Backup singers are saying "Lost Wages" which is an old nickname for Las Vegas.

The line in the song "kids making movies of themselves You know they don't give a fuck about anybody else" does a pretty good job of describing a lot of social media streamers and creators!

Their absolutely live performance of this song on NBC's "The Midnight Special" (aired on Aug. 31, 1973, and now available on YouTube) is must-see.  Eight months after I watched the show, my wife and I heard them perform "Showbiz Kids" live at the U. of Toledo, with future blue-eyed soul legend Michael McDonald on lead vocal.  The studio slide guitarist here is the late Rick Derringer who was my first rock concert in late 1965, when The McCoys (of "Hang on Sloopy" fame) played at Van Wert, Ohio's county fairgrounds. Decades later, I learned that another future Steely Dan session guitarist, Elliott Randall (of "Reeling in the Years" fame) was working as a music store guitar teacher in Lima, Ohio, from 1965-67, before returning to his native NYC and joining Becker & Fagen as backing musicians for Jay and the Americans.

those weren't loops.  those were musicians and singers playing in real time.  By the time of this album's release (early 70s) loops did not exist yet, thus the musicians had to record the repetitive rhythmic patterns.... 😇

This song satirizes the lives of the rich and famous. Specifically, children who are involved in the show business industry. 'Countdown to Ecstasy' is definitely a great album.

Countdown to Ecstasy is a masterpiece. And this song is more than “cool.” It capture so much of what they do so well — the sardonic wit and social commentary. More punk than a lot of punk bands.

And memory serves, they do slip in a “Las Vegas” towards the end of the song.

Countdown to Ecstasy explores topics such as drug abuse, class envy, and West Coast excess. As you grasped with your reaction to Bodishattva.  The whole album is a big middle finger to the hipster, or those who prescribe to be the leaders of hip of the day. It stands to reason that a group who named themselves after a fictional dildo, wouldn’t lyrically skewer those with high narcissistic tendencies.  
Great reaction as always .. keep going the Steely Dan route, you’ll see their incredible genius both musically, lyrically, and poignant social observation.

The incomparable Rick Derringer playing slide! They didn't loop, they spliced..

I think this is Steely Dan's only one-chord song. A cool vibe.

Here's a request - Harry Nilsson: 'Without You'  or 'Jump Into The Fire'  or 'Everybody's Talking'

I didn't find your reaction to 'Conutdown to Ecstasy's' second track, 'The Boston Rag'.  Yes, the drums here on 'Show Bizz Kids were indeed an 8 bar loop, using actual spliced tape, in order to achive 'perfectly steady tempo', which real drummers on the occasion could not provide. 'Show Bizz Kids' is Dteely Dan's subversion of a classic Motown-style arrangement, hypnotic, groove, repetitive parts, such as piano and bass, he back up vocals and tempo give away the Motown-like character. But the lyrics are dark and critical and deal in nascent, early 1970s celebrity culture, which Steely Dan were definitely not a part of.

Most of SD music showcases the Carnell side of Men.  Very cryipic on some of the tunes. The happy the tune sounds, the darker the subject matter is.
Show-Biz is obviously about the back streets and dark side of Las Vegas.

The 45 does not say Fuck!

Steely Dan, which the main ingredient of that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker met each other at Bard College in New York and formed their partnership. Becker and Fagan are very hip and cool and extremely intellectual, and their music and lyrics are very dark and sarcastic. And a little tongue-in-cheek You’ll be hard-pressed to ever find a bad song and no two  songs sound the same on slide guitar is Rick Derringer, who sadly we lost last year Union City, Indiana boy who had a number one hit ….Hang on Sloopy hit with his band the McCoys around 66 then went on guitar fame with Edgar Winter and his brother, Johnny Winter  he also wrote the song … Rock ‘n’ Roll Hoochie Coo which you should check out great song a rock ‘n’ roll anthem Steely Dan is a great rabbit hole to go down

In my  top 5 Dan's ever

Did you know that rick derringer played that slide guitar??

At some point, you need to hear Uriah Heep's , "Circle of Hands". Not for it's vox, but for it's Message.

Well, Barbra Streisand sang the first recorded song by Steely Dan aka Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, so they can write for women. But it is their point of view, which WOULD be masculine.

Your interesting Erica, did you watch the Ruttles movie yet?  I might join your channel if you react to a live 1993 Dire Straights  concert doing the song "Calling Elvis" still my favorite from their C D "on every street". btw you dont need make up but it was fun watching you apply it.

No loops, loopers had not been invented for close to 20 years.