Steely Dan was a product of a particular point in time. They don't exist anymore. Nor is there anyone like them now. I'm not holding my breath that there will ever be anyone like them again.
ZeferReviews King of the World is one of my favorites as well. Such a cool post-apocalyptic jam. Steely Dan always picks interesting subject matter. Fagen, along with Zevon, have written some of the most interesting lyrics ever.
My Old School is the song I would play for someone who says, who's Steely Dan? The horn chart, harmonies, tasteful drums, arrangement, and that fucking guitar. Mmmmmmmmmmasterful
I am almost 59 years old... and have been a "Dan" fan since the first album, which I bought when I was 11... I was hooked, and Steely Dan has been one of the Soundtracks of my life... I think, as you continue this journey, that your thinking will change.. many times over each album holds its own, and serves as a benchmark, if you will, of Donald and Walters evolution as artists and songwriters. You are in for such a treat... as you delve further into the catalogue, suffice it to say,.. your mind will be blown.. many times.. I sincerely hope that after you've completed the Steely Dan catalogue, that you continue the journey with Donald Fagens solo work, and Walters as well... I believe that Donald Fagen is the Hoagy Carmichael of my generation. When you listen to his solo efforts, you will understand. I am so appreciative that you've decided to react to the whole catalogue... no one else has, and it's going to be a pleasure, watching you discover this music, as I have, one album after the next, since 1972.. This is what reaction channels should be.. and you my friend, are going to be very successful.... Thank you.... :)
Spot on Brother. I grew up in an ethnic neighborhood, and the day I discovered Steely Dan changed not only my musical experience, but that of my black/brown friends as well. My friends would come over with a blank cassette tape and would ask me to make a Steely Dan mix tape for them. The good ol days...
I’m your age. When we were young I aspired to conduct orchestras and was deaf to popular music. But Dan tunes always stopped me in my tracks...Do It Again..Rikki...Reelin...My Old School. Then Aja hit and my super fine mine came undone! The groove. the funk. Blues swing. abstract, minimal, dense, pop and on an on. Aja put it all together, and anyone who knew anything about music, musicianship and sound recording were amazed at what they heard. Me and two buds spent the last year of HS going back through and diggin the entire discography. It ended for me after Gaucho, but that 10 year run was more than enough to keep my ear. Cause look what I’m watching on UA-cam!?! Cheers!
King of the World - bass is just romping through that track. And I'll tell ya this, at least for me...a 'bad' steely dan song, is head an shoulders above a lot of groups 'good' songs.
Now you’re about to get into the meat and potatoes of the Steely Dan discography. Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, Royal Scam and Aja. The groove masters only get groovier.
You absolutely nailed Donald Fagen's vocal importance within this band. It's like listening to Bob Dylan in a funk band. He wasn't a hard rock singer like Led Zepp, Boston or Creedence so they compensated by having the funkiest, jazziest arrangements in a rock band at the time. Please check out Pretzel Logic & Royal Scam.... Incomparable band, Peace.
The great thing about songs like "My Old School" is you have the rest of your life to discover the meaning of all of the lyrics, and you can enjoy the surprise each time you learn something new about the song that you have listened to for years. Back in the seventies there was a popular morning talk show featuring local (Buffalo, NY) hosts. It was popular for many years. They used the instrumental from King of the World as their opening music.
Your words about Pearl of the Quarter are some of the reasons why it's my favorite Steely Dan song. Very difficult to choose but after a time it chose me.
There is a song called Here at the Western World, it only appears on Steely Dan Gold, a greatest hits, you might want to pop that in somewhere, I think it was recorded around Royal Scam
My Old School refers to Bard College where Fagan and Becker went. It's located in Annandale-on-Hudson which is what the Annandale reference is It references a drug bust they were falsely accused in and were both jailed.
So joyous to watch you dig this musical trip through Steely Dan’s catalog. I told you I bought their debut album, Can’t Buy A Thrill with my lawn mowing money, back in ‘72. But buying and enjoying this incredible album definitely cemented their legacy for me back in 1974 - that I’d be a Steely Dan Dan FOR LIFE. And here I am, nearly 50 years later STILL A FAN. Enjoy, my friend! Your journey is still in it’s infancy stage...
