This is VERDY CHANNEL. Today I react to steely dan - aja album - for the first time. If you want early access and to support me PATREON (link) : / verdy_channel Thanks for watching Like, comment and subscribe VERDY channel.
None of us are experts, Verdy, and you're English is just fine. You express it perfectly..This has to be in my top 5 albums of all time. Steely Dan is a major rabbit hole to venture down..They were amazing!..Enjoy the ride!
I've always thought of Aja as Steely Dan's Dark Side of the Moon. It just builds a whole world for you to inhabit, and the entire album makes a complete statement.
I remember having a similar feeling about "Royal Scam" . It seemed like a soundtrack to me. It probably helped that I played the entire album multiple times on a non-stop road trip from Denver to Vegas in the summer of '77. I didn't have Aja on cassette yet! Lol.
Watching the joy on your face with every key change or instrument introduced in the songs makes me giggle because I had the same reaction the first time I heard Steely Dan when I was a senior in high school in 1976
Great reaction. This is Steely Dan's masterwork - and all their albums are excellent. The level of songwriting, musicianship and production is something that still holds up 40+ years later. This still doesn't sound dated. This was a huge commercial success as well - which is rare for an album that is so sophisticated.
They are some of the best session musicians at the time came together and formed this band and this is what you get. One of the best albums of all time.
At 67, this was the music of my youth. Along with Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Frank Zappa, and their contemporaries, Steely Dan were spinning around my turntable frequently. This music never gets old. These guys were very precise and very particular in their recording habits and styles. ALL their albums shine, but this one is a high water mark. "What a great mix." Yeah, best of all, every voice and instrument has its PLACE across the sound field here. It's as if you were sitting in front of the band, spread across a stage, and you can pick out each instrument. It takes a lot of thought to make that happen, and a lot of studio time to mix it well.
Same here. My only question is, where did the years go? One minute I’m 21 listening to Steely Dan’s new album Aja, and the next minute I’m retiring. Yikes! LOL.
Did I ever mention to you in a past comment, that for someone who isn't, or doesn't flaunt their musicianship, you have an EXCELLENT grasp of EXCELLENT music. AND, you don't over-interrupt the music, which is a TRUE talent devoid of most music reviewers online. -- KEEP GOING, girl!!!
I totally agree. She really gets INTO the music and really does react TO the music. Something many other reactionists miss. Usually I click on "don't recommend this channel" when I see "reacting to ..." in the recommendations, but I'm glad I clicked on this one. It's nice to see people still sitting down and do nothing else but listening to a whole album from start to finish. Something I should do more often in my life as well, tbh.
I discovered Steely Dan while in high school in the 90s. I cannot tell you the amount of merciless ridicule I took from my friends at the time when they heard me listening to the Dan. In fairness to them, Steely Dan wasn't very "metal". I hope they finally figured out what the rest of us all know: this is one of the best bands the 20th century produced. Because of the bands jazzy leanings, this was my gateway to becoming interested in jazz music as well (purchasing Kind of Blue and Giant Steps in the same afternoon shortly after discovering Steely Dan was a memorable day for this musicaholic).
I remember once around 1998, I was driving by the high school as it was letting out. Had some Dan playing, windows down. Boy, did I get laughed at. I guess they didn't understand!😆
I feel ya bro. My dad turned me on to Steely Dan when I was kid. I graduated high school in the mid 90s and all my friends thought that this music was weird. A bunch of phillistines who wouldn’t know musical perfection if it punched them in the ears.
'Aja' (pronounced 'Asia') is a wonderful album which perfectly demonstrates the talents of all those amazing jazz musicians who made up Steely Dan. An absolute classic full of golden and iconic jazz. Not one bad track on there.
The woman pictured in the artwork for this album is Sayoko Yamaguchi, a Japanese fashion model. Aja sounds like a Chinese melody rather than a Japanese one to my taste as a Japanese person. Steve Gadd, who played drums for Aja, was a session musician who was also noted as Stuff's drummer at the time, and had a great influence on many drummers. In 80's pop music , We often hear Steve Gadd style drums.
