In 1972, Steely Dan tried their hand at country music. The result was so bad it was blocked from sale

Steely Dan’s first single, ‘Dallas’, was a country-rock song released in 1972, but the band soon withdrew it because they felt it did not represent their identity. Its removal matters because the track became an overlooked part of the group’s early history, despite offering a glimpse of their developing sound.

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen formed the band after becoming staff songwriters for ABC Records, recruiting guitarist Jeff Baxter, guitarist Denny Dias and drummer Jim Hodder. Released on 16 June with Hodder on lead vocals, ‘Dallas’ was omitted from the 1993 compilation *Citizen Steely Dan*; Becker later called it “stinko”. Baxter, by contrast, praised its hook and saw a connection to the sound of the band’s 1973 album *Countdown to Ecstasy*.