Back in the day, the static on AM radio was a real thing. When FM came along, it was a revelation how clear the fidelity was.

My husband turned me on to Steely Dan years ago. He was a professional drummer, percussionist and percussion teacher and he lived for music. Jim used to sing and play the drums on this tune in a club house band, where we first met. I lost him in 2021 after 38 years together. This song brings back so many sweet memories. Thanks for reacting to it.

The backing vocals were from Eagles members Don Henley,Glenn Frey and Timothy B.Schmidt

The guitar response to "No Static at all" . is just the sexiest.

i am 65 and have listened to them since 1973,,they have created an overall body of work equal to anyone[any genre} this is my favorite by them though,even over peg,josie,glamour profession,hey nineteen...no static at all

Steely got the best sax solos ever. Great song and video. Thanks guys.

📻 I feel so old knowing that FM radio only came into true being when I was a young teen. Before, we listened to all the hits of the day (mid 60's to very early 70's) on AM on our 9V transistor radios and car radios, full of static and Mono sound. FM changed Everything!!! And in Stereo! 🎛🎧

“FM” was indeed recorded during the sessions for Aja. But it was written specifically for the movie, so it was never intended to be included on the finished Aja album. There’s a fan mix available on KZfaq that adds the alternate fade out with Walter Becker’s epic guitar work, seamlessly followed by the sax fade out you heard here. 🙂🎼

SAX on this cut wickedly...FLAMIN HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steely Dan - Favorite band FM - Favorite song Thanks for reacting to this!

Can't say I've ever heard this version with the sax outro. Album version has the guitar solo. It was a pleasant surprise.

On the 50th anniversary of the installation of the FM antenna atop the Empire State Building.... a drone was flown around it late at night....& this song was blasted. Red, white & blue lights were synched up to to the music. The video's on KZfaq.

Babylon Sisters and Third World Man are absolutely sublime! From their last album of this era (and my personal favorite) 1980's Gaucho 🔥🔥🔥

You guys have renewed my faith in your generation's taste in music !!! You guys are TRUE Musicologists !!! 😎🎸🔥

No static at all! From the radio or the girls! Great jam! Steely Dan, baby! You knew you'd love it before you heard it, right? Keep doing your thing gents.

String arrangments mixed in was genius.

I the 50s and most of the 60s AM radio was dominate, The high watts sent radio waves over numerous states. A person in Louisiana could listen to a Chicago or Cleveland station..and a majority of those songs were 3 minutes long.. FM became popular in early 70's , shorter radio waves less power, very local..drive 2 counties away the signal went. However, local DJ"s didn't have to confirm to mainstream , 3 minute, music's. THEY started to play 7 minute , unedited songs..THE WHO, DOORS,, STONES, ZEPPELIN...ETC. and , there was No static at all!! 😂

Steely Dan =Musical Perfection!!!!! I could literally name 25 songs that are all top notch; Steely Dan is my stuck on a deserted island and can only listen to one duo/group/artist; they would be it.

I was born in the 50s, so baby boomers , and generations before us have witnessed so many life innovations. The two that stick out to me is tv, and radio. We watched shows through snow, then came cable! We listen to music through static, then came another choice other than am, FM! The quality on both were mind blowing!!!

"no static at all" had two meanings: first, that FM radio disnt have as much audio interference as AM radio. But it was also an idiomatic expression of the time: "no static at all" means everything is going well, everything is smooth, "copacetic", eveything is just exactly as you want it to be.

There is another version of this by them, that has an incredible guitar solo at the end instead of the sax. The guitar solo is by Walter Becker, and is brilliant and soulful.. You should give that a go.

It is the only time that Becker (bass and guitar) and Fagen (piano) handled most of a song's instrumental work themselves. Engineer Roger Nichols won that year's Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical for his work on "FM." They were accompanied by musicians who had played with the band on their Aja sessions. Jeff Porcaro, who had then also recently helped form Toto, plays the drums. Jazz musician Pete Christlieb, who also features on the band's previous single, "Deacon Blues", plays the tenor saxophone solo. Timothy B. Schmit, who had recently left Poco, was joined by his new bandmates in the Eagles, Glenn Frey and Don Henley, in singing backing vocals. "Johnny Mandel came in and did the string chart," Fagen recalled to American Songwriter. "It was fun to meet [him]." Roger Nichols, who had been the engineer for the Aja sessions, did the same for "FM", with help from Al Schmitt.

Thru the 6-'s and early 70's, AM radio was about all you got. Check out some of them vintage cars back then, if still stock antiques, and the radio only had an AM dial. Then, at mostly college towns, the local FM radio format started, not playing pop, but deep cuts and underground music (that appealed to college aged). FM radio was born, and this song captured the mood, feel, awakening, happening perfectly! No static STEREO music!

