Steely Dan ~ Josie 1977 Funky Purrfection Version

Steely Dan's 1977 offering "Aja" was a stunningly ambitious project that resulted in their most commercially successful LP driven by the success of "Peg", "Deacon Blues" and "Josie". The album won three 1978 Grammy Awards for Best Engineered Recording-Non Classical, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals and Album Of The Year. The exceptionally high bar on the production has resulted in "Aja" being frequently included on rankings of the greatest albums ever. This 8 Track never left the player in my 1975 Ford Maverick that spring of 1978. Produced by Gary Katz, the studio personnel on the album included Chuck Rainey on bass, Victor Feldman on electric piano, Jim Keltner on drums with Larry Carlton and Dean Parks on guitar. "Josie" was written over the course of a few years before "Aja" was recorded and was completed for the album. The lyrics celebrate the return of a fun loving girl named Josie to the neighborhood and her shady past gives the boys something to dream about. Released as the third single from the album, it peaked at #26. Perhaps some of its thunder was stolen by the non-Aja single "FM (No Static At All) from the movie "FM" which peaked at #22. In any case, the song is considered to be the most straightforward rocker on the album. Label President Steve Diener writes about "Josie" in the liner notes "The final cut, "Josie", exemplifies Steely Dan's remarkable versatility. Rich with images of random violence, copulation, drug abuse, loitering with intent and other misdemeanors, this sociopathic jump tune is sure to become a classic zebra in the annals of Punkadelia."