Steely Dan's Aja (Basic Track)

No Vocals, No Horns, No Hand Percussion, No Guitar Solo, No Synthesizers. Just the basics.

[@scottmoyer1357]

I delivered the drums to Gadd and Steely Dan for this session produced at the Producer's Workshop in Hollywood in 1977. It was a Red Sparkle Ludwig set with 2 toms and a floor tom and all clear skin black dot heads which did not get retuned. He used his own cymbals....a 21" Rock Ride and 16 and 17" crashes both with cracks in them for quick decay. I believe it was a Ludwig Super Sensitive 5 1/2 inch snare with tape on it.He used a Ludwig bass drum pedal...the old stand by from back in the day....a 15 dollar pedal.

[@nickmessick4292]

Fantastic info for Danheads like me. You are a piece of history! Thanks for sharing brother.

[@davidcomidi5516]

hi please let me understand is this the actual session with steve and the guys ??

[@nickmessick4292]

@@davidcomidi5516 Yes, actual session with the original cast! This is just one take from the session, however. The final master contains a mesh between a few takes, and likely a lot of punch-ins. Dan didn't mess around with their drum tracks

[@davidcomidi5516]

@@nickmessick4292 that is incredible, I'm surprised that they released such parts of the originl studio session like that .

[@nickmessick4292]

@@davidcomidi5516 My guess is F&B never intended for them to be released. This tape was likely salvaged from Producer's Workshop where they tracked this. An assistant engineer could have easily bounced it down and walked out with it.

[@80three57]

Everyone is killing it here but Larry Carlton is unbelievable, so clever

[@salchaos]

I must have listened to this song tens of thousands of times. When it came out in 1987 I drove my then girlfriend out of her mind. We were in a band together and I played it non-stop. Just mesmerizing.

[@natemorse937]

1977 bud!

[@petergrewe6923]

1977

[@kz1000ps]

Imagine the 1987 version with Yamaha DX7, LinnDrum and Fairlight all over the place. Maybe some Roland D-50 on there as well! LOL

[@karlplaysdrums]

Far as I know, SD never used a click. They sure didn't in this. Gadd was pushing and pulling all over the place, and it sounds great. Brings it to life.

[@kz1000ps]

Yup, the beginning of this sits around 116-118 bpm, but by the final drum solo going into the outro the tempo is 125 or faster. Imagine if it were done to a click, or run through Wendel...... ruh roh!

[@InflatablePlane]

Now find a version like this of Deacon Blues and Peg and I’ll die happy. EDIT: Also want to point out that those drums in this song are the most beautiful sounding drums I’ve ever heard in recorded music. The perfect tuning of the toms make me want to cry.

[@davidwatkins204]

Well, why don't you, cry, it's only tuning, it's the composition that really counts. Crybaby.

[@kai326]

@@davidwatkins204 okay asshole, calm down

[@michaelcaplin8969]

The fun thing about this is that none of the drums were even tuned for this session. They just set up the old red sparkle Ludwig in the studio straight from the drum rental storage. Of course, it was a rental set, so it would have been tuned periodically, but Steve nor Donald or Walter even touched the drums before sitting down to play.

[@mykalimba]

@@davidwatkins204 Well, why, don't, you, put unnecessary, commas, everywhere, in your, sentence. Your, lack of, a high, school diploma, is, showing.

[@jonlemo]

Gotta remember there were literally THOUSANDS OF EDITS on the SD finished Albums. Very cool to hear it as it was developing! Such a great melody line! Almost like a blend of world sounds! Best writers in our lifetime!

[@JonnyLipshamStudios]

There were actually very few edits on the Aja album, as Dean Parks explains in the Classic Albums episode that features Aja. The reason why Walter and Donald hired the best of the best of session musicians is because they could cut the highest of quality tracks in very few takes.They would rehearse for 3 hours before lunch and then cut the basic tracks for 4 or 5 songs in the afternoon and evening. Tape wears out with each pass through the play and record heads, and with each splice. To get a high quality master tape, the recordings had to be NAILED. no one ever thought "we'll just fix that in the mix", because you couldn't!! Mixing back then was more about level balancing, with the sound sculpted on the way in.

[@mykalimba]

Source for "...there were literally THOUSANDS OF EDITS...", please.

[@Sunkenballs12]

Hoss that just isn't accurate. There are not thousands of edits on Aja. You may be confusing this with two against nature, where Roger Nichols had to phone in to AVID (protools) because they had reached a previously unknown edit limit. The final cut of Aja is a combination of 2 takes edit together.

[@rajneeshorrog]

Thank you Walter!

