My 91 year old father is a huge Four Freshman fan. He knew the original guys before they recorded songs. They played restaurants and bowling alley bars in northwest Indiana when my Dad was about 17. I played Maxine for him a few years ago and he smiled so big. I then played him the Four Freshman cover they recorded in the 1992. My Dad, who thought he had every Four Freshman albums, had never heard the one that had Maxine. Four Freshman still tour today (different younger lineup) and have an annual conference that Dad still attends. Brian Wilson loved Four Freshman and built the Beach Boys harmonies from the sound of Four Freshman harmonies.
Greg Phillinganes plays piano on "Maxine." Of course, Phillinganes was on most of Michael Jackson's work, as well as playing with everyone including George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Anita Baker, George Benson, Karen Carpenter, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, Richard Marx, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Nicks.
Hey John, as a keyboardist since I was a kid, I've always loved the playing of Greg Phillinganes (plus, he's a really nice guy). You should check out videos for a couple songs from Toto's 2007 Falling In Between tour (live in Paris, but NOT the 1990 live in Paris video). Greg is filling in for David Paich on keyboards and Leland Sklar was taking Mike Porcaro's place on bass (I'm not sure why Paich wasn't touring that year, but Mike Porcaro was dealing with the increasing effects of ALS...Lou Gehrig's disease...which was not disclosed at the time). I have the concert on Blu Ray and it's fantastic, including great playing and singing by Greg.
Awesome reaction you’re knocking them out five at a time.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. So glad you got Alexia to sit in because it wouldn’t be the same without her on Steely Dan. You’re right on the first two albums that’s Donald totally on piano on fire in the hole and Walter plays bass guitar at all those songs. The slide guitar solos on Pearl of the Quarter and Fire In The Hole, are actually pedal steel guitar solos by Jeff Skunk Baxter. The pedal steel guitar is a flat instrument with strings laid out like a table with the strings on top. You play it sitting down and it has foot pedals and knee levers which help you bend the notes. It’s featured a lot on their first couple of albums and it was rather unusual for a rock band To have a pedal steel guitar, but of course Steely Dan was unusual for a rock band. Pedal steel guitars are a fixture in most country western music but just do cameos in rock songs. So it was really rare to see it mixed in with Steely Dan‘s more jazz rock compositions. On the song With a Gun the familiarity you had with that guitar sound is because you recently listened to a Doobie Brothers song on Patreon called Steamer Lane breakdown. Once again the guitar parts are played by Jeff skunk Baxter with his electric country fried pop and clear concise guitar playing. It’s a regular guitar this time. On Maxine that’s the great Larry Carlton on guitar he is all over the whole The Nightfly album. In my opinion t Maxine should be a jazz standard, it’s an amazing song. I can’t wait till you guys can hear the whole album front to back because it’s a great autobiographical vibe about Fagen’s Childhood and disaffected musings from the suburbs in New Jersey. It’s a great thrill anytime you guys do Steely Dan and I like the fact that you feel like you have to do it together, that’s how it seems to me too. Great request great reaction as always. Totally makes my day when you get a little more Steely Dan in your life. By the way I love the new logo in the entry for NicknLex films. 😍😍 You guys are the greatest. Peace out.
Love to see Chain Lightning and Pearl of the Quarter on this reaction; Pearl is a favorite from the older era, and a warm and unique twist in their magnificent anthology!!
Maxine is such a great track . Steely Dan have a great arranging tool every line on any instrument leads seamlessly to another so when you sing along you are vocal ,guitar , sax ect. Never cluttered always melodic.
The slide or Hawaiian guitar sound that you hear in Fire in the Hole and Pearl of the Quarter is actually a pedal steel guitar. You hear it mostly in country music nowadays. It’s played horizontally and has legs with pedals and knee levers to change the tuning of individual strings. I think that Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is playing it on these songs.
Yes, tasty, tasty solo. RIP Michael Brecker (1949-2007), of Brecker Brothers. Brother Randy was great trumpet in Blood, Sweat and Tears. Both have had great journeys in jazz.
Glad Alexia joined in for this! As you can see from the comments, there's more than one of us charting your Dan journey. I look forward to the next additions to your catalog!
@@kbrewski1 I watched an interview with Fagen a few months ago. He said he spent the pandemic writing new songs and would soon go back into the studio. This would explain why there are no Steely Dan tour dates scheduled this summer. He's very likely recording a new album as we speak.
@@kbrewski1Just giving you more detail. The interview was with Chad Kassem of Analogue Productions where they talked about the Steely Dan UHQR vinyl releases.
So much greatness in just 5 songs! Glad Lex was aboard for this epic cruise!! "Fire in the Hole,"- great piano by Donald!! "Maxine," total yum!! "Chain Lightning," - great groove!! "With a Gun,"- great harmonies and guitar work!! "Pearl of the Quarter,"- sweet pedal steel!! Nick and Lex- stellar reactions!! My favorite people reacting to some of my most favorite music!! 🎵❤️🎵 Debbie
First!!! Chain Lightning, Pretzel Logic Caves of Altamira, Don't Take Me Alive, the Royal Scam and Katie Lied are my fave pre-AJA songs. Maxine is SOOOOO smooth. So good to see Lex back for more Dan!!!! PS, How is Claudia doing? Just wait till you hear Donald with Michael Mcdonald and Boz Scaggs live as the Dukes of September!!
Steely Dan... Donald Fagen.. Can't go wrong. Fantastic. Love the last track.. Bit of country there.. Try some PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE.. 1. Two lane Highway 2. Boulder Skies 3. Early Morning Riser 4. Angel 5. I'll fix your flat tyre, Myrle.
