Along the horn section and backing vocals, there's also Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie's drums driving the tune - his famous, signature half time 12/8 'Purdie Shuffle' working its magic, just like it did on 'Home At Last'.

The Dan is "Get dressed up and mix a pitcher of martini" music. Even if you're alone.

Michael McDonald; Patti Austin and Valerie Simpson on backup vocals. Fabulous

Can't go wrong with Steely Dan.

"Like a Sunday in TJ, that it's cheap but it's not free"..........One of my favorite lines by SD.... Have to think about it a little....

This song is so smooth, it makes creamy peanut butter jealous.

Close your eyes and you'll be there. It's everything they say. The end of a perfect day. Distant lights from across the bay.

Can't stop that Bernard Purdie Shuffle on drums

This song has such a Steely Dan stamp of brightness, funk and wicked subtle groove. Those ladies' background vocals make my shoulder blades shiver.

Benard Purdie takes this song from good to great. Such an amazing drummer.

The Mighty Babylon Sisters..was 20 in '80 when Gaucho came out. Still recovering from this masterpiece..Shake it indeed😀🇺🇸💃💃

“This is perfection, right here-perfection!” Indeed, my friend. This song is THE standard by which engineering and mixing is measured by.

this one never gets old....never get tired of it...the ultimate compliment you can give a song...the Dan never misses

I remember buying that album in 1980 when it came out. 20 years old, driving my new car, the road and my life ahead of me...a beautiful feeling

If the tracks to this song were ingredients in a meal, very few could afford a seat at the table. Immaculate. And that pretty Purdy shuffle just the wheels on the little train that could. Bernie, you the MAN!

Bernard Purdie on the drums, greatest groove r and b drummer...that's why it's swingin' like a mofo

Asked why they decided to start playing live again since they stopped back in the mid 70's, they said "they were curious to hear what “Babylon Sisters” sounded like live."

Yeeeessssss. Perfection for sure. Gaucho will be a great listen for you and us. Great songs ahead. Hey Nineteen, Gaucho, Time Out of Mind. Oh hell, all of em. 🔥🎷🎹🥁

I've listened to the Dan for many a year, but it's only now listening to you go through the catalogue that I realize just how important those backing vocals are to the Dan's overall sound. Simply singular.

Loved Steely Dan before I knew who they were. I love this song, so smooth.

When this album first came out, my youthful brain was a little put off by its chill and disco-y feel, but it began to grow on me until eventually it became one of my favorite Dan records. Babylon Sisters is one reason why: the groove, the LA-noir-decadence lyrics, the perfect engineering. When Don and Walt started touring again with a big band with full horn section and backup singers, Babylon Sisters was an audience favorite -- it became a crowd thing to whoop and cheer when the (always excellent) backup singers did the "you gotta shake it baby you gotta shake it baby you gotta shake it" bits on the outro. Curiously I'm still only lukewarm on Hey Nineteen, but I really dig Glamour Profession, the title track, and Third World Man.

The production values on the album are insane. Soooo smooth.

Steely Dan is in my top 5 most favorite bands. They are AMAZING. Jazz. Vocals. Music. Just the very best.

Babylon Sisters has been my favorite for decades. The Dan doesn't get better than this.

Amazing that this album came out 40 years ago!

This song is just as much of a trip as Aja in my eyes. I feel like I’m driving to San Francisco every time.

IMHO Gaucho is the musical masterpiece of the album and I am truly excited to see you react. Gaucho is my favorite song of all time . Babylon Sisters is a close second .

"These background vocals are everything. These horns are everything." Well, that's plainly impossible. ;-)

I have many of their vinyls and CD's. This from 1980 is a favorite... among other Steely Dan favorites. I love how Steely Dan constantly changed "the band", bringing in various musicians to fit the songs. On this track they have Donald Fagen - Vocal: Don Grolnick- Electric Piano, Clarinet; Steve Khan-Guitar; Chuck Rainey-Bass; Bernard Purdie-Drums; Tom Scott- Tenor and Alto Saxophone, Clarinet; Randy Brecker-Trumpet, Flugelhorn; Crusher Bennett-Percussion; George Marge & Walter Kane-Bass Clarinet; and Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller and Patti Austin- Backing Vocals... the advantage of the liner notes

SO good! This is a great album.

