Date: Sat, May 09, 2026, 17:53:23 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Another bop from Ginger Root - The Theme of Kataomoi (片思い)

https://youtu.be/GpiuPaarucw

Cameron is also making a song for a new anime show, Sparks of Tomorrow, which will release sometime in July.

Date: Fri, May 08, 2026, 18:00:27 ET
Posted by: Michael,

An excellent interview with D&W in Musician magazine from 1993.

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Musician/1990/1993/Musician-1993-09.pdf

Date: Fri, May 08, 2026, 10:41:37 ET
Posted by: BadSneakers, Nj

College kids playing "Aja" ...
https://youtu.be/pH8yTUUowU0?si=TytcZGtIlHAAzqCd

Date: Thurs, May 07, 2026, 17:19:00 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I wish Don and Walt wrote 1,000 more songs. Nothing else sounds quite the same. Even their proto-SD songs have that distinct flavor. Two of my favorites written for other artists are Lazy Nina and Proud To Be Your Slave.


Greg Phillinganes - Lazy Nina

https://youtu.be/TJMelsJukC0

Diamond Head - Proud To Be Your Slave

https://youtu.be/_9K1fRA7wr0




Some more goodies.


Thundercat - What Is Left To Say

https://youtu.be/KmL_rjsSyhI

Luna Li - Multiplied

https://youtu.be/-Ho3_H5pmC0

Deborah Bond - Bye Bye

https://youtu.be/bQUXJ8sQ7dw

Octopath Traveler 2 (Composer: Yasunori Nishiki) - 仄暗き洞窟 Gloomy Grotto

https://youtu.be/NtJYTJ2Mfs4

Roland Pöntinen - Keyboard Suite No. 1 (Set II) in B-Flat Major, HWV 434: IV. Menuet [arr. W. Kempff for piano]

https://youtu.be/uewmRrMC5tU

Date: Sun, May 03, 2026, 08:31:39 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Thanks, Dr Mü!

Great find!

Date: Sat, May 02, 2026, 15:36:08 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, Left of the Rio Grande

1973 live band photo with Royce Jones, Jenny Soule, Gloria Granola (?)

https://imgur.com/UkvlgdS

Same group that played My Old School on The Midnight Special. Fagen's hair at maximum volume.

Date: Sat, May 02, 2026, 09:24:16 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

"do you have a dark spot on your pants?"

Date: Fri, May 01, 2026, 17:53:10 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Back with more of the good stuff.


Jarrod Lawson - Smoke Me Out

https://youtu.be/9BHZv4VuSR0

Les Imprimés - You & I

https://youtu.be/Tqile8b0jHo

Pearl & The Oysters - Doom Mood

https://youtu.be/OplhHPYRNAo

Milk Talk - The Bay

https://youtu.be/h0kEsJIY6qs

The Olympians - California

https://youtu.be/v-raL9GBQsM

Date: Fri, May 01, 2026, 11:48:38 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Agreed, Chet. That's actually pretty damn funny. Some of the interpretations of SD lyrics are unbelievable to me.

Date: Thurs, April 30, 2026, 13:40:24 ET
Posted by: Chet, B

The former. I found it amusing that somebody thought it warranted an explanation.

Date: Thurs, April 30, 2026, 10:46:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Chet, I have to assume you were joking, Or did you really think it was 76 gas stations?

Date: Wed, April 29, 2026, 07:15:02 ET
Posted by: Chet, B

Just read this on the Wikipedia entry for I.G.Y

The "76" referred to in the song is 1976, the U.S. Bicentennial year.

All these years I thought it was a plug for 76 gas stations.

Date: Sat, April 25, 2026, 08:47:00 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Ginger Root (Cameron Lew) has a new episodic production titled Saikoro Music where he must use dice to select which song he's got to cover, what location in Japan to perform it at and what his budget for the song will be. Lo and behold, on the first episode one of the songs he could've rolled on was 'Only a Fool Would Say That'. When I saw that I almost jumped out from my easy chair (it was not my own), but the dice landed on 'Temporary Secretary' by Paul McCartney which he did an imaginative cover of by mixing in random sounds he recorded while walking around Ginza. Here's hoping for a SD cover in a future episode!

SAIKORO MUSIC - Episode 1: "Dice to Meet You"

https://youtu.be/qnwcAX33ePI


Some more cool songs to share.


Gareth Donkin - Extraordinary

https://youtu.be/DGdpcxoj6RU

Marutyri - 'Inner Movements'

https://youtu.be/Ol7MDyupm64

Psychic Mirrors - The Witching Hour

https://youtu.be/p6liVJbfPjE

George Benson with Glen Campbell - Affirmation | 1976 Live Performance (The Midnight Special)

https://youtu.be/R41ePO5iHdQ

Date: Sat, April 25, 2026, 00:25:24 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Forgot to mention - Misty Boyce on the Dirty Work vocals. It's an overall very tight set - the Minnesota local heavy band is locked in, even during the prog spurts.

Date: Sat, April 25, 2026, 00:22:32 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

No - there's no question - just a pinky spasm.

Date: Sat, April 25, 2026, 00:21:02 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

So...up in Minneapolis doing my Doc thingy...Corey Wong (Wulfpeck) - nice jazz R&B set with some stretch out. Peter Janjic the drummer is all over the fills and groove but inconspicuous.

There's also a faithful and excellent rendition of Dirty Work at the 45 minutes mark.

https://www.pbs.org/video/cory-wong-with-misty-boyce-3yyez6/

Really nice sax work by Kenni Holmen.

Partake and enjoy?

Date: Tues, April 21, 2026, 12:17:46 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Kent Nishimura covers IGY.

https://youtu.be/N7GqsMRVfhc

Date: Sun, April 19, 2026, 12:01:00 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Julia Mestre released a new song, 'Afim de Verão' (Summer Mood). Superb. Her debut album came out last May. Could a new album be on the way?

https://youtu.be/aOS8JBbdfKk

Dabeull's funkalicious cover of Johnny Mandel's 'Shadow Of Your Smile'.

https://youtu.be/exMEZFtH_Hc

Date: Thurs, April 16, 2026, 16:54:36 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, almost got there.

Link to a mini YT clip of Walter discussing Snowbound is below. As suspected and previously espoused upon it was written in the mid 80s probably for the aborted SD album of the 80s.

https://youtube.com/shorts/x6ys8DOA7V8?si=93dlejmt2MYhBxv9

Snowbound and right into Tomorrow's Girls, Florida Room, the mighty On the Dunes, and Teahouse...like IMO Two Against Nature and Everything Must Go, Kamakiriad has that really strong back half to 2/3 that makes the albums less appreciated among the masses than they probably should be.

Date: Thurs, April 16, 2026, 15:17:57 ET
Posted by: Casey, casin

love the music suggestions, from longtimers to the lurkers, thanks again!

Date: Thurs, April 16, 2026, 13:54:49 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Finally, a new Sparklmami song dropped, 'no te vayas'. Harkens back to the heyday of soul-funk. Nico Segal's trumpet solo is fantastic.

https://youtu.be/vtYcuGfP04s

Thundercat released his new album Distracted a couple weeks ago. Here's the album opener, 'Candlelight', a collaboration with Domi and JD Beck.

https://youtu.be/JFbIx_BksQg

Date: Wed, April 15, 2026, 17:03:35 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Dawn Patrol are a Dutch band strongly inspired by Steely Dan (their name gives it away). Tight arrangements, nice chord changes, clean production. They've got that Steely sound down pat. I can also detect a little MM-era Doobies thrown in for good measure.


