First time reaction To Steely Dan Asia

[@beachliving3127]

In the Summer of 1978, I listened to the entire album every night. I would the put cassette in the stereo, push play, turn the volume down real low, and hop into the bed. I still have the album and cassette.

[@James-or2lt]

truly from the Divine. A masterpiece indeed.

[@outtherebeyond]

I was 14 in 1977 and I was hooked. This album saw me through high school, college, and beyond. Your comment about what it must be like now for people who grew up with this music has a lot of truth to it. When people my age complain about today's music, we get the "OK Pops" response. We are written off because we are older. You are finding out now why our standards are so high. Since this music came before all the tech that is now used to make records, it was musicianship, artistry, and creativity that needed to be executed at the highest level possible. Becker and Fagen understood this and hired the best ringers they could find, musicians and engineers, to make their vision come alive. That's why it sounds so great. Enjoy, man. The more you listen to this album, the more you'll hear in it. It's the gift that keeps on giving almost 50 years later.

[@davidhalley9795]

I couldn’t have said it any better. I was 13 in 1977 and was hooked as well. At that time the musicianship was outstanding in all genres I believe. I do have praise today’s technology which has brought younger listeners to appreciate the artistry before their time. I certainly wouldn’t be writing this.

[@johnellis3550]

An impeccable album just one in a million that will resonate forever in eternity.

[@gilbertogonzalez9956]

SD is one of the best band of the 70s and iam glad I grou up on that Era .

[@2zxodcfm]

T, I recognize a blown mind when I see one. Welcome to the club.

[@RW-ob4en]

Fun to sit back and watch reactor’s vids for this tune/band…😊

[@debrabeck9630]

Came back to listen to this again to hear the magnificent Wayne Shorter, who died March 2, 2023. That saxophone solo is killer. Rest in piece, sir.

[@stevemartin4249]

For those not familiar with Wayne's work outside of America , do a KZbin search for his collaborations with Milton Nascimento. Great stuff.

[@alansmith7626]

just remember, was 1977 man...and is timeless

[@denbones1234]

Love your take on this song!👍..I’m 72 ,& have loved the Dan from the start almost ,but it’s so refreshing to hear a younger guys appreciation .

[@cindipossidento5688]

The absolutely best album from The Dan !!!!! Flawless, my favorite album to date. 2023 !!!!

[@TheCornishCockney]

I looked up the word ’perfection’in the Oxford English dictionary and there were simply two words. Steely and Dan.

[@adamkelm1043]

Wayne Shorter/Steve Gadd is just simply another level in this song......

[@davidcombs9712]

I've listened to a number of different reaction videos. I would like to thank you for playing the entire song with little or nor interruption. I'm so glad that your generation is hearing music that I grew up with. I'm 72, and enjoy some music of today, but so much is taken or stolen from great songs written and composed from people like Steely Dan. Then put on loops recorded, then sang with anger or hate. 60's and 70's music like Stevie Wonder, where time was taken to write, record and perfect the sounds. I miss it, yet so happy to hear people like your peers finding out how good creative minds and talent pushed music forward. Thank You.

[@51Dss]

Aja - to a LOT of people one of the bestest, greatest albums ever produced. Every track is a great song all of its own.

[@51Dss]

T your reaction and joy and appreciation of this music is the best of all "reaction" youTube channels.

[@markbarnwell942]

when all my dime dancing is through i run to you. what a fucking lyric

[@raycewilliams3300]

Donald Fagan and Walter Becker hired the best jazz studio musicians possible at the time of this recording. That said... the level of talent is one thing... but the mixing, engineering and production value of this entire album is mind blowing. The track "Aja" stands alone. I don't know of a song of any genre that sounds this "clean". Steely Dan, in my opinion, are masters of fusing jazz, rock, R&B and jazz fusion into a coherent masterpiece which this track is a perfect example of that.

[@TheDivayenta]

Wayne Shorter on sax, Steve Gadd on drums. Phenomenal. Steely albums are opuses- a collection of short stories about shady characters living on the lowdown. Just brilliant.

