I tend to absorb others' reactions, for some reason. When I was in college and this had just come out, I had a good friend at the college radio station who thought the background vocals on this track were the greatest thing he had ever heard. As a result, they still give me chills. He probably now thinks this song sucks, but my appreciation for it has only grown over the years.

A great tune from my favorite Steely Dan album.

maryte wrote:

Derringer worked with them for quite a while, but I'm not sure if any of his work actually made it on to a release. Anyone?

Chevy Chase? Playing what? Skin flute?

trekhead wrote:

I WANT THAT VINYL!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Well, not yours, because it's wrapped and the records probably warped and dripping with acid after all these years, but you get my point, I hope.)

Massive Attack's Teardrop mixed seemlessly into Steely Dan's The Royal Scam? Seriously, where else could I hear that kind of transition...

Nice one.

SD Trivia -

Loudon Wainwright III, Rick Derringer, and Chevy Chase all declined to "join" Steely Dan...

Trustocity wrote:

My wife has a cultured ass. Cultured as in cottage cheese....

I'm really surprised that so many people who listen to RP regularly hate SD! I would have imagined otherwise.

Any dang way, Steely Dan rocks!

When did Neil Young Join SD?

Trustocity wrote:

I'm trying to work up a visual of an uncultured ass. Not there yet.

Comic featuring Steely Dan:

http://www.achewood.com/index.php?date=06112004

trekhead wrote:

You might get 8 bucks for it on e-bay.

I always thought this was a brilliant track. I still do. It never even occurred to me that there were people who DISLIKED Steely Dan until I read the comments here! I guess I need to get out more. Or less.

Been wondering how long it would be until we heard the Dan. A second helping for me, please.

Trustocity wrote:

Sorry, Trust-... the term culture never had a good image with me, especially with SD. Reminds me of germs growing in a petri dish somewhere. They need to be sterilized. REAL close to negative rating here...he always sounded like he was purposely singing... OFF. I have a vinyl AJA , still wrapped. A 'gift' some years ago.

Mikey wrote:

Please don't, especially since you don't know how to spell political.... :headshake:

Trustocity wrote:

Preach it, brah. Well done.

Skeletor wrote:


Love 'em or hate 'em, (put me in the LOVE LOVE LOVE column) but give them due credit for being one of the very few bands who actually had an original concept and sound, particularly in the '70s which was ruled by disco and commercial hard rock and sappy ballads. Maybe for some people, the sound didn't age well, but I will never tire of their exceptional musical talent and esoteric lyrics (of which I know most by heart!)

Great song for inauguration week.

Hey, if we're gonna flame about the the Dan, might as well get politikkkal too.

Trustocity wrote:

Ahem to that!!!

Trustocity wrote:

I swear I was just about to write...

"Less this, more 'Haitian Divorce.'"
Oh well, at least it came from the best Steely Dan album ever.

It seems that there is no grey area when it comes to Steely Dan – either people LOVE them or HATE them. For whatever reason I was born with the Steely Dan gene – love 'em...and love this track....

Oh... there goes my lunch. Barf

More this, less "Haitian Divorce."

Word to the haters! Steely Dan rocks your uncultured ass.

I love reading the comments on Steely Dan songs. Whenever I see one on the playlist, even if it crossed by a few hours back, I always jump to that song to see if anyone left any new words o wisdom on the latest atrocity visited on the RP community.

George S. Clinton-esque horns on an above average (not great) Dan tune. I usu. skip this one when listening to the greatest hits or album. That's the downside to making so much good music.

Hatred! Raw, burning, Fires of Mt. Doom kinda hatred , an insulting 1...

Emmanuel wrote:


Absolutely right! I never appreciated this song until I listened to it critically with a pair of headphones. Amazing dynamic range and masterful use of different voices to create a distinctive sound. Love the selective use of the muted trumpets, trombones, electric organ, and of course the vocal chorus. One of SD's true geniuses is how they combine diverse instruments to create original 3-D sonic environments.

Fabulous song, fabulous album.

GORADIOPARADISEGO!!!!

soooooooo repetitive...

Not my fave either, and maybe I am a dork, a geezer, or both. But this hits the spot.