The Nightfly

[arthur rotfeld]

Man, that's a great album!
:cool:

[BMF Effects]

:agree

[greggorypeccary]

Yep.

[Blauserk]

Gold from one end to the other. It's held up pretty well given that it's, what, 27 years old?

[todaystomorrow]

Spinning it right now after seeing this thread. One of my favorites.

[StratManKudzu]

Agreed. Fagan is a genius!

[Steve_2020]

And digitally recorded by Roger Nichols. reel to reel (sony?) machines, but they were recording ones and zeros.

course everything else Roger used on it was the best analog stuff available in a time when a lot of great analog stuff was available..

Roger won the best engineered album Grammy for Nightfly.
------------
Most Danfans say there are 7 albums from Steely Dan's golden era. I always say the Nightly makes it 8.

[jzgtrguy]

Desert Island disc if there ever was one.

[Trandy]

One of my ten favorite albums ever.

[robelinda2]

Great great album.

[jcs]

i have several mint copies on vinyl, just excellent overall!!

[JSeth]

gosh, you think? LOL! The Nightfly is just the bomb... from the word go, when it was first released, it has been one of my favorites. I really love the entire trilogy - don't know why folks don't seem to really "get" Kamakiriad - so many great tunes and arrangements on that one, "Florida Room" just kills! Not to mention that ANY SONG with not one but TWO trombone solos has to be a gem!!!

Saw Donald at the Paramount for the "morph" tour, with Herrington and Wayne Krantz on guitars... GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! Thought I'd died and gone to heaven! Prior to that show, I never thought of the song, "The Nightfly", as a grind-it-out rocker, but I can still hear Wayne's outrageous outro on that tune; it seemed to go on forever, one twist after another.

Fagen is the only person who has taken modern harmony to a higher place than the be-bop/lydian craziness, and ahs done so in a manner that is incredibly digestable and tasty, IMHO... and his vocal arrangements are par excellence!

[Lucidology]

Totally wore it out at one time ...

[dets1]

gosh, you think? LOL! The Nightfly is just the bomb... from the word go, when it was first released, it has been one of my favorites. I really love the entire trilogy - don't know why folks don't seem to really "get" Kamakiriad - so many great tunes and arrangements on that one, "Florida Room" just kills! Not to mention that ANY SONG with not one but TWO trombone solos has to be a gem!!!

Saw Donald at the Paramount for the "morph" tour, with Herrington and Wayne Krantz on guitars... GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! Thought I'd died and gone to heaven! Prior to that show, I never thought of the song, "The Nightfly", as a grind-it-out rocker, but I can still hear Wayne's outrageous outro on that tune; it seemed to go on forever, one twist after another.

Fagen is the only person who has taken modern harmony to a higher place than the be-bop/lydian craziness, and ahs done so in a manner that is incredibly digestable and tasty, IMHO... and his vocal arrangements are par excellence!

i saw this tour also. it was killer. i had never seen wayne krantz before and he blew me away. him doing strat and herrington doing 335 (actually 336 i think) was beautiful.

[TNJ]

"I've got a girl, and Ruby is her name."

"Would you pour me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchen?"

"I'd like to know what's on his mind. He says, 'Hey Buddy, you're not my kind.'."

"You'll be my senorita, in jeans and pearls. But first...let's get off this highway. Off this highway..."

"I hear you're mad about Brubeck... I like your eyes...I like him too!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...MIAMI!"


Way beyond :cool:

Long live Donald Fagen.

S.
j

[Mike K]

One of my favs. Still listen to it occasionally. :agree

[arthur rotfeld]

Such great playing across the board. Apart from LC's lead playing (some his best for sure), there's great rhythm guitar here too. Nevermind the Breckers, Anthony Jackson.......

[darkstar11]

Great album.... In the 80's I worked at a Stereo store and used the CD all the time to demo speakers.

[jimmyj]

Beside great tunes and arrangements, it's some of my all-time favorite guitar tone from LC on "Ruby Baby", "The Goodbye Look", and "New Frontier".
Perfect playing, IMO.

[arthur rotfeld]

And digitally recorded by Roger Nichols. reel to reel (sony?) machines, but they were recording ones and zeros.

course everything else Roger used on it was the best analog stuff available in a time when a lot of great analog stuff was available..

Roger won the best engineered album Grammy for Nightfly.
------------
Most Danfans say there are 7 albums from Steely Dan's golden era. I always say the Nightly makes it 8.


I think it was 3M machines, but yes, what a production and sound quality. Striking!

[furry]

yeah, Carlton and his Dumble all over that one. His finest hour, IMHO

[GovernorSilver]

One of my fave pop albums of all time.

[parker]

Yummy ! Love that album.... I wish he would put out more solo stuff.

