I’m 61 and this is on my top five albums. Aja sets me free. I get into trouble though because I tend to drink too many adult beverages when listening to.
Will never see the likes of these cats again in my lifetime. Pure genius. Thank the Lord God Almighty for allowing them to awaken to a new day. Grew up with them from the 70's. Loved their music then, love it now. Favorites are Katy Lied, The Royal Scam. Katy Lied, I was halfway crucified, I was on the other side of no tomorrow, You walked in and my life began again, Just when I'd spent the last piaster I could borrow. Wow, will last a lifetime. I bet they're rich as f---k. Probably saved all their money.
not sure when you wrote this, but sadly Walter Becker passed away in september of 2017. and then his family sued Donald Fagen for half the rights to the Steely Dan name and company. C'est la vie!
Eric Ciampa you're absolutely right. One the best performances of Steve Gadd and one of the best drum tracks period. I wonder if there was some bad blood between them afterwards. I can't imagine any other reason to not acknowledge such a substantial part of the song. I would have loved to hear those tracks soloed!
And Gadd did it in ONE TAKE. Probably the only drummer to nail a SD tune in one take. Pretty Purdie nailed Babylon Sisters on a 2nd take. I have heard in other places that Gadd is kind of a hard guy to get along with. It is well known that he was a heavy drinker for a long period of time. Still, Steve should've been interviewed. It's the greatest drum performance on a SD tune. Glad they were able to get Wayne to do an interview.
Got to agree. I hear that drum at the end of the track and even now after 40 years the world stops, everything is possible life begins and there is hope. When my coffin goes into the burner the drum will play....xx
In another interview Fagen and Becker talk about how shocked they were at how Steve easily put down the drum track. And Steve played on a few songs on Gaucho. They were supposedly from the same session I believe. Nobody Steely Dan has hired subsequently has come close to playing Aja like Steve Gadd did including Keith Carlock.
Hard to say what the greatest drum performance on an SD tune is for me, but yes, not even mentioning the incredible Gadd take is strange. Porcaro, Purdie, and Marotta all did some great stuff for them too.
It IS odd that they make no mention in this about Gadds drumming on the tune Aja. He did at least a few other songs with them. But I read an interview with Fagen years back talking about how Gadd came in, sight read the music and had the song and his solos down perfect by the second take. That is the one heard on the record. He said they were stunned. They had never seen that before.
The only part of this that annoyed me was them talking about the sax on Asia, right through one of the greatest drum solos in history, performed by Steve Gadd. There had never been drum solo of that magnitude on pop song. And it remains a classic to this day.
I dont think they could get Steve Gadd in to interview about his isolated drum track from Aja, apparently the multitracks for that song have been lost.
How they didn't talk about that stunning drum track by Gadd is baffling , purdie is good and all ( he'll be the first to tell you) but that drum solo is completely over the top , i mean come on man !
To know and understand the Concept.. Steely Dan.. you have to KNOW about musical history and Mr.Ian Dury,R.I.P. was not just anybody or nobody to comment on The Dan´s references and output! I think he nailed it on the head.. and it should be interesting to have a european view on that very american style of music universe,could be the reason!
Becker and Fagan make a big deal about how hard it was to get Wayne Shorter to agree to play on the record. Shorter says when he was asked to play "It was quite matter of fact I said yes". Sounds like either memories faded or a little drama added to spice up the story.
Possibly both Fagen and Becker may have felt Shorter was out their grasp; that playing for them was beyond him. Shorter, on the other hand, said, "Hey, why not?"
Shorter didn't do session dates. He was constantly performing and recording with his own bands. Most of the session guys that SD used were purely session players. They did nothing else. Easier to schedule. I would imagine that Wayne probably recorded his solo in between gigs.
Aren't Donald and Walter notorious for embellishing and/or completely making up stuff? A good example of this is the liner notes inside the gatefold of 'Aja'...
