Page only said that in the context of the songs he was played (eight as I recall) and asked to judge, inpromtu on some show the name of which, I forget. He didn't mean it was one of his favorites of all time. It's one of MINE, however. LOL.
@@allancerf9038 "When looking back on his career, Page previously told Rolling Stone that his favourite Led Zeppelin riff was ‘Kashmir’. Outside of Led Zeppelin’s discography and his own work, though, the legendary guitarist names his favourite guitar solo of all time as Elliott Randall’s riff in ‘Reelin’ In The Years’ by Steely Dan during a 1999 interview with Classic Rock." Also the UA-cam video - Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10
@@bigelile07 Not true and why are you using multiple handles? Smoke14 replied to me not biglile07. Well, Smoke-Lile. The only thing you omitted was the truth. Here's a cut and paste from the Classic Rock Magazine, you misquoted. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time. Your 'methodology' is the equivalent of learning self-defense at some shaky strip mall - FIGURATIVELY speaking only of course, you'll only manage to get yourself hurt. Again, Page, gave a '12' when asked to (rather reluctantly it must be said) rate various solos, including one of his own session era solos and Reelin' in the Years. For the purposes OF THAT BROADCAST. In no way was it a Desert Island Disc of his favorite solos. In other words, dude, if someone came up to smokebig 14-07 and said "off this list which is best?" you'd rate accordingly. Though no one will solicit your opinion in this fashion of course. I'll now invoice you and block you.
@@allancerf9038 Well, I was responding to Allan Cerf 🤔 and I didn't misquote anything. I copied & pasted exactly what the interview said. You copied & pasted a statement that was made to Elliot Randall trying to debunk the interview which makes no sense. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time. ER: …and a wonderful compliment, too! Yes the video was only a few guitarists, but that doesn't outweigh the Rolling Stone Magazine article. All of your other ramblings are just plain weird. 😂
Down the drain... Mine's down there somewhere, too. Let me know if you find it. The Midnight Special is sort of the Smithsonian of 70s live rock music. I'd have been 10 years old at the time of this one, but watched a lot of the the originals a bit later on. Of course wouldn't have remotely been able to fully appreciate what what I was seeing like I can now.
Fagen singing his heart out (I love his range here), even though he's dealing with such stage fright that his hand on the mic is shaking at several points, is really admirable. And of course Skunk going ham on the guitar is awesome.
@@ToluRobertsonFagen always had pretty bad stage fright, particularly when singing, and they used to have a different vocalist for live performances because of it.
@@Dremth I saw S.D. at Red Rocks, 2nd row, in 2010, great show but Fagen stayed tucked in his little keyboard cocoon and didn't stray from it much. They even had music stands across the stage that blocked him very effectively from my sight.
Snap same here. I think I was in America when this came out. I can still listen to this on a loop and never get tired of it. As a guitar player, it is one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard. Never mastered it myself, still trying. Absolutely Brilliant.
Damn. Even though I was born in 99 I grew up with this kind of music. My favorite band is Foghat which they featured on this show which they also have on this channel. I have many favorites from the 70s but if I had to choose one it’s gotta be Foghat. I love this song too. It’s great. I pretty much love the 70s hard rock songs.
It's funny sometimes to see younger women reacting to some of those 70s performances, with the infertility inducingly tight jeans. And of course the horrible shirt button shortage.
I like how people these days think being "edgy" is all about what clothes you wear and how cool looking their sleeve tats are compared to their buddy's... 😂 I've just always called it posing.
Newriverpearl ~ l was born in '65 and lived through it. l agree with you. lt was an AMAZING decade for music! l was into the Prog stuff, but Steely Dan was WAAY up there, as l was into jazz. The groups seemed to concentrate on _melody_ more than just rhythm. Not many people could draw me to a concert these days. Maybe Steve Hackett, or Wakeman. Anyway...have a good summer, and keep enjoying good tunes! ~ Van BC :)
Elliott Randall, a studio musician, was the lead on the recorded version of this tune. He was Jimmy Page's favorite guitarist, for a while. Jeff seems to have been credited, but it's not so.
Jenny Soule and Gloria Granola are the ladies and Royce Jones in the gentleman. Royce sang a lot of backup with the Dan. He also did a great lead vocal on "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" during a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant in 1974 ua-cam.com/video/c8DoIC5tJw0/v-deo.html
The video tape of the performance sat on a shelf for all these years until someone with a functioning broadcast tape machine, probably 2 inch quad, got the privilege to play it back and capture it in a digital format. I'm sure they were rocking out while transferring this footage for us to enjoy. Thank you very much.
1974,I’m 9 years old and I crave watching “The Midnight Special” every Friday night at MIDNIGHT! Wolfman Jack, and Steely Dan …doesn’t get any better than Rock N Roll!
