Dirty Work (Steely Dan song)

"Dirty Work"
Song by Steely Dan
from the album Can't Buy a Thrill
Language English
Recorded The Village Recorder, Los Angeles
Genre Soft rock
Length 3:08
Label ABC
Songwriter(s) Donald Fagen and Walter Becker
Producer(s) Gary Katz

"Dirty Work" is a song written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker that was first released on Steely Dan's debut album Can't Buy a Thrill in 1972. It was also recorded by other artists, including the Pointer Sisters, Iain Matthews, and Melissa Manchester.

Lyrics and music

Steely Dan FAQ author Anthony Robustelli describes "Dirty Work" as a "song of self-loathing."[1] The lyrics describe an affair between a man and a married woman, sung by the man.[2] The Guardian describes the narrative as soap operatic.[3] The singer recognizes that the woman is using him but is too infatuated to end the affair.[3][4] The lyrics make an oblique reference to the game of chess, which was a hobby of Becker's.[4] Several critics have described the music of "Dirty Work" as more commercial-sounding than most Steely Dan songs.[2][4] The Guardian says that it sounds like "a radio-friendly stroll of a song," at least at first.[3] Allmusic critic Stewart Mason attributes this in part to the "upward-modulating" refrain and "soulful" clavinet, as well as the tenor saxophone part played by guest musician Jerome Richardson.[2] Steely Dan biographer Brian Sweet describes Richardson's sax solo as being "perfectly understated."[4]

"Dirty Work" is one of the songs on Can't Buy a Thrill on which David Palmer provided the lead vocal.[2][4][1] Steely Dan biographer Brian Sweet hypothesizes that Fagen did not want to sing the song himself because he and Becker did not even want to include it on the album.[4] But the executives at ABC Records wanted some more conventional tunes on the album and so they insisted that "Dirty Work" be included.[4] The ABC executives had also thought the song would be ideal for Three Dog Night or The Grass Roots to record.[4] After Palmer left the group, Steely Dan ceased playing the song live in concert, but revived it in 2006 with their female backing vocalists singing it and the perspective changed to that of a woman having an affair with a married (or attached) man.[2]

Personnel

Reception

Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described "Dirty Work" as a "terrific pop song that subvert[s] traditional conventions" and is one of the best songs on Can't Buy a Thrill.[5] Musichound author Gary Graff referred to it as being "instantly memorable."[6] Rolling Stone Magazine critic James Isaacs attributes the song's success to the fact that it "juxtaposes David Palmer's sweet tenor voice with misogynistic lyrics."[7] Robustelli similarly agrees that part of the song's effect is due to the contrast between Palmer's smooth voice and the harsh lyrics.[1] "Dirty Work" was included on several Steely Dan compilation albums, including Citizen Steely Dan in 1993, Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story, 1972–1980 in 2000 and Steely Dan: The Definitive Collection in 2006.[2] Seguin Gazette-Enterprise writer J.J. Syrja expressed surprise that it was excluded from their 1978 compilation package Greatest Hits.[8]

The song was used in the first episode of season 3 of The Sopranos, “Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood,” as Tony Soprano sings it while driving his SUV.[1][9] The song was also used in the 2013 film American Hustle, although Fagen and Becker did not give permission for it to be included on the soundtrack album.[1]

Other recordings

The rock band Replicants recorded the song for their self-titled and only album.

Iain Matthews recorded "Dirty Work" on his 1974 album Some Days You Eat the Bear and Some Days the Bear Eats You.[10][11] Allmusic critic Brett Haretnbach described it as a "now-classic tune" well suited to Matthews' voice.[10] The Herald writer Tom Van Malder described it as a "standout."[11] The Pointer Sisters included it on their 1978 album Energy.[8][12] Syrja called it an "intelligent" choice for the album.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Robustelli, Anthony (2017). Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left to Know About This Elusive Band. Backbeat Books. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-1495025129.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mason, Stewart. "Dirty Work". Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "Old music: Steely Dan – Dirty Work". The Guardian. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sweet, Brian (2016). Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years. Omnibus. ISBN 978-1468313147.
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Can't Buy a Thrill". Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  6. ↑ Graff, Gary (1999). Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Schirmer Trade Books. p. 1084. ISBN 0825672562.
  7. ↑ Isaacs, James (November 23, 1972). "Can't Buy a Thrill". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  8. 1 2 3 Syrja, J.J. (February 22, 1979). "Manzanera, Pointer Sisters aim for pleasure". Seguin Gazette-Enterprise. p. 46. Retrieved 2017-05-14 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Long, Christian (April 14, 2016). "'Sopranos' Music Moments That Helped Define Tony Soprano". Uproxx. Retrieved 2017-05-15.
  10. 1 2 Hartenbach, Brett. "Some Days You Eat the Bear and Some Days the Bear Eats You". Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
  11. 1 2 Van Malder, Tom (June 14, 1874). "New Webb Album a Winner". The Wheeling Herald. p. 15. Retrieved 2017-05-14 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Hanson, Amy. "Energy". Allmusic. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
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