What Makes This Song Great? 'Kid Charlemagne' Steely Dan

In episode 3 of "What Makes this Song Great?" we look at one of the biggest hits of the 1970's by Steely Dan.

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[RickBeato]

Or you can become a member of the Beato Club. My Beato Club is exactly like Patreon.

[stevecuddy]

I'm 72 years old now and listen to Steely Dan almost daily. My favorite time is late afternoon, while sitting on my patio drinking a Black Russin.

[joverdorff]

I'm convinced Michael Mcdonald lived at the studio in the 80s and whenever someone was recording, he'd pop in randomly to provide sweet backup vocals.

[WilliamCrowe-yr]

Steely Dan released six albums in the 1970s and they are ALL top notch, not a misstep in the bunch.

[tolook]

I'll add that the production quality cannot be overstated as to the importance of what makes this song amazing. On tape, 25 years before Pro Tools, the production quality is unmatched. When Rick isolates the various musical parts (drums, bass, guitar, vocals, etc.) they sound better than anything made today. In that era, production was still more of an art than science. And when they got it right, it was magical.

[lotusholder]

Kid Charlemagne absolutely rocks, but then you go on to the rest of the album, and it doesn't let up- a rock masterpiece, underappreciated even by many Steely Dan fans.

[matinacummings]

What makes Rick Beato so great? Absolutely everything!

[nicholasflamegun]

When I hear a Steely Dan song these days it can overwhelm me with an almost unbearable poignancy because of how superb the music is and the recollection of when I first heard it.

[sigogglin]

Some people binge watch Netflix or Hulu, I binge watch Rick Beato!!

[stgodards]

This really is one of my favorite videos on YouTube. Watching someone with such a extensive knowledge of music forensically break down the genius of Steely Dan, not to mention someone who's able to play along note for note, is pure, unbridled joy. Thank God for the web.

[thomasmeyer]

You'll find these kind of enchanting secrets and unplayable parts in almost every single song of Steely Dan. Or even in every single chord of them. Steely Dan is pure magic.

[kyatzz]

Man that bernard purdie track immediately head me bopping my head, what a groove.

[HieronymousD]

I love how Rick can still look surprised by something you know he's heard 100 times before. When you're passionate about music, it can feel new and amazing every damn time!

[paulangeli]

Steely Dan may have been the most sublime and musically cerebral group of all time. The precision and air tight grooves are unequaled, then and certainly for time immemorial.

[RCAvhstape]

If I've learned one thing from this video, it's that I really need to listen to more Steely Dan...

[woodyuk]

"This is one of the greatest solos of all time".


Never a truer word spoken.

[wayneranson]

Does Rick really know how exceptional his guitar playing is? He's such a humble guy and gets more excited than a little kid on christmas eve when he's listenening to, and talking about how great eveyone else is yet he is on par with so many of the "legends"! I just take my hat off to you Rick.

[petecartwright]

I'm sold. Best teacher I've ever seen. Completely genuine too. It's NOT about him, it's all about the fantastic songs he's pulling apart. Dude broke down one of the most iconic solo's ever recorded and made it easily understandable and achievable for the rest of us. Great stuff, well done and thanks. I'm looking all his vids up.

[stevenbyrd]

"You done it. You done hired the hitmaker." -Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

[marcscordato]

Perhaps the most sophisticated music to ever hit the pop charts.