My dad was a rock n roller. He used to go trade 8-track tapes at a shop that specialized in home and car stereos and would give you a tape if you left one. He popped this tape into the player, cranked up the Jensen sound system and that guitar wailed out of the speakers. I was in love. Still am, 50 years on.
Saw them play at Santa Monica Civic 11/5/73 (I think) and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I literally couldn't tell the difference between their live performance vs studio, it was that perfect.
Jeff as a child: "Mom I'm gonna grow up and be a famous guitarist." Mom: "That's nice dear." Jeff: "And I'm gonna be a Federal Marshall." Mom: "heh heh okay, well we'll see...." Jeff: "And work for the department of defense and pentagon!!" Mother "Honey, you are getting yourself worked up."
Apologies to those who have read this in my other Steely Dan-related video comments, but for those who haven't there's a little-known story about the creator of these now-legendary guitar solos, Elliott Randall. On Dec. 4, 1966, The Yardbirds played at Lima, Ohio's Springbrook Gardens Teen Club (you can Google the show poster), a venue just 20 miles east of my parents' farm. I was a month shy of my 16th birthday and excited to see both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck that Sunday, but Beck was a no-show (having returned to London after becoming upset with the conditions on their U.S. tour). So we all had to make do with the solo guitar stylings of Mr. Jimmy Page. What I didn't know until 50 years later (from watching UA-cam interviews) was that the crowd that day included 19 year-old NYC native Elliott Randall (then a guitar teacher at Lima's Custom Percussion Music Store), who also introduced himself to Page at the concert. Fast-forward to August 1972 when Randall is brought into the studio by Becker & Fagen to compose and play the iconic solos on "Reelin' In the Years" -- solos which Jimmy Page would later famously rate "12 on a scale of 10," and said made him rethink his whole approach to guitar solos. Randall was asked to join Steely Dan, but turned down the offer (correctly guessing that Becker & Fagen had no long-term interest in being a touring rock band). After concluding their "Pretzel Logic" album tour in July of 1974, Steely Dan would not resume touring until August of 1993. By that time, drummers Jim Hodder (shown here) and Jeff Porcaro had both passed on way too soon. Check out the UA-cam video "Reelin' in the Years - multicam" to see original guitarist Elliott Randall playing these solos live with Steely Dan at London's Wembley Arena in 2019, more than 46 years after first recording them in the studio. The camera work is shaky, but still worth watching.
@@edd7812 Even earlier than that (in the fall of 1965) I saw future Steely Dan session guitarist Rick Derringer and his band The McCoys at the Van Wert, Ohio County Fairgrounds. He was 18 and I was 14, and I knew I was watching a guitar prodigy.
May 73". 16 year old runaway from Indiana, hitchhiking from Jacksonville to St Augustine on A1A. Heard this for the first time on a cheap plastic 9v transistor radio. Fan ever since. Even 51 years later, whenever I hear it, I still can feel the ocean breeze blowing through the dune grasses, smell the salt air and smell and feel the heat from the asphalt. It got heavy rotation that summer.
@@floydnut5908My understanding is that the rights fees for a live performance on a syndicated show were prohibitively expensive which is why Bandstand always had performers lip sync
@@bobbbobb4663 Besides, _American Bandstand_ having performers mime to the recording gave to posterity a hilarious "performance" by PiL where John Lydon refused to play along and instead pulled audience members onto the stage to dance.
Hard to tell what’s more awesome about these Midnight Special clips - how much the backup singers are selling it, Skunk Baxter tearing it up, or Fagan just being cool.
Can you believe it's been 52 years since I sat in the stands at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas to watch Elton John and his yellow brick road tour and this band and these people these folks were the opening band. My introduction to Steely Dan❤❤❤
This is absolutely priceless. What a guitar solo and Fagan is incredible and noticably nervous, his fingers are trembling, don't blame him. This is such a classic song. The women are perfect.
@@Ruprect44 I didn't know that about him, and I've got mad respect for him. I've got respect for all artists who perform despite stage fright or social phobias. (I know there are many who have risen to his level of career success.) Sounds like a more likely explanation than cocaine. For a person with anxieties, cocaine would probably not be their friend. (I have anxieties, and the thought of stimulant drugs scares me. I have to be careful around caffeine!) My guess was not meant as a slight against him, just a comment on that time in the music industry. Coke was everywhere. I thought it was a reasonable guess.
@@kevinmc4500 Skunk Baxter bounced between Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (and many other acts as a session player), like a lot of players. Get to know him - he's a fantastic player and a fun showman!
The "Dream Team" would have to include the man, who did the lead guitar work, on the album, Royal Scam. Larry Carlton. Baxter is one of my favorite guitarists, but both Denny Dias, and Larry Carlton are *so* much better. Edit: Thank you to @CaptainRon1913. I forgot to put the album, 'Royal Scam'.
@@whyis45stillalive Larry Carlton didn't play on Can't buy a Thrill, Jeff Baxter did. Carlton played on Katy Lied, and Royal Scam. Both albums were awesome IMO. This Midnight special lineup with Baxter and Dias played on the first two albums, Can't buy a Thrill, and Pretzel Logic.
