5 Things to Know About Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’ and ABC Records

ABC Records released ‘Aja’ in September 1977. The album was one of the label’s final major releases before its absorption by MCA Records.

MCA absorbed ABC Records shortly after ‘Aja’ came out. The merger meant the album’s distribution and catalog rights shifted to MCA soon after its debut.

‘Aja’ became Steely Dan’s biggest commercial success. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum, despite the label turmoil.

The album’s production was famously meticulous. Steely Dan used dozens of session musicians and spent over a year recording, which was unusual for the era.

The label change didn’t affect the album’s legacy. ‘Aja’ is now widely regarded as a masterpiece of jazz-rock and a high point in Steely Dan’s career.