STEELY DAN MARATHON to Reelin' in the Years/ The Boston Rag/Razor Boy/Monkey in your Soul/Any World
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 24 авг 2024
- Thank you for joining us! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to like and subscribe if you enjoyed this. We're open to suggestions/requests, so if you have one leave in the comments and include #nicknlexrequest for your chance to get a reaction!
PATREON (Consider joining for access to exclusive RUclips-blocked content):
/ nicknlex
ABOUT US:
If you'd like to get to know a bit about us, check out our story/background here:
ow.ly/GdRJ50DBbT0
If you'd like to request a song/album or show support to our channel, you can now do so by going here: www.buymeacoff...
Mailing address (THANK YOU!):
Alexia Flores
9615 East County Line Road
Suite B-531
Centennial, CO 80112
MIXTAPE:
If you'd like your customized mix tape like the one you see in the background, visit:
www.amourprint... & enter promo code NICKNLEX for 10% off!
RE: PAUSING, EXPRESSIONS & AIR-INSTRUMENTS:
Please be mindful that we will pause (we prefer to react in the moment & to avoid copyright strike), we will react with enthusiasm, smiles, tears, conversation, exchanged looks and air-instruments. We are expressive by nature and are truly very quirky in every sense of the word. This is who we are and this is what we’ve got to offer. We understand it may not be for everyone, but here's to hoping you all enjoy and we absolutely love positive comments and feedback.
RE: LIVE VERSIONS vs STUDIO:
Check out why we haven't uploaded any live versions... yet. They will be coming, we promise!
• WHY WE HAVEN’T UPLOADE...
For more updates on us, you can follow us here:
Twitter: / nicknlexfilms
Facebook: / nicknlex
Instagram: / nicknlex
OUR MERCH (new!):
www.NicknLex.com
Our equipment:
Our headphones: amzn.to/3dapHta
Microphone: amzn.to/37l1nTg
Tripod & lighting: amzn.to/2OKqXuJ
Remote shutter button: amzn.to/3u8bMvm
Headphone splitter: amzn.to/2NsACW5
Outro music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio.
No copyright infringement intended. We do not own the music we are reacting to. This reaction constitutes Fair Use.
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”
This video and our RUclips channel in general may contain certain copyrighted works that were not specifically authorized to be used by the copyright holder(s), but which we believe in good faith are protected by federal law and the FAIR USE doctrine for one or more of the reasons noted above.
If you have any specific concerns about this video or our position on the fair use defense, please contact us at nicknlex11@gmail.com so we can discuss amicably.
Thank you.
#SteelyDan #Pretzellogic#Gaucho
Finally . And so worth it to wait to see your reactions! Thank you both so very much! My reasons for picking these songs: 1. Reeling is the last big radio hit you hadn’t gotten to yet. The guitar work by Elliot Randall is amazing. 2. Boston Rag is such an unusual jam, with wonderful changes. 3. Razor Boy - Victor Feldman on the vibes, combined with pedal steel. What other song uses both instruments simultaneously? 4. A short piece of fun funk, totally unexpected. 5. Any World is probably their most heartfelt song, with unusually straightforward lyrics. The only time they used famous drummer Hal Blaine. Surprised you didn’t catch Michael McDonald in the chorus! He added a lot of warmth to the song. So happy to prod you back towards the Dan!
The great Victor Feldman, Steely dan session legend. His solo on Black Cow is perfect.
Great selection! I had soooo missed their Steely Dan reactions. You can be sure they'll key into Michael's backup vocals on their next listen. There is so much brilliance embedded in each and every song. I'm still picking up on little things after 50 years.
Razor Boy also features the legendary Ray Brown on upright bass
Jimmy Page was quoted as saying that Elliott Randall's solo on Reelin' In The Years is his favorite guitar solo of all time.
@@kevinmauch5622 That’s great to know!
Here they are folks.... Major Dude and Major Dudette!!!!
I am listening to my favorite band Steely Dan for almost 50 years now, but in the last years, I seldom had the same pleasure as watching your vids while listening - keep the Dan vids coming...
