"YouTubing" it up for Walter?

The two short videos posted as teasers before the album Circus Money was released has been viewed over 13 000 times in the two months they've been up on YouTube.

Below the links to the videos on walterbecker.com there's a small ... plea. So far unanswered:

YouTube: Fringehead
YouTube: Strange
We're still looking for more. Anybody?

Yes, Walter and his gang would love to see some video reactions from the fans. The album is out and the music is there to inspire whatever video responses the fans can come up with. 

Among the current Steely Dan-tour-attending audiences there seem to be quite a number of persons equipped with cellphones/mobile phones and an urge to capture snippets or whole songs from whatever distance from the stage. And the post it on the Internet.

Here is - as we see it - a chance to step up and above that and deliver what might be so much more than a miniscule piece of viral marketing. Who knows what might happen if the right pair of eyes fall on your piece of creativity? Fame! Money!  Swedish ginger cookies!

Radio Dupree rises to the challenge and will dust off our video equipment to in due time deliver some sort of video answer to the two WB-videos above. 

With any luck that WB video poster Scapegrace99 will let our video responses stay up once they're there. 

Readers: Get creative!

P.S. 

Walter; we stumbled across a great cover of one of your 11 Tracks Of Whack numbers. More about that in a day or two.

Walter Becker interview

"To me, good is better, and perfect is the enemy of good in this case."

Quote from an interview with Walter Becker over at telegraph.co.uk. Go have a look if just to see the unusual non-concert backstage-relaxing-with-an-acoustic-guitar-photo of Mr. Becker.

Circus Money: International version

It arrived today. A thick padded envelope with the international version of Walter Becker's Circus Money. Complete with that bonus track and the promised "additional artwork".
For you who'd like to know a bit more what that additional artwork consists of we've slapped up a page that you can reach here. It's just a couple of pics and a few lines of text.

And those that have ordered a copy don't want to know anything should not click on that link. OK.

We'll just say that a great album just got a little bit better.

wing .... prayer .... **** ;)

With Circus Money's "international release date" of July 14 coming up, more reviews appear in European papers/magazines/whatever.

And reviews are a funny thing. Some reviews take the time to tell the story of the artist all the way up way to this brand new album, some just spit out a few, short sentences. Some reviews are good, some are bad.
I wouldn't say that the longer the review the better the chance of it being good or even great. No way. But somehow sometime I get a feeling that a short review is in need of an additional sentence or two.

Here's a three sentence review of Walter Becker's Circus Money pubished in The Scotsman. A positive ****-star review, but when I read it I got the same feeling I got seeing a movie scene with a small propeller plane, one motor on fire, coming in for a landing swaying from side to side with the pilot just able to keep it all under control.

Read it yourself. It won't take long.

Best of Q2 according to Allmusic.com

Allmusic.com have listed the best in new releases and reissues for April, May and June.
Walter Becker's Circus Money is on the list.

Click here to see the full list and read the reviews.

Walter Becker on BBC Radio: Catch it while it's there

A Steely Dan fan from Liverpool posted the link over on the Bluebook.
Walter did a 4 minute interview yesterday (Wednesday) on BBC Radio Stoke's Nick Robbins show.

Here's the link to the show's page:

Once there click the "listen again"-link up in the right column. A BBC "radio" should open. Find Nick Robbins and click the Wednesday link. The interview is wher the timer says 1 hour and 35 minutes = 35 minutes in to the show. We haven't heard it yet, but expect it to be well worth the clicking.

iTunes Sweden: Dark Horse Dub available

I'm no heavy user of iTunes but from time to time I drop by and see what's available.
With a new computer iTunes was added today and just for fun we looked up "Walter Becker" and found the international version of Circus Money available including the bonus track Dark Horse Dub!
We coughed up the 9 SEK ($1.50/0.95€) it took to buy the track in question and can after a couple of spins say that it is NOT a leftover added on just to sell a few extra copies.

At 6 min and 46 seconds it heavy on the dub goove and the horns with a couple of surprise twists and turns along the way. A minimum of lyrics and if you like the rest of Circus Money this is a must.

As it is on iTunes Sweden our guess is that it is available in other iTunes stores as well altough the release date of the physical CD is July 14. The release date on iTunes says July 1.
Worth considering is that the version on iTunes isn't lossless, so you don't get the sound quality the CD will offer.

