Can't Buy a Thrill

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*You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (or You'll Lose That Beat)* (1971)Donald Fagen and Walter Becker

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*Countdown to Ecstasy* (1973)Steely Dan

***Can't Buy a Thrill*** is the debut studio album by Steely Dan, released in November 1972 by ABC Records. The album, while not most fans' favorites, has given Steely Dan their biggest hits in "Reelin' in the Years", "Dirty Work", and "Do It Again". While it is more influenced by contemporary rock than jazz like later records by the group, it still stuck out compared to other music at the time due to songwriters Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, the driving force of the group.

## Background

Starting in 1968, Fagen and Becker started recording demos to give to other rock and pop artists. Many of these songs would become other Steely Dan songs. By this period, The Leather Canary was broken up, especially when Becker and Fagen graduated in 1969. These demos are known as the Pre-Dan Demos. The two moved into Brooklyn, New York. They met Kenny Vance at the Brill Building, who took an interest in their music. He signed them on as songwriters who toured with his group Jay and the Americans.

In 1971, Becker and Fagen wrote a song called "I Mean to Shine" that was given to Barbra Streisand that was recorded on her thirteenth album *Barbra Joan Streisand*. For their work for Jay and the Americans, they were signed-on to record the soundtrack for the 1971 film *You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat* with guitarist Denny Dias, drummer John Discepolo, and Kenny Vance on vocals. They met producer Gary Katz for that album as well.

They met guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and drummer / vocalist Jim Hodder and added them to the now unnamed group. Becker and Fagen decided to name the band after a motorized dildo from a William Burroughs novel. They also picked up vocalist David Palmer because of Fagen's stage fright and because they thought Fagen's voice wasn't "commercial" enough.

The band was in Los Angeles to record the album in August 1972 and started performing songs from the record. They performed on television to promote the record and were signed to ABC Records to release it. Their debut single, "Dallas" / "Sail the Waterway", is not liked by the band (Fagen called the single "stinko"). Drummer Jim Hodder sings on "Dallas" and a song from the record called "Midnite Cruiser". This is the only Steely Dan album to feature David Palmer. By 1973, Fagen had become the lead singer.

## Packaging

"Can't buy a thrill" is the second line in the Bob Dylan song "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry". It was chosen because Fagen stated: "California was so boring, you couldn't even *buy* a thrill." The album artwork features an edited image of a line of prostitutes standing in a red-light area from Rouen, France. The cover is notoriously bad, and even accepted by the band-mates.

## Music and lyrics

The album features a lot of soft-rock and Latin influence, especially in the hit "Do It Again".

## Track listing

1. "Do It Again" **– 5:56**
2. "Dirty Work" **– 3:08**
3. "Kings" **– 3:45**
4. "Midnite Cruiser" **– 4:07**
5. "Only a Fool Would Say That" **– 2:57**
6. "Reelin' in the Years" **– 4:37**
7. "Fire in the Hole" **– 3:28**
8. "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)" **– 4:21**
9. "Change of the Guard" **– 3:39**
10. "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" **– 4:58**

## Personnel

**Steely Dan**

* David Palmer – lead vocals on "Dirty Work", "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)", backing vocals
* Donald Fagen – lead vocals, pianos, organ, backing vocals
* Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitar, pedal steel guitar
* Denny Dias – guitar, electric sitar on "Do It Again"
* Walter Becker – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" with Fagen
* Jim Hodder – drums, lead vocals on "Midnite Cruiser", backing vocals

**Session Musicians**

* Elliott Randall – lead guitar on "Reelin' in the Years" and "Kings"
* Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone
* Snooky Young – flugelhorn
* Victor Feldman – percussion
* Venetta Fields – backing vocals on "Kings" and "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)"
* Clydie King – backing vocals on "Kings" and "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)"
* Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals on "Kings" and "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)"