In the documentary, "The Making of Aja," One of the studio guys says that Donald and Walter took it "past perfection," so that not only were the performances spot on, the tracks felt as though they were improvised. I thought that was a very interesting comment.
I bought this album when it came out. I was 11 years old. The album blew me away. It changed how I listened to music forever. I cannot recommend the whole album highly enough. In fact, the entire Steely Dan rabbit hole is fantastic. Love your videos!
My old man introduced me to Steely Dan in the mid eighties when I was old enough to appreciate perfection. A studio recording masterpiece! Everytime I hear this I think of my old man.
You are becoming musically reborn. This is a new genre for you, it's Steely Dan. Mine this rich vein of musical perfection. Black Cow, FM, Gaucho, the list goes on, for 8 years in the 70s.
This album was ground breaking, so far head of it's time. They're not songs, they're pieces of music. Steve Gadd on drums, incredible, and Wayne Shorter on sax, RIP.
"Do it again" is easier to appreciate at first listen, but "Aja" will grow on you and will be remembeted for ages. The sax solo was played by Wayne Shorter who was one of the greatest jazz/ fusion jazz sax players of all time. He died in recent years
@buddystewart2020 young people have come to expect a band to always sound the same and to be confined to a narrow style and sound. Plus, it is pretty wild to jump from early Dan right onto Aja without experiencing their evolution.
If someone is playing a solo or a great drum part on a Steely Dan song, rest assured they are one of the greats of the game. That's what Steely Dan became - the two guys creating music with the best session guys in the world.
Steely Dan is a deep dive. Known for their musical perfection and amazing lyrics. They are the best example of what we called Adult Oriented Rock back in the day.
Steve Gadd steps on the gas illustrating why he was one of the most sought after session drummers in music history. It’s just a joy to listen to and there’s elements and chops that I stole from this along with other Gadd material that were really influential in my playing.
Steve Gadd on drums. Hails from Rochester, NY. After several other drummers hust didn't work out, Steve was brought in did it in one take. He was also played on 50 ways to Leave your Lover. Aja is a masterpiece.
Timeless. Played by the finest musicians of their era. B&F are musical geniuses, one of a kind. Aja dropped the same month I went away to college in northern California from So. Cal. Deacon Blues, indeed. Throw a kiss and say goodbye, I'll make it this time. Aja is like an old friend that you never tire of, a warm blanket. A new generation discovers the power and perfection of The Dan. Welcome to the show.
You two make the music new for us older people! Your enthusiasm reminds us of what it was like when these songs were new to us. Thank you so much. ☺✌🧡, PJ
The tenor sax player on this song, Wayne Shorter, had been the sax player in the most important American musical group ever, the second great quintet of Miles Davis. He laughed about doing a little pop solo for a rock band but he was friends with owner of the recording studio so he did it as a favor to him.😮
Side Note: This album is so perfectly recorded and mastered that audiophiles frequently use it as their ‘test source’ when they evaluate new audio equipment for possible purchase.
The entire album is a series of bangers…you will love “Home at Last”, “Black Cow” and ‘Deacon Blues”….you should also check out The Pat Metheny Group - “First Circle” will start you off on the right track of a deep rabbit hole
The amazing Wayne Shorter on saxophone. Check out his recording "Speak No Evil" or "Shhh/Peaceful", recorded with Miles Davis, from the damn near perfect "In a Silent Way" album.
I was managing a record store/headshop when this album was released, and first heard it while working. My part of the store was quite small, and the sound system was very good, so it was a very intimate listening experience, when there weren't any customers talking loudly to each other over the music. 🙂
LOVE your reactions! Steely Dan is a hypnotic vibe really - multi-textured fusion of smooth jazz and rock music glad to see you guys know top shelf creativity when you hear it.
WELCOME TO SOME OF THE BEST MUSIC EVER,DELVE INTO THE DAN ARCHIVES,AND ENJOY THE RIDE,THIER MUSIC HAS CARRIED ME THROUGH GOOD TIMS AND BAD FOR OVER 50 YEARS ,STILL A TREAT TO LISTIN TO THEM.
Should comeback over time to cover the entire album. Not a bad note anywhere. Try the song, Black Cow. (if you haven’t already) Great couple, stay safe guys….. ✨
Steely Dan is one of the rare groups besides the Beatles and a few others , that if you ask 20 of their fans what there best album is , you are most likely to get 5 or more different answers . And to pick their favorite single , you will for sure get 10 or more different responses .
Hi guys. You’ve just started going down a very deep rabbit hole now. Enjoy your journey - it’s not a dark hole, it’s very bright . Lovely reaction as usual. Stay safe - thinking of you both.
I still have my original copy from 1977. It still sounds good till this day. I'm glad I got to seem the live before Walter Becker passed away. Everyone should listen to that entire album. What a classic.
It's jazzy because there were many jazz's best musicians playing on this LP on top of the core band. I believe it was Wayne Shorter on the sax for this one and smokin' Steve Gadd on the drums. Steely Dan were so good they took 20 years off ('80-2000) and with thier comeback LP " Two against nature", against all the new artists/trends, still won the Grammy that year.
“Do it Again” and “Aja” are the two ends of the Steely Dan spectrum. More in the middle is “Peg”, “My Old School, and “Kid Charlemagne”. Definitely check those out.
