http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-steely- ... 1441727645
1977 was right at the intersection of Eagles/Fleetwood Mac type stadium rock and the beginning of the punk movement. Steely Dan paid it no mind and was instead thinking about Oliver Nelson and Duke Ellington and lyrical themes no one else was into. That's why the song seems timeless. If you heard the song for the first time you couldn't place it in 1977. However, something like Witchy Woman or Dreams clearly is a product of the seventies.
The horn section alone makes the song outstanding. Then you add those great lyrics, unusual harmonies and great sax solo and you have a song the WSJ writes about nearly forty years later.
Aja is about as close as you can get to a perfect pop album. Seven songs that are simply outstanding with Deacon Blues opening. Then it doesn't drop off with the amazing drums and sax on Aja then Black Cow. And that's just side A.
