My Old School- Steely Dan- 1973

[HintonFromTuscaloosa]

True musicians, all of them...

[timeout1958]

Steely Dan is some of the best American music talent out there. For starters, just consider their influence...

[MrMarkbennett]

Genius....freakin GENIUS.

[maxdamusicman1]

I couldn't play it like that

in 20 takes

[iThinkThereforeiCan]

I love how the guitar riffs start out funky and plucky, then at the end of the song it's a total rock-jam-riot

[Derpdadlerp]

Just got accepted to Bard college. I may be going back to Annandale!

[chartwel1990]

Was that a photo of the old Roosevelt Field ?

[jalkster]

been listening to steely dan since 10th grade i am from fairbanks alaska we love you donald and walter i am 50 now oops

[Jojobaseed]

whoa such horns, what a song

[Jojobaseed]

such a great song and the horns wowie

[maxdamusicman1]

Skunk was like 22 when he played on this. crazy....... Some are just born with it..

[sofakingmeee]

@maxdamusicman1 ... Skunk did this in one take off the floor live....pretty well one of my favorite guitar solos ever!!...... genius

[Livesteam45]

Should have been my school's Graduation March. SBHS 1973.

[CampyNeighbor]

Lemme tell you somethin'....when I was in Ducky's office I sure wasn't being fed cheese.

[KREEPNASTY1]

Whenever I feel like crap, This song Always puts me in a better mood.

[doublejimmyj]

what can be said that the music doesnt say

[Sixxgrl]

hard 2 believe they were just a studio band 4 the first 30 yrs till the 2000's when they went on tour.

[Parkinish]

@Sixxgrl They started as a band for the first 3 albums. Then Fagen and Becker turned it into strictly a studio band with several session musicians. That went on for many years.

[CagelessBirds]

The production values on Steely Dan are unbelievable. 1973 and it sound like a track that has been recorded and mixed this year.

[Livesteam45]

@CagelessBirds ........negative, sounds way better than anything  current.

[cisco993623]

After I heard Skunk play these leads....I threw my guitar down and never touched it again for 10 years.....he's a master....

[sterlingflowers]

@cisco993623 possibly the most underrated guitarist ever

[FantaZ4U]

Makes me wanna grab my bari sax and get down! That bari sax line is just pure ear candy!

[taypar11]

Right, it's from Countdown to Ecstacy, not Can't Buy a Thrill. Also, I went back to my old school to give a speech to the little ones now that I'm famous and it was great! So enjoy the song, just don't believe the lyrics. Who am I? A drummer who toured the world with a Texas country western superstar from South Texas where he and I grew up. South of San Antonio.

[HughCarpenter]

For audiophiles, Steely Dan is beyond jazz-pop heaven! Without this great music, the world is not a better place.

[JAZZBRO77]

This song is not from the album pictured. It is on Countdown to Ecstacy

[45soulvinyl]

2 people need ear surgery...fast

[yakmathroob]

man, when the drums come back in at the breakdown at the end i have to listen to the song again.

[Catlovertea4]

guitar at 4:45 and beyond...

[reposage]

Jeff Baxter made this duo famous in LA and got paid handsomely for playing guitar and for his contacts.

[steve71t]

this music moves my soul!

[TheHajji123]

one of the greats



[hutch1hutch]

jazz for a very selct type of person ether love them or hate them....me i love them

[alg6385]

so what

[dabuik1]

rock it real nice

[mickeymousebiker1]

This one goes out to Cheech Marin.

[mickeymousebiker1]

Rock/Jazz meets the Cha-Cha. Still, a great tune.

[Headcrackin456]

i wish they came to florida this year, They forgot about us!

[miriveq]

im beating myself for missing their concert in chi....

[BerkLeeDrm]

gimme the bodesatva chords

[gwmerr]

the horns on the break; "California..."

[JChrisJ69]

@gwmerr that's funny as I just looked this up to transpose the horn part. love it



[edapuss1]

@gwmerr Always my favorite part of this song too!

[RetroJenny]

Timeless tune.

