Is The Best of Steely Dan a good place to start with Steely Dan?

Yes, The Best of Steely Dan is recommended as a starting point for new Steely Dan listeners. A sophisticated blend of jazz-inflected rock with witty lyrics and intricate arrangements that define Steely Dan's unique sound. Released in 2007, this compilation serves as a retrospective of Steely Dan's influential career, showcasing their distinctive style from the 1970s. By this time, the duo had already enjoyed significant success with albums like 'Aja' and 'Gaucho', solidifying their reputation as innovators in the rock and jazz genres.

Who is The Best of Steely Dan for?

The Best of Steely Dan works well if you're into steady pacing for relaxed listening, lyrical wit and sophistication and peaks of energy throughout.

How many songs are on The Best of Steely Dan?

The Best of Steely Dan has 10 tracks, running approximately 49 minutes.

The Best of Steely Dan

Steely Dan · 2007

49 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A sophisticated blend of jazz-inflected rock with witty lyrics and intricate arrangements that define Steely Dan's unique sound.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Do It Again Start here — The opening track establishes the album's jazzy rock essence, featuring a memorable chorus and intricate guitar work that showcases the band's signature style.
→
Reelin’ In the Years — 'Reelin’ In the Years' stands out for its catchy hooks and sharp lyrics, capturing the band's knack for blending storytelling with complex musicality.
→
Deacon Blues — This track exemplifies Steely Dan's lyrical depth and musical sophistication, exploring themes of aspiration through a lush arrangement and evocative storytelling.
→
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number — With its infectious melody and clever wordplay, this song became one of Steely Dan’s biggest hits, showcasing their talent for creating radio-friendly yet intellectually engaging music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

68 /100

Alpine

Higher than 93% of albums we've rated

This compilation highlights Steely Dan's sophisticated songwriting and arrangements but lacks a cohesive narrative as a standalone work.

What we noticed

Each track is characterized by complex chord progressions and intricate arrangements, typical of Steely Dan's style.
The lyrics across the tracks often contain witty and ironic commentary, enhancing the overall sophistication of the music.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing for relaxed listening
lyrical wit and sophistication
peaks of energy throughout
for thoughtful background
engaging melodies for sing-alongs

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek high-energy party anthems

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Starting Point — A compilation that highlights key tracks, ideal for new listeners to explore Steely Dan.
Themes: 1970s jazz-rock fusion· Los Angeles nightlife· intellectual storytelling
Career context: Released in 2007, this compilation serves as a retrospective of Steely Dan's influential career, showcasing their distinctive style from the 1970s. By this time, the duo had already enjoyed significant success with albums like 'Aja' and 'Gaucho', solidifying their reputation as innovators in the rock and jazz genres.
Stylistic neighbors: Chicago· Blood, Sweat & Tears· Hall & Oates