Conference mr1pst::music

    Earlier in 1991 there were some articles in EQ Magazine by Roger
    Nichols, Fagen (and Becker's) engineer, talking in agonizing detail
    how Donald demanded that the drum hits and percussion sounds be timed 
    down to the millisecond, and the technology Nichols used to accomplish
    this.  In the same time it took Fagen to do one piece, Walter Becker 
    recorded two complete albums.
    
    No WONDER it takes him 9 years between albums.
    
    karl

> Walter Becker 
>    recorded two complete albums.

	What two albums?

	Mike

    
    WBOS( in Boston) has been playing cuts off the Donald Fagin album
    for the past couple of months, so I assume it's in the stores.
    Unfortunately, I  don't remember the name of the record.
    
    					Jimbert

It's the "New York Rock and Soul Revue", which perversely was in
the "N" bins rather than under Fagen or Steely Dan for the first
couple of weeks it was out.  There are only a few Dan and Fagen
songs on the album.  I'd sure like to hear them live, but what
I've heard on the radio hasn't convinced me to go out and get
the album yet.

That's the live album, of course.  I don't know anything about
Walter Becker solo albums, though I know he has produced several
other artists' albums over the past few years.

    For anyone who might be interested, Walter Becker produced a couple
    of albums for Steely Dan wannabes China Crisis--I like the one I
    have, "Flaunt The Imperfection"; have not heard (and don't remember
    the title of) the other.  Walter is also reportedly involved in the
    Donald Fagen work-in-progress (the REAL Donald Fagen album), which--
    if we're lucky--probably won't see the light of day until this time
    next year.  Donald himself is only just now more open and forthcoming
    with regard to his activities because of the recent release of "New
    York Rock And Soul Revue"; according to a recent LOS ANGELES TIMES
    interview with Richard Cromelin, Walter Becker was always less acces-
    sible and not that amenable with the press, so any other reports as
    to the likelihood of a Dan reunion will most assuredly NOT be coming
    from him.  
    
    Also, Becker did producing duties on a new album by trumpeter Jeff
    Beal (with "The Immortal" Roger Nichols acting as engineer), called
    "Objects In The Mirror."  This is, I guess, designed to indulge Wal-
    ter's jazz sensibilities--though there's more than a touch of "new
    age" to it.  From the little sampling I've heard, the best tracks 
    are "A Different Shade Of Blue" (nearly scuttled by his weak vocals)
    and "Improvisation 2".  Not a highly emphatic recommendation, however,
    but a "caveat emptor"--use your discretion; as the saying goes,
    "your mileage may vary."
    
    FWIW, I know of at least one producing effort done by Jeff Baxter:
    The ever-popular eponymous debut for a group called Sneaker, who
    is currently languishing in one-hit-wonder purgatory.  Their less-
    than-fifteen minutes-of-fame came from a minor ballad ("More Than
    Just The Two Of Us") that spent a nanosecond on the Top 40 Charts
    circa 1982.  They did, however, manage a quite respectable cover
    of an obscure Becker/Fagen composition called "Don't Let Me In"
    (found on "Donald Fagen And Walter Becker:  The Early Years"),
    which IMO, slightly eclipses F&B's own version.
    
    I am myself mad about the live version of "Green Flower Street"
    on "Revue"; I think it's HOT!!!
    
    
    Sylvia
    

    
    Donald Fagen was on National Public Radio's Fresh Air yesterday,
    talking about where Steely Dan came from, why it's taken him so
    friggin' long between albums, things like that.
    
    There was no mention (in the part of the interview I heard) of a Steely
    Dan reunion, although it seems to me anything Becker and Fagen do
    together could be classified a Steely Dan reunion.  After all,
    everything else about the band was sort of variable.
    
    DFW

    >Donald Fagen was on National Public Radio's Fresh Air yesterday,
    >talking about where Steely Dan came from, why it's taken him so
    >friggin' long between albums, things like that.
    
    OK, so why has it taken him so friggin' long?
    
    						Brian

    
    One reason being that he suffered from writer's block for about 5
    years in the early eighties.  He said he had to go off and do something
    different to allow the creative juices to start flowing again. 
    
     One of the things he talked about was why Steely Dan never toured 
    very much.  They'd hired an individual to be the front man/singer
    for the band, but the personal nature of their songs got lost in 
    the translation, so they decided that either Walter or Donald was
    going to have to pick up the responsibility.
    
     Because he had slightly better pitch, Donald Fagen was elected as
    the main vocalist and front man for the band.  Being that he had no
    formal voice training, he found it difficult to sing for periods of 
    a couple of hours in competition with the live music, and felt 
    extremely uncomfortable in the role of being the front man. This is 
    why they stopped touring.  
    
     Another interesting bit was the fact that both he and Becker were 
    musicians in Jay and The Americans backup band in the early 70's.
    
    It was a pretty interesting interview IMO.
    
    - Larry

      "Why does it take himn so long ?" was addressed in part in reply .1
    
    karl

    
    	believe it or not they actually played the kenmore club many years
    back. A friend of mine used to be in the Ultimate Spinach(version 2)
    with Jeff Baxter and got to hang out. As i recall, he did not find
    Fagan to be very friendly.
    
    	bob

    
    Who cares how many years between albums...?  It's what's on them
    that counts.  I've been a Steely Dan/Donald Fagen fan
    from the beginning (no, that's ELP 8)).  I have no complaints...
    yes I do...  the CD release of Katy Lied sounds like trash, but
    other than that I'm very pleased.  Oh yeah, one more moan,  the
    fact that FM was only released on Decade and a 45.
    	
    You know how you go through your old LPs every once in a while and
    pull something out that you haven't heard in ages?  While you're
    queing it up you're thinking, "Wow, this was a great tune... real 
    tight and a full sound."  When you finally let it spin it sounds
    like a garage band or the percussion track sounds like someone's
    beating on a paper bag...?  This _doesn't_  happen with Steely Dan.
    Whether it's Larry Carlton's clean guitar licks or Don's unique vocals,
    it always sounds good.
    
    Tim 

re:< Note 81.11 by CUPMK::T_THEO "It's OK, I'm with the band." >

>    Oh yeah, one more moan,  the
>    fact that FM was only released on Decade and a 45.

Is Decade a recently-released "greatest hits" package, a la "Gold"?

Anyway, "FM" can also be found on the soundtrack to the movie "FM".  I was
lucky enough to find a new copy of this in a record store in NYC.  That made me
feel good since I have every Steely Dan album but hesitated on buying "Gold"
just for the tune "FM".  Incidentally, the FM soundtrack has the main part of
"FM" in the beginning plus the reprise at the end, which I doubt "Gold" has. 
Plus, it has a great soundtrack.  Lots of hits from that era (1978).  The Linda
Rondstadt concert footage from the movie is excellent, too (what a doll!).

adam

    
    I was just wondering if I have a rarity, or if other "Dan-ers" have
    this:  Some time ago I picked up an EP 45 (can't quite recall the name
    they gave it, although it is at home...) that had Haitian Divorce, 
    Do It Again, and two other cuts that I never heard of before - "Sail The 
    Waterway" and "Bye-Bye Dallas."
    
    Has anyone heard of those two cuts before?
    
    /bb/

    
    Actually the new version of 'Gold' (on cd) has the 'extended' version
    of 'FM' (that has the sax-solo) - so I assume this is the version found
    on the soundtrack (but not 'Decade').
    
    Also the new version of 'Gold' has a live version of 'Bonsiattra'
    (spelling?) that is from an '74 concert at a place called "the record
    plant" - does anyone know anything about this concert - there is a
    bootleg of the concert (that I may or may not have) that has ten live
    tracks of pretty good sound quality.
    
    will

    that's 'Bhodisattva'.. in Buddhism, one of the stages of enlightenment,
    which makes the lyrics pretty funny..
    
    Actually I'd like to mention that I really appreciate the interesting
    twists and situations that SD write about.. like a teenager in the 50's
    having a party in his parent's bomb shelter.. like a 30+ male trying to
    relate to a 19-year-old.. like the birth of Jazz.. like.. wow.
    
    karl

    Or a tale about Owsley.  Far out, man.
    
    						Brian

    ..or about an old druggie friend showing up and wanting to crash..
    
    karl

    Re .12 [Adam]
    
    I'm pretty sure Gold came out after Decade, but the latter is a
    compilation of (some of SD's) hits.
    
            Steely Dan - A Decade Of [ADD] MCA
    
              - FM                             - Black Friday
              - Babylon Sisters                - Deacon Blues
    Re .15 [Karl]>>>  - Bodhisattva            - Hey 19
              - Do It Again                    - Peg
              - Rikki Don't Lose That Number   - Reelin' In The Years
              - East St Louis Toodle Oo        - Kid Charlemagne
              - My Old School                  - Bad Sneakers
    
    
    Tim     
    

    
    Who/what is Owsley?
    
    will

    RE:  .19
    
    I, too, would be curious about Owsley--this appears to be yet more
    Dan material that somehow slipped past me unawares.
    
