Converting a non-fan: the most accessible Steely Dan song?

Ok Steely Dan fans: I think we all have one (or a few?) of these friends who just can't get into Steely Dan. Try as we might to help them along they still can't do it.

So you get one more shot to lure them over the line: what song do you put on?

For me, it's:

Hey Nineteen



The groove, the quirky lyrics and vocal are irresistible.

 

A Steely Dan conversion with just one song? Sounds impossible, but I'd probably go with Night by Night.

 

Something short and to the point, maybe “Peg.”

 

Show Biz Kids is pretty hard to not enjoy.

 

I think “Peg”; too. It’s the one that drew me in!

That or “Reeling in the Years”, maybe.

 

After 50 years,it's still "Do It Again".

 

Do it Again or My Old School

 

I'd also go for "Peg" closely followed by "Reeling in the years"

 

Peg, Reelin' in the Years...
Hey Nineteen is an odd choice; the chorus is sweet and easy, but the verses are in a strange key to my ears.

 

Ricky Don't Lose That Number worked for me.

 

Peg and Josie. The funk and the lyrics of the latter are next level.

If you're lending a non-believer an album, I'd go with RL's Greatest Hits. A perfect overview.

 

"Dirty Work"?

But.....

 

That song got an 11 year old to buy the 45 with the precocious 69 cents or maybe even a whopping 74. Quite a step up taste wise from previous purchases of "The Streak," "Spiders And Snakes" and "Hooked On Feeling." But I would regress for awhile before acquiring a more high minded taste (as in more Steely Dan in album form). And what surprise I got around 25-30 years later during my deep jazz dive and hearing Horace Silver's Song For My Father.

 

Throw Back The Little Ones

 

It depends. There are 2 steely Dan's.
There's the
Ultra smooth and stylish jazz rock version and there's the straighter rock version. Both very different.
Great song to get people into the rock version is do it again. It's infectious, got a great hook.
For the other SD then just play someone Aja. The song first and then the album.

 

I find it difficult to believe that there are people out there that do not appreciate the amazing catalog produced by Steely Dan.

If I had to try to convert a non-believer I might opt for Home At Last and Do It Again.

 

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number or FM.

 

Reelin in The Years I suspect is a bit marmite. Folks seem to love or hate it (I certainly do depending on my mood that given day)

Folks might recognise Peg from Dela Soul, so it could be a good gateway number.

My Steely Dan moment was standing in a record store and hearing The Boston Rag for the first time and being blown away.

 

To me? My Old School. It's SUCH a banger!

 

Maybe a late track ? Jack Of Speed ?

 

"My Old School" did it for me.

 

"Hey Nineteen" for me.

 

Wow, those the exact two songs I thought of!

 

They have a lot more accessible songs than inaccessible songs!

 

“Midnite Cruiser” is addictively hooky with a monster chorus and it hasn’t been played to death by radio.