Can't Buy A Thrill

Fuck I am turning into a dad, I appreciate Steely Dan now

Dan. Dan. Dan. Dan. DAN. DAN. DAN. DAAAN. DAAAAN. DAN! DAN! DAAANN!

Liked it from the first song (the only one I already knew) but it grew on me even more throughout the album. Just enjoyable rock songs on the surface, but very playful and occasionally quite technical instrumentation underneath. Reminds me a lot of a less folky version of America or a more playful version of The Eagles. No idea Why I wasn't more familiar with them before, but I'll definitely listen to more Steely Dan. [Update: spent the next two hours listening to more Steely Dan]

The last thing I wanted it to be a steely Dan guy but this album really worked for me. Was going to give it 4 but I don’t really know where I’d fault it.

An unsung masterpiece record from The Eagles. The big vocal harmonies shine like they always do, but on this record they're bent around more interesting chord progressions. Since when could they rip guitar solos like this? Who knew a band like The Eagles could write such clever lyrics that aren't about senoritas or driving cars? There's not a single song on this album I would skip. The uptempo numbers cook. The downtempo numbers swagger with LA schmaltz. This could be the high water mark for all 70s soft rock. A+ P.S. The Dan continue to fascinate me. They want to be avant garde. They want to rally against whatever is on trend in music at this moment (probably hard rock?). But they just can't help but write perfect pop hooks. No matter how many jazz chord progressions and flugelhorns they throw in, this is commercial soft rock at its finest. Pointed straight at the center of the American mainstream ear. I suppose its their debut, and on later records they perfected their pompous polish, ditched the conventional vocalist, and lost some of the raw, human feel that makes this album shine brighter than any 10th coat of studio wax could do.

This album will always be special to me. Growing up, my dad didn't listen to ANY music, let alone any albums from previous decades. It wasn't until I moved into the Hamlin and Matt dropped the needle on Can't Buy A Thrill that I first really discovered the world of classic rock. The album's a fuckin banger, and the world it opened the door to for me is equally bangin. Thanks Matt, thanks Hamlin, thanks steam-powered dildo band.

I fucking hate Steely Dan. I don't know if it's a result of growing up in the 70s and 80s and being subjected to the soft-rock, nouveau jazz part deus sounds of Steely Dan in dentist's offices or elevators but I've never enjoyed them. I am however, cognizant of their impact and contribution to music and knowing how they are reviewers darlings I did listen to this. And while it wasn't as bad of a listen for me as it was, I still don't get it. But this was a big improvement over some of the brit-pop cycle I've been stuck in. 3/5.

What a great listen. Strong start and continues through most of the album. Consider me a Steely Fan.

I think "soft rock" is definitely an accurate descriptor for this. It's relaxing, easy listening type stuff without anything too challenging happening. That's not to say it's not enjoyable, but I think great albums need to make you think. There are elements of various musical styles like Jazz and Latin incorporated here, but I feel like they get washed away in the overall sound instead of being featured. Overall a couple of tracks I enjoy on here, but not enough to give it a solid 3. Fav Tracks: Do It Again, Reelin' In The Years, Fire In The Hole

I enjoyed this album very much. It was groovy and easy to listen, with multiple great songs. Great background for a scenic drive.

Fun album I wouldn’t listen to again.

Do It Again and Reelin' In the Years are obvious classics, the rest of this album is actually bonkers good too though. There's really no other band that sounds like Steely Dan. This an album that feels like it has everything, yet remains cohesive. I love it.

Steely Dan's debut and right from the first moment they have that signature sound. Some real classics on this album: Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' in the Years. Do It Again starts the album with a cool groove and how many songs have such a cool sitar solo? Yes, I said that. I really liked some of the less famous songs also, like “Change of the Guard” and “Fire in the Hole.” “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” was probably the weakest track which is kind of a shame that an album that starts so strong ends kind of lame. That’s a real minor complaint though. This is a great album. 

Probably the best Steely Dan album I've listened to. A handful of songs they everyone knows, and the rest of the album is really nice too.

