Steely Dan has so many songs that deserve an awesome movie to accompany them. In their absence, I’ll imagine it easily. The storytelling is just stunning. Are you with me, Dr. Wu
When we think of the great studio guys who play on Steely Dan records, we think of Gadd, Purdie Carlton , Porcaro, Rainey etc, but perhaps the most unheralded of the them and featured prominently on this song is the great Michael Omartian. The piano part on this song is almost perfect.
The story of Omartian eventually being hired to produce Christopher Cross' "Sailing" album is great. Cross wanted nothing to do with Omartian until he found out he had connections with Steely Dan. The rest is history.
@@russelldavis4938 On the Rick Beato podcast, Michael O said what you mentioned. He specifically asked him if he could get Larry Carlton for the album and when M. O. said yes it sealed the deal
My favorite Steely Dan song period. The warm colorings belie the darkness of the lyric. The melody is so top-notch and Phil Woods sax solo is so intoxicating. Thank you for an excellent reaction.
Katy Lied is one of my favorite Steely Dan LPs! This song is a perfect example of why it is. I love these guys. After Can’t Buy A Thrill came out, I never listened to music in the same way. They were so fresh, creative , and talented. Thanks so much to the Bestie with exceptional taste, and you, Harri, as always, heart felt and meaningful ❤
So rewarding watching the views & likes tick up on this one, really within moments of the reaction dropping. It's what you get when you combine a top-notch pick, a great channel, and viewers with superb tastes in music. Thanks for this one, guys! I knew Dr. Wu would make an appearance here eventually!
This is one of my favorite Dan songs. I think you got the story correct. The doctor is supplying drugs to his junkie patient and ends up messing around with his girlfriend. No one tells a story like Steely Dan.
Well done! This song, Kid Char, Bad Sneaks, Western World, and so many...I wore these cassettes out 3 times each over a 2 year commute to/fro of 90 miles. Traffic sucked in D.C. but SD got me through without malice.
@@MikeD_ I did some research and found both theories were popular. I'll have to check my book, Quantum Criminals. My sister sent it for Christmas, it details all the people in Steely Dan's songs with little character pieces on each. A fascinating read.
@@pete3883the way I’ve always interpreted it Dr Wu is his dealer and Katy is heroin. Dr Wu is a straight guy he’s not a junkie he’s just a high profile dealer who always has good drugs and everyone calls him Dr because he makes people feel better right? The Doctor suddenly stops coming around and the narrator is strung out, Dr Wu has never left him in a lurch like this so our narrator goes out to the seedy part of town to get his fix, he needs to get some heroin or he’s gonna be in really bad shape. He goes down to the docks and he finds Dr Wu passed out with a needle in his arm, he’s OD’d, he was just an ordinary guy selling drugs but not getting high on his own supply as they say but the temptation became too much and he decided to try this magical drug that has made him so much money. He got hooked and then took too much and that was it. Our narrator now knows why the Dr isn’t coming around anymore, it’s because Katy got the better of him too.
While I was in the hospital after my surgery there was a Dr. Wu that was making the rounds. Of course I told her about this wonderful song by Steely Dan. I always feel 'a part of' when someone else really loves listening to "Dr. Wu", Harri.
The song is about the doctor who helped Donald Fagen kick heroin. The doctor is a real person and the sax player on the track is the late great Phil Woods. It's an astounding piece of work as is most if not all of their catalog.
Fantastic request!! I love Steely Dan and this is one of my favorite songs. That’s saying a lot, since they have so many intricate, impeccable tunes. Thoroughly enjoyed watching Harri listening to this gem. Great commentary too. Thanks Harri and Neal 🌺✌️
From a musical point of view, Steely Dan is surely one of the best rock group ever. Always loved this band and all that stuff released, recorded, Steely Dan, actually Fagen and Becker. On drums here the late Jeff Porcaro.
Sorry for the brain fart, Neal! Getting old has its price. As I was saying…we owe you a few piastres for the great pick. Always a pleasure to listen to Donald & Walter but especially here the amazing tenor work from jazz legend Phil Woods. Thanks Neal & Harri.
