Steely Dan is my favorite band. But it's hard to believe that so many of these songs are coming before Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Aja, FM, Hey 19, etc. Not complaining. Just looking forward to seeing your reactions to their most popular songs.
I can believe it, most of the songs they have done so far are their top songs, except for maybe the one they did today. Those are great song, but they are not their hottest songs. Do it Again is there top song and they have done that one. And Reelin' In The Years is probably my favorite.
The thinking man's band from the 70's. One of the most diverse catalogs of music you'll ever find. Only the Beatles were more diverse than Steely Dan IMHO. They seemlessly blended rock jazz, blues and soul into their music. Great reaction guys, as always. Can't get enough of Amber's facial expressions when she's really digging an awesome tune! 😊
I've always called SD the thinking man's band too, great minds? DNA, caves in France, a fucking Hitler rally, time machines, addicts, drug dealers, alienation, aliens, possible sex crimes, SD has it all! B&F make the mind work.
Gaucho is so underrated, and what about "Glamour Profession"? "Jack with his radar, stalking the dread moray eel. At the wheel with his Eurasian bride". But for me, "My Rival" takes the cake. "I struck a match against the door of Anthony's Bar and Grill"... good grief. The vignettes.
Back in the early 1970's (when I was in my late teens) I was never a huge Steely Dan fan. They were just a little too out there for me and many of their songs sounded the same to me. But now, I have started to listen to them a little more again and appreciate their skill and talent. I guess it is true, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks for sharing, RSR!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!!!! I've been waiting for you both to react to this one. This is, well beyond a doubt, my favorite Steely Dan song. Thank you.
Great reaction, Jay and Amber. Other great tracks by them: "Haitian Divorce", "Kid Charlemagne", "Aja", "Do it Again", "Black Cow", "FM", "Josie", "The Fez", "Deacon Blues", "Hey 19". There are many more but these are good ones to continue with.
Ive been a Steely Dan fan for years.Donald and the late Walter Becker hired the best studio musicians in the business bar none.I love Ambers reactions .😊
combine music that is quite simply the groove of all grooves...with evocative, creative and strange lyrics...you have that unique sound that only Steely Dan has.
It’s entirely possible that each next Dan song you hear will become your new favorite. They are that good! Just watching you both groove out just takes me back. Any given Friday night we’d gather, put on some great music and just vibe and enjoy! I love you guys.
Can't miss with the Dan! Playing with so many great studio session players gave them such a unique sound that never gets old. " Their album " Two Against Nature" is a Grammy winner with some great cuts.
Pretzel Logic doesnt have a Jazz vibe to it at all. That mostly started with KATY LIED and continued thru Gaucho. This is the last of their "Rock" albums
Couldn't agree more. Most of my favourite songs from so many solo artists and bands are the 'deep cuts' Steely Dan included. Pretzel Logic was my first SD album and it remains a favourite to this day, With a Gun, Through With Buzz, Charlie Freak and Barrytown a few great tracks. The Royal Scam second favourite.
1 Lady Fantasy [Camel] 2 Nostradamus [Al Stewart] 3 Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys [Traffic] 4 Even In The Quietest Moments [Supertramp] 5 Death Trip [Cockney Rebel]
I feel, listening to this song again, that it's come to represent to me some kind of mission statement for Steely Dan. It's quintessential Dan, everything they're known for perfectly packaged together, the mysterious, oblique lyrics, the jazzy touches, the tailored solo sections in which top guitarists, saxophonists, whoever they've chosen can showcase their top-notch musicality. No wonder stereo shops would use their records to demonstrate the quality of their high-end systems: unmatched production standards. Just glorious listening. Cheers 🍻 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 😎🤙🏼🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊
I remember early on Steely Dan was criticized by some for being basically a studio band. Great music is just that whether live or created in the studio in my opinion. These guys produced a ton of great music.
Time travel, old-fashioned honkytonk blues, horns, guitars, keys and perfect harmonies. All with that unmistakable Steely Dan sound. This is a gem, but aren't they all?.
