Steely Dan - Brooklyn Owes The Charmer Under Me

[dogcow666]

fantastic steel guitar

[oldsoftee]

I LOVE the pedal steel by Jeff Baxter!

[mistertangoful]

amazing art work on i should kept my vinyl 4 sure a top 10 pop music album up there with abbey road d side of moon silk degrees etc it would be difficult to imagine anyone having the percisiobn maybe nothing is perfect but this is damn close

[moondowg1]

Well done

I agree great debut album. One thing that I do not get about the Dan or rather the music listening public is why Countdown to Ecstacy is not up there with top ten best of all time Rock and Roll albums. It leaves most others in the dust. I mean "Show Business Kids", WOW Thats the shit baby. The whole album takes you on a roller coaster ride and you can't get off till it's done(both sides)

Everyone was listening to Zeppelin, thats great but those guys were listening to Steely Dan CtoE

[mistertangoful]

one dislike did simon cowell watch this video

[MisterIanPickering]

very evocative, totally original, utterly delicious, a piece of island cooling in the sea, who could have known what lay in store for the Dan Steely and the rest of us, this song is at once melancholy and joyous, wistful and self assured, sentimental and entirely heartfelt.

[mgajosh]

They never play this in concert, either.

[bobtis]

This song is my favorite on this album. I bought it in 1973. Lived in Upstate New York for my first 29 years. Thank you so much for this. I will always love Steeley Dan. I grew into my 20's with them. Now in California for my last 32. Never will I forget this song.

[bobtis]

This song is my favorite on this album. I bought it in 1973. Lived in Upstate New York for my first 29 years. Thank you so much for this. I will always love Steeley Dan. I grew into my 20's with them.

[ihrescue]

Excellent song, thanks for the post. Jeff Baxter's nice touch with the pedal steel.

[MrMonsterstiffy]

c'mon folks. It's simple. Brooklyn knows the charmer under me.

[althecatify]

Very nice video, GREAT song & arrangement.

[MrBiff654]

thanks for this one. brings back great memory's. You know, of when' you can't buy a thrill...

[bradmonium1]

David Palmer does a great job on this one.

[Cream234]

@bradmonium1 He makes it should like a love song lol. I guess thats why I like it.

[kevinherbert]

Who's the vocalist?...it's not Donald.

[AK2927]

@kevinherbert David Palmer - he only sang lead on the first album, ironically on possibly its two best songs, this and Dirty Work. He was backing vocals on Countdown To Ecstacy but then left, and doesn't seem to have done much in the business since. There's a video of Reeling In The Years where you can see him stomping around with a tambourine.

[shaunthonys]

@AK2927 He had a band before Steely Dan - if you scrub the internet you can find the album they made. They were actually good!!

[CrunchCarter]

love it, amazing

[towerengi23]

check out the Citizen Steely Dan album, includes: Fire in the Hole, Rellin in the Years, Kings, and more!

[MrLigyron]

Di Fara's for pizza? Hell yeah. Oh, and I believe they actually mean: "Brooklyn OWNS the Charmer Under Me" Cryptic indeed, I just love inside jokes ...

[MickeyLynott]

I love you Brooklyn because my 2 babies live there:).

[jp0531801]

That's David Palmer on vocals?? The one that sang Dirty Work.

The original was just Fagen on piano, singing duo with Becker.

[shadeshiest22]

thats crazy you said that!! i used to live in brooklyn and now live in greensboro n.c.!!! i love it here in greensboro, how olds your dad???

[NYerintransit]

I lived with my family in Brooklyn Heights for 14 years. Best neighborhood in the five boroughs. You won't find a happier place in all of New York City to grow up in. That I can assure you.

[videotater]

The whole long time we gain and lose... and power enough to choose! I guess the Charmer should go out and get what he's owed.

[videotater]

sure do wish David Palmer had done some more vocals for the Dan. I love the quality of his voice here, and it goes great with the backing vocals and of course, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's slinky guitar work.

My favorite song of the whole album.

