This is the 1977 album "Aja." A lot of people, myself definitely included, feel that this is the best written, best arranged, best performed, best recorded, best produced pop album in history. It is an absolute aural masterpiece in every way, both the material and how it was recorded. Most of what you're hearing soundwise isn't remastering - it is what went onto analog tape in 1977. This record sounded that amazing from day one. Audiophiles use this record to test their equipment. It's one of the most beautiful sounding records in history, and every track on it is a stone cold classic. React to literally any other song on this album and you will not regret it. By the way, the guitar solo is played by studio ace Jay Graydon. They hired a couple of dozen guitarists to try their hand at cutting a solo on this song. What you're hearing is him walking in, plugging in his guitar, scorching this solo, putting the guitar back in the case, and leaving. In the studio musician documentary "Hired Guns" (which you should see if you haven't), he said something that perfectly captures what you're hearing on this record: "Before there was Pro Tools, there were PROS." ✊
The Dan are also a common choice for live sound engineers to check their systems. Their production always emphasizes clean fidelity with minimal use of processing including EQ. Choose the right mic, get it in the right place... boom. Truth.
There is a vocalist singing backup on this song named Micheal McDonald. He went on to sing with the Doobie Brothers, “Takin it to the Streets”, “Minute by Minute”, “What a Fool Believes”. He then had a career of his own the biggest hit called “I Keep Forgetting” that has been sampled, and I think you will probably recognize who sampled it. You should check him out.
Steely Dan: two magicians and an assortment of equally skilled companions casting spells that blend pop, jazz-rock, funk, and soul to charm people of all backgrounds and generations.
Jay Graydon did the guitar solo on Peg. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker tried like 8 different guitarists until they were satisfied with Jays playing. He nailed that solo.
So many great Steely Dan tunes. "Kid Charlemagne", "Black Cow", and "Don't Take Me Alive" are a great start, but are really just the tip of the iceberg. Besides the stellar musicianshi[p and sly lyrical content, Steely Dan were also known for having some of the best sounding and produced records of all time. Audiophiles will still use albums like Asa to test out their systems.
I believe Chuck Rainey is the bassist your ears are enjoying. He leaves a groove a mile wide. The background vocals on Aja were as good as any I have ever heard.
Steely Dan is my favorite band thanks for reacting. I appreciate your knowledge of the instruments, wish I had that. The longest song from them is "Aja" from the self titled album. It is brilliant! Welcome to the Steely Dan rabbit hole you're in for a treat.
"I'm gonna get into it 'cause I love this so far." AHHHH! Someone else taking the plunge down the Steely Dan deep rabbit hole! Welcome, brother, you have lots of kindred spirits down in Steely Danland.
My husband passed away in 2018. He was a huge Steely Dan fan,also Pink Floyd. He loved classic rock. Every time I hear these kind of songs I think of him and thank him for introducing me to this great music.
The whole AjA album is a masterpiece..... these guys are at the top of the producer food chain.. bar none... you better be an expert at reading musical notation and preforming instantly to get on with this band...
The greatest thing about these guys is every song is different. Each song is like going on a new adventure and you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. So many songs to react to but I'll pick a couple I haven't seen any one else do. "Dirty Work" and "Show Biz Kids".
"Deacon Blues" was a huge hit and is still a rock radio staple. Amazing sounds. You would truly dig it, JR. Thanks for doing some Steely Dan and Rush. Check out Bob Seger, too. "Night Moves". Bests to ya.
Not just ANY studio musicians. They always assembled the most talented, most in-demand studio players. I finally got to see them in concert last summer. Walter Becker is, unfortunately, long gone but Donald Fagen and the band are still TIGHT as hell!! What a great show!
The guitarist is Larry Carlton, who continues to have a great career going. He's been in the Crusaders and studio work for a multitude of legends. The background singers included Michael McDonald, who fronted the Doobie Brothers.
Uh no, the solo is by Jay Graydon and the ass kicking rhythm guitar is Steve Khan. There's only one background singer, it's Michael McDonald's voice multi tracked many times.
I'm just starting to enjoy "reaction" videos, and I love them. I really liked what you did, and I particularly like what you said about soul, that it's not color restricted. I can attest to that because I worked with multicultural bands for about thirty years. They were mostly cover bands and we played rock, Motown soul, and blues. Keep on rocking, my friend
Another hit off this 1977 album, "Josie," has a similar vibe. And for some reason, 1977 Steely Dan always makes me want to hear mid- to late seventies George Benson, especially "On Broadway" from 1978.
