Peg

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some smooth grooves as the Zoo Crew spins "Peg" by Steely Dan from their iconic 1977 album Aja. This track is a masterclass in jazz-rock fusion, but the road to its perfection was anything but easy. According to a 1999 documentary from the Classic Albums series, Steely Dan’s Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were relentless in their pursuit of the perfect guitar solo for "Peg." They auditioned seven top-tier session guitarists, including legends like Robben Ford and Larry Carlton, before settling on Jay Graydon’s flawless take. The duo even played back the rejected solos for the documentary crew, poking fun at the ones that didn’t make the cut. This obsessive attention to detail didn’t stop at the guitar—Becker and Fagen reportedly sifted through dozens of takes to nail every element, from Rick Marotta’s crisp drumming to Michael McDonald’s layered backing vocals, which add that signature yacht-rock sheen.

Another juicy tidbit about "Peg" comes from its cultural impact. The song’s infectious groove was sampled by De La Soul in their 1989 track "Eye Know," introducing Steely Dan’s sound to a new generation of hip-hop fans. In a 2013 interview with GQ, producer Mark Ronson credited discovering "Peg" through De La Soul’s sample, noting how Steely Dan’s ability to blend groove and intellect continues to inspire artists like himself, Kanye West, and Daft Punk. On social media, fans have echoed this love—a post on X from @in_yacht in 2019 highlighted "Peg" peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, crediting Graydon’s solo, Marotta’s drums, and McDonald’s vocals as key to its yacht-rock legacy. However, not all interpretations hold up—some fans on Songfacts speculated "Peg" was about adult film star Juliette Anderson or actress Peg Entwistle, who tragically died in 1932, but these theories were debunked, with Fagen confirming the name "Peg" was chosen for its punchy, universal appeal.

Moving to how Steely Dan got started, the band’s core duo, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, met in 1967 at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Both were jazz-obsessed misfits, bonding over their love for Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Beat literature. They played in various college bands, honing their songwriting chops, before moving to Los Angeles in 1971 at the urging of producer Gary Katz. Initially hired as staff songwriters for ABC Records, Fagen and Becker found their complex, jazz-inflected compositions too quirky for ABC’s roster of artists like Dusty Springfield. Katz, recognizing their potential, encouraged them to form a band. They recruited guitarist Denny Dias, drummer Jim Hodder, guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and singer David Palmer, naming the group Steely Dan after a dildo from William S. Burroughs’ novel Naked Lunch. Their 1972 debut, Can’t Buy a Thrill, blended rock, jazz, and R&B, with hits like "Do It Again" launching them into the spotlight.

By the time Aja rolled around, Steely Dan had evolved into a studio-only project, with Fagen and Becker ditching live performances to focus on crafting meticulously produced records with elite session musicians. Their official website, steelydan.com, offers tour updates, merch, and a deep dive into their discography. On social media, you can follow them on Facebook for concert news and fan engagement, though their Instagram is less active, mostly sharing archival photos and album anniversaries. Their X account, steelydan, is minimal but occasionally retweets fan posts. For deeper fan connections, check out the r/SteelyDan subreddit, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over chord progressions and cryptic lyrics. The Steely Dan Fans Facebook group is another vibrant spot for trading vinyl finds and concert stories. Whether you’re vibing to "Peg" or diving into Steely Dan’s origins, the Zoo Crew hopes you’re feeling the jazz-rock magic!