STEELY DAN - Can't Buy a Thrill (1972-1985) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were remarkable craftsmen from the start, as Steely Dan's debut, Can't Buy a Thrill, illustrates. Each song is tightly constructed, with interlocking chords and gracefully interwoven melodies, buoyed by clever, cryptic lyrics. All of these are hallmarks of Steely Dan's signature sound, but what is most remarkable about the record is the way it differs from their later albums. Of course, one of the most notable differences is the presence of vocalist David Palmer, a professional blue-eyed soul vocalist who oversings the handful of tracks where he takes the lead. Palmer's very presence signals the one major flaw with the album -- in an attempt to appeal to a wide audience, Becker and Fagen tempered their wildest impulses with mainstream pop techniques. Consequently, there are very few of the jazz flourishes that came to distinguish their albums -- the breakthrough single, "Do It Again," does work an impressively tight Latin jazz beat, and "Reelin' in the Years" has jazzy guitar solos and harmonies -- and the production is overly polished, conforming to all the conventions of early-'70s radio. Of course, that gives these decidedly twisted songs a subversive edge, but compositionally, these aren't as innovative as their later work. Even so, the best moments ("Dirty Work," "Kings," "Midnight Cruiser," "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again") are wonderful pop songs that subvert traditional conventions and more than foreshadow the paths Steely Dan would later take. Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracklist :

1 Do It Again 5:56

2 Dirty Work 3:08

3 Kings 3:45

Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Shirley Mathews, Venetta Fields

4 Midnite Cruiser 4:09

5 Only A Fool Would Say That 2:54

6 Reelin' In The Years 4:35

7 Fire In The Hole 3:26

8 Brooklyn 4:20

Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Shirley Mathews, Venetta Fields

9 Change Of The Guard 3:28

10 Turn That Heartbeat Over Again 4:58

Credits:

Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Jim Hodder

Electric Bass, Vocals – Walter Becker

Flugelhorn – Snooky Young

Guitar – Elliot Randall

Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Classical Guitar [Spanish] – Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

Guitar, Sitar [Electric Sitar] – Denny Dias

Percussion – Victor Feldman

Piano, Electric Piano, Organ [Plastic Organ], Vocals – Donald Fagen

Tenor Saxophone – Jerome Richardson

Vocals – David Palmer 

Written-By – Donald Fagen, Walter Becker

STEELY DAN – Countdown to Ecstasy (1973-2014) RM | Mini LP PT | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Can't Buy a Thrill became an unexpected hit, and as a response, Donald Fagen became the group's full-time lead vocalist, and he and Walter Becker acted like Steely Dan was a rock & roll band for the group's second album, Countdown to Ecstasy. The loud guitars and pronounced backbeat of "Bodhisattva," "Show Biz Kids," and "My Old School" camouflage the fact that Countdown is a riskier album, musically speaking, than its predecessor. Each of its eight songs have sophisticated, jazz-inflected interludes, and apart from the bluesy vamps "Bodhisattva" and "Show Biz Kids," which sound like they were written for the stage, the songs are subtly textured. "Razor Boy," with its murmuring vibes, and the hard bop tribute "Your Gold Teeth" reveal Becker and Fagen's jazz roots, while the country-flavored "Pearl of the Quarter" and the ominous, skittering "King of the World" are both overlooked gems. Countdown to Ecstasy is the only time Steely Dan played it relatively straight, and its eight songs are rich with either musical or lyrical detail that their album rock or art rock contemporaries couldn't hope to match. Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist :
1 Bodhisattva 5:19
2 Razor Boy 3:11
Double Bass [String Bass] – Ray Brown
3 The Boston Rag 5:40
4 Your Gold Teeth 6:59
5 Show Biz Kids 5:26
Slide Guitar – Rick Derringer
6 My Old School 5:46
Arranged By [Saxes] – Jimmie Haskell
Saxophone [Saxes] – Bill Perkins, Ernie Watts, John Rotella, Lanny Morgan
7 Pearl Of The Quarter 3:51
8 King Of The World 5:02
Credits:
Acoustic Guitar – Ben Benay
Backing Vocals [Additional] – David Palmer, James Rolleston, Michael Fenelly, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, Royce Jones, Sherlie Matthews
Bass Guitar [Electric Bass Guitar], Harmonica, Vocals – Walter Becker
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Jim Hodder
Guitar, Mixed By [Stereo Mixmaster General] – Denny Dias
Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar – Jeff "Skunk" Baxter
Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals [Mainly] – Donald Fagen
Vibraphone [Vibes], Marimba, Percussion – Victor Feldman
Written-By – Donald Fagen, Walter Becker

