I'm still recovering from the cringeworthy Paul Shaffer interview, in which Donald was interrupted continuously. It was so refreshing to listen to the great man in an interview where he was asked intelligent questions and and allowed to answer. This was a wonderful interview. Thank you!
Omg that interview was shit. Paul does that to everyone and even on the night show. He always was trying to talk to Letterman when nobody wanted him to.
The rest of the world will one day realize, when Donald Fagen is gone, they lost one of the greatest writer, composer, arranger and musician of the 20th and 21st century. Steely Dan music, as well as Donalds and Water Beckers solo stuff, will stand the test of time better than probably most anything out there.
Actually the music world does know about Donald and that is the only world that matters, really. Personally I believe he's in that tiny group of composers (Gershwin, Porter, Wilson, Bacharach etc;) whose compositions not only hold up over time but in fact improve. I think Royal Scam sounds better today than when it came out. But on his arranging skills? I don't think he really knows what he wants in terms of a compete 'orchestration of the background vocals, horns etc; In short he's not Rachmaninov. Gary Katz had a great sense of what Donald's tunes should sound like. He reminds me of Nelson Riddle in terms of the physicality of his orchestrations. They 'feel good. They're warm
@@camofrog Creepy misogynists? I like that term, I think that's why a lot of us 'dan fans' like them, 'Creepy Misogynists' nice, could be a title to a song
Man, you caught him on a good day and clearly interviewed him the way he likes to be interviewed. That's the most relaxed I've heard Donald Fagan, and as a result he really opened up. Fun and interesting.
Yeah definitely a treasure I would absolutely agree with you. One other interview that is great but isn't audio recorded was one with Walter Becker from the paper in New York called Timeout I believe and it was promoting his solo record Circus Money, which I'm a huge fan of as well. It's available online if you look for it. fascinating stuff.👍👍👍👍
I was a high schooler from 69 to 73. Grew up on Hard Rock. Then when I herd Steely Dan I was Captivated. Anyone who didnt lock on to Steely Dan doesnt know what they missed. Im 69 and it still is just as good as the 1st time I herd it. FANTASTIC!!!!!!
What a difference when an interviewer is of the same mindset as such an eccentric genius. Leo even read the same authors, thereby gaining Don's confidence. Mr Fagan seems so relaxed, and the questions/comments could have been a conversation with Walter. I'm blown away. It would be hard to top this.
All of Fagan’s music just gets soooo much better over time!!! I’m blaring IGY now in 2022…. FORTY YEARS After its debut!!!! Thank God for giving us DF and WB.
Donald’s comments about the movie whiplash and La la land. Only makes me love him more. I fall on the fanatic level of fan and this is by far the best interview with Donald . I’ve ever heard. Thank you so much for giving this to us all. Anymore I write will make me seem crazy.just great!
My 4 years of highschool '74-'77 was Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, Royal Scam, and Aja. An amazing album progressing each year. I couldn't believe they weren't more popular than KISS. Now I do.
When I bought Asa, I simply stopped listening to Bad Company, Kiss, Steve Miller and others as they suddenly seemed very boring. My musical world became Steely Dan, Little Feat and Brian Auger. Happily almost everything any of them ever did is here. Class of 76 btw
Wow. I had no idea he could be this honest and down to earth. Usually he seems like he's trying to be dark, cynical and opaque as he can be. He's a musical hero of mine, so it was really refreshing to hear him be so honest and open. He even mentioned "fun" several times. Excellent job on the interview!
When the Nightfly came out, Fagen showed more than the dark cynical side that was Steely Dan with Becker “ we fought - now I can’t remember why … we kissed again, as the showers swept the Florida shore - you opened your umbrella and we walked between the raindrops back to your door”. Almost a closet romantic.
In 1977, while playing basketball on an outdoor court in Florida, had my boom box out there tuned in to a radio station, and they played the whole AJA album. That's when I got tuned in to The Steely Dan phenomenon. Still tuned in! 2023.
I'm a Millennial (33), and I think Donald has plenty of wisdom to impart on my generation. It's funny he seemed to think otherwise. I don't necessarily think it's a responsibility of his to be proactive about it, but the ability to access the catalog of Steely Dan and his solo work has enabled so many new listeners. The grooves they penned resonate in a big way with a lot of younger folks! And the messages still ring true in our modern world where tech has led to many utopian things, but came with a dark seedy underbelly. He's still so relevant for the ways in which he portrayed society.
I think that's because the themes that he (and Walter) wrote about are universal. We all love and lose, we all get older, we all want what we can't have, we all (eventually) miss the innocence and brightness of our youth. But very few have interpreted those themes musically as well as Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
My kids grew up hearing Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Pat Metheny, King's X, and lots of other music that has made a difference in their appreciation of music as adults.
