Nice read on some vintage SD. "Lost wages" is old old slang for Las Vegas. I also think you should venture into their later stuff... I (also) think it should be "West Of Hollywood" from Two Against Nature" (2000). They let the sax off the chain at the end and it goes fairly nuclear. Enjoy.
"West of Hollywood" is an often used crossword puzzle clue, with a three letter answer. The answer is Mae, as in Mae West, the Hollywood actress popular in the 1930s.
I've been listening to "Countdown to Ecstasy" for almost 40 years. I still find this song to be hypnotic. I find that Fagan sings "They don't give a f*** about anybody else" a little bit shocking to this day.
This song is brilliant. It is slow and repetitive with the backup singers singing "You're Goin' to Lost Wages, Lost Wages You're goin' to Lost Wages" over and over again but there are so many little nuances that keep it fresh and original and that guitar was just tearing it up.
One of the first 'f' bomb lyric embellishments that actually made it to air...I know Jim Morrison managed some cryptic interweaving in 'the End' [and I'm still in therapy over that little ditty.......thank you Jim] Also, 'Sho Biz Kids' is one of the few one chord songs that Steely Dan pulled off. Countdown to Ecstasy is chock full of toe tappin hits and one of my all time fave LP's to this day. signed: the dolphins livin the high life off the starboard bow.
@@DiconDissectionalReactions ...Thank you for your concern.....the fish are certainly supplying their fair share to our equilibrium but they know it's a small price to pay ....peace.....ps: Flipper says hi
Cousin Dupree doesn't get in my top 40. It's catchy and lyrically edgy and they don't do bad songs. There are masses more that are tons better though, including this one.
@@twelveytwelve We all have our own darlings.... It's catchy, snarky and funny. I just have a very long list above it. Assume by live you're talking about the 2 Against Nature dvd. I believe they don't play it at live shows any more...
Growing up in Mississippi, I used to listen to the album-oriented rock station WZZQ. (I was very sad when it went country in 1981.) This is the only song I ever heard the station censor; they played a version with the use of "fuck" simply cut out.
Hi Daniel, Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky is a great song, and as I'm from Glasgow in Scotland, I wonder if you would like to react to some Scottish home grown talent, Gerry Rafferty "Baker Street" Maggie Bell "No Mean City" and for fun the Proclaimers "500 Miles" (I would walk) thank you
Don't forget "The Average White Band" another Scottish talent. (I recently discovered via ancestry that I am 35 % Scottish) been doing some research! Lol.
This is Becker and Fagen's subversive subversion of a Motown-style song and arrangement - the tempo a bit slower, it's in a minor key and of course the lyrics have the sardonic, ironic 'bite' typical to them, with some verses clearly satirical and critical of the then nascent 'Jet Set' and 'celebrity culture' of the early 1970s (and 'Lost Wages' as a pun on Las Vegas). However on the music side, note the mantra like circular form, w/ repeated piano parts and bass line and of course the backing vocals; all integral elements of classic Motown songs. Noteworthy here is Rick Derringer's amazing slide guitar work. Two great examples of 'The Motown Sound' are Stevie Wonder's 'Uptight (Everything's Alright') and Martha and The Vandellas 'Nowhere to Run' (featured prominently in the movie 'Baby Driver')
I was in my father's automobile exiting Gate 5 at Fort Gordon, GA in 1973 and this tune, which I was already familiar with having purchased the 8 track immediately after it's release, came on the radio. The DJ made reference to "Great Britain's Steely Dan". Why, I guess I'll never know.
This song has been said to refer to Peter Fonda, & other children of stars who became actors,..... 'coz of nepotism, not on talent of their own. He rails against their particular shallowness. Not a dis on all actors, that would condemn other artists & craftsmen as well........
Thanks. Time for some newer SD. Try “West of Hollywood”. It’s full of references that you may not get. You will have to google. Also “Black Friday” and “Doctor Wu” from Katy Lied.
They were always tongue and cheek and most people realize you go to The Casinos to donate your money to them because in the end the House always wins!🤪
Ive been to a few shows by the tribute band “Nearly Dan” and for this song the girls get the spotlight and do a little dance. Anyone out there in UK should check them put. They are spot on.
