Steely Dan Gold CD

This album is not a collection of Steely Dan's hits (though it contains four songs--"FM," "Babylon Sisters," "Hey Nineteen" and "Deacon Blues" that also appear on the A DECADE OF STEELY DAN collection), but rather a well-chosen set of FM radio staples and fan favorites. Songs like "Black Cow" and "Here At The Western World" feature the same impeccable jazz-rock musicianship, obtuse lyrics and polished production as Steely Dan's hits, though the songs on GOLD tend to focus on the slightly more adventurous side of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker's music.

Adding several tracks that were not on the original vinyl version of the album, this expanded edition of GOLD contains several Fagen solo tracks--"Century's End" and "True Companion"--that could have easily come off of almost any Steely Dan album, plus a smoking live version of Steely Dan's "Bodhisattva." While A DECADE OF STEELY DAN is probably the best place to start your Steely Dan collection, GOLD is a wonderful companion disc that offers a well-rounded look at this group's fascinating music.

Additional personnel includes: Denny Dias, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Elliot Randall, Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Steve Khan, Rick Derringer (guitar); Michael Brecker, Tom Scott (tenor saxophone); Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker (trumpet); Gary Bargeron (trombone); Michael Omartian (piano); Joe Sample (Clavinet); Victor Feldman (keyboards, percussion); Chuck Rainey, Will Lee, Jim Haslip (bass); Jim Hodder, Jeff Porcaro, Bernard Purdie, Steve Gadd (drums); Michael McDonald (background vocals).

Personnel: Walter Becker (vocals, guitar); Donald Fagen (vocals, piano, electric piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Michael McDonald (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); Royce Jones (vocals, percussion); Zachary Sanders (vocals, background vocals); Will Lee (bass voice); Dean Parks, Elliott Randall, George Wadenius, Lee Ritemour, Hugh McCracken, Jeff Baxter, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour , Rick Derringer, Steve Khan, Denny Dias (guitar); Tom Scott (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); George Marge, Walter Kane (bass clarinet); Harold Vick, Michael Brecker, Pete Christlieb (tenor saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Lew Soloff (trumpet); Don Grolnick (piano, electric piano, Clavinet); Michael Omartian (piano); Victor Feldman (electric piano, percussion); Joe Sample, Paul Griffin (Clavinet); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Steve Jordan , Leroy Clouden, Jim Gordon , Paul Humphrey , Rick Marotta, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Jim Hodder (drums); Crusher Bennett, Steve Gadd (percussion); Gordon Grody, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Rebecca Louis, Diva Gray, Angela Patrick, Florence Warner, Casey Syszik, Leslie Miller, Lani Groves, Patti Austin, Timothy B. Schmit, Toni Wine, Venetta Fields, Frank Floyd (background vocals).

Arrangers: Johnny Mandel; Rob Mounsey.

Steely Dan: Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards); Walter Becker (guitar, bass).