Steely Dan – Dirty Work

I’ve always liked Steely Dan, and this song is at the top of my list. You don’t hear this one as much as Hey Nineteen or others, but I love it. It sounded different than many of their other songs, and there is a reason for that. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker wrote the song, but it was sung by David Palmer. Palmer left the band soon after. 

Palmer was brought into Steely Dan as a vocalist because the label, ABC Records, had concerns about Donald Fagen’s unconventional singing style. Palmer handled lead vocals on a few tracks from Can’t Buy a Thrill, including this song and Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me). Fagen eventually took over all lead vocals as Steely Dan evolved into more of a studio band than a touring band.

Fagen and Becker had a reputation and were infamous for requesting take after take, pushing musicians to their breaking point. I love reading some of the stories about this band. It probably was a pain for some of them, but it worked well for Steely Dan. 

This song came off the 1972 Can’t Buy a Thrill album. It’s a song about an affair from the man’s point of view. Palmer did a great job on the song and helped Steely Dan build an audience.  The song is well known, but it did not chart because it wasn’t released as a single here. 

Becker and Fagen debated leaving the song on the album. It has since also been recorded by other artists, including The Pointer Sisters, Iain Matthews, and Melissa Manchester.

Dirty Work

Times are hard
You’re afraid to pay the fee
So you find yourself somebody
Who can do the job for free
When you need a bit of lovin’
Cause your man is out of town
That’s the time you get me runnin’
And you know I’ll be around

I’m a fool to do your dirty work
Oh yeah
I don’t want to do your dirty work
No more
I’m a fool to do your dirty work
Oh yeah

Light the candle
Put the lock upon the door
You have sent the maid home early
Like a thousand times before
Like the castle in its corner
In a medieval game
I foresee terrible trouble
And I stay here just the same

I’m a fool to do your dirty work
Oh yeah
I don’t want to do your dirty work
No more
I’m a fool to do your dirty work
Oh yeah

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

42 thoughts on “Steely Dan – Dirty Work”

  2. Excellent song from super band. About as much perfectionists in the studio as any act, but it paid off for them. I didn’t know David Palmer sang it though…I thought main vocals didn’t sound like Fagen, so I thought it would be Walter Becker. I grew up hearing a cover of it by a Canadian band called Songbird, which was a decent version too

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I want to dig some of these older ones out again. I don’t listen to them everyday… so it would be nice to revisit some of their albums.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. I can’t believe it didn’t chart. I’m sure I heard it on the radio (I think?) and don’t only singles get released on the radio? Totally forgot Fagen didn’t sing on this one but of course it doesn’t sound like him. Just an audio oversight 😉 This song and Reelin in the Years are two I adore from that album but they are all good songs on that album. Happy Friday All!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I was in shock…it was released in some country overseas…I couldn’t believe it either! I’ve heard this song for most of my life.
      A BIG happy Friday to you as well!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Pingback: Steely Dan – Dirty Work – MobsterTiger

  9. Great song. I’m a big fan of the Dan, and this would at least be in my top ten, if not five favorites of theirs. Number one for me would be a tie between “Brooklyn”, and “Any Major Dude”. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that they were in the touring band for Jay and the Americans. I read a great quote somewhere by Jay Black calling them “the Manson and Starkweather of rock and roll”. They were on one of their albums called Capture the Moment, and wrote a song called “Tricia (Tell your daddy)”. It’s not bad , nice 70’s pop music. Good post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. You made my day… “the Manson and Starkweather of rock and roll”…. I’ve NEVER heard that. I would assume it would be so frustrating working with them. I’ve read where they had spent 6 weeks working on a chorus…not writing it but just the sound of it. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yeah, I can’t remember where I read it, but that phrase certainly stuck in my head. I love their music to death, but they did seem a trifle strange.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I think one of the great things they did was to bring a certain amount of jazz to the masses

        Like

    1. It surprised me as well…I knew it didn’t sound like their other songs but I never would have guessed it never charted. It was played a lot here at the time and through the seventies.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. This is a nice sorta Country-lite ballad compared to most of their ‘worked and reworked buffed and polished to a fine shine’ other songs. But both sides of the Dan work for me. This is just a great great song. Did I say I think it’s great?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. This one surprised me. I usually end up liking the one that others don’t…but this one seems to be liked all the way around which was great to see.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. Becker’s got to be the most underrated guitar players of all time…..and I have to admit that I was one of them, until someone I went to senior high with pointed out my old school to me….I think it’s all because he looks so relaxed and not struggling to get that one note….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’ll listen to his guitar playing now that you have said that. I just kinda glossed over that listening to their hits. Thanks Warren

      Like

      Reply

  17. While my favorite Steely Dan album remains “Aja,” I’m 100% with you about “Dirty Work.” In fact, the entire “Can’t Buy a Thrill” is a terrific debut with other classic like “Do It Again” and “Reelin’ in the Years.” Speaking of the Dan, I was listening to my friend Mike Caputo’s Steely Dan tribute “Good Stuff” last night, which is actually the main reason why I’m in catch-up mode. The Dan had so many great songs!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment