Drummer reacts to "King of the World" by Steely Dan

[@RandoReport]

Easily one of the greatest instrumental breaks of any '70s song.

[@steved525]

Post apocalypse .. last man standing is the King of the World. In my top 10 all time SD songs. I love everything about this song, the lyrics, the musicianship and the cherry on top of the sundae is for me the Denny Dias guitar outro... just brilliant

[@davelandsman4768]

I'm a huge Dan fan - they're my favorite band and I've been watching you since you started Steely Sundays with Aja. You're doing a great job!

[@katyland1015]

One of the great GEMS from Steely Dan! And one of my all time favorites. I love the dystopian sci-fi lyrics.

[@Fuphyter]

My favorite Steely Dan song!! ❤ love the guitar noodling throughout the song. I was 13 in 1970. I love a lot of diverse artists. I bought every Steely Dan album as it was released.

[@briangray00]

I was 13 in 1973. One of us was ahead of their time. Bless you; it's a banger and one of my favourites too.

[@JPLodine]

Also 13 in 1970, unfortunately didn’t get hipped to the Dan until Aja, when my little sister played Black Cow for me. Huge fan ever since.

[@Fuphyter]

​@@JPLodine i listened to everything! Piano at 8, drums at 12 and ended up a singer.

[@Fuphyter]

​@@briangray00 3 older sibs by 5, 7 and 9 yrs. All into music. My parents were too! Oldest Stones, next Wipeout, next Beatles, Dad big bands and Frank Sinatra, Mom show tunes. I have very eclectic taste lol

[@michaelbaucom4019]

The end of the world sounding cool?! Only Steely Dan. RIP Walter Becker

[@alldayadventures5418]

Song about POST NUCLEAR L.A. the only survivor is the King of the World No Marigolds in the promised land... There is a hole in the ground where they used to grow....

[@pattyg8464]

I think it’s about post nuclear New Mexico (references to Santa Fe and the Rio Grande)

[@realbser1956]

Another end of the world classic by Steely Dan. Thanks, Lee.

[@jml-rj5re]

Donald Fagen was so mad at the ARP synthesizer recording King of the World. The ARP was hard to tune and had to be retuned with every take. After they finished recording Fagen and Becker set the ARP on fire and threw it down the studio stairs.

[@lewismaddox4132]

For all the aggravation l'd say, from our perspective, it was worth it!

[@jml-rj5re]

@@lewismaddox4132 TG Donald and Walter were perfectionists (up to a point). Their art stands up today better than ever.

[@lewismaddox4132]

​@@jml-rj5reYou're definitely singing to the choir my brother.

[@markdrechsler5660]

Quite possibly the best song on CtE.

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

Probably their most depressing song lyrically, and yet one of the most upbeat. I've always loved this one.

[@tohagil57]

One of their best songs. There are just so many great SD songs which makes this such a difficult statement to make. I could listen to it over and over again, which I did back in my college days.

[@jml-rj5re]

Outtro - Denny Dias on guitar - left channel.

[@daveman15]

Denny Dias is one of the unsung heroes of the Dan.

[@alrivers2297]

One of their great deep cuts of which you know they have many

[@flintslim4074]

It's about surviving in a post-apocalyptic situation. Kind of like Mad Max, but w. a cultured person as the survivor. Post-apocalyptic as in a chemical/nuclear wipeout.

[@geob3963]

Any man left on the Rio Grande is the king of the world, as far as I know.

[@ednicholson7839]

This (Countdown to Ecstasy) is their best album. It's strange and unpredictable, kind of all over the place. It grooves hard, but when it slows down it's still got an edgy quality to it. So different from their later stuff.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

Razor BOY is a MUST

[@jml-rj5re]

Razor fuses the Latin side and jazz side. Fantastic song. My favorite on Countdown.

[@kevtruth]

My favorite song on the album

[@shirleybhs9zd6li5i]

Is it just me, or does each new Steely Dan song get better than the last? Great song in every way. Thanks Lee, for the great choices this weekend. Blessings all.

[@briangray00]

This one is *right* up there!! I might clip the end of it for my new ringtone. EDIT: Just did.

[@Cheryworld]

apocalypse rock.

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

That was Walter Becker talking during the psychedelic bridge.

[@danmccann393]

The great songs just keep on coming with the Dan. So many great things on this song I’ll just point out one. Walters killing it on the bass

[@greggibson33]

Genius has walked into the room...... again.

[@shereewilson6278]

Love Denny Dias guitar work on this great song!

[@dhfenske]

I think every song on their first 7 albums is excellent. I recommend you do them all!