Steely Dan and Rush are like the Jokers in a deck of cards... Play anything against them and you will lose. Nothing compares to their compositions, arrangements or delivery. It's never too little or too much, just perfect... Maybe this is just my opinion 🤷🏽♂️ Mr. Fagen is a National Treasure!!!
Finally, an extended Donald Fagen interview. And it's up to, and beyond my expectations. Interesting details about the work, bits of personal stuff, funny and serious at the same time. Just as he's music.
Listening to this is probably the most worthwhile thing I've done this week, which includes physical therapy, dental work, and getting a Covid-19 test.
I first heard Steely Dan's Haitian Divorce in about 1976 I think (I was 15). I just loved everything about it and especially Fagen's edgy voice that seemed filled with world-weariness and cynicism. They're still my favourite band now. Tim (Southampton, England)
@@spactick Never seen them live - (I'm not sure they've come to England much.) I love the old 70's live stuff just as I love the album stuff. I love the bit on this video (timestamp 29m 50s) when they have some sound problems and decide to play a little impromptu blues whilst it gets fixed.)
@@Cotictimmy if you ever do see then live you won't be disappointed. They go out of their way to give you the absolute finest performance by the absolute finest musicians that are available. They don't cut corners at all. I saw Donald in 2019 at the Saratoga Winery in Saratoga Calif just south of me here in San Francisco. For 2 hours they went full bore. Great show. I saw the Beatles several times and they'd only play 20 minutes, which I thought was a rip-off, and you couldn't even hear them, ha!
@@Cotictimmy i need to find that. They did a tour not that long ago - perhaps it was at a few stops in Europe and the land down under with World Party! somewhat of an unlikely pair... though after listening to this interview, not really.
Thank you SO much for this... Little question though: when was this interview conducted? Cheers from France!! I'm a 42 year old metalhead but Steely Dan is my favorite band EVER (never saw them.. Boo-hoo). I'm not a kid anymore, but I cried like a bitch when Walter died.
@@thethirdstorypodcastwithle8084 Thank you very much!!! I can now archive this with my old Donald interviews!!! Thanks again for your work, mate. Means a lot...
I just heard from a reliable source that Fagen's wife convinces him to tour as much as possible. I hope he continues as his music will always be extraordinary. I am a huge fan.
@@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses I hear you. I'll be 65 in December and just started writing and recording songs three years ago. Check out my latest: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ne_47dJAX84.html. I think Donald would like it, especially the lyrics. Take care and thanks for your reply.
i read an interview with frank zappa in 1973 and he was asked if there was anything new he liked and he said not much...but mentioned steely dan. i assume he was referring to can't buy a thrill.
Leo thank you for interviewing Donald Fagan. There is a moment when everyone digs into Steely Dan records a little bit more when something clicks and you get what they're trying to do. He's a super funny interesting guy but I would be afraid to meet him in person and catch him when he doesn't want to be bugged. Thanks for getting him out of his shell and beyond the regular interview. He's actually more informative in this interview than he was in his own book
Sublime! DF is a national treasure. If there was a musical Mt. Rushmore, he and Walter would be half of it. Thanks to Donald and Leo for a stellar interview.
Anytime I hear the question, “If you could have dinner and conversation with anyone, who would it be?”, Donald always comes to mind first. Thank you for this fabulous interview.
Amazing interview. I could listen to you interview Donald Fagen for 12 hours straight. One thing that gets me about Donald Fagen, though - I don't think he appreciates how much better this world is because of his contribution. Thank you, Donald (and Walter, of course).
words are hard and Fagen takes everyday catchphrases and turns them into evocative and imaginative pop poems. So he's a street poet of his times. I like 'Home at Last' 'still I remain tied to the mast' He's a poet first as the lyrics and the stories are what create a songs narrative that we are invited to share. Oh and he's not bad at the music thing either.
Wow Donald... Night Fly is one of my favorite albums because of how you shared a glimpse of yourself, and the partial departure from the "unsatiated protagonist". -Upbeat departure from SD -Some of the best 80's synth patches ever! -Amazing driving syncopation & "in the pocket" rhythmic patterns. - Unbelievable lead and background vocals. -Fantastic audio production
Fantastic interview! One of the best and most insightful discussions I have ever heard with a true musical entity that has been such continuous inspiration and Cosmic therapy anyone could ask for..... Love You Mr. Fagen!
Your dad's interview with Donald from the 80's has been a resource to me for years now. Hearing this is such a great follow-up, there are many parallels I could draw between your two conversations. So insightful and organic. Nicely done Leo
Thank you Nick. I have thought about that quite a bit also. I think some people are not aware of that interview, and in many ways this is an extension of that original conversation between Ben and Donald.