The backing vocals are all sung by Michael McDonald, who became the lead singer of The Doobie Brothers and has a solo career. He had to sing by harmonizing to his own voice in half and whole steps (major and minor notes) which was difficult for him to sing, the notes were very close to each other. Thanks for playing it!
Michael Macdonald was part of Steely Dan's touring band.He was a studio musician for them as well. You can hear him on the background vocals for "Peg".Michael Macdonald left Steely Dan in 1975 to join The Doobie Brothers.He wrote and performed several hits for The Doobie Brothers including "What a Fool Believes " which was one of their biggest hits.
I recommend your next Steely Dan reactions to “Black Cow” and “FM (No Static)”. But, honestly, this is one band where EVERY song they did was freaking awesome. You could really just pick random songs from their catalog and never be disappointed.
Thanks for doin' your thing and bringing my way your reaction vid. I’m real deep into these cats. Becker & Fagen are to me, far and away, the kings of the popular music genre. Those two are the last of the old school songwriting duos. They are well schooled students of the history of popular music, and their passion drove them to create these stunning albums. You’ll find yourself listening for a lifetime to these songs and always discovering some new thing that you hadn’t noticed before. That’s how many layers there are to the music, not to mention the smartest, funniest, subversive /sexy, and poetic lyrics this side of Tin Pan Alley. Your video showed me new aspects of this song. Specifically the rhythm section. I’ve listened to Peg countless times and never fully appreciated the depth of the drums and bass together, especially at the last section. Thanks, man.
That made my day brother🤗💕👏 Michael McDonald the back up vocals on the song The drummer name was Bernard and another guy play with Miles Davis on the horns
1977, for "Peg," and the horn in the song, is a soprano saxophone (played straight out at about a 45 degree angle--like a snake charmer horn; no bend in it, like an alto or tenor sax). Some more Dan songs: "Babylon Sisters," "Black Friday," "Night by Night," "Caves of Altamira," "Green Book"...and there's Donald's and Walter's solo albums too. A GIANT rabbithole!
Joe Day, your comment was perfect. I would add one thing. This LP is the best representation of the 1970's Los Angeles scene. At that time, the music industry had shifted from NY to LA. All the best studios, all the best writers, all the musicians, producers and engineers. The list of artists and musicians that lived and recorded in LA at that time is to long to list here. A list of all the LP's recorded that land on 'best produced LP's is also to long. A good video to check out would be the documentary on Aja. In that doc, Ian Durry says something like "Aja has the blood of LA running through its veins". Two NY dudes creating a masterpiece in LA.
The Third Eye painting of which Prince fashioned his album cover, in the background!✊🏾🖤 Steely Dan is music for Musicians!.....#daughterofabassplayer You hear him thumpin dat BASS🤯🤯 You’re AMAZIN!
"Black Cow" and "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" next please. Rarely when people hear this cut the first time do they pick on the incredible bass lines in this song. That's the great Chuck Rainey kickin' it. Also that instrument that has an almost trumpet sound is a Melodica. The guitarist here is Jay Graydon.
I know you’re a drum guy, so those pockets and groove are courtesy of the great Rick Marotta who said that Peg was one of the best tracks he ever played on. 🔥
With that legendary slap bass line laid down by Chuck Rainey, who said he was strictly instructed by Fagen and Becker not to slap one note on the tune, but it felt and sounded so good he did it anyway and convinced them to keep it.
One of the keyboards being used on this track is a Clavinet, which is sort of like a guitar mechanism been played by keys. That's the one with the flanger on it. Every musician on this track is A++: Michael MacDonald on background vocals, Jeff Pocaro on drums, Chuck Rainey on bass. Chuck Rainey was told not to slap on this track but he snuck some slap in the chorus anyway.
I like a song that Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen did in 1982 as a solo artist. It was called "I.G.Y" (International Geophysical Year) and it was from his solo album "The Night Fly" and the album was based on his growing up in the 1950s. I.G.Y.(International Geophysical Year). This song was from Donald Fagen's 1982 album "The Nightfly" and it was based on his growing up in the 1950s. The Year 1955 was classified as the International Geophysical Year which lasted from July 1,1957 to December 31, 1958.This period of time refers to an international science project that was going on at the time. "Peg" is my favorite Steely Dan song my second favorite being "FM" from the movie of the same name that was released in 1977.
