@AirplayBeats reacts to The Caves Of Altamira by Steely Dan Like comment and subscribe Join our Patreon for exclusive videos and to get your requests done faster: patreon.com/user?u=81569817
Indeed Aja is in trouble. Although Aja is considered their "pièce de résistance" (and rightfully so) IMHO The Royal Scam is their finest album. Whereas Aja is very refined and produced exquisitely, the Scam is Steely Dan at their funkiest, grittiest and just outright baddest. Every song is an absolute banger, and with Purdie and Rainey laying down the nastiest grooves on every song, I don't know how you get any better.
The caves are located in the town of Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, Spain. The paintings are believed to be 36,000 years old. "Can it be this sad design Could be the very same A wooly man without a face And a beast without a name" Steely Dan often comments on the "human condition", the dark side of human nature that persists through the centuries. Another masterpiece. You guys are great.
This is a spoof of modern art and Hollywood. SD is saying that when modern art tries to go "primitive" and "innovate," they are saying... PLEASE, humans have been laying down art for tens of thousands of years and it communicates loudly, better, and with more purity than today's art.
@@jml-rj5re Yeah, no. It’s from the point of view of the 8 year old daughter of the archeologist, who actually found the cave , and led her father to it. You’re reading too much into it.
Then comes the next song, and Larry Carlton will begin by tearing your ears off. This is such a Uniquely Perfect Album. Perfect Production Never Gets Old
I’ve been stuck in a Steely Dan rabbit hole currently for 6 months. Their catalog is so vast and all of it excellent so it’s hard to climb out once you fall in 😂
I'm almost 70 now, so I was fortunate enough to be around when all these Steely Dan albums hit the record stores. I had all of them on vinyl way back then. It makes me smile to see younger folks discovering all the music that got me thru long road trips and what would have been boring times. I have so many suggestions that it's tough to know where to start. So, check out Dire Straits performing Sultans of Swing, Alchemy Live and I promise to add more later. Great reactions.
When you get to it, you should listen to Donald Fagen's solo album, "The Nightfly." I think it rivals any of the Steely Dan albums in quality and certainly diversity of genre. The man was on fire!
I really appreciate your reaction especially regarding Donald Fagan's vocals. He had extreme stage fright early in the formation of the Dan. His vocals are so unique that not many ever comment on his vocals. He has, for lack of a better description, a story tellers voice. He certainly does not have the range of many other vocalists... but he makes up for it in other ways. Of course I'm certain that he and Walter write music that suits his vocal stylings. Everything they do.... they do with a purpose.
Taking this ride with you two is a blast! I'm an old fucker and these are the songs of my youth, and you've barely gotten started! Keep going because I'm in it for the long haul! lol
It's really great to see how soon you "get" the music of Steely Dan. There is no comparison. That's a bold statement but oh how I've tried to find a band that speaks to me like the SD.
And Royal Scam might be in trouble when you hear, ""Katy Lied, "Pretzel Logic", and" Can't Buy a Thrill", and they all might be in trouble when you hear, "Countdown To Ecstasy".
I warned you guys that R Scam was going to give you a little grittier funkier feel. My fav album. Did you guys exchange Royal Scam vinyl for Christmas yet? I can see it moving up the charts quickly. Song is about cave art/hieroglyphics found in Europe and commonality with an introvert kid who stumbles upon them. I'm looking forward to your upcoming adventures involving two-timing roller skaters, earring thievery, trips to Haiti and more! So good. Enjoy.
The enigmatic and great John Klemmer on tenor sax. He had very unique albums in the 70’s. The Royal Scam is much grittier than Aja. “Green Earrings” is coming with that fabulous Purdie cymbal choke in the middle. Can’t wait for the rest of this superb album.
Once again, another true story from History written into poetry and put to really great music by Steely Dan...! This song was about a historic Cave-Drawings found in a cave in Spain. Look up the name Altamira for more info... "Royal Scam" the song is exactly what is shown on the front cover. The song tells about people coming to America from truly beautiful places with Big Dreams, bought into the LIE that is AMERICA...and ending up on the bad end of society.
This is about the prehistoric drawings in the Spanish cave system. Before the fall when they wrote it on the wall when there wasn't even any Hollywood.
Had to watch this one twice. One of my favorite Steely Dan tunes. My man on the right was boppin so hard, his head was a blur lol. Wait until you hear Don’t Take Me Alive, Green Earrings, and The Fez.
This song is absolutely amazing. The element of the horns background, it must be John klemmer playing and it sounds like he just improvised! Loved your reaction.
Great song, superb album. I love it. However Gaucho, their last of the amazing 1972-80 is a very special album as well. I know you'll get to it one day. I saw your list of SD albums and Gaucho wasn't on it. Never forget it. For now enjoy this wonderful record. The song title track is as unique as the song Aja. Great stuff guys...
'The Royal Scam' is probably their most groove oriented album, some great Jazz-Funk fusion. Lyrics are a fictionalized version of the story of the teenager who by accident discovered a cave in the mountains near the village of Altamira in Northern Spain. This cave is one place where the middle stone age hunter gatherer people lived during the last Ice Age, some 20,000 year ago. The Caves of Altamira are famous because they have all these great paintings of ancient animals that the cave men did on the walls. The lyrics talk about that.
My favorite album The Royal Scam is a great one. I'm excited to see you react to every song. I love this song here, much like the rest of this album. Nice reaction fellas, let's keep it going! Let's ride! Oh, and this album was from 76, Aja was from 77.
