"Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan

<p>Here comes that Santa Ana wind again, blowing us right into the slightly skewed world of Steely Dan.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><strong>Written by:</strong> Walter Becker and Donald Fagen</p> <p><strong>Album:</strong> <em>Gaucho</em> (1980)<em><br /></em></p> <p><strong>Listen/Buy:</strong> <a href= "https://music.apple.com/us/album/gaucho/1440496378">Apple Music</a> | <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Gaucho-Remastered-Steely-Dan/dp/B00004YX39"> Amazon</a> | <a href= "https://open.spotify.com/album/5fIBtKHWGjbjK9C4i1Z11L">Spotify</a></p> <p><strong>ALSO FEATURED/DISCUSSED:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>“Sloop John B,” Bahamian folk song as recorded by The Beach Boys on <em>Pet Sounds</em>, 1966</p> </li> <li> <p>“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations from <em>Law of the Land</em>, 1972</p> </li> <li> <p>“Cousin Dupree” by Becker/Fagen from <em>Two Against Nature</em>, 2000</p> </li> <li> <p>“Reelin' in the years” by Donald Fagen from <em>Can’t Buy a Thrill</em>, 1972</p> </li> <li> <p>“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Fagen/Becker from <em>Prezel Logic</em>, 1974</p> </li> <li> <p>“Black Friday” by Becker/Fagen from <em>Katy Lied</em>, 1975</p> </li> <li> <p>"Peg," "Aja," and "Home at Last" by Becker/Fagen from <em>Aja</em>, 1977</p> </li> <li> <p>“Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)” by Louis Prima performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra, 1936</p> </li> <li> <p>“Cissy Strut” by The Meters from The Meters, 1969</p> </li> <li>"Rosanna" by David Paich as recorded by Toto on <em>Toto IV,</em> with Jeff Porcaro on drums (and Tom Scott on alto sax!)</li> <li> <p>Rob Brown’s Purdie Shuffle tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g41Ab8iDaD0</p> </li>