STEELY DAN - "BABYLON SISTERS" (reaction)

[@SightAfterDark]

If you enjoyed this, check out our podcast on Steely Dan! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKWxkqaud9ekpK8

[@sammybeck7794]

"You got to shake it baby, you got to shake it baby, you got to shake it yeah"

[@eileendobbs8009]

You really get the Bernard Purdie shuffle in this song

[@SightAfterDark]

So good!

[@chudwickmt]

The Purdie Shuffle

[@timcardona9962]

Simply a brilliant piece of music, from the first note to the last Gaucho is the next level of the sound they solidified on Aja, with denser chord structures and more debauchery haha. And more girl singers too

[@52536626]

Love this song. My mother wore this album out when I was growing up. I purchased a used vinyl a couple of years ago. Enjoy

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks for the comment Sonja! Listening to SD on Vinyl must be quite an experience!

[@melvinperry9393]

Dave hit upon something very important for us who grew up in this era: He knew instantly that Bernard Purdie was on drums. We did this all of the time. Try to guess if we were correct about hearing a musician on a particular track. Musicians were the personality of the song, so to guess that Purdie was on a track, or Jerry Jemmott on bass, or David Sanborn on sax was a joy for us when we looked at the liner notes on the album because we knew their styles of playing, and their styles made the personality of the particular song. We would then take the album to our friend's house and listen to it with them checking off the musicians we recognized from our ears. That doesn't really exist today where people are trying to guess who's on a track because things are not as organic, musically and you have no idea who is playing after all of the electronic effects are put on if there is anyone playing at all. That's why those tunes have such personality and character. Great catch Dave!

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks Melvin! Looks like Dan is really getting a feel for the Purdie Shuffle! That's really awesome what you are saying about noticing the different musicians. Wish it was still like that!

[@lorin6673]

I love this song. I got to see them back in 1992 and they sang this. I've never seen so many musicians/singers on one stage before. They sounded perfect. What a great show. If you like Steely Dan you may want to check out Donald Fagen's album "Kamakiriad".

[@SightAfterDark]

Sounds amazing! We plan on doing all the solo albums once we finish the SD albums :)

[@lantose]

Great album (CD.....whatever)! A little unusual and futuristic, but again, it’s the music and Donald’s singing!

[@sooutrageous007]

Larry Carlton played guitar on a number of popular TV themes in the 70s and Deacon Blues/FM saxophonist, Pete Christlieb was a member of The Tonight Show Band circa mid 70s. The drummer on Black Cow was a member of Lawrence Welk Orchestra. So yeah, Steely Dan was influenced by and influenced 70s culture and media.

[@SightAfterDark]

That makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the comment Steven!

[@robertnorton92]

Then Steve Khan did a stretch of subbing on Late Night With David Letterman in the early 80s too, which was during the same time that he was active in Steely Dan and Donald Fagen's music. [Aja sessions, Gaucho sessions, The Nightfly sessions, 'True Companion,' 'Shanghai Confidential,' 'Reflections (Monk tribute)']

[@eileendobbs8009]

Oh I love this song. Once you hear it you just keep singing the refrain in your head over and over and over. Total ear worm

[@SightAfterDark]

Indeed!

[@sooutrageous007]

Thank you so much for your deep dive into the dark, stormy waters of the Steely Dan ocean. Kudos to you.

[@RogerioNaccache]

"Like a Sunday in T.J. That it's cheap but it's not free" TJ=Tijuana, Mexico.

[@eileendobbs8009]

And that love's not a game for 3

[@mikewritz]

@@eileendobbs8009 don’t go for that cotton candy. Google what “cotton candy” is slang for.

[@eileendobbs8009]

@@mikewritz yeah. Sexual liberation. I had read an interview where Fagan said it was about a failed attempt at a threesome

[@SightAfterDark]

Love it

[@mikewritz]

@@eileendobbs8009 it’s the little things Steely Dan does in their songs like this one, like you said is about a failed threesome. If you notice both girls sing at the same time “tell me I’m the only one”. So you can just picture the situation where he thinks he’s just gonna have fun with both of them but both girls want to be the only one. Classic steely, love them so much.

