If you view the 1970s as the brutal crash after the previous decades brief period of love and optimism of social change and elevated consciousness then steely dan is the. In the interview, fagen didnt rule out the possibility that he would one day reunite with steely coleadercosongwriter walter becker, but neglected to mention that he had. The nightfly is the debut studio album by american singersongwriter donald fagen. Bringing up steely dan find this article in the cjn. Jan 10, 2016 jeff young is a longtime collaborator with donald fagen and steely dan, adding keyboards and backing vocals to a series of tours after appearing on the new york rock and soul revue. The first few chapters illustrate the early jazz, bop and country style music that he loves and of course what you are actually reading is all of the early musical influences of fagen.
Along the way, hes also worked with sting, bonnie raitt, peter himmelman and shawn colvin, while holding a lengthy tenure with jackson browne. Mar 31, 2000 there is the occasional jaunt to halfprice books fagen majored in english literature at bard college and is an insatiable reader or a casual meal in little italy. We offer a concierge service, to those unfamiliar with fine books, for the perfect gift on any occasion including personalized gifts for business clients. The 2017 death of steely dans cofounder walter becker left fagen as.
Steely dan singer donald fagen just being honest in new. Otherwise, he goofs around on the piano and discusses jazz chords with his 15yearold niece, emily, an honor student at shaker heights high school, who also plays piano. Steely dans donald fagen arrested for domestic assault. As widely as my tastes range, their music lacked a certain fire. Like many other rock stars, becker was separated from his mother far too young, at age five, when. Donald fagen s ode to the futurethatneverwas as seen from the vantage point of the eisenhower and kennedy years a vision fueled by the bounty of the nuclear age and the space age, with. If you view the 1970s as the brutal crash after the previous decades brief period of love and optimism of social change and elevated consciousness then steely dan is the soundtrack for how the whole thing went to hell. Fagen was previously best known for his work in the group steely dan, with whom he enjoyed a. Steely dan fans can follow the groups evolution in intricate detail in major dudes.
Jan 19, 2016 walter becker and donald fagen captured it in one line. The 1993 interview when walter becker opened up about. For an entrance evaluation at the princeton school of music, the completely selftaught musician. Sep 03, 2017 the classic midlife crisis song about a man in the suburbs with dreams of being a jazz saxophonist, donald fagen and becker wrote the song in malibu, california. Donald fagen was born in 1948 and grew up in new jersey. Mar 22, 2020 donald fagen and walter becker have been waiting for this moment.
Feb 24, 2019 donald fagen, walter becker licensed to youtube by believe music on behalf of coqueiro verde records. Yet, you can be sure a whip smart, newspaper reading, tv watching, cinema going, obsessive radio listener like young donald would have, by a process of osmosis, been saturated in the optimism of the age. It was his first collaboration since 1980 with steely dan partner walter becker, who produced the album. Bringing up steely dan find this article in the cjn archive. Donald jay fagen is an american musician best known as the cofounder, lead singer, cosongwriter, and keyboardist of the band steely dan, formed in the earl.
Janie runaway is the fourth single from steely dans 2000 album two against nature. This book gives an overview of steely dans career while investigating every track recorded across the nine steely dan studio albums, plus becker and fagen s six solo albums. A helpful resource for budding or seasoned collectors. Fagen, cofounder of rockpopjazz group steely dan, begins by introducing the eminent hipsters that spoke to him as he was growing up in a bland new jersey suburb in the early 1960s, among them jean shepherd, whose manic nightly broadcasts out of worradio enthralled a generation of alienated young people. The classic midlife crisis song about a man in the suburbs with dreams of being a jazz saxophonist, donald fagen and becker wrote the song in malibu, california. Books by donald fagen and linda ronstadt take a look at.
Donald fagens top 10 the current the criterion collection. Morph the cat is the latest product from the dan imprint. The nightflyers are connor kennedy guitar, vocals, lee falco drums, vocals, brandon morrison bass, vocals and will bryant keyboards, vocals. There is the occasional jaunt to halfprice books fagen majored in english literature at bard college and is an insatiable reader or a casual meal in little italy. Steely dans donald fagen tours with young nightflyers. And though it is a solo album written and produced only by donald fagen the dans singer and co. Books by donald fagen and linda ronstadt take a look at music and life.
