Drummer reacts to "Pretzel Logic" by Steely Dan

[@PJprog]

Steely Dan...the band everyone loves from a wide fan base of various genres. Immensely popular but not particularly commercial , for millions of music lovers they're a departure from the style of music the individual usually listens to. Such a special band and always deliver quality from the writing , to the playing , to the production. Just awesome. 😍

[@L33Reacts]

I love how they bring so many different fan groups together. Makes me happy lol they rock so hard

[@thomascostello5780]

Steely Dan fan since their start, I'm 68. Was in the mood for this song and here we are. I'm subscribed

[@Allright21]

I believe Pretzel Logic is about time travel. It’s such a great song.

[@L33Reacts]

That's awesome! I listened to it again after you said that and yeah that makes more sense lol

[@garyhamalainen1651]

sounds about right........ how else could you meet Napolean

[@jmilton5842]

I heard that their was some allusion to the Nazi Swastika in the term

[@peterhughes8699]

Yep... they did it again... and again ....and again. Pretzel is one of my fav Dan songs. The guys were the greatest :)

[@garyd6421]

Donald Fagen claims the lyrics of this song are about time travel. I stepped on the platform the man gave me the news - we conceived the 'platform' as a teleportation device The man gave me the news, the protagonist has looked at the date on a newspaper, different from the time he just left.

[@Chess8548]

For some reason, their music never gets old. Been listening to the Dan for 50 years. One of the few constants in my life.

[@dons2318]

same here, although on first listen didn't care for them. WTF was I thinking ?

[@rhondamcewananderson3968]

It's impossible to hear enough Steely Dan ! 😎

[@URnickel_MY2cents]

I have their albums on constant repeat !!!!!

[@URnickel_MY2cents]

Steely Dan... _SO_ damned good !!!!! A _HUGE_ fan since their release of *AJA,* and my first introduction to them !!!

[@craigfazekas3923]

I got to see Steely Dan twice. The 2nd time ? On a double bill w Michael McDonald in Atlantic City; I knew the significance of the event.... And sat next to Mike's drummer's family, a kickass female drummer. What a night, man- seriously. Rode down to the gig in an iconic boardwalk push cart. After having top notch BBQ. I can die happily now.... 🚬😎👍

[@robertjewell9727]

The subtle magnetism of Steely Dan's musical prowess is that they create a really luring vibe while the lyrics are often very dark while being transcendental in a very down to earth way. I think the song is about how the past can interfere with the present and affect the future hence a pretzel logic where you want time to be a straight line but it bends around and become a pretzel.

[@diogenesagogo]

I think it's referring to the logic that a pretzel is a pretzle is a pretzle is a ... don't matter which way you spell it, it's a pretzel (pretzle).

[@1957PLATO]

By paying attention to the details they painted the big picture. These guys were fabulous.

[@GreggoMusicChannel]

What a simple little riff, but so catchy! Great song by a great band! Here's some trivia for the day. While finishing work on Pretzel Logic, Baxter became aware of Becker and Fagen's intentions to retire Steely Dan from touring and work almost exclusively with session players. With that in mind, Baxter left the band in 1974 to join The Doobie Brothers, who at the time were touring in support of their fourth album. Baxter, believe it or not, ended up being a lobbyist for defense contractors.

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

Walter Becker played the guitar solo. It was his first solo on a Steely Dan album.

[@L33Reacts]

That's awesome man. He killed it. Thank you for the info:)

[@benvye4279]

You're right. Confirmed by Denny Dias's wife

[@babylonsister118]

One of my favorite songs by The Dan! I have heard them referred to as the Musical Rubik's Cube, and also as "your favorite musician's favorite musicians". Indeed, I was dating a guitar player many, many moons ago who turned me on to the Can't Buy a Thrill Album. I had already heard the songs that were getting airplay at the time, but those tend to be my least favorite songs, in general. I have always been a B-side girl. As you say..."unparalleled." 🤣

[@L33Reacts]

Unparalleled is just such a great word to describe them lol so happy they were requested! Now I get to do them TWICE a week. SO dope. I'm with it.

