Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
Donald Fagen – lead vocals
Walter Becker – bass guitar
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – guitar solo
Michael Omartian – piano
Dean Parks – acoustic guitar
Jim Gordon – drums
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals
Written by Walter Becker & Donald Fagen. Produced by Gary Katz, recorded at The Village Recorder, West Los Angeles, October 1973–January 1974.
The track is often cited as an early sign of Steely Dan’s shift toward using session musicians over its own band members: though Jim Hodder was still the group’s drummer, Jim Gordon plays drums here, Michael Omartian takes the piano instead of Fagen, and the acoustic guitar goes to sessionist Dean Parks rather than one of the band’s own guitarists. It became Steely Dan’s biggest hit to that point, helping restore the group’s radio profile after the underperformance of Countdown to Ecstasy. Becker and Fagen were reluctant to explain the “Rikki” of the title, though writer Rikki Ducornet later said the song was inspired by an encounter with a young Donald Fagen at a party. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter‘s guitar solo on the track was among his final contributions to the band before departing for the Doobie Brothers.
Steely Dan – Rikki Don’t Lose That Number Lyrics
We hear you’re leaving, that’s OK
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
[Chorus:]
Rikki don’t lose that number
You don’t wanna 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
[Chorus]
You tell yourself you’re not my kind
But you don’t even know your mind
And you could have a change of heart
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 17 program and the full program, click here.