"The Capitol Years" by DEAN MARTIN - Anthology of Mono Capitol 78s", 7" Singles and Album Tracks Recorded Between December 1948 and December 1961 with Guests Peggy Lee, Paul Weston (and The Dixie Eight), Jerry Lewis, Nat 'King' Cole, The Martingales, Dick Stabile and His Orchestra with Arrangers Nelson Riddle, Gus Levine, Andre Previn and more (May 1996 US - June 1996 UK Capitol 2CD 40-Track Anthology with Previously Unreleased Stereo and Bob Norberg Remixes and Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Memories Are Made Of This..." 

 

Capitol Records USA had begun the daunting process of CD Remastering their huge Male and Female Vocals catalogue for the Nineties Easy Listening aficionado. Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat 'King' Cole and of course the Real Deal Tuxedo of Schmooze and Booze - the fabulous DEAN MARTIN. 

 

That's Amore! Indeed! I love this Goody Two Shoes June 1996 2CD Anthology and have owned it forever. So, even if it's completely forgotten nowadays (July 2023) and truth be told – is rarely ever seen on must-have wants lists – I want to big up the love for the man with the most Volare in his Napoli trilby. Here are the memorable details...

 

UK released June 1996 (30 May 1996 in the USA) - "The Capitol Years" by DEAN MARTIN on Capitol PRDFCD 2 - 0777 7 98409 2 2 (Barcode 077779840922) boasts 40 gorgeously clean and full audio tracks across 2CDs. It comes in a fat jewel case of old (black speckled spines) with a decent full-color 32-page booklet chockers with period photos, memorabilia and track-by-track liner notes from people who care – JOSEPH H. LAREDO and Compilation Co-Ordinators Bob Furmanek and Kim Niemi (The Dean Martin Association of the UK is even mentioned on the second last page of the booklet). It breaks down as follows...

 

CD1 (52:16 minutes):

1. Memories Are Made Of This (28 Nov 1955 US 78" Capitol 3295) - includes a few un-credited seconds of spoken dialogue by Dean Martin introducing the song - it was recorded 1955 for the US Radio Station WNEW and is segued onto the beginning. The song spent six weeks at No.1 on the charts

2. Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!) (17 Jan 1949 US 78" Capitol 15351)

3. You Was (17 Jan 1949 US 78" Capitol 15349 - Duet with PEGGY LEE)

4. Dreamy Old New England Moon (11 April 1949 US 78" Capitol 57-545 - with PAUL WESTON)

5. I'm Gonna Paper All My Walls With Your Love Letters (10 April 1950 US 78" Capitol 948 - with PAUL WESTON and THE DIXIE EIGHT)

6.  I'll Always Love You (Day After Day) (22 May 1950 US 78" Capitol 1028)

7. Solitaire (15 Oct 1951 US 78" Capitol 1817 - with DICK STABILE and Orchestra)

8. Night Train To Memphis (3 Dec 1951 US 78" Capital 1885)

9. Pretty As A Picture (10 Mar 1952 US 78" Capitol 2001)

10. Oh Marie (30 June 1952 US 78" Capitol 2140)

11. You Belong To Me (28 July 1953 US 78" Capitol 2165)

12. Susan (Recorded 2 July 1952, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

13. The Peanut Vendor (Recorded 2 July 1952, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

14. I'm Yours (12 January 1953 US Capitol EP Album 401 - from the film "The Stooge")

15. That's Amore (14 Sep 1953 US 78" Capitol 2589)

16. I'd Cry Like A Baby (Recorded 13 Aug 1953, Take 9, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Alternate Version)

17. Hey Brother, Pour The Wine (8 March 1954 US 78" Capitol 2749)

18. Every Street's A Boulevard (In Old New York) (7 June 1954 US Capitol EP 533 "Living It Up" - Transferred from Paramount Magnetic Film Track)

19. I'll Gladly Make The Same Mistake Again (29 Nov 1954 US 78" Capitol 3988)

20. Open Up The Doghouse (Two Cats Are Coming In) (29 Nov 1954 US 78" Capitol 2985 - Duet with NAT 'KING' COLE) 

 

CD2 (57:47 minutes): 