Don't be surprised if Dark Horse Dub pops up on the Radio Dupree playlist as we type.

P.S. We will of course buy the physical CD once it is released. Why? Because it is the only way we can get the promised "exclusive additional artwork". And we're pretty sure that artwork are two paper dolls of Abe Vigoda and Skip Gildersleeve including several changes for each doll. The perfect companions to play with as you listen to Circus Money.

Circus Money: Preview bonus track

Catch the dub!
A short clip of the bonus track that comes with the international version of Circus Money is up on the Sonic360 page. Check the audio player down in the right corner. Click and listen to Dark Horse Dub.

This version of Circus Money is out July 14 and also promises "additional artwork" compared to the North American version.

Walter Becker on the radio

Still a couple of chances to catch Walter do his Celebrity Shuffle on Super Shuffle/Sirius Satellite Radio.
Here's what it says on the homepage:

Fridays at 6 am, 1 pm and 8 pm ET
Saturdays at 12 am, 10 am and 5 pm ET
Sundays at 3 am, 2 pm and 11 pm ET
Every week a different celebrity takes over Super Shuffle for the weekend, playing tunes that inspired them, made them laugh, made them cry or songs that are just their favorites. You never know who'll be shuffling each week; it could be a singer, actor, comedian, athlete...you'll never know what's on next during Celebrity Shuffle!

So how was the show? A no-frills 60 minute show where he played music from the 70s ... even though he could've picked from any year/era. Apparently a misunderstanding, as he explained towards the end of the show:

"I picked a bunch of 70s tunes because you know, frankly, I was misinformed. This was a sort of a management sort of a slip up where i thought I was gonna be picking all these cheesy 70s tunes and that's what the show is all about. It turns out that's not the case, but I'm sticking with the original plan anyway. And just to prove it I'd like to play a track by David Bowie called Ashes To Ashes."

The format of the show was a jingle or two stating the name of the show, then Walter saying his name and doing a short presentation of the next artist/song. Then came the song followed by another jingle and so on.

Just once did he come on after the station/show jingle with another name than his own:

"Bob Dylan. I never say my name before Bob Dylan. I'm not Bob Dylan and neither are you. Unless you happen to be Bob Dylan in which case; wow, awesome dude!!!
But whom am I? I guess I'm Walter Becker from Steely Dan, which is not so bad. It's not Bob Dylan but it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, right?"

And then he presented Bob Dylan singing Isis.

Walter sounded like he had a good time and this listener sure did. He laughed before presenting "perhaps the cheesiest song" of the show; Eddie Money's Baby Hold On.

During the show we also got to learn that Walter thinks that Rickie Lee Jones' Pirates is "a masterpiece".

Before playing Parliament:

"We must have played this thing about 20 times a night back in the 70s when I was visiting with various friends and sitting on their couches expounding and expanding on various subjects."

And finally:

"You can always tell what my favorite cut om my album is, cause I put it first. So let's listen to Door Number Two!"

Playlist:

The Band The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Bob Marley & The Wailers I Shot The Sheriff
Parliament P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
Rickie Lee Jones We Belong Together
Warren Zevon Boom Boom Mancini
Eddie Money Baby Hold On
Bob Dylan Isis
Elvis Costello Watching The Detectives
David Bowie Ashes to Ashes
Spinners Love Don't Love Nobody
Walter Becker Door Number Two

Next show on Walter's Sirius Satellite Radio trek this month? The Totally '70s channel this Thursday!

Steely Dan’s Walter Becker
Thurs 6/26 12:00 pm ET
We have a plan for Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker... play anything in our library starting with the letter 'S' in hopes he'll play a lot of Dan. Will our scheme work? Plus, he promises to spin a tune from his just released solo album, Circus Money. Becker takes a break from the Steely Dan North America tour to guest DJ on Totally '70s. Totally epic!

Hmmm... What 1970s artists start with the letter S?

Oh! And we couldn't help but notice that with the exception of Eddie Money all the artists played by Walter also pops up on Radio Dupree's playlist now and then. Awesowme, dude...

Future "unforseeable" according to Becker

Here's a short interview with Walter Becker from the Boston Herald. Apparently done via phone with Walter standing on 25th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues in Manhattan, New York.
Subjects: Walter's solso album Circus Money, the current tour and ... the future!

