STEELY DAN

Alive In America
(Live)

(1995)

1. Babylon Sisters 6'47
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(St. Petersburg. FL 8/19/94)
Late-seventies L.A. noir. Apocalyptic. Burned out. Slide into decadence or healing regression? Cool beat.
Tenor Solo: Bob Sheppard
2. Green Earrings 5'21
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Irvine, Ca 9/10/93)
Minimalist lyrics. Quarial harmony. Suave criminal. Picaresque. Power over women. Altered blues.
Solos: W.B., Bernhardt, Zingg, Bumpus, Zingg.
3. Bodhisattva 5'47
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Detroit, MI 8/27/94)
Lure of East. Hubris of hippies. Quick fix. Jokey blues.
Wadenius, Chambers awesome. W.B. wraps it.
4. Reelin' In The Years 6'25
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Chicago, IL 8/26/94)
Reclaimed juvenilia. "Infernal woman". Escape from relationship
Neat Solos: W.B., Potter, Wadenius
5. Josie 6'11
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Phoenix, AZ 9/18/94)
Mock-sacred intro. Ritualistic. Wasteland. Return of town hipstress sparks healing regression. Fertility. Regeneration. Human sacrifice?
W.B. throughout. Drum solo: Chambers
6. Book Of Lairs 4'19
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Phoenix. AZ 9/6/93)
Betrayal in the burbs. Blue Xmas. Faux Afrique, c'est chic. Triadic. Tribadic.
Chet Bob pipes, Fortean Bernhardt tinkles. W.B. sings!
7. Peg 4'19
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Detroit, MI 8/27/94)
Girlfriend. Narcissistic. Showbiz. Cult of self. Karmic payback.
Wadenius plays
8. Third World Man 6'38
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Charlotte, NC 9/19/93)
Minor chords. Brooding. Scary little kid. Terrorists, media, identifies. Oedipal transposition. How resolved?
Zingg. Erskine perfect.
9. Kid Charlemagne 5'16
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Detroit, MI 8/27/94)
Sixties epitaph. Designer druggist. Power, glory. Running on empty.
Wadenius Solos
10. Sign In Stranger 6'34
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Detroit, MI 8/27/94)
Boom planet.
Bill Ware: Vibes. New Sax break. Proto-cyberpunk.
Bridge: new lyrics (!)
11. Aja 9'02
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
(Irvine, CA 9/17/94)
Eclectic. Orientalism. Slide into decadence of healing regression?
Structure: AABBCCAC.
Original had Wayne Shorter. New has Chris Potter. Plus great Chambers.
Show over.

Total Time: 66:39

  • Walter Becker - Guitar, Vocal on "Book Of Liars"
  • Donald Fagen - Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Keytar, Melodica
  • George Wadenius - Guitar
  • Drew Zingg - Guitar
  • Tom Bernhardt - Piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Cornelius Bumpus - Tenor Sax
  • Chris Potter - Alto Sax, Tenor Sax
  • Bob Sheppard - Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax
  • Tom Barney - Bass Guitar
  • Dennis Chambers - Drums
  • Bill Ware III - Percussion, Vibraphone
  • Brenda White-King - Background Vocals
  • Diane Garisto - Background Vocals
  • Catherine Russell - Background Vocals, Whistle (Human)

    Donald Fagen - Producer
    Gary Blu - Assistant Arranger, Music Copyist
    Scott Kubrin - Additional Coordination
    Phil Burnett - Additional Engineering
    Anthony Gillis - Second Engineer
    Tony Gonzalez - Second Engineer
    Tom Bernhardt - Rehearsal Director
    Larry Yager - Lights
    Peter Wiltz - Keyboard Technician
    RIVER SOUND Crew: Robert Siciliano, Larry Shea, Debbie Levitte, Don Spangler
    Sam Berd - Piano Tuner
    Craig Fruin - Management at HK MANAGEMENT
    Ira Yohalem & Scott Gruber - Accounting at YOHALEM GILLMAN & Co.
    Howard Rose - Booking
    Carol Boboltsint - Art Direction at RED HERRING DESIGN
    Margo Norton - Art Research
    Photography: Stephen Cridland, Jacky Sallow, Pete Fogel,Donald Fagen
    Inlay and Page 11 Photographs taken at The GORGE AMPITEATER

    All NEW STEELY DAN ORCHESTRA '93: Same except substitute:

    Peter Erskine - Drums
    Drew Zingg - Rehearsal Director

    Citizen STEELY DAN Crew '94:

