Steely Dan - The Bear [The Definitive Restoration Mix]

Рет қаралды 75,593

2 жыл бұрын

I wanted to remake my very first restoration project due to my skills becoming a lot more professional over the past couple months.
I combined a high quality instrumental with the original song, mixed the two together while polishing out flaws (like the warped bits in said instrumental), and came out with this final product. I'm really proud with how this turned out and I'm happy that The Bear is now in a proper, high quality format.
Edited with no tape hiss, corrected echo and reverb; general amplification, track mixing, treble boosting, amplification correction, pitch editing (to fix saturated/warped bits) and percussion boosting.
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Artist: Steely Dan
Genre: Jazz Rock
Year: 1978-1979
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I do not own this song; all rights go to the creators
The reason for this upload is solely for the purpose of preservation and archival purposes
I am NOT and will never be monetized

Пікірлер: 158

@karbin89 Жыл бұрын

To think this and The Second Arrangement could have been lost forever (or more accurately just been left as low quality demo tapes) had it not been for the efforts of a fanbase that's endured for 50 years. Long live Steely Dan.

@prpwnage9296 9 ай бұрын

Until June when it was rediscovered and released almost studio quality

@profileprofile7028 2 жыл бұрын

I hope my neighbors like this song.

@IronMan-tk8uc Жыл бұрын

Judging by how most people are either ambivalent or outright hateful toward good ol' Steely, I believe you'll drive 'em nuts!

@stuartharris1241 Жыл бұрын

Trust me in time they will💯

@myronaguinaldo2861 Жыл бұрын

If they don't like it, they don't know what is good music

@michaeldera4298 Жыл бұрын

Move if they don't.

@Me97202 Жыл бұрын

Best comment about music ever! 😉

@luisbuitrago5879 11 ай бұрын

The Dan's outakes are better than most other bands best...❤

@xxczerxx Жыл бұрын

4:45 is that the most soulful Fagen ever got with Steely Dan? He NEVER did inflections like that on any other tune!

@jeffreygoujon9359 3 ай бұрын

If The Bear and The Second Arrangement had made it on to Gaucho, it would have been an all-time classic up there with Aja and The Royal Scam.

@TheExStig Жыл бұрын

This makes me feel young again, listening to Steely Dan new release. What a great song.

@ncbeach22 Жыл бұрын

And to think that this song didn't even make it onto an album. Incredible.

@thinkingaboutit2738 Жыл бұрын

See the glory of the Royal Bear.

@teelurizzo8542 4 ай бұрын

Definitely it has that same haunting minor 6/9 chord vamp as 'The Royal Scam'.

@keelio5387 2 жыл бұрын

this is insanely good

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it! I have to admit that it took days for me to perfect it lol

@tonymenown2693 2 жыл бұрын

The improvements on these SD demos are phenomenal. Fagen should hire you to work on a box set of unreleased tracks!

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

If only... Lol

@IronMan-tk8uc Жыл бұрын

As phenomenal as this would be, I just don't see Mr. Fagen doing this with material that he didn't released in any of his previous albums.

@connorkenney4746 Жыл бұрын

@@IronMan-tk8uc Yeah, he (and Walt before he passed) were upset that these even exist. They're perfectionists-and no matter how perfect we think these are, they didn't agree. I know he did Second Arrangement at rarities night @ Beacon a few years back, but I doubt we will ever see OG SD content from him again. Sucks, but I respect them enough to be grateful we got as much as we did, to begin with!

@Marcoanfieldforever72 2 ай бұрын

Very good song. Steely Dan forever

@raymichaels5022 2 жыл бұрын

Ahhhh the 70s and the 80s, what an amazing time to have been growing up, into the 90s things started to go a little downhill and now in the 21st century.........WHAT DO WE HAVE!

@yankeechicken61 10 ай бұрын

Rap. Don’t you just love it?

@msburton1406 2 жыл бұрын

I listen to this daily Thanks from a Dan Fan.

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks from another Dan fan! I'm really glad you liked my work to that degree!

@TheGooseIsLoose 2 жыл бұрын

Jesus dude, amazing work on this. By far the best version available. You almost can't tell that it ISN'T a studio Dan release!

@infrequentvlogs4433 Жыл бұрын

This is as good as music gets. MANY songs as great as this.... but nothin's better.

@dannymoore2413 4 ай бұрын

I recall playing this SD song and Aja in Darfur. The people there in that little village loved it. No one moved or even said a word.

