2 Against Nature - 14 Years Later

More then any other album by Steely Dan, the streeting date of February 29th 2000 stands out from the crowd. First off, due to the release being on leap day, it only occurs every 4 years. So this year, being one of those non years, I will have to acknowledge the fact today, February 28th.

As with EVERYTHING Steely Dan, nothing is as it seems.

On February 29th, 2000, the band put out it's first album in 20 years...Two Against Nature. Shortly after this monumental day, I found an archives for Metal Leg, which was a fanzine for Dan Fans during the the Diaspora. Any trivial piece of information ended up in this magazine and is still a great read, decades later. *Note: You can find the issues going up on Facebook. John Granatino has moved them to a new website and makes the links available to fans of social media, via the fan group, Dandom dot com on Facebook.

Back to the story. Finding Metal Leg, led me to a place called Under the Banyan Trees (known as the Yellow) where Steely Dan Fans hung out. I met many friends and even became a posting member in early 2001. Now days, it's mostly exclusively on Facebook that I post, but most of the people are the same. It's been a wild ride, with lots of people who I still cherish, over a decade later.

So back to the album, CD, whatever...

Do I still like it? Yes, I definitely do.

Favorite tracks are:

Almost Gothic
West of Hollywood
Two Against Nature
Jack of Speed
Janie Runaway
What a Shame About Me
and Negative Girl

The funny thing is, I never did warm up to Gaslighting Abbie (which they played as the band walked up to the stage, the day they won the Grammy for Best Album) or for Cousin Dupree (which ended up being Song of the Year). Well, that shows that I have never been a hits kind of person, at least when it comes to the music of Steely Dan.

I thank them so much for going to the effort to give us new music, when others would just sit there playing their old hits.

Happy 14th Anniversary 2VN.

In honor of this almost day, here are a few of the lyrics to the title cut to the album. Don't try singing this without the words, it is probably almost impossible to do. :-)

Bad news breaking in 18A
Missy's kitty turn inside out she say
Spider queen demon and that whole crew
Across the lobby the wicker wing chair flew
All the nice people those goodly souls
Quaking in their respective hidey-holes
Everyone's wasted in this gruesome dream
Not a one of them left to hear you scream

CHORUS:
Two against nature don't you know
Who's gonna grok the shape of things to go
Two against nature make them groan
Who's gonna break the shape of things unknown

Happy Birthday Walter Becker

Walter Becker turns 64 today.

I always get a kick out of the fact that Donald's birthday is in early January, mine late January and Walter's mid February. It feels like I was destined to be part of the Steely Dan vibe. :-)

Walter is, of course the other half of the super group, Steely Dan.

Slightly out shined at times by Donald Fagen, but still a powerhouse, for the contributions he made to their many songs and records. He is particularly known for his "far out" biting lyrics and wonderful bass work...especially during the early years. A personal favorite bass line, is in his song, "Josie". Another is in the song, "Don't Take Me Alive".

I happen to love the man's work, similar to me loving John Oates' work, though many consider that it's all Daryl Hall, that makes up Hall and Oates.

The song I decided to link to, is Paging Audrey, from his 2008 release, Circus Money. It's a very sad song, but I love how powerful it is.

Please click the link...and enjoy.

Paging Audrey

In the littlest hours ‘tween the dusk and dawn
While the nightlight glows with the music on
You could climb so high in the dreamtime sky
And go anywhere

In that sometime place ever lost somehow
In the here and gone or the there and now
Did it all go bust — crumble down in dust
Or just slip away

Paging Audrey
Any random star
Lost and lonely
Somewhere very far
Paging Audrey
Come in from the cold

In that far-off room drenched in desert sun
Evil words were spoke — dirty deeds were done
Could we sail back there snatch them from the air
I dare anyone

Can we stand right here, call them back and say
Those were never meant to be heard that way
Let the heavens crack — let the day go black
I’d give anything

Paging Audrey
Somewhere very near
Safe and silent
There you are my dear
Paging Audrey
Anybody home

In a distant room certain things were said
As the loved one lies on the love-torn bed
And the night rolls on and by light of dawn
You’re not anywhere

Paging Audrey
This is who we are
Do remember
On any random star
Paging Audrey
Coming strong and pure

The Dukes Of September To Finally Air On PBS

You may remember that I reviewed Donald Fagen's book Eminent Hipsters a few months ago. The vast majority of the book concerns the tour that he, Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald participated in called The Dukes of September. During that tour, the Band taped a Great Performances Special which will finally air during PBS Station's March Pledge Drives.

I don't know what the set list is, but the cut that has surfaced, is a Steely Dan song called Kid Charlemagne and you can view it, HERE.

The venue is Lincoln Center and I think it is a magnificent setting for Donald Fagen.

Photo #2 has, in addition to Donald, Boz Scaggs playing guitar and Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery directly behind Donald singing back up. I am not sure who the other performer is.

The DVD is available now. :-)

Lazy Nina

This cut from Soul Train turned up on You Tube recently. They have obviously been putting up some of the performances, from back in the day, for a new generation to find.

This particular video, was a song written by Donald Fagen for Greg Phillinganes, called Lazy Nina.

If you listen to the song, you can hear the Donald Fagen influence in it. A special little extra, is the nod to Soul Train in the Chorus of the song itself. You can see that in the lyrics down below.

Lazy Nina

In my life I have been all kinds of places
I have lived for the action and the thrill
Yes I've seen a thousand children sing
A sunset in Japan
When I close my eyes I see them still

But the road seems to lose it's fascination
And I find there's a picture in my mind
Of a room with windows on the sea
Yes she's waiting there for me
I drop out of space and time

[Chorus:]

Back in the maze with Lazy Nina
Walkin' the dog and watchin' Soul Train
Readin' the paper, goin' to movies
And at night we sing
Da Da Do Da Da Ooh Ya Ya

There are days when I wake up with a feeling
That the world is a strange and sunless place
It's a world where words have lost their sense
Where nothin' seems to fit
And then suddenly I'll see her face

In a dream I will drive along the ocean
At the end of a dark familiar ride
And I know the house I'm searchin' for
Yes she's standin' at the door
And I'm right there by here side