Billy Joel- Turnstiles
(Numbered180G Vinyl LP)
Track List
Billy JoelTurnstileson Numbered Edition 180g LP from Mobile Fidelity
Joel Expands Musical Horizons on 1976 Gem Defined by Hit Songs Like "New York State of Mind," "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," "Angry Young Man"
Half-Speed Mastered from the Original Master Tapes: Brill Building Sound Courses Through With Amazing Transparency
Experience the Orchestral Sweep, Ravishing Poignancy Like Never Before
Also Available onHybrid SACDfrom Mobile Fidelity
Piano Man,The Stranger,52nd Street,Glass Houses,Songs in the Attic,The Nylon Curtain, andAn Innocent ManAlso Available from Mobile Fidelity
By 1976,Billy Joelhad proven his merit as an auteur of California-based singer-songwriter pop-rock. OnTurnstiles, the legend focuses his attention on more ambitious matters: Making an album whose scope and range dwarf that of his previous work, and shot his star into the stratosphere.Encompassing everything from urgent rock to soft pop and saloon fare,Turnstilesis a classic of major proportions.
Mobile Fidelity has gone back to the original master tapes to presentJoel’s encompassing music the way it was always intended to be experienced: Intimate, detailed, expressive, warm.The record’s widescreen sonics are at last properly cinematic, flush with colors, textures, and atmosphere.
Progressing away from sensitivity,Joelcasts his eye towards broader horizons. For him, that meant moving from the West Coast back to his native New York and embracing the city’s doo-wop, Broadway, and R&B heritage.Joel’sdiversity comes through in a spectacle of memorable tunes, including the infectious “All You Wanna Do Is Dance,” acerbic “Angry Young Man,” and gorgeous “I’ve Loved These Days.”
Still, no song better illustrates the allure&mdashand breadth&mdashofTurnstilesmore than “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” bathed in the sort of fabulousPhil Spectorsound, huge drum echoes, and Brill Building orchestral sweep thatJoelgrew up on. Similarly, the sprawling ballad “New York State of Mind” clearly states the singer’s vision and mood. On the definitive track,Joelluxuriates in full string accompaniment and soulful saxophone playing that gives the pop standard its foundation. Not for nothing did Joel insist on keeping his touring band for the album, a decision that resulted in the firing of the record’s original producer.
Supported by talents such as arranger Kenny Ascher, guitarist James Herb Smith, and percussionist Mingo Lewis, Joel succeeds in wrapping his head around a rich swath of American pop music, stopping by way of New Orleans, Kansas City, Memphis, Chicago, and other cities on his way from California back to the Garden State. While lacking the fame of the subsequentThe Strangerand52nd Street,Turnstilesis in every way their equal.
Finally, the delicate nuances ofJoel’sphrasing, pregnant pauses, and introspective emotion can be experienced in three-dimensional fidelity. In addition, the spectrum of the orchestra’s power and finesse, ravishing poignancy of the lyrics, and bittersweet qualities of the melodies bloom with unforced immediacy. The previous veiled sonic character and stultifying dryness have been corrected, presentingJoeland his crack band with illuminating precision and feeling.