| | Billy Joel 52ND Street CD Billy Joel Discography of CDs
 (5 Customer Reviews)
Every major artist has at least one record that is the consummate definition of their style. Billy Joel has several. 52ND STREET, however, may be at the top of the heap. Following the ridiculously successful THE STRANGER, Joel didn't rest on his laurels. Instead he kept his songwriting skills moving forward into even deeper areas of exploration. His uniquely personal tales of emotional defiance and blue collar struggles take different, and sometimes darker forms this time to reveal an even richer creative side to the tough kid from Levittown.
This collection finds the piano man in a very solitary mood as he struggles with the influence of those around him in the raucous "Big Shot" and the beautiful ballad "Honesty." One of Joel's many signature songs, "My Life," is among the best anthems of self reliance ever written. The very creative "Zanzibar" and "Rosalinda's Eyes" explore jazz and Latin influences, respectively. Finally, the lesser known gem "Until The Night" is a grandiose tale of longing that is the emotional apex of the entire album. The end result is a stellar work that effectively puts the cap on the '70s phase of Joel's career.
Recorded at A&R Recording, Inc., New York, New York.
Personnel: Billy Joel (vocals, piano); Steve Khan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); David Spinozza (acoustic guitar); Hugh McCracken (nylon-string guitar); George Marge (soprano recorder); Richie Cannata (clarinet, saxophone, organ); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Mike Mainieri (vibraphone, marimba); Doug Stegmeyer (bass guitar, background vocals); Liberty DeVitto (drums); Ralph MacDonald (percussion); David Friedman (chimes); Donnie Dacus, Eric Gale, Milt Grayson, Peter Cetera, Ray Simpson, Babi Floyd, Zachary Sanders, Frank Floyd (background vocals).
Personnel includes: Billy Joel (vocals, harmonica, piano, keyboards); Eric Gale, Hugh McCracken, David Spinozza, Russell Javors, Steve Khan, David Brown (guitar); George Marge (sopranino saxophone); Richie Cannata (saxophone, organ); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Robert Freedman (horns); Mike Manieri (vibraphone, percussion); Doug Stegmeyer (bass); Liberty DeVito, David Friedman, Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Peter Cetera, Donnie Dacus, Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Zachary Sanders, Ray Simpson, Milt Grayson (background vocals).
Re-Issue
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. 52ND Street Music | List Price | $7.99 (You save $0.40) | | Category | Rock Albums, Pop CDs, Rock/Pop, Enhanced CD, Singer/Songwriter | | Label | Columbia | | Orig Year | 1978 | | All Time Sales Rank |  3868  | | CD Universe Part number | 1090305 | | Catalog number | 69385 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Oct 20, 1998 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Producer | Phil Ramone | | Engineer | Jim Boyer | | Recording Time | 40 minutes | | Personnel | Hugh McCracken - nylon-string guitar
David Spinozza - acoustic guitar
Billy Joel - vocals, harmonica, piano, keyboards
David Brown - guitar
George Marge - soprano recorder
Frank Floyd - background vocals
Richie Cannata - saxophone, organ
Liberty DeVito - drums, percussion
Doug Stegmeyer - bass
Donnie Dacus
List all 23 contributors
| | Additional Info | Remastered; Enhanced CD |
Billy Joel 52ND Street Songs 52ND Street Music Review Average Rating: (4.2 out of 5 stars)  Great vintage Billy Joel
This was always my fav. album. Zanzibar etc. Great music!
Submitted by sinatra11 (Helmetta NJ) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Still my favorite.
This is the one I remember from my youth and is still my favorite. I like most of Billy's work,but this one always stood out a little more for me. I like the jazz sound that he was going for on most of the tracks. Of course the big hits "My Life" and "Big Shot" are great songs,but I think just about every cut is a stand-out. A great one to pick up,not to disappoint.
Submitted by Joe (Milwaukee)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
I Liked The Songs My Life
My Favorite Song of Joel's is My Life
Submitted by Joe_Manie (wallingford,ct,usa)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No One of the best Billy Joel albums
If you like Billy Joel music, but are tired of hearing his same 5 or 6 hits, than this is a great CD to get. This has some awesome songs that you probably haven't heard but any Billy Joel fan needs to hear i.e. Zanzibar, Stiletto, Half a Mile Away. If your not a big fan than you probably won't appreciate this album as much, but anyone who loves his music or a newly found fan of Billy Joel, this is a must have.
Overall if you just like his more well known songs and not his other stuff, save your money and by a different CD. If your a huge fan, or just a fan period, this CD is well worth getting and a necessity to any collection.
Submitted by nathanielr56 (Chapel Hill, NC, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Ugh
Let me start off by saying I'm not a big Billy Joel fan. However, he does have a number of good songs but not on this one. The opener, Big Shot, has GOT to be one of the most annoying tracks ever laid down on vinyl (or CD). My Life is pretty good, as is Zanzibar, but if you want quality Billy Joel, I'd suggest picking up Piano Man or the later albums Nylon Curtain (with his gem, Allentown) or Innocent Man.
Submitted by Jason (New York, NY)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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