Circus Money

Last updated
Circus Money
Circusmoney.jpg
Studio album by
Released10 June 2008
Studio Avatar Studios and BC Studio (New York City, New York)
  • Market Street (Santa Monica, California)
Length59:59
Label 5 Over 12
Mailboat Sonic360
Producer Larry Klein
Walter Becker chronology
11 Tracks of Whack
(1994)
Circus Money
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
BBC Music (positive) [2]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
MusicOMH.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]

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.

Contents

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. [12] [13]

Track listing

All songs written by Walter Becker and Larry Klein, except "Circus Money", written by Becker. [14]

  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

*International release only

Personnel

Musicians

Production

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References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. BBC Music Review Chris Jones, 2008-07-16
  3. "Blues CD: Walter Becker, Circus Money". The Guardian . 2008-07-17. Archived from the original on 2016-03-12.
  4. The Independent, 2008-07-11
  5. Los Angeles Times review
  6. Mojo, September 2008
  7. MusicOMH.com review
  8. PopMatters review
  9. Record Collector review Terry Staunton, September 2008
  10. Rolling Stone review [ dead link ]
  11. Uncut review
  12. The Circus Money Mask – Part I | The Sad Story of the Sorry Smithsonian | Walter Becker
  13. Circus Money | FAQ | Walter Becker
  14. Circus Money (booklet). 5 Over 12, Mailboat. 2008.