@gfunkmusic6836 Жыл бұрын

This is just stunning, I’m hearing things i’ve never heard before in previous copies. It’s like a blanket has been removed , real hi fi. You’ve done a really awesome job on this. Thank you!

@sCulturefan Жыл бұрын

This is great: classic Steely with a 10cc by-way-of-P-Funk feel!

@yung_wog4180 9 ай бұрын

This song is deep. I have struggled with anxiety all my life, mostly used drugs to cope. Gave all that up and poof, my anxiety is like a distant memory. Everyday stresses exist, but the torturous sensations and panic are long gone. “The bear” is a real evolutionary remnant that tricks your brain into fight, flight or both. Do you have the bear? Or did the bear get you?

@weepeee Жыл бұрын

Verse 1: Donald Fagen] Sir, I parked my juggernaut at your gate Fifteen-thousand miles and I'm feeling great I've been on the run, but I done my time You just can't stand still with a friend like mine [Chorus] There's a bear that walks like a man Better shake him fast Better hide yourself if you can Cause he wants your ass I believe you'll do quite well But only time will tell If you got the bear or the bear got you

@InnocentSon92 Жыл бұрын

Yes, Chef!

@Enieto79 25 күн бұрын

hahahaha i figure out the same "Chef"

@MannyScoot Жыл бұрын

I've heard this song one thousand times, and I can say this is the best edition !!!!!!

@jamesbottomley2596 Жыл бұрын

So wish these were released on a CD. Brilliant remastering.

@bonzey1171 2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, this sounds way better. Man, this jam rocks

@chrisiverzen 9 ай бұрын

the instrumental part that starts after 3 minutes is really great!

@francoisbelenger9667 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your outstanding work on that lost Steely Dan song

@FlyingBaNana3000 Жыл бұрын

God damn, this is amazing. Thank you for uploading this

@melodkeyelash Жыл бұрын

The verb on Don's voice 🤩♥️

@edzielinski Жыл бұрын

This sounds amazing. Thanks so much for your efforts and sharing it. It has that sparkling yet massive Steely Dan vibe - so intoxicating.

@liraloo Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your efforts, my friend. This is absolutely wonderful!❤️

@teelurizzo8542 4 ай бұрын

Bill Schnee has just said on the Rick Beato 2 Interview that 'The Bear' was cut during the 'Aja' Sessions, as I had suspected.

@marmyafia6307 2 жыл бұрын

You've done wonders on this - massive improvement. Sounds immense!

@butchwilliams8581 2 жыл бұрын

WOW...EXCELLENT! Thanks so much for sharing!

@vivaolife5427 2 жыл бұрын

you're doing an amazing job on all the restores

@lindamortensen7835 8 ай бұрын

Thank you so so much. Just wonderful.

@zlf377 2 жыл бұрын

Once again, sincere thanks for this, you're the man! (also, nice melee main)

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

..and once again, thank you! Also, the only reason I picked up Falco was that in the past, all I mained were mid/low tiers and Falco was the most balanced of the broken characters matchup-wise.

@dirtycrumbs Жыл бұрын

thank you for your service, BAA - excellent work my friend ♥

@celluloidcowboy 2 жыл бұрын

You’re a godsend. Thanks for this!

@bobburroughs6241 Жыл бұрын

Suddenly here we are with 4 new SD tracks - thanks!

@Vejur9000 2 жыл бұрын

Musical genius from top to bottom, is Steely Dan.

@tadhghoran414 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds unreal!!! Keep it up brudda

@superfuzzymomma Жыл бұрын

Steely DAMN...Great job here my friend! Can't wait for the Gaucho demo! Peace

@ketaaguilar5411 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic song!

@patrickroche3366 5 ай бұрын

Thank you. God bless.

@alexthegreat490 2 жыл бұрын

Great work, thank you.

@MPHORROCKS Жыл бұрын

Sounds fabulous! Thanks so much!!!

@supasoulproductions Жыл бұрын

Incredible Job on this!

@sonic597s 2 жыл бұрын

wow! nice restoration, it sounds great :)

@M3TaGh0sStT Жыл бұрын

Awesome song

@chiefwhitenoise5227 Жыл бұрын

Listening to this upload I regained confidence in my headphones 🙂

@clarenzlarka Жыл бұрын

WOW! never heard this before!!!

@newellbate Жыл бұрын

Great job!

@user-he8sc4ib7e 2 ай бұрын

As a pony, Steely Dan only had a couple of tricks, but they used them so well.

@chrissergeant7798 2 жыл бұрын

Even the songs that didn't make the album are awesome.

