Это видео недоступно.
Сожалеем об этом.

First Time Listening To Steely Dan 'AJA' ! MUSIC REACTION

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 9 май 2022
  • Our first step into STEELY DAN! Thanks for watching everyone. Patreon.com/johnslop
    johnslopmedia

Комментарии • 106

  • @helgar791
    @helgar791 2 года назад +17

    The drums were always interesting to me here. But the harmonically complex sax solo by Wayne Shorter, while never losing sight of the melody is, for me, far more interesting. SD is a deep rabbit hole. Try the rest of this album including "Peg", "Deacon Blues", "Josie", and "Black Cow". Try their first album which includes "Do It Again", "Reelin' In The Years", and "Dirty Work". There are a lot of very good SD songs man. Listen to "Kid Charlemagne", "Green Earrings", "The Fez", "Dr. Wu", "Pretzel Logic", "My Old School", "Hey Nineteen", "Haitian Divorce", and just too many more.

    • @PapaEli-pz8ff
      @PapaEli-pz8ff 2 года назад +2

      Thanks for the shout out to Wayne which is overlooked by most reactors I have listened to!

    • @helgar791
      @helgar791 2 года назад

      @@PapaEli-pz8ff Yeah. People who love rock tend to go on and on about the drum solo, which to me, is just okay. I'll take any solo by Tony Williams or a host of others any day of the week.

  • @cityhonors1
    @cityhonors1 2 года назад +10

    🤣 Just do the entire AJA Album. Then you can move on to Royal Scam & others. Michael McDonald on backup 😍 is the gift that keeps on giving! Like Rush, their career is expansive and has brought fans Decades of memories. 😁🐰

  • @samuelharvey3496
    @samuelharvey3496 2 года назад +4

    Steely Dan is basically Donald Fagan and Walter Becker. A 2 piece who hired the best studio musicians and worked them to get exactly what they wanted. The Dan, as some of us call them, were perfectionists and it shows in their music. This is a fun rabbit hole to go down.

  • @rubbersole79
    @rubbersole79 2 года назад +8

    Probably one of the best drum breaks in recording history. This song was actually MY first intro into Steely Dan in 1977, when I ordered this album on one of those Columbia House 13 albums for .25 cent deals. Trust me, this band will guide you through a rich tapestry of musical bliss.

  • @tonyallen4265
    @tonyallen4265 2 года назад +1

    Steely Dan is a huge rabbit hole. More than 60 songs from their classic period (1972 to 1980) and every song is great. I'm not kidding.

  • @MrRezRising
    @MrRezRising 2 года назад +12

    Great intro to Steely Dan. Bit slower than Rush, but about as complex.
    That was Steve Gadd on the drums. He's royalty in the music world.
    Great reaction, man. Thanks. You appreciate off-the-beaten-path sounds and tones. 🤘

  • @sgtBelson
    @sgtBelson 2 года назад +15

    I’ve been listening to this album since its release, and I still hear ‘new’ instrumental nuances every time I go through it. So many layers …
    The entire album is fantastic for driving, but you’ll figure that out as you go. I would recommend reacting to all of the songs, for sure. When you read up on the making of this record, you’re gonna be blown away. Enjoy the trip!

  • @Darkalen
    @Darkalen 2 года назад +4

    Ok I am in for all of the Dan.
    "Green Earrings"

  • @dickash1003
    @dickash1003 2 года назад +2

    'Let's have a few minutes of just drums & sax.'
    'Why would you do that????'
    'Because we've got Gadd & Shorter'
    'Great idea.....'

  • @briankuczynski4375
    @briankuczynski4375 2 года назад +3

    Steely Dan's greatest hits album is a double album, and every song is killer. Hipster jazz rock, and by no means an insult. Killer musicians!

  • @thefunkybuddha69
    @thefunkybuddha69 2 года назад +24

    You're doin' a real bang-up job with this channel, bro. My two favorite rock bands are Rush and Steely Dan. I've been enjoying your Rush journey and look forward to seeing you enjoy Steely Dan.

