None of us are experts, Verdy, and you're English is just fine. You express it perfectly..This has to be in my top 5 albums of all time. Steely Dan is a major rabbit hole to venture down..They were amazing!..Enjoy the ride!
At 67, this was the music of my youth. Along with Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Frank Zappa, and their contemporaries, Steely Dan were spinning around my turntable frequently. This music never gets old. These guys were very precise and very particular in their recording habits and styles. ALL their albums shine, but this one is a high water mark. "What a great mix." Yeah, best of all, every voice and instrument has its PLACE across the sound field here. It's as if you were sitting in front of the band, spread across a stage, and you can pick out each instrument. It takes a lot of thought to make that happen, and a lot of studio time to mix it well.
Same here. My only question is, where did the years go? One minute I’m 21 listening to Steely Dan’s new album Aja, and the next minute I’m retiring. Yikes! LOL.
I've always thought of Aja as Steely Dan's Dark Side of the Moon. It just builds a whole world for you to inhabit, and the entire album makes a complete statement.
I remember having a similar feeling about "Royal Scam" . It seemed like a soundtrack to me. It probably helped that I played the entire album multiple times on a non-stop road trip from Denver to Vegas in the summer of '77. I didn't have Aja on cassette yet! Lol.
As an old guy who was around when this album was new, I can tell you the this album was truly revolutionary. A group which was know mostly for hit pop/rock music...then this album which combined "chill rock" with elements of jazz. It was huge...and still sounds great today.
@@fayesouthall6604 - This album is an old standby for audiophiles testing high end systems, speakers or headphones. The production was ahead of its time, and it still stands today as one of the best produced albums.
Great reaction. This is Steely Dan's masterwork - and all their albums are excellent. The level of songwriting, musicianship and production is something that still holds up 40+ years later. This still doesn't sound dated. This was a huge commercial success as well - which is rare for an album that is so sophisticated.
They are some of the best session musicians at the time came together and formed this band and this is what you get. One of the best albums of all time.
Did I ever mention to you in a past comment, that for someone who isn't, or doesn't flaunt their musicianship, you have an EXCELLENT grasp of EXCELLENT music. AND, you don't over-interrupt the music, which is a TRUE talent devoid of most music reviewers online. -- KEEP GOING, girl!!!
I totally agree. She really gets INTO the music and really does react TO the music. Something many other reactionists miss. Usually I click on "don't recommend this channel" when I see "reacting to ..." in the recommendations, but I'm glad I clicked on this one. It's nice to see people still sitting down and do nothing else but listening to a whole album from start to finish. Something I should do more often in my life as well, tbh.
Watching the joy on your face with every key change or instrument introduced in the songs makes me giggle because I had the same reaction the first time I heard Steely Dan when I was a senior in high school in 1976
I discovered Steely Dan while in high school in the 90s. I cannot tell you the amount of merciless ridicule I took from my friends at the time when they heard me listening to the Dan. In fairness to them, Steely Dan wasn't very "metal". I hope they finally figured out what the rest of us all know: this is one of the best bands the 20th century produced. Because of the bands jazzy leanings, this was my gateway to becoming interested in jazz music as well (purchasing Kind of Blue and Giant Steps in the same afternoon shortly after discovering Steely Dan was a memorable day for this musicaholic).
I remember once around 1998, I was driving by the high school as it was letting out. Had some Dan playing, windows down. Boy, did I get laughed at. I guess they didn't understand!😆
I feel ya bro. My dad turned me on to Steely Dan when I was kid. I graduated high school in the mid 90s and all my friends thought that this music was weird. A bunch of phillistines who wouldn’t know musical perfection if it punched them in the ears.
Ya know what I really enjoy about this (besides truly perfect music), is seeing a young person in their early 20's truly loving and appreciating this album, this incredible music. (I'm 57)
So fortunate to choose this album first, and you will listen again and again for a lifetime, and it will never feel boring or tired, so much going on here, but just chill and enjoy it...this is another true masterpiece of modern music
One of the greatest bands ever. You can't go wrong with any album or any song, Steely Dan is as close to musical perfection as anyone can be. I have listened to Steely Dan since I was 5 or 6 in the 70s, my parents were huge fans. Enjoy your journey.
'Aja' (pronounced 'Asia') is a wonderful album which perfectly demonstrates the talents of all those amazing jazz musicians who made up Steely Dan. An absolute classic full of golden and iconic jazz. Not one bad track on there.
I was your age when I heard this band. I get how you hear it. Best music I’ve ever heard. It touches you and you can’t figure out why. Enjoy the ride. It’s for life
I have always said that Aja is my "desert island album". If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one album to listen to it would have to be Aja. I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much.
One of the greatest albums of all time from some of the greatest musicians of all time. The ultimate in arrangement and production, I'm so amazed just how good it sounds every time I listen to it.
The woman pictured in the artwork for this album is Sayoko Yamaguchi, a Japanese fashion model. Aja sounds like a Chinese melody rather than a Japanese one to my taste as a Japanese person. Steve Gadd, who played drums for Aja, was a session musician who was also noted as Stuff's drummer at the time, and had a great influence on many drummers. In 80's pop music , We often hear Steve Gadd style drums.
Geez, the title track is just... Stunning! I'm 62 and set in my ways but is music this good today? To think this was produced in the age of disco... Outstanding musicianship in a world of creative freedom, complexities not present in today's simple and repetitive music, loved your reaction Verdy, definetly a gem!
There’s honestly some insane music out there today. Snarky Puppy is one of the best jazz groups playing right now, and all their recordings are actually live performances, which is even more insane to me considering how good they sound
Thirty seconds into the album I saw your smile and thought about how much more you would smiling throughout this. I believe that 50 years from now, after we older ones are long gone, you will be listening to this album (like we are) for the millionth time, and finding new pleasure that you didn't know was there. It never gets old. It was a pleasure to watch your first listen with you, Verdy. 🙂
Verdy your appreciation of great music never ceases to amaze me. Aja (pronounced Asia) is one of my favorite chill out albums along with their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill which I highly recommend you checking out with songs like Do it Again, Dirty Work and Reelin in the Years.
