Customer Reviews

52nd Street (Sl)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Billy Joel's "52nd Street" continues Sony Music's release of 5.1-channel (multichannel) SACDs. "52nd Street" is the second disc in his recording catalog released in the multichannel SACD format, following "The Stranger". The multichannel version has catalog number CS 69385.

The disc is presented in 5.1 channel packed DSD sound as well as stereo DSD. There is no CD layer, so the SACD is only playable in an SACD player. Multichannel requires a multichannel SACD player such as the Sony SCD-CE775.

Unlike early DVD-Audio discs, the mixes and mastering process on this early multichannel SACD are all excellent. The disc is extremely easy to use. Unlike a DVD-Audio disc, which acts like a glorified DVD-Video disc, a multichannel SACD acts like a CD. Press 'play' - it plays. Track skipping is easy. As a bonus, the name of each track appears on the player's built-in display - no video display required. The packaging is a standard CD jewel box.

The sound quality is not as good as "The Stranger" multichannel SACD. While it is close, the snare drum, which is prominent in all tracks, is duller and less realistic than what was heard from the previous release. Dragging out an old LP record version of "52nd Street", the same snare sound is heard. It is likely that this snare sound is a recording decision made in the late-1970s rather than a mastering problem. The extreme clarity of the SACD just makes it more prominent.

Despite any criticism, the SACD is still much better than the CD version. The finger-snaps on "Stiletto" are very impressive. It is one of the best uses of multichannel effects I've heard. "Until the Night" also make effective but not distracting use of the multichannel effects. It is also enjoyable to have all of Joel's vocals strongly anchored by the center channel.

While still an excellent multichannel SACD disc, "52nd Street" isn't as well done as "The Stranger". This may be the result of a 23 year old decision, but it still ends up in a duller sound. The real rating should be around 4.5 stars. Unfortunately that isn't available, so we'll truncate to 4 stars.

Overall, "52nd Street" is still recommended as a multichannel SACD, but just not as much as "The Stranger".

Note : Some earlier SACD versions of "52nd Street" were stereo-only.

"52nd Street" was Billy Joel's first #1 album,thanks to the jaunty #3 hit "My Life" and two other big hits "Big Shot" and "Honesty".It also won the Grammy for 1979 Album Of The Year and became the first CD ever pressed in 1983.Musically speaking,it was a extension of "The Stranger",pushing into both jazzier("Zanzibar","Stilleto","Rosalinda's Eyes")and rockier("Big Shot","Half A Mile Away")territories while remaining widely appealing and radio-friendly.Song for song,it may not match "The Stranger",but there are no weak songs either.Billy Joel had quickly established himself as the most talented and consistent hitmakers of the late 70's and early 80's,and "52nd Street" is a strong testament to that indeed.The 5.1 SACD mix isn't quite as good as the mix done on the "The Stranger".The sound is a bit flatter and duller than on that one,but I guess that was the result of the remnents of late-70's production values than of the sound quality of the SACD itself.That said,this transfer is superb for the most part,providing an excellent clarity,rich and spaciousness to such songs as "Honesty","Until The Night","Rosalinda's Eyes" and "Stilleto" that isn't available on the standard CD.All in all,this version of "52nd Street" is surely recommened,just not as much as "The Stranger" 5.1 SACD.

Not a bad SACD by any means, and definitely superior to the CD version, "52nd Street" on SACD still isn't as good as its predecessor. It's still easy to use and fun to play with though. As for the music itself...

After the mega-hit "The Stranger", which spawned hit after hit, Billy Joel released "52nd Street". It's a solid album, and essential for fans of the Piano Man, even if it's not quite up to the standards he raised for himself with "The Stranger".

The album opens with it's top three songs, "Big Shot", "Honesty", which is easily one of his most meaningful songs, and "My Life". Other standout songs include "Stiletto", "Rosalinda's Eyes", and the title track, but to be entirely honest (no pun intended) the album tends to taper off a bit after an incredible start. (hence 4 stars and not 5)

Still, a B+ album from Billy Joel is still going to contain some great music, and "52nd Street" is no exception. There's more here than music for die hard fans, and the Piano Man continues to please.

This is a good album. The transfer to the SACD was pretty good, but not as good as the transfer for The Stranger. Hence I am giving it a 4. On the Stranger, you can hear the strums of the guitars very clearly, not quite as much on this one. It still sounds better than the normal release, but not as good as some of the other SACD releases out there.
Also, I think I like the songs on the Stranger better. They were more personal.

