Dad Rock Hall of Fame: Steely Dan

Much like Fleetood Mac, Steely Dan is a no-brainer first ballot Dad Rock Hall of Famer.  Steely Dan was basically two guys, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, and a bunch of rotating studio musicians.  This is worth mentioning because one of those studio musicians was Michael McDonald, not to be confused with the guy from MadTV, who later went on to become totally awesome in the Doobie Brothers and a solo career and then totally insufferable as the old guy who wouldn't stop singing Motown songs.

Steely Dan was also noteworthy because it was unabashedly music by bright people for bright people.  The lyrics are very smart and their music tended to incorporate a lot of different genres: jazz, R&B/soul, and rock, to name a few. In addition to being very witty, their songs often had great narratives, which sets their stuff apart in a big way--they didn't write a lot of typical "love songs." Although they never had a #1 hit, they had a ton of jams, including, but not limited to, the following: 

1) "Do It Again" from Can't Buy a Thrill (1972)
This was Steely Dan's first big single and a great example of their diverse influences, as this basically sounds like a Santana song--the beat, the guitar sound, the guitar solo, etc.

2) "Reelin' In the Years" from Can't Buy a Thrill
I would imagine this is probably their most popular song, and with good reason.  A sing-song chorus, multiple guitar solos and a driving beat, especially as the song progresses, are why you still hear this song on classic rock stations.


3) "My Old School" from Countdown to Ecstacy (1973)
This is probably one of my favorite songs.  For whatever reason I just feel good when I hear it, although on the merits, it's a total jam--the horns sections and the break-downs, especially at the end, are just too great.


4) "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" from Pretzel Logic (1974)
I was going to choose the title track from Pretzel Logic, but I couldn't find a suitable version on YouTube.  Instead, "Rikki" serves as a suitable substitute.


5) "Peg" from Aja (1977)
Probably the most Doobie Brothers-sounding Steely Dan song, as McDonald is on the track.

Additionally, I've got an extra soft spot in my heart for "Peg," as De La Soul sampled it for "Eye Know" off the classic 3 Feet High and Rising album.


So here's to you, Steely Dan.  Your nerd-cool musical stylings have held the test of time, and for that, you are to be congratulated.

--J.J. Gittes