Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic Album

The Pretzel Logic album is much more playful and jazzier than any of Steely Dan’s previous efforts. Becker and Fagan use a backup band (their last) to pull out an ace Duke Ellington cover ("East St. Louis Toodle-oo"), as well as a very cool salute to jazz legend Charlie Parker ("Parker's Band"). Of course there also some terrifically hip Dan tracks exhibiting Fagen’s sterling acid wit and the pop radio staple "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," which was a big Top Five hit for the band. (They were so sick of it, Dan never played it live.) There’s also "Night By Night" is a classy, funkified rocker and another radio hit, "Any Major Dude Will Tell You."