Do It Again
First released in 1972
About the song
Steely Dan released “Do It Again” on their 1972 debut album Can’t Buy a Thrill. Its relaxed surface conceals a tightly organized arrangement in which a repeating groove supports Donald Fagen’s distinctive narrative delivery.
Sound and arrangement
Latin-inflected percussion, a rounded bass line and unusual keyboard and string timbres give the recording a texture beyond a straightforward guitar-rock arrangement. The instrumental breaks extend its atmosphere without abandoning the central pulse.
Listening closely
Listen for how the sung phrases sit slightly against the flowing rhythm. The contrast between the conversational vocal and the carefully maintained groove gives the song its particular combination of ease and unease.
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