HEY LEX 😍......hey Nick 🥱.... just kidding, love you too Nick 😆 I haven't listened to Steely Dan in awhile even though they're one of my all time favorite bands. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity of listening to them with you two. The song choices were perfect. Pearl of the Quarter is a beautiful song. I think that was Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on the pedal steel guitar. I can't remember if y'all ever listened to the song Only A Fool Would Say That. If not, check it out.
Pearl of the Quarter takes place in the French Quarter located in New Orleans with the whole French/Cajun vibe... It is the oldest section of New Orleans and the heart of its night life...
Hi guys, needless to say a Steely Dan marathon is an automatic yes ! and with Lex ... Yessssss !!!! Always a guaranteed great time had by all ! Love this ! ... You didn't expect that "With A Gun" did you ? Lol. The last track with the verses, always makes me think of Neil Young. It just sounds like a song he would write. Great reactions thankyou, and good to see Lex in a new chair. I hope it helps and is more comfortable. Byeee Jim X
A wonderful selection. Even by Steely Dan standards these are all stand-out tracks. In the mid to late 80s Walter Becker produced three albums for Liverpool art-pop band China Crisis, of which Flaunt The Imperfection is arguably the best. Recommended tracks: Black Man Ray, Gift Of Freedom, Blue Sea.
Fire in the Hole is one of the few Steely Dan songs that has zero double tracking and zero harmonies on the lead vocal, but Donald Fagen completely nails it. The jazz cord that comes in on the word “fire“ in the chorus is just otherworldly, it is such a clever way to turn what would’ve been more of a rock song into something so sophisticated and beautiful, and yet it sounds effortless, which is the real beauty of it. For me, Maxine is Donald Fagen‘s finest hour in a musical life full of phenomenal musical hours. The incredible musicians that performed on this track shine even more due to the composition of the song itself. It’s hard to know where to begin, but even the vocal phrasing is so unique that when I first heard it, I couldn’t believe they were actually doing it, like taking the word “graduation” and phrasing it as grad-u-a-TION, with the “tion” unexpectedly on the accented downbeat, where it beautifully creates its own form of lyrical tension leading into the chorus, which then releases that tension. Oh, and then there’s the lush and HUGE vocal harmonies, all with Donald Fagen‘s voice, that are so intricate and nuanced that they could make even Brian Wilson cry with envy and disbelief. Maxine, along with Pearl of the Quarter, are two of the true Steely Dan and/or Donald Fagen love songs, and are both beautifully touching in that regard. The piano, the sax solo, Larry Carltons subtle yet incredibly effective guitar accompaniment, the Hammond B3 organ, the horn arrangements….it just can’t be done better than this. OK, I’ll stop now!😂😅
Thank you guys and Mickey D for featuring "Maxine," and "Chain Lightning." They are two, very different songs, but lined in that fabulous fifties vocal arrangement, harmonies and all. I dug deep to find the song, "Angel Eyes," by The Four Freshman, that must have been an inspiration for "Maxine." But Donald took the premise of The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice," to steer the song to a dreamy teenage fantasy. "Chain Lightning," uses that same vocal harmony, but in a cool, adolescent story, dripping in blues. "Turn slowly and comb your hair."
I love that you have discovered Steely Dan and your admiration for them grows with each new song you listen to. I was just a teen when I first heard them. My friends and I would sit and listen to them for hours, glued to every note. (kind of like you are!) Still. To this day. They hold such a huge spot in my heart and soul. Revisiting all their music has been super fun for me! Every note and every word is still etched in my brain! I love watching you fall under their spell. It's been a treat for those of us who grew up on this band. You are bringing back so many good memories. Thank you and keep on listening to the DAN!!!
You guys have been great taking us along on your journey. The more you listen to SD catalog of gems you realize they are in their own “category”. If you don’t mind jumping forward to their 2000 album Two Against Nature a Grammy award album. I suggest you need to listen to one cut “West of Hollywood” it sums up for me their entire body of work. It is in my mind their best work….Thanks for all you are doing to expose new listeners to this epic band!
What a great Dan/Fagen marathon! As a keyboardist since I was a kid, Fire In The Hole has always been near and dear to my heart and the variation in style of the other songs is fantastic, from the shuffle-blues feel of Chain Lightening (with great guitar playing by Rick Derringer) to the lush harmonies and dense jazz chords of Maxine.
Hi NicknLex, great marathon as always with Steely Dan you just cannot fail to like everything they did. Glad you have got round to Chain LIghtning at last, what a guitar solo!
The flower necklace is called a lei (pronounced like lay). Since you mentioned Little Feat, If you're looking for a great album to react to you should do their live double album "Waiting for Columbus." This album was the soundtrack to my college years and it's still one of my all time favorites. It seemed like everyone had it. Walking across campus on a nice day you could almost guarantee hearing some track from it playing out someone's open window.
This is such a cool collection of songs. What other band could have done such a wide range of styles in ten years? When people say “all Steely Dan songs sound the same” I would point them to this video. They do cocktail jazz, cool blues, doo wop harmony, country and western, soft rock, etc.
Every track brilliant! Thanks guys for a wonderful marathon. I like the idea of full album listens on Patreon. It is the real experience after all. Thanks Mickey D, this really is a Countdown to Ecstasy!
So glad that you got to these tracks!! thanks!! did you guys do Only a Fool would say that or Kings or Greenflower Street or Walk Between the raindrops?