[nelsonv2001]

Jeff Baxter' Peddle Steel work in this some of the most beautiful I have ever heard

[tech7000Z]

aaaaaaaaaahhh...real music

[zdrumdude]

It's golf at noon for free!

[kvngilles]

I will always love Steely Dan! The cryptic lyrics to their music only adds to the effect of the songs. Like poetry, the words don't always have to make sense in the order in which they are presented--but they have to sound good when sung together.

[Zebedoodah]

Thank you, SunsetWallace! :)

[b3n2p1]

I don't think anyone but Becker and Fagan have any idea what the lyrics mean.It's an inside joke.They finish each others sentences in interviews.Regardless,it's brilliant.

[caravaneriam]

This is great.Thoughtful and put together with great skill.Love it.

[Sjako99]

one of my fav's Steely Dan's songs. Awesome!

[gi624]

WB: Well, the charmer was a guy who lived under Donald's apartment when we were in Brooklyn. And the song is just a bunch of things that the guy and his wife had coming to them, you know, for the indignities that they suffered living in Brooklyn, sitting on the stoop and just shooting the shit about the Mets and that kind of thing for 20 years. So, you see, the song does yield to a valid interpretation. Thanks MarkSASmith

[FreedomZealot]

This song is a radiant artifact from a MUCH better era. Perhaps I'm showing my age, but the opening bars make me think I'm watching the opening credits of a "Rockford Files" episode. I miss those days.....

[shanquilla562]

yea great song, great album, great band of all the boroughs, which one would be the most preverable to live in?

[sgmsmiles]

Thank you so much for posting this one, one of my favorites.

[brainsparkles]

I wonder what this song would have sounded like if Donald Fagen had sung it when the album was produced. Even though his voice isn't exactly...well, you know. He's like Mark Knopler, Dylan, even Springsteen. The voice doesn't matter, the inflection

does. But I really like this song anyway.

[CBK723]

Can't Buy A Thrill - #1 on my Desert Island list!

[ekoed]

great song

[Similie]

Very nice. Our daily touchstones keep us going.

[FAyalapoggi]

thanks for the song

[salvadormarley]

If you look at the best of albums, it's not there. I wonder why?

Do you think it should be there?

[kapo10wong]

Nice idea, thanks for the tour,

[Sk8Master227]

Flat out the best debut album ever by any band. Ever single track is a gem. Brooklyn and Change of the Guard are amazing

[twistedtotal]

I've always said this. It is 100% the best debut album ever.

[vinkleman]

@twistedtotal A lot of people would say Boston, but I'm with you twisted. I've owned this on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, and cd. Worth every penny I spent, and then some.

[kevinherbert]

@twistedtotal : me three.....after all they're NYC Bard cowboys...what a sound...these guys make Rodgers & Hammerstein look like...Roy Rogers!!!!!!...no Dale Rogers!!!

[dogcow666]

@twistedtotal i'd have to give that to boston's self titled album but this one is up there for sure.

[OlymPigs2010]

...his lady's aching to bring his body down.....she daily preaches on where she wants to be.....an evening with a movie Queen...a face we all have seen.....Brooklyn owes the charmer under me.........

[plewis995]

You're right, this song deserves a good video treatment, like you gave it. Thanks, dude.

[darthjoey13]

This album is absolute musical perfection. Second only to Dark Side of the Moon in my book (even though I don't really like that one anymore, it's still the best ever.)

[TSaxman74]

The sweet voiced but ill-fated David Palmer, whose crooning didn't quite fit with Becker and Fagen's typically cynical lyrics, makes this a great love song to a borrough.

[pdbluesman]

Thanks for the posting. Great tune!!

[veveysan]

Has a kind of Eagles-like sound to it with the steel guitar throughout, and even the vocal. Now I'll listen to Lyin' Eyes to see if it sounds like Steely Dan.

[ctdevil28]

When I lived in Brooklyn I made sure to play this on the jukebox at my local bar whenever I was there. Love Steely Dan and miss brooklyn.

[huckhockey]

goint tonight in Boston..........and tomorrow for the request show. PLEASE play this tomorrow night

[tduross]

Great great song, almost makes me lose it. Nice video compilation too.  Thanks!