Like hi-hats, tambourines cut through just about any mix and bleed into every open microphone. Plus you’ve got three of them going, with the backup singers and percussionist, all of whom have vocal mics soaking up all that high-end sizzle. Mix engineer probably had to do what he could to keep those damn things from taking over the song.
This song is one of many that, for me, are the 70's. I noticed after the guys tore it up doing the solo, Donald appeared more confident at the mic. Pretty obvious really. This is gold right here. Priceless. Timeless. Thank you so much for posting this. Just thank you.
I am glad someone else noticed this. I totally agree. You could tell the anxiety in his voice on the first two verses, but when they came out of the bridge his hand stopped shaking, and he hit every note.
Im 60...I remember this song in my youth. Never a big Steely Dan fan. Enjoyed it but never bought their stuff. Now I listen to Do it Again...What a Gem. That guitar solo is sooo out of this world. So clean, twangy. Such a great lil gem
It’s hard for me to believe we got to see this quality of music on free network TV when I was a teenager. I don’t think I really appreciated it at the time or understood how incredible this was. I just knew it was good music and thought it would always be like this.
Takes me back - night stock at Kroger, 1974, store closed, FM on the store speakers, turned up LOUD. This song on "heavy rotation", played every hour. Thanks#
A chance hearing of this track, on the radio, in 1976 at the ripe old age of 20 sent me on a life time of pleasure listening to their music. I'm 67 now and still loving these gems, from the archives, that I've never seen before ❤
This is glorious. I was 11 years old when it was broadcast and remember it well. I knew sweet FA about the band but, being (thankfully) born to a musical family, I knew mastery when I witnessed it.
There was a fascinating interview with Burt Sugarman on the Bob Leftsetz podcast. He mentioned that he made sure he hired the best sound people available in Hollywood, at the time when everybody else was content to just have everybody lip sync. At the very end of this clip, you see what the mobile camera operator had to carry. It looked to be the same era of equipment featured in the recent documentary _Summer of Soul._ Those cameras weighed nearly 70 lb! Thanks again for making this available, Mr. Sugarman!
these clips of Steely (showbiz kids too) honestly brought a tear to my eye. It's outrageously good. The film work is so amazing, I feel like I'm there.
Friday night, August 31, 1973 - another school year getting started. Lots of possibilities and new experiences just around the corner. And those years flew by!
I was today years old learning that Steely'nem sang this song, thanks to coming across this video. Today is 12.23.23 and I'm 59. I've loved so many of their hits but followed them radio passively.
This video and audio are priceless! I've always wanted to see Denny Dias and Jeff Baxter play guitar together, and there was no way I could do that in the 21st century, but here it is! I love the guitar duet, and Donald is on pitch, with good vocal range back. So cool 😎.
I grew up watching the Midnight Special, and it was everything 🎉🎉. They showcased all kinds of rock groups and it really was a great time to be a teenager 🎉🎉
This was recorded a few days after I was born. I loved Steely Dan growing up. 50 years later Steely Dan still sounds great in light of todays music. I just saw a brief video where it explains how Steely Dan mocks John Lennons Imagine and I have that much more respect for Steely Dan now.
Killed it dead! That, my friends, is how you perform rock music! My sincere thanks to the archivists at The Midnight Special. I will view this video often and treasure it always. 👏💙🎸
@@MrDano1138 He's actually been touring! But yeah, he apparently parlayed his expertise in digital recording techniques into national security expertise.
When Jimmy Page names this song as having his favorite guitar solo, you know you’re doing something right.
Page only said that in the context of the songs he was played (eight as I recall) and asked to judge, inpromtu on some show the name of which, I forget. He didn't mean it was one of his favorites of all time.
It's one of MINE, however. LOL.
@@allancerf9038 "When looking back on his career, Page previously told Rolling Stone that his favourite Led Zeppelin riff was ‘Kashmir’. Outside of Led Zeppelin’s discography and his own work, though, the legendary guitarist names his favourite guitar solo of all time as Elliott Randall’s riff in ‘Reelin’ In The Years’ by Steely Dan during a 1999 interview with Classic Rock." Also the UA-cam video - Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10
@@bigelile07 Not true and why are you using multiple handles? Smoke14 replied to me not biglile07. Well, Smoke-Lile. The only thing you omitted was the truth. Here's a cut and paste from the Classic Rock Magazine, you misquoted. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time.
Your 'methodology' is the equivalent of learning self-defense at some shaky strip mall - FIGURATIVELY speaking only of course, you'll only manage to get yourself hurt.
Again, Page, gave a '12' when asked to (rather reluctantly it must be said) rate various solos, including one of his own session era solos and Reelin' in the Years. For the purposes OF THAT BROADCAST. In no way was it a Desert Island Disc of his favorite solos. In other words, dude, if someone came up to smokebig 14-07 and said "off this list which is best?" you'd rate accordingly. Though no one will solicit your opinion in this fashion of course.
