Steely Dan Reelin’ In The Years A Rediscovered Midnight Special Performance in High Quality
Rare live footage of Steely Dan performing Reelin’ In The Years on The Midnight Special has finally surfaced in DVD quality, offering fans an exceptionally clear view of one of the band’s earliest televised appearances. This performance, originally broadcast in 1973, captures Steely Dan on national television at a pivotal early moment in their career, just as they were gaining traction with audiences beyond their debut album Can’t Buy a Thrill.
Reelin’ In The Years was released as the second single from Can’t Buy a Thrill and quickly became one of the band’s most popular tracks, reaching number eleven on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973. The song’s distinctive blend of jazz inflection and rock energy, paired with sharp, clever lyrics by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, made it a standout hit and an early signature tune for Steely Dan.
The Midnight Special performance is particularly significant because it documents the band’s live chemistry during a period when Steely Dan still maintained a touring ensemble. Footage from the show shows the group tackling their hit with precision and presence, bringing the track’s tight rhythmic structure and spirited guitar interplay to life for television audiences. Unlike studio recordings, the Midnight Special version conveys an immediacy and raw energy that is rare in surviving documentation of the band’s early stage activity.
The Midnight Special itself was a landmark American late night music program broadcast on NBC beginning in 1973. It was known for presenting live performances rather than lip synced sets, offering artists of the era a valuable platform to reach a national audience at a time when televised concert appearances were less common.
For fans and historians of Steely Dan, this high quality Reelin’ In The Years clip represents more than a vintage performance. It is a genuine historical artifact from a brief window when the band toured extensively before retreating into a near exclusive focus on studio work. The footage preserves a rare glimpse of the lineup performing live with both Becker and Fagen onstage together, at a time before the group would soon shift away from regular live shows.
With this rediscovered recording and improved video quality, listeners can finally experience the performance with clarity that matches the musical brilliance of the song itself, making it a unique and valuable addition to the visual legacy of Steely Dan.