@@AirplayBeats that's just how it is, huh? Lol. You still have Don't Take Me Alive, Green Earrings, Haitian Divorce, The Fez, Sign In Stranger to react to, not to mention the title track. Plus, this album is overall much more exciting. I predict that Green Earrings and Haitian Divorce will both blow you away! It's gonna be a nice adventure!
This was the first song I ever heard by them (from their greatest hits album "Steely Dan Gold" ) and down I went that rabbit hole, never to come out again!
Brings a smile to my face when I see guys like you who've just found SD and now start down the rabbit hole. Enjoy the journey guys, you're in for a treat..
Yes, Royal Scam preceded Aja. From ‘72 through ‘77 there was a Steely Dan album every year: in order, Can’t Buy a Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, The Royal Scam, and Aja, and then we waited three years for Gaucho in 1980. If I were forced at gunpoint to choose only one, I would probably have to choose Countdown to Ecstasy…but I might just say, oh hell, go ahead and shoot me if I’d have to live without even one of the other six. You are in for a hell of a ride, and I can’t tell you how much I am vicariously enjoying the joy of your discovery.
It’s one of my fav songs by SD. As mentioned before it’s their take on the prehistoric cave drawings found in Spain. But Fagen questions did prehistoric man have inspiration, were they moved to give a artistic message. We’re they artistically inspired. “ … now I step into the sun..” “ … they heard the call and they wrote in the wall.. for you and me.. we understood” . Amazing topic and Amazing writing. BRILLIANT. Yes you have entered The Steely Dan Rabbitt Hole. Enjoy
Caught up in the groove, thanks to Mr. Purdie. This was before Aja, and you two really are picking up on what many of us Dan fans love, that great mix of jazz, funk and rock. Haha, Aja is in trouble!
Steely Dan's jazzy tendencies and use of jazz session men in the studio helped accelerate the crossover appeal of jazz artists hitting the mainstream in the 70s. For example, the sax solo on this song was by John Klemmer, whose own jazz/crossover album, Barefoot Ballet, came out the same year. Both LPs spent a lot of time on my turntable. Same with Larry Carlton, whose work I knew from the Crusaders, as well as his killer solos on the Royal Scam. Why limit yourself to one genre when you do both so well?
This isn’t my favorite song of theirs lyrically, but the music is so great, it more than makes up for it! The rhythm section, the horn section, and that sax solo are all absolutely brilliant!
This was, I believe, the song I heard early on that got me hooked on the Dan. Every song is an adventure, an experience. Royal Scam is an oft-overlooked album, but it is a masterpiece. So glad to see you guys enjoying SD as much as I do. Your reactions are wonderful, I would like to see even more commentary from you - just a minute or two more to expand on your thoughts if you can. Keep up the great work!
Love your reactions: You two are studio heads, who know/appreciate excellence. You could do with a better camera (sure you already know that). I'm 50 years invested in Steely Dan and it's nice to have my own exquisite tastes reinforced by musos like you two fellows coming in cold and being wowed from the off.. Keep on; The Royal Scam is definitely up there scrapping for the 'Best' album. It's generally my own fave,
Envious you're experiencing this gem of an album for the first time. And you still have Gaucho waiting for you & the Dan's sneakiest masterpiece, Glamor Profession. Enjoy your journey guys. Big love from the UK
This groove will get inside your musical soul and not let go. 🎧🥁🎸🎷🎺 Still sounds great after all these years! Definitely enjoy watching your reactions to great music! You guys totally get it! 🎼🎹🎺🎷🎸
Yeah, this song has a great groove. I hate to tell you, but it gets better with Green Earrings. IMHO, the best blend of rock and jazz influences in a song, EVER. Thank you for Caves!
Hello my friends. I still have this album on vinyl. When I bought it back in the day, I listened to it all the way through, and I was stunned. A great album and some great discoveries to made listening to this. Keep on enjoying this great music!. Peace.
Great that you guys reacted to this. It's a deep cut that people often miss but the sound and the lyrics are both top-notch - great groove. & yes, Royal Scam was the album before Aja.
At 71 I have had the great privilege of living my life alongside the continuing evolution of Walter Becker and Donald Feagin In many ways, they have been the soundtrack of my life. It is gratifying that others younger find them also fascinating. Keep on.
Nice to see you guys enjoyed their Aja album and now you're getting into The Royal Scam album but l can't wait until you listen to their Gaucho album, it's one of my favorites, especially the first track on side one ( Babylon sister) can't wait 👍
I saw Steely Dan last summer and they did the entire Royal Scam album in the first half of the show. Every song live makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
🥰 Every Oct Steely Dan did Residency Shows at the Beacon in NYC when they played entire Albums. Last shows I saw were after Walter Becker passed & right before the Pandemic closed down the city. I would get a 3 Day package 😁 cause that was the only way to get a Greatest Hits Night ticket which always sold out first. My 3 nights were AJA, Royal Scam & Greatest Hits with any other nights being a bonus! Tickets we're expensive but 🤩 soooooo worth it! 🤔 Also why I never had $ for Halloween! 🤣 Thank goodness I knew folks otherwise I'd be stuck at home every Halloween cause I saw SD perform 3 or 4 shows a week the entire month of Oct and always attended the final day which was Oct 28, 29 or 30th. They never played on Halloween! 😒 Best believe I was "that broke bitch" every Halloween. 😂🐰
It's about how lone artists, prehistoric and modern, have sought out caves to isolate themselves and express their unique perspective by painting images on the walls. Neolithic artists have communicated to us about what mattered most to them spanning a great chasm of time.
My second favorite Dan song after Wu. Really glad to see you guys come to understand that which is the almighty Steely Dan. My third favorite band of all time.
