Steely Dan - Green earrings

[pindaric]

Listen to the section from 1:51-2:30--one of the great jazz lines, right up there with anything Ellington wrote or Miles played. Just a small part of this amazing piece of music.

[greyfoxnola]

@pindaric damn straight!



[willrock241]

i like the medallion part the best

[mandobanjoguitar]

I love steely dan, but Donald Fagan looks like he has fangs like a vampire. lol

I just noticed in this video. Oh well, Dracula can write some awesome fucking music.

[lindadee1000]

steely dan is its own genre.

[MountainGirl1956]

Steely Dan is one of the finest group of musicians to ever grace the music world. Screw pop and Gaga and all the rest of the "idols". No talent crap. I hope, one day America gets back to real talent in music. Return to forever, Weather Report, Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, ..... Some of the new "math music" may be a new musical methodology to investigate ... check out Maps & Atlases if you are interested.

[TubeScrewed]

Steely Dan are musician's musicians.. But could you imagine Donald Fagen trying out for American Idol? He wouldn't make it cause they are too shallow to get it. That's why all the good music is underground now.

[Rugby1au]

That Snare is there to Snare you my friend, Truly evil players. And I'm see'in them in October Perth WA. Yippee again.

[GregOdrums]

Man - when this song slides into the Bridge...goosebumps......

[chef4cook]

What a BADASS tune!

[48perkins]

awesomew...

[timhaas1]

Totally underrated. I cannot stand seeing them labeled "adult contemporary" or "soft rock..." it's called talent, creativity, originality, and musicianship. True masters of the art.

[aleanzTube]

statà

tz tz tz

[Izzjully]

one of the finkiest songs ever writin

[Sally66Anne]

looovee itttt... thanks for this live version!

[ScottPhillips55]

beeeeutiful snare

[psyne000]

Grand.

[angeloamericano]

I wasn't familar with Harrington either but he can really play!! Who is the black sax player? great live redition, 5 stars!

[Roadking335]

@angeloamericano The Sax player is the late Cornelius Bumpus... he also played with the Doobie Bros.

[downesdesign]

audio is waaaaaaay out of sync with the video...

[Patrickphx11]

@downesdesign No way you think ???

[downesdesign]

Bumpus has a great tone here...

[montypython11111]

that is one kick ass piano solo

[fedler89]

2:44 :) (ah!)

[paul44miles]

This brings back such great memories. This is one of the altime great Steely Dan classics.

[blahkaw98]

man, I just can't get over John Herrington! That guy is just so sick. Can somebody tell me about any other work he's done, with other musicians or on his own? I really wanna check out more of him

[Bowser28]

Lol fucked up at 5:00 but held his composure! Good job recovering. And who's that on bass? It's not Rainey...

[SaxyDan54]

who fucked up?

[Bowser28]

@SaxyDan54 My bad it wasn't exactly 5:00, in the 5 seconds before that the guitarist seems to have had his pick slip on a string because his left hand keeps moving and there's no notes coming out except ghost notes, and his facial expression shows frustration

[SaxyDan54]

@Bowser28,

Ah. I see what you mean. Good catch there, especially with the audio/video synch issue.

I do think that Herrington is a great guitarist, very versatile and the consummate professional mucisian.

Oh, and sorry for the keyboarding/spelling errors in another reply down below. Went back and saw that and damn near fainted.

I like this live version, but the album version smoketh!

[Patrickphx11]

Damm listen to that snare...

[MagZ1905]

@Patrickphx11

Listen to that snare with Ricky Lawson grooving on it;)

[ALBERTKING901]

@Patrickphx11 KEITH CARLOCK is one awesome drummer!

[ALBERTKING901]

@Patrickphx11 KEITH CARLOCK is one awesome drummer! At least I think it is Keith.

[fendweller]

@ALBERTKING901 It's Ricky Lawson, but hey.

[ALBERTKING901]

@fendweller hey, he's pretty good as well. thanks for the info.

