Oh, I've been looking forward to this!!! I'm going to comment as you go: First, I always took the "up on the hill" portion to mean people who've reached a certain point of confidence (and this theme kind of continues throughout the album), "people never stare, they just don't care" because they've learned to be beyond that. They've learned you can't worry about what other people think. Dime dancing, FWIW, is a reference to an old practice of paying for a dance with women. In the case of this song, it's a metaphor for running around with different women--"when all my dime dancing is through, I run to you." So, when I'm done experimenting, you're the one I want at the end of it all. Aja definitely refers to a beautiful exotic woman. Donald Fagen referred to this song as a song about "the sort of tranquility that can come of a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman." Yes, the list was all the people who worked on the album, not just this song. The notable people to work on this particular song, however, are Steve Gadd on drums (that solo... mmm mmm mmm), Denny Dias on guitar, and Wyane Shorter on saxophone. The instrumental featuring all three of these guys is one of my favorite of all time, and part of why I call this song "musical heaven." Notable on vocals, aside from Fagen's usual smooth mastery, is Timothy Schmitt formerly of The Eagles who did many of the Eagles famous high notes. Again, it's just an example of the quality of musician that wanted to work with Steely Dan. There's a reason Steely Dan has been referred to as just "your favorite band's favorite band." I'm so happy you enjoyed this, especially as someone who enjoys metal as much as you do. This is obviously much softer, and the music a good bit more subtle. To me, this is the fastest 8 1/2 minute song ever. When it's over, you're like "is that it??? There's no more?" and if you didn't look, you wouldn't even know it was as long as it is. Love the reaction my friend... truly.
Oh, I don't know if you're familiar with Rick Beato, but he did an entire video on just the drum solo. It's worth watching: ua-cam.com/video/BXH7cqrTbmM/v-deo.html
I've always considered the "up on the hill" lyric to be a continuation of the previous lyric about the "dude ranch above the sea", which people have always assumed referred to the Esalen Institute, a world-renowned retreat/spiritual education campus perched midway up a coastal mountain in Big Sur. It was very hip to go there back in the day. Here are oodles of photos. It is very much "up on a hill". The behavior described would readily apply to the hipster types who actually believed they were obtaining spiritual growth by attending sessions there. Here are way too many photos. www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1396&bih=657&ei=4_UhX7OPE4HbtAa6wI3YAw&q=esalen+institute&oq=esalen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgBMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADoFCAAQsQNQ9wtYrC9g70RoAnAAeACAAUuIAfwDkgEBOJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img
Mate, if ever there was someone expanding his musical horizons it's you. It's like you've discovered a rainbow of colours that you weren't sure even existed before. You've just awoken to limitless musical possibilities and bands Iike Steely Dan will be only too happy to light your way. Enjoy enjoy.
Steve Gadd on drums is utterly life changing. Check out Rick Beato’s musical breakdown of this masterpiece. I love all kinds of music and I find Steely Dan the Creme de la Creme of musical sophistication and tastiness. Their lyrics are usually about shadier and lost characters . There are no bad SD songs. Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame came out of Steely Dan as keyboardist and back up singer.
You get it. I can see by your face. You get it, my friend. It's a pleasure to watch you enjoy this song that I've been enjoying since the album was released!
Even though everything in this classic song is fantastic, the drums are stellar and stand out as, in my mind, the best in any song anywhere. Steve Gadd totally freakin rules.
I was just going to say the same about Steve Gadd! His isolated drums are here on UA-cam (if I'm wrong, you can listen/download them from Drummer world). Also, to see Steve in action, check out "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" from The Concert in Central Park...
I think it's great that younger people are opening themselves up to music they've never heard of - I was lucky to grow up and experience what I think is the greatest music era of all time. You are correct about the drums: it isn't just random drumming just for the drumming's sake. Each note is deliberate and controlled along with the tone, weaving each instrument in and out for a free-flowing melodic blended with minor key that feels like butter. This song and Steely Dan in general is in the rock genre that relies heavily on jazz. This song is truly a masterpiece. Thank you for your review and giving the respect that this music deserves. I will be watching more of your videos!