When I discovered this treasure time stood still as I watched one part after another in the orgasmic expectation when they would get to (as a drummer myself) their discussion with Gadd (or so I thought) and how he worked with them in developing Gadd's masterpiece contribution to the track aja. I could only imaging there is bad blood between them otherwise why wouldn't they even mention him? After all, it is the high point of the album although all of it is a masterpiece. Sad & frustrating...
This is pure magic! that black guy kicked some major ass as he blended his rythmic beats into Aja. Steely Dan has nothing to worrry about looking at today's crap that's called music or the saps they call artists. Steely Dan are REAL artists...take note all you rappers,hip hop fools and American Idol fools
I’m 61 and this is on my top five albums. Aja sets me free. I get into trouble though because I tend to drink too many adult beverages when listening to.
Will never see the likes of these cats again in my lifetime. Pure genius. Thank the Lord God Almighty for allowing them to awaken to a new day. Grew up with them from the 70's. Loved their music then, love it now. Favorites are Katy Lied, The Royal Scam. Katy Lied, I was halfway crucified, I was on the other side of no tomorrow, You walked in and my life began again, Just when I'd spent the last piaster I could borrow. Wow, will last a lifetime. I bet they're rich as f---k. Probably saved all their money.
not sure when you wrote this, but sadly Walter Becker passed away in september of 2017. and then his family sued Donald Fagen for half the rights to the Steely Dan name and company. C'est la vie!
As fantastic as this is, no mention of Gadd's drum parts on Aja is maddening (as a drummer).
Eric Ciampa you're absolutely right. One the best performances of Steve Gadd and one of the best drum tracks period. I wonder if there was some bad blood between them afterwards. I can't imagine any other reason to not acknowledge such a substantial part of the song. I would have loved to hear those tracks soloed!
And Gadd did it in ONE TAKE. Probably the only drummer to nail a SD tune in one take. Pretty Purdie nailed Babylon Sisters on a 2nd take. I have heard in other places that Gadd is kind of a hard guy to get along with. It is well known that he was a heavy drinker for a long period of time. Still, Steve should've been interviewed. It's the greatest drum performance on a SD tune. Glad they were able to get Wayne to do an interview.
Got to agree. I hear that drum at the end of the track and even now after 40 years the world stops, everything is possible life begins and there is hope. When my coffin goes into the burner the drum will play....xx
In another interview Fagen and Becker talk about how shocked they were at how Steve easily put down the drum track. And Steve played on a few songs on Gaucho. They were supposedly from the same session I believe. Nobody Steely Dan has hired subsequently has come close to playing Aja like Steve Gadd did including Keith Carlock.
Hard to say what the greatest drum performance on an SD tune is for me, but yes, not even mentioning the incredible Gadd take is strange. Porcaro, Purdie, and Marotta all did some great stuff for them too.
Love the "Purdie Shuffle"
"Jazz is a double edged sword, you mustn't do too much of it." Oh, these guys.
*laughs in superior jazz musician*(right there with you, btw😂)
It IS odd that they make no mention in this about Gadds drumming on the tune Aja. He did at least a few other songs with them. But I read an interview with Fagen years back talking about how Gadd came in, sight read the music and had the song and his solos down perfect by the second take. That is the one heard on the record. He said they were stunned. They had never seen that before.
He actually nailed it in ONE TAKE. Per interviews and Brian Sweet's bio on the band.
They blended such top notch musicians and singers to make a masterpiece
The only part of this that annoyed me was them talking about the sax on Asia, right through one of the greatest drum solos in history, performed by Steve Gadd. There had never been drum solo of that magnitude on pop song. And it remains a classic to this day.
This song is dreamy. There should be a second section of this part five devoted to Gadd. I’m glad Shorter was featured.
