The Very Best Of Steely Dan by Steely Dan - Uhune

COMPILATION

Volume 1

Volume 2

Putting together a "best-of" compilation for a band as hell-bent on achieving perfection as Steely Dan can be a daunting task. Fortunately, The Very Best of Steely Dan takes a kitchen-sink approach as it delivers two discs of remarkably precise jazz-rock from the storied outfit. A career retrospective, the album tracks Steely Dan from their more group-oriented beginning, which found legendary guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter in the lineup, to their more withdrawn period in the second half of their career when Becker and Fagen focused on the perfectionism allowed by the studio environment. This helps to give listeners a taste of the band's complete history all in one shot rather than over the course of a couple of volumes. In the end, The Very Best of Steely Dan is like the closing arguments of two attorneys who are both arguing their client is innocent, just for different reasons, with both of its two discs making a compelling case for why Steely Dan were one of the great soft/jazz-rock bands of the '70s.
© Gregory Heaney /TiVo

Volume 1

1. Do It Again

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

2. Dirty Work

Performer: Jerome Richardson; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Jerome Richardson; Performer
Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

3. Reelin' In The Years

Drums: Jim Hodder; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Electric Bass: Walter Becker; Performer
Guitar: Denny Dias
Jeff "skunk" Baxter; Performer
Keyboard: Donald Fagen; Performer
Performer: Jim Hodder
Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
David Palmer
Jeff "skunk" Baxter
Denny Dias; Performer
Vocals: David Palmer
Donald Fagen; Performer
Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

4. Only A Fool Would Say That

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

5. Change Of The Guard

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

6. Bodhisattva

Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Mixing: Denny Dias; Production
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Studio Personnel: Denny Dias; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

7. The Boston Rag

Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Mixing: Denny Dias; Production
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Studio Personnel: Denny Dias; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

8. Show Biz Kids

Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Mixing: Denny Dias; Production
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Studio Personnel: Denny Dias; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

9. My Old School

Guitar: Jeff Baxter; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Performer: Jeff Baxter; Performer
Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Mixing: Denny Dias; Production
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Studio Personnel: Denny Dias; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

10. Rikki Don't Lose That Number

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Guitar: Victor Feldman; Performer
Keyboard: Jeff Baxter; Performer
Performer: Jeff Baxter
Victor Feldman; Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

11. Night By Night

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

12. Pretzel Logic

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

13. Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

14. Black Friday

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

15. Bad Sneakers

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

16. Doctor Wu

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

17. Any World (That I'm Welcome To)

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

18. Chain Lightning

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: Rick Derringer; Other

Volume 2

1. Kid Charlemagne

Performer: Chuck Findley
Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
Chuck Findley; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

2. Don't Take Me Alive

Performer: Chuck Findley
Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
Chuck Findley; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

3. Haitian Divorce

Performer: Chuck Findley
Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
Chuck Findley; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

4. The Fez

Performer: Chuck Findley
Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
Paul Laurence Griffin; Composer
Lyricist: Paul Laurence Griffin
Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
Chuck Findley; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker
Paul Laurence Griffin; Other

5. Here At The Western World

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

6. Black Cow

Performer: Tom Scott; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Conductor: Tom Scott; Conductor
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Tom Scott; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: Tom Scott
Victor Feldman
Chuck Rainey; Other

7. Aja

Performer: Tom Scott; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Conductor: Tom Scott; Conductor
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Tom Scott; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: Steve Gadd
Chuck Rainey
Victor Feldman
Wayne Shorter; Other

8. Deacon Blues

Guitar: Lee Ritenour; Performer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Performer: Victor Feldman
Tom Scott
Lee Ritenour; Performer
Piano: Victor Feldman; Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Tom Scott; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

9. Peg

Background Vocals: Michael Mcdonald
Paul Griffin; Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Clavichord: Don Grolnick; Performer
Double Bass: Chuck Rainey; Performer
Drums: Rick Marotta; Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Guitar: Jay Graydon
Steve Khan; Performer
Percussion: Victor Feldman
Gary Coleman; Performer
Performer: Paul Griffin
Victor Feldman
Steve Khan
Don Grolnick
Rick Marotta
Donald Fagen
Michael Mcdonald
Jay Graydon
Gary Coleman
Chuck Rainey; Performer
Vocals: Donald Fagen; Performer
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Rhodes: Paul Griffin; Other
Rhodes: Paul Griffin; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: Tom Scott; Other
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production

