What Makes This Song Great? “Kid Charlemagne” and the Anatomy of a Seventies Masterpiece
In his third episode of What Makes This Song Great?, Rick Beato turns his analytical lens toward “Kid Charlemagne”, one of the defining tracks from Steely Dan’s 1976 album The Royal Scam. What emerges is not simply a breakdown of a classic song, but a compelling lesson in why this recording still stands as a benchmark for musical sophistication within popular music.
Beato begins by grounding the listener in the core identity of Steely Dan, the partnership of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, before expanding outward to reveal the extraordinary cast of session musicians assembled for the track. The lineup reads like a hall of fame roster: Bernard Purdie on drums, Chuck Rainey on bass, Larry Carlton on lead guitar, Don Grolnick on Fender Rhodes, Paul Griffin on clavinet, and background vocals that include Michael McDonald. This is not excess for its own sake, but precision casting in service of a very specific musical vision.
One of Beato’s central observations is the rhythmic depth of the recording. Purdie’s drum performance, captured entirely on tape decades before digital editing, is a masterclass in groove, ghost notes, and dynamic control. Paired with Chuck Rainey’s bass, the rhythm section creates an elastic pocket that feels alive rather than mechanical. Beato’s comparison with modern programmed grooves is particularly telling, highlighting the difference between human flow and digital stiffness without dismissing contemporary tools outright.
The harmonic language of “Kid Charlemagne” is another focal point. Beato walks through the guitar voicings in the verses and pre choruses, showing how seemingly simple triads are recontextualized through bass movement and chord extensions. These choices give the song its restless, forward moving quality, constantly shifting color without ever losing cohesion.
At the heart of the episode, however, is Larry Carlton’s guitar solo, which Beato describes as one of the greatest solos ever recorded in a pop hit. What makes it remarkable is not just its technical brilliance, but its balance of harmonic complexity and melodic clarity. Carlton navigates sophisticated chord changes with lines that remain memorable, expressive, and emotionally direct. Beato emphasizes how rare it is for a solo of such depth to exist within a song that achieved mainstream success.
The episode concludes by examining the vocal production, layered harmonies recorded without pitch correction, and the collective discipline required to execute such a demanding arrangement. Beato’s analysis ultimately reinforces a larger point. “Kid Charlemagne” endures because it represents a moment when ambition, musicianship, and popular appeal aligned perfectly. It is not nostalgia that keeps this song alive, but craftsmanship at the highest level, revealed anew when examined with care and respect.