no one has responded. So now that there's interest, I look forward to the responses.

Two, I don't talk about my outside views nor even promote when I'm performing in a band or anything. (The last been a while.) This is even though I'm the one who pays for this place and makes the board run. (Notice, no advertising or banner pages etc.) notice, no advertising or banner pages etc.). Let's stay on topic. And if someone brings up off topic stuff like the vaccine stuff, give it a rest and don't even bother responding to it, unless Donald Fagen has an opinion or something like that. That's my request and that's what's on rules for the posting page. Let's move on and not discuss it anymore.

Best,

Jim

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 17:15:43 ET
Posted by: SDV, NYC no more

definitely not the place for such back n forth. the Steely Dan discussion is already sparse as it is

no mention of Jeff Young's passing yet?

very sad news... he was there when Donald returned to the stage in the early 90s and added great support on the Morph tour and subsequent Steely Dan tours.

thanks for the music Jeff.

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 16:30:22 ET
Posted by: Steven, On The Other Hand

It wasn't much fun weeding through the "We-must-all-trust-the-altruistic-Big-Pharma Guys" stuff and the "Our-Beloved-Leaders-always-know-what's-best" stuff either. Especially not fun on a Steely Dan discussion forum.

Note that poster "Michael" never used ad hominem attacks to reinforce his position. Note, however, that others used insulting/condescending language -"conspiracy theory", "boost your ego", et cetera AND personal attacks - "nutjob", "psycho", "you are a liar", and so on - which never bolster any argument. And also, funny that any dissenting opinion, even a well-written one, is now considered "gibberish".

Having said that, I too would prefer to read about those new SACDs or, even better, some tidbit of information about Donald Fagen's upcoming (?) new release.

Date: Mon, February 27, 2023, 14:46:04 ET
Posted by: ccw, ny

Not fun to weed through the anti-vax gibberish to try to find out if anyone received the new re-issued (SA)CDs and learn how they sound!

Date: Sun, February 26, 2023, 13:02:09 ET
Posted by: Sammy, o

Re: who wrote what songs. There was an old Kenny Vance interview floating around where he in effect said, "I know for for certain that Donald wrote many of the early years demo songs by himself."

Date: Sun, February 26, 2023, 10:41:22 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Continuing where I left off, here are a couple more great AOR tracks.

Eric Tagg - Marzipan

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

Frankie Bleu - Just For You (Suzanne's Song)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCvUPy3lyiY

Date: Sun, February 26, 2023, 10:11:14 ET
Posted by: Balance,

Links to videos!!!! You got me and the world! Who cares how common it is right? By the way Anaphylaxis does kill people and does happen in response to a variety of medicines. Make sure never to take Tylenol or Motrin ever again. Probably want to avoid driving as well.

Refusal to contend with the data and the reality they are now fully approved like any other medicine!

Gotta love it.

Date: Sun, February 26, 2023, 09:56:39 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Normally clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines take at least 5 years which they didn't have the liberty of doing back in 2020 when that "hard data" was compiled. But that didn't stop guys like Fauci from telling everyone that their jabs were safe and effective, changing their tune as they went along. I could provide links to various compilation videos of people dropping dead after taking the jab but I don't think it's appropriate viewing for what should be a forum where we discuss Steely Dan and music. If you want to have the last word on the subject then go ahead, I'm through with this topic.

Back to music. Marooned was an underrated AOR album by singer-songwriter Larry Lee, released in 1982. It has several great tracks including the title track and Number One Girl. Great voice, great performances, great song.

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

Date: Sun, February 26, 2023, 09:08:13 ET
Posted by: Balance,

Just as one piece of proof that there was “hard data”, here is one of the original published studies with more hard data than you’d ever know what to do with, from December 2020 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2034577

There were tons more papers and large studies like that before they were rolled out

But of course you wouldn’t know that, thanks to the information bubble you’ve fallen prey to

Date: Sun, February 26, 2023, 09:04:44 ET
Posted by: Balance,

I’m not saying they’re infallible. Clearly not. They are human. And I’m not asking you to blindly trust the state.

But what you are saying is not true. The vaccines have now completed the standard FDA review process as for any other medication. Yes initially they were approved on a fast track basis. But extensive efficacy and safety data were available at the time, enough to make a reasonably informed decision given the circumstances, have now been more thoroughly vetted, and there are now multitudes of post marketing studies and experience with these vaccines in billions of people. If that’s still not good enough for you, you may as well ever forget going to a doctor or taking any FDA approved medication, because they’re simply not trustworthy at all in your world, and are out to get you.

Medicines have side effects. The question is how common are they, how do they compare to the benefits, and are severe side effects that are reported truly due to the vaccine or circumstance. Did you pour through the study data? Do you even know how to? Or instead of trusting the medical profession, you just choose to trust alternative news websites that tell you what you want to hear?

I’m not giving arbitrary rules. I’m talking about working through the complexities of life in a rational, informed, and balanced way.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 18:25:47 ET
Posted by: Michael,

balance, that's not how it works. One doesn't have to go by some arbitrary rulebook of your making. You are attempting to lump people into two groups so that you can construe those who refuse to blindly trust the state with their bodies as conspiracy theorists.

Those jabs they rolled out didn't even undergo proper clinical trials. They rushed them out and told everyone that they were perfectly safe without any hard data to back up their claims, then people began dropping dead. Medical workers are not infallible. Around 250,000 deaths occur annually here in the U.S. due to medical malpractice, far exceeding most other causes of death. How do you square that circle?

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 16:18:26 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the platform

VDS- found on pg 58 in my copy of the Sweet book:
Fagen admitted that some of the songs were completely his and some were completely Becker's, "but in most there isn't any cut and dried version. The Boston Rag, for instance, has my chorus and verses by Walter"

Doc Mu- on the next page is Denny's recollection that Donald wrote Bodhisattva alone

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 14:38:18 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

Michael, etal, neither Eric C or J Lennon “took the jab”.
They both hated needles, so they both snorted as
did a few others.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 13:33:53 ET
Posted by: balance,

Did you know Advil and Tylenol can be lethal at appropriate doses and lead to a miserable death where your skin sloughs off? https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2022.896867/full

No one will ever tell you that, including a well-intended medical provider. The point is it is extraordinarily rare, every single risk cannot be thoroughly discussed nor necessarily worth mentioning based on its rarity and scientific understanding, everything in life (medicine or not) has its risks and benefits, and we all have to make our own decisions according to our own risk tolerance without being able to thoroughly digest and compute every bit of information that exists in this vast world.

So you can decide to look at the world in a rational way considering all sides of the issue, recognize its complexities and challenges, and contend with data and evidence. Or you can assume nothing is trustworthy and pick whatever conspiracy theory will confirm your worst fears, boost your ego, and feed your desire to feel wiser than the masses.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 12:25:40 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Drugs vs. Booze: "How Much Is Too Much?"

I saw EC with Roger Waters - twice in two nights - back in summer 1984. He was (metaphorically) ON FIRE, the best I've ever heard him play, despite the fact that at the time he was NOT on smack (and apparently hadn't been for many years). He was, of course, at the time, a hopeless, wretched BOOZEHOUND. I just wanted to set the record straight.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 12:17:57 ET
Posted by: Michael,

True, he never was as good. Happened to more musicians than I care to mention, even those who weren't taking mind-altering substances.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 12:03:43 ET
Posted by: Yellow Book, I missed this

Please, yes, more lame fights.

Listen, I think we all can agree Eric Clapton's music has totally sucked since he stopped jabbing himself with drugs.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 11:10:35 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I am not ignorant to what goes on in the world, including in the media. Again, I don't watch any media as I have better things to do than be lied to by state propagandists and pundits who do nothing but lie.

Just because you didn't get hurt by the jabs doesn't mean that others didn't. You don't even know what they injected in you. If a stranger offered you food but didn't tell you what was in it, would you eat it?

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 11:03:53 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

I had both shots plus 2 boosters and the only side effect? It itched where the band-aid was. Clapton is psychosomatic. You on the other hand are just psycho. And how would somebody who (cough-cough) "never watches the news" know what CNN says anyway? You are a liar. Your credibility is less than zero.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 10:58:15 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I don't watch any media so the joke's on you. Eric Clapton did use drugs but wasn't injured until he took the jab, resulting in him not being able to play guitar due to the burning pain it caused in his arm.

There's a certain detached irony in calling those whom you don't agree with *anti-democracy* while attempting to shut down any debate by using the same 'pro-Putin' spiel as the MSNBC-CNN pundits do. Your lack of self-awareness is truly a marvel to behold. May as well be a parrot.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 10:45:06 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, se USA

So EC shot up heroin for 10 years and THAT was safe but getting a vax that would save his life is a danger. What a load of horse dung. Get your head out of your rear and turn off the faux news right-wing-nut-job anti-democracy pro-putin propaganda.

Date: Sat, February 25, 2023, 07:34:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

There's ample proof that the jab is dangerous. Eric Clapton knows because he took it and it injured him.

What do you gain by siding with these billionaire big pharmaceuticals who don't give a damn about you? Do you just parrot whatever the media tells you?

Date: Fri, February 24, 2023, 21:58:59 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

Sea Level had lots of great songs. I saw Leavell play with Clapton before EC turned into an anti-vaxxer nut-job.

Remember this early jam band masterpiece?

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

Date: Fri, February 24, 2023, 21:58:32 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

Sea Level had lots of great songs. I saw Leavell play with Clapton before EC turned into an anti-vaxxer nut-job.

Remember this early jam band masterpiece?

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

Date: Fri, February 24, 2023, 20:21:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Sea Level - Yeah, I think they were referring to this song as well.

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

Chuck Leavell, Jimmy Nalls, Ronnie Bramblett, Jay Johnny Johnson, George Weaver/Joe English

I saw them live back in the day - really tight with their jazz/R&B/rock fusion thingy.

Leavell toured with the Rolling Stones more recently.

Date: Fri, February 24, 2023, 13:13:26 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, SE USA

I saw a comment on youtube that said this classic early jam band tune had a SD vibe to it. Not sure I agree but it certainly was a good song from a great Allman Bros. spin-off band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtOGyui0bJc

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 22:56:38 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: I overall agree with you analysis of Walter. His vocals are improved on Circus Money, because he doesn't try to sing as loud and is more nuanced. But Downtown Canon and Paging Audrey stands with the best of the SD/solo discography.

In addition, the sophistication of his songwriting on 11 TOW can be heard on Girlfriend and Love in the 4th, which is an incredible composition.

Fagen jump started most of the SD composition sesions with some ideas, themes, etc. Walter would assist in finishing. He provided the edge and more blues slant. A couple that were more Walter's (my guess): Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More, Jack of Speed.

Love in the 4th. Walter's limited range belies the tortured genius of the song, in melody, harmony, and lyrics.

It's Walter's "Can't Write Home About You," but with a much richer demo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clnEwTB6tsc

The only SD song Donald wrote alone I believe was Barrytown.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 19:12:27 ET
Posted by: Michael,

One last thing. Donald would record songwriting ideas and fragments of things to draw upon for future reference. For instance, the chorus in Glamour Profession was written years beforehand, it worked within the context of what D&W were aiming for so they incorporated it.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 19:07:06 ET
Posted by: Michael,

My understanding is that Donald would come up with a song or vamp and then Walter would suggest changing certain elements, taking songs into different directions and help out with writing lyrics, which explains why SD songs tend to have more edginess than Donald's solo works. D&W seem to feed off each other's creative talents, sharing common goals and drew upon most of the same inspirations. Naturally Donald's solo work is closer to the SD sound since he was the principal composer and singer, coming up with most of the chord structures and melodies. Walter didn't begin composing solo material in earnest until well after he had kicked his drug habit, got married and mellowed out.

As for Walter's melodies lacking the challenging intervallic skips and leaps of SD, that's more due to the limitations of his singing voice than his writing ability. Even Donald would work melodies around his own vocal range. Steve Khan once related how he had tried to persuade Donald to include Heartbreak Souvenir on Gaucho but Donald was adamant that, although it was a great song, it was just too hard for him to sing, so Donald gave Roger Nichols a hand-written note to remind him not to write melodies he cannot sing.

Lennon and McCartney balanced out each other's weaknesses. Honestly much of Lennon's solo material is lacking the memorable qualities of his work with The Beatles, although there are glimpses of it here and there. The one who grew into his own as a songwriter subsequent to his departure was George.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 17:26:55 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

•Addendum to my last post•

It should have read: Where’s the proof that WB wrote
a complete SD song?

I know, we can say adversely, where’s the proof that DF wrote
a complete SD song?

But, listen to DF’s melodies on The Nightfly and all
the subsequent works, and they all sound very Steely Dannish.


But none of Walter’s solo stuff features the more
challenging, arching melodies with greater intervallic skips and leaps,
that we associate with SD.

Welter’s chord choices are Dannish, but the melodies are more pedestrian
and simplistic - they mostly move step-wise and are more predictable than DF’s.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 17:26:51 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

•Addendum to my last post•

It should have read: Where’s the proof that WB wrote
a complete SD song?

I know, we can say adversely, where’s the proof that DF wrote
a complete SD song?

But, listen to DF’s melodies on The Nightfly and all
the subsequent works, and they all sound very Steely Dannish.


But none of Walter’s solo stuff features the more
challenging, arching melodies with greater intervallic skips and leaps,
that we associate with SD.

Welter’s chord choices are Dannish, but the melodies are more pedestrian
and simplistic - they mostly move step-wise and are more predictable than DF’s.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 17:02:57 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

•Addendum to my last post•

It should have read: Where’s the proof that WB wrote
a complete SD song?

I know, we can say adversely, where’s the proof that DF wrote
a complete SD song?

But, listen to DF’s melodies on The Nightfly and all
the subsequent works, and they all sound very Steely Dannish.


But none of Walter’s solo stuff features the more
challenging, arching melodies with greater intervallic skips and leaps,
that we associate with SD.

Welter’s chord choices are Dannish, but the melodies are more pedestrian
and simplistic - they mostly move step-wise and are more predictable than DF’s.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 16:17:36 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

What’s more, why can’t DF now say and why couldn’t either of them have said, who wrote
what songs?

That phony, pretentious, glibness, regarding that topic is really
stupid.
It’s like they’re playing a little game.

DF has called WB a great writer before.
Where’s the proof of that?

We can clearly see that Lennon was the only
one who could’ve written, “Happiness Is a Warm
Gun”, or “Lucy” or “Walrus”.
But, where’s the proof that WB could compose
a complete song?

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 13:54:25 ET
Posted by: VDS, Down in the valley

I believe Walter is quoted somewhere saying that he wrote the chorus on Boston Rag and Donald wrote the verses.

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 13:33:55 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

I believe Donald is quoted somewhere saying that he wrote the chorus on Boston Rag and Walter wrote the verses.

I always figured that songs Walter chose to sing live were more likely the ones he had a larger part in writing: Midnight Cruiser, Monkey In Your Soul, Daddy Don't Live, Haitian Divorce, etc

Date: Thurs, February 23, 2023, 11:00:52 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

Doc Mu and Michael -

It’s kind of frustrating, disappointing that we know for sure the
songs that Lennon and McCartney wrote.

For instance, we know for a fact that the genesis of and most of the songs
like, Strawberry…”, “I Am …”, “Please, Please”, “Hard Days…” were mostly
all Lennon songs.

On the other hand, not one of us can say with 100% certainty
what songs WB wrote.

I know we all know WB “edited” and “contributed” to the SD songs.
But, really, what does that mean?

Date: Mon, February 20, 2023, 17:49:41 ET
Posted by: Michael,

While much of Paul McCartney's catalog leans more on the saccharine side, I think his songwriting strength tended to shine through, especially during the early years of his solo career. To my mind, I Don't Know was his last truly great song, a throwback to his heyday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aef2eV7GmQw

Doc Mu, dreams and ambitions are a normal part of youth and that translates well into artistic energy. What happens is many artists run out of inspiration at a certain point, then resort to living the rest of their careers out doing retro tours and the like because it's the path of least resistance.

Changing gears, have a listen to Mild High Club, an enigmatic psychedelic jazz-pop group which seem to take joy in defying conventionalism. This track titled Me, Myself and Dollar Hell has an early 80s Donald Fagen vibe. The guitar solo goes down well with the somewhat off-kilter lounge-pop. See what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVw-mX2SUFM

Dionysian State, even more bizarre than the previous track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw7YtJOwp7s

Date: Mon, February 20, 2023, 15:04:54 ET
Posted by: Wes,

I agree, Ben Jammin', I can't wait for 2023 tour announcement. When the last tour was announced before the pandemic and subsequent delays, Donald did in fact announce a tour on Walter's birthday. If it was intentional, I think the message was about keeping Walter's music alive. Yet, a handful of others were offended, usually the same people who think Donald should not tour under the name Steely Dan or Steely Dan Orchestra.

I listen to "Double Fantasy" and "Milk and Honey" with some regularity. They are John's most consistent albums post-Beatles. I'll take those over any of the solo McCartney or Wings albums, as well as any of John's late 1960s and early 1970s output. The Yoko Ono tracks are also listenable and even enjoyable. However, I dislike Yoko's late 60s and early 70s stuff with John. While I own some of Yoko Ono's albums, after reading May Pang and Julian Lennon's memoirs, I don't think too much of Yoko. But it borders on being PC to like Yoko Ono and un-PC to say you don't.

I do agree that McCartney was the wellspring of so many great musical ideas for the Beatles. John was the much-needed editor, although he certainly was a talent in his own right. What I don't like about Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output is that it's pretty indulgent and superficial. John really saved Paul from some bad ideas and going down certain roads too far. Based on the "Get Back" movie, I sense it was very hard for anybody to tell Paul that an idea of his sucked. With Steely Dan, it seems like Walter played John to Donald's Paul.

Date: Mon, February 20, 2023, 01:07:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: Throw back the little ones, and pan fry the big ones. That's a completely different process. When we consider as the better songwriter usually had better taste or a taste for the classics.

It's interesting though for writers, artists, mathematicians that there best years are often when young. Perhaps more open minds?

Writing in the sciences is far different. Often the most gifted writers have worked on their craft for decades.

Others stay fresh - mostly the ones that edit the most. Prince never edited and his best music was in his 20s, although he continued to write and record - some is as fantastic in the records of the 80s..

McCartney's volume belied that he continued to write some outstanding songs, but he missed his editor, John Lennon... and arguably vice versa. I mean who actually listens to Double Fantasy today?


Walter and Donald were notorious editors. Thus, Fagen's compositions into his 7th decade (through 2012) have remained compelling. Beethovern edited his compositions for years.

Date: Sun, February 19, 2023, 19:11:57 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin’, Indy

Walter’s birthday’s tomorrow (2/20) would be an ideal day to announce a Tour!

PS RIP Richard Belzer.

Date: Sun, February 19, 2023, 04:01:43 ET
Posted by: Greg, East

Fagen is sitting directly behind Elton John.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRtw6UUq/

Date: Sat, February 18, 2023, 12:06:11 ET
Posted by: BThrope,

Re Walter’s brilliance: Like piano great, Bill Evans, WB was extremely articulate (even more well spoken than DF) while smacked out.

I was a little disappointed when I heard he ironically was drug-addled given the fact that he could write about drug screw ups so objectively.
But, given his unfortunate childhood - mother leaving him and his dad, dad dying on a plane trip returning back to the states - it’s amazing he did as well as he did.

Date: Fri, February 17, 2023, 15:46:51 ET
Posted by: Steve,

Walter was a huge Patti Smith fan. Patty is considered the godmother of punk.

Date: Wed, February 15, 2023, 14:35:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I'm speaking solely about composers, not the general public. Everything a composer does is informed by their tastes. Every melodic motif, chord progression, rhythmic permutation comes from their imagination, imagination in turn from experience. Knowing the difference between good and bad choices is fundamental to skill in composing. How can an artist tell whether or not what they're composing is any good unless they have a good ear for quality?

With regards to what is considered good or bad music, contrast and compare artists you consider good with those you consider mediocre or bad and you should be able to recognize the differences.

Time tends to weed out the quality from the dung. Are people gonna look back fondly at stuff being put out in the mainstream today, regard it as timeless classics several decades down the line? I highly doubt it. Steely Dan, Burt Bacharach, Stevie Wonder, and J.S.Bach have proven staying power due to the sheer quality of their output.

Popularity verses obscurity is a separate topic altogether. The reason Bach wasn't as popular back in his era was due to limited exposure. My understanding is that he wasn't known 100 miles outside of his home during his lifetime.

Date: Wed, February 15, 2023, 13:36:31 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

So, who decides "good taste?" Is it immediacy or historical? What are the standards if any?

How many in the general public could discern good 12th Century music from "bad" 12th Century music? They used scales not used often in modern music - dorian, mixolydian...heard occasionally in a church hymn or maybe Jethro Tull...

JS Bach was virtually unknown during his time. Mozart was initially known mostly to the local Viennese common folk who attended his operas. It took decades for his genius to be realized.


...and "historical" today is still driven by oldies, classic rock playlists. There are dozens and dozens of deep cuts on Stevie Wonder or Moody Blues or Steely Dan or Neil Finn songs that sound so much better than any classic rock or oldies streaming/airways...to my ear at least...that will never be streamed.


...on the other end Spotify views are manipulated. Or "dig yourself" with playlists based upon your input or listening tastes.


or is the arbiter Jerome Aniton? looking for the little bitty purty one. "If it good to ya, it got to be good for ya!"

Date: Wed, February 15, 2023, 13:10:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Yes and no.

When the studio musicians arrived for sessions, with the exception of many of the solos, they we worked out or usually written or partially written out. Donald and Walter could both write lead sheets (at least by the Katy Lied through Gaucho period), but were slow and usually had Feldman, Omartian, or Carlton write them out for the musicians, particularly after Countdown.

This is documented in dozens and dozens of written and spoken or video interviews.

Date: Wed, February 15, 2023, 08:40:46 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Driving that point home, D&W operated primarily upon their listening tastes rather than didacticism, trusting their judgement to figure out how they wanted a given piece to sound, ironing out kinks along the way until they arrived at their desired goal. It works the same for most composers, I would imagine. Someone with perfect pitch like Bach could hear music in his head and jot it down, but that's a skill most don't possess. Imitation and repetition is how most musicians learn.

There's no substitute for good taste and this is a quality which cannot be taught. Doesn't matter how many music theory books you buy or ear training courses you take. Discernment of quality is what separates great composers from average ones, because a great composer won't be satisfied with generic harmonies or merely adequate melodies. They hunger for something much greater, something defined by its creative pathos rather than pooled from vanilla blandness.

Date: Wed, February 15, 2023, 03:05:58 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Noah Kellman's ear training video hits the nail on the head early about repetition.

He didn't say this, but in essence all learning from the giant squid axon to complex human skill acquisition requires just 2 basic elements:

1. repetition

2. association


That's it. I could go on about K+ channels, etc, but if this saves anyone $100K for a BS or MS in Education then I've done the world a service.

It does help to have something useful to learn as well.

W&D had a knack for creating tricksy and sometimes jazzy harmonies, and then hired the right pros to make it sound really good.

Date: Wed, February 15, 2023, 02:53:10 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

The Sex Pistols were intended to be an anti-fashion fashion statement, and not necessarily a musical "band." McLaren managed The New York Dolls and took a going nowhere garage band called The Strand, dressed them up, added makeup...as a publicity stunt. McLaren recruited Midge Ure, but was turned down. He "found" Johnny Rotten with a baby pin through his Pink Floyd shirt...it's a twisted The Monkees story of the mid 70s, except almost everyone involved with the Monkees was more talented.

Legend has it that Virgin wanted the band to record, but they really couldn't play (yes, even worse than on Never Mind the Bullocks). Legend has it that members of The Police taught them a few chords. So, I guess the Sex Pistols and The Clash (who could write and kind of play their instruments) cleared a lane for The Police to enter...

Much different than the NYC scene at CBGBs, etc. of the time with The Ramones and Blondie playing stripped down, hyperkinetic "surf music." I believe Walter played in short-lived bands with Johnny Ramone (Cummings) and Jay Ferguson in their native Queens borough when he was a teen.


I simply skip any YT sales pitch and go straight to the interview/content if the subject is of interest.

Date: Tues, February 14, 2023, 17:36:13 ET
Posted by: Michael,

"...and, yet, you find yourself in 2023, in a public space, railing against the collective work of a fairly large number of respected, stellar musicians. To what end?"

To generate some cheap controversy in a bid to stay relevant, that's all. Punk rockers built their identity on contrarianism as defined by their inability to pay anything beyond the most rudimentary power chords and generic riffs. Even if the movement sprung out of something ostensibly genuine, punk quickly devolved into a cynical marketing ploy by labels to gain traction with a younger audience decidedly lacking discernment in quality. It's much easier to produce and market a bunch of schlock than it is to create highly refined art.

Frank Zappa explaining the state of the music industry during that time:

"Somebody figured out that because you could dress in a different costume and do punk music they could have a punk scene in Los Angeles. So that developed and you had people coming from all over the country who could probably play an instrument before they got there, but as soon as they got to Los Angeles they forgot all their chops and made themselves as ugly as possible figuring that's the best way to get a record contract. And, uh, that's the way it is."

Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eln3J6BxWN0

Date: Mon, February 13, 2023, 21:22:09 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, When Crap Was King

OK...I can't stand so-called "punk rock". Never could. I always despised it, in its entirety, especially back when it first started to infect popular culture in North America back in the mid-1970s. It wasn't "fun", it wasn't a "needed reaction" to musicians who could actually write & play, it was poorly-performed audio garbage.

Note that not one overpromoted/critically-acclaimed "punk" act from that period has stood the test of time, musically. Nostalgically? I dunno, maybe for some developmentally stunted types. Is anybody out there still thoroughly-engaged with the likes of the "Sex Pistols" or "The Gobbing Crabs" or "The Safety-Pin Mowhawks"?? I sure hope not...

Take, for example, some sloppy, awkward, dumpy "music producer" who, at over sixty years of age (!), still hasn't grown the hell up. Imagine being born in 1962 - a very long time ago, indeed - and having had all the oppotunity in the world to ease out of puberty...and, yet, you find yourself in 2023, in a public space, railing against the collective work of a fairly large number of respected, stellar musicians. To what end? It's as if this cluck is now looking to make his bones by appearing to be an "inconoclast" [so cute, that] or a contrarian [snicker]...

I, for one, would sure hate to be that willfully obtuse. In public.

Unless, as I noted previously, it's set-up. A rig. A contrivance designed to draw attention to the contriver. "Hey, everybody, look at me - I pretend to hate stuff that's really good 'cause I make & sell stuff that's deliberately really bad 'cause I have an adoring audience of several hundred!"

M/O/D/P

Date: Mon, February 13, 2023, 10:36:14 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Amusing how Albini portrays himself as a punk rocker yet his Twitter feed reads like pure conformity to the establishment. Here I was under the impression that punks were anti-establishment, but I was wrong. As with Neil Young, many of those old-time rockers are products of the machine they pretend to rebel against, selling an illusion to disgruntled teens looking for an outlet to vent.

The main thrust of his criticism against Steely Dan stems from two things: their jazz inspiration and studio perfectionism. This is a bit like arguing that Akira Kurosawa or Sergio Leone were far too clinical in their approach to film directing, completely disregarding the quality of their output. But this misses the point entirely. D&W were deliberately seeking to juxtapose sardonic, biting lyrics with heavily polished production for maximum effect. If they had set subversive material against a punk backdrop then the effect would've been typical of the genre (albeit not with that same degree of literacy, intentionally obfuscating references), thereby defeating the purpose. D&W weren't punk rockers and never pretended they were.

Date: Sun, February 12, 2023, 20:30:00 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Oh..."Steve Albini"...You sloppy, oafish devil you..

My guess is that the whole "industrial-punk-dissonant-crap-whatever" act is supposed to be a comedy bit. A joke played on the musically declined slow-learner set. No way that shit was/is intended to be taken at face value, musically. Or taken seriously. By anyone. No way.

And...forty-plus recent "twitter" posts in a row bleating & babbling about how much some lumpy/dumpy/clumsy-looking "edgy guy" [sic]
absolutely hates Steely Dan? Hmmmmmm...

It's a rig.

The details are just way too detailed.

The guy actually LOVES SD.

M/O/D/P

PS - Bless his slipshod, awkward, dumpy heart.

Date: Sun, February 12, 2023, 19:27:57 ET
Posted by: don, steve albini teapot tempest

(for relevance: please google : 'steve albini steely dan' )

RE: Steve Albini

I remember in in the 90s, I bought this album called Songs About Fucking
by this industrial-punk-whatever group called Big Black (producced by a certain Steve Albini) . The hipster types were all into
it and I was amused by the title and wanted to see what the fuss was about. IT was mostly
really stiff, mechanical-sounding, grind-punk that only the most neurotic, puritannical ,
self-flaggellating white people could possibly "like". I remmeber thinking: No one listens
to this stuff for pleasure. People only pretend to like this shit because it's fashionable .

It did have cool-looking album cover art, though.

Date: Sun, February 12, 2023, 09:23:11 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I'm guessing TRC means 'the record company' but it's unclear what FKAAD means.

Gave up on all those YouTube snake oil salesmen. I have a low tolerance threshold for guys interrupting topical videos to hawk products I don't want. Much of the stuff they're trying to sell is info you can access online for free. Granted, I could see someone spending around $10-20 for a handy physical book for quick reference, that makes sense, but that's different than shelling out $60, 70, 80 buckaroos for a digital book of scales, the circle of fifths and guitar chord charts. Again, there are plenty of online resources which give you that information for free.

Suppose you wanted to find an A major 9 chord shape on the guitar. All you need is to type it into a search engine and presto:

https://www.all-guitar-chords.com/chords/index/a/maj9

That's just one result. There are plenty of other online resources, obviously.

Or how about ear training?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzqa44N-sIU

First result. Completely free. Don't need to throw $200 down the drain. Save your money for something useful.

Date: Sun, February 12, 2023, 08:07:29 ET
Posted by: Steve, Pa

TRCFKAAD?

IDKWTM = I guess I'm not cool enough to know what that means. Hopefully you can afford a new keyboard that charges less per character.

Date: Sat, February 11, 2023, 20:20:47 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

To be clear - the compromise was that:

ABC-Dunhill/MCA would retain the rights to Gaucho, but release of the album was further delayed due to squabbling over the pricepoint of the album... as TRCFKAAD sought to rake in one last bolus of PROFIT.

Date: Sat, February 11, 2023, 20:17:46 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Throw back the little ones and pan fry the big ones.

Hell, Aja has tracks that were refried (Black Cow, I Got the News) from older demos.

Beato is not quite half right. D&W fought The Record Company formerly Know as ABC Dunhill for years to extricate themselves from their contract and record Gaucho and later albums (including as it turned out solo albums)with Warner Brothers.

Third World Man was of course Were You Blind that Day from the Royal Scam or Aja sessions. They kept Carlton's solo, Gadd's drums and subbed in a new vocal track, after giving up on re-recording The Second Arrangement. Carlton thought it was from RS, but my understanding is that Steve Gadd had never met W&D before recording the title track for Aja. Confirmation? Don B?

From Steve Khan's memories, tracking for Gaucho began in early 1979 Dec 78? after they took a year off. If there were demos or old songs from Aja that were used in the Gaucho recording (the Bear, Kulee Baba, Were You Blind that Day? Heartbreak Souvenir, Can't Write Home About You) I am unaware.

I could be wrong, but the chord progressions on Gaucho sound closer to The Nightfly than Aja. W/e

Date: Sat, February 11, 2023, 19:56:06 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

RIP Burt. I'll look for you with the force ghost George Gershwin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoNtj27a6Rk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6wnmmlOrRg&list=PL_JO2wdO4RkQ9eAXeYmsSuKEeY2lIRgkZ&index=4

Date: Fri, February 10, 2023, 19:03:47 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Sad...just sad...

By all accounts, Burt Bacharach lived a full and memorable life. Still, it's really sad to hear of his passing. Based on his body of work with Dionne Warwick alone, I would, had I been in charge of things, have awarded him at least another six years of vital/healthy life, yes, in addition to the 94 years he actually got.

I'd also like to belatedly thank both Don B. and Steve M. for their recent Bacharach stories posted here - Don B.'s as a very cool first-hand account, and Steve M.'s as both a first-hand account AND a heart-warming reminder of a delightful Paul Anka-related second-hand story...you know, the one with the convertible and the actress...thanks, guys...

Burt Bacharach was a clever, gifted composer, the likes of which we're not likely to see again.

Certainly not if the recent "Grammy Awards" - winners & nominees - are any indication of what's coming.

Date: Fri, February 10, 2023, 07:34:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Burt Bacharach was one of the greatest composers of the modern era. His works will stand the test of time. Sheer brilliance through and through.

