Steely Dan: Unboxing Northeast Corridor Live & Donald Fagen's The Nightfly Live | Professor of Rock

We unbox 2 live albums: Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live 2 LP and Donald Fagen's The NightFly Live LP. We tell the story behind their 80s hit HEY NINETEEN as well as Donald Fagen’s solo masterpiece The Nightfly including the story of IGY (What A Beautiful World). Both of these live albums capture flawless performances by Donald Fagen and Steely Dan, as a tribute to the late Walter Becker.
GET STEELY DAN LIVE 2LP VINYL HERE:
steelydanshop....
GET THE NIGHTFLY LIVE HERE:
Donald Fagen LP product page: steelydanshop....
STREAM BOTH ALBUMS HERE:
The link we’re using with all streaming services and stores is: steelydan.lnk....
We Have New MERCH! bit.ly/Profess...
Thank you to this Episodes Sponsor, Zenni Optical
Incredible Prices on New Glasses - bit.ly/ZenniOp...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
Casey Gallagher, Ardashir Lea, Brian G, Curtis Parcell
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check Out My Hand Picked Selection Below
Professor's 80s Store
100 Best Selling Albums amzn.to/3h3qZX9
Ultimate History of 80s Teen Movie amzn.to/3ifjdKQ
80s to 90s VHS Video Cover Art amzn.to/2QXzmIX
Totally Awesome 80s A Lexicon amzn.to/3h4ilrk
Best In Ear Headphones (I Use These Every Day) amzn.to/2ZcTlIl
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Access To Backstage Content
Become a Patron - bit.ly/Professo...
Purchase The Albums
Help out the Channel by purchasing your albums through our links! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, thank you for your support.
Click here for Premium Content: bit.ly/SignUpF...
bit.ly/Faceboo...
bit.ly/Instagr...
​#80s #Rock #Story
Hey music junkies and vinyl junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest 80s songs of all time for the music community and vinyl community.
If you’ve ever owned records, cassettes and CD’s at different times in you life or still do this is your place Subscribe below right now to be a part of our daily celebration of the rock era with exclusive stories from straight from the artists and click on our patreon link in the description to see our brand new show there.
I was elated when I heard the news the Steely Dan was going to release their first LIVE album in 25 years, and even more fired up when I found out the album was also going to be available on 180g vinyl. All of my friends in the POR community know how much I love music on vinyl. Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! was recorded across tour dates at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, The Met in Philadelphia, & other locations. I’m going to unbox this, but also tell a few stories from several of Steely Dan and Donald Fagen solo gems.
The album showcases selections from Steely Dan’s extraordinary catalog of jazzy grooves, stimulating subversive lyrics, and infectious world class musicianship. Just like a studio recording of a Steely Dan record, Northeast Corridor has excellent sound quality.
A big reason for the amazing sound is the return of Steely Dan’s long time producer Gary Katz, who was at the helm of all those magical recordings until he stepped aside in 1980. Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live includes live versions of many of the band’s greatest hits- such as “Reelin in the Years,” “Peg,” and their highest charting single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” You can always count on Steely Dan to feature the 'best of the best' when it comes to live players, and Northeast Corridor doesn’t disappoint.
With Keith Carlock on drums Freddie Washington slapping the bass
John Herrington sharing keyboards with Donald Fagen Connor Kennedy stepping in for the great Walter Becker on rhythm guitar
Plus you have the wonderful addition of La Tanya R. Hall- joining Catherine Russell, along with Carolyn & Jamie Leonhart on vocals.
Like a fine wine, Donald Fagen’s voice has aged impeccably.
This may sound a little absurd, but I honestly think Donald Fagen sounds BETTER than he did back in his so-called prime.
“Hey Nineteen” was the lead single from Steely Dan’s Gaucho. That gorgeously crafted album released in 1980.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your favorite LIVE album?

