@@dexstewart2450 Why do I get the feeling during a lengthy session of listening to the Dan that I feel as if my heart was breaking somewhere in the distance...?
Steely Dan's music is consistently amazing....I have everything they have put out, and I love everything they did. "Any Major Dude", is currently in my ear, can/t get it out of my head.
Here are the credits for this amazing track: Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle, backing vocals Walter Becker - guitar Larry Carlton - guitar Denny Dias - guitar Chuck Rainey - bass guitar Victor Feldman - percussion Steve Gadd - drums Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone Joe Sample - Fender Rhodes Michael Omartian - piano Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals
There’s a UA-cam video on the making of this track. Apparently Fagen and Becker invited Wayne Shorter to play. There’s some discussion whether Shorter was initially skeptical of the project, but when he came to the studio he asked to hear the section of the song he was to play on. He listened once, then laid down his saxophone part in one take. It’s also interesting to hear the recording engineers complain about the process - very day, repeats with new musicians added and former musicians dropped, again and again and again. Fagen and Becker also talk about their concept for the album. It’s really informative and interesting stuff.
Wayne Shorter was the tenor sax player for Weather Report and also for Miles Davis's second great quintet. Out of all of the great work he has done, "Aja" is acknowledged by many to be his best.
@@richardcarpenter6907 really the man was the primary song composer in Art Blakely' s Jazz Messengers, The best small combo ever Miles Davis 2nd great quintet, and then with Joe Zawinol and Weather Report. I love his solo on here but man Wayne got a Hella of resume not to mention his own solo stuff
You're gradually falling into the SD rabbit hole... I love to see how you're beginning to get it all: the instrumental chops, the suggestive imagery, the grooviness...
Larry Carlton who sits in on a few Dan tunes is known as one of the best jazz guitarists on his own. I’ve seen them live several times, they are amazing. No one ever recommends their later work but I love it as much as their old stuff. Their Two Against Nature album won the Grammy for best album of that year.
@@SightAfterDark I know when I go to another UA-cam video after yours its a lot louder. I have to crank my Yamaha up loud to hear that then I forget when I go to another source. But I dig you two anyway. Both of you know you're stuff about musicianship.
Steely Dan songs that make you want to move: Green Earrings, The Fez, Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Glamour Profession, FM (No Static at All), My Old School, Parker's Band, Bodhisattva, Reelin' In the Years.
Bodhisattva is at the top of a long list of Steely Dan songs that get me moving. In particular, the 1980 performance from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: it includes the most awesome band intro I've ever heard.
@@rob7953 Awesome intro, but that concert took place in July of 1974. The Dan became a studio-only project shortly thereafter and didn't perform in public for another 20+ years.
The sax player, Wayne Shorter, played with Miles Davis, and co-founded Weather Report. The drummer, Steve Gadd, besides regularly touring with Eric Clapton, is a studio musician with 423 album credits starting in 1970. Steely Dan's previous album, "The Royal Scam" is also well produced and has some great songs on it - especially "Kid Charlemagne" with it's Larry Carlton guitar solos. On one song, about relationship problems, they have the lyric "Turn up the Eagles ; the neighbors are listening." and the Eagles responded with a line in "Hotel California".
I've been thinking for a while that "STEELY DAN" is a jazzy-groove ride that takes you places in your mind kind of like "PINK FLOYD". They both are their own genre of music if that makes any sense.
I believe the lyrics ".....dude ranch above the sea"......was referring to a rehab place in LA. From the 60's through the 80's, LA was a drug fueled, underground scene that will be written about for decades. Being in a band in that era, in that area is to understand the lyric content of all their songs......they had their finger on the pulse. A lot of meanings, unless you were there, won't make sense today. But the music totally captures the mood and the scene of that time. For a lot of 'inside the LA scene' references.......you just had to been there.
One cannot simply take Steely Dan's lyrics.... literally. Some of it is "tongue in cheek" other is "double entendre". Some of it may be simply "word play". Both Fagan and Becker are gifted musicians for sure. We are fortunate recipents of their talents.
I always think of being in Bali on vacation when I was younger. We stayed at a cattle & Sheep ranch for a few days which had a huge Banyan tree out front of the main house. The ranch up in the hills. Such great memories of this and the beach and Steely Dan's music being so accurate for our situation, although I'm sure it was written about other things. Just seemed perfect to us! That whole album was fire!
