Steely Dan: Showbiz Kids

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * * )

When the Dan's Walter Becker and Donald Fagen won four Grammys last year for comeback album Two Against Nature, some fairly asked, "Steely who?"

This double disc, subtitled The Steely Dan Story 1972-80, was released at the end of 2000, six months after Two Against Nature and in retrospect was part of the marketing to remind the music business of their contribution. It is culled from the earlier four-CD Citizen Steely Dan box set and effectively wraps up their sophisticated, jazz-influenced, polished and often emotionally distant sound in 33 essential tracks, some of which like Reelin' in the Years, Black Friday and that sneaky title track (among others) still stand up. Otherwise this is an 18-month-old Dan collection of songs at least two decades old. And there you have it. Or not.

Label: MCA