Fagen is cofounder of the literate jazzpoprock band steely dan, and his first book is a wry compendium and artobiography, as he coins it, consisting of pieces that illuminate the musical, literary, and cultural influences on the young fagen and a hilariously cranky tour diary from 2012. Produced by gary katz, it was released october 1, 1982 by warner bros. In eminent hipsters, musician and songwriter donald fagen, best known as the cofounder of the rock band steely dan, presents an autobiographical portrait that touches on everything from the cultural figures that mattered the most to him as a teenager, to his years in the late 1960s at bard college, to a hilarious account of a recent tour he made with boz scaggs and. Backing vocals donald fagen, frank floyd, valerie simpson, zack sanders bass marcus miller composed by, arranged by donald fagen drums jeff porcaro electric piano michael omartian guitar hugh mccracken, rick derringer lead guitar larry carlton piano donald fagen synthesizer donald fagen, rob mounsey. Fagen was previously best known for his work in the group steely dan, with whom he enjoyed a successful career in the 1970s. For an entrance evaluation at the princeton school of music, the completely selftaught musician showcased the moving theme song from the film. The 1993 interview when walter becker opened up about steely. He is a graduate of bard college, where he met musician walter becker, with whom he formed steely dan. Sep 04, 2017 walter becker with donald fagen, right, in 1977. Cant buy a thrill, steely dans first album was released in 1972. Oct 14, 20 dubbed by its author an artobiography, its a thoughtful collection of essays about the artists who most influenced a young donald fagen growing up in the jersey suburbs during the 1950s, the folks whose origins lie outside the mainstream or creatively exploit material from the margin.
Sep 25, 2016 the reference books tell me this took place between july 1957 to december 1958 when donald fagen was not yet a teenager. Donald fagen he is a graduate of bard college, where he met musician walter becker and started a musical partnership that eventually became the band steely dan. September 3, 2017 posted by donald and libby fagen a song by mark oliver everett. Fagen, upon his friends passing, spoke vaguely of beckers childhood misery back in queens.
He is a graduate of bard college, where he met musician walter becker and started a musical partnership that eventually became the band steely dan. Sep 26, 20 donald fagens top10 its silly to choose ten, but okay. Michael mcdonalds latest album is ultimate collection here. Donald fagen, 65, cofounder of literate, aggressively dyspeptic jazz. His writing has appeared in premiere, slate, harpers bazaar, and jazz times. Steely dans breakup was officially announced on 17th june 1981 when donald fagen gave a scoop to journalist and longtime fan robert palmer in the new york times. When they said a memoir by donald fagen was on the way it seemed reasonable to assume that the co. Sunken condos by donald fagen 93624947875 cd barnes. Oct 22, 20 fagen, cofounder of rockpopjazz group steely dan, begins by introducing the eminent hipsters that spoke to him as he was growing up in a bland new jersey suburb in the early 1960s, among them jean shepherd, whose manic nightly broadcasts out of worradio enthralled a generation of alienated young people. Steely dan singer donald fagen just being honest in new book. Henry mancini, whose swank, noirish soundtracks left their mark on him. In january 1974, joni mitchell released the exquisite, deceptively sunny court and spark. For the young donald, an upbringing in a new jersey housing development was more or less a prison. Kamakiriad is the second solo album by steely dan artist donald fagen, released in 1993.
Glenn freys death is sad, but the eagles were a horrific. On sept 3, 2017, the music world mourned the loss of steely dan cofounder walter becker, who had died that morning at his home in maui, hawaii. Joining fagen keyboard, vocals is an all new band the nightflyers a quartet of young musicians that donald has been working with over the past few years near his home in woodstock, ny. And though it is a solo album written and produced only by donald fagen the dans singer and cocomposer, it is inarguably a steely dan. During times of chaos, its natural to seek some semblance of control. Donald fagens latest album is sunken condos or get all of his solo albums in cheap xmas. The album is a futuristic, optimistic eightsong cycle about the journey of the narrator in his hightech car, the kamakiri. With walter beckers untimely death in 2017, donald fagen continues to keep the bands flame burning on stages around the world. Nick utap becker, who has died at the age of 67 from an undisclosed illness, was born in the new york borough of queens.
