First Time Reaction | Steely Dan - Black Cow | This Might Be The GROOVIEST One!

[@J24J]

You can’t go wrong with Steely Dan. Tom Scott plays tenor sax on this track. Listen to Kid Charlemagne next. You won’t be sorry!

[@babylonsister118]

Agree!

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Yep.

[@rorytribbet6424]

Pp out

[@Scared2]

Definitely!

[@tommathews3964]

He likes to dissect lyrics….he won’t have a clue about Kid Charlemagne! 😂 Good Ol’ Owsley! Weaving his magic!

[@Seanriver316]

Please check out "Kid Charlemagne".👍

[@avoncalling7886]

YES!!!!

[@codyashley8787]

Yep, Kid Charlemagne is a jam!

[@pamstuckey8349]

YES!!!

[@cindipossidento5688]

I love Aja & Deacon Blues !! The entire album Aja is phenomenal, In fact, my absolute favorite album to date, 2024 !!!!!!

[@debo9396]

Just check out the whole LP and get it over with. AJA....amazingly great!

[@julianortiz4151]

You have to hear “Deacon Blues” next. It’s my favorite on this album and overall favorite Steely Dan jam. But, like others have said, the whole Aja album is bomb.

[@kbrewski1]

Here's all you need to know. STEELY DAN IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND'S FAVORITE BAND.

[@therealnitrouso2]

Yep.

[@Allright21]

Every Steely Dan song is great! Take a listen to Babylon Sisters. It’s another gem.

[@yournamehere6002]

'Like a gangster, on the run, you will stagger home to your precious one"

[@tritisan]

I’m the one

[@Graciebeliever]

Royal Scam... gold standard of production.

[@richardvarnish8506]

Black Cow drink equals Kahlua, chocolate ice cream, root beer and whipped cream. Very high caloric content.

[@t0dd000]

Oh, wow. I never had that version. I'll have to give it a go.

[@GeoffFranze-yz7vx]

i'am 67 years old I've started listening to steely Dan when I was 16years old

[@damonhines8187]

Yep. Adjust for an extra year. ✊🏼😊🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊

[@kbrewski1]

64 and started when I was 12>>1972.

[@oneday458]

@@kbrewski1 Same here.

[@midnightrambler7716]

@@kbrewski1Ditto.

[@pamelawertz498]

Kid Charlemagne. My Old School. Josie. FM. All bangers.

[@marilynbryant9523]

Peg, Bodhisattva, Ricky don’t lose that number, and so on.

[@kbrewski1]

AJA was the album that stereo salesmen in the late 70s and 80s would use to demo their high end stereo equipment. Or, people like me would bring the AJA album to the stereo shops to compare speakers.

[@pamstuckey8349]

And the first album I played on my brand new Technics turntable from my first legit paycheck. I still remember that moment vividly

[@richardrobinson4020]

first album I bought on CD

[@kbrewski1]

This was not Disco. This was FUNK. Jazz Fusion funk.

[@jml-rj5re]

SD was always a jazz/R&B hybrid. Played like rock over the first 3 albums. B ut even Do it Again was R&B/soul music.

[@kbrewski1]

@jml-rj5re My comment was more specifically about Black Cow, and Aja in general, but whatever.

[@jml-rj5re]

@@kbrewski1 Yes. I understood. I was expanding the point. Steely Dan's music over the arc of their career has often been misunderstood.

[@laurallama73]

Yes, and they had great love for, and relied heavily on friends that were session musicians. These musicians would be in a studio doing sessions for a particular artist, then, literally, run down the street and back up Steely Dan on their albums. It was a special time in music’s history. New freedoms of expression through music were finally being appreciated. And, yes, as MMBxMOB said, Steely Dan is great to listen to, vibe to when you’re gettin high. 🎶🎶🤩💨💨💨

[@Luuuc]

Watching music lovers discover Steely Dan will *never* get old for me.

