Search - Steely Dan :: Steely Dan - Greatest Hits

C'mon... get the anthology, or the albums

gazinko | someplace | 12/14/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I know, you're still picturing that big groovy 2-record set you had back in the 70's, with the drink rings on it and the slightly pungent smell when the gatefold was opened...



But face it - those days are over. Do you see any records for sale on Amazon? No. Don't live in the past. If you have to use cd's (well, at least if you're stuck shopping here), make sure you're taking advantage of what they have to offer. There's a pretty stellar 2 disc set titled _Show-Biz Kids_ that only costs a few bucks more than this vaguely overpriced relic, and sounds a whole lot better. Not to mention that it covers a lot more of the group's musical achievements. And if you're a casual fan, thinking that might be more than you'd want to own, trust me - the odds are far greater of the purchase leading to further acquisitions than of it feeling like overkill. The music is just that good. Or if you're really ready to take me at my word, you *could* just start buying the albums... _Pretzel Logic_ and _Aja_ are real winners... or start anywhere, really...



"

Second-best Dan comp

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 09/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At first glance, you may think, "Wow! Eighteen tracks! This is pretty good!" It is, actually, and it's a lot better than Decade of Dan. However, the problems set in quickly. For instance, the compilation makers obviously don't know there are more good songs on CBT than Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years! At least Dirty Work, if not Kings, should be included. The Countdown to Ecstasy material's good, but what about Boston Rag and Your Gold Teeth? The Pretzel Logic material is strong, other than the absence of Monkey In Your Soul. Any World would've been welcome, but the Katy Lied selections are good. But what about Don't Take Me Alive, from Royal Scam? How about Royal Scam's title track? Thankfully, the selections are strong. Peg...I don't really like Peg, I'm obviously the only Danfan who thinks that way, but oh well. Josie's good, but I could've swapped both for Deacon Blues and Home At Last myself.

This was released a bit before Gaucho, which explains the lack of superb tracks Hey Nineteen and Babylon Sisters. At least they skipped Time out of Mind.

So, do you get this, Decade of Dan or Show Biz Kids? It's all about the money. If you don't want to, or can't, spend much, Decade of Dan should be where you go. If you have a bit more money but still are on a tight budget, here. If you've got a lot of cash, lend me some and check out Show Biz Kids. You could also cheat and buy Citizen Steely Dan, but that costs a small fortune. You could also buy the albums, particularly their first five (Can't Buy a Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, Royal Scam), if you really wanted to go deep."

That one favorate....

Arthur C. Hurwitz | New York, NY United States | 02/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard all of these songs on other records, casettes, CD's or whatever. But that one extra song enclosed on this alblum, "Here at the Western World" is worth its price for what is essentially great but redundant material.I love all these songs but that one extra song adds a necessary shade to my appreciation of the Steely Dan corpus."