Steely Dan’s Lost Jingle for a Schlitz Beer Commercial (Circa 1973)

Somewhere between the recording of their first and second albums (1972-1973), Steely Dan wrote a jingle to promote Schlitz, “the beer that made Milwaukee famous.” According to American Songwriter, the jingle “features Steely Dan jazz fusion along with Fagen singing Once around life / Once around livin’ / Once around beer / And you’ll keep around Schlitz.”

Schlitz never ultimately used the track. The song included lyrics that Fagen translated from Spanish to English: When I get home from a hard day’s work / He says he likes to grab for all the gusto he can get / ‘Cause you only go around one time.” Apparently the word “grab” came from the Spanish word “coger,” which is also a Spanish slang word for sexual intercourse. Schlitz seemingly cold feet, and the jingle never reached the public. Until now.

via American Songwriter

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Comments (5)
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  • DANIEL THALER says:

    I DON’T KNOW WHY I COULD NEVE REALLY GET INTO STEELY DAN. I THINK THEY’RE ONE OF THEE MOST PROLIFIC AMERICAN BANDS EVER. ENDLESS ALBUMS, CD’S, SONGS…….
    AND I RECOGNIZE FAGEN’S GENIUS TOO. MAYBE THEY’RE A BIT TOO JAZZY FOR ME BECAUSE I AM NOT A JAZZ PERSON. THEY DEFINITELY ARE NOT A FLAT OUT RNR BAND. I GUESS IF YOU HAD TO CALL THEM SOMETHING (WHICH YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE TO BUT WE ALL DO ANYWAY) I GUESS JAZZ/ROCK FUSION. DEFINITELY JAZZ/SOMETHING FUSION. INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND YOU CAN TELL PRETTY QUICKLY THAT IT IS A STEELY DAN SONG WHEN IT STARTS TO PLAY ON THE BOX. WHATEVER THEIR OFFICIAL GENRE, RnR HALL OF FAMER QUALITY, UNLESS THEY ARE IN ALREADY.

  • MARK SCIRROTTO. says:

    HEY I loved steelydan I seen them atheist 16 time’s but I think who made the band was Donald Fagen excellent I like Becker 👍🏽 too its great to had seen them excellent 😄 😀.

  • MARK SCIRROTTO. says:

    HEY I loved steelydan I seen them atheist 16 time’s but I think who made the band was Donald Fagen excellent I like Becker 👍🏽 too its great to had seen them excellent 😄 😀. OKAY JUST SUMET IT THANKS MARK SCIRROTTO CHOW. ON

  • Dharm says:

    Fagens solo work sounds just like Steely to me. Much respect for Becker but I faced it years ago, Don is the band. Going to see him in a few months because I bet he won’t skip abeat. Sorry Walter, RIP bro

  • James Avdelis says:

    I barely remember. I was 10 years-old at the time. Incredible!!

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