You wanted to know who played on this song, here are the song credits: Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle Steve Gadd - drums Victor Feldman - percussion, vibraphone Chuck Rainey - bass guitar Walter Becker, Denny Dias and Larry Carlton - guitars Michael Omartian - piano Joe Sample - electric piano Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen used a variety of musicians on the Aja album, choosing them to suit the individual tracks. On this one, Fagen sang lead and played synthesizer, while Becker, Denny Dias and Larry Carlton handled guitars. On backing vocals is Timothy B. Schmit, who joined the Eagles that same year. Other musicians on the track are: Bass: Chuck Rainey Drums: Steve Gadd Electric Piano: Joe Sample Percussion: Victor Feldman Piano: Michael Omartian Tenor Saxophone: Wayne Shorter Kenny Aronoff, a top session drummer who appears on tracks by Stevie Nicks, Joe Jackson, Bob Dylan and many others, puts Steve Gadd's work on "Aja" in his list of the Top 5 drum performances of all time. Aronoff told Songfacts: "Everybody knows that this was absolute genius. Steve Gadd, his musicality, his iconic drum fills, his feel, his delicacy, the balance on the drum kit. He did it in one take - every take they did was a full take with the whole band playing together. That was a performance. Now in this day and age of Pro Tools, people are getting comfortable with fixing everything. This was not those days. You had to be a great drummer, you had to have great equipment, you had to be able to play with great time, you had to be able to read, you had to be able to play with feel, you had to have musical ears, you had to be able to be perfect, basically. It was one of the greatest drum performances that made it on the radio, ever." If you want to take a deep dive, and I know you do, watch 'The Making of Aja' ua-cam.com/video/u9MusH-QijY/v-deo.html
You might want to checkout the documentary on making of AJA which is on YT or Amazon Prime. This album took over a year to produce because of their perfectionism. They used many session players to the point swapping whole bands for any given song to get the sound they were looking for
This was the album, and specifically, the song that pulled me into Steely Dan. When it came out, a guy I was dating sat me down and said, "listen to THIS!" I was blown away, and ended up buying their back catalogue and becoming a huge fan. I actually wouldn't seriously date anyone who wasn't into them too. I've now been married to another SD fan for almost 28 years! You've got a lot of great music ahead of you if you continue with this primo band!!
Love to see different generations get turned on by the amazing and timeless Steeley Dan - I've heard this song a thousand times, and everytime I hear something new.
Great review. Someone has probably already mentioned it, but Wayne Shorter on tenor sax is one of the greatest, most iconic giants in all of jazz history, both as a leader and sideman, hand-picked by the likes of Miles Davis and Art Blakey, also playing with Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner and Lee Morgan. Becker & Fagen were uncompromising in their pursuit of the best session players available.
I was 13 back in 1975 and got to listen to all this on my older brothers high end stereo system, I knew instinctively that Yes, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Steely Dan, were special events in musical history, and I would never hear music of higher caliber than what I was hearing. I knew it was a special time, and that I was blessed. Wait until you hear all this on a nice 4 speaker system with the EQ set, and the bass can vibrate your whole body. Close To The Edge, Awaken, Turn Of The Century by Yes will leave you stunned, and amazed. Been playing guitar for 45 years now, you are fortunate as a guitar player to take all this in and integrate it into your musical consciousness. Listen to "Mood For A Day" from Fragile the "Clap" from The Yes Album
You're so right about piano and guitars blending, complementing each other and supporting the song. Always loved the space they provide for instruments flow in and leave, step in, back out. It's beautiful.
Walter and Donald were musical soul mates. They met in high school and talked the same language about music and became lifelong friends. They were so fastidious about their musical vision that they had several different musicians come in to the studio and rehearse and play and see how it went then bring in another whole set the next day. Just to see who hit the solo just right on the guitar or just the right drummer. It’s amazing how this album was made.
The great Steve Gadd on drums. He also played on a lot of other stuff, including Paul Simon... see 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover and Late in the Evening. Cheers.
I mentioned this to another reactor. After you finish hearing the entire Aja album you should watch the Classic Albums dvd documentary on the making of Aja. It's eye-opening!
Daniel, your reaction to all of “our” music from the 70s makes me smile. I wish more teens and 20-somethings would watch your videos and learn about some really good music.
Steely Dan's fifth and sixth albums, "The Royal Scam" and "Aja", are considered by many to be their two masterpieces. Now that you've listened to the title track of "Aja", it's time for the title track of "The Royal Scam".
For some reason, when I first listened to this album I skipped this track, I’m not sure what initially swayed me, but after actually hearing it through it has since become one of my favorite jazz tracks. The ending is something I’m a big fan of, I really like the spacey sounds and drums. Also, check out Babylon Sisters
Yes! The band was composed of Becker and Fagen plus tons of awesome session musicians! Wayne shorter of weather report, miles Davis, and his own awesome solo career plays sax, and Steve gadd who played with everybody from Paul Simon to chick Corea plays drums. Incredible!
Steely Dan was two guys.They used top notch studio players for the rest of the great playing.Sometimes they would bring in different players and do several cuts tol they got exactly what they wanted.
Another great song about traveling to a different land and finding the love of a beautiful woman is Year of the Cat by Al Stewart. It is very cinematic in its lyrics as well as instrumentation an song structure. I think that it is a song that may be right up your street.
I'd say that Aja has become my favorite of Steely Dan's. It has such an exotic appeal, and the instruments blend so subtly. Fagen's voice penetrates like a whisper. Wow!
Steely Dan has such a wide catalog, there is something for everyone to consider their favorite. Aja might not be everyone's favorite, but it is widely considered one of the most technically brilliant tunes in composition and execution (in musicianship and mixing). Many audiophiles still use this to calibrate their equipment. When this tune sounds perfect from your speakers, then your gear is perfect.
Since you said you like pianos and guitars you have to listen to “Your Gold Teeth”, “Sign In Stranger”, “Fire In The Hole”, and so so many more. I like how you look at the lyrics. When you are done with each song you should google the song meaning. Spoiler, a lot are about drugs... I’ve been listening to Steely Dan for 20 years and I still find new meanings to certain lyrics and/or songs. It’s one of the things that makes the Dan so unique and incredible.
