Walter introduced me to some great recordings of indigenous peoples of Africa that were pretty wonderful . We could listen to the fascinating rhythms (and sung melodies) for hours. {listen to a sample here}. In the early 90s Walter made a track inspired by the Ituri forest Pygmies.
No samples in his track, however; it's a simple loop made by hand and includes a haunting voice component. Here's the result.
(Common sound issues on this one abound, so to “best” hear all the track
components, listen from the Download)
Kudos to Matt Kerns for the amazing slideshow
Danger Zone
Walter Becker
© 1993; 2018 Zeon Music LLC
Well you're a long time coming
On this Rocky Road to Hell
The friends you meet they're oh so sweet you know they wish you well
But then the miles fall behind you and you're standing all alone
Now that the truth is known
You come here on your own
You’re sinking like a stone boy
Down in the danger zone
Down in the danger zone
You know your eyelids tremble your tongue goes cracked and dry
You come on tough you play your bluff seems like it's worth a try
But that smile you're still smiling well it gives the game away
Now that the truth is known
Your cover has been blown
You face the end alone boy
Down in the danger zone
Down in the danger zone
You wake up laughing at a joke you can't recall
You just got time to drop one dime too bad you smoked them all
You leave your wallet on the table and step on through that door
It’s time to roll them bones
Into the great unknown
Accept the truth your shown
You take it for your own
You face the end alone boy
All in the danger zone
Fantastic! I wish he would have included this one on the set list for the Slim's show in '95. I feel like it would have translated really well into a live groove with the Lost Tribe crew. Smoke 'em if you got 'em! P.S. I don't see it in the Downloads list yet, though.
soon come
Were there other recordings of WB at Slim’s in 95’? 3 Sisters is one of my WB fav.
Other WB recording with Lost Tribe ?
Can’t wait for more.
Thank you D-Mod!
Are you certain this song wasn't composed and submitted for the soundtrack to a movie about Fighter pilots with names like Maverick and Ice Man and Goose? And are you sure Kenny Loggins wasn't somehow involved? In all seriousness...I really like this one. It's seemingly unique in the WB/SD catalogue in its world music influence. The kind of thing you might expect from a release on David Byrne's label, but maybe not so much from Walter. Which just goes to prove how much more there was to him than met the eye/ear, and how much more he was capable of. Makes me miss him all the more. That little sung figure/drone in the background is catchy. Now I'm humming it, and likely will be for days.
A really nice surprise to find today! Thank you!! I, too, am really diggin' that African beat/vocal figure that runs throughout the song. So infectious!
It's really different, but I really like it!
DMod, Matt, o thanks... hard to pull myself from the vortex.... o thanks....