Two more Steely Dan shows + that Fagen produced album almost here

Steely Dan have added two more spring dates to the 2017 tour.

April 17: San Diego - Humphrey's

April 25: Santa Barbara - SB Bowl

And the album by the band Oh Whitney that Donald Fagen started producing in 2013 is finally ready for release. It has been delayed a few times and there's still no set date, but the band has said that there will be new music this spring.
Technically that doesn't mean the music must be from the 11 track record, it could be something completely new, but...

Read the artcle over on the Fort Worh Weekly for more on the record.

Main points from a Steely Dan/Fagen fan view:

- The band Oh Whitney and Fagen met in San Miguel in 2012 and Donald said he wanted to work with them.
- Recording started in 2013 and has been done on and off over the past couple of years.
- The record consists of 11 tracks. Donald supplied almost all keyboard parts, sings on a few of the songs and had a big part in the arrengements of several tracks.

And the band has changed its name from Oh Whitney and now goes by the frontman's name: Peter More.

Here's a 25 second taste:
https://www.facebook.com/PeterMoreMusic/videos/1507414272619597/

Upcoming release? 6 Zappa shows from Halloween '77

Guitarist Adrian Belew's post on Facebook recently made several Zappa fans gasp for breath. 
Click on the picture to enlarge Adrian's message.

King Crimson vet John Wetton has died

John Wetton, legendary bassist and vocalist of King Crimson, UK, Roxy Music and several other groups passed away this morning.

Wetton may be most known for his participation on the three King Crimson albums Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red. 

Radio Dupree rates the epic song Starless (from Red) as one of the most beautiful songs ever written, much thanks to Wetton's performance.

Wetton died at the age of 67 from colon cancer.

Royal Mail issuing Bowie stamps

Royal Mail in the UK has announced it will issue a set of 10 Special Stamps as a tribute to David Bowie in March.

http://www.davidbowie.com/news/royal-mail-honour-bowie-10-special-stamps-56731

Donld Fagen - not afraid

The video and homepage states that

The idea for We Are Not Afraid resulted from the increasing senseless violence experienced by citizens of this world and a desire to try and make a difference by bringing awareness to the issues and the organizations dedicated to helping the victims. At countless rallies of support following attacks around the world people can be spotted holding NOT AFRAID signs. These images inspired this effort.

A song by a Nigerian reggae singer, Majek Fashek, titled “We Are Not Afraid” fits this project beautifully and says what we believe and feel. Majek has graciously agreed to donate all royalties from its release and use in the video to the two beneficiaries of this project, the IRC and HRW. Kevin Godley, who has directed videos for U2, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Eric Clapton and many others, is directing a music video incorporating photos of noteworthy artists posing with a NOT AFRAID sign to be released in September 2016.

Now, you could argue that we're living in a time when, on a global scale, things are better than they've ever been, but...

WE ARE NOT AFRAID to stand against the countless acts of violence, hate, discrimination, and abuse witnessed globally.

We promote non-violence, respect for diversity, universal education, and peaceful resolution of conflict.

We will not allow these despicable acts to change our way of life or shake our demand for a free society globally.

We want to bring attention to those organizations that are helping victims globally.

as this is a good thing and Donald Fagen pops up in the video (2:27) we thought we'd share this here and now.
OK. Time to "Spot The Star". See you in Peaceville...





Directed by Bob Gruen.

Directed by Kevin Godley:

Elton John looking for a video. Or three...

Here's a way to do something different for an artist that peaked in the 1970's:

Make a video competition together with YouTube trying to find videos for some of your old classic hits.

Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin has three songs waiting for that perfect video: Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and Bennie And The Jets.

And the competition is on!

It was bound to happen: Steely Dan plays Vegas

photoshop: steelydan.com

2017 is the year Steely Dan lands in Las Vegas for nine dates in April. Presale starts tomorrow January 17 for American Express card holders, while the rabble can grab their tickets January 20.

Here's the press release:

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 16, 2017) – STEELY DAN's yearly residencies in New York City are now the stuff of legend — and the west coast faithful always had to cross a continent to join in on the multi-night fun.