[@AABB-bm9kk]

For me on live stuff I favor improvisation and different arrangements over Note for note repeatings of their studio counterparts… So Jazz (Miles Davis, Coltrane, Art Pepper) And Jam bands (Hendrix, The Dead, Santana)… Among more “mainstream rock” bands The Doors (are they mainstream? 🤔🤷‍♂️- To me they are one of the strangest (in a good sense) bands that ever enjoyed such Mainstream popularity) and U2 are favorites.✌️ …For live singing I’ll go with Janis and Jim Morrison. 🤔🙂 …And Being from Jersey I’m naturally obligated by law to mention Bruce - I don’t think he ever “mailed in” a performance in his fifty plus years of playing live. 😉✌️

[@alliswede42]

Any live album by Snarky Puppy or Wulfpeck, probably. They have this amazing knack for sounding so clean live and in studio, and they're insanely talented (and definitely have strong Steely Dan influence)! Also, Diana Krall Live in Paris.

[@modmary3527]

Jeff Beck~ Live at Ronnie Scott’s (2008)

[@stephenhanft1226]

I'm going to choose a very obvious one that I'm sure that will be mentioned by others. That is Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton. When that album was released in 1976, it was so fantastic and groundbreaking and really set a standard for live albums.

[@flavellinator]

Hands down... Live at Budokan by Cheap Trick

[@mournblade1066]

The Nightfly is absolutely sublime. It is a truly perfect album.

[@SMac-bq8sk]

Agreed! Every song is an "earworm"...totally listenable.

[@gretchenlittle6817]

From the foot of Mount Belzoni!!!

[@hunterkarr5618]

I rarely listen to it anymore. I felt the lyrics were hurting without Becker.

[@mournblade1066]

@@hunterkarr5618 What's lacking is Becker's cynicism. The lyrics were a lot more optimistic and nostalgic.

[@hunterkarr5618]

@@mournblade1066 exactly

[@jamesfrangione8448]

“Your IQ goes up when you listen to Steely Dan.” Spot on, Professor!

[@The5Leeses]

I just told my husband about the I.Q.

[@1957PLATO]

My IQ must be going through the roof by now.

[@HaleysTusk]

I've missed many iconic bands in my time for one reason or other, but Steely Dan isn't one of them. I saw Steely Dan twice in the 90's and they were fantastic RIP Walter

[@countdown2xstacy]

Same here. I saw Steely Dan twice in the 90’s as well. Excellent shows.

[@commonman317]

"What A Shame About Me" is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. It is so underrated, and usually does not get mentioned.

[@ansapo]

'Cause it is from a non-rock-era album. I agree. Teriffic lyrics. Great song.

[@mc76]

It is a wonderful song, and a lot of fun to play on the drums. It is not complex, but Michael White adds so many colors on the cymbals and toms. It is Ringoesque in the way it fits the tune.

[@Hexspa]

Shame!

[@tonytheHAT]

I love when you cover ANYTHING Steely Dan...my dad's favorite. And if he were around today, he'd be just as excited as you are during this unboxing of the Live album release. Thank you Professor!

[@ProfessorofRock]

You're welcome sir Fedora!

[@Fnipernackle]

My favorite as well. And I'm 35. That's the power of good music.

[@petefogel2133]

My favorite as well. I'm 62

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

My elementary principal from 3rd to 6th is Donald Fagan's brother!

[@ProfessorofRock]

What?

[@bagley232]

The Nightfly is in my top Five albums of all time. The Goodbye Look stays in heavy rotation while driving

[@RFXLR]

Fagen and Becker: Musical Geniuses! I love how they relied heavily on their jazz influences to create unique rock music. That and the fact that they used premium session players and musicians, you really can’t go wrong with any Steely Dan material.

[@ProfessorofRock]

What's your favorite?

[@oldschoolrr6077]

Just incredible music. My friends and I were always in awe on how Steely Dan was always able to fuse Jazz and Rock in amazing ways. I got "The Nightfly" a couple weeks after I heard the Album played one night on an AOR FM Station Donald Fagen is a superb artist. Wish Walter Becker was still alive. Can you imagine the amount of great music that would have been produced?

