How a jazz-inspired detour became Billy Joel's first number one album
In short: In 1978, Billy Joel sought to break away from his established sound by embracing jazz influences. The result was 52nd Street, a commercial juggernaut that not only topped the Billboard 200 for eight non-consecutive weeks but also marked a milestone in the history of the compact disc format.
Released on October 11, 1978, via Columbia Records, 52nd Street served as the follow-up to Joel's breakthrough, The Stranger. To achieve a fresher, more sophisticated sound, Joel collaborated with various jazz musicians. This stylistic shift was reflected in the album's title, which honors the Midtown Manhattan street that served as a jazz hub from the Great Depression through the 1950s.
The album's success was both commercial and critical. It reached number one on the Billboard 200, a position it maintained for eight non-consecutive weeks. Three American hits reached the Top 40: "My Life" (at 3), "Big Shot" (at 14), and "Honesty" (at 24). The project secured two trophies at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, awarded to producer Phil Ramone, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Beyond its musical impact, 52nd Street holds a unique place in technological history. On October 1, 1982, it was among the first albums released on compact disc in Japan by the CBS/Sony label. It held the first catalogue number in that sequence, 35DP-1. When Sony resumed vinyl production in 2018, this album was the inaugural release.
While some critics, such as those at The Globe and Mail, initially found the songwriting formulaic, others, like AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine, later praised the album for its sophisticated, jazzy expansion of Joel's musical vocabulary. The album remains highly regarded, appearing on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 52nd Street (album)
- Also: Wikidata — 52nd Street · CC0
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