Hey little girl, what’s your favorite steely Dan album? What’s that? You don’t know a lot about steely Dan? Do not a lot of you know anything about steely Dan? Like, you’ve heard the name, but nothing specific?

I consider Steely Dan to be one of the most exquisite pleasures in all of music. Some of the most intelligent and sophisticated songs you will ever hear. They are in a category of their own. I could listen to their entire discography on an endless loop. Though purists of the Aja/Gaucho camp may scoff at this, I really enjoy this enjoy this early incarnation of the band.

This was a great ass album. Every song rocked.

God, this band took any sort of bite out of jazz when they shoved it into their soft rock snoozefest, paving the way for all the Kenny Gs of the world. Do It Again is a good song, but the rest of this album can fuck right off.

Cursed by its monumentally hideous cover and the fact that it's a Steely Dan album. Two undeniably good singles and one other likeable song, but hell's teeth this is some smug shit.

Mashing my soft cock into the anus of a young lady feels like this record sounds. She's not happy, I'm embarrassed, and nobody gets off.

Every time we get a Steely Dan album, I think I don't know any Steely Dan songs and then when I listen, I realize I know many Steely Dan songs.... They're so laid-back in their delivery, they've slipped into my subconscious and their mellow voices hide some incredibly awesome and vicious lyrics. Not to mention the delicious guitar and punchy drums. Hard to believe this is a debut album. Quick takes on my favorite of the new-to-me songs: Kings seems to literally be about kings, and I dig that. Midnite Cruiser seals the deal: no one writes more eloquently about losers than Steely Dan. Only a Fool Would Say That: so nice I listened twice, also not sure I really get it. But even now, writing this, I want to listen to it again. I almost want to downgrade it due to how overplayed "Reelin in the Years" is, but that's not their fault. "Do It Again" and "Dirty Work" were also very familiar, but I actually like those songs.

Can’t Buy a Thrill It's only in the last 10 years or so that I have come to really appreciate Steely Dan. I had Aja on CD back in Durham, but I never really got it, it felt too AOR and Jazzy. But nowadays I can appreciate that no matter how much technical sophistication or jazziness they try to inject, they can’t seem to help but write incredibly catchy and satisfying soft rock. Do It Again is the song that probably made me realise how great they are. I remember hearing it at a party at someone’s flat when I lived in London and thinking it was superb. It’s a great example of their genius as arrangers and producers - it just sounds so right, with nothing extraneous or useless, with everything feeling considered and thought through. They also manage to play and produce with such precision, while maintaining a sense of swing and movement, without it feeling static or dull. That holds true for the rest of the songs on the album too, Dirty Work, Kings and Midnite Cruiser with their very catchy choruses and assured easily melodic verses. Only A Fool Would Say That has some lovely guitar and a slightly more cynical feel compared to the previous songs. Reelin’ in the Years is pretty well known I presume, and is a nice upbeat song for the start of side 2. Fire in Hole is vaguely melancholic, and I like the slightly staccato piano. Not one of the most immediate songs but still very good. I really love the laid back melody and feel of Brooklyn, again with a great, catchy chorus with great backing vocals. Change of the Guard is another solid soft rock pop song, with some nice overdriven guitar back in the mix. Turn that Heartbeat Over Again is a lovely bit of wistful blue eyed soul, rounding things off superbly. This may not be their greatest album, but I do love it, and it kicks off a great run of records up to Katy Lied. They may not veer too far from their catchy jazz-flecked soft rock pop tendencies, but they do it so well it doesn't really matter. Great album, easy 5 🤴🤴🤴🤴🤴 Playlist submission: Do It Again

Easy bangers

This is probably the best 4 star album on this list. 4 stars only because their vision wasn't fully realized when they made this debut album and it's fair if you're sick of Do It Again or Reelin' in the Years. But the filler here is quite filling. Perhaps the last couple of tunes aren't on the same level as everything else but Only A Fool Would Say That is my personal go to prescription for bad days. That song turns my frown upside down 100% of the time. 100% OF THE TIME. That song is undefeated against depression and its writers, performers and producers deserve the Nobel Prize for mental health Rx. Brooklyn, Midnite Cruiser, Dirty Work - these would be other bands' best songs. Denny Dias's and Skunk Baxter's guitars are unusual, virtuosic and intense.

