@@babylonsister118 i know I always forget till Sunday morning that I haven't done it yet 🙃 soon, my friend! One day I won't be stoned on Saturday night and I'll remember 😅
Only a Fool Would Say That is about John Lennon's Imagine. Couldn't agree more. Imagine is the single most vapid song that is for some reason universally celebrated.
I'm so glad you checked this out. Both of those songs are so incredible. And Dirty Work reached a lot of people and it's such a clever and honest song.
5:39 - All song were written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. David Palmer sings lead on 'Dirty Work' and 'Brooklyn'. Drummer Jim Hodder sings lead on 'Midnight Cruiser'. Donald Fagen is the lead singer on all the other tunes of the album.
I love their first album. It’s not the pristine recording experience of their later stuff, but it really showcases their exceptional song writing talent. Kings, Midnight Cruiser and Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) are some of my favorite songs by them.
"Dirty Work" is definitely David Palmer's shining moment with the Dan. Skunk Baxter lived in Mexico City growing up, hence the Spanish at the end of "Only a Fool". The other don't miss deep cut from the album is "Fire in the Hole" with Fagen's great off-kilter, possibly Monk-influenced, solo.
Glad to see you reacting to The Dan in real time. In '24. You remind me of myself experiencing these jams 30 years ago for the first time. Keppit rockin' bro!!! 🎶🎶🎵🎶💯✌️
Love Steely Dan and it’s just so cool that it transcends time and generations. Back in ‘77 I recorded Aja from a midnight “record a record” FM radio program. They played the whole album and told when to flip over the cassette tape. My little portable cassette recorder did good and still have that tape. Well done, Lee!
Four songs from this album got heavy rotation on the classic rock stations when I was growing up: "Reelin' in the Years," "Do It Again," "Dirty Work" and "Midnight Cruiser." Probably one of the greatest debut albums ever, right up there with the debuts by Hendrix, Doors, Boston, the Cars etc.
THE MUSIC OF THE DAN IS GREAT BUT THE STORY TELLING IN THE LYRICS IS WHAT REALLY SETS THEM APART,TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE STORIES IS WHAT I FIND AMAZING.
Dirty Work is a song sung by a female pleasure device ( Steely Dan) . If you listen to the words with that perspective it becomes clear. Also Only a Fool Would Say That is a song they wrote to mock John Lennon and his song Imagine.
Midnight Cruiser was another popular song on AM radio back in 1972. Donald had a bit stage fright when he was young so David Palmer sang lead on a few songs. I love the look on peoples faces when they're thinking "is that Donald or is someone else singing lead?".
A bit later The Pointer Sisters did a great cover of Dirty Work. I used to relate to this song when I was young. Not the married person, but just the feeling of being used. Sad but good song for sure.
The one Dan hit that Donald Fagan does not sing lead on. It was many years before he included it in live concerts with him singing it. Eventually, you will discover their Two Against Nature Grammy-winning album and Donald's solo albums (Morph the Cat is a brilliant post-9/11 album).
I bought this album when it first came out, after reading a great review in Melody Maker. Took me a few listens to really 'get it', but I've never looked back since!
The verses in Dirty Work are freakin beautiful and perfectly written. The only downside is that they're short and there are only two. I would love to hear more of his vocal.
The record company brought in palmer Because they didn't think that Donald had a commercial enough voice For a #1 hit ..Fact David palmer also co wrote jazzman with Carole king ..
Nice vocals by David Palmer in Dirty Work. Yes, Only a Fool is a Sunday salsa! 🙂 Since I first heard of Steely Dan and listened to Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and My Old School, I’ve liked Donald Fagen’s distinctive singing style. This was good! Thanks, Lee!
Do it! I'm so happy when I get new ones in the mail from yall generous folks... it's like collecting pokemon cards but they make beautiful sounds too 😅
LOVES ME some DAN!!! :) THANKS, LEE!!! Babylon Sisters, Do It Again, Reelin' In The Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic, Aja, Black Cow, Peg, Josie, Deacon Blues, and Kid Charlemagne....just to name a VERY FEW by this GREAT BAND.... You may have already reacted to some that I hadn't "caught", yet - if so: sorry and I'll go-back and look at your channel - but, ALL of these are FIRE!!! I've been trying to go back and watch your past reactions! ENJOY!