Walter Becker the DJ on Sirius Radio this weekend!

Donald Fagen did three shows on Sirius Satellite Radio in February this year, and now it's time for Walter Becker to do the same.

It was announced on walterbecker.com a couple of weeks ago:

Becker DJs on Sirius Radio in Coming Weeks
Pure Jazz | Classic Vinyl | The Vault | Super Shuffle |
Radio Margaratiaville | Totally '70s

And now we have the first dates and first channel. Here's what's currently on Super Shuffle's page:

Celebrity Shuffle: Walter Becker
Tomorrow 6:00 am ET
Steely Dan’s Walter Becker is dropping by our SIRIUS studios to discuss songs off his recent solo album Circus Money. Don’t miss it when Walter Becker hosts Celebrity Shuffle!

Rebroadcast: Fri., June 20th @ 1 pm & 8 pm ET; Sat., June 21st @ 12 am, 10 am & 5 pm ET; Sun., June 22nd @ 3 am, 2 pm & 11 pm ET.

"Tomorrow" above meaning Friday June 20. You can sign up for a free three day trial and hear it online. Just like when Donald was guest-DJ:ing we'll try to catch the show and report back what was being played and said.

UPDATE June 20:

OK. So I've missed the first two airings of this show ... but am getting ready to catch the third in a couple of hours. While I haven't heard a single second of the show I did manage to find a playlist that I think is complete. If so; here's what Walter played!

The Band The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Bob Marley & The Wailers I Shot The Sheriff
Parliament P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
Rickie Lee Jones We Belong Together
Warren Zevon Boom Boom Mancini
Eddie Money Baby Hold On
Bob Dylan Isis
Elvis Costello Watching The Detectives
David Bowie Ashes to Ashes
Spinners Love Don't Love Nobody
Walter Becker Door Number Two

Some expected names and a couple of surprises. It will be interesting to hear what Walter has to say about ... Eddie Money.
Expect another update Saturday. And let's end this one with those swinging guys and gals ready to save us all with some uncut funk!

C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$ C$

C$?

Spells "Circus Money"! Beautify your surroundings by visiting Ginas's Mizar 5 and help spread the word using a lovingly crafted sticker.

C$!

"Circus Money"? It's Walter Becker's new album. Listen here.

Great new Walter Becker and Donald Fagen interviews

Do not miss this interview with Walter Becker in Time Out New York. Lots of talk about the new album, songwriting and Steely Dan!
New insights even for those of those who have read each and every line written about the band, Walter and Donald.

ADDED: And here's a new review of the Wednesday gig in Alpharetta, Georgia. After reading the diehard fans reactions and thoughts it's interesting to read this review of the show written by a guy that admits he's not that familiar with Steely Dan but ends up with a positive view of the evening.

AND FINALLY YET ANOTHER ADDITION TO THIS POST: Another brand new interview appeared today. It's with Donald Fagen and can be read over at the Gothamist.

Competition time! Think fast and win!

Sunday evening marks the start of Steely Dan's 2008 Think Fast Steely Dan '08-tour. The first stop is Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

What songs will be played? The same old chestnuts or maybe some surprises? List 15 tracks you think will be played and we'll see to it that the person with the most correct songs win a copy of the international version of Walter Becker's Circus Money album complete with the bonus track Dark Horse Dub!

Get your answers in before the show starts and we'll announce the winner Monday once we check the actual setlist and compare it with the submitted suggested dittos.

Once again: List 15 tracks that you think will be played by Steely Dan in Florida Sunday June 8. Send it to radiodupree@yahoo.se and wait for the show and winner!

This competition has absolutely nothing to do with Steely Dan/Donald Fagen/Walter Becker and/or thei various managements/record companies/whatever. It's just Radio Dupree's way to make a little merry. We'll order and pay for a copy of the album once it is released mid-July.
We can't check this, but the competition is of course closed to all involved in the Steely Dan Think Fast tour with one exception: Skip Gildersleeve may enter the competition just because he has a cool name!

Circus Money bonus track

And it's official that the international version of Walter Becker's Circus Money will include one track more than the US/Canadian version released June 10. The song is titled Dark Horse Dub and how it sounds we may have to wait until July 14 to hear. That's the release date for the international version of the album. You can pre-order it here.

