If your question is, "Should we do a Steely Dan marathon?", the answer is always yes.

Steely Dan is your favorite band’s favorite band.

Aja is the legendary “test your sound system”, of any scale, album of all time. God bless their stubborn and relentless professionalism.

Black Cow is indeed a drink. I'm a 60 year old Black female and Steely Dan was the SHIZNITZ when I was a teenager and beyond. One of the greatest bands of ALL time!

The AJA album IS playlist, from start to finish. Flawless.

the whole “Aja” album is fire... do the whole album..

This is so precious! I am an old white lady who was into Steely Dan back in the day. So great to hear a new generation enjoying it. I love it. Answers to your questions.: A Black Cow is a sweet soda fountain drink mixing either root beer or cola with milk. I think this implies that the person the singer is talking about is young and female. Not a real "manly" drink. Steely Dan was two dudes but had a lot of studio musicians added in. Becker was the guitarist. Fagan was the keyboards. Dude named Skunk Baxter did a lot of that awesome sax work. Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers did a lot of the vocals on that album. They were a force of nature. Unfortunately Becker is no longer with us.

Love this album. When I took my first audio engineering class, the instructor made us listen to this whole album the first day of class. He said this was the pinnacle of sound engineering. Home At Last is my jam.

A Big YES on a Steely Dan marathon

Boys you have just scratched the surface of Steely Dan....your world just got a whole lot better

They got “Steely Dan” from the name of a dildo in a William Burroughs book. And they hired the absolute best session musicians. Sometimes they’d get 4 or 5 different ones to play the same part or solo and pick the best one. They are super bright, super creative, and super perfectionists.

Steely Dan was totally different than anyone else in the 1970s. They were the funk/soul/jazz/rock combination that you never knew you needed until you heard them for the first time. Smooth, expertly produced and every musician that played with them was always a master.

"If their catalogue sounds like this, let's just playlist the whole discography." -- you will, guys, you will.

You'll listen to Steely Dan the REST of your life. They're Music Royalty.

The second time I watched this, I hit pause and was like "Alexa, play 'Uptown, Baby' by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunzs." That's one of the unexpected benefits of your reactions, guys. The almighty cross-reference, bringing us all together, in the same pocket.

Steely Dan’s Kid Charlemagne is another song used for a hip hop sample.

If you like any Steely Dan song, then you'll probably like every other Steely Dan song.

"Kid Charlemagne" would be a perfect follow up. Then "Hey Nineteen".

"Dirty Work", "Deacon Blues", and "Hey Nineteen" are a few other stellar songs by them imho gentlemen.

In my opinion the "Aja" album is the perfect album.

YES to a Steely Dan marathon! This band is one of the best ever.

Aja as in "Asia" You never did this song before? Fellas, welcome to the deep rabbit hole that is Steely Dan, Kings Of The Groove. Even the way these guys got their name is clever, funny, and ironic. If possible always have SD's lyrics handy. So, the story, as I see it. What is a Black Cow? It's basically a root beer float using Kahlua. The adult version however uses bourbon. Rudy's (Bar and Grill) still exists here in NYC on 9th ave between 44th and 45th. Then and now it is essentially a dive bar. In the 70's 42nd St was a hub for pro's and johns, and Rudy's was often where pro's, musicians, artists, and actors would mingle. On the bar when he sees her are her remedies (alcohol and drugs), and her book of numbers, so she was more a high priced pro. At that time the lower class pros also strolled from 26th and 11th ave to the Javits Center on 34th and 11th ave down to 42nd, down to 7th ave. There were many on the east side on Greene St from Houston to Spring St as well. In the song he remains her home base that she brings her troubles and problematic life back to every night. He keeps asking her to break away but it just seems she can't. He is a man hopelessly in love with a prostitute that cannot change her ways, and his many attempts to change her have proven fruitless. My favorites by them are "Kid Charlemagne", "Aja", "Peg", "Deacon Blues", the entire "Aja" album, "Hey Nineteen", "Peg", "Do It Again", "Reelin' In The Years", "Babylon Sisters", "Dirty Work", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", "Don't Take Me Alive", "My Old School", "Any Major Dude Will Tell You", "Green Earrings", "The Fez", and "Doctor WU. There are more because there's really no bad Steely Dan song. Try "The Fez" and "Kid Charlemagne" next and go from there.

