song: Babylon Sisters
artist: Steely Dan
album: Gaucho (1980)
writers: Walter Becker & Donald Fagen

electric piano + Clavinet: Don Grolnick
vocal, lead: Donald Fagen
vocals, backing: Patti Austin, Diva Gray, Gordon Grody, Lani Groves, Lesley Miller, Toni Wine
electric guitar: Steve Khan
electric bass: Chuck Rainey
muted trumpet: Randy Brecker
percussion: Errol "Crusher" Bennett

(drums: Bernard Purdie)
(horns:
· arrangement: Rob Mounsey
· flugelhorn: Randy Brecker
· tenor saxophone + alto saxophone + clarinet: Tom Scott
· bass clarinet: George Marge
· bass clarinet: Walter Kane)

This is a note-for-note transcription of the 7 instruments listed on the legendary “Babylon Sisters”. (The parts still missing are the drums and the horns section.) A transcription of this accuracy has been made possible by use of the isolated surround-sound tracks that have been available on YouTube.
Some recordings keep on giving, and this Steely Dan classic is a great example of that: One can forever discover details in the soundscape in this perfect recording. The musicians gathered for the record are a dream-team of instrumentalists, the arrangement is packed with details, and the sound production is, even today, a benchmark for ideal studio sound. Enjoy!

Also check out this wonderful interview where drummer Bernard Purdie, bassists Chuck Rainey and Anthony Jackson, and engineer Elliot Schneider talk about recording the song.

Be sure to check out the great instructional video (by Homespun) in which Donald Fagen himself breaks down songs like, “Peg”, “Josie”, “Chain Lightning”, and more: Get it here on their website.