Just found ya'll. Steely Dan is one of my top 3 fav bands! I really enjoy your reactions, y'all are good together! Watching you is like showing your friends this band for the first time. I would suggest that when you get headphones, you listen without imagery (video) That's how we experienced it. You will find that your imagination is much better than any video. I liked and subscribed ❤
I've been listening to SD since 1972 and "Do It Again.' I am also Black and very political . A Marxist-Leninist. For decades. Aja (a play on Asia, really meaning China) . What is it about? The lyrics ARE literal! It's about Richard Nixons' second trip to China in 1976. He was invited by the Chinese govt after resigning due to the Watergate scandal in '74. The irony was that Nixon was right wing and yet a so-called communist govt welcomed him with open arms. Here is the breakdown: Richard Nixon is the person singing. Up on the hill--Capitol Hill, DC Chinese music always sets me (Nixon) free. Angular banjos sound good to me (Nixon)-, here at the dude ranch above the sea--The "Western White House" in Southern Calif, San Clemente. His ranch and where he vacationed when President. He's saying he loves listening to Chinese music as an escape when there. He didn't. But Donald Fagen is saying that to mean China welcomed Nixon back after the big disgrace of Watergate and his resignation. Aja (China) when all my dime dancing is through, I run to you.--Visiting China to escape from the shame of the Watergate scandal and his resignation. (And it was a HUGE scandal! Forever changing US history). Double helix in the sky tonight, throw out the hardware, let's do it right--the May 1970 US military invasion of Cambodia (hardware). When it happened a rare star constellation could be seen in the sky that night ( a double helix). As you know by now, much of SD lyrics are heavy with cynicism and irony. Lastly, the song "Pretzel Logic, (1974) is about Hitler and the rise of fascism in Germany. "Doctor Wu" is autobiographical. About Walter Becker's heroin addiction. "Jack of Speed" is about Senator Ted Kennedy and what happened on that bridge in 1969. BIG news at the time! Conspiracy theories to this day about it.
@@SightAfterDark To be honest, the analysis isn't all mine. Back in 1977 I read a review of the album. Everybody was talking about it. A writer for the big city newspaper I was living in at the time reviewed the album and he broke down the meaning of "Aja." I stole it from him. Lol! All the pieces fit. SD songs are like a puzzle. Many reflect what they are going thru or have gone thru or American and world history and American culture.
Now, it makes sense. Loved it before, but now it's especially meaningful. I always tried to find real meaning in the lyrics, but sometimes it is difficult, especially if you don't have the knowledge that the lyric is pertaining to. Thank you very much for some enlightenment.
Check out their 2000 Grammy winning album "Two Against Nature" featuring gaslighting abbie, jack of speed, and cousin dupree. By the way, Donald Fagen is tickling the ivory.
Getting back to your older reactions. This is one of my fave of my fave albums. 1 was 18 in 1978 and played this album non stop. "when all my dime dancing is through I run to you." Is there ever a better fucking lyric? My take is, I am getting my cheap thrills but when is all said and done I want you. who knows but art is for interpretation and its different to each one of us. i wish i was 18 again. lol
After watching your review of Deacon Blues I got the feeling you weren't grasping what Steely Dan is, but it looks like things have changed for the good. It's "The Dan," they have soul and more.
Killer tune and those drum breaks are sick!! Steve Gadd is indeed one of the best drummers and the rest of the musicians are at the top of their games.
"Double Helix in the Sky" refers to the Milky Way Galaxy. This song is my favourite Steely Dan song. The musicianship on it is off the scale. And Wayne Shorter's cameo on Saxophone is sublime!
Expansive is a great word for SD. I don't think of them as a dance band but I could dance to "I Got the News," "Monkey in Your Soul" and "Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More."
Brilliance, expansive is accurate, fusion style, a blending of music like Brooklyn is a blend of people. Being a native Brooklynite I can state that with experience!😀👍🏻❤️☮️🎤🎹🎸🎼
I love how they weave their music, so intricate. I really enjoy your insights on the lyrics. Oh and if you have not looked up what a double helix is .......... dou·ble he·lix /ˈdəbəl ˈhēliks/ noun a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis, especially that in the structure of the DNA molecule.
Haha thanks Victor. We know what a double helix is, we were just surprised to hear it in this context (being in the sky and what not) thanks for watching!