One thing that makes "Pretzel Logic" unlike any other Dan album is the presence of future Toto founder David Paich on the keyboards. This is his only album with the band, but he leaves his mark. "Charlie Freak" is an underrated gem from this album. And while there are calls for the late 1970s songs (and there is no bigger fan of "Deacon Blues" than I am), I do hold a special place in my heart for the first three albums, before Fagen decided to give up touring and only work out of the studio. IMO that makes some of the later work a bit insular. So I'll ask that you go back and find room for some of the good stuff from the second album you haven't hit as yet. In particular, "Show Biz Kids" and "King of the World", which are two of my absolute favorites.. Thanks again.
Pretzel Logic, for my money, is arguably a Top 5 greatest album! Nothing will ever unseat Dark Side Of The Moon as the GOAT but the rest of my Top 5 in no particular order would be Pretzel Logic, Hotel California, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits and Rumours. I know, I'm showing my age!!🤣
The line 'where did you get those shoes?' was a shout-out to the Eagles (song Those Shoes) as the Eagles mention the 'Steely knives' in Hotel California.
I graduated from Wake Forest University...the "Demon Deacons"; the lyric from "Deacon Blues" that reflects on our history in college athletics (especially football and basketball) - "They got a name for the winners in the world, I want a name when I lose. They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me Deacon Blues." - Fagan claimed years later that the line referred to "Deacon Jones", not WFU,, but when I was in college just after "Aja" was released, it was at least something we could enjoy...especially as our football team continued to lose, lose, lose....it is still one of my all-time favorite Steely Dan tunes and "Aja" is an incredible album...the title track has one of the greatest drum fills you are EVER gonna' hear...up with the best of Bonzo, Yes and the intro to "Time' by Pink Floyd...thanks for starting to react to truly one of the greatest bands in history...
So much more Steely Dan to experience. From the Aja album there's BLACK COW, DEACON BLUES and AJA. So much fun to see a nice young couple enjoy music I grew up with. Keep up the good work.
Probably my favourite Steely Dan song. It was my first Steely Dan album and still love it today. Barrytown, With a Gun, Night by Night and Through With Buzz a few more great tracks. The 70's was a phenomenal era for music and this song includes the lyrics "Those days are gone forever, over a long time ago, Oh yeah" Yes they really have! 😢
Great one here ,one of their very best ....Deacon Blues is my fav from the Aja album .. Pearl of The Quarter is cool obscure very off the beaten path that you can check out also ..
@@danmayberry1185 Yes prefect and is very simple in comparison to most of their esoteric and complex serious songs ..Maybe that is why I like so much it because of the switch up ..
If I had to pick a favorite Steely Dan song, it would definitely be this one. It's not as well-known as many other Steely Dan tunes, but such a great title, such a great groove, such great guitar work right in your face, and a much more bluesy sound that really stands out even in their legendary catalog. Not that I don't enjoy the standard jazzy yacht-rock Steely Dan sound, but I have a blues/rock background as a musician, so for me this song hits closer to my own personal musical style than any other Steely Dan number. Another reason I love this song is because it almost sounds like they just threw their charts and sheet music out the window and said, "Let's have a blues jam, boys!" 🎸🎶🎵
Just love the whole album, l guess Aja would be top choice for many Steely Dan fans but for me although very enjoyable it's almost too polished and sophisticated but maybe lacking some of the simpler 'charm' of Pretzel Logic.
Thanks for this! A few more I guarantee you'll love - "Showbiz Kids", "Chain Lightning", "Bodhisattva", "The Fez", "Aja", "Black Friday" and "Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More".
Amber, what you said about the vocal change is spot on. I have always loved that -- and notice that those same chord changes behind the vocals occur during the guitar solo and that makes it so much more full and takes you to a great musical dimension.
Donald once said in an interview that Deacon Blues was just a little thing that he threw together in a few minutes Ri........ght Steely Dan worked so hard on their craft, total respect
Back when Michael McDonald sang with Steely Dan he would do the lead vocal after the stop where the line goes "I stepped upon the platform..." Then Fagen would come back in at "Well I seen em on a TV...." The song is about time travel. The platform is a time machine. Somebody notices the shoes the singer is wearing, which are not of that time, and asks where he got them. You might also enjoy "Chain Lightning." And the Dan songs I'm always recommending, including..."Deacon Blues" "FM" "Doctor Wu" "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More."
He was never in a traveling minstrel show. He's dreaming of days gone by. Steel Dan are up there with my favorites!! Probably talking about platform shoes that we were all wearing at one time when we were young.
