Legendary Band PRANKED Their Fans With This 70s Classic Hit! | Professor of Rock

It was a classic song with multiple storylines of danger, deceit, and despair- so cryptic, and even now decades later fans are still trying to figure out exactly what it means. I’m talking about Steely Dan and their 70s rocker Do It Again. It didn’t help that the band played a prank on fans in the way they Listed the song on the back of the album Can’t Buy A Thrill… It also confused everyone when the Dan appeared on national television with a different vocalist singing the hit instead of Donald Fagan! Oh ya, and the backup vocalist David Palmer didn’t sound anything like the record. Apparently, Donald Fagan had stage fright so badly he couldn’t perform it. On this hit, duo Donald Fagan and Walter Becker showed their genius in the studio with the use of an electric sitar, combined with a really trashed-out cheap plastic organ. Up next We break down a classic of the 70s with a band named after something naughty and mindless Yet their music is so intelligent, your IQ goes up 20 points every time you listen to them. NEXT on Professor of Rock.
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Walter Becker and Donald Fagen met while attending Bard College in New York in 1967. They became fast friends- cemented by their mutual love of Jazz. Fagen & Becker began gigging on the local band scene with several groups, including an outfit named Leather Canary, that featured future star actor/ comedian Chevy Chase on drums.
The buddies moved to Brooklyn in ‘69 to get the attention of the record community, starting with peddling their wares at the Brill Building. They were hired to compose music for the soundtrack of a very low-budget film titled You’ve Got to Walk It Like You Talk It, or You’ll Lose That Beat- starring Richard Pryor.
Jay & the Americans hired Becker to play guitar, and Fagen to play keyboards in their touring band in ’70. During their stint with Jay & the Americans, where they played & toured for peanuts, the duo saw an advertisement in the personal section of The Village Voice that read:
"Looking for keyboardist and bassist. Must have jazz chops!
A-holes need not apply”. The ad was placed by Denny Dias (die-us), who was a struggling musician working out of his home basement in Hicksville, New York. Which was also Billy Joel’s hometown coincidently. Donald and Walter responded to the advertisement- hooked up with Dias- and immediately began playing their own material.
The tipping point for Becker & Fagen, and Dias, for that matter, was connecting with ABC Records staff producer Gary Katz. Katz was intrigued by what he heard, particularly from Becker & Fagen, and initially offered them a job to be staff writers for the label. The material that Becker & Fagen composed was too complicated for the artists signed to ABC Records at the time, so Katz encouraged the duo to move to Los Angeles and recruit musicians for a new whole new band as a vehicle ...

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll; What band or artist made the most SOPHISTICATED music of the rock era?

[@user-xm7jy7dc8f]

YES

[@catherine6653]

Steve Winwood

[@surlechapeau]

Steely Dan

[@stephenbrown4211]

Steely Dan Rush Pat Methany Anyone who can play a 42 string Pikasso has to be sophisticated

[@freezer8530]

I'll nominate Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

[@Kenwellz1]

Actually, the solo was not played on a real sitar, like Ravi Shankar would play, but on a Coral Sitar by Danelectro. This was a guitar with a special bridge that gave it that characteristic buzzing sound mimicking a real sitar. Any decent lead guitarist could play a “sitar” solo without having to learn the instrument. It was pretty popular during the late 60s and early 70s, appearing on songs like Signed Sealed Delivered by Stevie Wonder, Freda Payne’s Band of Gold, Come and Get your Love by Redbone, and I think the B J Thomas version of Hooked On A Feeling.

[@wetzles]

Also used by Steve Howe of Yes on Close to the Edge album

[@davidallen2077]

@Kenwellz1 Odd...I heard the Freda Payne song in the meat aisle of the supermarket today. AND I noticed for the first time (since it was released in 1970), the electric sitar in the intro. And now you've mentioned it here. What kind of Karmic Mischief is afoot here ("Wheel spinnin' round and round")?! Frankly, I was never crazy about the song, but the Danelectro intro is pretty catchy. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_of_Gold_(Freda_Payne_song)

[@eyevocal]

It wasn't just the bridge that caused that effect, but 13 sympathetically-tuned strings across the upper body (with a clear pick guard over them so the player doesn't accidentally touch them), built on the same principle as an actual sitar. You can also see and hear it being played on the video of Paul Young's version of "Everytime You Go Away."

[@edwardmorris3453]

That's cool. Thank you for the skinny!

[@patgalvez4563]

The electric sitar is also used on BJ Thomas hit song Eyes of a New York Woman

[@heystarfish100]

You know it’s going to be a great year when the Professor features the great Steely Dan to start off the New Year. 😎👍

[@ejb7969]

And says there's gonna be more!

[@oldschoolrr6077]

This song turned me on to Steely Dan. When I was living in L.A. when this song came out , "Do It Again" reached #7 on the 93 KHJ 30 in January 1973, (#6 on the Billboard Hot 100). Though "Aja" is my favorite Steely Dan Album, "Can't Buy A Thrill" was a superb album.

[@Conernforthesedogs-iw7lf]

💯❤‍🔥

[@quantum_man]

I freaking Love this Band! So smooth, they made music to transcend Generations and they have achieved that!

[@adotintheshark4848]

and Donald Fagan afterwards..His Kamakeriad album is one of my favorites.

[@Captain_Marco]

I won Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic album in 1974 during a call in contest to radio station KXXL in Bozeman, Montana when I was a high school freshman, ultimately leading me to become a huge SD fan! I still have the album! I have seen Steely Dan in concert a few times and have always yelled, “Do It Again!” during the gap between songs!! One of my favorites!! 🔟

[@racketman2u]

"Any Major Dude Will Tell You" is still one of my favourite songs ever.

