On May 28, 2008, Jerald Kolbrak aka Jerry Cole died aged 68. He was musician (guitar), started the career in the bands The Champs (together with Glen Campbell), and Gee Cee’s. He has worked as session musician with many famous musicians and bands including The Byrds, Nancy Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Roger McGuinn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Aretha Franklin, The Righteous Brothers, Little Richard, Dean Martin, Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Lou Rawls, Johnny Rivers, Gregg Allman, Lee Hazlewood, Blood Sweat & Tears, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, Steely Dan and Isaac Hayes.
Tag Archives: Steely Dan
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.
- Do It Again
- Dirty Work
- Kings
- Midnite Cruiser
- Only a Fool Would Say That
- Reelin’ in the Years
- Fire in the Hole
- Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)
- Change of the Guard
- Turn That Heartbeat Over Again
Walter Becker
On September 3, 2017, Walter Carl Becker died aged 67. He was musician (guitar, bass), songwriter, and record producer, member of the band China Crisis, but best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and co-songwriter of Steely Dan. As leader he released two albums.
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.
- Bodhisattva
- Razor Boy
- The Boston Rag
- Your Gold Teeth
- Show Biz Kids
- My Old School
- Pearl of the Quarter
- King of the World
Steely Dan: The Royal Scam
On May 31, 1976, “ABC” label released “The Royal Scam”, the fifth Steely Dan album. It was recorded November 1975-March 1976, at “ABC Studios” in Los Angeles, “A&R Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Gary Katz. The cover was created from a painting by Zox and a photograph by Charlie Ganse.
Personnel:
- Donald Fagen– lead and backing vocals, keyboards, horn arrangements
- Walter Becker– bass, guitar, horn arrangements
- Denny Dias– guitar
- Larry Carlton– guitar
- Dean Parks– guitar
- Elliott Randall– guitar
- Paul Griffin– keyboards
- Don Grolnick– keyboards
- Chuck Rainey– bass
- Rick Marotta– drums
- Bernard “Pretty” Purdie– drums
- Gary Coleman – percussion
- Victor Feldman– percussion, keyboards
- Jim Horn– saxophone
- Plas Johnson– saxophone
- John Klemmer– saxophone
- Chuck Findley– trumpet
- Bob Findley – horn
- Dick “Slyde” Hyde– horn, trombone
- Timothy B. Schmit– backing vocals
- Venetta Fields– backing vocals
- Clydie King– backing vocals
- Sherlie Matthews– backing vocals
- Michael McDonald– backing vocals
- Roger Nichols– engineer
- Barney Perkins – mixing
- Dinky Dawson – sound consultant
- Ed Caraeff- art direction
- Tom Nikosey – typography
Track listing:
All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted.
- Kid Charlemagne
- The Caves of Altamira
- Don’t Take Me Alive
- Sign In Stranger
- The Fez – Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, Paul Griffin
- Green Earrings
- Haitian Divorce
- Everything You Did
- The Royal Scam
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.
- Black Friday
- Bad Sneakers
- Rose Darling
- Daddy Don’t Live in That New York City No More
- Doctor Wu
- Everyone’s Gone to the Movies
- Your Gold Teeth II
- Chain Lightning
- Any World (That I’m Welcome To)
- Throw Back the Little Ones
Joe Sample
On September 12, 2014, Joseph Leslie “Joe” Sample died aged 75. He was musician (piano, keyboards) and composer, one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders (Crusaders from 1971), and has performed with some of the biggest names of the contemporary music, including Miles Davis, The Supremes, George Benson, B.B King, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eric Clapton and Steely Dan.
Steely Dan: Two Against Nature
On February 29, 2000, “Giant Records/Warner Bros” label released “Two Against Nature” the eighth Steely Dan album. “Two Against nature” was recorded 1977 to 1999, and was produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. The album won Steely Dan four “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year”.
