Thank you for that introduction. Welcome, time travelers, to Rock and Roll Flashback! I'm Jumpin' John, and this podcast episode will summarize the career of a band known for their sophisticated and distinctive sound: Steely Dan!
Steely Dan occupies a unique place in rock history. Although they began as a touring rock band in the early 1970's, they gradually transformed into one of the most respected studio recording acts in popular music. Led by songwriters Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Steely Dan blended rock, jazz, rhythm and blues, pop, Latin music, and sophisticated songwriting into a sound that has influenced generations of musicians. Here's an overview of their remarkable career.
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker met in 1967 while students at Bard College in New York. They quickly discovered they shared a love of jazz, blues, rock and roll, and clever lyric writing. The two began writing songs together, and Fagen brought Becker in as the guitarist for his band. Becker and Fagen played together in a number of local bands. Interestingly one of those bands, The Leather Canary, had a drummer named Cornelius Crane Chase. Cornelius, who is better known by the nickname given to him by his grandmother, would go on to be the future Saturday Night Live and comedy star, Chevy Chase!
After Fagen graduated college in 1969, the two moved to Brooklyn and tried to peddle their tunes in the Brill Building in midtown Manhattan. Kenny Vance, of Jay and the Americans, had a production office in the building and took an interest in their music. In 1970, the pair joined Jay & the Americans' backing band. There they performed under pseudonyms: Becker chose Gustav Mahler, while Fagen chose Tristan Fabriani. They stayed with Jay & the Americans until halfway through 1971. Then they recorded the soundtrack for the low-budget film You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It, which was produced by the Americans' Kenny Vance. Following the recording of the soundtrack, Becker and Fagen attempted to start a band with Denny Dias, but the venture was unsuccessful. Barbra Streisand recorded the Fagen/Becker composition "I Mean to Shine" on her 1971 album Barbra Joan Streisand. It was around this time that the duo met producer Gary Katz. Katz hired them as staff songwriters for ABC/Dunhill in Los Angeles, where he had just become a staff producer. Katz suggested that Becker and Fagen form a band as a way to record their songs. Recruiting guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder, and keyboardist/vocalist David Palmer, Becker and Fagen officially formed Steely Dan in 1972. The band name Steely Dan, came from the reference to a brand of dildo in William Burroughs' novel Naked Lunch.
Producer Gary Katz's partnership with Becker and Fagen would become one of the most successful producer-artist collaborations of the 1970's. Katz was patient, organized, and technically gifted. He allowed Becker and Fagen to pursue endless refinements without sacrificing the overall direction of the sessions. Working alongside legendary engineer Roger Nichols, Katz helped create recordings of astonishing sonic clarity. Nichols' pristine engineering, remarkable instrument separation, and obsessive attention to detail would eventually make Steely Dan albums favorites among audiophiles.
In November 1972 Steely Dan released their debut album, Can't Buy a Thrill. All tracks were written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Fagen initially lacked confidence in his own singing voice, so David Palmer sang lead vocals on "Dirty Work" and on "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)", and Jim Hodder sang lead on "Midnight Cruiser". Donald Fagen sang lead on the rest, including the album's two hit singles. In early 1973 the single "Do It Again", with a distinctive blend of rock and Latin rhythms, peaked at #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. A few months later, the single "Reelin' in the Years" reached #11 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Here is an excerpt from Steely Dan's version of "Do It Again":
Can't Buy a Thrill was a commercial success, peaking at #17 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. The LP was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA in 1993. In 2003 it was included on Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". "Reelin' in the Years", with its guitar-driven rock, became one of classic rock radio's most enduring songs. On the "Reelin' in the Years" song Jeff Baxter was assigned the lead guitar, but after he was unable to play the solo to the band's satisfaction, he deferred to session guitarist Elliott Randall to give it a try. Randall's solo was recorded in one take, with no edits or punch ins. His masterful guitar solo is often ranked among the greatest rock solos ever recorded, and Jimmy Page reportedly said that Randall’s solo on "Reelin’" was his favorite guitar solo of all time.
Let's have a listen to Elliott Randall's intro solo on Steely Dan's version of "Reelin' in the Years":
The tour supporting the Can't Buy a Thrill album was hampered by an under-rehearsed band and unappreciative audiences, and David Palmer left the band following the tour. Their second album, Countdown to Ecstasy, was released in July 1973. The album leaned more toward jazz and intricate arrangements, and featured songs like "Bodhisattva", "Show Biz Kids", and "My Old School". Despite a supporting tour, Countdown to Ecstasy failed to generate a hit single in the United States and consequently only charted at #35 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. However, in 1978 it was certified Gold by the RIAA.
