Jump ahead to the 18:00 minute point to see and hear Michael McDonald comment on his part in supplying vocals. Very interesting stuff.
It’s a Steely Dan weekend at Freepers!
Hey, Everything Must Go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2nbAtceHqw&list=PLdD0L20Wp32PZxEFlOuOoaQfPc8paFmqQ
Great album and video. Thanks for posting. Too many memories.
I love “Gaucho” too.
Best hour I’ve spent in while. Thanks for the post!
I hadn’t heard of them, really, until a classmate at Fort Huachuca in 1978 turned me on to them. Great music.
Great music. Fun seeing kind of the exploded view of what’s going on with the individual parts in those songs.
Have the LP
The 1st Mrs. Lurkin floated the idea of naming a child Aja — but we never got to that.
LOVE this album, and the drumming on the title track, though simple, is sublime. Steve Gadd won the best drumming performance of the year for that. It’s become my favorite track on the album.
Looking back, I think they were years ahead of the soft-jazz, fusion trend.
Others were, too. Santana, Chicago, etc.
Great video.
I always thought SD was a lab band.
Very impressed to see how they had auditioned a number of guitar soloists for different pieces until they found the one closest to their vibe.
I’ve noticed this recently on XM Radio.
The songs they play back to back for years, they throw in an occasional shift in one of the tracks. A different keyboard player or a different percussionist, or a slightly different variation on the harmony rhythm.
Thanks for posting. Fabulous trip down memory lane!
Thanks for this, you made my night.
What a coincidence. Was at a local Disc Replay (they sell used CD’s, albums, etc..) and picked up a still sealed in original plastic copy of Aja for $15. Also found an original still sealed Who “Who Are You” as well. Can’t wait to put them on the ol’ turntable ....
I learned to solo on sax playing Black Cow over and over again in my room with the headphones on. There is awesome sax all over that record, topped by Shorter on the song Aja. Steely dan is not the easiest changes to blow over by any means.
Thanks Rooster
Way back in 98, my (re-)introduction to “The Dan” was kind of rough. I auditioned for a band that was being formed to play for the company(Platinum Technology) Christmas party. I really didn’t expect to play since I hadn’t done anything serious for about ten years but the guy playing bass had to play lead guitar due to the lead guitar player injuring his hand. They asked me to play, we’ll keep it simple they said, ALL LIES! Among many other great covers we played Home at Last and Kid Charlemagne. I lost 20 lbs. but we knocked em flat and it was all worth it.
One of my all time favorite albums. Amazing work.