STEELY DAN


The Definitive Collection

(2006)



1. Do It Again 5'57
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Can't Buy A Thrill, 1972
2. Dirty Work 3'10
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Can't Buy A Thrill, 1972
3. Reelin' In The Years 4'37
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Can't Buy A Thrill, 1972
4. Bodhisattva 5'18
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Countdown To Ecstasy, 1973
5. My Old School 5'46
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Countdown To Ecstasy, 1973
6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number 4'33
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Pretzel Logic, 1974
7. Black Friday 4'33
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Katy Lied, 1975
8. Bad Sneakers 3'40
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Katy Lied, 1975
9. Kid Charlemagne 3'20
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From The Royal Scam, 1976
10. Deacon Blues 7'33
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Aja, 1977
11. Peg 3'55
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Aja, 1977
12. FM 4'51
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
Soundtrack for movie FM, 1978
13. Hey Nineteen 5'05
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Gaucho, 1980
14. Babylon Sisters 5'52
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Gaucho, 1980
15. Cousin Dupree 5'27
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Two Against Nature, 2000
16. Things I Miss The Most 3'57
(Walter Becker / Donald Fagen)
From Everything Must Go, 2003

Total Time: 77:40


  • Walter Becker - Bass, Guitar, Harmonica, Arranger, Electric Bass, Vocals, Producer, Horn Arrangements
  • Donald Fagen - Organ, Synthesizer, Piano, Arranger, Keyboards, Electric Piano, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Fender Rhodes, Horn Arrangements, Wurlitzer
  • Ben Benay - Acoustic Guitar
  • Jeff Baxter - Guitar, Pedal Steel
  • Larry Carlton - Guitar, Rhythm Arrangements
  • Rick Derringer - Guitar
  • Denny Dias - Guitar, Electric Sitar
  • Hugh McCracken - Guitar, Piano, Soloist
  • Steve Khan - Guitar
  • Elliott Randall - Guitar
  • Jay Graydon - Guitar
  • Dean Parks - Guitar, Rhythm Arrangements
  • Lee Ritenour - Guitar
  • Jon Herrington - Rhythm Guitar
  • Ted Baker - Piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Paul Griffin - Keyboards, Piano (Electric), Vocals (bckgr), Rhythm Arrangements
  • Don Grolnick - Keyboards, Piano (Electric), Clavinet, Rhythm Arrangements
  • Jon Herington - Piano
  • David Paich - Piano, Keyboards
  • Michael Omartian - Piano, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements
  • Randy Brecker - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Soloist
  • Bob Findley - Horn
  • Chuck Findley - Horn, Brass, Horn Arrangements
  • Slyde Hyde - Horn, Brass
  • John Rotella - Saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson - Tenor Sax
  • Ernie Watts - Saxophone
  • Lanny Morgan - Saxophone
  • Tom Scott - Flute, Saxophone, Alto Clarinet, Lyricon, Horn Arrangements, Horn Conductor, Tenor Clarinet
  • Wayne Shorter - Flute, Saxophone
  • Bill Perkins - Flute, Saxophone
  • Pete Christlieb - Flute, Saxophone, Tenor Sax
  • Amy Helm - Whistle (Human)
  • Snooky Young - Flugelhorn
  • Jim Horn - Flute, Horn, Saxophone
  • Plas Johnson - Flute, Horn, Saxophone, Personnel
  • Walter Kane - Clarinet (Bass)
  • Jackie Kelso - Flute, Saxophone
  • Lou McCreary - Brass
  • John Klemmer - Horn
  • Michael Leonhart - Trumpet
  • George Marge - Bass Clarinet
  • Wilton Felder - Bass
  • Chuck Rainey - Bass
  • Jeff Porcaro - Drums, Percussion, Dorophone
  • Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - Drums
  • Rick Marotta - Drums
  • Leroy Clouden - Drums
  • Keith Carlock - Drums
  • Jim Hodder - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
  • Crusher Bennett - Percussion
  • Gary Coleman - Percussion
  • Victor Feldman - Percussion, Keyboards, Marimba, Piano (Electric), Vibraphone, Soloist, Personnel
  • Steve Gadd - Percussion
  • Gordon Gottlieb - Percussion
  • Patty Austin - Background Vocals
  • Michael Fennelly - Background Vocals
  • Frank Floyd - Background Vocals
  • Diva Gray - Background Vocals
  • Gordon Grody - Background Vocals
  • Lani Groves - Background Vocals
  • Patricia Hall - Background Vocals
  • Royce Jones - Background Vocals
  • Carolyn Leonhart - Background Vocals
  • Myrna Matthews - Background Vocals
  • Shirley Matthews - Background Vocals
  • Michael McDonald - Background Vocals
  • Leslie Miller - Background Vocals
  • David Palmer - Vocals, Background Vocals
  • James Rolleston - Background Vocals
  • Zack Saunders - Background Vocals
  • Clydie King - Background Vocals
  • Timothy B. Schmit - Background Vocals
  • Walt Weiskopf - Background Vocals
  • Toni Wine - Background Vocals
  • Venetta Fields - Background Vocals


