Becker and Fagen without question are two of the most important American musicians of the last half century. Fusing styles so effortlessly. Always original. The embodiment of American exceptionalism.
American exceptionalism is an imperialist doctrine of world domination and oppression. Nothing to do with the great music the Dan, alongside many other extraordinary American bands and artist, have offered the world.
I know nothing about musical composition but my feeling has always been ( whenever dealing with people who do ) that math theory and music composition have some kind of common ground . Maybe it's just that both are outside of my area of comprehension.
@@DavidRPascaleJr Left in the dust -guitar is art, and art is not competitive like using a race car analogy. The tasty phrasing of Becker shows maturity, restraint, he's not blowing his load like a full on solo artist might do. If you can't appreciate Becker, or have to compare (hey, EVH, Hendrix), then you are not feeling the art.
I saw Walter Becker actually SING A SONG during their World Tour. I forget the name, but it was so special seeing him take a stab at lead-singing... it was very special!
In the 70’s I named my beautiful female shepherd mix puppy dog “ Aja “ after listening to Steely Dan ! I was so awestruck at the musical arrangements it seemed heavenly to me ! When I hear their music I am transported back in time and it is very emotional for me ! What an exceptional band Steely Dan is and always will be ! ❤❤❤ thanks 😊
I've loved "Aja" since it first came out. Shortly afterwards I bought the very first Sony "Walkman" for a train ride from Chicago to New York City. It only played cassettes and played in one direction only, and it cost a little over 200 bucks! But man, it was worth it. I'd be sitting there on the train with my headphones on and people would ask me periodically what that thing was I was listening to. I'd just smile, take off the phones, put them on their heads, and watch their eyes open wide while they said, WOW!
I’m 58, I grew up with the great Steely Dan. All my kids love the music, even my 17 year old. My kids are smart enough to understand what real music performed by real musicians sounds like. The sound is timeless
@@gregpalermo3861Show them this th-cam.com/video/K6YlvPIZw2k/w-d-xo.html or this th-cam.com/video/mVnoNpncfh0/w-d-xo.html or this th-cam.com/video/jbAe9iFPJtU/w-d-xo.html
Once the kids get into any kind of instrument, they'll appreciate music better because they'll understand what it takes to produce the sounds. My youngest daughter now 22 plays piano. I tried to turn her on to Steely...but she took a liking to ELO more😅
Wow, in addition to a top quality audio and video performance from the great Steely Dan, you get to hear Paul's band play throughout the commercial break. Those who have been to a Letterman taping know that one of the joys is hearing Pauls' band play fantastic music for many minutes during station breaks...Cool to see. Nice job getting this. Thanks for posting.
And it's a lost phenomenon. We saw Colbert's Late Show in 2019 and the most the band played was during the intro. Then they seemed to play non-descript looping chord songs after that during the breaks. Nothing to jam or rock out to. The big difference was that Letterman did his show "live to tape" meaning that the hour-long show took an hour to shoot. Colbert stopped and started a lot and (in a good way) recorded around 4 more guest interviews during our taping which aired on shows in the following weeks.
@@2xmachine that's like saying fine wine is "pretentious wank" compared to beer. Both are allowed to exist in the beverage world. Steely Dan's music could not be created without a level of theoretical and performance knowledge beyond the grasp of most people in the pop and rock world. I don't think you need to have that knowledge to appreciate it as a listener, which may be your point, but I do think being exposed to that kind of genius does raise your "musical IQ," if there is such a thing, just as reading Classics does as opposed to a diet of Joan Collins books.
@@2xmachineNo, it's a verifiable fact that after the success of Steely Dan's 6th album "Aja" and their #18 on the pop charts 1978 single "FM," Top 40 radio began playing jazz fusion artists in regular rotation. I lived through it. I'm guessing you didn't.
Do you remember the thrill of seeing them perform "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In the Years" absolutely live on NBC's "The Midnight Special" in 1973? That's what made my wife and I drive 90 miles one-way to see them in concert at the U. of Toledo in April 1974. Concert of our lifetime.
Nothing Better than the Late Show and when Dave had guests like Steely Dan..Wow..what a show..I remember it like yesterday. Love Cornelius Bumpus: tenor saxophone RIP, Walter Becker...RIP .Cornelius carried that music through the commercials..no one better!
