Aja (album)
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| Aja | ||
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| Album by Steely Dan | ||
| Released | September, 1977 | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 39 min 58 sec | |
| Record label | ABC | |
| Producer | Gary Katz | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| AMG | 4.5/5 | link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=An3rz284c05na) |
| Popmatters | 9.5/10 | link (http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/steelydan-aja-royal.shtml) |
| Q | 5/5 | October 2000 (http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.review.redirect&fixture_review=136628&resource=136628&fixture_artist=146772) |
| Steely Dan Chronology | ||
| The Royal Scam (1976) | Aja (1977) | Gaucho (1980) |
Aja is an album by the rock band Steely Dan. Originally released in 1977 (see 1977 in music), it became the group's best-selling album. Topping at #3 on the U.S. charts and #5 in the United Kingdom, it was the band's first platinum album. In July 1978, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording.
The album is considered to be the band's most ambitious and sophisticated, and the eight minute-long title track features complex jazz-based changes and a solo by renowned saxophonist Wayne Shorter.
Aja is also the title of a documentary about the making of the album.
| Contents |
Track listing
all songs by Becker and Fagen
- "Black Cow" - 5:10
- "Aja" - 8:00
- "Deacon Blues" - 7:36
- "Peg" - 4:00
- "Home at Last" - 5:35
- "I Got the News" - 5:07
- "Josie" - 4:30
Personnel
- Walter Becker - bass, guitar, electric guitar, vocals
- Donald Fagen - synthesizer, keyboards, vocals, background vocals, whistle
- Larry Carlton - guitar, electric guitar
- Pete Christlieb - flute, tenor saxophone
- Gary Coleman - percussion
- Denny Dias - guitar
- Victor Feldman - percussion, piano, keyboards, electric piano, vibraphone
- Venetta Field - vocals, background vocals
- Chuck Findley - horn, brass
- Steve Gadd - drums
- Jay Graydon - guitar, electric guitar
- Ed Greene - drums
- Paul Griffin - keyboards, electric piano, vocals, background vocals
- Don Grolnick - keyboards, clavinet
- Jim Horn - flute, saxophone
- Paul Humphrey - drums
- Richard Hyde - trombone
- Slyde Hyde - brass
- Plas Johnson - flute, saxophone
- Jackie Kelso - flute, horn, saxophone
- Jim Keltner - percussion, drums
- Steve Khan - guitar
- Clydie King - vocals, background vocals
- Rebecca Louis - vocals, background vocals
- Rick Marotta - drums
- Shirley Matthews - vocals, background vocals
- Lou McCreary - brass
- Michael McDonald - vocals, background vocals
- Michael Omartian - piano, keyboards
- Dean Parks - guitar
- Bill Perkins - flute, horn, saxophone
- Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - drums
- Chuck Rainey - bass
- Lee Ritenour - guitar
- Joe Sample - keyboards, electric piano, clavinet
- Timothy B. Schmit - bass, vocals
- Tom Scott - conductor, flute, tenor saxophone, lyricon
- Wayne Shorter - flute, tenor saxophone
Production
- Producer: Gary Katz
- Engineers: Roger Nichols, Elliot Scheiner, Al Schmitt, Bill Schnee
- Assistant engineers: Joe Bellamy, Lenise Bent, Ken Klinger, Ron Pangaliman, Ed Rack, Linda Tyler
- Mastering: Bernie Grundman
- Production coordination: Barbara Miller
- Sound consultant: Dinky Dawson
- Consultant: Daniel Levitin
- Horn arrangements: Tom Scott
- Art direction: Vartan Reissue
- Design: Geoff Westen
- Photography: Walter Becker
- Liner notes: Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
- Reissue coordination: Beth Stempel
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Pop Albums | 3 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | "Deacon Blues" | Pop Singles | 19 |
| 1978 | "Josie" | Pop Singles | 26 |
| 1978 | "Peg" | Pop Singles | 11 |
Awards
Grammy Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Aja | Best Engineered Recording, Non Classical |
External link
- Complete lyrics (http://steelydan.com/lyraja.html)