The Definitive Collection

by Steely Dan

Overview

Geffen's 2006 release The Definitive Collection is a mere 16 tracks long, which is a bit short for covering Steely Dan's career. They may not have landed many singles within the Billboard charts -- only 15 between their 1973 debut, Can't Buy a Thrill, and their 2000 comeback, Two Against Nature -- but they had plenty of standards on album rock radio, giving the impression that they had more charting hits than they actually did. This can make compiling a Dan hits collection a little difficult, since concentrating on either the chart singles or the radio staples will wind up giving a misleading impression. The Definitive Collection attempts to negotiate the two: it has the biggest singles -- "Do It Again," "Reeling in the Years," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "Deacon Blues," "Peg," "Hey Nighteen" -- and it has such radio favorites as "Bodhisattva," "My Old School," "FM," and "Babylon Sisters." This disc does take into account their new-millennium comeback, pulling "Cousin Dupree" from Two Against Nature and "Things I Miss the Most" from 2003's Everything Must Go, which leaves less space for such Steely Dan standards as "Josie," "Time Out of Mind," "Show Biz Kids," "Any Major Dude Will Tell You," and "Aja." While those songs are missed, listeners wanting a more exhaustive compilation always have the option of purchasing 2000's excellent double-disc set Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980 instead. For those who just want a sampler of many, but not all, of Steely Dan's biggest and best songs, this will suit them fine. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/01/2006
Label:	Universal / Universal Music
UPC:	0602498784662

Tracks

1. Do It Again
2. Dirty Work
3. Reelin' in the Years
4. Bodhisattva
5. My Old School
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number
7. Black Friday
8. Bad Sneakers
9. Kid Charlemagne
10. Deacon Blues
11. Peg
12. FM
13. Hey Nineteen
14. Babylon Sisters
15. Cousin Dupree
16. Things I Miss the Most

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Steely Dan   Primary Artist
David Palmer   Vocals,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jeff Baxter   Spanish Guitar,Soloist,Pedal Steel,Guitar
Walter Becker   Guitar (Electric),Harmonica,Bass (Electric),Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Soloist
Dick Hyde   Brass,Horn
George Marge   Clarinet (Bass)
Sherlie Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Wilton Felder   Bass
Timothy B. Schmit   Vocals (Background)
Bob Findley   Horn
Victor Feldman   Vibraphone,Piano (Electric),Marimba,Soloist,Keyboards,Percussion
Leroy Clouden   Drums
Errol Crusher Bennett   Percussion
James Rolleston   Vocals (Background)
Leslie Miller   Vocals (Background)
Walter Kane   Clarinet (Bass)
Jon Herrington   Guitar (Rhythm)
Steve Gadd   Percussion
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie   Drums
Denny Dias   Guitar,Soloist,Sitar (Electric)
Gary Coleman   Percussion
Jim Hodder   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Paul Griffin   Keyboards,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Jim Horn   Horn,Flute,Saxophone
Plas Johnson   Horn,Flute,Saxophone
Michael Omartian   Piano,Keyboards
Tom Scott   Flute,Lyricon,Clarinet,Conductor,Saxophone,Horn Conductor,Clarinet (Alto)
Toni Wine   Vocals (Background)
Ted Baker   Piano,Fender Rhodes
Ernie Watts   Saxophone
Jay Graydon   Guitar
Dean Parks   Guitar
Lee Ritenour   Guitar
Jeff Porcaro   Drums,Dorophone,Percussion
Zack Saunders   Vocals (Background)
Michael Fennelly   Vocals (Background)
Michael Leonhart   Trumpet
Wendel   Sequencing,Special Effects
Ben Benay   Guitar (Acoustic)
Keith Carlock   Drums
Walt Weiskopf   Vocals (Background)
Royce Jones   Vocals (Background)
Patricia Hall   Vocals (Background)
Jay Grayeon   Soloist
Myrna Matthews   Vocals (Background)
John Rotella   Saxophone
Wayne Shorter   Flute,Saxophone
Jon Herington   Piano
Venetta Fields   Vocals (Background)
Frank Floyd   Vocals (Background)
Jerome Richardson   Soloist,Sax (Tenor)
Hugh McCracken   Piano,Guitar,Soloist
Rick Derringer   Guitar
Pete Christlieb   Flute,Soloist,Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Lew McCreary   Brass
Randy Brecker   Soloist,Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Rick Marotta   Drums
Michael McDonald   Vocals (Background)
Gordon Grody   Vocals (Background)
Patti Austin   Vocals (Background)
Amy Helm   Whistle (Human)
Steve Khan   Guitar
Snooky Young   Flugelhorn
Bill Perkins   Flute,Saxophone
Chuck Findley   Horn,Brass
Larry Carlton   Guitar,Soloist
Lanny Morgan   Saxophone
Chuck Rainey   Bass
Lani Groves   Vocals (Background)
Jackie Kelso   Flute,Saxophone
Diva Gray   Vocals (Background)
Roger Nichols   Sequencing,Special Effects
Clydie King   Vocals (Background)
Donald Fagen   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Soloist,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Don Grolnick   Clavinet,Keyboards,Piano (Electric)
Elliott Randall   Guitar,Soloist
David Paich   Piano,Keyboards
Carolyn Leonhart   Vocals (Background)
Gordon Gottlieb   Percussion
John Klemmer   Horn

Technical Credits

Roger Nichols   Audio Engineer,Mixing,Engineer,Overdubs,Executive Engineer
Gary Katz   Audio Production,Producer
Wilton Felder   Personnel
Timothy B. Schmit   Personnel
Henry Diltz   Photography
Dave Russell   Engineer
Jerry Garszva   Overdubs
Beth Stempel   Production Coordination
Andy McKaie   Compilation Producer
Bill Schnee   Engineer,Tracking
Jim Gordon   Personnel
Plas Johnson   Personnel
Michael Omartian   Personnel,Rhythm Arrangements
Al Schmitt   Engineer
Tom Scott   Horn Arrangements
Victor Feldman   Personnel
Darcy Proper   Mastering
Johnny Mandel   String Arrangements
Ernie Watts   Personnel
Dean Parks   Personnel,Rhythm Arrangements
Jeff Porcaro   Personnel
Yusuf Tuvi   Cover Photo
Ryan Corey   Design
Chuck Raney   Personnel
Walter Becker   Composer,Producer,Personnel,Horn Arrangements,Compilation Producer,Arranger
Ben Benay   Personnel
Ollie Mitchell   Personnel
Irving Azoff   Management
Jeri Heiden   Art Direction
Ryan Null   Photo Coordination
Ed Caraeff   Photography
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering
Jerome Richardson   Personnel
Rob Mounsey   Horn Arrangements,Rhythm Arrangements
Jimmie Haskell   Orchestration,Saxophone Arrangement
Scott Hull   Mastering
Lew McCreary   Personnel
Phil Burnett   Engineer
Chuck Findley   Horn Arrangements
Larry Carlton   Rhythm Arrangements
Barney Perkins   Mixing
Paul Griffin   Rhythm Arrangements
Elliot Scheiner   Mixing,Engineer,Mix Down,Tracking
Donald Fagen   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Personnel,Horn Arrangements,Compilation Producer
Don Grolnick   Rhythm Arrangements
David Paich   Personnel