  • @philco6645
    @philco6645 9 месяцев назад +1

    As someone who has heard this song a thousand times, it's a treat to watch someone hear it for the first time - in general, Steely Dan is a gift that keeps on giving. I hope you continue to enjoy them and all the weird musical shit they doi for years to come . . .

  • @krishouseholder261
    @krishouseholder261 2 года назад +4

    Steve wasn’t the drummer that they were going to use… then Donald and Walter came back from dinner and checked on what this other drummer (Steve) laid down 😎🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🎸🎹🎷

  • @cpmf2112
    @cpmf2112 2 года назад +13

    As much as Rush were musical perfectionists, Steely Dan was even more so.

    • @thelazyguitarist1628
      @thelazyguitarist1628 2 года назад +3

      Maybe, but it took 6 to 10 various master musicians to do it on any given session.

  • @AdrianPG63
    @AdrianPG63 2 года назад +2

    Anyone who appreciates steely Dan like you do is a friend of mine ...subscribed ....

  • @sretsam68
    @sretsam68 2 года назад +3

    The great Steve Gadd on drums!

  • @stratcat3216
    @stratcat3216 2 года назад +4

    Let's hear it for Steve Gadd.. what a kickin' drum track!

  • @asayake1
    @asayake1 2 года назад +6

    Steely Dan would be a great band to start from the beginning and do full album reactions of their entire discography. Cheers!

  • @z-man2343
    @z-man2343 2 года назад +4

    This is the album audiophiles would test out high end stereo equipment on before buying. The production level (as well as the musicianship) is unrivaled to this day.

    • @ceddyharris6340
      @ceddyharris6340 2 года назад +1

      I still do this lol. Hell, I find excuses to test Aja out. I never get tired of listening to it.

  • @sbconsult
    @sbconsult 2 года назад +1

    Unequivocally one of the GREATEST drum tracks ever! What you're hearing from Gadd was his 2nd TAKE! 2 Takes is all he needed! He rehearsed it one time and Take 2 is why Steve Gadd is considered to be one of the greatest, most creative drummers ever to grace our ears!

  • @cityhonors1
    @cityhonors1 2 года назад +3

    😚 Steely Dan makes me happy! 🥰 You make me happy! 😁🐰

  • @genuinerecovery
    @genuinerecovery 2 года назад +3

    John, ✅out “Don’t Take Me Alive” Steely Dan. Larry Carlton plays a mean guitar. Like your channel.

  • @loisr3970
    @loisr3970 2 года назад +4

    Love it, another awesome rabbit hole......
    Enjoying our Rush
    Rabbit hole to.

  • @gregbartley2475
    @gregbartley2475 Год назад

    I could listen to this song a million times and never get tired of it. That applies to almost all their songs for me. Every stereo shop had a copy of this album and for good reason. A very good music system will extract even more detail.

  • @emilymartinez6961
    @emilymartinez6961 2 года назад +1

    The whole album is a driving song, can't wait til you hear their whole catalog of songs, this will be to watch 🙌

  • @ggwalker55
    @ggwalker55 10 месяцев назад

    Steely Dan is a rabbit hole worth driving into. Seen them live likely 20 times.

  • @fryman1812
    @fryman1812 2 года назад +7

    All hail Steve Gadd

  • @markstromberg1148
    @markstromberg1148 2 года назад +1

    As a fellow Rush fan, the quality of Steely Dan's music, technicality and vibe is undeniable. I have often said that Rush's early albums from "Fly By Night" through "Signals" were a tremendous outpouring of musical creativity. Although the number of albums in their creative heyday was fewer than that of Rush, Steely Dan's albums up to and through "Gaucho" were also incredible, and they had some of the greatest session musicians - Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Larry Carlton, Wayne Shorter, and Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers), to name a few - playing for them.

  • @rockodilechannel3509
    @rockodilechannel3509 2 года назад +3

    Aja is my favorite Steely Dan album. It's a great representation of the band.

