Aja (remastered on 200g clear vinyl for 45 rpm)

~ Release by Steely Dan (see all versions of this release, 46 available)

Annotation

Recorded at: Village Recorders, West L.A., Producer's Workshop, Hollywood, Warner Bros. North Hollywood, Recording Studios, ABC Recording Studios, Sound Labs, Hollywood, & A&R Studios, N.Y.C.
UHQR by Analogue Productions Series.
Limited edition of 30,000 numbered copies.

Annotation last modified on 2024-03-20 18:51 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼12" Vinyl
#TitleRatingLength
A1Black Cow
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass guitar:
Chuck Rainey (American bassist)
clavinet:
Joe Sample
drums (drum set):
Paul Humphrey (jazz, r&b drummer)
guitar:
Larry Carlton
Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
synthesizer and lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
tenor saxophone:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
background vocals:
Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Rebecca Louis (US 1970/80s vocalist, aka Becky Lopez) and Sherlie Matthews (US vocalist)
conductor:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch) (horn)
horn arranger:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
ABC Records, Inc (in 1977) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1977)
recording of:
Black Cow
writer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group), Music Corporation of America, Inc. (BMI‐affiliated music publisher of MCA Records, Inc.?), Universal‐MCA Music Publishing (US), ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
3.355:07
A2Aja
recording engineer:
Bill Schnee
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass guitar:
Chuck Rainey (American bassist)
drums (drum set):
Steve Gadd (drummer)
guitar:
Walter Becker, Larry Carlton and Denny Dias
percussion:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
piano:
Michael Omartian
Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Joe Sample
synthesizer, whistle [police whistle] and lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
tenor saxophone:
Wayne Shorter (US jazz saxophonist and composer)
background vocals:
Donald Fagen and Tim Schmit
conductor:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch) (horn)
horn arranger:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1977)
recorded at:
Producer’s Workshop in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Aja
lyricist and composer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (, in 1977), MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
37:56
BDeacon Blues
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass:
Walter Becker
drums (drum set):
Bernard Purdie
electric piano and Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
guitar:
Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour
synthesizer and lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
tenor saxophone:
Pete Christlieb
background vocals:
Venetta Fields, Clydie King and Sherlie Matthews (US vocalist)
conductor:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch) (horn)
horn arranger:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
ABC Records, Inc (in 1977) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1977)
part of:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1978 (number: 100) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 214)
recording of:
Deacon Blues
lyricist and composer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd., Music Corporation of America, Inc. (BMI‐affiliated music publisher of MCA Records, Inc.?), Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!), ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
4.357:26
2▶12" Vinyl

Credits

Release

liner notes:Donald Fagen
Michael Phalen
assistant engineer:Joe Bellamy
Lenise Bent
Ken Klinger
Ed Rack
Linda Tyler (engineer)
engineer:Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
Ron Pangaliman
Elliot Scheiner
Al Schmitt
Bill Schnee
mastering:Bernie Grundman
additional design:James Wolf
manufactured by:Universal Music Enterprises (not for release label use; catalog/reissue division of UMG Recordings, Inc.)
copyrighted (©) by:UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 2023)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1977)
recorded at:A&R Studios (second location, 799 7th Avenue) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
ABC Recording Studios (recording studio associated with ABC Records, active circa 1970s) in Los Angeles, California, United States
Producer’s Workshop in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Sound Labs, Inc. in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
The Village Recorders (Village Studios, aka The Village Recorder) in Los Angeles, California, United States
Warner Bros. Recording Studios (North Hollywood, a/k/a Amigo Studios) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
mastered at:A&M Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
pressed at:Quality Record Pressings in Salina, Kansas, United States (in 2023-08)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/28749262 [info]

Release group

associated singles/EPs:Deacon Blues
Josie
Peg / I Got the News
covers:Aja by The Darcys
included in:Aja / The Nightfly by Steely Dan (group founded by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) / Donald Fagen
Can’t Buy a Thrill / Aja
Citizen Steely Dan: 1972–1980
part of:Rolling Stone: Yacht Rock: Album Guide (order: 3)
33⅓ (number: 46) (order: 47)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 63) (order: 63)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 63) (order: 63)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 73) (order: 73)
Grammy Award: Album of the Year nominees (number: 1978) (order: 78)
Billboard 200 Decade-End Chart 1970s (number: 88) (order: 88)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 145) (order: 145)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 145) (order: 145)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005 edition) (number: 377) (order: 378)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/16921 [info]
lyrics page:https://genius.com/albums/Steely-dan/Aja [info]
reviews:https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cq9p [info]
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/steely-dan/aja/ [info]
https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/steely-dan/aja [info]
https://www.musik-sammler.de/album/steely-dan-aja-71122/ [info]
https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=19400 [info]
https://www.spirit-of-rock.com/en/album/Aja/20437 [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000191964 [info]
Wikidata:Q411814 [info]