1. Carolina In The Morning (1 August 1955 US LP "Swingin' Down Yonder" on Capitol 576) 

2. In Napoli (19 May 1955 US 45-Single Capitol 3238)

3. Innamorata (Sweetheart) (13 Feb 1956 US 45-Single Capitol 3352 - Taken from the Paramount Picture "Artists And Models")

4. I'm Gonna Steal You Away (With The Nuggets) (22 May 1956 US 45-Single Capitol 3468

5. Only Trust Your Heart (1 April 1957 US 45-single Capitol 3680)

6. Beau James (1 July 1957 US 45-Single Capitol 3752)

7. Good Mornin' Life (25 Nov 1957 US 45-Single Capitol 3841)

8. Return To Me (Ritorna Me) (17 Feb 1958 US 45-Single Capitol 3894)

9. It's 1200 Miles From Palm Springs To Texas (Released only in Palm Springs for 'Texas Desert Circus Week' 16-20 April 1958 - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

10. Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu) (11 Aug 1958 US 45-Single Capitol 4028)

11. On An Evening in Roma (Sott'er Er Celo De Roma) (8 June 1959 US 45-Single Capitol 4222)

12. All I Do Is Dream Of You (2 March 1959 US LP "Sleep Warm" on Capitol 1150)

13. Medley (Live): 

You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It)

It Had To Be You

I'm in Love With You

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself A Letter)

(Recorded 9 May 1959 at the Moulin Rouge in Hollywood (Share Benefit) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

14. My Guiding Star (Recorded 27 April 1960, Take 1, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

15. Until The Real Thing Comes Along (3 October 1960 US LP "This Time I'm Swingin'" on Capitol 1442)

16. Ain't That A Kick In The Head (8 August 1960 US 45-Single Capitol 4420 - from the Warner Brothers Motion Picture "Ocean's 11")

17. Just In Time (20 June 1960 US 45-Single Capitol 4391)

18. Be An Angel (11 October 1965 US LP "The Lush Years" on Tower Records 5006 in Stereo)

19. Non Dimenticar (5 February 1962 US LP "Dino: Italian Love Songs" on Capitol 1659 in Stereo)

20. Somebody Loves You (originally on the 5 Nov 1962 US LP "Cha Cha De Amor" on Capitol 1702 - Newly Restored Stereo Version) 

 

The fat double jewel case is clunky for sure when they used to feel so substantial, but it still looks like a classy release - back and front. But it's the audio. I cannot stress how good the BOB NORBERG Remixes and Remasters are. Take a song like "Pretty As A Picture" on CD1 - Take 13 is the Master and Dino is accompanied by DICK STABILE and Orchestra (Stabile on Alto Sax) - you can hear the backing singers clearly but not in an overwhelming way - his voice had the timber too - it's gorgeous. It's like that throughout. And while the big brassy numbers can be too much, a ballad like "You Belong To Me" or the fun of "Susan" (she's got a certain air the boys call supersonic - the barbers are running out of tonic) where the lyrics and melody chime like a well-oiled clock - sound great.

 

Unfortunately you can so hear why stuff like "The Peanut Vendor" was left unissued - it's irritating and not in a Fifties good way either. And the in-joke to "Hey Brother, Pour The Wine" would later become a sick prophesy for his horrible decline into full-blown alcoholism in the late Sixties and Seventies (all those Smokey & The Bandit movies where we used to cringe in the audience). The unreleased "I'd Cry Like A Baby" is a nice find, fun too is "I'll Gladly Make The Same Mistake Again" - but I'm not so sure the Woke-2023 audience would sit still for the lyrics in "Open Up The Doghouse (Two Cats Are Coming In)" that starts out very funny but then ends on misogynistic lines about slapping the ladies and showing them who's top dog that should have men cringe even then.

 

CD2 opens with the vaudeville "Carolina In The Morning" - crystal clear sound and note-perfect players accompanying his silky vocal delivery (nothing could be finer). The girly chorus and strings schmaltz shimmies in with "In Napoli" and "Innamorata (Sweetheart)" - a pair of surrender-to-the-kisses ballads that he so excelled in. The quirky tenderness of young love continues with the fun "I'm Gonna Steal You Away (With The Nuggets)" - his backing vocalists bopping with the words (falsettos and bass) as he tells of squeaking windows and elopement. But they all falter against my absolute fave for the whole set - "Only Trust Your Heart" - a truly gorgeous breeze-softly-sighing ballad where our Dino implores us to ignore the naysayers of logic and concentrate only on the warmth of her kisses (will do).