WELL SAID. Somewhat of an overrated player. And yes, his playing does have a ring of Carlton about it. But it's a very bland version with not nearly the skillset of that absolute master.@@hanksteely3206
They were "on hold" in the 80s after Gaucho was released in 1980. Fagen released Nightfly in 82, Becker had drug issues. They "reunited" and resumed touring in 1993 after not playing live since 1974. They've been playing live ever since 93.
It's nice to hear out takes oe extended parts that the tv audience never gets to hear, now that Walter has left us, I have a fondness for his solo on Josie even more so.
I love rock and jazz, but I've pretty much always avoided most jazz with vocals. But Steely Dan brought rock, jazz, cerebral lyrics and awesome melodies together like no other band.
surfing the musical tube again and came upon this Steely Dan classic..always a musical treat with Fagen and Becker.......and Peter Erskine again on drums....he plays with everyone!! and plays it all so well!!
Agreed - it may be the quintessential audio system acid test - the best recorded album on vinyl in the planet’s history. If your audio system sounds crappy with AJA playing - change those 2 way speakers to 3 ways - and do it now!
The outro (?) into commercial stopped me....in my tracks! Whoa, my Steely ears perked up. Don Giller thank you for this gem. The guys in such fine form ;-) RIP dear dear Walt.
I have been exposed to a multitude of music genre, since the 60’s…Big Band, Be-Bop Jazz, Straight ahead, Cool, Soul, funk, R&B, Rock, folk, pop and contemporary, but I had never heard a band that encompasses so many different styles until I heard Steely Dan, the closest might have been Blood Sweat and Tears. I can still remember hearing “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number” in the early 70’s for the first time and thinking who is this killer band, happy to say have been a dedicated fan ever since, thanks S D for so many years of music pleasure.
There are all the really good, proficient rock bands with deep jazz roots, ... then there is Steely Dan. They are a like a dissonant kaleidoscope of rhythms, harmonies and chord changes that somehow blend together as smooth as butter.
DWK • I want to say those instrumental versions of 'Do it Again' and 'Decon Blue' during the commercial breaks were more than likely Paul Shaffer and the band, showing their respect. I think this because the mixes were way different and those versions weren't tight enough to be SD. Also the arrangements were all over the place, plus the no vocals thing only added to my assumption. Finally, playing instrumental versions of various songs during the commercial breaks is what Paul and the band are there to do, every night.
Amazing a band that can really play without backing tracks & auto tune . There isn't a popular band today that can come even close to the level of talent of Steeley Dan . Losing Walter was blow to everyone who is a fan of S.D... thank god Donalds keeping it real .
Awesome to hear the extended pieces after all these years! And my heart actually jumped when, of all things, I saw the midtown Sam Goody in the bumper pic during "Deacon Blues"! I've worked in and around Rock Center for almost my entire career, and I miss the old, forgotten hangouts.
That was outstanding. Steely Dan is the soundtrack of my life. And Dave Letterman is one of the funniest and insightful comedians of all time. Outstanding.
This is f&^%ing awesome! I've been lucky enough to see Steely Dan live 3 times and this is exactly what I remember. Fantastic musicians playing their asses off...
I've seen Steely Dan over 20 times since they resumed touring in 1993. Been a fan since I first heard Do it Again and Reelin on the AM radio circa 1972-73. Saw them do the Aja, Gaucho and Royal Scam albums in order on different album nights. A top 5 band for me, #1 when I'm listening to them, 😆
I'm an idiot for not chasing down seeing these guys live in the 90s. There was so much great music back then, and I liked being contrary. I liked Steely Dan but I didn't imagine a world without them. There's so much talk of all the guest guitar players on Steely Dan records that I didn't realize Becker was so good. Fagen's voice, lyrics and melodies are just outrageous. Loads of talent. A GIFT.
Don, everybody always gratefully thanks you. Now, it's my turn. With the expanded audio, it was like watching new TV. I may have missed the original anyway due to being married to the world's craziest (now ex-) wife. Thank you from the very bottom out depths of my heart. RIP Walter Becker.
Wow! Awesome that you were able to get the audio breaks during commercial as well. It really hammers home the intimate connection these guys had with modern jazz.
