"Peg" by Steely Dan

Strong Songs has covered Steely Dan songs from 1976’s The Royal Scam, 1980’s Gaucho, and even 2000’s Two Against Nature, but somehow 1977’s Aja has remained unaddressed… until now. On this episode, Kirk takes a look under the hood of “Peg,” one of the most loved songs on The Dan’s most celebrated album, with all the double-stop bends, lyricon solos, and multi-tracked Michael McDonalds that entails.  Written by: Donald Fagen and Walter BeckerProduced by: Gary KatzAlbum: Aja, 1977Listen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:Strong Songs episodes on: "Babylon Sisters" (Full song) "Janie Runaway" (Chris Potter's solo) "Kid Charlemagne" (Larry Carlton's solo)"Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan from Gaucho, 1980"Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan from The Royal Scam, 1976"Janie Runaway" by Steely Dan from Two Against Nature, 2000"Deacon Blues" from Aja, 1977Classic Albums: Steely Dan: Aja, 2000 Documentary"Peg" live from Steely Dan, Two Against Nature tour DVD, 2000"Midnight at the Oasis" by Maria Muldaur w/ Amos Garrett from Maria Muldaur, 1974Tom Scott playing lyricon on "Say You Love Me," 1987"What a Fool Believes" by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, recorded by The Doobie Brothers, 1978Steve Kahn's blog post recalling the "Peg" recording session2020 Wall Street Journal interview with Fagen on the meaning of "Peg"'s lyricsRick Beato interviews with Jay Graydon and Michael McDonaldDonald Fagan's "Peg" piano lessonPlayLikeTheGreats.com - a fantastic transcription resource--------------------SEPTEMBER 2026 WHOLE NOTE PATRONSDave Florey - AccessViolation - Jeremy Dawson - Sami Samhuri - Paul Delaney - Jenness Gardner - Melanie Andrich - Ken Hirsh - Joe Laska - David Mascetti - Christopher McConnell - Jamie White - Christopher Miller - Daniel Hannon-Barry - Jay Swartz - Damon White - Catherine Warner - Pablo Castro - Ben Barron - Corpus Frisky - Cesar - Robyn Metcalfe - Scott Lystig Fritchie - Lisa Crotty - Andy - Melissa Lucas - Greg - Julie Rowe - Rich Fish - Greer Bevel - Butch Vig - Greg - Matt R - Wendy Moore - Cerise Gay - Erica Smolinski - Brute Farce - John PultzSEPTEMBER 2026 HALF NOTE PATRONSColin Hodo - James Johnson - Arjun Sharma - Justin McElroy - Alexander Polson - Richard Toller - Melanie Stivers - Matt Betzel - Jeffrey Olson - Brett Douville - Brian Amoebas - Andrew Fair - Andrew Baker - Amanda Furlotti - Brad Callahan - Jennifer Bush - AJ Schuster - Tanner Morton - Gavin Doig - Chris K - Alexander - David - Naomi - Dave Sharpe - Caro Field - Jonathan Daniels - Jake Roberts - Eric Helm - Melmaniac - Dhu Wik - Tom Coleman - Diane Turner - Clare H - Randy Souza - Pascal Rueger - Joshua Hill - Stephen Tsoneff - Michael Casner - Diane Hughes - Angela Livingstone - cbalmain - Eric Prestemon - Lauren Reay - Nathan Gouwens - Nell Morse - Karma Jay - Dallas Hockley - M Shane Borders - Kevin Potter - Eoin de Burca - Bonnie Prinsen - Ryan Rairigh - Achint Srivastava - Doug Belew - Abbie Berg - Jason Pratt - Geraldine Butler - Bernard Khoo - David Joske - Donald Mackie - Steve Paquin - Mino Capossela - Kelli Brockington - Adam W - Josh Singer - Rob Tsuk - Michael Livingstone - Ailie Fraser - JRRJ - Jeffrey Bean - Rishi Sahay - Zak Remer - Adam Stofsky - Kenneth Jung - Bruno Gaeta - Paul Wayper - Lisa Turner - Wendy Gilchrist - Doreen Carlson - J