 

Neither "Beau James" or Good Mornin' Life" with their big brassy Times Square tales do much for me - but I can never get enough of one of his masterpieces "Return To Me (Ritorna Me)" - his voice, the orchestra and those swooning girly singers - it is a hurry-home-to-my-heart moment that never gets old for me (a No. 4 chart hit for him). Martin is also forever tied to the Italian double-whammy of "Volare..." and "On An Evening In Roma..." - fly up to the clouds - away from the maddening crowds - that melody and its opening notes are instantly recognizable to generations - the Euro cool of Expresso Coffee. 

 

Frank Sinatra territory looms with the jaunty and happy-go-lucky "All I Do Is Dream Of You" - another fab slice of period genius - skies are blue morning noon and nighttime too. His brilliant raconteur wit comes shining through as he works the crowd for the 1959 four-song live medley - a very smart Previously Unreleased way to show what fun he was when he was on (he jokes "everybody hates a smart ass!"). The Previously Unreleased STEREO take of "Be An Angel" is a treat - gorgeous Strings, Piano and Saxophone sailing out of your speakers - a song he recorded in February 1961 but fans would have to wait until October 1965 to hear it on the Tower Records LP "The Lush Years" (the latest release date on this compilation). Again beautiful sound for the ballad "Non Dimenticar" from the hugely popular album "Dino: Italian Love Songs" on Capitol Records, February 1962 (Stereo too). It comes to an end on another rarity - a restored Stereo Version of "Somebody Loves You" - a Cha-Cha shuffle that probably made your aunty shimmy on the carpet in 1962. 

 

You can of course find Dean Martin Capitol Records stuff in so many places today (2023) - some like the gorgeous Bear Family multiple-CD Box sets even afford his artistry respect - regardless of cost. But spare an Uncle Sam for "The Capitol Years" with its beautifully Remastered Audio and tasty booklet full of love for its hero. I've seen it for less than four squid on retail sites - and as I say, that's an amore I'll take any day of the Italian-American week...

"Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011" by R.E.M. – 40-Track Career Retrospective Including EP and Album Tracks on I.R.S. and Warner Brothers Records Plus Three New Songs – Band featuring Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck and Bill Berry (November 2011 UK Warner Brothers Records 2CD Remastered Compilation with Three New Songs in A Tri-fold Card Sleeve Presentation) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Can Taste The Ocean On Your Skin..."

 

A career retrospective for the mighty R.E.M. was always going to be an impressive thing to listen to – and the deeply satisfying 2CD "Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011" is just that. 

 

With brilliant tracks choices, quality muscular Remasters, each of the toothsome four contributing informative and witty liner notes for all thirty-seven career songs (the three new ones too) – it may not look like the most inviting twofer that has ever existed (any R.E.M. album sporting packaging that reflects that majesty and legacy is as ever with them - another story) – but in terms of fantastic content and Audio – this double delivers. To the sidewinders and new test lepers...

 

UK released 11 November 2011 - "Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011" by R.E.M. on Warner Brothers Records 9362-49536-4 (Barcode 093624953647) is a Remastered 2CD 40-Track Career Retrospective with Three New Songs that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (76:25 minutes):

1. Gardening At Night

2. Radio Free Europe

3. Talk About The Passion

4. Sitting Still

5. So. Central Rain

6. (Don't Go Back To) Rockville

7. Driver 8

8. Life And How To Live It

9. Begin The Begin

10. Fall On Me

11. Finest Worksong

12. It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

13. The One I Love

14. Stand

15. Pop Song 89

16. Get Up

17. Orange Crush

18. Losing My Religion

19. Country Feedback

20. Shiny Happy People

21. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight

NOTES on CD1:

Track 1 from the August 1982 US 12" 5-Track Debut EP Single "Chronic Town"

Tracks 2, 3 and 4 are from their April 1983 debut album "Murmur"

Tracks 5 and 6 are from their April 1984 second album "Reckoning"

Tracks 7 and 8 are from their June 1985 third album "Fables Of The Reconstruction"

Tracks 9 and 10 are from their July 1986 fourth album "Lifes Rich Pageant"