Often times, it's a futile task to try to analyze Steely Dan song meanings without doing a bit of research. Their songs are often very sarcastic, witty, and filled with inside jokes between Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Steely Dan liked to mess with people that tried to dig into the meaning of songs so they often wrote cryptic lyrics that ultimately didn't have much meaning and just left people confused.
I'm so glad that you guys finally reacted to The Boston Rag. It's definitely a sleeper hit and one that doesn't get enough attention. The guitar solo is just so good.
70's was the best decade. I hate to get old but I'm so glad I was a teen then. When I hear this I think of riding with my Aunt's beetle car
'The Boston Rag' and 'Razor Boy'. Two absolute gems (like the both of you). Great to see you doing more Steely Dan. Thank you.
Such beautiful music. I can listen to Steely Dan 24/7, seriously.
Monkey In Your Soul is one of my very favorite Dan songs. One of their funkiest. Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More is a companion song to it. Both so great!
It’s so cool you are so into SD. It’s really fun going through their catalog with you. 😊
Rag is a type of music very big in the’20’s - Scott Joplin was considered a king of the Rag (Many of his songs were featured in the movie The Sting)
Reeling refers to a dizzying experience as in the passage of years has your senses reeling
(Not referring to fishing reals)
[also not to be confused with the music form of a Reel that is a musical piece written for a form of a dance - like a horn pipe & jigs]
And the sound you called a xylophone was a vibraphone (Vibes - metal bars as opposed to the wooden ones on a Marimba or a Xylophone)
You know, about reeling, I always thought of the "dizzy" sense too, but now I think about it, Lex's interpretation fits better with the next line: "are you stowin' away the time?" you reel it in, you stow it away, you store it up. As for how that fits with the content of the verses, I'd have to think about that some more. But I guess for example, "the weekend in the college didn't turn out like you planned" suggest someone who kind of ... you know, like taking photos all the time for the album, instead of letting experiences happen. So there you go, that's my take today.
Finally back to the Dan! After 50 years their music still sounds so fresh, sophisticated and not a bit outdated. And there a still so many songs to discover. Surely not only one of the greatest bands of the seventies but in the whole history of music
I feel so blessed my formative music years were listening to Steey Dan, Doobies, Bowie, Rush, Pink Floyd, Led zeplin, Eagles, Little River Band, Thin Lizzy, Be Bop Deluxe, Elton john to name a few! Glad your loving SD!
As for "reeling," I think they're punning with both meanings -- the first that Alex defined, but also "to lose one's balance and stagger or lurch violently."
🥰 I love Any World! 1 of my favorites by Steely Dan! Never could figure out why this song didn't get more airplay on the radio! 😊🐰
Awesome! I remember when you started down the Steely Dan hole. We all told you it was both tremendous and deep and it was pretty clear you didn't know what you were about to get in to. So glad you fell in properly.
Reelin’ In The Years is still so good after listening to it for the 2000th tine! Boston Rag refers to a style of Jazz!
Good God you two are just beaming when the Dan is around!!!!!🤣
So glad you finally reacted to Reelin in the Years. One of my favs. Love the two lead guitars. The bass style was innovative for the time.
Woo hoo!! to JK- you picked some doozies!! Nick and Lex, it's so great to be back watching you enjoy more Steely Dan! I loved both of your air guitar playing during the wonderful "dirty" guitar solo on "Boston Rag"! Others have already filled you in about the great Victor Feldman on vibes and Skunk on pedal steel, but did you know that's the great jazz bassist Ray Brown also, on "Razor Boy"? I always loved "Monkey In Your Soul" as the album closer on Pretzel Logic. "Any World" has the great Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine. Enjoy your new handful of Dan!!
🎵❤️🎵
Hi Debra great shout out to Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew. We need to get NicknLex to check on Glen Campbel, maybe Wichita Lineman. Nick needs to see and hear some of Glen Campbel’s guitar playing.
