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Walter Becker, 1950-2017

J.T.B.

J.T.B.

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Half of the duo who formed Steely Dan, Walter Becker, has died at 67.

I always liked them on the radio when I was a kid in the '70s, but I really "got" what they were about in my 20s, the '90s, which just happened to be around the time they started working together again and, unlike in their heyday, actually touring.

Many concerts later I have to say they are one of my all-time favorite bands. They were such contrarians they even rebelled against rebelling, forgoing the "louder-harder-faster" or retro aesthetics of much "meaningful" rock and roll, and covered their tales of misfits, miscreants, marginalization and debauchery in a painstakingly-produced, sophisticated jazz-pop that stands completely alone. When I think that I was a ten-year old kid skating at the rink with all my friends to top-40 "soft rock" songs with lyrics about "the Cuervo gold, the fine Columbian" and "chasing the dragon," well, that's more subversive than any punk band dreamed of being.

"It was chain lightning, it feels so good." RIP Walter.
 
I got my love of Steely Dan from my dad. He played those old 8-tracks all the time.

Great band.

RIP

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Didn't see your thread when I posted mine. I've asked mods to delete.

I was a huge fan of the band. They were great. Loved that they filtered their stylish rock through a jazz/R&B filter. "Dirty Work" is still one of my all time favorite tunes. Aja, their '70's masterpiece, is among my all time favorite albums. The title song, in which the great Wayne Shorter just busts in with his tenor sax, all rowdy and wrong, is among my all time favorite musician guest appearances. I truly loved this band.

Actually met Becker once briefly, at West L.A. Music some years ago. The salesman I was talking to knew him and gave me a quick introduction. Got to tell him what a big fan I am. He smiled and thanked me. Seemed like a good guy. RIP.
 
1001001 said:
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Click to expand...
This something I have believed about this album's title, for years. I do acknowledge that I could be dead wrong about this.

I think that insects in the cover photo is a"Katydid". Well, "Katy didn't"..."Katy Lied". :)

As I said, I could be dead wrong, but it would be such a Steely Dan thing to do. They were always hipper than the room.
 
gblews said:
This something I have believed about this album's title, for years. I do acknowledge that I could be dead wrong about this.

I think that insects in the cover photo is a"Katydid". Well, "Katy didn't"..."Katy Lied". :)

As I said, I could be dead wrong, but it would be such a Steely Dan thing to do. They were always hipper than the room.
Click to expand...

I have always thought the same thing.

Katy Did?

No, Katy lied.
 
1001001 said:
I have always thought the same thing.

Katy Did?

No, Katy lied.
Click to expand...
Ha ha, and here I was thinking that I was the only one who noticed this. But, it does appear that that was what they meant by the title.

Didn't realize that the Dan had become indie darlings over the years and had a large following among millieniels. Been reading a few articles on this. Means your music is standing the test of time.
 
gblews said:
Aja, their '70's masterpiece, is among my all time favorite albums. The title song, in which the great Wayne Shorter just busts in with his tenor sax, all rowdy and wrong, is among my all time favorite musician guest appearances. I truly loved this band.
Click to expand...

Ah yeah, one of the greatest joys that can be experienced with a good set of headphones.

gblews said:
Ha ha, and here I was thinking that I was the only one who noticed this.
Click to expand...

I always assumed that, too, ever since I first saw the album cover.

By that time Walt had moved from bass to play more guitar; this is one of the earliest of his album solos and very memorable:

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And speaking of Aja, I can never get enough of this segment about drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie:
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Dean Parks played the lead guitar on "Haitian Divorce," but Walt shaped it with the talkbox. Probably my all-time favorite use of that device:
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