Absolutely must react to Doctor Wu - which includes the sensational alto sax solo by the late, great Phil Woods. Funny, just heard Dr. Wu in the car this past weekend, and my wife reminded me of her graduate school professor named Dr. Wu - he was a neuroscientist from China, very traditional and wasn't very pleased when my wife played the song for him back in the early 80's. Some other "smoking hot" deep cuts from the Dan include Bodhisattva, Don't Take Me Alive, and Haitian Divorce.
Steely Dan songs are so cinematic! Who else would write a song about an unrepentant jewel thief who seduces his marks before disappearing with their hearts and their gold?
3:33 that little break has always killed me. The chord change, hi hats when you expect a big fill, and then the crazy guitar pinch harmonic. I always end up backing up to listen to it over. These are killer musicians.
Oh dear. You sure about that? Miles Davis, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Dixie Dregs, The Fents, Herbie Hancock, Pat Matheny, Mahavishu Orchestra, UK, Bill Bruford, Brand X, Zappa, etc. I could go on and on. I think maybe you're saying Steely got pop fusion best. Maybe so. But it's a whole huge genre with some of the best musicians in history. But yeah, Steely rocks hard. They had some of the best session musicians in the business. If you want some accessible guitar work, The Dregs are quite famous (Steve Morse!) and the Fents a little more 80s and less mainstream. Worth listening.
They had better fucking not have! It's my favourite SD song, an incredible sound, a superb story within the lyrics and amazing imagery. I sincerely hope neither of them have heard Haitian Divorce as I want to see their reaction!
@@bboytomo Ditto to this. I don't have a fav SD song - I find it impossible to single out any of my top half dozen or so - but Haitian Divorce is so unique that I totally get the pick, and I agree that A&A would likely love it. It's so freakin' good.
New subscriber You have the best, honest reactions out of ALL reactors. After an Andy & Alex marathon of past 4 yrs, finally caught up with new ones of the sensational soundtracks to our lives! To see you experience it for first time is a thrill. And appreciate them wow
Yes!! The Bernard Purdie hi-hat fill leading into the first guitar solo (Denny Diaz, I think - amazing tone) is sublime. The Spotify numbers on this album track may be skewed as it also appears on a few SD compilations as well.
@@paulj.ingram2839 Yes, Carlton's amazing solo on KC is legendary, as is Jay Graydon's turn on Peg. The 2 solos on Green Earrings -- Denny Dias (bridge) and Elliott Randall (main) -- are somewhat underappreciated, though.
That would be the legendary rhythm section of Master Chuck Rainey on bass, and Master Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums, mixing up the magic yet again. As a drummer, Purdie's fill at 2:39 is still one of the funkiest goddamn things I've ever heard in my life, even though it is a mere roundhouse fill played in straight 8th notes - it's all in the presentation and the confidence. And that lick at 3:38? If you want to hear what an upbeat left hand hi-hat choke figure sounds like when it is absolutely perfectly executed, there it is. God DAMN what a groove.
As we know, the Dan has never written a bad song. How they do it is beyond imagining. Again, the vocal melody, rhythm, back beat, and supporting crew don't back down. Always full force, full on and firing. Genius.
Unfailingly satisfying, fascinating and downright impressive writers and recording artists. Nothing but the absolute best for Donald and Walter, they ask for and always get it. 😊❤
@@cactaceous same! Well, until I'm listening to another SD album, then that one is my favorite, until I circle back around to Royal Scam, then it's back at #1!
I was listening to Steely I was listening to Steely Dan‘s Royal Scam when I was like 14 years old just in the last years of my paper route when I was really starting to get into my classic rock ‘n’ roll, and I listened to that album ever since then, wore out two tapes in my cars, I don’t know how many CDs lost.Every song on that album is a banger with a B!! especially sign in stranger, and the caves of Altamonte
Love you guys love what you do you like a lot at the same music I've been listening to for 40 plus years and this one's definitely one of my favorite Steely Dan songs
This is one of my absolute favourite Steely Dan albums, its killer from.start to end Green Earings is a brilliant groove guys. That Drumming is so important in this, oh lord Jesus! and at 3mins :39 secs when he plucked that harmonic tomove into the mini solo, its genius. Great great track.BTW The Royal Scam, Gaucho and Aja are the killer Steely Dan albums for me👊🏾
Great song. This is the first Steely Dan album I ever bought way back when, after hearing their earlier singles. Fantastic, start to finish. I love the title track.
