Steely Dan - Babylon Sisters (REACTION)
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- Опубліковано 12 січ 2023
- @AirplayBeats reacts to Steely Dan’s Babylon Sisters
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You probably won't believe this, but it's true: When Becker and Fagen were a struggling couple of dudes in 1971 Los Angeles, unable to pay their shyster manager and their rent, guess who came to their rescue? Barbra Streisand. Indeed, Barbra heard a demo tape the boys had recorded of the song "I Mean to Shine" and liked it. Fagen played on it with her and she released it on her 1972 album "Barbra Joan". He later said, "It wasn't much of a song, but we were grateful to her. The royalties helped us pay off the guy who was mismanaging our career and we ate pretty good for a couple of months." So bravo to Barbra Streisand for keeping Steely Dan off the streets.
Thank you, Barbr. I never knew…
@@titus2120 🤩She's a lot cooler than a lot of people think.
@@jons.105 I think that the original band was just helping them record a demo that they were hoping to use to shop their songs around, but you know what happened next.
Very cool nugget of info. Thanks.
The most sensual background voices I've ever heard on a record.
The duo used six talented backup singers on this track: Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin and Toni Wine.
Wow Patti Austin
I remember Patti Austin also has a solo career of her own.
@@esdel1955 I know...right! All of those backup singers are legends in their own right....look them up on Wikipedia, it's fascinating.
Didn't know Patti Austin was a background singer for them. She's an amazing singer. Austin booked a flight on United's Flight 93 on 9/11 but because her mother suffered a stroke some days before she had to cancel.
@@marcos7801 😧
About ten years ago I walked into my folks' house and here is my 82-year-old Mom in the kitchen cooking spaghetti and jamming to her favorite Steely Dan. This gives me great memories, love you Mom RIP, thanks guys glad I recently discovered you.
Love to meet her and hang out ..... :) Peace and Love
@@Newfie-zc7ug Thanks my Mom was pretty cool, she passed in 2018. Take care.
Well...Ten years ago...You mean your Mom was born in the early 30s . Rare of a person my Mom's generation to appreciate Steely Dan's material . Wow .
I'm a french guy and I remember playing their LP "Gaucho" repeatedly in my car on my stereo cassette player back in 81 .
My car was a Peugeot 204 when LT Columbo's was a Peugeot convertible 403 . lol
Steely Dan's lyrics are kind of weird when it comes to make it out .
Playing Steely Dan's LPs were and are still an exciting journey . Like quite a few mothers I guess yours was second to none
Keep safe .
@@jeanlouisbaron5351 Thank you she was kind of great, also she liked Bob Segar and Linda Ronstadt. Yep Mom was born in 1933
@@postilm6399 I cook spaghetti and listen to Steely Dan too! Much love to you. You had a cool mom.
That Purdie shuffle is hypnotic.
This is a great album that focuses on the dark side of life in the Hollywood Entertainment business. The lyrics are quite funny. Glamor Profession is about a drug dealer to the stars, and the song Gaucho is about an agent who is pissed that his client brought his flamboyant gay lover to an important meeting.
Yes, I agree. This is a very dark track about the dangerous, seductive and seedy underbelly of Hollywood at the time (and yes, Glamour Profession tells similar stories in an even more oblique, elliptic way). Both songs are masterpieces, frankly I think both are better than the legendary "lost track" Second Arrangement.
I'm LOVING your reactions! You two almost look disgusted that you didn't hear Steely Dan sooner; that means you recognize the excellence. WELCOME to the family! 😊
On the day of my mother's funeral , after the formalities and lunch at the Irish club there was still a big crowd and we were trying to figure out what was the plan for the rest of the day. Growing up in my mum's house was cool and most of the time my friends and my brothers friends would often congregate at our house and we'd be listening to tunes , predominantly funk & soul , jazz and Steely Dan. In the end my friend said we should go to his house and have a party in honour of my mum. Anyway , a good few of my friends had travelled from Ireland with me for my mum's funeral and like the rest of us , we're Dan fans. Anyway , the high point was at about 2.30 in the morning , with a few drinks on board , my buddy who owned the house and myself were standing on the dining room table conducting about 30 people singing the chorus to this brilliant song. After I got down from the table one of my Irish buddy came up to me , hugged me and said that it was the best funeral he'd ever been too. This song is a classic and brings back happy & bittersweet but not sad memories. Great reaction. RIP Mum you were an amazing lady.
🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Awesome story, mate. Thanks for sharing
@@jimmoore8951 Thanks Jim
Imagine a 14 year old kid walking down the street in 1982 with the Goucho album playing on his Walkman. A charmed existence was my youth.
Donald Fagen has an amazing unique style that he initially did not like.Those backup singers including the legendary Patti Austin really layer this song to perfection!
There are a lot of bands that can cover Steely Dan on instruments almost perfectly but none of them can sing like Donald Fagen...
Michael McDonald was on Gaucho & Aja as well.
valerie simpson? Or was that the royal scam album?
As you know both D. Fagen and W.Becker we're perfectionists in their studio recordings. There's a 50-second fade out in Babylon Sisters. It took them and two engineers 55 attempts before they got a satisfactory mix from that fade out. Some of those session musicians found it very difficult to work with the two men. Btw that was Bernard Purdie on the drums playing his signature "Purdie Shuffle",a half-time shuffle beat on Babylon Sisters.
Mississippi bigfoot! One of the greats for sure, I could listen to that shuffle all day.
IF you were a Musican and worked with Steely Dan? That was your someone saying your Awesome moment, because The Dan only used the Best!
Devils in the details
@@timwirasnik5878 try to find Jerry Marotta ‘s comments from Steely Dan book about walking into the studio for the first time and seeing various studio cats . Putting on head phones and playing to “ Don’t Take Me Alive “.
The stories are infamous about the recording of Gaucho. On top of the 55 attempts to mix the fade out, Donald Fagen made a total of 274 mixes of this song. I read that after the 250th an engineer gave Fagen a computer disk painted in silver nail polish that simply said Babylon Sisters platinum mix lol
Jazz, reggae, R&B and rock and roll were involved in an accident. Nobody was injured. There was a party after, and a grand time was had by all. 👍😎😉😅🤣
Perfect description of SD music
You said it right there Bro!!
There are lots of different interpretations of this song's meaning, but the opening, "Drive west on Sunset to the sea," is leaving Los Angeles and driving north on PCH, and then "Distant lights from across the bay" is arriving in San Francisco. L.A. and S.F. are the 'Babylon Sisters.'
I'm pretty sure that when you get to PCH via Sunset Blvd. you're at the north end of Santa Monica Bay which is likely the bay they're referring to. It's a six hour drive to San Francisco on I-5. A MUCH longer drive up PCH.
@@Reno_Slim I grew up in Los Angeles. 'Sisters' is plural. Both L.A. and S.F. have been compared to Babylon numerous times. The next stanza includes the line, "San Francisco show-and-tell." Thanks for your input, though.
@@Reno_Slim San Francisco show and tell - my sense is they’re vaguely singing about some wild escapades (loves not a game for 3, so fine so young, don’t go for that cotton candy) perhaps in both cities. But Steely Dan songs are always a bit shrouded.
It is about prostitution. As in "whore of Babylon". Listen to it again with that in mind and you will see it.
@@neilfox4626 wut
Donald Fagen - Lead Vocal |
Don Grolnick - Electric Piano, Clavinet |
Steve Khan - Guitar |
Chuck Rainey - Bass |
Bernard Purdie - Drums |
Tom Scott - Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet |
Randy Brecker - Trumpet, Flugelhorn |
Crusher Bennett - Percussion |
George Marge, Walter Kane - Bass Clarinet |
Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin, Toni Wine - Backing Vocals |
Rob Mounsey - Horn Arrangement |
Steve Khans Classic Solo album “ The Blue Man “ Has Grolnick, Gadd Both Randy and Michael Brecker , Will Lee , David Spinoza and David Sanborn on it !
Bernard Purdie on drums doing his famous Purdie shuffle.
The way SD blends horns with the backup singers is just magical.
On God. Gaucho (the album) is the best display of it
Donald's acerbic vocal contrasts so well with Ashford and Simpson's sweet sweet harmonies.