[@mauriciodelarosa2449]

Great reaction great song “You gotta shake baby you gotta shake it baby you gotta shake it” ❤️

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks Mauricio!

[@fredkrissman6527]

Welcome to Cali, sent from Humboldt county, NorCal! An age-old message straight from the old testament: young women will always tempt (young & old) men...

[@SightAfterDark]

Classic

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

The album art is actually from a real-life mural called "Guardia Vieja - Tango" (Old Guard - Tango)". It's located in a neighborhood on the southside of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

[@SightAfterDark]

SD International!

[@nekite1]

My favourite band of all time - and this is from someone who has seen live, in no particular order, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Rory Gallagher, John Martyn, Van Morrison, Weather Report, the Pogues, Seasick Steve and quite a few others.

[@SightAfterDark]

Good list!

[@smittybenzo4693]

Steely Dan's mixing is always so perfect. This song in particular, with the f*cking horns whizzing past your ears like speeding cars in the intro and in the "chorus" is so 🔥! Oh Peace from Cali....It does create that Sunset street vibe while not intending to shove California down people's throats.

[@SightAfterDark]

That's a great way of putting it! Thanks for the comment!

[@ronwilliams6565]

I love it..." Turn down that jungle music ....at least till we are out of town." LOL Another masterpiece by the studio gurus! Smile Sifa..you could have sang backup vocals..lol

[@michiganjfrog366]

One of a kind vibes 🌇 my favorite Steely Dan song. Thanks 😁

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks for watrching!

[@kirlu50]

This is my favourite Steely Dan album - I love those background vocals

[@teelurizzo8542]

Yep. Bernad 'Pretty' Purdie playing his own Purdie Shuffle once again. However, by 1979 when they started recording 'Goucho', they had moved back to NY. But like Becker has said, when they first moved to LA in 1971 to star Steely Dan, they were homesick and started writing lot about NYC, but once they moved back to NYC to start writing and recording for 'Gaucho'... '...We immediately started writing about L.A.'

[@SightAfterDark]

Haha funny how that works sometimes

[@eliotmccann2589]

My all-time favourite song from The Dan. It's practically faultless. Three days to record, two weeks to mix, and the results speak for themselves. Immaculate.

[@SightAfterDark]

It’s a great one!

[@m.ericwatson968]

Steely Dan have some of the coolest drumbeats in all of modern music, Bernard Purdie is a national treasure!

[@SightAfterDark]

Purdie is the best!

[@toddmichelfelder3417]

Great song, great album.. Enjoy the ride!!

[@SightAfterDark]

Looking forward to it!

[@RandyHall324]

Absolutely love this song, but I remember feeling a little lukewarm towards it the very first time I bought the album and listened. It was one of those songs (at least for me), that just kept getting better and better after repeated listens. This album has a few songs like that - eventually I caught up!

[@eileendobbs8009]

Same. Now I will be singing Babylon Sisters...shake it over and over in my head while trying to get to sleep tonight...ugh

[@jploev]

Exactly. Grew on me listen after listen.

[@eileendobbs8009]

@@jploev it's a sneaky song. Starts out very slow and builds

[@SightAfterDark]

We can totally see that! Thanks for watching Randy!

[@colonelspicymustard]

100%

[@danieltruyts-ke4gi]

Those sensual background voices!!!

[@TimUckun]

Steely dan influenced almost everybody in music and still does. Most of those soundtracks to television and movies were recorded by studio veterans many of whom played for Steely Dan at one time or another (even if they didn't make it on the album).

[@SightAfterDark]

Makes sense. Thanks for watching Tim!

[@timpindar]

Just a brilliant song. Again!

[@SightAfterDark]

Absolutely!