Steely Dan was a ‘one off’ for me. In the early 90’s and well into the 2000’s I was a doom, thrash and punk rock guy. The crew I hung out with was badged the same. There was one caveat which seemed to transcend that scene. Steely Dan. I/we loved steely Dan. I still do. What incredible musicians. The sound, the musicianship, the quality, the feel. They had it all. When Becker passed it hit hard. Now, I play at lot of Steely Dan when my kids, wife and i are hanging out. I still love them. Perhaps now more than ever.
Steely Dan, I remember when they came out HUGE in the 70's, they were a huge sensation, a new sound no one had ever heard before. it's so sad we lost Walter, his guitar skills were amazing, rest well Walter, God has you now.
Me and a friend used to love to stay the night and watch the late show for all the hottest musical acts. We were 14-16 years old but the acts were hot 94-96 and always. We called it Letter Man. My friend passed away unfortunately. But the Letter Man was still great.
Thanks for your hard work on this. Not sure how you got it looking & sounding so good, but it was worth it. I really wish they'd chatted with Letterman. Great characters. Never a dull moment. They both chose Josie as a favourite song from Aja (especially to play live), so here it is! Wow! Even the jams during breaks are great to hear.
I’m 75 today and until blundering into this video this morning, I’d never been aware of Steely Dan. In the 60s I was a folk and folk/blues nut and avoided all else. I’ve never listened to pop music radio (geez I hate it still!) but this is very good indeed.
@@ClarenceHW That's great to hear. I was lucky enough to meet up with Christlieb in the mid-'80s at Gresham, Oregon's Mt. Hood Jazz Festival where he graciously autographed my 1977 "Aja" album jacket.
One of the things I really love about old Letterman performances is how often Paul and the band are playing a supporting role--adds something just a little different to a classic tune like Josie.
I don't know what it went for, but the guitar Walter is playing in this vid was part of an auction of Walter's estate a few weeks ago. It was a shame to see what was left of it. It looked like someone had just thrown it in a pool for a couple decades, and it's pickguard had been changed to some cheap white thing. His red HSS Sadowsky strat, which was one of his main live instruments in the later years killed for over $22,000. Just an absolutely beautiful piece of machinery....
Was very-fortunate to catch Steely Dan Live during their History-Making '93 Tour at Great Woods-Boston, and got up and gave a very loud standing-ovation for Walter Becker on Lead Vocals, since everybody had gone for a bathroom break or was asleep, he's like "THANK YOU." RIP Big Walt!
Wow watching these guys in action phenomenal musicàl genius es thanks Letterman for having these legendary musicians grace your stage , and thank you Steely Dan
![[TH] 2024 PMGC League | Survival Stage วันที่ 1 | PUBG MOBILE Global Championship](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FVFT-PFwU80/mqdefault.jpg)
Becker and Fagen without question are two of the most important American musicians of the last half century. Fusing styles so effortlessly. Always original. The embodiment of American exceptionalism.
No band like them.
American exceptionalism is an imperialist doctrine of world domination and oppression. Nothing to do with the great music the Dan, alongside many other extraordinary American bands and artist, have offered the world.
The only real American supergroup, in my opinion.
snore fest
@@lee-daniels uneducated?
The world is definitely not a better place without Walter Becker casually killing it on guitar
My life changed when Walter left this planet! Can't explain...
"Casually Killin'" I love that description. He was the Keanu Reeves of guitar players.
FUCK YA MAN, casually killing it, awesome quote
Agree. There's definitely a coolness effect with how casual he was playing those lines. Much respect. He's definitely missed.
That solo just destroyed😅
I love how Becker and Fagen both look like a couple of math teachers! 😂
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
As a person with academic and work experience in mathematics, I enjoy that.
They are math teachers
@@JMBvideo In a way, yeah!
I know nothing about musical composition but my feeling has always been ( whenever dealing with people who do ) that math theory and music composition have some kind of common ground . Maybe it's just that both are outside of my area of comprehension.
Steely Dan had so many fabulous guitarists over their career that it's easy to forget how great Walter Becker himself was. An enormous talent.
Exactly- I don't know anyone else that plays both guitar and bass at that level- so many of those great lines are his, not the hired guns.