[@kbrewski1]

Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer Paul Humphrey - drums Chuck Rainey - bass guitar Victor Feldman - Fender Rhodes Joe Sample - clavinet Larry Carlton - guitar Tom Scott - tenor saxophone Clydie King, Venetta Fields, Sherlie Matthews, Rebecca Louis - backing vocals I may be wrong, but I think Victor Feldman did the keys solo not Fagen. Larry Carlton is a great jazz guitarist who played on many SD albums. Tom Scott a great jazz sax player. Chuck Rainey played a lot of bass for SD. Fagen and Becker were perfectionists in the studio. They wanted the sound to be laid back and funky without TRYING to make it sound that way. Now that you've already popped the cherry off the best jazz rock fusion album of all time, you might as well go in order and do the entire album. It's a true flawless masterpiece. The other way to go is back to the 1st album and see how they progressed.

[@davidnorman4923]

Yes Victor Feldman electric piano live on the date!

[@gj8683]

Tom Scott also did that sublime horn arrangement. You can definitely hear other horns besides saxophone.

[@DaveTroyer18-vg4le]

Been jamming to SD for 50 yrs.

[@j_karma]

Many of Steely Dan's songs were sampled by hip hop artists, including Black Cow. Did you recognize the opening beat? (Hint: Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz)

[@onthatdirtroad]

Arguable the finest album ever recorded. Every song is awesome. Review the entire thing and even Black Cow again in the context of Aja. Also, "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)". exists because of Black Cow

[@michelle2202]

Wait until you hear this whole album

[@jamietfranklin]

I bought this album when it came out, I was in middle school. I played it and played it. I studied the covrer art. I listened like it was the holy grail. Great to feel your common wonder of them.

[@texashookem22]

The line goes "Steely Dan is your favorite band's favorite band", and it's no lie!

[@BCursed2012]

So glad you’re digging Steely Dan. Check out Kid Charlemagne.

[@innerscapearts]

Yes!! I am so glad you love them! The entire Aja album is one of the best albums ever made start to finish.

[@xebio6]

"FM" is a must if you want groovy

[@davidryan7386]

Essence of 70s. I sub that for I got the news in my Aja.

[@icmman7]

arguably the best band of all time....GOATS and its a perfect puffing tune

[@babylonsister118]

They used 40 session musicians to complete Aja! And it was on repeat in my world at the time! Much to my husband's dismay I listened to it over and over! I was blessed to see them a few years ago, of course just Donald left but it was incredible just the same! Keep on in the rabbit hole. You won't find a bad one. Thanks!

[@christinawoolley6206]

My senior year of high school…too cool for school!😹😽💋🎶

[@melaniewells9934]

You gotta do HOME AT LAST & DEACON BLUES both from the same album as PEG and Black Cow !!

[@steved525]

The grooviest break-up song of all time😀 I think you would like every song on this album. As much as you like SD musicianship, their lyrics are just as good. Great reaction!

[@kbrewski1]

If you're going to dive deep in the Dan, do the AJA album in order. It flows. Jumbled up won't be as satisfying. Jumping around in their career won't be as rewarding either.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Don't forget the trumpet and trombone together, that was a killer combination.

[@gregschrag7848]

Remember its not just them...though they are the main composer's they hire top notch session player's to complement them, some of the best music ever recorded!

[@tuckerplum8085]

Yeah. This band. Total classics. Steely Dan forever. Timeless. Brilliant.

[@toddkobylarz4758]

Its so well written...their music will NEVER be equaled. If you ever meet someone who doesn't like Steely Dan.....run away from them.

[@Penguinlust1313]

My late brother loved Steely Dan. Every time I hear a song it makes me think of him and smile! Thank you

[@gregbartley2475]

Simply put, Steely Dan is “so outrageous.”

[@tritisan]

And they tell you so

[@prydonia]

Worry about the lyrics later. You'll listen to it five times and you'll still be finding new things to love. And ten. And twenty. You never fall out of love with Steely Dan.

[@trojanmoondoggie4582]

Their lyrics are genius. And the groove and the vibe is indeed just so smooth. And yeah, this song just makes you feel good. Screams the perfect sound for a warm, breezy summer evening. And funny you mention Earth, Wind and Fire. Another supreme band with the same feel good vibe. One of my faves. All 70s smoothness.

[@LONGBOW0808]

Everything on The Royal Scam and AJA

[@jml-rj5re]

Time out of Mind. Janie Runaway

[@shereewilson6278]

female singers are Rebecca Louis, Shirley Matthews and Venetta Fields. Great reaction by the way!