[@BenOchart]

Steely Dan is a big part of the soundtrack of my youth. The solo in Kid Charlemagne is simply perfection. I was fortunate enough to see them at the Hollywood Bowl and recently saw Larry Carlton (solo guitarist on Kid Charlemagne) in Nashville. Their music instantly returns me to the feel of long gone High School friendships.

[@c.s.s.1723]

I have already said this before here, but Steely Dan was inherently part of the atmosphere of the 1970’s. You really had to be there. So cool, and yet sort of under the radar, for me they were always right there. I am still trying to process this group after all this time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@beenaplumber8379]

Playboy's band of the year... maybe 1977?

[@cactaceous]

Was lucky enough to see Steely Dan live 4 times at the Beacon before Walter’s passing. Each concert was sublime. The very last one while my wife was pregnant so we still say it was my daughter’s very first concert. One of the concerts was them playing The Royal Scam in its entirety. My favorite of their records. That entire Gary Katz produced era truly is amongst the best ever put on wax. They never put out a bad record.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Oh wow! Thanks for sharing!

[@jpsmusicandmore5457]

I wanted to see them there but could not pullit off. I have seen them Donald and Walter a few times. Also Dukes of September and Fagen solo in Vegas....... Glad you go to the Beacon. And Jealous.....

[@marktait2371]

4 times beacon awesome i saw them.on walters last tour va.beach amp. right up.front because friends older brother had connections has to drive 2 hours stay overnight tickets on me if you can just get here nice of him.exhausting greuling 2 days but glad i did great band little did we know walter had health issues and was his last tour i bought them beers in gratitude no.opener played like 2 hours us a few jazz standards encore reelin fans went nuts

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Never got to see them live. But I appreciate you sharing this experience!

[@williamsanders2439]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 you don't know what you missed! Walter even cracked a dirty joke during a song! 😄

[@OweEyeSea]

I didn't gain an appreciation for Steely Dan until I was 18 - then a light suddenly came on and the complexity of their music became memorizing. A Decade of Steely Dan is a fantastic collection.

[@AbuAfakski]

*mesmerizing

[@OweEyeSea]

@@AbuAfakski lol, yes, mesmerizing. I probably spelled it wrong and then autocorrect made it more wrong.

[@AbuAfakski]

@@OweEyeSea yeah, autocorrect drives me crazy 👍

[@pillmuncher67]

From under the slick jazzy pop sound of Steely Dan lurks a dark, pessimistic, and very New York attitude, not dissimilar to the Velvet Underground. I love both bands very much.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Good comparison!

[@rabby-u]

And yet they somehow put a Cali vibe into it.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s easy to imagine the story of their songs taking place in NY.

[@angusorvid8840]

They spent a lot of time out here in L.A. in the 70s. But they were too sophisticated to be an L.A. band. They had that New York edginess. @@rabby-u

[@beenaplumber8379]

I don't think it's dark or pessimistic, more of a cautionary tale. Three lives lived badly (gunfighter, adulterer, gambler), three times the big dude (whoever you believe that is) says go back, Jack, and do it again till you get it right. That means the worst that can happen is we get another chance. Is that dark or pessimistic?

[@djbelc01]

One of my favorite things about Steely Dan is the way they embraced their jazz influence to make something that was willing to go interesting and unique places. That's why I have seen them live nearly a dozen times, and why I have my KZbin channel dedicated to restoring their concert recordings. Every performance was a totally different experience than the last show thanks to the improvised solos and fills you'd get from a jazz outfit, but they were woven into tight, energetic pop rock songs.

[@primalartifice]

I just subscribed to your channel. At a glance, there is a lot of content, and it looks well presented and represented.

[@adotintheshark4848]

they were anal technically too, in a good way.

[@makon2012]

My favorite band since I bought that first album in 1972 at 16 years old. It hit me hard when Walter left us.

[@ProfessorofRock]

No kidding. What a loss. RIP>

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Such a sad loss.

[@andrewmcgee1001]

My first memories of hearing Steely Dan was 'Do it Again' and 'Reelin' in the Years' because they were getting heavy radio airplay (I was born in '62). Other songs followed and they became one of my favorite musicians or music ensembles. I use that term because early on, Becker and Fagen had the insight to bring in different session players that suited the compositions best. There is pure magic in their tracks and each album is pure gold. Thanks Professor for a great review and backstory of legendary musical genius.

[@marktait2371]

same here a few years back an oldies channel indie started up played alot af dan but couldnt keep.going so i bought the decade cd and still.had the live mummy cd nice condition used vinlys at least lical indie are really high saw aja original was like 30 thrill waa even more i did get pretzel for only 10 because has scratch on the first song but rest is g.c. so lucked out on that one original dunhill.foldout with the band photo is a promo.

[@williamsanders2439]

Kind of started with Gaucho and Fagen's The Nightfly and worked my way backwards. A great catalog!

[@susanmurray7654]

Me too 62

[@paulredinger5830]

Same here brother. I was hatched in 63’. Miss the music we grew up on. What a magical experience for us. Too bad the kids today get the spewed garbage of today. Same thing just different person sing different words. Pure junk, but I’m biased to 5e 70’s and 80’s music. The 60’s weren’t so bad either. 🙏🏻

[@skypilotrg]

@@paulredinger5830 Born in 58. It was my 7th grade year when I first heard the 2 hits off ' Can't buy a thrill. I loved them, but apparently not enough to buy any of their albums until I became a little older and wiser. The Royal Scam may be my fav, but then again it's hard to make that choice based upon their incredible career. I finally woke up to their greatness when AJA was released. During the beginning of Steely Dan's lengthy break, of course Fagen's 'The Nightfly' came out, and that's still one of my favorite albums as well. Contrary to the crappy music that you refer to coming off popular radio these days, you need to find the right stuff, which if you look hard enough, you'll find in abundance. Whereas I love the music I grew up on, I have always sought out newer and more underground music, usually by tuning in "Left of the dial" as 'The Replacements' said in one of their songs. I still listen to Steely Dan quite a bit, though, and have seen em live 3 times since 2002.