[DancingSpiderman]

@raggabass Prolly cuz Booji Boy refused to suck the selection committee boss' cock...

Walter Becker on the other hand...hmmm

[SaxyDan54]

So was Steely Dan, about 10 years before Deovo showed up...and they did it without usinjg plastic planters for hats, they did it solely basede on musicianship, rather than corny showmanship.

Now should Devo be in the RHoF? Probably. But I don' really care. And I bet the Dan didn't care when they got inducted either.

[passonno]

@SaxyDan54 Not a fair comparison, as Steely Dan are Jazz based Rock, and although Devo has a strong performance art aspect, they are definitely as talented as Steely Dan, just in different ways.

How much Devo have you heard? I'm not saying that they're akin to Coltrane or Mingus or anyone like that, but they did not get to their legendary status on "corny" showmanship.

[SaxyDan54]

@passonno

Well, I guess I can agree with your first paragraph. I would only say the Dan is performing the art of music, Devo is working the art of performance. Talented, just in diff ways, as you say.

Your 2nd paragraph, I disagree, and you said it your self, Devo had a performance art aspect....not musicianship, not hours playing the scales, doing the things a traditional musician would...not that Walt and Don did all that, but those playing on this piece with them did. SD = timeless!

[passonno]

@SaxyDan54 Though I did say aspect. Their musicianship and sense of musical adventure was at it's peak in their early career, at least in my estimation. They were at one point the closest thing America has ever had to an "Avant Garde" or RIO band in the mainstream. They were too weird to be New Wave, let alone AOR, yet they soldiered on, and to this day every other New Wave/Punk/Avant band pales in comparison to them, with the exception of Swans, The Birthday Party, etc.

[SaxyDan54]

@passonno

Well, I'm not saying anything bad about Devo or the punk movement...if anything it brought pop music back to life from the deadly disco days...what a freaking nightmare. But I was born in the 50's and had the same radio addiction as Fagen. THe music that came out i the 60's asnd the early 70's was untouchable by the punk groups. I liked Devo, but like SD way better. And this piece is great.

[LOOZR182]

one of my fave steely songs

[MehefinHeulog]

sizzlin

[geridg]

Steven Colbert jams on lead....damn!

[actron]

hahah

[DancingSpiderman]

That's the SEXiest lineup of backup doo-wap singers up there...DAYum, I miss Vickie Cave

[RenoRaider]

fuck id sell my nuts to see this concert.

[RenoRaider]

this video is poorly cut tho. the editor is a nitwit.

[thegeorgebrazil]

...looks like he was trying to go "edgy". nitwit indeed! I've seen Steely Dan once in 97(?) and again a couple of years ago...DEFINITELY not disappointing live...like, mindblowing....

[audiojay]

Buy the 2 against nature DVD.... And you can keep your nuts and see the concert...LOL

[TShane0423]

no shit brother,

[Aggeasy]

haha

[DancingSpiderman]

keep yer nutz, you may desire to make semi-copies of yourself for future generations...

... just save up the dough from your visits to the Plasma Center... and buy the DVD of this concert, can find it at any local BigBox store...

That's whut I did...

[BAMAVADER]

One of my favorite songs of all time...

[caraphyllis]

This entire DVD rocks.

[stratdaddy89]

Cornelious fucking rocks the sax solo...he was one of the greats! RIP

[wstsidela]

No kidding. Cornelius had an amazing musical voice. RIP.

[MorisseBerlusconi]

grandi

[YOOTUBEDOTCOM]

mo betta jazz

[fraink7]

One of my favorite Steely Dan songs

[straight918groove]

The solos in this live version are immaculate!

This song is groovin'

[Bikfinc2]

I love Steely Dan

[dogofman]

The "lip sync" didn't quite work through this fake "live" music video.

I can't imagine why it still got five stars on the rating.