More Steely Dan! So enjoyable! Love watching your Steely Dan reactions! Actually just bought Cant Buy a Thrill recently on vinyl! I really has grown on me! Also i really liked With a Gun a lot! Thanks for sharing! Love you both!
Great reactions to a bunch of great songs. “Maxine” is a call-back nod to the harmony and sound of the jazz vocal group, The Four Freshman. You will probably like some of their stuff also. Goes back to the 50’s and The Beach Boys were hugely influenced by their harmony vocals and even covered a few of their songs, acapella, notably “Graduation Day”, and “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring”.
Studio legend and original drummer for Toto, the late Jeff Porcaro, was on drums on Chain Lighting. In fact, then only 20 years old, he played drums on all the songs on Katy Lied except "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" RIP.
On Fire in the Hole, that is Jeff Baxter on pedal steel guitar, not slide guitar, and, yes Walter on bass guitar. On chain lightning, guitarist Rick Derringer sat in. You are right about Donald's music getting flagged by RUclips, I recorded a cover and it was blocked! Lol!! With a Gun features Baxter again on pedal steel guitar. He and David Lindley were the masters of rock adaptation of pedal steel, more often associated with Country music and Hawaiian music. Baxter is again on pedal steel guitar in Pearl of the Quarter. Check out David Lindley playing with Jackson brown, or with his own band El Rayo X. The sound is so distinctive, if you listen closely, it cannot be mistaken for slide guitar. Thank you for trying 'Olelo Hawaiʻi, the garland is a Lei, but funnily, you said "a'ole" , which means "no"... haha!
1:22 Best decision ever Nick. You are perfectly capable of going solo but ‘better together’ for me. This 5 card Dan is just great. All lesser know to me but you just know they will be great. And they were! Pearl of the Quarter was sooo good. And Alexia was the frosting on the cake. Time well spent!
Air guitar is the bomb. When you know a song inside and out, including the guitar pats and you have a general idea what your fingers should be doing on the air guitar, it is so fun, like dancing.
Never a trite lyric, chord progression, melody, or arrangement. The range of creative song-writing from "the boys" is unmatched in the history of popular music. Forty years, nine studio albums. Then there's solo-Fagen. "Almost Gothic" is another song-gem if you haven't covered it yet. By the way, the pedal-steel guitar on Pearl of the Quarter reminds us how even Country-style music wasn't immune to SD's vision.
Nick and Lex - good to see you again together. Chain Lightning is my second favorite Steely Dan song after Aja (of course). Just, why oh why is it so short?? Could you imagine a seven minute long song with those chords and that jazz sound?? WOW! I have been hoping you would hit Chain Lightning. You made my day! Thanks, Ken
Walter on Bass, Donald on Piano, Jeff Skunk Baxter on pedal steel for 'Fire In The Hole'. Rick Derringer on lead guitar on 'Chain Lightning' - A Blues Form w/ altered changes (A7-Cmaj7-Gmaj7-D7-E7). Michael Brecker played the Tenor sax solo on 'Maxine'.
Don’t forget - you also have the album “New York Rock ‘n’ Soul Revue”, fronted by Donald so it has some SD tunes, but also has the likes of Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Phoebe Snow. Fantastic album and one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
Told them about this repeatedly to no avail. Keep mentioning it. I saw this particular show line up at the Spectrum in Philly. Walter was also there with DF, but they only did 1 or 2 SD songs to allow everyone else to do their material. It was a great show. I want to say ‘88 or ‘89?
Rick Derringer plays the guitar solo on Chain Lightning. And, that's a steel pedal guitar you're hearing on Pearl Of The Quarter. Common to hear that with Country music. Steve Howe also plays steel pedal on many Yes tracks.
Such fun! Started listening to Donald stuff since 1970 and I’m about halfway through the stuff. The rabbit hole is deep, wide and seems to never end. Maxine is a classic that is a one of a kind. Listen to the opening piano solo over a over again - Lots of Maxine remakes on RUclips. Really enjoyed it again and again! Half to go. 😅😂❤
Maxine, with Michael and Randy Brecker on sax and trumpet, Marcus Miller on bass, Larry Carleton on guitar......just the few I recognize. Supergroup material. (Greg Phillinganes- piano.)
Check out New York Rock and Soul Review for a killer live version of Chain Lightning. Walter and Donald, Michael Mcdonald, Phoebe Snow, Boz Scaggs and The Lovin Spoonful brothers.
Nick and Lex - don’t be sad! I suggest you can start all over with Northwest Passage - Steely Dan Live! Not a bootleg! It came out a few years ago and the sound quality is excellent! Maybe you can put the whole album on Patreon and rediscover the Dan. A helpful hint, I hope! Great picks, Mickey D!
Really enjoyed this collection of deep cuts. Chain Lightning is one of my favorites. These tunes might not be top shelf popular tunes but their quality is testament to how AWESOME these guys and their collaborators were. As any Major Dude or Dan Fan will tell you!
That guitar (with a gun) sounded just like a tele, finger picked straight out of Nashville! Great stories great songs! Been listening to their music from the first album and so wonderful that you dove in the rabbit hole and now have a full understanding of their catalogue! So diversified! Pearl of the Quarter was western music by style, played with a pedal steel by Skunk Baxter!
