Riffing on November 1972, “Can’t Buy a Thrill” by Steely Dan, hosted by Rob Marbury (Do it Again / Dirty Work / Midnite Cruiser / Reelin in the Years). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Theme from "Maude." STAFF PICKS: Moody Blues - “Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band” from Bruce. The Raspberries - "I wanna be with you" from Wayne. Doobie Brothers - “Listen to the Music” from Bruce. Jim Croce - “Operator” from Rob. LAUGH TRACK: Isaac Hayes — Theme from “The Men.”
This is Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's debut album as Steely Dan. Taking their name from the William S. Burroughs novel "Naked Lunch," Becker's guitar work and Fagen's keyboard and vocals combine in a jazz-rock fusion, and Can't Buy a Thrill shows a lot of smoothness and diversity from jazz to latin to straight-ahead rock guitar. This is a stellar debut album from a group who would go on to create a string of hits throughout the 70's, and have a staying power that lives on today.
Do It Again
This song made it to number 6 on the U.S. charts in 1973, making it Steely Dan's second highest charting song. Waylon Jennings covered "Do It Again" in 1980
Dirty Work
With David Palmer on lead vocals, Dirty Work has a very different sound than most Steely Dan songs. Steely Dan was encouraged to pursue this sound as more commercially accessible, but the band would consolidate on Fagen's vocals instead.
Midnite Cruiser
A deeper cut off the album, Midnite Cruiser has the distinct harmonies and jazz chord progressions we've come to identify with Steely Dan. Drummer Jim Hodder fronts the vocals with lyrics like "Drive me to Harlem or somewhere the same," showing the musical geography that shaped Becker and Fagen.
Reelin in the Years
Elliott Randall plays guitar on this song. Jimmy Page considered the solo from this song as his favorite of all time. What clever lyrics: "You've been telling 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." "The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand."
Theme from Maude.
This TV series took its cue from the women's liberation movement.
The Moody Blues - I'm Just A Singer in a Rock and Roll Band
Bruce points out that the lyrics of this song is a reaction to fans who took the lyrics of the Moody Blues too seriously. The songs of this album "Seventh Sojourn" were overshadowed by the re-release of "Days of Future Past" along the same time.
The Raspberries - I Wanna Be with You
Wayne brings us the Raspberries formed in Cleveland in 1970. Eric Carmen (writer of "Hungry Eyes and "All By Myself", and not to be confused with Eric Cartman from Southpark), fronts this group.
The Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music
One of Brian's favorites, this is the first hit off the Toulouse Street album which came out in September of 1972. The Doobie Brothers often close their concerts with this song. It is a call to peace.
Jim Croce - Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)
Rob takes a mellow turn with his staff pick. Croce tells the story of a lonely guy calling the operator, and was inspired by seeing GI's on base lining up to call home. Great lyrics from a master storyteller.
Isaac Hayes - this is the theme from the TV show, "The Men." Hayes' soulful theme finishes off our podcast this week. “Yeah....baby....how ya feelin'?...” (say it in a low voice like Isaac and see where it gets you).