Thank you Debra - I felt we needed to explore some early Dan. Glad you liked the choices!
Great reaction. You, of all the other Steely Dan "reactors", can really "get" all the complicated soup of styles, perfectionism, and impressive performances from all the musicians that passed through the band. Maybe because you are musicians and very intelligent, both of you. And I'm glad more people will be mocked for listening to Steely Dan 24 hours a day. Someone has to share this weight with me...
Rag - A style of jazz characterized by elaborately syncopated rhythm in the melody and a steadily accented accompaniment. (And yeah, Lex, from the era of ragtime music - nailed it.)
"Rag" was also common slang for a newspaper back in the day.
@@tommathews3964 That it was.
The Boston Rag refers to a newspaper. Tabloids were called rags in my generation
Great Song!!. The Boston Rag!!. i have to say this is my favorite Steely Dan Song!!. Love Steely Dan!!
What’s a sweet way to begin my Sunday. Don goes vulnerable on Any World in one of the rare shows of emotion from him. Always brings me to tears. Props must be given to Michael McDonald on background vocals. God bless the two of you, as always, and here’s to future Dan down the road!
How wonderfully exciting to find this. Of this set, "Any World" really resonates with me. In fact, I once moved to another city because I felt more welcome there, and this song was on heavy repeat. It was a great move. Gonna go listen now. Y'all relax.
My introduction to Steely Dan was in Spring 1973 when I was a college sophomore. They appeared on the Midnight Special and it was immediately apparent that they were bound for greatness. Bought Can't Buy a Thrill the next day. By the way, it is on youtube and definitely worth a listen
I do love Gaucho and Aja but early Dan is the grit in the oyster. Can't Buy a Thrill is one of my favourite albums of all time.
There were 2 other songs from the first album that Fagen didn’t sing on. Those were “Midnite Cruiser” and “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)”.
Midnight Cruiser is one of my top 5 Dan songs, not because of Fagen not singing on it, just because of how it was arranged and produced. That guitar riff goes right to my soul.
Yes, David Palmer sang lead on "Dirty Work" and "Brooklyn" and the band's original drummer Jim Hodder sang lead on "Midnite Cruiser" (as well as on the A-side of their ultra-rare first single "Dallas," released just before the album).
The guitar work on "Brooklyn..." is like fast flowing syrup - it's not spectacular but it's just ear-balm to listen to, Well worth a visit sometime.
Brooklyn still one of the songs I never get enough of . Jeff Baxter on pedal steel guitar!
Hi Guys ! A Steely Dan Marathon ! All those tracks through the 70's then 80's ... Great you are going back ... reeling in the years with this group for sure. [ 🤪couldn't resist ] We are so lucky that Walter Becker & Donald Fagen found that production values were so important to them to maintain top notch recordings of their music. Their sonic reproductions coming through my speakers with such clarity is as much a joy as the music itself. They were without doubt genius to realize a recording studio can make or break a song, so decided to be their own masters in that process. Nick said, he hasn't found a bad Steely Dan track.....Nick I have searched ...& there isn't one !!! Dig for Opals ...the odds are more in your favour ! Byeee Jim X
How does each listening to any Steely Dan song always sound better than the last? There’s just so much to appreciate!
So good!! Thank you so much for covering these awesome songs! Love you two! 💕
Love listening to SD with you both!
Every Steely Dan song is wholly unique, but unmistakably identifiable as a work of none other than Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. They are like those magnificent Faberge eggs, each a brilliant expression, sui generis, unlike any other, and yet still an egg at heart. No, there are no bad Steely Dan songs, just gems.
Such a treat to wake up on a sunny Sunday morning to watch you experience these for the first time!
I like the Faberge egg analogy and agree completely!
Boston Rag harmonies always remind me of CSNY. This is a blast.
I absolutely agree about the harmonies.
