The multi-track masters of the Aja sessions are missing. Fagen has put up a reward for their return so things could be cleaned up to Dan standards. Until then, it ain't happening.
50 ways for a few beats.... home at last... it really is it's own alphabet with these musicians. We hear the familiar chords but turned into flowing speech.
If anything, this is a reminder of Walter and Donald's frightening standards. For one thing, the sound quality is much better than what survived of 'The Second Arrangement'. An amazing groove that would fit nicely alongside the other released 'Aja' tracks and it would be a real treat to have Steely Dan play this live as it is, as there would be no vocal strain or awkward keys to be concerned over. It ain't broke so it don't need to be fixed! But what do I know, I'm not Donald Fagen.
Dammit I wish Donald would release all of these outtakes and “lost” songs for fans. Dylan does it all the time. No comparison between the two sounds, I know, but still. Dammit.
Fagen never cared about the band's fans. In fact, for the most part, he has shown disdain for them. Don't hold your breath on Donald doing anything that doesn't guarantee him making a boatload of money.
God, this is a brilliant track. Oh to hear what lyrical treatment they'd have given this.... Anyone else getting lost in Chuck Rainey's work on this? So locked in with Gadd, it's magical.
Not so much lost in his work, but lost in how his bass actually sounds like that through the console. Yeah, say it's his fingers all you want but there's something else going on. Mutes on the bass....or the year of the bass? An old Fender that just has a special sound. Extremely clear and thumpy.
Which is probably why Don and Walt junked this... they weren't interested in sounding like anyone else, particularly what was coming out of the rhythm section.
@@telsutton That's exactly what I thought too . Originality was key. I don't think that was the only reason they junked it, but I can see that drum fill really troubling them.
@@telsutton You overthought this waayyy too much. It's a simple sticking pattern that Gadd used with countless artists and still sprinkles into his playing today. By definition if you're paying Gadd to play with you then there's a good chance he'll layer it in. Secondly, considering most drummers end up playing the same basic pop/rock/dance beats over and over (95% of Steely Dan grooves are exactly this), why the heck would they can a track because the drummer they hired--who's considered one of the absolute best in the world--played a beat that has some distinction? Your comment is perplexing.
@@johnvalencia9927 You know if they didn't like the drum part they would've had Gadd play another 70 takes until he plays something they like? I have no idea why they didn't follow through on this track, but I have to think the drummer playing a pattern that wasn't "original" would've contributed to their abandoning this track by what.... .003% ?
It wasn't until the other day i became aware this one even existed!! Great instrumental tune where Steve Gadd kinda plays a mix of the Aja groove and the 50 ways to leave your lover groove!! Love it!!
WOW!! This is incredible!! LOVE IT!!! This is just as good as the infamous “The Second Arrangement” track that was accidentally lost during the recording of the Gaucho album. OMG this cut will be on repeat!!
you wouldn't think this track was 40 years old , its music perfection and i have to say it only the dan would put something like this togeather the production is perfect and what to leave it off one of best albums to come out of the 70's sacrilege , but beautiful just beautiful so glad i was born at the right time just to listen to these guys and to think we lost walter god rest his soul , big respect to that guy !!!
Done in a time when there was no Pro Tools, no computers, no machines sequencing anything. Pure sonic bliss in every sense of the word! But knowing what perfectionists Fagan and Becker were, they knew something wasn’t “right”with the track. Either that or some A & R guy at ABC Records didn’t have his hearing aids inserted that day.
I think we need an album of all the wonderful stuff left of the main albums such as this track plus the lost Gaucho tracks, along with the Donald Fagan b-sides I would love that album !!
Wow, thanks for finding this and sharing it! The song would fit in well with Royal Scam, tuning into the heavy bass and funky end of it. The fancy chord changes at skipping pace would be more fitting for Gaucho.