[@noahshue5579]

The way he was just SHOOK by that first harmony

[@jonbower194]

I was lucky enough to see Steely Dan at Red Rocks Amphitheater during a serious hail storm, it was awesome!! RIP Walter Becker

[@lindalee5866]

Liked "Grooviest duo..." That's SD in a nutshell !! :)

[@TheMikeman1971]

Chillax with Steely Dan !

[@therealnitrouso2]

As I recall at the time, every single song on 'Aja' was a hit. Tom Scott, who did the horn arrangements on the Aja album, also played tenor sax on this track, and Victor Feldman did the Fender Rhodes solo. Here are the other credits on the track - note that Walter Becker sat this one out: Lead Vocals, Synthesizer: Donald Fagen Guitar: Larry Carlton Bass: Chuck Rainey Drums: Paul Humphrey Clavinet: Joe Sample Backing Vocals: Clydie King, Rebecca Louis, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields

[@eugeniameteye8751]

Don’t forget Michael Macdonald on the background vocals on Peg. Iconic!

[@SnarleySteve]

If i could only hear one band for the rest of my life, that band would be Steely Dan... No question about it.

[@vincerussell6893]

Welcome to the "Stelly Dan" fan club, I watched your "Peg, reaction, I first was introduced to 'Stelly Dan " when I was 18 years old back in 1978. Been a fan since

[@darylfortney8081]

With Steely Dan it really doesn't matter what song you pick, they are all great but in their own way. Unique jazzy grooves that dabble across genre.

[@tombertolozzi6799]

You really need to do Hey Nineteen

[@stevedahlberg8680]

So many great songs from various albums. Reelin in the Years, Your Old School, Peg, Josie, Haitian Divorce, Deacon Blues, the list just goes on and on. Love the horns in this, including the brass.

[@Tune-O-matic]

I can't imagine not having these great songs by Steely Dan downloaded in my head already after all these years..

[@lem01ne]

My favorite band of all time. If stuck on an island I would likely choose them.

[@thomasp.3796]

Another song off this same album also with a great groove is "Josie".

[@christopherpierre816]

You picked the right group,.. you never know what to expect, but always worth your time.

[@paulcallaro396]

They were born in the suburbs of New York City (Westchester and North Jersey) went to school at Bard College in Annandale, NY and then started playing in NYC, moved to LA and then back to NYC.

[@kualua6612]

My brother you haven’t even scratched the surface. Keep cranking! BTW you need a good pair of headphones to appreciate the superior production.

[@PogueMahone1]

You will NEVER hear a bad Dan song -- some cuts you may like more than others, but seriously, Don & Walt's shit is better than most bands' Shinola. EVERY dang song is worth a dozen listens and each time you do, you'll cop a tasty, new lick in the background, or get a new insight/chuckle from the lyrics. There are 9 Steely Dan albums, 4 solo LPs from Donald, 2 from Walter, and several albums worth of live or unreleased work -- we're talkin' the neighborhood of 160 tracks -- and virtually every goldurn one is a sonic confection guaranteed to give ya that sweet-ol' stank-face. FYI -- for almost 50 YEARS, every savvy audio salesman in the whole dang world has relied upon The Dan to move their merchandise. Innocent peeps just be boppin' down the street and that groove lures them into the store -- half-an-hour later they bop out the door smilin' with their brand-new $900 stereo system! Ergo, The Dan set The Cash-Money-Gold Standard for musical quality that has endured for almost half a century! Just lettin' ya know about what kinda majorly cool rabbit hole yer fixin' to go down....😎😎

[@missbelled6700]

Yes, especially if we're talking about 7 albums from 72-80, I can truly only think of maybe 5 songs that I'd leave off a playlist. That's batting pretty damn close to a thousand.

[@jesselobo3213]

One of the first Vinyl albums I ever bought, who would have known it would also be one of the greatest albums ever produced and one of my all-time favorites. Coincidently, Billy Joel's "The Stranger" came out about the same time, another great and classic album. BTW, "Josie:" is a great, great song. You'll love the bass line on that song.

[@Kathryne0816]

Keyboards you want, keyboards we got. Try Leon Russell's "A Song for You." An absolute classic. Covered by many, many artists. Listen to the 1970's version. Leon is one of the greats. "Lady Blue" is another monster hit.

[@bikerbuncle]

ONE GREASY GROOVE! They always had the greasiest rhythm section! Frikkin awesome stuff!

