60 here it's funny to watch the young ones listen and pontificate on all of it. Holds so much more for me cause it was incorporated into our daily life.
The refreshing thing about Fagen and Becker was that they didn't write love songs. They told stories about ordinary but interesting characters, often struggling. They were part of the literary tradition of Mark Twain and Chuck Berry.
For all intents and purposes, they were literary Beats. Lyrically, they owe more than a little to Burroughs, Kerouac, and Ginsberg. After all, the name Steely Dan came from a William Burroughs novel.
I’m 80 and As i stated earlier, this is my friend of over 60 years, Jim Keltner. He is a beast! Probably one of the greatest studio drummers in the world! Probably top 5! He’s been over 150 Gold records and over 75 Platinum!
This is definitely a song about partying with the ladies. An Josie sounds like a very special lady. "We're gonna' lay down the jams till the girls say WHEN!"
Their vocal harmonies sound like horns. I’m a 75-year-old who loves watching young people react to the music of my prime. It was so rich compared with nowadays, IMO.
You guys are freaking AWESOME!!!! You just went to the top of my list of reactors! Straightforward loves the music. Thanks guys for keeping my generations music alive! Without reactors some much outstanding music is lost forever! Todays youth does not listen to classic rock stations!
Guys I owe you both an apology. The video is Rick Beato The Drum Solo That Changed My Life. And when they brought in Steve Gadd the following day. They laid down Aja in 20 minutes. Great Reactions, personally I’ve never seen Steel Dan as a Rock Band, nor a Pop Band. They were bringing us something we never heard before. As it may come off as Rock or Pop, but it’s total fusion is Jazz. Love you Guys.
Hey guys! You're the best! My two favorite bands are Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan. It's great to see you guys appreciating them. Quick note. Josie, I think, is not about having sex. It's about this girl coming home and everyone can't wait. She's not loose. Not by my estimate. She's the pride of the neighborhood. She gets everyone happy and rocking. Not about sex with Josie. Imagine a young Halle Berry coming home after being away for a long time. She's so beautiful and so full of light, yes, light, that everyone is feeling the joy. You wouldn't try to jump on Halle Berry. Would you? She would never allow it. But you'd honor her and respect her. She's the pride of the neighborhood. She's the raw flame. She's the live wire. Boy! I'd respect that beautiful lovely women. She would get the whole street jumping and dancing. No one would disrespect the pride of the neighborhood. You guys rock! Best bands ever? Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan! Hands down.
All you need to know about Steely Dan is that if you were looking for high-end audio equipment, every great audio shop had Steely Dan albums and CDs. Their music was used to show off great speakers and receivers. Pure perfection!
Chuck Rainey, bass -- a true master. Played bass on all but one track on the Aja album. Larry Carlton and Dean Parks play the rhythm guitars, Walter Becker plays the guitar solo.
I’m 67 this year I’ve been listening to steely since I was 20 years old 1976 and still listen to them every day there music you get never get enough of steely Dan ❤
When Josie comes home there's going to be a party. And the boys are going to throw down on the bones (piano?). Until the girls say when you know what I'm saying?
in the 70s this band did not do concerts.they said they couldnt create their sound in theatres and arenas.i finally saw them in the early 2000s in west palm,and they were great
Want to test out your home stereo? This is the song to play. I would test out my speakers to this song, the mids and bass are on fire. On a good system your hair on your arms will stand up and dance along.
Small town celebrates the return of war vet Josie...that celebrating takes different forms. The line, "plays like a Roman with eyes on fire" could be a reference to to a wee bit of PTSD that presents itself periodically...Agree with another comment that suggests "dance on the bones etc" could refer to piano keys...simple partying.
@@DarkMatterBurrito It’s a reference to how Roman Catholics pray. The girl is going down and staring the lucky recipient straight in the eyes, “with her eyes on fire”.
