Down the drain... Mine's down there somewhere, too. Let me know if you find it. The Midnight Special is sort of the Smithsonian of 70s live rock music. I'd have been 10 years old at the time of this one, but watched a lot of the the originals a bit later on. Of course wouldn't have remotely been able to fully appreciate what what I was seeing like I can now.
Page only said that in the context of the songs he was played (eight as I recall) and asked to judge, inpromtu on some show the name of which, I forget. He didn't mean it was one of his favorites of all time. It's one of MINE, however. LOL.
@@allancerf9038 "When looking back on his career, Page previously told Rolling Stone that his favourite Led Zeppelin riff was ‘Kashmir’. Outside of Led Zeppelin’s discography and his own work, though, the legendary guitarist names his favourite guitar solo of all time as Elliott Randall’s riff in ‘Reelin’ In The Years’ by Steely Dan during a 1999 interview with Classic Rock." Also the RUclips video - Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10
@@bigelile07 Not true and why are you using multiple handles? Smoke14 replied to me not biglile07. Well, Smoke-Lile. The only thing you omitted was the truth. Here's a cut and paste from the Classic Rock Magazine, you misquoted. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time. Your 'methodology' is the equivalent of learning self-defense at some shaky strip mall - FIGURATIVELY speaking only of course, you'll only manage to get yourself hurt. Again, Page, gave a '12' when asked to (rather reluctantly it must be said) rate various solos, including one of his own session era solos and Reelin' in the Years. For the purposes OF THAT BROADCAST. In no way was it a Desert Island Disc of his favorite solos. In other words, dude, if someone came up to smokebig 14-07 and said "off this list which is best?" you'd rate accordingly. Though no one will solicit your opinion in this fashion of course. I'll now invoice you and block you.
@@allancerf9038 Well, I was responding to Allan Cerf 🤔 and I didn't misquote anything. I copied & pasted exactly what the interview said. You copied & pasted a statement that was made to Elliot Randall trying to debunk the interview which makes no sense. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time. ER: …and a wonderful compliment, too! Yes the video was only a few guitarists, but that doesn't outweigh the Rolling Stone Magazine article. All of your other ramblings are just plain weird. 😂
It's funny sometimes to see younger women reacting to some of those 70s performances, with the infertility inducingly tight jeans. And of course the horrible shirt button shortage.
I like how people these days think being "edgy" is all about what clothes you wear and how cool looking their sleeve tats are compared to their buddy's... 😂 I've just always called it posing.
Fagen singing his heart out (I love his range here), even though he's dealing with such stage fright that his hand on the mic is shaking at several points, is really admirable. And of course Skunk going ham on the guitar is awesome.
@@ToluRobertsonFagen always had pretty bad stage fright, particularly when singing, and they used to have a different vocalist for live performances because of it.
@@Dremth I saw S.D. at Red Rocks, 2nd row, in 2010, great show but Fagen stayed tucked in his little keyboard cocoon and didn't stray from it much. They even had music stands across the stage that blocked him very effectively from my sight.
Snap same here. I think I was in America when this came out. I can still listen to this on a loop and never get tired of it. As a guitar player, it is one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard. Never mastered it myself, still trying. Absolutely Brilliant.
Damn. Even though I was born in 99 I grew up with this kind of music. My favorite band is Foghat which they featured on this show which they also have on this channel. I have many favorites from the 70s but if I had to choose one it’s gotta be Foghat. I love this song too. It’s great. I pretty much love the 70s hard rock songs.
Jeff as a child: "Mom I'm gonna grow up and be a famous guitarist." Mom: "That's nice dear." Jeff: "And I'm gonna be a Federal Marshall." Mom: "heh heh okay, well we'll see...." Jeff: "And work for the department of defense and pentagon!!" Mother "Honey, you are getting yourself worked up."
Newriverpearl ~ l was born in '65 and lived through it. l agree with you. lt was an AMAZING decade for music! l was into the Prog stuff, but Steely Dan was WAAY up there, as l was into jazz. The groups seemed to concentrate on _melody_ more than just rhythm. Not many people could draw me to a concert these days. Maybe Steve Hackett, or Wakeman. Anyway...have a good summer, and keep enjoying good tunes! ~ Van BC :)
Elliott Randall, a studio musician, was the lead on the recorded version of this tune. He was Jimmy Page's favorite guitarist, for a while. Jeff seems to have been credited, but it's not so.
