Half expected Fagen to turn it inside out with re-harms and what not but it was surprisingly faithful; just a typically imaginative tasty bridge. Thoughts of a collab between two of my top Grand Wizards Joni and Donald boggles the mind. There's still time... but not much I fear.
Thanks for posting this Dan, what a great song and tribute to a great singer songwriter, Joni Mitchell. Now in March 2023 she has received one of the top accolades in her field, the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. I enjoyed the great vocals on this tune.
What a groove. Interesting key change for the guitar solo. Very Steely Dan ish :) I'm a huge Joni fan so it was nice to hear one of her tunes in a straight ahead groove. Not on spotify :(
Just sent this to Jon Herington. He was really delighted to hear it. After 20 years. (I think it was recorded 1999 but I’m not sure. Def Keith Carlock (edit) on drums). Paved the way to more live studio recordings. Not a perfect mix tho.
Unique voice has Mr Dan. Never heard this one but they had hard job back then to sqeeze LP on 45 minutes. One great film director here says when producer ask him to reduce movie to 90 minutes he bined 10 minutes long and best scene from the movie working version
@@rscottmurray Every "Can't Buy a Thrill" album database I've seen lists Jeff Baxter as lead guitarist on "Midnite Cruiser." Becker only played bass guitar on their first two albums.
I wouldn't assume the objection was Joni's. The subject of a tribute is rarely consulted. Could well have been the band themselves - 6 days is pretty darn fast for them to crank something out and be satisfied.
It was my delight, in my late teens/early twenties, to go down to “The Mermaid” public house, Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton, UK, and delight in that scratchy rock ‘n roll, beneath them Attila moon……
Can't see Joni liking that pinched falsetto. It's got a great groove to it, but I suspect Joni couldn't get past the way they sang it. She's kind of a perfectionist.
Donald has covered a bunch in his various solo incarnations. here's one the Dan did, probably just the one time ruclips.net/video/TygutK8yKII/видео.html
Those lyric changes just don't do it for me... Plus the vocal almost breaks on notes that Joni could get effortlessly. Small wonder that they kept this in the vault for so long.
@@TheDanVault Yep... That's why I think it was shelved... But even if he'd hit the high notes, the attempt to turn Carey into a female falls flat and "MY cane" is just weird.
The highlight of this is Walter’s solo- totally different sound to what we were used to and very good.The falsetto bit must have been sung by Carol Leonhardt because Donald could’nt get that range. Respectful of Joni Mitchell whose music I love, but SD have high standards and I can understand why Carey didn’t make the cut.
I can see why they didn’t release this. Doesn’t really do the song justice. Some folks excel at interpreting others’ music (Judy Collins, Richie Havens), some excel at doing their own music (Steely Dan, Prince), and some can do both (Laura Nyro).
@@leekosmin8788 To be honest, I had no idea that Prince had done A Case of You, so I went and listened. It was a nice cover, in part bc Prince revels in his falsetto, while Donald Fagen’s is a bit of a cringe. The part that let me down was that Prince starts with the second verse and totally skips over that lovely beginning: Just before our love got lost, you said “I am as constant as a northern star”… Maybe that was just too sensitive for Prince! 🙄
One of Walter's tastiest guitar solos - glad we finally got to hear this.
Was a nice solo ..R.I.P Walter Becker
a gem has fallen out of the dan vault this morning
The Walter Becker-Keith Carlock rhythm section makes me think of the Dan's last album, EVERYTHING MUST GO. Has the same feel as "Pixeleen".
Well this obviously should have been released, lovely tribute to the greatest singer-songwriter of all time. ✌️
No, this is so beyond Donalds vocal range, I can't believe he even attempted it.
Half expected Fagen to turn it inside out with re-harms and what not but it was surprisingly faithful; just a typically imaginative tasty bridge. Thoughts of a collab between two of my top Grand Wizards Joni and Donald boggles the mind. There's still time... but not much I fear.
Love the way they do Mitchell's back-up vocals--cool cover.
Love those background vocals.
Another one of my favs -- hope this brings a huge smile to Joni! Awesome!
It didn’t. It was meant to be on a tribute album. She scrapped the track.
Who said Joni was the producer?
@@rcla77771 I've always heard that too but what's the actual source on it?
this sounds like that summer
My favourite band covering my favourite artist. My jaw's on the floor right now.
mine too, fave band, fave artist... xx
Wonderful! Have been wanting to hear it for years.
How did this not make the album? So good.