Tracks 11, 12 and 13 are from their September 1987 fifth studio album "Document" (and last for I.R.S. Records)

Tracks 14, 15, 16 and 17 are from their November 1988 sixth album "Stand" (and first for Warner Brothers Records)

Tracks 18, 19 and 20 are from their March 1991 seventh studio album "Out Of Time"

Track 21 from their October 1992 eight studio album "Automatic For The People"

 

CD2 (75:44 minutes):

1. Everybody Hurts

2. Man On The Moon

3. Nightswimming

4. What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

5. New Test Leper

6. Electrolite

7. At My Most Beautiful

8. The Great Beyond

9. Imitation Of Life

10. Bad Day

11. Leaving New York

12. Living Well Is The Best Revenge

13. Supernatural Superserious

14. Überlin

15. Oh My Heart

16. Alligator-Aviator-Autopilot-Antimatter

17. A Months Of Saturdays

18. We All Go Back To Where We Belong

19. Hallelujah

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1, 2 and 3 are from their October 1992 eighth studio album "Automatic For The People"

Track 4 is from their September 1994 ninth studio album "Monster"

Tracks 5 and 6 are from their September 1996 tenth studio album "New Adventures in Hi-Fi"

Track 7 is from their October 1998 eleventh studio album "Up"

Track 8 is from the November 1999 R.E.M. Soundtrack Album to the Movie about Andy Kaufman (Jim Carrey in the title role) called "Man On The Moon"

Track 9 is from their May 2001 twelfth studio album "Reveal"

Track 10 was one of two exclusive tracks specially recorded for the October 2003 compilation "In Time: The Best Of R.E.M 1988-2003"

Track 11 is from their October 2004 thirteenth studio album "Around The Sun"

Tracks 12 and 13 are from their March 2008 fourteenth studio album "Accelerate"

Tracks 14, 15 and 16 are from the March 2011 fifteenth and final album "Collapse Into Now"

Tracks 17, 18 and 19 are NEW ORIGINAL R.E.M. SONGS recorded for this compilation

 

There are several UK/EURO variants of this release – the jewel case version on Warner Brothers 9362-49534-5 and a Digipak version on Warner Brothers 529088-2 – but I opted for the Card Sleeve variant above. As is typical of their frankly crap artwork – the pictures are useless and oblique both on the outside and in. The 20-page booklet is better in that it breaks down the tracks one-by-one and there are the comments. The audio courtesy of PAUL BLAKEMORE (an award-winning engineer associated most with Craft Recordings and their reissues of Stax and CCR) is gorgeous throughout – remasters from both I.R.S. and Warner Brothers periods that are beautifully realized.

 

But what I like about this as a listen is that both CDs are seriously impressive. For sure the Indie/Alt Rock I.R.S. Records output (1982 to 1987) just before signing to the major label Warner Brothers was beginning to sound samey and change was needed. But tunes like "So. Central Rain", "Talk About The Passion" and "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" still tingle the old arm-hairs. Then there are those singles too when the public began to take serious notice - "Stand", "Orange Crush" and the Andy Kaufman movie song "Man On The Moon" that not only smacked of maturity but songwriting greatness. But what I love here are the deep dives that have been forgotten – "New Test Leper" and "Electrolite" from the superb "New Adventures In Hi-Fi" album or the gorgeous I know what I am chasing "Überlin" and the return of that mandolin sound on the swirling magical "Oh My Heart". And of course the anthemic "Everybody Hurts" still slays and elicits so many memories.

 

Speaking of "Shiny Happy People" and those "Losing My Religion" - in truth you could load this 2CD retro with nuggets from the two big breakthrough albums "Out Of Time" and "Automatic For The People" on Warner Brothers. But the band wants you to take in the later releases. And man when our yank pals let it Rock - "Living Well Is The Best Revenge" or the "In Time: Best Of..." gem "Bad Day" or the punky teenage angst of "Alligator-Aviator-Autopilot-Antimatter" with guest singer Peaches and Nuggets hero Lenny Kaye on wild guitar – R.E.M. were/are utterly awesome. And while you can dismiss the decidedly disappointing "A Month Of Saturdays" (one of the three newbees) – the orchestrated Burt Bacharach-sounding "We All Go Back To Where We Belong" is a melodic thrill that reminds you of how much you loved their swaying songs – I can taste the ocean on your skin. "Hallelujah" is a worthy song to end their tenure on – a tune that somehow encapsulates a lot of their favorite soundscapes.

