SIS Archives -- August 1999

This morning on NPR, there was an interview with Julian Lennon who discussed how he was trying to branch out musically and develop his own sound. Steely Dan was cited as influencing the "moodier" musical interests he is exploring.

Edd - I, too, remember Beanie and Cecil, which I guess makes me old too. Beanie was a boy who had a beanie with a propeller on the top, which led to a brief headwear fad.

Stanger and Stranger - How's old Lee doing? I always thought he was awfully fun.

KatyDanFan - DC is great right now; we've had some rain to ease the drought and the weather is lovely. I haven't been anywhere because I don't have much money right now, but I plan to get to Rehobeth next summer after I do some marketing and get my business going a little better.

Herm - Delightful post; you had me laughing out loud at work.

MRS. SAM

Mrs. Sam wants to know

why the hell he's always

over there

trimming her bush

and pollonating her flowers.

She got a lawn, too

Mrs. Sam does

that needs attending

and a couple of kids

that need a lift to band practice

But he over there

weeping in her greenhouse

trying to open her bud.

Mrs Sam not like

Mrs Sam get pissed

Mrs Sam spray powerful herbicide

all over hussy's flora.

Serve hussy right.

Mrs Sam gotta go to soccer game.

Wanna know where Mr. Sam is.

It's our turn for treats.

I think this is right? Any help!!

MR. SAM

He used to work here in her garden

but he donšt no more

Spellbound by his posies

Hešd caress them on the greenhouse floor

She was the lady

On the outside such an elegant (finery?)

He was the low....?..( cockerspaniard?)

That we all ignored

Mr.Sam donšt look so good no more

I never seen him cry out loud before

One lovely evening left abandoned by her chinaman

She on the rebound

She amazed him with her sleight of hand

Smoking fragrant opium, wild gambling

All the signs of a lifetime of leisure

With no worries, every detail so precisely planned

Mr. Sam donšt look so good no more

I never seen him cry out loud before

Long after midnight, in the half light

Just before the dawn

Broken sorry animal by the greenhouse on the southeast lawn

Standing - almost human -Cryin please

And the screams ....? heard ...?

By a neighbor who was waking by his ...?

Mr.Sam donšt look so good no more

I never seen him cry out loud before

have you guys seen this misheard
lyrics page??

http://www.kissthisguy.com

reelin in the yeast...
infectious.

Okay, so I know it's pointless to talk about Two Against Nature at this point, but I still want to know when the Scam/Aja/Gaucho remasters are going to be released. God, nothing comes easy with these boys. They're probably just fuckin' with us. Well, at least I scored 2 Darth Maul figures for my kid today. In addition, my co-worker is going to sell me his 4-track for $100, and he's throwing in a mike. But dammit, I WANT REMASTERS!!!

honey, lots of honey

bc, goody, anything'll do.

RoyScam: Your fortuitous and correct use of words like fortuitous and axiom will get you and keep you "off the hook" for awhile, anyway!! You're quite right, the head of state so-called solution to a problem most likely started with John the Baptist!

Clas: Glad Pompe is ok. The picture you painted of your mornings with the dog in bed and you and your wife falling out of the bed was very funny. Could you record that sometime?
I think it would sell!

Herm: You're pullng my leg, right? That sounds so real!

Hank: Oh my.....Hansel and Gretel...that was very clever, lol.

El Supremo: End of October, please? ILYM!

Just Katy :)

No, there's something going on in Sevilla, Nebraska. WM?

I like to watch that. Is that sport/sports? -singularis/pluralis?

Roy the Scammer - tell me, how was Berklee? The opinion of the Son.

KD - no more sports-talk and you still have my respect, I think sports are worse than jazz.

RubyBaby - is it "hopefull"?

Edd: Ragmop doodleeedooooo.... [gasp for air and whinge]

F#

Cecil was a "Seasick Sea Serpent"...

B&C were most noted for their rendition of the classic "Ragg Mopp".

"R - A - G - G - M - O - P - P, Ragg Mopp!"

Gahd, I'm old...

As a current amateur and future professional sportswriter, Rick Reilly has the least amount of respect of any sportswriter out there. Around the world, we really think very little of him. He's almost a cliche, consistently harping on the "there's more to life than sports" theme and constantly attacking sports personalities whose only crime seems to be being the best at what they do (your Bulls, your Yankees, etc).

Then again, I don't know how much respect I still get (around here at least) after my last post...

Katy Dan Fan: Good eye. My use of the phrase 'capitol punishment' was a fortuitous intersection of Freudian slippage and lazy proof reading. I try to stick with the old show business axiom (which I just made up) that one joke per joke is enough. -- Historically, capitol punishment, or the idea of terminating the tenure of heads* of state by life-ending methods, has been employed effectively in Rome, Russia, France, and numerous other places. The French, in fact, invented the 'severance package' for government officials with poor performance evaluations.

* no pun intended

Ruby Baby: The name Beeny and Cecil seems familiar but I don't have any vivid memories. Wasn't one of them a sock? Please enlighten. Council will be expected to establish the Steely Dan relevance of this line of questioning, or face contempt-of-guestbook charges.

RS

Ruby: Rick Reilly? The SI guy and beer commercial star? That's an intriguing pick for favorite journalist. What a mystery you are.

Dave: I keep forgetting to tell you what a cool site you have. Damn, I wish I had known about you when planning when my wedding reception. Oh well, maybe my next one. Do you do "Haitian Divorce"?

Dave and Alt: Two other Danny Gatton fans out there. Who'd have thought it. He was a great guitarist and from what I hear, a great guy too. Too bad he apparently didn't know it his ownself

ole: Glad to be of service.

Don't Bake Me Alive: alternate title for "Hansel and Gretel."

Ruby Ruby Ruby Maybe? - a hopeful Swede.

Jon - thanks for the info on Shawn Colvin. And I think your right - "There's a sameness to his writing which allows a little of him go a long way (Hornsby)". But he has tried though, his last one is different from his earlier stuff. And some songs he does really touch my heart.

TheKatyDan - Pompe is fine. He has done a lot of "testing me" lately, stops in the middle of the road and refuse to go further, like he's saying, -I don't wanna work today. And I have to push him, drag him and he's standing still like a heavy statue. 65 kilo. And in the early morning he sneaks up in our bead, silently lying himself between me and my wife. It ends with that I am falling down on the floor on the right side, Lena is falling down on the left side. There's a lot of yelling in the mornings.

C

don't

don't

Oleander- If it's not broken, din't fix it!

Herm & Hank--Thanx profoundly for fixing Monday.

I think Herm has been doing too much LSD lately.

I just had lunch with Liberaci!

Popeye to Bluto: "Don't Take Me Olive"

Dear Doctor Doom:

Sorry, but I don't recall reporting that I was gravely ill and on my deathbed. Even if I did, can't one get better enough to make a luncheon date for the months ahead?

Later,

Herm

Sociable Herm: Great article! And here I thought Walter loved the ihop. Just goes to show ya that song lyrics are not reliable sources of fact.
You're now tied with Rick Reilly as my favorite journalist.

rb

Hermit- Lunch with Donald and Walter? Were you joking a couple a months ago when you told everyone here you were sick and on your death bed? Not funny Herm.

Morning everyone!

Josie Dan Fan: Sorry, if it seemed like I was blowing you off, if was purely unintentional. Still not sure what I did. Hope I didn't hurt your feelings.

I didn't want to tell anybody about this before, but now that it fell through, I might as well let you all in on it. I was scheduled to have lunch this Saturday with both Donald and Walter. 12:30, at a Denny's about 15 miles from my cave. Then, early Saturday morning, I get an email from Don saying that he's not sure if Denny's is the right restaurant for them, and they change it to an IHOP. It'll take me longer to get there, but I say fine, let's do it. I get there at 12:15, and they don't arrive until 1:30. Problems with the size of the limo and the route the driver had mapped out. I was slightly irritated for having to wait, (they told me not to shave or get especially dressed up for the meeting, so after a while, the unpleseant stares from the other customers was making me feel uneasy), but what could I do, get mad at them? No, I considered myself lucky to even getting the invite.

Anyway, I was already at a table when they waltzed in. (Actually, it wasn't so much a waltz, as it was a samba, but that's another story.) The first thing out of their mouths, before even saying hi, was that they didn't care for the table: Not enough light; too close to the kitchen; screaming kid nearby; they didn't like the waitress, and felt the busboy was too inexperienced. I suggested that since it was an IHOP, they shouldn't expect much better than they were getting, but they had made up their minds. The restaurant was full, and we were told that if we wanted another table, there'd be a wait. We sat on the booth by the front door and read a menu. They pre-plotted their entire meals, then looked at each other, and began to make changes. Tables were offered to us every ten minutes; we would try them, but they would always want to make a change. By now, it was 4:45 - closer to dinner than lunch,(a meal I still haven't eaten)- and I boldly stated that I was hungry. They offered me lunch, gave me nothing, and I was starved and demanded something. I stormed up to the hostess and declared that we would take the next available table, no matter where it was or who was serving us. When I went back to tell them, they were gone. In their places was a note and an audio tape. The note said that just didn't feel comfortable with the way things had been going, and they were just going to have to cancel the lunch for now. They promised that we'd do it again, (obviously their idea of levity), sometime in the future, but did not give me a definate date. I ran outside, but they had already taken off. I was so dismayed, my appetite vanished, and I trudged back home.

When I got to the cave, I stuck the cassette tape they left me in the stereo. It turned out to be the audio of a conversation they had during a lunch back in 1994 somewhere outside of Cleveland, recorded directly from their table mikes. I had heard various boots of this conversation before, but they were all recorded from different tables, some not even all that close. Yeah, I was mad, but the tape was cool. They ate all the greatest dishes. At least I still have that until the real thing comes along. Being a fan, I've developed patience.

Later,

Herm

Then there's the great concept album, "Baja":

- Black Sow: A young farmer has a vision of winning the state fair with a pig of mythic proportions.

- Baja: Y. F. travels south of the border to acquire a legendary animal growth hormone.

- De-Con Blues: Things quickly go sour as our hero discovers the luxury lodging he'd been promised is really a filthy rat's nest.

- Pig: Y. F., delerious from dysentery, conjures a feverdream of a chorus line of singing, dancing swine that taunt him and his ambition. Shattered, he loses hope.

- Home At Least: A bitterly disappointed Y.F. returns to the United States, faced with the real possibility of giving up his dream of a prize pig.

- I Get the News: While reading his favorite tabloid at home, Y.F. is called by a telemarketer who tries unsuccessfully to get him to subscribe to the New York Times. However, Y.F. is impressed by the sales rep's moxie and asks her to join him in his quest. (She declines.)

- Joisie: Y.F., back in the Garden State, takes a moment from slopping the hogs and reflects upon his adventures. He decides it was worth it to pursue his dream, but all in all, it's good to be home.

RoyScam: This only gets more comical. Your change of FM should be pretty useful in here, and your take on Chair Lightning was the best...maybe it SHOULD be for "Capitol punishment" rather than "capital punishment" lol, might help straighten out the country....was that intentional?? (I'll be moving in here, also, I would like a virtual condo, no maintenance fees and a pool closeby, please, and I prefer my address is an even number)

David --- you mean I was part of the hello everyone, but Josie got mentioned by name? .....waiting for that CD..

