What I personally like about you two cats is your appreciation for fine and tasteful music and that's exactly what you get with Steely Dan.

This is my favorite song on Aja. Totally underrated.

Many people believe that this is musically perfect song🔥✌🤘

Don’t pay too much attention to the casual SD fans who know a set number of songs. The dedicated fans know that there is NO FILLER. And this song is the proof - somehow there weren’t many requests for it, and yet the quality is there (again), like it always is.

Home at Last is gorgeous. This duo were so before their time !!!!! Once I found them, it was all I could listen to !!!! My FAVORITE ALBUM ….😘

Great song. Shout out to the drummer, the one, the only Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. He has played with a lot of legendary acts. His "Purdie Shuffle" (as he calls it) is unique to his style. Many copied him. As far as the music itself, Larry Carlton said, we would get to the studio and would be given the sheet notes and he said they were written by Donald. You guys are just scratching the surface with this incredible duo. Enjoying this...

"She serve me smooth retsina, she keep me safe and warm, it's just the calm before the storm" has gotta be one of the best lines in music. Only SD.

The different sounding instrument is a melodica. It's a wind instrument with a keyboard. Donald Fagan (the vocalist) plays it. Also the band name is from a novel from the beat generation called Naked Lunch. I've never read it but apparently a character in the novel, a woman, owns a dildo she calls "steely dan". It was kind of an underground novel so Don and Walter thought it would be kind of their private joke when they named the band Steely Dan. However people figured it out pretty quickly. It's kind of typical of their style, their lyrics are usually cryptically sly, sarcastic, and offered with a nod and a wink.

Steely Dan brings me so muxh joy, it brings tears to my eyes to see others enjoy it with me.

Bernard Purdie is a master. The "Purdie Shuffle" on full display here. Such an influential musician- this beat alone had such an impact on so many drummers. John Bonham and Jeff Porcaro to name a few

When the horns come you automatically know this is a beautiful piece of heaven

bernard Purdie was the perfect drummer for this track.. He has such great "pop on his toms and his "shuffle" fits nicely with this groove. It sounds like Walter Becker on guitar.. so smooth!

The metaphors are all from the Greek epic of Ulysses coming home to Penelope and his people. Do the story on this one- and you’ll get to know the drumming genius that is Bernard Purdie who does his famous “ Purdie shuffle” on this. That’s the FUNK you are picking up on! That ending instrument is Don Fagen on the Yamaha P37D Melodica. You blow into it but it has a little keyboard. I’ve seen him play it in concert.

I am 66. I am going to buy the Aja. T-shirt and tell everyone this is the best band ever.

Such a great Bernard Purdie drum track! The whole tune is so smooth with great jazz/funk elements throughout. Great reaction guys. I'm really enjoying seeing your interactions with this great music, and your appreciation for it. Keep up the great work !

This song is the most underrated on this album and I have no idea why. Honestly there isn’t a bad song in this whole album.

Aja is an album that keeps growing on you. Honestly. I've been listening intently for 40+ years, still I'm finding nuggets in there. Musicianship at its finest! And yes, drummer Purdie drives this song, pulling in the ride cymbal at the end for some more flavor.

Steely Dan just doesn't miss.

So good, I had to listen twice.

Bernard Purdy on the drums with a monumental track

The “consistent sound” you note throughout Aja, (and elsewhere), despite the use of different musicians, is one of Becker and Fagen’s genius talent; you might say they “play” their amazing songs on their primary “instrument”....*the recording studio*. And as Engineer Roger Nichols notes (in the Aja documentary), throughout all the musical chairs and arrangement choices, *they* could always hear in their heads what they wanted and how it was all gonna turn out...and only after it was done could Nichols hear it....”but *they* knew all along”. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ibapZ6R9xNy4hZ8.html

Steely Dan! Keep it going!

When I was younger, they had hi fi stereo department stores. Each one had a room with a leather chair in the middle where they had their top tier equipment set up to demonstrate the finest turntable, speakers, etc. And they always picked a great album to showcase the system. Almost without fail, the Aja album was what they played.

