Aja Poll

John Justen and Fluffy Bear Will Drink Your Big Black Cow and Get Out Of Here

Four recipes here, incl. a Green Cow. One of these surely will screen out the sorrow, but where are you tomorrow?

in the corner of my eye, i saw you in
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1267/769783020_c6606269c7.jpg?v=0
you were very high.

Is it too late to change the title of this thread to "Take your big black POLL and get out of here"?

LEARN TO WERK THE SAXUHPHONE

this may be the first time i've ever agreed with geir. the last half is sex.

of 'aja'

the song

I'm at the point of disliking this album, but I vote "Deacon Blues." Other than "Peg," the rest is stuff they perfected on Gaucho

We need a Gaucho poll. Geir, start one!

This is my least favorite Steely Dan album, but it's still not bad. "Peg" and "Deacon Blues" are my favorite tracks.

(I guess Alfred and I see eye to eye on this one.)

I'm at the point of disliking this album, but I vote "Deacon Blues." Other than "Peg," the rest is stuff they perfected on Gaucho

-- Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:48 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

I don't hear much of anything on Gaucho that resembles "Black Cow" or "Home At Last" or "Aja," especially not anything better.

I think they took off a bit too much of the disco from Royal Scam to Aja, but they brought some of it back on Gaucho.

It's been said many times on the Gaucho thread, but I'll repeat: they wrote masterfully about ennui, dessication, and despair on Gaucho. I'm not sure what "Black Cow" and "Home At Last" are about beyond their instrumental virtuosity. I mean, they're pretty, I don't skip the tracks, but so what?

Good, I will listen to this today. I have to vote for "Peg," but it's sad that I can't also vote for "Deacon Blues." (Nothing like a Steely Dan poll to bring everyone out of the woodwork.)

Sorry, didn't realize you evaluate songs as if they're text and not music.

black cow seems like it's about a splintering relationship or friendship, i haven't figured it yet.

Sorry, didn't realize you evaluate songs as if they're text and not music.

I didn't realize you wouldn't read my post correctly.

I think he read it perfectly fine...? I mean, why do the songs have to be "about" anything unless you're someone who privileges lyrics?

Songs can't say what they mean through music? My post said nothing about lyrics.

So the chord changes and solos on Aja don't communicate ennui, dessication, and despair as well as they do on Gaucho. Gotcha.

1977 was an off year for the mu major chord.

they wrote masterfully about ennui, dessication, and despair on Gaucho. I'm not sure what "Black Cow" and "Home At Last" are about beyond their instrumental virtuosity. I mean, they're pretty, I don't skip the tracks, but so what?

How about buying a collection of good poems instead then?

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I like Geir when he's saucy.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

drink scotch whiskey all night long

So when's the "Pretzel Logic" one? (my favourite by them besides "Aja")

I'm pleasantly shocked by the landslide for Deacon Blues. Well done, ILM.

Also, Steely Dan totally rocked the Beacon yesterday, great show.

Surprised that "I Got the News" and "Josie" did so poorly. Those would be my 3rd and 4th picks.

Hey- I was at that Beacon show too. Good show - would have liked to hear a few more pre-Royal Scam tunes, but good stuff.

I saw the tuesday night show at the beacon... I wish becker didn't sing on gaucho or do that narrative bit on hey nineteen. both were a little embarrassing. maybe fagen felt he had to throw him a bone since they played one of his solo tracks?

anyway, great show otherwise! and they played more gaucho material than aja, if memory serves. so the dan like gaucho better too!

Beacon Duels

According to my faulty memory this is what they played off each album on Saturday:

Can't Buy: nada
Countdown: Showbiz Kids
Pretzel: Parker's Band
Katy Lied: nada
Royal Scam: Kid Charlemagne, Don't Take Me Alive, The Fez (instrumental bit only), Green Earrings, Royal Scam
Aja: Peg, I Got the News, Josie
Gaucho: Babylon Sisters, Hey Nineteen, Glamour Profession, Gaucho

And they also played "New Frontier" off of Fagen's Nightfly and "Two Against Nature".

how was "Glamor Profession"?