Most of Steely Dan's songs especially this was played on Black 📻 radio channels..including Savannah, GA

You can't go wrong with Steely Dan.

Yeah, FM radio back when it first came out with cool rock music was called 'underground'. Most people listened to am radio. Miss those days.

I love how an essentially Steely Dan song folds into a Hollywood vibe with the lush strings.

Walter Becker played both the lead guitar parts and the bass line on this one. Some of his best work. Pete Christlieb on sax and the incomparable Jeff Porcaro on drums.

Pete Christlieb’s sax solo is to die for. For sure you should listen to the alternate take with Walter’s phenomenal guitar outro. I always thought of FM as the lost Aja track, just as you said. A banger from SD. Great job guys! 🔥

The movie was so big that it was the inspiration for a TV SHOW WKRP in Cincinnati

It’s all in the bass line, what a groove

so glad you got to this. Steely Dan is just the greatest band of their kind. Thier music is comforting, strange, soothing, familiar and different all at the same time. Their earlier take on this particular influence of music is from the Katy Lied album called "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More". Like I said, if you like FM, you've got to check out the funk of DDLITNYCNM. It's also guitarist Larry Carlton's fisrt apearance on a Steely Dan album(Kid Charlemange/Don't Take Me Alive). Check it.

In all of the years I've heard this song, I've never heard this version! Thanks! You gentlemen know your music!

FM was done shortly after the Aja sessions. Don Henley, Glenn Fry and Tim Schmidt from the Eagles doing background vocals. Pete Christlieb (Deacon Blues) on tenor sax.

This is why the 1970’s produced so much great music that still holds even now in the 21st century.So many great artists....many are gone now,but their music remains.

This is what happens when you learn to work the saxophone

Thank you for keeping the (our) music alive

This is their lushest song. Not sure if they beefed it up for the screen but it is absolutely velvety.

Steely Dan is like the best buffet in town! ✌️

I remember the 1st time I heard this. Pure gold

I like watching SD reaction videos in general, because the music is so good and when the reactors know what they're hearing it's super fun to watch. I especially love watching you guys because you so clearly get it. I have been a Dan fan since Aja came out when I was 15. The band instantly became a family favorite (my late father was a musician - so I knew if he was digging it we were on the right track). The music sounds just as fresh 45 years later. The journey you guys are on is great. In retrospect, you might have wished you started from the beginning - but you're doing it the same way I did - starting with Aja. There are zero duds anywhere in the catalog - I promise. As you work your way forward from Can't Buy A Thrill, you might consider going back through Royal Scam and Aja - that way you'll hear the thread that connects it all. Then you'll jump off to Gaucho - which is a masterpiece - but maybe not everyone's favorite. (you find most Dan fan have 1-2 records which are their favorites (I like the Aja / Gaucho pairing) - but there's something for everyone. And don't stop at Gaucho - do the later records as well - plus Fagen's solo work (which is brilliant) - and you'll be amazed at the evolution of the sound. Have fun (I now you are!).

One of my favs. Loving your channel, playing all the music I grew up with. In my opinion some of the greatist music ever came out of these years. Great reaction guys

This song is so smooth and on my regular playlist, it's just perfection. Right on guys.

Doesn't seem possible a band could nail it down every single time, but they do.

My favorite version with the sax outro. Just so tasty and jazzy. I could listen to that sax forever.

I could be wrong, but I think that’s a real string section on there, too, not just synth strings. It was certainly the time when pop albums would bring in 12 or 24 string players, to boost the sound of their albums. String players and flute players were in such demand on pop albums in the 70’s that they would have several gigs lined up in one day, and have a car waiting for them at the studio door, so they could just go from studio to studio recording their parts. Those were good days for gigging musicians!

My mom had Aja and the soundtrack for FM on vinyl, one of my fave songs since I was a kid, that groove is perfect

Everything is so perfect with them not just sonically but every note every bar is like exactly how you would want it to go if you had a lifetime to listen to it

Love this song. It reminds me of being a kid and we only had an FM radio in mom’s car. Dad’s truck only had AM and every time you went under a bridge the radio would lose the signal. Always when your favorite part would come on.

They famously took a long time to write songs but supposedly when they were asked to write this song for the eponymous movie they had it done in a few days. Agree with Becker's outro being cooler than the sax one. Also you're right about the bass line, basic blues shuffle, Chuck Berry used it a lot, and SD used it on several songs as well.

Every album displayed near the end of that video is worthy of review. What a list!

Loved this BAND SINCE THE FIRST ALBUM 1973 CAN'T BUY A THRILL

NICE Guys 👍 I haven't listened to Steely or this song in a minute....I had forgotten how much I love them!!! Thank you!!! 😊

You guys have such great natural feedback on the musicianship.

From I don't wwnt to hear this for a minuit to I'm in love.

