Steely Dan - "Home At Last" The Making Of:

[stixie211]

Brought up on this stuff. Even all these years later, it's home...at last.

[jamesguitarshields]

big fan of Pretty Purdie, even bigger fan of Purdie's Cosby sweater.

[alanparsonsfan]

I've heard many, many songs in my life. But this is one of the absolute best. Regarding Mr. Purdie, there is a saying in sports: "if you can do it, it's not bragging".... As for today, only Pat Metheny perhaps works this hard...and he didn't get his start in this timeframe!

[thimpanag]

Steely dan = Musical PERFECTION !

[wetrib]

It's Purdie... So Purdie!

[monochrome35]

purdie is sooo unique you can tell he is the drummer in this tune by the fell he gives it with his ultra smooth shuffle

[iloveme40893]

xsweet

[firthoffifthtom]

Aja is a sick sick sick album. Everysong perfect

[MrDaGeil]

@firthoffifthtom Aja wa the L.A version of Steely Dan.

[jacopman]

Could you just imagine any pop garbage today approaching this kind of care and insight into the composition, arrangment and performance of a song???

Thank goodness guys like this still take their craft seriously...........

[jmillzz2]

Who's on Rhodes?

[fugueoflife]

@jmillzz2 That is Paul Griffin. When this video was made, Paul was very ill, and died I think a year after this was made.

[jmillzz2]

@fugueoflife That's what I thought, I've just never seen him before I guess. Sad, he was a fantastic player

[kevinherbert]

Is AJA a dedication to Arthur Jacob Awshansky (aka: Artie Shaw) ????

[brotherdarek]

excellent drummer - teach us dude!

[basehead617]

Walter Becker is such an asshole.. to the point that it's funny.

[jayarlewis]

Bernard Perdie is god!!!!!

[BoozehammerOfGalem]

I saw Bernard Purdie sit in and play "Home At Last" and "Babylon Sisters" with a Steely Dan cover band several years ago. When he's at the drums, the dude struts sitting down. It's amazing. His whole body is involved. It's like he's strutting down the street in NYC, or something. It was incredible to see and hear. I think that is what it takes to be so amazing. You have to involve your whole self. Hope you all get to see this master at work in person sometime, if you haven't already.

[swflbear]

This reminds me how lucky I am to have been born when I was. What a shame if I had missed out on real music like so many younger people have. They actually think RAP is music. They wouldn't know talent if it fell on them. This is REAL. No autotune, no pitch correction, no software to make up for bad musicians. WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!

[emcee4CEE]

@swflbear I wholeheartedly disagree with you, if you'd take the time, I would like to show something that may change your mind about hip hop music. ArtOfficial check them out ht tp :// you tu .be /c_XjRalXNgg just remove the spaces. Cheers

[63Brummie]

I love the way he keeps that "pumping Hi Hat" groove going.

[RAM71]

Purdie's a motherfucker...but he didn't play on no Beatles tracks.

[rspexperiment]

@RAM71 he did and he didn't. his drumming was overdubbed on an old tony sheridan session the beatles played on. it released in the 70s.

[63Brummie]

@RAM71

What does it matter whether he played with them or not?

Along with Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer and John Guerin he is one of the architects of the session playing...that should be enough for anyone.

Besides.

Why would he lie?

He has NOTHING to prove.

[Airica880]

good work

[pastiesboy]

Purdie is one of my heroes.....but don't overlook Fagan's feel on this vid....oh my.

[DancingSpiderman]

ooh ooh ooh ahh...

LVOE it

[lvanhalen]

The damn Purdie shuffle its so cool that sometimes not saying that its simple sometimes a little does alot pretty Purdie nice groove

[samsombersimba]

@lvanhalen

well put.

[Timoth1983]

The Purdie Shuffle makes my dick hard.

[mizarkfob3]

Purdie shuffle, even in a Cosby sweater, shee...

[nergvol]

They didn't just write good music, they are the school!

[AMULET72]

THE DAN ARE PURE CLASS.

[gnukev]

This song and so many DAN songs come from such a sophisticated place. It's a Greek-mythological-half-double­-time-shuffle-blues-ballad. Here's one for you: Name that tune: Spanish-pre-historic-cave-pain­ting-hollywood-pop-jazz. God, I love Steely Dan! Love these vids!

[icarus212001]

@gnukev The Caves of Altamira :D

[thelegendarycd]

@gnukev caves of altamira. another great one

[gnukev]

@thelegendarycd You got it!!

[dm6testa777]

dam he still got it he brongs out the music

[imjustsomeguy72]

When Purdie plays drums, he looks like a cat rubbing up against its owner's legs. It just feels GOOD!

[SteveCOnTheTube]

@imjustsomeguy72

That is a great observation!

[onasugol]

Walter Becker and Donal Fagen, you guys have no idea how strong you have influenced my life. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. God bless you all, guys.

[Deadfreeeak]

They had perfect taste...and hired a perfect drummer.....stunning .

[musicjohng]

I love how the description calls it from the making of AJA CD.. LOL CD

[JigsawRecords]

@musicjohng they were from the future!

