I am standing in for a guy on our local radio station tomorrow at short notice. He usually does a feature on an album.
I intend doing Aja so any guff on the album or individual tracks. No mind if you think it is well known having em all together here will be handy.
thanks.
well I didn’t know the master tapes for Black Cow and Aja were lost. Just those 2 tracks. How odd.
Horn arrangements were done by session ace Tom Scott and Fagen gave him the spec “Listen to blues and the abstract truth” – of you know Scott’s work and the Nelson album it’s all there.
I have that album. One of my favourite album titles.
You can tell your listeners that me and my elite band of music aficionados , each one a man of wealth and taste, decreed that Aja was a mighty disappointment, middle-of-the-road easy listening and not worthy of a place on our LP shelves.
Took me at least ten years to accept I was Wrong.
I can completely relate to this – waaay too smooth. I came to appreciate its strengths, but it took a while.
I thought that too when I first heard it, especially as my favourite Dan to date was The Royal Scam. But of course they’re both brilliant and quite different.
Rod Stewart played the harmonica solo. Or was it Stevie Wonder? Or am I getting my muso trivia confused?
I think you are.
wasn’t it Bob Holness?
It’s by Steely Dan – although that may be one of the well known bits of trivia
Ricky Ross named the Dignity Hit Makers after a track.
It was featured on the ‘Classic Albums’ tv series during which I’m reasonably sure Ian Dury said it was his favourite album. He showered some very articulate praise anyway.
That doesn’t really help you though…
A quick search revealed…
1. “Peg” Took Perfectionism to New Heights
The sunny pop gem “Peg” wasn’t easy to perfect. Seven top-tier guitarists attempted the solo before Jay Graydon nailed it with his now-iconic take. It took six hours of relentless effort to get it just right, a testament to Steely Dan’s legendary pursuit of perfection.
2. An Album Made by Nearly 40 Musicians
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were known for their rigorous standards, and Aja is a prime example. The album featured nearly 40 session musicians, including legends like saxophonist Wayne Shorter. They assembled this dream team to ensure each note met their exacting vision.
3. The Name “Aja” Has a Personal Backstory
The album title, pronounced “AeJa,” was inspired by a woman who married a high school friend of Donald Fagen’s. It’s a subtle nod to a personal connection, adding an air of mystery and sophistication to the record.
4. Michael McDonald’s Unmistakable Backup Vocals
Michael McDonald’s layered harmonies on tracks like “Peg” are instantly recognizable. His contribution added depth and richness to the album, solidifying his place as one of the most sought-after vocalists of the era.
5. The Missing Multitrack Masters Mystery
Despite the album’s pristine sound, the multitrack masters for “Black Cow” and the title track went missing, derailing attempts to create a surround-sound version. Steely Dan even offered a $600 reward for their recovery—an intriguing mystery that remains unsolved.
From its immaculate production to its blend of complex musical styles, it’s no wonder the Library of Congress deemed it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Aela ?
Graydon went on to produced Manhattan Transfer, Al Jarreau and George Benson. He was as particular as Becker and Fagen had been with him, working them hard to get the desired result.
He gives good pod and that Peg solo is but one of the many astonishing performances he recorded. This is another example….
There was a gold vinyl version in Canada, I have it, apparently worth quite a bit these days.
The Steve Gadd story as told by Gary Katz: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-katz-steely-dan-aja-interview-2022/
Fill your boots with muso nerdery courtesy of my chums:
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-steely-dan-aja
It’s a palindromic album title.
well spotted!
This would be a better story if I knew the name of the band member, but anyway, one night his phone rings, and it’s Donald Fagen, who says (something like)
“Hey, you’re a football fan, aren’t you? I’m writing a lyric and I need the nickname of a football team, do you know any?”
“Well, they call Alabama the Crimson Tide…”
“That’ll do, thanks…” [click]
Great story
Ditto.
Donald Fagen played golf nearly every day during the sessions.
‘Home at Last’ might be about The Odyssey.
Well the danger on the rocks is surely past
Still I remain tied to the mast
Could it be that I have found my home at last
Home at last
The Dan can actually get boring (there, I said it) on these slow plonkers like HAL. See also Third World Man.
Oh I like that riff.
The guys weren’t exactly ‘lookers”.
Such a consideration is not remotely important in show business, obvs., and I do apologise for bringing the thorny subject of ‘minging’ up.
I have an original US Master Recording copy on vinyl and I must admit it sounds even better than my UK vinyl copy but… I don’t know right now if either are better than the CD that I have as my CD player is broken.
They took their name from Burroughs’s The Naked Lunch, which mentions a dildo who’s full name is “Steely Dan III from Yokohama.”
Aja was David Crosby’s favorite album
A black cow (or at least a version of it) is the same drink that was called a Coke Float in your local Wimpy Bar.
It was US basketball player A’ja Wilson’s dad’s favourite album.
The whole album has been sampled extensively by other artists, some more successfully than others: https://www.whosampled.com/album/Steely-Dan/Aja/
Bob Holness plays the sax solo.
On Deacon Blues it’s Pete Christlieb. He played sax for Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. Becker & Fagen tracker him down because they wanted his sound.
The title track is the last Steely Dan track Denny Dias appeared on. He became a computer programmer
Steely Dan split up in 1981 and reformed in 1993. Their played Josie on their first TV performance after their reunion on October 20, 1995, on The Late Show With David Letterman.
Peg’s lyrics are inspired by the movie All About Eve.
The woman on the album cover is Japanese model and performance artist Sayoko Yamaguchi.
English expat percussionist, vibraphonist and pianist Victor Feldman is all over this album, as he is in quite a few ‘Dan album tracks from their debut and over the subsequent years. A very favoured ‘Dan sessioner.
Wayne Shorter plays the tenor sax solos on the title track.