My favorite bit of "trivia" about this song. There's only one chord! It's Dm7 throughout. It's a vamp, or a repetitive groove - probably why you thought it sounded like a jam track - it essentially is that. I can only think of one other (popular) song that also did that - Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles (the chord in that one is C). Amazing how interesting they were able to make it. If you get around to Dr. Wu, you'll see a stunning contrast - lots and lots of super interesting chord changes.
Frank Zappa equated his songs with a sort of anthropology, allowing him to tell stories about often outrageous or ridiculous human beings in his lyrics. Donald Fagen is doing exactly that too, though with more sophistication and less of the shock value. Both were/are educators for sure, introducing listeners to a world societal types that otherwise inhabited the pages sleazy novels or 70's movies. Might I recommend you listen to The Fez.
“Countdown” is many fans’ fave SD album, but Walter doesn’t like it. Well, screw you, Walter! We like it! (Okay, “Royal Scam” is my favorite, but this one is great.)
Not one of my favorites by them. It's not BAD, just not their best(IMO). "Josie", "Bodhisattva", "Chain Lightning" and "Reeling in the Years" are better. Oh yeah, "Spooky" by Atlanta Rhythm Section and "It's Late" by Queen are great songs you should consider.
You said you are an actor. Good job acting like you have never heard this song. Ha ha. Walter or Becker. You have heard this song. I loved your commentary of the song. Ok to admit that you have heard it, and like it, not a big deal. Lost Wages, and Los Vegas, is the same thing.I just like that you love this band.
Yes. Good choice. People that say its too repetitive must not know SD. They always have an undercurrent of repetitive undertones. This time its just the backup singers instead of a rhythm guitar or other instrument.
Charlie Freak (Pretzel Logic) is an oddity even by the Dan's standards, but it is a little story vignette lyrically, very sad and moving and with a piano chart performed to perfection. It's them at their best imo.x
ds9 Yeah cool song, great reaction! "Lost wages...when the stars come out at night." Sounds like the young stars lose their wages through partying so often. So that the lead guitarist was playing with a Slide on one of his/her fretting fingers (usually worn on the pinkie or ring finger). - terrific playing with that Slide, without letting it get in the way or dominate the timbre. Enjoyed the 3-part -harmonies of the lead singer's voice - sounds very much like some tunes from Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage". Enjoyed your reaction.
This has NOTHING to do with Steely Dan but I know you've been reacting to halloweeny songs, you should check out In Der Palastra by Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows (aka Anna-Varney Cantodea). It's a gorgeous, haunting song that does not have enough recognition. Even if you don't react to it I'd still recommend checking it out cuz it's so pretty!
This one's a bit too repetitive for me. I love 99.9% of the Dan but... Please consider "My Rival" on the Gaucho album. Lots of playful bits to it. Perfect for the Halloween season.
I love the Dan, but if they have a tune I dislike, this would be it. endlessly repetitive, with few flourishes. even Dak comes up short of the sticks once in a while.
Show biz kids making movies of themselves....... can’t think why anyone thought that might be appropriate...... don’t think the rest of the line applies however thankfully
Probably the least memorable SD tune on that whole album, and definitely the most harmonically repetitive. a 2-chord song is definitely not typical of “the boys” and probably not one you will find in any of their many compilation or best-of albums either! Hopefully you’re aware by now that Fagen’s FOUR solo albums are also part of the Steely Dan discography?
I think it's one of the strongest songs on CTE. It's certainly very repetitive, but so are Do It Again & Green Earrings. It does invite some top level guitar solo work, though. Opinions, eh?!
@@briangray00 but but but wait a minute… To use your examples, do it again in all its simplicity, has a very distinct chorus section with its own chord progression. Green earrings has some very unusual chords and unusual modulation too. Showbiz kids is the kind of song any garage band could play, mostly just a one-chord jam. Instead of over analyzing lyrics for instance, reviewers should be looking at lead-sheets while they listen, It’s HARMONY (in musical theory sense) that always sets SDan apart and so far above the pack! And as far as guitar solos, you’ll notice the guitars soloing in both do it again and green earrings have some cool CHORD CHANGES to solo over!
