Drummer reacts to "Show Biz Kids" by Steely Dan

[@robinstarkey6071]

'They got their booze and needles, they got their shapely bodies , they got their Steely Dan tee shirts, and for the coupe de Gras, their outrageous!" Come on now, brilliant - still true 50 years later

[@jimmoore8951]

Welcome back to the culture of the Dan, giving the finger to the Show Biz Kids and Vegas. I want to come back as a SD backup singer in my next life

[@L33Reacts]

wouldn't that be dope? just be in "Steely Dan"? i'd love it lol

[@fabjen1961]

Oh, me too. Give me a tambourine and a mic.

[@jimmoore8951]

@@fabjen1961 C'mon and join the band Jen. I think I'm better off without a mic though

[@hampyonce]

"I detect the El Supremo from the room at the top of the stairs" is one of the best lyrics ever...

[@baronofgreymatter14]

El Supremo is a very expensive Cuban cigar

[@L33Reacts]

thank you for defining that, i didn't know lol i've smoked a few cigars but they were either cheap or stolen back in the day lol

[@hampyonce]

@@baronofgreymatter14 it's also code for great herb...

[@puncht37]

Yep. Good herb.

[@absea7918]

I believe this is an early example of looping. Donald Fagen wanted it hypnotic, and asked the producer if a 4 bar section of the the song could be looped. The section included the whole band - minus the lead vocal and slide guitar. Backup vocals are also looped, but brought in and out. SD was always pushing the boundaries.

[@GreggoMusicChannel]

Finally got to some Countdown! I love this album. I know it's not one of their best selling albums, but it has some great songs.

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

Rick Derringer on lead guitar. He played on several Steely Dan albums including Donald Fagen’s solo album “The Nightfly”.

[@L33Reacts]

Yeah I realize that at the end when I read the wiki

[@ohfour-seven6228]

Derringer played guitar on the live version of Edgar Winter's Frankenstein. You should hear him on the Edgar Winter's White Trash album, Keep Playing That Rock and Roll, it's amazing!@@L33Reacts

[@HareDeLune]

That's awesome! Thanks!

[@ohfour-seven6228]

Donald Fagan's solo work is also worth exploring. It has, of course, that Steely Dan vibe. Check out the songs The Nightfly and Trans Island Skyway for a taste!@@L33Reacts

[@HT-io1eg]

I love this song. The groove is as relentless as a train with the twiddly bits surrounding the groove like icing and Christmas baubles. Twiddly bits is obviously a technical term 😉

[@KawaTony1964]

Rick Derringer's biggest hit that everybody knows who was between the ages of 12 and 40 between 1975 and 1990 is "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo". It's good.

[@splitimage137.]

Derringer was also on FRANKENSTEIN by the Edgar Winter Group - and the video of their performances back in 1973 is AMAZING, particularly Edgar, who plays an ARP-2600 with a portable keyboard, an alto sax, and a set of toms... Rick, the bassist and the amazing young drummer keep the groove real tight.

[@cindyp1033]

Got his start with The McCoys - Hang on Sloopy 😊❤ Way back!

[@-R.Gray-]

You saw Rick Derringer playing guitar on the Edgar Winters "Frankenstein"video. Another collaboration of his I like was when he got together with Johnny Winter on the 1970 "Johnny Winter And" album. They got some great guitar sounds playing through Leslies, which gave some songs that Hendrix Uni-vibe flavour. When Winter joined Derringer, Derringer already had a rhythm section so Winter let his own go - and the bassist Tommy Shannon, is the one you have been watching with Stevie Ray Vaughan.

[@HareDeLune]

This one is definitely an earworm for life, ha-ha! You will forget that the song ever existed for long years of your life. Then one day, BAM! There it is, and you can't get rid of it!

[@midnightrambler7716]

Next up check out Bodhisattva off the same album. It features 2 fabulous guitar solos. The first one by Denny Dias about a minute and half in, and then the outro guitar solo by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter from about the 4 min mark on.

[@brucehenninger2662]

This was going to be my recommendation too.

[@L33Reacts]

we are doing that one next week! :)

[@ednicholson7839]

The whole album is killer - maybe their best. Growing up I think this album was played the most on classic rock radio of all the Dan records.

[@midnightrambler7716]

Yeah I love all the SD albums and bought them each when they came out in the 70’s. This one is especially great to me because it kind of flew under the radar with all of my friends and they grew to appreciate it more the more I played it when they came over. All the tracks are great. I also love the fuzzy distorted guitar work of Skunk near the end of The Boston Rag. Pearl of the Quarter is an understated gem too!

