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45th Anniversary of Steely Dan's Aja
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cstack3 View Drop Down
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    Posted: September 27 2022 at 01:19
Originally posted by Manuel Manuel wrote:

I remember when AJA came out. My best friend got a copy and we played it all afternoon long. I still love it.

Nice!  I also remember its arrival fondly....on a vacation trip when it first came out, we heard an amazing bar-band from California that was able to play much of this material to perfection!  They also did hits of the era by Boz Scaggs, James Taylor and many other AM radio hit-makers. 




Edited by cstack3 - September 27 2022 at 01:19
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Grumpyprogfan View Drop Down
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Points: 10145 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 26 2022 at 17:44
Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

By the way, my friend poured honey oil over the aforementioned stick before the show, and I don't think I have ever been so high in my life. Simply blotto.
We did the same thing at Todd Rundgren's RA tour.

Yet most say weed of today is stronger. Hooey!

Edited by Grumpyprogfan - September 26 2022 at 18:33
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Grumpyprogfan View Drop Down
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Points: 10145 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 26 2022 at 17:02
Originally posted by Intruder Intruder wrote:

If anyone cares to remember, the album was kind of a letdown to most SD fans upon release.
The exact opposite of a letdown for me. Their best album ever!!!
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Intruder View Drop Down
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If anyone cares to remember, the album was kind of a letdown to most SD fans upon release.  Critics thought it too slick and lacking that adventurous scope in music and grittiness in lyrics.....it was called the "Eagles-ization" of the Dan.....one critic called the guitar solos "too tasty", another said the Dan had lost touch with the streets and instead focused on the ivory tower of the studio.  

Of course, the LP has only grown in reputation since; to me, it still pales in comparison to the first five.  I dig the hell out of Aja - it's an excellent album but it's definitely as step away from the Dan we came to know and love.  
I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....
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Rednight View Drop Down
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By the way, my friend poured honey oil over the aforementioned stick before the show, and I don't think I have ever been so high in my life. Simply blotto.
"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno
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Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

^Purple Kush! Save me some.

Do you remember Thai Stick? Best herb ever.
Why yes, I certainly do. Once pulled the stick out of one, removed the string, sectioned it off into thirds, and rolled a paper around each. Huffed one section/joint before a 1977 ELP show and found no use for the other two. Good show too, with strong opener Status Quo setting the course for the evening. Nowadays, my big thrill is to watch Adam 12 reruns.
"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno
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JD View Drop Down
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Points: 18394 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2022 at 04:49
^More likely they have their Man-DJ do it for them. LOL
Thank you for supporting independently produced music
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Originally posted by Awesoreno Awesoreno wrote:

Hey, to each their own. I was just merely pointing out that it's ironic that the elite will put this album on in an act of "sophistication"
Do they, though? Do "elite' folks put on this album?
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Points: 17536 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2022 at 14:44
A brilliant record, could be a masterpiece. Each song is incredibly created and performed and rightly so, sampled by some other artists.
I've been spinning that album since it came out.....This documentary of the album is a great watch.
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Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

It's a masterpiece. It has that syrupy smooth jazz sound but with an exciting art rock edge. My personal highlights of this album: Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Aja.

Clap Yup! Amazing album.
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JD View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Grumpyprogfan Grumpyprogfan wrote:

^Purple Kush! Save me some.

Do you remember Thai Stick? Best herb ever.
YES ! Once and only once, never saw it again.
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Awesoreno View Drop Down
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Points: 2906 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Awesoreno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2022 at 22:54
Hey, to each their own. I was just merely pointing out that it's ironic that the elite will put this album on in an act of "sophistication" when they were precisely the targets of Fagan and Becker's ire.


In any case, regardless of what any of us think of the album, there is something to be said for a piece of art that can appeal to those who appreciate music in a more passive way AND to those who appreciate music in a more active way. They hit the sweet spot, where one actually gets to decide for themself if they want to pick it apart. And for that, they have my respect. (For the record, I adore the album, my dad played it a lot when I was young; I don't know if it's my favorite, but I don't think I can pick one, they have a very consistent discography to my ear, minus Everything Must Go).
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Grumpyprogfan View Drop Down
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Points: 10145 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2022 at 18:32
^Purple Kush! Save me some.

Do you remember Thai Stick? Best herb ever.
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JD View Drop Down
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^Damn, you got me ! Truthfully yes I was. LOL
My 2019 Purple Kush.

I meant to say @richardh.
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Grumpyprogfan View Drop Down
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Points: 10145 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2022 at 16:42
^Have you been huffing your bud that matured, JD? You need to re-read Awesoreno's comment.

...Drink your big black cow, and get outta here...
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JD View Drop Down
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Been a fan of SD since Can't Buy A Thrill. Got the whole catalogue on LP. My AJA is red vinyl.
However, as some above have said it may be slick as 5hit production, but it is far from their best album. This album alone is, as @Awesoreno says, for the "upper middle/upper class dinner parties".
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Hrychu View Drop Down
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It's a masterpiece. It has that syrupy smooth jazz sound but with an exciting art rock edge. My personal highlights of this album: Black Cow, Deacon Blues, Aja.
“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong
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Saperlipopette! View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

An album that's just...there. A step down from previous efforts. Prime material for adult-oriented rock airplay. And who can forget (forgive) Peg?

I love Peg and have no idea what's not to like. Such a great song! But I've never experienced your american AOR-radio and hardly ever heard any the songs that you're all sick of. Most of them were never that big in Europe. So thirty-forty years later I discover your old (for you) overplayed hits by Heart, Boston, Toto, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Chicago, Journey, Christopher Cross, Eagles... and I think they're all kind of wonderful lol. It's surely better than your typical radio friendly music of the last couple of decades.
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Rednight View Drop Down
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Points: 4807 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rednight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2022 at 10:14
An album that's just...there. A step down from previous efforts. Prime material for adult-oriented rock airplay. And who can forget (forgive) Peg?
"It just has none of the qualities of your work that I find interesting. Abandon [?] it." - Eno
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chopper View Drop Down
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Points: 19965 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 14 2022 at 06:36
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Personally I don't find anything particularly memorable about this album. Dan were the perfect band for an upper middle class dinner party , music in the background a bit jazzy and terribly inoffensive. Yep it's certainly as slick as hell.

I'm kind of with you there Richard. I can appreciate the skill of the playing but to be honest I prefer some of their earlier albums.
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