Donald and Walter, the founders and writers, with specific studio musicians appointed for not only specific songs but specific parts of songs. Donald and Walter were perfectionists and it shows. Enjoy ☺️
I'm glad you're getting a chance to check out this album. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker enlisted a load of top level musicians for this album. However the two of them carefully curated exactly what they wanted, sometimes recording multiple guitar solos by different players and then deciding which one they thought fit the best.
Bands like this is the reason many of us saved every penny we could and we went to a Hi Fi store and bought the best audio equipment we could get our hands on. Lets not forget those massive speakers from the 70's and 80's boo-yeh!
EarlClyde, yes, this was an audiophile’s choice for testing equipment. This release, beyond the excellence of the performers, was held as one the finest examples of recording engineering. This album, when released, served as my music of choice during my San Diego beach bum days. Thumbs up, Verdi, for selecting this album for a first listen. For a similar jazz vibe, check out the band Seawind. Bon jour!
On the list of top 100 albums of all time, pop music. Steely Dan is a fusion of rock, jazz, soul and r&b, and they produced high quality studio music. Had this album in high school in the 70's.
Probably the most beautifully recorded album ever. No sound or note out of place. If you ever do a comparison of speaker systems, take this CD with you and listen to the drumming at the end of Aja. Great speakers will ring out those cymbal rides forever. Just gorgeous tonal quality all the way through. This was the real turning point for them from their pop/rock days into their jazzier period.
My personal opinion is that you can create art that is technically perfect but which still does not have a soul. All your points about the production are valid. I get some impression of a soul in Steely Dan’s music but that emotional layer is way back in the mix for me and I engage less (indifferently) instead of forming a strong, passionate bond. When I go over to a band like Pink Floyd that is right up front. An INTP approach to music could read like that.
Super impressed with you on this. You “got it” starting with the first note. I have to confess: most younger folk often wonder why this album is considered “special.” It’s a time capsule. You were digging Gadd. That’s cool! Good work.
These guys were masters of studio composition, and asked a lot of their session musicians to ensure perfect sounds. It's one of my favorite albums ever.
It is not an "easy" job to articulate a Steely Dan album.... especially this one. This album, in my opinion, was one of the best produced, mixed and engineered albums... of all time. Donald Fagan and Welter Becker are the "core" members of the group but that does not even begin to tell the story. They hired some of the best musicians available for their studio recordings. Some call their sound as Jazz/Rock which I cannot argue with. Some say that Steely Dan is it's own genre. Regardless of what genre it is.... it is pure Ear Candy to me. Great Reaction. Take care.
I love this album, not only for the great songwriting and fantastic musicianship, but also for the amazing quality of the production. When I went shopping for a new stereo system, this was the album I took with me to test out the speakers.
I loved your reaction to Steely Dan's, A’ja. The feelings shown in your face were the same as I (and many of us) got almost 50 years ago, and still do today. It’s so amazing that music can bridge a gap in time and distance between people, giving us a sense of unity. I must admit, when you said the next song would be ‘Deacon Blues’ I burst out laughing. After the first two cuts I knew what was going to happen in your head and in your heart when you heard it. It just feels so good knowing that young people today can share the same happiness my generation felt listening to these superb musicians. Thank you for bringing that feeling back to me.
I stumbled across this reaction by accident. What a joy. I got in to SD about 5 years ago because I’d always loved Haitian Divorce and FM from when I was a child. I submerged myself in their music for about 3 months, So much subtlety and invention. Some of my friends seam to think it’s easy listening, but they really don’t understand the lack of predictability in chord progressions and rhythmic choices. Nice to see someone react almost exactly the way I did. It just sounds so lush, but is so rewarding.
I love this album so much! 😊 every musician on Black Cow has their own Wikipedia page. The whole album is packed with the best jazz /rock artists and accomplished musicians. Wayne Shorter, Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Michael McDonald !
Nobody was ever better at combining jazz, blues, funk, rock and pop. I've seen them live many times over the years and their live shows were always phenomenal.
I might have written the same thing, up until a year ago. i'm curious how many times &/or what years/tours you've seen them? they've been my favorite band for almost 40 years (i'm 57 y/o). I saw a couple of the New York Rock and Soul Review shows (twenty years later re-named The Dukes of September) in Jones Beach (8/23/92) and then (at the time) the Garden State Arts Center (8/25/92). They were real good shows, but not a "Steely Dan" show. I saw SD on the Tour 2k tour or the Two Against Nature on 6/9/2000. Then on the Everything Must Go tour on 9/26/03. the Shuffle Diplomacy tour on 10/14/2011. Reelin' in the Chips tour 4/17 (or 18 ??) 2017 - they were doing a couple/few week residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas and jumped down to San Diego for a couple shows/nights. This was the last time i saw Walter. I had 3rd (maybe 4th) row seats, right in the middle, there were times Walter was just standing there pretending to play his guitar. He would die less than 5 months later on 9/3/17. And lastly the Earth After Hours tour on 5/28/2022. I'm really hoping it was me, but that last show, I didnt have great seats, i even went by myself, kind of a last minute thing. one of if not THE first post i made on facebook was "I miss Walter". It seemed, like, they just went through the motions. Like they just mailed this one in. Their new (touring) guitar player, Adam Rogers is a great guitar player. But Walter had the personality. The dry humor. The one that always introduced the band. When i saw them in 2011 he and Donald talked about David Palmer, when he was in the band (thier first album, shared vocals with Donald), apparently he liked to wear leather pants but was a total, and i am quoting Walter here, "asshole", lol. Anyway, collectively they're recognized as the best touring band out there. But have you seen them lately? Have you ever thought they took a night off? I mentioned this to my longest-time friend and rock&roll mentor, Karl, and he said he's felt the same way before - but he saw them last year, in 2022 and said they were great! We both kinda think, as good as Jon Herrington is, it might be time to get another main/lead/#1 guitar player in there. It's almost like SD music is too easy for Jon. And after 20+ years playing with SD, I'm sure it is. However, he is the SD musical director, lol. Sorry for rambling. Curious to hear your thoughts, same with @pipeman65
I first saw them in Camden NJ in 2003 at the Tweeter Center. I then saw Fagen solo at The Tower Theatre here in Philly in 2006. I saw Steely Dan later that year when they teamed up with Michael McDonald for the "Sugartooth" McDan tour. That show was at The Tweeter Center in Camden. The last time I saw them was at The Tower in Philly in 2007.