I'll now invoice you and block you.
@@allancerf9038
Well, I was responding to Allan Cerf 🤔 and I didn't misquote anything. I copied & pasted exactly what the interview said.
You copied & pasted a statement that was made to Elliot Randall trying to debunk the interview which makes no sense.
CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time.
ER: …and a wonderful compliment, too!
Yes the video was only a few guitarists, but that doesn't outweigh the Rolling Stone Magazine article. All of your other ramblings are just plain weird. 😂
Probably because it was too difficult to steal the guitar part! LOL
Over half a century ago. My God, where has my life gone?
I felt that! 😂
Just reelin in the years!
Was the best time to be young!
I'm. Right. Behind. You. Or in front !
Just glad we still have THIS!! 🎉😊
Down the drain... Mine's down there somewhere, too. Let me know if you find it.
The Midnight Special is sort of the Smithsonian of 70s live rock music. I'd have been 10 years old at the time of this one, but watched a lot of the the originals a bit later on. Of course wouldn't have remotely been able to fully appreciate what what I was seeing like I can now.
Fagen singing his heart out (I love his range here), even though he's dealing with such stage fright that his hand on the mic is shaking at several points, is really admirable. And of course Skunk going ham on the guitar is awesome.
I thought the hand shaking was from the copious amount of cocaine.
@@ToluRobertsonFagen always had pretty bad stage fright, particularly when singing, and they used to have a different vocalist for live performances because of it.
Yeah I picked up on that too but Fagen sounded great!
@@Dremth I saw S.D. at Red Rocks, 2nd row, in 2010, great show but Fagen stayed tucked in his little keyboard cocoon and didn't stray from it much. They even had music stands across the stage that blocked him very effectively from my sight.
@@Alphadawg3571 Yeah, I've seen them twice, and he's been towards the back both times.
2024 still as fresh and energetic as 50 years ago...amazing
It’s very fresh, that’s why my son is playing it at open mic this weekend!
So good! So good!!!!! I was 21 when this came out. I'm 71 now. Still listening to Steely Dan!!!!!!
Pretty timeless solo.
This has a chance of being listened to as a piece of nice obscurata in 2200.
Me too! Exactly! (For 12 more days!)
Snap same here. I think I was in America when this came out. I can still listen to this on a loop and never get tired of it. As a guitar player, it is one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard. Never mastered it myself, still trying. Absolutely Brilliant.
Damn. Even though I was born in 99 I grew up with this kind of music. My favorite band is Foghat which they featured on this show which they also have on this channel.
I have many favorites from the 70s but if I had to choose one it’s gotta be Foghat.
I love this song too. It’s great. I pretty much love the 70s hard rock songs.
I was 19. They were on my list of bands whose new album I would buy the day it came out. Never disappointed.
Man o man we had it good didn't we?
Real good, just didn't know it then . Just havin too much fun being young.😂
My youth sucked, but the music was incredible. I enjoy it even more as an adult.
By God…WE SURE DID!!!!!!!
I graduated in 1976 it was like living in the clouds
Kids these days may think they're pretty edgy but they'll never reach the zenith of this drummer rocking the mauve overalls with such self-confidence
It's funny sometimes to see younger women reacting to some of those 70s performances, with the infertility inducingly tight jeans. And of course the horrible shirt button shortage.
And one of the most bored expressions on his face of any drummer I've seen (especially on Reelin' in the Years).
I like how people these days think being "edgy" is all about what clothes you wear and how cool looking their sleeve tats are compared to their buddy's... 😂 I've just always called it posing.
And the girls! Those outfits are 🔥
💯
Holy crap that’s legitimately one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever seen.
I have never seen these b4 just amazing. The greatest ever
This is good but My Old School was flawless in this Concert.
Seriously, F everyone even trying to top this. LOL
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Nuff said
Thank God for uTube that we can see all these amazing performances from the Midnight Special!!!!
Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter jammin like no other, what a talent on guitar!
and now Government Advisor on missile defence ( not kidding!)
I was born in 1989, and I think in the entirety of human history, the 70's was the best time we've EVER had for music. I'll die on this hill.
Newriverpearl ~ l was born in '65 and lived through it. l agree with you. lt was an AMAZING decade for music! l was into the Prog stuff, but Steely Dan was WAAY up there, as l was into jazz. The groups seemed to concentrate on _melody_ more than just rhythm. Not many people could draw me to a concert these days. Maybe Steve Hackett, or Wakeman. Anyway...have a good summer, and keep enjoying good tunes! ~ Van BC :)
57 and lived through this great time as well in my 60’s and still constantly reflecting back- love this post!
Born In 1962. So many artists live on 50-60 years later....
80's !
