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
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
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.
