I came into the world the year Aja came out. But my Dad had been listening to Steely Dan, solidly, for five years before that. You could say I was a fan before I was even born. Steely Dan means everything to me. I’m always quoting lyrics in my head when something reminds me of them. I listen to them most days. I know lots of weird things as a result of being a Steely Dan fan. Like, I know my Dad used to buy records from a shop called Harlequin in the 70s, and that albums were $8. I know this because some of my original pressings, handed down, still have the price stickers on them. I know that the year 2000 was a leap year, because Steely Dan released “Two Against Nature” on Feb 29th, the first millennial leap year since the Gregorian calendar was introduced, and the last for a very long time to come. I know that Jeff “Skunk” Baxter recorded the solo for ‘My Old School’ on a guitar he built himself, and finished in the car park of the studio, just before recording with it. My mind is full of meaningless Steely Dan tidbits. Well, meaningless to some.

I have such fond memories of lying on my bed, in a converted shed, as a teenager, listening to all those records over and over, on a black all in one stereo, while it seemed like the rest of the world was listening to Nirvana. The rainbow colours on the center label stickers of those ABC pressings mean something to me. I have a fond memory of Dad buying me the ‘Citizen’ CD box set as a present one year. We both had all the albums, but were both so excited to open it and read the new liner notes, and listen to the two exclusive tracks; a demo of ‘Everyone’s gone to the movies’, and a live version from 1974 of ‘Bodhisattva’, complete with a very funny drunken intro by Jerome Aniton. It felt like the greatest present you could ever get someone, and so I gave a copy to a new friend 20 years ago, and we’ve been best buddies ever since.

Nearly 10 years ago to the day, Steely Dan came to Australia for the first time. I never in a million years thought I was going to be able to see them… so we followed them around. Another one of my favourites, World Party, was supporting, on their first trip to Australia too. It had to be done. A few short years later, Steely Dan came back, supported by Steve Winwood. Another life-long memory.

I stayed up last night, pressing F5 on my computer, refreshing over and over, hoping for some official news that Walter Becker’s death was actually a hoax, as had been reported a couple of hours earlier. None of the big sites were making mention of it. This was Walter Becker. As stitched into my DNA was Steely Dan, Walter Becker was stitched into the fabric of modern music. Those great bass lines, some tasty solos, a catalogue of incredible (mu)chords, melody, harmony and undecipherable, witty lyrics. He wasn’t dead. Not until it was plastered all over the internet. Someone had hacked his website and left a cruel joke. But before too long, Rolling Stone had posted about it. Then Pitchfork. Then streams of posts on the Steely Dan Facebook group I’m a member of starting confirming that he really had gone. At only 67 years old. It’s a cliché to say ‘at least we still have the music’. But it’s true here. I also have 40 years of memories intertwined with my life on this earth. Reading people’s Tweets this morning, Questlove from The Roots has said it best so far. “They got a name for the winners in the world; That name is Walter Becker”. Rest In Peace, Walter, one of the biggest influencers and inspirers of my life.

I’ll leave you all with a link and lyrics of one of the first two promo singles, “Sail The Waterway” (the other being the incredible “Dallas”, sung by drummer Jim Hodder). It was released before their first album in 1972, and along with Dallas, has never had an official release on a Steely Dan album. My Dad and I had hoped they would get a release on the box set, but it wasn’t to be. Luckily we have the Internet, until they are finally released. - Paul

My old man
He been around the world
And he tells me everything
He told me how to tie a sailor knot
And maybe how to sing
And though I’m a man and I got it together
He still knows what to do

He say come on and sail the waterway
It feels so good on you
Come on and sail the waterway
It feels so good on you

You can tell me you're a man of means
And I wouldn't believe it's true
Today I seen you selling door to door
And I know it makes you blue

Well you're bettin' your dollar on the wind and the rain
When you put your money down

I say come on and sail the waterway
and turn your head around
Come on and sail the waterway
and turn your head around

You know the tide is high
And the westward wind won't quit ya
And you know what you got to do
Cause the time is right
And the tide will wait for you

Well if you're tired of the race and the runners
And the things they make you do

I say come on and sail the waterway

Come on and sail the waterway
Come on and sail the waterway
It feels so good on you

You know the tide is high
And the westward wind won't quit ya
Well you know what you got to do
Cause the time is right
And the tide will wait for you

Come on and sail the waterway with me darling