[@jenniferspengler4688]

I, too, was late to the Steely Dan party. I was born in '77 and Steely Dan's music was too sophisticated for me, I think. But now, I think almost every single one of their songs is its own masterpiece. 'Peg' is the one that really caught my ear when I was listening to my Amazon Music Yacht Rock station years ago. And from that moment on, I became a Steely Dan fan. What's crazy is I'd already seen them play but I was there to see Michael MacDonald (lol) and in my early 20s, I still think I wasn't quite ready for Steely Dan! ☺ Thank you for this video and all the work you do. You're a legend yourself!

[@user-mr1ku5iz8l]

Being born in '73 I grew up listening to bands of this era in the background, either when my mom had the radio on, or had the recored player going, or hearing these bands on the radio during summers spent at the pool. Steely Dan has a lot of good songs, but my favorite will always be Reelin' in the years. The guitar just does it for me every time.

[@ProfessorofRock]

It's such a classic! That solo is Phenomenal.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

One of the greatest solos ever.

[@jerryrichmond4707]

The lead guitar on "Reelin' in the Years" is phenomenal and was played by Randall Elliott.

[@r.w.bottorff7735]

Man, I had no idea Steely Dan was this badass. Brilliant.

[@stephenstevens6573]

Definitely a Steely Dan devotee! I think something about the band that doesnt get talked sbout enough is the quality of the recording process. If you truly dit down snd critically listen to the music on a quality system, the brilliance really shines. The engineering and mastering is really next level. Of course, Aja, is the Pinnacle of that brilliance. You can really feel the openness and specifically intentional layering of the mix is just fantastic. Truly a standout in the rock era. Such intelligent lyrics and as you mentioned, odd time signatures. Thank you!

[@patriciamorgan6545]

I think people do discuss this quite a bit (or maybe I just waste more time than you reading KZbin comments😄). I've also read from numerous sources that Aja, because of its recording perfection, is often used by bands during their concert sound checks.

[@stephenstevens6573]

@@patriciamorgan6545 or maybe I spend too much time and wasted expectations reading KZbin comments expecting to see them!! I am kind of an untraditional audiophile, and discussing Aja amongst those who consider themselves to be traditional is a no...lol...I have several albums of the Era that I consider outstanding, happy to have run across one(tips hat) thank you, Patricia!

[@patriciamorgan6545]

@@stephenstevens6573 Another one comes to mind that you might find interesting, then. Scheherazade and Other Stories, by Renaissance, 1975. A couple years before Aja, maybe not quite as "perfect" in production, but complex, lush, exciting, and definitely not the usual. A mix of progressive, classical, rock, and a few other genres. Annie Haslam has a stunning voice. And you're welcome!😉

[@stephenstevens6573]

@@patriciamorgan6545 I have heard this!! Been a long time, though! I'll look for it on vinyl! I was out of the vinyl game for many years...got rid of thousands of albums...was fascinated with CD when it appeared...I so regret that decision...sad...but, the last few years, I'm back and tebuying at a furious rate!! Raffertys city to city is a great album for quality too!

[@patriciamorgan6545]

@stephenstevens6573 Ah, we were all lured with the digital age, and also the convenient CD format that all but promised no more chance of warpage or scratching. I could never understand, though, why compression was better than full spectrum. Seemed to me that so much nuance would be lost...but then, I had rather low-end equipment, so I really was guessing. Re: Gerry Rafferty, never listened to the whole album, but I love Baker Street, especially the sax!

[@xochitl421]

I still get chills every time I hear the guitar solo on The Boston Rag. Just my all time favorite solo.

[@suelucey9621]

Same here. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter... A master!

[@surlechapeau]

My Steely Dan fiver: Deacon Blues; Josie; Reelin' In The Years; Aja; Do It Again. The Aja LP is in my all-time top 5 LP's.

[@alliswede42]

Mine is Aja, Peg, The Royal Scam, Glamour Profession, and Babylon Sisters ❤

[@ProfessorofRock]

Great list!!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Love Babylon Sisters!

[@philipqvist7322]

Mine: Reelin' In The Years (Elliott Randall owns that song), Ricky Don't Lose That Number, Babylon Sisters, Josie, Aja

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Mine is Peg, Aja, Do It Again, Deacon Blues, and Reelin’ in the Years in no particular order.

[@lisaroberts-kauka3919]

Steely was light years ahead of the rest in 70’s. Thanks for a great share of Do it Again. Iconic and perfect. The studio musician pool they surrounded and immersed into and their access to top shelf musicians like Larry Carlton, the Porcaro Bros., Mike McDonald, Skunk Baxter perfect blend for their jazz designed tunes. My Old School, Caves of Altamira, Bad Sneakers, Night by Night, Haitian Divorce, Black Friday, FM among my all time favorites. Happy New year from Hilo Hawaii.

[@c00lkidhAXXOR]

Steely Dan is one of the bands that take me back to my childhood every time I hear it. So many memories

[@rcrippen]

Deacon Blues ( the loneliness, a kind of fading sadness of the line "thats all in the past" gets me everytime) , Green Earings, Black Cow, Babylon Sister, all amazing, too. Live version of Bodhisattva on the gold album is wonderful, and super energetic.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Such a great song!

[@c.e.anderson558]

Never heard a song that can touch the groove in The Fez. And I'm 65.

[@louiebee6745]

Lol yeah I remember the live version of Bodhisattva on the B-side of the Hey Nineteen 45. After laughing at the drunk announcer, you got to hear some smokin hot guitar and one kickass groove from the Dan of Steel!👍✌🔥

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

“Learn to work the saxophone”

[@louiebee6745]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I play just what I feel...

