{"product_id":"steely-dan-aja-uhqr-by-analogue-productions","title":"Steely Dan - Aja (UHQR by Analogue Productions)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Steely Dan's landmark sixth studio album now on UHQR!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDefinitive reissue Ultra High Quality Record, the pinnacle of high-quality vinyl!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e45 RPM LP release limited to 30,000 numbered copies\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMastered by Bernie Grundman from an analog, non-Dolby EQ'd quarter-inch 15 ips tape copy\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePressed at Quality Record Pressings using 200-gram\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClarity Vinyl®\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePurest possible pressing and most visually stunning presentation and packaging!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Best \"Aja\" You Will Ever Hear and It's Not Even Close — Michael Fremer, \u003cem\u003eTrackingAngle.com\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Hand-pressed on crystal clear Clarity vinyl, packaged to standards suitable for fine watches, Analogue Productions' edition of what is for many Steely Dan's finest moment epitomises this round-up. Like The Eagles'\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eHotel California\u003c\/em\u003e, Supertramp's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreakfast in America\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor the (1960s)\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCasino Royale\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003esoundtrack,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis one of a handful of LPs which transcends generations because it sounds so amazing even in standard form. Hard to believe, but AP has elevated it even further — this is rock for grown-ups and even jazzers who hate anything that isn't Miles or Coltrane.\" —\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eHi Fi News\u003c\/em\u003e, August 2024\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 'In' Groove — Update: Steely Dan 'Aja' LP Review and Comparison Including the new 2023 UHQR. YouTube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/WYO1GQ45U2g\"\u003evideo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMike's Vinyl Experience: Favorite Classic Rock Audiophile Reissues of 2023. YouTube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MIDbXAFOsDw\"\u003evideo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTop 5 Audiophile Reissues of 2023. YouTube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pDtP5-g6qAY\"\u003evideo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy Top 10 Audiophile and Vinyl Record Album Purchases of 2023. Kenny's Audiophile Record Reviews. YouTube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AV-hioDY2b8\"\u003evideo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h\"\u003e\"Soundwise, the UHQR 'Aja' hits at an 11. It never fails to engage me, spin after spin after spin.\" — Mike Mettler, Analog Planet, Nov. 18, 2023. Read the entire review\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.analogplanet.com\/content\/steely-dan%E2%80%99s-200g-45rpm-2lp-aja-pride-analogue-productions-uhqr-neighborhood\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h\"\u003eI think I just listened to the Audiophile Reissue of the Year 2023.\" — Michael Ludwigs, 45 RPM Audiophile. YouTube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tojv0JC-C-g\"\u003evideo\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h\"\u003e\"This one is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). It is the top one. This is clear.\" — David Bianco, Safe \u0026amp; Sound Texas Audio Excursion. YouTube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vjWMvLthxss\"\u003evideo\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Truly, it's the best of all the worlds. ... This is clearly superior.\" — Jason Gorber for 'That Shelf.' Youtube\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=finoSB2TrOg\"\u003evideo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"... along with all this amazing new detail there's much more physicality, there's more depth ... it's much fuller, the sound stage is broader and deeper than any of these other versions and it's it's like just sitting in front of a stage watching the band play. It is just incredible how wonderful this sounds. It's not rolled off on top but it is very easy on the ears and you can really hear more than the other version of Chuck Rainey's Bass playing. He was just, you know, he's phenomenal of course but you can hear how magic he plays and all these amazing lines — they kind of get lost on all the other versions — they're really prominent here, you can pick out every sound from every instrument. I think it's fantastic work they've done.\"— Ken Micallef,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eJazz Vinyl Audiophile\u003c\/em\u003e. Watch Micallef's YouTube video\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WUJRUEqrn64\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"'Deacon Blues' takes up an entire UHQR 45rpm side ... The 7:26 epic finally has room to breathe and express all of the tape's wondrous top end and dynamic authority. ...Transients are so well defined. You're sure to hear newly resolved detail. Bernie Grundman did not appreciably mess with the EQ compared to his original 1977 cut because there was nothing wrong with what he originally did, but cutting at 45 and not having to cut to near the label has obvious benefits especially on 'Deacon Blues' but really on everything and the bottom end has definitely not been attenuated as it must have somewhat been on the originals. This\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efulfills the UHQR promise as well if not better than has any in the series and there's plenty of stiff competition!