The most disastrous recording process of all time

[@jimrogers7425]

In the late 1990s I had the pleasure of working with Roger Nichols. He had a degree in nuclear engineering. He told me that both he and Roger Linn took a machine code programming class together, both with the idea of making a drum machine… Linn for commercial release, and Nichols for high fidelity. Hard drives were slow at the time. He told me that he had Seagate build him a custom hard drive assembly… 16 hard drives with one common spindle so he could store one bit of each 16 bit word on each drive… $70 grand. He needed a large amount of RAM… another massive expenditure. Roger remembered not only the year, month, and day, but the hour, minute, and second when he first recorded drums from Wendell. He also told me, “and remember, this was BEFORE MIDI so we had to record our trigger pulses first. One of the most intelligent men I’ve ever met who also had some of the BEST stories ever! Cheers!

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

This is fascinating! Shared your story with my musician/programer friend. Thanks for sharing your story with us ❤

[@jameslifetimelearner]

Roger Nichols(The Immortal) deserves much more credit than he’s getting lately for these recordings IMO

[@danbrockettDOP]

@@jameslifetimelearner I'm a huge fan of Donald and Walter but was IMMENSELY disillusioned with them for how they treated Roger, who was basically, along with Gary, the third and fourth members of SD. Without Roger and Gary, SD as we know it, would not exist. Something else quality would have happened but not something magical like it did.

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Cool story

[@jimmoore8951]

Great info great story… love hearing the invention of Wendel. As a drummer I really didn’t like the drum machine aspect when they already had the best drummers in the world on the track. Aja was the pinnacle for me but Gaucho was too perfectionist for me. If I was the Dan’s drummer I would’ve fired Donald

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Mark Knopfler played on " Time Out Of Mind ", and said of Walter and Donald's attitude(paraphrase): And I thought I was a perfectionist...

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I think they used exactly 20 seconds of Knopfler’s performance………..

[@jgmiller804]

Ive read that before, but he's always floating in the mix in all the right places.

[@pbaker7160]

@@simonhodgetts6530 Correct. The other guitar that sounds slightly like Knopfler during the entire song is actually Hugh McCracken. Only the last 20 seconds is Mark's solo.

[@petefogel2133]

I love Knopfler..but he's a "get off my lawn" type of guy. Especially as he's gotten older. I guess my point is Becker & Fagen aren't the only two musicans/people he's ever bitched about. Far from it.

[@jimo50]

@@petefogel2133 He may bitch, but this is a really weak example to cite as bitching. I'd say he's calling himself out for being perfectionist by referring to SD as more so- that's not bitching, that's self deprecation! As the saying goes, if you look up 'perfectionist' in a dictionary there's a picture of the 2 of them. That cat's been out of the bag for 50 years.

[@biggybg98]

There's a point where you have to question their sanity. Jeff Porcaro was legitimately one of the best drummers in the world at the time.

[@gforce1930]

Of course they were insane that is the whole point! :)

[@DANCEDISCODANCE-n3c]

Porcaro worshipped Fagen and Becker.He even hung out at their studio when he wasn't on a session.And of course they loved Porcaro's playing.

[@plane_guy6051]

I totally agree. I think Fagan almost surely has some kind of very bad obsessive compulsive disorder. I like all their music and am a musician myself, and I know how precise music has to be and there's just no way in hell that it has to be as precise as he was apparently imagining it, not with the level of musicianship they were able to bring in. If he's really that messed up in the head then Fagan will probably end up being one of those people who we start hearing crazy stories about but you don't believe, like Howard Hughes when he got older, but then you find out that they're actually true.

[@petefogel2133]

Breaking news! Jeff Porcaro was put on the map by Steely Dan! Jeff absolute LOVED Becker & Fagen. And the respect was mutual

[@muchacho0821]

Tasxherrated with h of a horse. No fueron ellod, was about 4birc5vtears eatlir with boz scaggs

[@louiegallardo7562]

Coincidence, I listened to every Dan studio album last week just to clear my head. Becker and Fagen and the cats they surrounded themselves with are absolute perfection. Thank you for the post. Aja is my favorite too. I have always described it as music for grown ups. Cheers!

[@genecase9464]

"Music for grownups!" Hey, That's my line!! LOL I don't think I can choose between The Royal Scam and Aja. Luckily, I don't have to!

[@robertmuckle2985]

Guess I was "grown up" at 21 then...and am 70 now, feeling immature for my age!😂

[@Mythicregard]

They are the band for depraved intellectuals.

[@perfectallycromulent]

That's a rather snobby comment there. People listen to music for different reasons, regardless of age or level of maturity. I'm a 51 year old man listening to Ariana Grande. I've got audiovisual synesthesia. I can see her voice, and it looks awesome. The voices of these guys don't. So I'm gonna listen to Ariana Grande.

[@genecase326]

Hmm...audiovisual synesthesia. Interesting. Steely Dan's lyrics paint my pictures. 🙂. Anyway, today, music by Steely Dan, as well as Christopher Cross, Al Stewart, The Doobie Brothers, etc is referred to as "yacht rock". Talk about snobbish! LOL Back in the late 70's it was referred to as "adult contemporary". Sophisticated, intelligent lyrics, technically advanced, Or, "music for grownups". But enjoyed by the masses! LOL Have a great night!

[@br549-c4q]

I'm 66yrs. old and have seen them live three times, that was very hard to achieve... Thanks for your excellent work.

[@superdude7459]

That's awesome 😎 I've always wanted to see them live but still haven't. 😕

[@ejb7969]

Well, that ship has sailed. From the evidence on KZbin, now you get a tribute band with DF on piano, in iffy voice. But those records ... close your eyes and imagine them playing. They're perfect every time!

