Somebody with Steely Dan is reeling in the virus.

The band just canceled all their dates in Florida for their current “Absolutely Normal” tour, moving them to next year. Rikki, don’t lose that ticket: you can trade it in for the 2022 dates.

Steely Dan– which is really now just Donald Fagen since the untimely death of Walter Becker- and his band of crack musicians– was embarking on the tour up the East Coast and promoting their new live album, “Northeast Corridor.”

The tour is now postponed for 20 days, beginning October 25th in Baltimore. I’ll see in November at the great Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York. All those Florida and North Carolina dates have been moved to July 2022.

Their website states: “Steely Dan have announced that they will postpone their upcoming shows in Miami, Orlando, St Petersburg, Jacksonville, North Charleston, Charlotte, and Richmond. The postponement comes out of an abundance of caution despite COVID-19 health and safety precautions in place. Fans are encouraged to hold on to their tickets for the newly scheduled dates, which can be seen below.”

Let’s hope for a speedy recovery and no more illness for the Dan. In the meantime, learn to work the saxophone.

Tonight, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga‘s “Love for Sale” drops in all formats including CD, vinyl, streaming and downloads like iTunes. Listen, kids, you’d better hit that button and make it number 1. There are a lot of reasons.

He’s 95, she’s 35, this is unprecedented. Their first album, “Cheek to Cheek,” came to us in 2014. That’s when Tony told me they would absolutely follow up with a Cole Porter collection. “Cheek to Cheek” sold like crazy and won lots of awards, as it should.

“Love for Sale” is a crowning achievement for both of them, and Tony’s producer son, Dae Bennett. Working with the best musicians, they’ve made a lasting record of great beauty. If people are still listening to jazz in 50 years, “Love for Sale” will have to be at the top of every list.

Bennett is capping off the most remarkable career of all time, 70 years, all of our lifetimes, all of his. No other American singer can lay claim to his longstanding at peak quality. While Sinatra lurks out there as the Chairman of the Board, Tony is Chief Operating Officer of Jazz. The whole cosmic twist of his living this long was to prove a voice can only get richer as a heart grows deeper. Listen to him on some of these tracks, whether he recorded them six years ago or yesterday it doesn’t matter. The instrument is genuine. As much I have Frank’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” under mine, this new Gaga-Bennett duet is going to occupy a place there, too.

On first listen I’m focused on two tracks featuring Tony: “Dream Dancing” and “I Concentrate on You.” They’re lesser known Porter and sound fresher because of it. They bounce. Tony swings. He not only keeps up with Gaga, he outpaces her often. You can feel the energy he’s getting from her newness to the material. But for Tony, the piece de resistance is his solo number, “Just One of those Things.” I think this is the fourth time he’s recorded this song, who knows. But in 1969 he titled an album with this number, and going back there comparing to the new recording, Mr. Benedetto hasn’t lost a step. The earlier version is a younger man’s voice. The new one is a man who’s weathered all those things and come through it a winner. When Tony sings

Lady Gaga is a great jazz singer. I love her early music, the hit 45s, but I could listen to her sing like this for the rest of time. She’s done what Mariah Carey never bothered to do: she’s used her super powers for the good of mankind. If Natalie Cole were alive, she’d be Gaga’s only competition. With Tony she’s playful but never campy. This is a serious endeavor. Rosemary Clooney must be sending her signals from heaven. Rarely has there been a pairing that’s been so well matched. You know, she’s a good actress, Gaga, but you can tell she really gets a kick out of Tony. It’s very charming.

Gaga’s standout solo is “Do I Love You.” She has to compete with the ghosts of Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, and Vera Lynn. Who else would have the guts to take this on? This Stefani Germanotta doesn’t shy away from the challenge. She has nothing to fear in comparison. Gaga’s voice has all the vibrato and texture of the greats. You can’t imagine her every screaming again through a “Chromatica” or “Edge of Glory.” Why bother when you can do this?

Dae Bennett’s production on “Love for Sale” will win him another Grammy. He’s got the secret sauce to make this all come together. “Love for Sale” may be a cure for the pandemic. Please get the shots. But this is the extra booster we all need so badly.

Needless to say but A Plus. Plus.

story photo courtesy of Kelsey Bennett

@kelseybennett333

Taylor Swift can’t wait to sock it to Scooter Braun, Scott Borchetta and the financial group that bought her masters.

She’s moved up the release date of her re-recorded “Red” album by a week to November 12th. There’s lots of extra stuff and new unreleased material to make the album a hit. And to make the old “Red” turn pink and fade away.

Got some news that I think you’re gonna like – My version of Red will be out a week earlier than scheduled (including the 4 disc vinyl) on November 12th ! Can’t wait to celebrate the 13th with you and our new/old autumn heartbreak album🧣😍 🎥 🎥https://t.co/FVp6xizaOG

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) September 30, 2021

There are few better sounds than the Rolling Stones circa 1981. This is “Trouble’s a Coming” from the 40th anniversary of “Tattoo You.” It’s a cover of the Chi-Lites record, made in 1979.

The Chi-Lites were led by Eugene Record (his real name), a genius who wrote the group’s hits like “Have You Seen Her” and “Oh Girl.” Eugene, who I was lucky enough to know, also wrote the song “Are You My Woman” which Jay Z and Beyonce lifted for “Crazy in Love,” her biggest hit. I hope Eugene’s estate gets some dough from the Stones release today.

There are 8 more unreleased tracks coming on the 40th anniversary set October 22nd.

Here’s the original: