I did not know this at the time but Aja was he first album I played on my brand new Technics turntable purchased from with my first serious paycheck in 1978. And that moment is still so vivid in my memory today. Like magic
We had no clue back then how very blessed we were to have the musical geniuses we had in every genre We couldn't have imagined that it would come to an end. I am SO happy to see new audiences appreciating these classics. ✨️😊💛
The background vocal is the great Michael McDonald's voice overdubbed to produce 5 part harmony. He said at the time that it was the most challenging session he had ever done. You guys MUST check out the making of Peg on youtube.
This made my day. This song came out when I was seven and it’s been my favorite song ever since. Watching your reaction is the closest I’ll ever get to hearing it again for the first time.
Mary, you share not only my last name but great musical taste LOL. I still remember hearing Black Cow, buying AJA, and rushing to the piano to nail those cool chords.
I’m a jazz lover, 76 years old, and I bought this album when it first came out because of a review or recommendation. Within 10 seconds, I was blown away. And then I read the personnel… so many jazz musicians! I was hooked. 😎
65 years old... and back in the '70s we literally took these geniuses for granted. I believe their popularity was held back because they didn't tour... they were the mysthical "studio band". I thought duplicating this musical production wizardry would be impossible live... I was wrong... saw Steely Dan at the Garden State Arts Center in the late 1990's... and yep... they captured this same quality live... WOW. JUSt WOW! THEY ARE THE TRUTH. Shower music CHAMPIONS!
Same!!! I’m a few years younger than you, and sorta came of age w Steely Dan in the early 80s (college boyfriend introduced me to their music). I too thought surely, they can’t do that sound live. But was lucky enough to catch them here in New Orleans at the Jazz & Heritage Festival - maybe 3 or 4 years ago ??? Anyway, they played the entire Aja album and I was blown away: sounded exactly like the record. They’re incredible!
I was born in 1960 and wasn't I just so fortunate to grow up when I did with the some of the best music ever!! Steely Dan was and is one of my all-time favourites.
For anyone who grew up in the '70s, Michael McDonald's voice is INSTANTLY recognizable on the multi-part harmonies; much like Mick Jagger on "You're So Vain".
When you first hear a song by Steely Dan, it's like everything clicks perfectly into place. You can't imagine it being any other way. Aja is one of my all time favorite albums. Not a bad track on the whole damn album.
Summer of 78, cruising around in my 74 Dodge Dart I bought for $100 off my cousin and put $100 worth of parts in it, with a Realistic tape deck I'd bought at Radio Shack and installed with some nice speakers and this album played ENDLESSLY in that car.
One of the best albums ever. But in the mid 70s to early 80s great albums were coming out every week. It was impossible to keep up. Amazing musical period.
I'm sitting in a hotel room in downtown Louisville enjoying the hell out of watching you all react to this song 😂 It really is perfect in every way man. The bass and drum groove is just so amazing. The whole "Aja" album just never gets old.
I don't know if you already know about it, but I came across a concert from 2012 called The Dukes of September. It is headlined by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. I listened to it for the first time the other day and it is a masterpiece. You definitely should check it out.
Amazing reaction! Drummer Rick Marotta on working with bassist Chuck Rainey on Peg: "Once Chuck and I started playing, you could have hung your coat up on the groove."
Between 1975 and 1978 ( aside from the disco era) the soft rock scene was all fire! With Al Stewart, Pablo Cruise, Little River band, Atlanta Rythm section and this group. Great music to grow up to😊 Oh I almost forgot Bob Seger's Main Street! From 1977!❤
Steely Dan is one of my all-time favorite band along with Yes. Different styles, but great musicianship!!! The back up singers along with Michael McDonald are just PERFECTION!!!!❤❤❤❤
th-cam.com/video/lt0b1KCB_DU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3Bk3Kw7xZUNBUH6E The above link is to the isolated vocal tracks (lead and background) for "Peg." Please note that there's about 20 seconds of silence at the beginning of the video to account for the well-known instrumental intro to the song and then the vocals kick in. Listening to the vocal tracks, especially the background harmonies, really emphasizes (to me as someone with extremely limited knowledge of musical performance) how sophisticated the song is...without any of the instruments!
Is this not one of the BEST songs ever?!? Us “old” kids know every single word. We had the best music… nothing compares to it today. What screamin great memories!
@@KneeJerkReactions13Plenty of fantastic music today. Just have to dig for it and it’s there. Also it’s hard to deny that, whether you like the song or not, Steely Dan never had a song that wasn’t well written, and perfectly executed.
