@savariaxa There are no backing vocals on Third World Man. It’s only Fagen this time which helps to give it more of a feeling of loneliness (I think). It's about a war veteran who is suffering PTSD. It’s a great song and, like you said, I especially love the guitar solo by Larry Carlton. It always gives me chills.
@@MichaelTrogdon1990 Fagen's harmonies on this one, and the overall vibe, are reminiscent of "True COmpanion" which he wrote for the Heavy Metal soundtrack.
@@MichaelTrogdon1990 There's an interesting story to this one, which I heard from Larry Carlton. The tracks for this song were made during the "Aja" sessions. The song was then called "Were You Blind That Day" (which was covered by others). So when someone initially congratulated Laryy on his great solo on "Third World Man" Larry had to confess that he wasn't on the Gaucho sessions (in NYC for only this album) and never played on a song called "Third World Man'. Then he heard the song and recognized it.
The next SD album, "Two Against Nature" is the longest album they did at 52 minutes (Gaucho was only 38 minutes). It won some Grammy awards and album of the year (Eminem was pissed!). When you listen to it you would never think there was a 20-year gap between it and Gaucho. It's like they just picked up where they left off.
Imagine the "genius musician" Eminem being passed over by pop-music's greatest songwriting duo, what an "outrage," right? But in my view "Everything Must Go" is a stronger song-collection than "Two," what do you think?
Yes 2vN blew me away. Steely Dan proper were silent for 20 years, with the exception of their live album. And then WOW! Across the lobby the wicker wing chair flew. 😀
Rebellion of the neglected that are marginalized Larry Carlton wow! The first time I heard his playing on this tune the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
I love your reactions......you guys are "spot on ". And you really get Steely Dan. When you haven't heard them for a while and then hear this..Oh My God !
Amazing tune. I'm often reminded of Don't Take Me Alive based on Carlton's stellar guitar work, and the darkness of the subject matter, perhaps someone who simply cannot cope with the complexities of the outside world, and either shuts down and retreats into his own world, or holes up with a gun and a case of dynamite. I love this album, but the criticism, especially following Aja, is that it was so meticulous, controlled and polished that it lacked spontaneity, soul and funk to the point of joyless sterility. It's a masterpiece for me, but it was 20 years until Walter & Donald produced another official "Steely Dan" album, Two Against Nature. If I had to pick one favorite on Gaucho, it is certainly Glamour Profession. Please review the single Here at the Western World next.
The credits for Third World Man. Fewer musicians played on this one. Donald Fagen - lead vocals Rob Mounsey - synthesizer Joe Sample - electric piano Larry Carlton - lead guitar Steve Khan - guitar Chuck Rainey - bass Steve Gadd - drums
You described it as super clean. A lot of that has to do with Steely Dan's overall sound. I got this from wiki: "Special attention is given to the individual sound of each instrument. Recording is done with the utmost fidelity and attention to sonic detail and mixed so that all the instruments are heard and none are given undue priority. Their albums are also notable for the characteristically 'warm' and 'dry' production sound, and the sparing use of echo and reverberation."
Absolutely; It's "kitchen clean". I suspect this puts off quite a few people, who prefer a raw sound, or distrust accomplishment and sophistication. Not me.
Beautiful ending to this record - that solo is so epic they play it note for note when it's done live Now I think you're ready for some of the 'Lost Gaucho' tracks!
@@SightAfterDark Right, for the song "The Second Arrangement". Gaucho was a tough time for Fagen & Becker personally and it clearly affected their judgement, resulting in some great songs being cut. Their quest for perfection reached its zenith, pushing some players to their breaking point lol!
While being up there as one of my favorite songs, it gives me a mixture of emotions for sure. It makes me sad for two reasons. 1. That this song sounds like the end of a golden era, meaning the Steely Dan time period-until 2000-and 2. This song could have been The Second Arrangement and this was only a backup song. Although, it makes me feel sad, it does enlighten me to think of how lucky we are to have such an amazing band like Steely Dan that took careful work in each and every one of their songs. I think you pretty much nailed what they were trying to get at with the theme of this song. Yet again, another great reaction and description! Thank you.