[@stingray1irwin0]

I'm 36 and have seen them 3 times. Heck yeah bud ♥️

[@peterkelly8357]

i’m 68,,i think i’ve seen them at least 4 times. see my post near the top of the comments about 1974 UK tour

[@room34]

I'm enough of a Steely Dan fanatic that I probably knew every detail in this video and had even heard a bunch of the quotes, but it was still fascinating to watch. Very well put together, and a great overview of the challenges of producing Gaucho. Nice job!

[@seabud6408]

Didn’t listening to that level of needless, so called perfectionism, irritate the life out of you? What does it say about someone that they would listen to 80 takes of a drum part with a clip board making notes on practically every beat. What does it say about a drummer who would agree to that .. “needs the money” ? What does it say about your musicianship that you can’t do what John McLaughlin did with Shakti’s debut album .. have an intuition that the next gig was going to be special .. record it .. and to this day probably the best debut album Ive ever heard.

[@benpeterson1863]

Agreed 100%! Compare real artists like Da Vinci, Monet et al., who were brilliant "in the moment" (mistakes and all) painters, to: today's "Computer Graphics Artists" who can literally change anything (at any point they desire) during the creation of their rendering/depiction. Also compare Bach, Beethoven et al., live performances to: today's "Recording Artists" who can record/do as many takes or retakes as deemed necessary, even to the point of "perfection," which is, in a word; absurdity. It is not even "art" anymore. It's stale and clinical. It is also unrealistic to duplicate and present in a "live" scenario. So what is the point? Answer: To be referred to as a "Recording" artist. Just like being referred to as a "Computer Graphics" artist. I for one, don't have much respect at all for this pursuit of perfection. For pursuit of excellence, yes! There is a difference. @@seabud6408

[@trysometruth]

@@benpeterson1863 What's the point? Is certainly the question haha. I'm thinking it's just kinda raw ambition. They had carved out a niche for themselves with that perfectionistic stance and it did get to points of utter absurdity. But it was _their_ absurdity, dammit. And as Hartley mentioned, people are still talking about it like half a century later. So... uh... if there is a 'point' maybe that's it.

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

@@seabud6408 yeah and Fagan's sad over dependance on drum machines on his solo work. it's good, good songwriting, but the best of it can't get even close to the sound feel and overall brilliance of the Dan stuff. I own 0 Fagan albums. Heard em . don't want em. I own every Dan album. Want em need em.. all of em. fuck drum machines. utter bullshit blip hiccup and glitch in the Matrix. Plus, as brilliant as he is a lyricist/songwriter AND vocalist, he aint no Les McCann on the piano. Solid,with immaculate votings, but i don't think you get a strong enough underpinning with his stacks of comped parts. Dunes....'93 finally with Walter on guitar, it sound like Dan again I Mean effectively accompanied. With searing lines in betwixt. What is kid Charlemagne and a lot of other songs with out the fills?? Skunks' Diaz's Walter's Come on, they were essential.. And Walters very carefully composed bass parts, and creative guitar comps? y

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

@@trysometruth no it was just assbackwards . changing the band around the drummer. Drummer is not CAPABLE of changing his basic sound touch approach...effectively, for difficult hi level music like Steely Dans . . . it is too physical too athletic a skill.. I massage keys. I can adjust my overall style and approach and touch easily . drummer CANNOT. I can give you Evans, Garner, Corea, Pine top, salsa, funk soul, whatever.. When you have Jordan you don't dump Scotty Pippin and bring in a new crew 3 times in a season Jordan is going to be Jordan, you make a few key trades, and let the SUPPORTING cast adjust to the Leader. 6 titles MVPS GOAT Steely Dan...last album drug addiction over use of crappy drum machines and sampling on Fagan's solo work,,,producing NOTHING that matched the best of steely dan... not even close. nothing of Fagans's got any where near AJA or most of the earlier work "the dummer is the leader of every band I've been in" Pat Metheney. "those two (fagan, Walter) don't really know anything about drumming, and could not communicate what they needed to us" a drummer from the Making of AJA cd.

[@phnigra1313]

Donald Fagen, the Stanley Kubrick of music.

[@eriktempelman2097]

That's... an excellent comparison. Well done.

[@mournblade1066]

Frank Zappa was up there, too.

[@KidNoah2012]

Donald Fagen, the guy who would never take yes for an answer. He probably left 50 great albums on the editing room floor.

[@MrDevtun]

Tom Scholz of Boston.

[@donreed]

01/07/25: No. Fagan is not an incompetent who would release the musical equivalent of Eyes Wide Shut.

[@i-am-ber]

Absolutely love these videos dude. Your casually confident conversational narration style and impeccable choice of subjects - either familiar or novel to me, I always end up learning something - is really in my sweet spot of my interests and appreciation. Thanks so much. Also, Happy New Year!

[@davidhartley94]

Thank you, happy new year!

[@davidstewart4570]

As a recording engineer from the 24-track days, all this sounds borderline crazy. Yes, I've sat on countless sessions where we faffed about all day trying to achieve some kind of perfection, but there was never the unlimited budget described here ("give me $150,000 and I'll build you a drum machine", etc). I think I'd have gone mad, but no-one can question the amazing music Fagen & co produced. I once recorded an album for Manfred Mann. He was a fascinating experimentalist and a very nice man, and had an address book bulging with the phone numbers of the world's top session musicians. In the very first hour he said, "Record everything! If any music is being played at any time in this studio, I want the tape rolling." That way, we never missed those magic moments often found in the spontaneity of a run-through or familiarisation; quite the opposite approach to Fagen's. It was quite quick work because all the musicians he brought in were so damn good. Happy days! The story of recording test tones over the multitrack master makes my blood run cold!

