Reelin’ in the Years
June 25th, 2008I have shared my love of the Dan for many years. I’ve taken NO END OF SHIT for my appreciation of the musicality, the musicianship and the quirks. It’s damn near perfect rock/pop that indelibly stamps my youth. And, appropriately, the summers of my youth.
The Aquarium Drunkard has a treatise on the awesomeness of Steely Dan and this song in particular. Link courtesy Marshall (his photos are fantastic!).
Aquarium Drunkard: MP3 Blog, Music Blog » Sevens :: Steely Dan: Reelin’ in the Years
Check out the photo of the band and pay attention to two things: overalls & Donald Fagen. It’s a far cry from Mr. Fagen’s early 80s solo days.
Sidenote: The guitar work is stellar, sure. The harmonies tight. However, there is something about the piano sound on this song. It’s a beefy, delicious sound that I’ve only heard on a few songs ever, including the mighty Ben Folds. Elton John had something close, but not quite as warm on “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”.
If you don’t like or “care for” Steely Dan… move along. These aren’t the droids you are looking for. o
Tags: I'm old and don't care so get off my lawn, music, music nerdery, pull up your damn pants, rawk, steely dan
-
This entry is filed under link. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You may leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Please read the Terms of Service before leaving a response.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
The link for Aquarium Drunkard doesn’t seem to be working…
June 25th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
As a child, I was amazed that my mother knew all the lyrics to Reelin’ in the Years, because the song was SO FAST. And there were SO MANY lyrics.
This woman could not sing to save her life, but by golly she knew those lyrics. I was more amazed still that Steely Dan could SING them all. To this day, it’s one of my favourite songs. And I, too, have an undying passion for ‘The Dan’ for which I am often mocked.
In college I memorized the lyrics, and I love to sing the song at karaoke, and even though I seem to have inherited my mother’s ’singing’ voice, it never fails to impress.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Oh I love Steely Dan! I used to listen to The Nightfly over and over again on my father’s record player when I was little. Good times.
Then there was the time that a teacher played a clip of a Steely Dan song in class and asked if anyone knew who it was. I immediately blurted out ‘STEELY DAN’ only to have other other kids in the class look at me like I was insane for actually knowing that information.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Steely Dan is the best. It’s nice to see he’s still got a good fan base.
June 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
@Irishembi, try it now.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
The tags are even better than the post! Tres amusant!
June 25th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I think what I like most about the Dan is that their music makes me nostalgic for a time and place that I had no first hand experience with. It’s like their music has the power to conjure up images of a new york and LA that may or may not have existed but yet you somehow feel an emotional connection to it.
Oh and check out this girl’s cover of Peg:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KcFBrytPw1M
So vulnerable.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Thanks! Got it! I can listen to Steely Dan and be instantly transported back to being a teenager. I’m ashamed to say it may have involved roller skates. Eeeeep. But I’m never going back to my old school……
June 25th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Whenever this Steely Dan issue comes up, I chuckle. You are not alone. Those of us who appreciate them look at the others as if they were nuts… then again. And since this is my first time to comment, may I just say that I love your photo skills… Heather’s as well. I am, in a word, delighted that you are giving us a chance to purchase your art. Well done. I always want to comment that. Well done!
June 25th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I love Steely Dan. Helena, I’m probably your mother’s age. I know the words to Reelin’ in the Years, Ricky Don’t Lose that Number, etc., etc., and so on. But my very, very favorite is “Go back, Jack, do it again, wheels turnin round and round… Thank you Jon.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Bossy shares your love — and for her they define many a breezy, endless possibility night.
“Production” value for days…
June 25th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
You been tellin’ me you were a genius since you were 17. In all the years I’ve known you I still don’t know what you mean.
The lyrics to that song, jeeebus.
The things they pass for knowledge I can’t understand.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Agreed. Steely Dan is one of my guilty pleasures. In a way I agree that it transports me back to my youth, but not necessarily because I was listening to it at that age, but just because it evokes the 70’s for me for some goddamn reason.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:19 am
So wait…did my tweet today spark this or was it mere coincidence?
Personally my favorite album (by far) is The Royal Scam. From what I understand that’s when the gigantic budgets began to roll in (in addition to a hefty does of neurosis/drug use/ect). Their methods for tracking songs were absolutely insane as they had a stable of the greatest studio musicians at their disposal. The performances they got out of them are as good as it gets.
Just check out Chuck Rainey (bass) and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie (drums) laying it down on The Fez. Incredible.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Never accept ANY crap from ANYONE about Steely Dan. Their musicianship is unparalleled and revered by many hardcore types who have nothing but contempt for “pop.”
Also, they’re hilarious.
And I love them.
(I wore out two vinyl discs–each!– of “Royal Scam” and “Can’t Buy a Thrill” before the era of CDs…)
June 26th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Thanks, Jon. Everyone should start their morning with a little “Reelin”
June 26th, 2008 at 9:54 am
A few years ago I had the opportunity to meet Walter Becker, the other side of Dan. Great producer, great technician of sound. “Eleven Tracks Of Whack” though, is exactly that.
I’ve always loved the college memories, and it was cool to know that’s how they started out too.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am
I thought I was one of the few women out there that liked Steely Dan, nice to see others here. My husband doesn’t get it, actually most everyone I know doesn’t “get” Steely Dan, so it’s nice to see there are others like me. I especially love the way they transport me back to the 70s so effortlessly. I met Jeff Baxter way back when and he told me I was too young to be a Steely Dan fan. Never too young, I say–hope you’re starting Leta on it now.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am
My Dad turned me onto Steely Dan, and by ‘turned me onto’ I mean played it in the car while I whined about having to listen to his ‘old people’ music. Aw Dad, how wise you are, turns out that when I reached the ripe old age of 18 I realized that hey, this is actually pretty cool music after all.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I love the lyrics so much, I can’t even tell you. “You wouldn’t know a diamond if you held it in your hands, the things you think are precious I can’t understand” It puts me squarely back in the time I was moping over the end of my first real relationship.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Mmm, Steely Dan… I personally am partial to “Black Cow”. A thick milkshake of groove.
Also, I would be interested to know what music blogs you like to read, especially considering your experience with Grid magazine. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Steely Dan is amazing. My first concert at the age of 10 (I’m 24) was Steely Dan, I have since seen them 4 times.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I guess I’m so nerdy that I didn’t know Steely Dan wasn’t cool! Anyway, “Bablyon Sisters, shake it!”
June 27th, 2008 at 7:08 am
@patrickc, just a coincidence. Maybe it’s something in the water?
June 27th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Steely Dan rocks and Reelin’ in the Years is one of their best songs. I’m going to see them July 13 and am seriously considering slingshotting my underwear on stage…
June 27th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Steely Dan is a band that both my hubby and I love love love, which is kind of rare for us to have such synchronized crossover.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Oh, and one of my alltime favorite bands ever is Deacon Blue, a Scottish band named after a Steely Dan song. We even went to Wales specifically to see them last time we were in Europe. Come to think of it, Deacon Blue is playing in London this Thanksgiving and we were 1/2 considering going just to see them again.
July 7th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I picked up my Dad’s love for The Dan and have taken crap for it throughout the years. Just last month I offered a ride share for a road trip I took and when my passengers jumped in the car to hear Kid Charlemagne playing I thought at least one of them would have rather hitch hiked the 200 miles. When I explained it was Steely Dan, in hopes of breaking the ice, it just made it worse.
Some of them were older than me, I’m 25, and none of them had any idea what to do or say. I guess I should start acting curmudgeonly because that’s what my music seems to say about me.