" and the neighbors came out screaming,- he's a 3rd world man..." So good to see that the hip Female member above got the humor immediately...sooo funny...
I went to drummer Jeff Porcaro's funeral, and this song was playing as the people walked into the church... interesting because this was a Steely Dan track that Jeff DIDN'T play on, but maybe this was one of Jeff's favorite songs...
Following the song out the door is a great analogy for wanting it to go on. The line about 'when the sidewalks are safe for the little guys' is so powerful and resonant. Yet more genius from the Dan. x
I got into Steeely Dan really in the course of a single, long Friday night home alone, on a break from college, when I bought the Citizen Steely Dan Box set back in 1994. So I listened tot he whole thing, starting w/ 'Can't Buy A Thrill' and finished up w/ 'Gaucho'. Even being less familiar w/ there story , I knew they had recently 'reunited' for shows after 19 years of a split in their song writing partnership. Somehow I could sense a slight 'depressed' 'downer' vibe w/ 'Gaucho' even if it was incredibly well played, recorded, immaculately mixed, etc... i felt the record has and underlying/overall 'the end might be near' feel - the sole exception being 'Glamour Profession', which has a more driving 'euphoric desperado' vibe. So it wasn't a surprise when some years later I read their biography 'Reelin In The Years' and learned about the fact the Becker and Fagen both were going through private, personal issues that made the writing and recording, a very difficult process - which IMO ultimately affected the tone of the album. PS: Guitarist Larry Carlton (of Kid Charlemagne, Don't Rake Me Alive and Everything You Did dame) perfectly captures the tone of the song.
Steely Dan tells the story that Larry Carlton's solo was actually saved from another session and was used for Third World which is how he got credit for being on the album
Great review. The next 2 Dan records are good but not as good as the previous 7. Hopefully you will do Donald Fagan solo record Nightly. It's a masterpiece and as good as any Dan record IMO
This song wasn't even supposed to be on the album. It was actually an unused song from the Royal Scam recording sessions. It ended up on Gaucho because the song "The Second Arrangement" was accidentally deleted by an engineer.
@@GenesisFan01 I think that was a different version of Third World Man with alternate lyrics called "Were You Blind That Day". That was during Aja sessions correct. But Third World Man was from The Royal Scam. Here is what Larry Carlton said about how he ended up on Gaucho without actually playing on it: "So "Third World Man" was in the can from The Royal Scam and they had to reach back into the old tapes and find something to finish the album, and that's how I ended up on Gaucho playing "Third World Man".
Like most SD songs, this one gets better the more one listens to it. The lush Beach Boys-like vocal harmonies, Larry Carlton’s double tracked guitar solo and outro solo, and the melancholic subject matter make this an absolute gem of a tune. Even though the song went through some incarnations, it was a fitting end of an era song and a writing partnership’s ending song…..at least for the time being.🎸❤️😎
I had, many years ago, thought that the subject was literally from The Third World. I have since changed my theory. I believe that the subject fought in Vietnam and is being referred to as a "Third World Man" for merely fighting in a third world country. If my conjectures are somewhat correct then it is possible that he is suffering from PTSD. Things such as fireworks can set of someone with that condition. I have learned that taking Steely Dan's lyrics literally may not be the best way to understand what is really going on. They write cryptic lyrics and use metaphors throughout their songs. If one listens closely at times the story appears to shift from first person to third person. After all Donald was a literature major at Bard College.
Hear that front to back depth..a west coast constant after 74 but first explored by Zappa /pink floyd and who with quadrophonic sound...Before this time the music was 2 dimensional...now everyone is multi-tracking...It's got a feel ...a man who does not want to tech up...
Best Larry Carlton solo ever. Graffiti is right suburban kid goes off the deep end. Common theme in SD songs. Last SD album for a lot of years, too many drugs.