    Walter Becker - Producer, Compilation Producer
    Gary Katz - Producer
    Andy McKaie - Compilation Producer
    Donald Fagen - Producer, Compilation Producer
    Dave Russell - Engineer
    Elliot Scheiner - Engineer, Mixing, Tracking, Mix Down
    Al Schmitt - Engineer
    Bill Schnee - Engineer, Tracking
    Phil Burnett - Engineer
    Beth Stempel - Production Coordination
    Darcy Proper - Mastering
    Wendel - Special Effects, Sequencing
    Irving Azoff - Management
    Ollie Mitchell - Personnel
    Timothy B. Schmit - Personnel
    Jerry Garszva - Overdubs
    Jimmie Haskell - Orchestration, Saxophone Arrangement
    Scott Hull - Mastering
    Johnny Mandel - String Arrangements
    ob Mounsey - Horn Arrangements, Rhythm Arrangements
    Roger Nichols - Special Effects, Engineer, Overdubs, Mixing, Sequencing, Executive Engineer
    Joseph M. Palmaccio - Mastering
    Barney Perkins - Mixing
    Ryan Corey - Design
    Jeri Heiden - Art Direction
    Ryan Null - Photo Coordination
    Yusuf Tuvi - Cover Photo
    Ed Caraeff - Photography
    Henry Diltz - Photography

    Defying pop and rock conventions, STEELY DAN's extraordinary three-decade-plus career has been filled with slinky grooves, inventive lyrics, and infectious hits. Now, as one of rock's most admired and innovative groups embarks on a major national tour this summer, the ROCK And ROLL HALL Of FAME duo of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen marks its first career-spanning multi-label compilation -- STEELY DAN: The Definitive Collection (Geffen/UMe), released August 1, 2006.
    Replacing and updating the 20-year-old overview A Decade Of STEELY DAN, The Definitive Collection boasts selections from each of STEELY DAN's nine original studio albums from 1972 to 2003 plus the title track contribution to the soundtrack for 1978's FM. Newly digitally remastered from the original master tapes under the supervision of renowned STEELY DAN engineer, Elliot Scheiner, the 16-selection album features all of the band's Top 20 hits plus several fan favorite album tracks. An accompanying booklet includes vintage photos and complete credits.
    From 1972's Can't Buy A Thrill, The Definitive Collection culls the Top 10 pop hit "Do It Again" and the classic "Reeling In The Years", a Top 20 charter, plus "Dirty Work". 1973's Countdown To Ecstasy contributes "Bodhisattva" as well as "My Old School". The Top 10 "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" hails from 1974's Pretzel Logic while 1975's Katy Lied adds "Black Friday" and "Bad Sneakers".
    One of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock history, courtesy of Larry Carlton, is heard on "Kid Charlemagne", from 1976's The Royal Scam. 1977's Aja, the group's most popular album, yields the Top 20s "Peg" and "Deacon Blues". The band finished its first decade with 1980's Gaucho, represented by the Top 10 "Hey Nineteen" and also "Babylon Sisters".
    STEELY DAN would not release another studio album for 20 years. But when 2000's Two Against Nature debuted, with STEELY DAN having moved from MCA to WARNER Bros., it was as if the group had never left. Debuting Top 10, the album won STEELY DAN its first Grammy Awards, including for Album Of The Year and for "Cousin Dupree", also heard on The Definitive Collection. STEELY DAN's latest album, 2003's Everything Must Go, also went Top 10, led by the track "Things I Miss The Most".





