The Nightfly

"Released in 1982, 'The Nightfly' was pianist / composer / producer Donald Fagen's first album project post-Steely Dan (well, before they reformed anyway).

Lyrically, it was a considerable departure from his earlier work, eschewing that outfit's ironic distance in favour of autobiographical intimacy. Musically however, 'The Nightfly' is firmly entrenched in the mold of "The Dan", and needless to say, fans of that band will love it.

The album - one of the best-produced ever - was recorded with the painstaking attention to detail that was such a part of the Fagen / Becker led collective. In fact, Fagen even used many of the top session players he'd incorporated on such quintessential '70s recordings as 'Countdown to Ecstasy', 'Pretzel Logic', and 'Aja'.

Key tracks on offer here include the opening cut, "I.G.Y.", plus such numbers as Fagen's cover of the Dion & the Belmonts song "Ruby Baby", as well as originals "Maxine", "New Frontier", and "The Goodbye Look".

Fagen remains a highly respected, hugely talented artist who always delivers the goods and this album is a spectacularly cool reminder of this. Along with his sterling body of work with Walter Becker, 'The Nightfly' is deemed essential listening by us. You might also like to check out his other two "solo" releases, 'Kamakiriad' & 'Morph the Cat' - both are equally superb!"
-GEOFF / MARTY (19/03/2006)

"The songs on this album represent certain fantasies that might have been entertained by a young man growing up in the remote suburbs of a northeastern city during the late fifties and early sixties, i.e., one of my general height, weight and build."
-DONALD FAGEN

MUSICIANS:
DONALD FAGEN - vocals, synthesizers, synth blues harp, electric piano, organ, backup vocals, horn arrangements
LARRY CARLTON - lead guitar
HUGH McCRACKEN - guitar, harmonica
GREG PHILLINGANES - electric piano, clavinet, piano solo, piano, synthesizer, synthesizer bass
JEFF PORCARO - drums
VALERIE SIMPSON - backup vocals
STARZ VANDERLOCKET - percussion, backup vocals

With assistance from The Brecker Brothers, Rick Derringer,
Steve Jordan, Will Lee, Marcus Miller and many others.