Bring on the Good Times

https://youtu.be/q7p-cQXG-u0

Donnie

https://youtu.be/9sdTjT7v0hM

Before It Started

https://youtu.be/5AmHLVQjrTY

Nostalgia

https://youtu.be/Ez5Pie6Jtcw

Bonus: Bring on the Good Times live in the studio.

https://youtu.be/DDoVSj-ZNp8

Date: Tues, April 14, 2026, 11:19:28 ET
Posted by: Chris, Nh

Michael Leonhart on Twitter, quote tweeting an article about Fagen’s “retirement”:

To the people who've been asking, let's just say : everyone needs a break now and then, especially after losing a soulmate ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

-never believe everything you read in the press

-you never know what #donaldfagen is thinkin'
He'll surprise you😉
#steelydan #steelydanfans

https://x.com/michaelleonhart/status/2044068839650934822?s=61&t=XITLg9lQmQiGux04GdptDw

Date: Sun, April 12, 2026, 21:28:33 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

Thanks for the heads up, Doc. Listening to Mamas Gun now, very enjoyable and organic.
Sounds, like there is no more talk of another Fagen album either, but who knows.
End of an era specualtion is becoming more of a possibilty, would love to put my foot in my moth and be proven wrong.
Still hard to believe that SD was never invited to play the Super Bowl Halftime show.
Perhaps they were not flashy enough with all the bombastic dance and show stuff that seems to have become more important than subtance and music.

Date: Sat, April 11, 2026, 16:40:37 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Mamas Gun's Dig album dropped yesterday. It's got a nice live tracked sound. Very 70s/60s soul/blues...even more digging into that vein than Durand Jones and the Indications.

https://youtu.be/wI27LxaR_bY?si=VnlNfvKHCg7o_Adl


Good for Dr. Fagen - well deserved. We'll look out for the guest appearance and occasional YT video from Woodstock...out for only bare necessities.

Thinking about some of his finest compositions. The chord changes, verses where the production and lyrics are in sync (can hear the CD spinning - what's that, kids?). elegant bridge, and floating down sequence on The Night Belongs to Mona.

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


That post-modern Cole Porter sensibility on Big Noise, New York:

https://youtu.be/zicmB4aJIhE?si=YSAkyL39Cr76wTFA

Date: Sat, April 11, 2026, 13:07:40 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Thinking about the plethora of artists I discovered and shared here over the years. Pearl & The Oysters, Donny Benét, Liana Flores, Young Gun Silver Fox, Dina Ögon, State Cows, Ole Börud, Lindsey Webster, Silvertwin, Thundercat, Mayer Hawthorne, Kit Sebastian, Ginger Root, Tingsek, Gareth Donkin, Le Flex. Too many others to list. It made me realize how much the industry has outgrown the formulaic charts of yesteryear. Artists seamlessly blending a wide range of styles, rhythms and sounds to make something their own.

Several of the regulars here on the Blue have shared cool stuff from artists like Durand Jones & The Implications, Toxic Vegan and Jarrod Lawson, which I'm thankful for.

For the handful of folks out there who scoff at this stuff, these new tracks won't change their minds. I know some people who listen almost exclusively to radio staples from the usual suspects: The Beatles, Chicago, Zeppelin, Hendrix. Tried to broaden their horizons to no avail.


Mamas Gun - Had Me At Goodbye

https://youtu.be/30KcFZt_E8Q

Lindsey Webster - Two Hearts (feat. Stokley)

https://youtu.be/h25Q0oNJ77s

Zsigmond Gerlóczy - Ruin A Little Something

https://youtu.be/jf5lq22GSHY

Date: Thurs, April 09, 2026, 03:28:36 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Thanks popegreg and The Dean

Date: Wed, April 08, 2026, 09:59:44 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Thank you, popegreg!

Here's a link that bypasses the paywall:

https://archive.ph/qQR2P

Date: Wed, April 08, 2026, 02:09:56 ET
Posted by: Gus Winterbottom, Torrance, CA

Sorry to say, but the "Musicians of Steely Dan" show has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 6 PM. We'll try to make that one. In any case, thanks to Donny for the heads-up.

Date: Tues, April 07, 2026, 14:11:29 ET
Posted by: popegreg, High In The Custerdome

Article is behind a pay wall, but I was able to get it using private mode.

https://www.vulture.com/article/donald-fagen-is-chilling-and-working-on-his-grandsons-album.html

Some quotes from Amy Helm on Donald's retirement-

“He’s doing fantastic. He’s living up here in Woodstock full time. We’ve been playing a lot of music. He’s enjoying his retirement. He’s playing piano and singing the occasional rock-and-roll cover with our family band at the Midnight Ramble, and we’re having a great time. He’s working on music with my son as well. They’re working on an album, and that’s been fun. So it’s a nice time for the family.”

"While there are no current plans for him to return to the road as Steely Dan, don’t give up hope yet of hearing “My Old School” live one last time. “Right now he’s really enjoying being retired and not having any expectations or pressure,” Helm explains. “We drive around, we listen to music, and he picks fun covers for us to try at the Midnight Ramble. He’s just enjoying the downtime, but I guess you never know. Every artist has their seasons and what they want to lean into, so who knows.”

Date: Mon, April 06, 2026, 06:50:19 ET
Posted by: Over, Out

RIP James Gadson

Date: Sat, April 04, 2026, 23:03:29 ET
Posted by: Donny, Oakkand

Look at this !!
Musicians of STEELY DAN
Presented by: Featured Guest Artists
Apr 9, 2026 - 7:00 PM Fred Kavli Theatre 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks, California 91362
BUY TICKETS
ABOUT

Join us for an evening of STEELY DAN music, featuring ACTUAL Current/Former musicians from STEELY DAN!!!

Joining us onstage will be SPECIAL FEATURED GUEST ARTISTS:

DENNY DIAS (Guitar, Steely Dan co-founder)
JEFF "SKUNK" BAXTER (Guitar, Steely Dan co-founder)
ROYCE JONES (Vocals, Steely Dan)
KEITH CARLOCK (Drums, Steely Dan)
BOB SHEPPARD (Saxophone, Steely Dan)
"READY" FREDDIE WASHINGTON (Bass, Steely Dan)
GRANT GEISSMAN (Lead Guitar, Chuck Mangione)
OZ NOY (Guitar, Solo Artist)
YARON GERSHOVSKY (Keyboards, Manhatten Transfer)

Plus a full Backing Band including Vocalists, performing the music like the Original Recordings!!

OPENING ACT is "THE MICHAEL LEMMO BAND"!

Date: Fri, April 03, 2026, 20:32:41 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu ,

Tomi Malm (keyboardist) with Ole Børud: Somewhere between Kere Buchanan and YGSF I guess. The arrangements are quite good and with Neil Stubenhaus on bass, Tim Pierce throwing out some Dan-ish licks it works. John Robinson on drums. Nice horn chart. Malm tends to pitch correct vocals more than I'd like, but nicely done.

Are You Real?

https://youtu.be/qtMVDhdtBhU?si=Xe2O2iYrsWiiFATD

Second Wave and Solaris are short, but excellent instrumentals - can't find them on YT. The Walkin' on Air title track is fine...

Margeaux from Coming Home:

https://youtu.be/CUOqPCfmh2Q?si=bHoPYbtbBAzi5Reh

Solid, but not quite up to the production and engineering standards of Buchanan's album.


SIAP, but there's that nice recording with Ole Børud with a dream team of Michael Omartian, Jay Graydon, and Bill Champlin.

