Do you mean Lex from Brad & Lex? If so, man I really miss seeing them react to things. And their whole journey was quite interesting. I still see Brad sometimes, but it was their chemistry together that was just amazing.
If you're a Rick Beato fan, he did an interview with Michael Omartian, pianist extraordinaire, on his work on Aja and with Carlton, Gadd, Rainey, etc. He talks about Walter & Donald of course.
He has also done interviews with Chuck Rainey, Steve Gadd, Bernard "pretty" Purdie, Larry Carlton, and Jay Graydon. Rick has stated that his goal is to interview every remaining musician who played on that album. He's done well so far!
Becker & Fagen were sound freaks. But they were also sometimes demons for their studio musicians. A hired musician played the same 30 seconds of music over and over again for over an hour and at the end Fagen and Becker said: "Okay, great, that's it!" The musician went to bed exhausted and satisfied with his work. The next morning the studio musician came to the set and Becker and Fagen said: "We listened to it all again overnight and think it could be done better. We have to do the whole thing again!" They were just absolute perfectionists; but that's also what made their music so unique. Love your videos. 🙂
20-year-old Jeff Porcaro just kills. I'm proud and fortunate to say that I went to school with Jeff and his brothers. Katy Lied is a kind of a sentimental favorite of mine. And don't forget David Paich, he plays on KL and Pretzel by the recommendion of Jeff, they were school friends too. Saw Jeff play with SD, 50 years ago this month. It was unreal watching your pal playing with your favorite band, and meeting them and hanging out! Smoking with the boys upstairs, literally!
This Steely Dan music defines my 20"s at that time. Steely Dan forever. My favorite SD is the much later "Everything Must Go". So "tasty", and so "smooth".
My band used to cover his; a guaranteed whooping and hollering floor-filler. Our backing singers were three sisters and they fucking ruled. Good days to recall in my dotage. Thanks for the reminder, my young friend.
That did sound like a Crimson riff there in that one section, as well as at the beginning, as you pointed out in the comment. Josie is one of those songs that I could never get tired of hearing. I could hear it over and over again, and every time it will hold my attention 110% and make me want to move to it or play air guitar or air drums or whatever. It's just such a perfect song.
Amazing how many excellent groups you ve been listening to lately. Played these songs endlessly on my reel to reel tape recorder back in the day. You re learning and loving the talent and great music from the 70 s.
I’ve loved this song 45 years now. I never tire of hearing it. Upbeat pop tinged with darkness, add a funky ass walking bass line, kills it. Massive Attack - Girl I Love You Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ Beat Flaming Lips - Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung Killing Joke - In Cythera King Crimson - Satori ion Tangiers
I so appreciate your observations. Steely Dan was one of the very very few bands that showed growth with each album and every subsequent album was better you saw this with the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Zappa, and very few others.
Happy Easter, dude. Nothing like SD to put you in a better place with the world. As has been mentioned, this is pretty much a perfect album, although this and "Peg" were probably the most successful commercially. "Josie" got immediate radio airplay and hasn't ever been taken out of rotation in whatever passes for 'classic rock' stations these days.
I got to meet Jim Keltner briefly right before Christmas. His resume is incredible. When you are the one outside musician brought into the Traveling Wilburys*, you have to be good. *Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne (ELO). I met Timothy B. Schmidt in a Beverly Hills parking garage once. I used to know his daughter.
HELP! I often hear drummers say ‘high hat’ in reference to the drums. That’s what I hear in all music! I wasn’t allowed to play drums in high school because I was a girl! (Late sixties early seventy’s) Love your reactions, thanks.
Dean Parks told that instead of doing the beginning guitar as one pass they made him do each part of the riff in separate passes that made a distinct sound (sort of light flam) .
When you put "Future Lee" on the screen, it reminded me of something that happened in my youth. There was a DJ on one of the local radio stations who went by the name "Future Bob". One day I called in to the station while he was on the air. When he answered, I asked "Is this Future Bob?" He says "Yeah, what can I do for ya?" I said "What's your name now?" He says "Oh, very funny!" True story.
Happy Easter Lee! I just listened to the final of JC Superstar. After a few minutes of quiet reflection, I decided to get my DAN on! I LOVE the bass lines in this. Rainey is always great, but this one stands out for me. If you haven't, you should look into Larry Carlton's solo work. His debut album (Larry Carlton, released in 1978) is incredible. Room 335, Night Crawler, and Point it Up in particular. Consider reacting to any one of those. After the first, do more! Sort of a Steely Dan spinoff. You could react to ANY of the artists that worked with Steely Dan. They are ALL amazing!
