Turnstiles - Billy Joel

Turnstiles is Joel's fourth studio effort and finds him at his peak in terms of song writing, just before the release of his landmark The Stranger. But as with most of his work, this is not the same in terms of feel as his next album, with Joel taking more of a hands-on approach for this album, choosing his own instrumentalists and producing it himself, thus giving him freedom in the studio for his own vision. After life in LA, Joel was becoming ...
...the songs on the album, notably Say Goodbye to Hollywood, and he decided to up sticks to New York. He originally recorded this with some of Elton John's entourage, but was dissatisfied with the results and thus came to the decision that this was an album best done by himself. The song writing itself feels a bit more expansive than some of his earlier efforts, and shows perhaps a more mature approach, taking the ideas from others and taking them in ... more

Turnstiles is Joel's fourth studio effort and finds him at his peak in terms of song writing, just before the release of his landmark The Stranger. But as with most of his work, this is not the same in terms of feel as his next album, with Joel taking more of a hands-on approach for this album, choosing his own instrumentalists and producing it himself, thus giving him freedom in the studio for his own vision. After life in LA, Joel was becoming restless with the music scene, as seen in some of the songs on the album, notably Say Goodbye to Hollywood, and he decided to up sticks to New York. He originally recorded this with some of Elton John's entourage, but was dissatisfied with the results and thus came to the decision that this was an album best done by himself. The song writing itself feels a bit more expansive than some of his earlier efforts, and shows perhaps a more mature approach, taking the ideas from others and taking them in the direction he wanted. A lot of the tracks on here would go on to become staples of his tours in the 70s and as such many recordings of them have been made, and allow us to see the changes he would go on to make to them as his work progressed.

1. Say Goodbye to Hollywood *****

This is a very well written so long to LA and the people he left behind, but perhaps betrays some of the feelings he had about it, although he had spent a long time there and as such feelings of regret at the people and things he left behind is to be expected. The vocals on this are great and the wavering quality that he puts on some of the ends of the lines is a nice touch, although he has now said that he avoids playing this in concert for fear of damaging his vocals due to the high vocals. But it is really a celebration of new beginnings, something which would become evident on his next few albums, where his popularity would grow and he would become the artist most people know today. This song is though of great interest as it shows the development of his lyrical style and how it had progressed since some of the earlier tracks off of Piano Man and the like.

2. Summer, Highland Falls *****

This song is written about the place of the same name, save for the summer part, in New York State, which is a small village, although the name is never mentioned apart from the title. This song though is really about missing the times we had in our youth and the people we have left behind, mainly those we loved, but as he had recently come to New York, old memories are sure to have come flooding back. The instrumentation on this is one of the sparsest on the record and includes a piano and some drums later on in the track. A softer track that for me does show a developing maturity and shows people that he wasn't just a showman and could write some really nice ballady track as well.

3. All You Wanna Do Is Dance *****

A song about the monotony of modern, at the time, music, where he felt everyone was obsessed by dance, and fears that music will lose its way. But despite this, the song itself could be danced to, although a bit awkwardly and as such does seem a bit ironic, although the introduction of the synth during the chorus makes it feel a bit Jamaican for a strange moment. This song though taken more broadly is about the youth of the time and the way Joel perceives them.

4. New York State of Mind *****

A simply brilliant track that is again mainly about Joel and his piano, something that is occasionally lost on some of his later recordings. This is a song that really captures his love for New York, reminiscing in past experiences and places that he loves. You can really imagine just walking around New York at night through parks lit by dull lamps and watching others walk past, for me this captures the feeling that comes when I think of New York at night. Often found on some of his greatest hits collections, but this is best enjoyed here, where some of the other tracks add to the feel of the song and the reminiscent feel of it.

5. James *****

Another song that is dominated by the past, but this time is much more about Joel's thoughts on how his former friend turned out, as they took separate paths in life, one in music, the other in scholarship. The song feels morose and is about the past, but is presented here so nicely that you can just imagine the vivid description of James that Joel provides. You could see this in part as Joel sympathising with the situation and lifestyle of some of his former friends, but it feels more reminiscent again of times gone by and a desire to live some of those previous experiences again.

6. Prelude/ Angry Young Man *****

A firm favourite for live performances, which is mainly down to the ridiculously fast opening piano part. The song begins as stated in the title with a short instrumental prelude, which is nice and could have been developed into a song of its own, but sits well here as the introduction to this pacier song about a young man with a little bit too much anger. But despite the title it again seems that Joel is sympathetic towards him, although perhaps I am looking too deeply into the lyrics. But it describes why he is so angry and really sums up how modern society treats the common working man, not well. It also includes a nice little refrain around the chorus, where Joel seems to compare his life to that of his and think about his past, again.

7. I've Loved These Days ****

An almost tongue in cheek song about Joel's reminisces about life in LA, this looks at the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by many living there and explores the mindset of some of them. This in truth seems to boost the lives of those living in LA and tries to make it more romantic than perhaps it truly is, although from the way he sings it here, I would be entitled to believe him.

8. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out On Broadway) *****

Often seen as Joel's first attempt at the epic, although I would argue that Captain Jack came first and fits the bill just as well, from his earlier Piano Man album. This song is not even the longest on the album, but the feel of the song is that of an epic piece and the way the band all comes in as one for the second verse is great. I have never really understood the meaning behind this song, although there may not be one, but it does again seem to be about the musical history of New York and the memories he and others have of the city.

Overall, I love this album, perhaps enjoying it even more than The Stranger and some of his other records which tend to gain more limelight than this, but even though it may not be as well appreciated, you should not dismiss this, as it shows off some of his best song writing and includes some classic songs. The range of the styles here is great as well, taking in ballads and more upbeat pieces, but seeming to stick to a main theme, of past lives and future expectations. For many The Stranger is his most endearing album, but in many ways, this album fills that space for me, and I always enjoy giving this a listen. It may be short coming in at only 36.53, but it feels epic and encapsulates the struggles of youth and new experiences, Joel was and still is at the heart of human emotions and this record is a great example. 

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