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

This is my favorite song on Aja. Totally underrated.

One of my favorite SD songs!!!

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

5:28 Spot on with riding music. When I couldn’t sleep back in college, I used to take my car and drive around at 1 am on the pitch black backroads in the dead of winter listening to Royal Scam. Somehow I vividly remember those drives.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPy4AL_vTUk

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

That solo sound is a Melodica.  It’s like a cross between kid sized keyboard and a harmonica with a flexible tube you breathe into.  Push the key down and more air goals to the reeds. But pressure and airflow is changed by breathing out too

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 !