Aja

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to the smooth vibes of "Aja" by Steely Dan, a track from their 1977 masterpiece, Aja. This eight-minute jazz-rock epic is a fan favorite, and it’s packed with stories that make it even more legendary. Donald Fagen, one half of the Dan, shared in a 1999 Classic Albums documentary that "Aja" was named after a South Korean woman married to a high school friend’s brother, evoking a romantic, tranquil image that inspired the song’s title. Fagen called it “a journey in time and space,” blending several song ideas, including an early demo called “Stand by the Seawall.” The track’s complexity is wild—rhythm section charts required three music stands per player! Yet, drummer Steve Gadd nailed his part, including the first drum solos on a Steely Dan record, in just two takes, which were edited together for the final mix.

Here’s a cool tidbit for the vinyl heads out there: the multitrack masters for "Aja" and "Black Cow" are missing, discovered when Steely Dan tried remastering the album in 1999. This means no surround-sound mix is possible unless those tapes turn up. Fans on Reddit have also spotted a quirky moment at 5:46 in the song, where Michael McDonald’s backing vocals mumble something—possibly “cool breeze” or “you’re making us nervous.” Walter Becker confirmed in a Sound on Sound interview that McDonald’s vocals were meant to be quieter but ended up audible, adding a human touch to the polished production. The song’s natural imagery—hills, trees, sea, and sky—is rare for Steely Dan, who usually lean into urban references, making "Aja" feel timeless and almost otherworldly.

Some fans have gotten creative with their interpretations. Spin magazine once suggested “Aja” could be a romantic fantasy dreamt up by a patient in a Magic Mountain-like mental hospital, tying into the song’s elusive lyrics. Real-world impact? The song’s name inspired parents, with folks like Aja Brown, former mayor of Compton, and A’ja Wilson, WNBA MVP, named after it because their parents were Steely Dan fans. On Songfacts, a fan named Aja from Detroit shared she was born in 1978 and loves meeting others named after the song, noting it spiked in popularity for baby girls in the late ‘70s. The track’s live performances are a treat too—since the ‘90s, it’s been a staple of Steely Dan’s shows, with Wayne Shorter’s iconic sax solo stealing the spotlight.

Now, let’s rewind to how Steely Dan got rolling. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen met in 1967 at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, bonding over their love for jazz, R&B, and Beat Generation literature like Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs—hence the band’s name, a nod to a steam-powered dildo from the novel. They played in various bands before moving to New York City in 1969, working on movie soundtracks and backing an “oldies” act. By late 1971, they landed in Los Angeles as staff songwriters for ABC Records. With producer Gary Katz, they secretly formed Steely Dan, recruiting young musicians like guitarists Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Denny Dias. Their 1972 debut, Can’t Buy a Thrill, blended rock, jazz, and cryptic lyrics, setting the stage for their “antihero” status, as Rolling Stone called them.

By 1974, Becker and Fagen ditched live touring to focus on studio work, becoming a duo backed by a rotating cast of top session players. This shift birthed their most sophisticated albums, peaking with Aja, their best-selling record with over five million copies sold. Their music, infused with irony and complex arrangements, drew from jazz, R&B, and literary influences like Vladimir Nabokov, earning them a cult following. You can keep up with Steely Dan on their official website, Facebook, and X. Note that their Instagram presence is limited, and fan discussions suggest no official account exists, but you can check for updates. Fans gather at places like the r/SteelyDan subreddit and the Steely Dan Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over every chord and lyric. For more fan vibes, check out Steely Dan NL, a dedicated fan site with deep dives into the band’s history.