Wardsweb Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 <>I was asked about my impression of the new release of AJA. To tell you the truth, it is on its way, so I have not heard it yet. Until it arrives, I thought I would give some history on this classic album. As to why is it one of my favorite of all time albums: personal taste, music I grew up with, incredible arrangements, and recording that I've actually grown more fond of and appreciative; as my music knowledge has expanded and grown in depth and understanding. 1) Black Cow This track features memorable solo performances by the late, great Victor Feldman (fender rhodes) and a young Tom Scott (tenor sax). Its also worth noting that Tom Scott wrote ALL of the horn arrangements on Aja, the first time his unique phrasing and styling were heard outside of his solo releases. Trivia fact: drummer Paul Humphrey made his mark on the old TV show Name That Tune. 2) Aja The title track is part jazz and part rock structured almost like a three part symphony; musically speaking, it has a head and chorus, but what would be the bridge features some of the most virtuoso free-form Tenor Sax (Wayne Shorter of Weather Report fame) and Drum (all-time great session drummer Steve Gadd) solos ever recorded. In fact, studying the transcribed Steve Gadd drum solo this was one of those performances you learn how to play your instrument from. Trivia fact: if you listen carefully, you can hear Timothy B. Schmits (of Eagles fame) high backing vocals in support of Donald Fagen. 3) Deacon Blues This track became an instant classic for both its lyrics and solo tenor sax performance by Pete Christlieb. In fact, you can still find this big band jazz arrangement in the performance books of many high-school and college jazz bands. This was the lone track featuring Walter Becker on bass, quite a departure from the bands early days where he was the featured bassist. Trivia fact: remember those screaming sax solos you used to hear from the Tonight Show band coming out of commercial breaks? That was none other than Pete Christlieb. 4) Peg This track was one of the two hits (along with Josie) from Aja. Its been described as one of the most densely layered Top 40 recordings ever, again featuring a famous guitar solo in what is essentially a 13 bar Blues. It also featured a very memorable Michael McDonald falsetto refrain, coinciding with his emergence as a driving force (and Grammy winner) with the Doobie Brothers. Trivia fact: guitar soloist Jay Graydon (another Grammy winner) later went on to write and produce for such notable performers as Al Jarreau, George Benson, and Earth, Wind & Fire. 5) Home At Last A clever re-telling of Homers Odyssey (Fagen was actually an English major in college), this track is best known for Bernard Pretty Purdies driving beat that became an instant classic among drummers (if you can lay down the Home At Last groove, you can play drums!). Purdie, who also played on Deacon Blues, was nearing the end of a career as a first-call studio musician that began in the 50s and included some of the most famous R&B hits of the 60s. It is also the only track on this release to feature solos by both Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Trivia fact: careful listening will once again reveal Timothy B. Schmits perfect backing harmonies. 6) I Got The News While arguably the weakest track on the release, it never-the-less features a solid groove and steller background vocals by the now instantly recognizable Michael McDonald. 7) Josie The other big hit off the release, this track is considered by some to be a rock classic. It combines typically cynical lyrics with outstanding guitar solos over yet another unique drum groove provided by Jim Keltner, another first-call session drummer from the 60s & 70s (who played with members of Cream and the Beatles to name a few). While the steady Chuck Rainey played bass on nearly every track, Aja features 6 different drummers on 7 tracks, unique even by todays standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 One of my most played albums for over twenty years. I would demo the steve gadd track as a consummate exercise in taste and chops combined to younger drummers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardsweb Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 The versions I own:US1977ABCAA - 1006 - A gatefold cover, lyric sleeve US1977ABC9022-1006-AX Canada1977ABC9022 - 1006 - A red vinyl Canada 1977 ABC 9022 - 1006 - A yellow vinyl Portugal1978 ABCMP9001 US1980Mobile FidelityMFSL-1-033-A 4 SR/2 ORTOFON 141 27-May-80original master recording US 1980Mobile FidelityMFSL-1-033-A 4 SR/2 ORTOFON 142 27-May-80original master recording Germany????MCA25046 A-1 /77 S UK ????Simply Vinyl SVLP 0030 A-01-01-1180g vinyl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted September 23, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 23, 2007 Okay, Wardsweb, it is one of our favorites also....but nine versions....geez you really are a huge fan of Steely Dan![Y] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I have a cat named Steely Dan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 I've only got one version,remastered cd,but it sounds great(and always has),one of the best albums from some exceptional artist.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardsweb Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 Okay, Wardsweb, it is one of our favorites also....but nine versions....geez you really are a huge fan of Steely Dan![Y] Yes I have OCD. Now to see if the new remaster can out do the Simply Vinyl version that has already out bested the MOFI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted September 24, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2007 Yes, I know you have OCD....but still nine versions.....although you could play one version on each of Colter's pairs of speakers and still have about 50 pair of speakers left over for other recordings.....now that's OCD![] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Hi Luther, I have searched for months for the Simply Vinyl pressing and it is nowhere to be found. Please let me know how this pressing stacks up to it. I have the original pressing as well as the MOFI, so I will be curious of your impressions. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardsweb Posted September 24, 2007 Author Share Posted September 24, 2007 Hi Luther, I have searched for months for the Simply Vinyl pressing and it is nowhere to be found. Please let me know how this pressing stacks up to it. I have the original pressing as well as the MOFI, so I will be curious of your impressions. Mike Let me get back to you this evening. I want to do some back to back of the MOFI and Simply Vinyl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I have a couple MOFI copies (one NM copy I found for a buck at the thrift shop a few weeks ago!) and I can't imagine any version sounding better although I've only owned that and the original. The album was HUGE when I was a senior in high school although I wasn't too fond of it back then. I doubt I'd ever buy another copy but please let us know how the new one sounds. I've seen the ads but it never crossed my mind that it would top the MOFI (to my ears anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Luther, Nice analysis. I can see you really appreciate Steely Dan. I always thought they were ahead of the recording curve way back when. I have all their albums...but on CDs. I also have several of Walter and Donald's solo albums which are excellent. Donald Fagan's NightFly, and Kamakiriad stick out. I always thought Kamakiriad was at least as good as any Dan album. Better than some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tin_ear Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Thanks for the synopsis. Back in the late '70's I went with a buddy of mine to audition speakers. We brought Aja and Abraxas. When the auditions were done and he'd closed the deal on Heresys, we got to sit back and enjoy them on K-horns!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLSamuel Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 I have only the standard vinyl and CD versions ... A very good album. One of the few I own on both vinyl and CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z4! Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Donald Fagan's NightFly is one of my top ten favroites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 24, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2007 Great tjead Luther, you have always had great taste in music. It came out in '77 when I would have been a Jr. in H.S. I seem to recall it came out in the summer because it is one of the first lp's I remember getting major pre-release promotion by way of TV ads. I mean there were TV commercials for KTEL Hits of the '60's, the original songs by the original artist, but I don't remember seeing tv commercials for an upcoming lp being released. That was the first lp I can remember them doing that on. I am sure there were others, but that is the first one I actually saw. Another bit of trivia, the LP won a grammy, but not for the artists. As mentioned above, it was a technical masterpiece, it won a grammy for Best Enginer. It was recorded in the same fashion as Pet Sounds, in moduals at something like 5 seperate studios. It was super expensive to make, they would get 10 different people to track on guitar and pick one. As far as editions of LP, I would think the MOFI would be best because of the vinyl quality, and then a really good original edition. If Simply Vinyl did not mess things up to much I bet that one is good too. The reason why I think a reissue would not be that much better is that Aja was mastered by the Genius at A&M. How hard to you think it was for them to get ABC to let them go to A&M to pay Bernie to master it for them? The thing was, as complex as that recording was, and layered as it was, he was probably the only guy in the country who could pull it off. I doubt there is going to be much improvement in the mastering, there might be a tweek here or there with better equipment available now, but it is not like taking something that was mastered pourly to begin with that is going to see major improvement if someone else had another crack at the studio masters. I am going to have to dig it out and play it tonight. Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRB Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Interesting timing. I came home from running errands on Saturday and my better half tells me a package arrived via UPS while I was out. Inside, were 4 new albums, one of which was the new AJA release. Although I don't own 9 copies like Wardsweb, I do own the original ABC release from 1977 and a copy of the CD. I only recently got back into vinyl and own a very humble Musichall MMF 5 table along with an even more humble record collection. I went to the man-cave to give a listen. Just then, my college student son came in and we decided to do a little A/B comparison. We played the original copy. Still in good condition and sounded great. A classic album with some of the best session players ever, as noted above. Next, the new copy. Not for anything, but the album cover is absolutely brilliant. Very heavy and the art is beautiful. Dropped the album on the TT and away we went. Even though the older copy may have some degredation from a thousand playings, the new release is...Outstanding. It is almost worth the price for the title track alone. The Wayne Shorter / Steve Gadd dual solo is simpy wonderful. We ended up listening to the whole album twice in a row. Overall impressions; bass is tight and focused, the horns are amazing, the soundstage is huge and background is dead black. I was reminded of why I got back into vinyl in the first place. If you like this album, IMHO...get a copy of this pressing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted September 24, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 24, 2007 I was reminded of why I got back into vinyl in the first place. If you like this album, IMHO...get a copy of this pressing. Based on that review, I think I just might. I would love to hear a comparison between that reissue and the MoFi. I thing the major improvement from the ABC original is going to be in that better raw materials are going to be used in the vinyl and the pressing is going to be better then the original. I can't wait to hear what Luther says between the latest, the MoFi and the Simply Vinyl Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthfreek Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 One of my all-time faves as well. I've been trying to track down the new pressing on the local shelves but haven't found it. My iPod's name is Bad Sneakers by the way. And once again for all those who have never witnessed the awesomeness that is Yacht Rock HERE is the link once again. One of the funniest things I've ever seen. Watch 'em all...they're only 5 minutes each. Just click download or view next to each episode. Just a warning that there are curse words of the dirtiest kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthfreek Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Just remembered! If anyone is familiar with the fantastic 33 1/3 series of books they have recently released one for AJA. I haven't read it yet but I have read about a dozen of these and every one(except for Led Zeppelin 4) has been excellent. I hear that the one on AJA focuses a lot on studio techniques and music theory but I'm sure there's a little bit of something for everyone in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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