    One nit:  For the previous noter who waxed rhapsodic about the subject
    matter of past Dan songs--the teenager having a party in the family
    bomb shelter during the 50's was actually just a Donald Fagen song
    ("New Frontier") rather than a Dan song, but I agree...not only the
    subject matter, but the wry-yet-wistful lyrics were always a kick.
    
    And for anyone else that's interested, there are FOUR additional tracks
    on the "new" version of "Gold":  "FM," a live "Bodhisattva," a track
    called "True Companion" and "Century's End," from the "Bright Lights,
    Big City" soundtrack.  And like the die-hard Dan fan that I am, I
    went and bought it.  NOW I feel like my Dan collection is complete,
    having now purchased all seven SD releases, plus Donald Fagen's "The
    Nightfly."
    
    Life is good...
    
    
    Sylvia
    
    

    Owsley (forget his full name) was a fellow who made himself a lot of
    money manufacturing LSD out in California until he got busted.  I don't
    know if Fagen and Becker ever confirmed it, but the general opinion is
    that "Kid Charlemagne" was in part based on him.
    
    He was a patron of the Grateful Dead and provided the seed money for
    the Alembic company which built sound gear and instruments for the Dead
    (and continues to this day to make state-of-the-art basses and guitars
    for huge $$$).  Seems to me he also got the engineering credits for the
    "Old and In the Way" record.
    
    BTW, the new version of "Gold" also has "Here at the Western World"
    (don't recall anyone mentioning that yet).
    
    							Brian

    Augustus Stanley Owsley III.  After he broke with the Dead (after he
    broke with Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters of 'Electric Kool-Aid Acid
    Test' fame), he backed a three-piece band called Blue Cheer, whose
    album 'Vincebus Eruptum' was a... milestone.  He also had a brand of
    LSD called Blue Cheer.. dunno which came first.
    
    re -2 : Yes, Sylvia, I later remembered that the tune about the teens
    partying in the bomb shelter is on the Nightfly.
    
    Hoping Santa treats you all kindly,
    
    karl in non-snowy Tucson AZ

    
    I have also heard that the Canadian version of the new "Gold" cd has
    four more tracks than the domestic version - if anyone knows what they
    are...
    
    will

    
    	and i taught sailing to the man who became his east coast
    distributor.  Has really been that long since he was a well known
    figure of our times?
    
    	bob(feeling_very_old_suddenly)

    I guess everyone knows that Becker/Fagen will be appearing together in
    the NY Rock and Soul Revue at Great Woods in August, along with Boz
    Scaggs and Phoebe Snow and Michael MAcDonald.   This is probably as
    close to a Steely Dan reunion as we're likely to see.
    
    -Brian

    
    Arrrgh!  I can't afford another concert this summer!
    
    Are the tickets already on sale?
    
    DFW

    Tickets went on sale for the show about a week and a half ago. You may
    still want to give them a call.
    
    Frank

    
    I bought tix the day they went on sale, but in the afternoon.  Not a 
    whole lot left under the pavillion (wanted to be under it for this
    show given the type of music involved).  The agent acted like sales
    were pretty brisk for this.
    
    One thing's for sure:  I am PSYCHED for this show!
    
    - Sean

    
    Wow!!!!
    
    This was truly one of the best concerts I have ever seen.  The place
    was packed, the night was perfect, and the Rock and Soul Revue was
    HOT!
    
    It was a good variety of music - bluesy to mellow to jazzy to rock -
    with a lot of different musicians.  There was a horn section, 3 key-
    boards (a B3!), 2 guitarists, backup singers, and spotlights on 
    some of the guest musicians - Boz Scaggs, Michael MacDonald, and
    Phoebe Snow, Chuck Jackson.  Pheobe really amazed me!  But the best
    part was....
    
    The DAN tunes!  Black Friday, Josie, My Old School, Deacon Blues!
    Man, it was nice to see these two guys together again.  I haven't
    been able to even listen to any music since the show because this
    concert keeps running through my head.
    
    Hats off to the sound men, too, they were right on they money.
    In deference to U2, Clapton, & Springsteen, THIS was the show of
    the summer.
    
    - Sean

I second everything said in .29, particularly:

>>> I haven't
>>> been able to even listen to any music since the show because this
>>> concert keeps running through my head.

I thought Deacon Blues was one of the best live performances of a song 
that I've ever heard.

BTW, one of the encores was Pretzel Logic.

Barry

    WOW. what a show!
    
    	'My old School' was the climax of the concert for me!  That horn
    section had thier SHIT together! Perfect arrangements! I thought the
    drummer was kinda, well, too straightforward, boom BAH boom BAH type.
    Not much dynamics at all. Even at that, he didn't detract from the show
    all that much. Got to meet Sylvia Bass, Ron Ross, and Tom Derochers
    (sp?). That was great too. 
    	I was trying to see if Edd Cote was ripping sod from the lawn
    during 'Deacon Blues' ....8^)  8^)
    
    Frank

    
    	Hi Frank!!  "My Old School" was my highlight too!!  And trust
    	me, Edd's eyes glazed over at the first chord ;^)
    
    	As great as most of it was, I really felt alot of the other
    	stuff was pretty generic (unfortunately).  To me, it was almost
    	like seeing Steely Dan do a GB gig!!  Especially that guy (?)
    	who came out and did a few 50's type songs.  Weird.
    
    	The Herald noted that the crowd was far more enthusiastic during
    	the SD tunes and that hopefully F&B will get the hint and do it
    	right the next time.
    
    	That guitarist was really tasty, yes??
    
    	Great show - Tom
    
    
    	

    Not to sidetrack, but..what did Boz do?
    

    
    	Lowdown, an oldie or two (not by him), and guitar all night.
    	He even played a few leads.  The folks I was with liked
    	Mike McDonald better - I liked Boz's vocals.  To my ears,
    	much more "soul".
    
    

    
    I disagree about the other tunes.  Yeah, we were all there to see
    the Dan, but I enjoyed parts of the other numbers very much.  In
    particular, I thought "Tossin' and Turnin' All Night" really cranked
    with Pheobe on vocals.
    
    I agree with the comment about the drummer.  I even said something
    at the time about him being not right for the type of music.  This
    was exmplefied during his drum solo (bad idea).  Luckily the rest
    of the band more than made up for it.
    
    I would pay 200 bucks to see this again...
    
    - Sean

    I have to add my 2 cents as well, this was one great concert!!  It kind
    of felt like a Las Vega's revue at times but who cares, the music was
    great.  As was mentioned before Pheobe Snow's "Tossin and Turning" got
    the crowd up on there feet and it was kick butt from there on out.  It
    surprised me that Fagen was such a hot ticket.  He was dancing and
    talking up a storm throughout the concert.  The guitarist out of NY was
    really hot as well.
    
    A once in a lifetime concert,
    
    			Bart

	I heard that Donald Fegan will release a new album in May.
Has anyone else heard this news..............

Jon

    God, I hope so !!! ~12 years between albums is a bit much I'd say!!
    
    Frank (from the foot of Mt. Balzone)

	Hey 'Dan fans,

		According to the latest Keyboard mag, the 'Steely Dan Reunion'
will begin touring this comming August !!!! 

------YA HOOOOOOOOO!

Hoops McCann

    
    Great Horny Toads!  A reason to pay attention to the Great Woods
    schedule!
    
    DFW

    
    ...just in case you thought you had - or at least *knew* - all the
    albums they ever made: Becker and Fagen also did the soundtrack for 
    the Richard Pryor movie `You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It' (1970), 
    a "...cheapo disaster that ran for just two weeks in Manhattan" (quote
    from the booklet). The soundtrack was recorded by Spark Records and is
    now available on CD from See For Miles Records Ltd (England; order
    number SEECD 357). Weird music, but recommended - especially if you
    have this silly urge for completeness :-)
    
    -maarten.
    
                                

There was a brief article in a recent issue of Vanity Fair (March or April '93)
containing a 'tongue in chic' interview with DF.  It mentioned the new album
(which was elsewhere rumored to have been produced by WB) and the plans for
an upcoming Steely Dan tour to start in August (I think).  I'll try to
retrieve it and post the results here unless some reader out there has
a copy handy and can save me the trouble.

    August 20, Great Woods.

    
    Are there tickets available...?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    
    Tim

    Not yet. No date listed.
    
    

    
    I WILL be first in line...  count on it.
    
    Tim

Where is "Great Woods" and what are the normal channels for obtaining
tickets to events therein?

Oh, BTW, I believe the title of DF's new album is "Kalikariad" (sic) and is
scheduled to be released in May sometime.

    
�   I WILL be first in line...  count on it.
    
    Just as long as its not the Northboro Tickmaster - *I'll* be first in
    line there!
    
    Woo Hoo!!  This is totally psycho news!  I thought the R&S Revue would
    be my only live taste of this band.  Please please please have Jeff
    "Skunk" Baxter playing, too!
    
