Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen Revisit a Soul Classic in 1992 Tour Performance
In 1992, Boz Scaggs joined Donald Fagen’s New York Rock and Soul Revue for a tour that celebrated classic rhythm and blues and sophisticated pop craftsmanship. One of the standout moments from that collaboration was their performance of Drowning In The Sea Of Love, a song written by the legendary Philadelphia songwriting team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and first recorded by Joe Simon in 1971.
The original version by Joe Simon became a major hit, reaching number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the R and B chart. Built on the signature Philadelphia soul sound, the track combined a steady groove with emotional vulnerability, telling the story of a man overwhelmed by heartbreak. Gamble and Huff’s songwriting, known for blending polished arrangements with direct lyrical themes, made the song a lasting entry in the soul canon.
By the time of the 1992 tour, both Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen were established artists with deep roots in American popular music. Scaggs had long demonstrated his affinity for blue eyed soul and R and B influences, particularly on albums such as Silk Degrees. Fagen, best known as co founder of Steely Dan, brought his own devotion to classic soul, jazz harmony, and meticulous musical direction to the New York Rock and Soul Revue project.
Their live rendition of Drowning In The Sea Of Love reflects that shared respect for the genre. Scaggs delivers the lead vocal with control and warmth, avoiding excess while preserving the emotional core of the song. His phrasing remains faithful to the spirit of Joe Simon’s original interpretation, yet carries his own tonal identity. Fagen’s presence and the revue’s ensemble musicians provide a tight and polished backing, rooted in groove rather than spectacle.
The available video recording of the performance does not offer high visual quality, yet the musical substance remains clear. The arrangement emphasizes steady rhythm, layered keyboards, and disciplined ensemble playing, consistent with the revue’s mission to honor classic American soul traditions on stage. Rather than radically reinterpret the song, the performance presents it with professionalism and evident admiration for its origins.
This 1992 tour moment stands as an example of artists from different but related musical backgrounds coming together to spotlight foundational material. In performing Drowning In The Sea Of Love, Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen did not attempt to modernize or reinvent the composition. Instead, they reaffirmed its enduring strength through careful musicianship and vocal sincerity.
More than three decades later, the performance remains a meaningful document of a period when accomplished musicians chose to celebrate the roots of soul music in a live setting, allowing a well crafted song to speak once again to a new audience.