[arthur rotfeld]

yeah, Carlton and his Dumble all over that one. His finest hour, IMHO

Really? I thought it was a Fender tweed combo.:huh:munch

[R13D]

Fantastic album,one of my all time favorites.Love the New Frontier video as well!

[RickC]

It's on my short list too

:aok

[franksguitar]

Yep a keeper I've got that great disc too.

[jb70]

love it!!! i was just listening to a donald fagen bootleg from upper darby, pa (3-4-2006) earlier today. what great tunes and what a slamming band!

[wstsidela]

Incredible record. Donald Fagen played a bunch NF songs on his last solo tour. What a treat. Wayne Krantz on guitar too.

[furry]

Really? I thought it was a Fender tweed combo.:huh:munch

interesting...any way to confirm that one way or the other?

[jimmyj]

interesting...any way to confirm that one way or the other?

I think he said in an interview that it was a Princeton or some other small Fender combo. There might still be a link to the interview on his website. This was recorded in about '82 or so. Did he even have a Dumble back then?

[Steve_2020]

Yummy ! Love that album.... I wish he would put out more solo stuff.

I think he will.

He had a blast on the 2006 "Morph The Cat" tour with 'the Donald Fagen Band" (basically steely dan with Becker replaced by the red hot Krantz).

Going into this summer's shows Walter Becker gave some interviews in which he said there are no plans for a new steely dan record. Their post millenium new recordings weren't hits- were bought mainly by their aging hardcore fans. And these days recorded music is often 'free' for many people now.. It takes SD a long time to write and record an album... I think they are done with that.

Becker also said Steely Dan would be playing 'all the songs people love and expect us to play' this summer. So they are kind of on autopilot, with the exception of some 'classic album' nights where they'll play one of the last 3 albums front to back. In general, though, padding up the retirement fund.
--------
I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Fagen move on into another solo project after this tour cycle winds down.

'Morph' was a fine record. No 'Nightfly', but good.

[duckbunny]

Absolutely one of the finest albums ever. Just a masterpiece.
One of my desert-island discs as well.




-db

[Steve_2020]

interesting...any way to confirm that one way or the other?

From http://www.recproaudio.com/diy_pro_audio/tweed_deluxe.htm

"Tweed Deluxes are also wonderful studio amps, used most notably by Larry Carlton (on Steely Dan's Royal Scam and Donald Fagen's The Nightfly) ..."

This isn't authorized, but I've read many Larry C interviews where he mentioned using the Deluxe on all the Steely Dan stuff. Writer/Educator Wolf Marshall has said that he was at Larry's home studio once, saw the Deluxe and realized it was The Amp.

From Larry himself:

Your solo on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” is pretty legendary. Are there any secrets to that tone?

"I played the same 335 on 90% of my solo sessions, including the solo for “Kid Charlemagne.” I just used a little Tweed Deluxe amplifier. There’s video of that rig on my website. The combination that I used sound-wise for the “Kid Charlemagne” solo was the 335, Tweed Deluxe amplifier, back pickup and with the tone control turned down to about three."
------
Finally, I saw Larry a couple nights ago and he played through a Blackface Fender Twin. He normally uses his Dumble on his annual visit to the small jazz club here, but ironically the Dumble was on it's way from a Steely Dan Concert in New York directly to LA, where Larry is again guesting with SD on 2 "Royal Scam" classic album concerts there.

So this in-between show with LC and his trio was a fly in date with rented equipment. And it was the first time I've ever heard Larry through a Fender (with a zendrive for the few times he needed a little hair).

For most of the night his tone was....Fendery. Not cranked Deluxe, but Larry-style jazzy clean fender. I distinctly recall thinking "this sounds like the tones he had on Nightfly. Cool!" as mentioned, when he needed some subtle overdrive he kicked in the zen.
---------
an unofficial rundown of Larry's amps down the years:

1970s LA Studio work: small fenders including The Tweed Deluxe

70s Live work with Crusaders: larger fender combos- Supers etc.

Late 70s solo albums "Larry Carlton" and "Strikes Twice": Mesa Boogies in the studio and live. I saw these shows.

Early 80 live rig: (modded?) Dual Showman into custom cab live. I saw this tour.

1982 session rig for Nightfly (possibly his last 'session' for another artist): Tweed Deluxe (unconfirmed)

From early/mid 80s thru today: Dumble ODS in studio and live, though he did go back to the Tweed for some tracks on his recent studio stuff.

During the long Dumble era Larry has used rented Fender Supers and Twins on some European/overseas tours. He remains a major draw in Japan and seems to figure ways to get the Dumble(s) over there safely for some tours. He and Robben are going over again soon.

imoho

[WahmBoomAh]

even had some upstart kid on drums on a track...Steve Jordan.