@jml-rj5re 2 жыл бұрын

Especially the songs that didn't make the cut. The Bear and Kulee Baba would have been among the best on the album. A double album or 3-sided album was needed. I Can't Write Home About You and of course Second Arrangement as well.

@keith2241954 11 ай бұрын

Great Job.

@tompa3537 2 жыл бұрын

You're a hero!

@johnwilkerson2195 Жыл бұрын

awesome sound

@chiefwhitenoise5227 Жыл бұрын

It's gotta be a week now that I listened to this everyday.

@norfitz Жыл бұрын

I can't help but think the bear got Walt. So sorry, friend I never met, I always wished you could reach happy and well. RIP.

@starshiptrooper4506 Жыл бұрын

That is what this was about: Walter Becker. The bear was his drug addiction and the car that hit him.

@mortonbeard2240 4 ай бұрын

Thank you. I can’t shake my admiration for these two men. The quirk, the comedy, adventure, the characters of Steely Dan.

@stuartharris1241 Жыл бұрын

The bass 🎸 and the bridge, sheesh 👌🏾👍🏾

@scottgherkin Жыл бұрын

this is amazing

@dmlevitt Жыл бұрын

fabulous.

@elwinlewis9757 2 жыл бұрын

Mark my words, I don’t know when, I don’t really even know how- but one day, could be a couple years from now even, we’re going to get AI based restoration that will bring the songs to any quality level desired, just shy of Steely Studio- and we will hear the tracks in a quality that said “how did no one think that this would happen years ago? It makes so much sense” Until then, I’ll be listening to your restorations

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

I am desperately waiting for that day to come. Just imagine the implications!

@gracehopkins3113 Жыл бұрын

All this talk of AI restoration in the Danbase has really gotten my hopes up. I'll be pretty sad if it doesn't end up happening. And I will sue all of you people for emotional distress. The Second Arrangement is my favorite song of all time on some days.

@yankeechicken61 10 ай бұрын

Insane for Fagan not to release or even acknowledge this great track. Well, that’s Fagan for you.

@shuriflwrs 10 ай бұрын

They've played it live a handful of times in 2011

@rynkie 2 жыл бұрын

oh my god yes

@SicckBeatz-te9eb Жыл бұрын

beast 🔥

@petermountjoy7693 Жыл бұрын

Great to hear this. Heard Second Arrangement recently which was also a discarded or lost track from the Gaucho sessions but I think is actually a better track.

@petefogel2133 Жыл бұрын

This tune is 50x better than Kulee Baba. Unlike Kula Baba, it actually sounds like a SD song

@IronMan-tk8uc Жыл бұрын

I disagree. Kulee Baba does sound a Dan song, especially with that godly Jeff Porcaro groove!

@petefogel2133 Жыл бұрын

I guess we can agree to disagree. Apparently Donald and Walter didn't like it either... otherwise they would have put it on the record.

@martinharbeck2316 2 ай бұрын

How did Third World Man make the cut over the Bear? This song is AMAZING

@tylerwhiteeee 2 жыл бұрын

🔥🔥🔥

@eddietyupo3729 2 жыл бұрын

Mistifying. Excellent work here.

@joymoore1904 Жыл бұрын

Night by night groove imho. ❤

@sfbsfb 6 ай бұрын

Good call! Several albums prior, but similar sound on this track.

@JCNippert1 Жыл бұрын

I still think this is about speed. Some college students "speeded" in the seventies for various reasons, mostly in lieu of caffeine while cramming for tests. Most felt they need not worry about the " crash" - silly fools, because the bear got them.

@TheMcglinn Жыл бұрын

WELL DONE INDEED.

@nigelpisswater484 5 ай бұрын

I know Donald and Walter are perfectionists but what the actual fuck??? How the fuck did this not make the album.

@gracehopkins3113 Жыл бұрын

This song is so fucking good

@colinglass1342 2 жыл бұрын

You Definitely got the bear You're the man there's no goldy locks here but the real McCoy trying to get rid of a nasty head cold 🥶🤧 Awesome vocal talant of stealy dann remarkable sound of Stealy Dann have to listen to all there albums.K got to listen to the" Night Fly 🪰 album." Great sound recording

@colinglass1342 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry about the silly start of my last comment i was just proberly talking nonsense .A magnificeant singer a magnificeant band one of my favourites

@BlazeMasterBM 2 жыл бұрын

That's some good Dan

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

Isn't it? It's one of my most prized treasures that I'm happy to share. Also, never thought I'd see you become a fan after my other friends' responses lol

@BlazeMasterBM 2 жыл бұрын

@@BleusAudioArchive oh really ? What did they respond..

