I gotta say this... " What the Fuck was Brian May trying to do"??? He was out of key, bad timing, horrible tone, miserable contribution etc..... Wow!!! Steely was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay "off" as well, but Brian May??? PURE-SHIT!!!
They are a little bit off but I think it's the crappy backing band with that poopschute Paul Schaeffer conducting them. It's pretty hard to look good with him on stage with you. Seriously, Donald and Walter might as well have been wearing sweat pants on stage. On another note. Any Megadeth fans here? Anyone else who notices a slight similarity between Donald Fagan's voice and Dave Mustaine's?
House band should have practiced once or twice or had charts in front of them.
The harbinger of how it was all going to fall apart was the first early change at
.43 seconds in. I can see how Paul Schaefer stepped in to try and prevent a complete and total meltdown. Now that Donald has been distracted you can hear it in the vocals from that point on. These were all competent musicians individually, but a large group needs to be co-ordinated. Can't attempt a save "on the fly". Disaster followed.
@410Bassman - Jeez! What are you, RELATED to Schaefer? He's full of himself, always has been and I don't like him doing anything Steely Dan... He's NOT worthy! There, I said it and I bet I get more people to agree with me than to agree with you!!!
i really love steely dan but these other dweebs just ruined this song for sure, brian may definitaly out of his comfort zone, as for paul shffr well there you go. wasnt to keen on the backup vocalists they sounded shit
To JazzPurist - although this is a heavily overdone version of a fine tune, don't you think that what Paul Shaffer is doing in this video is no more and no less than what any other band director does when leading a large group of musicians? His cueing of Fagen is FOR THE BAND MEMBERS and NOT for DF (look at who Shaffer is looking at). Get a grip - obviously Becker and Fagen had done rehearsals with this juggernaut of a group and agreed to perform
just saw Steely Dan in Tulsa @ Brady Theatre last night, youtubing it up this morning....omg...this is awful! WTF, the back up people and Schaefer managed to ruin this. Not posting on fb, that's for sure.
I hate Paul Scaffer as much as the next person, but this lousy performance is not his fault ... First off Brian May is playing out of tune ... Second, Fagen is singing way out of tune ... and third, the back-up singers are out of tune ........... Shaffer is basically just a court jester running around doing nothing.
DANG! You have Dan Becker, Donald Fagen PLUS Brian May...you'd think one of them would grab Paul Schaefer by the neck and arse and TOSS that little fairy off the stage...
Sad to see that Paul acts as though he is directing amatures. Paul needs to be put in a padded cell and made to listen to this non-stop for the rest of his life.
Wow, I never thought I'd ever listen to a bad Steely Dan performance. Congratulations, house band, you managed to suck with Fagen & Becker and that is really hard
Paul Schaefer is the opposite of Rock and Roll. He and that a**hole Letterman should be chipped off an ice island and sentenced to float away into the abyss.
If that was me on stage I would thrown fckin Paul Schaefer off the stage...and hopefully broke a few bones.....maybe even enough so we wouldn't see that talentless JOff!!!!!!!
After listening too this song a million times. I finally WATCHED it. WTF was Paul Schaefer doing there? Walter Becker looked like he wanted to put his guitar down and whip Paul's ass and throw him off the stage. Stick to Letterman Paul.
After reading all these comments and watching the video, I agree with most of the comments.
In the defense of Mr. Shaffer, he is directing an under-rehearsed band attempting to perform a difficult song. Fagan and Becker have a rep for eating bands/muscians for breakfast because of their intricate timing/chord structures. Its all good music and muscians like to play it but challenging to play.
It is easy to sound bad doing SD stuff.
BTW, the guitar solo sucks worse than an Elecrolux.
@steevee1945 Don't defend shaffer or the band or the Queen guitarist.. A lot of their arrangements are difficult, but this is a three chord minor blues over a simple bossa beat. They changed the hook tunaround a little, butt really Stuff you could play when you just started to learn
your instrument. The solo was really pathetic. he just couldn't find it. Wow.
I scrolled down to read all the responses.... which were spot on. Then I scrolled back up to find Schaefer still on stage 'conducting' the band at the 3:22 mark and couldn't believe it. White tux and all... so sadly out of place acting like it was a Letterman Show rehearsal.
I just watched this again after reading all the comments to see if i missed anything as some said Steely Dan just had a bad nite, well, I see that they really did have a very bad nite, but any band that had a tiny turd flapping his arms like a chicken in front of seasoned pros would have a bad nite, I could not believe what I saw, Those that think we are using that turd as a scapegoat best watch it again. as for you Paul, You are nothing but an annoying little turd, Letterman screwed up!
I dissed this video simply because of lil wannabe Paul, he was so off on everything, he pointed to Fagan 10 secs before it was Fagan, The guy is n always has been a wannabe
Thank The Lord for Don! becker is just so pathetic, Don just keeps him on out of pity. They even have to hire a REAL guitarist so becker doesn’t look so damn lame. He’s such a mental midget and just look at him trying to play, oh my God, jerking around like a palsey, geeeezzzz. Thanks Don, for taking care of the little feller. What a nice guy.
Paul Schaefer shouldn't be the scapegoat for aging performers who are a little past their prime. It happens to the best of us, so let's just enjoy the song for the memories and not get so snarly. I still love the song, despite the imperfection- art is process (or reprocess) not product.
To those slagging Paul Shaffer- to be charitable, I suspect what he's doing is leading a band that's never rehearsed together. This is a sort of pickup band reading charts cold, nit the Dan touring band. And yes, Brian may doesn't do all that great with complicated jazzy charts... but it's a noble effort.
@Ohgrowup1....I never said anything about Leon having anything to do with this song. I was referring to Shafer trying to lead a group in their own song. The comment about Where is Leon was directed in general at the RRHF which has left many of he best Artist out of their ridiculous club... Leon is jsut one of many great ones not in and most deserving....
