Josie (Steely Dan song)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Josie"
R&B
Length4:30
LabelABC
Songwriter(s)Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
Producer(s)Gary Katz
Steely Dan singles chronology
"FM (No Static at All)"
(1978) 		"Josie"
(1978) 		"Hey Nineteen"
(1980)
Official audio
"Josie" on
YouTube

"Josie" is a song written by

live and compilation albums
.

Composition and music

Becker and Fagen wrote an early version of "Josie" well before the recordings for Aja took place.

riffs.[7] Mason praises the song's "sly irony and danceable R&B groove."[4] J.J. Syrja notes that the song even echoes disco, but doesn't "fall victim" to it.[8] Music reviewer and YouTuber Rick Beato describes the unique and complex beginning of the song as "The Weirdest Pop Song Intro of All Time" and continues in his in depth look at the song to praise the individual contributions of the musicians playing on the piece.[9]

Becker plays a guitar solo on the song, one of the few on Aja.

fill that restarts the song near the end after a brief pause.[5][3]

Lyrics and reception

Cash Box said it has a "clean crystalline rhythm and lead lines," "understated yet invigorating rhythm guitar funk," and a "clever 'up' lyric," among other virtues.[12] Record World said that "The opening guitar figure is an eerie hook in itself, while the balance of the song blends pop and jazz in fine fashion."[13] Seguin Gazette-Enterprise reviewer J. J. Syrja describes the song as "a tasty ditty about a community girl in the truest sense of the word."[8] "The lyrics describe the boys of the neighborhood celebrating the return of a fun-loving girl named Josie who may have a shady past and anticipating the debauchery that may ensue.[4][5][7][3] Sweet suggests that she may be returning from prison.[10]

Personnel

Source:[14]

Release charting

Josie was released as the third single from Aja, following "

Adult Contemporary chart.[16]

"Josie" was included on several Steely Dan compilation albums, including Greatest Hits in 1978, Citizen Steely Dan in 1993 and Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story, 1972–1980 in 2000.[17][18][19] Several live versions were released, including on Alive in America in 1995, Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party in 2000 and Green Flower Street: Radio Broadcast 1993 in 2015.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ "Steely Dan singles".
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 228.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-1495025129
    .
  4. ^
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  5. ^ a b c Aaron, Victor (April 8, 2012). "Steely Dan Sunday, "Josie"(1977)". Something Else!. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9781441115188
    .
  7. ^ a b c Duffy, Michael (December 1, 1977). "Aja". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  8. ^
    Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
    . p. 47. Retrieved 2017-05-20 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Beato, Rick (February 8, 2022) The WEIRDEST Pop Song Intro of All Time.Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-1468313147
    .
  11. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 26 August 1978. p. 104. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  12. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 26, 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  13. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 26, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  14. ^ Original 1977 Album liner notes
  15. Billboard Magazine
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  16. Billboard Magazine
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  17. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  18. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  19. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  20. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  21. Allmusic
    . Retrieved 2017-05-20.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Josie_(Steely_Dan_song)&oldid=1213201509"