"The world that we used to know, people tell me it don't turn no more. The places we used to go, familiar places that ain't smilin like before. The time of our time has come and gone, I fear we been waiting too long." A truly mournful lament! It's not only the disappearance of that place which is so permanently inside you, but the fact that the you that dwelled there no longer exists. I can't hear this without mourning my own demise. It's not just their music which was so fully developed and realized, but the lyrics that were never cliche in a business which was nearly always old and tired.
Another song from this album you might enjoy is "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". "King of the World" from Countdown to Ecstasy is another one. I like the instrumental at the end of "King of the World", jazzy, but almost sounding like the theme from an early 1970s game show, but in a cool way.
Apparently, Donald Fagen *did* mean to refer to Thelonius Monk, one of his jazz favorites, but one who had just begun to fade into obscurity when this album was recorded (source: "Steely Dan on track" by Jez Rowden). So it's a play on words.
I really appreciate you confirming that because it's what I had heard so when Justin hadn't mentioned it in his reaction I thought wow I was wrong all these years...
This song had a melancholy sound - a couple of older people going out to cruise the streets like they used to... to find that the streets aren't the same any more. It happens as we get older, I think. You might find it interesting to compare it to "The Golden Age of Leather" by Blue Oyster Cult... the same feeling of "nothing's the same any more".
WHAT a debut. I was 17when this dropped,rushed out and bought on the strength of hearing and loving Reelin….and memorised every word,every track. Been a Danhead ever since.
The guitar parts are so tasty! Kinda like key lime pie. This album was out about a year before I had the extra scratch to go out and buy it. Money was tight in those days. Anyway, when I finally got it, I played the hell out of it. Couldn't get enough.
Wow, I had completely forgotten about this early SD track! Thanks for helping me re-discover it Justin. Always weird to not hear Donald Fagen on the lead vocal, and yet it's so obviously a song by them.
Thanks JP...great debut album by Steely Dan. This song continues the groove. I love every track....yeah I'll admit on every SD album up to Gaucho. I get the vision of traveling with your friends some night in the Summer in your "hood" and just seeing what transpires.
NICE - one of the more underrated tracks. For me this is the beginning of the 'Gentleman Loser' trilogy, alongside Deacon Blues and Babylon Sisters. He's in the cab heading to his gig.
I needed this I was just watching something that I really could care less about so I'm glad something interesting came across my way via a favorite channel
Speaking of driving.. You have to hit some of Donald Fagan's solo record. It's probably the best driving at night record. Not a bad song on the record. The title track "Nightfly" is one of my all time favorite Dan or Fagan tracks.
Excellent choice for a review, one of the great Steely Dan songs from a great album, May want to check out Brooklyn, from other Here at the Western World, Show Biz Kids for some foundational tunes to add to your Steely Dan repertoire. JP reviews a great variety of songs. Definitely should check out Peter Murphy, the DEEP ALBUM, you could pick any song on this one it would be excellent, start with Strange Kind of Love, CUTS YOU UP, Crystal Wrist. Also more Bowie from Man Who Sold the World, Alladin Sane. More Roxy Music ( Avalon) Brian Ferry reviewing Boys and Girls, Bete Noire or Avonmore. Keep up the variety. A channel to see reactions to a variety of artists.
I’ve always considered this one of my favorite songs from the debut album. I just like the vibe of the song, and the catchy chorus. And I like the drummer’s voice. Apparently Donald Fagan was quite self conscious about his self-perceived limitations as a singer early on, and they were experimenting with other singers in the band
Indeed, the old stomping grounds are way different these days, hardly want to go near them. Where there were lonely highways and long country roads are now stacked houses and businesses, suburban nightmares pitted with stop signs and speed bumps. Clubs and discos are now college bookstores and pawnshop storefronts. That’s where my friend rolled his friend’s borrowed car and almost died because the road ended. Now, there is a road, into a nice neat little community. He might have slammed into that community’s brick signage if it were a different year, luckily it was just a field at the time. Drunk as they were, they walked home and said nothing. I’m just glad I wasn’t with them. Midnight roller. Peace and 2:30 am Music
One of those rare albums that had no bad tracks. Every song was oustanding, the production was sparkling, and you could leave it in your car's tape deck forever.
jeff SKUNK baxter the lead guitar player was this record then did a stint with the doobie brothers......look up bio....one of the more interesting life stories...you'll be very surprised
Good track although not my fave, but what is subtly excellent about it is how they take a pop formula and augment it with a more complex shift in chord structure. Rather than just go to the tonic they go to an augmented tonic with a minor third bass harmony for insyance, which gives the nostalgic longing of the song real character.
