Steely Dan Do it Again.... Becker, Baxter Both?

[Jerry Overstreet]

Do it Again guitar work particularly the solo, was it Becker, Baxter or both?
Instrument or studio effects? I figure you know the song if you are/were a Dan fan.

[Fred Treece]

I always thought it sounded like Skunk on a Danelectro sitar guitar.

[John Larson]

Denny Dias played it on a Danelectro electric sitar, the only time he played the instrument. It was a rental.
See about 7 minutes into this interview where he talks about it.
Denny Dias x Rick Beato

[Jerry Overstreet]

Ah! Cool John.....so neither. Thanks guys.

[Craig Stock]

There's a great Rick Beato interview with Denny about his time with the Dan.

[scott murray]

not sure about the record but Skunk played the congas when they did it live back in the day:
https://youtu.be/7SM_eJKVlzs

Walter didn't do much if any guitar playing on the first couple albums, I think the song Pretzel Logic might've been his debut.

Denny is one of my favorites, love his be-bop style and you'll be hard pressed to ever hear him bend a string. it's ironic that with all the great session guitarists Steely Dan went through, the original guy (Denny) was still the best for them in my opinion. and even after they split the touring band up they continued to use him on all their records through Aja

[Anthony Lis]

A very interesting thread!

[Gary Spaeth]

one of my jam songs on ireal pro. fun.

[John Larson]

not sure about the record but Skunk played the congas when they did it live back in the day:
https://youtu.be/7SM_eJKVlzs

Walter didn't do much if any guitar playing on the first couple albums, I think the song Pretzel Logic might've been his debut.

Denny is one of my favorites, love his be-bop style and you'll be hard pressed to ever hear him bend a string. it's ironic that with all the great session guitarists Steely Dan went through, the original guy (Denny) was still the best for them in my opinion. and even after they split the touring band up they continued to use him on all their records through Aja

I'd disagree only slightly Denny was the second greatest because Larry Carlton was perfect for the Dan. Wish he had done more with them.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Interesting information you guys are filling in concerning this song and the band.

In all honesty, I probably couldn't have told you who the band members were back when this music was popular. I just listened to music.

I seldom bought albums, so had hardly any credit facts and not really too much interest in all that.

I had just begun seriously listening to country rock that included steel guitar, so I was rather more interested in the steel than the other parts. None in this song of course, but I always liked the tune.

The first Dan song that I recall getting my attention, maybe the first one I heard was My Old School. The music was smooth and sophisticated, pleasant to listen to and easy on the ears. Therefore, the Larry Carlton reference is enlightening.

I always still enjoy their music any time I hear it.

It was in later years when music of this era began being revived on some pop and oldies radio stations that I became more curious.

So....I do know that Walter Becker played bass. I'm not sure if he recorded on the first couple albums, but I read that in later years, owing to another bass player's ability, he pretty much just stopped bass.

I understand he and I share/shared use of the Mosvalve/TubeWorks RT2100 amplifier. I still have mine in a head cabinet I built. Great little amp. I didn't buy it because of Walter though, I've been using these original BK Butler products since the early 90s.

At the risk of going off topic, I only recently found out about the band's name origin.... I also have learned how some of the other band's names and song titles of this period came about...some are hilarious, some just sort of vulgar...but that was the 70s, I guess.

[Fred Treece]

So....I do know that Walter Becker played bass. I'm not sure if he recorded on the first couple albums, but I read that in later years, owing to another bass player's ability, he pretty much just stopped bass.

Chuck Rainey, mostly. The guy who literally wrote the book on bass playing.

[scott murray]

Walter did all the bass playing on the first 3 albums, then they started bringing in other guys for particular tunes but he always played bass on at least a track or 2. and in many cases, guys like Chuck Rainey were playing parts Walter had come up with. he also began playing the odd guitar solo or 2 on every album starting with Pretzel Logic.

when Steely Dan came back with their 2 "reunion" albums around the turn of the century/millennium, Walter played all the bass and virtually all the lead guitar on those records.

might as well mention Skunk's fine steel playing on the first 3 albums too. he said his parts on Charlie Freak were one of his favorite things he ever did. his steel can also be heard on the songs Brooklyn, Fire In The Hole, Razor Boy, Pearl Of The Quarter, Barrytown, East St Louis Toodleoo and the early single Dallas. they also featured him in concert back then on songs like Dirty Work and Any Major Dude.

the band name was definitely an inside joke "if you know you know" kind of thing, but Walter said slyly in old interviews the name could refer to their steel player

[Craig Stock]

Don't forget the Guitar players of steely Dan interview with Rick Beato again. Features Dean Parks and Jay Graydon, to delve deeper into the subject.

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r ... &FORM=VIRE

[John Larson]

The first Dan song that I recall getting my attention, maybe the first one I heard was My Old School. The music was smooth and sophisticated, pleasant to listen to and easy on the ears. Therefore, the Larry Carlton reference is enlightening.

I always still enjoy their music any time I hear it.

"Kid Charglemane"
I could write a thesis on this one. Dylanesque lyrics telling a noir tale inspired by the exploits of the Grateful Dead's infamous soundman/LSD chemist Owsley "Bear" Stanley some of Becker/Fagen's best lyrics. Then Carlton drops what for me is one of the top 5 greatest rock solos ever with loads of jazzy voicing, notable for a tapped note towards the end of the outro solo a couple years before Eddie Van Halen popularized the practice.

"Don't Take Me Alive"
One of the best intro guitar solos ever. I'd place it right up there with Santana's "Europa" and Led Zeppelin's "Since I've Been Loving You" amongst 70s rock.

[scott murray]

check out Eddy Dunlap playing the Kid C solo on steel
https://youtu.be/5SuecU-ZqhU

[Craig Stock]

Totally great Scott, Thanks for posting that, Eddie is the man!