Tag Archives: Donald Fagen

Steely Dan: Can’t Buy A Thrill

In November 1972, “ABC” label released “Can’t Buy a Thrill”, the debut Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded in 1972 at “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz. The album cover features a photomontage by Robert Lockart.

Personnel:

  • David Palmer – lead and backing vocals
  • Donald Fagen– acoustic and electric pianos, plastic (YC-30) organ, lead and backing vocals
  • Jeff “Skunk” Baxter– guitar, pedal steel guitar, spoken word
  • Denny Dias– guitar, electric sitar
  • Walter Becker – electric bass, dual lead and backing vocals
  • Jim Hodder– drums, percussion, lead vocal, backing vocals
  • Elliott Randall– lead guitar
  • Jerome Richardson– tenor saxophone
  • Snooky Young– flugelhorn
  • Victor Feldman– percussion
  • Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews– backing vocals
  • Roger Nichols – engineer
  • Tim Weston – engineer assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

  1. Do It Again
  2. Dirty Work
  3. Kings
  4. Midnite Cruiser
  5. Only a Fool Would Say That
  6. Reelin’ in the Years
  7. Fire in the Hole
  8. Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)
  9. Change of the Guard
  10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

Minutemen: Double Nickels On The Dime

In July 1984, “SST” label released “Double Nickels on the Dime”, the third Minutemen studio album. It was recorded November 1983 – April 1984, at “Radio Tokyo Studios” in Venice, California, and was produced by Ethan James. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Double Nickels on the Dime” at number 413 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Boon– vocals, guitar
  • Mike Watt– vocals, bass
  • George Hurley– vocals, drums
  • Joe Baiza– guitar
  • John Rocknowski  – guitar
  • Dirk Vandenberg  – guitar
  • Ethan James– engineer

Track listing:

Side D

  1. Anxious Mo-Fo – D. Boon, Mike Watt
  2. Theatre Is the Life of You – D. Boon, Mike Watt
  3. Viet Nam – D. Boon
  4. Cohesion – D. Boon
  5. It’s Expected I’m Gone – Mike Watt
  6. #1 Hit Song – D. Boon, George Hurley
  7. Two Beads at the End – D. Boon, George Hurley
  8. Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth? – Mike Watt
  9. Don’t Look Now – John Fogerty
  10. Shit from an Old Notebook – D. Boon, Mike Watt
  11. Nature Without Man – Chuck Dukowski, D. Boon
  12. One Reporter’s Opinion – Mike Watt

Side Mike

  1. Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing – Mike Watt
  2. Maybe Partying Will Help – D. Boon, Mike Watt
  3. Toadies – Mike Watt
  4. Retreat – Mike Watt
  5. The Big Foist – Mike Watt
  6. God Bows to Math – Jack Brewer, Mike Watt
  7. Corona – D. Boon
  8. The Glory of Man – Mike Watt
  9. Take 5, D – Joe Baiza, John Rocknowski, Dirk Vandenberg, Mike Watt
  10. My Heart and the Real World – Mike Watt
  11. History Lesson – Part II – Mike Watt

Side George

  1. You Need the Glory – George Hurley
  2. The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts – Dick Vandenberg, Mike Watt
  3. Robot’s Holy Orders – George Hurley
  4. West Germany – D. Boon
  5. The Politics of Time – Mike Watt
  6. Themselves – D. Boon
  7. Please Don’t Be Gentle with Me – Jack Brewer, Mike Watt
  8. Nothing indeed – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  9. No Exchange – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  10. There Ain’t Shit on T.V. Tonight – George Hurley, Mike Watt
  11. There Ain’t Shit on T.V. Tonight – D. Boon
  12. This Ain’t No Picnic – D. Boon
  13. Spillage – Mike Watt

