Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Steely Dan - Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980 CD (album) cover

SHOWBIZ KIDS: THE STEELY DAN STORY 1972-1980

Steely Dan

Jazz Rock/Fusion


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Bookmark and Share
4 stars I can't believe I'm the first reviewer for this album. Showbiz Kids is a very good introduction to Steely Dan. Some may say the two discs are too much for an introduction, sometimes that's the case, but not here. Their greatest hits album is good, but doesn't offer anything other than their radio hits and nothing from Gaucho, an important and very good album for them. There are a lot of classic tracks not on their greatest hits, "The Boston Rag" (how did this song not make the greatest hits??), "Night by Night" (great song), "Don't Take Me Alive" and the amazingly smooth "Deacon Blues", Also included are the non-LP tracks "Here at the Western World" and 'FM", both great songs as well. It's amazing to me how much music Steely Dan put out in only 8-9 years, (1972-1980). I really loved Showbiz Kids; I played it endlessly when my Dad got it for me. Forget their greatest hits; you'll be happy you picked this one up. Only reason I wouldn't recommend this album is if you know you're going to invest in all of their studio albums.
Report this review (#501691)
Posted Thursday, August 11, 2011 | Review Permalink
4 stars A best of album that covers the period from 1972 until 1980 in the life of a great rock band. SHOWBIZ KIDS contains over 2 and a half hours of music on 2 discs and is woth the money to anyone wanting to see what this band was all about. I suppose I could quibble a bit about what tracks are here: Maybe THE ROYAL SCAM is underrepresented? Maybe some tracks live? Whatever, just minor issues that are forgiveable based on what is actually here. I'll bet almost every song here is known to most US music listeners. Is it prog? Who cares. It's just damn good stuff.
Report this review (#733662)
Posted Friday, April 20, 2012 | Review Permalink
Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars STEELY DAN are one of the few bands where i'd be content with a compilation album over having all their studio records. Having said that I still find "Countdown To Ecstacy" and "Pretzel Logic" quite strong but man they have so many amazing songs on other recordings but for my tastes those albums aren't that strong as a whole. On a non-prog site their first six records are rated extremely high and there is almost no difference in the overall ratings between them. In other words these guys have been beyond successful over their careers.

I must admit I have had a bit of an infactuation with Becker and Fagan of late. I mean their lyrics are incredible and they've done nothing but create hit after hit and they don't all sound the same either, quite the opposite. These guys shunned the spotlight yet their music kept pushing them back out into it album after album. This is the most exhaustive compilation i've seen where they take us from "Can't Buy A Thrill" right through to "Gaucho" in chronological order. I count 13 brilliant tracks over those seven albums and nine years. Of course there are about 8 more I consider amazing but a step below those 13. Bottom line is that this double disc recording covers their careers very well.

My favourite 13 tracks ? Well three from "Can't Buy A Thrill" in "Do It Again" , "Dirty Work" and "Reelin' In The Years". I absolutely love those songs. Next is "Countdown To Ecstacy" and "Show Biz Kids" and "My Old School" although special mention also to "Boston Rag" and "Bodhisattva". "Pretzel Logic" is great too with "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and special mention to the title track. Lastly on disc one is "Katy Lied" and none of these are in my top 14 but I do enjoy "Black Friday" , "Bad Sneakers" and "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)".

Disc two begins with tracks from the "Royal Scam" and one of my 13 are here in "Kid Charlemagne" but I do like "Take Me Alive" and "The Fez". Next is "Aja" and three killer tunes from my top 13 in "Deacon Blues" , "Peg" and "Josie". "FM" is included but it was released on a soundtrack only. "Hey Nineteen" is my final from the top 13 and it's from "Gaucho". Special mention to "Babylon Sisters".

So there you have it. I find it interesting that I was just starting to get very serious about music just as they released "Gaucho". Still I knew so many of their songs from the radio. In fact later I would be surprised at how many of these songs were actually done by them.

Report this review (#800445)
Posted Saturday, August 4, 2012 | Review Permalink

STEELY DAN Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980 ratings only


chronological order | showing rating only

Post a review of STEELY DAN Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story 1972-1980


You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.