One of the delightful elements that jumped out of Walter Becker’s Japanese-only version of “Medical Science” is the undeniably infectious groove.
Similar to most of the songs from 1994’s 11 Tracks of Whack, that groove is programmed and sequenced with touches of synth cowbell, timbales and Fender Rhodes sounding piano. A newly released demo from Becker’s estate via Walter Becker Media is a timely reminder that he was just as adept at laying down a groove as his long-term Steely Dan cohort Donald Fagen.
The estate is quick to point out that the instrumental version is just a demo. Still, it’s easy to see how well constructed Walter Becker’s music was.
Perhaps since he initially thought about making an all-instrumental solo album, Becker fleshed out the songs’ structures and arrangements even more to occupy the space of vocals. Some of the previously released demos of songs from 11 Tracks of Whack that were recorded with a band actually present a fuller sound and more complex arrangements than the released versions.
At this point, given all the previously unreleased material now available on WalterBeckerMedia.com, we have about five additional albums of material. The estate has, in effect, given us a Walter Becker box set. “Medical Science (demo)” stands tall among this fine group of songs, adding another piece to the puzzle of Becker’s creative process.
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