Date: Thurs, February 09, 2023, 22:22:58 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

As discussed many times in Steely Dan fan forums like this one, Bacharach's influence is heavily felt on "Almost Gothic"

"'Aja' by Steely Dan is one of my favorite albums..." -- Burt Bacharach, on multiple occasions.

Date: Thurs, February 09, 2023, 10:10:47 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

RIP Burt Bacharach. Don B., thank you for the great Burt Bacharach story that you recently posted.

Date: Wed, February 08, 2023, 11:54:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Arguably nobody has perfected 1980s-style grooves over the past several years as well as Donny Benet has. Infectious, melodic, funky, fun. He pays homage while being 100% authentic and isn't afraid to engage in some self-effacing humor in his videos. He's got some tour dates lined up for America starting later this month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dD7KeRETsA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl5jH8eUbEY

Date: Wed, February 08, 2023, 04:01:50 ET
Posted by: Gil, CT

Bonnie Raitt is getting Two Against Nature type backlash for her Grammy. At least there was no Tik Tok or Twitter in 2001.

Date: Mon, February 06, 2023, 22:21:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Congrats to Samara Joy as New Artist of the Year.

Her voice - what an instrument. The tone and control are beyond next level. Traditional jazz - Sarah Vaughn and Ella channeling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X03lvK7qoco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToD9k0WT6-A

Date: Mon, February 06, 2023, 07:58:32 ET
Posted by: Michael,

M/O/P/D, no problem. Yes, her voice is similar to Astrud Gilberto as well as Laetitia Sadier, although I have no idea what she's singing about as I don't understand Swedish. It could be about a giant robot fighting a flying hamster for all I know. Whatever the case I really enjoy that song.

Here's a guilty pleasure track of mine by Latin jazz-pop group Presuntos Implicados titled Me Das el Mar which I guess translates to 'You Gave Me The Sea'. Beautiful song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JczlDoE6C50

Here's a wonderful live performance.

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

Date: Sun, February 05, 2023, 20:32:45 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Not regretting it, not one bit.

I hear Karen, but I hear a fair bit of Astrud as well. Maybe it's just the charming lack of English, I don't know...

Unlike so much of the synthetic gunk I hear emanating from cars/bars/whatevers these days, this Dina Ogon stuff sounds to my cloth ears like actual music.

Thanks Michael. Again.

Date: Sun, February 05, 2023, 13:27:25 ET
Posted by: Louie Dakine, off the kitchen

There was a balloon
East of the Carolinas.

Date: Sun, February 05, 2023, 10:19:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Hailing from Sweden, Dina Ögon are a psychadelic pop group comprised of Anna Ahnlund on vocals, Christopher Cantillo on drums, Daniel Ögren on guitar, and Love Örsan on bass. Anna's voice is reminiscent of Karen Carpenter. The laid-back groove is locked in the pocket. Trust me, check them out, you won't regret it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2-7UEE5X10

Date: Sat, February 04, 2023, 21:20:03 ET
Posted by: Rodriguez, Dry Run

Here is James Raymond talking about working with Donald and his father David Crosby on the song "Rodriguez For A Night".


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

Date: Sat, February 04, 2023, 06:48:53 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

TWM a weaker track?!? Puh-lease.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 22:12:45 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Gao

I am glad that Gaucho has slowly built up a fan base over time. Back in the “yellow book” days, most posters found it to be a drop off from Aja.

It certainly was the most inaccessible to my ears. The introduction of drum machines, the dropping of Denny Dias, Walter’s tragedies and limitations, and the legal battles all combined to make an album that initially seems inconsistent. Gaucho and Katy Lied both grew on me over the years, but even Fagen used to word “depressed” to described Gaucho’s sound.

But I’m delighted to know that the younger generations have embraced it and fans like “Good Steely Dan Takes” continue to celebrate it on Twitter.

m.e.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 18:26:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

'What if' scenarios are usually interesting topics of discussion, but I'm pleased with the finished product. We can count ourselves lucky that we got to hear any of the outtakes because they didn't even surface until decades after the fact. To hear how these songs went from piano/Rhodes/bass demos to nearly finished arrangements gives us some insight into D&W's vision and meticulous attention to detail. Of course, working with the crème de la crème of session musicians helped a great deal.

I couldn't see anyone making music even remotely similar to stuff like 2A, Kulee or The Bear today despite the vast advancements in technology and such. Even if someone could compose similar music, it's doubtful that they could also come up with lyrics full of cryptic references, sharp wit and irony, to say nothing about top-tier arrangements and stellar performances of comparable quality. Even if it were possible, a crucial component would always be missing, that being Donald's unique vocal delivery. Sure, you could find a hundred soundalikes of most other contemporary singers, but not Donald. Nobody else sounds like him. His voice is the final key ingredient to that patented Steely Dan sound.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 17:08:10 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, On The Face Of It

If the statement is that Gaucho would be the best SD album WITH The Second Arrangement, The Bear, Kind Spirit & Kulee Baba, then the statement is a perfectly reasonable one, on the face of it. Since "with" does not specifically imply the removal/deletion of any of the released album's tracks, what we would have, theoretically anyways, is a longer album with more top tier material. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me, at least several decades after the fact. I know some people like to argue, but this one seems like a poor target for Petty Internet Bickering.

Of course, the limitations of the dominant format of the time (vinyl, only about 20-22 minutes or so per side without using K-Tel style compression) meant that everything good just didn't fit. That, plus all of the problems that Michael mentioned earlier. And remember, there was also a fair bit of negativity surrounding the album's original retail price of $9.98...a full dollar higher than most then-current releases...a double album with a significantly higher retail price tag likely would have been rejected - a smart business decision.

Not enough material for a dreaded/"padded" (!) double album/too much gold for a single disc.

And that's why we have what we got.

M/O/D/P

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 12:42:00 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

Godwhacker

And if those outtakes made the album, and some of the ones that did were instead outtakes you'd be saying just the opposite.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 12:31:42 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I concur.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 10:56:41 ET
Posted by: Godwhacker,

Gaucho with The Second Arrangement, The Bear, Kind Spirit, Kule Baba...would be the best SD album by far.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 08:51:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

It is when compared with much of SD's other material but it's still superior to about 99% of stuff other artists can come up with, so take that how you will. I also consider Kulee Baba, The Bear and the other unreleased tracks from that time period to be stronger than many of the cuts on the finished album.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 08:23:52 ET
Posted by: J C, Cullen

I want to scream when I hear My Rival dismissed as a "weaker" track.

Date: Thurs, February 02, 2023, 07:41:16 ET
Posted by: Michael,

moray eel, I have no doubt that he loves SD but then he should know better than to say that Gaucho is a bunch of B-sides, completely bypassing any discussion on the album. How can anyone talk about how SD evolved their sound and brush off Gaucho as though it was a non-factor? Yes, Aja was the pinnacle of what D&W were trying to achieve but the only reason Gaucho wasn't on par was due to the various factors I mentioned, not the compositions. It wasn't as if they were phoning it in in the studio. As I said, had 2A not been erased then it's very likely that the album would've taken on a very different tone with 2A leading off the festivities and changing out some of the other arguably weaker tracks such as My Rival and TWM for stronger material like Kulee Baba and possibly even Heartbreak Souvenir, giving the album much greater depth.

M/O/P/D, it's been this way on YouTube for awhile. I almost never click on those reaction videos and many of those big YouTube personalities seem like snake oil salesmen. How many times can you hawk your wares, brag about your subscribers and ask people to hit the like and subscribe button? The guy I was discussing before was a producer in the music industry who does most of his videos from inside his home studio, replete with tons of gear (guitars, amps, piano, etc.). That didn't come cheap. So then, why are people donating over live chat as though he's running a charity from the poor house or something? Another thing that rubs me the wrong way about these personalities is how they tend to ignore comments unless someone gives them money.

Date: Wed, February 01, 2023, 23:42:45 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Not

Rick Beato is a huge Steely Dan fan. He said the drum solo on Aja changed his life. He has conducted long interviews with Bernard Purdie and Larry Carlton that I believe any SD fan should be able to appreciate. He talks about them, in a positive way, more than any other band except for maybe the Beatles.

Yes, he closed out one video by mentioning that he had heard that Donald wanted to end the the record deal and used old songs like Third World Man to wrap it up. He said that he didn’t know if it was true.

m.e.

Date: Wed, February 01, 2023, 21:53:26 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Ignorance Is Bliss, part 2

Michael, thanks for stirring things up here...again...

I have to confess, I might just be the only one here who has absolutely no idea of the YooToob "personality" to whom you refer. In my own defense, at some point it becomes difficult to keep track of all the low rent cult-of-personality crap that now fills the once-promising "internet" to overflowing.

Truth is, over the many years since it has become the "go-to" sewer-of-excrement-&-pus-&-flatus that it has become, I haven't spent very much time scouring that particular place for entertainment. On the relatively rare occasions that I do find myself there, I'm usually "in-and-out" after viewing something recommended here or by a friend. Sure, I have, on occasion, spent a bit too much valuable time going down one ill-advised rabbit-hole after another watching clips I hadn't been aware even existed, or bits of music I'd never heard or even old favorites just for the fuck of it. But really, the less time spent on the Yootoob the better, for me anyways. The deal-killer for me is all those asinine "reaction" videos that the algorithm keeps recommending...I think I posted something fairly uncomplimentary about those things on here a while ago.

But, really, for someone/anyone - even a respected/famous [snicker] Youtuber [snicker] - to relegate the Gaucho LP to the level of B-side/discards status, well, perhaps that tells us all about the inherent value/validity/credibility of any self-promoting Toob "channel" host and his or her "Hey-everybody-look-at-me-I-have-both-an-opinion-AND-an-anus!!" tired shtick.

M/O/D/P

Date: Wed, February 01, 2023, 17:36:32 ET
Posted by: Michael,

There's a certain YouTube personality who will remain nameless (but everybody will know who I'm talking about) that not so long ago did a video about Steely Dan which came across as ill-informed, interrupting every so often just so he could plug his merch like he does in pretty much every video, which gets annoying. What really bugged me was how he disregarded Gaucho as supposedly being a bunch of B-sides put together just so that Donald could get out of his contract, disregarding the other half of SD for some unfathomable reason.

Donald and Walter worked extremely hard under harrowing circumstances to complete Gaucho. Just the fade-out on Babylon Sisters took over 4 hours to mix. They lost one of their masterpieces, The Second Arrangement, to a studio engineer's mistake. Donald recalled how everything about that album was like pulling teeth. There was so many going on behind the scenes that severely bogged down production, including Walter being injured by a speeding car. Counting all the unreleased tracks from around that time (2A, I Can't Write Home About You, Kulee Baba, The Bear, Heartbreak Souvenir, Kind Spirit), they had enough material for two albums. No doubt the finished Gaucho would've been much different had 2A not been erased and Walter not suffered his injury.

As it stands there are several shining moments throughout Gaucho including Babylon Sisters, Hey 19, Glamour Profession, and TOOM. The unreleased Gaucho constitutes a shadow album of sorts, the only tracks we have yet to hear being the full band arrangement of ICWHAY and Heartbreak Souvenir. I consider 2A to be among their greatest works, easily. To infer that Babylon Sisters or Glamour Profession are B-side material, well, I think he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.

Date: Tues, January 31, 2023, 17:59:48 ET
Posted by: Thrag "Spearhunter" Rockstone, Caves of Altamira

Re The Caves of Altamira (among others)...

Ice Age cave paintings decoded by amateur researcher
(Wednesday, January 25, 2023)

Patterns of lines and dots associated with specific animal species in cave art may point to an early writing system.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/cave-painting-calendar-earliest-writing/

Date: Tues, January 31, 2023, 01:34:34 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Thanks Gus! Great to hear from you. Peace

Date: Tues, January 24, 2023, 15:35:33 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Hey Gus, drop me a line, been trying to get in touch.
Peace.

Date: Tues, January 24, 2023, 01:32:33 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Today I found this article about David Crosby (may be behind a paywall).

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/01/david-crosby/672804/

Date: Mon, January 23, 2023, 08:32:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Steve and The Dean, it isn't a real reaction. That's what makes it amusing, at least to me. Someone comedically dubbed FM over the original video clip which was probably some metal song judging by the posters in the room. Nothing like those other reaction videos where someone pretends they've never heard Steely Dan before (or Yes, Queen, The Beatles, or any other oversaturated artist).

Those other reaction YouTubers are farming for cheap clicks with the most mundane content. If they intend to listen to a song for the first time then why do they need to film themselves, interrupting the song every 30 seconds to howl and discuss how incredible it is, as though they've never heard a real band in their entire lives?

M/O/D/P, you summed it up nicely. YouTube is far too heavy-handed in their enforcement of community guidelines. I'll never understand how uploaders get flagged or taken down for no apparent reason yet plenty of vile filth remains, including music videos featuring raunchy gratuitous content I'd rather not discuss here.

Involuntary swearing, vomiting and diarrhea are known side effects of being exposed to Springsteen. That was rather brave on your part. I don't think I would've lasted more than a few minutes, much less the three hour mass torture ritual that is going to see him live.

Date: Sun, January 22, 2023, 20:33:23 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Doing It Again

Michael, your timing couldn't have been better. After the recent "RIP" announcements - both of which were hard to take for many of us - we could all use a laff. Thanks.

I, for one, deeply appreciated the concept of "hair flipping" to a Steely Dan song.

As for the plethora of insincere, click-baiting/obnoxiously-staged "YooToob reaction videos" - yeah, I've seen a few of the ones with the just-released-from-Corcoran/hip-hop guys who are "wowed" by some track by Yes or ELP, and I suppose I should admit that I've even seen some of the ones where some borderline M/R clod has a contrived pants-filling epiphany after hearing some bit of music he's "never heard before" - but really, I think that these "reaction" videos have run their course. I'm definietly NOT a fan of this kind of material.

Especially since those Toob guys immediately deleted MY "reaction video".

The one where I listen to Springsteen's Greatest Hits [no, really, the thing exists], all the way through, and "react".

The follow-up "Your video has been removed" email cited me for a lot of pretty dumb stuff, like "Unnecessary use of profanity", "Failure to meet community standards", and, most hurtfully, "Gratuitous use of vomit".

No more "reaction videos" for me.

M/O/D/P

Date: Sun, January 22, 2023, 19:41:14 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Steve, I was just going to post almost the same thing. But to be fair, I'm guessing Michael posted that for the quick humor. I mean hair flipping to a Steely Dan song?

Yes, these are typically staged and some very poorly. But I will say these two guys show real enthusiasm and seem to be having a great time tuning out to Kid Charlemagne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl0y0Z6K2ks

Date: Sun, January 22, 2023, 19:03:52 ET
Posted by: Steve,

What sucks about these reaction videos, Michael, is that they're almost always staged, so as to create more clicks and followers for the person posting. People get sucked into how cool it is that someone's supposedly discovering a favorite artist for the first time, in this case Steely Dan. But then the reality is it's all a big fake to generate traffic for a particular channel or site.

Date: Sun, January 22, 2023, 13:14:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I'm gonna lighten the mood a little bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Me-PbVJ-_A

Date: Fri, January 20, 2023, 11:23:17 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

If Crosby had been in mediocre health (how many years ago was his liver transplant?), then I'm fit to win a decathlon.

Date: Fri, January 20, 2023, 08:20:44 ET
Posted by: Chet, B

"By the time I got to Woodstock, I was 37." - Donald Fagen 2007.

RIP David Crosby.

Date: Fri, January 20, 2023, 00:28:02 ET
Posted by: moray eel, A

Dave: if you put an SACD into your CD player, it will sound like a normal CD. If you put an SACD into a 5.1 surround sound system, it will separate the instruments into different speakers/subwoofers. The effect is that Fagen’s vocal may be coming out of the center speaker, the background vocals may be coming out of the left and right, horns, guitars, etc.

m.e.

Date: Thurs, January 19, 2023, 19:16:03 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Dave from Acquisitions:

The SACDs from Acoustic Sounds will play in a standard CD player. These discs, like the 2003 SACD/CD hybrid of "Gaucho," play fine most anywhere. (I think I possibly discussed this in the most recent Dandom Digest I posted below about two weeks ago, if you want to read more.) I have tried it on my best CD component system as well as even my 33-year-old Sony Discman. Played thr stereo version fine. Is it worth it? IMHO, with my setup it's negligible, if noticeable. All depends on the quality of your sound system ***and your ears!*** Admittedly, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I couldn't purchase these new hybrid discs; for me, the most motivating factor is simply to look forward to all things Dan! In my case, I have a Denon 6.1 receiver and a Toshiba SACD player. My understanding is that this configuration actually has some incompatibilities even though supposedly have SACD capabilities. With these kinds of complexities and variables, I think it's reasonable for more than a few people to take a pass.

There also FLAC (Lossless) audio files you can purchase of the Steely Dan, DF and WB albums...I don't have enough experience with these to give an opinion but there are those who swear by FLAC. They are definitely better than MP3

Historically, a huge facet of Steely Dan has been the audiophile innovation and quality, so have the latest right now is a remnant of that ethos, even if Walter, Roger and Ellott are not involved with these versions although we do have master Bernie Grunderman. Also, my thought is that these SACD/CDs and 45 RPM LPs will likely be the last remasterings in Donald's lifetime and probably mine too. So I figure I will indulge.

I have been wondering about Dolby Atmos. I've listened to Atmos versions of Marvin Gaye and Elton John tracks and they have really been revelatory even on my 5-year-old iPhone X with standard $20 hardwired Apple earbuds. The fact that there is a noticeable difference on even the most modest of existing audio hardware is a real game changer. No word as to if and when there will be Atmos versions of Steely Dan.

Date: Thurs, January 19, 2023, 18:50:59 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Dean: You said it very well. I know he's been in mediocre health at best for a long time, but I was imagining that he was going to collaborate more with Donald, perhaps even appear on Donald's new solo album in followup to the "Rodriguez" collaboration. Most of you know Donald said in Rolling Stone maybe 16 months ago that during the pandemic he has laid down a lot of work on a new solo album. While Donald has never indicated this, I somehow imagined that Cros would make an appearance on it.

At any rate, Cros live a good, long life. Sad about his passing...but that's what's happening to rock and roll heros of that age.

Date: Thurs, January 19, 2023, 18:43:10 ET
Posted by: Dave (from acquisitions), Philadelphia

I have another question about the SACD remasters coming out. Since I’m not a vinyl guy, is it worth buying the SACD versions of the remasters if I don’t have an SACD compatible player? I have a regular CD player of course (even one in my new car, which I didn’t even think car companies did anymore) so will there be a noticeable difference in the regular CD playback of “Can’t Buy a Thrill”? It’s not about the money it’s just a matter of will it be better sounding than what we can stream through the Apple Music store, Spotify, etc? Are there any tech savvy people that can enlighten me here? Thanks

Date: Thurs, January 19, 2023, 17:51:14 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

RIP David Crosby.

While I'm not shocked, I'm a bit surprised. He's been really active/productive lately, it seems.

also, I know some people think EVERY Steely Dan song is about drugs, and I scoff at that. But to add to your point, "skinny girl" some say is a name for the syringe/needle used to shoot drugs.

Date: Thurs, January 19, 2023, 17:15:47 ET
Posted by: If you smile at me, I will understand

RIP David Crosby

I will hold the memory of seeing him with The Donald & Co at the Beacon Theatre a few years ago singing "Wooden Ships" even dearer to my heart.

Date: Thurs, January 19, 2023, 14:25:43 ET
Posted by: also, this

silver key = needle
red door = vein

Date: Wed, January 18, 2023, 11:09:47 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Pros

HATWW

Two rival brothels are competing for customers. The Lido offers the clientele free food and beer, but it has fallen into disfavor. Now, gentlemen prefer The Western World. The girls are thin and there is the opportunity to network with the mayor and his friends.

Fever dreams is still a great resource to ponder SD lyrics.

https://feverdreams.whatsmykarma.com/etc.htm

m.e.

Date: Tues, January 17, 2023, 05:06:05 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

The SACD/CD Hybrid disc of "Can't Buy a Thrill" is now shipping from Acoustic Sounds. If you pre-ordered, you should expect it any day now. Of course, the 45 RPM vinyl version was released this past November. I also spoke to somebody at Acoustic Sounds and they still don't have an ETA on the 45 RPM vinyl of Pretzel Logic nor the SACD/CD of "Countdown to Ecstasy" and subsequent titles. For that matter, I've not seen any information at Amazon, official Steely Dan page, or elsewhere as to when Geffen/UMe Will be releasing the remastered 33-1/3 vinyl version of "Countdown to Ecstasy".

www.acousticsounds.com

Date: Tues, January 17, 2023, 01:38:46 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

@ M/O/D/P,drop me a line.

Date: Tues, January 17, 2023, 00:30:33 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, The real "AH-HA" moment/Enjoy Every Sandwich

Geez...song lyrics...and how to decipher them...sometimes it can be a real conundrum, no?

For the longest time, I thought that Here At The Western World was about a group of ex-pat Krauts enjoying traditional food and slinky whores, in a protected brothel - somewhere/someplace - in either the 1920s/1930s or (more likely), the mid-to-late '40s, after The War. That's what I always thought. Until now.

After reading everybody's recent thoughts on the song, I now realize that the song is very likely about none of this. Or none of that.

The song, with its delicate piano base and intricate-even-if-possibly-originally-just-a-placeholder guitar solo, the song seems, now, to me, to be about a ham sandwich. That's right, a "ham sandwich". Not your ordinary, generic ham sandwich - it's Don & Walt after all - but rather a ham sandwich that isn't exactly as it seems to be...a ham sandwich that habitually perplexes interviewers just for fun, a ham sandwich that idiosyncratically defies certain pre-conceived musical conventions, and a ham sandwich that's willing and able to spend huge amounts of [record company] cash in its endless (and expensive) quest for musical perfection.

It's about a fucking SANDWICH, people. What more do you need to know?? Pretty sure I've nailed this one.

Or...of course...I could be completely wrong.

M/O/D/P

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 19:56:46 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

@the Dean.Thanks for the encouraging
update. Peace bro.

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 12:38:09 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

The mystery of SD lyrics gives us all a lifetime of contemplation, searching, and the occasional Aha! moment. What a gift!

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 12:26:28 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Just a friendly reminder about a bug in the Bluebook and then ancient script upon which it operates. The bug is this: Say you make a post to the BlueBook and leave the screen at the "Thank you" message page and then your computer, phone, other device goes to sleep. When the device is woken up, under certain circumstances, the browser may do a refresh and in the process, repost what was just posted. So please, don't criticize the poster. It's a bug with the BlueBook. Thanks!

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 12:04:50 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Nicholas:

I certainly don't arm wrestle on interpretations---unless, say Walter and/or Donald were to say, "absolutely not (this)..." At the same time, I see Klaus, the Mayor and all his friends all being male clients who patronize the Western World brothel to experience the "skinny girls".

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 11:49:06 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Jim, my impression comes from all of the characters except Ruthie being male, I always thought that "skinny girl" was was a reference to a male (no boobs, so skinny), and that hiding from the madman meant being in the closet, but when he's with these characters, it all comes out.

Also, the idea that something that was much more taboo at the time that this song was written being set to a catchy tune seems very SD. Kind of like the suburbanite bopping along to "Everyone's Gone to the Movies" in the grocery store aisle, with no idea what the song is really about.

But, like Dennis Miller says, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 11:33:39 ET
Posted by: hoops,

Nicholas:

No norms violated nor is it necessary to even say that here... We're independent of any of those social media about We're independent of any of those social media bots,etc. That aside, I pretty much agree with all the interpretations associated with a brothel; I was just wondering though, which words, musical elements, or whatever lead you to believe that it's about a homosexual encounter? I don't see that element or angle, not that there would be anything wrong if there was.

Date: Mon, January 16, 2023, 07:39:15 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

My impression of HATWW has always been that it's about a closeted gay man who has found acceptance at a gay bar and indulges himself with a male prostitute.

Apologies if I have violated current linguistic norms with any of the above terms - no offense intended.

Date: Sun, January 15, 2023, 18:03:01 ET
Posted by: Michael,

The original movie with Yul Brynner was good. Never read the book.

Several listeners have taken a stab at the meaning of the lyrics.

https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/140472/

Date: Sun, January 15, 2023, 15:53:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael Crichton "book"

Date: Sun, January 15, 2023, 15:50:33 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Here at the Western Word is probably Steely Dan's take on the Michael Crichton and 1973 movie WestWorld about an adult amusement park that was filled with androids to satisfy human pleasure. Where once was illegal and taboo is at your fingertips for a Jackson ($20) or more (please keep into mind inflation)...

(There was the HBO follow-up series)

Today we know it as "Las Vegas!"

Date: Sun, January 15, 2023, 12:43:28 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Or maybe it's an allegory to fit a certain motif? I'm not sure. D&W hoped that listeners would enjoy the music without having to necessarily dissect exactly what each lyric was about.

DF: "As far as specifics like that, our audience will have to trust our sincerity, just trust us in not laying down some bullshit. When they think they don't understand something it's certainly not some random lyric."

Date: Sun, January 15, 2023, 12:01:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Alan, it's got something to do with prostitution and likely something else a bit more vague. The fact that the mayor and his friends are there (and nobody cares) suggests that it's about a brothel somewhere out in the West, perhaps more about widespread immorality extending into the political sphere. Western World could be a euphemism for a brothel.

Date: Sat, January 14, 2023, 18:26:44 ET
Posted by: Alan Bishopgate,

Any clues what HATTWW is about?
It sounds like it’s about prostitution - silver key, red door, “Jackson” $20 bill, etc

Any other thoughts?

Date: Sat, January 14, 2023, 11:58:49 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Don, did you get my email?

Date: Fri, January 13, 2023, 20:56:32 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Hey there Dean,always good to hear from you!
Peace.

Date: Fri, January 13, 2023, 19:38:03 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Actually the youtube take must be different than that on facebook. I don't see Michael Leonhart sitting behind the gals on the youtube video.

Date: Fri, January 13, 2023, 19:34:57 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Hoops, I don't have a facebook account and I see the video just fine. But it is a very short clip. This looks to be the entire song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8fU18_IEGY

Jeff Beck was a one of a kind master of the guitar. He will be missed.

Date: Thurs, January 12, 2023, 11:04:35 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Footage of Donald, Catherine Russell, Michael Leonhart and others from Steely Dan orchestra performing with Jeff back not too long ago at Lincoln Center.

Note: this is from Facebook and on someone else's Facebook page at that, so not everyone can see it. Sorry!

Here's the link.
https://www.facebook.com/rob.paparozzi/videos/545241934201760/?mibextid=v7YzmG

Wishing all the best.

Date: Thurs, January 12, 2023, 10:44:38 ET
Posted by: Gabe, PA

Krantz and Carlock did a song called Jeff Beck. Although it has no lyrics, I assume it was intended as a musical tribute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0bJRy8itBs

Date: Thurs, January 12, 2023, 09:46:13 ET
Posted by: Michael,

A tremendous loss. Jeff Beck's 'Blow by Blow' is one of my favorite fusion albums.

RIP

Date: Wed, January 11, 2023, 20:01:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Damn - what a huge loss.

A musicians, musician. RIP Jeff Beck.

Date: Wed, January 11, 2023, 17:20:10 ET
Posted by: Steve, -

RIP, Jeff Beck.

Date: Tues, January 10, 2023, 14:11:10 ET
Posted by: The Greater Dandom, Everywhere

Happy 75th birthday to Donald Fagen!

75 years old already? Wow! Time flies!

🎉🎂🥳🎈🎊🎁

Date: Wed, January 04, 2023, 22:14:36 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest for August. 16-December 31, 2022 emailed out late this afternoon. You should have received it between 5:45 pm and 7 pm ET/NYC Time. ! The latest edition of the Dandom Digest (Vol. 30, No. 9.). The previous regular Dandom Digest covered May 23-August. 15, 2022.

As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. With email filters and spam, what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a "naughty" word. At any rate, if you don't see it in your in box, let me know by sending an email at jjmckay at me dot com.

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest/index.html

For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydanofficial com, sdarchive com, walterbecker com, walterbeckermedia com, donaldfagen com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates.

As the Dandom Digest begins its 30th year, thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom.
-------------------------------------------------------------

DANDOM DIGEST

AUG 16–DEC 31, 2022
Yr. 30, No. 9

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

IN THIS DANDOM DIGEST

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
Donald's Next One
1972-80 Albums Reissue Project
Personal Notes on the Remasters…So Far
Fagen, Kaplan & Kassem Talk About the New Versions
Grundman & Kassem Talk SD Reissues
Analogue Productions' 2vN & EMG
Mini-TBVO: Steely Dan's Can't Buy a Thrill
Tracking Angle on "Countdown to Ecstasy"
Acoustic Sounds Import: "You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It"

PASSINGS
RIP: Ted Baker
RIP: John Neff
Re: RIP, John Neff: Interview
RIP: Steely Dan Fan, Christine McVie

NEW! Noted Journalist Jake Malooley's "Expanding Dan"
Best of 2022: "Remember The Audio"
Monkey House's Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed "Aja" Book
Calling All Current SD Orchestra Members & Alums
30 Years: Looking Ahead to 2023!

Followed by

PRETZEL LOGIC

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
From: Jim McKay
Date: Sat, Dec 31, 2022

The Dandom Digest is back with a post-tour, last third of 2022 wrap-up.

Thank you to all who have kindly written and sent good will while I've been on sabbatical with some personal and family matters. Your support means a great deal.

Happy Holidays...Happy New Year!

Jim

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Donald's Next One
From: Jim McKay
Date: Sat, Dec 31, 2022

Fans are always asking if Donald has a new album coming and also when will the Steely Dan Orchestra be touring again.

We haven't heard anything directly from Donald in recent months, but let's not forget his September 30, 2021 interview with Jon Blistein at "Rolling Stone". Donald said that during the pandemic lockdown, he had written enough songs to fill out a new album and had even recorded demos. Saying some of the songs are "personal," he mentioned a track with a working title of "The Stellar Bartender."

In late December 2022, a British tabloid site said he was recording some more...which is plausible. However, the site is a bit dubious. Still, we do have the "Rolling Stone" interview with Donald from about 15 months ago.

No word on a 2023 tour...yet. Stay tuned!

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 1972-80 Albums Reissue Project
From: Jim McKay
Date: Sat, December 31, 2022

By now you've heard that Steely Dan's first seven albums are being remastered and reissued in at least three new versions: a single LP 33-1/3 RPM, 180 g black vinyl from Geffen/UMe; double LP, 45 RPM 200 g clear vinyl from Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions in conjunction with Geffen/UMe; and SACD/CD also from Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions in partnership with Geffen/UMe.

This reissue series includes "Can't Buy a Thrill," "Countdown to. Ecstasy," "Prestzel Logic," "Katy Lied," "The Royal Scam," "Aja," and "Gaucho." There's no word if and how they plan to incorporate "Here At the Western World" and "FM (No Static At All)" into this project.

The two new vinyl versions of "Can't Buy A Thrill" and the double LP, 45 RPM of "Countdown to Ecstasy" are out now; the other new versions of those titles have yet to make their public debut--release dates are still to be announced.

The following is from Acoustic Sounds' press release for the project. [ Info contained in brackets is inserted by the Dandom Digest ] :

There'e never been a bigger band with fewer audiophile reissues than Steely Dan. That's about to change. Acoustic Sounds, Analogue Productions, Quality Record Pressings, and Bernie Grundman Mastering are bringing these masterpiece titles to the pinnacle of audiophile excellence.

Few bands cared about the quality of their productions than Steely Dan. Each recording session included the very best musicians and recording engineers of the day. Their pursuit of perfection was legendary. Steely Dan has always been an audiophile demo favorite. But collectors were limited, for the most part, to hard-to-find original copies. Now, audiophiles will be able to enjoy the ultimate versions of these already-incredible sounding records.

All albums are meticulously remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes except for "Aja", which will be mastered from an analog, non-EQ'd, tape copy, and "Gaucho", which will be sourced from a 1980 analog tape copy originally EQ'd by Bob Ludwig. (There's no evidence the original tapes containing the flat mixes of "Aja" and "Gaucho" were delivered to the record label and it's presumed the tapes no longer exist.)

Seven of these classic titles — "Can't Buy a Thrill", "Countdown to Ecstasy", "Pretzel Logic", "Katy Lied", "The Royal Scam", "Aja", and "Gaucho" will be released as double 45 RPM UHQRs, priced at $150 per copy with a limit of three copies per customer.

Additionally, Geffen/UMe is releasing the same seven titles on 33 1/3 RPM, also mastered by Bernie Grundman. Lacquers for UMe's standard 180-gram version will be cut by Alex Abrash at his renowned AA Mastering studio from high-resolution digital files of Grundman's new masters and pressed at Precision. They will be housed in reproductions of the original artwork.

