Can't Buy A Thrill

Super talented musicians but too many misses on the LP. I could do without the LP but without the historic tunes

Our second, and, hopefully, final Steely Dan album. Again, it's aggressively fine. I think I've heard 'Do it Again' before, but it's so boring that I'm not even completely sure about that. I have definitely heard 'Dirty Work' before! It's not terrible. Still excessively chill, but at least the lyrics provide some emotive contrast. The fact that 'Only a Fool Would Say That' is about John Lennon is funny and good, but somehow the song itself is neither funny nor good. Yep, overall it's not offensive or unpleasant, and more enjoyable than their other album, but nothing I'd ever choose to listen to myself.

Never loved Steel Dan but I can appreciate this album for what it is

Good album with some nice hits. I can see why they are popular.

Steely Dan never quite had the sound i like, their sound always puts into that cigarette stained beige corporate cube farm from the 70's. Just Typewriters and Shirt Pocket Protected Pen Holders and Mustaches galore space. and a shitty fluorescent lighting, with stained ceiling tiles...just that icky beige.

"Do It Again" is why audiophile stereos were invented, but then audiophile stereos are what gave us the subsequent Steely Dan albums which gave us the 80's Wall Street greed era which begat tech bros and Elon Musk. So despite "Do It Again" being a stone jam, one must gaze at the album through the dolorous lens of history and stall the waterwheel of unlearned-from mistakes. Let us not be the fools doing the Dan's dirty work. Plus the non-single tracks are so-so.

This is the 'band' Steely Dan vs. every other album which was the 'duo' Steely Dan. That's neither good nor bad. Just different. "Rolling In The Years" is was of those songs I loathed growing up for whatever reason (likely it's constant playing on classic rock stations was pretty much the only exposure I had to music in my early years). But as a part of the broader album, I have an appreciation for it now. More weird Wikipedia trivia (I think I'm having more fun just finding weird shit on Wikipedia for each album: *** Sometime after recording Can't Buy a Thrill, Steely Dan wrote and recorded a jingle for Schlitz Beer that was rejected and never aired. Long considered lost, it was rediscovered in July 2023 by Cimcie Nichols in the archive of her late father Roger Nichols.[24] The 1 minute and 50 second jingle has a distinct Steely Dan sound with layered vocals by Fagen, after a spoken word introduction in Spanish by Baxter (in a squeaky inhaled helium voice), with Fagen speaking an English translation. Recording took place in Studio A at The Village in Los Angeles. At the session, a photo was taken of Fagen in reindeer sweater and Dias in overalls and sombrero while holding a tank of helium that subsequently appeared on the back cover of Katy Lied. ***

I must be a dad already because Steely Dan is my jam. These are all great. Dirty Work is iconic and soothing, Kings is funky as. Overall this album is awesome. 3/5

A bit of a hit and miss album for me…some great tracks on here - Do it Again & Reelin’ in the years are particular stand outs. Not an album I was thrilled to have pop up, but have a new appreciation of the band - certainly great production values throughout

Lalala Musik

It's good but also boring.. 3.5

Good shit, but definitely had some snoozers. First Steely Dan album, excited to listen to more

This has some huge hits on it, and unlike a lot of its counterparts from this era, the album ends before it gets boring and repetitive.

This is Yacht Rock at its peak. And that's both good and bad. Yes, it can be fun for a day at the beach, but it can also be too cheesy. If you're in the mood, it's great, but if not, it's pretty bad. 3 stars

Really impressive for a debut album, though outside of "Reelin' in the Years" the other songs aren't particularly memorable for me.

Har aldri vært en enorm tilhenger av Steely Dan. Fagen og Becker har begge imponerende evner innen produksjon og instrumentering. Der er også en del gode melodier og bra gitarspilling. Jeg syns bare at det blir litt overfladisk, som om der ikke er så mye å finne bak den sleipe vestkysts sounden deres. De høres sjeldent lidenskapelig ut. Der er mye å like i musikken, men det treffer ikke helt meg.

A good album, but not nearly as good as Aja.

This would be 3.5 if I could. Overall enjoyed it but didn't grip me very much. I'll likely listen to his other stuff though.

Just okay, couple of bangers, but not my style. Fairly repetitive.

Perfectly pleasant middle of the road listening

A certain classic loaded with great and (given the production date) proven timeless songs to add to Sunday playlists but none too memorable. 7.6/10.

A couple really catchy tunes (the hits), a good overall vibe, but not something I’d likely come back to.

Probably the best Steely Dan album I've listened to.

Recently, someone pointed out to me that people are likely more acquainted with Steely Dan than they realize, often having heard their music without connecting it to the band. While listening to "Can't Buy A Thrill," I was amused to recall how many songs I remembered listening on late-night FM radio in the 80s during high school. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are true musical craftsmen, which is clearly demonstrated on this album (and the ones that followed). However, I have always sensed that their pursuit of perfection overshadows the actual music from a creative exploration perspective. The music itself, which includes elements of jazz, R&B, and blues, evokes a light, carefree feeling, as if I should be cruising in a convertible along the coast at sunset on a warm summer night. The most well-known tracks remain strong, and others like "Dirty Work," "Midnight Cruiser," and "Kings" also shine. However, aside from perhaps "Reelin' In The Years," I find this album to be somewhat passive; it’s the kind of music you might play in the background and forget about, more like pleasant white noise. It’s not the type of music you actively engage with, except maybe during your first few listens. That is not a criticism of the quality of the music, just an personal observation. While I enjoyed "Can't Buy A Thrill", their best album remains either "Pretzel Logic" or "Aja".

