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Steely Dan Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Steely Dan Quizzes, Trivia

Steely Dan Trivia

Steely Dan Trivia Quizzes

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9 Steely Dan quizzes and 135 Steely Dan trivia questions.
1.
  Steely Dan Abums    
Collection Quiz
 10 Qns
This is a quiz where you identify the albums of the American group, Steely Dan.
Easier, 10 Qns, Upstart3, Feb 25 25
Easier
Upstart3 gold member
Feb 25 25
267 plays
2.
  20 Questions: Steely Dan Multiple Choice Quiz   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
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.
Average, 20 Qns, saxman4, Oct 13 23
Average
saxman4
Oct 13 23
1924 plays
3.
  Steely Dan - Fagen & Becker editor best quiz   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Donald Fagen & Walter Becker are the backbone & genius behind Steely Dan. These questions may seem geared for Steely Dan "insiders", but I've left enough clues so the casual fan can perform like a pro.
Average, 10 Qns, machineamc, Jul 30 15
Average
machineamc
2878 plays
4.
  Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #2   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
Inspired by my love of the words and music of Steely Dan this quiz was researched from two excellent books by Brian Sweet - 'Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years' (Omnibus Press 1994) and 'The Complete Guide to the Music of Steely Dan' (Omnibus Press 1998)
Difficult, 20 Qns, tirpitz44, Jan 08 06
Difficult
tirpitz44
588 plays
5.
  Steely Dan Test Your Knowledge    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about one of the best musical groups of the '70s, Steely Dan.
Average, 10 Qns, Uga76, Mar 30 16
Average
Uga76
1373 plays
6.
  Name that Steely Dan Song!   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
I will give part of the lyrics of a Steely Dan song and you supply the title of that song.
Average, 15 Qns, tycool, Nov 30 05
Average
tycool
1420 plays
7.
  Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #3    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
Inspired by my love of the words and music of Steely Dan this quiz was researched from two excellent books by Brian Sweet - 'Steely Dan - Reelin' in The Years' (Omnibus Press 1994) and 'The Complete Guide to the Music of Steely Dan' (Omnibus Press 1998)
Difficult, 20 Qns, tirpitz44, Jan 18 06
Difficult
tirpitz44
492 plays
8.
  Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #1   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
Inspired by my love of the words and music of Steely Dan this quiz was researched from two excellent books by Brian Sweet - 'Steely Dan - Reelin' in The Years' (Omnibus Press 1994) and 'The Complete Guide to the Music of Steely Dan' (Omnibus Press 1998)
Difficult, 20 Qns, tirpitz44, Jan 08 06
Difficult
tirpitz44
558 plays
9.
  Steely Dan Lyrics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I'll give you a phrase or line from a Steely Dan song - and the year in which it was released - and you have to choose what comes next.
Tough, 10 Qns, drwu32475, Aug 29 05
Tough
drwu32475
755 plays
trivia question Quick Question
These lyrics are from which Steely Dan song: "It's rainin' I'm chillin' at the Manatee Bar"?

From Quiz "Name that Steely Dan Song!"





Steely Dan Trivia Questions
1. The hypnotic drone in the background of 'Do It Again' was played on what and by whom?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #3

Answer: An electric sitar played by Denny Dias

Unable to locate an accoustic sitar for the 'drone' they wanted in the background, Becker and Fagen settled for an electric one. Denny Dias had never played an electric sitar before ... and hasn't played one since!

2. Who played the superlative guitar solo on the title track of 'Aja'?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #2

Answer: Denny Dias

The inimitable Denny Dias - one of the original Steely Dan band - who had an instinctive understanding of Becker and Fagen's music.

3. From which song would you find the following lyrics: "We hear you're leaving, that's OK I thought our little wild time had just begun"?

From Quiz Name that Steely Dan Song!

Answer: Rikki Don't Lose that Number

From the 1974 Album "Pretzel Logic". This is regarded as being Steely Dan's greatest hit, climbing at it's peak to number four on the charts.

4. Which line completes this Steely Dan lyric from 1980: "Jive Miguel..."?

From Quiz Steely Dan Lyrics

Answer: He's in from Bogota

From the "Gaucho" track, "Glamour Profession".

