Bodhisattva - Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy, 1973

Описание: Time for The Friday Jams – and I’ve been working overtime at the Jam Factory! Released in 1973 as the first song on Countdown to Ecstasy, Steely Dan’s second album, “Bodhisattva” is a blues/bop inspired tune featuring 3-part guitar harmonies and some amazing guitar work (I mean, we’re talking Steely Dan here) by two of the band’s original guitarists – Denny Dias (1st solo) and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (2nd solo). As the album liner notes state, “Dias the Bebopper meets Baxter the skunk beneath the Bo Tree in this altered blues.” "Bodhisattva" is a parody of the idea that the disposal of one's possessions is a prerequisite to spiritual enlightenment. Its title refers to the Bodhisattva, those of the belief that they have achieved spiritual perfection but remain in the material world to help others. Fagen summarized the song's message as "Lure of East. Hubris of hippies. Quick fix". Quintessential Fagen!

I first learned and played this tune 30 years ago with FYV, featuring the incomparable Bob Finnie on keys/vocals, Rick Philipp on the skins, Steve Womer on bass, Mike Monroney backing vocals, and Emmy award-winner and audio wunderkind Dana Kirkpatrick mixing sound for the house. It’s a longer listen, but I figure we’ve all got a little extra time these days. Stay safe. Enjoy!