A few famous songs this album was ok

Thoughts before listening: I think this is the first Steely Dan album I have got on this project. Sometimes I LOVE Steely Dan and other times I think they are the epitome of bland cheesy rock. I believe this album falls in the former category. Review: So the hits on this are really good. "Do It Again", "Dirty Work", and "Reelin' in the Years" are deserving of their place in classic rock station playlists. I also like "Change of the Guard" as a pretty strong deep cut. That being said, the rest of the album is pretty boring to me. I guess Steely Dan is just always going to be a greatest hits band to me. 3-stars

Folk Rock, 1972 -> 3

do it again, bam bam bam.. badum deedee beedleedee beedeembee bo

Soft/Jazz Rock. Reelin' in the Years is probably the stand out. That, Do it Again, and Dirty Work were all on the radio constantly in the 70's and 80's. The rest of the album is OK. Nothing terrible, but nothing really great either.

Takie 3/5. Zaczyna się bardzo dobrze, ale cała reszta piosenek w sumie podobna.

v fun but not great winter vibes--feels more summery. like objectively good but simply not a fav

I love Steely Dan, but they really developed the qualities I love most from them on later albums. I wouldn’t say this is a must listen, especially compared to other work by them.

good work day listen with lots of really familiar yacht rock feel good tunes

Sounds like something my dad would listen to. Not bad though

3/5 meh

Not heard before … but recognised quite a few tracks. Pleasant enough but probably won’t listen again.

Last two songs are ok.

Steely Dan strikes again. I hadn't heard of him before starting into this, but I've heard two of his albums now, and their solid

I like the horns on track 2. There are some really terrific melodies on Can't Buy A Thrill but there is enough of that slimy 70s blues grime that it prevents me from getting into the groove.

This is my second Steely Dan album. Countdown to Ecstacy wasn't exactly my kind of music as it just didn't appeal to me. This one's a tad better, but still just music that would play in the background.

3.5 I didn't think i'd like it that much but v groovy, i like it.

Pleasant as background music, nothing annoying or bad about it, but it doesn't completely resonate with me.

It's a decent album with some famous hits. Not my favorite music but not my least favorite either. Solid 3/5.

Steely Dan is one of those bands I don't hate but don't like. They have some decent songs, but for some reason they are missing something for me. As such, this was a good but unremarkable listen for me.

easy-listening soft rock. not for me

somewhat pleasing

Not my favorite Steely Dan album but it's still a great listen. I've heard the hits on this one many times but never the whole thing. It has a nice upbeat vibe that I really liked. I'm sure I will be putting this on again sometime soon.

Pretty good. Calm and safe music. Some tracks were better than others. The closing track was repetitive and weak, but a net positive experience. 2.5/5 -> 3/5

My fourth Steely Dan album and further cements them to me as ‘a band who once existed’. I had a bit of an emotional rollercoaster as I recognised the opener and tried to work out where from. Then excitement as I realised it was from Guitar Hero, which I loved and brings many happy memories. Then anguish as I remembered this was one of the hardest songs on the game and cost us HOURS of getting that boring long intro exactly right only to fall down on the stupid solo. I doubt I’ll be back for more.

cv c’etait sympa

Angenehm zu hören. Aber es plätschert dann so vor sich hin. Midnite Cruiser hat mich spontan angesprochen. 3/5

I think this was quite chill? Don't remember that much

point2.

It was ok

Would possibly score higher but these tracks are to synonymous with Rom-Coms now to truly enjoy

Funky

This is what they call yacht rock, right? Give me that saxophone. Dirty Work is an ear worm. I think this is solid guilty pleasure music.

More like a 3.5, solidly middle of the road - only here for the hits to accompany a drive down the shore lol

“Dirty Work” and “Reelin’ in the Years” are both great, classic pop songs. Hope there is more Dan in this book as this is probably the least interesting album!

Despite Steely Dan being super cheesy in my mind and feeling like "why would I ever like that?" (lol) I enjoyed this record. It's definitely not necessarily my vibe but the musicianship (separate from singer/vocals) on this record is great. Lots of little flairs I hadn't noticed before. For me, "Dirty Work" is the highlight of the record. Is it because the song is good or because it makes me think of Tony Soprano? Idk. But I dig it.

Lot of old bangers, enjoyed it.

Pretty ok. A lot of it kind of sounded the same but I can see how people dig it.

Alright chill rock.

Solid.

Some funky Songs, Some rather boring

I'm not a fan of soft rock, the type of inoffensive garbage that you're subjected to in shops and waiting rooms. I will acknowledge that this is really good for what it is. It's just not something that I would ever choose to listen to.

Tatsächlich eine Band deren Songs mir teilweise bekannt sind aber ich den Namen nicht kannte. Für eine Platte der 70er auf hörbarem Level.

They were going crazy on this

Jeder Song ist gut aber irgendwie clickt es nicht. :( Erhh 7/10

Steely Dan is always better than I expect. 3.4.

Can't Buy A Thrill is the debut album from Steely Dan, a band primarily driven by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. They made jazz-inspired rock, and are a central figure is what has come to be called yacht rock. They incorporated Latin and Mambo rhythms into their own style of complicated, richly orchestrated, softer rock. The album's success was driven by two hit singles: "Do it Again," and "Reelin' in the Years." The songs are staples of the "classic rock" world, and helped make soft, jazzy rock part of pop music in the 70s and 80s.

Nice, jammy! "Do It Again" really funky.

I always assumed Steely Dan was psychedelic and not soft rock. Not my cup of tea..I don't hate it.. just very inoffensive

A great sounding album. I do like the 70’s musical production on this and some great playing. This is the second album I’ve had chosen for me from the list and I’m starting to warm to Steely Dan

Another interesting record. Cool that it was recorded in the 70s.

