There's a documentary where Becker and Fagen are talking about the recording of this song and McDonald's vocals. They isolate a portion of the song, adding that it will be embarrassing, but I think few people could manage to sing as flawlessly as McDonald.
@@justkim1I've rewatched that documentary multiple times and it never gets old. _Classic Albums: Steely Dan "Aja"_ (Broadcast in October 1999 and also on DVD and UA-cam in parts)
@lindadodson1586 You know, Michael's performance on this song has always, since I was a child, hands down, my favourite vocal cluster harmony of all time, and still is. Just sheer beauty and perfection at once.
@matthewgaines10 WELL SAID, my friend. It's true. You had to have real talent and skills to create music. It hasn't been like that for 3 and a half decades.
@captainpaintball8122 compressed, eq'd, reverb and compression at mix. That's...all we had. Probsbly doubled. This three part harmony would have been six voices, each part doubled and spread in stereo at mix. Maybe one side would have been delayed 30 milliseconds or so to create wider stereo but it doesn't sound like it. Thats all there was. Good, pro singers don't think anything about knocking something like this out in an hour. It's not that hard for a pro.
they pitch correction back then. Also, auto tune isnt just gonna make anyon sound good. Alot of our singrs that use auto tune actually have good pitch and tone.
@neonfroot no they didn't. And yes, every damned production today puts that crap on the vocal buss as a matter of course. And not just vocals. It sounds like hell and it makes music unlistenable.
Why not? I have recorded vocals for most of my life, and have found it much easier to harmonise with my own tracks than with another vocalist. When doing your own harmonies, you already know exactly which phrasing to use, and you're already very familiar with your own voice. And doing close harmonies is much easier. Now, if he did multiple harmonies AT THE SAME TIME, I would concede. ;)
With a basically unlimited budget to do take after take after take, all while getting paid a ton of money as a session musician to sing it all. Aja took around a year of recording, on the best equipment, with the best musicians, but even Michael McDonald said how he struggled with this song. Give me a year and all the financial security to not need a day job, and I would EVENTUALLY get it. That doesn't downplay Mike's performance, at ALL. he's one of the best for a reason., But this "I miss REAL music" attitude ignores that these musicians in the 60, 70s, 80s had all the support in the world to make them do their absolute best. That support doesn't exist anymore.
@@mikedocemrick9497 it's an old record label thing to throw loads of music out. they learnt their lesson from how many albums they funnelled money into that flopped. plus modern music is cheaper tor record anyway, look how much is recorded independently.
@@mikedocemrick9497 Because record companies are cheap, and unwilling to take risks. Instead of sign an unknown band to a 5 record deal and allow them to develop as artists and see if they eventually become a hit, they go with proven money-makers - which is why a lot of pop is super generic with generic chord structures, forms, and melodies. They would rather get an ok performance and just fix it later, rather than have artists spend time (read: money) getting a fantastic take. That's why they use autotune, and would rather use MIDI/VSTs for instrumentation rather than have a band (or even session musicians) do take after take trying to "nail it" or even let them experiment (Good example on Aja where they tried a ton of musicians). And, if it's "rock" or some sort of live music, they quantize, time-align and tune everything. Why? Because it's "perfect" and easier and much cheaper than hiring musicians at scale. On top of that, people don't buy music. They prefer to stream, which pays a horribly low amount of money. People want music for free (and while that's arguably great), musicians cannot afford to record on their own. Most labels do not give advances or even offer advertising for artists (advances usually being shitty loans) but most up-and-coming artists/bands need to record out of pocket. And because minimum wage (which isn't even a living wage) hasn't even come close to keeping up with the cost of living over the last 50 years, musicians are more broke than ever. There are no live bands, because venues realised they can use radio/cassettes/CDs/streaming over the PA rather than hire a local band. It used to be musicans could gig constantly, even at a low-level, enough to work a living. Now every musican has to work a draining low-income 40+hr job on top of trying to do their music, unless they are wealthy. Bands used to rehearse every single day. But they can't afford to (time-wise, and money-wise). This isn't even to mention that venues tend to take a merch cut now, too (not talking arenas, but wouldn't doubt that either). Want to play a bar/small club? Even though you make maybe $2 per shirt (after costs) the owner wants a cut because they're cheap assholes. And because everyone does it, the option is to not play, or pay the cut. And instead of giving the band a cut of the door, usually bands pay to "rent" the venue, and the venue keeps all of the bar, and the band might take most of the door. This isn't even to mention that most labels have 360 deals. Whereas before they would take a HEAVY percentage of record sale (band usually splits less than 10% amongst themselves and the producer), but at least the band makes money from touring and merch sales, right? Well now labels take a heavy cut of all of that. Most non-massive bands lose money touring because it's so expensive. And musicians are supposed to somehow have a 40hr full-time job at the same time that they can magically disappear to "tour" and lose money? How can anyone afford 2, 3, 4 weeks off at a time and come back poorer than before and actually pay bills? This is why records aren't made the same way. Why there isn't support. Why you can't hire a legendary singer to do take after take of difficult harmonies, and experiment, and perfect. Sorry for the wall of text, but there's a LOT going on that contributes to where music is now. A lot of it is hyper-capitalistic corporate greed. This doesn't even mention all the labels the consolidated, so smaller indie labels barely exists, or that the tekecomms act in the 90s consolidated radio into 3 or 4 companies that push only one thing, and independent radio barely exists (and DJs don't play unknown artists, just what the labels want).
