From the hypnotic grooves of “Black Cow” to contributions from jazz legends Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, and Victor Feldman, Steely Dan’s 1977 masterpiece Aja reigns amongst the best—and best-produced—albums of all time. In this episode, Peter and Adam break down Fagen and Becker’s jazz-infused harmonies, their precision recording process, and the album’s audiophile-worthy engineering. Tune in for stories, stem breakdowns, and a brand new segment where Kaleb Kirby and Bob DeBoo join us to play through Aja hits. Whether you’re a Steely Dan devotee or just here for the yacht-rock controversy, get ready to kick off the new YHI season with one of the 70s’ most iconic sonic journeys.
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show notes:
(00:00) Intro & avoiding nautical references
(03:11) Introduction to Aja (1977) and its Grammy nods
(06:01) "Black Cow" keys analysis (Joe Sample & Victor Feldman)
(07:36) Isolation of Paul Humphrey's drum tracks
(11:01) Breakdown of Victor Feldman's Rhodes solo
(14:37) Deep dive into title track "Aja"
(18:11) Analysis of Wayne Shorter solo w/Steve Gadd "comping"
(25:49) "Peg" analysis
(27:27) Breakdown of McDonald's background vocal arrangements
(30:23) Album sequencing discussion
(31:31) Chuck Rainey's bass contributions across the album
(33:11) "Home at Last" analysis
(35:35) "Deacon Blues" discussion
(39:44) Snob-o-meter rating
(42:34) Preview of Open Studio member exclusive content
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Check out AJA by Don Breithaupt
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steely-dans-aja-don-breithaupt/1100758984