Donald Fagen's The Nightfly Live (2021)

Credits are provided, but liner notes are non-existent. From what I can piece together, these tracks were recorded in 2019 at tour stops at the Beacon Theatre in New York City (Oct. 19) and the Orpheum Theatre in Boston (Oct. 26).

For decades, I've had Fagen's 1982 Nightfly release on my proverbial "desert island" list of albums; my thoughts on that particular masterpiece are available at a previous CDP post. When I read that a live recording was going to be released, I wasn't particularly interested. The original is great as is - why mess up a good thing, right? So I avoided it until I saw this disc in the used bin (still sealed) with a $2 sticker on it. For that price, why not give it a shot? So let's break open the shrink wrap and give this a listen.

...

Music? Fantastic. Performances? Solid. Necessary? No. The CD is enjoyable and you can tell the audience got their money's worth, but it's mostly rote recreations so I think I'll stick with the '82 original.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: The only cut that veers from the familiar '82 recording is Maxine, in which the background vocalists completely take over singing duties. I guess Donnie's voice needed a break and at his age (71 at the time of recording), I can hardly blame him. My favorite track from the album has always been New Frontier and they pick up the tempo ever so slightly here and I like the urgency and intensity that slight, simple change brings to the tune. And I appreciate the absence of any between song patter.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Sunken Condos (2012)
Morph the Cat (2006)
Kamakiriad (1993)
New Frontier CD Video (1988)
The Nightfly (1982)

See also:
The New York Rock And Soul Revue - Live At The Beacon (1991)