[Trintha00]

This isn't a fake "live" music video... the video is just off with the audio,

and this definitely deserves five stars.

[sjnorman2]

Thank you for telling it like it is. Lip sync.....spare me!!

[out42c]

Dude, that's not lip sync. The audio track just happens to not be in sync with the video. I saw this when it first aired on PBS.

[darryldelay]

there are bands then there is steely dan

[dreampoets]

@darryldelay

GREAT comment!..Is it me or is not this video out of sync with the music?..Why can't it be that a person can take the extra time and do justice to a Steely Dan video share and...get it perfectly in sync with the visual?? anyhow ,great song, one of my favorites

:~]

[agincourtdb]

@dreampoets I have this DVD, and it's out of sync on the original in parts. Bad editing.

[TheJeromeFJ]

@darryldelay So very true. This one is a beauty.

[alsuareziii]

One of the best Steely Dan songs ever! Hope yo see you in 2009 in the SF Bay Area.

[jmillzz2]

dig the tempo-album speed right?

[fendweller]

Drummer is great, but doesn't he mangle the intro? Sounds like he takes it too fast and trips over.

[sharxdfpiesharp]

I'm not sure haha. I'm tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt but i know what you mean

[goldenchub]

yes,Ricky Lawson is a great drummer. I still wish it were Steve Gadd!

[shastakeys]

Great tune, Jon Herrington is killing it here. The horn figure under the guitar solo around 5:00 sounds familiar...where is it from? I like this key player but the energy drops during his solo quit a bit,,,

[WNM52]

shastakeys, The "... horn figure around 5:00..." sounds familiar because you first heard it at ... 4:45!  ;-)

[colonelcorn56]

My Favorite SD song. the Drummer kicks too don't he?Horn are tight! These guys are imcomparable.

[fluffydolly]

klassiest rock band ever!!

[forrestgeorge]

Nice!

[indivum]

exquisite funk

[zyaddd]

SD lyrics mediocre?? you re out of your mind.. retard or what???forget it and go back to school..

[fraink7]

This is my favorite song they play.Love the solos.Ended too soon!

[steelyman08]

Critics to the left of me, critics to the right... A blistering live version. Phenomenal!

[santyrush]

Steely dan,is super super great band,original music.desde 1980 los descubri y hasta ahora son una de mis bandas favoritas.geniales, come to Spain SD, please!!!!

[smoothdubber]

When I think of an artist whose lyrics stick out , I think of Bob Dylan or Lenard Cohen.....I associate Steely Dan with something very pleasing to the ear , a sweet groove and killer soul-jazz , or jazz rock , or whatever genre' you want to put it in. To me there has never been anyone quite like them.

[AGOPIMOU1]

Steely Dan is one of the greatest bands ever!

[WNM52]

Lyrics? LYRICS? You want great lyrics, check out Cole Porter! Jeez! In the meantime, sit back and dig The Dan. Cheers.

[beanabadger]

I think the Steely Dan lyrics are excellent, but they do take time to sink in. Often sarcastic/ironic and twisted. I mean I didn't realize for x number of listens that this was a song about a jewel theif.

[Jayonaxe]

really, it's pretty straight forward

[smoothdubber]

Steely Dan isn't or never was about lyrics....they are about the great production of a studio album.....they do it to perfection , IMO better than anyone ever has , prolifically.

[playboyv12]

Lyrics are most vital for a good rapper....and even then, music is first, lyrics second.

Always.

[santyrush]

Walter Becker on guitar, but are other man guitar... are two guitarrists...

Walter Becker on this song play rythm and the black man play solos.you can see at 2:30

[frontier1oo1]

Wrong

[Nektopoli]

The black guy is Tom Barney and he's on Bass behind Don, this is pre-2003 because Cornelius Bumpus on Sax died in 2004 and that's Jon Herington on Guitar.

[santyrush]

steely dan is a super original music...is great.

[gizzel345]

Who is the guy playing lead guitar? Amazing!

