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Steely Dan's Aja

By Don Breithaupt
Series: 33 1/3
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Steely Dan's Aja explores the making of the band's sixth album, which marked their rise to commercial prominence alongside greats like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. Known for its complex musicality, the album featured thirty-five jazz session musicians and blended prewar song forms with extended solos, redefining pop daring in the late 1970s. The book includes an in-depth interview with co-founder Donald Fagen and delves into the creation of this Grammy-winning, double-platinum classic.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book appeals to fans of Steely Dan, music historians, and those interested in the fusion of jazz and rock. It suits readers who appreciate detailed musical analysis and the story behind landmark albums in rock history.

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"Aja" was the album that made Steely Dan a commercial force on the order of contemporaries like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and Chicago. A double-platinum, Grammy-winning bestseller, it lingered on the Billboard charts for more than a year and spawned three hit singles. This book paints a detailed picture of the making of a masterpiece.

Don Breithaupt's book on Aja includes a detailed song-by-song analysis, an extended interview with co-writer, co-founder, singer, and pianist Donald Fagen, and discusses a wide range of Aja-related issues.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Aja was the album that made Steely Dan a commercial force on the order of contemporaries like Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and Chicago. A double-platinum, Grammy-winning bestseller, it lingered on the Billboard charts for more than a year and spawned three hit singles.

Odd, then, that its creators saw it as an "ambitious, extended" work, the apotheosis of their anti-rock, anti-band, anti-glamour aesthetic. Populated by thirty-five mostly jazz session players, Aja served up prewar song forms, mixed meters and extended solos to a generation whose idea of pop daring was Paul letting Linda sing lead once in a while. And, impossibly, it sold.

Including an in-depth interview with Donald Fagen, this book paints a detailed picture of the making of a masterpiece.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Don Breithaupt's book for its enthusiastic and scholarly examination of every detail of Aja. Terry Staunton of Record Collector commends the book's insight and enthusiasm. Upper North Side highlights the detailed history and musical analysis, while others note the book's exploration of the band's cryptic lyrics and innovative studio work.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780826427830

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 July 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 121.0mm

Height: 165.0mm

Weight: 140g

Pages: 144

Collections

Arts & Culture Don Breithaupt Non-Fiction Series: 33 1/3

About the Author

Don Breithaupt is a studio musician and songwriter based in Toronto. He is the co-author of Precious and Few: Pop Music in the Early '70s and Night Moves: Pop Music in the Late '70s. A Berklee College of Music alumnus and three-time Juno Award nominee, he has written extensively on music and film for the National Post.

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