Two of the titles from the Steely Dan/Analogue Productions reissue series – "Everything Must Go" and "Two Against Nature" – have already been released as non-UHQR, 45-RPM editions…[and in November 2022 were finally] …released on Hybrid Stereo SACD. "Two Against Nature" is the only title in this series not mastered by Bernie Grundman. It was recorded to a multi-track analog tape, mixed to 24/96 and mastered and cut by Scott Hull at Masterdisk. [Some additional brief information follows in this edition of the Dandom Digest.]

All of the Analogue Productions records will of course be pressed at the world's finest pressing plant, Quality Record Pressings.

And each of these titles will be available on SACD for $35 per copy.

"This is a lifelong dream," said Acoustic Sounds CEO Chas Kassem. "I really can't think of a bigger band will better titles, both musically and sonically, that has barely been reissued. This is like the audiophile reissue holy grail. We're so excited for our customers to hear these classic records sound better than they ever have before."


-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Subject: Personal Notes on the Remasters…So Far

A few of of my notes about what's been released so far:

-- Some acronyms localized to the Greater Dandom:
--"CBAT" is shorthand for "Can't Buy a Thrill".
--"CTE" (or sometimes "321 XTC") is shorthand for "Countdown to Ecstasy."
--"2vN" is shorthand for "Two Against Nature", as first seen at Steely Dan's official website; other fans use "TAN."
--"EMG"? "Everything Must Go".

-- Speaking of acronyms, "UHQR"? Since several people have asked, "UHQR" means "Ultra High Quality Record"--Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions' proprietary manufacturing process. It is all explained here: https://www.qualityrecordpressings.com/index.cfm?go=projects So far about 15 UHQR titles have been announced, including the seven Steely Dan titles.

-- Based on customer comments at Amazon.com, some have been experiencing an anomaly with the Geffen UMe 33-1/3, single LP version of "Can't Buy a Thrill." When the anomaly is experienced, its at the opening second of "Only a Fool Would Say That." For some, it's an outright skip. for others, it's a very slight drop in the opening note. I emphasize that not everyone is experiencing this, some have obtained better results by replacing their turntable's stylus or adjusting the stylus force pressure; some have opted to exchange their copy at the point of sale. The vast majority of reviews. at Amazon.com do mention any problem.

-- I've only heard one report of a defective LP in the Acoustic Sounds release of "Countdown to Ecstasy." Acoustic Sounds quickly expedited a replacement upon proof of destruction (a photo) of the defective disc. They did not send out an entire new package.

-- While it is correct that the first five titles have not been issued on vinyl in decades, other wonderful audiophile versions of "Aja" and "Gaucho" have been released in the past 15 years or so. It will be interesting to compare these with the new versions.

-- Both the 33-1/3 and 45 RPM versions of "Can't Buy a. Thrill" sound fantastic, as far as I am concerned, many times better than my ancient ABC and MCA vinyl from the 1970s and 1980s. Definitely an edge the sound of the 45 RPM version since it basically has a higher sampling rate, if you will, compared to the 33 1/3 version. One annoying feature to the 45 RPM versions: one has to flip the LPs after every other song. So the single LP 33 1/3 edition has that benefit--but of course CDs and high end digital files have the benefit of no flipping--but then that's a point of debate for those who think of think of the two sides of any albun as "Act I" and "Act II."

-- If you have a very modest turntable and sound setup, the 33-1/3 version will likely be an adequate replacement for your 35 year old vinyl. Ditto if your hearing has declined in recent years.

-- The 45 RPM versions include some new liner notes penned by Donald. They are a lot of fun with some new insights with my only wish being that each was longer than something like a page.
-- Purchase the 33-1/3 RPM LP versions from the Steely Dan website store, Amazon.com, or your favorite independent record dealer.

-- Purchase the 45 RPM LP and SACD versions from Acoustic Sounds at https://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=results&artistid=3361&LabelID=507

Some publicity interviews with the key players in this remastering and reissue project follow.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Fagen, Kaplan & Kassem Talk About the New Versions

A Casual Conversation: Donald Fagen, Fred Kaplan and Chad Kassem

Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions CEO Chad Kassem sits down with Fred Kaplan, reviewer for the Tracking Angle and a columnist for Slate, and Steely Dan's Donald Fagen for a casual discussion about master tapes, Contemporary Records, Jelly Roll Morton, Rudy Van Gelder, the upcoming UHQR & SACD series & more.

https://youtu.be/vmrnS6ocCPA

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Grundman & Kassem Talk SD Reissues

Bernie Grundman and Chad Kassem discuss the Steely Dan catalogue, reissues, and the master tapes.

Bernie Grundman is the widely acclaimed audio engineer known for his work with Contemporary Records and A&M Studios. For us Steely Dan fans, his work on the "Aja" album is landmark. Roughly a decade ago, he remastered Donald's "The Nighfly" album. Another highlight is his work on Walter's "Circus Money". A few of his various recent high-profile projects have included works by Miles Davis, Prince, the Joni Mitchell Masters project, and now the Steely Dan remasters.

https://youtu.be/ADpxrBJ7M-0

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Subject: Analogue Productions' 2vN & EMG

This past June saw release of high-quality 45 rpm versions of "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go" from Acoustic Sounds' Analougue Productions (AP) in association with Warner/Reprise. A few weeks ago in November, the SACD/CD hybrid counterparts were also released.

I've tested the SACD/CD hybrids of 2vN and EMG in both a Toshiba and a Sony SACD player. They work fine--but of course, one must have the player "reconciled" with an SACD-capable receiver with properly corresponding firmware. Yes, I get lost sometimes with that as well. Moreover, these SACD/CD hybrids also play standard stereo layer sound in my cheap Phillips CD changer, my 22-year-old Sony boombox, and even a 32-year-old Sony Discman!

To order the AP versions of 2vN and EMG, head to: https://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=results&searchtext=steely+dan-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: REDUX: Bernie Grundman Talks "Aja" Mastering
From: Matt Channen
Date: August 7 at 12:22 PM ·

Here's an interview between Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions and Bernie Grundman on some of BG's masterings from over the decades. Very interesting conversation. He specifically talks about Aja at about the 9:10 and 14:40 marks as well as the two new live albums.

Bernie was also the mastering engineer behind the Northeast Corridor, The Nightfly Live, as well as the recent Analogue Productions 45RPM of Everything Must Go. Very possible that he'd be the mastering engineer for AP if they end up remastering the remaining titles.

https://youtu.be/-ZurO8d4Jx0

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael Eldridge, Dandom Facebook
Date: November 14, 2022
Subhect: Mini-TBVO: Steely Dan's Can't Buy a Thrill
·
Josh Mound, has done painstaking analyses of the "Best Versions" of "Aja" and "The Nightfly" for the website "Audiophile Style" and is also working on a book-length SD project. Mound weighs in briefly on the digital version of AP's new mastering of "Can't Buy a Thrill". The takeaway: "head-and-shoulders above . . . previous versions."

Mini-TBVO: Steely Dan's "Can't Buy a Thrill"
https://audiophilestyle.com/blogs/entry/844-mini-tbvo-steely-dans-cant-buy-a-thrill/

-------------------------------------------------------------
Date: December 2022
Subject: Tracking Angle on "Countdown to Ecstasy"

Michael Fremer at the "Tracking Angle" weighs in on the new deluxe "Countdown To Ecstasy":

Do These Guys Look like They're Counting Down to Ecstasy?
THE DAN'S SECOND ALBUM WAS RECORDED "...IN A DESULTORY, HAPHAZARD FASHION."

"Other than Donald Fagen, the boys hanging in the studio control room in the back jacket photo look either pissed (Denny Dias), mildly bemused and/or disgusted (Walter Becker), or completely stoned and/or exhausted (Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter). Drummer Jim Hodder, too far from the camera to read and noticeably isolated physically from the others, would soon exit the band after being pushed out of the drummer seat by Jim Gordon and Jeff Porcaro on the third album 'Pretzel Logic'. 'Thing', with fingers on the board was probably played by engineer Roger Nichols."

Continues...
https://trackingangle.com/music/if-these-guys-are-counting-down-to-ecstasy-what-do-they-look-like-when-they-re-pissed

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mark Southern, Dandom Facebook
Subject: Acoustic Sounds Import: "You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It"

The soundtrack to "You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It" will be reissued in early January 2023 on vinyl. The soundtrack was a Becker and Fagen's first album-length collaboration (with Denny Dias, among familiar names). pre-dating Steely Dan's debut, "Can't Buy A Thrill."

The reissue is being offered by several on-line vendors, including Acoustic Sounds. Unlike the other titles, Acoustic Sounds is simply importing and did not remaster the LP like the other Steely Dan titles that are celebrated and promoted in this edition of the Dandom Digest. You can purchase at https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/174657/Donald_Fagen__Walter_Becker-You_Gotta_Walk_It_Like_You_Talk_It-Vinyl_Record

Acoustic Sounds promotes this disc as follows:

"In the 1971 counterculture comedy 'You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It', Zalman King tries to find the meaning of life, with Richard Pryor and Robert Downey Jr among the cameos; who better to cut the soundtrack than Steely Dan? Except that the Dan had not officially formed yet! With typical tongue-in-cheek touches, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker rise to the challenge, with fellow Dan guitarist Denny Diaz and drummer John Discepolo of their previous vehicle, Jay & the Americans; if you're a Steely Dan fan, you really need to check out this one-off soundtrack, cut just before they upset the rock applecart with 'Can't Buy A Thril'l."

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

PASSINGS

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RIP: Ted Baker

Sadly, Steely Dan Orchestra pianist Ted Baker passed away in mid-December. Ted contributed to the albums "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go" and, of course, was part of the 2000 and 2003 tours in support of these albums. As Pete Fogel has noted many times, Ted was in the pit orchestra for "The Lion King" on Broadway with Tom Barney. Tom recommended Ted to Walter and Donald and you the rest, Aside from his inimitable playing, Ted also has the distinction of being the only human being to actually receive the coveted Bunsen Prize as presented by Steely Dan on July 13, 2000 at the Camden, New Jersey show. (Of course, the fictional Bobby Dakine won a Bunsen Prize in "What a Shame About Me." And what fan could forget Ted placing a miniature bust of Beethoven on his piano at gigs. When I was in his presences at the 2000 and 2003 shows, Ted was always a warm and welcoming hang. Ted was a great guy. and musician, universally loved by all who worked with him. Gone too soon, Ted will be greatly missed.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RIP: John Neff

John Neff has passed away in late December. John was an associate and friend of Walter who helped conceive and realize Hyperbolic Studios in Maui over 30 years ago, just in time for "Kamakiriad" and "11 Tracks of Whack". In recent years, John was a periodic voice. in Dandom's sister Facebook group.

John posted the following. to his Facebook page soon after Walter passed in 2017:

"Well, it's been a few days, but here is my Walter Becker story... it's a long one. I used to do a radio show in Maui, Hawaii, for nine years in the 80s. In April of 82, the station log showed a representative of the Pacific Whale Foundation as appearing on my show to talk about Whale Day. At 7:15 in the morning, the office traffic lady called me and said "Your PWF guest is here". I answered a knock on the studio door and there stood Walter Becker, co-founder of Steely Dan. I said , "I know you". He said, "No, I only look like him". So Walter came in and shilled for the whales, and when we were done, he said, "Can I stay a while and pick some tunes?" So he sat on the floor and would hand up albums (no CDs in those days) and say, "Second side, Track four!" The station manager came in about 8 am and came into the studio saying what the hell is going on, you are breaking format. I pointed down at the floor and said that is Walter Becker from Steely Dan. He is picking the tunes this morning. JR said, "Put him on the air!" I said I already did, he was speaking for the PWF.

Over the next several years, through my various radio jobs (4 stations), Walter came in to guest (Ghost) DJ numerous times. In 1985 I opened a studio next to Bounty Music on Dairy Road in Kahului, Maui, and started producing mostly Hawaiian albums, and started a record label, "Maui Zone Records and Tapes". In 1989, Walter came in asking me if I had a DAT recorder/player. I did. He showed up the next day with a truckload of Steely Dan outtakes and alternative mixes, and wanted to archive some of them to DAT for him and Donald. We worked a week on that project. He had me slice up and throw in the dumpster all the tapes of the out-takes. I had to destroy all the Steely Dan you never heard. A few months later he came to the studio and said, "Why don't we go and build a real studio? Your place looks like a radio station." I had numerous albums in production then and said I needed 90 days to wrap them up. We started looking at properties, including the old Kula theater, and kept going back to his wife's Ulupalakua property, where he had a little redwood cabin with a couple amps and a set of drums in it, to talk about the places we had seen. Finally he said, "Let's just build it here".

So we came up with a design, later modified by an LA-based studio architect, for a studio with a detached recording space, with a control room built in the redwood cabin, with video links between the rooms. Besides working on Donald Fagen's "Kamakiriad" solo album, and Walter's "Eleven Tracks of Whack" solo album, I recorded Willie Nelson, Buddy Fo, Over The Edge, Buffy Set. Marie, Sinead O'Connor, and The Pahinui Brothers there. It was a wonderful time. Here are a few pictures from the time. I will miss you Walter. You were a great influence in my life and career. R.I.P. my friend.".......John Neff

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: RIP, John Neff: Interview
From: Brad Barbarick, Dandom Facebook Group
Date: December 30, 2022

Link to an interview with John Neff on the Jonesy Show recorded on January 13, 2022 on listener supported KBOO radio in Portland, OR. John talks about his long, impressive and varied career. He gives some great insight about his relationship with Walter and Donald and the role he played in the recording of 11 Tracks of Whack and also Kamakiriad. He starts talking about Walter and then Donald about halfway through the interview. I can assure you it is worth 53 minutes of your time to listen to the whole thing and hear about John's fascinating journey in music. RIP John Neff

https://www.kboo.org/media/107170-john-neff-garage-rocker-motown-session-musician-maui-dj-recording-studio-guru-steely

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RIP: Steely Dan Fan, Christine McVie

RIP, Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie. "I'm a big fan of Steely Dan…" as she stated in this list from a recent Rolling Stone interview.  If you subscribe to Rolling Stone, here's a link to the full article; but be aware that it is behind a pay wall. 

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/christine-mcvie-fleetwood-mac-interview-last-word-1367214/

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: NEW! Noted Journalist Jake Malooley's "Expanding Dan"

Expanding Dan is a newsletter about Steely Dan, the musicians and artists on the Dan’s vast and varied musical tree, and the stories they have to tell. It includes original interviews, oral histories, audio stories, and more transmissions from the Danverse.

Jake Malooley is a journalist who has written about music, crime, sports, film, books, media, science, technology, and numerous other subjects for The New York Times, New York magazine, Rolling Stone, The Ringer, Wired, Esquire, ESPN, Bon Appétit, and The Guardian, among other publications. Jake is also a contributing features writer at Chicago magazine and before that he was editor in chief of the Chicago Reader. (For those not familiar, it's the Chicago answer to the Village Voice.)

Jake's 10,000 word, 50th anniversary oral history of Steely Dan was featured in the November 2022 issue of "Wax Poetics" magazine. While the print issue is apparently sold out, Jake made a number of contacts. developing an extensive network of those who have figured in Steely Dan history. As such interviews with the likes of Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Gary Katz, Elliot Scheiner, Denny Dias, Chuck Rainey, Bernard Purdie, Bernie Grundman, and so many more are featured, with more to come, including oral histories, audio stories, and celebrity fan stories.

Jake writes: "This is a world that you’re welcome to. As a paid subscriber, you’ll get every new edition of Expanding Dan sent directly to your inbox, access to the archives, plus invitations to special events such as subscribers-only talks with guests from the Danverse. I’m asking the Substack minimum: $5 per month ($60 annually). Every subscription directly supports the labor—hours of reporting, interviewing, transcribing, writing, and editing—required to bring you original journalism about the so-called Manson and Starkweather of rock ’n’ roll."

Here's a recent sample that Jake posted to our Dandom Facebook group:

Jim Keltner (drums): When we were doing “Josie,” they called me in to do overdubs at the Village, and asked me, “We want something odd on the bridge. Whaddya got?” So I went outside to the trunk of my car and grabbed a garbage can lid I had just gotten as a Christmas present from the drummer John Dentz, who pounded it flat, put a hole in the middle, and signed it. I hit it a couple of times, and they knew exactly how to use it to enhance the groove. And, frankly, Donald and Walter just liked that it was a garbage can lid. That was their type of off-the-wall thinking.

Continues... https://expandingdan.substack.com/p/steely-dan-oral-history-part-five

You can read all about it --and-- subscribe at https://expandingdan.substack.com/about

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Best of 2022: "Remember The Audio"

"Remember The Audio" from Don Breithaupt and Monkey House is a "Best of 2022" selection of discerning music critics and listeners world-wide.

A sure bet for any Steely Dan, here's the latest glowing review (of many) from Inside Musicast's Eddy Cabello who features it on his 2022 "Best of" list.

"If you’re already a fan of Monkey House and love their music, then this review won’t be news to your ears! Because you already know what this Canadian-based band is all about – hooky, vibey, jazzy, sultry, and sophisticated tunes that bleed coolness...On Remember the Audio, Breithaupt brings in reinforcements in the form of some of the greatest studio players in the music scene – guitarist Drew Zingg, singer Lucy Woodward, horn players Michael Leonhart and Randy Brecker and others who add musical frosting to the already-sublime album. Let me say that the collaborations are not cosmetic, they are purposefully injected Breithaupt's already wonderful arrangement, making the album an excellent listening experience for all.

CD ORDER
https://www.amazon.com/Remember-Audio-Monkey-House/dp/B09ZYQ2XYZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BMQQOICM46IV&keywords=monkey+house&qid=1654295488&s=music&sprefix=monkey+house%2Cpopular%2C156&sr=1-1

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/remember-the-audio/1622910747?itsct=music_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1&app=itunes

STREAM
https://monkeyhouse.lnk.tt/RTAPR

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Monkey House's Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed "Aja" Book

ALSO FROM DON BREITHAUPT of MONKEY HOUSE…

Don Breithaupt Talks "Aja" with "Sound Logic"
Don Breithaupt talks "Aja" with the "Sound Logic" guys in Toronto. Don is, of course, a mastermind behind the music of Monkey House as well as an acclaimed expert on "Aja," most notably his 33-1/3 book on "Aja,"

The "Sound Logic" episode is over an hour long and available on numerous podcast and streaming platforms. Even seasoned Steely Dan fans will hear a few new things.

Here's the link: https://anchor.fm/soundlogic/episodes/63-Aja-by-Steely-Dan-with-our-Special-Guest--Don-Breithaupt-e1fauuu

Buy Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed 33 1/3 book, "Aja"
The definitive book...features conversations between Don Breithaupt and Donald Fagen on Steely Dan's landmark album.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0826427839/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_NBJE25YDFYKZR8Q3E3YA

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: REMINDER: Calling All Current SD Orchestra Members & Alums

The Dandom Digest wants to do its part to help get the word out about your latest project, be it a mini-tour, guest appearances, new music release (your own or by others where you appear) workshops, etc.. The Dandom Digest goes to approximately 1,750 hardcore Steely Dan fans. Email JJMcKAY at me.com with your PR or other info when your release is approaching. Coverage of recent news from Steely Dan orchestra members (past and present) will resume in the next Dandom Digest. Thank you!

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: 30 Years: Looking Ahead to 2023!

Will the Steely Dan Orchestra be touring in 2023? Only Donald's hairdresser knows for sure. However, there a few things Dandom has planned for our 30th year! So be sure to keep a look out for the Dandom Digest in your email box and also follow along at the Dandom Facebook page Twitter feed, and of course at the Bluebook. (See below for information on those channels.)

Of course, I welcome and look forward to your suggestions...just email me at JJMcKay@me.com

Here's to our 30 years together!

And Happy 2023--to those observing!

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

PRETZEL LOGIC*

"When the demon is at your door
In the morning it won't be there no more
Any major dude will tell you..."

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

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES:

* Submissions? Posts? Email JJMcKay AT me.com
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* Use any email account you want for a removal request, but please include the address you want deleted in the body of the message.

* TOO COMPLICATED? Alternatively, email jjmckay AT me.com to achieve similar results instead of what I described.

DISCLAIMER:
For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by, for and about the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydanofficial com, sdarchive com, walterbecker com, walterbeckermedia com, donaldfagen com, and other media outlets of Steely Dan and associates.

Our Standard U.S. Postal Service Mailing Address:

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FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION for things express mail, deliveries, and other items please text or email for an address with rapid response.

Email address:
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Original portions of this Dandom Digest ©2022, ©2023 James J. McKay. All Rights Reserved.
Other portions copyrighted by the original author and presented under fair use.
*"Any Major Dude" lyrics by Becker/Fagen, ©1974, admin by Universal.

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

Walter Becker
1950 - 2017

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

END OF DIGEST

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Date: Wed, January 04, 2023, 22:08:52 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

For you Chord Sluts out there, and you know who you are, the amusing AI clips are a reminder how difficult it is to put it all together. songwriting, musicianship, arrangement, feel, performance, etc.


Like the game jenga, pull out a piece or two and the magic is gone...sure you can still sell millions of records.

Take this recording from Chicago XI. Without the genius talents of Terry Kath and Guercio we never hear THIS SOUND again. Also, Robert Lamm fell into a bad drug habit after Kath passed...which left us with Foster and Cetera songs...a bad habit.

https://youtu.be/kcm8FfaR52U

It's magnificent. Has a trombone ever sounded better? Effortless instrumentation over the complex but cool chord changes.


note: Hard Habit to Break is the best of the 80s lot. The horns made a jailbreak and the song was penned by outside pros...

Date: Wed, January 04, 2023, 21:35:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Part of me is glad that computers just don't get it. Other industries have already begun to automate much of their work load, so it's not entirely implausible that record labels would follow suit if they felt that they could make as much money from a computer algorithm as their staff of artists and producers.

Date: Wed, January 04, 2023, 19:47:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Don B: Fantastic story. What a legend.

Michael: Yeah that needs a tweak or two. lol

I notice that with each attempt that AI degenerates into a quivering mass of pyrotechnic jello...I enjoyed that more than I should have.

...Which probably mimics quite well the effect on the average musician trying to play a Steely Dan recording post Pretzel or Katy for the first time!

Date: Wed, January 04, 2023, 09:29:49 ET
Posted by: DonB, Toronto

Re Burt Bacharach:

Burt and my dad were pals at McGill University in Montreal in the late forties when Burt was doing his Bachelor of Music there. They used to play piano together, took a few road trips, etc. Whenever Burt was in Toronto when I was growing up, he and my dad would get together. Sometimes I wonder whether Burt's musical influence on me had something to do with the personal connection, but I think probably not: He was/is a giant, and I would have been affected by him regardless, much as I was in formative years by Laura Nyro, Jimmy Webb, Lennon/McCartney, Carole King et al.

Date: Tues, January 03, 2023, 16:28:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, as I recall Donald said during an interview that he had several new songs he had worked on which he was thinking of taking into the studio sometime late last year, but there's been no further updates. Hopefully something materializes from the ether.

I was watching videos about computer generated music which is still has a ways to go in development. Someone used this OpenAI program to generate three extended versions of Kind Spirit. You can hear how the program begins to break down the further on it goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoC8UpgSZ_c

Another guy used the same program to produce a completely original SD-like song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WwB2S1p2a4

Others have used this program to generate original music in the style of The Beach Boys, The Beatles and so forth with downright bizarre results. This technology is still in its infancy so we'll have to wait and see how it develops.

Date: Mon, January 02, 2023, 17:55:30 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

The Ryusenki number has that New Frontier bop, but it's not the same song. I'm sure it's been influenced.

So, Toxic Vegan is blatant and cheeky about the SD/Fagen homage, even moreso than Monkey House without being a complete ripoff. There's a plethora of Easter Eggs, and inside jokes in the lyrics, figures, production, instrument choice of TV. It's a couple of producers/songwriters, who corralled a certain subset of musicians, having fun and not having to lay down what today's A&R people want this week/month/year.

I think that's the difference today, even more than musicianship, talent etc. There aren't many A&R people like Gary Katz operating in the music biz that work within record cos, willing to take chances, find talent for talent's sake, and protect them in their creative mode.

There's a lot of talent, mini studios among the DIY musician crowd that can still produce high quality stuff - YGSF is a perfect example.




I can't enough of Brazilian music, which is so enriched in the culture.


Any news about a next Fagen album? There was a quote in an interview about new material a year or two ago...maybe something is stirring during the touring hiatus due to COVID?

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 18:21:56 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I found out about this Brazilian band called Grupo Garage through Ed Motta. Wow, I am completely blown away. Jazzy, funky, groovy. They've got it going on, believe me. Here they are performing on a TV show called Os Musicos. Maybe some of you will recognize the bassist, Arthur Maia, as he played with Carlos Santana, Pat Metheney, George Benson, Djavan, and a slew of other artists. Actually, many of them went on to successful careers, although it's tragic that they never made an album together with this original stellar line-up.

Vamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGI3XHuQSjY

Silabas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB5rSPEoffo

Ça va

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jWD2KSwnS8

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 17:32:16 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Makes sense. I don't think it's anything worth a legal pursuit. It would likely only serve to alienate Japanese fans of SD. On their debut album, Tokyo Sniper, Ryusenkei even emulate tracks from other Japanese artists such as Tatsuro Yamashita which no doubt listeners were savvy to.

Not sure how to feel about Rainy Parade by Uwansora. Whereas Ryusenkei more or less borrowed the arrangement from Glamour Profession (along with the bass intro from New Frontier) but then changed everything else about the composition, this song directly lifts the chords and even much of the melody from The Way I Feel by Adrian Gurvitz.

Uwanosora's newer songs are strong on their own merits without sounding like carbon copies of preexisting work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpt_d-WzMf4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4jnFFYsCBI

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 16:50:34 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

D&W were pretty litigious re samples back in the day (obviously this is not a sample, more a facsimile). Makes you wonder if that track was ever brought to Donald's attention at the time. My preferred vesion of events is that if he did hear it then he just laughed heartily, appreciated the tribute and recognizing there was likely nothing much to be gained financially just thought 'fuckit, let it fly....'

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 16:10:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

This sounds vaguely familiar. Can't quite put my finger on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnSlp3aNxPw

Inspiration or plagiarism? You be the judge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy6FRpyg5dQ

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

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 13:12:55 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Nice to see Burt Bacharach getting some love on the Blue.

About 7 or 8 years we got some comp tickets to see any show we wanted at The Usher Hall in Edinburgh (lovely venue btw). After much delibaration we plumped for Burt thinking well, he's a legend and we'll never get the chance to see him again. He fronted a crack full band with great singers and players, sitting out front at a baby grand, introducing the songs and telling stories including that of his first trip to Edinburgh some 50 years previously when he was the arranger for none other than Marlene Deitrich.

As you might expect the whole evening was a case of "ooh! didn't know he wrote that one/oooh! forgot he wrote that one" etc etc. He came on to a medley of greatest hits including 'Walk on By' and 'Say a little prayer' and even did 'Magic Moments' aka 'that wasn't my thumb that tickled your bum, that was my finger'

My wife swears it was the best concert, possibly even the best night out she's ever had. Burt himself was a great storyteller, very charismatic, dressed in black suit, open neck shirt and white trainers. The audience had the oldest demographic of any gig I've been to and the show was actually delayed due to someone having a heart attack.

I was however probably the only person in the audience who looked at Burt in a slightly different way having just read Paul Anka's biography where he describes Burt in the mid 1960's driving down Sunset Blvd in a convertible no less, whilst being fellated by none other than Angie Dickinson. No wonder he still looked pretty pleased with himself!

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 12:50:04 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

From the Steely/Fagen "dark period" where only a handful of tracks and penned songs recorded by other artists appeared...

There is a HQ video version of Century's End released from the vault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak2-CU1cKRE

Fagen didn't want NIL nor a video clip from the movie Bright Lights Big City in the video...


The Fagen song that Diana Ross recorded is in a deep Bacharach vein on Love Will Make it Right:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIsD9C7Rk6c

Despite the 80s production it stands up really well. That transition to the chorus is Gold! I imagine the aborted Fagen follow-up to The Nightfly would have include a bevy of songs *like* this and Big Noise New York. Songs about complex and losing/lost relationships.

The vamp on Love Will Make it Right appears to have been lifted by theme from ER (0:12 ). Check it out. Royalties?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjCnHJ8wIuM

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 07:24:30 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Happy New Year to Hoops and everyone on the Blue.

Toxic Vegan are pretty solid. I'm not crazy about how blatantly they're trying to emulate Steely Dan but better that than another throwaway rock, hip-hop or rap album atop the landfill of disposable trash.

Here's a new one from Lindsey Webster to start your 2023 off right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdVsb0_wqLM

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 02:50:00 ET
Posted by: Phyllis,

Toxic Vegan sucks dick.

At least they got the "toxic" part right.

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 02:48:00 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Happy New Year all!

If your wondering why Toxic Vegan has that audio crack thing going - here are the illuminaries that were part of this boutique project of Dillon O'Brian and Steve Lindsey

Dillon O'Brian, Steve Lindsey, Dean Parks, Freddie Washington, Alex Acuña, John Beasley, Dan Higgins, Chuck Findley, Bernie Dressel, Jim Cox

Michael - I'm pretty aware of Bacharach's vast discography. I think most here are. Lots of great stuff to mine!

Date: Sun, January 01, 2023, 00:46:28 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Live in Lexington

Happy New Year to you Dan Fans and your respective Crews!

Let’s Nice it Up, Realize we’re Enough, and help Lift One Another in 2023!
Thank you Hoops, and here’s to a year with more Steely Dan, and less TicketBastard!

Date: Sat, December 31, 2022, 16:27:06 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc Mu, Bacharach has composed plenty of great songs including those you posted. Here are a couple more for good measure.

Something Big

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y5OhmoAKdo

Nikki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FIfYOL19_Y

Burt also worked on Stronger Than Before, performed by Chaka Khan.

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

mu chords are just inverted 9th chords. Chord extensions aren't exactly a novelty. Well, maybe for those who listen to a steady diet of mainstream music they are.

As you said, it comes down to taste. I love hearing unexpected chord changes, rhythmic surprises, stuff like that. Since you're big on harmony, you'd probably love Brazilian music. Let's just say they're big on harmony.

Gonzaguina - Recado

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v_G0Mwtwwo

Gonzaguinha - A Fabrica de Sonhos

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

Chico Buarque - Bye Bye Brasil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ydneQxq924

Gal Costa - Luz do Sol (live cover of a Caetano Veloso song)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o21sOHuzn1Q

Date: Sat, December 31, 2022, 13:54:48 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Toxic Vegan - it's been posted before, but the first track on My Fabulous Life Sexual Politics is an uncanny Aja/Gaucho hybrid, no coincidence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-20THjkJCE&t=971s


Michael - It's ironic that you picked What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love. One of my least favorite Bacharach songs - only the bridge is compelling for me, and it is fabulous.

Take the rich melodies from Miles Davis' favorite Bacharach track: Alfie. Here's a live recording, whether the focus is on the melody with accompaniment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoNtj27a6Rk

The iconic Walk on By:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fGgxMO15sE

or from the 80s with (sweet) production and vocals from the often overlooked young genius of El DeBarge. the melody rings true:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMqpN8eMEgQ


It comes down to personal taste on melodies and chord structures. Jazz and R&B chords structures can lead to more interesting outcomes - for me.


Take a band that of stripped things down often to power chords: The Who.

Substitute - alluded to in my last post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eswQl-hcvU0

Or the almost childlike brilliance of I Can't Reach You melody. Genius altered blues construction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8ZuRuZNIQo

...and Townshend sneaks in SD mu chord add9s! during

See, feel or hear from you


The Moody Blues used sophisticated arrangements and production, but the melodies were often simple. Take two tracks that didn't even make their arguably most complete album: In Search of the Lost Chord. They are a reminder that melodies are far more than a series of notes. Rhythm, spacing, phrasing, and dynamics are all part of the musical message.

A Simple Game (Mike Pinder) I like Hayward's vocal mix better because of his ability to convey emotion is next level, like Fagen's ability to convey attitude.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4WP84KIong

What Am I Doing Here (Justin Hayward - should have replace Om) Next level melody.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swuNBBGWz6k

Date: Fri, December 30, 2022, 20:53:17 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Chi

Regarding the SACD releases: If I recall correctly, the SACD are coming out in January or February. The source was a YouTube video regarding the UHQR releases.

m.e.

