Aja - Steely Dan | Tim Lee's First Time Reaction | HOLY SMOKES!!!
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Walking thru New York CIty no... an Island town.. defo :)
It’s pronounced Asia hence the words Chinese music in the air tonight so no it’s not marimba and you sound like Mickey Mouse when you said holy smokes just saying my brother I’m glad to see you
Welcome to Steely Dan, my favorite band. You have jumped into the deep end of the pool with Aja. Probably their best song, but every single song they created in their classic period (1972 - 1980) is great, more than 60 songs. It's a huge rabbit hole.
Its more of a full on warren, replete with holes, tunnels and burrows than it is just a rabbit hole. Look at a list of the phenomenal players they employed and there is a fantastic story behind each and every one of those names. Chuck Rainey, Bernard Purdy, Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, Larry Carlton, Dean Parks, Michael Omartian... the list is virtually endless.
your favorite band's favorite band
I wouldn’t call it their best song. I don’t think they have a best song.
@@lukekiefer5964 my idea of "their best song" changes from day to day!
Drummer Steve Gadd.
Steve recorded his part basically one take. He was in and out of the studio in about an hour. Legendary.
It was two takes.
@@rollomaughfling380 Two takes. that's almost "basically one take.." kinda... right? lol
It would have been one take, but some of the other musos glitched a bit, through glancing up, awestruck, at Gadd !
And THAT's why Steve Gadd was one of the best studio drummers ever. He was (and is) spectacular.
Gadf told RickbBeatobthere was NO sax part when he recorded.
Sight read.
The whole album “AJA” is a Masterpiece!! Every song is a Gem.
The great Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, one of the titans of true jazz and jazz fusion. Steely Dan is a deep rabbit hole
I love it, I think we will keep on the Steely Dan train and get some more rabbits. If you have any additional suggestions I am all ears.
Where to begin? Every SD album has its own unique personality, yet always unmistakably Steely Dan. Aja may be their most ambitious effort - sleek, cerebral, sophisticated, jazzy and funky. Arguably, my favorite tracks are Aja, Black Cow, and Home at Last, but the whole album is plush. Explore any and all tracks particularly on their first 7 albums between 1972 and 1980. You'll like some more than others, but every tune is smart, soulful and meticulously crafted.@@LegacyStudio
His duel with Steve Gadd on drums is incredible. Steely Dan was the band that got me into jazz music.
“Josie” is a song like this - give it a listen. Steely Dan doesn’t disappoint.
Dude. You totally got it. This is a mind blowing track from the late 70's. In college I practically wore this album out
Same. Freshman year Virginia tech
Me too!
Same. Slammin Steely Dan into the 8track on the way to class.
The typical meme about them is "Your favorite band's favorite band".
Yes...a marimba! Crazy. Played by Victor Feldman
You asked "What am I listening to?" What you're listening to is music. PS: The marimba placement was perfectly fitting.
I began to appreciate the Marimba very quickly. After the fact and listening to it a few more times and getting some of the lyrics and hints, i agree with you ;0) Thanks for your comment!
46 yrs. later the production is still marveled at. "Chinese music in the Banyan trees". Just amazing to listen to still. Thx Legend
They called Steve Gadd the human metronome because his time keeping is absolutely flawless...not to mention extraordinarily creative and tasty.
Best reaction to Aja I think I've ever seen. I keep rewatching it. It's very cool to witness a first listen to my favorite song.
It's all your fault anyways brother. :0)
I dunno if it's my favourite, but it's coming with me to my desert island. It's still one hell of a ride.
Steve Gadd played drums on this.
Thanks so much for answering that question for me Pootie, I appreciate it! Everyone has been awesome!
who also played the unmistakable intro to Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
Steve Gadd being interviewed by Rick Beato. czcams.com/video/HeHNqzfAt0g/video.html
Funny you mention wishing you had great hifi gear to listen to this... back when this came out all the high end audio shops used this album to demo their best gear. This album won a ton of awards for the recording engineering, which as you've heard is incredible. 1977! This may be the best sounding album ever produced (although The Royal Scam is probably my favorite of theirs).
That's awesome! Lol! Thanks for that tidbit!
The new UHQR press of this album is as close as you'll ever get to sitting in the recording studio. If you have a system capable of showcasing it, and a good turntable, it's worth the $150
@@TheMattthorne that'd be awesome. All I have is an audio technica turntable and some studio monitors and subwoofer for producing music. Not sure if that would be good enough but I'd love to get my hands on that record!