[musicjohng]

i love how the description call it the making of AJA CD... LOL

[bigrawbio]

Such a sick track/album/bunch of players

[aaronamccoy]

purdie=BAD MOTHERFUCKER.

[drumfoomaster]

got to meet and get my picture taken with bernard purdie. such an awesome dude.

[fnkdrmmr]

See more about Mr. Purdie on SoulDrummers . com

[bossou5555]

thats sweet

[jodgey4]

oh, ah, ooh ooh ooh ah!

[stevedrums]

His shuffle has that "Fool In the Rain" kind of feel. That's actually how I fugred out the flow of the shuffle. By saying that, I am certainly not insinuating that I play it as well or as soulful as Bernard Purdy.

[2handsforchrist]

@stevedrums if you've not seen the video...check out Jeff Porcaro's "Rosanna" shuffle video. you'll hear some "Fool In The Rain".

[aldofrodo]

What interesting information in the making of Steely Dan music. It's almost better than the music itself...!!!

[KhalDrogo76]

there is only ONE Pretty Purdie....he owns that groove, he should get royalties anytime anyone tries to play that nasty...

[bapyou]

I was looking in my dictionary today and, next to the word cool, there was a picture of Bernard Purdie. :)

[scollins149]

a friend of mine played on a session with Bernard in NYC in the mid 60s. He said Bernard came in with a sidewalk sign (if you know NY, you know that it folds up and is about 3 feet high) that said "World's Greatest Drummer". And he was...I think it was a Monkees session.

[bearswilleatme]

lol that drummer's like the coolest guy I've seen in a while... he just makes me laugh how easy and cool he is. I like how it ends with his name.

[mnaicck]

priddy is bad ass!!!!!!!!!!1

[CribNotes]

Purdie OWNS this song. Even more than Fagen and Becker.

[nolobede]

@CribNotes

None of those guys will own that song any more than the collective. SD has ALWAYS been about the collective. That's why it has always worked so well.

[CribNotes]

That's a patented beat, the so-called "Purdie Shuffle".

I would challenge anyone to mix in a different drumbeat at that tempo on Home At Last and make it not sound completely stupid. Imagine it with a reggae beat in your head....

What else can you really use at that tempo? I say Purdie OWNED that song because without him making that song what it was, I doubt SD would have included it on the Aja album at all.

[nolobede]

Oh c'mon. We can see you're a Purdie fan, so am I. But they asked him in because he's a great drummer. But that song stands on its own. Purdie makes it taste better, but any number of the SD Drummers would have done something to make the song unique. Porcaro, Gadd, Marotta and the many others.

It's not a reggae tune, so that's kind of a silly comparison. But if it were attempted, Becker and Fagen and the rest, could make it happen.

It's always been the collective of ever-changing musicians.

[speechrighter]

@CribNotes Great comments on the great Bernard Purdie. I agree completely.

[blugrastooth]

bernard sure is humble huh? he's a great drummer and very influential to me...but man has he got an ego! I actually kind of like it!

[CribNotes]

Takes a big ego to drive such a slow tempo on a tune like "Home At Last".

[markusjj85]

@blugrastooth He has played with some of the greatest musicians of all time. Buddy Rich was the same way.

[ghostofjackie]

it takes ego's to write music like Dan did. It almost makes me giggle when watching interviews with these guys. They are such geeks for their music and it worked so well. Great music indeed

[SlimeTron5000]

@ghostofjackie I think it takes more music theory to write music than egos.

[markusjj85]

purdie is a living legend of drummers

[drumstyx77]

You gotta luv Purdie's talent & experience...the Dan wasn't sure exactly what they wanted but they left the beat in the hands of the Man. When Walter isolates on the drum track then U fade into Purdie's drummer's scat explaining the beat...that is just FAT!!! This is the main reason I've always loved this song!!!

[starwriter23]

Outstanding. But you know, The Dan had a plethora of great drummers. Bernard, Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd, Keith Carlock. I know I'm leaving out some.

[rmac1042]

@starwriter23 Don't forget my friend, Jim Keltner....

[manifestgtr]

bernard is a true professional....they give him a bunch of guidelines but say they dont know exactly what they want...and he immediately rises to the occassion

[ceriah311]

Very Pure. Theres so much class in their music.

[thejazzman210]

There's a certain coolness in doing what you love in life. Listening to musicians the caliber of this you can tell it's not done for money or fame, that just happens to come along for the ride. Its the love of music that you feel from these guys that makes you respect them and their artistry.

[mspriortube]

It's great to hear these back-stories:

"Essentially, we just wrote a little blues about Ulysees."

Intonation meets intelligence...it's a beautiful thing.

[Jgeneraledger23]

I've never heard of Bernard before, but his drumming kicks total and complete arse!!!

[oRuTRa45]

Bernard "Pretty" Purdie & Chuck Rainey = One of the THE best drums-bass tandems in Jazz/Funk/Soul/R&B. Just listen to Steely Dan's recordings like this one and The Royal Scam. Somebody back me up please.

[63Brummie]

No argument from me buddy...

