Their Black Cow is a Must!

@ohfour-seven6228

7 ай бұрын

Amen!

@cindipossidento5688

7 ай бұрын

@@ohfour-seven6228 AMEN !!!!

@sorensmith9873

7 ай бұрын

yes...black cow, another song you will probably recognize from a more recent hip hop song that you didnt know was sampled from steely dan. such a great track

@MOS650

7 ай бұрын

@@sorensmith9873 Peter Gunz - Deja Vu.

@markallen2984

7 ай бұрын

As is Deacon Blues

The entire Aja album is gold. This has Michael McDonald singing backup vocals so it’s got a smooth jazzy harmony. One of my all-time favorites.

@cindipossidento5688

7 ай бұрын

That is my FAVORITE album !!!!!

@AM-dp8xu

7 ай бұрын

Bodhisattva is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. The guitar solo is fantastic!

@eviekelpie1

7 ай бұрын

​@@AM-dp8xumine too! I've just requested it

@loriparks8805

7 ай бұрын

One of the two favorite albums from Steely Dan in my opinion, they had two master albums the other one is the Gaucho album.

@humphreygruntwhistle3946

7 ай бұрын

Their entire CATALOG is gold. Musically and lyrically, their albums were so far advanced over their 70's peers that it almost seemed like they were from another time period. Even now, several decades later, the music still sounds amazing.

One of the best recorded and mixed albums in history.

Steely Dan is a cross fusion of Rock and Jazz. Nobody else like them. I love these guys. So many hits over the last 50 plus years.

@geminiguy2013

7 ай бұрын

SD was one of the reasons that I moved into today's Smooth Jazz genre. I still have their first 5 vinyl records.

@Sportsref13

7 ай бұрын

I was excited to see them with the Eagles, last month.. only to have them cancel due to some illnesses of members of the band, so had to settle for the Doobie Brothers who are amazing as well.. I had just never seen SD live and was looking forward to it

@anthonyware7452

4 ай бұрын

Seeing Steely Dan live is a must. I saw them a few years ago when The Doobie Brothers were opening for them. Great concert!!! Steely Dan cannot be placed in any one genre. They are a true fusion band mixing elements of jazz, R&B, soft rock, gospel and reggae. Donald and Walter were/ are true musical geniuses. Been on board with them since middle school when they released Rikku Don't Lose That Number and Do It Again!! With them coming out with The Royal Scam, Aja and Gaucho back to back to back is just sick!! Some of the best music to just ho down the rabbit hole with.

@josephtoney360

4 ай бұрын

Gino Vannelli is very similar to Steely Dan

@florap79

3 ай бұрын

❤I love them too❤

Steely Dan is pretty sophisticated, so it sometimes takes a few listens to really resonate with it. But once you lock in, it's some of the best music you'll ever hear. Of course, Jay and Amber are seasoned listeners at this point, so they get it.

@JamesCarson-tm8df

7 ай бұрын

Great group glad their back together touring always loved them

Not only is Michael McDonald on the backing vocals, he is harmonizing with himself. He was recorded in three parts. He's said it was one of the hardest things he ever did.

This is one of the best produced albums of all time. My all time favorite album. You can’t go wrong with.

@MitchClement-il6iq

7 ай бұрын

This our pink floyd wish u were here album... also a mention to howlin wolf London sessions! One the best blues albums ever.

It is Michael McDonald. They went through several guitar players until finally they used Jay Graydon to play the solo. He wasn’t sure if they actually used his takes or not but a few months later he was driving and the song came on the radio. It must have been a nice surprise. 🕊❤️🎼

@trobinson9342

7 ай бұрын

Jay Graydon is my favorite guitar player!

@USGrant-rr2by

7 ай бұрын

@@trobinson9342 What about Larry Carlton? He actually has done more of SD's most famous guitar solos. Kid Charlemagne, Don't take me alive ect.

