Been a Dan-Fan since my College Days in '73. Just about EVERYONE I knew in college loved their music...especially my jazz oriented bass-playing housemate who thought AJA was the best album ever made.
When Aja came out, I was studying to be a recording engineer in Hollywood. We used the album as a example of a perfect recording and mastering, we listen to it dozens of times while our instructor pointed out small nuances.
Steely Dan was one of the most innovative bands in rock history. I consider them a jazz-rock fusion band, although many purists would not. Then again, who cares. When I want to listen to something, I’ll put on any one of their albums, which really is the right way to listen to their music - IMO - as opposed to some type of “best of” compilation. Aja and Gaucho are almost perfect albums. I go back and forth on which one I prefer. But, Pretzel Logic, and The Royal Scam are amazing. Just a phenomenal group, musically, compositionally, and lyrically.
Saw the actual "band" in 1973 with Skunk Baxter on lead guitar, Jim Hodder on drums, Jeff Porcaro on 2nd drums, Walter on bass, Denny Dias on guitar, and Michael McDonald on organ and vocals. Becker played bass and Fagen was set up in the back, seemingly stage fright. I think McDonald handled much of the vocals and was set up front right, next to his future Doobie Brothers bandmate, Skunk Baxter. Concert was a life changing experience, bought every album on vinyl when they came out.
Growing up in the 60's/70's was perfect if you liked iconic, revolutionary, legendary music. Can't Buy a Thrill was such. a great album. Although I never saw them in concert, their contribution to music history is as anchored as any band of the period.
A true legend. Since I'm a bass player, l love his time as Steely Dan's bass player, although he worked on all facets of recorded music. He plays bass on "Florida Room" on Fagan's Kamakirad, IMHO one of the best bass lines of all time. I got to see Steely Dan in Orlando when they played their biggest hits, and also tracks from Kamakirad and 11 tracks of Whack. What a great concert! RIP
One of my all time favorite guitar solos is Walter's solo on "What A Shame About Me". He expertly crafts a a musical sermon that folds right into the song. It's very bluesy, but fits perfectly. It grooves to get the listener involved. So many guitarist could learn to relate their solos to the song instead of trying to showcase their personal skill.
11 Tracks of Whack by WB is my go-to album for getting through hard times. I have the impression that Fagan wrote more of the Dan's music but that Walter held an almost Dylanesque position with incisive lyrics and story lines. Would love to know his more precise contribution, because Fagan was wonderful with lyrics too, I'm sure. Good to know WB still is appreciated. On Tracks of Whack he sounds like a guy who has hit bottom in life but has lived to tell about it. Some amazing guitar on it by some session guys, too.
ARE WE REELIN IN THE YEARS OR DID RICKY LOSE HIS NUMBER ????? DO IT AGAIN , I WAS A TEENAGER IN THOSE DAYS BUT WHAT A TIME FOR MUSIC IT WAS , I JUST TURNED 61 YESTERDAY , IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME IN THE 70 ‘S , WERE GONNA REV - UP THE MOTOR SCOOTERS WHEN JOSIE COMES HOME ......... BIG BLACK COW AND GET OUT OF HERE ..... WHAT A SAX SOLO !!!! 77 , THE YEAR ELVIS LEFT THE BUILDING !!!
Becker with his long hair and glasses, hair parted on side looked awkward, a new term to describe such a person is Nerdy-Hippy. It wasn’t until Becker was older with shorter hair he grew into his looks. Same thing for Fagen. Both very intelligent men. There musicianship as a combined talent was exceptional as evidenced by the great catalog of songs, album’s and notable performances they have left. Walter was a remarkable man and I am not trying to be harsh as I’m a fan.
Very insightful and enjoyable. Great factoids on their roots and meeting. Would have liked more images, surely a band of this stature has many archived. I am a fan of these guys and regret not having seen them live when they toured. Thanks!
Aja, KatyLied and Gaucho. My top 3. In no particular order. Was fortunate enough to see them at the Hollywood Bowl. The opening night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra’s 100th anniversary. Not sure of the timeline. But Walter died shortly thereafter. RIP Walter Becker.
went to Bard,have memories of Fagan and Becker.Recognized Fagan as a genius when I heard him play sax in a Bard band,but didn't take advantage of doing a certain chemical with him,sorry I didn't now,would have been a great story.Anyway sorry to hear about Walter Becker's death,RIP.
