I’m 23 years old and was reccomended Steely Dan through Spotify a year ago. I was reccomended The Fez on a playlist and instantly fell in love with that tune and then later the rest of there discography. Music streaming services play a huge part in the legacy of Steely Dan continuing for younger generations.
Since listening to them on Spotify, I have now got all there albums on CD, all original 80s pressing CDs, as well as a few of the remasters from 99. I don’t collect viynl but I am always looking out for Steely Dan viynl in the wild and will buy it when time is right. Currently playing Night Fly at work so everyone gets to hear Steely Dan on a regular basis when I’m at work.
@@ScuffedHomie it's nice that you at least buy physical! Vinyl is a lot of work to care for , not many other than myself who don't mind the trade off! So CD is a pretty good easier solution for some!
@@analoguecity3454 There will be a CD resergance one day. Many people my age and younger collect viynl so I’m the odd one out with CD’s. But yeah I know what you mean about Spotify lacking in texture. My CD rips sound 100% better plus everything on steaming is remastered so I’m always buying original pressing CD’s
I'm delighted to hear a young person getting into these wonderful songs. Steely Dan were phenomenal, completely unique and some of the greatest musicians ever played on their albums.
As a 31 year old millennial who has become an audiophile over the last 6 years, Steely Dan's music is a breath of fresh air compared to the repetitiveness of music today. The recording quality is above and beyond what most are doing today. I always knew the classic songs like Reelin' In The Years, Do It Again, etc, but I never knew how diverse and amazing their catalog truly is. People like to pick and choose their favorite albums, but I find that every SD album brings something unique to the table.
I agree. Each one is unique. Not a weak song anywhere (no matter what Fagen & Becker might have said ~ perfectionists to a fault!). I do prefer the pre Two Against Nature albums a great deal more, and love The Nightfly as well. I don't truly understand why everything after that doesn't click with me. The Nightfly was a big step towards a more strictly jazz kind of sound, but I love every song on it. Then it all gets a bit too squeaky clean for me.
I recall a university concert in SAN ANTONIO, 1973 I was introduced to STEELY DAN TUNES ,to date I have never ceased to be a fan , placing Steel Dan at the top of my favorites of all time .
I’m 70. Was playing music professionally in SF Bay in the seventies. I was playing Aja album on my giant stereo mornings after gigs while watching my 2 year old daughter - while girlfriend was at work. Great mem. Blew my mind and stirred my soul. Will never forget.
I met Dave Brubeck in 1987. I was kid and I interviewed him for my school radio station. I asked him if h'ed heard of Donald Fagen. He hadn't. I quoted him the lyric from "New Frontier" and he loved it. "Nightfly" was my introduction to jazz, even if it was only jazz influenced. There was enough there to get my attention. It literally changed my life. :)
I was 18 when Two against nature came out. A music teacher I had at the time put Gaslighting Abbie on in class and I couldn't believe my ears. Discovering Steely Dan was life changing so it's no surprise the younger kids are tuning in. Also please please please come back to Australia!!!
Im 22 and grew up exposed to the Dan through my father. As a song writer myself, the bar was set at an early age for sophisticated chord changes, melodic and harmonic content, and song structure in general. Donald is a great inspiration
I think more people love Steely Dan today than at any other time, they were well-known and admired in the 70's/80's but since their re-birth in 1993 with that triumphant tour the people of the world have been more widely exposed to their song list, true musicians, good people and enormously creative, unique music.
I’m in the UK. Been listening to Steely Dan since 1976 Haitian Divorce was the single. Purchased The Royal Scam knowing nothing else about them that was it. Track 1 Kid Charlemagne blew me away. Thought it couldn’t get better, could it? Then track 3 Don’t Take Me Alive, Never stopped playing it. Divine.
There’s something quintessentially, modern about Steely Dan’s sound. I recently fell in love. Amidst my love for Hendrix, The Beatles, the stones and most of the monstrous persuasive music of my time, I kinda lost what it took to appreciate what Steely Dan brought to the table. Thrilled to discover them at age.70. Fascinated to hear that young people can relate as well. I believe the music is timeless, and filled with complex perfection as an art form.❤
Been listening to SD from the beginning (I'm in my mid 70's), and no matter how many times you listen to one of their cuts, you'll will, at some point, hear something new...which has actually been there all along. Truly amazing!
They were a truly unique band, no one sounded like them. Always great quality recordings with a strong roster of studio musicians to enhance the excellent tunes Donald penned. Never gets old.
Thank you Chad, I really appreciate you taking the time to pass this interview to us Steely Dan/Donald Fagen Fans. Watched every minute. My order is in!!!
Loved watching this. I'm praying that we get another album of original material from Fagen, the dude is a genius of songwriting and funky blues grooves.
The smiles on Chad's face throughout the conversation is what it is all about! He is living his dream! Congratulations, Chad and the Acoustic Sounds Family!!
Accoustic Sounds vinyl lp reissue quality is as good as it gets. Whatever original tapes Chad is using, combined with the expertise of mastering engineers like Bernie Grundman, the result is sometimes his reissues are better than the original. The actual pressings are definitely better. The mastering and cutting not to mention even the jacket quality using Stoughton, is as good or better than the original pressings.
what a legendary interview 😍.. Mr. Fagen is an incredible musician and one of the most interesting personalities ever.. wish I could chat with him! and of course we all love Chad
Donald Fagan's solo album "The Nightfly" is a great album, too. Countdown to Ecstacy was always my favorite SD album. I built a recording studio in the 80's and used their albums to see if my monitors were set up correctly. Stellar, unmatched recording quality in their body of work.