    - Sean 

    "Kamakiriad", Fagen's second solo release, hit the stores yesterday.
    
    It's another concept album. Eight songs all related to a theme, similar
    to "The Nightfly". This time however, rather than a retropect of
    growing up in Eisenhower's '50s, Donald treats us to a vision of the
    future. The album relates the adventures of picking up a new car (A
    steam powered Kamakiri, with a hydroponic garden and fresh brewed
    decaf) and setting out on a journey thru the northeast USA. (Included 
    is a bit of map showing such reknowned locations as Elmira, Worcester
    and Nashua...)
    
    Musically, I find the album to closer to "Gaucho" than "The Nightfly",
    possibly because of Becker's production and/or bass/guitar playing. The
    sound is "bigger"; more session men, more backup vocals.
    
    The first single to be released, "Tomorrow's Girls" is a cool
    syncopated number owing a string debt to "Daddy Don't Live..." for it's
    rhythm.
    
    My personal fave, "Florida Room" is a catchy piece with a 70's retro-
    disco feel, undoubtedly due to the use of the open hi-hat on all the
    "ands" . Also worth mentioning is "Springtime", co-written by Becker.
    It appears B&F were able to pick up right where they left off over a
    decade ago, as this one is a close cousin to "Time Out Of Mind".
    
    Solid growth for Fagen. He's lost alot of his cynical "snarl", both in
    his voice and imagery. (Age does that to ya!)
    
    Highly recommended...
    
    Edd

If anyone hears the on-sale date for the Aug. 28 Great Woods show, PLEASE POST
IT!!  I hadn't heard anything for a while and was pleased to find out last
weekend that the tickets had not yet been put on sale (I was afraid I had
missed the on-sale date).

Whoever posts it, don't worry.  If you're at the Northboro ticketmaster, I'll
let you get in front of me on line!

ps. they are also playing Jones Beach on Long Island around the same time (a
few days earlier, I think).  I think tickets were already put on sale.

adam

    Hey Adam,
    
    Those Jones Beach tix went on sale two weeks ago - and sold out two
    weeks ago!!
    
    Fredda

>   <<< Note 81.51 by QUIVER::SIEGEL "The revolution wil not be televised" >>>
>
>If anyone hears the on-sale date for the Aug. 28 Great Woods show, PLEASE POST
>IT!!  I hadn't heard anything for a while and was pleased to find out last

    I thought it was August 20?

    The Globe said today tickets would be on sale in mid June.

re:                    <<< Note 81.53 by RANGER::WESTERVELT >>>
                                -< what date? >-

>>   <<< Note 81.51 by QUIVER::SIEGEL "The revolution wil not be televised" >>>
>>
>>If anyone hears the on-sale date for the Aug. 28 Great Woods show, PLEASE POST
>>IT!!  I hadn't heard anything for a while and was pleased to find out last
>
>    I thought it was August 20?

You're right, it is the 20th.  Sorry for the scare.

>    The Globe said today tickets would be on sale in mid June.

Thanks for the info.

adam

    
    It's been cancelled! Don't try to get tickets! You'll be wasting your
    time! Stay home even though various media will try to tell you the show
    is still going to happen. It's a big joke.
    
    Edd (Not above lying and deceit to ensure getting a ticket)
    
    ;^)

    This is not a joke.  I heard either on BCN or BOS that there was some
    type of problem and that either Becker or Fagen would not be touring
    with the band. I heard it last week and I've yet to here anything since 
    then so anything is possible,
    
    
    			Bart, Who went to to the NY Soul Revue concert @
    Greatwoods and it was SUPER!

    If either one backs out I believe a major lawsuit would ensue.  They
    cannot advertise and sell tickets for a "Steely Dan" concert with one
    of the players.  And, wouldn't the public have the right to have their
    money refunded should this occur?  After all we'd not be getting what
    we "contracted" for when we plunked down many hard earned $$$'s!!
    
    Fredda

    Most likely they'd simply reschedule...
    
    But, an interesting thought arises. "Steely Dan" stopped being a band
    long before "Gaucho" was released, and instead became more or less the
    name of the vehicle used to deliver the music of Becker and/or Fagen.
    
    Steely Dan exists only in whatever form B&F decide it will. While the
    fans may want to see B&F, there seems to be plenty of precedent that
    the "band" consists only of whoever is playing the songs at the moment.
    
    Edd

    
    If they cancel, all you folks who bought tickets through scalpers can
    have lots of fun getting refunds for your cost over face value.
    
    Sorry, just couldn't resist. ;^)
    
    - Dave

    re: .59 WIEGLEB
    
    > If they cancel, all you folks who bought tickets through scalpers
    > can have lots of fun getting refunds for your cost over face value.
    
    You have unknowingly provided yet another argument for legalizing
    scalping.
    
    Here in NH, the scalpers (which are all legal and legitimate
    businesses) are required to refund your money.  Because scalping
    operates UNDER the law, they are subject to the law.
    
    In Mass, where all scalpers are illegal, scalpers end up doing whatever
    they want.   Because scalping operates OUTSIDE the law, there are no
    laws regarding how scalpers must operate.  
    
    I.E. how can you make a law regarding how an illegal business operates?
    It's like saying "It is illegal to sell heroin but if you do, you must
    guarantee it's purity".
    
    > Sorry, just couldn't resist. ;^)
    
    No problem.  ;-)

    wow, I have not heard one thing about this (only in here) is this true?
    I was hoping it would happen, but Greatwoods has always book or
    promoted show that end up being canceled....weird.
    
    as to Mass having no law regarding how scalpers must act....yes we do 
    they should not be scalping and if you buy a ticket from a scalper then 
    you are taking the risk of losing most if not all your money in a case 
    like this....now Im not sure of places in Mass that do this, Im sure
    there are a few in Mass but most run their scalping from out-side the
    state, like NH and RI....and most of these tickets are bought with a
    card which should be enough to get back the whole amount !
    and I would never give money to someone with out getting the ticket
    right then.....the greatwoods show was just listed and with no sale
    date in mind I would not give them money....
    
    
    weird....BCN just said something about the shows...leagl matters are in
    the works or something like that...
    
    Chris

    My point stands - this is about the 10th example of a "problem with
    scalping" that is only true because scalping is illegal.
    
    In NH, people who buy tickets from scalpers do NOT have this problem.
    
    In MA, they do.
    
    Period.

    i know this isn't the scalping note but,
    
    if i buy a ticket from ticketmaster and
    get a service charge, do i get the service
    charge back if they refund ticket money?
    
    

    Re: .63
    
    Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
    
    Thank you for using Ticketmaster....

    thats not what you asked....you asked if mass had laws on how scalpers
    must act and YES Mass does...its ILLEGAL "." so if you must go buy a
    ticket for 3X its face value then go out-of-state to do so, but if you
    buy a ticket in this state you take the gamble on its worth, if a show
    gets canceled then its worthless.....you get the shaft for the 2nd
    time! if it were legal then they should not waste the ink to print the
    ticket price on the ticket....what would stop the venue from just
    stating a price of their own....boy this scalping crap is such a rat
    hole ain't it :')

    "Call Me Deacon Blues"
    
    I put that quote in so that I could say this note has something to
    do with Steely Dan.  ;-)
    
>    thats not what you asked....you asked if mass had laws on how scalpers
>    must act and YES Mass does...its ILLEGAL "." 
    
    No, I didn't "ask" that.  In fact, I didn't "ask" anything. 
    
    I think you're nitpicking here.
    
    Suffice it to say that where scalping is legal people who deal with 
    scalpers can be protected by law because they operate under the law.
    The scalping that occurs is "regulated".
    
    Where scalping is illegal, people who deal with scalpers are 
    out of luck if: the concert is cancelled, (or if the tickets are
    counterfeit, etc. )   The scalping that occurs is "unregulated"
    because it is outside the law.
    
    The point being that "getting screwed when the concert is cancelled"
    is NOT an argument for making scalping illegal - it is in fact, an 
    argument for legalizing it.

    Hey Dave,
    
    Maybe you can host a conference called SCALPING on DREGS?
    
    Can we get back to Mr. Steely Dan now?
    
    						Brian

    
    Here here.
    
    Tim_the_other_MUSIC_mod
    

    I just heard this morning tickets for the Great Woods show go on sale
    SATURDAY @ 10am plus they added a second show.  The dates are August 20
    and 21.
    
    			See you on line!!
    			
    			Bart

    
    I wonder if they'll be selling the 2 shows simultaneously (since they
    already scheduled 2 and there's no chance of not selling them out) or
    if they'll still sell one out (how *do* you sell out GW, with the lawn
    and all?), then the other.
    
    - Sean

	AAAAGH I'm going to be in Seattle Saturday morning!!

	Think a Seattle Ticketmaster type phone line would sell tickets
	for Great Woods?

    I think there's an excellent chance Seattle is networked into
    Ticketmaster.   Or you could call long distance, why not.

    But don't bother.  I need the tix!  ;-)

You might have better success getting tickets in Seattle than somebody
here does going to the local outlet...