[vasallizinni]

Im sure I don't want to be a young school boy again, and when I hear a Steely Dan song like this one, I don't say what's this because for me, their songs are United States national anthems. A young school boy again? with the mean old kinder garden teacher, Mrs. Croyall, the sadistic Physician, Dr. Doomer and a maniac vice principle, Mr. Police? Ah, no! However, the lovely Mrs. Oley, who adored me like I was her own son, got me to stop picking my nose in the third grade. At least not in public

[nochannel123]

Does ANYONE remember this album won 'Best Cover of the Year"? wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy before computers etc. Hey and I'm not that old...way cool! I always loved the art on this cover, but more so the amazing music xoxoxo- Shar

[john92165]

This song is just perfect. It captures the feel of the moment perfectly. It makes school seem way more Romantic than it actually was. :) Love it. Thanks for posting it. The pictures are absolutely great.

[AZRacer2000]

Thanks for posting! Love the guitar work and horns on this tune!

[blackandtanful]

ｼﾞｪﾌ･ｽｶﾝｸ･ﾊﾞｸｽﾀｰのギターが鋭角的に切れ込む、­スティーリー・ダンの強力渾然一体ブラス・ロック・チューン"M­yOldSchool"~ゴキゲン!



[mhumke70]

@blackandtanful

uh huh........

[samspinchat]

Great song and thanks for posting. But My Old School is not on the "Can't Buy a Thrill" album, it is on "Countdown to Ecstacy". :)

[saolgragaire]

I can remember dancing like crazy to this song with my Mom when I was younger....one of her favorite groups!!! I still dance when I hear it!!! And whenever I do hear it I have to listen to it like 2-3 times in a row!!!! LOVE it!!!

[BobCubTAC]

2 people have to go back to school.

[ALI63NK]

@BobCubTAC my friend we all have to go back to school :)

[42williamj]

@BobCubTAC Let's sick Chino and Daddy G on them.

[AllBobsAllTheTime]

This tune is what soul is all about!!!

[CyberWolf36]

Best sax?

[jasonptify]

fantastic!



[trufflehund]

Correct. Now tell me where 10CC came from...

[customsuzuki]

@trufflehund Named for a more than average amount of sperm a male ejaculates, meaning they were very potent , or in other words, horny!

[friedmarlin5]

@customsuzuki FALSE - look on Snopes. The ejac story is a lie.

[Zehbron]

Extra bonus points for anyone who can tell us where they got the name "Steely Dan" ;)

[customsuzuki]

@Zehbron Named after a vibrator from an book by Aldous Huxley I believe.

[red23rocks]

@customsuzuki

Steely Dan was named after a dildo ("...Steely Dan III from Yokohama") in "Naked Lunch" by William Borroughs.

[timato98]

@red23rocks

Bahaha, that's what my dad told me, but i thought he was joking! haha.

[newfuckingwave]

@red23rocks it makes you wonder where HE got the name . . .

[cuvtixo]

@red23rocks Was it made of steel? Scary!

[MrPaco137]

@red23rocks Wats a dildo?, is it what Im thinking? Why do they Talk about Mexico and Guadalajara? Did they do Med School down there?

[bkthin]

@MrPaco137 one of their girlfriends went to jail. the cops thought she was also a prositute. steely dan went to the college of william & mary. he wanted to go mexico, but the girl said no. steely dan never went back to that school until 3 years ago. they explained the story/song in entertainment weekly

[MrPaco137]

@bkthin OK thanks, but when you say "HE wanted to go to Mex" do you mean Donald or Walter ?

[bkthin]

@MrPaco137 i'm sorry, i forgot which one. that's why i didn't put the name in

[Zehbron]

@customsuzuki

Your on the right track...close, but not quite.

[Nomuum]

Interesting and meaningful lyrics, a rich melody, an intense dialogue among the instruments... we can fill our souls with these wonderful and timeless songs. Thank you, Steely Dan!

[CabalD]

too bad skunk b. is all tied up in the mic

[NeuralNetProcessor]

I live near Annandale VA is that the same Annandale they were talking about or what?...prob not but it would be cool anyway the Dan rules...