For me, My Old School is the first turning point for Steely Dan's music. It's a foreshadowing of the upbeat jazz / funk / rock fusion that is more prominent as Fagen and Becker both mature as songwriters. The first two albums are great, but the beats in songs like Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years are more straight-ahead rock like other early 70's music. My Old School contains the type of horn and lead guitar licks that show up over and over again in their later work, and become their signature sound. All I can say is, if you enjoyed it, get your stank-face ready because a lot more is coming! Also, Fagen has said that he never liked the sound of his own voice. It's one of the reasons he had such stage fright early in their career and probably a big factor why they stopped touring. At the time, he had no vocal training and his voice would give out after a few weeks on the road. If I remember correctly, he always felt like his vocals were just another instrument in the mix and not meant to stand out above the music. Looking forward to your reactions as you get deeper into their catalog!
@@RobJazzful Try reading my comment again, dumbass. I didn't DISMISS anything. I said My Old School was the first song -- FOR ME, IN MY OPINION -- that contains the same type of horn and guitar work as their later albums. Maybe "foreshadow" is too big a word for an idiot like you.
Your initial impression of King of the World, where you said the chorus didn't feel as good as the rest of the song was my initial impression when I first heard the song. It's since become one of my favorite Steely Dan songs of all time. Their music is really vague lyrically because the gents behind it studied literature in college. Everything is steeped in metaphor. It's just so good! I'm happy to hear you're going through their discography. They change so much through the years, and going through sequentially you really get to see their style evolve. That said about their lyrics, I think so many of their songs play out like a movie. King of the World is no exception. It's like last man on earth stuff. Great video!
Have tried to get my favorite react channel to do "My old school" for months. They just did. They've yet to do "King of the world" and you've done both in one whack. Bravo. Love the channel and your thoughts. Peace
I guessed you'd change your mind about the chorus/hook. When you first hear this, it comes at you askance, other-worldly, off-kilter. it takes a few listens to get.
Yes, "amazing guitar work...", yes! Jeff Baxter put out one of the best guitar tracks on this song. There is something about "Pearl of the Quarter", love that song. I think it is the steel guitar that makes this song unique. More Dan...Aja, Black Cow, Deacon Blues...Steely Dan's lyrics are always complex...greatness!
Fagen never really wanted to be the lead singer, but he and Becker just couldn't find anybody to give the tunes the feel they wanted. I've found that his voice kind of grew on me -- not a "pretty" voice and not the hugest range in the world, but he makes it work on sheer style and attitude.
Of all the music albums ever made till today steely dan is the benchmark in overall music yes they are that good and also mentioning the Nightfly and Morph the Cat album from Donald Fagen that’s it flawless musicianship !
That was fun. Looking forward to your reviews of Pretzel Logic. It's another masterpiece - you should love it. And it's a ways off, but the Aja album is going to blow your mind.
The 70s were a wonderful time for music,we were lucky to have a few FM stations that played a wide variety,most notable is KSHE-95 St.Louis,Mo.,Keep up the good work DramaSydE
they were genius in their approach to music. they know what they wanted. studio musicians would come in and lay down a track to see if it would fit, then walter and donald would mesh and turn the sound they were looking for. they knew what they wanted before it got off the ground. My favorite band all around. You great analogies and perception into the guys. I really dig your channel. Keep it up young feller. Rock on.
‘Pearl of the Quarter’ is itself a pearl of a song. I see the lyrics working like a dramatic monologue, in the voice of a character in an encounter with someone on the street. The method allows the writer to know more than the words spoken and so create layers of irony and poignancy beyond the speaker/singer’s awareness. Here the effect is accentuated by the vocal which is high and naive. The character is genuinely in love with Louise whom he (ironically) calls ‘my’. She is available for any but elusive for all and beyond the love he has developed for her (genuine care, offering a place to go, not simply exploitation, which is how he started to know her). He has fallen for her and is inside the emotion while the writer is outside it and can see the pathos and futility of his love for her. The chord sequences are beautifully arranged with superb use of melodic minors and the nod to country with the plaintive slide (lap steel) is a wonderful accompaniment to capture the song’s sad beauty. Excellent choice sir! Thanks!
