An Album A Day #17: Donald Fagen's THE NIGHTFLY [1982]

HERC was not above taking friendly advice of the If you like that, you'll like this variety from the smokey-smelling sales clerks that manned the checkout counter at his two favorite record haunts, Hollywood Records & Tapes on 22nd and Loco Records & Tapes on Broadway.

One night in 1982, the guys in Loco were playing a Steely Dan album, it was probably side 1 of their double album Greatest Hits or perhaps the bonus disc from Gold because HERC distinctly remembers hearing "Do It Again" and "Reelin' In The Years" back-to-back and that remains his favorite way to listen to those songs to this day.  

HERC's enjoyment of the music must have been plainly visible because the guy said those exact words "If you like that, you'll like this" and pushed The Nightfly into HERC's hands.

He carried it around the store for another half hour or so, not finding anything else to buy so he waddled up to the counter, plunked down a $10 bill, collected his change, and took the album home.

Although somewhat jazzier than those earlier stoned groovy tracks, The Nightfly remains one of HERC's most listened-to albums since that night. Something about Donald Fagen's voice and the polished perfection of the production, a hallmark of Steely Dan's recordings.

Read The CD Project review

of The Nightfly

Read Martin's View

on The Nightfly