@@mikedocemrick9497 So many reasons. It’s really sad. But that’s business. The good tunes will shine through over time. Like it always has. People forget, but the 50s’, 60s’, 70s’ had lots of really terrible/boring/cookie cutter music, it’s just nobody really plays that stuff.
There’s a reason why Donald Fagen wanted Michael McDonald to be the singer of Steely Dan. Thankfully that idea was voted down. Donald is underrated and his voice is perfect for what the Dan created over the decades.
McDonald here MAKES this song come alive. What I love about him is he manages to have complete vibrato control, setting it to the song tempo. Plus, his natural timbre is just sublime. I wish there were MORE examples of him doing a similar thing. My brother and I still practice this song.
When one realizes this is Michael McDonald singing BOTH the melody and harmony tracks, you’re mind-blown. I saw his commentary on the making of Peg with Fagen and Becker on the “Perfect Albums - Aja” documentary; one of the masterpieces of American Jazz-Rock fusion, and I hope it is preserved in the Library of Congress permanently for future generations to marvel at.
Ha-ha, that's not Michael McDonald in the screenshot, it's Rick Moranis from SCTV lip-synching to Ride Like The Wind ua-cam.com/video/b0HzWMqLeiE/v-deo.html
I believe the only major sound effect used on this was the one used by the female back up singers on the studio version of "Time" from The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd when Richard Wright sings during the two middle 8 sections, which he probably improved Water's music with Major 7 chords instead of just Major triads. This effect sounds like "chorus" on a Leslie speaker (which was used on almost every song from the DSOTM).
i wish there was a way to see the vocal processing they put on McDonald's vocal. Such a fresh high-end on the EQ but not too airy. It's also compressed so well
It is an artifact from using software to separate the vocals from the song. I would assume This is not the raw track from Peg but has been achieved by using a software that can identify the vocals in the sound wave of the song and remove the rest. Think of it like an archeologist digging up an artifact, you can try to remove all dirt and stuff, but you will usually have a little dirt left or a few scratches after restoring the isolated piece.
sounds slightly vocoded to me? especially the airy parts? not that i'd diss the vocal prowess of MM, but getting the vibrato to match on each voice part is a feat in itself, that maybe there is his voice modulating a poly synth and the carrier is further modulated with pitch mod.. regardless, doesn't matter how it was done as long as it works in the song and this certaInly does!
No, no, no ,there is a video of him and Steely Dan on UA-cam breaking down how they did it. Nothing vocoded, just good old talent and tremendous disciplined ears!
@@zess_t5952 I'm not sure exactly under what criteria you think Michael McDonald's voice is "goofy" but I guess much of art is subjective, although many people would disagree with you. But by the same token some people might think Donald Fagen's voice is goofy too but I don't hear anyone complaining about either of their performances on Peg.
Using Rick Moranis as Michael McDonald from that SCTV skit for this is the funniest thing, ever.
I just searched for Michael Mcdonald singing in the studio and it was the first result on Google haha.
Saw it, it was funny how MM was so busy.
Bro, he's syncing up every single wavelength of his vibrato on both tracks. That's incredible.
Could be a good phone ringtone.
Especially with a wife or girlfriend named Peg. ;-)
Don't give me any ideas...
@jmaruca Exactly.
I just did it on my iPhone. Sounds great!
Excellent idea! 😅
I have heard him talk about how dificult that session was. The result is excellent.
There's a documentary where Becker and Fagen are talking about the recording of this song and McDonald's vocals. They isolate a portion of the song, adding that it will be embarrassing, but I think few people could manage to sing as flawlessly as McDonald.
@@justkim1I've rewatched that documentary multiple times and it never gets old.