That start-stop guitar work in this punches me in the face every time. Fagen and Becker always surrounded themselves with the perfect musicians for what they wanted to achieve every time. Their gems are endless.
Great tunes, been an avid Dan fan from the beginning as a young teen in the early 70s. Pearl of the Quarter an underrated gem about a New Orleans Cajun hooker, a favorite Dan subject ;). They rarely played it live, and I was so grateful to hear it in 2011 Rarities Night Concert one off they did at the Beacon in NYC (as well as the also ultra rare Doctor Wu and some other unreleased gems). Fantastic.
You’ve heard some fantastic music...and just think, their arguably best two albums are still to come. Aja and The Royal Scam. And I love that I don’t have to comment, ooh! ooh! Do xxx song! I know you’ll get to’em all. I’m thoroughly enjoying your journey.
fordp69 I’m with you. I just meant for the masses, if you ask which SD album is their fav, I think Aja goes 1 and it’s a pick’em between Can’t buy..., Countdown to, Pretzel and Royal.
They were superb with their sound and imagery. Always amazing and good. Such great days when radio played everything from Sly to Steely and no horrid formats. Thanks for bringing these tunes back to be re-examined and enjoyed!
I just discovered your channel and I wanted to tell you that I love your reactions/reviews so far. I've been a huge Steely Dan fan for decades, so I'm really enjoying these reactions.
Great review! Just found your channel and subscribed. Your reviews are very good... you give intelligent and honest opinions. And you're really listening to the songs. thanks. Pearl of the Quarter is one of my fave SD tunes.. but there are so many great ones. Even the deep cut SD songs are at the very least well produced, well written and well played. We all have our favorites.
Great reaction and insight! The entire Aja album - some of the Gaucho album. Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, . You must be a Thundercat fan if you like the Dan.
Great mix of artists and genres tonight. You were on your game brother. I saved SD for last so to end the night with that trifecta was perfect. I love how your feelings about a song can change within 2 minutes but that’s what they do. There’s always a surprise, always a nugget that was unexpected, whether it’s a turn of phrase or an instrumental solo or a background vocal that adds a layer that you didn’t know was missing but once you hear it you can’t imagine the song without it. I hope there’s a seat belt on that chair of yours as the journey progresses cuz’ you are going to need to buckle up!
Bought this album a long time ago. And then I bought it back on CD. Pearl of the Quarter is a jewel. I love the chords in the chorus. It always seems like Country with the steel guitar, but that part takes it to another genre. "And If You hear from my Louise…"
Great set of songs and three at a time is much better than one ... Old School was a big hit , Pearl of The Quarter is another great Nawlins country tune about the good time girl and Voule Voule Vou expresess the French dialect that was there at the time ..King has a quirky vibe that is like WTF is this really about but I like it and You don't have to know ..
My man loving the reaction vids. Pat's nation! So glad you're taking this journey into Steely Dan, I know your love for them will grow the further you get like all bands they evolve and get better and better. Thanks for the video.
I know exactly what you mean about not thinking it was one of your favorite Steely Dan songs, doesn't mean it wasn't great! Some of their biggest hits on the radio left me flat compared to some of the tracks on the albums that didn't get near as much, if any, air time. An example was Rikki Don't Lose That Number was played so much, I got burned out on it while Kid Charlemagne was one I played at home on my stereo thousands of times and never lost that thrill of the first time I heard it.
Another great reaction....your musical insights are always appreciated and I love watching your 'Listening Face'....All the best to you!....You should check out Was Not Was and their songs...'Do the Dinosaur' and 'Knocked Down Made Small'....Cool stuff...
SD, IS, Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals).. The band members were a compendium of top-notch musicians. If you were invited to work on a project, you were blessed. What you are hearing and feeling is the fusion and infusion of what I call jazzmology. A most delicious cocktail.