[@SamanthaMunitz]

My go-to album from Steely Dan is 'Can't Buy A Thrill'. Reelin' In The Years, Do It Again, and Dirty Work are songs I cherish. I also enjoy listening to their track 'Kings'.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Love it. What would you like to see next?

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Such a great album.

[@sub2for800M]

For years I thought "Dirty Work" was a CSN song because of the acoustic guitar and harmonizing vocals. A myth perpetuated by the fact it isn't included on my Steely Dan greatest hits album - despite being a song I'd always hear on album oriented rock stations. I college one of the bands I played in had Steely Dan covers in regular rotation so the drummer suggested "Dirty Work" one day and I had to be educated on that day by who actually performed the song. I was floored. I still love doing the sax solo on "Josie" - such fun!

[@Whisper_292]

I love Do it Again. Thanks for telling us the story. I love how an instrument as exotic as the sitar is used in so many rock songs. It really adds a haunting effect to the music.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I agree. When used properly it can bring a song to a new level. What would you like to see next from the Dan?

[@Whisper_292]

@@ProfessorofRock Deacon Blues, definitely.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Love it!@@Whisper_292

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

When you hear a sitar, you know you’re in for something exceptional and different.

[@LazyIRanch]

@@ProfessorofRock _Kid Charlemagne_ would be fascinating. Years ago, someone told me how it was based on a real person and events, but I don't remember now. "Don't Take Me Alive", which is also from "The Royal Scam", is about David Sylvan Fine, the youngest of the Sterling Hall bombers (at the University of Wisconsin- Madison) who was captured ins San Rafael, California in January of 1976. Despite the title of the song he WAS taken alive, spent three years in prison and eventually became a paralegal in Oregon. Most songs on "The Royal Scam" could inspire action movies or dramas, except for "Haitian Divorce". That one would be perfect for a romantic comedy! I'm thinking maybe Emma Stone as the divorce-seeker, Michael Ealy as the handsome Haitian love interest (he must speak with a sexy French accent), and a Wilson brother as the pitiful ex-husband (doesn't matter which one, really). In my version, she tells her racist family to eff all the way off, she goes back to Haiti and marries the father of her child. They move to the island of St. Lucia, where their lives become a comedy of errors and they end up owning a failed, abandoned beach resort... that's haunted!👻 There's a talking iguana hanging around the poolside bar, the reincarnation of an 18th century pirate who gives sage advice to Emma's character, the only one who can hear the lizard speak. Damn, I've put way too much thought into this. Yes, that "romantic" movie would suk 🏀🥎, but it would still be better than "Gigli"

[@briandempsey3157]

The Aja album did it for me. It seems like I listened to it nearly daily for a couple of years after it's release. Magic! If you haven't listened to the whole album in one sitting, I urge you to take in the experience. I still do.

[@williamryan9195]

Definitely their most polished and complex work. The supporting cast of musicians made it special.

[@samanthab1923]

Always makes me think of college

[@MaurytheHedgehogDog]

Was my go to cassette for road trips

[@philmann3476]

The, for some reason, rarely heard "King of the World" from Countdown to Ecstasy was always one of my favorites. The jazzy guitar work and science-fictiony synthesizer solo at the end have always stayed with me.

[@dogstyle6349]

I totally agree. King of the world is brilliant! Countdown to Extacy is always overlooked.

[@ragjamrock]

My first introduction to Steely Dan was this song. I've been a fan ever since. I never get tired of their music.🎶👍

[@stevelewis786]

Every album is a masterpiece, and nearly every album is my favorite at any given time. And Fagan’s solo albums are equally brilliant. Ain’t never been anyone else quite like them. Complex, exacting and mesmerizing. One of my all time favorite bands.

[@TheStrykerProject]

While I'm not a huge Steely Dan fan, "Reelin' In The Years" is one of my all time favorite songs, and the guitar solo is just EPIC! I admit I also enjoy most, if not all of, their popular/hit songs.

[@StickySyrupEverywhere]

Yeah. Hard rock and metal head, I had to acknowledge them after the fact and admit that I liked a lot of their music all along. It was in the background from the time I noticed as a small kid in the early seventies.

[@brianpainter6620]

Do it Again is one of my top favorites. I Love Steely Dan! The sitar/keyboard solos, the Latin beat, and the great lyrics is why I love this song so much.

[@stephaniechaffin1154]

David Palmer did a great job in "Do It Again". I love that song and they should have kept him.

[@jamiedieveney3327]

Great video! Thanks for going deep. I'm in a Steely Dan tribute band called Nearly Dan. We play a ton in Seattle to a strong loyal audience that really appreciates the Steely Dan songbook. The more of their music we learn and perform, the more we appreciate their genius!

[@zman890]

Their performance of My Old School on the Midnight Special is excellent.

[@loriemoorhead9017]

Aja has always been my favorite Steely Dan album. Steely Dan has always been great. Had such great musical qualities and always Chang sound. Thanks for this one. Great to think about them.

[@rogm8577]

I was 15 and had won a pop album from the local radio station. For some reason they were out of that album. The DJ I spoke to offered to send me several other albums instead. This top 40 station sent be a box of 10 albums. One of them was Steely Dan Cant Buy A Thrill. Changed my definition of good music forever.

[@philvasquez4542]

Graduated in 1975 and I’m pretty sure I had these guys on 8-track. And for sure on cassette later when I upgraded my 1966 Impala! One of my all time favorite bands. Love, love their lyrics! ❤ Great video Doc! 👍🏼

[@fivestring65ify]

The first Dan song I remember hearing was FM. Then they released Gaucho. At this point, I was listening to a classic rock station, and I was exposed to their other music. I listen to these guys daily. They are one of my all time favorites. And like any great classic rock band, the deep cuts are the best ones.

[@davidweaver2156]

I've always thought of Steely Dan as one would think of a really great meal. With each listen (bite) you will discovery a deeper flavor and always leave with satisfaction. True musical genius

[@nohandle1028]

I love Steely Dan! Their music was the kind of music I'd listen to after a hard day! Soothing, relaxing, thought-provoking...just amazing!

