Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were remarkable craftsmen from the start, as Steely Dan's debut, Can't Buy a Thrill, illustrates. Each song is tightly constructed, with interlocking chords and gracefully interwoven melodies, buoyed by clever, cryptic lyrics. All of these are hallmarks of Steely Dan's signature sound, but what is most remarkable about the record is the way it differs from their later albums. Of course, one of the most notable differences is the presence of vocalist David Palmer, a professional blue-eyed soul vocalist who oversings the handful of tracks where he takes the lead. Palmer's very presence signals the one major flaw with the album -- in an attempt to appeal to a wide audience, Becker and Fagen tempered their wildest impulses with mainstream pop techniques. Consequently, there are very few of the jazz flourishes that came to distinguish their albums -- the breakthrough single, "Do It Again," does work an impressively tight latin jazz beat, and "Reelin' in the Years" has jazzy guitar solos and harmonies -- and the production is overly polished, conforming to all the conventions of early-'70s radio. Of course, that gives these decidedly twisted songs a subversive edge, but compositionally, these aren't as innovative as their later work. Even so, the best moments ("Dirty Work," "Kings," "Midnight Cruiser," "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again") are wonderful pop songs that subvert traditional conventions and more than foreshadow the paths Steely Dan would later take. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Clydie King Vocals, Vocals (Background) Daniel Levitin Consultant David Paich Keyboards David Palmer Vocals, Vocals, Keyboards Denny Dias Soloist, Sitar (Electric), Sitar, Guitar Denny Diaz Guitar Donald Fagen Piano (Electric), Piano, Liner Notes, Reissue Producer, Keyboards, Soloist, Organ, Vocals Elliot Randall Guitar, Soloist Elliott Randall Guitar, Soloist Gary Katz Audio Production, Producer Jeff Baxter Pedal Steel, Guitar (Steel), Spanish Guitar, Guitar, Soloist Jerome Richardson Sax (Tenor), Soloist, Saxophone Jim Hodder Percussion, Drums, Vocals (Background), Vocals Robert Lockart Cover Design Roger Nichols Remastering, Audio Engineer, Engineer, Original Engineering Sherlie Matthews Vocals (Background), Vocals Shirley Matthews Vocals (Background) Snooky Young Horn, Flugelhorn Tim Weston Assistant Engineer Tristan Fabriani Liner Notes Vartan Art Direction Venetta Fields Vocals, Vocals (Background) Victor Feldman Keyboards, Percussion Walter Becker Vocals, Bass, Reissue Producer, Guitar, Bass (Electric), Liner Notes, Guitar (Bass)