@@ScorthyBoiish Really? Reggae, Classical, Country, Opera, Free Jazz, Bebop, Blues, Punk, Prog rock, Metal, .... Snap out of nostalgia land and wake up.
Was asking if I were on a deserted island with only one band and their catalog to hear…… Steely Dan would be my pic….. But yet i am 57 years old… lol. Wish that the youth of our times could get a grasp on some of this fantastic music. I feel that so many young kids could get so much from our generation of music but are unaware unfortunately that it even exists…
My brush with Larry Carlton. Was living outside Nashville in Lebanon, TN. Married but going out some evenings. Casually talking to a nice lady - mentioned I was a guitar player - she mentioned her Ex husband was Larry Carlton. (Kind of funny - like top that!) I said "I love Larry Carlton". Anyway, her son Travis or TJ (I still remember "blues for TJ" song.) she gave me his number and we jammed numerous times. - along with beak - larger nosed drummer. Sometimes Larry would appear. He was kind enough to listen to my entire CD that I'd just released. He said you're going for that style. Wish I knew what he meant. Beautiful human. He subsequently heard in his church that I was in a major motorcycle accident and sent me a labeled guitar pick and a nice note.
Yes, Larry is the best ! One day I was at Westwood Music, saw Emmy Lou Harris walking in, and wanted to show her a tune. Problem is, no demo !! Fred, the owner, quickly hooked me up with a tape recorder in the back room, and then he introduced me to Larry ! Larry listened to my song, then we turned on the tape recorder, Larry played some wonderful with me, and I had a demo ! What a beautiful moment with Fred and Larry. Thank you :)
I met his daughter in a spa/salon. She casually mentioned that her dad was Larry Carlton. I said, "WHAT???? THE Larry Carlton!?" she got a kick out of that. He's amazing!
The Royal Scam was a perfect mix of the raw, earlier sound of Steely Dan and their later more precise work. A wonderful transition album. I also think it's the most underrated album in the rock era and Larry Carlton has a lot to do with that album being so great.
The Kid Charlemange solo must be the coolest collection of licks ever recorded. No unnecessary filler, just pure groove and sophistication. The Dan just had it together, didn't they? The songwriting, the production, the players. They were rocks parallel to German engineering.
I wish I could process it like that. Even for a non musician like myself, it's still obvious that they talk in the mysterious "shorthand" about chords, all they have to do is mention one little thing or note and the other guy knows exactly what the other is referring too. So over my head, I know a few dozen cowboy chords and some blues scales, but it's still fun to listen to these guys, amazing stuff.
I'm so so so glad someone asked him about Kid Charlemagne. That is truly one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. I don't think it can get better than that.
Guitarists like Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon and several others serve to remind mere mortals that no matter how good one might think they are, there's so much more that can be accomplished on guitar. And for them it's just all in a day's work. What an amazing musician! And human being! :-)
I don't know. I dont think 99 percent of us could ever play and have an ear like Larry regardless of how much we practice. Some peope just have a it on top of the hard work.
@@morganghetti I agree. But I know a few guitarists that "made the grade" . And it was largely because they worked harder than most people are inclined to do.
@@paulfreet There are musicians that are just that good. Eddie Van Halen didn't even ask for compensation for the "Beat It" solo. He said "It was just 10 minutes out of my life". Larry Carlton can walk into a studio and lay down a solo like the one on "Kid Charlemagne" break for lunch, and then on to the next session.
@@morganghetti that's the beauty of guitar. No two people will play a piece exactly the same due to a person's character and personality being manifested through the guitar as well. Some who have a limited knowledge of theory come up with great guitar work that appeals to the masses, like Eddie Van Halen. He said that if he would have dove into music theory, he doubts that he would have approached the guitar the same way.
Rick shows an interesting duality here. He is obviously pretty much on the same level as these great musicians, yet at the same time he is like a little kid at the candy store while interviewing these greats. Kudos, sir
I love Larry in “ Daddy Don’t Live in That NY City No More!”- definition of coolness( that’s probably why he was utilized by Steely Dan so much)♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Great interview, Rick. 1976 gave us the following: The Royal Scam, Hejira, Songs In The Key of Life, Desire, 2112, Frampton Comes Alive, Boston, Presence, and Takin It To The Streets among others. Wow.
Yes, '76 was a killer year for music. I was a sophomore in high school, playing trumpet in the marching band, and one night at a friend's house his older brother (who was 19 or 20 y/o at the time) put The Royal Scam on the stereo in the basement rec room and turned up the volume. Mind blown. The opening bars of 'Don't Take Me Alive' were like nothing I'd ever heard before. And like Rick, I still love that album to this day. 👍
OMG, rock history. What a great interview. I have listened to those songs hundreds of times. I literally think 100 years from now, people will discover these gems and they will play them. The songs are done so very well.
Yes, Rick can talk chords and specific songs with the interviewee and then lets them talk. Rick is also familiar the recording process and other musicians in groups. Another Beato educational contribution. Kudos.
What a great work-out to develop technique. Larry talking about "poly-chords," opens so many doors to improvisation; to be able to play in a different key that spreads its color over the top of the music's framework. It's so easy to see superimposed triads on a keyboard, but once you translate the concept to the guitar, the possibilities are almost infinite.
What a fantastic interview. It’s difficult for me to wrap my head around just how insanely good Larry Carlton is. Between his God-like technical skill and the breathtakingly beautiful tone he gets out of that 335 there is simply no one like him. And thank God he was on Kid Charlemagne, I can’t imagine that song with any other guitarist.