I was a Senior in high school when this song was on the charts. I didn't appreciate it then and of course we had so many fantastic artists on the radio at that time! But as I listened to Peg more, I heard the musical intricacies. It's a fab song! Great reaction guys!
The guitarist who did the solo (Jay Graydon) did a lot of producing and songwriting for other bands. He wrote "After The Love Is Gone," which was a massive hit for Earth Wind & Fire.
I looked up the word “perfection” in the Oxford English Dictionary,and there was simply a picture of this album. Second only behind The Beatles’ Revolver in my all time list,and I have THOUSANDS of albums.
When my husband and I met in 1978, this is one of 2 albums we had in common. He was into R&B, and I was into rock. Somehow, we made it and are still together, lol. The whole Aja album is awesome, or flamin' as you guys would say. The background vocals are by the incredible Michael McDonald.
This song is so fun and groovy. It just automatically puts you in a good mood. Great spring and summer song, with a drink in the hand. Good reaction, glad you enjoyed it. Many of us love to live vicariously through new blood’s eyes.
As far as i know, Steely Dan was Donald Fagen and Walter Becker who hired masterful studio musicians like Michael McDonald and the virtuoso, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. I believe that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker played in college with Chevy Chase on drums.
It's as though the planets were in perfect alighment for the album "Aja" . This album comes, in my opinion, as close to "musical perfection" as you can get. The groove, the singing, the musicianship, the mixing, the engineering and the production value are all TOP SHELF. Great reaction as always. Take care....
I prefer the songs on this album, but I believe that (as incredulous a concept as it seems) Gaucho has ever-so-slightly better production. I think this album has more mojo though.
Gents….. Incredible stuff. Steely was a new band ever album. Showing us jazz never gets old. True perfection with McDonald in the background harmonizing himself, just amazing. Enjoy …..
Great reaction! You're absolutely right. But for those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s, this was listening to the radio on a Tuesday. We heard great stuff like this ALL THE TIME and this was just another catchy tune on FM pop radio. It's fun for me to go back and listen to this with "fresh ears" as if I'm hearing it for the first time. And among many great elements, the thing that I think stands out to me is the bass work, especially during the chorus. It's absolutely off the chain. Like the members of this band were all freaking musical geniuses. Beautiful song and great production, all the way around.
Their secret was to hire multiple sets of musicians and have them work the song to death, and then choose individual takes from each. They might have had a half dozen guitarists do session work on each song and then decide which to use .
Ohhhh my god this might be my favorite reaction of all time!! Watching you guys boppin to this old school masterpiece and actually starting it over!!! Love it!! No one slaps that bass like Chuck Rainey! Awesome!!
I'm 70 and still playing Steely Dan after 50 years of listening to them. It never gets old.
Steely Dan: your favorite band’s, favorite band.
"Aja" is the album used to prove how good your sound system is.
Exactly
I get it. Good idea!
Indeed, Black Cow… Deacon Blues
I did not know this at the time but Aja was he first album I played on my brand new Technics turntable purchased from with my first serious paycheck in 1978. And that moment is still so vivid in my memory today. Like magic
The Royal Scam!
We had no clue back then how very blessed we were to have the musical geniuses we had in every genre We couldn't have imagined that it would come to an end. I am SO happy to see new audiences appreciating these classics. ✨️😊💛
Glad you lads have finally been Pegged.
The background vocal is the great Michael McDonald's voice overdubbed to produce 5 part harmony. He said at the time that it was the most challenging session he had ever done. You guys MUST check out the making of Peg on youtube.
The multiple attempts by different guitarists to do the solo are fascinating.
Seriously; so bad ass.
Welcome to the world of 1977. Star Wars, Fleetwood-Mac, Steely Dan, Carly Simon Etc...etc...etc...every week a new classic hit the street.
A master class in studio production. Top notch top to bottom.
My high school friend and I would play this album over and over and over back to back
So many of the musicians on this entire album are jazz musicians.
One of the best bass grooves ever.
This made my day. This song came out when I was seven and it’s been my favorite song ever since. Watching your reaction is the closest I’ll ever get to hearing it again for the first time.
Great reaction guys! Love the non-choreographed double-stankface, the reaction of most Steely Dan reactions!
As short as it is, Jay Graydon's guitar solo is epic.
watch, they might think "Jay Graydon" is some kind of app or AI. Jay was a great producer too!
And the legendary Chuck Rainey holding down that bass groove, damn
One of the great leads in rock history.
@@samuraiwarriorsuniteMarotta brings it with him
Kid Charlemagne
and Hey Nineteen would be right up your alley.