@bryanfouts287

7 ай бұрын

@@USGrant-rr2byand don’t forget Skunk Baxter. So many great players all leaving their marks on different albums

@payleighsteele1540

7 ай бұрын

Larry is the man!

@brucetuter6234

7 ай бұрын

​@USGrant-rr2by that solo on Kid Charlemagne has often been held up as one of the great all-time guitar solos. Larry Carlton is a maestro.

Young People listening to real Music. I love it!

Peg (Aja) was my introduction to Steely Dan back in ‘79 in grade 9. Michael MacDonald’s vocals are highlighted. The title track, Aja, is a vibe, but it is a long song at 7:56 but so worth the listen. It’s smoky, jazzy and very loungy sounding. You should listen to it as well. Don’t let the length put you off. It’s nothing like any Dan you have reacted to previously. It’s cigar and whisky worthy.

@louisb5563

7 ай бұрын

Yes, I'm with you there in high school buddy, although I heard of them earlier.👍🏻😃

@jollyroger1009

7 ай бұрын

Peg was my intro too, although a bit later in.....2007!! Don't know how I survived that long not knowing about them.

@btgiv6009

7 ай бұрын

There's a really cool (short) video about the making of "Peg", including how difficult it was for Michael McDonald to sing his vocals the way Walter and Donald wanted them done: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZV9pKNvj5OtgcY.html

@dontworrybehappy8080

7 ай бұрын

Me too. Class of '82

@louisb5563

7 ай бұрын

@@dontworrybehappy8080 '83 here 👍🏻😎

Can't go wrong with Steely Dan. So many great tunes.

@MitchClement-il6iq

7 ай бұрын

With so many great musicians, these guys were perfectionists.

@colty7764

3 ай бұрын

Donald Fagen, Steeley Dan's cofounder solo hit.. check it out! 80s coolness.

Michael Mac did all the background vocals harmonizing with himself in three parts. He said the three parts were so close to each other in pitch that he had a hard time getting it down. Steely was interesting cause besides Becker and Fagen, the two leaders and main songwriters, they alternated different bands and band members throughout albums and songs. Rick, jazz, funk, R and B. They did it all👍👍🙏

@btgiv6009

7 ай бұрын

McDonald's comments are in this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qZV9pKNvj5OtgcY.html

Finally the classic! Gotta love those Michael McDonald backing vocals! Musicianship at its finest!! Gotta react to Donald Fagan's "Walk Between The Raindrops."

@KenRoerden

7 ай бұрын

Fantastic song form The Nightfly. Great album. Love the cover photo too.

"Hey Nineteen" Steely Dan We all love the lyrics: "The Cuervo Gold The fine Colombian Make tonight a wonderful thing"

@poweredbyjoymusic

7 ай бұрын

If you haven’t done so, check out the live version of this tune on Northeast Corridor. Blows me away!

Mr. Michael McDonald on backing vocals, dude must have been in so many recording studios at the time, it was like, "Hey, Michael is over in studio C, go ask him if he wants to do some backing vocals", he was always down with that, apparently, love some Steely Dan

@VicEclectica

7 ай бұрын

It's almost easier to ask what songs didn't have McDonald back up vocals. lol He was everywhere.

@jpmnewyork

7 ай бұрын

If you're not familiar with the classic Second City TV Michael McDonald sketch, you should be! kzread.info/dash/bejne/dH-rmMyThpPckco.htmlsi=f0k2qFjELcskdgfB

@robertshapiro-xu9di

7 ай бұрын

Google Michael McDonald was EVERYWHERE

@janef220

5 ай бұрын

There is An sctv comedy sketch on that!

@m.ericwatson968

5 ай бұрын

@@janef220 didn't know that, that's awesome, love to see that

Yeah I too was a kid of the 70’s….my cousin was a pilot and came to visit. My Meatloaf and Styx wasn’t enough, he left this album on my pillow when he left and opened me up to so much!❤

Your next Steely Dan song should definitely be the legendary “Aja”, a plethora of mesmerising jazz chord progressions, and ear candy of the finest sort.

