ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 34 STEELY DAN - CAN'T BUY A THRILL (1972 - DEBUT)

[RJhog (Admin)]

***click album cover to listen***

 

Side One:

 

1. Do It Again

2. Dirty Work

3. Kings

4. Midnite Cruiser

5. Only A Fool Would Say That

 

Side Two:

 

6. Reelin' In The Years

7. Fire In The Whole

8. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)

9. Change Of The Guard

10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

 

This week we are going back to 1972 for a classic debut by jazz/rock band Steely Dan.   It's an excellent debut that features two singles that were top twenty hits (Do It Again # 6 and Reelin' In The Years # 11) and a host of outstanding album cuts.  I really can't think of any popular band that sounds quite like Steely Dan.   And if you think you won't hear great guitar playing by a jazz styled rock band, you are sadly misinformed.  This album has outstanding guitar work all over it, whether it be straight lead work or layered work, it's all fantastic.

 

I really, really like both of the singles.  Do It Again always makes me think of Vegas, obviously because of the reference to Las Vegas in the lyrics.  And Reelin' In The Years not only features some of the best guitar playing you'll ever hear (by Elliott Randall), but it also features one of my favorite all-time lyrical lines ("You've been telling me you're a genuis since you were seventeen/In all the time I've known you, I still don't know what you mean"). 

 

The album cuts here, for the most part, are very strong.  Dirty Work is one of my favorite SD songs, but Midnite Cruiser is particularly strong.  It has just a snippet in the intro that makes me immediately thing of the song Warewolves Of London.  The backing vocals stand out to me on the song Kings, and I really love the chorus.  And for some reason, the song Only A Fool Would Say That makes me think of The Love Boat.  I don't know why, it just does.   Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me) features what sounds like a steel guitar to me, and Change Of The Guard is another hidden gem. 

 

It's still easy to find on CD.  You can pick up the remastered disc for 8 bucks on Amazon, and that's brand new.   The album cover is quite weird and does nothing for me, but that doesn't take anything away from the quality of the music.  If you are unfamiliar with Steely Dan and are looking for something other than a greatest hits package to pick up, you can't go wrong with Can't Buy A Thrill.  See you next week.

 

Best Single: Reelin' In The Years

 

Best Album Cut (formerly known as the hidden gem award): Dirty Work

 

Most Likely To Skip: Fire In The Hole  

 

Side Note: I was gonna post a tribute to Gary Moore this week as AOTW, but I haven't received the album I ordered yet, so I'll post it next week.

 

 

[Scott]

Great album top to bottom! 

 

I own this as well...  Nice choice and nice post

[Michael J. Andrade]

Own most of Steely Dan on  The Box Set - Can't Buy A Thrill excellent Album ...

[Jon]

Very good album. To confess, the only albums I've owned are "Aja", "Gaucho" and "Two Against Nature". Also have the comp "Showbiz Kids" but this album featured here would be nice addition. Great pick Rjhog.