Circus Money Explained

Circus Money
Type:studio
Artist:Walter Becker
Cover:circusmoney.jpg
Released:10 June 2008
Studio:Avatar Studios and BC Studio (New York City, New York)
  • Market Street (Santa Monica, California)
Length:59:59
Label:5 Over 12
Mailboat Sonic360
Producer:Larry Klein
Prev Title:11 Tracks of Whack
Prev Year:1994

Circus Money is the second and final solo album by Walter Becker released on June 10, 2008 through the 5 Over 12 label (an imprint of Mailboat Records) both in CD and digital download formats and July 14, 2008 through Sonic360 for the rest of the world outside North America. Unlike Becker's previous solo release, this album does not have the participation of Becker's fellow Steely Dan founder and bandmate Donald Fagen.

The cover artwork features graphic work inspired by a photograph of a Yup'ik mask, reproduced in Ann Fienup-Riordan's The Living Tradition of Yup'Ik Masks. Becker wrote that after obtaining the rights to re-use the photograph (from Fienup-Riordan as well as the book's publisher and the original photographer), the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (where the mask is held) was notified of the intended use of the photograph. The museum attempted to block the use of the photograph, citing cultural sensitivity and the sacred nature of the mask. Following legal advice, it was deemed the museum had no legal basis for blocking the photograph's use.[1] [2]

Track listing

All songs written by Walter Becker and Larry Klein, except "Circus Money", written by Becker.[3]

  1. "Door Number Two" - 4:33
  2. "Downtown Canon" - 5:36
  3. "Bob Is Not Your Uncle Anymore" - 4:45
  4. "Upside Looking Down" - 4:08
  5. "Paging Audrey" - 6:48
  6. "Circus Money" - 4:15
  7. "Selfish Gene" - 4:38
  8. "Do You Remember the Name" - 4:14
  9. "Somebody's Saturday Night" - 4:29
  10. "Darkling Down" - 5:04
  11. "God's Eye View" - 6:02
  12. "Three Picture Deal" - 5:27
  13. "Dark Horse Dub"* - 6:46

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Notes and References

  1. http://walterbecker.com/cmart.html The Circus Money Mask – Part I | The Sad Story of the Sorry Smithsonian | Walter Becker
  2. http://www.walterbecker.com/cmfaq.html#q7 Circus Money | FAQ | Walter Becker
  3. Circus Money . 2008 . booklet . 5 Over 12, Mailboat.