[furry]

Just imagine what 'Two Against Nature' would have sounded like with Gary Katz producing and Roger Nichols engineering...

[furry]

From http://www.recproaudio.com/diy_pro_audio/tweed_deluxe.htm

"Tweed Deluxes are also wonderful studio amps, used most notably by Larry Carlton (on Steely Dan's Royal Scam and Donald Fagen's The Nightfly) ..."

This isn't authorized, but I've read many Larry C interviews where he mentioned using the Deluxe on all the Steely Dan stuff. Writer/Educator Wolf Marshall has said that he was at Larry's home studio once, saw the Deluxe and realized it was The Amp.

From Larry himself:

Your solo on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” is pretty legendary. Are there any secrets to that tone?

"I played the same 335 on 90% of my solo sessions, including the solo for “Kid Charlemagne.” I just used a little Tweed Deluxe amplifier. There’s video of that rig on my website. The combination that I used sound-wise for the “Kid Charlemagne” solo was the 335, Tweed Deluxe amplifier, back pickup and with the tone control turned down to about three."
------
Finally, I saw Larry a couple nights ago and he played through a Blackface Fender Twin. He normally uses his Dumble on his annual visit to the small jazz club here, but ironically the Dumble was on it's way from a Steely Dan Concert in New York directly to LA, where Larry is again guesting with SD on 2 "Royal Scam" classic album concerts there.

So this in-between show with LC and his trio was a fly in date with rented equipment. And it was the first time I've ever heard Larry through a Fender (with a zendrive for the few times he needed a little hair).

For most of the night his tone was....Fendery. Not cranked Deluxe, but Larry-style jazzy clean fender. I distinctly recall thinking "this sounds like the tones he had on Nightfly. Cool!" as mentioned, when he needed some subtle overdrive he kicked in the zen.
---------
an unofficial rundown of Larry's amps down the years:

1970s LA Studio work: small fenders including The Tweed Deluxe

70s Live work with Crusaders: larger fender combos- Supers etc.

Late 70s solo albums "Larry Carlton" and "Strikes Twice": Mesa Boogies in the studio and live. I saw these shows.

Early 80 live rig: (modded?) Dual Showman into custom cab live. I saw this tour.

1982 session rig for Nightfly (possibly his last 'session' for another artist): Tweed Deluxe (unconfirmed)

From early/mid 80s thru today: Dumble ODS in studio and live, though he did go back to the Tweed for some tracks on his recent studio stuff.

During the long Dumble era Larry has used rented Fender Supers and Twins on some European/overseas tours. He remains a major draw in Japan and seems to figure ways to get the Dumble(s) over there safely for some tours. He and Robben are going over again soon.

imoho

I dunno. That tone on The Nightfly sure sounds like the tone on his early solo stuff, and it sure doesn't sound like any of the Steely stuff--least of all Kid Charlemagne

[TopDog]

What a great album, it's a master piece.

I saw DF for the Morph the Cat tour and it was a real treat. WK and JH on guitars. It was Steely Dan w/o Walter Becker.

Saw SD twice at the Beacon theater for the Royal Scam and Gaucho last week.... Fabulous shows.....and Larry C was there for both ;).

[wtdpblake]

This thread is full of win! I've been on a big SD kick for a while now listening to Citizen Steely Dan front to back. Recently picked up a good copy of Katy Lied on vinyl. The Nightfly is great too... So much talent floating around that circle!

[Steve_2020]

I dunno. That tone on The Nightfly sure sounds like the tone on his early solo stuff, and it sure doesn't sound like any of the Steely stuff--least of all Kid Charlemagne

Could be. I did my google drill and there was no official (from larry) reference to the Nightfly gear. Just that tweed site saying he used it on on Kid C and Nightfly..

LC using the cranked tweed on Kid C- and all of Royal Scam- is old news.

[Steve_2020]

This thread is full of win! I've been on a big SD kick for a while now listening to Citizen Steely Dan front to back. Recently picked up a good copy of Katy Lied on vinyl. The Nightfly is great too... So much talent floating around that circle!


All the steely dan albums are 'my favorite' but Katy Lied is my secret favorite :) And Nightfly is over in it's own wonderful little world.

Those guys set the bar very high.

[StratManKudzu]

Just got this off ebay for a steal!

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q285/stratmankudzu/steelydan.jpg

[Foggy]

Thanks for the post. It reminds me that it's time to pull out NF and listen to it for the 734th time.

What a quality recording :aok

[parker]

I think he will.

He had a blast on the 2006 "Morph The Cat" tour with 'the Donald Fagen Band" (basically steely dan with Becker replaced by the red hot Krantz).

Going into this summer's shows Walter Becker gave some interviews in which he said there are no plans for a new steely dan record. Their post millenium new recordings weren't hits- were bought mainly by their aging hardcore fans. And these days recorded music is often 'free' for many people now.. It takes SD a long time to write and record an album... I think they are done with that.