[@RockChick63174]

Great tune!

[@bryanschuler7158]

I live for your steely Dan reactions!😂 Great review and critique Lee ✌️❤️🎶

[@puncht37]

Steely is one of the few bands that didn`t have the f bomb edited out for radio.

[@hesh8367]

If you’ve got a station still playin Show Biz Kids, you’ve got a good one.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

They played this on Midnight Special TV show back in 1973 and the f-bomb was edited out. And that show aired from midnight to one thirty in the morning.

[@geob3963]

Who the f**kare you?

[@pcarlover]

the guys living in the dorm room across the hall played this song 33 times in a row in 1973 on an LP. pick the needle up and find the groove. impressive. it’s a great song so i couldn’t complain.

[@johnlylemusic]

‘70’s Hip Hop! Steely Dan WAY ahead of the game…..AGAIN!

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

think of all the humans who have ever lived.. and all the humans who live after we are gone.. and we lucky few get to be alive with Steely Dan.. also 420th like hehehehe

[@P.Galore]

My favorite Steely Dan track.

[@hampyonce]

The music they left on the cutting room floor after those fade-outs would be so cool to hear. Priceless waste product.

[@L33Reacts]

i totally agree. whenever the fade out starts my soul just starts weeping because i know they are about to fuck with me and play the best part of the song and then just leave lol

[@hosehead58]

they`re OUTRAGEOUS!!

[@dreweasterbrook2003]

I'm about 50 years older than you and have watched the progression of quite a few KZbinrs. You are on the right track for sure L33. Keep doing what you are doing. There are lot of people my age who know much of this stuff but we don't have roots in the current culture like you do. I expect you will evolve your camera work and editing like so many others who have gone from amateur to very proficient.You will become an influencer with a practicle grip on much of western music culture. You should dip your toe into the American Songbook at some point to broaden your knowledge.

[@tonyallen4265]

This song alone proves that SD is the coolest band ever. You got your Steely Dan T-shirt?

[@davidcann2405]

Las Vegas - Lost wages - Lot's wages - Lifes wages - It's outrageous.

[@hesh8367]

I got the Steely Dan t-shirt.

[@LSorr3]

ME TOO

[@garyrausch1184]

Very few live views of Steely Dan, might be hard to find they were the epitome of a studio band

[@julianbarber4708]

I'm rediscovering Steely Dan again, thanks to your site, after listening to them from the beginning. Rick Derringer has to be the best RocknRoll name, ever.

[@jrusso4753]

Lee, I watch these reactions but I must say the most intriguing part for me is hearing your commentaries. You, my friend, are an old soul. You get it. I know all the music you react to. I grew up with it. To see a young man like you espouse a deep, coherent dialog is what makes it for me. If you were 50 years older, we could hang out for sure! Hell, we could hang out right now regardless. Stay groovy. Peace and love to all. God bless my extended family here.

[@chitownlee]

You crack me up. Enjoying your journey. Keep up the good job, Lee!

[@L33Reacts]

Thanks fellow Lee. Glad to have you along for the ride my friend :)

[@stevedahlberg8680]

It's so funny, you can just randomly pick any Steely Dan song and whether I've heard it in a while or not, if I engage with it and pay attention, it always just feels so damn good.

[@AirDOGGe]

One of my top 3 SD tracks. Reeling in the Years and Kid Charlemagne are the other 2. The rest are not far behind. Funny that when I use to hear them sing "LOST WAGES" on my little portable radio at work, for many years I thought they were saying "HOW SWEET IT IS" though that tiny, tinny speaker. 😊 When I finally heard it through headphones I had one of those A-HA! moments. 😮 🙂

[@AirDOGGe]

@@realbser1956 That would be a logical assumption considering the song.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@@realbser1956 Lost Wages is another way of saying Las Vegas.

[@trevorholden7423]

That's Rick Derringer on the lead slide guitar, who played alongside Johnny Winter for a time, the best slide guitarist in the business..

[@brewstergallery]

Lost Wages = Las Vegas. Oh yeah Rick Derringer was a complete sliding monster on this. He needs a reevaluation and some love. Very much an MVP on many albums including his own. He did a killer job for an early 70s band called Tin House who need some notice. Go L33 Go !

[@rodolfogonzales6818]

Steely dan tee shirts, come on, that's a line in a great song.😊😊😊

[@hampyonce]

Before even viewing this reaction I'm going to predict that you find this one to be outrageous.