[@RonaldWilliams-qh7zc]

Never seen this particular video from you guys before I know this is 2 years old but I absolutely love this song from this particular album sometimes I play this like three times back to back lol keep picking up the needle putting it back on this track lol 😅

[@roundtownKen]

Hi guys. Glad you're back into some Dan. Yes this song is fairly indicative of the rest of the album's glossy luster. I think they set out to take their sometimes prickly east coast sensibilities and standard operating procedures and tumble them a little longer in the polisher. They had spent some time in LA by this point. Refined is probably an accurate term. Yes Sifa, I think there is an obvious influence in the horn charting of Hollywierd-based tv and movies at the time... The weight and influence of Tom Scott and the like, working in tandem with Don - was too much for workaday producers and soundtrack composers to ignore. In some cases, the musicians playing reeds and woodwinds with Becker and Fagan were also playing for the TV studio bands. The extensions and advanced voicings in the horns create a palpable atmosphere and are definitely more pronounced here and on other tracks like Glamour P and Time out of mind. When you listen to 'Sisters again, listen for the BASS clarinets. Who else would have them up front in the mix, let alone use them in modern pop/rock/jazz/etc.?

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks Ken! We will definitely have to go back and listen to that! Thanks for your perspective!

[@lantose]

Fagen was such a perfectionist, that it took he and his engineers 274 mixes of this song before he gave his stamp of approval. Neither he or Walter played an instrument on this song, only Donald sang! Some bands cut a whole album in just a few days, steely Dan took months, so everything is virtually perfect for the ear when its finished! This info came from “More Than Just a Band”, by Polyphonic which is a good short story about Walter and Donald!

[@SightAfterDark]

Amazing! Thanks for watching!

[@michaelstevens9332]

Gaucho was engineered by Fagen alone following Becker near death from an accident, and protracted subsequent hospitalization. Fagens signature is all over this album without the modifying influences of Becker. Many studio musicians cursed Fagens maniacal perfectionism.

[@RockChickFace]

never go wrong with steely dan.

[@SightAfterDark]

Agreed!

[@benjaminwilliams9447]

One of my favorites from this album. Me and my wife Saw them in concert here in New Orleans. But my favorite is Time Out Of Mind. Yes, Purdue is unmisiakable!!

[@PauTay942]

Loved this album and I really love the cover art. Sets the tone for the album.

[@SightAfterDark]

Absolutely! Thanks Mark!

[@womanonthinice1276]

California baby!!!! Steely Dan!!!! Shake it baby!😎💃💃💃💃💃

[@SightAfterDark]

Gotta love it!

[@andrewtrotter9023]

My friends say no don’t go for that cotton candy Son you’re playing with fire So great.

[@steelyd2]

“I should know by now it’s just a spasm”... get it? Get it? Spasm?

[@SightAfterDark]

lol

[@davidgale7384]

Smooooth... The tightest music of my generation.

[@SightAfterDark]

Smooth indeed. Thanks for watching David!

[@ronrobbins2737]

Great review ! Great song. !

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks Ron!

[@dunbarf2413]

Love this song...last year I was listening to it daily ...tried to turn one of my co-workers on to Steely Dan he just laughed and just blew it off as old timey music lol. Just had to say hey they like what they like and don't like what they dont...moving on and enjoying this song on my own...least till now...thanks Sight After Dark.

[@SightAfterDark]

Thank you!

[@johnb9507]

I read somewhere that Donald Fagin took the master tape of this song to his home studio to mix it. It took him something like 250 times to get the mix to his satisfaction.

[@raymondcpl]

Reminds me of summer break during my uni days, I only had a dozen album in my collection... and Gaucho was one of them. This was played constantly...

[@SightAfterDark]

Sounds like a good time!

[@kennyevans6197]

The purdy shuffle unmistakable

[@gordonorante509]

Right! Bigtime.

[@arnoldsherrill6305]

The reason pieces of it sounds so familiar to her is that a lot of the studio musicians they used also worked on other television and movie Productions providing background or soundtrack music as well as Jazz performers. They were literally picking from the cream of the crop if you look up some of the liner notes some of these albums you will see it as high as 40 people helping to put one of them together

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks for the info Arnold!

[@Peter-ih2tn]

like taking a time machine to California

[@SightAfterDark]

Indeed!

[@davetothebeard]

Hearing this I went back and listened to one of my favorite SD songs. Cousin Dupree, from the Two Against Nature album. A rare up-tempo number with a sense of humor. It’s about a guy who propositions his hot cousin. Love these guys. They’re still touring folks…

[@SightAfterDark]

They’re the best!