[@patrickpowell8098]

I’m 62 years old. I’ve ALWAYS said that AJA is one of the absolute top albums I’ve ever heard. And one of 3 I would want to be stranded on a desert island with……

[@carolannerobinson8351]

Yes!! “Black Cow” my favorite. Love the jazz

[@mjcs6399]

I had to double-check to make sure this wasn't one of my own comments.

[@MyName-pl7zn]

Nothing better than a deep dive into one of my favorite band's fantastic songs. So many facts I didn't know that would have taken me hours to find and read. Best music channel ever made! Still love can't buy a trill, still my favorite SD album with Aja a close 2nd. Fantastic song and fantastic episode professor ❤

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks My Name!

[@LazyIRanch]

This is why the Professor's morning class is one I never miss! I'm subscribed to a ridiculous number of channels (I'm a sucker for funny animals) but Adam's channel is my favorite. It keeps getting better, which boggles my mind! He's the encyclopedia of modern music! I know he will never run out of fascinating stories though. This is his calling in life, his passion, and I feel that he makes these shows for those of us who share his love. I'm one of those old fans who looked forward to listening to Casey Kasem every week, and his death felt like the end of a wonderful era. I love music, I love talking about music, and hearing smart people discuss music. NOW where do I go? KZbin logarithm noticed my obsession, and several years ago they gave me a gift by recommending this channel. Happy day!😃

[@MyName-pl7zn]

@@LazyIRanch I couldn't agree more! I absolutely love music and I love to hear the who, when and why an artist created the music. There are other channels like this one but Adam's style as an interviewer and the amount he must read makes it the best in my opinion. I look forward to this everyday as I'm sure you do. This channel was made for people like you and me. Take care my friend!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

They’re one of my favorite bands too! Just an explosion of talent across the board.

[@LazyIRanch]

@@MyName-pl7zn

[@adolfsson2705]

One of those songs i can hear to relax. Timeless..freshness... Great history...

[@ProfessorofRock]

It's such a rare feat! Always is with the Dan!

[@hairball1967]

Love Steely! I was 12 when Gaucho came out, and I ran out and bought it and brought it home and put it on our home stereo. Mom heard “the Cuervo Gold, the fine Columbian” and she told me “don’t think I don’t know what they’re talking about!” Nonetheless, she grooved to it too.

[@michstella517]

Favorite band of all time. I have seen them 9 times (missed them with the Eagles because DF was ill). I remember listening to Aja as a preteen at my older sister's house. Rediscovered them with my husband years later. I think Black Cow is my favorite (currently), but they change all the time and I like the deeper cuts.

[@wtspman]

I got some heavy exposure to Steely Dan when I was in high school in the early 80s. I worked part-time in the children’s section of the local public library. Unlike the adult section upstairs, we were allowed to play music through the day. The choices were either records from the collection, or easy listening radio. At time 99.9 CKFM had an adult contemporary format, and they were one of the stations we were allowed to play. Among other things they played a lot of Steely Dan. Even though they weren’t writing music for a teen audience, it wasn’t hard to appreciate Steely Dan even at that age.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

That’s cool! I wish my library had that.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Steely Dan surely have to be the coolest of all bands. Their debut album, which my eldest brother had and i used to sneakily play, when not listening to Blondie or ACDC...is startling good. Always loved them since.

[@ProfessorofRock]

For sure!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I am eternally thankful for my mom for getting me hooked on the Dan.

[@rdf2190]

My absolutely favorite band. Have seen them in concert a dozen times. They don’t have a bad track. Own all of their albums. “My old school” is one of my favs…California tumbles into the sea. Aja is by far one of the all time best albums.

[@bartbluemusic]

Love this song! I remember some of my friends thinking it was a Santana song. They never believed me until the DJ finally said it was Steely Dan. And I was like: "See?" LOL - Enjoyed the vid! :)

[@ProfessorofRock]

It really does sound like Santana circa 70s.... Thanks Bart!

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

I had an NCO who had a similar hill on which to die. He swore up and down that Lowrider was a Santana song, refused to believe me that it was War. Funny part was, he was learning to drive when It came out; I was born a few years later. Generation has nothing to do with whether or not you're paying attention. 😅

[@jdk353]

When it was released, I also thought it was a Santana song... until Kasey Kasim set me right on the Top 40 countdown!

[@LazyIRanch]

Good observation! Now that I think about it, there's definitely some "Oye Como Va" vibe here.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It has that Santana groove to it.

[@57WillysCJ]

I would like to say that their lyrics are second to the music itself but they are so unique and intriguing that you can interpret their meaning however you want.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Good call. I agree.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Lyrics with multiple meanings are always good lyrics.

[@ejb7969]

The instrumental break in "Time Out of Mind" that plays 4 times adding an additional musical line each time ... is one of the great minutes of all 20th century music, harmonically and contrapuntally. I know. I have a degree in this stuff.

[@christineml1476]

I've never given much thought to the lyrics of "Do It Again", but the vibe of the song feels like I should be on a quiet beach, listening to the waves come in, with a fruity foo-foo drink in my hand.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha! Love it!

[@sagetmaster4]

No way man. The vibe is racing across the desert on an empty road wearing cool sunglasses

[@LazyIRanch]

The exotic percussion style and the hypnotic sounds of the sitar gives this song an air of mystery to me, similar to the feeling I get from Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat". I get a sense that the singer is spilling the tea about someone who thought they were hiding their secrets well, but in truth they weren't fooling anyone!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

That imagery is unforgettable.

[@GeoffBosco]

"A-holes need not apply." I love Don and Walter, but thank God they ignored that warning! 😂

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha! No joke!

[@rabby-u]

Hahaha 😂.

