The *"Elephant NOT in the room"* here, is of course *Don Fagen* himself. It's probably more than just a "slight" stretch to actually get him to an "in depth" interview. However, I should imagine that acquiring that opportunity ranks very highly on *Rick Beato's* mind. I hope that at some stage soon, *Donald* comes around to the idea that doing the *"full Beato"* interview, might just serve as a time capsule, to fully capture the thoughts and opinions, of a true *genius* of a generation.

14:20 The joy on Mr Purdies' face is a joy to behold!

Since Donald does not do extensive interviews like this, the next best thing is getting all of these session players recalling their experiences. These stories would be lost if not for people like RIck talking to these great players

Watching Purdie groove to his own track is joy inducing!

Rick, I'm always bummed out when the interviews end. I could listen to the Steely Dan session guys recount their experiences all day. The seventies had the best music in my opinion.

So grateful to have grown up in the Steely Dan era. The soundtrack to my life. Such wonderful music!

“The Royal Scam” is one of the greatest albums in Popular/Rock/Jazz music recording history. There was a perfect blend of musicians that were playing so tight you would think they were together in one band for 40 years. The song selection was varied enough to keep the listener’s interest but did not go so far as alienating some to skipping over tracks. Every song was a gem unto itself. It seems that the upmost care was even taken when deciding which song followed the one before it. That is quite remarkable considering this is not a concept album; it is one perfect song after another. “The Royal Scam” did change the way I listened and gave my opinion on albums. I still listen to it on a weekly basis and I have over 900 records.

Any content with Larry Carlton is choice, Rick. Thank you! This makes my day.

I got to shake Larry's hand in a small club in Pontiac Michigan about 10 years ago - he was SO nice and played so well in the small club we were in (Callahans). I bought a CD and didn't think to get a picture taken with him. THAT'S how impactful the moment was. Picture or not, the memory will never fade.

I had the honor to have Chuck Rainey record on 3 of my songs back in 2004 in Dallas, TX. (He and I shared the same music attorney who set it up). Chuck was gracious, kind and really gave his hands & heart into my songs. He is also incredibly funny. He has so many tales from his legendary career, and kept the whole control room in stitches. But while also being a total pro when tape was rolling. Bless you Chuck and Bill Zahn for making it all happen. Cheers from Texas 🙏 **Note: there is a short video documenting that session on my channel if anyone is interested.

I love these stories. Steely Dan is so iconic. The session musicians who had a chance to play were very grateful and humble about being on it.

Purdie is so good, the man's sitting digging on his own drum track!🤣🤣 Man dropping truth though, the first three takes is where the master is. Every time.

Conducting the Larry interview at the Baked Potato is just peak bad-assery.

When these albums came out we were all blown away. That's what we did, listen to albums...

The mystery of Steely Dan is unequaled...so cool to hear these inside stories...I am a huge fan of Steely Dan and every few months I go back and listen to a ton of their stuff and shake my head in wonder

I LOVE hearing these supermen tell stories of tracking history. Look at the twinkle in their eyes! The stories are great. The nuts and bolts of artistic creation are great. It was special, unique music when I was in high school- but these stories tell me why. Keep up the fine interviews.

Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands and I’ve never met anyone, of any age group, who doesn’t enjoy their music! 😎🎸🎶☮️

12:28 Bernard Purdie! ❤ If you know what you're doing, just do what you know!

Don’t Take Me Alive is outrageous.

Steely Dan was my fav band as a kid in the 70's, I'm 56 and they still are.

I saw Larry Carlton’s son, Travis, play bass with Steve Gadd’s band - an amazing bassist.

Thank you, Rick. 🙏 All these great musicians are getting older but you are capturing their memories for posterity. The generations to come will thank you for what you are doing. Would love to see an interview of yours with Lee Ritenour. I believe he is credited on Deacon Blues. It’s always been a delight to see Lee play any time he’s visited the U.K. The album, Larry and Lee, where he teamed up with Mr. Carlton, is worth taking for a spin as is his Feel The Night album from ‘79. 🪄

Bernard Purdie, happiest drummer in the world...

Steve Gadd and Rick Beato - dueling Rochester accents.

I love, love, love Steely Dan. Reeling in the years! Wow!

I was just listening to Don't take me alive the other day thinking this is the best guitar solo ever. Nice to hear Rick Beato confirm that sentiment.

Purdies groove is out of this world....

I would add the solo work on Your Gold Teeth II by Denny Dias to those on Kid Charlemagne and Don't Take Me Alive by Larry Carlton. My personal favourite is the one from Denny Dias. Forty years after first hearing it still blows my mind every time I hear it. But the truth is at that level any attempt to rank them becomes just personal preference. They all have complete mastery of the instrument and the music. 🤩

I was 16 in 1976 this song blow me away 😮 still one of my favourite songs of there’s cheers Rick 👏👏👏

LC is the nicest human

Rick, I've been subscribed to all your channels for years, and I have your Beato Book. These interviews are priceless! Absolutely priceless! Thank you 🙏

When people ask me the best solo ever Kid Charlamagne is my pick. Lots of other great solos, but Kid Charlamagne is melodic, fluid, and has great feel and groove. When I taught I played that for some students that just wanted flash. And advised any student learning soloing to check it out.

Steely Dan is such a joy to listen to. Every album. Master Musicians. Donald and Walter and the best of best.

Everyone single one of them a MASTER of their craft. So great. Thank you Rick!

Bad Sneakers 👟👟 and a pinacolada 🍹 my friend. 🎵🎶

I sure didn't want that set of interviews to end ❤

Totally priceless, Guessing you had your phone there on the table with Steve Gadd as a backup recording 🍾❤️

Steely Dan is the closest to perfection ever.