[@spd1214]

Would you happen to be the same David Stewart from the Eurythmics?

[@apollomemories7399]

@@spd1214 He already told you he was a recording engineer. Believe it or not but there are more than one David Stewart's in this world.

[@canalanalogue1170]

Great video. I knew some stories, but the way you tell 'em is both relaxed and informative, David. Keep up the good work. Pleasure to watch & listen.

[@ewenmac3127]

Great video. The perfectionism of these two geniuses tips over into madness at times but it gave us a timeless masterpiece.

[@rangjungyeshe]

Yes - despite being a lifelong Dan fan, until I watched this video I don't think I quite appreciated how close to insanity their recording sessions became.

[@JC19676]

Walter was involved in Kamikiriad. Walter produced the album,played bass and guitar on it and co-wrote Snowbound on it. In addition,Walter put out a second album called Circus Monkey not just one.

[@omerktee9261]

That makes so much sense.

[@timstaffell]

Circus MONEY

[@johnlawler2455]

@@timstaffell Fantastic album. Paging Audrey, Downtown Canon, Selfish Gene are up there with any SD recording.

[@induss1491]

walter becker “11 tracks of whack” check it out

[@andes.9259]

Kamakiriad is sooo good 🙏🏾

[@Billfish57]

You nailed this video my friend. I lived during the best years for music and the Dan was the best of the best. Thank you for this.

[@potterwalker4823]

as John Lennon said “their music is a little too perfect” this is what he was alluding to because he had been hearing stories about the recordings going on. “There’s no need for that. You’re a band do the bloody take”.

[@lawrence6622]

Another first for Gaucho - in 1981 it was the first release of the "MCA Records Audiophile" series. 1/2 speed mastering and 100% virgin vinyl. I had a copy back in the day.

[@davidolie8392]

It was also the first single album to retail for $9.99 in the US and Canada, breaking the $8.99 limit that had prevailed through most of the decade. Donald and Walter were pissed off since the price increase did depress sales somewhat, but this video makes it clear that they must have been massively over budget.

[@woodybowen5362]

Remember it well. I still have a pristine copy since I dubbed a Maxell cassette on first run through. On CD now of course.

[@vinylrules4838]

Still have my copy.

[@orpheusband]

It was just another gig for our drummer, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie.

[@nedisahonkey]

Sad that he has to preform with a bunch of washed up boomers who weren't even successful when they were young, yet still cling desperately onto a dead band.

[@trombleysingleton]

​@@nedisahonkeyI've not heard of your band, what's it called? I could read up on your Wikipedia page if you're not in the mood for talking. Cheers!

[@andrewtrotter9023]

@@nedisahonkey As far as I know, Purdie has never written a hit song in his life. He’s a gun-for-hire musician. A good one to be sure, but that’s it.

[@goyolake]

@@andrewtrotter9023 Lmao "that's it", do you know how many hit songs he played in? Some people are great writers, some great engineers, some great players and they all complement each other with the utmost respect amongst them.

[@georgesonm1774]

A little harsh, eh? Orpheus was a great band, had some fantastic, inventive compositions, way beyond the generic 60s sunshine pop formula. I had no idea you guys were still going! And if Mr. Purdie plays with Orpheus on a regular basis, he must be enjoying himself - otherwise, I'm pretty sure, he would have hundreds other gigs - he's one of the GOATs.

[@CitroenCX]

Dan obsessive here. Really enjoyed this video. The Second Arrangement is probably my favourite Dan song and every time I hear the story of what happened to it I feel sick.

[@EddieG1888]

The first Steely Dan album I heard 35 years ago as a 15-year old, the album that made me a lifelong obsessive, and Glamour Profession is the song that did it. By the end of Babylon Sisters I was interested, after Hey Nineteen I knew I would like this band. After Glamour Profession faded out, I was a rabid fan. I became a musician who has played at large festivals, and done sessions for and with some of the musicians who influenced me, all because of Steely Dan.

[@EddieG1888]

@ As a bassist, not for me when you've got Anthony Jackson giving a masterclass on Glamour Profession and My Rival, and SD regular Chuck Rainey on two tracks also.

[@dantealighieri-my7ox]

@@EddieG1888 Anthony Jackson came to my attention. After listening to the bass track I knew it was someone special. and didn't even know the great Steve Gadd tracks on post leprechaun chick Corea was with AJ on bass. Also wrote the ruby baby bass line. totally different from Dion. Also plays on, IGY. never knew was on my rival so thanks. also love the beautiful Steve Khan outro guitar solo. So understated but just so beautiful. probably made enough money doing the bass line for the love of money for the oj's. some nice stuff up on you tube in a Trio With 2 GREATS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT< Keith carlock and the great Guitarist all over morph, wayne krantz. I play bass too. respectfully. I feel like I'm listening to the right people as makes me feel great. Saw Ron Carter himself in london(super rare) in '23 Amazing Night. sorry for the waffle just got excited when you mentioned AJ as, again, rare. peace fellow human with good taste in music. as a player, emotionally invested. bye🤐

[@EddieG1888]

@@dantealighieri-my7ox Not waffle at all, always happy to chat with a fellow bassist and music lover. Yes, AJ has had a very storied career, and he's done it with integrity. Being able to play his lines on Glamour Profession was the first time I felt like I was a bassist! Before then I felt like a guy who played guitar, filling in on bass. He's possibly the only bassist who could rock up to sessions like those for Chaka Khan's album Naughty, and request that the sessions be postponed to allow him to write all the basslines from scratch! And they went for it, that's how good he is. As for Keith Carlock, in my mind he's quite possibly the best drummer alive. His phrasing is incredible, and his tone unbelievable. He can quite literally play anything, and he's undoubtedly been B/F's best "discovery" since the reformation of Steely Dan.