[@GeoffBosco]

I played a little bit with a guy who played bass in one of Walter's solo touring bands. He would say, "I'd love to tell you he was a nice man," and then shake his head mournfully.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

😝

[@sagegoodwin1]

Lol ;P

[@leonardking84]

That electric sitar solo fascinated me when I was kid. I had never heard sounds like that. "Can't Buy a Thrill" was one of my earliest album purchases because of it. Thanks, Adam.

[@CowGirlKat8691]

Welcome to another great year of amazing stories about the music & the bands we all know & love! Brought to us by our favorite Prof! ❣

[@saintsfan39475]

Steely Dan is and will always be one of my favorite bands. Even though they're really a duo, Becker and Fagan wrote all of the songs and exhausted musicians getting the "perfect" sound that only they knew. From solos to chord progressions to lyrics they were way ahead of everyone else in the music business. I'm holding out hope that there will be a new Becker and Fagan tandem to bring music sophistication back to the masses.

[@btchhopperou812]

2 of my favorite Steely Dan offerings are Bad Sneakers and Don't Take Me Alive. They are far from similar, yet the smooth, traditional Bad Sneakers is definitely one that make you SMARTER for listening, while the more 'rocking' Don't Take Me Alive has to be one of the rare somewhat 'less refined' songs The Dan has given us, but what a story Fagen tells us with this kick-ass tune... it's literally a life-or-death track IMO. So much to discover with these guys- and right on point Adam, one has to truly hold an appreciation for music before the same can be done for this group. IMO, it takes a fair degree of maturity to really 'get' Steely Dan full circle. Thanks, Adam... this was a great one!

[@billhorstkamp98]

Great songs

[@erickrupa1748]

One of my all time favorite albums. All of the songs have a way about them that pleasantly ring in your head even after it is over. Dirty Work is also one of my favorites on the album.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Can’t Buy a Thrill is a true gem.

[@erickrupa1748]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I already liked Steely Dan but when I heard Dirty Work I think that was when I fell in love with the band

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@erickrupa1748 Great song!

[@dgarve]

One of my top 3 bands, for sure. Rarely has a band been able to produce a masterpiece as the first song on their debut album ("More than a Feeling" by Boston, and "Introduction" by Chicago come to mind). Do It Again is another, certainly. It's a different sounding tune and full of the cryptic sounds and words that Walt and Don loved. My top 5 SD tunes would be: King of the World ('73), Dr. Wu ('75), Josie ('77), Third World Man ('80) and West of Hollywood ('00). Honorable Mention to You Got the Bear, Here at the Western World and Black Cow. Thanks! - Dave

[@ProfessorofRock]

Love it! Thanks for your top 5! Love it!

[@dgarve]

Forgot "Don't Take Me Alive"--that's also up there. There are too many good songs...@@ProfessorofRock

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

My mom played all of those songs in the car for me.

[@1cosmocat]

Love Steely Dan. The music of my youth. Didn't get to see them live until 2015. Up here in the mountains of West Virginia, most good artists don't come our way.When they came here, they played at an opera house of sorts, man, did they sound good. It's a great way to start the year professor .

[@raywelder1735]

I was also late to the party, but now that I’m in my 60’s I have an entirely new appreciation for this music. 👍

[@brentcox7772]

That was a very cool story Professor! Love this band! Aja is one of my favorite albums!🤘🔥

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Brent! It's a classic. What would you like to see next?

[@brentcox7772]

@@ProfessorofRock anything Supertramp!

[@mariuspoppFM]

​@@ProfessorofRockPaul Weller, either with Jam or Style Council

[@lindamcfarland9656]

Ha ha! This is another song on my 'Bbq --with the Neighbors' playlist! It has such a relaxing groove. Its both mood setting and intriguing, but at the same time it doesn't intrude on conversation. Just love it!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Rock on! Thanks Linda!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Good song for a pool party!

[@craiglilly3657]

I first heard and fell for Steely Dan in the early ‘70’s with Reelin’ in the Years, and loved the craft and intelligence of their music. Years later, around 2010, I had a chance to see them with Michael McDonald before Walter Becker passed. Such a great band.

[@gbarton800]

Great story, PoR! Love Steely Dan! For me, it started in college (90s) with A Decade of Steely Dan 💿. Became a BIG fan then and continue to be to this day.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Very cool! WHat's your favorite album and song by them?

[@gbarton800]

@@ProfessorofRock favorite song that’s tough to pick, depends on the mood but Deacon Blues a lot of the time. Favorite album is the one I mentioned (Decade of Steely Dan). Rock on 🤘 PoR!

[@anakina1]

Great background Prof, love knowing the stories behind songs and you delivered as always. Happy New Year.

[@Bullwinkle056]

I love all of Steely Dan's music. I am hard pressed to classify their style because I can't think of another band like them.

[@chrisbenson6683]

A category to themselves. 😎 I just say they are too jazz for rock and too rock for jazz. 🤷

[@mariuspoppFM]

Fusion

[@Tamsxoxo]

It's a Dan thing... blasted Steely Dan on Christmas day for a couple of hours. My two sons loved it while my husband hid in his man cave with the door shut. I fell in love with them as a kid hearing their songs on the radio in the 70's. I must thank my parents profusely for the radio on 24/7.

[@FarmerStatesman]

...while my husband hid in his man cave with the door shut. ...and THAT ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is why you should find my client Not Guilty!

[@Tamsxoxo]

@@FarmerStatesman From Dans song Deacon Blues... My back to the wall A victim of laughing chance This is for me The essence of true romance Sharing the things we know And love with those of my kind (Dancing & singing to SteelyDan = forever guilty! Pouting behind a closed door 'cause they 're not getting all of the attention= guilty!) More from Deacon Blues... I take one last drag As I approach the stand I cried when I wrote this song Sue me if I play too long This brother is free I'll be what I want to be (Sue me if I play Steely Dan too long= guilty. This sister is free and I'll be what I want to be= guilty.) Respectfully... My husband and I have been married for 32 years. Literally love at first sight. Nothing and no one phases us with a quick quip. My final statement respectfully... My husband loves Steely Dan, just not as much as I do! ✌️❤️😊

[@Noduhdork]

I remember realizing how good Steely Dan were in my late twenties. It was an aha moment! Now i get it! If you listen really hard you can feel your mind expanding and opening up!