Really wonderful to see Donald Fagen! I just listened to The Nightfly & Countdown to Ecstasy on SACD this morning in anticipation of Chad’s new releases from Steely Dan.
Fagen is right, my dad liked 60’s rock and my grandpa liked Motown. As a recording musician, their work was sophisticated but still had a familiar backbeat; jazzy but not bebop. Looking forward to a new Fagen album. Sunken Condos is just about a masterpiece. EDIT: He's talking about "Eli's Coming" by Laura Nyro from Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. Some polyphonic harmonies at the end.
Donald used to have a reputation of being a bit of a misanthrope, but he's mellowed - a lot. Perhaps this had something to do with him being a workaholic, which he says in the interview is no longer the case. Who would have guessed he was buddies with John McEnroe? Fascinating interview. Love this man. The SD catalog and his solo albums will live on forever. With all the talk of technical perfection, there was no mention of the Katy Lied DBX issues. I found this a little surprising.
Chad & Donald, thank you. I have been listening to Steely Dan since the late 70s and there is nothing comparable as to the phenomenal rock & roll and jazz mix to the phenomenal musicianship to the excellent recordings. This is the first time I have ever preordered multiple reissues - I am signed up for all of them. It was priceless to hear Donald talk about his roll in mixing and to hear my mantra of hearing everything “We wanted you to be able to hear everything all the time.”
Been listening to Steely Dan since I was 15; I made a new friend who asked me what kind of music I liked. I told him I was into Danny Wilson (who are from my hometown and now friends also), and he said _"If you like them, you'll like Steely Dan"_ , and when I told him I liked De La Soul and my favourite track was Eye Know he said _"That's Steely Dan!"_ He bought a tape copy of Gaucho from a record exchange to let me hear, and by the time it hit Glamour Profession I was a confirmed fan. That was almost 35 years ago, and in that time a lot of different styles of music have arrived in my life, and then moved out again for a while as is the cyclical nature of art like music and films, you go through phases and periods. The one true consistent in that time has been Steely Dan. I've never stopped listening to them and the solo records, and never enjoy them any less. I'll be a Dan fan till I die.
That Laura Nyro album is incredibly influential: Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968). Walter's favourite track was Womens Blues. The album includes future SD players Chuck Rainey and Hugh McCracken, and a host of jazz luminaries such as Zoot Sims and Joe Farrell.
Wonderful interview. I wish we would have this kind of technology in the 60's/70's when I was a kid. Can you imagine this kind of discussion with Hendrix?I appreciate your efforts. Mr. Pete---------> aging hippie
Steely Dan has a special place in my musical journey. I was a Neil Young folkie type learning guitar and bought a Dan songbook (Pretzel Logic/Katie Lied) with chord diagrams. It was shrink wrapped so I didn't see the contents till I got home. It was way advanced. This was my introduction to barre chords, jazzy progressions, etc. I sat home and plugged away on a beat up Goya acoustic learning to play and sing Riki DLTN mainly. In the process I sort of figured out some of the shapes, patterns and logic of barre chords. It really came in handy later when I went nuts over Elvis Costello's first album My Aim Is True. I'm eternally grateful to Walter and Donald for enriching my life in so many ways. Btw, Bernard Purdy has a drum master class vid on YT that is amazing. The man's a treasure.
Donald is the best there ever was at appearing to give a shat in interview, when he can’t wait ‘til it’s over. Steely Dan, the greatest band ever, long live the genius and music of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
I'm 19 and the reason why I got into Steely Dan (and Donalds solos by extension) was a combination between my dads influence (he listened to Aja a lot) and the accessibility of Spotify. After a while I started listening to records and have most of Steely Dans discography. Unfortunately I missed some of the newer albums, what i'd give to listen to Kamakiriad and Two against Nature on vinyl! But once i got into Steely Dan, todays music is definitely harder to get into. Looking forward to the next album, keep in good health Donald!
Love SD and thankful that masters are still available. To Mr. Kassem, I guess your business is analog and that's fine since the masters are analog, but please copy those masters to digital ASAP to preserve them for posterity.
Awesome to hear that Donald has some new tunes he wants to put out. I remember hearing Steely Dan on the radio as a young person and knowing instantly it would be one of my favorites.
So now that we know Donald likes to chat..maybe he will chat with Rick Beato and actually talk about music. Rick's Bernard Purdie interview was excellent.
Rick might be a little intimidated with Donald Fagan. Donald is sophisticated and Rick would be more like when Paul Schaeffer interviewed him and was trying to one up Donald Fagan and you could tell Donald Fagan thought he was a fool
True @31:20 about young people appreciating Steely Dan. Right now a UA-camr, a young Metal kid, has featured Steely Dan songs fascinated by it. Nice to see.
I would imagine younger folk like the music for the same reason anyone who appreciates good music, it's good music. Thank you so much for enhancing my life with great lyrics and music.
I’m reading his new biography that came out this year and the author said Donald hinted to new material 👀 and if he’s following his same pattern from Kamakiriad, he started doing interviews out of nowhere before it’s announcement, likely to get his name floating around before it’s release. Crossing my fingers!
