As a founding member of Steely Dan and a longtime member of the Doobie Brothers, guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter has played a key role in many legendary moments in music history. Now, Skunk and Public Broadcasting are celebrating his legacy with the career-spanning concert video “Live at Analog,” which can be streamed above.
In the video, Baxter and his band — Mark Damian (Drums), Hank Horton (Bass), James Raymond (Keyboards) — perform hits including “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “My Old School,” and music from Baxter’s first solo album, Speed of Heat.
Baxter and company are joined on stage by a talented field of special guests including Rome Ramirez, Lauren Morrow, Slim Jim Phantom, and the Nelson brothers Matthew and Gunnar.
“Skunk Baxter is such a complete performer – from his reinterpretations of his own classics, to his new material and banter, every moment he’s on stage is riveting. The audience never doubts for a moment that they are in the presence of greatness.”
Meredith DiMenna, Director of Marketing & Programming, Analog NashvilleHaving recently released an expanded version of his acclaimed first-ever solo album, Speed of Heat, with a special Storytellers Edition via BMG/Renew Records.
For over five decades, audiences worldwide have marveled at Baxter’s inimitable and instantly recognizable guitar playing and generational songcraft. His output spans classic records as a founding member of Steely Dan and member of the Doobie Brothers in addition to hundreds of recordings with the likes of Donna Summer, Cher, Joni Mitchell, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and many more. During 2022, he initially unveiled Speed of Heat, showcasing yet another side of his creative identity and introducing himself as a solo artist.
On the Storytellers Edition, his fascinating commentary pulls the curtain back on both the process and the message of the music. This version traces the journey to Speed of Heat and its core inspirations as shared directly by Baxter in the form of detailed anecdotes, candid stories, and insightful commentary on every track.
Upon release in 2022, Speed of Heat received widespread critical acclaim. Guitar World attested, “Baxter’s status in the rock ‘n’ roll firmament is underscored by what is remarkably, his first solo album, with Speed of Heat finding him both revisiting his own classics and corralling old friends to the cause.” Meanwhile, Rock & Blues Muse professed, “Hearing him outside of someone else’s context and under his own direction is an experience you need to have. Highly recommended,” and Music Connection categorically confirmed that, “For music fans of all stripes, and particularly those who have followed Baxter’s remarkable career through the years and have long hoped for the guitarist to record a solo album, Speed of Heat will prove well worth the wait.”
The 12-song album, co-produced by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and CJ Vanston, is a riveting and rewarding musical experience that features a host of brilliantly crafted originals co-written by the guitarist and Vanston, as well as inspired versions of some of the great classics. Along the way, Baxter is joined by guest vocalists and songwriters Michael McDonald, Clint Black, Jonny Lang and Rick Livingstone. Baxter notably handled lead vocals on his rendition of Steely Dan’s “My Old School.” Other standouts include “Bad Move” co-written by Baxter, Clint Black, and CJ Vanston, and “My Place In The Sun”, sung by Michael McDonald and co-authored by McDonald, Baxter and Vanston.