Steely Dan Aja is considered one of greatest studio produced albums ever created.

"You and I" would be a straight up R&B tune. "You were high" can only be Steely Dan.

As a certified Metal Head, steely Dan is still in my top 5.

There are NO bad Steely Dan Songs, they are the kings of Jazz/Rock.

I'm a boomer jazz musician. I bought the vinyl. This band transported me. Black music - The Crusaders, Herbie Hancock, Miles. White dudes - Chicago, Steely, Zappa. I didn't think about it at the time. But now, I realize that music was bringing people together in a beautiful, natural way. I pray that the current events won't destroy that simpatico. Music, after all, is a universal language... we need our poets and tunesmiths to help us untangle all the anger and confusion. Bless you all.

Steely Dan was early Jazz-Rock fusion. I listened to these guys from the mid 70's on and Aja was their best work. (Black Cow was a light cocktail made with coffee liqueur, milk and coke).

Absolutely DOWN for a Steely Dan marathon! BTW a Black Cow is a cocktail made with coffee liqueur, milk and Coke, served in a highball glass.

"Don't do a Steely Dan marathon." Only a fool would say that.

In some bands they have a couple great masterpieces and you wish “If only everyone of their songs are this good.” In Steely Dan that wish comes true.

Growing up in New England (my father was Air Force so we moved around a lot) a black cow was a root beer float but with coca cola instead of root beer. A mighty fine drink. Nice reaction, what a pleasure to have this song as your introduction to Steely Dan. Welcome to the club.

I'm a true hip hop head, and truly love and appreciate Steely Dan. Got to see them 2 years ago before Walter Becker one of the founding members passed away. Perfect work or drinking music. Peace my brothers.

PLEASE DO A STEELY DAN MARATHON!!!

My favorite Steely Dan album, "Aja" (1977). The year I graduated high school. The 70s was an incredible time in music. The innovation was amazing.

EXCELLENT! I was 20 when this record came out and had been listening to Steely Dan for 6 years! Was a fan since the beginning. So gratifying to see people discovering them for the first time!

Another song off Aja you will eventually get too, hopefully sooner than later; is Deacon Blues. Such an amazing song.

Their entire discography is fire. You can't lose with any song you pick.

This makes me so happy! My mother raised me on a steady diet of R&B and Rock and Roll. Steely Dan was always at the center of it. Great brass... They are phenomenal musicians. Their lyrics always tell a unique story. A beautiful blend of Rhythm and rock and roll! I just became your biggest fan for playing this song. 🤩

Kid Charlemagne, off of the Royal Scam album is very much the quintessential song of this era. The entire album is beyond amazing. Larry Carlton on the lead guitar and Bernard Purdie on the drums makes it such reminiscing moments from my father playing this in my childhood.

"DON'T TAKE ME ALIVE" My all time favorite SD song

Someone else commented that musicians listen to Steely Dan when they go home at night; I agree

Old white guy, totally into R&B, jazz, and soul back in the day, loving to hear the new generation getting into my record collection. Me getting into introduced to rap and hip-hop the same way? Not gonna be able to do it, so I salute your courage... and your reaction.

My dad used to chill in his office getting drunk while listening to Steely Dan.. That's how I know of them I like Babylon Sister Shake It

How many people do you need to make it a marathon? C’mon now, do the right thing. Hit us up with that Steely Dan marathon! Do it for Steely, do it for Dan!

You'll be pleased to know that YES this is what Steely Dan sounds like. Marathon!

I love this song. You guys have good taste. "Kid Charlemagne" is another great Steely Dan song, if you're looking for the next one. 😎

Steely Dan is in a class by itself. It's beats, the cryptic lyrics. Smooth is right. Been a fan for over 40 years. Started with Do it Again and it never stopped.