For those of you who are curious about Steve Gadd's sounds on Aja...Here is an excerpt from 'Scott Moyer' - "were you there the entire all night session when Gadd played two takes and told Fagen and Becker that "I can't play that any better and I gotta catch a plane back to New York"? This , to the Dan who are known for 40 to 50 takes! I'm also aware of Gadd being hours late to the session as everyone was waiting for him as he was late leaving the previous studio of a Leo Sayer session ("You make me feel like dancing"). That night at the Village Recorders in Santa Monica started with some rough criticism from Becker and Fagen on what they wanted from Gadd, causing Steve to get teary eyed. They obviously lite a fire under Gadd and created one of the greatest pop tracks in recorded history. He ended doing two takes and they were edited together into one track. As I was leaving the studio, Beatles Producer, George Martin walked in." Scott Moyer - @YURk Upon hearing the song a month later Gadd said: "Wow guys, I love it. Who's playing drums?"
Watch a Rick Beato, The song that changed my life video. He dives into Aja, and breaks down all 3 of Steve Gadd’s solos in the song. And will give you both a better understanding of Steely Dan. And the complexity of their recordings. Btw great job. It’s difficult to not here this song. And not saying whose playing the skins on this track. Steve was the # 1 Studio Drummer. Period
Once upon a time there was a new sort of exotic free form jazz being played, they called it Be Bop. To some listeners and players this knew musical language sounded like Chinese to their ears. To foreign and complex. The practicians of this disparate divergent alchemy would gather for late night sessions of improvised soloing. "Chinese music always sets me free..."
Haha! At about the 6'30" mark you talked about keeping people calm at festivals... My buddy used to play this album for sound checks and in between our sets. The best album to check your speakers and monitors!
Steve Gadd was on drums and the sax player was Wayne Shorter. At the time, Steve Gadd was in the Jazz/R&B group Stuff. That was probably one of his best recorded drum work. And Wayne Shorter was from the premiere Jazz Fusion group, Weather Report. They just played off of each other's energy.
I don't have enough time to name all my favorite SD songs but here's a short list. Show Biz Kids Green Earrings Glamour Profession The Fez Home At Last
Good reaction. There were a lot of jazz-fusion musicians and bands around the time Aja was released - Chick Corea’s Return to Forever, Weather Report, Billy Cobham, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and lighter stuff from bands like the Crusaders. It was an amazing time.
Fair warning, though. If you don’t like jazz fusion you won’t like these artists - except maybe the Crusaders, which has broader appeal than, say, Mahavishnu Orchestra. But it’s a genre worth exploring.
They're on another level of talent - writing, arranging, production... I saw a comment somewhere, "They're your favorite band's favorite band". Try "Black Friday" for something a little different from them.
The band are another level, but if you want to dance to them here are two with the BEST grooves: Do It Again (from the album Can’t But a Thrill) and Bodhisatva (from Countdown to Ecstacy)... both early in their careers.
The Marimba player VICTOR FELDMAN has been on hundreds of recordings. I knew his son who is a great Bass player. Sent me a performance video of his Steely Dan tribute band years ago. And I was wiped out 😁
Steely Dan is the cream of the crop, top notch. You DO need to be careful where you pause the music; many times you'll totally destroy the flow which is incredibly important. Please just take it back a bit whenever you pause and restart, that would certainly help. Rick Beato called the drum solo in this song something that changed popular music. Back in the day (when you would go to a brick and mortar building to buy your stereo gear, this was THE song you would use to test the speakers in the listening room.
If you want to hear a Steely Dan song that makes you want to dance, you should listen to “The Fez” from the album “The Royal Scam”. That should get it. :)
So... after doing the entire sublime Aja ablum, where do you go from here? How about 3 minutes of unbridled euphoria with Shorty Long's "Function at the Junction?"
If you enjoyed this, check out our podcast on Steely Dan!
ua-cam.com/video/2tNasxBrqnM/v-deo.html
If anyone says they have a favorite Steely Dan song, they really don't know Steely Dan.
Love it
Right? Pick any song, any album.
The one I'm listening to at the time :)
Q What is your favorite Steely Dan Track? A Yes!
@@dexstewart2450 Why do I get the feeling during a lengthy session of listening to the Dan that I feel as if my heart was breaking somewhere in the distance...?
The drummer is Steve Gadd. He played the most well known drum riff of the modern era, Paul Simon, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.
And his playing here, probably changed a lot. And it was done in one take! Immortal.
Played on Zappa's Sheik Yerbouti...play for Zappa, you've got chops
Done in one take.
@@lenloving Gadd was/is everywhere,he's a STUDIO session guy.
