WOW!| FIRST TIME HEARING Donald Fagen - I.G.Y. REACTION

[@AkelaTalamasca]

This entire album is a must-listen.

[@paul8926]

Yes, agree !

[@sirsuse]

Totally agree.

[@RodolfoSanchezNava]

Indeed! it is!!!!

[@genebaughbba]

What he said!

[@defnis3013]

💯!

[@mikek5958]

"The song “I.G.Y.” was released by Donald Fagen in 1982 as a part of his debut solo album, “The Nightfly.” It quickly became a popular hit, known for its catchy melody and nostalgic vibe. But beyond its musical appeal, “I.G.Y.” holds a deeper meaning that resonates with listeners even decades later. The title itself stands for “International Geophysical Year,” a global scientific project that took place from July 1957 to December 1958. This project aimed to foster international collaboration and advancement in various scientific fields. The song uses this historical event as a metaphor for a utopian future, where humanity has overcome its challenges and is living in harmony with technological progress. Fagen’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of an idyllic society, filled with futuristic visions of hydrogen-powered cars, underwater cities, and space travel. The song captures the optimism and excitement of the 1950s and early 1960s, a time marked by significant technological advancements and the belief in progress and a better tomorrow. Donald Fagen drew inspiration from various sources for “I.G.Y.” One of the main influences was his fascination with the concept of the International Geophysical Year and the optimism surrounding scientific progress during that time. Additionally, Fagen’s own memories of growing up in the 1950s and early 1960s played a significant role in shaping the song." - oldtimemusic

[@SMccrate01]

Perfectly stated and quoted. That optimism pervaded art and design in the period as well. The mid-century Danish modern design, abstract expressionism, Pop Art, it was all very "human" and hopeful. As a child of the early 60's I still love mid-century modern design for it's sunny optimism. This song drips hopefulness.

[@rmtsohyang-yoyoka6013]

@@SMccrate01 Didnt they also discuss things that they thought would happen in the future, things like solar power, dont think they discussed under water rail

[@kenbarton2920]

Very well presented, thank you. I was born in ‘58, & became aware of I.G.Y. By reading my late uncles’ Pogo books by the brilliant Walt Kelley.

[@elebenty5709]

@@rmtsohyang-yoyoka6013 it's at 2:30 right before the "90 minutes from NY to Paris"

[@murrayspiffy2815]

Thanks for writing - what needed to be said.

[@gregfagan199]

In addition to Donald Fagen's wry vision of the future, "The Nightfly" is one of the most sonically perfect albums ever made. Sound engineers still use it to test their systems.

[@trickygoose2]

I remember about 30 years ago, going to buy a CD player, having recently moved out from my parents, and the shop used this very album as a demonstrator. I owned it on cassette at the time.

[@danielc6508]

A note from Fagen is included in the liner notes: “The songs on this album represent certain fantasies that might have been entertained by a young man growing up in the remote suburbs of a northeastern city during the late fifties and early sixties, i.e., one of my general height, weight, and build…”

[@roundtownKen]

It's a synthesizer. This whole NIGHTFLY album is a MONSTER.

[@eileendobbs8009]

The solo is a synth harmonica

[@StevenQ74]

@@eileendobbs8009 a Synth blues harp to be exact

[@romulus_]

@@StevenQ74 lyricon

[@jennyjenny4501]

Donald Is awesome! If you haven’t listened to Deacon Blues yet, I highly recommend it!

[@drumhaver223]

This was the first 100% digitally recorded album. The music and the engineering are both masterpieces.

[@melvinwomack3717]

👍🏾 yep

[@dalebroome8953]

When I was looking for a stereo system in 1986 every place I looked always put this c.d in

[@zedxxx9]

This is the kind of sound most people want to get away from now. Anything to make it NOT sound like it was recorded in the 80s all-digital. The 80s even broke Stevie.

[@kathyrizzi8754]

@@zedxxx9this is a good song, no matter how it was made & I was a teen in the 60’s. I still prefer full bands, but I’m opened minded.