Altamira -- how are things in Washington and did you ever get to Rehoboth Beach this summer?

Clas----no effort involved in thinking of you! How's Pompe, still around?

KD: Your post was moving; my favorite posts are of those who aren't tempted try to control the atmosphere in here--but simply show up and share themselves and their love for the Dan.

Schwinn: Really laughed at your additions to the list of songs!

Has Geena been here to show off her daughter? Geena----watch your mail delivery!

El Supremo: Now on to the next adventure, ILYM!

Just Katy :)

your word game serves to show your limitations. You should all stick to what you're good at - kissing up to SD.

Razor Roy--I like that.

Danspotting--walking in the door to a restaurant, right on cue, the opening notes of "Home At Last." In the produce section, a Muzak version of "Night By Night."

PPP bull--S's are one of the Dan's fave alliterations. Like "where the sailor shuts out the sunrise" or "in the summer all the swells join in the search for sun and sand" or "when the sidewalks are safe." So I'd call mr. f#'s riff an homage and be done with it.

hammy--hey & welcome.

kd--righto on the RS ratio. Your sentiments were sweet.

Ruby--no, but the jOkEr is a real fungi.

f#--ice ready whenever you are.

"Some At Last"--what we hope to get come 1st quarter '00.

David in the Florida Room - Your comments inspired me to dig out my Danny Gatton tape. Damn, that man could play! What amazing music! I wish I could have heard him live, but I only found out about him after he died. It is so sad that he and Roy Buchanan both killed themselves; I wish things could have been better for them and that their lives hadn't become so painful. I had read that despite his brilliance, Gatton had trouble marketing his music since it didn't fit into any one category. He sure did cover the gamut of styles; he even does a cover of the theme from the Simpsons on this tape, along with a gorgeous rendition of the Beach Boys' In My Room, which sounds far more serious and weighty in Gatton's version.

Gatton was born and grew up in DC, and lived for a number of years at 88 Elmira Street, SE, the title of the tape I have. He later moved to southern Maryland. Because of my interest in local history, I find the photograph on the cover of the tape quite intriguing - it was taken at the address above many years ago, and shows a row of 19th-century houses on the left; on the right is a farm with a long driveway and a grand-looking mansion. I've looked up Elmira Street on my DC map and plan to head out there one of these days to see what happened to that magnificent farmhouse.

Dr. Mu - I like your take on the Reuter's thing. It just seems strange to me that they would be having doubts about releasing the CD right after they made the official announcement on their website - I'd think that D&W wouldn't have made that announcement if they weren't 100% certain about releasing it - the time for getting cold feet is long gone.

WB=Warner Brs.

Midnite: Yhat rules!!! You've got a Duane Allmans Walter Becker morph thing going yourself. Allan Holdsworth is a gem! You hit the key - effortless!

Can't find that Reuters thing: skeptical...but...Fagen is harder on himself than anyone and just screw WB. It's doubtful that he/they care what the rec. exec. weasels really think of the CD or Walter's singing anyway. Their (the weasels that is) fucking job is to sell product, take their stash, and shutup.

Dave on FL- just down the road

Long Live that Telecaaster Volume Thang - as long as you are one of the FEW who can actually pull it off

and with Roy - if you can pull it off at lightning speed, highly acuarately.

Q

St.Al....I agree that Jimmy Page is a very sloppy guitar player but of the trio usually mentioned together (Page, Beck, Clapton), Page is without a doubt the best songwriter and producer of the bunch. He never could quite nail the riffs cleanly but he wrote some incredible stuff. After Zep with it's input of Plant, Jones and Bonham he never really had the stuff and just kinda weirded out but I think he was a GREAT of that era. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong....*naaaaaaaaaaaaah*

Edd....Allan Holdsworth....oh yeah!!! Saw him in Winston-Salem in a small club back in 1990 and the man is not of this earth. Phenomenal guitarist with the best legato ever!!! He's a really nice guy who was very friendly to chat with after the show and indulged me to take my pic with him. It's right here:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/6974/Allan-Jim.jpg

The man just played a 2 1/2 hour set and he looks fresh, I look like I'd been working all day! Great guy though.....great guitarist.

RoyScamp: When you were a kid, did you by any chance watch Beeny & Cecil?

Schwinn: Mine was Donovan's Greatest Hits, with the snazzy photos inside the jacket, like a magazine. I'm trying to remember the other 11. Let's see... The Mamas & The Papas, Dylan's Greatest Hits (y'know, with that poster), The Fifth Dimension, Three Dog Night, Chicago, ...that's all I can recall now.
All my old records either got burned by fire or accidentally thrown out in the garbage (don't ask). I hope you still have yours!

Clas: The Donovans? In your way, you outdid Schwinn. You can't help it!

rb

wait, there's more.

Midnight Cruiser Sidmight Bruiser not my fancy

Tire in the Hole... that's too flat.

drool kyn lower mississippi cousins

change of the guard - changs of the guard, Lew's buds

Durn that heartbent over again

Nikki don't lose that number - a post it from Prince stuck inside a magazine. lower the volume. i wanna hear you.

any major duds will kell you ...advice offered toward an unfortunate accident on the 4th of July

Barry Town -- Bunny Town. synchromultiplicity.

East St. Louis Toodle oo Eat St. Lou's Poodle (ewww) the korean tour

Through with Fuzz. shaved.

Charlip Freak hell's cunning linguist .
Monkey in your soup.... fur between your teeth... waiter!

Black Friday Black Fraidy don't be scared, it's only a movie

Bad Snaeikrs chortles for fractured feindish fairy fables and the morayeel of the story is....

Daddy don't live in that New Pork city anymore -- converted to Judaism.

Dr. Hu. while John Pertwee converts to Eckankar

The Caves of Altamira ... mm.. the mazes of altaMira. a labryinthical trip through a house of very tall mirrors... spanglish spoken with a boston accent

Your Gold Teeth Four Gild Teets ouch.

Kid Charlemagne .. someone took the 'mange' one already. let's see... Kid Charletagne medicine show.

groen earrings .. jeff and akbar play dress up. Pierce Braman shows up with appropriate tools.

Haitian Lavoris listerine with a paper umbrella.

the Royal Scam the Boyal Scar. Lancedalot?

Black Cow Slack Cot. need new hardware.

aja - aka

Deacon Blues Beacon Glue a strange mystery light, discovered in 1996, but only recently brought to the attention of the general public.

Peg -- Pez (fez'd)

Dome at Last capstone found... see beacon glue.

Josie JoniE electronic tale mail

Tome out of Mind a collection of stream of sometimes unconsciousness ramblings

Gilmour Progression fleudian slip

Thirt World Mar(s) Where's W(Al)do?

Snow Bound Snot Bound - blow by blow. that was bad. sorry, jeff.

Beashouse on the tracks .. andy and opie banish aunt bea to the other side due to bad pie. it's a mad, mad world.

On the Dunes - Of the Runes. bag of trysts

Gaucho Goucho

Walk Between the Raindrops Talk Bedweeb the Raindrips. cracked, geekspeed, trippin the light dangasmic. pocket protector unfolds out to makeshift umbrella

Cringemaker fringemaker , weird word weaver

Countermoon I still like Countermoon Pies.

My Waterloo My waterlow, must dig new well.

show biz kids slow bics kids sparks, flic flic cricket in my pocket.

Razor Boy Razor Roy Razor Box (see Snowbound)

Bodhisattva BodyO'sativa an Irish farmer's plot in Peking. Holy Potatoes, Dorothy, this ain't no fine columbian, why it's absolutely whacky, way weird, why are you wooking at me wike dat?

Pearl of the Quarter. Pears in the chartres. the sacred geometry of dances of bumblebees. yikes.

My Old School My Odd Spool. Mary Bobbins (mary poppins..great movie, btw)

I bought the Aja cd at a car boot/garage sale as my original had ben stolen from my car. To my surprise when I got it out of the case there were 2 cd's! One an A1 Aja and the other a cd entitled "In the Studio" It is a radio broadcast by a jock called "Redbeard". It feature quite a long and very interesting in-depth interview with D+W about the album.

Can any of you Danheads shed any light on this recording or wish to hear more or even get a cassette copy (is this legal -who cares?)

I look forward to reading your replies

Greetings from Loch Ness

Mr Nearly Dan

Marigold,uh-oh,Mu,Schwinn,Ole, Edd, edd-cetera.: Thank you for playing our one-letter-typo game; you've been lovely contestants and please pick up a copy of our home game as you leave the guestbook. Not only have I chuckled much, but I feel like Dr. Frankenstein. [One more try: Chair lightning = a popular brand of capitol punishment device.] -- Where else could one find a group of people dumb enough to play such a game and smart enough to come up with such good entries? In fact, I've decided to quit the real part of my existence and move in here with you people and live only virtually; should cut down expenses considerably.

KD: Good letter. But, at the risk of sounding like a Dad, please be advised that, as you get older, you'll notice that the proportion of profound things said while drunk diminishes. When I was 19, I had a petty good profundity/wasted rantings ratio; by the time I was 30 it had fallen to the point where the descent was already asymptotic. -- One more thing: Waymon Tisdale of the NBA is probably a lock for most combined jazz musicianship + basketball skill of any person alive. He can jam AND jam.

F#: Remember the line "Dishes are DONE, man." from the movie about the babysitter being dead?

As Mack the Seal said to the fish he was about to eat, "Only a food would say that."

RS

Hack Friday: the day the market closed at 300,000

Black Cow: the day the Guernsey Fair confirmed his suspicions...*

Orange Cow: the day Timothy Leary slipped a little sunshine into the BGH

dishes are done,promise.
F#

*he got the moos

Hello Everyone- Enjoyed some of the musical posts recently...a shame we lost Roy Buchanan...and Lost his friend and co-creator of that style of Guitar Danny Gatton. Both Hung out in the DC/Maryland area. Both created that" Make a Telecaster sound like a B-3 or pedal Steel" with the Volume control thing.
Edd-I wish you could have played Bass on a cut on my CD...next one?
Hello to Josie.
Finally mixing and Mastering...It won't be Steely Dan...but it will be something new anyway.I go between .."hey this is gonna be good!"...and "what the Hell was I thinking"
"with a cough I shake it off and work around my yellow stripe"

David

Ring of the World: Frodo Lives

Harley Freak: Dan and the Art of Motorpsycho Maintenance

Dome at Last: Bucky finally convinces his Mrs. Fuller to build a geodesic dream home

G I Y?: a protest song from '72

Midnight Hoosier: The Bird and his cronie out for a late game of HORSE

Phallus: a hot city and a bulging pocket

Burle of the Quarter: the old timer still knows how to hustle, "I got the jews"

oy vay baby
F#

KD - I thought what you wrote was beautiful, man.
A sincere testimonial if there ever was one !

H.

oh god...what the hell did I write last night

Clas: Shawn Colvin is a wonderful folkie type who broke into the majors and into mainstream consciousness with her tune "Sunny Came Home" although she's reputed to have kicking around the music scene for 15 or so years. Her alto vocal range was a wonderful complement to Jackson's and the vocal harmonies were transplendid.