@@dexstewart2450 He didn't play on Sheik Yerbouti.
Steely Dan's music is consistently amazing....I have everything they have put out, and I love everything they did. "Any Major Dude", is currently in my ear, can/t get it out of my head.
Here are the credits for this amazing track:
Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle, backing vocals
Walter Becker - guitar
Larry Carlton - guitar
Denny Dias - guitar
Chuck Rainey - bass guitar
Victor Feldman - percussion
Steve Gadd - drums
Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
Joe Sample - Fender Rhodes
Michael Omartian - piano
Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals
There’s a UA-cam video on the making of this track. Apparently Fagen and Becker invited Wayne Shorter to play. There’s some discussion whether Shorter was initially skeptical of the project, but when he came to the studio he asked to hear the section of the song he was to play on. He listened once, then laid down his saxophone part in one take. It’s also interesting to hear the recording engineers complain about the process - very day, repeats with new musicians added and former musicians dropped, again and again and again. Fagen and Becker also talk about their concept for the album. It’s really informative and interesting stuff.
OMG! HELL OF A LINEUP!
Wayne Shorter was the tenor sax player for Weather Report and also for Miles Davis's second great quintet. Out of all of the great work he has done, "Aja" is acknowledged by many to be his best.
@@richardcarpenter6907 really the man was the primary song composer in Art Blakely' s Jazz Messengers, The best small combo ever Miles Davis 2nd great quintet, and then with Joe Zawinol and Weather Report. I love his solo on here but man Wayne got a Hella of resume not to mention his own solo stuff
"Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone" ...Hold up?! WHat?!
SD songs have the power to take you away into a different world... even their short songs!
This album has been part of my life forever it seems like. I remember the first time I heard it though, I thought it was a masterpiece even then.
I absolutely *LOVE* watching smiles break across peoples’ faces listening to different SD songs the first time. It’s an experience. A beautiful one.
We love listening to SD! Thanks so much for watching!
You're gradually falling into the SD rabbit hole... I love to see how you're beginning to get it all: the instrumental chops, the suggestive imagery, the grooviness...
It’s amazing
Larry Carlton who sits in on a few Dan tunes is known as one of the best jazz guitarists on his own.
I’ve seen them live several times, they are amazing. No one ever recommends their later work but I love it as much as their old stuff. Their Two Against Nature album won the Grammy for best album of that year.
Sounds awesome. Thanks for watching!
More than a few tunes.
I'd suggest investing in headphones, which will amplify even further the incredible level of musicianship exemplified by these true artists.
We’re working on it! Bought a headphone splitter for our newest reaction video and it didn’t work :(. We’ll get it done
@@SightAfterDark A quad speaker system might work for you.
(FYI: your stereo salesman will probably use "Aja" as a demo of how well it performs!)
like he said, good set of headphones, that way you'll also be able to hear the police whistle, lol
@@SightAfterDark I know when I go to another UA-cam video after yours its a lot louder. I have to crank my Yamaha up loud to hear that then I forget when I go to another source. But I dig you two anyway. Both of you know you're stuff about musicianship.
The album Aja is a masterpiece.
Agreed
@@SightAfterDark The Making of Aja is on You Tube - watch it :)
Steve Gadd said it was his best performance.
We can see why!
Steely Dan songs that make you want to move: Green Earrings, The Fez, Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Glamour Profession, FM (No Static at All), My Old School, Parker's Band, Bodhisattva, Reelin' In the Years.
I’d add Do It Again to the dance list, the tune has such an irresistible groove!
Fez makes me want to move on roller skates, always with a hat though
Bodhisattva is at the top of a long list of Steely Dan songs that get me moving. In particular, the 1980 performance from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: it includes the most awesome band intro I've ever heard.
Love “Hey Nineteen”
@@rob7953 Awesome intro, but that concert took place in July of 1974.
The Dan became a studio-only project shortly thereafter and didn't perform in public for another 20+ years.
The sax player, Wayne Shorter, played with Miles Davis, and co-founded Weather Report. The drummer, Steve Gadd, besides regularly touring with Eric Clapton, is a studio musician with 423 album credits starting in 1970. Steely Dan's previous album, "The Royal Scam" is also well produced and has some great songs on it - especially "Kid Charlemagne" with it's Larry Carlton guitar solos. On one song, about relationship problems, they have the lyric "Turn up the Eagles ; the neighbors are listening." and the Eagles responded with a line in "Hotel California".