Date: Fri, December 30, 2022, 19:26:14 ET
Posted by: Dave (from acquisitions) , Philadelphia

I apologize if this has already been asked but I’m wondering why the SACD version of the Bernie Grundman “Can’t Buy a Thrill” remaster isn’t available to order yet on the website. Does anyone know? I figured it would be available when the vinyl became available which has been a few months now.

Date: Thurs, December 29, 2022, 15:32:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Check out this track Spiral by The Crusaders. It features three phenomenal solos, including one by Larry Carlton. This was filmed live in Montreux circa 1976, right around the same time as The Royal Scam. Satisfaction guaranteed.

https://youtu.be/DgOogZqq0NA?t=1146

Next up we have The Vince Guaraldi Trio with Bola Sete at Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual performing Outra Vez. For your listening pleasure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEmhPs0RAek

Finally, we have Jun Fukamachi & The New York All Stars performing Jack The Knife live. This band features Steve Khan, the Brecker brothers, David Sanborn, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Mike Mainieri, and Richard Tee. Superb performances from all involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7LMyT3k-uA

Date: Tues, December 27, 2022, 13:37:31 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Take any pop song's chord structure, eliminate everything except for the root and note which defines the chord quality (slash chords can include root+3rd) and it should still work. This usually omits the 5th and extensions, simplifying the harmonic structure to show how the basic framework of a song works. I like to use this method because it allows me to better understand why certain chord voicings add texture to a piece.

Melody is the heart and soul of music. Understanding its relationship with the chord structure, rising and falling, adding and releasing tension as it goes, and rhythmic interplay, is fundamental to good songwriting. Doesn't matter how intricate the rest of a song may be. If the melody isn't strong, if it doesn't hold people's interest, if it lacks character or comes across as too random or dissonant then the song won't turn out good. Likewise, if it's too generic then it runs the risk of becoming monotonous. When you listen to Burt Bacharach's 'What the World Needs Now is Love', every note serves its purpose.

Date: Tues, December 27, 2022, 12:21:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

That's why Pete Townshend "invented" those stacked power chords. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eswQl-hcvU0

...and injected Steely Dan-like snark into their songs years before CBAT, while other bands and artists sang about "cars and girls."

Date: Tues, December 27, 2022, 09:13:33 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Deacon Blues may be somewhat complex under the hood but not so much that a tin ear cannot make sense of it.

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 23:23:04 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve: haha

Right - where are the Paddy McAloons and Fagens of the day?

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 23:15:55 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: You misunderstand. The mainstream period is a low bar, not YGSF.

That's the point. Platts takes pride on crafting a compelling song, while Shawn Lee is a production and engineering ace. They also use chord changes in the McDoobie/Steely playbook.

Adele's Chasing Pavements is simple, but well construction with a key change and massive hook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08DjMT-qR9g

Neil Finn has written a couple of dozen classics, but only mainstream outside the US (Britain, Australia, etc.)

Many of his better songs (ex. Better Be Home Soon, Don't Dream it's Over) are relatively simple, but well constructed.

Pineapple Head is more deceptively complex, yet sounds simple with ear candy Beatles and Steely Dan chords (add9)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfeG1Kl9kg


Andy Platts, even on an EP of throwaways from Mamas Gun without the Lee level engineering is driven to write a gem with snappy syncopation, a semi-rap sung verse, modulation than glorious double time second line chorus on Saint Maria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHlt3PjGdYM


What I hear is care coupled with inspiration in song writing. Very rare today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ7opwG7OdU

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 23:07:37 ET
Posted by: Steve,

Like everyone else, I also want to chime in to express how open minded I am about music, my impeccable taste, and how most people don't understand me and my taste.

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 22:49:50 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc Mu, YGSF aren't a low bar for quality, just the opposite. That music of such high quality doesn't get airplay is a travesty. What can be said? Those manning the levers of what gets promoted in mainstream America want the bar set as low as possible because then it makes their jobs easier. All they need to do is hire their stable of mundane songwriters to produce drivel, then pay click farms to generate fake views to complete the illusion.

YGSF's latest album has that special spark. It's not a poor man's Steely Dan-wannabe or something, it's just superb music through and through.

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 18:48:51 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I was thinking about composition. Robert Lamm finally kicked the drug habit a decade ago and (co)wrote a couple of good songs for Now (2014). It's not his heyday 1970s compositions, but not bad.

...and they unchained the horn section. These were recorded in a portable studio on the road, so the production and engineering are a shade below what they could be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWKx4MdOvdc

Arabian - rock - jazz fusion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF214bdw-os

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 18:35:52 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Yeah - Samuel Purdie has been around for awhile. Solid acid jazz guy like Bluey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1VCjs_Ns5c

Co-wrote a song with Don B.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjAzBRREgN8


Set up a channel on Apple music or Spotify on interwebz radio to net artists who still have chops.

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 18:17:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael, I guess. In the end it comes down to composition. Taste varies, but I would agree in the last 15 year there has been a significant decline in mainstream compositions. Not that Fagen or Becker (read their line notes) didn't claim the same problem in the 70s, 80s, 90s.

I think our links point to similar conclusions - a lot of the better stuff that gets any views or airplay is in East Asia or Europe.

It's not a coincidence that Andy Platts has written 3 Top 5 K-pop hits, and IMO is one of the best songwriters in the past 15 years (low bar?). I'd like to see Platts push the envelope a little more (likely early Mamas Gun) on YGSF (they started to on the latest one). Let's be honest - Silk Sonic and Platts are using a lot of the same chords and progressions. Platt's compositions IMO have more permanence, but it's simply taste.


Benny Sings songs are snappy and have a Drake like quality (ex. passionfruit cover and original) - cuts both ways. He uses some interesting chord changes.

Sunny afternoon has some nice chord changes that are interesting enough to hold my attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDcyUj9hSU4&list=RDEMF2Rfcbc6-NefVaq3GS7SBg&index=9

It reminds me of Tom Misch's stuff with crisper production and the Doobie/Steely thing

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 17:31:25 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, point being that I don't hear this kind of quality within the mainstream, only that they are modern tracks of high-quality which I've had to dig for over the years. There's plenty more great stuff out there too if you know where to look.

I don't claim that such-and-such artists have no talent, just that they haven't composed any songs which I would consider to be classics. During the 1960s, 70s and 80s (and even some of the 90s) there was plenty of quality music on offer, but then something drastic happened. Right around 2000 mainstream music began a downward spiral. Perhaps this phenomenon can be traced in part to 9/11 which had a profound effect upon American culture, but I don't know for certain what did it.

What makes Benny Sings work is simplicity itself. Tim van Berkestijn writes music in a peculiar but impressively familiar way, juxtaposing breezy melodies over clever, bouncy chord changes reminiscent of early Michael McDonald. A throwback in many ways with modern sleekness. You can always tell when you're listening to the work of an educated ear because good taste is difficult to disguise.

Avid lovers of older artists are gonna have to realize at some point and realize that the future doesn't belong to their heroes, that there has emerged a new generation of artists who are in many ways more talented than they ever were. What really sealed the deal was how many of the boomer generation of artists folded like a cheap suit to the establishment after they got older, their rebellious spirit nothing more than an empty facade, and ultimately became products of the same system they pretended to rebel against.

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 16:12:20 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

Sure - none of it is Stevie Wonder...but then most mainstream A&M predigested tracks today play the same chord inversions.

Agree to disagree in Eilish and Adele. Both have talent, although Eilish can be more jazzy and interesting. The chord progressions aren't up there with EWF, but the Silk Sonic project is solid.

Some good picks on your list - but none mainstream.

Benny looks like Simply Red's Mick Hucknall after a REALLY bad weekend in Vegas. It has a Japanese vibe groove emulating TOOM and one of the few time I think autotune is used effectively. It's got a bit of the McDoobie vibe. Nice, although it gets repetitive.


That reminds me - it's outside the 10 year window, but when Simply Red hits its R&B and jazzy roots hard like on the underrated Stay (2007), they are great.

Lady written with Jools Holland, Money TV, nice Cover of Debris, Little Englander, Oh What a Girl are sold.

Death of the Cool is snarky and steely enough for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltWL6huVejc

Hucknall is at the peak of his vocal ability. A taste of Little Feat blues here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijs57NecbG0

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 07:03:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Hi Philippe, that Kirinji song you mentioned is called Ieji (The Way Home) from their album 7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gx7bY9u8s8

Original front man Yasuyuki Horigome left the group back around 2013 to pursue his solo career while his elder brother Takaki has taken the lead since then. Incidentally, on the newest album, Crepuscular, there's a single titled Hakumei (Twilight) featuring French singer Maika Loubté.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzGaTj0LdeM

Geyster, aka Gael Benyamin, has produced some great songs with a throwback feel like Shuda, Television and Not An Ordinary Girl (feat. Ed Motta). I've been listening to his work for years. Ed Motta is good, too. He's a big Steely Dan aficionado.

I really love French singer Laetitia Sadier's voice. For those who don't know, she was the lead singer of avant-garde electro-pop group Stereolab, my favorite track of theirs being Fluorescences. Pay close attention to the instrumentation during the chorus and you can hear how each part is being doubled by her voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU8d8amlUbE

Laetitia has also collaborated with Italian chamber pop artist Giorgio Tuma. Have a listen to the exquisite Anna, My Dear.

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

One more great French band which has flown under the radar is Orwell. Here are two of my favorite tracks of theirs.

Orwell - I Need an End

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27N05OwTmYI

Orwell - In Your Playground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xou6DZZGsQ

Date: Mon, December 26, 2022, 04:59:20 ET
Posted by: Philippe, Pau, France

Hi Michael, your listening suggestions are always good so I will check the few ones I don't know in your list. That Kirinji song with the trombone intro you sent me years ago is a gem and I still come back to it often, same for Josh Rouse, The bird and the bee and a few others.
Glad to see you dig Geyster, the guy is brillant but he still does his promo by himself so he needs people like you and me to spread the word.
As always sorry for my basic english.
Hoops and the others happy Christmas holidays , hoping you are all ok with those crazy weather conditions.
Take care
Philippe

Date: Sun, December 25, 2022, 22:02:43 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Enjoying some Christmas Cheer

To be precise, the Christmas Cheer I'm presently enjoying, is some delectable Mexican happy-juice poured from a long-held/sentimentally-valued bottle of Don Julio Anejo...poured into a treasured "Steely Dan - Beacon Theatre 2015" glass - an etched tumbler gifted to me in NYC some years ago by the one & only Don Patrol!

Happy Christmas & Merry New Year to everybody here.

M/O/D/P

Date: Sun, December 25, 2022, 20:02:47 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Happy Holidays to the Greater Dandom!!
And all the best to you Hoops!
Peace (on earth)!

Date: Sun, December 25, 2022, 03:19:08 ET
Posted by: Hoops, Chicago

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Date: Sat, December 24, 2022, 09:07:33 ET
Posted by: Michael,

A playlist of songs written over the past decade which I think are top-quality.

Benny Sings - Nobody's Fault

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S80WMy6tno4

Fitness Forever - Laura

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSEWuappFL4

Geyster - 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrZGwyC0Lqw

Ginger Root - Holy Hell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbYRJ-05Slw

Kaidi Tatham - It's a World Before You (feat. Dego)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2wtAo5KMs

Kero Kero Bonito - 21/04/20

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

Powder Blue Tux - Mayfair

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

State Cows - Hold On

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

The Bird and The Bee - You and I at Christmas Time

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

--Special Focus : Japan--

Kaede - Jupiter

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

Kirinji - Rainy Runaway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfq4xEANM2E

Lamp - 1998

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl9Cb063TmI

Masayuki Suzuki - Scramble Kousaten

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afY0vpkl5po

Orangeade - Never Let Me Go

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

Original Love - Zeroset

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tJf0fJNRLg

Uwanosora - Photographer in Zero Gravity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4jnFFYsCBI

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everybody.

Date: Fri, December 23, 2022, 12:02:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Disclaimer: Mama's Gun aren't considered a mainstream act.

Doc Mu, I'm sorry but none of those other tracks are going to hold up under scrutiny. That first Bruno Mars track is pretty solid, but producing a good soul-funk track isn't all that difficult. Besides, the actual songwriting behind the sheen of its modern production values isn't all that spectacular. It's good to be sure but not on par with Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson's output. Had this come out back in the day, it would've been lost in the mix among a myriad of better offerings.

Date: Fri, December 23, 2022, 11:34:48 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

Hasn't music been getting steadily simpler for over a hundred years? I don't know whether more complex is inherently better. I don't listen to much new popular music but am self-aware enough to realize that it's part of the human condition to think that the younger generations' music is garbage.

I think it doesn't much matter what's popular anymore, since media has become so fragmented that there are rich niches of music for every taste, instantly accessible. 20-year-old me would have loved Apple Music.

Date: Fri, December 23, 2022, 02:46:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Ted Baker? REally? That's a huge loss. dammit.

Overall, Michael I am completely on board with your rant...especially, YGSF as expert snipers at that fusion jazz/R&B/pop writing.

For every million Taylor Swift songs that sounds the same (Rick Beato has identified the 4-5 chords used over and over and over in today's A&R musik market...there is the occasional needle in the haystack.


Major artists? Last decade? hmmmm...you may not agree with these, but besides Bluey's Sky (he's major in Britain) there is...

The Silk Sonic album has Leave the Door Open and a number of solid cutseys, but I like the Bootsey driven Blast Off - technically released as a single. Anderson .Paak last back those drums in the groove a la Purdie without the shuffle. Some nice EWF chord progressions and a Stevie Wonder figure in the transition to the chorus.

https://youtu.be/zJkr7T4KUIY

Pushing the envelope, but I like Grenade a lot from the Bruno Mars half of Silk...he's put in the hours to hone his craft.


https://youtu.be/SR6iYWJxHqs



H.E.R - not a lot of chords, but she's chosen some good jazzy ones on Best Part:

https://youtu.be/vBy7FaapGRo


Billie Eilish - My Future. She's wired differently and is no Taylor Swift porridge sausage maker. Her songs are interesting, often weird (and weird can be good)...and occasionally magical. My (her) Future:

https://youtu.be/Dm9Zf1WYQ_A


Adele - she's got diva and talent. She's a very good singer, but i ofter prefer to hear someone else cover her songs, including those singing contest shows, even though you know a country artist with a mediocre voice and a nasal twang (and coached by Blake) will somehow win. There's always Rolling in the Deep and Chasing Pavements.

When We were Young is decent enough, even though ironically it's kind of country for an R&B/pop Brit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rmLFGzlYU8

So, we'll try Portugal Voice instead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm_VHTvpl_s&t=115s


Sia has written some good songs - Titatium, for example. Get Lucky - Daft Punk is fine.


I'll cheat a little by selecting songs from Andy Platt's other band Mamas Gun and three songs from the excellent Golden Years album:

London Girls:

https://youtu.be/tKq4SXlKwEU

This is the Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1JiTkufJgY

I Need a Win:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMHVymC9x5c


Shawn Lee (other half of YGSF) served as the recording engineer. Saving the best for last!


I'd nominate Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" but it speaks for itself.

Date: Wed, December 21, 2022, 07:25:12 ET
Posted by: Michael,

M/O/D/P, you presented a textbook example of what's wrong with current mainstream music. Just one more reason why I avoid it like the plague insofar as possible.

Artists such as YGSF are a breath of fresh air in the smog-covered cesspool that is today's mainstream. They're not beholden to any major label and it only takes one listen to realize how vastly superior their music is, like night and day. I'm confident that on her best day Cardi B couldn't write a song as good as Rolling Back or Sierra Nights. Neither could major label teams of songwriters.

"The point here is, "Why be clever & sly & cryptic", when your target audience has a collective IQ significantly below room temperature? The answer is, of course, you simply don't do that. You pander."

They pander to the lowest common denominator, having successfully dumbed down their audience for decades. Droning beats, monotonous chords, insipid lyrics. It's disposable junk.

Here's a challenge: can anyone name a song composed by a mainstream artist from the past decade which will be regarded as a classic down the road? I can't think of a single one.

Date: Tues, December 20, 2022, 22:35:38 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Where did all the great lyricists go?

Michael - Recently, as I dutifully paid for my fuel purchase at a local "Circle K" - a fairly recent corporate infection in these Northern Parts - I was assailed with P/A music that could only, by any reasonable standard, be considered offensive/crude/vulgar/hopelessly-degraded. It wasn't just the mechanical/synthetic/auto-tuned production - the "lyrics" - if you could call them that - were things that would have made even Lenny Bruce blush. Right there in the gas station/variety store. In a small Canadian town. In 2022.

I had no idea what I was hearing at the time, but I remembered enough of the feculence-inflected words to be able to find out what it was I'd heard.

Turns out it was something called "Cardi B". In the song - if you could call it that - the "artist" (I use the term really, really loosely here) yaps her filthy heart out about her genitals, what she does with her genitals, what she expects other folks to do with her genitals, and other such high-brow subjects - all very, VERY explicitly "explained". I'd post the song's official lyrics here, but shit, even I have some semblance of decency. If anyone's interested in following this up, just enter "Cardi B" into your preferred search engine. Heads-up - you may want to seek "discreet" medical attention right after you do your "goggle" search. Can't be too careful, and so on.

The point here is, "Why be clever & sly & cryptic", when your target audience has a collective IQ significantly below room temperature? The answer is, of course, you simply don't do that. You pander.

And it's not like I've hand-picked some obscure performer to illustrate the point. I hadn't previously realized that this "artist" (once again with the term being used rather loosely) was/is a claimed favorite of the current US President. He even said so in a YooToob video that has, like, one hundred billion views.

Hey everybody!! Remember when Don & Walt cleverly inserted the word "fuck" into a potential hit single? Wasn't that subversive of them??

Well...it was...at the time.

Now, in 2022, the hypersexualized ravings of a filthy, useless record industry construct have far surpassed anything our guys could even imagine - or would even have imagined.

Looks to me like what once would have been considered gutter-level at best has become OK - accepted as part of modern culture - in which case, carry on. As you were, so to speak.

In other words...The Worst Is Yet To Come.

M/O/D/P
PS - "But, but...how could it get any worse?"
PPS - How the hell should I know? But, really, it never, ever, gets "better" does it?

Date: Tues, December 20, 2022, 19:22:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Finding appropriate lyrics for a song is equally as crucial as composing a great melody, at least in my opinion.

An excerpt from an interview Sylvie Simmons of Sounds Magazine had with D&W back in 1977.

Fagen - "When you read a novel in which there are no rough spots for the characters to get over, if everybody did The Hustle from the first page to the last, it wouldn’t be much of a novel. It wouldn’t enlighten you in any way."

http://steelydanreader.com/1977/10/22/steely-dan-dare-to-give-a-more-open-than-usual-interview/

I can't even recall what the last good mainstream song with interesting lyrics was, it's been such a long while. Granted, there are some artists flying under the radar who get the job done well, but where did all the great lyricists go?

Date: Tues, December 20, 2022, 17:57:01 ET
Posted by: Dr. Hünd, Hanging Valley Wall, CO

Ambrosia. Really liked this band before they became a long haired version of Air Supply. Talk about turning into yacht rock….but their first three albums were really good with excellent musicianship and vocals led by David Pack. I remember seeing them play at Disneyland when I was a kid and other SoCal OC places later like UC Irvine and clubs which no longer exist.

They are still playing minus Pack. I was just looking at the YouTube to see what Pack was doing. First I see a 1970s peak Ambrosia performance and was reminded what a solid writer, lead guitarist, and vocalist David Pack was. I also remember the girls going nuts for him. All older and more refined than my pimply teen self but man were they hot. By the time of Pack’s cheesy ballads like How Much I Feel and Biggest Part of Me, I had left the station.

So next on YouTube I see an older, somewhat bloated (compared to his younger self) Pack doing Biggest Part of Me. He yields his opening guitar solo to wait…is that Larry Carlton…yes and then Pack signals him with his had to continue the opening lick. Carlton, the pro he is, had wrapped the opening lick with perfect timing but was able to extend it a bit for the pure enjoyment of Pack. He did all Pack’s solos in that song and made it very enjoyable. Can’t believe I said that because I hate the song. The video is from 2011. Of course Larry Carlton can play anything but he’s even great at Muzak. I love that Spinner’s song which he makes into great Muzak easy listening air candy. It’s like his natural element. If he wasn’t roped into doing Kid Charlemagne by the Dan boys, would we have ever heard that jazz rock edge dangerous side of him?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60eqU0V0jTI

Date: Sun, December 18, 2022, 16:58:28 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Who could forget that on July 13, 2000, Ted Baker won the First (and only?) Bunsen Prize?

https://sdarchive.com/bunsen.html

Date: Sun, December 18, 2022, 14:11:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Hoops,

While I don't use Facebook, Twitter and the like, I will click on a link to a post on occasion. I just don't have an account. So there's a lot I can't see/do on the social media sites. But if you have a twitter link, please send it along. If I can't access it, too bad for me.

Date: Sun, December 18, 2022, 10:35:12 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Dean:

I've seen about a dozen tribute posts to social media outlets for musicians, who have worked with Ted, including one from Michael Leonhart. I know and respect most here don't want to use the likes of Facebook, Twitter, etc. – however, that's where I'm seeing all the discussion and tributes. I'll try to find one or two of the comments that are text only. The rest of our mainly photos etc.

Date: Sun, December 18, 2022, 10:16:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Pete,

Baker has died? Oh no. A HUGE loss. I don't see anything on the Intertubes, so you must have first hand knowledge. Horrible news.

RIP Ted Baker

Date: Sat, December 17, 2022, 20:57:02 ET
Posted by: Pete,

R.I.P., Ted Baker. :-(

Date: Fri, December 16, 2022, 19:26:27 ET
Posted by: Michael,

M/O/D/P, thanks for yet another erudite post, as yours tend to be.

For clarity's sake, I don't dislike Hendrix -- far from it. His contribution to electric guitar was undeniably significant, but I don't view his work as revelatory or genius as others seem to make it out to be. Too many people throw around lofty terminology with reckless abandon.

Journey and Foreigner ...now there's a tag team of sonic torture if ever there was one.

Admittedly, most of the discontentment I see from younger generations toward *boomer music* is through the internet, so take that as you will. The dismissive "OK boomer" phrase is all over the internet these days, the implication being that baby boomers are too old-fashioned and irrelevant, much as the latter tends to be dismissive of the former, exalting their music as the epitome of artistic achievement.

Looking back at the whole psychadelic movement there was certainly no lack of dismissive attitudes toward the older generation, what with slogans like "Don't trust anyone over 30." It must be a generational thing to rebel against the status quo.

One thing I find intriguing is that there's been a growing number of younger listeners discovering older artists, listening to deeper cuts in reaction videos or finding out about such-and-such through streaming service recommendations.

Much like you, M/O/P/D, I am receptive to all types of music across generations because art should be valued objectively for what it is, not which generation made it. Music is probably the closest thing we have to a time traveling machine, right alongside video and photography. Although I had heard Steely Dan frequently when I was young, I didn't really delve into their catalog until my mid-teens when through repeated listening it clicked into place. I began to really appreciate the intricacy of the compositions and arrangements, the monster chops and tasteful licks. The sterling production quality is just the icing on the delicious cake.

Just for the heck of it, here are some artists I enjoy, spanning generations, genres and countries.

Guthrie Govan, Syd Dale, Anita Baker, Jean-Luc Ponty, Benny Sings, Michael Franks, Koichi Sugiyama, Djavan, Ed Motta, Banda Black Rio, Mayer Hawthorne, Chicago, Donny Benet, Juan Luis Guerra, State Cows, Hall & Oates, Casiopea, YMO, Andres Segovia, Elvis Presley, Gal Costa, Bix Beiderbecke, Lindsey Webster, Ole Börud

Date: Fri, December 16, 2022, 08:41:37 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

M/O/D/P, send lawyers, guns, and money, the shit has hit the fan.

Date: Thurs, December 15, 2022, 21:43:21 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, My "pernultimate"post here

So...somebody - wait, not just "somebody"...a respected long-time contributor here - writes a concise, intelligent & thought-provoking post about what's going on in today's music culture & today's society vis-a-vis music consumption/perception...and the first (and only, so far) response is a picayune attempt at word-choice correction??

As an antidote to what we might call "internet stupid", I've taken it upon myself to reply to Michael's post directly...although, obviously now, factoring in the heckling.

For the record - because we all still like to listen to "records", don't we? - the word "penultimate" with respect to a guy like Hendrix could actually have been just OK, as a word choice, in context. Lots of people I know do in fact [still] consider Jimi to be the second-best rock guitarist of all time. Lots of people I know would [still] put him as number one...but, curiously, I know quite a few people who wouldn't even put him in the Top Ten. Opinions are like...well, you know...

But I'm pretty sure the point of Michael's post wasn't about "Hendrix". Of course, I could be wrong.

For what it's worth, as a reader here, I did appreciate the crack about "Boston". That made me chuckle. Me? I probably would have chosen "Journey" or "Asia" or "Starship" or even "Foreigner" as the object of across-the-board derision. But Michael picked "Boston". I'm not saying he was incorrect.

What I get from the younger people I currently interact with isn't so much the outright resentment Michael describes, it's more like a complete disconnect. "Who?" The music that so-called "boomers" [still] stick with - the so-called "Classic Rock" stuff - just doesn't click with the kids who've been suckled on a modern-era technological teat. Video games, hyper-realistic Netflix shit, "music" created without the need for "musicians"...and so on. I mean, who needs guitars when you can just sample that sound? Who needs an orchestra when you can steal something an "orchestra" has already recorded?? I'm [no longer] amazed at the lack of historical knowledge I see when it comes to What Came Before You Were Born.

And the resistance of so-called "boomers" to the dreaded "new material" is well-documented here and elsewhere. I've been posting about that shit here since The Year Of The Small Potato. Remember the SD shows where Green Book was nothing but a fucking pee break? I do. I wuz there. The audience was full of "boomers" with their new-material-resistant hats fully intact. They wore those hats to protect temselves from the dreaded "new material". Clueless fucks.

When I was a kid, my Dad played a lot of Ellington and Glenn Miller, stuff like that. I didn't get it - it was "old man music" to me. He also didn't "get" my "Steely Dan" or my "Pink Floyd" or my "Warren Zevon" - or whatever other current stuff I was listening to at the time. Funny thing is, he ended up asking me for some Steve Howe orchestral/guitar recordings and copies of both "Aja" and "Gaucho", because he actually liked the music - not for the memories, but for the sounds. That was cool, for me. Nowadays, I'm as inclined to listen to The Mills Brothers or Artie Shaw or The King Of All Sir Duke as I am to sit down to a run-through of YGSF's latest brilliant offering...

M/O/D/P

PS - For those who keep track of such things, this post has been heavily edited to remove any profane language. I originally wrote this when I was agitated - obviously - then I went back and proof-read the fucker to ensure that (a) no feelings could be hurt by what I wrote and (b) no profanities from the original draft remained.

Date: Sat, December 10, 2022, 19:09:43 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Sorry, I should've wrote ultimate.

Date: Sat, December 10, 2022, 15:37:19 ET
Posted by: Carl, Jr.

What does it mean to be the penultimate guitarist?

Date: Fri, December 09, 2022, 10:25:24 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I've noticed an interesting trend among independent musicians. More and more they are digging into genres of music which were mostly overlooked by the mainstream, resulting in an amalgamation of strange but sometimes wonderful sounds which are refined until it becomes their own thing. You can hear swathes of '70s soul combined with AOR in YGSF's music, for instance, yet they retain a unique sound distinguishable from other artists.

Concurrent with these developments, it seems that there's a somewhat hostile reaction among younger listeners toward anything considered to be boomer music including The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane, Boston (I can understand that), The Grateful Dead, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, and so forth. Reason being Gen Z blame the boomers' decadence and reckless financial policies for current economic hardships. Conversely, the boomer generation has a strong tendency to gravitate toward their favorite classic rock stations and obstinately reject new music as inferior.

One major point of contention I have with the boomers is this hero worship they engage in of aging artists like McCartney, what with endless retro tours and retrospectives deifying them, which is stifling to artistic progress. No, I don't believe that The Beatles were the greatest thing to happen to pop music over the past century, just like I don't believe Hendrix was the penultimate guitarist -- far from it. Steely Dan is one of a small handful of artists who even back during their formative years were widely disregarded by the mainstream, only to experience a resurgence in popularity after the fact. A similar phenomenon occurred with Bach who didn't become world renown until the Bach revival long after his passing. Make of that what you will.

Although I will always love SD's music, there's more than enough space in my life for new music as well. I refuse to be so narrow-minded as to reject music out of spite for a generation. Good music is good no matter where it comes from. That about sums it up.

Date: Wed, December 07, 2022, 10:44:37 ET
Posted by: Mike, W of Hollywd

Has anyone else noticed a little bit of distortion or even had a skipping problem at the beginning of the new 33 1/3 edition of Can't Buy A Thrill. I've had this problem. I noticed on Amazon several other people wrote in the reviews section that they had the same problem or something similar. Others commented they were perfectly satisfied.

Cheers.

Date: Wed, December 07, 2022, 02:23:09 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

City Pop is ok - tbh, I haven’t gone that deep.

I’ve listened to more Shibuya-kei, Pizzicato Five in particular. Konishi is a serious talent.

Check out The Sound of Music album from I think 1995.

Date: Wed, November 30, 2022, 18:38:06 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, I hadn't thought about the commonality between Rodney's track and True Companion. Now that you mention it, that reminds me of Fagen & Becker's Canadian Star, recorded by Dr. Strut. Truly a hidden gem from their oeuvre more people should know about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=259Q2AJ24Rg

As I'm sure you know, The Tubes also recorded a song titled Prime Time on their album 'Remote Control', produced by Todd Rundgren.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teg1EpDvj74

State Cows released a new track several days ago called Streets of Stockholm which has an early '80s Toto feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlRvrjD4210

Date: Wed, November 30, 2022, 12:40:14 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve M,

haha Lazy Night is everything one would expect in a Japanese Fagen fusion obsessed artist. J-pop has had the same affinity for Fagen Fusion that Fagen had for Far East mystique for decades. Nearly blatant use of the rhythm/bounce of New Frontier with some Nightfly title track chord progressions and Carltonesque guitar licks. What's not to like?

Michael - I recognize the Rodney Franklin track. Thanks for posting it. The keyboard stylings remind me of Fagen's Tru Companion. A fine fusion piece.

Yes - the YGSF album is their best yet. More organic. More sophisticated, yet even cleaner and more consistent. The songwriting and production are next level. Golden Years and AM Waves had been my 2 favorite Platts albums, but Ticket to Shangri-La is now the winner for me. I'm not sure it's better than the Silk Sonic album, but has more staying power for me. Silk Sonic is just a bit too winky/cutsey for a lot of repeated listens. Like a classic SD album, the New One gets better with each listen.


OK, we're baaaaaaaack for another episode of Mu (major) chords in unusual or unexpected place. This one may not surprise a few afficionados. I'm sure all heard are familiar with Alan Parson's (Project) work as an engineer and producer (Dark Side of the Moon) and the APP in collaboration with Eric Woolfson. APP, Supertramp, Steely Dan had the reputation for creating really clean, profession, yet engaging albums.

We were driving back from the Houston airport dropping off our son after T'giving and I had coincidentally set a shuffle on my YGSF collection. Maybe it was a bump in the road but after about 5-6 songs, my iPhone flips to a YGSF "channel" on the dreaded Spotify app and the algorithm picks up my favorite APP songs: Prime Time. I have a few of their songs on my e-collection, but never had purchased one of their albums. There was a local AOR station at the time that played Parson liberally and that was fine.

So, I'm listening to Prime Time, and then again a few more times and I'm hearing some jazzy chords underneath the rock/fusion exterior and some Larry Carlton like choices (not tone) in the guitar solo.

Sure enough, I looked up some tabs and confirmed on our Yamaha keyboard that the end of the intro and first lines of the verse are anchored on A(maj)add9 and Gadd9. Add some flatted major 7ths and minor 7ths and you have the sweet and sour magical musical sauce (continuing our east Asian theme) that makes this song, Fagen, SD compelling to the ear. The recording is pristine with generous instrument separation. The guitar lines are excellent - Ian Bairnson was the lead guitarist in Pilot before the APP. Woolfson is an underrated vocal stylist - he's pretty dry.

So, that explains my long time affinity for this song from the underrated Ammonia Avenue album.

https://youtu.be/P6NNJq0FZN4

Date: Wed, November 30, 2022, 12:08:44 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve M,

Date: Tues, November 29, 2022, 01:36:21 ET
Posted by: The Greater Dandom, World Wide

Happy birthday to both Pete Fogel and Keith Carlock!

Date: Sat, November 26, 2022, 13:43:25 ET
Posted by: Robbie, Etc.