My only crit of the overall show was that JB/Bonnie relied too heavily on recent material, and didn't give the folks what they really showed up to hear, which were the chestnuts from the days of old. Because the night's tune list was roughly divided in a 4-way share, it was inevitable that some fans were going to feel short-changed. I personally felt the night was a little heavy on Hornsby, whose pianistics get ponderous rather quickly. There's a sameness to his writing which allows a little of him go a long way.

Notwithstanding the above, it was a great show and Lindley is a musical treasure that more people should discover. I toyed with the notion of taping the show and regrettably did not do it. BIG mistake.

KD - seriously; quit the basketball. It aint good for you heart.

St Alphonzo - damn, you're funny! And please, next time you're buying tickets to a Jackson Browne show, send them to me. Or Jon. It aint no use to pay for a nap?

KatyDanFan - well, the thing is, I CAN'T leave. Thanks for thinking of me. Did I ever tell you about your... oh no. Okay, you got it.

Jon - man, I envy you! Tell me about this Shawn Colvin-guy, never heard of him/her.

RubyBaby - I wouldn't dream to outdo Schwinn here, but, my first record was also The Donovans. Great band.

C

"Kid Charlemange" - Character's hair falls out in clumps after bizarre accident in clandestine "Kibble's N Bits" lab...

ok...I ,r mreally drunk and this is what I sent off to the website that some call home. Oleander, you've done wonderful work and we all love it, but most of all, thank you for mentioning my beloved (and, soon, money making) NBA in your post. Anyway, this is what I sent to the men. It's all I can get out right now and my eyes are puffy and I didnt even proofread and too much vodka. Lord, don't we love this band.....

_________________________

God bless you guys. I mean it so much, you've given me so much and I hope to be able to give it back to you somehow, someday.

Yeah, I'm drunk again and it's been a while since I emailed you guys. Lord. Ok, so I've been scared recently of burning myself out on your music. So last Friday, the 20th, I listened to my gold CD of 'Aja' when we got back from partying, and it's been a week since I've listened to any Steely, any solo, or any bootleg (I mean, no! I mean, nevermind).

So, eight days, and it's been hell. I'm used to going to classes listening to 'Gaucho' on the headphones amigo or kicking back and blaring some 'Royal Scam', or playing guitar to 'Countdown', or listeing to "Pretzel Logic' or 'Katy Lied' in all their hi-fidelity glory (in spite of what you say), or playing the first album on the way to class or crying along to 'Aja.' I love you guys.

I love you guys.

I'm 19. I've had sex with my high school's homecoming queen. I play basketball almost daily. I buy my clothes at the most fashionable outlets and dye my hair and watch my acne closley. But I also love you guys so much So much. I started getting into jazz sophomore year of high school, then stopped. When I got into you guys heavily last year I got into jazz more (as is the natural progression, I sopund like an obvious idiot) and you wonderful men are all to blame for all my happiness.

Please. Please ( i have born in 1980 tears coming down my cheeks) release the new album. Your record is Giant, and they have nothing. WB (the record company) might be putting off a front, but don't believe. Be yourselves. We love yourselves, and I speak for millions. God bless you guys and just keep doing whatever makes you happy...

peace,

Kelly Dwyer

Kudos to Katy. Hahahaha. My good friend, Ransom Rentworth, will be compiling the "Best of Roy's Fun Game" to be presented on this GB in the near future.

Ruby Baby: The first record I ever bought was Donovan's Sunshine Superman.

And just because it's a fun game...

The Boston Fag: Tell all your buddies that you lost your pants.

Any Major Nude: I've never seen you hangin' so low my chunky one.

When Dove's Fry,

SEMB

...make that The Royal Scram....or even The Loyal Scam...

RoyScam - That was a neat idea you shared and I thoroughly enjoyed everyone's responses---LOL---what a witty bunch in here.

Josie -- Hey, sister! Great to see you are posting again! Yes, the landscape does change "up there," doesn't it? Bet it was great to be where there's low humidity, at least normally speaking. (btw, Posie -- a person without poise?)

KD --- I have that same malady you described regarding Gaucho! Others around me I guess are saying, "Oucho, not Gaucho" again!

Clas---I had scrolled back as far as my eyes would take me a few days ago, and I thought you left us. Glad you didn't!

Altamira --- You're still so willing to be patient and explain and expain yourself to people. You sure know how to take constructive AND destructive criticism well! (The Cares of Altimira)

Speaking of explaining oneself, I forgot who but someone commented about one of my favorites, Jerome! Gosh, I don't know his whole background (I'll ask ES) but as for me, I accepted him as someone Don and Walt must surely like and have affection for, and felt that the band is laughing not at, but with him, as he is obviously enjoying his role. I never pictured Don and Walt using a person's weak area to make him look superfoolish on stage with them! To me, Jerome added something to the night (maybe I have a warped sense of humor?) Anyway, I'm still laughing but Jerome, not at you, with you!

Special for El Supremo:

KatyDied -- condition of Just Katy before you walked in...

Oh and ES, honey, we did have a great vacation in Texas and I'm so happy you're still totally in love with me (ditto), but...did you really mean to post that three times? You'll get the posting police all riled up again.

Here are a few more for anyone to define, as it's getting too late for any more heavy thinking.

RoyScram
Olepander
Dr. Mu!
Walk Between Braindrops (cheated a little there)
Don't Make Me Alive
Bad Speakers
Town in the Bottom of the Wine Dark Sea
The Boston Gag
Any Major Rude Will Tell You
Monkey in Your Soup?
Mime out of Mind
Third World Dan
Countermoan

ohhhhh....that's enough

Just Katy :)

"I'm not happy with what we came up with, and the record company doesn't seem to like Walter's singing..."

I don't know about the rest of you but THAT doesn't sound like DF to me!

fezo: Spirit In The Night - the only Springsteen song I care about.

Joker/Oleander: lab site? humidore? Is there a fungus amongus?

Hammy: let's meet at Spinners and look around one Saturday afternoon...

Edd & others: One of the first records I ever purchased was Donovan. I was 10. I sent Columbia Records a penny and they sent me 12 albums of my choice. My parents shit several bricks, had a few cows, but in the end, I had my dozen. How did I know that I had to buy 6 more at regular club prices?

Altamira: Ah, a fellow SD dreamer!

Clas: Your song titles cracked me up the most! Anthony, too.

Razor: Your suspicions are correct.

rb

(new york)- Despite working on a new album for the past three years Steeely Dan principals Walter Becker and Donald Fagen may decide not to release the album at all. When pressed for comments at a recent New York concert that he was attending Fagen quipped, "I am not happy with what we came up with, and the record company doesn't seem to like Walter's singing...."

Clas: Just saw JB w/Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Hornsby and Lindley and, I swear, it made me weep. Jackson and Bonnie STILL have it and couldn'y get rid of it if they wanted to!

St. Al, I completely understand your response and agree with you as regards "great/GREAT", but he did create real and timeless and unsurpassed(not saying "best" -just none "better") rock beauty on many studio LP's - other than that I'm with you 100%.

I also recognize how much Plant ,Jones, and Bonham contributed to the "rock art" they putout.

Q

Hey, shit happens. I was trying to correct a message with a typ in it and it went to the list. Don't laugh, it might happen to you one of these days.

Cry in the Wilderness - I don't rave, as you would know if you actually read my posts. They tend to be quite short.

I would gather from the name you use that you imagine yourself to be like John the Baptist, or Baptizer, depending on tradition. If that is so, then I would expect you to write something prophetic that will bring us some great new insight and rouse us to action. I am looking forward to your next post.

F#Maj - I enjoy your posts; very witty and imaginative.

I had a dream about Donald Fagen last night. He was in a local book/music store signing copies of a new short, humorous book he had written and illustrated about the music business. Fagen was polite and pleasant, and answered people's questions. I wanted to ask him about the New One, but I figured that he knew we were all curious about it, and if he had something to say, he would have done so. Two young women came up to me and asked me about the person signing books; I asked them if they had heard of Steely Dan and they hadn't. After Fagen left the store, I found a briefcase full of original drawings, including some self protraits; I wanted to give it to the store manager since I thought that Donald might want it back. But beforehand I wanted to take it to the nearby copy shop, since I wanted copies of those drawings.

A Cry in the Wilderness - I don't rave, as you'd know if you actually read my posts. What I write tends to be rather short, withe exception of this post since I haven't written in a while.

Judging from the name you use, I would gather that you imagine yourself to be like John the Baptist, or Baptizer, depending on tradition. If that is the case, then I would expect you to write something prophetic that would provide a wonderful new insight and rouse us all to action. I will read your next post with great interest.

Dan Cashman - I have an eleven-inch-long steel plate in my right leg, so I can relate. I could have it removed, since the bone has now healed, but I just don't like surgery much.

F#maj - I enjoy your posts; quite imaginative and witty.

I had a dream about Donald Fagen last night. He was in a local book/music store and was signing copies of a short, humorous book about the music business that he had written and illustrated. He was pleasant and polite, and answered people's questioned. I wanted to ask about the New One, but I figured that he knew we were all curious about it, and if he wanted to say something about it, he could have. I met two young women who asked me about the person signing books; I asked them if they'd heard of Steely Dan, they said they hadn't. After Fagen had left the store, I found a briefcase containing a number of his original drawings, including some self-portraits. I wanted to give it to the store manager so Donald could get it back, but I wanted to take it to the nearby copy shop first so I could make some copies of these great drawings.

Roy's fun game is driving me rapidly insane. Symptoms are pretty heinous. Right now I have "Purple Rain" in the CD player and am about to launch a full scale search for my long lost Barry Manilow discs.

the raves of altimira - self explanitary
now please stop the punning

Sorry Hammy. All of a sudden you're a Jewish booking agent or maybe you own a music store. I gotta go regroup.

H.

Sorry about the duplication. Don't know what happened there.

RS - Good one-liner! That was the best laugh I've had all
week.

By the way.. could Benny Markowitz possibly be Billy Joel?

Manny - The new one will be out the first quarter of 2000 so we're told.

God I hope that kid gets his Motorola pager. Hell, I'll send him a clean shirt !
Hutch

RS - That was a good one-liner. Best laugh I've had all
week !!

By the way... could Benny Markowitz possibly be Billy Joel ?

Hammy - The new one is due first quarter of 2000 so we're told.

Hutch

"Gauche"--clumsy ode to left-handedness
"Midnight Bruiser"--Felonious' bodyguard
"Fight By Night"--what you do with the cringemaker
"Glamour Procession"--the Grammys
"SM"--radio for the black leather bunch
"Net Frontier"--Nightfly for the millennium
"The Goodbye Kook"--nickname of most recent serial killer
"Florida Roof"--what's on top of the Florida Room, duh
"Herm At The Western World"--our sociable friend gets out and mixes with the population
"On the Dunks"--SD's coming NBA theme
"Aba"--Swedish group covers the Dan
"The Royal Scat"--Ella Fitzgerald covers the Dan

Stop me before I will again

Dan,
Will coat and tie be required for the wire biting?

