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Length: 4:31
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You worked by candlelight
Those San Francisco nights
You were the best in town
Just by chance you crossed
The diamond with the pearl
You turned it on the world
That's when you turned the world around
Did you feel like Jesus?
Did you realize
That you were a champion in their eyes?
On the hill, the stuff was laced with kerosene
But yours was kitchen clean
Everyone stopped to stare
At your Technicolor motorhome
Every A-frame had your number on the wall
You must have had it all
You'd go to L.A. on a dare
And you'd go it alone
Could you live forever?
Could you see the day?
Could you feel your whole world
Fall apart and fade away?
Get along, get along, Kid Charlemagne
Get along, Kid Charlemagne
Now your patrons have
All left you in the red
Your low-rent friends are dead
This life can be very strange
All those Day-Glo freaks
Who used to paint their face
They've joined the human race
Some things will never change
Son, you were mistaken
You were obsolete
Look at all the white men on the street
Get along, get along, Kid Charlemagne
Get along, Kid Charlemagne
Clean this mess up
Else we'll all end up in jail
Those test tubes and the scale
Just get it all outta here
Is there gas in the car?
Yes, there's gas in the car
I think the people down the hall
Know who you are
Careful what you carry
'Cause the man is wise
You are still an outlaw in their eyes
Get along, get along, Kid Charlemagne
Get along, Kid Charlemagne
Amen brah. Is there gas in the car?
Yes...there's gas in the caaaaaaar.
ever
There is no such thing as too much Steely Dan
Amen brah. Is there gas in the car?
Just finished an interesting book about the Dan: Quantum Criminals. Recommended for those interested in a deep dive.
Meanwhile: "is there gas in the car? yes, there's gas in the car!"
Than You for the info!
Meanwhile: "is there gas in the car? yes, there's gas in the car!"
Epic guitar solo by Larry Carlton
the drums always get me in this song specifically for some reason. love it. i think if they were isolated, i'd still know what song they were from.
i like this comment a lot.
There is no such thing as too much Steely Dan
That's what she said...
yes, there's gas in the caaaaar!
gauge musta been broke, there was not enough gas in the car
Here's a fantastic study of this fantastic song:
What Makes This Song Great? Ep. 3 Steely Dan - Rick Beato
Great link, thanks!
the album that sucked me into a record club - dumb. But this song was great and when I read the story about Owsley (can't remember the last name) in a special (40th anniversary?) Rolling Stones edition it was better...gave it context. Before that it was an amazingly produced tune!
That would be Stanley...aka....Bear.
+1 to 9, loving this jazzy tune from some of the best session players ever....and some Michael McDonald! Long Live RP!!
Donald Fagen – lead vocals, organ
Larry Carlton – lead guitar
Walter Becker – rhythm guitar
Don Grolnick – Fender Rhodes electric piano
Paul Griffin – Hohner Clavinet
Chuck Rainey – bass
Bernard Purdie – drums
Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews – background vocals
Yep +1 to 9
And I +1'd your comment, too.
"4 out of 5 dentists recommend Trident gum"
Someone has to be the 5th that does not.
9 out of 10 doctors who tried Camels went back to women...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
I was thinking the same thing, every time it comes on I think it’s A.P.P. until the vocals kick in
So who's playing that killer guitar at the end of song?
Becker or Carlton?
Will some great mysteries never be solved?
It was Carlton. It's like his claim to fame.
So who's playing that killer guitar at the end of song?
Becker or Carlton?
Will some great mysteries never be solved?
Don't think it's Walter. But I sure agree it's killer.
OMG!
Becker or Carlton?
Will some great mysteries never be solved?
I'm lookin' at the lyrics but my ears are saying you got it right the first time...
You mean it's not? Well, that makes a whole more sense then. I always thought that a nonsensical lyric like "...you were Italian in their eyes." cheapened an otherwise spectacular song (and I love the Dan!). I bought this when it came out, played the grooves off of it and I'm just NOW learning the lyrics, well, s'cuze me while I kiss this guy....
Donald Fagen – lead vocals, organ Larry Carlton – lead guitar Walter Becker – rhythm guitar Don Grolnick – Fender Rhodes electric piano Paul Griffin – Hohner Clavinet Chuck Rainey – bass Bernard Purdie – drums Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews – background vocals
It's called being overplayed on AOR and Classic Radio stations over the decades. I used to dig it but wouldn't care if I never heard these songs again.
What Makes This Song Great? Ep. 3 Steely Dan - Rick Beato
No need to "confess".
The Dan are and have always been way cool.
but, I hate to say it knowing there are die hard fans here..... Lyrically- I don't recall a single S.D. song that "moved" me. Some are far better than this though......
Larry Carlton. Studio musician. Played with The Crusaders
Used points to get flights and a hotel and bought excellent seats immediately to the left of the sound board for the middle week, Wed/Fri/Sat.
Worked hard all my life - this is why I did it.
EXCELLENT !!! Well deserved !! Enjoy the show.
Used points to get flights and a hotel and bought excellent seats immediately to the left of the sound board for the middle week, Wed/Fri/Sat.
Worked hard all my life - this is why I did it.
They're still touring - doing a run in Las Vegas in April. Maybe they'll add more dates for this year.
Steely Dan ....... strange that I don't own any music from this band. One of the best from the period.
Then you need "Citizen" which is a compilation of all the studio albums before the hiatus, and the live album.
Well, he just consumed what he's singing about probably? Lucy in the Skies with Diamonds had inspired many artists-
Steely Dan ....... strange that I don't own any music from this band. One of the best from the period.
