Gaucho Amigos

Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, the legendary drummer who played on several songs on The Royal Scam and Aja, and whose influential "Purdie Shuffle" is featured on "Babylon Sisters" and "Home at Last," joins the podcast to talk all about his collaborations with Steely Dan.

Jake Morris, the longtime drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, joins the podcast for a rambling chat about his love of Steely Dan, Malkmus, indie rock touring, and his own excellent new solo album The Long Goodbye. 

"Hollywood" Steve Huey, co-creator of the original "Yacht Rock" web series and featured interview subject in HBO's new movie Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, joins the podcast to further discuss the complicated relationship between the music of Steely Dan and the genre of jazz-inflected soft rock that has been retroactively dubbed "yacht rock."

Mastering engineer Scott Hull, who worked on Two Against Nature and Kamakiriad, joins the podcast to reflect on his experiences collaborating in the studio with Donald and Walter. Also, music journalist Robyn Flans (author of It's About Time: Jeff Porcaro) joins to share stories about the late, great session drummer Jeff Porcaro's experiences with Steely Dan.

Sound engineer Dinky Dawson joins the podcast to discuss his experiences live mixing, recording and spending time with Steely Dan on their 1974 tour, which would end up being their final tour for almost 20 years. Dinky also shares some news about the potential release of a newly discovered 1974 show.

Don Breithaupt, who wrote the 33 1/3 series book on Aja, joins the podcast to talk about his lifelong relationship to Steely Dan's music as a writer, singer-songwriter, and fan. Don passes on some of the musical wisdom he received from interviewing Donald Fagen for his Aja book, and discusses the influence of Steely Dan on his long-running musical band and project Monkey House.

Engineer, mixer, and producer Elliot Scheiner, who won Grammys for his work on Aja, Gaucho, and Two Against Nature, joins the podcast to talk all about his experiences working on those classic Steely Dan albums, and more.

Producer and singer-songwriter Thomas Dolby joins the podcast to primarily discuss his collaborations with another band whose songs contain obtuse lyrics and complex chord sequences, Prefab Sprout. Thomas shares his experiences producing the albums Steve McQueen (1985) and Jordan: The Comeback (1990), and also talks a bit about his own solo work and of course, Steely Dan.

Guitarist Elliott Randall joins the podcast to talk all about his experiences with Steely Dan, from playing shows and recording with Donald and Walter in 1960's New York, to later joining them in L.A. to lay down guitar solos on songs like "Reelin' in the Years" and "Green Earrings." Elliott also looks back on friendships with several beloved musicians including Jimi Hendrix, Laura Nyro, and others.

Writer and bassist Andy Cush (Pitchfork, Garcia Peoples) joins the podcast to discuss the challenges of tackling the Steely Dan hits with his new cover band Katy & the Liars, and shares how Chuck Rainey's bass parts on "Kid Charlemagne" and "Peg" inspired him to learn how to slap the bass.

Max Zuckerman's debut solo album The Corner Office, with its perfectly arranged jazz-pop epics about creeps and sleazebags, is very reminiscent of a certain band...Max joins the podcast to talk about his own work and creative process, his love of Steely Dan, and other musical influences including Brazilian groups like Azymuth and Japanese City Pop.

Classic rock journalist Allison Rapp (Ultimate Classic Rock) joins the podcast to discuss some of her favorite songs from the Dan-verse, including "Daddy Don't Live in That New York City" and Tori Amos' cover of "Do It Again," and shares what it was like to see Steely Dan on their current tour with the Eagles. Also, Alex shares a brief follow-up on the "lost" Gaucho song "Heartbreak Souvenir."

Guitarist Steve Khan, who played on 5 of the 7 tracks on Gaucho including the solo on "Glamour Profession," joins the podcast to talk all about his experiences collaborating with Steely Dan. Steve also shares his memories of recording on some of the "lost Gaucho" tracks, including "I Can't Write Home About You" and "Heartbreak Souvenir."

Wand frontman, guitarist, and singer-songwriter Cory Hanson joins the podcast to discuss how Steely Dan influences his creative process. He also shares his thoughts on classic rock, the eerie perfection of Aja, and some of his other musical influences ranging from Steve Howe to Sinatra.

Writer Jazmine Hughes joins the podcast to share her "Steely Dan testimony," explaining how she discovered their work through hip-hop samples, and later developed an appreciation of their witty, off-kilter lyrics.  Also, I talk to Helen Newby about her superb cello cover of "Peg."

Drummer Rick Marotta, the session specialist who played on classic Steely Dan songs like "Peg," "Hey Nineteen," "Time Out of Mind," and others, joins the podcast to share his experiences recording with Donald and Walter in the late 70's.

Graphic designer/artist Anna Martinez (better known as "Jive Miguel" on Twitter) joins the podcast to talk about how connecting with other Steely Dan fans was like "finding her people." Anna also shares her thoughts on some of the catalogue's puzzling artwork choices, and explains why she's taken on learning the melodica as an homage to Donald.