After the First Chorus, the guitar sounds a lot like Pink Floyd..just such genius

YES. The Quintessential Steely Dan song. I know you're going to love it! The guitar outtro is the Original. The sax solo cam much later on one of the greatest hits. Not Decade.

Yep, totally Dope.

Oooohweee the bass

beautiful

Steely Dan could just do no wrong... Never heard a bad song from them.

The video montage of 70's album covers -- I had just about every one of the albums shown. I ain't braggin' or nuthin ... ok -- I am . I had quite the collection back in my teen years. What memories. What sound. What talent.

I'm used to the version with Walter Becker's guitar solo at the end. Sheer poetry is what it is.

What's gentlemen, Imagine not knowing how to speak English, and hearing this for the first time, and loving the music, many years later, understanding English, and putting the music with the lyrics. 😆😆🤩🤩

This played behind closing credits of movie. Everybody stayed in their seats.

Reminds me of a time my friend and I we’re putting a system in my car. Cranking this tune in his garage. His old man came out and I thought we were in trouble He said “y’all listen to Steely Dan!” “Turn that shit up!!”

ok You had me when I saw your Os hat! I was going down the “song reactions” rabbit hole on Steely Dan. This group has been around for over 50 years, as you probably know. Without knowing your background, I can tell you’re pretty well versed on their discography and how they cross all musical genres. Glad to hear that you appreciated this one. Now, tell this Baltimore lady if you are an Orioles fan or just like the hat!

Backing vocals provided by Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey of The Eagles

This track was made during the recording and mixing of the Aja album as SD was asked to fo the FM soundtrack...

PURE TALENT!!!!!!

The extended sax cut. Nice. Try the supercut. They follow that sax finish with Walter's extended guitar to finish. So GD clean.

Ya know I use to DJ in the 80s and collected albums all through the 70s 80s 90s and still have all the music you guys react to setting in my closet and each album is like brand new....I use to play the song aja for dinner music...love these boys seen them multiple times in concert

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Unique.Sooooooooooooooo GOOD ! Steely Dan, yes bye..................Peace and Love

I'd never heard this extended mix before. Good stuff.

Y'all are hitting my childhood hard... LOVING IT!!! The 70's were the Best years for Funk, everywhere. It was phenomenal. Happy New Year, guys.💝

Such a great song.

So many great songs. They put some thought into their lyrics. It's very refreshing.

Saxophone solos by the great Pete Christlieb! He also played the solo on Deacon Blues.

FM and My old School just get me going. But all Steely Dan music is super smooth!

I do remember a time before the clarity of FM radio was a thing. Steely Dan always my favorite and apparently you guys love them also! Y'all keep on Rocking!

Hard to pick one but for me all the elements and lyrics blended together is they're best track ever!!!

Love the video paying homage to the great albums of the height of the FM era. I’ve heard 3 versions of FM, all interesting to be sure. Btw, one of the great live covers from the movie, was Linda Ronstadt doing “Tumbling Dice” by the Stones. A must for any rock fan. Keep em’ coming guys.🤘😎

Don and Walter played most of basic tracks (Jeff Porcaro on drums?). This song shows the genius of Walter Becker. Killer funky bass guitar and the guitar leads are amazing! Walter was such a unique player on both instruments!

That expos cap is sick!

Love it.

Love Steely Dan music this is for sure one of my favorites from way back, thank you for the memories guys.

Hip hop samples great groups like Steely Dan!

I’m following you guys and love you reaction videos to Steely/Donald. You guys are great 😊

The are 2 versions of this song 1 ending is the guitar solo And the other from the gold album is sax

For the record: This is an extended version!

Pure Quality Right There.

1978, recorded just after Aja and before the first Gaucho tracks were recorded.

Love you guys music bringing people together...the most killer band....ever...

No Static is one of only a few songs in SD's catalog with a prevalent string section throughout the track. The original version of this song featured a guitar outro (by Becker) instead of the later version they released with the sax outro.

3rd Bass samples this song on the track, "No Static At All," on the album, "Derelicts of Dialect"

You did good twice ! The long version with the extra sax and guitar solos. And this is an example of SD, best stuff. If you haven't gone there, Pretzel Logic, Babylon Sisters, Glamor Profession, Hey Nineteen , Deacon Blues is top pick ! Also is you want to faint from funk/ jazz/ blues ( hard to describe) Johnny Winter Edgar Winter- Tobacco Road Live, Seat belts on you’re gonna be surprised and love it !

I love seeing the smile on y’all’s faces when a totally rad chord change or solo comes along 😎🤘

There's a song on the album called "FM - Reprise" . It's such a a groovy continuation of FM that back in the day I edited the two together into one track, just like they did here. Love it...

THE WAY IT IS

That's the Eagles (Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy Schmit) on backing vocals, and Victor Feldman adding the percussion (he did the piano solo on Black Cow).