Black Cow, Don't take me alive...so many!
Also “Deacon Blue”
This is always Steely Dan
"Josie" brings the funk, like no other!..Don't forget "Home at last" and "My old school"
Yes!!! All of these, especially Kid Charlemagne!!! Please!!!
Black cow is my favorite steely Dan song!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤
If the yacht on which I’m rocking gets shipwrecked on a desert island, I’ll have “Aja” with me. And “Black Cow” is my favorite, too.
@@rayeckert242 Aja is my favourite Dan album. The track Aja is my favourite song on the album. Steve Gadds drumming❤️
SOOOOOO GOOD!! One of my favs!!
Mary, you share not only my last name but great musical taste LOL. I still remember hearing Black Cow, buying AJA, and rushing to the piano to nail those cool chords.
Drink your big black cow and get outta here…
One of the greatest songs EVER!
God, I'm so lucky to have lived my teens and twenties during the 70s and 80's. Two decades of great music whatever the genre.
Without question. ✨️🔥💛
In my mind they are a combination of Jazz, Rock, Soul and Funk
I’m a jazz lover, 76 years old, and I bought this album when it first came out because of a review or recommendation.
Within 10 seconds, I was blown away. And then I read the personnel… so many jazz musicians! I was hooked. 😎
Steely Dan the masters of song crafting. For all us to enjoy.
I'm soooooooooo glad I grew up on music by steely Dan...
Ryan nailed it, rappers took from nearly every Steely song
65 years old... and back in the '70s we literally took these geniuses for granted. I believe their popularity was held back because they didn't tour... they were the mysthical "studio band". I thought duplicating this musical production wizardry would be impossible live... I was wrong... saw Steely Dan at the Garden State Arts Center in the late 1990's... and yep... they captured this same quality live... WOW. JUSt WOW! THEY ARE THE TRUTH. Shower music CHAMPIONS!
Same!!! I’m a few years younger than you, and sorta came of age w Steely Dan in the early 80s (college boyfriend introduced me to their music). I too thought surely, they can’t do that sound live. But was lucky enough to catch them here in New Orleans at the Jazz & Heritage Festival - maybe 3 or 4 years ago ??? Anyway, they played the entire Aja album and I was blown away: sounded exactly like the record. They’re incredible!
Saw them three times
I am sixty years old and I just Dislocated my groove thang.. And I couldn't be happier.
Chuck Rainey and Rick Marotta are perfect here
The next Steely Dan song you should listed to is "Deacon Blues"
Yep, Deacon Blues is my favorite one.
Peg is nickname for Margaret
Artistically the best pop song released in 1978
I was born in 1960 and wasn't I just so fortunate to grow up when I did with the some of the best music ever!! Steely Dan was and is one of my all-time favourites.
Now you know why everyone has reacted to this song 🔥 if you haven’t done ‘Hey Nineteen’ yet, that’s also an absolute banger 🤌🏼🤌🏼
Or "Babylon Sisters" (or "IGY" or "New Frontier" from The Nightfly)
Steely Dan with Michael McDonald singing back up doesn’t get any better!!
Since you loved this one may I suggest "Hey Nineteen"
For anyone who grew up in the '70s, Michael McDonald's voice is INSTANTLY recognizable on the multi-part harmonies; much like Mick Jagger on "You're So Vain".
You know it's a banger when you have to restart from the beginning halfway through 😂❤
I think you guys have the best reaction to this song. I’m glad you liked it.
Peg is definitely an R & B tune. I loved your reaction to it.
The Steely Dan catalog is a long and rich journey. Enjoy the ride.
It really is. You can definitely hear soul and blues influences in their music in general.
Always loved how every song of theirs are completely different
"I was expecting good, but I wasn't expecting greatness." This happens when planets align as they did in "Peg."
When you first hear a song by Steely Dan, it's like everything clicks perfectly into place. You can't imagine it being any other way. Aja is one of my all time favorite albums. Not a bad track on the whole damn album.
And I bet few groups do covers of their songs because they just can't be improved upon - even by the best of artists
Summer of 78, cruising around in my 74 Dodge Dart I bought for $100 off my cousin and put $100 worth of parts in it, with a Realistic tape deck I'd bought at Radio Shack and installed with some nice speakers and this album played ENDLESSLY in that car.
I had a 74 Dart in high school in 1990.
My generation got lucky with the affordable older cars.
Back when money was worth something
Preach!!!!👏👏👏
Had a '73 Dart Swinger with a slant 6 engine that wouldn't quit.