@@bambledaczymbledek I saw the Dan play a special show with Larry Carlton recreating his parts on Royal Scam, he left Becker in the dust
@@DavidRPascaleJr Left in the dust -guitar is art, and art is not competitive like using a race car analogy. The tasty phrasing of Becker shows maturity, restraint, he's not blowing his load like a full on solo artist might do. If you can't appreciate Becker, or have to compare (hey, EVH, Hendrix), then you are not feeling the art.
Yes sir his style was so “Django-esque” He will be forever missed 😢
@@DavidRPascaleJrTo be fair, 99% of guitarists would be left in the dust by Carlton.
There aren't too many videos like this where you can see Walter Becker showing his chops. An absolutely superb musician sadly missed.
Check out the "Steely Dan Jazz/Rock Party" DVD. Lots of amazing close up footage. You can find a bunch of stuff from the DVD on youtube
Big loss it was
Walter produced Ricki Lee Jones' album "Flying Cowboys". It is a masterpiece.
@@timthetoolman5522He also produced an album by China Crisis you can hear the Dan touch
I saw Walter Becker actually SING A SONG during their World Tour. I forget the name, but it was so special seeing him take a stab at lead-singing... it was very special!
That unmistakable sound of contemporary jazz, rock, soul and blues. Only Steely Dan could pull that off and make it popular music down to this day.
I could listen to Steely Dan every day, and never get tired...just LOVE them!
Absolutely. They personify everything that's truly wonderful about music. A band, for the ages. 😎👍
Steely Dan was a music genre of one. A truly unique band that no one else sounds like.
This.
@@MissThinkabunchCan you elaborate?
In the 70’s I named my beautiful female shepherd mix puppy dog “ Aja “ after listening to Steely Dan ! I was so awestruck at the musical arrangements it seemed heavenly to me ! When I hear their music I am transported back in time and it is very emotional for me ! What an exceptional band Steely Dan is and always will be ! ❤❤❤ thanks 😊
I've loved "Aja" since it first came out. Shortly afterwards I bought the very first Sony "Walkman" for a train ride from Chicago to New York City. It only played cassettes and played in one direction only, and it cost a little over 200 bucks! But man, it was worth it. I'd be sitting there on the train with my headphones on and people would ask me periodically what that thing was I was listening to. I'd just smile, take off the phones, put them on their heads, and watch their eyes open wide while they said, WOW!
This comment needs much more attention
spreading the love of music mate!
I love this story. Thank you for sharing!
That is a awesome story- should be in a part of a movie……..
@@tomeemerson ..the renaissance of great popular music. We had it in the 30ties
Didn't expect this video to make me nostalgic for both Steely Dan and Letterman, but here we are...
Yes!!
I love Walter’s stage presence. He just plays like it’s another day at the office.
And looks like it too.
That's because for them it is just another day at this office.
I always thought his movements resembled animatronics at Disney
That's because he's a cool cat.
So smooth!
I’m 58, I grew up with the great Steely Dan. All my kids love the music, even my 17 year old. My kids are smart enough to understand what real music performed by real musicians sounds like. The sound is timeless
Your kids are but most are clueless. Mine think rap is good. Wtf?
@@gregpalermo3861Show them this th-cam.com/video/K6YlvPIZw2k/w-d-xo.html or this th-cam.com/video/mVnoNpncfh0/w-d-xo.html or this th-cam.com/video/jbAe9iFPJtU/w-d-xo.html
@@gregpalermo3861rap is good. Rap actually samples steely Dan quite a bit if you’d open up your mind.
@@deeznutz8033 rap is not music.
Once the kids get into any kind of instrument, they'll appreciate music better because they'll understand what it takes to produce the sounds. My youngest daughter now 22 plays piano. I tried to turn her on to Steely...but she took a liking to ELO more😅
Thanks for leaving a 3 minute "commercial break" in the video 🤣. Really brings back the good old days.
Side note: That’s Peter Erskine from Weather Report back there on drums. Killing it here.
!!!!
Tom Barney on bass and I think Drew Zingg on rhythm guitar?
U raciest
Chris Potter on sax
SIDE NOTE:
Peter Erskine played ‘Birdland’ before he joined Weather Report
(W/ Maynard Ferguson)😉
RIP Walter. Thanks for the innovative music!