[MissCregg]

Great uplifting song. Thanks for posting it.

[DJbustanut121]

mint tune

[bruncleubba]

Nice video. My favorite Steely Dan song. Thanks.

[prazmj]

Too bad they fired the vocalist, because fegan or beckley can't sing.

[michaelp3138]

only a fool would say that prazmj

[prazmj]

The dumbass fired the guy that put steely dan on the map. Have you ever seen them live with the quality of music others do? Studio musicians are the real stars of this band.

[michaelp3138]

how ironic you say that - i was just listening to my local fm station and a dj who just saw them live in cincinnati - they performed 'the royal scam' - and the ever modest said that as guitarists in the band goes, on a list of most talented, he would be at the bottom - he gave nearly all the credit to larry carlton - they assembled the world's finest studio musicians and turned out the '70's best music - that's why, even though i saw them live in '93, i prefer their studio work

[michaelp3138]

the 'he' i'm referring to is walter becker - hopefully this clarifies the above comment

[tony6527]

This song transports me to another Universe .

[vinkleman]

great tune....great vid ty

[gobbaf]

I enjoyed this video. I guess Brooklyn has changed a lot since Fagan was there 40 years ago. Radio never plays this song.

[Chriscjb63]

Great song and nice job with the video. My parents both grew up in Brooklyn and my grandmother who passed recently at age 95 spent almost her entire life there. (I was born in NY, too) We've since transplanted to NC (many years ago) but there will always be a special place in my heart for the old hood!

[sunsetparkwallace]

funny thing. Born & raised in brooklyn but my dad's from Greensboro. Beautiful place.Now that both of my grandparents passed ,I really miss piggly wiggly,winn dixie and all NC.

[angie4josh]

@sunsetparkwallace I grew up in North Carolina and skippeed all the way to Australia at 19 LOL

[jessiejamesdean1]

Chriscjb63Back in the 90s I happened to "break down" in Brooklyn one morning,while making a delivery there,and while waiting for repairs,I recall standing outside a little Italian cafe, with the proprietor..It was winter,sunny with a light "drift" of snowflakes falling.We were just two guys standing on the sidewalk there,passing conversation..I was looking at the World Trade Center,between buildings.Magic.New York "always" makes an impression.

[bradmonium1]

@Chriscjb63 Like your comment. My mom is from Brooklyn as well... and my Uncle Stanley. I am putting this on their playlist.

[amazrand]

I've been looking for this song -for years- on utube.

Thank You Very Much!

[bierce85]

absolutely gorgeous song.

[antibimbo21]

I've always like the songs David Palmer sung on and this has to be my favorite. Thanks for the video/photo montage for this song.

[nnoorrvveell]

this song brought back a flood of great memories. life is good. life is short. time flies. thanks for a great post.

[andy42x]

2:04 what a gorgeous display of architecture. they sure don't make buildings like they used to. :(

[fluffydolly]

steely can't make a bad song.

[thelongshot99]

I was nice about Brooklyn. There are some SERIOUS ghetto areas created by housing developments. Don't romanticized Brooklyn. It is one of a kind. Great but old. Ghetto but Devolping. I'll leave out the etnic communities.

[andy42x]

this is a nice video... of course he's gonna show the charming and best parts of brooklyn. is he supposed to match the song up to someone getting stabbed in a brooklyn alley?

[thelongshot99]

I love steely dan and Brooklyn even though i favor Queens. Brooklyn is definetely on the improve but too many ill advised projects in prime locations coupled with the fact that it is a very old will always make it BROOKLYN!

[spikerooney011]

I just love your pictures of Brooklyn. I innocently walked those exact streets aged 14 and was offered drugs. I didn't know what drugs were, so I said no. Is it still safe? I adore this song and I adore the creativity and the hope that music gives all humanity.

[benjb22]

Looks like a nice city.

[xplund]

Cool Brooklyn scenes. Never been there, but it looks cool.

[Shamagogue]

Is Fagen saying that Brooklyn (his hometown) is or was his musical inspiration?

[barahona44]

Good tune, thanks for posting, love the steel guitar.

