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.

How many copies 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.

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 played the sax solo on Aja?

The eight-minute-long title track features a jazz-based chord progression and a solo by saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

Is Aja the best album ever?

Aja is ranked as the best album by Steely Dan.

Steely Dan - Aja (documentary)

Who mastered Aja?

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

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.

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.

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 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.

Who drummed on Aja?

Steve Gadd, his musicality, his iconic drum fills, his feel, his delicacy, the balance on the drum kit. He did it in one take – every take they did was a full take with the whole band playing together. That was a performance.

Who did the drum solo on Aja?

Listen to Steve Gadd's incredible isolated drums on the Steely Dan song 'Aja' There can be no doubt of the legendary status of this song. It's a jazz fusion masterpiece containing the flecks of prog that Steely Dan increasingly flirted with over their career. Released in 1977, 'Aja' is one of their finest moments.

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.

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.

What does AJA stand for?

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

Who wrote Aja?

One of my favorite examples of how to use the talents of jazz musicians in a well-produced popular song is Steely Dan's Aja. After releasing a number of albums in the early 1970s Steely Dan became a studio entity in 1974. The band stopped touring and focused on songwriting and recording.

How did Steely Dan get their name?

Working with ABC producer Gary Katz, they secretly assembled Steely Dan (named after a prosthetic phallus in William S. Burroughs's novel Naked Lunch) with other young musicians, notably guitarists Jeff (“Skunk”) Baxter and Denny Dias, emerging in 1972 with Can't Buy a Thrill.

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.

Who plays drums on Deacon Blues?

The 12-second intro on this track is one of the most distinctive openings in rock. It was created by having guitarist Larry Carlton and piano player Victor Feldman play the same chords, which were layered together with drummer Bernard Purdie's cymbals.

What is the #1 album of all time?

In 2018, The Eagles' greatest hits album, released in 1976, surpassed Michael Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller" to take the top spot on the Record Industry Association of America's (RIAA) list of the top selling albums of all time in the US.