Set Lists

1977

Aja review

Steely Dan's Aja is Steely Dan most polished and consistent album. Most Steely Dan albums have lots of very good songs and a few classics. However, on this album each song is outstanding, and it is only a matter of the degree of excellence. Aja's  compositions are the most complex they have written, just listen to the rhythmic pattern in the solo of the title track. 

Arguably, Aja is Steely Dan's best album.  Since, I tend to favor their rock tendencies over jazz, but consider this their best says a lot. I am not the only one as  Aja is Steely Dan's first platinum album. It reached #3 on the album charts, trailing only Fleetwood Mac's  /  Rumors and Billy Joel's  / The Stranger. Miraculously, Aja included three chart toppers with "Peg" at  11, "Deacon Blues" at 19 and "Josie" at 26. 

The guitar solos on Aja are quite impressive. Though, they do not have the ripping, searing tone of the early days; instead they have a cleaner sound. The background vocal accompaniments are perhaps the best they've done. Michael McDonald is back to help out on "Peg," and "I Got the News," and they brought in some great female vocalists to add their charm throughout the disc.

Aja is jazz rock at its finest and Steely Dan's best album. by Barry Small ©
Grade  A +

Guitarist Larry Carlton solo album On Solid Ground includes an instrumental version of "Josie."

1. Black Cow (Becker / Fagen) - 5:10
2. Aja (Becker / Fagen) - 8:00
3. Deacon Blues (Becker / Fagen) - 7:36
4. Peg (Becker / Fagen) - 4:00
5. Home at Last (Becker / Fagen) - 5:35
6. I Got the News (Becker / Fagen) - 5:07
7. Josie (Becker / Fagen) - 4:30

Donald Fagen - Keyboards, Vocals 
Walter Becker - Bass, Guitar, Vocals 

Supporting Cast