Maps of Music

Turnstiles (1976)

Where the lyrics of Turnstiles take you, and where it was really made.

The first recording sessions were made in Colorado and then thrown out: Joel was dissatisfied, took over production, and re-recorded the whole album in New York.

Key places

Basic tracks at Ultra-Sonic Studios (1976)

Recording site Ultrasonic Recording Studios — The basic tracks for the album were recorded at Ultra-Sonic Studios in Hempstead, New York. The point is placed at the town centre because only the city-level location is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

First sessions at Caribou Ranch (1976)

Recording site Caribou Ranch — The songs were first recorded at Caribou Ranch near Nederland, Colorado, with members of Elton John's band. Joel was dissatisfied with these results and later re-recorded the album in New York. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cover shot on the Astor Place platform (1976)

Album cover Astor Place station — The album cover photo was shot on the uptown platform of Astor Place station in the New York City Subway. Joel said each character on the cover was meant to represent a particular song. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

New York in the lyrics (1976)

In the lyrics Record Plant Studios — Three of the album's tracks reference New York. Joel recorded the album in part to celebrate his return to his native New York City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Miami as the future home in the lyrics (1976)

In the lyrics The Hit Factory Criteria — Miami 2017 imagines a near future in which New York is destroyed and people move to Miami to keep the memory of the old New York alive. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Album story

Overview

• Turnstiles: fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel
• Released 19 May 1976 by Family Productions and Columbia Records
• Recorded in part as a celebration of Joel's return to New York City
• Three tracks reference New York: Summer, Highland Falls; New York State of Mind; Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
• Opens with Say Goodbye to Hollywood, inspired by the Ronettes song Be My Baby
• I've Loved These Days is a tongue-in-cheek regret at leaving behind Hollywood decadence
• Album cover photo shot on the uptown platform of Astor Place station, New York City Subway

Background

• Joel was disillusioned with the Los Angeles music scene and returned to New York in 1975
• The move back to New York was his way of leaving the Los Angeles base he had used since his debut
• Joel chose the musicians in the studio for the first time on this album

Recording

• The songs were first recorded at Caribou Ranch near Nederland, Colorado
• Early sessions used members of Elton John's band: Nigel Olsson on drums and Dee Murray on bass
• Producer was Chicago producer James William Guercio
• Joel was dissatisfied with the results, took over as producer and went back to New York
• In New York he re-recorded the album from start to finish with his own touring band
• The band included Long Island musicians Richie Cannata and the members of the band Topper
• Turnstiles was the first studio album on which Joel's band played

Cover

• The cover photo was shot at Astor Place station on the uptown platform
• Each character on the cover was meant to represent a particular song
• The girl in headphones stands for All You Wanna Do Is Dance
• The wealthy couple stands for I've Loved These Days

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born May 9, 1949 in the Bronx, New York City; raised in Hicksville on Long Island.
• Began piano lessons at age four at his mother's insistence.
• Saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and decided to pursue a music career.
• Played in the Echoes, the Hassles, and Attila before going solo.

Career

• Debut solo album Cold Spring Harbor (1971); signed with Columbia Records in 1972 after a Philadelphia radio broadcast of "Captain Jack".
• Breakthrough with The Stranger (1977), Columbia's best-selling release at that time.
• 52nd Street (1978) won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
• Released 12 self-written studio albums from 1971 to 1993; over 160 million records sold worldwide.
• Performed a long Madison Square Garden residency from 2014 to 2024.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The Village Voice: Robert Christgau wrote that Joel's craft improves, but he becomes more obnoxious
• Christgau's objection: the anti-idealism of Angry Young Man does not appeal more in tandem with the pseudoironic sybaritism of I've Loved These Days
• Cash Box called the single James a song to an old friend, wondering what he's doing now
• Cash Box described the single I've Loved These Days as creating a perfect mood of grand cinema romance
• Record World said both melody and lyrics stand out on the powerful ballad I've Loved These Days

Reappraisal

• AllMusic: Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote in a retrospective review that the key to the record's success is variety
• Erlewine cited the range from the bouncy, McCartney-esque All You Wanna Do Is Dance to the saloon song New York State of Mind
• Erlewine noted that the album's backing group keeps Joel on track across the stylistic ground he covers
• A Japanese source calls the album one of Billy's greatest works, the one that paved the way for the late-1970s success of The Stranger and 52nd Street

Records

• At release, sales were not large, and the chart placings were far below the previous two albums
• The album was released with mixed critical reactions, and the reappraisal came later
• Quadrophonic LP release included alternate mixes of several tracks

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Barbra Streisand covered New York State of Mind on her album Superman in spring 1977, opening up Billy Joel's music to a mainstream audience.
• Joel thanked Streisand for the exposure and told her his New York relatives were impressed to have the Queen of Brooklyn cover one of his songs.
• The drum-like piano hammering in Prelude/Angry Young Man was meant to simulate the drum part in the Surfaris' Wipe Out.
• Joel said the lyrics to James referred to various different people he knew in real life.
• Joel said he no longer performed Say Goodbye to Hollywood live because it was too high and challenged his vocal cords.
• Many tracks have alternate mixes exclusive to the Quadrophonic LP release.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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