I was your age when I heard this band. I get how you hear it. Best music I’ve ever heard. It touches you and you can’t figure out why. Enjoy the ride. It’s for life
As an old guy who was around when this album was new, I can tell you the this album was truly revolutionary. A group which was know mostly for hit pop/rock music...then this album which combined "chill rock" with elements of jazz. It was huge...and still sounds great today.
@@fayesouthall6604 - This album is an old standby for audiophiles testing high end systems, speakers or headphones. The production was ahead of its time, and it still stands today as one of the best produced albums.
Donald and Walter, the founders and writers, with specific studio musicians appointed for not only specific songs but specific parts of songs. Donald and Walter were perfectionists and it shows. Enjoy ☺️
I have always said that Aja is my "desert island album". If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one album to listen to it would have to be Aja. I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much.
It is not an "easy" job to articulate a Steely Dan album.... especially this one. This album, in my opinion, was one of the best produced, mixed and engineered albums... of all time. Donald Fagan and Welter Becker are the "core" members of the group but that does not even begin to tell the story. They hired some of the best musicians available for their studio recordings. Some call their sound as Jazz/Rock which I cannot argue with. Some say that Steely Dan is it's own genre. Regardless of what genre it is.... it is pure Ear Candy to me. Great Reaction. Take care.
One of the greatest bands ever. You can't go wrong with any album or any song, Steely Dan is as close to musical perfection as anyone can be. I have listened to Steely Dan since I was 5 or 6 in the 70s, my parents were huge fans. Enjoy your journey.
Ya know what I really enjoy about this (besides truly perfect music), is seeing a young person in their early 20's truly loving and appreciating this album, this incredible music. (I'm 57)
STEELY DAN - ‘Aja’ released in September 1977, is the classiest jazz-rock album ever made in my opinion. The album’s high production standards, in tandem with the songwriting, arranging and musicianship is an audiophile dream and musical treat for the ears. Victor Feldman played xylophone percussion on the title track. The horns on ‘Deacon Blues’ bring me tears of joy... ‘Aja’ is an album I can listen to at anytime ― day or night. 🌄🌇🌆🌃🛋🎧👍🏻
So fortunate to choose this album first, and you will listen again and again for a lifetime, and it will never feel boring or tired, so much going on here, but just chill and enjoy it...this is another true masterpiece of modern music
Thirty seconds into the album I saw your smile and thought about how much more you would smiling throughout this. I believe that 50 years from now, after we older ones are long gone, you will be listening to this album (like we are) for the millionth time, and finding new pleasure that you didn't know was there. It never gets old. It was a pleasure to watch your first listen with you, Verdy. 🙂
Bands like this is the reason many of us saved every penny we could and we went to a Hi Fi store and bought the best audio equipment we could get our hands on. Lets not forget those massive speakers from the 70's and 80's boo-yeh!
EarlClyde, yes, this was an audiophile’s choice for testing equipment. This release, beyond the excellence of the performers, was held as one the finest examples of recording engineering. This album, when released, served as my music of choice during my San Diego beach bum days. Thumbs up, Verdi, for selecting this album for a first listen. For a similar jazz vibe, check out the band Seawind. Bon jour!
One of the greatest albums of all time from some of the greatest musicians of all time. The ultimate in arrangement and production, I'm so amazed just how good it sounds every time I listen to it.
Steve Gadd on drums on this track,,,, He got a grammy award for best drummer. Donald Fagan and Walter brought in the best of the best to complete their albums.
Probably the most beautifully recorded album ever. No sound or note out of place. If you ever do a comparison of speaker systems, take this CD with you and listen to the drumming at the end of Aja. Great speakers will ring out those cymbal rides forever. Just gorgeous tonal quality all the way through. This was the real turning point for them from their pop/rock days into their jazzier period.
My personal opinion is that you can create art that is technically perfect but which still does not have a soul. All your points about the production are valid. I get some impression of a soul in Steely Dan’s music but that emotional layer is way back in the mix for me and I engage less (indifferently) instead of forming a strong, passionate bond. When I go over to a band like Pink Floyd that is right up front. An INTP approach to music could read like that.