Listen to The Royal Scam album "Don't Take Me Alive". Larry Carlton absolutely rips on that song. The intro is actually the chorus with Larry's lead guitar in lieu of vocals.
Thanks for the info 11:14 11:14 rmation. I like so many have long been a fan, but never knew much of the man. Was always curious.☀️ Along with Donald Fegan, such amazing talent, and body of work
Fagan and Becker are to music what Joel and Ethan Coen are to movies … quirky perfectionists completely devoted to their craft, producers of brilliant new interpretations of their respective art forms, geniuses all four in every sense of the word. Becker’s interlude speech on stage when performing “Hey Nineteen” was worth the price of admission alone!
@@ricardojacobs-u3f I can honestly claim to have been a fan of both from the very beginning of their careers … a college freshman in 1972 when “Can’t Buy A Thrill” was released and was one of the few people who actually saw “Blood Simple” in a theater in 1984.
Some might say they were arrogant, narcissistic bastards who were too ego-involved to really effectively manage their musical production and the session players who performed on their records and made the music. Becker was an average guitar player at best......quirky, in a box solo limited, and utterly unforgiving of anyone else who dare questioned his judgement....... Let's not suck one another's dicks so quickly on Donald and Walter.....as the lawsuits between Becker's family and Fagen have proven, it was always about the money, the greed, the billing, the ownership rights of the brand, etc. Becker and Fagen, if anything, were hypocrites and demagogues on music, entertainment, and their craft.
@johnmaer, what’s your actual experiential basis for such extreme personal attacks of Fagan and Becker? My comments above have nothing to do with personal observations of them as everyday human beings (or with Becker’s guitar playing skill, which was not his primary contribution to the SD musical legacy) since I have none to share. But the uniqueness of their public personas and inventiveness of their particular art form doesn’t seem to be in popular dispute. Consider that yours may very well be an outlying perspective.
When I stopped in the music store at the corner of Haight and Asbury to buy a ukulele, several salespersons gathered around and laughed a bit too much at everything I said. Etc. When asked if I was Walter Becker and replied 'no,' they dispersed :) This was some years ago. My daughter calls me Steely Dad now and then :)
My father was a lookalike of Humphry Bogart - although a lot younger. I mean you would be hard pushed to tell them apart from a distance. Used to holiday in France where people used to ask for autographs in the street. Even after the real one was dead!
I’m profoundly grateful to Steely Dan for getting me through the 1970s. So many parties were ruined by jackasses cranking up Led Zeppelin & playing air guitar. I always imagined “Home At Last” on Aja as being “the portrait of a New York artist struggling with life in Los Angeles.” Theirs was a heroic odyssey. Shalom Walter Shalom.
During the Gaucho sessions, guitarist Walter Becker was hit by a car late one night while walking home to his New York apartment. It took him six months to recover. Then Becker’s girlfriend, Karen Roberta Stanley, died of a drug overdose at his home while the record was being made.
Becker's solo album 11 Tracks of Whack is great! His guitar playing makes you wonder why they even would hire others because he's as good as any of them
Amazing video. I love Do It Again, they had such a chill, mystical vibe to them with this album especially. Hearing where they got their name cracked me up, lol. We know the music, but learning more about the artists lives is brilliant and makes the experience of listening to them fuller. I love the mention of Rosie Vela’s album Zazu, I love it but find very few people know of it. Loved this, thank you!
Thank you! Walter was a very private person so was hard to source more personal information, but I totally understand as some musicians, like Gerry Rafferty, just love the music and not the fame aspect so much. And yes a very unusual name for a band Thank you for watching and your ongoing support as always 🥰💕
It says a lot about the quality of the music of the 70’s, when songs like Reeling in the years, Ricky don’t lose that number etc. didn’t reach the top of the charts !
I saved my lunch money when I was 13 to buy "Can't Buy a Thrill". Steely Dan was the only group that I didn't get to see perform with the original members.
I was never a fan of this band but I noted their chops were good. One day Larry Carlton brought his band into my school auditorium @the Musicians Institute, in Hollywood. And they played a Steely Dan set. After that I loved this band. BTW: 'Aja' is pronounced : ASIA.
After their 1st album I got all their vinyl the Tues they came out. My fav band and I knew everything but his middle name and Chevy Chase. Saw them 2x before and 2 more after he passed. Katy Lied is my best and I read in a biography that Dr. Wu was the 'Dr' that was helping them get off heroine. RIP Walter.