Steely Dan has gotta be the most sampled band in hip-hop (save maybe James Brown). This song in particular was largely sampled in De La Soul's "Eye Know". Artists from Kanye to MF Doom have sampled their music as well
Lol,..Wooohhh!!!😆, love, I said absolutely LOVE, how you were jamming up til the end of the song!!, isn't that something, this song carries you on out the door!, when the chorus is just repeating, more instruments come into play, the symbols start tapping more, the tempo ticks up, and you find your foot tapping more, your shoulders hopping, and before you know it, your grooving even more than you were at the beginning of the song!!!, huh, thats no coincidence, huh when it comes to Walter and Donald,.there are NO coincidences. I've heard it said that Donald is a perfectionist, theres no telling how many times they took a stab at this before it came out to Donald's satisfaction, and its no coincidence that the album this song comes from,.is an engineering feat, and production marvel. Considering the year the era this album was produced, digital hadn't happened yet, still analog, still tedious dials and knobs, and reel to reel! Huh, and yet albums like this, groups like them, Al Green, Pink Floyd, Isley Brothers, James Brown, Miles Davis, the list goes on,.the list prior to digital, the absolute works of art, production and sound was made an art form, strides in sound and editing even in movies!, all analog, today considered prehistoric, but look what was made with basically rocks and sticks, crude tools but used and wielded by brilliant humans. Was so pleased to see you don the big headphones, and yeah that "left", side "right" side,....we know!😄, and you have quite the ear, hearing the pedals, and the harmony, yeah, you'll have to read all who were given credit on album, but I'm sure Michael McDonald is in there, and one of the Porcaro brothers, they're in Toto, plenty of harmony to go around. Do check out more SD, The Aja album, the entire album is a must, every song some cool, smooth journey, with some funk and sass😉, Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Josie, I Got The News, then there's Gaucho album, Babylon Sisters,(talk about sass and swagger), Hey 19, ohh and did I mention Fagen had a solo album, Nightfly, "I.G.Y., Ruby Baby( ohh my, such sass and circumstance, make you want to swing out and twirl somebody😀🕺💃), it's got an old swing like from the big band eras, timing, tempo. Ohh and he was on Heavy Metal soundtrack, "True Companion ", very jazzy, SD kinda is, and FM soundtrack too. Keep going, enjoy, Godspeed, Peace ✌
You’re opening a can a worms, this group was amazing drawing jazz, blues, rock, fusion, soul mixed with brilliance. Had the pleasure to see them in them before n unfortunately saw them after.
Please keep going down the Steely Dan rabbit hole. They are incredible!! It’s a shame Walter has passed on. I have loved them since I was a kid. If I’m not mistaken some hip hop artist sampled this song. The bass player is Chuck Rainey. Walter and Donald were extremely picky about their sound, which is why they chose him to play bass. He’s unbelievably talented! Try the song called Kid Charlemagne next!!
This is from the Aja album they spent more than two million dollars to produce this Quality quality album every song is just a master recording they could never do that nowadays the way people rip things off they could never get their money back this is a time-tested treasure
the bass always shined through on this song for me. If you didn't know Steely Dan brings in several studio musicians to record their rendition of the song, and they select what feels best. Chuck Rainey the bass player on this liked the new style of funk people were doing and wanted to incorporate the slapping technique. Don Henley and Donald Fagan didn't want that. Chucked truly believed the slapping would improve the song so moved his music stand so they couldn't see what he was doing. Turns out they loved it and the rest is history.
Steely Dan are amazing, more subtle and easygoing than most other rock groups. The Aja album is their masterpiece, mostly from the strength of the songs in the album, their entire discography is strong though. I think you'd really like the song Aja. 'Reelin in the years' and 'Rikki don't lose that number' are their big radio hits, so one of them could be cool. Bodhisattva, kid charlemagne, FM no static at all &hey nineteen are some other good ones. If you did an album reaction you can't go wrong with Aja.
Loved the stank face when that guitar solo started. I think it's one we all made when we first heard it. 😉 Do you ever go to work and "Yo, y'all gotta check this out"? Great reaction, Sir
You kept mentioning the bass, it's Chuck Rainey, look him up. Great player. There is a DVD out with the making of Peg and there is some cameo interviews with the players and it's interesting to hear Chuck talk about how he came up with the part.
1977! Wikipedia says the alto sax sound on this song was generated by a Lyricon -- an electronic wind instrument manufactured in the early 1970's which used the mouth piece from a bass clarinet with a metal sensor strip instead of a reed. Cool stuff! I've been listening to this song since 1977 and I didn't know that.
You’ve got a great vibe and I appreciate your attention to detail that you pick up on the first listen. I’m a huge Steely Dan fan. How about “Black Cow” next?
Dude! One of their guitarists (who was also in The Doobie Bros) is an actual genius. He's so smart that he sent an idea to the Pentagon, and a few days later they came knocking on his door. He's been a consultant to the department of defense ever since. And check out "Dirty Work", about a guy feeling guilty about fooling around with a married woman.
Jay Graydon on guitar. They went thru about seven guitar solos that all didn't get it. Jay Graydon came in and nailed it. They torture session musicians and don't mind bringing in a shiz load of players until they hear something they want.
This might have been mentioned, but that drummer was Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. Super tight drummer, and invented the "Purdie Shuffle." Look him up! There's even a video where he teaches you his shuffle. 😄
Man, I gotta say, your ears are razor sharp. The way you can dissect a tract instrument by instrument is incredible. Mad respect to your reactions, dude.
The "Smoothest Music" of the 70s. These are a must. "Deacon Blues", "Hey Nineteen, "FM", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" This list will grown as more people post.
The most ruthless-yet-awesome thing I've ever seen is Donald Fagen & Walter Becker discussing how they chose that amazing guitar solo/soloist -- by playing us recordings of the soloists they REJECTED. It's just brutal. It's in the documentary called The Making of Aja. Four minutes into this clip: ruclips.net/video/waIBA6_0GQc/видео.html
Great reaction, I like the way you break down the song by the instruments and effects that you're hearing. By the way you should listen to "Hey 19" another excellent Steely Dan classic.
This is the 1977 album "Aja." A lot of people, myself definitely included, feel that this is the best written, best arranged, best performed, best recorded, best produced pop album in history. It is an absolute aural masterpiece in every way, both the material and how it was recorded. Most of what you're hearing soundwise isn't remastering - it is what went onto analog tape in 1977. This record sounded that amazing from day one. Audiophiles use this record to test their equipment. It's one of the most beautiful sounding records in history, and every track on it is a stone cold classic. React to literally any other song on this album and you will not regret it.
By the way, the guitar solo is played by studio ace Jay Graydon. They hired a couple of dozen guitarists to try their hand at cutting a solo on this song. What you're hearing is him walking in, plugging in his guitar, scorching this solo, putting the guitar back in the case, and leaving. In the studio musician documentary "Hired Guns" (which you should see if you haven't), he said something that perfectly captures what you're hearing on this record: "Before there was Pro Tools, there were PROS." ✊
The Dan are also a common choice for live sound engineers to check their systems. Their production always emphasizes clean fidelity with minimal use of processing including EQ. Choose the right mic, get it in the right place... boom. Truth.
@@civildiscourse2000 The right mic, in front of the right player, playing the right arrangement of the right song.
@@joeday4293 Rather important details, I agree. I could argue that it's part of "the right place." 😀
@@civildiscourse2000 The right EVERYTHING.
If you want to know how an album is supposed to sound, listen to this one.
So, you like it then?
This album is widely respected by musicians as one of the most perfectly engineered albums of all times.
Truth, Eileen.
The word, “engineered”, definitely emphasized. I honestly can’t imagine how much they all had to put into this album.
I'd say tied with Pet Sounds by the BBs.
I would say night fly but it’s close
It does sound perfect.
There is a vocalist singing backup on this song named Micheal McDonald. He went on to sing with the Doobie Brothers, “Takin it to the Streets”, “Minute by Minute”, “What a Fool Believes”. He then had a career of his own the biggest hit called “I Keep Forgetting” that has been sampled, and I think you will probably recognize who sampled it. You should check him out.
And he guested on Show You the Way by Thundercat.
And that hit with Patti Labelle 'On My Own'! 😉🐰 #ENRGYZRBunny
Not only that but they overdubbed McDonald's voice so it sounds like 3 part harmony but its all McDonald. Brilliant idea by Donald Fagen
Michael McDonald sings his a** off in this song
@@cityhonors1 and Michael McDonald with Arethe Franklin.
Michael McDonald's backing vocals here are legendary.
If I can "borrow" a quote stated by another "RUclipsr",
"Steely Dan is your favorite bands, favorite band"
Steely Dan: two magicians and an assortment of equally skilled companions casting spells that blend pop, jazz-rock, funk, and soul to charm people of all backgrounds and generations.
Michael McDonald on background vocals. Killer.
Jay Graydon did the guitar solo on Peg. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker tried like 8 different guitarists until they were satisfied with Jays playing. He nailed that solo.
And he used that Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer as the main effect. It’s a work of art
I thought it Larry Carlton on this one?
Dan McConnell Carlton played on Kid Charlemagne
The rhythmic fills throughout the song are top notch, too.
@@GoldTop57 And on this album he did 'I Got The News'...
The great Chuck Rainier on the bass-they didn’t want him to slap but he did anyway-- a groove master
Rainey
Green Earrings Steely Dan!
YES! 😊👍
Yes!!🔥🔥
“Green Earrings is a must!
