Walter Becker appreciation thread

[DWBass]

Didn't Becker play on "Lunch with Gina"? That's certainly a funky track. Specifically the bass part. Either way, he's great.

He's the only bassist credited on the album. If it's him, I'm shocked. Didn't know he had that in him. It is a good bass track.

 

[Acoop]

Walter love on this old waxed-trax. ... The lick Walter plays at the crescendo as they go to the fade issue good.

 

[nolaguy]

Yes, Walter Becker played the whole Kamakiriad album.
Personnel: Donald Fagen - keyboards, vocals Walter Becker - bass, lead guitar Randy Brecker - trumpet, flugelhorn Cornelius Bumpus - tenor saxophone Angela Clemmons-Patrick - background vocals Leroy Clouden - percussion, drums Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone Illinois Elohainu - tenor saxophone (a fictive musician, actually Fagen himself plays a saxophone sample on the keyboard) Lawrence Feldman - flute, tenor saxophone Frank "Harmonica Frank" Floyd - background vocals Diane Garisto - background vocals Paul Griffin - Hammond organ Amy Helm - background vocals Bashiri Johnson - percussion Birch Johnson - trombone Mindy Joslyn - background vocals Brenda King - background vocals Curtis King - background vocals Lou Marini - clarinet, flute, alto saxophone Dennis McDermott - drums Jenni Muldaur - background vocals Christopher Parker - drums Jim Pugh - trombone Tim Ries - tenor saxophone Roger Rosenberg - baritone saxophone Alan Rubin - trumpet, flugelhorn Catherine Russell - background vocals Dian Sorel - background vocals Fonzi Thornton - background vocals David Tofani - flute, tenor saxophone Georg Wadenius - guitar

More than Becker's bass playing, what impressed me the most was the tight playing of the rhythm section as a unit. All players are serving the groove, which is typical of most Steely Dan recordings. That said, I thought I was the only person knocked by Becker's playing. Great underrated album.

 

[garp]

Walter is usually the first name that comes to my mind whenever a "Most Underappreciated Bassist" thread pops up here on TB. I was listening to "Circus Money" (2008) a few nights ago, and his playing there is just wonderful – he's on every track except the title track.

 

[Onward]

Walter love on this old waxed-trax. ... The lick Walter plays at the crescendo as they go to the fade issue good.

What is intriguing is that the bass line is (depending on who you talk to) is either directly copied from, or deeply influenced by the song "Song for my Father"

 

[burk48237]

Steely Dan is the best Holiday Inn lounge band ever, an inspiration to all of us!

Beckers bass playing on The tunes "Everything must go", and "Lunch with Gina" kills, as does his playing on "At the Dunes" on Kamirakand. I think he's overshadowed for two reasons, he's known more for his guitar playing, the solo on Home at Last is smoking and that's saying something considering some of the greatest guitar solos ever to appear on vinyl occurred on Steely Dan records. The second reason is Chuck Rainey played such damn good bass lines on Aja and Kid Charlemagne, they are the gold standard. Makes it easy to not notice the other stuff.

 

[bobyoung53]

I have always loved Steely Dan but have always thought Becker's guitar playing was better than his bass playing, he is a REALLY good guitar player, seems as when their stuff got more intricate and sophisticated they had top studio guys come in. I think for example Chuck Rainey played on the whole Aja album, not sure of that of course but it does not seem like Becker on bass.

 

[Ant Illington]

Steely Dan is the best Holiday Inn lounge band ever, an inspiration to all of us!

Beckers bass playing on The tunes "Everything must go", and "Lunch with Gina" kills, as does his playing on "At the Dunes" on Kamirakand. I think he's overshadowed for two reasons, he's known more for his guitar playing, the solo on Home at Last is smoking and that's saying something considering some of the greatest guitar solos ever to appear on vinyl occurred on Steely Dan records. The second reason is Chuck Rainey played such damn good bass lines on Aja and Kid Charlemagne, they are the gold standard. Makes it easy to not notice the other stuff.

I was a huge Dan fan (still like em but not obsessed anymore) and I'm a bassist, and was a bassist at the same time I was obsessed with the Dan. However, the only song that I knew WB played on was Do It Again. This was shortly before the Internets so...

Back then Chuck Rainey was the only guy regularly mentioned as the bassist for Steely Dan. That's why I overlooked Becket. Still overlooking him so I have to check out the links.

 

[garp]

Chuck played every tune on Aja except "Deacon Blues" – that's Walter.

 

[Thuddy Waters]

In this video, it looks like he's playing a P-Bass with two Jazz pickups added to it:

 

[Jaco Taco]

When most guitarists play bass, they sound like guitarists playing bass, they have no feel for the instrument at all. Becker sounds like a bassist when he plays bass. That's as good as a compliment as I can give.

 

[Ampig]

Becker was a great pocket player- playing to the song. He was the only bassist on the 1st two albums. Both incredible records. Go back and check out his body of work on those recordings. He was a bad white cat with groove. I loved his tone. Different than Chuck Rainey. Maybe not as technically monstrous, but he was right in the mix and saying something......I guess I'm just a dinosaur.