Donald FAGEN


Morph The Cat

(2006)



1. Morph The Cat 6'49
(Donald Fagen)
2. H Gang 5'15
(Donald Fagen)
3. What I Do 6'02
(Donald Fagen)
4. Brite Nitegown 7'17
(Donald Fagen)
5. The Great Pagoda Of Funn 7'39
(Donald Fagen)
6. Security Joan 6'10
(Donald Fagen)
7. The Night Belongs To Mona 4'18
(Donald Fagen)
8. Mary Shut The Garden Door 6'30
(Donald Fagen)
9. Morph The Cat (Reprise) 2'53
(Donald Fagen)

Total Time: 52:53


  • Donald Fagen - Organ (6), Piano (6, 7), Melodica Solo (8), Fender Piano (1, 2, 4, 9), Backup Vocals (1-6, 8, 9)
  • Frank Vignola - Guitar (1), Guitar Tag Solo (9)
  • Ken Wessel - Guitar Solo (6)
  • Ken Emerson - Guitar (3)
  • Jon Herington - Guitar (3, 4, 5-8), Guitar Solo (1, 2), Guitar Chorus Solo (9)
  • Wayne Krantz - Guitar (1-3, 6-9), Guitar Solo (4, 5)
  • Hugh McCracken - Guitar (1-3, 9)
  • Ted Baker - Piano (2, 5), Whirly Piano (3, 6), Fender Piano (7, 8)
  • Roger Rosenberg - Baritone Sax (2, 4, 5)
  • Marvin Stamm - Trumpet (1, 2, 4, 5, 9)
  • Walt Weiskopf - Alto Sax (4, 5), Tenor Sax Solo (1, 2), Tenor Sax (9)
  • Lawrence Feldman - Clarinet (2), Tenor Sax (4, 5)
  • Illinois Elohainu - Flute (8)
  • Howard Levy - Harmonica Solo (3), Harmonica (7)
  • Mark Patterson - Trombone (2, 4, 5)
  • Harlan Post, Jr. - Acoustic Bass (7)
  • Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington - Bass Guitar (1-3, 5-9)
  • Brian Montgomery - Remedial Bass Guitar (9)
  • Keith Carlock - Drums (1-3, 5-9)
  • Bashiri Johnson - Percussion (4)
  • Gordon Gottlieb - Percussion (2, 4, 6, 8)
  • Joe Passaro - Percussion (5)
  • Phonus Quaver - Marimba (1, 4, 9), Vibes (1, 5, 8, 9)
  • Jennifer Battista - Clappers (6)
  • Camille Meza - Clappers (6)
  • Candice Predham - Clappers (6)
  • Eddie Jackson - Clappers (6)
  • Jerry Barnes - Backup Vocals (1, 5, 9)
  • Michael Harvey - Backup Vocals (1, 6, 9)
  • Amy Helm - Backup Vocals (3)
  • Carolyn Leonhart - Backup Vocals (3, 8)
  • Cindy Mizelle - Backup Vocals (3)

    Produced by Donald Fagen
    Joseph M. Palmaccio - Mastering
    Darcy Proper - Mastering
    Maria Triana - Mastering Assistant
    Tracking Engineer - Elliot Scheiner at
    CLINTON RECORDING STUDIOS, NYC
    Overdub / ProTools Engineers:
    AVATAR STUDIOS, NYC: Brian Montgomery
    SEAR, NYC
    and SUGAR SOUND, Kauai: T.J. Doherty
    Mix Engineer: Elliot Schemer
    at
    AVATAR STUDIOS, NYC
    Second Mix Engineer: Brian Montgomery
    Assistant Engineers: Eddie Jackson, Jim Keller, Chad Lupo,
    Steve Mazur, Brian Montgomery,
    Matt Schemer, Bryan Smith
    and Allan "A.T." Thomas
    Piano from
    Steinway NYC
    Piano Technicians: Sam Berd, Wayne Williams
    Drum / Guitar Tech: Artie Smith
    Music Copyist: Gary Blu
    Mastered at SONY MASTERING
    Mastering Engineer: Darcy Proper
    Additional Mastering: Joe Palmaccio
    Mastering Assistant: Maria Triana

    Management: FRONT LINE MANAGEMENT
    - Irving Azoff

    Production Coordinators: Jill Dell'Abate
    and Cindy Osborne
    Production Assistant (Hawaii):
    Mary Lou Arnold

    Art Direction: Jen Heiden
    for
    SMOG DESIGN. Inc.
    Design: Ryan Corey
    for
    SMOG DESIGN. Inc.
    Photography: Danny Clinch

    Thanks To all the musicians, technicians and crew listed above whose sparkle made this gig so reet.