[@SC_Jolly]

"Night By Night" on the Pretzel Logic album (1974) is an early taste of their slow groove style. It features their original band, with the late Jeff Porcaro on drums. Lots of horns! The whole album is great from start to finish.

[@dansavoie5087]

51 yrs. of listening to Steely Dan and still my favorites. Love all they produced. Genre of their own. If you find the the time to change it up, there's a live performance by Johnny and Edgar Winter - "Tobacco Road" that is seeing and hearing to believe. Keyboard organ music 👍👍. Also if you find the time "Smoothe" by Carlos Santana featuring Rob Thomas ( video ) is a get up and move vibe. It's excellent. Back to Steely Dan - "Babylon Sisters", "Kid Charlemagne" , "Show Biz Kids", "I Got the News", "Aja", "Fm ( No Static At All )", "Don't Take Me Alive " Katy Lied ", My Old School" are just a few of my favorites I believe you might enjoy. Enjoyed your reaction. Like how your research is at end of song. Like how your pauses are to the point and not rambling on. Also like your style of analyzing how you feel about the song. Comments were precise and interesting. ✌️

[@snapdragon8888]

Black Cow is a drink. It's basically a root beer float with chocolate syrup, with or without Kahlua. I love the funky sound of this one.

[@TheCornishCockney]

Teahouse on the Tracks next mate. Followed by their entire back catalogue. Known fact: whenever you listen to Steely Dan,you become approximately 30% cooler. So they are good for your health and general well-being too…..win win.

[@DAVYMAC]

Steely Dan song: WITH A GUN it was not played on the radio! "Did you pay the other man with the piece in your hand, and leave him lying in the rain?". Short song good harmonies, snappy.

[@rustjockey]

"Green Earrings"... that's gonna leave a mark. Oh, and about where they're from: Dutchess is just the name of the county, about 50 or so miles north of NYC on the Hudson River. Not Dutch- just hipsters. 👍

[@gabrielvanhelsing8214]

"Dirty Work" a hit single and a track off the 'Steely Dan' 'Can't Buy a Thrill' debut album released back in 1972 is worth checking out if not already done so. "Dirty Work" has a smooth flow and a delightful listen. The Clavinet clavichord (keyboards) and tenor saxophone enhance this recording up several notches. The lyrics conveyed in the song are revealing as well.🎤🎷🎸🎹🥁🔊☮📻🎧

[@clydeb7713]

Aja's opener, "Black Cow," remains of one Steely Dan's all-time funkiest cuts, and it provides the engine for East Coast rap duo Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz's debut single, "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)".

[@cameronstestingart794]

Keep going down the Dan rabbit hole, and you’ll be right where I was in the 70s - so outrageous!My fav track of theirs🔥

[@colibri1]

A lot of people pick up on that "disco vibe" you mentioned. This album was released in 1977, one of the peak years of disco, and you can hear the influence even on groups like Steely Dan, especially in their songs "Peg" and "Josie" off this album. Both "Josie" and "Peg" were big radio hits at the time.

[@kbrewski1]

Peg is the most "discoey" on Aja. But I think the Royal Scam album as a whole is much more disco affected. Kid Charlemagne, The Fez, Green Earrings etc.

[@TheMoosebreath24]

A little bit of FYI: The 1998 hip-hop hit "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" by Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz samples significant portions of "Black Cow." So much that Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are listed as the writers on the track.

[@kenlawless7247]

Babylon Sisters or The Royal Scam are pure musical genius.

[@Newfie-zc7ug]

They got you ! Just like so many millions.......... LOL Enjoy them .

[@SteveClarkeSongs]

The Aja album is a stone cold classic. Every song on that record is brilliant.

[@lucasroth7922]

Steely Dan, your favorite bands favorite band🔥🤘✌

[@raycewilliams3300]

Welcome to the Rabbit Hole that we lovingly call.... Steely Dan. I believe they were originally classified as a "Rock Band"........ but as you can plainly see they are MUCH more than that. They have songs in their collection that contain elements of Rock, Jazz, Soul as well as R&B. What this duo did back in the 70's and 80's could not be done today. They hired the absolute best "session" musicians that they could get their hands on. The results speak for itself. You are at the beginning of a wonderful trip with the Dan. They will take you places that you never expected to go to. Take care......