Sorely missed. Playing the Blues and vocalizing seriously pithy observations in a coffee shop in Heaven--without an adequate sized Tip Jar. Cheers Mr. B. (without the single malt.)
There are bands that you can just know who they are within the first 2-3 seconds of play, even having never heard the track before. We all know the big ones, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Deacon and the Undertakers,...... Steely Dan was one of those bands. You could pick it up immediately. One of those iconic bands with great lyrics, great music, a unique vocal sound. Sad to see this coming to an end, and at 70, I suppose I'm not too far behind. I'll see all the great bands up there, along with Phil Ochs, Jim Croce, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and on and on and on.
I never thought much about Walter Becker until I heard his "11 Tracks of Whack" and Fagen's "Kamakiriad". Fagen's groove-oriented nature and Becker's out-of left-field arrangements and lyrics put it all together for me. RIP, Mr. Becker. The world will never be the same for me.
Wow… how hard could it possibly be for a mother to not screw over your kid??? I’m sure there are many excuses I’m also sure they are just that Mothers do better
a very sad ocassion walter will be missed for his incrediable witt and humour brilliant guitar and bass playing and song writing the music world has lost a genious rip walter
Good info on SD - Something that is a challenge with their reluctance to do much in the way of "typical" promotion stuff. I wished you had been able to get more detail in that 74-80 period, but I know how difficult that is with Fagen & Becker. One oddity - you are taking about Pretzel Logic, but show Countdown to Ecstasy. I'm Nit-picking - just ignore me. I appreciate the video!
So many great lines in that song isn’t there. Musically and lyrically it’s just outstanding Did you feel like Jesus? Did you realize That you were a champion in their eyes?
Used to fall asleep listening to Pretzel Logic and Countdown to Ecstasy as a 14 year old in '74. Absolutely magical period of music, 1974 - 1978; particularly from Steely Dan.
I think you made a mistake. Did you say Queens in Scarsdale, NY? If you did, you made a mistake. Scarsdale NY is in Weschester County. NOT Queens. Queens is a borough of NYC. Weschester is North of the Bronx. Sorry to have to correct you, but getting these facts correctly is important. Thanks.
I had the good fortune to meet him in his grandmothers apartment in Queens in 1972, as I was dating his sister Wendy at that time. One of the greats, and a true talent...Steely Dan was one of the best "bands" of all time. I put "bands" in parentheses because it was really just him and Donald...everyone else came and went, buy you can't discount Skunk Baxter's and Larry Carlton's contributions and exemplery guitar work. The guitar solo on "Reelin' in the Year's" is one of the best...
This is the first time hearing that Denny Dias was recruited by Becker and Fagen. The story is usually that Dias placed an add in the Villiage Voice for a keyboardist and bassist - "must have jazz chops, assholes need not apply". Then they added Baxter when they moved to L.A. .
OK, I need help. I'm terrible with faces... In the picture of Leather Canary starting at 1:30, it's obvious to me that Chevy Chase is in the rear, but which of the other 3 are Becker and Fagan? Maybe I can see Fagan on the right, with that squared-off chin?
ONCE liked Steely Dan until I watch the video where Brian May played in the band. Best time to judge a band is when they play live, so when Brian May join the gig, I found out exactly the quality of Steely Dan. Just watch and listen to it. It made me sick to my stomach. I sympathize with Brian May.
This all sounds good, but the dietary segment is very short. From the resources I follow, undoing metabolic syndrome is key. Have a muffin top? Got to get rid of it through diet changes -- cut back on sugar and starchy foods and watch it shrink.
Rickie Lee Jones was very positive about Walter. I found out about RLJ song Show Biz Kids when she in her lyrics mentioned Steely Dan records 😊 To later find out it is her sampled interview in the song Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb (great song!). Walter, thank you for your music. Thanks for the upload 🤠
I know fans rave about their talent as musicians however their lack of vocal talent And lack of great lyrics I’ve never enjoyed any of their recordings Naming their band after a dido Which I didn’t know until today Sounds perfect to me
I was shocked to hear that Randy California was a musical Mentor to Walter Becker. The Student DEFINITELY became the Teacher in that relationship. I met California for a minute at a Toronto Spirit show 30 years ago - TOTAL dickhead.
