Steely Dan Newsletter | Issue 53
Aja: Eight minutes of genius
Donny Osmond's strange obsession with covering Steely Dan
‘Reelin’ in the Years’ is undoubtedly one of the best tracks to have come from Steely Dan‘s catalogue, and is a fine example of their early work that managed to stand up to their late-career highlights. Given how adored it is by fans of the band, and how protective the most diehard factions of the fanbase can be, it might well be a horrific thought when someone says they’re going to cover it, not least Donny and Marie Osmond.
Steely Dan’s “Aja”: Eight Minutes of Genius
Steely Dan is known for jazz-influenced arrangements, quirky lyrics, and pristine production. Even non-fans recognize the brilliance of their 1977 album, Aja. For many music lovers, it’s their first choice for a late-night listen accompanied by iced Manhattans. Audiophiles use it to audition high-end stereo speakers. Jazz purists discuss its intricacies with classic rock veterans.
5 Surprising Facts About Steely Dan's 'Gaucho'
Steely Dan’s Gaucho, released in November 1980, shimmered with immaculate production, sly lyrics, and rhythms as smooth as a jazz cocktail at sunset. The album arrived after Aja with high expectations and delivered seven polished tracks that leaned deep into atmosphere and sonic precision. But behind all that polish? Chaos, lawsuits, lost tapes, and one very special drum machine. Here are five little-known facts that bring the making of Gaucho into focus—just the way Becker and Fagen liked it.
Steely Dan’s Final Albums Two Decades Later
Steely Dan were on a roll when the rock duo (Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) released Gaucho in 1980. It reached nine on the album chart, with “Hey, Nineteen” becoming a number ten single. Big FM radio, 1970s hits (“Do It Again”, “Reelin’ in the Years”, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, “Black Cow”) made this run of seven albums in 11 years the most successful mash-up of rock and sophisticated jazz elements, not to mention lyrics rife with obscure references, in history.
The first band to inspire the sound of Steely Dan
Perhaps the reason why the 1970s are often regarded as the greatest decade of music is that the musicians who were active during the period had a wealth of things to inspire them. The ‘50s saw the birth of rock and roll as we know it, and the ‘60s saw a slight expansion on this with the emergence of new sounds, meaning that by the 1970s, artists were truly hitting their stride.
4 of the Best Session Musicians To Work With Steely Dan
Steely Dan wasn’t always a studio-only jazz-rock outfit. The band originally had a full lineup. However, core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen ultimately decided to stop performing as a live act by the end of 1974 and opted instead to continue on as a studio-only outfit. Through the years, Steely Dan employed the talents of quite a few session musicians for those studio sessions, and we think the following four performers deserve some credit for making Steely Dan even better. Let’s take a look!
💬 The excellent Expanding Dan newsletter
The golden age of Web 1.0 Steely Dan fandom
A scroll down memory lane with Jim "Hoops" McKay, majordomo of the Dandom Digest.
📷 The awesome Barney Hurley X account
Barney Hurley is no longer with us, but his X account will forever be loved and truly essential for fans of Steely Dan (and so many other related, legendary artists).
Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan performing at Warnors Theatre, Fresno, California, 1974
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan performing at the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts, Mansfield, Massachusetts on their 1993 U.S. tour
💿 Steely Dan: Every Song Ranked
There’s no story anywhere in music like Steely Dan.
Have a GREAT day! 😎