[@greggtrew3145]

Geoffrey Lang makes a point about the drums at 3:21 and 4:26, but that was the only noticeable difference I could hear. So I pulled down an mp3 of this track with a converter and threw it into a DAW with the album version, lined up the start points and stretched the basic track to match up a clear synch point at the end (the start of the last drum solo). I panned one hard right and the other hard left. Everything synched perfectly until the beginning of the instrumental part, and then the basic track started creeping ahead. So I figured that was pretty good evidence of this being an unused take. But if you synch and adjust the instrumental section to maintain tempo, they line up perfectly -- as if they are the same take. Please listen for yourself at clyp.it/oy5ovdxg# They are identical, once the tempo is adjusted, down to the individual hits of the cymbal crescendo leading into the guitar solo. I slowed the playback speed to .25 and heard no variation. So what's up with those snare hits? Why does the tempo change without pitch variation? Does Steve Gadd just play everything exactly the same way on every take -- as if he's conceived every stroke of a massive drum concerto? I just started mucking around to solve a fun little mystery and now I have a box full of new mysteries.

[@JonnyLipshamStudios]

Steve did the Drum track in 2 takes. I read that the 1st drum duet with Wayne Shorter was from take 1, and the 2nd from take 2, and the ending drum solo was from take 1. And Steve was reading a chart written by Larry Carlton.

[@cgmahony]

@@JonnyLipshamStudios wow larry carlton would write a chart fro Gadd. Is a chart for a drummer the same as ac hord chart? excuse my ignorance What consumate pros?

[@officialrohinmusic]

How interesting. There are two possibilities to this: 1) They only re-recorded the parts at 3:21 and 4:26 because they felt the parts that Steve Gadd played there weren't right, while leaving the rest as is. Steely Dan were perfectionists, and this is one of many retakes that they have their players do, so this is highly plausible. That would explain how everything lines up so well. These guitar and piano tracks must be the ones on the final mix on the released record. 2) God actually exists and he has materialised himself into Steve Gadd, which allows him to play anything precisely the same as before, with exactly the same hand and foot motions and everything.

[@Howard_Wright]

They recorded two takes. This track is what's used on about 95% of the album version, but they spliced in a few short sections from take 2 - most obvious changes are the double-time drums.

[@cgmahony]

@@musopaul5407 Thanks very much Paul. I'm a guitarist and amateur arranger. Funny, I listen to all kinds of music but by coincidence tonight I was going through my old Cherry Lane Donald fagen The Nightfly music publication tonight; a book I haven't looked at for years. After all these years I still marvel at those chord harmonies. Thanks for answering my question.

[@colinclifford3727]

These are musical masterpieces, they don’t even need vocals. For a while the basic track to Deacon Blues was posted on here (since taken down), by far my favorite.

[@Gratussi]

3:37...adds "traffic cop whistle sound" inside head.

[@TacoCrisma]

When they do it live it makes me so happy. Perfectionists to the last.

[@windlebee9440]

Always wondered why they put that in there.

[@bobmiller2843]

Donald solos.

[@EnlightenedRogue24]

Certified Dan junkie here. Thank you for this upload! Finally, a genuine Steely Dan backtrack. Getting my sax out to sit in with my musical idols! Saw your video playlist with other rare Dan gems, subbed! ☝️🥴🎷🔊🎶🎵😎👍

[@80three57]

The rhythm guitar and piano are almost one entity, absolutely amazing

[@SuperTwangster]

Mr. Steve Gadd, mercy! sooo explosive, yet with dynamics galore!

[@justinquaylepate1358]

Aja is my favorite song in all the world. And now we an "Elevator music " version. Far out

[@juliocesarcordeiro4179]

This might sound strange...came across the album not so long ago...I always listen to this tune, every single day...I do have many Spotify playlists, but I cannot change my Steely Dan/Donald Fagen one...

[@bwolohan18]

Steve Gadd was so perfect for this song.

[@bwolohan18]

@@musopaul5407 . 😅Yeah and unusual that they only used him for one song in their whole catalogue. Probably because he was always booked out and in such high demand I would assume.

[@bwolohan18]

@@musopaul5407 . Oh I didn't know that. I'll have a listen. Gacho is their only album I never really listened to. (Just the hits B, sisters, hey 19)because they we're always included in greatest hits compilations y'know. I'm sure I'll recognise him when I have a listen. Cheers man. 👍

[@bwolohan18]

@@musopaul5407 . Cheers Man. Gonna give them a listen 👍

[@bwolohan18]

@@musopaul5407 . Thanks for that. Gaucho is the only one I never actually had. I only new the couple that were on greatest hits. I'll get into the album as I've always found a Steely Dan album that I didn't hear before and was hooked immediately. It's been years since that happened me but I'm sure it will with Gaucho! 👍

[@bwolohan18]

@@musopaul5407 . Will do man. Thanks for the suggestion. Most Dan stuff was immediate on me an not growers and I'd assume the same with yourself. As you said "quantised and sampled" and the first thing I thought of was that sample put over Rick Morotto's drum track in "Hey Nineteen". I suppose they were just flowing with the times but what really stood out in a more negative way is that the snare keeps playing on the 3 even when Rick plays the fill at the end of the bar. Very unusual for those guys but it was the early eighties (The decade of the overpowering, super wet, and load snare 😁) It sounds exactly what's it is. A sample layered on top of a human drum track. In saying that. I still love the song. Cheers. Keep well. Things have loosened up a bit here in Ireland but still distancing and all that's become the norm. 👍 PS so glad they didn't do it to Purdies shuffle in B'Sis. What a historic travesty that would be in music!

