Steely Dan – Rikki Don’t Lose that Number (Guitar Cover)

Rikki Don’t Lose that Number – Steely Dan (Guitar Cover)

Rikki Don’t Lose that Number was released as a single in 1974 off Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic album. It made it as far as number 4 on the Billboard top 100 and was number 51 in Billboard’s Top 100 for 1974.

Now I ask you. What was the number one song for 1974? The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand. Really? And Rikki finishes in 51st place? Behind Terry Jacks Seasons in the Sun at number 2 and The Streak at number 9, no less. FOR THE YEAR. Wow.

Rikki has always been a favorite of mine. When I lived in PEI the first time there was a bar in the Charlottetown Mall  when it first opened  in 1974.  The first time I heard the song I was walking by the bar and the band was playing a great version. I was 16 and too young to go in, but I had to stop and listen. I just loved the song.

The smooth, bossa nova groove really pushes everything along nicely. It’s a beautiful arrangement and everything slides together with precision. It’s a song I’ve learned and relearned over the years and it’s always fun when I find myself doing it again. I still think Jeff Baxter’s solo is one of the great signature solos of all time.

The boys became tired of playing it live though. In 2013 Donald Fagen told Rolling Stone: “Walter and I aren’t fond of ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.’ It’s not a bad song. I think it’s ‘well-written,’ but it’s so simple. I just have listening fatigue. It’s been played so much. Same with ‘Reeling in the Years.'”

Track information:

• Donald Fagen – lead and backing vocals
• Jeff Baxter – electric guitar
• Dean Parks – acoustic guitar
• Michael Omartian – piano
• Walter Becker – bass, backing vocals
• Jim Gordon – drums
• Victor Feldman – percussion, marimba
• Tim Schmit – backing vocals

Lyrics:

We hear you’re leaving, that’s okay
I thought our little wild time had just begun
I guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and run
But if you have a change of heart

Rikki don’t lose that number
You don’t want to call nobody else
Send it off in a letter to yourself
Rikki don’t lose that number
It’s the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home

I have a friend in town, he’s heard your name
We can go out driving on Slow Hand Row
We could stay inside and play games, I don’t know
And you could have a change of heart

Rikki don’t lose that number
You don’t want to call nobody else
Send it off in a letter to yourself
Rikki don’t lose that number
It’s the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home

You tell yourself you’re not my kind
But you don’t even know your mind
And you could have a change of heart

Rikki don’t lose that number
You don’t want to call nobody else
Send it off in a letter to yourself
Rikki don’t lose that number
It’s the only one you own
You might use it if you feel better
When you get home

Songwriters: Donald Jay Fagen / Walter Carl Becker