How a Supermodel Saved Steely Dan
Flashback to 1985. Three years have passed since Donald Fagen’s solo debut The Nightfly and five years since Steely Dan’s Gaucho. Walter Becker has moved to Maui to get his life back in order. Fagen, the film music buff, is in NYC and wondering whether to compose songs or write a column for Premiere magazine.
On the music front, Becker gets a gig producing the third studio album by UK band China Crisis. Fagen has shown up on a 1981 Rickie Lee Jones album but isn’t playing keys that much. The thought of a new solo LP is far in the distance. A Steely Dan reunion seems unthinkable. A chance to see them live? Never. Gonna. Happen.
Until Rosie Vela comes along.
The Meaning of "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan and the Setbacks They Faced While Making the Album 'Gaucho'
Steely Dan famously challenged their fans with their complex musical structures and occasionally opaque lyrics. “Hey Nineteen,” however, represented one of their more straightforward, catchier efforts. They hit the Top 10 with the song in 1980.
The songs Steely Dan and Eagles wrote about each other: “I think it drove him nuts”
The two groups wouldn’t seem like the most contentious couple of bands on the face of things. They may have been from slightly different points in the rock spectrum, but both of those locations were on the good side of the river, blessed with musicality and genuine success, which meant they rarely tried to cause a fuss or grab headlines without cause.
Remembering The Tumultuous Perfection Of Steely Dan's 'Gaucho' Album
The band would take their famous perfectionism to new levels during the Gaucho recording sessions, as they’d grown accustomed to the dedicated mercenary approach of the session musicians they worked with in Los Angeles for the Aja recordings.
—> From the (always excellent) world of Expanding Dan:
Donald Fagen interview from 1988
In a restored conversation with Ben Sidran, Mr. Steely Dan addresses the air of mystique about him and discusses his creative process.
—> As usual… the truly awesome Barney Hurley X account continues to feature great SD content. There’s equally terrific non-steely Dan content as well!
Jeff ''Skunk'' Baxter, Denny Dias, Royce Jones and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan performing at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, California, 1974.
—> Over on the Gaucho Amigos Podcast: Guitarist Steve Khan, who played on 5 of the 7 songs on Gaucho including the solo on “Glamour Profession,” joins the podcast to talk all about his experiences collaborating with Steely Dan. Steve also shares his memories of recording on some of the “lost Gaucho” tracks, including “I Can’t Write Home About You” and “Heartbreak Souvenir.”
(Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Alamy)
Have a GREAT day! 😎