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20 Questions: Steely Dan Multiple Choice Quiz | Music

Great tunes by great musicians! Mostly about the lyrics of Steely Dan (SD), with some misc questions. I believe all these great tunes are on 1978's Greatest Hits.

A multiple-choice quiz by saxman4. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
saxman4

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
96,876

Updated
Oct 13 23

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
15 / 20

Plays
1795

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 83 (10/20), Guest 73 (19/20), Guest 174 (17/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Who is the keyboardist and co-founder of Steely Dan? Hint

Liberace

Walter Becker

Donald Fagen

Michael McDonald

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. Primary influences and idols of the founders of SD are who? Hint

Burt Bacharach and Frank Sinatra

Chuck Berry and Little Richard

Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane

Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters

NEXT>

Question 3 of 20

3. Who was the lead guitarist on Steely Dan's first album, "Can't Buy a Thrill"? Hint

Mark Knopfler

Rick Derringer

Larry Carlton

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

NEXT>

Question 4 of 20

4. Which tune contains the lyrics "She's the raw flame, the live wire. She prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire"? Hint

Josie

Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Peg

Hot Stuff

NEXT>

Question 5 of 20

5. Which tune contains the lyrics "Then you love a little wild one, and she brings you only sorrow. All the time you know she's smilin' you'll be on your knees tomorrow"?
Hint

Peg

Aja

Do It Again

Reelin in the Years

NEXT>

Question 6 of 20

6. Which tune contains the lyrics
"You been tellin' me you're a genius
since you were seventeen.
In all the time I've known you
I still don't know what you mean"? Hint

Everything You Did

Show Biz Kids

Reelin' in the Years

Kid Charlemange

NEXT>

Question 7 of 20

7. The name "Steely Dan" came from where? Hint

They read it in a book

They heard the term in a movie

They saw one in a "store."

They knew a woman in college who had one

NEXT>

Question 8 of 20

8. Which tune contains the lyrics
"Gonna do just what I please.
Gonna wear no socks and shoes.
With nothing to do but feed
all the kangaroos"?
Hint

Black Friday

Black and White

Black Cow

Black and Blue

NEXT>

Question 9 of 20

9. Steely Dan's first album was released in what year? Hint

1973

1972

1974

None of these

NEXT>

Question 10 of 20

10. Which tune contains the lyrics
"Feed her some hungry reggae,
she'll love you twice"? Hint

Do It Again

Here at the Western World

Josie

NEXT>

Question 11 of 20

11. Which of these is false? Hint

Walter Becker has played guitar solos on SD recordings

Fagan and Becker did the soundtrack for a Richard Pryor film

Fagan and Becker wrote songs for ABC artist Three Dog Night

Dave Palmer was hired as the original lead singer

NEXT>

Question 12 of 20

12. Which tune contains the lyrics
"On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene,
but yours was kitchen clean.
Everyone stopped to stare
at your technicolor motor home"?
Hint

Babylon Sisters

The Right Stuff

Kid Charlemagne

NEXT>

Question 13 of 20

13. Which tune contains the lyrics
"It was still September,
when your daddy was quite surprised
to find you with the working girls
in the county jail"? Hint

Can't Buy a Thrill

Kid Charlemange

Katy Lied

My Old School

NEXT>

Question 14 of 20

14. Which tune contains the lyrics
"I stepped up on the platform.
The man gave me the news. He said,
You must be joking son,
where did you get those shoes"? Hint

Bad Sneakers

Here in the Western World

Pretzel Logic

Bodhisattva

NEXT>

Question 15 of 20

15. Which famous person once played drums in a band with the founding members of Steely Dan? Hint

Chevy Chase

Dana Carvey

Steve Martin

Dan Akroyd

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. Which tune contains the lyrics
"I'll learn to work the saxophone.
I'll play just what I feel.
Drink Scotch whisky all night long
And die behind the wheel"? Hint

Crimson Tide

Deacon Blues

Parker's Band

Don't Take Me Alive

NEXT>

Question 17 of 20

17. Which tune contains the lyrics
"Have you ever seen a squonk's tears?
Well, look at mine.
The people on the street
have all seen better times"? Hint

Any Major Dude

Don't Take Me Alive

Don't Cry

Here at the Western World

NEXT>

Question 18 of 20

18. Which tune contains the lyrics "I've seen your picture, your name in lights above it"? Hint

West of Hollywood

Josie

Peg

Everyone's Gone to the Movies

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. Which tune contains the lyrics "Can you show me, the shine of your Japan, the sparkle of your china.."? Hint

Here in the Western World

Bodhisattva

Babylon Sisters

Little Kawai

20. True or false: In 2001, Steely Dan won Grammy Awards in ALL of the following categories: Album of the Year; Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals; Best Pop Vocal Album; and Best Engineered Album/Non Classical.

True

False

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Most Recent Scores

Today : Guest 83: 10/20
Dec 18 2024 : Guest 73: 19/20
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 174: 17/20
Dec 14 2024 : Guest 92: 16/20
Dec 10 2024 : Guest 198: 18/20
Dec 06 2024 : Guest 172: 3/20
Dec 03 2024 : Guest 172: 20/20
Dec 02 2024 : Guest 209: 11/20
Dec 01 2024 : Guest 142: 19/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who is the keyboardist and co-founder of Steely Dan?

