Walter Becker...

So sad to hear that Walter Becker has died. I loved Steely Dan from their first album, Can’t Buy a Thrill. Their music had a cynical edge - no songs about puppy love - and obscure literary references (they picked up the band’s name from a dildo mentioned in William Borroughs’ Naked Lunch). Joy once bought me an album, and so nearly got it right; unfortunately it was Steeleye Span.

I stayed on board as Steely Dan’s music got jazzier, more complex and enigmatic. After peaking with Aja and Gaucho, the band split. Everyone thought that Donald Fagen was the band’s creative force, but Becker put out some fine solo albums too. Book of Liars would be one of my desert island discs…

In a village of small, unpretentious cottages, this stood out like the proverbial sore thumb...