Babylon Sisters

Some lyric interpretation: "Babylon Sisters" - Fallen women, fallen and degenerate lifestyles - he realizes he is getting too old for this shallow experiences. "Cotton Candy" - Nose candy, a reference to cocaine. "Tell me I'm the only One" - A delusional reference to relationships with prostitutes, as he wants to believe he's more than just a client. Babylon is Biblical, about a fallen people. Steely Dan uses it as an analogy to indulgent lifestyles and self-destructive behavior, a theme that also shows up in their song "Kid Charlemagne." In this case, the narrator is indulging in prostitutes.

This is the first track on Steely Dan's Gaucho album, their last until 2000 when they released Two Against Nature. Steely Dan is a rare group that would sometimes record songs that none of the band members played on. That was the case with Babylon Sisters, which has lead vocals from Donald Fagen, but no instrumental contributions from him or Walter Becker. The group always chose the players that best suited the song, and in this case the lineup included drummer Bernard Purdie, who played his distinctive "Purdie Shuffle," and bass player Chuck Rainey. The other instruments were: Bass Clarinet: George Marge, Walter Kane Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Clavinet: Don Grolnick Guitar: Steve Khan Percussion: Crusher Bennett Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet: Tom Scott Trumpet, Flugelhorn: Randy Brecker

The duo used six talented backup singers on this track: Diva Grey, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Leslie Miller, Patti Austin and Toni Wine. Austin would have a #1 hit the following year with "Baby, Come To Me," her duet with James Ingram.