Hey Nick N Lex. Donald Fagen has 4 solo albums: The Nightfly (1982) Kamakiriad (1993) Morph the Cat (2006) Sunken Condos (2012) Donald also has a live album called The Nightfly Live recorded in the fall of 2019 and released in 2021. Walter Becker has 2 solo albums: 11 Tracks of Whack (1994) Circus Money (2008)
If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, I didn’t know til recently there are demos out there, of varying quality, of lost songs. There’s a SD Rarities concert on RUclips where they actually performed The Second Arrangement! ruclips.net/video/AApTYwUkN0I/видео.html
Oh yes! That was wonderful. Sorry if I was unclear. I was talking about early Dan - only a couple left. I know Only a Fool Would Say that and Change of the Guard haven’t been done yet. Maybe one or two more.
Over the past couple of weeks I've been catching up on your Steely Dan reactions (and loving them), but unless I've somehow missed it, you haven't yet done "Charlie Freak" from their "Pretzel Logic"" album. Another of their classic short songs with a very touching story line,; it shouldn't be missed.
Guys, you still have tons of Steely Dan left! Don’t worry! There is Two Against Nature (I think this might be one of your favorite albums) and Everything Must Go
@@lantose I have. I’m just saying there’s much more from Two Against Nature. They are going to love Cousin Dupree, West of Hollywood, Almost Gothic, and Negative Girl.
@@lukekiefer5964 They way you phrased it, I wasn’t sure, so didn’t want you to miss out on their reaction. Bought the cd and the concert cd when it came out and love! Cousin Dupree is an awesome song!
@@lantose Yes thanks either way! Just very excited for them to react to the rest of them :) I also forgot that Nick reacted to Godwhacker and Everything Must Go.
Hello there, I'm new to your channel. I love seeing your honest reactions! I been on a Steely Dan journey since 1998. Forgive me, I haven't read a lot of the comments. Are you aware of Donald's latest solo album "Sunken Condos' from 2012? It's pure gold! If you love the Royal Scam, you will love "weather in my head", track #4 on Sunken Condos. Forgive me, I don't know if you've already listened to his newest solo album
Chain Lightning is a deceptively straightforward blues. Those chord changes and the way the vocal harmony lines just change by a half step sometimes 👌🏼✨
Donald and Walter have collaborated with and produced a number of other artists. You may be interested in a cover of Joni Mitchell’s song “Carey” that they recorded for a tribute album. It didn’t make it on the album but the song can be found on RUclips.
With A Gun es del album Pretzel Logic, grabado en 1974 y el primer album de Dire Straits fue grabado en 1978. Del album Royal Scam os faltaban por poner las canciones : "Everything You Di" d y "Sign in Stranger", para mi una de sus mejores canciones. Saludos
All great songs. I think 'Maxine' is one of Donald's most beautiful compositions. I used to put it on and ask my wife to slow dance to it. Memories...
Been waitng for this reaction. You are right, this could fall into the category of a jazz standard
My first time hearing Maxine. Love your comment.
@@glenndespres5317 The whole The Nightfly album is wonderful! Treat yourself!
Steely Dan requires the presence of Lex! So glad she joined!
Fire In The Hole is the hidden gem from the 1st album.
Great piano and Skunk Baxter on the pedal steel.
Love Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on the pedal steel.
Is that what is playing the end part of Fire In The Hole? I love that.
I have been pushing Chain Lightning as the hidden gem folks don't talk about or think about the moment you discovered SD. Glad you enjoyed.
One of my favorites!
Amen.
That's a good one. My band use to play it on occasion. Only the serious Steely Dan fans would recognize it, but everybody else seemed to love it.
@@debrabrabenec Ditto!
What’s it about?
You mentioned "Home at Last". Possibly the perfect song. Thank you Bernard Purdie and Walter Becker's incredible solo guitar work. perfection!
My 91 year old father is a huge Four Freshman fan. He knew the original guys before they recorded songs. They played restaurants and bowling alley bars in northwest Indiana when my Dad was about 17. I played Maxine for him a few years ago and he smiled so big. I then played him the Four Freshman cover they recorded in the 1992. My Dad, who thought he had every Four Freshman albums, had never heard the one that had Maxine. Four Freshman still tour today (different younger lineup) and have an annual conference that Dad still attends. Brian Wilson loved Four Freshman and built the Beach Boys harmonies from the sound of Four Freshman harmonies.
Pearl of the Quarter is one of my go to Steely Dan tunes ..
Two shorties you must do: 'Walk Between the Raindrops' from The Nightfly and 'Only a Fool Would Say That' from Can't Buy a Thrill.
I concur! Both are terrific!
@@kbrewski1
Those days are gone forever
Over a long time ago, oh yeah
Two good suggestions. And throw in Turn That Heartbeat Over Again and Cousin Dupree.
@@LarryNeie-lj7zc Stir it up nice, I'll eat it right here.
Greg Phillinganes plays piano on "Maxine." Of course, Phillinganes was on most of Michael Jackson's work, as well as playing with everyone including George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Anita Baker, George Benson, Karen Carpenter, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Michael Jackson, Richard Marx, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Nicks.
Hey John, as a keyboardist since I was a kid, I've always loved the playing of Greg Phillinganes (plus, he's a really nice guy). You should check out videos for a couple songs from Toto's 2007 Falling In Between tour (live in Paris, but NOT the 1990 live in Paris video). Greg is filling in for David Paich on keyboards and Leland Sklar was taking Mike Porcaro's place on bass (I'm not sure why Paich wasn't touring that year, but Mike Porcaro was dealing with the increasing effects of ALS...Lou Gehrig's disease...which was not disclosed at the time). I have the concert on Blu Ray and it's fantastic, including great playing and singing by Greg.
@@RockDocNeal, how can I find a copy?