My favorite lyrics from dan are on babylon sisters.....dudes were some cool mofos seriously in touch with society and the human condition and human nature. Genious.
Deleted my last post. I was thinking of a different Steely song. ;-) Rock on bro. For years I heard this song and had NO idea it was Steely Dan. So different from anything else they released.
"Only a Fool Would Say That", It's a rebuke of John Lennon because he made a comment that he didn't think much of what they were doing musicly. Without that comment that song probably wouldn't exist.
Please review the album version of Reelin' in the Years. Elliot Randall's solo on that track is awesome. The song is great as it is but Randall's solo takes it to another level.
I detest the song because I think it is the anthem of the new world order world govt.......Like KLAUSE sHWAB from world economic forum saying in the future we will all own nothing and will be happy....sure we will. This song shows well that Lennon was being handled by elites.
You'll find Steely lyrics becoming a part of your everyday language. These 2 songs, along with Reeling provide plenty of phrases that you'll use the rest of your life
Do the whole album! Not a bad song on it. Then again that goes for the whole Dan catalogue as far as I am concerned. But I especially love this album as I bought it not long after it came out when I was 12, on the advice of my 11 year older brother. My introduction to greatness.
dirty work had a resurgence in popularity like Metallica got when their song was used in strange things, when it was used in the closing credits on an episode of Euphoria on HBO.
Fucking euphoria. Beautifully shot softcore por n. And they had Sydney Sweeney. It's interesting to see what the generation after me grew up with. I grew up and was out of the current culture after 2014 lol
So yeah Dobald is saying it's unrealistic I realized many years ago if you play the Beatles song .....No Reply it is SOOOOO similar now I know why it was deliberate
Dirty Work and Fire in the Hole are my two favorites off this album. I've heard Reelin' in the Years and Do it Again enough to last me a lifetime. Not bad songs, just waaaaaaaaaaaay overplayed.
That last tune was okay though looking through your list of Dan songs you have done you would have loved reacting to the tune My Old School which is definitely amongst their best and it is about a mostly true experience Donald and Walter had while at their old school in upstate New York.
You have to hear the studio version of "Do it Again". I'd be ashamed of ya, or for ya, if you didnt. "Reelin''" too. Steely Dan was a studio phenomenon.
"Only a Fool Would Say That" was Steely Dan's direct attack on John Lennon as the band thought Lennon was a hypocrite and out of touch with the common man by that point.
Frank Zappa also took a shot at Lennon and ono...with his song ''oh no''...and he was right...all that love and they could not sit in the same room with the other three...hypocrites ....you do the 9-5 John ...AND WHEN YOU COME HOME FREIGHT -RAPED then tell me all I need is love.and a world where no one owns anything while you live in a new york mansion apartment.
Here's one for ya I heard John Lennon didn't like Steely cause Only a Fool Would Say That was written as a critique of John with his song Imagine ya know Imagine no possesions I wonder if you can no need for greed or hunger ...a brotherhood of man a
Only a Fool was directed at John Lennon. the Dan - named after a dildo in the fantastically strange and extraordinarily prescient experimental novel Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, made musically astounding records with singable choruses and unique, unforgettable themes. The sarcasm and wit were not only directed at USian pop culture, aesthetics, and consumer culture but also at other musical acts. As reported in Far Out Magazine, the "fool" spoken about in the 1972 song "Only a Fool Would Say That" is non-other than John Lennon. Only a Fool Would Say That was "written in response to Lennon's parade of peace. It looks at idealism through the practical eyes of folks on the street. 'You do his nine to five,' they sing, 'drag yourself home half alive, and there on the screen, a man with a dream.' And with that, you get a sense of how grating and vacuous they thought that Lennon's 'Imagine' campaign had become."
Wow. Thank you so much for all this information. I had no idea, obviously, but it 100% fits. Seems like something they would Do lol only the Dan. And to be honest, they are right. Idealism and reality cannot exist together.