Listening to the SACD version of this record is my first experience with true SACD 5.1 channel sound, and I am definitely hooked. This recording sounds great! I had the original vinyl record decades ago, so I know it's a great album. What is worth raving about is the superior quality of the SACD format.

I find it sad that with the pervasivness of MP3 players (and the MP3 format), we are in a time of degrading quality of music reproduction. People are choosing convenience of delivery over quality of the sound.

This record sounds terrific in SACD. I'm now going to purchase as many SACD formatted versions of CDs I want to get as I can find; either pure (SACD only) or Hybrid SACD. The Hybrid format does make more sense.

If you like Billy Joel and appreciate high quality recording and reproduction, this is a must have CD.

I would have to disagree with the reviews on the 5.1 multichannel not being as good as "The Stranger" SACD release. It's it's equal easily.
The real issue is that "The Stranger" is just a better album to listen to.

52nd Street loses it it's strength after the Stilleto track and Stranger on whole is stronger from start to finish. Hence my 4 star rating versus the 5 I gave to Stranger in SACD.


Differences here for 52nd to a normal cd:
1) entire album sounds better. I never really liked Zanzibar, but changed
my mind after hearing this.

2) stand out tracks: Honesty (Vocal is exceptional on this one), Zanzibar(you can hear all the instruments finally), Stilleto (still think the Kohlept version is best though, it's got more kick and he seems to nail the feeling right)

Definitely worth buying.

Not worth buying, "Innocent Man" on SACD.
(straight Stereo dump to SACD, no multichannel. Sounds like a regular CD)

This is a great SACD. I have not listened to it in stereo - only in surround, as that is why I got it. Who knew that Billy Joel has some awesome acoustic guitar parts on this album? I didn't, until I hear the SACD with the guitar in the left surround speaker. I am hearing many things I never picked up on the regular stereo recording. Albums like this are why SACD's exist.

Thumbs up!

42nd street music listed the billy joel sacd they sold me as brand new but when it showed up, there was no shrink wrap on it and there were smudges, scratches, stress marks and even finger prints on the cd cover and the cd disc. It was as if they expected me to somehow overlook all those obvious signs and think of it as brand new when it is not.

I was very insulted by them and they refused to refund me for the cd or send me a new one. the cd i ordered is a SACD which was exactly what I wanted but of course without all the marks and scratches that came with it.

buyer beware!!!

After Billy Joel hit the big time with The Stranger, he had the unenviable task of following up that classic. While 52nd St. isn't as good as The Stranger, it is still a tremendous record. The album opens up with the venomous and hard "Big Shot" and then does a complete 180 with the quite "Honesty". "My Life" is the big hit off the album and it bounces along while "Zanzibar" is the best song on the album. It has a smoky, jazzy feel and is one of the most interesting songs Mr. Joel has ever done. "Stiletto" has some slick piano work and "Rosalinda's Eyes" employs a Latin sound. "Half A Mile Away" is full of horns and verve and "Until The Night" is a slower number in which Mr. Joel stretches his vocal muscle. The title track closes the album out on a jazzy note. 52nd St. proved that Billy Joel was no fluke, as the album became his first chart topper and won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Let me start off by saying that I don't actually own the SACD version of this album (and I don't believe the first reviewer did either).

Now that we got that out the way. I'm a huge Billy Joel fan and this one of my favorite albums by him (Nylon Curtain still gets my #1 slot). But that's not why I'm writing this. I wanted to inform any of you out there that for the absolute best surround-sound job I've heard of Billy's work is The Essential Video Collection.

Even though you only get the greatest video hits (including some surprises), you get a phenominal surround sound mix of everything on here. I don't have any idea why the SACD of "An Innocent Man" is only done in stereo. The video contains all of the videos off that album remixed in true surround.

The video/audio that stands out in my mind the most was "Pressure". During the solo break, you will hear instruments omitted from the album release and panned all around your ears. It's pretty amazing, and of course, I would love if they did an entire SACD Surround for "The Nylon Curtain". Unfortunately, it doesn't look like SACD (or DVD-Audio for that matter) is really going to catch on as much as some of us audiophiles had hoped.

The Essential Video Collection is not to be taken as a greatest hits collection of early stuff (It has "Piano Man", not the video version but the live one from Yankee Stadium). It does not have any selections off of "The Stranger", but yet it has footage from "Turnstiles". It doesn't matter, the DVD is great and having the surround sound only adds more appeal.

The DVD is a must-have for every fan. Pick one up as soon as you can.