Apologies to those who have read this in my other Steely Dan-related video comments, but for those who haven't there's a little-known story about the creator of these now-legendary guitar solos, Elliott Randall. On Dec. 4, 1966, The Yardbirds played at Lima, Ohio's Springbrook Gardens Teen Club (you can Google the show poster), a venue just 20 miles east of my parents' farm. I was a month shy of my 16th birthday and excited to see both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck that Sunday, but Beck was a no-show (having returned to London after becoming upset with the conditions on their U.S. tour). So we all had to make do with the solo guitar stylings of Mr. Jimmy Page. What I didn't know until 50 years later (from watching RUclips interviews) was that the crowd that day included 19 year-old NYC native Elliott Randall (then a guitar teacher at Lima's Custom Percussion Music Store), who also introduced himself to Page at the concert. Fast-forward to August 1972 when Randall is brought into the studio by Becker & Fagen to compose and play the iconic solos on "Reelin' In the Years" -- solos which Jimmy Page would later famously rate "12 on a scale of 10," and said made him rethink his whole approach to guitar solos. Randall was asked to join Steely Dan, but turned down the offer (correctly guessing that Becker & Fagen had no long-term interest in being a touring rock band). After concluding their "Pretzel Logic" album tour in July of 1974, Steely Dan would not resume touring until August of 1993. By that time, drummers Jim Hodder (shown here) and Jeff Porcaro had both passed on way too soon. Check out the RUclips video "Reelin' in the Years - multicam" to see original guitarist Elliott Randall playing these solos live with Steely Dan at London's Wembley Arena in 2019, more than 46 years after first recording them in the studio. The camera work is shaky, but still worth watching.
@@edd7812 Even earlier than that (in the fall of 1965) I saw future Steely Dan session guitarist Rick Derringer and his band The McCoys at the Van Wert, Ohio County Fairgrounds. He was 18 and I was 14, and I knew I was watching a guitar prodigy.
The video tape of the performance sat on a shelf for all these years until someone with a functioning broadcast tape machine, probably 2 inch quad, got the privilege to play it back and capture it in a digital format. I'm sure they were rocking out while transferring this footage for us to enjoy. Thank you very much.
Jenny Soule and Gloria Granola are the ladies and Royce Jones in the gentleman. Royce sang a lot of backup with the Dan. He also did a great lead vocal on "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" during a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant in 1974 ruclips.net/video/c8DoIC5tJw0/видео.html
@@floydnut5908My understanding is that the rights fees for a live performance on a syndicated show were prohibitively expensive which is why Bandstand always had performers lip sync
@@bobbbobb4663 Besides, _American Bandstand_ having performers mime to the recording gave to posterity a hilarious "performance" by PiL where John Lydon refused to play along and instead pulled audience members onto the stage to dance.
This is absolutely priceless. What a guitar solo and Fagan is incredible and noticably nervous, his fingers are trembling, don't blame him. This is such a classic song. The women are perfect.
@@Ruprect44 I didn't know that about him, and I've got mad respect for him. I've got respect for all artists who perform despite stage fright or social phobias. (I know there are many who have risen to his level of career success.) Sounds like a more likely explanation than cocaine. For a person with anxieties, cocaine would probably not be their friend. (I have anxieties, and the thought of stimulant drugs scares me. I have to be careful around caffeine!) My guess was not meant as a slight against him, just a comment on that time in the music industry. Coke was everywhere. I thought it was a reasonable guess.
@@kevinmc4500 Skunk Baxter bounced between Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (and many other acts as a session player), like a lot of players. Get to know him - he's a fantastic player and a fun showman!
1974,I’m 9 years old and I crave watching “The Midnight Special” every Friday night at MIDNIGHT! Wolfman Jack, and Steely Dan …doesn’t get any better than Rock N Roll!
My dad was a rock n roller. He used to go trade 8-track tapes at a shop that specialized in home and car stereos and would give you a tape if you left one. He popped this tape into the player, cranked up the Jensen sound system and that guitar wailed out of the speakers. I was in love. Still am, 50 years on.
Hard to tell what’s more awesome about these Midnight Special clips - how much the backup singers are selling it, Skunk Baxter tearing it up, or Fagan just being cool.
May 73". 16 year old runaway from Indiana, hitchhiking from Jacksonville to St Augustine on A1A. Heard this for the first time on a cheap plastic 9v transistor radio. Fan ever since. Even 51 years later, whenever I hear it, I still can feel the ocean breeze blowing through the dune grasses, smell the salt air and smell and feel the heat from the asphalt. It got heavy rotation that summer.
Saw them play at Santa Monica Civic 11/5/73 (I think) and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I literally couldn't tell the difference between their live performance vs studio, it was that perfect.
So many awesome performances on Midnight! The audience was into it, the bands were into it, I worked so well. Some of the best live performances right here!!!!
It's virtually impossible to say no to auto tune, lip syncing and, above all, corporate greed. You should learn to live with mediocrity and blandness presented by today's "musicians" and celebrities.
Can you believe it's been 52 years since I sat in the stands at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas to watch Elton John and his yellow brick road tour and this band and these people these folks were the opening band. My introduction to Steely Dan❤❤❤
Like hi-hats, tambourines cut through just about any mix and bleed into every open microphone. Plus you’ve got three of them going, with the backup singers and percussionist, all of whom have vocal mics soaking up all that high-end sizzle. Mix engineer probably had to do what he could to keep those damn things from taking over the song.
The "Dream Team" would have to include the man, who did the lead guitar work, on the album, Royal Scam. Larry Carlton. Baxter is one of my favorite guitarists, but both Denny Dias, and Larry Carlton are *so* much better. Edit: Thank you to @CaptainRon1913. I forgot to put the album, 'Royal Scam'.