RS

They call me Steely Dan cause I got more steel in my body than bones. I'm a dare devil. I'll do anything. I've not only broken every bone in my body, I've destroyed them all too. My skull is 93% steel. I have a totally steel pelvis, so you can imagine what women look like when I get done with them! Last year my ankle started to rust and it wasn't under warranty anymore! Tried to repair it myself (I'm a dare devil) but ended up with blood poisoning. Had to get a new one. I'm like the tin man. I need oil, man. My knee caps are magnetic after a lightening strike last September and I have to stay away from tool boxes. I got too close just before I jumped off a speeding tow truck and I was covered with screw drivers and wrenches when I hit the pavement. I lost an eye in that one. If you ever want to see a real Steely Dan, come see me on the 28 of September when I climb up a utility tower in a power plant and bite all the high voltage wires!

Friends of the vinyl groves: AS an SD fan from the first primordial recordings, what a treat to stumble onto this site enjoyed by fellow appreciators of Becker/Fagen work! Sure would appreciate any late breaking wind concerning the secret release date. Anybody out there? The people down the hall know who you are and that's good. hammy

Readying Monkey House best-of (ANTHOLOGY 1992-1999) for fall release. Will include remastered version of our only-in-print version of Fagen's "Lazy Nina" as well as music, new and old, of a similar ilk (some of it endorsed by Metal Leg!). Inquiries to gdolphin@globalserve.net

Clas: I might add Jackson Browne was the only concert I've ever actually fallen asleep at. Wife had to elbow me cause I was sawing logs right in the middle of a quiet part zzzzzz...

Clas: Are you serious about that Jackson Browne shit?

Hello my fellow GBers'
I just got back from a trip up to northern Minnesota, mostly along the north shore of Lake Superior ( Which just reminded me of how very much I miss the ocean. ) Drove up to Canada, had me a real good time eh! Which made me think ( Oh My GOD!!! ) Is it just my imagination or, does the landscape really change as much as I thought it did? Any comments?

Thanks to all of you who gave suggestions on latin jazz albums/artists to check out, much appreciated!

Herm: I have a bone to pick with you!! If you don't wish to speak with me anymore, just say so. Please don't blow me off though.

Sister Katy: Hello!! I'm glad you had fun..**wink.

David: Love ya man..

Hutch: e-mail me sometime the address is :
josiedanfan1@prodigy.net

Talk to you later!!
JDF

P.S. Aja goes well with road trips, especially stressful ones, it mellowed me out good, when the mac truck cut in front of my vehicle, and we almost plowed right into it, it put on some Home at Last and Josie ( no way was I going to listen to Deacon )and was calmed by Don's awesome voice..just thought I'd share, near death experiences make me talkative, or typative in this case
:o)...adios

Rat Too Flat - steamroller accident in the animalistic world. The rat is recovering at Memorial Hospital in room 6 and 7.

The Look In Your Ass, I Don't Mind - a straight mans answer in San Fransisco.

Wow, 90 minutes with Jackson Browne on TV yesterday. Great. What a man. Such pathos and melancholy. Cool. And David Lindley must have inspired , what's that guns name again?, Derringer, a lot.

Does anybody know who wrote the book "The Making of Bruce Springsteen"? I heard that CIA is writing his lyrics.

My son throw a Dave Matthews Cd at me the other day. I played it. That wasn't funny. StAl - are you serious about that shit?

Sven - go for the feel, howl like a wolfe.

THE STRANGER - nice talking to you!

Hi Rubybaby.

Where's T Collins? Sometimes I wonder what guys like me and Schwinn and... and.. are doing up front when we have guys like T Collins.

C

Only A Foot Would Say That: "Paul's Bunion is killing me!"

Dirty Pork: Not to be confused with clean fish.

Slowbiz Kids: All those Muzak, Rap and Karoke revenues have made the boys even more fashionably late.

Tire In The Hole: A frequent occurrence when driving through Mississippi.

Don't Take Mo Alive: The common rallying cry of Larry, Curly and Shemp after suffering one of Mo's humiliating verbal and physical abuses.

Ok, I'm really done not. (I mean "now".)

SEMB

Rikki Don't Lose That Lumber: Or at least tie a yellow ribbon around it so a board doesn't stick through somebody's windshield.

Barker's Band: Some of you may too young to remember Bob Barker and the Radar Range but they were THE reason to watch Truth or Consequences.

Throw Mack The Little Ones: Even though Mack, the ball-balancing seal at Sea World, would like to eat Shamu, his appetite is bigger than his stomach.

Ant World: A positively fascinating display especially when you toss a couple of grasshoppers in.

Monkey In Your Soup: To be expected when dining in Borneo.

Hey this is fur! (I mean fun!)

SEMB

Allan Holdsworth

Allan Holdsorth and Dan fans might want to check out None too Soon, his last effort, from 1996 which has more of a "traditional" jazzy feel that the sulfuric acid jazz fusion of most of his work from the 80s with less of the synthaxe. Really great stuff - maybe one of his best although I haven't heard a majority of his discography. Those superfluid and flawless runs with an edge. He has often been able to take a solo to the limits while knowing when to reel it in. More fusion oriented Wardenclyffe Tower and Hard Hat Area have some nice stuff - one called Dodgy Bay sounded really lyrical. He would have been absolutely awesome on 11 TOW or new one (too much to hope for?)

I saw him in concert at a small club in Baton Rouge in 1986 about the time of the release of the Atavachron album which featured the "synthaxe for the first time. It was a stunning 2 hour viruoso performance of musicianship and technical wizardry - fuckin' amazing! After the show while we were fumbling around the floor trying to find our jaws, he sat down with the crowd that stayed around and had dinner and beer with us. He talked about philosophy, music, politics, aswered questions... Was as cool, humble, intellegent, funny, and interesting as one could ever hope for - what a night!

Ditty Work: the process of transforming a 16 bar blues and chorus into a jazz/pop masterpiece

Only a Tool Would Say That: suggested intro. for each flame in this venue

Your Sold Teeth: the reason Charlie Freak peddled his precious stone

Bloomfield is the king of all that is good and fair. Butterfield Blues, Electric Flag, and Super Session cannot be stopped.

Didn't know Bonham was on Hurdy Gurdy Man, which is related to Super Session with the version of "Season of the Witch" which I did at a high school talent thing two years ago whilst adding G. Love and "YGT II" lyrics.

I always (always, more like, "for the last year...") thought that Becker's solos on Aja were very Bloomfield like, bluesy and laid back and with so much damn taste.

My dad told me he heard the song 'Gaucho' on muzak at a super market a week ago, he being re-introduced to the song through me and my incessant blaring of it.

Page has a metric ton of mistakes in his playing, its fun sometimes and annoying as hell other times. Especially that a capella "Heartbreaker" solo. Still, for kids starting up, he's the place to go. I started playing in 92 when I was 12, and even though Led Zep wasn't my favorite band, by the second year I knew more of their stuff than any other band. A good place to begin with, and get back to the roots from there. If there was one good thing Page did (besides stealing royalty checks from Willie Dixon), it was his innovative acoustic work.

Hey DF, WB, if'n you didn't take so long with that wonderful new piece of work, we wouldn't be talking about other bands on here. But we got much love fo y'all, uptown baby.

Going to play some ball...

JWMalibu: ya, instant analog gratification. slow down the tuplets and you have the Lido Shuffle

PPP Bulletin#1: it's freakin'pr's jurisdiction unless you have probable cause to search the trunk. come and get me copper...

Edd: wonderful. brevity is the soul of wit. i take note. That was Page (if i get your point) grinding the hurdy gurdy- as perfect a solo as Kid C? arguable. moments of brilliance in the right company.

Oleander: fever dream thanks. can you send ice...

PPP Bulletin#2: F#maj9,#9,#9,#9... these charges will never stick. what's the record?

Schwinn: lovely metaphor and point well taken.

StAl: I still occasionally listen to Crossroads and Sitting On Top of the World (from the perfect solos file) and accept that Clapton has transformed. He aspired to be a songwriter and found an audience- but met with harsh judgements from those who would prefer he had not. There are plenty of brilliant moments beyond Cream/Delaney and Bonnie/D&Ds but it's a very different Clapton not for every one of the old fans. Thoughts on Bloomfield?

a Ferris Wheel ride sounds good- as soon as i find my way out of the fun house...

F#maj9

Awwright Roy- cool game! Here are mine.

The Royal Spam- mystery meat fit for a queen
The Pez- You know, that one cool candy! If only we could get Pez dispensers with Don and Walt on them we'd be in business.
Razor Toy- Not for childern under 3.
Nook of Liars- The Oval Office
Slack Friday- Every Friday!

Hello DanFanDom!

Indeed, it has been a very long time since 'posting' in St. Al's Guestbook, so it is good to know everyone is still up to par with their game.

So, when is the damn release of "Two Against Nature" or "The New One" or "Mr. Whatever, Mr. Whenever"???

Yes, Gil Paris(sp) is an excellent guitarist, and one that Don and Walt should consider when planning their tour band, whenever the Hell that will be. Listening to many of their live '93-94-96 sets---Don and Walt would say, "We'll definitely be back here next year"---yeah, right.

Anyway, has there been any new word on the release of the remasters of "Royal Scam", "Aja", or "Gaucho", please advise.

YES, KatyDanFan and I had a wonderful vacation, and when we stopped for a moment under the shade, the restaurant with the awning out had just started playing "Walk Between The Raindrops" from "The Nightfly" album. WOW, talk about a "DanMoment" with my lovely wife, and we just laughed at how Steely Dan music always "pops up" at some of the strangest places, and the strangest times.

Hoping all is well with you, keep smiling, keep hoping to see Steely Dan or listen for the new one, or win Oleander's prizes for guessing the release date.

Until later,

I remain totally in love with you, JustKatyDanFan---ILYM/HSRD

Cheers!

ES

Hello DanFanDom!

Indeed, it has been a very long time since 'posting' in St. Al's Guestbook, so it is good to know everyone is still up to par with their game.

So, when is the damn release of "Two Against Nature" or "The New One" or "Mr. Whatever, Mr. Whenever"???

Yes, Gil Paris(sp) is an excellent guitarist, and one that Don and Walt should consider when planning their tour band, whenever the Hell that will be. Listening to many of their live '93-94-96 sets---Don and Walt would say, "We'll definitely be back here next year"---yeah, right.

Anyway, has there been any new word on the release of the remasters of "Royal Scam", "Aja", or "Gaucho", please advise.

YES, KatyDanFan and I had a wonderful vacation, and when we stopped for a moment under the shade, the restaurant with the awning out had just started playing "Walk Between The Raindrops" from "The Nightfly" album. WOW, talk about a "DanMoment" with my lovely wife, and we just laughed at how Steely Dan music always "pops up" at some of the strangest places, and the strangest times.

Hoping all is well with you, keep smiling, keep hoping to see Steely Dan or listen for the new one, or win Oleander's prizes for guessing the release date.

Until later,

I remain totally in love with you, JustKatyDanFan---ILYM/HSRD

Cheers!

ES

Hello DanFanDom!