Perus steely dania

Not a big Steely Dan guy but I will say prefer this early incarnation of The Dan...more rock band than the smooth jazz combo of Aka. This is very much in evidence on Do It Again with its Santana-style percussion and signature harmonies. The album struggles to reach the heights of Do It Again. A 3 for me

This website has been busting out the heaters lately. The second half lacks what the first gets right and has songs that are stretched a little too thin for my liking, but on the whole this is quite good. One of the few albums that I'm likely to return to once this entire list is behind me.

My second time listening to this and at the beginning I was thinking that maybe I was finally getting steely Dan. I think I sort of do, but the second half of the album is not bad but pretty bland. Dirty Work is great. High 3.

Once again I have been deceived by a great opening track that the rest of the album doesn’t remotely live up to.

This is the one with Do It Again and Reelin’ in the Years. They trigger all the old LiteFM memories. Sliding around in the back of a station wagon, speeding down the highway, on the way to the mall. As for the album, it’s alright. Clearly they were wonderful musicians. But there are still a lot of early 70s tropes draped on top of otherwise decent music.

Not really my thing, but there’s just enough charm to tilt it more toward the “kind of like it” side. Favorite: Only a Fool Would Say 3.5?

Pleasant enough. Not super exciting beyond the first song.

Never heard the album, just some of the songs. A couple of classics here, in particular Reelin' in the Years still sounds great (and what amazing guitar work). Noteworthy for being Steely Dan's debut album, but not consistent enough to be considered "great". "Dirty Work" doesn't hold up, and still sticks out as the Steely Dan hit that doesn't fit with the rest of their most popular songs. "You been tellin' me you're a genius Since you were seventeen In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean"

Steely Dan, that ubiquitous 70's music that you neither love nor hate. 3.5 stars rounded down because I'm tired of lips on album covers.

Eclectic mix of rock, jazz, blues, and country. The variety of voices, instruments, vibes keep the listener on their toes.

This filled me with a warm, comforted feeling - I remember some of these songs being played to me as a child. Nice

I guess I’m hitting the part of the 1001 challenge where bands are turning up for their second or third time. I don’t think multiple entries are warranted unless a bands sound or album style has changed significantly. That said, this is a fucking sexy album!

I was feeling cynical going into it, but my tapping toes don't lie!

Very good! I was familiar with both the name and the music before, but don't know if I would be able to connect them together. Listened in the car on the way up to Tahoe with Lemur.

It’s alright . Favorite song: Reelin’ in the years Least favorite song: Midnite Cruiser

When I was a kid, my uncle told me about Steely Dan. I felt so grown up and cool to be listening to them. Turns out, still get a similar feelings 25 years later. I hadnt listened to this album before. It is chill, I like it. Im not sure if I like it as much as Gaucho though. Reelin in the Years is fantastic though!

Solid, nice in the background, nothing really to praise, nor to complain.

steely dan falls into that category where i would never turn it OFF. but i would rarely turn it on either. fun and enjoyable but never something im looking for. plus Aja was better than this so well go high 3

songs to sign your divorce papers to

Jolly album with some real SD anthems along the way. Enjoyed it, I should have gone double denim for the day and pulled off some dad dancing. You can understand the sucess they have had over the decades.

it was fine.

A solid album with a couple of memorable songs but some of the songs are relatively nondescript.

it’s cute. dirty work always hits the spot for me. all songs are good but nothing besides dirty work stands out to me. even though all the songs are nice.

This is #day74 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... for the first time in this challenge, here we are with another album by the same band. Just a week ago, I explored Aja, and now it's time for Steely Dan's debut. While it doesn't quite match the brilliance of my first encounter, this one's still an enjoyable listen. I mean, look at that collage album cover, and it's 1972 outside. "Do It Again," and "Fire In The Hole" are personal highlights. As one reviewer noted, I might be turning into a dad... I wouldn't mind checking out more from these guys. Are there any other albums on the list? This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to#day75.

1. "Do It Again" 3,4 2. "Dirty Work" 2,8 3. "Kings" 3,3 4. "Midnite Cruiser" 2,9 5. "Only a Fool Would Say That" 3,1 6. "Reelin' In the Years" 3 7. "Fire in the Hole" 3,2 8. "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)" 3 9. "Change of the Guard" 3 10. "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" 3,5 Average 3,12

Can't buy a thrill strikes me as an absolute classic, a band probably at the top of their game when they wrote it. Pretty much standard classic rock format, steady drums to foot tap your way through the albums, understated bass line, piano and guitar. Vocals are a safe and steady addition. It is simple ingredients done well, and certainly unapologetic about it. Rate a 3 out of 5 (in my scoring system that is a good score, an album everyone should have on their list). It's easy music to listen to, but doesn't blow my mind.

Do It Again - 7.8 Dirty Work - 7.9 Kings - 7.3 Midnite Cruiser - 7.6 Only A Fool Would Say That - 7.6 Reelin In The Years - 7.3 Fire In The Hole - 7.5 Brooklyn - Change Of The Guards - Turn That Heartbeat Over Again -

soft rock noun [ U ] music specialized uk/ˌsɒft ˈrɒk/ us/ˌsɑːft ˈrɑːk/ a type of rock music (= popular music that is played with electric guitars and drums) where the beat is not very strong and loud, and it's a teeny bit dull; aka Steely Dan. Pleasant enough listen, but I just found it a tad insipid.

Solid, easy listening dad rock. No weak points but also no big highs, just a good album the whole way through. I preferred Pretzel Logic - that one felt more varied and interesting to listen to. Still, another strong 3 - I’m giving out a lot of 3s at the minute!

Not a huge steely Dan fan but this has some solid songs on it.

Yall I might have amnesia cuz I don't remember much about this album. That means it gets a solid 3.

Adult contemporary dad rock of the not-so-cringey kind.

I liked it for background music, though it isn't my usual genre.