Writer and film composer Paul Grimstad (The Sweet East) joins the podcast to discuss the particulars of Steely Dan's studio recording process and their mastery of arranging for rock music. Paul also shares how a piece on Gaucho he wrote for The Paris Review led to a correspondence and eventual interview with Donald himself.

New Zealand-based computer musician Luke Rowell joins the podcast to discuss how a surging interest in Steely Dan has influenced his vaporwave music project Eyeliner, whether it be from Donald's piano tutorials or a shared love of "fake fake jazz."

Vibraphonist Bill Ware (Groove Collective, Home at Last) joins the podcast to talk about his experiences as a band member of Steely Dan from 1993-95. Bill shares some "behind the scenes" tour stories, and explains how Donald's creative process and compositional techniques became an important influence his own work.

Singer-songwriter F.J. McMahon joins the podcast to tell the story behind his 1969 folk-rock masterpiece Spirit of the Golden Juice, sharing how his experiences in Vietnam and living in San Francisco during the 60's informed the songs on the only album he's ever released. Also, F.J. discusses his love of Steely Dan and explains why they were his favorite band throughout the 1970's.

Writer Jack Hamilton (author of Just Around Midnight: Rock and Roll and the Racial Imagination) joins the podcast to discuss Steely Dan's relationship to R&B and Motown, and how Donald and Walter's reclusiveness and decision to forgo touring helped create a cult following that endures today.

Kenny Vance (singer and founding member of Jay and the Americans) joins the podcast to tell the story of discovering two young songwriters named Fagen and Becker at the Brill Building in the late 1960's, and shares what it was like to tour, record, and collaborate with Donald and Walter in the "pre-Steely Dan" era.

Actor and comedian Rob Delaney (author of A Heart That Works) joins the podcast to talk about his newfound Steely Dan obsession, giving particular praise to their "rock band" era, and contrasting Donald's legacy with that of adjacent NYC-area rock legends Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed.

Brian Sweet, author of Steely Dan biography Reelin' in the Years, joins the podcast to talk about how he ended up writing the first Steely Dan book ever published.  Brian also shares what it was like to be a Dan fan in the pre-Internet era, and how he eventually came to meet his heroes Donald and Walter.

Keyboardist, arranger, and studio specialist Rob Mounsey joins the podcast to share his experiences working on Steely Dan's 1980 album Gaucho. Rob discusses in detail his contributions to the songs "Babylon Sisters," "Glamour Profession," and "Gaucho," and sheds some light on the creative process behind those three legendary Steely Dan tracks.

Zamauri Jones, aka "Dealing Stan" on Instagram, joins the podcast to talk about the origins of his Steely Dan obsession and how it led to the creation of his popular fan account. We also explore some of the deep cuts, live rarities and other Dan-related obscurities Zamauri has discovered over the years and shared on his account.

Lenise Bent (the first female audio engineer to receive a Platinum Album) joins the podcast to share her experiences working as an Assistant Engineer on Aja, recalling everything from the process of recording Donald's vocals on "Home at Last" to her memories of legendary guest appearances by Wayne Shorter and Michael McDonald. 

Samuel Purdey co-leader/songwriter and Steely Dan aficionado Barney Hurley joins the podcast to tell the origin story behind his incredible collection of Dan-related archival photographs and memorabilia. He also recalls his reaction to Two Against Nature's Grammy win, and shares what it was like to live in New York as a British Dan fan.

Renowned producer and audio engineer Bill Schnee (author of Chairman at the Board) joins the podcast to share some of his experiences working on Aja, for which he won a Grammy for Best Engineered Album. He explains how the recording process on that album defied his own expectations for working with Donald and Walter, and talks about his particular fondness for drummers Jeff Porcaro and Steve Gadd.

Guitarist and friend Tim Good joins the podcast to discuss the various styles of Steely Dan's many guitarists, from founding members Denny Dias and Skunk Baxter to session specialists Elliott Randall and Larry Carlton. Tim also explains why a one-off Steely Dan collaborator is his single favorite guitarist of all-time.

Screenwriter and author Howard Rodman joins the podcast to share some of his experiences as a lifelong friend of Walter Becker, from seeing Mingus in the Village with him to eating together at Mr. Chow's. He also shares his perspective on seeing a younger generation embrace the music of Steely Dan.

Fievel is Glauque songwriter and co-leader Zach Phillips joins the podcast in-person to discuss his creative process and recording ethos, contrasting his own approach to making music to Becker and Fagen's. We also talk about Walter's solo album 11 Tracks of Whack, and share some thoughts on the new "Second Arrangement." Produced with additional commentary by Winston Cook-Wilson.

Cimcie Nichols joins the podcast to discuss her late father Roger Nichols' life, legacy and work as Steely Dan's recording engineer. She also talks about her experience around discovering lost Gaucho track "The Second Arrangement," and shares some never-before-heard clips of Steely Dan recording stories from her father's vault.