The notion that "Fool" was directed at Lennon is speculation backed up by zero evidence. The individuals who could confirm this assertion -- Fagen and Becker -- never said any such thing.
DIRTYWORK IS ABOUT THE LIFE OF A SIDE GUYWHO IS TRYING TO NOT BE THE THE SIDE GUY BUT THE LURE IOS TOO STRONG AND HE KEEPS DOING THE DIRTY WORK,ONLY A FOOL IS DONALDS SLAM AT JHON LENNONS SONG IMAGIIN.
Steely Dan is the music you hear in the elevator to heaven
Now THAT is a description I will concur with 👍
@@L33Reacts At the Great Gig in the Sky! St!ill waiting for Babylon Sisters, not to bug, but I think you will enjoy it, also!
@@babylonsister118 i know I always forget till Sunday morning that I haven't done it yet 🙃 soon, my friend! One day I won't be stoned on Saturday night and I'll remember 😅
@@L33Reacts 🤣🤣
I never gave Only A Fool much of a listen before I found out it was mocking John Lennons Imagine...now I love it
Dirty Work is a true gem
Great song
It really is. What a hook. Both tracks contrasted very well. Two different sides of the dan.
@L33Reacts well 2nd one sucked
A long time fave. Insidious little gem 💎 💖 ooh, sparkly ✨️
The album that started my love of Steely Dan ❤ They're just THAT good!
Thanks for your part in making this music multi-generational. The old heads among us appreciate your help. I was 15 in 1972.
OAFWST was a response roJohn Lennon’s “Imagine”, which they felt was ridiculous.
Only a Fool Would Say That is about John Lennon's Imagine. Couldn't agree more. Imagine is the single most vapid song that is for some reason universally celebrated.
Steely Sunday ❤❤❤
Jeff Baxter churning out full octave chords on "Fool" ala Wes Montgomery. It doesn't get much better than this.
I'm so glad you checked this out. Both of those songs are so incredible. And Dirty Work reached a lot of people and it's such a clever and honest song.
My favorite Dan tune!
Steely Dan could cure road rage
Lmao😅😅
Change of the guard and Midnight Cruiser are two of my favorites
5:39 - All song were written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. David Palmer sings lead on 'Dirty Work' and 'Brooklyn'. Drummer Jim Hodder sings lead on 'Midnight Cruiser'. Donald Fagen is the lead singer on all the other tunes of the album.
I love their first album. It’s not the pristine recording experience of their later stuff, but it really showcases their exceptional song writing talent. Kings, Midnight Cruiser and Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) are some of my favorite songs by them.
I like Turn that Heartbeat Over Again too
Good variety of musical styles too.
It's their album that I definitely play the most. Their best all around imo
"Dirty Work" is definitely David Palmer's shining moment with the Dan. Skunk Baxter lived in Mexico City growing up, hence the Spanish at the end of "Only a Fool". The other don't miss deep cut from the album is "Fire in the Hole" with Fagen's great off-kilter, possibly Monk-influenced, solo.
...& Yes!!! Awesome Sunday Music...🎶🎶🎵🎶
Glad to see you reacting to The Dan in real time. In '24. You remind me of myself experiencing these jams 30 years ago for the first time. Keppit rockin' bro!!! 🎶🎶🎵🎶💯✌️
Love Steely Dan and it’s just so cool that it transcends time and generations. Back in ‘77 I recorded Aja from a midnight “record a record” FM radio program. They played the whole album and told when to flip over the cassette tape. My little portable cassette recorder did good and still have that tape. Well done, Lee!
Four songs from this album got heavy rotation on the classic rock stations when I was growing up: "Reelin' in the Years," "Do It Again," "Dirty Work" and "Midnight Cruiser." Probably one of the greatest debut albums ever, right up there with the debuts by Hendrix, Doors, Boston, the Cars etc.
Love "Brooklyn"
THERE'S A DONALD FAGAN ALBUM CALLED 'Night Fly'. THE song is called 'New Frontier'.
THE MUSIC OF THE DAN IS GREAT BUT THE STORY TELLING IN THE LYRICS IS WHAT REALLY SETS THEM APART,TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE STORIES IS WHAT I FIND AMAZING.