By the beginning of 1974, Steely Dan had already established themselves as one of the most original acts in American rock. But beneath the success, the pair had become increasingly dissatisfied with life as a touring rock band. Becker and Fagen preferred meticulous studio experimentation and wanted to make records that sounded like finely crafted works of art. Released on February 20th, 1974, the Pretzel Logic album was the last Steely Dan album recorded while the group still functioned as something resembling a traditional band. It was also their first to reveal the perfectionist studio philosophy that would define the remainder of their career.
[Play the intro to Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic"]
The Pretzel Logic recording sessions themselves revealed the major shift in Steely Dan's evolution. Although longtime members such as Denny Dias,"Skunk" Baxter, and Jim Hodder still contributed, Becker and Fagen increasingly turned to Los Angeles' elite session musicians. Their philosophy was simple: every song deserved the musician best suited to perform it. The album features contributions from an extraordinary collection of players, including Jim Gordon, Jeff Porcaro, Dean Parks, Victor Feldman, Ben Benay, Timothy B. Schmit, and Michael Omartian.
Critics immediately recognized Pretzel Logic as another significant artistic leap. The album became Steely Dan's third consecutive commercial success. In the United States, it spent 36 weeks on the Billboard 200, topping out at #8. It became Steely Dan's third album to be certified Gold by the RIAA, and later in 1993, Pretzel Logic was certified Platinum for shipment of one million copies in the U.S. The LP established Becker and Fagen as musicians capable of appealing simultaneously to rock audiences, jazz enthusiasts, critics, and fellow musicians. Few artists have ever occupied all four worlds so comfortably. Their ability to write songs sophisticated enough for jazz players, while remaining accessible to mainstream listeners, became one of Steely Dan's greatest accomplishments.
The album's biggest commercial triumph arrived in the form of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," the highest-charting single of Steely Dan's career. Reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song remains one of the defining recordings of the decade. Its instantly recognizable electric piano signals Becker and Fagen's ability to weave sophisticated jazz influences into accessible pop music. While "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" became the radio hit, Pretzel Logic succeeds because every song contributes to an extraordinarily cohesive listening experience. Perhaps the most remarkable quality of Pretzel Logic is its restraint. Compared to the two earlier Steely Dan records, the arrangements are tighter, the performances more economical, and the production noticeably leaner. Extended instrumental workouts largely disappeared in favor of concise, perfectly structured songs. Becker and Fagen understood that sophistication did not require excess. That disciplined approach became one of Steely Dan's defining artistic principles and separated them from many of their contemporaries, who often equated ambition with length or complexity.
Here is Steely Dan's version of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number":
Following the 1974 Pretzel Logic supporting tour, Becker and Fagen made one of the boldest decisions in rock history by effectively abandoning life as a touring act. Rather than functioning as a traditional band, Steely Dan became a studio project devoted entirely to recording. It was an unconventional move in an era when touring represented the lifeblood of every successful rock group, but Becker and Fagen believed they could create better music by remaining in the studio.
In late 1974 band leaders Fagen and Becker dismissed guitarists Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Denny Dias and drummer Jim Hodder. The duo then focused solely on recording with sixteen different studio musicians, with Denny Dias returning to contribute to parts of three songs. Ten tracks were selected for inclusion on the Katy Lied album. Katy Lied was released in March 1975. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. It featured the songs "Black Friday", "Bad Sneakers", and "Doctor Wu". Although Becker and Fagen were unhappy with technical problems during recording, critics nevertheless praised the songwriting.
Here is the intro of Steely Dan's version of "Black Friday":
Becker and Fagen enlisted the contribution of twenty-two different session musicians for 1976's The Royal Scam. The album peaked at #15 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, and it has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The Royal Scam LP reached #11 on the UK Albums Chart. It included the songs "Kid Charlemagne", "The Fez", and "The Caves of Altamira". Larry Carlton's guitar work on "Kid Charlemagne" is legendary, and his guitar solo on the song was ranked #8 in Rolling Stone's 2026 list of the 100 greatest guitar solos. Carlton played the blazing solo in the middle of the song and also the guitar work during the fade-out.