[@thewhistlestoprevue7812]

@@ProfessorofRock Kid Charlemagne!! If just for the subject matter and Larry Carlton guitar solo! Thanks @Professor of Rock

[@RFXLR]

@@ProfessorofRock there are so many but I love Don’t Take Me Alive. It starts out with a guitar solo. You don’t hear any soloing in popular music these days much less starting a song with one.

[@roh3974]

@@RFXLR And that opening chord before that solo is luscious!

[@DanieVargas]

I remember back in 1989? 1990? 1991? I was working as a waitress at the TGIFridays on GWU Campus and had a manager who was a Steely Dan FANAIC!! He turned me onto Steely Dan and I became yet another fan of the band!! I don’t remember his name anymore, but everytime I hear a Steely Dan song, I think of him…. Thank you Mustache Man…wherever you are now.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kenperk9854]

Steely Dan made the Hall of Fame in the 70s. His later stuff was sweet sprinkles on the magnificent Cake.

[@briangray00]

Way back when, in 1990, I was a waitress, TGIF Boss man; Steely fanatic He turned me on too Where the hell am I....?

[@DanieVargas]

@@briangray00 Are you asking me “where the hell am I…”. Do I know you??

[@briangray00]

@@DanieVargas No and no Dani. I was misquoting the lyrics to Hey Nineteen, one of their excellent songs in order to fit your anecdote.

[@roberta4266]

Just one word for Steely Dan … classy. They took jazz to the next level in the 70s, and created a new design / paradigm. Thank the Creator for Steely Dan!!!

[@georgetaxi8179]

This was great! The Nightfly is my go to driving at night record.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Good choice!

[@scottburton9701]

Steely Dan is on my list of performers I've yet to see in concert-They're an awesome group.

[@travismiles5885]

I was lucky enough to see them about 20 years ago or so when I first moved to Raleigh, NC. If you get the chance to see them you won't be disappointed. It was a great show and a cool atmosphere.

[@EduardoSantos-dj1rf]

Steely Dan is really something else, the lyrics, the instruments, everything! You don't get music of such high quality like this nowadays, well... you struggle to find real music these days. Thank you for another amazing video, Professor!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Wow, thank you! Appreciate your support.

[@Operative15]

Favorite band for as long as I can remember. A friend from college actually gave me a cassette copy of The Nightfly long ago, and it quickly became a favorite after finally listening to it, especially "New Frontier." What a song.

[@shop970]

We were so fortunate to have been forever touched with blues & jazz in pop music. Because of Donald Fagen! The masterful arrangments and perfect recordings. The Top players. Phenomenal writing & lyrics. The hits snd albums kept coming! Nightfly is a timeless work! Love every note!

[@jillwklausen]

I saw Steely Dan in concert shortly after Walter's passing. They were wonderful, as usual. One of my all-time favorite bands.

[@johnnypetro9314]

Professor you truly are a rock and roll intellectual. Knowledge plus heart and humor. No one is better at this.

[@DukesMusic84]

RIP Walter Becker. Glad to see that the Dan is still relevant and kicking ass on the road.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Have you ever seen them live?

[@waynevia6976]

Steely dan is one of my favorite bands. I love decan blues, and F/M are my favorite steely dan songs.

[@ProfessorofRock]

FM rocks! Love the Dan!

[@DDKaraokeOutlaw]

My favorite of F/M is the extended version w/the sax outro.

[@moabt.frican7163]

Same here, friends. Those two songs i never tire listening to. Never will. Timeless...

[@leeharkins6477]

Still cherish each one of my original SD albums. The music takes me straight back to south Miami where my 18 yr old bride and I were just getting started. And here we are 40 odd yrs later. "Just growing old" together. Sweet, sweet memories of those warm tropical nights.

[@MyName-pl7zn]

I will definitely check out these live albums, I remember listening to Steely Dan albums back when I was younger and some of my friends not really liking their music and thinking man I have to get some better friends, lol. Great stuff professor I may not have known about these live albums without you

[@ProfessorofRock]

Do it! You'll love them. They're very good.

