I have watched this vid a few times. This time just now I was a little creeped out by the very final shot which I never really thought twice about. It shows a plane flying past the world trade center
Whether or not you like the song "Peg" is subjective. Any musician will tell you the level of improvisation is on the jazz level, which speaks for itself. This is a great document for anyone wanting to know what goes into the making of a quality recording. Especially the '7 or 8' guitar solos they went through to pick Jay Graydon's classic jazz fusion guitar break.
@Khultan Yeah, that's why 4 posts ago I said you didn't understand the technique of slapping & popping, started by Larry Graham. And that's why you've yet to produce footage of Ronnie Lane actually using that technique in 1965, or at ANY TIME--because you don't understand WTF you're talking about, and he NEVER did it. It's good that you're watching videos like this, though; you need the education.
@fretbuzz59 You didn't prove anything with that, Buzz. Ronnie didn't pick up on Larry, so you can't use that premise. And it's right there on the Marquee performance or you're just fucking stubborn and poor eyed.
@Khultan You might be trying to educate yourself, but apparently you're not learning much, or you're just unwilling to learn. Watch video yioVmqlt2Fk. If you still don't understand the difference between that and what Lane did, then you're hopeless. And I'm 52, not that it matters.
@fretbuzz59 Age does matter just so you are aware. And, what's 'yioVmqt2Fk'? A poster who uploaded the subject that you and I are in contention on? I don't know what that is.
@Khultan It's the youtube video number. Search youtube, though make sure you have the right number, it's yioVmqlt2Fk. (Youtube doesn't allow posting of links.)
@fretbuzz59 I studied what Ronnie Lane was doing and what Mark King is doing AND from what little I saw of Larry(?) and what he calls 'slapping'. But, he actually refers to his technique as 'thumpin' and pluckin', which looks about exactly what Mark King is doing. I honestly believe the term 'slapping' is being misused, as Ronnie Lane definitely demonstrates that he, indeed, is 'slapping' or 'smacking' the bass. I don't see that demonstrated with Mark nor with Larry. Term is misused.
@Khultan A bass player I know used to call in "thumbing" b/c the slapping is done w/the thumb. Doesn't matter. The technique is what it is, regardless of what it's called. And as I've been telling u right along, what Lane did isn't the same. It's not even a technique, per se; it's just whacking the strings. You're hung up on semantics. Tho that could be b/c u can't admit you were wrong. 32 yrs ago I played a song in which I hit the gtr strings w/a teaspoon. THAT was more like what Lane did.
@fretbuzz59 How you're gonna tell me that it's a matter of semantics and that it's, ohhhh- THE THUMB- that is actually doing the slapping, smacking etc. hunh?!? Ohh, it's the THUMB that validates the technique and merits the term 'slapping'. Oh, boy. While 'Plonk' is slapping with his WHOLE DAMN HAND and not a technique of itself. Well, take a look, genius, HE'S USING IT AS A TECHNIQUE.
@Khultan Wow, a technique that requires no skill. Woo hoo! Very impressive. Like I said, you can't admit you were wrong that what Chuck Rainey talks about is not what Ronnie Lane was doing at the Marquee--WHATEVER you want to call it.
@fretbuzz59 'A technique that requires no skill' Goddamn, you really are a stump above the neck ignoramus. It IS a technique REGARDLESS of, your boy, Mark, putting in the numbers on that bass. You [CENSORED] [CENSORED] mother[CENSORED] [CENSORED] hole!!!
@Khultan He didn't say it was new. He said it was just becoming popular, which is about right. Some of the funk guys were doing it, but you didn't hear it much on pop records until the mid-late 70s, and then into the 80s, when everybody did it ALL the time.
@fretbuzz59 My point, originally, was focused on what he said in that 'slapping' was becoming popular, as far as he knew, but that it goes further than that into the 1960s and you saying that you didn't hear it much until the mid-late 70s, which points out the range of what you know, see?
@Khultan Dude, Chuck Rainey is one of the top session bass players ever, so he was pretty hip to what was happening. Larry Graham was doing it in the late 60s. I had jazz/funk records w/slapping/popping back in '73. What I (and Chuck) said was that slapping on pop records didn't become prominent until the mid-late 70s. PROMINENT, get it? Not the first time it was ever done. But since you're the expert, why don't you name a couple of records from the mid 60s that have it.
@fretbuzz59 Okay, you're getting exasperated Buzz, and, no, I'm not an expert but I definitely am on a mission of research. Okay, slapping's 'prominence', according to you and Chuck debuts sometime in the mid-late70s. Ronnie Lane of the original Small Faces was already doing it in the first original lineup of the group in the 1965.
@Khultan Everything I've ever read credits Larry Graham w/developing that technique, which I'm not sure you even understand. Because aside from the fact that Ronnie Lane usually played w/a pick, he sure didn't do slapping & popping. Yeah, he got a thumpy sound, but was because of the strings he used, & because his bass probably had no sustain. Plus, you don't seem to understand English. Something that comes to prominence has been around, gradually getting known. Its prominence doesn't debut.