Facts. At the store where I worked we all bought our own copies of Aja so we wouldn't have to wait for the store copy when we wanted to demo a system.
The numbers- 1977-7 songs-22 musicians-11 million dollars. One of the finest musical recordings in the history of recordings
You need to listen to Gaucho...
The atmosphere is of an Asian dime dance. A whistle would blow when your dime was up.
Wow. I never knew this.
My cousin's husband was Roger Nichols who was the engineer on this won a Grammy for this album pronounced Asia
If you want some wholesome stuff there is an Acapella group called Homefree would should listen to has a beatboxer
Wow
WOW! That's what I said back in '78 when it came out, especially with Steve Gadd one of my favorite drummers of all time!
"What on Earth was that?" That was exactly my reaction when I first heard this song over the radio in late 1977. I'll never forget that. That drum part changed my life.
A Master Class in Advancement Music Theory. The amount of Brilliance is staggering with this song and most of Steely Dan's Catalog.
The drummer was Steve Gadd. Welcome to Steely Dan. I've been listening to this album for nearly fifty years. Never gets tired.
Aja was the first piece of vinyl I bought when I was 16. Been a huge Dan fan ever since, their music is just addictive.
Someone once said there are 2 kinds of people, those who are huge Steely Dan fans and those who've never heard them. lol
This was one of the most expensive albums ever produced up to that time. The only reason to pause the LP was the get up and flip it over. And it won lots of attention and awards. As a college student, I worked part time in a hi-fi store at the time of Aja's release. One of the job perks was being able to buy high end equipment on consignment. Technically the company could always ask for it to be returned, but they never did. As a result I pieced together a marvelous system for under half the retail price. The guys in my frat used to bring their girlfirnds to my room to listen to my stereo. It was easy to fully appreciate this album with all its subtle nuances on that system. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen certainly took their time finding the right studio musicians for each song, recording multiple takes and piecing together the best of the best, which was something they often did throughout their recording career, but with this album they took it to an extreme. I've heard they tweaked the songs to the point that they sounded too perfect and had to bring back some of the human feeling to the timing of the beats. They wanted this song to have an Eastern (Asian) feeling. I think result is the near perfect fusion of Rock and Jazz that they strived for throughout their catalog.
I LOVE your history on this, Thanks so much for chiming in on this Elgon! Do you still have that hi-fi?
Great reaction!
Next Steely Dan's song you can react to is "Do it again", it has a vibe and two solos you won't forget!
I am definitely thinking of doing a Steely Dan Series :0)
Loved the Dan for decades, love to watch intelligent youngins get on board !
If you listen to the lyrics, the marimba sound you refer to, is to link the reference to Chinese music throughout the song. It's an Asian feel. The drummer was the great Steve Gadd.
Try “Peg” from the same album. The album is called Aja and is pronounced just like Asia.
Ill be releasing that reaction soon my friend! Thanks for your comment!
Steely Dan is in a class all by themselves. And this single is my FAV of theirs. The whole Aja album is a masterpiece.
Dude, welcome to the Steely Dan world!!!
With Tony below...Steely Dan is unrivaled in their creative mastery and musical prowess. Steely recruited the best studio musicians from Larry Carlton (guitar) to Bernard Purdy (Bass) to Steve Gadd (drums) to name a few. Unparalleled in compositional mastery, Steely's lyrics are often incongruent with the songs melody and this just adds to the listening enjoyment. Stay with Aja (like Asia), and The Royal Scam is also phenomenal (all the albums are exceptional). Hard core fans call them "The Dan." I like Steely....Love the sincere reaction!
Bernard purdy was a drummer but not on this song. The great chuck rainey was the bass player in this and many more of there songs.
@@kurtschmidt9760 Right, Knew that but rushed through. Thanks K.
Rick Beato has interviewed everyone still alive on this track except Donald Fagen. His interview with Steve Gadd is exquisite. Go see and feel those shivers!!
“What on earth was that?!” Exactly!!
Glad you really enjoyed it!!!
This my favorite album of all time.
A perfect masterpiece every song is great!!
Loved your reaction to this remarkable song and band. You’ve got some discerning ears! Keep going with Steely Dan and I’m sure you’ll have plenty more “Holy Smokes” reactions. Try “Peg” or Black Cow” next from the same album.