[@williambenner701]

I can always depend on The Professor Of Rock to teach me something new about a album I thought I knew real well! As a example; I didn't know Donald had stage fright! This explains a lot.🤔

[@ProfessorofRock]

THanks William! Love the Dan!

[@screwyootube1]

I didn't "get" Pink Floyd (and many other even more cerebral artists) until I discovered pot about 1985, at age 20. It opened my ears up to a desire to learn more about rock & roll, especially the lesser-known, but equally (sometimes surpassing) great music that was too complicated for average listeners.

[@mariskacandice890]

🤯 please don’t ever stop with these videos! You are the best!

[@idcook]

All i can say about Steely Dan is that I’ve loved listening to their music since first hearing this tune emanating from my am/fm alarm clock radio waking me one fine school day morning. One of those tunes that had me scurrying to the record shop later the same day. I listen to, even study Steely Dan, lyrics and music, regularly to this day. I laugh with 'Hey Nineteen,' query over 'Haitian Divorce' and, when I feel a bit conflicted about my own life and feel a need to gin myself up to take on the world, I'm very apt to queue up 'Deacon Blues.' I love Steely Dan and sincerely hope Donal Fagan is feeling good right now.

[@Spiderific]

Love your Brian Wilson shirt!! I want it lol

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks! Don't blame you!

[@traywilson]

Absolutely love SD. And I relate...I was late in recognizing how amazing they are. Peg is also my favorite.

[@ProfessorofRock]

So good! What's your favorite Dan album?

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Peg is sublime.

[@Nickelini]

I’m a long time Steely Dan fan thanks to my musician older brother. Most nostalgic memory is listening to “Peg” on the bus going on a school ski trip. Everyone was grooving along

[@johnmusgrave808]

My earliest memories of pop on the radio has “Do It Again,” in its original play. Such a great example of the greatest of pop in the early-‘70s.

[@markkenific6587]

One of the greatest bands ever even though it was really two guys and a ton of hired guns. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen them at least 7 times. Reelin In The Years blew me away when it came out. Elliot Randall’s guitar work is mesmerizing. One of the only bands that haven’t recorded a bad song. IMHO.

[@davidpooley4186]

Loved Steely Dan early on with Do It Again (still a favorite) and consider Aja their peak, and one of the 5 best albums ever made (Dark Side... being #1) Deacon Blues is my favorite song. Brooklyn, Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam, Home at Last, Josie and Hey Nineteen are highlights. Razor Boy is an intriguing song too...

[@michstella517]

Deacon Blues! one of mine as well (so many).

[@tnrodgers]

Sure enjoyed this episode Adam. I found Dan as a kid when they were fresh. Can’t buy a thrill (like all their albums is “play all” often finding treasures. The depth of the lyrics and annunciation, musical timing and variations are key. Thanks Adam!

[@simon359]

Steely Dan was an automatic like for me the first time I heard them! Stood out as completely original!

[@catherine6653]

I ❤️ Can't Buy a Thrill. It's my favorite Steely Dan record. Do It Again is a great opening track. Dirty work is a good song too. I got into Steely Dan from radio Djay, John Fisher in Seattle. He often played their music on his radio program and even interviewed Donald Fagan. Peg is another favorite song by SD.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I love Dirty Work. Such a heart wrenching song. Thanks Catherine.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I got into Steely Dan from my mother. She would play this song in the car and I remember I could feel the groove in my car seat.

[@catherine6653]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Very nice.

[@secularZoo]

Almost every song on Can't Buy a Thrill could've been a hit. Steely Dan started out pretty radio friendly, but I still love every album, and my favorite songs of theirs are rarely on the radio.

[@pnutbutrncrackers]

Another Steely Dan hit I have always loved and found very unique is 1977's "Peg". Such creativity and musicianship. I'll never tire of listening to it. (Donald Fagen on lead vocals, of course.)

[@laurat1129]

I love SD and "Do It Again", though like a lot of ppl, I used to sometimes think it was Santana. About 21 yrs ago, this song came to my attention again in a good movie about the music biz and the LA lifestyle called Laurel Canyon. As w/all SD songs, it's open to interpretation, what I like about them. And as you said, Prof, it has three stories: The first verse seems to be about heroin and near death in Mexico; the second is about drug use and s6x, maybe back in LA; then finally, the last is about gambling in Vegas, ofc. "You go back, Jack, do it again" always sounded to me like playing Blackjack and telling the dealer, "Hit me." The double-entendre words offer clues to the meaning (water, hangman, handle, black cards, milk & honey). Becker did have a heroin problem, so the theme of "drugs" (take your pick) runs throughout the song. Overall, though, it's about spinning that wheel or karmic cycle, taking one's chances again, risking everything, life & death, ie. Addiction.☮️

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing.

[@laurat1129]

@@ProfessorofRock In case anyone's interested, first thing that came up in a google search was a Reddit thread w/an answer from Rickie Lee Jones herself.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Thanks for this eye opening insight.

[@objvst]

I use to listen to AJA over and over when I was a kid. Sadly, it was the only album I had by Steely Dan. Thanks Prof, I did not realize many of the songs you played were by Steely Dan. Such is my history. I like a song, remember it, but never know the artist until years later. I definitely have to revisit one of my all time favorite bands songs I didn't realize until 50 years later were theirs.

