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Steely Dan Archives

Steely Dan: Late Show Performance (1995)
Bass Videos

Steely Dan: Late Show Performance (1995)

On October 20, 1995, Steely Dan appeared on The Late Show. Here’s a great video by Don Giller with all the music from that episode. In the second part, you can see the band performing “Josie,” with Tom Barney on bass and Peter Erskine on drums.

Steely Dan Announces Earth After Hours Tour with Snarky Puppy and Aimee Mann
Concerts & Tours

Steely Dan Announces Earth After Hours Tour with Snarky Puppy and Aimee Mann

Steely Dan will be hitting the road for their “Earth After Hours” tour in May. The band, anchored by bass guru “Ready” Freddie Washington, will be in good company for their amphitheater tour, including Snarky Puppy and Aimee Mann.

Steely Dan: Reelin’ in the Years (Old Grey Whistle Test)
Bass Videos

Steely Dan: Reelin’ in the Years (Old Grey Whistle Test)

Here’s a fantastic clip from the “Old Grey Whistle Test”, which was recorded around 1973 but wasn’t aired until 1978. Steely Dan performs “Reelin’ in the Years”, with the late, great Walter Becker on bass.

Steely Dan to Play Full Albums, Hits on New Tour
Concerts & Tours

Steely Dan to Play Full Albums, Hits on New Tour

Steely Dan has announced a new tour that will include several residencies in which they will play their albums in full. The group, now fronted by Donald Fagen after Walter Becker’s passing, will include Freddie Washington on bass.

Steely Dan: Gaslighting Abbie
Bass Videos

Steely Dan: Gaslighting Abbie

As a lifelong Steely Dan fan, I was so thrilled when Two Against Nature came out. That was in large part to the opening track, “Gaslighting Abbie.” Hard to believe that was 17 years ago. Here’s the band performing the track live, with Tom Barney laying it down.

Bass Transcription: Walter Becker’s Bass Line on Steely Dan’s “Gaucho”
Transcriptions

Bass Transcription: Walter Becker’s Bass Line on Steely Dan’s “Gaucho”

This month I chose the self-titled track from Steely Dan’s 1981 record, as a focus of study. I had never heard this group before, though my friends told me all the time there are a lot of good studio musicians on the band’s records. I never was interested in their music until recently when I found this record at a...

Aidan Hampson Releases Steely Dan Transcription Book
Sheet Music & Instruction

Aidan Hampson Releases Steely Dan Transcription Book

Steely Dan fans will want to check out Aidan Hampson’s latest transcription book, which documents the bass lines from the band’s biggest hits. The 13-song collection covers their most prolific period from 1972’s Can’t Buy a Thrill to 1980’s Gaucho. Featuring hits like “Reelin’ In The Years”, “My Old School”, “Peg”, and more, the book includes the bass work of...

Steely Dan: “Babylon Sisters” (Live)
Bass Videos

Steely Dan: “Babylon Sisters” (Live)

To me, there are very few bands as timeless as Steely Dan. Here’s the band in 2000, performing live in New York around the time of Two Against Nature. Bassist Tom Barney makes the slow groove go on “Babylon Sisters”.

Steely Dan: Kid Charlemagne (Live)
Bass Videos

Steely Dan: Kid Charlemagne (Live)

Here’s a great live performance of Steely Dan’s tune “Kid Charlemagne”, for VH-1’s Storytellers. In this version, bassist Tom Barney really brings it!