Hey JP....see the new movie with Ben Affleck "The Tender Bar" and they use the song "Do It Again" by the Dan at the end of the movie....pretty much the entire song. Lot's of great songs from the 70"s on the soundtrack. Enjoy!!
I love it when Steely Dan has that pop-rock sound on the early albums. the playing of the musicians is neat but not quite polished as on Aja and Gaucho. This song almost sounds like an early Eagles track (it might even have ended up on their On the Border album !).
I’m on the Steely Dan deep dive after seeing them last November and love this album and song. Royal Scam turns out to be my number 2 after Aja though and The Caves Of Altimara is just so tight and hip.
I always enjoyed this song, thanks for reviewing and reacting. Fire in the Hole , from the same album, is a very stark and interesting number from Donald Fagen that you might like. Cheers !
Sooooooo glad you got to this one. One of my favorite SD songs. Dunno why but the way Hodder sings it, and the lyrics, just really get to me. "The world that we used to know, people tell me it don't turn no more". Beautiful.
It's nice enough, but nothing special. But hey, it was early days, an embryonic ''Dan' finding their feet, perhaps. And of course not having DF on vocals does make a big diff.
The embryonic ''Dan'' is a plus for me ! It had that band sound unlike what will follow from Katy Lied through Aja to Everything Must Go. Their first three albums are a must for me. The rest, much less (although I still like Katy Lied and The Royal Scam and Aja to a lesser degree).
@@a.k.1740 Oh aye, there's nothing wrong with 'embryonic Dan', I didn't mean it to sound derogatory. I just don't think this's one of the stronger tracks on the album. And for a debut to have a couple of timeless classics like, 'Do it Again,' and 'Reelin', definitely not too shabby. They've a great canon, lots better than this. But JFTR, 'The Royal Scam' has long been my fave.
On the first studio album David Palmer sung lead for a few songs (he only lasted that album). On the last studio album, Walter Becker sung lead on one of the tracks. I think there was one other song (unreleased or a b-side) with lead vocals by Jim Hodder.
Easy listening (in Steely Dan terms) is a fair description. This is one of theirs I've never heard before. I like it (and think I'll like it better next time, and so on) but you've probably got even better songs to look forward on that album. Great to see they're not blocking everyone any more, too. Your Uncle Bob has also released another song (part of the next album - he's relentless!) that also might take a spin or two to fully appreciate. ua-cam.com/video/AdsfNOj0LEI/v-deo.html ( *GBV - Never Mind the List* ) I like it, but I think I'm going to like it more next time.
More *Voivod! - Paranormalium* ua-cam.com/video/sIgY8LNK8H4/v-deo.html Lyrics video this time. One has animations based on "Away"'s art work that is worth watching even for people who have to mute the sound, because of their misaligned preferences. Must go find it just in case I didn't suggest it ... yesterday? I think.
Aaarh. And now I've found something. First you need the "reverse context" (just context, really). If you haven't listened to *It's Love Jim - by The Darkness* you won't know why the thing in the next "reply" matters. (A wee bit.) All you need here is the title and a minute of the video, if you're down to sticking to essentials today. ua-cam.com/video/qYfQdl1cFE8/v-deo.html (Also if there were once some cows in your life, the video will bring back all kinds of sweet memories of their little quirks. So there. I've found even more reasons why you should waste your time on this.)
Now that you have It's Love Jim sorted (something Justin Hawkins quotes often on his channel), you're ready to discover where the phrase came from. (This one takes some time to develop. It doesn't remain in the same style all the way through. If you've "heard enough" after 30 seconds, no you haven't, you're just being impatient.) *The Firm - Star Trekkin* (trust me, I'm almost a doctor) ua-cam.com/video/FCARADb9asE/v-deo.html You won't need to hear the whole thing if you're in a hurry, but it takes some time for the reason I've posted it here to become clear.