That's about to change: In 2017, Steely Dan founders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker will play a nine-night Steely Dan residency at the Opaline Theatre at The Venetian ® in Las Vegas, Nevada between April 12 - April 29 (dates below ).

Donald and Walter are again supported by "the best touring band on the stage today": Jon Herington (guitar), Keith Carlock (drums), Freddie Washington (bass), Jim Beard (keyboards), Roger Rosenberg, Walt Weiskopf, Michael Leonhart , Jim Pugh (horns) and Carolyn Leonhart, Cindy Mizelle, and La Tanya Hall (backing vocals). Critics and fans now rightly evoke the legendary Big Bands of a previous era as the only apt comparison for the virtuosity, versatility, and vise-like cohesion of this Steely Dan musical collective.

These master musicians will treat audiences each night to a diverse set of classics, drawn from Steely Dan's extraordinary catalog of infections tunes, bodacious harmonies, irresistible grooves, and, of course, those sleek, subversive lyrics — all decked out in perfect Sin City style: sparkling solo work and blazing musicality sewn up into ensemble arrangements of skintight fit.

American Express® card members can purchase advance tickets beginning Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. PT through Jan. 19 at 10 p.m. PT.  Tickets will go on sale to the public on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased through ticketmaster.com, The Venetian Box Office, and charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.  Tickets are subject to applicable service charges, and event time and date are subject to change.

Visit steelydan.com and Steely Dan on Facebook for tour news and updates as they develop.

Will it be heavy on hits? Here's how The Venetian (venetian.com) describes the upcoming shows:

Steely Dan’s nine-night exclusive Las Vegas residency, titled “Reelin’ in the Chips,” will entertain audiences with a “greatest hits” set of diverse selections from the band’s extraordinary catalog. Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums and helped define the soundtrack of the '70s with hits such as “Reelin’ in the Years,” “Rikki Don't Lose That Number,” “F.M.,” “Peg,” “Hey Nineteen,” “Deacon Blues,” and “Babylon Sisters.”

UPDATE January 18:

The tickets cost between 60 and 210 dollars. You decide if that's an acceptable price.
Or why not pop on over to sites like stubhub.com who states that "our mission is simple: help fans find fun" where you - as of writing - can pay $101 and up for the very same tickets. :)

Legal Ticket Scalpers.

We'd rather stick with the true and tested "creative" additional costs/fees of the official ticket vendors...

(See you in the beer line. Or maybe not.)

The return of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

Photo: Alabama Tourist Department

This week sees the reopening of the restored Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama with daily tours for visitors as well as working as a fully functional record studio.

Founded in 1969 by the group of musicians camed "The Swampers" - David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett - it became the place where Percy Sledge recorded his When A Man Loves A Woman, Aretha Franklin came to record her big breakthrough album and artists like Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones and Otis Redding cut classic tracks. As did Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens and the Staple Singers. Plus many more.

In 2013 Lee Sentell made the documentary "Muscle Shoals" that eventually got Dr Dre/Beats Electronics to put money into renovating the studio.


And here's a couple of tracks recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio:

Happy 69th, Donald Fagen!

Born January 10, 1948. And here he is on Letterman in November, 2012:

Anniversary edition of The Doors' 1967 debut

50 years ago today in 1967, The Doors broke through to the other side for the first time, with their classic debut album.
To celebrate this the band will release The Doors: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, a 3 CD/1 LP set (available on March 31).

Disc One  (Original Stereo Mix)

Disc Two (Original Mono Mix)

1. “Break On Through (To The Other Side)”
2. “Soul Kitchen”
3. “The Crystal Ship”
4. “Twentieth Century Fox”
5. “Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)”
6. “Light My Fire”
7. “Back Door Man”
8. “I Looked At You”
9. “End Of The Night”
10. “Take It As It Comes”
11. “The End”

Disc Three: Live At The Matrix, March 7, 1967

1. “Break On Through (To The Other Side)”
2. “Soul Kitchen”
3. “The Crystal Ship”
4. “Twentieth Century Fox”
5. “Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)”
6. “Light My Fire”
7. “Back Door Man”
8. “The End”

LP (Original Mono Mix)

Side One

1. “Break On Through (To The Other Side)”
2. “Soul Kitchen”
3. “The Crystal Ship”
4. “Twentieth Century Fox”
5. “Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)”
6. “Light My Fire”