Indeed, it has been a very long time since 'posting' in St. Al's Guestbook, so it is good to know everyone is still up to par with their game.

So, when is the damn release of "Two Against Nature" or "The New One" or "Mr. Whatever, Mr. Whenever"???

Yes, Gil Paris(sp) is an excellent guitarist, and one that Don and Walt should consider when planning their tour band, whenever the Hell that will be. Listening to many of their live '93-94-96 sets---Don and Walt would say, "We'll definitely be back here next year"---yeah, right.

Anyway, has there been any new word on the release of the remasters of "Royal Scam", "Aja", or "Gaucho", please advise.

YES, KatyDanFan and I had a wonderful vacation, and when we stopped for a moment under the shade, the restaurant with the awning out had just started playing "Walk Between The Raindrops" from "The Nightfly" album. WOW, talk about a "DanMoment" with my lovely wife, and we just laughed at how Steely Dan music always "pops up" at some of the strangest places, and the strangest times.

Hoping all is well with you, keep smiling, keep hoping to see Steely Dan or listen for the new one, or win Oleander's prizes for guessing the release date.

Until later,

I remain totally in love with you, JustKatyDanFan---ILYM/HSRD

Cheers!

ES

Tome At Last = Self-help group for blocked writers

Singemaker = A brand of BBQ charcoal

Flunky Girl = Maid service catering to rich spoiled whiners

I Got The Mews = A feline boarding kennel

etc

I just happened upon the results of a nationwide contest wherein the contestants were to change one letter of a foreign language expression, and come up with a clever definition. The winners were entries such as:
haste cuisine = fast French food, and,
rigor morris = the cat is dead.

Immediately, the damaged part of my brain started wondering if I could, in good conscience, do the same thing with Steely Dan song titles. No, I decided; but did it anyway:
Do Id Again = to resume psychiatric treatment.
Hay 19 = an experimental cattle food being developed by Dupont.
East St. Louis Toodle Log = a sex toy, regionally popular in the Illinois / Missouri area.
Black cod = A drink made with cola and fish.

This is the kind of thing you do when you're a fan of the procrastinatingest band in rock history.

Ed: I thought that Hurdy Gurdy song sounded a little too electric to be pure Donovan. Good tidbit.

RS

fezo: Great point about Jon Landau. I heard once the rest of the band really resented his intrusion from BTR onward. Maybe that's why Lopez and Sancious quit. Jeez, I should take the time now to volunteer to co-produce Steely Dan's "Next one" in 2020!

St. Al., Rix: I think that Page peaked in technique with the Yardbirds, but then with Beck and Clapton in and out who wouldn't? Having said that I'm not a true Zep fan. The proof is that to my ear In Through the Out Door is their best album (and their last) where Plant's influence whas heaviest because of Page's "toasty" condition!

Holdsworth is God!! He and Bruford worked together on the first album by a band called UK about 1979. Great, if a little overbearing, stuff!

Possibly interesting tidbit...

Jimmy Page, Alan Holdsworth - electric guitars
John Paul Jones - electric bass
John Bonham, Clem Clatini - drums

Vocals and acoustic guitar? Donovan Lietch

Song title? "Hurdy Gurdy Man"

Mu; when I was in high school my girl-friend had a promo copy of "Asbury Prk". I don't know where she got it, mainly because when I heard it I didn't care where it came from; just wanted to send it back. It's sad when the cover-version of a song is better than the author's version. Further evidence of the lack of ability "The Boss" repeatedly shows.

St. AL; I totally agree that Page is over-rated. Arguably, the most over-rated guitarist in R&R history. Any adequate blues-rock guitarist could've filled his roll in the band and most could've done it better. The fact is that the two best things ZEP had going for them were the vocals of Plant and the bass-playing of J.P.J. and some opportunistic marketing. Plant's vocals were the ear-mark of the band.

You guys are correct, Bruce wrote "Blinded...", and I agree that Manfred Mann's version was far more clever in terms of arrangement ~ tweak 'dem resonant filters, Manfred! Liked that "Vermeer equation", F#!

Here's another one for you!

Q, buddy, you have GOT to be kidding! Jimmy Page is one of the sloppiest, most overrated guitarists of the bunch. I grew up on Zep. Lived and breathed the shit. Once I started listening to bootlegs and not studio stuff I found how just how fucked up his playing really is/was. Don't get me wrong, I WISH I could play as bad as he does, but to compare him with Roy, Beck and CLapton is a joke. Page is great, but he's not GREAT.

How's that for an opinion? Let it fly baby -- got my asbestos t on!

Clapton overrated...yeah right.

StAl

OLE: churchill's ain't the same without you, and hey - it WAS good to see you again, you know.
)the LAB site is coming along nicely(

i gotta hand it to St. Al - making websites can be a real bitch. any of you think you can do better than this man has done here, you should try putting together a site once
[and i mean one that folks can actually use.......}!

somebody wake up clas, i'm ODing on ellipses...........jo'ker

I believe that Clapton had Collins forced upon as a producer/collaborator for those two albums in the 1980's. The record company wanted Eric to record more "hits" so Collins was pulled in. This was back when Collins was everywhere, doing songs with Philip Bailey and one of those Abba women. Somehow Eric doesn't quite fit within that list.

I can't believe no one has mentioned "Spirit of the Night" as one of the pre-Born to Run Bruce classics. It kicks "Rosalita's" ass.

I wonder sometime if Bruce was served badly musicwise (as opposed to promotionwise) by his association with Landau which started with BTR. I believe Landau gets co-production credits on all of the albums since and he seems to have brought a Spectorlike "Wall of Sound" hollowness to a lot of the songs, at least the ones that are recorded with a full band. Think of the songs that sound so much better (and different) on the live album like "Darlington County" and "No Surrender". And think how much better Bruce's stuff sounds on his "solo" albums like "Nebraska" and "Tunnel of Love" where production and contributors are kept to a minimum.

Want a laugh? Check out Jewel's best selling poetry book. It gives new meaning to the word pretentious. And the word bad. And the word talentless. Her publisher is trying to get the drivel into the school systems so my wife (who's a middle school teacher) came home with a promotional copy. It's a hoot.

Rix: You are correct I believe. Blinded by the Light was written for Greetings from Asbury Park (1973). I don't have that one, from what I remember it had sort of a quirky folk/Dylanesque sound which I didn't really dig either...not a fully realized vision.

Schwinn; as I recall, Bruce actually wrote this song. Am I mistaken? It was on his first album, I think.

Mu: I had no idea Columbia was going to drop Bruce if Born to Run didn't render a hit. I was listening to free-form AOR radio back in those days and thought BTR was a weak follow-up to TYTI&TESS until I saw Bruce on the cover of Time. Then I was happy for him because I knew his success was a culmination of everything he'd done, not contingent on a single work. Maybe it was the clever B&W cover with Bruce on the front and Clemmons on the back. Sort of like Ebony and Ivory. Politically correct at the time.

And as far as "Blinded By the Light" goes, I greatly prefer Manfred's version over Bruce's anyday. I seldom like covers unless they're goose-down filled. And that's a blanket statement.

The Machinist Climbs His Ferris Wheel Like a Brave,

SEMB

single

encouraged to produced a hit sing/album

Don't mean to suggest that the Dan would have dropped if PL were not a hit, just that they were encouraged to do so.

Don't think he's had much to say since Tunnel of Love which does have some real nice songs as mentioned. This board amazes me sometimes. Didn't know there were othees who championed The Wild, The Innocent as Bruce's best - but then I don't get out much. Perhaps in this case it *was* the shoes - I mean the band. David Sancious and drummer Vinny lopez left before Born to Run. note: Born was in a sense his Pretzel Logic to an extreme, in that if he didn't have a hit (and not my Manfred Mann), he was to be dropped by the label.

Anyway, the point is that THAT E Sreet Band was not so much a backup, as in future albums, but were weaving their own stories along with Springsteen's seprentine tales. Lopez was a nice "fill" drummer with interplayed better with Garry Tallant the bassist than Max Weinberg. He was also looser and jazzier allowing the band to do a lot more with a song. In contrast Born in the USA was pretty straightforward - kinda predictable in production. Sancious also added nice touches and more of that jazzy. The tuba and fake accordion on Billy crack me up. Kitty's back in town is one of his best featuring a pretty decent and focused jam in the middle - something they didn't do or were capable of later on.

"... soliciting stuffed shirts stoically seated surrounding some solitary slab of walnut... "

You're under arrest. You broke the nine-in-a-row rule on that one.

Oleander & F#maj9

Where can the rest of us get some o that shit yer takin' ???

Freakin': ya. Tuck Andress is not a household word but somehow the "system" enables us to hear him. There are still genuine A&R people who know it when they encounter it. It, i submit, can only exist as the soul tetrahedron born by a whole bunch of truncated
units below it with faces like the trapezoidal inlays of a '59 les paul standard [Edd- ya,ha. it wasn't a typo! someone got it. cool].

The math i mean goes like this- 1 Vermeer:100,000,000 stick figures (give or take a few hundred thou).

The dog eat dog eat dog cruel reality of food chain sociobiology requires layers upon layers upon layers of primary producer supported hoardes of vertically increasing complexity culminating with that which growls and claws and snorts "it's shredding time" but i don;t mean this in a bad way.

and the carrying capacity of the "environment" imposes naturally selective limits on room at the top. but i'm not talking Darwin i'm talking corporate capitalism. Tuck's movable chord melodies aren't moving air waves tonight because he CAN'T sell. The hoardes at the base of the food chain can't digest his complex carbochord-ates. his chord-o-hydrates. They are hungry for simple sugars.

Have you seen that show you can win a million dollars? According to the newspaper this is a Monster. a Smash. instant Phenom. "HOLY FUCK" [trying to slip Danisms in where ever possible]. This is our culture? I mean, this is our culture. This is the mentality targeted: the base of the pyramid which somehow allows stuff to defy the great heat death of entropy and float over shoulders. The stick figure drawers are Required. without them, statististickally, you get no pastrami from Modigliani. They're just doing their jobs... not a trace of irony in this post. not a speck of cereal. i mean this wholeheartedly: this is precisely what it takes, freakin'p, to get one Tuck (also, a nice L5)

i am not being cynical to exclude the remotest pilobosity of "The Tuck Andress Hour" with special guests. It cannot happen. But his disc precisely wrecks me; there's some of me over there- and there goes more of me over there. I'm the Edmund Fucking Fitzgerald. Who would dare to put this out??? can you imagine the scene, the A&R guy waving the acetate wildly in the air soliciting stuffed shirts stoically seated surrounding some solitary slab of walnut in a cushy highrise in LA..."gentlemen, this will sell a hundred thousand units!!! we'll at least break even!!!"

why do they say yes? (and what is the digital equiv. of an acetate? baby, i'm out of time) because Mannudo just made them $57mil and they can drop some chump change on Tuck. what- he needs a phat tube mic and 5 hours? "book 'em Dan-o, Artistry-1"

Tuck gets his deal because they can afford to not make any Money off of him. It takes one pyramid to get Tuck- and another one to bring him to us. It's a pyramid of a different colour.
something like that.