Let's listen to Carlton's excellent guitar work in the middle of Steely Dan's version of "Kid Charlemagne":
1977's Aja album is regarded by many critics as Steely Dan's masterpiece, combining jazz sophistication with rock accessibility. The album was produced by Steely Dan's longtime producer Gary Katz, engineered by longtime master engineers Roger Nichols and Bill Schnee, and features contributions from numerous leading session musicians. Released in September 1977, Aja peaked at #3 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, and #5 on the UK Albums Chart. Aja ultimately became Steely Dan's most commercially successful release, selling over five million copies in the U.S. At the 20th Annual Grammy Awards in 1978, Aja won Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical, and was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. It has appeared on many retrospective "greatest albums" lists, with critics and audiophiles applauding the album's high production quality. In 2010, the album was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Drummer Steve Gadd's performance on the title track is considered one of the greatest drum performances ever recorded. Some music journalists have cited Aja as being an important release in the development of yacht rock.
"Peg" was released as a single from the album in November 1977 and reached #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. With a chart run of 19 weeks, "Peg" is tied with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Hey Nineteen" for being Steely Dan's longest-running chart hit. The song's guitar solo was attempted by seven top studio session guitarists before Jay Graydon's version became the keeper. Michael McDonald recorded multi-tracked backup vocals in the song's choruses. In 1978 "Deacon Blues" and "Josie" were also released as singles from the album. "Deacon Blues" peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2021, "Deacon Blues" was ranked #214 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". "Josie" reached #26 on the Hot 100.
In 1977 Becker and Fagen wrote the song "FM (No Static at All)" as the title theme for the 1978 film FM. With session musicians they recorded the song and it was released as a Steely Dan song on May 19th, 1978. The song reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at the 1979 Grammy Awards Roger Nichols won the Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical award for "FM".
Here is an excerpt from Steely Dan's version of "FM":
Released in November 1980, Gaucho would be Steely Dan's final album before a long break. The album marked a significant stylistic shift for the band, with more focus on rhythm and atmosphere than their earlier work. The recording sessions were painstakingly difficult, demonstrating Fagen and Becker's typical obsessive nature and perfectionism. They used at least 42 different session musicians, spent over a year in the studio, and far exceeded the original monetary advance given by the record label. Gaucho reached #9 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, and it has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The single "Hey Nineteen" reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, Gaucho won Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical, and was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
After Gaucho, Steely Dan essentially disappeared, and for nearly twenty years there were no new Steely Dan albums. During that hiatus Donald Fagen released a successful solo album, 1982's The Nightfly, which became an audiophile favorite thanks to its superb digital recording quality. Meanwhile Walter Becker worked as a producer and session musician. In the early 1990's, Becker and Fagen surprised fans by returning to live performance. Ironically, after years of avoiding touring, they assembled an outstanding live band and became excellent concert performers. Their concerts featured faithful recreations of their classic recordings while allowing room for extended solos and jazz improvisation. In the year 2000 Steely Dan released Two Against Nature, their first studio album in twenty years. The album won Grammy Award for Album of the Year, defeating several high-profile competitors. It was an unexpected triumph and demonstrated that Becker and Fagen had lost none of their musical touch. Their final studio album, 2003's Everything Must Go, continued their mature, jazz-oriented style.
Sadly, 67 year old Walter Becker died in 2017. His passing marked the end of one of rock's greatest songwriting partnerships. Donald Fagen has continued performing Steely Dan music with touring musicians, honoring Becker's legacy while keeping the songs alive for new audiences.
Steely Dan's influence continues to extend across rock, jazz, pop, and even hip-hop, and they have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. In 2001, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2010 VH1 ranked Steely Dan at #82 on their list of the "100 Greatest Musical Artists of All Time". In 2015 Rolling Stone ranked them #15 on its list of the "20 Greatest Duos of All Time".
Countless artists have cited Steely Dan as an inspiration, and their recordings remain favorites among audiophiles because of their exceptional sound quality. Perhaps their greatest achievement was proving that popular music could be both intellectually challenging and commercially successful. Becker and Fagen never followed trends. Instead, they meticulously created a musical world all their own where sophisticated harmonies, flawless musicianship, and clever storytelling coexisted with catchy melodies.
Thank you for listening to another episode of Rock and Roll Flashback podcasts! This episode was devoted to discussing the unique band who called themselves Steely Dan. I will close out this podcast with Steely Dan's version of "Peg", featuring the amazing guitar solo by Jay Graydon. So fellow travelers, may your path be smooth and your music always be rockin'! And until next time...Rock On!