Steve Kahn’s guitar work on this song is just outstanding, the way he noodles in and out throughout and then with the extended outro. I always felt that Fagen didn’t have a great singing voice but for Steely Dan it was the perfect voice. His nasally, smarmy, New York attitude voice was perfect. The vocals should never overshadow the music and I think Fagen understood this. His inflections, pitch, elongated vowels were just what the songs required. He is one of the most unique vocalists that I’ve heard. Great song. Would love to hear you react to the song The Royal Scam from the album by the same name. 👍
Thanks for the reaction Andy. I love this song! The lyrics are so funny .. glamour profession = drug dealer to the rich and famous. So many funny parts! Once I took the time to hone in on both the lyrics & the musicianship together this song grew into a favourite of mine. Impeccable!
Thanks Steve👍. I'll be giving it another listen with the lyrics as I do with my other reactions as I get hyper focused on the music first time around. I keep toying with the idea of having lyrics available for my reactions but don't want to get too distracted from the music✌️
One of their more cinematic songs. It's begging to be made into a film - great story 'Illegal fun under the sun'. A couple more movies are 'Don't Take Me Alive' and King Of The World. Re their LPs Aja and Gaucho *are* really great, but then again so are the rest of them.... The extraordinary men of the groove didn't have any duds.
Most of their songs are vivid stories. On this album Third World Man and Hey 19. Other songs like Caves of Alta Mira, actually we could go on. Probably one of the most lyrically brilliant from Two Against Nature is Almost Gothic or Everything Must Go, What a Shame About Me. It's what they do. It's brilliant.
Great song from a great album. Love the Groove of Glamour Profession. I suggest you give "Don't Take Me Alive" from the Royal Scam album a listen. Larry Carlton starts the song with one of the great guitar solos of all time.
Great reaction. You picked up on the "noir" and "mysterious" feel. The horns remind me of a Duke Ellington arrangement with tropical themes, blended with an LA Cool feel, led by Tom Scott. It feels light and bouncy on the surface with the funky, driving disco beat, yet I find this tune to be dark and cynical with its eerie atmosphere, minor chords, nefarious characters/subject matter, and of course, the signature (even contemptuous) sneer in Donald's vocals. The song swings with those great piano and guitar solos, and yet it seems almost maniacally polished in a "not a single hair out of place" way.
@@Andy_Tunereviews84 You'll enjoy the lyrics as well. The "glamourous" cocaine scene in late 70's LA, with Fagen taking first person. Amazing how he can create complex stories, characters and vivid images with a few brief verses. It reads like a James Ellroy crime novel and a Tarantino movie. Thoroughly unique and original. No other band like them.
Great reaction. So many good songs on this album (including Babylon Sisters" and Aja. Its well worth listening to Fagen's solo stuff too, I can well recommend "The Nightfly".
A lot of people will accuse Steely Dan…..and especially THIS song, of being “yacht rock”, or even “disco”. Yeah, maybe, but I contend it’s actually very early “World Lounge” before that genre ever existed. Either way, the brilliance of this song both lyrically and musically is difficult to overestimate. The futuristic and otherworldly opening chord riff that starts each new verse slithers up a whole step from a minor 7th to a Major 7th, and makes one feel as if they’re lifting off a launch pad or going up before going down on a roller coaster, is just delicious. It’s something I’ve never heard on any other song before or since. The interplay between the acoustic piano and the Fender Rhodes….never stepping on each other, yet each one playing such an important role, is equally “yummy” says the guy with the limited vocabulary running out of adjectives. I can’t be certain, but I think the drum machine SD’s engineer invented, named Wendell, was probably handling the kick and snare drums, although on the liner notes the brilliant Steve Gadd is given credit as the drummer. The horn arrangements here and on the entire Gaucho album were definitely a step up from Aja. They just sound more sophisticated and unique, and much less like the band “Chicago“ and more uniquely Steely Dan. The visionary and cinematic less-is-more lyrics, where every word and phrase paints a scene with absolutely no filler or wasted space, and Donald Fagen’s unique vocal tone and phrasing….which reminds me more of how a saxophone phrases than a vocalist does, just keeps upping the ante on everything here. Steve Khan’s restrained yet killer guitar fills and building outro solo keep the listener engaged and wanting more. 👍🏼🎸😎❤️
You mentioned the background singers, I looked below and didn't notice anyone talking about how they record. After I think the third album, Steely Dan became just Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. They would gather the best studio musicians and sound engineers around and put their albums together in the studio. Sometimes they would use different combinations of musicians until they got the exact sound they wanted. Same with background singers. I'd suggest checking out Green Earrings and Kid Charlemagne from The Royal Scam album, both songs are amazing. I've heard a few Dan songs I didn't like as much as others, but I never heard a bad SD song ever. As I mentioned below, from Fagen's solo work, I'd suggest The Nightfly, Trans Island Skyway, Springtime and the awesome Florida Room.
