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Reelin' In the Years

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For the Irish TV series, see Reeling In the Years.

"Reelin' In the Years"
Single by Steely Dan
from the album Can't Buy a Thrill
B-side"Only a Fool Would Say That"
ReleasedMarch 1973[1]
RecordedAugust 1972
StudioThe Village Recorder, Santa Monica, California
GenreJazz rock[2]
Length4:37
LabelABC
Songwriter(s)Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
Producer(s)Gary Katz
Steely Dan singles chronology
"Do It Again"
(1972) 		"Reelin' In the Years"
(1973) 		"Show Biz Kids"
(1973)
Audio
"Reelin' In the Years" on YouTube

"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

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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."[3]

Guitar solo

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The guitar solo on the original recorded version was recorded in one take.[4] It has been rated by Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page as his favorite solo of all time,[5][6] and he scored it 12/10.[7] In 2016 the solo was ranked the 40th best guitar solo of all time by the readers of Guitar World magazine.[8][9]

The four-channel quadraphonic mix of the recording has extra lead guitar fills not heard in the more common two-channel stereo version.[10]

Reception

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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."[11] Cash Box called it a "winner highlighted by some expert guitar playing."[12] Record World said that "Another winner from their Can't Buy A Thrill LP should reel in whopping sales."[13] Disc Magazine stated the song "is the most instantly likeable of the package and would made a strong single".[14]

The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1973.[15] In March 2005, Q magazine placed the recording at number 95 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.[16]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

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Steely Dan

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Additional personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  2. ^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Play Misty for Me: Jazz Pop". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 128. ISBN 031214704X.
  3. ^ "Steely Dan: 10 Essential Songs". RollingStone.com. September 3, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  4. ^ Damian Fanelli (April 23, 2021). "How Elliott Randall Nailed Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" Recording in One Continuous Take". Guitarplayer.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Steven Wheeler (June 11, 1995). "The Led Zeppelin In-Frequently Murmured Trivia List v1.1". Led-Zeppelin.org. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012.
  6. ^ "Classic Rock Magazine Interview – 1999". Elliott Randall. June 20, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Page Grades other Guitarists out of 10". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  8. ^ "The 100 Best Guitar Solos of All Time - Page 4". Guitar.about.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  9. ^ Scaggs, Austin (September 17, 2009). "Rare Cuts, Big Hits: Steely Dan Dig Deep". RollingStone. No. 1087. p. 24. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Fanelli, Damian (April 23, 2021). "How Elliott Randall Nailed Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" Recording in One Continuous Take". Guitar Player. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  11. ^ Tiegel, Eliot, ed. (March 3, 1973). "Radio Action & Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 9. p. 102. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Cash Box Singles Reviews (March 10, 1973). "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 34, no. 38. p. 20. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Goodman, Fred, ed. (March 10, 1973). "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 28, no. 1342. p. 1. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Tyler, Andrew (January 20, 1973). "Steely Dan: Can't Buy A Thrill". Disc Magazine – via Rock's Backpages.
  15. ^ Lanzetta, Tony, ed. (May 26, 1973). "Billboard Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 21. p. 64.
  16. ^ "100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever!". Q magazine. No. 224. March 2005.
  17. ^ "Item Display - RPM Top Singles - Volume 19, No. 18, June 16 1973 - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  18. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  19. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 5/26/73". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  20. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954-1982. Sheridan Books. ISBN 978-0-89820-213-7.
  21. ^ "Item Display - RPM Annual - Volume 20, No. 20, December 29 1973 - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  23. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1973". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  24. ^ "British single certifications – Steely Dan – Reelin' in the Years". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  25. ^ Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan | The Midnight Special, retrieved July 13, 2023
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