Such great song structure even the guitar licks her totally composed except right at the very end work I mean they're doing harmonics when they extended the solo but then skunk Baxter takes over and does a little country little lick you know a little bit of Chicken Pickin at the end there yeah this is one of those impeccable albums kind of like Jethro Tull's Aqualung this is not a bad song on the whole album
Argh... I didn't even think of Steely Dan for clue #1. The amazing thing about Steely Dan is even their weakest tracks are really good though I probably should give the entire album a listen before I declare it a weak track. Too bad this wasn't yesterday. Then I could have listened to it during the blizzard. Yesterday I learned the technical definition of a blizzard. The only part of that I can remember is the snow and blowing snow reduce visibility below 400m and winds have to be above 56 kph. We will all be taking turns shoveling today though we are running out of space to put it all in the front. I really do not want to have to figure out a way to haul it to the back. p.s. A snow day yesterday would have been spent indoors. Today I expect things will mostly be back to normal.
I highly recommend that you check out "Death on Two Legs" by Queen off of the "Night at the Opera" album. One of the first diss tracks. In my book there are no bad Steely Dan tracks. In the early days Donald hadn't found his voice so to speak. David Palmer also sings on this album.
I find your reaction video to Midnight Cruiser very inauthentic. There isn't a template for the wide diverse styles SD has covered. Also its quite obvious you didn't do your homework on this song. The Steely Dan that recorded Midnight Cruiser was for the most part a much different band that later recorded their well-known pop-jazz catalog. Most of the band heard on this record had left Steely Dan by 1975, leaving only the founders, and thus a different sound. It's a classic yet you treated the song as if it was merely passable.. Fact is, Donald Fagen wasn't able to sing this song or Dirty Work, for that matter. There is no signature style that you refer to. That's why Jim Hodder was utilized on this track with his exceptional vocals. One more item: the Thelonious referred to in the song is Thelonious Monk. Next time, stick to what you know.
George Michael did it just as good jp. This is the Sprout’s Hallelluah’s big bullish sister and i for one like it as much their previous massive personal hit that was Barrytown. I like the rawer SD as i prefer the rawer Sprouts. Raw organic artistic stone polishing at it’s best. Your interpretive commenting skills yesterday and today were perceptive and concise Justin. Gershwin & Monk say hi though. Here’s to life long learning Ent. 🤙🧢🧶🏴diolch
That was just Steely Dandy! Thanks JP.
Great song to drive through LA late night. I interpreted the lyrics as someone bemoaning the transition from the 1960s into the 70s.
1:00 reminds me of California Dreamin' :-)
"The world that we used to know, people tell me it don't turn no more.
The places we used to go, familiar places that ain't smilin like before.
The time of our time has come and gone, I fear we been waiting too long."
A truly mournful lament! It's not only the disappearance of that place which is so permanently inside you, but the fact
that the you that dwelled there no longer exists. I can't hear this without mourning my own demise.
It's not just their music which was so fully developed and realized, but the lyrics that were never cliche in a business which was
nearly always old and tired.
Love this one man
Can't Buy a Thrill was my introduction to Steely Dan sooooooo many years ago.
One of my favourite Steely Dan songs. I love that hooky, soaring chorus. Reminds me a lot of Crosby Stills and Nash.
me too love this one
Another song from this album you might enjoy is "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again". "King of the World" from Countdown to Ecstasy is another one. I like the instrumental at the end of "King of the World", jazzy, but almost sounding like the theme from an early 1970s game show, but in a cool way.
King of the World : long overdue to react to that track
Right out of the gate the writing and playing had a maturity that belied its debut status.
Very well said!
Polished, always inventive and engaging.
Apparently, Donald Fagen *did* mean to refer to Thelonius Monk, one of his jazz favorites, but one who had just begun to fade into obscurity when this album was recorded (source: "Steely Dan on track" by Jez Rowden). So it's a play on words.
I really appreciate you confirming that because it's what I had heard so when Justin hadn't mentioned it in his reaction I thought wow I was wrong all these years...
I think the 'Round Midnight vs Midnight Cruiser similarity, confirms that it was Monk.