[pacree]

@NeuralNetProcessor wiki the song title... it refers to ecker and Fagan's alma mater.

[duncanstpt]

@NeuralNetProcessor Bard College, Annandale-on Huson, New York.

[PantsB4Squares]

justin b haha get em!!!! steely dan is the man enough said

[fatoldsun98]

Love horns with rock, wow. (so did David Gilmour)

[fatoldsun98]

The 2 absolute morons didn't make it out of high school :)

[RavenRapunzel7]

more cowbell!  love this song...classic!

[centralparocker]

Cool montage of school days....!!!!

[MARLEYFANcbr]

i sit around in my garage and get high and listen to great music like this. anyone else do that? just wondering.

[gonzoodessa63]

@MARLEYFANcbr Guilty.

[MultiShades]

@MARLEYFANcbr everyone did you should have picked up a guitar or drum --I did

[Greatlubu]

@MARLEYFANcbr Its people like you that give music like this a bad rep just dont comment on videos anymore

[tsexauer1]

Hey red23idiot skunk baxter is not a defense consultant, you moron. He still occasionally plays with the doobie brothers.

[801liveable]

this song always reminds me of a year end edition of ROLLING STONE magazine that i read in 1975..commenting they said 3 bands will have the most influence on popular music in 76 and for decades to come..one was THIS BAND..second BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN E STREET BAND..the third..ROXY MUSIC..for once i think they got it right..

[dianejohnson391]

timeless ; brilliant like wine improves with time

[joeypinello7qj54a]

Rocks.

[aktrucker]

great pics.. love this song..

[KREEPNASTY1]

Steely Dan sucks.... NNNNNNNNOT !!!

[mitchdfla]

popspoptunes is correct in that the Annandale is the town in NY near where they went to college, which was nicknamed the "William and Mary of the North," as I recall. The gist is a drug bust while at school, hence they are not going to go back to their old school

[popspoptunes]

I thought "Annandale" referred to the town in New York state that was near Steely Dans alma mater Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York...

[ahshot02]

William and Mary didn't like this song...

[TheLadydwells]

The entire album was the backdrop for some of our most treasured times in HS

[strangemale]

@TheLadydwells Yep

[thegunnydog]

Rumor is that this song is about Annadale Youth Correctional Facility in Clinton, NJ. I never confirmed it. Supposedly the Skunk or one of Steely Dan did a little time there. I heard it from an inmate I know who did time there back in the late 70's early 80's. Ironically I live only a few miles from there. Now a medium adult facility. Anybody here this?

[robielv]

that was funny but lets leave the dancing no talent kid out of great bad comments,do people even now what a band is anymore ,,u know without all electronics that are all half 70s riffs anyway so,lets let earn his 50 million and after 2 maybe4 years more than5 ill eat my hat,what happened to miley cirus whatever her name was

[governorgilf]

Absolutely timeless classic.

[ikay1966]

a country version of this rock classic??? lol folks!!!!!

[modelleg]

Tom Scott on the horn?

Tumble down, Tom.

[chaswindows7]

what you said, happyinsomniac, Who could not like this song? Maybe G.Gordon Liddy...

[squonk61]

Missile defense contractor?? I won't doubt anything else I ever hear again until I check it out..... that is wild.

[davehutchinson67]

oh..no..Guadalajara won't do...lmao..I used to live there..it's quite a city.

[knuteboy36]

This song is just plain awesome.

Such a great spirit about it.

[supertechsummercamp]

i hear a country version of this back in the 80's and it was great too. Just a great song.

[Gatsby999888]

@supertechsummercamp Really? Who did a country version?

[Lefferable]

damn these guys are skilled such a treasure listening to the quality of instrumentals in this song!

[bpcarman]

Still love these guys. They were way ahead of their time.

[Vacantstance]

They can't be compared to ANYONE and that happens to be the highest compliment I can pay them.

[vinnycriss]

Wrong album cover dude

[Obelisk2290]

great skunk solos

[MrMarkbennett]

Monkberry50........TOTALLY!!!