[@jpm7460]

Not quite but close. Ry Cooders "bop til you drop" was the first commercial release that was DDD (recorded, mixed and released on cd) in 1979. There had been several classical recordings before that. This album was ,arguably , the most successful album that was digital in its entirety in the early days.

[@RickTBL]

"The "I.G.Y." of the title refers to the "International Geophysical Year", an event that ran from July 1957 to December 1958. The I.G.Y. was an international scientific project promoting collaboration among the world's scientists." -wiki

[@albertsmith9315]

I was going to say the same, but knew someone would beat me to it. I was born right in that range, April '58, and love the line, "... by '76, we'll be A-O.K." I graduated high school in '76.

[@richardkint6531]

That makes two of us, born in April '58 and HS grad in '76!@@albertsmith9315

[@gizmo5925]

...and not ONE of the predictions that were included in the song ever came true. Well, maybe the spandex jackets...

[@duobejota8823]

​@@gizmo5925The lyrics are obviously sarcastic

[@gizmo5925]

@@duobejota8823 Somewhere else below, I left a comment saying that Steely Dan have always had a wry sense of humor, and in this song, they made fun of the boundless optimism of which there was an oversupply in 1957.

[@netrider5]

New Frontier is another great and popular song he made

[@sdanjohn]

I think this is my favorite Fagen song. Such a groove.

[@vincentschmitt7597]

The "people" always seem to request an artist's lesser songs. So we have to wait to get to the A material. New Frontier is THE A MATERIAL. It should be next without exception.

[@allmusicservices]

Agreed! This video, with lyrics and great visuals is one of my all-time favorites: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGfFaXx_j9WBobc

[@hoopsmccann9228]

This is such a great album. Donald Fagen is a musical beast. A couple more gems from this album are “New Frontier” and “Ruby Baby”.

[@lilpoohbear653]

agreed

[@MarcMol]

The entire album is a gem!

[@mamaasaiz]

Fagen is a brilliant songwriter and performer... as a team, with Walter Beckers (RIP), there was no one better.

[@ritamulloy3522]

Love!❤

[@aronjohnson2388]

Walter Beckers has always been the Andrew Ridgely (Wham!) of Steeley Dan to me, unfortunately; The guy you know is there but can't always remember his name.

[@joesmith-vz1vx]

Its pure and clean cause he has the best musicians and producers in the world...

[@colemitchell228]

Yacht Rock gold. More Steely Dan classics you'll love = Josie, Kid Charlemagne, Time Out of Mind, Black Cow, Babylon Sisters, Black Friday. 🏆🎶

[@cajunsushi]

One of the coolest albums ever.

[@adamgarrick3778]

Amber looked like she was about to float away the entire time. Fagen is a genius and has that effect.

[@RodneyBurris-j7f]

He's probably playing that Melodica. It's a mouth organ!

[@monicagatten9894]

Amber, you're so cute and bubbly yall are great together love, love, love your reactions!!!!!love

[@col-hiwildcats6717]

I.G.Y. = International Geophysical Year went from July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958. I remember in grade school learning about it in my Weekly Reader. The song addresses many of the goals and objectives of the advanced technology anticipated for the future. Always loved this song (and many other Steely Dan tunes). The unusual/"cool" sounding instrument was a synthesized harmonica played by Fagen. Always love your reactions. Peace out.

[@elebenty5709]

Fagen's voice and phrasing are always a treat. (And I have fond memories of Weekly Reader, too.)

[@Sportsref13]

I was checking to see if someone knew and mentioned this... Thank you

[@StatsJedi]

Donald Fagen - vocals, synthesizer, synth-harmonica.

[@Tejaye777]

Love him in Steely Dan and I love this song too.

[@snarky7d]

If you liked IGY, you will love New Frontier. The entire album is amazing!