This info is gold!
Thanks for the info!
R.Gray, what was the line from Hotel Ca?
Susan Testa stab it with their "steely" knives but they just can't kill the beast. Something like that. Steely Dan rules. 😎
@@MovementGraffiti It's to be found on Wiki.
I've been thinking for a while that "STEELY DAN" is a jazzy-groove ride that takes you places in your mind kind of like "PINK FLOYD". They both are their own genre of music if that makes any sense.
Not only does it make total sense, but you’re absolutely right!
The great Steve Gadd on drums 🔥
Anyone showing this much respect to my favorite band gets an instant sub.
Thanks for watching John!
The fact that 👏 "younger" generations really appreciate SD and Aja makes me feel hopeful for the future.
I believe the lyrics ".....dude ranch above the sea"......was referring to a rehab place in LA. From the 60's through the 80's, LA was a drug fueled, underground scene that will be written about for decades. Being in a band in that era, in that area is to understand the lyric content of all their songs......they had their finger on the pulse. A lot of meanings, unless you were there, won't make sense today. But the music totally captures the mood and the scene of that time. For a lot of 'inside the LA scene' references.......you just had to been there.
One cannot simply take Steely Dan's lyrics.... literally. Some of it is "tongue in cheek" other is "double entendre". Some of it may be simply "word play". Both Fagan and Becker are gifted musicians for sure. We are fortunate recipents of their talents.
I always think of being in Bali on vacation when I was younger. We stayed at a cattle & Sheep ranch for a few days which had a huge Banyan tree out front of the main house. The ranch up in the hills. Such great memories of this and the beach and Steely Dan's music being so accurate for our situation, although I'm sure it was written about other things. Just seemed perfect to us! That whole album was fire!
That sounds amazing!
Just found ya'll. Steely Dan is one of my top 3 fav bands! I really enjoy your reactions, y'all are good together! Watching you is like showing your friends this band for the first time. I would suggest that when you get headphones, you listen without imagery (video)
That's how we experienced it. You will find that your imagination is much better than any video.
I liked and subscribed ❤
Hey Geri! Thanks so much for watching. We appreciate your kind words!
This is one of the most technical songs ever composed. They were geniuses.
Agreed!
It's like a fine wine. Just makes melt into yourself 😉
I've been listening to SD since 1972 and "Do It Again.' I am also Black and very political . A Marxist-Leninist. For decades.
Aja (a play on Asia, really meaning China) . What is it about? The lyrics ARE literal! It's about Richard Nixons' second trip to China in 1976. He was invited by the Chinese govt after resigning due to the Watergate scandal in '74. The irony was that Nixon was right wing and yet a so-called communist govt welcomed him with open arms.
Here is the breakdown:
Richard Nixon is the person singing.
Up on the hill--Capitol Hill, DC
Chinese music always sets me (Nixon) free. Angular banjos sound good to me (Nixon)-, here at the dude ranch above the sea--The "Western White House" in Southern Calif, San Clemente. His ranch and where he vacationed when President. He's saying he loves listening to Chinese music as an escape when there. He didn't. But Donald Fagen is saying that to mean China welcomed Nixon back after the big disgrace of Watergate and his resignation.
Aja (China) when all my dime dancing is through, I run to you.--Visiting China to escape from the shame of the Watergate scandal and his resignation. (And it was a HUGE scandal! Forever changing US history).
Double helix in the sky tonight, throw out the hardware, let's do it right--the May 1970 US military invasion of Cambodia (hardware). When it happened a rare star constellation could be seen in the sky that night ( a double helix).
As you know by now, much of SD lyrics are heavy with cynicism and irony.
Lastly, the song "Pretzel Logic, (1974) is about Hitler and the rise of fascism in Germany.
"Doctor Wu" is autobiographical. About Walter Becker's heroin addiction.
"Jack of Speed" is about Senator Ted Kennedy and what happened on that bridge in 1969. BIG news at the time! Conspiracy theories to this day about it.
Amazing analysis! Thank you so much for watching!
@@SightAfterDark To be honest, the analysis isn't all mine. Back in 1977 I read a review of the album. Everybody was talking about it. A writer for the big city newspaper I was living in at the time reviewed the album and he broke down the meaning of "Aja." I stole it from him. Lol! All the pieces fit. SD songs are like a puzzle. Many reflect what they are going thru or have gone thru or American and world history and American culture.