@@whyis45stillalive Larry Carlton didn't play on Can't buy a Thrill, Jeff Baxter did. Carlton played on Katy Lied, and Royal Scam. Both albums were awesome IMO. This Midnight special lineup with Baxter and Dias played on the first two albums, Can't buy a Thrill, and Pretzel Logic.
Steely Dan, otherwise known as "Donald Fagen + whoever is good enough to be in the band". But I could mute the sound to these videos and still be a Jeff Baxter fan, because he is just so clearly putting 110% into his guitar work.
@michaelkstahl Not to be argumentative, but Jeff Baxter was not a session player for Steely Dan, but a founding member. He left in 1974 to play for the Doobie Brothers. You are correct that he was a session player for many others.
@michaelkstahl You are most definitely right, Steely Dan (Fagan and Becker mostly) hated touring , so they got rid of the rest and hired session players.
There was a fascinating interview with Burt Sugarman on the Bob Leftsetz podcast. He mentioned that he made sure he hired the best sound people available in Hollywood, at the time when everybody else was content to just have everybody lip sync. At the very end of this clip, you see what the mobile camera operator had to carry. It looked to be the same era of equipment featured in the recent documentary _Summer of Soul._ Those cameras weighed nearly 70 lb! Thanks again for making this available, Mr. Sugarman!
The Don is nervous AF! Look at his hand shaking on the mic. Still smashed it though. As someone else who has stage fright it's great to see how well they played. Still pretty fast though lol
@@MrDano1138 He's actually been touring! But yeah, he apparently parlayed his expertise in digital recording techniques into national security expertise.
Friday night, August 31, 1973 - another school year getting started. Lots of possibilities and new experiences just around the corner. And those years flew by!
This was recorded a few days after I was born. I loved Steely Dan growing up. 50 years later Steely Dan still sounds great in light of todays music. I just saw a brief video where it explains how Steely Dan mocks John Lennons Imagine and I have that much more respect for Steely Dan now.
And Walter was shy for a long time about playing at the front of the stage as well. It wasn't until they toured in the 90s that Walter took guitar leads on songs like "Josie" and "FM", and even then, he preferred to have guys like Jon Herrington do the solo guitar work - like everyone else in the modern touring Steely Dan band, a phenomenal musician. Even Donald wanted another keyboardist besides himself. The great ones always want to work with the best, and Becker and Fagan, who were incredibly talented, knew their strength was songwriting and their vision was to have their songs performed by the greatest musicians - their gift was finding them and getting them to play like they did.
@@glennhavinoviski8128 I was friendly with Walter and played with him a little bit. As a jazz musician, I didn’t know who we was when a mutual friend invited us both over for a jam session at his apartment in the city. One day he came down to a gig, and afterwards we sat down alone, an empty restaurant. We spent couple hours over beers, talking about life and stuff. This is prior to their tour life returning. I spent an hour trying to convince him to try to let me get him a gig at the Vanguard with Donald and a small band, it was a fun conversation he was convinced he wasn’t good enough to play there. I truly lovely, talented and gentle soul: greatly missed by those of us who knew him and his non on stage persona.
I’m undead and roughly 3,197 years old and I only rise once every 3 millennium to visit RUclips and post comments that say real talent, real music, real musicians, and no autotune and things like that. All that said, this was very well done. The red moon sets and so I must return to my infernal grave. Thanks for Reelin' It In
A chance hearing of this track, on the radio, in 1976 at the ripe old age of 20 sent me on a life time of pleasure listening to their music. I'm 67 now and still loving these gems, from the archives, that I've never seen before ❤
Over half a century ago. My God, where has my life gone?
I felt that! 😂
Just reelin in the years!
Was the best time to be young!
I'm. Right. Behind. You. Or in front !
Just glad we still have THIS!! 🎉😊
Down the drain... Mine's down there somewhere, too. Let me know if you find it.
The Midnight Special is sort of the Smithsonian of 70s live rock music. I'd have been 10 years old at the time of this one, but watched a lot of the the originals a bit later on. Of course wouldn't have remotely been able to fully appreciate what what I was seeing like I can now.
When Jimmy Page names this song as having his favorite guitar solo, you know you’re doing something right.
Page only said that in the context of the songs he was played (eight as I recall) and asked to judge, inpromtu on some show the name of which, I forget. He didn't mean it was one of his favorites of all time.
It's one of MINE, however. LOL.
@@allancerf9038 "When looking back on his career, Page previously told Rolling Stone that his favourite Led Zeppelin riff was ‘Kashmir’. Outside of Led Zeppelin’s discography and his own work, though, the legendary guitarist names his favourite guitar solo of all time as Elliott Randall’s riff in ‘Reelin’ In The Years’ by Steely Dan during a 1999 interview with Classic Rock." Also the RUclips video - Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10
@@bigelile07 Not true and why are you using multiple handles? Smoke14 replied to me not biglile07. Well, Smoke-Lile. The only thing you omitted was the truth. Here's a cut and paste from the Classic Rock Magazine, you misquoted. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time.
Your 'methodology' is the equivalent of learning self-defense at some shaky strip mall - FIGURATIVELY speaking only of course, you'll only manage to get yourself hurt.