    • @calguy3838
      @calguy3838 2 года назад +1

      I would bet that for every song on that album there is a subset of Steely Dan fans for whom it is their favorite by the band. And then there are Steely Dan fans for whom their favorite Steely Dan song is whichever one they happen to be listening to!

  • @stewpot6998
    @stewpot6998 2 года назад +4

    Great stuff. You sum it up nicely. Steve Gadd is one of the greats. As a drummer Steely Dan was the first band I learned to play to. Josie and Hey Nineteen are really funky jams.👍

  • @michaelnoviello6302
    @michaelnoviello6302 2 года назад +2

    Actually this song is for deep appreciation for perfection and mind floating enjoyment!....If you can find people with longer attention spans today!

  • @markcosenza3274
    @markcosenza3274 2 года назад +1

    Every store in the 70's that sold stereo and electronic equipment, would keep Steely Dan albums on hand to demonstrate the quality of their equipment to customers.

  • @melvinworsham5360
    @melvinworsham5360 2 года назад +3

    Its a good smoking tune.

  • @cityhonors1
    @cityhonors1 2 года назад +7

    🙋🏿‍♀️ May I suggest 'Peg' next as a contrast to this song. 🤗 It'll also get you up and dancing! 🥰🐰

    • @JohnSlopReacts
      @JohnSlopReacts  2 года назад +1

      Sounds good! I'll add it to my list :) thanks!! Good to see you around, Ijola!

    • @sylvainasimus
      @sylvainasimus 2 года назад +3

      I second that. Amazing song, amazing fun!

  • @buddystewart2020
    @buddystewart2020 8 месяцев назад

    No, that was just synths at the end. Some of the best drumming on any recorded track, ever. The legendary Wayne Shorter on sax. They had to talk him into doing this gig. He turned them down at first. He was afraid they were going to try and tell him what to play. He came into the studio and told them to just play the section they wanted him to solo over. He gave it one listen, then they hit record, the rest was magic. Steve Gadd on drums, some of the best drumming ever, bar none. This whole song is a masterpiece. It's my fav Dan track, and one of my fav songs of all time. I get emotional every time I hear it, including this time.

  • @dhaucoin
    @dhaucoin 2 года назад +2

    You were talking about how this song just makes you want to take a long drive.
    Well, funny you should say.....
    After the break-up, Donald Fagen had a decent solo career, and his second solo album, "Kamakiriad," is eight songs detailing a futuristic road trip. 'Trans-Island Skyway' & 'Teahouse on the Tracks' are the opening & closing tracks, and are perfect, smooth, jazzy bookends for the trip.
    Welcome to the Dan, my man. To quote 'Trans-Island': "Strap in tight cause it's a long sweet ride"

  • @runningcathill
    @runningcathill Год назад

    THANK YOU FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK. LOVE STEELY DAN

  • @timgrady4630
    @timgrady4630 2 года назад +1

    Magnificent mix .
    Apex of Art itself .

  • @murrannlehovitch6204
    @murrannlehovitch6204 Год назад

    This song is a masterpiece. So glad you heard it. It was great watching your reaction.

  • @hhlomaxx
    @hhlomaxx 2 года назад

    One of my favorite pieces of music. Artists, writers and engineers par excellente!

  • @niged
    @niged 2 года назад +1

    Great track, great band, plenty of Dan to get into. Enjoy the ride!

  • @dhairston4151
    @dhairston4151 2 месяца назад

    You good sir have a way with words...." Erupted into magnificence "! Brilliant description! You have amazing musicianship knowledge. Great reaction....you just won a new subsciber here.

  • @thelazyguitarist1628
    @thelazyguitarist1628 2 года назад

    When I was a kid I loved all these songs and never knew until I got older that it was the same band.

  • @timwirasnik5878
    @timwirasnik5878 2 года назад +1

    Once you go down the " Dan" hole, you can and will never go back!

  • @CodyWorkshops
    @CodyWorkshops Год назад

    Excellent reaction!!! I'm glad I found out you've heard it. I would've recommended it for sure!!!