Thank you to hip hop group DeLa Soul for using the intro as a sample: I know I love you better. That's how I discovered Steely Dan. Shows how rappers used to have a wide variety of sounds to find inspiration.

@proudmoon3

7 ай бұрын

They've sampled some of the best musical riffs ever, that's for sure!

@fantasyguru26

7 ай бұрын

De La put me onto Steely Dan as well. Prince Paul was a sampling genius. The entire Aja album is a masterpiece. Peg is such a fun track and should appeal to listeners of multiple genres.

@demariobrown3099

6 ай бұрын

The group, Joe Q. Public sampled that horn part on their song "Live & Learn"

@fantasyguru26

6 ай бұрын

@@demariobrown3099 Indeed. A great sample usage. I bumped that tune a lot back in 92/93

The bass in this song is amazing!

@louisb5563

7 ай бұрын

👨🏻‍🦱As a bass player, I agree with BOTH comments!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

@user-fd2rb9jf3t

7 ай бұрын

Chuck Rainey. Fellow Clevelander.

@theodoreritola7641

5 ай бұрын

Try Philadelpha freedom Elton John from 1975 The Bass kicks Hard anther 70s Bomb

Jay & Amber, you'll absolutely LOVE their "Aja", "Deacon Blues" and "Josie"!!!!! That's Michael McDonald with backing vocals!

@markclaypool5414

7 ай бұрын

Actually, Michael’s first album with DB’s came out the year before this.

@shyman99

7 ай бұрын

Thumbs down on comment because "Aja" and "Deacon Blues" would be too long and monotonous for Jay & Amber to listen to. But yes on "Josie".

@michaeldransfield8775

5 ай бұрын

I heard an interview with McDonald - he said that these backing vocals were some of the toughest work he's ever done - Becker and Fagen wanted him to sing specific notes on two or three different vocal tracks to make up a chord, and he had to do it over and over to get it just right for them.

@colty7764

3 ай бұрын

Steely Dan "Hey Nineteen".. I think it was early 80s. Very cool

Steely Dan's music is not Rock. It's Rock Jazz fusion. Easily one of my favorite bands of all time.

the whole album AJA is a masterpiece and a must listen

I love Steely Dan!

"Bodhisattva" (pronounced Bo-dee-sot-vaa) is definitely a different SD vibe and is a great song.

@stanleydrew6704

7 ай бұрын

Excellent choice!

@embraceyourweirdness70

6 ай бұрын

My favorite by far!

Iconic, incredible Steely Dan music: Can't name their genre, cause their music are multiple genre's! Appeal to anybody's taste! "Aja, Deacon blues, Ricky, don't lose that number" Are other Steely Dan songs to definitely check out!

The man himself, Michael McDonald on backup vocals! Deacon Blues is another great song off this impeccable record.

@blackblake3658

7 ай бұрын

My favorite.

@BoltManiac

7 ай бұрын

Deacon Blues technically might be their best ever.

@rebeccawolf4961

7 ай бұрын

Love Deacon Blues….the best!

Steely Dan never disappoints, they have their own sound, just great to listen too. 😎🍺

Some of their other great songs are “Deacon Blues, FM, Hey Nineteen, and Josie.” Donald Fagen also did another great song called “I.G.Y. you should check out!

@audreycumby1075

5 ай бұрын

Indeed

I am and always been a STEELY DAN fanatic. The background vocals were performed by none other than Michael McDonald from Doobie Brothers. He has such a wonderful, unique voice. There is an amazing documentary on KZread on them recording this entire Aja album where Peg is featured. Great job.

@brettcurtis5710

7 ай бұрын

Jeff Skunk Baxter was also in early Dan LPs along with joining the Doobies!

@taneshah.1260

7 ай бұрын

I saw this, it was SO good!