[@jaimegarcia6114]

As I always say, one of my favorite bands ever and one of my favorite artists of all time....ever!!

[@shop970]

It was like butter. So smooth. That sound was perfection. Rich harmony. Wall chords. Fender Rhodes. Tight guitar horns. Its was jazz, spread over pop to perfection !

[@MoKingSr]

When I was in college, Gaucho and The Nightfly were pieces of music that kept me sane. I didn't realize how much I would come to appreciate the band Steely Dan.

[@stephenhanft1226]

That's very exciting news. Looking forward to listening to this release of these live recordings. I've always enjoyed Steely Dan's music. They had really a unique sound of infusing jazz combined with pop and rock. They were an original and had a sound all their own. So many great songs.

[@ProfessorofRock]

You'll love it!

[@covertguy1575]

The Nightfly was decades ahead of its time. I G Y was and still is decades ahead of its time. The New Frontier was 80’s Nuclear Futuristic. The Nightfly is one of the best albums ever released. Period.

[@semperfine4442]

Started listening in '73, and was lucky enough to see Steely Dan open [yes, open] for Elton John at the old Balboa stadium in San Diego. Personally, the Royal Scam is my favorite Dan album, but there aren't any bad ones.

[@joebikeguy6669]

Big SD fan here, loved your review. One niggle . . . perhaps I misheard you (or there was an editing error), but Jon Herington is SD's guitarist, (not keyboards). I saw him and SD in 2010 (?) at Tanglewood in Western Massachusetts. Walter was still part of the group and they were all unbelievably great! They opened with a Dizzy Gilespie tune "Dizzy's Business" and closed with the theme from Last Tango in Paris which had been popularized by Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri. In between they played all of their SD repertoire which got the mostly, uh, mature crowd out of their seats.

[@PAlex-us4ov]

Steely Dan - The epitome of cool music

[@charleyanne]

Steely Dan had several hits. I liked their music. Adam,, PoR, I'm glad you were able to get that on vinyl, best sounds come from vinyl Duran Duran has their new Album coming out this week & I'm getting that on vinyl as well as a CD,

[@mikehenson819]

" I Q goes up when listening to the Dan". Yes I'd say that's very appropriate . I labeled them sophisticated cerebral Rock/ jazz for grown ups.

[@ec1628]

Steely Dan was the first concert I took one of my kids to. She was 7 and is still a huge fan. Had to introduce her to the masters at a young age.

[@nunnarij]

Just awesome and amazing Donald Fagen a musical genius and legend!

[@filedroid]

Love the West Coast sound of Steely Dan & Hey Nineteen. But with my quirky musical tastes I also love me some nananana 19 by Paul Hardcastle!

[@joeldukes303]

Nice!

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

This kind of music is so good to listen to while on a hammock near the beach.

[@patrickellison909]

SD is a treat and these live albums are the cherry on top. Thanks for covering them

[@Lendorien]

I've been fortunate to see Steely Dan 4 times. 3 times with Walter and once after he passed. Every show was great.

[@catherine6653]

Hey 19 definitely has a good groove. Thanks for explaining the song. I never knew what it was about. Thank you for the info about the live album on vinyl. I recently treated myself to a new record. Queens Greatest hits, Vol 1 because I can never find a second hand Queen record at the store.

[@Slammy555]

I saw them in '90-ish with New York Rock & Soul Review. They didn't play a lot of Steely Dan but I was excited to see Becker/Fagen together. Fagen was awesome, I was surprised he sounded so good live. They didn't play Rikki but they played Reelin' in the Years. Drew Zingg covered most of the guitar work, Boz Scaggs played rhythm. I was happy to see Phoebe Snow there as well, many great performers and an amazing concert.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I saw them around the same time for the first time. Great show.