[@chitownlee]

Steely Dan does the blues, they do not have a bad song.

[@L33Reacts]

I dig it bro. They have gone 7/7 for me so far.

[@michaelrouten]

In their catalogue are cuts with a distinct rock flavor. Others with a distinct R&B flavor. Others that have recognizable figures from Blues (Pretzel Logic being perhaps the best example), Reggae (see Haitian Divorce), and even Country (in some of their earlier work). But regardless, there were always jazz sensibilities, and those came more and more to the forefront, reaching their zenith with Aja and beyond.

[@yes_head]

Good job going back to Pretzel Logic, Lee. IMO it's a transitional album. The overall sound is similar to the earlier albums, but this is where they stopped being a touring band and devoted themselves solely to studio work, with session players filling in the blanks depending on what the song needed. This is the first SD album I remember being played in our house in the 70's. My older sister played it to death, so every song had been imprinted on my brain by the time I was 10 years old. 😁 The big hit from this album was "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", but there's really no bad songs on it. After this album I recommend going back one more to Countdown to Ecstasy.

[@janewells5970]

Countdown is awesome

[@L33Reacts]

I saw rikki on there. I will definitely be hitting that one, too. Every song I've heard so far is just so damn good. I can't get enough of them lol

[@janewells5970]

@@L33Reacts Rikki don’t lose that number was a big hit. Deacon Blues from Aja

[@dianedavies8291]

Great song and fun fact today Jan 10 is Donald Fagen’s birthday. ✌️♥️🎶

[@L33Reacts]

Man are you serious?? Something randomly told me to do a SD video today.. must have been him. I wish I knew so I could have said something

[@mantroid]

A lot of bands throw in really great stuff just as the song fades out, a real tease for listeners.

[@L33Reacts]

Yeah it's such a tease... but I love it 😆

[@richkurl]

One of Walter Becker's (if not his first) lead guitar performances on a SD track. Wilton Felder bass, Jim Gordon drums, Michael Omartian on piano & Timothy B Schmit of Eagles fame on backup vox. Bluesy, laid-back track with signature SD horns & harmonies. I've seen the legendary Steve Winwood (Traffic, Blind Faith, Spencer Davis Group) perform this live on stage with Steely Dan, manning the Hammond Organ & vocals. Enjoying your reactions.

[@jml-rj5re]

This song is about time travel.

[@jonathanduran1773]

The next 1 you should do is night by night That is 1 of my favorite songs by steely Dan amongst others

[@jml-rj5re]

Walter played guitar and solo on this song. Jeff Baxter also played guitar. Jim Gordon on the drums.

[@acehays]

Loved that song and album. My roomate hated it because I listened to it so much when it came out.

[@L33Reacts]

😆😆😆 sorry chris!! 😅😅

[@mrgoneshouse3663]

A Rock Classic!!!!!!

[@L33Reacts]

Hell yeah dude 😎😎

[@nancymjohnson]

❤️❤️❤️! Simply wonderful! Fan-tastic! TY

[@L33Reacts]

Glad you enjoyed 😉

[@rayberry4261]

Jeff Baxter is guitar virtuoso. They call him "Skunk" Baxter. He is also top level scientist and works for the Defense Dept.

[@ganazby]

A time travel song.

[@houseson]

What a treat! The Dan has so many different yet similar songs.

[@L33Reacts]

Glad you enjoyed my friend. This was totally great.

[@827dusty]

Dems da Blues! Steely Dan is mainly a Jazz/ Rock fusion Band, but they can and have played just about anything. Donald Fagan and Walter Becker (Founders) are the only constants in all of their recordings. They hired different musicians and vocalists, from other famous Rock Bands, depending on the theme and needs to meet any given album's musical statement. Jeff (Skunk) Baxter, guitarist of The Doobie Bros, was hired to play on 2 or 3 of Steely Dan's albums. Also Micheal McDonald, once a solo artist, and then joined The Doobie Bros, was asked, and accepted to play keyboards and backup vocals on a couple of songs by the Steely Dan. The musicianship and Lyrics in all of their music catalogue is top shelf stuff. Thanks, you have a nice channel.