Steely Dan have proven that they never really put out a "bad" album. The perfectionist quality that they wanted was apparrent from the very start, this debut album. It features Jazz and Latin inspired Yacht Rock with chill but interesting arrangements that pull from many influences and ideas to put together an album that within the Steely Dan fanbase is seen as one of their best outputs ever. And while I do like it a lot, they made better projects, especially "Aja" which is one of my all-time favourite albums. The album opens with the classic song 'Do It Again', a classic jazzy Yacht-Rock song with slight influences from Latin Music and Indian Ragas in the bridge which does add an exotic and relaxed feeling to the nearly 6 minute long song which happens to be albums lengthiest piece. It's groovy and the chorus is very memorable as are the verses. The songwriting is absolutely amazing and the song flows from the sitar inspired guitar into the next verses with piano at centre with ease. It is an incredible song but I do think that they streched it a little too long. Don't get me wrong, they did an amazing job making the pretty long bridge interesting and I wasn't turned away a single second but did the song NEED it? I think not. But still, the song is executed masterful and with incredible precission that the song just turns out incredible, even perfect to be honest. David Palmer does the vocals on 'Dirty Work' (and a couple of songs later on) which is a much softer and folkier song by the addition of more present acoustic guitar. The voice itself doesn't really fit in the verses but that's just my personal preference. The chorus though... Wow, it's just so amazing. Absolutely catchy and incredibly memorable. You can't help but sing along to it and it makes you forget that the vocals felt off with the verses and you end the song with the feeling that it's just another perfect song that you just heard. 'Kings' tries to be more Pop and a little progressive with the used styles and how the lyrics are constructed but the result just doesn't work particularly well. The song turns out average without much of a hook that actually hooks you to the song. It feels average and like it just flies past you with pretty much everything that it does. Yes, the song is musically dense and plays with many ideas and styles as well as the use of many different instruments but the result feels not that interesting. I'd say it's a good song but just "okay good" and not "great good". The hook on 'Midnite Cruiser' is much better and it at least hooks you this time but it doesn't do it very well. The song still feels pretty uninspired and plain without many things that it adds to the album or the music of its time. Again, the music itself is complex and dense but the performance of it, the result the listener gets to hear, is rather washed out and just boring. It isn't so boring that you fall asleep or that it hurts your ears but it's not more than an okay listen. Luckily, 'Only a Fool Would Say That' returns to the Latin influences from the start and with it one of the best song the album has to offer. It is groovy, warm and the hook is just executed to perfection. It is a return to the chill but beautiful and energetic sound that made the first songs so great. This song isn't as perfect, mainly because the instrumental bridges would've needed a little more work but it's still absolutely incredible. The albums second side has 'Reelin' in the Years' to start it with a bluesy and progressive Pop song that works so well here. The verses are a little goofy with how fast he's singing them and all I think is: Dude... you do not need to fit 100 words into one bar, this is Steely Dan and not Eminem. But when the chorus starts with the absolute beast that it is, I am once again thrown away. The bridge is a little too long but other than that, the song is pretty much perfect. It feels silly but in a really good way. 'Fire in the Hole' reminds of some late 60's band but I cannot pin down which one it was... Maybe Fairport Convention but I am not sure. Anyway, the song has some really interesting and slightly Avant-Garde piano as the main driver and a really great and playfuk chorus but sadly the song as a whole isn't as interesting as the chorus is. It's got some pretty nice moments which is why I do think that's it's a really solid and good song but sadly not much more. The slight Country influences on 'Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)' might be not a bad idea but Palmer is once again the lead vocalist which ruins it this time. The chorus is weak and just not interesting at all and the song as a whole isn't much better. It's just a boring song and the Country guitar does not save it from being a snoozer. In contrast, 'Change of the Guard' pretty much removes all other influences and gives us pure Steely Dan Pop and Yacht Rock but sadly, it isn't much more interesting because of that. The vocals in the pre-chorus are really well made but the song isn't really that interesting. It's okay, I don't mind it, it doesn't make wanna skip it or fall asleep but I wouldn't put it on out of own choice. The album closes with 'Turn That Heartbeat Over Again' which again, tries to be a little more Progressive Pop but this time, it works better. Not necessarily great but the result is alright. It's a nice closing track and it does have a nice melody but there are too many breaks and "play-arounds" which sometimes just destroys the flow of the song. But other than that, It's alright. favourites: Dirty Work, Do It Again, Reelin' in the Years, Only a Fool Would Say That least favourites: Brooklyn, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, Kings, Midnite Cruiser Rating: strong 7 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

