Galactic Vinyl Memories #3

Over on my justgiving page, thanks to many kind and generous people, we've just smashed the target of raising 1000 pounds for Alzheimer's UK. I'm really stoked by this and want to thank each and everyone who has chipped in, right from the start. In fact, in celebration of hitting the goal, I put in another practise half-marathon this afternoon. It was no easier than the last one in August, disappointingly, and I really struggled after 18km, but today was certainly warmer, which didn't help.

Anyway, back onto matters vinyl. From King Crimson, we slingshot in the vague direction of Steely Dan, by way of Rosie Vela's 1986 album Zazu. Look, it's me, it was always going to end up with Steely Dan, wasn't it?

OK, but what's the connection? Rosie Vela was a model, singer and songwriter and she wrote and played on all the tracks on this enjoyable slice of synth-driven West Coast jazz-rock. Backing her was, to all intents and purposes, the core of Steely Dan - Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, with Gary Katz producing. This was an INCREDIBLY big deal at the time, because, other than one solo album from Fagen (1982's The Nightfly, which is great) there had been no music from them since the Dan's final album of their first streak - Gaucho (1980). That was an eternity in music back then and the coming of the Rosie Vela album hinted at the possibilities of more recordings to come from SD - although it would another fourteen years before that actually happened. As for the record itself, it was the only recording Rosie Vela put out and perhaps that was enough for her. My copy was bought in 1986 and remains in near-pristine condition. It's an obscure record, but not rare in any way - you can easily score good vinyl copies right now for not much money.

Oh right, the connection - sorry. Tony Levin (King Crimson, etc) plays bass!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/alastair-reynolds-1713971449990