[@squidkid2]

One reason that TV music sounds like Steely Dan is that most TV soundtracks and theme songs were written and performed by "studio" musicians and The Dan also pulled heavily from that group. Studio musicians were a real LA thing. These players were jack of all musical trades so to speak. The played on album recording sessions for rock, jazz and pop artists. They played on movie soundtracks, tv soundtracks you name it. They would also form temporary bands for artists who wanted to "tour". Bernard Purdie is a prime example of this type of player.

[@daviemcf]

Magic!!

[@SightAfterDark]

:)

[@jato1956]

I thought Jeff Porcaro played drums on that truck. Anyhow...he and Bernard can shuffle like mad!

[@glynnborders762]

Donald Fagen wrote a column in Screenwriter Magazine. He loves his music to sound like movie soundtracks. I would bet that TV shows bite off of Stealy Dan.

[@noaaahhhhhh9420]

Such a good album

[@markenmel1]

Play it every time I’m in LA

[@OllieBivins]

"Jungle music" refers to early R&B. It was a derogatory term. It spread worldwide. Mick Jagger told his father in 1964 that The Rolling Stones were going to America to play. His father said that the music The Stones play is jungle music. Mick related this in an interview decades ago.

[@jackcade68]

Mate, how did you land that stunning Queen? I should have learned how to play music!

[@SightAfterDark]

Haha we’re bandmates!

[@kengregory6026]

Love this album..I'm putting together another late night playlist for when friends are over...'Moongaze' by S.A.D. is currently between this and 'Hey Now' by London Grammar...ok with you?

[@SightAfterDark]

Haha sounds good to us!

[@-R.Gray-]

Read the Songfacts entry on this song. Fagen did 274 mixes before he was satisfied, and then he still replaced 1 bass note.

[@SightAfterDark]

Only 274??

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Fagen said part of his reasons to your in the early '90s was to hear what this song sounded like live!🗿🌴

[@SightAfterDark]

Hell yeah!

[@particularlynothing]

When this came out I was 20 and Aja had been on replay for the last 3 years. I couldn't help but feel Gaucho had gone a bridge too far towards "easy listening". I think you can hear the evolution towards Gaucho in "FM". But it's still Steely Dan and even a little watered down it's a killer record.

[@SightAfterDark]

Interesting. We love the smoothness of this. Feels a lot different than Aja to us!

[@cousmaster]

ONE OF THE COOLEST SONGS EVER....TOP TEN

[@savariaxa]

Gaucho, Aja and the Royal Scam are the three top albums for me ! Gaucho has a different vibe then Aja it has already a more Donald Fagen’s signature followed in 1982 by the Nightfly another masterpiece !!

[@SightAfterDark]

This album definitely has more of a chill vibe so far. Looking forward to hearing more!

[@damonhines8187]

Great song, great reaction! I bet some composers for TV and film of the time, and since were influenced by Steely Dan just as Becker and Fagen may have been influenced by things they in turn heard in other media through the years and continually, as happens. And yeah, writing ala SD to spec would be a tall order, 8>D

[@pauleichgrun6205]

Guys! The new jazz.

[@SightAfterDark]

Gotta love it!

[@shereewilson6278]

Love Third World Man on this Album also

[@plectrumizer]

One thing that's hard to pick up on a single listen is the rhyme structures they use - they're often really out there. This one has no rhyme, a, a, no rhyme, no rhyme b, b, b - very cool stuff.

[@neonpark1874]

Not long after this album came out, and after listening to it a few times, I decided that it was good but not a great Steely Dan album. Initially, It seemed like they were trying to continue on with Aja - but these songs seemed to be the ones that were not good enough to make it onto Aja. So I kind of dismissed this album. Many years later, I went back to it and now I have a completely different opinion of the album... It's great and I'm glad that you guys are listening to it. I think I was just spoiled by Aja and my take on Gaucho (initially) was negatively impacted just because it followed it.

[@timpindar]

Me too. Exactly what you said. 👍

[@SightAfterDark]

We're loving it so far! Thanks so much!

[@moanman1776]

There are parts of this that are so damn funky... (like that chilly-homegirl background chorus) & other parts so freakin' obtuse, so WTF(???) that it could ONLY have been done by SD. That's what makes them so damned listenable & timely.

