Steely Dan performed on the show August 31, 1973 Follow us on Social Media: / themidnightspecialtvshow / themidnightspecialtvshow / themidnightspecialtvshow / tmstvshow
Fagen singing his heart out (I love his range here), even though he's dealing with such stage fright that his hand on the mic is shaking at several points, is really admirable. And of course Skunk going ham on the guitar is awesome.
@@ToluRobertsonFagen always had pretty bad stage fright, particularly when singing, and they used to have a different vocalist for live performances because of it.
@@Dremth I saw S.D. at Red Rocks, 2nd row, in 2010, great show but Fagen stayed tucked in his little keyboard cocoon and didn't stray from it much. They even had music stands across the stage that blocked him very effectively from my sight.
Snap same here. I think I was in America when this came out. I can still listen to this on a loop and never get tired of it. As a guitar player, it is one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard. Never mastered it myself, still trying. Absolutely Brilliant.
Damn. Even though I was born in 99 I grew up with this kind of music. My favorite band is Foghat which they featured on this show which they also have on this channel. I have many favorites from the 70s but if I had to choose one it’s gotta be Foghat. I love this song too. It’s great. I pretty much love the 70s hard rock songs.
Down the drain... Mine's down there somewhere, too. Let me know if you find it. The Midnight Special is sort of the Smithsonian of 70s live rock music. I'd have been 10 years old at the time of this one, but watched a lot of the the originals a bit later on. Of course wouldn't have remotely been able to fully appreciate what what I was seeing like I can now.
Page only said that in the context of the songs he was played (eight as I recall) and asked to judge, inpromtu on some show the name of which, I forget. He didn't mean it was one of his favorites of all time. It's one of MINE, however. LOL.
@@allancerf9038 "When looking back on his career, Page previously told Rolling Stone that his favourite Led Zeppelin riff was ‘Kashmir’. Outside of Led Zeppelin’s discography and his own work, though, the legendary guitarist names his favourite guitar solo of all time as Elliott Randall’s riff in ‘Reelin’ In The Years’ by Steely Dan during a 1999 interview with Classic Rock." Also the RU-vid video - Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10
@@bigelile07 Not true and why are you using multiple handles? Smoke14 replied to me not biglile07. Well, Smoke-Lile. The only thing you omitted was the truth. Here's a cut and paste from the Classic Rock Magazine, you misquoted. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time. Your 'methodology' is the equivalent of learning self-defense at some shaky strip mall - FIGURATIVELY speaking only of course, you'll only manage to get yourself hurt. Again, Page, gave a '12' when asked to (rather reluctantly it must be said) rate various solos, including one of his own session era solos and Reelin' in the Years. For the purposes OF THAT BROADCAST. In no way was it a Desert Island Disc of his favorite solos. In other words, dude, if someone came up to smokebig 14-07 and said "off this list which is best?" you'd rate accordingly. Though no one will solicit your opinion in this fashion of course. I'll now invoice you and block you.
@@allancerf9038 Well, I was responding to Allan Cerf 🤔 and I didn't misquote anything. I copied & pasted exactly what the interview said. You copied & pasted a statement that was made to Elliot Randall trying to debunk the interview which makes no sense. CR: Jimmy Page is supposed to have said that Reelin’ In The Years contains his favourite guitar solo of all time. ER: …and a wonderful compliment, too! Yes the video was only a few guitarists, but that doesn't outweigh the Rolling Stone Magazine article. All of your other ramblings are just plain weird. 😂
Newriverpearl ~ l was born in '65 and lived through it. l agree with you. lt was an AMAZING decade for music! l was into the Prog stuff, but Steely Dan was WAAY up there, as l was into jazz. The groups seemed to concentrate on _melody_ more than just rhythm. Not many people could draw me to a concert these days. Maybe Steve Hackett, or Wakeman. Anyway...have a good summer, and keep enjoying good tunes! ~ Van BC :)
The video tape of the performance sat on a shelf for all these years until someone with a functioning broadcast tape machine, probably 2 inch quad, got the privilege to play it back and capture it in a digital format. I'm sure they were rocking out while transferring this footage for us to enjoy. Thank you very much.
It's funny sometimes to see younger women reacting to some of those 70s performances, with the infertility inducingly tight jeans. And of course the horrible shirt button shortage.
I like how people these days think being "edgy" is all about what clothes you wear and how cool looking their sleeve tats are compared to their buddy's... 😂 I've just always called it posing.
@@floydnut5908My understanding is that the rights fees for a live performance on a syndicated show were prohibitively expensive which is why Bandstand always had performers lip sync
@@bobbbobb4663 Besides, _American Bandstand_ having performers mime to the recording gave to posterity a hilarious "performance" by PiL where John Lydon refused to play along and instead pulled audience members onto the stage to dance.