[@rosek2967]

The Nightfly is somewhat of a concept album. Younger people won't get it because it was written from the standpoint of someone in the 1950s, early 60s. I.G.Y talks about the undersea train to Europe, the space race, and the thought that by 1976 everything will be A-OK. (We were such dreamers!) The cover photo tells it all: a late night disc jockey spinning the discs and talking to his audience (listen to the title song.) Other songs reference the revolution in Cuba, and there's even a little Dion tribute thrown in with a very cool version of "Ruby Baby." This is an exceptional album and you should check out the other songs on it as well.

[@Skylarking00]

The Nightfly came out in late 1982 and was Fagen's first solo album. It's a concept album, with themes relating to his self-described fantasies growing up in suburban northern New Jersey in the late 1950s/early 1960s during the Cold War and Kennedy idealism. I.G,Y. stands for "International Geophysical Year" which was a kind of idealistic global scientific project involving over fifty countries from 1957-1958 meant to foster peace among nations, especially between the U.S. and the USSR. Sputnik, the first satellite in space in 1957, came out of it. Ironically, Sputnik's launch scared the hell out of the U.S. and initiated the space race between the two countries. This whole album...musically, lyrically, performatively...is musical genius, not a bad song on it and a true 10/10 album.

[@bearman6567]

The rest of the album is great. Donald don't miss.....ever.

[@ctfair]

One of my all time favorite albums. Every song is good. The musicianship is off the scale.

[@ernestitoe]

I was 6 years old when the International Geophysical Year began in the middle of 1957, and I followed it all the way through to its end in December 1958. My father explained to me what was happening. The Soviet Union allowed its scientists, and those of the Eastern Bloc, to meet with their colleagues in the West. It was good for the sciences, and everyone interested in science hoped it would continue, but it didn't. The synthetic fabric known as Spandex came on the market in the spring of 1958. The song tells of what the futurists were thinking would happen; what kind of progress would be made by the time the Bicentennial rolled around ("in '76 we'll be A-OK"). It was a sweet fantasy and it couldn't last; it ignored too many realities. I think this is Donald Fagen's nostalgic look back at our naïve optimism of those days.

[@kellyjohnson3617]

Donald fagen is such a gifted artist and brought so much to steely Dan. On his own is stellar. Rock and jazz and just totally original and full of joy

[@markchapel6694]

Amber: @10:34 "...what we *could* do with our future" ...and in the last verse he gave us his idea of what AI *could* be: "A just machine to make big decisions -Programmed by fellows with compassion and vision."

[@russevans3586]

This one has one of my favorite lyrics: On that train, all graphite and glitter.

[@z0n0ph0ne]

Classic album.....classic reaction!

[@jesselobo3213]

"The Nightfly" was tremendous when it came out. Donald Fagan really displayed his genius with this production. And like "Aja", this album gets better with age.

[@lla788]

This a phenomenal album. My fave song is "Maxine" - it's beautiful w/ luscious harmonies. It's kind of romantic & you don't think of love songs coming from Steely Dan. I"ve read articles about Donald & Walter--and they talk about how this album reveals that Donald does have a soft or romantic side to him.

[@jefff3886]

"You'll be my Senorita In jeans and pearls..." One of my favorite lines ever. It's Dylan-esque in its ability to instantly conjure a vivid image.

[@trevorm8415]

Amber will melt over Mike Brecker's tenor solo.

[@lla788]

@@trevorm8415 Definitely- it’s gorgeous. I must have melted over it a million times since 1982 ❤️🎷🎵

[@jamesstarks3676]

Maxine is awesome and underrated. Haitian Divorce is also awesome.

[@markzalubas5793]

It was (is) ahead of its time. When Donald Fagen is involved, everything is where it should be (where Donald wants it), no hair is out of place. He is a musical genius. We are the lucky ones who get to experience it. This song always takes me on a trip to a different place and time. I love it.

[@debbiechang5781]

That signature sound is unmistakable. Great song. Genius artist. 🌺✌️

[@allendixon7700]

I love it. I love it all day. I'll do remember this back in the day. But it sounds like steely diane always thought it sounded like stayley stayley diane

[@DaveM-FFB]

I've had this album for decades! Every song is FIRE! His other album "Kamakiriad" is also amazing! Yup, I've got that one too.