Something interesting about this song is that no one could really understand what the lyrics were about before they asked the authors, and the story behind it is really interesting. "Aja" is a way of writing "Asia", and on the authors words, the song tries to transmit the idea of "the tranquility that can come of a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman". That was inspired by a friend of Donald Fagen (the pianist, and one of the lyrics writer), who had just married to a pretty Asian woman who was a quiet and reserved person, and her behaviour molded their relationship. You'll notice a lot of Asian culture references on the lyrics along with some oriental instruments.
Their albums are just fantastic. You can’t go wrong with The Dan! Their song Third World Man from the Gaucho album is simple and subdued but at the same time deep and complex. Check it out.
I remember when this album came out. I was 17 & in high school. FM Rock stations played the entire album! its really a great cruising album! ❤ These songs (all of Steely Dan actually & all 70’s Great Artists), are the music of our lives! So many memories attached to them of when and where!❤ You won’t be disappointed if you experience More Steely Dan!😊
Carol likes her Led Zeppelin! No worries, Jimmy Page Lead Guitar of the mighty Zep plays Steely Dan when he has had a long day shredding his guitar. He loves this band, and YOU should too. I love the chemistry between you two. Ahh, yes, to be young again! Thanks for the video!
Hey, fellow rockers! 😀 I love that you're covering Steely Dan! Both songs you guys did are great. Here are a couple of further suggestions - FM (my favorite) and Hey Nineteen. Welcome to the world of smooth jazz!
Wow... so cool, your reaction! Not too many people like Aja because it sounds so Jazzy... I love it BECAUSE it sounds so Jazzy! There are tempo change-ups and musical moments that surprise you all along the song. Now, here are two performances that you will fall in love with... 1. Stevie Ray Vaughan doing "Texas Flood" live at The Mocambo ... I swear, his guitar needed a cigarette after that performance!!! 2. Neil Peart drum solo Live in Frankfurt... Rush's drummer doing an 8minute solo. This is the reason he was called "The Professor" and was your favorite drummer's favorite drummer!!! Enjoy Carol & Elie... I wish to make you smile!
The album AJA is where this jazz/rock group really found their jazz chops - listen to the whole album front to back. I had this on cassette when I was stationed in Monterey, CA (1977/78) and so appropriate to the area overlooking the Bay at night. Donald and Walter engineered this in the studio with some 40 session musicians (with up to 40 takes on this one track). DO IT AGAIN was early Steely Dan, but they evolved quickly throughout the seventies. Try HEY NINETEEN and TIME OUT OF MIND from their Gaucho album (1980).
Goddamn masterpiece. Oh it is more than a "hint' of jazz. It is jazz. Wayne Shorter solo is magic. This is far more advanced than do it again btw. Listen to it again and grow
'Aja' is a great album. One of the greatest in my opinion. That said, maybe checkout 'Reelin' In The Years' or 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' if you're just getting into Steely Dan, a truly outstanding group.
Wayne Shorter sax solo over the Gadd drums so good. Weather Report and Steely Dan two of my 5 a day. Booked to see Steely Dan supporting the Eagles in Manchester UK. Sadly they lost their Keyboard player but were replaced by the excellent Doobie Brothers who had Michael MacDonald who sings on this Album. What goes around comes around. Great reaction
Just when you thought John Bonham of Led Sell skin gave the best drum performances of all time. Here comes Steve Gadd! Gadd did a session for Leo Sayer in the morning for a song called You Make Me Feel Like Dancing. Then he moved on to the Steely Dan session for AJA. He did the song in basically two takes. Days later Gadd returned to the Aja album sessions and they played him the song,AJA. Gadd asked who is that motherf#$%r on the drums? Then they told Gadd that he had played on the track!
🙋🏿♀️ May I suggest PEG next for a 3rd version of what SD brings to the table? 🤔 Every song on the AJA Album is different so there is something for everyone! 🤗 But PEG will make you dance. 🥰🐰
Hello CC! Very interesting choice for a second Steely Dan song. This album was a huge success for them. Although I think this whole album is brilliant in writing playing and recording I never quite caught the vibe. I am also a bit more inclined to drift towards the "Do it Again" vibe. Thanks again! Being older I enjoy watching younger folks discover some of these bands as we did. Rock on!
🕶🎷🎹☄💥🎸🥁🎶 Steely Dan is what happens when a bunch of jazz dweebs decide to fʉkk around with rock'n'roll. If you're used to crazy bombastic metal, or hyper-sexualized Zeppelin, your ears will have trouble with key changes, and odd meter, and complex chords and arrangements. But with a little repetition, and relaxation, the complexity begins to sink in, and you'll start to realize the depths that this type of music can explore. This song is peaceful and meditative, and then it's a traffic jam in NYC. Just like life. Secure & safe & cuddly at home, then hustle and bustle when you step outside in a metropolis, just to go to the damn store to restock condoms and liquor. Once you get your ears acclimatized to more complex harmony and rhythm, you can go back to Zeppelin, and realize just how profound they really were. Led Zeppelin was an improvisational jazz band that used pentatonic blues with rock rhythms, folk-ish sound beds, a dash of eastern harmony, and a ton of distorted guitar and drum heaviness, to push the boundaries of that era of popular music. Imagine a jazz guitarist with a new pedal called " *ROCK* !". No sax, no trumpet, no brushes, just crisp distortion and sex. Led Zeppelin.