BACK IN THE DAY...! These songs were played constantly on the radio. Hardly a day could go by without being exposed to a few SD Hits. Same for most of the other songs you are playing. Back then, you had radio station DJ's rocking out the tunes. All your favorites would be played at least once each night. GOOD OL' DAYS
Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else's favorite song!
Steely Dan were the masters of bringing in the best musician session ringers into their productions. It's really only a 2 man band of Fagen and Becker and loads of all stars as they needed. Financially smart for sure. Was just 2 guys owning everything.
Can't Buy a Thrill (1972)
Countdown to Ecstasy (1973)
Pretzel Logic (1974)
Katy Lied (1975)
The Royal Scam (1976)
Aja (1977)
Gaucho (1980)
Two Against Nature (2000)
Everything Must Go (2003)
Pretzel logic was the album that got me and specifically Rikki don’t lose that number from that point on I was hooked…… and unlike Huey, and the news I didn’t need a new drug. This was it for me.
@@FUBAR1986 Haitian Divorce was the song that got me into them!!
Patti Austin, Diva Gray, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Lesley Miller and Toni Wine are doing the backup vocals on this track
I love you guys! To see your reactions to ALL that is Steely Dan reminds me of my own reactions when these songs first appeared 50+ years ago. I have all my original albums. The fact that that Fagen was difficult to work with in the studio only benefits all of us now because his persistence, these songs hold up and are timeless to new audiences such as yourself. Please keep the Dan alive on your channel. I so look forward to future videos. Thank you fellas. It’s great to see these tunes are enjoyed and appreciated by old fat white guys to cool dudes such as yourselves!
Thank you so much!! We will keep the Dan Alive!!
Agreed!
It's so nice nice to see younger people discovering older music and understanding that we (older folks) like it not just because it's older music. The past produced a lot of crap just like today. Steely Dan deserves to be admired and played by hip young people because it's good music. Period.
You said it all, Joe
Dudes!!! I was clapping with joy, when you are saying your girlfriends cant et that "Steely Dan" song out of her head!! LOL I can relate!
You guys are on the right track with Steely Dan. Actually, there's no wrong track!
On an album full of dope tracks, Babylon is THE dope track. You gotta shake it baby!
"Pretty" Purdie on the drums carried this song. Impeccable timing.
I used to cruise in my 68 Charger listening to Steely Dan, awesome reaction. So many great bands from back then . Yes was another fav of mine. I am going to have that song in my head all day.
The entire Gaucho album is also a sonic and lyrics masterpiece! Enjoy! 🌹 Don’t forget Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly album- recorded around the same time. It’s like part Three of a trilogy with Aja and Gaucho.
This song includes funk and reggae beats to perfection.
Right on.
kamakiriad ain’t slouching neither. it needs a shoutout.
Haha, you guys have me dying about the girlfriends can't stop singing steely dan. It's been 40 years and I still can't stop as well. BTW, great picture in the background of the Dan.
New 67 yr old subscriber. I am loving the Dan sojurn with you guys. Been listening to them for 50 years now. So glad younger folks are enjoying music from my younger days. Always loved Steely Dan.
Interesting side note; Fagen and Becker named the band after a steam-powered dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch.
I've seen Steely Dan in concert, and omg they were incredible! There were so many musicians they could hardly fit everyone onstage, and the sound was out of this world!
I love Babylon Sisters. Have done for years. Too many faves to name tbh. 🏴
Their were a few songs not sung by Fagen but then they realized he was their voice.
Yea...but. Their early hits had different vocals. They CHANGED their sound. And synthed it more toward Fagen's vocals. They made the right decision.
Im 23 years old and this is one of my favorite songs ever ❤❤❤❤
For forty years my wife says all you listen to is Steely Dan. She says grow up and get over it.....I say to go where?...I'm already on the mountain top
Grow up? Get over what? The best 2 member band ever? How did your marriage even last this long???????????
Been listening to them for 50 years ✌️💙😎
Steely Dan is timeless music. I've been a fan since the beginning, and it has never gotten old to me. Every time I introduce it to someone who's not familiar, they become a hard-core fan.. I'm a rock guy, and there is something about their music that satisfies everyone's genres of music...