[@lauriesolonka2477]

We were at their show in the Chicago area, great concert, Michael McDonald was also with them. An Awesome evening of Incredible music ❤

[@starshiptrooper7670]

Love the Dan! I can't add to that. RIP Walter... I love reading liner notes but S. Dan's were lacking to say the least. A book I love is "Reelin in the Years" by Brian Sweet. Straight forward with a lot of info. No, Bryan and I are not related. lol

[@alliswede42]

YASSSSS!!!!!!! Love love love the Dan and I'm so excited to see their new live albums get some love! I was fortunate enough to see them in 2011 when Walter was still with us (I saw them at Interlochen, and had a huge laugh while reading Eminent Hipsters as he chronicled that performance 😁) Thanks, Professor 🙏

[@kenperk9854]

It was ok but when you try to do better than perfection, it always falls short. 😄

[@patrickellison909]

Saw them twice 2016 and 2022, the band line up is AWESOME. GO see them next time they roll into town

[@georgemathie8123]

Steely Dan in my opinion is one of the few bands who have a near perfect discography there are no duds here and Donald's solo masterpiece the nightfly is just fantastic is it me or isn't Donald fagen the funniest musician and songwriter just love his sarcastic humor

[@jimbintz2424]

"Rikki Don't Lose That Number" always takes me back to that summer. I was working a night shift at a food processing plant, getting out around sunrise. This track would play- on AM radio!-as I pulled out to go home to sleep.

[@davidelswick6660]

Steely Dan is one of my favorites of all-time. LOVE them. Love your show too!

[@atticus290]

Saw them 10 times. Heard them do every song, expect Any Major Dude. At least now, i can hear it live!

[@SeaMark782]

I listened to The Nightfly every night before I fell asleep while fishing in the Bering Sea aboard a stern trawler. Sixty days at sea is a long time. Steely Dan/The Nightfly were like old friends, perhaps because my high school pal Jeff Porcaro played on The Nightfly. I heard about Toto's Grammy win via a Japanese radio operator I was working with. He was pretty damn excited! He loved Toto. Jeff Porcaro is playing on 2 albums nominated for album of the year. What a talent, what a nice guy.

[@Night-Mayor]

My father heard one of the songs on Nightfly album. He absolutely loves it. He had to find it. He only had a few lyrics and didn't know the name of the song. So we went to Licorice Pizza, Wherehouse, and Tower Records asking around. Finally so one recognized it and led us to Nightfly. I was about 11 and was enjoying this late afternoon song search. My father wasn't disappointed in that album. Every song he enjoyed. He even went back to the store to buy the cassette for his morning and evening commute. His favorite tracks were Nightfly and The Goodbye Look. He explained the humor of the songs and the various instruments. My father had been a part of a band back in the 50s. So he understood songwriting. He's gone now, but anytime I listen to Nightfly, I can help but smile 😊

[@shirazbopp]

Enjoy your vids Professor! Steely Dan is timeless…. Sounds as fresh today as ever. Great stories!

[@BayouMaccabee]

What a coincidence...I ordered my Northeast Corridor on vinyl about 2 weeks ago, so I expect it to arrive in the mail any day now.

[@JohnNewkirk1]

Thank you! My all-time favorite band!

[@danielwatkins9658]

Steely Dan, intelligent, sophisticated, fun music. In my opinion, no group tops Fagen and Becker. In a class all their own, then and now.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I agree.

[@TheGarageRecordingSC]

The Nightfly is an awesome album! I listen to it often still!

[@pfhduwic9319]

You're as old as my dad. I'm trying to get him into Steely Dan, I think it's growing on him. Nothing beats that synth solo on I.G.Y. It paints a perfect picture of a future we would all love to see

[@TerryNails]

My Dad was one of the Four Freshmen. In 1992 they released an album called Fresh that Donald Fagen did arrangements for. The album was nominated for a Grammy for best Jazz vocal album but were excluded at the last minute on the grounds the Fagen wasn't really a Jazz artist. If most people knew about the behind the scenes industry manipulation that goes on year to year with the Grammys, they would never take a single award given out by them seriously ever again. I say this because I know several grammy winners and one of my closest friends is on the Grammy steering committee and he his more critical about the way it operates than you could possibly imagine..