I remember when this album came out, I was working after school in a department store, a college guy was working with me and told me about an album coming out that would blow my mind… I was into rock and roll and seriously doubted his statement… but I was optimistic and bought it…. To this day this music seems timeless….. perfection at its best
Gaucho is insane! Don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like Glamour Profession, that song is a piece of art. It needs to be showcased behind glass panels with a pair of headphones sticking out, ready to listen to
The most expensive album ever made (allegedly and at the time) 1 million dollars. All 7 songs were recorded with 7 different rhythm sections. If any band has ever neared perfection then the Dan came closest.
I'm not able to pick apart their music, yet I hear jazz, rock, blues all blended....so catchy and enticing. That's why they were so good yet so different from other rock bands. Love 😍 It.......maybe that's why I have sooo much of their works.
Imagine coming of age in the 70s and Aja is but one of a myriad of choices, all on vinyl and all amazing. You guys would like Boz Scaggs - 'Silk Degrees' and "Down two, then Left," which I had on the turntable behind Steely Dan.
I always liked this song. When Steely Dan was big, I was quite young and only in to some of their music. I am liking much more of them now. I did always appreciate their talent, though. So many fantastic bands and musicians, then. The Bands then reached all ages. Unlike today's.
The guitar on this song is played by Larry Carlton... I was fortunate enough to see him play "Josie" back in the '80s. Immaculate guitarist. He also did a lot of the session arrangements for Steely Dan.
Great review gents! I also feel that Home at Last is one of their best songs. Fantastic musicianship, smart lyrics, soulfully sung by Donals Fagen .. a pure vibe! Not to mention the fabulous Bernard Purdie on the drums with his signature Purdie shuffle. I hope you react to it. Glad to be along for the ride. All the best
She's the dance that you never had. She sounds like that girl who was head and shoulders above the other ones, but she was also humble enough to fit in. She went away and came back to the gang.
Somewhere on the web is an explanation of all of the Dan's lyrics, not sure where. But I remember reading that Josie was the popular loose girl who moved away to college. So, yeah, when she came home for the holidays...
Love watching you guys discover The Dan! Lyrically and Musically one of my top 3 bands (Rush and Kansas being the other 2)... If you haven't heard it yet (I know you have if you've been doing your Dan diligence) Razor Boy, Pearl of the Quarter and With a Gun are all excellent... Keep up the good work!
The writing is way deeper than you can imagine. Even reading the lyrics just barely helps. You really need to know the backstory for the full meaning. Often the songs are about real life people and situations.
So glad you did this song! I love songs with some funk in it. Most of their music is jazz fusion. A couple more from them with some smooth funk are: FM & Babylon Sisters. Also, you must do Hey Nineteen. (Their lyrics are a bit pervy....they do love those young women!)
You going to continue, and do Royal Scam, I am IN. Josie is the Life Of The Party, but She is always gone away, but when She gets back, it's on. Dance On The Bones, refers to tickling the ivories/playing keyboard.
Nobody purchased a new stereo system in the ‘70’s, until they tested it with some Steely Dan, for quality………..Every town had a “Josie”, and everyone knew who she was……..
Many times, if you do something for a living you reach a point where you can't really "enjoy" that anymore when you see someone else doing it..... you get so caught up in the details of how you would have done it differently, or in the small mistakes, or even just the analysis of it that you somehow lose the pure enjoyment of it. (For example, when I was a painter, I couldn't help but notice all of the little details when I would go into someone else's house) It's so much fun to see producers getting into Steely Dan and finding the exact opposite to be true. Casual listeners love Steely Dan because they are funky & groovy. Musicians love Steely Dan because they are absolute masters at the top of their game. And producers & engineers love Steely Dan because they are groundbreaking innovators who are known for their relentless pursuit of PERFECTION. I don't know if they actually achieve it, but they are one bad ass band that will draw you in deeper and deeper.......the more you listen, the more you want to listen. :)
Double entendre is the mark of good lines, whether in poetry or song lyrics--to wit, "dance on the bones till the girls say when..." bones could be piano keys or the girls' bones or celebrate life knowing that death (bones) is coming...who the hell can itemize all of the connections. That's what makes it art! Steely Dan's lyrics leave room for the listener to fit in their own experiences and connections. In fact, there's a UA-cam video of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in the back seat of a cab where a stripper asks them what their lyrics mean. That, in effect, is their answer. Check it out on UA-cam. :) ua-cam.com/video/ZXhUoP9tJGU/v-deo.html
I'm 60 years old and so happy their music is enjoyed by new ears 40 years later!❤️
65 here!