    
    There should be an 800 number you could call.  Call TicketMaster.....
    
    

I started speed-dialing the New Hampshire number at 9:59 on Saturday. 
I got through at 10:50 and the Saturday show was completely sold out.
They had some lawn tickets left for Friday night. Sigh.

The Ticketmaster agent sounded sympathetic so I asked her if she had
any advice for next time. She said that the only way to do better, 
other than to get lucky, is to call about 10 minutes before the show
goes on sale and buy something else! If you can manage to stay on for
10 minutes, they'll sell you the tickets. If they think you're just
stalling, they'll kick you off.

Barry

    At 10:10 I got thru to TM in New York and all they had was lawn seats
    left for both shows... Although I really wanted 2 "indoor" seats I 
    scored 4 on the grass for Friday.
    
    When I got off the phone I called the local number to see if maybe
    *they* had shed seats. Nope...
    
    I'm hoping some outta state reseller is willing to horse-trade...
    
    Edd

    
    We got to Northboro at 6:00 in the morning.  Was #11 to buy tix there and
    got row Q of Section 5.  I heard that by 10:20 they were down to lawn
    seats.  What a nightmare, but I am psyched!

    You heard right!!!  I was on line in Acton and by 10:20 it was bye, bye
    real seats hello lawn.  Lets hope for a nice warm dry evening.  I'll be
    there at the Saturday show.  
    
    			Bart

    Would anybody care to write a quick review of the seven (?) Steely Dan
    albums, or comment on your favorite(s)?  Right now, I only have the 
    new Donald Fagen CD and "A Decade of Steely Dan," so my collection 
    is hurting.
    
    Your opinions, please...
    
    Thanks,
    
    Mike
    

    
    I'd buy 'em all.  Seriously.  I can't think of a single one that wasn't
    worth spending full CD price for.  And they're usually pretty cheap,
    because they're all old.  If your budget is tighter than tight and you
    could only get one at a time, I'd probably recommend them in this
    order.
    
    Pretzel Logic
    Katy Lied
    Aja
    The Royal Scam
    Can't Buy a Thrill
    Countdown to Ecstasy
    Gaucho
    
    And get Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly.  And if anyone's got a
    pair of pavilion seats for either show they need to get rid of...
    
    DFW

    
    Seconded.
    
    Tim
     

    re: .80
    
    This is exactly what I'm looking for.  Any other opinions?  
    
    (By the way, I ordered "Aja" yesterday.  It'll help me fulfill my
    agreement with Columbia House.  I picked it over the others only
    because the name of the CD was most familiar to me.)
    
    Mike

    
    	The Royal Scam, to me, is by far their best.  The arrangements
    	took a major leap from Katy Lied - certainly much harder to
    	play, if that matters.
    
    	The instruments are given far more room than subsequent albums.
    	To me, it's the best guitar work and the drums are much looser
    	than Aja and beyond (except for the song "Aja" w/Steve Gadd).
    
    	I compare it to Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck.  While he's done more
    	polished work since, that album just had that feel.
    
    	But they're all great!
    	Tom
    

    Yeah, the list in .80 seems about right, but that order could be
    totally different if you ask me tomorrow.  Each one has it's charms.
    I don't think I'd have "Countdown to Ecstacy" so low; at times it's
    my favorite.  But then again, which of the others would I drop???
    The only think I would consistently agree with is that "Can't By a Thrill"
    and "Gaucho" are lowest priority.
    
    My personal impressions of the top 5 (chronological order):
    
    Countdown to Ecstacy - the most "jammin" instrumentally
    Pretzel Logic - very strong tunes that evoke vivid images
    Katy Lied - most surreal, the songwriting at it's most bizarre
    Royal Scam - great hooks, tight polished instrumentation
    Aja - the most "mature", a seamless distillation of everything the
    	  Dan was about
    
    You can't go wrong with any or all of these imo
    
    /rick

  I fall into a minority that liked the first 4 -- Can't Buy a Thrill,
  Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied -- and got off the bus with
  "Royal Scam".  (Maybe I'd like the later stuff -- haven't heard it.)

  I have the feeling that if I'd heard it all, "Pretzel Logic" and "Katy
  Lied" would still head my list.   - Jay

    .80 is almost exactly how I'd order them, except for moving Countdown
    to Ecstasy up to #4.
    
    Pretzel Logic is one of the most perfect pop albums of all time.  It
    blew me away the first time I heard it and still does whenever I listen
    to it again.  The songwriting on that album is absolutely amazing:
    every song is a gem.
    
    Katy Lied is another top favorite, but it's less straightforward than
    the earlier albums.  The intense songs make it a great album for a
    black mood.
    
    Aja is my other favorite: a jazzier album than its predecessors, and
    lots of great songs.  The title track is a knockout.
    
    Countdown to Ecstasy, The Royal Scam, and Can't Buy a Thrill are in the
    next group.  Today I'd rank them in that order, tomorrow might be
    different.  Countdown to Ecstasy has great songs like Bodhissatva and
    My Old School, but it's not as consistent as some of the later albums. 
    The Royal Scam opens up with three great songs, but then, relative to
    Steely Dan's standards, limps along until the final title track.  To me
    the songwriting is much less interesting and the reggae-like songs
    don't work that well.  Can't Buy a Thrill suffers because it has a lot
    of their hits which have been vastly overplayed on the radio lately,
    and also due to its less consistent songwriting.
    
    Those are all still good albums, but I just don't like them as well as
    other Steely Dan albums.  Gaucho is their only truly mediocre album. 
    Only one good song on the album (the title track) and the rest rolls
    along in somnambulent mid-tempo doldrums.  It's OK, and worth it to
    complete the set, but the time had come to break up Steely Dan.

    
    Well, just for a difference of opinion.  I almost agree that every
    single CD is WELL worthy buying...  except I can't really promote
    "Gaucho."  I know, easy target, but nevertheless, it just doesn't do it
    for me (maybe I need to listen to it a lot more).
    
    I think that the following 3 are by far the best efforts by Steely Dan
    (in order):
    
      #1 Countdown to Ecstacy
      #2 Can't Buy A Thrill
      #3 Katy Lied
    
    Next is the CD in a category all by itself - *great* album, no
    question, I don't really have a logical reason for putting it at #4,
    I just do:
    
      #4 Aja
    
    Then the rest.  Pretzel Logic leaves me the coldest of the six CD's
    I like, but still, its an above average CD from an above average band,
    but since I have to rate them relative to the other outstanding stuff:
    
      #5 The Royal Scam
      #6 Pretzel Logic
    
    I do think the following point can be made:  if you like material like
    "Nightfly," you're probably going to be more apt to like stuff like
    "Aja","Royal Scam," and even "Gaucho"
    
    Me, I like the Skunk Baxter guitar stuff.  For mellower tunes, I
    prefer the more basic, less flash, piano oriented stuff - "Can't Buy
    A Thrill" gets good in that area.  The more they get to polished
    jazz, well, it just doesn't grab me like a "My Old School" does.
     
    - Sean 2 months to THE CONCERT!!!!!!! 

    re: .79
    
    Actually, you can't really go wrong. Unlike most bands, Steely Dan just
    didn't have ups and downs. The critics seem to be equally enthusiastic
    about *everything* they did, unlike, for example, the Stones (try
    finding someone who rates "Their Satanic Majesties..." or dislikes
    "Beggar's Banquet"!).
    
    Like Sean, I'm wild about Can't Buy A Thrill (#1) and Countdown To
    Ecstasy (#2). Maybe it's a question of nostalgia, i.e. it brings back
    lots of memories, but I;d definitely rate CBAT in my top ten. Sure, I've 
    probably heard Do It Again and Reeling In The Years a little too often by 
    now, but some of the lesser-known songs on the album are extraordinary.
    "Kings" is a great "singalong" tune, and the chromatic guitar solo by
    Eliott Randall is a stormer - I even prefer it to Jeff Baxter's famous
    solo on "My Old School". Great songs, great production (plastic organ
    on Do It Again!), one of the great debut albums.
    
    One of the great strengths of Steely Dan is their ability to come up
    with incredibly sophisticated yet catchy songs. I'd defy any musician
    to keep up with the chord/rhythm changes in "Turn That Heartbeat Over 
    Again"(?) first time round, but the song's got some memorable hooks.
    The musicians on all SD's records sound so very tight; you'd never think 
    that the nucleus of the band was just two people! I've never heard another 
    band that could rely so heavily on session players without sounding
    cold and untogether.
    
    It's just a pity that Becker and Fagen are so anti-press and publicity;
    I'd love to read a book that explained what music they listened to in
    their formative years, how they work in the recording studio, etc.
    
    Dom

    
    >> I'd love to read a book that explained what music they listened to in
    >> their formative years, how they work in the recording studio, etc.
    
    Exactly! I'm also looking for a book with the complete lyrics of all
    their albums - not being a native speaker I can't always figure out 
    the words.
    
    Any hints/pointers?
    