  • @nchiley
    @nchiley 2 года назад +1

    If I were to make a list of the 10 greatest drum solos ever put on a studio album, 2 of them would be from this song.

  • @kendudley3553
    @kendudley3553 2 года назад

    John, welcome to Aja. The best written and best performed piece of music ever written. It's sort of sad that you started your Steely Dan journey with Aja. If a person never heard music and they listened to Aja as their first song, they would be disappointed with everything else they heard because nothing can match it.
    Yes, i am being quite effusive. Other commenters might ding me. But Aja is the glorious pinnacle of all music. (In My Humble Opinion :) )
    My interpretation of the lyrics - Aja is a southern California Rehab Center. "When all my DIME dancing is through" - when I am done with the drugs. Up on the hill they've got time to burn, there's no return" - you can't leave until you have lost the addiction. "Throw out the hardware, Let's do it right" - commit yourself to sobriety - no more drug paraphenalia.
    Just my opinion. Other Steely Dan songs - Do It Again (it's total different from Aja), The rest of the Aja album, The Royal Scam - my goodness, Sir. Their catalog is long and all their songs are great.
    Thanks for making my night,
    Ken

  • @leestein504
    @leestein504 2 года назад

    Steely Dan is your favorite band's favorite band!

  • @woodstockorientalrugcleani430
    @woodstockorientalrugcleani430 9 месяцев назад

    Their lyrics are typically cryptic, but this one in particular, the words, I believe are purely atmospheric. You just know that they had the deadly music that didn’t need any other words than simply lyrical sounding ones that fit.

  • @Parula06
    @Parula06 2 года назад +2

    My take on the lyrics, which are certainly opaque, typical of Steely Dan: Aja is an Asian "lady of the evening" in an Asian-themed brothel (the "dude ranch") down the coast from LA, and the singer keeps returning to her as an escape from his workaday (dime-dancing) life. He finds comfort in her and has come to care for her in his way, despite the transactional nature of their relationship. Indeed, he suggests goes so far as to suggest risky no-condom sex ("throw out the hardware, let's do it right") which is more intimate despite the danger of pregnancy (the double helix). But even so, it's not a deep relationship.
    This sort of sardonic look at someone's shallow inner life and lack of self-awareness is classic Steely Dan. Note that the narrator conveys nothing about the woman except how she and her exotic, out-of-his-mainstream surroundings make HIM feel. Steely Dan wrote a lot of songs from the viewpoint of emotionally and psychologically semi-tragic people, and decadence, over-indulgence (particularly of the California kind - lots of drugs references), and shallowness were common themes. Sometimes they were snarky about it (e.g. Show Biz Kids) and sometimes they didn't pass any kind of judgment, just put it out there for people to experience and draw their own conclusions, like in this song.
    Or I could be totally wrong.

  • @jollyrodgers7272
    @jollyrodgers7272 2 года назад +1

    Congratulations, you found near-perfect humanity from the mid-seventies! Yeah, perfect for a road trip - or just watching the sunset fade to twilight into dark with this whole album - add a bottle of wine and some fine herb. These guys really found their Jazz Chops with this album and used the best session musicians alive. Start your Steely Dan journey with stuff like DO IT AGAIN, DON'T TAKE ME ALIVE, RIKKI DON'T LOSE THAT NUMBER, DIRTY WORK, MY OLD SCHOOL, BLACK FRIDAY, and see how they progress thru KID CHARLEMAGNE, the whole Aja album, and on to Gaucho - OR - just treat yourself to some Ear Candy now and listen to "FM(No Static At All)".

  • @tammiec4937
    @tammiec4937 2 года назад +1

    Steely Dan gets overlooked. When you hear their hits on the radio and never have listened to their catalog. How stupid could I have been 😬🤯lol

  • @dawudabdullaah6977
    @dawudabdullaah6977 Год назад

    Damn...Steve Gadd, that's how you play the flippin drums!!!

  • @ggwalker55
    @ggwalker55 10 месяцев назад

    Rochester NY's Steve Gadd on drums. Groundbreaking.

  • @rickeylucero3955
    @rickeylucero3955 Год назад

    Pure perfection!