Love hearing you break down the music. My son is thinking of getting into musical engineering or producing and I hope he takes my suggestion to watch some of your stuff
Enjoying your appreciation for my favorite band. If you want to find out what they're all about there are a couple of vids you need to watch... The Making of Peg shows how they put their songs together and Donald Fagen Talks About Peg shows you what musical geniuses they are.
As you go through their albums one by one, you can hear the natural progression and maturation of their songwriting and song arraignment from album to album.
A little late to the comments here, but if you like the pedal steel guitar sound on "Pearl of the Quarter", it's played by the legendary Al Perkins. He's appeared on tons of records, most notably Stephen Still's "Manassas" album ("Johnny's Garden" is a personal favorite). Also, he's featured pretty heavily on the 1973 Eagles song "Ol' 55", I highly recommend that you check either of those songs out!!
Not sure why my comments keep disappearing, lol. Its hard to pick because I love them all, but Countdown may be my most played album (Aja also way up there). Its got so many underrated gems beyond the "radio hits" that I never tire of. Pearl, Boston Rag, Razor Boy, and maybe the best song on the album, Your Gold Teeth. Wait to you dig into the musicianship on Gold Teeth. Oh, and Show Biz Kids is funkier than hell. Your Old School btw is about a drug bust Becker and Fagen were arrested in while at their school Bard College, which is in Annandale on Hudson NY. If you love Countdown, I highly recommend the tasty album Captain and Me from the Doobie Brothers. Skunk Baxter guests on guitar on that album, and it came out around the same time as Countdown with a similar vibe, a lot of great tunes that have held up.
Steely Dan was a product of a particular point in time. They don't exist anymore. Nor is there anyone like them now. I'm not holding my breath that there will ever be anyone like them again.
King in the world is one of my favorite songs, so underrated and no-one reacts to it!
ZeferReviews King of the World is one of my favorites as well. Such a cool post-apocalyptic jam. Steely Dan always picks interesting subject matter. Fagen, along with Zevon, have written some of the most interesting lyrics ever.
Ditto
I love it too. Always listened for the really juicy bit as the song fades away.
Absofuckinglutely
Check out the Joe Jackson cover.
My Old School is the song I would play for someone who says, who's Steely Dan? The horn chart, harmonies, tasteful drums, arrangement, and that fucking guitar. Mmmmmmmmmmasterful
I am almost 59 years old... and have been a "Dan" fan since the first album, which I bought when I was 11... I was hooked, and Steely Dan has been one of the Soundtracks of my life... I think, as you continue this journey, that your thinking will change.. many times over each album holds its own, and serves as a benchmark, if you will, of Donald and Walters evolution as artists and songwriters. You are in for such a treat... as you delve further into the catalogue, suffice it to say,.. your mind will be blown.. many times.. I sincerely hope that after you've completed the Steely Dan catalogue, that you continue the journey with Donald Fagens solo work, and Walters as well... I believe that Donald Fagen is the Hoagy Carmichael of my generation. When you listen to his solo efforts, you will understand. I am so appreciative that you've decided to react to the whole catalogue... no one else has, and it's going to be a pleasure, watching you discover this music, as I have, one album after the next, since 1972.. This is what reaction channels should be.. and you my friend, are going to be very successful.... Thank you.... :)
I have you by 2 years and i couldn't agree more,what a force they are.
Spot on Brother. I grew up in an ethnic neighborhood, and the day I discovered Steely Dan changed not only my musical experience, but that of my black/brown friends as well. My friends would come over with a blank cassette tape and would ask me to make a Steely Dan mix tape for them. The good ol days...
I’m your age. When we were young I aspired to conduct orchestras and was deaf to popular music. But Dan tunes always stopped me in my tracks...Do It Again..Rikki...Reelin...My Old School. Then Aja hit and my super fine mine came undone! The groove. the funk. Blues swing. abstract, minimal, dense, pop and on an on. Aja put it all together, and anyone who knew anything about music, musicianship and sound recording were amazed at what they heard. Me and two buds spent the last year of HS going back through and diggin the entire discography. It ended for me after Gaucho, but that 10 year run was more than enough to keep my ear. Cause look what I’m watching on UA-cam!?! Cheers!
