donald fagen, "the nightfly" -- c or d?

I think the title track would appeal to Alex in NYC for its mention of "WJAZ."

"What a beautiful world this will be, what a glorious time to be free". There's a huge difference in the way he sings this than the way he would on a Dan album. Free of that world-weary cynical tone (which I love, but it's a refreshing change).

I think 'New Frontier' was the first Dan-related song I ever heard.

kamakiriad just doesn't measure up.

Re. "The Goddbye Look": It's about Cuba right (or Cuba is the most obvious ref. point)? There are some Dan-esque obscurantist bits in that song. What is "the goodbye look" anyhow?

Actually listening to this again before work, the title track isn't perfect. His singing is unusually strained and the station-ID-as-chorus thing gets a bit tiresome.

And as for irony, there is a gentle sort of irony to some of the songs, about kids of the '50s expecting a better world. But I'm not so sure that Fagen has closed down all possibility of this ever happening, or at least he doesn't sing as though he assumes these expectations had been thwarted something fierce.

...OK I know "the goodbye look" comes from Ross MacDonald but the book that bears this title doesn't seem to bear much resemblance to the scenario related in the song. Or does it?

Maybe DF was dreaming of a jazz station down south. Even as a teen, Fagen *knew* NYC because it's so close to the suburbs where he grew up.

Anyway, this album is my top 5 favorites of all time. Such great songs. Nothing Fagen has done since can come close.

I'm not sure if I was first introduced to it through "IGY" on Top 40 radio or the great "New Frontier" video on MTV.

I always associate "The Nightfly" with another classic from 1982/83 --Joe Jackson's "Night and Day". Seems to me "IGY" and "Steppin Out" were on the radio around the same time. My first intro to jazz, if you like.

And no, "True Companion" is not on "The Nightfly." Youy have to buy the "Heavy Metal" soundtrack.

"...a touch of tuesday weld..."

by the way what's the '7 second delay wheeze'.
and is 'java' just like normal coffee or is it
something else ?

I don't think it's the kind of look you want to see.

Cause tonight they're arranging a small reception just for me
Behind the big casino by the sea

I know what happens
I read the book
I believe I just got the goodbye look

So I gather it's kinda like the "party" they threw for Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.

Years ago some firends of mine a/b'd this record with a Steely Dan record, Aja I think/. It seemed outrageously clean and smooth by comparison, like of the pair, Fagan was the real obsessive compulsive when it came to studio technique. I remember him saying once that he couldn't use keyboard strings, as their tuning characteristics made him tense.

I think they both were, really. And 1982 has a lot to do with that Spyro Gyra production, too.

"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 north-eastern city during the late fifties and early sixties, i.e. one of my general height, weight and build."

I've been a Steely Dan fan for quite a few years, but never thought to investigate the solo albums. Downloaded 'IGY' today and man, it kicked my ass. What a wonderful, heartbreaking song. Can the other songs on Nightfly possibly be anywhere near as good as this?

-- paranoia is the hipster's disease (theundergroundhom...), October 22nd, 2004.

And producing China Crisis.

Really really interesting - just to hear all of the parts broken down...

search 'Junkie Girl', 'Book of Liars', 'This Moody Bastard', 'Down In The Bottom', 'Lucky Henry'. Destroy 'Cringemaker', 'Girlfriend'.

If people seriously can't find Kamakiriad, i'll put it up on slsk myself; if you're serious about the Dan, you should hear it.

and the rosie vela album!

Best song ever? I rather think it might be.

ha!

Anyone heard the comedy album by Tom Schiller and Donald Fagen, "Tom and Don"? I started listening to it on Spotify the other day.

Nick listened: I don’t remember finding this offensive at all, or all that bland or alienating etc etc. But at the same time, I don’t remember ANYTHING about it at all.

Often posited as a negative, but is it? Does something have to be memorable to be good? If you went for a 3 hour walk in the woods, how much of that would you remember?

I generally have a hard time remembering concrete things about music if I haven't listened to it several times.