[@DustySommers]

Rock on Brother ...

[@dantealighieri-my7ox]

@@EddieG1888 thank you brother musical family. happy playing. respectfully from london.

[@marin_real_estate_photography]

To be honest, I think most all Steely Dan albums would still be brilliant if Fagen and Becker had settled for less. I mean, Fagen's voice is far from perfect and he never really had much range. Yet it was good enough. Becker was never a GREAT guitarist (especially when compared to the guitarists who played on SD records), but his solo on Josie is SO GOOD!!! The fact that when somewhat competent cover bands paly SD songs, and they still sound terrific, pretty much means it's less technical perfection and more composition and lyrics that really carry the weight. Call me crazy, but I think SD were great DESPITE their musical perfectionism, not because of it.

[@MrLightspeed37]

I agree. Whenever I hear people say SD were great because they had the best musicians playing on their records, I think that misses the point. The songs were brilliant. That's what made Steely Dan great.

[@phnigra1313]

Love that dark, brooding intro to Josie.. and the solos not bad either 😉

[@adamp2029]

Agree 100%

[@sterlingjunkin665]

Yes and no. Have you heard the guitar solo outtakes for Peg?

[@rikd5452]

Okay, then. Thanks.

[@jamesmack3314]

Saw the reunion tour in 93( and 94) after playing their albums throughout high school,especially The Royal scam and Aja….to hear all those songs live was absolutely incredible and utterly enjoyable.

[@andyevans2336]

Saw them, same tour at The Gorge.

[@michaelhein5455]

Saw that one in Cincinnati, and many times since.

[@GaryStockton]

I heard a version of The Second Arrangement and it was a fantastic song. Nichols daughter recently took the backup tape to a studio to have it digitally recovered.

[@cprhyne]

In 1980 I was working (playing keyboards) at Village Recorder in West LA on an album with Jean Luc Ponty at the same time Fagen and Becker were working on Gaucho. One sunny morning I walked into the studio excited to start recording but the vibe was like someone had just died. The staff was unusually quiet and appeared to be in a state of shock. I asked the front desk what had happened and was told that a second engineer had mistakenly erased a really important master recording. I can’t even imagine the shock that engineer must have felt when he realized what he had done. Poor guy!

[@gregorycollins6561]

A life changing experience, no doubt, or nearly so. A truly terrible story.

[@philiptrousers]

And that song was The Second Arrangement

[@gregorycollins6561]

@@mikekerasi Good you had the resilience to survive (literally survive). Some might not.

[@madmax4700]

​@@mikekerasimikek erase it 🤗👏🤣

[@jamesmack3314]

@@mikekerasi really….did you suffer some serious verbal (and psychological) abuse because of it?? I guess in the end everything worked out

[@kevinmccarthy4088]

Great video, David. Looking forward to more of your work.

[@studiovenido9597]

A really enjoyable presentation you’ve created here. Being an old man, much of this story I am aware of, but your talent in story telling is most admirable. You brought a new life to the topic with excellent narrative and craftsmanship. Well done. ✨

[@larswillsen]

Amazing Story - Here’s my journey: Over 30 years ago, I recorded everything I wrote as MIDI files. Then, I was struck by a parasitic infection that left my fingers unable to play. For decades, the music I created seemed lost to me. By chance, while helping a friend, I discovered that I might be able to re-record some of those 800+ tracks. But first, I had to learn how to play again and figure out how to use a modern DAW. In an incredible gesture, my wife and daughter surprised me with an early 60th birthday gift: a complete home studio with everything I needed. I spent all of 2022 recording over 200 tracks, only to be hit by a massive stroke that caused brain damage. I had to relearn everything from scratch. Even now, two years after the stroke, I’m still releasing music. The stroke affected my memory the most - I can’t remember progressions after a while, so I have to look them up, and I’ve forgotten all my old songs and lyrics. AI has been a big help in this process, especially for creating my cover art and filling in the gaps in my lyrics.

[@MrChopsticktech]

Wow! I am glad for you and really impressed. I know l would just give up.

[@unbearifiedbear1885]

Similar journey; After playing guitar for 23yrs, a serious hand injury in 2020 left me unable to play anymore Bought a couple Grooveboxes in the last few years and have been "teaching" myself the finer points of Trackers, Loopers, DAWs and so on Its a confusing world with a hell of a lot of lingo; and damned expensive to boot 😅 Haven't looked back since, though.. love my OP-1, MPC Live and Oxi One

[@larswillsen]

@@unbearifiedbear1885 They can't stop us! 🙂

[@genekelly3961]

Brilliant analysis, David. Royal scam , Gaucho, Aja and Nightfly are my top 4! Little did I know the struggles that were had , and the process of continual refinement that produced these works of art.

[@tonymaiorano2749]

My top 4 also. Cheers mate

[@peekaydesign451]

Great presentation especially the way you tied the recording quality back to the Greeks and Strads. Excellent piece of journalism!

[@fernandoaguilar6469]

This is my favorite Steely Dan album simply because nothing else can make me feel as mesmerized as ‘Glamour Profession’ does. I believe it’s one of the best songs ever recorded and composed - the peak of these guys’ imagination.

[@CusterdomeProductions]

Love your Steely Dan videos, always a pleasure to watch. Could honestly watch you talk about every album they made, except for the fact that I’m starting that series and you’d do it better than me…

[@don7680]

Thank you Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (& Skunk Baxter) for making some of the best music of all time.