All three songs are so very different, but so very Steely Dan. They take you to college towns, New Orleans and a post apocalyptic land.
King of the World - bass is just romping through that track. And I'll tell ya this, at least for me...a 'bad' steely dan song, is head an shoulders above a lot of groups 'good' songs.
Now you’re about to get into the meat and potatoes of the Steely Dan discography. Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, Royal Scam and Aja. The groove masters only get groovier.
Aja might be as musically perfect a song as I've ever heard.
You absolutely nailed Donald Fagen's vocal importance within this band. It's like listening to Bob Dylan in a funk band.
He wasn't a hard rock singer like Led Zepp, Boston or Creedence so they compensated by having the funkiest, jazziest arrangements in a rock band at the time. Please check out Pretzel Logic & Royal Scam.... Incomparable band, Peace.
The great thing about songs like "My Old School" is you have the rest of your life to discover the meaning of all of the lyrics, and you can enjoy the surprise each time you learn something new about the song that you have listened to for years. Back in the seventies there was a popular morning talk show featuring local (Buffalo, NY) hosts. It was popular for many years. They used the instrumental from King of the World as their opening music.
Your words about Pearl of the Quarter are some of the reasons why it's my favorite Steely Dan song. Very difficult to choose but after a time it chose me.
If I got wrecked on an island and only one band to listen too it be Dan !
I'm almost 60 and have loved Steely Dan forever, but my favorite part of these videos is your smile. Thank you for making everyone feel good.
There is a song called Here at the Western World, it only appears on Steely Dan Gold, a greatest hits, you might want to pop that in somewhere, I think it was recorded around Royal Scam
brilliant song!
Underrated gem!
Another great Dan tune about "ladies of the night", a common subject of the duo!
One of my favorite Dan song
"Western World" is like a secret treasure. It spent a long time in the polisher. So understated and refined.
I've been a strong Steely Dan fan for decades, now I'm also a DramaSydETV fan. Thank you brother and much love!
My Old School refers to Bard College where Fagan and Becker went. It's located in Annandale-on-Hudson which is what the Annandale reference is It references a drug bust they were falsely accused in and were both jailed.
King Of The World and Aja are the two best Steely Dan songs among a mountain of masterpieces.
So joyous to watch you dig this musical trip through Steely Dan’s catalog. I told you I bought their debut album, Can’t Buy A Thrill with my lawn mowing money, back in ‘72. But buying and enjoying this incredible album definitely cemented their legacy for me back in 1974 - that I’d be a Steely Dan Dan FOR LIFE. And here I am, nearly 50 years later STILL A FAN.
Enjoy, my friend! Your journey is still in it’s infancy stage...
I never heard this song before. I love the Steely Dan band. Thank you!
For me, My Old School is the first turning point for Steely Dan's music. It's a foreshadowing of the upbeat jazz / funk / rock fusion that is more prominent as Fagen and Becker both mature as songwriters. The first two albums are great, but the beats in songs like Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years are more straight-ahead rock like other early 70's music. My Old School contains the type of horn and lead guitar licks that show up over and over again in their later work, and become their signature sound. All I can say is, if you enjoyed it, get your stank-face ready because a lot more is coming!
Also, Fagen has said that he never liked the sound of his own voice. It's one of the reasons he had such stage fright early in their career and probably a big factor why they stopped touring. At the time, he had no vocal training and his voice would give out after a few weeks on the road. If I remember correctly, he always felt like his vocals were just another instrument in the mix and not meant to stand out above the music.
Looking forward to your reactions as you get deeper into their catalog!
Absolutely!!!....those horn lines in My Old School are insane...right after "California tumbles into the sea"......Man!!....
My Old School is on that second SD album you so cavalierly dismissed.
@@RobJazzful Try reading my comment again, dumbass. I didn't DISMISS anything. I said My Old School was the first song -- FOR ME, IN MY OPINION -- that contains the same type of horn and guitar work as their later albums. Maybe "foreshadow" is too big a word for an idiot like you.
Similar syncopated percussive part in Aja
I bow to you, Sir. You have the good sense to listen to the great Steely Dan through good headphones. Applause.