    -maarten.
    

    The lyrics were published on all their albums in the USA, though they
    didn't make it to most of MCA's CDs.  Each album also had the sheet
    music published in the USA, with all the lyrics.  I don't know their
    availability elsewhere, though.
    
    Steely Dan lyrics are often obscure enough that native speakers don't
    know what they're singing either!

    
    I can't believe how everyone is dumping on GAUCHO ? I think it was
    exactly the right album after Aja, and the work on it is so subtle
    and complex, that many of you have passed it by. OK, 'Hey Nineteen'
    is a piece of pop schlock, but 'Third World Man', 'Babylon Sisters',
    'Gaucho' and the others are CLASSIC Dan (or at least Fagen !) ...
    
    My list:
    
    1)  The Royal Scam (is 'Green Earrings' hot, or what ?)
    2)  Gaucho 
    3)  The Nightfly (I know, I know ...)
    3)  Katy Lied
    4)  Aja
    5)  Pretzel Logic
    6)  Countdown to Ecstasy
    7)  Can't Buy a Thrill
    
    Plus you have to have the compilation/best of CDs to get the previously
    unreleased stuff, like the live version of Boddhitsatva !
    
    Here's hoping they come to Denver later this summer !
    
    - acp
    

Just to make the discography more complete, here are a few items that
have been in wide circulation among collectors:

Singles: some from 1970 (don't have the titles here)

Movie soundtrack: "You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It
		   Or You Lose the Beat"
Concert tapes:

        The Record Plant, Los Angeles, 3/20/74. There are two versions
        around. The one taped off-the-air is easy to find. The one
        dubbed from the radio station master disk is harder to find
        but better quality.

        JJ's, San Diego, 3/23/74. An audience tape.

Barry

    I have both tapes and they're great!!  Even though the quality is so-so
    it's good enough for me.
    
    Fredda

    I posted this a few years ago in RECORDS::. The last paragraph is 
    outta date...
    
    Edd
    
    
    
    Walter Becker and Donald Fagan met at Bard College in New York where
    the were both drawn to the pick-up band scene, putting together
    1 night bands and such. One such band, "The Leather Canary" featured
    none other than Chevy Chase on drums.
    
    These college years figured heavily in their early music. They were
    at one point arrested during a drug raid orchestrated by G. Gordon
    Liddy. This showed up on their first 'hit', aptly titled "My Old
    School"...
    
               "It was still September and your daddy was quite surprised,
                To find you with the working girls in the county jail.
    
                I was smokin' with the boys upstairs...."
    
    After quitting/graduating from Bard, B&F found themselves tramping
    around the streets of New York actually peddling tunes in and about
    the Brill Building. Their first gig came when they were hired to
    do the sound track to "You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (Or You'll
    Loose That Beat)" in 1971. "You Gotta...." turned out to be an
    expensive home movie and played for 2 whole weeks. Died like a clam.
    
    Soon after they began working with Jay And The Americans as part
    of the back-up band. While doing so, they were introduced to producer
    Gary Katz. Katz was offered a job with ABC/Dunhill and accepted
    it on the provision that Becker and Fagan be also hired on as staff
    writers. The earliest revs of Steely Dan started to gell at this
    point. They met Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. Writing songs for the likes
    of The Grass Roots, Dusty Springfield and Barbara Streisand during
    the day, they would set up amps in the offices after hours and work
    on their own jazz-tinged rock.
    
    The Dan was sealed when they answered an ad in the Village Voice
    placed by guitarist Dennis Diaz looking for someone with jazz chops.
    When they contacted him, he packed his bags and flew to the west
    coast the next day.
    
    The first album "Can't Buy A Thrill" was released in 1972. It featured
    an actual band, Becker, Fagan, Diaz, Baxter and Elliot Randall.
    Gary Katz produced and Roger "the Immortal" Nichols engineered.
    
    1974's release of "Countdown to Ecstasy" still saw the Dan as a
    working band. Victor Feldman and Rick Derringer were brought in
    as session-men.
    
    By 1975 the band was drifting away from the "Steely Dan as a working
    band" concept and into the "Steely Dan as vehicle for the works
    of Becker and Fagan" theme. The release of "Katy Lied" shows the
    increasing reliance of B&F on top session men. Amongst others, this
    album showcases the work of sax player Phil Woods, the Porcaro
    brothers, Larry Carlton and Michael McDonald. Nichols and Katz were
    still producing and engineering.
    
    "Pretzel Logic" released in 1976, is considered to be the first
    album produced without a band. Heavy on jazz influences, you can
    hear references to Charlie Parker and a cover of the Duke Ellington
    tune "East St. Louis Toodle-oo" (pronounced 'toad-low').
    
    "The Royal Scam" , 1977, is an either/or type album. Some critics
    panned it mercilessly, others considered it the best to date. I
    think Fagan's introversion becomes most evident on this album. At
    times it is downright cynical.
    
    1978 saw the release of the classic "Aja". A no-holds barred approach
    to this album produced an absolute aural masterpiece. The title
    cut contains the hottest drum solo Steve Gadd ever put out. If you
    don't already own this, BUY IT!!!!!
    
    In 1980 the last official album "Gaucho" was released. Anyone who
    was anyone played on this. Joe Sample, Chuck Rainey, Mark Knopfler,
    Rick Derringer, The Brecker Bros.,Tom Scott... the list goes on.
    One top-40 hit, "Hey Nineteen", came out of it. This was something
    they hadn't had in years.
    
    There are 3 "Best of" type albums. 2 of them contains some previously
    unreleased tracks, "FM" and "Westworld". Lately, they seem to be
    content to recycle early stuff.
    
    "The Early Years" is a low-tech trashy sounding production for avid
    fans only. It contains a horrid early version of "Brooklyn (Owes
    The Charmer)".
    
    Every so rumours arise regarding a Steely Dan re-union and tour.
    While a tour seems unlikely due to the monumental engineering
    efforts that go into their productions, it appears that the rumoured
    riff between Becker and Fagan may be off and they are collaberating
    once again. They both appeared on the recent release "ZAZU" by Rosie
    Zella, along with Rick Derringer.
    
    Edd

    All this talk about the Dan and reunion tours and tribute bands...
    
    So I found myself at Lechemere this weekend, laying down some major
    cash replacing all my vinyl copies of the middle five Steely Dan albums
    ("Countdown..." - "Aja").  My turntable's busted so I haven't been
    able to listen to these in a while now.
    
    First off, "Katy Lied" and "Royal Scam" had stickers proclaiming
    "newly remastered by the artist".  From comments in here I take it
    the original CD mix for these was not too great?  These sounded fine.
    
    I'll second what someone else said in here earlier.  Unlike a lot of
    old stuff, these tracks don't disappoint after all these years; they're
    still just as good as you remembered.  The arrangements and
    performances still dazzle and amaze, the lyrics and hooks still buzz
    around your brain for days.
    
    So after reaching the end of both a bottle of Cuervo Gold and my entire
    family's patience, it's pretty clear what my recommendations would be:
    "Katy Lied", followed by "Countdown to Ecstacy" a close second.  These
    two found their way back to the CD player again and again.  Well, at
    least till today :-)
    
    /rick

	Any reviews of the new Fagen release?

Thanks
Jon

    "Kamakiriad" impresses me more as "Gaucho II" than a direct descendant 
    of "The Nightfly".
    
    Almost to a person (including myself) the impression has been "this
    would be a KILLER release if anybody else had done it, but for Fagen
    it was simply the same old same old."
    
    I'm not disappointed, as some of the cuts are great, but I expected
    more after 11 years...
    
    Edd

    
    	re: Rick - but how about the line after "the Quervo Gold"...
    
    	;^)
    
    

	On the first several listenings I was a bit dissappointed with 
Kamakiriad.  Having been a fanatic for the Dan since the beginning, it's
pretty hard for anything to live up to my hopes/expectations and
preconceived notions about what I WANTED this record to be.  The advice
I have for this record is to KEEP LISTENING TO IT.

	Having listened more closely to it (and turning it up pretty
LOUD this weekend) I have turned the corner on this album and now am 
really getting into it.  The horn arrangements are fabulous (if subtle)
in the way they weave through the vocals.  And the rhythm tracks sound 
better with each listening.  The groove in this record is elusive but 
having finally found it I like it a LOT.  Also, the lyrics, though not as
pleasingly snide as some of the Dan stuff, have some nice images and work
on multiple levels, few of which are obvious and in this way is typical
Fagen.

	BTW - the new Keyboard magazine has an somewhat technical interview
with Fagen concerning recording techniques and his approach to his music.

\ml

More DAN lore:

1)  When WB was in high school (Queens NYC) he had a reputation around
    town as a blues harp master.  By the time he got to Bard, he had
    given it up for bass guitar.  Reportedly, when asked why he no longer
    played harp, he responded "Too limiting".  Also, he came to Bard a
    year after DF, who became aware of him when he (DF) heard him practicing
    in one of the classrooms in Hegeman one evening.