[@L33Reacts]

lost wages lost wages las vegas lost wages

[@beverlyoyarzun3326]

Back up vocals featuring the ever present Sherlie Matthews, this time with Myrna Matthews and Pat Hall. These ladies plus Clydie King and Venetta Fields were everywhere ❣️

[@whoneedssantawhenthereisgr1724]

Las Vegas here one of my favorites.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

Bodhisattva, the first song on the same album, is a great track.

[@jimdukeproject]

Been listening to lots of Steely Dan lately. Learning some jazz influence.

[@strettoasino9006]

There was an era in the 70s that jazz~tinged band were very popular on college campuses... Weather Report/Herbie Mann/ Duke Ellington was played on many dorms....

[@sirsuse]

Love the guitar work. Has a psychedelic tone.

[@jewsbad]

Got to see them , when this came out, been a fan ever since.

[@calnative55]

Great album, Steely Dan is always good.

[@rolfjager4633]

Yes he was... 😎

[@teelurizzo8542]

This is SD's subversion of a Motown Style arrangement, hypnotic bass line and piano chord vamp, the backing vocals are another give away to Motown. Not to Skunk, but Rick Derringer on the outstanding slide guitar fills and solos. And the prophetic lyrics are the subversive part, instead of love themes, you get a criticism of celebrity culture and cellphone ' me-me-me' attitude, 50 years before its time in one verse: 'Show Bizz Kids, making movies of themselves, you know they don't give a F*** about anybody else'.

[@robsutherland5744]

Donald Fagen has several solo albums that are an excellent adjunct to the Steely Dan collection. Thanks for everything you are doing.

[@kianpa1]

My favorite band. Thank you!

[@maxrnb01]

Still my favorite SD album.

[@splitimage137.]

The Tubes' WHITE PUNKS ON DOPE has the same flavor and came out at the same time. They had a wild visual... so you might want to do something like THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL or DON KIRSCHNER'S ROCK CONCERT, or THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST. All three of these shows were on TV back in the day and only featured live performances and they were all VERY good back then...

[@kidpoker007]

Flirtin' With Disaster - Molly Hatchet

[@kevinphinney932]

My favorite drummer? Keith Carlock. He’s all over the last two Steely Dan records, but treat yourself (and us): He toured with Donald and Walter as part of “the Steely Dan Orchestra” through most of the early 00s. My suggestion - search “The Steely Dan Show” (a live-only song), and if it’s between 2000-2010, it’s likely a killer gig with Keith behind the kit. He’s a monster, and unshakeably in the pocket (which is why Donald and Walter turned so often to him). I know asking you to review an entire show is a lot… but if you’re like me, you’ll want to see one gig after another, because the sheer musicality is gobsmacking. P. S. So Keith is a crackerjack drummer, but Ringo (who came up with that crazy groove for “Rain”) and Stewart Copeland of the Police - who’s really more of a rhythmatist than a simple drummer - are in a class by themselves.

[@GustavoRey-oo6zi]

That's Rick Derringer on slide guitar.

[@RandyHall324]

Love this tune...one of just a handful of songs with only ONE chord throughout!

[@cityhonors1]

🤗 I love, love, love this song! PS. 🤩 Stick with the records. Do a Live if you absolutely have to, but audio is the way to go. 🥰🐰

[@calnative55]

Skunk also played with the Doobie brothers.

[@holysmokes5817]

Right, not Skunk Baxter....Rick Derringer You really enjoyed Edgar Winter "Frankenstein." .....Guitarist was Rick Derringer (filling that day for Ronnie Montrose, who was "sick" that day) Derringer, was manager for Winter at that time...but filled in very bloody well. Cheers! 🍄🌲🍄✨💥🌈😍

[@Grimaldi444]

I get a large kick from watching your reactions to the songs that are familiar to me. I bought "Countdown to Ecstasy" back in the seventies when I was a teenager so it is very cool seeing a young person react positively to the songs that are part of the fabric of my life. The Dan always was and will always be one of my favorite bands. My feelings about the song are generated simply from my like of the songs while you, being a musician, probably have a more informed and intelligent reaction. Nonetheless, I enjoy your content and thank you for giving me that enjoyment.

[@andylawson87]

You should check out Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More by Steely Dan sometime. Not many reactors do that killer track.

[@mainmanjimmiblue]

That would be Rick Derringer on that nasty slide guitar.