The Pretzel Logic album is a great one to continue to explore. It's all killer, no filler. Another great song to react to would be "Barrytown". Great song lyrically as well as musically. With this album, you can't go wrong.
When l bought Pretzel Logic my album collection was quite modest, it's still not massive but Pretzel has been an absolute top ten record for me to this day.
One of my favorite Steely Dan songs. Another one of the album by that title that I really love but most are unfamiliar with is "Charlie Freak." It's a powerful song.
No one suggests more reactions to 10cc they were such a great band in the 70's. They had so many hits I lost count. 'Wall Street Shuffle' and 'Good Morning Judge' "Art for arts sake" Please do some more of this wonderful group. They were on the same level and around the same time as Supertramp and just as good! You have already reacted to "rubber bullets" one of their great hits as well!!
One of my favourite bands, their first two albums for me were the best. Again as with many bands it's the lesser known 'deep cuts' that are the best, Hotel, Baron Samedi, Somewhere in Hollywood, Sand In My Face and Speed Kills which is one of my favourite 10cc songs.
As a lifelong Dan fan may I suggest Green Earings (I'm old as hell and it's still my fav) love you guys, keep diggin into Steely Dan, there's alot to love
Donald Fagan is amazing !! I have always loved Steely Dan, came home wasted so many nights in HS and Colllege and listened to them w head phones! Great music and memories
Steely Dan respected the roots of the music that came before them. I know they used a lot of session musicians on their recordings and would love to know who played the guitar on this.
Black Cow .... Black Cow ....Black Cow you will recognize something pretty cool in the track...I know I'm a pain in rear always asking y'all bit you will love it.
The song is called "Pretzel Logic", and what shape is a pretzel? It's either a circle or it's shaped like a &. I think it's about logic circling back on itself. I also think it's not 100% serious - Steely Dan often has a devious type of humor that isn't obvious at first.
Larry Carlton is the guitarist playing on Pretzel Logic, as well as Don’t Take Me Alive and Kid Charlemagne (The Kid Charlemagne solo is studied in music colleges). Carlton is a LEGEND among studio musicians. Guitar World magazine published a list of the top ten studio guitarists and Larry Carlton was #2. He’s a solo artist and you can view some of his live gigs on TH-cam ; some are instrumental versions of Steely Dan songs.
Omg guys, so many more AH MAZ ING Dan songs to listen to, I am not kidding!!! I listed off some a few weeks ago on Don't Take Me Alive. The 70s albums, just a treasure trove (though Aja was great too).
There was a "Supergroup" that was comprised of Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Phoebe Snow, Michael McDonald and the Loving Spoonful brothers called New York Rock and Soul Review that did 2 really stunning Steely Dan covers along with some of the others mentioned greatest. Its worth a listen.
You'd both like "Hey 19" and "Deacon Blues". Love you guys.
Oh yeah, both are must hears!!!
@@ohfour-seven6228 They already did both of those.
Pretzel logic is an expression used to describe someone’s “twisted reasoning.”
EXACTLY-Like traveling down South dressing up as in black face! I.e.minstrel show!
Thanks. Didn’t know that. Will definitely be using that in my life now.
Close your eyes and pick ANY Steely Dan song from the long list and you'll hit a winner. Greatest band, in my opinion.
From 72 (can't buy a thrill) to 1980 (gaucho)..... Yes. I dare you to name a bad song.
Hell yes!
Steely Dan is my favorite band. But it's hard to believe that so many of these songs are coming before Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Aja, FM, Hey 19, etc. Not complaining. Just looking forward to seeing your reactions to their most popular songs.
I can believe it, most of the songs they have done so far are their top songs, except for maybe the one they did today. Those are great song, but they are not their hottest songs. Do it Again is there top song and they have done that one. And Reelin' In The Years is probably my favorite.
Deacon Blues my favorite
They already did alot of those songs I believe
Aja might be their finest work, musically speaking
“ Not complaining “ = passive aggressive, pantywaist complaining
🤔
👍🏴
Steely Dan is as close to perfection as humanly possible. ☮🧡🎶
My old School and Kid Charlemagne are must listens……
They’ve reacted to My Old School.
Kid Charlemagne for sure! The guitar solo by Larry Carlton is terrific.
