New Frontier

Greetings, Zoo Freaks, from your far-out friends at THE ZOO! We're spinning "New Frontier" by Donald Fagen from his stellar solo debut, The Nightfly, and we've got some groovy trivia to share. This tune, set in the early '60s, captures a teenage fantasy of romance in a backyard bomb shelter, blending sarcasm with nostalgia. Fagen revealed on The Charlie Gillett Show in 1988 that it's about kids throwing a party in a fallout shelter while their parents are away, with Larry Carlton's bluesy guitar licks adding that perfect vibe. The song's title nods to John F. Kennedy's 1960 campaign speech, a humorous metaphor for the mysteries of youth and adulthood, as noted by The Wall Street Journal's Robert J. Toth. Its music video, a mix of animation and live-action, was a standout on early MTV, praised by AllMusic's Stewart Mason as one of the era's greats, even paying homage to the 1953 Oscar-winning short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom.

Dive deeper, Zoo Crew, and you'll find "New Frontier" is packed with cultural Easter eggs. References to actress Tuesday Weld, jazz legend Dave Brubeck, and Ambush cologne paint a vivid picture of '60s suburbia. Fagen's liner notes for The Nightfly explain the song reflects fantasies of a young man from the northeastern suburbs, much like Fagen himself. Billboard called its lyrics "diffuse and unsettling" but wrapped in a comfy rhythm, while The New York Times' Laura Sinagra dubbed it a "biting Reagan-era recollection of '60s hope." The track's infectious groove, featuring Larry Carlton and Hugh McCracken, got a fresh spin in 2021 on The Nightfly Live, with Something Else! reviewer Preston Frazier noting its punchy rhythm and biting guitar by Jon Herington won him over.

Now, let's rewind to how Donald Fagen kicked off his legendary career. Born January 10, 1948, in Passaic, New Jersey, to Jewish parents—an accountant father and a homemaker mother who once sang in the Catskills—Fagen grew up in the suburbs he later called a "prison." As a kid, he dug rock 'n' roll like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, but by his teens, he was hooked on jazz, sneaking into Greenwich Village's Village Vanguard to catch acts like Bill Evans. At Bard College in 1965, he met Walter Becker, bonding over jazz, soul, and Beat poetry. They formed bands like the Bad Rock Group (with a young Chevy Chase on drums!) and wrote songs together, eventually landing gigs as pop songwriters for ABC/Dunhill Records. Their quirky tunes were too unique for others, so with producer Gary Katz and guitarist Denny Dias, they formed Steely Dan in 1970, naming it after a quirky reference from William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch.

After Steely Dan's 1981 breakup, Fagen dropped The Nightfly in 1982, a platinum-certified hit nominated for seven Grammys. He’s since released three more solo albums and reunited with Steely Dan, touring as its sole original member after Becker’s 2017 passing. Connect with Fagen at his official website, on Facebook, and Instagram. His X presence is minimal, but fans can join the vibe at Steely Dan’s official site or the fan-run Steely Dan Official Fan Group on Facebook. For more Fagen love, check out DonaldFagen.com, a fan site packed with discography and news. Keep it funky, Zoo Freaks!