Definitely an oblique Monk reference.
This song had a melancholy sound - a couple of older people going out to cruise the streets like they used to... to find that the streets aren't the same any more. It happens as we get older, I think.
You might find it interesting to compare it to "The Golden Age of Leather" by Blue Oyster Cult... the same feeling of "nothing's the same any more".
WHAT a debut.
I was 17when this dropped,rushed out and bought on the strength of hearing and loving Reelin….and memorised every word,every track.
Been a Danhead ever since.
Excellent deep cut. Every track a classic.
This is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. Love to sing along with the chorus. :)
Ah...
I never would have guessed this from the emoji puzzle on Twitter!
The guitar parts are so tasty! Kinda like key lime pie. This album was out about a year before I had the extra scratch to go out and buy it. Money was tight in those days. Anyway, when I finally got it, I played the hell out of it. Couldn't get enough.
Love this song in the car, windows down and an uninterrupted stretch of lonely country road.
One of those Steely Dan tracks I knew before I got into them. Seems a lot of those are from this album. Great album and song!
Yes can't go wrong. That was just beautiful.
One of my favorites from the album
There might be somebody who doesn't like Steely Dan, but only a fool would say that! 😏
😉
Great choice JP. Steely Dan was on their game from the get go. Great reaction
Wow, I had completely forgotten about this early SD track! Thanks for helping me re-discover it Justin. Always weird to not hear Donald Fagen on the lead vocal, and yet it's so obviously a song by them.
Thanks JP...great debut album by Steely Dan. This song continues the groove. I love every track....yeah I'll admit on every SD album up to Gaucho. I get the vision of traveling with your friends some night in the Summer in your "hood" and just seeing what transpires.
Hi Justin, Check out Razor Boy since you like the guitar on Midnight Cruiser.
Great debut album, with hints of even better to come. Wonderful lyricists and total perfectionists. I was 18 when I bought this album on it's release.
NICE - one of the more underrated tracks. For me this is the beginning of the 'Gentleman Loser' trilogy, alongside Deacon Blues and Babylon Sisters. He's in the cab heading to his gig.
I needed this I was just watching something that I really could care less about so I'm glad something interesting came across my way via a favorite channel
Speaking of driving.. You have to hit some of Donald Fagan's solo record. It's probably the best driving at night record. Not a bad song on the record. The title track "Nightfly" is one of my all time favorite Dan or Fagan tracks.
yes
Excellent choice for a review, one of the great Steely Dan songs from a great album, May want to check out Brooklyn, from other Here at the Western World, Show Biz Kids for some foundational tunes to add to your Steely Dan repertoire. JP reviews a great variety of songs. Definitely should check out Peter Murphy, the DEEP ALBUM, you could pick any song on this one it would be excellent, start with Strange Kind of Love, CUTS YOU UP, Crystal Wrist.
Also more Bowie from Man Who Sold the World, Alladin Sane.
More Roxy Music ( Avalon) Brian Ferry reviewing Boys and Girls, Bete Noire or Avonmore.
Keep up the variety. A channel to see reactions to a variety of artists.
An amazing band, they only have 1 song I don't like and another I don't care for but won't skip it. Most of their albums are just incredible.
I’ve always considered this one of my favorite songs from the debut album. I just like the vibe of the song, and the catchy chorus. And I like the drummer’s voice. Apparently Donald Fagan was quite self conscious about his self-perceived limitations as a singer early on, and they were experimenting with other singers in the band
Indeed, the old stomping grounds are way different these days, hardly want to go near them. Where there were lonely highways and long country roads are now stacked houses and businesses, suburban nightmares pitted with stop signs and speed bumps.
Clubs and discos are now college bookstores and pawnshop storefronts.
That’s where my friend rolled his friend’s borrowed car and almost died because the road ended. Now, there is a road, into a nice neat little community. He might have slammed into that community’s brick signage if it were a different year, luckily it was just a field at the time. Drunk as they were, they walked home and said nothing.
I’m just glad I wasn’t with them.
Midnight roller.
Peace and 2:30 am Music
This is a great debut album. However, they really find their voice and consolidate their talent on the followup, Countdown to Ecstasy.