Again, Page, gave a '12' when asked to (rather reluctantly it must be said) rate various solos, including one of his own session era solos and Reelin' in the Years. For the purposes OF THAT BROADCAST. In no way was it a Desert Island Disc of his favorite solos. In other words, dude, if someone came up to smokebig 14-07 and said "off this list which is best?" you'd rate accordingly. Though no one will solicit your opinion in this fashion of course.
I'll now invoice you and block you.
@@allancerf9038
Well, I was responding to Allan Cerf 🤔 and I didn't misquote anything. I copied & pasted exactly what the interview said.
You copied & pasted a statement that was made to Elliot Randall trying to debunk the interview which makes no sense.
CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time.
ER: …and a wonderful compliment, too!
Yes the video was only a few guitarists, but that doesn't outweigh the Rolling Stone Magazine article. All of your other ramblings are just plain weird. 😂
Probably because it was too difficult to steal the guitar part! LOL
Kids these days may think they're pretty edgy but they'll never reach the zenith of this drummer rocking the mauve overalls with such self-confidence
It's funny sometimes to see younger women reacting to some of those 70s performances, with the infertility inducingly tight jeans. And of course the horrible shirt button shortage.
And one of the most bored expressions on his face of any drummer I've seen (especially on Reelin' in the Years).
I like how people these days think being "edgy" is all about what clothes you wear and how cool looking their sleeve tats are compared to their buddy's... 😂 I've just always called it posing.
And the girls! Those outfits are 🔥
💯
2024 still as fresh and energetic as 50 years ago...amazing
It’s very fresh, that’s why my son is playing it at open mic this weekend!
Fagen singing his heart out (I love his range here), even though he's dealing with such stage fright that his hand on the mic is shaking at several points, is really admirable. And of course Skunk going ham on the guitar is awesome.
I thought the hand shaking was from the copious amount of cocaine.
@@ToluRobertsonFagen always had pretty bad stage fright, particularly when singing, and they used to have a different vocalist for live performances because of it.
Yeah I picked up on that too but Fagen sounded great!
@@Dremth I saw S.D. at Red Rocks, 2nd row, in 2010, great show but Fagen stayed tucked in his little keyboard cocoon and didn't stray from it much. They even had music stands across the stage that blocked him very effectively from my sight.
@@Alphadawg3571 Yeah, I've seen them twice, and he's been towards the back both times.
Man o man we had it good didn't we?
Real good, just didn't know it then . Just havin too much fun being young.😂
My youth sucked, but the music was incredible. I enjoy it even more as an adult.
By God…WE SURE DID!!!!!!!
I graduated in 1976 it was like living in the clouds
So good! So good!!!!! I was 21 when this came out. I'm 71 now. Still listening to Steely Dan!!!!!!
Pretty timeless solo.
This has a chance of being listened to as a piece of nice obscurata in 2200.
Me too! Exactly! (For 12 more days!)
Snap same here. I think I was in America when this came out. I can still listen to this on a loop and never get tired of it. As a guitar player, it is one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard. Never mastered it myself, still trying. Absolutely Brilliant.
Damn. Even though I was born in 99 I grew up with this kind of music. My favorite band is Foghat which they featured on this show which they also have on this channel.
I have many favorites from the 70s but if I had to choose one it’s gotta be Foghat.
I love this song too. It’s great. I pretty much love the 70s hard rock songs.
I was 19. They were on my list of bands whose new album I would buy the day it came out. Never disappointed.
Jeff as a child: "Mom I'm gonna grow up and be a famous guitarist." Mom: "That's nice dear." Jeff: "And I'm gonna be a Federal Marshall." Mom: "heh heh okay, well we'll see...." Jeff: "And work for the department of defense and pentagon!!" Mother "Honey, you are getting yourself worked up."
LMAO! Thanks for that.
And have a monthly column in Guitar Player Magazine titled Eclectic Electric
Ha, ha! He does all that!!
Don't forget an electronics technical expert for Roland.
And play congas like a mad man!!!
Holy crap that’s legitimately one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever seen.
I have never seen these b4 just amazing. The greatest ever
This is good but My Old School was flawless in this Concert.
Seriously, F everyone even trying to top this. LOL
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Nuff said
Thank God for uTube that we can see all these amazing performances from the Midnight Special!!!!
This is probably the most 70's thing ever, but that's what makes it so incredible
Skunk tore that up! He’s still tearing it up!
Is it me, or does Jeff Skunk Baxter look just like Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP?
I thought that was him! I
@@JohnB-dr8sk"Booger!"
I was born in 1989, and I think in the entirety of human history, the 70's was the best time we've EVER had for music. I'll die on this hill.
Newriverpearl ~ l was born in '65 and lived through it. l agree with you. lt was an AMAZING decade for music! l was into the Prog stuff, but Steely Dan was WAAY up there, as l was into jazz. The groups seemed to concentrate on _melody_ more than just rhythm. Not many people could draw me to a concert these days. Maybe Steve Hackett, or Wakeman. Anyway...have a good summer, and keep enjoying good tunes! ~ Van BC :)
57 and lived through this great time as well in my 60’s and still constantly reflecting back- love this post!
