TOP 100 ALBUMS EVAR: #89 Steely Dan: Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) <ABC> Genre: Jazz Rock, Progressive Rock Nationality: USA (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY) I grew up for the most part like everyone else: raised on my parents’ music.  For some people that means a little, for some it means a lot.  And my parents listened to a lot of music.  I’m sure everybody has early memories of what their parents played.  A myriad of names comes to mind when I think back to younger years: Tom Petty, Frank Zappa, Van Morrison, Queen, Elvis Costello.  I could go on and on.  One notable group, though, was Steely Dan, and they are synonymous with my childhood.  Every road trip, every summer between the years of 4 and 10 brings to mind albums like Pretzel Logic, Aja, and particularly Can’t Buy A Thrill.  Listening to this record is instant nostalgia to me, bringing back fond memories along with some catchy songs.  This album, their first, was much less jazz oriented than their later material, instead opting for a more pop rock approach.  It certainly hints at things to follow, though.  Tracks like “Do It Again” and “Reelin’ In The Years” possess clear progressive jazz inclinations, and each song is recorded magnificently.  Like any Steely Dan record, production is top notch, clean, clear and virtually perfect in every way.  Harmonies are king as well, with tracks like “Midnight Cruiser” and “Dirty Work” being drenched in three and four part vocal bliss.  To me, Can’t Buy A Thrill is easily the best of Steely Dan’s material.  Nothing else comes close. Key Tracks: “Do It Again,” “Dirty Work,” “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again” For Fans Of: Todd Rundgren, Elton John, Chicago

TOP 100 ALBUMS EVAR: #89

Steely Dan: Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972) <ABC>

Genre: Jazz Rock, Progressive Rock

Nationality: USA (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY)

I grew up for the most part like everyone else: raised on my parents’ music.  For some people that means a little, for some it means a lot.  And my parents listened to a lot of music.  I’m sure everybody has early memories of what their parents played.  A myriad of names comes to mind when I think back to younger years: Tom Petty, Frank Zappa, Van Morrison, Queen, Elvis Costello.  I could go on and on.  One notable group, though, was Steely Dan, and they are synonymous with my childhood.  Every road trip, every summer between the years of 4 and 10 brings to mind albums like Pretzel Logic, Aja, and particularly Can’t Buy A Thrill.  Listening to this record is instant nostalgia to me, bringing back fond memories along with some catchy songs.  This album, their first, was much less jazz oriented than their later material, instead opting for a more pop rock approach.  It certainly hints at things to follow, though.  Tracks like “Do It Again” and “Reelin’ In The Years” possess clear progressive jazz inclinations, and each song is recorded magnificently.  Like any Steely Dan record, production is top notch, clean, clear and virtually perfect in every way.  Harmonies are king as well, with tracks like “Midnight Cruiser” and “Dirty Work” being drenched in three and four part vocal bliss.  To me, Can’t Buy A Thrill is easily the best of Steely Dan’s material.  Nothing else comes close.

Key Tracks: “Do It Again,” “Dirty Work,” “Turn That Heartbeat Over Again”

For Fans Of: Todd Rundgren, Elton John, Chicago