[@volvotis753]

Skunk only was on the first three, this needs to be talked about as i think his role in the band is overstated and denny diaz’s is understated, denny was on every record except for gaucho

[@fusionfan6883]

@@volvotis753Amen to that, I do get fed up of all this Skunk worship, Denny was an unsung monster🎸🤘🏻

[@BradBolin]

Skunk was all but irrelevant to the achievements of Steely Dan.

[@brynjones7371]

Don't forget Rick Derringer, Larry Carlton, Denny Dias and Eliot Randall.

[@BradBolin]

@brynjones7371 @brynjones7371 Carlton yes, Dias yes--the other two, sort of. They were more steps along the way.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

You can get the Roger Nichols drum samples used in the Wendell drum machine, direct from Nichols' website (from his family iirc). I bought them and it's fun to knock around with.

[@tomjones2348]

I recall buying Can't buy a Thrill right went it was released. I was 13 and a young aspiring musician. The Dan became a fundamental soundtrack of my lifetime. Each tune and album takes me back.

[@timothyabe8231]

Literally woke up to this post. Brilliance came with a cost! Love how their leadership works in such way just to make the album unique.

[@DavidLee-bf2pe]

Unique? They were striving for "perfection".

[@russellmilton7278]

And a ton of cocaine 😂

[@DavidLee-bf2pe]

@@russellmilton7278 Gotta have fuel for that fire!

[@sonicstate]

Superb video David 👏 Shared on Sonicstate today!

[@jeffcullen6573]

I got into The Dan when I was 15 in 1999. I was voracious - after devouring the liner notes, I devoured their website. Then every piece of material available - Donald’s piano video for example. Steely Dan immediately became the center of my musical universe, and that hasn’t really changed. The more I grow as a musician, the more there is for me in those albums to understand. I put in the time on all the minutiae… so when the algorithm shows me a video like this, I have to be honest - I approach with some skepticism. You did a fantastic job - there really isn’t much I’d change, and that’s a high compliment. Not only did you present an interesting array of facts accurately, your insights and the contextual examples you used demonstrate a lot of depth. Katy Lied is my fav, despite all its flaws. I just love THAT part of their journey as composers. While they did a lot of Pretzel (which I adore) with a similar ethos, it’s a bit all over the map. It seems to me they went into Katy with the concept nailed… and you can hear the joy of leaving the road behind in the songwriting. Pushing the tech in the studio let them down so hard… I find it a bummer this one gets overlooked because of how it sounds. My favourite thing you touched on is what Gaucho lost without as much of Walter’s attention. I heard Nightfly and Kamakiriad first. They’re great, but missing something… then I heard 11ToW and I had my answer. Give yourself a pat on the back for this one. Looking forward to checking out more of your work!

[@Shaun-o1l]

Well said, Walter Becker brings that final understanding to the Dan.

[@jaysgood10]

I saw SD live in ‘74. Plus everything you said.

[@jeffcullen6573]

@@jaysgood10 Ah, to have been born 30 years earlier…

[@seabud6408]

Shakti recorded their debut album live .. no overdubs. Musicians .. not session after session after session … musicians.

[@jeffcullen6573]

@@seabud6408There are lots of albums recorded live. Those are cool too. The one you mention is particularly good. And musicians play live music all over the world every day! I don’t know why one of these things has to take away from the other when they’re not really the same… there’s more than one way to do music.

[@michaelcampbell9051]

GREAT episode. Thanks for providing such deep stuff! Rock on! Aja is my fav too

[@beaujeste1]

Imagine being a player and being summoned for a session with Fagan and Becket - a feeling of dread and joy?

[@davidl570]

To say I'd have EXTREMELY mixed feelings would be an understatement! (Ditto if I was an actor and Kubrick wanted me for his latest movie).

[@andrewmanahan2469]

My all time favorite album that has truly added to my life. Thanks for the video.

[@davidm6298]

I agree Aja is a preferred listening LP.

[@darkstar92772]

I’m sure I’m not the only one but I keep a pristine copy to test out new speakers or receivers.

[@justsomeguy1074]

There is a fine line between perfection and insanity!

[@christopherweise438]

That's what i was thinking. This takes things to a whole new level.

[@derekmoss7286]

Case in point...

[@juniorjames7076]

Steely Dan are your genius heroes you don't ever want to meet.

[@petefogel2133]

What's your point?

[@justsomeguy1074]

@@petefogel2133 That the Dan's extreme of perfection likely drove them or the people that worked with them insane!

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Thank you for the video I now have a deeper appreciation for the album I really didn't know all of the history of this album

[@ministerofdarkness]

Gaucho is my all time favorite Steely Dan album. Recording perfection, pure Masterpiece. PLAY LOUD

[@siseneG9966]

100%!

[@JohnnyX7-m3m]

I have a funny one for you: I played Time Out Of Mind one time in the car while my old aunt was in the backseat and I had it loud so the intro two drum beats of the song shook her up and she said “OhGod John what happened? Did you run over a trashcan!”😅

[@simonhodgetts6530]

It’s my favourite too - it’s amazing!

[@denisimon3483]

Gaucho in 5.1 has so much more depth. When I listen in stereo, I miss the shimmer. As to playing it loud, I think I damaged my hearing. I now wear hearing aids and stream it directly. Rudy Van Gelder had a history of distinction as a recording engineer, but as he got older, his hearing deteriorated. He left a "crash" in Meredith d'Ambrosio's " How is Your Wife" and really overcranked the bass in Judy Collins' album "Who Knows Where the Time Goes".

[@PXAbstraction]

For a long time, I've kept saying I need to listen to Steeley Dan's catalog and I always forget to. This video has convinced me to stop putting it off. Well done!

[@DavidLee-bf2pe]

Prepare yourself for an upgrade to your conscientiousness.

