No Cheap Thrill

Vega has described "No Cheap Thrill" as "a song about romance using the language of gambling".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nz7-ioMMRc|title=Suzanne Vega - No Cheap Thrill: The Story Behind the Song|publisher=YouTube |access-date=November 1, 2020}}

The song's music video was directed by David Cameron.{{cite magazine|date=September 28, 1996|title=Music Video: Production Notes|magazine=Billboard|page=98}}

Upon its release as single, Larry Flick of Billboard considered it to be a "shining moment" from Nine Objects of Desire. He commented, "Vega's vocals are sewn into a short and direct rock beat that is frayed at the edges with gnarly guitars and ambient keyboards. All the while, the song's bright and peppy hook grab[s] the ear and never let[s] go."{{cite magazine |last=Flick |first=Larry |date=January 18, 1997 |title=Reviews & Previews: Singles |magazine=Billboard |page=73 |author-link=Larry Flick}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as an "excellent mid-tempo track with plenty of radio appeal". They praised Froom for "diversifying Vega's folkie feel by introducing tempo changes, weird background stuff and providing a great base for her soft voice".{{cite magazine |date=August 24, 1996 |title=New Releases: Singles |magazine=Music & Media |page=10}} A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "A poppy lead single to Vega's forthcoming boundary-blurring album. This will delight early fans and intrigue those won over by the Tom's Diner remixes."{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-02-01.pdf |title=Reviews: Singles |magazine=Music Week |date=February 1, 1997 |page=27 |access-date=May 8, 2022}}

In a review of the Nine Objects of Desire, J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun noted that the song "flirts with calypso rhythms throughout its Runyonesque verse".{{cite news |last=Considine |first=J. D. |date=September 19, 1996 |title=Music: CD Reviews |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |author-link=J.D. Considine}} Jeff Hall of the Courier-Post described it as "engaging barbed pop".{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Jeff |date=October 25, 1996 |title=Sound Bites: Romantic, sexy album from Suzanne Vega |newspaper=Courier-Post |page=15F}} Dan Kening of The Daily Herald commented, "The ultra-catchy 'No Cheap Thrill' compares a poker game to a seduction."{{cite news |last=Kening |first=Dan |date=September 6, 1996 |title=Music: Vega's passion heats up 'Nine Objects of Desire' |newspaper=The Daily Herald}}

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• CD single

1. "No Cheap Thrill" – 3:09
2. "Luka" – 3:51
3. "Marlene on the Wall" – 3:39
4. "Tom's Diner" – 2:09

• CD single (European release #2)

1. "No Cheap Thrill" – 3:09
2. "Luka" – 3:51

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• CD single (UK promo)

1. "No Cheap Thrill" (Radio Version) – 2:49

• CD single (US promo)

1. "No Cheap Thrill" (LP Version) – 3:09

• CD single (US promo #2)

1. "No Cheap Thrill" (U.S. Edit) – 3:00
2. "No Cheap Thrill" (U.K. Edit) – 2:49
3. "No Cheap Thrill" (LP Version) – 3:09

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No Cheap Thrill

• Suzanne Vega – vocals, guitar
• Pete Thomas, Jerry Marotta – drums, percussion
• Bruce Thomas, Sebastian Steinberg – bass
• Steve Donnelly, Tchad Blake – electric guitar
• Don Byron – clarinet, bass clarinet
• Dave Douglas – trumpets
• Jane Scarpantoni – cellos
• Cecilia Sparacio – flutes
• Mitchell Froom – keyboards

Production

• Mitchell Froom – producer of "No Cheap Thrill"
• Tchad Blake – recording and mixing on "No Cheap Thrill"
• Joe Warda – assistant recording engineer on "No Cheap Thrill"
• John Paterno, S. Husky Höskulds – assistant mixing engineers on "No Cheap Thrill"
• Bob Ludwig – mastering on "No Cheap Thrill"
• Lenny Kaye – producer of "Luka", "Marlene on the Wall" and "Tom's Diner"
• Steve Addabbo – producer and engineer on "Luka", "Marlene on the Wall" and "Tom's Diner"
• Rod O'Brien – engineer on "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"
• Shelly Yakus – mixing on "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"

{{Reflist}}

{{Suzanne Vega}}

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Category:1996 songs

Category:1996 singles

Category:Suzanne Vega songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Mitchell Froom

Category:A&M Records singles