Will it help if everyone with a computer can MP3 themselves into an uploaded new millenium? i submit: it will be great fun to circumlo-pute the corporate capitalist music biz with free (or send a buck if you can) unlimited access to audiences searching for the next Bobby Fisher and musicians who believe they might be he. him. all of 'em.
But,it will not produce another one any faster. It'll be about 500 years as scheduled? something like that. And, finally, folks [much like those who lurk and then complain about how boring it is in here] can post complaints about all the crappy independent music clogging up the net [who cannot play a note themselves of any interest or they would be jamming...]

something like that

F#major9/stick figure

JoKah--You must be FLOATIN'! You takin' good care of my humidor?

All you Boss debaters--My big problem with him is that glockenspiel or whatever. Drives me nuts. But, but there are 2 transcendent things: "Rosalita" and their cover of "Blinded By the Light."

Sherlock--No WAY. As you must know by now.

f#--O ye of little faith: your Rose/ vibrator thing is ensconced in fever dreams. PS--strum und twang?

Freakin'--Tuck & Patti, yeah. I saw them several years back. They are in my Pantheon of Awe if only for Tuck doing "I Wish."

Reunion--I may not reveal my sources,on pain of disbarment from the Tomorrow's Girls chapter of the Babylon Sisters, but the Sistahs you mentioned, in addition to unidentified others still on the GB, have joined an underground militia of female DanFans and are preparing for a guerrilla action, a pincer thing on Hyperbolic in Maui and the studio in NYC, clad in Diana Riggear and pearls, armed with their charms and a Secret Weapon I would self-destruct to mention (but you have heard of Medusa, haven't you?), bulked up on lisa's hyperbolic cuisine, jammin', hyped, tanned, rested, and ready, to spring The New One from its bonds of lapidary iteration and unleash it like ice-nine on an unsuspecting world, and make its Makers very happy men indeed, and give back all the commas.

Globe--Thanx. I was in tears.

RS--And then I was breathless imagining the Steely Dan answering machine scene. You are still The Man.

minah--so glad to see you. Hogs & cusses.

JW, Midnite--Great stories. Thanx and happy full moon.

Herm--Now you know I never give advice, and that said, why don't you try EVERTING your environs? Then you'd be standing on a mountaintop like George in "Yellow Submarine," all those bracing and inspiring thoughts playing around your moss-trimmed curls. How could you NOT create? Then again, you could join me in transport listening to Herbie Hancock play "YGT II" with a few of his friends--Michael Brecker, Paul Scofield, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, and Don Alias. For that matter, you should hear them do "Mercy Street" and "All Apologies." I will be glad to send you a tape by TrogMail if you will just let Dennis dress his own bad self.

Joe M--Tipster supreme, "New Standard" is like WOW.

BATMAN: i await no album now. I have what i need.

- well, i COULD use a couple of gallons of pure water, a bit of beer and maybe a life preserver -

What about my boy Robin. I think he kicks booty.

Midnight Cruiser,

Thanks for the great Roy Buchannan personal encounter story.
He was a true and as you said greatly under - appreciated artists- his wor is staggering.

I must agree whole heartedly about Jimmy Page - he is a genius as both a writer and a gutarist.

Beck is awesome, but I agree with your analysis there too(!)

OK - how about and Steve Howe, Adrian Belew and Al Dimeola on electric NOT acoustic ?

Q

J, would you be interested in selling copies of that to young boys like me?

Hello gang. I haven't written lately. I honestly don't know what you folks are talking about most of the time. And this may be old news but I just got the CDr "Signs of a Lifetime of Leisure" And boy is it good.

Why didn't they use Sam or I got the news (you never heard it like this before) on the box set???? Different versions of demos from Katy . . . a new instrumental. Donald at the piano singing Black Cow -knocks me out! Here are the songs if you don't know.

Love Julie

ida lee

stone piano

don't let me in

black cow (piano only demo #1)

black cow (piano only demo #2)

black friday *

doctor wu *

daddy don't live in NYC no more *

i got the news (radically different version)

chain lightening *

bad sneakers *

rose darling *

throw back the little ones *

mr. sam **

everyone's gone to the movies *

your gold teeth II * (instrumental only)

the caves of altamira

untitled instrumental

Editor Jim - Hey, you can misspell my name any time you want; I enjoy the variety.

I agree, Sociable Hermit. And one of the only rockers to have walked that line successfully, IMHO, is good old Neil Young.

Herm - I know why you're a hermit. You got a lotta time to think(and you do it well) Your observations about Clapton and survival in the music business are right on the money IMO.

Consult with altimera as far as length is concerned. Well, maybe not. Nevermind.

Editor Jim

(guess I should have re-read that before I submitted it)

Length shouldn't matter as much as girth of ideas. I guess it comes down to how much you can handle before it hurts you.

LDS

Is There A Length Limit?

The other thing I forgot to mention is the Catch-22 an artist can get involved in: if you don't change or adapt to the times, people call you a dinosour - stuck in the past and unable to evolve. But then, if you become successful performing in one peticular style, then change it, even slightly, people complain that you are trying to appeal to the masses and selling out. You are either going to forsake the old fans for the new, or blow off the possible new fans for the old. So what do you do? Keep playing the music that you always played and get labeled as passe, or change and get called a sell-out? Obviously, it's not as black and white as that, but you'll have to agree it is a very fine line that one has to walk in order to maintain success and adulation.

Later,

Herm

If you're in the Tidewater area of Virginia, check out FM 106.9 sometime this week. They're featuring the top 20 classic rock acts of the century, one per week; this week is Steely Dan week (significantly coming in at number 19). They're playing many SD records and airing bits of interviews; this morning they played a segment wherein Fagen said "People thought we were a country band because the first single (Dallas) was a ballad and we used steel guitar." -- An unusual degree of recognition for a generally underated band. Still, I would have put them in the top three, but I'll settle for 19.

Marigolds: Yes, Ben Stiller's impression of Springsteen recording his answering machine message was hilarious. I was thinking he could do a similar recurring skit about Becker and Fagen trying to record their message but never finishing it due to: not liking any of the takes, calling in outside people to speak parts of phrases, changing the acoustics in the room, agonizing over the lengths of pauses between words, accidentally damaging or inadvertantly erasing the finished tape, etc.

RS

Hey,

I think the point that is getting lost in all of this debate is the fact that many people are dismayed with Clapton because he burst on the scene in the early-mid '60's as such an incredible interpreter of the blues, (that is, for being a white man), that when he veered of that course, it seemed like a sell-out and a travesty. Well, I say, "so what?" Really. So what if the man likes playing and recording so-called "pop songs"? I don't ever hear anyone complain about the Rolling Stones doing it, and they were supposedly weened on the Chicago blues greats. Steve Winwood is another guy that gets ripped apart because he's straying from tradition. And when he does, he's branded with the dubious title of "blue-eyed soulster", meaning it's good, but it's not legitimate.

This is all nonsence. If a person, no matter what their upbringing, is able to write a good pop song, and has a penchant for it, then why not do it? The reasons for not doing it, sadly are many. "Sellout" is one thing. Clapton is being chastised for albums like "Behind the Sun", and "August". Well, yeah, they aren't that great, but it's pretty rare for any performer that has been around for as many years as Clapton has to consistantly put out amazing product. It's pretty close to impossible, expecially considering the changing face of the musical market during that stretch of time. Acid rock; hard rock; folk rock; bubblegum; soft rock; disco; punk; new wave; dance; industrial, etc. It's very hard to find a niche and stay in it for a long period of time, especially when music is fragmenting into smaller and smaller sub-categories by the day. Who are you supposed to please? I mean, even the die hard fans of a particular musician find themselves liking other bands and styles, and ultimately, there's not enough money to buy every record on their wish list. Which is where the industry comes into power. If you aren't selling as many records as you did in the past, then patience wears thin and changes must be made: song choices are tinkered with, new (popular) producers are added, sound and style are altered. If you don't agree, you could be dumped from the label. Clapton got himself, I think, in a bind when "Wonderful Tonight" became a hit: a new crowd of the buying and listening public began to think of him only in terms of that song, and not so much of his prior accomplishments. Listen to all the albums after that, almost all include a blusey song or two, (that didn't get much airplay), and a wistful ballad, (that did). He still had, I believe, most of his old fan base, but because of the advent of MTV, the suits wanted him to be able to appeal to the younger crowd, too.

Enter Phil Collins, who tried to turn Eric into, Phil Collins, and one of the last things the world needs is another fucking Phil Collins. Maybe I'm wrong, and all of these changes were initiated by Clapton himself, but I find it interesting that immediately after the two album collaberation with Collins, Clapton rebounded with "Journeyman", certainly not his strongest solo album, but a hell of a lot more ballsy and blusey than anything he's done in a while. After that is "Unplugged", and history. Yet, then comes "Pilgrim", and you have to scratch your head and wonder why.

What I'm trying to say is this: yes, the man is an amazing guitarist, and one of the torch bearers of modern day white blues, but he can also pen and/or perform a great pop song. Even on some of his worst albums, there are a few songs that, when all the mornic synthesisers and production "enhancements" are stripped away, you still have some great songs. The guy's hung in there for 35 years. Most bands that are still together from that era are no more than pitiful skeletons of what they once were; playing in reunion tours and sounding no better than a tribute band playing the same music. Give the guy credit: if he had never came back in the mid 70's after all of his problems, he might today just be another clown, performing on tour with a revamped "Yardbirds", playing the songs that years ago he felt were below his dignity to perform. If Clapton owes anybody credit for his current success, it's probably Stevie Ray Vaughn. Stevie became popular playing the blues that Eric originally embraced, and people began to realize that there was indeed an audience again for this style of music. This, I feel, more than anything, reenergized Eric. and yeah, there's always that desire to get a song on the charts. Unfortunately, blues songs rarely get to #1 on Billboard.

Oh well, I tried. Talk to you later.

Herm

Interesting anecdote from during the "Clapton is God" era: Clapton was touring with Cream, and was in NYC at the same time Frank Zappa and the "Absolutely Free"-era Mothers of Invention were playing at the Garrick Theater. Impressed by the Mothers' improvisational capabilities while watching a soundcheck, Clapton befriended FZ, who was well on his way to becoming a guitar hero himself...and who was also in awe of Clapton's playing. After the show that night, FZ invited Clapton back to his apartment (the infamous Garrick shows were an extended run, hence the LA-based Mothers were camped out for the summer in NYC), and set up a portable Revox. Plying Clapton with compliments and wine, Frank coaxed Eric into playing "every riff he knew" while recording him on the Revox for future study! Later that year, while FZ was recording the classic "We're Only In It For The Money", EC dropped by the studio. Heavily into "music concrete-esque" sound collaging at that time, FZ asked Eric to imitate Eric Burdon (The Animals/War) on acid. The net result can be heard at the beginning of "Who Needs the Peace Corps" on "WOIIFTM", where Slowhand can be heard proclaiming in his best psychedelicized-rock star voice, "God, it's God, I see God"!

minah: OK - as of today I'm laying off the midnight snacks. These hot August nights tend to make me restless. Glad you're back. Did you bring the Boston Rag?

Fishes
rb

Damn it, Joker, what band's album are you wiating for?