2)  At Bard, students were required to subject themselves to a thing called
    "Moderation" at the end of their sophomore year, wherein you were
    supposed to declare your major and defend your declaration before a
    board composed of three or four faculty members.  DF declared at his
    Moderation that he wanted to be a music major specializing in Jazz
    Composition.  He was turned down and became a Literature major instead.

3)  I heard from a source in Woodstock NY that DF recently married Libby
    Titus.  No confirmation, though.

    Interesting node name, FSOA::NICHOLS. Sparked a recollection that I
    just thought I'd share:

    One day in 1984 my associate and I were in NYC to confer with Roger
    Nichols at a studio that he was associated with. After our conference
    Roger showed us around the (very digital) place. He brought us into
    studio A and as he was stating that there is a B studio upstairs, I
    noticed that written in black marker on the boxes of 2" tape at my feet
    was GAUCHO, GAUCHO, GAUCHO... The boxes went along the baseboard for the
    entire length of the room. I don't know what the boxes further down said
    (probably AJA) and not wanting to look like a complete rookie, I didn't
    want to go looking. Besides, everyone was waiting for an overdue Diana
    Ross to arrive and so I think Roger wanted to wrap up the $.50 tour.

    But I clearly remember the feeling that I had just wandered into King
    Tut's tomb.

    Yeah, Fagen recently married Libby Titus. She did some collaboration
    on "Snowbound" from "Kamakiriad"...
    
    Edd

	Now I'm curious.  Aside from Kamakiriad, what has Libby Titus done?

/ml

    Libby Titus has been a session vocalist for many years (back into the
    early seventies).  Check out soft-rock albums cut in LA in particular. 
    Carly Simon wrote a song for her called "Libby" that can be found on
    Carly's "Another Passenger" album, one where (surprise) Libby can be
    found.
    
    Figures Donald Fagen would marry another studio rat  8^)
    
    							Brian

    Reports say the show is running about 3 hours with a break.
    
    Aja, Deacon Blues, My Old School, Trans Island Highway, Tomorrow's
    Girls, some un-named Becker tunes. All on the set list...
    
    Hahahahaha!! I'm giddy with excitement...
    
    Edd

    
    Waaaaaaaaah!  I get to spend Friday at the airport......
    
    DFW

    	Well, I was at the NYC show last night at Madison Square
    Garden.  WOW!!!  What an incredible show!  They do indeed play for
    3 hours with one 20 minute break (no opening band).  The sound
    for the most part was quite clean and crisp, although we did
    notice a bit of distortion on the vocals (and it was really hard
    to hear them when they were talking).

    	They had 11 pieces on stage with them (plus Becker and Fagan):
    3 saxes (2 of which also played flute on at least one occasion), 3
    vocalists, drums, vibraphone, bass and guitar and piano.

    	We were unfortunately in the very top of the Garden (half our
    tickets were in the absolute last row!) - and my friend who got
    them got through 10 minutes after they went on sale!  But the
    sound was fine, and we had a good pair of binoculars! :^)  I was
    just psyched to be there!  

    	Here's the playlist for this show (8/18/93, Madison Square
    Garden).  I'll put it behind a formfeed, in case any of you going
    to Great Woods want to be surprised! :^)  (And I apologize for
    tempting you if that's the case!) 

    

    Opening:  Instrumental medley of Royal Scam, Bad Sneakers and Aja
    - without Becker and Fagan.
    	Green Earring
    	Bodhisattva
    	IGY (from Nightfly)
    	Josie
    	Hey Nineteen
    	Book of Liars (from Becker's forthcoming album)
    	Peg
    	Chain Lightning
    	Green Flower Street (also from Nightfly I believe)
    	Home At Last
    	Black Friday

    	<break>

    	Instrumental songs - without Becker/Fagan.
    	Deacon Blues
    	Tomorrow's Girl (from Kamikiriad)
    	Bablylon Sister
    	Reelin' in the Years
    	The Fall of '92 (again from Becker's album, written with Fagan)
    	Springtime
    	Third World Man
    	Countermoon (another from Kamikiriad - a VERY extended version of 
    		     this song!)

    	<ENCORE:>
    	My Old School (got the most audience participation!)
    	FM
    	

    Also saw them at the Garden last night.  Performances ranged from good
    to superb.  WB played guitar throughout; DF sat at what looked like a
    Fender Rhodes most of the time, occasionally stepping out with a
    handheld keyboard.  Backup musicians were mostly from NYC/Woodstock NY.

    The concert was divided into 2 sets, about 1.25 hrs. each with a 20 min.
    break in between and 1 encore.  DF's voice was in great shape (although
    a couple of songs were transposed down a major 2nd, presumably to reduce
    strain)!  In fact, some vocals sounded better than the original
    recordings because there was less affectation and nasality in his voice. 
    WB seemed just a wee bit stiff on his first two guitar solos, but he
    quickly loosened up and played some great stuff thereafter.

    The biggest problem was the sound crew.  In the first set, they had (at
    least from my seating position) the bass way too low and the bass drum
    way too high and often didn't have WB's guitar high enough either.  This
    was especially disconcerting on Bhoddisatva, where the bass drum and
    bass guitar play rhythmicly in unison:  you couldn't hear the bass at
    all!  This was corrected between sets and the second set mix was pretty
    good (although not perfect).  Also, the light show was mediocre at best,
    but who cares? (At one point, the spotlight was on WB while the other
    guitarist was playing one of the most virtuostic solos of the evening).

    Go see them if you can!  It's definitely worth the price of admission!

>    but who cares? (At one point, the spotlight was on WB while the other
>    guitarist was playing one of the most virtuostic solos of the evening).

    I hate when that happens.

    It's been a tough week for Red Sox fans. One of the "highlights" of last
    week's home games against Toronto was when the Fenway PA played "Rikki
    Don't Lose That Number"! Toronto "New Jay" Rickey Henderson had just
    completed a deal with a teammate: Henderson, who wore uniform number 24
    with his previous team, found 24 was taken when he joined the Blue
    Jays. He paid the teammate the going rate of $20,000 and a pair of
    cowboy boots to "get that number," which he had on his uniform in time 
    for the Fenway series.
    
    Glad to see there's a sense of humor in Fenway Park. Wonder if they'd
    ever play "I Had You Babe" or "Billy Don't Be a Hero"? But that's for
    the Red Sox notes file....
    
    Five more hours to go!
    
    G

    Given the activity outside my window as I type, I hope the band
    practiced "Walk Between The Raindrops"...
    
    Edd

    except for lawn (mud?) tickets, there is a roof over great woods.
    i've been there in the rain and it is no problem unless it is
    windy.   then the people on the edges might get wet.
    
    hope they 'bring back the boston rag'

    Last night's set list pretty much followed the same posted earlier, but
    they only did one encore ("My Old School"), omitting "FM".
    
    In addition to Becker and Fagen there was Peter Erskine on drums,
    Cornelius Bumpus and 2 other sax players, Warren Bernhardt on piano,
    Drew Zingg on guitar, Diane Garisto ("Humina!"), Brenda King and a
    third bu-vox, bass and percussion/vibes. Also worthy of mention, off
    to the side on the soundboard, none other than Roger "The Immortal"
    Nichols.
    
    The sound must have improved since NYC, but wasn't without fault.
    Erskine's bass drum was like a cannon shot, the backup vocals were
    breaking up a bit, and towards the end it was just simply too loud.
    Like NYC, the mix on Boddisatva simply sucked. Overall, it was pretty
    good, but given their studio releases I'd hoped for more. The NYR&SR
    sound was better.
    
    Despite warnings to the contrary, they usually didn't stroll too far
    from the arrangements we're all familiar with. A notable exception was
    "Reelin' In The Years". I never picked up on that one until the vocals
    started. (And it must be mentioned that Erskine did NOT click his
    sticks during "Aja". Amateur...;^))
    
    I was surprised at Becker's solo contributions, "Book Of Liars" and
    "Autumn of '92". While it's obvious why Fagen got elected to sing most
    of the SD cuts, Becker's no slouch when penning tunes. 
    
    Fagen's solo efforts were well represented. "I.G.Y", "Green Flower St",
    "Tomorrow's Girls" and an extended version of "Teahouse On The Tracks"
    that brought down the house.
    
    If one must jam, there's unlikely to be a better Steely Dan tune than
    "Chain Lightening" to do it to, and the horn section used it to
    advantage.
    
    I'd like to thank Erskine for keeping his drum solo mercifully short,
    and the bass player for having the sense not to do one at all.
    
    "Deacon Blues" is absolutely my all-time fave Dan cut, and probably the
    one I'd choose if I had to spend eternity with only one song, but the
    mix last night detracted from it horribly. Erskine's previously
    mentioned howitzer decidedly decreased the intimacy of the tune,
    bringing it out of it's rightfull "smoke filled blues club" ambiance
    and injecting it with the bombast of "arena rock". They really could
    have used a full horn section, yet reveled in the fact they were using
    only saxes. C'est la vie.
    