I get the vibe "smoothly disgusted" is how most Steely Dan songs are!!

"Deacon Blues" next! Who's with me?

Yes, I remember doing the bump and grind to this when it first came out, my freshman year 1977. They were gold, everything they did was polished, smooth, good music! Please check out My Old School for something guitar driven.

Their catalog is--tremendous. Even "Gaucho", at the end, has "Hey Nineteen".

I've never heard a bad Steely Dan song. Ever.

Guys, you have tapped into the motherlode. Steely Dan will keep you busy. Once you've gone Steely Dan, you'll never go back. Hey Nineteen. FM, etc.

I will look forward to their reaction when they hear "Kid Charlemagne" and the lines 'that you were a champion in their eyes'..... :)

9:03 "Call some older family members who might not be on (the) Steely Dan". LMFAO!!!!

“AJA” one of the best albums ever, the production is impeccable, it is so good and special, I just bought the LP again last week!

pls do Steely Dan - Kid Charlemagne

The title track "Aja" is my favorite of the whole album. The drums are amazing on that song.

Best Black Cow reaction - and I've watched them all.

FM - Deacon Blues - My Old School - Pretzel Logic, that's a start.

Anyone else think they will lose their shit upon first hearing the drums during the midsection on the song "Aja"?

Uptown Baby. I'm from the Bronx and had no idea that's where the beat came from. Unbelievable. This is why I love all genres.

Uptown is the place where I lay my dome, on the streets of the Bronx where my family roam!!! That was my first 'real' rap song back in the day lol Years later, I was gifted Aja and had mad deja vu listening to the first track but couldn't figure out where I'd heard it until my sister (who was always in the know well before me lol) reminded me. Was awesome to see you guys pick it up right away, Deja Vu is a serious banger!

You guys would really dig “Deacon Blues” or “Do It Again.”

Title song “Aja” has an incredible sax and drum work that is one of the best I’ve heard. Jazz influence on this song.

Entire Aja album is a masterpiece

There is a great KZfaq video of how they made Aja ("Asia"). Worth the time to watch. This album is an audiophile's dream. It is one of the finest albums ever produced.

Some of us “boomers” appreciate a wide variety of music, tech & old school....good is good 😜

This whole record is a banger! Also check out their album The Royal Scam.

"Do It Again" is a song by American jazz-rock group Steely Dan that was released as a single from their debut 1972 album "Can't Buy A Thrill". The single version differed from the album version, shortening the intro, outro and two instrumental sections of the song.

Steely Dan to me are the connoisseurs of music, every genre of music with a heavy emphasis on jazz is woven intricately without their projects. Their material is timeless. RIP Walter Becker.

These guys make masterpieces. They are audiophiles too with their production so listening to them with a high-end system is an even greater treat.

Some notes here: -Steely Dan are Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. They met at Bard College in 1967. -Although just a two piece outfit, they have a vast knowledge of music. -They are perfectionists who know what they want out of other musicians. Steely Dan often used not just any session musicians, but the best that they could find. -It was not uncommon for Becker & Fagen to listen to hours of takes for a guitar solo or section before they got what they wanted, with exhausted sessions musicians crawling out of the studio. -A “Black Cow” is either an ice cream float with coke and chocolate ice cream or (more likely in this song) an alcoholic drink made with Kahlua, half and half, and coke. -The meaning of this song has been debated, although most listeners agree that it’s about a guy seeing his cheating gf in a bar and telling her off. It gets really cheeky when listeners think about who she has been cheating with. What kind of individual does big black cow remind you of?

Steely Dan is amazing. They incorporate so much style and expertise into their music. Everytime you listen to any of their songs you will hear things you didn't recognize, no matter how many times you listen to it.

Deacon Blues, Hey Nineteen, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Kid Charlemagne, the rabbit hole is endless.

Steely Dan is the shit!!!!! Y’all should definitely do more from the classic discography. Peace!!...Peter Gunn and Lord Tariq got the shit sued out of them for using that sample.

Playing Steely Dan's whole discography would not be a bad move. At all.