[@alliswede42]

Happy New Year, Professor! First time in ages I've been able to catch a live SD video and it's great to finally hear a breakdown on the lyrics on this cryptic tune! Loved the one you did on Peg a while back as well. Also, i was just like you coking to SD late in the game. I hated them growing up, but at some point in high school, i came to love them and became obsessed, eith Aja remaining my all time favorite song. Another killer video 🙏

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching! Love the Dan. What would you like to see next?

[@alliswede42]

@@ProfessorofRock I'd love a deep dive on something like Fire in the Hole, Time Out of Mind, or Boston Rag.

[@bobabreath5097]

Hits me so hard when I haven't watched this channel in a while. I get a reminder then get excited because then there are enough videos that I haven't seen yet and am then able to binge watch them at once!! Thank you Professor!!!

[@RamblinJer]

Seeing the album covers always reminds me how we weren't simply buying a record, but acquiring a work of art.

[@rabby-u]

Steely Dan, undescribable yet accessible. The intro to Do It Again, its incredible for its haunting , smoky approach. They got it and they gave it. Another in my list of songs that when you first heard it come out on radio, you remember the time and place and what you were doing, even 50 years later! Keep it real Prof! 🙏🕊

[@ProfessorofRock]

I love your comment. It's SO TRUE!

[@LazyIRanch]

I was a kid when Steely Dan was all over the best adult rock stations. I loved the sound of their music but didn't get the lyrics (or even know WHAT they were named after!). My brother is 4 years older and a musician, so when we were teens I'd ask him how bands achieved certain sounds since he was building his own pedal effects back then (our dad was an electrical engineer, he helped!). He built his own Framptonesque talk box so his garage band could do a cover of "Do You Feel...?" I asked him what effect they used for Michael McDonald's back-up vocals on "Peg" that makes it sound so eerie... "I know, right? That sounds epic! I have no idea what they did there." Ever notice that garage bands rarely do Steely Dan covers? 🤔

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I remember first hearing it 9 or so years ago in my mom’s car.

[@rabby-u]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yeah, it sounds the best in a car stereo.

[@thetitleisours1]

I remember using the lyrics in this song as one of my catch phrases back in the day

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Back! Jack!

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

I used to go "ah you did it in a minute" having heard the entire H2O "Private Eyes" on the radio during one of their featured album at midnight, before the song got popular on the radio.

[@thetitleisours1]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I think we all have used that phrase from time to time lol :)

[@mrollins4684]

I too arrived at the Steely Dan party late, and I am still as yet more of a peripheral fan, as it were. As a musician I fully appreciate their quirky sense of precision and tasteful orchestrations. I like having a band for whom there is still plenty for me to discover. Some of these PoR features I like to go back and rewatch. I found this one to be really well-presented, with an especially intrigue-fueled intro. Thanks, Professor!

[@scottlouis]

I LOVE Steely Dan!!! Thanks for this insight on this one. Hey Nineteen and Do It Again have always been my favs. Deacon Blues. I used to be a waiter when I was a kid in the 90s. I’d blast Steely Dan and The Eagles from the jukebox when I’d be cleaning after closing. Amazing memories.

[@Atoms-Raging-cd3vo]

EVH used a sitar on Ain't Talking Bout Love

[@ProfessorofRock]

!

[@Milehighssc5280]

+1 for the Pet Sounds shirt. Super cool

[@ProfessorofRock]

Greatest album ever!

[@HarkenRoad]

IIRC, Denny played a Coral electric sitar for the solo, and (while there was a lot of variation between them, for example, some had drone strings while others didn't) it wouldn't have been anything like the traditional acoustic sitar pictured, but rather more like a weird-looking six string electric.

[@effincurmudgeon7377]

Their greatness can’t be overstated. Lyrically, musicianship and arrangement all were superb. A catalogue full of hits that speak for themselves. On top of it all. They evolved stylistically throughout their career.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

The legendary Walter Becker produced Flaunt The Imperfection in 1985 and Diary Of A Hollow Horse by China Crisis in 1989. For once the word underrated is not misplaced to describe China Crisis. The influence of the Steely Dan sound on those two albums is remarkable. The band were huge fans and have made it clear in interviews how grateful they are to have worked with Walter Becker. There is footage on You Tube where Gary Daly explains how he worked with their ideas to create the magic that ended up being recorded.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Love China Crisis. They were well ahead of their time.

[@woodyboyd2961]

Wondered when I'd see a reference to China Crisis. Their seminal work, What Price Paradise, is a marvelous blend of brass, synth & vocals. This masterpiece belongs in the hall of overlooked gems... It's Everything.

[@eightiesmusic1984]

@@woodyboyd2961 Seminal work? You have referenced the name of a Supertramp album. No link with China Crisis.

[@shiroibasketshoes]

@@woodyboyd2961 China Crisis were excellent, I've bought their albums and I'm a big fan. But since they didn't have big US chart hits, I'm not expecting Professor Of Rock to feature them (same with the Pogues, even though singer Shane McGowan died recently). They didn't record "Crisis, What Crisis"; Supertramp did (with question marks). Did you mean their album "What Price Paradise"?

[@woodyboyd2961]

@@eightiesmusic1984 You are correct. Entry has been updated. The footer, It's Everything, should have been the take away. Thanks for the edification.

[@luissallard9761]

YES STEELY DAN!! BIC pens are best to rewind tapes btw

[@odditiesparanormalmysterie1723]

I used the caps to clean wax out of my ears

[@ProfessorofRock]

Good call!

[@user-ji1os3lr1u]

My all time favorite band. Saw Boys from Bard 10 times from August 24,1994 til October 17,2015 at Beacon Theatre. I had 10 spiritual experiences and just celebrated 36 years of continuous sobriety, yesterday!!!

[@tommychew6544]

Steely Dan was great! I can't change the radio station if one of their songs is playing. The world was robbed by the disappearance of music that good.

[@daviddansereau1793]

A good song will be played forever...