    1. Do It Again

      In the mornin you go gunnin'
      For the man who stole your water
      And you fire till he is done in
      But they catch you at the border
      And the mourners are all singin'
      As they drag you by your feet
      But the hangman isn't hangin'
      And they put you on the street
    Chorus:

    You go back Jack do it again
    Wheel turnin' 'round and 'round
    You go back Jack do it again


      When you know she's no high climber
      Then you find your only friend
      In a room with your two timer
      And you're sure you're near the end
      Then you love a little wild one
      And she brings you only sorrow
      All the time you know she's smilin'
      You'll be on your knees tomorrow
    Chorus
      Now you swear and kick and beg us
      That you're not a gamblin' man
      Then you find you're back in Vegas
      With a handle in your hand
      Your black cards can make you money
      So you hide them when you're able
      In the land of milk and honey
      You must put them on the table
    Chorus

    2. Dirty Work

      Times are hard
      You're afraid to pay the fee
      So you find yourself somebody
      Who can do the job for free
      When you need a bit of lovin'
      Cause your man is out of town
      That's the time you get me runnin'
      And you know I'll be around
    Chorus:

    I'm a fool to do your dirty work
    Oh yeah
    I don't wanna do your dirty work
    No more
    I'm a fool to do your dirty work
    Oh yeah

      Light the candle
      Put the lock upon the door
      You have sent the maid home early
      Like a thousand times before
      Like the castle in its corner
      In a medieval game
      I foresee terrible trouble
      And I stay here just the same
    Chorus

    3. Reelin' In The Years

      Your everlasting summer
      You can see it fading fast
      So you grab a piece of something
      That you think is gonna last
      You wouldn't know a diamond
      If you held it in your hand
      The things you think are precious
      I can't understand
    Chorus:

    Are you reelin' in the years
    Stowin' away the time
    Are you gatherin' up the tears
    Have you had enough of mine

      You been tellin' me you're a genius
      Since you were seventeen
      In all the time I've known you
      I still don't know what you mean
      The weekend at the college
      Didn't turn out like you planned
      The things that pass for knowledge
      I can't understand
    Chorus
      I spend a lot of money
      And I spent a lot of time
      The trip we made in Hollywood
      Is etched upon my mind
      After all the things we've done and seen
      You find another man
      The things you think are useless
      I can't understand
    Chorus

    4. Bodhisattva

      Bodhisattva
      Would you take me by the hand
      Bodhisattva
      Would you take me by the hand
      Can you show me
      The shine of your Japan
      The sparkle of your china
      Can you show me
      Bodhisattva
      Bodhisattva
      I'm gonna sell my house in town
      Bodhisattva
      I'm gonna sell my house in town
      And I'll be there
      To shine in your Japan
      To sparkle in your China
      Yes I'll be there
      Bodhisattva

    5. My Old School

      I remember the thirty-five sweet goodbyes
      When you put me on the Wolverine
      Up to Annandale
      It was still September
      When your daddy was quite surprised
      To find you with the working girls
      In the county jail
      I was smoking with the boys upstairs
      When I heard about the whole affair
      I said oh no
      William and Mary won't do
    Chorus:

    Well I did not think the girl
    Could be so cruel
    And I'm never going back
    To my old school

      Oleanders growing outside her door
      Soon they're gonna be in bloom
      Up in Annandale
      I can't stand her
      Doing what she did before
      Living like a gypsy queen
      In a fairy tale
      Well I hear the whistle but I can't go
      I'm gonna take her down to Mexico
      She said oh no
      Guadalajara won't do
    Chorus
      California tumbles into the sea
      That'll be the day I go
      Back to Annandale
      Tried to warn you
      About Chino and Daddy Gee
      But I can't seem to get to you
      Through the U.S. Mail
      Well I hear the whistle but I can't go
      I'm gonna take her down to Mexico
      She said oh no
      Guadalajara won't do
    Chorus

    6. Rikki Don't Lose That Number

      We hear you're leaving, that's OK
      I thought our little wild time had just begun
      I guess you kind of scared yourself, you turn and run
      But if you have a change of heart
    Chorus:

    Rikki don't lose that number
    You don't wanna call nobody else
    Send it off in a letter to yourself
    Rikki don't lose that number
    It's the only one you own
    You might use it if you feel better
    When you get home

      I have a friend in town, he's heard your name
      We can go out driving on Slow Hand Row
      We could stay inside and play games, I don't know
      And you could have a change of heart
    Chorus
      You tell yourself you're not my kind
      But you don't even know your mind
      And you could have a change of heart
    Chorus

    7. Black Friday

      When Black Friday comes
      I'll stand down by the door
      And catch the grey men when they
      Dive from the fourteenth floor
      When Black Friday comes
      I'll collect everything I'm owed
      And before my friends find out
      I'll be on the road
      When Black Friday falls you know it's got to be
      Don't let it fall on me
      When Black Friday comes
      I'll fly down to Muswellbrook
      Gonna strike all the big red words
      From my little black book
      Gonna do just what I please
      Gonna wear no socks and shoes
      With nothing to do but feed
      All the kangaroos
      When Black Friday comes I'll be on that hill
      You know I will