@@muziklvr7776 LOL had a '73 Pinger w/ a 318, miss it to this day
Love your reaction to the groove here. Grew up in Lyndon and then Douglass Hills, but now living many miles away.
You guys said it right: This is TOO good!
Fantastic review, Steele Dan is simply outstanding....
One of the best albums ever. But in the mid 70s to early 80s great albums were coming out every week. It was impossible to keep up. Amazing musical period.
No one does reaction videos like you guys! Keep up the great work❤. Thank you!
Steely Dan has an extremely unique sound.
I'm sitting in a hotel room in downtown Louisville enjoying the hell out of watching you all react to this song 😂 It really is perfect in every way man. The bass and drum groove is just so amazing. The whole "Aja" album just never gets old.
Such a tasty guitar lick on the outro too - that is a Steely Dan signature move.
Listen to it again....follow that spectacular bass...wow! And the voice of Michael MacDonald.....It's a Steely Dan day!
Michael McDonald nailing "Peg" is unreal. His vocal sounds like a synthesizer.
He multi-track harmonized with himself. The documentary on the making of Aja - Peg, in particular - is great.
You CAN NOT tell Me that Michael DO NOT BRING THAT SONG ALIVE !
( I mean… OBVIOUSLY the instrumentation was on POINT ! )
But Mike…. DID HIS THANG ! 😎
@@donholl The harmonies are SO TIGHT.
Fantastic song!
I don't know if you already know about it, but I came across a concert from 2012 called The Dukes of September. It is headlined by Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs. I listened to it for the first time the other day and it is a masterpiece. You definitely should check it out.
Great reaction. It is joyous music, indeed.
Amazing reaction! Drummer Rick Marotta on working with bassist Chuck Rainey on Peg: "Once Chuck and I started playing, you could have hung your coat up on the groove."
Between 1975 and 1978 ( aside from the disco era) the soft rock scene was all fire! With Al Stewart, Pablo Cruise, Little River band, Atlanta Rythm section and this group. Great music to grow up to😊 Oh I almost forgot Bob Seger's Main Street! From 1977!❤
...how could I forget Dirty Work, is beyond me. Great tune.
The great Michael McDonald on background vocals
Ryan's sweating and Nick's making the zone-face....oooooh it's a smooth classic.
Steely Dan is one of my all-time favorite band along with Yes. Different styles, but great musicianship!!! The back up singers along with Michael McDonald are just PERFECTION!!!!❤❤❤❤
th-cam.com/video/lt0b1KCB_DU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3Bk3Kw7xZUNBUH6E
The above link is to the isolated vocal tracks (lead and background) for "Peg." Please note that there's about 20 seconds of silence at the beginning of the video to account for the well-known instrumental intro to the song and then the vocals kick in. Listening to the vocal tracks, especially the background harmonies, really emphasizes (to me as someone with extremely limited knowledge of musical performance) how sophisticated the song is...without any of the instruments!
"I can't even dance, but if this is playing, I'm goin' out there and makin' a fool of myself"
Lmaooo
I love the way you guys enjoy and appreciate the music the way we enjoyed it. I’m 63 and I love all of my music from back in the day.
They were the soundtrack to my twenties and thirties
In eighty one and eighty two I would literally tell everybody to get out the dance force so I could perform.. Cause this song just brought it out
I've seen them 12 times live over the years. They are nothing short of phenomenal.
OH: SO ENVIOUS!!!
Never saw them but I can imagine it was incredible!!
So jealous, lucky you!
New rule. No more Steely Dan without Tyler in the box. 😂😂😂
This song is so perfectly made, so perfectly mixed, studio engineers use it to make sure their equipment is set up correctly.
Is this not one of the BEST songs ever?!? Us “old” kids know every single word. We had the best music… nothing compares to it today. What screamin great memories!
No. Jesus you Dan fans are delusional
100% facts
Agreed. So catchy, so savvy, great. Always a toe tapper. I can't think of anything in the past 10 years as good.
@@KneeJerkReactions13Seethe. Cope.
@@KneeJerkReactions13Plenty of fantastic music today. Just have to dig for it and it’s there. Also it’s hard to deny that, whether you like the song or not, Steely Dan never had a song that wasn’t well written, and perfectly executed.
Great reaction, Ty would love this too! Enjoy the rabbit hole…
I just loved your reactio guys. It made my day. Thats the Steely Dan effect. Joyous.
Sophisticated sound. A top favorite of mine and the memories! I was 16. Thanks and I just subscribed.
So sad Ty wasn't here for this!
This song puts me right back in the college cafeteria. Total nostalgia. 😊
Where is Ty?
@@audreycumby1075 He moved away.