I'm glad you're getting a chance to check out this album. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker enlisted a load of top level musicians for this album. However the two of them carefully curated exactly what they wanted, sometimes recording multiple guitar solos by different players and then deciding which one they thought fit the best.
Geez, the title track is just... Stunning! I'm 62 and set in my ways but is music this good today? To think this was produced in the age of disco... Outstanding musicianship in a world of creative freedom, complexities not present in today's simple and repetitive music, loved your reaction Verdy, definetly a gem!
There’s honestly some insane music out there today. Snarky Puppy is one of the best jazz groups playing right now, and all their recordings are actually live performances, which is even more insane to me considering how good they sound
On the list of top 100 albums of all time, pop music. Steely Dan is a fusion of rock, jazz, soul and r&b, and they produced high quality studio music. Had this album in high school in the 70's.
Nobody was ever better at combining jazz, blues, funk, rock and pop. I've seen them live many times over the years and their live shows were always phenomenal.
I might have written the same thing, up until a year ago. i'm curious how many times &/or what years/tours you've seen them? they've been my favorite band for almost 40 years (i'm 57 y/o). I saw a couple of the New York Rock and Soul Review shows (twenty years later re-named The Dukes of September) in Jones Beach (8/23/92) and then (at the time) the Garden State Arts Center (8/25/92). They were real good shows, but not a "Steely Dan" show. I saw SD on the Tour 2k tour or the Two Against Nature on 6/9/2000. Then on the Everything Must Go tour on 9/26/03. the Shuffle Diplomacy tour on 10/14/2011. Reelin' in the Chips tour 4/17 (or 18 ??) 2017 - they were doing a couple/few week residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas and jumped down to San Diego for a couple shows/nights. This was the last time i saw Walter. I had 3rd (maybe 4th) row seats, right in the middle, there were times Walter was just standing there pretending to play his guitar. He would die less than 5 months later on 9/3/17. And lastly the Earth After Hours tour on 5/28/2022. I'm really hoping it was me, but that last show, I didnt have great seats, i even went by myself, kind of a last minute thing. one of if not THE first post i made on facebook was "I miss Walter". It seemed, like, they just went through the motions. Like they just mailed this one in. Their new (touring) guitar player, Adam Rogers is a great guitar player. But Walter had the personality. The dry humor. The one that always introduced the band. When i saw them in 2011 he and Donald talked about David Palmer, when he was in the band (thier first album, shared vocals with Donald), apparently he liked to wear leather pants but was a total, and i am quoting Walter here, "asshole", lol. Anyway, collectively they're recognized as the best touring band out there. But have you seen them lately? Have you ever thought they took a night off? I mentioned this to my longest-time friend and rock&roll mentor, Karl, and he said he's felt the same way before - but he saw them last year, in 2022 and said they were great! We both kinda think, as good as Jon Herrington is, it might be time to get another main/lead/#1 guitar player in there. It's almost like SD music is too easy for Jon. And after 20+ years playing with SD, I'm sure it is. However, he is the SD musical director, lol. Sorry for rambling. Curious to hear your thoughts, same with @pipeman65
I first saw them in Camden NJ in 2003 at the Tweeter Center. I then saw Fagen solo at The Tower Theatre here in Philly in 2006. I saw Steely Dan later that year when they teamed up with Michael McDonald for the "Sugartooth" McDan tour. That show was at The Tweeter Center in Camden. The last time I saw them was at The Tower in Philly in 2007.
Of course she’s 40 years late, that’s because she’s 40 years younger than us old f*ckers man ! The mere fact that young bloods are digging the Dan proves what quality it really is.
@@jonathanhandsmusic Not sure why it's laughable. I wish I could go back and hear Aja for the first time again. This has been one of my top 5 albums since its release. I'm glad, and not surprised, that the album keeps finding a new, younger audience.