Yes, Kid Charlemagne one of the best tunes ever (like so many Steely Dan tunes), and Larry's guitar work definitely some of the best guitar solos ever. Thank you Donald Fagen for writing and giving us some of the best music ever recorded, and Larry for your killer guitar! What magical times they were, and how lucky we are this great music will live on forever.
I’ve always felt that, technically speaking, Steely Dan was the best band that ever existed. Why oh why did I get rid of my old Steely Dan albums????? Royal Scam, Aja, Cant But A Thrill??? And more. Would have liked Larry to play some licks from Kid Charlemagne. STILL love that song. Forever burned into my brain.
1976 was such a classic year. There were so many releases that have stood the test of time. It was also the longest and hottest summer on record here in the UK and it seared itself into my memory.
Followed by 1977-78…Aja, Rumours, Low (Bowie), The Stranger, Running on Empty, Slow Hand, The Cars, Van Halen, Some Girls, 52nd Street, City to City (Rafferty), Stranger in Town….it goes on and on…
No such thing as the "greatest guitar solo ever", IMO, but I certainly put that Kid C. solo (Don't Take Me Alive too) very high on my list of greats. It never gets old!
me too! best friend stood on luke's side and i stood in front of larry. 100 people on a sunday night royal oak michigan. best guitar lesson i've ever had!
Larry’s playing is unmatched. So original and with a clever ear for dynamics. His solos on Kid Charlemagne and Don’t Take Me Alive, drive that song and move you. The solos captivate your ears all the way through those songs. Really, each of those solos remind me of specific events in my life.
I love how people argue that music theory is limiting, but hearing him have the realization of triads existing within other chords and expanding on that idea resulting in his unique take on jazz is beautiful. I had the same realization about a year ago and got way too stoked and told all my music buddies about it when you notice all of a sudden chords become less implicative about their uses. But I never practiced enough to develop that into anything. I'm sure listening to Larry for the past 10 years was the reason i noticed in the first place.
It was the two WMTSGs, "Kid Charlemagne" and "Don't Take Me Alive," that originally brought me to Rick's channel (This was after I'd been researching a street in Queens NY that was being dedicated to Walter Becker after his passing.) Without question Larry Carlton is the star of those two songs (although Donald Fagen going into conversation mode re: "gas in the car" always stops me in my tracks). Quite a treat to hear how music took shape in his head as a youngster and through his life experiences. All those different sources -- and he comes up with performances like these that are unlike ANYthing else.
What a Gentlemen Larry is, but his first solo lp is as good for example Mr.335 Rio Samba and the Beautiful It was only Yesterday breath taking Guitar playing
Larry, Thank You. I Had The Royal Scam On Vinyl,Cassette and 8 Track. I Had To Have It Everywhere. This Album Was The Most Influential Album In My Life. Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive are the two greatest guitar solos in history. Your Playing On Those Songs Have Brought So Much Listening Joy To My Ears. If I Want To Play Something For My Nephews or People I Know Who Play But Are Not As Old As Me,I'm 70. I Play Those Two Songs. ThankYou Larry. Thank You Rick. The Royal Scam in my mind is The Greatest Album Ever Recorded. I Hope Some Day Before I Expire To Meet Larry and Rick to thank you both for giving this old fellow some joy in his life.
Great interview Rick. I never get tired of people talking about Steely Dan and the 'behind the scenes' creation of their music. They are the 800 lb gorilla in the genre of rock/jazz fusion. No one touches them
Steely Dan was more of a concept of Fagen/Becker than a "band" but seriously, 40 to nearly 50 years later, those ensembles produced some of the best and most complex rock music in history and certainly Larry Carlton played an integral role in some of their most famous tunes.
I was lucky enough to have grown up in the San Fernando Valley in the 60s,70s and 80s with some great musician friends, we would hit the Baked Potato a lot especially on Sunday night and the other hot spot was a place called Josefina’s also on Ventura blvd you never knew who would show up to play sometimes it would be Al Jarreau and others. I honestly didn’t know what a special time it was, now in my 60s I think about that quite often. There were so many great studio players back then but if you were a guitar player Larry was the guy how cool and so humble. Thanks Larry and Rick for the great interview.
Don't take me alive's into solo has to be one of my absolute all-time guitar parts. It's just so damn tasty, falling ahead and behind the one beat, it's just exceptional.
I know I'm going to take a beating on this, Although Carlton's Dan Years are great, and not sure Steely Dan would have been so Successful with out him, But i still think he did his best work with the crusaders and his solo stuff..... Donald Fagen Was a True Genius his ability to bring out the Best in Musicians is Unmatched to this Day. But Larry Carlton's Ability to Write and Chart Guitar Pieces Put's Him As one the Best Artist Around...just My opinion.... One of the Best Interviews ive Heard with Larry Carlton... Nice Job...
I was a big fan of Larry back in the day before the Internet. The worse day of my life was reading in Guitar Magazine that an intruder had entered Larry's studio and shot him in the neck. they didn't have more information. I was crying until I heard he was OK in the next month's issue! It's really good to see him playing his guitar forty years later. Love you man!
It was outside the studio he had in his home, and it was from a passerby. Scary. A year later (1989) he said he was fully back to normal. He still put out great stuff since then. Larry is awesome!!!
The Royal Scam changed my entire perception of the guitar and its possibilities. Thank you, Mr. Carlton, and thank you, Mr. Beato. I agree that Kid Charlemagne is the coolest solo ever.
I fell in love with Kid Charlemagne the first time I heard it years ago, but I didn't realize why until I started watching Rick's channel. Larry's solo is pure poetry.
I really have to tell you Larry how much I appreciate the music you put in my life from way back until now. You and Lee and Jeff Baxter, and Carlos. . . My generation growing up had the best music because of You and your friends. I have been very enriched by the experience! Thank you All.