GO CHECK OUT TYD BBC DOCUMENTARY ON THIS ALBUM!! They had an obscene EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES FOR MASTERFUL SESSION MEN!! They had so MANY, that they platooned themselves into 2 bands that played well together, and different bands played on different songs!! LARRY CARLTON was the defacto director writing the charts & helping figure out which group of players to use on which song. The documentary is FASCINATING and drives hone what a groundbreaking, seminal work this album was!
I always thought this song was about California’s obsessions with Asian culture: Buddhism, yoga, tofu, etc. People on the hill are the celebrities indulging in the obsessions.
I was about your age when I heard this album, and Steely Dan, for the 1st time. This album had just come out and I heard a couple tracks on the radio so I went and bought it. Been a big fan ever since. However, I just enjoyed how good it sounded back then.
since you're on the theme of longer, complex songs, I'm going to recommend Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant". it's a great song, fan favorite, and you'll be happy you heard it. it's off of his album The Stranger which is a complete masterpiece from beginning to end.
I absolutely agree. Scenes From and Italian Restaurant is one of my favorite songs of all time, and one of the best examples of a song within a song I've heard. And you're also right that the whole album is great - there just isn't a bad track on that album.
Let me give you an idea how obsessive Walter and Donald are about the sound of their music. On the song Home at Last, there is the line, "Well the danger on the rocks is surely past". They spent 6 hours mixing the words "Well the". Six hours mixing 2 syllables!
@@DiconDissectionalReactions Roger Nichols was Fagen & Becker's recording engineer across several albums, only to be summarily dismissed after multiple Grammy award winning albums with them. Check out the Wikipedia listing for him and read his descriptions of working with SD, and expanding on the available technology of the day.
Musically, this group is 2 levels higher than any metal band. LOL. And this was their masterpiece. Maybe one of the greatest songs in rock history. The studio musicians Steely Dan used were the best in the industry. Your analyses of the song's details were great. Very entertaining.
Wayne Shorter (great Jazz Sax man) and, the inimitable Steve Gadd on Drums..Gadd is my all time favorite drummer..The guy just never sound's out of place..For every song, with anyone he's ever played with (and it is an impressive resume), everything he does just sounds like, "Yes!..Of course!..That's exactly what is supposed to be there!"..His timing is flawless, and jaw dropping good!.......No, that's the whole album of people, BTW.
This group never rushed recording their albums. It could take months to record an album. They used various musicians on each song. The only constant was Walter Becker and Donald Fagan. They chose the other musicians carefully for each song, usually getting the best session players available.
Steve Gadd played drums on this song. Amazing drums with the Sax Solo. They would call in all studio musicians to work on all their songs and it was usually different people on different songs. You should check out all Steely Dan's catalog!
Yes... that's a list of musicians on the entire album. It's cool to watch you hear these for the first time and actually 'get it' . cheers my my friend. (drums are the amazing Steve Gadd)
I must have subscribed after you reacted to this. I literally bought this album on the day it hit these quaint things we used to call "record stores". This remains my gold standard of an audio masterpiece. At some point, I bought it on CD so that I could carry it with me in my vehicle. Then one day I realized I no longer had the vinyl (undoubtedly some dastardly "friend" failed to return it at some point, but I forgive whomever it might be.) So I bought the reissue on the "180 gram vinyl" and once again played it start to finish, both sides. I've had the good fortune to see Steely Dan live a few times, and alas, Walter Becker is no longer with us, so if we are to hear this music live, it will be only with Donald Fagan. And there were lots of people who contributed to the album because they did take after take after take with different musician combinations until they got the Steely Dan sound. Those two rascals were not liked by many in the music industry, but they produced musical perfection. Bear in mind, this was all done analog, WAY before any digital effects.
When I see a band with keyboards it always makes me respect them a little more. Finding 17 guitarists is easy but try to find a Jon Lord type organ player a Tony Banks, Rick Wright, Rick Waksman, Keith Emerson now we’re talking.
This song is remarkable-as is the entire album. You need to dive deeper into the entire record, because the work comprises a huge array of the top L.A. studio musicians. Each song on Aja is a miniature masterpiece and features different ensembles. This one has Wayne Shorter, tenor; Victor Feldman, marimba, Joe Sample, Piano and the fabulous drummer, Steve Gadd (he sight-read this chart and did it in one take!) Steve’s outro on this is fire! Oh, by the way... the drummer on Josie, is my close friend, Jim Keltner, my friend of 60 years.
My thought about “dime dancing” is his everyday job working for a buck. But when he’s done, he runs to his love, an Asian girl I think. When the instrumental section begins, I see a busy Chinatown, complete with traffic cop blowing his whistle! But that’s just me
Back in the day you could go get a dance with a woman for a dime. Tina Turner's video "Private Dancer" is about these old-time dancing parlors. I thought he meant when all my fooling around with women who I know won't lead to real love, I'll run to you, when all my dime dancing is through. That worked for me.