Another 60 something guy here. When I was younger I always appreciated SD but was into heavier music at the time, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest etc. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I really got hooked when I picked up Citizen Dan on cd, a collection of their first six albums. I couldn’t stop and still can’t stop listening. Some albums of that era have aged better than others, this is definitely one of the ones that has gotten better as time passes.
I'm a drummer and Black Cow is THE song I warm up to when I rehearse at home. Such a simple groove is *really* hard to nail down so that it actually works. Love the entire album too, of course - great tunes, great playing, great drummers! A true classic.
Verdy your appreciation of great music never ceases to amaze me. Aja (pronounced Asia) is one of my favorite chill out albums along with their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill which I highly recommend you checking out with songs like Do it Again, Dirty Work and Reelin in the Years.
I love this album so much! 😊 every musician on Black Cow has their own Wikipedia page. The whole album is packed with the best jazz /rock artists and accomplished musicians. Wayne Shorter, Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Michael McDonald !
Been a fan of Steely Dan since '72. FM radio stations were just coming into their own - DO IT AGAIN and REELIN' IN THE YEARS were all over the cool stations. Then there was RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER like a year later, and a huge hit. You are so right, Verdy - this album is smooothe as $#!+ , without apologies! They really hit their Jazz Chops on this one, with the best session musicians and vocalists to be found. ...Roller Rinks, is what you're describing... Love your reaction to the title track. I was living near Monterey, CA when this was released - still takes me back to sitting in my VW bus overlooking the bay at night with this playing on cassette - simply magical. There are a few youtube videos out there where Donald, Walter and some musicians discuss the recording of this album - I think you would really learn a lot from watching. Your English is better than any of my 2nd languages, and I enjoy your accent - where are you from?
This is only one example of the music we grew up with. So many wonderful and super talented groups!!!!! ENJOY.......... YES, my dear we were blessed... You know it was good when you must play your air-keyboards & air guitar. That is a sign!!!!! Take care!!!!
Super impressed with you on this. You “got it” starting with the first note. I have to confess: most younger folk often wonder why this album is considered “special.” It’s a time capsule. You were digging Gadd. That’s cool! Good work.
"That was some smooth sh*t!" ... Absolutely the same thought i had when i first heard Steely Dan. And the great thing is that they didn't made bad music you can hear their whole catalogue if this music is for you. Just great music minds behind this. Great producers espacially. Their first album 'Can't Buy A Thrill' was immediately one of my favourite if you want another recommendation.
I stumbled across this reaction by accident. What a joy. I got in to SD about 5 years ago because I’d always loved Haitian Divorce and FM from when I was a child. I submerged myself in their music for about 3 months, So much subtlety and invention. Some of my friends seam to think it’s easy listening, but they really don’t understand the lack of predictability in chord progressions and rhythmic choices. Nice to see someone react almost exactly the way I did. It just sounds so lush, but is so rewarding.
The drummer on.the title track. , Steve Gadd lived for a time in my neighborhood in Rochester NY. The Eastman School of Music was very influential in the area . Today the city hosts an International Jazz Festival.
I love this album, not only for the great songwriting and fantastic musicianship, but also for the amazing quality of the production. When I went shopping for a new stereo system, this was the album I took with me to test out the speakers.
Been a fan of SD since 73. Been a musician for 45 years. This is a talented group. Aja is a great album. Not a bad song on any of their albums. SD has a album or song that fits any of your moods. My favorite album is the Royal Scam a must to react to.
This music is called "Blue Eyed Soul." That's the genre of music I sing. It's a combination of R&B, Rock, and Soul with jazzy instrumentation. This is my favorite album. Thanks for playing it. You're adorable.
These guys were masters of studio composition, and asked a lot of their session musicians to ensure perfect sounds. It's one of my favorite albums ever.
AjA is a masterpiece in music. It's an album you drop the needle on and walk away. Every song is honed, musical craftsmanship .(xylophone and timbrell to answer your ?)