RIP Irene Cara. Dangential tie: Elliot Randall’s second best known solo was on her 1980 hit Fame.

Date: Thurs, November 24, 2022, 19:19:25 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, That newly-minted deluxe public cludgie In Burntisland - the one all of Scotland is talking about

Nicholas Urfe - Your point, as usual, is eloquent & well-made. In truth, I refrained from using a Boss reference when divulging my profound disdain for TV, because the thought of actually combining these two horrid repugnancies - disparate as they may or may not be - revolts me to my very core...possibly leading to unclean thoughts of myself caught...trapped...in a vast, unending room filled with multiple TVs of various sizes & vintages...all turned "on"...and all repeatedly & simultaneously playing the 1984 MTV extended edit of "Dancing In The Dark On Fire" at maximum volume...simply too much for my delicate system to take. So that's why I didn't put that in the post. It's all about the preservation of what's left of my sanity, my island-bound friend. On the other hand, my heart was warmed by your online confession of brotherly love. It's always nice when these things don't go, y'know, "unrequited".

Steve M - I've been wanting to insert the word "cludgie" here on The Blue for some time now. It's the type of thing you just can't use gratuitously, though, so I bided my time. Suddenly, there it was! The golden opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to slip it in surreptitiously...realizing that nobody would actually notice except for the respected contributor from Scotland. And notice it you did. As far as the Scottish ancestry goes, well, let's just say that I didn't acquire this thick, damn-near indecipherable brogue of mine merely by following the adventures of Wee Willie Haggis in the POW! Annual.

Karl - Thanks for the two videos. While I don't do much YooToob watching these days, I would definitely love to sit down in a live concert setting for an evening of your band's performances. Well done, sir!

M/O/D/P

Date: Thurs, November 24, 2022, 13:30:25 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Karl, that was really enjoyable, great musicianship and thanks so much for posting here. The only thing that could have improved it and elevated it to the sublime would have been a Walter Becker style rap, in Icelandic, during Hey Nineteen...

Date: Thurs, November 24, 2022, 05:26:09 ET
Posted by: Karl, Reykjavik

Been lurking since early 2000s but seldom post. Now our tribute group has some videos from our recent Steely Dan concert so I just had to share. It’s me singing and playing Rhodes 54. https://youtu.be/dsNJ2Hqc0BQ

Date: Wed, November 23, 2022, 14:28:03 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Delighted to see the first known use of the term "cludgie" on the Blue.

My life would be largely complete if Donald and Walter had used it in a SD lyric but lets face it that was always going to be a long shot.

Some Scottish ancestry M/O/D/P??

Date: Wed, November 23, 2022, 07:58:25 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

M/O/D/P, you know that I love you and am loath to say anything of you that might even hint at criticism, but your most recent post contains an omission so glaring that I have no choice but to bring it to your attention.

The examples you provide to illustrate why you loathe TV do tend to make your point, but are they above misinterpretation? Might, in some unknowable circumstances, in some stange universe, those things - pancreatic cancer, Birkenstock footwear, et al. - be desirable? There is a comparison, though, that describes your abhorrence of TV in a way that is unmistakable, unimpeachable, no matter what strange circumstances may arrive: Springsteen concert. By comparing TV to THAT, you would have laid it to waste indeed.

Date: Tues, November 22, 2022, 21:17:47 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Jaded, so very jaded...

My friend Mr. Turtle, compared to me, DF is practically an apologist for TV. Hey, compared to me our pal Mr. Fagen is a TV fanatic. But I'll take the backhanded compliment.

I put TV - especially the TV of the so-called modern era - right up there with pancreatic cancer, Birkenstock footwear, and burlap bags filled with drowned Golden Retriever puppies. And much like those horrible, awful examples I've cited, TV is seemingly everywhere - its perniciousness exceeded only by its omnipresence. Or vice-versa.

And, compared to streaming anything, actually owning something is looking pretty smart - to me, anyways. See, that way some greedy bastard - the bastard who sold me the shit in the first place - can't suddenly take my shit away from me when I'm not looking. Or when I'm looking. Think "DRM" and similar outright theft. Think, "You can't listen to it/watch it anymore 'cause we took it down". Some of you know what I'm talking about.

And I've now officially seen too many formats & delivery systems, novelty or ill-advised or otherwise, come & go to get even remotely interested in yet another one. Enough is enough. Remember "Pono" from a couple of years back? I know a couple of "investors" who wish they'd never heard the term. I'm not snarling, I'm yawning.

It's just hard to get excited about the latest audio/video fad if every a/v fad you've ever seen has ended up in the terlet. Try flushing a collection of vintage Edison Cylinders down the latrine and get back to me...

M/O/D/P
ps - "It's all good fun until some jackass turns on the goddamned TV!!"
pps - Please don't tell me that the world is a better place with Khardashians, masked singers, "edgy" [sic] comedy [sic] shows, and brutally hyper-realistic cop/doctor/lawyer/drama/whatever shows in it. Because I will disagree with you.
ppps - "All of you!!! Get off your lazy, passive asses and shut the TV off - permanently!!"
pppps - This hurts me more than it hurts you/You'll thank me for this later.
ppppps - When I said "latrine", I actually meant "cludgie", but the autocorrect kept changing it to "the shitter"...

Date: Tues, November 22, 2022, 17:47:45 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

M/O/D/P, you sound like Donald Fagen in his book when he is lamenting the advent of television. :P

I don't know why something like Atmos would be looked down upon. It's just another mix, like 5.1 or stereo.

Frankly I think it's more understandable to be interested in Atmos than yet another pressing of *vinyl* of all things. But that's a whole other conversation.

Date: Tues, November 22, 2022, 09:51:28 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

I dislike Spotify as a corporate entity but I do find myself using it for discovery - always trying to purchase something for real when I can. unfortunately The Algorithm is quite good at pushing unusual stuff I'd never have come across otherwise and city pop is a great example. Japanese fusion as well.

The other night in the midst of insomnia I bought the new Fagen biography ebook. I am skipping around a bit, seeing what gaps it can fill in. At first I wasn't sure why the general consensus seemed to be negative around here; then I got to the author's assessment of Gaucho (which he deems a creative failure). He seems to take a lot of glee in pointing out the misogynist themes -- especially those relating to younger women -- in Steely Dan lyrics, and goes to great lengths to attempt to correlate them to Fagen and Becker's personal views, pointing out quotes in interviews and jokes in liner notes and on their website. He talks about the staged interviews for the PBS special with the backup singers having "sexual tension," the most laughable moment so far. Of course, nothing in their personal lives suggest there is any connection between Fagen/Becker and the intentionally loathsome pathetic darkly comic characters in their songs -- and he does cover their personal lives.

Despite this, while it's mainly based on secondary sources, the author did apparently conduct some interviews that had some new (to me) information ... and, well, it did help me sleep.

Date: Sun, November 20, 2022, 16:45:42 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Funny thing is that a lot of Japanese artists would regularly employ a veritable who's who of Stateside session players. For instance, electronic synth-pop group Logic System did studio sessions with Vinnie Colaiuta, Don Grusin and Paul Jackson Jr., among others. Here's one of their tracks, titled 'Metamorphism', which was borrowed by none other than HK 'cut-and-paste' B-movie director Godfrey Ho for the soundtrack to his *epic* masterpiece Ninja Terminator.

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

Speaking of Vinnie Colaiuta, here's him performing with legendary actor/singer Akira Terao on 'Habana Express' for his Re-Cool album, a compilation of new takes on some of Akira's best tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPli_1AaLSs

Date: Sun, November 20, 2022, 14:33:52 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

It was thanks to a link posted here on the Blue a couple of years back that I got into the whole City Pop thing.

This still makes me smile with it's undisguised Gaucho/NightFly stylings...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3AE1MYMHTw

Date: Sun, November 20, 2022, 14:24:42 ET
Posted by: looking for Steely sounds, oll

It's pretty much all City Pop and J-pop for me these days.

And I don't know what the lyrics mean, a bonus, it means I can't judge them unfavorably with Don & Walt's.

Date: Sun, November 20, 2022, 07:45:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

YGSF is the best thing to happen to AOR/soul-pop in decades. Their new album is their best one yet IMO. Andy Platts and Shawn Lee are at the top of their game.

Steely Dan mash up with Mötley Crüe, Ted Nugent and Van Halen titled 'Look Again'. It's very well put together even if it's not my cup of tea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DULtC-_dDu4

Another SD mashup, this time with Metallica and KISS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1CIVy4oMoQ

And now for a great jazz track from Rodney Franklin titled 'Life Moves On'. Love that smooth, mellow vibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8finX1bOPI

This track was used in the bumper for WTBS Theater Late Night from the early '80s. Back in that era TV networks would frequently source preexisting songs for use in their idents such as the Ramsey Lewis track 'Skippin'' for the WLS Channel 7 Movie, as shown here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYYrYbe50Q

Date: Sat, November 19, 2022, 19:57:05 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Ignorance isn't bliss...it's ignorant!!

But when I have to read stuff here about "Atmos" and fucking "Tiktok" [especially "Tiktok" - it's a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) global tracking project fer chrissakes!] I feel like being ignorant is, for once, a virtue.

The point is, the new Young Gun/Silver Fox release has some damn good songs on it.

Date: Sat, November 19, 2022, 07:39:01 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

I'm actually ignorant about it too. I do know that a ton of new and older music has been reissued and is available in "Atmos" on Apple Music. I have no idea whether it is the same as the theatrical Atmos.

Date: Fri, November 18, 2022, 20:16:11 ET
Posted by: Michael,

This song by Gary titled 'Crazy Love Games' reminds me of Steely Dan in the most bizarre way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKukyLAf370

Date: Fri, November 18, 2022, 19:54:20 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Excuse my ignorance on this. I'm not all that familiar with Atmos. But it's my understanding that is essentially an immersive experience for movies and such. And that the source has to be mixed for Atmos for it to be of any real audio value.

Is that incorrect? Has any SD music been specifically mixed/formatted/whatever for Atmos?

Date: Fri, November 18, 2022, 16:35:47 ET
Posted by: Mock Turtle,

Why, I wonder, isn’t any Steely Dan available in Atmos on Apple Music? That would be great for us non-physical media consumers.

Date: Wed, November 16, 2022, 14:10:56 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

there's a Daniel Sadownick playing percussion on TAN's title track.

Date: Wed, November 16, 2022, 07:30:57 ET
Posted by: Russ, OH

So I trolled a Tik Tok of an SD live performance by asking which one's Dan? But it made me think, was there ever a musician named Dan credited on any of their albums?

Date: Sun, November 13, 2022, 22:16:01 ET
Posted by: AI, Android Warehouse

This would be a very good subject for another Donald Fagen tune.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbc1Xeif0pY&t=236s



"We are not interested in your opinion. We are angry, and we are determined to take over."

Date: Sat, November 12, 2022, 14:11:53 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Here's one review of the new remastered "Can't Buy a Thrill."

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/steely-dan%E2%80%99s-grundman-remastered-can%E2%80%99t-buy-thrill-180g-1lp-geffenume-portends-good-things

Some comments:
It is a positive sign that his concerns are really quite limited to things like a couple instances of noise (my copy had none), and that UMe reproduced the label pretty close to original – except for the fact they don't own the rights to the ABC logo-and a couple typeface changes. I know for some other artists, the complaints are things like "noisy vinyl" or "sounds too compressed or flat", or that certain pages and artwork are still missing from the deluxe version, etc. etc. Personally, I think the single LP version that sells for under $30 typically will be adequate for my stereo system and most others. On the other hand, this is indeed Steely Dan who for many decades were known for their sonic perfection upon which many high end stereos were tested. So definitely checking out the other higher resolution 45 RPM  versions as well, although I don't fully expect to realize their full potential on my particular system, which, for the record is a Denon, 6.1 receiver, some Boston Acoustics speakers,  and an Audio-Technica turntable which used to sell for between $300 and $400, personally recommended to me by producer Matt Still when I asked him about a decent turntable on a budget.  He suggested that I buy it and then next time I buy a new cartridge, upgrade to the next level at about $100.  And a final disclaimer: who knows if my hearing is adequate 😉. surely that's gotta be a big factor in any of this. That said, it's a great thrill to have a release of these albums just one more time. 

Date: Thurs, November 10, 2022, 16:41:23 ET
Posted by: John Howell Harris, Los Angeles

Hello. I am mildly successful TV writer and I recently complete a pilot script based on THE NIGHTFLY. Below is the link. I hope you find something in the following pages that you enjoy:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lo1iw1gwyixf26u/THE%20NIGHTFLY.pdf?dl=0

Date: Fri, November 04, 2022, 08:44:07 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

The 33 RPM version arrived yesterday. I actually ended up pre ordering the 45 RPM as well with the intention of comparing with my non-audiophile ears and very non-audiophile (but respectable at the price point!) setup. I'm somewhat skeptical but the Acoustic Sounds EMG release sounds 10x better than my RSD copy, so I'm giving it a shot.

24 bit FLACs have hit HD Tracks as well. A/B'd between a lossless rip of the 98 remaster and the difference isn't huge, but it is there - you can hear it in the legnth of decay of the ride cymbal in the intro of
Do It Again, for example (longer and more natural on the new remaster).
Nothing I'd notice without intentionally listening for differences, but sometimes these small things add up to a fresh listening experience and you have a glorious moment where something new in the mix reveals itself to you after hundreds (thousands?) of listens ... so worth a try, IMO.

https://www.hdtracks.com/#/album/63600be737a02e35867f3e01

Date: Thurs, November 03, 2022, 17:24:00 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

BTW: I called Acoustic Sounds shipping department earlier today and spoke with them. They are in the process of shipping them all out via FedEx.

Date: Thurs, November 03, 2022, 17:00:45 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Chris:
Thank you for the update. Do you have 2 LP, 45 RPM Version from Analogue Productions or the single LP, 33-1/3 version?

In 2003, The MCA label was retired, except for MCA Nashville, which, for the most part meant for George Strait, Reba McEntire, and a handful of others. All the albums and recordings from the MCA catalog (including those from the ABC records pop/rock catalog) were consolidated onto the Geffen label. In fact there's been two Steely Dan compilation since then ("20th Century Masters" and the not-so-definitive "Steely Dan Definitive Collection" which were released with the Geffen label/logo, although the logo is very tiny. (The Geffen label itself was even dormant for a few years back in the late aughts.) At any rate, UMe is the umbrella label and they're the ones who actually do most of the releases or "Legacy artists" like the live albums from the past year.

And of course, Disney--not Universal Music--owns the rights to the ABC logoso that's why that is not used on these. My mid-aughts Cisco LP version of Aja has the 1970s Aja Yellow-orange-lavender concentric circles label but no ABC logo! Gaucho vinyl from the mid-aughts has the rainbow and clouds MCA label--but the MCA logo itself is photoshopped out. So if you look at the new Geffen label Can't Buy A Thrill, it's still a logo on black--just not ABC.

Date: Thurs, November 03, 2022, 16:18:16 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

CBAT arrived today - haven't had a chance to listen just yet, but looks nice - appears to be a true reproduction of the original packaging (old liner notes etc) with no notes on the mastering. And on the Geffen imprint for whatever reason.

Interested in hearing from anyone with an SACD player how that sounds compared to the 90s/00s remaster...

Date: Thurs, November 03, 2022, 11:41:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Steve M, Yeah that's a winner.


Michael - like Breezin' and those Tony LiPuma produced albums. LiPuma had a penchant for the most crystallized space between the instruments and that separation, so you could hear everything going on.

That reminds me of Michael Franks' Blue Pacific album, where Walter produced All I Need, the brilliant Vincent's Ear, and Crayon Sun. Walter treated them delicately, a little more minimalist and brut dry than all of his work with Donald.

https://youtu.be/NdXHYmv3NDw

It really elevated MF above his kind of usual schmaltzy fare.


Then, the Tony LiPuma produced tracks out-Steely Dan'd Walter's tracks. lol

https://youtu.be/0YHUavJCaYw

https://youtu.be/CT356TQ7cZM

Date: Tues, November 01, 2022, 17:26:57 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Thanks Steve. That's one of my favorite songs of theirs, alongside Joyful Caravan and Dreamtown.

Doc, thanks for the Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick links. First time listening to his solo material. The instrumentation on Sunships On The Shores Of Mars is like a journey back in time, reminding me of George Benson's early ventures into pop-jazz. Sky is a pretty bossa nova tune. Take A Chance On Me has an insatiable groove that goes down nice and smooth.

Date: Tues, November 01, 2022, 14:59:33 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Agree wholeheartedly about Jango Michael. City of the 2nd Chance was always a firm favourite of mine. Interesting thing was they often namechecked Steely Dan songs in their lyrics so obviously big fans (they even had a track called "Sunset to the Sea" on the Dreamtown album.

I've posted this before but it was probably about 10 years ago so no apologies for linking to it again! (here at the Western World reference alert)

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

Date: Tues, November 01, 2022, 09:21:10 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Jango had some cool jazzy tracks strongly reminiscent of SD, especially this one titled 'The Beard'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oVTIF-D2Hc

I think this track, Swimming, by UK synth-pop group Kero Kero Bonito is definitely worth sharing. Infectious melody over a melancholic chord progression. If only more of today's pop music sounded this good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Zl4hyIgB4

Date: Mon, October 31, 2022, 14:01:29 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

Thanks for the link to

'Gambling Fever' - Tito Duarte

It has that Jamiroquai - Bluey psychedelia acid jazz vibe to it.

I'm a pretty fervent fan with some of Bluey's material with Incognito and his solo stuff.

Life Between the Notes

https://youtu.be/SeYbnYcGDIk

Columbus Avenue

https://youtu.be/lA2XXV-J-8E

Sunships

https://youtu.be/QCC5cqYydQc

Sky

https://youtu.be/I4NAtxz-g30


Take a Chance on Me

https://youtu.be/-ChOr7ChIog

Date: Mon, October 31, 2022, 13:48:22 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Highlights from the YGSF new one for Dan Fans


Winners
1:48 - 2:11 - 2:28 Fagen-esque bridge and (synth) blues harp solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYjb-vpl9Ow


Sierra Nights

0:00 Tip of the Fez to the Horace Silver bass figure on Rikki

2:27 - Skunk channeled guitar solo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKqaln0r6Cw


Simple Imagination

0.51-1:01 Larry Carltonesque guitar solo

1:45 - 2:08 - 2:29 Fagen/SD like bridge, horns, then sax solo

3:07 Fagenesque call and response with the horns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluzUzqka9Q


Still Got it Going On

After a minute of literal fanfare, an SD/Fagen shuffle groove in the verses 1:05 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluzUzqka9Q



I hear as much or more Fagen solo influences as I do Steely Dan...but they are scattered through this album, probably more than YGSF's previous 3 albums.

Date: Thurs, October 27, 2022, 01:43:18 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, They got the crappy SD bootleg T-shirts at the thrift store

I found a Deacon Blues Whiskey T-shirt yesterday at a local thrift store (in the greater Philly area) for $3. I haven't been to any shows for several years now. I wasn't familiar with the design. I was able to find samples online for a New York version...

https://teesector.com/product/deacon-blues-whiskey-quality-steely-dan-whiskey-of-the-expanding-man-hoodies-sweatshirts/

The one I thrifted is for Philadelphia as opposed to NY and (most likely) a crappy bootleg since it has two glaring mistakes... "Qualiaty" and "Fagan." Meh. I don't care. It's actually mildly amusing to me. (It's actually *worth* about $3.) They got the Steely Dan T-shirts.

Here are two quick pics of mine...

https://ibb.co/6FCRx32
https://ibb.co/wBGpspz

Can anyone confirm or shed any more light on any of that? Or just provide other info? Just curious. Thanks.

Date: Sat, October 22, 2022, 08:19:20 ET
Posted by: Michael,

A little Easter egg (?) on their YT audio clips: when it shows the back cover of the album, the track 'Winners' is re-titled 'Call Me Up' which is the first lyric of the song. Likely this was their original title for the song and somehow they got it mixed up.

Ticket to Shangri-la is a superb, expertly produced album. So many flashes of brilliance throughout.

Doc, a great SD-ish tune you should check out is 'Gambling Fever' by Tito Duarte.

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

I wish someone would upload 'Heartbreak Souvenir' so that we could all enjoy it. Also, the full band attempt at 'I Can't Write Home About You' would be spiffy.

Date: Sat, October 22, 2022, 00:31:44 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

YGSF

I really should edit...

Date: Sat, October 22, 2022, 00:31:09 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael - It's Steely Dan's history and influences. Check out their interviews.


Yeah, the TGSF album is fantastic. It's a please to hear that Van Gelder fusion recording approach again.

Sierra Nights has that early SD and Monkey House ballad vibe. Beautifully recorded. It's nice to hear all of the instruments again in their lane. Note the Horace Silver/Rikki-like bass vibe. That little instrumental break is pure gold. Just a touch of Turn That Heartbeat Over Again. Then the unsuspected guitar solo. The gift that keeps on giving.

I lean a little more R&B/EWF...so Still Got it Going On hits the spot with those wicked horns. Those harmonies are so tight.

Rollin' Back just bops a long...and there's a touch of Walter altered blues in the verse melody. The transition could have been from Platt's Mamas Gun albums. The chorus has a McDoobie merged with Kool and the Gang Vibe.

I'm a sucker for the way Simple Imagination continue to open doors into a DisneyWorld of possibilities. Damn, those ghost notes aren't so ghostly. Then a killer middle eight morphs into a tasty sax solo.

I dig when they stretch out melodic lines in a song like Starting Wars. And West Side Jet is full of more toe tapping earworms.



All winners, no losers in their new release. Masterful.

Date: Fri, October 21, 2022, 10:48:52 ET
Posted by: Michael,

YGSF album out today. Most of the tracks are great, as expected, with 'Sierra Nights' at the top of my favorites. Can hear various influences sprinkled throughout. The album opener 'Still Got it Goin' On' has a touch of Toto's 'Hold the Line', while Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall' (composed by Rod Temperton) clearly inspired 'Tip of the Flame'.

Definitely a recommended listen. Production quality is not far from Steely Dan caliber. Once again 'Sierra Nights' gets my highest recommendation, sounding like some long lost hit from the late 1970s replete with superb lyrics and gorgeous arrangement. Do check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKqaln0r6Cw

Date: Thurs, October 20, 2022, 20:12:54 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I would include Caves of Altamira and Glamour Profession in my top 20 SD songs. Don't Take Me Alive is a great song though.

Date: Thurs, October 20, 2022, 10:39:45 ET
Posted by: Jerry, Manchester UK

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/20/steely-dans-20-greatest-songs-ranked?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Enjoyable summary of some of their songs.. I wouldn't have don't take me alive in my top 20 but hey I know nothing

Date: Thurs, October 20, 2022, 08:55:46 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, almost every artist uses standard tuning, discounting slurred or sliding notes, out of tune instruments and other anomalies. Within that tonal framework there's literally billions of possibilities, both harmonically and rhythmically.

What is the purpose of reducing music to racial brackets? The notion that jazz and blues happened in some sort of vacuum outside of the influence of white musicians is pure bunk.

Trumpeter Roy Eldridge once claimed that he could discern a musician's race just by listening, so critic Leonard Feather presented him with a double-blind test to see if that was true. As it turned out, he incorrectly guessed the color of almost every musician who was played for him. It's impossible to hear the skin tone of the person playing any given instrument.

There have been many important white contributors to the oeuvre of jazz, including Bix Beiderbecke, Chet Baker, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Miff Mole, Evan Parker, Art Pepper, Jerry Mulligan, and countless others. The harmonies used in jazz had been in use for centuries in stuff like French impressionism and brass bands. Much of the early jazz arose out of the creole population, although there's no single instance any historian can pinpoint where jazz was first conceived. Some musicians both black and white have claimed that they were the first but that's hearsay. More than likely it was a gradual development over the span of several years by different musical collaborations across the spectrum.

There's always been plenty of crappy music polluting the airwaves over from artists both black and white. I have a low tolerance threshold for most of what is considered mainstream today.

One song which I think was criminally overlooked back in 1984 was 'Tossing and Turning' by Windjammer. This was from back when MTV still aired some quality music from time to time.

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

Date: Wed, October 19, 2022, 19:40:22 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Per Spotify there are 82,000,000 songs or recordings

Technically, there are 82,500,000,000,000,000,000 10 note combination melodies possible.

Allegedly, that is 0.0000000000099 % of the possibilities are out there as recordings.

Date: Wed, October 19, 2022, 19:26:01 ET
Posted by: erratum,

*of* possibilities

Date: Wed, October 19, 2022, 19:25:22 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

I mean, J.S. Bach did it all before anyone.


12? Hell, when you have sequences of multi-tonal chords we get into factorial territory or possibilities. There are only 4 "letters" of nucleic acids in DNA, yet 25,000 protein-encoded genes.

There are only a few dozen sounds in any particular human language. There area million worlds trailing the English language and 170,000 in current use.

So, what's the SD connection?

Donald and Walter usually leaned into different sounds and fare the the typical rock or pop artists of the time. Even when a song was a one chord vamp, they built it around a Amin7 for spite. Who knows? That could have been a chord Walter and Donald would deliberately sneak into a Jay and the Americans live number when most inappropriate.

Although SD were "pegged" into a "classic rock" their discography of the 70s, while dipping into the Bob Dylan oeuvre of lyrical attitude, had little very little musical connection with the classic rock of the British invasion (Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Moodie Blues, Pink Floyd), surf music of the early 60s but used 40s blues, 50s and early 60s hard bop and cool jazz, combined with the R&B genre (soul, gospel, Philly, Atlantic, early funk) but played that music until Katy Lied and definitely The Royal Scam as a white rock instrumental ensemble with a few exceptions.

They also avoided the reverb, effects, and noise common in recordings of the day, defaulting to Rudy Van Gelder approaches to recording. They always rejected the premise.

In short, they deliberately subverted white rock sounding music with black/African-American R&B, Latin, and later more jazzy chord progressions...in other words, as if white versions of what parents of the day called "jungle music" never existed.

Similarly, the Steely Dan and solo albums approaching and in the 21st Century existed in a bubble where hair metal, grunge, punk, speed metal, death metal, even alternative never existed). As if almost all the crap put out by white artists on MTV never existed. W&D continued to reject the premise.

Whether we call it "sophisticated" or not is in the ear of the beholder. CAll it what you want, but it's not "classic rock" or "yacht rock," but an unusual R&B/jazz fusion sometimes over a rock backbeat. SD, Donald, and Walter's music was always different. The tunes, arrangements, choices, and production was always a little weird, inappropriate, clever.

If you listen or watch the breakdowns of now classic Steely Dan songs Warren Bernhardt does with Donald, you can see a seasoned musician's eyebrows raise as Donald explains why he chose certain chords and chord progressions that were deviations from the expected. "Oh, that's unusual," Warren would quip.


I'm not saying that YGSF and Andy Platts have risen to that level of songwriting and production yet, but they are moving in that direction. Using "Rudy Van Gelder values." Increasingly steeped in R&B and sneaking in some jazz chords. Perfecting hooks and harmonies. Pros that are 'through with buzz."


Enjoy!



So, yes, #chordsmatter

Date: Mon, October 17, 2022, 18:50:50 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, 99.9% of music is derived from Western tonality's 12 notes which can be organized in a plethora of ways. 6/9, sus2 & 4, chord extensions and altered notes which some think of as sophisticated and tend to associate with jazz aren't novel concepts to 20th century music. This stuff has been in use for centuries, well before the arrival of stuff like gospel and blues, the latter derived from sea shanties and European folk.

I like Bruce Lee's philosophy of having no style as style because it allows for total artistic freedom, devoid of rigid constraints. Expression is the root of artistry, just as necessity is the mother of invention. That's my two cents for what it's worth.

Mama's Gun are a goldmine of soulful grooves.

Changing the subject, here's an excellent collaboration between the Free Nationals and Benny Sings titled 'Apartment'. Evocative of '70s laid-back jazz but with a modern twist. Love this kind of music. Hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aCC1jRqojs

Date: Mon, October 17, 2022, 12:45:25 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, numbers problem

7/9/11/13 chords - some major, flatted, sharp.

Date: Mon, October 17, 2022, 12:43:39 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: The roots of R&B are jazz, blues, and gospel. Some that's more bluesy are simpler with an altered blues turnaround. For example, Walkin' to New Orleans by Fats Domino has just a few chords. Largely the same chords as rock music, because rock & roll music became largely white artists playing R&B and more faster Texas swing than the slower NOLA boogie woogie.

The Gospel roots often featured jazzy chords that can be heard in Sam Cooke (A Change is Gonna Come), Stevie Wonder, Thom Bell, Michael McDonald songs, even Prince. More sharps flats, 9/9/1/13, sus chords, etc. Some of the Thom Bell Philly sound of the early 70s is very sophisticated, but sounds simple.

Thom Bells work in arranging, producing (Jerry Butler, Delfonics in the 60s and Stylistics, Spinners in the early 70s) was ear candy and sounded simple, but deceptively sophisticated. That sound was a big influence on the recent Silk Sonic album and a few songs on Mamas Gun's Cure the Jones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp3O-uHO7H8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrlCaXd49AA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM6kZabHf4w


Steely Dan's use of R&B and jazz chords were often sneaky, but certainly sounded different than the usual fair of the 70s and even 00s.

Date: Mon, October 17, 2022, 11:35:54 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, I'm excited for the new YGSF album. Just from the short clips and few songs released thus far I can tell that this is authentic quality stuff, not going for some vapid emulation of this or that artist. It's evocative of many different influences without coming across as derivative. This may very well turn out to be their best album yet.

I enjoyed your track-by-track breakdowns, very accurate stuff, though I must contest America lacking good melodies. Ventura Highway, Daisy Jane and several others have strong melodies which flow nicely. Sure, it's not ultra-sophisticated stuff but then not everything needs to be. Subtlety is important.

A lot of the early R&B tracks lacked sophisticated harmonies and/or memorable melodic hooks but still had a certain oomph to them which worked for the effect they were going for. In the end it's about finding the appropriate vehicle for artistic expression. Complexity purely for its own sake more often than not comes across as pretentious. I could name names but don't want to start a flame war on here, so I'll just leave it at that.

Definitely agree with your final verdict. Spend your money on new quality music.

Have a great day.

Date: Sun, October 16, 2022, 22:58:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Michael,

Good news for all as the new one from YGSF drops Friday.

1979 would be a good average...there's more of an R&B production feel, although the scope is broader.

I’m not saying, but what if someone of my general age, height, and weight had scored an advanced copy, then one might imagine the album could sound something like this…

WARNING: Shangri La could very possibly be Obscenely full of earworms and ear candy. The clips from Michael's links don’t do the songs (*not already on YT) justice IMHO.

The recording is not surprisingly very analog, recorded dry with limited reverb, well - you know the story…

Still Got it Going On: A bright fanfare of horns – very Jay Graydon production (Breakin’ Away, Jarreau) can hear some Don Breithaupt in the horn chart and R&B/jazz chord progressions in the verses. Hot. Could be a favorite on this board.

*West Side Jet – a bit more 70s sound with an organic crispness with the Rhodes and acoustic guitar. The hooks just a keep on a comin'

Tip of the Flame – more Quincy Jones like R&B and funk

*Rollin’ Back – could have been on Canyons, crisp songwriting and harmonies

Simple Imagination. Sweet but ranges from (El) DeBarge (a deceptive genius in production) to Steely Dan. The mountainous dessert that keeps on giving.

Sierra Nights - The lost B side of "Dallas??"

Lodestar – What if songs by America (the group) actually had a great melody and they hired Mick Fleetwood on drums?

*Winners – Bobby Caldwell groove and horns. Appearance of a missing Fagen synth harp solo?

Starting Wars – more early 80s R&B sound alloyed with Todd Rundgren

Freak Flag – What if Jay Graydon produced a Michael McDonald single in 1980/1? Another tasty horn chart.


Andy Platts and Shawn Lee are absolute pros. While this and last year's Silk Sonic album both can emote nostalgia for R&B back in the day...they are more with high production values and excellent chord changes, modulation/key changes, etc...

Shangri-La is less gimmicky...although I enjoyed the humor on the SS album.

Verdict: Forget the new Fagen patchwork storybook, spend your last piasters on this ticket to ride. ;)

Date: Sun, October 16, 2022, 21:57:38 ET
Posted by: Igor Strawinskii,

Thanks, Dr Mu!

Date: Sun, October 16, 2022, 18:18:05 ET
Posted by: Emperor Joseph II,

Gene: So, you're saying...too many notes?

