Becker and Fagen met in 1967 at Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. As Fagen passed by a café, The Red Balloon, he heard Becker practicing the electric guitar. In an interview, Fagen recounted the experience: "I hear this guy practicing, and it sounded very professional and contemporary. It sounded like, you know, like one of them colored people, really." He introduced himself to Becker and asked, "Do you like jazz?" Discovering that they enjoyed similar music, the two began writing songs together.