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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