@@xxllbb55 🤣🤣😂😂😅😅.....😅😅😂😂🤣🤣...... 😅😅😂😂🤣🤣...ya nooo....
This from the days when the music was created by MUSICIANS not just Audio technicians... The energy is AMAZING!
Correct 💯👌
This is probably the most 70's thing ever, but that's what makes it so incredible
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one underrated guitarist in my opinion. He was great in The Doobie Bros. too.
Actually many guitarists know of him and believe me he is highly regarded.
Elliott Randall, a studio musician, was the lead on the recorded version of this tune. He was Jimmy Page's favorite guitarist, for a while. Jeff seems to have been credited, but it's not so.
I don't think Skunk was so much underrated
as he couldn't care less about the limelight.
@@barroncrist5779 Jeff is a fine guitarist, but not really special amongst his peers. Just my opinion.
Absolutely sensational moment, this is how it’s done, ……absolutely incredible
Absolutely love this track. The backup singers are blowing me away. What a gem for Steely Dan lovers.
Jenny Soule and Gloria Granola are the ladies and Royce Jones in the gentleman. Royce sang a lot of backup with the Dan. He also did a great lead vocal on "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" during a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant in 1974 ua-cam.com/video/c8DoIC5tJw0/v-deo.html
Gloria 'Porky' Granola and Jenny 'Bucky' Soule
@@garyrasberryjr.552 Thanks for this. I was intrigued as to who they were.
GOOSE pimples, fer sure....
Epic performance! I wonder how the stage didn’t burn down with all of the fire going on!🔥
The video tape of the performance sat on a shelf for all these years until someone with a functioning broadcast tape machine, probably 2 inch quad, got the privilege to play it back and capture it in a digital format. I'm sure they were rocking out while transferring this footage for us to enjoy. Thank you very much.
1974,I’m 9 years old and I crave watching “The Midnight Special” every Friday night at MIDNIGHT!
Wolfman Jack, and Steely Dan …doesn’t get any better than Rock N Roll!
I was 10 in 1974, and loved watching Midnight Special, too!
My dad was a rock n roller. He used to go trade 8-track tapes at a shop that specialized in home and car stereos and would give you a tape if you left one. He popped this tape into the player, cranked up the Jensen sound system and that guitar wailed out of the speakers. I was in love. Still am, 50 years on.
Skunk tore that up! He’s still tearing it up!
Is it me, or does Jeff Skunk Baxter look just like Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP?
I thought that was him! I
@@JohnB-dr8sk"Booger!"
Saw them play at Santa Monica Civic 11/5/73 (I think) and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I literally couldn't tell the difference between their live performance vs studio, it was that perfect.
So, so very cool to be able to watch this in 2023. Thanks so much Midnight Special. You are bringing back the joy of 70s Rock. Just splendid!
Jeff as a child: "Mom I'm gonna grow up and be a famous guitarist." Mom: "That's nice dear." Jeff: "And I'm gonna be a Federal Marshall." Mom: "heh heh okay, well we'll see...." Jeff: "And work for the department of defense and pentagon!!" Mother "Honey, you are getting yourself worked up."
LMAO! Thanks for that.
And have a monthly column in Guitar Player Magazine titled Eclectic Electric
Ha, ha! He does all that!!
Don't forget an electronics technical expert for Roland.
And play congas like a mad man!!!
Apologies to those who have read this in my other Steely Dan-related video comments, but for those who haven't there's a little-known story about the creator of these now-legendary guitar solos, Elliott Randall. On Dec. 4, 1966, The Yardbirds played at Lima, Ohio's Springbrook Gardens Teen Club (you can Google the show poster), a venue just 20 miles east of my parents' farm. I was a month shy of my 16th birthday and excited to see both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck that Sunday, but Beck was a no-show (having returned to London after becoming upset with the conditions on their U.S. tour). So we all had to make do with the solo guitar stylings of Mr. Jimmy Page. What I didn't know until 50 years later (from watching UA-cam interviews) was that the crowd that day included 19 year-old NYC native Elliott Randall (then a guitar teacher at Lima's Custom Percussion Music Store), who also introduced himself to Page at the concert. Fast-forward to August 1972 when Randall is brought into the studio by Becker & Fagen to compose and play the iconic solos on "Reelin' In the Years" -- solos which Jimmy Page would later famously rate "12 on a scale of 10," and said made him rethink his whole approach to guitar solos. Randall was asked to join Steely Dan, but turned down the offer (correctly guessing that Becker & Fagen had no long-term interest in being a touring rock band). After concluding their "Pretzel Logic" album tour in July of 1974, Steely Dan would not resume touring until August of 1993. By that time, drummers Jim Hodder (shown here) and Jeff Porcaro had both passed on way too soon. Check out the UA-cam video "Reelin' in the Years - multicam" to see original guitarist Elliott Randall playing these solos live with Steely Dan at London's Wembley Arena in 2019, more than 46 years after first recording them in the studio. The camera work is shaky, but still worth watching.