Side Chaff

  1. Untitled Song for Latin America – D. Boon
  2. Jesus and Tequila – D. Boon, Joe Carducci
  3. June 16th – Mike Watt
  4. Storm in my House – D. Boon, Henry Rollins
  5. Martin’s Story – Martin Tamburovich, Mike Watt
  6. Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love – Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony
  7. Wu – Donald Fagen, Walter Becker
  8. Little Man with a Gun in His Hand – D. Boon, Chuck Dukowski
  9. The World According to Nouns – Mike Watt
  10. Love Dance – D. Boon

Steely Dan: Countdown to Ecstasy

In July 1973, “ABC” label released “Countdown to Ecstasy”, the second Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz. The cover painting was by Dorothy White.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen – lead vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, synthesizer
  • Walter Becker– electric bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Denny Dias– electric guitar, mixing
  • Jeff “Skunk” Baxter– electric and pedal steel guitars
  • Ben Benay– acoustic guitar
  • Rick Derringer– slide guitar
  • Ray Brown– string bass
  • Jim Hodder– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Victor Feldman– vibraphone, marimba, percussion
  • Ernie Watts, Johnny Rotella, Lanny Morgan, Bill Perkins– saxophone
  • Sherlie Matthews, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, David Palmer, James Rolleston, Michael Fennelly– backing vocals
  • Roger Nichols – engineer
  • Miss Natalie – engineer assistant
  • Dotty of Hollywood – design
  • Ed Caraeff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Bodhisattva
  2. Razor Boy
  3. The Boston Rag
  4. Your Gold Teeth
  5. Show Biz Kids
  6. My Old School
  7. Pearl of the Quarter
  8. King of the World

Poco: Indian Summer

In May 1977, “ABC” label released “Indian Summer”, the twelfth Poco album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Burbank Studios”, and Mark Henry Harman, Paul Cotton, Rusty Young, Timothy B. Schmit and George Grantham.

Personnel:

  • Paul Cotton– vocals, guitar
  • Rusty Young– vocals, steel guitar, guitar
  • Timothy B. Schmit– vocals, bass
  • George Grantham – vocals. drums
  • Donald Fagen– synthesizer
  • Mark Henry Harman– keyboards, celeste, cello
  • Steve Forman – percussion

Track listing:

  1. Indian Summer – Paul Cotton
  2. Twenty Years – Paul Cotton
  3. Me and You – Timothy B. Schmit
  4. Downfall – Rusty Young
  5. Win or Lose – Paul Cotton
  6. Living in the Band – Paul Cotton
  7. Stay (Night Until Noon) – Timothy B. Schmit, Noreen Schmit
  8. Find Out in Time – Robbin Thompson, Timothy B. Schmit
  9. The Dance: When the Dance Is Over / Go on and Dance / Never Gonna Stop / When the Dance Is Over (reprise) – Rusty Young

Hugh McCracken

On March 28, 2013, Hugh C. McCracken died aged 70. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), arranger and producer, best known as session musician. McCracken  recorded with Graham Parker, Yoko Ono, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Donaldson, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Four Seasons, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Crawford, Jerry Jemmott, Dr. John, Gary Wright, Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B. King, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Monkees, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Idris Muhammad, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, Bob Dylan, Linda McCartney, Ron Carter, Rusty Bryant, Marlena Shaw, Deodato, Carly Simon and Andy Gibb. From 1969-1972, McCracken was member of Mike Mainieri’s White Elephant Orchestra.

Steely Dan: Katy Lied

In March 1975, “ABC Records” label released “Katy Lied” the fourth Steely Dan album. It was recorded November 1974-January 1975, at “ABS Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen– vocals, piano, keyboards, saxophone
  • Walter Becker– bass, guitar
  • Michael Omartian, David Paich– pianos, keyboards
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Denny Dias– guitar
  • Rick Derringer– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Elliott Randall– guitar
  • Larry Carlton– guitar
  • Wilton Felder, Chuck Rainey– bass guitars
  • Jeff Porcaro– drums
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion
  • Phil Woods– alto saxophone
  • Jimmie Haskell– horns, horns arrangement
  • Bill Perkins– horns
  • Michael McDonald– backing vocals
  • Myrna Matthews, Sherlie Matthews, Carolyn Willis – backing vocals
  • Jimmie Haskell – arrangements
  • Roger Nichols – engineer
  • Rick Collins – mastering
  • Dinky Dawson – sound consultant
  • Daniel Levitin – concultant