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

@@BlazeMasterBM Well, you know about what Chris and Sean say about it. Lol

@davidhalkyard9104 6 ай бұрын

You’ve done a good job of improving the general dynamic range and sonic quality of this work-in-progress! Because that’s what this clearly is. That’s a guide vocal you’re hearing, complete with hit and miss double tracking. I also feel that there are a few areas where the track loses its way musically and sags. Again, some of the soloing etc is a placeholder that I’d bet they intended to come back to later. That aside, this is well past cool if you accept it’s a working version and not a finished track. Fagen and Becker would never have released this in this half-finished form. Like everyone else, I wish they had finished it and put it on Gaucho - it’s easily as good as many of the tracks that did make the cut (and arguably better than one or two).

@user-ns4uu3vv2i Жыл бұрын

awesome song, amazing work.. would’ve been amazing on gaucho! Can you try to boost “Were you blind that day?“

@BrianBurke06 2 жыл бұрын

God, this shit is so great

@Sunkenballs12 2 жыл бұрын

Ooooo even better than the last

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

I knew I had to revisit it due to my minimalist attempt before.

@static6OOO 2 жыл бұрын

If you can and want to, do you think you could do I Can’t Write Home About You next please?

@SEE.E.O Жыл бұрын

makes me do "the bear" around my room every time. a dance where you take big ol bear steps while hanging your big heavy clawed paws around

@campurdy9083 Жыл бұрын

This is awesome. But I think I see why they shelved it: It sounds like Royal Scam (the song) in the chorus. Still love the groove.

@weepeee Жыл бұрын

Mr. QUICK Has Flown From the Cosmic ZOOO……🙏❤️☮️😇🌹🌈🎶🔥♥️💜

@canaconn2388 Жыл бұрын

Hey there, I was wondering if it were possible to release a version with your adjustments with the noise intact, it seems the removal of it has resulted in noticeable artifacts in the audio. Thank you for your work :)

@petebraidis4655 6 ай бұрын

I so badly want to think this is based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears and they’re all on cocaine

@ikd3240 6 ай бұрын

Damn shame this song never made it on any of their albums. Was this recorded during the Aja sessions? It would have fit well on that record.

@kma5699 Жыл бұрын

Donald Fagan got the bear. He’s a beast

@LoJahn 8 ай бұрын

Falco mains unite

@incredible916 Жыл бұрын

Does Donald fagen ever talk about these songs? Can we please interview him before it’s too late please 😢

@tylerwhiteeee 2 жыл бұрын

Is there a FLAC file you can link? 👉👈

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

Here's a GDrive link to the final product: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mWlkBM9MCMsELV8D5xT6K-3LrpBdHCj7?usp=sharing It's not in the .flac format, but rather .wav, but both are lossless so I hope that's okay. Also, sorry for the late response.

@tylerwhiteeee 2 жыл бұрын

@@BleusAudioArchive Not late at all! Thank you!!

@aliensporebomb 2 жыл бұрын

@@BleusAudioArchive Stunning. So velvety smooth!

@zan6585 3 ай бұрын

Would love a DL link for HQ listening ^^

@aliensporebomb 2 жыл бұрын

Only downside for me is the fade omitting the instrumental version's cool coda with its closing jazz chords. Otherwise, this is like something they could release today - it's that good.

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

I wasn't sure whether or not to add it because the transition felt strange while listening to it... Looking back, I kinda regret my decision of cutting it... Other than that, thank you so much for the compliments!

@johnvastola7748 Жыл бұрын

Boston Rag riff revisited

@Jon-bb3sk 11 ай бұрын

Wishing I was

@lukemastro6315 2 жыл бұрын

This is incredible, so glad I found this. Any chance of getting The Second Arrangement at some point?

@BleusAudioArchive 2 жыл бұрын

Sadly, that song has been done so much to death on KZfaq that it's gotten to the point where we can't precisely improve it anymore. The saturation and wear from the cassette rip are so prominent that it's near impossible to manually restore to a definitive quality using editing. I've tried it myself quite a few times, and the results are mostly similar or inferior to other attempts I've heard. If you're curious, so far, here's the best I've seen: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gs5-kqaYuc2zkac.html

@MrCherryJuice Жыл бұрын

Here is a just-released and great-sounding version 'The Second Arrangement' from a DAT tape found by Roger Nicols' family. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p8B-jNimtKy5kmg.html