My favorite Steely Dan album of all time. I love it so much that I bought the 1977 US pressing in black vinyl, and the 1977 Canadian pressing in translucent red.🥰 There is not a bad song on this album. I was only 16 when this album came out, and even though it was not a typical rock and roll record I realized then that this might be a perfect record.#vinylcollector #70smusic
Being a Dan fan already, I bought this album when it was released in 1977. I was, and still am amazed at the perfection it contains. It is the perfect length (timewise) for me to mow my lawn. My LP is a little scratchy, but the downloaded album streamed to my headphones while mowing sounds pretty good.
Steve Gadd's drumming in the song 'Aja' is phenomenal. My hat is off to the drummer I saw playing with Steely Dan live in Boston a few years ago for pulling off the drum part to that song.
You can hear the jazz influences a lot in this album. It was always there in their earlier works. Both Becker and Fagan were both fans of jazz in their youth and you can hear that influence in their writing. This has got to be one of my desert island albums!! Pink Floyd - Animals, Rush - Hemispheres, and this are my first three!
I loved your reaction to Steely Dan's, A’ja. The feelings shown in your face were the same as I (and many of us) got almost 50 years ago, and still do today. It’s so amazing that music can bridge a gap in time and distance between people, giving us a sense of unity. I must admit, when you said the next song would be ‘Deacon Blues’ I burst out laughing. After the first two cuts I knew what was going to happen in your head and in your heart when you heard it. It just feels so good knowing that young people today can share the same happiness my generation felt listening to these superb musicians. Thank you for bringing that feeling back to me.
I really hope you do a deep dive into Steely Dan. They're an amazing group that never released a bad album, and are considered one of the greatest bands ever. If you enjoyed Aja, you won't regret it.
I think this is one of the greatest albums ever produced. But I'm biased because I love everything Steely Dan has ever made. Great seeing your reaction!
Stunning album. They were known as "your favorite band's favorite band". I enjoyed your reactions. I can tell by your head and hand movements that you're getting it. Impressive in it's own right for a first listen to SD.
Ahh... Steely Dan. With their fusion of jazz, soft rock, blues, soul, pop... They have created such a unique sound. It's like a musical genre unto it self. No other band sounds like Steely Dan. That instrument... xylophone or marimba ?
I read that they had a dozen or so guitarists come into the studio and play a solo for one song and sent them away. The guy whos playing ended up on the song found out when he bought the album and saw his name in the credits. Those guys were crazy perfectionists.
As a musician myself, I have to say that Aja is as near musical perfection as you can get. I've just recently recorded covers of both Peg and Josie, and now this is making me want to do Black Cow as well. I am really happy to see someone young enjoying this so maybe it won't be lost to time.
I am 63 now, I have been listening to Steely Dan for about 50 years . NEVER get tired of their music. My favorite Steely Dan album is The Royal Scam! Two favorite Steely Dan songs are from that album, "The Caves of Altamira" and "Kid Charlemagne". Steely Dan is one of the very few groups that I can listen to every song on every album.! INXS is one of the other groups that produced great albums with songs from track one to B sides that were all quality, though not at the Steely Dan smoothness, complexity, intelligence.
This album and it’s title track stands alone in popular music. Becker and Fagen used R&B, Rock & Roll, and lots of other classic musical styles to make jazz accessible to the uninitiated and palpable to the masses and the haters. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy watching a discerning listener as yourself have your mind expanded in "real time". It’s like we are sharing the same space and playing records together. Your reactions make me smile and occasionally laugh out loud. Steely Dan's songs are so very layered, one picks up new things when listening decades later. It’s like reading the Bible for a lifetime, and it will always speak new things, always. Thanks a lot and keep up the fine job.
Their first commercial success was with Reeling in the Years, which I saw on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, circa 1973! Until this century they rarely toured, concentrating on producing albums, never gave interviews. They were an enigma - a mystery to many - which added to the anticipation of each album. They didn't fit into anyone's conception of what a band should or could be. I think they were the recluses of the 70's and 80's music culture. Life on the road disagreed with them. They were the guru on the mountaintop who kept their secrets hidden. I loved Steely Dan for that. The music was everything. Celebrity was poison to them. Kudos to Donald and Walter- RIP. They did it their way.