Find a Way:

https://youtu.be/cwaXmLHQitQ?si=6UIW3RKQcRs4p5q-

Worth revisiting.

The Feathered Man:

https://youtu.be/yxXfLvomNBs?si=CJx5b7uaOROnd-Xe

Transit Fuse:

https://youtu.be/99ZDt_PwRO0?si=DnypSC1pxAHOBRuz

Date: Thurs, April 02, 2026, 03:15:30 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

DocMu, that song is cool, went under my radar.
I’ve had ‘Through the years” from that album in one of my playlists and never skip it.
Very well executed, kind of a Bill Champlin vibe.

Date: Wed, April 01, 2026, 22:04:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Lutz: Through the Tears. Yes. The album's grown on me and that one is a winner with some hot horns and guitar. Good analogy - there's a vibe that overlaps with some of those Jay Graydon-produced albums with the likes of George Benson, Al Jarreau, and Airplay - For the World version (far better than the original) with Bill Champlin.

It's pop, sometimes jazzy and bluesy. Unrequited love lyrics are fine.

Through the Tears. The thing for me that raises a good bit of the album over the bar is the professional level of recording. Kere Buchanan digs a deep pocket with the drums. Outstanding keyboards.The horn charts are robust and interesting. Tasty guitar and sax. There's that space and communication - excellent studio engineering and production with room to breathe.

Kere sings on a few tracks. There's a third vocalist? or is it Kere at raspier moments. Michelle Martinez, presumably from experience as a back-up vocalist fills the pocket perfectly and knows when to turn off and on the vibrato and blend with tight harmonies. No need for pitch correction. "Before there was Pro-Tools, there were pros."

The album has range:

Through the Tears - it's got some edge.

https://youtu.be/7nybepWpikU?si=D00oPjdd1fRtDHgB


More Than You Know - it's slick but compelling in melody, harmony, arrangements.

https://youtu.be/vvoyKm-sfH8?si=irlRvnxv-Wlx2IsU


Hymn for Anders - really nice guitar call and response work off the Rhodes. Tenor sax solo is very nice.

https://youtu.be/e1i-AsZtRuI?si=VTzHWGipETYnHqRp

Date: Wed, April 01, 2026, 14:39:21 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

DocMu, that song is cool, went under my radar.
I’ve had ‘Through the years” from that album in one of my playlists and never skip it.
Very well executed, kind of a Bill Champlin vibe.

Date: Tues, March 31, 2026, 20:11:33 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Cool song, thanks for sharing Doc. That arrangement leans strongly into DF solo territory which was unexpected to hear (in a good way) and the vocals really shine. The melodica solos really do sound like Donald snuck into the studio.

While not as Fagen-esque as that Kere Buchanan track on a superficial level, 'After Wine' by Sophie Worsley shares a penchant for unexpected chord movement, with a gorgeous soulful melody that really sticks.

https://sophieworsley.bandcamp.com/track/after-wine#lyrics

Here's a solo performance.

https://youtu.be/51d92lsClkg

Date: Tues, March 31, 2026, 11:54:14 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, Left of the Rio Grande

So...doing a walkabout yesterday evening. Apple music's algorithm is throwing a few tunes my way. We're hitting a rut, and the equivalent of swipe lefts...then this ditty appears. A complete unknown.

Kere Buchanan and his band of merry men and women. For the first second of two - nice cymbal intro - then, is it some lame smooth jazz? Swipe left? Wait just a minute. That shuffle. Those Fagenesque flatted 9th/whatever chord progressions and doubling with the synth blues harp/melodica thingy. There's a Mary Shut the Garden Door vibe. Hmmmmm.

Chanteuse Michelle Martinez is a great choice as a vocalist - she has a nice tone and really juicy high end with perfect light vibrato. The tune is really pretty solid and the lyrics are good enough - Anita Bakeresque in a higher register. Rhodes, drums, bass are spot on. Niceling engineered and produced - good balance.

After a soaring bridge with some slick chord progressions and modulation - Then, WTF!? A melodica solo straight out of Fagen's playbook!! Rich in that altered blues/jazz alchemy.

Another visit to the chorus and Martinez ad libs vocals right into a delicious melodica outtro.

Easy Does It:

https://youtu.be/FYlAxyKTJbs?si=jDKEB_Ndaq-zOAA2

So, I dig into Discogs - did Fagen donate a solo somewhere in the night?? Kere Buchanan is evidently an Australian drummer, who self-produced an album Starting Over back in 2009. The rest of the album is a mixed bag, but well played. The Fagen-channeled melodica and Rhodes were courtesy of Bill Risby.

They have to be SD/Fagen fans...and sure enough, looky here they are/were Bodacious Cowboys:

https://imgur.com/a/mbxU6ep

As far as I could tell Buchanan, Risby, Martinez continue to do some session work, showing up on albums down under.

Date: Sat, March 28, 2026, 19:44:21 ET
Posted by: Michael,

He's back. Le Flex's new album Flexism dropped about a week ago, featuring a quiver of slick grooves, soulful ballads, a breezy bossa, stylish dance-pop. More of the good stuff you've come to expect. Here's the album opener, 'Locoheart'.

https://youtu.be/K8cYfxsSCKo

Date: Sat, March 28, 2026, 08:21:20 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Gareth Donkin released a new song, 'Running Away'. Check it out.

https://youtu.be/JIMSnSa_fLU

Date: Thurs, March 26, 2026, 22:36:32 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Quick check-in to say Happy Birthday Reidar! And speaking of Norwegian Blue Bookers, I wonder what's up with Jazzassin?

And very interesting shit, Tech-Mo. I'll pass on whether I approve. But I will say it's very interesting stuff. Very creative. I can do without the costumes/theater of the project, but aside from that it's actually quite good, IMO. Now the question I have to ask is, "Would I just put it on when I'm hanging listening to music?" I'm not sure, but it's possible, especially if I was talking to a musician.

Which is actually more than I can say for most of the music on the playlists posted to the Blue. Not that I think the music posted here is bad. I think some of it is very well made and can respect it. But the vast majority is stuff I'd never choose to play on my own while listening to music.

Date: Wed, March 25, 2026, 12:59:08 ET
Posted by: Don Patrol, Mtl

Happy Birthday to our fave
Norwegian Danfan, Reidar.

Date: Mon, March 23, 2026, 09:24:44 ET
Posted by: Technicolor Motorhome, East of the Mississippi

Do any other Dan fans approve of this type of fusion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Jna6fPOp0&start_radio=1

Date: Sat, March 21, 2026, 16:39:40 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Lutz: MH live would be a treat. The live YT tracks are nice.

The earlier lossless discussions reminded me of why I dumped Spotify for lower quality streaming. Remember the Audio may have overtaken Headquarters as my favorite Monkey House album. There's a bit of an edge on some of the tracks that adds punch and depth to the fine recordings.

I can't find Before You and After - masterful...but still...

Major Minor:

https://youtu.be/c7xSgtEeixI?si=bmvGx3Lw5s0umSqF

Title track:

https://youtu.be/joPlPVtnMxg?si=UEmmPXjWYqIjH1ii

Date: Sat, March 21, 2026, 16:27:27 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Artists from Manchester has been a theme lately – a bit of cross-pollenation among the artists: Hollies, 10cc, and a long-forgotten band: Sad Café. Much of their material was unavailable for many years…but with Apple music/streaming/YT and dedicated core fans…it’s possible now to visit or revisit.