Thing with Steely Dan albums is that you can't really find a fault in it. Instrumentally as well as lyrically, they are good. Their songs are catchy with clean, groovy production. It's the lack of experimentation and passion that makes them uninteresting. You can sit through them, you may even like some of the songs (Do It Again, Dirty Work, Midnite Cruiser), but they seem to play safe.

It's got some neat songs. Not mind blowing by any stretch of the imagination.

Overall impressions - Has a classic familiar sound, yet I'm not sure I've ever heard any of the songs before - The original Fleetwood Mac vibes - Very movie montage - Easy to listen to, although not easily discernable on a first listen. Lyrics aren't immediately apparent Song Breakdowns - Do It Again has a laid back vibe and a chill guitar solo. The electric keyboard solo right after is also worth noting. Groovy maaaan - Dirty Work is technically sound but man, fuck that cheating bitch and honestly hope there's a redemption arc further on in the album because can't respect it bro - Kings has some brilliant and ironic story telling. Fuck that piece of shit, king John but also pour one out for my homey - Midnite Cruiser makes me oddly nostalgic for a life of crime and thrill that I've never had. Like I want to go back to worse times that have never existed? I bet that Midnite Cruiser is a sexy piece of curvy metal. With lots of buttons. Take me to Harlem, babe - Only A Fool Would Say That coming in hot with beach chilling sunny vibe times. Stand out track, but not so down with the put down of optimism. Good song though, fave so far - Reelin' in the years has magnificent syncopation, killer guitar solos, and the pointed lyrics of desired suffering are timeless. Get fucked, I hope you're miserable - Fire In The Hole owns the piano. I'm feeling a redemption arc and some character development. Get that bag bro. It's not over, keep fighting and wait for that explosion - Brooklyn is the worst track so far..Slow start, uninspired, repeatative, and just when it started getting good with a guitar solo it did the dreaded fade out. Boo/10 - Change Of The Guard is Fleetwood Mac with less cocaine and cheating (but probably still some). Or maybe Fleetwood Mac is Change Of The Guard - Turn That Heartbeat Over Again is a strong finisher, probably my second favorite. Some original riffs and solos. Brings a sense of conclusion that is satisfying for the album Will I re-listen? First impressions say songs will make it on certain playlists, but some stinkers if you ask me. But I enjoyed listening and appreciating it for what it is.

For some reason, I believed Steely Dan was tacky 80s rock played at backyard Fourth of July parties. This was more than that. Colors of red, orange and bright green. Made me feel joyful and quickly found myself singing along. Favorite song: Kings

I feel like I have Deja Vu with this one

This was my first time listening to a full Steely Dan album, and I guess I shouldn’t have waited so long. Familiarity with the opening tracks helped me settle in, and I really enjoyed the entire ride. Kings was probably my favorite track, the backing vocals were on point during that tune. Only a Fool Would Say That was also great, felt like Do It Agin Pt2, not sure if that was the intention. I’ll likely revisit this album in the near future.

Sounds like something my dad would listen to.

I enjoyed this album. I didnt think I knew who Steely Dan was but a few songs pops up that brought a few memories back.

3.5 Ssteely Dan never clicked for me, but it's growing on me every time I hear it. Pretty. I appreciate the production value but musically, still not my thing.

This is what i imagine would play in the 70s when i hit the local diner after high school in grandma muscle car. Not too elaborate but "listen-able"

Better than the Gene Clark rubbish I was subjected to the previous day. Familiar with some of the hits and on the whole quite competent 70s soft rock

Pretty decent rock.

70/100

Лучше, чем альбом с монохромной обложкой про бублики. Музыка в целом хорошая, но глубоко не хватает. Лучшая песня - Dirty Work.

I think this album is pretty overrated. There a few Steely Dan songs that I adore, but generally, I find their music really hokey and conceited. This album is an example of that. Do It Again kind of just drags on, I have no idea why it is 6 minutes long when 1/3 of the song is two terrible solos. The melody of this song is grating, and I think the vocals feel really strained. Reelin' In The Years is another song I feel similarly about. I just do not enjoy it. The melody is annoying, and the vocals just irritate me. The guitar ornamentation around the track is boring, and the tone/timbre of the guitars are just not great. The rest of the album is okay, and has some moments here and there that I enjoy, but generally is pretty whatever. Dirty Work, Turn That Heartbeat Over Again, and Brooklyn however, are great songs. Aja and Groucho are two way better projects, where I feel that their songwriting and production matured. In closing, they are talentless hacks who have thrived off of surrounding themselves with incredible session musicians like Bernard Purdie, Larry Carlton, and Chuck Rainey. 5 misses and 2 fucking terrible songs, but 3 songs that I revisit very often.

Hey, a couple hits I recognize! It was fine. It got a bit samey, but it was an enjoyable listen. The sound is pretty unique, though, so I'll forgive a bit of samieness. I could see myself coming around on this if I give it a few more listens, but I don't have much of a drive to right now.

Not my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it a bit. To be honest it just made me go and listen to the Doobie Brothers instead.

A record of extremely solid unoffensive and vanilla songs. They are well recorded, produced and written but most of these albums I play while working and there will be a track or two that grab my attention. These just all came across as background noise with nothing jumping out as interesting.

nice one

Pretty much everything you need to know about Steely Dan

Very competent but too detached 3.4

Solid album with good guitar and some biting lyrics.

Pretty good. Though not as clever clever as later albums

A solid classic rock album, specifically on the Soft Rock spectrum. It won't blow you away, but it's okay. Favorite Song: "Do It Again".

I don't usually listen to classic rock but this was pretty good!

Effortless pop, slightly too clever and knowing. I've always loved Do It Again. My musical tastes are SO conflicted and fucked up.