Its funny how laid back Donald is regarding the masters…like he really couldn’t care much less as opposed to all the pain and suffering that went into creating those albums in the first place.
The Nightfly has been my favourite album since 1984. It reflected my life as a design student from overseas studying in USA. Donald Fagen is pure gold.
Wish lda subscribed months ago when l first viewed. There has been a lot of interesting developments in the wake of the "PANDEMIC". Wish you gentlemen all the best! And good tidings on the upcoming event l heard Donald Is undertaking. 7/14/2023 S.E.O'S
Wow! This is just...stellar. I've been aware of Steely Dan and Mr. Fagen since the start. You've brought him out like nobody else. He comes across as enthused as a 22 year old. Subscriber - instantly!! Thank you.
As one of those millennials Donald mentions he is correct that we grew up hearing Steely Dan hits on the radio and from relatives. Once I started putting effort into seeking out the Steely Dan catalog there were always a couple songs on each record that I had heard but never realized it was Steely Dan. It's also true that they aren't making music like they did in the 70s. What a decade! I personally believe it to be the best era of rock music.
Steely Dan was for me in the '70s what The Beatles had been for me in the '60s. Their two appearances on NBC's "The Midnight Special" in 1973 also convinced my wife and me to drive 90 miles north to the U. of Toledo on Sunday April 21, 1974, where we saw one of the best live bands on the planet that year. We left the arena with no idea that Steely Dan wouldn't tour again until August of 1993. By then, both drummers we had heard that night (Jim Hodder and Jeff Porcaro) had passed on way too soon.
I’m on the tail end of what’s considered millennial (1995) and in my case I first heard SD on a road trip to Arizona for thanksgiving with a greatest hits CD my mom had bought at Best Buy.
No other band has ever come close ….the first album I bought was “Countdown to Ecstasy “ . Rick Derringers guitar work Show biz kids set the stage for me ….been a fan for ever and ever …..Gods speed Walter.
Fagan is a freaking genius. Consummate composer, iconic interpreter of what was contemporary life at the height of the Dan, most recognizable voice in modern pop-fusion-jazz history. So many tunes, I'll never get them out of my head. Yikes. Gotta turn off my 'gushing over' button...
I really dislike how people throw ‘genius’ around on youtube. I guess you use the term very broadly. To me, Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare and Amadeus Mozart was a genius. Donald Fagen is an excellent musician and writer and I admire his effort in every way. But genius. No.
@@Mr.Monta77 Point taken old chap! In the interest of time, many of us have fallen into using it as a colloquialism to say many many things in one succinct word. Would that it weren't...Cheers
@@Mr.Monta77 Hey, I kind of disagree. there are a lot of geniuses like 1 in every 10,000 or so. People like Mozart , Einstein or DaVinci are beyond mere genius. They are like 1 in 100 years of people.
I have recently discovered Donald Fagan and he is a brilliant poet and brilliant musician. I play the Nightfly so much every day, my family asked me to wear my headphones ☝️🥰
I was born right at the stopping point between Millennial and whatever the other generation is considered. I got into Steely Dan because it’s a break. It’s an unbelievable ride and passage away from modern day noise. It’s a world unaffected by Pop, Without the bone crushing power of heavy metal. It’s just in a league of it’s own. And I think me and a host of others between the ages of 18-30 listen to the Dan because it’s like stepping out of a loud obnoxious party and relaxing by the banister.
The opportunity to buy some of these albums taken from the masters is so good. Even if I can’t afford all of them (haha) I’m definitely not going to miss out!
33:00 I'm 18 y/o and have been listening to Steely Dan for a year or two now. I love it for the same reason as anyone else: the sophistication, superb audio-quality and above all just because it's actual good music. I hate to say it but there's really nothing new coming on the charts today that's "good enough", so searching for good music is just the natural thing to do. Why would I listen to all these repetitive non-original rap songs if I can also listen to Paul Simon, Dire Straits, The Police, Toto, Abba and all those who are so good? And once you start exploring all these great artists/bands, it's only a matter of time to come across Steely Dan and be amazed. It also helps to have a dad with a musical ear :)
Greetings to you all at acousticsoundsks, ;^) ♪ what you'll accomplish to revive SD's timeless musical masterpieces is quite astonishing. Respect ♪ And I genuinely enjoyed these 47 minutes with you three friendly folks. Heck, just realized that Donald will be 75 in January (not many more interviews like these?) ♪ As much as you will remaster ALL Steely Dan's incredible musical legacy, For my part, I ambitiously intend to animate 80+ of their songs (if not all of them?) in advanced guitar chord progression format/lessons (which I'm now at 35 tutorials after two and a half years (slowly but surely) ♪ ---------------------------------- Even the cheapest Steely Dan and/or Donald Fagen's solo career MP3s sound impressive because of the high-quality standards they've obsessively applied to their art. I can't wait to hear what you'll provide.♪ Peace and again, respect ;^) ♪ .
You're being ageist,dude. Will be 75 in February and I still cogitate. Went to Berkeley in 67 and heard live music you never will My older bud who was director of EECS Microfabrication Lab at Cal has a Bosendorfer piano in his home that he practices on daily We share our love for Steely Dan,, though.