Larrys one of my favorite players, had his first solo album. Liked his distinct style at the time, was ready for change after years of rock, blues, progressive players like Larry filled my void, the future, great stuff
Incredible - when I was a kid I heard those songs and knew Larry and the guys on those records were just on a different level. I went from Kiss quickly to Steely
hahaha the Kiss to SD progression is fucking classic, brother from another ...did almost the xact same thing as well as i spent more time with my dad and heard all the SD in his collection alot, along with a Shit ton of killer motown + RNB ... all while i was on my own huge migration from pop/rock: Kiss, KC & The Sunshine band, Bay City Rollers, Cheap Trick, to Zep, Kansas, Rush, Van Halen, Boston, Doobie Brothers, Gentle Giant, Yes, Supertramp, The Who, Ozzy, Heart, Neil Young, Edgar Winter,...............
@@RaptorV1USA I’m with ya. I’m a guitarist and bassist and that era was ridiculous. I was up to my neck in YES, SD, Mahavishnu, Jeff Beck, Holdsworth, Terry Kath. Of course Jimi was my man. Then Page. Later EVH. Every year or two my mind was freshly blown with a new Stevie Wonder album, EWF, Tower of Power, so many. Then It was Return to Forever, Weather Report. Jesus!
I met Mr Carlton at a hotel before the gig in Pittsburgh around the time 335 came out . When he left the room , he said goodby and remembered my name . I met him in Boston again. He was so kind both times . Thanks, Larry Carlton . By the way , that 335 looks good on you . Sounds good ,too.
From Wikipedia, regarding the critical reception of “The Royal Scam”: “The album was not as highly rated upon its release as its predecessors with most reviewers finding that it did not show any musical progress.” *NEVER* listen to the critics! Remember: overwhelmingly (in rock, especially), they aren’t musicians. They’re writers.
I paused this vid when Rick brought up the Kid Charlemagne solo and went into my music library and re-listened to both of the solos Rick mentions. They still give me chills, after so many years, and what a remarkable collection of musicians. I returned to Rick's vid I more than ever appreciated Larry Carlton's contributions. Another master class in Music by Rick Beato.
Incredible interview. One for the ages. Hearing Larry reminisce about these 2 epic solos was inspiring and reminded me of the simplicity of production in the 70’s.
Best solos EVER!!! My two favourite songs, love, love, love Larry's playing- so much feel, so much brilliance. Thank you Larry & Rick for this interview, means a lot to me.
Fantastic interview segment. Larry is quite simply.... a genius guitar player. In the top tier upper echelon of the greatest greats to ever pick up the instrument. I've seen him a couple of times over the years - one really special night at The Strand in Redondo Beach back in the mid 90's. What a special night that was.
Thank you. I feel a certain sense of humble vindication in my decades-long amateur musicians opinion that Larry's solo work on Kid Charlemagne is indeed the finest of all time to this point.
The Steely Dan Triad from Royal Scam, Kid Charlemagne, Caves of Altamira, Don't take me Alive. Only maybe beaten by Black Cow, Aja, Deacon Blues. Who else could ever start off 2 back to back albums with three songs like this?
The Dan catalogue has several guitar solos that for me would be in the "greatest ever" league. Denny Dias on Do it Again (sitar guitar?), Denny again on Boddhisatva, Jeff Baxter - I think - on Night by Night, Jay Graydon on Peg. And Jeff Baxter again on Rikki Don't... Just unbelievable musicians.
Larry's influence on modern music is understated - great interview Rick. I love how both Larry and Lukather are so humble despite their respective standings.
Just saw Larry at the Franklin in Nashville. His chops were amazing. I used to go see him in the ‘70’s at the Baked Potato in L.A. He is truly a treasure. Thank you Rick for providing Larry with well deserved attention and fame. He belongs in the same category as SRV, Jimi and the rest of the guitar Gods.
Rick, I can’t emphasize enough how much I love your interviews of all these great artists. Your questions of these artist gets to the essences of what makes their music so great. It’s obvious that these musicians have as much respect for you and your question as you do for them. Thank you for doing what you do.
I hope we all can realize how fortunate we are to have been alive to experience players like we have… we are all truly blessed. Just unbelievable talent and such great music ! Wow…
Every effin SD album had wicked guitar. One of the best solos is in Black Friday by....none other than Walter! I did not know until recently that was his solo, according to Don. Props to Walt.
Kid though, TWO killers solos, one midway or less and another to play out. Why is it so great? My theory - not a technical one - it PERFECTLY fits the vibe of the song, the lyrical themes...Dan songs are short stories or scenes from movies...Larry could do that. Like most commenters, I 'know' every Dan guitar and sax solo, to vocalise them. What a band.
That interview was so enjoyable. I was listening to Larry way back in the 70s. Huge fan. There's no point in me talking about any of his albums as they are all legendary. However let me mention a very unexpected but enjoyable album you can grab on you tube which features Larry playing some nice stuff with other great musos. Well Kept Secret by James Last. Yes James Last but check it out.
I used to hang at The Spud almost daily (I helped pour the concrete patio by the back door - Justin was 4 years old) and we would just stay until that nights' show (Larry was every Tuesday I think, or Rit was Tues and Larry was every Monday). Smoking was allowed indoors and Larry smoked like a chimney. But if he set his smoke down and started playing one of us would always grab it and smoke the rest of it. He would get pissed so we would light him another, he'd take a hit, set it down, repeat. Ha! My favorite memory was when Eric Clapton and Phil Collins walked in after playing The Forum. Larry launched into Layla, which of course, he covered years later.
