The “gas in the car” line was about Owsly getting caught by the cops when his car ran out of gas. I suppose all the OG Steely Dan fans knew this, but I always found that line kinda ironically funny
I heard a story that Fagen and Becker were in a cab and the cab driver asked what they did for a living . "We are musicians" they answered and the cab driver asked what the dumbest lyric he ever heard was ? " No , they said " what is it ? " This one song goes , Is there gas in the car? Yes there's gas in the car?" "How stupid." he said. All they could do was laugh.
Stanley was a genius. He not only worked as a chemist creating super potent lysergic like Orange Sunshine, he also was the original technician and sound engineer for Grateful Dead. He arranged and created microphones and amplifiers to make their live set up and recordings better. He completely designed the now famous state of the art Wall of Sound stage amplification system and created their two way microphones. He also completely designed their logo. The Steal Your Face logo with the skull and lightning bolt was designed by him to keep the gear identified. It's one of the most well known band logo's ever. Up there w the tongue and lips by the Rolling Stones.
@@cactaceous It was Nick Sand and Tim Scully who made the first true batch of Orange Sunshine in late '68/'69. Owsley was before them. And before Owsley was a man named, Bernard Roseman, who was the first to make underground acid in 1962. It wasn't pure but it still worked. However, Scully trained under Owsley until his legal issues in late '67. By '65 the demand for LSD had risen but the real acid (Sandoz acid aka Delysid) was running out which prompted Owsley to make his own. Owsley's first batch in '65 was impure. By '66 Owsley and Scully perfected the purification method and made two strains. Purple Haze (Monterey Purple) and White Lightning. This was the famous Owsley acid.
@@Kiekhaefer6 Owsley also was a founding member of Alembic who made the great basses and many other oieces of gear, incl awesome pre-amps. "The Bear" never ate vegetables- only meat.
Growing up, Steely Dan was always my "dad's band." One day, in my early 20s, when I was enjoying life in my first apartment, it happened to come on the radio -- and I realized at that point, Steely Dan was now "my band," too.
Darin Allen Nice! I’m doing the same. I just put it on in the car on the way to school low enough that we can talk still and just getting it into his brain. I already have him asking to hear a Buckethead song.
Jamal, the studio players in the band were phenomenal. They were hand-picked for each album. Larry Carlton's guitar solo here is rated one of the best ever.
agreed, Fagen&Becker got major contributions from the absolute best studio musicians in the industry when they'd record their albums. Larry Carlton was one of them. He did a wonderful job
Larry Carlton on lead guitar. One of the best guitar solos ever recorded. Edit: and please check out "Black Cow" by Steely Dan if you want to hear the source of another famous hip-hop sample!
One of the best solos, you think?! (I guess you mean the main one and not the ending solo) I don't really like the jazzy bits in there, doesn't suit the funky vibe of the song.
Steely Dan is the gold standard for studio musicianship. This band produced the cleanest sounding records and always hired the best musicians in the business. Donald Fagan and Walter Becker were great songwriters and had a knack for sticking it to people in their lyrics using intelligence and poetic eloquence.
Young people really don't realize what they've missed in the past. I've said it before, I'll say it again, The '70s were the greatest decade for Rock music, Period.
@@hungfao Yeah, I know. Disco happened in the '70s... I don't recognize that style of music. Empty heads all grooving to the same beat... Dance music doesn't cut it!! Sorry😝
@@loriholman6125 So you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy their music because of the artist's political views? If you can't separate that then I guess that's your problem but remember - there is no correlation between the level of art and the artist's character
I used to listen to Steely Dan albums every night on a tape player while I washed up the dinner dishes in 1976 when I was 14 yrs old. Hear I am at 59 still enjoying their music and getting a real kick out of watching you discovering them. And by the way, you’re the only one of these so called reaction youtubers I can watch because your love of the music and sincerity shines through!
"I know a lot of rappers sample music from old school bands, but when you hear the original you understand WHY THEY DID IT." Truer words have never been spoken my friend.
Jameson, now the REAL question is what's the BEST black music (you know what i mean) that whites, most whites have never OR probably never heard because they didn't listen to those radio stations???
@@mariemarcusen646 Across the years I realized I missed a bunch of incredible Black music that wasn't in the white mainstream. P-Funk & Fela Kuti in particular. But tons of other great Funk & soul tunes.
Written about Owsley "Bear" Stanley, sound engineer and artist for The Grateful Dead, and one of the foremost lsd cooks in the 60s San Francisco scene. He went to Jail for a while because of it. He designed the wall of sound for the dead and also contributed such art as the steal your face logo and the dancing bears.
Thanks for this info, I had no idea. I got the gist of what the song was about because of the lyrics, but just assumed it was a fictional character they had created. Didn’t know I could love this song any more than I already do!
Thanks for posting this. I was going to write the same thing. According to Wikipedia: "Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have stated that the lyrics were loosely inspired by the exploits of the San Francisco-based LSD chemist Owsley Stanley: On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene But yours was kitchen clean Everyone stopped to stare at your Technicolor motor home The first two lines draw on the fact that Owsley's acid was famed for its purity, and the third line is likely a reference to the famous psychedelic bus named Further, which was used by the Merry Pranksters, who were supplied their LSD by Owsley."
I had a favorite FM station who played entire albums end to end--everyone taped em without a care--but we were given music history for free--we had all the great music, no charge, and we didn't appreciate it--til later. I am older and wiser now.
Every time I hear this song, I know that the last note of that amazing Larry Carlton solo is coming every time, but even 40 years later, it still fucks me up every time I hear it.
I was in primary school, my dad would play the whole album on and on.. we were riding along his Alfa Romeo Alfetta. No aircon, hot day, car window opened to the fullest.. Very nostalgic ❤
It's a delight to see someone marvel over the same amazing moments and abilities on display in this song that I've been marveling at for decades. It reignites my own excitement for this amazing song (one of my favorites). Great vid, man.
The One; The Only: Bernard Purdue on the drums. The Purdue Shuffle is so famous that the man used to set up signs on either side of his drum kit during sessions: “You Done It” and “You done hired the hit-maker, Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie.” Nobody had that same groove.
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. An, absolute, master! 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘 -To hear the man lay down his dauntless funk in an even MORE unexpected place, check out "Every Time I Look At You" by: Mr. Daryl Hall & John Oates [more commonly referred to as: Hall & Oates (even though they NEVER released a single album or song under that name! 😜😵 - Troof!!!!)! 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘👈⚡⚡⚡⚡]!!
If you haven't seen it, check out the "Making of Aja" documentary - I think it was on Netflix. Becker and Fagan pull out the individual channels/tracks off the master tapes and talk about putting together the song. Amazing.
you don't stop being a perfectionist, the material he presents to the public is the best every time he gives something to the listeners, be it now, or almost 50 years ago.
Not only music genius, but sound engineering perfection! Every note has it's own space. Nothing competes, nothing clashes. You can hear every note with all it's nuances. When ''audiophiles'' want to test new equipment, the Dan goes on baby!
Steely Dan is my FAVORITE of all time. Ive seen them twice, once w Walter, Rest his Soul. I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching you hear this for the first time! Thank you! PS: i sing "is there gas in the car?" every time i gas up LOL
Inspired by the life of Owsley Stanley III. Dude was breaking bad before we knew what that meant. Now you need a little Joe Walsh in your life, my friend. “Funk #49” “Rocky Mountain Way” and “Life’s Been Good”.
