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THE REVIEW
In 1976, after the enormous success achieved with the album "Piano Man" in 1973, Billy Joel manages once more to "coagulate" his piano talent with the production of tracks with a very smooth album entitled "Turnstiles". This LP provides eight pieces that are connected yet at the same time autonomous; Billy Joel optimally divides the tracks based on rhythms and sounds. The cover already indicates the American taste present in this LP ("Say Goodbye To Hollywood", "NY State Of Mind", "Miami 2017").
The opening track of this album is titled "Say Goodbye To Hollywood", one of the most famous pieces of this album; it is a pleasant piece, even if it does not fully attract the listener, but "Summer Highland Falls" handles this. The second song is much more thought out, and the piano arpeggios create a backdrop for a truly remarkable melody. The dance resumes with "All You Wanna Do is Dance", the most spontaneous and perhaps the least successful track on the album, also because many consider it too banal. A song with strong tones reminiscent of blues sounds is instead "New York State Of Mind", whose lyrics describe daily life within New York. "James" is the sweetest song on the album, which could almost be a second part of Elton John's "Daniel", something we cannot say for the subsequent "Prelude (Angry Young Man)," in which Billy Joel demonstrates his piano talents with the use of the repeated note, perhaps the most energetic song. The next is "I've Loved These Days", one of Billy Joel's most successful ballads, especially on an emotional level. The cherry on top is certainly "Miami 2017", with a fantastic piano introduction and lyrics about a concert held in Brooklyn where, despite numerous setbacks, the musicians continue to play as if nothing happened.
In short, together with "The Stranger", "Piano Man", "Glass Houses", and many others, this is, in my opinion, a fundamental album in Billy Joel's career.
SONG RATINGS: "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" 7.5/10; "Summer Highland Falls" 10/10; "All You Wanna Do Is Dance" 7/10; "New York State Of Mind" 9.5/10; "James" 9/10; "Prelude" 10/10; "I've Loved These Days" 10/10; "Miami 2017" 10/10
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Summary by Bot
Billy Joel's 1976 album Turnstiles showcases his exceptional piano talent across eight distinct yet connected tracks. The album features classics such as "New York State Of Mind" and "Miami 2017," blending blues, ballads, and energetic pieces. While some tracks like "All You Wanna Do Is Dance" receive mixed feelings, the overall reception is highly favorable. Turnstiles stands as a significant work alongside Joel’s best albums like Piano Man and The Stranger.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Billy Joel
Billy Joel (William Martin Joel, born 1949) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist known for piano-driven pop/rock, major 1970s–80s album runs, and enduring live popularity.12 Reviews
