Post by Al Truest on Sept 3, 2012 21:14:56 GMT
Here is text from Gaffaweb (Dictionary):
"Steely Dan
A progressive rock-slash-jazz group formed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, two friends from Bard College in New York, and a slew of deluxe session musicians. (The group name comes from a sexual appliance described in the novel Naked Lunch by William Burroughs.) After their 1972 debut with the album Can't Buy A Thrill, Steely Dan songs came to define American FM radio in the late 1970s, including such ubiquitous hits as Do It Again, Reeling In The Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number and Peg. Becker and Fagen parted ways in June 1981, six months after the release of the album Gaucho, which had been delayed by numerous technical difficulties and financial disputes with their record label. The pair reunited for other projects five years later, finally reforming Steely Dan for a successful concert tour in 1995, after which a live album documenting the tour was released.
In spite of their relative lack of success in England, Steely Dan clearly had a great influence on Kate -- perhaps mainly in their combination of catchy if unconventional melodies with lush arrangements and sophisticated musicianship. She has chosen their songs to be played during her various radio appearances as a guest DJ, and in 1980 told Paul Gambaccini:
"I think they're very underestimated. They're the most incredible musicians. This is it. They are here -- a musician's band. I mean, all the musicians in this country just rave about them technically, and as songwriters. But you know, they're not really played on the radio, but they're just incredible."
Some years later, Kate named Gaucho as her favorite album by the group, saying, "For me, each album got better, and I wish they hadn't split up."
The Steely Dan song Peg is said to have strongly influenced Kate's own song Why Should I Love You?"
This was verbatim. I think Kate uses a similar philosophy in the selection of side and session players. She has used some of the same players from Steely Dan and Weather Report on her projects.
Here is another quote from Gaffaweb (Kate - in her own words):
"Steely Dan
I'll tell you what, we'll have another one of your choices kate and something you like from steely dan.
Hmm, terrific.
Would you tell us what it is?
It's called ``Peg.''
And why this one? Is it in the name or what is it?
It's a brilliant song, they're wonderful musicians.
Ok let's have a listen to them, steely dan and ``peg.'' [The song is played] alright, there we go with steely dan and ``peg'' .. (1979, Personal Call)
Let's come right up to date now, with an album currently in the charts: Steely dan, gaucho lp, and from it, ``babylon sisters.''
[Part of this record is played. Then kate comes back on, announcing in a surprising, very uncharacteristic imitation of an american accent (perhaps prompted by steely dan's music, which she has elsewhere described as quintessentially american):]
Hi, everybody! This is Radio Fun, and I'm here with Paul Dictionary and with him, Miss Bush.
[Laughing] and--and we have just heard steely dan from their gaucho lp, and ``babylon sisters.'' now, kate, this brings us right up to date, 'cause this is an album that's out right at the moment. And this is a, a funky little track by these two chaps, becker and fagin. And they're monstrous stars in america - not so here.
No, that's again why I played them. I think they're very underestimated. They're the most incredible musicians. This is it. They are here - a musician's band. I mean, all the musicians in this country just rave about them technically, and as songwriters. But you know, they're not really played on the radio, but they're just incredible - really good jazz [ Indecipherable]. (1980, BBC) "
Steely Dan is alive and well. They have gotten back together and have released new albums...'played here in Nashville @ Fontanel last year. 'better than ever
"Steely Dan
A progressive rock-slash-jazz group formed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, two friends from Bard College in New York, and a slew of deluxe session musicians. (The group name comes from a sexual appliance described in the novel Naked Lunch by William Burroughs.) After their 1972 debut with the album Can't Buy A Thrill, Steely Dan songs came to define American FM radio in the late 1970s, including such ubiquitous hits as Do It Again, Reeling In The Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number and Peg. Becker and Fagen parted ways in June 1981, six months after the release of the album Gaucho, which had been delayed by numerous technical difficulties and financial disputes with their record label. The pair reunited for other projects five years later, finally reforming Steely Dan for a successful concert tour in 1995, after which a live album documenting the tour was released.
In spite of their relative lack of success in England, Steely Dan clearly had a great influence on Kate -- perhaps mainly in their combination of catchy if unconventional melodies with lush arrangements and sophisticated musicianship. She has chosen their songs to be played during her various radio appearances as a guest DJ, and in 1980 told Paul Gambaccini:
"I think they're very underestimated. They're the most incredible musicians. This is it. They are here -- a musician's band. I mean, all the musicians in this country just rave about them technically, and as songwriters. But you know, they're not really played on the radio, but they're just incredible."
Some years later, Kate named Gaucho as her favorite album by the group, saying, "For me, each album got better, and I wish they hadn't split up."
The Steely Dan song Peg is said to have strongly influenced Kate's own song Why Should I Love You?"
This was verbatim. I think Kate uses a similar philosophy in the selection of side and session players. She has used some of the same players from Steely Dan and Weather Report on her projects.
Here is another quote from Gaffaweb (Kate - in her own words):
"Steely Dan
I'll tell you what, we'll have another one of your choices kate and something you like from steely dan.
Hmm, terrific.
Would you tell us what it is?
It's called ``Peg.''
And why this one? Is it in the name or what is it?
It's a brilliant song, they're wonderful musicians.
Ok let's have a listen to them, steely dan and ``peg.'' [The song is played] alright, there we go with steely dan and ``peg'' .. (1979, Personal Call)
Let's come right up to date now, with an album currently in the charts: Steely dan, gaucho lp, and from it, ``babylon sisters.''
[Part of this record is played. Then kate comes back on, announcing in a surprising, very uncharacteristic imitation of an american accent (perhaps prompted by steely dan's music, which she has elsewhere described as quintessentially american):]
Hi, everybody! This is Radio Fun, and I'm here with Paul Dictionary and with him, Miss Bush.
[Laughing] and--and we have just heard steely dan from their gaucho lp, and ``babylon sisters.'' now, kate, this brings us right up to date, 'cause this is an album that's out right at the moment. And this is a, a funky little track by these two chaps, becker and fagin. And they're monstrous stars in america - not so here.
No, that's again why I played them. I think they're very underestimated. They're the most incredible musicians. This is it. They are here - a musician's band. I mean, all the musicians in this country just rave about them technically, and as songwriters. But you know, they're not really played on the radio, but they're just incredible - really good jazz [ Indecipherable]. (1980, BBC) "
Steely Dan is alive and well. They have gotten back together and have released new albums...'played here in Nashville @ Fontanel last year. 'better than ever