Perfect Driving Music 10 hrs Steely Dan + Donald Fagen full LP Catalog, start with the first LP rerecorded, the "First Can't Buy A Thrill".
Dirty Work is a song sung by a female pleasure device ( Steely Dan) . If you listen to the words with that perspective it becomes clear. Also Only a Fool Would Say That is a song they wrote to mock John Lennon and his song Imagine.
''Imagine'' is the theme song of the world government...you will own nothing and be happy....Was Lennon in the Bono club.
You do his 9 to 5. Drag yourself home half alive and there on the screen, a man with a dream...
I had just started college when this album came out. What fantastic music I heard over the following four yeats of school!
Making us smile again, are ya! 👍💕
Love both these songs
Dirty Work is used brilliantly in the beginning of American Hustle and with Tony Soprano singing it in an episode of the Sopranos.
I started my SD addiction in 1972 and I'm still a raging addict. They hit my pleasure center, I'm helpless. I don't need no Dr., it's harmless fun.
Midnight Cruiser was another popular song on AM radio back in 1972. Donald had a bit stage fright when he was young so David Palmer sang lead on a few songs. I love the look on peoples faces when they're thinking "is that Donald or is someone else singing lead?".
A bit later The Pointer Sisters did a great cover of Dirty Work. I used to relate to this song when I was young. Not the married person, but just the feeling of being used. Sad but good song for sure.
One of the best debut albums ever IMHO.
I absolutely concur. I've heard 4 songs so far and they are all iconic lol
I love how the album’s cover art looks like a ‘80s video.
The one Dan hit that Donald Fagan does not sing lead on. It was many years before he included it in live concerts with him singing it. Eventually, you will discover their Two Against Nature Grammy-winning album and Donald's solo albums (Morph the Cat is a brilliant post-9/11 album).
Love some of his pronunciations - "like a castle in his corner in a MEEDEE-EVIL game, I FOESEE terrible trouble"
I love the song Dirty Work, probably my favorite from them!
My favorite album by them for sure!
Can't Buy A Thrill, may be their "catchiest" album. Very listenable for all crowds. I love it!!! Listen to the whole album.... TODAY! Lol.
"You have sent the maid home early, like a thousand times before." is one of the most Yacht Rock lines ever.
ha ha, yes.
The song “only a fool would say that. “Is a rebuke of John Lennon song “imagine” that came out that year…. The guys didn’t care for it too much😮
I bought this album when it first came out, after reading a great review in Melody Maker. Took me a few listens to really 'get it', but I've never looked back since!
They hit the ground like they were Usain Bolt. First album, easy top 500 of all time maybe more then that even lol
Only a fool would say that my favorite on the album I would play it over and over over over
Love them both, but I love the 1, 2 - 1, 2, 3 Cha-cha beat of “Only a Fool.” Let’s take a spin around the dance floor!
The verses in Dirty Work are freakin beautiful and perfectly written. The only downside is that they're short and there are only two. I would love to hear more of his vocal.
Dirty Work!!! Two great selections!!!!
The record company brought in palmer Because they didn't think that Donald had a commercial enough voice For a #1 hit ..Fact David palmer also co wrote jazzman with Carole king ..
Nice vocals by David Palmer in Dirty Work.
Yes, Only a Fool is a Sunday salsa! 🙂 Since I first heard of Steely Dan and listened to Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and My Old School, I’ve liked Donald Fagen’s distinctive singing style. This was good! Thanks, Lee!
Huge hit back in the day
The UHQR vinyl release is outstanding and besides the original master tape, you can’t hear it any better
Yay! So glad you’re having a little break and having some fun with your own picks.🙂
'Only A Fool Would Say That' was Donald's critique of John Lennon's 'Imagine'.
Makes me want to start collecting vinyl again. So groovy
Do it! I'm so happy when I get new ones in the mail from yall generous folks... it's like collecting pokemon cards but they make beautiful sounds too 😅
Only a fool was thier criticism of lennons imagine.
Like the second song better. You are right, the beat is catchy.