One of those rare albums that had no bad tracks. Every song was oustanding, the production was sparkling, and you could leave it in your car's tape deck forever.
They left the bad to the cover haha
It’s something that you could say about most SD albums. They were just so consistent.
jeff SKUNK baxter the lead guitar player was this record then did a stint with the doobie brothers......look up bio....one of the more interesting life stories...you'll be very surprised
Too smooth, too slick, I found my attention sliding away to something else after a few minutes because nothing made it stick.
Then their albums from Two Against Nature (or Donald Fagen's Kamakiriad) onwards are sure to put you to sleep.
@@hansvandermeulen5515 Even Gaucho puts me to sleep ! It shows the damage done afterwards....
Yeah, Steely Dan are too easily digestible. Jazz lite.
You should listen to Fagen's The Nightfly or Morph the Cat
I love Steely Dan's early albums - I prefer the more pop constructions. For my $ its all about Can't Buy A Thrill thru Katy Lied
Agreed. My favorite album is Pretzel Logic.
Good track although not my fave, but what is subtly excellent about it is how they take a pop formula and augment it with a more complex shift in chord structure. Rather than just go to the tonic they go to an augmented tonic with a minor third bass harmony for insyance, which gives the nostalgic longing of the song real character.
That’s it.
Hey JP....see the new movie with Ben Affleck "The Tender Bar" and they use the song "Do It Again" by the Dan at the end of the movie....pretty much the entire song. Lot's of great songs from the 70"s on the soundtrack. Enjoy!!
I love it when Steely Dan has that pop-rock sound on the early albums. the playing of the musicians is neat but not quite polished as on Aja and Gaucho. This song almost sounds like an early Eagles track (it might even have ended up on their On the Border album !).
I’m on the Steely Dan deep dive after seeing them last November and love this album and song. Royal Scam turns out to be my number 2 after Aja though and The Caves Of Altimara is just so tight and hip.
I always enjoyed this song, thanks for reviewing and reacting. Fire in the Hole , from the same album, is a very stark and interesting number from Donald Fagen that you might like. Cheers !
Sooooooo glad you got to this one. One of my favorite SD songs. Dunno why but the way Hodder sings it, and the lyrics, just really get to me. "The world that we used to know, people tell me it don't turn no more". Beautiful.
Dan is always good...no dogs.
It's nice enough, but nothing special. But hey, it was early days, an embryonic ''Dan' finding their feet, perhaps. And of course not having DF on vocals does make a big diff.
The embryonic ''Dan'' is a plus for me ! It had that band sound unlike what will follow from Katy Lied through Aja to Everything Must Go. Their first three albums are a must for me. The rest, much less (although I still like Katy Lied and The Royal Scam and Aja to a lesser degree).
@@a.k.1740 Oh aye, there's nothing wrong with 'embryonic Dan', I didn't mean it to sound derogatory. I just don't think this's one of the stronger tracks on the album. And for a debut to have a couple of timeless classics like, 'Do it Again,' and 'Reelin', definitely not too shabby. They've a great canon, lots better than this. But JFTR, 'The Royal Scam' has long been my fave.
Is this the only one not sung by DF?
On the first studio album David Palmer sung lead for a few songs (he only lasted that album). On the last studio album, Walter Becker sung lead on one of the tracks. I think there was one other song (unreleased or a b-side) with lead vocals by Jim Hodder.
Easy listening (in Steely Dan terms) is a fair description. This is one of theirs I've never heard before. I like it (and think I'll like it better next time, and so on) but you've probably got even better songs to look forward on that album. Great to see they're not blocking everyone any more, too.
Your Uncle Bob has also released another song (part of the next album - he's relentless!) that also might take a spin or two to fully appreciate. ua-cam.com/video/AdsfNOj0LEI/v-deo.html ( *GBV - Never Mind the List* ) I like it, but I think I'm going to like it more next time.
More *Voivod! - Paranormalium* ua-cam.com/video/sIgY8LNK8H4/v-deo.html
Lyrics video this time. One has animations based on "Away"'s art work that is worth watching even for people who have to mute the sound, because of their misaligned preferences. Must go find it just in case I didn't suggest it ... yesterday? I think.
