Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill

Can't Buy A Thrill — Steely Dan's platinum-selling debut studio album reissue

Hybrid Stereo SACD release from Analogue Productions!

Mastered direct to DSD from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman

Plays in all CD and SACD players

Hi-Fi News' Album Choice for May 2024!

"To avoid confusion, given that the Dan's stunning debut was reissued last year in a couple of vinyl forms including UHQR, the whole point of this release is Analogue Productions demonstrating its commitment to SACD. For this listener, it's the best digital format I know outside of the higher-res rates found only in professional situations, and I'm hard-pressed to find fault with this disc, even when auditioned side-by-side with the LPs. The sax break in 'Dirty Work' and the vocals throughout are enough to convince any who have been undecided about embracing SACD, which survives in spite of its relative obscurity. For now, this is the only way to enjoy Steely Dan if you've forsaken vinyl." — Sound Quality = 90% — Ken Kessler, HiFi News, May 2024

Steely Dan's platinum-selling debut studio album Can't Buy A Thrill, released in November 1972, was a commercial success, peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard chart. It later appeared on many professional listings of the greatest albums, including Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000) and Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2003)

The album was written by band members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, recorded in August 1972 at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, and produced by Gary Katz. Its music features tight song structure and sounds from soft rock, folk rock, and pop, alongside philosophical, elliptical lyrics. Two songs recorded during the Can't Buy A Thrill sessions were left off the album and released as a single: "Dallas" b/w "Sail the Waterway." This is the only Steely Dan album to include David Palmer as a lead vocalist, having been recruited after Donald Fagen expressed concerns over singing live. Drummer Jim Hodder also chips in lead vocals on one song, "Midnite Cruiser" (sometimes spelled "Midnight Cruiser"), as well as singing the "Dallas" single. By the time recording of the next album began, the band and producer Gary Katz had convinced Fagen to assume the full lead vocalist role.

AllMusic gave the album 4.5 stars, with reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine praising the core duo Walter Becker and Donald Fagen as "remarkable craftsmen." Erlewine noted that "there are very few of the jazz flourishes that came to distinguish their (later) albums", but added that the first single from the album, "Do It Again," incorporates a tight Latin jazz beat, while the second single, "Reelin' In the Years," features jazzy guitar solos and harmonies.

Rolling Stone, in its review, said the debut album was a collection of some of the group's best jazz/rock songs.

"Two of Fagen's four (vocal solo) songs were the singles, ‘Do It Again' and ‘Reelin' In The Years,' the later starting off (and continues throughout) with a ripping solo by session player, Elliot Randall, and in fact, was rated by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page as his favourite guitar solo of all time. That's quite an endorsement. The song peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Charts. ‘Do It Again' charted at No. 6, making it their second highest chart for a single. ‘Dirty Work,' another great song from the record features Palmer. The album is tight, with some of the best musicianship money can buy." — Rolling Stone

The album cover features a photomontage by Robert Lockart that includes an image of a line of prostitutes, standing in a red-light area from Rouen in France waiting for clients. The image was chosen because of its relevance to the album title. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen themselves commented on the album art in their liner notes to the reissued The Royal Scam, saying that The Royal Scam album possessed "the most hideous album cover of the seventies, bar none (excepting perhaps Can't Buy A Thrill)." The cover was banned in Francisco Franco's Spain and was replaced with a photograph of the band playing in concert.

After a brief battle with esophageal cancer, Walter Becker died on September 3, 2017 at the age of 67. Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2001. VH1 ranked Steely Dan at No. 82 on their list of the 100 Greatest Musical Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone ranked them No. 15 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.

 

 

1. Do It Again

2. Dirty Work

3. Kings

4. Midnite Cruiser

5. Only A Fool Would Say That

6. Reelin' In The Years

7. Fire In The Hole

8. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)

9. Change Of The Guard

10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

Customer Reviews (4.86 Stars) 7 person(s) rated this product.

Sounds GREAT!!! posted on 12/16/2023 5 Stars Just received my copy and to my ears it sounds just wonderful. So good i listened twice. A must for the Steely Dan fan!!!

The definitive version! posted on 07/05/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: PGK These Analogue Productions Steely SACD reissues are really the definitive version of these classic albums. It’s like listening to the master tapes. A very accurate, true and honest transfer from the masters. Nothing needs to be added because The Dan did it right back in the day…. So sit back and enjoy these recordings in the best possible fidelity you are likely to ever hear at this point in what I consider to be the definitive audio format, SACD.

Pretty darn good posted on 04/05/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Tim Having listened to this album for almost 50 years, I can say this is an excellent version. If you don’t have this, get it!

Hmm posted on 02/06/2023 4 Stars Ok, Steely Dan is one of my favorite groups. I have the remaster that Roger Nichols did many years back. I have been looking forward to this sacd and the others to come. While the sacd sounds better with a tad more open sound, a little bit more analog, but it was not the revelation I thought it would be. Sorry. I will listen again and see if I feel differently. I have to mention my setup before someone comes at me for my ears. I have a Vivaldi stack, a Boulder Amp, and a VTL pre-amp(tubes) . I do have 4 of the Japanese sacd's in the collection, and they sound excellent, especially Gaucho. I am also curious as to why Bernie Grundmans name is no where mentioned in the booklet, only on the website or am I blind?

Unbeatable posted on 01/30/2023 5 Stars This is just amazing. I've listened to it about everyday for the last week!! Everytime I listen to it I pick out a little bit more detail. I would have to say this might be the best SACD I own (2nd being The Police Synchronicity SHM-SACD). And since this is one of my favorite albums anyway this is just a treat and a half. This will be my recommendation when someone asks which digital CBAT is the best!!

AP finally delivers definitive Steely Dan SACD posted on 01/25/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Greg M I've waited about 20 years for this and it was worth it. Bernie Grundman did an excellent job as usual with the transfer and kudos to Chad for producing the SACD from the best source material available. The tones are open and strong, highs are extended, bass is taught, good detail and percussiveness. Far better than the SHM-SACDs from Japan (although to be fair they never got around to releasing CBaT or Royal Scam). No matter. One listen will convince you AP's versions are definitive. Can't wait until the others ship. Proves you CAN buy a thrill.

Steely posted on 01/20/2023 5 Stars

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