[@RabbiSteve]

And let’s not forget his third one, MORPH THE CAT. Also, brilliant.

[@payleighsteele1540]

Security Joan is my absolute favorite Fagen solo song.

[@xebio6]

​@@RabbiSteveAnd his fourth and latest so far, the sublime "Sunken Condos"

[@cornball7883]

Snowbound is an excellent track from this album!

[@rrailguitar2211]

When the Beatles broke up you could sense McCartney's absence in Lennon's sound and Lennon's absence in McCartney's songs. But when I listened to Donald Fagen's first solo record I was left wondering what Walter Becker would have added to the whole thing. Nightfly did have more synths but the songs just seemed like they'd be at home on Steely Dan records. Donald and Walter just thought alike. One could start a sentence and the other would finish it, that's how much of a mind-meld they had. Donald still runs Steely Dan shows. He and Walter put together a great road band. But he's been in hospital lately so I don't know where he's at these days. Nightly features so many great songs. I was in a band that tackled "New Frontier" (those chords are hard, man!) and I was really impressed by Fagen's tremendous reworking of Dion's "Ruby Baby." The harmonies are unbelievable.

[@lla788]

Donald is out of the hospital and back on tour - I saw video from the show in LA. He looked like he was feeling good.

[@Amy-ti6hk]

My favorite song from this album is Walk Between Raindrops.

[@ariksholev9227]

Excellent choice ! The whole album is great.

[@NorCalPhil]

The Nightfly is one of the greatest albums ever made. It’s the first album to be 100% digitally recorded. That is probably why it sounds so clean to you. The whole album is just unreal. It won the Grammy for best-engineered album and was nominated for 2 other Grammys including album of the year.

[@masheltonjoe]

Loveeee Donald Fagen, whether he’s in Steely Dan or solo. This song has always made me feel good while listening to it. I remember when it came out… I miss this kind of music.

[@Keedeeg]

Fagen has such a cool style. Love his vocals and his songwriting!

[@SMccrate01]

The Nightfly is considered such a perfectly engineered and produced album that concert engineers have carried a high quality CD for testing dynamics of the PA in concert venues. This is true REFERENCE quality.

[@gsprings43]

What was so cool about growing up in the 70's and 80's were all the new sounds from analog and digital instruments

[@magneto7930]

Whenever you listen to a Steely Dan/Donald Fagen album, everything is always going to be perfect, the musicianship, the vocals, the production, the whole package!

[@russellewandowski843]

One of the BEST sounding albums ever recorded.

[@rapidgtp]

definitely one of the highlights of the 80s. The album The Nightfly was nominated for 7 grammies

[@lilpoohbear653]

amazing...grammys now are a joke for the most part...sad seriously

[@cjdesign5700]

Steely and Fagen have THE BEST production...The whole album is amazing

[@TFEnright5]

New Frontier is another great song by Donald Fagen. Great video for it.

[@Jimi-DV]

This album is among the best ever recorded, you'll both love "Ruby Baby", the Piano solo is immense.

[@donaldjackson1490]

I know Amber will love “Maxine” from this same album

[@xxdash07xx]

Absolute favorite album ever,period. The look of peace on this lovely girl's face as she listens says it all.

[@Jude_196]

GOSH - we SURE WERE LUCKY!!! This album was FIRE!

[@gwts1171]

Donald Fagen has never done a bad song.

[@TheDesertRoseRanch]

That entire album is a MASTERPIECE. Enjoy.

[@scurvybro8850]

Yow owe it to yourselves to listen to this entire album. It's a beautiful, meticulously crafted masterpiece.

[@jaimecollado1967]

Donald fagen is so great what a sound amazing. Band..thanks guys i from little poor Town but with Donald's music im glad proud for his music thanks god

[@robertljazz2796]

The whole album is a masterpiece every song tells a story and the production sound is so clean a precise high end audio enthusiasts use this to set all the functions on their equipment because the sound is perfect!

