Two Against Nature

Two Against Nature is the eighth album by Steely Dan, and the first to be released after a 20 year hiatus from the studio. It was recorded from 1997 to 2000 and released on February 29th, 2000.

Background
After touring for a few years from 1993-96, Becker and Fagen began work on Two Against Nature. The majority of the songs demoed made it onto the album, aside from


 * the original version of "Jack of Speed" with Walter on vocals
 * "Cash Only Island", played during the 1996 Art Crimes tour
 * "Wet Side Story", also played during the Art Crimes tour, rumoured to have evolved into Cousin Dupree.
 * "Sharon's Room", listed on original Two Against Nature cover, unheard demo
 * "Things", listed on original 2AN cover, unknown if this is Things I Miss the Most, which would end up on Everything Must Go, or Shape of Things to Go


 * "Tigers", also listed on original 2AN cover, also unheard demo

Prior to releasing the album, the band went on the "Walking Distance" private tour, which culminated in the "Steely Dan's Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party" concert film being released.

Tracklist

 * 1) Gaslighting Abbie
 * 2) What a Shame about Me
 * 3) Two Against Nature
 * 4) Janie Runaway
 * 5) Almost Gothic
 * 6) Jack of Speed
 * 7) Cousin Dupree
 * 8) Negative Girl
 * 9) West of Hollywood

Steely Dan

 * Donald Fagen – lead vocals (all tracks), Fender Rhodes (1-3), Clavinet (1), piano (2, 3), Wurlitzer (4-7), organ (9)
 * Walter Becker – bass (2-7), guitar (1, 2, 4, 6, 7), lead guitar (3, 9)

Additional musicians

 * Ted Baker – Fender Rhodes (4, 5, 7-9), piano (9)
 * Jon Herington – rhythm guitar (3, 7, 9), acoustic guitar (5)
 * Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (8)
 * Hugh McCracken – guitar (5)
 * Dean Parks – guitar (8)
 * Tom Barney – bass (1, 8, 9)
 * Keith Carlock – drums (3)
 * Leroy Clouden – drums (4, 5, 7)
 * Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (8)
 * Sonny Emory – drums (9)
 * Ricky Lawson – drums (1)
 * Michael White – drums (2, 6)
 * Gordon Gottlieb – percussion (2, 3, 5, 6, 9)
 * Will Lee – percussion (6)
 * Daniel Sadownick – percussion (3), timbales (3)
 * Dave Shank – vibraphone (8)
 * Steve Shapiro – vibraphone (3)
 * Amy Helm – whistle (7)
 * Lawrence Feldman – clarinet (1, 5), tenor saxophone (4, 6), alto saxophone (5), saxophone (3)
 * Roy Hitchcock - clarinet (3)
 * Lou Marini – alto saxophone (4, 6), tenor saxophone (2)
 * Chris Potter – tenor saxophone solo (1, 9), alto saxophone solo (4)
 * David Tofani – tenor saxophone (1) saxophone (3)
 * Roger Rosenberg – bass clarinet (1, 3-5), baritone saxophone (2, 6)
 * Michael Leonhart – trumpet (1-6), Wurlitzer (3)
 * Jim Pugh – trombone (1-3, 5, 6)
 * Cynthia Calhoun (1-3, 6, 8, 9) – background vocals
 * Carolyn Leonhart (1-5, 7-9) – background vocals
 * Michael Harvey (1-3, 5, 6, 9) – background vocals