Video Vault - 1973

"Reeling in the Years" is one of my all-time favorite songs.  Back in 1986, when I got my first CD player, A Decade of Steely Dan was one of the first CD's I ever purchased.  I enjoyed the whole disc, but I would put this song on repeat, and listened to it over, and over, and over...I never got tired of it, but I know the rest of my family surely did.

There is something about Donald Fagan's nasally tone that I always loved.  Maybe it is the snide, sarcastic, yet sincere tone he uses when he sings.  I don't think I would like him as a person, but I love his songs. 

Elliot Randall's guitar work in the original, studio version is incredible.  Jimmy Page declared that it was the best guitar solo of all time.  David Palmer's & Walter Becker's  harmonies with Fagan are spot on.

The video itself is priceless.  It comes from television series, The Midnight Special. Host Bill Cosby, with a great afro, porn-stache, and vinyl jacket, chomping on a cigar are priceless. He even gives a great "Cosby face" to end his introduction. 

The camera work is awful.  They focus on the wrong guitarist during the leads and solos.  Guitarist Danny Dias looks like a serial killer, while Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, better known as a Doobie Brother (remember when they were on What's Happening?) gets into his groove during the song.  Better yet, check out the teeth on David Palmer - yikes!  Enjoy.