STEELY DAN - Pretzel Logic (1974-2014) SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Countdown to Ecstasy wasn't half the hit that Can't Buy a Thrill was, and Steely Dan responded by trimming the lengthy instrumental jams that were scattered across Countdown and concentrating on concise songs for Pretzel Logic. While the shorter songs usually indicate a tendency toward pop conventions, that's not the case with Pretzel Logic. Instead of relying on easy hooks, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen assembled their most complex and cynical set of songs to date. Dense with harmonics, countermelodies, and bop phrasing, Pretzel Logic is vibrant with unpredictable musical juxtapositions and snide, but very funny, wordplay. Listen to how the album's hit single, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," opens with a syncopated piano line that evolves into a graceful pop melody, or how the title track winds from a blues to a jazzy chorus -- Becker and Fagen's craft has become seamless while remaining idiosyncratic and thrillingly accessible. Since the songs are now paramount, it makes sense that Pretzel Logic is less of a band-oriented album than Countdown to Ecstasy, yet it is the richest album in their catalog, one where the backhanded Dylan tribute "Barrytown" can sit comfortably next to the gorgeous "Any Major Dude Will Tell You." Steely Dan made more accomplished albums than Pretzel Logic, but they never made a better one. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist:
1 Rikki Don't Lose That Number 4:30
2 Night By Night 3:36
3 Any Major Dude Will Tell You 3:05
4 Barrytown 3:17
5 East St. Louis Toodle-oo 2:45
Written-By – Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington
6 Parker's Band 2:36
7 Through With Buzz 1:30
8 Pretzel Logic 4:28
9 With A Gun 2:15
10 Charlie Freak 2:41
11 Monkey In Your Soul 2:31
Credits:
Bass – Chuck Rainey, Timothy B. Schmit, Wilton Felder
Bass, Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Jeff Porcaro, Jim Gordon, Jim Hodder
Guitar – Ben Benay, Denny Diaz, Jeff Baxter
Guitar, Banjo – Dean Parks
Keyboards – David Paich, Michael Omartian
Keyboards, Percussion – Victor Feldman
Orchestrated By – Jimmie Haskell
Saxophone – Ernie Watts, Jerome Richardson, Plas Johnson
Trumpet – Ollie Mitchell
Vocals, Keyboards – Donald Fagen
Written-By – Fagen, Becker

STEELY DAN – Katy Lied (1975) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Building from the jazz fusion foundation of Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan created an alluringly sophisticated album of jazzy pop with Katy Lied. With this record, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen began relying solely on studio musicians, which is evident from the immaculate sound of the album. Usually, such a studied recording method would drain the life out of each song, but that's not the case with Katy Lied, which actually benefits from the duo's perfectionist tendencies. Each song is given a glossy sheen, one that accentuates not only the stronger pop hooks, but also the precise technical skill of the professional musicians drafted to play the solos. Essentially, Katy Lied is a smoother version of Pretzel Logic, featuring the same cross-section of jazz-pop and blues-rock. The lack of innovations doesn't hurt the record, since the songs are uniformly brilliant. Less overtly cynical than previous Dan albums, the album still has its share of lyrical stingers, but what's really notable are the melodies, from the seductive jazzy soul of "Doctor Wu" and the lazy blues of "Chain Lightning" to the terse "Black Friday" and mock calypso of "Everyone's Gone to the Movies." It's another excellent record in one of the most distinguished rock & roll catalogs of the '70s. Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist :
1 Black Friday 3:33
2 Bad Sneakers 3:16
3 Rose Darling 2:59
4 Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More 3:12
5 Doctor Wu 3:59
Alto Saxophone, Soloist – Phil Woods
6 Everyone's Gone To The Movies 3:41
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Willis, Myrna Matthews, Sherlie Matthews
7 Your Gold Teeth II 4:12
8 Chain Lightning 2:57
9 Any World (That I'm Welcome To) 3:56
Drums – Hal Blaine
10 Throw Back The Little Ones 3:11
Arranged By [Horns] – Jimmie Haskel
Credits:
Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald
Bass – Chuck Rainey, Wilton Felder
Bass, Guitar, Arranged By – Walter Becker
Drums, Percussion [Dorophone] – Jeff Porcaro
Guitar – Dean Parks, Denny Dias, Elliot Randall, Hugh McCracken, Larry Carlton, Rick Derringer
Percussion, Vibraphone – Victor Feldman
Piano, Keyboards – David Paich, Michael Omartian
Songwriter – Donald Fagen, Walter Becker
Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Arranged By – Donald Fagen

