Classic Albums: Steely Dan's Aja - Deacon Blues 

Jon Scott Wow. I love comments like yours. Seriously. I really appreciate '1st person witness' stories folks (rarely) share in the comments section on a lot of music vids here on RU-vid. Thanks very much for sharing. FWIW, Aja was released while I was just a kid in the 70s. I was in the 4th grade & it's the album that I most remember from my childhood. I especially like the song Josie because my first little crush I had on one of my classmates had a similar sounding name, Jessica (we called her Jessie). What's funny is that, even at my young age, I noticed how much of a noticeable difference there was in the audio quality of a Steely Dan album compared to some of the other albums I (and my older brother) often listened to. I'm really glad this documentary was made re: the Aja album. It's a timeless album. My 2 young daughters have begun to enjoy it too (I've begun to introduce them to the sounds of older music & they say some of it is as good as 'their generation's music'... so I guess my mission was successful). :-) Anyway, again, I really appreciate you sharing your unique 'behind-the-scenes' moment from many happy years ago. Thanks!

Jon Scott - so great! This was my Favorite also.

Great work, guys. I NEED that 12" omg!!

Jon Scott well done sir. They are so good. On everything

Where is Gary Katz on all these SD documentaries about their recordings? He produced a lot of their stuff. I’d love to hear his insight.

Yes Ryan,one of the best.......this is the soundtrack to the start of my life.... moving to Houston from Ohio and starting my family.....good memories....

I guess you could say you're home at last. ;-)

I agree

It's been 40 years ago and Walter has passed

SUGAR XYLER Amazing it's been that long! I remember when it came out on "vinyl". It was unsurpassed!

And it keeps killing me...

Who longs to become a beatnik loser with a sax more than those Wall Street types?

He is missing a lot, I rediscover Steely Dan and I wonder how I could spend so many years without listening to them, since I listen on repeat and what happiness for the little drummer that I am.

THAT !* IS WHAT THIS WAS "fully coceptualized as it was either being written or recorded , or both" but yeah , that's what it was " accurate synopsis, ("intelligent music")🤔 you know it's funny as i'm listening to all these " each one better than , the previous " tracks i'm trying to figure out "rationally" how they could be such good i.e. "prolific" all around musicians: lyrics, composition , arrangement and musical proficiency themselves. It was their "conceptualization backed by actual artistic" ability , Donald Fagen was like a hybrid of Stephen Hawkings and Stevie Wonder , they both him and Walter seemed kind of like "savants". AND.... Donald Fagen was definitely of some Mediteranean bloodline, so he was organically drawing from something with his jazz and r&b inspired renditions as well , they were like an uncommonly right left brain sychronized duo / band, whew..... now i comprehend get it (their "phenomenon" ) [as. it. were.] a little bit better. rather. something. else ..... 🤔

.... well said !

@cardo late 20's, but yes, Fagan was brilliant, and long before Aja, too. Brian Wilson wrote Pet Sounds when he was 23... an absolutely mind boggling genius, as was Todd Rundgren.

@@vampyros1 Prince was 25 when he wrote the Purple Rain album.

Well said

I also think this. Many rappers sampled the Dan throughout the years, even Ice Cube. You see quite a lot of middle-aged black men talking about how good those two were. For a white band, they sure have their following between black people. It's rock with a black soul on it (hence the term jazz-rock for their music).

I always felt that my Main Man Donald Fagan loved Black music. I could always hear it in all of their albums the jazz,blues,and Gospel feel along with the pop and soft rock. And I love his honesty about his true feelings that is very rare among American Artist from back in the day. British artist were basically honest about where they got their inspiration and would tell you in a minute. I am so glad that my admiration and Love for the Dan's style wasn't misplaced......PEACE

Crosby stills& nash

So is Ritchie Cooverville from Schenectady. Now...back to Steely Dan.

Larry Carlton - Bernard Purdie we're really large parts of the Steely Dan ! Bringing in all of the greatest musicians ; Followed these gentlemen since earrly 70's. ! Seventies ( 70's) Very creative decade for music ... Bravo 👏🎷🎶

what a drag

Anyone who has ever worked in the studio with Todd Rundgren probably never had to endure the perfectionism of Fagen/Becker.

PoetryHound awesome album!

Springsteen on Born to Run & Darkness, too.

Laura Nyro's perfectionism drove Rundgren to distraction - see the youtube of him discussing working with her.

@CodeBleu724 True... in his 'glory days' Todd could record 'perfect' quicker than anyone, most of which he played and sang by himself. So, the operative word is "endure".

You should try some harder drugs, then.

I did, believe me. Those days are long gone.

InflatablePlane Fagen said he'll keep the band going. A huge loss, but the recordings are immortal and great musicians can bring them to live.

skierpage that's good to hear. It'll be great to see the band live but there's only one Walter Becker.