52nd Street is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on October 11, 1978. The follow-up to his breakthrough success album, The Stranger, Joel tried to give the album a fresh sound, hiring various jazz musicians to differentiate it from his previous albums.
It was the first of four Joel albums to top the Billboard charts, and it earned him two Grammys.
Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, contributing to the album's success: "My Life" (number 3), "Big Shot" (number 14), and "Honesty" (number 24).
It was similarly well received by critics, earning the 1980 Grammy for Album of the Year.
The title is a reference to 52nd Street, 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 where recording took place was also on 52nd Street, one block away from the CBS Building.
Once The Stranger became a hit, Billy Joel quickly re-entered the studio with producer Phil Ramone to record the follow-up, 52nd Street. Instead of breaking from the sound of The Stranger, Joel chose to expand it, making it more sophisticated and somewhat jazzy.
Often, his moves sounded as if they were responses to Steely Dan -- indeed, his phrasing and melody for "Zanzibar" is a direct homage to Donald Fagen circa The Royal Scam, and it also boasts a solo from jazz great Freddie Hubbard à la Steely Dan -- but since Joel is a working-class populist, not an elitist college boy, he never shies away from big gestures and melodies. Consequently, 52nd Street unintentionally embellishes the Broadway overtones of its predecessor, not only on a centerpiece like "Stiletto," but when he's rocking out on "Big Shot."
That isn't necessarily bad, since Joel's strong suit turns out to be showmanship -- he dazzles with his melodic skills and his enthusiastic performances.
He also knows how to make a record. Song for song, 52nd Street might not be as strong as The Stranger, but there are no weak songs -- indeed, "Honesty," "My Life," "Until the Night," and the three mentioned above are among his best -- and they all flow together smoothly, thanks to Ramone's seamless production and Joel's melodic craftsmanship.
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.
In 2003, 52nd Street was ranked number 352 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and at 354 on a 2012 revised list.
Side A
A1. Big Shot - 4:01
A2. Honesty - 3:50
A3. My Life (Backing Vocals – Donnie Dacus, Peter Cetera) - 4:43
A4. Zanzibar - 5:10
Side B
B1. Stiletto - 4:39
B2. Rosalinda's Eyes - 4:40
B3. Half A Mile Away (Backing Vocals – Babi Floyd, Frank Floyd, Milt Grayson, Ray Simpson, Zack Sanders) - 4:06
B4. Until The Night - 6:35
B5. 52nd Street - 2:27
Notes
Release: 1978
Format: LP
Genre: Pop, Rock
Label: CBS Records
Catalog# CBS 83181
Vinyl: VG
Cover: VG
Prijs: €10,00
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