I first came across steely dan as a 14 Yr old in 1976. I used to babysit for my eldest brother. He had a state of the art stereo, great headphones and an extensive, eclectic record collection. Many of the bands he listened to you wouldn't have heard of, at the time, being they were not in the charts nor ever would be. Lots of prog rock, jazz, fusion which, given my age, didn't ring my bell. Then I found the royal scam album and was just blown away. I didn't understand most of the lyrics, given I'm English, but I loved the music especially Larry carltons guitar solo's. I naturally then listened to the previous albums and even given my age noticed the bands progression which , for me, reached their height with the aja album. No album before or since, by any band, can touch it for its perfection, lyrically or musically. Another thing I'm grateful to the band for is that they led me to other artists
@@kaikaih5771 Larry carlton, doobie bros , boz scaggs, the crusaders. The simple fact was so many various artists were used on steely dan albums. The best of the best
Had a look at what you listen to . Fairly eclectic know vast majority of them. Prefer early hall and oates albums than there 80's stuff. I could recommend some to you if you like. The crusaders free as the wind album. Gato barbieri calienti album. Johnny guitar Watson, ain't that a bitch album. Al jarreaus , this time album. Doobie brothers, taking it to the street album
@@spartacusforlife1508 yeah that's a fairly old playlist that I have on my channel, I have well over 3,000 songs now and i also enjoy Boz Scaggs and The Doobie Brothers.
i went to college in the early 1990s and pretty much everyone in my circle knew that Donald Fagen was a musician genius back then. We had bootleg tapes of the band touring in like 1973-1974.
If I could share with Donald, I would simply like to encourage him in a gentle way to embrace and accept how he has been g-d wired to do what he does, even down to his voice that his fans love as a part of his total package. Ruby and Walk Between Raindrops just kill me. I know those are labors of love and take time in the studio but then we have timeless songs with gorgeous harmony that transcend any kind of idiom.
It's funny how DF does not listen to his own music and does not know what an influence he's been on my generation! Wonderful band, person and music that set the tone for my generation!! Very important music.
Great interview, pulled everything together, including the references to Eminent Hipsters, which I read when it came out. I love the insights that Donald revealed about himself, Walter, their choice of musicians, childhood experiences, touring, crankiness, musical influences, the Wendell device, audiences, fans, and on and on... Wonderful Stuff!
Donald and Walter are the two finest musicians of my lifetime. The joy those two gentlemen have given to me in my lifetime, even when I didn’t even know who they were is immeasurable.
Day one fan and being in the business myself I have some experiences with the Dan. This is one of the best most relaxed interviews I have heard with DF. Nice job fellas!!! JD
I really enjoyed this - thank you so much for posting this. I recommend his book "Eminent Hipsters" as well. His diary of his time on the road with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald has some very amusing bits!
Great interview and thanks for sharing. PS: People and Jazz musicians in particular regard Stravisnsky's 'The Rite of Spring' in such high regard as his magnum opus, but IMHO 'The Firebird' is at least every bit as incredible and perhaps even more so, not in its rhythmic content, but in its colourful melodic and harmonic twists and turns.
Very cool that you landed this conversation. Going through an SD phase again - as I do periodically - devouring their music and archived interviews etc. Interested in parsing Becker's contribution from Fagen's etc. Where one started and the other left off etc. 11 Tracks of Whack is pretty cool.
Of all the music in my collection, I was impressed with how my daughter focused right in on Steely Dan. Makes me proud and happy she gets the same enjoyment listening to a band that I always felt was one of the finest we have been blessed with in our lifetimes.
Donald, we all look to you when it comes to flawless production, creativity and musicianship. You and your partner have made us all better, and give us something to aspire to- I have absorbed all your stuff and still turn to it ever day. Every day, my man... shalom, Jimi
This was literally a revelation. Never heard Donald Fagen reveal much at all over the years, let alone this in depth gold mine of a chat. It was great to hear him so relaxed and connected and willing to share his unique take on music, literature and the zeitgeist.
Can’t say it’s the best interview I’ve ever heard as I’ve never heard one before, but I can’t imagine anyone (ever) surpassing the ease with which Fagen and the Interviewer collaborated on SD heritage, influences, family life and literary preferences so seamlessly and effortlessly. Learnt a great deal about why I love Steely Dan so much and why Nightfly still remains my favourite album ever. Nicely done! Geoff
I did not know the emotional context Fagen had when writing and finalizing The Nightfly. Makes me appreciate it for its release and tunes that much more. Great thanks coming from a 19 year old, your music rocks!
