I’m gunna add this post because I need to and in no way is this meant to detract from any list by Algernon who has has a much better talent than me at listing great songs.

Steely Dan became my musical life when I was around 19 years old. A friend got me into them by playing the Royal Scam album for three days in a row. I was hooked and prior to that is was Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and chuck in Black Sabbath.

I was a drummer at he time and later went on to the guitar. A mate told me that I was a great blues player even though I didn’t really understand at the time what he meant. He was 8th grade AMEB on the flute and a great Steely Dan fan.

You can read their history here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steely_Dan

As I got older, which happened quickly, I was drawn to folk like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix and Roy Buchanan. Then even further back to Lighting Hopkins and Robert Johnson.

People would come from miles around just to hear me play the blues. It was great for my ego but the band I followed was Steely Dan. Tutu will tell you that I was a Steely Dan addict. It wasn’t pop,or rock or jazz or blues it was Steely Dan. Here are some of my favourite tracks.

Fire in the Hole

One of the best acoustic piano solos ever.

 

 

Don’t take me alive. My guitar teacher was in awe here, Larry Carlton on lead guitar.

 

 

Peg – Funky and along with Josie was Steely Dans answer to disco.

Suppose may as well include Josie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg9RyiPKhx8

 

Tutu and I emailed Steely Dan to play this one when they came to Australia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBcr4bWve5g

 

Then there was this one most Aussies will know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bwHK1xkgJA

 

I could go on but these are just the few that come to mind. Vale Walter Becker, you will be missed by me and Tutu and the millions of fans all over the the world.  Here’s a song from a band that you produced called China Crisis from Scotland. You did cut me.