Thank you Larry for all the great music and guitar chords that made my life a happier place. Working on Deacon Blues as we speak. How challenging it must have been as a session player to walk in and see the charts that Becker and Fagen came up with, it just shows how great a player you were then and are now, WOW, just amazing. Every time I hear Josie I have to listen to the entire Aja album🎸🎸
Great interview with yet another living legend !! The great Larry Carlton . The one truth about players at this level , they all sound unique they have developed completely thier own sound and playing style . Keep up the great work Rick!!!
Rick. Your interviews are wonderful. Your musicianship and personality in combination with your willingness to listen makes you the perfect interviewer. Larry is one of my old time favorites and this is amazing. I have also heard he's an avid fisherman - love that as well!!! Many many thanks
I don't know anything about music, but Steely Dan has always sounded wonderful to me ! The lead guitar parts of any song are usually what interests me the most , and Larry Carlton always seemed spot on !
Steely Dan was just another interesting group to me, but nothing I listened to closely, then driving along one day with the stereo going I heard Larry's "Don't Take Me Alive" solo for the first time on the radio and I was fully blown away. I had to run out an buy the album.
Hey Rick. Thanks so much for your excellent interviews over the last two years, including this one with Larry. You might be interested to know that two years prior to his solos on Kid Charlemagne on Royal Scam Larry laid down some very similar solo work on Michael Omartian's album White Horse (1974) on the title song (Side 2, track 4; starting at 4:40). His solo on Omartian's album is a true prototype for Kid Charlemagne. Cheers!
I just listened to White Horse and you are spot on! You deserve 1000 Likes for that excellent piece of research. The question now is do both KC and White Horse have the same chord pattern or is Larry so skilled he can fit any notes anywhere? I seem to remember that Omartian was a session player on the early Dan albums, so maybe ideas were getting swapped there.
Interesting comment I remember hearing Larry say and I can only paraphrase. He said when he heard Louie Shelton’s playing on S&C’s “Diamond Girl”, he said “he beat me to it. That’s the sound I want” Now go listen to Diamond Girl! Always makes anywhere I hear that song, like at a grocery store, a fun excursion, I always think of Larry’s comment!
One could spend a lifetime playing nothing but Steely Dan music and it would not be a wasted life. 🥰
yes.... you are 100% correct
But very limited in scope.
Disagree it's all there
@@ScorthyBoiish Really? Reggae, Classical, Country, Opera, Free Jazz, Bebop, Blues, Punk, Prog rock, Metal, .... Snap out of nostalgia land and wake up.
Was asking if I were on a deserted island with only one band and their catalog to hear…… Steely Dan would be my pic….. But yet i am 57 years old… lol. Wish that the youth of our times could get a grasp on some of this fantastic music. I feel that so many young kids could get so much from our generation of music but are unaware unfortunately that it even exists…
My brush with Larry Carlton. Was living outside Nashville in Lebanon, TN. Married but going out some evenings. Casually talking to a nice lady - mentioned I was a guitar player - she mentioned her Ex husband was Larry Carlton. (Kind of funny - like top that!) I said "I love Larry Carlton". Anyway, her son Travis or TJ (I still remember "blues for TJ" song.) she gave me his number and we jammed numerous times. - along with beak - larger nosed drummer. Sometimes Larry would appear. He was kind enough to listen to my entire CD that I'd just released. He said you're going for that style. Wish I knew what he meant. Beautiful human.
He subsequently heard in his church that I was in a major motorcycle accident and sent me a labeled guitar pick and a nice note.
Lovely story.
It's funny how we brush with those we were meant to meet in life. True guitarists always find true guitarists.❤
Yes, Larry is the best ! One day I was at Westwood Music, saw Emmy Lou Harris walking in, and wanted to show her a tune. Problem is, no demo !! Fred, the owner, quickly hooked me up with a tape recorder in the back room, and then he introduced me to Larry ! Larry listened to my song, then we turned on the tape recorder, Larry played some wonderful with me, and I had a demo ! What a beautiful moment with Fred and Larry. Thank you :)
amazing!
I met his daughter in a spa/salon. She casually mentioned that her dad was Larry Carlton. I said, "WHAT???? THE Larry Carlton!?" she got a kick out of that. He's amazing!
I took a guitar lesson from Larry Carlton in his hotel room the Catamaran in San Diego. I still remember every note.
The Royal Scam was a perfect mix of the raw, earlier sound of Steely Dan and their later more precise work. A wonderful transition album. I also think it's the most underrated album in the rock era and Larry Carlton has a lot to do with that album being so great.
Captain Dude you hit the hammer to the nail..Larry Carlton is incredible !
FACT!!!
Gaucho is the best followed by Aja, but Royal Scam is still fantastic.
royal scam is somehow still underrated!!!
one of, if not the, greatest guitar rock album
The Kid Charlemange solo must be the coolest collection of licks ever recorded. No unnecessary filler, just pure groove and sophistication. The Dan just had it together, didn't they? The songwriting, the production, the players. They were rocks parallel to German engineering.
A lot of great guitar players played with that band, Live and in the studio,
Still do
@@tomcoryell Not really, since WB passed away.
Danke für das German Engineering! 😊
Better than German engineering! German cars are known today for wearing out and breaking down. Steely Dan were the Lexus of rock music!
These high-level musicians brains just amaze me.
I wish I could process it like that. Even for a non musician like myself, it's still obvious that they talk in the mysterious "shorthand" about chords, all they have to do is mention one little thing or note and the other guy knows exactly what the other is referring too. So over my head, I know a few dozen cowboy chords and some blues scales, but it's still fun to listen to these guys, amazing stuff.
@@jaykay6387 Oh, the magic of cowboy chords.