My Okie Babies! I'm so proud of you both. Peg is an old favorite! Steely Dan so distinct and sophisticated!

Other than the whole Aja album, "Don't take me alive" has always been on of my favorite Steely Dan songs.

@ForbiddTV

7 ай бұрын

Aja, also known as The Best of Steely Dan.

@dennisdye7270

7 ай бұрын

Love the intro to that one and it leads with the solo.

@markchapel6694

7 ай бұрын

"Don't Take Me Alive" was their homage to the Eagles.

@markcornish2519

Ай бұрын

The whole royal scam album too!!

I came of age in the ‘70’s. Nuf sed. The “Dan” was played at every party. Accompanied by a number of at that time illegal substances…

@tylerhackner9731

7 ай бұрын

You’re lucky!

@trudieristich795

7 ай бұрын

Yeah, I was tripping on acid.

@markcornish2519

7 ай бұрын

I was high on life!

@aleatharhea

7 ай бұрын

Likewise

@bbrevner

7 ай бұрын

Nice! Graduated high school in 1978. Love this channel.

Steely Dan is such unique band. "Don't Take Me Alive " is a must. Just a killer guitar intro by the great Larry Carlton, and as others have stated "Deacon Blues", Aja,

One of the few bands where if you ask their fans what their best album is , you will get get at least 5 different answers !

Total NY vibe. That guitar solo is a masterpiece. There's much debate about the meaning of this song. "It's your favorite foreign movie...."

This is the legendary song where Donald Fagen and Walter Becker went through half-a-dozen to a dozen (I can't remember how many) lead guitarists who submitted solos for the break in the middle. Becker may even have been one, but the honors finally went to Jay Graydon, whose work you may want to check out. Vintage West Coast rocker. There's a spot where McDonald is singing a harmony part that's a half tone separate from the lead. That's a really really hard thing to do because when you're that close you tend to want to double the lead instead. That entire Aja album is loaded with top notch performances by some of the greatest session and jazz musicians of the time. I'd recommend "Deacon Blues" next.

@TruthIsNotTemporary

7 ай бұрын

Jon Harrington also kicks ass on several Steely Dan tracks

@rrailguitar2211

7 ай бұрын

Yeah I've seen him at two SD shows, man that guy is terrific! @@TruthIsNotTemporary

@markkenific6587

7 ай бұрын

@@TruthIsNotTemporaryJon Herington didn’t record with them until late 1999. He wasn’t on any of their hit albums in the 70’s and 80’s. He has been their musical director now for years and is a killer guitar player.

@TruthIsNotTemporary

7 ай бұрын

@@markkenific6587 You are correct, I should have said tours and gigs instead of tracks 👍

Steely is so well produced...top notch studio work! Flawless.

I was introduced to this song through my dad. He had Steely Dan's "Aja" album back in the 1970s. "Peg" was one of the singles from that album, along with the songs, "Deacon Blues" and "Josie," which are great songs that you should hear sometime. And yes, that is indeed Michael McDonald on the backing vocals on "Peg." It's one of the reasons why I love this particular track. Michael McDonald is one of my all-time favorite singers. Before Mike joined the Doobie Brothers, he played with Steely Dan as a member of their touring band. I would say Steely Dan's style was more of a fusion of jazz and rock.

There’s a documentary on the tube about the recording of this song. They were perfectionists.

Gotta say it again...soo smooth. One of the best bands of the 70's.

@simplecarnivore

7 ай бұрын

Best of all time.

The musicianship of their songs is second to none. Jazz-Rock? That's how I always classified them.

Peg in my all time Top 25..Steely Dan never misses

Steely Dan is their own genre. You won’t find a bad song in their catalog 🎄✌️

Absolutely love Steely Dan! Not a bad song on this album. I love the integration of jazz to the style, and horns to that killer guitar.

Full envelope of music from this amazing group... Jazz, blues, with a touch rock and soul, what more could as for.. they are the total package of sound of good vibes.