STEELY DAN – The Royal Scam (1976) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Royal Scam is the first Steely Dan record that doesn't exhibit significant musical progress from its predecessor, but that doesn't mean the album is any less interesting. The cynicism that was suppressed on Katy Lied comes roaring to the surface on The Royal Scam -- not only are the lyrics bitter and snide, but the music is terse, broken, and weary. Not so coincidentally, the album is comprised of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's weakest set of songs since Can't Buy a Thrill. Alternating between mean-spirited bluesy vamps like "Green Earrings" and "The Fez" and jazzy soft rock numbers like "The Caves of Altamira," there's nothing particularly bad on the album, yet there are fewer standouts than before. Nevertheless, the best songs on The Royal Scam, like the sneering "Kid Charlemagne" and "Sign in Stranger," rank as genuine Steely Dan classics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1 Kid Charlemagne 4:38
2 The Caves Of Altamira 3:33
3 Don't Take Me Alive 4:19
4 Sign In Stranger 4:22
5 The Fez 3:59
Songwriter – Donald Fagen, Paul Griffin, Walter Becker
6 Green Earrings 4:05
7 Haitian Divorce 5:50
8 Everything You Did 3:54
9 The Royal Scam 6:31
Credits:
Arranged By [Horns], Horns – Chuck Findley
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Michael McDonald, Sherlie Matthews, Timothy B. Schmit, Venetta Fields
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta
Guitar – Dean Parks, Dennis Dias, Elliott Randall, Larry Carlton
Guitar, Bass, Arranged By [Horns] – Walter Becker
Horns – Bob Findley, Jim Horn, John Klemmer, Plas Johnson, Slyde Hyde
Keyboards – Don Grolnick, Paul Griffin
Keyboards, Percussion – Victor Feldman
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Horns] – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Gary Coleman
Songwriter – Donald Fagen (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 9), Walter Becker (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 9)