@keicarlover13 It's Paul Schaffer, the moron who conducted the band for Late Night with David Letterman. He's a musician who is sooooooooo full of himself it's pathetic.
Its like Schaefer is struggling to keep things together. What do you expect when musicians aren't used to playing together, let alone are inferior? R^R Hall is a joke anyhow.
yeah that was painful ... you know when you watch Brian May's solo ... it really looks like Paul Schaefer was in his way and throwing him off his game. Just see at 2:52 that blad head bobbing back and forth in front of May and at 3:22 looks like May is getting pissed at Paul Schaefer. I don't blame May.
I remember watching this as a teen and thinking "Man, Steely Dan sucks". I'm glad that I later found out that isn't true at all... this backing band just sucks.
To everyone on stage: Will the REAL Steely Dan please stand up? Everyone else please leave the building, you are SO NOT WORTHY to be in the presence of GENIUS!!! And you should be ashamed of yourselves for even thinking you could attempt to play on the same stage!
This is pure disgrace, brian may go home and practise. How do this guys have the balls to appear next to fagen and becker. This shows the real genius next to the very average musicians who overrate themselves.
First of all, why in the WORLD would Paul Schaefer think he is even capable of attempting to direct a Steely Dan song with the creators of the piece ON THE STAGE? What a moron. The backup singers were out of rhythm, the band sucked canal water and clearly Fagen and Becker just wanted to get it over with. How DARE Schaefer walk in FRONT of Becker while he was trying to perform AND THEN direct Fagen on when to come in? To Steely Dan, I apologize for this debacle to had to endure.
@JazzPurist Do you know the story behind this set-up? I'd be shocked if Paul's really imposing himself uninvited on the band in what is clearly a mash-up of artists, mostly playing music that's outside of their repertoire and individual learning. It looked to me like they were directionless, and the band was waiting for someone to tell them to get out if the jam and back to the song, and Paul was up there doing what he was placed there to do, in a sprawling group of people, under a time limit.
@JazzPurist Absolutely excruciating and execrable performance, in fact, I couldn't even watch the whole thing. When even my shitty ear training tells me the band isn't playing the right thing, you know the whole thing is fucked.
Just looking forward to seeing them at CPAC in June.
@JazzPurist I'm surprised Fagen stood for Schaefer's idiocy. He must';ve been on tranquillisers because he'd normally storm off the stage.(haha)
Far too much going on here and Brian May's guitar sound just doesn't fit..it would be far better with a clean , jazz tone. Where's Denny Dias when you need him?
@JazzPurist This was a house band, not a touring band. By trade, Schaffer is a conductor. I don't think he's conducting Fagen, Becker, & May (The 3) but to make sure he's in sync with them and letting the rest of the band know what time to keep. Look at the tape closely & you'll see Fagen is looking at the audience the entire time. @3:35, he's keeping time for the band by following The 3's lead. Still a pretty disappointing result. If you never saw it, search this song & Michael McDonald- SMOOTH
@JazzPurist Put this in perspective. Steely Dan's music is VERY complex as it is (in its recorded version). Now add in a re-arranging of the song and 4 elements who aren't used to playing with each other (Becker/Fagen, the House Band, Paul & May). It could have been tighter. At least when they did this with Michael McDonald, there was some familiarity since MM was w/ them before joining the Doobie Bros. This is an example of a super jam gone wrong when the players don't know each others style
Schaefer was out there making an ass of himself because half the band doesn't know the song. Skunk Baxter is there, but Brian May does the solo. Watch how May, the drummer, and the backup singers keep looking out for cues -- and watch how Schaefer keeps telegraphing cues to them.
Wow, what a lot of negative assumptions about Schaefer here! He's trying to coordinate the house band with Becker and Fagen, and no doubt there were other artists appearing as well. So he's the leader, okay? Fagen acknowledges it. And Paul could be signalling to the audio guy as much as anyone else about who's coming in when. Becker and Fagen don't need to direct their own backing band on stage because they've rehearsed it all before. Here, they need help.
This is just really awkward. I love Steely Dan, but lets face it, "Do it Again" was a poor choice. Donald Fagen's voice ain't what it used to be. It sounded weak. Too many musicians playing in the band, Paul Shaffer running around frantically trying to keep everyone together. Its obvious that they just threw it all together at the last minute. Not a good representation of Steely Dan. Steely Dan is primarily a studio band anway. I haven't been overly impressed with any live show of theirs.
It's strange, you've got Fagan and Becker PLUS Brian May...that should be a great combination. How do you ruin it? By letting Paul Shaffer get involved
How do you figure Brian May is a natural combination with Steely Dan? His style is fine, but it's a very different feel and attitude than the Dan. It looks to me like Schaefer is encouraging the band to hold back and let May extend his solo, as flat and unimpressive as it is. That's May's fault, not Schaefer's.
God this sounds like late night with Jay leno style. I hate that bald fag with a passion. hes useless! let Steely Dan do their thing cause they are MASTERS!! Gosh I gotta do what that other guy said about listening to the original to wash my ears from that horrible version
Yikes!!! What a mess! Mostly reflects badly on the production end and not as much Becker and Fagan. It's like "Hey, you're getting inducted! Why not have everyone in the building play on your song tonight!" Great idea! NOT!
I'm going to play the studio version while I drift off to sleep tonight to erase this one.
the house band sux? man donald sounds terrible here. maybe they shouldve got david palmer back! they were so impeccable in the studio what a shame they couldnt have worked as hard on a good backing band like they did in 72 and 73. also why brian may for the solo it really sucked. even walter becker sucked. come on guys bring back steely dan! what happened?
I love Queen, and I love Steely Dan, but Brian May was a weird choice for guitarist on this song, and an even weirder choice for the solo. Becker would've done a better job stylistically. I imagine Brian was a bit nervous playing out of his shell on stage with Becker and Fagan. Odd that Becker didn't seem to play much on this anyway. Can't blame the house band entirely for poor sound. The mix isn't that great. I'm sure it wasn't this empty live.
