Steely Dan Album: “Can't Buy a Thrill [Remaster]”

Given the breadth, depth, and quality of the Fagen/Becker albums that followed, both collectively and individually, is it heretical to think that their first effort may actually be their best?

I had the pleasure of picking up the remastered disc, which restores the original artwork and liner notes, improves dramatically on the sonics of the MCA cheapie initial release from the late 80s, and has hilarious and insightful new notes from Becker and Fagen, and I have to say this album has grown and matured into an outright, certifiable classic.

Although the hits off the album ("Do it Again," "Reeling") remain as provocative, clever, and satisfying as ever, it's in the album tracks that this album really comes alive.

"Dirty Work," with its plaintive vocals and mournful harmonies, is memorable and touching. "Kings" has driving guitar and menacing lyrics. The off-kilter perspective of very early Fagen/Becker is evident in "Only a Fool Would Say That" and "Fire in the Hole."

Blazing, ringing guitar greets the listener with "Brooklyn" and "Change of the Guard," and the album closes with the lovely, harmonically perfect (and perfectly skewed) "Turn that Heartbeat Over Again."

Throughout, the album is anchored by Fagen's offbeat, angular, slightly atonal grand piano work, which suggests at times Thelonious Monk, at other times early Todd Rundgren. Match that with Becker's active bass, sterling guitar solos, and catchy, memorable melodies and lyrics, and you have one heck of an album.

Though they continued to develop, refine, and originate many more years of tremendous music-making, they didn't do too bad for a first effort. A bargain at this discount price and must-have for any music fan.

It's amazing how Steely Dan were popular right from their first album. They never knew what it was like to have an album flop, which makes the band extremely lucky. "Do It Again" is the greatest late night pub song that ever existed. "Dirty Work" has one of the bands best vocal melodies and choruses. "Reelin' In the Years" shows a band entirely capable of strong songwriting and guitar playing skills. "Only a Fool Would Say That" is memorable for the excellent vocal melody. "Change of the Guard" is guaranteed to bring back memories for those of you who grew up when this album was released (and specifically when you were a teenager in 1972). It's probably the best song on a very good quality album. A must own.

I never need to hear "Reelin' In Years" or "Do It Again" again (great as they are they are), but the rest of this debut by The Dan has thankfully not been so overexposed. Every song is a winner (if not a thrill), particularly "Brooklyn" (a paean to a prostitute with soulful vocals by David Palmer) and "Dirty Work" (quite the opposite). Drummer Jim Hodder takes the vocals for "Midnight Cruiser" and if he's a bit wobbly in the verses, the singalong chorus makes up for it. David Palmer is elsewhere serviceable and smooth - - but the two biggies both have Mr. Fagan taking over, of course. The rotating vocals help to give a more "band-oriented" feel to the album, unlike some of the later more opaque, strictly-in-the-studio releases. Steely Dan is one of those bands who remain outside of their time; this could be a brand new album and not one released way back in '72. It's still remarkable - - the band's least oblique release in an amazing catalogue.

1972's "Can't Buy A Thrill" was the debut album by Steely Dan, and it still remains one of their best. Although the core of the group has always been singer/keyboardist Donald Fagen & bassist/guitarist Walter Becker, they surrounded themselves on the first album with a proper band, including guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, drummer/singer Jim Hodder, and singer David Palmer, giving "Can't Buy A Thrill" a more rocking feel to it than later albums. Every song here, from the instant Dan classics "Do It Again" & "Reelin' In The Years," to the equally-irresistable melodies of "Only A Fool Would Say That," "Change Of The Guard," "Brooklyn," and ALL the rest, is a brilliant composition, showing off the group's expert musical chops, lyrical acid wit, and the cool vocal stylings of Fagen (with guest cameos by Hodder and Palmer on "Midnite Cruiser" and "Dirty Work," respectively, as Fagen wasn't too confident about his singing voice just yet, though he needn't have worried!).Steely Dan would crank out several more outstanding albums in the years ahead, but they couldn't have asked for a better debut. "Can't Buy A Thrill" is a classic album all the way! There's no better place to start your Steely Dan collection than here. :-)

The Dan had done some minor recording work, including the soundtrack to the obscure Richard Pryor vehicle " You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It", but " Thrill" was the first album to arrive in store bins across America. Two hits were spawned; " Do It Again" and " Reelin' in the Years" fit well into the FM airwaves, a medium still looking for definition. Steely Dan would quickly prove they were no one trick pony. Not even the debut CD can be fully considered without the sum of the work.

Each song is a carefully crafted stage play with a bizarre main character. Some lyrics are more direct than others, but a reference can be gleaned from every track. As important is the musicianship, a constant among the Dan canon. While session players came and went, Becker and Fagen established a standard of playing that would never diminish. In fact, it got more and more sophisticated.

Get the first outing. Each CD has a personality of its own, but the first try is always the most poignant ( in their case, esoteric).