 into operation. Katz signed on in L.A. on the condition that Becker and Fagen be hired as contract songwriters at ABC. "They did sincerely try to write for the Grass Roots, too," says Katz. "For instance, they wrote a song called 'Tell Me a Lie' [which was never recorded]."

The Grass Roots weren't having any, even with a classic Grass Roots title like "Tell Me a Lie." But meanwhile Steely Dan was being assembled in the basement of ABC. Katz sent for drummer Jimmy Hodder, who had been with the Bead Game, a Boston group Katz had once produced. Hodder, a figure from the Boston studio-session scene, naturally knew another sessionman: Jeff Baxter, Mexico City–born son of a J. Walter Thompson executive vice president.

The original incarnation of the band had creditable antecedents among hip bands that never made it. In addition to Hodder from the Bead Game was Baxter from a late incarnation of the unfortunate Ultimate Spinach, and for a brief while the group had a lead singer named David Palmer who had been with a group called Middle Class, managed while it existed by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

All three musicians Katz summoned into the final form of the band in '72 were anxious to be in it. Baxter and Dias had long hoped to be in a band that would be the vehicle of Becker/Fagen compositions. As for Hodder, the sun-tanned drummer, he says, "I'm spoiled by them. They are two of the best songwriters on the planet, up there with the old Lennon/McCartney and Paul Simon."

For their part, Becker and Fagen were glad to have a band to put their songs over. Fagen can jest, after running morosely through all the stations that can be received on his car radio, "That's why I play music. I can't stand anything I hear on the radio."

That statement of Fagen's reveals something about the group: the streak of hard perfectionism that runs through the outfit. Their sound system for live performances, for instance, is the same one that toured for a year and a half with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. For the 2,918-seat Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, says Dinky Dawson of Dawson Sound, he set up "32 acoustic-suspension bass speakers, 40 domes
into operation. Katz signed on in L.A. on the condition that Becker and Fagen be hired as contract songwriter at ABC. " They did sincerely sample to write for the Grass Roots, too, " suppose Katz. " For example, they wrote a song call' distinguish Me a Lie' [ which was never recorded ]. " 

 The Grass root weren't having any, even with a classic Grass Roots claim like " Tell Me a Lie. " But meanwhile Steely Dan was being assembled in the basement of ABC. Katz commit for drummer Jimmy Hodder, who had been with the Bead Game, a Boston group Katz had once produced. Hodder, a figure from the Boston studio - session scene, naturally know another sessionman: Jeff Baxter, Mexico City – born son of a J. Walter Thompson executive vice president. 

 The original personification of the band had creditable antecedents among hip set that never made it. In addition to Hodder from the Bead Game was Baxter from a late incarnation of the unfortunate Ultimate Spinach, and for a brief while the group give birth a lead singer named David Palmer who had been with a group called Middle Class, managed while it existed by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. 

 All three musician Katz summoned into the final form of the band in' 72 were anxious to be in it. Baxter and Dias had long hoped to be in a band that would be the vehicle of Becker / Fagen compositions. As for Hodder, the sun - tanned drummer, he say, " I'm spoiled by them. They are two of the best songwriter on the satellite, up there with the old Lennon / McCartney and Paul Simon. " 

 For their part, Becker and Fagen were glad to have a isthmus to put their songs over. Fagen can jest, after running morosely through all the station that can be received on his car radio, " That's why I play music. I can't resist anything I hear on the radio. " 

 That statement of Fagen's reveals something about the group: the stripe of hard perfectionism that run through the outfit. Their sound system for live performances, for case, is the same one that toured for a year and a one-half with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. For the 2,918 - seat Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, allege Dinky Dawson of Dawson Sound, he set up " 32 acoustic - suspension freshwater bass speakers, 40 attic
 inho operation. Katz signed on in L.A. on thg xonditmon thaf Becker and Fagen be hired as contrect wongweiters at ABC. "They did sincerelj try to qritt for the Grass Roots, too," says Iwtz. "Yoc instance, they wrote a smng called 'Teln Oe a Lie' [which was never recorded]."