“Kid” should be renamed “Ode to Owsley”! RIP Master engineer and chemist!
Is there gas in the car..?
@@LoneRanger100Yes, there's gas in the car.. 😂
The 70's remain undefeated.
Absolutely!
You are just scratching the surface of Steely Dan. Black Cow is a good one with horns. Just so many to choose from.
Black Cow with horns. Isn't that a bull? 🐮
The thinking man's band from the 70's. One of the most diverse catalogs of music you'll ever find. Only the Beatles were more diverse than Steely Dan IMHO. They seemlessly blended rock jazz, blues and soul into their music. Great reaction guys, as always. Can't get enough of Amber's facial expressions when she's really digging an awesome tune! 😊
The beatles no way
I've always called SD the thinking man's band too, great minds?
DNA, caves in France, a fucking Hitler rally, time machines, addicts, drug dealers, alienation, aliens, possible sex crimes, SD has it all! B&F make the mind work.
Jay & Amber, you'll absolutely LOVE their "Aja", "Deacon Blues" and "FM" !!!!!
Peg!!!
@@andreduvall6226they’ve done Peg.
@@andreduvall6226 they did Peg Dec 16, 2023. great song!
Aja is a masterpiece!!
Time Out Of Mind and Babylon Sisters from the “Gaucho” album.
Gaucho is so underrated, and what about "Glamour Profession"? "Jack with his radar, stalking the dread moray eel. At the wheel with his Eurasian bride".
But for me, "My Rival" takes the cake. "I struck a match against the door of Anthony's Bar and Grill"... good grief. The vignettes.
Hey Nineteen, Bodhisattva, Aja, Josie, Haitian Divorce, My Old School… so much more mandatory Steely Dan
Love Bodhisattva and Hatian Divorce ❤️. I THINK they did My Old School...which is one of their best
'FM' is another Steely Dan song you're sure to like.
Extended version for both guitar leads and horns!
Back in the early 1970's (when I was in my late teens) I was never a huge Steely Dan fan. They were just a little too out there for me and many of their songs sounded the same to me. But now, I have started to listen to them a little more again and appreciate their skill and talent. I guess it is true, it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks for sharing, RSR!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!!!! I've been waiting for you both to react to this one. This is, well beyond a doubt, my favorite Steely Dan song. Thank you.
“Black Cow” is definitely one you should check out from them.
Steely Dan is the musician's band. They're just that good and their rabbit hole is DEEP!! ❤❤❤❤
Brooklyn Owes the Charmer! You'll love it! My favorite Steely Dan song ❤
Amber always gets it. I was lucky enough to see Steely Dan several years ago before Becker died, and it was a concert highlight of my life.
Steely Dan is timeless.
This song got me thinking about Champagne Jam by Atlanta Rhythm Section:
"We're gonna have us a Champagne Jammm..." 🎵
Their whole catalogue is full of gems, especially the Aja album! Worth the trip!
"Kid Charlemagne" needs to be next! Perfect Band!!
Great reaction, Jay and Amber. Other great tracks by them:
"Haitian Divorce",
"Kid Charlemagne",
"Aja",
"Do it Again",
"Black Cow",
"FM",
"Josie",
"The Fez",
"Deacon Blues",
"Hey 19".
There are many more but these are good ones to continue with.
Black Cow is great!
As is Black Friday
Ive been a Steely Dan fan for years.Donald and the late Walter Becker hired the best studio musicians in the business bar none.I love Ambers reactions .😊
so many great songs from Steely Dan! Hopefully we'll get a reaction to one of my favorites, "Josie"
Steely Dan- “Bad Sneakers”.
And a Pina Colada My Friend
Steely Dan - never had an average song....every one brilliant- Peg is wonderful, Deacon Blues magnificent, My old school...another great track
combine music that is quite simply the groove of all grooves...with evocative, creative and strange lyrics...you have that unique sound that only Steely Dan has.
It’s entirely possible that each next Dan song you hear will become your new favorite. They are that good! Just watching you both groove out just takes me back. Any given Friday night we’d gather, put on some great music and just vibe and enjoy! I love you guys.
For a couple of musical geniuses and a motley assortment of always changing session players, they sure did keep pumping out some great music.
