I'm late to the party, but just discovered this channel. "My Rival" -- It's not just you. Amazing groove right from the intro! As usual, the backup vocals are amazing. And the horns behind Steve Khan... tight! Another well-crafted Dan masterpiece. Thank you for your work and Welcome to the Dan Fam (aka Dandom)!
Hi Gordon! Thanks so very much for the super-duper kind words!!! I'm very appreciative of the 'groovy' little sign that you made!!! Glad that you liked what I did on "My Rival"! Keep up the great work here!!! All the best, Steve
Hey Steve, blessed by your presence here and of course by all the great parts you played on so many albums. Your tone on this song was ridiculous...vaguely recall seeing you play a Tele with humbuckers back in the day? Not sure. Regardless of the guitar, just incredible feel and sounds. A legendary contribution to My Rival and the Dan catalog.
As a fellow member of the Dan fam, I love My Rival too! It grooves so hard, and is as mellowly beautiful as a Steely Dan track ought to be. I agree as well on the lyrics being hilarious. So are the lyrics to «Lunch with Gina» which I’d recommend you to look at next 😎 Great video!
It is one of the songs that I did not notice on the album when it came out. For me it was Babylon Sisters and Hey Nineteen that got my initial attention. However, after many recent listens it has become a favourite of mine. Totally agree with you! Absolutely funky with cool and very clever and funny lyrics. Hard to know for sure what it is about however, I heard one viewpoint that his rival is his newborn child. He now finds himself competing for his wife's attention. "the milk truck eased into my space somebody screamed somewhere" (its baby feeding time and he gets ignored). A few other references that were used to support that theory. Nonetheless I lover it! Thanks for sharing this one and I appreciated when you listed off all the musicians on this song .. staggering talent!
There's a hungry metered sparceness to this song that makes it sound as if it was played from a thousand miles away across an ocean of molasses on an island where a party is swingin and the sun is hot. Try and walk with this tune in your head and feel your heartbeat reach near zero. I make a habit of this routinely and it takes me at least an hour from my front step to the end of my block. Combine this with the audacious lyrics and the natural conclusion and it's equally another master stroke from the collective ensembles that have no rivals.....Steely Dan. signed: Currently Only Half Way to the End of the Block
Yes! I wish I would've pointed out how there is so much space in this arrangement, yet it somehow still feels full. The simmering tension is just pure genius! Thanks for watching and for the insightful comment, Astro! Enjoy your walk, and the smell of prickly pear...
When sequencing tracks, the first and last songs have to be strong. Generally speaking, the 2nd to last track on an album is the worst: Change of the Guard, Everything You Did, I Got the News, My Rival.
Singing along with you. The lyrics create an image of the rival who has already been confronted and scared, but he won't leave well enough alone. He is about to get ANOTHER beat down .LMAO
"Sure, he's a jolly roger - until he answers for his crime..." That line especially always made me laugh - just the mental image of the pirate flag, in the context of the rest of the lyrics...freaking hilarious! Thanks for watching and commenting, ms B!
This is an excellent Becker and Fagen tune. It's sublime in it's orchestration and that "D" in the bass adds to the tension through out. The lyrics are clear and left to the listener to fill in the blanks. The only thing about it that disappoints is that Walter isn't playing on it. I believe at the time he was having issues with the death of his girlfriend and he was also hit by a taxi.
There’s a bunch of underrated Dan songs. I’m glad you pointed out Fagens organ playing. He didn’t play keys as much on the later stuff but when he did it was always killer (synth solos on “home at last”, “hey 19”, and “IGY” to name a few. Some other underrated ones- Midnight Cruiser Razor Boy King of the World Monkey in your Soul Any World that I’m welcome to Rose Darling Sign in Stanger Negative Girl Pixeleen But we could go on and on! Ps. I always thought My Rival was about a couple having a kid and the man is really jealous of the new baby taking up all of the womens time (and body). What do you think about that interpretation?
Fine* song: But it's a vibe. It's not their best by a long way on this LP lyrically, or musically *They are all fine, except the 70% which are magnificent, and the other 10% which are incomparable. Where's the DanFam sign up page?
You mentioned that one before, after I had posted the previous SD video, and I had somehow forgotten about it. Went back to refresh my memory, and you were right - another obscure favorite!