Fella,as a dad to 3 daughters,I sympathise. When they get to their teens,it’s quite horrific at times,but the moments,you’ll know the ones,make up for all the crazy nonsense that hormonal girls bring. WERE NOT TRAINED FOR THIS !! As for the music,Steely Dan have been an obsession for me since their astonishing debut Cant Buy A Thrill Don’t know if you’ve “album’d” The Royal Scam yet. If you haven’t,parties in your ears are coming your way.
Jim Keltner was one of the Traveling Wilburys, alongside George Harrison, Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra), Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan.
As someone who was listening daily to the classic rock stations when this came album out, I can attest that here in the NYC area, 5 of the 7 songs on "Aja" received heavy airplay. (Only "I Got the News" and Home at Last" were unknown to me when I actually got around to listening to the album.)
This whole album is tops. Donald and Walter really found their niche with this one. Have you done their FM (NO STATIC AT ALL), yet? It was composed/recorded specifically for the film FM (Universal Pictures, 1978) - a smooth kind of funkiness.
Thanks Lee. Love hearing your more expert musical reactions. I feel so happy to have grown up in this musical era, esp the Beatles. joni Mitchell. Stevie Wonder, Led Zep & more. And I still love hearing new music too, like AURORA and Billie Eilish & Finneas. I think the S. Dan's album GAUCHO is my favorite. It is kinda slick but so enjoyable. Do you know how the band got their name?!?
It's fun to watch Larry Carlton play Josie (and other songs) live on the channel Bower Wilkins. Just instrumentals. I like to see musicians live! (When the sound quality is good enough on the video.)
Love the Dan! This has to be the quirkiest intro, chord progression to open a song. Donald Fagen said he was going for like some Gregorian type sound for the intro, I think. What a groove!
Jim Keltner was responsible for Linn Drums programming Linn Drums was THE drum sound that shaped 80s music Jim has quite the resume as a session player as well Fun Fact and good groove tune As always, nice one Ya shoulda been born forty years sooner 😆🎵
Aja is a sonic masterpiece: peak Steely Dan. I’d recommend another sonic masterpiece “Avalon” by Roxy Music… if you don’t know the band, I highly recommend checking them out. They have been called “the most influential British band next to the Beatles”
Hey Lee, I love your reaction videos, but I’m curious: how about a little tour of your kit? Maybe show us some licks? That would be cool. “Have a good day, I know I am.”
Got to finish AJA, " I got the news", Underrated song, tell me what you think. Have enjoyed your channel . Been listening to SD since 1977, aja being the first album, I still enjoy till this day. Keep going!
Some of the "small print" names in the Steely Dan credits lists have long pedigrees of their own. Victor Feldman had a distinguished career as a jazz musician in the UK before emigrating to California and doing session work. Timothy B Schmitt later replaced Randy Meisner as the Eagles' bass player.
And so I checked all the registered historical facts And I was shocked into shame to discover How I'm the 18th pale descendant Of some old queen or other Oh has the world changed, or have I changed? Oh has the world changed, or have I changed? The Smiths, “The Queen Is Dead”
It’s a fantastic tune, but I’ve always felt a little bit conflicted by the drum part in the chorus (says the guitarist!😅). The kick drum drops way out in that part, in my opinion too much, to the point where it’s like an erection going flaccid for the bulk of the chorus. I understand it from a dynamics point of view, but to me that was a compositional or arrangement error in terms of keeping the groove going…..either that or keeping the groove going just wasn’t as high a priority in 1977 as it has been since around the mid 80s. Regardless, it’s still one of their most radio famous and danceable songs, so no biggie!😊
Josie is like the most musically brilliant pop tune ever. Okay it’s not pop but it is like, but much better than, the pop tracks they laid early days to finance their studio work. The only issue for me is that I can’t make sense of the lyrics. I’m not American, but generally It isn’t hard to get the sense of a SD song right but as much as I love the vibe, I’ve never had the sense of what this song is. Still bop along.
We named our rescue dog, Josie, after this song. "When Josie comes home, so good" 🥰
another reactor Lex once said Steely Dan could end road rage She's so right if we can only get people to listen
Do you mean Lex from Brad & Lex? If so, man I really miss seeing them react to things. And their whole journey was quite interesting. I still see Brad sometimes, but it was their chemistry together that was just amazing.
@@stevedahlberg8680 Nick and Lex, Ibelieve.
If you're a Rick Beato fan, he did an interview with Michael Omartian, pianist extraordinaire, on his work on Aja and with Carlton, Gadd, Rainey, etc. He talks about Walter & Donald of course.