LOVES ME some DAN!!! :) THANKS, LEE!!! Babylon Sisters, Do It Again, Reelin' In The Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Pretzel Logic, Aja, Black Cow, Peg, Josie, Deacon Blues, and Kid Charlemagne....just to name a VERY FEW by this GREAT BAND.... You may have already reacted to some that I hadn't "caught", yet - if so: sorry and I'll go-back and look at your channel - but, ALL of these are FIRE!!! I've been trying to go back and watch your past reactions! ENJOY!
So many good songs on this album but “Kings” might be my favorite
Two favorites
These guys just always seem to bring it. Not a clunker in sight.
My favorite lyrics from dan are on babylon sisters.....dudes were some cool mofos seriously in touch with society and the human condition and human nature. Genious.
You need to hear the studio version of Reelin in the Years
Whole ass other singer. I love it!
David Palmer was there up front on the Midnight Special video you posted of Do It Again. Skinny, curly ginger hair...
Deleted my last post. I was thinking of a different Steely song. ;-) Rock on bro.
For years I heard this song and had NO idea it was Steely Dan. So different from anything else they released.
Steely Sunday👍✌️
"Only a Fool Would Say That", It's a rebuke of John Lennon because he made a comment that he didn't think much of what they were doing musicly. Without that comment that song probably wouldn't exist.
Please review the album version of Reelin' in the Years. Elliot Randall's solo on that track is awesome. The song is great as it is but Randall's solo takes it to another level.
You are definitely one of my favorites and I would love to see your reaction to the Talking Heads
"Only A Fool Would Say That" is Steely Dan mocking John Lennon.
Look it up!
Steely Dan mix is also my go to golf music too. True, but LMFAO 🤣⛳
“Only a Fool” was a dig at Lennon’s “Imagine”, a song I love but that I’ve always felt was a little naive in its lyrics and sentiment.
I detest the song because I think it is the anthem of the new world order world govt.......Like KLAUSE sHWAB from world economic forum saying in the future we will all own nothing and will be happy....sure we will.
This song shows well that Lennon was being handled by elites.
You'll find Steely lyrics becoming a part of your everyday language. These 2 songs, along with Reeling provide plenty of phrases that you'll use the rest of your life
Strangely, Dirty Work didn't get that much radio play from what I remember. Bigger hits were Rikki, Do It Again and Hey Nineteen.
Do the whole album! Not a bad song on it. Then again that goes for the whole Dan catalogue as far as I am concerned. But I especially love this album as I bought it not long after it came out when I was 12, on the advice of my 11 year older brother. My introduction to greatness.
For more atmospheric Sunday listening, check out Arlo Guthrie's masterpiece album _Washington County _. 😊
Solamente un tonto diria eso! Love this song and all the album. Apologies to my brother for sneaking it out of your room to play on my old Dansette 😂
dirty work had a resurgence in popularity like Metallica got when their song was used in strange things, when it was used in the closing credits on an episode of Euphoria on HBO.
Fucking euphoria. Beautifully shot softcore por n. And they had Sydney Sweeney. It's interesting to see what the generation after me grew up with. I grew up and was out of the current culture after 2014 lol
Drugs, man. They are literal time traveling. I teleported 8 years in the future and had a baby and everything. I don't remember shit. Lol
I'm not too busy.
So yeah Dobald is saying it's unrealistic I realized many years ago if you play the Beatles song .....No Reply it is SOOOOO similar now I know why it was deliberate
Dirty Work and Fire in the Hole are my two favorites off this album. I've heard Reelin' in the Years and Do it Again enough to last me a lifetime. Not bad songs, just waaaaaaaaaaaay overplayed.
It's appropriate that Fire in the Hole is FIRE! The piano is exquisite.
Yes extremely overplayed top 40 garbage radio short songs cause they ll wimps
That last tune was okay though looking through your list of Dan songs you have done you would have loved reacting to the tune My Old School which is definitely amongst their best and it is about a mostly true experience Donald and Walter had while at their old school in upstate New York.