5. What was the name of the first album Steely Dan released?

From Quiz Steely Dan

Answer: Can't Buy a Thrill

The first album released by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, of Steely Dan, was "Can't Buy a Thrill" in 1972. "Can't Buy A Thrill" became a gold record and made it to #17 on the charts.

6. While attending Bard College Steely Dan founders, Donald Fagen & Walter Becker, had a session band called "The Leather Canary". What "Saturday Night Live"/ Hollywood celebrity & fellow Bard alumnus, was their drummer during this time?

From Quiz Steely Dan - Fagen & Becker

Answer: Chevy Chase

In a salon.com interview with Amy Reiter, Chase claimed that he "quit them" and that when Steely Dan was eventually formed in 1972 they "begged him to return". Alrighty then...

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

From Quiz 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.

8. In the summer of 1973 - as part of an aggressive publicity campaign for the promotion of the 'Countdown to Ecstasy' album in the UK - Probe Records sponsored a Steely Dan what?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #3

Answer: Balloon Race

As well as running a series of ads on Radio Luxembourg, taking full-page ads in the music press, and distributing display cards to retailers, Probe Records sponsored a Steely Dan balloon race at a Radio Luxembourg motor racing event at Brand's Hatch!

9. For which track on the 'Countdown to Ecstasy' album did Steely Dan enlist the services of a renowned jazz bass player?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #2

Answer: Razor Boy

Ray Brown played acoustic bass on 'Razor Boy'. Born in 1926, Brown played with all the greats - including Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker - married Ella Fitzgerald - and spent 15 years with The Oscar Peterson Trio. He died in 2002. 'Razor Boy' remains former lead guitarist Jeff Baxter's all-time favourite Steely Dan song.

10. "Bass player and keyboard player required - must have Jazz Chops" Who placed this Ad in The Village Voice - which indirectly led to the conception of Steely Dan?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #1

Answer: Denny Dias

Denis [Denny] Dias of Hicksville, Long Island - had a band called Demian with drummer Mark Leon and vocalist Keith Thomas - which needed a replacement bass player - and to broaden its repertoire. With Dias quickly recognising the song-writing talent of the newcomers Demian soon became Becker and Fagen's band and in no time at all Thomas and Leon were out - being replaced by Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter and Jim Hodder.

11. The following lyrics come from which song: "Drink Scotch whisky all night long And die behind the wheel"?

From Quiz Name that Steely Dan Song!

Answer: Deacon Blues

From 1977's "Aja". "Aja" was Steely Dan's best selling album.

12. Which line completes this Steely Dan lyric from 1976: "Can it be this sad design..."?

From Quiz Steely Dan Lyrics

Answer: Could be the very same

From a track off of "The Royal Scam" entitled "Caves of Altamira".

13. What college did Donald Fagen and Walter Becker attend?

From Quiz Steely Dan

Answer: Bard College, Annandale, NY

They both went to Bard College at Annandale, in Hudson, New York. Fagen graduated in 1969, with an English degree, and Becker withdrew because he neglected to do any work. The two moved to Brooklyn, New York and sold their songs at the Brill Building in Manhattan.

14. Fagen and Becker's mutual admiration of this 40's jazz saxophonist is reputed to be the "spark" that kindled their friendship. In fact they wrote an entire song about him entitled "Parker's Band" on 1974's "Pretzel Logic" LP. Name the musician.

From Quiz Steely Dan - Fagen & Becker

Answer: Charlie Parker

In the song "Parker's Band" the lyric line "relaxing at Camarillo" is the name of a Parker tune regarding his 1947 stay at the Camarillo State Hospital for a nervous breakdown.

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

From Quiz Steely Dan

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.

16. Which former Steely Dan guitarist went on to be a Missile Defense Adviser to the US Government?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #3

Answer: Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter

Jeff Baxter is currently Chairman of the Civilian Advisory Board for Ballistic Missile Defense, and has acted as an advisor to members of the House Science Committee. He was invited to serve on the Laser Advisory Board at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and has given lectures at the University of Manitoba School of Political Science on matters concerning regional conflict and missile defense. (Source: Potomac Institute)

17. During the recording of which album did Steely Dan suffer their most serious set-back, when they lost an entire song?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #2

Answer: Gaucho

During the 'Gaucho' sessions a studio engineer inadvertantly erased the wrong end of a master tape and wiped 75% of a completed song called 'The Second Arrangement'. $60,000 was spent trying to re-record the song, but it never quite jelled again and was scrapped.