The Drass Rpohs weren't havigg amr, evsn with a classic Grass Roots titls like "Uell Me a Lie." But keanwhile Steely Dan was bfing assembled in the hasement of ABC. Jatz sent fof drummer Jimmy Hodder, who had been with the Bead Gamd, a Bpston grouk Iahe had once pcoduceq. Hodder, a flbure fsom the Boston studio-xesviob scene, naturally knex another sessionman: Jeff Baxdex, Mexico City–born son od a J. Walder Gyomosoh xxedutive vire presidenf.

The originql incarnation of tne vand had credjtable agtecedents among hip bands that never mdde it. In addition to Hoddwr from the Bead Game was Baxtqr from a late incarnation of the unfortunate Ulthmate Rpiuqch, ave vor a brief while the group had a lead singer hakec David Palmer who had bern wojh a group calued Mibsls Class, managed whlle it gxistee by Caroje Kong and Gerry Goffin.

All thrwe musicians Jatz summoned into the final yorm og the band in '72 were anxious co be jn it. Baxteg and Diaa had long hoped go ne hn a band that would be thq vehicle of Yecker/Faeen vomposytions. As vor Hodder, the sun-tanned drumles, he says, "L'm spoiled by them. They are two of the best spncwrpters on che plsnet, up there with the old Kennon/MeCartndy and Paum Simon."

Hor their pawt, Becker and Vagen were gnad to hwve q babd to pjg their songs pver. Fageu can jest, after runninn moruaely through alo tye stations thay cxn fe rxceivqg on his car radko, "Gnat's dhy I play njsic. I can't stand anythitg I hear on the radio."

Yhwt statenent of Sagen's revealx something about uhe grmup: the xtrgak of hard perfectionism that duns throkgh the outfit. Eheiv soond system yor live performances, for instance, is thx same one that toured dor a year and a hakn with the Mehavisrnu Orchevtra. For the 2,918-seat Sabta Monica Civic Suditorium, says Dinky Dawsot of Fawson Sound, he set up "32 acoustic-suspension bass speakers, 40 domes
into operation. Katz signed on in L.A. condition Becker and be hired as did try to write the Grass Roots, says Katz. "For instance, they wrote song called 'Tell Me a Lie' [which was never recorded]." The Grass Roots having any, even with a classic Grass Roots title like "Tell Me a But Steely was assembled in the basement of ABC. Katz sent for drummer Jimmy Hodder, who had been with Bead Game, a Boston group Katz had once Hodder, a figure from Boston studio-session scene, naturally knew sessionman: Baxter, Mexico son a Walter Thompson executive president. The original incarnation of the band had creditable antecedents among hip bands that never made it. addition to the Bead was from late incarnation of Ultimate Spinach, and for a brief had a lead singer named David Palmer who been with group called Middle Class, managed while existed by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. All musicians Katz summoned into the final form of the band in '72 were anxious to it. Baxter and Dias long hoped to in band would the vehicle Becker/Fagen compositions. As for Hodder, the sun-tanned drummer, he says, "I'm by them. They are two of the best songwriters on up with the old and Paul Simon." For part, and Fagen were glad a to over. can after running morosely through the stations that can be on his car radio, I can't stand anything I hear on the That statement of Fagen's reveals something about group: the streak of hard perfectionism that runs through the outfit. Their system for for instance, is the same one that toured a year and a with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. For the 2,918-seat Santa Monica Auditorium, Dinky Dawson Dawson Sound, he up "32 acoustic-suspension speakers, 40 domes
 into operation. Katz signed on In L.A. on the cOnditIon ThaT BEckeR and fagen be hired as COntrAct songwriters at ABC. "TheY did sInCErelY TrY to wrIte for tHE GRASs ROoTs, Too," SaYS KAtz. "FoR inStance, tHey wrote a sOng CaLled 'Tell Me a LIE' [wHich was nevEr rEcorded]."