Wow, in addition to a top quality audio and video performance from the great Steely Dan, you get to hear Paul's band play throughout the commercial break. Those who have been to a Letterman taping know that one of the joys is hearing Pauls' band play fantastic music for many minutes during station breaks...Cool to see. Nice job getting this. Thanks for posting.
And it's a lost phenomenon. We saw Colbert's Late Show in 2019 and the most the band played was during the intro. Then they seemed to play non-descript looping chord songs after that during the breaks. Nothing to jam or rock out to. The big difference was that Letterman did his show "live to tape" meaning that the hour-long show took an hour to shoot. Colbert stopped and started a lot and (in a good way) recorded around 4 more guest interviews during our taping which aired on shows in the following weeks.
The Ca-Ca-Mercials kept us from hearing what Paul Schafer's group could really do.
Becker and Fagen were never known for their looks, just incomparable music. Their kind of musicianship doesn't exist on the charts today.
RIP Walter. He makes it look so easy.
He really did
Thanks for the sleuthing, Don. No other '70s band did more than Steely Dan to raise the musical I.Q. of popular music fans.
well said
With Gentle Giant
@@matthieuphaneuf You just became my friend forever!
@@2xmachine that's like saying fine wine is "pretentious wank" compared to beer. Both are allowed to exist in the beverage world. Steely Dan's music could not be created without a level of theoretical and performance knowledge beyond the grasp of most people in the pop and rock world.
I don't think you need to have that knowledge to appreciate it as a listener, which may be your point, but I do think being exposed to that kind of genius does raise your "musical IQ," if there is such a thing, just as reading Classics does as opposed to a diet of Joan Collins books.
@@2xmachineNo, it's a verifiable fact that after the success of Steely Dan's 6th album "Aja" and their #18 on the pop charts 1978 single "FM," Top 40 radio began playing jazz fusion artists in regular rotation. I lived through it. I'm guessing you didn't.
You’re too cool for school if you’re blasting this in 2024!
Back at you!
At 70, I'll take it as a compliment.
RIP Walter. Every time I watch a Steely Dan performance, I realize how much I miss the anticipation of the possibility of seeing you play live.
Among the best songwriters and musicians in modern music history.
I agree with that !!
100% !!
Paul and the boys with a pretty phenomenal Do it Again on the commercial break there, thanks for including that!
Yea, I thought so too. Too bad there wasn't video as well as audio.
Yeah, I was pretty blown away by that take on Do It Again. Not one Walt and Don ever seemed to dust off too much. Great take
8:03 - Walter playing the "If I Only Had a Brain" melody from The Wizard of Oz at the end there!
Wow nice catch
Thank you for confirming that, I thought I was going crazy lol
GOOD CALL!!
Yes! I thought so. Was about to add a comment and saw you beat me to it. I love the way guys with jazz chops throw in musical quotes like this.
Didn’t even notice until you said it! Very smooth!
They were the soundtrack of my life since the first album.
Do you remember the thrill of seeing them perform "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In the Years" absolutely live on NBC's "The Midnight Special" in 1973? That's what made my wife and I drive 90 miles one-way to see them in concert at the U. of Toledo in April 1974. Concert of our lifetime.
I agree with that !!!
Thanks, David Letterman, you always had great bands on your show and gave others a chance that no one else would!!!! 😘
Friggin legends. Beautiful music and I’m a metal head! How can you not love this
Nothing Better than the Late Show and when Dave had guests like Steely Dan..Wow..what a show..I remember it like yesterday. Love Cornelius Bumpus: tenor saxophone RIP, Walter Becker...RIP .Cornelius carried that music through the commercials..no one better!
Ahh, Walter Becker. The David Gilmore of Jazz guitar. Absolutely Gorgeous phrasing!
Great respect for him…the driving force of Steely Dan..but always wanted to be a Larry Carlton…but he could not..
... Becker is way better than Gilmore, whose solos are whatever rambling sequence of notes he feels like at the time
@@stephenhunter2942 no talking to you dude.
Amazing way to put it!
WELL SAID. Somewhat of an overrated player. And yes, his playing does have a ring of Carlton about it. But it's a very bland version with not nearly the skillset of that absolute master.@@hanksteely3206
Seeing how the session guys are so into it makes me feel happy.