Personnel:
- Walter Becker– bass, lead guitar
- Donald Fagen– vocals, organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
- Ted Baker – piano, Fender Rhodes
- Jon Herington– acoustic and rhythm guitar
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
- Hugh McCracken– guitar
- Dean Parks– guitar
- Tom Barney – bass
- Keith Carlock– drums
- Leroy Clouden – drums
- Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
- Sonny Emory– drums
- Ricky Lawson– drums
- Michael White – drums
- Gordon Gottlieb – percussion
- Will Lee– percussion
- Daniel Sadownick – percussion, timbales
- David Shank – vibraphone
- Steve Shapiro– vibraphone
- Lawrence Feldman – clarinet, tenor saxophone
- Amy Helm – whistle
- Michael Hitchcock – trumpet
- Michael Leonhart– trumpet, Wurlitzer, conductor
- Lou Marini– alto saxophone
- Chris Potter– alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Jim Pugh– trombone
- Roger Rosenberg – bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
- David Tofani– saxophone
- Cynthia Calhoun– backing vocals
- Mike Harvey – backing vocals
- Carolyn Leonhart– backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
- Gaslighting Abbie
- What a Shame About Me
- Two Against Nature
- Janie Runaway
- Almost Gothic
- Jack of Speed
- Cousin Dupree
- Negative Girl
- West of Hollywood
Steely Dan: Gaucho
On November 21, 1980, “MCA” label released “Gaucho”, the seventh Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded 1978 -1980, at the “Sigma Sound of Philadelphia” and “Village Records” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz.
Personnel:
- Donald Fagen – lead vocals, synthesizer, electric piano, organ, rhythm arrangements
- Walter Becker – bass, guitar, guitar solo, rhythm arrangements
- Steve Khan- guitar, lead guitar
- Mark Knopfler, Larry Carlton – lead guitar
- Hugh McCracken, Hiram Bullock, Rick Derringer – guitar
- Rob Mounsey- piano, synthesizer, horn arrangement
- Don Grolnick- electric piano, clavinet
- Pat Rebillot, Joe Sample – electric piano
- Chuck Rainey, Anthony Jackson – bass
- Steve Gadd – drums, percussion
- Bernard Pretty Purdie, Rick Marotta, Jeff Porcaro – drums
- Crusher Bennett, Victor Feldman, Ralph McDonald, Nicholas Marrero – percussion
- Tom Scott- alto saxophone and clarinet; tenor saxophone, lyricon, horn arrangement
- Michael Brecker, Dave Tofani – tenor saxophone
- David Sanborn- alto saxophone
- Ronnie Cuber- baritone saxophone
- Randy Brecker- trumpet, flugelhorn
- George Marge, Walter Kane – clarinet
- Wayne Andre- trombone
- Michael McDonald, Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson, Frank Floyd, Diva Gray, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, *Zachary Sanders, Toni Wine – backing vocals
- Paul Griffin, Don Grolnick, Rob Mounsey – rhythm arrangements
- Rob Mounsey, Tom Scott – horn arrangements
- Vartan- art direction
- Suzanne Walsh – art direction, design
- Michael Diehl – design
- John Tom Cohoe – design assistant
- Rene Burri – photography
- Ryan Null – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Michael Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted
- Babylon Sisters
- Hey Nineteen
- Glamour Profession
- Gaucho – Michael Becker, Donald Fagen, Jarrett
- Time Out of Mind
- My Rival
- Third World Man
Phill Woods
On September 29, 2015, Philip Wells Woods died aged 83. He was a musician (alto saxophone, clarinet) composer, bandleader, in his almost 60 years long career, he has performed with some of the biggest names of jazz and popular music, including Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Donald Byrd, Gene Quill, Hal Stein, Sahib Shihab, Michel Legrand, Lew Tabackin, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Gordon Beck, Benjamin Koppel, Alex Riel, Grace Kelly, Monty Alexander, Evan Gregor, Bill Goodwin, and Jordan Perlson.
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