Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 4, 2017 Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2017 (edited) If you could only have one Steely Dan album which one would it be? If you have a favorite version of the album, which one is it. I'm struggling between Gaucho and Aja at the moment. Edit: No compilation, "Best of" or box sets allowed. Edited September 4, 2017 by dwilawyer Subsequent poster reminded me thats cheating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notenki Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 If you could only have one Steely Dan album which one would it be? If you have a favorite version of the album, which one is it. I'm struggling between Gaucho and Aja at the moment.I like GAUCHO, but I lived AJA so I have to go with AJA. Greatest Hits don't qualify.Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 It really is Aja. I have a RTR machine and that is whats in it right now. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Aja without question. Two songs on that album that I use for reference tracks when comparing components and pairs of speakers..the song Aja, and the song I Got The News. The list of musicians that played on this album is incredible. Steely Dan[edit] Donald Fagen – lead vocals (all tracks), synthesizer (all tracks but 4), police whistle (2), backing vocals (2, 5, 7) Walter Becker – bass (3), guitar (2), guitar solos (5, 6, 7) Additional musicians[edit] Victor Feldman – electric piano (1, 3, 7), vibraphone (5, 6), piano (5, 6), percussion (2, 4) Joe Sample – electric piano (2), Hohner Clavinet (1) Paul Griffin – electric piano (4), backing vocals (4) Michael Omartian – piano (2) Don Grolnick – Hohner Clavinet (4) Larry Carlton – guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 7), guitar solo (6) Lee Ritenour - guitar (3) Denny Dias (2), Dean Parks (3, 6, 7), Steve Khan (4) – guitar Jay Graydon – solo guitar (4) Chuck Rainey – bass (all but track 3) Paul Humphrey (1), Steve Gadd (2), Bernard Purdie (3, 5), Rick Marotta (4), Ed Greene (6) – drums Jim Keltner – drums (7), percussion (7) Gary Coleman – percussion (4) Tom Scott – tenor saxophone (1), Lyricon (4), horn arrangements Wayne Shorter (2), Pete Christlieb (3) – tenor saxophone Jim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutes Chuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brass Michael McDonald (4, 6), Timothy B. Schmit (2, 5, 7), Clydie King (1, 3, 6), Sherlie Matthews (1, 3, 6), Venetta Fields (1, 3, 6), Rebecca Louis (1, 6) – backing vocals 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Aja is very good. I can't argue against anyone who advocates for it. For some reason, though, I can't just pull the trigger. I think about "Can't Buy a Thrill," "Katy Lied," and "The Royal Scam." All 3 of those were really great albums. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 4, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2017 1 minute ago, Jeff Matthews said: Aja is very good. I can't argue against anyone who advocates for it. For some reason, though, I can't just pull the trigger. I think about "Can't Buy a Thrill," "Katy Lied," and "The Royal Scam." All 3 of those were really great albums. There are a lot of folks in that camp. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/walter-becker-steely-dan-elusive-genius-by-rob-sheffield-w501082 Can you pick just one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TasDom Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Aja is one of my all time favorites and gets my vote. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notenki Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Aja without question. Two songs on that album that I use for reference tracks when comparing components and pairs of speakers..the song Aja, and the song I Got The News. The list of musicians that played on this album is incredible. Steely Dan[edit]Donald Fagen – lead vocals (all tracks), synthesizer (all tracks but 4), police whistle (2), backing vocals (2, 5, 7)Walter Becker – bass (3), guitar (2), guitar solos (5, 6, 7) Additional musicians[edit]Victor Feldman – electric piano (1, 3, 7), vibraphone (5, 6), piano (5, 6), percussion (2, 4)Joe Sample – electric piano (2), Hohner Clavinet (1)Paul Griffin – electric piano (4), backing vocals (4)Michael Omartian – piano (2)Don Grolnick – Hohner Clavinet (4)Larry Carlton – guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 7), guitar solo (6)Lee Ritenour - guitar (3)Denny Dias (2), Dean Parks (3, 6, 7), Steve Khan (4) – guitarJay Graydon – solo guitar (4)Chuck Rainey – bass (all but track 3)Paul Humphrey (1), Steve Gadd (2), Bernard Purdie (3, 5), Rick Marotta (4), Ed Greene (6) – drumsJim Keltner – drums (7), percussion (7) Gary Coleman – percussion (4)Tom Scott – tenor saxophone (1), Lyricon (4), horn arrangementsWayne Shorter (2), Pete Christlieb (3) – tenor saxophoneJim Horn, Bill Perkins, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso – saxes/flutesChuck Findley, Lou McCreary, Slyde Hyde – brassMichael McDonald (4, 6), Timothy B. Schmit (2, 5, 7), Clydie King (1, 3, 6), Sherlie Matthews (1, 3, 6), Venetta Fields (1, 3, 6), Rebecca Louis (1, 6) – backing vocalsWow! I've got AJA in both LP and CD but necer realized the amount of contributing artists. Gonna have to play it once I hook up my "new to me" Cornwall originals!Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Easily the best drum/percussion performance on Aja is by Steve Gadd, on the song Aja. Incredible complexity and precision. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 My understanding of Steely Dan was if a musician missed a couple of notes he was unemployed very quickly. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 4, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2017 17 minutes ago, JJkizak said: My understanding of Steely Dan was if a musician missed a couple of notes he was unemployed very quickly. JJK I think that's right with the possible exception of Jim Gordon. The number of takes they would also demand was pretty legendary as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gottajam Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Of the specifically mentioned Steely Dan CDs, I would have to say Aja. I know it was not a part of the scope of the question, but I always liked the CDs that Donald Fagen released, separate from being with SD. Of those, I really like Nightfly and Morph The Cat and Kamakiriad the best. RIP Walter - Passed away yesterday at 67 years old. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 AJA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Traveler Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 1 hour ago, gottajam said: I really like Nightfly and Morph The Cat and Kamakiriad the best. I have all 3 on DVD-A Multichannel along with Steely Dan's Everything must go, Two Against Nature and Gaucho. All are reference material for showing off our Home Theater. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 There is a great documentary on the making of Aja. I watched it a few years ago. Great musicians and a big loss. Aja is easy to pick, but let's face it, all of their albums are ones that you plunk down and listen the whole way through. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Aja for sure, it was probably the most balanced of all their works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 20 minutes ago, tigerwoodKhorns said: There is a great documentary on the making of Aja. I watched it a few years ago. Great musicians and a big loss. Aja is easy to pick, but let's face it, all of their albums are ones that you plunk down and listen the whole way through. any idea where we could find this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 4, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2017 25 minutes ago, jimjimbo said: any idea where we could find this? Yes Classic Albums by VH1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Just now, dwilawyer said: Yes I know....."The Google".....smart guy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 4, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2017 11 hours ago, jimjimbo said: I know....."The Google".....smart guy. No fat thumbs, me hit "send" too soon 11 hours ago, jimjimbo said: I know....."The Google".....smart guy. It is also referenced in this article I previously linked to: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/walter-becker-steely-dan-elusive-genius-by-rob-sheffield-w501082 Farewell, Walter Becker: Remembering the Elusive Genius of Steely Dan He always knew how to make loserdom sound mythic Walter Becker of Steely Dan performing April 10th, 2015 at Coachella. Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic By Rob Sheffield 4 hours ago Most fans heard him talk for the first time in the 1999 VH1 Classic Albums doc about the making of Aja – a TV moment every bit as classic as Aja. It changed the public perception of Steely Dan as drastically as Beyond The Lighted Stage changed the perception of Rush, introducing Becker as the mischievously wry professor that live audiences would come to cherish over the years. For longtime fans who grew up seeing Fagen and Becker as silent recluses, it was a shock to hear them trade banter worthy of Statler and Waldorf. In the studio, they play back the "Peg" guitar solos just to heckle them. ("Hawaiian." "Yeah, that's kind of, uh, Polynesian.") They isolate Michael McDonald's backup vocals just to snicker at him: "Sorry, Mike." (McDonald was so declassé in 1999 that his voice was the punch line at the end of the South Park movie.) Fagen mocks his own "Deacon Blues" vocal: "Those days when I was singing like Jerry Lewis. Remember that?" Becker nods. "Yeah, that was a very fertile period for you." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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