_Classic Albums: Steely Dan "Aja"_ (Broadcast in October 1999 and also on DVD and UA-cam in parts)
Peg...Back to you....Peg...Back to you...Ahhhh...Shutter falls...All in 3D...Foreign movie
Thank YOU!
Appreciate this!!
Always wondered what he was saying
I was just saying that this harmony is so prominent that every time I'm singing along to Peg, I sing *his* harmony rather than the lead on the chorus.
Wow you’re so innovative!!!
i always harmony backing vocals. Theyre the real meat of any song.
Perfection! Listening to it isolated, it's hard to realize that it's quite possibly the best backing vocal ever!!!
@lindadodson1586 You know, Michael's performance on this song has always, since I was a child, hands down, my favourite vocal cluster harmony of all time, and still is. Just sheer beauty and perfection at once.
He is singing background on background. Gives it a unique sound.
sorry, Mike
Michael McDonald = Legend🍻
love his voice
I could listen to Michael McDonald sing the phone book. Seriously...
@@frankrivers2183 for sure
Michael has the ability to make "anything" sound so good! I wish i could sing with that much Soul. ❤
Its an anomaly for a white American guy to sound so soulful. Usually its the British that have the white soulful voices.
Back when your singing skills were a factor of your success in the business. He was a force of nature.
@matthewgaines10 WELL SAID, my friend. It's true. You had to have real talent and skills to create music. It hasn't been like that for 3 and a half decades.
He had bill to pay 🙌😂
I have needed this for years
Can you transpose it?
No auto tune back then, either! Wow!
Absolutely spectacular vocal precision!
I would have bet my pinky finger he was processed. Just 4 or so tracks
@captainpaintball8122 compressed, eq'd, reverb and compression at mix. That's...all we had. Probsbly doubled. This three part harmony would have been six voices, each part doubled and spread in stereo at mix. Maybe one side would have been delayed 30 milliseconds or so to create wider stereo but it doesn't sound like it. Thats all there was. Good, pro singers don't think anything about knocking something like this out in an hour. It's not that hard for a pro.
they pitch correction back then. Also, auto tune isnt just gonna make anyon sound good. Alot of our singrs that use auto tune actually have good pitch and tone.
@neonfroot no they didn't. And yes, every damned production today puts that crap on the vocal buss as a matter of course. And not just vocals. It sounds like hell and it makes music unlistenable.
@@mrsherwood2599
idk what youre listening to but not every post-2000s song uses auto tune.
His background work on this song were as good as it gets! He is such a talented musician & singer.
That part at 0:34 is something only he could do for this song. It’s sounds as smooth as water. So beautiful
Shudduh ball ,,, Harlem VD ,,, foreign movie … PEG
PEEEEEEEEEG!! Back to you... PEEEEEEEEEG!! Back to you... Aaaaah, shutter fall, all in 3D foreign movie.
As a little white kid in the 70s I always assumed Michael McDonald was black... boy did I get a surprise when I finally saw him on TV. WHAT A VOICE
That voice, wow.
Three part harmony with yourself….Few in any could do that with such perfect pitch
Why not? I have recorded vocals for most of my life, and have found it much easier to harmonise with my own tracks than with another vocalist. When doing your own harmonies, you already know exactly which phrasing to use, and you're already very familiar with your own voice. And doing close harmonies is much easier. Now, if he did multiple harmonies AT THE SAME TIME, I would concede. ;)
Bloody brilliant vocals and a banger of a tune 🥰
Tbh its a complete eargasm from start to finish, steely dan rocks 🔥
Peggg
I just realized that maybe Donald wanted to get a barbershop quartet effect from Michael's vocals.
I always got vaudeville or early talkie musical vibes out of it, but they're almost the same thing anyways
I think there’s a documentary where Donald and Walter say they were thinking about a big band saxophone section kind of sound for the vocal stack.
Wow. And without Autotune!
With a basically unlimited budget to do take after take after take, all while getting paid a ton of money as a session musician to sing it all.
Aja took around a year of recording, on the best equipment, with the best musicians, but even Michael McDonald said how he struggled with this song.
Give me a year and all the financial security to not need a day job, and I would EVENTUALLY get it. That doesn't downplay Mike's performance, at ALL. he's one of the best for a reason.,
But this "I miss REAL music" attitude ignores that these musicians in the 60, 70s, 80s had all the support in the world to make them do their absolute best. That support doesn't exist anymore.
@@raynefaded why does that support not exist anymore?
@@mikedocemrick9497 it's an old record label thing to throw loads of music out. they learnt their lesson from how many albums they funnelled money into that flopped. plus modern music is cheaper tor record anyway, look how much is recorded independently.