Like really mellow notes from a day gone by that just float on by & take u with it....yea man....the previous statement is from a now flashback that was ....well.... quite enjoyable!!!!!😊😊😊😊
Brasil Rio de Janeiro Assisti um comentário em programa..."chamado som do vinil". na tvBrasil em que o entrevistado por Charles G. era Ed. Motta e ele comentou sobre Steely Dan etc e tive a curiosidade de ouvir. Adorei !
Love it - makes you wonder if there is more uncovered buried treasure SD has in their vault. Could easily fit in with Aja which is a masterpiece in itself.
"'Aja' had parts of another song in the middle of it that never made it that was called “Stand By The Seawall.” The little chunk in the middle - “Aja” is kind of a song with a little suite in the center of it and some of that were parts of that song and other miscellaneous bits and pieces that Donald had laying around in his head; things he was going to write and never did and it just got assembled that way" (Walter Becker on Aja, Metal Leg 14 Interview 1990) - not sure if that it was this version or the alternative arrangement though :o
Very interesting - I don't really hear any conscious recycling of this in Aja, there's a couple of chords that are similar. But Walter would know. This would be a great "coming back from intermission instrumental" for a live show.
Great version of this song! While you're at it, you should maybe react to Stand by the Seawall, lost track from Aja. It is another SD lost treasure. Love you two, and your SD reactions.
Brasil Rio de Janeiro Programa : som do vinil do Charles Givin. Fiquei conhecendo este álbum numa entrevista com Ed Motta, onde tb ele apresentou este disco.
Sadly, the news of the last few weeks seems to confirm that Aja was 'one of the things we lost in the fire'... forever. UMG burned the fucking Mona Lisa. :(
@Louise X Steely Dan were making their way through surround mixes of each of the lps. Two of the master tapes of tracks from Aja (inc the song itself) are missing, presumed destroyed. It's these remastering jobs, as we move into an age where digital most certainly competes with the finest analogue.
Ymous Anon As gorgeous as this is, it seems to be a hodgepodge of musical ideas that became 'Aja,' or they culled the ideas from 'Aja' to make this cut. Either way, I can listen to this every day!
Clearly the Dan had been listening to the title cut of Romantic Warrior by Return to Forever; this cut has a similar feel, with some really funky turnarounds grounding the ethereal groove)
This sounds very much like "Here at the Western World", or at least the breaks do. They both were being thrown around the composing palette about 1977-78. Anybody?
I kinda see what you mean Doug,But with Jim Gordon playing drums on that track it puts the song somewhere around 1974,Closer to Pretzel Logic. Though it sounds like a Katy Lied tune.At least to me.
I think this song would have been a great transition song from the song "Royal Scam", the last song and title track to the Royal Scam album, and the song "Black Cow", the first song to their next album Aja.
Too bad vinyl had such limited space for songs. Aja was awesome, and if this song (and others) could have been added, it would have been (pardon my language)... awesomer. All this song needed, with its motion and tight syncopation and fusion-ey elements, were provocative guitar and sax solos, perhaps as a soloing duet? The very last flip of the wrist on the old pianner makes me think, intro to Peg?
Should of made the album. I am repeating Myself no doubt, everyone bangs on about 2nd arrangementbut this is pure class. Aja was the pinnicle ( Nightfly up there too).
Anyone else going on a lost SD track binge?
YES!
Absolutely...next stop "The Bear"
daily.
I didn't make the illegal alien play list for nothing ;)
Yes! Second arrangement et al
You know a band is the truth when this is one of their outtakes.
People slam it, I think it's KILLER!!! heck with them.
@@McgarickWAstate Who says that? This is one of the most OUSTANDING songs I have ever listened in life! The ''proto'' Aja!
@IronMan-tk8uc Long time SD fan here. I just discovered this and I can't stop listening to it.
@@Steven_Snell Damn right!
@@IronMan-tk8uc What are you talking about? It’s not a song at all; it’s just a backing track.
This outtake is better than 90% of anything else out there actually realeased by anybody else.
Steely Dan is the absolute peak of the Western civilization!
This sounds like a highlight reel of all their best motifs
Exactly!