steely dan, the kings of yacht rock. start to finish, a solid outing. highlights: “do it again”, “only a fool would say that”, “reelin’ in the years”.

Cette critique ne sera que partiellement pertinente pour une raison très simple que je vais vous exposer. Lorsque j'aime un album dès la première écoute, il est chez moi d'usage de le jouer une nouvelle fois dans le but d'affiner mon analyse le concernant. Pourtant hier, alors que je venais de relancer la première piste, mon compagnon d'écoute elchavez me somma d'écouter une de ses cochonneries sonores. Vous l'aurez compris, cette chanson coupa mon envie de poursuivre ma deuxième écoute des Steely Dan, tout comme une vision de défections couperait un appétit.

About 300 albums earlier I got my first Steely Dan album, and I'll stand by what I wrote then: "I've always enjoyed listening to Steely Dan, but I also feel like one album is more than enough to give us a sense of the style and flavor; his music is largely interchangeable, so getting another selection later on would be a bit disappointing." Little did I know that ahead of me there would be 3 more Steely Dan albums and a Donald Fagen thrown in as well. Thankfully, there's only one more Steely Dan for me after this ("Pretzel Logic"), so I will eventually return to simply enjoying it when I hear Steely Dan on the radio or on my shuffle playlist. I *do* appreciate it that this album has several of their radio hits, including two right out of the gate. (Ironically, I'm not sure I ever realized "Dirty work" was a Steely Dan single, as it always made me think it was likely an Eagles or CSNY song, or some group more in that vein with the harmonies.) It was also nice to revisit "Reelin' in the years", but the rest of the album doesn't quite seem as strong as some later albums; they seem to be feeling their way a bit on this debut album, perhaps in part from having David Palmer as lead vocals on several of the songs. I feel a bit badly only giving their debut album three stars, but I can't really justify giving every Steely Dan album four stars, and this one sacrifices quality for variety more than the others.

This album being called "Can't Buy a Thrill" is kind of like a carousel ride being called "Can I get some screaming please?" Only slightly thrilling part is the solo guitar work on Reelin' in the Years

Not bad, but distinctly dated, to my ears at least. I didn't listen that closely to be honest, but nothing really caught me.

I'm not a huge fan of Steely Dan's sound overall, but I have to admit this album has some bangers....

Jesus please make them stop

Hands down my favorite Steely Dan album

Really enjoyed this album. Previously had only heard Steely Dan when a song would come on. Loved nearly everything about this though. And had a few “oh, I didn’t know was them” songs. Tough to rate, but I’m going to round up and go…

Great times with Don and Walter. This is an insane first album. It's got all of the ingredients but less of the (indulgent!) jazz of later SD. I didn't realize that so many of the vocals weren't Don/Walter I like that it's a very straight ahead album...the sound is fully formed but most songs are 3-4 minutes and they feel like they need to earn your listen. "Only A Fool Wood Say That" is...yacht rock (peep the HBO doc if you haven't, if only for Fagen's phone call) My recent favorite and confirmed on this listen is "Fire In The Hole"--moody, swinging, angry piano playing. "Change Of The Guard" is also great some awesome guitar sounds and flourishes. For those keeping score at home...it's 1972 and mono is gone and this is released as stereo mix as well as a four-channel quadraphonic mix...I love human hubris...spend the 60s fucking up stereo mixes and there's like 5 years where people have a handle on it and we go up to 4 channels. Wikipedia tells me that was a commercial failure and anything more than stereo didn't find traction until the 90s with surround sound home systems.