 

The quirkilly titled "Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011" isn't pretty to look at – hardly even tactile to hold either – but the aural song goodies are in there in spades – and then some.

 

R.E.M. would call it quits as an American Alternative Rock Band soon after (the artwork for the final album "Collapse Into Now" even had Michael Stipe waving from the front cover as if to say goodbye, but as he says in the liner notes, no one seem to get the in-joke) and in 2023 they seem all but forgotten as one of the greats. You can buy this twofer goody two shoes for under a fiver – invest and discover why all roads once lead to Athens, Georgia...

"Showbiz Kids: The Story Of Steely Dan 1972-1980" and "The Very Best Of Steely Dan" by STEELY DAN - featuring selected tracks from the albums "Can't Buy A Thrill" (1972 USA, 1973 UK), "Countdown To Ecstasy" (1973), "Pretzel Logic" (1974), "Katy Lied" (1975), "The Royal Scam" (1976), "Aja" (1977), "Greatest Hits" (1978), "FM" (1978 Soundtrack) and "Gaucho" (1980) – Guest Musicians Include Elliott Randall, Rick Derringer, Michael McDonald, Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton, Mark Knopfler and many more (November 2000 UK MCA Records 2CD Anthology Chosen by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker with Roger Nichols Remasters – Reissued May 2005 as "Showbiz Kids: The Story Of Steely Dan 1972-1980" with the same tracks and artwork, but reissued June 2009 in the UK only as "The Very Best Of Steely Dan" with Same Tracks/Remasters but Different Artwork and Liner Notes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 November 2000 Original Artwork/Title/Remasters

As "Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980"

(Reissued May 2005 with Same Artwork etc plus 2005 Copyright Date) 

June 2009 UK 2CD Reissue as "The Very Best Of Steely Dan"

With Different Artwork and Liner Notes 

But The Same Tracks and 2000 Remaster Versions

 

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…You Go Back Jack…And Do it Again..."

 

With all tracks hand-picked by founder members and principal songwriters Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and with the Remasters polished off nicely by their long-standing Sound Engineer Roger Nichols – all is right and proper here in the world of the Mighty Dan.

 

The 33-Track 2CD Anthology "Showbiz Kids: The Story Of Steely Dan 1972-1980" has actually had three release dates up to July 2023. Initially launched globally on 14 November 2000 at full-price and then reissued 17 May 2005 with the same artwork and title but at a mid-price – it was also issued in the UK 26 June 2009 as "The Very Best Of Steely Dan" (again on MCA Records) but this time with different artwork and booklet (same track run and remasters as the original 2000 issue).

 

As a counter to 'Showbiz Kids' - I have reviewed (and loved) a 3CD Steely Dan Anthology variant out of Europe simply called "Collected" (August 2009 on Universal 532 112-2 - Barcode 600753211229). Mastered by 'QS Sound Lab' – that Euro-only 3CD Series covers a huge range of artists from the Universal back catalogue (see my separate review), and with an expanded track list offers what’s on here and more. But it can cost about thirty quid or more and has been deleted a while with some sites asking extortionate money for it. So to door number one, unusually the cheaper option...

 

Often clocking in at under three or four quid on popular auction sites - "Showbiz Kids: The Story Of Steely Dan 1972-1980" is seriously fantastic value for money in whatever incarnation you find it. And outside of the ludicrously expensive SACD reissue series by Analogue Productions of their album catalogue throughout 2022 and 2023 (50^th Anniversary Issues) – this is a surefire way of getting toppermost audio and great music combined that will barely trouble you above the price of a crappy hamburger at McDonalds.

 

Let us go forward then my el Supremos to the pretzels and the sonic logic and the Charlemagne Kid and the Sisters from Babylon who just want to shake it baby, yeah. Here are the details...