[@hoppers13]

Hey, Lee. Dive down the interweb rabbit hole and find out how the backing vocals were spliced into a loop and stretched out the studio door wit pencils.

[@JohnSeward-b4l]

Slinky-Full Tilt featuring Sonny Emory.

[@davelouis4004]

Rick Deringer on slide guitar

[@crashcup100]

Tribal Runner Rippingtons

[@joemc1960]

FYI it's Denny Dias (DYE ISS). He's Eastern European or something

[@ronaldriis1023]

The greatest L.A. band ever? The Eagles? The Doors? No, Steely Dan.

[@tomtompkins7546]

Steely Dan is a New York band. Fight me.

[@yes_head]

This success of the first album gave SD the confidence to start digging into their more non-commercial bag of material (plus dropping an F-bomb in '73 was pretty ballsy). And yeah, this one does point to future albums like Katy Lied and Royal Scam (it's sort of a sibling to the song "The Royal Scam", both based on looping, repetitive riffs.) But I think they maybe got a little blowback for being a bit too 'progressive' on this album, which prompted them to go back to a more commercial approach on Pretzel Logic. But I prefer this album to the debut.

[@SpuzzyLargo]

Just one chord throughout the song: Dm7 😀

[@geob3963]

Slide Guitar songs: Steely Dan - East St. Louis Toodle-oo Santo & Johnny - Sleepwalk David Lindley - Mercury Blues Ry Cooder - Vigilante Man The Texas Troubadours -- Cool It

[@scurvybro8850]

That's not a slide guitar on "East St. Louis Toodle-oo." It's a pedal steel guitar, played by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

[@HareDeLune]

Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh The Tennessee Toad - Leo Kottke

[@davidrauh8118]

Just a little pun, son. Going to Los Wages.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Rick Derringer is your guitar guru here

[@jamespuleo3269]

Words the FCC won't allow, tucked away towards the end of the song~~~~ Kids today can't possibly understand how subversive that felt at the time.

[@jlb6]

Rick Derringer

[@L33Reacts]

It sure is.

[@piperofsimms]

Just a strange composition. Beautifully laid back cruiser. How's your paradiddle today L33 ? Thx

[@genecase9464]

Doing live versions is fine, sometimes preferrable, but try and listen to the studio version of the song as well. Even on your own time. This is particularly true for "Hocus Pocus" by Focus. You must see the live version because it's insane and funny as hell (they had to fit a 6 1/2 minute song into 5 minutes or so. They refused to shorten the song). But the studio version had one of the best guitar licks around. And the drumming is insane as well. Put Hocus Pocus on your list! Both versions! Cheers!

[@Asymmatrix]

You could swear there's a cowbell

[@donaldramsey1288]

"Lost Wages" is joke on losing your pay in Las Vegas.

[@calnative55]

Try "Pictures of the city" by King Crimson

[@jamesnorrisbarrett8927]

I'm pretty damn certain that Rick Derringer was the guitarist....

[@L33Reacts]

He was. I find out at the end, when I read the wiki.

[@briangray00]

This beauty travels. I have friends who generally don't care for Steely Dan, who really like this. Check out this homage from SFA thirty years on. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZzHiqN6a5KJjrc&rco=1 I've argued online about this, with die-hard Steely Dan fans, who think this is too primitive. I believe it's a gem. It's atypical, sure, but it swings, and the extraordinary men of the groove, well groove..

[@rolfjager4633]

Not Skunk, it's Rick Derringer.

[@mikeloomis687]

Save "King of the World" for last. You won't be sorry.

[@johncoulombe833]

Check out "Aja" sometime ...

[@L33Reacts]

I have! It was my first steely dan video ever.

[@davexenos9196]

Am7 ?

[@robertyoung4523]

Lost wages.

[@dannyd3337]

Dig the name check, so unlike them.

[@TerryKrysinski]

Glad you're getting to their earlier material,Lee---it's the best,IMO. They just got too slick/poppy later on,IMO. Everything through Roya Scam is great..everything! This might be my top fav album by them,tho...Cheers, T

[@mikewritz]

Not my favorite steely song but great solo.

[@dangaiser4729]

Buddha not Swedish, not Swedish, Buddha not Swedish 😂

[@scravitz1958]

Not my fav SD …sounds like a Zappa derivative to me. On the other hand anything they do has things that are brilliant.

[@allanalogmusicat78rpm]

I don't hate this song, but it's one of the very few Steely Dan songs that I would consider actively annoying.

[@Ailsworth]

here is the ONLY Steely Dan song I cannot listen to...