How could they leave this track outside the album? Unbelievable! If it wasn't for youtube, maybe I'd never hear this in my life...
+Frederico Costa Souza Isn't it cool to have this gem 39 years after the fact???
+Joe Cool Absolutely! Steely Dan was a great discovery for me, and I believe that they are one of the greatest bands of all time!
+Frederico Costa Souza you are right!
+Joe Cool can you post the entire album please? i like it so much this masterpiece
Frederico Costa Souza ---- they left it out because it wasn't up to snuff. Say what you want, but it lacked clarity and direction as it stood.
Now that these gems have been cleaned up, Aja should be re-released to include the missing bonus tracks. It would be immensely appreciated.
The multi-track masters of the Aja sessions are missing. Fagen has put up a reward for their return so things could be cleaned up to Dan standards. Until then, it ain't happening.
My definition of heaven includes a soundtrack of lost SD classics. Damn this is sweet.
What makes you think your going to heaven dude?
@@davidwatkins204 Push your nihilism on someone else, are you on suicide watch or something? Get a life.
@@ggrey5990 Lmao yeah this guy needs to go fuck himself
@@davidwatkins204 What makes you think that he thinks he's going to heaven dude?
Rainey is just killing it.
0:21 - 50 Ways to Stand By The Seawall
Just lean on the wall, Paul.
Same drummer right?
@@krisscanlon4051 yes, steve gadd
This sounds like a combo of Aja, Gaucho & The Nightfly. Love it, from a Dan fan 😎
Well said.
Yes, I really like it and I'm sure That Doctor Bud will also enjoy it.
Also heard some Dr Wu in there
50 ways for a few beats.... home at last... it really is it's own alphabet with these musicians. We hear the familiar chords but turned into flowing speech.
If anything, this is a reminder of Walter and Donald's frightening standards. For one thing, the sound quality is much better than what survived of 'The Second Arrangement'. An amazing groove that would fit nicely alongside the other released 'Aja' tracks and it would be a real treat to have Steely Dan play this live as it is, as there would be no vocal strain or awkward keys to be concerned over.
It ain't broke so it don't need to be fixed!
But what do I know, I'm not Donald Fagen.
Here from Rick Beato's interview with Michael Omartian.
Me too!
Rick Beato is a superb job with his channel.
I'm sad I hadn't found this sooner but happy to have another great SD song to listen too.
Dammit I wish Donald would release all of these outtakes and “lost” songs for fans. Dylan does it all the time. No comparison between the two sounds, I know, but still. Dammit.
Fagen never cared about the band's fans. In fact, for the most part, he has shown disdain for them. Don't hold your breath on Donald doing anything that doesn't guarantee him making a boatload of money.
Fagen would never do such a thing. He is already troubled by the fact that these rough mixes exist in the first place!
Well used dammits. I concur.
Good to hear these outtakes. And, of course, Steve Gadd! One of the best drummers I've ever heard.
Messing around with a good idea
they cultivate greatness
Thank the universe for end product
Perfection and Grace
0:21 - I thought that drum pattern sounded like '50 ways to leave your lover' and sure enough it's Gadd playing on that too.
The giveaway is the tuned toms sound exactly like the tuned toms on "Aja" - same tuning. So good!
God, this is a brilliant track. Oh to hear what lyrical treatment they'd have given this....
Anyone else getting lost in Chuck Rainey's work on this? So locked in with Gadd, it's magical.
Not so much lost in his work, but lost in how his bass actually sounds like that through the console. Yeah, say it's his fingers all you want but there's something else going on. Mutes on the bass....or the year of the bass? An old Fender that just has a special sound. Extremely clear and thumpy.
Hepls when SD is running the mix lol@@johnvalencia9927
Nice! You can hear Gadd tease his famous "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" groove a couple of times!
another song where he does it is in the intro to Quincy Jones "Stuff Like That"...and it's brilliant! I've copped that intro a time or three, lol.
Which is probably why Don and Walt junked this... they weren't interested in sounding like anyone else, particularly what was coming out of the rhythm section.