@blackblake3658

7 ай бұрын

I'm laughing that they can't recognize jazz, the music that originated here. Jazz is our classical music. They need to listen to more jazz.

7 ай бұрын

@@blackblake3658 They are learning as they listen to all sounds, but I do love their non scripted reactions to what they do hear... this couple is cool and fun.

@blackblake3658

7 ай бұрын

@ Yes. But they have said they don't do instrumentals and that excludes lots of great jazz.

@blackblake3658

7 ай бұрын

@ I like that they aren't scripted but I do think they have fallen prey to Patreon cash. I've been watching them for nearly two years and you can see the bend toward obscure UK stuff after they opened the Patreon account.

7 ай бұрын

@@blackblake3658 They need to be exposed to that and they will be blown away in their own time... it will come to pass, recommend some stuff to them, they will come around.

Steely Dan's sound is a mix of jazz and rock.

If you wanna see how brilliant Michael McDonald is find the making of ‘Aja’ and specifically “Peg” and learn about his background track on this song. Remarkable when they isolate his vocals!

ROB SQUAD JORDAN I KNOW YOU GOT TO APPRECIATE THE BASS LINE IN THIS SONG MY MAN!!! EXCELLENT GROOVE!!!❤

Peg ! The incredible talent of Walter Becker, Donald Fagen and Jeff Porcaro, why not throw Michael McDonald ( Doobie Brothers ) singing backing vocals as well ! My Old School, Haitian Divorce..the list goes on and on ..and on...thank you to you both for what you do and how you do it . and a big hello from us here in New Zealand .

@batnall66

7 ай бұрын

Rick Marotta played drums on this song.

@PjRjHj

7 ай бұрын

Chuck Rainey on Bass, slapping the chorus (on flatwound strings) after specifically being told not to do slap

@randomtruths3400

7 ай бұрын

Oddly, Walter Becker didn't actually play on this recording.

@williammcgechie4504

7 ай бұрын

@@batnall66 thank you for this, I didn't know that he had !

@williammcgechie4504

7 ай бұрын

@@PjRjHj thank you, I did not know it was the great Chuck Rainey slapping away, it just keeps getting better lol.

One of the best bass lines ever recorded.

I remember in the seventies when you went to the music store to test the various pre amps, amps, speakers and turntables the representative would always put Steely Dan on the turntable because of their sound quality.

The fabulous Chuck Rainey on bass.

Loved me a lady named Peg back in the day. Always give her a loving thought when this tune comes on. Thanks. It wasn't a foreign movie she loved, it was "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Now there's a movie to react to. Thank you.

Growing up, the word was that if you ever wanted to test the sound of a good stereo system, play Steely Dan.

If you don't groove to this, you need to check your pulse! Steely Dan is FIRE!

One of my all time favs and in my opinion one of the best albums ever made. Everytime I listen to it I'm just amazed how perfect it is

Always the best drumming. Next: Hey Nineteen!

Chuck Rainey on bass. He's the man!! He was one of their favorite bassists, having been on manyvof their records.

I love the saying that "Steely Dan is your favorite band's favorite band." Masters of detail, musicianship, arrangement, production. That drum groove is one of my favorites.

I like Amber's comments about the song. She give a great description of Steely Dan's sound.

The bass work is just insane.

From Wikipedia: "Michael McDonald provides multi-tracked backup vocals in the choruses,"

@parsrus

2 ай бұрын

Yup Michael McDonald singing backup vocals with Michael Mcdonald and Michael Mcdonald….three of the best best voices of all time harmonizing together 🙂

EVERY song on Aja is a MASTERPIECE! Deacon Blues, Black Cow, Aja, Joise, Home at Last, I've Got the News -- Must listen from start to finish

The world's greatest band to many fellow musicians. A fantastic worm hole to travel down 🤘

Just love when youngins finally hear our music....

Chuck Rainey's bass is next level. He plays it straight but slaps in the chorus. I'm pretty sure he used flat wound strings, but each note is crystal clear and rhythmic.

