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Josie (Steely Dan song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Josie
| cover = Josie cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Italian cover
| type = single
| artist = Steely Dan
| album = Aja
| B-side = Black Cow
| released = August 14, 1978
| recorded = 1977
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Jazz fusion, soft rock, R&B
| length = 4:30
| label = ABC
| writer = Walter Becker, Donald Fagen
| producer = Gary Katz
| prev_title = FM (No Static at All)
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Hey Nineteen
| next_year = 1980
| misc =
}}
'"Josie"' is a song written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and first released by Steely Dan on their 1977 album 'Aja'. It was also released as the third single from the album and performed modestly well, reaching #26 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and #44 on the Easy Listening chart that year. It has appeared on several Steely Dan live and compilation albums.
Lyrics and music
Becker and Fagen wrote an early version of "Josie" well before the recordings for 'Aja' took place. While most of the songs on the album fuse jazz with rock, AllMusic critic Stewart Mason describes "Josie" as the album's "most conventional rocker." Nonetheless "Josie" incorporates many jazz chords. Don Breithaupt sees an influence from the Delta blues, particularly in the "stark open fifths and lyric-driven rhythm," but Breithaupt also notes that it incorporates "exotic open chords derived from the parallel Phrygian scale." 'Rolling Stone' critic Michael Duffy describes it as having "tight, modal tunes with good hooks in the choruses, solid beats with intricate counter rhythms and brilliantly concise guitar solos" as well as a complex horn chart and "schmaltzy" L.A. jazz riffs. Mason praises the song's "sly irony and danceable R&B groove." J.J. Syrja notes that the song even echoes disco, but doesn't "fall victim" to it. 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.Beato, Rick (February 8, 2022) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9sR7kdh_qs The WEIRDEST Pop Song Intro of All Time].Retrieved 2022-02-15.
Becker plays a guitar solo on the song, one of the few on 'Aja'. Steely Dan biographer Brian Sweet particularly praised his solo, calling it "a real stormer." Fagen sings the lead vocals. The other musicians on the song include Chuck Rainey on bass guitar, Victor Feldman on electric piano and Larry Carlton and Dean Parks on guitar. The drummer is Jim Keltner, whom critic Victor Aaron particularly praises for a fill that restarts the song near the end after a brief pause.
Reception
'Billboard Magazine' described "Josie" as a "rhythmic rocker" and praised its "outstanding vocals," "funky, steady beat" and "wry lyrics." '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. 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." "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. Sweet suggests that she may be returning from prison.
Personnel
Source:Original 1977 Album liner notes
*Donald Fagen synthesizers, vocals
*Walter Becker guitar solos
* Victor Feldman electric piano
* Larry Carlton guitar
* Dean Parks guitar
* Chuck Rainey bass
* Jim Keltner drums, percussion
*Timothy B. Schmit backing vocals
Reception
Josie was released as the third single from 'Aja', following "Peg" and "Deacon Blues." A non-'Aja' single, "FM (No Static at All)," was released between "Deacon Blues" and "Josie." Although the earlier two 'Aja' singles reached the Top 20, "Josie" fell a little short of that, peaking at number 26 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100. It also reached #44 on the 'Billboard' Adult Contemporary chart.
"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, 19721980' in 2000. 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.
References
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