 

UK released 14 November 2000 - "Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980" by STEELY DAN on MCA Records 088 112 407-2 (Barcode 008811240721) is 33-Track 2CD Band Chosen Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (76:17 minutes):

1. Do It Again (5:56 minutes)

2. Dirty Work (3:08 minutes)

3. Reelin' In The Years (4:37 minutes)

4. Only A Fool Would Say That (2:57 minutes)

5. Change Of The Guard (3:39 minutes)

6. Bodhisattva (5:18 minutes)

7. The Boston Rag (5:39 minutes)

8. Show Biz Kids (5:26 minutes)

9. My Old School (5:46 minutes)

10. Rikki Don't Lose That Number (4:32 minutes)

11. Night By Night (3:40 minutes)

12. Pretzel Logic (4:32 minutes)

13. Any Major Dude Will Tell You (3:08 minutes)

14. Black Friday (3:41 minutes)

15. Bad Sneakers (3:19 minutes)

16. Doctor Wu (3:57 minutes)

17. Any World (That I'm Welcome To) (3:55 minutes)

18. Chain Lightning (3:00 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 5 are from their debut album "Can't Buy A Thrill" (1972 USA, 1973 UK)

Tracks 6 to 9 are from their 2nd album "Countdown To Ecstasy" (1973)

Tracks 10 to 13 are from their 3rd album "Pretzel Logic" (1974) - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" is the full album version at 4:32 minutes; some other compilations lose the intro and edit it to 4:08 minutes – which was the single mix

Tracks 14 to 18 are from their 4th album "Katy Lied" (1975)

 

CD2 (76:21 minutes):

1. Kid Charlemagne (4:38 minutes)

2. Don't Take Me Alive (4:16 minutes)

3. Haitian Divorce (5:51 minutes)

4. The Fez (4:01 minutes)

5. Here At The Western World (4:00 minutes)

6. Black Cow (5:10 minutes)

7. Aja (8:00 minutes)

8. Deacon Blues (7:36 minutes)

9. Peg (4:00 minutes)

10. Josie (4:34 minutes)

11. FM (5:06 minutes)

12. Babylon Sisters (5:49 minutes)

13. Hey Nineteen (5:06 minutes)

14. Time Out Of Mind (4:13 minutes)

15. Third World Man (5:15 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 4 are from their 5th album "The Royal Scam" (1976)

Track 5 was an exclusive song on the 2LP set "Greatest Hits 1972-1978" (1978)

Tracks 6 to 10 are from their 6th album "Aja" (1977)

Track 11 was exclusive to the 2LP Soundtrack "FM" (1978) - it's what's known as the 'Saxophone' version - the double-album also has "A Guitar And Strings Version" and "Reprise" of the song

Tracks 12 and 15 are from their 7th studio album "Gaucho" (1980)

 

REISSUES:

17 May 2005 UK Second Reissue of "Showbiz Kids..." on MCA 9811741 (Barcode 602498117415) as mid-price 2CD set. Booklet and Rear Inlay has the year 2000 and 2005 both credited – same title, artwork and tracks, 2000 remasters also.

 

26 June 2009 UK Third Reissue in the UK-only as "The Very Best Of Steely Dan" on Universal Music TV 5320451 (Barcode 600753204511). Has same tracks as "Showbiz Kids" and in the same order, but has different artwork front and rear. Booklet does not mention Walter Becker and Donald Fagen sequencing or Roger Nichols Remasters either - has June 2009 liner notes from Neil McCormick – no mastering credits front rear or booklet – and 2009 copyright date only.

 

The 16-page booklets for the 2000/2005 issues and the 12-page booklet for the UK 2009 relaunch as "The Very Best Of Steely Dan" - are different. "Showbiz Kids: The Story Of Steely Dan 1972-1980" offers words from MICHAEL PHALEN who interviewed Becker and Fagen during the making of the "Aja" album in 1977 and did the liner notes for that most revered of LPs. But that's where the good news stops. His liner notes come in the form of a letter to Roger Nichols done in a wildly off-the-cuff suppossedly funny way that truthfully feels superfluous, too clever-clever by far and enhances our knowledge of the band and its catalogue not one jot. Just when you think someone might at last afford this brilliant band some serious discography – you get more sardonic that frankly wears thin after one page. At least the track lists in the last few pages give us musicians, pictures of the albums including the double 'Greatest Hits' and the 'Soundtrack to FM'. The NEIL McCORMICK liner notes (penned for the 26 June 2009 issue) have a few blurred photos – the Dutch picture sleeve to "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" – the rear sleeve to "Countdown To Ecstasy" when they were still a functioning group and not just Becker and Fagen with session-men in tow. But the track-by-track musician credits are gone and his potted history of the band while entertaining is not exactly brimming with facts either.