[@padfolio]

"Walk Between The Raindrops" from the same album is a must listen.

[@michaelknight2118]

Cool song from a great album. New Frontier, smooth sound. Love you guys. Thanks for the smile.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

This is such an excellent track from an excellent album, "The Nightfly", other tracks from this fantastic album: "Green Flower Street", "New Frontier", "The Nightfly", "The Goodbye Look". In fact the whole album is worth reacting to.

[@aliciaharvey1758]

The Goodbye Look was my favorite on this one. But it’s a good album overall.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Same

[@cclarke9896]

Yep.

[@jonasmandersson]

Personally I love Maxine.

[@Eyevin]

That entire album is a masterpiece, you two must listen to it!

[@allendixon7700]

I love it how long I am I ever die. But it's not the best bout you're awkward

[@paullacroix527]

"Maxine" on this album IMO is one of the most beautiful loves songs ever. Donald outdid himself. Great reaction to a great artist and song.

[@TheDivayenta]

This album celebrates the new modern outlook of the 60’s and mocks it too. Every song is sublime. ❤

[@DavidHenley-x6c]

The thing to me about Steely Dan and Donald Fagan is they play this strange cords and t mean that as a compliment. Unique sound. I'm 67 and grew up with great music. Love your show❤

[@clydeotoole7663]

This song was inspired by Donald Fagen's childhood, when he was dreaming about what the future was going to bring. Fagen was born in 1948 - imagine the advances in technology and society in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It wasn't that long before that automobiles, airplanes, electric lights, appliances etc. didn't even exist. So even though in his childhood they were becoming norm, for his parents they were new.

[@FrancesThompson-e3m]

A brilliant album, I had no hesitation in buying it!💖

[@stevehamilton8824]

Another song with a vibe that just makes you feel like kicking back.

[@thelowe6393]

Just when you think Donald Fagen has written his best stuff, he whips out The Nightfly. Truly a musical genius. His followup solo album, "Kamakiriad" is also a gem.

[@traci4187]

This is one of my all-time favorite songs - it just SOUNDS RIGHT. I also like "New Frontier" off this album really well.

[@SMccrate01]

There's your hammock, cigar and bourbon groove!

[@jherr]

This song perfectly captures that 50s atomic age aesthetic. And I love the callout to programmers. It was the first time I had ever heard my profession in a song. (And maybe the last honestly.)

[@ler5299]

The Nightfly album is a masterpiece

[@shirleydicristofano7381]

I have been listening to Steely Dan/Donald Fagen forever….Im 64 I still listen to them…yes I’m African-American woman that enjoy their sound. They had some of the best musicians to play on all of his albums.

[@richardkint6531]

Great sound from Donald Fagen. I think that sound was a special effect from a keyboard Jay. Fun fact, Chevy Chase was a drummer along with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in a college band. Gotta reacts to "New Frontier" next. Thanks. 😎

[@kobolt5]

The entire album is a masterpiece. Donald got the best studio musicians to play on this.. and it shows! Other highlights from this album are Ruby Baby, Green Flower Street, New Frontier, Maxine & of course the title track is no slouch either!

[@Eric-qv2rz]

Instantly gets me in good mood❤❤

[@Modes9]

Donald Fagen's NIghtfly comes up in my rotation four out of five days a week. Some things never get old.

[@rarelycares8416]

Always assumed this was Steely Dan, never realized it was solo. Sound is definitely Steely Dan.

[@andymageen5308]

Same, 😂✌️

[@jmacf62]

Because without Fagen, Steely Dan doesn't exist.

[@bobburroughs6241]

This is in my top ten best of all time - a wonderful song matching the best of Dan - still on iPod and played regularly. Simply phenomenal.

[@stevemurrell6167]

This album has the reputation of being one of the finest recordings ever. The SQ on my LP of this is sublime....interesting that it is a fully digital recording, apparently the first in history.

[@Nastyfinger1444]

Now this is a vibe.