I have their entire collection on vinyl heavy wax master recording albums.
Absolutely right!
Yup. About to turn 62. Steely Dan is my first Band crush. I have their vinyl and CDs. Saw them just before Walter passed. Bucket list checkmark.
60 here it's funny to watch the young ones listen and pontificate on all of it. Holds so much more for me cause it was incorporated into our daily life.
The refreshing thing about Fagen and Becker was that they didn't write love songs. They told stories about ordinary but interesting characters, often struggling. They were part of the literary tradition of Mark Twain and Chuck Berry.
A hint of debauchery.
For all intents and purposes, they were literary Beats. Lyrically, they owe more than a little to Burroughs, Kerouac, and Ginsberg. After all, the name Steely Dan came from a William Burroughs novel.
@@BadstreetMI That's an interesting and I believe accurate take. Their songs are scenes from life, like chapters in a book.
I’m 80 and As i stated earlier, this is my friend of over 60 years, Jim Keltner. He is a beast! Probably one of the greatest studio drummers in the world! Probably top 5! He’s been over 150 Gold records and over 75 Platinum!
Your friend’s a legend, man!
Keltner is a drum hero. Big time.
Cool! 😎 Jim Keltner is one of my favorite drummers! He did an excellent job on this track!
Steely Dan made about 80 of the best songs I've ever heard. I enjoy watching y'all dig 'em.
lol Yes
oh every single one of
This won them two grammy's, there should have been many more IMO. They're in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, deservedly so.
FROM A MUSICIAN TO A MUSICIAN...
HOME AT LAST.....
BEST MUSIC COMPOSTION YOU'LL EVER HEAR....
ALL THE ORCHESTRATION AND SINGING IS AMAZING.
100%. As great as the whole album is, Home At Last has been my favorite for the last 45 years.
@@michaelrouten ABSOLUTELY !!!!
Yep. The best.
💯
Absolutely, I was surprised to find they didn't cover it. It's definitely one of the best, and far better than Josie.
"They did it again" -- put that on a loop for any Steely Dan song
You guys are brutally honest with each other.
It's a kick. Refreshing to see.
This is definitely a song about partying with the ladies. An Josie sounds like a very special lady. "We're gonna' lay down the jams till the girls say WHEN!"
I just love how you guys get so excited listening to these Steely Dan stuff. Makes me smile!
I'm glad to see that the younger folks are discovering gold like Steely Dan especially since most popular music these days is absolutely correct crap
They don't miss. Ive been almost dreading hearing 'new' songs but they all are simply stellar stracks!
Bass driving beats. 💜💜💜
“she prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire” definitely double entendres
Just realized listening to this - Fagen and Becker really loved women. Their idiosyncrasies and their power. How cool - 1977. Wow!
Their vocal harmonies sound like horns. I’m a 75-year-old who loves watching young people react to the music of my prime. It was so rich compared with nowadays, IMO.
Such a groove. And wow, Josie must've been really hot.
Steely Dan is Perfect
They’re such a cool band! And lyrics unless is explained by the musicians themselves…is left by your own interpretation. Thank you guys
You guys are freaking AWESOME!!!! You just went to the top of my list of reactors! Straightforward loves the music. Thanks guys for keeping my generations music alive! Without reactors some much outstanding music is lost forever! Todays youth does not listen to classic rock stations!
Heck, I'm 67 and don't listen to classic rock radio because of the limited play list. Same tracks over and over.
Everyone was glad to see Josie come back to town.
Steely Dan set the standard for all music in the 1970's. It's hard to pin them down to any music style, they are so unique.
Perfect album.