One of the best songs that Steely Dan ever released
Can't miss with the Dan! Playing with so many great studio session players gave them such a unique sound that never gets old. " Their album " Two Against Nature" is a Grammy winner with some great cuts.
They’re the best. Great reaction. Check out Deacon Blues.
This entire album is fire. Rikki, Any Major Dude, Charlie Freak, With a Gun, Night by Night... just crazy good.
Their absolute best album for me! Just love every track.
Jazz+Rock=Steely Dan.
Pretzel Logic doesnt have a Jazz vibe to it at all. That mostly started with KATY LIED and continued thru Gaucho. This is the last of their "Rock" albums
Great pic. One of my faves from Steely Dan. Gotta do "Deacon Blues" next. Thanks. 😎
This was the first Dan album to win me over. One of their best. As usual, best is NOT the same as popular.
Couldn't agree more. Most of my favourite songs from so many solo artists and bands are the 'deep cuts' Steely Dan included. Pretzel Logic was my first SD album and it remains a favourite to this day, With a Gun, Through With Buzz, Charlie Freak and Barrytown a few great tracks. The Royal Scam second favourite.
1 Lady Fantasy [Camel]
2 Nostradamus [Al Stewart]
3 Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys [Traffic]
4 Even In The Quietest Moments [Supertramp]
5 Death Trip [Cockney Rebel]
Love “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys!”
Nice to see a mention of Death Trip from Steve Harley (RIP) and Cockney Rebel. From probably their best album The Human Menagerie (for me anyway 😅)
child of vision supertramp
Nice list
@@keithjones7390 The Human Menagerie is one of my favourite albums by anyone [although I do like the song RITZ from Psychomodo]. RIP indeed.
I feel, listening to this song again, that it's come to represent to me some kind of mission statement for Steely Dan. It's quintessential Dan, everything they're known for perfectly packaged together, the mysterious, oblique lyrics, the jazzy touches, the tailored solo sections in which top guitarists, saxophonists, whoever they've chosen can showcase their top-notch musicality. No wonder stereo shops would use their records to demonstrate the quality of their high-end systems: unmatched production standards. Just glorious listening. Cheers
🍻 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
😎🤙🏼🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊
I always love hearing Show Biz Kids, It's a SD classic.
The live version from Midnight Special 👍
...All done on tape...NO PROTUNES...!!!
Always a musical journey........
I remember early on Steely Dan was criticized by some for being basically a studio band. Great music is just that whether live or created in the studio in my opinion. These guys produced a ton of great music.
Blues and Jazz in one package.
Charlie Freak maybe my favourite from this album.Try listening to New Frontiers from Donald Fagan:s The Nightfly solo album.
Your a sports guy…Steely Dan- Deacon Blues
I guarantee he completely misses the reference to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
ROLL TIDE !!!
Time travel, old-fashioned honkytonk blues, horns, guitars, keys and perfect harmonies. All with that unmistakable Steely Dan sound. This is a gem, but aren't they all?.
This is my favorite Steely Dan song. It's such a vibe.
This and night by night are my 2 favorite steely Dan songs
One thing that makes "Pretzel Logic" unlike any other Dan album is the presence of future Toto founder David Paich on the keyboards. This is his only album with the band, but he leaves his mark. "Charlie Freak" is an underrated gem from this album.
And while there are calls for the late 1970s songs (and there is no bigger fan of "Deacon Blues" than I am), I do hold a special place in my heart for the first three albums, before Fagen decided to give up touring and only work out of the studio. IMO that makes some of the later work a bit insular.
So I'll ask that you go back and find room for some of the good stuff from the second album you haven't hit as yet. In particular, "Show Biz Kids" and "King of the World", which are two of my absolute favorites..
Thanks again.
Pretzel Logic, for my money, is arguably a Top 5 greatest album! Nothing will ever unseat Dark Side Of The Moon as the GOAT but the rest of my Top 5 in no particular order would be Pretzel Logic, Hotel California, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits and Rumours. I know, I'm showing my age!!🤣
The line 'where did you get those shoes?' was a shout-out to the Eagles (song Those Shoes) as the Eagles mention the 'Steely knives' in Hotel California.
