How Steely Dan Created ‘Deacon Blues

Wall Street Journal ^ | Sept. 10, 2015 | MARC MYERS

[dontreadthis]

As midlife-crisis songs go, Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues” ranks among the most melodic and existential. Recorded for the album “Aja” in 1977, the song details the bored existence of a ground-down suburbanite and his romantic fantasy of life as a jazz saxophonist.

Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen in 1976, “Deacon Blues” was released in 1977 on Steely Dan’s album “Aja,” which in the fall reached No. 3 on Billboard’s album chart, where it remained for seven consecutive weeks. The song also was a hit single in early 1978. With Steely Dan appearing in New York at the Beacon Theatre from Oct. 6-17, Mr. Fagen, Mr. Becker, guitarist Larry Carlton and saxophonists Tom Scott and Pete Christlieb recalled the writing, arranging and recording of the cult classic. Edited from interviews:

[RegulatorCountry]

Me, too. Original master recording.

[Cboldt]

There is a simple technique to play just about anything you want. Simple but time consuming. Play it slow, real slow, until you can nail the notes. Then speed up a little at a time. Your hand, arm and body should be relaxed, move your fingers as little as necessary between notes and chords.

Steely Dan solos (and chord progressions) will open up your abilities in ways that will surprise you. I'm just an intermediate player, don't work on new stuff as much as I should, but have surprised myself at what I can play once I get determined.

The guitar solo to Gold Teeth II still gives me shivers. My favorite "band," by far, although the tunes past Two Against Nature seem repetitive to me. Of course, no Steely Dan collection is complete without Fagen's Nightfly and Kamakiriad.

[re_nortex]

I'm not sure who's doing the college football ping list this year, or if anyone is now that we're talking about it.

Appreciate the response, FRiend. I already posed the question on a CFB thread a few days ago but came up empty. So I figured a try on a music-related thread would get a nibble. It's amazing the diversity (in the best sense of that world) of knowledge here in FReeperdom. As evidence, consider this recent post concerning -- of all things -- the Green Acres theme song. A lot of interesting facts in what was admittedly a silly thread. Who needs Google or Bing with the vast fountain of wisdom found right 'cheere? :)

[sjm_888]

Heard it tonight driving home on one of the XM/Sirus channels. All their albums were recorded impeccably well.

[dfwgator]

Steve Gadd’s drumming on the title track is one of the greatest drum performances you’ll ever hear.

[G Larry]

In the late 70’s on the Central California coast, a beloved Parish Priest died in a hang gliding accident.

A local DJ dedicated this song to him.

[Califreak]

Any major dude will tell you

[Ticonderoga34]

“Show Biz Kids” sounds like it could have been written about the Kardashians.

Yeah, Steely Dan was way ahead of their time.

[RegulatorCountry]

Here’s the “official” video for the song you were asking about:

https://youtu.be/mjMlDokq10Y

Very late-80’s Goth-nostalgia. Art school rock. Somebody’s a fan of “The Jesus & Mary Chain.” Mixing up a lot of visual references and a lot of emotional cues. Self-consciously intelligent.

In other words, it means whatever you want. Fairly pleasant but with dark undertones. They don’t want to be pinned down, they don’t want to be bothered with the concerns of the world, they want their own little world. And in that you find a tenuous thread connecting the song to fandom, a world to itself.

Just my art school opinion, for what it’s worth, lol.

[Servant of the Cross]

Very interesting. I did not know such effort went into even the cover.

[rabidralph]

Great memories, great music.

[OKSooner]

Oh yeah, true dat. The most diverse knowledge base in the universe is right here at FR. Several times I’ve abandoned the F150 site, for example, to get an answer here.

[HandyDandy]

Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Can you show me
The shine of your Japan
The sparkle of your china
Can you show me
Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
I’m gonna sell my house in town
Bodhisattva
I’m gonna sell my house in town
And I’ll be there
To shine in your Japan
To sparkle in your China
Yes I’ll be there
Bodhisattva

[dfwgator]

“Show Biz Kids” sounds like it could have been written about the Kardashians.

"You know they don't give a .... about anybody else."

It WAS written about the Kardashians.

[beaversmom]

From a friend:

The Making of Aja:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyrZgknEpXU

[re_nortex]

[Guards - Silver Lining (Official Video)] Very late-80’s Goth-nostalgia. Art school rock.

Thanks for the link to the song used by the B1G conference. Wow! After watching and listening to it, how in the wide, wide, wide world of sports that song has anything to do with football in general or the B1G in particular totally eludes me. By the way, some tOSU fans don't like the commercial since it shows their campus and the horseshoe out in the middle of nowhere.

[Disambiguator]

Heard it tonight driving home on one of the XM/Sirus channels. All their albums were recorded impeccably well.

There is an album out there from the same time period that was also recorded amazingly well. It's The Tubes' live album, "What Do You Want From Live." The recording and the performances are all outstanding.

[Hotlanta Mike]

Steely Dan : The Making of Aja

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QA9ydTb_bM

[newfreep]

Wayne Shorter had a great sax solo riff himself and together with Steve Gadd’s solo, it’s an incredible performance.

There’s a YouTube interview with Shorter (from the making of Aja DVD) where he talks about working with Fagen/Becker and how they wanted “cred” in the jazz world. Considering Shorter played with “Miles”, pretty good start by the duo to get that cred.

http://www.jazzwax.com/2011/07/how-steely-dan-got-wayne-shorter.html

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Amazing album. Almost every track got some radio play. Interestingly, the languid title track received the least play, but it’s my favorite song on the album. It ends with Steve Gadd’s gorgeous, award-winning drum solo.