@fretbuzz59 Okay, let's do away with the 'prominence' issue, okay? Exit that, okay? Okay. Ronnie Lane DID do slapping, you twit. Why don't you look at The Marquee performance. You're looking at later eras.
@Khultan No, I was looking at stuff circa 65/66. But, I checked out Marquee. What he did there isn't the same AT ALL. That's not a technique; it's just smacking the strings. Plenty of guys did that. Hell, upright players slapped in the 40s. Slapping/popping is a VERY specific technique, which I don't think you understand. (look it up) BTW, prominence was the WHOLE POINT. It was on lots of records at the time & Becker & Fagen didn't want their record to be too trendy. But Chuck did it anyway.
@Khultan Listen jackass, right away I figured you didn't know what you were talking about, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt that maybe you knew something I didn't, so I checked out Lane. That you thought what he was doing was even remotely similar to real popping & slapping is pretty laughable, but there's no shame in ignorance. The shame is defending ignorance in light of the truth. Any hack can bash the strings as Lane did. The other technique takes lots & lots of practice.
@jabaltar84 I know, I'm the only person I know who thinks it, but I guess it's because I just don't like his voice in any case - particularly in "Peg".
To each his own, and it doesn't really diminish from what is one of the best pop songs in history.
I've played this master tape, even made a DAT with all 6 guitar solos. If memory serves, 2 of the solos were by Becker.
There's also an EWI on the track. And there's no SMPTE time code, which means it was mixed manually, using no console automation, by my friend Al Schmitt.
Can anybody help me find the bass/drum instrumental loop(1:12 and 2:33) just by itself? I'll gladly purchase it if its just the two instruments playing the song. I just need that loop. Thanx
That was great! I really liked hearing the alternate guitar solos. I liked the one they went with but really either of those other two worked as well.
This is my favorite music of all time...it is so good to know that someone recorded the science thereof - THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU! XXOO Sweeite
Fagen and Becker belong in the same category with Lennon-McCartney, IMHO, i.e. one of the greatest songwriting teams in the history of music. That most people don't know their names is irrelevant - - any musician worth his/her salt does know them, and how towering their contributions are. Anyone who knocks Steely Dan simply doesn't know much about music. Period.
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!! Had no idea that was Michael McDonald singin backround for Peg one of my all time favorite!! Has to be one of the best feel good songs ever!!!!
@LuvsNeoSoul302 It's a feel good song because Peg is a femme fatale who abruptly left the singer to go on and do modelling, "pin shots", etc., leaving only a Dear John letter behind. But she is going to get hers. But you are right in that McDonald's harmonies (which appear several times on the album Aja) is mellifluous are enough to embrace the second stage of the Doobie Brothers without question.
Amazing to hear all those different parts of that song singled out - absolutely fascinating. I've listened to that album hundreds of times, and never knew what any of it sounded like independent of the rest. Becker and Fagin and all musicians - my hat's off to you.
What I think is funny is when Don tries to make fun of Michael McDonald's high singing but later on (not in this clip) he mildly teases himself for sounding like Jerry Lewis, but just for a "phase" in his career. And Walter looks at him like "a phase? you always have and always will sing like Jerry Lewis!" Check it out yourself!!
this is just a art work, everybody just atta this world. y usetd play this song with my band casablanca,,we just enjoy it to much,tanks to pioria ill.,,martin roca....
Wow. What a pain in the ass it must have been for McDonald to sing those multitrack cluster harmonies if he wasn't used to it.
I LOVE the shittiness of the rejected guitar solos. But you can't really blame the studio guitarists. Steely Dan's music is so fucked up, what the hell kind of solo belongs in a goofy song like "Peg"?
Jay Graydon comes along and makes it sound like he owns the song - much like Elliot Randall on "Reelin in the Years".
@CribNotes It is kind of cool how the two rejected solos were similar. You can hear the guitarists get lost; like you said they were probably thinking "WTF?". Then Graydon comes along and does something totally different. To me it's one of the top ten or twenty guitar solos in an era when lots of adult comtemporary and pop actually *featured* guitar (Eagles, Player, Styx, America, Ronstadt, Wings, Steve Miller, Grand Funk, Gordon Lightfoot, etc). The solo in Peg is really terrific.
AFTER the Vietnam war Steve gadd continued his cocaine habit &on most of his recordings including aja he was high . jeff porcaro new this too , he;s dead now due to it .
@poltome In stories they were tooting buddies . not to blame Steve gadd .the little pusher oops ! Porcaro died of heart attack due to (complications) !!!!
@MrDiscordinated I was a student at Full Sail when my instructer Bruce Marshall came in one day to tell us Porcaro had died of an allergic reaction to pesticides. The rumors all most instantly flew of it being an overdose to cocaine. Bruce was a very close friend to the members of Toto and Al Schmidt. So he denied the rumors and insisted it was a reaction to pestisides.
Wiki says thats the official reasons..... pesticides. Either way, Gadd didnt shove the drugs up Porcaros nose.