You've hit my favorite SD album! I'm a major fan of The Royal Scam for the snarky lyrics. Gaucho has all that, plus the amazing production techniques from Aja, too. And, you correctly identified Bernard Purdie doing his "Purdie Shuffle!" Although this song was recorded in LA, a lot of this album was written and recorded in New York. I love this quote from Becker:
“When we got to California, I don’t know if we were nostalgic in the general sort of way for New York so much as we were nostalgic as writers for this milieu that we left behind, and we weren’t finished writing songs with New York characters in them yet. So we kept doing that, and by the time were finished, we had moved back to New York, at which point we immediately started writing lyrics about California."
The stories of the problems they had with this album are legend! Becker was hit by a taxi and spent 6 months in bed. So, he'd listen to arrangements over the phone while Fagen worked in the studio. His girlfriend died of a heroin overdose and her family sued him. He was struggling with his own heroin addiction. They wrote a song they loved called "The Second Arrangment" that an engineer inadvertently erased! They tried re-recording it a bunch of times but were never happy with the new results so they just abandoned it.
But, they also pioneered digital recording techniques with the invention of one of the first drum machines by their genius engineer, Roger Nichols:.
"One of us said something like 'It's too bad that we can't get a machine to play the beat we want, with full-frequency drum sounds, and to be able to move the snare drum and kick drum around independently,'" recalled Fagen. "Roger replied 'I can do that.' This was back in 1978 or something, so we said 'You can do that?' To which he said 'Yes, all I need is $150,000.' So we gave him the money out of our recording budget, and six weeks later he came in with this machine."
Wendel became a fairly integral part of Gaucho, ultimately being awarded a platinum record for "his" efforts on the album, but programming technology was so primitive at the time that getting sounds of the machine was almost more trouble than it was worth. Noting that Nichols' invention relied on a computer keyboard, Fagen said, "He had to type all these bytes out, huge lists of numbers, which took him 20 minutes, and at the end he would hit Return, and we heard this one snare beat. It took so long."
By the time the album was done, the boys were burnt out and wouldn't record again until "Two Against Nature" 20 years later. But, you guys will have to listen to that album too, because it is a gem that was definitely worth a 20 year wait!
Keep enjoying the beautiful Steely Dan trip you're on!
The main part of any Dan song is killer, but when their intros and outros alone can rival that of other songs, you're talking top shelf.
That’s right; no ABABCAB for them. Intros, novel instrumentation bits, riff flourishes, transition phrases, outros, modulations for miles...and bridges that are often ecstatic-like the sun coming up. It may take several listens, but once you grock the tune, the sense of anticipation for all those moving parts will stay fresh for decades. In short, they were *composers* of the popular song.
The Purdy 1/2 time shuffle on this was used by Jeff Porcaro on Rosanna . Glad to see you pay attention to the drums on Dan tunes lol Frisco is called Babylon by the Sea!
Steely Dan are just so damn good. Although their music portrays many different influences, it is still utterly unique. Great reaction. ⭐️😁
Your Steely Dan journey is a freakin' delight to experience with y'all. Keep doin' what you do and I'll keep groovin' with y'all! 🎼🎸🎷🎺🎤🥁🎹 = 🔥 So much great music to discover!
More Steely on the way!!
Sounds like Bernard Purdie is going that shuffle here. There’s video of him discussing his contributions to the Dan.
You guys have excellent ears. DOUBLE bass clarinet, tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet, trumpet, flugelhorn on Babylon Sisters..
The story goes that one of the bass clarinetists finally earned respect from his teenage kids when he told them he played on this Steely Dan track - all his other work was classical. 🙂
Guys I’m a steely Dan nut. Been so since 1974. I’m late to this video. I love that you and your girls are getting in to this stuff. Welcome to The Dan!
I’m sure lots of people have pointed you to the full Steely Dan collection. But do not leave behind the solo stuff!
When Becker was having personal troubles Fagen continued on recording “The Nightfly” in 1982 after “Gaucho.” “Nightfly” was a sonic and writing masterpiece. Many of of us back in the day when CDs were first coming to be used this CD as a sonic reference point for years. It was THE recording standard. And the song writing and musicians who contributed to it are just crazy.