[@maggieanaya1114]

One of my favorite bands of all time! 🥰

[@socaljmac7720]

The one time I saw SD (magical LA show filled with deep cuts), they opened with The Royal Scam. Have not been able to listen to that song without cranking it since.

[@joeldukes303]

What an opener it must have been! . I always thought Royal Scam and Kid Charlagmane could’ve easily been flipped on the tracking order.

[@cozmicpfunk]

Just Love it- Amazing Albums and Amazing Musicians! Thanks Professor, you always deliver :)

[@jesselobo3213]

I have both vinyl albums and I agree with you Donald Fagan's voice is in amazing form. A true treat that DF released these two albums only recently.

[@videditorEB1]

Posting before reading any other comments so sorry if this has been said a million times already, but “The Nightfly” is my personal favorite record of all time. Privileged to see the live show with Walter, and it was beyond amazing. Probably around 96 or so in Concord Ca, a night I’ll never forget. Thanks for the video, it’s the second best thing to happen today. I got to totally rock out as the keyboardist/MD at a great little church in East Texas and today the Lord really showed out, just like He did when He gave Donald these wonderful songs. Wooohooo!!!

[@Fuphyter]

I adore Steely Dan and have since the 70s. I always thought Reelin In The Years was a great ex song!! Hey Nineteen made so much sense.."she don't remember the Queen of Soul" genius.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I love that line so much!

[@kenperk9854]

I finally got to see The Dan in 2011 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, just a couple of months after a vicious Ef5 Tornado ransacked the city and killed almost 70 people. Everywhere you looked, there was destruction. Many tears flowed as Walter and Donald settled in to a extended performance of Deacon Blues and they Call Alabama the Crimson Tide. The mood was a little subdued but thanks to the Brilliant work of the beautiful backing singers, the mood picked up and a fun night was had by all! Stealydan in Tuscaloosa

[@kenperk9854]

Like so many 70s and 60s bands, Steely Dan had an amazingly long shelf life. After they left the scene, bands seemed to be more one and done which is understandable due to the scorched earth policy the 60s and 70s bands left behind. Those two decades were so musically PROLIFIC that it became almost impossible to find something new that was actually great. That's why almost everything after were remakes or theft You know, just like the movies.

[@Fuphyter]

@@kenperk9854 recording artists rely on computers for instruments. Vocals sometimes require auto-tune. Now people compete on vocal television shows. Most want instant results for a career in music. They don't want to put in the time required to master an instrument. There are a few new bands The Struts, Greta Van Fleet and Dirty Honey. There are a lot of people in their 20s reacting to the phenominal music we grew up with. There is a 10 year old girl, Nandi Bushel who is a jaw dropping drummer. She loves Dave Grohl. He brought her on stage to play with the Foo Fighters. She totally kicked azz.

[@jeffweinbergeruke]

Fascinating look at some pretty cool music! Thanks for doing what you do.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Glad you enjoy it! Thanks!

[@NEPatsFan]

I got to see one of the Beacon performances of The Nightfly in Oct. 2018. Cost $200 per ticket but I waited over 30 years to hear that album live.

[@suebrown7358]

Yes we’re gonna have a wingding…one of my favorite opening lines ever.🥳

[@BuzzcutGtr]

"The Nightfly" didn't get the airplay it deserved, IMO. Killer album (I was 15 at the time LOL).

[@SMac-bq8sk]

True! A too often overlooked treasure.

[@aquariusshade]

Every time I think of "Hey Nineteen" I remember when my godmother called the local classic rock station and requesting it for my 19th birthday. Plus Donald's 'Eminent Hipsters' book is a great read. I'm definitely ordering both the albums.

[@basehead617]

very nice of her!

