Reelin' In the Years
{{Short description|1972 single by Steely Dan}}
{{About||the Irish TV series|Reeling In the Years{{!}}Reeling In the Years}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Reelin' In the Years
| cover = Reeling In The Years 45.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Steely Dan
| album = Can't Buy a Thrill
| B-side = Only a Fool Would Say That
| released = March 1973Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}
| recorded = August 1972
| studio = The Village Recorder, Santa Monica, California
| genre = Jazz rock{{cite book|title= Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s|first1=Don|last1=Breithaupt|first2= Jeff|last2= Breithaupt|date= October 15, 1996|chapter= Play Misty for Me: Jazz Pop|page= 128|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|isbn=031214704X|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMPCAwAAQBAJ}}
| length = 4:37
| label = ABC
| writer = Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
| producer = Gary Katz
| prev_title = Do It Again
| prev_year = 1972
| next_title = Show Biz Kids
| next_year = 1973
| misc = {{external music video|type=single|header=Audio|{{YouTube|GaH25Sghoqc|"Reelin' In the Years"}}}}
}}
"Reelin' In the Years" (sometimes entitled "Reeling In the Years") is a song by American rock band Steely Dan, released as the second single from their 1972 debut album, Can't Buy a Thrill. It peaked at No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 15 in Canada.
Writing and performance
The song was written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and features Fagen on vocals. In 2009, Rolling Stone described the track as "a prime early example of what would become the Dan's trademark vibe, marrying a sardonic kiss-off to an ex to a bouncy shuffle groove, and adding on some white-hot guitar dazzlement courtesy of Elliott Randall to bring the whole thing home." In the same interview, Fagen said "It's dumb but effective", and Becker said "It's no fun."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/steely-dan-10-essential-songs-127563/reelin-in-the-years-1972-129187/ |title=Steely Dan: 10 Essential Songs |website=RollingStone.com |date=September 3, 2017 |access-date=October 18, 2018}}
=Guitar solo=
The guitar solo on the original recorded version was recorded in one take.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/how-elliott-randall-nailed-steely-dans-reelin-in-the-years-recording-in-one-continuous-take|title=How Elliott Randall Nailed Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" Recording in One Continuous Take|author=Damian Fanelli|date=April 23, 2021|website=Guitarplayer.com|access-date=June 10, 2021}} It has been rated by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page as his favorite solo of all time,{{cite web|author1=Steven Wheeler|title=The Led Zeppelin In-Frequently Murmured Trivia List v1.1|url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/reference/index.php?m=assorted3|website=Led-Zeppelin.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216005812/http://www.led-zeppelin.org/reference/index.php?m=assorted3|archive-date=February 16, 2012|url-status=usurped|date=June 11, 1995}}{{cite web|url=http://elliott-randall.com/2011/06/classic-rock-magazine-interview-1999/ |title=Classic Rock Magazine Interview – 1999 |publisher=Elliott Randall |date=June 20, 2014 |access-date=October 8, 2016}} and he scored it 12/10.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtEXfEwJf4M |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/wtEXfEwJf4M |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10.|access-date=June 10, 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} In 2016 the solo was ranked the 40th best guitar solo of all time by the readers of Guitar World magazine.{{cite web|url=http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatestc.htm |title=The 100 Best Guitar Solos of All Time - Page 4 |website=Guitar.about.com |access-date=October 8, 2016}}{{cite magazine|title=Rare Cuts, Big Hits: Steely Dan Dig Deep|page=24|last=Scaggs|first=Austin|magazine=RollingStone|date=September 17, 2009|issue=1087|archive-url=https://archive.org/details/rolling-stone-1087-2009-09-17-stephen-colbert/page/n23/mode/2up|url=((none))|url-status=unfit|access-date=September 28, 2023|archive-date=May 25, 2022}}
The four-channel quadraphonic mix of the recording has extra lead guitar fills not heard in the more common two-channel stereo version.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/how-elliott-randall-nailed-steely-dans-reelin-in-the-years-recording-in-one-continuous-take|title=How Elliott Randall Nailed Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" Recording in One Continuous Take|first=Damian |last=Fanelli|date=April 23, 2021|website=Guitar Player|access-date=June 10, 2021}}
Reception
On its release in 1973, Billboard said: "Easy sounding guitar solos lead into an easy sounding piano break which supports the voices extolling about culling life's experiences from tears to time."{{cite magazine |editor=Tiegel, Eliot|title=Radio Action & Pick Singles|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 29, 2020|date=March 3, 1973|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1973/Billboard%201973-03-03.pdf#page=102|page=102|volume=85|issue=9}} Cash Box called it a "winner highlighted by some expert guitar playing."{{cite magazine|title=Picks of the Week |author=Cash Box Singles Reviews|date=March 10, 1973|page=20|accessdate=December 11, 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-03-10.pdf#page=18|magazine=Cash Box |volume=34 |issue=38}} Record World said that "Another winner from their Can't Buy A Thrill LP should reel in whopping sales."{{cite magazine |editor=Goodman, Fred|magazine=Record World|date=March 10, 1973|accessdate=March 23, 2023|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-03-10.pdf|volume=28|issue=1342}} Disc Magazine stated the song "is the most instantly likeable of the package and would made a strong single".{{cite magazine |last1=Tyler |first1=Andrew |title=Steely Dan: Can't Buy A Thrill |magazine=Disc Magazine |date=January 20, 1973 |via=Rock's Backpages}}
The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1973.{{cite magazine |editor1-last=Lanzetta |editor1-first=Tony |title=Billboard Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |date=May 26, 1973 |volume=85 |issue=21 |page=64 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1973/Billboard%201973-05-26.pdf#page=72}} In March 2005, Q magazine placed the recording at number 95 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.{{cite magazine |title=100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever! |magazine=Q magazine |date=March 2005 |issue=224}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1973)
!Rank |
|---|
| Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.100214&type=2&interval=24&PHPSESSID=dtlhqtcdftn9t40n27r4hds2h0 |title=Item Display - RPM Annual - Volume 20, No. 20, December 29 1973 - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=July 14, 2017}}
| style="text-align:center;"|90 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1973.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=October 8, 2016}}
| style="text-align:center;"|68 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1973YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1973|website=Cashboxmagazine.com |access-date=June 25, 2016 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|87 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Steely Dan|title=Reelin' in the Years|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|id=18127-1004-1|access-date=June 7, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Personnel
= Steely Dan =
- Donald Fagen – lead and backing vocals, piano
- Denny Dias – rhythm guitar
- Jeff Baxter – rhythm guitar, lead guitar on live performances{{Citation |title=Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan {{!}} The Midnight Special |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b6fPnBtUqw |access-date=July 13, 2023 |language=en}}
- Walter Becker – bass
- Jim Hodder – drums
= Additional personnel =
- Elliott Randall – lead guitar
- Victor Feldman – tambourine
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0042277& Music Notes Entry]
- [https://www.45cat.com/record/abc11352 "Reelin' In the Years"] at 45cat.com
{{Steely Dan}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Television drama theme songs
Category:Music television series theme songs
Category:Songs written by Donald Fagen
Category:Songs written by Walter Becker