I love Queen and Steely Dan, but Brian May is a bit of an odd choice for a guitarist in this song, especially for the solo. Becker would've done a better job stylistically. Oddly, he didn't seem to play much on this song. I think a good portion of the poor audio has to do with a poor job. Can't blame the band entirely.
Quit hatin on this performance. Not their best but also nowhere near the worst stuff on youtube. Sadly enough it's a Rolling Stone event, so you have to take it with a grain of salt...or morphine to kill the pain. If they had played it a half or a whole step lower there would probably have been no problem with Donald singing it.
ya know, fagen has NEVER been able to sing this song live decently, but at least when its bad all those other times, its DAN thats playing, not this horrible groups of shits. the guitar solo was atrocious & the backup singers were about as useful as bark. and what tops it off? shaffer directing the band, LIKE AN ORCHESTRA. its a band u buffoon, get off the stage & dont fuck with fagen & becker. u deserved that death look becker gave u when u shuffled past him near the end
wow I thought this sucked but was worried I just didn't "get" steely dan or something. But I see from the comments it was for good reason. Yeah good god his vocals sound like shit. And that solo...shiver..fucking horrible
well, everybody's got a share of bad performance. paul should not be there. brian may's solo is off too far from the original, his improvisation doesn't help either. back-up singers are like going out hiking on a different path. walter's guitar doesn't sound right while donald's vocals sound like he's not singing the tune since the last 20 years! gosh!
Where's Denny Dias when you need him lol. His original solo smoked Brian May's, Brian May is an amazing guitarist but that solo did not fit. They should have brought back the original Steely Dan when they first toured and not the house band, that would have been awesome.
@EastJunction This is definitely not Brian May's cup of tea. My number one guitar hero of all time - looks like a wrong place for him to be. Although it was cool he quoted Death On Two Legs on the beginning of his guitar solo. But sadly, it did not fit ultimately. I guess had they played Reelin In The Years, Brian could have played a better guitar solo in it.
everybody is slamming paul, but honestly he has put together some magic moments at the hof over the years. this just isnt one of them, it doesnt always work.
Even Paul Shaffer's directing can't save this COLOSSAL fucked-up blunder.
Monumental bad musicianship by a house band. Good God. I'm embarrassed watching it. Any person who has heard the song 10 times on the radio would not aaarrrrgggghhh the wrong chord changes are.... there isn't a word....
I agree with most of the latest comments here especially mctalks. Why didn't the rest of the proper band get to perform at the Hall of Fame? How do they feel about this? Where was John Herrington? Where was Cornlius and the rest of the horn section? Where was Caroline L? Did anyone hear Brian May's few dud notes? This was a rock guitarist trying to play jazz fusion. Ugh!
I love SD but WTF Brian May?!!! And who is the completely talentless DICKHEAD in the white coat? Clearly Some brain dead media corporation asshole calling the shots when things suck as bad as this.
@Bryt25 The white coated D1ck is Paul Schaeffer, a sort of aAmerican Jools Holland twat; ie: they both play a bit of music and thanks to their connections, feel they belong in the big leagues/ Paul is(was) also leader of houseband for Jay Leno, or Letterman, or one of those d1ck'eds.
Kinda enbrassing watching this,knowing how great The Dan are,but this was really painful,it's like they forgot to practice,by the way at least they tried to do their best,guess they were tired out,but Brian May did a good job aswell,coyuld've been alot better way to have done this.` _____`
As we all know, Steely Dan hates to perform on stage. That song aint made for Donald Fagen for that point beeing. Paul Schaffer is just in the way really... That guitare solo was probably the worst I've heard in a while... Donald is still the king and Becker saved the guitar part... I imagine that Steely Dan was forced to perform this in order to get into the R&R Hall of fame. They still rock and their music is timeless. ROCK ON! :D
you americans are so critical - as usual you wouldn't know talent if it bit you on the arse - musical talent has nothing to do with how you look dickheads !!!!!
Waht the hell is Paul Shaffer doing trying to conduct that band...Is it just me or is about a worthless piece of **** I mean hells bells Paul look at the talent on that stage...do you feel like the "dan Ackroyd " of that gathering?
You're generalizing with a peabrain that Steely Dan isn't original because you're thinking of things like production. Analyze the music, and you should be able to see how completely wrong you are.
But thats okay if you don't. Not everybody can understand complex harmonies. Especially if you're an idiot.
Their altered blueses are completely original. Take Pretzel Logic, Green Earrings, Glamour Profession, or Chain Lightning and analyze the progressions of I/IV/V, the turnaround, substitutions and key changes. To say that Steely Dan wasn't original is foolish.
Your example of nobody being influenced by Steely Dan is wrong, first of all it's difficult to copy their sound because the writings are too harmonically complex for most to understand.
This situation is unrehearsed and awkward , you're playing through strange gear and half the band has never even played your music before. Still gotta respect Fagen/Becker
I gotta say this... " What the Fuck was Brian May trying to do"??? He was out of key, bad timing, horrible tone, miserable contribution etc..... Wow!!! Steely was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay "off" as well, but Brian May??? PURE-SHIT!!!
axeslinger013 4 days ago
They are a little bit off but I think it's the crappy backing band with that poopschute Paul Schaeffer conducting them. It's pretty hard to look good with him on stage with you. Seriously, Donald and Walter might as well have been wearing sweat pants on stage. On another note. Any Megadeth fans here? Anyone else who notices a slight similarity between Donald Fagan's voice and Dave Mustaine's?
UMAMIMAMU 1 week ago
Schaefer is a duoche nozzle.
nick62040 2 weeks ago in playlist Steely Dan
Totally right Bassman. Schaefer not worthy of the Dan.