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Black Friday
  2. Bad Sneakers
  3. Rose Darling
  4. Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More
  5. Doctor Wu
  6. Everyone’s Gone to the Movies
  7. Your Gold Teeth II
  8. Chain Lightning
  9. Any World (That I’m Welcome To)
  10. Throw Back the Little Ones

Donald Fagen: Morph the Cat

On March 7, 2006, “Reprise” label released “Morph the Cat”, the third Donald Fagen solo album. It was recorded 2005 – 2006, and was produced by Donald Fagen.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen – Fender Rhodes, organ, piano, melodica, backing vocals
  • Frank Vignola, Ken Wessel, Ken Emerson, Hugh McCracken, Wayne Krantz, Jon Herington – guitar
  • Ted Baker – piano
  • Ted Baker – Wurlitzer Electric Piano
  • Howard Levy – harmonica
  • Phonus Quaver – vibraphone
  • Brian Montgomery – bass
  • Harlan Post, Jr – acoustic bass.
  • Freddie Washington – bass
  • Keith Carlock – drums
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
  • Gordon Gottlieb – percussion
  • Joe Pasaro – percussion
  • Walt Weiskopf – tenor saxophone
  • Lawrence Feldman – tenor saxophone
  • Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet
  • Roger Rosenberg – bass clarinet
  • Illinois Elohainu – flute
  • Mark Patterson – trombone
  • Phonus Quaver – marimba
  • Jerry Barnes, Michael Harvey, Amy Helm, Carolyn Leonhart, Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
  • Camille Meza, Candice Predham, Eddie Jackson, Jennifer Battista – handclaps
  • Elliot Scheiner – tracking engineer, mixing
  • Brian Montgomery – overdub, Pro Tools engineer. engineer assistant, mixing assistant
  • T. J. Doherty – overdub, Pro Tools engineer
  • Eddie Jackson, Jim Keller, Chad Lupo, Steve Mazur, Matt Scheiner, Bryan Smith, Allan “A.T.” Thomas – engineer assistant
  • Darcy Proper – mastering
  • Joseph M. Palmaccio – additional mastering
  • Maria Triana – mastering assistant
  • Jeri Heiden – art direction
  • Ryan Corey – design
  • Danny Clinch – photography
  • Jill Dell’Abate, Cindy Osborne – production coordinator
  • Mary Lou Arnold – production assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Donald Fagen.

  1. Morph the Cat
  2. H Gang
  3. What I Do
  4. Brite Nitegown
  5. The Great Pagoda of Funn
  6. Security Joan
  7. The Night Belongs to Mona
  8. Mary Shut the Garden Door
  9. Morph the Cat (Reprise)

Donald Fagen: The Nightfly

donald_fagen_-_the_nightfly

On October 29, 1982, “Warner Bros” label released “The Nightfly”, the  first Donald Fagen solo album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, at “Soundworks Digital Audio/Video Recording Studios”, “Automated Sound” in N.Y; “Village Recorders” in L.A., and was produced by Gary Katz. The album was certified Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and in the US by “RIIA”.