I'm so so so glad someone asked him about Kid Charlemagne. That is truly one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. I don't think it can get better than that.
I could listen to this forever and, yes, Kid Charlemagne is the greatest guitar solo of all time.
Larry Carlton is not just a great guitarist..he's one of our greatest musicians...thanks for all of the music Larry...
The Royal Scam. Incredible album. Larry's licks were awesome!
Bert, The Royal Scam followed by Aja. Enough said. Don't Take Me Alive is my favorite Steely Dan track.
One of the best albums ever along with Aja
Exactly right
Guitarists like Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon and several others serve to remind mere mortals that no matter how good one might think they are, there's so much more that can be accomplished on guitar. And for them it's just all in a day's work. What an amazing musician! And human being! :-)
I don't know. I dont think 99 percent of us could ever play and have an ear like Larry regardless of how much we practice. Some peope just have a it on top of the hard work.
It was a day's work. Wow.
@@morganghetti I agree. But I know a few guitarists that "made the grade" . And it was largely because they worked harder than most people are inclined to do.
@@paulfreet There are musicians that are just that good. Eddie Van Halen didn't even ask for compensation for the "Beat It" solo. He said "It was just 10 minutes out of my life". Larry Carlton can walk into a studio and lay down a solo like the one on "Kid Charlemagne" break for lunch, and then on to the next session.
@@morganghetti that's the beauty of guitar. No two people will play a piece exactly the same due to a person's character and personality being manifested through the guitar as well. Some who have a limited knowledge of theory come up with great guitar work that appeals to the masses, like Eddie Van Halen. He said that if he would have dove into music theory, he doubts that he would have approached the guitar the same way.
Rick shows an interesting duality here. He is obviously pretty much on the same level as these great musicians, yet at the same time he is like a little kid at the candy store while interviewing these greats. Kudos, sir
Loved that dynamic.
And Carlton was genuinely flattered at times.
“Same level” LMAO
Technical facility and creative voice are not the same thing.
He's good, but he is not on the same level as Larry Carlton.
Holy moly, Rick. Your interviews lately have been off the hook.
This is from a while back
I love Larry in “ Daddy Don’t Live in That NY City No More!”- definition of coolness( that’s probably why he was utilized by Steely Dan so much)♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Great interview, Rick. 1976 gave us the following: The Royal Scam, Hejira, Songs In The Key of Life, Desire, 2112, Frampton Comes Alive, Boston, Presence, and Takin It To The Streets among others. Wow.
Heh.. the yr I graduated from HS. Listened to all those albums on my 125 wpc Marantz 2325! Memories!
Thin Lizzy Jailbreak album.
Wonderful way to put that music in a meaningful perspective. Somewhat surprising, such a disparate group, yet supremely memorable albums
I was 20 years old…..good times indeed…..
Yes, '76 was a killer year for music. I was a sophomore in high school, playing trumpet in the marching band, and one night at a friend's house his older brother (who was 19 or 20 y/o at the time) put The Royal Scam on the stereo in the basement rec room and turned up the volume. Mind blown. The opening bars of 'Don't Take Me Alive' were like nothing I'd ever heard before. And like Rick, I still love that album to this day. 👍
OMG, rock history. What a great interview. I have listened to those songs hundreds of times.
I literally think 100 years from now, people will discover these gems and they will play them. The songs are done so very well.
I know a lot of people have said it, but Rick is an excellent interviewer.
Yes, Rick can talk chords and specific songs with the interviewee and then lets them talk. Rick is also familiar the recording process and other musicians in groups. Another Beato educational contribution. Kudos.
I still practice the "Kid Charlemagne" solo every week. One of the finest solos of all time. Larry is brilliant.
What a great work-out to develop technique.
Larry talking about "poly-chords," opens so many doors to improvisation; to be able to play in a different key that spreads its color over the top of the music's framework.
It's so easy to see superimposed triads on a keyboard, but once you translate the concept to the guitar, the possibilities are almost infinite.
What a fantastic interview. It’s difficult for me to wrap my head around just how insanely good Larry Carlton is. Between his God-like technical skill and the breathtakingly beautiful tone he gets out of that 335 there is simply no one like him. And thank God he was on Kid Charlemagne, I can’t imagine that song with any other guitarist.
Yes, Kid Charlemagne one of the best tunes ever (like so many Steely Dan tunes), and Larry's guitar work definitely some of the best guitar solos ever. Thank you Donald Fagen for writing and giving us some of the best music ever recorded, and Larry for your killer guitar! What magical times they were, and how lucky we are this great music will live on forever.
What a classy gentleman and fantastic guitar player. A real treasure. Mr. Larry Carlton!
I’ve always felt that, technically speaking, Steely Dan was the best band that ever existed. Why oh why did I get rid of my old Steely Dan albums????? Royal Scam, Aja, Cant But A Thrill??? And more. Would have liked Larry to play some licks from Kid Charlemagne. STILL love that song. Forever burned into my brain.
technique is relative. But they combined technique with taste. Why many love it because it never got very jazzy but also bot too much like pop.
Larry’s work with Joni Mitchell is also amazing, so subtle and totally serves the songs.
1976 was such a classic year. There were so many releases that have stood the test of time. It was also the longest and hottest summer on record here in the UK and it seared itself into my memory.
I've been thinkin' that alot lately .. .'76/'77/'78 ... Holy Smokes...Freekin' Incredible really..
Followed by 1977-78…Aja, Rumours, Low (Bowie), The Stranger, Running on Empty, Slow Hand, The Cars, Van Halen, Some Girls, 52nd Street, City to City (Rafferty), Stranger in Town….it goes on and on…
Blood on the tracks. Station to Station. It was a good year.
