Nailed it again, Mr. Chu... it's Disco Dan poking fun at the LA scene during the cocaine days (how did we survive?) of the late 70s and 80s. I originally thought Magic was Hoops McCann, but it could have been almost any NBA player at the time (how did they survive?) before weed took over as the players’ between-game drug of choice. That Jive Miguel dude was the typical hanger-on gaining his 15 minutes of fame with his South American connections and coke spoon. Goes well with Babylon Sisters in telling the story of illegal fun under the SoCal sun.

Spend a quarter to shine... yep

@@gottabeemee The narrator is a coke dealer, not the kingpin but the guy who makes the "special deliveries" to celebrities and high-rollers, one of which is a pro athlete, named in the first verse. Then he lists other customers in the following verses. Please read the lyrics or, next time, actually listen to the rest of the song, not just the first verse before commenting, Arlene.

Hoops McCann is possibly Spencer Haywood, who played for the Lakers in the 1979-80 season, right when Fagen mostly was recording the Gaucho album. Haywood was dismissed from the Lakers by then-coach Paul Westhead during the 1980 NBA Finals for falling asleep during practice due to his addiction. Other rumored candidates in the song are Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Dallas Cowboys linebacker, KROQ DJ Russ O'Hara, who testified against drug-smuggling pilot Jack Carlton Reed, and Michael (Jive Miguel), who was studio head Bob Evans ne'erdo well brother-in-law, arrested in an FBI sting to buy coke.

Nailed it.

Yes, hope they do that, especially all time fave I.G.Y.

Underrated

Wow, never knew that.

Yep the genius lyrics are unsurpassable.

Yes. Doing those coke runs.

You're absolutely right. Everything about this recording is pretty unsurpassable. I don't have enough superlatives for this song.

True enough, however just as they were meticulous with the music such attention is paid to the lyrical stories. I would recommend fans check out the song meaning website (think thats the name) for quality breakdowns of songs meanings and references. Like studying a good novel in a college course. The reason to do so is youll appreciate and thus enhoy thier mastery even more. Happy musical exploration brothers & sisters!

@@chadlyblomme that’s definitely an interesting rabbit hole to explore as well.

So true about the Second Arrangement! Great song! There is a live version of Steely Dan doing the song on a rarity set at the Beacon Theatre. Just when you’ve heard all the Steely Dan songs, nope not yet! 😂

Regarding Fagen's solo albums, don't forget Morph the Cat! Wall to wall strength.

@@Mr62Lincoln Yes to Morph the Cat and Sunken Condos and the Walter Becker releases too. So much great stuff!

Kulee Baba didn't make it either. The Bear.

Donald’s album “The Nightfly” is still on my favorites list all these yrs later. 👍

The title track is about a gay love triangle. A dude's flamboyant gay lover shows up at his work with a new sideman... Very LA.

⁠@@jml-rj5reno original poster was right

@@princerob425 Nope. Donald and Walter have disclosed the gay love thing in intereviews.

Agree, what a fantastic petition line

Poetic

You got that right about Valerie Simpson on this track. I can hear her distinctively in the vocals.

Mine was KLBJ FM! Our first fm station. Steely Dan was playing at every party we had. I finally got to see them before Walter Becker passed. Michael McDonald was there as well. 🎶

@@lab4389 was that the rock and soul review???! I saw Boz scaggs with Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen I think ,Steve Gadd on drums in the late 80s or early 90s at the Beacon TheaterI can't remember if Walter Becker was there too because I did see steely Dan later on after they released the two against nature album and the years are piling on so quick, I can't keep track any longer...both shows were great but Steely Dan are perfectionists, that's why the never toured. They strictly believe in studio work and getting it perfect. The good old days when chicks were cool and listened to great music. A lot of the girls were into Frampton and the Stones , to get a girl who liked Led Zeppelin was really something special but you got a girl who likes Steely Dan , that was a jackpot!!! 😂

Your history parallels mine. I was 13 in '72 and was building my album collection as well. Music was a big part of my life since I was a kid. Used to walk around outside holding my transistor radio up to my ear, listening to AM radio. I thought I had arrived when I got a single line earphone. New Orleans had 2 popular FM stations -- KRNO and

@@tommythompson9565 right on brother! I'm a rocker at heart. Love the Allman Brothers, Beatles,Zeppelin ,Santana,Elton John, free,Bad co. Etc . However a.m. radio turned me on to some great Motown,soul and real R and B. Not the shit they call R & B today. So I really like Al Green, Teddy pendergrass, The stylistics, the ojays, spinners,Earth ,wind and fire,etc. As much as things changed by going to FM radio, it was the top 40 AM station that molded my musical tastes. You didn't have to change the station to get a good mix of everything. Black-and-white music were played on the same station and those were the days of when you got 3,4,5 part harmony, meaningful lyrics and stellar musicians. Today if you go around the radio dial trying to find a station that plays that type of mix I don't think they exist. So many people just listen to One genre of music and that's it. To get them to listen to anything outside of that is real tough. That's why I enjoy these reaction channels so much. Watching young black kids get the same reactions I got to songs from 40-50 years ago. I especially like these two brothers because they "get it" plus they have musical ability and knowledge. Many people have argued with me that it comes down to taste and opinion. I beg to differ tremendously. Yes the song does have the sound good but if anybody's going to tell me that rap has the same soul, feel,groove and emotional sway on a person like 60s and 70s music,they need their heads examined. Steely Dan is a perfect example of what I'm talkin about. These guys are not 3 chord wonders. It's the best musicianship around!!!

