This is for people who have a hard time getting into Steely Dan with the stuff they've heard on the radio. None of the big singles, and not much of the stuff you've really heard before over the airwaves. This stuff is a little different stylistically. It's less polished, and a little more pop/rock, in general. I know the Dan fans will probably have different ideas as to what I should have included, but what the hell..it's my mix.

If you've tried before and failed, try this mix out. It's culled from their first five albums, before they went slick with production, and some of the stuff is actually uptempo and rock-oriented.

1) My Old School (from Countdown to Ecstacy, 1973)
2) Any Major Dude Will Tell You (from Pretzel Logic, 1974)
3) Green Earrings (from The Royal Scam, 1976)
4) Show Biz Kids (from Countdown to Ecstacy, 1973)
5) Your Gold Teeth (from Countdown to Ecstacy, 1973)
6) Bad Sneakers (from Katy Lied, 1975)
7) Dirty Work (from Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972)
8) Barrytown (from Pretzel Logic, 1974)
9) Don't Take Me Alive (from The Royal Scam, 1976)
10) Any World (That I'm Welcome To) (from Katy Lied, 1975)
11) Your Gold Teeth II (from Katy Lied, 1975)
12) Only a Fool Would Say That (from Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972)
13) Kings (from Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972)



Bonus track

14) Black Friday (from Katy Lied, 1975)

and yes, "My Old School" was technically a big single, but not as big as their later stuff was.

hey, thanks buddy.

you're welcome!

heh.

"Those are some very good Dan songs. I however would have inclu..."

Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Third World Man, Monkey In Your Soul, Jack of Speed, Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More.

Thank you Snoop Matty Matt.

This is a band I never used to like, but have recently begun to really appreciate. So this is perfect timing for me.

Groovy.

yes

Just would like to point out that "Dirty Work" was in fact a radio hit. And "Bad Sneakers" was almost a hit.

No idea if it were a commercial single or not, though. I do know that every song on your list except Tracks 8, 9, 11 & 13 got significant FM rock airplay in the 70's and I used to sping quite a few of them in my early career in FM rock in the '80's. On 45's.

So, while they may not have been commerical singles, there certainly were radio vinyl singles for all of them.

Very well, but my point was that Steely Dan is best known for songs like Peg, Deacon Blues, Hey Nineteen, Do It Again, Reelin' in the Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Black Cow and FM. Most of those songs are their 1977-80 period, and have remarkably different production values and arrangements compared to the early stuff.

Mainly I was trying to come up with a different entry point for people turned off by the sheen.

Also, most people don't even know that Dirty Work is a Dan song because of the different vocalist

Yeah, they're certainly not the Dan songs that are played on radio NOW.

I was just trying to stay in keeping with a "Dan Fan Responds Anally" demeanor.

Because they always do, myself included.

When I was a kid, I thought "Do It Again" was by Santana.

I am dl'ing this, thanks. So, my gf loves Steely Dan, can anyone upload a whole album (your choice, but please choose a fav) for me? I would be very appreciative...her Ipod just got erased and I would be a hero

I have to learn the bassline for Kid Charlemagne by Saturday night. The verses and chorus aren't to bad, but the solo modulates all over the place.

That's because the solo is "getting along."

I downloaded this mix just to give Steely Dan another shot, on the offchance that 20 years or so of involuntary maturation may have altered my perspective.

Nope. Still sucks.