He has also done interviews with Chuck Rainey, Steve Gadd, Bernard "pretty" Purdie, Larry Carlton, and Jay Graydon.
Rick has stated that his goal is to interview every remaining musician who played on that album. He's done well so far!
I've seen a video or two of his. Very good channel. He gets all the good guests, it seems 😅
I just watched that interview yesterday and it's fascinating!
@@mitzifrancis9843 now we need Fagen
Becker & Fagen were sound freaks. But they were also sometimes demons for their studio musicians. A hired musician played the same 30 seconds of music over and over again for over an hour and at the end Fagen and Becker said: "Okay, great, that's it!" The musician went to bed exhausted and satisfied with his work. The next morning the studio musician came to the set and Becker and Fagen said: "We listened to it all again overnight and think it could be done better. We have to do the whole thing again!" They were just absolute perfectionists; but that's also what made their music so unique. Love your videos. 🙂
Love Katy Lied -great album. My faves are: Dr Wu, Daddy don't Live in New York City no more, Rose Darlin, Chain Lightening, Your Gold Teeth 11.
20-year-old Jeff Porcaro just kills. I'm proud and fortunate to say that I went to school with Jeff and his brothers. Katy Lied is a kind of a sentimental favorite of mine. And don't forget David Paich, he plays on KL and Pretzel by the recommendion of Jeff, they were school friends too.
Saw Jeff play with SD, 50 years ago this month. It was unreal watching your pal playing with your favorite band, and meeting them and hanging out! Smoking with the boys upstairs, literally!
Excited for this one! The bass line is 🔥
You can never go wrong with Steely Dan!
Exactly! You can never go wrong with the Dan. This song put me in a great mood to be honest. A very interesting finale to aja 😀
I was in High School when this came out. We all owned the album. I feel lucky.
Yes we did.
It was something my bf and I agreed on! I suffered through his Wings and Carol King and he suffered through my Led Zep and Black Sabbath.
One of their biggest hits. I LOVE the flow of the beat on this one. That intro was rarely heard on the radio.
Really??? That's the best part of the damn song. That makes me so mad lol
It's a brilliant chord progression.
She's the pride of the neighborhood!
Jazz fusion funk at its best 😊
The word you’re looking for Lee is nuance. SD is great at revealing sounds you never heard before.
Played Aja from the to back more tines than I can count.
This Steely Dan music defines my 20"s at that time. Steely Dan forever. My favorite SD is the much later "Everything Must Go". So "tasty", and so "smooth".
High School days chilling in Southern Cal.....great memories.
My band used to cover his; a guaranteed whooping and hollering floor-filler. Our backing singers were three sisters and they fucking ruled. Good days to recall in my dotage. Thanks for the reminder, my young friend.
That did sound like a Crimson riff there in that one section, as well as at the beginning, as you pointed out in the comment.
Josie is one of those songs that I could never get tired of hearing. I could hear it over and over again, and every time it will hold my attention 110% and make me want to move to it or play air guitar or air drums or whatever. It's just such a perfect song.
Katy Lied is my favorite Steely Dan album. I'd say definitely hit that at some point
Always used Steely Dan when shopping audio gear. Production was top notch. Jim Keltner is Ringos favorite drummer
Saw him in Ringo's All Starr Band ('89) .. as he played to perfection, hits from Dr John, Joe Walsh, Billy Preston, etc. Total pro.
One of the greatest drummers ever -- Jim Keltner.
Love, love, love Steely Dan. I had the honor to see them in concert.
You said it, “What an album, Dude!”
Amazing how many excellent groups you ve been listening to lately. Played these songs endlessly on my reel to reel tape recorder back in the day. You re learning and loving the talent and great music from the 70 s.
Can't wait to hear what's next on Steely Dan Sunday! Keep'em coming! Although I have heard them all. 🙂
Sparkling keyboards on this, just beautiful.
Nice to hear a young man with a vocab! Delectable says it perfectly.
I have been listening to this since it was released, it truly is timeless music...keep on man!
You are correct about one of the best albums of all time. Always in my top five.
That garbage can lid during the bridge sounds cool.
Definitely listen to I got the news. You will love the groove and syncopation.
IGY from Donald Fagan. Another amazing song from Fagan. Great channel!
Glad you enjoy it my friend. ☺️
Between Josie and Peg, I pick Josie
I have always been partial to this entire album, but still Babylon Sisters, Lee!!
I’ve loved this song 45 years now. I never tire of hearing it. Upbeat pop tinged with darkness, add a funky ass walking bass line, kills it.