[@SightAfterDark]

Well said!

[@bluesrock1]

You got it. It's pretty obvious if you pay attention to the lyrics. This song is about an older guy who has a 3-way with two younger girls. In the end, he figures out he doesn't have what it takes to do a proper job!

[@SightAfterDark]

haha what a tragedy

[@GiancarloXmusic]

Yall are from BK? Ayyyyyeeee I've in long island but I was born in Canarsie (:

[@SightAfterDark]

Ayyyyyyye shoutout to Brooklyn!

[@dansavoie5087]

This is a song about a middle aged white man who wants to taste the sweetness of chocolate for the first time. In order to accomplish this he is going to have a African American prostitute fulfill his lust. His friends try to warn him that could take him down a path that could change his life. You'll notice the title has sisters plural but in the lyrics sister is singular. That's because there's only one girl in the story. He now has her in his car and wants her to turn the music down while they're still in the city. He's nervous. He doesn't want to bring any attention to them. Once away from city they go and party. He wants her to shake it. He wants her to act like he believes African American girls act. There's no conclusion. I like this song very much. More the music and vocals than the story but the lyrics they use to tell the story is interesting. Like most of their lyrics.

[@TonySchopp]

Classy. That’s all folks.

[@hklinker]

Steely Dan and TV soundtrack music? Night by Night screams tv show theme!

[@SightAfterDark]

We would watch that show!

[@AW-yj6md]

Well, well young people,..ya'll stacking a library I hope,..so hope,..and pass it on to the next generation,..we just don't have horns in music too much any more,..there's a group that does covers, Leonides,..I forgot may have spelled it wrong,..you so,..so should see and hear their cover of this,..they are so good I can only imagine the practice they went through to get this right,..and they so did it,..was incredible,...they didn't miss a beat. ,..they cover Chicago too.,..and yess I remember those days,..the Transformers,..Pantera was on the soundtrack,..of that big animated movie (where they all went back.to Cybertron,.whole planet transformed) they did,..I went to see it,..I had only listened to them in passing on the radio,..never finished hearing them , their whole song,..until the movie,..was awesome on that big screen,..and I think by that time, theaters started having dolby sound systems,..whole theater seem to rock,..keep going young people,..enjoy,..Godspeed, Peace ✌

[@SightAfterDark]

Thank you so much for watching! We appreciate you!

[@ronaldwilliams6927]

Sifa ...Dan....turn that jungle music down bro...lol. at least till we get out of town..lol...Sifa..shake it you Babylon sista...you too much cotton candy..lol...another masterpiece by the Dan.😅 great reaction guys.

[@SightAfterDark]

lol thanks for being here!

[@andrewedwards8238]

Tune.

[@SightAfterDark]

Done know!

[@sheldonwheaton881]

Show Biz Kids, Your Gold Teeth.🗿🌴

[@arnaldomontes5616]

OK young's ... the Steely Dan full album you have to listen to is Countdown to Ecstasy ... The title says it all. SERIOUSLY.. My personal fav is Your Gold Teeth.

[@keithdixonnovels]

Not my favourite Dan album, but I guess you gotta go where the Patreon's lead ... as for the use of horns and whether they played off TV shows, or vice versa, I'm not sure it was that exactly. My sense is that the use of horns just became more prevalent at that time. Though the Dan was using them as early as Countdown to Ecstasy (1973), people like Joni Mitchell started to introduce them on Court and Spark (1974) because she became interested in jazz and started using Tom Scott and his jazz musicians; and Van Morrison and his 'orchestra' also had brass players in them. So I think it was a thing that grew during the 70s - Gaucho being 1980, I believe.

[@SightAfterDark]

Interesting perspective! Thanks Keith!

[@babylonsister118]

Great title! I wonder how they got it from me, LOL.

[@SightAfterDark]

Haha it’s a mystery!

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Purdie shuffle

[@arnaldomontes5616]

Oh and Bodhisttava, , Show Biz Kids and King of the World...all on Countdown to Ecstasy..do yourself a favor and check it out

[@mrjoepad1]

Check out Blood Sweat and Tears "Child is Father to the Man" full album.