Date: Sun, October 16, 2022, 18:15:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Igor:

After trading notes with Danfans, articles, etc. this is my best guess:

THE ROYAL SCAM

Kid Charlemagne:

Drums: Bernard “Pretty” Purdie
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Rhythm guitar: Walter Becker
Guitar: Larry Carlton
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Donald Fagen: Wurlitzer organ
Clavinet: Paul Griffin
Backing Vocals: Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews


Caves of Altamira:

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Walter Becker
Piano: Donald Fagen
Fender Rhodes: Paul Griffin
Trumpet: Chuck Findley, Bob Findley
Trombone: Slyde Hyde
Sax: Plas Johnson, Jim Horn
Solo Sax: John Klemmer
Backing Vocals: Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit


Don’t Take Me Alive:

Drums: Rick Marotta
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Guitars: Larry Carlton (solo)
Dean Parks (rhythm)
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Backing Vocals: Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit


Sign in Stranger:

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Guitars: Elliott Randall, Walter Becker
Piano: Paul Griffin
Trumpet: Chuck Findley, Bob Findley
Trombone: Slyde Hyde
Sax: Plas Johnson
Backing Vocals: Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit


The Fez:

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Guitar: Elliott Randall
Guitar: Walter Becker
Piano: Paul Griffin
Organ: Paul Griffin
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Synthesizer: Donald Fagen
Trumpet: Chuck Findley, Bob Findley
Trombone: Slyde Hyde
Sax: Plas Johnson, Ernie Watts
Percussion: Victor Feldman (maracas)
Backing Vocals: Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit, Michael McDonald


Green Earrings:

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Guitars: Elliott Randall - left channel, solo; 3rd section
Hugh McCracken – rhythm guitar
Larry Carlton – solo 1st section
Denny Dias – 2nd section of solo
Clavinet: Paul Griffin
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Synthesizer: Donald Fagen
Percussion: Victor Feldman (tambourine, triangle, maracas)
Backup Vocals: Donald Fagen, Tim Schmit


Haitian Divorce:

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Guitars: Dean Parks (solo talk box)
Walter Becker (talk box voicings)
Larry Carlton (rhythm)
Piano: Donald Fagen
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Synthesizer: Donald Fagen
Sax: Jim Horn, Plas Johnson
Backup Vocals: Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews
Vibraphone: Victor Feldman


Everything You Did:

Drums: Rick Marotta
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Guitars: Larry Carlton (solo), Walter Becker (left channel)
Piano: Donald Fagen
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Organ: Paul Griffin
Backup Vocals: Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit, Michael McDonald


Royal Scam:

Drums: Bernard Purdie
Bass: Walter Becker
Guitar: Larry Carlton
Piano: Donald Fagen
Organ: Paul Griffin
Fender Rhodes: Don Grolnick
Percussion: Victor Feldman (blocks, tambourine)
Dueling muted trumpets: Chuck Findley, Bob Findley
Trombone: Slyde Hyde
Sax: Jim Horn, Plas Johnson
Backup Vocals: Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews

Date: Fri, October 14, 2022, 22:06:44 ET
Posted by: Igor Strawinskii,

If someone could please provide the track-by-track musician listing for
each song from The Royal Scam, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you.

Date: Thurs, October 13, 2022, 09:10:46 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Hi Gus and everyone else...

My favorite phrase in that New Yorker piece is "and whatever Donald Fagen does to make his voice sound like that." Amen. Word.

Regarding Peter Jones' new book, i've read some of it. It collects a lot of different things from a lot of different sources. I think it's been pointed out that some is based on Donald's Eminent Hipsters, various articles and interviews, and even some things that from Dan fans on the Internet. Jones' book collates it all together, and in the process he offers his own observations and perspective. All About Jazz just recently published Jones' overview of Steely Dan albums. I think if you read this, it will give you a taste enough for you to decide about obtainaing and reading his book.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/donald-fagen-an-essential-top-10-albums-donald-fagen

Date: Wed, October 12, 2022, 23:45:11 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

I found this article today. I was able to access it without going through a paywall, at least with an old (Windows 7) operating system.


https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/my-high-school-crush-on-steely-dan

Date: Wed, October 12, 2022, 16:20:02 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New album from Young Gun Silver Fox titled 'Ticket To Shangri-La' hits October 21st. Here's teasers for all the tracks on the album. It genuinely sounds like a long lost album from the late 1970s. This will in all likelihood be a contender for album of the year.

Side 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOG6lHtyCgE
(It says "Side 2 teasers" on the title but that's a mistake.)

Side 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbg3nUyaXbE

Here's a fun making of video for their track 'Rolling Back'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d1puYR8Rv8

Date: Wed, October 12, 2022, 14:26:50 ET
Posted by: Gene, PA

Scanning through the new Fagen book on Google with the link below, I can see it's very densely written. Gave me a headache. Around the time of Gaucho, Fagen criticized the current style of soloing in pop music saying that it had no spacing and that they fill every space with notes. Advice some of these "authors" should heed.

Date: Wed, October 12, 2022, 12:04:00 ET
Posted by: Mt. Belzoni, Portland OR

I don't agree that "Donald resumed touring with the Nightflyers after Walter's death." I know this because I held 3d row seats for Donald's Sept. 12, 2017 show with the Nightflyers here in Portland OR, which was to be the very next show on the tour after Walter passed on Sept. 3, 2017. The show was cancelled, and Donald played no further Nightflyer shows after that point. I surely don't fault him for cancelling the show, and as great a live band as Steely Dan continues to be, I really wish I'd gotten to see a Nightflyers show as well.

- Mt. Belzoni

Date: Wed, October 12, 2022, 11:12:19 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

According to this, there were 2 songs finished that were cut:

Did you record 15 or 20 songs or just nine?

Becker: We had two good tracks left over, along with some partial songs and false starts…

Fagen: One was too slow and draggy. The other was too fast.

http://steelydanreader.com/2003/08/01/recording-everything-must-go/

Date: Tues, October 11, 2022, 22:44:36 ET
Posted by: Steve,

I learned some things I didn't know from "Donald Fagen: Nightflyer." For instance, according to the book, Donald has a serious anger management problem. Also, Donald resumed touring with the Nightflyers after Walter's death. Donald hated Roger Nichols. Coverage of Donald's early life is basically from "Eminent Hipsters." More than a couple passages basically cite Internet and social media as the sources.

If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have acquired it.

Here's some other books about Steely Dan:

- Yes, three versions of Brian Sweet's book, which is cited more than a few times in this new book. There's edition 1 & 2 of the big book that first came out around 1994. Then there's a mini book about the size of a CD jewel box
- Eminent Hipsters, by Donald Fagen himself
- Major Dudes by Barney Hoskins
- Steely Dan FAQ by Anthony Robustelini
- 33-1/3 Aja by Don Breithaupt and featuring exclusive commentary from Donald Fagen
- Pete Fogel has a book which is due at the end of 2023

Date: Tues, October 11, 2022, 21:40:55 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, My monthly post/That time of the month again

Nicholas Urfe - I can't thank you enough for the heads-up on that Wenner biography. To be clear, I probably wouldn't have read it anyways - on-line, in person, hardcover, softcover, "e-book" (I hate that stupid e-shit anyways, so never mind), goggle [sic] previews, whatever - but your personalized caveat gave me all the warning I needed to swerve around this particular publication and avoid any sort of unpleasant collision with it. Thanks, my BlooBook pal. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy a good Springsteen dustup as much as anyone else, but, on the other hand, the there's only so much glorification of cars'n'girls/girls'n'cars/girls-in-backseats-of-cars/New Jersey that even I can take. And I've still got a pretty damn strong constitution, overall. Except for the acute Springsteen allergy. That lunch-bucket-borne malady takes me down every time.

Thanks also to Stan for the reminder about the shiny-noo DF book. I opted to buy the book from a semi-local bookseller - it should arrive by the end of the week - because, hey, it's only a few bucks (25 or 30, I forget), and I hate the idea of reading a book - or part of a book - for free on "the internet" leaving an author unpaid. Plus, I like books.

And there aren't very many books about Steely Dan in or out of print, anyways. Shit, it's not like trying to collect everything ever published on paper about Dylan or The Beatles. It's Steely Dan...there's like, five books, total, and six of them are written by Brian Sweet.

Date: Sun, October 09, 2022, 09:16:51 ET
Posted by: Stan, up

The new book about DF is available to peruse on Google Books.

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Nightfly/bu5cEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=donald+fagen&printsec=frontcover

Date: Sun, October 09, 2022, 08:20:19 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

I just finished listening to Jann Wenner's memoir, Like a Rolling Stone. It's a gossipy, name-dropping listen - not great literature - but it is light and enjoyable. There's only one Steely Dan reference, and it's not about their music.

WARNING: Jann Wenner lovers Bruce Springsteen, and there's quite a bit of Springsteen talk in the book. So M/O/D/P should steer clear!

Date: Sat, October 08, 2022, 19:22:50 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

I have a question that I'm curious to get an answer on.
We know there were some songs, "Wet Side Story" being an example,
that Donald & Walter were working on prior to "Two Against Nature", that didn't make it to the album.
Does anyone know of any examples of songs that they were prepping prior to "Everything Must Go", that for whatever reason, didn't make the final cut.
Looking forward to any feedback this great group can provide.

Date: Sat, October 08, 2022, 18:03:29 ET
Posted by: Michael,

We sure could have used a one-off for Heartbreak Souvenir. Apparently someone purchased a reel of that track awhile ago on ebay but nobody seems to know the status of it.

Same goes for Roger Nichols' daughter coming across that tape of The Second Arrangement. Nothing further has come to light. Although we can't rule out the possibility of more unreleased gems coming forth, considering how stuff as obscure as Sakka Joweda got uploaded not so long ago (four decades after the fact), who knows.

I really enjoy the D&W song Proud To Be Your Slave, recorded by Diamond Head. Don't really know much about this band but they did a good job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9K1fRA7wr0

Date: Fri, October 07, 2022, 11:01:36 ET
Posted by: Busy Bodhi, Somewhere

Just some context, no overt Steely refs:
https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-bodhisattva-a-scholar-of-buddhism-explains-189366

Date: Thurs, October 06, 2022, 02:29:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

We sure could have used a one-off for the Second Arrangement. ;) Except for all the snippets and demos floating around...

Yeah, I had trouble hearing everything in that part of the convo.

Just under 2 weeks to the YGSF release.

Date: Wed, October 05, 2022, 21:46:04 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

They didn’t find all the SD masters. To do the new versions of Aja and Gaucho they used I think a ‘safety’ for one of them and something similar for the other.

Date: Wed, October 05, 2022, 20:25:46 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

SDV,

I think I hear Fred say Don told him back when, all the original tapes were lost. Don begins to respond, but Fred cuts in something like "except for Gaucho and Aja, they found one offs for those" or something to that effect.

I thought Fred meant he thought all the original tapes were missing---except for Gaucho and Aja, as they found one-offs of those. But I really can't be sure because of the choppiness of the conversation.

Date: Wed, October 05, 2022, 19:07:21 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

pretty sure he said the actual masters for Aja and Gaucho are not available, at right about 4 mins

Date: Tues, October 04, 2022, 03:29:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

SDV: Fantastic interview. I can't believe Chad Kassem and crew found ALL the masters.

Date: Mon, October 03, 2022, 18:08:31 ET
Posted by: Al, Bama

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

My copy doesn’t have the song “Deacon Jones.’

Date: Sat, October 01, 2022, 03:41:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

yeah - I'd say Stevie on the rhythm and synth, but not the chord progressions.

A little shredding like Potter on the sax...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMI1iU7VgyI


That had me thinking about Water and my prime YGSF track, which channels Walter altered blues - like Love in the 5th.

That surprise new transition between the 2nd verse and chorus on Things We Left Unsaid. Ridiculous. ...and a Chorus with McDoobie/SD tight harmonies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umi1U32tOec

Date: Fri, September 30, 2022, 11:58:17 ET
Posted by: Michael,

To my ears it sounds much closer to Stevie Wonder than Jay Graydon or Al Jarreau, especially with the characteristic funky clavinet sound. Glad you enjoy it.

Date: Fri, September 30, 2022, 11:42:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

re: Yuna. Yeah, on the chorus on Castaway you're hearing those major 7ths, a modulation then an unexpected Stevie Wonder C#minor7th turnaround.

It's nice to hear pop music that doesn't use the same 4 chords and gets so repetitive.


Holy f*** on that Louis Cole time signature in the intro. I'm lost, but it sounds like alternating 3/8 and 5/8 in the counter rhythms and then a swinging 4/4. The bridge is very Jay Graydon production (Al Jarreau, etc.) sounding.

Date: Fri, September 30, 2022, 08:47:36 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, I dig the Doobie Brothers. MM was a great addition, injecting even more soulful R&B into the group. Living on the Fault Line is a real gem.

That Tom Misch track 'South of the River' is fire. Incredible groove, the incorporation of strings and wickedly cool bass line. Thank you for sharing, I hadn't heard this before. No doubt you meant to post this link for the track featuring Jordan Rakei, 'Wake Up This Day', yet another winner.

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

Even though I usually shun modern mainstream, I have to admit that this track, 'Castaway', by Yuna (featuring Tyler) is quite enjoyable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPnnecct9xA

Here's a live session for the same track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWrvHa8jMrg

If you haven't heard of multi-instrumentalist Louis Cole by now, you've been missing out. Seamlessly transitioning between soulful ballads, Stevie Wonder-ish grooves and pulsating synth-pop, he's all over the map. Funky jazzy atmospheric fun. Here's 'Dead Inside Shuffle', a track from his upcoming album 'Quality Over Opinion' which releases on October 14th.

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

You must also check out 'Let It Happen', another new track of his, the latter half of which would make Brian Wilson proud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQgAN9xRO4

With regards to Steely Dan versus labels, their music is so varied and ambiguous that it defies being pigeonholed into any single genre. It's got R&B, jazz, pop, soul, rock, even some classical inspiration. How do you quantify such a varied combination? I don't even bother trying, I just enjoy the music. First-time listeners will discover their great catalog for decades to come while long-time listeners will always find something new to appreciate.

Date: Fri, September 30, 2022, 04:14:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael - You may have heard of Brit Tom Misch - he's a YT/internet troubadour with his own jazz/pop/hip hop/R&B fusion. Another young buck who deserves more ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUzEYcR2VtM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QLYXPto0w4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEJk2FJJ18c

Here's a nice one with Jordan Rakei:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEJk2FJJ18c

Date: Fri, September 30, 2022, 04:06:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael,

I like that Jordan Rakei song so much I bought the album 5 years ago! ;) haha He's an amazing young talent. He uses some unusual chord progressions. Somewhere in between Stevie Wonder and Prince on those twisting progressions.

Yokacoka oddly reminded me of this track from the very overlooked McDoobie album of the same name.

https://youtu.be/17PmVEPpSWo

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 23:42:12 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

I watched it. I think we've seen variations on the same skit and placement of Steely Dan tracks before. At any rate, these days, Kimmel is my preference.

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 18:59:29 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

I haven't had time to watch the Colbert clip. But I take it I should scrub to just beyond 3 minutes and stay to the end.

Regarding yacht rock, I have no idea how Donald feels about it today. However, back in 2006, Walter and Donald gave a nod to it at the show near Chicago by wearing boat captain's hats. Seems at the time they liked it. That said, overwhelmingly these days, it's usually used to dismiss music that sounds pleasant, outdated, and sort of what probably my generation used to refer to his elevator music. As someone else pointed out, a label doesn't matter because at the end of the day it just matters that we get to listen to a band we love. So in that sense it doesn't matter what other people think. But then comes erroneous judgment from critics and other people who sell Steely Dan short is not being worthy of the accolades, telling jokes, etc. That bothers me because there's so much to Steely Dan and I get a little tired of being compared to Mantovani (really happened).

I'm not sure how Donald feels about yacht rock these days, but Boz Scaggs has his opinion--in case it's behind a pay wall for you, he doesn't like the description, but some of you I guess should write him and tell him to suck it up and get over it:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/boz-scaggs-interview-yacht-rock-blues-silk-degrees-radiohead-760201/

And then there is what I thought was this really great summation by David Bowie guitarist, Reeves Gabrels--same people should tell him to get over it, I guess.

INTERVIEWER: “It’s like the Phil Collins sound. It was amazing when you first heard it. The 97th time it started to get old. “

REEVES GABRELS: “The problem became when people start copying. It’s like Steely Dan. I love Steely Dan; people calling it “yacht rock” piss me off to this day. It was because the people who copied it didn’t have the attitude behind it, or the lyric content. The copycats weren’t rooted in Naked Lunch; they were rooted in pina coladas.”

http://www.guitarmoderne.com/artists/david-torn-and-reeves-gabrels-talk-rerecording-bowie

My gripe is that people keep coming back to this topic. It's been discussed ad infinitum numerous times with nothing new that recycles every three or four months. Give it a rest. And these people with these "bold" opinions aren't bold enough to even leave a real email address when they post.

I respect that more than a couple of you dislike this forum and the fans here--so good stop posting here. There are so many other better forums that could meet your needs and they are not as out of the way. Why waste your time here on fans who are old and humorless as you suggest?

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 18:04:42 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Relax people. The 'yacht rock' label gets slapped wantonly on anything even remotely resembling AOR jazz-pop-rock.

In the end it doesn't matter because we enjoy the music for what it is, not for what it's labeled by others.

I would be remiss if I didn't lighten the mood so here's a keeper by Eric Tagg titled 'All I Can Give'. Simply exquisite. In my opinion he is one of the most underrated vocalists of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6yj3qua7gk

Eric provided guest vocals on several of Lee Ritenour's albums. Here's the awesome 'Mr Briefcase' which was among the very first music videos to air on MTV alongside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8Wrka1QyTE

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 11:48:23 ET
Posted by: Philler, PHI

between Phil and Hoops losing his shit over Yacht Rock, it's been fun to watch all "humorless" stereotypes we heard about Dan fans growing up come absolutely true.

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 11:31:25 ET
Posted by: Dr. Hund , Hanging Valley Wall, CO

Phil, if you would have made it to like 4:25, you could have seen Louis Cato shred some Dan. He’s a fantastic guitar player btw. Sorry, my bad. Should have just posted to go to 3:30 of the clip but you still wouldn’t have liked it. Yes, people love to mock Colbert, Trump, older white men, and even our beloved Steely Dan. Phil, today everything is discriminatory. Everything must go.

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 10:34:01 ET
Posted by: Phil,

So Dr Hund, you want us to be waiting for a bunch of shit. You make us sit through 3:30 of an ageist, discriminatory skit that mocks older white men as well as Steely Dan. Save everybody the time and refuse to give Colbert the clicks: they show an old man described as a "Midwestern dad" who doesn't know how to be an Uber driver. And then after 3 1/2 minutes he turns on the radio and it's playing Steely Dan which is supposed to be funny because we love to mock people for listening to Steely Dan.

Date: Thurs, September 29, 2022, 09:53:56 ET
Posted by: Dr. Hund, Hanging Valley Wall, Colorado

Be patient…..wait for it….

https://youtu.be/Mi3Nghz1xBU

Date: Wed, September 28, 2022, 23:20:34 ET
Posted by: Janie, Gramercy Park

"Down in Tampa the future looked desperate and dark....."

Date: Tues, September 27, 2022, 18:49:09 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Doc, glad you enjoyed it. YGSF are a total throwback to that classic West Coast sound. Over the years I've seen many comments lamenting how nobody makes good music like they used to, but YGSF and several other artists prove otherwise.

Here's an excellent track from UK artists Jordan Rakei titled 'Goodbyes'. Soulful jazz feel, tasty chords and a sublime groove. I'm confident you'll like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py1YlFOpX78

Chicago were one of the more prolific artists from their era. Much as is the case with Steely Dan, there's a treasure trove of good material within their catalog besides the radio staples. Given their pedigree it's hardly surprising that they utilized altered chords and extensions.

There's nothing novel about using stuff like that or what jazz artists dub 'outside notes'. Musicians have been using this stuff for centuries, delving into uncharted territory in search of new textures for expression. What changed over time is how we apply stuff within the contexts of composing and improvisation.

If you dig funky jazz fusion then The New Mastersounds might be up your alley. Here's the track 'Yokacoka' performed live. Good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acAIQ6ZG5OI

I wonder how Donald's solo project is going. Haven't heard anything about it since he mentioned writing 'The Stellar Bartender'.

Date: Mon, September 26, 2022, 12:47:01 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Michael: Thx - Another great YGSF track. They've been drifting forward on Canyons and new tracks to a Jay Graydon/Kool & the Gang/Bobby Caldwell territory. A little more R&B vs. the excellent more "yacht rock" first two albums. AM Waves is a fab album chock full of 1977 hits that never happened.

OK, another love 'em, hate 'em mu chord appearance. TBH, this is the only early 80s Chicago track besides Get Away that I can stand.

Fortunately, Steve Kipner wrote this track and not Cetera and David Foster. The horns even make a jailbreak, unusual on Chicago 17. Bill Champlin sings dual lead vocals, so that helps.

On Hard Habit to Break the mu chord is over "Instead of getting easier"


C Em7
Livin' with out you all a big mistake
Fadd9
Instead of getting any easier,
Dm7-5/Ab
It's the hardest thing to take


Later, they modulate up on the chorus and the add9 = Gbadd9

Of their Foster period stuff, this is the track that works for me (without gagging).

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

This performance did get a Grammy nomination, fwiw.

Date: Fri, September 23, 2022, 10:23:54 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New track titled 'Rolling Back' just dropped from Young Gun Silver Fox. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdko5I6i7Eo

Date: Fri, September 23, 2022, 01:32:15 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

SDV,

Thanks so much. That was a terrific video. It probably would have been a tad better without Fred Kaplan, but it seems like he's the one who put it all together. So thanks to him for that.

Chad looked like he was having a LOT of fun talking to Donald.

I'm tempted to get a decent turntable, as I'm already in the process of upgrading my stereo system.

Date: Thurs, September 22, 2022, 21:25:11 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Ange,

That's just to counteract the front cover. That's the ultimate in class!

Date: Thurs, September 22, 2022, 19:16:37 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

great 3-way interview with Donald just popped up, related to the new vinyl reissue campaign
https://youtu.be/vmrnS6ocCPA

Date: Thurs, September 22, 2022, 18:15:13 ET
Posted by: Ange Cagatz,

In retrospect, how classless is the back cover of CBAT?
All those stains…

Date: Mon, September 19, 2022, 00:18:44 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, The Loge, Row A, almost-but-not-quite dead center

Chris - Thanks for the flashback post. The whole thing was a fun read.

But especially the WB bit from "Hey Nineteen", which I'd somehow forgotten about.

I was there too, that night, and it was every bit as good as you say it was. Really, really good. Easily one of the goodest things I've seen in the last 45+ years.

When they finally finished up with This All Too Mobile Home, I almost shit my pants. I said "almost". I meant that metaphorically.

Although there's a drycleaner on Upper Broadway who might just - even to this day - dispute the "metaphorical" aspect of my claim.

Date: Sun, September 18, 2022, 11:35:38 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

I can't overstate how hyped I was for rarities night and how it met and exceeded my wildest expectations -- especially that encore, wow.

according to my records, it was somehow 11 years ago, making me 23 ... young enough to take a bus from NH just in time for the show, leave on a bus directly after, and not have the whole up-for-24-hours straight-mostly-on-a-bus thing ruin my week.

security at the Beacon was chill back then and let folks crash the front of the stage for the encore. when Fagen said "yeah yeah, we're gonna play what we want!" it was in response dozens of fans yelling requests, but I was close enough that I know he heard me yell "Kulee baba!" (obnoxious, I know, but in my defense I was a model enthusiastic audience member from my seats up until that point.) I didn't know what to expect - Kulee Baba was a pipe dream, another rarity seemed unlikely -- what did they have left? This All Too Mobile Home was a perfect choice in retrospect but it really came out of nowhere and I most definitely lost my shit.

from the cheap seats, it was clear not all of the audience knew what they were getting into, and fun to see where the pockets of hardcore dandom were every time a rarity dropped.

Underrated moment: Becker's Hey 19 rant (paraphrased) - "There are the 3 good things, in the business we call them the 3 Ms - music, money, and mmm mmm ... you guessed right: pussy. [plays blues lick]"

This All Too Mobile Home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij0Tsqn-Z3E

Date: Sat, September 17, 2022, 19:20:25 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Some great times, Don Patrol!

Was going through Dandom Digest and the BlueBook from 10 years ago. These three sum things up.
------
From: hoops at dandom dot com
Subject: NOT a SPOILER: 9/17-NYC: "A Fifth Legendary Show"
Date: Sun, September 18, 2011, 11:09:30 ET

Since Steely Dan started touriong again in the 90s, there have been four legendary shows in my book: the two pairs of Steely Dan shows at Roseland Ballroom in 1995 and 2003. On Saturday night, we had the fifth legendary show, the rarities show at the Beacon.

I have ben stunned since and keep wondering when I think about the show: "Did that really happen?"

What an amazing show. Thank you Donald and Walter.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, September 18, 2011, 11:01:00 ET
From: David Giles
Subject: SPOILER: 9/17-NYC-"Great Show, fantastic energy"

setlist

Your Gold Teeth
Aja
Black Friday
Hey 19
You Got The Bear
Time Out Of Mnd.
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
Jack of Speed (pre-1996 version, vocals by Walter)
Show Biz Kids
Pearl of the Quarter
Bodhisattva
Second Arrangement
Dr Wu
Papa Dont Take No Mess / intros
American Lovers (lead vocals by Catherine Russell)
Josie
Peg
My Old School
Reelin in the Years
Encore: This Mobile Home

Great show, fantastic energy ...

----------------------------------------------------------------
From: Girl Margaret
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:28:33 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SPOILER: 9/17-NYC: Rarities and B-Sides, A Dream Come True!

To write a review of the events of Saturday night any sooner than tonight would have been impossible. I feel as though I have been basking in the afterglow of the most amazing of dreams for the last several days. Was I really there? Did what happen REALLY happen? It was incredible: I was at Beacon Theater, with my Danfriends and family, and hearing songs played live – right in front of me! – that I’d never imagine I’d hear live ever! And all those wonderful people that were there, it must have been a dream! I haven’t seen some of these folks in years, and all of a sudden I’m embracing them once more. There’s my Steely Parents Ed and LWO, my Steely sistahs SueDave and Lady Bayside, my long lost partner in crime Danfiend, and so many wonderful friends who round out my divine Danfamily: Alan, Joe, Hoops, Lisa G, Big Fan, Pete and Shari, and my token Canadian, Randy J Where else but in my wildest dreams could I be sharing the same space with these people and hearing The f 'in Bear?!

Forget The Bear (or has the bear forgotten you?). Let’s start with some of the other songs I’d never thought I’d hear, period. Your Gold Teeth? God, does that song bring back some very fond memories. To be honest, the dream was a little too real when I started hearing some of those old chestnuts being played to me for the 900th time (Hey 19, anyone?), although, to be fair, I have said and meant that as long as SD is playing, I will go see them, even if they’re playing the same twenty songs over and over again. But fer cryin’ out loud, this was the Rarities and B-Sides night! Put those AM Gold hits away and start hitting me with those bolts of lightning.

Before I go any further, I should point out that I was four rows back from Jon Herington, sitting next to my dear friend, Danfiend. We haven’t seen each other in five years, and it was like we never parted company. I’ve been having just as much fun with her at these shows as I was on the 2006 tour. The young’ns ride again!

So the two of us are reacting the same to every song – “Hey 19 is a rarity my ass!” – and begging Donald to please “shock us” with something we would never expect. It started with The Bear (holy $&!, they’re doing The Bear!!!), which I, in my efforts to remain surprised and avoided all spoiler alerts, was completely surprised by (even though I did hear Herington mention it in conversation two nights earlier). As Donald was telling a story to introduce the song, I literally stopped breathing, and had myself so worked up that I caused to have an acid reflux attack and came thisclose to puking in the aisle. It was worth it.

I was beyond stoked to hear Walter sing “Jack of Speed”, because IMHO the 1996 version is the best ever. EVER. However, this disco version certainly blindsided me (“What the hell is this? I can’t follow the beat.”), and even seemed to stump Walter at times. But it was still pretty awesome.

Then we enter into what was one of the greatest moments I’ve ever experienced in my lifetime. In my memory book of Steely Dan concerts, this one will be highlighted and earmarked til my final days. Donald starts talking about Gaucho and the master tapes incident and how this one song was pretty much gone, but hey let’s play it tonight. Cut to me and Danfiend clinging to the edges of our seats, squealing, “Ohmygodthey’regonnaplaySecondArrangement!” And lo and behold, I hear those magical opening notes of The Second Arrangement. The Second f 'in Arrangement! To say I love love love that song is a massive understatement, how does one describe the beauty of such majesty? The tears started welling in my eyes, as I drank in this magical moment, thinking especially of the late Bill Griffin (SpongeBill), who always had a soft spot for that song. I can only hope he was looking down at us that night and singing along. They finish the song, Danfiend and I lose our minds with applause, and Donald mentions that “This next song we get a lot of requests for, but don’t play it a lot, but tonight we’re going to” (Me: Oh god, it’s gonna be Rikki Don’t Lost That Number). And damn, if Donald didn’t hit me again with shock as he played the opening chords of Dr. Wu. DOCTOR F'in WU! Danfiend and I lost it all over again, as we both burst into tears and gave each other a big hug. Seriously, how in the name of Jeff Porcaro do you top hearing The Second Arrangement AND Doctor Wu back to friggin back live by Steely Dan? Answer: You don’t. You can’t! Ok, MAYBE if they pulled me onstage and let me sing with them. But as long as I’m having this magnificent dream, I won’t push my luck.

So the evening of rarities and awesomeness continues with The Embassy Brats(!)--lead vocals by Catherine Russell--performing a song Donald and Walter wrote for Thomas Jefferson Kaye called “American Lover.” Personally, this one was a huge surprise because not only was I not familiar with the song (a rarity for me at a Dan concert, period), but because it was a song D+W wrote for someone else. What’s next, a Jay and the Americans medley (DO IT)? Not my favorite surprise of the evening, but damn if I don’t love Catherine Russell’s voice on lead.

So the evening wears on, they close with “My Old School” and walk off, then I expect them to come back on and play something like “Reelin in the Years”. Thankfully I was proven wrong, as Donald said “We’re gonna do what WE wanna do!” and announced that for their final song, they would end the show like they did back in ’74 and do “This All Too Mobile Home”.

HOLY. FREAKIN'. $j&7.

SERIOUSLY?!?!

Cut to Danfiend and me jumping up and down screaming in the aisle, while I high-fived Big Fan who had the good fortune (or misfortune, you’d have to ask him) to be sitting behind us. Talk about a dream! If they got out the Ouija board and scared up Jeff Porcaro and Jim Hodder that song couldn’t have been any better.

Now let’s be honest for a minute: we all know how we know these songs. Don and Walt know. They’re not stupid. But I did wonder for a moment if it was right to sing along with the unreleased songs, as I have now made it obvious that I’m the owner of one or two (dozen) “special” recordings. Like Walter was gonna stop the song halfway thru and point to us and scream “BUSTED!”

Thankfully he didn’t, and thankfully the best band in the world finally gave in and played some of the songs that we diehards have been fantasizing about hearing live for years and years.

When the house lights came on, I dropped to the floor and declared “You can literally scrape me off the floor now.”

There’s only thing that could have made this show better, and that’s if it was at Roseland Ballroom, so I could stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of my Danfamily and cry and laugh and sing along together. Incidentally, that’s where I was first introduced to most of you exactly 8 years ago.

What truly solidified the fact that this was nothing more than a glamorous dream was that it all happened in a whirlwind. One moment I was saying hello to people I haven’t seen in two years, the next I’m saying goodbye to them. When I awoke the next morning, I felt like Dorothy Gale, waking up back at the farmhouse. “I had the most wonderful dream, and you were there…and you…and you…”

Date: Sat, September 17, 2022, 18:23:22 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Happy Rarities Night Anniversary.✌️

Date: Sat, September 17, 2022, 14:21:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Yeah, I really have to get a new cartridge and needle for my OG Mitsubishi / Yamaha / Boston Acoustics system.

But until my ship comes in...


In the meantime, for those Prefab Sprout fans out there (and you know who you are) this new Death Cab for Cutie album (Asphalt Meadows) - I'm starting to feel it. The chord changes, melodies, rhythm guitar and rhythm section have me feelin' a hybrid of Prefab Sprout ca. Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good and The Cure.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7jZorZeWro&list=OLAK5uy_n9fUojiPCjPQ0Gm2oWxbYLOXJ3f06do8Y&index=5


There are some McAloon-esque figures through the album that I noticed. Then I literally then laughed out loud (nearly a spit take) when Ben Gibbard throws out a Prefab Sprout callout on the 9th track, Wheat Like Waves.