[sandythebear]

So, when are we getting time travel ????? :D

[memmies]

@sandythebear learn about ronald mallett

[lokipokey]

@red23rocks, @blueshound611, very interesting track to Jeff Baxter's career, but these guys music shows how incredibly smart they are, and curious to explore new directions, so no big surprise.

[TheDrumWolf]

I wanna be a young school-boy again...well, maybe not...I don't know. I'm confused.

[breadrock314]

Dan Knows Best... DKB.

[blackandtanful]

ｼﾞｪﾌ"ｽｶﾝｸ"ﾊﾞｸｽﾀｰのスティーリーダン時代の名演­ｷﾞﾀｰ!､MyOldSchool～ﾌﾞﾗｽ陣のアレンジも冴­える～ｽｶﾝｸのえも云えぬﾋﾟｯｷﾝｸﾞの妙技

[nightowlvirgo]

I only know this song because of my old man

[philup219]

@nightowlvirgo your old man must be a cool dude

[nightowlvirgo]

@philup219 he is...kinda..sometimes.... He really is a nerd though... he named me and my sister after these guys (our middle names)...

[red23rocks]

The guitar solos i n this song by Jeff Baxter are epic and are among my favorite of all time. Jeff Baxter today is a U.S. defense consultant and chairman of a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense. I shit you not.

[blueshound611]

@red23rocks well strike me sideways and shove a ferret up me date, thats unfuckenbelievable, no kidding, who wouldda thunkit, Skunk Baxter a missile defense expert, man thats freaky

[red23rocks]

@blueshound611

From killer guitar solos to missiles that kill people...still hard to believe

[red23rocks]

@blueshound611

Actually, it's not so hard to believe now that I rethink it. After all, Steely Dan is the name of a dildo in Naked Lunch. I think it's the name of three dildos, if I remember correctly, one which was called "Steely Dan from Yokohama" (and was crushed by a butch lesbian with incredible vaginal grip). So, Jeff Baxter consulting on missiles fits right in, though I now think of him as Steely Dan number 4 for putting his guitar down in favor of chairing a defense advisory board.

[TheMichaelseymour]

@blueshound611 yeh....he shields us with his tasty licks shooting up into the stratosphere -deflecting with tone ,sustain ...and a few pinch harmonics - its incredible really .

[meslinger1]

@red23rocks

Yeah, and conservative one at that. Just think, his nickname back in the old school days was "Skunk"

[MRMITCHELLZ]

@red23rocks LSD will make you do strange things lolll



[whpcguru]

@red23rocks It's crazy to think about it, but you're right!

[TheNickx09]

@red23rocks my dad told me the exact same thing after we saw them a few weeks ago! skunk baxter is a legend!!

[robert140602]

@red23rocks Denny Dias was the premier player for me,just my opinion,x.

[squeapler]

Great song.  Wish you hadn't started reusing pictures about 3/4 through the video, though. There's got to be more "old school" photos that could be used (and synced up to the music a little better).

[27wingnut]

Steely Dan was just the bomb....

[24drummonkey]

thanks for a great video. love the "old school" pictures!

[sarkelcpa]

I sure miss the '70s!!!

[MrGraygrizz]

A teacher at our high school used this song at our senior recogintion day,on a music video he made for us, and when the liericks said " I ain't never coming back, to this old school", the video showed my buddy and I, in our cars, (1971 chevelle, and a 1966 chevy II nova), doing smoking burn-outs in front of the school!....Good Times!!

[MrLarrylocken]

becker and fagan 4life.

[madison7404]

hahah my mom loves this song! 

[DatingGameKiller]

@madison7404 ...so I do I. Can I meet your mom?

[jeffkbeatty]

I remember oh yah! I was smokin with the boys upstairs! I'm never goin back to my old school - goin down to Mexico

[mecharidly]

Gotta love the music of the Dan the best songs are on the definitive collection. Love the solos in every song. Awesome back then awesome now. Nothing can or will ever compare to this

[shelbyfin]

Why aren't these guys in the R&R HOF?

[ceriah311]

@shelbyfin They actually are...you can find their induction footage on youtube.