@@alekkoomanoff7281 Jeez just saw for the first time, the average price tag and quality of these Bosendorfer's pianos.♪ That must be quite a treat for ace musicians to own and/or play on regularly. Respect.♪ -------------------------- If I can be more precise concerning the age comment I wrote , what struck me viewing this video, is how rare (if ever) I've seen Donald Fagen in a casual unedited video like this, which I enjoyed quite a bit.♪ I found him very funny (the Jamaican repair man voice was quite good) informative, genuine, and as always eloquent.♪ He's pretty humble, too, and I absolutely do not doubt his health and/or young-at-heart vivacity, and definitely not his intellectualism.♪ Maybe what I meant was, I'd like to see way more of this format (maybe there are more) in the future.♪ But where's Walter now, and Donald rationally mentioned that he isn't getting younger for a long live tour career..So...♪ ------------------------- My knowledge of piano and its wide range of brands and qualities is low, but one thing I definitely do in my animated Steely Dan guitar chord tutorials, more than animating what the guitars are playing exactly in the recordings, I try more to emulate the brilliant, subtle, dense, and rich Donald Fagen piano approach.♪ -------------------------------------- Peace, sir ;^) ♪ .
@@thomasnelson5758 Thanks so much and likewise, sir ;^) ♪ You must know by now how much I like these SD guys and their large musical collaboration and teams ♪ By 2024 I should have produced 80+ of their songs, so always stay tuned.♪ Peace + respect ;^) ♪
My high school days were saturated with Can’t Buy A Thrill, Aja, and Gaucho..these were very different from one another..other than the MAGIC. I think his Night Fly solo album was the last one I was digging in to real hard!
Great to hear from D.F. I've always wondered what inspired the Dan's use of the steel guitar on so many tracks. Wonder if the question comes up in these conversations.
Fred, you must remember Matt Betton who, if I remember correctly, was from Russell, Kansas but played the tenor saxophone, was a drummer, and wore a porcelain faucet handle on a chain around his neck, the HOT water handle naturally. I'm a former band director. Went to KBA every year in Hutchinson, and always played in the Intercollegiate Band when I was in college. Dr. Neill Humfeld was the conductor a couple of those years, and we premiered one of James Barnes' pieces one year. I think it was called "Thunderbolt"? Went to band camp at Fort Hays State University. I'm an alto saxophonist. I was fortunate to play in the honor band the year Dr. Harry Begian, Director of Bands at University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne at the time was our conductor. I've been a fan of Steely Dan since the mid 70's. I'm 64 now. This was a fantastic interview! Thanks to all of you! Special thanks to you Donald, and of course Walter. Lisa
Donald Fagan has made my time on this planet so much happier … I am 79 and used play music back in the day … Steely Dan was our Mecca.😊
I’m 23 years old and was reccomended Steely Dan through Spotify a year ago. I was reccomended The Fez on a playlist and instantly fell in love with that tune and then later the rest of there discography. Music streaming services play a huge part in the legacy of Steely Dan continuing for younger generations.
Since listening to them on Spotify, I have now got all there albums on CD, all original 80s pressing CDs, as well as a few of the remasters from 99. I don’t collect viynl but I am always looking out for Steely Dan viynl in the wild and will buy it when time is right. Currently playing Night Fly at work so everyone gets to hear Steely Dan on a regular basis when I’m at work.
@@ScuffedHomie it's nice that you at least buy physical! Vinyl is a lot of work to care for , not many other than myself who don't mind the trade off! So CD is a pretty good easier solution for some!
@@analoguecity3454 There will be a CD resergance one day. Many people my age and younger collect viynl so I’m the odd one out with CD’s. But yeah I know what you mean about Spotify lacking in texture. My CD rips sound 100% better plus everything on steaming is remastered so I’m always buying original pressing CD’s
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I'm delighted to hear a young person getting into these wonderful songs. Steely Dan were phenomenal, completely unique and some of the greatest musicians ever played on their albums.
I'm 263 years old and I've been listening to Steely Dan for the past 98 years with a short hiatus when I was 235
Just here to look at Donald💕
As a 31 year old millennial who has become an audiophile over the last 6 years, Steely Dan's music is a breath of fresh air compared to the repetitiveness of music today. The recording quality is above and beyond what most are doing today. I always knew the classic songs like Reelin' In The Years, Do It Again, etc, but I never knew how diverse and amazing their catalog truly is. People like to pick and choose their favorite albums, but I find that every SD album brings something unique to the table.
check out "Kind Spirit", "The Bear" and others from "The Lost Gaucho Tapes" - all on UA-cam.
I've read somewhere that Bose uses Steely Dans music when they're testing their speakers
yes, there are so many hidden gems in Steely Dan's catalog.
I agree. Each one is unique. Not a weak song anywhere (no matter what Fagen & Becker might have said ~ perfectionists to a fault!). I do prefer the pre Two Against Nature albums a great deal more, and love The Nightfly as well. I don't truly understand why everything after that doesn't click with me. The Nightfly was a big step towards a more strictly jazz kind of sound, but I love every song on it. Then it all gets a bit too squeaky clean for me.
You should listen to Fagen's solo stuff too especially The Nightfly it's basically SD except even weirder
I recall a university concert in SAN ANTONIO, 1973 I was introduced to STEELY DAN TUNES ,to date I have never ceased to be a fan , placing Steel Dan at the top of my favorites of all time .
Nice to see Donald talking about his records. 👍
I’m 70. Was playing music professionally in SF Bay in the seventies. I was playing Aja album on my giant stereo mornings after gigs while watching my 2 year old daughter - while girlfriend was at work. Great mem. Blew my mind and stirred my soul. Will never forget.