@marcusdolby1. No jeff would have done that himself .but how did he injest pesticdes ?
i guess it's still seen as a slur on reputation when a rock star dies of an overdose .Apparently Jeff P. died of pestiside poision . (rumour). Steve gadd was a god to some ,& and a huge coke head to others . (fact) love there work !
@poltome In stories they were tooting buddies . not to blame Steve gadd .the little pusher oops ! Porcaro died of heart attack due to (complications) !!!! rumours ! also heard phil gould from level 42 had a huge prob with coke . whaterver!
Chuck Rainey made the right choice on deciding to thump on the bridge. It really added effect to the song and its the best part of the song in my opinion
Peg doesn't sound like much of a part????? Are you KIDDING ME, Michael??? It's just about the greatest background vocal ever recorded, and is a big reason why the song is so memorable!!!
@killabeegorman I would give anything to be a fly on the wall when Jay recorded that solo. I've seen so many youtubers attemp it (including myself) and can't seem to do it 100% right.
@killabeegorman People often criticise SD for chewing up and spitting out session musos, but there is no way EITHER of those solos could have been there instead of Jay's.
Wow. I am speechless. This is awesome!! I keep this CD in my car and I have one for my classroom. My students love this groove. This song is something like 32-33 years old and kids born in the late 1990s and early 2000s are digging this song! This song is timeless. Thank you fellas
@JellyBean2144 I play this CD for my students too they love it. although they complained at first they started requesting certain song Black Cow and Peg lead the list
What fuckin incredible musicians. My friends tell me Im boring and pretentious about music. I say I just love great music. They can't get it cos they have never played an instrument or listened to any music that has not been in the charts in the last 5 years. Makes me sad.
The talent involved in the making of this song is staggering. Today, you need a producer and some computers and voice modulators and a face (usually a hot chick)...
This album is a masterpiece. An absolute masterpiece. When you look at the cats on this album, everyone from kenton guys, to fusion cats, it's amazing how Becker and Fagen got such a sound. It's going in my casket with me. Along with Kind of Blue, A love Supreme, and Glenn Gould's 1955 Goldberg Variations....
The rejected guitar riffs sounds pretty good but I guess if they went with the ones they didn't like, Peg might not have been what it is then and still is now. I'm referring to the segment that begins around the 5:00 mark.
As an ex recording musician and Steely Dan freak since they began, I would love to be able to watch a video like this about every single song they ever recorded.
@fripouille69 Eaminncadiz here mate, that DVD you asked me about - AJA the making of. Classic Albums Series 2 Ltd & Eagle Rock Entertainment produced the DVD.
In the UK it was distributed by ILC Music Ltd. Hope that helps you find it.
@fripouille69 Eaminncadiz here mate, that DVD you asked me about - AJA the making of. Classic Albums Series 2 Ltd & Eagle Rock Entertainment produced the DVD.
In the UK it was distributed by ILC Music Ltd. Hope that helps you find it.
@Nick300wm "Listening to Michael Mc Donald merely talk, is like beholding the pouring of warm cream over the pert breasts of a young, beautiful woman."
for some reason this top rated comment is not showing on the first page. I have to bump it because it is my favorite comment on youtube.
Got this DVD from Amazon a while back. Unbelievable. Must have watched it 100 times, never get bored of it, they are just amazing. Saw them live in Birmingham a couple of years ago, without doubt ginats of rock.
eamonncadiz, you said "Got this DVD from Amazon a while back." Is this vid from a DVD on Steely Dan? I live in France so it will almost certainly not be available in a store so could you, or anyone else, please post the name and any references for the CD? I'd love to have a copy. Thanks, and have a great day!
my dream would to have an ounce of weed and again listen to becker and fagen tell me how aja was made while playing back all the loops on that mixer. i would be in heaven.
The Michael McDonald harmonies are AMAZING and remember this was before AUTO TUNE! When you here those notes he hit soloed on the board they are amazingly perfect! So intricately layered. What a genius of a singer and what an ingenious band! THE BEST.
@ediblesounds Music is regressing. The music industry is so greedy and desperate they're manufacturing musicians instead of going with raw talent like they had to.
.......it's your favorite foreign movie.
efeeley 1 week ago
Oh ja ... Präzision ... immer wieder faszinierend!
BrainstormSongs 3 weeks ago
This is an insight into how great art can be created. Others do it differently but you can't deny Becker and Fagin's genius.
bikermiker55 3 weeks ago
FAGEN
yabetterbringit 1 month ago
that was an awesome documentary. I love to get the inside of how the songs are made/produced. Becker & Fagin are magic.
crysjumar1 1 month ago
that was a seagull !!
engcameraman2 1 month ago
I have watched this vid a few times. This time just now I was a little creeped out by the very final shot which I never really thought twice about. It shows a plane flying past the world trade center
bsharpinLondon 1 month ago
Glad to see Roger Nichols made it into this show at 4:36. RIP. Guy was a freaking genius.
hibob418 3 months ago
Whether or not you like the song "Peg" is subjective. Any musician will tell you the level of improvisation is on the jazz level, which speaks for itself. This is a great document for anyone wanting to know what goes into the making of a quality recording. Especially the '7 or 8' guitar solos they went through to pick Jay Graydon's classic jazz fusion guitar break.