They worked on this album for a long, long time utilizing the talents of the best session musicians with the intent of creating perfection. And then, they refined the recording in such a way that allowed it to breathe and exude feeling because perfection would tend to be too clinical. And so some musicians who were able to make the cut for one track were not able to produce for another track. They liberally substituted musicians until they found the right balance and chemistry in the performance. For these reasons, Aja may be their most meticulously produced album. And it shows. It is the kind of album you can put on and play from start to finish without a break. Many of their albums are like that but I think this one sets the bar for measuring the others.
Lyrical interpretation is tricky and a bit opaque. Old saying that art is more a question than an answer. This song makes me think of San Francisco. Stunningly beautiful, very hilly, urbane, sophisticated, international city with a large Asian population. Falling in love with a beguiling, mysterious Asian woman and being introduced to cultural as well as sensual delights. Musically-words fail, although “masterful” is a good start. My favorite of theirs.
I was shocked when you said it is an 8 minute song! I mean I knew but I had forgotten. I think that this song makes ANY 8 minutes go by incredibly fast!
If you want to hear a keyboard and guitar going off together on the same note, check out Return to Forever. Especially the "Romantic Warrior" album. Chick Corea and Al DiMeola are sensational together.
Oh, I've been looking forward to this!!! I'm going to comment as you go:
First, I always took the "up on the hill" portion to mean people who've reached a certain point of confidence (and this theme kind of continues throughout the album), "people never stare, they just don't care" because they've learned to be beyond that. They've learned you can't worry about what other people think.
Dime dancing, FWIW, is a reference to an old practice of paying for a dance with women. In the case of this song, it's a metaphor for running around with different women--"when all my dime dancing is through, I run to you." So, when I'm done experimenting, you're the one I want at the end of it all.
Aja definitely refers to a beautiful exotic woman. Donald Fagen referred to this song as a song about "the sort of tranquility that can come of a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman."
Yes, the list was all the people who worked on the album, not just this song. The notable people to work on this particular song, however, are Steve Gadd on drums (that solo... mmm mmm mmm), Denny Dias on guitar, and Wyane Shorter on saxophone. The instrumental featuring all three of these guys is one of my favorite of all time, and part of why I call this song "musical heaven." Notable on vocals, aside from Fagen's usual smooth mastery, is Timothy Schmitt formerly of The Eagles who did many of the Eagles famous high notes. Again, it's just an example of the quality of musician that wanted to work with Steely Dan. There's a reason Steely Dan has been referred to as just "your favorite band's favorite band."
I'm so happy you enjoyed this, especially as someone who enjoys metal as much as you do. This is obviously much softer, and the music a good bit more subtle. To me, this is the fastest 8 1/2 minute song ever. When it's over, you're like "is that it??? There's no more?" and if you didn't look, you wouldn't even know it was as long as it is. Love the reaction my friend... truly.
Oh, I don't know if you're familiar with Rick Beato, but he did an entire video on just the drum solo. It's worth watching: ua-cam.com/video/BXH7cqrTbmM/v-deo.html
@@ArtofFreeSpeech Thank you so much for that link. That is an incredibly interesting video. Fantastic history of the best drum solo ever. Love it!
@Art of Free Speech...thanks for that share....that was a great watch.
I've always considered the "up on the hill" lyric to be a continuation of the previous lyric about the "dude ranch above the sea", which people have always assumed referred to the Esalen Institute, a world-renowned retreat/spiritual education campus perched midway up a coastal mountain in Big Sur. It was very hip to go there back in the day. Here are oodles of photos. It is very much "up on a hill". The behavior described would readily apply to the hipster types who actually believed they were obtaining spiritual growth by attending sessions there. Here are way too many photos. www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1396&bih=657&ei=4_UhX7OPE4HbtAa6wI3YAw&q=esalen+institute&oq=esalen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgBMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADoFCAAQsQNQ9wtYrC9g70RoAnAAeACAAUuIAfwDkgEBOJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img
Wow, I didn't know Timothy Schmitt was on vocals- thanks for the info!
Mate, if ever there was someone expanding his musical horizons it's you. It's like you've discovered a rainbow of colours that you weren't sure even existed before. You've just awoken to limitless musical possibilities and bands Iike Steely Dan will be only too happy to light your way. Enjoy enjoy.
Oh yeah it’s magnificent music
All done on tape no autotune one of the best produced albums of the 70’s the whole album is a masterpiece !
The entire album is a masterpiece loaded with amazing, top notch session musicians.
The drumming at the outro is sic. The great Wayne Shorter on sax. This song and the whole album is a masterpiece.
Welcome to the golden age of real music. No digital drum tracts, no voice enhancement software ....just talented musicians and producers.
@@extremeprejudice0 true, and their drum machine, Wendel, was awarded the platinum record for the album.
The whole album, Aja, is an absolute masterpiece.
Steve Gadd on drums is utterly life changing. Check out Rick Beato’s musical breakdown of this masterpiece.
I love all kinds of music and I find Steely Dan the Creme de la Creme of musical sophistication and tastiness.
Their lyrics are usually about shadier and lost characters .
