Steely Dan - Kind Spirit (Demo Restored)

[@SirMixALotRareMusic]

I've made 3 different versions of this song using new technology and AI! Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6CmaYimnLiNlcU

[@RobertJohnson-zg6bc]

I love it because I like how uncompromisingly original Seely Dan is. There is this elevated space of sophistication in their work. With a hint of mystery. And it doesn't date. Their tracks are timeless. Uncovering the restored demos is finding buried treasure.

[@Pseudiom]

Excellent work one again. I'm glad I can finally hear Fagen's "Na na na na"'s in proper quality.

[@franciscolomeli8931]

Thanks for making that steely dan video Pseudiom love your channel and I wouldn't have found this awesome music if you didn't make the video

[@redlinenantlersstudio6076]

Am I the only one that kind of hates, or loves to hate, Fagen’s voice? Idk why but the ad libs in the middle of hey nineteen get under my skin. The way he says “mm mm mm” and then “skate a little lower now” hurts me in the soul.

[@hklinker]

Yup, the only one.

[@ElenaBrandtNJ]

Thank you for doing an inmense public service for Steely Fans like me. This is a dope edit of their best rarity.

[@davestarns]

I’m half tempted to write lyrics for the verses and start playing this live with my own band. It’s such a great song-that’s-not-quite-a-song.

[@hat2flat]

As part of a full set of unreleased SD/DF/WB tunes?

[@monsieurtukini]

Instrumental would do just right.

[@jseth6875]

What a juicy skeleton!!! There's more meat on these bones than on 99% of the music I've heard since Gaucho was released... Thanks SO MUCH for all your efforts on this and the other tracks... I would love to have a good copy of all of these!!!

[@cawj7896]

Damn the quality is the best I've heard thus far. 👍🏿👍🏿

[@scottlawrenz6467]

Man. I really like this song. Thank you for cleaning it up so well. It's a shame there aren't lyrics. It's a great "what might have been." Might be a fun exercise to write some in the style of Fagen's sardonic lyricism.

[@Ruddermeister]

Happy to hear this. Almost an obsession to try and find stuff that has gone missing. Looking forward to find yet more surprises on KZbin...

[@davidbois2605]

weeping. bless you. how did this track NOT make it into the final-edit pressing? it's fookin' gorgeous. in at least three or four of the infinite universes that be happening about, "Gaucho" exists released with this track following "Third World Man" as endcap to side 2. "Time Out of Mind" could maybe have been squeezed into Side 1 to accommodate. [not that anyone actually asked me hahahaha #yellsatcloud #getoffmylawn etc.]

[@nickmessick4292]

Great restoration!

[@alexriesenbeck]

That single Fagen Fender Rhodes bark at the end of every Nah phrase... Right where it should be. Gimme another 3 studio minutes on the end jam please!

[@darkAce100]

incredible quality

[@marpor6561]

Very cool vibe.

[@321CatboxWA]

Thank you

[@sheen4dean71]

This sounds like it is from The Royal Scam. Sounds like Chuck on bass. And the sound is identical to the sound on that album and as he dominated the bass on that album it makes more sense.

[@bassbymichele]

Hate to be that guy, but as scholar of Chuck Rainey, I'm pretty sure that's not him on bass..the tone and the choice of notes don't match.. not sure who that could be though

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

Since it was recorded in New York, it's probably Anthony Jackson.

[@cjshardcorepunkmusicvault8474]

As far as I have read, some of these Outtakes came at the end of the Royal Scam recordings. So not all from Gaucho. Donald said in interviews he went back and looked at songs left over from the Royal Scam for Gaucho.

[@cjshardcorepunkmusicvault8474]

@@bassbymichele I don't know dude. On the albums it was Walter or Chuck. In this time frame Wilton Felder is the only other possibility.

[@thinkingaboutit2738]

OMG! I can't believe this was never part of this Album. Such a great song, How was this abandoned? Great job. Thanks for this. Would love to know what program you're using to get this result.

[@MacXpert74]

Interesting demo. I wonder if this was dropped because the piano part in the verses sounds too similar to "Home at last". It's basically the same thing, but played a bit lower and in a different key.

[@Painter19]

So basically the same song, but different tune and words?

