Neb and Siggy are back as DJ:s on Radio Dupree

March will be like a long hot rock show on Radio Dupree!

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For March we've decided to do an experiment. We will play mostly shorter songs, and we are saving the more experimental pieces for other occasions.
Besides that we (Neb and Siggy of the Radio Dupree staff) will function more as hosts of the show. Yes, we feel that it's time to take more active part in the broadcasts. We are back on the air!

Dweezil invites to Dweezilla workshops

Wanna learn how to play Zappa music? Then you may want to check out this message from Dweezil Zappa:

Hello Friends,

Have you heard about the music boot camp called Dweezilla? It's an exciting 4 day 5 night musical event scheduled for this summer in the Catskills. The workshops will commence on Monday June 21st and finish Thursday June 24th.

All of the Zappa Plays Zappa band members will be involved and we will be sharing our collective thoughts on ways to help you achieve a greater level of skill and enjoyment in your own musical endeavors. We will be offering an eclectic menu of workshops from improvisation to live recording, all with hands on training. It is open to all levels of skill!

For more more information on the event and all workshops please feel free to visit: http://www.dweezilzappaworld.com/pages/dweezilla.

Leonhart/Escoffery's second out today

The title of the album is Tides Of Yesterday and was recorded in New York last May. Other musicians on the album are Toru Dodo (Piano), Hans Glawischnig (Bass), Donald Edwards (Drums), Adam Rogers (Electric and Acoustic Guitars) and Jeff Haynes (Percussion).

Tracks:

Better Next Time
The Sweetest Sounds
Sometimes I'm Happy
Never Never Land
You Must Believe in Spring
The Harbor (Poppy's Song)
Eclipse
Big Noise, New York
Where There Is Love
Straight to You (Baloo Baloo)
Infinity

Yes, it looks like Donald Fagen's Big Noise, New York is on there as well.

More: http://www.escofferymusic.com/

Here's a video with a song from their first album If Dreams Come True released in 2007:

Steve spoke to Steely Dan?

So who's seen any of the Disney sitcom I'm In The Band and can tell us if there is anything even vaguely Steely Dan about the band in the series; Iron Weasel.

The guy playing the lead singer in the band; Derek Jupiter, is one Steve Valentine who according to this article from The Daily Star did talk to members of Steely Dan to get the role right:

Luckily, I've got a lot of rock star friends in LA, so I was able to go hang out with a bunch of musicians.

"My friend Fred Coury, the drummer in 80s rock band Cinderella, told me that in the rock world you're either still there or you're struggling to get back to where you were."

Other rockers Steve consulted included Chuck Wright, the bassist from Quiet Riot, Steve Lucas, the singer from Toto and members of Steely Dan.

We're a bit curious to know what members he talked to. And what was said.

Happy Birthday Walter!

Walter Becker is celebrating his 60 birthday today. And Carsten (tak!) supplied us with a short text from the Danish journalist Torben Bille that's published on his blog as well as in the newspaper Politiken today.

Go for the Danish original or try the English translation (via Google).

And since we're not much for singing - at least not online - we've borrowed Becky/Trookienes/Phen's Walter-singing from a year ago:



On Vimeo we found a most definitely un-official video using Downtown Canon as inspiration:

Downtown Canon from Neel Muller on Vimeo.

In a walk down memory lane here's Walter's own Circus Money video appearances:




And just to show that the music of Mr Becker & Fagen isn't just for the old 'uns:

reelin' in the years from amy dronen on Vimeo.

(Looking forward to solo album #3!)

: : : : : COMPETITION : : : : :

And in case you've missed our WB competition/giveaway; just go here and enter with a chance to win a couple of nice WB thingies.

Walter Becker Birthday Quiz: Win two WB rarities!

To celebrate Steely Dan co-founder, member and solo artist Walter Becker's 60 birthday February 20 we have spent some hard earned cash to get the prizes for this giveaway/quiz/blogpost.


1) The Japan only SHM-CD version of Circus Money. SHM stands for "Super High Material" and is in theory supposed to give a better sound than your average CD pressing. We haven't even listened so we're not convinced. Read more about SHM-CD here.

Whatever your thoughts and interest in better plastic carriers of music, you sure can't say no to the 13 track version on offer. Yes, the Japanese version is just like the "international"; it features the bonus track Dark Horse Dub not available on the US version.


2) A promo CD of the digital-only EP Somebody's Saturday Night/Bob Is Not Your Uncle Anymore released October 2008. To be fair this physical version lacks the digital third track Circus Money Dub (Instrumental Remix), but you do get two Radio Edits of the other two songs.

Here's how we do it. You answer the Walter Becker question below adding your email address (no, we won't use it for anything other than getting in touch if you happen to be the winner).
You've got until February 28, 2010 to answer. On March 1 we'll pull two winners from our digital hat. The first will get the SHM-CD version of Circus Money + the promo record. The second will get the SHM-CD.

Remember to play lots of Walter Becker this birthday weekend and spread the word! We'll do our part here on Radio Dupree. This weekend (February 19-21) with XTra added Walter on the playlist.