  • @imacmanx8562
    @imacmanx8562 2 года назад

    Rush & Steely Dan have always been 2 of my favorite bands, and so great you've discovered both. Steely Dan were known for being perfectionists in the engineering of their tracks, and are commonly known to be your favorite band's, favorite band. Next on the SD list should be "FM".....probably my favorite SD song.......although there are SO many to choose from.

  • @lucasroth7922
    @lucasroth7922 2 года назад

    Steely Dan is your favorite bands favorite band ✌🤘

  • @paulrom446
    @paulrom446 Год назад

    I've heard it refers to a rest home for Vietnam Vets. My dime dancing..... Jukebox in Saigon? Perhaps? Incomparable song but other Dan stuff you may want to look into would be EMG(Everything Must Go)2003. Highly underrated but a true Gem 💎💍! Covers the Waterfront in terms of what was going on in society at large back then Also recorded entirely in Analog! A more obscure group you may want to listen to is 'Lloyd Cole and the Commotions ' specifically their Album 1984-1989. They've been compared to such groups as Prefab Sprout 🌱 and Matthew Sweet 🧁! They were part of the wave of 80's British Synth Pop groups Very popular in the UK but virtually unheard of here in the United States!

  • @patrickmckeegan5345
    @patrickmckeegan5345 2 года назад

    Steely Dan won the Grammy for best production with this album.

  • @hampyonce
    @hampyonce 2 года назад +2

    Donald Fagen is a master. Walter Becker was his sounding board. Together they formed one of the most remarkable musical collaborations known to man; Steely Dan. To know what a theremin is but not have studied the Steely Dan catalog is tragic but correctable. Fix it. I'll watch. JK. You will love Steely Dan as much as Rush but for inverse reasons.

  • @avoncalling7886
    @avoncalling7886 Год назад

    Deacon Blues, The Fez, and Hey Nineteen are all must listens :)

  • @musiconlyplease98
    @musiconlyplease98 2 года назад

    ....... just the ending drum solo is worth it for this epic song

  • @rollomaughfling380
    @rollomaughfling380 2 года назад

    You really "jumped into the fire" here (Harry Nilsson reference you should also check out). This is like their magnum opus off their greatest album. Great job mate-you get a sub.

  • @diverdown631
    @diverdown631 2 года назад +1

    Much like the Beatles ,after some years of touring they retired to the studio and just put out album after album that sold millions

  • @poweredbyjoymusic
    @poweredbyjoymusic 2 года назад

    Thanks for the reaction. You’ve got a great ear. And no better band to apply it to than Steely Dan.

  • @johntremmel3949
    @johntremmel3949 2 года назад

    This is the title track of my personal favorite album of all time a masterpeice

  • @maruad7577
    @maruad7577 2 года назад +1

    If you like jazz influences, you may wish to listen to Snarky Puppy's "Lingus". Two legendary performance in one song.

  • @danielthompson6880
    @danielthompson6880 2 года назад

    You're very eloquent in describing the sound of Steely Dan.

  • @paulrom446
    @paulrom446 Год назад

    Aja sort of fits in to what used to be known as A AOR(Album Oriented Rock) You're right! Great 💡😃 for long Road 🤠🛣️ Trips. Be I've heard some DJ's back in the day would put songs like this on and would go out and Burn One particularly if they worked the Midnight shift like Lester the 🌉 Nightly did!

  • @TheDanVault
    @TheDanVault 2 года назад

    Now that you've heard this, you've gotta go into their edgier side and listen to 'Everyone's Gone to The Movies'

  • @donaldjackson1490
    @donaldjackson1490 2 года назад

    Great channel, you gotta add The Pat Metheny Group to your list…Exquisite…Start with any song from the album “ Speaking of Now”, or “American Garage” or “Still Life (Talking)”… then go further into his discography with the White album, Watercolors, Bright Size Life, We Live Here, From This Place, etc, etc, etc

  • @triangle_transparency
    @triangle_transparency Год назад

    Your favorite band's favorite band

  • @robbyrob0723
    @robbyrob0723 Год назад

    Marimba was the instrument of your curiosity. Xylophone is a much smaller type but, good guess...both wood notes

  • @toddwalker4301
    @toddwalker4301 2 года назад

    You are breaking into some great stuff with Rush and Steely Dan!

