52nd Street＜完全生産限定盤＞

1978年作品 ビリー・ジョエル グラミー賞最優秀アルバムを受賞した6thアルバム『52nd Street』(ニューヨーク52番街)を最新リマスター音源でアナログ盤発売

1978年作品。前作の大成功に続き、フィル・ラモーンとの絶妙なコンビネーションで作り上げた6枚目のアルバムです。
美しいバラードで深みのある「オネスティ」(最高24位)、シカゴのメンバーであるピーター・セテラとダニー・デイカスが参加したビリーのテーマ曲といえる「マイ・ライフ」(最高3位)、二日酔いを歌った「ビッグ・ショット」(最高14位)など大ヒット・シングルを連発し、アルバムは8週連続1位を獲得すると言う快挙を成し遂げます。第22回グラミーでは最優秀アルバム部門と最優秀男性ポップス歌手部門でW受賞。辛口で知られるローリング・ストーン誌は、ビリーを"70年代を代表する本当のエンターテイナー"と評しました。
尚、アルバム・タイトルは、戦前からジャズクラブのメッカでCBS本社ビルとスタジオがあった通りの名を冠しています。2021年最新リマスター音源でアナログ盤発売。

Once The Stranger became a hit, Billy Joel quickly re-entered the studio with producer Phil Ramone to record the follow-up, 52nd Street. Instead of breaking from the sound of The Stranger, Joel chose to expand it, making it more sophisticated and somewhat jazzy. Often, his moves sounded as if they were responses to Steely Dan -- indeed, his phrasing and melody for "Zanzibar" is a direct homage to Donald Fagen circa The Royal Scam, and it also boasts a solo from jazz great Freddie Hubbard a la Steely Dan -- but since Joel is a working-class populist, not an elitist college boy, he never shies away from big gestures and melodies. Consequently, 52nd Street unintentionally embellishes the Broadway overtones of its predecessor, not only on a centerpiece like "Stiletto," but when he's rocking out on "Big Shot." That isn't necessarily bad, since Joel's strong suit turns out to be showmanship -- he dazzles with his melodic skills and his enthusiastic performances. He also knows how to make a record. Song for song, 52nd Street might not be as strong as The Stranger, but there are no weak songs -- indeed, "Honesty," "My Life," "Until the Night," and the three mentioned above are among his best -- and they all flow together smoothly, thanks to Ramone's seamless production and Joel's melodic craftsmanship. It's remarkable to think that in a matter of three records, Joel had hit upon a workable, marketable formula -- one that not only made him one of the biggest-selling artists of his era, but one of the most enjoyable mainstream hitmakers. 52nd Street is a testament to that achievement. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine