Billy Joel – 52nd Street

Review

Darlings, let's shimmy and shake our way through the smoky jazz clubs of Billy Joel's '52nd Street'! This 1978 masterpiece is a veritable cocktail of pop, rock, and jazz, shaken and stirred to perfection by the piano man himself. Joel's sixth studio album, produced by the incomparable Phil Ramone, is a love letter to the bustling jazz scene of Midtown Manhattan. It's as if Joel donned a fedora, snapped his fingers, and channeled the spirit of every jazz cat who ever blew a trumpet on that fabled street.

Now, don't let anyone tell you this album is just a jukebox of hits, darling. Sure, 'My Life' and 'Big Shot' might make you want to Charleston across the dance floor, but dig a little deeper and you'll find gems like 'Zanzibar' that'll have you snapping your fingers and sipping martinis till the wee hours. The album's as diverse as a New York City subway car, with Joel flexing his songwriting muscles like a musical strongman. And let's not forget the star-studded ensemble backing him up - Richie Cannata on sax, Steve Khan on guitar, and the legendary Freddie Hubbard on trumpet. It's like Joel assembled his own Rat Pack of musicians! No wonder this little record snagged two Grammys and topped the Billboard charts for eight whole weeks. It's the bee's knees, the cat's pajamas, and the whole darn zoo rolled into one! - Clementine