Steely Dan ‎– Aja

Just bought a used copy of this LP. Played side two and the pressing I have has five bands on side two not four. It's not Steely Dan but what sounds to be The Letterman. AP LP 1006 B1B is stamped on the side of the vinyl. Really weird. Anyone else have one of these?

It was ABC's standard procedure to use the album's prefix and stock # (plus other info) in the deadwax of their records. Therefore all original LP issues of AB 1006 will have AB 1006 in the deadwax. All later LP issues of AA 1006 will have AA 1006 in the deadwax. However, in order to avoid throwing out a bunch of perfectly good metalwork with AB 1006 already etched in it, some of the earliest pressings of stock # AA 1006 have the prefix changed in the deadwax. The B was crossed out, and an A was added in front to change AB to AA. Eventually all the metal parts made from the original AB 1006 lacquers were replaced with parts made from later cuttings with AA 1006 etched in them from the start.

To recap...

First...Stock # AB 1006...AB 1006 in deadwax

Second...Stock # AA 1006...AAB 1006 in deadwax (note, the "B" is scratched out on this release)

Third...Stock # AA 1006...AA 1006 in deadwax

So, if your ABC copy of this album has AA in the deadwax, there are at least two other easily identifiable earlier pressings

It was ABC's standard procedure to use the album's prefix and stock # (plus other info) in the deadwax of their records. Therefore all original LP issues of AB 1006 will have AB 1006 in the deadwax. All later LP issues of AA 1006 will have AA 1006 in the deadwax. However, in order to avoid throwing out a bunch of perfectly good metalwork with AB 1006 already etched in it, some of the earliest pressings of stock # AA 1006 have the prefix changed in the deadwax. The B was crossed out, and an A was added in front to change AB to AA. Eventually all the metal parts made from the original AB 1006 lacquers were replaced with parts made from later cuttings with AA 1006 etched in them from the start.

To recap...

First...Stock # AB 1006...AB 1006 in deadwax

Second...Stock # AA 1006...AAB 1006 in deadwax (note: the "B" is scratched out on this issue)

Third...Stock # AA 1006...AA 1006 in deadwax

So, if your ABC copy of this album has AA in the deadwax, there are at least two other easily identifiable earlier pressings

I have compared this Universal SACD to what has been argued as the best digital recording - the very first "Japan for USA" DIDX 55/MCAD 37214. Both are stereo, and both are not overly compressed. The SHM-SACD is a beautiful sounding SACD. At first it may sound a bit muffled compared to other releases. It has been mentioned that this SHM disc sounds better after some 'breaking in' the SHM disc. I find this to be the case to my ears. This disc sounds considerably more open the more you play it.

It sounds very clear. No hisses, spits, crackles, etc. Despite being 2 channel, there is a good sense of separation of the instrumentation, as well. In addition to the excellent sonics, the packaging is very ornate. Full obi, plastic outer cover, fold-out cardboard with liner notes, and inner plastic sleeve to protect the disc, which is a cool green color.

The SHM SACD from Japan of Aja is unreal in sound. Pay the extra money if your an audiophile. Worth it!

I just picked up what seems to be this 1980 reissue of Aja, but the number on the label is MCA-3277. AA-1006-A is written on one side, AA-1006-B is the other side.

Imagine you're painting a blade of grass. You work on all the fine lines in that blade of grass. Not a single vein in that blade of grass is left out. You have finally finished your picture. You walk away from the picture to see it from a bigger perspective. You look at all the other blades of grass you did surrounding it. You walk backwards a little bit more to see even more blades of grass. As you walk out more you see that it is a field. You walk out more and see many trees in the middle of the grass. You admire this work of art that took you so long to master.

That is how you describe Aja by Steely Dan. When I first put the needle down on Aja I thought of it as just another Jazz album. One day I decided to play it again and again until it started to grow on me. I kept on listening to it and started to realize that it is no ordinary Jazz album. Aja is one of those albums where the more you listen to it--the more you realize what a masterpiece it is.

When you see Aja at your local record shop, you're just looking at a single vein of that one blade of grass. The more you listen to it, the more you are walking out from that one vein. Then you start to see the whole blade of grass. And then, the more you walk out from that vein, you start to see the whole picture--the whole genius of Aja.

Every song and every musical note was poured with every once of detail into this album. If you step out of the box and listen to a single beat in the background of one song in Aja--it is the equivalent of a whole song by another musician. The lyrics flow perfectly with the instruments while at the same time you hear the incredible lyrics, "I can't cry anymore / While you run around / Break away / Just when it / Seems so clear / That it's / Over now / Drink your big black cow / And get out of here..."

So all I'm trying to tell you is to get up out of your seat and buy this amazing album. When you finally get your hands on this work of art, lay the needle down and feel the nightlife. This album is truly the epitome of music; because nothing compares to Aja by Steely Dan.

How do you describe Steely Dan? The fact is that no other band sounds like them. Are they are a Jazz band? Rock? Soul? Certainly they are a studio band, known for their unstinting quest to produce perfect records even if that meant repeating a musical arrangement countless times in the studio until they were happy. While in most cases this almost neurotic quest for perfection would render the music passionless and sterile somehow Fagen and Becker's toil resulted in some of the most exhaulted popular music ever produced and Aja is where they reached their apex.

This is an incredibly textured and multi-dimentional record yet is also completely accessible. Some of the arrangements and playing are up there with the Jazz greats yet they were able to bring such music to a mainstream audience. Aja was actually one the the first records to go Platinum. Perhaps this was thanks to Fagen's remarkable song writing ability and his often sardonic sense of wit. It also helped that they worked with some of the best session musicians in the business.

For me Aja rates as the best album of all time. Perhaps only equalled by Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.

This album is dubbed as one of the most influtential albums of all time and I agree. The musical arrangements on this LP is Amazing. The opener "Black Cow" combines a Funk groove with a Jazzy feel and great lyrics. "Aja" is an amazing drum track with Dr. Steve Gaad on Drums it makes it like a euphoric experience. "Deacon Blues" was called an autobiographical song for Mr. Becker and Mr. Fagen,it is a Jazz based Rock song that grooves as well.. "Peg" is the most noted song on this LP for its feel good Chunky Horns... "Home At Last" is a pure Jazz tune with outstanding Drumming by Bernard Purdie. "I Got The News" is a typical Rythem and Blues song with a Jazz feel. Last, but CERTAINLY not least is "Josie" this is a feel good Blues song with a heartwarming arrangement. If you like Jazz with a rock feel... This is what you need....