Donald Fagen - Nightfly Trilogy

One man’s life in a comprehensive box

Three solo albums over 20-plus years is hardly prolific, but Fagen’s triptych follows a remarkably coherent and intriguing narrative. 1982’s The Nightfly freed him of Steely Dan’s elaborate wordplay on a set of songs inspired by his own adolescence, Fagen’s boyish dreams gloriously articulated on New Frontier, a witty reaction to growing up in the shadow of the Cuban missile crisis.

1993’s Kamakiriad continued the theme of yearning for a better life, from the perspective of a middle-aged man travelling the world in a steam-powered car, surveying the state of the planet. Reunited with Dan’s Walter Becker as producer, it was closer to the band’s spirit and wit. 2006’s Morph The Cat was partly inspired by both 9/11 and the death of Fagen’s mother, ruminating on mortality and the regrets of chances squandered. By now Steely Dan had reformed, to great fanfare, but Fagen’s solo effort went almost unnoticed.

This bumper package is completed by versions of each album on Music Video Interactive discs, with surround sound and a plethora of visual bonuses including stills and promo clips. A seventh disc collects hard-to-find songs from soundtracks, live recordings and shelved projects, a refreshing compendium of goodies, considering the dearth of extras on Steely Dan’s 90s box set.

Rhino/Reprise | 9362433252 (7-CD)

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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