[@damonhines8187]

I love this song!! Friends used to do it. Walked into a benefit for a since-departed friend at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto in the late 90s and another band was playing it; when no one else stepped up for harmonies on the chorus, I sidled up to a free mic to fill in. Loved that moment. My original band played later, but that was the first thing that came back when we started listening just now. Rest In Peace, Johnny Lovesin, you rocked and rolled like few others, brother. 💔🥲 😊🤙🏼🎶❤️✨️🕊

[@L33Reacts]

Rest in peace Johnny. Glad you enjoyed the song. It was steely dan good. So really good 👍

[@mikewoodrow5878]

I need a workin’ girl, got to have a workin’ girl!

[@damonhines8187]

@mikewoodrow5878 my friend was in that video as one of the titular (😂🤣great word, apt AF!!) girls.

[@CharCanuck14]

Grossman's? Last time I was there was around 1970-ish to see Whiskey Howl. Omg I'm old....eeek!

[@chitownlee]

This was one of the first Steely Dan songs to feature Walter Becker on a guitar solo. I also think this was the last album that original member guitarist Jeff Skunk Baxter played on before he left and joined the Doobie Brothers.

[@L33Reacts]

Walter absolutely killed it here then. That was a suave solo.. I really liked it. I've never heard the Doobie Brothers. Definitely heard the name tho.

[@chitownlee]

@L33Reacts I believe I told you before that Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers were two of my favorite bands of the 70's. The original Doobies from 1970-1975 were my favorite. One of the two lead singers and guitar players left the band because of health and drug/alchohol issues. Skunk Baxter, who had joined them, suggested they should get Michael McDonald who was a back up singer in Steely Dan. He's a great singer and keyboardist and guy but his style was so different. To make a long story short, he changed the sound and direction of the band. A lot of people liked the new sound and I did at first too. It was the end of the Doobies until years laterbwhen they reformed with the original lineup.

[@chitownlee]

Sorry I blabbered on so long, Lee. 😆

[@L33Reacts]

@chitownlee no your good dude Thank you for the info. I am definitely gonna do a video for them sometime this month. Sounds very interesting.

[@pauline7425]

@@L33Reacts Well...now you need to react to the Doobie Brothers! :)

[@timwirasnik5878]

This Track is about Time Travel

[@garymcghee2249]

So cool to have a young man like you becoming a Danhead. This is one of their Sci-Fi songs, they had one per album. One of their best ever is an SF song from Countdown to Ecstasy 'King Of The World.' Do check that out. The Allman brothers reference was also on point. x

[@johnhextall1136]

This is my favourite Steely Dan track on my favourite SD album. Much of the album, I believe, is a tribute to their heroes - Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker et al, Horace Silver and, on this track, an allusion to Bessie Smith and the touring blues shows of the 1920s. I also think the second verse refers obliquely to Napoleon Hill who wrote ‘Think and Grow Rich’ about the same time. He was lonely.

[@MissouriJohnson]

You're alright, dude. Keep it up. I've seen enough reaction channels to realize that a lot are just griffters.

[@markdyer6996]

Lee , great groove , eh , from an earlier album . For another early example , another great groove and excellent soloing : ‘ Your Gold Teeth ‘ from Countdown to Ecstasy 👍

[@docbearmb]

Yep. It’s about dreaming on time travel.

[@maryannparshall9048]

This always interesting blues song is about time travel - of course!

[@donaldcoe5699]

Nice....a mid week Steely Dan pops up just as the power returns after 30 hours. Thanks I'm good now,very timely.

[@hughsnow830]

Jim Gordon on drums - Jeff Porcaro's hero & mentor. His story is a tragic one, but he's played on some of the greatest music in the 60s & 70s.