YOUR YOUNGER THAN THIER PRIME HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THEM. DONT BE HARD ON YOUR YOUTH. ENJOY THE DAN. AINT NOTHIN BAD. FOLLW YOUR MUSICAL SPIRIT. ENJOY.
Great LP. Almost on par with Aja.
"Only A Fool Would Say That" is their dig against John Lennon.
You have to hear the studio version of "Do it Again". I'd be ashamed of ya, or for ya, if you didnt. "Reelin''" too. Steely Dan was a studio phenomenon.
Ok just for this comment, I will do them next week lol
@@L33Reacts Just hear them. I don't have to watch. You're depriving yourself.
"Only a Fool Would Say That" was Steely Dan's direct attack on John Lennon as the band thought Lennon was a hypocrite and out of touch with the common man by that point.
Sounds about right. Good for them lol sounds like a Dan thing to do
This is a response to John Lennon's "Imagine: 🤣
And an apt response as usual for Steely Dan lol
So freakin snarky! LOL!
Frank Zappa also took a shot at Lennon and ono...with his song ''oh no''...and he was right...all that love and they could not sit in the same room with the other three...hypocrites ....you do the 9-5 John ...AND WHEN YOU COME HOME FREIGHT -RAPED then tell me all I need is love.and a world where no one owns anything while you live in a new york mansion apartment.
Here's one for ya I heard John Lennon didn't like Steely cause Only a Fool Would Say That was written as a critique of John with his song Imagine ya know Imagine no possesions I wonder if you can no need for greed or hunger ...a brotherhood of man a
Dirty Work sounds like the Eagles.
Only a Fool was directed at John Lennon. the Dan - named after a dildo in the fantastically strange and extraordinarily prescient experimental novel Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, made musically astounding records with singable choruses and unique, unforgettable themes.
The sarcasm and wit were not only directed at USian pop culture, aesthetics, and consumer culture but also at other musical acts. As reported in Far Out Magazine, the "fool" spoken about in the 1972 song "Only a Fool Would Say That" is non-other than John Lennon.
Only a Fool Would Say That was "written in response to Lennon's parade of peace. It looks at idealism through the practical eyes of folks on the street. 'You do his nine to five,' they sing, 'drag yourself home half alive, and there on the screen, a man with a dream.' And with that, you get a sense of how grating and vacuous they thought that Lennon's 'Imagine' campaign had become."
Brilliant background information. Listened to this track many times but have never picked up so much from the lyrics. Thanks
Wow. Thank you so much for all this information. I had no idea, obviously, but it 100% fits. Seems like something they would Do lol only the Dan.
And to be honest, they are right. Idealism and reality cannot exist together.
The notion that "Fool" was directed at Lennon is speculation backed up by zero evidence. The individuals who could confirm this assertion -- Fagen and Becker -- never said any such thing.
As Robin Williams once said, “Reality… what a concept!” Like we know. Someone said, “we act like we do. We don’t know shit.”
'Only a fool'... is a song directed at John Lennon and their distaste for him and the Beatles... partiucularly the song Imagine..
Becker and Fagan wrote all the songs; Palmer and Hodder just sang the songs Fagen didn't.
I want to believe you but palmer has writing credits on 3 songs lol look it up
Hodder has one co credit
@@L33Reacts I think you read Wikipedia wrong. Palmer and Hodder did vocals.
I believe John Lennon is the fool
David Palmer did not write or co-write any of the Dan's material.
Joni and steely my last listen when it comes.
Steely dan was the bottom level of the music I liked in the 70's...they were bottom shelf because mainly they used the musicians i liked at the time.
DIRTYWORK IS ABOUT THE LIFE OF A SIDE GUYWHO IS TRYING TO NOT BE THE THE SIDE GUY BUT THE LURE IOS TOO STRONG AND HE KEEPS DOING THE DIRTY WORK,ONLY A FOOL IS DONALDS SLAM AT JHON LENNONS SONG IMAGIIN.
Sorry not sure where you are getting your information, but David Palmer didn’t write any of these songs. Donald and Walter wrote them all per usual.
Look it up. He has songwriting credits on more then a few on this record.
This one and also 2 co writing credits on side 2. He helped a lot more then you think lol