Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the (New!) Years” Featuring Mr. Elliott Randall (SoloDallas cover, SVDS)

It was one quick email exchange with Mr. Ken Schaffer (his personal site here) that suggested me (well, he did) a possible title to end this year and bring on the next one.

Given my recent meeting with Mr. Elliott Randall (and my past as a listener to Steely Dan since I was oh 17 years old) I just had to try and wear much larger shoes than mine: Mr. Randall’s, in fact.

So it is another sweet pleasure to introduce you to “Reelin’ In The Years”.

To those of you who haven’t listened to Steely Dan yet – please do so. There is world to learn about music into Steely Dan.

But my passion was sincerely about doing this piece because of Mr. Randall and his playing.

Also meeting him in person – as I had briefly mentioned in the Air posting – was striking for me. His persona was just magical to me. He really is a man who has completely and genuinely dedicated his life to Music.

He has such a long curriculum (i.e., list of people he played/worked with, sessions, shows he did, things he did) that as you read it (please read some about Mr. Randall here and here) you literally wander with your head into Music. But I don’t want to risk and sound over-speaking about Mr. Randall. I’ll let you do your research (please do!).

And before you begin, please watch me try and cover this. It was 1972.

As a side note, it is reported that Mr. Randall’s solo on this song is Jimmy Page’s most favorite solo of all times.

More tech info and a LOT more to say later (very late here, grabbing a plane for the US of A tomorrow morning at 5 am).

Happy, Happy New Year You All. 

Love,

Fil