RandyPreksta 2 weeks ago
If this is the worst it gets then steely dan is outrageously sickkkkk magnificent
sandythebear 1 month ago
wat to go brain may you kicked ass
steelychas 1 month ago
fuck paul
steelychas 1 month ago
You are all idiots...they changed the arrangement for this performance...not unusual for Fagen and Becker.
rajjar52 1 month ago
Terrible. I love Steely Dan, one of my favorite acts of all time. But, this is horrible.
bangcolt 2 months ago
Yeah the instruments are off but his lead vocal is not exactly on key either..is it?
TheBobberhead 2 months ago
House band should have practiced once or twice or had charts in front of them.
The harbinger of how it was all going to fall apart was the first early change at
.43 seconds in. I can see how Paul Schaefer stepped in to try and prevent a complete and total meltdown. Now that Donald has been distracted you can hear it in the vocals from that point on. These were all competent musicians individually, but a large group needs to be co-ordinated. Can't attempt a save "on the fly". Disaster followed.
superspymarco 2 months ago
Great as May is....a little out of his depth here. Must have been shitting himself. Know I would have!
littlequacka 3 months ago
@410Bassman - Jeez! What are you, RELATED to Schaefer? He's full of himself, always has been and I don't like him doing anything Steely Dan... He's NOT worthy! There, I said it and I bet I get more people to agree with me than to agree with you!!!
JazzPurist 3 months ago
a guy rights a good song and everybody wants in on the act.
thats life oh yeh
pete9124 4 months ago
i really love steely dan but these other dweebs just ruined this song for sure, brian may definitaly out of his comfort zone, as for paul shffr well there you go. wasnt to keen on the backup vocalists they sounded shit
roach4946 4 months ago
To JazzPurist - although this is a heavily overdone version of a fine tune, don't you think that what Paul Shaffer is doing in this video is no more and no less than what any other band director does when leading a large group of musicians? His cueing of Fagen is FOR THE BAND MEMBERS and NOT for DF (look at who Shaffer is looking at). Get a grip - obviously Becker and Fagen had done rehearsals with this juggernaut of a group and agreed to perform
pkalnin1 5 months ago
Paul Schaefer is like the anti-Midas. Everything he touches turns to shit.
iamkilroy 5 months ago
...you guys are all off beat. Paul was obviously not only welcomed but needed. Take a closer look and listen. The key word here is ''unrehearsed''.
popsaka1 6 months ago 2
PAUL SCHAFFER...A SANCTIMONIOUS JACK ASS!!!.....OMG....Why is he EVEN PRESENT AT THIS?
clocktime11 6 months ago
MY DADS CUTT..TE QUERO PAPA!!! TU HIJA
lisadiazsmg 6 months ago
just saw Steely Dan in Tulsa @ Brady Theatre last night, youtubing it up this morning....omg...this is awful! WTF, the back up people and Schaefer managed to ruin this. Not posting on fb, that's for sure.
captainsgypsycat 6 months ago
this suxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
hickrystyk 6 months ago
This is overkill...bring back Denny Dias for the guitar solo.
This song requires a Jazz based guitar solo.
taildragger53 6 months ago
a jam-band version
dldl43b 6 months ago
Why did that little cretin (Paul) ever get famous....Can't stand him! You know he is a self important A-Hole.
mistersq01 6 months ago
at 4:26 i think Donald is mocking Schaffer. ahaha
MrMatt1606 7 months ago
Mixing bands is like mixing drugs, a bad idea, and it won't end well.
TheCarlsonsRaiders 7 months ago
I hate Paul Scaffer as much as the next person, but this lousy performance is not his fault ... First off Brian May is playing out of tune ... Second, Fagen is singing way out of tune ... and third, the back-up singers are out of tune ........... Shaffer is basically just a court jester running around doing nothing.
shutdafup 7 months ago
DANG! You have Dan Becker, Donald Fagen PLUS Brian May...you'd think one of them would grab Paul Schaefer by the neck and arse and TOSS that little fairy off the stage...
Sup3rwood 7 months ago
Fuck what an embarassment that Paul is. He is a real show off and should be on medication...Lithium would be a good start.
pungooer 7 months ago
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@pungooer ... idiot you are
hhfan21 7 months ago
Sad to see that Paul acts as though he is directing amatures. Paul needs to be put in a padded cell and made to listen to this non-stop for the rest of his life.
dradioz 7 months ago
fucking shaffer...
ripnread 7 months ago
Sadly unfortunate and somewhat painful to watch/listen. This should have been played with Skunk & others, and tightened up....
rkl17 7 months ago
WHERE'S JEFF "SKUNK" BAXTER WHEN YA NEED HIM???
RichStranger 7 months ago
Paul schaffer should be dosed with gasoline and lit afire
marsbars4 7 months ago
That dancing thing Paul is doing starting at 3:06 is hilarious.
DX7Alex 7 months ago
Wow, I never thought I'd ever listen to a bad Steely Dan performance. Congratulations, house band, you managed to suck with Fagen & Becker and that is really hard
The2BallisticBrother 8 months ago
Paul Schaefer is the opposite of Rock and Roll. He and that a**hole Letterman should be chipped off an ice island and sentenced to float away into the abyss.
jamo387 8 months ago
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Bloody awfull, what a waste. And hobbit-boy isn't even camera-shy!
SameOldFunk 8 months ago
Bloody awfull, what a waste. And hobbitboy isn't even camerashy!
SameOldFunk 8 months ago
shaefer u worthless turd, gtfo
leelomoe 8 months ago
where is the Stage Hook when you need him?
miamigroove 9 months ago
Who is this Paul Shaeffer midget dude? Relevant when?
BackPainIsGone 9 months ago 2
If that was me on stage I would thrown fckin Paul Schaefer off the stage...and hopefully broke a few bones.....maybe even enough so we wouldn't see that talentless JOff!!!!!!!
Mediocrepolice 9 months ago
I love this song but they really trashed it at the rrhall of fame dig.
billbailey60 9 months ago
After listening too this song a million times. I finally WATCHED it. WTF was Paul Schaefer doing there? Walter Becker looked like he wanted to put his guitar down and whip Paul's ass and throw him off the stage. Stick to Letterman Paul.