@@telsutton That's exactly what I thought too . Originality was key. I don't think that was the only reason they junked it, but I can see that drum fill really troubling them.
@@telsutton You overthought this waayyy too much. It's a simple sticking pattern that Gadd used with countless artists and still sprinkles into his playing today. By definition if you're paying Gadd to play with you then there's a good chance he'll layer it in. Secondly, considering most drummers end up playing the same basic pop/rock/dance beats over and over (95% of Steely Dan grooves are exactly this), why the heck would they can a track because the drummer they hired--who's considered one of the absolute best in the world--played a beat that has some distinction? Your comment is perplexing.
@@johnvalencia9927 You know if they didn't like the drum part they would've had Gadd play another 70 takes until he plays something they like? I have no idea why they didn't follow through on this track, but I have to think the drummer playing a pattern that wasn't "original" would've contributed to their abandoning this track by what.... .003% ?
wow even the out takes are sublime
It wasn't until the other day i became aware this one even existed!! Great instrumental tune where Steve Gadd kinda plays a mix of the Aja groove and the 50 ways to leave your lover groove!! Love it!!
I have received the same satisfaction from this that Beatles fans were looking for when Klaatu came around.
So extremely tight. Very funky and cool song. Wish they finished it.
WOW!! This is incredible!! LOVE IT!!! This is just as good as the infamous “The Second Arrangement” track that was accidentally lost during the recording of the Gaucho album. OMG this cut will be on repeat!!
Wonderful syncopation, as ever..great groove
How has this one alluded me for so long?!? Amazing....chord voicings, guitars, bass line and Steve killing per usual.
2.25 - 2.46. Magical. Best 21 seconds in musical history.
This is a true gem! Thanks for posting love the song I wonder why it's not in the album...Gadd's playing speaks for itself
Good Gadd :)
you wouldn't think this track was 40 years old , its music perfection and i have to say it only the dan would put something like this togeather the production is perfect and what to leave it off one of best albums to come out of the 70's sacrilege , but beautiful just beautiful so glad i was born at the right time just to listen to these guys and to think we lost walter god rest his soul , big respect to that guy !!!
richard dahl no kidding. It sounds as crisp as today!
So many mu chords. So tasteful. Classic Dan.
More to add: Listen to this and think Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, and Brecker Brothers with Steps Ahead where Steve Gadd played drums.
Done in a time when there was no Pro Tools, no computers, no machines sequencing anything. Pure sonic bliss in every sense of the word! But knowing what perfectionists Fagan and Becker were, they knew something wasn’t “right”with the track. Either that or some A & R guy at ABC Records didn’t have his hearing aids inserted that day.
wow.never heard. I hear the subtexture of so many other SD tunes.
EXACTLY
I think we need an album of all the wonderful stuff left of the main albums such as this track plus the lost Gaucho tracks, along with the Donald Fagan b-sides I would love that album !!
These chords - no one does it like Steely Dan.
I can hear loads of little snippets from other sd songs in this
Wow, thanks for finding this and sharing it!
The song would fit in well with Royal Scam, tuning into the heavy bass and funky end of it. The fancy chord changes at skipping pace would be more fitting for Gaucho.
Early Riser/Martin Dennis - You guys are both right on the money!
1000%
Like really mellow notes from a day gone by that just float on by & take u with it....yea man....the previous statement is from a now flashback that was ....well.... quite enjoyable!!!!!😊😊😊😊
Can you imagine being a musician in New York in the 1970s?!
This was LA
I get you...both coasts had wonderful session cats...Dan makes me think NY too😊
1:27 sounds like Gadd's 50 ways drum pattern a bit. GENIUS!
OMG this is so hip. I need to transcribe this and write it out for our Steely Dan cover band. Great instrumental.
And that's how the hideous "Stolen Dan" began. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
Jaw-dropping, really mesmerizing through my Bose Soundlink.