Steely Dan! Want to hear the greatest guitar solo ever? Find George Watanabe play with SD live on the song "Third World Man" Its late in the song and lengthy. Blows the fabulous Larry Carlton version away. And that is saying a lot.
Steve Kahn’s guitar work on this song is just outstanding, the way he noodles in and out throughout and then with the extended outro. I always felt that Fagen didn’t have a great singing voice but for Steely Dan it was the perfect voice. His nasally, smarmy, New York attitude voice was perfect. The vocals should never overshadow the music and I think Fagen understood this. His inflections, pitch, elongated vowels were just what the songs required. He is one of the most unique vocalists that I’ve heard. Great song. Would love to hear you react to the song The Royal Scam from the album by the same name. 👍
Fagen does have one of the most distinct singing voices that I've ever heard. Instantly recognisable👍.
The Royal Scam is on the list✌️
Fantastic bass part by Anthony Jackson.
I did like the bass in this one👍🎸
Chilled out, funky tune.
Definitely a 'chilling out in the garden on a sunny day' song Steve👍.
I'll be doing that when the weather in England brightens up.✌️
Thanks for the reaction Andy. I love this song! The lyrics are so funny .. glamour profession = drug dealer to the rich and famous. So many funny parts! Once I took the time to hone in on both the lyrics & the musicianship together this song grew into a favourite of mine. Impeccable!
Thanks Steve👍. I'll be giving it another listen with the lyrics as I do with my other reactions as I get hyper focused on the music first time around.
I keep toying with the idea of having lyrics available for my reactions but don't want to get too distracted from the music✌️
The horns were arranged by the great Tom Scott…Check out his Albums - New York Connection, or Tom Cat
Thanks Donald 👍🎶✌️
One of their more cinematic songs. It's begging to be made into a film - great story 'Illegal fun under the sun'. A couple more movies are 'Don't Take Me Alive' and King Of The World. Re their LPs Aja and Gaucho *are* really great, but then again so are the rest of them.... The extraordinary men of the groove didn't have any duds.
Thanks Brian✌️🎶🎸
Most of their songs are vivid stories. On this album Third World Man and Hey 19. Other songs like Caves of Alta Mira, actually we could go on. Probably one of the most lyrically brilliant from Two Against Nature is Almost Gothic or Everything Must Go, What a Shame About Me. It's what they do. It's brilliant.
Love the piano fills on this
Totally agree with you there 🎹 🤘🎶✌️
Great song from a great album. Love the Groove of Glamour Profession. I suggest you give "Don't Take Me Alive" from the Royal Scam album a listen. Larry Carlton starts the song with one of the great guitar solos of all time.
Thanks Duane. I'll try and check it out👍
Great reaction. You picked up on the "noir" and "mysterious" feel. The horns remind me of a Duke Ellington arrangement with tropical themes, blended with an LA Cool feel, led by Tom Scott. It feels light and bouncy on the surface with the funky, driving disco beat, yet I find this tune to be dark and cynical with its eerie atmosphere, minor chords, nefarious characters/subject matter, and of course, the signature (even contemptuous) sneer in Donald's vocals. The song swings with those great piano and guitar solos, and yet it seems almost maniacally polished in a "not a single hair out of place" way.
