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From Josie to Kid Charlamagne: 10 Classic Steely Dan Characters

[POP] Steely Dan seems like a pretty simple equation for radio listeners familiar with singles like “Do It Again,” “Reeling in the Years,” “FM,” and “Hey Nineteen.” But the writing of creative partners Donald Fagen and Walter Becker is significantly more nuanced than casual listening lets on, consisting of clever short stories with oddball characters, noir humor, and cutting cynicism. It takes a while for Steely Dan (which refers to a dildo in William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch) to fully penetrate.

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