Aja (glass mastered at Sony DADC – DIDX-146302)

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

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Black 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)
3.355:10
2Aja
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)
38:00
3Deacon 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)
4.357:37
4Peg
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass guitar:
Chuck Rainey (American bassist)
clavinet:
Don Grolnick
drums (drum set):
Rick Marotta (US drummer/percussionist)
electric piano and Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Paul Griffin (American pianist, session musician)
guitar:
Steve Kahn and Steve Khan
Lyricon:
Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
percussion:
Gary Coleman (US percussionist) and Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
solo guitar:
Jay Graydon
background vocals:
Paul Griffin (American pianist, session musician) and Michael McDonald (R&B & soul singer)
lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
ABC Records, Inc (in 1977), MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, 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: 62)
recording of:
Peg
lyricist and composer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd., Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!), ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
4.24:00
5Home at Last
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass guitar:
Chuck Rainey (American bassist)
drums (drum set):
Bernard Purdie
guitar:
Larry Carlton
piano and vibraphone:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
solo guitar:
Walter Becker
synthesizer and lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
background vocals:
Donald Fagen and Tim Schmit
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
ABC Records, Inc (in 1977)
recording of:
Home at Last
lyricist and composer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd., ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
35:36
6I Got the News
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass guitar:
Chuck Rainey (American bassist)
drums (drum set):
Ed Greene (drummer)
guitar:
Larry Carlton and Dean Parks (American session guitarist)
percussion, piano and vibraphone:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
solo guitar:
Walter Becker and Larry Carlton
synthesizer and lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
background vocals:
Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Rebecca Louis (US 1970/80s vocalist, aka Becky Lopez), Sherlie Matthews (US vocalist) and Michael McDonald (R&B & soul singer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
ABC Records, Inc (in 1977)
recording of:
I Got the News
lyricist and composer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd., ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
35:07
7Josie
executive engineer:
Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
producer:
Gary Katz
bass guitar:
Chuck Rainey (American bassist)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Jim Keltner
guitar:
Larry Carlton and Dean Parks (American session guitarist)
Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
solo guitar:
Walter Becker
synthesizer and lead vocals:
Donald Fagen
background vocals:
Donald Fagen and Tim Schmit
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
ABC Records, Inc (in 1977), Geffen Records (in 1977) and MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1977)
recording of:
Josie
lyricist and composer:
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal‐MCA Music Publishing (US), ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)
3.54:31

Credits

Release

photography:Walter Becker
liner notes:Walter Becker
Donald Fagen
engineer:Roger Nichols (US mastering, recording engineer and producer)
Elliot Scheiner
Al Schmitt
Bill Schnee
producer:Gary Katz
horn arranger:Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
mastering:Bernie Grundman
bass, electric guitar and guitar:Walter Becker
keyboard, synthesizer and whistle:Donald Fagen
conductor:Tom Scott (saxophonist, Blues Brothers, LA Express, Starsky & Hutch)
vocals:Walter Becker
Donald Fagen
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/612784 [info]
ASIN:US: B00003002C [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]