Exploring 4 Unique Covers of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”

The first single Steely Dan ever charted with still reigns as one of their most popular songs, and it was a fitting introduction to the soon-to-be-legendary band. “Do It Again” masterfully blends multiple styles, and it tells a tale about a flawed protagonist. When the song came out in November 1972, those who heard it were already becoming familiar with Steely Dan’s unmistakable musical and lyrical styles.

Within a couple of years, Steely Dan would become less of a band and more of a collective run by founders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, but that only strengthened the identity of their music. Because Steely Dan songs have such a distinct feel and flavor, covering them makes for a daunting task. In fact, most of their tunes haven’t been covered widely, but dozens of artists have recorded their own versions of “Do It Again.” It is their most covered song, and the following four artists who have recorded their own renditions are the best-known ones to put their stamp on it.

Waylon Jennings from Music Man (1980)

The late outlaw country star recorded “Do It Again” for one of his most popular albums Music Man, which included his biggest crossover pop hit, “Theme from ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ (Good Ole Boys).” In the opening seconds of “Do It Again,” Jennings establishes that he is doing the song in his inimitable style. There is no hint of the Latin sound that permeates the first measures of Steely Dan’s original, just foreboding chords played on acoustic guitar and keyboards and some spooky electric guitar. It’s the perfect setting for Jennings to tell the story with his commanding voice.

Another unique twist is the guitar solo—replacing Denny Dias’ sitar solo in the middle section of the song—that is accompanied by a horn section. Though Jennings’ version will never be mistaken for Steely Dan’s original, it does a great job of maintaining the song’s mystical quality.

Falco from Wiener Blut (1988)

The Austrian vocalist best known for “Der Kommissar,” “Rock Me Amadeus,” and “Vienna Calling” seemed like an even less likely candidate to cover a Steely Dan song than Jennings, but he, too, recorded a convincing cover of “Do It Again.” In kicking off the number with sitar, Falco hints at the style of Steely Dan’s original, but the introduction of a percolating synth bass 15 seconds into the song let us know we’re in for an entirely different treatment. Falco sings nearly the entire song in English, but in the final chorus he substitutes the German phrase Das Rad Umschliesst den Kreis for Wheels turnin’ round and round.

This is the only version of the four featured here to be released as the A-side of a single. Falco’s “Do It Again” did not register on any chart. As danceable as it is, it did not even make the dance charts in any country.

Tori Amos from the UK CD Single for “Spark” (1998)

Everyone who has heard Amos’ cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” knows she can make someone else’s well-known song entirely her own. As with her most famous cover, Amos strips down the arrangement. Aside from the vocal melody, her rendition is hardly recognizable as a version of the Steely Dan classic—and at times, she even scrambles up the main melody. Amos sings over a reverberating drum pattern, giving her version a different kind of mesmerizing quality than the original. Her piano solo, which replaces the sitar solo, adds to the song’s entrancing feel.

Amos recorded “Do It Again” for her 1998 album From the Choirgirl Hotel, but it was relegated to the UK release of the CD single for “Spark.” According to setlist.fm, she has played “Do It Again” live only four times, so not nearly enough Amos fans have had an opportunity to hear her stirring rendition.

Smash Mouth from the Me, Myself and Irene Soundtrack (2000)

If you were expecting a loud, brassy interpretation of “Do It Again” from Smash Mouth, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by the laid-back vibe of their version. It’s a fairly close approximation of the smooth Latin feel of the original but with crisper production. One interesting touch is Steve Harwell talk-singing the second verse, backed by the guitar riff from Steely Dan’s 1978 hit “Josie.” “Do It Again” is one of eight covers of Steely Dan songs included on the soundtrack for Me, Myself and Irene. Smash Mouth also included the cover on their 2005 All Star Smash Hits compilation.

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Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage