“Aja’s got a problem” cracked me up. The thing about Steely Dan albums is that whichever one you’re listening to at the moment is unquestionably their best. Every track on every album is just that good.

Larry Carlton’s guitar solo on this track is considered one of the greatest ever guitar solos of any song.

"Is there gas in the cah? Yes there's gas in the cah." Donald Fagen is a freakin' legend y'all.

Picking your favorite Steely Dan album is like choosing your favorite child, it's not easy.

Kid Charlemagne was a real life chemist who specialized in hallucinogenic drugs. When it comes to Steely Dan it's a safe bet most songs are about sex and/or drugs.

Song's about a dude named Owsley 'Bear' Stanley, a manufacturer of LSD in 1960's-70's San Francisco. He was also a pioneer of audio engineering, and was sound engineer and inventor of the "wall of sound" sound system for the Grateful Dead, who are legends in their own way.

This IS a masterpiece!

Don’t Take Me Alive is a killer cut from this album.

When the Dan are cookin there is none better.

Larry Carlton’s solo must rank as the best ever, bar none. Every note follows the chords perfectly. Love you guys reactions👍

Owsley Stanely was not the creator of LSD, but he certainly was "the best in town" and made literally millions of doses in his East Bay underground lab. He was aided by his wife Melissa Cargill who was a chemist, and "turned it on the world", while moonlighting as the Grateful Dead's first sound engineer. "Those San Francisco nights" would be "The Matrix", "Avalon Ballroom" and those other tiny acid-drenched venues the nascent San Francisco sound began in. Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead owned an "A-frame" house in Mill Valley in Marin county and probably had Owsley's number on the wall. "Those day-glo freaks who used to paint the face have joined the human race." The daisy-chain hippies in Golden Gate Park with the painted faces eventually got jobs like their parents. Owlsey did go down to LA and supplied the six Acid Tests between Feb and March of '66 in southern California. "Still an outlaw in their eyes" ... LSD became outlawed in California in October of '66. Anyway... yeah, it's a potent song in many ways and pregnant with meaning. I'll add that the "White men in the streets" refers to the rise of cocaine and how people turned from LSD after it was outlawed. Also Stanley was captured by the police when his car ran out of gas (Is there gas in the car? Yes there’s gas in the car).

"Clean this mess up else we'll all end up in jail ..the test tubes and the scales..just get em all outta here".....one of my favorite lines in a song ever

It makes me BEYOND HAPPY to see someone appreciate the Dan!

"Is there gas in the car?" "Yes, there's gas in the car". Makes me laugh every time!

EVERY song on this album "Royal Scam" is awesomely quirky yet musically complex. Got this album in 1976 and it's just as good now as ever. That's 46 years of staying power. "Green earrings" "The royal scam" "Haitian divorce" "The Fez" "The caves of Altamira" are gems. And then they came out with Aja. Ridiculously good.

Gentlemen.... the stars came into perfect alignment when Steely Dan recorded this track. I've heard top tier musicians say that the guitar solo by Larry Carlton is their favorite guitar solo. When you listen to this again try to pay closer attention to Bernard Purdie on drums. This track is a masterpiece in so many ways. Every track on the album " The Royal Scam " is a winner. There are NO FILLERS on this album. It's EAR CANDY from the first track until the last track. Great job, guys.

"Is there gas in the car...yes there's gas in the car" My favorite Steely Dan song!!!

I swear to god that the lyrics for Kid Charlemagne were the blueprint for the Breaking Bad series.

I have seen a first reaction from a young guitarist in tears at Larry Carltons playing. "How does he do that" I disbelief. Beautiful good on you guys

hahahahaha !!!!.....I LOVE their reaction to the great Kid Charlemagne......and they didnt even mention the incredible bass playing

This entire album is incredible. Right up there with Aja. They really don't have a bad record, despite the fact that they underwent significant changes in style over the years.

The Bass , drums & clavinet are killer but then Larry Carlton comes in to top it off ! Just a phenomenal track.

Michael McDonald's vocal towards the end is killer. Like an exclamation mark.

GENTLEMAN...... YOUR IN FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE MUSICALLY.. STEELY DAN DOESNT MISS... YOU'LL HAVE 50 SONGS THAT ARE ALL YOUR FAVORITES BEFORE ALL IS SAID AND DONE.

All that and the insane rhythm section are two brothers: Bernard Purdie on drums, and Chuck Rainey on bass. It does NOT get any better than this.

It thrills my heart to see so many young brothers discovering the Dan groove...

Donald Fagen doesn't have what most people would consider a great singing voice but it is definitely unique and I think that's what makes it great in my opinion. You immediately know that it's Steely Dan or his solo work.

Steely Dan is all that. Jazz, blues funk and rock all rolled into one band. Unique as hell. Kind of hits that Earth Wind and Fire vibe.

It really is a masterpiece it’s hard to believe SD isn’t concerned one of the top 3-5 bands ever. Well they are by me.

One of the greatest pop songs ever. Glad you guys “got it”. Not everyone does. Also take some time with Larry Carlton’s amazing guitar solo as well.