Very underrated song
De La Soul sampled this in their song “Eye Know”.
I grew up in the same town as De La Soul.
❤
Indeed. Good call. I wonder how much they paid in rights. TOMMY Boy must have had 100% faith in DLS.
"Soul is not color restricted, man. Soul is universal." Great video, and great comment.
"Kid Charlemagne",
"FM (No Static At All)"
are a couple of gems that I'm sure you'll enjoy.✌
So many great Steely Dan tunes. "Kid Charlemagne", "Black Cow", and "Don't Take Me Alive" are a great start, but are really just the tip of the iceberg. Besides the stellar musicianshi[p and sly lyrical content, Steely Dan were also known for having some of the best sounding and produced records of all time. Audiophiles will still use albums like Asa to test out their systems.
Prolly one of the greatest guitar solos of all time.
If ya like hip hop try Steely Dan " Black Cow" sound engineers gold standard.
You too, huh?
I hit “like” when I see Steely Dan. Thanks for spreading the good music of my day.
That's the first time I've ever picked up Michael McDonald in the background on harmony vocals. Nice.
I believe Chuck Rainey is the bassist your ears are enjoying. He leaves a groove a mile wide. The background vocals on Aja were as good as any I have ever heard.
Steely Dan is my favorite band thanks for reacting. I appreciate your knowledge of the instruments, wish I had that. The longest song from them is "Aja" from the self titled album. It is brilliant! Welcome to the Steely Dan rabbit hole you're in for a treat.
You have all the right to dive into their catalogue. LITERALLY every song is 🔥🔥🔥
Hey Nineteen
Bodhisattva
Do It Again
Reeling In The Years
Rikki Don't Lose That Number
My Old School
Josie
Oh yeah, forgot Reeling in the Years! Best of the 70s
Steely Dan is on Pink Floyd's level, just in their own realm of space.
Better
Nicely said
"I'm gonna get into it 'cause I love this so far." AHHHH! Someone else taking the plunge down the Steely Dan deep rabbit hole! Welcome, brother, you have lots of kindred spirits down in Steely Danland.
There is a documentary called classic albums about every song from Aja. It features Becker and Fagen amongst others.
I'm watching it right now!
My husband passed away in 2018. He was a huge Steely Dan fan,also Pink Floyd. He loved classic rock. Every time I hear these kind of songs I think of him and thank him for introducing me to this great music.
Sorry for your loss sounds like a great man, bless 🙏
@@jayrahvisions thank you so much
The whole AjA album is a masterpiece..... these guys are at the top of the producer food chain.. bar none... you better be an expert at reading musical notation and preforming instantly to get on with this band...
The greatest thing about these guys is every song is different. Each song is like going on a new adventure and you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. So many songs to react to but I'll pick a couple I haven't seen any one else do. "Dirty Work" and "Show Biz Kids".
"Deacon Blues" was a huge hit and is still a rock radio staple. Amazing sounds. You would truly dig it, JR. Thanks for doing some Steely Dan and Rush. Check out Bob Seger, too. "Night Moves". Bests to ya.
It is so cool to see you discovering the stuff I've been listening to for decades.
Not just ANY studio musicians. They always assembled the most talented, most in-demand studio players. I finally got to see them in concert last summer. Walter Becker is, unfortunately, long gone but Donald Fagen and the band are still TIGHT as hell!! What a great show!
The guitarist is Larry Carlton, who continues to have a great career going. He's been in the Crusaders and studio work for a multitude of legends. The background singers included Michael McDonald, who fronted the Doobie Brothers.
Jay Graydon did the guitar solo on Peg.
Uh no, the solo is by Jay Graydon and the ass kicking rhythm guitar is Steve Khan. There's only one background singer, it's Michael McDonald's voice multi tracked many times.
I stand corrected... sorry for my failing memory... I made my comments without going to the album cover. Thanks guys....
“Home At Last” off of this same album. Gotta smooth reggae groove with Bernard “Pretty” Purdie on drums groovin his famous half time Purdie Shuffle.
I'm just starting to enjoy "reaction" videos, and I love them. I really liked what you did, and I particularly like what you said about soul, that it's not color restricted. I can attest to that because I worked with multicultural bands for about thirty years. They were mostly cover bands and we played rock, Motown soul, and blues. Keep on rocking, my friend
I seen them with a lady friend in an open air amphitheater in Houston in the late 90s great evening ,.,...”deacon blues” is fantastic!
You won’t regret digging deeper into S.D.!
BTW, love the artwork behind you. The artist has talent.