Awesome reaction you’re knocking them out five at a time.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. So glad you got Alexia to sit in because it wouldn’t be the same without her on Steely Dan. You’re right on the first two albums that’s Donald totally on piano on fire in the hole and Walter plays bass guitar at all those songs. The slide guitar solos on Pearl of the Quarter and Fire In The Hole, are actually pedal steel guitar solos by Jeff Skunk Baxter. The pedal steel guitar is a flat instrument with strings laid out like a table with the strings on top. You play it sitting down and it has foot pedals and knee levers which help you bend the notes. It’s featured a lot on their first couple of albums and it was rather unusual for a rock band To have a pedal steel guitar, but of course Steely Dan was unusual for a rock band. Pedal steel guitars are a fixture in most country western music but just do cameos in rock songs. So it was really rare to see it mixed in with Steely Dan‘s more jazz rock compositions.
On the song With a Gun the familiarity you had with that guitar sound is because you recently listened to a Doobie Brothers song on Patreon called Steamer Lane breakdown. Once again the guitar parts are played by Jeff skunk Baxter with his electric country fried pop and clear concise guitar playing. It’s a regular guitar this time.
On Maxine that’s the great Larry Carlton on guitar he is all over the whole The Nightfly album. In my opinion t Maxine should be a jazz standard, it’s an amazing song. I can’t wait till you guys can hear the whole album front to back because it’s a great autobiographical vibe about Fagen’s Childhood and disaffected musings from the suburbs in New Jersey. It’s a great thrill anytime you guys do Steely Dan and I like the fact that you feel like you have to do it together, that’s how it seems to me too. Great request great reaction as always. Totally makes my day when you get a little more Steely Dan in your life. By the way I love the new logo in the entry for NicknLex films. 😍😍 You guys are the greatest. Peace out.
Love to see Chain Lightning and Pearl of the Quarter on this reaction; Pearl is a favorite from the older era, and a warm and unique twist in their magnificent anthology!!
Maxine is such a great track . Steely Dan have a great arranging tool every line on any instrument leads seamlessly to another so when you sing along you are vocal ,guitar , sax ect. Never cluttered always melodic.
The slide or Hawaiian guitar sound that you hear in Fire in the Hole and Pearl of the Quarter is actually a pedal steel guitar. You hear it mostly in country music nowadays. It’s played horizontally and has legs with pedals and knee levers to change the tuning of individual strings. I think that Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is playing it on these songs.
Wow, "Chain Lightning" really gave both of you an acute case of stank face!
Tends to do that for me too.... :D
The tenor solo on Maxine by the incomparable Michael Brecker always gives me chill bumps. So tasty and flawless, as he always was.
Yes, tasty, tasty solo. RIP Michael Brecker (1949-2007), of Brecker Brothers. Brother Randy was great trumpet in Blood, Sweat and Tears. Both have had great journeys in jazz.
Glad Alexia joined in for this! As you can see from the comments, there's more than one of us charting your Dan journey. I look forward to the next additions to your catalog!
There is news that Donald Fagen spent the pandemic writing new songs. The rumor is that he is recording his 5th solo album this year.
Great news!
@@kbrewski1 I watched an interview with Fagen a few months ago. He said he spent the pandemic writing new songs and would soon go back into the studio. This would explain why there are no Steely Dan tour dates scheduled this summer. He's very likely recording a new album as we speak.
@@kbrewski1Just giving you more detail. The interview was with Chad Kassem of Analogue Productions where they talked about the Steely Dan UHQR vinyl releases.
So much greatness in just 5 songs! Glad Lex was aboard for this epic cruise!! "Fire in the Hole,"- great piano by Donald!! "Maxine," total yum!! "Chain Lightning," - great groove!! "With a Gun,"- great harmonies and guitar work!! "Pearl of the Quarter,"- sweet pedal steel!! Nick and Lex- stellar reactions!! My favorite people reacting to some of my most favorite music!!
🎵❤️🎵 Debbie
Hi Debra they are getting there. ❤️
First!!! Chain Lightning, Pretzel Logic Caves of Altamira, Don't Take Me Alive, the Royal Scam and Katie Lied are my fave pre-AJA songs. Maxine is SOOOOO smooth. So good to see Lex back for more Dan!!!! PS, How is Claudia doing? Just wait till you hear Donald with Michael Mcdonald and Boz Scaggs live as the Dukes of September!!
Steely Dan... Donald Fagen..
Can't go wrong.
Fantastic.
Love the last track.. Bit of country there..
Try some PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE..
1. Two lane Highway
2. Boulder Skies
3. Early Morning Riser
4. Angel
5. I'll fix your flat tyre, Myrle.
Maxine has a beautiful 50's feel to it.
HEY LEX 😍......hey Nick 🥱.... just kidding, love you too Nick 😆
I haven't listened to Steely Dan in awhile even though they're one of my all time favorite bands. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity of listening to them with you two.
The song choices were perfect. Pearl of the Quarter is a beautiful song. I think that was Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on the pedal steel guitar.
I can't remember if y'all ever listened to the song Only A Fool Would Say That. If not, check it out.
Pearl of the Quarter takes place in the French Quarter located in New Orleans with the whole French/Cajun vibe... It is the oldest section of New Orleans and the heart of its night life...
Hi guys, needless to say a Steely Dan marathon is an automatic yes ! and with Lex ... Yessssss !!!! Always a guaranteed great time had by all ! Love this ! ... You didn't expect that "With A Gun" did you ? Lol. The last track with the verses, always makes me think of Neil Young. It just sounds like a song he would write. Great reactions thankyou, and good to see Lex in a new chair. I hope it helps and is more comfortable. Byeee Jim X
"Maxine" is absolutely sublime.
