The Groovy Archives

Virgo From the Scholastic 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar Illustration: Frederic Marvin

Aries From the Scholastic 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar Illustration: Frederic Marvin

Leo From the Scholastic 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar Illustration: Frederic Marvin

On this day in music history: October 1, 1982 - “The Nightfly”, the debut solo album by Donald Fagen is released. Produced by Gary Katz, it is recorded at Soundworks Digital Audio/Video Studios, Automated Sound in New York City, and Village Recorders in Los Angeles, CA from Mid 1981 - Mid 1982. Following the demise of Steely Dan after the release of their seventh album “Gaucho”, Donald Fagen begins work on his first solo album. With nearly all of the material being written by Fagen himself, the album is an autobiographical look at his childhood growing up in suburban New Jersey during the 50’s and early 60’s. It features a number of top notch musicians, many of which had played on past SD albums including Larry Carlton, Rick Derringer, Steve Khan, Hugh McCracken, Dean Parks (guitars), Chuck Rainey, Anthony Jackson, Will Lee, Abraham Laboriel, Marcus Miller (bass), James Gadson, Ed Greene, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Jordan (drums), Michael Omartian, Greg Phillinganes, Rob Mounsey (keyboards), Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), and Randy Brecker (flugelhorn, trumpet). The album is a critical and commercial success, earning several Grammy nominations, including ones for Song Of The Year, and Album Of The Year in 1983. Recorded and mixed on digital recording equipment (Mitsubishi 32 track digital multi-track), the album is as lauded for its outstanding sound quality as it is for its musical content, being a pivotal release in digital recording gaining popularity in the 80’s and beyond. It spins off two singles including “I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)” (#26 Pop, #8 AC, #54 R&B), and “New Frontier” (#70 Pop, #34 AC).  A favorite of audiophiles since its original release, the album is released as a half-speed mastered LP by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in 1983. It is later remastered and reissued as a DVD-A disc by Warner Bros Records in 2003, featuring the original stereo mix, a newly remixed 5.1 surround mix, and the original music video for “New Frontier” as an added bonus. Rhino Records also reissues the album as a 180 gram vinyl LP in 2010. It is also issued as a hybrid SACD disc in Japan in 2011, including the original stereo mix, and the 5.1 surround mix, remixed by Elliot Scheiner. The classic title is scheduled to be reissued as a limited edition double vinyl “One-Step Series” LP box set by the label on October 13, 2017. Mastered at 45 RPM, the set is limited to 6,000 numbered copies. “The Nightfly” peaks at number eleven on the Billboard Top 200, number twenty four on the R&B album chart, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

Virgo From the Scholastic 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar Illustration: Frederic Marvin

New Month - new Calendar Page!! From the 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar. For the Cancer/Leo star signs. Illustration by Frederic Marvin.

Taurus Illustration From the 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar, by Scholastic. Illustration by Frederic Marvin.

Cover Image from the Scholastic 1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar Illustration by Frederic Marvin

Capricorn Illustration by Frederic Marvin. From Scholastic’s “1971 Pop/Astrology Calendar”

John Alcorn, Zodiac, 1969. Cover illustration for Sydney Omarr’s Astrological book series. Via MewDeep6