Still my favorite band of all time. I have all their vinyl. Many hail Larry Carlton's guitar solo as the best and I tend to agree. It's between that and Don't Take me Alive. I never tire of listening to them, and I always hear something I never noticed before with each listen. ENJOY!!!
Owsley was famous first for making high quality LSD in the 60's before it was made illegal. The song deals with the fact that he was an "upstanding" businessman until, with the stroke of a pen, he was "an outlaw in their eyes" the "white men on the street" refers to the influx of cocaine into the scene which changed the dynamic of the recreational drug culture. Guess how he got caught. He ran out of gas. Fun song with the exceptional musicianship and production Steely Dan is noted for.
J - Another great song by Steely Dan. As always, the musicianship is unmatched and so "groovable". I urge you to check out My Old School or Bodhisatva next. 👍
Yeah, I never paid attention to the lyrics but seeing "On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene; But yours was kitchen clean; Everyone stopped to stare at your Technicolor motor home..." and also "Is there gas in the car?" made me think of Walter White and Breaking Bad. LOL I wonder if Vince Gilligan had this song in mind at all when he was writing that show. [EDIT: Wow, I googled "breaking bad kid charlemagne" and it looks like I was definitely not the first one to notice a connection. Here's one tribute video (full of spoilers if you haven't seen the whole show: ruclips.net/video/Fg7DWuK-Y9o/видео.html )
I had no idea what the backstory of this song was. Thanks for sharing it. (About 45 years ago my brother and I thought the song was about Charles Manson.)
to put this band's impact in perspective, Berkelee had a semester dedicated just to Steely Dan lyrics! This is thinking folks' music, with the greatest musicians in the industry providing the backdrop
I equate Steely Dan to fine wine with all its Subtle complexities from the tannins, acidity, the color, the nose, the mouth feel and the finish. All of the flavors from the oak, the fruits, the floral and forest floor notes, individually present, and coming together in its own unique and beautiful expression found in no other bottle. You don't see Steely Dan tribute bands, because it is almost impossible to duplicate the scores of individually unique channels that each add their own subtle flavor notes to the final mix. Many of which, an individual would be unaware of, unless they were in the studio, discussing each channel as it was blended into the final mix. There are channels that contain a sound that may only appear in one or two bars of the composition, but would not be the same sound if left out. Steely Dan is a band for true audiophiles. Their documentaries are a must see to truly appreciate what you are listening to. They are amazing.
Someone replied to my comment stating the Guitar was Walter Becker. It is true that Walter Becker, who is 1/2 of the band with Donald Fagen being the other member, did play guitar. He also played the bass. However Larry Charlton played the solo on this track. Steely Dan hired a slew of other players to complete their albums. Greats such as Jeff Porcaro, Michael Mc Donald, Jeff Skunk Baxter to name a few.
@@paulneugebauer7768 and don't forget Steve Gadd on Aja. Some of the funkiest drum fills on a so-called "pop" album by one of the greatest jazz drummers of our time.
@@paulneugebauer7768 Also funny that a young Carlton was maybe the sole white dude in the amazing Crusaders jazz band. Those guys killed it and Larry backed them with great guitar licks just like here.
...And here we are analyzing Steely Dan 50 years later! I use to sing this song to myself while at work in 1977. Man, great video. I love you young people amazed, too, at the Dans talent.
Not even one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. But there really are no bad ones. If you appreciate a great groove and impeccable musicianship and production, Steely Dan's the band for you. As Tre Narcisse says, "they never miss."
Loved your reaction to "is there gas in the car? yes there's gas in the car" ....my wife and I have been singing that to each other for the last 30 years every time one of us legit asks if there's gas in the car. KC is Steely Dan's zenith tune IMO. Glad you dug it.
Damn I love Steely Dan! “Aja” yes! But so many be4 and after. The first hit I remember when I was a kid that connected a song Ito steely Dan was, “Rikki don’t lose that number.” I remember smoking pot in the San Fernando Valley in my buddies car listening to KMET and the song from the movie “FM” came on- “FM” of course! It was KMET! Summers on Zuma Beach hearing about the “Babylon sisters.“ Before I went to college. I think one of their first songs they were talking about college- “ and Im never going back to my old school!.” Anyway exceptional musicians. as I was listening to @Kid Charlemagne”, at one point I heard prince! I don’t mean I literally heard Prince, but I heard his sound ina riff. Yep, that’s Prince; that is his funk they have the funk Prince had. A sound Not easily categorized; if anything it was a funky rock. And that’s what steely Dan had jazzy funky rock of the highest caliber because it was artistic creative adventurous fun funny crazy beautiful smart and poetic. and that artwork in that video was awesome definitely hallucinogenic, and the boys liked to use their substances LOL hey 19!Moved back to Scarsdale where the hell am I?
fabulous reaction the the realisation where this music is from and the pure talent of this band. Thank goodness your generation look back. This is superb music
"This band is amazing". Welcome to the Steely Dan club brother. You're going to like atleast 70% of their songs. The writing is great, snarky and critical and the music is played by some of the finest session musicians of the 70s. And composed by the amazing jazz rock mind of Donald Fagen.
Steely Dan: My Old School, Green Earrings, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number(you’ll like this one), Bodhisattva, King Of The World, Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Do It Again. Try Donald Fagen’s stuff( singer of steely dan): New Frontier, I.G.Y. I think you would like the band Traffic. Plus we haven’t even started you on The Talking Heads!
My personal favorite is Showbiz Kids. But a bit esoteric, maybe after he gets used to Steely Dan. Definitely need to try Talking Heads. Preferably some of the live cuts from Stop Making Sense.
Steely Dan has been bringing those sick jazz licks for a while, my dude. They've been one of my fave bands since the 70's. Glad you're now a fan too. Keep doing what you do. Peace. Music. 4ever.
When I was entering college I knew Steely Dan through radio songs only. It wasnt until my freshman year in the dorm that my nextbdoor neighbor Wells (first name) turned me on to them by listening to entire albums. Wells, you changed my musical life by showing me the road to Steely Dan!!! Thank you!!!
Kid Charlemagne is a fantastic song But the album it's off of and my favorite Steely Dan album "The Royal Scam" Listen to that song "The Royal Scam" also my favorite song by them.
As much as I appreciate the convenience, the instant gratification, or buying music online... Steely Dan needs to be heard from the best sources you can find... and the the best playback equipment you can afford.
Same age as me!!! Well, I'll be 66 next week. Steely Dan has been one of my favorites since then, and my appreciation of them keeps growing as I discover more goodies about them!
@@sharonmccall8051 Me too. Somehow, Katy Lied passed by me despite having the album before and the album after. I've been listen to it quite a lot lately and love Dr Wu.
I got to meet the man that "Kid Charlemagne" is modeled after.He was an electronics genius and an chemist extrordinaire.I rode in a train compartment with him from Copenhagen,Denmark to Amersfoort,Holland.He did the sound for the Grateful Dead.Used an oscilloscope to keep the sound clean.Hand built the noise cancelling setup using two microphones.Also made LSD by the 55 gallon drum.
Saw them live in Birmingham UK a few ago. Me and my brother are fans for years. My brother past away 2 years ago. So glad we made it to see Steely Dan. It was like being in a studio with them. Awesome. Never forget that moment. RIP Gary my bro and Walter Becker. ❤👍
3:47 - "This band is amazing!" The exact words said by my father in 1973, by me in 1989, by my sisters son in 2007...and it's still being said in 2020. I love it!
Hey, one of the greatest musical bands ever. Mostly a studio band. Extremely well controlled lyrics and instrumentation. You can listen to them play all day and not tire.