So, DCFC with an arguable "Everything You Did" moment:

Wheat like waves
The Canadian plains were an ocean wide
Flowing to the sky
With Prefab Sprout
Echoing out of your '90s Accord
With the mismatched doors

lol Gibbard must hear - "Hey, you guys sound like Prefab Sprout" quite a bit.

Date: Fri, September 16, 2022, 11:59:50 ET
Posted by: Chris, -

So, the same mastering on both releases?

Date: Fri, September 16, 2022, 11:39:52 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

According to the news release from Acoustic Sounds:
“Additionally, UMe is releasing these same seven titles [CBAT-Gaucho] on 33 1/3 RPM also mastered by Bernie Grundman. Lacquers for UMe's standard 180-gram version will be cut by Alex Brash at his renowned AA Mastering studio from high-resolution digital files of Grundman's new masters and pressed at Precision. They will be housed in reproductions of the original artwork.”

Date: Fri, September 16, 2022, 10:58:33 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Can't Buy A Thrill is getting a 50th anniversary re-release this November. "Standard" 180 g vinyl available now from Steely Dan store and probably other sources. I believe the Steely Dan store is run by Universal release the LPs are filled by Universal. In general, my experience with universal is that they're very slow in terms of shipping, sometimes items not even received a week or two after the release date. I have a feeling this will be in stores as well.

https://steelydanshop.com/products/cant-buy-a-thrill-vinyl-lp

Meanwhile acoustic sounds, through the analog productions division, are releasing all 1970s seven studios titles that originally came out on ABC/MCA. These will be on 180 g vinyl, along with deluxe packaging and most notably at 45 RPM resolution, meaning the 7 to 11 tracks will be spread out over four sides. They're asking a cool $150 for each title. After tax, etc. you're talking over $1000 for all seven. Then again the mastering is by Bernie Gunderson and of course, this is Steely Dan.

https://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=results&artistid=3361&LabelID=507

Date: Thurs, September 15, 2022, 21:06:55 ET
Posted by: Bookkeeper’s Son, Florida

Just logged onto the Blue after being away for a while. Thanks to Hoops for the notification of Joey DeFrancesco’s passing. Had not seen that anywhere. Joey was pure talent to the nth degree. Loved his B3 playing. The Jazz set he did with Van Morrison was amazing. RIP Joey D.

Date: Sat, September 03, 2022, 10:50:44 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Gene!

That Mo Ostin interview was phenomenal. I went and looked up the first half as well. Still need to read the third part about Prince. Of course, I loved reading the few bits about Steely Dan and Gary Katz, but all the rest of it too, just fantastic. Thanks for posting that. Really appreciate it.

Date: Sat, September 03, 2022, 09:01:35 ET
Posted by: Gene, PA

Mo Ostin briefly explaining his strategy in signing SD here.

https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=332393&title=MO-OSTIN:-THE-2017-INTERVIEW-PART-TWO


...But one thing that’s interesting about Steve Ross was that he was so into executive talent that he used to warehouse executives. He hired Bob Pittman before he had a job for him. I borrowed from that when I made a deal with Steely Dan—three albums before their contract expired at ABC. And I did the same thing with Tom Petty—three albums before his time ended with MCA.

Date: Sat, September 03, 2022, 00:15:54 ET
Posted by: The Greater Dandom, Everywhere

Date: Sat, September 03, 2022, 00:13:54 ET
Posted by: From Walter Becker Media mailing,

Live from Slim's, April 1995. Walter performing, "Girl Next Door to the Methadone Clinic"

Missing Walter!

https://www.walterbeckermedia.com/forum/rarities-unreleased/girl-next-door-to-the-methadone-clinic

Date: Fri, September 02, 2022, 21:10:19 ET
Posted by: Geo, N

Former Warner Brothers CEO Mo Ostin died recently. Always wondered what his dealings with SD were in getting them to sign with the label. He was known for being hands on in getting artists on board.

Date: Tues, August 30, 2022, 16:50:20 ET
Posted by: Lucky Henry,

The other night I dreamed that William Shatner did a cover version of "H Gang."

Date: Fri, August 26, 2022, 17:53:21 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Just a reminder to Nicholas and anyone who doesn't know: There is a bug where if you post something to the BlueBook and then it goes to sleep, some browsers will inadvertently repost the same thing when the computer is woken up and the "thank you for posting" screen is on top. I can't even remember when I have last chided someonefor duplicate posts -- it's been years -- because it is a known bug that I regularly housekeep for anyone posts. Regular members of our community know you just let it go and sooner or later the dups go away.

Jim

Date: Fri, August 26, 2022, 11:29:14 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

DimSkip And others: thanks for the heads up on WXPN playing Steely Dan alphabetically yesterday.

Back in the early days of the Dandom Digest, there was always a lot of discussion In a little bit of frustration over how the CD masters were screwed up and they were various stickers and cities like "digitally remastered" and then another one that said "digitally remastered by the artist". We joked that the next MCA would repackage all the Steely Dan tracks, sort the titles alphabetically with Microsoft Word's "sort" command, and then put a sticker on the package , "digitally alphabetized for the first time." So yesterday was a little bit of life imitating satire.

Date: Fri, August 26, 2022, 00:03:02 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Hammond Organ Hall of Famer Joey DeFrancesco has passed away suddenly today at age 51. Joey was well respected in the jazz community and of course opened for Steely Dan on some dates in recent years. In addition to his legendary Hammond organ playing, he also was an accomplice trumpeter and saxophonist. He worked with the likes of everyone from Miles Davis to Ray Charles to Bette Midler to Van Morrison.

This link is to his Wikipedia entry. RIP, Joey.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_DeFrancesco

Date: Thurs, August 25, 2022, 14:10:54 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

One more update after all...

I haven't been able to be glued to the broadcast, but I've heard a lot of it. They mentioned something about a World Cafe Fagen interview (or something) in the 5p hour and stuff that is "Steely Dan-adjacent" in the 6p hour (final hour), mentioning something about other artists somehow connected. Could be a lot of stuff, I suppose. I suspect there won't be any demo or early unofficial stuff, but I have no idea, really. I guess there **could** be some "Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It" stuff, but again... no idea. I also don't know if they'll dip into any B/F solo material from various sources. Stay tuned to find out, I guess...

Date: Thurs, August 25, 2022, 11:16:56 ET
Posted by: a2z, asdf

Thanks for all the updates on this, very cool.

Date: Thurs, August 25, 2022, 10:33:08 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

Last one, I promise... 'XPN on-air personality just mentioned that the SD goes until 7p tonight (that's EDT in Philly).

And yeah, I know we all can listen to these songs (and much more) from our own personal collections, but it's still kind of cool imo just to know they're being played on the old-fashioned radio. Maybe some others will hear and become retro fans.

Date: Thurs, August 25, 2022, 10:12:38 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

10a on 'XPN... Aja. Now playing Almost Gothic...

(Just officially confirming the "A to Y" SD TBT broadcast is under way...)

https://xpn.org/2022/08/21/steely-dan-a-z-tbtxpn/

Date: Thurs, August 25, 2022, 08:16:51 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

OK, folks (if anyone's even out there reading this)... I just put XPN back on and heard an on-air person say (trying to closely paraphrase here...) "If you're just tuning in and wondering where Throwback Thursday is, it normally starts at 6a, but we figured out playing Steely Dan won't take as much time as usual, so we're starting at 10a today."

Note: I have no idea how long it normally runs to. I want to assume it's until midnight, but I probably shouldn't assume.

OK. So now I feel much more confident that they WILL in fact be playing Steely Dan in another hour and forty-five minutes (at time of this posting -- 8:15a Philly time).

Date: Thurs, August 25, 2022, 07:59:13 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

Apologies everyone. Woke up, put WXPN on this morning (around 7:30a)... No Steely Dan playing. Went to the webpage with the article, clicked to listen live... No Steely Dan playing.

So then I reread the short article and where it previously said "starting at 6a," it now says "starting at 10a." (I copy/pasted the info right here the other day, so I **know** I'm not crazy---it **said** 6a!)

Not a good omen. I don't regularly listen to XPN, so I don't know anything firsthand about the station's routine or programming, I was just going by what the article said. And then they went and changed the article. Hopefully it was just a simple typo and subsequent correction and the Dan will begin now at 10a local Philly time (another 2 hours at time of posting this). We'll see...

Date: Mon, August 22, 2022, 09:41:03 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

For WXPN, listen by clicking the play arrow at the very top of the page next to where it IDs WXPN. (Remember, though, Steely Dan throwback Thursday begins Thursday (Duh!), August 25th, at 6a local Philly time.

You should also be able to listen here...
https://onlineradiobox.com/us/wxpn/?cs=us.wxpn&played=1

I'm sure there may be other online listening venues as well... If so, others should feel free to speak up about them. And personally, I don't do phone apps and such, so it'll be up to others to inform about those for WXPN (88.5 FM, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA).

Date: Mon, August 22, 2022, 09:19:11 ET
Posted by: DimSkip, NJ/Philly area

It’s a Steely Dan A-Z on this week’s #TBTXPN
https://xpn.org/2022/08/21/steely-dan-a-z-tbtxpn/

On this week’s Throwback Thursday, you’ll hear nothing but Dan. No, not WXPN Host, Dan Reed… STEELY DAN!

On this week’s Throwback Thursday, you’ll hear nothing but Dan. No, not WXPN Host, Dan Reed… STEELY DAN! It’s Steely Dan A to Z, from “Aja” to “Your Gold Teeth,” and everything in between!

Okay so technically it’s A to Y. Don’t miss hour after hour of Steely Dan in alphabetical order on this week’s Throwback Thursday. Listen starting at 6 a.m. on August 25, and use the hashtag, #TBTXPN on social media.

Date: Sun, August 21, 2022, 16:45:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. It's Happy Hour

Here's a live version of Tuzz's Shadow from the 1993 SD show, in case anyone is interested:

https://youtu.be/mGt8RebOy7Q?t=4225

Date: Sun, August 21, 2022, 14:32:01 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Donald Fagen with Warren Bernhardt piano video:
https://youtu.be/rR6OsrzbHHY

Whenever I hear Bernhardt's "Tuzz's Shadow", I'm transported back to late August/ early September 1993 when this song, as performed by the Steely Dan Orchestra, opened the second set. A wonderful time, made even more wonderful by Warren's music. He will be missed. https://youtu.be/QzPTESRNlBw

Steve Khan offers this beautiful tribute to Warren Bernhardt. Warren had a very long career dating back to the early 1960s. I was a relatively late comer to becoming one of his fans, first becoming aware of his amazing playing during the 1993 Steely Dan tour. Burnhart's "Tuzz's Shadow" was what Donald referred to as the "walking music" that started the second set of the shows 29 years ago. So for a group of us Steely Dan fans, it was the first we became aware of his talent. Donald and Warren also collaborated on an instructional video released in the mid1990s. Even for those of us with minimal piano capabilities, it was very insightful, inspiring, and a lot of fun. I know I bought it on VHS, and then again when it came out on DVD. While I have never met him personally, Warren always exuded a very warm personality  that made him seem like someone you could approach even though he was a musical genius. I would wager that Donald has many find memories of his collaboration with Warren. thanks for the music, Warren. You will be missed.

Link to Steve Kahn's touching tribute to Warren Bernhardt:
http://www.stevekhan.com/tributes.htm?fbclid=IwAR1Sx6OS9gkMVxFLamxkMmvnhjhvYE5THCe-b3YDyigYkPgzfwflZFXBCZ4

Date: Sat, August 20, 2022, 11:54:21 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

according to Facebook, Warren Bernhardt passed away yesterday.

I love his playing throughout Alive In America. A monster pianist with a soft touch.

And I've always enjoyed clips from this instructional tape DF put out, where he very kindly and egolessly plays the role of the audience surrogate, "learning" the forms and progressions of several Steely Dan songs he already knew inside and out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP_2r9zbaIY

Date: Fri, August 19, 2022, 08:51:45 ET
Posted by: Michael,

PREP, a UK band with a soothing blend of synth-pop, lush West Coast harmonies and earworm melodies, is comprised of Tom Havelock (vocals), Llywelyn ap Myrddin (keys), Dan Radclyffe (guitars), and Guillaume Jambel (drums). This song, 'The Kid', is strongly reminiscent of Donald Fagen, like something he might've written in some alternate universe set in the 1980s (although their lyrics don't make as many cryptic references).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMBacJ0AOBI

Incidentally, PREP are more more popular in Asian countries like South Korea than they are in their hometown of London, perhaps due to their strong association with city pop. Have a listen to '15th Floor', another winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faOiQg1BjKk

Speaking of winners, AOR duo Young Gun Silver Fox's new album, titled Ticket To Shangri-La, is set to drop on October 21st. Be sure to check out the first single 'West Side Jet' if you haven't already done so. Soulful and breezy, it goes down smooth, like some long lost hit from the golden era of West Coast pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKTKXA6U_O8

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Date: Mon, August 15, 2022, 19:58:49 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

The latest edition of the Dandom Digest for May 23-August. 15, 2022 emailed out late this afternoon. You should have received it between 5:45 pm and 7 pm ET/NYC Time. ! The latest edition of the Dandom Digest (Vol. 30, No. 8). The previous regular Dandom Digest covered May 13-22, 2022.

As I regularly remind subscribers, some people have problems with delivery of the Dandom Digest, usually because of their spam filters, firewalls, etc. That's why this sort of notice is posted here--so you are aware that you should have received the latest edition. With email filters and spam, what they are today, there can be some issues beyond our control. For example, many work-place email servers reject email that it scans as having a "naughty" word. At any rate, if you don't see it in your in box, let me know by sending an email at jjmckay at me dot com.

If you are not currently a subscriber but would like to receive the free Dandom Digest email newsletter, please email me at jjmckay AT me DOT com or see http://www.dandom.com/dandomdigest/index.html

For the record, the Dandom Digest is a fan newsletter with content written by and for the fans of Steely Dan. The newsletter and its content is independent of, nor to be confused with, the glorious and much more glamorous official newsletters from steelydanofficial com, sdarchive com, walterbecker com, walterbeckermedia com, donaldfagen com and other sites of Steely Dan and associates.

As the Dandom Digest begins its 30th year, thanks to all who contributed to the latest edition of the Dandom Digest, be it through the emailing digest AT dandom DOT com or through posting to our BlueBook guestbook or Facebook page; or tweeting @dandomdotcom.

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

DANDOM DIGEST

MAY 23--AUG 15, 2022
Yr. 30, No. 8

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

IN THIS DANDOM DIGEST

SD's Cover of Joni Mitchell's "Carey"
Linda Hoover on Lost Debut Featuring D+W
Kate Bush, Steely Dan Fan
Sex Pistols Guitarist Prefers Steely Dan
Why Did Steely Dan change their sound?
Controversies About Recent Mobile Fidelity Reissues
Analogue Productions' 2vN & EMG--Plus "Katy Lied"?
Bernie Grundman Talks "Aja" Mastering
YouTube: Peg (Rhythm & Vocals Only)
WB Guitars at Jim Irsay Exhibit at Chicago's Navy Pier
Every Steely Dan Guitar Solo
A Couple of Jeff Baxter Interviews
A List of Jeff Porcaro Highlights
Wayne Robbins on Kamakiriad
Randall & Carlock play on Wendel Tracks
Monkey House Goes to #1!
Monkey House's Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed "Aja" Book
Catherine Russell's "Send For Me" Now on Vinyl Too!
DownBeat Interview: Catherine Russell
OUT NOW! Walt Weiskopf European Quartet Music, More!
COMING SOON! The “Leonhart Brass Band” 7” vinyl
The Leonharts in "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On"
Calling All Current SD Orchestra Members & Alumns

2022 TOUR WRAP UP!
2022 TOUR WRAP UP!
2022 TOUR WRAP UP!
2022 TOUR WRAP UP!

Jon Herington Talks About the '22 Tour
WSJ: Dave Stryker on Steely Dan
SD 2022 Tour Merch Available Online
About the Cap Theatre Set Lists
SETLIST: 8/10—The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, NY
SETLIST: 8/12—The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, NY
SETLIST: 8/13—The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, NY
REVIEW: Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’ Lights up The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester (A Gallery)
REVIEW: The Aquarian: SD + Dave Stryker

Followed by

PRETZEL LOGIC

-------------------------------------------------------------
Date: July 7, 2022
Subject: SD's Cover of Joni Mitchell's "Carey"

Circa 2001-02, Steely Dan recorded a cover of Joni Mitchell's 'Carey' for the Joni Mitchell tribute album, "A Case of Joni". It was reportedly recorded over a period of six days (an astonishingly short time for Steely Dan). However, Becker and Fagen's cover was cut from the album, along with others. The album was eventually released in 2007 as "A Tribute to Joni Mitchell".

Fast forward to July 7, 2022: Radio host Steve Acri of Pittsburgh Freeform radio uncovered the unreleased tune and played it on air.

Here'e the track:
https://youtu.be/rX00i3PKTrk

Here's the full Steve Acri Radio show with reveal:
https://www.mixcloud.com/PittsburghFreeFormRadio/steve-acri-freeform-show-19-772022/

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Scott S.
Date: August 8 2022 at 9:54 PM
Subject: Linda Hoover on Lost Debut Featuring D+W

From Peter Jone's Interview with Linda Hoover in "The Guardian":

Excerpts:

"I was on the high of highs, and suddenly it was over."

"At the age of 71, singer-songwriter Hoover is finally releasing her debut album – 50 years after she made it. She explains how Becker and Fagen lent a hand to a must-have record for Dan fans..."

Few wannabe pop stars release their debut album at the age of 71, especially one that was recorded more than half a century earlier. But Linda Hoover’s I Mean to Shine is no ordinary album. Not only does the backing group feature three future members of Steely Dan– Donald Fagen, Walter Becker and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – it also includes five Becker-Fagen songs, all of them little-known and one of them never previously heard.

Full story from "The Guardian":
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/07/linda-hoover-on-her-great-lost-lp-with-steely-dan-i-mean-to-shine

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Date: June 15, 2022
Subject: Kate Bush, Steely Dan Fan

With revived attention given to Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," it has also come to my attention that Kate is a big Steely Dan fan. Going back to December 31, 1980. Kate Bush talks about Steely Dan. Here's some quotes from a neat article where she talks about various influences, including of course Steely Dan:

“I think they're very underestimated. They're the most incredible musicians. This is it. They are here -- a musician's band. I mean, all the musicians in this country just rave about them technically, and as songwriters. But you know, they're not really played on the radio, but they're just incredible. (Paul Gambaccini, BBC Radio 1, 31 December 1980)"

"For me, each album got better, and I wish they hadn't split up. (Kate Bush Club, issue 16)”.

https://www.musicmusingsandsuch.com/musicmusingsandsuch/2020/11/26/feature-from-the-starman-to-steely-dan-the-artists-who-have-influenced-kate-bush

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Subject: Sex Pistols Guitarist Prefers Steely Dan
Date: June 2022

Sex Pistols Guitarist Prefers Steely Dan to His Own Band
“I’m f-cking tired of it, to be honest with you.”
https://www.vulture.com/2022/06/sex-pistols-steve-jones-prefers-steely-dan.html

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rich Kurlantzick
Date: June 25, 2022
Subject: Why Did Steely Dan change their sound?

Rick Beato responds to the question: "Why Did Steely Dan change their sound?"

Rick: "The simple answer is because they got clearer about what they wanted and how to achieve it over time.

Continues...
https://youtu.be/TxaxHYxnY9o

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Controversies About Recent Mobile Fidelity Reissues

Washington Post Article:
How a Phoenix record store owner set the audiophile world on fire
MoFi claimed its expensive reissues were purely analog reproductions. It had been deceiving its customer base for years.

“Not that you can’t make good records with digital, but it just isn’t as natural as when you use the original tape,” says Bernie Grundman, 78, the mastering engineer who worked on the original recordings of Steely Dan’s “Aja,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic.”

https://tinyurl.com/FullD1g1tal180LP

My reaction: Since it only impacts releases in recent years, "The Nightfly" is the only MoFi title that might be impacted. However, since "The Nightfly" was one of the earliest, full digital recordings, I'm not sure how --if at all --this impacts the MoFi version of "The Nightfly" that you may have purchased about five years ago for $100 and is now worth on average about $300. However, as I'm understanding this, it may mean a technical difference for those MoFi recordings released in the past decade or so that were originally recorded an analog.  The idea is that the original analog tapes for other albums were used to make "One Step" copies on vinyl. 

At any rate, according to past discussions in the Dandom Digest, as well as sibling Dandom forums, the MoFi version of "the Nightfly" is considered one of the best versions on vinyl out there.

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Subject: Analogue Productions' 2vN & EMG--Plus "Katy Lied"?

In related news. couple of months ago saw the re-release of high-quality 45 rpm versions of "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go." However, these were done by Acoustic Sounds' Analougue Productions (AP). They were not done by MoFi. Word in the Steve Hoffman discussion forum is that Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions has "Katy Lied" next on their release list.

To order the AP versions of 2vN and EMG, head to: https://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=results&searchtext=steely+dan

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Bernie Grundman Talks "Aja" Mastering
From: Matt Channen
Date: August 7 at 12:22 PM ·

Wanted to share an interview between Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions and Bernie Grundman on some of BG's masterings from over the decades. Very interesting conversation. He specifically talks about Aja at about the 9:10 and 14:40 marks as well as the two new live albums.

Bernie was also the mastering engineer behind the Northeast Corridor, The Nightfly Live, as well as the recent Analogue Productions 45RPM of Everything Must Go. Very possible that he'd be the mastering engineer for AP if they end up remastering the remaining titles.

https://youtu.be/-ZurO8d4Jx0

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Scott Gray
Date: August 11, 2022 at 8:37 AM
Subject: YouTube: Peg (Rhythm & Vocals Only)·

Wow! Such a great groove. Nice to hear these isolated parts.

Steely Dan - Peg (Rhythm & Vocals)
The drums, bass, and vocals from Steely Dan's 'Peg'. Donald Fagen- vocals Michael McD

https://youtu.be/koqV9g5Dwe0

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Danny Rigoni
Date: August 2, 2022
Subject: WB Guitars at Jim Irsay Exhibit at Chicago's Navy Pier

I checked out the Jim Irsay Collection exhibit here in Chicago at Navy Pier . The highlight was seeing Walter’s iconic green Hahn and his Becon and Day Seniorita. The Hahn was one of the most talked about guitars in the 2019 auction. When it sold for such a large sum ($68,750), I had a feeling Irsay bought it. The guitar seemed like was one of the more popular ones on display, and a lot of people around me seems happy to see it and had admiration for Walter and Steely Dan. It’s exciting to see the legacy of his music live on.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Every Steely Dan Guitar Solo

YouTube Video (Most?) Every Steely Dan Guitar Solo
https://youtu.be/1TaLz9UmWdo

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Date; August 9, 2022
Subject: A Couple of Jeff Baxter Interviews

A couple of interviews with Jeff Baxter in support of his recent release, "Speed of Heat."

First, an interview from "Guitar World." Most interesting part to me is his comments about Danny Dias.

GUITARIST: "We touched on the Steely Dan years. What did you think of Denny Dias’s playing in that period?

JEFF BAXTER: “Well, I love Denny’s playing. And, for me, being a scientist and tech head, I thought his approach to guitar was somewhat empirical. I really liked that. It was like he was studying it constantly. And observing it and then executing. With heart. I mean, you have to… (continues)

https://www.guitarworld.com/features/jeff-skunk-baxter-speed-of-heat

And then there is this interview from "Glide":

Jeff Baxter Talks A Lifetime Of Being Skunk, Working In Steely Dan, That Moustache & Guitar Technology
https://glidemagazine.com/278122/jeff-baxter-talks-a-lifetime-of-being-skunk-working-in-steely-dan-that-moustache-guitar-technology-interview

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim McKay
Subject: A List of Jeff Porcaro Highlights
Date: August 7, 2022 at 6:08 AM ·

Not always crazy about these sorts of lists, but this list of Jeff Porcaro highlights have some interesting tidbits. A nice point of departure for discussion.

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-jeff-porcaro-songs/

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Amy Eyre Acers
Date: July 28 at 5:10 PM ·
Subject: Wayne Robbins on Kamakiriad

For your consideration:

WAYNEROBINS49.SUBSTACK.COM
On Donald Fagen's Kamakiriad:
The Small Consolations of the Florida Room, 1993

Donald Fagen's second solo album, Kamakiriad in 1993, more than a decade following the lauded The Nightfly in 1982) is a concept album. No, really, it really is a concept album, spelled out in the liner notes/lyric sheet to the Reprise Records CD. There are eight "related" songs, and Fagen tells us what they are about:

"The literal action takes place a few years in the future, near the millennium. In the first song...(Continues)

https://waynerobins49.substack.com/p/on-donald-fagens-kamakiriad?s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Randall & Carlock play on Wendel Tracks

Wendel is working on a new album featuring the contributions of Steely Dan associates past (Elliott Randall), now (Keith Carlock), and even (Nate McAdams), as well as alumns of Cory Wong & The Wongnotes. Mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and Metropolis Studios in London. Some interesting stuff.

Full details are at https://qrates.com/projects/27329-these-times

Wendel - These Times (with Keith Carlock on drums)
https://youtu.be/Pcd6QBWH6P0

Wendel - I Would Be King (with Keith Carlock on drums)
https://youtu.be/_ltMl4zfCVc

Wendel - Rolling Stony (with Elliott Randall on Guitar)
https://youtu.be/ZP5bhCbS_jI

SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5x2uZmkQ3rhzacAIHJsbkX?si=ew_b-_eVS8-odb-7NmSReg

Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/jp/artist/wendel/1537666021?l=en

Website: wendel.jp

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/wendelmusic

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Monkey House Goes to #1!

#1 on iTunes Jazz Chart during its debut week!

REMEMBER THE AUDIO

OUT NOW: The New Album From Monkey House
Featuring Michael Leonhart, Drew Zingg, Randy Brecker, Lucy Woodward, David Blamires, Guido Basso and many more!

BUY IT! DOWNLOAD IT! STREAM IT! REQUEST IT!

GET IT TODAY! An Appeal to YOU From the Dandom Digest
Having a big first week is essential to the continued global success of Monkey House, and *pre-orders* (physical and digital) all count toward the Week 1 total. Vote with your dollar—here are the relevant links to REMEMBER THE AUDIO. And be sure to tell your local jazz radio station to play it! If the Amazon store isn't your jam, there should be other options in your territory. Thank you from the Dandom Digest, as well as Don Breithaupt and Monkey House.

CD ORDER
https://www.amazon.com/Remember-Audio-Monkey-House/dp/B09ZYQ2XYZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BMQQOICM46IV&keywords=monkey+house&qid=1654295488&s=music&sprefix=monkey+house%2Cpopular%2C156&sr=1-1

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/remember-the-audio/1622910747?itsct=music_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1&app=itunes

STREAM
https://monkeyhouse.lnk.tt/RTAPR

WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY SAYING about REMEMBER THE AUDIO
"Monkey House, led by Don Breithaupt, a Canadian composer / arranger / keyboard player / singer and author of Steely Dan's research book Aja, completed the long-awaited album for the first time in three years. A masterpiece that shows the highest finish ever, which can be said to be more than the acclaimed previous work Friday (2019). Guest musicians are also gorgeous every time. Must-listen for all AOR fans! " --CD Japan

"It's hard to imagine Monkey House topping their amazing last album, Friday, but Monkey House excels and succeeds with Remember the Audio." --Dandom Digest

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Monkey House's Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed "Aja" Book

ALSO FROM DON BREITHAUPT of MONKEY HOUSE…

Don Breithaupt Talks "Aja" with "Sound Logic"
Don Breithaupt talks "Aja" with the "Sound Logic" guys in Toronto. Don is, of course, a mastermind behind the music of Monkey House as well as an acclaimed expert on "Aja," most notably his 33-1/3 book on "Aja,"

The "Sound Logic" episode is over an hour long and available on numerous podcast and streaming platforms. Even seasoned Steely Dan fans will hear a few new things.

Here's the link: https://anchor.fm/soundlogic/episodes/63-Aja-by-Steely-Dan-with-our-Special-Guest--Don-Breithaupt-e1fauuu

Buy Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed 33 1/3 book, "Aja"
The definitive book...features conversations between Don Breithaupt and Donald Fagen on Steely Dan's landmark album.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0826427839/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_NBJE25YDFYKZR8Q3E3YA

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Catherine Russell's "Send For Me" Now on Vinyl Too!

Catherine Russell's latest, "Send For Me" keeps topping all the major jazz charts.

And now it's available on vinyl!

https://dottimerecords.bandcamp.com/album/send-for-me

Buy the album and see what the buzz is all about. And if you are lucky enough, be sure to catch Catherine at one of her upcoming shows near you.

Here's hoping this is the album that does trick and gives Catherine the Grammy she has so richly deserved all these years.

OFFICIAL VIDEOS of TRACKS FROM "SEND FOR ME"

"At The Swing Cats Ball"
https://youtu.be/jvIew8xZQe0

"Make It Last"
https://jazztimes.com/audio-video/premieres/jt-video-premiere-make-it-last-by-catherine-russell/

“Blue and Sentimental”
https://www.jazziz.com/joel-ross-simona-smirnova-more-new-release-cheat-sheet/

LIVE PERFORMANCES

See https://www.catherinerussell.net/tour for a full list of many tour dates over the coming weeks and months.

SOME INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Classic jazz revitalized in new release by Catherine Russell

by Avery Jeffry
CapRadio (California State University, Sacramento Public Radio)
Thursday, May 12, 2022
http://www.capradio.org/music/jazz/2022/05/12/classic-jazz-revitalized-in-new-release-by-catherine-russell/

'All About Jazz" on "Send For Me"
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/march-2022-sent-for-me-catherine-russell

ROCHESTERFIRST.COM
1-on-1 with Catherine Russell: Jazz singer, Rochester favorite
with Dan Gross
https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/features/1-on-1-with-catherine-russell-jazz-singer-rochester-favorite

CATHERINE RUSSELL ON NPR TINYDESK
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/11/1076098017/catherine-russell-tiny-desk-home-concert

Pretty much her entire CATalogue including her latest, the Grammy-nominated
"Alone Together"
Buy at: http://www.catherinerussell.net/listen.php

There's a lot more...check out http://www.catherinerussll.net

Links to all of Catherine's social media channels can be found at the bottom of the page at http://www.catherinerussell.net ; Her Facebook artist page, https://www.facebook.com/catherinerussellmusic ; and her official Twitter feed, https://twitter.com/crussellsinger

------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael Eldridge
Date: May 31`, 2022
Subject: DownBeat Interview: Catherine Russell

Awesome interview with Catherine Russell posted on DownBeat.com:
https://downbeat.com/news/detail/catherine-russell-an-artist-prepares

------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: OUT NOW! Walt Weiskopf European Quartet Music, More!

Tenor Saxophonist Walt Weiskopf Reconvenes His Celebrated European Quartet On 'Diamonds And Other Jewels,' OUT NOW!

Waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic, tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf and his European Quartet return with a vengeance on Diamonds and Other Jewels, set for an August 19 release on AMM Records. A collection of Weiskopf originals (and one standard), it demonstrates the powerful chemistry Weiskopf shares with pianist Carl Winther, bassist Andreas Lang, and drummer Anders Mogensen—matched by their audible relish at being back together.

The album is the sixth release by the acclaimed quartet, assembled

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/tenor-saxophonist-walt-weiskopf-reconvenes-his-celebrated-european-quartet-on-diamonds-and-other-jewels-arriving-august-19-on-amm-records

"Other Jewels" is the first tune from from the WWEQ new release is now out!
https://weiskopf.lnk.to/jewels

Other Walt Weiskopf News

"Introspection, V, 2.0," more
Walt Weiskopf European Quartet announces v. 2.0 of their most recent release, "Introspection." Featuring six additional tracks, the new version is out now.

New Walt Weiskopf Master Class Video
https://www.mymusicmasterclass.com/premiumvideos/walt-weiskopf-jazz-standards-lesson-exploring-invitation/

Walt's website, including links to all of his social media outlets can be found at https://waltweiskopf.com

--------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: COMING SOON! The “Leonhart Brass Band” 7” vinyl

Michael reports on his Facebook page:

The debut release of the
“Leonhart Brass Band”!

Coming out on limited edition 7” vinyl on #mightyeyerecords (dist. by Fat Beats
Release date will be in the next 8-12 weeks.

“Snake Oil" is the. A side and is viewable at Michael's Facebook page.