Miss Verdy, your witty and charming reactions to music is so refreshing. We love the diversity of music you play. Steely Dan is an intellectual fusion of Jazz/Funk/Soul and Rock & Roll. Songs like 'Peg,' 'Kid Charlemagne' Hey Nineteen,' 'Decon Blues,' 'Do It Again,' 'Bodhisatta,' and 'Babylon Sisters' and 'FM' are all songs you would enjoy. I'm telling all my friends and family about your channel. You deserve many more subscribers. Thank you for all your hard work. Everyone here in Florida sends our love and respect.
Been a fan of Steely Dan since '72. FM radio stations were just coming into their own - DO IT AGAIN and REELIN' IN THE YEARS were all over the cool stations. Then there was RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER like a year later, and a huge hit. You are so right, Verdy - this album is smooothe as $#!+ , without apologies! They really hit their Jazz Chops on this one, with the best session musicians and vocalists to be found. ...Roller Rinks, is what you're describing... Love your reaction to the title track. I was living near Monterey, CA when this was released - still takes me back to sitting in my VW bus overlooking the bay at night with this playing on cassette - simply magical. There are a few youtube videos out there where Donald, Walter and some musicians discuss the recording of this album - I think you would really learn a lot from watching. Your English is better than any of my 2nd languages, and I enjoy your accent - where are you from?
Stunning album. They were known as "your favorite band's favorite band". I enjoyed your reactions. I can tell by your head and hand movements that you're getting it. Impressive in it's own right for a first listen to SD.
STEELY DAN - ‘Aja’ released in September 1977, is the classiest jazz-rock album ever made in my opinion. The album’s high production standards, in tandem with the songwriting, arranging and musicianship is an audiophile dream and musical treat for the ears. Victor Feldman played xylophone percussion on the title track. The horns on ‘Deacon Blues’ bring me tears of joy... ‘Aja’ is an album I can listen to at anytime ― day or night. 🌄🌇🌆🌃🛋🎧👍🏻
My favorite Steely Dan album of all time. I love it so much that I bought the 1977 US pressing in black vinyl, and the 1977 Canadian pressing in translucent red.🥰 There is not a bad song on this album. I was only 16 when this album came out, and even though it was not a typical rock and roll record I realized then that this might be a perfect record.#vinylcollector #70smusic
I really hope you do a deep dive into Steely Dan. They're an amazing group that never released a bad album, and are considered one of the greatest bands ever. If you enjoyed Aja, you won't regret it.
Verdy, I bought this album when first released, and to this day, I am still discovering the nuances. You hammered one of the greatest albums of all time - on first listen. You are truly amazing! Forget the other languages. Your first language is music.
Another 60 something guy here. When I was younger I always appreciated SD but was into heavier music at the time, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest etc. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I really got hooked when I picked up Citizen Dan on cd, a collection of their first six albums. I couldn’t stop and still can’t stop listening. Some albums of that era have aged better than others, this is definitely one of the ones that has gotten better as time passes.
Steely Dan is a great group, they combined easy listening rock with a touch of blues and jazz. I was in 8th grade when this album came out and it means as much today as it did back then to me. They have other great albums to check out. Welcome to the world 🌎 of Steely Dan, Verdi
I think the first Steely Dan song to land on and inhabit my thoughts was Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. I was 13 or 14 years old riding my bicycle in the west suburbs of Chicago. It took me almost fifty years to find out exactly what this song was about. It seems a bit mysterious to me why some music ages rapidly while some never gets old. Is the difference in the music or in us?
Been a fan of SD since 73. Been a musician for 45 years. This is a talented group. Aja is a great album. Not a bad song on any of their albums. SD has a album or song that fits any of your moods. My favorite album is the Royal Scam a must to react to.
You're spot on with the word 'smooth'.. there's not a better word to describe the whole album. They really came together on this one. I was in high school when my buddy first played it for me. Blew everyone away when it came out.
Of course she’s 40 years late, that’s because she’s 40 years younger than us old f*ckers man ! The mere fact that young bloods are digging the Dan proves what quality it really is.
@@jonathanhandsmusic Not sure why it's laughable. I wish I could go back and hear Aja for the first time again. This has been one of my top 5 albums since its release. I'm glad, and not surprised, that the album keeps finding a new, younger audience.
"That was some smooth sh*t!" ... Absolutely the same thought i had when i first heard Steely Dan. And the great thing is that they didn't made bad music you can hear their whole catalogue if this music is for you. Just great music minds behind this. Great producers espacially. Their first album 'Can't Buy A Thrill' was immediately one of my favourite if you want another recommendation.
You NAILED it! This is some "smooth shit". I was already a Dan fan, but when this came out, man, this just floored me. My father, a diehard jazz fan, loved it. And that title track: Steve Gadd's drumming may be the best I've ever heard. This may also be the best sounding album ever recorded. 45 years later and it's still a popular demo album at high end audio stores. Amazing!
You can hear the jazz influences a lot in this album. It was always there in their earlier works. Both Becker and Fagan were both fans of jazz in their youth and you can hear that influence in their writing. This has got to be one of my desert island albums!! Pink Floyd - Animals, Rush - Hemispheres, and this are my first three!
Hi Verdy Wow, I didn't know Steely Dan (well just the name)... quality music 👍surprised me. Thanks for the reaction Verdy and thanks to whoever suggested the album. 😎
Being a Dan fan already, I bought this album when it was released in 1977. I was, and still am amazed at the perfection it contains. It is the perfect length (timewise) for me to mow my lawn. My LP is a little scratchy, but the downloaded album streamed to my headphones while mowing sounds pretty good.
You'll never be the same after you follow Steely Dan down the rabbit hole... A perfection of production made possible by wonderful arrangements and spectacularly talented session players. Enjoy, you'll never hear another thing exactly like it, ever.
......and finally, as others have pointed out, you are articulating your reaction to the music perfectly! It's so natural and uncontrived, and for people like myself having listened to this music over decades, watching your appreciation is like listening with fresh ears , so thankyou!
As a musician myself, I have to say that Aja is as near musical perfection as you can get. I've just recently recorded covers of both Peg and Josie, and now this is making me want to do Black Cow as well. I am really happy to see someone young enjoying this so maybe it won't be lost to time.