@@edwardcapobianco2975 "Right on" back at ya, brother. I agree with you across the board. AM radio was, and still is, full of great music. When I transitioned from "pop music", so to say, mainly on AM stations to heavier stuff [ Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, etc. ] on FM , I didn't begin disliking the AM fare. Uh uh. Good music is good music. [ and Rap is crap . Yeah -- there might be a catchy Rap song or two out there, but that's only because they sound more un-rappy than the usual crap. ] The Jackson 5. The early Beatles stuff. Sonny and Cher. The Archie's. Yes -- even the Archie's. And Herman's Hermits. Pure pop gold. You are right on regarding the 2 dudes on this reaction channel. Laid back guys who know music. It helps me understand more along the production side because I am not a musician. Their insight adds to the appreciation of the song. And you gotta love how they can disagree with each other. Push each other's buttons a little. Real stuff. And as it is with most of these music Reaction Videos Channels, it is a pleasure to see them react so emotionally to the same music that freaked us out back when this music was first released. I've seen a few reactors cry from being overwhelmed by the music they were listening to -- experiencing. Can't tell you how many hours I've spent over the last year or so watching these Reaction Videos Channels. It is a blast. And now they are reacting to movies. Wouldn't think that would be worthwhile, but it ends up being fun. Especially when the movie has a big twist to it, like The Sixth Sense. or is very emotional, like The Green Mile.

Good call! 👍🏻

A bit harsh on Walter, I do think. Fagen was the producer on Becker's solo album 11 Tracks of Whack, 1994, which had some incredible songs on it. Book of Liars, Surf And/Or Die, Girlfriend, etc. Walter emerged undiminished.

We got Nightfly 2 years later dude. A masterpiece every bit as good or better than Gaucho.

@@kbrewski1 Understood but not the point. Fagen's solo career was impressive, as it had the driving beat found in many Steely Dan songs, but Donald's solo career was going to happen regardless of whether he broke ways with Walter after Gaucho, so before Fagen's solo career started there should have been another couple of Dan albums, or so, to grace our existence first.

@@biskygiver Well the problem was Walter's drug issues, so doing more albums with him wasn't possible in the post Gaucho period. And I forgot to add in my prior post, you say they hit their groove with Gaucho. I love all SD albums, but to me Aja was the apex, their masterpiece of jazz, fusion, funk, rock and pop. Gaucho is great but a little cold and clinical in spots. Aja is truly a jazz and funk exploration on another level.

Katie lied through Aja is my favorite period from them but every record is outstanding

Yes. Bass lines is awesome

Anthony Jackson I think. And Steve Khan's guitar is off the scale

you should listen to mounsey being interviewed on a steely dan podcast. He talks about his solo and all his fills. Incredible work

So, so many great songs!!! I've always loved Third World Man. I've read the Larry Carlton had considered his guitar solo on Third World Man, his favorite. I've also read/heard that Third World Man is Joni Mitchell's favorite Steely Dan song.

The last 2/3 of Everything Must Go is All pocket, all the time. VERY underrated.

@@ronrobbins2737 Oh yeah, also an incredible album!

Not enough kudos to the players!

Magic.

@@mormovies I agree 100%. Fagan & Becker hired THE BEST at their craft. I can remember being in a RECORD STORE back in the 70's and 80's and spending my time looking at the artists that performed on Steely Dan's albums. To this day I am still amazed at how they brought in so much talent. I don't recall any other artists doing what Fagan & Becker did.

What a line-up, the best of the best!!!

The poodles plums 😊

who is this Gaucho , amigo? why is he standing there? in you spangled leather poncho and your elevator shoes? Bodacious cowboys such as your "friend' will NEVER be welcome here !! ( high in the Custerdome)

Exactly and from what I understand the original Cowboys

This song, the bass part is done by legend Anthony Jackson.

@@danielmccann8325 Awesome! Thanks.

Lol, everyday for me too

Steve Khan is brilliant on guitar here. The pocket guitar solo and outro have Walter written all over them. Walter

@@msburton1406 Listen to Khans work with Michael Franks “ The Camera Never Lies” or “ Your Secrets Safe With Me” That whole outro is Khan . Even the solo on Gaucho is Khan .

They got better.

Every album is different AND they got better.

Nice add...I was getting ready to post the same but you beat me to it....

Of South America I believe it was Brazil

And they rode horses through the "pampas." Now they will ask what is "pampas"" And you tell them that's where the "horse hockeys" would be found, and, yet again, they will ask what are "horse hockeys?."