[@nicholasmartin297]

THAT is what I call a “reaction” video. No stopping it to make inane comments. Obviously appreciated by someone who knows what they are talking about. I just subscribed.

[@cynthiastanley35]

I love the jazz sound of Steely Dan.💖 Their style is so smooth.

[@masapell]

The architecture of this song and all of its layers is a masterpiece. Everything is placed appropriately, including space. For me, it’s the space that is the magic. Every musician that played, uniquely recognized and captured the space of the song and let it breath. That is something that comes from deep within, spiritual some would say. The way Becker and Fagen crafted this song and allowed the musicians to put their soul into it, while texturing every moment, is genius. To me, this song is their greatest achievement.

[@mynameispaul0530]

That song "Aja" is magical. You nailed it - the music takes you away on a journey.

[@johnlylemusic]

Incredibly complex, yet still, MONSTER hooks!

[@JackSchitte]

I say this as often as possible: "You never grow out of Steely Dan...you grow into them!"...Jack (70 yr. old Hippie) believe me when I tell you anyone who was in the know used Steely Dan to audition new stereo equipment back in the day because their production values matched their musicianship.

[@debrabeck9630]

Great choice, great reaction. No one makes music like Steely Dan, and they are incredible.

[@jimsaunders4136]

Brian Wilson did....

[@bobdornbos4467]

In to 70's and 80's FM radio was sooo different than it is today. There were stations geared toward Album Rock (AOR) where the music was more about the art and not commercial "hits". Bands like Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, etc. where great musicians and music production mattered more that the current trends of the day. What amazes me about some of these albums from the 70's it the sound quality! All analog!

[@guitearist]

Saw them earlier this year at the Hollywood Bowl. Incredible performance and atmosphere. Long live Fagan and Co. RIP Walter Becker. 💙

[@jml-rj5re]

Fagen.

[@sumofo9742]

I saw them in June 2022. Absolutely- incredible vibe. Fagan still wows. Possibly a highlight of my life. ❤

[@ladder3257]

Saw them for the third time at the concord pavilion this year, and i’m only 15, so i’m blessed to be honest. geniuses

[@raymondmcneely4447]

@@sumofo9742 I saw that same gig at the Hollywood Bowl too. With Walter and Donald. Honestly one the best concerts I ever been to on perfect Southern California night…

[@kennethkeith3238]

If anyone has not shared already, check out the making of the album, Aja on Classic Albums. "Aja is the name of a woman. I had a friend in high school, and he had an older brother who went to Korea and married a Korean girl, and brought her back. And her name was Aja. We thought that was a good name, just a very romantic sort of image, the sort of tranquility that can come of a quiet relationship with a very beautiful woman." -Donald Fagan - From Classic Albums: Aja by Steely Dan 1977

[@JayGriffith-k5c]

Intellectual Rock

[@richardkafka5625]

This album is perfection, start to finish!

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

The arrangement of this song blows me away (almost as much as the instrumentalists themselves!) - Three keyboards, plus vibes, and three guitarists, all playing different, complimentary parts. And then that rhythm section, and then the soloists! Truly one of the greatest achievements in music of that or any era, IMO.

[@yelnikigwawa1845]

For me, this album will always summon the image of a dimly-lit penthouse, exquisitely decorated, floor-to ceiling windows, a spectacular night view of a major US city, a beautiful woman snuggled at my side, a little high-end smoke and a bottle of Crown XR on the coffee table.....and the night is young... Just as an aside, "Aja" (the album) is so perfectly mastered, it's often used by audiophiles as a standard, when evaluating new audio equipment.

[@bombasticbushkin4985]

Just to arrange these layers of sophistication, the dynamics and clarity, and precise top-level instrumentation is brilliant. It works beautifully and flawless. Masterful performance.

