Steely Dan - Hey Nineteen Lyrics

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who played the instruments on 'Hey Nineteen'?

   'Hey Nineteen' by Steely Dan features Hugh McCracken on guitar, Rick Marotta on drums, with percussion by Victor Feldman and Steve Gadd. Walter Becker also played guitar, and Donald Fagen contributed with the Fender Rhodes electric piano and synthesizer.

2. What drum machine was used in 'Hey Nineteen'?

   In 'Hey Nineteen', Steely Dan used a custom drum machine dubbed 'Wendel', created by engineer Roger Nichols. This drum machine recorded Rick Marotta's drum parts and played them back with precision.

3. Does 'Hey Nineteen' reference specific alcohol and drugs?

   Yes, 'Hey Nineteen' mentions 'The Cuervo Gold', referring to José Cuervo tequila, and 'the fine Colombian', which is a reference to Colombian cannabis, highlighting the nostalgia and age difference between the narrator and his young lover.

4. Was 'Hey Nineteen' the only Steely Dan track to reference Aretha Franklin?

   While 'Hey Nineteen' specifically mentions Aretha Franklin, reflecting the generational gap between the characters in the song, it is not clear if it's the only Steely Dan song to do so as their lyrics often feature various cultural references.

5. Did Bose use 'Hey Nineteen' for audio system tuning?

   Yes, Bose used 'Hey Nineteen' to tune car audio systems. Acoustical engineer Mark Armitage noted the song's detail and clean sound were ideal for ensuring music is temporally aligned and arrives simultaneously to listeners' ears, enhancing the clarity and naturalness.