A wonderful selection. Even by Steely Dan standards these are all stand-out tracks.
In the mid to late 80s Walter Becker produced three albums for Liverpool art-pop band China Crisis, of which Flaunt The Imperfection is arguably the best. Recommended tracks: Black Man Ray, Gift Of Freedom, Blue Sea.
Michael Brecker on tenor sax. The guitar solo on "Pearl of the Quarter" was played on a Pedal Steel guitar.
Fire in the Hole is one of the few Steely Dan songs that has zero double tracking and zero harmonies on the lead vocal, but Donald Fagen completely nails it.
The jazz cord that comes in on the word “fire“ in the chorus is just otherworldly, it is such a clever way to turn what would’ve been more of a rock song into something so sophisticated and beautiful, and yet it sounds effortless, which is the real beauty of it.
For me, Maxine is Donald Fagen‘s finest hour in a musical life full of phenomenal musical hours.
The incredible musicians that performed on this track shine even more due to the composition of the song itself.
It’s hard to know where to begin, but even the vocal phrasing is so unique that when I first heard it, I couldn’t believe they were actually doing it, like taking the word “graduation” and phrasing it as grad-u-a-TION, with the “tion” unexpectedly on the accented downbeat, where it beautifully creates its own form of lyrical tension leading into the chorus, which then releases that tension.
Oh, and then there’s the lush and HUGE vocal harmonies, all with Donald Fagen‘s voice, that are so intricate and nuanced that they could make even Brian Wilson cry with envy and disbelief.
Maxine, along with Pearl of the Quarter, are two of the true Steely Dan and/or Donald Fagen love songs, and are both beautifully touching in that regard.
The piano, the sax solo, Larry Carltons subtle yet incredibly effective guitar accompaniment, the Hammond B3 organ, the horn arrangements….it just can’t be done better than this.
OK, I’ll stop now!😂😅
My warmest thanks to both of you.
This is my first listening to these pieces as well.
Thank you.
Absolutely Outstanding
Thank you
Thank you guys and Mickey D for featuring "Maxine," and "Chain Lightning." They are two, very different songs, but lined in that fabulous fifties vocal arrangement, harmonies and all. I dug deep to find the song, "Angel Eyes," by The Four Freshman, that must have been an inspiration for "Maxine." But Donald took the premise of The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice," to steer the song to a dreamy teenage fantasy. "Chain Lightning," uses that same vocal harmony, but in a cool, adolescent story, dripping in blues. "Turn slowly and comb your hair."
I love that you have discovered Steely Dan and your admiration for them grows with each new song you listen to. I was just a teen when I first heard them. My friends and I would sit and listen to them for hours, glued to every note. (kind of like you are!) Still. To this day. They hold such a huge spot in my heart and soul. Revisiting all their music has been super fun for me! Every note and every word is still etched in my brain! I love watching you fall under their spell. It's been a treat for those of us who grew up on this band. You are bringing back so many good memories. Thank you and keep on listening to the DAN!!!
You guys have been great taking us along on your journey. The more you listen to SD catalog of gems you realize they are in their own “category”. If you don’t mind jumping forward to their 2000 album Two Against Nature a Grammy award album. I suggest you need to listen to one cut “West of Hollywood” it sums up for me their entire body of work. It is in my mind their best work….Thanks for all you are doing to expose new listeners to this epic band!
What a great Dan/Fagen marathon! As a keyboardist since I was a kid, Fire In The Hole has always been near and dear to my heart and the variation in style of the other songs is fantastic, from the shuffle-blues feel of Chain Lightening (with great guitar playing by Rick Derringer) to the lush harmonies and dense jazz chords of Maxine.
Hi NicknLex, great marathon as always with Steely Dan you just cannot fail to like everything they did. Glad you have got round to Chain LIghtning at last, what a guitar solo!
The flower necklace is called a lei (pronounced like lay). Since you mentioned Little Feat, If you're looking for a great album to react to you should do their live double album "Waiting for Columbus." This album was the soundtrack to my college years and it's still one of my all time favorites. It seemed like everyone had it. Walking across campus on a nice day you could almost guarantee hearing some track from it playing out someone's open window.
Same.
I don’t know about anyone else, but “With a Gun” sounds to me like the best early/middle-period Beatles track they never made…❤
With a Gun was their attempt to write a country song according to one interview i read years ago.
This is such a cool collection of songs. What other band could have done such a wide range of styles in ten years? When people say “all Steely Dan songs sound the same” I would point them to this video. They do cocktail jazz, cool blues, doo wop harmony, country and western, soft rock, etc.
Every track brilliant! Thanks guys for a wonderful marathon. I like the idea of full album listens on Patreon. It is the real experience after all. Thanks Mickey D, this really is a Countdown to Ecstasy!
There they are… not just any Major Dude & Major Dudette!!!! 👍🏻
59.2k !!!
So glad that you got to these tracks!! thanks!! did you guys do Only a Fool would say that or Kings or Greenflower Street or Walk Between the raindrops?
They’ve done Kings but not the others.
Remember, there ain't no wrong way to play air guitar. It's the feels not the skills.
More Steely Dan! So enjoyable! Love watching your Steely Dan reactions! Actually just bought Cant Buy a Thrill recently on vinyl! I really has grown on me! Also i really liked With a Gun a lot! Thanks for sharing! Love you both!