"It amazes me how music unites, and it connects, you know. Here I am African-American kid who grew up listening to strictly Hip-Hop and R&B..." And here I am, this old white buy, from Wyoming, who grew up listening to Hank Williams and Creedence. And yet, we are deeply bonded in the common genetic and aesthetic bond of being human, and appreciating aesthetics for what they are... a gift to all of us, for all of us, by all of us.
I've seen some idiots on RUclips referring to Steely Dan's music as 'Yacht Rock'. Let me repeat that 'idiots' part. Any band that can attract the likes of Steven Gadd, Larry Carlton, Wayne Shorter, Wilton Felder, Chuck Rainey, Joe Zawinul, and other Weather Report era jazz-fusion musicians as their studio backup is NOT playing yacht rock. Steely Dan is one of the most literate, complex, and innovative bands ever. Rock critic Greil Marcus, writing in his book, "Mystery Train", referred to Steely Dan's music as 'Downer Surrealism". The description fits, trust me. Check out Ricki Lee Jones' otherworldly cover of Steeley Dan's "Show Biz Kids": ruclips.net/video/O9fsFyZh2Yk/видео.html
Jamal, I applaud your curiosity and appreciation of the giants. Mr. Becker and Mr. Fagen belong to a group of the most talented and venerated musicians ever. Absolutely magnificent musicians who were able to compose beautiful lines and progressions and bring together just an incredible group of super talented geniuses that left an incredible mark on our musical culture. They brought onboard talent alike of Wayne Shorter, Chuck Rainey, Larry C, Bernard P, Steve G, Keith C. John H, and beautiful backing vocals....... As a musician myself, I am standing on the shoulders of the giants.
Steely Dan has been my favorite band since I was a toddler in the early 70s. I grew up in a home where we listened to everything from classical, jazz, Motown to Johnny Cash and everything in between. SD were so underrated, due in large part because they used session musicians, but they hired the best. Watching you enjoy Kid Charlemagne just now made me so happy, and your comment about music uniting us all made my eyes well up. Thank you ♥️
Jamal, love you enjoying Steely Dan. The drummer who creates the incredible groove on that song in Bernard “Pretty” Purdie. He is one of the most recorded drummers ever, and has laid down some legendary grooves on many songs. Check out one of his RUclips videos if you have a moment.
Even my mother (age 80) loves Steely Dan because the musicianship is SO GOOD. They’re technically brilliant and the songs themselves are both musically excellent and lyrically so tied to a specific time.
0:52 - The Steely Dan head bob. There was a documentary on them a while back - in a line at a concert, one of the people in line says, "You can tell who's got Steely Dan on the headphones because their heads are bobbing like this..." Great vid!
Jamal, I love you love this music. I have kids your age and they don't understand why I still listen to my childhood music. Thank you. I love your passion, don't ever loose it.
From Cant Buy A Thrill (1972) to Sunken Condos(2013), I am still discovering Donald Fagen and Steely Dan songs I have yet to listened to. This song particular I discovered on the way to a camping trip this summer and it is unforgettable. Dan is the man.
Right on Tommy, glad someone else knows the origins of this song :-) And Bear was much more than just their sound man. Pretty important person in the history of the Dead. Jamel, you always point out the connections... look back to your previous review of "Ripple"... this song is about one of the guys that helped influence the thoughts expressed in that and many other Dead songs ;-)
He is also a descendent of King Charlamagne of France. Hence "Kid" Charlamagne. He was caught by the police due to his car running out of gas along the highway.
Not only the soundman, but he financed the band, especially helping design and finance the Wall Of Sound. Orange sunshine, purple haze, ect...that was ALL Bear..which at the time LSD hadn't been made illegal yet. So when they finally did, he already had really good connections to the precurser chemicals, that suddenly became very heavily regulated, and nearly impossibly to obtain through legal means.. He was a legend(thats why his number was written on every bedroom wall-lyric), because anyone in the acid scene wanted his product...He was a true LSD legend, and died peacefully at his home in Australia a few years back, in 2011. RIP Owsley "bear" "kid charmelange(among others, i'm sure)" Stanley.
Welcome to the Steely Dan world my brother! Saw them four times in concert. Listening to them since they came out. If I would put a soundtrack to my life........ Guess what the music it would be? Yup, SD!! Enjoy!!!
I got such a kick watching your first reaction to hearing this song. And there are so many great players that made this song gel! That Guitar solo you were digging was by Larry Carlton who was the Crusaders guitarist for many years and one of the top session guitarists ever. The rhythm section was the legendary Chuck Rainey and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (Bass & Drums). And your reaction to "Is there gas in the car?" is the same everyone has - such a classic line. It's kind of the trademark of the Becker/Fagan writing - memorable lyrics! If you dug that don't miss the song Aja (Or the whole album for that matter)! The Drum solos on that by Steve Gadd are as iconic as Larry Carlton's solos were on this song! I'd love to see your first reactions to That tune! Such a joy watching this! From one native Californian music lover to another! During this time of pandemic - Be safe, be well! See ya on the other side!
FM (No Static at All) was written in response to one of the band members girl liked The Eagles. other hits include Hey Nineteen,Reelin' In The Years,Josie,Peg,Do It Again,Rikki Don't lose that number, and Cousin Dupree.
Why write out a list of their hits when anyone can simply just look them up? I honestly dont get why. More helpful to just paste the link to their wikipedia page
Bernard Purdie on drums doing his original shuffle beat. The best studio musicians gathered. Steely Dan is cream of the crop music. Chuck Rainey on bass, Larry Carlton on guitar, and on an on. Studs everywhere. Go further down this Rabbit Hole, please!!
“It’s amazing how music unites and it connects..” that’s really it right there isn’t it. Little story: so I am a MASSIVE Kanye fan. I’m A white 21 yo and have been listening to him since middle school. I’ve heard all his stuff, I even own the dropout on vinyl (if you haven’t listen to Last Call, drop this and go NOW). But I had heard Champions hundreds of times. One day driving home from college I was listening to some oldies on Spotify and this song came on. My reaction was exactly this mans in the videos, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This was about 4/5 months ago and I’m still binging Steely Dan. I share all my music w my dad, and had talked his ear off about how I had no idea this was the song Kanye sampled, or how amazing SD is. Needless to say, he showed me this video today and without even viewing I knew that a big reaction was coming. Music unites and connects.. the whole video, after you realized that you had already appreciated this song in another form, your smile was like that of seeing an old friend after a long time. We are different, but our feelings were the same. Great video
And maybe you understand why I don't listen to today's music because it's not as good as the music before. So many copy cats, nobody's original anymore.
Jeremy Kline, great story and so glad you found SD!!! I had no clue Kanye sample Kid Charlamagne, just upped my respect for him and now need to go find that!
@@lamarravery4094 There's TONS of great music happening today. You just need to dig past the mainstream & all the crap Indie basement stuff. Try starting with a cool public radio station or a Spotify stream that combines old with new. BTW; I'm a middle aged guy that sees tons of concerts. There really is LOTs of great music happening out there.
@@lamarravery4094 Right. There's always been that kind of crap. Even in the '60's & '70's. e.g. "The Archies," The Carpenters, etc. There was TONS of crappy am pop radio in the '70's that we easily forget about. It's definitely harder to sift through all the options these days. But there really is a lot of good music being made.