Very interesting.
Much appreciated 🔥💯
Great background! Thanks for posting
@@edd7812 Even earlier than that (in the fall of 1965) I saw future Steely Dan session guitarist Rick Derringer and his band The McCoys at the Van Wert, Ohio County Fairgrounds. He was 18 and I was 14, and I knew I was watching a guitar prodigy.
Great story...thx.
May 73". 16 year old runaway from Indiana, hitchhiking from Jacksonville to St Augustine on A1A. Heard this for the first time on a cheap plastic 9v transistor radio. Fan ever since. Even 51 years later, whenever I hear it, I still can feel the ocean breeze blowing through the dune grasses, smell the salt air and smell and feel the heat from the asphalt. It got heavy rotation that summer.
Was on the road too then, you are talking about freedom here, the real thing. Nice spice for music.
What part of indiana did you want to run away from? I'm north of Fort Wayne. Love Jacksonville Florida btw
Skunk Becker and Walter Baxter, really rocked 🙄 !!!
I love how they are really playing and not lip-synching to the studio track.
They would sooner not play at all than lip sync
@Dremth idk bro they lip synced on American bandstand
@@floydnut5908My understanding is that the rights fees for a live performance on a syndicated show were prohibitively expensive which is why Bandstand always had performers lip sync
@@bobbbobb4663 Besides, _American Bandstand_ having performers mime to the recording gave to posterity a hilarious "performance" by PiL where John Lydon refused to play along and instead pulled audience members onto the stage to dance.
@@bobbbobb4663Bandstand was about promoting the records. Midnight Special was about promoting the artists.
I graduated H S in '73 and this is the stuff we lived on. Steeley Dan, Supertramp, Pink Floyd all good stuff
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Rood
- Frampton comes Alive
- Something/Anything
- Dark Side of the Moon
I was born in 1973 and being a fan of Steely Dan makes me feel i was born 20 years too late!!!!!!
Take it from this 71 year old, your right!
I was born 10 years after you but I still got to see them in live in Florida back in the early 00s!
You're a fan. That means you weren't born too late.
@@UncleBubba13 also I'm the same age and remember Steely Dan songs NEW, so we remember
Hard to tell what’s more awesome about these Midnight Special clips - how much the backup singers are selling it, Skunk Baxter tearing it up, or Fagan just being cool.
What a great video!! Skunk Baxter on guitar, Dennis Diaz on Rhythm and Walter on Bass . Vintage DAN!!
I remember watching this live. I was 3 years old.
Thanks so much. I guess I've heard Denny Dias without knowing he existed. The man has spent a lot of time with a guitar in his hands.
Can you believe it's been 52 years since I sat in the stands at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas to watch Elton John and his yellow brick road tour and this band and these people these folks were the opening band. My introduction to Steely Dan❤❤❤
I like how they gave everyone time in front of the camera, including the backup singers.
Walter Becker got the least face time of anyone.
@@traces4011Actually don't know which of these he was!
@VictorianDad long haired guy playing the bass.
I've loved this song for so long.
Beautiful rendition.
I love the duling Telecasters. Who'd have thought.
This is absolutely priceless. What a guitar solo and Fagan is incredible and noticably nervous, his fingers are trembling, don't blame him. This is such a classic song. The women are perfect.
I saw his shaking fingers and thought *cocaine.* I always like seeing Skunk Baxter on guitar. I guess this was their touring lineup of the day.
@@beenaplumber8379 Donald Fagan has dealt with pretty bad stage fright his entire career. I'll choose to put the hand trembling on that.
@@Ruprect44 I didn't know that about him, and I've got mad respect for him. I've got respect for all artists who perform despite stage fright or social phobias. (I know there are many who have risen to his level of career success.) Sounds like a more likely explanation than cocaine. For a person with anxieties, cocaine would probably not be their friend. (I have anxieties, and the thought of stimulant drugs scares me. I have to be careful around caffeine!)
My guess was not meant as a slight against him, just a comment on that time in the music industry. Coke was everywhere. I thought it was a reasonable guess.
I thought that was Jim Morrison playing guitar🤣
@@kevinmc4500 Skunk Baxter bounced between Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (and many other acts as a session player), like a lot of players. Get to know him - he's a fantastic player and a fun showman!
Unfreak,n believable. Totally awesome. I so miss those days.
Steely Dan ain't just jazzy rock, they were also ROCKN'ROLL! Whew....
I believe the official name of their genre is MENSA Pop, or CB in this case MENSA Rock. Skunk is, after all, a legitimate Rocket Scientist.
My son I’ll be playing this wonderful song at an open mic this Sunday, so excited!
So I was a young teenager when this came out.loved it. Can’t wait to see my son play it in two days time. He asked me if I knew the song.