If I've heard this one I had forgotten. It sounds wonderful. It is so obviously SD but with a real touch of funk over jazz. The instrumentation on this reminds me of the Crusaders or vice versa. This was a great music share. Thanks guys!!
I have been waiting for you to get to this song from the very first time I heard you feature Steely Dan. It’s my favorite Steely Dan song and contains two of my favorite guitar solos. I don’t remember all the info, but I read somewhere that it is based musically on some Duke Ellington song. Superb choice, gentleman
Finally! My favorite SD song. Thank you. I needed to hear this today. I think Alex kind of hit the nail on the head when he said he liked the second part of the song better. As Jamal aka Jamel said about this song it just keeps getting better and better. You'll have to listen to it a couple more times but it will def grow on you.
People list their favorite Steely Dan songs and rarely is Green Earrings included. Don't know why. It's always been one of my favorites. Soooo damn tight. It epitomizes their tight, complex sound and incredible arranging. And LOVED those 3 guitar solos - all a unique take on the song. That last one was just a gorgeous sound sculpture. One of their best. Great album!
A song about a jewel thief who feels no remorse for stealing his girl friends green earrings. Session guitarists Elliott Randal playing the high energy parts and Denny Dias bridge guitar. Bernard Purdie Drums, Chuck Rainey Bass, Donald Fagen vocals & synth. Tim B Schmidt (Eagles bassist) backing vocals, Dan Grolnick fender Rhodes, Paul Griffin Clavinet. An underrated cut! Thanks for the reaction
Excellent song reaction. Very underappreciated. But with SD, every song is a gem. As a band, they are at the top of my stuck on an island list. 😂 I honestly can't believe that you guys have not reacted to Aja yet.
The Royal Scam is their best album, and there isn’t a bad song on it. “Don’t Take Me Alive”, “The Fez” and “The Caves Of Altamira” are all ones worth doing that you didn’t do yet. And the rest are all good too.
Imo Aja is #1 with this a close 2nd; Aja continued upward building on Royal Scam. Steve Gadd's work on Aja's title track is just legendary...blew Rick Beato's mind
@@289hipo To me they were getting kind of tired by that point, more like lounge music. Peg is the only S Tier song on that album to me. This one has multiple.
For me, back in the day, this album, great as it was, also signaled a slight change in direction. At the time we didn't know where they were going. Aja revealed all that.
Friend: "What's the best Steely Dan song"?
Me: "The one that's playing".
aint that the truth
True dat
and the next one :)
I think the only song Steely Dan did that freaked me out was "Don't Take Me Alive" 😳
@@AncientActivist A song they absolutely should do.
The Royal Scam is such a great album!
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
If I could only have one SD album on a deserted island it would be Royal Scam
As an old guy with great taste in music, I approve this message. Please do Doctor Wu.
Yes, Dr. Wu!
Yeah, but I want all of "Katy Lied"...
My favorite SD song ❤
Absolutely must react to Doctor Wu - which includes the sensational alto sax solo by the late, great Phil Woods.
Funny, just heard Dr. Wu in the car this past weekend, and my wife reminded me of her graduate school professor named Dr. Wu - he was a neuroscientist from China, very traditional and wasn't very pleased when my wife played the song for him back in the early 80's.
Some other "smoking hot" deep cuts from the Dan include Bodhisattva, Don't Take Me Alive, and Haitian Divorce.
@@AdvisorMarco yes me too!
The Royal Scam - perfect album. A rare thing, but there it is.
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
I personally rate the Royal Scam album as their best album and Aja number two. The boys should listen to the whole album and see what they think.
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
Also Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan is a treasure trove of great music. A well that never runs dry.
Steely Dan's best song is whichever one you've most recently listened to.
Steely Dan songs are so cinematic! Who else would write a song about an unrepentant jewel thief who seduces his marks before disappearing with their hearts and their gold?
That bass! Those drums! THOSE GUITAR SOLOS!!!
even tho they tried hundreds of em, ha ha but yep picked great ones!
Same album. Gotta review "Don't Take Me Alive" with the awesome Larry Carlton on guitar. Worthy of the "11" setting on your volume control.
