Steely Dan “Black Cow (Piano Demo #2)”

[@fosbury68]

I saw him play live about a year ago. He's a much better singer now than he was here. He played a 100 minute, 17 song set and was vocally strong and on-point start to finish.

[@johnwyke-smith7402]

Donald Fagen is the master of understated jazz piano. Beautiful Chords, amazing lyrics.....classic

[@neoeyebeleave]

I still cry that Mr. Becker is no longer with us. R.I.P.

[@lambda494]

Their chord progressions are legendary

[@gj8683]

An unlikely lead singer who became the only possible lead singer.

[@jirimondo]

When you watch others (covers, pros) do SD you realize how Fagen and his voice uniquely stamped the character of SD songs.

[@drumhd1]

So well stated and absolutely true!

[@roberthavard4219]

He was so smart using pro background singers to surround him an extend his vocal lines at times.

[@jimsonnenberg1221]

Hell yes.

[@edshort1138]

No band should have only One singer sing every song, because it sounds monotonous before the album ends. David Palmer's voice fits some songs on Can't Buy a Thrill more than Fagen's would have.

[@michaelgirard3626]

His chord choices are EPIC

[@dennisherreid5393]

Wow! Wow! That piano is stunning! This arrangement brings an incredible clarity to the song. The album version has always knocked me out; dont get me wrong. This version is just Wow!

[@timstaffell]

Truly, how can any other contemporary 'rock' writers come anywhere near this beautifull stuff?

[@colbydobbs6399]

The voicing on those bridges changes is SUPER tight. Really cool to hear just the piano part.

[@franca6987]

this composition is one of the most beautiful things i've ever heard

[@marclandes9779]

It’s all there, holds up on its own.

[@goobfilmcast4239]

Brilliant song.... this bare-bones piano workup is a really treat

[@mrmarshmadness1]

This is priceless! And how it makes me appreciate the bass work of Chuck Rainey on the album version all the more.

[@scarlettohara3947]

I'm constantly in awe of their genius and talent

[@future62]

Can't believe they snuck the blues in right under our noses.

[@roberthavard4219]

The maestro of harmony! Chords just fall into place...genius!!!

[@soonerscooter3249]

Very lounge piano sounding I love it

[@vabeachtiff]

A small slice of heaven.

[@fredcollier1299]

Very few people can craft an arrangement this complicated - Fagan is the master and this is just another of his wonderful masterpieces. He has always been one of my favorite musicians. He just as crafty as a writer. One piano and the master - I think this speaks volumes and is a testament to his musical genius!

[@brucemacmillan9581]

So outrageous

[@stephenilieff7531]

great demo, seems so easy when they do their chord changes

[@crustafari]

awesome demo of a brilliant composition

[@3girlrhumba]

hmm these guys are pretty good

[@WildHeartPreserve-dj6ts]

So raw and beautiful

[@rogerdale5451]

The genius with the bones of the song.

[@bobobrien6353]

ĺ l Donald was hesitant about being the lead singer. I wonder how that worked out...😊

[@don4476]

They had some success with it. ;-)

[@bobrennegarbe5547]

So calming

[@lantose]

IMHO this is better than Demo #1! If anyone hasn’t, you should hear Grace Slick sing White Rabbit…voice only!

[@brianmurray315]

What a voice! Stunning.

[@lundsweden]

I can hear Fagen tapping his feet a little while playing, or possibility its the sustain pedal.

[@SunscapesLandscape]

My Fave S.D. song.

[@franca6987]

Please i need more songs in this vibe

[@kirstenneville1934]

those chord voicings are insane. this piano playing might sound simple to some people who don't know music, but my god it is not.

[@_jm0n3y8oo_]

Donald Fagen writes the best damn melodies.

[@haroldgreen9378]

I want my piano lessons from Donald! Real talk!!🎶💞

[@InceyWincey]

There’s a DVD of him giving lessons on songwriting. Or to be exact, explaining the process of writing several of their songs.

[@haroldgreen9378]

@@InceyWincey Thank you brother.

[@andersanders5950]

Beauty

[@davebartholome2924]

Listening to this makes me wonder, did they really need to hire Victor Feldman, David Paich, Michael Omartian, Joe Sample, etc. to play all those keyboard parts? Seems like Fagen could have handled most of it! (It was nice to hear him do more playing on “Two Against Nature” and “Everything Must Go.”)