Sounded great. The band was in fine form.

Oh, I forgot they played one non-album track: "FM".

"home at last" way underrated

I'm somewhat surprised at the lack of love "I Got the News" got. Personally I'd take it over "Aja" or "Home at Last."

LOVE "Home At Last"

I was just singing along to Deacon Blues on my way back from the supermarket. It would be my ideal karaoke song if it didn't have such a long sax solo.

I think I missed voting on this poll, probably would have chosen the title track for that sweet Steve Gadd beat during the fade-out.

Alfred if we ever have a few hours to kill together I will explain to you why this is a better album than Gaucho and you will agree by the time I get done.

Deal. As long as we meet in a bar much like the one where The Gaucho hangs out.

Anyone besides me old enough to remember this commercial?

no but I am going to sample "welcome to the land... of Steely Dan" and edit it into the beginning of every single song of theirs

splendid find.

I looked for it a few months ago but didn't find it until last night. I know that by the time of Gaucho ABC Records no longer even existed. But those were the boom years, and I can recall several high-profile LPs getting television advertising.

(First time I'd heard of Steely Dan, incidentally, altho I was familiar with "Do It Again" and "Reelin'" and "Rikki".)

I just realized what that announcer's voice sounds exactly like: Asian Correspondent Tricia Takanawa from Family Guy!

https://youtu.be/Ghp88V3Qm8w

Jay Graydon breaks down his solo on Peg

nice clip, thanks for sharing. love watching virtuoso guitar dudes talk with a guitar in their hands, it's like half words half licks.

The solo is great but holy shit when he toys around playing the rhythm around 5m55s is a fucking revelation... how he makes those stacked gospel chords sounds so effortless in standard barre chording... shows you how amazingly talented he is.

I'm also amazed that he can remember his exact setup including the levels on his amp, it was only 40 years ago

https://youtu.be/DP_2r9zbaIY

^ Newly uploaded clip of Donald playing the Peg chords !

I’ve been going pretty Peg crazy lately

"newly uploaded" my ass, lol

Me drinking scotch whiskey all night long: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!!

Me dying behind the wheel: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.

— ｂｏｓｓ (@bosscrood) July 17, 2022

Anyone heard the 45 rpm version?

You’ve always been able to play it at 45 if you wanted. They have played us for absolute fools.

The Michael McDonald backing vocals on “I Got the News” are the best and worst thing on the album.

not really backing vocals, are they? he only turns up during the bridge and sings lead on a couple of lines

I've never really warmed up to I Got the News

On the doc it’s the only song not discussed at gets played during the end credits lol

I’ll admit the first 30 seconds are underwhelming but when McD comes in all is forgiven

victor feldman does his thing on that song

What’s “Spanish kissing”anyway

Not sure but it glistens.

Yuck.

It's the "Green Earrings" of this record, just a chance to give the musicians an opportunity to show off.

Green Earrings is much better

broadway duchess you monsters

why they always gotta give McD the weirdest lines to sing in his weird voice

This is the Dan album I never feel like listening to but it's still fine

brimstead otm what is this madness. I Got the News is incredible

BLAAAAAAAAAAH - tss-pa-tss-oom-pa-tss-oom-papa - BLAAH BLAAH - tss-pa-tss-oom-pa-tss-oom-pa papatapa

Steve Gadd karaoke

*ed greene karaoke.

fun fact, each track on aja has a different drummer

Doesn't Purdie play on both "Deacon Blues" and "Home at Last"?

you’re right, six drummers for seven songs

not really backing vocals, are they? he only turns up during the bridge and sings lead on a couple of lines

The Michael McDonald backing vocals on “I Got the News” are the best and worst thing on the album.

ha i did listen to the song a couple times to see if i could catch any stray mcdonald harmonies during the verses

you'll never hear the lyricon solo the same way again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK8uFVc0AkU

can't stop watching this

They really employed every last session musician they could find for this album.

lmao