Blues , Jazz , Rock & Roll all rolled up into one. The definition of FUSION!
Your initial impression of King of the World, where you said the chorus didn't feel as good as the rest of the song was my initial impression when I first heard the song. It's since become one of my favorite Steely Dan songs of all time. Their music is really vague lyrically because the gents behind it studied literature in college. Everything is steeped in metaphor. It's just so good! I'm happy to hear you're going through their discography. They change so much through the years, and going through sequentially you really get to see their style evolve. That said about their lyrics, I think so many of their songs play out like a movie. King of the World is no exception. It's like last man on earth stuff. Great video!
I totally agree, the song weirded me out at first but after a while I couldn’t stop replaying it!
Have tried to get my favorite react channel to do "My old school" for months. They just did. They've yet to do "King of the world" and you've done both in one whack. Bravo. Love the channel and your thoughts. Peace
You're spot on about the perfect fit between their song writing style and the voice of their vocalist,
I really love the joy this band is bringing to you. It's on your face when you listen :)
I guessed you'd change your mind about the chorus/hook. When you first hear this, it comes at you askance, other-worldly, off-kilter. it takes a few listens to get.
Yes, "amazing guitar work...", yes! Jeff Baxter put out one of the best guitar tracks on this song. There is something about "Pearl of the Quarter", love that song. I think it is the steel guitar that makes this song unique. More Dan...Aja, Black Cow, Deacon Blues...Steely Dan's lyrics are always complex...greatness!
The best pinched note guitar solo ever captured on vinyl.
Fagen never really wanted to be the lead singer, but he and Becker just couldn't find anybody to give the tunes the feel they wanted. I've found that his voice kind of grew on me -- not a "pretty" voice and not the hugest range in the world, but he makes it work on sheer style and attitude.
I could literally hear "King of the World" a 100 times in a row. Its such a groove taking you for a ride!
Of all the music albums ever made till today steely dan is the benchmark in overall music yes they are that good and also mentioning the Nightfly and Morph the Cat album from Donald Fagen that’s it flawless
musicianship !
That was fun. Looking forward to your reviews of Pretzel Logic. It's another masterpiece - you should love it. And it's a ways off, but the Aja album is going to blow your mind.
Easily one of the greatest albums in the history of rock.
I love that steel guitar in Pearl of the Quarter. Great, underrated song.
First time listening to My Old School w/headphones. They were masters of their craft, no doubt.
The 70s were a wonderful time for music,we were lucky to have a few FM stations that played a wide variety,most notable is KSHE-95 St.Louis,Mo.,Keep up the good work DramaSydE
they were genius in their approach to music. they know what they wanted. studio musicians would come in and lay down a track to see if it would fit, then walter and donald would mesh and turn the sound they were looking for. they knew what they wanted before it got off the ground. My favorite band all around. You great analogies and perception into the guys. I really dig your channel. Keep it up young feller. Rock on.
‘Pearl of the Quarter’ is itself a pearl of a song. I see the lyrics working like a dramatic monologue, in the voice of a character in an encounter with someone on the street. The method allows the writer to know more than the words spoken and so create layers of irony and poignancy beyond the speaker/singer’s awareness. Here the effect is accentuated by the vocal which is high and naive. The character is genuinely in love with Louise whom he (ironically) calls ‘my’. She is available for any but elusive for all and beyond the love he has developed for her (genuine care, offering a place to go, not simply exploitation, which is how he started to know her). He has fallen for her and is inside the emotion while the writer is outside it and can see the pathos and futility of his love for her. The chord sequences are beautifully arranged with superb use of melodic minors and the nod to country with the plaintive slide (lap steel) is a wonderful accompaniment to capture the song’s sad beauty. Excellent choice sir! Thanks!
That start-stop guitar work in this punches me in the face every time. Fagen and Becker always surrounded themselves with the perfect musicians for what they wanted to achieve every time. Their gems are endless.
Great tunes, been an avid Dan fan from the beginning as a young teen in the early 70s.
Pearl of the Quarter an underrated gem about a New Orleans Cajun hooker, a favorite Dan subject ;).