Side Two

7. “Back Door Man”
8. “I Looked At You”
9. “End Of The Night”
10. “Take It As It Comes”
11. “The End”

Details here: http://www.thedoors.com/news/the-doors-announce-50th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-of-their-groundbreaking-debut-album

Early live recording by The Doors released

Recently one of the earliest known recordings of The Doors was released. 
Seven songs recorded by a fan with a borrowed reel machine, at The London Fog in L.A. Here is an interesting interview with Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger talking with People about the early days:

http://people.com/music/the-doors-robby-krieger-london-fog-box-set/

LIVE - “Pershing’s Own” Chamber Music Recital | The Music of Steely Dan

(click the pic!) or:

https://youtu.be/8HaeM7EmPz8

Steely Dan live 2017: First date announced!

Rolfe!

These days a year without Steely Dan playing live seems like an unlikely occasion, but fans of the band are used to getting the first news of a tour/single dates a few weeks into a new year. February, March... That kind of thing.

However...

December 28, 2016 is the day that the first date of 2017 is official. Official as in up on the venues site. And us noticing it. With the help of a Pete Fogel post to the Facebook fan page.

Steely Dan will be playing the Hollywood Bowl on June 18, 2017 as part of the Special Concert series.

Are tickets for sale? No. And yes. Hollywood Bowl runs a subscripion type of ticket service and informs us all that "Special concerts may be added to your subscription order now, a 5 or More order starting March 15, or purchased individually starting May 1".

Photo: Danny Clinch/steelydan.com

That is, unless you're willing to help resellers like Viagogo where "those who have can sell their tickets for obscene amounts to those that want" ... sorry, where "people can buy and sell tickets for live events all over the world with confidence.".

When we looked Viagogo had 12 tickets for sale running $126 and up.

And while we are happy to see that the ticket industry's promise to stop ticket scalping and ticket touts is working...

;)

...we'd just rather concentrate on what's hopefully to come: A long and extensive Steely Dan 2017 tour. Make that WORLD tour.

Brian Eno on BBC Radio on Boxing Day

Cox. Keaveny and Eno in the London pub where The Boxing Day show was recorded. (Photo: BBC Radio 6 Music)

Brian Eno will join presenter Shaun Keaveny and professor Brian Cox on BBC Radio 6 Music for a three hour breakfast show on Boxing Day (December 26) at 7 a.m. local time.

Brian Eno held a BBC Music John Peel lecture last year and struck up a friendship with Shaun Keaveny and Brian Cox that led to Eno sending emails to the show, as well as making a few radio jingles in his home studio.

A discussion on the connection between music and science is promised. More here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0863sxj

Dweezil Zappa campaigning to keep using the Zappa name

Dweezil Zappa has started a campaign on Pledge Music to keep using the surname Zappa. He writes:

It sounds bizarre but it’s true! I could use your help. I am inviting everyone to please join me to make some noise and raise funds to propel the necessary legal arguments to secure the rights for me to continue to use ZAPPA as my last name.

Let’s band together and form a group called “Dweezil Zappa And The Others Of Intention.” By joining and supporting this group via the Pledge Music campaign your voice will be heard alongside my own in the fight against the proposed Federal Trademark of the surname ZAPPA set forth by 2 of my younger siblings. The trademark seeks to prevent me from using my own full name in the field of music, entertainment and public appearances among other things.

Dweezil is hoping for help from his fans and offer things like guitars, mugs, t-shirts, special signed copies of the CD Live In The Moment Part II, special vinyl test pressings and ... a personal golf tour!
10 US Dollars will get you a download of the track Dinosaur descibed as "A soaring 11-minute guitar instrumental composed by Dweezil Zappa that features guest solos by: James Santiago, David Walliman, Matt Picone, Tom Quayle, Oz Noy, Derryl Gabel, Chris Buono and Frank Zappa!"

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/othersofintention

More on the name controversy:

https://radiodupree.blogspot.se/2016/04/family-feud-goes-on-dweezil-changes.html

https://radiodupree.blogspot.se/2016/06/dweezil-zappa-on-zappa-vs-zappa-spat.html