The last year has seen a spate of books from such wellknown stars as neil young, graham nash. Aug 18, 2017 steely dans donald fagen to revisit his past with a little help from a new, young band posted by jeff niesel on fri, aug 18, 2017 at 4. Jeff young, keyboardist with jackson browne, steely dan. Our goal for every customer is to be personally responsible for them owning the books they cherish most and a partner in their excitement. Donald fagen licensed to youtube by wmg on behalf of elektra. In eminent hipsters, musician and songwriter donald fagen, best known as the cofounder of the rock band steely dan, presents an autobiographical portrait that touches on everything from the cultural figures that mattered the most to him as a teenager, to his years in the late 1960s at bard college, to a hilarious account of a recent tour he made with boz scaggs. So its probably no surprise that, as the coronavirus quarantine took hold, i turned to a band i always find comforting. Jeff young is a longtime collaborator with donald fagen and steely dan, adding keyboards and backing vocals to a series of tours after appearing on the new york rock and soul revue. The song sung in character by donald fagen concerns a young runaway female who has fled her tampa bay home when her father becomes enraged after finding out about her involvement with the narrator, an older, affluent new york city man it begins with the narrator extolling the virtues of. Steely dans donald fagen and walter becker were known for their perfectionism. Sep 03, 2017 walter becker, cofounder with donald fagen of steely dan, died sunday at age 67. Walter becker, cofounder with donald fagen of steely dan, died sunday at age 67. The year obviously had some fine diversions and big surprises in store for the cluedup rock fan.
Lr jim hodder, david palmer, denny dias, donald fagen, jeff skunk baxter and walter becker of the rock band steely dan pose for a portrait in 1972. Fagen agreed to enter into an adjournment in contemplation of. T his book is a piece of pure bliss, and its not even the book i thought or hoped it would be. A witty, candid, sharply written memoir by the cofounder of steely dan in his entertaining debut as an author, donald fagenmusician, songwriter, and cofounder of steely danreveals the cultural figures and currents that shaped his artistic sensibility, as well as offering a look at his college days and a hilarious account of life on the road. He has also released four albums as a solo artist and in 2001 was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame.
Fagen is cofounder of the literate jazzpoprock band steely dan, and his first book is a wry compendium and artobiography, as he coins it, consisting of pieces that illuminate the musical, literary, and cultural influences on the young fagen and a. Cant buy a thrill, steely dans first album was released. Donald fagen s latest album is sunken condos or get all of his solo albums in cheap xmas. Its impossible to separate the bands era from their ethos. Donald fagen describes painful last meeting with a very ill walter becker losing a long time bandmate can be as painful as saying goodbye to ones spouse. In eminent hipsters, musician and songwriter donald fagen, best known as the cofounder of the rock band steely dan, presents an autobiographical portrait that touches on everything from the cultural figures that mattered the most to him as a teenager, to his years in the late 1960s at bard college, to a hilarious account of a recent tour he made with boz scaggs and michael mcdonald. Donald jay fagen born january 10, 1948 is an american musician best known as the cofounder, lead singer, cosongwriter, and keyboardist of the band steely dan, formed in the early 1970s. Oct 28, 2014 a witty, candid, sharply written memoir by the cofounder of steely dan in his entertaining debut as an author, donald fagenmusician, songwriter, and cofounder of steely danreveals the cultural figures and currents that shaped his artistic sensibility, as well as offering a look at his college days and a hilarious account of life on the road. Donald fagens top10 its silly to choose ten, but okay. Dec 19, 2017 donald fagen describes painful last meeting with a very ill walter becker losing a long time bandmate can be as painful as saying goodbye to ones spouse. And tom scott is one of the most prolific studio reed and wind players who established the latenight television saxophone sound. Morph the cat wrapped up an alleged trilogy in 2006 a trilogy that only became apparent when donald fagens three solo albums were boxed in a set called the nightfly trilogy in 2007 and fagen then busied himself with live performances, something he avoided at the peak of his popularity in the 70s and 80s. In fact after reading a number of pages i checked back to the title to confirm i was reading a book by donald fagen. With walter becker, he took several classic steely dan albums.