Your daugther had an excellent musical start in life.
Right on! Keep on rockin' brother!
As always , Mr. Walter Becker is in my thoughts . RIP .
...and Roger Nichols, as long as we're discussing sound quality.
born in '68 . . the whole catalog is in my DNA, now . . thank you so much for this !
Donald needs to get together with Rick Beato for two hour interview
I met Dave Brubeck in 1987. I was kid and I interviewed him for my school radio station. I asked him if h'ed heard of Donald Fagen. He hadn't. I quoted him the lyric from "New Frontier" and he loved it. "Nightfly" was my introduction to jazz, even if it was only jazz influenced. There was enough there to get my attention. It literally changed my life. :)
I was 18 when Two against nature came out. A music teacher I had at the time put Gaslighting Abbie on in class and I couldn't believe my ears. Discovering Steely Dan was life changing so it's no surprise the younger kids are tuning in. Also please please please come back to Australia!!!
I love Donald Fagans work. I still listen to steely dan weekly on my commute home from work. Even my 16 year old loves steely dan. It's timeless.
Wow! I detect the el supremo! Thank you Donald Fagan for letting acoustic sounds do your catalogue. I know it will be great.
From the room at the top of the stairs ...
Donald Fagen knows his jazz and classical music. He should be lecturing at a university on the history of music and the influences on Steely Dan.
Im 22 and grew up exposed to the Dan through my father. As a song writer myself, the bar was set at an early age for sophisticated chord changes, melodic and harmonic content, and song structure in general. Donald is a great inspiration
Bernie Grundman saved many recordings. Amazing talent he possesses. He has set the bar high.
I think more people love Steely Dan today than at any other time, they were well-known and admired in the 70's/80's but since their re-birth in 1993 with that triumphant tour the people of the world have been more widely exposed to their song list, true musicians, good people and enormously creative, unique music.
Donald is still very sharp, and his memory is outstanding. Looking forward to listening to his next musical release.
I’m in the UK. Been listening to Steely Dan since 1976 Haitian Divorce was the single. Purchased The Royal Scam knowing nothing else about them that was it. Track 1 Kid Charlemagne blew me away. Thought it couldn’t get better, could it? Then track 3 Don’t Take Me Alive, Never stopped playing it. Divine.
Lucky to have an uncle who played all this stuff for me when i was a kid.
Absolutely love Steely Dan
Thank you so much Donald Fagen and the late lamented Walter Becker for your prodigious output of
outrageous music
I have to agree with Fagen. Everything Must Go is definitely my favorite. I am susprised more folks don’t rate it among the best.
You have terrible taste. It's nowhere near their best.
There’s something quintessentially, modern about Steely Dan’s sound. I recently fell in love. Amidst my love for Hendrix, The Beatles, the stones and most of the monstrous persuasive music of my time, I kinda lost what it took to appreciate what Steely Dan brought to the table. Thrilled to discover them at age.70. Fascinated to hear that young people can relate as well. I believe the music is timeless, and filled with complex perfection as an art form.❤
Been listening to SD from the beginning (I'm in my mid 70's), and no matter how many times you listen to one of their cuts, you'll will, at some point, hear something new...which has actually been there all along. Truly amazing!
They were a truly unique band, no one sounded like them. Always great quality recordings with a strong roster of studio musicians to enhance the excellent tunes Donald penned. Never gets old.
!
I say the same about 70s Chicago
This was so great. So good. It’s the pride of the neighborhood
This is really cool! It’s not usual to see a reissue label interviewing the actual artist they are releasing especially Donald Fagan.
Thank you Chad, I really appreciate you taking the time to pass this interview to us Steely Dan/Donald Fagen Fans. Watched every minute. My order is in!!!
Loved watching this. I'm praying that we get another album of original material from Fagen, the dude is a genius of songwriting and funky blues grooves.
The smiles on Chad's face throughout the conversation is what it is all about! He is living his dream! Congratulations, Chad and the Acoustic Sounds Family!!
Accoustic Sounds vinyl lp reissue quality is as good as it gets. Whatever original tapes Chad is using, combined with the expertise of mastering engineers like Bernie Grundman, the result is sometimes his reissues are better than the original. The actual pressings are definitely better. The mastering and cutting not to mention even the jacket quality using Stoughton, is as good or better than the original pressings.
what a legendary interview 😍.. Mr. Fagen is an incredible musician and one of the most interesting personalities ever.. wish I could chat with him! and of course we all love Chad
❤
Great stuff! Thank you Mr. Fagen for all the great music
Donald Fagan's solo album "The Nightfly" is a great album, too. Countdown to Ecstacy was always my favorite SD album. I built a recording studio in the 80's and used their albums to see if my monitors were set up correctly. Stellar, unmatched recording quality in their body of work.
I’m 32 and bonded over steely Dan with my late father. I continue finding new wants to heard their music each time. So sublime.
Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller yeah. It’s the music and not necessarily the sonics. Love it 🎹
He and Todd R are good friends. Can’t even imagine being in that room. What a mind.thank you Chad.
Really wonderful to see Donald Fagen! I just listened to The Nightfly & Countdown to Ecstasy on SACD this morning in anticipation of Chad’s new releases from Steely Dan.