Take that Ananda Shankar! That’s a sitar solo if I’ve ever heard one. I don’t have a ton to say about this one, it feels a little like wallpaper in my life. Over time certain songs have stood out to me over different stretches. Kings was one I loved for a while, lately it’s been Only a Fool Would Say That. I’ll try not to avoid hyperbole because we have been on a 1001 heater, but this is probably my favorite Steely Dan song. I had always loved it and then I learned it’s about John Lennon and that gave the song a lot more life. Something about “peers” of legends criticizing each other that really fires me up. The only version we hear 50 years later is that he was the greatest, altruistic rock god, not that he was an obnoxious and at times naive idealist. I love John Lennon ftr (where are the Beatles records?) That plus it being flawlessly written and recorded makes it special. Overall this is a crazy debut record. Definitely where a lot of Steely Dan fans begin I’m sure. Lately I’ve been more drawn to their later stuff (The Royal Scam and Aja) but this will always show up on the rotation. My Dad was always playing “Everything Must Go” I think the final boss of Dad life. Dropped the “did you know Dirty Work was about a dildo? And so was the band name” this summer. Got hit with a “no shit, who doesn’t know that?” AND a “wait, really?” so I guess it still plays.

6/5. Kings, midnight cruiser, fire in the hole - hook this shit directly to my nipples and jolt me till I scream, baby. There isn’t a single choice that is phoned in or expected, no riff that’s not alive. I can’t believe they made this shit when they were like 24. This album fucking rips.

A different side of Steely Dan from what we heard on Aja. Jaw dropping debut album This feels much more like a classic rock album with really skilled players - like Chicago. The history on this album is interesting and believable. Fagen and Becker seemed exceedingly talented for their age. Im actually glad they didnt go into something like Aja right away and started with a clearly more pop driven album. Its a artifact of what their talent could do for the masses. It hits a high standard

I love Steely Dan and I love this album. It isn't my favorite of theirs, but has so many good songs. Wild range of styles on here and they do them all well. Distinctive for having the original lead vocalist on Dirty Work (I'm sure someone in this group has looked up his name).

Some random notes: The top four Steely Dan songs from Spotify are on this album, haven’t seen that density from many bands on this. Absolutely insane this was their debut. Aja is still a better, more interesting and more cohesive album. New to me favorites: Kings, Midnight Cruiser, Heartbeat. Somehow Reelin’ might be the song I’ve heard the most, but least favorite on this listen. Overall, the non-hits on this album are better than the hits. Change of the Guard is the loosest I’ve heard SD sound - kind of rocks. The guy who rips that guitar solo is Skunk Baxter, session player and eventual Doobie Brothers guitarist. In the rabbit hole: Skunk later became interested in and self-taught himself missile defense systems from an aviation magazine subscription, eventually getting a second career with real jobs and a security clearance. Plug for new Yacht Rock dock-umentary on HBO. Fagen makes the best appearance of the film. Made me want to look at how many repeats we’ve gotten in the last 100+: LZ, Fela, Cohen, Van Halen, White Stripes, Stevie, Pink Floyd, Eagles, Marvin, Bowie, Bob…

Well, I wasn't expecting to give a Steely Dan album 5 stars but here we are. Can be boring at times and I understand the "dad rock" criticism. But there's something to be said for an album you can just put on and enjoy the creative lyrics/music if you want or just let it fill up the background

Look at you steely dan

Absolutely awesome. If you find a better six songs to launch a debut album, I need to find out more (john.cena@gmail.com). Listened to this for the first time in an incredible seaside town in Western Italy this summer. Blue skies, blue sea, beautiful women, blissful scenes. The perfect music to accompany it. Have yet to find a Steely Dan album that gets close to this masterpiece.

Rating: 9.5/10 Amazing production, songwriting, and solos throughout. There is a warm feeling to this album that resonates with me so much.