And...what the heck are these wonderful cryptic lyrics about?
Larry Carlton
Here's a quick wiki link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid_Charlemagne
https://sfist.com/2015/07/20/san_francisco_show_and_tell_steely.php
Hey rushed,
An ode to the Dancing Bear?
And did you ever enjoy it at the Stagger Inn on main street in good old Edwardsville, when they had bands playing?
FYI: I'm a veteran of the Mississippi River Festival! Ah....those were the days.
https://sfist.com/2015/07/20/san_francisco_show_and_tell_steely.php
And...what the heck are these wonderful cryptic lyrics about?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xnyHG96vY8
Why Will Ferrell hasn't done a parody of that song is beyond me. If you can do an OTT cowbell for Blue Oyster Cult, you can break the evil spell of Dan Hill with laughter.
kcar, 50 lashes with a wet noodle for dredging up Dan Hill from the trash heap of bad musical memories.
If any song can knock off "We Built This City" for worst song ever, it has to be "Sometimes When We Touch".
So bad it's hard to believe it's not a parody. The very definition of mawkish.
Maybe you still must learn to recognize real good music...?
Wow...are you too young to remember Barry Manilow? Now there's someone worth vomiting to.
Barry Manilow. Always dreamt of taking him for some skeet shooting. No, Barry, you don't get a gun...
But don't forget Dan Hill with "Sometimes When We Touch":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xnyHG96vY8
Why Will Ferrell hasn't done a parody of that song is beyond me. If you can do an OTT cowbell for Blue Oyster Cult, you can break the evil spell of Dan Hill with laughter.
I used to dislike Steely Dan but love 'em now.
"4 out of 5 dentists recommend Trident gum"
Someone has to be the 5th that does not.
OK
Wow...are you too young to remember Barry Manilow? Now there's someone worth vomiting to.
And from the same album. A nice surprise, though Aja is still my favourite.
Was thinking the exact same thing.....
i try to avoid negative comments, but i have to agree that i just don't get anything from Steely Dan, other than an urge to mute to speakers
It is alright, admitting you have a problem is the first step. Please seek help, if not for yourself, then for those that love you.
i try to avoid negative comments, but i have to agree that i just don't get anything from Steely Dan, other than an urge to mute to speakers
I agree. Always disliked Steely Dan.
scrubbrush wrote:
i try to avoid negative comments, but i have to agree that i just don't get anything from Steely Dan, other than an urge to mute to speakers
oilydwarf wrote:
Not at all — my fingers reflexively mute just about all Steely Dan.......... Must be an acquired taste, one I would prefer not to sully my listening palate with! (however I do enjoy "Do It Again" — probably because it's similarity to Santana)
i try to avoid negative comments, but i have to agree that i just don't get anything from Steely Dan, other than an urge to mute to speakers
I could loop (and have) this Carlton solo an embarrassing number of times.
oilydwarf wrote:
Not at all — my fingers reflexively mute just about all Steely Dan.......... Must be an acquired taste, one I would prefer not to sully my listening palate with! (however I do enjoy "Do It Again" — probably because it's similarity to Santana)
I think that was Larry Carlton.
Not at all — my fingers reflexively mute just about all Steely Dan.......... Must be an acquired taste, one I would prefer not to sully my listening palate with! (however I do enjoy "Do It Again" — probably because it's similarity to Santana)
Owsley was my first time. It was still legal.
Then Art Linkletters daughter decided to try and fly out of an upper floor window of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. The laws changed very shortly there after.
This gives me such hope! I've always loved Steely Dan - they're a little like the band-version of Joni Mitchell with a bunch of instruments added, but also with the intelligent lyrics and snazzy rhythms. I'd sorta disagree with the whole "they peaked over 30 years ago" comment, though - they're still getting played, so apparently, they've maybe re-peaked?
I agree with the "ooze" part, but not with the cool part. For me, it's more like the Brown Noise.
have you listened to the albums in their entirety? around the time their songs were coming out there weren't a lot of rock musicians with their dark and irreverent sensibility (I hadn't gotten into punk yet.)
Oh yes! Without question, please seek professional help, if not for you, then for your loved ones.
Awesome track, amazing performances by master musicians. Yay, Dan!!
I agree with the "ooze" part, but not with the cool part. For me, it's more like the Brown Noise.
Kid Charlemagne and Show Biz Kids thrill me endlessly as well as all of Two Against Nature and Everything Must Go
A direct link can also be made to Ken Kesey, the Merry Pranksters, Whole Earth Catalog, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center), and just about everything having to do with modern personal computing.
What's a day without sunshine?
A.K.A. Stanley Owsley, this is the Bear's website: https://www.thebear.org/essays.html
The great Larry Carlton.
Touché
A direct link can also be made to Ken Kesey, the Merry Pranksters, Whole Earth Catalog, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center), and just about everything having to do with modern personal computing.
What's a day without sunshine?
if it involves a William Burroughs novel and a nickname for an unmentionable object, then yes, you're right.
Thats what I thought. "Steely Dan" sounds so poetic, until you realize it's a steel dildo.
Wow what a link-fest. You missed one though: https://www.thebear.org
If I recall correctly, he's living in semi-obscurity in OZ ... somewhere. Good for him.
Being fans of Beat Generation literature, Fagen and Becker named the band after
"Steely Dan III from Yokohama", a strap-on dildo referred to in the William Burroughs
novel The Naked Lunch.
Oh those crazy kids...