Wednesday, August 13, 2008

How Much For Walter Becker?

If you like Steely Dan's Jazz phase (which includes everything they've done post Gaucho) then Walter Becker's Circus Money will sound familiar. This is Becker's 2nd solo, and first since 1994, but it sounds just like a Dan record, only without Fagen's vocals. So, while Becker can't sing, there's enough humor here to liven up a record that straddles Jazz/Reggae.

But my initial reaction when listening to the album is who would buy something like this? I looked for it used and couldn't find it listed below $8, not including shipping. Would you pay $11 for an album by Becker, or anyone else for that matter. Becker is a wealthy guy, I assume, so selling your album at full price in today's climate doesn't make sense. Should guys like Becker and Steve Miller (who's recorded a bunch of Blues songs but won't release them because he knows no one will buy them like in the old days) just go the Radiohead route. I would imagine that the sales figures are pretty low for Circus Money. That's not saying its not good or should be given to you for free. But niche solo stuff by people like Walter Becker would have a better chance of getting heard if he and his company lowered the price to $5 and below.
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