In a nutshell: inoffensive and unremarkable debut. Donald and Walter knew from get-go what they wanted their albums to sound like. Sometimes to a fault with their overzealous perfectionism. Or maybe I'm just a Millennial who doesn't get it. Reelin' In the Years is good. The rest of the album varies from "it's fine" to forgettable soft jazz rock. So many long outros and solo jams that it enters cliched territory. Nice attempt, fellas. You got better with age. Overall: 5/10

Interesting album, best songs are the popular ones Standout songs Do it again Midnight cruiser Reelin in the years

Do It Again oli GH biisi. Leppoisaa rokkia missä on vähän ehkä folk vaikutteita. Ei kantria kummiskaan. Parhaat: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Change Of The Guard

Soft 70’s rock

This felt like an afternoon with classic roach radio on. So many perennial hits from this one album. Jazzier than I expected it to be. They are clearly very talented and there are some timeless aspects. But it HARD to shake the dust of classic rock association.

Feel pretty similar to this as I did Aja. It’s pleasant for sure and I can see the appeal but it just doesn’t do much for me. I really don’t know why that is but the fact remains that I’m fairly unmoved. Aja definitely left more of an impression on me overall though. The songs there were significantly more exciting imo. But yeah, I see the appeal but it’s just not for me I don’t think.

Decent

Maybe if I were alive when it released, it would mean something.

The hits are good. The rest is fine

5/10…

Kinda bummed by this one, to be honest. I've always enjoyed the song "Do It Again" so I was hoping there would be other songs on here I'd enjoy, but I'm afraid I didn't get much out of this album. I didn't dislike it, but it was fine at best. 2.6

They are talented, but it isn't really my jam.

Never heard this album before but actually has some awesome songs. Do it again sounds like something that would play over a montage of someone hustling a casino or something. Most of the rest of the album is chill weed vibes on a blue sky summers day. Steely Dan was a cool guy.

3/5

Not terrible but not really my speed

Actually not too bad, pretty decent album where only the first song (Do It Again) was pretty nice but the rest were a bit meh, although quite enjoyable to listen to, regardless. Overall, a pretty nice album, there were a couple of songs that were pretty nice, so I am not disappointed.

Fine but forgettable.

I thought this would be heavier and much worse. It was fine. Dirty Work is a great song.

A few of the classics on this earlier work. You know what you're in for...

...

Certainly enjoyed this. Two very recognizable songs and learned that they were named after a dildo. All in all, an enjoyable experience

Enjoyed it. Didn’t blow me away but I didn’t hate my life the whole time I was listening to it. Good length and some stuff that was recognizable to me.

Never heard the album, just some of the songs. A couple of classics here, in particular Reelin' in the Years still sounds great (and what amazing guitar work). Noteworthy for being Steely Dan's debut album, but not consistent enough to be even considered "great". "Dirty Work" doesn't hold up, and still sticks out as the Steely Dan hit that doesn't fit with the rest of their most popular songs. "You been tellin' me you're a genius Since you were seventeen In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean"

6/10 Best efforts don't corner orange markets boys. Let's try better than your best. 7-12-2024

Liked it more than I thought but certainly won’t listen to it again

Steely Dan is wild because if you asked me to name one of their songs before now I absolutely couldn't do it, but then I somehow knew all of the songs on this album while listening. Perfectly average and unremarkable listening experience. I look forward to once again forgetting about Steely Dan by tomorrow.

I thought I was going to hate this, but I actually liked a fair bit. Except for the bits with Sitar, there isn't a song in the world that has been improved by adding Sitar.

Can't listen to Steely Dan without thinking of "Oh Hello."

Oh another Steely Dan album. Just as good as any of the other Steely Dan albums that I listen to while going through this list. Because it's the same as every other Steely Dan album that I listen to and moderately enjoyed. I think that the list should start to filter out multiple albums by the same performer.

daytime radio friendly soft rock. Inoffensive but also nothing special

I almost skipped this one after the last 2 Steely Dan entries in this list but I’m glad I changed my mind halfway to work. Still not exactly my favourite band but I now at least understand the appeal as this album is far superior to the other two in my opinion. The 3 singles are the highlights (if you don’t sing along to Dirty Work you’re a stronger man than I) but the deep tracks were pretty solid too (Midnite cruiser being my favourite). Solid 3.3

3.2 Yup, more steely dan, another 3 rating.

That’s some good vintage Steely. Strong start, strong finish. Reelin’ In The Years carries the B Side. Never listened to the album in its entirety until now, great debut! Will listen again, they’ll have at least one more that makes the list. Easy (3.2*s)

3.5

It was pretty nice

I wish there was a 1/2 star rating. I would give this a 3 1/2 star. Out of 10 songs on this record, 4 or so are classics. the rest is good-to really good but not classic. Very good record-ish.

Hits=bangers resten går att lyssna på men inte mer spännande än så

I think I'd be more interested if I hadn't heard the hits off this album a ton in middle/high school. It's a pretty eclectic group of sounds that make up this album, but none of them are really for me. But they're also non-offensive tunes, so it's not that I dislike the album. I just don't give a shit.

My fourth and final Steely Dan album from the list! I didn't mind this album. One of the songs was familiar but I forget now which one. I liked "Do It Again" the most. Overall, this album was just OK.

Do It Again 3 Dirty Work 3.1 Kings 2.8 Midnite Cruiser 3 Only a Fool Would Say That 3 Reelin' In the Years 3.1 Fire in the Hole 2.9 Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me) 3 Change of the Guard 3 Turn That Heartbeak Over Again 2.8 Score: 2.97

I appreciate Steely Dan, even though I don't usually seek them out. They're folky, bluesy, funky, rocky, and fun. I like that they let different instruments drive each song - some are heavy on piano while others ride the guitar or bass. It's all a little different but still recognizable.

Not a Steely Dan fan and would usually turn from the classic radio station when a song would come on. This first album is the rare exception. Not a fan of the mid to late 70’s Steely Dan sound.