    More Thanks To Skip Gildersleeve, Michael Leonhart. Peter Meyer and Tommy Morrongiello

    Mahalo To Neil and Melissa Norman; Benjy and Terry Garfmkel; Amber, Chloe. Koa and all the Kauai kids; Jim and Dome Winkler; Richard Fernandez; Terry Sullivan; Al Santos; Tris Imboden; and Allan (A.T.) Thomas

    Special Thanks To Susan, Emily, Michael and Jerry; Amy and Ezra; and Irving Azoff. In memory of Elinor Fagen aka Ellen Ross Dedicated to my wife, Libby Titus Fagen

    Recorded at AVATAR STUDIOS, NYC
    CLINTON RECORDING STUDIOS, NYC
    SEAR SOUND, NYC
    SUGAR SOUND, Kauai




    1. Morph The Cat

      High above Manhattan town
      What floats and has a shape like that
      Fans like us who watch the skies
      We know it's Morph the Cat

      Gliding like a big blue cloud
      From Tomkins Square to Upper Broadway
      Beyond the park to Sugar Hill
      Stops a minute for a latte

      He oozes down the heating duct
      Swims like seaweed down the hall
      He briefly digs your wiggy pad
      And seeps out through the wall

      It's kind of like an arctic mindbath
      Cool and sweet and slightly rough
      Liquid light on New York City
      Like Christmas without the chintzy stuff

      What exactly does he want
      This Rabelaisian puff of smoke
      To make you feel all warm and cozy
      Like you heard a good joke

      Like you heard an Arlen tune
      Or you bought yourself a crazy hat
      Like you had a Mango Cooler
      Ooh - Morph the Cat

      He's all the talk in shops and schoolyards
      Sultan Place - the Automat
      Players playin' in da Bronx
      Respects to Morph the Cat

      It's kind of like an arctic mindbath
      Cool and sweet and slightly rough
      Liquid light on New York City
      Like Christmas without the chintzy stuff

      So rich is his charisma
      You can almost hear it sing
      He skims the roofs
      And bells begin to ring

      Chinese cashiers can feel it now
      Grand old gals at evening mass
      Young racketeers
      And teenage models
      Laughing on the grass

      Blessed Yankees have an ally
      When this feline comes to bat
      Bringing joy to old Manhattan
      All watch the skies for Morph the Cat

    2. H Gang

      I hear Denise is back on the outside
      That's she's got a wicked plan
      She's callin' in the Gong sisters again
      To form the ultimate five chord band

      For eight months now in that freaking cell
      She's been knockin' ideas around
      Now she's good and ready to make a big noise
      Right here in her own hometown
    Chorus:

    Here comes the h-gang
    Slammin' into Hinktown
    Oh you better get off the stage boy
    'cause they'll be looking for a showdown

      On a moonless night they started off
      On a bus called Happy Day
      To bring their vision to cities and towns
      Across the U.S.A.

      And in every club and hall they played
      The crowd knew every word
      Even today folks are talkin' about
      The incredible sounds they heard
    Chorus:

    Here comes the h-gang
    Turn on the floodlights
    Get off the stage son
    Unless you're ready for a kickfight

      Whatever happened to the H-Gang
      Some say they were the best
      I heard they broke up, Denise got hitched
      And she's living in the Mid West.
      Visit OldieLyrics.com
      There's a film that's in production,
      The working title, "Song of Desire,"
      'bout an orphan girl with this crazy red hair,
      And a voice and a dream and a soul on fire
    Chorus:

    Here comes the h-gang
    Slammin' into Hinktown
    Oh you better get off the stage boy
    'cause they'll be looking for a showdown

    Chorus:

    Here comes the h-gang
    Slammin' into Hinktown
    Oh you better get off the stage boy
    Unless you're looking for a showdown

    3. What I Do

      What I Do
      I say "Ray, why do girls treat you nice that way?"
      He said it's not what I know
      What I think or say

      It's what I do
      It's what I do
      It's deep beneath the skin
      It's what I major in
      It's what I do

      Yes, I come to play and I bring big soul
      I could rock long before they named it
      Rock and roll

      It's what I do
      It's what I do
      I'm specially qualified
      To keep them satisfied
      It's what I do

      You turn the lamp down low
      You make them feel secure
      You've got to show the girl
      She's the one you adore
      If you want that sugar to pour
      Well you bring some church but you leave no doubt
      As to what kind of love you love to shout about

      It's what I do
      It's what I do
      If you can't dance by now
      The Raelettes will show you how
      It's what I do
      You turn the lamp down low
      You make them feel secure
      You've got to show the girl
      She's the one you adore If you want that sugar to pour

      He says
      Don don't despair just take some time
      You find your bad self, you're gonna do just fine
      It's what I do
      It's what I do
      It's not some game i play
      It's in my DNA
      It's what I do

    4. Brite Nitegown

      I dreamed I had a fever
      I was pushin' one-oh-three
      My mom's all upset - cryin' by my bedside
      Everybody's prayin' for me
      I hear a scratchin' at the window
      I somehow twist myself around
      I realize I'm eyes to eyes
      With the fella in the Brite Nitegown

      Brite Nitegown
      Brite Nitegown
      You can't fight with the fella
      In the Brite Nitegown