@@mikedocemrick9497 Because record companies are cheap, and unwilling to take risks. Instead of sign an unknown band to a 5 record deal and allow them to develop as artists and see if they eventually become a hit, they go with proven money-makers - which is why a lot of pop is super generic with generic chord structures, forms, and melodies.
They would rather get an ok performance and just fix it later, rather than have artists spend time (read: money) getting a fantastic take. That's why they use autotune, and would rather use MIDI/VSTs for instrumentation rather than have a band (or even session musicians) do take after take trying to "nail it" or even let them experiment (Good example on Aja where they tried a ton of musicians).
And, if it's "rock" or some sort of live music, they quantize, time-align and tune everything. Why? Because it's "perfect" and easier and much cheaper than hiring musicians at scale.
On top of that, people don't buy music. They prefer to stream, which pays a horribly low amount of money. People want music for free (and while that's arguably great), musicians cannot afford to record on their own.
Most labels do not give advances or even offer advertising for artists (advances usually being shitty loans) but most up-and-coming artists/bands need to record out of pocket. And because minimum wage (which isn't even a living wage) hasn't even come close to keeping up with the cost of living over the last 50 years, musicians are more broke than ever.
There are no live bands, because venues realised they can use radio/cassettes/CDs/streaming over the PA rather than hire a local band. It used to be musicans could gig constantly, even at a low-level, enough to work a living. Now every musican has to work a draining low-income 40+hr job on top of trying to do their music, unless they are wealthy. Bands used to rehearse every single day. But they can't afford to (time-wise, and money-wise).
This isn't even to mention that venues tend to take a merch cut now, too (not talking arenas, but wouldn't doubt that either). Want to play a bar/small club? Even though you make maybe $2 per shirt (after costs) the owner wants a cut because they're cheap assholes. And because everyone does it, the option is to not play, or pay the cut. And instead of giving the band a cut of the door, usually bands pay to "rent" the venue, and the venue keeps all of the bar, and the band might take most of the door.
This isn't even to mention that most labels have 360 deals. Whereas before they would take a HEAVY percentage of record sale (band usually splits less than 10% amongst themselves and the producer), but at least the band makes money from touring and merch sales, right? Well now labels take a heavy cut of all of that. Most non-massive bands lose money touring because it's so expensive.
And musicians are supposed to somehow have a 40hr full-time job at the same time that they can magically disappear to "tour" and lose money? How can anyone afford 2, 3, 4 weeks off at a time and come back poorer than before and actually pay bills?
This is why records aren't made the same way. Why there isn't support. Why you can't hire a legendary singer to do take after take of difficult harmonies, and experiment, and perfect. Sorry for the wall of text, but there's a LOT going on that contributes to where music is now. A lot of it is hyper-capitalistic corporate greed.
This doesn't even mention all the labels the consolidated, so smaller indie labels barely exists, or that the tekecomms act in the 90s consolidated radio into 3 or 4 companies that push only one thing, and independent radio barely exists (and DJs don't play unknown artists, just what the labels want).
@@mikedocemrick9497 So many reasons. It’s really sad. But that’s business. The good tunes will shine through over time. Like it always has. People forget, but the 50s’, 60s’, 70s’ had lots of really terrible/boring/cookie cutter music, it’s just nobody really plays that stuff.
There’s a reason why Donald Fagen wanted Michael McDonald to be the singer of Steely Dan. Thankfully that idea was voted down. Donald is underrated and his voice is perfect for what the Dan created over the decades.
Yes, absolutely. Read what I said about him above?
The thumbnail 🤣🤣🤣 If you know, you know (and you're old lol)
The notes are so close to one another they must look like clusters of grapes on the chart.
McDonald here MAKES this song come alive. What I love about him is he manages to have complete vibrato control, setting it to the song tempo. Plus, his natural timbre is just sublime. I wish there were MORE examples of him doing a similar thing. My brother and I still practice this song.
THIS IS GLASS THANKS TO MIKE
When one realizes this is Michael McDonald singing BOTH the melody and harmony tracks, you’re mind-blown. I saw his commentary on the making of Peg with Fagen and Becker on the “Perfect Albums - Aja” documentary; one of the masterpieces of American Jazz-Rock fusion, and I hope it is preserved in the Library of Congress permanently for future generations to marvel at.
That’s the good stuff
Flawless
Pure gold.
Been looking for this for years, thanks very much!
Peg
... back to you
Peg
...back to you
...ohh shutter falls
...all in 3D
...foreign movie
When Michael sings "Peg" in harmony it would sound weird on its own... but in the song its great...!
Best singer in popular music, bar none. He would be stunning in a choir.
Wow. Pure magic.
