L.A. Songs: Kid Charlemagne

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Hey, didn’t I use this band — and this album — last month in the New York City countdown? Yes, I did, thanks for noticing! Spoiler alert: if I move up to San Francisco for a countdown, you’ll see this song again! So, to the eternal chagrin of NJ Chic, here’s today’s song. Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan Yes, it’s her favorite band. (I think she does like them better than Rush, but that’s comparing fresh and frozen durian to her. ) I mentioned this with “Truckin’” by the Grateful Dead: Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s drug supplier/manufacturer, is the inspiration behind this song. I didn’t know that back in the 70s when I had this song blasting in the car (on my 8-track player). Of course, back then, I didn’t know what “test tubes and the scales” meant. Ah, to be an ignorant teenager. Well, I know all that stuff now. And I still love it. Extra credit to Larry Carlton for the guitar work. Kid Charlemagne Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen Recorded by Steely Dan From The Royal Scam, 1976 L.A. LYRICS: You’d go to L.A. on a dare and you’d go alone