STEELY DAN – Aja (1977-2014) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Steely Dan hadn't been a real working band since Pretzel Logic, but with Aja, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's obsession with sonic detail and fascination with composition reached new heights. A coolly textured and immaculately produced collection of sophisticated jazz-rock, Aja has none of the overt cynicism or self-consciously challenging music that distinguished previous Steely Dan records. Instead, it's a measured and textured album, filled with subtle melodies and accomplished, jazzy solos that blend easily into the lush instrumental backdrops. But Aja isn't just about texture, since Becker and Fagen's songs are their most complex and musically rich set of songs -- even the simplest song, the sunny pop of "Peg," has layers of jazzy vocal harmonies. In fact, Steely Dan ignores rock on Aja, preferring to fuse cool jazz, blues, and pop together in a seamless, seductive fashion. It's complex music delivered with ease, and although the duo's preoccupation with clean sound and self-consciously sophisticated arrangements would eventually lead to a dead end, Aja is a shining example of jazz-rock at its finest.  Stephen Thomas Erlewine 
Tracklist :
1 Black Cow 5:07
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Rebecca Louis, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Clavinet – Joe Sample
Drums – Paul Humphrey
Electric Piano – Victor Feldman
Guitar – Larry Carlton
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone – Tom Scott
2 Aja 7:56
Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Piano – Joe Sample
Guitar – Denny Dias, Larry Carlton, Walter Becker
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Victor Feldman
Piano – Michael Omartian
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
3 Deacon Blues 7:26
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields
Bass – Walter Becker
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Electric Piano – Victor Feldman
Guitar – Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone – Pete Christlieb
4 Peg 3:58
Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald, Paul Griffin
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Clavinet – Don Grolnick
Drums – Rick Marotta
Electric Piano – Paul Griffin
Guitar – Steve Khan
Guitar [Solo] – Jay Graydon
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Lyricon – Tom Scott
Percussion – Gary Coleman, Victor Feldman
5 Home At Last 5:31
Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Larry Carlton
Guitar [Solo] – Walter Becker
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Piano – Victor Feldman
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Vibraphone – Victor Feldman
6 I Got The News 5:03
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Michael McDonald, Rebecca Louis, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Ed Greene 
Guitar – Dean Parks
Guitar [Solo] – Larry Carlton, Walter Becker
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Victor Feldman
Piano – Victor Feldman
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Vibraphone – Victor Feldman
7 Josie 4:30
Backing Vocals – Donald Fagen, Timothy B. Schmit
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Jim Keltner
Electric Piano – Victor Feldman
Guitar – Dean Parks, Larry Carlton
Guitar [Solo] – Walter Becker
Lead Vocals – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Jim Keltner
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen

STEELY DAN - Gaucho (1980-2013) SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Aja was cool, relaxed, and controlled; it sounded deceptively easy. Its follow-up, Gaucho, while sonically similar, is its polar opposite: a precise and studied record, where all of the seams show. Gaucho essentially replicates the smooth jazz-pop of Aja, but with none of that record's dark, seductive romance or elegant aura. Instead, it's meticulous and exacting; each performance has been rehearsed so many times that it no longer has any emotional resonance. Furthermore, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's songs are generally labored, only occasionally reaching their past heights, like on the suave "Babylon Sisters," "Time Out of Mind," and "Hey Nineteen." Still, those three songs are barely enough to make the remainder of the album's glossy, meandering fusion worthwhile. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist:
1 Babylon Sisters 5:51
Arranged By [Horns] – Rob Mounsey
Backing Vocals [Backup] – Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin, Toni Wine
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Bass Clarinet – George Marge, Walter Kane
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Electric Piano, Clavinet – Don Grolnick
Guitar – Steve Khan
Percussion – Crusher Bennett
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Tom Scott
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
2 Hey Nineteen 5:04
Backing Vocals [Backup] – Frank Floyd, Zack Sanders
Bass – Walter Becker
Drums – Rick Marotta
Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Walter Becker
Percussion – Steve Gadd, Victor Feldman
3 Glamour Profession 7:28
Arranged By [Horns] – Tom Scott
Backing Vocals [Backup] – Frank Floyd, Leslie Miller, Valerie Simpson, Zack Sanders
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Guitar – Steve Khan
Percussion – Ralph McDonald
Piano – Rob Mounsey
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Tenor Saxophone, Lyricon – Tom Scott
4 Gaucho 5:32
Arranged By [Horns] – Tom Scott
Backing Vocals [Backup] – Leslie Miller, Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson
Bass – Walter Becker
Drums – Jeff Porcaro
Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Guitar – Steve Khan
Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Percussion – Crusher Bennett
Piano – Rob Mounsey
Tenor Saxophone – Tom Scott
Trumpet – Randy Brecker
5 Time Out Of Mind 4:10
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Arranged By [Horns] – Rob Mounsey
Backing Vocals [Backup] – Leslie Miller, Michael McDonald, Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson
Baritone Saxophone – Ronny Cuber*
Bass – Walter Becker
Drums – Rick Marotta
Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Walter Becker
Lead Guitar – Mark Knopfler
Piano – Rob Mounsey
Tenor Saxophone – Dave Tofani, Michael Brecker
Trumpet – Randy Brecker
6 My Rival 4:30
Arranged By [Horns] – Tom Scott
Backing Vocals [Backup] – Frank Floyd, Valerie Simpson, Zack Sanders
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Piano – Patrick Rebillot
Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Guitar – Hiram Bullock, Rick Derringer
Lead Guitar – Steve Khan
Organ, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Ralph McDonald
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Tenor Saxophone, Lyricon – Tom Scott
Timbales – Nicholas Marrero
Trombone – Wayne Andre
7 Third World Man 5:14
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Steve Khan
Electric Piano – Joe Sample
Lead Guitar – Larry Carlton
Synthesizer – Rob Mounsey