Peg is recorded and will release in a few days! Thanks for your comment and suggestions! Keep them coming!
Awesome! Black Cow is another dynamite song
Outstanding react! And one of the best parts is, it Never gets old!
I worked my tail off summer of '78 to earn enough to buy the stereo system of my dreams before my sophomore year in college--this was the album I brought with me to test out the components, especially the speakers.
I like the way you think. You get a good smile out of it?
@@LegacyStudio Absolutely! I still have, and use, most of the system I bought. Boxes full of vinyl albums in the closet, too--I should see if any of them are collector's items today, although I wore the grooves flat on all the good ones (Aja included!).
By the way, if you're looking for a fantastic musical YT rabbit-hole to dive into, check out Angelina Jordan. She's a young singer from Norway (living in the US now) who made a big splash at a ridiculously young age--check out her rendition of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell On You" at age 9:
czcams.com/video/nwFloCPXzCs/video.html
Yes, age 9. Trust me, it's fantastic.
This Album is the industry standard for all production studios :)
This is the best reaction i've seen to this particular song.
This is one of the most complex songs i've ever heard. The arrangement is all over the place, with what seems like 3 different songs, but it just works all coming together. The chord progressions are like nothing i've ever experienced before.
You and I are on the same wave-lengh there! Completely agree with you and well said.
Thr drummer is Steve Gadd.
They are from NY that’s exactly what this song reminds me of !!!!!!!
Walking in the streets, stopping to get
A Hot Pretzel !!!!!!!
My favorite band of all time. It's so awesome to watch you discover this song and have your mind blown... you didn't miss the genius. Also, stereo shops used to use this album to showcase their equipment.
I love watching reaction vids to one of my favourite songs. (It won the Grammy for best engineered record btw) Cheers!
I am a HUGE Dan fan, my personal favorite. I’m also an audiophile. Listening to the entire Aja album on a high quality system is an experience.
Teach me a bit more about being an audiophile. What all does that entail?
@@LegacyStudio it’s not quite that simple. There are many levels and it really depends on taste, preference and budget. There are so many variables it can be overwhelming. I can put up a link to my system that doubles as a home theater if you’d like.
@@gregbartley2475 absolutely. Take a look at my reaction to the UHQR record and let me know your opinions on it as well. Thanks Greg!
That drum solo was done in one take. Let that sink in. One and done. Friggin legend!
As others have posted, the marimba is chosen because the song is about the narrator's relationship with a Chinese girl. There is an eastern flavor all throughout the track.
Someone else said it, but this was also my favorite reaction ever to my favorite Steely Dan song. That's a little crazy for someone to suggest this to be your first song from The Dan.
That would be like hearing Fools Overture from Supertramp, as your first Supertramp song. I like to suggest people put off reacting to the masterpieces for a while, lest hearing the masterpieces first, spoils the expectations for the rest of artists' song catalogues
(btw, when you do react to Fools Overture, it would be best to be off of the Live in Paris album. Not the original studio version....on that one song, in Paris there is a more exciting tempo for one movement, and also, either the mic is better or the reverb for a vocal climactic moment, is better on the Paris album than on the original studio album. And do NOT watch the concert video for your first listen; it's got a literal clown show on the stage (so distracting) and other things on a screen, that are not right for the song's historical reference.
You paused it just as Chuck Rainy (on bass) played that lovely change at 2:53 Now go back and listen to it again. No one ever points it out either.
And Victor Feldman on VIBRAPHONE is marvellous.
But Wayne Shorter's tenor sax' solo is so moving; it's sends shivers up my spine. Steve Gadd's drumming is fabulous.
Incredible song. Steve Gadd on drumms. And the track you heard was his FIRST take. Google him and check out who he's played with. Maybe (probably) the most prolific, groove-oriented, respected drummer of the last 50 years. (You took 57% of the joy away by pausing the song18 times. Maybe take notes during- and then go over your thoughts at the end.)
Im sorry about the pauses. Im a new reactor and I am still learning what "standard practice" is. So thanks so much for the suggestions and I will keep that in mind. I hate to spoil 57% of the song for you. :0/
@@LegacyStudio Just remember - 72٪ of all statistics are fabricated on-the-spot. You'll get it worked out. I liked the honesty in your review.
Good point :0) Thanks Ken!
