The most Steely Dan song without officially being Steely Dan is...

..."Snowbound" by Donald Fagen.

Off Kamakiriad in 1993, and written by Walter Becker (who produced the album) and Donald Fagen, it would have slotted in to 21st Century Steely Dan nicely. It also had a cool video directed by Michel Gondry:



I might also vote for "Hard Up Case" from Walter Becker's 1994 album 11 Tracks of Whack, but Fagen's voice is such a part of the Dan that it's hard to stan for Becker.

Any other choices?

 

Sneaker's "Don't Let Me In," which was a minor hit in 1982. It was written by Becker and Fagen.

 

Book of Liars springs to mind only because the Dan played it live. I like Walters solo stuff primarily because of it's difference to SD. Don's early career was like a continuation of SD but a song like 'Upside Looking Down' from Walter's Circus Money album would never have appeared on an SD album.



I wish we'd have got more from Walt while he was still around because I listen to his solo stuff a lot.

 

but these are all songs by Steely Dan peeps

 

Dependin' On You - Doobie Brothers

 

This gives me another opportunity to bang on about 'She's Got To Be Somewhere' the gorgeous opener from 2017's Sky Trails. VERY Dan-esque.

 

Possibly the last cut on the Doobie Brothers album, Takin' It To The Streets, "Carry Me Away". Written by Michael McDonald, it was a time when McDonald was doing backup vocals for Steely Dan, and Steely Dan was doing more pop oriented stuff with a jazzy tinge such as on their Pretzel Logic album. I think of songs such as "Barrytown" and "Any Major Dude...", or even a song from their previous album, "My Old School". Compare those to "Carry Me Away".

 

I'll always remember my first listen of the Kamakiriad album back in 1993. Come track#4: not only did it sound like an instant classic but also quite different from the 3 preceding tracks. I looked up to the cd booklet for credits, and saw the light: after a 13-year hiatus, they were doing it again.

 

This. No actual Steely Dan members to be found.


Dan

 

Steely Dan were in a class almost by themselves. But so was Stevie Wonder around that time.


Stevie Wonder - "Don't You Worry Bout a Thing"

This song happens to use Horace Silvers "Song for my Father" for the verse chords. The single was released March 5 1974. The Rikki single, which also cops SFMF, was released April 25 1974. I don't know when the tunes were written. But they both represent the best of 70s rock with jazz influences. Joni Mitchell is in this class, but to me no one else is. I can't see the Dan on any yacht.

 

The Tubes - Attack Of The 50ft Woman

 

Frank Gambale - Faster Than An Arrow

Known as one of the best fusion guitarists on the planet, not a pop/rock musician.

 

Azita’s “Wasn’t In the Bargain” is from her album Life on the Fly and if the album cover doesn’t give away the homage then the song sure does.

 

The Norwegian Fords - Fit In

 

Written by Donald. This should've been a Dan track!

 

that’s bloody fantastic. is the rest of the album this good?

 

let’s not forget ed motta’s love letter, “aor”:

 

Just for fun, since this is always a good song to hear... Not surprising to hear that Steve likes Steely Dan.

 

Earlier Steely Dan:

 

before the high llamas there was microdisney