\" —\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMusic = 11\/11; Sound = 11\/11 — Michael Fremer, \u003cem\u003eTrackingAngle.com\u003c\/em\u003e. Read the entire review \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trackingangle.com\/music\/the-best-aja-you-will-ever-hear-and-it-s-not-even-close\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you were an audiophile in the late 1970s, you owned\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRolling Stone\u003c\/em\u003e, which ranks 1977's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat No. 63 on its latest 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, says \"this was Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's no-holds barred stab at becoming a huge mainstream jazz-pop success.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"And sure enough, thanks to sweet, slippery tracks like 'Deacon Blues,' and 'Peg,' this collegiate band with a name plucked from a William Burroughs novel and a songbook full of smart, cynical lyrics became bona fide superstars, shooting to the Top Five and selling platinum. And yes,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eeven won a Grammy for Best Engineeed Album\u003c\/strong\u003e.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis landmark album in the band's career features a sophisticated, polished sound that reflects the band's meticulous attention to detail and the influence of jazz and fusion music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFagan and Becker would assemble a revolving cast of almost 40 session musicians to play on the album, consisting of some of the all-time greats, including Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, Lee Ritenour, Timothy B. Schmidt — it's a long list. It's a Who's Who of session superstars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album name and its title track were inspired by a South Korean woman whom a high school friend's brother had married after serving in the army in her country. The chord progressions and melodies are so unique and so typically Steely Dan. The drum solo at the end of the title track by Steve Gadd is also astounding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album's title track, \"Aja,\" opens with a serene piano introduction before building into a complex, multi-layered arrangement that features intricate drum patterns, subtle guitar lines, and a soaring saxophone solo. Other standout tracks include \"Deacon Blues,\" a melancholy ballad with introspective lyrics, and \"Peg,\" a catchy tune with a funky groove and infectious chorus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the album, Steely Dan's lyrics explore themes of disillusionment, regret, and the quest for fulfillment. In \"Black Cow,\" the opening track, the narrator laments the loss of a relationship, while in \"Josie,\" the album's closing track, the band celebrates the freedom and excitement of a new love affair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album's meticulous production values, including multiple layers of instrumentation and intricate vocal harmonies, showcase Steely Dan's commitment to sonic perfection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded by core members Walter Becker (bass) and Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards), Steely Dan's popularity rose throughout the late 1970s on, and their seven albums throughout that period of time blended elements of jazz, rock, funk, R\u0026amp;B, and pop. Steely Dan created a sophisticated, distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio. Becker and Fagen, with producer Gary Katz, gradually changed Steely Dan from a performing band to a studio project, hiring session musicians to record their compositions. The duo didn't perform live between 1974 and 1993. But their popularity nevertheless grew throughout the '70s as their albums became critical favorites and their singles became staples of Adult Oriented Radio and pop radio stations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a brief battle with esophageal cancer, Walter Becker died on September 3, 2017 at the age of 67. Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2001.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eVH1\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eranked Steely Dan at No. 82 on their list of the 100 Greatest Musical Artists of All Time.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRolling Stone\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eranked them No. 15 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis stereo UHQR reissue will be limited to 30,000 copies, with gold foil individually numbered jackets, housed in a premium slipcase with a wooden dowel spine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003erepresents a high-water mark in Steely Dan's career, showcasing the band's unique blend of jazz, rock, and pop influences in a polished, sophisticated package. The album has become a classic of the 1970s and remains a favorite among music lovers to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rock City Music Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51079419756829,"sku":"033335","price":149.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0283\/5228\/2702\/files\/AUHQR_0014-45__171049__08112022022534-3327.jpg?v=1774382993","url":"https:\/\/rockcitymusicco.com\/products\/steely-dan-aja-uhqr-by-analogue-productions","provider":"Rock City Music Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}