They weren’t the Steely Dan of Britain per se, but tangentially Dan as they did create their own alchemy, fusing pop, rock, jazz, R&B together…with their own, but ever changing, sound and stellar musicianship. Clean, polished in studio, and absolutely legendary live. Sad Café’s style was more storytelling than 70s singer songwriter confessional – vignettes of loserdom - like the Dan. SC tended to take on the characters’ viewpoint more than the detached Fagen style, though. In the end, Sad Café was another victim of a Draconian record contract. For me, SC’s stand out attribute was their focus on tasty harmonies. They also snuck some altered blues and jazz chord progressions into a good bit of their discography.

SC featured two virtuosos: Vic Emerson: keyboards, Ashley (Ash) Mulford: Lead guitar. Plus, frontman/lead singer/co-songwriter Paul Young – perfect frontman/lead vocalist. Part crooner, part Mick Jagger. And not the other 80s Paul Young – Sad Café’s vocalist co-fronted Mike & the Mechanics (e.g., Taken In). John Stimpson (bass) and Tony Cresswell/Dave Irving (drums held down a locked in rhythm section who could groove and swing. Lenni Zaksen – saxophone

Fanx Ta Ra (title track from their first album). A slick yet crunchy altered blues rocker:

https://youtu.be/w_YXuQI2El4?si=ZJkkGrnH79q3j_wm

Run Home Girl – Sad Café’s lone American Top 40 hit – a glimpse at their jazzier side – from Misplaced Ideals:

https://youtu.be/WKouPBYufso?si=qMPMEPMeBgSL9ZxW

Black Rose – one of my favorites, has a nice live sound:

https://youtu.be/pB2xlZfgMrA?si=DWQE_-NfmzDQ9piW

Eric Stewart of 10cc produced the next two albums: Facades and the eponymous album.

Everyday Hurts –Lovely hit ballad in Britain from Facades. There’s a really good copy of their epic Live album finally out there. The soundboard recording is still largely high quality and crisp decades later…and clear evidence of their chops. Like the Dan, those chops live are self-evident. Just spot on and arguably better than in the studio…even technically. That’s a short list (not the “experience it” live stuff like the Dead, Phish, DMB): Little Feat, Dire Straits on their first 2 albums, Cream, EWF (a tie, but the technical wizardry of their albums was transcendent):

https://youtu.be/a5aOBSe3HDo?si=UakaGzTBXcCnB1NX

Nothing Left Toulouse – a haunting, angst-filled track

https://youtu.be/6ne-Y2ee8AE?si=wbQ25ldd8IRPaXMp

My Oh My – channeling Mick Jaggar – Live version:

https://youtu.be/K75Q-0wMgn0?si=lAr0Oc-GBSFEAxnt

From the well recorded eponymous album:

Dreamin’ – features a tasty Mulford solo.

https://youtu.be/Xcw7_4Mwt_o?si=IGCtRIRo4IZnX2Uw

Love Today (the title listed is incorrect). Nice horns/sax and Little Feat-like sass on another altered blues ditty.

https://youtu.be/UEv0X8rNnho?si=IgLbW_SPF52VSuvR


From their Live set – a delicious and harmonically rich R&B ballad: Feel Like Dying

https://youtu.be/0qkyQo9jOHQ?si=n6TVbNkDQ0ROhUpg


By the time Sad Café recorded the album Olé their time and money had run out. Ash Mulford left halfway through Olé. Vic Emerson became a studio gun for hire, Paul Young and Ian Wilson recorded as a duo for a couple of solid, but blander, produced albums after Olé and without the band intact. It’s really hard to find a good copy of Olé – some of the newfangled Yamaha keyboards of the time sound not quite in tune (flat high and sharp low)…a constant headache for Dr. Fagen!

Misunderstanding (fitting title for a band breaking up due to outside circumstances):

https://youtu.be/LpTNKSIHhyM?si=tE8nzkpfXVYGm-ze


Epilogue: Paul Young recorded with Mike + the Mechanics, but passed away too early of a heart attack in 2000. Sad Café reformed to finish recording Paul Young’s unfinished solo album 10-15 years later and toured for a while. There’s a version that plays gigs, but they’re down to no original members.

Date: Sat, March 21, 2026, 11:14:05 ET
Posted by: Michael,

PREP hit the bullseye again with 'One Day In The Sun'.

https://youtu.be/qf2dDNUo5TI

Date: Sun, March 15, 2026, 22:38:46 ET
Posted by: pope greg, watching television

Nice to see"Dirty Work" as the walk up music for One Battle After Another at the Oscars. That was such a great use of a great song in a great film.

Date: Sun, March 15, 2026, 17:58:58 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Some new releases along with a SD chestnut. In these tumultuous times it's comforting to know that there's no shortage of good music.


Amazon Music presents: Thundercat feat. WILLOW - ThunderWave

https://youtu.be/8imqfEKh5eU

Mamas Gun - Joy

https://youtu.be/o1iJE2HvA90

The Lemon Twigs - I Just Can't Get Over Losing You

https://youtu.be/TqCUlPDcPoE

Pearl & The Oysters - Wide Awake

https://youtu.be/f2UDKG7XG9M

Steely Dan - Don't Take Me Alive

https://youtu.be/9YxK-swFREo

Date: Thurs, March 12, 2026, 21:11:36 ET
Posted by: Lutz, Hnl

DocMu - also holding out hope for a SD tour or Fagen album, but usually if there is no noise by March, a tour is unlikely. Herington plays with Boz Scaggs until June anyways.
An album almost seems more likely at this point.
For some reason, I was expecting some Monkey House gigs.
Those album release shows on YouTube from Toronto sound really tasty. Thought, I saw or read something to the extend where Don B. said 'See you real soon'. Might be wishful thinking.
Going to watch Herbie Hancock live this year, he's 85 and we're running out of legends sooner or later. Also Pat Metheny is on a long tour, new cd is amazing.

Date: Tues, March 10, 2026, 14:26:11 ET
Posted by: Fred,

Hey ho, Shark.............Orchids & the Summer Rain was exactly what I was thinking of............. nice track

Date: Tues, March 10, 2026, 14:11:50 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, up on the hill

moray eel-
I don’t recall Donald working on a bossa nova album, and Alison Krauss seems highly unlikely, but there was a collaboration between he and Daniel Jobim, grandson of the great Tom Jobim.

roughly 20 years ago a song title surfaced, Orchids And The Summer Rain, credited to Fagen and Jobim.

a few years ago the song finally appeared:
https://youtu.be/Y1pYpHeYv_8

Date: Sat, March 07, 2026, 16:55:43 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu , side of the road

2025 was a year of transitions, disruptions.

Looking forward to the remainder of the year with hope for a SD tour or Fagen album. We can only hope and wait.

May patience be a virtue waiting for the Mamas Gun album Dig to drop - the title track and Food for the Flames suggests there's a lot more 70s tinged neo-soul to come.

There's Bruno Mars new professional product - and it's a more Latin tinged Silk Sonic. Well recorded and everything you'd think it would be.

On the topic of making the old new again...today's audio technology and remembering the analog beg for a second look. The turntable and vinyl are back in with the kids, lossless streaming from Apple (since 2022), Tidal and finally the dreaded Spotify (Oct. '25), wifi, DAC Dongles, hi fidelty headphones are in, bluetooth and YT are out.

80s and 90s and beyond 16 bit 44Khz with iffy mastering could be flat...and for those of us not hip enough to buy Roger Nichols' special Gold 20 bit Apogee-22 mastering beyond my dwindling engineering skills...were scratching our heads when inserting our Kamakiriad discs.