 

At least the Remastered Audio is Fabulous. "Do It Again" is a song I've heard a thousand times over 50+ years - yet here its end section is detailed in rhythmic ways that I've not heard before. The line-up of the songs too – very well placed. For instance when you are over on CD2, the track run squeezes "Here At The Western World" in-between "The Fez" from "The Royal Scam" of 1976 and "Black Cow" from "Aja" of 1977. In terms of evolution of sound, it is the perfect slide-in. Then later, we get the "FM (No Static At All)" Soundtrack Exclusive song preceding the Gaucho material of "Babylon Sisters" – another sweet audio fit. In fact you would have to argue that the overall listen on both discs is pretty much genius from head to toe.

 

There are so many winners – the sophistication growing with each album released. The chug of "Change Of The Guard" and the acoustic whimsy of "Only A Fool Would Say That" from the seriously accomplished 1972 debut album, the four from the second just wowing on every front, guitars, brass, arrangements, those acidic lyrics ("Bodhisattva", "The Boston Rag", the Rick Derringer lead guitar on "Show Biz Kids" and so on). Pretzel was the first Dan LP I felt had genuine duffers on it, but this comp sticks to winners like "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and the funky "Night By Night" while Napoleon looks lonely up on his hill in the title track "Pretzel Logic". CD1 tail ends the listen with the lead-guitar menace of "Black Friday", the clever keyboard Funk of "Chain Lightning" while "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" from the 1975 album "Katy Lied" featured backing vocals from Michael McDonald pre his debut with The Doobie Brothers in 1976 on their groundbreaking album "Takin' It To The Streets" – the LP that would start their journey to melodic glory with the stunning "Minute By Minute" album in 1979.

 

Acidic and harsh reality ruled the entire 1976 album "The Royal Scam" that opens CD2 with a double-whammy - "Kid Charlemagne" and the bookkeeper son in "Don't Take Me Alive" getting to shoot everyone (case of dynamite too). Gorgeously musical "Greatest Hits" loner "Here At The Western World" has extra oomph that it's frankly always needed. 

 

The magisterial "Aja" album features no less than five of its seven and you could argue the other two should be on here too. I still adore the sophistication of it – hundreds and hundreds of listens and it still whacks me for four. And those "Aja" guests - the guitarists alone featured another list of superlatives - Larry Carlton on all tracks except "Peg", Lee Ritenour on "Deacon Blues", Dean Parks on "Josie", Steve Khan on "Peg" with a thrilling solo on "Peg" from Jay Graydon. Keyboard players included Michael Omartian, Victor Feldman, Joe Sample of The Crusaders, Paul Griffin and Don Grolnick – while Backing Singers featured Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers ("Peg" and "I Got The News"), Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles ("Aja" and "Home At Last"). By the time the three-year wait for "Gaucho" ended in 1980, that last album featured here was like 'Aja Part 2'. Top players like Mark Knopfler, Jay Graydon, Steve Khan, Larry Carlton, Tom Scott, Randy Brecker, Michael McDonald, Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro and singers Valerie Simpson, Patti Austen and many more featured. "Third World Man" from "Gaucho" sounds stupendous (wow city goes to Larry Charlton's perfect guitar solo). Mark Knopfler and Michael McDonald both guest of "Time Out Of Mind" whilst the sheer audio perfection in "Hey Nineteen" (for 1980) that assaults your speakers is still a thing of wonder and construction.

 

You could argue that stuff like "Your Gold Teeth" or "Everyone's Gone To The Movies" or "The Caves Of Altamira" or "Home At Last" would have made for great deep-dive cuts, but like The Beatles, you think maybe the whole damn lot is the only way to truly represent their amazing catalogue from 1972 to 1980. Their rare debut 7"-single on Probe Records "Dallas" b/w "Sail The Waterway" remains un-remastered for CD anywhere in the world still too – so maybe someday down the line.

 

In the meantime "Showbiz Kids..." or "The Very Best Of..." are fantastic value for money - goody two shoes 2CD sets that genuinely offer up fans and newbees alike an embarrassment of musical greatness that i still rate as the best the Seventies got in Classic Rock...