[@davebartholome2924]

@John Galt Dough Oh, for sure. I’m not saying that Fagen was the equal of any of these guys in terms of his piano-playing ability. To give just one example: Fagen could not have done what Victor Feldman did on “I Got the News” (though I suspect Feldman took some of his harmonic suggestions). I just feel like Fagen could have handled most of the parts that others ended up playing. . . I guess I’m really just saying that though we think of him mainly as a songwriter and singer, we shouldn’t forget that the man is a damn fine piano player! (Loved hearing him and Walter trade solos on “Godwhacker.”)

[@WheresMyFlyingCar]

I wouldn't trade Victor Feldman's solo on "Black Cow" for anything. It's so perfect and tasty.

[@thomasnelson5758]

Watching the Aja documentary, there's a point where Walter mentions looking at the room around him and feeling 'outclassed', I think it was actually genius of them to yield to session musicians to bring the strongest product possible. Letting other musicians imprint their sensibilities made for the best tracks, i.e. Donald yielding to whichever keyboardist of the day, or Walter relinquishing bass duties to Chuck Rainey or guitar to whoever (Carlton, Dias, etc).

[@davebartholome2924]

@@thomasnelson5758 Yeah, you certainly can’t argue with the results. As far as I’m concerned, the only place they went wrong is with “Gaucho” (the album), where they got so obsessed with getting “perfect” drum tracks that they started using a proto-drum machine (developed by Roger Nichols). I’m sorry, but when you’ve got Bernard Purdie or Rick Marotta at your disposal, I think it’s silly to think you’re going to do better with a drum machine.

[@thomasnelson5758]

@@davebartholome2924 Agreed to an extent, I've heard people say Gaucho sounds too 'sterile and clinical' as a result of the excessive Wendel use. Incredible pioneering engineering work by Nichols, but yeah, no replacement for human feel. I still love Gaucho though

[@george.s.8491]

Very cool! Thank you! Is this Fagen singing?

[@tobyaitken1744]

Yes

[@PianoDanny]

Can anyone tell me at what stage this piano demo came about? Was it a piano-isolated take ‘after the event’ ie what the session guys played along to - and the piano part included in the mix? Or was it a very early demo of the track which was used as to write out the charts for the session players?

[@roy7046]

I'm one of the few people who plays the smoke on the water riff correctly

[@David80-lc1xh]

From 4:06 to 4:37 , to myself I'm singing So Outrageous So Outrageous

[@richardfranks-hi4sn]

Don’t forget the saxophone… “duh da duh da dah” lol

[@edwardverlie6534]

Any chance there is a transcription of this?

[@thedave5748]

Yes, as soon as you write it...

[@JohnWilliamsFromBluff]

I feel very bad saying this, because SD are my favourite band, but I've always thought that Donald isn't a very good singer. Hearing this changed my mind, somewhat. A great vocal effort from the esteemed Mr. Fagen. And, as other have said, totally awesome keyboard work.

[@monsieurtukini]

I would argue that he is a great singer, he knows how to use his voice, but his tone is what brings it down. Not for everyone, I know.

[@itsabovemenow1016]

Sometimes you really do want to see (or hear) how the sausage is made.

[@egadgo]

Ah yes... Coca Cola, and Chocolate Ice Cream....

[@mariopenati9489]

i am high

[@kevindigo22]

Was this really recorded as what we hear, piano and vocal only as a demo, or is this some magical reverse engineering extracting those two tracks only from the larger production? Either way, it is a fantastic recording demonstrating the brilliance of DF. I love hearing these different demos and outtakes to understand how the songs developed from the original composition thoughts to the final product.

[@fraseredk7433]

In Zim we call them brown cows.

[@safeandsound2653]

Has that Freddy Mercury look.

[@leemacgregor]

SPEECHLESS

[@EVEN-STEPHEN]

The only thing I can say about - TEAM DAN - Since l was in the first grade of Elementary school back when " TRICKY DICK " was CIC OF THE US.... It goes without -- - SAYIN - A.K.A. W.B./ D.F.