There are no bad SD songs.
Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame came out of Steely Dan as keyboardist and back up singer.
I love GROOVES, and Gadd's drum groove changed my life when Aja came out, as it did for Rick Beato.
You get it. I can see by your face. You get it, my friend. It's a pleasure to watch you enjoy this song that I've been enjoying since the album was released!
Even though everything in this classic song is fantastic, the drums are stellar and stand out as, in my mind, the best in any song anywhere. Steve Gadd totally freakin rules.
Rick Beato did an entire video on just the drum solo... So amazing.
@@ArtofFreeSpeech Just watched it. Awesome!
I was just going to say the same about Steve Gadd! His isolated drums are here on UA-cam (if I'm wrong, you can listen/download them from Drummer world). Also, to see Steve in action, check out "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" from The Concert in Central Park...
His stick click at the end of the last measure is just crazy.
Steely Dan never made a bad record.
And this was done in one take. Live. Immortal.
There aren't many or any for that matter "bad" SD songs. That being said "King of the World" always gets me. You are on a long trip young Grasshopper.
Rusty, agree with your fondness with "KOTW"....I could hear that song 1000 times in a row and would want to hear 1001.
@@mikeloomis687 I've listened to it a couple times in a row on more than one occasion.
agree with your comments. He won't get the young Grasshopper reference.
I think it's great that younger people are opening themselves up to music they've never heard of - I was lucky to grow up and experience what I think is the greatest music era of all time. You are correct about the drums: it isn't just random drumming just for the drumming's sake. Each note is deliberate and controlled along with the tone, weaving each instrument in and out for a free-flowing melodic blended with minor key that feels like butter. This song and Steely Dan in general is in the rock genre that relies heavily on jazz. This song is truly a masterpiece. Thank you for your review and giving the respect that this music deserves. I will be watching more of your videos!
I was lucky enough to see them back in 94'. What a night, good friends, and live Steely Dan.
I've been listening to this album, and other Steely Dan music, for over forty years and I never get tired of their unique sound.
BTW, the Steve Gadd drum part was recorded in 1 take... He does not even remember doing it because he was "enhanced"!
They used two takes and spliced it together.
Haha
That's Wayne Shorter on sax. He played with a number of jazz bands through the years. During the 70s he played with jazz/fusion band Weather Report.
We got to see WS with Herbie Hancock. What a great show.
Love the fact that your a Steely Dan fan's destination channel - at such a young age too. You're way ahead of musical schedule my friend.
I love Steely Dan!
"Listen to those drums." You have just heard the legendary Steve Gadd!!!
You wanted to know who played on this song, here are the song credits:
Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle
Steve Gadd - drums
Victor Feldman - percussion, vibraphone
Chuck Rainey - bass guitar
Walter Becker, Denny Dias and Larry Carlton - guitars
Michael Omartian - piano
Joe Sample - electric piano
Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals
Their credits always read like a "who's who" of brilliant musicians.
Victor Feldman also plays the Vibraphone on the Countdown to Ecstasy song called Razor Boy,which is the song after Bodisattva.
I always loved the piano sound where they reach into the piano and strum the actual piano wires to produce that sound.....love that.
Michael Trogdon Jesus, no wonder it’s a masterpiece!
timmy schmit sang here? gosh, totally unexpected.
You play there music in the back ground and instantly class up the room
This song features saxophonist Wayne Shorter, a jazz legend.
Yes, a still living legend, if I may add. Not only that still creating at an extremely high level.
Weather Report also had Jaco Pistorius,what a band that was.
Successfully crossed over into the rock radar and Wayne Shorter is a huge talent.
Wayne Shorter is among the best ever. When Miles Davis lost Coltrane he found Shorter and the rest is history!
brilliant. When all my dying dancing is through. Just brilliant.
That was jazz legend Wayne Shorter on the sax solo and that is the equally legendary Steve Gadd on drums.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen used a variety of musicians on the Aja album, choosing them to suit the individual tracks. On this one, Fagen sang lead and played synthesizer, while Becker, Denny Dias and Larry Carlton handled guitars. On backing vocals is Timothy B. Schmit, who joined the Eagles that same year. Other musicians on the track are:
Bass: Chuck Rainey
Drums: Steve Gadd
Electric Piano: Joe Sample
Percussion: Victor Feldman
Piano: Michael Omartian
Tenor Saxophone: Wayne Shorter
Kenny Aronoff, a top session drummer who appears on tracks by Stevie Nicks, Joe Jackson, Bob Dylan and many others, puts Steve Gadd's work on "Aja" in his list of the Top 5 drum performances of all time. Aronoff told Songfacts: "Everybody knows that this was absolute genius. Steve Gadd, his musicality, his iconic drum fills, his feel, his delicacy, the balance on the drum kit. He did it in one take - every take they did was a full take with the whole band playing together. That was a performance.
Now in this day and age of Pro Tools, people are getting comfortable with fixing everything. This was not those days. You had to be a great drummer, you had to have great equipment, you had to be able to play with great time, you had to be able to read, you had to be able to play with feel, you had to have musical ears, you had to be able to be perfect, basically. It was one of the greatest drum performances that made it on the radio, ever."