[@ohfour-seven6228]

That's Jim Gordon on drums on this cut. He was a premier session musician and played on countless albums and was a member of the Delaney and Bonnie and Friends band, which later became Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominos. It was also Gordon who played drums on the iconic classic rock anthem, Traffic's Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. If you haven't heard that song, you owe it to yourself to check it out. music doesn't get better than Low Spark!

[@billwilson7948]

Hubba hubba ! 100 on a scale of 100. Low Spark by Traffic. Steve Winwood is one of mah heroes.

[@ohfour-seven6228]

my hero as well, best voice in rock!@@billwilson7948

[@briangilbert230]

The first of many Steely albums i love.

[@jenniferbabros1985]

One of my favorite song's thanks

[@cityhonors1]

🤔 The Dan are like Rush that way. 🤗 Each Era/Decade & Album has its own mood, vibe & sound 😁 but you can ALWAYS tell the Dan. Donald's voice is 'recognizavle' the way Geddys voice is. You know a Rush song when you hear it & same with The Dan. 🥰🐰

[@archstantonainthere4526]

The lyrics were written from the perspective of a time traveler.

[@L33Reacts]

Oh no shit.. well that makes sense then lol. Thank you

[@yournamehere6002]

It's about nostalgia, things becoming irrelevant or passe.....it's their version of a blues song.

[@L33Reacts]

They killed the blues aspect of this. The riff and solo was fantastic

[@jowsmith1904]

porcaro was in the studio drumming for many great bands while still a hi school kid, as were paich and lukather, before becoming toto,,,I USED TO WATCH THEM JAM on the quad.

[@Ibanezed210]

Steely Dan doing the blues.

[@jml-rj5re]

This one is very much altered blues. 12 bar and the stop time. But they still sneak the jazz chords in there.

[@colmwatulikededazio973]

Yeah , great lead guitar from Skunk Baxter , who went to the Doobie Brothers . Great to hear it again. Great .Katy Lied next ?

[@thomasmoroney1079]

I’m jealous you get to hear this stuff for the first time! We used to call them The Dan of STEEL in the seventies ✌️❤️🤘

[@L33Reacts]

I'm loving it myself personally 😌 😏 this stuff is so good lol I can't help myself now 😅

[@stephenmichael8837]

Loved it, thanks L33

[@tomlyons2633]

Got to do "Brooklyn".

[@andrewmadeloni7173]

"FM" is kind of an outlier as it is from the Film FM. A must listen though!!!

[@todwest]

'Pretzel logic' is an old-school expression that means something is logically twisted. The first and third verse are each examples of bad logic, and the second verse about meeting Napoleon is another old trope about being crazy, i.e. the person thinks they are Napoleon -- 'meeting Napoleon' is a metaphor for losing one's mind and going mad. There are a number of old cartoons with the Napoleon trope. There's even an episode of Futurama where Bender thinks he's Napoleon, so it's an old gag that has staying power.

[@benvye4279]

According to Fagen the song is about time travel

[@todwest]

@@benvye4279 Lol. He's pulling your leg.

[@benvye4279]

@@todwest Probably right. Fagen is good at that

[@todwest]

@@benvye4279 All song writers are coy about hidden meanings in their work.

[@romeosyne]

I also like Walter's soloing on snowbound and tomorrow's girls

[@tiluriso]

Actually on this track it's Walter Becker on lead guitar.

[@ScottFoster-o4u]

Wore out the groves on this record when it first came out.Smoked a fatty headset on and it cranked up was my MO.

[@jmilton5842]

That and Katy Lied were the last albums that they used some semblance of their original band.

[@davidfrediani4965]

I think the lyric "I'd love to tour the southland" is referring to Los Angeles as that's what we call it here, even on the news programs. The album was recorded in L.A. as well. Just speculation on my part.

[@roundtownKen]

Nice take. Great song. You will dig the *drums* and funk of Green Earrings Sunday. Take care man.

[@julianbarber4708]

Checkout Bodhisattva from Countdown to Ecstasy.....mind blowing!

[@TheCornishCockney]

Check out Teahouse On The Tracks by them. Jazz you can definitely dance to.