[@backjack4789]

CLEAN AND SUPERB!

[@elliottpower2931]

Just when I thought I heard it all... not quite yet. Thanks!

[@richeyrose121]

which parallel universe did you get this from?

[@Aerospacer77]

Perfect comment Lol

[@tiluriso]

Either from the original masters or a K7 copy of the actual rhythm tracks. This is probably what was given to say, Denny Dias to take home so that he could work on solo ideas.

[@juliocesarcordeiro4179]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJPRZJiMfNB_mZo&ab_channel=Pickle

[@timsuthern4580]

Speechless.

[@ivellbullock199]

It should have been nominated for a Grammy award for rock instrumental in 1977. I like this track.

[@TyStephens]

Gorgeous. It almost needs nothing else!

[@michealodwyer7306]

In one of Rick Beato's videos (titled "The Drum Solo that Changed Popular Music") he mentioned that the first session had Jim Keltner on drums, but Steve Gadd was brought in on the second day, while the others knew the track inside out.. Allegedly, Fagan asked for a second take because of the stick click, thinking it was a mistake, but Gadd played it again anyways. Larry Carlton's brother Steve said it was cut live in about twenty minutes.

[@philippegontier5510]

Thanks for sharing ! Steely Dan will be always my number one in music ...

[@lisajomcgee5851]

Thank you Warren for sharing. ♡♡♡

[@michaelspain6594]

This is a masterpiece, thanks for uploading this great piece of music.

[@sheen4dean71]

Wondrous bliss

[@glennmckenzie6799]

What a track

[@brianlee5455]

Chic Corea's Nite Sprite! Now I need to go listen to Gadd on that one too!

[@mattfoley6082]

You just made my day.

[@tiluriso]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SCUMCRODE]

Philly area has a tribute band called Countdown To Ecstasy, their version of this last month was easily the best cover I’ve ever seen. The cajones it takes to even attempt this song, much less nail it. Probably on my top 10 list of songs - all time by any band

[@ncbeach22]

Damn, this is incredible.

[@shawntoh]

6:57 - the genius of Steve Gadd!

[@lesconnus]

Exactly!

[@francoisbodin4086]

Thank You.

[@tonyroo11]

fuck man, listening to this gives me chills.....

[@robotron17]

4:58 is a rim hit, not a stick click. Pretty clear in this version.

[@Saltspicious]

There is a full Aja Outtake bootleg CD out there, but the guy who has it refuses to sell it or release it because of 'reasons' but I'm pretty sure this would be apart of it because Aja the song was done in 1 or 2 takes.

[@MrT9822]

I want the full has sessions... apparently Don and Walt tried a few other guitarist on Peg before settling on Jay...but I'd love to just gear everything hahaha

[@goldenostrichman]

@@MrT9822 there's a video on the making of Peg and they show two of the other guitar solos auditions.

[@MrT9822]

@@goldenostrichman that's worth checking out!! I have a bootleg maxwell cassette that's Steely Dan Demo's with some awesome demos of just Fagan and piano

[@leonidasrosales9315]

Thank you Warren sir ! Well done ! 👌 ,'nuff heard , plenty to subscribe to your channel and can't , well , I'll wait patiently for your next creation

[@scottmoyer1357]

Yes, it was the actual session for the recording of the song Aja.

[@sullysullster8217]

Class rock.

[@colie1873]

Whhhhat? Mind blown

[@rajneeshorrog]

What all of us "ordinary pros" aspired to!

[@sucamusucamu2916]

最終ミックスでは3:20と4:25からの3発のスネアが削られて3拍目に小さくミックスされていますね。In the final mix, the three snares from 3:20 and 4:25 have been removed and mixed small on the third beat.

[@switchmuso]

As a Steely Dan fanatic who knows this track in his DNA, the only part that is different from the final mix is at 3.20 and 4.25, where there is a heavy snare offbeat... they probably copied the first iteration over. Referring to Scott Moyer's extremely helpful post, I am amazed the drums had only 3 toms, the tuning is superb; the drop-off on the tom notes is beautiful, and you can hear where they pushed the tom level up to make them frontline instruments in the final mix..

[@niemand3774]

SUUUUPER!!

[@bwolohan18]

You can hear that this is before "Denny Diaz" showed up for the session.