*Planet Eaters* ua-cam.com/video/lvHjNcjMqvU/v-deo.html
(The one with the animations. If that doesn't ring a bell, you haven't seen it.)
Aaarh. And now I've found something.
First you need the "reverse context" (just context, really). If you haven't listened to *It's Love Jim - by The Darkness* you won't know why the thing in the next "reply" matters. (A wee bit.) All you need here is the title and a minute of the video, if you're down to sticking to essentials today. ua-cam.com/video/qYfQdl1cFE8/v-deo.html
(Also if there were once some cows in your life, the video will bring back all kinds of sweet memories of their little quirks. So there. I've found even more reasons why you should waste your time on this.)
Now that you have It's Love Jim sorted (something Justin Hawkins quotes often on his channel), you're ready to discover where the phrase came from. (This one takes some time to develop. It doesn't remain in the same style all the way through. If you've "heard enough" after 30 seconds, no you haven't, you're just being impatient.)
*The Firm - Star Trekkin* (trust me, I'm almost a doctor) ua-cam.com/video/FCARADb9asE/v-deo.html
You won't need to hear the whole thing if you're in a hurry, but it takes some time for the reason I've posted it here to become clear.
Such great song structure even the guitar licks her totally composed except right at the very end work I mean they're doing harmonics when they extended the solo but then skunk Baxter takes over and does a little country little lick you know a little bit of Chicken Pickin at the end there yeah this is one of those impeccable albums kind of like Jethro Tull's Aqualung this is not a bad song on the whole album
Steely Dan never missed ;-) Kings of cool soft jazz pop rock, feels like a little of The Eagles in the way they sing it.
You can’t go wrong with Steely Dan.
Argh... I didn't even think of Steely Dan for clue #1. The amazing thing about Steely Dan is even their weakest tracks are really good though I probably should give the entire album a listen before I declare it a weak track. Too bad this wasn't yesterday. Then I could have listened to it during the blizzard. Yesterday I learned the technical definition of a blizzard. The only part of that I can remember is the snow and blowing snow reduce visibility below 400m and winds have to be above 56 kph. We will all be taking turns shoveling today though we are running out of space to put it all in the front. I really do not want to have to figure out a way to haul it to the back.
p.s. A snow day yesterday would have been spent indoors. Today I expect things will mostly be back to normal.
: ayeup :
I pretty much said the exact same thing regarding emoji clue #1 over on Twitter.
@@IllumeEltanin I haven't an idea on clue #2 either. I found a couple of extremely obscure things but there are just too many bands to choose from.
I highly recommend that you check out "Death on Two Legs" by Queen off of the "Night at the Opera" album. One of the first diss tracks. In my book there are no bad Steely Dan tracks. In the early days Donald hadn't found his voice so to speak. David Palmer also sings on this album.
Yes, they do, do it again! You can't go home again, can you? Peace from a fossil field.
As close to perfection as the band ever came. And eerily prophetic, considering what's happened to the world during the last couple of years.
I find your reaction video to Midnight Cruiser very inauthentic. There isn't a template for the wide diverse styles SD has covered. Also its quite obvious you didn't do your homework on this song. The Steely Dan that recorded Midnight Cruiser was for the most part a much different band that later recorded their well-known pop-jazz catalog. Most of the band heard on this record had left Steely Dan by 1975, leaving only the founders, and thus a different sound. It's a classic yet you treated the song as if it was merely passable.. Fact is, Donald Fagen wasn't able to sing this song or Dirty Work, for that matter. There is no signature style that you refer to. That's why Jim Hodder was utilized on this track with his exceptional vocals. One more item: the Thelonious referred to in the song is Thelonious Monk. Next time, stick to what you know.
This is one of the weaker tracks that they ever released. Why was it chosen for a reaction?
Going in order on the album :)
George Michael did it just as good jp. This is the Sprout’s Hallelluah’s big bullish sister and i for one like it as much their previous massive personal hit that was Barrytown. I like the rawer SD as i prefer the rawer Sprouts. Raw organic artistic stone polishing at it’s best.
Your interpretive commenting skills yesterday and today were perceptive and concise Justin.
Gershwin & Monk say hi though. Here’s to life long learning Ent. 🤙🧢🧶🏴diolch