Billy Joel - 52nd Street

Billy Joel 52nd Street on 45 RPM double LP from Mobile Fidelity

Mainstream perfection: Melodic devices, passionate singing, sophisticated arrangements, a jazzy backdrop walk down 52nd street

Some artists embrace their success by repeating the steps that originally granted them fame. Billy Joel did the opposite, refusing to be contained by prescribed approaches or constrained by a given label. The follow-up to the breakthrough The Stranger, 52nd Street further expands on its predecessor's bold production techniques and inventive arrangements, incorporating more sophisticated textures as well as reflecting a jazz edge gleaned from New York City's thriving club scene.

52nd Street is mastered from the original master tapes and made available on a double LP cut at 45 RPM. The wider and deeper grooves — as well as the meticulous mastering process — yield resplendent dynamics, broad soundstages, three-dimensional perspectives, and tonal balances absent from prior editions. Indeed, Joel wouldn't sound more realistic if were playing ten rows away from you onstage. This is how you want to experience the 1978 LP that captured the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Hit singles "Big Shot" and "My Life" rattle forth with an urgency and intensity that Joel had not previously demonstrated, the combination of passionate deliveries, snide overtones, and insistent grooves setting the table for what follows.

 

 

 

 

Side 1

Big Shot

Honesty

My Life

Side 2

Zanzibar

Stiletto

Side 3

Rosalinda's Eyes

Half a Mile Away

Side 4

Until the Night

52nd Street

Customer Reviews (3.60 Stars) 5 person(s) rated this product.

Best version posted on 12/06/2015 5 Stars Reviewer: Vic Maybe the other reviewers had the spoon up their noses, but this is the best version I've ever heard. Great clarity, separation, the "air" of the 45 pressing, nice dynamics. I'm playing this through Vandersteens, which are warm, but not particularly forgiving, and there was no issues here.

Very disappointing posted on 01/10/2014 2 Stars This is a major disappointment. Compared to my copy of the Legacy gold CD from 1994, there is a real lack of dynamics. Yes, the vinyl is quiet, but the sound is lifeless.

Find a Mint Original posted on 09/30/2013 3 Stars Reviewer: John M. I waited 20 months for this pre-order to arrive. After the exceptional job Mobile Fidelity did with Glass Houses, Piano Man, and Turnstiles, I was surprised at the lack of Dynamics this new 45rpm pressing had as compared to my original. It is so lifeless, Id rather play my noisy old copy. All the recent Mofi titles Ive purchased have been exceptional, with the exception of this one. The Artwork, jacket, and pressing were great as usual though.

This one doesnt hit the mark posted on 09/03/2013 3 Stars Reviewer: John P M. Ive bought most of Mobile Fidelity's Billy Joel pressings and they have all been really good except for this one. Piano Man is Outstanding! Im sorry to report that my old random pressing has it in spades over this copy. I dont know why but the bass is gone here, and in general this sounds muddy and veiled. The vinyl surfaces are consistently good though...

GO BILLY! posted on 08/19/2013 5 Stars Reviewer: Emmanuel If this ain't the master tape I'm listening to somebody pinch me! A couple of weeks ago I traded in my original copies of this album in anticipation of the mofi 45rpm. Am I glad I did. There's just no comparison; while the originals wasn't too shabby, it bears no resemblance to this mofi version. The original is by far louder than the mofi but that's all it has on it. In contrast the Mofi gives you clarity in spades, revealing hidden dimensions that I never before gleamed from the original. As they say it's like night and day. In this case the mofi is night and the original is day. I don't know about you but I hear things better late at night after all white noise of civilization has died down.

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