On This Day, Feb. 20, 1974: Steely Dan released ‘Pretzel Logic’

On This Day, Feb. 20, 1974 …

Steely Dan released their third studio album, Pretzel Logic, which was the last to feature the full lineup of Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Denny Dias, Jim Hodder and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. Future albums would be recorded by Becker, Fagen and hired studio musicians.

Pretzel Logic was a top-10 hit for Steely Dan, peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200. It featured the hit single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” which was the highest-charting single of the band’s career, hitting #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album went on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.

And speaking of Steely Dan … Becker was born on Feb. 20, 1950. He passed away Sept. 3, 2017 at age 67.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.