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Quiz about Steely Dan
Quiz about Steely Dan

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.
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Author
saxman4
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
96,876
Updated
Oct 13 23
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
15 / 20
Plays
1669
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 92 (19/20), Guest 99 (18/20), Guest 102 (5/20).
- -
Question 1 of 20
1. Who is the keyboardist and co-founder of Steely Dan? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Primary influences and idols of the founders of SD are who? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. Who was the lead guitarist on Steely Dan's first album, "Can't Buy a Thrill"? Hint


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


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


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


Question 7 of 20
7. The name "Steely Dan" came from where? Hint


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


Question 9 of 20
9. Steely Dan's first album was released in what year? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. Which tune contains the lyrics
"Feed her some hungry reggae,
she'll love you twice"?
Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Which of these is false? Hint


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


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


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


Question 15 of 20
15. Which famous person once played drums in a band with the founding members of Steely Dan? Hint


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


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


Question 18 of 20
18. Which tune contains the lyrics "I've seen your picture, your name in lights above it"? Hint


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


Question 20 of 20
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.



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 92: 19/20
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 99: 18/20
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 102: 5/20
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 98: 18/20
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 24: 13/20
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 207: 14/20
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 143: 1/20
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 81: 6/20
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 198: 18/20

Score Distribution

quiz
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.
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.

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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