Aja

album by Steely Dan

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July 21, 2026

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The album Aja is a 1977 release by the American rock band Steely Dan. Primarily a duo of guitarist Walter Becker and keyboardist/vocalist Donald Fagen, Steely Dan was known for its sophisticated blend of jazz, funk, soul, and rock, combined with complex lyrical themes. Aja marked a peak in the band's popularity, featuring intricate, jazz-infused tracks that reached number three on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. The album is celebrated for its musical complexity and polished production, characteristic of Steely Dan's studio-focused approach.12

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Steely Dan
…The Royal Scam (1976) and Aja (1977). Difficulties in completing Gaucho (1980) persuaded Becker and Fagen to give the group a rest, and they pursued separate careers for many years. Fagen’s first solo album, The Nightfly (1982), recaptured many of Steely Dan’s strengths; Becker produced albums for various artists. In…
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…The Royal Scam (1976) and Aja (1977). Difficulties in completing Gaucho (1980) persuaded Becker and Fagen to give the group a rest, and they pursued separate careers for many years. Fagen’s first solo album, The Nightfly (1982), recaptured many of Steely Dan’s strengths; Becker produced albums for various artists. In…
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Donald Fagen
…culminated in the release of Aja (1977), which climbed to number three on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart. In 1981, a year after the release of Gaucho, Steely Dan took a break; Becker relocated to Hawaii and Fagen to New York.
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…culminated in the release of Aja (1977), which climbed to number three on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart. In 1981, a year after the release of Gaucho, Steely Dan took a break; Becker relocated to Hawaii and Fagen to New York.
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Michael McDonald
Career
…group’s The Royal Scam (1976), Aja (1977), and Gaucho (1980) and perhaps most memorably on the band’s 1977 hit single “Peg.”
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…group’s The Royal Scam (1976), Aja (1977), and Gaucho (1980) and perhaps most memorably on the band’s 1977 hit single “Peg.”
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