Im 64 year sold. Grew up on this. these guys are awesome

"Is there gas in the car, yes there is gas in the car" is the famous line at the concerts. The fans go crazy

You two crack me up; It's great to see you *getting* it first time. Donald's vocals soar, but there's so much great about this one.

This boomer didn't even know Kanye sampled this, LOL! But seeing you flip out over this & Bodhisattva & Don't Take Alive really made my day. 👍

This is some complex music, with amazing harmonies, a layered chord structure, and great performances, including two Larry Carlton guitar solos. But please say SOMETHING about the propulsive funk shuffle that Bernard Purdie lays down on the drums! It is stellar!

The level of musicianship on this track is nuts. Everyone is killing it. Carlton's solo at the end and through the outtro is as good as it gets. Leaves me wanting more. All time tune. Actually just discovered you guys and I specifically searched this song. Keep up the great work.

Love seeing you guys discovery and appreciate the genius of Steely Dan, they transcend genres!

Donald Fagan has a truly unique voice. He and Walter Becker basically, with a revolving group of top-tier session musicians were Steely Dan, and they were famous for being obsessive about the quality of their production. That incredible Steely Dan production value. Love your guys responses

Royal Scam might not get the hype of other dan albums but 2 minutes into it you're hooked!

"Is there gas in the car? Yes, there's gas in the car!" My favorite line of the song.

In the aja document donald Fagan said he grew up around listening to black music being in the club that's why you hear alot of r and b soul in every song they do he said his mom grew him up around black neighborhood and enjoying soul music 😊

glamour profession is another masterpiece. the Dan is your favorite bands, favorite band,

It is so amazing to see people watching the progression of the Dan and realize that they are witnessing musical perfection. They are like modern day Mozart or Beethoven, blending sounds perfectly to produce musical perfection

The great Larry Carlton on guitar. Third World Man is another great song with Larry. Donald is a great singer for sure. Love iy

Your reactions to the first 30-45 seconds of the tune I think may have endeared me to your style. Well done fellas.

The praisin' to heaven moments crack me up in a good way, man. Love seeing new Steely fans bask in their glow.

This is a masterpiece you said it. If I had to tell somebody with the best Steely Dan song is it would the kid Charlemagne

after 15 yrs of engineering you still get excited about music...you guys are supercool

Steely Dan's 1980 album - Gaucho - has tunes like 'Babylon Sisters', 'Hey Nineteen' and 'Glamour Profession' which are just stunning. Thanks for all the hard work and amazing Steely Dan tunes. You're spreading the joy and shining a light on some great music.

This song is epic perfection.

Don’t you luv how good music makes you feel.

You dudes have GOT to hear Haitian Divorce. The production on that (and the talk-box guitar) is insane. Beautiful, haunting song all the way around.

Hey Guys, this is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs and it has probably my #1 favorite rock/pop guitar ever, which is performed by one of the best studio musicians in the history of recording, Larry Carlton. I see that you got sucked into the killer groove early on. The interaction between the bass and drums is insane. If you haven’t already, you should check out Rick Beato’s KZfaq channel (3 million+ subscribers). He’s a guitarist, producer and music educator and there’s a lot of great content on his channel, but specifically, in his series of videos called “What Makes This Song Great”, he’s got a video on this song in which he breaks down the structure, writing and the guitar solo in detail.

Fellas- another one for you is Don Fagen’s solo effort which I consider to be #3 in the Aja-Gaucho- and then The Nightfly trilogy. He’s playing a 60’s nighttime jazz DJ and all the songs are brilliant. New Frontier captures the early 60’s feeling of freshness and modernity. And it’s kind of reggae!

Look guys, all I'm going to say (based on an earlier comment I left on a previous Steely Dan video): I told you so! These two solos are some of the best guitar solos in rock history and, yes, the vocals killed it!

The Dan's "Do It Again" is worth a shot.

Steely Dan was one BADASS band!! Here, at their Peak!!!!!

I remember hearing this song as a kid and loving it then later finding out that it’s about a small time drug dealer. They are geniuses!

Ned from Spain here. Sweet reaction fellas. By the way that monster groove is courtesy of funky funky drummer Bernard Pretty Purdie and bass genius Chuck Rainey. The guitar solo by Larry Carlton is from beyond in sophistication, swing and stank.

That CLAVINET! Magical!

Love seeing young guys save their souls

Great beginning to the Royal Scam reactions! Personally I like this album better than Aja, which I love. This album has some of the best guitar solos ever, and Don't Take me Alive starts out with a guitar solo. Green Earrings is the sickest progression and transition song on the album, and Haitian Divorce is, well, you'll see. The Fez, The Caves of Altamira and the rest of the album is fire! Fire!! Green Earrings is my favorite, now, I think. LOL Great album, dive deep.

I hear it was the first time jazz and rock melted together!

I was always a huge Steely Dan fan and this was my favorite song. In the 1990's I was a manager in a business and had a number of people that I had to manage. One of them was a 20 year old girl who asked me about this song because she heard it on the radio. I explained it to her and we became great friends. Steely Dan came to town the next year and we went to the concert, one of the best times of my life.

Your enthusiasm for the song is fantastic & infectious.