Massive Attack - Girl I Love You
Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ Beat
Flaming Lips - Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung
Killing Joke - In Cythera
King Crimson - Satori ion Tangiers
I so appreciate your observations. Steely Dan was one of the very very few bands that showed growth with each album and every subsequent album was better you saw this with the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Zappa, and very few others.
An amazing song from one of my top 10 all time favorites!
You're a drummer, so you're gonna love when you listen to Green Earrings. Bernard Purdie cements his GOAT status.
Definitely do I Got the News too. It's also great
Happy Easter, dude. Nothing like SD to put you in a better place with the world. As has been mentioned, this is pretty much a perfect album, although this and "Peg" were probably the most successful commercially. "Josie" got immediate radio airplay and hasn't ever been taken out of rotation in whatever passes for 'classic rock' stations these days.
Loved Steely Dan thumbs ❤,
The veteran Jim Keltner on drums as mentioned, a real master, think Wrecking Crew.
Smooth funk.
I got to meet Jim Keltner briefly right before Christmas. His resume is incredible. When you are the one outside musician brought into the Traveling Wilburys*, you have to be good. *Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne (ELO).
I met Timothy B. Schmidt in a Beverly Hills parking garage once. I used to know his daughter.
HELP! I often hear drummers say ‘high hat’ in reference to the drums. That’s what I hear in all music! I wasn’t allowed to play drums in high school because I was a girl! (Late sixties early seventy’s) Love your reactions, thanks.
Everybody wants a gal like Josie...
Dean Parks told that instead of doing the beginning guitar as one pass they made him do each part of the riff in separate passes that made a distinct sound (sort of light flam) .
When you put "Future Lee" on the screen, it reminded me of something that happened in my youth.
There was a DJ on one of the local radio stations who went by the name "Future Bob". One day I called in to the station while he was on the air. When he answered, I asked "Is this Future Bob?" He says "Yeah, what can I do for ya?"
I said "What's your name now?" He says "Oh, very funny!"
True story.
Negative girl from the two against nature album is amazing 😉
Yeah, Becker described the intro as reminiscent of a film noir sound.
Happy Easter Lee! I just listened to the final of JC Superstar. After a few minutes of quiet reflection, I decided to get my DAN on! I LOVE the bass lines in this. Rainey is always great, but this one stands out for me. If you haven't, you should look into Larry Carlton's solo work. His debut album (Larry Carlton, released in 1978) is incredible. Room 335, Night Crawler, and Point it Up in particular. Consider reacting to any one of those. After the first, do more! Sort of a Steely Dan spinoff. You could react to ANY of the artists that worked with Steely Dan. They are ALL amazing!
Fella,as a dad to 3 daughters,I sympathise.
When they get to their teens,it’s quite horrific at times,but the moments,you’ll know the ones,make up for all the crazy nonsense that hormonal girls bring.
WERE NOT TRAINED FOR THIS !!
As for the music,Steely Dan have been an obsession for me since their astonishing debut Cant Buy A Thrill
Don’t know if you’ve “album’d” The Royal Scam yet.
If you haven’t,parties in your ears are coming your way.
They wouldn't be kicking Larry Carlton out if he wanted to play something over, not that he would ever hit a wrong note.😅
On the Dunes.
Epic track from Kamakiriad. I hope he moves into both Donald and Walter’s solo albums.
Walk between the raindrops
Maxine
HAPPY EASTER LEE!!
Jim Keltner was one of the Traveling Wilburys, alongside George Harrison, Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra), Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan.
As someone who was listening daily to the classic rock stations when this came album out, I can attest that here in the NYC area, 5 of the 7 songs on "Aja" received heavy airplay. (Only "I Got the News" and Home at Last" were unknown to me when I actually got around to listening to the album.)
ONE OF MY FIVE FAVORITES BY THEM
Great drum beat. Very patient and the hi-hat is perfect. This is one of the first songs I learned to play on drums.
This whole album is tops. Donald and Walter really found their niche with this one. Have you done their FM (NO STATIC AT ALL), yet? It was composed/recorded specifically for the film FM (Universal Pictures, 1978) - a smooth kind of funkiness.
Yes, it is a great album. I put it up there as one of the best ever. 🕊❤️🎼
Thanks Lee. Love hearing your more expert musical reactions. I feel so happy to have grown up in this musical era, esp the Beatles. joni Mitchell. Stevie Wonder, Led Zep & more. And I still love hearing new music too, like AURORA and Billie Eilish & Finneas. I think the S. Dan's album GAUCHO is my favorite. It is kinda slick but so enjoyable. Do you know how the band got their name?!?
