Steely Dan "Brooklyn" RARE DEMO TRACK

[GuiitarBilly]

Fave early SD tune! I much prefer Don singing it but like the tempo of the CBAT version. Thanks for posting. Fwiw, if it even matters anymore- the rights for these demos were signed over to a guy (kenny vance?) in order to get Becker and Fagen released from a contract-so they could go to LA and write/become Steely Dan. They've never made a penny off them and their 'unauthorized' release was sore point for decades for the SD perfectionists - to have these roughs out there. But Dan fans love em:)

[fentleyboa1]

Na Na @ 4:32 makes it Godlike!

[bobtis]

David Palmer did this one much better. Fagan was not ready yet.

[gi624]

This is interesting and more in the spirit of what Fagen would typically do but I don't like it as much as the original....drags too much and doesn't do Fagen's voice any favors.

[ihrescue]

Someone said a Dylan influence, I was thinking a The Band w/ the Hammond B3. Its a less pop sound. Good post.

[deadhardy]

@ihrescue

well the dylan influence makes sense....because the melody of this song is basically a remake of Dylan's song Queen Jane Approximately...intentional or not

[ricardomontalban07]

Fascinating.

[joro2000]

Definitely Dylan influence..wow..never heard it this way before..thanks!!



[MrAmberRocker]

There's also a lyrical change in the published version on "Can't Buy a Thrill". It's in the first line. "A race of angels, bound with one another" instead of together as in the demo. The extra stanza in this version IMO also compleately redefines the true meaning or intent of the song as a whole from its published version and settles the long held opposing views of what the song was meant to represent. I now must agree, the couple "under" were heroin dealers and not simple working class folk.

[RobAzula]

You can find this track on "Becker and Fagen: The Early Years" and "Steely Dan: Old Regime". I personally prefer this old demo version to the finished product on Can't Buy a Thrill. This version also features an extra stanza:

My sentry trembles, he feels the end is coming

His face is scowling; inside, he's on his knees

If looks and dreams could surely kill

He'd long be gone from here

Brooklyn owes the charmer under me

Brooklyn owes the charmer under me

Viva the Dan!

[lagoamemo]

@RobAzula Yeahhhh...thanks for comment. Viva Dan!

[alexriesenbeck]

@RobAzula awesome catch!

[jonnytatn15]

@RobAzula I prefer this version as well. It's a natural anthem! Thanks for posting.

[ultfasfred]

Very nice guitar and the B3 brings a tear to my eye. I feel so bad for the youth of today.

[mugwamp4]

 this is not that dissimilar to Dylan's "queen Jane "

[MisterIanPickering]

@mugwamp4 Hey, you're right , I've noticed that before when listening to Queen Jane; and of course, "Can't Buy A Thrill" is lifted from Dylan's song "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"..."Well, I ride on a mail train, mama, can't buy no thrill."

[mugwamp4]

@MisterIanPickering glad you hear it too..cheers

[reciprokal]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you....never heard this before, love yhr original but this is so raw and amazing!

[lagoamemo]

@reciprokal Hey, I´m glad you enjoy. Wellcome, wellcome, wellcome. Or how we say in Brazil, "por nada".

[troubadour1985]

Sooooo slooowww.

Im not sure which version i prefer.

Whichever one im listening to i guess :)

[lagoamemo]

@troubadour1985 I think Fagen´s voice makes the diference here. And I´m craky about the Hammond organ in this song.

[OlymPigs2010]

Doesn't this "demo" clash with the often reported assertion that Fagin & Becker always knew beforehand exactly how their "song" would sound?

[MrAmberRocker]

@OlymPigs2010 I'm not sure. Given they developed a true sense of compulsive neccessity towards perfection, I'm not so sure they always knew from the start exactly "what" that perfectionism really was in the beginnning, but rather developed it along the way in most of their songs. True perfectionism seldom comes from start to finish, but rather "adapts" itself in the process of progression and growth. We may see perfectionism at its start, but realize its faults as we grow & continue forward.

[svuhelter71]

WOW!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

[jwmellott]

Is this Fagan?

[lagoamemo]

@jwmellott yes, is Fagen.

[Sjako99]

I like this one more than de album version. Fantastic composition, lovely lyrics.

[bradco6]

Interesting to hear this in such a slow tempo. The song almost becomes a slow dance tune.

[brainsparkles]

Wow, I just wrote elsewhere that I wondered what this song would've sounded like if Fagen had sung it on the album. Now I know. But it's soooooo slow that it sounds like a dirge. I (heart)Steely Dan!!!

[SoVerySappy]

@brainsparkles yes sir re bob pal

[dobbsgeorge]

wow, at this tempo, you can imagine Fagan's heroes, The Band, having done this song --like on Stage Fright or something

[kdw456]

thanks for this  wonderful post

[elg170]

Tom, I beg to differ re: David Palmer. In the history of Steely Dan, I think many look at him as a decent vocalist, but a total showman who was always a bit of an outsider in the band.

[tomwms]

Thank goodness for David Palmer

[ccdeweese]

Amazing to hear this! The original demo and yes I am in Brooklyn.

[lagoamemo]

Thaks for comment Mr Brooklyn.