This moody bastard remembers…
He remembers that in the depths of the pandemic/lockdown/toilet paper shortage of 2020, we did nothing to mark the 25th anniversary of Walter’s lone solo show at Slim’s in San Francisco on April 7, 1995.
Unfortunately, Slim’s closed its doors on March 18 of 2020, another victim of the aforementioned plague and the plethora of problems it produced. We cowered and quaked in our respective hidey-holes, and while it's not quite in the long ago and far away, it does appear that with the help of some hand sanitizer, billions of masks, and the height of medical efficacy by the Brothers Johnson, Pfizer, Moderna, etcetera etcetera, we’re able to at least glimpse the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. We might have missed the 25th anniversary of THE event, but we can get together (virtually) and belatedly celebrate the 26th. We’ve already given you Three Sisters Shakin’ and Cinder Annie, two tracks from that night that weren’t on 11 Tracks of Whack in its final form. So we thought we’d give you a more familiar track, specifically requested on the walterbeckermedia.com forum, in This Moody Bastard. If you’re thinking to yourself, “man, I wish it had been Down in the Bottom, or Girl Next Door to the Methadone Clinic, or Tennessee Jazz Odyssey, or, or…” well all I can say is get on the forum and join in the conversation. Someone who did is getting to hear the track they most wanted. That could be you.
This Moody Bastard has been oft interpreted, with answers posed for questions like “Who is the moody bastard? Who is the little friend? When were the salad days? Where were the ivy walls?” I’ve believed at least three completely different internal explanations for this song, which might be why I’ve always found it so damn compelling. Most of the times I’ve listened to it, I was the moody bastard who once in a blue moon really needs a friend. But sometimes, I was reaching out to one of the many moody bastards in my own life, reminding them that I was some kinda friend now and again, and that I was still there if they needed me once in a great while. Honestly, there’s a lot of mileage in this one, and I’m glad we all get to hear Walter sing it live. I’m struck again by how close this version is vocally to the recording on 11ToW...for whatever technical limitations Walter may have had as a vocalist, his phrasing, timing, and tone are consistent and consistently great.
So give this a listen. Somewhere a couple of minutes in, I hope you’ll be smiling. In fact…
With the new Steely Dan coming out with no contributions from my favorite half of the duo, is there any chance of WB live compendium coming out? I would love to have a CD with Walter doing Gaucho, Haitian divorce, Daddy Don’t and all the tracks from 11. The Fagen albums lack the Walter edge. I’m sure I will buy them and love them, but it’s a bitter pill for me.
So different. Yet as they progressed they got even better.
been listening since 74 and they were the best band I ever heard.
Thanks McSteve. Out of curiosity, were you there?
The players at Slim's were:
Walter Becker guitar & vocals
Bob Sheppard woodwinds
John Beasley keyboards
Adam Rogers guitar
Ben Perowsky drums
Fima Ephron bass
This moody bastard is very happy that you posted this gem. As a hardcore Dan fan I foolishly let Walter's solo stuff pass me by, but now some of it is up there with my favourite SD. It's amazing how unpredictable these songs are - he obviously never sat back and coasted on his reputation. A couple of listens and they get under your skin.
Wow! Thank you so much!
One of my favorite tracks of whack, and wow this live version did not disappoint. Walter's delivery here is sublime, and the textures the band created added just the right atmosphere, Bob Sheppard's sax in particular is a treat. When this magical and almost mythical one-night-only concert took place, I was 2000 miles away, and more importantly I was only 11 years old and had no idea who the hell Steely Dan or Walter Becker were. Needless to say, but I will say it anyway, I am so incredibly thankful this recording exists and I finally am able to hear it and experience it. Thank you.
Ah yes, once again bringing back those wonderful memories of the Slim's show. Since I was standing pretty much right in front of Walter the whole show, I sometimes can imagine that I hear my voice on some of these tracks. But anyway, this is great to hear, and what amazing audio quality too! My own interpretation of the song has also varied from time to time, but I seem to have settled on that he is describing himself and his relationship with Donald at that time. Old friends getting back together etc., and when he says "you on the bottom and me on top" I am thinking it's the way their names were often listed on records as composers. I will spend some time today reminiscing and listening to this... so thank you @Moderator: D-Mod and @Matthew Kerns !
Just what the doctor ordered :-)
Oh, YES!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate this so much. One of my favorites from 11TOW. This is great! Matt, you're right about the vocals being nearly spot-on to the studio version, so steady and effortless as only Walter can construct. Also, just like 3 Sisters and Cinder, I enjoy hearing WB's interaction with the audience that playing in a small club like this affords...and that alto sax is just beautiful. I'm overwhelmed with joy right now, so I may write more later, but for now...I'm smiling. Thanks again!