I thought I’ve heard them all, Don’t know how I missed this one…I’m diggin’ it too !! Reminds me a bit of Gaslighting Abbie from Two against Nature Awesome channel again by the way
Ok ok ...SD Fan from way back here.. I'll clear it up for you. STEELY DAN DID NOT MAKE A SINGLE BAD TRACK!!!... There ! Done! Relax and enjoy the Dan, any Dan tune LOL
Nice "problem" to have, don't you think? My Rival is also one of my favorites. LOVE the lyrics. A smile comes on my face when this track come on! Also "Gaucho".
@@timelesspoprocksoul That’s so true. At first I only listened the biggest hits of theirs. Then the more I discovered the more amazed I was by the level of consistency. An amazing discography. From small gems like Parker’s band, Throw back the little ones and Rose Darling to epic compositions like Aja, West of Hollywood and Glamour Profession
Permission to come aboard your island sir. Love that one. And the more you listen to it, the more you’re drawn to the layers of musical candy and quite laughable lyrics. We can all agree is STEELYLICIOUS! 😎🤘🏼
hi Gordon, LOVE! your channel, love when you play the actual tune {hate when you have to interrupt it half way through though} i understand it's you tube politics and just watching you groove along makes me groove along with you...if you love "the DAN" then you'll LOVE-MONKEY HOUSE. start with FRIDAY their LP from 2019 and get their latest "remember the audio" 2022, then get headquarters from 2012 to Left from 2016...all i can say is wow! it's the jazz-pop you love from stellar musicians...go to you tube and you'll find a bunch of their video's up playing live at a place called Hugh's Room { in Canada, i think} as they're a Canadian band...love the video from everything but the girl-have everything by them but, the trilogy of albums starting with "THE LANGUAGE OF LIFE '90 to WORLWIDE'91 to ACOUSTIC '92 i consider their best. please keep up the good work especially from bands who flew under the radar...from a fellow fan who appreciates good music and good musicianship.don f
Love to hear your feedback on the channel and your insights. I try to follow the "rules" on YT but it's not easy - yesterday they blocked 3 straight videos with the Beatles. No reason was given, so how would I even know what I did or did not do? Agreed those 3 albums by EBTG are their best. Thanks for watching and commenting, don!
My Rival is also my favorite on this album. They have so, so, so, many excellent songs that sometimes and wonderful little diddy like this gets lost in the crowd. It's ten times better off the DTS 5.1 CD. Maybe eleven.
My view is this - if I where to play a handful of sd songs to showcase them to someone not familiar with steely Dan This would be way down the list( just not as memorable as others ) But great musicians on this track , having a session
I agree with this point...it's down the list - but still deserving of some love. It just goes to show how deep the album (and the artist) really are. Thanks for watching and commenting, David!
The rhythm guitar stabs at 10:23 are so vicious yet so jaunty it's impossible not to smile a bit at them.
Yes! Vicious yet jaunty. I just have to laugh at the audacity and the attitude of those licks. Priceless. Thanks for watching, asb!
I'm late to the party, but just discovered this channel. "My Rival" -- It's not just you. Amazing groove right from the intro! As usual, the backup vocals are amazing. And the horns behind Steve Khan... tight! Another well-crafted Dan masterpiece. Thank you for your work and Welcome to the Dan Fam (aka Dandom)!
Hi Gordon! Thanks so very much for the super-duper kind words!!! I'm very appreciative of the 'groovy' little sign that you made!!! Glad that you liked what I did on "My Rival"! Keep up the great work here!!! All the best, Steve
Hey Steve, blessed by your presence here and of course by all the great parts you played on so many albums. Your tone on this song was ridiculous...vaguely recall seeing you play a Tele with humbuckers back in the day? Not sure. Regardless of the guitar, just incredible feel and sounds. A legendary contribution to My Rival and the Dan catalog.
Steely Dan... A1. Enough said from me.
Spot on! The guitar are mesmerizing.
You have such a Good taste.
Peter /Goethenburg, Sweden.
