All The Midnights In The World has gotta be inspired by Steely Dan's Barrytown.

Another compelling co.inky.dink — Barrytown is on The Dan's Pretzel Logic album.

While I doubt Prince knew of this song (although ....who knows), good call on the similarities. But just for some broader scope, there were a lot of 70s guitar/folk/rock type songs like both of these tracks that exist. Correlations are out there waiting to be made. "Barrytown" certainly has strong influences on "ATMITW", no doubt.

Here's another co.inky.dink that is pointless of course: The Mistral font is old and has been used a long time. I have a Pinterest board that is "Things That Use The Purple Rain" font. Steely Dan's albums Can't Buy A Thrill uses the same font as Purple Rain. Of course, so does a brand of minced ginger at my local grocery store.

TrivialPursuit said:

"While I doubt Prince knew of this song..."

Something tells me that if Prince knew about Joni Mitchell in the mid-to-late 70s then it's not that big a stretch to imagine he more than likely knew about Steely Dan.

I would be surprised if Prince and or Dez did not know of Pretzel Logic.

Another compelling co.inky.dink — I always think of The Allman Brother's Jessica whenever I hear the guitar solos in Why You Want To Treat Me So Bad.

It's not a note-for-note copy of course. But there are evocative simularities here and there between the harmonies of the two part guitar solos in Jessica and in Prince & Dez' solos.

By the way, I love typography! Thanks for naming that Mistral font.

TrivialPursuit said:

"...just for some broader scope, there were a lot of 70s guitar/folk/rock type songs like both of these tracks that exist..."

The armchair musicologist in me really loves that kind of chord progression. That kind of turn-around. Is there a specific technical/musical name for that kind of motif?

Please, can you point me at any of those "70s guitar/folk/rock type songs like both of these tracks" that share that same kind of chord progression/turn-around?

If you can't remember any off the top of your head, I'm cool with waiting a few days for something to come to mind for you.

If I knew about Steely Dan in the 70s, I don't know why Prince wouldn't.

Sounds like 'Here comes Santa Claus' to me.

Parts of it are note for note the 'bells are ringing, children singing all is merry and bright' part.

It also mentions Zuzu's petals, an unrelated Christmas reference. Maybe he wrote in in December.

purplethunder3121 said:

"If I knew about Steely Dan in the 70s, I don't know why Prince wouldn't."

Touché!

My thoughts are, The Dan is renowned for being FM radio staples. I recall reading somewhere that in the 70s, FM radio was pretty much the only game in town for musicians in Minneapolis who wanted to keep up with the latest and greatest music of the day. Joni Mitchell was also an FM radio darling. So it stands to reason that he at least would have heard Rikki Don't Lose That Number. And if he had any taste in "good music", he couldn't have helped but appreciate the genius of at least that one Dan tune.

VelvetKittyKat said:

"Sounds like 'Here comes Santa Claus' to me.

Parts of it are note for note the 'bells are ringing, children singing all is merry and bright' part.

It also mentions Zuzu's petals, an unrelated Christmas reference. Maybe he wrote in in December."

Are you talking about the one that goes, "♪ Here comes Santa Claus ♫ Here comes Santa Claus ♪ Right down Santa Claus Lane ♫..."? I'll have to try to track down an mp3 somewhere. I'm dying to hear the simularity. That chord progression is so infectuous. Thanks for that.

phatphuk said:

VelvetKittyKat said:

phatphuk said:

Are you talking about the one that goes, "♪ Here comes Santa Claus ♫ Here comes Santa Claus ♪ Right down Santa Claus Lane ♫..."? I'll have to try to track down an mp3 somewhere. I'm dying to hear the simularity. That chord progression is so infectuous. Thanks for that.

That's the one!

Yeah! It sure does actually :¬)

There must be a name for that kind of turn-around. Does anybody know if there is a name for it?

VelvetKittyKat said:

"...It also mentions Zuzu's petals, an unrelated Christmas reference..."

Well, whaddaya know abot that! ZuZu's Petals!

I learn something new everyday here :¬) Thanks for that.