I bought this album when it came out, and it remains one of my favorites. Many people think it is perhaps the most meticulously made rock/pop album of all time. (And I use that term broadly, as there is a LOT of jazz in this record.) Steely Dan were true perfectionists and worked a long time to get every last note right.
Welcome to a vastly expanded world. Your repeated observations about "how they put all the instruments together" is spot on. Donald Fagen (the dominant half of the core unit) is noteworthy for being one of the most exacting perfectionists to ever produce music. Musicians had to "try-out" for every song. One song might have one bassist and the next another. He'd just record everyone's best effort and then choose the most suitable at mixing time. Every Steely Dan album is a production wonder and Fagen's "Nightfly" album is considered to be the very best produced and recorded album of all time. It is definitely some smooth shit. lol fyi-- The name of the album is pronounced like the continent Asia, and the incredible drums solos at the end of the song, Aja, are by the legendary Steve Gadd. Keep doing what you're doing. I enjoy watching. I grew up skiing in the Eastern Townships (Sutton), almost every year from childhood to my late 20s. I enjoy your reactions, but, as much as anything else, your Quebec accent is like an old friend to me.
Steve Gadd on drums on this track,,,, He got a grammy award for best drummer. Donald Fagan and Walter brought in the best of the best to complete their albums.
Everything about Steely Dan is sophisticated: the compositions (complex chords and chord progressions with lots of jazz influences), the lyrics (written by well-read English majors), the playing (finest session players available), the production and the engineering (their main engineer was a nuclear physicist and inventor).
This was the first album I bought on CD when the format was fairly new. (Yeah, I am that old.) I had already been a fan of Steely Dan since their very early days, but the production quality on this album reached a new level. I think it was also their best album in terms of the material, although I also have a soft spot for "Pretzel Logic." I have also had the privilege of seeing them live at the Hollywood Bowl -- a real treat. Their jazz influences really set them apart. That instrument that you were trying to figure out in the title track is, I believe, two instruments playing in unison. The first is a melodica -- a keyboard instrument that you blow into -- and on top of that, there is a percussive instrument that might have been a xylophone, but I'm not sure.
I just have to say thank you, Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands and of course "Aja" especially. Always a pleasant experience that I usually repeat from time to time. There are good reasons to make a deep analysis of harmonic, lyrical and compositional complexity, but, in the end, the most important thing is the essence that they transmit at all levels and you, dear hostess, are permeable to those aspects.
I’m so glad you finally got around to Steely Dan and this one in particular. Aja (the song) is probably my favorite song of theirs and definitely one of my top 10 favorite songs of all time. So glad you liked it.
A masterpiece album by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and a talented group of musicians. It has stood the test of time of one of the greatest albums of all time…
You have a very expressive face. It´s beautiful to see the music touching you nearly five decades I have it first blew my mind. Thank you . I cried watching you.
Ms. Verdy: It is such a pleasure watching your reactions to music I’ve listened to my entire life. You have a great ear for the soundtrack of the 1970s and that’s a rarity for someone so young. You don’t need to be an expert to demonstrate by your expressions how this music moves you. Love your channel!
“Smooth AF” is indeed the universal description of Steely Dan
Brings a tear to my old ass eyes when I see young people of today have the same reaction I had the day these songs came out! 😢😊
I know! Gives me hope for this world.
Amen! 😢
Yeah ❤I agree
Yes, yes!
Me too
One of the greatest albums of all time. Massive.
None of us are experts, Verdy, and you're English is just fine. You express it perfectly..This has to be in my top 5 albums of all time. Steely Dan is a major rabbit hole to venture down..They were amazing!..Enjoy the ride!
I discovered The Dan quite early through the sampling
@@stevecontini5386 Cant But a Thrill whole album is superb!!
Steely Dan is my favorite band and this is their greatest album. The original FM is the quintessential 70s song that I dig for every time.
an almost infinite deep rabbit hole as well ..
Gaucho was their last great album
At 67, this was the music of my youth. Along with Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Frank Zappa, and their contemporaries, Steely Dan were spinning around my turntable frequently. This music never gets old. These guys were very precise and very particular in their recording habits and styles. ALL their albums shine, but this one is a high water mark. "What a great mix." Yeah, best of all, every voice and instrument has its PLACE across the sound field here. It's as if you were sitting in front of the band, spread across a stage, and you can pick out each instrument. It takes a lot of thought to make that happen, and a lot of studio time to mix it well.
You grew up with an embarassment of music riches. 😊
Same here. My only question is, where did the years go? One minute I’m 21 listening to Steely Dan’s new album Aja, and the next minute I’m retiring. Yikes! LOL.
@@BenLapkeEnjoy your retirement.
Amen.
I believe she needs to listen to a bit of 'Traffic'...whaddya think?
I've always thought of Aja as Steely Dan's Dark Side of the Moon. It just builds a whole world for you to inhabit, and the entire album makes a complete statement.
Good insight.
I remember having a similar feeling about "Royal Scam" . It seemed like a soundtrack to me. It probably helped that I played the entire album multiple times on a non-stop road trip from Denver to Vegas in the summer of '77. I didn't have Aja on cassette yet! Lol.
Denver to Vegas in the summer?
As an old guy who was around when this album was new, I can tell you the this album was truly revolutionary. A group which was know mostly for hit pop/rock music...then this album which combined "chill rock" with elements of jazz. It was huge...and still sounds great today.
I think today with new ears it will probably be lauded as the best jazz/rock album
@@fayesouthall6604
Agree
@@fayesouthall6604 - This album is an old standby for audiophiles testing high end systems, speakers or headphones. The production was ahead of its time, and it still stands today as one of the best produced albums.
I would call there music on this album as Fusion +
@@joelliebler5690 - Progressive soft rock/jazz fusion?
Great reaction. This is Steely Dan's masterwork - and all their albums are excellent. The level of songwriting, musicianship and production is something that still holds up 40+ years later. This still doesn't sound dated. This was a huge commercial success as well - which is rare for an album that is so sophisticated.
Well its A masterwork but by far not their only one
@@scifimonkey3 Masterpiece sounds better!
@@briandeeley1599 Same thing basically.
They are some of the best session musicians at the time came together and formed this band and this is what you get. One of the best albums of all time.