Guys I owe you both an apology. The video is Rick Beato The Drum Solo That Changed My Life. And when they brought in Steve Gadd the following day. They laid down Aja in 20 minutes. Great Reactions, personally I’ve never seen Steel Dan as a Rock Band, nor a Pop Band. They were bringing us something we never heard before. As it may come off as Rock or Pop, but it’s total fusion is Jazz. Love you Guys.
Rick does really great breakdowns.
Steely Dan are their own genre.
The sense of space in this tune is what’s always blown me away.
I Got the News grows on you. Woke up recently w music in my head at 3 in The morning and realized it was News.😏
Great song. Funky as hell !!. Seventies classic !!
Hey guys! You're the best!
My two favorite bands are Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan. It's great to see you guys appreciating them.
Quick note.
Josie, I think, is not about having sex. It's about this girl coming home and everyone can't wait. She's not loose. Not by my estimate. She's the pride of the neighborhood. She gets everyone happy and rocking. Not about sex with Josie. Imagine a young Halle Berry coming home after being away for a long time. She's so beautiful and so full of light, yes, light, that everyone is feeling the joy. You wouldn't try to jump on Halle Berry. Would you? She would never allow it. But you'd honor her and respect her. She's the pride of the neighborhood. She's the raw flame. She's the live wire. Boy! I'd respect that beautiful lovely women. She would get the whole street jumping and dancing. No one would disrespect the pride of the neighborhood.
You guys rock! Best bands ever?
Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan!
Hands down.
A great follow to Josie would be Lowdown by Boz Scaggs
Lowdown is one of the great singles of the past 50 years.
And he does on the PBS DVD “ The Dukes of September” with Fagen and McDonald.
I love Steely Dan and this is my favorite song from them.
All you need to know about Steely Dan is that if you were looking for high-end audio equipment, every great audio shop had Steely Dan albums and CDs. Their music was used to show off great speakers and receivers. Pure perfection!
Purdie Shuffle! Great Jam!
Josie is not loose. There's a block party when she comes home.
Josie was the "Life of the Party" girl.. "The live wire"!
Chuck Rainey, bass -- a true master. Played bass on all but one track on the Aja album. Larry Carlton and Dean Parks play the rhythm guitars, Walter Becker plays the guitar solo.
And Jim Keltner on the skins.
@@brianfiori4086 Buster Sidebury
@@kevinpolito1529 😉 Indeed
When the music still sounds fresh and crisp after 45 years plus, you know they were just fabulous
Great music never gets old 😊..so happy to see younger people catching on.😮
I’m 67 this year I’ve been listening to steely since I was 20 years old 1976 and still listen to them every day there music you get never get enough of steely Dan ❤
I remember some of the music critics back in the day calling Steely Dan lyrics "cryptic and dismaying"..
When Josie comes home there's going to be a party. And the boys are going to throw down on the bones (piano?). Until the girls say when you know what I'm saying?
steely dan never dissappolnts me
This is so great experiencing this with you guys.
in the 70s this band did not do concerts.they said they couldnt create their sound in theatres and arenas.i finally saw them in the early 2000s in west palm,and they were great
Want to test out your home stereo? This is the song to play. I would test out my speakers to this song, the mids and bass are on fire. On a good system your hair on your arms will stand up and dance along.
Jim Keltner on drums and Chuck Rainey on bass. Sheer brilliance on Fagen and Becker's part to have chosen.
Every record you cats heard had one of these dudes on it. Seriously
Small town celebrates the return of war vet Josie...that celebrating takes different forms. The line, "plays like a Roman with eyes on fire" could be a reference to to a wee bit of PTSD that presents itself periodically...Agree with another comment that suggests "dance on the bones etc" could refer to piano keys...simple partying.
So she was a Vietnam war vet? Nah. I don’t think so. You must be thinking of Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band.
Phenomenal - an all time favourite!
She’s a raw flame she’s a live wire she preys like a roman with her eyes on fire. That’s 6’ foot deep writing.
*prays. It's a reference to the vestal virgins of Rome
@@DarkMatterBurrito It’s a reference to how Roman Catholics pray.
The girl is going down and staring the lucky recipient straight in the eyes, “with her eyes on fire”.