Steely Dan created brilliant masterpieces
this was great, it's wonderful to see Donald looking and sounding so good
Fagen is right, my dad liked 60’s rock and my grandpa liked Motown. As a recording musician, their work was sophisticated but still had a familiar backbeat; jazzy but not bebop.
Looking forward to a new Fagen album. Sunken Condos is just about a masterpiece.
EDIT: He's talking about "Eli's Coming" by Laura Nyro from Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. Some polyphonic harmonies at the end.
Donald used to have a reputation of being a bit of a misanthrope, but he's mellowed - a lot. Perhaps this had something to do with him being a workaholic, which he says in the interview is no longer the case. Who would have guessed he was buddies with John McEnroe? Fascinating interview. Love this man. The SD catalog and his solo albums will live on forever. With all the talk of technical perfection, there was no mention of the Katy Lied DBX issues. I found this a little surprising.
Chad & Donald, thank you. I have been listening to Steely Dan since the late 70s and there is nothing comparable as to the phenomenal rock & roll and jazz mix to the phenomenal musicianship to the excellent recordings. This is the first time I have ever preordered multiple reissues - I am signed up for all of them. It was priceless to hear Donald talk about his roll in mixing and to hear my mantra of hearing everything “We wanted you to be able to hear everything all the time.”
Been listening to Steely Dan since I was 15; I made a new friend who asked me what kind of music I liked. I told him I was into Danny Wilson (who are from my hometown and now friends also), and he said _"If you like them, you'll like Steely Dan"_ , and when I told him I liked De La Soul and my favourite track was Eye Know he said _"That's Steely Dan!"_
He bought a tape copy of Gaucho from a record exchange to let me hear, and by the time it hit Glamour Profession I was a confirmed fan.
That was almost 35 years ago, and in that time a lot of different styles of music have arrived in my life, and then moved out again for a while as is the cyclical nature of art like music and films, you go through phases and periods.
The one true consistent in that time has been Steely Dan. I've never stopped listening to them and the solo records, and never enjoy them any less. I'll be a Dan fan till I die.
Haha I knew it! Great stuff, Chad! Donald Fagen for the win! 😎👍
That Laura Nyro album is incredibly influential: Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968). Walter's favourite track was Womens Blues. The album includes future SD players Chuck Rainey and Hugh McCracken, and a host of jazz luminaries such as Zoot Sims and Joe Farrell.
Boy, am I enjoying this! Donald Fagen , wow!
Wonderful interview. I wish we would have this kind of technology in the 60's/70's when I was a kid. Can you imagine this kind of discussion with Hendrix?I appreciate your efforts.
Mr. Pete--------->
aging hippie
Steely Dan has a special place in my musical journey. I was a Neil Young folkie type learning guitar and bought a Dan songbook (Pretzel Logic/Katie Lied) with chord diagrams. It was shrink wrapped so I didn't see the contents till I got home. It was way advanced. This was my introduction to barre chords, jazzy progressions, etc. I sat home and plugged away on a beat up Goya acoustic learning to play and sing Riki DLTN mainly. In the process I sort of figured out some of the shapes, patterns and logic of barre chords. It really came in handy later when I went nuts over Elvis Costello's first album My Aim Is True. I'm eternally grateful to Walter and Donald for enriching my life in so many ways. Btw, Bernard Purdy has a drum master class vid on YT that is amazing. The man's a treasure.
Donald is the best there ever was at appearing to give a shat in interview, when he can’t wait ‘til it’s over. Steely Dan, the greatest band ever, long live the genius and music of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
Can't wait to hear my Steely Dan favorite " The Royal Scam" . PLAY LOUD
My fav too has more punch and bite than Aja!
I could not choose a favorite, they are all masterpieces
I'm 19 and the reason why I got into Steely Dan (and Donalds solos by extension) was a combination between my dads influence (he listened to Aja a lot) and the accessibility of Spotify. After a while I started listening to records and have most of Steely Dans discography. Unfortunately I missed some of the newer albums, what i'd give to listen to Kamakiriad and Two against Nature on vinyl! But once i got into Steely Dan, todays music is definitely harder to get into.
Looking forward to the next album, keep in good health Donald!
I still listen to the cd. THE NIGHTFLY , I bought back in 1982 . I love that album .
Me too a masterpiece,. Close to Aja!!
THAT WAS WONDERFUL LOVE DONALD FAGEN AND THE FELLAS THANK YOU FOR SHARING LOOKING REALL GOOD NICE TO SEE AND HEAR AND VERY INSPIRERING ANDY
Love SD and thankful that masters are still available. To Mr. Kassem, I guess your business is analog and that's fine since the masters are analog, but please copy those masters to digital ASAP to preserve them for posterity.
Awesome to hear that Donald has some new tunes he wants to put out. I remember hearing Steely Dan on the radio as a young person and knowing instantly it would be one of my favorites.
So now that we know Donald likes to chat..maybe he will chat with Rick Beato and actually talk about music. Rick's Bernard Purdie interview was excellent.
That NEEDS to happen
Rick might be a little intimidated with Donald Fagan. Donald is sophisticated and Rick would be more like when Paul Schaeffer interviewed him and was trying to one up Donald Fagan and you could tell Donald Fagan thought he was a fool
@@kma5699 I don't think that's true about Schaeffer, he's very talented and well liked in the music biz
@@kma5699 It's kind of like if Donald had a conversation with Miles Davis. Davis would not have taken Donald seriously
@@kma5699 Paul S. was extremely nervous for that interview, and botched it.