      The eagle flies on Friday
      My baby wants to bash
      I hit the ATM - and march down the street
      With a roll of party cash.
      Right then a couple lit-up brothers
      They gently put me on the ground
      They do the steal and leave me to deal
      With the fella in the Brite Nitegown

      Brite Nitegown
      Brite Nitegown
      You can't fight with the fella
      In the Brite Nitegown

      Ten milligrams of Chronax
      Will whip you back through time
      Past Hebrew kings - and furry things
      To the birth of humankind
      I shared in all of nature's secrets
      But when I finally came around
      I'm sittin' on the rug gettin' a victory hug
      From the fella in the brite Brite Nitegown

      Brite Nitegown
      Brite Nitegown
      You can't fight with the fella
      In the Brite Nitegown

    5. The Great Pagoda Of Funn

      The stars are bright tonight
      The air is sweet
      Though summer's over now
      There's a strange new music in the street

      You and I
      Know the world can't be like this
      It's our love that makes it shine

      Girl
      Whatever trouble waits outside these doors
      We're safe inside thsi house of light
      We make up our own storyline

      Around the neighborhood
      They stare and grin
      As if they live their lives
      Just to help maintin the state we're in
      But when we fight
      Then those hungry woolves close in
      We're one thoughtless word away

      From poison skies
      And severed heads
      And pain and lies
      So follow me
      I'll hold you tight
      And we'll build a life together
      In the great pagoda of funn

      This magic soon will fade
      Without a doubt
      We'll have to work my love
      Just to keep the flame from going out
      Cause if we fail
      Then these walls will fall away
      And we'll fin we're in the realm

      Of psycho-moms
      And dying stars
      And dirty bombs
      Please follow me
      And hold me tight
      Yes we'll build a world together
      In the great pagoda of funn

    6. Security Joan

      Well I guess I needed a miracle
      If I was gonna make my flight
      I had to get to gate C13
      And it was still way out of sight
      Something in my carry on bag
      Tipped off the x-ray machine
      'Cause then an angel straight from heaven
      Asked me to 'step behind that screen'
      And when I felt the wand sweep over me
      You know I never felt so clean
    Chorus:

    Well you won't find my name on your list
    Honey you know I ain't no terrorist
    Confiscate my shoes, my cellphone
    You know I love you,
    Security Joan

      I hung out at the Starbucks
      'til just around boarding time
      Then I strolled on back to the checkpoint
      Just one thing on my mind
      She flashed that crooked smile and said
      'Well I believe you missed your flight'.
      I said 'There's been a minor change of plan,
      And I'll be stayin' for one more night'.
      I could tell from the way she looked at me
      Everything was gonna be all right
    Chorus
      Search me now !

    7. The Night Belongs To Mona

      Mona's become a child of the night
      When she goes out
      It's only for bare necessities
      She says she's had it up to here with light
      While the city sleeps
      That's when she comes alive

      Yes, the night belongs to Mona
      When she's dancing all alone
      Forty floors above the city
      CDs spinnin'
      AC hummin'
      Feelin' pretty

      Sometimes she'll call at some unholy hour
      She wants to talk
      All of this grim and funny stuff
      Then she'll go all quiet in her Chelsea tower
      And that' when we wait
      To see how the story ends

      'Cause the night belongs to Mona
      When she's dancing all alone
      Forty floors above the city
      CDs spinnin'
      AC hummin'
      Feelin' pretty

      Was it the fire downtown
      That turned her world around
      Was it some guy or lots of different things
      We all wonder where she's gone
      That sunny girl we used to know
      Now every night we get the Mona show

      Maybe it's good that she's above it all
      Things don't seem as dark
      When you're already dressed in black
      We try not to see the writing on the wall
      What happens tomorrow

      When the moonrays
      Get so bright
      When she rises
      Towards the starlight
      Miles above
      The city's heat
      Will she fall hard
      Or float softly to the street

      Tonight the night belongs to Mona
      When she's dancing all alone
      Forty floors above the city
      CDs spinnin'
      AC hummin'
      Feelin' pretty

    8. Mary Shut The Garden Door

      They came in under the radar
      When our backs were turned around
      In a fleet of Lincoln Town Cars
      They rolled into our town
      Confounded all six senses
      Like an opiate in the brain
      Mary shut the garden door
      Looks a lot like rain

      Mary shut the garden door
      Mary shut the garden door

      We pounded Rachel's radio
      For reports about the bridge
      There was nothing on but static
      Nothing in the fridge
      We lay there listening to the wind
      Whistling through the pines
      When we heard the engines idling
      Saw the headlights through the blinds

      Mary shut the garden door
      Mary shut the garden door

      Rough dreams
      Those voices in the kitchen
      I woke up
      And sensed the new condition
      They won
      Storms raged
      Things changed
      Forever

      So if you ever see an automaton
      In a midprice luxury car
      Better roll the sidewalks up
      Switch on your lucky star
      'Cause this zombie does impressions
      But not really to amuse
      This ballad is for lovers
      With something left to lose

      Mary shut the garden door
      Mary shut the garden door