1982 Donald Fagen – The Nightfly
The Nightfly is the first solo album by Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen, released in 1982. It was an early example of a fully digital recording in popular music. Although The Nightfly includes a number of production staff and musicians who had played on Steely Dan records, it is Fagen’s first release without longtime collaborator Walter Becker.
Unlike most of Fagen’s previous work, The Nightfly is almost blatantly autobiographical. Many of the songs relate to the cautiously optimistic mood of his suburban childhood in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and include such topics as late-night jazz disc jockeys, fallout shelters, and tropical vacations.
The Nightfly was recorded in 1981-82 at Soundworks Digital Audio/Video Recording Studios and Automated Sound in New York City, and at Village Recorders in Los Angeles. The producer was Gary Katz and the album engineer was Roger Nichols; both men had worked on all seven of the previous Steely Dan albums. Many of the musicians had also played on Steely Dan records, including Jeff Porcaro, Rick Derringer and Larry Carlton. Similar to the Aja and Gaucho albums, a large number of studio musicians were employed, with the liner notes crediting a total 31 musicians
Tracks
1 I.G.Y. (What A Beautful World) (Donald Fagen) 6:04
2 Green Flower Street (Donald Fagen) 3:42
3 Ruby Baby (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) 5:39
4 Maxine (Donald Fagen) 3:50
5 New Frontier (Donald Fagen) 6:22
6 The Nightfly (Donald Fagen) 5:47
7 The Goodbye Look (Donald Fagen) 4:50
8 Walk Between Raindrops (Donald Fagen) 2:39
Biography
Musicians
1 I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)
| Bass | Anthony Jackson |
| Drums | James Gadson |
| Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Guitar | Hugh McCracken |
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Donald Fagen |
| Synthesizer | Rob Mounsey |
| Sax | Dave Tofani |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Ronnie Cuber |
| Trombone | Dave Bargeron |
| Trumpet | Randy Brecker |
| Percussion | Starz Vanderlockett |
| Percussion | Roger Nichols |
| Background Vocals | Valerie Simpson |
| Background Vocals | Zack Sanders |
| Background Vocals | Frank Floyd |
| Background Vocals | Gordon Grody |
2 Green Flower Street
| Bass | Chuck Rainey |
| Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Guitar | Rick Derringer |
| Clavinet | Greg Phillinganes |
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Donald Fagen |
| Synthesizer | Rob Mounsey |
| Percussion | Starz Vanderlockett |
| Background Vocals | Valerie Simpson |
| Background Vocals | Zack Sanders |
| Background Vocals | Frank Floyd |
| Background Vocals | Daniel Lazerus |
3 Ruby Baby
| Bass | Anthony Jackson |
| Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Drums | James Gadson |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Guitar | Hugh McCracken |
| Organ | Donald Fagen |
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Piano | Michael Omartian |
| Piano | Donald Fagen |
| Synthesizer | Donald Fagen |
| Trumpet | Randy Brecker |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Flugelhorn | Randy Brecker |
| Background Vocals | Valerie Simpson |
4 Maxine
| Bass | Marcus Miller |
| Drums | Ed Greene |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Organ | Donald Fagen |
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Piano | Donald Fagen |
| Euphonium | Dave Bargeron |
| Horn | Randy Brecker |
| Sax | Dave Tofani |
| Sax | Michael Brecker |
| Sax | Ronnie Cuber |
5 New Frontier
| Bass | Abraham Laboriel Sr |
| Drums | Ed Greene |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Piano | Michael Omartian |
| Harmonica | Hugh McCracken |
| Percussion | Starz Vanderlockett |
| Background Vocals | Starz Vanderlockett |
6 The Nightfly
| Bass | Marcus Miller |
| Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Guitar | Hugh McCracken |
| Guitar | Rick Derringer |
| Piano | Donald Fagen |
| Piano | Michael Omartian |
| Synthesizer | Donald Fagen |
| Synthesizer | Rob Mounsey |
| Background Vocals | Valerie Simpson |
| Background Vocals | Zack Sanders |
| Background Vocals | Frank Floyd |
7 The Goodbye Look
| Bass | Marcus Miller |
| Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Guitar | Steve Khan |
| Piano | Greg Phillinganes |
| Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
| Percussion | Starz Vanderlockett |
| Background Vocals | Valerie Simpson |
8 Walk Between Raindrops
| Bass | Will Lee |
| Drums | Steve Jordan |
| Guitar | Larry Carlton |
| Piano | Donald Fagen |
| Synthesizer | Donald Fagen |
| Background Vocals | Leslie Miller |
Liner Notes
Arranged By – Donald Fagen
Arranged By (Horns) – Rob Mounsey, Donald Fagen
Engineer (Chief) – Roger Nichols
Engineer (Digital) – Bill Roach, Jiri Donovsky, Michael Morongell, Wayne Yurgelin
Engineer (Overdub) – Daniel Lazerus
Engineer (Assistant) – Cheryl Smith, Michael Morongell, Robin Laine, Wayne Yurgelin
Engineer (Mixdown, Tracking) – Elliot Scheiner
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Liner Notes – Donald Fagen
Mastered At Masterdisk
Mixed At Soundworks Digital Audio/Video Studios
Mixed At Automated Sound Studios
Mixed At The Village Recorder
Recorded At The Village Recorder
Recorded At Automated Sound Studios
Recorded At Soundworks Digital Audio/Video Studios
Phonographic Copyright WEA International Inc
Copyright WEA Records S.A.
Frédéric Huybens on Facebook
January 18, 2016 @ 16:48
my desert island record.
Ik Ben Ben on Facebook
January 18, 2016 @ 17:14
Master piece
Pete
March 2, 2025 @ 14:43
As fresh as the day it was released, I never tire of this album.
Jospin
January 31, 2026 @ 20:37
He hit the ground running after ‘Gaucho’. Still fresh in ideas! A Gem.