If you want to take a deep dive, and I know you do, watch 'The Making of Aja' ua-cam.com/video/u9MusH-QijY/v-deo.html
Two words: GLAMOUR PROFESSION
You might want to checkout the documentary on making of AJA which is on YT or Amazon Prime. This album took over a year to produce because of their perfectionism. They used many session players to the point swapping whole bands for any given song to get the sound they were looking for
This was the album, and specifically, the song that pulled me into Steely Dan. When it came out, a guy I was dating sat me down and said, "listen to THIS!" I was blown away, and ended up buying their back catalogue and becoming a huge fan. I actually wouldn't seriously date anyone who wasn't into them too. I've now been married to another SD fan for almost 28 years! You've got a lot of great music ahead of you if you continue with this primo band!!
Love to see different generations get turned on by the amazing and timeless Steeley Dan - I've heard this song a thousand times, and everytime I hear something new.
Love the insights and smart comments. Thank you. Yes. Steely Dan is masterful and exquisite.
Great review. Someone has probably already mentioned it, but Wayne Shorter on tenor sax is one of the greatest, most iconic giants in all of jazz history, both as a leader and sideman, hand-picked by the likes of Miles Davis and Art Blakey, also playing with Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner and Lee Morgan. Becker & Fagen were uncompromising in their pursuit of the best session players available.
Perfectly said
I was 13 back in 1975 and got to listen to all this on my older brothers high end stereo system, I knew instinctively that Yes, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Steely Dan, were special
events in musical history, and I would never hear music of higher caliber than what I was hearing. I knew it was a special time, and that I was blessed. Wait until you hear all this on
a nice 4 speaker system with the EQ set, and the bass can vibrate your whole body. Close To The Edge, Awaken, Turn Of The Century by Yes will leave you stunned, and amazed.
Been playing guitar for 45 years now, you are fortunate as a guitar player to take all this in and integrate it into your musical consciousness. Listen to "Mood For A Day" from Fragile
the "Clap" from The Yes Album
I like how Fagan get a Credit on the sing for Police Whistle. Something very Monty Python about that.
You're so right about piano and guitars blending, complementing each other and supporting the song. Always loved the space they provide for instruments flow in and leave, step in, back out. It's beautiful.
Michael Omartin was the piano player on this
Walter and Donald were musical soul mates. They met in high school and talked the same language about music and became lifelong friends. They were so fastidious about their musical vision that they had several different musicians come in to the studio and rehearse and play and see how it went then bring in another whole set the next day. Just to see who hit the solo just right on the guitar or just the right drummer. It’s amazing how this album was made.
This was great. Please do their song Doctor Wu. I am also most fond of the piano parts, and that one is exquisite. Keep up the good work young man.
Caves of Altamira is a must
The great Steve Gadd on drums. He also played on a lot of other stuff, including Paul Simon... see 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover and Late in the Evening. Cheers.
Steve Gadd on drums. Look into him. One of the greats!
No doubt: Steve Gadd is one of the most in-demand concert drummers, and greatest session drummers, of all time and this set of solos/fills is iconic.
Thats Steve Gadd on drums.. a MASTER.
I mentioned this to another reactor. After you finish hearing the entire Aja album you should watch the Classic Albums dvd documentary on the making of Aja. It's eye-opening!
Daniel, your reaction to all of “our” music from the 70s makes me smile. I wish more teens and 20-somethings would watch your videos and learn about some really good music.
I completely envy a person that gets to experience this song for the first time.
The keyboard noodling on the fade out was pure modal music
Steely Dan's fifth and sixth albums, "The Royal Scam" and "Aja", are considered by many to be their two masterpieces. Now that you've listened to the title track of "Aja", it's time for the title track of "The Royal Scam".
@TheBoschTube I guess you and I are going to have to agree to disagree.
I have a few requests from the "Countdown to Ecstasy" album: Bodhisattva, My Old School, King of the World.
Don't forget Show Biz Kids
Michael Trogdon Great songs he should react to!👍🏻❤️☮️
"Wow." Yup. Pretty much sums it up. :)
Fagen & Becker together were awesome. I saw them in concert 5 or 6 times. I wish Becker lived much much longer.
For some reason, when I first listened to this album I skipped this track, I’m not sure what initially swayed me, but after actually hearing it through it has since become one of my favorite jazz tracks. The ending is something I’m a big fan of, I really like the spacey sounds and drums. Also, check out
Babylon Sisters
Wow!!! Love your reaction to such a great piece of music history. You are very keen in your interpretations. I love that song, and love Steely Dan
I love that you can listen to this and find the beauty in it and the musicianship thank you
Yes! The band was composed of Becker and Fagen plus tons of awesome session musicians! Wayne shorter of weather report, miles Davis, and his own awesome solo career plays sax, and Steve gadd who played with everybody from Paul Simon to chick Corea plays drums. Incredible!
another great reaction. a lot of fantastic SD to check out, but this to me is the ultimate...
