How Steely Dan finally made their perfect album

Aja by Steely Dan is one of my favourite albums ever. Sure, it might not generally be considered the greatest of all time - but it is perfect in a way that no other album is.

Steely Dan made records like no other band. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker would write the songs, and then to record them they'd bring in some of the world's greatest session players. Couple this with beautiful arrangements and outstanding recordings and the result is an album that allows us to hear incredible musicianship.

The perfection on this album is intentional. It's not a gift or a coincidence that this record sounds so good. It's because of thousands of hours of hard work.

[davidhartley]

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[bevo]

For those of us who were listening in 1977, this album was full of hits. Peg, Josie, and Deacon Blues all cracked the top 40. These and other singles from Aja were on heavy rotation, especially on adult contemporary and AOR stations.

[BillWillyBillyBill]

Well, what we have here is a young man with excellent taste in music. Great review!

[Geoff_]

Steely Dan is truly one of the best bands ever imo, and there's no group I respect more. The tightrope they walk is incredible.

[slagletoby]

I was in my boat on the calm ocean the other day and I shut the motor off, went adrift, and listened to the entire Aja album. I enjoy heavenly moments in life 🙏

[johnwilliams]

1977 was such a great year for music. We got Aja, Animals from Pink Floyd, Even In The Quietest Moments from SuperTramp, and Rumors from Fleetwood Mac. Just to name a few.

[d.e.b.b]

I can't imagine just how many times I've listened to Aja, in entirety. Once it's started, I cannot stop listening, until the end.

[robertjohnson]

Aja is the jewel in Steely Dan's crown. Quite simply it is Dan at their finest. A never to be repeated record that is perfect.

[markrosenthal]

From the guy who wrote "Deja Vu", David Crosby said about "Aja": “Stunning writing. Stunning production, stunning singing, outstanding playing, but songs. Unbelievable goddamn songs. It’s too good. They’re all fantastic”.

[beee]

David - You're an excellent story-teller with a knack for clarity and style - just like the album. Keep doing what you're doing. You've got something going here. (thumbs up!)

[johnbwilson]

Steely Dan has always been that one of a kind experience. I was 14 when Aja came out and I was hooked from the first time I heard it. Back then I couldn’t explain their music. All I knew was they were different, unique, and there was nothing to compare them to really. They created a whole new genre

[MikePulcinellaVideo]

Well said. It's heartwarming to see someone so young truly appreciating and understanding music created long before he was born.

[drumhaver]

I bought it the day it came out, put it on the turntable and gave it spin. Absolutely stunning album. I immediately listened to it three more times and it got better every time. One of the GOATs.

[carlwheeler]

I was a college senior when Aja was released in 1977, I bought the album and rushed home and thru it on the turntable of my new Quadrophonic Pioneer stereo and the musical perfection just blew me away. Nothing short of a musical masterpiece.

[ericmcdonald]

As a 70s kid, this record is one of top 10 of the decade of incredible albums.

[jerrybeirnemusic]

I was in 8th grade in 1978 at the boardwalk in Wildwood NJ and won a prize on the spinning wheel game. Had a choice of records, was between the Grease soundtrack and Aja. Needless to say I chose the right one and it's been my favorite album ever since. Deacon Blues made me want to learn guitar.

[GS-slyd]

Everything about Steely Dan is perfect. The lyrics are great, the vocals are equally great and rightly matching the chord, the instrumentals are mind boggling. My most favourite band ever. Like the lines in their song. Deacon Blue’, they have a name even they didn’t rise to the hall of fame the way deserved. Salute to the band, and to you for the video about their penchant for perfection 🎉

[sassyt]

I just about wore the grooves off that album. Aja came out in September 1977, my freshman year of college. I know I drove people crazy in my dorm because I played it for months. I didn’t care. I still love every song on that album.

[brenovelasco]

Aja is my favorite album ever and I couldn’t relate more about the “thousand of tiny little decisions done well” - the same can be said about this video :) Thank you!

[rosesprog]

For a long time, starting when it came out it was my main Lp too, we were truly blessed to be alive in such a precious time. Love your lovely descriptions, thanks.