[andy42x]

u mean slide guitar? i don't know my instruments too well, but the solo that's played starting at 1:50... is that a slide guitar?

[pittyone]

as much as i know it`s a pedal steel solo by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

[palmmgt]

Thanks Sunset!

"President Street Pete" would be proud (the guy who lived down stairs from Becker on President Street in B'klyn, to whom the song was dedicated).

[pam101dalmatians]

1 of my fav songs....

[VodeoJMC63]

are the pictures literally of brooklyn?

[xplund]

No, San Jose. Kidding, of course it's Brooklyn.

[patentedtec]

Always liked this tune.

What the hell does that mean anyway, Brooklyn owes the charmer under me?

[sunsetparkwallace]

I asked the same , exact question. All I found out was that Steely Dan is know for cryptic lyrics.

[LinksPartner]

@sunsetparkwallace Maybe it's the person who lives under him in a building?

[ReformedPastorJude]

@sunsetparkwallace Ive been a SD fan for years but thought it was "brooklyn KNOWS the charmer.." oh well. thanks for clearing that up! lol

[nanderson1965]

@sunsetparkwallace

I assumed it meant that the city he loves has to give back to the lovely lady he is with.

The City has to pay back for the kindness of a lady...

[videotater]

@sunsetparkwallace apparently, it's about the couple who lived downstairs from the Dan boys while they were songwriting for this album. The guy and his wife had lived there for so many years, endured so much in the way of the petty insults of living a fairly poor life, they frequently fantasized about what they would do if they had real dough.... and that they really had it coming to them. They deserved it. "Brooklyn owes me!" The guy downstairs is the "charmer", wanting nice stuff to happen

[MrAmberRocker]

@sunsetparkwallace I've read that Fagen & Becker wrote the song in reference to a couple that lived below them when they shared an apartment in Brooklyn. It's said they often spoke of their current situation and events as well as their dreams of the future on the stoop outside the buiding. Eden Roc is an historic hotel at the north end of Miami Beach, an island cooling in the sea. If I'm not mistaken, which I could be, there's also a famous older Jack Nicklaus golf course rather close to it.

[videotater]

@MrAmberRocker I like the other meanings that you discussed with me via Email. Some of the lyrics DO sound like drug dealer references... but as the Dan is wont to do, they make it deliberately obscure, like a Dylan lyric. Dylan was one of their idols when they first met at Bard College (on the Wolverine up to) Annandale-on-Hudson.

I think Dr. Wu would know what to do with that last piastre. Maybe pay for that taste he said he'd bring to them. Spend a Dizzy weekend smacked into a trance...

[MrAmberRocker]

@videotater Thx Bro, I never realized the connnection to Dylan. But I totally get now to the reference of Annandale from the song "My Old School". Though given recent events I have to agree with his girlfriend "OH NO, Guadalajara won't do". XD I'll also admit the true art of being an artist. whether singer, painter, author, sculpter, or whaterever is to sometimes give a hint as to what inspired them, but never tell the whole story. Lest you remove the mystery & the art becomes just ornamental

[GalaxyHorse]

@patentedtec LOL..You know I've loved this song since I heard it in the 70's,

and I always secretly thought:"what the fuck does Broooklyn owes the Charmer under me mean"? Walter, Donald please tell us?

[iamdamocles]

@patentedtec @patentedtec It's a reference to someone who lived in the apartment below them. It was based upon a conversation they overheard from that neighbor or a pastiche of it. I once read an interview with the two and they said that for every song there would be like a page and a half of lyrics and then they would go and pull lines out, sometimes at random. I think that makes them much more open to interpretation.

[SoVerySappy]

@patentedtec dig deep there friend

[mugwamp4]

@patentedtec yeah ..my thoughts as well ,,love the song ...but...wtf is that title all about is it some "in joke "known only by new yorkers?? as i come from OZ it just doesnt make sense oh and yes we do speak english down here

[GoodReasonNews]

@patentedtec He thinks his downstairs neighbor deserves better. Like, for instance, a dish of dollars, or golf at noon for free.

[kawasicki]

great song, thanks for posting.