‘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.
According to a 2006 interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Rikki of the title is Rikki Ducornet, a New York writer and artist. Steely Dan co-front Donald Fagen met her while both were attending Bard College, a small liberal arts school located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Ducornet said they met at a college party, and even though she was both pregnant and married at the time, he gave her his number, although not in the same context as the song. Ducornet was intrigued by Fagen and tempted to call him, but she decided against it. A complete write-up of this incident is at ew.com, and it kind of sounds like it came straight out of a Doonesbury strip.
The song features Jim Gordon on drums, as does the bulk of the Pretzel Logic album. The guitar solo is by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter who soon after joined The Doobie Brothers. Victor Feldman's flapamba introduction to the song, which opens the album, is cut from the original ABC single version. 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’.
Speaking on the subject of playing their hit songs in concert, Donald Fagen told Rolling Stone in 2013: "Walter and I aren't fond of 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number.' It's not a bad song. I think it's 'well-written,' but it's so simple. I just have listening fatigue. It's been played so much. Same with 'Reeling in the Years.'"
Billboard described it as a "catchy, almost tango-like tune." Cash Box said that the "strong accent on harmonies with keyboard and percussion dominating the musical end make for a very entertaining track." Record World said that the "salty Latin-ish sound is in an easy vein" and that the song was a "totally nifty number." John Lennon, in a 1974 interview discussing recent hit songs, said "I liked ‘Rikki Don't Lose That Number,’ that was a good commercial record."
Label – ABC
Songwriters – Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
Producer – Gary Katz
SONG LYRICS
[Intro][Verse 1]
We hear you're leavin', that's okay
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
[Verse 2]
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]
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
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
You tell yourself you're not my kind
But you don't even know your mind
And you could 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
[Outro]
Rikki, don't lose that number
(Rikki, don't lose that number)
Rikki, don't lose that number