"Steely Dan: Greatest Hits" on the large black disk(s)

mhardy6647

So, yes, Steely Dan's a polarizing ensemble. I fully acknowledge that... though I love their early work (through Aja) I see all the problems. By the end, they were Jazz-Lite. But their smart-aleck, sardonic style, oh-so-Seventies, worked for me then and still does now (at least to some extent). And their stuff always sounded good.

I remember reading, on some forum or another, that their "Greatest Hits" album (on LP) is a fine-sounding couple of hunks of polyvinyl chloride. A few weeks back, rummaging through the boxes of records on the basement (looking for fodder to sell at the annual Westford, MA antique radio fleamarket), I found my copy.

I am sitting and listening to it tonight. Holy mother of Jehoshaphat, does it, indeed, sound fine in every respect. Deep, clear and smooth and detailed, all at once. Like 1970s buttah.

Highly recommended.

"Never gonna do it without The Fez on...

Erik Tracy

Nice.

Is this truly titled 'Greatest Hits' or 'Decade of Steely Dan'?

I have 'Decade of Steely Dan' on CD - and it does sound quite good!

Mikey081057

I have Decade on gold vinyl. I have Aja on vinyl, the royal scam on vinyl gaucho on vinyl.

I have Nitefly on vinyl
Morph the cat on 180g vinyl,
and today I just acquired a sunken condos unopened on 180g vinyl

I have more on cd... but they sure do sound great on vinyl.

gudnoyez

http://www.amazon.com/Steely-Dan-Greatest-Hits/dp/B000005RVM/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1394757281&sr=1-2&keywords=steely+dan+greatest+hits

I think this is the one he is talking about the original on ABC Dunhill my first venture into the Dan have them all including this my double LP yes it sounds fantastic

That's what I'am please understand I want to be your ( fill in the blank)

[Deleted User]

I passed on this cuz I'm trying to get them on vinyl. Tossed "Countdown to Ecstasy" on while I type.
A couple to go. So maybe I should have picked this up as well?

mhardy6647

Erik Tracy wrote: »

Nice.

Is this truly titled 'Greatest Hits' or 'Decade of Steely Dan'?

I have 'Decade of Steely Dan' on CD - and it does sound quite good!

umm... hold on a sec...
This is the one called "Greatest Hits", with the kind of artsy photo on the cover.
The one called "Decade" I have on one of them there little silvery polycarbonate discs that spins real fast...

SCompRacer

Kewl! I love Steely Dan and have their entire catalog on vinyl with some on CD. I played a fine 180gram Gaucho album for a younger friend who never heard it. He went out and scored the entire catalog only to find he didn't like the early stuff.

I have the Decade ripped to flac and it sounds pretty good through my DAC.

gudnoyez

Check my link in the post above MRH I know you mean that original ABC Dunhill I wouldn't sell that one at the flea market that's a keeper.

mhardy6647

Yes, correct - no, I am gonna keep it. Besides, it has Here at the Western World on it... but no FM... ;-)

As an aside... somewhere... downstairs... I have a dump find copy of the FM soundtrack album...

SCompRacer

Gatefold action...

mhardy6647

FWIW...

I discovered another 'Dan oddity on the shelf last night - a single disk called Steely Dan Gold. Somewhat similar cover vibe to the aforementioned Greatest Hits... odd collection of songs; including one from Countdown... and a couple from Gaucho. It's one of those nasty "blue sky label" MCA pressings. I really have no idea how I got this; a dump find I assume... but it actually sounded pretty good (other than some of that whooshy surface noise) on the SL-Q3/ DL-103 -> JLTI phono preamp -> Pete Millett "linestage" -> JE Labs' design "simple 2A3" -> Altec 604E Duplexes with Mastering Labs XOs.

Erik Tracy

I have quite a few Steely Dan CDs, SACDs, and LPs.

I have an original copy of Countdown and Aja on LP, but more on CDs.

I got a used CD copy of The Royal Scam and fell in love with that album - sounds really good on CD.

So when a used LP popped up I bought it with high hopes.

Got it all cleaned up on the RCM and gave it a play was instantly disappointed - the LP sounded way too bright compared to the CD!

Go figure.

StantonZ

I was such a Steely Dan freak in high school they called me "Stanley Dan" (and I'm a jazz lover). I have that gatefold cover posted above nailed (opened) to a crate of LP's I've had for decades. For those of you a bit too young too remember, ALL the Steely Dan ABC/Dunhill vinyl is great; the MCA re-releases not so much. Similarly, some of the early CD reissues were not so great, but later re-masters were much better (as well as the Mobile Fidelity releases). Also, the first Donald Fagen release (Nightfly) is outstanding on vinyl AND CD as well as the Steely Dan release that finally bagged them an "album of the year" Grammy (2 Against Nature). Sadly, the last Donald Fagen CD didn't hold up to earlier releases on the production end and didn't sell as well either (completely different producers and players), although there's a few good tunes. I'm afraid we've seen our last Steely Dan (and maybe Donald Fagen) release EVER, although they continue to tour (and sound great).

SCompRacer

MCA also changed the font color of The Royal Scam to white.

outlander

Steely Dan sounds great on vinyl. In my opinion one of the best bands to audition your system with.

pumpkinman

mhardy6647 wrote: »

FWIW...

I discovered another 'Dan oddity on the shelf last night - a single disk called Steely Dan Gold. Somewhat similar cover vibe to the aforementioned Greatest Hits... odd collection of songs; including one from Countdown... and a couple from Gaucho. It's one of those nasty "blue sky label" MCA pressings. I really have no idea how I got this; a dump find I assume... but it actually sounded pretty good (other than some of that whooshy surface noise) on the SL-Q3/ DL-103 -> JLTI phono preamp -> Pete Millett "linestage" -> JE Labs' design "simple 2A3" -> Altec 604E Duplexes with Mastering Labs XOs.

You made me go look LOL.