Two visionaries surround themselves with the best session musicians in the world, and groove out!
The sum is greater than the parts, and the musicians are perfection
Did I ever mention to you in a past comment, that for someone who isn't, or doesn't flaunt their musicianship, you have an EXCELLENT grasp of EXCELLENT music. AND, you don't over-interrupt the music, which is a TRUE talent devoid of most music reviewers online. -- KEEP GOING, girl!!!
I agree wholeheartedly ❤️😍✌️
It helps that she's cute as a button too. Makes me wish I was a young man again.
Agree on both counts.
I totally agree. She really gets INTO the music and really does react TO the music. Something many other reactionists miss. Usually I click on "don't recommend this channel" when I see "reacting to ..." in the recommendations, but I'm glad I clicked on this one.
It's nice to see people still sitting down and do nothing else but listening to a whole album from start to finish. Something I should do more often in my life as well, tbh.
Watching the joy on your face with every key change or instrument introduced in the songs makes me giggle because I had the same reaction the first time I heard Steely Dan when I was a senior in high school in 1976
Aja is one of the finest songs ever written and performed. Wayne Shorter's sax playing is movingly sublime; perfection!
And Steve Gadd's drum fills and legendary solo on the outro.
Steve Gadd's drumming on the song "Aja" is nothing short of genius. This from someone who has been drumming for 50+ years.
I've listened to it 1000 times. Still blows my mind.
Dear God it's beautiful......
I discovered Steely Dan while in high school in the 90s. I cannot tell you the amount of merciless ridicule I took from my friends at the time when they heard me listening to the Dan. In fairness to them, Steely Dan wasn't very "metal". I hope they finally figured out what the rest of us all know: this is one of the best bands the 20th century produced. Because of the bands jazzy leanings, this was my gateway to becoming interested in jazz music as well (purchasing Kind of Blue and Giant Steps in the same afternoon shortly after discovering Steely Dan was a memorable day for this musicaholic).
Dave Brubeck Quartet (1957-65)
You were AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
I remember once around 1998, I was driving by the high school as it was letting out. Had some Dan playing, windows down. Boy, did I get laughed at. I guess they didn't understand!😆
I feel ya bro. My dad turned me on to Steely Dan when I was kid. I graduated high school in the mid 90s and all my friends thought that this music was weird. A bunch of phillistines who wouldn’t know musical perfection if it punched them in the ears.
Giant steps and Kind of Blue were incredible representative of the best 60s jazz. 2 masterpieces much like Aja was
Ya know what I really enjoy about this (besides truly perfect music), is seeing a young person in their early 20's truly loving and appreciating this album, this incredible music. (I'm 57)
So fortunate to choose this album first, and you will listen again and again for a lifetime, and it will never feel boring or tired, so much going on here, but just chill and enjoy it...this is another true masterpiece of modern music
One of the greatest bands ever. You can't go wrong with any album or any song, Steely Dan is as close to musical perfection as anyone can be. I have listened to Steely Dan since I was 5 or 6 in the 70s, my parents were huge fans. Enjoy your journey.
Great reaction to this classic album. 11:43 - that instrument is a Marimba, similar to a xylophone.
'Aja' (pronounced 'Asia') is a wonderful album which perfectly demonstrates the talents of all those amazing jazz musicians who made up Steely Dan. An absolute classic full of golden and iconic jazz. Not one bad track on there.
That's considered one of the best jazz-rock fusion albums of all time.
I was your age when I heard this band. I get how you hear it. Best music I’ve ever heard. It touches you and you can’t figure out why. Enjoy the ride. It’s for life
You can say that again sister, Steely Dan is always smooth AF 😎. They are just as good live as on their albums too.
I have always said that Aja is my "desert island album". If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one album to listen to it would have to be Aja. I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much.
One of the greatest albums of all time from some of the greatest musicians of all time. The ultimate in arrangement and production, I'm so amazed just how good it sounds every time I listen to it.
The woman pictured in the artwork for this album is Sayoko Yamaguchi, a Japanese fashion model.
Aja sounds like a Chinese melody rather than a Japanese one to my taste as a Japanese person.
Steve Gadd, who played drums for Aja, was a session musician who was also noted as Stuff's drummer at the time, and had a great influence on many drummers.
In 80's pop music , We often hear Steve Gadd style drums.
Stuffs drummer?
Well don't leave out the name Bernard Purdie when talking about the drum work on this album!
Geez, the title track is just... Stunning! I'm 62 and set in my ways but is music this good today? To think this was produced in the age of disco... Outstanding musicianship in a world of creative freedom, complexities not present in today's simple and repetitive music, loved your reaction Verdy, definetly a gem!
There’s honestly some insane music out there today. Snarky Puppy is one of the best jazz groups playing right now, and all their recordings are actually live performances, which is even more insane to me considering how good they sound
Thirty seconds into the album I saw your smile and thought about how much more you would smiling throughout this. I believe that 50 years from now, after we older ones are long gone, you will be listening to this album (like we are) for the millionth time, and finding new pleasure that you didn't know was there. It never gets old. It was a pleasure to watch your first listen with you, Verdy. 🙂
Verdy your appreciation of great music never ceases to amaze me. Aja (pronounced Asia) is one of my favorite chill out albums along with their debut album Can't Buy a Thrill which I highly recommend you checking out with songs like Do it Again, Dirty Work and Reelin in the Years.
By the way, have you ever listened to the The Fearless Flyers' rendition of Reelin' in the Years? I really enjoy that one.
@@sandenson no but I will check it out
Donald and Walter, the founders and writers, with specific studio musicians appointed for not only specific songs but specific parts of songs. Donald and Walter were perfectionists and it shows. Enjoy ☺️
I was going to say vibraphone
I'm glad you're getting a chance to check out this album. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker enlisted a load of top level musicians for this album. However the two of them carefully curated exactly what they wanted, sometimes recording multiple guitar solos by different players and then deciding which one they thought fit the best.
Bands like this is the reason many of us saved every penny we could and we went to a Hi Fi store and bought the best audio equipment we could get our hands on. Lets not forget those massive speakers from the 70's and 80's boo-yeh!
Indeed! I used to take my Steely Dan discs to the store when looking to buy new speakers - no better way to do the A-B comparisons!