Then came the wonder of the stereo and 5.1 mixes by Eliot Scheiner on the 2003 DVD-A re-release of Kama. 24 bit, 192 kHz - there can't be too much oversampling. I was born yesterday!

So, if you're through with Buzz... and can score some lossless, hi-res. lossless, DVD-A, or vinyl I invite you to immerse yourself to the full technicolor marvel of Kamakiriad. What is old is new again.

The hyperdetailed intricacies of the percussion work! The deep grooves. Fagen's most delicious horn charts ever! Walter's meaty bass, tasty guitar solos, Chris Parker's fills, Fagen's sax work on Countermoon under a bogus personna. What's not to like?

Reconsider, ladies and gentlemen. As (re)engineering captures the intended impact..and this 33 year old Phoenix rises again.

Date: Thurs, March 05, 2026, 09:44:50 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Bossa

Does anyone remembers hearing about that bossa nova album that Fagen was making about 10-15 years ago? Some female musician mentioned that she and DF were working on it. I forget the person’s name. I want to say Alison Krauss, but I don’t think that was it.

m.e.

Date: Wed, March 04, 2026, 07:42:21 ET
Posted by: Steve, Gennarelli

Steve G. in Tampa here. Sorry for not posting in awhile.

I'm attaching a podcast I just did that is my love letter to "Steely Dan" talking about my obsession with them and appreciation of the group. I hope you enjoy it!

https://outdatedentertainment.buzzsprout.com/2358916/episodes/18767037-a-history-of-steely-dan-with-steve-gennarelli

Date: Thurs, February 26, 2026, 17:55:17 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist packed with the quality you've come to expect.


Burt Bacharach - This Guy's In Love With You

https://youtu.be/48WL2XWoCto

Jackie Evans & Vulfmon - Sleep for Days

https://youtu.be/d_tae68PbZY

TOPS - Stars Come After You

https://youtu.be/dOAsYFM-2lE

Dina Ögon - Juvel

https://youtu.be/87rrraD_XPo

Lalo Schifrin - The Young Lawyers Title Theme

https://youtu.be/D80a82QS4eY

Gareth Donkin - Never Gonna Break Your Heart

https://youtu.be/ZUkgCQKwQP8

John Carroll Kirby - Suntory

https://youtu.be/bCsxLK4vr_E

Date: Thurs, February 26, 2026, 15:25:14 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, drivin' like a fool out to Hackensack

Daddy don't drive in that Eldora-do no more

Date: Wed, February 25, 2026, 22:59:17 ET
Posted by: Brian Fiori (AKA The Dean), St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Sorry, DR. Hünd.

Are you nothin' but a Hünd dog?

Sorry, cheeba speaking

Date: Wed, February 25, 2026, 22:53:36 ET
Posted by: Brian Fiori (AKA The Dean), St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Hund, nicely played

Date: Tues, February 24, 2026, 11:33:01 ET
Posted by: Dr. Hünd, Skiing on a 29 inch base in February

Scroll down for the hund locked in the car listening to SD.

https://www.reddit.com/r/COsnow/comments/1rcu91h/dog_locked_in_car_at_eldora_today/?%24deep_link=true&correlation_id=75d7ff2b-93b8-478c-805e-5b6608529e15&post_fullname=t3_1rcu91h&post_index=2&ref=email_digest&ref_campaign=email_digest&ref_source=email&target_user=LessAbbreviations289&utm_content=post_body&%243p=e_as&_branch_match_id=1531879937909825182&utm_medium=Email%20Amazon%20SES&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA22QzWrDMBCEn8a5OT9SnNiFUEJLT4Ue%2BgCLLK1tEVkSK7luLn32rpO2p4IEwze7w0hDzjE9bDaExti8VjGunfWXjYyPhdjLeEJQacUykO2tVw4mcqdh2SrkuRAvfOZ5Xv%2Fs6zAyIL5Pb8mHmQWjEX1OLHekp2Y3sDKhBxf0BQ1YD1oRqAzoTCAFORh1XZIlh1dibxAjLKUK%2BZxpwkIcdCBCp7INHqxhfqzMsetEWzayrcv9sdZlva2wrNrDYVtXosFdxXsxpAzd5JxXIy5xEv463U3rDX6yIxgQdqxwVNaBsT2mfIfcd4zK9v5%2FN4WJNP56DLOiHjNMCYnpK6Z0blvCD3t7QBJ1w0NTHkEHn%2FmreOjWpQ3muvriSCSyvoeWwswZp3fVKbLfU3BiRboBAAA%3D

Date: Sun, February 22, 2026, 23:16:16 ET
Posted by: .., .

BcBill, thanks for the correction and clarification.

Date: Sun, February 22, 2026, 12:46:48 ET
Posted by: Gene, A

RIP Robert Duvall.

Dangential Requirement for posting: Tuesday Weld played his wife in the movie Falling Down.

Date: Sat, February 21, 2026, 10:09:22 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

BcBill, thanks so much for that clarification.

And I have visited/read many of the archives, but realized yesterday I was reading the website News archives which are different from the Newsletter. Never realized that. It does seem odd to me.

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 21:31:23 ET
Posted by: oleander, entropy

Happy Birthday, Dr. Becker.

Boy, do I miss that guitar.

Here today, tomorrow gone....

Xxxooo to The Dandom.

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 17:43:20 ET
Posted by: BcBill, again

Should add that the info I just posted isn’t from any special or insider info. No snark meant but A. I’m familiar with the general pieces of the WB Metaverse and B. I read the text in the Newsletters 😊. Yesterday’s mailing was pretty clear that only the Discussion Forums on one of the websites was temp going dark because their platform was discontinuing that particular site function

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 17:37:13 ET
Posted by: BcBill, that’s obvious

Please Note the Walter Becker Websites are NOT going anywhere:

WalterBecker.com,
Walterbeckermedia.com
And the others remain.

The only thing temporarily disappearing are the DISCUSSION FORUMS on wbm.com, The Newsletter says they’re still searching for a replacement BBoard-type app/script…and will import all the Forum discussions into it.

In the meantime, they’ll use their Blog Post format on walterbeckermedia.com for any new media drops or information.

The web sites themselves, and all their non-Forum content, alive and well — praise be!

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 14:30:18 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Slang Me!

Never gets old.

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 14:28:57 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Happy Birthday, Walter!

Nice clip from Slim's. I really like Walter's singing live. He's really engaged and in the flow of the message. Great stuff.

Walter's vocals on Slang of Ages sounds almost/possibly live tracked. Ironically, SD's Last One was far more analog and live core band tracking. Fewer overdubs and very limited digital touch-up. Through With Buzz.

https://youtu.be/Qq9svJV271Y?si=pVcGy1VZiKuXWXA1

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 13:32:52 ET
Posted by: ., .

Dean...my pleasure...but just for the record and as mentioned quite a few times in the past, the Walter Becker newsletter has around for at least eight years in its current format. You many want to check archives for what you have missed, before the end of the month when it may be on hiatus. Some good stuff.

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 12:05:45 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

To whomever posted the Walter info, thanks for the tip on the newsletter. Just signed up for it.

The subscription link is near the bottom of this page:

https://walterbecker.com/news.html

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026, 05:58:52 ET
Posted by: ., .

"My Waterloo" performed by Walter Becker at Slim's, San Francisco, 1995.

https://youtu.be/SHIbQVZepaU

Also called it sounds like the Walter Becker sites are going away temporarily at the end of the month until they find a new home. You might want to check them out. This is all from the most recent Walter Becker Newsletter that Matt Kerns puts out with Walter's widow, Delia.