[@walterstevens3874]

Enjoy. I’ve been listening to each album over and over since they first came out. I like and appreciate them more and more.

[@PXAbstraction]

@walterstevens3874 I hope I haven't set the internal bar for myself too high, but I'm looking forward to it. Probably going to start them this weekend.

[@StanFarleyMusic]

I have listened to all of the albums who-knows-how-many-times since they were originally released. I never get tired of listening to them. Steely Dan Fever -- catch it, it lasts forever.

[@JordanHowellMusic]

Pretzel Logic, that album man- is my favorite. The first three songs flor so well together I’d sit friends down , ask if they heard of steely dan, (no) smoke a bowl and be blown away every time. I think Night by Nigjt is a super under appreciated song also. But yes, I’ve met Steve Gadd (I’m a drummer also) and love him and Wayne Shorter on Aja, that’s just wild right there. Great video!! Thanks!

[@CasualObserver-jx4zh]

The drop in to Time Out Of Mind is timeless. 5 times live both coasts . Thanks for the video and thanks to Donald and to Walter . Gods speed Walter. You are missed.

[@RFToob]

Enjoyed this. Thank you to Gary Katz (and Jeff P) for saving the song Gaucho. I had no idea Katz defended and saved it. What a hero. Can’t get enough of that one. Cheers.

[@stephenmahlstedt7276]

I love behind the scenes studio stuff, and this is a great short-format documentary. Very well done, man! I really dig your style. You have a new subscriber. Cheers!

[@xivivix7195]

This is insane. Crazy to hear about the resources rock bands had back in the 70's.

[@jamesfarrell8339]

I went down the rabbit hole and listened to the catalog again and I forgot how good the Nightfly was Glad that i caught your video and explored Steely Dan's music Amazing music from the beginning to the end

[@johnlethlean4716]

A simply superb broadcast. thank you.

[@scotthime6928]

It's funny. I played Gaucho for someone yesterday evening (hours before this video dropped). Afterward she said, "Everything sounds so clean and crisp." But it's only because of the stunning results that I can sort of justify some of the obsession of Fagen and Becker, particularly on that album. I love Gaucho, and most of Steely Dan's music. But the unpopular truth is that I can't take a steady diet of "sonic perfection". The obvious end result is the sterilized, homogenized, computer-generated, auto-tuned, over-produced strained carrots we get served today. Fagen and Becker had vision, but a lot of low-talent pikers woke up to the fact that they could use machines to never miss a beat.

[@shadowselfCA]

I agree. I like the Dan in doses, I have seen them twice, but never listen to them anymore because I am so sick of them - they are the only band a friend of mine ever listened to. It got worse in the later years, Everything Must Go was so clean that it had no soul whatsoever and I only listened to the album once voluntarily. Though I have heard it plenty. Blaming Steely Dan for today's crap is kind of a take, though. And also, there is just as much great music today as there ever was.

[@scotthime6928]

@@shadowselfCA Wasn't exactly blaming them, but the drum machine didn't go without notice in the industry. If it wasn't them, it would have been someone else.

[@ImYourOverlord]

Much like the tragedy that was to put the Internet into the hands of the unwashed masses.

[@apollomemories7399]

Never so much as mention Fagen and Becker along with low-talent pikers on the same page.

[@99tonnes]

@@shadowselfCA "And also, there is just as much great music today as there ever was." Where is it then? I'd love to hear it. People sometimes say "you've just got to find it" - but in the 70s you didn't have to seek it out. I hear some good new music, but not much that is both accessible and distinctive. A lot of well-executed but genre-bound stuff, tiny permutations of worn-out forms. Of course, your claim is true in the sense that (roughly) all the good old music is still available. But I take it that's not your point.

[@soundacresstudio]

This is by far the greatest documentary I’ve seen on the subject. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.

[@ryanluchuck8445]

The quest for perfection doesn't often lead to the best music. I feel like they smoothed out their spark with this record.

[@ceedee-z2q]

1000%

[@indiefilmandmusic]

Agreed. Give me Katy Lied or the Royal Scam any day.

[@DavidLee-bf2pe]

Absolutely. They had just made a record with arguably the best guitar solo of all time to a record devoid of guitar solos. I LIKE Gaucho, but it has about as much soul as a drum machine.

[@chrisallen8250]

Perfection or great sound alone doesn't guarantee a perfect or great song.

[@davidferrara1105]

Pffft. stop talking

[@Dubsteppinout]

I really do like the variety of your content. Great work, really easy delivery with attention to detail.

[@walt686868]

Gaucho is probably my favorite album off all time. I actually think it’s slightly underrated as a lot of listeners inexplicably compare it to Aja which is also a masterpiece. I’ve watched a lot of music videos specifically about Steely Dan and I have to say, I found this video probably the most informative, entertaining and interesting. Thanks for posting this.

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Same here

[@MJ-qb5ph]

Thanks I will check it out - had Aja for years

[@mike-jm9rs]

David, This was a cool video, you did a great job. 👍

[@puffnpluky76]

Im sure somebody has already commented it but Walter actually made two solo albums. His next was called 'Circus Money' released in 2008.

[@brageboogie]

And it's extremely good.

[@DanielThorneUK]

Yup, love that one. Especially good when driving. RIP Walter.

[@peterraczynski7157]

Very excellent documentary! So thorough, detailed and informative. I loved that.

[@YippeeSkippie426]

Donald and Walter are the perfect examples of how the pursuit of relentless perfection kills art.

[@chemxcore]

Yet art was still created

[@hegemonycricket2182]

No dude.

[@charleslanphier8094]

Excellent, I hope you keep making these.

