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Long known as perfectionists, they often recorded take after take before selecting the player or performance that made the final cut on their albums. The guitar solo on "Peg", for example, was attempted by four fine guitarists before Jay Graydon's chorus became the 'keeper'.
Becker and Fagen also favour a distinctly soul-influenced style of backing vocal, which after the first few albums were almost always performed by a female chorus (although [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]] features prominently on the 1975 song "Black Friday" and the 1977 song "Peg"). On several albums they used the famous session trio of [[Venetta Fields]], [[Shirley Matthews]] and [[Clydie King]], who have appeared on many other famous recordings including albums by [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Boz Scaggs]].
The attraction of Steely Dan's music also comes partly from the structure of each song, which will often contain counter-melodies and solid but supple rhythms. It also comes from the sound of each instrument, which is recorded with utmost fidelity and attention to sonic detail, in a style that appeals to the ear and is mixed such a way that all instruments are heard and none are given undue priority. For example, in the song "Parker's Band", two drum kits are used (a technique which was standard in the [[Big Band]] era). This gives the song an unexpected drive, without overpowering the sound; it is not even immediately apparent. Their albums are also notable for the characteristically 'warm' and 'dry' production sound, and the sparing use of [[echo]] and [[reverberation]] -- effects which were often heavily over-used on other rock recordings of this period.
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Steely Dan's lyrics are unusually challenging and interesting, and can attract and hold one's attention alongside the music, inviting repeated listenings to their songs. Many songs contain subtle coded references, word-games, unusual (and sometimes original) slang expressions and intriguing lyrical choices and constructions, all of which enable the songs to be analysed in considerable depth. Jazz is a recurring theme, with references abounding in their songs, and there are numerous other film, television and literary references and allusions, such as "Home At Last" (from ''Aja''), which was inspired by ''[[The Odyssey]]''.
'Namechecking' is another classic Dan lyrical device, and references to real places and people abound in their songs. The ''Two Against Nature'' album (2000) contains numerous references to the duo's original home region, the New York metro area, including the district of [[Gramercy Park]] and the well-known upmarket food business [[Dean & Deluca|http://www.deandeluca.com/]].
The song "Black Friday" (1975) contains one of their most fascinating 'namechecks', a surprising reference to the town of [[Muswellbrook]] in northern [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]:
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