Ingr9821 3 months ago
This Michael McDonald solo in the end was very good!
cobrartt 3 months ago
These guys surrounded themselves with the best musicians and it showed in their impeccable work.
JMichael65 3 months ago
thnx for sharing, great editing!
mariorgm 4 months ago in playlist steely dan
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Sorry, this song just isn't that good. But whatevs, to each their own!
Benefit1970 4 months ago
@Benefit1970 OK, show us the good stuff. Post a link to your discography.
pranktheroyal 3 months ago
What!? I love this series and I had no idea that Aja had been featured on "Classic Albums!" Thanks for posting.... you absolutely made my day!!!
tidalbeads 5 months ago
@Khultan Yeah, that's why 4 posts ago I said you didn't understand the technique of slapping & popping, started by Larry Graham. And that's why you've yet to produce footage of Ronnie Lane actually using that technique in 1965, or at ANY TIME--because you don't understand WTF you're talking about, and he NEVER did it. It's good that you're watching videos like this, though; you need the education.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 You didn't prove anything with that, Buzz. Ronnie didn't pick up on Larry, so you can't use that premise. And it's right there on the Marquee performance or you're just fucking stubborn and poor eyed.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan You might be trying to educate yourself, but apparently you're not learning much, or you're just unwilling to learn. Watch video yioVmqlt2Fk. If you still don't understand the difference between that and what Lane did, then you're hopeless. And I'm 52, not that it matters.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 Age does matter just so you are aware. And, what's 'yioVmqt2Fk'? A poster who uploaded the subject that you and I are in contention on? I don't know what that is.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan It's the youtube video number. Search youtube, though make sure you have the right number, it's yioVmqlt2Fk. (Youtube doesn't allow posting of links.)
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 I'm on it.
Khultan 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 I studied what Ronnie Lane was doing and what Mark King is doing AND from what little I saw of Larry(?) and what he calls 'slapping'. But, he actually refers to his technique as 'thumpin' and pluckin', which looks about exactly what Mark King is doing. I honestly believe the term 'slapping' is being misused, as Ronnie Lane definitely demonstrates that he, indeed, is 'slapping' or 'smacking' the bass. I don't see that demonstrated with Mark nor with Larry. Term is misused.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan A bass player I know used to call in "thumbing" b/c the slapping is done w/the thumb. Doesn't matter. The technique is what it is, regardless of what it's called. And as I've been telling u right along, what Lane did isn't the same. It's not even a technique, per se; it's just whacking the strings. You're hung up on semantics. Tho that could be b/c u can't admit you were wrong. 32 yrs ago I played a song in which I hit the gtr strings w/a teaspoon. THAT was more like what Lane did.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 How you're gonna tell me that it's a matter of semantics and that it's, ohhhh- THE THUMB- that is actually doing the slapping, smacking etc. hunh?!? Ohh, it's the THUMB that validates the technique and merits the term 'slapping'. Oh, boy. While 'Plonk' is slapping with his WHOLE DAMN HAND and not a technique of itself. Well, take a look, genius, HE'S USING IT AS A TECHNIQUE.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan Wow, a technique that requires no skill. Woo hoo! Very impressive. Like I said, you can't admit you were wrong that what Chuck Rainey talks about is not what Ronnie Lane was doing at the Marquee--WHATEVER you want to call it.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 'A technique that requires no skill' Goddamn, you really are a stump above the neck ignoramus. It IS a technique REGARDLESS of, your boy, Mark, putting in the numbers on that bass. You [CENSORED] [CENSORED] mother[CENSORED] [CENSORED] hole!!!
Khultan 6 months ago
Any bassists out there know if the bassist is using flatwounds? The slapping part sounds like it but not really sure...
SeanMC114 6 months ago
@SeanMC114 I think they probably were flats.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
'Slapping was just becoming popular'? Hunh?!?
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan Yeah, it was 1977.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 But, it certainly wasn't new.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan He didn't say it was new. He said it was just becoming popular, which is about right. Some of the funk guys were doing it, but you didn't hear it much on pop records until the mid-late 70s, and then into the 80s, when everybody did it ALL the time.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 Hmm...I see. And it was being done in the mid 1960s.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan Mid 60s? You sure? Maybe late 60s. Regardless, what's your point?
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 My point, originally, was focused on what he said in that 'slapping' was becoming popular, as far as he knew, but that it goes further than that into the 1960s and you saying that you didn't hear it much until the mid-late 70s, which points out the range of what you know, see?