Steely Dan was two guys.They used top notch studio players for the rest of the great playing.Sometimes they would bring in different players and do several cuts tol they got exactly what they wanted.
Another great song about traveling to a different land and finding the love of a beautiful woman is Year of the Cat by Al Stewart. It is very cinematic in its lyrics as well as instrumentation an song structure. I think that it is a song that may be right up your street.
Donald Fagen (piano & vocals) and Walter Becker (bass & guitar) are the heart of Steely Dan and use different session musicians on every album.
Gadd's "samba" drum groove outro blows my mind. Each time.
I love it when you turn it up : this is one of the finest examples of when to do so …
I'd say that Aja has become my favorite of Steely Dan's. It has such an exotic appeal, and the instruments blend so subtly. Fagen's voice penetrates like a whisper. Wow!
Steely Dan has such a wide catalog, there is something for everyone to consider their favorite. Aja might not be everyone's favorite, but it is widely considered one of the most technically brilliant tunes in composition and execution (in musicianship and mixing). Many audiophiles still use this to calibrate their equipment. When this tune sounds perfect from your speakers, then your gear is perfect.
Since you said you like pianos and guitars you have to listen to “Your Gold Teeth”, “Sign In Stranger”, “Fire In The Hole”, and so so many more.
I like how you look at the lyrics. When you are done with each song you should google the song meaning. Spoiler, a lot are about drugs...
I’ve been listening to Steely Dan for 20 years and I still find new meanings to certain lyrics and/or songs. It’s one of the things that makes the Dan so unique and incredible.
Love those piano solos, especially Fire in the Hole.
GO CHECK OUT TYD BBC DOCUMENTARY ON THIS ALBUM!!
They had an obscene EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES FOR MASTERFUL SESSION MEN!!
They had so MANY, that they platooned themselves into 2 bands that played well together, and different bands played on different songs!!
LARRY CARLTON was the defacto director writing the charts & helping figure out which group of players to use on which song.
The documentary is FASCINATING and drives hone what a groundbreaking, seminal work this album was!
Steely Dan sends you to a differ state of mind; joy, happiness and peace❤️
I always thought this song was about California’s obsessions with Asian culture: Buddhism, yoga, tofu, etc. People on the hill are the celebrities indulging in the obsessions.
That's been my take on it, given their penchant for satire.
I agree! That's always been my take.
I was about your age when I heard this album, and Steely Dan, for the 1st time. This album had just come out and I heard a couple tracks on the radio so I went and bought it. Been a big fan ever since. However, I just enjoyed how good it sounded back then.
When I got into Steely Dan, 1974, I had your haircut. My hair is gone now but Steely Dan will live on forever.
You want good guitar and piano in the same song? Elton John, Supertramp, 10cc for three. And of course more SD.
So enjoyed your reaction. Fitting. Nice. Thanks.
They mixed this album for 2 years before they released it !!
since you're on the theme of longer, complex songs, I'm going to recommend Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant". it's a great song, fan favorite, and you'll be happy you heard it. it's off of his album The Stranger which is a complete masterpiece from beginning to end.
I absolutely agree. Scenes From and Italian Restaurant is one of my favorite songs of all time, and one of the best examples of a song within a song I've heard. And you're also right that the whole album is great - there just isn't a bad track on that album.
I came back to this video again. You are the O.G.!
Blows your mind first time.
Let me give you an idea how obsessive Walter and Donald are about the sound of their music. On the song Home at Last, there is the line, "Well the danger on the rocks is surely past". They spent 6 hours mixing the words "Well the". Six hours mixing 2 syllables!
Insanity to most, but creation of genius takes just that... Incredible how much effort they put into these songs:)
To say nothing about using oblique references to the Odyssey in a pop song.
@@DiconDissectionalReactions Roger Nichols was Fagen & Becker's recording engineer across several albums, only to be summarily dismissed after multiple Grammy award winning albums with them. Check out the Wikipedia listing for him and read his descriptions of working with SD, and expanding on the available technology of the day.
Musically, this group is 2 levels higher than any metal band. LOL. And this was their masterpiece. Maybe one of the greatest songs in rock history. The studio musicians Steely Dan used were the best in the industry. Your analyses of the song's details were great. Very entertaining.
Wayne Shorter (great Jazz Sax man) and, the inimitable Steve Gadd on Drums..Gadd is my all time favorite drummer..The guy just never sound's out of place..For every song, with anyone he's ever played with (and it is an impressive resume), everything he does just sounds like, "Yes!..Of course!..That's exactly what is supposed to be there!"..His timing is flawless, and jaw dropping good!.......No, that's the whole album of people, BTW.
The cover photo by Hideki Fujii features Japanese model and actress Sayoko Yamaguchi[6][7] and was designed by Patricia Mitsui and Geoff Westen.
You might be amazed to know that three guitarists play on this song along with a piano and electric piano. All contributing to this masterpiece
Song is pronounced "Asia". Great song by these guys!☺
Aja is about the love of a good woman... A quiet respite from the storm.
Steel Dan: Dont take me alive. Genesis: Supper's Ready. YES: Topographic Oceans.