      When Black Friday comes
      I'm gonna dig myself a hole
      Gonna lay down in it 'til
      I satisfy my soul
      Gonna let the world pass by me
      The Archbishop's gonna sanctify me
      And if he don't come across
      I'm gonna let it roll
      When Black Friday comes
      I'm gonna stake my claim
      I'll guess I'll change my name

    8. Kid Charlemagne

      While the music played you worked by candlelight
      Those San Francisco nights
      You were the best in town
      Just by chance you crossed the diamond with the pearl
      You turned it on the world
      That's when you turned the world around
      Did you feel like Jesus
      Did you realize
      That you were a champion in their eyes
      On the hill the stuff was laced with kerosene
      But yours was kitchen clean
      Everyone stopped to stare at your technicolor motor home
      Every A-Frame had your number on the wall
      You must have had it all
      You'd go to L.A. on a dare
      And you'd go it alone
      Could you live forever
      Could you see the day
      Could you feel your whole world fall apart and fade away
    Chorus:

    Get along, get along Kid Charlemagne
    Get along Kid Charlemagne

      Now your patrons have all left you in the red
      Your low rent friends are dead
      This life can be very strange
      All those dayglow freaks who used to paint the face
      They've joined the human race
      Some things will never change
      Son you were mistaken
      You are obsolete
      Look at all the white men on the street
    Chorus
      Clean this mess up else we'll all end up in jail
      Those test tubes and the scale
      Just get them all out of here
      Is there gas in the car
      Yes, there's gas in the car
      I think the people down the hall
      Know who you are

      Careful what you carry
      'Cause the man is wise
      You are still an outlaw in their eyes
    Chorus

    9. Peg

      I've seen your picture
      Your name in lights above it
      This is your big debut
      It's like a dream come true
      And when you smile for the camera
      I know they're gonna love it

      I like your pin shot
      I keep it with your letter
      Done up in blueprint blue
      It sure looks good on you
      So won't you smile for the camera
      I know I'll love you better

      Peg
      It will come back to you
      Peg
      It will come back to you
      Then the shutter falls
      You see it all in 3-D
      It's your favorite foreign movie

    10. Deacon Blues

      This is the day
      Of the expanding man
      That shape is my shade
      There where I used to stand
      It seems like only yesterday
      I gazed through the glass
      At ramblers
      Wild gamblers
      That's all in the past

      You call me a fool
      You say it's a crazy scheme
      This one's for real
      I already bought the dream
      So useless to ask me why
      Throw a kiss and say goodbye
      I'll make it this time
      I'm ready to cross that fine line
    Chorus:

    I'll learn to work the saxophone
    I'll play just what I feel
    Drink Scotch whisky all night long
    And die behind the wheel
    They got a name for the winners in the world
    I want a name when I lose
    They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
    Call me Deacon Blues

      My back to the wall
      A victim of laughing chance
      This is for me
      The essence of true romance
      Sharing the things we know and love
      With those of my kind
      Libations
      Sensations
      That stagger the mind

      I crawl like a viper
      Through these suburban streets
      Make love to these women
      Languid and bittersweet
      I'll rise when the sun goes down
      Cover every game in town
      A world of my own
      I'll make it my home sweet home
    Chorus
      This is the night
      Of the expanding the man
      I take one last drag
      As I approach the stand
      I cried when I wrote this song
      Sue me if I play too long
      This brother is free
      I'll be what I want to be
    Chorus

    11. Bad Sneakers

      Five names that I can hardly
      Stand to hear
      Including yours and mine
      And one more chimp who isn't here
      I can see the ladies talking
      How the times are getting hard
      And that fearsome excavation
      On Magnolia Boulevard
    Chorus:

    And I'm going insane
    And I'm laughing at the frozen rain
    And I'm so alone
    Honey when they gonna send me home
    Bad sneakers and a Pina Colada
    My friend
    Stompin' on the avenue
    By Radio City with a
    Transistor and a large
    Sum of money to spend

      You fellah, you tearin' up the street
      You wear that white tuxedo
      How you gonna beat the heat
      Do you take me for a fool
      Do you think that I don't see
      That ditch out in the valley
      That they're digging just for me
    Chorus

    12. FM

      Worry the bottle Mamma, it's grapefruit wine
      Kick off your high heel sneakers, it's party time
      The girls don't seem to care what's on
      As long as it plays till dawn
      Nothin' but blues and Elvis
      And somebody else's favorite song

      Give her some funked up music, she treats you nice
      Feed her some hungry reggae, she'll love you twice
      The girls don't seem to care tonight
      As long as the mood is right