In the 70s and 80s, steely Dan was my Go-To band when I needed “adjustment”, when my music started impressing me, all it took was a spin on Becker and Fagan and I knew I had to work harder. To this day they are my desert island music. If a law was passed that we could only listen to one artist, “guess who”……….oh yeah, most certainly. Inimitable genius! Nothing since has managed to capture so much so perfectly and it never gets old. I perform solo with my own backing tracks 4 hours a night 3 nights a week. Retracking a SD song is an experience that humbles you! Performing it is like Rapture! And everyone, from 20 to 80, appreciates it because it’s HIGH ART and it’s approachable. By the way, I started tracking Kid Charlemagne two months ago……I’m waiting on guitars……good GOD this song is deceptively complex! The Rhodes alone requires ALL OF THE BRAIN…..AND SINGING WHILE PLAYING IT, IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF “YOU GOTTA MEAN IT!” I loved watching a young man wake up to this level of brilliance. You’re musically WOKE clearly! But it takes a Next Level musical individual to hear what’s This Cool! I’ve seen steely Dan a dozen times, only once without Walter…..I felt like a newborn every time watching these top-of-the-class musicians. Go see Donald perform before he is taken from us. I will be horribly broken the day he dies. Let it be YEARS from now!
Развлечения
Somebody else said it: "Steely Dan is your favorite band's favorite band"
I said to someone once, "It's not that you don't LIKE Steely Dan, it's just that you don't GET Steely Dan."
@@johnduffy8532 Well, nonsense, cuz ain't nobody don't like Steely Dan.
RIP Walter Becker
You think this is good (and it is) check out the 'Aja' album......@@@@@@@~!!!!!!!!
You may like cage the elephant
The “gas in the car” line was about Owsly getting caught by the cops when his car ran out of gas. I suppose all the OG Steely Dan fans knew this, but I always found that line kinda ironically funny
The first time a lead singer answered his own question lol
I heard a story that Fagen and Becker were in a cab and the cab driver asked what they did for a living . "We are musicians" they answered and the cab driver asked what the dumbest lyric he ever heard was ? " No , they said " what is it ? " This one song goes , Is there gas in the car? Yes there's gas in the car?" "How stupid." he said. All they could do was laugh.
The entire song is his story, the "look at all the white men on the street" was when the cocaine craze fazed out the hippie LSD craze.
This song is about Owsley "Bear" Stanley. One of the finest LSD manufacturers of the 60s and all time. Michael McDonald in the background too
Stanley was a genius. He not only worked as a chemist creating super potent lysergic like Orange Sunshine, he also was the original technician and sound engineer for Grateful Dead. He arranged and created microphones and amplifiers to make their live set up and recordings better. He completely designed the now famous state of the art Wall of Sound stage amplification system and created their two way microphones. He also completely designed their logo. The Steal Your Face logo with the skull and lightning bolt was designed by him to keep the gear identified. It's one of the most well known band logo's ever. Up there w the tongue and lips by the Rolling Stones.
Bear was the best. Sampled those wares several wonderful times.
@@cactaceous It was Nick Sand and Tim Scully who made the first true batch of Orange Sunshine in late '68/'69. Owsley was before them. And before Owsley was a man named, Bernard Roseman, who was the first to make underground acid in 1962. It wasn't pure but it still worked. However, Scully trained under Owsley until his legal issues in late '67. By '65 the demand for LSD had risen but the real acid (Sandoz acid aka Delysid) was running out which prompted Owsley to make his own. Owsley's first batch in '65 was impure. By '66 Owsley and Scully perfected the purification method and made two strains. Purple Haze (Monterey Purple) and White Lightning. This was the famous Owsley acid.
@@Kiekhaefer6 Owsley also was a founding member of Alembic who made the great basses and many other oieces of gear, incl awesome pre-amps. "The Bear" never ate vegetables- only meat.
pckpat very cool and desirable bass in the 70s
Glad you discovered the “Dan”. You’ve got some listening to do!
Kipkay!
I feel like building a big sound system
Every true music fan discovers they Dan’ at some point and their lives are changed forevermore, next level genius and perfection with Becker and Fagin
@@thecannabisguru agreed 💯
haha bro i used to watch your videos when i was a lil boy
One of the most iconic Steely Dan lines: "Is there gas in the car? Yes, there's gas in the car"
The people down the hall know who you are... careful what you carry.
@@Antimarx999 'Cause the Man is wise. You are still an outlaw in their eyes.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have both gone on record saying that's their least favorite lyric of any of their songs
LOVE that lyric
love how that line sticks out even on a first listen
Growing up, Steely Dan was always my "dad's band." One day, in my early 20s, when I was enjoying life in my first apartment, it happened to come on the radio -- and I realized at that point, Steely Dan was now "my band," too.
Duneedon I had that same realization. They were a staple in my house growing up and I have found myself now at 40 listening to them just as much.
Me too, Dude. Me too...
I'm grooming my four year old son right now.
Darin Allen Nice! I’m doing the same. I just put it on in the car on the way to school low enough that we can talk still and just getting it into his brain. I already have him asking to hear a Buckethead song.
I didn't grow up with it but I came to love it in my early 20s :)
Jamal, the studio players in the band were phenomenal. They were hand-picked for each album. Larry Carlton's guitar solo here is rated one of the best ever.
"This band is amazing" - welcome to the world brother.
One of the greatest rock/pop guitar solos ever by the one and only, Larry Carlton.
YES! Absolutely! Larry is a guitar genius.
Probably THE greatest
The finest.
Gawd yes! His guitar solo's with Steely Dan are priceless!
agreed, Fagen&Becker got major contributions from the absolute best studio musicians in the industry when they'd record their albums. Larry Carlton was one of them. He did a wonderful job
Larry Carlton on lead guitar. One of the best guitar solos ever recorded.
Edit: and please check out "Black Cow" by Steely Dan if you want to hear the source of another famous hip-hop sample!
Not only one of the best guitar solos, but also... damn... that guitar tone.
I can't cry anymore while you run around.. Love "Black Cow"!
Carlton killed it. Skunk Baxter was a close second, but Carlton was devastating on those sessions.
One of the best solos, you think?!
(I guess you mean the main one and not the ending solo)
I don't really like the jazzy bits in there, doesn't suit the funky vibe of the song.
Man, that blue note he ends with just melts my face every time I hear it.
Steely Dan is the gold standard for studio musicianship. This band produced the cleanest sounding records and always hired the best musicians in the business. Donald Fagan and Walter Becker were great songwriters and had a knack for sticking it to people in their lyrics using intelligence and poetic eloquence.
That smile you have on your face , I’ve had one like it since the 70s 😂
Dame right.
If you are checking out Steely Dan’s catalog, “Babalyon Sister” is a must.
Shake it!!!!
@@womanonthinice1276 Haha, beat me to it!
"You gotta shake it baby
you gotta shake it baby
you gotta shake it!"
@@womanonthinice1276 Here's to us Babylon Sisters everywhere! ( like Clemmie/ Wendy McClendon-Covey from Reno 911! 😂). Huge Dan fan!
@@mikek5958 Man, that part put my jaw right down on the floor when I first heard it. What a groovy, groovy, groovy song. Purdie shuffle FTW.
Shake it! 😎
Young people really don't realize what they've missed in the past. I've said it before, I'll say it again, The '70s were the greatest decade for Rock music, Period.
At least before 1975
@@hungfao Yeah, I know. Disco happened in the '70s... I don't recognize that style of music. Empty heads all grooving to the same beat... Dance music doesn't cut it!! Sorry😝
Leddy Gee you got that right!
Got ok again in the late 77/78 with the likes of van Halen and Boston
Also 70's Jazz while we're at. The peak was around 74-75. Not sure we'll get back up there again
That moment when he realized the kanye sample was priceless
I don’t like reaction videos, but i clicked on this just to make sure I wasn’t alone in this discovery
Kanye a trump supporter. CRAZY
@@loriholman6125 So what?
