Pretzel Logic (song)

"Pretzel Logic" is a single released by Steely Dan from their album Pretzel Logic, originally released in 1974 by ABC Records.^[3] It reached number 57 in the Billboard charts.^[4]

In Brian Sweet's 1994 Steely Dan Biography Reelin' in the Years, Donald Fagen states that the lyrics, including anachronistic references to Napoleon and minstrel shows, are about time travel.^[5] Sweet hypothesizes that the first verse was inspired by the band's distaste for touring, particularly the tours of the American South that their record label had sent them upon the previous year.

This is one of the first Steely Dan songs to feature Walter Becker as a lead guitarist.

Credits

• Donald Fagen: lead and backing vocals, electric piano
• Walter Becker: lead guitar
• Dean Parks: rhythm guitar
• Plas Johnson: saxophone
• Ollie Mitchell: trumpet
• Lew McCreary: trombone
• Michael Omartian: acoustic piano
• Wilton Felder: bass
• Jim Gordon: drums
• Tim Schmit: backing vocals

Covers

In 1987, it was covered by Hiram Bullock on his album Give It What You Got.

A live version by INXS was performed during the Moontan Double J Concert At Manly Vale Hotel, October 1980 show. A recording is available on the compilation Stay Young 1979–1982.

The song was performed by the Warren Haynes Band, the solo project of Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule leader Warren Haynes, which he started in 2010. A staple of the band's live shows, often running over ten minutes in length and featuring multiple solos from band members, it appears in this form on their 2012 album Live at The Moody Theater.

References