[@deckofcards87]

AJA is a timeless listen. I also really love "Countdown To Ecstasy" which is front-to-back perfection. And if I can recommend another 70s band for album reaction: Supertramp are a fantastic group, especially on the production side

[@chuckhutton5087]

Outstanding comment. C. T. E. is a great album, their best in my opinion may have been their debut “ Can’t buy a Thrill”. Supertramp is one of my favorite all-time bands also. Sadness ensued when Roger Hodgson left the group in the mid 80’s when he and fellow genius Rick Davies could no longer get along. Lesser groups by far have been inducted into the R&R HOF.

[@roxannadorsey9716]

Greetings the adventures of tnt😉 I grew up listening toStealyDan. When Aja cameOut in 1977 I was 22yrs it was a magical time to live through the 70’s the ear/orgasm & ear/candy magnificent.Too many artists to name who were musical genius.soCool😎.

[@debbieverret4033]

One of their best albums, gosh all of their albums were great. Not known for playing live concerts back in the day just great studio music, love them always.

[@xJRx77]

Timeless. Just timeless

[@rodhanson7112]

i have more than 100 cd's and AJA would be in the TOP 3 i LOVE it

[@brenthowell6148]

I started listening to Steely Dan, when I was 11 in 1974. It's 2022, I'm 59 and still listening to these masters. When you get done with this album, check out some of Donald Fagan's Solo songs. True Companion, I.G.Y., New Frontier, Snowbound, The Dunes, Nightfly, Mona, Morph The Cat, and many more! All Steely Dan and Donald Fagan music is Off The Chain!✌️🎸🥁🎺

[@ricardocarey2346]

Their music is timeless and allways takes you on an adventure back to the days of great music!!!!!

[@bmw128racer]

From Wiki: "In July 1978, Aja won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical and received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. It has since appeared frequently on professional rankings of the greatest albums, with critics and audiophiles applauding the album's high production standards."

[@rigbyss]

Dan is a genre. N.1 ever by far

[@gregorykerr5062]

Great review!!!

[@nickoteen5136]

. I bought Aja on vinyl in late 1977, a few months after graduating high school. As soon as it was out on 8 track I bought it and listened to it in my car endlessly. Then I bought it on cassette, then CD, now I have it on Spotify. It's never far away and gets play at least once or twice a month. My number one desert island album, and the title track is my number one all time. Thanks for this!

[@ptaylor4757]

I was a jazz fan as a teenager in the early ‘70s. There were a lot of jazz radio stations back then and a lot of jazz musicians were talking a lot about Steely Dan. I bought every album when they came out as well as Donald Fagen’s solo albums. Magic. Music is transformative. I wish there was anything even close being produced today.

[@itchyandred4131]

So smooth it just puts me on a whole different plain ✌️

[@lennypignatello7493]

Man who can do this no no one in this world will ever be able to make or create such a beautiful piece of music ever no one can fucking do this like Steely Dan these session. Musicians from the drummer to the saxophone is impeccable.

[@rickbriefs8712]

Fantastic band, fantastic song! We used to play Dan albums front to back, smoking pot, drinking Bourbon and doing lines and stay up until the morning analyzing their music lol! It was the late 70’s & early 80’s! Love your reactions TNT, you’re the best dude!

[@James-c8s9z]

Complexity to the max!!!

[@steveclapper5424]

I bought this on its release and it stayed on my turntable for ever.

[@chrisbarlow2131]

It's a track that's in a rush to go nowhere yet it goes everywhere.

[@ebenclukey7293]

Couldn't agree more. Like after Steve Gadd and and Wayne Shorter's frantic dual solo, they come back with a full eight bar reprise. It's as if they allowed the song to catch it's breath before continuing. Donald and Walter were beyond perfection.

[@stybba09]

The two drum solos by Steve Gadd were unrehearsed and blew everyone in the studio away.

[@jackiebryant5808]

I love this album , brought back so many memories A MASTERPIECE

[@ProfEDM-wp4zk]

When you like Steely Dan is a sign that you are musically evolved

[@OLLYCHAUCER]

Finesse at it's finest

[@007ndc]

Their opus pure and simple

[@martindarin5832]

Fagen and Becker's original drummer, just prior to forming Steely Dan, was comedian/actor Chevy Chase.

