When studio perfectionists like Fagen and Becker take the time to isolate someone's vocal harmonies for the sake of 'embarassment', that has to be one of the highest compliments ever.
I remember hearing this for the first time. It was 1977, I was 17. I had just bought the cassette and was giving it the test drive in my car. At dawn on Lower River road, where I went to drive fast and see what it took to make me lose my nerve, and crank the stereo as loud as it would go. When this part came on, I had to pull over. Never heard anything like it before. Soul/gospel…barbershop? At 17, there was no way any of that could sound cool to me but it did. Dug into the album credits as soon as I could and found out who Michael McDonald was. Bought “Katie Lied” soon after, also in the process figured out how McDonald caused the sea change of the Doobie bros at “fault line”. McDonald’s career was starting to go stellar by the time Aja came out, and his voice became ubiquitous at the end of the 70’s. He seems to have become a target for criticism in some circles, which, I don’t get. Consider the source I guess….
@@michellerjackson5776 true. Tons of comedians made fun of him including Jimmy Fallon. I loved the three Michael McDonald skit that they did with himself, Justin Timberlake, and of course the man himself Michael McDonald. I have to remember probably at four or five years old I guess I must’ve been hungry I said michael McDonald’s and my mother had to correct me and say no it’s Michael McDonald not Michael McDonald’s. As I look back on it, I thought it was hilarious for me to say michael McDonald’s at the time. This was the early 80s since I was born in 78.
That’s insane… *and* makes the song what it is… McDonald is so recognizable that his vocals charge into front and center for me. It’s great to hear these tracks isolated so we can truly appreciate what he and Donald/Walter accomplished.
He has been one of my FAVORITE MUSICIANS since I was 8 or nine. I was born in Gen X. Late 60's baby born to a studying Young Classical Pianist. M.M. has one of the BEST VOCALS ABILITIES EVER!!!! A REAL MUSICIAN AND VOCALIST! A GREAT OF ALL TIMES! There are NONE with his ability!
Michael McDonald you are an AWESOME VOCALIST ! Fell in love with your vocals when I saw my very 1st Concert at Notre Dame in in South Bend In in the early 80"s.. I believe the Baby's opened for the Doobies. Love and many good times ahead for you. God bless you💞💖p
Truly one of the greatest vocals of all time, and Peg is certainly one of the greatest things to come out of the 1970s. Kinda perfectly distills the era for me, the whole Aja album, in fact. Utterly iconic.
I really am having a hard time matching his speaking voice with his singing voice. They sound COMPLETELY different, not alike at all. Peg is my most favorite song ever.
If anybody knows what it means 2 stack vocals...Michael does, only I'd wish Don & Walt coulda brought up his 'back to you' in the hook a bit more, the stack worked.... 🏆
Becker and Fagan were a brilliant team and overall they appeared to get along quite well and enjoyed each others company -- there was a time you had to have the rock star looks, the rock star perfect hair, etc - but with them it was two nerds against the world - and they came out victorious - shame Walter passed away at a relatively young age - my mom is 96 and has all her marbles and is still breaking balls with the best of them - so its a crap shoot, ya' never know -- even super athletic, healthy eating folks keel over way before their time!
Fagen said he wanted Macdonald to be the permanent lead singer for Dan but was voted down. I love MM but Donald Fagen , although not the vocal talent of the powerhouse MM, has a voice that's unique and wonderfully special and is a major part of what made SD.
When studio perfectionists like Fagen and Becker take the time to isolate someone's vocal harmonies for the sake of 'embarassment', that has to be one of the highest compliments ever.
Totally made this song gold perfection🎉🎉🎉🎉😊
I remember hearing this for the first time. It was 1977, I was 17. I had just bought the cassette and was giving it the test drive in my car. At dawn on Lower River road, where I went to drive fast and see what it took to make me lose my nerve, and crank the stereo as loud as it would go.
When this part came on, I had to pull over. Never heard anything like it before. Soul/gospel…barbershop? At 17, there was no way any of that could sound cool to me but it did.
Dug into the album credits as soon as I could and found out who Michael McDonald was. Bought “Katie Lied” soon after, also in the process figured out how McDonald caused the sea change of the Doobie bros at “fault line”.
McDonald’s career was starting to go stellar by the time Aja came out, and his voice became ubiquitous at the end of the 70’s. He seems to have become a target for criticism in some circles, which, I don’t get.
Consider the source I guess….
Steely Dan and Michael McDonald attract a lot of prejudice and dismissal. I don't think most of that is real criticism.
YES!!!!! From Indiana ( 1 hr away from Chicago) Spot on!
In 2024 we have the power of hindsight; Michael McDonald is unassailable. He’s a proven powerhouse and nobody can deny it.
Michael is one of my singing idols, one of my singing role models. There is so much you can learn from these geniuses. Thank you Michael!!!
