"Smooth" is the right description for Steely Dan. They are consummate musicians. Technicians in the studio. Not a wasted note. Everything thought out and vetted, experiments. Throw out a ton of stuff to get it just right.
You nailed it. Steely Dan were studio perfectionists who cycled dozens of A list session men through every song until they had exactly what they wanted. Every album is great, Aja is their masterpiece
Growing up in the nyc suburbs, I listened to wplj as a teenager. I knew a little of steely Dan, then heard peg... then deacon blues... then josie and black cow and I was like... wait a minute, these are not their greatest hits? These are all on one album?
When I saw them at The Beacon Theater, I was like 🤯 "They sing Reelin' the Years?!?" and also "That's the guy who sings What A Fool Believes?!?" referring to Michael McDonald. 🤷🏾♀️ Been a fan ever since. 😊🐰 #ENRGYZRBunny
You stank faced to every cue a true pro would. Incredible. You totally get the finest subtleties of music. Congrats bro. You got my sub. If I could give four or five subs, you would've got em'. Life long full time musician here. You've got my respect. I'll be checking in regular.
Steely Dan gave up touring in the early 70's and in short order became Walter Becker, Donald Fagan plus hand-picked All-Star caliber session players the likes of Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Wayne Shorter and Tom Scott. They would rehearse songs past the point of perfection so that they eventually sounded closer to improvisation, and at times, switched out entire studio bands for an entirely new band. This is an example of "The Dan" at the peak of their powers.
My dude, you got some big freakin ears on you. I've been listening to Steely Dan since the 70s and you're pointing out stuff even I haven't heard before. Mad respect for the intelligence and musicianship in your comments. Instant subscribe.
A lot of albums are great, but a few are timeless masterpieces. This is one. I've been the biggest Steely Dan fan since age 14. So happy to see a new generation of people truly appreciating the Dan's genius.
My back to the wall A victim of laughing chance This is to me, The essence of true romance And I crawl like a viper Through these suburban streets Legendary lyrics
Great reaction. I'm sure others have said this, but back in the day, when people got a new stereo system, they'd put this record on to show off the sound quality. Analog recording of analog instruments really could not be done better than this.
Glad you liked it. I was all of 19 in 1978 when I was released and in my 3rd radio station job weekends overnights at KPAS FM 94 in El Paso. Programmed then by Jay Blackburn's Wife Chauncey similar to WLUP in Chicago. I learned so much there. But I grew up diversified in Music across the board. Also played nearly everything from Jazz to Album Rock, Disco, Country, Adult Contemporary where I was a music director 1980-1986 at KQIP FM Odessa-Midland. Loved Radio for as long as I got in it when Vinyl was it mid 1970s to the late 1980s. Now resurrecting a mobile DJ company with the top 100 Billboard hits of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Just honored you listened to these incredible musicians I had the honor of playing at several stations. A sound I'll never forget. Glad you are into them. God Bless.
This was my husband's favorite group and loved this song. We saw them live in concert 3 times. He died in a drunk driving accident in 2015. I play this in his memory all the time. "Drink scotch whiskey all night long and die behind the wheel"
So many great tracks from Steely Dan. The entire Aja album, the entire Gaucho album, most of Katy Lied, Pretzel Logic and The Royal Scam. No shortage of sweetness.
Everything they did was smooth as butter. I've been playing guitar for many years now, and I wouldn't even attempt most of their stuff. I'd never heard, "The only L is Learn," before. I like that. God bless sir.
You have an amazing ear, picking out all sorts of colors and instruments and effects that pass by unnoticed by the majority of folks. A "producer's ear." Very impressed with your knowledge and musical instincts. Loving your channel, sir!
Fist time I heard this song was on a flight from London to San Francisco about fifty years ago it was playing on a loop I must have heard it at least ten times the next day I went out and bought the l p and this was my favourite song for years I drove my family nut kept playing it , still think it’s a great song today all these years later thanks for the memory. Bill in england
The Crimson Tide is the name of the Alabama University college football team. It’s one of the most successful college programs ever with 17 national championships. Aja is one of the all time greatest albums ever recorded. You noted the production, Fagen and Becker were perfectionists. They knew what they wanted and would do take after take until whoever was playing got it the way they wanted it. Try the Title track Aja. You won’t be disappointed.
Fagen and Becker grew up listening to Jazz, Blues and R&B. The song is an hommage to Jazz musicians. I bought the album in 1977. I remember when it came out I remember reading a newspaper article that said you could not go to a party on the Univ. of Alabama campus and not hear this song. The football team there is called the Crimson Tide.
I have everything that Steely Dan ever put out. I can't think of a single song on any of their albums that didn't have killer musicians on it. All the little things in the mix make it so dammed entertaining.
👍good reaction if you like steely dan, try Toto , “hold the line” Africa “ or “I won’t hold you back”not has polished on the jazz side has steely dan, but like steely dan , a bunch of great session musicians,
I'm a rocker, and by that we're talking Deep Purple,Van Halen,Led Zeppelin,etc. This was the album in my collection that made my friends go "Dude,wtf is this?". They never got it and I didn't care. I acquired this album from my stepmom. The first time I listened to it all the way through I was enchanted by it. If you can find it,there used to be a program called "Classic Albums" that would spotlight different albums. It included interviews with musicians, engineers,producers,etc who were involved in the making of the album. They did an episode on this album and it's awesome. It such a cool story too. They recorded this album with the cream of the crop session musicians. A lot of great stories about the making of it.
There are SO many great Dan songs. This was the first of their songs I ever heard, when it was a hit on FM radio back in the day. I was in junior high. Probably the next thing that hit the radio was their song FM (no static at all).
It's a must. As a Steely Dan music lover. To listen to BLACK COW. If you ever heard of LORD TARIQ AND PETER GUNZ's DEJA VU(UPTOWN BABY). You might recognize the beginning of BLACK COW sampled.
The Wake Forest football team was called The Deacon Blues. They lost 45 games straight to Alabama. Chuck Raney, from Cleveland on bass. I'm a bass player. He's one of my favorites. He doesn't overplay but adds smooth lite fills. Always interesting and smooth.
On Pink Floyd Animals, the pigs, dogs and sheep represent the three main social classes. The pigs are the elite ruling class. The dogs are the law enforcers and the sheep are common folk. Pretty deep subjects but extremely satisfying concept album.
I never tire of listening to Steely Dan. Everything they put out was like a hug to your ears!! The musicality, production and arrangements were so SMMMOOOOTHHHH. Love Love Love!!!
I've always maintained that record and sound production has gone *down* since the 70s, so I'm always a little amused when members of the younger set act surprised at how good recordings from this era sound. Digital has not done a lot for music. *Real* music that is.
Yeah they say digital media is the way to go, but it compressed the sound and took away the clarity. Sure it eliminates the hiss of analog, but it loses something too.
I ran out and bought the Aja album when heard Deacon Blues for the first time and I have never been without a copy since. Quality can never be substituted. They stayed true to the music and never cut corners. Co-founder Walter Becker is on the bass, between him and Charles Rainey III, who plays on Josie and Peg are two of the four bassists that inspired me to play bass. Peter Christlieb is on the tenor sax solo also inspired a couple of my friends along with myself to play sax. All this from this one album and this particular song.
You really need to go back to the beginning - their debut album, "Can't Buy a Thrill", and listen to "Reelin' In the Years", hell - go through the whole album. Then you can move on to the next album. There ain't no such thing as a bad Steely Dan song, period.