My favorite from this album. Steely Dan is one of the greatest bands of all times. When I was in my concert going heyday, they never toured because they felt that live concerts would diminish their studio recording. Too bad too, cuz I was in my 20s in the 80s and I swear that I saw "Everybody". Sometimes more than once. You do well to appreciate this. I think it was a guitar that made the whistling that you ask about. Walter Becker and Donald Fagan are the main players.

This is my favorite song on what I think is a perfect album. Sure, there’s catchier rhythms and beats on it, but this track is just so sleek and sophisticated-even poetic: “She serves the smooth retsina/ She keeps me safe and warm/ It’s just the calm before the storm.” Beautiful ;)

I think the lyrics and concept are fantastic, with a subtlety that rewards attention. It's a play on the story of Ulysses, who--in order to return home--had to sail past the Sirens, who sang so seductively that they lured men to jump overboard to die on the rocks. Ulysses wanted to hear them, so he had his crew plug their own ears and tie him to the mast--where he could listen but was unable to jump to his death. So our narrator speaks of living at sea/highway, and how you think you've heard this story before. But, unlike Ulysses, he doesn't yearn to return home, but decides that living on the road, "tied to the mast" Is the life for him Safe from the Sirens who lure him to stay--after all, their appeal is just the calm before the storm.

That's Donald Fagen, the lead singer and co-writer with Walter Becker, playing synthesizer. "Home at Last" Donald Fagen - lead vocals, synthesizer, backing vocals Bernard Purdie - drums Chuck Rainey - bass guitar Larry Carlton - guitar Walter Becker - guitar solo Victor Feldman - piano, vibraphone Tim Schmit - backing vocals

Love your channel. Walter Becker, the guitarist, and Donald Fagen, the keys and vocalist, were the foundation of Steely Dan. Every album. I'm 54 and love this band! Walter Becker passed away not too long ago. One of my favorite guitarists in the jazz fusion genre. Phenomenal talent. They are musicians' musicians.

The groove is the thing with this tune - you're right. When you watch the "Classic Albums" show where they go track-by-track... you'll get to see the interview with Bernard Purdie (the drummer) and he talks about using the "Purdie Shuffle" on this track. He breaks it down nicely. I guess now that you've done Aja and some of The Royal Scam - you know you're starting quite the journey.... and you're going to love it. I have heard all these songs probably a thousand time each and I never get sick of them and I still hear new things. You can't loose with The Dan.

I sure hope you guys go back and listen to the Steely Dan albums from the beginning, starting with " Can't Buy A Thrill". If you don't, you'll be missing out on a TON of incredible music! Keep up the good listening!

I was in college when this was released. We were so proud about it. Steely Dan was already well known, well respected and known as "good taste" music. All the college hipsters dug it. Then this came out. Just unbelievable. They took it to another level when we thought there was no place left to go. They left the planet.

I pre-ordered this album on UHQR vinyl from Analogue Productions for $150.00, can’t wait to hear this song on it😎👌

It's a Melodica. You plow into it like a horn or a recorder, and you play the notes on a little keyboard, like a sax but with keys

It's a melodica. Fagen plays it. Basically a keyboard flute. Handheld keyboard that you blow into. Many times Fagen switches between that and the strapon keyboard during the same songs.

The BASS BABY!! Listen to that thump!!

The legendary Bernard Purdie on drums, featuring the Purdie Shuffle Groove.

I had just returned from part of my travels , 78-79 , 64 years old now & still enjoying this staple of music 🎶🎵

I prefer this song to Josie, also a great song. Donald Fagen's vocals are seriously under appreciated. The Aja album is great. Royal Scam is very different, yet, also great. The same can be said for the Gaucho album. You'll get to that later, I'm sure. I'm particularly interested in seeing you react to the rest of Royal Scam. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are the core members of Steely Dan. Great reaction guys.

The cymbal bell in the last section gets me every time. Something about it just sets that groove so nicely. It's harsh and direct and funky.

Absolutely love Home at last. Grooving Bass. Thank you Guys for excellent reaction!

We can ALL agree they Are Bad to the Bone... and there is No One...like the Dan~ And their music and talent has and will continue to stand the test of time...

You have finally gotten to the best track on the best album ever in my humble opinion 👊

God I love this song.

FM 🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝

Mr Purdie holds this all together and the horns are off the charts coupled with some great guitar work.