BANGERS ONLY DAD ROCK IS BACK BABY!!! To be added to a camp dad jamz playlist

Reelin' in the Years is one of my favorite songs that I had no idea what it was called or who it was by, but it's a song that constantly gets stuck in my head for days. And that song is just casually placed in the middle of this album, while surrounded by already excellent music. The whole album is a lot of fun. They manage to keep the same vibes and groove, while each song is unique and identifiable from each other. I think the solo sections really help out with that. It's honestly a joy to listen to. Favorite Song(s): Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years, Fire in the Hole

I distinctly remember hearing Reelin' in the Years on top 40 radio when it first came out. That was my intro to Steely Dan, but I didn't really become a big fan until college when a friend got me hooked. One of my all-time favorite bands. While The Royal Scam remains my favorite of their albums, this is a great one too.

This was great all the way through and sounds like it came out so much later than it did to me! The melodies are strong, and the grooves were heavy throughout. Plus the instrumentation throughout was incredible. The guitar solos on “Do It Again”, “King” and “Midnight Cruiser” were all awesome.

Overall: 9/10 Coincidentally, I just got really into Steely Dan this year! I love this debut, it's a bit disjointed and a couple of tracks are less than stellar, but I give it a pass as they were still figuring out their sound. Songs like Do It Again, Kings and Only a Fool Would Say That will never not get me hyped. Now I just need a copy on vinyl that doesn't skip during the guitar solo in Reelin' in the Years. Fav Song: Do It Again Least Fav Song: Change of the Guard

Perfection

I have to admit when I was a teen (in the late 70's), I wasn't a big fan of Steely Dan. At the time, the music seemed so over-produced, commercial sounding and not-so-thrilling, but you know what when you grow up and listen to all kinds of different music, your tastes and priorities change, but music has always been an integral part of my life. I really started listening to Steely Dan after I absorbed a couple of record collections with music heavily from the 70's, which included Can't Buy A Thrill, Pretzel Logic and Aja. These records hit me hard, the thrill was back and listening with fresh set of older mature ears I now consider these albums essential listening, not only Steely Dan's discography, but popular music in general. There is an unexplainable comfort in listening to the opening lines of Do It Again, Dirty Work and Reelin' In The Years. To me, it's a toss up what is the best Steely Dan record and since I gave Pretzel Logic 5 stars, I follow suit with Can't Buy A Thrill.

4.7 - First half is too good that the second half had to tail off which was sad. Absolute tunes on this album though

Better than I remember.

They hit it out of the park with this debut. My favorite SD album.

Was looking forward to more Steely Dan after getting them the first time. Not disappointed, this one is a lot of fun as well. Great guitar work, fun songs, very chill. Love it. Really feeling the Steely Dan sound, even though I gave the last one a 4, I'm giving this one a 5. Best song: Kings

Killer debut from the Dan

Just banger after banger. Surprised how much of the album I already knew.

Excellent!

The first SD classic, contains the best song (Dirty Work).

Possibly my least favourite Steely Dan album, but still very good, of course.

An enjoyable classic but still surprising

Nearly impeccable record that I've listened to many times. It has lots of tight, classic tracks with great composition, jazzy licks, incredible musicianship and produced to perfection. I was shocked to learn it was actually their debut album.

A quintessential 5. I love this album so much. Too many iconic songs to have it be any less. The whole album stands out.

Perhaps the singles are overplayed but they are still killer. And all of the non singles (other than Fire in the Hole, just can’t get into that one yet) are very strong as well. 4.5/5 ? 4.75?

an absolute banger and so fun to listen to.

Steely Dan stands alone as the most magnificent rock band of all time. It’s a hill I will happily die on. So much has been written about this record that I feel it’s almost a waste of time to try to elaborate further than the fact that this is a top 5 album ever for me. It’s not my favourite Steely Dan record, but it’s still head and shoulders above everything else on this list. “Kings” and “Change of the Guard” are my personal favourite songs from this album. I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