Larry Carlton is a living legend.
No such thing as the "greatest guitar solo ever", IMO, but I certainly put that Kid C. solo (Don't Take Me Alive too) very high on my list of greats. It never gets old!
All I know is Kid Charlemagne is so exquisitely satisfying to my ears and soul it actually make me cry tears of joy.
That second solo in Kid Charlemagne.... No doubt my all time favorite.... and I only discovered this track over the last 6 months.
way better than the first imo
Yes the Outro souls kicks
I saw Larry together with Lukather on the No Substitutions tour. That was incredible.
Your are fortunate.
me too! best friend stood on luke's side and i stood in front of larry. 100 people on a sunday night royal oak michigan. best guitar lesson i've ever had!
Larry’s playing is unmatched. So original and with a clever ear for dynamics. His solos on Kid Charlemagne and Don’t Take Me Alive, drive that song and move you. The solos captivate your ears all the way through those songs. Really, each of those solos remind me of specific events in my life.
I love how people argue that music theory is limiting, but hearing him have the realization of triads existing within other chords and expanding on that idea resulting in his unique take on jazz is beautiful. I had the same realization about a year ago and got way too stoked and told all my music buddies about it when you notice all of a sudden chords become less implicative about their uses. But I never practiced enough to develop that into anything. I'm sure listening to Larry for the past 10 years was the reason i noticed in the first place.
Rick, you are doing some truly brilliant work here...I am convinced you need to do a Donald Fagen interview one day....
It was the two WMTSGs, "Kid Charlemagne" and "Don't Take Me Alive," that originally brought me to Rick's channel (This was after I'd been researching a street in Queens NY that was being dedicated to Walter Becker after his passing.) Without question Larry Carlton is the star of those two songs (although Donald Fagen going into conversation mode re: "gas in the car" always stops me in my tracks). Quite a treat to hear how music took shape in his head as a youngster and through his life experiences. All those different sources -- and he comes up with performances like these that are unlike ANYthing else.
"Gas in the car" is so brilliantly funny
What a Gentlemen Larry is, but his first solo lp is as good for example Mr.335 Rio Samba and the Beautiful It was only Yesterday breath taking Guitar playing
I've been adoring these interviews. Wholesome content
So many good interviews lately, this channel is evolving into the “Encyclopedia Brittanica” reference for modern music.
I’m so glad that you were able to meet with this legend. I never get tired of hearing “Kid Charlemagne “ and “Coyote” along with Jaco
Larry, Thank You. I Had The Royal Scam On Vinyl,Cassette and 8 Track. I Had To Have It Everywhere. This Album Was The Most Influential Album In My Life. Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive are the two greatest guitar solos in history. Your Playing On Those Songs Have Brought So Much Listening Joy To My Ears. If I Want To Play Something For My Nephews or People I Know Who Play But Are Not As Old As Me,I'm 70. I Play Those Two Songs. ThankYou Larry. Thank You Rick. The Royal Scam in my mind is The Greatest Album Ever Recorded. I Hope Some Day Before I Expire To Meet Larry and Rick to thank you both for giving this old fellow some joy in his life.
Great interview Rick. I never get tired of people talking about Steely Dan and the 'behind the scenes' creation of their music. They are the
800 lb gorilla in the genre of rock/jazz fusion. No one touches them
It must be a joy when a very experienced musician starts asking you questions about your past work, kind of encapsulates it nicely in front of you.
Steely Dan was more of a concept of Fagen/Becker than a "band" but seriously, 40 to nearly 50 years later, those ensembles produced some of the best and most complex rock music in history and certainly Larry Carlton played an integral role in some of their most famous tunes.
Thank you very much indeed from Ukraine !!!
I was lucky enough to have grown up in the San Fernando Valley in the 60s,70s and 80s with some great musician friends, we would hit the Baked Potato a lot especially on Sunday night and the other hot spot was a place called Josefina’s also on Ventura blvd you never knew who would show up to play sometimes it would be Al Jarreau and others. I honestly didn’t know what a special time it was, now in my 60s I think about that quite often. There were so many great studio players back then but if you were a guitar player Larry was the guy how cool and so humble. Thanks Larry and Rick for the great interview.
Don't take me alive's into solo has to be one of my absolute all-time guitar parts. It's just so damn tasty, falling ahead and behind the one beat, it's just exceptional.
I know I'm going to take a beating on this, Although Carlton's Dan Years are great, and not sure Steely Dan would have been so Successful with out him, But i still think he did his best work with the crusaders and his solo stuff..... Donald Fagen Was a True Genius his ability to bring out the Best in Musicians is Unmatched to this Day. But Larry Carlton's Ability to Write and Chart Guitar Pieces Put's Him As one the Best Artist Around...just My opinion.... One of the Best Interviews ive Heard with Larry Carlton... Nice Job...
I was a big fan of Larry back in the day before the Internet. The worse day of my life was reading in Guitar Magazine that an intruder had entered Larry's studio and shot him in the neck. they didn't have more information. I was crying until I heard he was OK in the next month's issue! It's really good to see him playing his guitar forty years later. Love you man!
It was outside the studio he had in his home, and it was from a passerby. Scary. A year later (1989) he said he was fully back to normal. He still put out great stuff since then. Larry is awesome!!!
My favorite solo 2 Rick! Had the pleasure while visiting NYC to see Steeley Dan @ the Beacon. Best show of my life
The Royal Scam changed my entire perception of the guitar and its possibilities. Thank you, Mr. Carlton, and thank you, Mr. Beato. I agree that Kid Charlemagne is the coolest solo ever.