Another hit off this 1977 album, "Josie," has a similar vibe. And for some reason, 1977 Steely Dan always makes me want to hear mid- to late seventies George Benson, especially "On Broadway" from 1978.
This bass line is easily my second favorite bass line ever. It is SO clean. Steely Dan really did hire the best in the biz to back them up.
Chuck Rainey on bass. Legend
Check out Aja, Steve Gadd was the drummer. He played this incredible song by chart and did it in one take.
Check out Steve in the band stuff! Legendary band
The backing vocals are all sung by Michael McDonald, who became the lead singer of The Doobie Brothers and has a solo career. He had to sing by harmonizing to his own voice in half and whole steps (major and minor notes) which was difficult for him to sing, the notes were very close to each other. Thanks for playing it!
You want some funk, try "Josie."
Great tune from the Great Steely Dan ❤️☝️💫
Michael Macdonald was part of Steely Dan's touring band.He was a studio musician for them as well. You can hear him on the background vocals for "Peg".Michael Macdonald left Steely Dan in 1975 to join The Doobie Brothers.He wrote and performed several hits for The Doobie Brothers including "What a Fool Believes " which was one of their biggest hits.
Steely Dan is one of my all time favorite groups. I think they are actually more of a Jazz band than a rock band.
I recommend your next Steely Dan reactions to “Black Cow” and “FM (No Static)”.
But, honestly, this is one band where EVERY song they did was freaking awesome. You could really just pick random songs from their catalog and never be disappointed.
Thanks for doin' your thing and bringing my way your reaction vid.
I’m real deep into these cats. Becker & Fagen are to me, far and away, the kings of the popular music genre.
Those two are the last of the old school songwriting duos. They are well schooled students of the history of popular music, and their passion drove them to create these stunning albums.
You’ll find yourself listening for a lifetime to these songs and always discovering some new thing that you hadn’t noticed before. That’s how many layers there are to the music, not to mention the smartest, funniest, subversive /sexy, and poetic lyrics this side of Tin Pan Alley. Your video showed me new aspects of this song. Specifically the rhythm section. I’ve listened to Peg countless times and never fully appreciated the depth of the drums and bass together, especially at the last section. Thanks, man.
That made my day brother🤗💕👏 Michael McDonald the back up vocals on the song The drummer name was Bernard and another guy play with Miles Davis on the horns
Steely Dan will bring you out of a bad mood quickly 😀
1977, for "Peg," and the horn in the song, is a soprano saxophone (played straight out at about a 45 degree angle--like a snake charmer horn; no bend in it, like an alto or tenor sax). Some more Dan songs: "Babylon Sisters," "Black Friday," "Night by Night," "Caves of Altamira," "Green Book"...and there's Donald's and Walter's solo albums too. A GIANT rabbithole!
Joe Day, your comment was perfect. I would add one thing. This LP is the best representation of the 1970's Los Angeles scene. At that time, the music industry had shifted from NY to LA. All the best studios, all the best writers, all the musicians, producers and engineers. The list of artists and musicians that lived and recorded in LA at that time is to long to list here. A list of all the LP's recorded that land on 'best produced LP's is also to long. A good video to check out would be the documentary on Aja. In that doc, Ian Durry says something like "Aja has the blood of LA running through its veins". Two NY dudes creating a masterpiece in LA.
The Third Eye painting of which Prince fashioned his album cover, in the background!✊🏾🖤
Steely Dan is music for Musicians!.....#daughterofabassplayer You hear him thumpin dat BASS🤯🤯
You’re AMAZIN!
"Black Cow" and "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" next please. Rarely when people hear this cut the first time do they pick on the incredible bass lines in this song. That's the great Chuck Rainey kickin' it. Also that instrument that has an almost trumpet sound is a Melodica. The guitarist here is Jay Graydon.
The best vocal harmonies in pop music ever, even if they are for a few moments in geographical time.
"Eye Know" from De La Soul's debut album has a few prominent samples from "Peg."
Although I'm a kid who grew up with hip hop in the 80s and early 90s, Peg is my favorite song and Steely Dan are my favorite artists.
FM (No Static at All),Hey Nineteen,Josie,Black Cow,Deacon Blues,Old School and a ton others
Great vid ! Thanks for spotlighting..Steely Dan is awesome.
I know you’re a drum guy, so those pockets and groove are courtesy of the great Rick Marotta who said that Peg was one of the best tracks he ever played on. 🔥
With that legendary slap bass line laid down by Chuck Rainey, who said he was strictly instructed by Fagen and Becker not to slap one note on the tune, but it felt and sounded so good he did it anyway and convinced them to keep it.
