"Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan

Here comes that Santa Ana wind again, blowing us right into the slightly skewed world of Steely Dan.

It was never a question whether Strong Songs would do a Steely Dan episode, it was more a question of which song to focus on. In the end, Kirk chose "Babylon Sisters," a culmination of the band's incredible 1970s run that exemplifies Fagen and Becker's brand of pristine, laser-focused groove. It's also arguably the definitive recording of Bernard Purdie's signature Purdie Shuffle.

Written by: Walter Becker and Donald Fagen

Album: Gaucho (1980)

Listen/Buy via Album.Link

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

• “Sloop John B,” Bahamian folk song as recorded by The Beach Boys on Pet Sounds • , 1966 • “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations from Law of the Land • , 1972 • “Cousin Dupree” by Becker/Fagen from Two Against Nature • , 2000 • “Reelin' in the years” by Donald Fagen from Can’t Buy a Thrill • , 1972 • “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Fagen/Becker from Prezel Logic • , 1974 • “Black Friday” by Becker/Fagen from Katy Lied • , 1975 • "Peg," "Aja," and "Home at Last" by Becker/Fagen from Aja • , 1977 • “Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)” by Louis Prima performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra, 1936 • “Cissy Strut” by The Meters from The Meters, 1969 • "Rosanna" by David Paich as recorded by Toto on Toto IV, • with Jeff Porcaro on drums (and Tom Scott on alto sax!) • Rob Brown’s Purdie Shuffle tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g41Ab8iDaD0

OUTRO SOLOIST: Kyle Molitor

Kyle is a Portland-based trombonist who plays in all sorts of bands, and was also featured on the year three Strong Songs theme msuic. Find him on Instagram @tbonemolitor and check out his latest single here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kylemolitor/the-jazz-feat-toranpetto

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