Born In 1962. So many artists live on 50-60 years later....
80's !
@@xxllbb55 🤣🤣😂😂😅😅.....😅😅😂😂🤣🤣...... 😅😅😂😂🤣🤣...ya nooo....
This from the days when the music was created by MUSICIANS not just Audio technicians... The energy is AMAZING!
Correct 💯👌
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one underrated guitarist in my opinion. He was great in The Doobie Bros. too.
Actually many guitarists know of him and believe me he is highly regarded.
Elliott Randall, a studio musician, was the lead on the recorded version of this tune. He was Jimmy Page's favorite guitarist, for a while. Jeff seems to have been credited, but it's not so.
I don't think Skunk was so much underrated
as he couldn't care less about the limelight.
@@barroncrist5779 Jeff is a fine guitarist, but not really special amongst his peers. Just my opinion.
Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter jammin like no other, what a talent on guitar!
and now Government Advisor on missile defence ( not kidding!)
Elliot randalls guitar solo on the original track is an amazing piece of music and was perfect for the song.
Apologies to those who have read this in my other Steely Dan-related video comments, but for those who haven't there's a little-known story about the creator of these now-legendary guitar solos, Elliott Randall. On Dec. 4, 1966, The Yardbirds played at Lima, Ohio's Springbrook Gardens Teen Club (you can Google the show poster), a venue just 20 miles east of my parents' farm. I was a month shy of my 16th birthday and excited to see both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck that Sunday, but Beck was a no-show (having returned to London after becoming upset with the conditions on their U.S. tour). So we all had to make do with the solo guitar stylings of Mr. Jimmy Page. What I didn't know until 50 years later (from watching RUclips interviews) was that the crowd that day included 19 year-old NYC native Elliott Randall (then a guitar teacher at Lima's Custom Percussion Music Store), who also introduced himself to Page at the concert. Fast-forward to August 1972 when Randall is brought into the studio by Becker & Fagen to compose and play the iconic solos on "Reelin' In the Years" -- solos which Jimmy Page would later famously rate "12 on a scale of 10," and said made him rethink his whole approach to guitar solos. Randall was asked to join Steely Dan, but turned down the offer (correctly guessing that Becker & Fagen had no long-term interest in being a touring rock band). After concluding their "Pretzel Logic" album tour in July of 1974, Steely Dan would not resume touring until August of 1993. By that time, drummers Jim Hodder (shown here) and Jeff Porcaro had both passed on way too soon. Check out the RUclips video "Reelin' in the Years - multicam" to see original guitarist Elliott Randall playing these solos live with Steely Dan at London's Wembley Arena in 2019, more than 46 years after first recording them in the studio. The camera work is shaky, but still worth watching.
Very interesting.
Much appreciated 🔥💯
Great background! Thanks for posting
@@edd7812 Even earlier than that (in the fall of 1965) I saw future Steely Dan session guitarist Rick Derringer and his band The McCoys at the Van Wert, Ohio County Fairgrounds. He was 18 and I was 14, and I knew I was watching a guitar prodigy.
Great story...thx.
The video tape of the performance sat on a shelf for all these years until someone with a functioning broadcast tape machine, probably 2 inch quad, got the privilege to play it back and capture it in a digital format. I'm sure they were rocking out while transferring this footage for us to enjoy. Thank you very much.
Absolutely love this track. The backup singers are blowing me away. What a gem for Steely Dan lovers.
Jenny Soule and Gloria Granola are the ladies and Royce Jones in the gentleman. Royce sang a lot of backup with the Dan. He also did a great lead vocal on "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" during a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant in 1974 ruclips.net/video/c8DoIC5tJw0/видео.html
Gloria 'Porky' Granola and Jenny 'Bucky' Soule
@@garyrasberryjr.552 Thanks for this. I was intrigued as to who they were.
GOOSE pimples, fer sure....
Epic performance! I wonder how the stage didn’t burn down with all of the fire going on!🔥
So, so very cool to be able to watch this in 2023. Thanks so much Midnight Special. You are bringing back the joy of 70s Rock. Just splendid!
I love how they are really playing and not lip-synching to the studio track.
They would sooner not play at all than lip sync
@Dremth idk bro they lip synced on American bandstand
@@floydnut5908My understanding is that the rights fees for a live performance on a syndicated show were prohibitively expensive which is why Bandstand always had performers lip sync
@@bobbbobb4663 Besides, _American Bandstand_ having performers mime to the recording gave to posterity a hilarious "performance" by PiL where John Lydon refused to play along and instead pulled audience members onto the stage to dance.
@@bobbbobb4663Bandstand was about promoting the records. Midnight Special was about promoting the artists.
Seeing Skunk jam like that is soooo damn cool!!! 🎉
This is absolutely priceless. What a guitar solo and Fagan is incredible and noticably nervous, his fingers are trembling, don't blame him. This is such a classic song. The women are perfect.
I saw his shaking fingers and thought *cocaine.* I always like seeing Skunk Baxter on guitar. I guess this was their touring lineup of the day.