They already kinda wasted DTMA on a live stream I seem to recall. Didn’t really listen.
@@ljw5768 Ok, thanks.
Could these guys have possibly known how many millions of people would love their music and still be enjoying it 50 years later??! Awesome!
So glad you are back to the Dan!! Please, please don't wait so long till the next one!
The Royal Scam, guys, JUMP ON IT. It's amazing!
3:33 that little break has always killed me. The chord change, hi hats when you expect a big fill, and then the crazy guitar pinch harmonic. I always end up backing up to listen to it over. These are killer musicians.
Only Steely Dan ever got jazz/rock fusion this right.
Oh dear. You sure about that? Miles Davis, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Dixie Dregs, The Fents, Herbie Hancock, Pat Matheny, Mahavishu Orchestra, UK, Bill Bruford, Brand X, Zappa, etc. I could go on and on. I think maybe you're saying Steely got pop fusion best. Maybe so. But it's a whole huge genre with some of the best musicians in history. But yeah, Steely rocks hard. They had some of the best session musicians in the business.
If you want some accessible guitar work, The Dregs are quite famous (Steve Morse!) and the Fents a little more 80s and less mainstream. Worth listening.
Um, that's why they sound so dated ...
@@kennstrong601dated?
@@kennstrong601 Stay in your basement troll. No one told you to come out.
@@kennstrong601Swiftie, eh?
Steely Dan is so calculated. Every note, fill,solo, has been meticulously placed in each second of the track. Mad genius.
This song is absolutely fantastic👍🏼🔥 You can't go wrong with Steely Dan
Steely Dan’s 50 year old stuff is timeless.
This is Steely Dan channeling their inner "The Crusaders" - time for some "Caves of Altamira" Honestly, this album has it's own SD sound.
Absolute monsters in the studio. So blown away when this album came out - still am.
Haitian Divorce is a must listen from this album (you actually haven't heard it yet)!
They had better fucking not have! It's my favourite SD song, an incredible sound, a superb story within the lyrics and amazing imagery. I sincerely hope neither of them have heard Haitian Divorce as I want to see their reaction!
@@bboytomo Ditto to this. I don't have a fav SD song - I find it impossible to single out any of my top half dozen or so - but Haitian Divorce is so unique that I totally get the pick, and I agree that A&A would likely love it. It's so freakin' good.
My fav song and the one which introduced me to the band!!!!
Steely Dan are their own genre 👌
Ha ha. Yep. Bingo!
Steely Dan always had the most awesome chord changes!! Amazing group that never disappointed!!
New subscriber You have the best, honest reactions out of ALL reactors. After an Andy & Alex marathon of past 4 yrs, finally caught up with new ones of the sensational soundtracks to our lives! To see you experience it for first time is a thrill. And appreciate them wow
Thanks so much! Glad you’ve been enjoying the videos!! It’s been a wild journey!! ❤️🔥
- Andy
Please please....DO.... don't take me alive..... sick intro......... whole album... is killer.... THANK YOU for everything🎉
Andy did it during a live stream when Alex went to the bathroom. The lead guitar intro went right over his head.
Yes!! The Bernard Purdie hi-hat fill leading into the first guitar solo (Denny Diaz, I think - amazing tone) is sublime. The Spotify numbers on this album track may be skewed as it also appears on a few SD compilations as well.
Kid Charlemagne probably gets the most hits because of the guitar solo
Oh yeah, get's me every time
The great Larry Carlton. Watch Rick Beato’s interview where he walks through that solo with Larry.
@@paulj.ingram2839 Yes, Carlton's amazing solo on KC is legendary, as is Jay Graydon's turn on Peg. The 2 solos on Green Earrings -- Denny Dias (bridge) and Elliott Randall (main) -- are somewhat underappreciated, though.
This is the hardest Steely Dan groove. Absolutely love this tune. Funky as hell. Phenomenal drumming from Bernard Purdie, groove master.
There is no “typical” Steely Dan song. That’s why they are so good.
SD is SO freaking tight.
If you're a studio musician and are asked to play on an SD song, you KNOW that you're going to have to bring your A-Game.
"Don't Take Me Alive" is tremendous.
