Reelin' In the Years

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

"Reelin' In the Years" (sometimes titled "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.

"Reelin' In the Years"
Single by Steely Dan
from the album Can't Buy a Thrill
B-side	"Only a Fool Would Say That"
Released	March 1973[1]
Recorded	August 1972
Studio	The Village Recorder, Santa Monica, California
Genre	Jazz rock[2]
Length	4:37
Label	ABC
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

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."^[3]

Guitar solo

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

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 make 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

Weekly charts Chart (1973) Peak position Australia KMR 62 Canada RPM Top Singles[17] 15 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[18] 11 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [19] 7 US Record World [20] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1973) Rank Canada[21] 90 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[22] 68 U.S. Cash Box Top 100[23] 87

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24]	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Steely Dan

• Donald Fagen – lead and backing vocals, piano
• Denny Dias – rhythm guitar
• Jeff Baxter – rhythm guitar
• Walter Becker – bass
• Jim Hodder – drums

Additional personnel

• Elliott Randall – lead guitar
• Victor Feldman – tambourine