Then many years later in 1993 Fagen followed that up with a record called “Kamikariad.” It should have been called a Dan album but for some reason they decided not to. Walter played bass on it and produced it so why not. Don’t know. Great album. Trans Island Skyway has a crazy groove. Snowbound a great bass line, Florida room some great drums. Great songs period all around. On The Dunes is awesome. Put some headphones on and chill listening to that. Check it out.
And then not be outdone and with Walter healed and ready to a year after “Kamakariad” Becker puts out “11 Tracks of Whack.” I just love this album. Not many did I guess. But Fagen returned the favor and contributed to it and produced it. Listen to it start to finish. This is where you hear and can get some clues as to what Becker contributed to Steely Dan compositions.
Enjoy the journey guys!
Please make sure to check these albums out!
Never seen someone get down to that harder. You didn’t want to pause it there. So awesome.
I want you to understand something. I'm a 64 year old "Prairie" boy from Canada, born in 58, so I've heard these guys since I was 18. I remember going to a nighclub in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada and hearing a band play Steely Dan's "Night by Night". That was back in 77 or so. Lol. Whoever the band was, I suspect a cover band, that song blew my mind. I listened to them in the 80s as well while I was a college student. Here we are, in 2023 and you two are just grooving to this music, but in a way I was not conscious of, so thank you! All of these reaction videos are bringing back music that I loved back in the day, but was not really conscious of. People like you have truly helped me see the soul of this music and how so much of it is rooted in the Blues. Thank you!!
Yes, it's Bernard Perdie and the
"Perdie shuffle"
These are Donald Fagen’s solo albums.
Nightfly is my all time favourite album!!
1982. The Nightfly
1993. Kamakiriad
2006. Morph the Cat
2012. Sunken Condos
Those are all great, but half the tracks on Sunken Condos are just amazing. I can't believe that album is 11 years old.
Nightfly is the bomb!
I'm pretty sure Babylon Sisters was a Steely Dan tune. From memory it was on Gaucho, the rest is right The Nightfly was fantastic.
Gimme MAXINE... Smooth as butter and a killer sax 🎷 solo... Back in the day, Valerie Simpson (of ASHFORD & SIMPSON fame) also did alot of background vocals...
I love Kamakiriad
"This album is SMOOTH." And at the time of this album, I believe Becker and Fagen had moved to the west coast and the LA scene and Cali lifestyle were subject matters to some of the songs, ie Babylon Sisters and Glamour Profession.
*Guys much respect as always* ! Speaking of Steely Dan Albums, don't FORGET *Katy Lied* !!!!! ANOTHER masterpiece from Donald, Walter and stellar musicians.! Bad Sneakers is my fav on that one but the whole album is Gold.......
I can’t wait to hear Katy Lied!!
Yasss...
It does seem that seeing the Babylon sisters as LA and San Francisco is the key to unlocking this particular SD puzzle. "Shake it" can be seen as earthquakes, referencing LA, SF, and TJ, lights from across the bay, Santa Ana winds, watching his bridges burn. Kinda apocalyptic. 😁
i’ve always felt a very dark vibe from this song.. i think the santa ana winds refer to urges he has about what he wants to do to these prostitutes/party girls, and it ain’t pretty
Bernard Purdie is a a drumming GOD. Steely Dan, forever and ever. Amen.
The one and only Bernard "Pretty" Purdie doing the Purdie Shuffle on drums
This was when most people were cool and educated just by living everyday life !!!
I wore the grooves on this vinyl album clear through to the other side. LOL! I sang professionally for 40 years and I always envied Patti Austin, not for her solo stuff, but because I always wanted to sing backup vocals for Donald Fagan. Please don't stop here. Take that ride into Fagans solo stuff.
Once you finish Can't Buy a Thrill, I think you'll enjoy the next one, Countdown to Ecstasy. You can hear and see the growth from the first album.
In the 80s this was the song we used if we were going to buy speakers. Because if you can't hear the bells your speakers are no good. Such a jam precision. Walters voice is impecable. Always had great back up vocalists. They spared no expense. Those women got the voices! Well i should know by now that it's just a spasm like a sunday in d j . So fine so young ( your the only one - damn fine back up singer. That cotton candy is probably a drug reference. They might have done quite a few takes to get it just right. That was who they were. Every instrument was perfection.