[@MacXpert74]

@@Painter19 If you 'basically' can't read, you might draw that conclusion. 🤦‍♂

[@tubular7752]

Classic Gadd

[@WSS_the_OG]

Unmistakable Gadd on this. Seems they only resurrected the "backup vocals" guide tracks. It's so similar to The Bear that I wonder what the actual plans were. It's interesting to hear Fagen's guide piano parts to keep everything on track, and I wonder if those were how the solos were set up for later sessions.

[@michaelcaplin8969]

Quoting another person in another comment here: "The drummer here is a jazz legend named Billy Cobham. It's the only time he ever worked with Donald and Walter. The track was going to be expanded in its album form to give Cobham a far bigger part, showcasing his amazing talent, but it never came to be sadly."

[@patricebruel3806]

Why bother with lyrics ? Na na na does the job perfectly !

[@anthonyleighton4754]

Considering they didn't wanna make a last album for MCA the quality on the cast off tracks is even superb......

[@Andronicus2007]

This aint from Gaucho...this is Lost Gaucho

[@haddadbeats]

Steve Gadd on drums

[@dtsdigitalden5023]

How was this restored to such incredible quality? Post processing, or access to better tapes? It's fantastic, either way.

[@SirMixALotRareMusic]

100% post processing! The FLACs out there still have good info on the high end up which among other things I boosted. The description has a list of all the changes done. I'm still hoping to find an actual tape, or better quality rip if it's out there.

[@dtsdigitalden5023]

@@SirMixALotRareMusic Totally missed your notes, and they explain how you did it. Terrific job! I'd love to hear your take on Kulee Baba.

[@SirMixALotRareMusic]

@DT's Digital Den The full band Kulee Baba demo is just fine, does not need restoring if you ask me, the piano demo however is something I'll do sooner or later!

[@hklinker]

The Kulee Baba piano demo has a fantastic ‘creepy’ quality to it. Who knows what happens when it gets cleaned up?

[@MrSpitfire06]

The drum tracks are insane. Steve Gadd is really one of the best drummer.

[@moshezarviv1252]

Hi, how do we know it's Steve on that track ? It could be jeff porcaro's or bernard purdie's shuffle style as well , no ?

[@MrSpitfire06]

@@moshezarviv1252 It could be, but it doesn't sound like them to me ahah The toms thing sounds like Gadd to me. Maybe it's possible to have a deeper analyse from the sound of the kit too

[@ATrifleNippyout]

I have a notoriously bad memory but I'm 99% sure it wasn't Gadd. I think I would have remembered meeting him. This was a new guy they were auditioning. (I was the engineer. This was at Sigma Sound in New York.)

[@MrSpitfire06]

@@ATrifleNippyout Well that explains why it doesn't sound like Jeff or Bernard either. Thanks for the insight, it's kind of sad to not have any credit for this guy. His playing sounds amazing on the track.

[@michaelcaplin8969]

@@ATrifleNippyout Thanks for the insight. I'm a previous studio engineer in Europe (changed profession, but still do quite a bit when the right projects come along). I'm quite interested in experimenting more with some of the techniques of the late 70's - early 80's, especially regarding drums. There are some resources out there on the subject, but mostly from people who weren't around at the time, so it would be better getting some info from people who were actually in the profession, using those techniques on a daily basis. Any chance I could ask some questions, or is your notoriously bad memory going to act up? :) - Michael

[@jrileycain6220]

Is Steve Gadd the drummer on this? Or Bernard Purdy?

[@Andronicus2007]

Bernard probably claims he's on it!

[@matureyoungman]

very angular funk. i'd like to hear a The The cover

[@tracy11282]

Sounds almost exactly like "Home at Last"

[@bweeks8869]

agreed

[@tracy11282]

Either This isn't from Gaucho or they just got lazy

[@HevyDevy101]

@@tracy11282 Watch the documentary 'The Lost Gaucho'

[@tracy11282]

@@HevyDevy101 I have

[@WrestlingErnestHemingway]

I was going to say it sounded more like "The Bear" outtake from Aja. Has the same beat.

[@jonhowe2960]

i listen at 1.25 speed just to pique becker's ghost

[@ryanendoh8750]

This would have been a good closer for Side A of the Album (assuming it could fit). 😢

[@tryinglyon]

My opinion on this song... Na.