Thanks to everyone involved for this entertaining and informative chat!
True @31:20 about young people appreciating Steely Dan. Right now a UA-camr, a young Metal kid, has featured Steely Dan songs fascinated by it. Nice to see.
I would imagine younger folk like the music for the same reason anyone who appreciates good music, it's good music. Thank you so much for enhancing my life
with great lyrics and music.
I wish they would do Kamakiriad, Morph The Cat & Sunken Condos. Hopefully we can get another album from Fagen too
I’m reading his new biography that came out this year and the author said Donald hinted to new material 👀 and if he’s following his same pattern from Kamakiriad, he started doing interviews out of nowhere before it’s announcement, likely to get his name floating around before it’s release. Crossing my fingers!
@@saxgirl02 maybe it's promotion for these upcoming UHQRs
I read that he recorded quite a bit during the pandemic. sunken condos was excellent, let's have more of that.
@@romulus_ Can you hear the balls rumble ...
@@benjamindoverr3455 we're still bowlin' every saturday night
Its funny how laid back Donald is regarding the masters…like he really couldn’t care much less as opposed to all the pain and suffering that went into creating those albums in the first place.
Wow, this is how I found out about these reissues. Sweet.
I love how Fred Kaplan seems very high (sorry), yet keeps the conversation chugging and throws out great questions. Excited for the UHQRs!
That said, Donald Fagen exhibits his usual dismissive/arrogant self.
The Nightfly has been my favourite album since 1984. It reflected my life as a design student from overseas studying in USA. Donald Fagen is pure gold.
This was gold. I hope Donald is finding peace, as hard as that is for true artists.
Lincoln Mayroga was great. His playing on Phil Ochs Pleasure for the Harbor is sublime. Amazing player and arranger 🎹🎹🎹
I am screaming and kicking the air like a little girl right now.
Wow!!
Wish lda subscribed months ago when l first viewed.
There has been a lot of interesting developments in the wake of the "PANDEMIC".
Wish you gentlemen all the best!
And good tidings on the upcoming event l heard Donald
Is undertaking.
7/14/2023 S.E.O'S
I`m very excited about these reissues. They are going to be the most important albums in my " New Collection" Great interview
So great!
So good. It’s the pride of the neighborhood
Wow! This is just...stellar. I've been aware of Steely Dan and Mr. Fagen since the start. You've brought him out like nobody else. He comes across as enthused as a 22 year old. Subscriber - instantly!! Thank you.
As one of those millennials Donald mentions he is correct that we grew up hearing Steely Dan hits on the radio and from relatives. Once I started putting effort into seeking out the Steely Dan catalog there were always a couple songs on each record that I had heard but never realized it was Steely Dan. It's also true that they aren't making music like they did in the 70s. What a decade! I personally believe it to be the best era of rock music.
Steely Dan was for me in the '70s what The Beatles had been for me in the '60s. Their two appearances on NBC's "The Midnight Special" in 1973 also convinced my wife and me to drive 90 miles north to the U. of Toledo on Sunday April 21, 1974, where we saw one of the best live bands on the planet that year. We left the arena with no idea that Steely Dan wouldn't tour again until August of 1993. By then, both drummers we had heard that night (Jim Hodder and Jeff Porcaro) had passed on way too soon.
I’m on the tail end of what’s considered millennial (1995) and in my case I first heard SD on a road trip to Arizona for thanksgiving with a greatest hits CD my mom had bought at Best Buy.
No other band has ever come close ….the first album I bought was “Countdown to Ecstasy “ . Rick Derringers guitar work Show biz kids set the stage for me ….been a fan for ever and ever …..Gods speed Walter.
Mind Blown. Thanks Chad
Fagan is a freaking genius. Consummate composer, iconic interpreter of what was contemporary life at the height of the Dan, most recognizable voice in modern pop-fusion-jazz history. So many tunes, I'll never get them out of my head. Yikes. Gotta turn off my 'gushing over' button...
I really dislike how people throw ‘genius’ around on youtube. I guess you use the term very broadly. To me, Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare and Amadeus Mozart was a genius. Donald Fagen is an excellent musician and writer and I admire his effort in every way. But genius. No.
@@Mr.Monta77 Point taken old chap! In the interest of time, many of us have fallen into using it as a colloquialism to say many many things in one succinct word. Would that it weren't...Cheers
BUT... once asked for a "chocolate banana shake" at a fast food drive-thru... everything is tempered by that.
I agree. An excellent musician, but not a genius
@@Mr.Monta77 Hey, I kind of disagree. there are a lot of geniuses like 1 in every 10,000 or so. People like Mozart , Einstein or DaVinci are beyond mere genius. They are like 1 in 100 years of people.
I have recently discovered Donald Fagan and he is a brilliant poet and brilliant musician. I play the Nightfly so much every day, my family asked me to wear my headphones ☝️🥰
Really enjoyed this chat
I was born right at the stopping point between Millennial and whatever the other generation is considered.
I got into Steely Dan because it’s a break. It’s an unbelievable ride and passage away from modern day noise. It’s a world unaffected by Pop, Without the bone crushing power of heavy metal. It’s just in a league of it’s own. And I think me and a host of others between the ages of 18-30 listen to the Dan because it’s like stepping out of a loud obnoxious party and relaxing by the banister.
Great conversation.
