"Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is a single released in 1974 by rock/jazz rock group Steely Dan and the opening track of their third album Pretzel Logic. It was the most successful single of the group's career, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1974.[2]
Victor Feldman's flapamba introduction to the song, which opens the album, is cut from the original ABC single version.[3] The MCA single reissue (backed with "Pretzel Logic") includes the flapamba intro but fades out just before the actual end of the track. The introductory riff is an almost direct copy of the intro of Horace Silver's jazz classic "Song for My Father".[4][5]
Reviewing the single for AllMusic, Stewart Mason said:
Just to clear up a generation's worth of rumors about the lyrics of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," Walter Becker stated for the record in a 1985 interview in the pages of Musician that the "number" in question was not slang for a marijuana cigarette ("send it off in a letter to yourself," supposedly a way to safely transport one's dope back before the post office abolished general delivery mail, was held up as the key line), and an uncharacteristically forthcoming Donald Fagen has similarly revealed that the "Rikki" in question was simply a woman he'd had a crush on in college [writer Rikki Ducornet]. It says something about Steely Dan's reputation as obscurantists that even a straightforward lost-love song like "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" could be so widely over-interpreted. ... It's unsurprising that "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" ended up becoming Steely Dan's biggest commercial hit ... as it's one of the group's most gentle and accessible songs.[6]
Billboard described it as a "catchy, almost tango-like tune."[7]Cash Box said that the "strong accent on harmonies with keyboard and percussion dominating the musical end make for a very entertaining track."[8]
1983 – Kenji Omura recorded a version of the song for his fourth album Gaijin Heaven.[17][citation needed]
1984 – Tom Robinson recorded his version for the album Hope and Glory; the single release of the song matched Steely Dan's original version by peaking at No. 58 in the UK Singles Chart.[13]
1992 – Hank Marvin did an instrumental of the song on his album Into the Light.
1994 – Far Corporation made a cover of the song for their album Solitude.
2007 – Chuck Loeb did an instrumental cover of the song on his album Presence.
The song was referenced in the 2004 Fairly Odd Parents episode, "Odd Couple." At the end, as Vicky's former boyfriend Rikki drives away with his new lover, she says "Rikki! Don't lose my number! You don't wanna call nobody else!"[citation needed]
References
^ abPanati, Charles (1991). "1974: The Lord's Prayer". Panati's Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias. New York: Harper Perennial. p. 397.
^Steely Dan US chart history, Billboard.com. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
^"Totally Random Tune At Noon - Steely Dan - Rikki Don't Lose That Number". Sunny 95. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
External links
Steely Dan - Rikki Don't Lose That Number on YouTube
January 06, 2023
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Rikki Don t Lose That Number is a single released in 1974 by rock jazz rock group Steely Dan and the opening track of their third album Pretzel Logic It was the most successful single of the group s career peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1974 2 Rikki Don t Lose That Number Single by Steely Danfrom the album Pretzel LogicB side Any Major Dude Will Tell You ReleasedApril 25 1974Recorded1973GenreSoft rock jazz rock boogie rock 1 bolero 1 Length3 58 Single version 4 30 Album version LabelABCSongwriter s Walter Becker Donald FagenProducer s Gary KatzSteely Dan singles chronology My Old School 1973 Rikki Don t Lose That Number 1974 Pretzel Logic 1974 Official audio Rikki Don t Lose That Number on YouTubeThe song features Jim Gordon on drums as does the bulk of the Pretzel Logic album The guitar solo is by Jeff Skunk Baxter who would soon go on to join The Doobie Brothers Victor Feldman s flapamba introduction to the song which opens the album is cut from the original ABC single version 3 The MCA single reissue backed with Pretzel Logic includes the flapamba intro but fades out just before the actual end of the track The introductory riff is an almost direct copy of the intro of Horace Silver s jazz classic Song for My Father 4 5 Contents 1 Appraisal 2 