@@beenaplumber8379 Donald Fagan has dealt with pretty bad stage fright his entire career. I'll choose to put the hand trembling on that.
@@Ruprect44 I didn't know that about him, and I've got mad respect for him. I've got respect for all artists who perform despite stage fright or social phobias. (I know there are many who have risen to his level of career success.) Sounds like a more likely explanation than cocaine. For a person with anxieties, cocaine would probably not be their friend. (I have anxieties, and the thought of stimulant drugs scares me. I have to be careful around caffeine!)
My guess was not meant as a slight against him, just a comment on that time in the music industry. Coke was everywhere. I thought it was a reasonable guess.
I thought that was Jim Morrison playing guitar🤣
@@kevinmc4500 Skunk Baxter bounced between Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (and many other acts as a session player), like a lot of players. Get to know him - he's a fantastic player and a fun showman!
1974,I’m 9 years old and I crave watching “The Midnight Special” every Friday night at MIDNIGHT!
Wolfman Jack, and Steely Dan …doesn’t get any better than Rock N Roll!
I was 10 in 1974, and loved watching Midnight Special, too!
The backup singers have such vitality that I find is missing today
Spot on. The 70s were the peak of backing singers. A lot of songs were "made" by them.
It’s the pure joy of life and living
Let go and be like a child again
@@rcd1586 I suspect that joy was at least 25% mannitol
God, l miss music like this, times like this. Today l barely feel like lm living
As long as I have access to rock ‘n’ roll, and music, like this life just keeps going on
Poor Donald -- apparently he suffered major anxiety in SD's early days (he didn't really want to be a frontman). Look at his hands shaking at 0:36!
Background singer for steely dan should go far on a resume
I graduated H S in '73 and this is the stuff we lived on. Steeley Dan, Supertramp, Pink Floyd all good stuff
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Rood
- Frampton comes Alive
- Something/Anything
- Dark Side of the Moon
I was born in 1973 and being a fan of Steely Dan makes me feel i was born 20 years too late!!!!!!
Take it from this 71 year old, your right!
I was born 10 years after you but I still got to see them in live in Florida back in the early 00s!
You're a fan. That means you weren't born too late.
@@UncleBubba13 also I'm the same age and remember Steely Dan songs NEW, so we remember
Coolest back up singers ever! :)
I like how they gave everyone time in front of the camera, including the backup singers.
Walter Becker got the least face time of anyone.
@@traces4011Actually don't know which of these he was!
@VictorianDad long haired guy playing the bass.
Steely Dan ain't just jazzy rock, they were also ROCKN'ROLL! Whew....
I believe the official name of their genre is MENSA Pop, or CB in this case MENSA Rock. Skunk is, after all, a legitimate Rocket Scientist.
My dad was a rock n roller. He used to go trade 8-track tapes at a shop that specialized in home and car stereos and would give you a tape if you left one. He popped this tape into the player, cranked up the Jensen sound system and that guitar wailed out of the speakers. I was in love. Still am, 50 years on.
Hard to tell what’s more awesome about these Midnight Special clips - how much the backup singers are selling it, Skunk Baxter tearing it up, or Fagan just being cool.
Denny Dias steps frowards to join Baxter on the guitar-solo is one of the coolest moments in Steely Dan’s history
Danny diaz. The unsung hero holding down the piano part on the guitar for the verses.
May 73". 16 year old runaway from Indiana, hitchhiking from Jacksonville to St Augustine on A1A. Heard this for the first time on a cheap plastic 9v transistor radio. Fan ever since. Even 51 years later, whenever I hear it, I still can feel the ocean breeze blowing through the dune grasses, smell the salt air and smell and feel the heat from the asphalt. It got heavy rotation that summer.
Was on the road too then, you are talking about freedom here, the real thing. Nice spice for music.
What part of indiana did you want to run away from? I'm north of Fort Wayne. Love Jacksonville Florida btw
Skunk Becker and Walter Baxter, really rocked 🙄 !!!
Jim Hodder drumming ? An effortless fast shuffle whilst singing 👍
Saw them play at Santa Monica Civic 11/5/73 (I think) and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I literally couldn't tell the difference between their live performance vs studio, it was that perfect.
The Midnight Special was the coolest. What the hell happened to the music industry?
Support live music whenever possible.
Just say no to auto tune.
So many awesome performances on Midnight! The audience was into it, the bands were into it, I worked so well.
Some of the best live performances right here!!!!
Greed. Happens to everything good.
Boeing, healthcare, government, auto industry.
MTV - that's what happened.
It's virtually impossible to say no to auto tune, lip syncing and, above all, corporate greed. You should learn to live with mediocrity and blandness presented by today's "musicians" and celebrities.
Wow. What a performance. Donald had terrible stage fright back then (you can see his hand shaking) but man they absolutely nailed it.
Came here to say exactly that. I'm wondering if it's why the song is a bit faster too. When I was a drummer and nervous I tended to start too quick.
@@raymond9642 No doubt. Donald is on the verge of having an anxiety induced heart attack but actually completely nailing it
I remember watching this live. I was 3 years old.