Thank you, John, and no apology necessary! You were actually really close as my first name is "Philip". :)) BTW, you owe my nothing; I'm just the messenger.
Another class pick by a class Bestie (pncombies) and another example why Steely Dan is simply class. I agree with you Harri. They have some of the best mixed albums period. Very unique and clean sound.👍👍👍
Steely was really hitting their stride on Katy Lied and their next album Royal Scam. So raw and yet refined. No varnish or lacquer needed here. Dig into Royal Scam Harry.
Having listened to this song a hundred times and reading comments on reaction channels, it makes perfect sense to me that Katie is heroin and Dr. Wu is the dealer who ultimately becomes an addict himself. Brilliant composition; lyrically, musically, conceptually: what else would we expect from S.D.?
My hunch is that the Dr and Katy come somewhere from when Donald and Walter were in college at Bard. That seems to where they got some of their more realistically empathetic lyrics (like Rikki Don't Lose That Number). Some sources say otherwise. Makes me feel bad for a sweetheart of a Katy I knew in High School.
Side 1 is pretty much perfect. I'm alway trying to find my least favorite SD song! Every time I think I've found it.....and I listen to confirm........it's always, 'No, this is too good.'
Love Steely Dan. Love this song🥰 "Aja" I have on cassette, the original Album from 77, and on CD. "Haitian Divorce," "Aja," "Rikki don't lose that number," "Royal Scam," "Green Earrings," "Don't take me alive," "FM." Just a few of my favorites.🥰🥰🥰
Hi Harri ❤I love all your reactions...you're the best (ie). I just looked for a reaction to a fantastic old song by HEART and I'm stunned that I found only one reaction. You might want to listen to it.❤"Go on Cry". The entire album is fantastic!!!❤
70% of SD's songs are about heroin and drugs in general. 20% are about people committing various crimes, not counting drug trafficking. And 10% on incest.
You just can't go wrong with Steely Dan....
Steely Dan has so many songs that deserve an awesome movie to accompany them. In their absence, I’ll imagine it easily. The storytelling is just stunning. Are you with me, Dr. Wu
Everything by Steely Dan will blow your mind!
Google "Harri Best Steely Dan reactions!" 🤣
you can't lose with any era of Steely Dan. They were huge soundtracks to life and still can be.
When we think of the great studio guys who play on Steely Dan records, we think of Gadd, Purdie Carlton , Porcaro, Rainey etc, but perhaps the most unheralded of the them and featured prominently on this song is the great Michael Omartian. The piano part on this song is almost perfect.
The story of Omartian eventually being hired to produce Christopher Cross' "Sailing" album is great. Cross wanted nothing to do with Omartian until he found out he had connections with Steely Dan. The rest is history.
@@russelldavis4938 On the Rick Beato podcast, Michael O said what you mentioned. He specifically asked him if he could get Larry Carlton for the album and when M. O. said yes it sealed the deal
I have been catching myself, for the last 30 years, singing this chorus out of the blue.
One of the best from the best. The Dan are incomparable.
My favorite Steely Dan song period. The warm colorings belie the darkness of the lyric. The melody is so top-notch and Phil Woods sax solo is so intoxicating. Thank you for an excellent reaction.
I didn’t have the Katy Lied album, but my soon to be husband did back in the day. This became my favorite Steely Dan song. That sax!!
Goosebumps. Every time. Perfection.
This band has provided the musical score for my life. Glad you appreciate their music so much too! Thanks for featuring them in your reactions.
Katy Lied is one of my favorite Steely Dan LPs! This song is a perfect example of why it is. I love these guys. After Can’t Buy A Thrill came out, I never listened to music in the same way. They were so fresh, creative , and talented.
Thanks so much to the Bestie with exceptional taste, and you, Harri, as always, heart felt and meaningful ❤
You're welcome -- thank you for the kind words!
Great freaking choice!!
Thank you!
One of Steely Dan's best!
Those chord progressions. Beautiful. No 1-4-5 blues for the Dan. Nope. Such talent. Such command of the scales. Such imagination.