I've totally been into Steely Dan lately so this is great timing, thank you Don!
Man, this brings back some good memories of simpler times! Fagan and Becker and the gang were unstoppable in the 70's and 80's!!😎👍
They were "on hold" in the 80s after Gaucho was released in 1980. Fagen released Nightfly in 82, Becker had drug issues. They "reunited" and resumed touring in 1993 after not playing live since 1974. They've been playing live ever since 93.
Played the “Josie” on VHS off air at least fifty times back in the day.
Finding the music bumpers is quite something. Unbelievable, high 25.
It's nice to hear out takes oe extended parts that the tv audience never gets to hear, now that Walter has left us, I have a fondness for his solo on Josie even more so.
I love rock and jazz, but I've pretty much always avoided most jazz with vocals. But Steely Dan brought rock, jazz, cerebral lyrics and awesome melodies together like no other band.
Maybe a coincidence but my (modest) audio setup started to change quite a bit when I got heavier into Steely Dan.
Except maybe FZ and the Mothers 👍
Exactly. 😊
surfing the musical tube again and came upon this Steely Dan classic..always a musical treat with Fagen and Becker.......and Peter Erskine again on drums....he plays with everyone!! and plays it all so well!!
Didn’t even realize Peter was on drums!
Aja was recorded and engineered so well it’s a great album to test the fidelity of an audio system.
Agreed - it may be the quintessential audio system acid test - the best recorded album on vinyl in the planet’s history.
If your audio system sounds crappy with AJA playing - change those 2 way speakers to 3 ways - and do it now!
@@LoveThatRod I like Rush's _Moving Pictures_ for a heavier but equally good test.
I have it on vinyls, tapes and CD's for exactly that reason.
Tame Impala is one guy.
I know someone who listens for the drum click in the drum solo of Aja when he's testing a turntable 😅
I'm glad somebody taped this and saved it. It's awesome.
great show once more! the sound is good, and the solos are original ones. Steely Dan remain my fav band ever... ;)
The outro (?) into commercial stopped me....in my tracks! Whoa, my Steely ears perked up. Don Giller thank you for this gem. The guys in such fine form ;-) RIP dear dear Walt.
I have been exposed to a multitude of music genre, since the 60’s…Big Band, Be-Bop Jazz, Straight ahead, Cool, Soul, funk, R&B, Rock, folk, pop and contemporary, but I had never heard a band that encompasses so many different styles until I heard Steely Dan, the closest might have been Blood Sweat and Tears.
I can still remember hearing “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number” in the early 70’s for the first time and thinking who is this killer band, happy to say have been a dedicated fan ever since, thanks S D for so many years of music pleasure.
❤❤❤
There are all the really good, proficient rock bands with deep jazz roots, ... then there is Steely Dan. They are a like a dissonant kaleidoscope of rhythms, harmonies and chord changes that somehow blend together as smooth as butter.
Thanks for leaving the commercial lead in/out jams in! You're a gentleman and a scholar.
The chord changes in Josie give me goosebumps
fagan usually wrote most of these songs starting with blues and substituting the hell out of every turnaround. source: his instructional video..
@@jimmythebold589 interesting, thanks for sharing
I always heard more jazz chords and overall jazz influences than I did the Blues personally
I was in the studio audience that night. A trip to New York is always amazing, but this put it over the top.
I saw the comeback tour, 93 Shoreline amphitheater. It literally brought me and my friend to tears after being fans for 20 years at that stage.
This is so cool. I'm amazed you were able to get the break music. What a gem. Joni Mitchell named Steely Dan as one of her favourite bands.
Sophistication in arrangement and lyrics, no one compares.
Sophistication is a perfect word description.
great, great playing - imagine jamming to this standard! it's just majestic
Iconic band of the '70s especially. Can't imagine that decade without Steely Dan.😎
Or any decade since.
Thanks for sharing - never heard the Do It Again or Deacon Blues jams before. And great vid/audio quality throughout. Much appreciated.
DWK • I want to say those instrumental versions of 'Do it Again' and 'Decon Blue' during the commercial breaks were more than likely Paul Shaffer and the band, showing their respect. I think this because the mixes were way different and those versions weren't tight enough to be SD. Also the arrangements were all over the place, plus the no vocals thing only added to my assumption. Finally, playing instrumental versions of various songs during the commercial breaks is what Paul and the band are there to do, every night.
