"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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