Steely Dan - Gaucho

Aja was cool, relaxed, and controlled; it sounded deceptively easy. Its follow-up, Gaucho, while sonically similar, is its polar opposite: a precise and studied record, where all of the seams show. Gaucho essentially replicates the smooth jazz-pop of Aja, but with none of that record's dark, seductive romance or elegant aura. Instead, it's meticulous and exacting; each performance has been rehearsed so many times that it no longer has any emotional resonance. Furthermore, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's songs are generally labored, only occasionally reaching their past heights, like on the suave "Babylon Sisters," "Time Out of Mind," and "Hey Nineteen." Still, those three songs are barely enough to make the remainder of the album's glossy, meandering fusion worthwhile. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andy McKaie Reissue Producer, Supervisor Anthony Jackson Bass Barbara Isaak Assistant Engineer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie Drums Beth Stempel Reissue Production Coordination Bill Burks Supervisor Bill Neighbors Executive Producer Bill Schnee Tracking Bob Ludwig Digital Mastering, Mastering Brant Biles Digital Engineer Carla Bandini Assistant Engineer Chuck Rainey Bass Chuck Sample Bass Craig Goetsch Assistant Engineer Crusher Bennett Percussion Daniel Levitin Consultant David Sanborn Sax (Alto), Saxophone, Alto (Vocals), Alto David Tofani Saxophone, Sax (Tenor), Tenor (Vocal) Di Suvero, Victor Translation, Liner Note Translation Diva Gray Vocals, Vocals (Background) Don Farrar Piano Technician Don Grolnick Keyboards, Piano (Electric), Rhythm Arrangements, Clavinet Donald Fagen Keyboards, Vocals, Lyre, Composer, Group Member, Piano (Electric), Organ, Liner Notes, Synthesizer, ? Elliot Scheiner Tracking, Remixing, Surround Mix, Mixdown Engineer, Mix Down, Mixing Errol Bennett Percussion Frank Floyd Vocals, Vocals (Background) Frank Kafka Author, Liner Notes, Quotes Researched & Compiled Gary Katz Producer George Marge Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), ? Georgia Offrell Assistant Engineer Gerry Gabinelli Assistant Engineer Gordon Grody Vocals, Vocals (Background) Hiram Bullock Guitar Hugh McCracken Guitar Jeff Fura Production Coordination Jeff Porcaro Drums, Percussion Jerry Garszva Overdubs Jerry Garszza Overdubs Joe Sample Piano (Electric) John "Doc" Daugherty Assistant Engineer John Tom Cohoe Design Assistant Johnny Potoker Assistant Engineer Lani Groves Vocals, Vocals (Background) Larry Carlton Guitar, Soloist Leslie Miller Vocals, Vocals (Background) Linda Randazzo Assistant Engineer Margaret Goldfarb Production Coordination Mark Knopfler Vocals, Soloist, Guitar Marti Robertson Assistant Engineer Michael Brecker Sax (Tenor), Saxophone, Tenor (Vocal) Michael Diehl Design, Reissue Design Michael Etchart Coordination, Supervisor Michael McDonald Vocals (Background), Vocals Nicky Marrero Vocals, Percussion, Timbales Pat Rebillot Piano (Electric), Keyboards Patti Austin Vocals (Background), Vocals Paul Bishow Executive Producer, Supervisor Paul Griffin Rhythm Arrangements Phil Burnett Assistant Engineer Ralph MacDonald Percussion Ralph McDonald Percussion Randy Brecker Horn, Flugelhorn, Trumpet René Burri Photography Rick Derringer Guitar Rick Marotta Vocals, Drums Rob Mounsey Rhythm Arrangements, Synthesizer, Horn Arrangements, Piano Rob Mounsey & Flying Monkey Orchestra Rhythm Arrangements Roger Nichols Engineer, Executive Producer, Sequencing, Executive Engineer, Overdubs, Special Effects Ronnie Cuber Saxophone, Baritone Ryan Null Photo Research Shannon Steckloff Production Coordination Shari Young Supervisor, Producer Steely Dan Rhythm Arrangements Steve Gadd Drums, Percussion Steve Khan Guitar (Acoustic), Soloist, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Suzanne Walsh Design, Art Direction Tom Greto Assistant Engineer Tom Scott Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Lyricon, Saxophone, Clarinet, Alto, Clarinet (Alto), Clarinet (Tenor), Horn Arrangements Toni Wine Vocals, Vocals (Background) Valerie Simpson Vocals, Vocals (Background) Vartan Art Direction Victor Feldman Percussion, Keyboards Walter Becker Bass, Guitar, Vocals, Soloist, Lyre, Composer, Group Member, Liner Notes Walter Kane Clarinet (Bass), Clarinet Wayne Andre Trombone Wendel Sequencing, Special Effects Zachary Sanders Vocals, Vocals (Background) Zack Snaders Vocals (Background)