cxvii. FAGEN, Donald (1948- )
from Sunken Condos.
Rolling Stone:
"The music is deceitfully lush, a snazzy cascade of rock, R&B and swing, with production as costly as a Santa Monica beach house."
I could devote an entire blog to Fagen's output (four albums), not to mention Steely Dan's (nine albums) ...
**
From a recent interview:
What are you doing with your unexpected time at home?
I'm hangin' tight in the Apple, baby, gargling Clorox under a sunlamp.
What music do you turn to in times of crisis for solace and comfort and why?
Bird and Diz, son, because the rebop is so mega-sweet and I don't want to be no L-7.
Anything else you want to say to your fans right now?
Yow! It's the Nightfly here with a shoutout to all the finger-poppin' cats and kittys! What can I say? The [ex-] Prez has a loose wig and it's tragic. So dig the docs and hunker down in your hidey-holes until they say it's cool to hit the downbeat. Check out some sounds! Stretch out your frame, and like that. Late, gate, 'cause I gotta go!
**
From a recent interview:
What are you doing with your unexpected time at home?
I'm hangin' tight in the Apple, baby, gargling Clorox under a sunlamp.
What music do you turn to in times of crisis for solace and comfort and why?
Bird and Diz, son, because the rebop is so mega-sweet and I don't want to be no L-7.
Anything else you want to say to your fans right now?
Yow! It's the Nightfly here with a shoutout to all the finger-poppin' cats and kittys! What can I say? The [ex-] Prez has a loose wig and it's tragic. So dig the docs and hunker down in your hidey-holes until they say it's cool to hit the downbeat. Check out some sounds! Stretch out your frame, and like that. Late, gate, 'cause I gotta go!
**
The thing about Fagen is that he really does dig the simple groove (how many songs can you think of that are not in 4/4?) ... his harmonic vocabulary is astonishing, yet he keeps things ultra-simple behind his spooky lyrics.
Miss Marlene is a perfect example. Most of the song is just Gm9/Cm9. But check out the intro to the tune, before he begins the lyrics:
Db/Eb // D/G - BMaj9 // GbMaj7 // A/D
He repeats the first part and then dives into the Gm tonic after that BMaj9 chord! Exotic doesn't begin to describe it.
Miss Marlene is a perfect example. Most of the song is just Gm9/Cm9. But check out the intro to the tune, before he begins the lyrics:
Db/Eb // D/G - BMaj9 // GbMaj7 // A/D
He repeats the first part and then dives into the Gm tonic after that BMaj9 chord! Exotic doesn't begin to describe it.
For me, the most exciting part of the tune is this:
Can't you hear the balls (Eb/F) rumble (BbMaj9/F)
Can't you hear the balls (F/Eb) (!) rumble (G/F)
Miss Marlene (Cm7) // we're still (Bb/Eb) bowling every Saturday night ...
(Gm9)
The vocal on the second rumble sounds so completely far away from the tonic, which comes back quickly enough!
**
What happens in this strange tale of bowling night? It seems to me that the narrator is ogling a 17-year-old girl who is an unusually great bowler. Then she gets hit by a cab, and the narrator now misses her on League Night ("I catch her scent again.")
Like many songs on this most recent Fagen release (check out "Security Joan" about hooking up with the TSA lady who searches you!), the music and the profoundly obscure lyrics keep your ears an high alert.
**
Back in double-oh seven
Miss M was queen
She could roll like a pro rolls
When she was seventeen
Whether straight or hammered
She was the best in town
When she release the red ball
All the pins fall down
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
You move to the lane child
Played on my heartstrings
With your long skinny legs child
And your hoopy rings
When the stakes were high
That's when you'd always shine
The ball would ride a moonbeam
Down the inside line
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
And then one night
Something came apart
You were thrown back hurricanes
Something came apart
You were thrown back hurricanes
And we knew someone
Had played with your heart
You ran into the dark street
At University Place
Cab came up so fast then
We saw your laughing face
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
Sometimes on a league night
I catch her scent again
Her hand guiding my hand
We drop the seven-ten
We drop the seven-ten
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Can't you hear the balls rumble
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
Miss Marlene -- we're still bowling
Every Saturday night
Saturday night
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