Thanks. It felt quite contrasting having those horns playing over that beat. But it worked so well👍✌️
Tom Scott’s horns and arrangements are always great. 😀
@@realbser1956 Absolutely, always very tasty. He collaborated all over Aja & Gaucho, and played the soulful tenor sax solos on Black Cow.
@@Andy_Tunereviews84 You'll enjoy the lyrics as well. The "glamourous" cocaine scene in late 70's LA, with Fagen taking first person. Amazing how he can create complex stories, characters and vivid images with a few brief verses. It reads like a James Ellroy crime novel and a Tarantino movie. Thoroughly unique and original. No other band like them.
G'day Andy,nice one🎯
Cheers Andy👍
Great reaction. So many good songs on this album (including Babylon Sisters" and Aja. Its well worth listening to Fagen's solo stuff too, I can well recommend "The Nightfly".
Thanks Jim 👍. I definitely want to check out his solo stuff aswell✌️🎶
Fagan said with the horn section he was going for a 20's flapper cabaret feel!
I definitely got that feeling from it so he succeeded👍✌️
A lot of people will accuse Steely Dan…..and especially THIS song, of being “yacht rock”, or even “disco”.
Yeah, maybe, but I contend it’s actually very early “World Lounge” before that genre ever existed.
Either way, the brilliance of this song both lyrically and musically is difficult to overestimate.
The futuristic and otherworldly opening chord riff that starts each new verse slithers up a whole step from a minor 7th to a Major 7th, and makes one feel as if they’re lifting off a launch pad or going up before going down on a roller coaster, is just delicious. It’s something I’ve never heard on any other song before or since.
The interplay between the acoustic piano and the Fender Rhodes….never stepping on each other, yet each one playing such an important role, is equally “yummy” says the guy with the limited vocabulary running out of adjectives.
I can’t be certain, but I think the drum machine SD’s engineer invented, named Wendell, was probably handling the kick and snare drums, although on the liner notes the brilliant Steve Gadd is given credit as the drummer.
The horn arrangements here and on the entire Gaucho album were definitely a step up from Aja.
They just sound more sophisticated and unique, and much less like the band “Chicago“ and more uniquely Steely Dan.
The visionary and cinematic less-is-more lyrics, where every word and phrase paints a scene with absolutely no filler or wasted space, and Donald Fagen’s unique vocal tone and phrasing….which reminds me more of how a saxophone phrases than a vocalist does, just keeps upping the ante on everything here.
Steve Khan’s restrained yet killer guitar fills and building outro solo keep the listener engaged and wanting more.
👍🏼🎸😎❤️
Thank you John 👍. I appreciate the detailed breakdown of the song. It gives me so much more to listen out for on my next listen.
Much appreciated✌️
Like that feeling of zipping along on Ducati Diaval lost in the moment
Sounds great👍✌️
Nice one ☝️ bro loved this education 💙🏴👹✊✊✊
Cheers Gaz👍. I'm glad you're enjoying it🎸✌️
You mentioned the background singers, I looked below and didn't notice anyone talking about how they record. After I think the third album, Steely Dan became just Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. They would gather the best studio musicians and sound engineers around and put their albums together in the studio. Sometimes they would use different combinations of musicians until they got the exact sound they wanted. Same with background singers. I'd suggest checking out Green Earrings and Kid Charlemagne from The Royal Scam album, both songs are amazing. I've heard a few Dan songs I didn't like as much as others, but I never heard a bad SD song ever. As I mentioned below, from Fagen's solo work, I'd suggest The Nightfly, Trans Island Skyway, Springtime and the awesome Florida Room.
Thanks for info and suggestions 👍🎶✌️
Steely Dan! Want to hear the greatest guitar solo ever? Find George Watanabe play with SD live on the song "Third World Man" Its late in the song and lengthy. Blows the fabulous Larry Carlton version away. And that is saying a lot.
Maybe you're thinking of Blood, Sweat and Tears as the music this reminds you of.
Thanks Wallace✌️👍
Andy, you have a great channel... So glad I found you ❤.
Thank You Gary✌️
You got good taste man! There's a lot of harmony on this one! Good review!
Thank you👍. Much appreciated🤘🎶