[@raybro3803]

Aja was an Oriental girl. Almost all of their songs have meaning and great back stories, mixed with awesome music, notes you usually don’t hear, yet are ear candy when you listen to it. This song is great on so many levels!

[@sgtdarryldm]

Remember when you were shopping for a stereo system. Steely Dan's Aja album was your test music.

[@simplecarnivore]

Test music for my car stereo as well.

[@buckdurant5336]

Masterpiece. Been listening to this album for 40 years. Aja is my fav.

[@marcuswood5975]

This is a band that musicians love to listen to they were too cool for school man

[@kbrewski1]

Man, you really need to do a FULL ALBUM REACTION of the ENTIRE ALBUM IN ORDER!!

[@TheAdventuresofTNT]

I did. It’s on patreon cause it was blocked on KZbin.

[@kbrewski1]

@@TheAdventuresofTNT Oh, ok, thx.

[@EdDunkle]

It feels like a little rock/jazz concerto

[@bobjones6572]

RIP Wayne Shorter

[@steveullrich7737]

What real music should sound like! Awesome song!

[@cholvey]

The beauty of your show is that regardless of the genre you allow the music to wash over you & you react to it in such an unsullied way. I love your feedback to songs that more often than not I already know, but your reactions only add to my love of the songs. You guys are really something special. Thank you ❤

[@markcosenza3274]

If you were buying a stereo system back in the 70's, the salesman would probably put a Dan album on to demonstrate the quality of his stereo.

[@chuckhutton5087]

Absolutely! Also as the crowd music for many bands in the 80’s and 90’s as folks are are finding their seats pre-concert. So refined were their recordings, mixes, and production values.

[@raybro3803]

Remember, “No Stairway to Heaven”🤣

[@santosmadrigal3702]

I stopped at a Infinity stereo store once , quite some time ago . To demo a stereo I was looking at , the salesman put in a Steely Dan CD .

[@joejoesguitarinventions]

this track will be revisited for ...generations to come ... and of course the ending master piece drum solo 💯💯💟

[@nicolec.6232]

I loved watching you experience this masterpiece in "real time" - this is what reaction videos are for.

[@buckdurant5336]

You nailed it. I wore this 8 track out, in high school. One of the single greatest albums. I started fading out on "today's" music during the late 80's and early 90's. You nailed it, modern music is boring. Caveman like.

[@55montypython]

I bought this album when it came out. Took it home , put it on the record player,got half way across t by e livingroom,came to a stop and sat down Didn't move other than to flip it over

[@markhenry8669]

One of my 5 top ALBUMS EVER

[@johnfry2591]

I was a teenager all through the seventies. Steely Dan was just another great song after song like 60 other great bands that came on the Radio... Yes, the Radio kids. The seventies musically, our cup runith over. An embarrassment of riches.

[@lancerx1759]

Aja is a perfect album imo its a timeless composition

[@abrarahmed1888]

The police whistle is an integral part of the overall experience and ambience !😂

[@stanleycostello9610]

Another one down the rabbit hole of SD freaks. It's been 50 years since I first listened to CBAT and still amazes me that I find new and complex subtitles in all of Becker and Fagan's productions.

[@Prozak63]

Man, the number of nights I went to sleep listening to this way back in high-school when it was released.

[@johntremmel3949]

2nd best track on arguably the best album in history, best track is “ home at last”

[@guitearist]

You could make an argument for most tracks being the best. As a kid, I loved Deacon Blues, later on Aja was my favorite for Gadd's and Shorter's performances. Now my favorites are Black Cow and Home At Last. Just an incredible musical journey.

[@falcon215]

Great reaction. Steve Gadd's drumming on this track set a benchmark that still generates buzz today. I was in high school when my buddy introduced me to this album and I remember being amazed at each track although this particular one is obviously the highlight. I don't listen to much of the newer music of today at all.

[@antarcticorb9197]

You're correct.

[@babylonsister118]

i listened to this album constantly when it came out, much to my husband's consternation, being a classic rock guy! I named our dog , now many, many years gone after the album title.