I know I should love SD but I just don't. Good album.

Clásico.

3.5

I couldn't have named a single Steely Dan song, but recognised several of these regardless. Cosy listening.Nothing earth shattering, but nice easy listening.

Solid album with some of their beat known songs. Not particularly groundbreaking but good music. I don't think I would put the album in again but I know there are songs I will continue to hear.

An ok album mixed with some really good songs. It felt like like a lot of the songs were trying to sound similar, but didn't stick like the hits off this. The last song was by far the worst to me and ended it on a bit of a sour note.

Средний

Starts strong. Many skate video memories. Some kind of fusion sound I can't describe. Latin rock? Cuban? Soft rock with a pop edge and hooks. Dirty work a classic, quite like Kings. They are really TRYING to NOT be pop at points - noodley off kilter solos feel a bit out of place in what probably felt like a contemporary pop banger. yacht rock! 'I am another gentleman loser' All the songs sound pretty similar, not that that's such a bad thing, they work well together on a playthrough - but there doesn't seem to be any thing to wake the listener up a bit. By the time we get to fire in the hole... feels a bit weak, and the jazz piano doesn't work initially. Still bored on 'brooklyn owes'. Change of the guard feels like a naff attempt at a political statement. Would it be better if the band stuck to simpler and less ambiguous song ideas? This album makes me wish I was listening to hall and oates. Some of the writing/lyrics feel very dated. Overall, 3/5 seems fair. The great songs are great, but there are too many forgettable duds in here that just can't match do it again or dirty work. The more I hear Reelin in the years, the less I like it, but that might have more to do with my impending 37th year than the song itself.

Great

Enjoyable listen. Best track is Do It Again 3/5

Back in day, when I was into hard rock, one of my friends raved about Steely Dan, but I never saw the attraction. Having said that, I quite liked the two singles "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In the Years".

I liked some of the songs, & I might listen to the album again.

Hmmmm

Do there really need to be (at least) three Steely Dan records on this list? Seems to be the best (so far) tho

Surprised, impressed and found it enjoyable. I wasn't looking forward to this album but found myself tapping along. Decent

Smooth. Clever. Polished. I can never figure out I love Steely Dan or hate them. Are they interesting or mundane? The more I think about it the less I want to.

avg

Steely Dan is alright. Always enjoy the guitar work and drums in certain songs. Can’t get my into the writing too much though

An impressive and pleasant debut album. I didn’t look into their history, but these guys obviously had some musical training. The music is very tight and precise. I imagine a live performance would sound almost exactly like the recordings. And the recording quality here is exceptionally good, especially when you compare it to another album from around that time, the Small Faces, which sounded like they recorded it on a cassette player. I would not listen to this by choice….but if it came on while I was on a yacht, then yes. Go back jack, do it again. 3.5

Pretty good. A few big radio hits. Good choruses. Didn't seem inaccessible in the way Steely Dan has been described. Not one I would seek out often, but it may be a good background album. 3.2

Not my favorite genre, but definitely consistent throughout, and some solid hits among the tracks.

Not bad but a little too groovy, sounded like even had some wind chimes on the first track.

Solid debut with lots of radio hits. But it feels like it only has a couple of gears.

High 3. Some good songs on there that I'd never heard.

Steely Dan son sinónimo de calidad, compositiva, lírica, melódica e instrumental. Una banda (dúo casi en realidad: Becker/Fagen) típicamente setentera, lejos del rock duro y estridencias glam, sus producciones son técnicas, limpias y pluscuamperfectas. Encontraron un equilibrio perfecto entre los delirios del rock progresivo (con inacables solos instrumentales para deleite exclusivo de sus interpretes) y el rock suave, cantautores folk o AOR (pianos, saxos, coros...). Lo suyo fue otra cosa, más sencilla pero a su vez más compleja. Lo hacían fácil, pero no lo era en absoluto. Todo estaba detalladamente pensado y estudiado. En cierto modo me recuerda a duos como Tears for fears, con discos de larga gestación en busca de la perfección. De hecho este disco se publicó sin que ellos quedaran satisfechos de la mezcla final, pretendían corregir errores que solo ellos pueden apreciar. Los coros marca de la casa (influenciados por el soul, una de sus pasiones junto con otras más evidentes como el jazz). Para muestra su apertura con Do it again, todo un clásico en su pulido repertorio. La otra canción más conocida es Reelin´ in the years, aunque cualquiera tiene calidad suficiente: Only a fool would say that es un caramelo que no conviene obviar (ácida crítica al sueño hippy y al Imagine de Lennon con la que estoy muy de acuerdo). Dirty work, que estaba prevista como descarte del disco, ha sido también muy reconocida y versionada (incluso por Homer Simpson) además de usada en incontables películas. Kings y Midnight cuiser tienen ecos de Byrds y CSNY... Fire on the hole tiene un piano exquisito... El cierre de Turn that heartbeat over again te deja con ganas de seguir escuchando otra vez este disco. Las referencias al country-rock de los Eagles y los Doobie Brothers, al uso de metales de Blood, Sweat and Tears o Chicago, al mejor Elton John, al detallismo de Todd Rundgren, al jazz-fusion de Chick Corea, Pat Metheny o Weather Report, son justificadas si bien son más que eso: son Steely Dan. Por cierto, la portada (también cuidaban sus cubiertas, la de Aja es estupenda) estuvo censurada, cómo no, en España. Presenta a unas prostitutas en una calle francesa. No es su mejor disco, para mi es Aja (o Pretzel Logic), pero este está a un nivel excelente. Otros discos de 1972 fueron: Debuts, al margen de este de los Steely Dan, los de Roxy Music, Paul Simon, Big Star, Neu¡, ¿Fela Kuti? y Lou Reed (además de su espléndido Transformer ) Discos expecionales como los de David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Todd Rundgren - Something/ Anything?, Stevie Wonder – Talking Book y Music of my mind, Elton John-Honky Château, Nick Drake – Pink Moon, Yes – Close to the Edge, Miles Davis – On the Corner, Neil Young – Harvest, The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St, Curtis Mayfield – Super Fly, Raspberries- Fresh, Genesis – Foxtrot, Van Morrison - Saint Dominic's Preview, Deep Purple- Machine Head y Made in Japan, Joni MIttchell- For the roses, Tangerine Dream - Zeit, T Rex- The slider, Kevin Ayers- Whatevershebringswesing, la banda sonora The harder they come... una cosecha excelente en la que Can´t buy me a thrill no desentona.

