Greatest Hits

by Steely Dan

Product Description:

This is a Canadian release.

The seeds of this much-respected rock group were sewn at New York's Bard College where founder members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were students. They subsequently forged a songwriting team and with guitarist Denny Dias, formed Steely Dan. The trio was expanded by the arrival of David Palmer (vocals), Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (guitar) and Jim Hodder (drums). The accomplished Can't Buy A Thrill drew considerable critical praise for its deft melodies and immaculate musicianship Countdown To Ecstacy was another classic of the 70s, and featured such bittersweet celebrations as 'The Boston Rag' and 'My Old School'. By this point Palmer had left the line-up. On Pretzel Logic, Fagen and Becker drew more fully on their love of jazz on songs like 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number'. Newcomers Michael McDonald (keyboards/vocals) and Jeff Porcaro (drums) were recruited for Katy Lied which also featured cameos by guitarist Rick Derringer and saxophonist Phil Woods. The Royal Scam redressed the commercial balance. Becker and Fagen were, by now, the sole arbiters of Steely Dan, McDonald having followed Baxter into the Doobie Brothers and Dias and Porcaro opting for studio employment. Aja continued in a similar vein where an array of quality musicians brought meticulousness to the set. Gaucho was marred by conflict between the group and record label over escalating recording costs, but the album achieved platinum sales and a hit single, 'Hey Nineteen'.