Maybe because it´s terrible? And I listen to Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan for centuries… There is a reason why this was never released before.
The drummer Keith Carlock, on a recent interview with Bob Lefsetz, said the band changed the lyrics and Joni didn't approve.
Being in the presence of such "Exalted cultural giants" as Steely Dan will always be the 'Most rarified of pleasures"!!!
Have never heard Donald sing such a high note (falsetto). Impressive.
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you
Wow just WOW!
Oh wow, this is great - love that Walter Solo!
How the hell did I not know about this?!?...I'm as big a Joni Mitchell fan as I am a Steely Dan Fan.
same
I adore them both.
My favorite Joni Mitchell song covered by my favorite band! Does life get any better than this? Quick answer, no.
No bass credit. I'd imagine Walter played bass as well as guitar then? Wonderful solo, and I do like their rendition. Thanks for posting it!
Carolyn! 😍💔
Spectacular got to get this on my Dan playlist classic Walter tone on that solo super tasty.
Hadn’t heard this … awesome 👏
Too bad Ms. Mitchell never cut a cover of her SD favorite: "Third World Man."
Well done and true to the original...........what's not to like!!
Oh wow. Is there anyone who sounds like this magnificent snark master?
SD should include this track in their current live tour!
Thanks for posting this Dan, what a great song and tribute to a great singer songwriter, Joni Mitchell. Now in March 2023 she has received one of the top accolades in her field, the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. I enjoyed the great vocals on this tune.
This is a great version of a great song. I'm surprised it would be cut from a tribute album, not that I really care.
Very nice! Thank you 'The Dan Vault' for posting this gem of a cover.
RIP Walter Becker 1950 - 2017
Great rendition! Loved it!
The Steely Dan compositional similarities jump out!
Love this, and LOVE Joni. Donald should instead have sung the line "I'm a mean old daddy, but I like you."
Wonderfully smooth SD cover of a cool Joni song. Walter’s good here.
Never heard this before. Cool!
What a surprising delight ! I would have loved to hear a collaboration with Joni and Dan. Loved hearing this, thanks for posting
What a groove. Interesting key change for the guitar solo. Very Steely Dan ish :) I'm a huge Joni fan so it was nice to hear one of her tunes in a straight ahead groove. Not on spotify :(
Song was written while sleeping in a cave on the Island of Crete. Carey is a real person although his name is spelled wrong.
STUNNING
Just sent this to Jon Herington. He was really delighted to hear it. After 20 years. (I think it was recorded 1999 but I’m not sure. Def Keith Carlock (edit) on drums). Paved the way to more live studio recordings. Not a perfect mix tho.
Wow. Amazing. Made my day
Just Dan-tastic! It sounds like a song that if Joni Mitchell hadn't written it, Donald and Walter would have.
That’s terrific.
Fantastic
Wow, this is an awesome discovery
I am not a fan of cover versions as a rule but I love this one!
I'm stunned! It's like someone just discovered a Van Gogh depicting a landscape in the south of France from the painter's sunflowers period.
I too am stunned. And coincidentally, a new Van Gogh self portrait discovery was just announced today.
Eh,take it easy! Love Steely Dan and Joni but steady on! Let's all take a deep breath and calm down for gods sake,jeez!
Awesome! But I can't imagine cutting a Steely Dan anything from anything!
I thought it was time out of mind at first the beat sounds similar
I have not heard this before
Unique voice has Mr Dan. Never heard this one but they had hard job back then to sqeeze LP on 45 minutes. One great film director here says when producer ask him to reduce movie to 90 minutes he bined 10 minutes long and best scene from the movie working version
Carlock played on the title track of Two Against Nature before this
You mean the session was before? TAN was released 2001
@@kaustik185recorded 97-99, released Feb 2000
man this rules so fucking hard
If that's Walter Becker on lead guitar at 1:50, then he's borrowing the intro from Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's solo at 2:20 from 1972's "Midnite Cruiser."
it's definitely Walter and it was very likely him playing the twin guitar on Cruiser
@@rscottmurray Every "Can't Buy a Thrill" album database I've seen lists Jeff Baxter as lead guitarist on "Midnite Cruiser." Becker only played bass guitar on their first two albums.
@@andyinoregon I doubt that. yes Skunk played lead on MC but the part you mentioned is played by two guitars and it's not Denny Dias
oh shit
it's very close to the Cindy Lauper re-arrangement
Sounds like Keith Carlock drumming, similar production and vibe to Everything Must Go. Not bad, wonder what Joni's objection was?