    Joseph Anthony - Tour Assistant
    Douglas Casper - Tour Manager
    Richard Fernandez - Tour Manager
    Jerry Gendron - Tour Accountant
    Tomas Kipphut: Production Manager,
    Jessica Piper - Production Assistant
    Christopher Bishop - Monitors
    William Celello Jr. - Guitar Technician
    Ed Conrad - Clair Bros.
    Dean Cornell - Lights
    Bryce Heugel - Lights
    James Khalaf - Sound
    Kelly Lapping - Lights
    Roger Nichols: Monitor Engineer
    Jeff Ravitz - Lighting
    Tony Rossi - Clair Bros.
    Amy Skelton - Merchandise Representative
    Terry Weitand - Drum Technician
    Ricky Bain - Truck Driver
    Mike Ball - Crew Bus
    Gary Cadow - Rigger
    Larry Ross - Crew Bus
    Donald Rouzano - Carpenter
    Paul Singer - Truck Driver
    Jeremy Van Lamer - Truck Driver

    All NEW STEELY DAN Crew '93: Same except substitute the following:

    Harvey Schaps - Tour Manager, Tour Account
    Ed Dracoules - Monitors
    Jimmy Isaacs - Guitar Technician
    David Kobb and Craig Shertz - Sound
    Les Meadley - Merchendise Representative
    Gary Grimm - Drum Technician
    Marc Nalore - Keyboard Technician

    Peter Erskin appears Courtesy of ECM RECORDS

    Recorded live on tour by Roger Nichols during the summers of 1993 & 1994.
    Mop-up and Mixdown by Roger Nichols at     RIVER SOUND, NYC
    Mixed 20 bit AD1000 and UV22
    Mastered by Scott Hull at     MASTERDISK, NYC
    Tape supplied by Tom Salisbury at     AMPEX
    Production Coordinator / Assistatnt to Donald Fagen: Scott Barkham

    Published by ZEON MUSIC

    1. Did STEELY DAN ever tour back in the seventies, when they were recording ?

    Yes they did, for about two years after the release of their first album "Can't Buy A Thrill". But the road seemingly didn't agree with Donald and Walter, and as soon as they felt they had established themselves sufficiently to sell records without the promotional value of touring, they stopped playing in public and concentrated their efforts on writing and recording their songs.

    2. What were their performances like back in those days ?

    The shows got bigger and better as the decade wore on.

    3. Why, after so many years, did they decide to put together a band and tour again ?

    a) to forestall middle aged decrepitude
    b) to be able to fly around in a private jet for a month or two
    c) to hear what "Babylon Sisters" sounded like live

    4. Íîw did the guys prepare for the first tour ? Íîw were the particular songs chosen ?

    First, Donald and Walter bought copies of the STEELY DAN Songbook, to help them remember their old songs. But they soon learned that the music in these books were full of wrong




    1. Babylon Sisters

      Drive west on Sunset
      To the sea
      Turn that jungle music down
      Just until we're out of town
      This is no one night stand
      It's a real occasion
      Close your eyes and you'll be there
      It's everything they say
      The end of a perfect day
      Distant lights from across the bay
      Babylon sisters shake it
      Babylon sisters shake it
      So fine so young
      Tell me I'm the only one

      Here come those Santa Ana winds again

      We'll jog with show folk on the sand
      Drink kirschwasser from a shell
      San Francisco show and tell
      Well I should know by now
      That it's just a spasm
      Like a Sunday in T.J.
      That it's cheap but it's not free
      That I'm not what I used to be
      And that love's not a game for three

      Babylon sisters shake it
      Babylon sisters shake it
      So fine so young
      Tell me I'm the only one

      My friends say no don't go
      For that cotton candy
      Son you're playing with fire
      The kid will live and learn
      As he watches his bridges burn
      From the point of no return

      Babylon sisters shake it
      Babylon sisters shake it
      So fine so young
      Tell me I'm the only one

    2. Green Earrings

      Cold, daring
      No flies on me
      Sorry, angel
      I must take what I see
      Green earrings
      I remember
      The rings of rare design
      I remember
      The look in your eyes
      I don't mind

      Greek medallion
      Sparkles when you smile
      Sorry, angel
      I get hungry like a child

      Green earrings
      I remember
      The rings of rare design
      I remember
      The look in your eyes
      I don't mind

    3. 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

    4. Reelin' In The Years

      Your everlasting summer
      You can see it fading fast
      So you grab a piece of something
      That you think is gonna last
      You wouldn't know a diamond
      If you held it in your hand
      The things you think are precious
      I can't understand
    Chorus:

    Are you reelin' in the years
    Stowin' away the time
    Are you gatherin' up the tears
    Have you had enough of mine

      You been tellin' me you're a genius
      Since you were seventeen
      In all the time I've known you
      I still don't know what you mean
      The weekend at the college
      Didn't turn out like you planned
      The things that pass for knowledge
      I can't understand
    Chorus
      I spend a lot of money
      And I spent a lot of time
      The trip we made in Hollywood
      Is etched upon my mind
      After all the things we've done and seen
      You find another man
      The things you think are useless
      I can't understand
    Chorus