I'm not sure things needs to be remembered!

Like Aja, it sounded too clean, too smug, too lift musak.

c'mon, this is sorta the point. just look at the album cover! i can understand why someone wouldn't like it, but it's like criticizing thrash metal for sounding aggressive.

how is it smug? The sensibility is very different from Steely Dan's!

I think it's a pretty cheerful and nostalgic album

it's pretty romantic and almost gauzy

Nightfly and Blonde Redhead were the soundtracks to my chemotherapy.

I wouldn't say it's a "fond" memory, but I have very tranquil, peaceful memories of slipping out as the intro to "Goodbye Look" played.

Both kinda stimulating and relaxing at the same time, if that makes any sense.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y61%2BlCb7L._SS500.jpg

Missed this from October: Nightfly Trilogy Box reissue (on CD & Vinyl) minus all the DVD 5.1 stuff but with the added attraction of Sunken Condos.

Back Cover Tracklist:

https://imagescdn.juno.co.uk/full/CS665435-01B-BIG.jpg

Lol at that cover photo

Woah paging the idgaf old man swag thread!

is he... wearing shoulderpads?

I’ll have the 10 extras with a side of insouciance please

Lol at the cover. This is cheap though, 7LP's for 80 euros or so.

So distracted by the cowbell on New Frontier, it’s the only thing I can hear on this track now. And it just doesn’t let up

a good thing?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEdSCoK-geE

What a find.

Night Music’s the gift that keeps on giving. Man.

Holy fsck! So good

I don’t where to put this so I am putting it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8fU18_IEGY

took me a minute but good to see old D. What's that big black and white photograph on his keyboard? Also who's the guitar guy - could it be old Jeff Beck?

Photograph is the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

https://www.biography.com/.image/t_share/MTM4MjY5OTYxNzI5NjE1Mjkw/517432200jpg.jpg

Guitar guy is indeed Jeff Beck.

Ah cool. He had one, maybe two inspired moments during his solo. Kind of a sleepy performance all around though. Probably the drummers fault.

You mean that hack Bernard Purdie? ;)

What? That was Purdie? No way

https://youtu.be/zx_4fwOfRXI
DOnald explains the world as he knows it in ‘93

New live album is perhaps unnecessary, but I'm enjoying it!

it is good! ditto the new steely dan live album — yeah, unnecessary, but it sounds damn good.

ha, yeah the Dan one is up next after I finish this one.

Donald Fagen during James Hamilton's album cover photoshoot for his 1982 masterpiece, 'The Nightfly' pic.twitter.com/PLbuxfeUxI

— Barney Hurley (@barneyhurley1) October 14, 2021

Donald Fagen 'Yamaha KX88' keyboards store poster, 1983 pic.twitter.com/uZ5CluSyl8

— Barney Hurley (@barneyhurley1) October 15, 2021

lolz

Trying to imagine how differently The Nightfly would have been received if that shot above had been the cover. People would have reviewed it like it was Fagen's version of The Idiot.

Straight to VHS slasher vibes

Does Don ever smile?

His lips sometimes curl up to show his teeth, does that count ?
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xytRyW-HpC4/TxDDY2DV2QI/AAAAAAAAHjI/yeQw3oeq5ns/s1600/donald.jpg

lou chang/her brother/he's burning with rage
louuu chaaang buuurns wiith rage

hey we saw you from across the bar and really dig your vibe. can we buy you a drink? pic.twitter.com/YAFRQ8FZwV

— ｂｏｓｓ (@bosscrood) September 6, 2022

creepy af

With all due respect to Walter, some days this is my favorite Steely Dan album.

And tonight they're arranging
A small reception just for me

I like it a lot too. I like all of Steely Dan's albums, but I do favor their first four - The Nightfly is not far behind.

I really really love “true companion” from the (year before’s) heavy metal soundtrack too. Gorgeous chord progression

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9wbumIKJJ0

Steve khan going hard

Never heard this! Thank u brim