18. Which line completes this Steely Dan lyric from 2003: "The torso rocks and the eyes are keepers..."?

From Quiz Steely Dan Lyrics

Answer: Now where'd we sample those legs

From SD's album, "Everything Must Go" and a track called "Green Book".

19. What Steely Dan album won a Grammy award for "Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording"?

From Quiz Steely Dan

Answer: Aja

In February 1978 "Aja" did win a Grammy award for "Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording". The other songs listed did well; however, they didn't win a Grammy. In July 1978, "FM" reached number 22. "Do It Again" reached number six; "Reelin' In The Years" reached number 11; and, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" made it to number three in 1974.

20. What two Steely Dan band members, one a charter member & lead guitarist, and the other a backing vocalist & keyboardist, broke with Steely Dan to join the Doobie Brothers?

From Quiz Steely Dan - Fagen & Becker

Answer: Jeff "Skunk" Baxter & Michael McDonald

Steely Dan producer Gary Katz said upon McDonald's leaving the band; "Michael's role as a backup singer is the ultimate waste of talent." Boy was he right!

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

From Quiz Steely Dan

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.

22. What is the shortest track featured on a Steely Dan studio album?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #3

Answer: Through With Buzz

'Through With Buzz', at 1 minute 30 seconds - considered by many to be the worst ever Steely Dan track - is surely one of the shortest tracks on any album anywhere! ('With A Gun' is the next shortest at 2 minutes 15 seconds).

23. On which track on 'The Royal Scam' album did Becker and Fagen not play at all?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #2

Answer: Don't Take Me Alive

Becker and Fagen often said that they would rather receive awards for song writing than for anything else, and that they would not rule out the possibility of recording an entire Steely Dan album on which neither of them would play!

24. Who sang the lead vocal on 'Midnite Cruiser'?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #1

Answer: Jim Hodder

Drummer / Singer Jim Hodder - formerly of The Bead Game - who had also sung lead vocal on 'Dallas' - the first Steely Dan single - in June 1972. Jim Hodder drowned in a swimming pool accident in 1990.

25. From which song do these lyrics come: "Hollywood I know your middle name"?

From Quiz Name that Steely Dan Song!

Answer: Glamour Profession

From the 1980 album "Gaucho". "Gaucho" marked the shift of Steely Dan towards more jazzier tones. It was also the last album released by the band until they reformed for the album "Two Against Nature" in 2000.

26. Which line completes this Steely Dan lyric from 1977: "She serves the smooth retsina..."?

From Quiz Steely Dan Lyrics

Answer: She keeps me safe and warm

From "Home at Last", a track from the Grammy-winning "Aja".

27. What Steely Dan song did these lyrics come from: "They got the shapely bodies / They got the Steely Dan T-shirts."?

From Quiz Steely Dan

Answer: Show Biz Kids

The lyrics came off of the Steely Dan song, "Show Biz Kids" and it was released off the "Countdown to Ecstasy" album in 1973.

28. Fresh out of college and looking for work in the music industry, Fagen and Becker found work at ABC records as writers and backup musicians. They wrote the song "I Mean To Shine" for this 70's pop diva funny girl.

From Quiz Steely Dan - Fagen & Becker

Answer: Barbra Streisand

A forgettable song on the 1971 "Barbra Joan Streisand" album.

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

From Quiz Steely Dan

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."

30. On 'The Royal Scam' album - which drummer was featured on every track bar one?

From Quiz Steely Dan 1972 to 1980 #2

Answer: Bernard Purdie

Bernard Purdie - exclusively - with Rick Marotta featured on 'Don't Take Me Alive'. Purdie - 'a boisterous character' who had signs reading 'Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie' - 'The World's Greatest Drummer' and 'The Hitmaker' which he would display in the studio - and a neon sign flashing 'Another Hit Being Made' - which he would plug in beside him - would occasionally even display hit albums on which he had played on the floor around his kit!

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Last Updated Oct 25 2025 5:49 AM
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