STEELY DAN — Aja (review)

Album · 1977 · RnB

4.5/5 · 2024-08-23
FunkFreak75

Though popular and received a ton of pop radio play, this album was, to me, a masterpiece of "almost" jazz fusion. I mean, look at the musicians involved with the project it reads like a Who's Who of the Jazz fusion scene in LA in the mid-70s: Joe Sample and Larry Carlton of the Jazz Crusaders, Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, Victor Feldman, Tom Scott, Jim Horn, Chuck Findley, Denny Dias, Jay Graydon, Steve Khan, Dean Parks, Lee Ritenour, Pete Christlieb, Don Grolnick, Michael Omartian, Richard "Slyde" Hyde, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso, Lou McCreary, Bill Perkins, Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Ed Greene, and Jim Keltner and Rick Marotta!!! FAgan and Becker orchestrating a fusin big band! Tight, one of the best recorded and engineered albums I had heard up to that point (so far superior to their previous albums in terms of sound engineering). The album sounds, to this day, like a sonic wet dream.

Line-up / Musicians: - Donald Fagen / lead & backing vocals, synthesizer, whistle (2) - Walter Becker / bass (3), guitar (2,5-7) With: - Larry Carlton / guitar (1-3,5-7) - Denny Dias / guitar (2) - Lee Ritenour / guitar (3) - Jay Graydon / guitar solo (4) - Steve Khan / guitar (4) - Dean Parks / guitar (6,7) - Victor Feldman / electric piano (1,3,7), piano (5,6), vibraphone (5,6), percussion (2,4,6) - Joe Sample / clavinet (1), electric piano (2) - Michael Omartian / piano (2) - Paul Griffin / electric piano & backing vocals (4) - Don Grolnick / clavinet (4) - Tom Scott / tenor saxophone (1), lyricon (4), horns arrangements & conducting - Wayne Shorter / tenor saxophone (2) - Pete Christlieb / tenor saxophone (3) - Jim Horn / saxophone - Plas Johnson / saxophone - Jackie Kelso / flute & saxophone? - Bill Perkins / flute & saxophone? - Chuck Findley / brass - Lou McCreary / brass - Richard "Slyde" Hyde / brass - Chuck Rainey / bass - Paul Humphrey / drums (1) - Steve Gadd / drums (2) - Bernard Purdie / drums (3,5) - Rick Marotta / drums (4) - Ed Greene / drums (6) - Gary Coleman / percussion (4) - Jim Keltner / percussion & drums (7) - Venetta Fields / backing vocals (1,3,6) - Clydie King / backing vocals (1,3,6) - Sherlie Matthews / backing vocals (1,3,6) - Rebecca Louis / backing vocals (1,6) - Timothy B. Schmit / backing vocals (2,5,7) - Michael McDonald / backing vocals (4,6)

Side One:

1. "Black Cow" (5:10) starts the album off with very cool groove. Once you've played this song you can't stop: you just have to play the whole album. Amazing background vocals and horns. Lyrically astounding. I love intellect in the lyrics. (9.25/10)

2. "Aja" (8:00) is without a doubt the coolest jazz song to get pop air play! The instrumental jam is mesmerizing! I love the electric piano, "Oriental-infused" instrumental section that starts early in the third minute that culminates, of course, with STEVE GADD's amazing drum play beneath Wayne Shorter's sax solo. (14.5/15)

3. "Deacon Blues" (7:37) like "Black Cow" this song just sucks you into the coolness of the groove. Sit back and enjoy the story, enjoy the incredible background vocals and tight jazz performances. Yacht rock at its finest. (14.5/15)

Side Two:

4. "Peg" (3:57)) the "big" hit from the album is, IMO, the weakest song on the album. Tight performances can't overcome a bit too much repetition. Amazing bass line from Chuck Rainey. I love Don Grolnick's clavinet. sweet guitar solo from Jay Graydon. Nice lyricon sax from Tom Scott. I never grew accustomed to (or liked) Michael MacDonald's voice. (8.75/10)

5. "Home at Last" (5:34) a "pop" song about Ulysses! I was and still am blown away by this song (it's my favorite on the album). The extended instrumental parts are sheer magic and bliss. I want to be tied to the mast!! (10/10)

6. "I Got the News" (5:06) sounds like a funked up "Kid Charlemagne"--very cool jazz piano work, nice bass and drum work--and very tight, precise performances across the board--it's just not melodic or engaging enough for my tastes--though I do like the second motif that starts at the two-minute mark. (8.75/10)

7. "Josie" (4:33) has one of the most infectious rhythm guitar riffs ever put to vinyl. Add to that another amazing bass track from Hall-of-Famer Chuck Rainey and super tight performances from the rest of the legions and POW! a great song that hooks you in and never lets go. I always hated that this song had to end! (10/10)

Total Time 39:54

To be sure, one of the iconic albums of the 70s--with every song evoking memories of sunshine and ease (my college days). A masterpiece that stands up over time better than 95% of the stuff that came before or since.

A/five stars; an amazing, sure-fire, timeless masterpiece of pop jazz-rock fusion. It's also one of the best sound productions ever pressed to vinyl. Another on of my Top 10 Jazz-Rock Fusion Albums of the "Second Wave" of prog's "Classic Era."