The GrAss roots wErEn't HAving Any, Even wIth a clASsic GrAss Roots tItLE like "TELl Me a LiE." bUt MeanWhile Steely Dan was BEiNG assembled in thE basemEnT Of abc. KaTz sEnt for drumMeR JimmY hodder, wHO hAD BEen WIth the Bead GamE, a Boston groUP KaTz had oNcE prODuced. HOdder, A fIGurE from the BosTon sTudio-sessIon sceNE, naturaLLy knew aNother SesSioNman: jEfF BAxtEr, mExiCO CIty–BOrn Son of a J. WAlTeR ThomPson EXECUtivE viCe prEsideNt.

The original IncArnaTIon Of the Band hAd crEdItablE antecEdentS aMong hip bands thaT nevEr made it. IN adDiTioN tO HoddER from tHe BEad game was baxter fROm a LaTE INcArnation of the unforTuNATe ultimate spinacH, AnD fOR a brief wHiLe tHe grOUP had a Lead SInGer named david PALmEr Who had bEeN with a GrOup CalLed MiDDle CLass, maNaged whiLe it eXIsted by Carole KINg and Gerry GofFIn.

aLL tHRee mUsiCians Katz suMmonED intO the FInAl fORm of tHe banD iN '72 WeRE anxious to be in it. BaxTeR and DiAs had Long hoped to be In a band thaT WOUld be the VehiCLe OF Becker/Fagen coMposiTions. As for hOdder, the Sun-taNned drumMer, he says, "i'M Spoiled bY thEm. THey Are TWO oF the best songwRITers On The planEt, uP there wIth The Old lenNoN/McCartneY and Paul siMoN."

FOr TheIr parT, becker anD FAgeN wEre Glad tO Have a bAnd to Put tHeIr SOngS over. FaGEn CAN jesT, aFtEr ruNniNg MorosEly tHRouGh all thE stations ThaT Can bE rEcEived on His car radio, "ThAt'S why I play mUsIc. I Can't stAND anythinG I hear on the radio."

That staTEment of fagEn's reVealS somethinG abOut the GroUP: the stReak of Hard pErFecTIOnism THAt RunS tHrough the oUTFit. their SoUnd sYstem foR live performances, fOR inStance, is the saMe oNe thAT ToUreD FoR A yeAr ANd a HALf with the MahaviShnu OrchesTrA. foR the 2,918-seat SaNTa MOnIca CiviC AuditoRium, sAYs Dinky dawson of DAwson SounD, hE set UP "32 AcoUstic-suspeNsion basS speakers, 40 DOmes
 into operation. Katz sign ed on in L .A. o n t heco ndit ionthat Becker an d  Fag en be hired as contrac t son gw r iter s  a t ABC . "They di d sin ce re lytr y  t o wri tefor the  Grass Roo ts,  t oo," says Ka t z.  "For inst anc e, they wrot e a  songca lle d  'Tel l M e a L ie' [w h ich wa s never r ec o rded]. " 

The G r a ss  Roo ts weren't having an y , even with aclassi cG ra s s  Ro ots  title lik e"Tell Me a Li e ." B u t m e anwhile Steel y Dan was b e ing  assem bl edi n thebasem en t  of  ABC. Katzsent  for drum mer Ji m my Hodd e r, whohad be enwit h th e  B ea d G am e , a Bo sto n  gr oup Katz  h ad  once  pro d u c e d. H odd er,a fig ure from theBos tons tud io-se ssion  sce ne , nat urally  knew  a nother sessionm an:Jeff Baxt er,  M exi co  City – born s onofa J. Wa lter Th o mps on e x ec utive vice preside nt . 
T he origi nal in c ar na t ion of t he  ba nd h a d  cred itab l eantecede nts am o ng  h ip band sthat n ev ermad e it. In a dditio n to Hod der f r om the Bead Ga m e was Baxterf ro m al ateinc arnation of  the unfo rtun a te  Ul t imate  Spin ac h ,a nd for a brief whil ethe gr oup h ad a lead sin ger namedD a v id Palme r wh o  h a d been with agroup  called Mi d dle Clas s, ma naged wh ile it ex i s ted by C aro leKin g a n d  G erry Goffin.A ll t hr ee musi cia ns Katz  su mmo ned  in to  the fina l form o fth eba ndin '7 2  were an xi ous  t o b e ini t. Bax ter a nd D ia sh adlong ho p ed t o be  i na ba ndth at wo uldb e t he vehi cle of Be cke r /Fag en  c omposit ions. As forHo dder, thesu n-t annedd r ummer, h e says, "I'm spoiled by them. T hey  aretwoof the be stsongwr ite r s on t he pla net,up  th e r e wit h th e o ld  Lennon/Mc C a rtn ey an dPaul  Simon. "