EarlClyde, yes, this was an audiophile’s choice for testing equipment. This release, beyond the excellence of the performers, was held as one the finest examples of recording engineering. This album, when released, served as my music of choice during my San Diego beach bum days. Thumbs up, Verdi, for selecting this album for a first listen. For a similar jazz vibe, check out the band Seawind. Bon jour!
had a full Technics rack 125 watts p/ chan. and 2 floor advent 3way speakers w dual 10" woofers in each ! played this album on 10! so clear!
On the list of top 100 albums of all time, pop music. Steely Dan is a fusion of rock, jazz, soul and r&b, and they produced high quality studio music. Had this album in high school in the 70's.
Probably the most beautifully recorded album ever. No sound or note out of place. If you ever do a comparison of speaker systems, take this CD with you and listen to the drumming at the end of Aja. Great speakers will ring out those cymbal rides forever. Just gorgeous tonal quality all the way through. This was the real turning point for them from their pop/rock days into their jazzier period.
My personal opinion is that you can create art that is technically perfect but which still does not have a soul. All your points about the production are valid.
I get some impression of a soul in Steely Dan’s music but that emotional layer is way back in the mix for me and I engage less (indifferently) instead of forming a strong, passionate bond. When I go over to a band like Pink Floyd that is right up front.
An INTP approach to music could read like that.
Super impressed with you on this. You “got it” starting with the first note. I have to confess: most younger folk often wonder why this album is considered “special.” It’s a time capsule. You were digging Gadd. That’s cool! Good work.
This may be one of the most important albums in pop history. It was a game changer for Steely Dan, that's for sure.
Great to see you find Steely Dan. One of the greatest bands of the 1970's. Dozens of GREAT songs. Rabbit hole alert..
Loved your reaction! Steely Dan music is a genre unto itself...enjoy the musical journey they'll take you on...😊
These guys were masters of studio composition, and asked a lot of their session musicians to ensure perfect sounds. It's one of my favorite albums ever.
You don't need to be a music expert to notice great music when you hear it. Your heart will let you know.
It is not an "easy" job to articulate a Steely Dan album.... especially this one. This album, in my opinion, was one of the best produced, mixed and engineered albums... of all time. Donald Fagan and Welter Becker are the "core" members of the group but that does not even begin to tell the story. They hired some of the best musicians available for their studio recordings. Some call their sound as Jazz/Rock which I cannot argue with. Some say that Steely Dan is it's own genre. Regardless of what genre it is.... it is pure Ear Candy to me. Great Reaction. Take care.
Personally, I feel Steely Dan should be classified as in the Fusion genre (in context to usage for Jazz/Fusion).
I love this album, not only for the great songwriting and fantastic musicianship, but also for the amazing quality of the production. When I went shopping for a new stereo system, this was the album I took with me to test out the speakers.
I loved your reaction to Steely Dan's, A’ja. The feelings shown in your face were the same as I (and many of us) got almost 50 years ago, and still do today. It’s so amazing that music can bridge a gap in time and distance between people, giving us a sense of unity. I must admit, when you said the next song would be ‘Deacon Blues’ I burst out laughing. After the first two cuts I knew what was going to happen in your head and in your heart when you heard it. It just feels so good knowing that young people today can share the same happiness my generation felt listening to these superb musicians. Thank you for bringing that feeling back to me.
Excellent reaction. It was great sharing your first listen to such a fantastic album.
I stumbled across this reaction by accident. What a joy.
I got in to SD about 5 years ago because I’d always loved Haitian Divorce and FM from when I was a child. I submerged myself in their music for about 3 months,
So much subtlety and invention. Some of my friends seam to think it’s easy listening, but they really don’t understand the lack of predictability in chord progressions and rhythmic choices.
Nice to see someone react almost exactly the way I did.
It just sounds so lush, but is so rewarding.
I love this album so much! 😊 every musician on Black Cow has their own Wikipedia page. The whole album is packed with the best jazz /rock artists and accomplished musicians. Wayne Shorter, Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Michael McDonald !
Steve Gadd!
@@sandenson absolutely right!
@@sandenson Bernard Purdie!
@@htim8997 and his rhythm section counterpart, the inimitable Chuck Rainey
Nobody was ever better at combining jazz, blues, funk, rock and pop. I've seen them live many times over the years and their live shows were always phenomenal.
I was going to say this very same thing! Thanks
I might have written the same thing, up until a year ago.
i'm curious how many times &/or what years/tours you've seen them?
they've been my favorite band for almost 40 years (i'm 57 y/o).
I saw a couple of the New York Rock and Soul Review shows (twenty years later re-named The Dukes of September) in Jones Beach (8/23/92) and then (at the time) the Garden State Arts Center (8/25/92). They were real good shows, but not a "Steely Dan" show. I saw SD on the Tour 2k tour or the Two Against Nature on 6/9/2000. Then on the Everything Must Go tour on 9/26/03. the Shuffle Diplomacy tour on 10/14/2011. Reelin' in the Chips tour 4/17 (or 18 ??) 2017 - they were doing a couple/few week residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas and jumped down to San Diego for a couple shows/nights. This was the last time i saw Walter. I had 3rd (maybe 4th) row seats, right in the middle, there were times Walter was just standing there pretending to play his guitar. He would die less than 5 months later on 9/3/17. And lastly the Earth After Hours tour on 5/28/2022. I'm really hoping it was me, but that last show, I didnt have great seats, i even went by myself, kind of a last minute thing. one of if not THE first post i made on facebook was "I miss Walter". It seemed, like, they just went through the motions. Like they just mailed this one in. Their new (touring) guitar player, Adam Rogers is a great guitar player. But Walter had the personality. The dry humor. The one that always introduced the band. When i saw them in 2011 he and Donald talked about David Palmer, when he was in the band (thier first album, shared vocals with Donald), apparently he liked to wear leather pants but was a total, and i am quoting Walter here, "asshole", lol. Anyway, collectively they're recognized as the best touring band out there. But have you seen them lately? Have you ever thought they took a night off? I mentioned this to my longest-time friend and rock&roll mentor, Karl, and he said he's felt the same way before - but he saw them last year, in 2022 and said they were great! We both kinda think, as good as Jon Herrington is, it might be time to get another main/lead/#1 guitar player in there. It's almost like SD music is too easy for Jon. And after 20+ years playing with SD, I'm sure it is. However, he is the SD musical director, lol. Sorry for rambling. Curious to hear your thoughts, same with @pipeman65
I first saw them in Camden NJ in 2003 at the Tweeter Center. I then saw Fagen solo at The Tower Theatre here in Philly in 2006. I saw Steely Dan later that year when they teamed up with Michael McDonald for the "Sugartooth" McDan tour. That show was at The Tweeter Center in Camden. The last time I saw them was at The Tower in Philly in 2007.