You can tell Donald is scared r/t his hands are shaking along with his voice. Trust me I understand stage fright. One of my all time favorite songs.
I've loved this song for so long.
Beautiful rendition.
I love the duling Telecasters. Who'd have thought.
Can you believe it's been 52 years since I sat in the stands at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas to watch Elton John and his yellow brick road tour and this band and these people these folks were the opening band. My introduction to Steely Dan❤❤❤
Good lord, you can even hear the tambourines. Someone did an amazing job at the mix on this.
Like hi-hats, tambourines cut through just about any mix and bleed into every open microphone. Plus you’ve got three of them going, with the backup singers and percussionist, all of whom have vocal mics soaking up all that high-end sizzle. Mix engineer probably had to do what he could to keep those damn things from taking over the song.
They sure did. And it was all live music. Something you don't see as much anymore.
This is the “Dream Team”! How blessed to be alive when SD we’re creating perfection.
The "Dream Team" would have to include the man, who did the lead guitar work, on the album, Royal Scam. Larry Carlton.
Baxter is one of my favorite guitarists, but both Denny Dias, and Larry Carlton are *so* much better.
Edit: Thank you to @CaptainRon1913. I forgot to put the album, 'Royal Scam'.
@@whyis45stillalive Larry Carlton didn't play on Can't buy a Thrill, Jeff Baxter did. Carlton played on Katy Lied, and Royal Scam. Both albums were awesome IMO. This Midnight special lineup with Baxter and Dias played on the first two albums, Can't buy a Thrill, and Pretzel Logic.
@@CaptainRon1913
Oops I left out the album title. I meant to put 'Royal Scam' after the word, 'album'.
A whole month went by. I'm embarrassed.
Jim Morrison & Skunk Baxter dueling solo. Could listen to it all day.
??
Steely Dan, otherwise known as "Donald Fagen + whoever is good enough to be in the band".
But I could mute the sound to these videos and still be a Jeff Baxter fan, because he is just so clearly putting 110% into his guitar work.
What a tight band with a great live performance!
What a great video!! Skunk Baxter on guitar, Dennis Diaz on Rhythm and Walter on Bass . Vintage DAN!!
Skunk steals this one....outstanding!
@@michaelkstahlPoint being ¿?
@michaelkstahl Not to be argumentative, but Jeff Baxter was not a session player for Steely Dan, but a founding member. He left in 1974 to play for the Doobie Brothers. You are correct that he was a session player for many others.
@@michaelkstahl he barely quotes Randall's solo at all.
@michaelkstahl You are most definitely right, Steely Dan (Fagan and Becker mostly) hated touring , so they got rid of the rest and hired session players.
@@abelincoln3287 🎯
The Midnight Special clips have the BEST audio quality and mix of anything from that era. I can clearly hear every instrument.
There was a fascinating interview with Burt Sugarman on the Bob Leftsetz podcast. He mentioned that he made sure he hired the best sound people available in Hollywood, at the time when everybody else was content to just have everybody lip sync.
At the very end of this clip, you see what the mobile camera operator had to carry. It looked to be the same era of equipment featured in the recent documentary _Summer of Soul._
Those cameras weighed nearly 70 lb!
Thanks again for making this available, Mr. Sugarman!
Not really. Musikladen, OGWT and some others had superior sound. Midnight Special audio is a bit flat.
@@affirmativeaction1 On American broadcast TV.
Just love the duel[ing] guitar sound.
Now just waiting for My Old School 😃
They did not disappoint!
The Don is nervous AF! Look at his hand shaking on the mic. Still smashed it though. As someone else who has stage fright it's great to see how well they played. Still pretty fast though lol
Skunk freaking Baxter on lead guitar! Steely Dan! Thank you! 🤯
One of the tightest bands in history. imo The whole band was on fire that night.
Unfreak,n believable. Totally awesome. I so miss those days.
This groove chugs along like a freight train.
Love the ladies clothes and miss wearing them, especially the red tube top!
👍 I believe the red top to be the same garment as the green headband on the other singer.😬🙂
Bring back Midnight Special!
What a treasure trove of music given to us by these Midnight Special clips! Thank you! Also, I could watch Skunk Baxter wail on that guitar all day!
I thought that was Baxter. I remember him from early Doobie Bros.
Damm he was GONE !!!!!
Wish we could see Skunk commit to music again and not working for Raytheon.
@@MrDano1138 He's actually been touring! But yeah, he apparently parlayed his expertise in digital recording techniques into national security expertise.
Great to hear this classic song by Steely Dan. 51 years this month since it aired, and still a great song!
We had so much better times before computers cell phones video games listening to Steely Dan on Midnight Special !! Better times !!
My son I’ll be playing this wonderful song at an open mic this Sunday, so excited!
So I was a young teenager when this came out.loved it. Can’t wait to see my son play it in two days time. He asked me if I knew the song.
Another awesome Steely Dan clip from our Midnight Special friends!! Thank you Mr. SUGARMAN!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
this song brings me back to the summer of of '73 in philadelphia while our ship was in the philly shipyard.