Can't Buy A Thrill was one of my first albums at, I want to say 12 or 13, when it first came out and Reelin in the Years is what made me get it.. and I have been a fan ever since. Fast forward to around 1975 and The Aja album accompanied us to our annual vacation at the lake and was played on repeat constantly. I never grow tired of hearing songs for the first time from this group.. with the many albums they have, I know I've not heard all of them. Thanks guys.. Glad that you discovered them and fell in love too. Janie Runaway is one of my favorite tracks, hope you get around to it soon!
I'm glad to see you reacting to more SD. You're both so overjoyed when you do, and it's totally understood. Great marathon reaction. I love being a part of this journey with you, and Steely Dan, and I still wish you could have known these songs sooner, and have enjoyed them for longer. But, here you are, and I am here too, with you.
Holy cow guys I didn't realize you hadn't reacted to Reelin' yet! It is so so good. Pretty sure Jimmy Page said Elliot Randalls solo was a 12 out of 10! Elliot does a nice interview on Rock History Music YT channel about the solo. Such a humble human being . Just great. The drums are great on here too!
All such good songs. Reelin’ in The Years is a classic-even for people that aren’t fans of Steely Dan. The Boston Rag features some of the best guitar work of any of their songs in my opinion. Razor Boy is such a fun song with pretty dark lyrics; a very interesting contrast. Any World is one of the better ones from Katy Lied. One of the few Steely Dan songs with a key change. Great choices!
I always put Daddy Don't Live in New York City.... after The Boston Rag! on playlists....(that crunchy guitar OMG.)
That’s Michael McDonald on backing vocals on “Any World”.
You are now becoming Steely Dan Veterans---now in a position to "press" others that have not heard to listen and enjoy the way we all do.
The slide guitar on "Razor Boy", like the Patsy Cline song the other day, is a pedal steel guitar, used mostly in country music. You sit behind its stand-mounted horizontal neck, and work foot pedals and knee levers which bend strings as you play it with a metal bar (usually in E9th tuning). There are videos on its history and operation. The vibraphone on the song is played by Victor Feldman, an English jazz musician who played vibes, keyboards, and percussion on seven S.Dan albums, including some piano parts I had assumed were Fagen. See the entry about him on Wikipedia.
Yes. Pedal steel guitar is not common in rock or jazz. But it adds so much atmosphere here. And on Razor Boy it's played by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who left SD to join the Doobie Bro's.
So cool to see the first time hearing reactions to such musical and lyrical mastery. Fagen's voice serves the function of being another instrument, perfectly set, with phrasing and expression that expertly suits the lyric and mood. x
Oh this is great you guys - this band has such a cool vibe and always excellent lyrics. Fun to see you moving to the great beat 😊Thanks so much for posting and reacting to this!🧡
So happy to finally have you back to the Dan, been missing it 😊
The Boston Rag is a perfect little song... the lyrics (even tho unclear), the melody, the solo, it's little bit of perfection. Boston Rag either refers to a newspaper or a jazzy song/dance of the 1920s. The verses are definitely about an unfortunate drug situation with Lonnie, who was apparently a real person
Wonderful wonderful wonderful! So pleased for you both. Gotta love The Dan
I was a sophomore in High School in ‘72. Got my drivers license that year. I remember Reeling in the Years coming on the AM radio in the car and I was hooked. I have all their vinyl. Good times.
50 years Nick! Can't Buy a Thrill came of in '72. Pretty amazing as it still sounds fresh, not dated, at least not to me.
The compositions holds, but that fuzz box guitar distortion sound pretty darn dated (ord just bad).
Looks like the record collection behind you is growing. So cool to see so many classics.
Razor Boy is a prelude to more and more jazzy Steely Dan.
What a great surprise, a Steely Dan marathon. Thank you two you made my weekend!
Elliot Randall on the lead guitars in Reelin' In the Years. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Denny Dias who played wonderful solos on other Dan songs (especially Dias who lasted several years in the band) are both excellent players but Fagen and Becker were such perfectionists I guess they chose the Randall solos -- and in hindsight, who can blame them?
If you haven't done "Chain Lightning", "Here at the western world" or "East St. Louis Toodle-oo" (an ode to Duke Ellington), you need to try those next. Great reaction. Good to see Lex doing better.