    Do I sound a bit disappointed? Yeah, I was, but those who know me can 
    imagine what my expectations were, so it's no surprise even Steely Dan
    couldn't live up to the reputation I've imposed on them. 
    
    Edd
    
    P.S. ...and a special mention to the jerk 3 rows in front of me who
    felt it necessary to stand up and shake his fat toosh, or raise his
    clenched fists in some apparent show of juvenile unity. His
    self-indulgent behavior was the epitome of arrogance. Sit down and let
    the other folks see the show.
    
    

    The problem Friday was that even Becker & Fagen couldn't deliver Steely
    Dan tunes "properly".
    
    Thanks for dancing on the lawn. T'is appreciated.
    
    Edd

    
    I liked the mouth organ (name?  Hooter?  no, I'm not trying to be
    funny :^) ) Donald used at the NYRSR better than the trendy mobile
    keyboard.

    Tonight is my night to see the Dan at Jones Beach (Long Guyland), with
    the reviews from MSG and the DJ patter on the morning shows I am beyond
    psyched!!!
    
    Now if only those overcast skys would just disappear!
    
    Fredda

    
    [continued from the "I don't get it" topic]
    
    
    I think Fagen's adenoidal timbre is a bigger factor than any off-key
    singing. I've got an early version of "Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer)" where he
    sounds like an ill Bob Dylan.
    
    While some folks like an "edge" to their music, I gravitate towards
    those bands that are polished to a diamond-like lustre. Even those
    songs by SD that retain a bit of that edge ("Chain Lightening",
    "Pretzel Logic", etc) are among my lesser played SD tunes. 
    
    There's lotsa little surprises in there. One I always get a kick out of
    is the horn fill in "My Old School" between the lines "California
    tumbles into the sea, {fill}, that'll be the day..." The horns cascade
    downward like property on the coast during a quake and there's a big 
    baritone sax "splat" as they hit the bottom.
    
    When Rolling Stone tagged the "cerebral" qualifier to them, I thought
    that fit just about perfectly. The picture Fagen paints in "IGY" and
    "New Frontier" is a page right outta my life. During the Eisenhower
    years, bomb shelters and the "red threat" were a part of everyday life,
    while "My Weekly Reader" espoused the promise of a brilliant future
    built on technology. ("Under sea by rail, 90 minutes from New York to
    Paris").
    
    Even some of the more straight ahead rockers have surprising twists
    and turns. Bodhisttva, at first glance a basic revved up blues
    progression, twists itself all up in knots as it flies thru EbMaj7,
    A7+5, Dm7, F6, etc, before landing back on it's feet.
    
    The greatest thing since sliced bread? Nah, but a most refreshing
    change from most of the rest of the music I can remember from the
    '70s.
    
    Edd
    
    Edd

    
    Hmmmm... interesting.  I like Donald's voice a lot.  In fact, its one
    of the reasons (besides Baxter and Diaz gee-tars) I like the 'Dan. 
    And I do enjoy their produced-to-perfection sound.
    
    But..
    
    � songs by SD that retain a bit of that edge ("Chain Lightening",
    � "Pretzel Logic", etc) are among my lesser played SD tunes. 
    
    Yikes - 2 of my favorites by SD!  I guess I'll take a little edge with
    that polish (isn't Edge a polish?)
    
    As far as cerebral, though, I'd have to put that in the "I don't get
    it" topic.  Technologically advanced, yes.  Unbelievably talented
    musicians, no question.  But the lyrics in the songs are too, too...
    I don't know what... earthy-crunchy to be cerebral.
    
    Cerebral to me evokes things like King Crimson or the Moody Blues or
    Alan Parsons (okay, some might call that all just "pretentious").
    
    - Sean

    So, I got to see the Dan Wed night.  Unfortunately, we had car trouble
    which meant that we didn't get there until 4 songs into the show. 
    Also, I now remember why I don't like going to Jones Beach for shows. 
    The audience NEVER shows reactions to the groups playing.  No one
    dances, they give polite applause as acknowledgment of the music.  In
    other words, boring audiences.  Plus, I had the misfortune to sit next
    to two women who didn't shut up the whole concert, even after I told
    them I wanted to hear the band not them.
    
    Anyhow, the concert....was very good, not great, very good.  I was
    thrilled to finally hear those songs that mean so much to me.  Luckily,
    I've had a few bootlegs from their 1974 tour so I had an inkling of
    what their sound is.  I had high expectations that they would jam but
    they didn't really.  
    
    My personal highlights were Babylon Girls, Reelin' In the Years and
    the encores.  I thought the Walter Becker songs had good music with
    so-so lyrics and his voice was very shaky that night.
    
    In all, I'd see them again.
    
    Fredda 

    Here I was hesitating at the newstand....Shall I take the new Rolling
    Stone with Janet Jackson and these obnoxious hands on the cover or
    JAZZIZ with Donald "Poster boy" Fagen gracing the front page?
    
    I made the right choice and went for JAZZIZ. For those who like the Dan 
    there is a good interview of Fagen as well as a full page on Walter Becker.
    
    I figured out that I would probably have other opportunities to know
    more about Miss Jackson while it's not always easy to learn more about
    the Dan...
    
    Jacques
    
    P.S: any other DECies planning to attend one of the Steely Dan's
    concerts ? I need help with something. Let me know.
            
    
    

	Steely Dan at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles
	Tuesday, September 7th

	Special Guest star (set list also follows) :


	Denny Diaz on guitar ! He was on fire, totally dominating the
	guitar solos. Man, has he been practicing, or what ?!

	Set List:

	The band (sans Becker/Fagen) :

	Instrumental Medley (The Royal Scam, Bad Sneakers & Aja)

	Becker/Fagen come on stage (standing O) :

	Green Earrings
	Boddhitsatva
	I.G.Y.
	Josie
	Hey Nineteen
	Book of Liars (Becker)
	Chain Lightning
	Green Flower Street
	Home At Last
	Black Friday

	(Intermission)

	Deacon Blues
	Tomorrow's Girls
	Babylon Sisters
	Reelin' In The Years
	Fall of '92 (Becker)
	Peg
	Third World Man (the highlight of the show !)
	xxxx (?) Moon
	Teahouse on the Tracks

	(encore)

	My Old School
	F.M.

Absolutely phenomenal show. The original recording engineer (Roger ?) was
on the sound board (he and Diaz were only here for these 2 shows), and it
looked like they might be trying to record a live album. The sound quality
was excellent - it was just too, too much ! The 'Dan are GOD !

The only bog was NO PROGRAMS ! In L.A. ? C'mon ! So I sprung for the long
sleeve mock-turtle shirt with the embroidered "Steely Dan 93, Becker/Fagen"
logo on it. Can you say $ 35.00 ? Very nice.

- acp

    > ???? Moon
    
    "Counter Moon", from Kamakiriad.
    
    Did Diaz replace or augment Drew Zingg?
    
    Edd

    > Roger??? He and Diaz...only these two shows.
    
    Roger "The Immortal" Nichols also engineered the shows at Great Woods
    in MA. I assume he's booked for the whole ride.
    
    While I love the work he's done for them in the studio, I was
    disappointed in it's translation to the amphitheater venue...
    
    Edd

    
    Edd,
    
    The Greek is an outside venue, and I feel like they worked ALL the
    kinks outs for this show - almost flawless.
    
    Denny Diaz was the 3rd guitarist, Zingg and Becker were still
    prominently featured - it was a gas !
    
    - acp

>     Roger "The Immortal" Nichols also engineered the shows at Great Woods
>     in MA. I assume he's booked for the whole ride.
>     
>     While I love the work he's done for them in the studio, I was
>     disappointed in it's translation to the amphitheater venue...
>     

	I'm surprised to hear Nichols was doing sound.  I have heard 
nearly unanimous complaints about the mix for both Great Woods shows.
While the Boston area shows may have been early in the tour with 
kinks still to be worked out, etc., most well-seasoned professional
sound guys can get the *mix* right by the end of the *second* show...
What's the old saying?  "Good with the studio don't mean good 
with the living..."

/ml

    Roger's board was set up on the far right side of the stage, which
    I think is a pretty bogus place to mix from. Even given that, I can't
    blame it all on placement; Roger should know better...
    
    Edd

>    Roger's board was set up on the far right side of the stage, which
>    I think is a pretty bogus place to mix from. Even given that, I can't
>    blame it all on placement; Roger should know better...
    
     That tells me that he was at the monitor board, not the house. The
     two mixes are separate and distinct. I imagine the stage mix was
     pretty good.

     Neal

    There were 2 boards set up at 90 degrees to each other, and nothing
    out in the house, except the light man off to the right in the area of
    section 5.
    
    ...which of course, doesn't mean Roger wasn't doing the monitors.
    Mattery fact, his board *was* the one facing the band.
    
    Edd

    
    Thanks for all the SD fans by sharing their views and commenting 
    on what they like about each SD album and Fagen solo albums.
    
    since each one has his own expectation, therefore there is no
    common consensus of which is the best-loved SD album by the majority.
    