Amazing a band that can really play without backing tracks & auto tune . There isn't a popular band today that can come even close to the level of talent of Steeley Dan . Losing Walter was blow to everyone who is a fan of S.D... thank god Donalds keeping it real .
Awesome to hear the extended pieces after all these years! And my heart actually jumped when, of all things, I saw the midtown Sam Goody in the bumper pic during "Deacon Blues"! I've worked in and around Rock Center for almost my entire career, and I miss the old, forgotten hangouts.
I will never understand how it is that Walter Becker isn't on the list for Top 20 guitarists of all time.
It always depends on who's making the list.
Because he's not.
@@Dr.ScatKohlenblo-nj2cv His work on Bodhisattva says otherwise.
Because the list was written by Ludwig von Beethoven!
That was outstanding. Steely Dan is the soundtrack of my life. And Dave Letterman is one of the funniest and insightful comedians of all time. Outstanding.
That camera pullback during the intro to Dewacon Blues is really nice. A rare treat.
This is f&^%ing awesome! I've been lucky enough to see Steely Dan live 3 times and this is exactly what I remember. Fantastic musicians playing their asses off...
Its that time cant wait fornthen16th
3x! Lucky you.
I've seen Steely Dan over 20 times since they resumed touring in 1993. Been a fan since I first heard Do it Again and Reelin on the AM radio circa 1972-73. Saw them do the Aja, Gaucho and Royal Scam albums in order on different album nights. A top 5 band for me, #1 when I'm listening to them, 😆
My two takeaways... flawless performance, as expected. And Dave's brutal dig on Paul. Both classic.
Just one of my all time favorite bands..........these guys and girls were fabulous !!!
RIP Walter Becker! Love what you did for music!!!
I'm an idiot for not chasing down seeing these guys live in the 90s. There was so much great music back then, and I liked being contrary. I liked Steely Dan but I didn't imagine a world without them. There's so much talk of all the guest guitar players on Steely Dan records that I didn't realize Becker was so good. Fagen's voice, lyrics and melodies are just outrageous. Loads of talent. A GIFT.
Walter Becker is absolutely swagged out in this performance with those white sneakers.
No band has ever come close….been a fan forever.
Ditto! Still get goosebumps! Have loved them for 45 years!
Saw them live about 15 years ago with Michael McDonald in Pittsburgh . Fantastic show. RIP Walter Becker.
Don, everybody always gratefully thanks you. Now, it's my turn. With the expanded audio, it was like watching new TV. I may have missed the original anyway due to being married to the world's craziest (now ex-) wife.
Thank you from the very bottom out depths of my heart.
RIP Walter Becker.
Thanks!
So mellow, so smooth, so amazing seeing Steely Dan play live.
I’ve seen them live four times. It’s truly the coolest show ever, and I’ve seen some great bands.
Wow! Awesome that you were able to get the audio breaks during commercial as well. It really hammers home the intimate connection these guys had with modern jazz.
I remember back in 1990 I introduced my 21 year old boyfriend to them. He was a classic metal head. He was never the same way again. 😊
Good for him 😊
Steely Dan was a ‘one off’ for me. In the early 90’s and well into the 2000’s I was a doom, thrash and punk rock guy. The crew I hung out with was badged the same. There was one caveat which seemed to transcend that scene. Steely Dan. I/we loved steely Dan. I still do. What incredible musicians. The sound, the musicianship, the quality, the feel. They had it all. When Becker passed it hit hard. Now, I play at lot of Steely Dan when my kids, wife and i are hanging out. I still love them. Perhaps now more than ever.
I had the pleasure of seeing this live…..
Okay, so I'm jealous....
Steely Dan, I remember when they came out HUGE in the 70's, they were a huge sensation, a new sound no one had ever heard before. it's so sad we lost Walter, his guitar skills were amazing, rest well Walter, God has you now.
Me and a friend used to love to stay the night and watch the late show for all the hottest musical acts. We were 14-16 years old but the acts were hot 94-96 and always. We called it Letter Man. My friend passed away unfortunately. But the Letter Man was still great.
This recording is awesome… so,spacious…thank you so much!