[@djdksf1]

When me and my mates were music students in Boston in the 80s, this album was one of our blueprints. It's just endlessly inspiring, on both a sonic and musicianship level. The lack of compromise is in every beat of every measure, like when you know you're eating the best version of a recipe that's even possible to make, even if you've had it dozens of times before. The opening chords of Babylon Sisters instantly transport you to a new landscape, with Fagen and co. behind the wheel, and you know you're in good hands so you can just sit back, close your eyes and enjoy the ride. I, too, like a couple other SD records better (as well as The Nightfly) for pure songwriting prowess, but Gaucho is just... the kind of landmark achievement that I know won't be even approached again - mostly because most people just don't have the insane patience and OCD that these two weirdos had, and the world is better for it. It's both entirely of its time and entirely timeless. The mark of something truly special.

[@drbassface]

Exactly! I was at Berklee at the same time! Great album:)

[@PSUK]

You are not wrong there bud. ✊

[@candelise]

Now we have recorded music so cold that no one can pick out an instrument, marvel at it and say "Who is playing that? They are terrific!". In today's pop music, can you mention several recordings like that?

[@juniorjames7076]

@@candelise The '80s were the last Golden Age of all art forms- especially music.

[@discovolante777]

Every beat of every measure? Except God only knows how these perfectionists decided to keep that fatally messed up snare hit at 1 min 20 secs into "Time Out Of Mind". A level drop or whatever it is makes the backbeat sound totally off.

[@LookingGlassUniverse]

Great video David! Such an interesting story about the obsessive perfection on this album

[@normg2242]

Very pleasantly and capably narrated, thanks for posting!

[@rays2506]

Thanks. Excellent presentation. I learned a lot from your effort.

[@gravityfreaksmusic]

Nice piece. One thing. Walter released two solo records. His second one, Circus money, came out in 2008. It's prrrretty good. :) Cheers.

[@davidhartley94]

my mistake, thanks for the correction!

[@leonsearle7288]

Another fantastic deep dive, enjoying your videos a lot😀

[@jackmalvern2394]

I had to look this up. On April 13 1973 Steely Dan Opened for Mother Earth and Loggins & Messina. At the Spectrum in Philly, I love Loggins & Messina and I'm sure that's why i was there, but I don't remember their show. But I remember seeing the Steely Dan show.

[@hansganneus]

This is definitely (!) the best music documentary I've seen. Great work, David!

[@adrianswriting]

The 70's was a fascinating decade for music technology. My favourites are the recording of Donna Summer's "I feel love" and Blondie's "Heart of Glass". The ingenuity and effort of those producers and engineers deserved a medal!

[@Phoebedumplings]

The Donna summer records were made at music land in Munich

[@danv8717]

​@@PhoebedumplingsThat was a great sounding studio! Regardless of the road noise that sometimes leaked into some of the recordings.

[@jksojmo123]

Really good job - enjoyed this video tremendously-

[@lesbois53]

What I hated was when Fagen dissed all Dan’s early music as just “ experiments!” His “Nightfly” was sublime. Carlton? Wow! The best!

[@DavidLee-bf2pe]

Donald's "experiments" comment makes me think he cared more about how they were perceived by the public and musicians...than about anything else.

[@lesbois53]

@ agreed, but by saying this, he also demeans many of the fantastic musicians he used. Like John Lennon and George Harrison slagging off the Beatles. The Beatles made them zillionaire’s don’t forget. I miss Walter more than anything. He was so cool and underrated. . Rip Walt.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

New Frontier is my absolute favourite song - the Rhodes playing on it is simply sublime!

[@lesbois53]

@@simonhodgetts6530 I love that too. Also Ruby Baby, a composition by Leiber and Stoller, Elvis’s composers. Have a listen to their original version by the Drifters. So many subtly different chords in Donald’s. Amazing talent that guy had.

[@lesbois53]

Ps. Plus a key change!

[@wf1g]

Thank you for this relaying this story David .

[@jamesclark6142]

Didn't Yamaha make a bunch of plastic violins/cello's etc. all to copy the Stradivarius. Then they did a sound test with several Stradivarius owners and they couldn't tell the difference. I thought they even went a step further making recordings of the respective instruments and even under the harsh spotlight of frequency science there was no difference that could be detected. Yes?

[@NotMarkKnopfler]

It's the same with guitars, unfortunately 🙄

[@shadowselfCA]

See also: wine tasters, audiophiles, psychics... all defeated by double-blind tests. :)

[@TarkMcCoy]

If only we all had such perfectionism. Then nothing would ever get done!

[@k-chill8428]

Thank you, I love this album so much. But my god, how much better would it have been with The Second Arrangement.

[@danbrockettDOP]

I just downloaded Roger's DAT recording that his daughter posted and put it into Gaucho and it fits perfectly, great tune.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

The levels of obsession they fixated on was nearing insanity- I know, I suffer from the same condition- always seeking a perfection that exists only in your mind. We can only wonder at how much fantastic music and truly inspirational performances by these gifted musicians involved in the creation of the album were discarded as a result of what we regard today as mental illness. There are clear similarities with the later work of Vincent Van Gogh. Steely Dan's albums are stone cold classics but there is no doubt their music is polarising to music fans. personally I love it- the quality of musicianship, the jazz influences and overall vibe and of course the exceptional listening experience- audiophile heaven. I have several of the original albums and have invested the the recent SACD releases that are being released in a painfully slow release schedule that is moving at a glacial pace- ironic considering the topic of the video! An excellent video- look forward to binging on your content.

[@sebastiancallaghan2697]

0:43 "Do it again" you say?

[@smokeedinero]

Yeah you heard them drums 🤣 🤣

[@oysterboy9]

Great work on this piece. Solid edits and you have a tempered but compelling delivering.

