STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - STEELY DAN - CAN'T BUY A THRILL

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Good morning record enthusiasts and welcome back to the Friday edition of Stuck In The Vinyl Again. Today we remember Walter Becker, guitarist, bassist. songwriter, producer and co-founder of jazz rock fusion band, Steely Dan, on this, the 4th anniversary of his death. He passed away in 2017, age 67  of esophageal cancer. To mark the occasion, we spotlight their debut album, Can't Buy A Thrill. The LP was released November 1972 on the ABC label and produced by Gary Katz. It peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200 and gave birth to two singles,  "Do It Again" (#6 Hot 100) and  "Reelin' in the Years" (#11 Hot 100). The album is notable as it is the only one in their catalogue featuring David Palmer, best known for writing Carole King's "Jazzman", as lead vocalist. Donald Fagen would assume those duties on the next album. 

1. "Do It Again" Fagen 5:56
2. "Dirty Work" Palmer 3:08
3. "Kings" Fagen 3:45
4. "Midnite Cruiser" Hodder 4:07
5. "Only a Fool Would Say That" Fagen with Palmer 2:57

Side two

1. "Reelin' In the Years" Fagen 4:37
2. "Fire in the Hole" Fagen 3:28
3. "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)" Palmer 4:21
4. "Change of the Guard" Fagen with Palmer 3:39
5. "Turn That Heartbeat Over Again" Fagen with Palmer and Becker 4:58

Steely Dan

David Palmer – lead vocals on "Dirty Work" and "Brooklyn", backing vocals

Donald Fagen – acoustic and electric pianos, plastic (YC-30) organ, lead vocals (except on "Dirty Work", "Midnite Cruiser", and "Brooklyn"), backing vocals

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – guitar, pedal steel guitar, spoken word on "Only a Fool Would Say That"
Denny Dias – guitar, electric sitar

Walter Becker – electric bass, backing vocals

Jim Hodder – drums, percussion, lead vocal on "Midnite Cruiser", backing vocals

Session musicians

Elliott Randall – lead guitar on "Kings" and "Reelin in the Years"

Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone

Snooky Young – flugelhorn

Victor Feldman – percussion

Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals on "Brooklyn" and "Kings"

Production

Producer: Gary Katz
Engineer: Roger Nichols
Assistant engineer: Tim Weston
Cover Design: Robert Lockart