Our Throwback Thursday features a favorite song, something about the song and a cover version of the song. I love Steely Dan. I believe long time bunkies know that. Black Cow isn't my all-time favorite Steely Dan song, if pressed, I would have to go with Gaucho. But the song has a fond memory in my heart. I can remember one warm summer afternoon back in 1986, Mrs. Dr. Caligari and I were hanging around the northeast corner of 86th Street and Columbus, waiting for some friends, when we spontaneously began singing this song.
Black Cow was written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the co-front, core members of the band Steely Dan. It was released as the B-side of the single version of Josie, which reached #26 on the US Hot 100.
Steely Dan made a name for themselves for having highly polished productions. It was considered nothing special for them to take a year and dozens of session musicians to produce an album of less than ten songs.
The cover version (of sorts) I want to highlight of Black Cow, Deja Vu (Uptown Baby), was written by East Coast hip hop duo Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. The song is built around a sample of Steely Dan's Black Cow. In exchange for clearing use of the sample, Steely Dan requested an advance payment of $115,000 as well as 100% of publishing royalties, and as a result of this agreement, Steely Dan members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are the sole credited songwriters of the song. Shakira's song Hips Don't Lie sample the trumpet flourish for the song, Deja Vu (Uptown Baby).
Demand Euphoria!
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