@@ronrobbins2737 It may just be harmony that pushes your buttons, but it's the groove for a great many others. They get sampled an awful lot for hip hop songs, not a genre noted for harmonies. Here's some recent polling you on favourite SD songs that might find interesting: cameronplommer.home.blog/2020/09/03/what-are-the-three-most-popular-songs-from-each-steely-dan-album (the audience was Facebook & Reddit). Pearl Of The Quarter was the least popular on this album by some distance. I'm not endorsing/agreeing with all the results btw just acknowledging the existence of other opinion.
@@briangray00 Thanks for that polling; very interesting! I would agree those last four songs starting with showbiz are the weakest on the album. I think if you were to ask older musicians about steely Dan, most would cite HARMONY, no surprise as Fagen’s been heavily into jazz his whole life. The Dan and Fagen as solo artist have always recorded with World class jazz players, So the jazz crowd has always been supportive fans. But those great grooves have always been there too, ripe for sampling by so-called musicians who can’t come up with their own!
Rick Derringer on slide....
Derringer has been a important producer guitarist,singer, should have been in the Rock and Roll hall of fame years ago? Him and the Guess Who?
Nice read on some vintage SD. "Lost wages" is old old slang for Las Vegas. I also think you should venture into their later stuff... I (also) think it should be "West Of Hollywood" from Two Against Nature" (2000). They let the sax off the chain at the end and it goes fairly nuclear. Enjoy.
100% agree
This suggestion has my full concurrence!
"West of Hollywood" is an often used crossword puzzle clue, with a three letter answer. The answer is Mae, as in Mae West, the Hollywood actress popular in the 1930s.
There’s a guitar lick from “Reelin’ In the Years” after the Steely Dan t shirt lyric. That was cool.
I never noticed that before! Thanks!
Derringer and Skunk Baxter on guitars
I've been listening to "Countdown to Ecstasy" for almost 40 years. I still find this song to be hypnotic. I find that Fagan sings "They don't give a f*** about anybody else" a little bit shocking to this day.
I like how he pronounces SHAPE-A-LY bodies :)
Sweet, I haven't heard this in a long time!!!👌👍✌😎
This song is brilliant. It is slow and repetitive with the backup singers singing "You're Goin' to Lost Wages, Lost Wages You're goin' to Lost Wages" over and over again but there are so many little nuances that keep it fresh and original and that guitar was just tearing it up.
Rick Derringer on guitar.
Going to Lost Wages….a great chorus even 50 years later!
I was thinking oblivious as you were searching for the correct word...and then you said oblivious. Perfect!
Evidently, I need to go through your playlist before I request a song. Love this song.
Las Vegas is called "Lost Wages" by many because of this song. I think the singers are saying both.
One of my favorite running songs.
you have got to do Your Gold Teeth II by Steely Dan!!! Such a tribute to jazz!
Love watching your channel and your reactions to 🎵 songs !
One of the first 'f' bomb lyric embellishments that actually made it to air...I know Jim Morrison managed some cryptic interweaving in 'the End' [and I'm still in therapy over that little ditty.......thank you Jim] Also, 'Sho Biz Kids' is one of the few one chord songs that Steely Dan pulled off. Countdown to Ecstasy is chock full of toe tappin hits and one of my all time fave LP's to this day.
signed: the dolphins livin the high life off the starboard bow.
I'm glad the dolphins are doing good:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions ...Thank you for your concern.....the fish are certainly supplying their fair share to our equilibrium but they know it's a small price to pay ....peace.....ps: Flipper says hi
Lost Wages is a nickname for Las Vegas for obvious reasons
gods i love Steely Dan. and this song.
I DETECT the El Supremo ... from the room at the TOP of the stairs
"Cousin Dupree" is my fave of Steely Dan's, for what it's worth.
Cousin Dupree doesn't get in my top 40. It's catchy and lyrically edgy and they don't do bad songs. There are masses more that are tons better though, including this one.
@@briangray00 Rubbish. It's one of their best, particularly the live version.