Great reactions to a bunch of great songs. “Maxine” is a call-back nod to the harmony and sound of the jazz vocal group, The Four Freshman. You will probably like some of their stuff also. Goes back to the 50’s and The Beach Boys were hugely influenced by their harmony vocals and even covered a few of their songs, acapella, notably “Graduation Day”, and “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring”.
"It's a Blue World" is my favorite Four Freshmen vibe.
I believe the slide guitar on Pearl of the Quarter is a pedal steel played by The great Jeff "skunk" Baxter.
Studio legend and original drummer for Toto, the late Jeff Porcaro, was on drums on Chain Lighting. In fact, then only 20 years old, he played drums on all the songs on Katy Lied except "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" RIP.
On Fire in the Hole, that is Jeff Baxter on pedal steel guitar, not slide guitar, and, yes Walter on bass guitar. On chain lightning, guitarist Rick Derringer sat in. You are right about Donald's music getting flagged by RUclips, I recorded a cover and it was blocked! Lol!! With a Gun features Baxter again on pedal steel guitar. He and David Lindley were the masters of rock adaptation of pedal steel, more often associated with Country music and Hawaiian music. Baxter is again on pedal steel guitar in Pearl of the Quarter. Check out David Lindley playing with Jackson brown, or with his own band El Rayo X. The sound is so distinctive, if you listen closely, it cannot be mistaken for slide guitar. Thank you for trying 'Olelo Hawaiʻi, the garland is a Lei, but funnily, you said "a'ole" , which means "no"... haha!
1:22 Best decision ever Nick. You are perfectly capable of going solo but ‘better together’ for me. This 5 card Dan is just great. All lesser know to me but you just know they will be great. And they were! Pearl of the Quarter was sooo good. And Alexia was the frosting on the cake. Time well spent!
Air guitar is the bomb. When you know a song inside and out, including the guitar pats and you have a general idea what your fingers should be doing on the air guitar, it is so fun, like dancing.
Maxine may be the most perfect song eva! Michael Brecker on the Sax is exceptional.
The subject matter of "Chain Lightning" may shock you. It only adds to its greatness. Don and Walter are perverse geniuses.
Never a trite lyric, chord progression, melody, or arrangement. The range of creative song-writing from "the boys" is unmatched in the history of popular music. Forty years, nine studio albums. Then there's solo-Fagen. "Almost Gothic" is another song-gem if you haven't covered it yet. By the way, the pedal-steel guitar on Pearl of the Quarter reminds us how even Country-style music wasn't immune to SD's vision.
Nick and Lex - good to see you again together. Chain Lightning is my second favorite Steely Dan song after Aja (of course). Just, why oh why is it so short?? Could you imagine a seven minute long song with those chords and that jazz sound?? WOW! I have been hoping you would hit Chain Lightning. You made my day!
Thanks,
Ken
Walter on Bass, Donald on Piano, Jeff Skunk Baxter on pedal steel for 'Fire In The Hole'. Rick Derringer on lead guitar on 'Chain Lightning' - A Blues Form w/ altered changes (A7-Cmaj7-Gmaj7-D7-E7). Michael Brecker played the Tenor sax solo on 'Maxine'.
Glad you did it together! 👍🏻
I’m so happy 😁 for you, that you got another terrific Steely Dan Marathon.
Don’t forget - you also have the album “New York Rock ‘n’ Soul Revue”, fronted by Donald so it has some SD tunes, but also has the likes of Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Phoebe Snow. Fantastic album and one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
Good call
Told them about this repeatedly to no avail.
Keep mentioning it. I saw this particular show line up at the Spectrum in Philly. Walter was also there with DF, but they only did 1 or 2 SD songs to allow everyone else to do their material.
It was a great show. I want to say ‘88 or ‘89?
Speaking of Boz Saggs he does a very good cover of Pearl of the Quarter on his excellent album, "Memphis."
@@bmac1205 - I saw the show in Indy but it had to have been early 90s. Fantastic album.
Great random selection! LOVE IT!! Thanks!!
Rick Derringer plays the guitar solo on Chain Lightning. And, that's a steel pedal guitar you're hearing on Pearl Of The Quarter. Common to hear that with Country music. Steve Howe also plays steel pedal on many Yes tracks.
At work now, look forward to this tonight. LOVE Fire in the Hole!
A fun song with dark lyrics. That’s Steely Dan! With A Gun!
fire in the hole my favorite steely dan song... so different !
Such fun! Started listening to Donald stuff since 1970 and I’m about halfway through the stuff. The rabbit hole is deep, wide and seems to never end. Maxine is a classic that is a one of a kind. Listen to the opening piano solo over a over again - Lots of Maxine remakes on RUclips. Really enjoyed it again and again!
Half to go. 😅😂❤
Maxine, with Michael and Randy Brecker on sax and trumpet, Marcus Miller on bass, Larry Carleton on guitar......just the few I recognize. Supergroup material. (Greg Phillinganes- piano.)
Check out New York Rock and Soul Review for a killer live version of Chain Lightning. Walter and Donald, Michael Mcdonald, Phoebe Snow, Boz Scaggs and The Lovin Spoonful brothers.
Nick and Lex - don’t be sad! I suggest you can start all over with Northwest Passage - Steely Dan Live! Not a bootleg! It came out a few years ago and the sound quality is excellent! Maybe you can put the whole album on Patreon and rediscover the Dan. A helpful hint, I hope! Great picks, Mickey D!
Great album, I sent them the cd in December.
Oh yeah - I'd definitely be in favor of full-album SD reviews on Patreon!
