Turnstiles by Billy Joel

Turnstiles, Billy Joel's fourth studio album, came out on May 19, 1976, through Family Productions and Columbia, and it's the sound of a piano man coming home. Joel made it partly to celebrate his return to New York City, and the town runs all through it: "New York State of Mind" is smoky, late-night saloon balladry, "Summer, Highland Falls" rolls like a moody piano étude, and "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" makes it three songs with the city on their minds. The first sessions went down at Caribou Ranch in Colorado with Elton John's rhythm section, Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray, and James William Guercio producing, but the finished record carries Joel's own producer credit.

It opens with "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", a big, booming nod to the Ronettes' "Be My Baby", while "I've Loved These Days" waves off Hollywood excess with a wink. On "Prelude/Angry Young Man" he pounds the keys at a gallop to mimic the drums on the Surfaris' "Wipe Out". A year later The Stranger made him a star.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.