Alive in America [Live]

Steely Dan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 1995)
• Original Release Date: October 17, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Giant Records / Wea
• ASIN: B000002L42
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,895 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #84 in Music > Music Deals > $7.99 and Under

Editorial Reviews

Talk about reeling in the years! The first Steely Dan recording in 15 years is culled from their series of sold-out concerts in 1993 and 1994.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: STEELY DAN
Title: ALIVE IN AMERICA
Street Release Date: 10/17/1995
Domestic
Genre: ROCK/POP

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Studio Band Shines on Stage, May 12, 2000

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alive in America (Audio CD)

This record seems to be a litmus test for some listeners- particularly those who cannot bear hearing a band peform a tune any way other than *exactly* as they did on the record. That group will be severely dissapointed; Becker and Fagin are first and formost jazzers, and on this album they flex their jazz chops to bring some new color and style to their best known songs.

"Reelin' in the Years" is probably the cut that will bug the inflexible listeners the most; gone is that classic (Elliot Easton?) guitar riff, replaced by a horn section, and at a slower tempo, too. But it still swings, in a more sophisticated way. The first time I heard it I thought gee, they've taken away the best part of the tune, but now it's my favorite cut on the album.

"Babylon Sisters" is perhaps the closest to the recorded arrangement, but it too benifits from a slightly slower tempo and a jazzier feel. "Green Earrings" is still the ultimate in cool hipster music, and "Boddhisatva" loses nothing, even without the original guitar pyrotechnics.

In fact, the entire album swings in a way no Steely Dan studio album ever did. I love it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a Find!, April 12, 2007

By 

Connery "florida boy" (FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive in America (Audio CD)

I was looking around in a used music shop for some Donald Fagan albums a couple of months ago when I happened upon this little gem. Being a devoted Steely Dan fan, I decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. I've now listened to it a number of times and it just gets better every time I hear it. That cool, jazzy sound that is inevitably Steely Dan is wonderfully accomodating for a live album such as this, with subtle variations on old favorites like "Reelin' In The Years", and a delightfully spontaneous drum solo in "Josie". Steely Dan generates a cool energy for this live album, and Walter Becker proves that Fagen is not the only one who can tear the roof off the sucker in his vocal performance of "Book Of Liars", my personal favorite.
This album is not just for the hardcore Steely Dan listeners. I would recomend it to anyone brand new to the funky, arcanic world of Steely Dan. And for those who already own every album, well, you can never have too much Steely Dan. A welcome new addition to any collection

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice but short..., February 9, 2006

By 

dvdtrkr (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive in America (Audio CD)

I think that they should have had Denny Dias and Jeff Baxter play at some of the shows to capture the early flavor of their sound versus revamping as many bands do due to playing it for years (there are tapes from radio concerts in the early 70s out there), some of the original session musicians from the later albums, and presented it on 2 CDs because a lot is missing from it.