Now, it makes sense. Loved it before, but now it's especially meaningful. I always tried to find real meaning in the lyrics, but sometimes it is difficult, especially if you don't have the knowledge that the lyric is pertaining to. Thank you very much for some enlightenment.
Check out their 2000 Grammy winning album "Two Against Nature" featuring gaslighting abbie, jack of speed, and cousin dupree. By the way, Donald Fagen is tickling the ivory.
What Steely Dan songs make me what to dance, 🤔 ALL OF THEM!!!! they were big at the party's back in the 70's 🤟🤪
Haha hell yeah! SD is the best :)
There’s so much going on in this song. I don’t know if you caught it but there is a whistle at the 5:08 mark.
Good catch
That's done a lot in old-school Brazilian music, and that's what it reminds me of.
Getting back to your older reactions. This is one of my fave of my fave albums. 1 was 18 in 1978 and played this album non stop. "when all my dime dancing is through I run to you." Is there ever a better fucking lyric? My take is, I am getting my cheap thrills but when is all said and done I want you. who knows but art is for interpretation and its different to each one of us. i wish i was 18 again. lol
Lol so do we! Thanks for watching Mark!
The word is genius!....The word is perfection!.....at the same time they kick our ass!....Pure intellectual talent!
After watching your review of Deacon Blues I got the feeling you weren't grasping what Steely Dan is, but it looks like things have changed for the good. It's "The Dan," they have soul and more.
Absolutely! When we started these Steely Dan videos, We had no idea what we were in for. They’re amazing!
Killer tune and those drum breaks are sick!! Steve Gadd is indeed one of the best drummers and the rest of the musicians are at the top of their games.
Wayne Shorter - no words...sax king! Steve Gadd on the drums - solo considered one of the best EVER solos!
Both amazing!
Credits for the entire album:
Donald Fagen - lead vocals (all tracks), synthesizer (all tracks but 4), police whistle (2), backing vocals (2, 5, 7)
Walter Becker - bass guitar (3), guitar (2), guitar solo (5, 6, 7)
Additional musicians
Victor Feldman - Fender Rhodes (1, 3, 7), vibraphone (5, 6), piano (5, 6), percussion (2, 4)
Joe Sample - Fender Rhodes (2), clavinet (1)
Paul Griffin - Fender Rhodes (4), backing vocals (4)
Michael Omartian - piano (2)
Don Grolnick - clavinet (4)
Larry Carlton - guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 7), guitar solo (6)
Lee Ritenour - guitar (3)
Dean Parks - guitar (3, 6, 7)
Steve Khan - guitar (4)
Denny Dias - guitar (2)
Paul Humphrey - drums (1)
Rick Marotta - drums (4)
Ed Greene - drums (6)
Steve Gadd - drums (2)
Bernard Purdie - drums (3, 5)
Jay Graydon - guitar solo (4)
Chuck Rainey - bass guitar (all but track 3)
Jim Keltner - drums, percussion (7)
Gary Coleman - percussion (4)
Tom Scott - tenor saxophone (1), Lyricon (4), horn arrangements
Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone (2)
Pete Christlieb - tenor saxophone (3)
Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso - saxophone, flute
Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Dick Hyde - brass
Michael McDonald (4, 6), Timothy B. Schmit (2, 5, 7), Clydie King (1, 3, 6), Sherlie Matthews (1, 3, 6), Venetta Fields (1, 3, 6), Rebecca Louis (1, 6) - backing vocals
All those dayszz zz ago, Sublieme musicianship allround, and Shorter and Gadd - woww!!
Wow for real!
"Double Helix in the Sky" refers to the Milky Way Galaxy.
This song is my favourite Steely Dan song. The musicianship on it is off the scale. And Wayne Shorter's cameo on Saxophone is sublime!
Green earrings is a good dance song. Had it as my ringtone once
Expansive is a great word for SD. I don't think of them as a dance band but I could dance to "I Got the News," "Monkey in Your Soul" and "Daddy Don't Live in That New York City No More."
Thanks for the suggestions!
Aja is a true Musical masterpiece!
For sure
Brilliance, expansive is accurate, fusion style, a blending of music like Brooklyn is a blend of people. Being a native Brooklynite I can state that with experience!😀👍🏻❤️☮️🎤🎹🎸🎼
Truth!
Check out The Making Of Aja
I love how they weave their music, so intricate. I really enjoy your insights on the lyrics. Oh and if you have not looked up what a double helix is .......... dou·ble he·lix
/ˈdəbəl ˈhēliks/
noun
a pair of parallel helices intertwined about a common axis, especially that in the structure of the DNA molecule.