@@roundtownKen Right On! There's been many highly skilled prolific drummer's on the skins over the years & agree "Steve Gadd" is one of them no bout a doubt it. But, don't forget about "Porcaro, Purdie, Aronoff, Colaiuta, Cobham," just to name a few. Not to mention some of the up & coming monster's on the skins Larnell Lewis, Mike Portnoy, Nate Smith, Danny Carey, Questlove, etc..." who are tearing it up while making their bones still today. Just saying... +Peace, Funk & Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul My Friend+ 🤘😉🤘
That is a marimba, with a toy piano very subtlely laid on top. The sound is used to add a subtle Asian sound (stereotypical during the 50s 60s)...and the name Aja is prounced as "asia," as sung in the song.
You're grooving on one the most harmonically and rhythmically bands of all time very complex and enjoyable
Larry Carleton created the arrangements and was the brilliant guitar soloist. Back then every session player was expected to "bring something" to the piece and this is what you get when you have so many talented performers who know their business.
You listen to the nuances that most people miss. Subscribed.
I’ve been listening to Steely Dan since they first hit the airwaves…..and I STILL react this way to whatever SD song I am listening to….i don’t have that kind of relationship with any other band. ☮️❤️
What a Great reaction!!! Glad you get it as a fellow musician. Listen to the whole album. Perfect album. Professional musicians that wrote and played beautiful music for all.
That's Steely Dan In a nutshell. The core of the band, Donald Fagan & Walter Becker, who wrote all their material, would assemble top tier session players, sometimes auditioning 3 or 4 different guitar players/keyboardists/drummers/bassists to get the PERFECT fit for what was in their heads, for EVERY tune. They used that approach for every tune they made. Drummer was Steve Gadd
Listen to the whole album. These guys are genius writers and players. You have heard one example of the best band in the last 50 years.
Oh yeah - stellar session men who are jazz/rock etc., players in their own right and acknowledged as super stars for their talent. The list on this song is amazing -
Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer, police whistle, backing vocals
Steve Gadd - drums
Chuck Rainey - bass guitar
Larry Carlton, Walter Becker, Denny Dias - guitars
Joe Sample - Fender Rhodes
Michael Omartian - piano
Victor Feldman - percussion, marimba
Wayne Shorter - tenor saxophone
Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals
This whole album is fire. Fusion music for cool grown ups. So evocative.
So much material to get through, not to mention Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s solo material and the modern Steely Dan material. “Home at Last”, “Gaslighting Abbey”, “Glamour Profession”….on and on and on!
I'll add those to my list to check out!
A masterclass in composing, engineering, and musicianship.
Steve Gadd on drum solo…I would recommend Egyptian Danza by Al DiMeola with Steve Gadd on drums….you will love it
Steely Dan's music is SO complicated & awesome. They are next level for sure.
This tasty treat from the Dan is but a morsel in the feast that is Steely Dan. The album won the album of the year Grammy I believe. And for years audiophiles tested their stereo equipment with this album. Listen to their entire catalog starting with Can't By A Thrill.
Green Earrings should be next in the progression
Yes
We all tested out systems (home and car) playing Aja back in the day..
"Royal Scam" by Steely Dan Is Their Best Album By Far! Literally Every Song On it is...
My understanding of the writing of this song is that it was parts of several unfinished songs that they stitched together into kind of a suite. Personally, I think the marimba sound is perfect.
Steve Gadd is by far one of the best studio musicians ever! He recorded this in only 2 takes amazing
5:23 and 7:15 they reach into the piano and strum the piano strings manually. Such a cool sound.
They worked with some outstanding musicians. Wayne Shorter on Sax , ( one time neighbor ) Steve Gadd on drums etc. thanks for reacting to the music of my youth. Steely Dan , early Yes , Genesis , ELP , Focus . & more . Prog , fusion expand
You see the way my brain works, the xylophone not marimba works exquisitely. I guess you haven't been exposed to enough greatly varied jazz or other variations of jazz or brilliant composition to wrap your head around this level of musicianship
Did you catch the Samba rhythm on that drum outro? Brilliance by Steve Gadd.
I don't think I ever considered Steely Dan as a 'rock band'. They are beyond that. Really, they are a fusion band, and by that I mean, they fuse together rock, funk, soul, jazz, reggae, blues and musical styles from the past, to create something that is greater than the sum of their parts. They are true artists, that can pull from any musical genre, and make it sound authentic.