One word...... Elite.

You have officially entered, the Purdie Shuffle.💯🥁♥

Chuck Rainey (I think) provides a definite reggae feel with the bass line. One of my fave bands ever. So glad you guys are enjoying these tracks!

This is one of my three favorite songs on the album along with Aja and Deacon Blues. You guys do a great job I can tell you love music and understand it on more than an on the surface level .

Oh this song.. When I first discovered it, I had it on all my playlists for a year straight. The drummer on the track is absolutely iconic, the legendary Bernard "Pretty" Purdie with his signature Purdie Shuffle. There's a fantastic video on YT where he "splains" his creation, you'll see what that is supposed to mean :) I gotta say, I love your guys' chemistry, clearly you've been listening to music together for years and it shows in a positive way. Here's the link to the Legendary Purdie Shuffle kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ipeaZMKSyrGah3U.html

this is one SOLID JAM

They wrote their songs but they let their session musicians work out their own details, such as chords. Yes they did use a lot of artists but they also used most of them over and over. They had regulars that appeared on most albums like Larry Carlton on guitar. He came up with most of those interesting chords. Donald Fagen played keyboards and sang lead vocals. Walter Becker played guitar and co-wrote with Fagen. They are the core of the band. Also they had many different musicians that played with them on the road. The guys in the studio usually didn't want to do the tour thing anymore thus were studio session players. Not all of those same people were available at the same time AND when they had time reserved at the studio, so they had a list of preferred players and got the best they could for each session. This is why some of them appear on some songs and not others. Time schedules would sometimes conflict. Yes, Fagan and Becker would have their songs written before going to NYC to record them but collaboration was still a thing and they didn't micro-manage their band.

Undeniable pulse . "Got it" in layers .

That weird solo sound is a synthesizer (electronic keyboard) played with a breath controller. You play the notes on the keyboard while blowing through a mouthpiece, and you can shape the notes and make them louder or softer by how hard you blow, like a horn or a harmonica. A similar setup is used to play tue opening keyboard hook of "You Are" by Lionel Richie. When I was a kid, I saw him and his band play that song on SNL back in the day, and when that keyboard line came in and I saw the keyboard player blowing through a mouthpiece with a cord hanging off it, it blew my little mind.

God DAMN that Purdy shuffle!

This song highlights all the outstanding aspects of SD musicianship. The lyrics are top notch too! Thanks for reacting to my favourite song from AJA. All the best!

I believe the first solo is a vibraphone, played by pianist Vic Feldman.

This is simply magic and nerve-tingling every time - another favourite from this album. Yeah, the Greek epic, 'I remain tied to the mast'.

My favorite SD song! The funk is undeniable .

Steely Dan does not let up, from Can't Buy A Thrill till Gaucho hey just don't let up, from the first Track on any Album till the Last Track, they just grab you by the throat and NEVER let go till the end Note of the Last Track!

That is the famous “Purdie Shuffle” by The hit master Bernard Purdie

7 songs made in 1977, cost?................. 11 MILLION DOLLARS, 22 different musicians, one of the finest albums ever made

My favorite track on Aja!

Ok guys if you like the vocalist, Donald Fagan has at least 4 solo albums. After you're done with the 'Dan albums you should check his out. As impressive as the band. And thank you for letting me rehearing this bass line. Damn they could write and produce. Welcome to the 'Danaverse!

I've known and talked to the drummer, Bernard Purdie. He's a pleasant person to talk to and one of the greatest drummer ever. Many drummers tried to imitate his shuffle, but his is unique. This album Is one of my favourite of all time, but pethaps I prefer to it the incredible and perfect The Royal Scam!

A longtime favourite. And dig Purdy's masterful drumming.

I had Aja on vinyl, played through an awesome sound system (thank goodness!), immediately after its release. A Marantz system with tri-axial stereo speakers - 15 in. woofers - BIG cabinets and superb sound. I would sit in the triangulated position and just absorb and learn.

Glad you’re on the Steely Dan trip, their compositions are truly genius !