This group never rushed recording their albums. It could take months to record an album. They used various musicians on each song. The only constant was Walter Becker and Donald Fagan. They chose the other musicians carefully for each song, usually getting the best session players available.
I remember buying this album at Sam Goody the week it came out.
Trust me on this,when you here this song for the 1st. Time, it won’t be your last.in my opinion one of the best songs ever.
I think the guitar and piano combo is from their Jazz influences. Add a bass and percussion and you have a Jazz combo.
Steve Gadd played drums on this song. Amazing drums with the Sax Solo. They would call in all studio musicians to work on all their songs and it was usually different people on different songs. You should check out all Steely Dan's catalog!
Yes... that's a list of musicians on the entire album. It's cool to watch you hear these for the first time and actually 'get it' . cheers my my friend. (drums are the amazing Steve Gadd)
I do think it's a remix though.. not the original recording. (a lot of home recording guys remixed this tune when the tracks became available)
I must have subscribed after you reacted to this. I literally bought this album on the day it hit these quaint things we used to call "record stores". This remains my gold standard of an audio masterpiece. At some point, I bought it on CD so that I could carry it with me in my vehicle. Then one day I realized I no longer had the vinyl (undoubtedly some dastardly "friend" failed to return it at some point, but I forgive whomever it might be.) So I bought the reissue on the "180 gram vinyl" and once again played it start to finish, both sides. I've had the good fortune to see Steely Dan live a few times, and alas, Walter Becker is no longer with us, so if we are to hear this music live, it will be only with Donald Fagan. And there were lots of people who contributed to the album because they did take after take after take with different musician combinations until they got the Steely Dan sound. Those two rascals were not liked by many in the music industry, but they produced musical perfection. Bear in mind, this was all done analog, WAY before any digital effects.
Steve Gadd on drums young brother. Check him out. One of the most called on studio musicians of that era.
The album cover is a woman wrapped in a black kimono with white/red trim.
The album cover is considered a masterpiece of minimalism. The woman is Japanese model and actress Sayoko Yamaguchi. Sadly, she died in 2007.
Yes, and if I recall correctly the album cover was designed by the Phil Hartman of SNL fame during his early years as a graphics designer.
@@Larry821 Wow, I didn't know that. A man of many talents. RIP.
@@Larry821 Phil Hartman did design many album covers but not this one. It was designed by Patricia Mitsui and Geoff Westen.
@@dwgale01 Ahh, my mistake. Thanks for the correction.
When I see a band with keyboards it always makes me respect them a little more. Finding 17 guitarists is easy but try to find a Jon Lord type organ player a Tony Banks, Rick Wright, Rick Waksman, Keith Emerson now we’re talking.
I always supposed this song might be about the Tassajara Zen center at Big Sur.
That’s a good guess. Or some kind of rehab facility
Good job
This song is remarkable-as is the entire album. You need to dive deeper into the entire record, because the work comprises a huge array of the top L.A. studio musicians. Each song on Aja is a miniature masterpiece and features different ensembles. This one has Wayne Shorter, tenor; Victor Feldman, marimba, Joe Sample, Piano and the fabulous drummer, Steve Gadd (he sight-read this chart and did it in one take!) Steve’s outro on this is fire! Oh, by the way... the drummer on Josie, is my close friend, Jim Keltner, my friend of 60 years.
My thought about “dime dancing” is his everyday job working for a buck. But when he’s done, he runs to his love, an Asian girl I think. When the instrumental section begins, I see a busy Chinatown, complete with traffic cop blowing his whistle! But that’s just me
Right on
Back in the day you could go get a dance with a woman for a dime. Tina Turner's video "Private Dancer" is about these old-time dancing parlors. I thought he meant when all my fooling around with women who I know won't lead to real love, I'll run to you, when all my dime dancing is through. That worked for me.
dime dancing means he is a player, many sexual partners. a dime dance is from the old days of the depression. women would dance with men for a dime
They worked on this album for a long, long time utilizing the talents of the best session musicians with the intent of creating perfection. And then, they refined the recording in such a way that allowed it to breathe and exude feeling because perfection would tend to be too clinical. And so some musicians who were able to make the cut for one track were not able to produce for another track. They liberally substituted musicians until they found the right balance and chemistry in the performance. For these reasons, Aja may be their most meticulously produced album. And it shows. It is the kind of album you can put on and play from start to finish without a break. Many of their albums are like that but I think this one sets the bar for measuring the others.
Lyrical interpretation is tricky and a bit opaque. Old saying that art is more a question than an answer. This song makes me think of San Francisco. Stunningly beautiful, very hilly, urbane, sophisticated, international city with a large Asian population. Falling in love with a beguiling, mysterious Asian woman and being introduced to cultural as well as sensual delights.
Musically-words fail, although “masterful” is a good start. My favorite of theirs.
I was shocked when you said it is an 8 minute song!
I mean I knew but I had forgotten.
I think that this song makes ANY 8 minutes go by incredibly fast!
If you want to hear a keyboard and guitar going off together on the same note, check out Return to Forever. Especially the "Romantic Warrior" album. Chick Corea and Al DiMeola are sensational together.