  • Donald Fagen- lead and backing vocals, organ, synthesizer, synth blues harp, electric piano, horn arrangements, linear notes
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar, harmonica
  • Larry Carlton- lead guitar, guitar
  • Rick Derringer- guitar
  • Dean Parks- guitar
  • Steve Khan- acoustic guitar
  • Michael Omartian– piano, electric piano
  • Greg Phillinganes- synthesizer, piano, piano solo, electric piano ,  clavinet, synthesizer bass
  • Rob Mounsey- synthesizer, horn arrangements
  • Anthony Jackson- bass
  • Abraham Laboriel- bass
  • Marcus Miller- bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Will Lee- bass
  • James Gadson- drums, additional drums
  • Ed Greene- drums
  • Jeff Porcaro- drums, additional drums
  • Roger Nichols- percussion, special effects
  • Starz Vanderlocket- percussion, backing vocals
  • David Tofani -alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker- tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber- baritone saxophone
  • Randy Brecker- trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Dave Bargeron- trombone, euphonium
  • Frank “Harmonica Frank” Floyd- backing vocals
  • Gordon Grody – backing vocals
  • Leslie Miller – backing vocals
  • Daniel Lazerus – backing vocals
  • Zachary Sanders – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson- backing vocals
  • Daniel Lazerus,Roger Nichols, Elliot Scheiner – engineer
  • Robin Lane,  Cheryl Smith – engineer assistant
  • Mike Morongell – engineer assistant, digital editing assistant
  • Wayne Yurgelun – engineer assistant, digital editing assistant
  • Elliot Scheiner – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Daniel Lazerus – overdub engineer
  • Elliot Scheiner – tracking
  • Roger Nichols – sequencing
  • Ginger Dettman, Steve Pokorny, Steve Woolard – project assistant
  • David Dieckmann, George Lydecker – authoring
  • George Delmerico – art director
  • Greg Allen – design
  •  Gale Sasson, Vern Yenor – design
  • James Hamilton – photography
  • Cory Frye – editorial supervision
  • Andrew Thomas – screen design

Track listing:

All tracks by Donald Fagen, except where noted

  1. G.Y.
  2. Green Flower Street
  3. Ruby Baby – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, arranged by Donald Fagen
  4. Maxine
  5. New Frontier
  6. The Nightfly
  7. The Goodbye Look
  8. Walk Between Raindrops

Donald Fagen: Sunken Condos

donald_fagen_-_sunken_condos

On October 16, 2012, “Reprise” label released “Sunken Condos” , the fourth Donald Fagen solo album. It was recorded 2010 – 2012, and was produced by Michael Leonhart and Donald Fagen. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 25 on its list of the the top 50 albums of 2012.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen – lead vocal, piano, Prophet 5, Wurlitzer, B3 organ, clavinet, melodica, backing vocals
  • Harlan Post (alias Donald Fagen) – synth bass
  • Kurt Rosenwinkel– solo guitar
  • Jon Herington– acoustic bass, guitar, twelve-string guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Gary Sieger – guitar
  • Larry Campbell– rhythm guitar
  • William Galison– harmonicas
  • Michael Leonhart– trumpet, flugelhorn, mellophone, Fender Rhodes, minimoog, clavinet, L100 organ, M100 organ, Prophet 5, Wurlitzer, mellotron, Juno 6, accordion, vibraphone, percussion, glockenspiel, backing vocals
  • Joe Martin – acoustic bass
  • Jay Leonhart– acoustic bass
  • Freddie Washington– bass
  • Lincoln Schleifer – bass
  • Earl Cooke Jr (alias Michael Leonhart) – drums
  • Walt Weiskopf– alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Charlie Pillow – tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, bass flute
  • Roger Rosenberg –baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Jim Pugh– trombone
  • Aaron Heicke – bass flute
  • Antoine Silverman– violin
  • Carolyn Leonhart– backing vocals, ad lib
  • Jamie Leonhart – backing vocals
  • Catherine Russell – backing vocals
  • Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Donald Fagen, except where noted.

  1. Slinky Thing
  2. I’’m Not the Same Without You
  3. Memorabilia
  4. Weather in My Head
  5. The New Breed
  6. Out of the Ghetto – Isaac Hayes
  7. Miss Marlene
  8. Good Stuff
  9. Planet D’Rhonda