For most bands, an album like “Can’t Buy A Thrill” wouldn’t be super popular among their devoted fans: it’s their first album before they really cemented the heavily jazz-tinged sound they’re most loved for, and it’s full of commercially very successful tracks which can often be divisive among the fanbases of other bands. Steely Dan avoids all of this because their debut album is the best yacht rock album ever made and everyone loves yacht rock. Musically, there are hints here of the outsized influence jazz will have on later records, and there’s also a bit of Latin flavor, especially on “Do It Again” and “Only a Fool Would Say That”, which is a delight. The production also sounds distinctly like a Steely Dan record, and there are points where the musical phrasing is unmistakably Fagen/Becker. The lyrics, too, are in their trademark style. It’s not that it doesn’t sound like a Steely Dan record, it’s just made from a different mold. But it’s still a damn fine album and one of my favorites from the Dan. If I had to pick a fault, it’s that “Fire in the Hole” and “Change of the Guard” aren’t quite as strong as the rest of the album… but I don’t feel the need to pick a fault. 9/10

Honestly I am impressed with how many hits are on this album.

this album has already found its way in my record collection. I love the length energy fromt his album. Sadly havent heard from steely dan something that has reached this peak imo. 5*

Do it again, Dirty work and Reelin' in the years. Amazing album, and I just love Steely Dan. The group name is taken from the name of a gigantic dildo from the book Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. I like that fact.

Never fails to make me smile and sing along!

This is a great first album. It has several of their 'Greatest Hits' - 'Do It Again', 'Dirty Work', 'Midnite Cruiser' 'Reelin' in The Years' ...

Fantastic listen, really enjoyed this one with the Jazz influences

As good as it gets for classic rock. Smooth as hell and the whole thing works together beautifully.

Production and musicianship outstanding. So clean for something recorded in the 70s. Didn't think I'd enjoy this one so much, another 5 star for me

I know this one front to back and don't need an excuse to relisten. I'll do it anyway even though at this rate, Steely Dan is gonna be one of my top artists of the year. Do It Again is such a smooth opener, Dirty Work is a top ten favourite song at this point, Only a fool is a classic, and Reelin' in the years just makes me happy. The rest of the album tracks also work very well. One of my favourite albums, I am so fond of it. 5

Great melodies rhythms and vocal harmonies. Doesn’t sound like anything I have ever heard before. Really unique. High quality. Well produced. A great album.

Yacht rock 102

Genuinely only upset that I didn't get this on a workday. One of my favorites ever

And you left out this brilliant album from the new version of 1001 for the sake of f. Kanye West. and SZA's panties. Jesus Christ! What a world!

From the beginning, one of the great bands of all time. And nobody had better production skills than these two dudes, nobody.

From the start of that much sampled iconic conga part in Do It Again, Can't Buy A Thrill is a special album. I've heard this my whole life, starting on my older brothers' turntables, and it still sounds fresh. Steely Dan are known for their production. Every time I hear this album, I hear something new (like the arpeggiod rhythm guitar in the Dirty Work introduction on the right side of the mix!). Liked Songs Added: - Do It Again - Dirty Work - Kings - Midnite Cruiser - Reelin' In The Years - Fire In The Hole

Astounding. I am familiar with a lot of these tracks, and there’s a good reason for their popularity, but even the lesser tracks are still pretty good. A pleasure to listen to, with fantastic production and orchestration.

Since this site sent me Pretzel Logic a few months ago, I have become a huge fan of Steely Dan and his records have become part of my listening routine. And of course, their debut album is also part of this description. It has some really good songs, some really wonderful ones and also one of the best songs of the 70s: Reelin' In The Years which, after just a few plays, has already entered my select playlist of my favorite type of music: Road Trip Songs! Not just any song I put on this playlist. It took about 10 years to put together 50 songs and this year alone, Steely Dan released two including Rikki Don't loose that Number which was also one that won me over immediately! Anyway, I don't have much else to say about this album. I just have to thank this site for introducing me to this wonderful band! Another very easy 5 stars!

Such a quintessential and masterfully composed album of timeless tunes. Great grooves, instrumentation, and songwriting through and through. I know the meme exsists that this is certifiable dad rock but, it does fuck so hard.