[shelbyfin]

@ceriah311

Thanks! I don't know how I missed that! :homer:

[StelyDn]

@shelbyfin Yup, 2001, not long after they won the Grammy...

[skipper8257]

Jeff the " Skunk " Baxter at his very best. I wish the ending solo could have gone on a lot longer.

[huskerdu1661]

@skipper8257 maybe one of my favorite cut-short solos of all time!!!! One other is ths guitar solo at the end of Toto`s "Rosanna"...both could have gome on at least 30 seconds longer imo....I guess maybe it`s better to leave you wanting more!!! :)

[robpen954]

One of the things that I absolutely LOVE (and is often missed by the casual Steely Dan fan) is how dark and subversive their lyrics can be,even though their music is so cool and free flowing. They always throw in a not-so-subliminal drug,sex,prostitution,or party reference in their songs. God love 'em! HAAAAA! GAUCHO is one on the greatest albums of all time!

[wellisaythat]

Great vid Great song!!!

[manx55hotmailcom]

Have it in vinyl, original!

[shelly10538]

Right on!

[gwmerr]

...tumbles into the sea! - 3:40 break gets me every time; especially the bottom horns...such a tight funk, respect the Dan

[kahne2]

the 2 people that pressed dislike need to back to their old school

[thehappyinsomniac]

What 2 absolute morons gave this a dislike???? Probably Justin B and one of his silly little friends.

[Fingerp10]

@thehappyinsomniac it's probably 2 idiots from this new generation. Anyone under 25 doesn't have the intellect to listen to Steely Dan. I am 30.

[centralparocker]

@thehappyinsomniac -----The same two morons who have Lady Gaga bumper stickers on their Ford Fiestas....

[BrokenneckYgor]

BASED on a scandal at W&M when 5 starting players of the Crimson Tide Eleven crashed a sorority pajama parrty. The girls, already drunk, launched ingto a wild castifght much to thew delight of the jocks. l was dere

[gmcglone1]

@BrokenneckYgor

thank you thank you thank you

I've wondered what was goin on in this song for many years. I'd always the Kid got her pregnant and it was a kinda proto - Haitian Divorce. 

Cheers fella.

[wellisaythat]

Love this video!!!! Thx my friend! :-)

[lisakatplay]

great video...great song....

[MaybeWeAintUs]

Just dedicated this to all my teacher friends!

[funkmike]

Love the montage, but I should point out that this song isn't from "Can't Buy a Thrill", it's on "Countdown to Ecstasy".

[urkingg]

cant stop watching this video every morning

[carol4nn]

great job love it

[fersal626]

This song tells a true story about when Donald Fagen (who is right up there with Beethoven in my book) got busted smoking pot in a Bard College dorm room, and someone from Bard called the cops and got them arrested. That's why he's "never going back"!

[TheRCButler]

@fersal626

Very true, and he was seeing a woman that went to school there. Back in the 70's Bard College was an all female school which is why the cops were called. Not just because he was getting high but because he was a male on campus and wasn't supposed to be there in the first place!

[HLFracture]

@TheRCButler

That is not true, Bard was not an all female school in the 70's.

The police raided the campus and arrested people at random.

[TheRCButler]

@HLFracture

I know at one time it was, thought that extended into the 70's and wasn't co~ed till the late 70's.

It was once the premier secretarial college on the east coast. A degree from Bard was almost a guarantee to land the best secretarial jobs in NYC. Had a Jr. High English teacher that went there tell me that in the 70's, about 1977 if I remember.

[HLFracture]

@fersal626

That wasn't why. The cops raided the college and arrested people at random. Bard, now and then, is very safe in terms of dorm-room-weed-smoking. Almost too safe for it, to be honest.

[TheMiamirocker]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Elliot Randall doing the solo guitar work on this...not "Skunk" Baxter.

@TheMiamirocker According to the jacket notes on the "Decade" CD, the solist is the "skunk" and Danny DIas also plays on this.

I think their recent guitar soloist, Jon Herington, is right up there with the best they have used, and they have used only the best... Damn they're good! I just hope that before he dies, Fagen comes clean and reveals so