Joe Day 👍👍
@@joeday4293 he built an amplifier wall around him in the studio to hide his hands so they didn’t see him slapping.
Steely Dan are in my top 5 ... all time 👍🏻
One of the keyboards being used on this track is a Clavinet, which is sort of like a guitar mechanism been played by keys. That's the one with the flanger on it. Every musician on this track is A++: Michael MacDonald on background vocals, Jeff Pocaro on drums, Chuck Rainey on bass. Chuck Rainey was told not to slap on this track but he snuck some slap in the chorus anyway.
I like a song that Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen did in 1982 as a solo artist. It was called "I.G.Y" (International Geophysical Year) and it was from his solo album "The Night Fly" and the album was based on his growing up in the 1950s.
I.G.Y.(International Geophysical Year). This song was from Donald Fagen's 1982 album "The Nightfly" and it was based on his growing up in the 1950s. The Year 1955 was classified as the International Geophysical Year which lasted from July 1,1957 to December 31, 1958.This period of time refers to an international science project that was going on at the time.
"Peg" is my favorite Steely Dan song my second favorite being "FM" from the movie of the same name that was released in 1977.
Chuck Rainey on bass and Rick Marotta on drums. Guitar solo by Jay Graydon. All masters of their craft.
Steely Dan has gotta be the most sampled band in hip-hop (save maybe James Brown). This song in particular was largely sampled in De La Soul's "Eye Know". Artists from Kanye to MF Doom have sampled their music as well
The B E S T album that has ever been done......period.
That bass is Chuck Rainey, one of my all-time favorite bassists.
I enjoy watching younger generations, enjoy my generation's music.
Lol,..Wooohhh!!!😆, love, I said absolutely
LOVE, how you were jamming up til the end of the song!!, isn't that something, this song carries you on out the door!, when the chorus is just repeating, more instruments come into play, the symbols start tapping more, the tempo ticks up,
and you find your foot tapping more, your shoulders hopping, and before you know it, your grooving even more than you were at the beginning of the song!!!, huh, thats no coincidence, huh when it comes to Walter and Donald,.there are NO coincidences. I've heard it said that Donald is a perfectionist, theres no telling how many times they took a stab at this before it came out to Donald's satisfaction, and its no coincidence that the album this song comes from,.is an engineering feat, and production marvel.
Considering the year the era this album was produced, digital hadn't happened yet, still analog, still tedious dials and knobs, and reel to reel! Huh, and yet albums like this, groups like them, Al Green, Pink Floyd, Isley Brothers, James Brown, Miles Davis, the list goes on,.the list prior to digital, the absolute works of art, production and sound was made an art form, strides in sound and editing even in movies!, all analog, today considered prehistoric, but look what was made with basically rocks and sticks, crude tools but used and wielded by brilliant humans. Was so pleased to see you don the big headphones, and yeah that "left", side "right" side,....we know!😄, and you have quite the ear, hearing the pedals, and the harmony, yeah, you'll have to read all who were given credit on album, but I'm sure Michael McDonald is in there, and one of the Porcaro brothers, they're in Toto,
plenty of harmony to go around. Do check out more SD, The Aja album, the entire album is a must, every song some cool, smooth journey, with some funk and sass😉, Black Cow, Deacon Blues,
Josie, I Got The News, then there's Gaucho album, Babylon Sisters,(talk about sass and swagger), Hey 19, ohh and did I mention Fagen had a solo album, Nightfly, "I.G.Y., Ruby Baby( ohh my, such sass and circumstance, make you want to swing out and twirl somebody😀🕺💃), it's got an old swing like from the big band eras, timing, tempo. Ohh and he was on Heavy Metal soundtrack, "True Companion ", very jazzy, SD kinda is, and FM soundtrack too. Keep going, enjoy, Godspeed, Peace ✌
You’re opening a can a worms, this group was amazing drawing jazz, blues, rock, fusion, soul mixed with brilliance. Had the pleasure to see them in them before n unfortunately saw them after.
Please keep going down the Steely Dan rabbit hole. They are incredible!! It’s a shame Walter has passed on. I have loved them since I was a kid. If I’m not mistaken some hip hop artist sampled this song. The bass player is Chuck Rainey. Walter and Donald were extremely picky about their sound, which is why they chose him to play bass. He’s unbelievably talented! Try the song called Kid Charlemagne next!!