Haha thanks Victor. We know what a double helix is, we were just surprised to hear it in this context (being in the sky and what not) thanks for watching!
"Funky - Dark - Happy" - well put!
7:09 the drummer (the great Steve Gadd) came in to the studios hung over and nailed this solo on the second take. Incredible.
😆wow
For those of you who are curious about Steve Gadd's sounds on Aja...Here is an excerpt from 'Scott Moyer' - "were you there the entire all night session when Gadd played two takes and told Fagen and Becker that "I can't play that any better and I gotta catch a plane back to New York"? This , to the Dan who are known for 40 to 50 takes! I'm also aware of Gadd being hours late to the session as everyone was waiting for him as he was late leaving the previous studio of a Leo Sayer session ("You make me feel like dancing"). That night at the Village Recorders in Santa Monica started with some rough criticism from Becker and Fagen on what they wanted from Gadd, causing Steve to get teary eyed. They obviously lite a fire under Gadd and created one of the greatest pop tracks in recorded history. He ended doing two takes and they were edited together into one track.
As I was leaving the studio, Beatles Producer, George Martin walked in."
Scott Moyer - @YURk
Upon hearing the song a month later Gadd said: "Wow guys, I love it. Who's playing drums?"
Amazing backstory! Gadd is a MONSTER on the drums. Extremely underrated!
Watch a Rick Beato, The song that changed my life video. He dives into Aja, and breaks down all 3 of Steve Gadd’s solos in the song. And will give you both a better understanding of Steely Dan. And the complexity of their recordings. Btw great job. It’s difficult to not here this song. And not saying whose playing the skins on this track. Steve was the # 1 Studio Drummer. Period
Thanks for the info Thomas!
Steve Gadd was the drummer for Aja song. ALL songs of Steely Dan makes me dance!
Once upon a time there was a new sort of exotic free form jazz being played, they called it Be Bop.
To some listeners and players this knew musical language sounded like Chinese to their ears. To foreign and complex. The practicians of this disparate divergent alchemy would gather for late night sessions of improvised soloing.
"Chinese music always sets me free..."
Interesting! Never would’ve pieced that together. Thanks for adding your perspective!
Bird played......
Haha! At about the 6'30" mark you talked about keeping people calm at festivals... My buddy used to play this album for sound checks and in between our sets. The best album to check your speakers and monitors!
We can see why! Thanks for watching Len!
OK, Steely Dan dance songs: Here's my favorites in no particular order- Peg, Green Earrings, Do it Again, Bodhisattva, Time out of Mind.... enjoy!
my favourite drumming on any song ever.
Steve Gadd was on drums and the sax player was Wayne Shorter. At the time, Steve Gadd was in the Jazz/R&B group Stuff. That was probably one of his best recorded drum work. And Wayne Shorter was from the premiere Jazz Fusion group, Weather Report. They just played off of each other's energy.
Martin Jones Gadd is destroying these drums!
See this re Steve Gadd:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Gadd
siete veramente carini... grazie per emozionarvi con gli steely dan
Donald Fagen is the keyboard player.
Wayne Shorter is from Weather Report ,
MIles Davis, too.
Just a quick shout out. Really enjoy your channel
Thanks for watching Joshua!
I don't have enough time to name all my favorite SD songs but here's a short list.
Show Biz Kids
Green Earrings
Glamour Profession
The Fez
Home At Last
Love Home At Last!
This album is an absolute masterpiece
SD and there amazing production. I thought I read somewhere that they mixed this album for 2 years before they released it.
F.M. And The Fez, probably have the best dance-ability about them.
Good reaction. There were a lot of jazz-fusion musicians and bands around the time Aja was released - Chick Corea’s Return to Forever, Weather Report, Billy Cobham, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and lighter stuff from bands like the Crusaders. It was an amazing time.
Sounds great! Thanks for the suggestions Jonathan!
Fair warning, though. If you don’t like jazz fusion you won’t like these artists - except maybe the Crusaders, which has broader appeal than, say, Mahavishnu Orchestra. But it’s a genre worth exploring.
All thanks to Duke, Bird and Sun Ra
Steely Dan was literally toying with the music. They could do anything they wanted to do.
Impressive to say the least
this is their masterpiece. !!!!!!
Fantastic album
FM and TIME OUT OF MIND.
