The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 01, 1982, Page 10, Image 10
Fagen's 'Nightfly'i
By Chris Handal
For Steely Dan fans upset because of the group's split,
Donald Fagen's solo effort "The Nigltfly" is the album for
which they've been waiting, although it may not be
- everything Uiey wanted.
Musically, the album is reminiscent of Steely Dan, but
that's understandable. Donald Fagen co-wrote almost all of
Steely Dan's songs with Walter Becker. Also, "The Nightfly"
is produced by Gary Katz and engineered by Roger Nichols.
Both performed the same chores on all of Steely Dan's
albums.
And a quick check of the musicians' credits reveals many
familiar names: Hugh McCracken, guitar; Rick Derringer,
guitar; Jeff Porcaro, drums; Chuck Rainey, bass; and
Randy and Michael Brecker on trumpet and sax, respectively.
One of the musicians who deserves special attention is
Larry Carlton. On the last few Steely Dan albums, Carlton's
parts were minor. On Fagen's album the fine jazz guitarist,
who has three albums to his credit, performs on seven of the
eight tracks, adding a sense of musical depth to the album.
WITH THIS rnlWHon of ho/?lrrtr/?inrl J
_ v< uuvngi uuiiu musicians ctHU
Fagen's craft on the organ and synthesizer, the album more
than lives up to its musical expectations.
But this is not to say that Fagen relies solely on the music
that made Steely Dan such a popular and innovative group.
On three songs, Fagen does innovating of his own, departing
+ it- * * ?
irom me sound tnat was the Steely Dan trademark. And
twice his innovations are successful.
On side one, the closing song "Maxine" is similar to what
can best be described as nightclub music. Skillful arranging
of the flugelhorn, alto sax, tenor sax and baritone sax help
sustain the easy-going mood created by the brief opening
piano solo. The song also combines the piano with an electric ,
piano and an organ. !
The next to last song on side two, "The Goodbye Look," is a 1
Caribbean jazz tune sparked by Carlton's lead guitar, Porcaro's
drums and Fagen's bouncy vocals. The song breezes
through as the singer laments: i
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iinovative effort
album review
""""ttmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmammmmammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaammrmmmmmmmmmmmm
Cause tonight they're arranging a small reception
just for me
Behind the big casino by the sea
rknow what happens
f read the book
r believe I just got the goodbye look
BUT FAGEN'S third attempt at innovation fails. "Walk
Between Raindrops," the final song on the album, begins
vith an organ that sounds as if it belongs at a baseball park
>r a hockey rink. Quickly, the song changes into an imitative
swing/big band sound. But the song doesn't make it. The
>rgan sounds out of place throughout the song.
The most obvious difference between Steely Dan and
Donald Fagen's solo act is not the three musical innovations,
>ut the lyrics. Where Fagen and Becker were murky and
>btuse, Fagen on his own is straightforward. A good example
>f this is the album's title song, "The Nightfly," about a latelight
talk show host who is bored with his job and laments his
ostlove:
fou'refor tough legislation
'"hanks for calling
wait all night for calls like these...
rou'd never believe it
tut once there was a time
Vhen love was in my life
Maybe it's not fair to compare Fagen's solo effort with
teely Dan, but "The Nightfly" stands well in that comarison.
It is also good work when judged independently of
teely Pan.
"The Nightfly" should satisfy Steely Dan's fans, and its
movations should create new listeners for Fagen's music.
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