Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Songs by Steely Dan

Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesdays, my weekly series where I rank personal favorites across music, film, books, and more. This week, I’m paying tribute to a band that’s been with me most of my life, and to the uncle who introduced me to them: Steely Dan.

Discovering Steely Dan (and a Terrible Coors)

My relationship with Steely Dan started young. I was maybe 14 when my Uncle Danny played Pretzel Logic for me in his Seal Beach apartment. At the time, I didn’t have much in the way of musical taste; mostly Top 40 stuff, nothing with much depth. He dropped the needle on “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” then let the album roll through “Night by Night” and “Any Major Dude Will Tell You.”

I didn’t understand what I was hearing, but I knew I liked it.

Then he put on Can’t Buy a Thrill and handed me what may have been my first beer. A Coors. I hated it, but drank it anyway. Like the music, I’d eventually learn to love a good beer. These days, I no longer drink, but I do still listen to Steely Dan almost every day.

R.I.P. Danny, you were the best.

My Top 10 Steely Dan Songs

Kid Charlemagne – The guitar solo alone makes this my top pick.
Black Cow – I wore out the LP when this came out. Gorgeous, smooth, unforgettable.
Do It Again – The groove and guitar work live rent-free in my brain. A perfect song.
Deacon Blues – I didn’t understand the lyrics at first, but I sang along anyway.
Peg – Bright, jazzy, and absolutely infectious. One of the most beautiful upbeat tunes ever made.
Any Major Dude Will Tell You – So funky. This was my teenage wake-up song for years.
Hey Nineteen – I didn’t really get it until I got older. At 64, 19 feels like another planet.
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – The song that started it all. I can still picture my uncle’s face the first time it played.
Pretzel Logic – Funky, sharp, and strangely timeless.
My Old School – Pure joy. I sing along every time.

A Legacy Passed Down

My uncle gave me his collection of Steely Dan records, and I’ve built on it ever since. He drifted away from the band as he got older, but my love for their music only deepened. They’re not my favorite band, but they’re absolutely in my top ten. (Note to self: publish a top ten bands post.)

I own everything they released, plus a healthy collection of bootlegs and solo work from Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Their music has made my life richer, thanks in no small part to my uncle, who made sure I got exposed to something good.

Now, I’m trying to do the same for my grandson, Churchill.

For another take on the 1970s, check out my Led Zeppelin list and see how differently those two bands shaped the decade. Or if you want to explore another band obsessed with studio craft, read my Radiohead list.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: Top 10 Steely Dan Songs

Peanuts In My Pocket