For you it was like that scene in Ratatouille when different flavours exploded in his brain when he tasted the food 🥘
Steely Dan is basically Donald Fagen (keyboards/vocals) and Walter Becker (electric guitar). Everyone else is a rotating cast of studio musicians. The Wikipedia article on tha Aja album lists the personnel for each track. You really should check out the whole album. This why those of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s believe our generation had the best music.
Love your reaction. Steely Dan is top shelf, can’t miss. Pick any song, and please pick more. Fist bump for Missoula Smokejumpers tee. Those guys and gals are badass real deal. Missoula is my favorite city on Earth and I lived there for 8 glorious years. Hopefully will live there again. Cheers!
I heard one first time reactor say that if bands were furniture, SD would be the luxurious leather executive furniture.
That sax interlude with Steve Gadd’s drumming kinda grabs you by the boo boo,don’t it?!
Steely Dan was my first high school experience (73-76) and I loved them and it made me very picky as a music listener. Then I heard Fleetwood Mac and I followed their path of sound which was much more feminine, which I liked. I didn't know how blessed we were in the 70s : ) I couldn't stand 80s music and had to wait until the 90s musicians began which I also loved those sounds and atmosphere.
11:07 "Hi-fi" stores that sold really high-end home audio equipment in the seventies and eighties so often used this as a reference to show off their speakers and amps. I got into recording in the late 90s and early 2000s and it was still considered a go-to reference for testing your studio setup. Your instinct nailed it!
The incomparable Steve Gadd on drums.
The marimba part of the tapestry will grown on you
Steve Gadd Is A Badass!! Love this song since i heard it all those years ago...
You might want to listen to Steve Khans tune Daily Village . Filled with Steely Dan studio cats .
It's a vibraphone, and it fits perfectly to my ear.
Say hello to Mr Steve Gadd.. on drums.
My favorite album! ❤️
..well I have a $300K stereo system and yes Aja on a 45rpm LP is right up there 😊
Steve Gadd on 🥁
Thanks for answering that question for me Mario! That was an incredible song and looking forward to hearing him in more of their work!
Dude where u been...Steely Dan has the GREATEST BODY OF WORK on the planet....PERIOD
@@cousmaster oh I was in Timbuktu living with the great rock monsters listening to the thumping bumplewamps. Awesome band, had some really good stone players. Greatest body of work in my opinion is the Bible... But to each their own. :0)
@@LegacyStudio I totally agree w/ bible is the greatest....silly me, I thought the subject was music!!
Genius has entered the room.......
We would ALL like to know the thought process they used.
There is actually a whole video on the making of this album.
I love every aspect of the song! Reminds me of Crack the Sky!
Steve Gadd on drums. Wayne Shorter on Sax
Thanks so much for answering that for me! He absolutely destroyed it! LOVE IT!
@@LegacyStudio Absolutely! The electric sitar had its heyday in the late 60's to early 70's. It features prominently in a song by Graham Nash called Marakesh Express, and also in a song by Joe South called Games People Play. Ooops! I just answered the wrong song. I was referring to the other Steely Dan song you reacted to... Do It Again
Oh well...
@@LegacyStudio Steve Gadd is a monster drummer. He is the drummer on 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon
That ‘duel’ turned me on to jazz as a teenager
@@LegacyStudio go down a Steve Gadd wormhole of drumming on classic 70’s 80’s albums
Go to any high-end stereo shop, this album will be there for your test ride.
This was our normall radio songs when i was in high school.
We didnt appreciate it.
the complexity.
Steve Gadd drummer sightread this hung over and NO sax when he put this down in one take.
The pages were taped to the wall and around the kit.
Listen for the stick click in first solo.
The Dan….sonic genius
You say Steve Gadd broke those drums doing his solo ? He broke them and erected another set in a nanosecond,he is so fast and brilliant ! Its Incomparable in the world of Rock . No one comes remotely close to emulating Mr Steve Gadd's chops ,as he portrayed on this album cut ....aja.
If you like some interesting chord progressions, check out any of the songs on Steely Dan's "Royal Scam" album (start with "Kid Charlemagne"). Hell, the rest of this album and the next one - "Gaucho" - are all amazing for their musical complexity and great vibe.
That's all harmony leads in the middle section. Either the master Larry Carlton or Jeff Baxter or both. Yeah it's all a masterpiece.
Steely Dan uses all different studio musicians on this album …. And on a song or 2 u can hear Michael MacDonald singing in the background !!!! Best album EVER !!!