Music to Your Ears: Steely Dan’s ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’
One of the most critically and commercially successful groups of the 1970s, for most of its time in the spotlight Steely Dan wasn’t really a band at all. Co-led by the duo of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan crafted a sophisticated, urbane and oddly inscrutable musical character that nonetheless found a wide audience. To realize their ambitious and idiosyncratic musical goals – deftly combining witty and oblique lyrical concerns with elements of jazz, soul and rock into something that sounded like no one else – Becker and Fagen drew on some of the top session musicians. Retiring early from live performance, Steely Dan quickly became a studio project.
But at the start, Steely Dan was a conventional band with a firm lineup and a conventional concert touring schedule. And it was in that period that the group released its debut album, 1972’s Can’t Buy a Thrill. Featuring the smash hits “Do It Again” and “Reelin’ in the Years” plus a bounty of top-notch album tracks, the Platinum-selling Can’t Buy a Thrill showed that the unique sound and character of Steely Dan was in place from the very beginning.
Before Can’t Buy a Thrill, few musical acts had successfully synthesized jazz, swing and Latin music elements into a rock or pop context. And those who did wouldn’t enjoy anything like the success that Steely Dan achieved; their debut album has been named among Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” Steely Dan’s first record was released 50 years ago this fall, making now the ideal time to take a look (and listen) at this landmark album.
Join host Bill Kopp and special guest Jake Wolf of Steely Dan tribute band Dirty Logic as they lead a discussion of Can’t Buy a Thrill. We’ll chat about the background, creation and legacy of the album, and listen to some key tracks that demonstrate the innovation and creativity of Steely Dan. And as always, we’ll facilitate audience discussion.
WHAT: Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy a Thrill
WHO: Discussion led by music journalist/author Bill Kopp with special guest Jake Wolf
WHERE: Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Suite D, Asheville
WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 7 @ 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30) $10 at the door / SEATING IS LIMITED
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.