On the road today. Missed Steely Sunday. I know these songs well and they’re both typically good SD tunes. Interesting to hear how Donald’s voice has aged, not in a bad way, just different. Godwhacker is my favorite of the two. Keith is a monster on the skins. He’s even better to see in concert. Thanks Lee.
Agreed that Carlock is a beast in concert. Saw him play with Tower of Power as a sub for Dave Garibaldi, and he was super strong. Playing with T.O.P. is no easy gig, and he more than held his own.
"Blues Beach, it's rainin', I'm chillin' at the Manatee Bar, well it's a STONED SOUL PICNIC for the early resigned". The great, late Laura Nyro, who left us way too early at age 49 in 1997 from ovarian cancer, wrote Stoned Soul Picnic, and a 60's pop/soul band, The Fifth Dimension turned it into a huge hit, along with Nyro's Wedding Bell Blues. Blood, Sweat & Tears turned Nyro's "And When I Die" into a classic. Long story, but she had a strong influence on Don & Walt and many others. including Carol King and Barbara Streisand (Stony End). Interesting that Don & Walt would wave a hat-tip to Laura like this.
It is a synthesizer. It's not a Melodica. I own several Hohner Melodica's and synths. You can't bent the pitch (the sound each key makes) with a Melodica. But you can easily with a synthesizer - they have a "pitch bend" wheel or knob that you use with your left hand while playing keys with your right. Donald hasn't used Melodica's in recording but does use them on stage sometimes.
It's allegorical, of course . . . Lucifer and some other fallen angels have "tracked [God's] almighty ass across seven heaven realms" seeking retribution for perceived wrongs and hypocrisy. Anyone else have ideas?
@@SeaMark782 The last four tracks from his 2006 "Morph the Cat" CD was how Fagen handled his own post-9-11/Iraq War/Bush Era trauma. The title cut itself is a paean to the revival of his beloved NYC and the resilience and diversity of its inhabitants.
Donald uses a mouth organ.. a little keyboard that is blown into also has been known to use a synth patch called synth blues harp cool sounds with a different texture than harmonica,, :)
I like Godwhacker. There’s a lot of energy in it. It’s the first I’ve heard of it. I just saw that someone on Reddit commented that Donald Fagen wrote about Godwhacker in his book “Eminent Hipsters”. The song is inspired from the feelings Fagen had about his mother’s death from Alzheimer’s. He must have been sorrowing about futility…
Your doing a reaction to Steely Dan, "Everything Must Go", which I greatly enjoyed BTW, reminded me of one of their promotions for this album ! In 2003 there was a TV show called Taxi Cab Confessions, which for one episode, with Rita, became Steely Dan Confessions, where they picked up fares and had conversations !!! Well worth a watch !!!!!
Godwacker is a favorite, a post 9/11 vibe, a slight paranoia, clocking things, you never know. God allows such things? Death, evil, suffering? Wack God. The Rajas of Erase, what a lyric. Give me some wacking space too. And Carlock is a monster.
I love that you’re doing this album, criminally overlooked. Can’t wait for your thoughts on ‘Green Book’, far and away my favourite track, also love ‘Lunch With Gina’.
Speculating whether that "sax" that starts the solo on 'Godwhacker' might be a Lyricon, a synthesized wind instrument somewhat like a soprano sax.🤔 Hmm. Wikipedia says synth solo on this one is Donald. Helluva good sax and beyond, D-man, if that was you. That's my favourite of the two. ✌🏼😊🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊
These later Steely Dan songs really get way too close to dentist office music for me to truly appreciate them. They're too slick by half. "Godwhacker" is slightly better than most of their later output, but it still sounds a little too NPR tote bag crowd coffee klatch for me.
Really loved both. Totally in the grove for Blues Beach!
On the road today. Missed Steely Sunday. I know these songs well and they’re both typically good SD tunes. Interesting to hear how Donald’s voice has aged, not in a bad way, just different. Godwhacker is my favorite of the two. Keith is a monster on the skins. He’s even better to see in concert. Thanks Lee.
Agreed that Carlock is a beast in concert. Saw him play with Tower of Power as a sub for Dave Garibaldi, and he was super strong. Playing with T.O.P. is no easy gig, and he more than held his own.
Great STEELY Sunday L33! Godwhacker was SO GOOD it was the pride of the neighborhood! ☮❤🎶
Awesome ... loved it
"Blues Beach, it's rainin', I'm chillin' at the Manatee Bar,
well it's a STONED SOUL PICNIC for the early resigned".