Coolest back up singers ever! :)
I was just about to go to Kindergarten, but I can remember these songs as a kid. I must build a time machine
Skunk freaking Baxter on lead guitar! Steely Dan! Thank you! 🤯
Great to hear this classic song by Steely Dan. 51 years this month since it aired, and still a great song!
Just love the duel[ing] guitar sound.
God, l miss music like this, times like this. Today l barely feel like lm living
As long as I have access to rock ‘n’ roll, and music, like this life just keeps going on
This is the “Dream Team”! How blessed to be alive when SD we’re creating perfection.
The "Dream Team" would have to include the man, who did the lead guitar work, on the album, Royal Scam. Larry Carlton.
Baxter is one of my favorite guitarists, but both Denny Dias, and Larry Carlton are *so* much better.
Edit: Thank you to @CaptainRon1913. I forgot to put the album, 'Royal Scam'.
@@whyis45stillalive Larry Carlton didn't play on Can't buy a Thrill, Jeff Baxter did. Carlton played on Katy Lied, and Royal Scam. Both albums were awesome IMO. This Midnight special lineup with Baxter and Dias played on the first two albums, Can't buy a Thrill, and Pretzel Logic.
@@CaptainRon1913
Oops I left out the album title. I meant to put 'Royal Scam' after the word, 'album'.
A whole month went by. I'm embarrassed.
Man…The Midnight Special was always an event for my brother and I!
"my brother and me"
What a tight band with a great live performance!
NEVER seen this before, this is fantastic! There's Ringo, with his perfect timing.....as usual.
this song brings me back to the summer of of '73 in philadelphia while our ship was in the philly shipyard.
Good lord, you can even hear the tambourines. Someone did an amazing job at the mix on this.
Like hi-hats, tambourines cut through just about any mix and bleed into every open microphone. Plus you’ve got three of them going, with the backup singers and percussionist, all of whom have vocal mics soaking up all that high-end sizzle. Mix engineer probably had to do what he could to keep those damn things from taking over the song.
They sure did. And it was all live music. Something you don't see as much anymore.
Steely Dan....one of the most Legendary bands of all time. Thanks for sharing 👍
That was utterly FIRE!
This song is one of many that, for me, are the 70's.
I noticed after the guys tore it up doing the solo, Donald appeared more confident at the mic. Pretty obvious really.
This is gold right here. Priceless. Timeless. Thank you so much for posting this. Just thank you.
I am glad someone else noticed this. I totally agree. You could tell the anxiety in his voice on the first two verses, but when they came out of the bridge his hand stopped shaking, and he hit every note.
Im 60...I remember this song in my youth. Never a big Steely Dan fan. Enjoyed it but never bought their stuff. Now I listen to Do it Again...What a Gem. That guitar solo is sooo out of this world. So clean, twangy. Such a great lil gem
It’s hard for me to believe we got to see this quality of music on free network TV when I was a teenager. I don’t think I really appreciated it at the time or understood how incredible this was. I just knew it was good music and thought it would always be like this.
Bring back Midnight Special!
Another awesome Steely Dan clip from our Midnight Special friends!! Thank you Mr. SUGARMAN!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
Takes me back - night stock at Kroger, 1974, store closed, FM on the store speakers, turned up LOUD. This song on "heavy rotation", played every hour.
Thanks#
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one of the greatest guitarist of our time, very cool video!
Yeah, but this is not his finest work.
I have just "rediscovered" this band. Heard their stuff everywhere, and just bought a Greatest Hits cd. Can't, and won't, turn it off.
Rare chance to see them live and in their prime…👏👏👏 Steely Dan was notorious for not touring….🤔🤔🤔
After all these yrs....give goose bumps i rember this clearly in the70 im 60
When I hear Steely Dan I automatically relive the 70s in my mind.Certain songs just take me to really happy times
Damn I miss those days so much and now time grows so short, but I am happy to say I saw this band live and what a performance they gave.
So much good Steely Dan food lately, but this is tops. THANK YOU!
A chance hearing of this track, on the radio, in 1976 at the ripe old age of 20 sent me on a life time of pleasure listening to their music. I'm 67 now and still loving these gems, from the archives, that I've never seen before ❤
LOL same
@@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible Same here, I'm even 67, dammit.
same age, love em
Danny diaz. The unsung hero holding down the piano part on the guitar for the verses.
An age of real musicianship and creative composition we shant see again. Grateful to have grown up to this sound.
The music is killer as usual, but the incredible lady with the magical green refractions is amazing.
Poor Donald -- apparently he suffered major anxiety in SD's early days (he didn't really want to be a frontman). Look at his hands shaking at 0:36!
Wow. Thank you.
Wow! Incredible! Donald embracing his 'inner crooner' taking a few nice melodic detours from the tune we know.
This is glorious. I was 11 years old when it was broadcast and remember it well. I knew sweet FA about the band but, being (thankfully) born to a musical family, I knew mastery when I witnessed it.