[@mrkeiths48]

Thanks Professor! You can't go wrong with Fagen and Becker-Steely Dan. Great flashbacks to some great music and times. RIP Walter. Best wishes for those golden years Mr. Fagen.

[@davidwollpert5276]

Gaucho is such a wonderfully produced and engineered album. I always love listening to it.

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Always a package once unpacked is not panglossian, not what you expect and not something you are likely to forget. The add 2 guys. Great show, thanks.

[@Oldjohn52]

Hey Prof, did you know that the art work on the cover of Aja was done by actor Phil Hartman? He did cover art before his acting work.

[@rolf3806]

Wow I think Nightfly has been overlooked vastly by some fans another great video Adam

[@bagley232]

Love the lyric “more leisure for artists everywhere”

[@spheroid126]

You hit one point right on the head.... When Nightfly plays you just wanna grab someone & say "you gotta hear this"...

[@cactaceous]

Was very lucky to have seen Steely Dan 4 times at the Beacon before Walter passed. The last time in 2016 when my wife was pregnant with our daughter. We have a poster of that gig on our wall since it was the first concert us 3 went to. Technically. RIP Walter Becker. The Gary Katz years, including The Nightfly is some of the best music ever arranged, recorded and produced. Forever glorious. Also love the Kamakiriad album.

[@robertleath9913]

Most people have no idea how brilliant Donald Fagan really is. Great song writer and musician.

[@johnrhyne6015]

I saw Steely Dan live in Atlanta before Walter Passed, it was Epic!

[@djbelc01]

Always appreciate a Steely Dan video! These live albums are an unexpected treat, and I have been listening to them a lot since the day they came out. Steely Dan performing live is definitely not the same without Walter Becker, but keeping this music alive is a wonderful thing, and the touring band is supremely talented. This even funkier version of Glamour Profession is a stunner, and the new instrumental opening to Things I Miss the Most brings something unexpectedly cool to the table. If I can take a moment to nitpick though... In any of your videos about Steely Dan, you usually refer to "Donald Fagen's lyrics." Outside of just one or two exceptions, nearly all Steely Dan songs were collaborative efforts, and Walter Becker had a definite hand in contributing to the lyrics. You can get a sense for their individual styles by comparing their solo material. Walter Becker had a unique way with words.

[@ProfessorofRock]

They are really great. I was very impressed.

[@diamonddog13]

I agree. It's kind of fun to try to interpolate who was responsible for specific Steely Dan lyrics based on their solo albums. Becker was a special lyricist, and probably my favorite lyrical song in their entire canon is Becker's Surf And/Or Die.

[@TheLegionofReason]

I always thought of IGY as not criticizing the optimism it espoused. Rather, I take it to criticize the world for not having lived up to the promise.

[@celebro469]

Growing up, Steely Dan music was always accompanied with two things. The smell of Rum and Coke or MJ. I was too young, my head was mostly in Star Wars or Flash Gordon, but Steely Dan and those smells were always together.

[@TallyDrake]

I'm not even 3 minutes into the video.... I could not disagree with you more, Professor! Having owned inexpensive record players back in the day, with pennies taped to the arm so the records wouldn't skip, I don't miss vinyl AT ALL. Who needs to hear scratches? Give me CDs and downloads, period. And as for live albums, no thank you. I was not impressed with the little bit of Steely Dan you just played -- it sounds like a cover band. Frampton Comes Alive! is the sole exception for me. And now back to your video.😊🥰

[@dgarve]

I totally agree. I live in NY and see them every time they play the Beacon, but I'm not into the sound on Northeast Corridor. The background vocalists are up in the mix and Don is pushed back or not there. Sounds a bit Muzak-like, unfortunately. I give them credit for getting close to reproducing live those amazing albums from '72-'80, but I'll just stick with the perfect studio albums.

[@bobt2049]

I totally agree!!!

[@TheDefeofiuza]

Jim Beard is the 2nd keyboard player, Jon Herington is a guitar player...