The bridges burning from all of that cotton candy. I can relate. Im better, now.. Still, it gives me chills..

Absolute smooth cut w mad dynamics. Brilliant. Can you dig it!!!!! Drama you da bomb!

DramaSyed knows a great song when hears it and Babylon Sisters is one of the best. Personally, I think it can stand toe to toe with anything on Aja

This is one of the songs by Steely Dan that is used by manufacturers of high-end stereo systems to check system performance., because of how well mixed and balanced Steely Dan produced their albums. Put this on a really quality system using quality headphones and prepare for your mind and ears to be blown

I LOVE your Steely Dan reactions - and this was always one of my favorites of their work. You are always just in the zone with a great Steely Dan tune!

Steely Dan is a phenomenal musical duo and they’ve inspired many over the years, love their music and have listened to it since I was a kid & im 60 now, however I haven’t listened to every album all the way through and as a result I don’t know every song they’ve performed but I’m good with what I have discovered regardless of what anyone else might think & it doesn’t even matter what anyone else might think or feel about that, no favorites. You keep doing what you’re doing and leave the negativity behind you, I enjoyed your review & responses.

man this song is sooooo smooth; this is my favorite SD album !!!! Keep 'em coming !!!!

I hope you check out “Two Against Nature” and “Everything Must Go” on your Steely Dan journey. Those are some great albums.

Well this was a great start to my Saturday. This song is a killer groove topped with all kinds of great vocals, harmonies and instrumentation.

Yesssss I knew this was for you. Great reaction. This song is brilliant on every level and musician

My all-time favorite group, no one comes close

I played this vinyl till the grooves wore through to the other side. lmao

The vocals in this one are so visionary!

Donald Fagan uses his music to chronicle his life of indulging every temptation. Drugs and sex. He then honestly confesses his regrets and also laments that those days are ending.

Jazz infusion at its best. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Somewhere out there is a young musically talented kid notating every sound and fury of Steely Dan. This kid will be the next outgrowth of the excellence in this music.

Nice vibes... I could listen to this for hours! Thanks

I've heard this tune a thousand times and it still gives me chills, even on a reaction video.

I hope you didn't miss "Night by Night" off Pretzel Logic. Its the Dan's funkiest track, and one of the best guitar solos ever

Yessssss I have been waiting so patiently

Been head bobbing to that song forty years

Fagen's solo efforts are great to. Steely Fan is so good I never tire of hearing it. Never. I've played some of these albums over and over and over on the same day. Love it.

Steely Dan is amazing the Gaucho album top notch 😉

Love your reaction. You will hear "Perfection and Grace" later in the album.

I have to say I love your humor. You are really funny. Love Steely Dan so I replay these all the time. So- your first name is Michael??? Nice. I enjoy your depth of knowledge of music. Keep em coming. Thank you 💜

What a groove! Great reaction! Can you believe this 40 years old?

Happy to say I got the chance to see them live a few years back!

Yes this is absolute perfection. I must say the post production with the mixing is so good.

Yes, more Steely Dan! So good!! 😃 Thanks for continuing down the rabbit hole!

They knew how to make music that just FEELS right.

A rare live show from Steely Dan performing "Black Cow." And it is Excellent!!!! I thought you might want to see this Live since you like live shows.....It also means that this group maybe doing Live shows in the future.

This song is about an older guy trying to have a 3 way with 2 younger girls but he’s too old to do it anymore (I’m not what I used to be, and that love’s not a game for 3) that both want him to themselves (tell me I’m the only one).

How have i never heard that trumpet before ? Fantastic.

The best catalog of music on the planet.....don't argue if you aint heard it!!!!!!!!!!

background vox omg...so right

My favorite album from my favorite band!

That's my jam

As good as it gets. As you said, perfection.

I'm not what I used to be and love is not a game for three, great line that kinda sums up the song.

steely dan is my poor man's midlife crisis.. so fucking happy I discovered SD

Oh...it just keeps getting better and better. You still have a long way to go if you want to cover the Fagen solo records, the Becker solo records and the Dan albums from 94 on. All of them are special. Gaucho is my favorite though...sooooo damn good. btw.......RIP Neil Peart...it's been a year.