So great to see a legendary band getting the kudos they so deserve. You guys are spectacular. It’s a privilege

If y'all listen to "Aja" in its entirety, just put cha "stankface" mask on.. cuz yo face will freeze dat way..lol love ya show.

From everyone on the Steely Dan bandwagon: Welcome. Have a seat up front. Would you like a drink? This will take a while.

Your guys’ breakdowns and descriptive dissections of every song posted is a cut above any other reaction pages out there. Anyone else agree?

I'm Generation X and I've got to say, we had it ALL musically. A childhood with a 70's Soundtrack, 80's teens listening to early Rap/Hip Hop, Club, Rock, Soft Rock, SO many genres, and were cool as hell young adults who were still dancing in the 1990's.

This entire album is amazing, but the title track, "Aja", is one of my favorite cuts ever. And it has Wayne Shorter.

Hey guys in one of his documentaries Donald Fagan said by the late 60s there was something missing for him in the music on the radio. He said what was missing was black music, specifically R&B. So your dead on when you say this sounds like R&B. By the way, if you haven't already figured out, Donald Fagan is a stone cold musical genius! Walter Becker it too in his own right. RIP Walter!

You guys will not be disappointed by anything you play by Steely Dan...

When I saw Black Cow, I was like, WTF. Nobody would list this in their top 10 Steely Dan songs, so i was intrigued. The fact that the followers picked this for them because they knew the sample in another context is so awesome. Picking a song for them that they'll really enjoy instead of what gets the most clicks. You can see George is a little annoyed that they always have to do the popular songs instead of the best songs. This is a great pick!

One of the greatest albums ever. I was diggin in my parents basement a couple years ago and found this on vinyl. Listen to it almost every week. Great vid guys, keep making the good stuff!

I like when you guys point out hip-hop similarities or samples, nothing wrong with giving some info to the viewers that might not be familiar with rap culture

AAAHH listen to more Steely Dan 😍😍🔥 Do it Again, Deacon Blues, Aja, Reelin in the Years, Rikki Don’t Lose That Number are all fantastic songs!

This was one, just one of my favorite jams back in the 70"s. I rocked out to this with a nice joint back in the day. I graduated high school 1977. Mom had left dad. I was the last kid left at home. Dad was trying to do his thing. Dad bought me a turntable, sound system, guess to keep me out of his hair while he was doing his thing. But to this day I have no idea what a "Big Black Cow" is. Anybody that knows please enlighten me. Sister friends 61st birthday is this weekend. I'm taking my Aja CD with me to her birthday bash!

62 songs in their classic period (72 - 80) and every single song is fantastic. EVERY SONG!

I 100% support a Steely-a-thon

You're in for a LONG, SATISFYING ride if you journey down Steely Dan's endless road of iconic music. It reminds me of the time this guy told me he just started watching "The Wire," years after it ended. I was so jealous, wishing I could experience that again for the first time. Go down that road, you will be glad you did. Josie, Hey Nineteen, Kid Charlemagne, Dirty Work, Reeling in the Years, Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Any Major Dude will Tell You

Oh man it's so satisfying to see folks appreciating this album! It was actually my gateway onto smooth jazz (onto jazz altogether, but especially the smooth stuff I love). Would be fun to see you follow the same road and check out a little Fourplay!

The solo from “Reeling in the Years”, the groove of “Kid Charlemagne”, Bernard Purdie just being Bernard Purdie, the backing vocals on "Babylon Sisters", the Cuervo Gold and the fine Colombian, the piano, drums, and horn section celebration of "My Old School".. it’s ALL great! Never in a hurry to win anyone over, just right in the pocket until resistance is futile. - Even your own theme music brings to mind Steely Dan!

You guys will lose your minds over “Josie”’ from this album!!

Their whole discography is amazing.

"So outrageous". . Smoother than butter. . . cooler than liquid nitrogen. . . That's Steely Dan. .

Much of y'all's convo mirrors my own when I FIRST heard this song back in '77. Been a fan of "The Dan" ever since that time.