That would be the legendary rhythm section of Master Chuck Rainey on bass, and Master Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums, mixing up the magic yet again. As a drummer, Purdie's fill at 2:39 is still one of the funkiest goddamn things I've ever heard in my life, even though it is a mere roundhouse fill played in straight 8th notes - it's all in the presentation and the confidence. And that lick at 3:38? If you want to hear what an upbeat left hand hi-hat choke figure sounds like when it is absolutely perfectly executed, there it is. God DAMN what a groove.
Guys believe it or not theres more from them..Dr Wu is a great song for instance..with a great chorus Alex
Nice, one of my favorite Steely Dan tracks. Sign In Stranger is also pretty freakin great.
The last track on an album was often a throwaway but it's the title track on this one and so worth a listen - one of their finest.
That bass was poppin’! Insane guitar solos.
As we know, the Dan has never written a bad song. How they do it is beyond imagining. Again, the vocal melody, rhythm, back beat, and supporting crew don't back down. Always full force, full on and firing. Genius.
Steely Dan, your favorite bands favorite band🔥🤘✌
more steely dan folks can't go wrong !
Every new album redefined their sound. They were continuously evolving and growing.
The kind of song that grows on you as you listen to this over and over again!
Unfailingly satisfying, fascinating and downright impressive writers and recording artists. Nothing but the absolute best for Donald and Walter, they ask for and always get it. 😊❤
The guitar solo is one of my favorites
The whole album is 🔥
Royal Scam is my favorite Steely Dan album.
@@cactaceous same! Well, until I'm listening to another SD album, then that one is my favorite, until I circle back around to Royal Scam, then it's back at #1!
@@cactaceousMine too.
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
Holy crap! I had forgotten about this tune!! THANK YOU for the reminder! Sounds so good - FUNKY!! 💃💃💃
I was listening to Steely I was listening to Steely Dan‘s Royal Scam when I was like 14 years old just in the last years of my paper route when I was really starting to get into my classic rock ‘n’ roll, and I listened to that album ever since then, wore out two tapes in my cars, I don’t know how many CDs lost.Every song on that album is a banger with a B!! especially sign in stranger, and the caves of Altamonte
In 1976/77, I listened to that album (Royal Scam), both sides, for so long it was a little worn out. Just a fantastic album from Steely Dan.
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
Love you guys love what you do you like a lot at the same music I've been listening to for 40 plus years and this one's definitely one of my favorite Steely Dan songs
You haven’t listened to this entire album? Every song is a gem!!
This song = "first time heard"
for me. It's good!! Jazzy rock .
Catchy ~ A+
Next is "Show Biz Kids."
Some Jazz Fusion from Steely Dan ...they were always inovative . PK
This is one of my absolute favourite Steely Dan albums, its killer from.start to end Green Earings is a brilliant groove guys. That Drumming is so important in this, oh lord Jesus! and at 3mins :39 secs when he plucked that harmonic tomove into the mini solo, its genius. Great great track.BTW The Royal Scam, Gaucho and Aja are the killer Steely Dan albums for me👊🏾
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
Great song. This is the first Steely Dan album I ever bought way back when, after hearing their earlier singles. Fantastic, start to finish. I love the title track.
This song is a Funktafied Masterpiece!
This is definitely one of my favorites and yet so underrated. Another gem that doesn't get played much is My Rival from Gaucho.
If I've heard this one I had forgotten. It sounds wonderful. It is so obviously SD but with a real touch of funk over jazz. The instrumentation on this reminds me of the Crusaders or vice versa. This was a great music share. Thanks guys!!
Finally! I kept asking for this one.
Me too! For like 3 years.
I could listen to them to them all day long, weather in a bad, sad or happy mood!!
the triangle in this is insane! Pretty high in the mix- in just the right places. So precisely played - brings the bling!
This song is like rock candy, it’s sweet and hard enough to break your teeth. You’ll always come back for more.
Hey Guys, sticking with the ”Green” theme……try “Green Eyed Lady”, by Sugarloaf. 👍🎸😍🇨🇦
Steely Dan at their very best!
They have the best fade outs in their songs
Occasionally flipping with Aja, this is my favorite album. Play the title track!
Thx for a steely Dan song. King of the world next please!
Some bands and musicians are musical geniuses, Steely Dan is one of them.