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan Dude, Chuck Rainey is one of the top session bass players ever, so he was pretty hip to what was happening. Larry Graham was doing it in the late 60s. I had jazz/funk records w/slapping/popping back in '73. What I (and Chuck) said was that slapping on pop records didn't become prominent until the mid-late 70s. PROMINENT, get it? Not the first time it was ever done. But since you're the expert, why don't you name a couple of records from the mid 60s that have it.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 Okay, you're getting exasperated Buzz, and, no, I'm not an expert but I definitely am on a mission of research. Okay, slapping's 'prominence', according to you and Chuck debuts sometime in the mid-late70s. Ronnie Lane of the original Small Faces was already doing it in the first original lineup of the group in the 1965.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan Everything I've ever read credits Larry Graham w/developing that technique, which I'm not sure you even understand. Because aside from the fact that Ronnie Lane usually played w/a pick, he sure didn't do slapping & popping. Yeah, he got a thumpy sound, but was because of the strings he used, & because his bass probably had no sustain. Plus, you don't seem to understand English. Something that comes to prominence has been around, gradually getting known. Its prominence doesn't debut.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 Okay, let's do away with the 'prominence' issue, okay? Exit that, okay? Okay. Ronnie Lane DID do slapping, you twit. Why don't you look at The Marquee performance. You're looking at later eras.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan No, I was looking at stuff circa 65/66. But, I checked out Marquee. What he did there isn't the same AT ALL. That's not a technique; it's just smacking the strings. Plenty of guys did that. Hell, upright players slapped in the 40s. Slapping/popping is a VERY specific technique, which I don't think you understand. (look it up) BTW, prominence was the WHOLE POINT. It was on lots of records at the time & Becker & Fagen didn't want their record to be too trendy. But Chuck did it anyway.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
@fretbuzz59 Just 'smacking' the strings. Just smacking the strings?!? Ah, you moron.
Khultan 6 months ago
@Khultan Listen jackass, right away I figured you didn't know what you were talking about, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt that maybe you knew something I didn't, so I checked out Lane. That you thought what he was doing was even remotely similar to real popping & slapping is pretty laughable, but there's no shame in ignorance. The shame is defending ignorance in light of the truth. Any hack can bash the strings as Lane did. The other technique takes lots & lots of practice.
fretbuzz59 6 months ago
please excuse me...I am going to go scream like a b-tch right now..
unique74muzik 7 months ago
These guys are so good it's scary!
toffee20 7 months ago
Three people know NOTHING about music.
missionalgirl 7 months ago in playlist JAZZ - Steely Dan
Love it, but I have always wished they'd have done it without McDonald's backing vocals. His voice is just so ...wrong.
orchidtender 7 months ago
@orchidtender Wow....That's very interesting..
jabaltar84 7 months ago
@jabaltar84 I know, I'm the only person I know who thinks it, but I guess it's because I just don't like his voice in any case - particularly in "Peg".
To each his own, and it doesn't really diminish from what is one of the best pop songs in history.
orchidtender 7 months ago
@orchidtender i beg to differ. his backup part is the hook of that song! i cannot imagine anyone else singing it. to each his own i guess.
eyescandeceive 6 months ago
Absolutely awesome ..
taemurz 7 months ago
I've played this master tape, even made a DAT with all 6 guitar solos. If memory serves, 2 of the solos were by Becker.
There's also an EWI on the track. And there's no SMPTE time code, which means it was mixed manually, using no console automation, by my friend Al Schmitt.
SteveAudio 7 months ago
one of my favorites of theirs. perfect instrumentation and no one but michael mcdonald could have sung it.
lindadee1000 8 months ago
Can anybody help me find the bass/drum instrumental loop(1:12 and 2:33) just by itself? I'll gladly purchase it if its just the two instruments playing the song. I just need that loop. Thanx
transporter362 9 months ago
Bernard Purdy on the drums in that second band they show doing a take!
GSBeliever 9 months ago
eat your heart out, just about anyone else that ever made a noise and thought someone else might find it interesting to listen to it
DrunkOnPoppySeeds 9 months ago
I love this stuff !!
lilnetty2 10 months ago
I love how first it was maybe 3 guys who came in to try the guitar solo... then it becomes 8.
scottp118 10 months ago
R.I.P. Roger.....
ksyksy 10 months ago
so I typed in polyethylene glycol on google. This is what I got.
Zander101084 10 months ago 4
Oh Chuck, you so sneaky!
TrapsWonder 10 months ago
"Speaks for itself really.." -- fucking rofl... I'm pretty sure that was Walter's take of the solo? It sounds like him
basehead617 11 months ago
How cool/scary was the Rick Marotta pic from the 70s?
basehead617 11 months ago
I love this.. This is classic ! Rick Marotta, You are best drummer, My bro ! God bless you man !
TERENCEBIGDADDY 11 months ago
After they've called it quits on their respective music careers, Donald and Walter should take themselves out on the road as a comedy duo.
Their dry wit and delivery is outstanding.
Their sparse narrative in the segment between 4:19 and 5:25 is classic..
geoffreydlang 11 months ago 2
now THIS is music, what the hell are people doing these days, I mean that shiiiite on the radio, what the hell is up with that?
Strat0Blues 11 months ago
That was great! I really liked hearing the alternate guitar solos. I liked the one they went with but really either of those other two worked as well.
c8udyp 11 months ago
The drummer looks like the 13th member of al-Queda in 1978
bfnputz 1 year ago
This is my favorite music of all time...it is so good to know that someone recorded the science thereof - THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU! XXOO Sweeite
realsweetone 1 year ago
This "Making Of..." series is priceless. Many thanks to russha717.
guitarist3813 1 year ago 2
Fagen and Becker belong in the same category with Lennon-McCartney, IMHO, i.e. one of the greatest songwriting teams in the history of music. That most people don't know their names is irrelevant - - any musician worth his/her salt does know them, and how towering their contributions are. Anyone who knocks Steely Dan simply doesn't know much about music. Period.
cd1857 1 year ago 56
@cd1857 AMEN! Any vocalist worth their salt should know who Steely Dan is too!
