Billy Joel - 52nd Street [Impex Records 180g LP; mastered by Kevin Gray] 24-bit/96kHz & CD-format

“

It's remarkable to think that in a matter of three records, Joel had hit upon a workable, marketable formula -- one that not only made him one of the biggest-selling artists of his era, but one of the most enjoyable mainstream hitmakers. 52nd Street is a testament to that achievement. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine/AMG (4/5 Stars)

”

52nd Street is the sixth studio album by Billy Joel, released in 1978. It was also the first of many Joel albums to top the Billboard charts, along with his third and fourth Grammy win. 52nd Street also became, in 1982, the first commercial album to be released on compact disc.

Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, helping to boost the success of the album. "My Life" reached #3, "Big Shot" reached #14, and "Honesty" reached #24.[4] The album was also successful with critics, winning the 1979 Grammy for Album of the Year.

Allmusic credits Joel for expanding on the style of The Stranger, making it "more sophisticated and somewhat jazzy." (Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard guests on "Zanzibar.") The title is a reference to 52nd Street, which was one of New York City's jazz centers in the middle of the century. Joel's label was headquartered on 52nd Street (in the CBS Building) at the time of the album's release. The studio in which 52nd Street was recorded was also on 52nd Street, a block away from the CBS Building.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 352 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.



Track listing

All songs written and composed by Billy Joel.

Side A

1. "Big Shot" 4:03
2. "Honesty" 3:53
3. "My Life" 4:44
4. "Zanzibar" 5:13

Side B

5. "Stiletto" 4:42
6. "Rosalinda's Eyes" 4:41
7. "Half a Mile Away" 4:08
8. "Until the Night" 6:35
9. "52nd Street" 2:27

Personnel

Billy Joel – piano, Vocals
Doug Stegmeyer – bass, background vocals
Liberty DeVitto – drums
Richie Cannata – saxophones, organ, clarinet
Steve Khan – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Freddie Hubbard – flugelhorn and trumpet on "Zanzibar"
Mike Mainieri – vibes and marimba on "Zanzibar" and "Rosalinda's Eyes"
David Spinozza – acoustic guitar on "Honesty"
Donnie Dacus – background vocals on "My Life"
Peter Cetera – background vocals on "My Life"
David Friedman – orchestral chimes and percussion on "Until the Night"
Ralph MacDonald – percussion on "Rosalinda's Eyes" and "Half a Mile Away"
Eric Gale – electric guitar on "Half a Mile Away"
Frank Floyd – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"
Babi Floyd – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"
Zack Sanders – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"
Milt Grayson – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"
Ray Simpson – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"
George Marge – sopranino recorder on "Rosalinda's Eyes"
Hugh McCracken – nylon string guitar on "Until the Night" and "Rosalinda's Eyes"
Robert Freedman – horn and string orchestration on "Until the Night" and "Honesty"
Dave Grusin – horn orchestration on "Half a Mile Away"
David Nadien – concertmaster