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4 Must-Have Albums To Start Your Billy Joel Vinyl Collection
American Songwriter has published a guide recommending four essential Billy Joel albums for anyone starting a vinyl collection, tracing his artistic and commercial development from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. The list matters to fans and collectors because Joel released 13 studio albums over his career, making it difficult to know where to begin, and the selection focuses on the run of records where he moved from finding his musical identity to achieving major chart success.
The four picks are Turnstiles (1976), where Joel insisted on using his touring band rather than session musicians and wrote about returning to New York from Los Angeles; The Stranger, made with producer Phil Ramone, which delivered hits such as "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" and "Only the Good Die Young" alongside deeper cuts like "Vienna"; Glass Houses, often labelled a New Wave record, featuring singles "You May Be Right", "Don't Ask Me Why" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"; and The Nylon Curtain, a Beatles-influenced, studio-heavy album with socially engaged songs including "Allentown" and "Goodnight Saigon".
– American Songwriter recommends four Billy Joel albums as a starter vinyl collection – Turnstiles (1976) marked Joel's move to using his own touring band in the studio – The Stranger, with producer Phil Ramone, brought major commercial breakthrough hits – Glass Houses and The Nylon Curtain round out the list, spanning 1980-1982
Explained simply
Billy Joel is an American pianist and singer-songwriter whose career spans several decades. He is known for blending rock, pop, and classical influences in his work, and built a substantial catalogue that remains popular with both long-time fans and new listeners discovering his music through vinyl records.
Starting a vinyl collection for any prolific artist presents a challenge when there are many albums to choose from. Billy Joel recorded 13 studio albums throughout his career, which means newcomers often lack guidance on which records to buy first or which ones best represent his sound and importance.
American Songwriter has recommended four albums from Joel's output between 1976 and 1982. These records—Turnstiles, The Stranger, Glass Houses and The Nylon Curtain—collectively demonstrate his evolution as an artist, from establishing his musical voice to achieving major commercial success.
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