The opportunity to buy some of these albums taken from the masters is so good. Even if I can’t afford all of them (haha) I’m definitely not going to miss out!
Look at Chad's big ass happy smile...he landed a big one!
He will do them justice
Steely Dan was so a perfectionist, which I agree, going through 10 or more drummers on a section to get the sound to perfection.
Thank god Don is still here. I have devoured all of his tunes and then some
33:00 I'm 18 y/o and have been listening to Steely Dan for a year or two now. I love it for the same reason as anyone else: the sophistication, superb audio-quality and above all just because it's actual good music. I hate to say it but there's really nothing new coming on the charts today that's "good enough", so searching for good music is just the natural thing to do. Why would I listen to all these repetitive non-original rap songs if I can also listen to Paul Simon, Dire Straits, The Police, Toto, Abba and all those who are so good? And once you start exploring all these great artists/bands, it's only a matter of time to come across Steely Dan and be amazed. It also helps to have a dad with a musical ear :)
Well done Chad and team... incredible interview. Many thanks.
This is a total treat. Loved the conversation.
Greetings to you all at acousticsoundsks, ;^) ♪
what you'll accomplish to revive SD's timeless musical masterpieces is quite astonishing. Respect ♪
And I genuinely enjoyed these 47 minutes with you three friendly folks.
Heck, just realized that Donald will be 75 in January (not many more interviews like these?) ♪
As much as you will remaster ALL Steely Dan's incredible musical legacy,
For my part, I ambitiously intend to animate 80+ of their songs (if not all of them?) in advanced guitar chord progression format/lessons
(which I'm now at 35 tutorials after two and a half years (slowly but surely) ♪
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Even the cheapest Steely Dan and/or Donald Fagen's solo career MP3s sound impressive
because of the high-quality standards they've obsessively applied to their art. I can't wait to hear what you'll provide.♪
Peace and again, respect ;^) ♪
.
You're being ageist,dude.
Will be 75 in February and I still cogitate. Went to Berkeley in 67 and heard live music you never will
My older bud who was director of EECS Microfabrication Lab at Cal
has a Bosendorfer piano in his home that he practices on daily
We share our love for Steely Dan,, though.
I love your videos! So cool to see you here
@@alekkoomanoff7281 Jeez just saw for the first time, the average price tag and quality of these Bosendorfer's pianos.♪
That must be quite a treat for ace musicians to own and/or play on regularly. Respect.♪
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If I can be more precise concerning the age comment I wrote , what struck me viewing this video,
is how rare (if ever) I've seen Donald Fagen in a casual unedited video like this, which I enjoyed quite a bit.♪
I found him very funny (the Jamaican repair man voice was quite good) informative, genuine, and as always eloquent.♪
He's pretty humble, too, and I absolutely do not doubt his health and/or young-at-heart vivacity, and definitely not his intellectualism.♪
Maybe what I meant was, I'd like to see way more of this format (maybe there are more) in the future.♪
But where's Walter now, and Donald rationally mentioned that he isn't getting younger for a long live tour career..So...♪
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My knowledge of piano and its wide range of brands and qualities is low,
but one thing I definitely do in my animated Steely Dan guitar chord tutorials,
more than animating what the guitars are playing exactly in the recordings,
I try more to emulate the brilliant, subtle, dense, and rich Donald Fagen piano approach.♪
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Peace, sir ;^) ♪
.
@@thomasnelson5758 Thanks so much and likewise, sir ;^) ♪
You must know by now how much I like these SD guys and their large musical collaboration and teams ♪
By 2024 I should have produced 80+ of their songs, so always stay tuned.♪
Peace + respect ;^) ♪
My high school days were saturated with Can’t Buy A Thrill, Aja, and Gaucho..these were very different from one another..other than the MAGIC. I think his Night Fly solo album was the last one I was digging in to real hard!
Donald’s working on some new tunes! Yaaaayyyy!
Great to hear from D.F. I've always wondered what inspired the Dan's use of the steel guitar on so many tracks. Wonder if the question comes up in these conversations.
Oh this is a 💎 so happy to hear. Excited! MONK!
I hear a lot of background "nuances' in my dreams on these compositions. Big Steely Dan fan!! Back to " the early years", born in Camden, NJ. J
One of The Greatest Bands , Steely Dan - AJA = Start To Finish = MAGIC
That was f’n awesome!
Fred, you must remember Matt Betton who, if I remember correctly, was from Russell, Kansas but played the tenor saxophone, was a drummer, and wore a porcelain faucet handle on a chain around his neck, the HOT water handle naturally. I'm a former band director. Went to KBA every year in Hutchinson, and always played in the Intercollegiate Band when I was in college. Dr. Neill Humfeld was the conductor a couple of those years, and we premiered one of James Barnes' pieces one year. I think it was called "Thunderbolt"? Went to band camp at Fort Hays State University. I'm an alto saxophonist. I was fortunate to play in the honor band the year Dr. Harry Begian, Director of Bands at University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne at the time was our conductor. I've been a fan of Steely Dan since the mid 70's. I'm 64 now. This was a fantastic interview!
Thanks to all of you! Special thanks to you Donald, and of course Walter.
Lisa
I would love to see either a live release of the rarities show that Steely Dan performed and/or a legit album of unreleased tracks.
Love the vibe here. Still regret not taking Mom's copy of 'Cheap Thrill', but now I can get the reissue.