Confide In Me

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to the soulful vibes of "Confide In Me" by Donald Fagen, a track that’s pure Ray Charles-inspired magic. This gem, originally a B-side to the 1993 single “Tomorrow Girls,” didn’t make it onto Fagen’s Kamakiriad album because it didn’t fit the album’s narrative, but don’t let that fool you—it’s a standout. According to Something Else! Reviews, the song channels a 1950s rhythm and blues shuffle, with Fagen hammering out a barrelhouse piano style and Jeff Young adding a gritty organ vibe. Mindy Jostyn’s harmonica and Drew Zingg’s bluesy guitar licks give it that extra soul, and the chorus, with its “confide in me” call-and-response, is a direct nod to Charles’ "Night Time Is the Right Time." Fun fact: some fans on r/SteelyDan speculate Fagen wrote it for The Manhattan Transfer, who recorded it for their 1991 album The Offbeat of Avenues, possibly as a demo from his New York Rock and Soul Revue days. Oh, and here’s a juicy tidbit: Singersroom claims Martin Scorsese directed the music video, tying it to their Goodfellas soundtrack collab.

Donald Fagen’s journey to jazz-rock legend started in Passaic, New Jersey, where he was born on January 10, 1948, to a musical family. His mom, Elinor, was a swing singer in the Catskills, and young Donald soaked up jazz from his cousin, who turned him onto icons like Ray Charles and Charlie Parker. By high school, he was already tinkling the ivories in a jazz trio, teaching himself piano by slowing down records to pick out notes, as he told American Songwriter. After graduating in 1965, Fagen headed to Bard College, where he met Walter Becker in 1967. Their shared love for jazz, sci-fi, and dark humor sparked a partnership that would change music forever. They gigged in college bands like Leather Canary (with future star Chevy Chase on drums!) and later backed Jay and the Americans under pseudonyms, with Fagen as “Tristan Fabriani.” By 1970, they were songwriting for ABC/Dunhill Records in LA, answering a Village Voice ad from guitarist Denny Dias to form Steely Dan, named after a quirky reference from William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch.

For more on Donald Fagen, check out his official website at steelydan.com, which doubles as the hub for Steely Dan updates. You can vibe with him on Facebook, where he’s got over 100,000 followers, or catch his rare posts on Instagram. On X, he’s less active, but it’s worth a peek for fan chatter. For Zoo Freaks who want to dive deeper, the r/SteelyDan subreddit is a lively spot for fan discussions, and Steely Dan Official Fan Group on Facebook is packed with devotees sharing rare tracks and tour stories. Another gem is steelydan.nl, a fan site with detailed discographies and news. So, crank up "Confide In Me" and let Fagen’s soulful genius take you away!