@@MarcosElMalo2 Unless Catholics pray like a vestal virgins, then you are incorrect.
The 70s had great bands with every type of music you can think of.
I remember when this album came out, I was working after school in a department store, a college guy was working with me and told me about an album coming out that would blow my mind… I was into rock and roll and seriously doubted his statement… but I was optimistic and bought it…. To this day this music seems timeless….. perfection at its best
The ultimate Steely Dan song is Green Earrings
When SD wrote this, they were thinking, "let's F" with these two guys in 40 years! Thanks, I enjoy watching you guys react to the sounds of my youth!
😂😂😂
Kevin P. --- WELL SAID !!!!🙌🙋🙌🙋😎
They have beautiful harmonies. Babylon Sisters and the title track The Royal Scam are favorite..
Listen to Time out of Mind! Unbelievably great song by Steely Dan!
My favorite album by them is Gaucho which came after Aja. Super jazzy with incredible harmonies and complex Melodie’s.
Gaucho is essentially a continuation of Aja. Joni Mitchell said if Gaucho preceded Aja, it would have received the same acclaim as Aja.
yup me too
Gaucho is insane! Don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like Glamour Profession, that song is a piece of art. It needs to be showcased behind glass panels with a pair of headphones sticking out, ready to listen to
The most expensive album ever made (allegedly and at the time) 1 million dollars. All 7 songs were recorded with 7 different rhythm sections. If any band has ever neared perfection then the Dan came closest.
I'm not able to pick apart their music, yet I hear jazz, rock, blues all blended....so catchy and enticing. That's why they were so good yet so different from other rock bands. Love 😍 It.......maybe that's why I have sooo much of their works.
Imagine coming of age in the 70s and Aja is but one of a myriad of choices, all on vinyl and all amazing. You guys would like Boz Scaggs - 'Silk Degrees' and "Down two, then Left," which I had on the turntable behind Steely Dan.
I always liked this song. When Steely Dan was big, I was quite young and only in to some of their music. I am liking much more of them now. I did always appreciate their talent, though. So many fantastic bands and musicians, then. The Bands then reached all ages. Unlike today's.
Loving your reactions to the sounds I grew up listening to. This is music at its finest.
Good reaction to a fabulous song!
Shes the best friend we NEVER had 🤣
I think "shine up the battle apple" means take out the bong cuz our lovely, crazy friend, Josie, is back in town.
lol, no. It’s the head of your penis.
The guitar on this song is played by Larry Carlton... I was fortunate enough to see him play "Josie" back in the '80s. Immaculate guitarist. He also did a lot of the session arrangements for Steely Dan.
They went back, Jack, did it again.
Great review gents! I also feel that Home at Last is one of their best songs. Fantastic musicianship, smart lyrics, soulfully sung by Donals Fagen .. a pure vibe! Not to mention the fabulous Bernard Purdie on the drums with his signature Purdie shuffle. I hope you react to it. Glad to be along for the ride. All the best
Groove .
Funk .
A recipe the Dan understood .
Josie was just a neighborhood girl who went away for a while and has come back. And everybody's happy to see her!
Ok, but if she "prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire," I'd suggest she's also appreciated for her carnal enthusiasm.
@@damianbabblingbrooks Well, she is the raw flame and a live wire, so I think it's only natural her eyes would be on fire!
She's the dance that you never had. She sounds like that girl who was head and shoulders above the other ones, but she was also humble enough to fit in. She went away and came back to the gang.
You guys make me so happy.
If their music doesn't inspire you musically, then laying straight down is usually what you're doin'. 😉
Somewhere on the web is an explanation of all of the Dan's lyrics, not sure where. But I remember reading that Josie was the popular loose girl who moved away to college. So, yeah, when she came home for the holidays...