Not just you my dude, for sure. 💝
Best fan ever maybe love you
As a fellow member of the Dan fam, I love My Rival too! It grooves so hard, and is as mellowly beautiful as a Steely Dan track ought to be. I agree as well on the lyrics being hilarious. So are the lyrics to «Lunch with Gina» which I’d recommend you to look at next 😎
Great video!
Thanks for the great comment, Sander! I’ll revisit Lunch with Gina and let you know…
It is one of the songs that I did not notice on the album when it came out. For me it was Babylon Sisters and Hey Nineteen that got my initial attention. However, after many recent listens it has become a favourite of mine. Totally agree with you! Absolutely funky with cool and very clever and funny lyrics. Hard to know for sure what it is about however, I heard one viewpoint that his rival is his newborn child. He now finds himself competing for his wife's attention. "the milk truck eased into my space somebody screamed somewhere" (its baby feeding time and he gets ignored). A few other references that were used to support that theory. Nonetheless I lover it!
Thanks for sharing this one and I appreciated when you listed off all the musicians on this song .. staggering talent!
Glad to hear I'm not alone on this - thanks, Steve!
There's a hungry metered sparceness to this song that makes it sound as if it was played from a thousand miles away across an ocean of molasses on an island where a party is swingin and the sun is hot.
Try and walk with this tune in your head and feel your heartbeat reach near zero. I make a habit of this routinely and it takes me at least an hour from my front step to the end of my block.
Combine this with the audacious lyrics and the natural conclusion and it's equally another master stroke from the collective ensembles that have no rivals.....Steely Dan.
signed: Currently Only Half Way to the End of the Block
Yes! I wish I would've pointed out how there is so much space in this arrangement, yet it somehow still feels full. The simmering tension is just pure genius! Thanks for watching and for the insightful comment, Astro! Enjoy your walk, and the smell of prickly pear...
@@timelesspoprocksoul ....copy that Commander...over
When sequencing tracks, the first and last songs have to be strong.
Generally speaking, the 2nd to last track on an album is the worst: Change of the Guard, Everything You Did, I Got the News, My Rival.
Interesting theory, and it holds for I Got The News...but not buying it for My Rival. Great user name!
That is pretty common. Obviously with some exceptions though. The Beatles “Help!” comes to mind. 😀
Singing along with you.
The lyrics create an image of the rival who has already been confronted and scared, but he won't leave well enough alone. He is about to get ANOTHER beat down .LMAO
"Sure, he's a jolly roger - until he answers for his crime..."
That line especially always made me laugh - just the mental image of the pirate flag, in the context of the rest of the lyrics...freaking hilarious! Thanks for watching and commenting, ms B!
This is an excellent Becker and Fagen tune. It's sublime in it's orchestration and that "D" in the bass adds to the tension through out. The lyrics are clear and left to the listener to fill in the blanks. The only thing about it that disappoints is that Walter isn't playing on it. I believe at the time he was having issues with the death of his girlfriend and he was also hit by a taxi.
Thanks for the insightful comment, John!
My Rival happens to be one of my favorite SD songs. Love the guitar in this song. And I really enjoy the live version. It’s even more funky!
There’s a bunch of underrated Dan songs. I’m glad you pointed out Fagens organ playing. He didn’t play keys as much on the later stuff but when he did it was always killer (synth solos on “home at last”, “hey 19”, and “IGY” to name a few. Some other underrated ones-
Midnight Cruiser
Razor Boy
King of the World
Monkey in your Soul
Any World that I’m welcome to
Rose Darling
Sign in Stanger
Negative Girl
Pixeleen
But we could go on and on!
Ps. I always thought My Rival was about a couple having a kid and the man is really jealous of the new baby taking up all of the womens time (and body). What do you think about that interpretation?
Some Russian music critic, Georg
Starosin, or something, said it best: "it's Minimalist Steely Dan, but I like it."
Fine* song: But it's a vibe. It's not their best by a long way on this LP lyrically, or musically
*They are all fine, except the 70% which are magnificent, and the other 10% which are incomparable.
Where's the DanFam sign up page?
Love this comment - and your percentages, Brian!
Night by Night is another obscure favorite.
You mentioned that one before, after I had posted the previous SD video, and I had somehow forgotten about it. Went back to refresh my memory, and you were right - another obscure favorite!
Why do you think that Night By Night is obscure?
