People are too obsessed with timing and pitch perfection these days. Has anyone ever listened to Kid Charlemagne with all the elements in and complained? Nope, because it all dances together like magic. A lesson to be learned there.
The minor timing errors in the bass are fascinating. The good news is Chuck's behind the beat when they occur. A bass line out in front of the beat is deadly. Personally Guilty
I have to disagree. I find that once I mix, and then isolate something (ie guitar) it sounds awful alone. Typically thin because I’ve shelved below 150/200. It’s all the frequencies of all instruments working together in harmony, not clouding things, that makes a great mix.
I totally don't get that feeling at all. Smoke ciggs and go to a "fem bar"?? Iron your jeans?? Don't get me wrong, I love every song on every album, and I've had the pleasure of working with some of the players. I took a few drum lessons from "Pretty Perdie". But I must be from a different planet, I just want to listen to S.D. many many times and then shed till I get that right. .. Why does a guy want to go to a Fem bar? Don't you know, We don't let men in.
I found it a nice challenge, trying to find the vocal part and its relationship to the base intervals. I was able to pick out the various lyric phrases, but finding those notes was a real challenge. I have to wonder if they were playing against a vocal scratch track that was laid down by Fagan…..?
I am currently finding that out the hard way. I’m fairly new to bass and feel like I’m severely lacking in fundamentals. There’s the timing, yes, but what I can’t wrap my head around is how he’s playing staccato like that, yet keeping complete authority in place.
@@moparhemi1777 / Keep in mind Walter Becker was a fantastic bass player... So when he brought in players they had to be at least a magnitude better than him, So chuck Rainey is an absolute master by that guideline alone
I had no idea that Rainey's bass playing was so completely out of time / pocket!!!! Such wonderful note choice, so many interesting notes without ruining the song, but completely lacking in any pocket. It sounds like he is struggling to scam his way through a chart. Still my favourite Dan rhythm section :)
I think this is a bit of an exaggeration. Yeah there are a few notes that are not locked in but for the most part he is grooving hard. (Yeah, he probably also is sight reading, or at most had done a couple of run-throughs.) These are real players with no quantization. The parts breathe, and the pulse sometimes ebbs and flows a bit. Of course, we can probably blame "The Dan" for the birth of quantization with Wendel a few years later.
@@room34 If you add the clavinet part over the top of it everything makes sense. Chuck Rainey is one of the all time greats, he's an amazing bass player
People are too obsessed with timing and pitch perfection these days. Has anyone ever listened to Kid Charlemagne with all the elements in and complained? Nope, because it all dances together like magic. A lesson to be learned there.
I mean, Fagen was definitely obsessive and fastidious both in performance and post-production
Is there gas in the car? Yes, there's gas in the car!
Hard to beat the pairing of Bernard Purdie and Chuck Rainey!
❤ya got that right. One of the Greatest dynamic duos ever.
@nylesfrench3568 just like Batman and Robin
Absolute perfection, an unattainable level.
So many bass nuances that are buried in the full mix. Nice to hear them here.
This is like crossing a diamond with a pearl
Did ya turn it on a whirl?
Turned on the world...
That bass part is so crazy/wacky/cool ! I wouldn’t have thot it would work unless I heard the finished mix .
Rainey + Purdie = heavenly
This is a killer jam just by itself! That's how good Walter, Donald, and the rest of all of them were/are. I love this, thank you.
The minor timing errors in the bass are fascinating. The good news is Chuck's behind the beat when they occur. A bass line out in front of the beat is deadly.
Personally Guilty
Bernard on drums and Chuck on the nickel tickle were a DEADLY combination!
it takes a big man to admit that.....respect...ha ahaha ha ha......Ive done it too....when I was a young whippersnapper.....
I too live for the greasy slop.
i wish people would call my timing errors fascinating
@@bellchattin We shall, and we all love you for them! Just keep them minor. ;-)
0:33 - 0:35 bassline from heaven
you are the best - loving this - nothing but joy here
If you are recordingband parts and all the instruments are enjoyable enough to listen to individually you're on a winner.
I have to disagree. I find that once I mix, and then isolate something (ie guitar) it sounds awful alone. Typically thin because I’ve shelved below 150/200.
It’s all the frequencies of all instruments working together in harmony, not clouding things, that makes a great mix.
It's got the swagger, no denying!
This is awesome! Now I want to hear lots of other tracks split apart.
This is my heart beat
Who needs drugs when you can have this?
This came from drugs, a lot of them.