      FM - no static at all

      Give her some funked up music she treats you nice
      Feed her some hungry reggae she'll love you twice
      The girls don't seem to care tonight
      As long as the mood is right

      FM - no static at all

    13. Hey Nineteen

      Way back when
      In Sixty-seven
      I was the dandy
      Of Gamma Chi
      Sweet things from Boston
      So young and willing
      Moved down to Scarsdale
      Where the hell am I
      Hey Nineteen
      No we can't dance together
      No we can't talk at all
      Please take me along
      When you slide on down

      Hey Nineteen
      That's 'Retha Franklin
      She don't remember
      The Queen of Soul
      It's hard times befallen
      The sole survivors
      She thinks I'm crazy
      But I'm just growing old

      Hey Nineteen
      No we got nothing in common
      No we can't talk at all
      Please take me along
      When you slide on down

      The Cuervo Gold
      The fine Colombian
      Make tonight a wonderful thing

      No we can't dance together
      No we can't talk at all

    14. Babylon Sisters

      Drive west on Sunset
      To the sea
      Turn that jungle music down
      Just until we're out of town
      This is no one night stand
      It's a real occasion
      Close your eyes and you'll be there
      It's everything they say
      The end of a perfect day
      Distant lights from across the bay
      Babylon sisters shake it
      Babylon sisters shake it
      So fine so young
      Tell me I'm the only one

      Here come those Santa Ana winds again

      We'll jog with show folk on the sand
      Drink kirschwasser from a shell
      San Francisco show and tell
      Well I should know by now
      That it's just a spasm
      Like a Sunday in T.J.
      That it's cheap but it's not free
      That I'm not what I used to be
      And that love's not a game for three

      Babylon sisters shake it
      Babylon sisters shake it
      So fine so young
      Tell me I'm the only one

      My friends say no don't go
      For that cotton candy
      Son you're playing with fire
      The kid will live and learn
      As he watches his bridges burn
      From the point of no return

      Babylon sisters shake it
      Babylon sisters shake it
      So fine so young
      Tell me I'm the only one

    15. Cousin Dupree

      Well I've kicked around a lot since high school
      I've worked a lot of nowhere gigs
      From keyboard man in a rock'n ska band
      To haulin' boss crude in the big rigs
      Now I've come back home to plan my next move
      From the comfort of my Aunt Faye's couch
      When I see my little cousin Janine walk in
      All I could say was ow-ow-ouch
    Chorus:

    Honey how you've grown
    Like a rose
    Well we used to play
    When we were three
    How about a kiss for your cousin Dupree

      She turned my life into a living hell
      In those little tops and tight capris
      I pretended to be readin' the National Probe
      As I was watchin' her wax her skis
      On Saturday night she walked in with her date
      And backs him up against the wall
      I tumbled off the couch and heard myself sing
      In a voice I never knew I had before
    Chorus
      I'll teach you everything I know
      If you teach me how to do that dance
      Life is short and quid pro quo
      And what's so strange about a down-home family romance?

      One night we're playin' gin by a cracklin' fire
      And I decided to make my play
      I said babe with my boyish charm and good looks
      How can you stand it for one more day
      She said maybe its the skeevy look in your eyes
      Or that your mind has turned to applesauce
      The dreary architecture of your soul
      I said - but what is it exactly turns you off?
    Chorus

    16. Things I Miss The Most

      I don't mind the quiet
      Or the lonely nights
      I don't miss the funky attitudes
      And I don't miss the fights
      I lie on the couch 'till suppertime
      And hunker down and read the Post
      And that's when I remember the things I miss the most:

      The talk
      The sex
      Somebody to trust
      The Audi TT
      The house on the Vineyard
      The house on the gulf coast
      These are the things I miss the most

      I kinda like frying up
      My sad cuisine
      Gettin' in bed and curling up with a girlie magazine
      But sometimes in the corner of my eye
      I see that adorable ghost
      And then ba-boom I remember the things I miss the most

      The talk
      The sex
      Somebody to trust
      The comfy Eames chair
      The good copper pans
      The '54 Strat
      These are the things I miss the most

      I had a little birdy friend
      By morning she was gone
      Birdy good-bye
      Birdy bye-bye

      I'm learning how to meditate
      So far so good
      I'm building the Andrea Doria out of balsa wood
      The days really don't last forever
      But it's getting pretty damn close
      And that's when I remember the things I miss the most:

      The talk
      The sex
      Somebody to trust
      The Audi TT
      The house on the Vineyard
      The house on the gulf coast
      These are the things I miss the most