    It's definitely informative to see how others rate SD albums and I
    love to read about other opinions of his works.
    
    Actually I would like to see some polling done and I would not mind
    doing it.
    
    simply send me a mail on 23128::steveliu, I will do the tallying.
    
    Your Most Favorite Album:   Least Favorite Album:
    Your Most Favorite Track:   Least Favorite Track:
    
    please go ahead sending in your votes, I will post the results
    after I have compiled the statistics.
    
    sl.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    
    I have received a few polls but in order to make our statistics
    as non-biased as possible, I need a bigger sample space.
    
    If you need time to relisten to SD records before you cast your
    vote, please feel free to do so.
    
    The polling will be opened for a while before it will be closed
    for tallying.
    
    Please refer to note .153 for details on submitting your vote.
    
    I plan to tally the received votes as follows :
    
         TITLE                              LISTED   FIRST   LAST
         =====                              ======   =====   ====
    e.g.   Aja                                 3       2      1
           
    
       this means that the record Aja has been mentioned 3 times
       out of these 3 votes; 2 have ranked it most favorite and 1
       has ranked it as least favorite.
    
    e.g.   Hey 19                              4       2      2
           
    
       this means that the track "hey 19" has been mentioned 4 times
       out of these 4 votes; 2 have ranked it most favorite and 2
       have ranked it as least favorite.
    
       I will restate the albums/tracks for voting as follows :
    
       1) Countdown to ecstacy
       2) Pretzel logic
       3) Can't buy a thrill
       4) The royal scam
       5) Katy lied
       6) Aja
       7) Gaucho
       8) Nightfly
       9) Kamakiriad
    
       and all the tracks listed in the albums.
    
       Those albums/tracks with high votes on "first" and low votes on 
       "last" will rank high. 
    
       sl.
    
              

    
    I will give you a snapshot of our polling.
    
    At this moment, almost all but one SD record are in fact listed
    in our poll. Right now Fagen solo albums have not yet
    been listed by anyone in our poll.
    
    I have been listening to Fagen's latest record Kamakiriad,
    it's a great record, just as somebody has mentioned the
    more yoo listen to it the more you will like it.
    I won't say it's a Gaucho II as it's been described by someone or  
    even a post-Nightfly, Kama is a lot more subtle in its tune but the 
    underlying beat in its tracks or background rhythm whatever you may 
    call it is very strong so the more you hear the more you get yourself
    hooked on ! Way to go, Steely !
    
    For those who have not yet bought this record, there are a lot of
    good tracks in it and the quality of each track is very consistent.
    It's a good investment.  
    
    sl. 
    
    

    
    You can send in your last votes by next Monday, after that I will
    tally the results of our Steely Dan's countdown.
    
    if you need more time, please reply to this note.
    
    mail address recalled as 23128::steveliu
    
    sl.
    

    
    Today is the day for tallying, late vote entry can still be
    entertained.
    
    Actual votes will not be displayed but only the ranking results
    will be shown like any other voting results.
    
    sl.
    
    

    
       Hi, fans, here's the countdown results :
    
       Album Ranking

       1) Countdown to ecstacy

       2) Katy lied

       3) Can't buy a thrill 

       4) Aja

       5) Pretzel logic
    
       6) The royal scam

       7) Gaucho

       (Noone has submitted votes for Kamakariad and Nightfly. 
        I guess some of us have not tried them yet but what's
        a mistake if you haven't !)
    

       Track Ranking  (top 5 only)

       1) Do it again !   (the undisputable classics)

       2) My old school
            
       3) Deacon Blues and Aja (tied) 
       
       4) FM
       
       5) Chain Lightning
    
    
       I think there is no surprise !  Any comment ?
    
       sl.
       
    

    
    Well I, for one, am surprised that "FM" - a throwaway for them that got
    lots of airplay while everyone was waiting for Gaucho - made the singles
    list as opposed to something like "Reelin' in the years" (too much airplay
    in that case, perhaps?).  I was also surprised to see Aja rank so much
    higher than Royal Scam.  Then again, I was among those who didn't get
    around to submitting a list, so ...

    ...can't be any more surprising than having "Do It Again" at the top
    of the singles list.
    
    Even Walter Becker hates the tune.
    
    Edd

    re: previous discussion on Nichols and monitoring...
    
    I read an interview with Roger this weekend. His role was solely
    to provide the "in-ear" mix to Donald, Walter, and Warren. A
    seperate engineer worked the mix for the wedges.
    
    Nothing succeeds like excess...
    
    Edd

    
    I find their latest "Kamakariad" their best.
    
    Too bad, I've not received any entry for it, maybe I've to wait
    for his fans to buy the record and then get a chance to listen
    to it before starting our voting.
    
    sl.
    

    I ran across a copy of "Sun Mountain" last week and scoffed it right 
    up.
    
    It's part of a trilogy of demoes, outtakes and unreleased stuff, mostly
    in the vein of the easily available "Early Years" done during the
    period they were playing with Jay & The Americans and hawking tunes
    in the Brill Building. 
    
    There are about 7 songs that eventually made it to official releases.
    Most amusing was a piano and vocal only version of "The Caves Of
    Altamira" where Fagen appears to be learning the song. Also included is
    "Brooklyn" and  "Charlie Freak", along with my favorite unreleased cut
    "Mock Turtle Song".
    
    Sound quality varies from "mic in a Teac" to '72 vintage demo.
    
    Edd

    
    
    Just picked up the boxed set yesterday at Costco for $42 as a Bday gift
    for my brother.  Just scanned the titles briefly, but it looks like a
    good summary with all the classic Dan tunes represented.  Maybe Santa
    will add this to my collection?  *<8')
    
    

         Another Great Woods show happening soon.  Anyone going?
    I saw them last summer, same place.  The show was excellent.
    Good tune selection, singing, musicianship, etc.  Their
    guitar player and musical director, Drew Zingg, was absolutely
    fantastic.  Any info on this summer's line-up?
    
    Kev --
    

    
    >          Another Great Woods show happening soon.  Anyone going?
    
    'Course!  
    
    Personally, I was very suprised to see them touring again!  I thought
    that it was a one-time deal, sort of a grand closure to the Rock and
    Soul Review successes.  Maybe without the fanfare this year, there'll
    be some nice suprises (Baxter?  :^)).
    
    Also personally, I hope the '94 show was as good as '92's R&S Review --
    I enjoyed the small set of Dan tunes at that show more than all the Dan
    tunes in last year's show.
    
    - Sean

    
         Seeing Jeff "skunk" Baxter jammin with Steely Dan
    would be awesome.  I'd be right into that.  Like I said
    the guitar player on the '93 tour was great, but I'd
    like to see one of the originals at the scene.
         BTW, I couldn't stand the way "Reeling in the Years"
    was done at the '93 outing.  Everything that made the
    original recorded version cool (hint, hint, the guitar work)
    was absent in favor of a slow paced horn arrangement!
    I went to fill up my Bud cup at this point.
    
    Kev --
    

    
    Denny Diaz was a special guest when I saw them in L.A. last year.
    
    Already have my seats for September's show in Denver !
    
    - acp

         How was Denny Diaz' playing that show?  Did they
    pull out any of the older tunes with him on that night?
    

I hope they change the set list from last year.  Not that I disliked anything
from last year, I'd just like to hear other songs.  If they repeated last
year's set it would be a disappointment.

I also hope they do "FM" as an encore this year, since they didn't do it for
the GW show I saw last year.

adam

         I'd love to hear some more obscure tunes off the 
    "Countdown to Ecstacy" album like "Your Gold Teeth" or
    "Pearl of the Quarter" or my favorite off the album, 
    "King of the World."  That tune really flips me out; 
    it would be something to hear it live...
    
    Kev --
      

    
         Any reviews of the 1994 tour yet?  I'd just love
    to know what I'm gonna be missing.
    
    Kev --
    

    I heard that Becker's album finally has been released.  Entitled
    "11 Tracks of Whack" or something like that.  Anyone heard it yet?

    
    I picked up the brand new live Steely Dan CD over the weekend.
    It consists of favorites picked out from the '93 & '94 tours
    with (for the most part) different band line-ups.
    
    I saw them at Great Woods back in '93 and I was completely
    floored by their guitarist/musical director, Drew Zingg..this
    dude smoked!!  Can't recall the '94 tour guitar player right 
    now, but listening to this CD, it becomes instantly obvious that
    he's also a top-notch player in his own right.
    
    The CD really sounds excellent.  It's about time a new Steely Dan
    disc was released.
    
    Enjoy!
    Kev --
    

    '93 to '94 diffs
    
    		'93       			'94
    
    Guitar:	Drew Zingg                Georg Wadenius
    Drums:	Peter Erskine		  Dennis Chambers
    
    Edd Cote

    
    Drew also played guitar with Donald and Walter during the '92
    Rock and Soul Review (still my fave of the 3 tours).
    
    - Sean