The Midnight Special clips have the BEST audio quality and mix of anything from that era. I can clearly hear every instrument.
There was a fascinating interview with Burt Sugarman on the Bob Leftsetz podcast. He mentioned that he made sure he hired the best sound people available in Hollywood, at the time when everybody else was content to just have everybody lip sync.
At the very end of this clip, you see what the mobile camera operator had to carry. It looked to be the same era of equipment featured in the recent documentary _Summer of Soul._
Those cameras weighed nearly 70 lb!
Thanks again for making this available, Mr. Sugarman!
Not really. Musikladen, OGWT and some others had superior sound. Midnight Special audio is a bit flat.
@@affirmativeaction1 On American broadcast TV.
Oh my lord this makes me so happy .
What a wonderful session.
The bands on fire.
Gloria and Jenny just killing on backing vocals.
Awesome!
The two ladies make the video!....the blond especially...always wondered their names and where they might be today
One of the tightest bands in history. imo The whole band was on fire that night.
I can't even fathom how happy I would be to see this in person
these clips of Steely (showbiz kids too) honestly brought a tear to my eye. It's outrageously good. The film work is so amazing, I feel like I'm there.
The backup singers have such vitality that I find is missing today
Spot on. The 70s were the peak of backing singers. A lot of songs were "made" by them.
It’s the pure joy of life and living
Let go and be like a child again
@@rcd1586 I suspect that joy was at least 25% mannitol
Jim Hodder drumming ? An effortless fast shuffle whilst singing 👍
been enjoying Steely Dan for over 40yrs.
Are you "Reelin' In The Years"
Stowing away the time?
Happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙
Happy Tuesday... thank you for sharing! 💖
Friday night, August 31, 1973 - another school year getting started. Lots of possibilities and new experiences just around the corner.
And those years flew by!
@@brucekuehn4031 I know what you mean. Thank you for sharing! 💖
I was today years old learning that Steely'nem sang this song, thanks to coming across this video. Today is 12.23.23 and I'm 59. I've loved so many of their hits but followed them radio passively.
The backup singers a so cute!!! I love their style! It would be cool to see that look come back!
Wowser. There is still hope for America after all. Kudos kids. Really awesome
This video and audio are priceless! I've always wanted to see Denny Dias and Jeff Baxter play guitar together, and there was no way I could do that in the 21st century, but here it is! I love the guitar duet, and Donald is on pitch, with good vocal range back. So cool 😎.
Not Danny Dias... Elliot Randall
@@georgezaferes5410 That is Denny playing with Jeff. You are correct that Elliott was the lead guitar 🎸 on the original recording.
@@georgezaferes5410 That's Denny Dias, you just didn't recognize him without the overalls
@@norfitz ...and the purple velvet pants he sometimes wore.
What a time to be young and hear all this great music ❤
50 years ago next month -- the years have indeed been reeled in....
Just fantastic. love the High waisted bell bottoms, glitter tube tops.. and those chicks could SING!!!
Wow. What a performance. Donald had terrible stage fright back then (you can see his hand shaking) but man they absolutely nailed it.
Came here to say exactly that. I'm wondering if it's why the song is a bit faster too. When I was a drummer and nervous I tended to start too quick.
@@raymond9642 No doubt. Donald is on the verge of having an anxiety induced heart attack but actually completely nailing it
I grew up watching the Midnight Special, and it was everything 🎉🎉. They showcased all kinds of rock groups and it really was a great time to be a teenager 🎉🎉
Love to see anything live by Steely Dan from the 70's. Thanks Midnight Special. Cheers!🥨
This was recorded a few days after I was born.
I loved Steely Dan growing up.
50 years later Steely Dan still sounds great in light of todays music.
I just saw a brief video where it explains how Steely Dan mocks John Lennons Imagine and I have that much more respect for Steely Dan now.
The tablecloth Denny Dias wore reminded me of my grandmothers turkey dinner on thanksgiving.
i thought it was a super big hanky, worn like a poncho.......
Such a classic & timeless American musical act. They never really missed when they dropped new music.
So crazy, 50 years. Such a big fan for so long. Great clip!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just turned 50. I found this performance by looking up the best songs from the year I was born (1973). This is my favourite!
Seeing Skunk jam like that is soooo damn cool!!! 🎉
Jammin'! And the healthy dose of backup involvement is genius.
Killed it dead! That, my friends, is how you perform rock music! My sincere thanks to the archivists at The Midnight Special. I will view this video often and treasure it always. 👏💙🎸
What a treasure trove of music given to us by these Midnight Special clips! Thank you! Also, I could watch Skunk Baxter wail on that guitar all day!
I thought that was Baxter. I remember him from early Doobie Bros.
Damm he was GONE !!!!!
Wish we could see Skunk commit to music again and not working for Raytheon.
@@MrDano1138 He's actually been touring! But yeah, he apparently parlayed his expertise in digital recording techniques into national security expertise.