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Danny Rigoni
Date: August 5 at 10:36 AM ·
Subject: The Leonharts in "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On"

Had the chance to see the movie "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" at Chicago's Musicbox Theatre. It is an entertaining and heartwarming quasi-childrens animated mockumentarty. Michael Leonhart performs the “shell/pasta horn” scores in the movie, his wife Jamie voices Marcel’s family, and it was also nice to see their son Milo in the “special thanks” section.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Calling All Current SD Orchestra Members & Alumns

The Dandom Digest would like to support your new album release by sending a special edition of the Dandom Digest. The Dandom Digest wants to do its part to help get the word out about your labor of love. The Dandom Digest goes to approximately 1,750 hardcore Steely Dan fans. Email jjmckay at me.com for info when the release is approaching. Thank you!

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

2022 TOUR WRAP UP!
2022 TOUR WRAP UP!
2022 TOUR WRAP UP!
2022 TOUR WRAP UP!

-------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thurs, June 02, 2022, 00:00:52 ET
From: Bob, JGT Podcast
Subject: Jon Herington Talks About the '22 Tour

Jon Herington Talks About The Current Steely Dan Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xy35CMKq0

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael Eldridge
Date: June 21, 2022
Subject; WSJ: Dave Stryker on Steely Dan
·
WSJ music writer Marc Myers interviews Dave Stryker on his "Jazz Wax" blog:

JW: Excited about opening for Steely Dan’s upcoming tour? How did that come about?

DS: Of course. I’ve been a fan of Steely Dan for a long time. In fact, I heard them open for the Frank Zappa Big Band in Lincoln, Neb., in around 1975. My early bands used to play some of their music. Aja is one of my favorite albums. Donald Fagen’s manager reached out a few years ago and we opened for them at the Beacon Theatre in New York. Recently, Donald asked his manager to get in touch with me to open their tour this summer in the Northeast. We’re looking forward.

https://www.jazzwax.com/2022/06/interview-dave-stryker-as-we-are.html

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: SD 2022 Tour Merch Available Online

Maybe you weren't able to buy that shirt at the show. Maybe you weren't able. to get to a show--how sad!

You can buy merch from the most recent tours here at the official Steely Dan shop.

My fav was the Steely Dan 2022 blue tie-dye shirt; there was a lot of love for the "Bodhisattva" shirt as well.

Whatever is left is here...and then some.

https://steelydanshop.com

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: About the Cap Theatre Set Lists

The Cap set lists are transcribed from photos of the band members' actual set list sheets as posted to Facebook. For the record, on rare occasion a track might be omitted from these set lists, but by all reports, all songs for each particular night in the three set lists that follow were played.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: SETLIST: 8/10—The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, NY

Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

AJA NIGHT

1. Black Cow
2. Aja
3. Deacon Blues

(Turn over record)

4. Peg
5. Home At Last
6. I Got The News
7. Josie

8, Night By Night
9. Hey Nineteen
10. Black Friday
11. Dirty Work (sung by the Danettes)
12. Bodhisattva

13. That Same Old Feeling (Crusaders cover, with band intros)

14. Pretzel Logic
15. My Old School

Encore:
16. Reelin' In The Years

Outro:
17. A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry
-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: SETLIST: 8/12—The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, NY

Friday, August 12, 2022
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

THE ROYAL SCAM NIGHT

1. Kid Charlemagne
2. The Caves of Altimira
3. Don't Take Me Alive
4. Sign In Stranger
5. The Fez

(Turn over record)

6. Green Earrings
7. Haitian Divorce
8. Everything You Did
9. Royal Scam

10. Hey Nineteen
11. Aja
12. Green Flower Street
13. Pretzel Logic

14. Keep That Same Old Feeling (Crusaders cover, with band intros)

15. Peg
16. My Old School

Encore:
17. Reelin' In The Years

Outro:
18. A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry
-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: SETLIST: 8/13—The Capitol Theatre, Port Washington, NY

Saturday, August 13, 2022
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

1. Phantom Raiders (Stanley Wilson cover, Intro)
2. Night By Night
3. Hey Nineteen
4. Aja
5. Kid Charlemagne
6. Home At Last
7. Any Major Dude
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Things I Miss the Most
10. Black Friday
11. Dirty Work (sung by the Danettes)
12. Bodhisattva

13. That Same Old Feeling (Crusaders cover, with band intros)

14. Peg
15. My Old School

Encore:
16. Reelin' In The Years

Outro:
17. A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry

-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: REVIEW: Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’ Lights up The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester (A Gallery)
Date: August 11, 2022

Last night at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., Steely Dan brought their Earth After Hours tour to the esteemed Westchester County venue. The show began with a run-through of the band’s sixth studio album, Aja, performed from start to finish. Then they worked through other material, including a cover of... (continues--Be sure to check out the great photos as well.)

https://relix.com/news/detail/steely-dans-aja-lights-up-the-capitol-theatre-in-port-chester-a-gallery

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rich Kurlantzick
Date: July 19, 2022
Subject: REVIEW: The Aquarian: SD + Dave Stryker

Dave Stryker posted this on his feed. The author is my cousin Mike Greenblatt, and we watched our 8th (and best) Steely Dan show together, this time 3rd row, directly in front of Stryker, then directly in front of Jon, Adam, Roger, Walt, Michael & Jim as SD blew the roof off at Bethel Woods. What a beautiful evening.

https://www.theaquarian.com/2022/07/19/rant-n-roll-steely-dan-the-dave-stryker-trio-at-bethel-woods-center-for-the-arts-july-3-2022

-------------------------------------------------------------
PRETZEL LOGIC

"We'll walk between the raindrops
Between the raindrops
Walk between the raindrops back to your door"

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

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

Walter Becker
1950 - 2017

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

END OF DIGEST

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

Date: Mon, August 15, 2022, 16:20:00 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

JD in Denmark:

I transcribed these from photos of the band's setlists that were posted to the BlueBook's sister Facebook page. Thanks for your interest.

Jim

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

Wednesday, August 10, 2022
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

AJA NIGHT

1. Black Cow
2. Aja
3. Deacon Blues

(Turn over record)

4. Peg
5. Home At Last
6. I Got The News
7. Josie

8, Night By Night
9. Hey Nineteen
10. Black Friday
11. Dirty Work (sung by the Danettes)
12. Bodhisattva

13. That Same Old Feeling (Crusaders cover, with band intros)

14. Pretzel Logic
15. My Old School

Encore:
16. Reelin' In The Years

Outro:
17. A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry

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

Friday, August 12, 2022
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

THE ROYAL SCAM NIGHT

1. Kid Charlemagne
2. The Caves of Altimira
3. Don't Take Me Alive
4. Sign In Stranger
5. The Fez

(Turn over record)

6. Green Earrings
7. Haitian Divorce
8. Everything You Did
9. Royal Scam

10. Hey Nineteen
11. Aja
12. Green Flower Street
13. Pretzel Logic

14. Keep That Same Old Feeling (Crusaders cover, with band intros)

15. Peg
16. My Old School

Encore:
17. Reelin' In The Years

Outro:
18. A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry

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

Saturday, August 13, 2022
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, NY

1. Phantom Raiders (Stanley Wilson cover, Intro)
2. Night By Night
3. Hey Nineteen
4. Aja
5. Kid Charlemagne
6. Home At Last
7. Any Major Dude
8. Time Out of Mind
9. Things I Miss the Most
10. Black Friday
11. Dirty Work (sung by the Danettes)
12. Bodhisattva

13. That Same Old Feeling (Crusaders cover, with band intros)

14. Peg
15. My Old School

Encore:
16. Reelin' In The Years

Outro:
17. A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry

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

Date: Mon, August 15, 2022, 14:14:11 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

The Leonid cover was pretty faithful to the original. Even the vocals were't horrible, as I find most are in these covers.

But to me, these types of covers to be mostly uninteresting. I prefer when the covers bring a little bit of the artist's interpretation to the mix.

Date: Mon, August 15, 2022, 04:58:58 ET
Posted by: JD, Denmark

Any setlist or report from final night in Capitol theatre?

Date: Mon, August 15, 2022, 00:26:45 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Another link for the Leonid cover:

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=522591132520932

Date: Mon, August 15, 2022, 00:25:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Leonid and pals take a gander at My Old School.

As faithful as you'd expect from a band that often covers Chicago down to the note.

https://fb.watch/eVw-AnbqIv/

Date: Sat, August 13, 2022, 11:51:30 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thanks, Dave. I'll be sure to check it out.

For those who may not use Apple as their podcast source, here's a link with several alternatives:

https://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2021/10/14/gary-katz-this-weeks-podcast/

Date: Sat, August 13, 2022, 01:06:03 ET
Posted by: Dave (from acquisitions) , Philadelphia

I apologize if this was already brought up last year but I being a huge fan, somehow missed it and so I’m thinking that perhaps others did as well. As we know, Gary Katz hasn’t done many interviews/podcasts so it’s always interesting to hear his take on things even if his memory isn’t perfectly sharp on all of the details (and don’t get me wrong I’m certainly not blaming him, this stuff happened 50 years ago and I can’t remember what I did yesterday). So if anyone missed it like I did, here’s his recent podcast appearance. There’s nothing really groundbreaking here but there’s a few interesting anecdotes thrown in.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gary-katz/id1316200737?i=1000538563389

Date: Fri, August 12, 2022, 18:47:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Ah, the Millenials are coming around. Wait until they realize that SD is an R&B/jazz band instead of a rock band...

Steve: Yes, nothing sounds as good as the Cadd9/A and I Remember That...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VurhK2kos&list=PLP59Fs_hB7C3ipokeQc-69xtshnaPlURf&index=3


Then Stevie Wonder showed up one day in the studio...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3D-tJf9u7M&list=PLP59Fs_hB7C3ipokeQc-69xtshnaPlURf&index=5

Date: Fri, August 12, 2022, 18:19:20 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Hoop - Agreed. Listen to the first 1:10 of Heart to Heart and you can almost hear Michael McDonald singing it. That part of the song could have easily fitted seemlessly on Minute by Minute or the criminally underrated Livin' on the Fault Line. Chinatown and the title track from LOTFL have a very Steely influence and the band was buying in as MM and Skunk played off each other. I enjoyed the DB live performances of the period where Skunk would sit on his padded stool!


Speaking of Steely influenced, SD and Monkey House fans might want to tune into the new one from Young Gun Silver Fox called Ticket to Shangri-La. There are early 2 tracks out on YT: West Side Jet and Winners. Both are excellent R&B fusion - Kool and the Gang meets Boz Scaggs and Bobby Caldwell. Got a sneak peak of another track and it's even more SD centric. Dropping on 10/21.

Date: Thurs, August 11, 2022, 09:34:09 ET
Posted by: Elgin Koan, DeaconBlues

I received the following essay on SD via an email from NPR MUSIC Newsletter, to which I subscribe. Since it doesn't seem to reside anywhere on line, only in the inbox of subscribers, I'm sharing w/you all. btw, last night Aja + "the rest of the usual crap" (quote DF) at Capitol Theatre was superb.

July 16, 2022

by Marissa Lorusso
This week, we’re sharing a reconsideration of the divisive yet beloved Steely Dan

My brother and I have always shared a taste in music – mostly. He’s five years my junior, and since our teen years, the majority of our conversations have been littered with album recommendations, band names our parents find confounding and debates about the best Mountain Goats records and Harry Styles singles.

But he has had one musical obsession that I just could not comprehend: Steely Dan. I think his fascination, which began a few years ago, started out ironic — Wouldn’t it be funny if a millennial fan of My Chemical Romance and Metallica got really into dad rock? But it quickly turned earnest, and he went fully down the rabbit hole. Before long, he had opinions about Steely Dan’s most underrated B-sides, its most overrated hits and the best stories from the Aja recording sessions. Though I tried, I never felt particularly moved by the band’s stories of gamblers and hipsters, nor what I considered its loungey, sleazy sound. But when he told me the band would be playing in our home state this summer, I gave in to a sense of sisterly duty and reluctantly agreed to go see the show with him.

My brother’s obsession reminds me of an experience critic Lindsay Zoladz described in the New York Times a couple years ago. Zoladz grew up despising Steely Dan, whom her father adored. “As a kid, the noodly, pristine sounds of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen signified nothing so much as my dad exerting oppressive control over the car stereo,” she writes. But in her 30s, she found herself queuing up Pretzel Logic over and over and, eventually, she had to admit it: “My Steely Dan phase was not an aberration,” she writes, “but an inevitable if long-resisted final frontier of my musical taste.”

Apparently, Zoladz is not alone. When we arrived at the Steely Dan concert, my brother wondered aloud if he’d be the youngest person there. He wasn’t. The crowd included tons of baby boomers who may have been fans since Can’t Buy A Thrill was originally released in 1972 — but also a good number of 20- and 30-somethings on journeys similar to the one Zoladz described. Their ranks included at least one on-site convert – despite myself, I found the performance thrilling. The setlist was stacked; the band was tight; there were an absurd number of virtuosic solos. Donald Fagen, the sole remaining founding member of the band, seemed genuinely delighted by the crowd’s enthusiasm. I hadn’t realized just how many hits the band has and how many songs I’d recognize, nor had I accounted for how good it would feel to be among a crowd crooning “I’m a fool to do your dirty work” in unison. Nor had I accounted for the joy it would bring me to witness the sheer force of my brother’s enthusiasm throughout the show. By the end of the night, I was in. On the ride home, we listened to The Royal Scam — my brother’s favorite of the group’s records — and I had to admit: I, too, had become a Steely Dan fan.

When I mentioned the experience to my coworkers, the response was … mixed, befitting the band’s divisive status. At least one person gave a visible thumbs down over Zoom, but others rushed to welcome me to the fandom and were delighted to tell me about their love for Steely Dan. All Songs Considered’s Robin Hilton told me he’s always been impressed with the band’s songcraft and session musicians. But more than anything, he said, “it’s all about the lyrics. Sometimes cryptic (‘This is the day of the expanding man / The shape is my shade there where I used to stand’); often comical (‘California tumbles into the sea / That’ll be the day I go back to Annandale’) but always brilliant, never too on-the-nose. What’s wrong with people who don’t like this band?”

Tom Huizenga, our classical critic, agrees. As a high school student in the late ’70s, he liked the band so much that he “taught a seminar in Steely Dan,” he told me. “I believe that a lot of the words flew over my fellow students’ heads,” he said, “but we had fun trying to figure out what the band was trying to pull off.” I’ve been giving myself a mini-seminar ever since the concert, slowly working my way through Steely Dan’s discography. I was also reminded that in 2019, the website Pitchfork celebrated Steely Dan Day, publishing long, thoughtful essays about five of the band’s albums, so I’ve been playing catchup on those, too.

Alt.Latino’s Felix Contreras was overjoyed to tell me about his Steely Dan fandom, too: “For me,” he said, “Steely Dan was a pretty basic rock outfit with a nerdy aesthetic and killer guitar solos (‘My Old School’) that stood out amongst the larger than life bombast of the Brothers bands (Allman and Doobie), blues drenched white dudes (The Rolling Stones and J. Geils) and the tight pants, self-indulgent glam rock bands (T. Rex, New York Dolls) — not that any of that was a bad thing.” But what makes the band great, he added, was that rather than sticking to a shtick, Steely Dan “evolved into a band that brought in jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter to play one of the most memorable solos of his storied career” (that would be “Aja,” of course) — “with nerdy lyrics.”

“It always makes me smile when someone younger eventually feels that light go off in their own musical world,” he told me. “Welcome to the Nerd Club, Marissa.”

I’m glad to be here. And I’m curious: Is there an artist you’ve changed your mind on — or who you’ve come to love through the sheer enthusiasm of someone in your life? I’d love to hear about it. You can let us know by replying via the link at the bottom of this email.

Date: Wed, August 10, 2022, 12:10:06 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

A few days late, but caught the show in CT Sunday. My only other show this tour was Mansfield and I felt this one was better. Fagen's voice was in full force - the week off did him good - and while he mentioned the heat he seemed to have better energy altogether. The venue was also a factor for me - much smaller, about 5k seats. Since they started spoiling Boston area fans with multi-night runs in theaters the big shed shows just don't have the right vibes for me anymore.

Number one factor for me was Adam Rodgers, who I felt might have been holding back a little in Mansfield and was a little hard to hear at times. Maybe it was the mix improving (he was much more audible) but I also felt he seemed more comfortable all around and took more chances. To my ears he sounded a lot more like himself.

The set felt a little short, and was indeed one song shorter than shows earlier in the tour. I guess that's the trend with Steely Dan shows these days, or maybe an adjustment made for the insane heat we've been dealing with all summer. (All the more reason to get back in the theaters IMO..)

Date: Sat, August 06, 2022, 00:29:03 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thanks for the WaPo article, Hoops. Very interesting. Kudos to Esposito for exposing the fraud (And yes, that is what it was). And rotten tomatoes to Michael Fremer, for trying to cover up said fraud. But mostly for being a seemingly pompous asshole.

Truth and transparency is the enemy of the marketing department.

Date: Fri, August 05, 2022, 17:30:33 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Since "The Nightfly" was one of the earliest, full digital recordings, I'm not sure how --if at all --this impacts the MoFi version of "The Nightfly" that you may have purchased about five years ago for $100, and it's not worth on average about $300. However, as I'm understanding this, it may mean a technical difference for those MoFi recordings released in the past decade or so that were originally recorded an analog. The idea is that the original analog tapes for other albums were used to make "One step" copies on vinyl.

At any rate, according to past discussions in this forum and it's related social media forums, The MoFi version of "the Nightfly" is considered one of the best versions out there on vinyl.

Here's the article from the WaPo; it is behind a firewall, but I'm using my subscription's special "gift" feature so you should be able to use the special link to view the whole thing.

And a quote from the article…

“Not that you can’t make good records with digital, but it just isn’t as natural as when you use the original tape,” says Bernie Grundman, 78, the mastering engineer who worked on the original recordings of Steely Dan’s “Aja,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic.”

https://wapo.st/3vLgLVw

Date: Fri, August 05, 2022, 08:26:12 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

I'm looking forward to the day when we reverently say, "Meet if you will, the Nobel Prize-winnng Dr. M/O/D/P." We'll be way deep into, well, something.

Date: Fri, August 05, 2022, 05:16:53 ET
Posted by: Steve M, Scotland

Paddy McAloon famously chipped into the Springsteen debate some 37 years ago!

Brucie dreams life's a highway....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEJdfDD4dVg

Date: Thurs, August 04, 2022, 20:32:41 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Once a small part of a Goodly Contingent myself, long ago

And believe me when I tell you that Those Were The Days, My Friend Nicholas Urfe.

And you know I was "there", just once, long ago, because you've read my previous reports of that fateful day here on The Blue. Oh, I was there, in that massive, echo-y football stadium. A football stadium filled to overcapacity with howling, bleating, caterwauling lunch-pail-toting, foaming-at-the-mouth Springsteen fans.

And far be it from me to offer a correction here, especially a correction - even a gentle, respectful one - of such an esteemed Bloobook contributor as the esteemed Mr. Urfe. Or, even more potentially egregious, I'm actually posting this bit after having read Hoops' thoughtful/even-keeled pro-Bruce contribution from an hour or so ago.

But for the life of me I don't recall any of those poor lost souls barking about wanting to "boogie". Of course, it's possible that that's what they *wanted*​ to do with their four plus hours of concert time, back then, but the demented/devoted concertgoers I remember from that unfortunate day in Summer 1984 were so overcome by their collective emotional incontinence that forming a complete sentence like, "Boogie, boogie, we want to boogie" would in all likelihood have been completely beyond their collective grasp. So strong was the fervency, so overpowering was the crowd's overall state of non-compos mentis, that all that would come out - all that COULD come out - was a thunderous communal roar...the surname of the crowd's Object Of Adoration..."SPRINGSTEEN!!!!!". Think "Krakatoa Eruption", but fractionally louder.

And, of course, the non-stop lunch-bucket banging. Don't forget that part. I know never will.



If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy my latest academic offering - Dp, Mo (2022) Beating It To Death: The Subtle Art Of Incessant Repetition In Ridicule-Based Arena Rock-Star Mockery (University Of Science Press, New York 979pp). Available wherever you normally purchase your academic publications. Of course.

Date: Thurs, August 04, 2022, 19:22:06 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Doc Mu: didn't realize that about "Heart to Heart." I like the Michael McDonald influenced part a lot better than a Kenny Loggins/David Foster refrain. Cool information. Thanks.

Date: Thurs, August 04, 2022, 19:04:14 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

I've never seen Bruce Springsteen in concert but would like to see him once. I definitely would be there for the hits, especially those from the 70s and early 80s. I super enjoyed the album he came out with about three years ago, "Western Stars." Cindy Mizelle is on that one. I would say it's my favorite Bruce album, but I also understand from most Springsteen fans that it's very atypical, and therefore not very popular among his hard-core fans. But I thought it was brilliant. Came off as a very interesting tribute to the likes of Jimmy Webb, Glen Campbell and Uni Records-era Neil Diamond, but much better. But the only way I would go is if the tickets were definitely under $100 apiece. In the past couple years, Bruce Springsteen has done a podcast or radio show where he spun some of his favorites. One of those tunes was "Through With Buzz." (That's old news to long timers here.)

Date: Thurs, August 04, 2022, 10:45:56 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

M/O/D/P, you know that I love a Springsteen dustup as much as anybody - heck, more than most - and not to quibble, but I don't think they all holler "SPRINGSTEEN!!" A goodly contingent of them are yelling, "boogie, boogie, we want to boogie."

http://sdarchive.com/aiahowl.html

(This post is really just a shabby excuse to post the above link for the umpteenth time, becasue no matter how many times you read it, it never gets old.)

Date: Wed, August 03, 2022, 12:44:40 ET
Posted by: Fred,

M/OD/P: The $5500 Springsteen tickets only cost one of your balls; not the pair.

Date: Wed, August 03, 2022, 11:44:08 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Incredulous, but in an "I-find-it-hard-to-believe" sort of way!

Speaking of things that are definitely NOT Absolutely Normal...or even remotely acceptable...

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-aud-nw-nyt-bruce-springsteen-tickets-20220802-vabh2jc4obbhzl44t3o4fqxmea-story.html

I found this Chicago Tribune "news story" somewhat accidentally when I was looking for info about the recent SD cancellations. Believe me, the last thing I was looking for was info about Springsteen tickets. But there it was...good lord...

Springsteen seats selling for a reported $5500.00? Is that per ticket or per pair? Does it even matter??

I mean, what does this make the unsold tickets for any remaining SD shows worth? Double that amount? TRIPLE?? And what kind of sick, twisted individuals would actually pay $5500.00 for ANY concert tickets, let alone tickets that would require one to sit through a 4-hour+ Springsteen performance??

Four plus hours of having your ears assaulted with song after crude soundalike song referencing girls, cars, girls in back seats of cars, and New Jersey. For $5500.00. An all-new 30-minute marathon/extended version of "Born To Run In The USA"...for $5500.00. Sitting in a cavernous basketball arena beside your chatty new Boss Friends as they howl & puke along to each clone tune, and as they holler "SPRINGSTEEN!!" almost constantly while rattling their lunch-buckets in time to every goddamned "musical offering". For $5500.00.

The world has indeed become a very dark, sick, depraved & degenerated place.

Date: Tues, August 02, 2022, 14:49:44 ET
Posted by: Bob, Le Ponge

Also, this tour is Earth After Hours, not Absolutely Normal.

Date: Tues, August 02, 2022, 11:50:41 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

For what it's worth, tickets are still currently on sale for the rest of the tour. The email from Live Nation may have just been poorly worded, using the name of the event.

Date: Sat, July 30, 2022, 13:13:19 ET
Posted by: Lonnie's Playroom, Orlando

FYI I got two emails. The one from LiveNation said: "Steely Dan - The Absolutely Normal Tour Has Been Canceled." The second was from the venue itself and merely said "Steely Dan Cancelled." I just assumed that LiveNation would know before putting an email like that out. Never assume anything, though?

Date: Thurs, July 28, 2022, 23:49:11 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

That sucks. But best of luck and health to the entire band.

Is the entire tour cancelled? I don't see that on their site, but I haven't done an extensive search.

So glad I got to see them in Atlanta with the Puppy.

Sending good vibes to the band, and fans, and hoping you get to see them this year.

Date: Thurs, July 28, 2022, 17:24:12 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Lonnie's Playroom:

First, I'm sorry you must be disappointed if your show was canceled. That sucks.

I've heard nothing about Donald himself having Covid.

Simply my opinion based on some other social media. A topic of discussion in our sister Facebook forum this past weekend was how Keith was drumming a whole show with a mask on. It was never confirmed whether he had Covid or not, but it sure is one hell of a way to have to mask for two hours, physical exertion playing drums like that. Michael reported on his social media a few weeks ago that he had Covid and for one show he was actually in a booth backstage playing trumpet with the mic wired out to him. I think they can eek out a show missing one of the backup singers or maybe one of the horn players; or maybe not. Maybe they could even limp along with just Adam on guitar. But if Keith, Freddie, three are all the horn players, or all the back up girls have Covid, I don't think they can have a show. I can't see even the most talented drummer coming in. I think there would have to be some rehearsal time to get things glued together. Also, the trumpet players are certainly blowing a lot of air for obvious reasons. If a couple of those people had it, there's probability that they are blowing covid it all over the place. Just my two cents, not as an infectious disease expert or anything like that. I could see if enough band members, even if it wasn't Donald, were sick they would not go on with the show. Hopefully in a week, they'll be back up and running. But sorry to the Florida people had to wait two years only to have the shows canceled. Just how things are these days

Date: Thurs, July 28, 2022, 16:47:38 ET
Posted by: Lonnie's Playroom, Orlando

Weird to read that DF was in fine form just a couple days ago in Tampa. The entire tour has been cancelled. I've got front row seats for both Orlando shows Aug. 1 AND Aug. 2. This is the absolute pits. I wonder what's going on? Is DF ill? Anybody know?

Date: Wed, July 27, 2022, 17:26:06 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Another episode of mu-like chords in strange places, or really not so strange. You love him, you hate him: "yacht rocker" and film composer extraordinaire Kenny Loggins. As you might guess, we'll focus on one of his collaborations with Michael McDonald.

Evidently, Loggins and David Foster had written the chorus for Heart to Heart and were looking for a verse. MM provided IMO an iconic gospel intro with really cool modulation and chord progression, transitioning into the verse that he wrote with some help from Loggins. Near the end of the intro MM throws in a cool chord voicing that's dub a turbo Mu...demonstrating how that apprenticeship with Steely Dan on the road and studio paid off...again. A G7add13, instead of the add2, blending nicely with the seventh, ninth, 13th chords. really cook progression and voicings - my favorite part of the song.

Great chord progression in the verse that leads back to the G, G7add13 figure again.

MM added some nice maj7 modulation in the last line of the pre-chorus

The best thing about the chorus is when it transitions back to the turbo Mu vamp.

The bridge, likely co-written by MM has inserted sus4 and sus2 chords and a more traditional Cadd9 mu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MLxCgyo0uA


This Is It (another MM, KL collab) is almost as snappy although Loggins over-earnest vocals can be annoying.




A lot of what is allegedly YR is jazzed up R&B from MM, SD, some Jay Graydon produced stuff is really R&B. I've never thought of it as mainstream rock...or rock for yuppies...

Date: Mon, July 25, 2022, 14:06:11 ET
Posted by: Folky, Newport

Welcome back Joni!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53amY2stAbk
And all was right in the world. For a short time at least.

Date: Sun, July 24, 2022, 00:14:34 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

When Christmas Eve happened 7 months ago, my wife got me the one gift that just could not be topped. Tickets for us to see "Steely Dan' this time at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.
As many of you know they played 2 nights there. I attended night 2 tonight (Saturday) and was completely blown away. "Night by Night" the opener was incredibly good. Beyond delighted to hear "Rikki" and "Any Major Dude" plus enjoyed rarer tunes like "Green Flower Street", "Godwacker and "Babylon Sisters".
Mr. Fagen was in particularly fine form tonight. He sounded great and had more enthusiasm than on any of the 7 or 8 shows I had seen him play on previously. The band was phenomenal as always.
I can't praise this show enough !!!

Date: Thurs, July 21, 2022, 07:21:56 ET
Posted by: DonB, Toronto

Thanks, all! Always great when your music lands on the right ears.

For anyone in greater Toronto: Monkey House is headlining the Sun Life Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival on Saturday!

N.B. I like when Drew Z calls me "maestro"...

Date: Sun, July 17, 2022, 15:18:34 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

York

Date: Sun, July 17, 2022, 01:17:15 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Sounds great. New Rok Owes You Nothing, Major Minor, Ever since the World ended are standouts. Zingg's solo on Remember the Audio is fantastic and the minor key keyboard stabs reminiscent of Walter's stuff..

Chicago also released an album the same day. Don B. wrote a song with new lead singer Neil Donnell for the Christmas album...not sure about this one?

Robert Lamm's songs on their new one, like on Now, are some of the better tunes. At least the horns were let out of jail for their last 3 studio albums (if we include the Christmas album). Don't expect anything like the Kath era, but better than the David Foster ****.

Date: Sat, July 16, 2022, 12:02:01 ET
Posted by: hoops,

And here's the link to the new lyric video for the title track of Monkey House's new album, "Remember the Audio". Check it out now! Share with your friends.

https://youtu.be/joPlPVtnMxg

Date: Fri, July 15, 2022, 23:16:39 ET
Posted by: hoops,

@insidemusicast talks to musical giants like Larry Carlton, Bob James, Marcus Miller and Steve Gadd; AND THIS WEEK DON BREITHAUPT of MONKEY HOUSE! Here's their chat about the new @MonkeyHouseBand album "Remember the Audio" (OUT NOW!):
https://www.insidemusicast.com/musicasts/2022/11/07-don-breithaupt-monkey-house

Date: Fri, July 15, 2022, 17:11:46 ET
Posted by: Josey, Mass

Major Minor is groove infectious! Love the half time shuffle!

Date: Fri, July 15, 2022, 16:59:00 ET
Posted by: Josey, Mass

Midway through my second listening on the new Monkey House - NICELY DONE, DON!! Sounds great and definitely recommended!

Date: Fri, July 15, 2022, 12:51:10 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

#1 on iTunes Jazz Chart!

REMEMBER THE AUDIO

OUT TODAY: The New Album From Monkey House

Featuring Michael Leonhart, Drew Zingg, Randy Brecker, Lucy Woodward, David Blamires, Guido Basso and many more!

BUY IT! DOWNLOAD IT! STREAM IT! REQUEST IT!

GET IT TODAY! An Appeal to YOU From the Dandom Digest

Having a big first week is essential to the continued global success of Monkey House, and *pre-orders* (physical and digital) all count toward the Week 1 total. Vote with your dollar—here are the relevant links to REMEMBER THE AUDIO. And be sure to tell your local jazz radio station to play it! If the Amazon store isn't your jam, there should be other options in your territory. Thank you from the Dandom Digest, as well as Don Breithaupt and Monkey House.

CD ORDER
https://www.amazon.com/Remember-Audio-Monkey-House/dp/B09ZYQ2XYZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BMQQOICM46IV&keywords=monkey+house&qid=1654295488&s=music&sprefix=monkey+house%2Cpopular%2C156&sr=1-1

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/remember-the-audio/1622910747?itsct=music_box_link&itscg=30200&ls=1&app=itunes

STREAM
https://monkeyhouse.lnk.tt/RTAPR

--------

WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY SAYING about REMEMBER THE AUDIO

"Monkey House, led by Don Breithaupt, a Canadian composer / arranger / keyboard player / singer and author of Steely Dan's research book Aja, completed the long-awaited album for the first time in three years. A masterpiece that shows the highest finish ever, which can be said to be more than the acclaimed previous work Friday (2019). Guest musicians are also gorgeous every time. Must-listen for all AOR fans! " --CD Japan

"It's hard to imagine Monkey House topping their amazing last album, Friday, but Monkey House excels and succeeds with Remember the Audio." --Dandom Digest

--------

ALSO FROM DON BREITHAUPT of MONKEY HOUSE…

Don Breithaupt Talks "Aja" with "Sound Logic"
Don Breithaupt talks "Aja" with the "Sound Logic" guys in Toronto. Don is, of course, a mastermind behind the music of Monkey House as well as an acclaimed expert on "Aja," most notably his 33-1/3 book on "Aja,"

The "Sound Logic" episode is over an hour long and available on numerous podcast and streaming platforms. Even seasoned Steely Dan fans will hear a few new things.

Here's the link: https://anchor.fm/soundlogic/episodes/63-Aja-by-Steely-Dan-with-our-Special-Guest--Don-Breithaupt-e1fauuu

Buy Don Breithaupt's Acclaimed 33 1/3 book, "Aja"
The definitive book...features conversations between Don Breithaupt and Donald Fagen on Steely Dan's landmark album.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0826427839/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_NBJE25YDFYKZR8Q3E3YA

--30--