Personnel 2 1 Musicians 2 2 Technical 3 Chart performance 3 1 Weekly charts 3 2 Year end charts 4 Cover versions 5 Usage in media 6 References 7 External linksAppraisal EditReviewing the single for AllMusic Stewart Mason said Just to clear up a generation s worth of rumors about the lyrics of Rikki Don t Lose That Number Walter Becker stated for the record in a 1985 interview in the pages of Musician that the number in question was not slang for a marijuana cigarette send it off in a letter to yourself supposedly a way to safely transport one s dope back before the post office abolished general delivery mail was held up as the key line and an uncharacteristically forthcoming Donald Fagen has similarly revealed that the Rikki in question was simply a woman he d had a crush on in college writer Rikki Ducornet It says something about Steely Dan s reputation as obscurantists that even a straightforward lost love song like Rikki Don t Lose That Number could be so widely over interpreted It s unsurprising that Rikki Don t Lose That Number ended up becoming Steely Dan s biggest commercial hit as it s one of the group s most gentle and accessible songs 6 Billboard described it as a catchy almost tango like tune 7 Cash Box said that the strong accent on harmonies with keyboard and percussion dominating the musical end make for a very entertaining track 8 Personnel EditMusicians Edit Donald Fagen lead and backing vocals Jeff Baxter electric guitar Dean Parks acoustic guitar Michael Omartian piano Walter Becker bass guitar backing vocals Jim Gordon drums Victor Feldman percussion flapamba Timothy B Schmit backing vocals Technical Edit Gary Katz Producer Roger Nichols EngineerChart performance EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1974 PeakpositionAustralian Singles Chart 30Canada Top Singles RPM 9 3US Billboard Hot 100 10 4US Adult Contemporary Billboard 11 15US Cash Box Top 100 12 3 Chart 1979 PeakpositionUK Singles Chart 13 58 Year end charts Edit Chart 1974 RankCanada 14 53US Billboard Hot 100 15 51US Cashbox Top 100 16 46Cover versions Edit1983 Kenji Omura recorded a version of the song for his fourth album Gaijin Heaven 17 citation needed 1984 Tom Robinson recorded his version for the album Hope and Glory the single release of the song matched Steely Dan s original version by peaking at No 58 in the UK Singles Chart 13 1992 Hank Marvin did an instrumental of the song on his album Into the Light 1994 Far Corporation made a cover of the song for their album Solitude 2007 Chuck Loeb did an instrumental cover of the song on his album Presence Usage in media EditThe song was featured in the 1989 film Say Anything in which the lyrics were sung by actor John Mahoney 18 The song was referenced in the 2004 Fairly Odd Parents episode Odd Couple At the end as Vicky s former boyfriend Rikki drives away with his new lover she says Rikki Don t lose my number You don t wanna call nobody else citation needed References Edit a b Panati Charles 1991 1974 The Lord s Prayer Panati s Parade of Fads Follies and Manias New York Harper Perennial p 397 Steely Dan US chart history Billboard com Retrieved May 28 2012 Pretzel Logic Album Broberg pp se Retrieved 2016 10 10 Song for My Father 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die 1000recordings com Retrieved 2016 10 10 Shteamer Hank September 3 2017 Steely Dan 10 Essential Songs Rolling Stone Retrieved July 29 2021 Rikki Don t Lose That Number Steely Dan Song Info AllMusic Retrieved 4 December 2018 Top Single Picks PDF Billboard April 27 1974 p 55 Retrieved 2020 07 22 CashBox Record Reviews PDF Cash Box April 27 1974 p 16 Retrieved 2021 12 11 Top RPM Singles Issue 5072a RPM Library and Archives Canada Steely Dan Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Steely Dan Chart History Adult Contemporary Billboard Top 100 1974 08 03 Cashbox Magazine Retrieved 2015 04 16 a b rikki don t lose that number full Official Chart History Officialcharts com Retrieved 10 June 2021 Canada Library and Archives 17 July 2013 Image RPM Weekly Bac lac gc ca Retrieved 4 December 2018 Top 100 Hits of 1974 Top 100 Songs of 1974 Musicoutfitters com Retrieved 2016 10 10 Top 100 Year End Charts 1974 Cashbox Magazine Retrieved July 16 2015 Kenji Omura Gaijin Heaven at Discogs Totally Random Tune At Noon Steely Dan Rikki Don t Lose That Number Sunny 95 Retrieved 2021 03 09 External links EditSteely Dan Rikki Don t Lose That Number on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rikki Don 27t Lose That Number amp oldid 1124978747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
