Steely Dan

Can’t Buy a Thrill is hands down the best Steely Dan album out there! Yes that is a bold statement but it’s true. For a debut album it has an unbelievable number of incredible tracks that are probably counted as the most popular Steely Dan songs released. Tracks like Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin’ In The Years and Brooklyn to name a few.

Fagen and Becker are odd, but incredibly talented guys who despite the popularity of this album, ditched David Palmer (lead vocalist) and various other musicians to pursue their love of Jazz that eventually led them to releasing Aja – generally considered their ‘most popular’ studio album.

I picked up my copy of Can’t Buy a Thrill at a Box Hill record fair for $10 and it is on rotation as one of my most played albums. Before I had this album I was never a big Steely Dan fan, they were one of those bands that had a few songs like Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and Deacon Blues that got lost in the background yet played endlessly on stations like Gold 104.3. It wasn’t until 2007 when I saw them perform live at Day on Green that I was blown away by their performance. They performed alongside Steve Winwood which was an awesome concert and one I will never forget.

My favourite tracks on the album, aside from the classics listed above are Kings which feature Elliot Randall’s dizzying guitar solo and Fire In The Hole which showcases Fagen’s virtuoso piano talent.

Fun Fact – both Fagen and Becker attended Bard College along with Chevy Chase who actually played drums in their first band Leather Canary  

Overall this is top album and for $10 a must have for any collector

Endless Pursuit Vinyl