(By Russell)
The death has been announced of Steely Dan guitarist Walter Becker. Becker and Donald Fagen met at college in New York. A move to California marked the beginning of their hugely successful songwriting partnership. Their first album Can't Buy a Thrill (1972) yielded Reelin' in the Years.* 1974's Pretzel Logic produced their biggest hit Rikki Don't Lose That Number and the jazz-influenced duo recruited Wayne Shorter to play on Aja (1977). Becker and Fagen didn't care much for touring and over the years they employed numerous top flight session musicians to record and play occasional concert dates.
Upwards of 40 million album sales must have steered some listeners to the dark side..the jazz world. Donald Fagen said of his Steely Dan co-founder: '...smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter.' On medical advice, Becker was advised to pull out of concert dates this summer. Walter Becker died September 3.
* The guitar solo on Reelin' in the Years wasn't Becker's, it was played by Elliott Randall.
Russell
2 comments :
So sad. I was a late comer to Steely Dan although I knew Dave Weisser was a fan and Paul Edis, way back, selected a Donald Fagin track as one of his all time faves. I decided they must have something and I went along to see Nearly Dan at Sage Gateshead. This was back in 2011 and I was knocked out. If a tribute band is this good, I thought, what's the real thing going to be like?!
I found out and I wasn't disappointed.
What now? I wonder... RIP Walter Becker, I realise you were something special...
I will forever be longing to hear Walters guitar licks. RIP Walter Becker. You are Alright now.
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