Jenny Soule and Gloria Granola are the ladies and Royce Jones in the gentleman. Royce sang a lot of backup with the Dan. He also did a great lead vocal on "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" during a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant in 1974 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-c8DoIC5tJw0.html
Apologies to those who have read this in my other Steely Dan-related video comments, but for those who haven't there's a little-known story about the creator of these now-legendary guitar solos, Elliott Randall. On Dec. 4, 1966, The Yardbirds played at Lima, Ohio's Springbrook Gardens Teen Club (you can Google the show poster), a venue just 20 miles east of my parents' farm. I was a month shy of my 16th birthday and excited to see both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck that Sunday, but Beck was a no-show (having returned to London after becoming upset with the conditions on their U.S. tour). So we all had to make do with the solo guitar stylings of Mr. Jimmy Page. What I didn't know until 50 years later (from watching RU-vid interviews) was that the crowd that day included 19 year-old NYC native Elliott Randall (then a guitar teacher at Lima's Custom Percussion Music Store), who also introduced himself to Page at the concert. Fast-forward to August 1972 when Randall is brought into the studio by Becker & Fagen to compose and play the iconic solos on "Reelin' In the Years" -- solos which Jimmy Page would later famously rate "12 on a scale of 10," and said made him rethink his whole approach to guitar solos. Randall was asked to join Steely Dan, but turned down the offer (correctly guessing that Becker & Fagen had no long-term interest in being a touring rock band). After concluding their "Pretzel Logic" album tour in July of 1974, Steely Dan would not resume touring until August of 1993. By that time, drummers Jim Hodder (shown here) and Jeff Porcaro had both passed on way too soon. Check out the RU-vid video "Reelin' in the Years - multicam" to see original guitarist Elliott Randall playing these solos live with Steely Dan at London's Wembley Arena in 2019, more than 46 years after first recording them in the studio. The camera work is shaky, but still worth watching.
@@edd7812 Even earlier than that (in the fall of 1965) I saw future Steely Dan session guitarist Rick Derringer and his band The McCoys at the Van Wert, Ohio County Fairgrounds. He was 18 and I was 14, and I knew I was watching a guitar prodigy.
May 73". 16 year old runaway from Indiana, hitchhiking from Jacksonville to St Augustine on A1A. Heard this for the first time on a cheap plastic 9v transistor radio. Fan ever since. Even 51 years later, whenever I hear it, I still can feel the ocean breeze blowing through the dune grasses, smell the salt air and smell and feel the heat from the asphalt. It got heavy rotation that summer.
This is absolutely priceless. What a guitar solo and Fagan is incredible and noticably nervous, his fingers are trembling, don't blame him. This is such a classic song. The women are perfect.
@@Ruprect44 I didn't know that about him, and I've got mad respect for him. I've got respect for all artists who perform despite stage fright or social phobias. (I know there are many who have risen to his level of career success.) Sounds like a more likely explanation than cocaine. For a person with anxieties, cocaine would probably not be their friend. (I have anxieties, and the thought of stimulant drugs scares me. I have to be careful around caffeine!) My guess was not meant as a slight against him, just a comment on that time in the music industry. Coke was everywhere. I thought it was a reasonable guess.
@@kevinmc4500 Skunk Baxter bounced between Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (and many other acts as a session player), like a lot of players. Get to know him - he's a fantastic player and a fun showman!
Hard to tell what’s more awesome about these Midnight Special clips - how much the backup singers are selling it, Skunk Baxter tearing it up, or Fagan just being cool.
My dad was a rock n roller. He used to go trade 8-track tapes at a shop that specialized in home and car stereos and would give you a tape if you left one. He popped this tape into the player, cranked up the Jensen sound system and that guitar wailed out of the speakers. I was in love. Still am, 50 years on.
Like hi-hats, tambourines cut through just about any mix and bleed into every open microphone. Plus you’ve got three of them going, with the backup singers and percussionist, all of whom have vocal mics soaking up all that high-end sizzle. Mix engineer probably had to do what he could to keep those damn things from taking over the song.
Saw them play at Santa Monica Civic 11/5/73 (I think) and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. I literally couldn't tell the difference between their live performance vs studio, it was that perfect.
This video and audio are priceless! I've always wanted to see Denny Dias and Jeff Baxter play guitar together, and there was no way I could do that in the 21st century, but here it is! I love the guitar duet, and Donald is on pitch, with good vocal range back. So cool 😎.
A chance hearing of this track, on the radio, in 1976 at the ripe old age of 20 sent me on a life time of pleasure listening to their music. I'm 67 now and still loving these gems, from the archives, that I've never seen before ❤
Jeff as a child: "Mom I'm gonna grow up and be a famous guitarist." Mom: "That's nice dear." Jeff: "And I'm gonna be a Federal Marshall." Mom: "heh heh okay, well we'll see...." Jeff: "And work for the department of defense and pentagon!!" Mother "Honey, you are getting yourself worked up."