[@livenhfree]

"Quality." Sums it up. BTW, Becker and Fagan are Steely Dan. Good on you for picking up quality music. I was a teenager when this album came out. That you're listening today is validation.

[@bobryan8793]

You said it....you feel it...

[@ericsadler9664]

When this LP was released, I named my best dog ever, AJA. She was the best, smartest pal.

[@marklecuona8889]

Every one who contributed was an instrumental virtuoso and artistic stylists. They came in knowing the level of perfection demanded by Becker/Fagan and even with that pressure, knowing your musical history was on the line, they came thru.

[@renee176]

Ain't no school like the old school...lol!😊

[@jeffstevens4262]

I can't thank you enough for not stopping the music every few seconds like so many reactors do these days. When music is really as good as the stuff put out by Steely Dan, stopping it intermittently, would be nothing short of sacrilege. Bless you man, you definitely get it.

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

They have to pause it to avoid getting a copyright strike.

[@mandandanmandamayor3511]

Let me explain the lyrics in my mind when I was growing up. Aja is a rehab place like the Betty Ford clinic. It sits on a hill above the ocean. They think I'm ok is from the self help, feel good book from the 70s'. I'm Ok, You're OK. When he is done dime dancing ( This is sinking so low, that you are doing a song and a dance just to get a dime bag, $10 worth. You know you have hit the bottom so you have to go to rehab.

[@tedwitus]

no other song makes me cry and laugh at the same time like Aja

[@williammuntzer7374]

Great reaction. The music and production on this album is insane. Probably one of the best records ever made.

[@JamesBee01]

I really loved watching your reactions especially because I knew what you were about to hear!

[@lukejackson4964]

I feel like your reaction there at the end. I felt like it's the only appropriate reaction to this song. Love it! haha

[@rodger7029]

Beautifully produced

[@guitearist]

Musical engineers still to this day hold this album up as a benchmark for production quality. It's literally flawless.

[@tjhunger5656]

Aja is smooth every note on it has been lovingly polished and placed with a jeweler’s eye for detail. It pulls off the same magic trick that Roxy Music did with their eighth album Avalon and the Blue Nile did with Hats: music that is as precise as a Swiss watch but still has a soul. It’s an artfully assembled soul, yes, but it’s soul nonetheless. Every song is frictionless and hangs in the air like a cloud of designer perfume until it dissipates into the listener’s subconscious.

[@barryshapiro3315]

the album one a grammy for best engineered album And think about how long ago that was... Real music!!! lasts the test of time my man!

[@realbser1956]

Thanks for the Aja steam T. I enjoyed it more than you will ever know. I own only one vinyl album and it’s this one, even though I don’t have any way to listen to it. I sometimes just take it out and a make sure it’s still there. Crazy, huh? Thanks to Mr. Dirty as well for sponsoring the stream. I always listen for Steve Gadd’s stick click during his solo. ❤🔥🔥💿

[@keef7224]

As if Gadd hasn’t been insane enough the whole song, at 8:18 he just kicks it into overdrive on that ride cymbal and it’s just ridiculous.

[@MrSmartAlec]

I love to see today's young people diggin' this awesome music. I loved this LP when it came out but did not view it as anything super extraordinary. No doubt I was totally spoiled by the sheer volume of amazing music being produced. There was always something new and fantastic being released. Here's a list of my other favorites from 1977. Aja definitely makes this list as well. AC/DC - Let There Be Rock Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack Commodores - Commodores Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue Earth, Wind & Fire - All ‘n’ All Foreigner - Foreigner Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Jimmy Buffett - Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood Jackson Browne - Running on Empty Kansas - Point of Know Return Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell Queen - News of the World Styx - Grand Illusion Steve Miller Band - Book of Dreams

[@cynthiastanley35]

I agree. These are great songs from the '70's. I was of age during that time as well.

[@Prozak63]

And Boz Scaggs...

[@MrSmartAlec]

@@Prozak63 Definitely. The old memory ain't what it used to be.🙂

[@larryordine7542]

Considered by many A&R people as the best most perfectly recorded album ever.

[@jongee5227]

I love this saxophone solo