Gold (Steely Dan album) explained

Gold
Type:greatest
Artist:Steely Dan
Cover:Gold (Steely Dan album).jpg
Released:June 1982[1]
1991 (Expanded edition)
Recorded:1973–1982
Genre:Rock, jazz fusion, rhythm and blues
Length:
  • 40:23 (original edition)
Label:MCA Records
Producer:Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
Prev Title:Steely Dan
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:A Decade of Steely Dan
Next Year:1985

Gold is a compilation album by Steely Dan, released in 1982. It mostly comprises hits both post-dating and not included on their 1978 Greatest Hits, essentially acting as "Volume 2"; it also features additional album tracks, offering a broad perspective on the band's career to that point.

Overview

Seven of the tracks are from five of the band's albums from 1973 to 1980; it also includes the non-album single "FM (No Static at All)" (from the soundtrack to the 1978 film FM). Of the album tracks, there are two songs from both Aja and Gaucho, and one track apiece from Countdown to Ecstasy, Katy Lied and The Royal Scam.

Release

A limited edition of the compilation was issued in 1982, which contained an additional 4 track 12" disc with songs from 1978 Greatest Hits album.[2]

In 1991, the compilation was reissued as the Expanded Edition with four extra tracks - "Here at the Western World" (previously only available on the band's 1978 Greatest Hits compilation), "Century's End" and "True Companion" (two Donald Fagen solo songs from movie soundtracks), and a live version of "Bodhisattva" (originally released as the B-side to the 1980 single "Hey Nineteen"). In addition, the reissue swapped the original "FM" with an alternate version with a saxophone solo replacing the guitar in the song's coda, a version that essentially incorporates the original single's B-side, "FM (Reprise)". Most Steely Dan compilations CDs since then feature this version of "FM", however, Gold (Expanded Edition) is the only place to find this version on vinyl.

Box set

The box set of the same name, Gold, was also issued in 1982 and combined the band's seven albums and "FM (No Static at All)" single.

Track listing

All songs by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, except where noted.

Side one

Side two

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Great Rock Discography. 1995. 782 . 9780862415419 . Strong . Martin Charles .
  2. Web site: Steely Dan - Gold (1982, Vinyl) . Discogs . Discogs . 20 May 2021.