On October 13, 1978, “Family Productions” label released “52nd Street”, the sixth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded July – August 1978, at the “A&R Recording, Inc”., 799 7th Avenue at 52nd Street, New York City. The album won 1979 “Grammy for Album of the Year”. In 2003, “52nd Street” was ranked by the magazine “Rolling Stone” number 352 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.
Personnel:
- Billy Joel – vocals, acoustic piano, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers
- Steve Khan – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
- David Spinozza– acoustic guitar
- Eric Gale– electric guitar
- Hugh McCracken– nylon string guitar
- Doug Stegmeyer– bass, backing vocals
- Liberty DeVitto– drums
- Ralph MacDonald– percussion
- David Friedman – orchestral chimes, percussion
- Richie Cannata– saxophones, organ, clarinet
- Freddie Hubbard– flugelhorn, trumpet
- Mike Mainieri– vibes, marimba
- Donnie Dacus& Peter Cetera – backing vocals
- Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Zack Sanders, Milt Grayson, Ray Simpson – backing vocals
- George Marge – sopranino recorder
- Robert Freedman – horn and string orchestration
- Dave Grusin– horn orchestration
- David Nadien – concert master
Track listing:
All tracks by Billy Joel.
- Big Shot
- Honesty
- My Life
- Zanzibar
- Stiletto
- Rosalinda’s Eyes
- Half a Mile Away
- Until the Night
- 52nd Street
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