OMG! This was a Radio Staple in my Freshman year of Highschool! You could plan on hearing this at least 3, to 4 Times a day on the Radio.

Time out of mind is a good Dan song.

I love the whole Aja album

Steely Dan is one of the most soulful funky rock bands of all time

A junior in college in ‘77 when the album AJA was released on vinyl. I would drop the needle on the Onkyo turntable, don a set of Sennheiser headphones, stretch out on the couch and just listen in wonder to the magic of Steely Dan.

There is not a SINGLE bad Steely Dan song!

That's the magnificent Jay Graydon on guitar. Great choice.

Can't get enough of one of the greatest bands ever

I was just listening to this/my Steely Dan playlist at the gym this very morning. KZread always knows! This song is just so smooth and so catchy, I can't get enough of it. Steely Dan is fantastic.

I'll recommend both HOME AT LAST or I GOT THE NEWS by Steely Dan from the same album. Great reaction, BJ & Amber 👍

@cindipossidento5688

7 ай бұрын

HOME AT LAST is PERFECTION !!!!!

I remember when Circuit Citys still existed, they would use Peg as a speaker demo song. Excellent choice in my opinion because of the dynamics of the track.

@aronjohnson2388

7 ай бұрын

Have to correct myself. It was "Josie", not "Peg" :O

This song is just massively iconic! Growing up in the 70's, in the mid-west, whether it was jazz, rock, or R&B radio it was hard not to hear this song A LOT!

Very hard to find a Steely Dan song that goes wrong. They are just so cool.

Great song by them! Now "FM", "Deacon Blues", or "Josie" please!

Don’t Take Me Alive great Steely Dan song. Phenomenal guitar work. This song has the great Bernard Purdie on drums. This beat because known as the Purdie Shuffle

@timmiller5913

7 күн бұрын

Rick Marotta plays drums on "Don't Take Me Alive"

STEELY DAN: Amazing.

"Hey 19" is a great Steely Dan song to check out.

Probably their most recognizable song.

@phillipmckinnon6883

7 ай бұрын

Yup! Also black cow because of the baseline

My personal favorite is “Home at Last.” But the whole album is of course a masterpiece.

Michael McDonald on backing vocals. This is the song is awesome. You’ll hear the bits hip hop artists sampled . The Dan are alt rock , jazz, electric.

@blackblake3658

7 ай бұрын

They don't recognize jazz because they don't listen to it enough. We get more Eurovision on this channel than jazz. I request it but it seems pointless. No reactions to Sarah Vaughan. Sigh.

The best Steely Dan song, ever. With a touch of Michael McDonald magic! 🌟

I love Steely Dan. This is my favorite song from them. Aja is a phenomenal album. Michael McDonald is on background vocals.

Steely Dan. Best music ever made.

This is in my top 10 favorite songs -- instant mood lifter!

The late 70’s to the early 80’s, what time for music , the best singers and songwriters ,and the best musicians coming together in the studios and live stages to make magic, and Steely Dan was all of that! So rocking yet so jazzy!

You guys do a great job at this! Your style and skill is developing to a higher level.

This amazing song has so much SOUL to it. It’s really a great, almost iconic song from the 70s. Love it! ❤

The BASS in this song is outstanding!! Thank you!!

Black Cow is a great song. Definitely one of my favorites by Steely Dan

My all-time favorite SD song!! Another example of a song that will alter you if you hear it while you're driving! Thanks!!👍🏾

I was supposed to see Steely Dan last month with The Eagles but Donald Fagan is still recovering from illness. Instead, I saw The Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald. Fantastic concert. Hope to see SD in the future.

Back in the day, this was the first Steely Dan song I ever heard. I absolutely love it and love the band! Thank you!

This song is tied with "My Old School" for my favorite Steely Dan song. Good memories attached to this song as well.

My all-time favorite go-to feel good song! ☺