10. Josie

Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Background Vocals: Donald Fagen
Timothy B. Schmit; Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Bass Guitar: Chuck Rainey; Performer
Bass Guitar: Chuck Rainey; Performer
Drums: Jim Keltner; Performer
Guitar: Larry Carlton
Walter Becker
Dean Parks; Performer
Percussion: Jim Keltner; Performer
Performer: Victor Feldman
Walter Becker
Donald Fagen
Jim Keltner
Dean Parks
Chuck Rainey
Timothy B. Schmit
Larry Carlton
Tom Scott; Performer
Piano: Victor Feldman; Performer
Synthesizer: Donald Fagen; Performer
Conductor: Tom Scott; Conductor
Engineer: Roger Nichols
Al Schmitt
Bill Schnee
Elliot Scheiner; Production
Recording Arrangement: Tom Scott; Production
Studio Personnel: Roger Nichols
Al Schmitt
Bill Schnee
Elliot Scheiner; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production

11. FM

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Producer: Rand Holston; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

12. Babylon Sisters

Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Background Vocals: Patti Austin; Performer
Clarinet: Tom Scott; Performer
Flugelhorn: Randy Brecker; Performer
Guitar: Steve Kahn; Performer
Performer: Patti Austin
Steve Kahn
Randy Brecker
Rob Mounsey
Tom Scott; Performer
Saxophone: Tom Scott; Performer
Trumpet: Randy Brecker; Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Mixing: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Studio Personnel: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Horn Arranger: Rob Mounsey; Other

13. Hey Nineteen

Background Vocals: Patti Austin
Zack Sanders
Frank Floyd; Performer
Lyricist: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Bass Guitar: Walter Becker; Performer
Bass Guitar: Walter Becker; Performer
Clarinet: Tom Scott; Performer
Drums: Rick Marotta; Performer
Flugelhorn: Randy Brecker; Performer
Guitar: Hugh Mccracken
Steve Kahn
Walter Becker; Performer
Percussion: Victor Feldman
Steve Gadd; Performer
Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Performer: Frank Floyd
Steve Gadd
Patti Austin
Zack Sanders
Rick Marotta
Hugh Mccracken
Steve Kahn
Victor Feldman
Randy Brecker
Rob Mounsey
Walter Becker
Donald Fagen
Tom Scott; Performer
Piano: Donald Fagen; Performer
Saxophone: Tom Scott; Performer
Synthesizer: Donald Fagen; Performer
Trumpet: Randy Brecker; Performer
Vocals: Donald Fagen; Performer
Mixing: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Recording Arrangement: Rob Mounsey; Production
Studio Personnel: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Horn Arranger: Rob Mounsey; Other
Unknown Contributor Role: Hugh Mccracken; Other

14. Time Out Of Mind

Composer: Walter Becker
Donald Fagen; Composer
Alto Saxophone: David Sanborn; Performer
Background Vocals: Leslie Miller
Patti Austin
Michael Mcdonald
Valerie Simpson; Performer
Drums: Rick Marotta; Performer
Flugelhorn: Randy Brecker; Performer
Guitar: Steve Kahn
Mark Knopfler; Performer
Performer: Valerie Simpson
Steve Kahn
Patti Austin
David Sanborn
Randy Brecker
Rob Mounsey
Rick Marotta
Leslie Miller
Michael Mcdonald
Michael Brecker
Mark Knopfler; Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Mixing: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Horn Arranger: Rob Mounsey; Other
Tenor Saxophone: Michael Brecker; Performer
Trumpet: Randy Brecker; Performer
Studio Personnel: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other

15. Third World Man

Composer: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Background Vocals: Patti Austin; Performer
Clarinet: Tom Scott; Performer
Electric Guitar: Steve Kahn; Performer
Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Composer
Flugelhorn: Randy Brecker; Performer
Guitar: Steve Kahn; Performer
Performer: Patti Austin
Steve Kahn
Randy Brecker
Rob Mounsey
Tom Scott; Performer
Mixing: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Saxophone: Tom Scott; Performer
Producer: Gary Katz; Production
Primary Artist: Steely Dan; Main Performer
Trumpet: Randy Brecker; Performer
Studio Personnel: Elliot Scheiner; Production
Composer Lyricist: Donald Fagen
Walter Becker; Other
Horn Arranger: Rob Mounsey; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

2 volumes in total

Tracks

33 tracks available

Type

COMPILATION

Format

Digital Media

Duration

2 hours, 32 minutes and 54 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1487x1487 px

Booklet

Available in PDF format

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

31/33 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Arena Rock, Hard Rock, Soft Rock, Classic Rock

Label

UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Jul 6, 2009

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

600753204573