Im a singer he is my ultimate dream of a duet partner,our voices would really be amazing together❤
My fave SD song after Black Cow. Mr. McDonald killed it with those back up vocals. Wow 🔥🔥🔥
Mine too. Specially when Michael McDonald sings background vocals. My other favorite song with Michael McDonald is kid Charlemagne.
@@kayandaeddings4803 Unreal how awesome his voice is?? Godgiven!!
@@michellerjackson5776 true. Tons of comedians made fun of him including Jimmy Fallon. I loved the three Michael McDonald skit that they did with himself, Justin Timberlake, and of course the man himself Michael McDonald. I have to remember probably at four or five years old I guess I must’ve been hungry I said michael McDonald’s and my mother had to correct me and say no it’s Michael McDonald not Michael McDonald’s. As I look back on it, I thought it was hilarious for me to say michael McDonald’s at the time. This was the early 80s since I was born in 78.
Far and away Michael McDonald’s best ever performance, and I don’t mean that in any way in a negative sense.
Blk cow is my fave also
That’s insane… *and* makes the song what it is… McDonald is so recognizable that his vocals charge into front and center for me. It’s great to hear these tracks isolated so we can truly appreciate what he and Donald/Walter accomplished.
Those really are killer harmonies
He has been one of my FAVORITE MUSICIANS since I was 8 or nine. I was born in Gen X. Late 60's baby born to a studying Young Classical Pianist.
M.M. has one of the BEST VOCALS ABILITIES EVER!!!! A REAL MUSICIAN AND VOCALIST! A GREAT OF ALL TIMES! There are NONE with his ability!
The best of blue eyed soul 😊
Michael McDonald you are an AWESOME VOCALIST !
Fell in love with your vocals when I saw my very 1st Concert at Notre Dame in in South Bend In in the early 80"s..
I believe the Baby's opened for the Doobies.
Love and many good times ahead for you. God bless you💞💖p
Truly one of the greatest vocals of all time, and Peg is certainly one of the greatest things to come out of the 1970s. Kinda perfectly distills the era for me, the whole Aja album, in fact. Utterly iconic.
I love this man.
I grew up with the doobies my fave
Friggin sick.
I really am having a hard time matching his speaking voice with his singing voice. They sound COMPLETELY different, not alike at all. Peg is my most favorite song ever.
Phenomenal vocals!❤❤❤
Why, "Sorry, Michael"? Sounds fabulous to me and it's an important part of the harmony structure.
Donald Fagen,Brain Wilson,Paul McCartney,Prince geniuses of our times
If anybody knows what it means 2 stack vocals...Michael does, only I'd wish Don & Walt coulda brought up his 'back to you' in the hook a bit more, the stack worked.... 🏆
ua-cam.com/video/jqebJJ8O4yk/v-deo.htmlsi=r54gWph02004UmME
Phrasing, on point! That’s Mike.
Becker and Fagan were a brilliant team and overall they appeared to get along quite well and enjoyed each others company -- there was a time you had to have the rock star looks, the rock star perfect hair, etc - but with them it was two nerds against the world - and they came out victorious - shame Walter passed away at a relatively young age - my mom is 96 and has all her marbles and is still breaking balls with the best of them - so its a crap shoot, ya' never know -- even super athletic, healthy eating folks keel over way before their time!
Just found out boz scagg was on this tune with Michael McDonald.
Boz Scaggs definitely did not play on any Steely Dan records
It sounds so creepy and wrong separated out. 😆
That’s the genious of It all. To be able to separate it out for recording to know how it will all come together in the end.
that's how they mix records babe
@@apseudonym Thanks love. 😊
@@markmacdonald7955
indeed it is.
The mark of an excellent singer
Here's a great sampling of Michael McDonald's isolated vocals on Peg: ua-cam.com/video/f0u_JlK8JhI/v-deo.html
As close as it gets! So fucking brilliant! That's not easy, hell, that shit is supreme...CSN would have had problems pulling it off.
Prosody is everything
Fagen said he wanted Macdonald to be the permanent lead singer for Dan but was voted down. I love MM but Donald Fagen , although not the vocal talent of the powerhouse MM, has a voice that's unique and wonderfully special and is a major part of what made SD.
he's got the "snide"
Did they use his raw vocals or did they process it somehow? Sounds like they did something to them.
Can someone tell me why 1:12 is embarrassing for Michael? I think that track made it in the final mix right?
yeah, weird.
It's simple Don messing around in the studio. Nothing serious.
"Half as much as." When does McDonald sing those words in Peg?
It’s from “I Got The News” off of this same record.
@@colbydobbs6399 Oh, geez, can't believe I didn't think of that.
“Broadway duchess, darling if you only knew. Half as much as everybody thinks you do.” No idea what it means but it sounds cool
I miss Walter
🤙🏽
How can someone with such a good speaking voice "sing" with such an audible offensiveness?
Umm what
Are you lost?
are you having a stroke or is their a space missing in there?