[gmhsmith]

Jon Herrington

[nickeax]

Walter Becker

[tom1600x1050]

Steely Dan was largely a studio band, rarely making appearances in public. It grew out of an association at Bard College (Donald Fagen knew comedian Chevy Chase at Bard). But they continued to write amazing music. Best album = Katy Lied; second best = Countdown to Ecstasy. I thought much of their later stuff was too relaxed, cool-jazzy sound; their early stuff was tight, raw, liquid excellence.

[tom1600x1050]

Great band but this isn't one of their best songs in my view. Much better => My Old School, Bodhissatva, Doctor Wu. Mostly their lyrics were average, with a few exceptions; this song's lyrics don't make sense to me. But I love the syncopation, tempo, chords. Fagen sings even worse than before. What's great is the jazz-rock fusion and this song leans too much towards pure jazz in my view.

[originalboobfan1]

your opinoin is crap but it is your opinoin so continue to enjoy it

[txgiorgi]

Not to be a jerk or imply your stupid but you have to have a certain level of intellect to understand their lyrics. I disagree, in fact I would say they are above average. The lyrics a like a fine wine. An acquired taste. Once you get it, you will change your mind. The only thing I would give you is that He is not the best singer but far from the worst.

[txgiorgi]

Not to be a jerk or imply your stupid but you have to have a certain level of intellect to understand their lyrics. I disagree, in fact I would say they are above average. The lyrics a like a fine wine. An acquired taste. Once you get it, you will change your mind. The only thing I would give you is that He is not the best singer but far from the worst.

[tom1600x1050]

I am a big Steely Dan fan and love their music; great jazzy sound, syncopation. It would be terrific if their words were as intelligent as their arrangements. But such is life. If you hunger for great lyrics, check out the excellent songs of David Wilcox (American) such as Rusty Old American Dream, Language of the Heart, Eye of the Hurricane, Chet Baker's Unsung Swan Song, and you'll begin to appreciate great writing. Or, check out the poet Shelley's Hymn to Intellectual Beauty.

[txgiorgi]

That was my point. SD's lyrics are above average intelligence. It may take many times listening before you understand them.

The lyrics are subtle, where as Rush lyrics

are more understood. That does not make the more intelligent.

[tom1600x1050]

Cold daring no flies on me. Sorry angel I must take what I see. Green earrings I remember rings of rare design. I remember the look in your eyes. I don't mind. I don't mind. I ask: what does this mean? I challenge you to explain the beauty of these words. That this song grows on you is because you associate excellent music with mediocre lyrics, and assume the lyrics are excellent. They're not. Check out "Guenivere" (exact spelling) for great lyrics & sound. I still love Steely Dan.

[txgiorgi]

Go read some poetry my friend. ;o)

[ncbeach22]

mediocre lyrics? ummm yeah ok.

[tom1600x1050]

For great lyrics check out David Wilcox "Language of the Heart" arguably the best love song written. Or Leonard Cohen's "Closing Time". Mostly I listen for great sound so that's why I like Steely Dan -- great percussion, vibrant chords, arpeggios that ratchet up the tension, so that their lyrics are mostly angry, non-sensical rants doesn't bother me much. Steely Dan is STILL GREAT MUSIC don't everybody agree!

[ncbeach22]

Their lyrics are not "nonsensical" as you put it. Even in one of your earlier posts you asked someone to explain the meaning of the lyrics for Green Earrings (it's simply about a jewel thief stealing from his lover.) I agree with you about their sound and music, etc., but calling their lyrics meaningless is absurd. Especially for two guys who were called the Lennon/McCartney of the 70's. Have a great New Year.

[snickle13]

you seem fairly knowledgeble.

do you happen to know the meaning of gaslighting abbie?

or what exactly peg refers to?

thanks!

