‘Aja’: Steely Dan Hit The Sweet Spot, And The Grammy Hall Of Fame

Udiscovermusic ^ | Paul Sexton | May 15

[Lurker]

“ The older I get the more I like Steely Dan.”

You and me both.

L

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

That’s funny, but honestly, there’s no way that Steve Gadd wouldn’t recognize his own playing on the “out” drum section of (the tune) Aja. It’s not that it’s the greatest drum “solo” of all time, but the style is very uniquely Gadd.

[Magic Fingers]

Lol - one in every crowd.

[Third Person]

Can’t Buy a Thrill
Gaucho
Katy Lied
Countdown to Ecstasy
Aja
Pretzel Logic
Royal Scam

and they’re all great

[Omnivore-Dan]

One of my all time favorites (and I have many), still have the vinyl and it’s in great shape. Larry Carlton was relatively unknown at the time, but he gave some outstanding licks on this album. I’ve been a fan of Carlton for many years now, and of course with all of the various band members. A truly outstanding album, as was most of their work.

[Gary from Dayton]

The drum solo in Aja is Steve Gadd. Probably the best living drummer. He also played drums on “50 Ways to Lose Your Lover”

[P.O.E.]

Larry Carlton’s playing on The Crusader’s “Chain Reaction” album is what turned me on to the whole jazz fusion genre back in the 70s

[Uversabound]

Aja lived to be 20 passed 7/6/22. I also love this album and still listen often❤️
McWaishie. 😔

[gibsonguy]

I assumed as much.

[gibsonguy]

Ah yes, Captain fingers.

[Paal Gulli]

I not a fan of Michael McDonald (or any singer who’s voice is so high pitched he sounds like he snagged his wedding tackle in the zipper of his trousers). S’why I prefer Russian choral music to Italian opera. Give me the thunder of bass baritones over the ear-piercing screech of tenors any day. Or to put it another way, Men (with a capital “M”) over castratos or contratenors.

I even cooled on the Doobies when McDonald joined the band. However, his vocals on “Peg” are one of the most extraordinary vocal performances of all time. He’s singing 4-part harmony -— with himself. The four parts are at half-step intervals, and he sang each part cold, not listening to any of the other parts for reference. All overdubs, all natural, no autotune or other electronic trickery, just perfect pitch. And it took about a thousand takes to get it right (by Fagen & Becker’s standards).

And the result is glorious.

[Free Louie]

Everyone should watch “the making of Aja”. It’s on prime.

[drjimmy]

I was gobsmacked a couple of years ago when I saw James Taylor in concert and discovered that Steve Gadd was the drummer in his band. They put on a great show.

[Lockbox]

They left off the best story of that album…Steve Gadd and the drums on Aja.

There are other great stories from the making of this song, bass player, engineer, etc. lots of videos on YouTube about the making of song. I have not figured out if they are jazz musicians masquerading as Rock & Roll or Rock & Roll Masquerading as jazz musicians.

[Alas Babylon!]

Lyrics are like wine in the music

I’ll learn to work the Saxaphone
I play just what I feel
Drink Scotch whiskey all night long
And die behind the wheel
They got a name for the winners in the world
And I want a name when I lose
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide
Call me Deacon Blues

And

On the counter by your keys
Was a book of numbers and your remedies
One of these surely will screen out the sorrow
But where are you tomorrow

I can’t cry anymore
While you run around, while you run around
Break away
Just when it seems so clear
That it’s over now
Drink your big black cow
And get out of here

[Bullish]

I used to be a huge fan of SD. I even saw them live in the 70s in Long Beach Cal. Great show.
Anymore, their music just bores the hell out of me.

[DoodleBob]

If we look back at our past 30 years , we probably forgot some of the “cool” things we did at our respective employers.

Aja is probably just another “cool” thing that Gadd did. As you note, it’s not 50 Ways. But when you work at that level, “cool” things run into one another.

[dfwgator]

Steve Gadd playing with The Studio Band Of The US Army Field Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFWSYFX4J8

[Omnivore-Dan]

Close, but Lee Ritenour was or still is known as “Captain Fingers” and was the name of a studio album by him. They were friends, an album “larry and Lee” is some cool jazz.

[Omnivore-Dan]

The Crusaders is the group that got me into Joe Sample and some others, a great group.