Steely Dan are the cream of the crop. They did not put out any “throw away” tracks. Every song on a Steely Dan album was a labor of love and genius.
Miss Verdy, your witty and charming reactions to music is so refreshing. We love the diversity of music you play. Steely Dan is an intellectual fusion of Jazz/Funk/Soul and Rock & Roll. Songs like 'Peg,' 'Kid Charlemagne' Hey Nineteen,' 'Decon Blues,' 'Do It Again,' 'Bodhisatta,' and
'Babylon Sisters' and 'FM' are all songs you would enjoy. I'm telling all my friends and family about your channel. You deserve many more subscribers. Thank you for all your hard work. Everyone here in Florida sends our love and respect.
One of the smoothest albums of all time. I really enjoyed watching the sound occupy your mind and take you for a ride. Everyone loves this album.
From beginning to end, this is one of the best recordings in music history. It has been one of my favorites since I first heard it in 1977. Enjoy.
Been a fan of Steely Dan since '72. FM radio stations were just coming into their own - DO IT AGAIN and REELIN' IN THE YEARS were all over the cool stations. Then there was RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER like a year later, and a huge hit. You are so right, Verdy - this album is smooothe as $#!+ , without apologies! They really hit their Jazz Chops on this one, with the best session musicians and vocalists to be found. ...Roller Rinks, is what you're describing... Love your reaction to the title track. I was living near Monterey, CA when this was released - still takes me back to sitting in my VW bus overlooking the bay at night with this playing on cassette - simply magical. There are a few youtube videos out there where Donald, Walter and some musicians discuss the recording of this album - I think you would really learn a lot from watching. Your English is better than any of my 2nd languages, and I enjoy your accent - where are you from?
Stunning album. They were known as "your favorite band's favorite band".
I enjoyed your reactions. I can tell by your head and hand movements that you're getting it. Impressive in it's own right for a first listen to SD.
Steely Dan is the band that musicians wish they could play in when they grow up.
STEELY DAN - ‘Aja’ released in September 1977, is the classiest jazz-rock album ever made in my opinion.
The album’s high production standards, in tandem with the songwriting, arranging and musicianship is an audiophile dream and musical treat for the ears.
Victor Feldman played xylophone percussion on the title track. The horns on ‘Deacon Blues’ bring me tears of joy...
‘Aja’ is an album I can listen to at anytime ― day or night. 🌄🌇🌆🌃🛋🎧👍🏻
I haven’t heard this aja album in such a very long time. I had forgotten how much I loved it. It’s as if I found a long lost friend. Thank you
My favorite Steely Dan album of all time. I love it so much that I bought the 1977 US pressing in black vinyl, and the 1977 Canadian pressing in translucent red.🥰 There is not a bad song on this album. I was only 16 when this album came out, and even though it was not a typical rock and roll record I realized then that this might be a perfect record.#vinylcollector #70smusic
I really hope you do a deep dive into Steely Dan. They're an amazing group that never released a bad album, and are considered one of the greatest bands ever. If you enjoyed Aja, you won't regret it.
Verdy, I bought this album when first released, and to this day, I am still discovering the nuances. You hammered one of the greatest albums of all time - on first listen. You are truly amazing! Forget the other languages. Your first language is music.
Combine masterful songwriting, an expressive voice, and the best musicians
This is what you get
Another 60 something guy here. When I was younger I always appreciated SD but was into heavier music at the time, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest etc. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20’s that I really got hooked when I picked up Citizen Dan on cd, a collection of their first six albums. I couldn’t stop and still can’t stop listening. Some albums of that era have aged better than others, this is definitely one of the ones that has gotten better as time passes.
This is perhaps the most well crafted album ever there is not one thing that is bad on this album
Steely Dan is a great group, they combined easy listening rock with a touch of blues and jazz. I was in 8th grade when this album came out and it means as much today as it did back then to me. They have other great albums to check out. Welcome to the world 🌎 of Steely Dan, Verdi
I agree Mike. I was in 10th grade, and this brought back some very fond memories for me.
I think the first Steely Dan song to land on and inhabit my thoughts was Rikki Don’t Lose That Number. I was 13 or 14 years old riding my bicycle in the west suburbs of Chicago. It took me almost fifty years to find out exactly what this song was about.
It seems a bit mysterious to me why some music ages rapidly while some never gets old. Is the difference in the music or in us?
Been a fan of SD since 73. Been a musician for 45 years. This is a talented group. Aja is a great album. Not a bad song on any of their albums. SD has a album or song that fits any of your moods. My favorite album is the Royal Scam a must to react to.
You're spot on with the word 'smooth'.. there's not a better word to describe the whole album. They really came together on this one. I was in high school when my buddy first played it for me. Blew everyone away when it came out.
This album is considered sonically perfect by audio engineers. We use this as reference music to check audio equipment.
Absolutely
She’s about 40 years late in realizing what a great album Aja is. Kind of laughable imo.
Fact.
Of course she’s 40 years late, that’s because she’s 40 years younger than us old f*ckers man ! The mere fact that young bloods are digging the Dan proves what quality it really is.
@@jonathanhandsmusic Not sure why it's laughable. I wish I could go back and hear Aja for the first time again. This has been one of my top 5 albums since its release. I'm glad, and not surprised, that the album keeps finding a new, younger audience.
"That was some smooth sh*t!" ... Absolutely the same thought i had when i first heard Steely Dan. And the great thing is that they didn't made bad music you can hear their whole catalogue if this music is for you. Just great music minds behind this. Great producers espacially. Their first album 'Can't Buy A Thrill' was immediately one of my favourite if you want another recommendation.
