#63 Steely Dan, 'Aja' (1977)

A landmark album in Jazz Rock and one that would subsequently influence the rise of Yacht Rock in the late ‘70s to early ‘80s, ‘Aja’ is the magnum opus of the mad creative genius of Donald Fagan and Walter Becker. The chord progressions and melodies are so unique and so typically Steely Dan. The pair would assemble a revolving cast of almost 40 session musicians to play on the album, consisting of some of the all-time greats, including Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, Lee Ritenour, Timothy B. Schmidt, and honestly, the list goes on. It’s a who’s who of sessions musos.