Do It Again is fantastic. Dirty Work, and Reelin’ in the Years are solid. The rest bores me. Steely Dan is like someone in your friend group who never causes any drama but never really opens up and is the last person you'd call to hang out with.

the best at their soft/jazz/pop rock blend. The songs are well composed and the instruments are expertly played. A few great songs, like Reelin’ In The Years and Do It Again - but a bunch of the lot aren’t too memorable for me. I think I enjoy a Steely Dan best hits over their individual albums, and I always thought they were better with higher energy/intensity (and a rippin guitar) than the laid back stuff. Overall it’s quality stuff, some of which is great and some fine.

sisi 7/10

I remember hearing Steely Dan on the radio as a kid. This is a decent album but I'll probably never listen to it in its entirety again. 2.5 stars

That didn’t sound like a debut album. That sounded like peak Steely Dan. They’ve always had that chord progression misdirection gear? Wild.

Good album will definitely listen again

Really good, enjoyed it - hadn’t heard this one either but Steely Dan are a great band

Apparently I know a lot more Steely Dan songs than I was aware of — "Do It Again," "Dirty Work," and "Reelin' in the Years" were all familiar. I guess I always assumed they were by some other band. Look, I'm not a yacht rock fan. Never have been, never will be. And I'm from Philly, the home of Hall and Oates. It's just not my thing. That said, I thought I would hate this a lot more than I did. I didn't particularly love it, but I can't deny the musicianship here. There are some crazy guitar solos, and it does have kind of a proggy/funky side to it. Lyrically, some of the songs are deeper than I would have expected from this kind of band. But it also gets really weird, really smooth-jazzy, and boring. "Brooklyn Owes" lost me with the slide guitar. "Change of the Guard" sounds like it's trying to rip off "Dancing in the Street." And the closing track is just bizarre as hell. The singer kind of sounds like Kermit the Frog (and it has an odd Rainbow Connection vibe) but it also sounds like a song Patrick Bateman would play for a woman he was seducing/murdering. 3/5 — not terrible, not great. Probably wouldn't listen again.

- well. it’s steely dan - tres chill.. soundscape of instrumentation moves so smoothly - i do love the harmonization over the chorus of dirty work - wikipedia referred to lyrics as ‘elliptical’ which feels very accurate - again, big fan of guitars in harmony, in reelin in the years - ‘oh michael, oh jesus’ is funny to me - i think there is a niceness and comfort to the repetition in it, makes it very background easy listening. it’s sunny music - idk. it’s nice! i don’t dislike it! i think i’m just not that attached to it. 3/5, did not add but did save turn that heartbeat over again

Yacht rock! Yeah! Some great moments here. My algorithms have started offering me some awful stuff as a result of my lingering on this and Aja. I like a bit of Steely Dan but I don't go in for the wider genre. It becomes tiresome quick. Good album though.

Some track are pretty cool, but it was too boring to listen to whole

whattaya gonna do?

List listening

Not sure if they are genius or cringe. But I was kind of falling asleep towards the end of my listen this morning.

Well I don’t think I will ever be the world’s biggest fan of Mr. Dan in all his steeliness, but I did like this album better than the last one I heard. Pretty cheery and straightforward with some good melodies. Best song: Reelin’ in the Years

Chill, soft, happy music. A bit generic. Good Production. Perfect background music. No instrument pushes to the front. Even the guitar solos are a bit reserved but they fit the mood perfectly.

Fine listening

Mäßiger Jazz Rock.

This album provided a couple of recognizable songs to 70's and early 80's radio. Not really rock, pop, or jazz, but carries influences of each.

Good album. Classic Steely with a few recognizable hits. 3.5/5

Not really my thing, felt pretty listless sometimes, but nice harmonies. Fave: Fire In The Hole

This wasn’t bad, I’m just not a Steely Dan fan.

Mid

I like Reeling In The Years, and Do It Again is pretty good too. The rest of the album is fine but didn't especially grab me.

If I liked the whole album as much as I liked the three singles I was familiar with, I'd have given this a 4.

This is a quintessential 70's album. They have a very unique sound. The recording itself was very "clean". The instrument separation was really good.

Dirty Work is a classic, and this lp aint that bad either.

enjoyable, relaxing, a little boring/repetitive... fades into the background a little too easily

Do It Again, Reelin’ In The Years, and Dirty Work are pretty great song but the rest of the album is just ok. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it outside those three songs. Though I do really like Dirty Work and listen to it more than occasionally. If I could do half stars this would be a solid 3.5

Saai, wel goed gemaakt

Pretty mellow and enjoyable on a weekend morning

A good song or two, solid 3/5.

Great album but i do prefer aja

Breezy album that doesn't take itself too seriously and has some songs that are easy to listen to and fun.

Not bad. Some big hits on it. Certainly got me grooving a bit, but nothing too mind blowing.

tbh i never really wanted to listen to this one in full but reelin in the years and the first two tracks are cool and the rest can’t be that much different can it?

Started off with some bangers, but grew disinterested as the album went on.