On the first album there are THREE songs that Donald Fagen doesn't sing: Dirty Work, Midnite Cruiser, and Brooklyn ( Owes the Charmer Under Me ). David Palmer sings Dirty Work and Brooklyn. Midnite Cruiser is sung by then-drummer Jim Hodder. Fagen also sings along with Palmer on three songs: Only a Fool Would Say That, Change of the Guard and Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.
...love the steely dan reactions, guys! - i have no idea how you have been able to resist diving into all those temptacious dan lp's - i am totally in awe - y'all must be possessed of godlike willpower!!
Rag is a type of music from the late 1890s and early 1900s. You have piano rags and guitar rags. The genre is called Ragtime and a piece of music is called Rag.
The piano music they play in Saloons in Western movies is Rag/ Ragtime.
It is an offshoot of blues. If you want to listen to an example of piano rag, listen to
SCOTT JOPLIN - THE ENTERTAINER
An example of guitar rag is
SYLVESTER WEAVER - GUITAR RAG.
Rag is also the dress or cloake a poor/homeless person wears.
REELING: Fishermen often lean at the reeling if a ship/fishing boat to do the fishing.
Reel is also a type of Irish/Celtic folk music which is mostly instrumental and fast paced.
Sorry Narvik, but Janis Joplin's father's name was Seth. Scott Joplin was African American and died in 1917.
You made a good point about the difference between their early stuff and later stuff. The way I see it, if you listen to them in chronological order, it’s almost like they were giving the audience a little more jazz on each record. It was almost like they were saying “you’ll like this sound if you give it a chance, just trust us”. They add a few harmonic jazz elements early on to get your ear used to that kind of sophisticated harmony and then by the time you get to Aja you have a full on jazz fusion record where all of the rock players like Skunk, Rick Derringer, etc have been replaced by guys like Steve Gadd, Steve Khan, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Victor Feldman, the Brecker Brothers, Tom Scott, etc. the credits on those later albums mimic the contemporary jazz records of the time so they were not hiding it at all that they were trying to infuse as much jazz as possible into their songs but they still made it accessible and could still have a hit like Peg on the radio. Their early stuff definitely has more edge which a lot of people don’t really expect if they’re more familiar with the later stuff. Their early stuff has more in common with bands like Traffic, The Band, Santana, Early Chicago etc.
What could be better? NicknLex and 5 Steely Dan songs! I'm losing touch with which Dan songs you still have to hear. Perhaps you should post a list of songs reacted to, so that we can request the balance! You guys and Steely Dan are a match made in heaven xx
Fun Fact: the band was named after a prosthetic phallus from a novel. Becker and Fagen never really thought of themselves as a touring band, they preferred studio sessions. Toto's Jeff Porcaro once drummed for Steely Dan. The actor Chevy Chase was their drummer before they became Steely Dan.
OMG back on the Dan thanks guys I just can’t wait for you too hear TWO AGAINST NATURE you’ll burst with appreciation of this phenomenal band. ❤ 33:23
Two Against Nature is the best. My go to album CD whatever.
A rag in the case of The Boston Rag is not a cloth but a musical form of syncopated treble melody with an alternated bass clef rhythm of eighth notes that creates a certain kind of ostinato patterned in song form made famous by Scott Joplin in the early 1900s. Wonderful reaction to all these songs, but I must say I may never be able to watch again because when Lex air-guitared the lead guitar to The Boston Rag, it was so beautifully mesmerizing I fainted and face planted into my coffee table.
Rag Time! 😁🐰
My brother played rag time on the piano in college. He said it's one of the hardest music forms to play on the keyboard because the bottom hand bounces between chords. The song Boston Rag isn't a Rag. It might hint at one in a couple places.
@@johndoh5182 true. More a song reminiscing about ragtime in Steely Dan's curious perspective.