MisterB2eternity 9 months ago 2
They should make a Walter Becker Bobble Head. lol
tyleryesta1 10 months ago
WOW! that was TERRIBLE.
6t4eldo 10 months ago
After reading all these comments and watching the video, I agree with most of the comments.
In the defense of Mr. Shaffer, he is directing an under-rehearsed band attempting to perform a difficult song. Fagan and Becker have a rep for eating bands/muscians for breakfast because of their intricate timing/chord structures. Its all good music and muscians like to play it but challenging to play.
It is easy to sound bad doing SD stuff.
BTW, the guitar solo sucks worse than an Elecrolux.
steevee1945 10 months ago
@steevee1945 Don't defend shaffer or the band or the Queen guitarist.. A lot of their arrangements are difficult, but this is a three chord minor blues over a simple bossa beat. They changed the hook tunaround a little, butt really Stuff you could play when you just started to learn
your instrument. The solo was really pathetic. he just couldn't find it. Wow.
markmarktarmann 7 months ago
I scrolled down to read all the responses.... which were spot on. Then I scrolled back up to find Schaefer still on stage 'conducting' the band at the 3:22 mark and couldn't believe it. White tux and all... so sadly out of place acting like it was a Letterman Show rehearsal.
squonk61 10 months ago 4
talk about pearls before a crock...no wonder that hack May muscled in on the party!
krasnyploshad3 10 months ago
Dear Paul - get the hell of the stage. With love - Tim
timmybass69 10 months ago 2
I just watched this again after reading all the comments to see if i missed anything as some said Steely Dan just had a bad nite, well, I see that they really did have a very bad nite, but any band that had a tiny turd flapping his arms like a chicken in front of seasoned pros would have a bad nite, I could not believe what I saw, Those that think we are using that turd as a scapegoat best watch it again. as for you Paul, You are nothing but an annoying little turd, Letterman screwed up!
VegasPhoneMan 10 months ago 2
I dissed this video simply because of lil wannabe Paul, he was so off on everything, he pointed to Fagan 10 secs before it was Fagan, The guy is n always has been a wannabe
VegasPhoneMan 10 months ago
Paul Schaefer , wtf are you doing your make video suck,, go away little man
ivanzuc 11 months ago 2
sorry fucking awful! i love brian mays solo it was shit
Yamah12a 11 months ago
this is shit
Yamah12a 11 months ago
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Thank The Lord for Don! becker is just so pathetic, Don just keeps him on out of pity. They even have to hire a REAL guitarist so becker doesn’t look so damn lame. He’s such a mental midget and just look at him trying to play, oh my God, jerking around like a palsey, geeeezzzz. Thanks Don, for taking care of the little feller. What a nice guy.
aristotled1 11 months ago
Paul Schaefer shouldn't be the scapegoat for aging performers who are a little past their prime. It happens to the best of us, so let's just enjoy the song for the memories and not get so snarly. I still love the song, despite the imperfection- art is process (or reprocess) not product.
mella1970 1 year ago
To those slagging Paul Shaffer- to be charitable, I suspect what he's doing is leading a band that's never rehearsed together. This is a sort of pickup band reading charts cold, nit the Dan touring band. And yes, Brian may doesn't do all that great with complicated jazzy charts... but it's a noble effort.
mjedelman 1 year ago
Brian May's solo roughly translates to "What the hell am I doing here?" I've never heard his playing sound so uncertain.
czgibson 1 year ago
very good the song
4a2g 1 year ago
Can we discuss how Fagen's best days are behind him vocally?
secondeagle 1 year ago
@secondeagle All because he spent 40 years sucking Skunk Baxters cock?
yourdickis2limp 1 year ago
@secondeagle You could always tell he was never actually a trained vocalist, But his voice is still unique.. though this isn't his best night
KMatteKudasaiC 1 year ago
I can never see this ever again. They're just not wanting to be there !!
Messiah2k9 1 year ago
I didn't think a Steely Dan song could be ruined. Even so I can't bring myself to vote it down.
QFEguy 1 year ago
I'm sure Paul was just trying to make sure everything just went smoothly, JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.
tmss784 1 year ago
@Ohgrowup1....I never said anything about Leon having anything to do with this song. I was referring to Shafer trying to lead a group in their own song. The comment about Where is Leon was directed in general at the RRHF which has left many of he best Artist out of their ridiculous club... Leon is jsut one of many great ones not in and most deserving....
peelumba 1 year ago
who is that baldie dancing around stupidly in front of Fagen and Becker?
keicarlover13 1 year ago
@keicarlover13 It's Paul Schaffer, the moron who conducted the band for Late Night with David Letterman. He's a musician who is sooooooooo full of himself it's pathetic.
Ohgrowup1 1 year ago
too much production...lost it's feeling
wreckageyears 1 year ago
I didn't know gilbert gottfried was a vocalist
VInferno55 1 year ago
WTF!?
spoonido 1 year ago
Oh god, my ears are bleeding. This must be the worst version of this song ever.
basefellow 1 year ago
should have just the people who made this song play it? RRHF is a joke. Where is Leon Russell????? A worthless organization......
peelumba 1 year ago
@peelumba Leon Russell NEVER, EVER had anything to do with this song
Ohgrowup1 1 year ago
@peelumba Leon Russell NEVER, EVER had anything to do with this song... EVER!
Ohgrowup1 1 year ago
why didn't becker play the gtr solo?
Th0masBivens 1 year ago
@Th0masBivens I guess Brian May just wanted to jam, and they gave him the solo part.
synestheticmonotony 1 year ago
Its like Schaefer is struggling to keep things together. What do you expect when musicians aren't used to playing together, let alone are inferior? R^R Hall is a joke anyhow.
jdbohdan 1 year ago
Umm, the worst guitar solo. Backup band is okay but, man... Sorry Walt and Don. I think they paid you back for you previous comments.