They rarely played it live, and I was so grateful to hear it in 2011 Rarities Night Concert one off they did at the Beacon in NYC (as well as the also ultra rare Doctor Wu and some other unreleased gems). Fantastic.
You’ve heard some fantastic music...and just think, their arguably best two albums are still to come.
Aja and The Royal Scam.
And I love that I don’t have to comment, ooh! ooh! Do xxx song!
I know you’ll get to’em all.
I’m thoroughly enjoying your journey.
fordp69 I’m with you. I just meant for the masses, if you ask which SD album is their fav, I think Aja goes 1 and it’s a pick’em between Can’t buy..., Countdown to, Pretzel and Royal.
One more thing.... Steely Dan are the undisputed Masters of the Groove.
Love me some Steely Dan.
Thanks for the reaction.
They were superb with their sound and imagery. Always amazing and good. Such great days when radio played everything from Sly to Steely and no horrid formats. Thanks for bringing these tunes back to be re-examined and enjoyed!
That Moog synth melody line that comes out of nowhere is so very Steely Dan and always makes me smile.
I just discovered your channel and I wanted to tell you that I love your reactions/reviews so far. I've been a huge Steely Dan fan for decades, so I'm really enjoying these reactions.
With all the great stuff going on in My Old School, I always focus on the baritone sax. Gravy on the meat, IMO.
Wow Drama! I thought I knew music!
It's all about Pearl of the Quarter for me; always one of my favs; chorus is sublime.
Great review! Just found your channel and subscribed. Your reviews are very good... you give intelligent and honest opinions. And you're really listening to the songs. thanks. Pearl of the Quarter is one of my fave SD tunes.. but there are so many great ones. Even the deep cut SD songs are at the very least well produced, well written and well played. We all have our favorites.
One of the greatest album enders ever recorded. What a track.
Ahhhh...Pearl of the Quarter ....luv it.
Great reaction and insight! The entire Aja album - some of the Gaucho album. Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, . You must be a Thundercat fan if you like the Dan.
Looking at your reaction to King of the World, I am confident that you are gonna love Green Earrings off the Royal Scam album later on down the line.
I got ya mate!
This album has really grown on me Hugely..❤it ..Thanks for the fab review 👏
One of my favorite tunes by them! It is about their alma mater at Bard College, upstate, NY.
Great mix of artists and genres tonight. You were on your game brother. I saved SD for last so to end the night with that trifecta was perfect. I love how your feelings about a song can change within 2 minutes but that’s what they do. There’s always a surprise, always a nugget that was unexpected, whether it’s a turn of phrase or an instrumental solo or a background vocal that adds a layer that you didn’t know was missing but once you hear it you can’t imagine the song without it. I hope there’s a seat belt on that chair of yours as the journey progresses cuz’ you are going to need to buckle up!
Bought this album a long time ago. And then I bought it back on CD. Pearl of the Quarter is a jewel. I love the chords in the chorus. It always seems like Country with the steel guitar, but that part takes it to another genre. "And If You hear from my Louise…"
Great set of songs and three at a time is much better than one ... Old School was a big hit , Pearl of The Quarter is another great Nawlins country tune about the good time girl and Voule Voule Vou expresess the French dialect that was there at the time ..King has a quirky vibe that is like WTF is this really about but I like it and You don't have to know ..
Really Dig getting your insight to Steely Dan's music..I've always been Big Fan
Still think aja is best album.great reactions😎👍
Don't miss Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly", an absolute masterpiece......
My man loving the reaction vids. Pat's nation! So glad you're taking this journey into Steely Dan, I know your love for them will grow the further you get like all bands they evolve and get better and better. Thanks for the video.
I know exactly what you mean about not thinking it was one of your favorite Steely Dan songs, doesn't mean it wasn't great! Some of their biggest hits on the radio left me flat compared to some of the tracks on the albums that didn't get near as much, if any, air time. An example was Rikki Don't Lose That Number was played so much, I got burned out on it while Kid Charlemagne was one I played at home on my stereo thousands of times and never lost that thrill of the first time I heard it.
