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‘Aja’: Steely Dan Hit The Sweet Spot, And The Grammy Hall Of Fame
Udiscovermusic ^ | Paul Sexton | May 15

Posted on 05/17/2024 3:10:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway

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To: escapefromboston

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

You and me both.

L


21 posted on 05/17/2024 4:12:37 PM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: DoodleBob

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.


22 posted on 05/17/2024 4:12:46 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (The Democrat breadlines will be gluten-free. )
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To: sauropod

Lol - one in every crowd.


23 posted on 05/17/2024 4:21:21 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
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To: nickcarraway

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

and they’re all great


24 posted on 05/17/2024 4:37:07 PM PDT by Third Person
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To: nickcarraway

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.


25 posted on 05/17/2024 4:43:22 PM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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To: nickcarraway

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


26 posted on 05/17/2024 4:48:28 PM PDT by Gary from Dayton (Army Vet 1986-1991)
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To: Omnivore-Dan

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


27 posted on 05/17/2024 4:50:04 PM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America.)
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To: Omnivore-Dan

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


28 posted on 05/17/2024 4:50:27 PM PDT by Uversabound (Might does not make right, but it does enforce the commonly recognized rights of each succeeding gen)
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To: dfwgator

I assumed as much.


29 posted on 05/17/2024 4:52:37 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: Omnivore-Dan

Ah yes, Captain fingers.


30 posted on 05/17/2024 5:01:44 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: nickcarraway

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.


31 posted on 05/17/2024 6:18:36 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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To: nickcarraway

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


32 posted on 05/17/2024 7:06:39 PM PDT by Free Louie
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To: Gary from Dayton

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.


33 posted on 05/17/2024 7:07:44 PM PDT by drjimmy
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To: DoodleBob
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.

34 posted on 05/17/2024 7:12:05 PM PDT by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show hosts to me.... Sting…)
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To: nickcarraway

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


35 posted on 05/17/2024 7:12:28 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: nickcarraway

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.


36 posted on 05/17/2024 7:15:09 PM PDT by Bullish (...And just like that, I was dropped from the ping-list)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

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.


37 posted on 05/17/2024 7:35:09 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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To: drjimmy

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

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


38 posted on 05/17/2024 9:18:12 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: gibsonguy

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.


39 posted on 05/18/2024 2:39:32 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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To: P.O.E.

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


40 posted on 05/18/2024 2:44:21 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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