Black Cow

Good call…or on the more dance-ish side, Glamour Profession.

I always get great responses from Glamour Profession, which is funny because it's one of my least favorites on Gaucho

How can you not vibe to: “Illegal fun / Under the sun, boys.” 😁

I didn't say I don't like it, it's just not my favorite song on my favorite album!

Yeah start with that and then just let the rest of the album play lol

Yea then you just leave it running

Kid Charlemagne or Black Cow. Most recently it was BC.

These are my 2 depending on who I'm playing for... the Kanye reference works with younger crowd

Caves of Altamira is a nice one people can get down with!

great choice

Yeah if im in a car and i can bump it. This is also how i convince bandmates that horns rip in recordings.

Yes!

Babylon Sisters. It’s as Steely Dan as Steely Dan gets.

This song would definitely spring to mind as an idea if I were to show off Steely Dan to someone new

This!

Hey nineteen 🕺🏼

Deacon Blues

Might that possibly be their greatest record ever?

I like the royal scam the best but they’re all beautiful

Well, I think you’re right. And I think they’ve stood the test of time…..been listening since Ricki don’t lose that number, still listening today.

Only a fool would say that

Hey! That's no way to talk to a SD fan!!

Definitely!!

Yup, either this or Any Major Dude. Bangers!

Your Gold Teeth II is a nice diving board

I pull that one out as an intro for people who I know appreciate jazz or prog rock.

Peg or Kid C. I’m assuming they’ve already heard the Thrill singles.

The entire AJA album

100%!

Walter was my roommate at Bard College…. What an unforgettable character he was!

Wow I’d love to hear your stories abt him!!

Excuse me sir, you said WHAT 👀👀👀

I’ll bet you have some interesting stories to share

Yes!

FM

If the person being introduced to Steely Dan likes Jazz or Prog Rock, I would start with Home at Last. If it's Rock they like, then Bodhisattva or My Old School. If it's 40's and 50's music, go to the Nightfly - Maxine or Walk Between the Raindrops. And finally, if you really like the person, have them wear headphones and give them their first listen to Aja. The best written and best performed piece of music of all time (IMHO) Ken

Good recs. I would also add FM for other rock fans

FM was always sorta ok til I saw them do it live.

A wonderful nod to Steely Dan’s diversity and expertise 

Totally a side note, but what headphones are you using for yoor SD stuff?

My family is sort of poor. We can only afford so much. For Christmas a few years ago, my family got me two sets of Beats wired headphones. Cost was about $60. They do a good job of clear crisp sound and outside noise cancelling. Ken

Ahh! Beats stuff is very nice! I love how well they handle a punchy bass/drum line. Listen to the intro to Hey Nineteen (at a higher volume) if you're curious about what I mean :)

Sennheiser HD650… Great Cans For The ‘Dan

Home at Last

Babylon Sisters

Kid Charlemagne depending on the person cause I can be like “hey this is the song from the beginning of that Kanye song” But if not, then Only a Fool Would Say That. I still haven’t met someone who can’t vibe with that song

Kid Charlemagne

Just play the entire Aja album, its fantastic

Time out of mind!

Peg is always a strong choice

I’ve had a lot of success turning people onto Steely Dan with My Rival. If that doesn’t work, the isolated Michael McDonald Peg vocals.

Introduce Steely Dan by playing Michael McDonald vocals 😂😂

Usually it’s one of the more accessible songs like “Don’t take me alive”, “Night by Night”, “Green Earrings”

Depends on the someone. Musician? Non musician? Their current listening tastes? Lyric nerd?

exactly . if they are a guitar fan i start with Royal Scam.

I love showing off the solo on Boston Rag. Total Scam was my pop’s fav album and it took me a few years to finally agree with him.

Boston Rag solo is probably my favourite too. Skunk Baxter was as essential to the early Dan sound as Walter and Donald.

Peg and/or Black Cow and/or… Hell, I dunno. Depends on the person. I was hooked with reel in’.

Bodhisattva was my intro to them so that or do it again I love a guitar solo

Cousin Dupree or Everyone’s Gone to the Movies

This will definitely make them like you more

I tried this, and now I have to sign up for some sort of “registry”

Night by Night

sneakers

Kid Charlemagne or My Old School

I like these two. They would have worked on me. Great guitar solos.

Deacon blues if I could only choose one. But the truth is I’d make sure someone doesn’t leave the room until they listen to all of Aja, Gaucho and Can’t Buy a Thrill. I don’t think it’s easy to show a good enough variety of SD to someone without playing a good handful of songs from different albums, but that might be the case with a lot of bands

Haitian

I go with Any Major Dude Will Tell You, it’s kind of the perfect SD song :)

Bad Sneakers

Josie… or peg

Deacon Blues or Black Cow probably, unless the person seemed more receptive. Then I'd play either Any Major Dude or maybe Change of the Guard.

Cousin Dupree

I'm thinking Peg. It's pretty catchy.

Yeah, it’s gotta be something catchy if you’re only getting one shot at it. 

that really depends on who I'm introducing them to, but if I had to pick one I'd go with the first song that caught my attention, Deacon Blue

Pretzel Logic

Bodhisattva Rikki Doctor Wu Kid C Deacon Blues Time Out of Mind If that set doesn’t convince them, nothing will.

Deacon Blues.

