Customer Reviews

Gold

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, so Steely Dan's "Gold" is more of a sampler than a "proper" greatest hits package (no "Do It Again" or "Reelin' In The Years" or "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" or "Josie"?), but it still contains some fine Dan classics, such as "Hey Nineteen," "Green Earrings," "Deacon Blue," and "King Of The World." But there are two main reasons to buy this CD, even if you already have those aforementioned tunes in your Dan collection. One is the inclusion of the all-time Dan classic, "FM" (from the motion picture of the same name), one of the group's most popular songs (AND one of their most funky!). And secondly, the generous inclusion of four excellent bonus tracks: the "Royal Scam" leftover "Here At The Western World," a pair of rare Donald Fagen solo songs, "Century's End" (from the film "Bright Lights Big City"), "True Companion" (from the film "Heavy Metal"), and a rare 1974 live recording of "Bodhisattva" (with a hilarious, drunken introduction from Jerome Aniton). Granted, if you want a "proper" Steely Dan greatest hits CD, then pick up either of the Dan's excellent best-of albums, "Greatest Hits" or "A Decade Of Steely Dan." But "Gold," with the inclusion of "FM" and four hard-to-find bonus songs, is an essential Steely Dan CD to own. No static at all with this one, baby!

Some of sd's best, some great songs from Donald Fagan not available otherwise.. Better than his recent stuff, not to say such is bad....

The tunes on this disc speak for themselves to any Dan fan. Chances are you already have some of this in your CD collection. However, like all of these repackages, the boys have elected to include something that will require the hardened DanFan to own it. In this case there is a special mix of "FM" that includes a very angular Phil Woods sax solo on the long outro instead of the guitar solo which has been in several previous released versions. For fans of the actual movie, this is the mix that was played during the final credits. For a danophile such as myself, this one track makes the CD worthwhile.

There are two reasons for a sane Dan fan to buy this CD: FM and Here at the Western World. Those *are* good reasons, tho'. Thanks to MCA for putting them both on the same disc.

Most of the rest is on studio albums. Fagen's songs are alright, but I think most can live without them. I know I can.

The live version of Bodhisattva really kicks, and is worthwhile, but I have to differ with Mr. Caylow's review - the drunken introduction is excruciatingly annoying.

................ "True Companion" is one of Fagan's most beautiful and tender moments.
A rare and lovely thing!

The five non-lp tracks are all interesting in there own way:

"FM" is a killer track from the film of the same name.
"Here at the Western World" is a classic non-lp hit from the Seventies (available first on 1979's Greatest Hits).
"Century's End" is a Fagen track from the movie "Bright Lights Big City".
"True Companion" is another Fagen track from the animated movie "Heavy Metal".
"Bodhisattva" is a 6/4/1974 live version of the well known Countdown to Ecstasy track. This version appeared in 1980 as the b-side of the "Hey Nineteen" single.

The other seven tracks are practically random Steely Dan album cuts. Nonetheless, this collection is a must for those who have all of the original c.d.'s. However, if you are looking for the best concise overview of the band, then without a doubt get "Showbiz Kids" which samples every album (prior to the reunion releases) quite generously on 2 discs.

Well, maybe not 'hidden' but I've been looking for "Century's End" for at least two years. I first heard the song in 2004 shopping for groceries(?), and thought to myself, 'a new Steely Dan/Donald Fagen cut?' Of course I found out that, no, it's not new, and it is a Donald Fagen, but one that I'd never heard. Had no clue where is was from, even though I saw "Bright Lights, Big City". I didn't remember the cut from the movie, and it was never a part of any other sampler, 'Greatest Hits' or whatever. By chance, a friend had a book, "Steely Dan: The Complete Guide". That's how I found out the cut was on this CD (Duh). I've been into Steely Dan since my college roomate turned me on to "The Royal Scam" in the mid '70's. When I started listening to BeBop and Hard Bop Jazz, I discovered the connection between Horace Silver's "Song for My Father" and "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number". Like "Boy, don't these cuts sound the same!". "True Companion" was another cut I'd never heard. And damn, saw "Heavy Metal" too. Well, late to the party, but glad to be invited.

Steely Dan's albums are really strong enough that you might want to buy them rather than get a compilation like this. That said, this is a collection of superlative songs and the only negative is that it may deter you from acquiring the contributing albums.

This is a Solid Collection, but must buy "Can't Buy a Thrill" and "Pretzel Logic and "Aja" to get the hits that are not included namely "Do It Again," "Reeling in the Years," Rikki Don't Lose that Number" and "Peg or buy the "Decade" CD which includes all these tracks but is weak towards the end. This collection has a better track listing overall than "Decade" and includes the classics "Black Cow" and "Here in the Western World" Decade does not. The 3 albums listed above are essential albums and with this "Gold" collection covers Steely Dan nicely without much overlap

If you like the Fagen tunes written for films, this CD is a must have for the song True Companions alone. Also, Century's End and FM are great, the rest of the tunes are on other CDs.