Your Steely Dan reactions make my day; thanks guys. There’s one group happening today whose music is a lot more pop than SD but they are some MONSTER musicians: Dirty Loops. The funkiest, baddest musicians on the planet. I believe they’re under Quincy Jones’ wing. There’s nobody else like them. I’d recommend starting with “Next To You” or “Follow The Light” (Cory Wong and Dirty Loops). Trust this musician, you will be in awe.

I want this played in my honour when I die because I will be Home At Last.

🥰 a little 🥁 "Purdie Shuffle" going on there! ☺️🐰

The Steely Dan leaders/principles were Donald Fagen lead vocals, keyboards, songwriter, producer and Walter Becker guitar, songwriter, producer. This song has deeper meaning than you realize. Donald Fagen never wrote lyrics that didn't mean anything. You just missed it. This deserves a deeper listen! Green Earrings is a favorite of mine. I know you'll love that one!

I thought then and still think this is their greatest song. Perfection.

best dan song

...love that "Purdy Shuffle" on the skins.....SD still stands up after 50 yrs....I think that was a "melodian" a short keyboard that is blown into....

You were talking about that incredible-sounding harmonica, Guys.

pure pure musicianship... next eras they will be even better !!

My favorite on the album. Bernard purdie and the purdie shuffle is just driving.. great groove. Glad you included this. You should check out Weather report. Maybe "elegant people"

That was a melodic, basically a little portable keyboard with a mouthpiece, kind of like a harmonica with a keyboard

Love this song!

This is real music not this auto tuned , sampled crap that's passing for pop music these days. Aja is simply the gold standard for sound and engineering perfection

Walter Becker guitarist RIP and Donald Fagin lyrics, started the band and we're perfectionist, were totally a studio band and hired the best studio players in the business to record with, I believe they thought they could not duplicate that unmatched sound they had live maybe because they really we're perfectionist so they never toured. I'm from Philly and saw them live at Camden yards across the river and they were perfect.I mean they had Michael McDonald from the Doobie brothers there to sing rather small back up parts, and McDonald was a HUGE star in his own right, it shows the respect that these guys got.They are your favorite bands favorite band. Mark Cherry 🍒

That instrument is a lyricon: a woodwind instrument with a keyvoard.

Song about their desire to back home NYC, also a reference to Homer’s Odyssey as a reference to Ulysses tied to the mast!

Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie on drums, same guy who plays on 'Deacon Blues'. This beat here is his famous groove known as 'The Purdie Shuffle'. You'll also hear Bernard playing this same Funky, Laid Back, Half Time groove on Steely Dan's classic 'Babylon Sisters', from their 1980 release 'Gaucho'. 5:15 -I say it's a synthesiser keyboard doing a harmonica type sound, `a la Steve Wonder in 'Isn''t She Lovely'. PS: you guys will enjoy 'The Royal Scam' too, a very funky, big bass and drums sounds record.

Brings me back to driving the jeep up hwy1 n 🌊

That sound that you guys were trying to figure out was an attachment to a keyboard that was played by blowing air through it with the mouth, much like playing a harmonica. Stevie Wonder made this tool very popular in the mid-1970s. I can't remember what's it's called.

Walter Becker & Donald Fagan were Steely Dan after thier Pretzel Logic Album, so from thier 1974 Album Katy Lied

"Purdie Shuffle" is "turned up to 11" on this cut.

Hey guys. I have so many great memories of this song! Sang it many times in cover bands and let me tell you it was not an easy song to sing. Keep on reacting to all this great music. Peace.

Yes, driving, window down singing our hearts out and enjoying the trip! Also of course later on the couch with a drink or 2, etc

My favorite song on Aja and definitely one of my top 5 favorite SD songs. Which is saying a lot.

I forgot Timothy Schmidt from The Eagles does background vocal work on this song.

I think that instrument is one of those little keyboards that you blow into. I forget what its called.

Listen to the Hoops McCann Band soon as you are looking for the instrumental versions of so many of these great tunes! You will not be disappointed. Thanks for the great reactions to SD!

Bernard Purdie at the drumkit laying down the signature "Purdie Shuffle".

"still I remain tied to the mast... home at last...."

Home at last ❤

I got the news is super cool and this one is a close second.

So glad yall enjoyed Steely Dan so much :) It’s such fun music to listen to, I hope your videos have exposed even more people to their music