@@twelveytwelve We all have our own darlings.... It's catchy, snarky and funny. I just have a very long list above it. Assume by live you're talking about the 2 Against Nature dvd. I believe they don't play it at live shows any more...
Growing up in Mississippi, I used to listen to the album-oriented rock station WZZQ. (I was very sad when it went country in 1981.) This is the only song I ever heard the station censor; they played a version with the use of "fuck" simply cut out.
One of my faves - from the early years. What a groove !! And of course those backing vocals!
I have always suspected that one of the backup singers would actually sing las vegas every now and then.
Daniel is fast becoming a Dan head. It's what happens, like evolution, and night follows day... the more you hear the bigger it grows. x
I grew up poor, and when poor people sleep, what comes out at night is not stars, but cockroaches. Just sayin’
Amen to that Leanna! Dang, I'm STILL poor and all I can say is there's never enough bug spray
Grew up dirt road poor too...
The lyrics refer to Hollywood 'Stars' who can come out and party all night because they don't do proper jobs.
Rick Derringer plays the guitar on this one
You simply cannot pick a bad song from Walter and Donald. My Mom's favorite was Haitian Divorce. Thanks!
Just as he sings "Got their Steely Dan T-Shirts the guitar plays a rip from "Reeling in the Years. Cool!!!
Hi Daniel, Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky is a great song, and as I'm from Glasgow in Scotland, I wonder if you would like to react to some Scottish home grown talent, Gerry Rafferty "Baker Street" Maggie Bell "No Mean City" and for fun the Proclaimers "500 Miles" (I would walk) thank you
Don't forget "The Average White Band" another Scottish talent. (I recently discovered via ancestry that I am 35 % Scottish) been doing some research! Lol.
"lost wages" is the punch line of people that lose tons of money there
OMG All I can hear in the chorus is "Put the lime in the coconut and drink them all down!" lol
😂
Well THAT'S gonna be rattling around in my head forever.......🤯
Yeah. It fits and now replaces the real lyrics. Thanks.
Also like in the lime in the coconut song- harry nilsson
I remember when the song came out and we all laughed how they snuck "fuck" past most of the DJs.
Vegas back in the day,,,you had your servants and your stars,,,,,still true today
This is Becker and Fagen's subversive subversion of a Motown-style song and arrangement - the tempo a bit slower, it's in a minor key and of course the lyrics have the sardonic, ironic 'bite' typical to them, with some verses clearly satirical and critical of the then nascent 'Jet Set' and 'celebrity culture' of the early 1970s (and 'Lost Wages' as a pun on Las Vegas). However on the music side, note the mantra like circular form, w/ repeated piano parts and bass line and of course the backing vocals; all integral elements of classic Motown songs. Noteworthy here is Rick Derringer's amazing slide guitar work. Two great examples of 'The Motown Sound' are Stevie Wonder's 'Uptight (Everything's Alright') and Martha and The Vandellas 'Nowhere to Run' (featured prominently in the movie 'Baby Driver')
Great description of this unique track
I was in my father's automobile exiting Gate 5 at Fort Gordon, GA in 1973 and this tune, which I was already familiar with having purchased the 8 track immediately after it's release, came on the radio. The DJ made reference to "Great Britain's Steely Dan". Why, I guess I'll never know.
Everyone going Vegas all smiles can't sit down, everyone returning from Vegas, don't look at me I don't want to talk about it no smiles
I noticed you have an ad blocker now. Nice!
This song has been said to refer to Peter Fonda, & other children of stars who became actors,..... 'coz of nepotism, not on talent of their own. He rails against their particular shallowness. Not a dis on all actors, that would condemn other artists & craftsmen as well........
Lost Wages is in reference to people losing their pay checks in Las Vegas. So they call it Lost Wages instead of Las Vegas
I used to mistake this for Frank Zappa, funny me...
It does my heart good to see the youth discover all this great music. I'm subscribed to about a dozen reactor channels.
I love Steely Dan, they’re outrageous. Anyone ever tell you about WONDERWALL - by Oasis?