[@joelrizzo2786]

They were simply The Best!

[@holysmokes5817]

Donald Fagen writing about seeing a girlfriend coming into a late night diner in New York (Rudy's) strung out on heroin. "I saw you at Rudy's, you were very high...a crying disgrace..on the counter by your keys, was a book of novels and your 'remedies' one of these, surely will screen out the sorrow, but where are you tomorrow?" A 'Black Cow.' A drink popularized in New York in the 1970's, famous with heroin addicts coming down from a binge (craving sugar). The Black Cow is made of Soda Water, Vanilla Ice Cream, Kahlua, Vodka and Chocolate Syrup. A "Black Cow" - "Drink it and get out of here."

[@m.ericwatson968]

Easily in top ten best albums of the 1970's, Aja is a masterpiece

[@sueprator9314]

Yes! Of all the great music coming up as a Boomer born and raised in (old) San Francisco that was the epicenter of the mid 60s/70s - Steely Dan and EW& F are my two all time favs. Check all of it out but one that only some talk about is Western World - after you are a seasoned Dan devotee.

[@christianbrasso8257]

THE BEST ALBUM EVER RECORDED-PERIOD!

[@hydm1023]

If you liked this you'll love 'Babylon Sisters'

[@porttack8574]

I love everything from them too!

[@a.drewwalker9662]

It's sooo smooth n groovy it's Smooovy. It feels like butter melting over a stack of hot flapjacks... (yes, borrowed movie line...)

[@collagefrolic]

Walter Becker tidbit: When he rented a vacation house from a co-worker of mine parents, the maid was not allowed to run the vacuum cleaner when he was present; he hated the noise. Said house, supposedly, is the place referred to in the song Aja: "Up on the hill, they think i'm ok, or so they say..."

[@PaulRoehl-fi1iw]

The record came out during the disco era which had a lot of funk in it. You probably know it's one of the greatest LP's ever and its sound quality was astoundingly good for '77.

[@ldybozz]

My FAVORITE song by them. #1. Always & forever.

[@rubykrebs9550]

My favorite Steely Dan song! ❤

[@kimcross2000]

I’ve had many favorite songs by Steely Dan over the years but I always come back to Babylon Sisters and the whole Gaucho album.

[@AlekGrigorian]

Deacon blues and hey nineteen

[@ogmandog]

Bodhisattva....Black Friday are a must!

[@thenaturalmidsouth9536]

Bodhisattva has an absolutely scorching guitar part....

[@scubashooter]

Steely Dan is the Gospel!

[@theivory1]

What should you say you ask? You should say I'm going to listen to all their songs.

[@RonReederDigstheUniverse]

Agreed. This is an excellent song for getting high. Been doing that while listening to this album for forty years.

[@alstewart5870]

As you're on this amazing oddessy, one word of advice: Respect. The. Fade. Listen to each song til you hear silence. It's like extracting every drop from the honeycomb. Respect. The. Fade

[@stevegirardmedia2255]

When you're so adept at mixing the jazz and big band sensibilities with pop, rock and soul... this is what you get: music that's technically precise, but still has the power to make you feel & groove. The Dan's song structure doesn't fit with pop/rock... it really is more jazz and funk. It's beautiful and groovy stuff... and man, you are just scratching the surface of how great this band is! We'll be with you as you go!

[@stevegirardmedia2255]

Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer Paul Humphrey - drums Chuck Rainey - bass guitar Victor Feldman - Fender Rhodes Joe Sample - clavinet Larry Carlton - guitar Tom Scott - tenor saxophone Clydie King, Venetta Fields, Sherlie Matthews, Rebecca Louis - backing vocals

[@barbarabickley2796]

Enjoy the journey, they have a huge catalog of great songs.

[@rbking9296]

Deacon Blues next You won’t regret it nuff said

[@marilynbryant9523]

The ladies singing were studio backup. Used as they needed and engineered. SD was Jazz Funk fusion. Lead into influence of Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, Gato Barbieri, etc.

[@michaelbriefs9764]

Just wait to you hear the other songs on this album! You have to hear Aja and Josie for sure! Wow!

[@FlyinEye]

This album is one of the best engineered albums ever. I'm an audio engineer and I use the song Aja to get a reference on how the sound system in a venue.