Thank you, Rick, for producing these interviews with these great musicians. Their skills, talents, and patience were able to produce some of the most talented popular music of our time.

Steely Dan has always, always been my number one favorite band since 1972.

Royal Scam is my fav SD album

LOVE this type of content from you, Rick. Geeking out over recording techniques and musicianship is the best.

Love it. Thx Rick.

As much as I enjoy your videos, I think the true value is the documenting of history. Years from now, these videos will be studied.

Love Steely Dan Rick ! What a band it was !

Love SD and the magical people who made this fantastic music happen. My favorite.

The best interviews to me. Thank you Rick❤😊

Bernard! Kid Charlemagne. Not to mention one of the best drum fills recorded. Perfectly tuned, mic’d and tone.

I can watch endless accounts of what I consider one of the best songs and albums ever from those who were in the room and on the record!

One of my favorite songs ever ! Larry is amazing.

Love what you're doing in your channel, Rick - it's become very polished and pro and your anchoring has improved a whole lot. Also the way you cross pollinate little bits of video info from other episodes. Love your channel!

Saw Larry with his son on bass in NH last year. Simply amazing and he is playing his endorsed $700 Sire guitar, no mods. Hands are a bit shaky but licks are great. Love the fact that he’s still touring, playing and clearly loving it!

That was incredible! I'm looking for Part 2

Hello Rick. Really love these sessions on Steely Dan. Have you asked Donald to sit with you? That would be a great session. I know I'm stating the obvious!

This is fantastic! Thank you!

Love this Rick, keep on doing these great videos.

you are totally correct on that statement, his solos are the best of any solos ever played. i hope he knows how many people also agree. larry is the pinnacle of playing

Rick, Rick, Rick.... Too, Too Short!! Left me wanting so Much more. Great job. Thank you.

Steely Dan and Steps Ahead are my absolute favorite bands. Thank you for these interviews, Rick. They’re extraordinary.

When you're seeing Steely Dan live and Larry Carlton walks on stage! Wow!

So freaking awesome! Gracias Rick!

It's so cool that you interviewed the great Larry Carlton at The Baked Potato! That is my favorite club ever, even though I live at least 5 hours away from it. I have seen some greats there including Allan Holdsworth, Andy Summers, Brett Garsed, Mike Keneally, and Don Randi & Quest (which was a treat for me to see at least a few times).

Larry Carlton is one of my favorite guitar players! I chose to play Room 335 for a performance class at GIT but there were parts of the solo I still don't know how to play. Saw him live twice, Golden Bear and The Baked Potato. Thank you Rick!

Maybe this is 37 year hindsight, but I felt in 1977 the ending of 'Aja' felt right with the song. A song that glorious, you just didn't want it to end.

Oh WOW! Mr. 335! I loved his work with The Crusaders too back in the day.

The infamous, baffling stick-click at the end of the first solo in Aja can ONLY be described as pure genius! I mean, WHO DOES THAT??? To seal his "genius" moniker, the SECOND solo ends on a descending tom fill, which demonstrates his compositional forethought. I've been a Gadd fan since I first heard Chick Corea's album "The Leprechaun" just a year or two earlier, and this is why, i.e. the genius behind his playing. No notes are wasted, nor superfluous. ❤

Hats off to Dr Albert Hoffman/Owsley

Amazing content Rick!!

the Purdy shuffle

Please invite Captain Fingers (Lee Ritenour) - the greatest session (and not only) guitarist behind a ton of musical stuff including Steely Dan.

That was great. Thank you so much.

Rick. Thank you for this!!!

Subscribed and lovin' it! Greetings from NYC!

I love it😄🙏

Great video. When I grow up, I want to be Tim Pierce just for the record. lol

Larry Carlton pops up on my feed.... I WATCH!!

100% agree with you on the Kid Charlamagne solo. It's so memorable, you can sing it and know every nuance of it. If only I could play it on guitar, but hey, somebody's gotta play bass.

Awesome interview with some of my favorite musicians who played in my all time favorite band ❤❤

Great video. Great musicians. Great tunes 🎸

Great interviews! Super guys…

This video is so awesome💯

Steely Dan is the greatest "not-a-band" band of all times. Such great musicians and productions values. Therre is nothing close to that kind of quality nowadays.

Amazing record

Man I love Larry's licks

I really like these themed retrospectives across separate interviews - kinda feels like Behind The Music but actually about the music rather than drama and tragedy.

The Nightfly is one of my favourite albums! Especially Ruby Baby! 💖

Steely is my favorite band and my second is Phish so imagine my delight when I saw that Trey inducted Donald into the songwriters HOF! My absolute two favorite musicians EVER!!! ❤❤❤🙌🏻🔥

Thank you.

❤Rick, superb content

this is so cool!

On my top 10 guitar solo list, three of them are on Steely Dan songs.

Royal Scam was my favorite Dan album, will never understand the hate that critics gave it.

I love The album Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton - Larry & Lee Copenhagen 🇩🇰supports

Holy shit I can't wait to hear this

I so miss the days of putting music in or on the player. Either turning it up a little, or putting headphones on. Grabbing the liner notes & getting my read on. 😁

9:20 - 12:26; the man, the legend, my childhood idol, Chuck Rainey.

I constantly tried to learn that when I was 14 in 78, moving the needle back scratched the shit outta that vinyl, didn’t get too far😅😅😅😅

Almost all of their songs are known by guitarists from the eighties, than you do sum good work i should say so..... this generation still have to learn from these guys for years!

Bernard Purdie is one sharp dressed man. "Pretty Purdie plays the hits".

Larry the man!! Rick's inching his way to a Donald Fagen interview. lol