Michael McDonald was EVERYWHERE
Beautiful voice.
How did I not know that’s Mike McDonald on this track! I’ve heard Peg a million times and never knew it.
Time Out Of Mind, from Gaucho has another Mc Donald backing vocal track i would also love to hear isolated. 1:13
Nice thumbnail and great quality
You may already know this, but that's Rick Moranis 🤣
Ha-ha, that's not Michael McDonald in the screenshot, it's Rick Moranis from SCTV lip-synching to Ride Like The Wind ua-cam.com/video/b0HzWMqLeiE/v-deo.html
Sorry, it was one of the first results on google haha
Tell-tale Doug and Bob Molson Canadian logo on the wall to the left
Such a long way to go!!!!
@@smusik7023The fact it was an accident makes it even more funny.
All of those singers was
Michael McDonald ! 😎
ALL IN 3D
“Foreign movie…”
Tbh, we didn’t really need isolated vocals for PEEEEGGGGGGGGGG
Speak for yourself :)
Peg remembers
Amazing voice
Awesome !! Thanks !!
Awesome!
This would be great for a house remix
I *love* this idea!
I believe the only major sound effect used on this was the one used by the female back up singers on the studio version of "Time" from The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd when Richard Wright sings during the two middle 8 sections, which he probably improved Water's music with Major 7 chords instead of just Major triads. This effect sounds like "chorus" on a Leslie speaker (which was used on almost every song from the DSOTM).
i wish there was a way to see the vocal processing they put on McDonald's vocal. Such a fresh high-end on the EQ but not too airy. It's also compressed so well
All that's missing is Chuck Raineys bass line to give us the root notes to these chords.
Epic
SCTV!
Now we just need john frusciante from RHCP on white braids n pillow chair
Nobody needs Frusciante.
Aahh aahhhh aahhhh chooooo
Pegggggggggggggggg!!
PEHHHHHHHHH
Is there anybody who could transpose this for me? Thank you
sorry, Mike
You want me to sing what chords??
He sang that twice to harmonize with himself? Picking up a double track.
Yes, he said so in the documentary about its recording.
That's what makes it so remarkable. Isolating the vocals makes you appreciate the harmonies and McDonald's talent even more.
He did more than just double. Look at the video on UA-cam with him and Steely Dan speaking on Peg.
This Michael McDonald guy... did he ever sing much in any songs?
Just in this other little known group he was in.
That's like asking if Kate Micucci ever guested in a sitcom.
Sweet Freedom! What a question 😂
why does it sound like someone is whispering in the background??
It is an artifact from using software to separate the vocals from the song. I would assume This is not the raw track from Peg but has been achieved by using a software that can identify the vocals in the sound wave of the song and remove the rest. Think of it like an archeologist digging up an artifact, you can try to remove all dirt and stuff, but you will usually have a little dirt left or a few scratches after restoring the isolated piece.
@@controlledchaos8481 thnk u
Does anyone know what he’s saying apart from “peg back to you”
Shutter falls. All in 3D. Foreign movie.
@@jcm78ok thanks
hahaha
😅😅😅😅
if you can listen to this without wanting to swear off music forever, you might be a boomer
SCTV
sounds slightly vocoded to me? especially the airy parts? not that i'd diss the vocal prowess of MM, but getting the vibrato to match on each voice part is a feat in itself, that maybe there is his voice modulating a poly synth and the carrier is further modulated with pitch mod.. regardless, doesn't matter how it was done as long as it works in the song and this certaInly does!
No, no, no ,there is a video of him and Steely Dan on UA-cam breaking down how they did it. Nothing vocoded, just good old talent and tremendous disciplined ears!
i believe it! i guess my comment was meant to reflect that it's uncannily perfect...@@Darkanent
Nope, MM is just a fuckin beast
Like it, but this synchronized vibrato across voices sounds like it's done by some effect.
No effect. Singing…
There are two tracks of his background vocals on the song, and here.
Ah, man I thought this was video. I hate MM and his goofy voice but his projection is awesome. Very cool vocal stem, thanks for sharing.
"Goofy voice"...? Michael McDonald? Seriously? Well I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion...Smh
@@frankrivers2183 you gotta admit it’s a little goofy
@@zess_t5952 I'm not sure exactly under what criteria you think Michael McDonald's voice is "goofy" but I guess much of art is subjective, although many people would disagree with you. But by the same token some people might think Donald Fagen's voice is goofy too but I don't hear anyone complaining about either of their performances on Peg.
L comment
@@frankrivers2183 I didnt say its bad, his style of falsetto is just pretty funny.
All this time I thought it was a keyboard playing that part.