Track Listing

1. Big Shot
2. Honesty
3. My Life
4. Zanzibar
5. Stiletto
6. Rosalinda's Eyes
7. Half A Mile Away
8. Until The Night
9. 52nd Street

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21404 in Music
• Released on: 1998-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

CD Description
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. Followingthe 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 toreveal 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 knowngem "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.

Customer Reviews

Billy Joel at the pinnacle of his creativeness
This brilliant jazzy and atmospheric album is a great example of Billy Joel's excellent songwriting talent. Every song is a gem. The album opens with the brash "Bigshot", journeys through the sensitivity of "Honesty", "Until the Night" and "Rosalinda Eyes", the catchy tunes of "My Life" (his smash hit) and "Half a Mile a Way", the jazziness of "Zanzibar" and "Stilleto" , finally a bluesy epilogue of the title track. This is a great album featuing some great jazz artists including Michael Brecker. The grammy award for album of the year says it all. This is a classy album and a must for anyone who likes Billy Joel.

Joel's Magnus Opus
Magnificent tour de force from a premium artist at the peak of his powers. This Grammy winning album of the year is probably the best singer-songwriter disk of the '70s. Brilliant in every conceivable way.

An Old Favourite!
Having had this album in LP format years ago I decided to purchase it on a CD as I always loved it. Even after all these years it does not disappoint. In my opinion Billy Joel is an underrated composer and performer on this side of the Atlantic. He is extremely talented and this album is one of his greats. I'm a jazz fanatic and his love of this genre definitely comes through in some of these titles. My favourite is "Zanzibar" which I can never get out of my head when I've played it a couple of times - it stays for days. I also love "Rosalinda's Eyes", but seriously, every track is great and I recommend this CD.