E139: TrackTalk: Rick Marotta on "Don't Take Me Alive"
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- Опубліковано 29 лис 2024
- John and his guest, Rick Marotta, do a deep dive into this classic and somewhat overlooked Steely Dan song, "Don't Take Me Alive." Rick gives an insiders view into the recording of this iconic drum track from Steely Dan's Royal Scam album during the golden age of recording.
Besides breaking down Rick's iconic drum track, we also discuss the other legendary musicians on this track: Larry Carlton on guitar, Don Grolnick on keyboards, Chuck Rainey on bass and of course Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
Check out the other episodes of TrackTalk and @livefrommydrumroom and please subscribe!
TrackTalk With Rick Marotta: "Peg" Dissected! • E128: TrackTalk: Rick ...
Another excellent chat John D. Love hearing from the Marotta brothers. So much wisdom to impart and funny too. Thank for all these gems.
“My training which was non-training” - priceless quote from a master!
Dean Parks said it best…””It wasn’t perfection they were after.. They wanted to go beyond perfection to get to a point where you could hear the song over and over and never get sick of hearing the songs.” The players made it possible. When these players got together to record it was magic. It’s impossible to articulate all of the intangibles that made these musicians so exceptional …especially when they got together in a studio. Thanks for this gentlemen. This is important for future generations.
That’s actually not true. A very long time member of the band tells me they’ve left quite a few hard to hear mistakes in. Esp Aja. They weren’t seeking absolute perfection. True story 😊
Ricks snare drum is very distinctive on these tunes and on Linda Ronstadt songs! Also Andrew Golds How can this be love is another tasty groove by Rick!
Some of the finest ever Steely Dan drumming. Without question.
You’re an exceptional interviewer because you let your interview subjects talk without interrupting. Kudos sir. 👍
Thank you very much. 🙏❤
@@livefrommydrumroomyes, yes, yes
If you want to see it done the WRONG way, watch Paul Shaffer interview Donald Fagen. What a fool that guy is.
I didn’t even realize it at the time, but Rick is the drummer who taught me that pinging the ride instead of hitting a crash is a great option
Fabulous insight into great music
One of my favorite Steely Dan tracks. I love the song and the drumming on this track. I am a huge fan of Rick's drumming and his brother Jerry. I love this entire album! John is correct in saying that the drumming in this song the parts are not what you think if you listen with a critical ear. I did a drum cover of this during COVID-19. I now listen very closely to Rick's drumming on this track. It is so amazing and clever and the feel is just outstanding. There is a touch in the way Rick is playing the song it sounds so smooth and seamless how each part goes from one transition to another into the turnarounds. I look back, I mean I was doing my interpretation of the song but it's not even close. I love this interview and to hear about the session firsthand from Rick is just fantastic! Thank you, John and Rick!!
Good seeing Rick again. Worked with him years ago - he was the composer on a TV show we worked on (Over the Top with Tim Curry). Such a genuine dude. So good to hear his voice and stories again.
I’m having dinner with Rick now and he mentioned that show. He sends his regards.
@@livefrommydrumroom So nice to hear. He might remember if I mention it, but I'm Drew (Pro Tools guy) and Tamara was my Re-Recording Engineer on that show. He had a great story while being on a flight on tour regarding Jerry Lewis. Rick is such a great storyteller.
I have been accused of over analyzing songs, but I’ve always seen the relevance in listening deeply…I think the song deserves the attention to the details. So I am so addicted to these videos, and I can’t get enough of the insights, it’s absolutely amazing to me. I just can’t get enough of this. And by the way, this song comes up at least 3 or 4 times a day on my random Spotify playlists.
Thank you John, and many thanks to you Rick.
Definitely NOT bored.
The Linda ronstadt concert on you tube from 1977 was televised in Australia and watching with my family as a kid I was fixated on the drummer which I found out was rick marotta his groove was incredible after watching that broadcast I kept asking my parents to buy me a drumkit but they couldn't afford it so I waited until I was eighteen a year after getting my first job and played along with rick's recordings and never got sick of what I was learning discovering something new every time I listened and practised to find out later Steve gadd admired his playing and also steely dan recordings confirmed what a great drummer he is
This was awesome to hear the details behind the music (and partiularly this song) that I've listened to for almost 50 years. Rick Marotta is a drummer god in my book. I remember reading liner notes on new releases to see which outstanding session players were featured. I know all the names and appreciate their incredible contributions to great music.