Fantastic interview this is the first time I’ve heard Mr. Donald Fagen‘s true thoughts your real person I would’ve never known that night flight was an incredible album one of my all-time favorites but I did not know that he had a nervous break down 🤔 steely Dan has been part of my life soundtrack hopefully one day I’ll have opportunity just to say hello to Donnell hopefully you’ll be in a good mood 😁 thanks again for this incredible interview with a musical genius
I just listened today to the second half of Aja and all of Gaucho, and I'm consistently amazed how well these songs and arrangements hold up. The trio of the last seventies records - Royal Scam, Aja and Gaucho are all just about perfect. Aja is pure poise, easily one of that era's greatest LP's.
It’s comforting to know that one of the musicians I admire most also leaps immediately from indifference to irrational fucking hatred of a person. There’s no middle ground! I feel the same way about Don Henley.
Boy, was he ever right about Zappa in his later years. The reference to punk attitude sounds funny at first but makes sense. To me the lyrics and vocal delivery smacked more of snideness, albeit a very agreeable snideness.
Great interview. I was knocked out by ‘Can’t Buy A Thrill’ in 1972 and have loved all the Steely Dan and Donald’s solo albums. The influence of Charlie Parker and the harmonic freedoms of the bop and post-bop jazz musicians on Donald’s music is clear. I was interested in the reference to ‘Tiger Tiger’ by Alfred Bester, a book which I read in the late 1950s. Donald’s music is an essential part of the background to my life, and I never tire of it.
I love Steely Dan, Love Donald Fagen music, gracias por existir. Is a Big influence. Gracias por tantas obras maestras para la historia de la música en el mundo.
Fantastic interview with a fantastic person. I have been poking at many musical styles from Beatles to Pink Floyd and later BB King to Miles and all kinds of jazz. Donald, Walter and Steely Dan wraps it up and represent all I love in music and song writing. The quality and the feeling the compositions offer is simply the best and I will never stop listening to it for as long as I live. Thanks Mr Fagen for all the joy you bring.
Great interview. Had to be a tough one though. I noticed the interview ended as soon as his crankiness was mentioned. I grew up on Steely Dan music through the 70's & 80's and always appreciated their musicianship, humor and cerebral nature. I ordered and read Fagen's autobiograghy as soon as it came out. I was really struck by how unhappy he seemed, pretty much to the point of being completely insufferable. Reminded me of Ginger Baker in a way, but not as mean. They say it's never a good idea to meet your heroes...
When you mentioned Kamkiriad, I shed a tear. One of my favorite albums and bought it as soon as I heard it was released. I played that album over and over in ‘93. Superb interview. Well done.
I don’t want to sound unappreciative, but I wish the interview would ask more specific questions about the songs. He’s one of the most brilliant and cryptic lyricist of all time.
I once had this terrible nightmare that Indians were chasing me through the woods and I was trying to escape. I found a cabin and went in there and Steely Dan was playing and the Indians all disappeared.
Wow. This was just fantastic and very peaceful. I have heard others and read some in the past 15-20 years, and this was a well-tempered sage who is still very consistently himself, reflective, keenly self-aware and sharp minded, sharp witted. Yet, there is something different that is very careful and caring. He did not mention much how much he and Walter seem to be masters of eq and compression, but the principles of great production: negative eq (take away what you don't want with subtle cuts to certain frequencies) and tasteful compression: gently smoothing the edges while retaining the attack and clarity. There is nothing ambiguous and nothing being hidden, but the sweet spots are brought forward with precision and grace. He is fascinating as ever. Thank you so much.
ain't it the truth... Shaffer: Ask a question, and then start talking again yourself. Sideman: Ask a thoughtful question, and let the answer unfold while you LISTEN RESPECTFULLY!
I loved that he mentioned Harvey Pekar, I guess they both are the same kind of guy. And hearing about childhood experiences, his hipster uncle Dave and all the little things that shaped his taste. Great conversation, and your voice has a calm, dignified quality that's not often heard in podcasts.
SD's 2016 concert at the Hwd Bowl w/ the Hwd Bowl Orch (on YT) was a revelation. They played "Aja" so effortlessly, leaping over all those wild time signatures at the end! With all they can do, they must be the greatest orchestra in the world!
I fell in love with the Nightfly album at first blush Donald. I could so easily identify, a wonderful blend of jazz and lifestyle vocals, people had to tell me to stop singing. I think it is a shame that we cannot be young forever here. I love you my dude.
Kamakiriad is my favorite solo by the Donald every track is great and better than the last what a masterpiece this guy has more talent in his pinky than most artist have in their entire band