Josh Mound (writer for Audiophile Style's The Best Version Of... series) joins the podcast to discuss Donald Fagen's The Nightfly, explaining why the album was a landmark in digital recording and how it became a popular "audiophile audition" album. We also explore why the themes of lead single "I.G.Y." have surprising relevance more than 40 years on.

Writer Libby Cudmore (contributing author to A Beast Without a Name) joins the podcast to talk about lost Steely Dan media, and shares what it was like to see the one and only performance of "The Second Arrangement" at the Beacon Theater in 2011. Also, Alex shares his thoughts on last week's long-awaited release of the "Second Arrangement" tape.  

Office Culture frontman, music critic, and friend Winston Cook-Wilson joins for the first in-person episode of Gaucho Amigos. We trace some of the roots of our joint interest in Steely Dan, and Winston shares everything from his particular appreciation for The Royal Scam (for which he wrote the Pitchfork review) to the connection between Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell's mid-70's period.

The man behind the "I.G.Y. Azalea" twitter account (@haitiandvorce) joins the podcast to share his thoughts on the online "Danaissance" phenomenon and his role in the Steely Dan twitter community, and talks about why the pandemic era renewed his love of the band and its rich, "meme-able" lore.

Singer-Songwriter James Jackson Toth (fka Wooden Wand) joins the podcast for a fun rambling Dan chat that touches on everything from "Albinigate" to touring life to the Minutemen cover of "Dr. Wu."

Writer Alex Pappademas and painter Joan LeMay join the podcast to discuss their brilliant new book Quantum Criminals. The authors explain how the idea of structuring a Steely Dan book around the cast of characters sparked their collaboration, as we dive into the Dan-verse to talk about characters both real (Cathy Berberian, Keith Jarrett) and imaginary (The Gaucho, The Squonk).

Book critic Chelsea Leu's recent New Yorker piece "My Unlikely Connection to Steely Dan" provided a refreshing and unique perspective on Steely fandom. Chelsea and her sister Katie join the podcast to share their story in detail, explaining how they stumbled upon the music of Steely Dan as sheltered teenagers growing up in the suburbs, and found unexpected analogues in the personas of Donald and Walter.

My conversation with Evan and Ian of the Jokermen podcast reaches its thrilling conclusion in this second half of a two-part episode. We continue discussing a soundboard recording of a September 1994 show, highlighting some of the individual performances of songs ranging from beloved hits to some of the deeper cuts from Donald and Walter's respective solo catalogues.

Evan and Ian of the Jokermen podcast join for a discussion about Steely Dan's 1990's live act. Through the lens of a bootleg soundboard recording of a 1994 show in Dallas, we talk about some of Don and Walt's creative choices in bringing their studio output to a live setting, and discuss how the "reunion tour" shows became the blueprint for the Steely Dan concert experience. Note: this is the first half of a two-part episode.

The man behind @TheNightflyWJAZ joins the podcast for a fun chat between two Dan-themed Twitter accounts. They speculate on everything from how Steely Dan might have been different had they continued alternating lead vocalists as on Can't Buy a Thrill, to what 1980's post-Gaucho "smooth jazz Steely Dan" might have sounded like. 

Author Peter Jones joins the podcast for a discussion of his recently published Donald Fagen biography Nightfly. He talks about how hearing Aja as a journalist and musician in the late 70's "detonated a bomb in his brain" and completely changed how he thought about songwriting. He also shares some of the most interesting discoveries unearthed in his research for the book, and explains why he chose not to idealize Donald despite a lifelong admiration of his work.

Film composer Julian Wass shares his "Steely Dan journey" and talks about how getting into them while in music school completely altered his perspective as a student.  He also recounts how seeing an ad for the "Reelin' in the Chips" Las Vegas residency inspired a road trip to finally see them live, as he and Alex compare notes on the Steely Dan concert experience.

Music critic Steven Hyden (author of the best-selling Twilight of the Gods) joins the podcast for a discussion about Steely Dan's ever-shifting legacy and their place in music history. He explains how their tenure as a studio-only ensemble anticipated how contemporary records are made, and how the reputation of the albums made during that era (such as Gaucho) has evolved as a result.

After hearing her excellent cover of "Time Out of Mind," it came of no surprise that London-based musician Lou Hayter has a deep knowledge and affection for Steely Dan. She talks to Alex about what it was like to cover them, and shares her love of some other Steely Dan-adjacent artists including David Crosby, Rosie Vela, and China Crisis.

Professional wrestler MVP is, in his own words, "one of the biggest Steely Dan nerds you'll ever meet."  The WWE star tells Alex about becoming obsessed with Steely Dan during the aftermath of a natural disaster, his love of Walter Becker's 2008 solo album "Circus Money," and much more in this fan-to-fan chat.

In this debut episode of new Steely Dan-themed podcast "Gaucho Amigos," Alex is joined by his friend Harry to discuss Steely Dan's place in the 1970's California music scene, Owsley Stanley, Donald Fagen's "I.G.Y." and "Memorabilia," and much more in this wide-ranging conversation about Steely Dan's legacy and lore.