[@andybaker9356]

7:27 grooves so hard

[@kz1000ps]

That kick, that snare syncopation, that ride bell HAMMERING out that gorgeous phrase..... one of the tastiest grooves ever recorded.

[@petebourne]

Wow.

[@bwolohan18]

Their engineer "Roger Nichols" doesn't get the credit he deserves. He recorded and mixed everything they did. Dan were so meticulous so it wouldn't have been easy for him.

[@Orbiter221]

I don't believe Nichols mastered this song.

[@bwolohan18]

@@Orbiter221 Maybe not. I just assumed so because he did the majority of their stuff👍🇮🇪

[@dadduorp]

I’d never noticed that little Chick Corea-ish riff on the piano before @4:23.

[@mrmogensen]

okay is this a really good cover or did they remove that snare hit at 3:22 in post production?

[@warrenweinberg2962]

Not a cover. This probably an alternate take.

[@oRuTRa45]

Great question. That stood out to me too.

[@geoffreydlang]

Nice track, but not the one used on the album. On AJA (and among other minor differences), there's no snare on beats '2' and '4' as there is here at 3:21 - and then on the repeat at 4:26. On the album, the snare is on beat '3' both times, and the drum pattern is generally played in half time around the eighth note pushes.

[@dougzander4959]

Geoffrey Lang wow. I THOUGHT something stood out there. Thanks for that!!!!...also, the bass drum there plays ON the beat the second time 4:21 thru.

[@Howard_Wright]

Yes, there are a few bars where the drums are different to the album cut, But apart from those sections, the rhythm track here is exactly what was used on the album track. They did a 2nd take, and spliced in those bars in the parts you identified.

[@EddieG1888]

@@Howard_Wright I'm in agreement with Howard, most of this take was definitely used in the final track. I'm listening mainly to Chuck Rainey's part (since I'm predominantly a bassist), and I highly doubt he could play the same part with all the exact nuances, phrasing and timing in two separate takes.

[@zamaurijones2725]

3:21 wish they kept this drum beat on the official track

[@WhatOnEarthIsThisThing]

Yeah wasn't expecting that groove, that was cool

[@RJPaul-px6vt]

Actually prefer this to the track on the album. Minority of one I guess.

[@trystrat]

i’m with you

[@RJPaul-px6vt]

@@trystrat Hi Ken, welcome to our desert island!

[@juliocesarcordeiro4179]

Both sound great!

[@juliocesarcordeiro4179]

Both as well

[@mrmogensen]

Just when you thought the finishing drum solo couldn't get any better

[@theonlydjtopcat]

I'm confused, I thought the multi masters of Aja and Black Cow went missing? Were safety copies found somewhere?

[@bwolohan18]

I'd say it would have been pretty easy for an assistant engineer hanging back to just stick a cassette in and take a stereo output straight out of the desk.

[@MrT9822]

So is this fan made? Or a remixed master? Or an actual released or bootlegged recording?

[@natemcdaniel2874]

So was the stick click planned or an accident ? Has the truth ever come out ?

[@Vektorer]

Perfection...click planned or not. The legend is that 2 takes were done. 2nd wasn't needed as the 1st was chosen for release. Oh, to hear the 2nd...

[@JonnyLipshamStudios]

Actually, Donald has stated that the drum track was a combination of both takes, although the solos are from take 1. What we hear here, I believe is take 1. It is a t variance with the release track. Gadd also stated that he hit the rim of a floor tom in error, but Donald and Walter liked it, so it got printed.

[@ronaldgenendlis6423]

Gad almighty!!!!!

[@tiluriso]

Perfect 'Aja' Karaoke track. For lead vocals and guitar solos.

[@ultracalicokittycat]

we have to fill in the other instruments with our minds :~))

[@rajneeshorrog]

Warren, where did you get this? It's so amazing? Did you play on this later?

[@jimflys2]

Well, whomever did this was quite good, but it is not the original track. Very close though. One part that hit me was the snare drum is not correct each time it comes up at 3:21 and following. Gadd is 1/2 time there. OnThis one it's regular back beat time at that same spot. Of course even if it really was done on the first take like they claim, they could have punched it as a 1/2 snare drum edit, but then how did this show up as an original file? Hmmm. Of course everything else is really great and very close. Kudos.

[@adamfurnish8481]

I was certain at the beginning that this was the final take before dubs, but hearing some of the key lines with the guitar and piano I started to notice it wasn’t the exact take, though they might’ve kept certain tracks since they were probably using a click

[@RonaldCharlesEpstein]

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have been able to assemble a musical machine whose components can work well without the entire unit.

[@bluesandmore786]

Sorry. But without the guitar and some of the keyboards and sax, t's really lacking a lot. Thumbs DOWN.

[@harrycharles5276]

which parallel universe did you get this from?