@@loriholman6125 You sound dumb as hell. I don't understand how tf does someone's political opinion overshadow how talented they are
@@loriholman6125 So you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy their music because of the artist's political views? If you can't separate that then I guess that's your problem but remember - there is no correlation between the level of art and the artist's character
I used to listen to Steely Dan albums every night on a tape player while I washed up the dinner dishes in 1976 when I was 14 yrs old. Hear I am at 59 still enjoying their music and getting a real kick out of watching you discovering them. And by the way, you’re the only one of these so called reaction youtubers I can watch because your love of the music and sincerity shines through!
"I know a lot of rappers sample music from old school bands, but when you hear the original you understand WHY THEY DID IT."
Truer words have never been spoken my friend.
Jameson, now the REAL question is what's the BEST black music (you know what i mean) that whites, most whites have never OR probably never heard because they didn't listen to those radio stations???
@@mariemarcusen646 Across the years I realized I missed a bunch of incredible Black music that wasn't in the white mainstream. P-Funk & Fela Kuti in particular. But tons of other great Funk & soul tunes.
The Funk of the 60s and 70s, along with more modern funk fusion are really the pinnacle of musical expression in my opinion.
@@mariemarcusen646 my favorites are:
The O'jays
Mavis staples
Robert johnson
Sony terry & brownie mcgee
Richie havens
& So many more
Love it xoxo
Written about Owsley "Bear" Stanley, sound engineer and artist for The Grateful Dead, and one of the foremost lsd cooks in the 60s San Francisco scene. He went to Jail for a while because of it. He designed the wall of sound for the dead and also contributed such art as the steal your face logo and the dancing bears.
If there was no Owsley there would of been no summer of love!
@@flylilpyro1 All a See Eye Aye construct.. believe it buddy.. social engineering... whether you like it or not.
Thanks for this info, I had no idea. I got the gist of what the song was about because of the lyrics, but just assumed it was a fictional character they had created. Didn’t know I could love this song any more than I already do!
Thanks for posting this. I was going to write the same thing.
According to Wikipedia: "Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have stated that the lyrics were loosely inspired by the exploits of the San Francisco-based LSD chemist Owsley Stanley:
On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene
But yours was kitchen clean
Everyone stopped to stare at your Technicolor motor home
The first two lines draw on the fact that Owsley's acid was famed for its purity, and the third line is likely a reference to the famous psychedelic bus named Further, which was used by the Merry Pranksters, who were supplied their LSD by Owsley."
Thanks for the facts. Everyone always says it's about Tim Leary but we know better. 😊 Good karma to you.
Walter & Donald, 2 of the best in the business.
Totally in a class of their own. R.I.P. Walter
I had a favorite FM station who played entire albums end to end--everyone taped em without a care--but we were given music history for free--we had all the great music, no charge, and we didn't appreciate it--til later. I am older and wiser now.
My freakin’ era. This shit so holds up through decades.
Timeless
Hells yeah brother.... I was born in 1969 and listening to jazz ever since
I was born in 60 and was heavy into music from as far back as I can remember. My dad had music going every weekend.
Aja holds up better after 45 years than anything ever recorded. Same with Royal Scam.
INDEED...
I've probably listened to Kid Charlemagne a hundred times and I still get chills down my spine and tears in my eyes.....
"Is there gas in the car? Yes, there's gas in the car" Love it, it's just SO Donald Fagen, ha!
Only a hundred? 🤣
Every time I hear this song, I know that the last note of that amazing Larry Carlton solo is coming every time, but even 40 years later, it still fucks me up every time I hear it.
Yes and so many more...Babylon Sisters, FM, Western World (my fav) on and on I am a devotee SD fan forever...lol
How about a thousand or two? Catch up!
I was in primary school, my dad would play the whole album on and on.. we were riding along his Alfa Romeo Alfetta. No aircon, hot day, car window opened to the fullest.. Very nostalgic ❤
It's a delight to see someone marvel over the same amazing moments and abilities on display in this song that I've been marveling at for decades. It reignites my own excitement for this amazing song (one of my favorites). Great vid, man.
Me too, it's just fabulous (the song and reaction)
Jamal processes things super fast and gets it! It's fun to see his reactions!
The One; The Only: Bernard Purdue on the drums.
The Purdue Shuffle is so famous that the man used to set up signs on either side of his drum kit during sessions: “You Done It” and “You done hired the hit-maker, Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie.”
Nobody had that same groove.
Purdie, but yeah, he was incredible.
Chuck Rainey on Bass - Turn the Bass up!!!
Jeff Porcaro came pretty damn close to it, but Perdie was definitely the best.
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie.
An, absolute, master! 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘
-To hear the man lay down his dauntless funk in an even MORE unexpected place, check out "Every Time I Look At You"
by: Mr. Daryl Hall & John Oates
[more commonly referred to as: Hall & Oates (even though they NEVER released a single album or song under that name! 😜😵 - Troof!!!!)! 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘👈⚡⚡⚡⚡]!!
@@bobszejk9620 Well he did have "drumsticks" LOL
Donald Fagen would spend hours nailing down the most minute of details. He was a perfectionist.
Steely Dan and Kanye both do it 'til they get it right.
If you haven't seen it, check out the "Making of Aja" documentary - I think it was on Netflix. Becker and Fagan pull out the individual channels/tracks off the master tapes and talk about putting together the song. Amazing.
you don't stop being a perfectionist, the material he presents to the public is the best every time he gives something to the listeners, be it now, or almost 50 years ago.
@@wrankin it's on RUclips
ruclips.net/video/mHVHSUXBhk4/видео.html
Still is
WELCOME TO STEELY DAN MY FRIEND !! the definition of HARMONY something we DESPERATELY NEED !
Not only music genius, but sound engineering perfection! Every note has it's own space. Nothing competes, nothing clashes. You can hear every note with all it's nuances. When ''audiophiles'' want to test new equipment, the Dan goes on baby!
For another song with Larry Carlton on guitar on the same album see "Don't Take Me Alive".
Who needs a band when you've got the best musicians around, right?
The whole album is a masterpiece.
LOVE that song
My favorite song of all time!!!
Please do "Don't take me alive" by Steely Dan. Tasty!!
Black Cow is also a very sampled song.
My Old School is one you’ll like. Try that.
Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz sampled this for Deja Vu (Uptown Baby).
I still remember the 35 sweet goodbyes...
They saw your face on the counter by your keys
one of my favorites
Hell yeah. When i heard that one hip hop song 'Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)' the first time, i was like 'Oh, shit! They sampled Black Cow!!!'
I remember hanging out in my friend's basement hide out smoking weed and listening to this in the 70s.
Steely Dan is my FAVORITE of all time. Ive seen them twice, once w Walter, Rest his Soul. I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching you hear this for the first time! Thank you! PS: i sing "is there gas in the car?" every time i gas up LOL
Inspired by the life of Owsley Stanley III. Dude was breaking bad before we knew what that meant.
Now you need a little Joe Walsh in your life, my friend. “Funk #49” “Rocky Mountain Way” and “Life’s Been Good”.
Funk # 49
Mark Phelps Owsley!
Chris Olsen Legend... Have you found his interview on YT?
Joe Chibirka oh yeah! Best version I could find on YT is “At Daryl’s House”. Includes #50. So smooth!
YES!!! James Gang (Joe Walsh)....."Funk #49" and "Rocky Mountain Way"
one of the greatest Guitar solo parts of all time - Larry Carlton.