You NAILED it! This is some "smooth shit". I was already a Dan fan, but when this came out, man, this just floored me. My father, a diehard jazz fan, loved it. And that title track: Steve Gadd's drumming may be the best I've ever heard. This may also be the best sounding album ever recorded. 45 years later and it's still a popular demo album at high end audio stores. Amazing!
You can hear the jazz influences a lot in this album. It was always there in their earlier works. Both Becker and Fagan were both fans of jazz in their youth and you can hear that influence in their writing. This has got to be one of my desert island albums!! Pink Floyd - Animals, Rush - Hemispheres, and this are my first three!
It's a beautiful thing seeing a younger generation experience music from our youth, and they get it. Looking forward to side 2.
Hi Verdy
Wow, I didn't know Steely Dan (well just the name)... quality music 👍surprised me.
Thanks for the reaction Verdy and thanks to whoever suggested the album. 😎
Being a Dan fan already, I bought this album when it was released in 1977. I was, and still am amazed at the perfection it contains. It is the perfect length (timewise) for me to mow my lawn. My LP is a little scratchy, but the downloaded album streamed to my headphones while mowing sounds pretty good.
Verdy, this is an exact example of spare playing by every musician on the recording, each complements the other. This is how it should be done!
Th Ed album is still one of the best and a Grammy winner!Aja and Home At Last are my 2 favorites from this monumental album!
You'll never be the same after you follow Steely Dan down the rabbit hole... A perfection of production made possible by wonderful arrangements and spectacularly talented session players. Enjoy, you'll never hear another thing exactly like it, ever.
......and finally, as others have pointed out, you are articulating your reaction to the music perfectly! It's so natural and uncontrived, and for people like myself having listened to this music over decades, watching your appreciation is like listening with fresh ears , so thankyou!
As a musician myself, I have to say that Aja is as near musical perfection as you can get. I've just recently recorded covers of both Peg and Josie, and now this is making me want to do Black Cow as well. I am really happy to see someone young enjoying this so maybe it won't be lost to time.
For me, the best side one of any album I’ve ever heard. Been listening to it for 45 years. Still hearing new things.
The greatest side A of All time.
So great watching someone who can feel the music listening to this masterpiece for the first time. Cheers!
Black Cow has such a tight groove and is beautifully arranged and performed, just magic!
Put me in mind to listen to the album again, for probably the thousandth time since I first heard it as a teenager in 1977
I saw Steely Dan in LA in 2000. Great band and great music!
Steely Dan’s musical timing is so tight, the Swiss use it set their clocks.
I bought this album when it came out, and it remains one of my favorites. Many people think it is perhaps the most meticulously made rock/pop album of all time. (And I use that term broadly, as there is a LOT of jazz in this record.) Steely Dan were true perfectionists and worked a long time to get every last note right.
When seasoned musicians decide to wind down and enjoy exceptional music, they often turn to the timeless sounds of Steely Dan.
Welcome to a vastly expanded world. Your repeated observations about "how they put all the instruments together" is spot on. Donald Fagen (the dominant half of the core unit) is noteworthy for being one of the most exacting perfectionists to ever produce music. Musicians had to "try-out" for every song. One song might have one bassist and the next another. He'd just record everyone's best effort and then choose the most suitable at mixing time. Every Steely Dan album is a production wonder and Fagen's "Nightfly" album is considered to be the very best produced and recorded album of all time. It is definitely some smooth shit. lol
fyi-- The name of the album is pronounced like the continent Asia, and the incredible drums solos at the end of the song, Aja, are by the legendary Steve Gadd.
Keep doing what you're doing. I enjoy watching. I grew up skiing in the Eastern Townships (Sutton), almost every year from childhood to my late 20s. I enjoy your reactions, but, as much as anything else, your Quebec accent is like an old friend to me.
Steve Gadd on drums on this track,,,, He got a grammy award for best drummer. Donald Fagan and Walter brought in the best of the best to complete their albums.
Had the pleasure of seeing them twice in concert and they were amazing both times.
Legendary sax solo on Aja is Wayne Shorter, jazz great and innovator, with drummer Steve Gadd . I love this album, every song is amazing.
Everything about Steely Dan is sophisticated: the compositions (complex chords and chord progressions with lots of jazz influences), the lyrics (written by well-read English majors), the playing (finest session players available), the production and the engineering (their main engineer was a nuclear physicist and inventor).
This was the first album I bought on CD when the format was fairly new. (Yeah, I am that old.) I had already been a fan of Steely Dan since their very early days, but the production quality on this album reached a new level. I think it was also their best album in terms of the material, although I also have a soft spot for "Pretzel Logic." I have also had the privilege of seeing them live at the Hollywood Bowl -- a real treat. Their jazz influences really set them apart.
That instrument that you were trying to figure out in the title track is, I believe, two instruments playing in unison. The first is a melodica -- a keyboard instrument that you blow into -- and on top of that, there is a percussive instrument that might have been a xylophone, but I'm not sure.
I just have to say thank you, Steely Dan is one of my favorite bands and of course "Aja" especially. Always a pleasant experience that I usually repeat from time to time. There are good reasons to make a deep analysis of harmonic, lyrical and compositional complexity, but, in the end, the most important thing is the essence that they transmit at all levels and you, dear hostess, are permeable to those aspects.
I’m so glad you finally got around to Steely Dan and this one in particular. Aja (the song) is probably my favorite song of theirs and definitely one of my top 10 favorite songs of all time. So glad you liked it.
You have wandered into jazz,blues,rock. land of musical expansion, enjoy the ride
A masterpiece album by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and a talented group of musicians. It has stood the test of time of one of the greatest albums of all time…
Your reaction to the beauty & joy of this music is perfect… tears of happiness
Always brings a smile to my face, when Verdy reaction shows up on my notifications! 😊
You have a very expressive face. It´s beautiful to see the music touching you nearly five decades I have it first blew my mind. Thank you . I cried watching you.
"The horns, in the back..." Tom Scott, who also play saxophone on this album, did all the horn arrangements for the Aja album. GREAT job!!
I have been wanting you to do Steely Dan , They have many great songs , so glad you have jumped into this rabbit hole ❤😊
Ms. Verdy: It is such a pleasure watching your reactions to music I’ve listened to my entire life. You have a great ear for the soundtrack of the 1970s and that’s a rarity for someone so young. You don’t need to be an expert to demonstrate by your expressions how this music moves you. Love your channel!