This is from the Aja album they spent more than two million dollars to produce this Quality quality album every song is just a master recording they could never do that nowadays the way people rip things off they could never get their money back this is a time-tested treasure
Love your reaction man. Absolute gem of a tune 👌🏼
the bass always shined through on this song for me. If you didn't know Steely Dan brings in several studio musicians to record their rendition of the song, and they select what feels best. Chuck Rainey the bass player on this liked the new style of funk people were doing and wanted to incorporate the slapping technique. Don Henley and Donald Fagan didn't want that. Chucked truly believed the slapping would improve the song so moved his music stand so they couldn't see what he was doing. Turns out they loved it and the rest is history.
I first heard "Peg" on the radio in '77 I fell in Love with Steely Dan!!! Hahaha...lol.....hahaha
I'll keep saying this for ever: the turn of a friendly card (16 min). A progressive rock masterpiece.
Steely Dan are amazing, more subtle and easygoing than most other rock groups. The Aja album is their masterpiece, mostly from the strength of the songs in the album, their entire discography is strong though. I think you'd really like the song Aja. 'Reelin in the years' and 'Rikki don't lose that number' are their big radio hits, so one of them could be cool. Bodhisattva, kid charlemagne, FM no static at all &hey nineteen are some other good ones. If you did an album reaction you can't go wrong with Aja.
Loved the stank face when that guitar solo started. I think it's one we all made when we first heard it. 😉
Do you ever go to work and "Yo, y'all gotta check this out"?
Great reaction, Sir
You kept mentioning the bass, it's Chuck Rainey, look him up. Great player. There is a DVD out with the making of Peg and there is some cameo interviews with the players and it's interesting to hear Chuck talk about how he came up with the part.
1977! Wikipedia says the alto sax sound on this song was generated by a Lyricon -- an electronic wind instrument manufactured in the early 1970's which used the mouth piece from a bass clarinet with a metal sensor strip instead of a reed. Cool stuff! I've been listening to this song since 1977 and I didn't know that.
1 of the greatest ever, their music endures👍🏾
You’ve got a great vibe and I appreciate your attention to detail that you pick up on the first listen. I’m a huge Steely Dan fan. How about “Black Cow” next?
Dude! One of their guitarists (who was also in The Doobie Bros) is an actual genius. He's so smart that he sent an idea to the Pentagon, and a few days later they came knocking on his door. He's been a consultant to the department of defense ever since. And check out "Dirty Work", about a guy feeling guilty about fooling around with a married woman.
Jay Graydon on guitar. They went thru about seven guitar solos that all didn't get it. Jay Graydon came in and nailed it. They torture session musicians and don't mind bringing in a shiz load of players until they hear something they want.
This might have been mentioned, but that drummer was Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. Super tight drummer, and invented the "Purdie Shuffle." Look him up! There's even a video where he teaches you his shuffle. 😄
Man, I gotta say, your ears are razor sharp. The way you can dissect a tract instrument by instrument is incredible. Mad respect to your reactions, dude.
I told you you would dig this band. Suggestions: bodhisattva, hey nineteen, Kid Charlemagne, Black Friday.
You are now an official Dan fan. Welcome to the club!
The fender rhodes electric keyboard has a mxr phaser and the guitar has a flanger on the intro chords. Legendary Michael MacDonald on backing vocals.
Smooth and funky! Definitely have their own sound that is great! excellent production. Some people call it yacht rock. Great reaction!
Really good review of this song! You noticed all the instruments. :)
Loved your review of "Peg"...I am down with your channel bro..for sure!!!!!
Got that Michael McDonald on this track. Cannot mistake that voice! Smoooothhh holding down the back up vocals. That funky ass base line too! Whooooo
There's a clip out there of Chuck Rainey talking about and playing his bass part on this song, and it is awesome.
76, Michael mc Donald on backing vocal. Do the sing Aja, much longer sing.
The "Smoothest Music" of the 70s. These are a must. "Deacon Blues", "Hey Nineteen, "FM", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" This list will grown as more people post.
❤💖❤💖 Love, that you love this song (with Michael McDonald in the backgrnd) and Steely Dan. 🤩👍👍👍👍
The most ruthless-yet-awesome thing I've ever seen is Donald Fagen & Walter Becker discussing how they chose that amazing guitar solo/soloist -- by playing us recordings of the soloists they REJECTED. It's just brutal. It's in the documentary called The Making of Aja. Four minutes into this clip: ruclips.net/video/waIBA6_0GQc/видео.html
Great ears on your part! Not many reviewers have them! Congrats!
subscribed to watch you finding Steely Dan.... good luck to your channel
Great reaction, I like the way you break down the song by the instruments and effects that you're hearing. By the way you should listen to "Hey 19" another excellent Steely Dan classic.
Steely Dan is the essence of smooth and funk!They produced albums to oerfection! You would love Kid Charlemagne and Bodhisaatva and My Old School!