Slept On - Episode 16: Steely Dan - "Third World Man"

[@drumhaver223]

Stunning guitar solo on this one.

[@vinylalbumcovers]

Larry Carlton kills EVERYTHING he’s on.

[@joesilhan4870]

Great video. So glad there are folks like you keeping the Dan alive and well. And in America.haha. Also cudos to whomever is in charge of NOT taking SD songs down due to copyright BS on KZbin . Are you listening Don Henley? Turn up the eagles the neighbors are listening…

[@vinylalbumcovers]

Gotta love the Dan. Sonic perfection and this one really resonates. Glad you enjoyed!

[@adamtoronibyrne1086]

This is a favorite of mine… but I love Steely Dan of course. Best musicians with this progressive style and insanely cutting lyrics. Love their music no matter what era their career was in. Gaucho, with Glamor Profession as a highlight, and the Royal Scam with one of their funkiest baselines, The Fez…. BADDDDDD. I have started that song leaving from parking lots and seen people walking into where I’m leaving from stop walking and start grooving. They were too wonderful for words. Rest in Power Walter Becker and Keep Going, Donald Fagen!

[@adamtoronibyrne1086]

Just finishing the video and I heard you mention Michael Franks - another amazing artist that is horribly slept on… I can name at least 2 or 3 tracks per album of his that I love.

[@vinylalbumcovers]

There are MANY Dan tunes that groove. Donald has said that he is primarily influenced by Black music and it totally shows. I do like Glamour Profession but I'm not a fan of the stiff drum machine. Still, the chord changes totally make me forget it. "The Fez" is as close as they ever got to disco. 🤣

[@vinylalbumcovers]

@@adamtoronibyrne1086 He worked with Walter on a few things from the "Blue Pacific" album too. Perfect match.

[@adamtoronibyrne1086]

@@vinylalbumcovers you hear disco?! I don’t. I hear solid funk. But to each their own… I think for me, the drum machine on “GP” is eclipsed by the other parts. I also love when they have amazing background singers… I’m pretty sure Patti Austin is a Babylon sister on the album and that in itself elevates the whole thing for me. I am now listening to Blue Pacific and finding those SD subtleties. Perfect for Franks’ wry delivery. I feel like you and I would go off on a tangent talking the music we love. You’ve got exceptional taste! I also remember that black music is deeply rooted in Donald Fagen’s musical outcome and creation. He covered Issac Hayes and he has amazing taste as well. It’s all respect from him!

[@vinylalbumcovers]

@@adamtoronibyrne1086 Oh, Fez isn't disco but it's as close as they ever got. That's all I meant. LOL! It's funky for days! Patti Austin justifies "Gaucho'"'s entire existence. Her backgrounds are just delicious. His Isaac Hayes cover from "Sunken Condos" is amazing. I love the looseness of that whole album. I've got the clear vinyl and I love it.

[@dalise418]

Yeah I think your interpretation of the song is right, I feel the same way about the song seem sad and lost but deep. I felt sad listening to it because its pain in that song I guess I can relate because I know people that are lost and maybe it’s some mental health issues that was going on. It seem like people make some good music when they going through something and they pour it all in the song good or bad in this case sad, lost and maybe a psychotic break but it was deep. I did like it though but it made wonder what was he going through but thanks for introducing me to that song another great video.

[@vinylalbumcovers]

So glad you liked it. The best songs should evoke emotion than this one definitely does. The producer, Gary Katz, said it’s one of his favorites. Usually, it’s the playing and proficiency with Dan records that get me. Here, it’s the moodiness.

[@dalise418]

@@vinylalbumcovers i agree

[@nervousallday]

You can't go wrong with The Dan. Those sardonic and sometimes twisted lyrics and the crack musicianship makes them the one group that I could listen to and not get bored at all. I love the Gaucho album, but I get what you mean. Aja felt a lot looser and Gaucho seems to have kept everything that made Aja feel so right and then put a harsh quantize on the rhythm. Still a great album. I kinda put it together with Two Against Nature as albums I really like, but they score a B+ for me.

[@vinylalbumcovers]

It's like they were trying to figure out where to go after Aja and the only thing they could think of was to tighten everything up. It feels far more antiseptic than Aja does. For me, Aja would have been the better way to go out (for that period) rather than Gaucho. It was one too many for me. Still, it definitely has its moments.

[@theivory1]

E l'era del terzo mondo

[@vinylalbumcovers]

It's the age of the third world. Great lyric.

[@daina-lynn]

I'm a big Steely Dan fan - really like the Can't Buy A Thrill, Royal Scam, and Aja albums. But this song from Gaucho 😳?? Blechhhh...just not feelin' it's vibe at all👎

[@vinylalbumcovers]

“Gaucho” on the whole doesn’t really hold my interest. It’s a step too far using the “Aja” approach. I don’t like drum machines with my Steely Dan. I get that this may drag for some and I didn’t always like it either. 😁

[@mandandanmandamayor3511]

Think of a Proud Boy, that's what this is about.

[@plasticweapon]

STOP IT. think about something else for a change.