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69 of 76 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Greatest Albums of all time - it has it all!, September 28, 2004
Ask those who follow the music industry closely and they will tell you that Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" is clearly one of the great albums of the last 25 years. Currently there is an artist on the music scene named Norah Jones who has gained some fame with a retro/jazz sound. While Jones does a nice job on this, Fagan does it even better on this album. Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" brings the jazz/blues sound to the forefront, but takes it a step further. "The Nightfly" also is a concept album. In the CD's liner notes, Fagen says that the songs on this album "represent certain fantasies that might of been entertained by a young man growing up in the remote suburbs of a northeastern city during the late fifties and early sixties". When you listen to the songs on this collection, you will easily see how the theme flows through - and as a result, this enhances the listening experience.
Fagen assembles an outstanding lineup of musicians to work with him on this solo effort. While Fagen plays piano and synthesizers on many of the tracks, he also gets some help from acclaimed keyboard player, Greg Phillinganes. Phillinganes is best known for co-writing on several albums with Lionel Richie. Phillinganes contributes keyboards on 6 of the 8 tracks. The late Jeff Porcaro - from Toto (ironically "Toto IV" won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1982 and "The Nightfly" was denied any awards) contributes drums on 5 of the 8 tracks. Valerie Simpson - from Ashford and Simpson contributes some outstanding background vocals on 5 of the tracks. Finally, guitarist Rick Derringer is on 2 tracks. These musicians do a simply outstanding job at making this the great album that it is, however don't underestimate Fagan. Fagen's unique vocals and crooning style are the real star of this show.
"The Nightly" might only have 8 tracks, but remember that this collection was released a couple of years before CDs really hit the mainstream. But it is worth noting that four of the eight songs are over 5 minutes in length. Here is a breakdown of each of the songs:
"I.G.Y." is the opening track and the best known song. This is a 6:05 minute track and it is a masterpiece. Phillinganes electric piano combined with Fagen's synthesizers mesh perfectly with some terrific horn work (Fagan integrates a trumpet along with an alto, tenor, and baritone sax). As a result, the music is perfect for the retro/jazz feel. This is an interesting song from a lyrical standpoint because Fagen paints a picture of the future of the world from the perspective of a young man growing up in the 50s.
"Green Flower Street" from a music standpoint isn't quite retro, but Fagen does some nice crooning and gives it the retro feel from a vocals standpoint. The music is very catchy on this song and makes for some terrific listening.
"Ruby Ruby" is another song that has a terrific combination of keyboards, horns, and vocals. It almost has a bit of an "alley cat" feel to it. Definite retro feel to it. Fagen describes a girl named "Ruby" who that the young man from the 1950s was infatuated with.
"Maxine" almost has a feel going back to the roaring twenties from the way the song opens. Here's another song where Fagen uses all three saxaphones (Baritone, Alto, and Tenor). This song also features a young man is infatuated with a woman - in this case someone named Maxine. Listen to how Fagen switches gears with the vocals - especially when he sings "Mexico City is like another world". I believe Fagen does all the vocals in this song and he harmonizes them perfectly.
"New Frontier" takes us into the early 60s and the days of the bomb shelters. The vocals say "A Summer smoker underground - It's just a dugout that my dad built - In case the reds decide to push the button down", but Fagen explores other areas as well such as the modern woman (advent of the woman who has it all). This song like "Green Flower Street" is going to have some very catchy music. You'll also hear some harmonica playing that adds a nice touch to this song.
"The Nightfly" is title track and it is appropriate - this is the song that is the glue that holds the whole album together. I get the impression that the young man that Fagen references (in the liner notes) having the fantasies is 'Lester the Nightfly' (whom he sings about). This song is a song about DJ (Lester) who sings about Jazz and Conversation. After all, isn't this what this album is about - a combination of jazz music and conversation themes (i.e. romance, the bomb, the future, etc). Great retro feel to this song. The background vocals - especially the call letters 'WJAZ' are awesome.
"The Goodbye Look" is a very underrated song on this collection. This is a song that has a Latin Jazz feel. No doubt, Fagen is singing about Havana, Cuba - once a vacation paradise now in the hands of the communists is place where 'the embassy has been hard to reach'. Great song and in a lot of ways might be the strongest track on the collection.
"Walk Between the Raindrops" is the shortest track at 2:38. I consider this the weakest track, but even this isn't all that bad. It has a nice catchy beat to it. Another great retro feel with a "Miami flare".
The liner notes contain all of the lyrics as well as giving credit to the outstanding musicians that contribute to this album. As mentioned above, Fagen notes (in the liner notes) the common theme that runs through this album. This is a collection that stands the test of time. If you are a music fan, you'll want this music as a part of your collection. A must have!
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I STILL LISTEN TO IT ALL THE TIME, September 18, 2004
With each passing year Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" seems to grow in stature. At the time of its release in the early 80s it was just seen as a good solo album and nothing too remarkable. However, over the years it seems like more and more people are becoming converts of this record.
The key is that the music has a timeless quality to it. It never seems dated and always sounds great on the stereo. The songs are just consistently great all the way through this album. There is no letdown at any point and no filler.
I personally think that this is superior to any single Steely Dan album. The main reason is that the lyrics and song topics are more personal. This makes the album more approachable to the listen and allows you to become more personally invested in the songs. Steely Dan is one of the great American bands but you always feel somewhat distanced by the cryptic lyrics and subject matter of their songs.
I think Fagen and Becker have stood the test of time much better than most bands because of their early commitment to sound quality. This commitment has really paid off in the digital age because almost all of their albums still sound sparkly and fresh even today.
This album is no exception and it rarely leaves my CD player for long even after all these years.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "Desert Island" Disc, March 28, 2002
I was a late bloomer when it came to succumbing to the charms of Steely Dan. Oh, there were a few songs I liked, but I always viewed them as an essentially top 40 band. It was their masterpiece Aja that finally got me to appreciate the sheer genius of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
Then came Fagen's solo effort Nightfly. I can think of few other albums that I could listen to daily without tiring of them. Every song is masterfully arranged. The album is upbeat, suave, romantic and an impeccable blend of jazz and rock.
The narrator of this magnificent theme album is flush with optimism throughout for both his own possibilities and for the possibilities of society at large, fueled by the efflorescence of the technological age.
The only hitch in his utopian panorama is the obvious reference to the communist takeover of Cuba in The Goodbye Look.
My favorites are the forward-looking IGY, the wistful Maxine, the hopeful New Frontier, and the tropical feel of both The Goodbye Look and Walk Between the Raindrops.
Special mention should be given to the title track. How many of us actually wish there were stations like WJAZ? I would think that all lovers of non-commercial music yearn for such a station. Only a few of us are lucky to live in a place where a good independent station plays non-commercial jazz.
Donald Fagen has earned his wings with The Nightfly. Not only is he a masterful lyricist, but he is a virtuoso musician.
I own thousands of CDs, tapes, and LPs and if I were allowed to bring only ten to a desert island exile, Nightfly might well be one of them.
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by Donald Fagen 