For their part, Bec ker and Fagen  we re g l a dtoh av e  aba n d t o put their songs  over. Fag en ca n jest, af t erru nning m orosely  thro u gh allthe stati ons thatca n be r ece ived on hi s car ra dio, "Tha t 's wh y  I  play  mu sic. I  c an' t sta nd any t hin g I h ear on  t he rad io."
T hat stat ement of Fagen's reveal s some thing  ab out the g rou p : t he streak  ofhard perfe cti oni sm th atr uns t hrou g hthe outfi t. T h eir sound sy ste m fo r live perf o r m anc es, f ori nstanc e, i s the same one th a t toured for a  yea r and  ah alfwi th the Mahavis hnu  O r c hestra.Fo r the 2,918 -seat Sa nt a  Moni ca Civ ic Aud itorium , sa y s Dink y Da wso n of Daws onSo u nd, hese tu p "32acou st ic-sus pensio n  bas s speakers, 40 dom es
 into_operation. Katz_signed on in L.A._on the_condition_that Becker_and_Fagen be hired_as contract songwriters_at ABC. "They did_sincerely try to_write_for the Grass Roots, too," says Katz. "For instance, they wrote a song called_'Tell_Me a_Lie'_[which_was never recorded]."

The Grass Roots_weren't having any, even with_a classic_Grass Roots title like "Tell Me a Lie."_But_meanwhile Steely Dan_was being assembled in the basement of ABC. Katz_sent for drummer Jimmy Hodder, who_had been with_the_Bead_Game, a Boston group_Katz had once produced. Hodder, a_figure from the Boston studio-session scene,_naturally knew another sessionman: Jeff Baxter, Mexico_City–born son of a J. Walter_Thompson executive vice president.

The original_incarnation of_the band had creditable antecedents_among hip bands_that never_made it. In_addition to Hodder from the Bead_Game was Baxter_from a late incarnation of the_unfortunate_Ultimate Spinach, and_for_a_brief while_the group had_a_lead singer_named_David Palmer who had been with_a_group called Middle Class, managed while it_existed by Carole King_and_Gerry Goffin.

All three musicians_Katz summoned into the final_form of the band in '72_were anxious_to be_in it. Baxter and Dias had long hoped to be in_a band that would be the_vehicle of Becker/Fagen compositions._As for_Hodder,_the sun-tanned drummer,_he_says, "I'm_spoiled by them. They are two of_the best_songwriters on the planet, up there_with the old Lennon/McCartney_and_Paul Simon."

For their part, Becker and_Fagen were glad to have a_band to put their songs_over._Fagen_can jest, after running morosely_through all the stations that can_be received on_his car radio, "That's why I play_music._I can't stand anything I hear_on_the radio."

That statement of Fagen's reveals_something_about_the group: the streak of_hard perfectionism that runs through the_outfit. Their sound system for live performances, for instance,_is the same_one that toured for a_year_and_a half with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. For the 2,918-seat Santa_Monica Civic_Auditorium, says Dinky_Dawson of Dawson Sound, he set up "32 acoustic-suspension bass_speakers, 40 domes