HERM: hang in there - go find something that makes your brain twitch and go with it. listening to music, running around the cave w/your eyes closed, what have you.

for me all it takes is getting your claws on a promo copy of the long-awaited new album from a fave band...

{ 6 weeks before official release..... ]

and getting the chance to use the resulting blast of sonic freshness to kick-start the creativity.

think I'm kidding, just you wait.

[unfortunately i'm NOT speaking of SD.} jokER/

Al: I agree, I love a good debate on the subject of music too.
And no, that's not what I'm saying about John Mayall, ect...
Yes Slowhand is a fucking masterpiece OK, Unplugged and From the Cradle is too. Money and Cigs sucks, I actually bought that one. Yes he is a fucking genius.

My point was, some people can't sing or play worth a shit, put a band in front of them and there a superstar. GET IT!!!
IMO, there are some musicians/entertainers who can be on stage solo and kick ass. My list would include, Van Morrison, Billy Joel, Stevie Ray, to name a few and Dave M., Elton John and Bruce who I have seen solo personally. Those shows blew me away. Yeah, Eric may be on that list for some, but I've been catching Eric as far as 1972 and I'v never seen him solo. BUT, he always has a damn good band with him whenever he plays.

Finally, a heated discussion about music around here.
OK, nothin personal.

Bored, bored, bored...

Which makes no sense, really, because I have so much to do. It's just that I don't feel like doing it; or, more to the point, I can't get myself to WANT to do it. Anyone who's been reading my posts for the past year or so will by now have noticed that pathetic thread of motivationalessness (huh?) that weaves in and out of my writings. That, and the occasional bitterness and cynicism. The last two are so much easier to shake off, though, so I tend not to worry as much about them as I do the former. But how does one break out of the malaise of not wanting to break out of a malaise? Possibly even worse, why am I using the word "malaise"? I perpetually lack focus. My lenscap is always off; the switch turned to "on"; and even though I know what I'm aiming at, the finished product always seems to come out blurry, and with part of my finger showing up in the lower corner. It's like the old joke, "I know so many procrastinators; we should really form a club one of these days."

Does anyone have any advice? Oleander? Stranger? Anyone? They say the prescription for curing writers block is keep on writing, no matter how horrible the outcome. But, writers block isn't the problem. It's more of an outlook block. Maybe that's it - I just need to improve my outlook. Ah, I'm rambling again. I think I'll go to the back of my cave and put some brown K-Mart suits on my Dennis Rodman Colorform* set.

Later,

Herm

(* Colorforms is a registered trademark of University Games Corp. So don't go suing me for usage rights.)

Commander Hold'xEm: "indeficiencies"? "fecicious"?!! You should be sending that crap to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest for bad writing where drivel is appreciated. Maybe if you hold' em a little tighter

Freakin'n Puerto Rican: What St Al said.

Kinky was right.....

You are getting sleepy. Sleepy. Yes. You are highly impressionable but you don't worry even though a total stranger dressed in a tuxedo is about to take control of you. You haven't done too well on your own, have you? I am your friend and good friends make you comfortable enough to be sleepy. Yes, sleepy is next to forgetting. Yes. Sleep...

You are logging onto CD now and ordering Mister Magic by Grover Washington Jr. You don't know why and will not know until the CD arrives and you examine a bill for $7.49. (Your first order.) Sleepy decisions are good! You paid twice that much for the Doobie Bros. Greatest Hits and you were conscious! Sleep. Sleeeep...

Now you are listening to Mister Magic. It is eerie, vital and original--just like your life in general. Sleeep. Sleep...

When I snap my fingers you will not jump up and squawk like a chicken. When I snap my fingers you will not order a $4.00 cup of expresso. When I snap my fingers you will listen to Mister Magic and remember every nuance. Then you will post and make fun of Clas as if the magic is something only you have.

It's not. (Snap) Wake up, dumb ass!

Bush in 2000,

Blackstone Jr.

One Mo' Thing,

I agree with St. Al in regards to Eric Clapton. I saw him the summer before last with a 20 piece orchestra and he didn't need it. The man's voice and guitar were, quite simply, astounding. I don't know any other way of putting it. People wonder why "Pilgrim" could be slammed by the critics yet sell in the muti-millions but it's no secret to the fans that saw the show. Clapton is an "entertainer" through and through. When you see how EC stands on his tip-toes in order to hit those fantastic notes you'll understand. He gives everything he's got and you won't believe what that is until you see and hear him. I went to the show expecting a dinosaur and got my ass kicked. Two and half hours without a break. And when he picked up the gut-string Gibson and did a couple of cuts off the unplugged CD, I understood why "Clapton is God" was the graffiti of choice in 1969 London. This man never doubted for a moment how much he owed you for the price of your ticket and gave you a show impossible to capture on any medium.

Yes Sir,

Again

Springsteen's "The Young the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle" is the Boss's BEST album, bar none. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't listened to it. Wild Billy's Circus Story will bring tears to even the deepest miner's eyes and that's no soot.

Sure, Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez was slammed for his sticks but Bruce was so out of control it would have taken Lenny White three 25mg valiums just to envision Mr. Springsteen's pocket.

Anyway, A great 1973 album that still manages to reflect SD's Ion and Grass at the root.

Welcome back Hermitage, St. Al, Ruby, et al. School must be back in session.

Reaping the Glow,

SEMB

Many thanks to those who posted suggestions about Monk's music. I have written them down and will explore them further. You all are a great resource of information.

Q....I saw Roy Buchannon about a month before he killed himself in jail. He was playing in Durham, NC and put on a smoking show. After the show I thought I might go back toward the dressing room just to see if I could get an autograph and got much, much more. The guy at the door let me go back and Roy was very hospitable and told me to have a seat. There were a few other fans that were also back there and after a few minutes and a few pictures most of them left and Roy and I started talking about the state of the blues. We had a couple of beers courtesy of the club's backstage stash and I asked him about Jeff Beck's dedication to him on "Cause We Ended As Lovers" on the Blow By Blow album. He said he really thought a lot of Jeff but that he really felt like he had been ripped off by Beck, Clapton and Page because they had gotten all the credit for bringing the blues to the white people of America when he was doing it all before any of them. Beck did acknowledge Roy on the album but he was pretty bitter about never receiving his due. I had to agree with him but hey, life isn't always fair. After that, Roy was really excited to show me his new line of signature guitars that were supposed to come out about the time of his death. Very unique instruments that he asked me not to talk about at the time but since it's been several years I don't see where there could be any harm now. What he had come up with was similar to the Parsons/White B-Bender except that he could get the same pedal steel type effects on every string, not just the B string. Each string could be bent using a different part of the guitar. Very cool sound but I must say it looked like it would take quite a bit of use to really get the hang of it. (no pun intended)....Roy was kind enough to give me a copy of the video, which I still have, that talks about the development of the guitar and how it worked. So I took a couple of pics of the two of us and finished my beer and thanked him for a very entertaining evening and a great time after the show. He was as candid and open as any one I have ever met in any walk of life. I was shocked and saddened to read of his death just a few weeks later. A very under appreciated guitarist and a very nice person that most people never even got a chance to hear. I guess that's the way life goes sometimes.

I'll add though that I think Clapton is a great guitarist and a decent songwriter but some of my favorite tunes that he's done were written by other people. I think Page was the best song writer and producer that came out of the whole era. I think Beck was the best player from a technique stand point and still can play stuff that no one else can but it kinda pisses me off to hear him talk badly about Blow By Blow and Wired when he's hawking the newer stuff. I never really thought much of him as a songwriter though.

well, I'm tired and my eyes are burning so it's off to bed.....y'all have a good day.

MC

George Carlin lines:

1. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
6. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
7. Could it be that all those trick-or-treaters wearing sheets aren't going as ghosts but as mattresses?
8. If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?
9 If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him ... is he still wrong?
10. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
11. Is there another word for synonym?
12. Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice?"
13. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"
14. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an
endangered plant?
15. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?
16. Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
17. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
18. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
19. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
20. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
21. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
22. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?
23. How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
24. Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because they taste
funny?
25. What was the best thing before sliced bread?
26. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.
28. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
29. The older you get, the better you realize you were.
30. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
31. Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.
32. Women like silent men, they think they're listening.
33. Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it.
35. Do pediatricians play miniature golf on Wednesdays?
36. Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
38. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
40. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?
41. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?
42. If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?
43. If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?
44. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
45. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?

This has predictably slipped into a subjective discourse.

All the artists mentioned have considerable talents and I'll bet if any one of them were to walk into my living room with just an acoustic guitar (or piano) and perform solo for an hour I'd be pretty damn well impressed. Even if Springsteen (who I've never much cared for) came over and played his songs where I could understand the lyrics I might like it !!

I don't really think Freakin' PR's statement was fair to the musicians he mentioned. How can you say that Elton John or Eric Clapton "can't sing or play worth a shit" With or without a band they're talented musicians.

I just thank the Founding Fathers that we can say or write what we want ... sadly, that even extends to our little schoolboy author Andrew Dice Hemingway!

Packin' Vodka here, but......well...here goes....

Clapton is WAY overrated(except for Cream!)

Listen to Roy Buchannan for THE TRUE GENIUS of blues/any R&R-
especially for Telecaster afficianados !!!!(recommended cd's "Livestock"- and "Loading Zone" + Greatest Hits - you will renounce any allegiance to any other "guitar god" !!!!!!!(Clapton,Kieth Richards(on a good day !), and numerous other music insiders understand the rare(possibly"Hendrix "uniquely talented" calibre)talents of this "master of the guitar")

Best,

Q

blah,blah,blah............
Q

that should be "Brill Building-like"

See you all when there's something to talk about.

Wow, what a drag. I was just breezing through today's posts, when who of all people shows up at my cave, but Eric Clapton. "Eric! Eric!" I screamed, holding my Scripto high over my head. "Cut it out, would 'ya Hermie," he sighed. "I just came to chill out." So I lit a fire, and popped open a fresh bottle of Smirnoff. We talked about a lot of things: being a hermit,(he seriously considered it in the early 70's); beard vs. no beard; why does Steve Winwood never seem to age; why the hell is that short bald guy always on stage with a tambouine whenever a british rocker is playing, etc. Then I had to relieve myself. I skipped out to the nearest tree, and when I walked back in, there was Eric, staring at the computer screen, looking even more despondant than he was when I first saw him. He was reading the guest book. Way to go, Freakin' Puerto Rican! Now Eric's depressed, and that means that we might get stuck with another album like "Pilgrim" again.

Well, then again, maybe not. I don't want to seem morbid, but Eric usually faces tragedy by writing a very good song. I guess we'll have to wait. Last I saw him, he was wandering through the forest with his accoustic guitar, playing "Tears In Heaven", but slightly altering the words to suit the new occassion:

"Would you know my name,
if I gouged your eyes out?
Would you know good music
If attacked by a rock god?"

So, there you have it, another great musician, ruined because someone dragged him down.

Say No! to drags, kids.