Have fun in the royal scam, but please please PLEASE also do pretzel logic, and my favorite steely tune 'Night by Night'. Enjoying watching your journey!

This band was so freaking tight

I love the way he sings "Is there gas in the car...yes, there's gas in the carrrrrrr...."!

Kid Charlemagne is about owesly, the greatful dead chemist , he was around in the 60s, he made purple haze, they called him bear. So Steely Dan ate Owsley acid, there are basically saying thank you for the trip, guess a tribute to him.

I love watching folks get turned on the GENIUS of Steely Dan! Welcome to world fellas!!

For some reason, this song didn't get a lot of airplay at the time it was released, reaching only #82 on the Billboard charts. But, if you were a teenager then and spending way too much time in Berzerkeley, like I was, you knew what was up and why it was #1 on my playlist. Such a funky rhythm section of Pretty Purdie, Chuck Rainey added to the organ, clavinet and electric piano backing Larry Carlton's amazing solos. "Badass song", "eargasm".... yup.

LOL, you guys are great! Subbed - I gotta see your reaction to Don't Take Me Alive.

That Larry Carlton solo. 😍😍 Pretty fly for a jazz guy.

Larry Carlton’s guitar solo is legendary

Steely Dan has always been on a different level. They integrate different types of music, played by Fagan, Becker (RIP, Walter), with some of the best studio musicians out there. This particular song is one of my favorites of theirs, with one of my favorite guitar solos. Just true musicianship from start to finish.

Have all Steely Dan’s this is the most Rock Heavy Album they have remember when it was released.the first time listening to it!! Blown away!!

Is there gas in the car? Yes there's gas in the car! I am lovin that you are loving. Classic rock at its best. You guys know it!

The only songs I knew of Steely Dan were the hit and the greatest hits from the CD I bought in the early 90s. I grew up around Steely Dan's Music but didn't really get into it till now. Thank you, love hearing the album music instead of just the hits.

Love the reactions of the hosts when the Harmony Vocals Soar, and then Larry Carlton cuts in with a total Funky Jazzy Solo, and they want more Vocals. Such weird Lyrics, and no Auto tune......Hello! That is REAL MUSIC!

Welcome down the rabbit hole, requested, steely dan , Jack of speed. If this doesn't move you your dead inside, love your channel and your respect for pure sounds.😁👍

I could be mistaken but... it shounds to me like this track was mixed in such a way to bring Fagan's voice front and center. As great as the musicians sound... they never drown out the vocals. Steely Dan does everyting with a purpose. I have said this in the past and I will say it again..... the mixing, editing and production on Steely Dan's albums are top shelf. Everything sounds "clean" and nothing is blurred or diminished. It's an art form that rarely gets it's dues.

Listen to the musicianship , the clean sound , the fucking artistry of the DAN ... they are a musical genre unto themselves and too cool for school !!

Dancing in there seats

I was in a band back in the 80's and we played Kid Charlemagne, Peg, Josie and Home at Last. We rehearsed "Kid" for about a month straight to learn it. I play bass.

Excellent reaction to a phenomenal song -- absolutely one of my favorites by them. One I think both y'all would really dig is "Your Gold Teeth" from Countdown to Ecstasy. It's so very funky.

Fellas Steely Dan still touring and well worth seeing them live before you cannot…

You guys are great. So many listens do not appreciate how great these guys are at writing and performing music. Thank you both for your love of great music.

Oh Yeah, Very Talented Studio Musicians .... Read, Write & Breath music... All on the same page, groovin it and getting payed 💵 Oh Yeah, Thank you Steely Dan 👍🙂❤️

Freaking MASTERPIECE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Forgot what a bad ass song this was . Great reaction guys

"cuz the Man is wise....You are still an outlaw in their eyes."

We had the best music in 1970s and 80s. If you've been to a Steely Dan concert, it is filled with other musicians. They are so smooth and incredible ability to write and produce their music. ❤

After you get more used to the vocals, listen to the bass. Chuck Rainey tears it up. If you liked this, you are gonna love the rest of Royal Scam. A little more raw and phunky than Aja.

This here obsessive Steely Dan fan has long felt the Royal Scam was a tie for best Dan album with Aja. Kid Charlemagne is definitely one of my all-time favorite songs of theirs. And ah yes, Donald Fagen's singing. He really didn't want to front the band, gave him wicked stage fright; but they tried other vocalists and found them wanting. His is definitely not a "standard" pretty singer's voice, but he's got impeccable phrasing and groove-feel, plus that sardonic New York-accented sneer - he's the voice of the Steely attitude.

I'm 53 and smiled so much watching this... I love to see you loving this...! There's SO much 70's music you're gonna love....!

Larry Carlton nailing those tasty solos.

You guys have a wonderful energy, and seeing you reacting to this incredible album is just icing on the cake. Ya'll keep this going, you got yourselves another subscriber !

“10 out of 5”; Love that! Had to come back and re-watch this reaction; yep, I think this is my favorite reaction of yours; THANK You for bringing joy to my night!

This was my jam back in the day! I was 17, I can feel this, taste this, smell this!

"Is there gas in the car? Yes theres gas in the caaarrrr!" So killer.