Man, will we ever see session guys like this in our lifetimes again????
no, jazz is dead
An absolute gem of an album! Blasted it on 8 track all summer long in 1978
I wish it would have been me. Aja the song is amazing
Damn. Bernard Purdie is just next level.
outstanding!!! Thanks so much for uploading! Now this is how music is made..
Whenever I hear the babbling of music journalists I am overtaken by the urge to set fire to expensive buildings.
Exactly...a great Monk quote is "Talking about music is like dancing to architecture."
You're jealous of articulate people and probably can't put a single sentence together, which is why you have to resort to burning things.
Captain Sunday
That's ironic, because I'm jealous of people who burn things and so I have to resort to being articulate.
Tony Bates I know the feeling brother 😬
I'm a journalist who hates listening to the drone of music journalists
I dont think they could get Steve Gadd in to interview about his isolated drum track from Aja, apparently the multitracks for that song have been lost.
How they didn't talk about that stunning drum track by Gadd is baffling , purdie is good and all ( he'll be the first to tell you) but that drum solo is completely over the top , i mean come on man !
To know and understand the Concept.. Steely Dan.. you have to KNOW about musical history and Mr.Ian Dury,R.I.P. was not just anybody or nobody to comment on The Dan´s references and output! I think he nailed it on the head.. and it should be interesting to have a european view on that very american style of music universe,could be the reason!
"When have you ever heard a song on a rock and roll record that cannot be played on the guitar"
Becker and Fagan make a big deal about how hard it was to get Wayne Shorter to agree to play on the record. Shorter says when he was asked to play "It was quite matter of fact I said yes". Sounds like either memories faded or a little drama added to spice up the story.
Possibly both Fagen and Becker may have felt Shorter was out their grasp; that playing for them was beyond him. Shorter, on the other hand, said, "Hey, why not?"
Shorter didn't do session dates. He was constantly performing and recording with his own bands. Most of the session guys that SD used were purely session players. They did nothing else. Easier to schedule. I would imagine that Wayne probably recorded his solo in between gigs.
Middle men can probably also make that process maddening
Aren't Donald and Walter notorious for embellishing and/or completely making up stuff? A good example of this is the liner notes inside the gatefold of 'Aja'...
Bernard Purdie 1/2 time shuffle well known as one of the most recorded drummers ever and he is always been a teacher of rudiments
ORIGINAL, FEEL GOOD MUSIC 🎵🎶🎵🎶 🎵🎶!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2:05 song "aja" starts. 5:53 wayne shorter amazing solo.
no comments on the amazing drum solo on aja? wtf?
When I discovered this treasure time stood still as I watched one part after another in the orgasmic expectation when they would get to (as a drummer myself) their discussion with Gadd (or so I thought) and how he worked with them in developing Gadd's masterpiece contribution to the track aja. I could only imaging there is bad blood between them otherwise why wouldn't they even mention him? After all, it is the high point of the album although all of it is a masterpiece. Sad & frustrating...
weather report maybe. wilton felder played sax with the jazz crusaders.
5:35 ahkaneer
Aja is ana amaaaazing song.
No talk of Steve Gadd?
This is pure magic! that black guy kicked some major ass as he blended his rythmic beats into Aja. Steely Dan has nothing to worrry about looking at today's crap that's called music or the saps they call artists. Steely Dan are REAL artists...take note all you rappers,hip hop fools and American Idol fools
"That black guy"? That's just an odd comment.
He's a guy! Not a black guy.
Stfu with goofy b.s. Miles and Quincy dug hip hop.
Bernard Purdie :D
timeless extra ordinary
Where's Steve Gadd?!
Pretty Purdie is THE MAN!
No Steve Gadd?
A song from a rock and roll record that can't be played on guitar? Revolution 9?
steve gadd!
9:40 sounds like room 335?
Pure GM
Up on a hill....
I wonder if Gadd would not participate in the recording of this presentation or wasn't available or some kind of falling out happened?
Who the hell is Ian Dury and what's he doing here?!
Do your research dumbass
He is Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll!!