Love and Wet Kisses,

Herm

Hey now! So what you're saying here is Eric had nothing to do with the success of the following bands... John Mayall (yeah, that was all Mayall's doing), Cream (yeah, that musta have been all Jack Bruce -- isn't he selling real estate somewhere?), Blind Faith (ok, Steve Winwood helped him out there), D & the Dominoes (musta been all Duane Allman and heroin there), as well as brief stints with the Yardbirds and Delaney and Bonnie.

THEN, he decided to launch a solo career and came up with gems like 461 Ocean Boulevard, EC was here, Slowhand, Money and Cigs, Just one Night, Unplugged, that blues album Fezo mentioned, etc.

Dude, the guy is a fucking musical genius, whose career spans 4 decades. One of a dozen or so in the history of rock and roll. Open your ears and eyes. Oh, and he plays guitar pretty damn good...

As for Elton. Now there's a guy who definitely wouldn't be were he is without someone elses help -- Bernie Taupin. Don't get me wrong. I dig early Elton John. Madman is one of my alltime fav's. My take is for whatever reason Eric's sound doesn't appeal to you. I can relate. I think Bob Dylan [ducking] sucks, but it's becuase his sound doesn't appeal to my ears. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate what he's done for popular music.

What it comes down to is I love a lively debate on music. Everyone's opinion is welcome, but beware the retort. Nothing personal, my friend -- Seriously! Also, that keyboard comment was in no way directed at you.

StAl

fezo: Astute observation about the Brill Building;ile songs on the Gary US Bonds album. Bonds had some R&B hits in the early 60s, and he had the soulful pipes to put some oomph into those songs. With the memory jogged, there's a song called Soul Deep on that album with that classic sound. The tape is somehwere here in my tape archives hopefully as it's no longer available, although a compilation might be obtainable on CD.

"The Boss SUCKS!"

"The Boss"

i think Elton and Eric have fallen into the same Top 40 hell since about the mid-80's. Though I recal Clapton briefly escaping the flames with a straight blues album two or three years back that was worth a listen or two or three

Dr Mu: you remember that album Springsteen did with Gary U.S. Bonds too? that was a good one. the title cut (I'm Out of Work) had a real classic pop structure to it. Like Bruce when he wrote it had transported himself back to the Brill building back in the early 60's.

another lost GB female . . . lisa, where are you?

You can call me: No, I'm not FUCKING KIDDING! I know this is your page and all, but Mr. Clapton alone doesn't impress me the way, say, Elton John alone impresses me. I disagree, there have been many other ridiculous statements than this on this board, my friend. Maybe the only one that raised the hair on your back, but many more ridiculous. If it weren't for, I don't know, CREAM, or CHUCK L. or (again, this shit could go on and on...)yes I stand behind my statement pal Al, Eric alone is just Eric!
Eric in the studio with Howlin', now theres some majic. Yeah, I'll get blasted, I know, but I'm one of the few here with balls.

I'll disreguard the keyboard comment.

Whatever happened to those hot gb babes Steely Danielle, Geena, Babylon Sister, Brooke Lynne, and EvivaLaughs? are they still here, but using different monikers? Are they gone for good? Does anyone know of there whereabouts? I miss them.

Ruby: Re: 'Becker Dreams', I, too, thought his appearance in dreams was meaningful, but soon came to the realization that it was just too much starch too close to bedtime. Lay off the garlic bread for a couple of nights and see if I'm right...

hogs,
mW

Thelonius: "Monk's Dream" is a good starter..
Bruce Folds Walter: Lots of DJs were interested in 11 TOW when it came out.. But you don't hear it on the radio, even though some people really wanted to play it.. Because it lacks something Bruce has.. Call it Excitement, Exuberence.. fuck I don't know..
But Bruce (who i have a hard time listening to..) always seems to really enjoy what he's playing.. I don't get that from 11 TOW..
Suberb songwriting & musicianship just ain't enough...
Aim for the Heart, please...

Freakin!: Are you FUCKING KIDDING? Eric Clapton without a band would be nothing? That is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous statement I've EVER seen posted on this guestbook. And my friend, there's been a ton of 'em...

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you were referring to Eric's pipes and not his chops.

Even more ridiculous than "Commander holding-my-dick-in-my-hands" posts. This dude needs to crawl back under the rock from which he slithered. How much you want to bet the keys on his keyboard stick? Disgusting thought I know...

StAl

Well, I kinda dig the Boss, OK. If you've ever been to his show, the guy plays to the crowd. Yes, E Street is great also.
On that note, there are many guys who can't sing worth a shit, or play and instrument like a pro, but put a band in front of em' and there a superstar. Where would, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Michael "puss" Bolton, gag (hell this list could go on and on,) be without a band?

Do a little research on the boss. Where he came from, how he made it big. The guy doesn't look good, he's not a dancer, maybe someone who saw him play live saw something millions of followers agree with.

Buy a Tuck and Pattie CD. Theres a guy who is incredible at guitar and a woman who has a voice like an angel. Ever hear them on top 40? What's wrong with this picture?

"strum and drang"

HA!

Alt- the Blue Note greatest hits compilation is lots of bang for the buck. very nice smattering of Monk (what's smatter?)
jazz recordings of live dates recycle many of these tunes with different personnel (so if you end up purchasing 'non-greatest hits' releases it won't exactly be redundant). i buy most of my discs used $6-8 (college town with 5 used disc stores! que bella) and see the Blue Note release quite often. I think it appears on those "get 12 CDs for the price of one" offers-so it ends up in the binz. rip open a bag of salt peanuts and set right down.

Re:Bruce He is great at what he does. He has taken some risks and found out that he has limits. Ouch. He has the greatest bar band in the world. The personalities are fabulous. The musicianship suits the repertoire (with fewer pretensions over the years- or maybe the pretensions transformed into true personnae). I never bought the "...future of rock and roll and its name is..." hype but Jungleland made me pretty tingly the first time I heard it and I sure hoped Landau was correct. It's only rock and roll and I like it (at times) I own BTR only but it hasn't met with a turntable for years.

Re:Todd A wizard a true star. Begin with NAZZ and consider he was kinda sorta like 16? Great songsmith. Appreciative of comments about the 'state of the art of recording and synthesis/sound production at the time of...' and wholeheartedly agree.He is a fine guitarist and a melodic soloist (vs. the "dial-a-lick" strum und drang thang). A prolofic artist who always explores new terrain- there is fluff in the discography but it's mixed with true greatness. He has had some killer bands. Utopia had it all. I could go on but no one has reacted to my Rose Darling theory. I have feelings.

TR also has wonderful ideas that he actualizes regulalry. regularley. He does cool things all the time. Did anyone attend one of his interactive concerts in which audience members could jam ("generate input"? nyuk) with the band? Ya- i'm going on it's a slow day at the salt mine. Faithful came with a poster- the likeness of Todd which on close inspection revealed the teensie weensie little names of all the fans who put their names on postcards (in the previous album) and sent in. I like the way this man thinks. It's all good clean fun. Look Harvey, a crab.

WB interview- nice chuckles. Highlight: account of perturbations regarding notations and tonal centers. the "clusters" in 11tow reached out and grabbed me (just below the sternum, Clas) from the first play. These are meta-chords. No, wait. These are polytonal extrapolations which seem to *imply* that they have a home but are really living inside a cardboard box. Imagine WB speaking with Dean Parks from the control room:
"...just play Cminoradd4/C# IMPLIED. can we roll tape now, Dean?"

there it is. a nomenclature is born. Walter has given us the "implied chord form". Is life great or what.

F#maj-imaginary9

Sociable Hermit,
The same lunkhead tried to say that the Commander and myself were the same.

Springsteen was very good when he was a hungry Jersey kid. His best songs IMHO will always be "Born to Run" (my theme song) and "Rosalita". By the time Born in the USA had come out, he'd already sold his soul to the record company whereupon they proceeded to do a complete makeover of his image with promises of stuffing the backpocket of his Levi's with a little more cash. At this time Bruce could record a burp, fart, or (insert other bodily noises here) and make millions. Bruce had already gotten accustomed to living in mansions with swimming pools and eating only the best foods. A long way from living in cold water flats with no shower facilities in a town on the east end of Jersey and eating 3/$1 pre-cooked hotdogs from WaWa's convenience store. "Bruce, we hardly knew ye"!

original lester,
thanks for reminding me. the boss's 'valentine's day' on 'tunnel of love' album is compelling, good enough to keep you listening and enjoying play after play. here's a big recommendation to all those who haven't tried it. now if you'll just find the damn tape for me. it's in a pile somewhere.

Sherlock:

Nice try, but, NO! I am not the Commander. I have never posted under any name other than Sociable Hermit. And anybody that has been around long enough to know my posts will attest to the fact that my style differs greatly from that of the Commander's.

I realize that it is open to theories and arguments, but the bottom line is I am and always will be only Herm.

And another thing, "Sherlock"...why use the phony fake name? Why not just post under your real fake name? Could it be that YOU are the Commander, and you are trying desperately to deflect some of the bad press you've recieved onto someone else?

It seems like no matter how long I'm gone from here, whenever I come back, some lunkhead is accusing me of some kind of crap. It's getting boring, folks.

Later,

Herm

Roy.Scam- Thanks for the memory of the Bruce Springsteen bits on the Ben Stiller show. Can't stop laughing remembering the counting one, but my favorite was "The Boss records the outgoing message on his answering machine". Why that show was cancelled- I'll never understand!

Interesting tidbit- I heard on the radio this morning that former Dan guitarist Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter is considering making a run for congress, state of California I think.

Sociable Hermit=Commander Hold' Em?

Happy 45th birthday Elvis Costello!!!

Later,

Herm

Bruce's "every man", "blue collar", "working class hero" schtick just doesn't resonate with me...

I've never fully understood Bruce Springsteen's legendary status (even the great Randy Newman mentions him in song.), but that top 10% of his work has generated some great records, [Rosalita is so good, I thought it was a Van Morrison song.]. -- I can't hear Springsteen without visualizing Ben Stiller's bit where he imitates the Boss on a children's educational program showing kids how to count: the numbers from 1 to 20 flash up on the screen while Bruce yells, " hawn, hoo, hee, orn, huh, hib, nen ...".

Another great Springsteen bit is Robin Williams' rendition of Elmer Fudd singing "Fire". ["Weeyuh dwiving in my cawuh..."]

I read the lyrics to the album "Nebraska" at a bargain bin recently and I still think they're excellent.-- I believe it's his big hits like Dancin' in the Dark, Glory Days, and Born In The U.S.A. that make him seem boring; plus the fact that he's been known to play too long (so sue him).

RS

JW Malibu / Dr Mu / JDF - Yes, "Getz/Gilberto" was the third of the three samba albums from Getz and the first I ever heard so it's my favourite. The other one, by the way, is "Jazz Samba Encore". They're all from Verve and well worth owning. I don't mean to get back into the vinyl/CD debate but I would add that mine are all on pristine vinyl (I bought them new (reissue) in the early '80's).

Original Lester - I have to mention yet again that "Glamour Profession" is "IT"! Such a great track in every way. The pinnacle of Steely Dan brilliance. More like this on the new one please.

Also, Bruce's Nebraska is a must. Acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals all done by Bruce on a 4-track. Some of the best songs he ever wrote.