MegaMaryThomas 1 year ago
@cd1857 I agree totally!!!
eldercurt53 4 months ago
Funky! I loves!
Kaistar6 1 year ago
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!! Had no idea that was Michael McDonald singin backround for Peg one of my all time favorite!! Has to be one of the best feel good songs ever!!!!
LuvsNeoSoul302 1 year ago 3
@LuvsNeoSoul302 It's a feel good song because Peg is a femme fatale who abruptly left the singer to go on and do modelling, "pin shots", etc., leaving only a Dear John letter behind. But she is going to get hers. But you are right in that McDonald's harmonies (which appear several times on the album Aja) is mellifluous are enough to embrace the second stage of the Doobie Brothers without question.
ArgoLupus 1 year ago
This is great! Thanks for posting this!
trashley3000 1 year ago
Very cool. Thanks!
designermite 1 year ago
Amazing to hear all those different parts of that song singled out - absolutely fascinating. I've listened to that album hundreds of times, and never knew what any of it sounded like independent of the rest. Becker and Fagin and all musicians - my hat's off to you.
LoveTOFU2 1 year ago
Its amazing 2 hear how Peg was created!!!! GENIUS!!!!!!!!!
tinapbutler 1 year ago
I love that. "Speaks for itself really." That shitty first guitar solo attempt.
dunskie 1 year ago
What I think is funny is when Don tries to make fun of Michael McDonald's high singing but later on (not in this clip) he mildly teases himself for sounding like Jerry Lewis, but just for a "phase" in his career. And Walter looks at him like "a phase? you always have and always will sing like Jerry Lewis!" Check it out yourself!!
mtroy0620 1 year ago
this is just a art work, everybody just atta this world. y usetd play this song with my band casablanca,,we just enjoy it to much,tanks to pioria ill.,,martin roca....
MrMartinbeltran 1 year ago
this is just a art work, everybody just atta this world.
MrMartinbeltran 1 year ago
Chuck Rainey tore that shit up!
mscaxe 1 year ago 2
Greatest Graydon!!
82768916 1 year ago
amazing sounds
ellmerrfudd 1 year ago
2 people dislike this magnificant film. 2 people will burn in hell.
RomanticsInc 1 year ago
Wow. What a pain in the ass it must have been for McDonald to sing those multitrack cluster harmonies if he wasn't used to it.
I LOVE the shittiness of the rejected guitar solos. But you can't really blame the studio guitarists. Steely Dan's music is so fucked up, what the hell kind of solo belongs in a goofy song like "Peg"?
Jay Graydon comes along and makes it sound like he owns the song - much like Elliot Randall on "Reelin in the Years".
CribNotes 1 year ago
@CribNotes It is kind of cool how the two rejected solos were similar. You can hear the guitarists get lost; like you said they were probably thinking "WTF?". Then Graydon comes along and does something totally different. To me it's one of the top ten or twenty guitar solos in an era when lots of adult comtemporary and pop actually *featured* guitar (Eagles, Player, Styx, America, Ronstadt, Wings, Steve Miller, Grand Funk, Gordon Lightfoot, etc). The solo in Peg is really terrific.
WappsOps 1 year ago
@WappsOps Hah! The two solos are similar because they are Becker's! Donald alludes to it by saying "Don't you hate it ...".
tleong99 1 year ago
Awesome!!! I love the guitar solo and how the last note stretches into the vocals.
Timeless classic .
7sevo7 1 year ago
Rick Marotta's groove was always impressive to me!
J6Studios 1 year ago
AFTER the Vietnam war Steve gadd continued his cocaine habit &on most of his recordings including aja he was high . jeff porcaro new this too , he;s dead now due to it .
MrDiscordinated 1 year ago
@MrDiscordinated Jeff Porcaro is dead because of Steve Gadd's cocaine problem?
I don't expect you to go into detail about it but can you explain this one to me?
poltome 1 year ago
@poltome In stories they were tooting buddies . not to blame Steve gadd .the little pusher oops ! Porcaro died of heart attack due to (complications) !!!!
MrDiscordinated 1 year ago
@MrDiscordinated Yes I know how Porcaro died, I also know that he was a grown man, and could've said....wait for it....No thanks.
With regards to Steve Gadd, greatest drummer I've heard to date.
poltome 1 year ago
@MrDiscordinated I was a student at Full Sail when my instructer Bruce Marshall came in one day to tell us Porcaro had died of an allergic reaction to pesticides. The rumors all most instantly flew of it being an overdose to cocaine. Bruce was a very close friend to the members of Toto and Al Schmidt. So he denied the rumors and insisted it was a reaction to pestisides.