Becker also said Steely Dan would be playing 'all the songs people love and expect us to play' this summer. So they are kind of on autopilot, with the exception of some 'classic album' nights where they'll play one of the last 3 albums front to back. In general, though, padding up the retirement fund.
--------
I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Fagen move on into another solo project after this tour cycle winds down.

'Morph' was a fine record. No 'Nightfly', but good.


Very cool, thanks for the info! I really did enjoy "Morph" though, but I agree it's no Nightfly... I'm catching them in L.A this weekend, can't wait!

[Steve_2020]

Very cool, thanks for the info! I really did enjoy "Morph" though, but I agree it's no Nightfly... I'm catching them in L.A this weekend, can't wait!

You're going to the Royal Scam night in LA with Larry C guesting?

Killer. Probably a once in a lifetime thing

When I saw Larry on Monday night he said the New York SD shows were great.

I wanna go!

[TopDog]

a lot of conjecture and speculation in this post...I think he will.

He had a blast on the 2006 "Morph The Cat" tour with 'the Donald Fagen Band" (basically steely dan with Becker replaced by the red hot Krantz).

Going into this summer's shows Walter Becker gave some interviews in which he said there are no plans for a new steely dan record. Their post millenium new recordings weren't hits- were bought mainly by their aging hardcore fans. And these days recorded music is often 'free' for many people now.. It takes SD a long time to write and record an album... I think they are done with that.

Becker also said Steely Dan would be playing 'all the songs people love and expect us to play' this summer. So they are kind of on autopilot, with the exception of some 'classic album' nights where they'll play one of the last 3 albums front to back. In general, though, padding up the retirement fund.
--------
I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Fagen move on into another solo project after this tour cycle winds down.

'Morph' was a fine record. No 'Nightfly', but good.

[whitehall]

One of the few records after AJA he did that I enjoy. There probably isn't a smooth jazz station out there that doesn't have this in heavy rotation.

[furry]

Could be. I did my google drill and there was no official (from larry) reference to the Nightfly gear. Just that tweed site saying he used it on on Kid C and Nightfly..

LC using the cranked tweed on Kid C- and all of Royal Scam- is old news.

I emailed LC's manager and asked him which amp Larry used on the Nightfly. I'll report back if he responds.

[pir8matt]

The album that made me appreciate the synth harp!

[Steve_2020]

a lot of conjecture and speculation in this post...

Yes it is IMO. should have put that on there.

In the Becker interview (in Billboard or Rolling Stone) before this summer's tour, he mentioned it took major effort for them to do an album 'from the ground up' and they had no current plans to do another one. I also noted his (seemingly wry, imo) comment about playing 'what the fans want to hear' in this summers shows..

So, yes, I'm reading between the lines. Also noting the that neither guy was on each other's solo albums released in the last 2-3 years. This is a 180 from what they've done in the past (with the exception of Nightly- Becker had gone MIA during Gaucho, SD was broken up/on hiatus in 1982- and the Nightfly would be the last steely-type thing we'd hear for several years).

But hey, those guys were super-together for about 15 years the first time around, took a decade off and have been doing Steely Dan pretty intently for another 15+ years since reforming - including recording the 2 new millenium SD albums... So maybe they just want to play and make money now for a while.

I'm a lifelong Danfan and try to stay on top of things via the dandom digest newsletter, the SD newsletter, steelydan.com and any interviews I can find.

Steely Dan remain my desert island band. I do hope they carry on creatively.

[arthur rotfeld]

Thanks for the post. It reminds me that it's time to pull out NF and listen to it for the 734th time.

What a quality recording :aok

That's what it's about.:D


Regarding the amp. There are a few books that mention Fender. I also recall reading that the guitar was a Les Paul. Can't recall the source on the that.

An interview with the overdub engineer:
http://www.granatino.com/sdresource/21lazerus.htm

[furry]

That's what it's about.:D


Regarding the amp. There are a few books that mention Fender. I also recall reading that the guitar was a Les Paul. Can't recall the source on the that.

An interview with the overdub engineer:
http://www.granatino.com/sdresource/21lazerus.htm

here's what he says about LC's amp:

"Larry Carlton was so brilliant, we just used his Fender Speed amplifier, not very loud."

What the hell is a Fender Speed? Did he mean Tweed?

[arthur rotfeld]

LOL

I would assume Tweed, probably just mis-transcribed.

[Blues Fuse]

The question about LC's amp with SD and on "Nightfly" has come up several times on TGP. Larry answers that question on his website and check my post on this thread from 2007.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=2779122#post2779122

[BuddyGuit]

I agree. Nightfly is a VERY cool album!