Something about the atmosphere of this demo is almost literary to me. I can picture myself sitting in a metropolitan cafe, watching gray drizzle and writing poetry. Definitely one of my favorites by them. Also, the St. Augustine reference is genius.
This demo is my favorite version. I feel like I'm wherever they were in the song. This song definitely inspired me to travel to Latin America and the Caribbean
Yea, this kind of arrangement makes it practically impossible to duplicate SD, coupled with his amazingly unique lyrics and voice. I feel like a fly on the wall in their practice studio, hearing another masterpiece unfolding, evolving, coming into focus and being at the piano.
Love the vocal. Can't think of anywhere else(any other tracks) where DF sounds like this. And I like this stripped-down version better than the more complete other track.
So much tragedy around the Gaucho sessions. Tapes erased, Becker's personal drama. It's a wonder what WE did get was released and sounds as amazing as it did. This too is a delicious tune, and one I too would love to hear reworked and reattempted.
Why Donald decided not to include this on Gaucho is beyond me. The more finished version sounds so clean and ready to be put out. All it needed was the signature horns.
I fucking love this song. Super blessed to get to hear it and get to play it too. Definitely one of my favorites if not my favorite song. Ya know lol "Word with my cheif engineer Will mix with the mob for all the folks at home Im tasting the local beer And half the crew is dancing in the foam!!!!"
I love the haunting idiosyncratic style of the singer. Robert Plant does it but in a different way more suited to high volume rock, this Fagen dude does it to suit the cryptic chord voices and chord progressions as he plays over this really hip but not trying hard to be cool funk bounce. the melody is strong and sure and the beat is so laid back and smooth, this hits me like a fine brandy. the lyrics are really intriguing and smart, full of sly wit requiring the inimitable vocal style in a delivery full of idiosyncrasies: "my nom d'voyage, is "McSwain." i never travel under my real name, i have proof of my vaccination shots and my passport and etc. to go to this exotic locale. this is mandatory less one die of diphtheria, "i carry the proper papers" to go this deep into the bushlands. my guide carries a machete and there is a rifle in the jeep no doubt. this reminds me of the line; "would you pour me a 'cuban breeze' Gretchen"? LOL! smh, these cats and the names... McSwain, "she's got a touch of Tuesday Weld," BTW, who names their child Tuesday? it so exceedingly smart and pretty for a baby girl. (a lithe blond actress of the era written about in another Fagen song). their references are so hip and reek of being snidely...wickedly smart. a couple of bodacious cowboys are these two. RIP Walt.
I actually agree. I would go so far as to say that pretty much ALL the "lost" Gaucho songs should have been recorded and released. "Kulee Baba" is a much better song than Gaucho's title track. Gaucho could have EASILY been Steely Dan's magnum opus. Better than Aja. Okay, okay...maybe not THAT easily, but both Aja and Gaucho could have been amazing beasts with incredible material.
amazing harmony. try singing this at home, lol. Man, those melodies are not easy to sing, you must be as nuts as Fagen to produce such marvelous stuff.
I actually think this is some of their finest work. It's a very interesting, sad song. In fact, I think their lesser known stuff is the most powerful: sail the waterway, dallas, dirty work, midnight cruiser, and these un released demos, Can't Write Home About You, Second Arrangement... I like this songs more then what is on there now..
@John Galt Dough Completely agree. Fire in The Hole, Gold Teeth ll, and Brooklyn are awesome hidden gems. I think King of The World is another good one that doesn’t get enough recognition.
Everything Danny Boy does sounds as if it were coming from some far away dream of Ravel, Debussy, or other Romantic composers of 19th century Paris. But with the added modern riff that only The Dan can do.
On today this Labor Day 09, I'm gonna pick up a Mickey's 40, wait til Sunset, chug, and perform mine own version ritual of The Kulee Baba. I just hope I don't end up twisting my ankle outside, out on the stairs
This. This is something that genuinely inspires me to keep my focus on simply great songwriting that doesn’t have to hinge on any particular arrangement in order to hold its own. Keeps me going as a musician. Love this demo so much.
Something about the atmosphere of this demo is almost literary to me. I can picture myself sitting in a metropolitan cafe, watching gray drizzle and writing poetry. Definitely one of my favorites by them.
Also, the St. Augustine reference is genius.
Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill
You're so right. Urban atmosphere. New York or Paris.the same state of mind....
This demo is my favorite version. I feel like I'm wherever they were in the song.
This song definitely inspired me to travel to Latin America and the Caribbean
Yea, this kind of arrangement makes it practically impossible to duplicate SD, coupled with his amazingly unique lyrics and voice. I feel like a fly on the wall in their practice studio, hearing another masterpiece unfolding, evolving, coming into focus and being at the piano.
Sweet, holy Jesus - what a night.
Love the vocal. Can't think of anywhere else(any other tracks) where DF sounds like this. And I like this stripped-down version better than the more complete other track.