The bassline, drums, and overall rhythm is very similar to Pixeleen.
@@TheDanVault I'd guess Walter is on bass, but the solo is Harrington.
@@pablos.alonso7711 it's Walter on lead guitar and bass. Herington on second guitar
The full accurate band credits are in the description. Dan trumpeter Michael Leonhart actually confirmed it; His sister sang backing vocals.
I wouldn't assume the objection was Joni's. The subject of a tribute is rarely consulted. Could well have been the band themselves - 6 days is pretty darn fast for them to crank something out and be satisfied.
I wonder that JM reaction was when she heard this for the first time???
It was my delight, in my late teens/early twenties, to go down to “The Mermaid” public house, Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton, UK, and delight in that scratchy rock ‘n roll, beneath them Attila moon……
Matala moon, Matala is on the Greek Isle of Crete
@@matthewwarner9390 lol
@@matthewwarner9390 Stayed at Matala not long after Joni had played music on the beach there.
Can't see Joni liking that pinched falsetto. It's got a great groove to it, but I suspect Joni couldn't get past the way they sang it. She's kind of a perfectionist.
are there any unreleased tracks from the 'two against nature' period ?
did SD ever perform this cover live ?
Unusual. Who is the lead guitar?
Walter Becker; He plays the solo too
Sounds more like a polished demo or unfinished track. Donald's vocal is a bit low in the mix.
did steely dan cover any other songs??
East St. Louis Toodle-Oo is a Duke Ellington cover.
Donald Fagen did some covers on his solo albums. "Ruby Baby", "Rhymes", and "Out of the Ghetto" come to mind.
Donald has covered a bunch in his various solo incarnations. here's one the Dan did, probably just the one time
ruclips.net/video/TygutK8yKII/видео.html
@@MichaelTrogdon1990 Rhymes? What record is that on?
Bass ? Chuck Rainey ?? :)
Unsure, but it's definitely not Chuck Rainey lol
It is most likely Becker.
Those lyric changes just don't do it for me... Plus the vocal almost breaks on notes that Joni could get effortlessly. Small wonder that they kept this in the vault for so long.
The thing is, Donald is capable of reaching those high notes but for some reason he doesn’t quite do it up here. Weird
@@TheDanVault Yep... That's why I think it was shelved... But even if he'd hit the high notes, the attempt to turn Carey into a female falls flat and "MY cane" is just weird.
I think it's a style thing. and I really dig it, for one.
@@kaustik185 As the Spanish say. "For tastes there is nothing written" 😉
This is not a melody that suits Fagen; too major key, too sunny, no shadows. Everything sounds very demo.
The highlight of this is Walter’s solo- totally different sound to what we were used to and very good.The falsetto bit must have been sung by Carol Leonhardt because Donald could’nt get that range. Respectful of Joni Mitchell whose music I love, but SD have high standards and I can understand why Carey didn’t make the cut.
Maybe that was Donald with falsetto bit.😅
This is pure sin
I can see why they didn’t release this. Doesn’t really do the song justice. Some folks excel at interpreting others’ music (Judy Collins, Richie Havens), some excel at doing their own music (Steely Dan, Prince), and some can do both (Laura Nyro).
I agree, but Prince did a great version of A Case Of You on a Joni tribute album.
@@leekosmin8788 To be honest, I had no idea that Prince had done A Case of You, so I went and listened. It was a nice cover, in part bc Prince revels in his falsetto, while Donald Fagen’s is a bit of a cringe. The part that let me down was that Prince starts with the second verse and totally skips over that lovely beginning: Just before our love got lost, you said “I am as constant as a northern star”… Maybe that was just too sensitive for Prince! 🙄
@@taurus3973 I thought that he'd skipped the 1st verse. A good critique. I'm a Taurus too.
Donald's voice sounds strange and unnatural. Is this real or an AI creation? I really have doubts.
This is like A.I. with its lack of feel. if its real its understandable it would remain unreleased. Its just not interesting.
I can fully understand why the latter day Steely Dan didn't want this released. It is a rhythmically poor, unimaginative cover version.
I'll pass! Give me other steely Dan song!!!
Love her, love them but this is unrecognisable as them and dreadful.
Jesus, Fagen ruined it. No wonder it was rejected
even SD can totally miss the mark sometimes
This is quite bad. Processed through the 2000s Dan bland sausage machine.
love SD and JM - but this is unlistenable. A swing and a miss.
😂