  • @DanHintz
    @DanHintz 3 месяца назад

    good job. aja and the royal scam are the best albums in my opinion, but they are all pretty excellent. master musicians and the quality of the recordings is beyond audiophile. perfect mixing/recordings, although they do not like the sound of katy lied, which is a long story in itself.

  • @garyhamalainen1651
    @garyhamalainen1651 4 месяца назад

    yeah...... it's hard to go wrong with any song on the album but this title track is an absolute monster........ probably unlike any song you've heard before. While on one hand, I think of steely Dan's music as recorded and produced without a single hair out of place, there's always a distinct vibe or a mood...... it never ever sounds sterile or manufactured. People have been talking about Steve Gadd's work on this song since it came out over 4 decades ago. "Chinese music under banyon tree...... angular banjos, sound good to me" You've heard those lyrics in countless other songs, right? When are they going to do something original? : )

  • @cityhonors1
    @cityhonors1 2 года назад

    Q: 😎 Who's ready for some 🥃 "Cuervo Gold & fine Columbian" with The Dan?
    A: 🙋🏿‍♀️ Ooh, ooh, pick me! 🤗 I'm ready to "make tonight a wonderful thing" 😁🐰

  • @ButternutGOLD
    @ButternutGOLD 2 года назад

    You started with there best

  • @theivory1
    @theivory1 2 года назад

    This was my first time here. Excellent reaction to one of my favorites. Steely Dan has so many great songs. How about, Peg.....
    Adam Sanford for President.

  • @Jack-D-Ripper
    @Jack-D-Ripper Год назад

    Wayne Shorter (Jazz Saxophone God, from Weather Report and Miles Davies Quartet and Solo Work) plays the most amazing saxophone improvised solo.
    You really ought to watch the documentary about the making of Aja: ruclips.net/video/8sdMV9TzMkc/видео.html

  • @GetzGoth
    @GetzGoth Год назад

    As a Guitarist I must say SD's music is just about the most complicated horse crap I have ever tried to play. A song like Deacon Blues for example contains approximately 45 different completely fucked up Jazz chords none of which are simple to play. No E minors or standard chords to be found in these cat's catalog. Super fun to play though (once you learn it) and an awesome instructional tool. One of my all time favorite bands! Cheers!

  • @rickeylucero3955
    @rickeylucero3955 Год назад

    Back then I think it may be a Emulator.

  • @johnbennett757
    @johnbennett757 2 года назад

    Don't even try to understand their lyrics. They are impossibly cryptic.

  • @olliebeak131
    @olliebeak131 2 года назад

    I don't get it, how come you avoid 'content matching'?

    • @JohnSlopReacts
      @JohnSlopReacts  2 года назад

      Sorry friend, I'm not sure what you're saying

    • @olliebeak131
      @olliebeak131 2 года назад +1

      @@JohnSlopReacts I subscribe to several youtube sites that demonstrate technology, usually music-related. When they play a CD or cassette they only allow a few seconds of music because of 'Content Matching' - essentially what happens if they play more is that they get a 'strike' and a cease and desist by youtube on behalf of the copyright owners of the song.
      So my question is how do you manage to avoid this from happening if you are playing a whole song?

    • @JohnSlopReacts
      @JohnSlopReacts  2 года назад +1

      @@olliebeak131 Thank you for explaining! I had not heard it being referred to as "content-matching" before.
      And I cannot say for sure the reason why some channels get strikes. I can only speculate that it might be up to each individual record labels decision to block.

  • @dexstewart2450
    @dexstewart2450 2 года назад

    Chinese Music is a derogatory term for Honky Tonk

  • @fredtello
    @fredtello 2 года назад

    spend less time putting makeup on and more time and showing great music you're too old not to know about