Classic Albums Review: Can’t Buy a Thrill

The rock scene of the early 1970s was not filled with intricate, deep musical tunes. Steely Dan’s debut album, Can’t Buy a Thrill (released in November of 1972) is the exact opposite of their contemporaries’ sound. Interwoven with punctual chord changes, catchy and mystic lyrics, Can’t Buy a Thrill’s overall musical structure overwhelms the occasional mediocrity of tracks such as “Only a Fool Would Say That” and “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.”

Opening with the funky, sitar-laced “Do It Again,” Can’t Buy a Thrill starts off with high hopes for the subsequent nine tracks. From there you get the soft, emotional “Dirty Work,” which is fitted with a tasty saxophone accompaniment and solo. The record falls off track a bit with “Kings,” the third track. The lyrical wit can get old after the first chorus, and the song is only held together by the stellar guitar work. Batting clean-up, “Midnite Cruiser” is the single that never was; it’s catchy, evocative chorus and wonderful instrumentation set the record back in the right direction before another mediocre hiccup. “Only a Fool Would Say That,” like “Kings,” has excellent instrumentation – except the lyrics are devoid of wit and a general turn-off. Then, praise guitarist Elliott Randall, “Reelin’ in the Years” flows through your eardrums. A top-notch single and superb work of vocal harmony and electric guitar, track number six is undoubtedly the gem of Can’t Buy a Thrill. The band takes it down a step or two with “Fire in the Hole,” a pleasant vocal piece interspersed with chunky piano parts and fading guitar fills. The eighth and ninth tracks, “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)” and “Change of the Guard” stride together excellently, with little to not enjoy but nothing too extraordinary (perhaps barring the guitar solo in “Change of the Guard”). To finish off the album, we get “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again.” The concluding song echoes the qualities of preceding tracks, but falls short of a proper end to a solid album.

If you try out Can’t Buy a Thrill, you’ll have plenty of tracks to sing, dance, and shake to. If you listen closely, you’ll also hear how Steely Dan’s unique style transcends far above the traditional conventions of its rock contemporaries (and successors). Sadly, no album is perfect, and some of Can’t Buy a Thrill’s content is not worth much mention – but some tracks are the best you’ll ever hear.