They'll need to import some fresh ass for them to kick LOL

[Bowser28]

@oRuTRa45 I got you brother.

[funkyappledog]

My Favourite for ever rhythm section.

[fletchercathey]

Donald Fagen now reminding me of Al Pachino's character in Dick Tracey

[MehefinHeulog]

hahaha

and Becker?

[rexspe]

Ha! Where indeed!

[probot65]

What a classic ol' Purdie

What Class n Style n Talent

Sweet tune

Where can 1 buy a sweater like that ?

[ilovethenewdaze]

Only Purdie could pull off wearing that sweater. What a legend

[TJLethal21]

it should be Saint Purdie lol

[surfingsuicune]

Purdie is badass.

[Corestore16]

i love steely dan! i love purdie too!

[cidiose]

Purdie is awesome

[63Brummie]

It's been pushed in by the funk!

[caraphyllis]

"A little blues about Ulysses" - LOL --

[mdgab321]

oh man, the Purdie shuffle is so wicked.. it tickles your soul

[antoinne1]

purdie is the man, did wonders with the aja album

[crescendo352]

@antoinne1 By album, you mean 2 songs...right?

[tonespinner]

@antoinne1 arguably the most recorded drummer in the music industry. he plays a lot around here (Portland Oregon)

[franklinpeach]

Purdie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CribNotes]

Bernard OWNS this song...

[shanghaiKISS02]

what a definition made by Bernard on 3:45

...awesome Purdie!

[lolosixfoe]

haha bernard is the shit

[63Brummie]

I live in North London and spoke to the stockist of Sonor Drums who once had to supply Purdie with a set cor a clinic.

He described him as one ot the best MUSICIANS he'd every seen.

Enough said?

[dreadmorayeel]

Purdie!

Goddamn!

[leon5516]

so is the song about L.A. or new york

[antibimbo21]

It's hard to tell to me. But I think's its about LA.

[DrewD1966]

being from chicago an even split, I've always had the feeling of California about this song even before i just heard them talk about it

[jgpanta]

these guys are classic about ambiguous lyrics which paint an image and a concept which has a loose theme. They leave it up to the imagination of the listener...so to answer your question: to me it is about being homesick for New York while in L.A. ,,,throw a little Homer and a little Purdie shuffle ...and...there it is...

[Cracko90]

Ok, getting the thread back on track. The several "Making of Videos" are nice alternative addiction. Thanks russha717.

[bradominus]

Brilliant album, but I can't find my Aja t-shirt anywhere! Dang it!

[jamfongohno]

Purdie!!!!!!!!!

[brodestar93]

Purdie is such a badass

[stonedead]

You're damn right he is! Absolutely fantastic drummer with just a touch of arrogance. Confidence in your self always pays off!

[Khultan]

@brodestar93 Hm-mmm : )

[snickle13]

wow, the insight in the drum part was quite interesting

what a fantastic drummer

[skater15153]

Purdie is a genius

[md04012003]

I saw the other 2 instrumental videos, Peg and Josie. So now I understand why they invited versatile master session drummer Bernard Purdie intead of Rick Marotta and Jim Keltner. Home at Last was originally played by Bernard Purdie. This groove is difficult to execute perfectly. "Purdie Shuffle" as Jeff Porcaro would say.

[levanyzzuf]

Seems to me that Aja is about homesickness for L.A. while Gaucho is about how its going to hell.

[kirkmach32]

Yummy

[oRuTRa45]

I swear Bernard Purdie and Chuck Rainey make one of the best bass-drums duos in Jazz/Funk. Music, period. And this album is only one piece of evidence.

[franjon]

To be honest, I agree in that you've just got to let Bernard Purdie go. He doesn't need to be told what to do similar to Shorter on Aja. Just give them the part and let them play. They're musicians, not school teachers. They don't need to have things explained to them as though they're children. It was the same with Pastorius and Metheny. Just give them the gig. No "student" is going to better them.

[mackfmocattack]

Dude thank you, if steve gadd wayne and Purdie just let loose it would have been a better record.

[fnkdrmmr]

It's nice to see the studio-magic explained. Most people have no idea how a real record (CD) is made. Those musicians are great, especially Mr. Bernard Purdie (drummer). Finally, someone is giving him the praise he rightfully deserves.

[Hannibu]

For sure, Bernard Purdie is great.

The "godfather" of groove. His halftime-shuffle is so relaxed, yet gives the song such a drive.

And he is so cool and funny. A 100% musician.

[MusicmanSEFJ]

Have this DVD; greatest disc ever archived on one of the greatest albums ever recorded. I have percieved the homesickness compositional curb on which I've tripped into. Since leaving my Canadian roots and delving my works in and around Boston and Dallas, etc, even peering at New Orleans. Still growing, and will continue to listen to these living legends. Seeing their concert at the Nokia Theatre in Dallas tomorrow; will be amazing. :D

[wyldkatt2005]

ever noticed how neil young sometimes did that? i think a valentine to your homeland is the most natural thing, after all, absence makes the heart grow fonder. How awesome was the Beastie boys Paul's Boutique? - a record made in LA about missing NYC.