I love this song so much!!!! I live in Oregon and now that I know the backstory of the lyrics...it is really cool. And LA cops have always been corrupt.
Love this song to the moon and back. Like all the great Dan tunes, it's like a movie in song form...and yeah Rick nailed it.
Lastly, RE: hitting the hits with the band or "carving your own path", its so great to hear a musician talk about this. I always describe it as deciding to stay home or deciding to go with the band/melody. I totally agree with Rick that sometimes it can be too much, sort of like if someone is telling a story and you're trying to finish their sentences with them every time. It can get annoying if it's happening all the time. It can often times be better to just listen and support the story being told without being too obtrusive (ie "carving your own rhythmic path" or "staying home"). But then of course in the case of Don't Take Me Alive, playing the hits works perfectly. Art, gotta love it.
DearJohn, it’s fantastic how you give these great drummers lots of space to talk and take them ( and us ) back to a time and place where these classic songs we’re crafted. Hearing Marrotta talk locking in with Rainey but playing off the vocal made me hear the song with fresh ears! This is fantastic documentary stuff and just super-entertaining! Thank you.
This song has slowly gained popularity over the years and is now considered - amongst my musician friends - a masterpiece. Agents of the law…luckless pedestrians… i mean come on!
Slowly? Maybe for you..
Thanks Rick and John! Rick is forever immortalized for his contribution to Steely Dan. It is interesting to hear his recording experience. His drum influence has affected drummers worldwide.
Rick is a drummers ,drummer! I grew up listening to everything he played. He is a true artist!
big thanks and blessings to you both. when i got turned on to the dan, there was no internet. where would i have heard about any musician's emotional and intellectual reactions to encountering the musical situations they entered into. big boodles. mercy buckets!
I grew up on 70s/80s classic rock radio, so of course I heard Steely Dan all the time ... except for this song, which was only played every once in a while. Whenever it did come on, it was a real treat! Being a kid in "Ora-gone," I was doubly transfixed. Love the song to this day, thanks for this great interview!
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it! 🙏♥
John's shirt just dropped every name in the book!
Rick Marotta is hilarious and John too!!! Great must see show for sure!!! Thank you Rick this made me more aware of how you use hihat technique love it!!!. Very educational between the jokes!!! Thanks guys for this very entertaining and educational drum show!!!
Great interview! I recall reading that the signature intro chord was recorded afterwards and spliced on. Cant recall where I read this but believe it was from a trusted source. hth
Edit: I found it. Not an interview but a performance video where Larry Carlton explains the intro. Just search Larry Carlton Don’t Take Me Alive Iridium
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One of the things I love about Rick’s playing on this one is he hits those all those accents and everything still grooves and feels so natural. Finally- Garry Sherman may have been the arranger on the session.
Dean Parks played rhythm guitar on Don't Take Me Alive. Great interview!
Thank you. I didn't see him listed in the credits.
Thanks John and Thank you Rick for this...just finished watching Chuck Rainey's interview on Rick Beato's page and now to hear Rick Marotta on the same topic is so informative and interesting...Just love learning what went on during these recordings...my favorite recordings and sessions players. Again...can't thank you enough for your time.
Thank you Thomas.
Great drummer! Very smooth. 👍
These Track Talk vids are brilliant John! I’ve been a fan of Rick’s playing for decades. Now I’m a fan of the man, he’s so humorous, humble, gracious and complimentary of others. This is a common thread among the very greatest musicians.
My favorite Steely album by far... Thank you John and Rick for doing this!! Love it!
Hey Jim! Thanks pal! 🙏❤️
"Chuck, Grolnick, and Larry...how do you beat that?"...you must include yourself Rick...what a magical recording...nice work Johnnie!
Thanks Frank! 🙏❤
OMG Yes it's interesting Rick. No its never boring, to hear how the sausage we all love was made. I've said it before that I was touring in a cover band mid seventies, and though I stunk at some songs, I felt right at home copying your drum parts, they just felt natural and right to my style of drumming. Take yourself back with me if you will, and try to imagine the thrill I would get seeing the word TAKE or PEG on my set list taped to my cymbal stand, and knowing I could perform that great music, and the pride I had at 18 or so years old knowing I could cut it. God just Thank You SO much for this history. And John, you are so pleasant, keep it coming guys!
Larry Carlton's solo on 'Spiral' by The Crusaders is still one of my favorites of his
Incredible studio drummer with great wisdom 🙏🏻
His drumming on Kulee Babba is great too.
thank you . the anticipation waiting for a new release from the artists of the time. During the turmoil of the late 60s & early 70s the music was a pleasant escape and was very much a part of the expansion of perception
Thanks so much for this video! One of the reasons for the Spotify airplay might be guitarists, and the ‘Rick Beato effect’. Rick Beato had a “What Makes This Song Great” on this tune four years ago, and interviewed Larry Carlton last year on this tune and “Kid Charlemagne”.
“Don’t Take Me Alive” is such a great track. Rick’s style and patterns are the perfect fit for that track. Bernard, I’m sure would have also made a great track, but the song would not have been the same. Rick really pulled this together and fit the theme and style of what Donald and Walter were trying to do.
He “didnt play a lot of 16th notes” and the ones he did play were on the kick. Genius.
I read an early Rick Marotta thing on this tune where he said, when he hears the words, he knew these guys were “into the gravy”.
Rick and Carlos Vega...two MASSIVE drum heroes.
The Royal Scam demos and outtakes on YT are worth listening to.
Can't wait to listen to this tonight. John, you should be at least as big as Rick Beato!
Thank you Patrick - you are too kind! I’d settle for being half as big as Rick Beato! 🙏❤️😊
I love this track and this album dearly!
I’m only 51 and I’ve been playing bass for 35 years: wished this was in the top 40 when I started out, 😂, I would have been better at sports at the time, and not pick up the bassguitar..., 🤣.
Love the ‘subtle’ cynicism in the lyrics too, even in our times now...
I still get frightened listening closely to the bass, drums (which for me are one part together in this song, really), and guitars and all the other parts... Man!
But that’s just love!
🖖
I would love to hear Rick talk more about the inside stories of being a working professional. As a working drummer, often times what's going on in my head or what the dynamic is between the people in the room etc.
"Don't Take" and "Home at Last" may be my two SD favs. Love the track talk episodes between interviews. Great info and fun! Thanks 😊
Great interview. I know this conversation was focused on "Don't Take...", but I was hoping when he mentioned his brother Jerry, you would have asked him what is was like having a brother that was also a drummer, and did they ever end up competing for the same gig or recording date? I'm sure if they did, it was friendly sibling rivalry. I wonder who picked up the sticks first? I bet this line of questioning would get some interesting stories out of him. Maybe during your next session you can bring it up.
LOVE me some Rick Marotta..Thanks so much for these.. If he agrees to another, maybe " Hour That The Morning Comes" by James Taylor, or if he every met Micheal Jackson before, during, or after " Blame It On The Boogie"
wow this was just amazing! does Rick talk about Hey Nineteen in any other interviews? thanks!!
Great! Please keep 'em coming. Hope Rick again soon, and as he said a general overview, Taylor, Zevon, etc.
Great interview guys and me personally when I’m asked if you could have one album in your life that you would say is your favorite album of all times what would it be it is steely Dan’s Royal scam and I agree with Rick saying every song is great but personally my favorite is don’t take me aliveI myself im a drummer and I’ve must’ve played to the entire album hundreds of times end it will never get old because the writing the musicians the songs in general are in a category all by themselves love you guys thanks for sharing this interview and I’m glad I was able to comment on it
absolutely love this stuff, keep it coming. It is sooo important.
Thanks!
I wish they had a tv cop show with Steely Dan music. A throwback 1970's style cop or detective show.
Thank you both for doing this today. Loved it so much 👍😊
Great stuff, John! Apparently that hovering around kept Rick on his toes!. I know it would do the same with me!