It's fun to watch Larry Carlton play Josie (and other songs) live on the channel Bower Wilkins. Just instrumentals. I like to see musicians live! (When the sound quality is good enough on the video.)
Great bass by Chuck Rainey, doubled an octave up (and embellished) by guitar.
One of my favorite Dan songs, so funky good. Green Earrings is frunky good too, I recommend it to your attention!
I think you can identify 😅 with this song, "Faithfully " by Journey is FIRE 🔥
Man there are 7 parts to Suppers Ready my friend it's the 5 guys in syndh astonishingly
Love the Dan! This has to be the quirkiest intro, chord progression to open a song. Donald Fagen said he was going for like some Gregorian type sound for the intro, I think. What a groove!
Like Neil Young, the Dan never gets old.
Jim Keltner was responsible for Linn Drums programming
Linn Drums was THE drum sound that shaped 80s music
Jim has quite the resume as a session player as well
Fun Fact and good groove tune
As always, nice one
Ya shoulda been born forty years sooner 😆🎵
Aja is a sonic masterpiece: peak Steely Dan.
I’d recommend another sonic masterpiece “Avalon” by Roxy Music… if you don’t know the band, I highly recommend checking them out. They have been called “the most influential British band next to the Beatles”
I remember SD being criticized for being music for the "wine and cheese" set. 😅
Hey Lee, I love your reaction videos, but I’m curious: how about a little tour of your kit? Maybe show us some licks? That would be cool. “Have a good day, I know I am.”
Got to finish AJA, " I got the news",
Underrated song, tell me what you
think. Have enjoyed your channel .
Been listening to SD since 1977, aja being the first album, I still enjoy till this day. Keep going!
Dean Parks is an American Treasure
This song is the definition of sonic smooth.
Some of the "small print" names in the Steely Dan credits lists have long pedigrees of their own. Victor Feldman had a distinguished career as a jazz musician in the UK before emigrating to California and doing session work. Timothy B Schmitt later replaced Randy Meisner as the Eagles' bass player.
Top 10 all-time album
prays like a Roman, with her eyes on fire
He used a Ludwig vistalite snare. Only used it on this recording but never used it again.
Yeah. so good. Fuck.
As always with SD, just when you think you got, or perceive what the lyrics are about, you have to dig deep. But makes sense in both situations. 😉
I love Timothy B. Schmit. He's with the Eagles.
Please react to "Rickie don't lose that number!"
Timothy B. Schmit from The Eagles
I've read they had drummer in a special room with mics but I'm not an expert on it.
I’ve been stuck on this song and album for about a month (even coming out with a single of a poor rendition of my attempt at this style).
Tasty....
Try out “Glamour Professional” and “Don’t Take Me Alive” ❤❤❤
An eagle on back up vocals
And so I checked all the registered historical facts
And I was shocked into shame to discover
How I'm the 18th pale descendant
Of some old queen or other
Oh has the world changed, or have I changed?
Oh has the world changed, or have I changed?
The Smiths, “The Queen Is Dead”
THANKS, DONALD FAGEN THE GOODBYE LOOK.
You still haven’t done all the songs on the album, correct? I Got the News might be my favorite.
Hey Nineteen
Apparently if you need a good drummer you look for someone called Jim - Hodder, Gordon, Keltner, Black, White, Phantom....
Porcaro too
nice 666th like...
Bernard Purty no ???
Wait till you daughters start dating..................
Don't remind me
It’s a fantastic tune, but I’ve always felt a little bit conflicted by the drum part in the chorus (says the guitarist!😅).
The kick drum drops way out in that part, in my opinion too much, to the point where it’s like an erection going flaccid for the bulk of the chorus. I understand it from a dynamics point of view, but to me that was a compositional or arrangement error in terms of keeping the groove going…..either that or keeping the groove going just wasn’t as high a priority in 1977 as it has been since around the mid 80s.
Regardless, it’s still one of their most radio famous and danceable songs, so no biggie!😊
It's Easter, nothing else.
Easter for him too - but he was welcoming everybody … So why don’t you just take a break and reflect on Easter.
Josie is like the most musically brilliant pop tune ever. Okay it’s not pop but it is like, but much better than, the pop tracks they laid early days to finance their studio work. The only issue for me is that I can’t make sense of the lyrics. I’m not American, but generally It isn’t hard to get the sense of a SD song right but as much as I love the vibe, I’ve never had the sense of what this song is. Still bop along.