AJA - Steely Dan (CD 1984)

Probably (and I say this with some regret because the fact is, all SD is great) the greatest Steely Dan album.

I love this CD. Fagen and Becker have collaborated to create some of the most beautiful jazz/blues music ever played. Yeah, that's right, I said jazz/blues. This album is more jazz and blues than the typical rock/jazz fusion from like their earlier albums.

For example, Aja, the title track; 8 minutes of pure jazz jammin', no rock, no extra noise, just good jazz, cool guitar, great keys, perfect percussion and Donald, crooning the blues. It just don't get any better than this.

As for the rest of the genius on the album: Black Cow is, again, more jazz/blues but very funky this song was released to limited airplay, but for some reason didn't get picked up like some of the other SD fare, waxing poetic about a woman that keeps running away, Fagen sounds like a lost puppy, blues dripping from the speakers; Deacon Blues, one of the most recognizable SD songs, even by those who aren't die-hards, this song is pure blues with a slight edge on the percussion; Peg, another recognizable tune, with its funky bass line, jazz guitar and keys and solid drums; Home at Last, which is just downright great piano jazz and horn ablarin'; I Got the News, funky on first listen is actually very bluesy on the keys, if slightly upbeat, the song is quite ambiguous; and last but not least another popular tune, Josie, which is pure jazz guitar chords ,if only played a little off tempo from typical jazz.

The album was pure genius and, in my ever so humble opinion, the highlight of a career that really didn't have any down time, just a really great high time.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM.