Joy Yu Hoffman "Blessings".  Chinese harp, very nice.

  Quote: You need a copy of Live at Leeds or Live at the Isle of Wight Festival.  A seriously different view.

  Quote: I'd nominate just about that whole Allman Bros. Live at the Fillmore East album - and I love the earlier studio versions of those songs.

  Quote: There are a bunch of comparison questions I can't answer, but the 801 can drive just about anything with its stock amp.

Leonard Cohen's version of Hallelujah is pretty good too.   How about "These Days" by Jackson Brown, as performed by Tom Rush?   And Shangrila by the Kinks.   - Ed

Dark Star (and St. Stephen and The Eleven) off the 69 Live/Dead album by the Grateful Dead.   - Ed

Since you like guitar, try Pat Martino's "Footsteps", a tribute to Wes Montgomery.   - Ed

Quote: Are you kidding?  With that cover, he's poised to charm many single women once they reach a certain age: good looking, soulful eyes, and he like cats!   (I discussed this with my wife; she agrees he'll hit the demographic if his music is any good).   - Ed

My mistake.  It was Walter Booker on Involution I was thinking of.   - Ed

Quote: I have a Sam Rivers Bluenote retro release  that I think he is on.  Nice.  

Quote: There's a lyric that goes "I was born in New Jersey.  I've learned not to expect too much".  You must not be native to have such disappointed expectations!     - Ed

In a sense, it's about the "sonics" - the overall sound and how it moves you.  That was a good part of what was so special about Steely Dan.   - Ed

Quote: Can't argue with that.   - Ed

Nobody else is Steely Dan, but these are some "nearby" sophisticated Pop/Rock/R&B ideas you might like:   Doobie Brothers during the Michael McDonald tenure - about the same time as the height of Steely Dan Van Morrison, start with Moondance, but he has a huge discography Boz Scaggs...

  Quote: If we're thinking of the same version, I have to agree - Richard Manuel had the voice for this one.   - Ed