Really love this song
I've alway loved this track. I believe You have great taste. Awesome tune Bro! Thank you!
So I'm not alone after all - thanks, Richard!
A personal favorite
Enjoy your channel a lot
I thought I’ve heard them all, Don’t know how I missed this one…I’m diggin’ it too !! Reminds me a bit of Gaslighting Abbie from Two against Nature
Awesome channel again by the way
Thanks for the kind words, TINT. I'll have to revisit Gaslighting Annie to see if I get that vibe.
You’re not alone my friend. Glamour Profession and My Rival are without doubt my two favorite Steely Dan songs.
So glad I found the Dan Fam support group here. Nice to know I'm not the only one!
You're the one.
p.s. I'm an Angeleno.🌴
One of my favorites too!
You are not alone...My favorite song on the album as well.
Ok ok ...SD Fan from way back here.. I'll clear it up for you. STEELY DAN DID NOT MAKE A SINGLE BAD TRACK!!!... There ! Done! Relax and enjoy the Dan, any Dan tune LOL
Nice "problem" to have, don't you think? My Rival is also one of my favorites. LOVE the lyrics. A smile comes on my face when this track come on! Also "Gaucho".
We Dan fans are a dedicated bunch! They’ve been my favorite band since the mid 80s. My Rival is great but not close to a favorite of mine.
It seems inevitable that some great material will be overlooked, given the ridiculous strength of the Steely Dan catalog.
@@timelesspoprocksoul That’s so true. At first I only listened the biggest hits of theirs. Then the more I discovered the more amazed I was by the level of consistency. An amazing discography. From small gems like Parker’s band, Throw back the little ones and Rose Darling to epic compositions like Aja, West of Hollywood and Glamour Profession
No headset ? Missing the mix lol
I listen to the Mackie monitors on my desktop. Loud and clear!
Lol My Rival is typical Dan !
No! It’s not you. It’s a great cut. One of my favorites since it came out in 1980
“My Rival” the best song on the album!
I love that album - and yet I still come back to this one when I need a quick fix. Thanks for watching and commenting, Ronnie!
Love this song! I haven’t found a SD song that I don’t like. They pull me in, like I’m in a trance.
Isn't that the truth...thanks for commenting, Lynda!
Permission to come aboard your island sir. Love that one. And the more you listen to it, the more you’re drawn to the layers of musical candy and quite laughable lyrics. We can all agree is STEELYLICIOUS! 😎🤘🏼
Welcome aboard, Francisco!
hi Gordon, LOVE! your channel, love when you play the actual tune {hate when you have to interrupt it half way through though} i understand it's you tube politics and just watching you groove along makes me groove along with you...if you love "the DAN" then you'll LOVE-MONKEY HOUSE. start with FRIDAY their LP from 2019 and get their latest "remember the audio" 2022, then get headquarters from 2012 to Left from 2016...all i can say is wow! it's the jazz-pop you love from stellar musicians...go to you tube and you'll find a bunch of their video's up playing live at a place called Hugh's Room { in Canada, i think} as they're a Canadian band...love the video from everything but the girl-have everything by them but, the trilogy of albums starting with "THE LANGUAGE OF LIFE '90 to WORLWIDE'91 to ACOUSTIC '92 i consider their best. please keep up the good work especially from bands who flew under the radar...from a fellow fan who appreciates good music and good musicianship.don f
Love to hear your feedback on the channel and your insights. I try to follow the "rules" on YT but it's not easy - yesterday they blocked 3 straight videos with the Beatles. No reason was given, so how would I even know what I did or did not do? Agreed those 3 albums by EBTG are their best. Thanks for watching and commenting, don!
My Rival is also my favorite on this album. They have so, so, so, many excellent songs that sometimes and wonderful little diddy like this gets lost in the crowd. It's ten times better off the DTS 5.1 CD. Maybe eleven.
I think I heard that DTS cd once many years ago, and yeah it was ridiculous!
My view is this - if I where to play a handful of sd songs to showcase them to someone not familiar with steely Dan
This would be way down the list( just not as memorable as others )
But great musicians on this track , having a session
I agree with this point...it's down the list - but still deserving of some love. It just goes to show how deep the album (and the artist) really are. Thanks for watching and commenting, David!