    5. Josie

      We're gonna break out the hats and hooters
      When Josie comes home
      We're gonna rev up the motor scooters
      When Josie comes home to stay
      We're gonna park in the street
      Sleep on the beach and make it
      Throw down the jam till the girls say when
      Lay down the law and break it
      When Josie comes home

      When Josie comes home
      So good
      She's the pride of the neighborhood
      She's the raw flame
      The live wire
      She prays like a Roman
      With her eyes on fire

      Jo would you love to scrapple
      She'll never say no
      Shine up the battle apple
      We'll shake 'em all down tonight
      We're gonna mix in the street
      Strike at the stroke of midnight
      Dance on the bones till the girls say when
      Pick up what's left by daylight
      When Josie comes home

      When Josie comes home
      So bad
      She's the best friend we ever had
      She's the raw flame
      The live wire
      She prays like a Roman
      With her eyes on fire

      When Josie comes home
      So good
      She's the pride of the neighborhood
      She's the raw flame
      The live wire
      She prays like a Roman
      With her eyes on fire

    6. Book Of Lairs


    7. Peg

      I've seen your picture
      Your name in lights above it
      This is your big debut
      It's like a dream come true
      And when you smile for the camera
      I know they're gonna love it

      I like your pin shot
      I keep it with your letter
      Done up in blueprint blue
      It sure looks good on you
      So won't you smile for the camera
      I know I'll love you better

      Peg
      It will come back to you
      Peg
      It will come back to you
      Then the shutter falls
      You see it all in 3-D
      It's your favorite foreign movie

    8. Third World Man

      Johnny's playroom
      Is a bunker filled with sand
      He's become a third world man
      Smoky Sunday
      He's been mobilized since dawn
      Now he's crouching on the lawn
      He's a third world man

      Soon you'll throw down your disguise
      We'll see behind those bright eyes
      By and by
      When the sidewalks are safe
      For the little guy

      I saw the fireworks
      I believed that I was dreaming
      Till the neighbors came out screaming
      He's a third world man

      Soon you'll throw down your disguise
      We'll see behind those bright eyes
      By and by
      When the sidewalks are safe
      For the little guys

      When he's crying out
      I just sing that Ghana Rondo
      E l'era del terzo mondo
      He's a third world man

    9. Kid Charlemagne

      While the music played you worked by candlelight
      Those San Francisco nights
      You were the best in town
      Just by chance you crossed the diamond with the pearl
      You turned it on the world
      That's when you turned the world around
      Did you feel like Jesus
      Did you realize
      That you were a champion in their eyes
      On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene
      But yours was kitchen clean
      Everyone stopped to stare at your technicolor motor home
      Every A-Frame had your number on the wall
      You must have had it all
      You'd go to L.A. on a dare
      And you'd go it alone
      Could you live forever
      Could you see the day
      Could you feel your whole world fall apart and fade away
    Chorus:

    Get along, get along Kid Charlemagne
    Get along Kid Charlemagne

      Now your patrons have all left you in the red
      Your low rent friends are dead
      This life can be very strange
      All those dayglow freaks who used to paint the face
      They've joined the human race
      Some things will never change
      Son you were mistaken
      You are obsolete
      Look at all the white men on the street
    Chorus
      Clean this mess up else we'll all end up in jail
      Those test tubes and the scale
      Just get them all out of here
      Is there gas in the car
      Yes, there's gas in the car
      I think the people down the hall
      Know who you are

      Careful what you carry
      'Cause the man is wise
      You are still an outlaw in their eyes
    Chorus

    10. Sign In Stranger

      Have you heard about the boom on Mizar Five
      People got to shout to stay alive
      They don't even have policeman one
      Doesn't matter where you been or what you've done
      Do you have a dark spot on your past
      Leave it to my man he'll fix it fast
      Pepe has a scar from ear to ear
      He will make your mug shots disappear
    Chorus:

    You zombie
    Be born again my friend
    Won't you sign in stranger

      Do you like to take a yo-yo for a ride
      Zombie I can see you're qualified
      Walk around collecting Turkish union dues
      They will call you sir and shine your shoes
      Or maybe you would like to see the show
      You'll enjoy the Cafe D'Escargot
      Folks are in a line around the block
      Just to see her do the can-can-Jacques
    Chorus
      Love or leave her, yellow fever
      Sure, it's all in the game
      And who are you
      Just another scurvy brother
    Chorus

    11. Aja

      Up on the hill
      People never stare
      They just don't care
      Chinese music under banyan trees
      Here at the dude ranch above the sea
      Aja
      When all my dime dancin' is through
      I run to you

      Up on the hill
      They've got time to burn
      There's no return
      Double helix in the sky tonight
      Throw out the hardware
      Let's do it right
      Aja
      When all my dime dancin' is through
      I run to you

      Up on the hill
      They think I'm okay
      Or so they say
      Chinese music always sets me free
      Angular banjoes
      Sound good to me
      Aja
      When all my dime dancin' is through
      I run to you