The Nightfly
Released: 1982

The Nightfly

by Donald Fagen

The 257th greatest album of all time

The Nightfly, Donald Fagen's 1982 solo debut, blends jazz-inflected pop, pop rock and soft rock with the polished, meticulous studio production associated with his work in Steely Dan. The album features tight horn and keyboard arrangements, sophisticated jazz chords and solos, and literate, nostalgic lyrics that evoke postwar late-night radio and small-town optimism. Produced by Gary Katz and built around a smooth, urbane sound, the record is often singled out for its attention to arrangement and sonic detail.