@@davidparker9676 And now we can listen to the music without having to take any of them.
More Purdie isolated please!
That's not Bernard.... It's Ringo
@@klemklimek9 genius! So many people won’t enjoy that joke!!!
@@liamb8624 Indeed, indeed. Although the stuff that Bernard played on, I believe, was actually Pete Best stuff.
@@klemklimek9 Ringo who?
I love it! Just the rhythm section.... Amazing!
Chuck is going crazy at 3.00!
Thank you for the work and posting. Much appreciated.
The Ghost Note Groove Inc
Purdie's drumming reminds me of a train clicking over rail joints.
Dear Gawd...completely recognizable...whew these two killing it...makes you wanna smoke Kools go go to a fern bar and wear your best pressed denim lol
I can totally relate to this comment. :D
I totally don't get that feeling at all. Smoke ciggs and go to a "fem bar"?? Iron your jeans?? Don't get me wrong, I love every song on every album, and I've had the pleasure of working with some of the players. I took a few drum lessons from "Pretty Perdie". But I must be from a different planet, I just want to listen to S.D. many many times and then shed till I get that right. .. Why does a guy want to go to a Fem bar? Don't you know, We don't let men in.
@@feliscatos4435 I think he said "f e r n bar" as in plants.
@@BillRayDrums OOOHhhhhh ! the r and the n are too close together. oops!
@@feliscatos4435 Your comment was still funny AF!
The slight timing issues just disappear in the final mix and all you’re aware of is the utter genius and sheer adventure.
I found it a nice challenge, trying to find the vocal part and its relationship to the base intervals. I was able to pick out the various lyric phrases, but finding those notes was a real challenge. I have to wonder if they were playing against a vocal scratch track that was laid down by Fagan…..?
Any serious musician will ask to hear/know the vocal unless they have very specific orders or everything written out.
The bass is pretty upfront in the final mix. There were no surprises in the isolated tracks for me.
This should be a single!
Beautiful
Look in the dictionary for the word "Perfection" & there's a picture of Steely Dan
Awesome
masterpiece
laying it down
Fantastic. Much harder to play than it sounds
I am currently finding that out the hard way. I’m fairly new to bass and feel like I’m severely lacking in fundamentals. There’s the timing, yes, but what I can’t wrap my head around is how he’s playing staccato like that, yet keeping complete authority in place.
@@moparhemi1777 / Keep in mind Walter Becker was a fantastic bass player... So when he brought in players they had to be at least a magnitude better than him, So chuck Rainey is an absolute master by that guideline alone
@@moparhemi1777 Its a feel thing. Keep experimenting, keep practicing, keep listening to players you like and you’ll get it!
Get it in your head first. It gets easier.
Yep.
Very cool!
Magic.
The Purdie Shuffle!!
@@extremeprejudice0 ok. Whatever you say, sport.
Not a shuffle.
Absolute filth. Is it possible to groove harder than this?! I think not...
Pocket
Funky fucking riff
As a massive Steely Dan fan, i am surprised that I wouldnt have guessed that was drums and bass to Kid Charlemagne if it didnt say it was.
Really? When you listen to music do you ever hone in on the bass? This bass line is very recognizable to me. But I play bass
@@AllofJudea Im a Keyboard player and Guitarist, so I need at least one of those lol
Just listened again. Nope!
@@AllofJudea I hone into all the parts!
Where do you find these multi tracks?
Where did you get this?
From Rick Beato 😀
Devastating.
I had no idea that Rainey's bass playing was so completely out of time / pocket!!!! Such wonderful note choice, so many interesting notes without ruining the song, but completely lacking in any pocket. It sounds like he is struggling to scam his way through a chart. Still my favourite Dan rhythm section :)
One of the greatest basslines ever recorded
I think this is a bit of an exaggeration. Yeah there are a few notes that are not locked in but for the most part he is grooving hard. (Yeah, he probably also is sight reading, or at most had done a couple of run-throughs.) These are real players with no quantization. The parts breathe, and the pulse sometimes ebbs and flows a bit. Of course, we can probably blame "The Dan" for the birth of quantization with Wendel a few years later.
@@room34 If you add the clavinet part over the top of it everything makes sense. Chuck Rainey is one of the all time greats, he's an amazing bass player
I agree! He’s one of my heroes. The exaggeration I was referring to was the original comment about him being totally out of time.
he's playing off the hi hat ......while Bernard keeps it tight......it works a treat
Kid charlemagne is overrated as a song but this rhythm section is 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥. This is waaay better than the song itself.