Great songs :) we’ve reacted to them too
"Hey Nineteen" and "Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan just great fun.
wow you guys are doing Aja!
"Its not like they say oh we'll throw a sax in there" - and that's what was just about to happen! 😃
Steve Gadd he's a jazz/fusion drummer! & he's a monster!
Legend!
double helix refers to DNA. it also has a distinct shape (under a microscope). There are books...
They're on another level of talent - writing, arranging, production... I saw a comment somewhere, "They're your favorite band's favorite band". Try "Black Friday" for something a little different from them.
Absolutely! We’ve done multiple albums from them since this, and we love all of them! Thanks for watching John!
The band are another level, but if you want to dance to them here are two with the BEST grooves: Do It Again (from the album Can’t But a Thrill) and Bodhisatva (from Countdown to Ecstacy)... both early in their careers.
Sounds good! Thanks for the suggestions John!
Wayne Shorter on Sax and Steve Gadd on drums!
All of them
The Marimba player VICTOR FELDMAN has been on hundreds of recordings. I knew his son who is a great Bass player. Sent me a performance video of his Steely Dan tribute band years ago. And I was wiped out 😁
So cool, thanks Reno!
@@SightAfterDark you're welcome.
Babylon Sisters is maybe my favorite Dan song. And I'm a huge fan, been listening for a long time. Just the best. Or one of them.
Thanks for watching!
The making of Aja (somewhere on UA-cam) is a "must see" for SD fans
We’ve seen it. And it’s awesome! Thanks for watching Edward!
Steely Dan is the cream of the crop, top notch. You DO need to be careful where you pause the music; many times you'll totally destroy the flow which is incredibly important. Please just take it back a bit whenever you pause and restart, that would certainly help. Rick Beato called the drum solo in this song something that changed popular music. Back in the day (when you would go to a brick and mortar building to buy your stereo gear, this was THE song you would use to test the speakers in the listening room.
Good tip. Will bring it back a little when we pause to get back into the flow!
Rick Beato is the man! Thanks for watching Dave!
Yes...yes 👍 SD has always been my favorite....since I was 10 yo
Looking at the Milky Way and seeing a double helex in the stars 🌟
Beautiful :)
Those are vibes (vibraphone, played by Victor Feldman) you're hearing.
Vibey 😎
A highly respected jazz musician, pianiste and all rounder. Played with Miles amongst others.
My favorite SD song. I always thought Aja was the Dude Ranch....?
Could be!
angular banjo: name your band this right now
OMG...those drums (Mr Steve Gadd)
That's God on the drums.
Never heard of him
Y'all are cool!
Thank you Philip! We hope you enjoyed!
The great Steve Gadd on drums
Most of their music is nice to smoke flower to.
Haha you can say that again!
Steely Dan songs that make me want to move?
" Do It Again "
" Dirty Work "
" Reelin In the Years"
All great ones. All from the first album
What are my favoriite Steely Dan songs? (thinking) ALL OF THEM!
'Double Helix' as in the structure of the DNA Molecule?
For sure! We were just super shocked to hear that in this context
Masterpiece
You can say that again!
If you want to hear a Steely Dan song that makes you want to dance, you should listen to “The Fez” from the album “The Royal Scam”. That should get it. :)
We’ll be doing the Royal Scam soon! Thanks for watching Jeff!
So... after doing the entire sublime Aja ablum, where do you go from here? How about 3 minutes of unbridled euphoria with Shorty Long's "Function at the Junction?"
Sounds interesting
Love you guys. Steely Dan is not dance music...it's not what they are about. Agreed?
Agreed!
Just let it play. You're killing the song! Drummer is Steve Gadd.
Yeah. This was one of our first reactions. We’ve gotten a lot better since then. Thanks for watching!
You guys make a great couple
We actually aren’t a couple. Just good friends and bandmates :). Thanks for watching!
4:07 This totally sounds like a popular Georgian(country) folk song from a movie 🤣 Please inform Elton John immediately. He will be happy.
Please do there other albums!!!
Any in particular?
Sight After Dark Cant Buy A Thrill! First album, then Countdown to Ecstasy!
Royal Scam
@@mikewritz def Royal Scam. Also Gaucho
Eileen Dobbs yes, love Gaucho too of course.
They're making you dig! Dah Fuh! Steve Gadd! Who else?
RIP Wayne Shorter
"double helix in the sky" sounds like a plane crashing
Something like that!