Jazzsander 1 year ago
yeah that was painful ... you know when you watch Brian May's solo ... it really looks like Paul Schaefer was in his way and throwing him off his game. Just see at 2:52 that blad head bobbing back and forth in front of May and at 3:22 looks like May is getting pissed at Paul Schaefer. I don't blame May.
TheRealRussG 1 year ago
I remember watching this as a teen and thinking "Man, Steely Dan sucks". I'm glad that I later found out that isn't true at all... this backing band just sucks.
boiledrootbeer 1 year ago
To everyone on stage: Will the REAL Steely Dan please stand up? Everyone else please leave the building, you are SO NOT WORTHY to be in the presence of GENIUS!!! And you should be ashamed of yourselves for even thinking you could attempt to play on the same stage!
viewer362 1 year ago
Comment removed
caknorisbalkanboj 1 year ago
This is pure disgrace, brian may go home and practise. How do this guys have the balls to appear next to fagen and becker. This shows the real genius next to the very average musicians who overrate themselves.
caknorisbalkanboj 1 year ago
First of all, why in the WORLD would Paul Schaefer think he is even capable of attempting to direct a Steely Dan song with the creators of the piece ON THE STAGE? What a moron. The backup singers were out of rhythm, the band sucked canal water and clearly Fagen and Becker just wanted to get it over with. How DARE Schaefer walk in FRONT of Becker while he was trying to perform AND THEN direct Fagen on when to come in? To Steely Dan, I apologize for this debacle to had to endure.
JazzPurist 1 year ago 43
@JazzPurist - Paul Schaefer is an obnoxious little prick, and this backing band sucked. What an insult to Becker & Fagan. I am ashamed.
briva 1 year ago
@briva I LOVE it when someone agrees with me :-)
JazzPurist 1 year ago
@JazzPurist Do you know the story behind this set-up? I'd be shocked if Paul's really imposing himself uninvited on the band in what is clearly a mash-up of artists, mostly playing music that's outside of their repertoire and individual learning. It looked to me like they were directionless, and the band was waiting for someone to tell them to get out if the jam and back to the song, and Paul was up there doing what he was placed there to do, in a sprawling group of people, under a time limit.
ehcmier 1 year ago
@JazzPurist Absolutely excruciating and execrable performance, in fact, I couldn't even watch the whole thing. When even my shitty ear training tells me the band isn't playing the right thing, you know the whole thing is fucked.
Just looking forward to seeing them at CPAC in June.
DragonFlyEye 9 months ago
@JazzPurist Thats what you get when they get free flowing guys to wear suits and ties....to 'preform' and not 'play'
ranjanchadha 8 months ago
@JazzPurist I just watched this and totally agree with you. Ponderous....:)
dradioz 7 months ago
@JazzPurist I'm surprised Fagen stood for Schaefer's idiocy. He must';ve been on tranquillisers because he'd normally storm off the stage.(haha)
Far too much going on here and Brian May's guitar sound just doesn't fit..it would be far better with a clean , jazz tone. Where's Denny Dias when you need him?
taildragger53 6 months ago
@JazzPurist This was a house band, not a touring band. By trade, Schaffer is a conductor. I don't think he's conducting Fagen, Becker, & May (The 3) but to make sure he's in sync with them and letting the rest of the band know what time to keep. Look at the tape closely & you'll see Fagen is looking at the audience the entire time. @3:35, he's keeping time for the band by following The 3's lead. Still a pretty disappointing result. If you never saw it, search this song & Michael McDonald- SMOOTH
johnduncan77 6 months ago
@JazzPurist Put this in perspective. Steely Dan's music is VERY complex as it is (in its recorded version). Now add in a re-arranging of the song and 4 elements who aren't used to playing with each other (Becker/Fagen, the House Band, Paul & May). It could have been tighter. At least when they did this with Michael McDonald, there was some familiarity since MM was w/ them before joining the Doobie Bros. This is an example of a super jam gone wrong when the players don't know each others style
johnduncan77 6 months ago
@JazzPurist
Schaefer was out there making an ass of himself because half the band doesn't know the song. Skunk Baxter is there, but Brian May does the solo. Watch how May, the drummer, and the backup singers keep looking out for cues -- and watch how Schaefer keeps telegraphing cues to them.
TehGav 5 months ago
@JazzPurist - SPOT ON AND APOLOGY EXCEPTED! WHAT A C.O.S.
HEARTHEANGELSVOICES 4 months ago
@JazzPurist
Wow, what a lot of negative assumptions about Schaefer here! He's trying to coordinate the house band with Becker and Fagen, and no doubt there were other artists appearing as well. So he's the leader, okay? Fagen acknowledges it. And Paul could be signalling to the audio guy as much as anyone else about who's coming in when. Becker and Fagen don't need to direct their own backing band on stage because they've rehearsed it all before. Here, they need help.
410bassman 3 months ago
This is just really awkward. I love Steely Dan, but lets face it, "Do it Again" was a poor choice. Donald Fagen's voice ain't what it used to be. It sounded weak. Too many musicians playing in the band, Paul Shaffer running around frantically trying to keep everyone together. Its obvious that they just threw it all together at the last minute. Not a good representation of Steely Dan. Steely Dan is primarily a studio band anway. I haven't been overly impressed with any live show of theirs.
jeddieb85 1 year ago
It's strange, you've got Fagan and Becker PLUS Brian May...that should be a great combination. How do you ruin it? By letting Paul Shaffer get involved
Schbopo 1 year ago 23
@Schbopo I couldn't have said it better!!!
Ohgrowup1 1 year ago
C'est vrai en tabaslac. le gars en BLANC a pas d'affaire là...imbécile va.
ViensMeVoir 11 months ago
@Schbopo
How do you figure Brian May is a natural combination with Steely Dan? His style is fine, but it's a very different feel and attitude than the Dan. It looks to me like Schaefer is encouraging the band to hold back and let May extend his solo, as flat and unimpressive as it is. That's May's fault, not Schaefer's.
