Definitive Collection [Original recording remastered]

Steely Dan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000G73U5Y
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #48 in Music > Music Deals > Box Sets at 30% Off
  • #71 in Music > Pop > Soft Rock

Editorial Reviews

The First Ever Multi-Label Compilation Covering Their Entire Recording Career. Features All Their Hits 'Do It Again,' 'Reeling In The Years,' 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' & 'Hey Nineteen' Plus Their Most Renowned Album Tracks From 'Dirty Work' To 'Cousin Dupree'. Over 76 Minutes Of The Greatest Steely Dan. Newly Digitally Remastered From The Original Sources By Famed Engineer Joe Palmaccio. Booklet Includes Historic Photos & Complete Credits Replaces Steely Dan Decade Major U.S. Tour This Summer. Major TV campaign To Support The Release. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No real good reason for this CD, August 1, 2006

By 

William Merrill "eclecticist" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

(4 & 1/2 stars for the tunes, zero for the concept) With so many Steely Dan hits collections and/or sets already out, the question is whether there's really any valid reason for this latest collection to exist. The answer is that besides the usual songs from the past, there are also two songs from the recent albums on this hits collection, just TWO SONGS. (That's one each from Two Against Nature and Everything Must Go, but I guess that's enough for this CD to get the title of "the only career-spanning collection" on the front cover sticker.) Otherwise, this is basically just another repackaging of the same old - but great - material. Adding to the problem is the Dan's perfectionist nature, one that prevents the release of ANY outtakes or other "extra" tracks. Nor apparently do they record new songs to go on a "hits" disc. They just do not put any bonus tracks on box sets or compilations (except for one lone live cut on the Citizen Steely Dan box). So this boils down to another greedy attempt to make money off the back catalog. These songs are among my most loved tunes ever, but I also don't like this endless repackaging of the same songs over and over...

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Yet another useless Steely Dan compilation, August 13, 2006

By 

Mark Baum (Freeport, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

Question: Did the world really need yet another Steely Dan "Greatest Hits" compilation album?

Answer: No!

There's already "A Decade Of Steely Dan", "Steely Dan - Greatest Hits", "Show Biz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-80" and "Gold". Aside from the two tracks from 2VN and EMG this is just simply a waste of money for yet another useless repackaging of SD's back catalog (I'd include the bootlegs but anyone can download them for free from the online "Steely Dan Archive"...so Google up and grok that).

If one really wanted a solid and DEFINITIVE collection then one is better off purchasing the "Citizen Steely Dan: 1972-1980" box set which contains ALL of Steely Dan's official studio-released work from that period of time. And, if one's wallet can bear the burden, check out Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly", "Kamakiriad" and "Morph The Cat" and Walter Becker's "11 Tracks of Whack". Oh, and don't forget 2VN and EMG.

There's your list. Now lay down your Jacksons on some quality Dan.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre tracklist, GREAT remasters, August 17, 2007

By 

D. Belcher (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

This collection is far and away NOT definitive. The track list consists of only a handful of radio hits and leaves out many gems (No Steely Dan compilation should leave out Doctor Wu under any circumstances!!). That being said, the latest remastering on these is phenomenal!

Unlike the 1998-2000 remastered versions that had too much treble and not enough bass, these versions balance clarity with warmth very well! There is plenty of treble, but also enough low and medium range to keep the sound nice and warm. The instrument separation is likewise excellent. I already have all of these songs on their original albums, but I went ahead and got this collection anyway simply because the remastered versions are such high quality.

This is the first time that songs from the Katy Lied album actually sound "right." There are fewer high treble artifacts on Jeff Porcaro's cymbals on Black Friday and Bad Sneakers, for example, after this remaster. I hope all of the Steely Dan collection gets released in this high quality soon!