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks Joseph!

[@photo161]

Another SD morality play, ...desire, temptation...those fine young Babylon sisters whispering "tell me I'm the only one" He's warned he's playing with fire, he knowingly watches his bridges burn, but he can't resist that cotton candy...scariest line"...I'm not what I used to be..."

[@SightAfterDark]

Sounds about right!

[@photo161]

@@SightAfterDark ..Thx...

[@mikedemike5393]

half time shuffle...purde rossanna...jeff pocaro.DRUM LESSON: Half Time Shuffle (Purdie, Bonham, Porcaro) - KZbin

[@joelliebler5690]

Good tune though my favorite is the title tune, Gaucho! I believe the album is a bit more mellow because for the most part Donald did most of the work while Walter was in the hospital rehabbing.

[@SightAfterDark]

Definitely a more laid back feel

[@DoctorWu1978]

Don Breithaupt's current project, Monkey House, is the closest I've heard to Steely Dan, both instrumentally and lyrically. Also, some of Seawind's stuff from the late 70s/early 80s is reminiscent instrumentally, although the lyrics are of an uplifting Christian vibe.

[@SightAfterDark]

Lmao now we’re just thinking what Steely Dan would sound like as a Christian band 😂

[@DoctorWu1978]

@@SightAfterDark Ha, yeah, it is a bit ironic that the band that (IMO) most closely resembles Steely instrumentally is lyrically the polar opposite. To get a sense of what I mean, listen to "Devil Is A Liar" and "He Loves You" from their first album (self-titled). They have some really great stuff that I don't think most Dan fans are aware of. You guys are great, BTW! The best reaction team I've yet to see.

[@masapell]

Look up the story about this song that didn’t make it on Gaucho because of a recording blunder. It’s a song that to me was a precursor to Fagen’s solo album, “The Nightfly.” kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGGwfYefgZljj6M

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks! We'll check it out!

[@juaneato]

Who the FU*k gave a thumbs down? Wut??

[@SightAfterDark]

Lmao for real!

[@robertnorton92]

I think one word to describe the theme is 'pernicious'... to borrow from Zappa's "I'm the Slime." It's got this vibe of shame to it, like someone indulging in, as you said, hedonism, and the friends are disapproving. It may simply then be a vignette of the insidious degradation of moral values of our narrator, who seems to be struggling to come to grips with aging, perhaps going through a midlife crisis. Or maybe it's his overblown sense of achievement and belonging (sorry Keith) to his yuppie circle ('we'll jog with show folk') as if that should justify his predilection for debauchery. It is quite dismal when we look at it that way. But that's the feeling I get. Not surprising though with all of those 13 and 7#9 chords. Very dark. It's a very smart and luxurious groove. Thank you for the review!

[@SightAfterDark]

Thanks for sharing Robert!

[@keegsmarshall6610]

Some SD songs are just collections of home truths.

[@SightAfterDark]

For real

[@gergsar]

do you know what a "steely dan" is? that's how chose their name (true)

[@SightAfterDark]

Lol it’s come up in the comments a few times

[@mikedemike5393]

Bernie doing a half time on the drums...hard to learn but 2nd nature once you get the feel...Is any body going to comment on what the song is warning about ...''son you'll burn your bridges..''..It is about doing a high paying gig with the filthy rich and the young girls paid for to be there...don't go to hotel california or Zappa's the torture never stops....steely is good melodic changes ..thats all...jazz changes ..R&B changes...key changes..that's all..metric changes..which blows the minds of pop music listeners but people who have heard the funk ..old 50's R&B AND jazz from bebop to fusion know the shit... The song is about losing your soul to the devil by taking what is on the platter on offer...wakey wakey hand off snakey peps..know what he is saying...Babylon mystery school behaviour leads to loss of soul...the devils contract is not I give my soul for fame...no no no...many paragraphs and clauses...it begins early with the Santa clause..you sit on that bogus old pedo and you signed the santa clause...if the child runs screaming at first sight of santa he is gods.child.

[@keijosandvik6836]

Your vid's have a lot of background noise. Kinda spoils the mood a bit.

[@SightAfterDark]

lol yupp. Welcome to NYC