King Of The World is my fav SD ever and I've been a fan since the 70s
Another great reaction....your musical insights are always appreciated and I love watching your 'Listening Face'....All the best to you!....You should check out Was Not Was and their songs...'Do the Dinosaur' and 'Knocked Down Made Small'....Cool stuff...
SD, IS, Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals).. The band members were a compendium of top-notch musicians. If you were invited to work on a project, you were blessed. What you are hearing and feeling is the fusion and infusion of what I call jazzmology. A most delicious cocktail.
YOUR SUMMATION IS 100% SPOT ON.
Sometimes it's not so much the destination as it is the journey. Enjoy the trip.
Love hearing you break down the music. My son is thinking of getting into musical engineering or producing and I hope he takes my suggestion to watch some of your stuff
Enjoying your appreciation for my favorite band. If you want to find out what they're all about there are a couple of vids you need to watch... The Making of Peg shows how they put their songs together and Donald Fagen Talks About Peg shows you what musical geniuses they are.
My old school, definitely my favorite of theirs, not sure they have a bad song!
As you go through their albums one by one, you can hear the natural progression and maturation of their songwriting and song arraignment from album to album.
The guitar solo's by Jeff Skunk Baxter on My Old School are fire, especially the last one to the fadeout.
Steely Dan, Grand Funk Railroad, SRV an others knew how to bring out That STANK Face in their songs/sangin 🤠🤘🏼🤠🤘🏼🎤😎🎧🎤😎🎧
Funkalicious.. old school greatness. Always a blend of harmonies and instruments with easy listening vocals that soothe the soul. ☆
Guitar Jeff Skunk Baxter on My Old School.. in the Doobie Brothers after Steely Dan
Imagine being 16 when this came out. Small wonder I had no use for country music for the next 30 years.
I was 21 when this came out! welcome to the club!
Digging the Lookouts logo! I live right down the street from their stadium. And Steely Dan is my favorite band!
Just an FYI, My Old School was about a drug bust that happened at Bard College while Becker and Fagan were both students there.
Subbed because you did the Dan, and three of them, Bravo.
The beginning of King of the World sounded like an Isaak Hayes intro.
Like the 3 song vid idea m8..
great comments men 14:00 min. +1.. for all discography is the same ... great band!
Love the way you did this. Sublime. Keep it goin'!
Pure music 🎶 at its best as a whole
Abba have to thank Steely Dan!
A little late to the comments here, but if you like the pedal steel guitar sound on "Pearl of the Quarter", it's played by the legendary Al Perkins. He's appeared on tons of records, most notably Stephen Still's "Manassas" album ("Johnny's Garden" is a personal favorite). Also, he's featured pretty heavily on the 1973 Eagles song "Ol' 55", I highly recommend that you check either of those songs out!!
1974 Eagles Song*
hell yea. can't wait for pretzel logic
One lesser known " Dan" song that showcases great vocals is "Dirty Work"
which is not sung by Fagen, its David Palmer
My baby's the pearl of the quarter....
Just found you! Love your excellent reviews!
The song Pretzel Logic is a must listen to
wow, takes me back to party years many decades ago......
Not sure why my comments keep disappearing, lol. Its hard to pick because I love them all, but Countdown may be my most played album (Aja also way up there). Its got so many underrated gems beyond the "radio hits" that I never tire of. Pearl, Boston Rag, Razor Boy, and maybe the best song on the album, Your Gold Teeth. Wait to you dig into the musicianship on Gold Teeth. Oh, and Show Biz Kids is funkier than hell.
Your Old School btw is about a drug bust Becker and Fagen were arrested in while at their school Bard College, which is in Annandale on Hudson NY.
If you love Countdown, I highly recommend the tasty album Captain and Me from the Doobie Brothers. Skunk Baxter guests on guitar on that album, and it came out around the same time as Countdown with a similar vibe, a lot of great tunes that have held up.
That Bari sax tho!
Do a deep dive into the lyrics of King of the World. It's quite the post-apocalyptic tale.
My old school is dope!
Which is apropo, since it was about a drug bust at their alma mater!
Back to the Dan!!!
Lol..it grew on me.. I hear that!,
You're welcome.
Listen to that BARI-SAX