Classical Composer Reacts to STEELY DAN: AJA (side 2): Peg, Home At Last, I Got The News, & Josie

#steelydan #steelydanreaction #steelydanaja #aja

In this #masterpiecefriday edition of #thedailydoug, I'm completing my full album review of Aja by Steely Dan. Today, we're listening to side 2, with the songs Peg, Home at Last, I Got the News, and Josie. I loved this side as much if not better than the first. All the songs are top notch and expertly played. It's a true historic album! (Ep. 848)

🎶 Full album reactions and MUCH more on my Patreon! 🎶

[forformgamer]

Most people don't really talk about Home at Last or I Got the News when talking about this album, but both are gems! Home at Last is one of my favorite songs ever!

[DonHaka]

words cannot express how much I love Josie. Possibly on of the coolest guitar parts of all time in that intro.

[davidgregg]

Donald Fagans first solo album after the breakup, The Nightfly, is pure joy. Please do anything from that masterpiece. Take care🙋‍♂

[smolderingjay]

Home at Last. Think Homer's "The Odyssey", that tired sea song. Odysseus is sailing home from Troy, wants to hear the Siren's song, plugs his crew's ears with wax so they can''t hear the Sirens, and has his crew tie him to the mast so that he (Odysseus) won't be able to have the ship steered into the rocks. So powerful is the song of the Sirens that Ody thinks he is already home.

"Hey guys, you can let me down now. No more rocks.. Hey guys! Guys?"


Donald Fagan for Musician Laureate!

[tomhenninger]

The bass player on Peg, said he turned his back during the slapping part in the chirus because they said NO Slapping. But they didn't notice and loved it! ahhaha!
Home at Last has the most beautiful chord progression and funky groove.
One of the best albums ever! LOVE IT! So subtle and complex and great lyrics. Best melding of jazz and pop/rock. Aja was introduced to me when I was in to Genesis and YES and it took a minute... but amazing. Thanks you!

[steelyd]

There was a “classic albums” dvd made around 2000 about the making of this record. You should watch and react to it, it’s on YouTube and it’s incredible especially for musicians and big fans of the band

[zackguitar]

Doug, you nailed it during “Peg” when you said, “the melodies are diatonic but the way the chord voicings move is really sophisticated.” So many of the legendary guitar solos from Steely Dan that I’ve studied are diatonic and even pentatonic-based like any old rock tune, but the sophisticated chords and voice leading make it really stand out.

[BillValentinBKLYN]

Chuck Rainy is unbelievable on these tracks... I forgot how great he is. Also, I really, really love the Horn arrangements on all of these tracks. Thanks Doug!

[johnhoslett]

Josie was always my favorite Steely Dan track. Just love the groove. 😎

[aufornvic]

One of the GREATEST albums of all time...

[lemonke]

you gotta do royal scam. More specifically:

- dont take me alive
- caves of altamira
- kid charlemange

are all crazy

[valtteriisometsa]

Alone, lights off, a glass of red wine and this album on pretty loud. Perfection.

[JB-ifbu]

Peg and Josie have been radio staples since they came out. Great stuff!

[sourisvoleur]

Just didn't realize how good we had it back then, with so much great music coming out on the regular.

[dtchinacat]

Home at Last is my favorite Steely Dan song!

[jc]

Wonderful - more Steely Dan is always a good thing

[denisewildfortune]

I grew up with these songs, but listening to them with you makes me feel like I'm hearing them for the first time!

[cozmicpfunk]

I Love it: Doug and the Dan :) This had to be the most sophisticated pop music on 70's radio and there was a lot of great music during that time. It's like a homage to 50's jazz with a new flavor mixed with funk. I also love the "Nightfly" which is a wonderful continuation of these themes. I think Doug would like Donald Fagen's solo expression, would like to see that reaction video :)

[Samuel]

“She prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire.” is such a wild lyric to end a chorus on. Very Steely Dan.

[michelle]

Have been listening to this album since 1977, could listen to it every day and not grow tired of it.