Ok, now you know why I said not to slouch on Gaucho! Drama, most people *start* with these songs -- the greatest hits from Aja, Gaucho, The Royal Scam, the radio hits from earlier albums, etc... Then, if they like what they hear, they delve into the rest of the catalog. However, I've thoroughly enjoyed watching you walk through everything chronologicaly. It gives you such a great perspective of how the composition and production evolved over time. For me, in the later albums, Fagen seems much more confident in his own vocal ability and that's one of the reasons I love this song so much. Here, his phrasing and dynamics are near perfect and fit the impeccable groove to a tee. Suffice it to say that I thought you would really enjoy this track and I'm happy to see I was right. The rest of the album is no slouch, either... some more great tracks ahead! (And thank you for helping to end this ridiculous week on a better, higher note -- it's much appreciated.)

The thing about Donald and Walter is they are not only extremely original songwriters but they also think like arrangers/orchestrators.

One of their best

Yay! The 🔥 is back! 💯

Love that Sax!

As a guy who bought "Can't buy a thrill" and became hooked on the Dan when it came out in '72, I can relate to your reactions to them! To this day I await anything released by Donald Fagen (The same was true of Walter Becker as well.. :(.. ) but if you think think this is perfection, (And it is.. ) just wait till you hit Donalds "The Nightfly, Kamakiriad, and Morph the Cat albums... He truly is the Hoagy Carmichael of our generation... just you wait.. :)

Perfection!

Royal Scam album was my favorite as a teen. I like them all now. Steely Dan Countdown to Ecstasy too

Finest reaction..,👈👈

Soon as you said "it's a sneaky Lil thing...." I laughed bc that's exactly what I thought first time lol instant Sub

Michael, take the rest of your life to decide which album is their best. Its been almost 50 years since my first Steely Dan album (Pretzel Logic) which I played 'til the grooves in my vinyl record wore out.....and I still can't decide. I just go with it and think it depends on your mood and a particular song of theirs you want to hear again for the 500th time. Good luck! No pressure.

Yes sir, Perfection, can't wait for your reaction to Gaucho. I love the muted trumpet accompany to the verse, and the horns throughout the song are simply great. Their use of windchimes in their songs always seem so right, and the background harmonies are amazing. This album, for me, is the Dan coming to maturity, as we all do as we get older. In each album, we get a glimpse of what might come next. I've never been disappointed, just bought the album, came home, and with no one else around, put it on the turntable and cranked it up. Being a drummer, I've always wanted to the hear music for what it is, not just something in the background. I'll be right here enjoying the trip that you're on because I know what comes next.

Drama, this band had several members over the years, But no matter who was in the Band, They always sounded like Steely Dan, Due to Donald Fagan, the master of music and putting a band togeather, Cousin Figel

LORD HAVE MERCY!! More SD!

your reaction is nearly as entertaining as the track !

ooh my moniker!

GAUCHO!!! Babylon Sisters!!

Poor Donald. I was reading about the making of Gaucho. Walter was descending into heroin addiction and his girlfriend overdosed and he was hit by a car and in a wheelchair. So Donald did most of the work here and it strained their relationship for a long time. Pain does create genius though.

How good is that shuffle on the drums?

I don't compare. I just hear the progression and maturing over the years of great music. The albums go along with the years of my life. Couldn't pick a favorite.

Trumpet great Randy Brecker plays on this track. BTW, have you checked out any Brecker Brothers? "Some Skunk Funk" is a good start.

A very pleasant surprise. Now play the rest...I'll get some gin. ☆

Yes they did ;) Are you shaken yet? *tee hee* - Love me some Steeleye Span too :D

Pfffffft. Yeah. Man, if you feel Steely Dan in your bones, choosing a favorite tune or the best tune is not possible. It depends on your mood at the moment, which changes from hour to hour. It can't be done. If you persist, I wish you luck, but have no hope. ;-)

Smoooooth

now you are talking big feller. Love your channel

MIKES OF AMERICA UNITE! Great channel boss

Also I would totally rock a Dramasyde "Discrosting" tshirt if you ever were to make one 😀

Listen to: Not My Cross To Bear by The Allman Bros Band, very soulful funky blues. Thank you Big Daddy.