That channelling of Dickie and Duane at the 2:07 mark is magic. Those who know, will know.
The twin-lead guitar bands of the early '70s were just incredible -- The Allman Brothers, Steely Dan, Wishbone Ash, etc.
No lip synch, no auto tune, just talent. This show was a treasure. Twin Teles--rock!
Are you "Reelin' In The Years"
Stowing away the time?
Happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙
Happy Tuesday... thank you for sharing! 💖
Friday night, August 31, 1973 - another school year getting started. Lots of possibilities and new experiences just around the corner.
And those years flew by!
@@brucekuehn4031 I know what you mean. Thank you for sharing! 💖
Thanks so much. I guess I've heard Denny Dias without knowing he existed. The man has spent a lot of time with a guitar in his hands.
When I hear Steely Dan I automatically relive the 70s in my mind.Certain songs just take me to really happy times
The music is killer as usual, but the incredible lady with the magical green refractions is amazing.
My God, "Skunk" Baxter is so good, simply amazing. One of the best guitar players.
...and he's a defense contractor.
He's sharing the duties with Denny Diaz, who didn't get as much camera time. But his interpretation of the solo is always fantastic.
Man…The Midnight Special was always an event for my brother and I!
"my brother and me"
I was just about to go to Kindergarten, but I can remember these songs as a kid. I must build a time machine
Wow, no lip sync. How refreshing.
Steely Dan....one of the most Legendary bands of all time. Thanks for sharing 👍
Something in the water in the 70's.
50 years ago next month -- the years have indeed been reeled in....
Skunk Baxter gotta be one of the best guitar players still playing.
I wish i was half as good playing my strat.
This composition's structure and arrangement are far more interesting than most pop music released after the year 2000.
Agreed.
or before
This was recorded a few days after I was born.
I loved Steely Dan growing up.
50 years later Steely Dan still sounds great in light of todays music.
I just saw a brief video where it explains how Steely Dan mocks John Lennons Imagine and I have that much more respect for Steely Dan now.
Those two chicks were great man!!
And to think Donald didn’t think he could sing. Just incredible. Walter always be missed. What a tremendously talented band. 🎉
And Walter was shy for a long time about playing at the front of the stage as well. It wasn't until they toured in the 90s that Walter took guitar leads on songs like "Josie" and "FM", and even then, he preferred to have guys like Jon Herrington do the solo guitar work - like everyone else in the modern touring Steely Dan band, a phenomenal musician. Even Donald wanted another keyboardist besides himself. The great ones always want to work with the best, and Becker and Fagan, who were incredibly talented, knew their strength was songwriting and their vision was to have their songs performed by the greatest musicians - their gift was finding them and getting them to play like they did.
@@glennhavinoviski8128 I was friendly with Walter and played with him a little bit. As a jazz musician, I didn’t know who we was when a mutual friend invited us both over for a jam session at his apartment in the city. One day he came down to a gig, and afterwards we sat down alone, an empty restaurant. We spent couple hours over beers, talking about life and stuff. This is prior to their tour life returning. I spent an hour trying to convince him to try to let me get him a gig at the Vanguard with Donald and a small band, it was a fun conversation he was convinced he wasn’t good enough to play there. I truly lovely, talented and gentle soul: greatly missed by those of us who knew him and his non on stage persona.
What a unit of a band, My god!!
I’m undead and roughly 3,197 years old and I only rise once every 3 millennium to visit RUclips and post comments that say real talent, real music, real musicians, and no autotune and things like that.
All that said, this was very well done. The red moon sets and so I must return to my infernal grave. Thanks for Reelin' It In
When you see my response in the year 5024, I hope that SD is not forgotten. I also have twinkies in my pantry that should still be good.
Rare chance to see them live and in their prime…👏👏👏 Steely Dan was notorious for not touring….🤔🤔🤔
The girls are a show by themselves.
This 70s beauty is unmatched by any other decade. WHy did women look so amazing then. What were they feeding them on the damn tour bus?
@@JayHoga82 vitamin C and Cocane
After all these yrs....give goose bumps i rember this clearly in the70 im 60
Forget Eagles - this is the only American supergroup. Incredible.
I’ve had a bad day and I hate the Eagles…man.
@@jamesm.3967 I feel sorry for you. I never said I hate the Eagles.
A chance hearing of this track, on the radio, in 1976 at the ripe old age of 20 sent me on a life time of pleasure listening to their music. I'm 67 now and still loving these gems, from the archives, that I've never seen before ❤
LOL same
@@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible Same here, I'm even 67, dammit.
same age, love em
Denny Dias and Skunk Baxter going back to back Holy Shit I need a second😂
The 70s were the era of the backing singers, who seemed more integral to the songs, bands and the overall performance than they do these days.
Never a dud song on an album. No two songs sound alike. Without a doubt, my favourite band since "Can't Buy a Thrill". Haven"t stopped being thrilled.
This is a later performance of "Reelin'". Here Donald Fagen seemed more confident in his singing with the stage fright at a minimum.
Skunk is quite the whirling dervish!
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one of the greatest guitarist of our time, very cool video!
Yeah, but this is not his finest work.