I graduated from Wake Forest University...the "Demon Deacons"; the lyric from "Deacon Blues" that reflects on our history in college athletics (especially football and basketball) - "They got a name for the winners in the world, I want a name when I lose. They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me Deacon Blues." - Fagan claimed years later that the line referred to "Deacon Jones", not WFU,, but when I was in college just after "Aja" was released, it was at least something we could enjoy...especially as our football team continued to lose, lose, lose....it is still one of my all-time favorite Steely Dan tunes and "Aja" is an incredible album...the title track has one of the greatest drum fills you are EVER gonna' hear...up with the best of Bonzo, Yes and the intro to "Time' by Pink Floyd...thanks for starting to react to truly one of the greatest bands in history...
So glad I lived this era!!! ICONIC!!!!
Steely Dan such a great band
This is one (of many) of my favorite Steely Dan songs.
Mad respect to Walter Becker for this his first guitar solo on a Steely Dan song. Love it!
"REELIN' IN THE YEARS"
So much more Steely Dan to experience. From the Aja album there's BLACK COW, DEACON BLUES and AJA. So much fun to see a nice young couple enjoy music I grew up with. Keep up the good work.
and Home At Last
"Aja" album, the whole album, great! Thanks for Steely Dan
Probably my favourite Steely Dan song. It was my first Steely Dan album and still love it today. Barrytown, With a Gun, Night by Night and Through With Buzz a few more great tracks. The 70's was a phenomenal era for music and this song includes the lyrics "Those days are gone forever, over a long time ago, Oh yeah" Yes they really have! 😢
Great one here ,one of their very best ....Deacon Blues is my fav from the Aja album .. Pearl of The Quarter is cool obscure very off the beaten path that you can check out also ..
It is ridiculous how obscure Pearl Of the Quarter is. To me, it is the perfect song.
@@danmayberry1185 Yes prefect and is very simple in comparison to most of their esoteric and complex serious songs ..Maybe that is why I like so much it because of the switch up ..
You'll notice several backing vocalists. This was a year before Michael McDonald began providing three-part harmonies (on the album Katy Lied).
Another great 70s song and Band thank you Rob Squad
If I had to pick a favorite Steely Dan song, it would definitely be this one. It's not as well-known as many other Steely Dan tunes, but such a great title, such a great groove, such great guitar work right in your face, and a much more bluesy sound that really stands out even in their legendary catalog. Not that I don't enjoy the standard jazzy yacht-rock Steely Dan sound, but I have a blues/rock background as a musician, so for me this song hits closer to my own personal musical style than any other Steely Dan number. Another reason I love this song is because it almost sounds like they just threw their charts and sheet music out the window and said, "Let's have a blues jam, boys!" 🎸🎶🎵
Just love the whole album, l guess Aja would be top choice for many Steely Dan fans but for me although very enjoyable it's almost too polished and sophisticated but maybe lacking some of the simpler 'charm' of Pretzel Logic.
Great song with one of the best outros in music history.
Thanks for this! A few more I guarantee you'll love - "Showbiz Kids", "Chain Lightning", "Bodhisattva", "The Fez", "Aja", "Black Friday" and "Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More".
Amber, what you said about the vocal change is spot on. I have always loved that -- and notice that those same chord changes behind the vocals occur during the guitar solo and that makes it so much more full and takes you to a great musical dimension.
Their lyrics are always something that take multiple listens to fully grasp, but well worth the time. Next up really should be Hey 19
Bodhisattva!!!!! A music explosion with Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers )on guitar!!! FM is also a great one! Can't go wrong with Steely Dan!
Love it!
Donald once said in an interview that Deacon Blues was just a little thing that he threw together in a few minutes
Ri........ght
Steely Dan worked so hard on their craft, total respect
I love their sound, such a good band…Steely Dan!👍💙💖
Back when Michael McDonald sang with Steely Dan he would do the lead vocal after the stop where the line goes "I stepped upon the platform..." Then Fagen would come back in at "Well I seen em on a TV...."
The song is about time travel. The platform is a time machine. Somebody notices the shoes the singer is wearing, which are not of that time, and asks where he got them.
You might also enjoy "Chain Lightning."
And the Dan songs I'm always recommending, including..."Deacon Blues" "FM" "Doctor Wu" "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More."
He was never in a traveling minstrel show. He's dreaming of days gone by. Steel Dan are up there with my favorites!! Probably talking about platform shoes that we were all wearing at one time when we were young.