Stephen Schulz The guitarist l played with said this was “36 solos rolled into one”
No doubt
Still my favorite band of all time. I have all their vinyl. Many hail Larry Carlton's guitar solo as the best and I tend to agree. It's between that and Don't Take me Alive. I never tire of listening to them, and I always hear something I never noticed before with each listen. ENJOY!!!
The best part of these reactions, is waiting for the part of the song that is going to make Jamal pause. Awesome stuff
“Deacon Blues” or “Any Major Dude Will Tell You”. But man in general you can’t go wrong with any Steely Dan, they are amazing.
Owsley was famous first for making high quality LSD in the 60's before it was made illegal. The song deals with the fact that he was an "upstanding" businessman until, with the stroke of a pen, he was "an outlaw in their eyes" the "white men on the street" refers to the influx of cocaine into the scene which changed the dynamic of the recreational drug culture. Guess how he got caught. He ran out of gas. Fun song with the exceptional musicianship and production Steely Dan is noted for.
J - Another great song by Steely Dan. As always, the musicianship is unmatched and so "groovable". I urge you to check out My Old School or Bodhisatva next. 👍
Thanx for the back story.
Yeah, I never paid attention to the lyrics but seeing "On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene; But yours was kitchen clean; Everyone stopped to stare at your Technicolor motor home..." and also "Is there gas in the car?" made me think of Walter White and Breaking Bad. LOL I wonder if Vince Gilligan had this song in mind at all when he was writing that show.
[EDIT: Wow, I googled "breaking bad kid charlemagne" and it looks like I was definitely not the first one to notice a connection. Here's one tribute video (full of spoilers if you haven't seen the whole show: ruclips.net/video/Fg7DWuK-Y9o/видео.html )
I had no idea what the backstory of this song was. Thanks for sharing it. (About 45 years ago my brother and I thought the song was about Charles Manson.)
It says you were "Italian" in their eyes I always thought.
You get it! One of the best, unique bands ever. Their lyrics are insightful. They paint a picture of so many deep subjects so poetically
Favorite Steely Dan song of all time. Love the chemistry references in the lyrics video - fits the song's story
Is there gas in the car? Yes, there's gas in the car.
Craziest lyric ever!
P Frank Love singing that second line, lol!
Edit: Just saw Jamal do it. 🤣 Awesome.
P Frank I think the people down the hall know who you are
I believe it's "Is there gas in the cah? Yes there's gas in the cah."
@@z-man2343 You are correct!
Funny story... there wasn't enough gas in the car. ;-)
to put this band's impact in perspective, Berkelee had a semester dedicated just to Steely Dan lyrics! This is thinking folks' music, with the greatest musicians in the industry providing the backdrop
I equate Steely Dan to fine wine with all its Subtle complexities from the tannins, acidity, the color, the nose, the mouth feel and the finish. All of the flavors from the oak, the fruits, the floral and forest floor notes, individually present, and coming together in its own unique and beautiful expression found in no other bottle. You don't see Steely Dan tribute bands, because it is almost impossible to duplicate the scores of individually unique channels that each add their own subtle flavor notes to the final mix. Many of which, an individual would be unaware of, unless they were in the studio, discussing each channel as it was blended into the final mix. There are channels that contain a sound that may only appear in one or two bars of the composition, but would not be the same sound if left out. Steely Dan is a band for true audiophiles. Their documentaries are a must see to truly appreciate what you are listening to. They are amazing.
A totally accurate description of one of the coolest bands ever.
“Everyone stopped to stare at your technicolor motorhome…”
That line always gives me little chuckle!
Larry Charlton on Guitar. One of the smoothest solo's ever.
Someone replied to my comment stating the Guitar was Walter Becker. It is true that Walter Becker, who is 1/2 of the band with Donald Fagen being the other member, did play guitar. He also played the bass. However Larry Charlton played the solo on this track. Steely Dan hired a slew of other players to complete their albums. Greats such as Jeff Porcaro, Michael Mc Donald, Jeff Skunk Baxter to name a few.
@@paulneugebauer7768 and don't forget Steve Gadd on Aja. Some of the funkiest drum fills on a so-called "pop" album by one of the greatest jazz drummers of our time.
@@paulneugebauer7768 Also funny that a young Carlton was maybe the sole white dude in the amazing Crusaders jazz band. Those guys killed it and Larry backed them with great guitar licks just like here.
Carlton, not Charlton
@@mlose50 Yep! Had a chance to see Larry Carlton and The Yellowjackets live amazing
Steely Dan was one of the best of their time. Many great musicians are on their albums. Hard to pick a best song. They are all great!
...And here we are analyzing Steely Dan 50 years later! I use to sing this song to myself while at work in 1977. Man, great video. I love you young people amazed, too, at the Dans talent.
Not even one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. But there really are no bad ones. If you appreciate a great groove and impeccable musicianship and production, Steely Dan's the band for you.
As Tre Narcisse says, "they never miss."
If you like musicians, singers, melodies, harmonies, soul and great hooks and riffs, you'll love Steely Dan.
Been listening to them since the early ’70’s, still can’t get on the road without cranking some Steely Dan. Great vid
Always great to watch somebody else discover The Dan. I've been a fan for 47 years.
Loved your reaction to "is there gas in the car? yes there's gas in the car" ....my wife and I have been singing that to each other for the last 30 years every time one of us legit asks if there's gas in the car. KC is Steely Dan's zenith tune IMO. Glad you dug it.
thats a great image!
The whole "Aja" album.
Jamel, brother, I really want to see you do a full album reaction to this one. You will not regret it, I promise you.
Discernment facts
They are soooooo late. Better late than never. Best band of all time!!!
Damn I love Steely Dan! “Aja” yes! But so many be4 and after. The first hit I remember when I was a kid that connected a song Ito steely Dan was, “Rikki don’t lose that number.” I remember smoking pot in the San Fernando Valley in my buddies car listening to KMET and the song from the movie “FM” came on- “FM” of course! It was KMET! Summers on Zuma Beach hearing about the “Babylon sisters.“ Before I went to college. I think one of their first songs they were talking about college- “ and Im never going back to my old school!.” Anyway exceptional musicians. as I was listening to @Kid Charlemagne”, at one point I heard prince! I don’t mean I literally heard Prince, but I heard his sound ina riff. Yep, that’s Prince; that is his funk they have the funk Prince had. A sound Not easily categorized; if anything it was a funky rock. And that’s what steely Dan had jazzy funky rock of the highest caliber because it was artistic creative adventurous fun funny crazy beautiful smart and poetic. and that artwork in that video was awesome definitely hallucinogenic, and the boys liked to use their substances LOL hey 19!Moved back to Scarsdale where the hell am I?
Amen
REAL music. No autotune, no drum machines, no computer generated anything. I miss the old days.
Oh yes they did. Bernard Purdy is a drumming machine! Purdy shuffle at its finest.
fabulous reaction the the realisation where this music is from and the pure talent of this band. Thank goodness your generation look back. This is superb music
"This band is amazing". Welcome to the Steely Dan club brother. You're going to like atleast 70% of their songs. The writing is great, snarky and critical and the music is played by some of the finest session musicians of the 70s. And composed by the amazing jazz rock mind of Donald Fagen.
kafcin have loved them forever.
70% is low, bruh...
I find the little break in "King of the World" to be mildly annoying...that is all.
The late Walter Becker cowrote the songs too
Donald and Walter (RIP) wrote the songs together
Steely Dan: My Old School, Green Earrings, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number(you’ll like this one), Bodhisattva, King Of The World, Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Do It Again. Try Donald Fagen’s stuff( singer of steely dan): New Frontier, I.G.Y. I think you would like the band Traffic. Plus we haven’t even started you on The Talking Heads!