Nice! Absolutely my fave track from my fave SD album. 🎵💕
🎉 MY FAV DAN SONG🎧🎧 guys I've been waiting for years for you to do this one 🎵🎵🎶😎😎 ((((find your way back)))) Jefferson starship has got to be next😎😎😎
I have been waiting for you to get to this song from the very first time I heard you feature Steely Dan. It’s my favorite Steely Dan song and contains two of my favorite guitar solos. I don’t remember all the info, but I read somewhere that it is based musically on some Duke Ellington song. Superb choice, gentleman
Finally! My favorite SD song. Thank you. I needed to hear this today. I think Alex kind of hit the nail on the head when he said he liked the second part of the song better. As Jamal aka Jamel said about this song it just keeps getting better and better. You'll have to listen to it a couple more times but it will def grow on you.
Might be my favorite Dan album
Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie, casually flashing so much technique …
Steely Dan always guarantees quality , but this one is really outstanding, still soundiing very modern today, 48 years later !
Alice Cooper- Elected( 73) 🔥
What coulf be more timely!!!
💯 banger !!!
The whole album is delectable.
I sent this song to Nick Foles on Monday, he listened to it 3 times on his earbuds at the Linc during his retirement ceremony
Don’t Take Me Alive is about the only song I really listen to a lot on this record
People list their favorite Steely Dan songs and rarely is Green Earrings included. Don't know why. It's always been one of my favorites. Soooo damn tight. It epitomizes their tight, complex sound and incredible arranging. And LOVED those 3 guitar solos - all a unique take on the song. That last one was just a gorgeous sound sculpture. One of their best. Great album!
Wow thanks guys been waiting 2 yrs for this. You must check out the title track. The Royal Scam. It’s incredible
Steely Dan was always unique in what they wrote and played and sung, great choice, thanks guys.
One of their best 👌 💯💯
That's grown folk music right there.
Later DAN is so smooth and perfect but this early stuff is CRAZY GOOD !
Steely Dan, the coolest music ever recorded!
Steely Dan was always considered thinking man's rock but they were still just as popular as all the other great bands out at that time.
Elliot and Larry on guitars❤
A song about a jewel thief who feels no remorse for stealing his girl friends green earrings. Session guitarists Elliott Randal playing the high energy parts and Denny Dias bridge guitar. Bernard Purdie Drums, Chuck Rainey Bass, Donald Fagen vocals & synth. Tim B Schmidt (Eagles bassist) backing vocals, Dan Grolnick fender Rhodes, Paul Griffin Clavinet. An underrated cut! Thanks for the reaction
This was my first time listening to this song. Alex summed up my reaction perfectly.
It grows on you
On the border of Jazz-Fusion.
Might want to give a listen to Jean Luc Ponty. Mirage or Enigmatic Ocean, Pt III.
Same timeframe- 1977.
This whole album is perfect. Nothing to gloss over at all.
More Jazz reactions boys, please! ❤
My favorite Steely Dan. Lp. Whole thing is so good. Legend.
I say "The Fez" next song to hit.
Excellent song reaction. Very underappreciated. But with SD, every song is a gem. As a band, they are at the top of my stuck on an island list. 😂 I honestly can't believe that you guys have not reacted to Aja yet.
Entire album is saucy
The Royal Scam is their best album, and there isn’t a bad song on it. “Don’t Take Me Alive”, “The Fez” and “The Caves Of Altamira” are all ones worth doing that you didn’t do yet. And the rest are all good too.
Truly their most guitar-driven of LPs. Look very forward to hearing it in its entirety on Patreon.
Imo Aja is #1 with this a close 2nd; Aja continued upward building on Royal Scam. Steve Gadd's work on Aja's title track is just legendary...blew Rick Beato's mind
@@289hipo To me they were getting kind of tired by that point, more like lounge music. Peg is the only S Tier song on that album to me. This one has multiple.
The Royal Scam is my personal favorite Dan album. You boys should listen to the whole thing. Excellent drum break followed by Denny Diaz solo.
Excellent choice! You just can’t go wrong with the Dan!
👍🤠 Never heard that, but gonna add that to my playlist. Thx Andy
For me, back in the day, this album, great as it was, also signaled a slight change in direction. At the time we didn't know where they were going. Aja revealed all that.
This is why when you go by polls (and Spotify, etc) only, you'll miss soooooooo much great stuff!!!