Brasil Rio de Janeiro Assisti um comentário em programa..."chamado som do vinil". na tvBrasil em que o entrevistado por Charles G. era Ed. Motta e ele comentou sobre Steely Dan etc e tive a curiosidade de ouvir. Adorei !
+André Luiz Queiroz Silva Me encanta también ( I love it too)
Valeu ! Música, paz e amor na vida !
+André Luiz Queiroz Silva Eso es bueno sabiduvivirría para , mi amigo
(That's good wisdom to live by , My friend)
+André Luiz Queiroz Silva somos dois Andre
+Gabriel Machado valeu Gabriel !!!!
How am I just now finding out about these outtakes?! ( Better late than never,I guess)
Holy my god and a half crap!!!! THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!!!
OMG is this good! I have chills.
what a cool bunch of stuff!
Yes, I’m doing the same! Wouldn’t it be great to hear all these tunes on vinyl? Let’s start a petition to get it done.
Brilliant! Perfection personified!
Does anyone else think this sounds like it was made yesterday!
No, only because I heard it last year too
no- it sounds better
Only if Steely Daan released this as a Bonus song on Aja...
they don't do bonus' on their albums. They decide and that's that.
@@rickjohnson4887 hence why he wanted it
Cool stuff...sounds like the beginnings of what became kid charlemagne.
Brasil Rio Janeiro Valeu !!!!
Oh my Gadd!! Thank you
Somewhat like Joe Sample or Crusaders sound and that's a gooood thang !
Sample was on "Gaucho."
I too, heard a Joe Sample influence in the piano track and the sound of the actual instrument. I wonder?????
tbm vi essa matéria adorei ver aql coleção de vinil do ed Motta muito foda.....👏👏👍
Talvez o maior expoente de Steely Dan em terras brasileiras, Mr. Ed Motta!
these should be enshrined as national treasures
This is awesome!
Wow...this is really cool!!! :-D
Love it - makes you wonder if there is more uncovered buried treasure SD has in their vault. Could easily fit in with Aja which is a masterpiece in itself.
Does anyone eles hear Kid Charlemagne in those piano hits?
@@musopaul5407 yep . . me too, for sure
Definently
Yep
Those last chords are sweet
I like how Steve plays his 50 ways groove
thanks for this , great compilation
+alan frensham Glad you like it............!
mee to
Sounds like 'The Nightfly' at moments.
Ed Motta me trouxe aqui
Rodrigo Rossi Somos dois então.
RuDy Chuff três
Quatro.
Rodrigo Rossi 5
Ed Motta is also a great musician and songwriter.
"'Aja' had parts of another song in the middle of it that never made it that was called “Stand By The Seawall.” The little chunk in the middle - “Aja” is kind of a song with a little suite in the center of it and some of that were parts of that song and other miscellaneous bits and pieces that Donald had laying around in his head; things he was going to write and never did and it just got assembled that way" (Walter Becker on Aja, Metal Leg 14 Interview 1990) - not sure if that it was this version or the alternative arrangement though :o
Very interesting - I don't really hear any conscious recycling of this in Aja, there's a couple of chords that are similar. But Walter would know. This would be a great "coming back from intermission instrumental" for a live show.
I hear the Aja in it. The faint piano runs on the side along with the breaks right in the middle sound reminiscent, but not identical of parts of Aja
Great version of this song! While you're at it, you should maybe react to Stand by the Seawall, lost track from Aja. It is another SD lost treasure. Love you two, and your SD reactions.
Brasil Rio de Janeiro
Programa : som do vinil do Charles Givin. Fiquei conhecendo este álbum numa entrevista com Ed Motta, onde tb ele apresentou este disco.
This is amazing....Chuck Rainey and Steve Gadd on fire! Do i hear the great Larry C. ?😀 This track is in need of
an official release.
Randy Lever I get giddy just thinking about a room filled w Donald, Walter (R.I.P.), Rainey, Carlton & Steve Gadd jamming away. Perfection & grace
it's the smiiiiiile on my face.
Why? It's here now.