In the meantime you can read up on what dub is and speculate if Dark Horse Dub might be

a) A song about a horse getting a knighthood.
b) A five minute "studio experiement" created from the Darkling Down multitracks by Walter, Larry and most probably also Skip after a late session in and out of the studio.
c) Something completely different.

: : : : : : :

In related news: Radio Dupree's Album of the Month is Circus Money. One of the few stations on and off the Internet that play e-v-e-r-y song on the album. Even that dub thingy once somebody in charge find it in his (or her) heart to mail us a copy. The other 12 songs are spinning as I type.
Here's a link to Radio Dupree. Just click this link and listen!

Whoever. Whatever. Walter!

Happy day!

Rarely do the undersigned get a chance to feel in time, much less ahead of whatever. So it felt nice to come home to the computer and find a message from the Walter Becker store saying that the ordered download of Circus Money is now ready and waiting. The thing is that the mail was posted a couple of hours after I had finished downloading the 12 tracks plus cover and pdf-booklet.

Spinning it for the first time and have reached Paging Audrey. Sounds good so far. And it is funny how the brain have constructed the songs mentally from the 20, 30, 40 second clips that have been up for a few weeks now. It's surprising to find a sax solo here, an unexpected choir there, twists and turns...

As it happens a google alert served me an article from kansascity.com where one Mr. Hamersly lists the coming weeks new releases, summing up Walter Becker's Circus Money with the line "Steely Dan guitarist dabbles in jazz, reggae and rock."

Now, English is not my first language, but "dabble" didn't sound like a word I'd use in this context. Checked the definition and Merriam-Webster's is "to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently especially in a secondary activity or interest <dabbles in art>".

Walter superficial when it comes to music? I don't think so.

So the download is here. Radio Dupree is a happier place. And Circus Money is our Album of the Month. Walter on the playlist June an beyond.

/Neb S.

Walter Becker radio interviews

It's a 10 minute interview he did on the Atlanta radio station The River 97.1, and it's up now on walterbecker.com.

If you've read the press material and the articles published so far there's not much new stuff mantioned in the interview. With one big exception:
When asked if he'll do any songs from the album on the upcoming Steely Dan tour he says no and explains why.
Walter also mentions his favourite track from Circus Money and why it is his favourite.

Well worth a listen. Walter's entertaining as always.

UPDATE June 6: Here's the link to another radio interview online kindly posted by Dimension Skipper in the comments:

"Not as interesting, but here's another 10 minute by-phone interview Walter did on WMGK recently (May 28th) with long-time rock DJ John DeBella on Classic Rock WMGK, 102.9 in Philadelphia."

Walter sounds in a good mood and is able to rephrase the answers to some familiar questions.

Walter Becker's Circus Money: Different soundclips on Amazon

For those of us who're still waiting for the real deal, Amazon.com has just put up a different set of clips than has been available on walterbecker.com. Might be worth a listen if you want a bit more.

Also: The download mp3 version of the album is listed as 256 kbps. Fair enough, I guess, if you go the mp3 route.

UPDATE June 3: According to a sentence in this article the album will start streaming on walterbecker.com this Thursday (June 5).

Walter Becker's Circus Money: Arrived!

Apparently a couple of fans who ordered the album early got their copies in time for the weekend. If you want some fan reviews/reactions please go to dandom.com/guestbook.
Radio Dupree is still waiting for our copy, as are most of those who placed an "early bird order".
The official release date is June 10 for the US and Canada and July 14 for the rest of the world.

UPDATE: Here's a link to Angel's blog where she gives a quick rundown of the tracks and her impressions after hearing them.

Walter Becker's Circus Money: Special material with International release

In a post over on the BlueBook earlier today Dan Belcher noted that the international distributor of Circus Money had the following news item on the homepage:

"Free exclusive bonus mp3 to come with ex-US release
MAY/30/2008
Check back soon for an update on this exclusive bonus song from Walter Becker, only available with purchase of the ex-US release! Pre-order available soon on the Sonic360 store."

We just checked the homepage in question and while the news item has been rephrased it still indicates something a little extra to come with the international version of Circus Money when it is finally released July 14:

Special material with International Release
MAY/30/2008
Special material with International Release of 'Circus Money': more details and pre-orders coming soon, please check back.

Your guess is as good as ours! An extra song maybe... A personalized postcard from Walter... A vinyl pressing of Medical Science... A jar of ginger cookies...