The great, late Laura Nyro, who left us way too early at age 49 in 1997 from ovarian cancer, wrote Stoned Soul Picnic, and a 60's pop/soul band, The Fifth Dimension turned it into a huge hit, along with Nyro's Wedding Bell Blues. Blood, Sweat & Tears turned Nyro's "And When I Die" into a classic. Long story, but she had a strong influence on Don & Walt and many others. including Carol King and Barbara Streisand (Stony End). Interesting that Don & Walt would wave a hat-tip to Laura like this.
Thanks for this background story. Love learning new things.😀
Groovy
I am new to Steely Dan. But, i really enjoyed that second song.
The unidentified sound in Godwhacker is probably Fagen's melodica.
Definitely. I had one.
It is a synthesizer. It's not a Melodica. I own several Hohner Melodica's and synths. You can't bent the pitch (the sound each key makes) with a Melodica. But you can easily with a synthesizer - they have a "pitch bend" wheel or knob that you use with your left hand while playing keys with your right. Donald hasn't used Melodica's in recording but does use them on stage sometimes.
Godwacker is about Donald being angry over the death of his mother.
Being post 9/11, I assumed the lyrics were about God allowing such a thing and wacking away. The loss or your beloved mother can have the same effect.
It's allegorical, of course . . . Lucifer and some other fallen angels have "tracked [God's] almighty ass across seven heaven realms" seeking retribution for perceived wrongs and hypocrisy. Anyone else have ideas?
@@SeaMark782 The last four tracks from his 2006 "Morph the Cat" CD was how Fagen handled his own post-9-11/Iraq War/Bush Era trauma.
The title cut itself is a paean to the revival of his beloved NYC and the resilience and diversity of its inhabitants.
Donald uses a mouth organ.. a little keyboard that is blown into also has been known to use a synth patch called synth blues harp cool sounds with a different texture than harmonica,, :)
It's called a melodica...a keyboard attached to a mouthpiece.
I like Godwhacker. There’s a lot of energy in it. It’s the first I’ve heard of it.
I just saw that someone on Reddit commented that Donald Fagen wrote about Godwhacker in his book “Eminent Hipsters”. The song is inspired from the feelings Fagen had about his mother’s death from Alzheimer’s.
He must have been sorrowing about futility…
God -- if He exists -- certainly has a shitload to answer for.
Godwhacker is definitely the best track on the album but I can't wait for your review of Slang Of Ages.
❤❤❤🎉
Your doing a reaction to Steely Dan, "Everything Must Go", which I greatly enjoyed BTW, reminded me of one of their promotions for this album !
In 2003 there was a TV show called Taxi Cab Confessions, which for one episode, with Rita, became Steely Dan Confessions, where they picked up fares and had conversations !!!
Well worth a watch !!!!!
Godwacker is a favorite, a post 9/11 vibe, a slight paranoia, clocking things, you never know. God allows such things? Death, evil, suffering? Wack God.
The Rajas of Erase, what a lyric. Give me some wacking space too. And Carlock is a monster.
Always glad to the new Dan stuff reviewed. YOu are halfway through EMG and I think the best is still yet to come.
I love that you’re doing this album, criminally overlooked. Can’t wait for your thoughts on ‘Green Book’, far and away my favourite track, also love ‘Lunch With Gina’.
Donald IS the piano man 🎹♂️
Steely Sunday 😊
Cannot wait for you to get to the song Everything Must Go. So damn good 🔥
I'm old school, I listen to albums all the way through and get submerged in overall vibe of therecord.. lol
Both were great to me, love me some Steely Dan. I guess you could do sports, Lee, but like the music reactions better, lol. Blessings all. Peace.
Pixeleen!!!!
Speculating whether that "sax" that starts the solo on 'Godwhacker' might be a Lyricon, a synthesized wind instrument somewhat like a soprano sax.🤔
Hmm. Wikipedia says synth solo on this one is Donald. Helluva good sax and beyond, D-man, if that was you. That's my favourite of the two.
✌🏼😊🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊
WEATHER IN MY HEAD FROM FAGENS SOLO LP SUNKIN CONDOS
I like earlier steely dan better,music was less funky and more musically complicated, however their new stuff is good, just not my favorite dan
These later Steely Dan songs really get way too close to dentist office music for me to truly appreciate them. They're too slick by half. "Godwhacker" is slightly better than most of their later output, but it still sounds a little too NPR tote bag crowd coffee klatch for me.