Really enjoyed this collection of deep cuts. Chain Lightning is one of my favorites. These tunes might not be top shelf popular tunes but their quality is testament to how AWESOME these guys and their collaborators were. As any Major Dude or Dan Fan will tell you!
Hope your back is ok Alex. Thanks and cheers guys. 😎👍
Love chain lightning a favorite of mine love you guys
Rick Derringer - guitar God on Solo GEETAR!!!!!!! they used him alot in the early Days
I might join Patreon if there’s gonna be a special “multi-Steely full LP Wine and cheese livestream! ❤😂
Great deep dive. You guys are awesome
That guitar (with a gun) sounded just like a tele, finger picked straight out of Nashville! Great stories great songs! Been listening to their music from the first album and so wonderful that you dove in the rabbit hole and now have a full understanding of their catalogue! So diversified! Pearl of the Quarter was western music by style, played with a pedal steel by Skunk Baxter!
Skunk Baxter on pedal steel guitar.
Hey Nick N Lex. Donald Fagen has 4 solo albums:
The Nightfly (1982)
Kamakiriad (1993)
Morph the Cat (2006)
Sunken Condos (2012)
Donald also has a live album called The Nightfly Live recorded in the fall of 2019 and released in 2021.
Walter Becker has 2 solo albums:
11 Tracks of Whack (1994)
Circus Money (2008)
If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, I didn’t know til recently there are demos out there, of varying quality, of lost songs. There’s a SD Rarities concert on RUclips where they actually performed The Second Arrangement! ruclips.net/video/AApTYwUkN0I/видео.html
@@kbrewski1 so jealous🙂
Great set! That's pedal steel guitar on Pearl, probably Skunk Baxter playing
You should listen to David Crosby's "Rodriguez For a Night", which was written by Donald Fagen
Have you been watching David Heretic? The way you said "Tonight!" is so much like the way he does.
Only a couple left before the Big Break after Gaucho. I’m keeping track!
Did you see our reactions to Gaslighting Abby from two against nature ?
Oh yes! That was wonderful. Sorry if I was unclear. I was talking about early Dan - only a couple left. I know Only a Fool Would Say that and Change of the Guard haven’t been done yet. Maybe one or two more.
@JK They still need to hear "Rose Darling" 😉
Yes, absolutely.
@@RGRG3232 And "Throw back The Little Ones."
_Chain Lightning_ is the best of them.
Over the past couple of weeks I've been catching up on your Steely Dan reactions (and loving them), but unless I've somehow missed it, you haven't yet done "Charlie Freak" from their "Pretzel Logic"" album. Another of their classic short songs with a very touching story line,; it shouldn't be missed.
Guys, you still have tons of Steely Dan left! Don’t worry! There is Two Against Nature (I think this might be one of your favorite albums) and Everything Must Go
Check out their reactions as they have done a few off the album, Gaslighting Abbie, Jack of Speed and maybe Janie Runaway.
@@lantose I have. I’m just saying there’s much more from Two Against Nature. They are going to love Cousin Dupree, West of Hollywood, Almost Gothic, and Negative Girl.
@@lukekiefer5964 They way you phrased it, I wasn’t sure, so didn’t want you to miss out on their reaction. Bought the cd and the concert cd when it came out and love! Cousin Dupree is an awesome song!
@@lantose Yes thanks either way! Just very excited for them to react to the rest of them :)
I also forgot that Nick reacted to Godwhacker and Everything Must Go.
"New Frontier" from Donald Fagen.
Skunk Baxter is playing steel guitar on Pearl...Great marathon, cannot go wrong with Steely Dan...as ya'll are finding out
Literally saw Steely Dan and thought KISS that’s how tied together they are in my messed up mind 🤪
Hello there, I'm new to your channel. I love seeing your honest reactions! I been on a Steely Dan journey since 1998. Forgive me, I haven't read a lot of the comments. Are you aware of Donald's latest solo album "Sunken Condos' from 2012? It's pure gold! If you love the Royal Scam, you will love "weather in my head", track #4 on Sunken Condos. Forgive me, I don't know if you've already listened to his newest solo album
A string of Gems .
Thanks for all this !
All good songs. I think Pearl Of The Quarter is one of my favorite songs by SD. Fun Reaction as always.
Give a listen to Good Vibrations 1966 by the BeachBoys. Glenn Cambell plays guitar on this. The Beatles were amazed by this song
Chain Lightning is a deceptively straightforward blues. Those chord changes and the way the vocal harmony lines just change by a half step sometimes 👌🏼✨
And Jeff Porcaro on the drums with his legendary shuffle feel !
Donald and Walter have collaborated with and produced a number of other artists. You may be interested in a cover of Joni Mitchell’s song “Carey” that they recorded for a tribute album. It didn’t make it on the album but the song can be found on RUclips.
You guys really, really need to check out True Companion by Fagen, which was on the soundtrack of the animated movie Heavy Metal from 1982 I believe
It’s also on Steely Dan Gold as an extra
With A Gun es del album Pretzel Logic, grabado en 1974 y el primer album de Dire Straits fue grabado en 1978. Del album Royal Scam os faltaban por poner las canciones : "Everything You Di" d y "Sign in Stranger", para mi una de sus mejores canciones. Saludos
MUCH 💕 TO YOU BOTH.
Hi Ken! Lots of loveeee!!!
Love these tunes! Thanks guys!
Thanks for listening
Every song is a new adventure
Those willful dissonances at the start of the piano break on Fire In.. are clearly Donald's nod to Monk.
My favorite deep cut