Billy Joel’s sixth studio album “52nd Street” can still generate a lot of heat over 45 years since it first topped the charts.
Billy Joel’s sixth studio album “52nd Street” can still generate a lot of heat over 45 years since it first topped the charts.
Billy Joel’s sixth studio album “52nd Street” can still generate a lot of heat over 45 years since it first topped the charts.
Released in October, 1977, the album stands out in the Long Island native’s discography for its swanky jazz sound and unembellished production.
Joel got the album’s title from the location of what he called “the center of the jazz universe,” throughout the 1940’s and 1960’s. His recording studio, A & R Studios, sat on the corner of 52nd St. and 7th Ave. in New York City.
The record was produced by South-African born music prodigy Phil Ramone, who received the Grammy for “Album of the Year” in 1978 for his work with Joel. Ramone also won in the “Best Male Pop Vocal Album” category that same year.
“52nd Street” kicks off with a bang — the opening track “Big Shot” promises listeners an exhilarating ride through the city in the night.
Joel sings about a show-off donning expensive clothes and engaging in cheap conversation. He spares no mercy as he airs out their faux pas to the authoritative sound of electric guitar, highlighted by an outstanding rhythm section.
Joel revealed in a 2010 interview with Howard Stern the song was written from the perspective of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger about his former wife, Bianca.
Establishing a motif of false sincerity, Joel begs for truth on “Honesty.” What starts as a somber tune soon bursts into an epic piano ballad. The singer belts emotive lyrics about the lack of honesty he finds in romance, and pleads with his lover for transparency.
“Honesty is such a lonely word / Everyone is so untrue / Honesty is hardly ever heard / And mostly what I need from you,” Joel sings.
Joel revs the energy back up with “My Life,” a fan-favorite declaration of breaking free from expectation and unsolicited advice.
“Don’t get me wrong / You can speak your mind, but not on my time,” Joel sings, “I don’t care what you say anymore this is my life / Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone.”
Despite its cynical lyrics, the song breathes a welcome airiness into the record — its joyful beat fitting for a summer drive with the windows down.
“Zanzibar” embodies the groovy jazz elements that make “52nd Street” the album it is. Another tracklist highlight, Joel blends his signature piano stylings with lavish saxophone, painting a picture of a fictitious Zanzibar sports bar with a waitress who catches his eye.
The song’s trumpet solo by Freddie Hubbard creates an “irresistibly sexy” urgency when paired with the driving bassline, according to Ramone.
The sultriness of the album continues with “Stiletto,” where Joel sings of his fanaticism over a calculated woman whose high heels serve as the knife in his back when his fantasy shatters.
In the album’s sixth track “Rosalinda’s Eyes,” Joel serenades listeners with a story of a Cuban musician who makes his living playing with a Puerto Rican band. The homesick musician finds solace in the woman he loves and the thought of seeing her again.
“Half a Mile Away” is a contradiction from the previous track both sonically and lyrically. On the prowl for more in life than what surrounds him, Joel’s lyrics embrace juvenile antics, complimenting themes from “My Life.”
“Until the Night” spotlights Joel’s use of his lower register. The singer creates a beautiful harmony with himself as he sings about the insecurity of what will happen in the space and time between himself and his lover.
“Now you’re afraid that we have changed / And I’m afraid of getting older,” Joel sings.
The song is an underrated gem on the record, featuring another dazzling saxophone solo and pining lyricism.
The album closes with its titular track, “52nd Street.” Lyrically subdued, the strength in this tune lies in its simplicity. Joel employs the rich soul of his lower register once again, before the instrumental second-half of the song drives the listener home.
The album lends itself as a timeless piece of jazz stylings interwoven with the honest lyricism and piano sound that put Joel on the map.
“52nd Street” is available to stream on all major platforms.
RePlay is a recurring music review column.
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