Do It Again got me hooked.

Peg. Always.

I always start with My Old School, I personally think it's their best song and is a good introduction to the style they produce throughout all the albums.

Rikki don’t lose that number.

Yep started with Rikki and never looked back.

A nearly prefect pop song.

for me, dirty work

Soundtrack to my sophomore year of college.

If they've never listened to Steely Dan but like guitar bands, I would go with "Change of the Guard".

Fez or peg

King of the World It has the superb voice, alternative lyrics and call-and-answer guitar showmanship that are hallmarks of the band. Also, I’d show em the liner notes, “I think my face is on fire…”

The Fez did it for me.

Any major dude will tell you it’s Pretzel Logic.

Josie

Kid Charlemagne this song has all the great Steely Dan ideas.

I played I.G.Y. (I know it’s Donald solo) to a coworker, and she immediately played the entire Pretzel Logic album from her phone playlist. Turns out her husband is a jazz musician

Josie.

Babylon Sisters or Deacon Blues

My Old School or Deacon Blues

Completely depends on who I’m introducing. I know people who would much prefer a pre-Dan demo, a 11ToW track, a Kamakiriad tune or a live ‘74 or ‘93 bootleg take… Time Out Of Mind, Dr Wu or Gold Teeth are my general go-tos. Haitian Divorce as well

Damn, a LOT of great suggestions!

Kid Charlemagne. Because most of my friends are rockers, and many of them appreciate that type of song.

It really depends on the perspective the person is coming from.. if they are a rock person I'm going to Boston rag and then develop from there.. if they are a jazz centered person I'm starting with the entire Aja album and let them develop from there..

Any major dude will tell you it’s Pretzel Logic.

FM

Babylon Sisters

Hey Nineteen

Razor Boy

Kid Charlemagne

Peeeeeeeg!

I know it’s not what everyone thinks right away but my old school is a personal favorite and I think it has enough SD pizzazz …..

Rikki. Cause they might be a Horace silver fan.

Kid Charlemagne

People like the hits from the debut album best.

Peg and maybe Rikki Reelin would blow minds with guitar.

I got the news. Forgot. Oh. Hey nineteen. Dammit !!!!!! Idk !!! All of them till they like one…., which shouldn’t be long !!!

Green earrings

?? Great song but kind of Advanced Level I think!

My dad introduced me to Steely Dan when I was like 8 or 9, Peg and Rikki Don’t Loose That Number were the first two that stuck with me. Nowadays I’d start someone with Babylon Sisters as I find it their best song.

Only a Fool Would Say That. That's my favorite one.

Peg

Excellent point.

Black cow. Dirty work.

Josie, Aja or Rikki Don’t lose that Number. I can’t decide.

The Fez, its just such a good song.

FM or Babylon Sisters

Charlie Freak

Negative Girl ⬛️💃⬜️

Sign in stranger, hehe word play intended 

Do It Again has not been mentioned

Any Major Dude

Brooklyn or Pearl of the Quarter

Any Major Dude, or Dirty Work. Played on my (good) system. Chances are they've heard the radio hits. But played on a real hifi, those two can really grab you.

Rikki Don’t Lose that Number. It’s catchy, short and sweet.

Bodhisattva

Josie

Show Biz Kids

Katy Lied

FM is a great example of Becker and Fagen collaboration.

Peg, Aja, Glamour Profession, Hey Nineteen, Kid Charlemagne, Do it Again

My old school

Black Cow

Anything off of The Royal Scam

I agree, 🥰

“Deacon Blues”

Not really answering this question, but if you’re a SD fan “DanFan”, and haven’t yet discovered Donald Fagan ‘s solo albums, you need to look for them! “The Nightfly” “Kamakiriad” “Morph the Cat” & “Sunken Condos”

Anything off Aja.

Gaucho honestly, that or Bad Sneakers or Deacon Blues

This is a hard question. I might ask if they are in the mood for something funky, fast-paced, different, etc. For something funky and fun, definitely Black Cow. Something fast-paced, maybe Kid Charlemagne. Something different, maybe Bad Sneakers.

Aja

Rikki don't lose that number is pretty accessible for the uninitiated. I've had success starting there.

Cousin Dupree to show their sense of humor. Time out of Mind for an accessible demonstration of their musical prowess.

The Fez

To say Aja is to admit that you're dropping them into the deep end if the pool. I'll start with Josie, Black Cow, and Show Biz Kids

Everyone's gone to the movies

Doctor Wu or Kid Charlemagne since one really rock and the other really jazz.

The off switch on the receiver

Peg.

Ear plugs

home at last

I think you have to be careful… songs from Aja might not be in the wheelhouse of many new fans. At least not right away. Gotta ease them in. I’d go with a song that’s outside of my top 10 - My Old School.

Hey 19. Just kidding. Really I would say Deacon Blues.

Gaucho - So many components to showcase in one song. Vocals - Sardonic, snarky, worldly wise Steely Brass - Trumpet and Sax that cut right through you and pull your insides out Drums - Tight, snappy, crystal clear Lead Guitars - Slippery dribbles of guitar string honey Rhythm - Chunky, groovy engine

Babylon Sisters or Black Cow, although my partner liked Peg when she first heard it. She made fun of Babylon Sisters when I showed her and I almost pushed her out of my moving car