[@billc.5861]

Hahaha 😂. I was literally just jamming to this song on the drums and your reaction popped up. Jim Gordon I believe played the drums on this particular track but the great Jeff Porcaro also played in this album. Anyway great song to jam too. Thanks.

[@piperofsimms]

Hi, There is a book out named "Drums & Demons" you might enjoy. It's the tragic, wild story about Jim Gordan (drummer). He was on so many recordings, including Pretzel Logic. Thx L33.

[@paulgatton1785]

The whole S D anthology is great---when you get time check out "Gaucho" and "Babylon Sisters"

[@kacemkafi1455]

A SD signature blues ! Check out black friday and chain lightning on Katy lied album , you wont regret !! By the way , its Jeff on drums , the special Jeff shuffle yo ..

[@janewells5970]

Dirty work or My old school are classics

[@jimmoore8951]

Great groove, cool vibe, sick musicianship... all staples of the Dan. And it's not even Sunday. Get to know the late Jim Gordon and his story for your own mental health journey

[@icdogg2361]

This is kind of their variation of the blues

[@Cheryworld]

great album, great music

[@houseson]

The best outros.

[@L33Reacts]

The absolute BEST. It's not fair LOL

[@MrRabbit43]

Jeff “SKUNK” Baxter

[@stoneybass5981]

Totally enjoying your Dan journey!

[@LSorr3]

time travel like the previous post said

[@haleyschreiter9746]

I fully support Double the Dan 😁

[@L33Reacts]

Me too 😀 it's a great idea

[@axolotl8694]

that's a nice solo... for one of literally the great guitar solos of all time check out Kid Charlemagne. hired gun Larry Carlton on guitar.

[@smffeb58]

Here At The Western World, great story, great melody, great as always from The Dan. But you won’t find it on an album. Just like FM, you have to hunt it with your Steely knives 😉😎 PS it’s on a greatest hits, record company produced money maker. When you listen to it, (and you will) try to grasp that this was left off the Royal Scam album, because they had too many songs!!!!

[@baronofgreymatter14]

Time Travel!

[@yournamehere6002]

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter ended up in The Doobie Brothers.

[@L33Reacts]

I have to check them out still.

[@alldayadventures5418]

Can't help you with this tune... but GREEN EARRINGS is a real interesting tune. About a guy that keeps steeling his woman's jewelry and sells it. She knows he is doing it, and he knows she knows he is doing it. His response is "I remember that look in your eye... I don't mind" "I am who I am" + i am hungry - like a child. Then he does it again....

[@AirDOGGe]

Something to look forward to this afternoon. See you then, friend. Sorry I can't bring any LP's with me this time. (I use to do that a lot) ;-)

[@L33Reacts]

I thought I would surprise yall with a little treat this afternoon. Hope you enjoy :)

[@swampfizz]

I met Napolean last nite...and it wasnt Dynamite it was fine Cognac!!

[@Cheryworld]

Daddy don't live in that New York City No More

[@yournamehere6002]

Jim Gordon, the drummer....murdered his mother.

[@L33Reacts]

Well damn...

[@yournamehere6002]

@@L33Reacts I know, right?

[@boydsprehn2140]

Very tasteful solo was Walter Becker on this track. Lets you know that those leads by others (Denny Dias, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Larry Carlton, Dean Parks, and on and on) are a choice, not a necessity.

[@nordicwoodsman]

Thank you for showing young folk like you what real music is I'm referring to the old crap. And I'm sorry, but not the poopy rap. Don't know if it's true but you're really experiencing great music as far as I can see

[@L33Reacts]

I absolutely love this musical education I've been receiving on the channel. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[@marcos7801]

This is definitely more bluesy than his other songs you've reacted to. You still hear the jazz element esp in the chorus, but that's to be expected from Steely Dan. I've read in a couple places that Donald Fagen said that Pretzel Logic is about a time machine. The "platform" he sings about in the second verse that he "steps up to" IS the time machine. However, platform could have a second meaning, platform shoes, bc he's asked "Where'd you get those shoes." Some rock musicians wore the shoes back in the 70s which audiences loved, but Steely Dan hated them. So, it was a knock on the shoes in this song.