Fantastic mix of chill, catchy and complex. 5/5

Smoothly relaxing Clarity and precision Make all day chill tones

Give me a miller high life, a grill, a cigarette, and Steely Dan and you will give me happiness

i am physically incapable of rating this any lower than five stars

I love steely dan.... this album was absolutely great to listen to 10/10 love the vibes

This is amazing, this is like the Beatles with as much swag as possible. A+

Wow. Nvr heard of Dan but this is fire

Steely Dan always seemed like one of those bands with a towering reputation in the United States but less recognition elsewhere. I knew the name but didn’t think I knew the music—until I hit play on Can't Buy a Thrill and instantly recognized so many of the tracks. These songs have not just shown up in countless soundtracks; they’ve become classics of their era, woven into the fabric of 70s rock. In my mind, few bands have delivered an opening one-two punch as tight as “Do It Again” and “Dirty Work,” especially on a debut. On paper, this kind of ultra-smooth 70s sound and slick production shouldn’t be my thing, but the technical proficiency, unpredictable arrangements, and sheer quality of songwriting had me hooked. I ended up playing the album a few times on repeat without even realizing it. Maybe this is a sign I’m getting older, but there are times when I just want to sit back and relax with guitar music, rather than be pummeled by riffs. Can't Buy a Thrill isn’t short on big moments—just listen to the solos in “Reelin’ In the Years” or “Change of the Guard”—but these moments feel like part of the bigger picture, rather than the main attraction. What I liked best was the balance between accessible, feel-good tracks and hidden complexities. This is music you can enjoy or obsess over, depending on your mood. I fully understand how this album became a cornerstone of 70s rock and how it began to cement Steely Dan's place in the Rock and Roll pantheon. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? Yes Would this release make my personal list? strong candidate Will I be listening to it again? for sure

Previously rated: Pretzel Logic (4/5) ***************************** Do It Again, Dirty Work, and Reelin' In The Years make it a 5/5. The other songs are pretty good too.

I've never consciously listened to Steely Dan (though I recognized a song or two), but I had an absolute blast with this one - it's great songs with great arrangements, a hint of Jazz, smooth and catchy. I kept listening to it all day.

Not a bad song in here, and some huge hits as well? Easy 5/5. Easy listening but there are some sneakily sophisticated parts too.

I love the term “audiophile” which simply means lover of sounds. In that sense, every single person who loves music would qualify as an audiophile so I wholeheartedly claim it, but not the modern meme it’s become as an ossified dig at old guys who love “audiophile” pressings of Steely Dan and other 70s music, often aligned with expensive “audiophile” pressings and often spewed to make fun of “yacht rock.” Yes there’s some truth here, but really I love me some Steely Dan, and it’s amazing music so sure, I prefer to listen to it in one of the recognized best versions to hear the music. We chase for it because when you hear a really good version, this is one of the best produced and enjoyable listens around because these guys were literal demanding nutcases with the amount of attention to detail they dedicated to the production of their albums, this one being one of their best. It deserves it too; there’s so much…lushness in their music that in a good version, there’s new stuff that jumps out in the mix. That, and the amazing and unique songwriting, interesting characters, this is an easy classic, for sure.

It's so good, incredibly well-crafted. The hits are extremely memorable, they sure know how to write a catchy hook. There are no weak tracks. Record isn't too long or too short. Standouts are the aforementioned hits "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and one of my all-time faves "Reelin' In The Years".

'can't buy a thrill' is an interesting first step for steely dan. of course you have the two big hits on here, which are great, but you can see the more humble beginnings at play here, with some hints of the future. i would say this album feels less unabashedly jazzy than their follow-ups would. it's still jazzy to a point, but it feels more like an early 70s rock album with some tastes of jazz. i don't think there's a truly bad track on here (minus the closer, "turn that heartbeat over again" - a song that i legitimately did not remember being on this album at all, it's that forgettable). some of the album cuts i love on here are 'dirty work,' 'kings,' midnite cruiser,' and 'brooklyn (owes the charmer under me).' just a really solid album and a great debut from one of the 1970s premiere bands.

Saw this morning that my album was Can't buy a thrill. I brew a pot coffee, lounged in the couch, put the record on and got to 7th heaven. Damned, I'm not in my late fourties, why do I like this?