Wiki says thats the official reasons..... pesticides. Either way, Gadd didnt shove the drugs up Porcaros nose.
marcusdolby1 1 year ago
@marcusdolby1. No jeff would have done that himself .but how did he injest pesticdes ?
i guess it's still seen as a slur on reputation when a rock star dies of an overdose .Apparently Jeff P. died of pestiside poision . (rumour). Steve gadd was a god to some ,& and a huge coke head to others . (fact) love there work !
MrDiscordinated 1 year ago
@marcusdolby1 Jeff Porcaro isn't dead.
basehead617 11 months ago
@basehead617 I dont know what you mean by that but if you mean he isnt dead because his drumming lives on then yes......... he isnt dead.
marcusdolby1 11 months ago
@basehead617 Jeff has been dead for years.............
digga2k6 4 months ago
@poltome In stories they were tooting buddies . not to blame Steve gadd .the little pusher oops ! Porcaro died of heart attack due to (complications) !!!! rumours ! also heard phil gould from level 42 had a huge prob with coke . whaterver!
MrDiscordinated 1 year ago
Chuck Rainey made the right choice on deciding to thump on the bridge. It really added effect to the song and its the best part of the song in my opinion
amg123191 1 year ago
Peg doesn't sound like much of a part????? Are you KIDDING ME, Michael??? It's just about the greatest background vocal ever recorded, and is a big reason why the song is so memorable!!!
eyescandeceive 1 year ago 2
I think this drummer is Steve Gadd
RSethTV 1 year ago
This is Rick Marotta, but Steve Gadd played the incredible drum part and solo on Aja (the single)
eyescandeceive 1 year ago 3
@eyescandeceive You don't even have to read who played on it. Once you hear the ending you know it's Gadd.
poltome 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This is Rick Marotta, but Steve Gadd played the incredible drum parts and solos on Aja (the single)
eyescandeceive 1 year ago
'it prefigured my own existence in hawaii' lol
aaronamccoy 1 year ago
@aaronamccoy Gotta love Becker's laconic wit.
surfingsuicune 1 year ago
the other two solos are disasters compared to the graydon one.
killabeegorman 1 year ago
@killabeegorman I would give anything to be a fly on the wall when Jay recorded that solo. I've seen so many youtubers attemp it (including myself) and can't seem to do it 100% right.
ZenDriveSeven 1 year ago
@killabeegorman People often criticise SD for chewing up and spitting out session musos, but there is no way EITHER of those solos could have been there instead of Jay's.
imjustsomeguy72 1 year ago
god bless me to great like these fellas.
kennykeys89 1 year ago
What has happened to "popular" music in in our world?
Where are the TRUE artists like this anymore?!?!
MeInTheCornfield 1 year ago
Wow. I am speechless. This is awesome!! I keep this CD in my car and I have one for my classroom. My students love this groove. This song is something like 32-33 years old and kids born in the late 1990s and early 2000s are digging this song! This song is timeless. Thank you fellas
JellyBean2144 1 year ago 2
@JellyBean2144 I play this CD for my students too they love it. although they complained at first they started requesting certain song Black Cow and Peg lead the list
bagley232 1 year ago
they dont make real music like this anymore
lucy1276 1 year ago
What fuckin incredible musicians. My friends tell me Im boring and pretentious about music. I say I just love great music. They can't get it cos they have never played an instrument or listened to any music that has not been in the charts in the last 5 years. Makes me sad.
FATSLATER1 1 year ago
4:20 three or four, five, six or seven, eight players. hahaha
ahrrp23 1 year ago
love it. love it. love it.
treadley 1 year ago
Aja on vinyl and a doobie is one of the finer things in life
mfcallaha 1 year ago 2
The genius of it all. I never knew. Amazing.
aldofrodo 1 year ago 2
This really makes me miss the recording studio. Being an audio engineer is a beautiful thing.
GamepitDAngelo 1 year ago
@GamepitDAngelo INDEED it is!
detwin2 1 year ago
my favorite band!
jaber4life 1 year ago
The talent involved in the making of this song is staggering. Today, you need a producer and some computers and voice modulators and a face (usually a hot chick)...
JAB5625 1 year ago
What a good music is my music,,,our music!
pappysmp 1 year ago
Dette kan ikke blive mere genialt!!
racingdenmark 1 year ago
this video is great, never get tired of seeing and hearing it....they look so young in this video, when was this made???????????
montrealfrancedub 1 year ago
@montrealfrancedub
Looks like the 90s.
degree7 1 year ago
i love steely DAN!!!!GIVES ME ORGASMS
taylor89ten 1 year ago
@Russha717 Thanks a bunch for uploading it, one of the best vids I've seen in a long time!
lisinmiami 1 year ago
This album is a masterpiece. An absolute masterpiece. When you look at the cats on this album, everyone from kenton guys, to fusion cats, it's amazing how Becker and Fagen got such a sound. It's going in my casket with me. Along with Kind of Blue, A love Supreme, and Glenn Gould's 1955 Goldberg Variations....
johnbarleycornmd 1 year ago
Fagen is one of the great musical geniuses.
