"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.
Writing and performance "Reelin' In the Years" was written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and features Fagen on vocals.
Though Steely Dan had ostensibly recruited vocalist David Palmer so that Fagen would not have to sing lead live, even on Steely Dan's first tour Fagen sang lead on "Reelin' in the Years", with the other five members all singing backup.
Guitar solo Jeff Baxter was assigned the lead guitar, but after he was unable to play the part to the band's satisfaction, he asked Elliott Randall to give it a try. Randall's guitar solo was recorded in one take, with no edits or punch ins.
Jimmy Page ranked the guitar solo as his favorite solo of all time, and he scored it at 12 out of a possible 10.The classic Steely Dan song Jimmy Page said was better than perfect: “That's gotta be a 12” by Arun Starkey, Sun 26 October 2025 In 2016 the solo was ranked the 40th best guitar solo of all time by the readers of Guitar World magazine.
The four-channel quadraphonic mix of the recording has extra lead guitar fills not heard in the more common two-channel stereo version.
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." Cash Box called it a "winner highlighted by some expert guitar playing". Record World said that "Another winner from their Can't Buy A Thrill LP should reel in whopping sales." Disc Magazine stated the song "is the most instantly likeable of the package and would make a strong single".
The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1973. In March 2005, Q magazine placed the recording at number 95 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
In 2017, 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 a 2009 interview, Fagen said "It's dumb but effective", and Becker said "It's no fun."
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1973)PeakpositionAustralia KMR62Canada RPM Top Singles15U.S. Billboard Hot 10011U.S. Cash Box Top 100 7US Record World 6
Year-end charts Chart (1973)RankCanada90U.S. Billboard Hot 10068U.S. Cash Box Top 10087
Certifications
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
References
External links Music Notes Entry "Reelin' In the Years" at 45cat.com