Perhaps my favourite song from Steely Dan. I wish the outro of it would continue...
One of my favorites from The Dan!That horn solo just soothes my soul!
So rewarding watching the views & likes tick up on this one, really within moments of the reaction dropping. It's what you get when you combine a top-notch pick, a great channel, and viewers with superb tastes in music. Thanks for this one, guys! I knew Dr. Wu would make an appearance here eventually!
Thank you, Rob!
Yes, this is a stand-out track, even for the great Steely Dan. Loved this from first listen ca. 1975. Great ears, Harri.
So many classy tunes from this band. Here's another one!
Great reaction, perhaps Steely Dan's best song. Thanks again pncombies, great suggestion once again.
@danielmccann835 You're welcome -- always a pleasure! Thanks for the kind words!
This is one of my favorite Dan songs. I think you got the story correct. The doctor is supplying drugs to his junkie patient and ends up messing around with his girlfriend. No one tells a story like Steely Dan.
Well done! This song, Kid Char, Bad Sneaks, Western World, and so many...I wore these cassettes out 3 times each over a 2 year commute to/fro of 90 miles. Traffic sucked in D.C. but SD got me through without malice.
...or is the entire song about drugs and addiction and the "girl" is actually the drug?
@@MikeD_ That's my favorite interpretation. The dealer gets pulled into using his own product.
@@MikeD_ I did some research and found both theories were popular. I'll have to check my book, Quantum Criminals. My sister sent it for Christmas, it details all the people in Steely Dan's songs with little character pieces on each. A fascinating read.
The sax at the finish is laughing, even mocking Dr Wu. Seems he was high on his own supply.
The most beautiful song ever written about heroin addiction
Really ?
The image of being halfway crucified with a syringe in one arm.
@@pete3883 listen to it with that in mind. It's complex and a bit obscure, mixing the idea of an old lover and a doctor (dealer?) together.
@@pete3883the way I’ve always interpreted it Dr Wu is his dealer and Katy is heroin. Dr Wu is a straight guy he’s not a junkie he’s just a high profile dealer who always has good drugs and everyone calls him Dr because he makes people feel better right? The Doctor suddenly stops coming around and the narrator is strung out, Dr Wu has never left him in a lurch like this so our narrator goes out to the seedy part of town to get his fix, he needs to get some heroin or he’s gonna be in really bad shape. He goes down to the docks and he finds Dr Wu passed out with a needle in his arm, he’s OD’d, he was just an ordinary guy selling drugs but not getting high on his own supply as they say but the temptation became too much and he decided to try this magical drug that has made him so much money. He got hooked and then took too much and that was it. Our narrator now knows why the Dr isn’t coming around anymore, it’s because Katy got the better of him too.
While I was in the hospital after my surgery there was a Dr. Wu that was making the rounds.
Of course I told her about this wonderful song by Steely Dan.
I always feel 'a part of' when someone else really loves listening to "Dr. Wu", Harri.
The song is about the doctor who helped Donald Fagen kick heroin. The doctor is a real person and the sax player on the track is the late great Phil Woods. It's an astounding piece of work as is most if not all of their catalog.
Becker had the heroin problem not Fagen for the record
Alto sax legend Phil Woods played that dreamy solo.
Fantastic request!! I love Steely Dan and this is one of my favorite songs. That’s saying a lot, since they have so many intricate, impeccable tunes. Thoroughly enjoyed watching Harri listening to this gem. Great commentary too. Thanks Harri and Neal 🌺✌️
From a musical point of view, Steely Dan is surely one of the best rock group ever. Always loved this band and all that stuff released, recorded, Steely Dan, actually Fagen and Becker. On drums here the late Jeff Porcaro.
Genius has entered the room......
Forgot how great this song was! Thanks for reacting and bringing back those memories.
You are one of the first RUclips reactors to hit this one. Maybe my favorite from them.
Another outstanding tune from Steely Dan. This band changed my future. ✌️❤️🤟🥁
Sorry for the brain fart, Neal! Getting old has its price. As I was saying…we owe you a few piastres for the great pick. Always a pleasure to listen to Donald & Walter but especially here the amazing tenor work from jazz legend Phil Woods. Thanks Neal & Harri.