[@iandxx]

this is the Dan in apocalyptic-mode - it's "diamond dogs" two years early - love the Dan reactions; please keep them comin". there really is no such thing as a skippable Dan track - honest, cross my pretzel!!

[@steelyd2]

4:11 “I think my face is on fire”. Said by Walter Becker through some heavy effects of course. Once you hear it you’ll never not hear it!

[@paulehney4581]

It's a really cool album.

[@supasoulproductions]

You gotta love a cheery little tune about living in a post apocalyptic nightmare.

[@martyk656]

Not taking away anything from the earlier albums, but Countdown to Ecstasy was Steely Dan reaching a new level.

[@briangray00]

Prog Rock Steely Dan; I likes it a lot.

[@dhfenske]

Yeah! I love Prog. Yes is my favorite music. I love Steely Dan's first 7 albums. Aja is my favorite and Countdown to Ecstasy is my 2nd by just a tiny bit. It seems to me that it is their proggiest album.

[@alrivers2297]

Pearl of the Quarter and Razor Boy are both good

[@jotapecu]

The very best song of SD, man.

[@jml-rj5re]

Fagen and Becker usually share the lyrics. Donald would start, and Walter Becker might finish.

[@BeachTreez]

Been watching for a few months man love this song keep up the good work

[@SeaMark782]

Saw them do this live with Hodder and Porcaro on drums. They just drive the rhythm along with Walter. Check out the live versions from 1974 on utube, one of my favorite Dan live songs.

[@tomtompkins7546]

If you haven't done green earrings yet... Do yourself a favor.

[@jamesvomsaal]

Great reaction ,that’s a fine way to end an album ……one of my favorites

[@ShiverHinge]

FAVE

[@TerryKrysinski]

Moog synthesizer in those breaks,bro. 70's rock was peppered with it as it was a 'new' soundscape utilized mainly by ELP. My fav album by them...T

[@theivory1]

Razor Boy and Pear of the Quarter are my favorites from CTE.

[@user-ok1rh3qh3b]

Such an upbeat song , for the end of the world. putting it on my doomsday playlist.

[@bhumanishaya]

Personally, I look forward to your videos - I have nt heard this one in a long time - Becker on bass and some great sounds on this one!

[@davebrooks2385]

Survivor of Nuclear War singing about the desolation and destruction and his short time to live due to radiation poisoning. Chilling!!!

[@hoppers13]

ARP Odyssey. Bring it back!

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Steely 🙃🙂🙃 Dan 💋

[@richkurl]

One of my top 10 "Desert Island' SD tracks. Post-apocalypse. Think of the repeating synth line as an air raid siren - not sure if that was the intention, but works for my brain. This is some of Denny's best work. Generally, Denny's gonna be smoother, jazzier and more fluid than Skunk, who's sharper, dirtier and more rock-oriented. Perfect contrasting duo. Gotta listen to Pearl & Razor Boy. 2 essential genre-bending SD deep cuts.

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Visit Santa Fe and all will be explained. 😍

[@yes_head]

Great early Dan. The debut was pretty good, but I rate this album higher. For a SD album it rocks more and is a more 'progressive' album overall, which I think actually hurt it chart-wise.

[@ShiverHinge]

Shimmy along in the fat ride thru the desert.

[@johnmorris8799]

The play out is COMPLETELY OFF THE SCALE. Classic track.

[@RandoReport]

Pearl of the Quarter is also unusual, steel guitar heavy. Razor Boy has some more weirdo lyrics. Both are fine songs, very different from this.

[@pmsfar-outgrooviness8025]

I believe David Palmer sings the high harmony

[@Allright21]

Assume it’s Skunk cause I think it’s Denny. That’s funny. Great song!

[@JoeCruz-hs2yt]

early synths in music !

[@jml-rj5re]

This song is a post-nuclear war take. It's definitely a finale! lol

[@corawheeler9355]

That could have gone a little longer. Liked that.

[@jaketheoneeyedsnake]

Nuclear apocalypse, baby. Someone in their basement fallout shelter on their ham radio calling out to any other survivors.

[@BernardHodgson]

This track really is the dogs b******!

[@JoeSlish-q2e]

never made a bad song

[@JeffGoldberg561]

Razor Boy is not one the pass on.

[@stevenblock9712]

Drummer, you and I love the Dan but they have so many songs much better than this one. BTW, Baxter has a very interesting bio. He was more than an impressive musician and had an interesting "chapter II".

[@rmtsohyang-yoyoka6013]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countdown_to_Ecstasy The song is about the US after a nuclear holocast per wiki