OK so I suspect many of us have been revisiting the Dan recently in the light of the tragically sad passing of Walter Becker.
One thing that’s missing from the tributes/discussion is any kind of analysis of who wrote what. The Becker/Fagen partnership seems to have been much more collaborative than other more famous songwriting partnerships e.g. the HJH.
Still, I’m curious. It seems to me as a longtime Dan fan that we could possibly assign the major dude in various songs.
Here’s my suggestions for Walter
This is not a definitive list, but I reckon WB was the Principal Lyrical Instigator of these –
Do It Again
Everything You Did
Sign In Stranger
Hey Nineteen
Deacon Blues
Janie Runaway
OOAA
Hi Mousey, have you listened to the recent Beckercast? Some comment on this very subject….
Yes I did listen, sorry if this is repeating what was there. I blame the Pinot Gris…
Given his ‘habits’, I think it’s safe to say that “tonight when I chase the dragon…” and the rest of Time Out Of Mind is Walter’s work.
Ditto, “the Cuervo Gold, the fine Colombian….” from Hey Nineteen
Peg? I seem to remember the line “done up in blueprint blue” is Walter’s.
Judging by his solo work and the blog he did, he does a really good list song. As Nick says, Hey Nineteen has a great list section but the best example is Things I Miss The Most. That list includes a guitar. Donald played keys.
Definitely Hey Nineteen – when I saw them live around 2005/6 Walter did the spoken word intro to it which set the scene for one of my favourite Dan Songs. I always thought Haitian Divorce was his too.