Oh yeah, the Purdie Shuffle, there is no substitute.
Don’t worry guys, it gets better soon. Countdown to Ecstasy is a big jump up from Can’t Buy A Thrill, and Pretzel Logic & Katy Lied are two of the best albums ever recorded. Still not the super lush sound of Aja, but genius nevertheless. Gaucho was the last album they recorded for 20 years, but they came back in 2000 with Two Against Nature, which is one funky beast of an album, then Everything Must Go in 2003, which has a couple of weak tracks but also some of their best songs ever. One thing you could do is start with Fagen’s solo albums at the same time you’re doing the early Dan stuff. All 4 of them are genius.
I love Countdown and I think they will be blown away how good a 2nd album it is. Full of catchy hits but also overlooked gems. I would recomnend they do Nightfly though right after Gaucho since they skipped up forward again. Nightfly done in 1982 and its a similar sound as Gaucho, but a better album overall I think.
@@kbrewski1 I LOVED Reelin’ In The Years but wasn’t moved to buy the album. Then my best friend sat me down and played Countdown for me and I was sold on the Dan forever.
Katy Lied is my favorite SD album. Every cut is a treasure.
@@esdel1955 I love Reelin' In the Years!
@@lindatannock who doesn’t?! 🙂
"Glamour Profession" is another great Steely Dan tune.
MANNNNN YOU GUYS JUST WENT BONKERS ON THE WHOLE STEELY THING, IT'S AWESOME! 😊SO WHAT STARTED IT FOR YOU GUYS, WAS IT PEG? CAUSE THAT'S WHAT MOST START WITH! ANYWAY, SO COOL! 💯
when I bought my first "real" stereo system, the salesman put this CD on to show how good a system could sound. It has been my benchmark album ever since.
IDK if anyone else has mentioned this. But, the line "Drive west on Sunset to the sea" is actually a way to get to the beach. I realized that when my sister came out to visit my mom & I. So, we're out sightseeing in LA and we were listening to Gaucho bcz my mom LOVED them. So, we were literally driving West on Sunset on our way to the beach. And I went "HEY!!"
It's heart warming to see you lads falling in love.
Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin and Toni Wine - background sweetness...Austin would have a #1 hit the following year with "Baby, Come To Me," her duet with James Ingram.
Love their duets. ☺️
You guys have the "Steely Fever"...😉
Yeah, I was gonna say something similar, but you said it for me😂❤😂
fAGAN & BECKER used six talented backup singers on this track: Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin and Toni Wine. Of course Patti Austin stands out on this list for me. I love her voice.
Donald Fagan’s solo album “The Night Fly” IS also fly. Your into the good stuff now guys. Imagine being a teen and experiencing mind expansion through the great music of the day, every day! Love it, and the journey you’re both on. Just killin it. Horns and backing vocals will set you up, and the shuffle will smooth you out. Sweet and elegant, old school cool. 👈😎
They did a “comeback” album in 2000, which is a bit more jazz and laid back than their (mostly early) 70s counterparts. It won album of the year in 2001.
Edit: and yes, that’s Purdie on the drums, doing the famous Purdie shuffle.
Gaucho was their last album before they decided to take a 20 year hiatus, 1980-2000 when they released Two Against Nature. Their last album was Everything Must Go, released in 2003.
20 year recording hiatus as SD, but in 1992-93 started live touring again, and Fagen and Becker released solo albums in the 80s and 90s.
"Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go" were their last two collaborative albums.
Y'all are getting it!! Past members were from everywhere!! Guitarist Dennis Dias was looking for guys to jam with, placed a add, and Becker and Fagan answered. Jess Skunk Baxter guitarist, later went to The Doobie Bro's. Dias was with the band ToTo. Michael McDonald, solo and Doobie Bro's. This band was Known not to tour much because they used so many different Studio musicians. Like the girls, Carolyn Leonhart was on a couple of albums,... then called back again. Cindy Mizzelle, and LaTamya Hall. * On Babylon Sisters they used six, Lani Groves, Patti Austin, Toni White, Leslie Miller, Diva Grey, and Gordon Grody. All Pro's with their own careers. Was Blessed to see them in Tampa the last time they were touring. Thanks for doing what you Do!!