Date: Fri, February 20, 2026,  ET
Posted by: The Loyal Dandom, On All Continents

Happy Birthday, Walter Becker!

******
|||||
*********
*~~~~~~~*
* *
*****************
* *
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
* *

*****************
-------------------------------

We miss you so much...but we hear the music up there is even better than a Steely Dan concert!

Fly low and be cool!

[ Cake courtesy of the late and very great Boston Rag & hoops ]

Date: Wed, February 18, 2026, 18:32:00 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Le Flex's new song When You Fall was done as a theme for a James Bond film, an unusual concept but it works.

https://youtu.be/ND56mRPUTiE

Date: Sun, February 15, 2026, 12:33:21 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

A new remix of This All Too Mobile Home - from The Record Plant with the 1974 touring band. MM and Porcaro make their presence known. Not bad at all. Could have been a nice fit on KL or RS.


https://youtu.be/Xjmyb17uZy8?si=fRgFDm2_v7e3VYai

Donald Fagen - Vocals, Piano, Synthesizers
Walter Becker - Bass
Denny Dias - Guitar
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - Guitar, Pedal Steel, Percussion, Vocals
Jim Hodder - Drums
Jeff Porcaro - Drums, Percussion
Royce Jones - Vocals, Percussion
Michael McDonald - Vocals, Keyboards

Date: Sun, February 15, 2026, 10:06:53 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Mamas Gun's new track is a total acid-jazz trip, strongly reminiscent of what Jamiroquai used to sound like before Jay Kay took the band into more of an electro-disco direction. I hope the new Jamiroquai album brings back some of those sweet acid-jazz funk vibes.


Mamas Gun Ft. Brian Jackson - DIG!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCp1GqmqhBM

Psychic Mirrors - Charlene II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVuvXvN1ZZQ

Donny Benet - Midnight Appointment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6z2-72FFK8

スカート (Skirt) - スペシャル (Special)

https://youtu.be/AeAXpAlJpXI

Mei Semoes - Koneko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0bsFHqC3Xk

Date: Sat, February 14, 2026, 21:37:38 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Who gets to spend their birthday in Spain...

Potter and SD had an outstanding collaboration. Alive in America, TvN - including the epic solo on West of Hollywood.

The only regret is that allegedly WB wouldn't release Janie Runaway as the lead single...more apropos than ever.

Too (two) much sax so the legend goes re: the fabulous Doublemint twin solos. Sublime.

Date: Sat, February 14, 2026, 13:32:23 ET
Posted by: Potter fan, NC

Chris Potter’s career likely would’ve followed the same trajectory with or without SD. He had been “forging his own path” since the early ‘90s, releasing several albums as a leader (8 or 9 in the ‘90s alone) and doing extensive sideman work. He was already on the jazz-world radar as a teen prodigy in the late ‘80s. Sure, the SD gig was high profile, but it’s not as if DF/WB “discovered” him and made his career. In fact, it was Marian McPartland who first heard him at age 15 and championed him thereafter.

Date: Sat, February 14, 2026, 12:28:07 ET
Posted by: chris , nh

He was 22 in 93. Most notable gig was with Red Rodney. Fagen plucked him from semi-obscurity after seeing him at a jazz club IIRC.

By 2000, his career was well underway. Someone asked why he didn't join the 2000 tour; he said he got bored with the same setlist every night. Doesn't sound like he was complaining about anything, really. He also said he enjoyed working on new music with them.

I'm sure WB and DF were happy with the job they hired him to do -- if not, they would have replaced him on 2vN and hired someone else for the PBS and VH1 specials.

Date: Fri, February 13, 2026, 23:12:04 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

I saw that AI summary, too. Here's something straight forward

https://www.robadamsjournalist.com/index.asp?pageid=590455

Not sure there is any there there

Date: Fri, February 13, 2026, 16:09:18 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Nobody's taking issue with a musician forging his own path. Chris must've known what he was getting himself into before deciding to work alongside SD. He's had an extensive career working with many prominent artists.

Date: Fri, February 13, 2026, 13:39:53 ET
Posted by: Chris (not potter), Nh

What’s wrong with a young musician trying the touring sideman thing and deciding it’s not for them? Seems to have worked out just fine for all involved.

Date: Fri, February 13, 2026, 12:40:00 ET
Posted by: Relax,

Chris has spoken plenty highly of Steely Dan’s music. Makes total sense he’d eventually want to strike out on his own and play the sort of music he does.

Date: Fri, February 13, 2026, 07:25:55 ET
Posted by: Michael,

A session player's job is to do whatever his employer expects him to do, boredom notwithstanding. That's why he's being paid, so he doesn't have room to complain. There's more than enough people with unfulfilled dreams working 9 to 5 jobs doing the same mundane tasks over and over. Chris should consider himself fortunate.

Date: Thurs, February 12, 2026, 20:21:36 ET
Posted by: yb, yb

the Potter comments did not go over too well at the Yellow back then, nor did everyone finding out Jim Pugh and Vicky Cave became an item

Date: Thurs, February 12, 2026, 16:16:28 ET
Posted by: Biff Teka, Under The Grass

Google this phrase: "Did Chris Potter prefer playing improvised jazz rather than playing with Steely Dan." Potter discusses the "low boredom threshold" of playing scripted Steely Dan charts night after night.

Date: Wed, February 11, 2026, 21:53:50 ET
Posted by: David, Greensboro, North Carolina

Jim Steele, if you see this, press on this link please!

https://discord.gg/tdWHQv7h

Date: Fri, February 06, 2026, 14:13:20 ET
Posted by: Eddie Hoh, Chopsville

DF far left at end during applause: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt8Srk-MXNA

DF mention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVey5eGRZqk&t=435s

Date: Fri, February 06, 2026, 04:32:07 ET
Posted by: bMI, IMB

I'm sure it'll be priced reasonably, like all the rest of the reissues, and that normal, artistic folk can buy the LPs (and not exclusively those with hundreds to spare).

Date: Thurs, February 05, 2026, 10:29:10 ET
Posted by: Dirk, Western World

Vinyl Reissue of Alive in America at Record Store Day US & Europe this year : https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/19949

Date: Wed, February 04, 2026, 16:39:52 ET
Posted by: Kathy, Chavez

Get the best of herbal remedy from Doctor Agbonhale a traditional herbalist who cured me from vitiligo skin diseases that I have been suffering from for the past two years now he's perfect in curing unimaginable diseases and virus with his natural roots and herbs contact him via email. dragbonhaleherbalhome@gmail.com

Date: Tues, February 03, 2026, 05:36:24 ET
Posted by: amber lee, wa

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Date: Tues, February 03, 2026, 05:35:51 ET
Posted by: amber lee, usa

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Date: Mon, February 02, 2026, 12:53:21 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Gareth Donkin released a new single, 'Out Here'. Soulful pop grooves are making a comeback and I'm here for it. His new album 'Extraordinary' releases April 24th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXMPCLquw3I

Donny Benét's new album 'il Basso' releases on the 13th of this month. Also sometime this year is Jamiroquai's new album, and it's a safe bet that Ginger Root's got something cooking in the studio. There's so much great music to look forward to.

Bonus time. Here's a beautiful song from Ennio Morricone, 'Buona Fortuna, Jack', taken from his soundtrack to the western film My Name Is Nobody, starring Terence Hill and Henry Fonda. Nobody else could compose music like him.

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

That's all for now. Take care everyone.

Date: Fri, January 30, 2026, 10:30:43 ET
Posted by: Michael,

New playlist. Some cool new discoveries. Stay tuned for more great stuff.