Thank you, John, and no apology necessary! You were actually really close as my first name is "Philip". :)) BTW, you owe my nothing; I'm just the messenger.
Phil Woods actually played Alto sax.
One of my fave SD songs.
sax solo by phil woods a jazz great r.i.p.years later can be heard on just the way you are billy joel on sax !
Whole album is killer. My personal favorite front to back
This song came from the album, Katy Lied! This was the first of the Steely Dan studio only albums because, they stopped touring!
It's an almost perfect song in some ways
Nice one, Neal thank you and Harri
You're welcome, Cynthia -- always a pleasure!
Another class pick by a class Bestie (pncombies) and another example why Steely Dan is simply class. I agree with you Harri. They have some of the best mixed albums period. Very unique and clean sound.👍👍👍
Imadrummin - Thanks, brother -- the pleasure was mine!
:D You can't stop time. That *is* a fact. ....but you *can* put the song on repeat. Are you with me? :)
Steely was really hitting their stride on Katy Lied and their next album Royal Scam. So raw and yet refined. No varnish or lacquer needed here. Dig into Royal Scam Harry.
Great choice. I think Dr. Wu is a beautiful song.
@albertopa58 It is indeed beautiful -- thank you!
Having listened to this song a hundred times and reading comments on reaction channels, it makes perfect sense to me that Katie is heroin and Dr. Wu is the dealer who ultimately becomes an addict himself. Brilliant composition; lyrically, musically, conceptually: what else would we expect from S.D.?
Great pick, Neal. They were one of my favorite bands, Well done to too, Harri.
Thank you, Dave!
@@pncombies You are very welcome and please keep submitting such goodies!
Yeah!!!!! Hidden treasure.
Great spin and react Harri. These guys are so great on their own playing field!
one of my all time fave songs ever.
My friend played me a few songs of theirs 25 years ago, this was the one that hooked me.
Close to the top of my SD track list.
My favorite of theirs. Thanks Harri.
This song gives me the urge to run to an Asian restaurant and sing karaoke!
I suspect this sax solo served as a rough blueprint for some '80s TV show themes - "L.A. Law", in particular.
Toto's Jeff Porcaro was the drummer of choice for this album with the exception of one track.
My hunch is that the Dr and Katy come somewhere from when Donald and Walter were in college at Bard. That seems to where they got some of their more realistically empathetic lyrics (like Rikki Don't Lose That Number). Some sources say otherwise. Makes me feel bad for a sweetheart of a Katy I knew in High School.
Dr Wu is himself. Are you really just a shadow of the man that I once knew. Before he started to get high.
Side 1 is pretty much perfect. I'm alway trying to find my least favorite SD song! Every time I think I've found it.....and I listen to confirm........it's always, 'No, this is too good.'
Rest in peace Walter Becker and thank you.
If you haven't heard SD's BODHISATTVA you're missing out.
Finally harri !
Be Young Be Foolish by the TAMS good old tune
Can't stop time, but you can press REPLAy :)
This is a song about drug use, and addiction.
Love Steely Dan. Love this song🥰
"Aja" I have on cassette, the original Album from 77, and on CD.
"Haitian Divorce," "Aja," "Rikki don't lose that number," "Royal Scam," "Green Earrings," "Don't take me alive," "FM."
Just a few of my favorites.🥰🥰🥰
Hi Harri ❤I love all your reactions...you're the best (ie). I just looked for a reaction to a fantastic old song by HEART and I'm stunned that I found only one reaction. You might want to listen to it.❤"Go on Cry". The entire album is fantastic!!!❤
Their albums had been building to higher and higher levels, and KATY LIED seemed to be The Best... but there were to come, each with hidden gems.
Equal to Dr Robert..!!
70% of SD's songs are about heroin and drugs in general. 20% are about people committing various crimes, not counting drug trafficking. And 10% on incest.
🐂💩
Dr Wu is about heroin addiction
Opium
Katy lied!
I am pretty sure this song is telling a bad story about drugs.
All about heroin 💉