Green earrings is a bop. He's groove to that for sure!
Loving you ladies for repping Green Earrings. So underrated. Just a funked up masterpiece.
Angie Rodriguez BODHISATTVA!!! The BEST driving song!! 👍🏻
@@peteyk9391 IKR, my bestie and I would listen to it on road trips.
My personal favorite is Showbiz Kids. But a bit esoteric, maybe after he gets used to Steely Dan.
Definitely need to try Talking Heads. Preferably some of the live cuts from Stop Making Sense.
Steely Dan has been bringing those sick jazz licks for a while, my dude.
They've been one of my fave bands since the 70's.
Glad you're now a fan too.
Keep doing what you do.
Peace. Music. 4ever.
When I was entering college I knew Steely Dan through radio songs only. It wasnt until my freshman year in the dorm that my nextbdoor neighbor Wells (first name) turned me on to them by listening to entire albums. Wells, you changed my musical life by showing me the road to Steely Dan!!! Thank you!!!
Kid Charlemagne is a fantastic song
But the album it's off of and my favorite Steely Dan album "The Royal Scam"
Listen to that song
"The Royal Scam" also my favorite song by them.
Can’t say it enough: “My old school”
Yes please
Someone will have to pay him for him to react.
It's Skunk's great solo countrerpart to Carlton's (this).
I'll say it: MY OLD SCHOOL, MY OLD SCHOOL...
Yes sir
As much as I appreciate the convenience, the instant gratification, or buying music online... Steely Dan needs to be heard from the best sources you can find... and the the best playback equipment you can afford.
My good friend Val introduced me to Steely Dan several decades ago and I’ve been listening to them since. Great band. RIP Walter Becker
Who are we trying to kid, you can go from start to finish with the Dan catalog, every, yes!! every song is Amazingly enjoyable to the heart and soul.
So glad you liked this. I loved Steely Dan since I was twenty years old. I'm 66 now, and they're still great! From the UK, best wishes.
Same age as me!!! Well, I'll be 66 next week. Steely Dan has been one of my favorites since then, and my appreciation of them keeps growing as I discover more goodies about them!
@@sharonmccall8051 Me too. Somehow, Katy Lied passed by me despite having the album before and the album after. I've been listen to it quite a lot lately and love Dr Wu.
This is my era, I was a high school long hair hippie '68-71 and I love that you're relating. Universal music, babe.
I got to meet the man that "Kid Charlemagne" is modeled after.He was an electronics genius and an chemist extrordinaire.I rode in a train compartment with him from Copenhagen,Denmark to Amersfoort,Holland.He did the sound for the Grateful Dead.Used an oscilloscope to keep the sound clean.Hand built the noise cancelling setup using two microphones.Also made LSD by the 55 gallon drum.
Saw them live in Birmingham UK a few ago. Me and my brother are fans for years. My brother past away 2 years ago. So glad we made it to see Steely Dan. It was like being in a studio with them. Awesome. Never forget that moment. RIP Gary my bro and Walter Becker. ❤👍
3:47 - "This band is amazing!"
The exact words said by my father in 1973, by me in 1989, by my sisters son in 2007...and it's still being said in 2020. I love it!
Best comment... 👍😃
Hey, one of the greatest musical bands ever. Mostly a studio band. Extremely well controlled lyrics and instrumentation. You can listen to them play all day and not tire.
"It amazes me how music unites, and it connects, you know. Here I am African-American kid who grew up listening to strictly Hip-Hop and R&B..." And here I am, this old white buy, from Wyoming, who grew up listening to Hank Williams and Creedence. And yet, we are deeply bonded in the common genetic and aesthetic bond of being human, and appreciating aesthetics for what they are... a gift to all of us, for all of us, by all of us.
When you react to more Steely Dan, you’ll be amazed how much of it you’re familiar with.
Oh, and check out Rick Beato's episode of "What Makes This Song Great," in which he breaks down "Kid Charlemagne"!
Great episode.
Yes, excellent!
Episode 3 I'm looking at it now
Seen it, it's awesome!
Sorry that would be for about the 5th or is it the 6th time
I've seen some idiots on RUclips referring to Steely Dan's music as 'Yacht Rock'. Let me repeat that 'idiots' part. Any band that can attract the likes of Steven Gadd, Larry Carlton, Wayne Shorter, Wilton Felder, Chuck Rainey, Joe Zawinul, and other Weather Report era jazz-fusion musicians as their studio backup is NOT playing yacht rock. Steely Dan is one of the most literate, complex, and innovative bands ever. Rock critic Greil Marcus, writing in his book, "Mystery Train", referred to Steely Dan's music as 'Downer Surrealism". The description fits, trust me. Check out Ricki Lee Jones' otherworldly cover of Steeley Dan's "Show Biz Kids": ruclips.net/video/O9fsFyZh2Yk/видео.html
Good recommendation!
In Gaucho they got Jeff Porcaro, they are officially Yacht-rock
Yatch rock?? Lmao what a fucking idiot. Some people don't know good music if it shat in there face.
What a way to make less a great genre, don't you think?
I agree.
Jamal, I applaud your curiosity and appreciation of the giants.
Mr. Becker and Mr. Fagen belong to a group of the most talented and venerated musicians ever. Absolutely magnificent musicians who were able to compose beautiful lines and progressions and bring together just an incredible group of super talented geniuses that left an incredible mark on our musical culture. They brought onboard talent alike of Wayne Shorter, Chuck Rainey, Larry C, Bernard P, Steve G, Keith C. John H, and beautiful backing vocals.......
As a musician myself, I am standing on the shoulders of the giants.
Steely Dan has been my favorite band since I was a toddler in the early 70s. I grew up in a home where we listened to everything from classical, jazz, Motown to Johnny Cash and everything in between.
SD were so underrated, due in large part because they used session musicians, but they hired the best. Watching you enjoy Kid Charlemagne just now made me so happy, and your comment about music uniting us all made my eyes well up.
Thank you ♥️
These guys were insane perfectionists with their music
Watch the documentary on the making of Aja. Great stuff!
Jamal, love you enjoying Steely Dan. The drummer who creates the incredible groove on that song in Bernard “Pretty” Purdie. He is one of the most recorded drummers ever, and has laid down some legendary grooves on many songs. Check out one of his RUclips videos if you have a moment.
Even my mother (age 80) loves Steely Dan because the musicianship is SO GOOD. They’re technically brilliant and the songs themselves are both musically excellent and lyrically so tied to a specific time.
Greatest song writers in the history of the world:
1. Lennon and McCartney (Beatles)
2. Becker and Fagen (Steely Dan)
Don't forget Paul Simon. He's right there up there with them.
What about Milli and Vanilli?
Andy Partridge, Robert Hunter, David Byrne, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits.
Yeah... but sounds like he was doing teams.
I'd put Chris Difford and Glenn Tillbrook somewhere near the top of songwriting duos myself.
Neil Peart blows them all away...
0:52 - The Steely Dan head bob. There was a documentary on them a while back - in a line at a concert, one of the people in line says, "You can tell who's got Steely Dan on the headphones because their heads are bobbing like this..." Great vid!
Jamal, I love you love this music. I have kids your age and they don't understand why I still listen to my childhood music. Thank you. I love your passion, don't ever loose it.
From Cant Buy A Thrill (1972) to Sunken Condos(2013), I am still discovering Donald Fagen and Steely Dan songs I have yet to listened to. This song particular I discovered on the way to a camping trip this summer and it is unforgettable. Dan is the man.