Gtrplayer77 1 year ago
The rejected guitar riffs sounds pretty good but I guess if they went with the ones they didn't like, Peg might not have been what it is then and still is now. I'm referring to the segment that begins around the 5:00 mark.
supercooled 1 year ago
What an absolute treat to see such brilliant talent looking back.
Genius band, beautiful song.
charactercall 1 year ago
This is why SD is so good, they are pros.
kf6eii 1 year ago
Doesn't Roger Nichols look like Paul Purcell?
vatmcgrath 1 year ago
Fascinating detail on this song-I love it!
pretorious700 1 year ago
3 or 4, 5, 6 to 7, 8 players :D
janjanjan0 1 year ago
Amazing video!
As an ex recording musician and Steely Dan freak since they began, I would love to be able to watch a video like this about every single song they ever recorded.
fripouille69 1 year ago 2
@fripouille69 Eaminncadiz here mate, that DVD you asked me about - AJA the making of. Classic Albums Series 2 Ltd & Eagle Rock Entertainment produced the DVD.
In the UK it was distributed by ILC Music Ltd. Hope that helps you find it.
eamonncadiz 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@fripouille69 Eaminncadiz here mate, that DVD you asked me about - AJA the making of. Classic Albums Series 2 Ltd & Eagle Rock Entertainment produced the DVD.
In the UK it was distributed by ILC Music Ltd. Hope that helps you find it.
eamonncadiz 1 year ago
Listening to Michael Mc Donald merely talk, is like beholding the pouring of warm cream over the pert breasts of a young, beautiful woman.
Nick300wm 1 year ago 74
@Nick300wm that's reaching
jeffbuesing 1 year ago
@Nick300wm
the fuck are talking about spazz?
nuggbubbler 1 year ago
@Nick300wm I would pay money for a recording of Michael McDonald reading the telephone book.
eyescandeceive 1 year ago
@Nick300wm heheheheheheheheheheheheh!!!!!! u got a horny jones 4 the MAC?
eyesawit2 1 year ago
@Nick300wm Or it could just be really annoying because Michael McDonald really bothers me.
SKAMANDO 1 year ago
@Nick300wm that's a stretch
LGLG69 1 year ago
@Nick300wm
He seems really sensitive, which is kind of surprising
elm118 1 year ago
@Nick300wm I would listen to Michael McDonald read the phone book. For hours. Happily.
eyescandeceive 1 year ago 30
@eyescandeceive LOL!!!..so true!!!..LOL!!!..Mike can sing!!!
DJJAllen 7 months ago
@Nick300wm That man is a BEAST! Doing all those parts...MY HERO!
MegaMaryThomas 1 year ago
@Nick300wm I think this is the most perfect metaphor I think I have ever borne witness too.
lukedawson2 1 year ago 2
@lukedawson2 Thanks Luke!
Nick300wm 1 year ago
@Nick300wm
Reading your comment is like the beholding the pouring of creepy warm creepy sauce over the pert creepy body parts of some creepy guy.
plutonium9 11 months ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
@Nick300wm "Listening to Michael Mc Donald merely talk, is like beholding the pouring of warm cream over the pert breasts of a young, beautiful woman."
for some reason this top rated comment is not showing on the first page. I have to bump it because it is my favorite comment on youtube.
fishinwithagun 10 months ago
Rick looks better now than he did back in the 70's.
LGLG69 2 years ago
What a great groove and amazing solo! Check out our new westcoast band State Cows. Jay Graydon is playing on our upcoming record!
statecows 2 years ago
Steely Dan rules, that's it!
auburntiger8 2 years ago 2
Yes truly amazing, these guys used the best session players who played the songs over and over to go beyond perfection...a great legacy of jazz rock.
tigfix43 2 years ago 3
Got this DVD from Amazon a while back. Unbelievable. Must have watched it 100 times, never get bored of it, they are just amazing. Saw them live in Birmingham a couple of years ago, without doubt ginats of rock.
eamonncadiz 2 years ago
eamonncadiz, you said "Got this DVD from Amazon a while back." Is this vid from a DVD on Steely Dan? I live in France so it will almost certainly not be available in a store so could you, or anyone else, please post the name and any references for the CD? I'd love to have a copy. Thanks, and have a great day!
fripouille69 1 year ago
my dream would to have an ounce of weed and again listen to becker and fagen tell me how aja was made while playing back all the loops on that mixer. i would be in heaven.
nikesb2406 2 years ago 3
jeff porcaro made a loop track of the drum and bass line and drove about all night listening to it.
marotta said it was one of the best compliments he ever had.
jimhalen 2 years ago 2
The Michael McDonald harmonies are AMAZING and remember this was before AUTO TUNE! When you here those notes he hit soloed on the board they are amazingly perfect! So intricately layered. What a genius of a singer and what an ingenious band! THE BEST.
ediblesounds 2 years ago 4
@ediblesounds Music is regressing. The music industry is so greedy and desperate they're manufacturing musicians instead of going with raw talent like they had to.
Antiks72 2 years ago
insanely good barbershop feeling when soloed
Obelisk2290 2 years ago