Yeah it's a good one and has a lot of hits on it, but it's not my favorite Steely Dan album.

not bad

Best Songs: Dirty Work, Reelin' in the Years Listen Again: Probably not

It's pretty much Steely Dan isn't it?

I kind of like Reelin in the Years and Do It Again

captures the sights, the sounds and the smells like the 70s - some in a good way, and some you dont want to scratch the surface of too much

Mischung aus Rock, Pop, Blues und Jazz. Eher Richtung Classic Rock.

Great easy listening album.

Very cool, slick and charming, but no really my type.

Lots of bangers

Not as good as I imagined

v mid

The songs in the album aren't really hitting me or sucking me into a world, unlike other bands/albums like Pink Floyd. Album's enjoyable but not really something I'd enjoy listening over and over for a week.

Unique. Definitely knew a bunch of the songs

Classic easy listening stuff. Steely Dan’s melodies sound so nice that it’s almost artificial

I can't say I love Steely Dan, but this is clearly a great album.

Knew more songs than I thought I would

Are you reeling in the years?

I liked this album, felt good on a Friday. Good vibes. Recognized two songs. I want to check out more Steely Dan now but dont think I'll go crazy for it.

I'm gonna be honest, it's not what I was expecting. But I fucks with it. Also there was Spanish and a maraca?? who in Steely Dan is a latinaaaaa?? Do it again 💜💜 Only a fool would say that 💜💜

Good. Hear most of them on classic rock radio, the deep cuts are deep for a reason.

3 stars. Good for background playing. Not intrusive sound. Electric guitar, piano, country rock kind of sound, neutral to positive vibe.

It starts growing on you in a groovy way. Pretty unique sound. 3.5/5.

Meh

Album fuses a lot of genres together in creative ways. Nice groovy album with some classic "best of" examples from the band.

Upbeat, easy listening.

1. Do It Again- long intro, a vibe but not mine, good song though 2. Dirty Work- I've heard this song before lol it's pretty good 10/10 3. Kings- not really my jam 4. Midnite Cruiser- kinda jammy, wouldn't put it on tho...road trip song?? 5. Only A Fool Would Say That- vibey 6. Reelin' In The Years- ehhhh idk how I feel 7. Fire In The Hole- groovy 8. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)- def a road trip vibe 9. Change Of The Guard- another road trip vibe 10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again- I don't like this one honestly a very nice road trip album very groovy and vibey

Good album. I forgot about many of these songs.

Swingin. I enjoyed this a bunch

There were a couple good songs on it. Overall decent album.

Better than I expected considering I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. It was pleasant considering I listened to it while playing God of War.

this was easy listening, kinda like elevator music i think. i liked the instrumentals, but i think the vocals in some of the songs were jarring and made some of the songs less enjoyable. i was expecting a smoother jazzier voice rather than a more strained somewhat rock-ish voice

Pretty good stuff

Love the 70s sound and some amazing tracks on here but a bit too much pop sounds which makes it a strong 3

Disco muito bom. Todas as músicas possuem ritmo contageante, até me lembrou um pouco algumas músicas do Wishbone Ash. Apos primeira audição, algumas músicas se sobressaem. 1. Do It Again 2. Change of the Guard

Hyvän mielen levy! Ei olis ehkä väärin antaa nelostakaan.

Not my favorite but I see why they are so legendary.

Relaxing

Lots of recognizable songs but it was really nothing too special. I think some of their later albums are just more interesting.

Not my favourite Steely Dan album (Aja being my favourite) but showcases the talent.

I reckon David Palmer should do all the vocals

At the risk of offending some Steely Dan fans, this band does nothing for me that the Eagles don't already do. There's a few big hits on this album (Do It Again, Dirty Work, Reelin' In The Years), but push comes to shove it's nothing super special in my book.

It was fine. Although an impressive number of singles for a debut album.

Nice!

De här är inte dåligt. Tror att jag skulle kunna gilla det om jag lyssnade in mig lite mer.

Hade bara hört Do it again sedan tidigare och visste väldigt lite om dem. Blev positivt överraskad - det är väldigt välproducerat rakt igenom, flera bra låtar och hög lägstanivå. Stark trea.

Couple of good songs, fairly middling 70's rock

Decent songs, well done. Just not quite my vibe I don't think.

Steht gur für den Sound der 70er, nicht alle Lieder gefallen mir, aber kann man durchaus anhören

I’m not sure how this compared to Aja, which I listened to a couple years ago but don’t remember much. Along with some other soft rock type bands, the music doesn’t seem to encourage me to notice differences between most of the songs all that much, so it blends into a cohesive vibe that overall is nice but can be forgettable. The record’s biggest hits seem well representative of the rest of the tracks, maybe catchier with better melodies and choruses. The lead singer often has a reverb/layered effect on his vocals that I like now but could get tired of. 6/10

A couple of songs were like songs I’ve heard 1 million times but never listened to. I haven’t looked into their history or philosophies or anything but I kind of feel like they’re all Republicans now I don’t even know if any of them are like. Only a fool would say that my favorite song on the album never heard it before.

This is only my 30th album and yet this is the 3rd time I've gotten Steely Dan... A solid album. Knew about half the songs. 3.5

Zeer groovy jazz album, stem is soms wat saai, maar muzikaal erg goed

Holy mid

Recognizable. Wouldn’t seek out.

Do it again

I automatically dismiss Steely Dan, but this album was not horrible. Solid 3

Quality hippy fun

it is what it is

Classic. Not quite Aja, but brilliant. 3.5/5

Steely Dan 1. Do it again - 4 2. Dirty work - 3 3. Kings - 2 4. Midnite cruiser -3 5. Only a fool - 3 6. Reelin in the years - 4 7. Fire in the hole - 5 8. Brooklyn - 3 9. Change of the guard- 2 10. Turn the heartbeat - 2 3