The "Dream Team" would have to include the man, who did the lead guitar work, on the album, Royal Scam. Larry Carlton. Baxter is one of my favorite guitarists, but both Denny Dias, and Larry Carlton are *so* much better. Edit: Thank you to @CaptainRon1913. I forgot to put the album, 'Royal Scam'.
@@whyis45stillalive Larry Carlton didn't play on Can't buy a Thrill, Jeff Baxter did. Carlton played on Katy Lied, and Royal Scam. Both albums were awesome IMO. This Midnight special lineup with Baxter and Dias played on the first two albums, Can't buy a Thrill, and Pretzel Logic.
Takes me back - night stock at Kroger, 1974, store closed, FM on the store speakers, turned up LOUD. This song on "heavy rotation", played every hour. Thanks#
What a blessing to be in high school in the 70s with such great music! Love Skunk Baxter's lead guitar. Wow! Crank it up and let's rock with some Steely Dan again and again and again!
I grew up watching the Midnight Special, and it was everything 🎉🎉. They showcased all kinds of rock groups and it really was a great time to be a teenager 🎉🎉
these clips of Steely (showbiz kids too) honestly brought a tear to my eye. It's outrageously good. The film work is so amazing, I feel like I'm there.
There was a fascinating interview with Burt Sugarman on the Bob Leftsetz podcast. He mentioned that he made sure he hired the best sound people available in Hollywood, at the time when everybody else was content to just have everybody lip sync. At the very end of this clip, you see what the mobile camera operator had to carry. It looked to be the same era of equipment featured in the recent documentary _Summer of Soul._ Those cameras weighed nearly 70 lb! Thanks again for making this available, Mr. Sugarman!
Friday night, August 31, 1973 - another school year getting started. Lots of possibilities and new experiences just around the corner. And those years flew by!
I was 10 and unable to see over the dashboard in my dad's car but I remember this song. I used to sing it. The Vietnam War, The Arab oil embargo, and the gas shortage. I remember sitting in the gas lines in my mom's car hoping they did not run out of gas.
This is so great. and I always get excited when this channel posts stuff that wasn't included on the old DVD set of clips. Whoever runs this page is doing an amazing job, consistently. Thank you.
@@themidnightspecialtvshow Definitely looking forward to more of the Dan anything with Skunk Baxter in it and Denny Diaz is an amazing guitar player also. Walter sure in the background letting the band play on. RIP brother
These two videos show the full energy, creativity and chops of Steely Dan at their best. Everyone on stage are nailing their parts and having a blast. It's pure joy. Not the least because they had a reputation as being a "studio only" band. More please!!!
This song is one of many that, for me, are the 70's. I noticed after the guys tore it up doing the solo, Donald appeared more confident at the mic. Pretty obvious really. This is gold right here. Priceless. Timeless. Thank you so much for posting this. Just thank you.
I am glad someone else noticed this. I totally agree. You could tell the anxiety in his voice on the first two verses, but when they came out of the bridge his hand stopped shaking, and he hit every note.
The best rock'n'roll I ever heard in my entire life! And I'm 70! Amazing rhythm, incredible lyrics, and the lads swing swing. swing away forevermore 🎉🎉🎉
Steely Dan will forever reign as one of the greatest bands of all time.... amazing musicians and such a wide range of talent....got to see them twice... One with Walt and one without..both amazing performances
Wow, you can really feel the nervous energy being channeled through the music. I love the tempo on this and the performance is so clean. I can see why they would be hesitant to take their act on the road, it would be very demanding to nail their material every night.
Great Sound! Thank you for posting these gems of "Music History." I had graduated in June of 73, a couple months earlier. Would get home Saturday nights and watch "The Midnight Special." The bands they had would encompass all genres of the music scene. The songs played by Steely Dan and those bands were standards on my 64 Corvair's AM radio throughout my high school years. Yeow, had our "50th" Class Reunion last August!
@@MrDano1138 He's actually been touring! But yeah, he apparently parlayed his expertise in digital recording techniques into national security expertise.
@michaelkstahl Not to be argumentative, but Jeff Baxter was not a session player for Steely Dan, but a founding member. He left in 1974 to play for the Doobie Brothers. You are correct that he was a session player for many others.
@michaelkstahl You are most definitely right, Steely Dan (Fagan and Becker mostly) hated touring , so they got rid of the rest and hired session players.
Ahh Steely Dan was my dad's favorite and he played their records all the time when I was a kid. Wow, the memories! Even with Donald's stage fright, amazing amazing performance! So great!
It’s hard for me to believe we got to see this quality of music on free network TV when I was a teenager. I don’t think I really appreciated it at the time or understood how incredible this was. I just knew it was good music and thought it would always be like this.