The master! Steely Dan tracks..the Joni tracks...every note = gold
I fell in love with Kid Charlemagne the first time I heard it years ago, but I didn't realize why until I started watching Rick's channel. Larry's solo is pure poetry.
I really have to tell you Larry how much I appreciate the music you put in my life from way back until now. You and Lee and Jeff Baxter, and Carlos. . . My generation growing up had the best music because of You and your friends. I have been very enriched by the experience! Thank you All.
Don’t take me alive. One of my fav SD tunes.
Yeah, it’s one of my favorites too
Best ever playing by Larry Carlton...in my opinion, anyway. :)
@@Tubes12AX7k Yeah that solo is phenomenal
Definitely, and once you know all of their songs.... they ALL become your favorite. Steely Dan is the greatest of all time
Mine too! That opening is fire!🔥🎸
😘
Larrys one of my favorite players, had his first solo album. Liked his distinct style at the time, was ready for change after years of rock, blues, progressive players like Larry filled my void, the future, great stuff
Incredible - when I was a kid I heard those songs and knew Larry and the guys on those records were just on a different level. I went from Kiss quickly to Steely
hahaha the Kiss to SD progression is fucking classic, brother from another ...did almost the xact same thing as well as i spent more time with my dad and heard all the SD in his collection alot, along with a Shit ton of killer motown + RNB ... all while i was on my own huge migration from pop/rock: Kiss, KC & The Sunshine band, Bay City Rollers, Cheap Trick, to Zep, Kansas, Rush, Van Halen, Boston, Doobie Brothers, Gentle Giant, Yes, Supertramp, The Who, Ozzy, Heart, Neil Young, Edgar Winter,...............
@@RaptorV1USA I’m with ya. I’m a guitarist and bassist and that era was ridiculous. I was up to my neck in YES, SD, Mahavishnu, Jeff Beck, Holdsworth, Terry Kath. Of course Jimi was my man. Then Page. Later EVH. Every year or two my mind was freshly blown with a new Stevie Wonder album, EWF, Tower of Power, so many. Then It was Return to Forever, Weather Report. Jesus!
@@chilitoday insane really when u stop and try to think of them all much less add them all up .. a golden age of music.
How cool is it that Larry blushes when Rick tells him that his solo is in Rick's opinion the best!?
Beyond cool!
@@gdtrfb2546 ..agree...beyond cool...
Praise from some people counts more than from others.
And the outro is even better
i hate that "best" nonsense. not so.
I met Mr Carlton at a hotel before the gig in Pittsburgh around the time 335 came out . When he left the room , he said goodby and remembered my name . I met him in Boston again. He was so kind both times . Thanks, Larry Carlton . By the way , that 335 looks good on you . Sounds good ,too.
I met Larry in Pittsburgh with Four Play, it was amazing to meet my hero. He is one of nicest people, one of the best times of my life
Also Kudos to the late, great "Immortal" Roger Nichols as the extraordinary recording engineer on the Steely Dan albums.
Thanks, Rick!! You are batting 1.000.......love it!....And that's why Larry is a genius....and you are the perfect person to interview him!
From Wikipedia, regarding the critical reception of “The Royal Scam”: “The album was not as highly rated upon its release as its predecessors with most reviewers finding that it did not show any musical progress.”
*NEVER* listen to the critics! Remember: overwhelmingly (in rock, especially), they aren’t musicians. They’re writers.
I paused this vid when Rick brought up the Kid Charlemagne solo and went into my music library and re-listened to both of the solos Rick mentions. They still give me chills, after so many years, and what a remarkable collection of musicians. I returned to Rick's vid I more than ever appreciated Larry Carlton's contributions. Another master class in Music by Rick Beato.
Incredible interview. One for the ages. Hearing Larry reminisce about these 2 epic solos was inspiring and reminded me of the simplicity of production in the 70’s.
yes, it could afford to be relatively simple because the caliber of musicianship was insane.
Best solos EVER!!! My two favourite songs, love, love, love Larry's playing- so much feel, so much brilliance. Thank you Larry & Rick for this interview, means a lot to me.
Fantastic interview segment. Larry is quite simply.... a genius guitar player. In the top tier upper echelon of the greatest greats to ever pick up the instrument. I've seen him a couple of times over the years - one really special night at The Strand in Redondo Beach back in the mid 90's. What a special night that was.
Thank you. I feel a certain sense of humble vindication in my decades-long amateur musicians opinion that Larry's solo work on Kid Charlemagne is indeed the finest of all time to this point.
The Steely Dan Triad from Royal Scam, Kid Charlemagne, Caves of Altamira, Don't take me Alive. Only maybe beaten by Black Cow, Aja, Deacon Blues. Who else could ever start off 2 back to back albums with three songs like this?
This is exceptional. Thanks, Rick!
I've followed LC since his days with the Jazz Crusaders. One of the GREATS and there isn't a nicer guy out there.
Larry Carlton is a National Treasure. And Rick you’re right, Kid Charlemagne is the gold standard.
Yes, unfortunately most people don't know who he is, but have heard his playing for decades.
@@sillysausage4549 I connect more with his Don't Take Me Alive solo myself. Melodic, emotional and hangs together.
@@sillysausage4549 Then you are dead. The dynamics alone are compelling.
The Dan catalogue has several guitar solos that for me would be in the "greatest ever" league. Denny Dias on Do it Again (sitar guitar?), Denny again on Boddhisatva, Jeff Baxter - I think - on Night by Night, Jay Graydon on Peg. And Jeff Baxter again on Rikki Don't... Just unbelievable musicians.
@@jimguitarfan Also on that list should be Dean Parks on Reeling in the Years.
What a lovely, understated guy. I could listen to you two talking about Dan tracks all night long.
