Babylon Sisters

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some slick vibes as we spin "Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan from their 1980 album Gaucho here at THE ZOO! This track is a masterclass in jazz-rock groove, but its creation was anything but smooth. The song's 50-second fade-out alone took over 55 attempts to mix, as Steely Dan's Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, engineer Roger Nichols, and producer Gary Katz chased perfection. Drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie laid down his iconic "Purdie Shuffle," giving the track its infectious swing, but the band’s obsessive studio habits meant even the smallest details—like subtle cymbal taps between 2:09 and 2:15—were meticulously crafted. In a 2021 interview, recording engineer Elliot Scheiner revealed that "Babylon Sisters" didn’t use the band’s custom "Wendel" drum machine, unlike other Gaucho tracks, relying instead on Purdie’s live performance for its organic feel.

The lyrics of "Babylon Sisters" paint a vivid, sleazy picture of a middle-aged man grappling with a midlife crisis, cruising Los Angeles with younger women—possibly prostitutes—while chasing a fading dream of youth. Donald Fagen once shared in an interview that the song’s inspiration came from his late-afternoon walks along a beachfront to a house where two "extraordinarily attractive" sisters lived. Though he was in a relationship and never pursued them, Fagen described the temptation as "particularly treacherous," infusing the song with a bittersweet longing. Fans on r/SteelyDan have debated the lyrics’ meaning, with some pointing to references like "cotton candy" as nods to cocaine or the Santa Ana winds evoking Southern California’s restless energy. The song’s opening line, "Drive west on Sunset to the sea," traces the iconic Sunset Boulevard from downtown L.A. to the Pacific, grounding the track in a specific sense of place.

Steely Dan began as a collaboration between Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, two jazz-loving misfits who met at Bard College in 1967. Bonding over their shared love of Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and sarcastic humor, they started writing songs that blended jazz, rock, and pop with a cynical edge. After college, they worked as songwriters for ABC Records, penning tunes for artists like Barbra Streisand, but their quirky style didn’t quite fit the pop mold. In 1972, they formed Steely Dan, named after a fictional device from William S. Burroughs’ novel Naked Lunch, and released their debut album, Can’t Buy a Thrill. The record spawned hits like "Reelin’ in the Years" and "Do It Again," establishing their signature sound: intricate arrangements, cryptic lyrics, and top-tier session musicians. By the time they recorded Gaucho, Becker and Fagen had ditched the traditional band format, relying entirely on studio pros to bring their vision to life.

You can keep up with Steely Dan on their official website for tour dates and merch, or check out Donald Fagen’s occasional updates on his Facebook page. The band doesn’t have an official Instagram presence, with fans on r/SteelyDan noting that accounts claiming to be official are often fake or fan-run, posting memes about the band’s songs. On X, you’ll find fan discussions under hashtags like #SteelyDan, but no verified band account exists. For deeper dives, join the Steely Dan Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can connect with others to debate lyrics and share vinyl finds. Fan sites like Steely Dan NL offer detailed discographies and archival goodies for diehards.