Track Listing

1. Babylon Sisters
2. Hey Nineteen
3. Glamour Profession
4. Gaucho
5. Time Out Of Mind
6. My Rival
7. Third World Man

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8869 in Music
• Released on: 2000-11-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 38 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The multi-platinum success of Aja made Steely Dan, the musical conceit of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, a household name. But that prosperity came bundled with a fateful triple-whammy for rock's dyspeptic duo: unrealistic commercial expectations, a critical backlash spawned by punk's nascent mewling, and the long-simmering meltdown of their artistic partnership. But the cool, perfect sheen of 1980's Gaucho tipped its hand to none of it. Ironically, those fashion victims who sniffed up their sleeves at Don and Walt's decadence-tinged Me Decade manifesto couldn't have had a clue that just maybe their songs' typically oblique protagonists had uncomfortably blurred from the third person to the first this time around. At least that's what Becker and Fagen hint at in their typically smart-assed notes to this digitally remastered, definitive edition (all original artwork and printed lyrics restored) of the final album before their 20-year hiatus. Pristine and sonically polished (three years and seven studios worth), time has served Gauchowell--like sour grapes well. Even its sense of laconic detachment now seems but a logical bridge to the two-decade removed Dan of Two Against Nature. To their credit, Becker and Fagen didn't trash the first half of Steely Dan's legacy on Gaucho, they simply burnished it to oblivion. --Jerry McCulley

CD Description
Probably the most critically revered band of the 70s, Steely Dan's brand of slick pop with a dose of jazz/funk left a meagre but vital catalogue to cling on to. This was their last gasp at the onset of the 80s. Perhaps they were aware of the fact that they were too 70s for the 80s. This was their least accessible and most mature album (no criticism is intended), as the content washes over the listener like a warm shower. 'Hey Nineteen' is the hit single from this set, a radio-friendly nostalgic look at 1967, impeccable in production and with evocative lyrics. Lots of echoey Fender Rhodes and sensitive brass.

Customer Reviews

Steely Dan's Swansong Deserves Re-evaluating.
In the new light of the 2000 release of "Two Against Nature" Steely Dan's previously considered final album now deserves re-evaluation.Following on from the critically acclaimed and near perfection of "Aja" Donald Fagen and Walter Becker found themselves under enormous pressure now they were back in New York (mostly) to record the follow up. Personal and contractual problems aside there appears to be a slight uneasy atmosphere permeating the whole album from the opening attack of electric piano on the favourite to be "Babylon Sisters" on track one to the haunting guitar fills at the fadeout of "Third World Man" that closes the album. As most musicians will testify Steely Dan are renown for their economy and space quite often placing great emphasis on what is left out of the mix as well as the sounds and atmosphere that is created, the "Gaucho" album illustrates this well allowing the melodies room to haunt and linger even though the arrangements are complex the sound becomes neither sparse or busy. Lyrically the references used are as cool as ever "Hey Nineteen that's 'Retha Franklin She don't remember the Queen of Soul" an obvious reference to the age difference between an older man and a younger girl in the radio friendly "Hey Nineteen" and "Johnny's playroom is a bunker filled with sand He's become a third world man" maintain the oblique left of centre word landscape they had become loved for. Twenty years later remastered and re-released what instantly becomes clear is the craftsmanship and care that has gone into this release, songwriting and musicianship second to none it sounds like it cost a million dollars to record which it allegedly nearly did in 1980 and is worth having for no other reason than to play driving in the car, the music will fire your imagination to provide a much more exotic location.

This album is not to be missed if you like Steely Dan
Admittedly i am only 16 but i do know good music when i hear it and this album is the perfect example of good music. The whole albums laid back feel is so wonderful and i rate it very highly. The song 'Babylon Sisters' has a horn section that is absolutely beautiful and the brass is what makes the song really amazing. 'Hey Nineteen' always makes me smile just because i love the harmonies created by the backing vocalists and also the guitar part in the background of the song is just to die for and i find myself playing it all the time when i pick up my guitar. It is just a catchy song that has a lot of feeling in it. 'Glamour Profession' i always think is too long but it doesnt matter because the chord progression and keyboards are so lovely to listen to that it wont bother most people anyway. The piano that plays at certain points in the song is only made better by the guitar licks and superb drum beat. 'Gaucho' has the best intro on the album in my opinion and i love the run with the horns. However, the verse, although absolutely captivating does get a bit tiring after the 5th listen. The end of the verse though is the best part of the song and the chorus is just sung so soothingly with harmonies between Donald Fagen, Leslie Miller, Valerie Simpson and Patti Austin i believe. This song reminds me of the song which Michael Mcdonald sang on the album Aja by Steely Dan. 'Time Out Of Mind' starts with a cool drum beat and then some awesome guitar licks come in. The lyrics i always rememeber from this song are 'Tonight when i chase the dragon' not because of its lyrical content but the lyrics suddenly kick in and i just love that part of the song. Absolutely brilliant. 'My Rival' i quite often pass by for some reason even though i absolutely adore the song. I just like all the different instruments that are used in this cleverly crafted song. Very cool. Lastly the album finishes with one of the best songs ever made...EVER. A cool riff starts off the song 'Third World Man' and then the song only gets better and better. Beautifully composed chord progressions are found dotted around this whole song. I cannot find any part of this song which i dislike. When the solo kicks in i just sit in amazement because it is so simple but the feelings and emotions that people experience differ and occur at different points. The song just affects people in an inexplicable way and its a great way to finish off one of my favorite albums. If anyone could recommend any other bands like Steely Dan please email me because id love to hear them. Everyone can love this album if they are feeling down or even incredibly happy. It can pick you up or bring you down but despite that im sure you will love this album whatever.

" Just Fantastic"
Steely Dan albums are ,(like the group) one of those things few people dare to talk about.
At a push most people will be familiar with the hits, "Rikki don't lose that number " and "Reeling in the years" !
Likewise their albums "Aja" and "pretzel logic" are the ones most critics rave about , and don't get me wrong, they are both excellent too. "Gaucho" however is the one that does it for me .
Maybe it is non-commercial, and maybe there are no big "radio friendly" hits........ but in this case thats not a bad thing.
There are no weak, dud, crap, filler tracks at all, every song is great.
The music, the arrangements, the lyrics,the harmonies, and Donald Fagens keyboard playing are all just brilliant.
If you like and apprieciate the music of Steely Dan, then you'll love this album, its one of those easy to listen to feel good albums.
They might be labelled naff and untrendy,.... but if you like them, and this album, you know what to do ....spread the word !