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voice with misogynistic lyrics." Robustelli similarly agrees that part of the song's effect is the contrast between Palmer's smooth voice and the harsh lyrics. "Dirty Work" was included on several Steely Dan
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would sing the song live in concert. It was revived in 2006, however, with the band's female backing vocalists singing it from the perspective of a woman having an affair with a married (or attached) man.
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provided the lead vocal. 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, but the executives at
214:. The singer recognizes that the woman is using him, but is too infatuated to end the affair. The second verse lyric "Like a castle in its corner in a medieval game" references the
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single release of "Dirty Work" which was a minor hit in Canada, peaking at #75 on the national hit parade in the autumn of 1974. The song is the first track of the 1974 album
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wanted some more conventional tunes on the album and therefore insisted that "Dirty Work" be included. The ABC executives had also thought the song would be ideal for
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describes "Dirty Work" as a "terrific pop song that subvert traditional conventions" and is one of the best songs on
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892:"The Simpsons" You Won't Believe What This Episode Is About - Act Three Will Shock You! (TV Episode 2022) - IMDb
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sings it while driving his SUV unaware that the FBI are watching him. The song was also used in the 2013 film
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913:"'The Suicide Squad' Trailer: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena & More In A Ton Of James Gunn Fun"
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The song's music has been described as more commercial-sounding than most of the band's other material.
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critic James Isaacs attributes the song's success to the fact that it "juxtaposes David Palmer's sweet
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sings a parody of the song’s chorus. The song was later used in the fourteenth episode of
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The song's lyrics describe an affair between a man and a married woman, sung by the man.
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biographer Brian Sweet describes
Richardson's sax solo as being "perfectly understated."
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author
Anthony Robustelli describes "Dirty Work" as a "song of self-loathing", while
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says that it sounds like "a radio-friendly stroll of a song," at least at first.
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You Won't
Believe What This Episode Is About – Act Three Will Shock You!
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author Gary Graff refers to it as being "instantly memorable."
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Steely Dan FAQ: All That's Left to Know About This
Elusive Band
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critic
Stewart Mason attributes this, in part, to the "upward-
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1052:"Dirty Work - Max Merritt & the Meteors | Song Info"
1034:"Energy - The Pointer Sisters | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
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Graff, Gary (1999). Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.).
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870:"'Sopranos' Music Moments That Helped Define Tony Soprano"
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Some Days You Eat the Bear And Some Days the Bear Eats You
989:. Vol. 86, no. 49. 7 December 1974. p. 63.
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to record. After Palmer left the group, touring vocalist
1004:. Vol. 22, no. 9. 19 October 1974. p. 8.
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The song was included on the band's 1972 debut album
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306:. The same year it was released as a single on the
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186:, which appeared on the band's 1972 debut album
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1309:Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz with Steely Dan
425:". It's also featured in the 2018 documentary
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354:Showbiz Kids: The Steely Dan Story, 1972–1980
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818:MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
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371:The song was used in the first episode of
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911:D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 26, 2021).
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820:. Schirmer Trade Books. p. 1084.
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562:recorded "Dirty Work" on her 1977 LP
360:Steely Dan: The Definitive Collection
944:Campbell, Grace (20 February 2022).
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709:"Old music: Steely Dan – Dirty Work"
267:"Dirty Work" is one of the songs on
925:from the original on March 27, 2021
841:Isaacs, James (November 23, 1972).
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428:Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
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868:Long, Christian (April 14, 2016).
682:. Backbeat Books. pp. 65–66.
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602:"Can't Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan"
556:Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
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222:, which was a hobby of Becker's.
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749:Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years
580:and released as a single on the
576:. "Dirty Work" was recorded by
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551:I'm Not Making Music for Money
536:-based studio group Songbird (
256:part played by guest musician
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1657:Songs written by Donald Fagen
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1464:Any Major Dude Will Tell You
1369:Rikki Don't Lose That Number
678:Robustelli, Anthony (2017).
490:– bass guitar, backup vocals
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7:
399:. In the eighth episode of
383:Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood
210:describes the narrative as
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1070:"Max Merritt - Dirty Work"
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310:label in the Netherlands.
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1565:The Definitive Collection
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773:"Steely Dan - Dirty Work"
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1301:Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party
1099:Wurlitzer Electric Piano
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787:Erlewine, Stephen Thomas
463:Wurlitzer electric piano
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968:Hartenbach, Brett.
318:Stephen Thomas Erlewine
16:1972 song by Steely Dan
1702:Songs about infidelity
1517:A Decade of Steely Dan
496:– drums, backup vocals
1411:FM (No Static at All)
747:Sweet, Brian (2016).