@@johndoh5182 🤗 We tap danced to Rag Time! 🤔 It felt like a staccato syncopation rhythm. My friend was in the Broadway Play, Rag Time. My mom was sick, so I didn't try out in 2009 when they revived the play on Broadway for a Limited Run. 😏 I definitely knew the play from helping my friend rehearse back in 😒 1998.... 😳🙄 I feel old now! 🤭
@@cityhonors1 Ragtime is a great musical! My son played 6 different characters in it, when he was in high school.
Cool to see you find "Boston Rag" and "Monkey in Your Soul". They are a couple of Steely Dan's "bad" songs. "Any World" is an under-appreciated masterpiece. You have at least 40 more SD songs worth loving and 20 more worth hearing several times. I only "Spotify like" my absolute faves and there are 80. I don't even "like" but about 4 after Aja. I saw Larry Carlton live in the mid-80s because of Steely Dan.
Always great to hear more Steely Dan 👍🏽👍🏽
Just think about it. Today, we can listen to this anytime we want.Growing up, it was only on the radio.
I think I’ve seen every Steely Dan video, but I don’t think I’ve heard them play “Show Biz Kids”, which is certainly a top tier song of theirs!
I love watching you discover The Dan.
And I'm very curious what you will think of the rest of their earlier stuff.
Nobody ever mentions With a Gun, which is on my perfect songs playlist forever.
Love from Dortmund, Germany
Good to see you doing well.
Actually, Victor Feldman plays Vibraphone and Marimba, which are both sort of like a xylophone, but not the same. He's played 'Vibes' for so many musicians its just crazy.
It's definitely just vibraphone on "Razor Boy," which has metal plates instead of wooden ones like the marimba and xylophone.
@@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy Yes, but I was referring to the entire album. He does play marimba on a track from this album, but at the moment I can't recall which one.
@@bmac1205 I feel as though "Show Biz Kids" had marimba in it.
The double entendre is that "reel" does mean what Lex thought, but also, a "reel" is a kind of Irish folk dance, and the rythym of this song is in the form of a reel. The "xylophone" is actually a "vibraphone", a much larger and more technical cousin of the xylophone, often heard in jazz. The "slide" guitar is actually Skunk Baxter playing Pedal Steel guitar, popular in both country and Hawaiian music. Its also sometimes called a "lap steel" guitar since it either rests atop both legs, or on a short table that has pedals to accentuate some of the glides. The Boston Rag is a made-up style of lost jazz music. Rag also is old American slang for a newspaper. Hope this is helpful. This was a nice sample of songs!
"Ragtime music" is also a real thing, not a made up thing, and was a particular type of New Orleans style jazz that was popular at the turn of the 20th century. It was the style of music that the Charleston was danced to ( what now is popular as "shuffle dancing" or" cutting shapes", a 100 year old dance form now done to modern music)
As Nick has commented many times on Donald Fagen's voice, it's been quite the journey to hear him evolve over the years, into a "state of the art" male vocalist..If you guys could please give "Maxine", from the Nightfly LP, you will once again "get it" Love your Dan Journey! #nicknlexrequest
I can’t wait to see and hear your reaction to Jack of Speed, from the multi Grammy winning Two Against Nature. It’s the nearest to an eighth Aja track they got.
Donald is not usually grumpy,he,s sarcastically funny. He is highly intelligent,and I believe it's hard for him to deal with mediocrity, especially when he,s recording in the studio!
I am so glad to see your appreciation for them. I have been a fan since I heard Reelin in the years! Seen them 7 times live and can consider them one of my favorites if not my favorite of all time. Seeing younger people enjoy this music makes me happy 😊😊
🤭 Xylophone Nightmares include figuring out how to set up 2 (not 1 but 2) on stage for Oingo Bongo who regularly played the Ritz in NYC! I laughed so hard watching them figure out how to put all that equipment on stage for all those people without splitting up the horn section. 🤗 I was so glad that wasn't my job that night! 😒 I did have a "too many people" problem at BB Kings Blues Club when George Clinton & P Funk played. 😏 I said "f' it", moved a table & put all the horns on the floor & roped them off in a little VIP section. They thought I was crazy, 🤣 but it worked & the crowd loved it! 😉🐰
Boston Rag an underrated rocker over looked in it’s day.