I'm going to keep asking for the Caves of Altamira until you react to it. It's got a lot of horns, Amber. 👍😂
Another great Steely Dan pick!!! Babylon Sisters, Dr. Wu, more from Aja… you can’t go wrong!!
Great idea to rewind songs back a bit. ;-) Steely Dan brings me back to the late 1970s---fun, free, young. Great reaction!!
The Pretzel Logic album is a great one to continue to explore. It's all killer, no filler. Another great song to react to would be "Barrytown". Great song lyrically as well as musically. With this album, you can't go wrong.
When l bought Pretzel Logic my album collection was quite modest, it's still not massive but Pretzel has been an absolute top ten record for me to this day.
You can never go wrong with some Steely Dan or even LT Dan.
If you haven't done them already, a couple of other great Steely Dan songs you should check out are, Kid Charlemagne and Green Earrings.
FM, and Deacon Blues, most definetly.
One of my favorite Steely Dan songs. Another one of the album by that title that I really love but most are unfamiliar with is "Charlie Freak." It's a powerful song.
It's the 'less familiar' songs from so many solo artists and bands that are my favourite tunes.
No one suggests more reactions to 10cc they were such a great band in the 70's. They had so many hits I lost count.
'Wall Street Shuffle' and 'Good Morning Judge' "Art for arts sake" Please do some more of this wonderful group. They were on the same level and around the same time as Supertramp and just as good! You have already reacted to "rubber bullets" one of their great hits as well!!
One of my favourite bands, their first two albums for me were the best. Again as with many bands it's the lesser known 'deep cuts' that are the best, Hotel, Baron Samedi, Somewhere in Hollywood, Sand In My Face and Speed Kills which is one of my favourite 10cc songs.
As a lifelong Dan fan may I suggest Green Earings (I'm old as hell and it's still my fav) love you guys, keep diggin into Steely
Dan, there's alot to love
You need to listen to “Black Cow” and “Aja” which has an incredible drum solo and sax performance!!! 👍🙏😄
Pretzel Logic = Convoluted Thinking.
A minstrel show is a travelling entertainment group usually a band, singèrs, and dancers. Popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Donald Fagan is amazing !! I have always loved Steely Dan, came home wasted so many nights in HS and Colllege and listened to them w head phones! Great music and memories
Steely Dan respected the roots of the music that came before them. I know they used a lot of session musicians on their recordings and would love to know who played the guitar on this.
I believe this guitarist is "skunk" Baxter. idk 🤔☺️
Walter Becker, lead, Dean Parks rhythm
Green Earrings and Pretzel Logic are my favorite Steely Dan songs.
Black Cow .... Black Cow ....Black Cow you will recognize something pretty cool in the track...I know I'm a pain in rear always asking y'all bit you will love it.
Love Steely Dan, have since Reelin' in the Years hit the radio. Wayne Shorter called Steely Dan masters of Jazz/Pop fusion.
They had the best sound engineers money could buy, especially on the later albums like Aja
The song is called "Pretzel Logic", and what shape is a pretzel? It's either a circle or it's shaped like a &. I think it's about logic circling back on itself. I also think it's not 100% serious - Steely Dan often has a devious type of humor that isn't obvious at first.
FM is my favorite!
Larry Carlton is the guitarist playing on Pretzel Logic, as well as Don’t Take Me Alive and Kid Charlemagne (The Kid Charlemagne solo is studied in music colleges). Carlton is a LEGEND among studio musicians. Guitar World magazine published a list of the top ten studio guitarists and Larry Carlton was #2. He’s a solo artist and you can view some of his live gigs on TH-cam ; some are instrumental versions of Steely Dan songs.
Omg guys, so many more AH MAZ ING Dan songs to listen to, I am not kidding!!! I listed off some a few weeks ago on Don't Take Me Alive. The 70s albums, just a treasure trove (though Aja was great too).
There was a "Supergroup" that was comprised of Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Phoebe Snow, Michael McDonald and the Loving Spoonful brothers called New York Rock and Soul Review that did 2 really stunning Steely Dan covers along with some of the others mentioned greatest.
Its worth a listen.
Imagine more days like today!
My old school, Kid Charlemagne, Reelin' in the Years, Deacon Blues, Ajá ...