[Nastadamente]

Close reading and first impression.. the guy is giving himself a pat on the back for being as no nonsense, skilled and daring a thief as the musical score implies. The twist is that he holds the beauty of the jewels as equal to the beauty and joy in the eyes of the woman he steals from and has perhaps spent a lovely evening getting close to. Does he not mind the moral guilt pangs these conflicting experiences create so long as he has this night of joy with the woman?

[Nastadamente]

lol.. or maybe... "i don't mind" ... I feel no guilt because I'm making huge financial scores from my thieving AND I'm romancing these golden lovelies. I don't scrutinize lyrics though.. initially I thought he was saying "I don't mind" stealing FOR my lovely lady.. i.e. when I think of my girl's eyes...I feel no guilt ripping off other stuff.. she'd hate me if she knew, but I'll live with that. It doesn't matter.. we are to imagine the inner life of this guy.. Becker as profiler!

[tom1600x1050]

Green Earrings (1) this song's about a former taxi driver, old with Alzheimer's, struggling to recall images but they're disconnected, random, past flashes of passengers. He remembers the taxi's Greek medallion which, in turn, reminds him of a gold-toothed passenger ("sparkles when you smile"); he remembers driving while eating ("I get hungry like a child") with windows open ("look no flies on me") in November ("cold daring"). (cont'd)

[tom1600x1050]

Green Earrings (2): he remembers a leggy model with skimpy shorts w/green earrings like her eyes so he didn't charge the taxi fare ("I don't mind"); another passenger was a nun he felt bad about charging ("sorry angel I must take what I see"). Memory failing, he struggles to say what few memories remain ("I remember the rings of rare design"). But his dementia explains his disconnected, rambling memories; he's not a jewel thief.

[tom1600x1050]

While I like the "jewel thief" hypothesis, it's possible to construct an entirely different interpretation of Green Earrings that is internally consistent, such as my Alzheimer's Former Taxi Driver hypothesis. The lyrics are suggestive, but open to misinterpretation, which is why I feel SD's lyrics are mediocre. But the music, syncopation, jazz are GREAT! Whatever it means.

[Nastadamente]

Like 'em or hate 'em.. Steely Dan's lyrics are distinctive because they are often like little short stories or screenplays... flashes of images and character perspective that avoids the rather straightforward declarations and statements of most rock lyrics. Green Earrings is like a scene from a movie where the lead character steps away in the night from a lover whose joyful eyes he remembers with equal fondness as her jewelry he steals.

[altonoir]

this guy makes me wanna write...what a genius...wow...Rod, Quincy, Bacarach, Garth, Bryd,....Geniuses of 70's...wsssh!

[wtmb430]

did you see the drummers face after he sorta studderstepped out of one of those solo breaks..he's like yep i just fucked up a little..but i'm in Steely Dan so you can all suck it I'm safe from elimination..i'm in a rock band that actually generates in income..haha

[camomule]

And his hat looked like a rolled-up rubber, too! LOL.....But no denyin' these guys ROCK!

[Metrowood]

hahahahaha yeah- it worked though in the end. I don't think that's really what he was trying to do though.

[M0Echitlins]

s w e e t n e s s ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[WNM52]

A groove deeper than the Marianas Trench.

[WNM52]

Tightness on an epic scale.

[downtwothenleft]

Yes it is. Tight as a gnats chuff! They opened with this at the Liverpool concert last year!

[metalman1900]

That was a great sax solo by the late Corny Bumpus.

[bassoonatic88]

They're just...too damn perfect.

[bixbyglaser]

Don and Walt and Co., you haven't missed a step!

[kissmyhole2]

i love steely dan but donald fagen is a terrible improviser

[bbbadger999]

that is like saying dylan is a terrible singer. yea so.....

[RocknRollRoshi]

I am just glad to hear there are some many of us out there with taste! I have heard a few ranks on SD in the past few moths from comics and other people who do not understand music. I would like to see them in Chicago this summer but 400+ for tickets is a little high for me.

