Donald Fagan and Walter Becker were two whimsical stoners who met in college and realized that they both had a love for music and satire. Most Steely Dan songs appear to be nonsensical, however, if you dig deep there is usually a story behind it. In “Show Biz Kids”, the backup singers are singing “Lost Wages”, but intentionally slurring their words to sound like “Las Vegas”. Fagen and Becker were fans of comedian Lenny Bruce, who often joked that if you go to Las Vegas you will leave with lost wages, so the lyrics are referring to Bruce’s joke. Also, Rickie Lee Jones does a pretty good cover of this song.
Is there any truth to the Chevy Chase was in Steely Dan story?
David Bowie – Fame
if it is on the wiki it must be true…
“Chase played drums with the college band The Leather Canary, headed by school friends Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Chase has called the group “a bad jazz band”; Becker and Fagen later founded the successful group Steely Dan. Chase has absolute pitch.[11] He played drums and keyboards for a rock band called Chamaeleon Church, which recorded one album for MGM Records before disbanding in 1969. To give the album a more soft-rock sound, producer Alan Lorber made several alterations in the mixing, including the muting of Chase’s bass drum, and Chase was reportedly incensed when he heard the final mix.[21] Before fame, Chase worked as a cab driver, truck driver, motorcycle messenger, construction worker, waiter, busboy, fruit picker, produce manager in a supermarket, audio engineer, salesman in a wine store, and theater usher.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevy_Chase#Education_and_music
Thanks!
Boy, they had a helluva run from 72 to 77, a serious-good album each year. While some were stronger than others, all had redeeming values. I am partial to Katy Lied.
Can’t go wrong with Steely Dan!!! Bravo!!
The other day we shared some Zevon and today would have been his 73rd birthday. This weekend also happens to be the NHL All-Star game and events. Warren was a big hockey guy and with Mitch Albom wrote one of the greatest hockey songs.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome back. Warren Zevon…
There were Swedes to the left of him
Russians to the right
A Czech at the blue line looking for a fight
Brains over brawn-that might work for you
But what’s a Canadian farm boy to do
Kevin Smith was working on a movie based on this song but I think it currently resides in development hell.
Jim Croce – Bad Bad Leroy Brown (Midnight Special – 1973)
Seems today’s Leroy Brown in Chi-Town is the Weather. It’s a giant shit-show; snow, ice, sleet, fog. It’s Bad. Bad Bad.
Andy Shauf, another storyteller. “Sometimes I need to clear my mind “.
Neon Skyline.
Maximo Park – Graffiti
Cadillac Tramps – Train to Fame
…& with showbiz & fame come the paparazzi?
I hear he kind of bristles when people still ask him to “pimp my ride.”
…to be fair, he & Marshall seemed to be pretty upfront about a few things, as I recall…& one of them was maybe that they wasn’t the friendliest dudes?
I find most “quirky” voices annoying, but there’s something about Lacey Sturm:
…the hard rock string section doesn’t hurt, either
…cheers for that – pretty sure she wouldn’t have shown up on any path I’ve beaten lately
Their version of the Faith no More classic is my favorite Cello tune!
Shame and Scandal in the Family – Freddie McGregor
The Four Buddies, out of Baltimore, Maryland
Earl Scruggs, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”
sinatra was showbizz right?
well..that was sinatra :p