Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan | The Midnight Special

Steely Dan performed on the show August 31, 1973

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[aeriste]

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.

[DeliRevv]

When Jimmy Page names this song as having his favorite guitar solo, you know you’re doing something right.

[sjtom]

Over half a century ago. My God, where has my life gone?

[ParkinsonLeefstijlTV]

2024 still as fresh and energetic as 50 years ago...amazing

[raistaparta]

Kids these days may think they're pretty edgy but they'll never reach the zenith of this drummer rocking the mauve overalls with such self-confidence

[mgbwitt]

So good! So I was 21 when this came out. I'm 71 now. Still listening to Steely

[brianking]

Holy crap that’s legitimately one of the greatest live performances I’ve ever seen.

[pearl-on-the-press]

I was born in 1989, and I think in the entirety of human history, the 70's was the best time we've EVER had for music. I'll die on this hill.

[andyinoregon]

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 YouTube 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 YouTube 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.

[brucekronberg]

Absolutely love this track. The backup singers are blowing me away. What a gem for Steely Dan lovers.

[fry]

This is probably the most 70's thing ever, but that's what makes it so incredible

[deanowens]

This from the days when the music was created by MUSICIANS not just Audio technicians... The energy is AMAZING!

[joelgoff]

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.

[bobdobalina]

Man o man we had it good didn't we?

[mikeg]

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."

[JayJoJonny]

Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter jammin like no other, what a talent on guitar!

[jamesmaass]

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.

[MarkMacDonald-pdeo]

I graduated H S in '73 and this is the stuff we lived on. Steeley Dan, Supertramp, Pink Floyd all good stuff

[robmadden]

I love how they are really playing and not lip-synching to the studio track.

[lorih]

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.