[dougmael]

Oh yeah, Chuck Rainey and Bernard Purdie were about the smokin'ist bass + drums duos EVER ... on the original version of Green Earrings and Peg, just to name a few tracks. However, these guys are super-tight!!!

[OlymPigs2010]

Band is working like a fine oiled machine! You can hear so many influences in this SD song from the Big Band orchestrations of the 40's to Henry Mancini's Route 66 and even some Hendrix guitar riffs - thats some real high value product pardner for your listening pleasure!

[leftyrite]

throw beth's afghan over my shoulders

start davening

it's all good.

[sweetandsassy206]

Oh yeah! This rocks!\\

[BSL0789]

Steely Dan... jazz, funk, and rock in a package of pure, live "coolness"

[gentlejoker]

These guys jam the music so tight and smoke this song with instrumental magic to create the fusion of Jazz, funk, pop, rock and whatever you call it into kick-ass music. Most if not all of SD's lyrics are so cryptic that makes you wonder what the heck is the meaning? Enough said, simply amazing gem.

[TenderLittleGirlBlue]

Just as sizzling as when I got to see them in Portland, OR several years back. I love how these guys can hang the most subtle and cynical of lyrics on such tight jazz-funk-pop fusion.

[Emailfego]

He must have had it bad for this girl he wrote the song about. I am sure he does not hang out with big fat ugly girls.

[Mel0132]

My All Time Favorite Band.

[blahkaw98]

Ah, you can pretty much never go wrong with Steely Dan. Great lyrics, guitar, beats, great music in general.

[rufusandburne]

I agree! its a shame larry carlton was not on guitar though.

[Mel0132]

I'd love to see them reunite with some the session players of the past to do an album like; Larry Carlton, Michael Omartian, Denny Dias, Check Rainy, Jeff Baxter, Bernard Purdie, Steve Gadd.

[MY599FERRARI]

Oh yea.....LC can play a guitar for sure!!

[speedman102]

ya i know it sounds a lot different but steely dan is great!!

[batmanyey]

totally grand! STEELY DAN u r out of this world! i love the beat and the cool title "GREEN EARRINGS" yes!

[doedoe1]

awesome tune..... Great Funky Beat and Awesome Guitar Solo by Mr. Herington....

[allnisse]

how chill still crisp isn't this! i saw them in molde, norway, this summer. it was awesome.

[turbokevin]

unreal.. you just have to wonder if there will ever be songwriting like this again. The complexity, the grooves, the lyrics.. Steely Dan was the ultimate band for the musically minded person. No drivel like what plagues the airwaves today..

[hypno59]

One of the best songwriting teams ever!

[nedmanxxx]

rings of RARE design . . . i remember

[Deadfreeeak]

The rings of grand design !

[tunnelrat1900]

Jon Herington's got chops. Perfect fit for SD.

[Mikeyh8]

Amazing, the rhythm section are so tight!

[leftyrite]

I want to see a black and white album cover:

"Steely Dan at Carnegie Hall"

In vinyl.

[doedoe1]

Awesome song....

[leftyrite]

the ultimate steely dan

concert tune...

high barometric pressure and a slammin' rhythm section.

[funkalicious232323]

gonna see them in denmark next month have never seen them live before was 12 years old last time they were here my dad saw them that time and have been talkin about it ever since

[GFY1954]

May the Groove be with you!

[torturemethodsean]

best drummers of the 70's.bad ass shit!!!!

[jbc221]

Cornelius pulls off another well thought out solo with such ease. Was always a pleasure to hear him. R.I.P. C.B.

[lisa9871]

Michael Leonhart on horn (left), John Herrington on guitar, Cornelius Bumpus on Sax...RIP Cornelius.

[wigginsdesign]

Great song Great performance Do u know the additional players Thanks

[GoodSneakers]

Ricky Lawson on drums, Tom Barney on bass, Chris Potter on Sax, Jim Pugh on trombone