[@PSUK]

Ortofon cartridge. Good choice. Also my choice! Bought this album immediately it was released in UK and played it on my Rega deck resplendent with an Ortofon LM. Together with Aja, Gaucho ranks as one of the best albums ever. The ever present magic ingredient? Gary Katz.

[@martattacks]

Absolutely outstanding content. Kudos and thanks.

[@timwheelermusic]

Walter Becker released a second work, "Circus Money". 11 Tracks of Whack, wasn't his "one and only".

[@mikaellarose4474]

Very informative and captivating video! Thanks for that!

[@Johnnybananass-_]

This album is the go to around the globe for sound engineers testing / listening to speakers andPA systems at big gigs .

[@Johnnybananass-_]

No matter what show I’m working on at some point steely Dan comes on and the engineer stands back and listening very precisely

[@WilliamAshleyOnline]

great overview. lots of great infos here. Very nice video.

[@JasonHawkins-o7c]

Great video. Probably my fave SD album.

[@m.valentinesmith4845]

Extremely well done. Research, edits and accuracy. At first my response was biased, "What can this guy know, wasn't even alive let alone there" A lot of work you've done here. Very impressed,.. wish KZbin would filter out the AI generated crap and 'click bait' titles they now drown in. Great job Sir!!!!!

[@newtagwhodis4535]

On a hot summer day, I was hosting a bbq when i realized Time Out of Mind would make a funny intro song. When one of my buddies walked up, I had it CRANKiNG for him and hyped him up like it was a red carpet. I think of him everytime i hear it. A fond memory of times i'll never get back, long lost to the memory of like 5 people, only kept friends with 2/5. Can't win em all. Private equity banking and prescription drugs took the others down different roads. Gaucho is probably my favorite. Please go see them live if you can while you can.

[@jamesmack3314]

@@newtagwhodis4535 “ them” is now one and he’s about done……

[@geoffbeauchamp5861]

👏 thought I knew a lot about Gaucho....very enlightening....well done..

[@Bowruss]

Gaucho is the best track on a KILLER album

[@cpthetrucker9067]

I got Glamor Profession but you could tell this was their swan song(at least for 20 years).

[@CodyAlushin]

Thank you for your summary. I appreciate your storytelling!

[@bacarandii]

I was a fan from the moment I heard "Do It Again" on AM radio in 1972, and bought every LP as it was released from then on. "Katy Lied" remains my favorite Steely Dan album (largely because of the use of Victor Feldman's vibes), but it has always had a slightly muffled sound to it. I wonder what they'll do for the remastered/remixed 50th Anniversary reissue currently scheduled for January 31, 2025...

[@1359401]

Thank you very much in regards to the kind words about my father victor and i agree with you about the muffled sound of the album especially the bass. I am a bass player and the bass mix on the album is one of the worst ever its so low in the mix you can barely hear/feel it.

[@hklinker]

You’ve done a really good job with this. I know a lot of the stories through years of reading, listening and discussion and you’ve done a nice job of pulling it all together. Yes, WB had a second solo album (Circus Money) but that is a wee omission in the scheme of things. You’ve done a good voiceover as well.

[@matthewwoelfle5533]

Just last week a friend and I were having the Gaucho vs. Aja debate. I joined Team Gaucho about 10 years ago.

[@crinoid88]

that was really interesting and fun to listen to, my dad has always been a big Steely Dan fan but as I'm getting older of course I'm getting into them, going to listen to Gaucho now for the first time.

[@scurfie2343]

Walter Becker had issues specifically drug dependence. He covers his demons on his first solo album. RIP.

[@3rdalbum]

Hey, I havent watched this video yet, but your earlier video about the Kohn Concert made me listen to the album, which I enjoy and listen to fairly frequently. I'm looking forward to grabbing a few minutes to watch this video. Ta.

[@HeardItOnTheX]

> Spend $150,000 on a custom built digital drum machine for a lukewarm, milquetoast rhythm track. > Don't bother spending $300 on a safety reel. As much as I love a lot of Steely Dan's music, these sound like some of the most insufferable recording sessions of the 20th century.

[@outthereassociates7155]

And to later be labeled " Yacht Rock".

[@danbrockettDOP]

That's the great part, just like Kubrick's films that I do enjoy, I didn't have to be on set with him and just like Donald and Walter, we just get to enjoy the output and didn't have to get studio tans with them. Thank goodness. If you are a Dan fan, DO NOT read Donalds memoir, it lowered my respect and admiration I held for him by a considerable amount, he's an insufferable, miserable, neurotic, and nihlistic person in real life but is still an incredible, amazing musician. Love the guys musical brain, but not a guy you'd ever want to hang out with, at all, ever IRL.

[@HeardItOnTheX]

@danbrockettDOP If you're talking about Eminent Hipsters, I couldn't agree more.

[@danbrockettDOP]

@@HeardItOnTheX Yep, that is the one. Never meet your heroes, not even in a book.

[@HeardItOnTheX]

@@danbrockettDOP Respectfully, It's barely even a memoir. The first half is an explanation of the group. The second half is a crochety old man, writing a tour journal in a hotel room with a bad back and failing bowels.

[@SouthJerseyMatt]

Nice analysis! Steely Dan are a fall/winter band for me, so perfect timing! Also, I met Roger Nichols at Full Sail in the early 2000’s, smart man!

[@pmurt_kcuf]

drum breaks and solo on Aja are fucking superlative, one of the best drum recordings of all time

[@pl33]

Steve Gadd

[@reyaku-films]

Excellent video. I didn't know about that Keith Jarret track. Very interesting. Good work, you got a new sub.