[@jacqueline4514]

This is the first song on my funeral playlist; “Spandex Jackets for Everyone”. Brilliant. ❤

[@bjdefilippo447]

Yes! Excellent choice! Such a good hook.

[@toreg.nyhammer6328]

I think that everything Steely Dan and Donald Fagen have produced is perfect. And I happen to have this LP album 😊

[@billbitter1477]

I.G.Y. is the acronym for: International Geophysical Year. Lasting from 7/1/1957-12/31/1958 It was aptly named because of the optimistic future this era conveyed in the midst of the cold war. The reason these two feel the recording sounds so "Clean" is it was one of the first fully-digital recorded albums ever made. If you have the CD (I do, plus the Vinyl album) it's labeled DDD. Meaning, Digitally Recorded, Mastered and replicated. I had the great fortune to hear him play the entire Nightfly album LIVE, start to finish, from the 5th row at the fantastic Orpheum Theater in Boston on 10/26/2019. A truly sublime experience.

[@paullacroix527]

Yes great tune. IMO, Donald is one of the greatest songwriters of the 1970's. This is 82 after The Dan split. Try "Maxine" off this album. One of the most beautiful love songs ever. Great reaction folks...

[@rkw2917]

Brilliant album So happy you are here for it

[@nancysmith8626]

This song always made me feel free, like I could float away, when I was a child. And I didn't even entirely understand the origin of all his lyrics, I just knew it induced an incredibly happy, relaxed feeling. What a song! One of his best.

[@MitchellWilkinson-m8n]

The Nightly album is Donald Fagens teenage conceptual remembrance of late-night jazz radio in New York. He imagines that he himself is the programs DJ. The entire album, Fagens solo masterpiece, features sparkling production and instrumentation with high industry standards. Thank you Rob Squad for getting I.G.Y. out there. It was the lead in track and hit single from the album. Fagen is pure genious.

[@Luuuc]

So glad you guys loved this one. ❤ The Nightfly is an incredible album, and this was the obvious first track to react to from it. An absolute classic. My other personal fav from the album is the title track - The Nightfly. It's such a fun song. But the whole album is scattered with great tracks, and it is sonic perfection from start to finish.

[@livenhfree]

VERY impressed that you picked this up. Such musically challenging, technical, and cerebral work. IGY: International Geophysical Year. That's Fagen (and Becker, by extension). His first solo album. The whole thing is so intricate, complex, and yet impressive and listenable. Good on 'ya both! Thank you!

[@kevinsacks3185]

Jay, that sound you're wondering about is a Synth blues harmonica. And if you like the blue-eyed soul sound of the song, you should also check out another of Fagen's side projects, The New York Rock and Soul Revue. He, along with artists like Michael McDonald, Phoebe Snow and Boz Scaggs do covers of rock and soul classics.

[@hoopsmccann9228]

Lonely Teardrops by MM is 🔥.

[@blackblake3658]

Jazz.

[@kevinsacks3185]

@@hoopsmccann9228 Hoops! You're a crowd pleasing man!

[@speedyhairyson]

Thanks for the reminder!! I have it on CD & had forgotten about it. 👍

[@hoopsmccann9228]

@@kevinsacks3185 Why thank you. Now it’s off for some Szechuan dumplings at Mr. Chow's. 😎

[@lisatrosclair7824]

I always Loved this song! I was a teenager when it came out pure emotion from Donald Fagen its extraordinary ❤❤❤❤

[@RobertMiller-o1z]

That album cover always reminds me of the old news man Edward R. Murrow.

[@theivory1]

I think the instrument you're wondering about is a Melodica. Fagen plays it all the time. It's a little wind powered keyboard.

[@Eric-qv2rz]

This song gets me in good mood instantly 😂😂❤

[@bridgemanjr]

Howard Jones live version, and studio version are beautiful as well.

[@stack_of_records]

Production value through the roof. Steely Dan too... big fan!!!

[@rubyswaim1441]

He does a great version of "Ruby Baby". Just sayin'...😂

[@walterkirk9210]

Yes, Ruby, he definitely does! 🙂