Morph the Cat is the third solo album by Donald Fagen. A rumination on old age and death, the album has the same sharp lyrics, tight playing, and meticulous production for which Fagen is known. Musicians on the album include drummer Keith Carlock, saxophonist Walt Weiskopf, bassist Freddie Washington, and guitarists Frank Vignola, Jon Herington, Wayne Krantz, and Hugh McCracken.
Morph the Cat was released on CD and on a CD/DVD-Audio 2-disc package, with a 5.1 surround sound mix engineered by Elliot Scheiner. The surround recording won the Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album.
All songs written by Donald Fagen except where indicated.
- "Morph the Cat" – 6:49
- "H Gang" – 5:15
- "What I Do" – 6:01
- "Brite Nitegown" – 7:16
- "The Great Pagoda of Funn" – 7:39
- "Security Joan" – 6:09
- "The Night Belongs to Mona" – 4:18
- "Mary Shut the Garden Door" – 6:29
- "Morph the Cat (Reprise)" – 2:53
- "Rhymes" – 4:22 (Al Green and Mabon Hodges)
- "Hank's Pad" (Live) - 4:48 (Henry Mancini and Donald Fagen)
- "Viva Viva Rock 'N' Roll" (Live) - 2:42 (Chuck Berry)
Morph the Cat
Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen, Jerry Barnes, Michael Harvey
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Frank Vignola, Hugh McCracken, Wayne Krantz
Guitar [Solo] – Jon Herington
Fender Rhodes – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone [Solo] – Walt Weiskopf
Trumpet – Marvin Stamm
Vibraphone – Phonus Quaver
H Gang
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums –Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Wayne Krantz
Guitar [Solo] – Jon Herington
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Ted Baker
Fender Rhodes, Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone [Solo] – Walt Weiskopf
Trombone – Mark Patterson
Trumpet – Marvin Stamm
What I Do
Backing Vocals – Amy Helm, Carolyn Leonhart, Cindy Mizelle, Donald Fagen
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington, Ken Emerson, Wayne Krantz
Harmonica [Solo] – Howard Levy
Wurlitzer Electric Piano – Ted Baker
Brite Nitegown
Alto Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Jon Herington
Guitar [Solo] – Wayne Krantz
Marimba – Phonus Quaver
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson, Gordon Gottlieb
Fender Rhodes, Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman
Trombone – Mark Patterson
Trumpet – Marvin Stamm
The Great Pagoda of Funn
Alto Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen, Jerry Barnes
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Jon Herington
Guitar [Solo] – Wayne Krantz
Percussion – Joe Pasaro
Piano – Ted Baker
Tenor Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman
Trombone – Mark Patterson
Trumpet [Solo] – Marvin Stamm
Vibraphone – Phonus Quaver
Security Joan
Backing Vocals – Michael Harvey
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Jon Herington, Wayne Krantz
Guitar [Solo] – Ken Wessel
Handclaps – Camille Meza, Candice Predham, Eddie Jackson, Jennifer Battista
Organ, Piano, Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Wurlitzer Electric Piano – Ted Baker
The Night Belongs to Mona
Acoustic Bass – Harlan Post, Jr.
Bass –Freddie Washington
Bass Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg
Drums – Keith Carlock
Flute – Lawrence Feldman
Guitar – Jon Herington, Wayne Krantz
Harmonica – Howard Levy
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano, Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen
Fender Rhodes – Ted Baker
Tenor Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Trombone – Mark Patterson
Trumpet – Marvin Stamm
Mary Shut the Garden Door
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Keith Carlock
Flute – Illinois Elohainu
Guitar – Jon Herington, Wayne Krantz
Melodica [Solo], Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Fender Rhodes – Ted Baker
Vibraphone – Phonus Quaver
Morph the Cat (Reprise)
Backing Vocals – Jerry Barnes, Michael Harvey
Bass –Freddie Washington
Bass [Remedial] – Brian Montgomery
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Wayne Krantz
Guitar [Chorus Solo] – Jon Herington
Guitar [Tag Solo] – Frank Vignola
Fender Rhodes, Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Trumpet – Marvin Stamm
Vibraphone – Phonus Quaver
-*Harlan Post Jr., Phonus Quaver and Illinois Elohainu are pseudonyms for Fagen himself when he plays an instrument sample patch on a synthesizer trying to replicate the actual instrument.
Producer: Donald Fagen
Tracking Engineer: Elliot Scheiner
Overdub/ProTools Engineers: Brian Montgomery, T. J. Doherty
Mix Engineer: Elliott Scheiner
Second Mix Engineer: Brian Montgomery
Assistant Engineers: Eddie Jackson, Jim Keller, Chad Lupo, Steve Mazur, Brian Montgomery, Matt Scheiner, Bryan Smith, Allan "A.T." Thomas
Piano Technicians: Sam Berd, Wayne Williams
Drum/Guitar Tech: Artie Smith
Music Copyist: Gary Blu
Mastering Engineer: Darcy Proper
Additional Mastering: Joseph M. Palmaccio
Mastering Assistant: Maria Triana
Management: Irving Azoff
Production Coordinators: Jill Dell'Abate, Cindy Osborne
Production Assistant: Mary Lou Arnold
Art Direction: Jeri Heiden
Design: Ryan Corey
Photography: Danny Clinch
Album