So good! The commercial breaks are outstanding as well!
More musicality in one song than any album.
Well said!
Except a Steely Dan album ... 🙂
Thanks for your hard work on this. Not sure how you got it looking & sounding so good, but it was worth it. I really wish they'd chatted with Letterman. Great characters. Never a dull moment. They both chose Josie as a favourite song from Aja (especially to play live), so here it is! Wow! Even the jams during breaks are great to hear.
I’m 75 today and until blundering into this video this morning, I’d never been aware of Steely Dan. In the 60s I was a folk and folk/blues nut and avoided all else. I’ve never listened to pop music radio (geez I hate it still!) but this is very good indeed.
Walter Becker , amazing guitar...
RIP. 🎵🎶🎼👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you so much and thank you for seeing this for what we need. Well done Sir!
Very cool Steely Dan doing their warm up during the commercial break. Yes just very laid back but awesome! 😎
This sounds great. The title for this video is not clickbait.
I just wish there had been video of do it again.
When I was a young punk ...
Skateparks and just hanging out ... Steely Dan always playing in the background ... Didn't know how good I had it ...
Nice that you gave us the commercial play through, your videos are the best
A bit ironic that the original tenor sax solo on "Deacon Blues" was played by a member of Doc Severinsen's "Tonight Show" band, Pete Christlieb.
...Alanis, is that you?
Pete said he thought Deacon Blues was about his life.
@@ClarenceHW That's great to hear. I was lucky enough to meet up with Christlieb in the mid-'80s at Gresham, Oregon's Mt. Hood Jazz Festival where he graciously autographed my 1977 "Aja" album jacket.
@@andyinoregon Andy, I saw him in L.A. I think at Donte's jazz club in the 1980s a true, jazz/bop tenorman,very creative.
Why is that ironic?
One of the things I really love about old Letterman performances is how often Paul and the band are playing a supporting role--adds something just a little different to a classic tune like Josie.
Love how they have evolved into jazz
I am a serious pretzel logic fan !
Sorry to interrupt, but Don Giller is a reason why TH-cam exists. Thanks, Don Giller.
Thanks!
Dave taking the audience to commercial and Don kicks off Deacon Blues. Love it.
How many bands can come as close to replicating their super engineered studio sound when playing live? A gem of a video, many thanks.
Thx for posting! My favorite band--still listen to them almost everyday.
most days . ..
Same here.
Rest in Peace, Walter! 😢 I finally got a chance to see the "Dan" here in SA, bought front row tickets... that was the night he passed away
Walter had a beautiful tone coming out of that Telecaster. I'd love to be able to get a tone like that.
Thank you for posting this. It's wonderful.
I don't know what it went for, but the guitar Walter is playing in this vid was part of an auction of Walter's estate a few weeks ago. It was a shame to see what was left of it. It looked like someone had just thrown it in a pool for a couple decades, and it's pickguard had been changed to some cheap white thing. His red HSS Sadowsky strat, which was one of his main live instruments in the later years killed for over $22,000. Just an absolutely beautiful piece of machinery....
Was very-fortunate to catch Steely Dan Live during their History-Making '93 Tour at Great Woods-Boston, and got up and gave a very loud standing-ovation for Walter Becker on Lead Vocals, since everybody had gone for a bathroom break or was asleep, he's like "THANK YOU." RIP Big Walt!
Nobody reads my descriptions.
My God-----they sound even better than on the recording! What a band! RIP Mr. Becker. Fantastic, thank you!
Excellent effort and a golden outcome - thank you!!!
Walter’s tone is A+!
I agree, he allowed studio musicions to do all his parts when recording but during jamming, he'd pick up the ax (and for David Letterman)
Loves that Telecaster! A far more versatile guitar than most people think it is.
@@TheOwl I'm pretty sure that's a Pensa/Suhr. Like but not at all Telecaster
@@christopherthomas2445 I think you're right. Those Pensa/Suhr guitars have amazing tone.
Watched this broadcast, bought the CD, then absolutely played the shit out of it. Love Steely Dan. RIP Walt.
Awesome. Thanks for posting.👍👍
Wow watching these guys in action phenomenal musicàl genius es thanks Letterman for having these legendary musicians grace your stage , and thank you Steely Dan