Written by: Donald Fagen and Walter Becker
Released: 1972
Album: Can’t Buy A Thrill
When I got hooked: 1994
The thing that got me hooked: The piano in the verses
One of the funniest (and nerdiest) quotes I’ve heard in recent times is from a Twitter user who claimed that if Frasier and Niles Crane had formed a band, it would sound like Steely Dan. I guess you have to have seen «Frasier» and know a thing or two about Steely Dan to really get it, but a clue is perfection. The founders and leaders (and mad scientist-ish) Walter Becker and Donald Fagen weren’t the easiest guys to work with, according to previous band members. They even fired their drummer Chevy Chase!
Anywho, it shows on all their albums that they really cared and listened to what they were making (a rare – close to extinct – quality these days).
I was 14 when I caught a glimpse of Steely Dan doing «Reelin’ In The Years» on a music documentary and the next thing I knew I had bought their album. I still think it’s a very cool song. And it works live as well, as the video underneath proves. Notice the extremely cool duelling guitars at 1:48.
tunesthatchangedmylife.wordpress.com 