Gabriel Desjardins · Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Vendredi (Friday)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyAMAj76kUk

Yola - Starlight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IGDA8ZUQ08

PREP - Do What You Gotta (feat. Sunset Rollercoaster)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdRB40a5EgE

Durand Jones & The Indications - Let's Take Our Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZFPXIBEmrw

Thundercat - I Did This To Myself (feat. Lil Yachty)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpmuQSCNR_4

ぷにぷに電機 (Punipunidenki) - 『Chipped feat. Paul Grant』

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG8PB6CPMKQ

Gabriel Desjardins · Anatole · Lou-Adriane Cassidy - Hôtel été (Summer Hotel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwru47jEmEI

Date: Tues, January 27, 2026, 11:05:50 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

Time Flys, indeed

https://youtu.be/Q6_TQkRuVr4?si=mK3MeBkc1RbntFiL

Date: Sun, January 25, 2026, 23:25:54 ET
Posted by: Milo, Gary

I had a real “time flies” moment today when I realized it’s been 10 years now since the January 2016 incident and next year will mark 10 years since we lost Walter.

Date: Tues, January 20, 2026, 09:41:09 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, More link stuff

Michael,

Ah, you're right. Sometimes this is easy to fix: most of the broken Youtube links just require removing the web.archive bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi4eAdwv_Io
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnEBSY3leQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLcukA07wt4

One of the others remains broken, though.

Date: Mon, January 19, 2026, 08:06:07 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Thanks kuleebaba. Unfortunately the image and most of the YT video links are still broken, but the article itself is still intact.

I thought to myself about how incredible Phil Woods' alto sax solo in Dr Wu is, which led me to look online for anything further about it. That's how I found the article in question. Brass and woodwind solos aren't utilized much in pop music. Really wish more artists would incorporate them.

Date: Sun, January 18, 2026, 13:26:56 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, Workaround for broken link

Michael,

That broken link -- probably they didn't pay for the amount of traffic they got, or something like that.

Here's a link from the Internet Archive. I donate to them regularly, as it's a good service.

https://web.archive.org/web/20251103221519/https://www.newdirectionsinmusic.com/steely-dans-sax-stable/

Date: Sat, January 17, 2026, 22:11:49 ET
Posted by: Dave, NJ

I played a few tracks from Morph The Cat while doing some housecleaning today and thought of the upcoming 20th anniversary of DFs solo tour that kicked off on 3/1/06.

Date: Sat, January 17, 2026, 13:50:04 ET
Posted by: EPattersonico, On Location

It’s kind of cool to hear the various clinkers on
the “basic track” of “I got The News” and hear
them eliminated on the final version:

https://youtu.be/rqCA3SQSA4c?si=X84QSikyj7Ea1E1r

Date: Sat, January 17, 2026, 13:31:31 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

March 14 will be the 20th anniversary of the release of Donald's "Morph the Cat." Time sure flies.

Jim

Date: Sat, January 17, 2026, 13:30:38 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

March 14 will be the 20th anniversary of the release of Donald's "Morph the Cat." Timeshare flies.

Jim

Date: Thurs, January 15, 2026, 21:03:55 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Two Against Nature & Everything Must Go are being offered again on vinyl--coming out tomorrow as I read it. Both are 180 g clear vinyl. 2vN is three sides with a fourth side featuring embossed images of the two reindeer ($35, Amazon); EMG is two sides ($24, Anazon). If you prefer black vinyl, I still have sealed copies of each for sale from when they came out in 2021. Contact me if you're interested. And of course, Acoustic Sounds has their own special versions that were released back about five years ago as well. Acoustic Sounds still sells those direct.

Date: Thurs, January 15, 2026, 18:33:57 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Glad you enjoyed it. ... But wow, the link is dead ATM. What in the world is going on? Please tell me.

Err, anyway, got some more choice songs for the Dandom to check out. Donny Benét premiered 'Horses' just an hour ago and I knew I had to share it.



Donny Benét - Horses

https://youtu.be/kYOlhaAOomI

Silvertwin - Fall Again

https://youtu.be/bYS5oePuajA

Kirinji - Curious about your weekend (気になる週末)

https://youtu.be/DqMkVVD-yS4

Tchotchke & The Lemon Twigs - "Tchotchkes"

https://youtu.be/tsBPFKkkjeU

Post Nebbia - Pastafrolla

https://youtu.be/Sak0S3Y_4q8

Coca Puma - Tardi (Live Session)

https://youtu.be/Yph5V3XNmxY

Date: Wed, January 14, 2026, 16:05:35 ET
Posted by: Updraught, Philly Area

Thanks, Michael, excellent story on many of the SD sax players!

Date: Mon, January 12, 2026, 09:39:11 ET
Posted by: Michael,

A good read.


https://www.newdirectionsinmusic.com/steely-dans-sax-stable/

Date: Sun, January 11, 2026, 12:01:16 ET
Posted by: Jack Straw, Above and beyond

Donald & the Nightflyers, "Shakedown Street", Capital Theater,NY 2017-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DzgutHRvuCY

RIP BOB WEIR

Such a shame he died on Donald's birthday.

Date: Sat, January 10, 2026, 20:42:52 ET
Posted by: Dr. Hünd, Working a big blonde…she’s got Hünd wild and she can tell

“My manager, Irving Azoff … over the years, has acquired a piece of just about every valuable asset in the music business (or what’s left of it), including the acts, the venues, the company you have to buy the tickets from and various other entities that just seem to spit back money at him.” - Donald Fagen

https://prospect.org/2024/05/24/2024-05-24-music-mafia-live-nation-ticketmaster-azoff/

Date: Sat, January 10, 2026, 12:58:59 ET
Posted by: MCA, workin for it

and thanks to Edwin Meese, Irving is worth the mafia moon

Date: Sat, January 10, 2026, 12:41:13 ET
Posted by: Dr. Hünd, Donald’s bday smoker underground in case Putin decides to push the button down

<<I hope he never gets to a place where he absolutely needs to do that to survive financially.>>

He’ll never get close to that point because of how Irving set him up. Not as fucking filthy rich as Henley, but still el supremo money bags.

Date: Sat, January 10, 2026, 00:03:32 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Happy Birthday, Dr. Fagen!

Date: Sat, January 10, 2026,  ET
Posted by: The Loyal Dandom, On All Continents

Happy Birthday, Donald Fagen!

******
|||||
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*~~~~~~~*
* *
*****************
* *
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
* *

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[ Cake courtesy of the late and very great Boston Rag & hoops ]

Date: Fri, January 09, 2026, 23:53:11 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Chrs: The Analogue Productions UHQR vinyl of Katy Lied is a miracle. So much life over whisper quiet background Jeff Porcaro's drums finally pop.

I much prefer the mix and master of Eliot Scheiner's enjoyable and lively DVD-A (stereo mix) of TvN. The snare is harsh on the CD version and the complexity of the arrangements are almost too much for a CD to handle. I'm sure listening to TVN on vinyl is much improved as well.

Analogue Productions has an SACD version of TVN. It might be worth checking out for those who have not.

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Against-Nature-Steely-Dan/dp/B0BNW3FGYB

Date: Fri, January 09, 2026, 16:46:05 ET
Posted by: Denise, Bos

The Dean: I agree that it would be horrible to see SD music used in a commercial. I am also a fan of Elliott Smith and follow a reddit site. Elliott has been gone a long time and so far his family and record companies that own the rights have been careful regarding its use. Also, he has a huge amount of work that is unreleased, so fans wanting more (I’m with you there, Chris) can find unreleased and early versions around the internet.

