1982 Donald Fagen – The Nightfly

fagen-donald-1982The 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

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
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

Musicians

1 I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)

BassAnthony Jackson
DrumsJames Gadson
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarHugh McCracken
PianoGreg Phillinganes
SynthesizerDonald Fagen
SynthesizerRob Mounsey
SaxDave Tofani
SaxMichael Brecker
SaxRonnie Cuber
TromboneDave Bargeron
TrumpetRandy Brecker
PercussionStarz Vanderlockett
PercussionRoger Nichols
Background VocalsValerie Simpson
Background VocalsZack Sanders
Background VocalsFrank Floyd
Background VocalsGordon Grody


2 Green Flower Street

BassChuck Rainey
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarLarry Carlton
GuitarDean Parks
GuitarRick Derringer
ClavinetGreg Phillinganes
PianoGreg Phillinganes
SynthesizerDonald Fagen
SynthesizerRob Mounsey
PercussionStarz Vanderlockett
Background VocalsValerie Simpson
Background VocalsZack Sanders
Background VocalsFrank Floyd
Background VocalsDaniel Lazerus


3 Ruby Baby

BassAnthony Jackson
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
DrumsJames Gadson
GuitarLarry Carlton
GuitarHugh McCracken
OrganDonald Fagen
PianoGreg Phillinganes
PianoMichael Omartian
PianoDonald Fagen
SynthesizerDonald Fagen
HornRandy Kerber
SaxMichael Brecker
TrumpetRandy Kerber
Background VocalsValerie Simpson


4 Maxine

BassMarcus Miller
DrumsEd Greene
GuitarLarry Carlton
OrganDonald Fagen
PianoGreg Phillinganes
PianoDonald Fagen
EuphoniumDave Bargeron
HornRandy Brecker
SaxDave Tofani
SaxMichael Brecker
SaxRonnie Cuber


5 New Frontier

BassAbraham Laboriel Sr
DrumsEd Greene
GuitarLarry Carlton
PianoMichael Omartian
HarmonicaHugh McCracken
PercussionStarz Vanderlockett
Background VocalsStarz Vanderlockett


6 The Nightfly

BassMarcus Miller
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarLarry Carlton
GuitarHugh McCracken
GuitarRick Derringer
PianoDonald Fagen
PianoMichael Omartian
SynthesizerDonald Fagen
SynthesizerRob Mounsey
Background VocalsValerie Simpson
Background VocalsZack Sanders
Background VocalsFrank Floyd


7 The Goodbye Look

BassMarcus Miller
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarLarry Carlton
GuitarDean Parks
GuitarSteve Khan
PianoGreg Phillinganes
SynthesizerGreg Phillinganes
PercussionStarz Vanderlockett
Background VocalsValerie Simpson


8 Walk Between Raindrops

BassWill Lee
DrumsSteve Jordan
GuitarLarry Carlton
PianoDonald Fagen
SynthesizerDonald Fagen
Background VocalsLeslie Miller

Liner Notes

Producer – Gary Katz
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.