Steely Dan, “Reelin' in the Years” from 'Northeast Corridor' (2021) – Something Else!

During the 1993 and 1994 Steely Dan Tours, this classic-rock stalwart was re-imagined as a saxophone trio replacing the iconic guitar solos and riffs. It rocked, but mostly it swung. As the years progressed and the Steely Dan band settled into a narrower range of setlists steeped in the ’70s, ironically their biggest hits “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number” and “Reelin’ in the Years” were relegated to the back of a milk carton. Only recently have the two most recognizable and best-selling Steely Dan tunes been played some nights on the road again. The latest update of “Rikki” on 2021’s Northeast Corridor emphasizes its salsa beat, with a tip of the hat to Horace Silver’s Song for My Father. However, Steely Dan’s latest live la vida for “Reelin’ in the Years” is as a banger romp. The crowd noise allowed to leak into the introduction is ebullient – and morphs into an enthusiastic stomp and handclaps locked into the beat. Kick off the high-heeled sneakers, it’s party time. What’s lost in sarcasm and Walter Becker’s bite is paid back with interest in the joyride of the moment. Jon Herrington is more than up to task of emulating Elliott Randall’s guitar…
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