410bassman 3 months ago
God this sounds like late night with Jay leno style. I hate that bald fag with a passion. hes useless! let Steely Dan do their thing cause they are MASTERS!! Gosh I gotta do what that other guy said about listening to the original to wash my ears from that horrible version
OfficialRobbieMason 1 year ago 2
Yikes!!! What a mess! Mostly reflects badly on the production end and not as much Becker and Fagan. It's like "Hey, you're getting inducted! Why not have everyone in the building play on your song tonight!" Great idea! NOT!
I'm going to play the studio version while I drift off to sleep tonight to erase this one.
NoFretGuitar 1 year ago
the house band sux? man donald sounds terrible here. maybe they shouldve got david palmer back! they were so impeccable in the studio what a shame they couldnt have worked as hard on a good backing band like they did in 72 and 73. also why brian may for the solo it really sucked. even walter becker sucked. come on guys bring back steely dan! what happened?
salamonetalton 1 year ago
The backing band somehow manages to turn a song that in its original form sounds unctuous and sinister into pure lounge schlock. Oyez!
bucky2300 1 year ago
I love Queen, and I love Steely Dan, but Brian May was a weird choice for guitarist on this song, and an even weirder choice for the solo. Becker would've done a better job stylistically. I imagine Brian was a bit nervous playing out of his shell on stage with Becker and Fagan. Odd that Becker didn't seem to play much on this anyway. Can't blame the house band entirely for poor sound. The mix isn't that great. I'm sure it wasn't this empty live.
typicalwebster 1 year ago
I love Queen and Steely Dan, but Brian May is a bit of an odd choice for a guitarist in this song, especially for the solo. Becker would've done a better job stylistically. Oddly, he didn't seem to play much on this song. I think a good portion of the poor audio has to do with a poor job. Can't blame the band entirely.
typicalwebster 1 year ago
Suddenly I understand why Fagan never liked singing live.
Schbopo 1 year ago
god damn they might as well had david palmer sing for them again like in1973. donald wasnt up to aja's spectre!
salamonetalton 1 year ago 2
@salamonetalton heck, get Skunk and Dias too. I don't care if Skunk plays the congas as long as he makes it.
gulfmar 1 year ago
Paul Shaffer ... wat an asswipe.
BigIronTech 1 year ago
My GOD, would Paul Shaffer PLEASE go away???
rockabillyrayhudson 1 year ago
"never do it again"
Wyattchicago 1 year ago
Comment removed
Wyattchicago 1 year ago
e che cazzo pure brian may che sona con loro....non vale!
nomadicoverband 1 year ago
May solo is quite good
Anymajordude5 1 year ago
Quit hatin on this performance. Not their best but also nowhere near the worst stuff on youtube. Sadly enough it's a Rolling Stone event, so you have to take it with a grain of salt...or morphine to kill the pain. If they had played it a half or a whole step lower there would probably have been no problem with Donald singing it.
johnpmclaughlin 1 year ago
Although... Becker's 2nd solo SUX !!!!!
kevinherbert 1 year ago
Sad, sad, sad....Vive la Passée!!!
michaelaffatato 1 year ago
ya know, fagen has NEVER been able to sing this song live decently, but at least when its bad all those other times, its DAN thats playing, not this horrible groups of shits. the guitar solo was atrocious & the backup singers were about as useful as bark. and what tops it off? shaffer directing the band, LIKE AN ORCHESTRA. its a band u buffoon, get off the stage & dont fuck with fagen & becker. u deserved that death look becker gave u when u shuffled past him near the end
kell1reilly2 1 year ago 2
This IS weird. Maybe ask the dark haired girl for a date.
OilyPablo 1 year ago
Donald looks like Dr Strangelove on this clip. He even lifts up his arm at just before 2.50. However It is a very nice Becker Solo.
Donald's performance not impaired even if he was "relaxed".
Johnnybgoode56 1 year ago
Oh my, what a massacre. The least common denominator of all of the gazillion participants. Really - poor Becker and Fagan!! Hostages is about right!
MayAllSentientBeings 1 year ago
Not good, really not!
Nick300wm 1 year ago
wow I thought this sucked but was worried I just didn't "get" steely dan or something. But I see from the comments it was for good reason. Yeah good god his vocals sound like shit. And that solo...shiver..fucking horrible
lightmobile 1 year ago
No swagger no mojo
sandythebear 1 year ago
Lokks like a Becker/Fagan hostage tape. Jesus.
czarjem 1 year ago
groannnnnnnnn it seems that everything R&R Hall of Fame touches turns to crap
mattbastardsen 1 year ago
Get the BALD guy with the white jacket OUTTA there ! ! !
durgaaa 1 year ago
Shaffer needs to get the hell out of town
sandythebear 1 year ago
Oh my God! Every school band would play this better!! never heard something like that.
haifauhde 1 year ago
WWWWWW TTTTTTTTT FFFFFFFFFF is this ?
mrnipmip 1 year ago
WTF is the purpose of that fuckin "band leader" bald guy
sandythebear 1 year ago
WTF is wrong with Paul Shaffer? He's running around the whole stage like a fool. This whole thing was a mess
TheRanger28 1 year ago 2
well, everybody's got a share of bad performance. paul should not be there. brian may's solo is off too far from the original, his improvisation doesn't help either. back-up singers are like going out hiking on a different path. walter's guitar doesn't sound right while donald's vocals sound like he's not singing the tune since the last 20 years! gosh!
zreid1989 1 year ago
So Bad! One of the greatest bands, and songs of all time, sans that Shaffer puke?Aweful!!!!!!!
michaelabasham 1 year ago
Where's Denny Dias when you need him lol. His original solo smoked Brian May's, Brian May is an amazing guitarist but that solo did not fit. They should have brought back the original Steely Dan when they first toured and not the house band, that would have been awesome.