I'm so glad you are experiencing this band. 😀
Jamel...off the Royal Scam album react to Don't Take Me Alive, please..."I'm a bookkeeper's son...I don't want to hurt no one..."
That's a great song!
@@MrDuneedon it sure is!
Can't agree more. One of my faves from SD.
Yes, please do "Don't take me live."
psyguy Bri Another epic Larry Carlton solo!!
This guy gets it. The Dan are some of the greatest ever
So glad you can feel the joy that many of us have been since the 70's.
The song is about Owsley “Bear” Stanley, who was the King of Acid (LSD) and soundman for the Dead.... now listen to the lyrics again...
Great little known fact and I like the Dead. I don't know why I haven't come across Steely Dan before. Great funky sound!
Right on Tommy, glad someone else knows the origins of this song :-) And Bear was much more than just their sound man. Pretty important person in the history of the Dead. Jamel, you always point out the connections... look back to your previous review of "Ripple"... this song is about one of the guys that helped influence the thoughts expressed in that and many other Dead songs ;-)
He is also a descendent of King Charlamagne of France. Hence "Kid" Charlamagne. He was caught by the police due to his car running out of gas along the highway.
Not only the soundman, but he financed the band, especially helping design and finance the Wall Of Sound. Orange sunshine, purple haze, ect...that was ALL Bear..which at the time LSD hadn't been made illegal yet. So when they finally did, he already had really good connections to the precurser chemicals, that suddenly became very heavily regulated, and nearly impossibly to obtain through legal means.. He was a legend(thats why his number was written on every bedroom wall-lyric), because anyone in the acid scene wanted his product...He was a true LSD legend, and died peacefully at his home in Australia a few years back, in 2011. RIP Owsley "bear" "kid charmelange(among others, i'm sure)" Stanley.
If it hasn't been said..." All the white men on the street" was in reference to cocaine dealers replacing the LSD & Pot dealers
And what demographic group would push drugs?
@@judgementday9087 cocaine was a rich man's drug
I did not know that . Thanks ! Always loved this band and all of its incarnations
@@johnf.hebert1409 again, which demographic group mostly would push drugs? Far more out of proportion?
@@judgementday9087 What exactly is the point ur trying to make? What difference does the "demographic" of the dealers make?!
Superior lyrics and superior music. That’s Steely Dan. Timeless. Glad you are into them.
Welcome to the Steely Dan world my brother! Saw them four times in concert. Listening to them since they came out. If I would put a soundtrack to my life........ Guess what the music it would be? Yup, SD!! Enjoy!!!
I got such a kick watching your first reaction to hearing this song. And there are so many great players that made this song gel! That Guitar solo you were digging was by Larry Carlton who was the Crusaders guitarist for many years and one of the top session guitarists ever. The rhythm section was the legendary Chuck Rainey and Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (Bass & Drums).
And your reaction to "Is there gas in the car?" is the same everyone has - such a classic line. It's kind of the trademark of the Becker/Fagan writing - memorable lyrics!
If you dug that don't miss the song Aja (Or the whole album for that matter)! The Drum solos on that by Steve Gadd are as iconic as Larry Carlton's solos were on this song! I'd love to see your first reactions to That tune!
Such a joy watching this! From one native Californian music lover to another! During this time of pandemic - Be safe, be well! See ya on the other side!
FM (No Static at All) was written in response to one of the band members girl liked The Eagles. other hits include Hey Nineteen,Reelin' In The Years,Josie,Peg,Do It Again,Rikki Don't lose that number, and Cousin Dupree.
Why write out a list of their hits when anyone can simply just look them up? I honestly dont get why. More helpful to just paste the link to their wikipedia page
Then you’ll love Janie Runaway from the Two Against Nature album (Grammy album of the year 2000)!
Bernard Purdie on drums doing his original shuffle beat. The best studio musicians gathered. Steely Dan is cream of the crop music. Chuck Rainey on bass, Larry Carlton on guitar, and on an on. Studs everywhere. Go further down this Rabbit Hole, please!!
“ Is there gas in the car”, “Is there gas in the car!” Just brilliant, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.❤️🌟
“It’s amazing how music unites and it connects..” that’s really it right there isn’t it.
Little story:
so I am a MASSIVE Kanye fan. I’m A white 21 yo and have been listening to him since middle school. I’ve heard all his stuff, I even own the dropout on vinyl (if you haven’t listen to Last Call, drop this and go NOW). But I had heard Champions hundreds of times. One day driving home from college I was listening to some oldies on Spotify and this song came on. My reaction was exactly this mans in the videos, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This was about 4/5 months ago and I’m still binging Steely Dan. I share all my music w my dad, and had talked his ear off about how I had no idea this was the song Kanye sampled, or how amazing SD is. Needless to say, he showed me this video today and without even viewing I knew that a big reaction was coming.
Music unites and connects.. the whole video, after you realized that you had already appreciated this song in another form, your smile was like that of seeing an old friend after a long time. We are different, but our feelings were the same.
Great video
And maybe you understand why I don't listen to today's music because it's not as good as the music before. So many copy cats, nobody's original anymore.
Jeremy Kline, great story and so glad you found SD!!! I had no clue Kanye sample Kid Charlamagne, just upped my respect for him and now need to go find that!
@@lamarravery4094 There's TONS of great music happening today. You just need to dig past the mainstream & all the crap Indie basement stuff. Try starting with a cool public radio station or a Spotify stream that combines old with new. BTW; I'm a middle aged guy that sees tons of concerts. There really is LOTs of great music happening out there.
@@edm781 Adele, Beyonce, Bieber, Maroon 5, all that stupid mainstream crap is what I'm talking about. And all that shit from American Idol.
@@lamarravery4094 Right. There's always been that kind of crap. Even in the '60's & '70's. e.g. "The Archies," The Carpenters, etc. There was TONS of crappy am pop radio in the '70's that we easily forget about. It's definitely harder to sift through all the options these days. But there really is a lot of good music being made.
High School memories. Cruising, thumping a blunt, and blasting Steely Dan. 😎
Guitar player Larry Carlton just kills it! Amazing complicated licks for the era this song was recorded. WOW
I remember having this album in 1976. It's only gotten better over time. Fine wine of music.
In the 70s and 80s, steely Dan was my Go-To band when I needed “adjustment”, when my music started impressing me, all it took was a spin on Becker and Fagan and I knew I had to work harder. To this day they are my desert island music. If a law was passed that we could only listen to one artist, “guess who”……….oh yeah, most certainly. Inimitable genius! Nothing since has managed to capture so much so perfectly and it never gets old.
I perform solo with my own backing tracks 4 hours a night 3 nights a week.
Retracking a SD song is an experience that humbles you! Performing it is like Rapture! And everyone, from 20 to 80, appreciates it because it’s HIGH ART and it’s approachable.
By the way, I started tracking Kid Charlemagne two months ago……I’m waiting on guitars……good GOD this song is deceptively complex! The Rhodes alone requires ALL OF THE BRAIN…..AND SINGING WHILE PLAYING IT, IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF “YOU GOTTA MEAN IT!”
I loved watching a young man wake up to this level of brilliance. You’re musically WOKE clearly!
But it takes a Next Level musical individual to hear what’s This Cool!
I’ve seen steely Dan a dozen times, only once without Walter…..I felt like a newborn every time watching these top-of-the-class musicians. Go see Donald perform before he is taken from us. I will be horribly broken the day he dies. Let it be YEARS from now!