(I got the) News | Issue 28
Donald Fagen wanted Michael McDonald as lead vocalist; Opera singer discovers Steely Dan
Hello! Hope you are doing well and ready for the summer!
I typed in ‘Steely Dan Album Cover’ into an AI Image Machine and …. Well, it’s not that bad! It’s not going to win any AI design awards, but it does have a ‘hint’ of Steely Dan style baked in.
Donald Fagen Says He Regrets That Michael McDonald Didn’t Replace Him as Steely Dan’s Lead Singer
“There was a serious discussion about whether he should replace me as the lead singer, which would have been my personal preference,” Fagen told The New York Times via email, as reported in an article about McDonald’s soon-to-be-published memoir, What a Fool Believes. “But, for some dumb reason, I was voted down. I didn’t insist, and I’ve regretted it ever since.”
Fagen added, “I mean, here’s this monster singer and musician, and he’s also really funny and a sweetheart of a guy. What’s not to like?”
Steely Dan: “Most people were just trying to figure out what the hell we were up to!”
Steely Dan guitarist Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter speaks to MOJO about working with Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, his favourite Dan tunes and more.
The latest Charismatic Voice: Our adorably naive opera singer has discovered Steely Dan
If you’re just joining us, Elizabeth Zharoff is a trained opera singer who spent her entire youth immersed in classical music and thus was never exposed to rock music. She’s now making up for lost time with these reaction videos she posts under the name The Charismatic Voice.
🎧 For this week's episode of Gaucho Amigos: guitarist Elliott Randall, talked of course about his legendary solo on "Reelin' in the Years" plus playing/recording with Donald and Walter pre-Steely Dan, befriending Jimi Hendrix, and a lot more
💬 From the (always excellent) world of Expanding Dan:
Long live David Sanborn's 'Night Music'
As host of the extraordinary musical variety show, the saxophonist sat in with Donald Fagen, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, and many others. Watch the late musician's 20 most memorable performances.
Michael McDonald keeps rememberin'
The singer-songwriter turned memoirist recalls his audition for Steely Dan, the quirks of touring with Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, singing on "Peg," and more.
📷 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!
Donald Fagen, Jeff ''Skunk'' Baxter and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Los Angeles, California, 1973
Steely Dan on The Midnight Special Feb 9th 1973 still the only existing footage of the original lineup.
Photo: Universal Music Archive
Have a GREAT day! 😎