: : : : : Question time : : : : :

E-mail Address: * On what album can you find Walters song Fall Of 92? * 11 Tracks Of Whack Circus Money Alive In America Mose The Fireman None - Promo CD only * Required Create Email Forms

P.S. If the above form shouldn't work for you, just mail your answer to radiodupreeATyahooDOTse

Vatican select Fagen as essential

That's not the Pope or even the guys closest to the Pope, but the Vatican newspaper The Holy See/L'Osservatore Romano, who this past Saturday listed 10 essential rock and pop albums.
As our Italian is useless we've turned to the National Catholic Reporter who kindly serves us all with a description of what and why. And here's the list:

* "Revolver" by the Beatles, described as more innovative than any of their successive albums.
* "If I Could Only Remember My Name" by David Crosby. Its songs used experimental musical forms to express an "existential fragility," the article said.
* "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd, which the newspaper called an "amazing" and eminently enjoyable milestone in the history of rock music.
* "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac, which the article said mixed the sounds of blues, pop and country.
* "The Nightfly" by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan. A niche album, but "brilliant and ironical," according to the Vatican newspaper.
* "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. The article described this album as "the masterpiece of the king of pop" and said its original approach went against the stereotypes of black music.
* "Graceland" by Paul Simon, who used South African music with his own to create a multiethnic album that marked the birth of "world music," the newspaper said.
* "Achtung Baby" by U2, a disk that stands out for its music and lyrics, and remains a symbol of the '90s, it said.
* "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" by Oasis. The group picks up the great tradition of the Beatles, but with a harder edge of punk and rock, it said.
* "Supernatural" by Carlos Santana, seen as an avant-garde mix of blues, soul, salsa and rock.

The return of Gil Scott-Heron

Radio Dupree's intrepid globetrotter stepped into a record store in Bristol a couple of days ago and heard a familiar voice playing over the speakers. Yes, Gil Scott-Heron is back!
We bought our copy there and then.

He made his first records in the early 1970's but all but disappeared from view in the early 1980's.

From Wikipedia:

An American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1970s and early 1980s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron.

One of his hits from yore:



And here's what he sounds like in 2010:

Mats Öberg plays with schlager star Carola

Swedish pianist Mats Öberg, who once played on stage with Frank Zappa is now doing some gigs in Sweden with Carola Häggkvist, one of the most famous schlager singers in Sweden. Radio Dupree called Mats up for a short chat about this new project:
Mats: We first met at a Per-Erik Hallin concert at Berns salonger in Stockholm and she told me she would like to call me. I said sure and a while later she did.
Radio Dupree: What is it like to work with her?
Mats: Carola is very pleasant to deal with. She is very open to different kinds of music.
Radio Dupree: What songs do you play?
Mats: We do several of Carola's well known songs, but she has also asked me to suggest songs. She even asked me if we could do a Zappa number! Well, after a while I suggested to do a couple of songs solo...Proppeller Häst and Biggan. (The first one from the Mats/Morgan Band CD Thanks For Flying With Us. The other one from a live CD Mats recorded with saxophonist Jonas Knutsson.)
Radio Dupree: How many shows have you planned to do?
Mats: We played Hotell Lappland in Lycksele on February 13. On the 25th we will do a charity gig for Haiti at The Filadelfia church in Stockholm, and on the 27th we will return to Hotell Lappland in Lycksele for another show there.
Radio Dupree: Will there be anything more coming out of this project?
Mats: Well, Carola is very enthusiastic about it and wants to do a live recording, but we will have to see about that.

By the way: on March 10 Mats is releasing a new CD featuring Mats Öberg Trio, entitled So Very Mats.

Burnt Weeny songs on the Radio Dupree top 20

Our Album of the Month Burnt Weeny Sandwich seems to be quite a success so far.
Today we checked the list of the most popular tracks during the latest 30 days on Radio Dupree and found out that three songs from this Zappa/Mothers album have sneaked their way into our top 20.

#1 and #2 are:
1. Madeleine Peyroux - Bare Bones - Bare Bones
2. Ofege - It's Not Easy - Forge Your Own Chains: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads and Dirges

...and here comes the BWS songs:
3. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich - Burnt Weeny Sandwich
14. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - Overture To A Holiday In Berlin - Burnt Weeny Sandwich
15. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention - Holiday In Berlin, Full Blown - Burnt Weeny Sandwich

What's your opinion on this album? Please send your comments.

...and by now you know that the chart is compiled by listeners voting on the songs they hear on Radio Dupree.

Deportees - When They Come

Just wanted to share a nice little tune from north Sweden and the band Deportees.

The Deportees - When They Come from Stamp Films on Vimeo.

Radio Dupree Top 17 - February 2010

1. The Beatles - Honey Don't
Beatles For Sale

2. Frank Zappa - Advance Romance
Philly '76

3. The Beatles - It Won't Be Long
With The Beatles

4. The Beatles - Drive My Car
Rubber Soul

5. The Beatles - In My Life
Rubber Soul

6. Joni Mitchell - Woodstock
Travelogue

7. Ofege - It's Not Easy
Forge Your Own Chains: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads and Dirges

8. Madeleine Peyroux - Bare Bones
Bare Bones

9. Pink Floyd - Young Lust
The Wall Excellent

10. The Tubes - No Not Again
Outside Inside

11. Donald Fagen - Viva Viva Rock 'N' Roll (Live) - The Nightfly Trilogy - 10 Extras
12. Anomalous Quintet - Happenstance - Quintessence
13. The Byrds - Oil In My Lamp - Ballad Of Easy Rider
14. Alan Price - Poor People - O Lucky Man! (soundtrack)
15. Allan Holdsworth - The Things You See (When You Haven't Got Your Gun) - I.O.U.
16. Steely Dan - Sign In Stranger - Alive In America
17. National Health - The Bryden 2-step - Of Queues And Cures

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Chart compiled by listeners voting
on the songs they hear on Radio Dupree

Another Beatles month here on Radio Dupree. We're getting used to them and the fact that our listeners seem to prefer the early Beatles stuff.
Our Album of the Month; Frank Zappa's Philly '76 got one track nestled in the flock of Beatles songs making up the top five.

We're happy to see two women on the chart; Joni and Madeleine.