Probably my fave guitarist ever.
Larry's influence on modern music is understated - great interview Rick. I love how both Larry and Lukather are so humble despite their respective standings.
Just saw Larry at the Franklin in Nashville. His chops were amazing. I used to go see him in the ‘70’s at the Baked Potato in L.A. He is truly a treasure. Thank you Rick for providing Larry with well deserved attention and fame. He belongs in the same category as SRV, Jimi and the rest of the guitar Gods.
Rick, I can’t emphasize enough how much I love your interviews of all these great artists. Your questions of these artist gets to the essences of what makes their music so great. It’s obvious that these musicians have as much respect for you and your question as you do for them. Thank you for doing what you do.
Personally I absolutely adore Larry’s guitar playing on New Frontier - some supremely tasteful licks!
He played all of the guitars on The Nightfly, just an amazing album imo
@@porkbelly0713 The Nightfly is superb. Every track a gem.
The solo on “The Goodbye Look” is astonishing…
dude u continually blow my mind. Larry Carlton
Great interview Kid Charlemagne happens to be one of my favourite Steely Dan songs.
I hope we all can realize how fortunate we are to have been alive to experience players like we have… we are all truly blessed. Just unbelievable talent and such great music ! Wow…
Every effin SD album had wicked guitar. One of the best solos is in Black Friday by....none other than Walter! I did not know until recently that was his solo, according to Don. Props to Walt.
Kid though, TWO killers solos, one midway or less and another to play out. Why is it so great? My theory - not a technical one - it PERFECTLY fits the vibe of the song, the lyrical themes...Dan songs are short stories or scenes from movies...Larry could do that. Like most commenters, I 'know' every Dan guitar and sax solo, to vocalise them. What a band.
That interview was so enjoyable. I was listening to Larry way back in the 70s. Huge fan. There's no point in me talking about any of his albums as they are all legendary. However let me mention a very unexpected but enjoyable album you can grab on you tube which features Larry playing some nice stuff with other great musos. Well Kept Secret by James Last. Yes James Last but check it out.
Holy cow! Two incredible episodes in a row,Rick! Great interviews. ✌️❤️🇨🇦
Complete player. Complete gentleman!!
Steely Dan my fav band, TheRoyal Scam my fav album of theirs, and Don't take me alive, completes the tone of the entire album
What a humble amazing guy.
I used to hang at The Spud almost daily (I helped pour the concrete patio by the back door - Justin was 4 years old) and we would just stay until that nights' show (Larry was every Tuesday I think, or Rit was Tues and Larry was every Monday). Smoking was allowed indoors and Larry smoked like a chimney. But if he set his smoke down and started playing one of us would always grab it and smoke the rest of it. He would get pissed so we would light him another, he'd take a hit, set it down, repeat. Ha! My favorite memory was when Eric Clapton and Phil Collins walked in after playing The Forum. Larry launched into Layla, which of course, he covered years later.
Thank you Larry for all the great music and guitar chords that made my life a happier place. Working on Deacon Blues as we speak. How challenging it must have been as a session player to walk in and see the charts that Becker and Fagen came up with, it just shows how great a player you were then and are now, WOW, just amazing. Every time I hear Josie I have to listen to the entire Aja album🎸🎸
One of my favorite guitar solos from Steely Dan is the one from the song bodhisattva.
Awesome interview. I’ve loved Larry Carlton since I was a kid. No one else plays like him.
Great interview with yet another living legend !! The great Larry Carlton . The one truth about players at this level , they all sound unique they have developed completely thier own sound and playing style . Keep up the great work Rick!!!
Rick. Your interviews are wonderful. Your musicianship and personality in combination with your willingness to listen makes you the perfect interviewer. Larry is one of my old time favorites and this is amazing. I have also heard he's an avid fisherman - love that as well!!!
Many many thanks
I agree!!! The kid charlemagne solo is the best guitar solo EVER.
I'm onoe hundred percent on board with Kid Charlemagne solo being the best solo of all time
Oh my god, Rick. Your interviews are so fucking awesome. Love your channel.
what pleasure to hear from real musicians about the creation of real music! a rare thing in popular music these days!
I don't know anything about music, but Steely Dan has always sounded wonderful to me ! The lead guitar parts of any song are usually what interests me the most , and Larry Carlton always seemed spot on !
Steely Dan was just another interesting group to me, but nothing I listened to closely, then driving along one day with the stereo going I heard Larry's "Don't Take Me Alive" solo for the first time on the radio and I was fully blown away. I had to run out an buy the album.
Yet another legend, you've been on fire lately
Brilliant! Thanks Rick and thank you Larry for all the wonderful music!
Hey Rick. Thanks so much for your excellent interviews over the last two years, including this one with Larry. You might be interested to know that two years prior to his solos on Kid Charlemagne on Royal Scam Larry laid down some very similar solo work on Michael Omartian's album White Horse (1974) on the title song (Side 2, track 4; starting at 4:40). His solo on Omartian's album is a true prototype for Kid Charlemagne. Cheers!
I just listened to White Horse and you are spot on! You deserve 1000 Likes for that excellent piece of research. The question now is do both KC and White Horse have the same chord pattern or is Larry so skilled he can fit any notes anywhere? I seem to remember that Omartian was a session player on the early Dan albums, so maybe ideas were getting swapped there.
Interesting comment I remember hearing Larry say and I can only paraphrase. He said when he heard Louie Shelton’s playing on S&C’s “Diamond Girl”, he said “he beat me to it. That’s the sound I want” Now go listen to Diamond Girl! Always makes anywhere I hear that song, like at a grocery store, a fun excursion, I always think of Larry’s comment!