How good is Aja?

Aja is as bold as records get. It's full of strange, unprecedented, disorienting moves. It is braver, more idiosyncratic, and more personal, in some ways, than any other record I own. Aja is as much a jazz record as a pop one, though in its best moments, it's both and neither.

Is Aja the best album ever?

Aja is ranked as the best album by Steely Dan.

Is Aja a masterpiece?

As one half of Steely Dan, Donald Fagen was responsible for what many consider to be one of the greatest albums ever made, 1977's jazz-infused masterpiece, Aja.

Who mastered Aja?

The original '77 release of Aja was mastered by Bernie Grundman.

Is Steely Dan overrated?

Steely Dan

They were a “serious jazz fusion rock band” but most of their tracks were simply too busy and lacking structure for most fans to enjoy. All of their albums were constructed to be landmarks – they're not. The best example for Steely Dan's overrated nature is when you ask a music fan about Steely Dan.

Steely Dan - Aja - LP Review And Comparison What Version Is The Best

How many records did Aja sell?

Aja was released 40 years ago this week.

The album, which went on to sell 2 million copies, was (at least initially) anathema to a new generation of listeners who rejected the calculation of its expensive studiocraft.

Who mixed Aja?

Before Al came in, I was mixing the entire record. Bill Schnee had recorded “Aja” and “Black Cow,” and everything else was recorded by Roger Nichols. The only thing that was recorded at A&R was “Peg”—we ended up recording it in one night. I think they actually came up with the song that night and decided to record.

Who is on the cover of Aja?

The cover photo by Hideki Fujii features Japanese model and actress Sayoko Yamaguchi and was designed by Patricia Mitsui and Geoff Westen.

What does AJA stand for?

Americans of Japanese Ancestry (WWII era term used to refer to Japanese-Americans) AJA.

Did Larry Carlton play on Aja?

Larry Carlton had an active role in Steely Dan's next album and their crown achievement, 1977's Aja.

What is the meaning of Aja by Steely Dan?

Steely Dan have several songs with a Far East influence, since Donald Fagen believes it is a symbol of sensuality. He told Rolling Stone magazine that the title came from a high school friend whose brother was in the army and came back with a Korean wife named Aja, although he wasn't sure how she spelled it.

Why is Steely Dan great?

The band is no stranger to the whims of cultural fashion: rightly celebrated by the 1970s' savviest critics for their acerbic lyrics, musical creativity, and impeccable songwriting chops, by 2001 their Grammy win for the (excellent) comeback album Two Against Nature was met in the wider culture with utter bewilderment.

Who plays drums on black cow?

No one had ever done anything like that before. I couldn't believe it.” Once again, the new record surpassed the expectations of their legion of fans, each song a fully realized world unto itself. 'Black Cow,' with its silly chocolate bar subject, was gently nudged along by former Lawrence Welk drummer Paul Humphrey.

Who plays drums on Peg?

Drummer Rick Marotta says he and bassist Chuck Rainey remember the "Peg" sessions well: "We had done stuff with them before, so we knew what to expect, so we just started playing.

When was Aja released?

“Aja” was almost an instant success upon its release on September 23, 1977, and within three weeks was the third best-selling album in the counry behind only Fleetwood Mac's “Rumors” and Linda Ronstadt's “Simple Dreams.”

Who designed the Poco album cover?

The cover art for Legend was done by Phil Hartman, the brother of Poco manager John Hartmann; Phil Hartman worked as a graphic designer creating album covers for his brother's clients (including America) while attempting to break out as a comic.

Who mixed Steely Dan?

As part of a team that included producer Gary Katz, engineer Roger Nichols and mixer Barney Perkins, for the most part Scheiner tracked and mixed Dan projects going forward. Most of Scheiner's work with Steely Dan was done at A&R Studios in New York City, where he recalls they had a Neve 8068 and Studer tape machines.

How long did Aja take to make?

Studio mavericks Donald Fagen and Walter Becker set to work on a follow-up in January of the following year, recording over a six month period in various state-of-the-art studios across New York and L.A. Aja became Steely Dan's highest-selling album, reaching No. 3 on the American charts.

Is Steely Dan Stoner music?

Consider Steely Dan. Most of their songs contain innuendo for sex, drugs, and suicide. However, their lyrics are so clever, their ideas so abstract, their instrumentation so complex that we sometimes overlook that “Aja” is entirely a reference for smoking weed.

Was Steely Dan a perfectionist?

But when it came time to record the solo, Steely Dan's insatiable perfectionism took over. According to some accounts, the band had as many as seven or eight skilled guitarists try soloing over the track before recording a take they were satisfied with.

What is the most overrated band?

Who is the most underrated musician?