Any World is one of my favorite musical moments from any artist, ever... Just sublime.
Amen! What a brilliant album.
It's so great to see how you guys have come this far with Steely Dan. The contrast between almost deciding not hearing it because of people not believing that you never heard of them, to becoming huge fans and even wearing their shirts in your reactions! Could you imagine if you guys would have decided not to cut them off and not hear them at all? You would have missed out on all these great moments and the fact that we wouldn't have enjoyed them with you. Always great to see you guys reacting to the genius of the Dan!
Yay! Thanks & Love to all ❤!!
There you are! Hope you and your mom are doing well!💗💗
Was getting worried about you @Michele Meichele
I was going to write a long,verbose comment but I think it will suffice to say as I already have: You never grow out of Steely Dan ...you grow into them_ Jack (a 70 year old fan)
It was so much fun as always watching you react to SD, you're positively giddy! What a great selection of tunes. The Boston Rag is friggin' magnificent, one of my top 5 SD songs. As for Alexia shifting in her seat, the only thing that bothers us is thinking that she's that uncomfortable while trying to enjoy the music. Hope you can resolve that before too long. (BTW did you catch Michael McDonald on backing vocals in "Any World"?)
Well, this just turned into a great weekend! A Steely Dan marathon? Joy!
This video gave me more joy than any I can think of. Boston Rag, Razor Boy and Any World are among my all time faves. Watching your stank faces brought me back to myself in the 70's.
On *Can't Buy a Thrill,* David Palmer performed the lead vocals on *Dirty Work* and *Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)* and backing vocals on three other tracks; drummer Jim Hodder performed the lead vocal on *Midnite Cruiser.* Neither *Brooklyn* nor *Midnite* were released as singles (and are rarely if ever played in concert) but they're both amazing songs worthy of your time and attention.
I've been waiting for you to hear Razer boy what a great song!
The Boston rag is a news paper and nick name for the Boston Herald
Reeling in the years was first song I heard in 1973. 🎸😎
Hey guys, Ned frm Spain here to say it's wonderful to see you both digging deeper into the early albums. The first 2 had the original members, Becker, Fagen, Jim Hodder, Jeff skunk Baxter, Denny Diaz, with guest players who will continue to come and go all through their history. Reeling features the amazing Elliot Randall with a legendary solo, that might have been a one take. Boston Rag has Skunk Baxter, as others have said a " Rag" refers to Ragtime jazz and the song is about a guy who's dealer buddy OD's but recovers after 48 hrs. Razor has Baxter on pedal steel not slide guitar. Monkey is very funky and Any World features drum god Hal Blaine and Michael McDonald on harmonies. That last song is one of our top 5 SD songs. I wish you had said more about it. I hope you dive in to Pretzel Logic's " Charlie Freak " some day.
I heard that The low bass on Monkey in your soul mimics how you feel when you do heroin… I wonder if this tune was mostly composed by Walter
A "Rag" is a type of dance that became popular in the US in the early 1900's. A Rag was performed to the accompaniment of what was called "Ragtime" music, first made popular by composer Scott Joplin.
Steely Dan was once (and best) described as "Steely Dan sounds the way leather smells". The opening of "Any World" illustrates that perfectly.
im 72, and an dan addict, but you guys give me a new apprieciation ,peace.
27:40 lol the laugh cry with ya...lol
first time hearing this too!
I feel like we are back to normal now that you two are listening to Steely Dan again. 😊
PS Did that dude in the front row in the blue shirt at the concert last night make it home ok? He looked like he had voted yes on legalizing mushrooms. 😃
🤗 3 words.... 🤭 I need snacks! 😁 This is gonna be awesome! 🥰🐰
A bit of trivia on Reelin' is that guitar player Elliot Randall came in ran the the song first take and everyone said perfect that's it and the engineer didn't record it, he thought it was a practice run. So he had to try and recreate what he did the first take. So we will never know how good the first take that everyone loved of Reelin' actually was.
