# ‘Wheels of Fortune’: How Steely Dan inspired The Doobie Brothers 1976 classic

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/wheels-of-fortune-how-steely-dan-inspired-the-doobie-brothers-1976-classic/
- Published: 2026-08-03T23:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-25T11:10:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-steely-dan-inspired-the-doobie-brothers-1976-classic/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Steely Dan's jazz-fusion sound shaped The Doobie Brothers' 1976 song
- "Wheels of Fortune" only reached number 87 on release
- Guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter linked both bands' sounds

## Summary

The article explores how The Doobie Brothers' 1976 track "Wheels of Fortune" was shaped by the jazz-fusion sound pioneered by Steely Dan, illustrating the often-overlooked debt rock music owes to jazz. Although The Doobie Brothers were primarily known for their soft and pop-rock sound, the piece argues that their willingness to absorb jazz influences produced one of the band's most enduring and admired songs, even though it was a commercial disappointment on release.

Taken from the album Takin' It to the Streets, "Wheels of Fortune" peaked at just number 87 on the US singles chart, a stark contrast to the title track's number 13 placing, yet it went on to become a fan favourite prized for its expansive sound. The jazz-fusion influence was reinforced directly by guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who had joined Steely Dan before becoming a member of The Doobie Brothers in 1974 and played lead guitar on the single, bridging the two bands' distinct styles.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.