EastJunction 1 year ago
@EastJunction This is definitely not Brian May's cup of tea. My number one guitar hero of all time - looks like a wrong place for him to be. Although it was cool he quoted Death On Two Legs on the beginning of his guitar solo. But sadly, it did not fit ultimately. I guess had they played Reelin In The Years, Brian could have played a better guitar solo in it.
bpabustan 1 year ago
lol at the look Becker gives Shaffer at 04:40
*Adjusts guitar
degree7 1 year ago
everybody is slamming paul, but honestly he has put together some magic moments at the hof over the years. this just isnt one of them, it doesnt always work.
zepp1977 1 year ago
Even Paul Shaffer's directing can't save this COLOSSAL fucked-up blunder.
Monumental bad musicianship by a house band. Good God. I'm embarrassed watching it. Any person who has heard the song 10 times on the radio would not aaarrrrgggghhh the wrong chord changes are.... there isn't a word....
superspymarco 1 year ago
I agree with most of the latest comments here especially mctalks. Why didn't the rest of the proper band get to perform at the Hall of Fame? How do they feel about this? Where was John Herrington? Where was Cornlius and the rest of the horn section? Where was Caroline L? Did anyone hear Brian May's few dud notes? This was a rock guitarist trying to play jazz fusion. Ugh!
BEYONDTHEPALE1 1 year ago
Is that Mr. Burns on keyboards?
stonedrolling 1 year ago
This is so horrible it's actually funny. Steely Dan with Tony Clifton.
GlennHa 1 year ago
thats disgraceful how bad that great song sounds
janjanjan0 1 year ago
my lord......... you idiots behind the monitors are TALENTLESS.........stupid dumb young idiots........ lol.... you do make me laugh for you
mysticradio 1 year ago
I love SD but WTF Brian May?!!! And who is the completely talentless DICKHEAD in the white coat? Clearly Some brain dead media corporation asshole calling the shots when things suck as bad as this.
Bryt25 1 year ago
@Bryt25 The white coated D1ck is Paul Schaeffer, a sort of aAmerican Jools Holland twat; ie: they both play a bit of music and thanks to their connections, feel they belong in the big leagues/ Paul is(was) also leader of houseband for Jay Leno, or Letterman, or one of those d1ck'eds.
kayotof 1 year ago
Is that Paul Shaffer ? What a kook, get him off the stage and let these old guys play...
erikinhawaii 1 year ago
Kinda enbrassing watching this,knowing how great The Dan are,but this was really painful,it's like they forgot to practice,by the way at least they tried to do their best,guess they were tired out,but Brian May did a good job aswell,coyuld've been alot better way to have done this.` _____`
animal90sFreak5 1 year ago
As we all know, Steely Dan hates to perform on stage. That song aint made for Donald Fagen for that point beeing. Paul Schaffer is just in the way really... That guitare solo was probably the worst I've heard in a while... Donald is still the king and Becker saved the guitar part... I imagine that Steely Dan was forced to perform this in order to get into the R&R Hall of fame. They still rock and their music is timeless. ROCK ON! :D
EdvinSjogren 1 year ago
@EdvinSjogren Actually I didn't quite get why Brian May of Queen performed the solo guitar. I shared your point.
Surcouf1789 1 year ago
Queen were inducted on the same night...
joh2 1 year ago
@joh2
jaymejams1 1 year ago
@jaymejams1
you americans are so critical - as usual you wouldn't know talent if it bit you on the arse - musical talent has nothing to do with how you look dickheads !!!!!
jaymejams1 1 year ago
I don't reckon steely dan picked out this band...
jrox87 1 year ago 10
Oh, Dear.
palmerstonian 1 year ago
Why are Dan-bashers watching Dan videos??? I'm sure there are myriad Devo vids you can spank-off to. Then again, maybe there aren't...
themosesmurphy 1 year ago
Waht the hell is Paul Shaffer doing trying to conduct that band...Is it just me or is about a worthless piece of **** I mean hells bells Paul look at the talent on that stage...do you feel like the "dan Ackroyd " of that gathering?
corky2290 1 year ago
lol, paul's a nut, everyone knows this. he's awesome tho
RyZombie619 1 year ago
@corky2290 Agreed! WTF is with that? For the love of god, Steely was one of the most talented groups ever!
Ratbastid29 1 year ago
blimey its brian may
TheJimi2smokes 2 years ago
lastly (read these comments from the bottom up)
You're generalizing with a peabrain that Steely Dan isn't original because you're thinking of things like production. Analyze the music, and you should be able to see how completely wrong you are.
But thats okay if you don't. Not everybody can understand complex harmonies. Especially if you're an idiot.
b4nt2k 2 years ago 2
con't:
Their altered blueses are completely original. Take Pretzel Logic, Green Earrings, Glamour Profession, or Chain Lightning and analyze the progressions of I/IV/V, the turnaround, substitutions and key changes. To say that Steely Dan wasn't original is foolish.
Your example of nobody being influenced by Steely Dan is wrong, first of all it's difficult to copy their sound because the writings are too harmonically complex for most to understand.
b4nt2k 2 years ago
@raggabass
Let me hit you with some facts.
There's a chord known as a Isus2/iii chord used by Steely Dan in their years which was previously unheard of or used in gospel before them.
In Josie, they were the first to approach a ii chord in a minor song with the VI/bII.
b4nt2k 2 years ago
Steely Dan is excellent This sucks
ToolShedDaddy 2 years ago
this is so lame !!! pack it in boys, your giving great music a bad name
Knackersville 2 years ago
to the average "joe", name another song by Devo other than "Whip it"!
fern2010 2 years ago
Bad voice day... Great glasses, though, as usual. Kudos for Brian.
xicocamotl 2 years ago
This is not how Steely Dan used to sound! Horrible.
atomicdoug 2 years ago
This situation is unrehearsed and awkward , you're playing through strange gear and half the band has never even played your music before. Still gotta respect Fagen/Becker
CommercialVehicle 2 years ago
Uh, who was this guitar genious?
pittyone 2 years ago