The really scary thing is this week we have seen AI creations on YouTube using his image and/or voice as if he is still alive and commenting on things. That’s the monster that’s coming for all musicians IMHO.

Date: Fri, January 09, 2026, 16:03:53 ET
Posted by: Ben Jammin, Indy: Hoping the Hoosiers Kick some Duck!

Hello DanDom Peeps!

Happy 78th Birthday to Donald tomorrow!
(What might he wish for when he blows out those candles?)


If ya didn't know, comedian John Mulaney's a huge DanFan, and
his current show's a nod to prove it: The Mister Whatever Tour.

https://misterwhatevertour.com/

Hugs to Hoops, and all Y'all!

Date: Fri, January 09, 2026, 10:41:30 ET
Posted by: chrs, nh

Dave - thank you for the links. I wonder what the difference is between those and the 45 rpm Analogue Productions releases. To my ears, they are the definitive vinyl releases (especially EMG - my RSD copy was awful, full of noise, and Analogue Productions is pristine. RSD TvN is pretty solid).

Dean, I'm with you on most of your post - but I want to hear everything DF and WB put on tape. I don't care if it's unfinished and/or otherwise not up to their standards. But I'm greedy.

Date: Fri, January 09, 2026, 09:17:55 ET
Posted by: Dave from Aquisitions , United Kingdom

I didn’t see any announcement about this, but (in the UK at least) Two Against Nature and Everything Must go have been remastered/re-issued on vinyl.

https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/two-against-nature?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20747508888&gbraid=0AAAAACmFV8VuOFe9JdniM7eqz6L1HAt51&gclid=CjwKCAiA64LLBhBhEiwA-Pxgu5ZJDVxtc_7RF91Q-G5AlgYJlJSiZIhjjVb0jCw5Xg1ACWzQabmWAxoCnNEQAvD_BwE

https://hmv.com/store/music/vinyl/everything-must-go?_gl=1*nsod4t*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA64LLBhBhEiwA-Pxgu5ZJDVxtc_7RF91Q-G5AlgYJlJSiZIhjjVb0jCw5Xg1ACWzQabmWAxoCnNEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAACmFV8VuOFe9JdniM7eqz6L1HAt51

Date: Thurs, January 08, 2026, 22:29:23 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine. Uptown, Baby!

I have a LOT of catching up to do. Just wanted to say Happy New Year to the Dan fans. And to thank Hoops once again for supplying this platform. Bravo!

I did see the past few messages, so I'll just chime in on my thoughts. I hope Don NEVER lowers his standards just to cash in on the opportunity to appease the fans that just want MORE. I think if the music/gestalt of the recording wasn't up to his standards then, it probably isn't going to be now. And the same goes for any new tunes. Would I buy them? Shit yes, but that isn't the point.

If he has new stuff, and finds it good enough to release, well then bring it on for sure.

Finally I sincerely hope he never sells his licensing rights to the music. The very thought of hearing SD in a commercial (cut into snippets, with product related lyrics replacing the originals, all hooks all the time!) makes me nauseous.

The horror! The horror!

I hope he never gets to a place where he absolutely needs to do that to survive financially.

Date: Thurs, January 08, 2026, 11:40:10 ET
Posted by: chris, nh

I get the sense Fagen is done touring, and if so, good for him. He's clearly not done performing. I do wonder what the odds are of some nights in Woodstock that are a Donald Fagen show, backed by locals. I'd certainly move heaven and earth to attend.

Date: Wed, January 07, 2026, 10:47:54 ET
Posted by: Mali, bu

Miming? Could be worse. The Eagles coulda actually been singing.

Date: Tues, January 06, 2026, 19:16:04 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Hello

Hoops: Best wishes to you and the other Bluebookers in 2026.

I would love to see any new material released, but I am not expecting anything. There are completed songs like Dallas and Sail The Waterway that could be released on CD or streaming, but all indications are that DF doesn’t want that to happen. A DVD-audio could be released of Aja with 5 of the 7 songs having multi channels. Once again, no expectations for that to happen. Unfinished Gaucho tunes have been sitting around for 45 years. At this point, we are far more likely to get grey releases of these completed by A.I.

While I was lucky enough to see DF/SD play over a dozen times between 1992 -2013, I haven’t been to a show in well over a decade. The appeal of spending $400 to see DF open for some mimed/lipsynced performances is limited.

It is always nice to think about getting something new.

m.e.

Date: Tues, January 06, 2026, 13:55:28 ET
Posted by: moray eel, Hello

Hoops: Best wishes to you and the other Bluebookers in 2026.

I would love to see any new material released, but I am not expecting anything. There are completed songs like Dallas and Sail The Waterway that could be released on CD or streaming, but all indications are that DF doesn’t want that to happen. A DVD-audio could be released of Aja with 5 of the 7 songs having multi channels. Once again, no expectations for that to happen. Unfinished Gaucho tunes have been sitting around for 45 years. At this point, we are far more likely to get grey releases of these completed by A.I.

While I was lucky enough to see DF/SD play over a dozen times between 1992 -2013, I haven’t been to a show in well over a decade. The appeal of spending $400 to see DF open for some mimed/lipsynced performances is limited.

It is always nice to think about getting something new.

m.e.

Date: Thurs, January 01, 2026, 18:33:09 ET
Posted by: hoops, Chicago

Here's to health, prosperity, happiness and Steely Dan in the new year, blue bookers!

Moray: thanks for the reminder about the album. I wonder if anything will ever come with it.

For that matter, I wonder if Donald will do any performances beyond the Midnight Rambles- type things he's been doing in Woodstock with Amy Helm, et al. I could see a million reasons why he doesn't want or need to tour anymore, but then again, I could also see him wanting to get out on the road, to keep busy. Well, I have no firsthand insights on this… But I will say if he opens for an act like the Eagles where tickets start at $400 and up,then I probably can't afford it. I'm also wondering to what degree current world economic and stability would play in his decision.

Moore practically, I wonder if any other sort of vinyl reuse issues will be coming out. We've seen all nine studio albums get released in the past few years, by Acoustic Sounds, etc. I wonder if they'll release one of the compilation albums so we can get some of those unusual bonus tracks. Maybe a re-release of Greatest Hits 1972–78 (a great album cover by the way, rivaling Aja) combined with Gold Expanded Edition or even rarities night release? I don't have any inside info… Just throwing things at the wall and see what sticks.

I have noticed that Irving Azoff has been getting other artists he manages like Stevie Nicks and Don Henley to sell him the rights to recordings they own to Azoff's Iconic artists group. While the ABC/MCA (now Geffen) album recordings themselves probablystay with Universal Music Group, I'm wondering if Donald might have any sway in the recordings he did for various Warner labels beginning with 1982's Nightfly. Or at least maybe Donald would sell Azoff/Iconic Artists his music publishing. Just an idea… Again, nothing I know on the inside, etc.

Very grateful for our community after all these years. This June marks the BlueBook's 25th anniversary while March 23 marks the 33rd anniversary of when Dandom started as a news letter.

Thanks for being there, Dan family! And many things to Donald as well as Walter, smokin' wherever you are.

Date: Thurs, January 01, 2026, 16:29:48 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Happy New Year! Looking forward to plenty of great new music.

Dina Ögon, one of the best newer artists, released a few new songs worth checking out. I'm telling you, they've got that classic sound down pat.


Människobarn

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

Margaretas sång

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE1b7pHvhdU

Dålig teve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkG50PIu9w

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

Happy New Year, Bluebook, 2026!

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

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

m.e.

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