At that time, there was so much political talk about the emerges of the "Third World..." and the paranoia concerning what dangerous tactics might be used to help developing nations "catch up.." and it's very funny given that situation to see SD parody and exaggerate, and deride the neighbor's tremulous fears
Really love your Steely Dan reactions - did they ever make a bad song??? Do you guys have any plans to react to Donald Fagen's first solo album, The Nightfly? IMO it's up there with any Steely Dan album, a masterpiece!
Thanks for watching Rishi! All our reactions are chosen by our Patrons on Patreon, so we aren’t sure what albums we’ll be doing when 😂 but I’m sure the Nightfly will come up sometime!
Something quite different and more in the rock category that I would love to see you two experience and react to would be Jeff Beck's song Space for the Papa.
When I bought the album in 1980 I quickly figured it was about a mercenary. The words in Italian threw me though. Historically, mercenaries have tended to be French (North Africa); Belgians (the Congo); and British (Rhodesia, Angola) and now the U.S. (Iraq, Afghanistan). Much less so Italians.
How can she be such a statue listening to a perfect dance between the guitar and electric piano? If that were not enough, the saturated vocal harmonies. The guitar solo is enough to make one weep. The drum part is played so perfect to the tune not the ego. I guess woman focus on the words and he is on board with what I'm listening to.
I didn't read all the prior comments, but SD did a (superior, IMO) live rendition of TWM : slowed down, with a very-extended solo at the end of the song. Search for SD live 1993 and you'll find some board recordings - and here is the take that appeared on the "Alive in America" album: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AzqOKxRUNXA.html
bravo, lyrical translations are irrelevant compared to the musical story being told so masterfully, you got it guys ! OMG kids, can the full-album review of Fagen's all-digital "The Nightly" be next? The year was 1982 after all and it won a Grammy for production(?) . . .
Please don't end your exploration of Steely here. There are two great later albums from 2000 and 2003 to check out, plus two Becker solo albums and three fantastic Fagan solo albums.
Third world man was originally called “Were You Blind That Day”, with different lyrics and arguably better singing from donald in my opinion. It was an outtake from either the royal scam or Aja. Also though, I think you guys need to react to some steely dan outtakes like “The Bear”. There are other good outtakes from Aja and gaucho like “Kulee Baba” and the “Second Arrangement”, but those two are missing things like background harmonies and what not.
I see it as people particularly kids victimized by war. How war creates homelessness and refugees. Johnny's playroom is a bunker.filled with sand he's becoma a third world man. Then the line, when the sidewalks are safe for the little guys. During war and constant bombings kids can't enjoy ordinary life like playing outside they have to take cover. Just my interpretation beimg a Marine , Desert Storm and Iraqi freedom veteran
the production standards were so clean as you said that pop music was all using this standard and it become sterile...and organic sound evaporated...the chic of the hi hat become exact and the ear likes variation like the taste buds...just loops of the best cust for 64 bars...That is where the production went wrong but this ambience hear is great...forget the lyric it can only corrupt music.
It was about a kid playing out in the front yard need Doug I don't know maybe his playroom was in the house but I've always thought of it as outside and he's blowing up fireworks and the neighbors were all pissed off playing army okay that's why he was a third world man he became like one of the oh God I'm trying to think maybe he was the soldier for Idi Amin or something like this perhaps soon you throw down your disguise will see beyond those wild eyes by-and-by has the sidewalks are made safe for the little guy so it was about some little kid
Some SD/Fagan you missed: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Uji6k153RwU.html, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zicmB4aJIhE.html, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-brlS32sdz5k.html
Never heard of Ativan. Is that your dug of choice? She doesn’t need to do anything, but listen to the music and express how she feels with words. This is their channel. We got the tens of thousands subscribers the way we like to do it. Thanks for watching!
Pretty straight forward song in my opinion lol. It’s about a man who lives in a third world country. He shits on the lawn, he’s a soldier, and he’s always in the midst of constant warfare.