Answer: Donald Fagen

The other founder, Walter Becker, plays bass and guitar. McDonald sang some backup vocals and played keys with the band at times before leaving to become a lead vocalst and keyboardist for The Doobie Brothers.

2. Primary influences and idols of the founders of SD are who?

Answer: Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane

Their jazz influences, blended with modern pop arrangements made for songs that were both interesting and entertaining.

3. Who was the lead guitarist on Steely Dan's first album, "Can't Buy a Thrill"?

Answer: Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

Jeff also left to join The Doobie Brothers, who were touring (which Jeff enjoyed) a lot more than SD. SD is known for using many outside musicians on their albums over the years. Carlton, Knopfler and Derringer also played on SD tunes, but not on the first album.

4. Which tune contains the lyrics "She's the raw flame, the live wire. She prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire"?

Answer: Josie

Off of the 1977 album "Aja", which became their first platinum album and reached number 3 on the album chart, trailing only Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" and Billy Joel's "The Stranger."

5. Which tune contains the lyrics "Then you love a little wild one, and she brings you only sorrow. All the time you know she's smilin' you'll be on your knees tomorrow"?

Answer: Do It Again

"You go back, Jack, Do it Again." From "Can't Buy a Thrill", 1972.

6. Which tune contains the lyrics "You been tellin' me you're a genius since you were seventeen. In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean"?

Answer: Reelin' in the Years

From "Can't Buy a Thrill", 1972. Great guitar work.

7. The name "Steely Dan" came from where?

Answer: They read it in a book

The term refers to a sex toy mentioned in "Naked Lunch", a book by William Burrough.

8. Which tune contains the lyrics "Gonna do just what I please. Gonna wear no socks and shoes. With nothing to do but feed all the kangaroos"?

Answer: Black Friday

From "Katy Lied", 1975.

9. Steely Dan's first album was released in what year?

Answer: 1972

"Can't Buy a Thrill" contained the tunes "Reelin' in the Years" and "Do It Again." Quite sophisticated compared to much of the pop/rock music coming out at that time! Top 20 tunes off of Billboard's Hot 100 for that year include: "The Candy Man" by Sammy Davis Jr.; "My Dingaling" by Chuck Berry; and "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" by Mac Davis!

10. Which tune contains the lyrics "Feed her some hungry reggae, she'll love you twice"?

Answer: FM

From the 1978 movie of the same name. "No static at all, FM."

11. Which of these is false?

Answer: Fagan and Becker wrote songs for ABC artist Three Dog Night

The guys briefly were songwriters for ABC, but their writing didn't fit the artists. The Pryor film was "You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It." Despite Palmer's presence, Fagan sang most of the songs on the first album. After Baxter left, Becker started adding more guitar work.

12. Which tune contains the lyrics "On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene, but yours was kitchen clean. Everyone stopped to stare at your technicolor motor home"?

Answer: Kid Charlemagne

Off of "The Royal Scam", 1976. Loosely based on the life of a well-known psychedelic chef of the day.

13. Which tune contains the lyrics "It was still September, when your daddy was quite surprised to find you with the working girls in the county jail"?

Answer: My Old School

Off of "Countdown to Ecstasy", 1973. There is a band here in Cleveland of the same name that nails several SD tunes.

14. Which tune contains the lyrics "I stepped up on the platform. The man gave me the news. He said, You must be joking son, where did you get those shoes"?

Answer: Pretzel Logic

Off of the 1974 album of the same name.

15. Which famous person once played drums in a band with the founding members of Steely Dan?

Answer: Chevy Chase

Chevy played drums with the guys in college in a band called "The Leather Canary." Donald: "He was a very good drummer. He was also one of the funniest drummers."

16. Which tune contains the lyrics "I'll learn to work the saxophone. I'll play just what I feel. Drink Scotch whisky all night long And die behind the wheel"?

Answer: Deacon Blues

From the "Aja" album, 1977. In addition to being the group's first Platinum album, "Aja" won a Grammy award for Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording.

17. Which tune contains the lyrics "Have you ever seen a squonk's tears? Well, look at mine. The people on the street have all seen better times"?

Answer: Any Major Dude

Very nice tune off of "Pretzel Logic", 1974. The name "Sqounk" is a pseudonym used by one of the guys. A squonk is a legendary creature from Pennsylvania.

18. Which tune contains the lyrics "I've seen your picture, your name in lights above it"?

Answer: Peg

Michael McDonald's background vocals are pretty distinct on "Peg", from 1977's album "Aja."

19. Which tune contains the lyrics "Can you show me, the shine of your Japan, the sparkle of your china.."?

Answer: Bodhisattva

Off of "Countdown to Ecstacy", 1973.

Answer: True

Three of the awards are for the Duo's long-awaited album "Two Against Nature." The Best Pop Performance award was for the song "Cousin Dupree."
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Source: Author saxman4

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