Hi NicknLex, yes you cannot go wrong with the 'Dan' and so glad you have got around to The Boston Rag at last. Was a joy to see you enjoying it so much as well as all the others!
Awesome reactions Nick and Alexia!! Thanks again so much for the mention 🥰 Great analysis and detailed listening, I’m paying attention and hearing some new things in these songs thanks to you. I think you’re both well on your way to enjoying and loving Steely Dan as much as I do 😁✨💯 Btw, The Boston Rag is one of my favorites, and SD opened with it at Red Rocks in July 2015 and it sounded phenomenal, especially the guitars 🎸✨💯
Dude, so nice to have you on here. I can already see us sitting in the studio analyzing the Dan and playing along! 🎸 It's also great to have a fellow Citizen Dan follower, too!
Love it!❤ I’ll pack my thangs and run so far from here 😎🔥
From what I could gather on the interwebs, the "Boston Rag" is more of a state of mind.. the song, purportedly has to do with drugs.. waiting by the phone to hear from a dealer (Lonnie).. anyway, regardless, it has a great rhythm and cool vibe!
Finally at last, Reeling in the Years. I bought this album 50 years ago and it’s been Steely Dan forever baby. Your right that’s Walter on bass he is way underrated on the bass. David Palmer sings 2 songs on Thrill and the drummer Jim Hodder sings lead on Midnight Cruiser. Fagen, David, and Walter all sing and harmonize on Turn that Heartbeat. That’s the mighty Jeff Skunk Baxter on lead guitar on The Boston Rag. He plays pedal steel guitar on Razor Boy ( one of my favorites). Ray Brown on Upright Bass and Victor Feldman on Vibes on Razor Boy. Countdown to Ecstasy defined my teenage years. Monkey in your Soul a great deeper cut. I 🤔 think Walter plays some fuzz bass on Monkey in Your Soul. Great reaction hearing Fagen’s vocals evolve he is untouchable in my opinion. I always felt that Anyworld is a reflection of Walters hard experiences growing up. A lot of what your hearing as slide is Jeff Skunk Baxter on the electric pedal steel guitar. An instrument typical in country and western. He is still playing and recently released an album The Speed Of Heat. From can’t Buy a Thrill check out Fire in the Hole. Fagen’s piano is brilliant and Jeff Skunk Baxter lights it up with the Pedal Steel Guitar. When you get trine to do Show Biz Kids wear your Countdown to Ecstasy Steely Dan T shirt and you will hear the great Rick Derringer on SLIDE guitar. Katy Lied is where you hear Michael McDonald on their recordings for the first time. I could go on and on.
GREAT REACTORS REACTING TO STEELY DAN. You guys are the best love all your reactions.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Curious have you checked your mail wondering if my package arrived??
I'm sure I read somewhere that "Any World" did have something to do with Walter's troubled childhood, I just don't remember the source.
Hi Debra, I’m sure I read that to I can’t remember either. There is a song from the early days A Little With Sugar that relates to Walters mother. There is after cover of it by Anthony Robustelli.
@@scottanderson8420 Thanks, Scott, I'll check it out!
@@debrabrabenec3731 here is that link to A little with Sugar cover by Anthony Robustelli, he has a whole record of interpretations of a lot of the early raw demo Steely Dan tracks and the lost Gaucho cuts. I believe that A Little with sugar is about Walters mother and tough childhood. ruclips.net/video/njNUGNoWxsw/видео.html
So much fun watching you guys getting into The Dan! Great music that gets better and better the more you listen to it. Like Santana! I call Monkey in Your Soul, FUNKY IN YOUR SOUL, the groove is so FUNKY. Can't wait till you get to Two Against Nature. Masterpiece!
Thanks guys and welcome back! To the US and to Steely Dan! I have literally heard these songs 1000's of times and they never tire, because it's Steely Dan and their music is so good it's timeless. Check out "Ragtime" with Scott Joplin. You guys are awesome!