Totally agree, this sounds like Gershwin! ❤️🔥
So much tragedy around the Gaucho sessions. Tapes erased, Becker's personal drama. It's a wonder what WE did get was released and sounds as amazing as it did. This too is a delicious tune, and one I too would love to hear reworked and reattempted.
Why Donald decided not to include this on Gaucho is beyond me. The more finished version sounds so clean and ready to be put out. All it needed was the signature horns.
I think it was too similar to teen town and they didn’t fancy another lawsuit
love when Don speaks french....."my nom de voyage" sounds good to me
Tres bien!
I fucking love this song. Super blessed to get to hear it and get to play it too.
Definitely one of my favorites if not my favorite song. Ya know lol
"Word with my cheif engineer
Will mix with the mob for all the folks at home
Im tasting the local beer
And half the crew is dancing in the foam!!!!"
agreed, the piano version far spookier. Rick Marotta (drummer) has refeered to this song as 'mind-blowing'. Takes you there..
I love the haunting idiosyncratic style of the singer. Robert Plant does it but in a different way more suited to high volume rock, this Fagen dude does it to suit the cryptic chord voices and chord progressions as he plays over this really hip but not trying hard to be cool funk bounce. the melody is strong and sure and the beat is so laid back and smooth, this hits me like a fine brandy. the lyrics are really intriguing and smart, full of sly wit requiring the inimitable vocal style in a delivery full of idiosyncrasies: "my nom d'voyage, is "McSwain." i never travel under my real name, i have proof of my vaccination shots and my passport and etc. to go to this exotic locale. this is mandatory less one die of diphtheria, "i carry the proper papers" to go this deep into the bushlands. my guide carries a machete and there is a rifle in the jeep no doubt.
this reminds me of the line; "would you pour me a 'cuban breeze' Gretchen"? LOL! smh, these cats and the names... McSwain, "she's got a touch of Tuesday Weld," BTW, who names their child Tuesday? it so exceedingly smart and pretty for a baby girl.
(a lithe blond actress of the era written about in another Fagen song).
their references are so hip and reek of being snidely...wickedly smart. a couple of bodacious cowboys are these two. RIP Walt.
I actually agree.
I would go so far as to say that pretty much ALL the "lost" Gaucho songs should have been recorded and released.
"Kulee Baba" is a much better song than Gaucho's title track.
Gaucho could have EASILY been Steely Dan's magnum opus. Better than Aja. Okay, okay...maybe not THAT easily, but both Aja and Gaucho could have been amazing beasts with incredible material.
amazing harmony. try singing this at home, lol. Man, those melodies are not easy to sing, you must be as nuts as Fagen to produce such marvelous stuff.
For what ever reason, parts of this sound like Guaraldi and some of his Peanuts work. What great stuff!!!
@MusicThatDoesNotSuck
You are a genuine superhero.
I actually think this is some of their finest work. It's a very interesting, sad song. In fact, I think their lesser known stuff is the most powerful: sail the waterway, dallas, dirty work, midnight cruiser, and these un released demos, Can't Write Home About You, Second Arrangement...
I like this songs more then what is on there now..
I completely agree, most of my favorite Steely Dan songs are their demos.
@John Galt Dough Completely agree. Fire in The Hole, Gold Teeth ll, and Brooklyn are awesome hidden gems. I think King of The World is another good one that doesn’t get enough recognition.
Everything Danny Boy does sounds as if it were coming from some far away dream of Ravel, Debussy, or other Romantic composers of 19th century Paris. But with the added modern riff that only The Dan can do.
@TheKidstarj the outtakes for this album were pretty tight, the second arrangement was one of their best songs
Good song. Puts me in the mindset of glamour profession.
The Ragtime influences and "klezmer" sensibilities stand out out on this one...
Wow man, handclaps and acoustic piano and voice only? Sounds like DF by himself
On today this Labor Day 09, I'm gonna pick up a Mickey's 40, wait til Sunset, chug, and perform mine own version ritual of The Kulee Baba.
I just hope I don't end up twisting my ankle outside, out on the stairs
I woulda left out Gaucho and put THIS song in its place, but prolly not in the same same in the songlist.
I agree :) how cool would an album called Kulee Baba have been?
steely dan is still and always be the shit !!! Yeh go donald fagan
Interesting how this Gaucho era demo doesn't sound any different than the widely circulated early years ones.
This. This is something that genuinely inspires me to keep my focus on simply great songwriting that doesn’t have to hinge on any particular arrangement in order to hold its own. Keeps me going as a musician. Love this demo so much.
There's a faster version of this unique tune. It's too bad SD haven't revived this song as well as "The second arrangement"
I'd have taken both, not one over the other.
Agreed. Kulle and Gaucho are two of my top 5 Steely Dan songs. I wanted both on there.
Yes, I can transcribe them...
WHAT? You're nuts...
There's a faster version of this unique tune. It's too bad SD haven't revived this song as well as "The second arrangement"