544:and Rob Deans) had a
296:Release and reception
226:Style and arrangement
174:is a song written by
1677:José Feliciano songs
1525:Reelin' In the Years
1348:Reelin' In the Years
1218:Countdown to Ecstasy
843:"Can't Buy a Thrill"
791:"Can't Buy a Thrill"
397:the soundtrack album
70:The Village Recorder
1687:Iain Matthews songs
1573:Found Studio Tracks
1163:Jeff "Skunk" Baxter
568:The Pointer Sisters
1541:Citizen Steely Dan
1316:Northeast Corridor
1274:Everything Must Go
1266:Two Against Nature
1210:Can't Buy a Thrill
918:Deadline Hollywood
564:Help Is on the Way
560:Melissa Manchester
348:Citizen Steely Dan
343:compilation albums
322:Can't Buy a Thrill
303:Can't Buy a Thrill
269:Can't Buy a Thrill
189:Can't Buy a Thrill
41:Can't Buy a Thrill
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1020:music.metason.net
500:Jerome Richardson
484:– electric guitar
434:The Suicide Squad
258:Jerome Richardson
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1652:Steely Dan songs
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1584:Related articles
1432:Time Out of Mind
1293:Alive in America
1188:Michael McDonald
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281:Three Dog Night
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1481:Compilations
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1425:Hey Nineteen
1404:Deacon Blues
1383:Bad Sneakers
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985:"Songbird".
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714:The Guardian
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639:
636:"Dirty Work"
606:. Retrieved
596:
571:
563:
549:
542:Howard Leese
538:Mike Flicker
527:
522:
509:Snooky Young
459:Donald Fagen
455:– lead vocal
453:David Palmer
438:
432:
426:
411:Dad Behavior
406:The Simpsons
404:
390:
387:Tony Soprano
378:The Sopranos
376:
370:
358:
357:in 2000 and
352:
346:
345:, including
331:
325:
321:
312:
301:
299:
273:David Palmer
268:
266:
233:The Guardian
231:
229:
207:The Guardian
205:
201:
199:
187:
176:Donald Fagen
172:"Dirty Work"
171:
170:
159:"Dirty Work"
125:Donald Fagen
39:
22:"Dirty Work"
1591:Discography
1533:Do It Again
1341:Do It Again
1285:Live albums
1183:Royce Jones
751:. Omnibus.
578:Max Merritt
482:Jeff Baxter
289:Royce Jones
277:ABC Records
137:Producer(s)
59:August 1972
1672:1972 songs
1646:Categories
1611:Yacht rock
1497:Steely Dan
1471:Dirty Work
1173:Jim Hodder
1168:Denny Dias
1138:Steely Dan
970:Dirty Work
955:2022-10-20
950:TV Insider
898:2022-10-20
876:2017-05-15
854:2017-05-14
827:0825672562
802:2017-05-14
720:2017-05-14
647:2017-05-14
588:References
513:flugelhorn
494:Jim Hodder
473:Denny Dias
327:MusicHound
262:Steely Dan
242:modulating
184:Steely Dan
161:on YouTube
32:Steely Dan
1596:Gary Katz
1234:Katy Lied
1074:45cat.com
987:Billboard
929:March 27,
534:Vancouver
461:– piano,
447:Personnel
419:season 33
401:season 28
367:Later use
363:in 2006.
351:in 1993,
324:, while
271:on which
143:Gary Katz
1630:Category
974:AllMusic
923:Archived
872:. Uproxx
796:Allmusic
641:Allmusic
608:July 14,
440:Euphoria
373:season 3
314:AllMusic
250:clavinet
238:AllMusic
56:Recorded
48:Released
1601:Members
1326:Singles
582:Polydor
316:critic
246:refrain
1576:(2007)
1568:(2006)
1560:(2000)
1552:(1993)
1544:(1993)
1536:(1987)
1528:(1985)
1520:(1985)
1508:(1982/
1500:(1978)
1492:(1978)
1334:Dallas
1318:(2021)
1312:(2005)
1304:(2000)
1296:(1995)
1277:(2003)
1269:(2000)
1261:(1980)
1258:Gaucho
1253:(1977)
1245:(1976)
1237:(1975)
1229:(1974)
1221:(1973)
1213:(1972)
824:
755:
686:
573:Energy
532:. The
385:," as
89:Length
65:Studio
1418:Josie
1085:Notes
338:tenor
308:Probe
220:chess
196:Theme
106:Label
78:Genre
1505:Gold
931:2021
822:ISBN
753:ISBN
684:ISBN
610:2020
216:rook
178:and
127:and
28:Song
1457:Aja
1397:Peg
1250:Aja
1002:RPM
972:at
421:, "
413:,"
409:, "
403:of
381:, "
375:of
283:or
260:.
182:of
111:ABC
83:Pop
30:by
1648::
1510:91
1072:.
1054:.
1036:.
1018:.
948:.
921:.
915:.
845:.
793:.
789:.
729:^
711:.
698:^
656:^
638:.
618:^
566:.
540:,
511:–
502:–
475:–
465:,
443:.
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192:.
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879:.
857:.
830:.
805:.
761:.
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692:.
650:.
612:.
96::
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