You need to listen to "Time Out of Mind it's an excellent song by Steely Dan!
Brilliant reaction to a brilliant song….I l💛💛💛💛💛💛ve this whole album👍🏽🙋🏽♀️
I was a Senior in high school when this song was on the charts. I didn't appreciate it then and of course we had so many fantastic artists on the radio at that time! But as I listened to Peg more, I heard the musical intricacies. It's a fab song! Great reaction guys!
You can’t go wrong with Steely Dan! Timeless music!
Say It Again!
The guitarist who did the solo (Jay Graydon) did a lot of producing and songwriting for other bands. He wrote "After The Love Is Gone," which was a massive hit for Earth Wind & Fire.
He co-wrote that with Bill Champlin and David Foster.
I looked up the word “perfection” in the Oxford English Dictionary,and there was simply a picture of this album.
Second only behind The Beatles’ Revolver in my all time list,and I have THOUSANDS of albums.
the drummer ,Steve Gadd on the title song Aja was a neighbor for a time in Rochester NY . where an annual international jazz festival is held
Imagine what we thought in 1977.
I have just come across your video of Peg. I love your reaction ❤. It is probably my favourite track i play it nearly every day. Please play more.
Bout time!. You are now BORN AGAIN :)
When my husband and I met in 1978, this is one of 2 albums we had in common. He was into R&B, and I was into rock. Somehow, we made it and are still together, lol. The whole Aja album is awesome, or flamin' as you guys would say. The background vocals are by the incredible Michael McDonald.
Love that Lyricon!!
This song is so fun and groovy. It just automatically puts you in a good mood. Great spring and summer song, with a drink in the hand. Good reaction, glad you enjoyed it. Many of us love to live vicariously through new blood’s eyes.
As far as i know, Steely Dan was Donald Fagen and Walter Becker who hired masterful studio musicians like Michael McDonald and the virtuoso, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. I believe that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker played in college with Chevy Chase on drums.
There were more members in Steely Dan originally, eventually they left and Becker & Fagen decided to keep it as primarily a duo.
It's as though the planets were in perfect alighment for the album "Aja" . This album comes, in my opinion, as close to "musical perfection" as you can get. The groove, the singing, the musicianship, the mixing, the engineering and the production value are all TOP SHELF. Great reaction as always. Take care....
But when I'm really feeling frisky, I can't resist "Can't Buy a Thrill", ✌
I prefer the songs on this album, but I believe that (as incredulous a concept as it seems) Gaucho has ever-so-slightly better production. I think this album has more mojo though.
Gents….. Incredible stuff. Steely was a new band ever album. Showing us jazz never gets old. True perfection with McDonald in the background harmonizing himself, just amazing. Enjoy …..
So great to hear excellent music being appreciated!
I love this song
Just a bit of info... the background vocals are mostly the dulcet tones of one Michael McDonald.
We we're lit back in the day. Music during those eras (60, 70, 80 & 90's) was awesome. Thanks for your reactions. New subscriber 👍
If you haven't already, check out their song " FM". Its the theme on the soundtrack of the movie FM. I'm so old, I saw the movie in 1978 lol
I was 9 in 1977 when I first heard this. Me and my 4th grade friend Sherri would sing this at recess!
Que buena anécdota, bonito recuerdo
@@alflazz2443
I speak "Spanglish" Thank you!
Great reaction! You're absolutely right. But for those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s, this was listening to the radio on a Tuesday. We heard great stuff like this ALL THE TIME and this was just another catchy tune on FM pop radio. It's fun for me to go back and listen to this with "fresh ears" as if I'm hearing it for the first time. And among many great elements, the thing that I think stands out to me is the bass work, especially during the chorus. It's absolutely off the chain. Like the members of this band were all freaking musical geniuses. Beautiful song and great production, all the way around.
Took me 40 years to see them and wow when i did ffs,proper geezers,God bless Dad who pointed me the right way.xx
One of the best songs ever, and the production is exquisite
Their secret was to hire multiple sets of musicians and have them work the song to death, and then choose individual takes from each. They might have had a half dozen guitarists do session work on each song and then decide which to use .
Has it been said that Michael Mc Donald layed down ALL background vocals! True story!!!!!❤❤❤
Your next must-listen from the Dan is also from the Aja album, and that’s “Black Cow”. It’s got everything, and it’s also total 🔥🔥🔥
Ohhhh my god this might be my favorite reaction of all time!! Watching you guys boppin to this old school masterpiece and actually starting it over!!! Love it!! No one slaps that bass like Chuck Rainey! Awesome!!
Sublime.