Gaucho Amigos

50. “The Hitmaker” ft. Bernard Purdie

baddantakes — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 00:10:00 +0000

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.

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49. “The Long Goodbye” ft. Jake Morris

baddantakes — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:39:28 +0000

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.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

48. “Funked Up Muzak” ft. Steve Huey

baddantakes — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:39:30 +0000

"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."

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47. “Make Mine a Double, Sam” ft. Scott Hull / Robyn Flans

baddantakes — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:12:41 +0000

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.

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46. “This All Too Mobile Home” ft. Dinky Dawson

baddantakes — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 23:27:00 +0000

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.

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45. “Respect the Seven Second Delay” ft. Don Breithaupt

baddantakes — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:45:01 +0000

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.

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44. “Angular Banjos Sound Good to Me” ft. Elliot Scheiner

baddantakes — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:34:09 +0000

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.

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43. “We Work Well Together” ft. Thomas Dolby

baddantakes — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:24:49 +0000

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.

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42. “The Trip We Made to Hollywood” ft. Elliott Randall

baddantakes — Tue, 21 May 2024 10:23:44 +0000

Guitarist Elliott Randall joins the podcast to talk all about his experiences with Steely Dan over the years, 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.

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41. “They Never Knew it Went Down” ft. Andy Cush

baddantakes — Tue, 07 May 2024 09:47:58 +0000

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.

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40. “The Corner Office” ft. Max Zuckerman

baddantakes — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:01:47 +0000

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.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

39. “Gotta See a Joker” ft. Allison Rapp

baddantakes — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:04:34 +0000

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."

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

38. “Heartbreak Souvenir” ft. Steve Khan

baddantakes — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:38:31 +0000

Guitarist Steve Khan, who played on 5 of the 7 songs 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."

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37. “Die Behind the Wheel” ft. Cory Hanson

baddantakes — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 10:09:03 +0000

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 other musical influences ranging from Steve Howe to Sinatra.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

36. “It Will Come Back to You” ft. Jazmine Hughes / Helen Newby

baddantakes — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 13:16:00 +0000

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 a newfound appreciation of their witty, off-kilter lyrics. Also, I talk to Helen Newby about her superb cello cover of "Peg."

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

35. “Don’t Take Me Alive” ft. Rick Marotta

baddantakes — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:58:12 +0000

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.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

34. “In a Faded Yellow-Green” ft. Anna Martinez

baddantakes — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:05:33 +0000

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.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

33. “Stalking the Dread Moray Eel” ft. Paul Grimstad

baddantakes — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 11:29:27 +0000

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.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

32. “For the Little Guy” ft. Luke Rowell

baddantakes — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 12:38:39 +0000

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".

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

31. “Lovers All Beware” ft. Bill Ware

baddantakes — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 11:57:00 +0000

Vibraphonist Bill Ware (currently 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.

A member of The FM Podcasts Network.

30. “The Other Side of No Tomorrow” ft. F.J. McMahon

baddantakes — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 11:25:48 +0000

Singer-songwriter F.J. McMahon joins the podcast to tell the story behind his 1969 folk-rock masterpiece Spirit of the Golden Juice, and shares 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.

29. “I Can’t Cry Anymore” ft. Jack Hamilton

baddantakes — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 01:03:00 +0000

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.

28. “The Early Years” ft. Kenny Vance

baddantakes — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:46:11 +0000

Kenny Vance (singer and founding member of Jay and the Americans) joins the podcast to tell the story of how he discovered 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.

27. “Haulin’ Boss Crude” ft. Rob Delaney

baddantakes — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 01:39:00 +0000

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.

22. “Festive Icons Along the Way” ft. Barney Hurley

baddantakes — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000

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 victory, and shares some of his impressions of life in New York City as a British Dan fan.

20. “Hot Licks and Rhetoric” ft. Tim Good

baddantakes — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:52:00 +0000

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..

18. “Embrace of the Trade Winds” ft. Zach Phillips

baddantakes — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 19:01:00 +0000

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.

17. “The Home of a Mutual Friend” ft. Cimcie Nichols

baddantakes — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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.

14. “This Rabelaisian Puff of Smoke” ft. Winston Cook-Wilson

baddantakes — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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.

13. “Way Deep Into Nothing Special” ft. I.G.Y. Azalea

baddantakes — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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.

12. “Route 5 to Laughing Pines” ft. James Jackson Toth

baddantakes — Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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."

7. “With Jazz and Conversation” ft. Lester the Nightfly

baddantakes — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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.

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3. “The Silver Will Turn to Gold” ft. Lou Hayter

baddantakes — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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.

1. “They’ve Joined the Human Race” ft. Harry

baddantakes — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

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.