I love the background singers at the very end where they go, " you got to shake it baby, you got o shake it yeah."
Your lives are richer since you discovered The Dan!
I agree....this album has a very California vibe to it.
The last crossroad before I turn into work every morning is Babylon Rd. And every day I see the sign, this song pops into my head!
A song about three-ways with background singers in harmony singing: "tell me I'm the only one." Unbelievable irony.
Fadeout on Babylon sisters is one of the most beautiful things you have ever heard, not to mention the purdie shuffle, is actually one of the hardest things to learn as a drummer. No wonder when you combined everything you're hearing, you are left feeling chills, because of how epic this sounds and what it is doing to your heart, mind and soul. And you are absolutely right this is a love letter to California,. In the snarkiest way possible through the lyrics
I just love seeing people discover and appreciate what Steely Dan is/was. Great writing, phenomenal musicians and superb engineering coming together for a glorious recording. Album after album. I’ve enjoyed them for decades! Glad you are too! Great channel, gentlemen!
Shout out to the memory of George Marge and Walter Kane - great Bass Clarinet play on this track.
The engineering on Gaucho was off the chain! So crisp, so clear, so smooth!
What's interesting their sojourn in California- Steely Dan liked.
But LA? Babylon Sisters was sort of a diss- track to LA. They had little use for the LA snooty culture and said for them it had nothing to offer them.
It took me a few decades of listening to this song to realize that the trumpet riff reminds me of the great Cootie Williams! No accident because Donald Fagen is a longtime fan and admirer of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
The thing is that you listen to other groups songs and you like them while listening and that's it. But with SD songs after listening to some of them you wake up the next morning and you still can hear them in your ears.
Some STEELY DAN and just a glass of red wine
Steely Dan is so underrated.
Yes, i know many people will say they aren't, but in terms of how great they were, they are most certainly UNDERRATED.
Good call on the Purdie Shuffle!
I could listen to Bernard Purdie play this beat all day and night long...The man can back up every bit of smack he's ever talked, Love him!
This makes me so happy!
They never made a bad song when you listen to them go down the rabbit hole you won't regret it
The have been together until 2 years ago. The founder's of Steely Dan were Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. Walter died 2 years ago. They played together until he died. It was only Donald and Walter that were the constants in the band. They used studio artists to make this sound.
What a laid back Cali groove to open an album with. From SF-LA-TJ you could cruise around all night to this
My jam. Smooth like silk, with that reggae-sway doing that Perdie-shuffle on the skins.
My all-time favourite Dan track. Flawless.
I’ve been a Danfan since 1974, and Guacho is my second favorite after Aja…both masterpieces in their own way….love to watch you being drawn in…happened to me 50 years ago…enjoy!😊
When you can't get them out of your mind you know it's a great band. When i was younger and busy i would think Becker and Fagen can do all that. Now im older and know they hired so many musician it had to be done right. I couldn't pick a favorite album of theirs - i love songs from each album.
❤️❤️❤️ that your ladies are on this trip with you!!!!
🤗 Ooooh! We cheating! 🥰 I'm so here for the Sistahs! 🤭 You better shake it baby! 😍 Shout Out to The Emotions! 😉Dem' girls can sang! 🥰🐰
Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin, Toni Wine - Backing Vocals |
Makes me miss California, LA women here. You've got to shake it baby, you've got to shake it!
Some of the best breakdowns of SD on YT. When you know……you know. Great job guys and how great is it that your ladies are hooked too? 🔥
Thank you!!
...and if you have not found out, yet. It was not just 8 years. There were solo efforts with some collaboration sprinkled in and their "re-uniting" for the 2000 Grammy award-winning Album of the Year "Two Against Nature", with some killer grooves, none more killer than "Gaslighting Abbie". Followed by album "Everything Must Go". Deep, DEEP velvet rabbit hole!!! Enjoying it, guys!!! Keep up the SD!
This is one of my favorites tracks. The other is deacon blues from Aja. The background vocals are masterful.