Aja

~ Release by Steely Dan (see all versions of this release, 45 available)

Annotation

Originally released in 1977.
[08-1-23] (Y)

Rights Society: JASRAC

Tracklist

1▼SHM-CD
#	Title	Length
1	Black Cow executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass guitar: Chuck Rainey clavinet: Joe Sample drums (drum set): Paul Humphrey guitar: Larry Carlton Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]: Victor Feldman synthesizer and lead vocals: Donald Fagen tenor saxophone: Tom Scott background vocals: Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Rebecca Louis and Sherlie Matthews conductor: Tom Scott (horn) horn arranger: Tom Scott phonographic copyright (℗) by: ABC Records, Inc (in 1977) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (in 1977) recording of: Black Cow writer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing, Music Corporation of America, Inc., Universal‐MCA Music Publishing, ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	5:11
2	Aja recording engineer: Bill Schnee executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass guitar: Chuck Rainey drums (drum set): Steve Gadd guitar: Walter Becker, Larry Carlton and Denny Dias percussion: Victor Feldman piano: Michael Omartian Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]: Joe Sample synthesizer, whistle [police whistle] and lead vocals: Donald Fagen tenor saxophone: Wayne Shorter background vocals: Donald Fagen and Tim Schmit conductor: Tom Scott (horn) horn arranger: Tom Scott phonographic copyright (℗) by: UMG Recordings, Inc. (in 1977) recorded at: Producer’s Workshop in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States recording of: Aja lyricist and composer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (, in 1977), MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	8:00
3	Deacon Blues executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass: Walter Becker drums (drum set): Bernard Purdie electric piano and Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]: Victor Feldman guitar: Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour synthesizer and lead vocals: Donald Fagen tenor saxophone: Pete Christlieb background vocals: Venetta Fields, Clydie King and Sherlie Matthews conductor: Tom Scott (horn) horn arranger: Tom Scott phonographic copyright (℗) by: ABC Records, Inc (in 1977) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (in 1977) part of: Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1978 (number: 100) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 214) recording of: Deacon Blues lyricist and composer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: MCA Music Ltd., Music Corporation of America, Inc., Universal/MCA Music Ltd., ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	7:37
4	Peg executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass guitar: Chuck Rainey clavinet: Don Grolnick drums (drum set): Rick Marotta electric piano and Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]: Paul Griffin guitar: Steve Kahn and Steve Khan Lyricon: Tom Scott percussion: Gary Coleman and Victor Feldman solo guitar: Jay Graydon background vocals: Paul Griffin and Michael McDonald lead vocals: Donald Fagen phonographic copyright (℗) by: ABC Records, Inc (in 1977), MCA Records, Inc. (in 1977) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (in 1977) part of: Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1978 (number: 62) recording of: Peg lyricist and composer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: MCA Music Ltd., Universal/MCA Music Ltd., ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	4:00
5	Home at Last executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass guitar: Chuck Rainey drums (drum set): Bernard Purdie guitar: Larry Carlton piano and vibraphone: Victor Feldman solo guitar: Walter Becker synthesizer and lead vocals: Donald Fagen background vocals: Donald Fagen and Tim Schmit phonographic copyright (℗) by: ABC Records, Inc (in 1977) recording of: Home at Last lyricist and composer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: MCA Music Ltd., ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	5:36
6	I Got the News executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass guitar: Chuck Rainey drums (drum set): Ed Greene guitar: Larry Carlton and Dean Parks percussion, piano and vibraphone: Victor Feldman solo guitar: Walter Becker and Larry Carlton synthesizer and lead vocals: Donald Fagen background vocals: Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Rebecca Louis, Sherlie Matthews and Michael McDonald phonographic copyright (℗) by: ABC Records, Inc (in 1977) recording of: I Got the News lyricist and composer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: MCA Music Ltd., ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	5:07
7	Josie executive engineer: Roger Nichols producer: Gary Katz bass guitar: Chuck Rainey drums (drum set) and percussion: Jim Keltner guitar: Larry Carlton and Dean Parks Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]: Victor Feldman solo guitar: Walter Becker synthesizer and lead vocals: Donald Fagen background vocals: Donald Fagen and Tim Schmit phonographic copyright (℗) by: ABC Records, Inc (in 1977), Geffen Records (in 1977) and MCA Records, Inc. (in 1977) recording of: Josie lyricist and composer: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen publisher: MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Publishing, Universal‐MCA Music Publishing, ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc. (in 1977) and Anchor Music Ltd. (in 1977)	4:31

Credits

Release

manufactured in:	Japan

distributed by and marketed by:	UNIVERSAL MUSIC K.K.
copyrighted (©) by:	Geffen Records (in 1999)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:	Geffen Records (in 1977)

Discogs:	https://www.discogs.com/release/12055709 [info]

Release group

associated singles/EPs:	Deacon Blues Josie Peg / I Got the News
covers:	Aja by The Darcys
included in:	Aja / The Nightfly by Steely Dan / Donald Fagen Can’t Buy a Thrill / Aja Citizen Steely Dan: 1972–1980

part of:

Rolling Stone: Yacht Rock: Album Guide (order: 3)
33⅓ (number: 46) (order: 47)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 63) (order: 63)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 63) (order: 63)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 73) (order: 73)
Grammy Award: Album of the Year nominees (number: 1978) (order: 78)
Billboard Decade End Chart: Billboard 200 (number: 88) (order: 88)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 145) (order: 145)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 145) (order: 145)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (number: 377) (order: 378)

Discogs:	https://www.discogs.com/master/16921 [info]
lyrics page:	https://genius.com/albums/Steely-dan/Aja [info]
reviews:	https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/cq9p [info]
other databases:	https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/steely-dan/aja/ [info] https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/steely-dan/aja [info] https://www.musik-sammler.de/album/steely-dan-aja-71122/ [info] https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=19400 [info] https://www.spirit-of-rock.com/en/album/Aja/20437 [info]
Allmusic:	https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000191964 [info]
Wikidata:	Q411814 [info]

Discogs