[@genecase9464]

Some songs I try and listen to the lyrics and analyse them. But not this one. My A-D-D kicks in too fast and I just go with the flow.

[@AirDOGGe]

Jeff left shortly later and joined the Doobie Brothers.

[@garyking6519]

They hacked off the beginning!

[@garyking6519]

What's it about? It's about 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

[@raycewilliams3300]

The phrase Pretzel Logic can be loosely defined as twisted or circular reasoning that, when dissected, does not make sense or does not explain the situation rationally. The Dan seldom tell what I would describe as a "linear story line". Many of their references are cryptic at best. Trying to "figure out" what the lyrics mean can be challenging. When asked both Fagan and Becker seldom give definitive answers to the meanings of their lyrics. They exercise their "poetic license" liberally. Take care..

[@jamespuleo3269]

Okay, Lee, here's something that I think *needs to be said:* Back in 74, we had no way of knowing who played what~~ sure, there were personnel listings, but if Steely Dan listed 2 drummers, 3 basses and 4 guitars, we had no way of knowing who played what, *but : NONE OF THAT WAS IMPORTANT!* The sound, of course, the stuff you could grok immediately in a "first listen." That's the song. But then, when the radio repeated the song dozens or hundreds of times, you hear the lyrics, and realize ~~~ They're way darker, twisted and dripping with irony than a first impression could show. And that goes for A LOT of Steely Dan songs. "I would love to tour the Southland in a traveling minstrel show" was *not* a comfortable phrase to hear in 1974. Any allusion to blackface was already cringeworthy in the 70's. It wasn't a comfortable phrase for me to sing in a cover band, in 1989. "They say that times are changing, but I just don't know ....." That's the crux of the meaning of this song. (Forget the bs about time travel, that's just over-analysis.)

[@billwilson7948]

Prezacktly ‼️

[@timjefferson2137]

Have you figured out the origin of their name yet?

[@L33Reacts]

I sure have lol 😆

[@jenniferbabros1985]

Please check out Only a Fool Would Say That..by the Dan When you get a chance

[@thomascostello5780]

Wanna hear a story? Cover Kid Charlemegne

[@L33Reacts]

I did a while ago so quality may vary lol Drummer reacts to "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXiyl2epabFmmas

[@Hare_deLune]

I guess Lee still doesn't know how Steely Dan got their name or what it means. Pure sex for the ears, he-he! 😉

[@L33Reacts]

The first video I did for them, yall told me lol its a damn dildo 😂

[@Hare_deLune]

@@L33Reacts Yup! It's from the William Burrows novel 'Naked Lunch'. I've heard that it's supposedly not just "any" dildo, oh no! It's a steam powered strap-on one. I've never read the book but I did see the movie. Not really something I can recommend unless you like really bad drug trips. I mean, these people were shooting up insecticide! (shiver)

[@astrogoodvibes6164]

I've always thought Pretzel Logic was possibly the only overtly biographical tune in their catalog due to the fact that Steely Dan were considering not touring and become just a studio band. The album was released in February 1974 and by July that year, they stopped touring. Perhaps Fagen and Becker were still in 2 minds about touring at this stage and to start a 'traveling minstrel band' under another name, maybe, as the song style suggests, as a blues rock group. Also, I reckon the nod to Napoleon may be a self ridiculing dig by Fagen and Becker to their control of the bands new direction, thinking it might be a kind of 'Napoleon complex' with possible delusions of grandeur, then 'going it alone' away from the madness of hectic touring schedules, now that they had gained popularity; or perhaps it may be a reflection by Fagen alone, who was insecure about his voice after taking over from Dave Palmer as lead singer.

[@holysmokes5817]

Dude. On this album, as a drummer, you MUST check out "Night by Night" kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpTbd61-hJ6fnKs and "Parkers Band kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKfdmn2Lrdd3bM0 Look at the music in the early 70's and Fagen/Becker were just in another universe Cheers! 🍄🌲🍄💥✨🌈😍