Thanks much for doing the TrackTalks - they are fantastic! Rick mentions the click sound that he likes (yuri?). Have not come across that. What sound is that?
Rick you are a real inspiration, you're approach to playing the drums are a real eye opener to me. THANKS!!!
Thanks, John, for sharing these great drummer stories that otherwise would never be heard. The insight these players share about what they (and others) were like in the studio and how they viewed other players (in & out of the studio) is great stuff. You know the questions we all want to ask. Nice work!
Thank you! 🙏❤️
Here's something. I happened to play in what was pretty much Australia's first Steely Dan covers band. Every time we played Don't Take Me Alive a fight would break out in the audience. Every time. Every damn time. I'd look at the other players, raise my eyebrows and be thinking, "What the hell? What the hell? This is Steely Dan! Steely Dan! Why are these clowns fighting? Why aren't they paying attention and digging this stuff? We're really smoking it here!" But, thinking about it, maybe SD had captured the toxic essence of a mentality that has jumped the tracks to mayhem, and interpreted it in music, then, in the ears, then minds, of susceptible, drunk, punters it was converted back to mayhem. When you look at the state of things today in a certain country it's easy to conclude that Donald and Walter were very prescient. They understood that if a society uses the 'g' word with reverence, rather than fear, things aren't going to improve.
Hey John! Love your t-shirt! Love your track talk sessions with Rick Marotta.
Thank you! 🙏❤
Royal Scam is my favorite Steely Dan record!!!
“Is that about me…?!!” 😂
🤣😂
Lmfao bc I just got to that part
The music playback was mono on this interview. It was mixed in stereo on the record.
It was probably due to my Zoom recording. It must have converted it to mono.
I found the Royal Scam the darkest Dan album and I've always felt Walter had a very big hand in this one. ... Don't Take Me Alive, Hatian Divorce, Sign in Stranger, Everything You Did, ... pretty dark hard hitting stuff.
1:25 - the reason it might get lost in the sauce it's probably because it's the one immediately before 1977's 'Aja' , their first platinum breakthrough selling album, as well as arguably their most critically acclaimed record, so 'The Royal Scam' gets unfairly overshadowed by its successor.
I have to say, for as much as a super slick sounding and great tunes and jazzy arrangement that 'Aja' has, ' The Royal Scam' is Steely Dan's funkiest record, it's got the ballsiest sound, w/ bigger bass and drums up in the mix as ever before or since, and great songs w/ amazing grooves, all of which make the album IMHO their most Rhythm/Groove Oriented work. 21:03 - Weather Underground, Symbionese Liberation Army and all the radical left guerrilla folks. Early to mid 1970s, those were the days.
That little section around 40min in about why you're doing these things is absolutely right. First hand accounts as primary sources are really important for history. How they might get interpreted in the future is anyone's guess - that's for future historians to debate - but being here now and documenting these accounts is an important part of social and musical history.
Thank you so much for doing these things, they are so enjoyable to hear :-)
Thank you for watching 🙏❤
Funny about Waddy's comment about avoiding sixteenth notes: His most famous track - "Edge Of Seventeen" - is nothing but sixteenth notes.
Really smooth😂
A song about a guy holed up in a house engaged in a shootout with the cops. If I had a nickel for every song I've heard that dealt with this scenario I'd have five cents.
I appreciate that he mentioned the cruelest brutal treatment that the LA p d is capable of.The impetus for the lyrics.All true
Le groove du smoove.
Yes, absolutely….for posterity !
Larry Carlton is a certified genius. I’ve played guitar for 50 years and I can’t play one phrase as well as him, and he carries the whole song.
Lost art like stained glass
What bugs me is the seeming impossibility of anything like the Dan emerging in current times
Has anyone ever noticed the rim hit on Jose ?
Is it accidental?
I think Jeff Pocaro played on that but I’m not positive.
Keltner?
@@andyjones219Porcaro didnt play on Aja album he did play on F M a year later!
Saw your video I tried your fitness it's hard er than it seems 😅
Look d by see
This is another Steely Dan song about heroin. Specifically, the son of a heroin supplier's accountant.