STEELY DAN – Two Against Nature (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Notorious for shunning concert performances, Steely Dan's improbable live reunion in the mid-'90s eventually turned into a full-fledged reunion album. Since Steely Dan fans went two decades without even the hope of a new record, the very prospect was a delight, but it was also a little worrying, since a botched comeback would tarnish the band's legacy. Fortunately, Two Against Nature is as seductive and alluring as the best of Steely Dan's later work, with a similar emphasis on classy atmosphere and groove. Pitched halfway between Gaucho and the immaculate production of Fagen's solo album Kamakiriad, it's a graceful, intricate record that works its subtle charms at its own pace. While that means it isn't a knockout on the first listen, it's a real grower -- a quietly addicting album that slowly works its way into the subconscious. It's also an uncannily natural extension of the duo's previous work, but surprisingly, it never sounds nostalgic or dated. It's clear that Becker and Fagen re-teamed because they simply enjoy working together: crafting the songs and arrangements, designing the production, shoehorning in-jokes into the lyrics, finding the exact performances that fit their specifications. In this sense, Two Against Nature is no different than any past Steely Dan effort; that's exactly why it's welcome, since they find nearly endless permutations within their signature sound. Lyrically, the album isn't quite as malicious as their '70s work, but they haven't lost their sharp humor, even on some mere throwaway lines. The real payoff, however, is musical. Each song gradually reveals its own identity through small, thrilling touches, giving the record depth and character, and fitting it comfortably into Steely Dan's acclaimed body of work. And that's as delightfully unexpected and peculiarly beautiful as anything else in their career. Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist :
1 Gaslighting Abbie 5:54
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Cynthia Calhoun, Michael Harvey
Bass – Tom Barney
Bass Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg
Clarinet – Lawrence Feldman
Clavinet – Donald Fagen
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Walter Becker
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter (2), Dave Tofani
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
2 What A Shame About Me 5:15
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Cynthia Calhoun, Michael Harvey
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass, Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Michael White 
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Donald Fagen
Tenor Saxophone – Lou Marini
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
3 Two Against Nature 6:18
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Cynthia Calhoun, Michael Harvey
Bass Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg
Bass, Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Clarinet – Ken Hitchcock
Drums – Keith Carlock
Keyboards – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Percussion, Timbales – Daniel Sadownick
Piano, Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
Rhythm Guitar – Jon Herington
Saxophone – Dave Tofani, Lawrence Feldman
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Vibraphone – Steve Shapiro
4 Janie Runaway 4:08
Alto Saxophone – Chris Potter, Lou Marini
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart
Bass Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg
Bass, Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Leroy Clouden
Keyboards – Donald Fagen, Ted Baker
Tenor Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
5 Almost Gothic 4:10
Acoustic Guitar – Jon Herington
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Michael Harvey
Bass – Walter Becker
Bass Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman
Drums – Leroy Clouden
Guitar – Hugh McCracken
Keyboards – Donald Fagen, Ted Baker
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
6 Jack Of Speed 6:19
Alto Saxophone – Lou Marini
Backing Vocals – Cynthia Calhoun, Michael Harvey
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass, Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Michael White
Keyboards – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb, Will Lee
Tenor Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
7 Cousin Dupree 5:28
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart
Bass, Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Leroy Clouden
Keyboards – Donald Fagen, Ted Baker
Rhythm Guitar – Jon Herington
Whistling – Amy Helm
8 Negative Girl 5:35
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Cynthia Calhoun
Bass – Tom Barney
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Dean Parks, Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Ted Baker
Vibraphone – Dave Schenk
9 West Of Hollywood 8:21
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Cynthia Calhoun, Michael Harvey
Bass – Tom Barney
Drums – Sonny Emory
Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Organ – Donald Fagen
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Ted Baker
Rhythm Guitar – Jon Herington
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter 

STEELY DAN – Everything Must Go (2003) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

When Steely Dan released Two Against Nature in 2000, their first album in 20 years, it was an unexpected gift, since all odds seemed against Donald Fagen and Walter Becker reteaming for nothing more than the occasional project, let alone a full album. As it turned out, the duo was able to pick up where they left off, with Two Against Nature seamlessly fitting next to Gaucho and earning the band surprise success, including a Grammy for Album of the Year, but the bigger surprise is that the reunion wasn't a one-off -- they released another record, Everything Must Go, a mere three years later. Given the (relatively) short turnaround time between the two records, it comes as little surprise that Everything Must Go is a companion piece to Two Against Nature, and sounds very much like that album's laid-back, catchy jazz-funk, only with an elastic, loose feel -- loose enough to have Walter Becker take the first lead vocal in Steely Dan history, in fact, which sums up the Dan's attitude in a nutshell. This time, they're comfortable and confident enough to let anything happen, and while that doesn't really affect the sound of the record, it does affect the feel. Though it as expertly produced as always, there's less emphasis on production and a focus on the feel, often breathing as much as a live performance, another new wrinkle for Steely Dan. Sometimes, it also sounds as if Becker and Fagen have written the songs quickly; there's nothing that betrays their high standards of craft, but, on a whole, the songs are neither as hooky nor as resonant as the ones unveiled on its predecessor. While it might have been nice to have a song as immediate as, say, "Cousin Dupree," there are no bad songs here and many cuts grow as nicely as those on Two Against Nature. But the real selling point of Everything Must Go is that relaxed, comfortable, live feel. It signals that Steely Dan has indeed entered a new phase, one less fussy and a bit funkier (albeit lite funk). If they can keep turning out a record this solid every three years, we'd all be better off. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1 The Last Mall 3:36
Alto Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Backing Vocals – Catherine Russell, Cindy Mizelle
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass, Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Piano – Ted Baker
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Trumpet – Tony Kadleck
Vocals, Electric Piano [Rhodes, Wurlitzer] – Donald Fagen
2 Things I Miss The Most 3:58
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart
Bass, Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Ted Baker
Tenor Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
Vocals, Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Donald Fagen
3 Blues Beach 4:27
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart
Bass, Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Ted Baker
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Vocals, Piano, Organ – Donald Fagen
4 Godwhacker 4:57
Backing Vocals – Catherine Russell, Tawatha Agee
Bass, Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Bill Charlap
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer], Percussion, Soloist, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
5 Slang Of Ages 4:14
Backing Vocals – Ada Dyer, Carolyn Leonhart, Catherine Russell, Michael Harvey, Tawatha Agee*
Drums – Keith Carlock
Electric Piano [Rhodes], Organ, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Ted Baker
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Tenor Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
Vocals, Bass – Walter Becker
6 Green Book 5:55
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Leonhart, Catherine Russell, Cindy Mizelle
Bass, Lead Guitar – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Piano – Ted Baker
Vocals, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Organ, Percussion, Soloist, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
7 Pixeleen 4:00
Backing Vocals – Michael Harvey
Backing Vocals, Featuring – Carolyn Leonhart
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass – Walter Becker
Clarinet – Ken Hitchcock
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Bill Charlap
Tenor Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Trombone – Jim Pugh
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
Vocals, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Organ – Donald Fagen
8 Lunch With Gina 4:25
Backing Vocals – Michael Harvey
Bass – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Ted Baker
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter 
Trumpet – Michael Leonhart
Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer], Soloist, Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
9 Everything Must Go 6:45
Backing Vocals – Brenda White-King, Tawatha Agee 
Bass, Percussion – Walter Becker
Drums – Keith Carlock
Guitar – Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington
Piano – Ted Baker
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – Walt Weiskopf
Vocals, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Clavinet, Percussion – Donald Fagen