Engineer Jay Marks’ comments: This is a rough mix that was made at Sigma Sound in New York the day Gary (Katz, producer) & Company came to check out our studio. I was the engineer. The tracks were cut by Al Schmidt except for the piano solo which I overdubbed that day.
The reason I know it’s my mix all these years later is because of the fade — Gary kept telling me to fade faster, and I was just too slow, never having heard the whole song before. So that’s why you hear that slight transition at the end — it’s not supposed to be there. (We also cut Kind Spirit that day as well as doing a rough mix on the “original lyrics” version of Third World Man, which at that time was called Were You Blind That Day.)
There are several excellent Steely Dan tribute bands out there. You can add the Brooklyn Charmers to that list.
Considering there are only five of them on the stage (I know you’re used to sixteen or more) these guys approximate Steely Dan classics–and choice deep cuts–remarkably well.
Wisely they don’t mess with the great original guitar solos. No band ever catalogued a greater collection of solos. And not tribute band ought to improvise their own or try to better them.
The only thing they lack is the thing every Dan tribute act lacks: the inimitable voice of Donald Fagen.
1:39 – Bodhisattva 6:46 – Peg 11:37 – Black Friday 15:55 – Turn That Heartbeat Over Again 21:43 – Kid Charlemagne 27:12 – Rikki Don’t Lose That Number 32:18 – Kings 36:18 – King Of The World 42:02 – Bad Sneakers 45:34 – Don’t Take Me Alive 50:24 – Midnite Cruiser 55:48 – Green Earrings 1:00:52 – My Old School 1:07:55 – Josie 1:13:59 – Hey Nineteen 1:21:52 – Boston Rag 1:28:36 – Reelin’ In The Years
Like many of the biggest groups of the early 1970s, Steely Dan grew up under the shadow of The Beatles. When Donald Fagen and Walter Becker came together in 1971, the pioneering group had already been broken up for more than a year. They may have wondered if they had somehow absorbed the ghost of ‘The Fab Four’ and that it was their responsibility to carry the flame in their absence. Indeed, Fagen and Becker intentionally modelled themselves off The Beatles, choosing to emphasise writing and recording than relentless touring. However, Steely Dan could also be highly critical of The Beatles’ former members at times, as the song ‘Only A Fool Would Say’ makes devastatingly clear…
While not exactly a household name this side of the Atlantic, Lindisfarne and their fine 1970 debut LP should be on the radar of any fan of folk-influenced rock of the era.
The Newcastle group’s sound evoked The Band at times, but with decidedly English leanings. Or a looser version of early Fairport perhaps. And nicely in tune with the acid folk vibe in late-60’s/early 70’s Britain.
This album peaked at #8 in the UK charts a year after its release, having gotten a jolt when their second album Fog On the Tyne topped the charts in 1971.
But while Tyne was their breakthrough, Nicely Out of Tune is their strongest album.
The pretty, atmospheric “Lady Eleanor” kicks off the album. The song features mandolin accents by Ray Jackson, who also played the instrument on Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”. The songs ends nicely with a mandolin-and-bass coda.
The simple, haunting beauty of “Winter Song” repays careful attention to the lyrics, while “Turn a Deaf Ear” displays the band’s harmonies and shanty-esque pub singalong side.
“Alan in the River With Flowers” is another pensive ballad reminiscent of David Cousins’ early Strawbs writing. Its title parodies “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”.
And “Down” is a jaunty tune with instrumental credit to multi-instrumentalist Ray Jackson for playing “flatulette”, which actually consisted of blowing raspberries.
Like Camel, Amazing Blondel, Fairport Convention and so many other fine English bands of the era, lineup changes took a toll just a few albums into Lindisfarne’s run.
But while the subtle brilliance of Nicely Out of Tune will be lost on many, if you’re among those with an ear for nicely-rendered 70’s British folk rock, this album is–as they like to say across the pond–just the job.
Every Moment Has A Song 