Love watching you guys discover The Dan! Lyrically and Musically one of my top 3 bands (Rush and Kansas being the other 2)... If you haven't heard it yet (I know you have if you've been doing your Dan diligence) Razor Boy, Pearl of the Quarter and With a Gun are all excellent... Keep up the good work!
my first born has this name from this little ditty always bein in my back pocket 😁
The writing is way deeper than you can imagine. Even reading the lyrics just barely helps. You really need to know the backstory for the full meaning. Often the songs are about real life people and situations.
Not Steely Dan songs. If feels real, but they made it up.
Plus some inflated BS for good measure. They had fun.
That is some sweet & spicy sauce!!!! Thanks for taking a listen to this one!
Perfection ❤
The Dan!! Feel free to go deeper into the SD waters: "FM" and the very jazzy "Everything Must Go" are two you definitely need to listen to.
So glad you did this song! I love songs with some funk in it. Most of their music is jazz fusion. A couple more from them with some smooth funk are: FM & Babylon Sisters. Also, you must do Hey Nineteen. (Their lyrics are a bit pervy....they do love those young women!)
YES!!! That's what I said, too! They're going to fall out of their chairs.
lay down the law and break it..great line
One of their best!
You going to continue, and do Royal Scam, I am IN. Josie is the Life Of The Party, but She is always gone away, but when She gets back, it's on. Dance On The Bones, refers to tickling
the ivories/playing keyboard.
Yes Royal scam is the next album we are doing. We already did Kid Charlemagne
Keltner on drums, Rainey on bass = exquisite.
Steely Dan is your favorite bands, Favorite Band....!
I'm really enjoying this journey you're on with Steely Dan. Love all your comments and observations. Much love to the channel.
Glad you enjoy it! Thank you!!
When real musicians get home from work, they listen to Steely Dan.
Nice KRKs!
I like to think that the song is about a neighbourhood's favourite hooker comes home from jail and everyone goes wild
SICK !!!
I kind of chuckled a little when you said "They did it again" at about 4:00 in. They actually have a song called "Do It Again" that you'll really dig.
forget the vinyl obsession. when cds came out in the 80s i heard things that i had NEVER heard in albums that i owned
Nobody purchased a new stereo system in the ‘70’s, until they tested it with some Steely Dan, for quality………..Every town had a “Josie”, and everyone knew who she was……..
I have two cats. Josie and Bodhisattva. Both songs stellar. 🙌🏻
in my top 5 all time by them
Another awesome album from my Dad's album collection.😃
You Gotta do Home at Last and I Got the News. Every song on Aja is a Classic.
Many times, if you do something for a living you reach a point where you can't really "enjoy" that anymore when you see someone else doing it..... you get so caught up in the details of how you would have done it differently, or in the small mistakes, or even just the analysis of it that you somehow lose the pure enjoyment of it. (For example, when I was a painter, I couldn't help but notice all of the little details when I would go into someone else's house) It's so much fun to see producers getting into Steely Dan and finding the exact opposite to be true. Casual listeners love Steely Dan because they are funky & groovy. Musicians love Steely Dan because they are absolute masters at the top of their game. And producers & engineers love Steely Dan because they are groundbreaking innovators who are known for their relentless pursuit of PERFECTION. I don't know if they actually achieve it, but they are one bad ass band that will draw you in deeper and deeper.......the more you listen, the more you want to listen. :)
I dig how this album almost comes full circle, you're left wondering if you'll have to buy Josie a Blackcow.
ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses.
Love y’all. Steely Dan is so wonderful thanks for the wonderful reactions! ❤️
Double entendre is the mark of good lines, whether in poetry or song lyrics--to wit, "dance on the bones till the girls say when..." bones could be piano keys or the girls' bones or celebrate life knowing that death (bones) is coming...who the hell can itemize all of the connections. That's what makes it art! Steely Dan's lyrics leave room for the listener to fit in their own experiences and connections. In fact, there's a UA-cam video of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in the back seat of a cab where a stripper asks them what their lyrics mean. That, in effect, is their answer. Check it out on UA-cam. :) ua-cam.com/video/ZXhUoP9tJGU/v-deo.html
Fellas y’all probably need to do the making of this album with the two men who are Steely Dan. You won’t be disappointed. All your questions answered.
The best there ever was!