Thanks. Time for some newer SD. Try “West of Hollywood”. It’s full of references that you may not get. You will have to google. Also “Black Friday” and “Doctor Wu” from Katy Lied.
these old toes are tappin ty
Lot's wages ... Las Vegas ... Lost wages
Sounds like Las Vegas but could be the Las Wages, either way a great song by one of my favorite groups
You ARE an actor. Leave this to people who enjoy good music
Yes!!!! More Steely Dan!!!! Yay. (Please do Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman) 😀
Lost wages is a joke about Las Vegas. That is what a lot of people feel after a weekend in Vegas. HA HA
They were always tongue and cheek and most people realize you go to The Casinos to donate your money to them because in the end the House always wins!🤪
I love this album. It has great songs and sounds more jammy like a real band. The word you are looking for is “indulgences”.
You just want to play this song over and over.....
Ive been to a few shows by the tribute band “Nearly Dan” and for this song the girls get the spotlight and do a little dance. Anyone out there in UK should check them put. They are spot on.
I"ve watched most of your videos, and you do a wonderful job. Suggestions: Charlie Freak (from Pretzel Logic) and Glamour Profession (Gaucho).......
That is a very cool groove ain't ir
Donald fagan is a music genius!!!
My favorite bit of "trivia" about this song. There's only one chord! It's Dm7 throughout. It's a vamp, or a repetitive groove - probably why you thought it sounded like a jam track - it essentially is that. I can only think of one other (popular) song that also did that - Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles (the chord in that one is C). Amazing how interesting they were able to make it. If you get around to Dr. Wu, you'll see a stunning contrast - lots and lots of super interesting chord changes.
Run through the jungle.
@@paul-Ess Wow...that's right. Thanks! I knew there had to be more.
@@RandyHall324 I've got no idea,my brother plays guitar and told me.Told me Chain of fools as well.
One of my favorite songs. 🎵🎶🎶
Tom waits- step right up
Lyle lovett- here I'm am
baz luhrman- everybody's free to wear sunscreen
Frank Zappa equated his songs with a sort of anthropology, allowing him to tell stories about often outrageous or ridiculous human beings in his lyrics. Donald Fagen is doing exactly that too, though with more sophistication and less of the shock value. Both were/are educators for sure, introducing listeners to a world societal types that otherwise inhabited the pages sleazy novels or 70's movies.
Might I recommend you listen to The Fez.
The Fez is an incredible song!
Rick Derringer on slide - you just saw him playing on the live "Frankenstein"
save the planet edgar winter
Los Vegas is where you go to lose your wages?
Lenny Bruce was a comedic genius.
No more Halloween stuff?
I did Scaretale by Nightwish, and there's more to come:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions Ah. I saw Nightwish and just assumed it was just another song by them. Didn't even see the name of the song, lol
I predict you'll have a lot of IMDB entries one of these days. I know these things. :-)
I agree. Daniel is special.
“Countdown” is many fans’ fave SD album, but Walter doesn’t like it. Well, screw you, Walter! We like it!
(Okay, “Royal Scam” is my favorite, but this one is great.)
Not one of my favorites by them. It's not BAD, just not their best(IMO). "Josie", "Bodhisattva", "Chain Lightning" and "Reeling in the Years" are better. Oh yeah, "Spooky" by Atlanta Rhythm Section and "It's Late" by Queen are great songs you should consider.
Las Vegas equals lost wages-get it?
Phonies. The word is phonies.
It's not just Lost Wages, It's a mix Lot's Wages/Lost Wages/Las Wegas. Lot from the Bible. Great song.
YEAH AND ALSO ( CLAIRE TORRE ) GREAT GIG IN THE SKY! LOL :) GOOD CALL ON THE FLOYD THING
Oh wow... That's crazy, and perfect!
You said you are an actor. Good job acting like you have never heard this song. Ha ha. Walter or Becker. You have heard this song. I loved your commentary of the song. Ok to admit that you have heard it, and like it, not a big deal. Lost Wages, and Los Vegas, is the same thing.I just like that you love this band.
Yes. Good choice. People that say its too repetitive must not know SD. They always have an undercurrent of repetitive undertones. This time its just the backup singers instead of a rhythm guitar or other instrument.