Sadly, the news of the last few weeks seems to confirm that Aja was 'one of the things we lost in the fire'... forever. UMG burned the fucking Mona Lisa. :(
@Louise X Steely Dan were making their way through surround mixes of each of the lps. Two of the master tapes of tracks from Aja (inc the song itself) are missing, presumed destroyed. It's these remastering jobs, as we move into an age where digital most certainly competes with the finest analogue.
What is this? Perfect.
かっこいい！
Shibui!
i can understand why it was an out take. it doesn't go anywhere. although maybe would be interesting if it had lyrics.
Ymous Anon As gorgeous as this is, it seems to be a hodgepodge of musical ideas that became 'Aja,' or they culled the ideas from 'Aja' to make this cut. Either way, I can listen to this every day!
It's rhythm section only. No way to tell how good it is or isn't.
@@don4476 Exactly. One can only imagine the horns and saxophone parts and the singing
Great bass line!
Oh man! I wish I knew what the vocal part was that went with this fantastic track!
Sounds great. It would be great if Donald finished this and made it some sort of tribute to Walter.
Or Steve gadd finishes it when Donald... Ya know...
Nevermind
OMG Aja is over 40 yrs old
Dan Steely yep, 1977, unbelievable. And now sadly Walter Becker has passed on. But the music will never die.
yeah...we were just thinking about that yesterday... scary real.
JohnS - yep, and she's just as tight as she always was
40 years...remember hearing Aja as a little girl. 40 years ago. Love the Dan!
To me, this sounds like an early attempt as fleshing out a "Home At Last" backing track
..but hey...
Great ! Thanks, Joe Cool .
What a diamond! Thanks for sharing!!!
Does anyone get “Kid Charlemagne” vibes at 0:26?
This sounds like the band parodying itself, sending up most of its own ticks.
There's a couple spots that sound to me like the turnaround lick from Miles Davis' "Spanish Key"... wonder if it was an intentional homage
Clearly the Dan had been listening to the title cut of Romantic Warrior by Return to Forever; this cut has a similar feel, with some really funky turnarounds grounding the ethereal groove)
Nice tune. Where do you get this? 2:33 cool.
This sounds very much like "Here at the Western World", or at least the breaks do. They both were being thrown around the composing palette about 1977-78. Anybody?
I kinda see what you mean Doug,But with Jim Gordon playing drums on that track it puts the song somewhere around 1974,Closer to Pretzel Logic. Though it sounds like a Katy Lied tune.At least to me.
Good point. More like Purdie...news.allaboutjazz.com/deep-cuts-steely-dan-here-at-the-western-world-1976.php?width=768
I think this song would have been a great transition song from the song "Royal Scam", the last song and title track to the Royal Scam album, and the song "Black Cow", the first song to their next album Aja.
Joe Cool Western World is Jim Gordon but it actually came from the Royal Scam sessions in 76.
Too bad vinyl had such limited space for songs. Aja was awesome, and if this song (and others) could have been added, it would have been (pardon my language)... awesomer. All this song needed, with its motion and tight syncopation and fusion-ey elements, were provocative guitar and sax solos, perhaps as a soloing duet?
The very last flip of the wrist on the old pianner makes me think, intro to Peg?
ed motta q me passou essa indicaçao.
Everaldo Jr. A mim tb.
If that ain't fire then you tell me what is
Originally titled "Shanghai Breakdown".....I have a piano, bass, click track demo version of this on tape. With vocal.
spikes mundranos- Why not upload it to YT so all your brothers and sisters can hear it with vocal? Thanks.
spikes mundranos please upload it
john cone
John Cone
John Cone
Amazing😳 Big thanx!
GOOD👍🏻STUFF!
Should of made the album. I am repeating Myself no doubt, everyone bangs on about 2nd arrangementbut this is pure class. Aja was the pinnicle ( Nightfly up there too).
Legends !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes!
I am okay with this not being on the album
Gets really good around 1:44
The evolution of an idea is better than sex!
Quite good. Meanders a bit
Gadd sneaking in that "50 Ways" drum lick, or was this where that came from?