[@Driver2616]

I’ve got both of them. Northeast Corridor on CD and The Nightfly Live, on vinyl. I’ve been collecting the Steely Dan studio albums since 1978. I’ve got all nine studio albums and all four of Donald Fagen’s studio albums. I’ve also got Steely Dan Alive in America, which features five of the songs that are on Northeast Corridor. I saw Steely Dan (Donald Fagen plus several excellent musicians & vocalists) in Dublin in 2017. Great video review here 👍

[@holywine7779]

Professor: question. Speaking of needing a dictionary while listening to SD or DF solo: on the song " Any Major Dude" what is a" squonk" as in " have you ever seen a squonk's tears, well look at mine... ". A squonk is " a mythical animal who has the ability to cry itself into a bag of tears". BOOM...drops mike...yours truly, Sdanfan

[@cncpreferred848]

Professor, I am a Steely Dan fan. Wish I could have seen them in concert. Favorite songs are: The Royal Scam, Don't Take Me Alive, Doctor Wu, The Caves of Altamira, FM, and Midnight Cruiser.

[@hepplure6172]

Adam . Thanks for the Dan special. I didn' t know Donald released a Nightfly Live. This is from your Itailain Resteraunt waiter from Vegas. You are sporting the Carlos shirt . Doing a Dan special, I feel honored Thanks Good Luck from Vegas,. Keep em Comin!!

[@countdown2xstacy]

“Katy Lied, you can see it in her eyes, but imagine my surprise when I saw you “

[@JimCar71]

I was just listening to this song yesterday …. Visualizing him shaking his head at the young girl who doesn’t even know who the queen of soul is.

[@frankschmecker797]

I sing in a band that does several Steely Dan tunes. They are among our favorites, and no matter the venue or occasion they are always in our set lists. This album is so clean it sounds like a studio recording; very well produced. The vocals are a bit unsettling though. The back up singers are way too prominent IMO. Other than that.... Great recording.

[@jonsingle1614]

Nightfly was one of the first digitally recorded albums....and it sounds great for it

[@dougcrowe1226]

Love steely dan. Had a helicopter flight once , about an hour. Had a cassette copy of Aja. So I popped it in, cracked open a window- yes you can- lit up a cig- yes you could- digging Aja in the headphones. Glorious- then at the end of side one the tape deck ate the tape- aagghh. Still very memorable

[@flavellinator]

I used to work in a skating rink and after the place closed, we employees would blast the music and roll around... Hey 19 was one of my choices for a cool 4 minutes or so

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

We flew from London to New York for the Aja and Royal Scam gigs at The Beacon in 2019. And then we went to see Robert Glasper at the Blue Note on our last night. Just a few of months later we were plunged into the ridiculous covid lockdowns. But those gigs are a hell of a memory.

[@mazieferreira7757]

Professor, if the story happens "Way back when, in '67" and Fagen was born in 1948 meaning Fagen was 19 in 1967... The Nightfly is really such a beautiful record!

[@kimberlymason1060]

The nightfly awesome so need this x

[@stony2494]

Outstanding review thanks for this 🙏😎♥️

[@ansapo]

Somebody has probably said this, but the song, "Things I Miss The Most" - is from Steely Dan's 2003 album "Everything Must Go". Talk about getting smarter every time you listen to a Steely Dan album, I line-by-line analyzed the tune "Pixeleen" (from that same album) for my college linguistics class in 2004 - Got an A!! If you haven't heard their 2000 release "Two Against Nature" or "Everything Must Go" you must, if you're a Dan fan. They picked right up where they left off.

[@marthasharp4943]

BTW I saw them in concert in New Orleans about 3 years ago for the first time and am glad I did.

[@jeremyyarbrough4714]

There used to be a Steely Dan dictionary online I found a few years back. Very interesting indeed. Steely Dan has always been one of my favorite bands way back even from my early teen years.

[@The5Leeses]

When I was buying a stereo system in the 80’s at “Musicland” they played Steely Dan’s “FM” for anyone to listen to looking to buy one. I did. And Aja.