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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Start with “Do It Again,” “Reelin’ in the Years” and “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” then follow Steely Dan from their early hit singles through the studio-focused albums and into Gaucho. This is a recommended first-listen sequence, not an official ranking: it covers several phases of the catalog and balances familiar singles with album tracks.
10 essential Steely Dan songs, in a suggested listening order
1. “Do It Again” — Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)
A strong entry point to the band’s debut-era sound. The official biography identifies it as one of the hit singles from Can’t Buy a Thrill, released in November 1972. Steely Dan’s official biography
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
![Steely Dan: The Definitive Collection [CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tcMX1h7ML._SL160_.jpg)
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Steely Dan: The Definitive Collection [CD] | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Steely Dan - Greatest Hits | $11.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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A Decade Of Steely Dan | $23.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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A Decade Of Steely Dan - The Best Of | $6.36 | Buy on Amazon |
2. “Reelin’ in the Years” — Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)
Keep going with the other debut-era hit single. Its prominent guest-guitar solo makes it a useful early example of the sharp instrumental playing that runs through the catalog; the band’s official biography notes the solo. Steely Dan’s official biography
3. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” — Pretzel Logic (1974)
This major early single bridges the debut-era hits and the more polished mid-1970s records. It also appears on the official 1985 compilation A Decade of Steely Dan. Official compilation track list
#1 Best Overall
4. “My Old School” — Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)
Add this vivid band performance to hear another side of the early catalog, beyond the best-known debut singles. It appears on A Decade of Steely Dan, a useful catalog cross-check rather than an official ranking of the band’s essential songs. Official compilation track list
5. “Black Friday” — Katy Lied (1975)
A brisk opening track that introduces the studio-centered stretch of Steely Dan’s career. The band’s official biography says Donald Fagen and Walter Becker had shifted away from touring and toward composing and recording by 1974; Katy Lied followed in 1975. Steely Dan’s official biography
Rank #2
6. “Kid Charlemagne” — The Royal Scam (1976)
Choose this for a guitar-centered arrangement and a taste of the next album in the studio-era run. The song also appears on A Decade of Steely Dan. Official compilation track list
7. “Peg” — Aja (1977)
One of the concise, single-friendly tracks on Aja. Brian Sweet’s Library of Congress essay notes Jay Graydon’s guitar solo; the album was released in September 1977 and entered the National Recording Registry in 2010. Library of Congress essay
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Rank #3
8. “Deacon Blues” — Aja (1977)
Stay with Aja for a longer, more expansive album track. The Library of Congress essay describes its imagined bebop-saxophonist figure and notes Pete Christlieb’s saxophone solo. Library of Congress essay
9. “Babylon Sisters” — Gaucho (1980)
Move into Gaucho with this late-period introduction. It brings the sequence to the band’s final original 1970s album, following Aja in the official chronology. Steely Dan’s official biography
10. “Hey Nineteen” — Gaucho (1980)
Close with the Gaucho hit, a useful contrast to the earlier singles and an endpoint to this tour through the band’s 1970s albums. Steely Dan’s official biography
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Aja is a key stop, not the whole story
Aja is a landmark in the sequence, but it should not stand in for Steely Dan’s entire catalog. The Library of Congress essay says the album uses “30 different musicians and singers on only seven songs and less than 40 minutes of music.” It also records Steve Gadd’s first-take drum solo and Wayne Shorter’s tenor solo on the title track. That range of players and performances helps explain why the album is a rewarding album-length listen, while the earlier and later selections here show different periods of the band.
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Listen to Aja in album context
If you want to hear three selections from this guide in their original album context, Aja includes “Peg” and “Deacon Blues,” as well as its title track. Interscope’s Aja Vinyl product page lists a vinyl edition and notes country-limited availability; check the live listing for current availability and edition details.
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