Charlie Freak (Pretzel Logic) is an oddity even by the Dan's standards, but it is a little story vignette lyrically, very sad and moving and with a piano chart performed to perfection. It's them at their best imo.x
ds9
Yeah cool song, great reaction!
"Lost wages...when the stars come out at night."
Sounds like the young stars lose their wages through partying so often.
So that the lead guitarist was playing with a Slide on one of his/her fretting fingers (usually worn on the pinkie or ring finger). - terrific playing with that Slide, without letting it get in the way or dominate the timbre.
Enjoyed the 3-part -harmonies of the lead singer's voice - sounds very much like some tunes from Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage".
Enjoyed your reaction.
I think Rick Derringer playing the slide guitar, sounds great!
same thing wages or vagas...
This has NOTHING to do with Steely Dan but I know you've been reacting to halloweeny songs, you should check out In Der Palastra by Sopor Aeternus and the Ensemble of Shadows (aka Anna-Varney Cantodea). It's a gorgeous, haunting song that does not have enough recognition. Even if you don't react to it I'd still recommend checking it out cuz it's so pretty!
This one's a bit too repetitive for me. I love 99.9% of the Dan but...
Please consider "My Rival" on the Gaucho album. Lots of playful bits to it. Perfect for the Halloween season.
College apps this year?? Next?? Good luck!!
Dude people are bringing up your channel in other chats!
Well. That's interesting:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions I thought you would like to know that
zappa ish
Watch the Leah Remini TV show:
www.imdb.com/title/tt6244192/
I love the Dan, but if they have a tune I dislike, this would be it. endlessly repetitive, with few flourishes. even Dak comes up short of the sticks once in a while.
Fuckin quit scrolling and listen
Show biz kids making movies of themselves....... can’t think why anyone thought that might be appropriate...... don’t think the rest of the line applies however thankfully
Not one of my favorite SD songs. Too repetitive for my liking.
This is the 1 Steely Dan song I can't stand, too much repetition. Ugh. Everything else is stellar.
Probably the least memorable SD tune on that whole album, and definitely the most harmonically repetitive. a 2-chord song is definitely not typical of “the boys” and probably not one you will find in any of their many compilation or best-of albums either! Hopefully you’re aware by now that Fagen’s FOUR solo albums are also part of the Steely Dan discography?
I think it's one of the strongest songs on CTE. It's certainly very repetitive, but so are Do It Again & Green Earrings. It does invite some top level guitar solo work, though. Opinions, eh?!
@@briangray00 but but but wait a minute… To use your examples, do it again in all its simplicity, has a very distinct chorus section with its own chord progression. Green earrings has some very unusual chords and unusual modulation too. Showbiz kids is the kind of song any garage band could play, mostly just a one-chord jam. Instead of over analyzing lyrics for instance, reviewers should be looking at lead-sheets while they listen, It’s HARMONY (in musical theory sense) that always sets SDan apart and so far above the pack! And as far as guitar solos, you’ll notice the guitars soloing in both do it again and green earrings have some cool CHORD CHANGES to solo over!
@@ronrobbins2737 It may just be harmony that pushes your buttons, but it's the groove for a great many others. They get sampled an awful lot for hip hop songs, not a genre noted for harmonies. Here's some recent polling you on favourite SD songs that might find interesting: cameronplommer.home.blog/2020/09/03/what-are-the-three-most-popular-songs-from-each-steely-dan-album (the audience was Facebook & Reddit). Pearl Of The Quarter was the least popular on this album by some distance. I'm not endorsing/agreeing with all the results btw just acknowledging the existence of other opinion.
@@briangray00 Thanks for that polling; very interesting! I would agree those last four songs starting with showbiz are the weakest on the album. I think if you were to ask older musicians about steely Dan, most would cite HARMONY, no surprise as Fagen’s been heavily into jazz his whole life. The Dan and Fagen as solo artist have always recorded with World class jazz players, So the jazz crowd has always been supportive fans. But those great grooves have always been there too, ripe for sampling by so-called musicians who can’t come up with their own!