Customer Reviews

Cold Spring Harbor

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

 

 

Even thought the album was recorded and then released accidentally recorded at the wrong speed, it still shows the true potential of Billy Joel. Some of the songs have been re-recorded live on later albums but this album is still one of my favorites, along with Streetlife Serenade,Turnstiles,and 52nd Street.

Cold Spring Harbor was originally released in the early '70s on a small label. The album was terrific classic Joel, although the vinyl pressing was not: Someone goofed when mastering the album, and sped the tape up by about 8%, making Joel sound something like a deep-throated chipmonk. The record sold zilch and went out of print long before Joel became a star. In the mid '80s, with Joel now a megastar, it was announced that the album would be remastered and re-released. That was great news to the fans who knew and loved the first effort.

But they didn't just remaster and re-release the album. Instead, Joel played with it. He remixed it. He added instruments. He changed the whole sound of the album. What finally emerged was a travesty: Lethargic, uninvolving, lacking most of the charm of the original.

I suppose this will do (and will have to do) for those without turntables and/or without an interest in record collecting. But be aware that it's nothing more than a hollow echo of the real beast that owns this name.

For shame.

You can hear the seeds of what was to come here from Billy Joel...first coming together with the next album PIANO MAN, and then onward. A very worthwhile listen and must-have for the "collectors" among us of an artist with many influences but a unique voice.

I tell you I've passed over this album many many times over the years and now that I finaly own it I couldn't be more happy. Right away I do need to mention that this album was remixed slightly in 1983 and,as a result of just a few of the drum tracks have a certain sound quality that..that was just not in existant in when this album was originally recorded. When this album came out Billy Joel probably recorded it as a solo side project from Attila,the band he was a member of at the time and was basically going for a different kind of musical sound than he had with them. Somehow or other this had the effect of launching him on what turned out to be a hugely successful career as a solo artist. And it's not hard to see why because when one listens to this album,individuality is a key musical aspect of what he's going for. At this early point Billy is already putting his influences into place as he is not only making it clear how piano based his sound is but that his sound is just as based in jazz based American composers such as Gershwin and Broadway writers such as Jerome Kern,as well as people like Beethoven. Perhaps it was this rather old fashioned and sometimes retro cosmipoliton approch that made the music appear less rockish than say what Elton John was coming up with on a regular basis. The earlier sketch of "She's Got A Way" really brings that home well in that it's basically him on solo piano and nothing more. "You Can Make Me Feel Free" with all of it's dramatic chords has a prominant McCartney influence,especially as of his then new album Ram. On the uptempo "Everybody Loves You Now" and "Falling Of The Rain" strong compositions are married to arrangements....that sound like what in fact the Gershwins might come up with if they recorded 70's pop/rock. Billy Joel is often underrated as a songwriter and even though I never personally felt that way,this album has actually increased the opposit side of the opinion for me. "You Look So Good To Me",as the other uptempo song here gets the same effect-again the music is not guitar oriented as so much of rock,especially bands like Attilla tended to be. There are plenty more wonderful ballads here such as the classically oriented pop piano instrumental "Nocturne" and more restrained pieces such as "Why Judy Why" and "Tomorrow Is Today". For sure it's not the full bodied sound that he would develope on his next album and isn't incredibly rhythmic but,it's not plain mellowness exactly either. Closer at times to....the stark minimalism of John Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. only with more perception and less harshness to the lyrical approch. Still it's enjoyable to see that even todays standards when dealing with an artist how can create something not only artistically but commercially contemporary and viable using these kinds of influences as a basis.

When i read the release write up i noticed completely "remastered". I am an ardent fan of Billy. Have all his albums which this one i found on the amazon, a must for all Billy joel fans, the remastring of the original track is really worthy of mention.

A must buy a chip from the old block

As always, I love the piano man. There is nothing that disappoints me when it comes to Mr. Joel.

Cold Spring Harbor - Billy Joel (3.30 stars)
Original Release: 7/8/1971

Songs:

She's Got a Way (3 stars)
Straight-forward love song that ascribes special abilities to a special someone. There is practically only piano on this song but there are also strings and bass barely heard and some percussion here and there.

You Can Make Me Free (3 stars)
This is an anima song pleading for the presence of one who is away. The song's tone is of something taking off and gently soaring. Piano solo is soon joined by bass, strings, guitar and organ. There are even some vocal harmonies in the background.

Everybody Loves You Now (4 stars)
A young woman becomes famous and it seems now everything is golden, but there are truths lurking everywhere that will undermine the seemingly good side of great success. There is a fast-paced aggressive piano like the great piano-singer-songwriters used to play. The piano soars as it rocks out.

Why Judy Why (3 stars)
Song indirectly suggests that the protagonist had tried to take a friendship with a woman and make it into something more only to find rejection. Understated strings join with a sweet guitar singing happily even as the singer spells out his tragic tale.

Falling of the Rain (4 stars)
This song is the most lyrically complex one on this album. A boy becomes a man and even as he percieves a girl through his painting he has lost her because he has avoided the pains and passions of life. Fast piano notes sprinkle the magic over this song. The harpsichord also helps to paint a dreamy, fantasy mood.

Turn Around (3 stars)
The singer seems to have words of advise to a woman who has been running from something. The melody is sentimental and is accented with a country guitar throughout.

You Look So Good to Me (3 stars)
The lyricist is appreciative of one's lover who brings him the light of life. Easy go lucky organ and piano as well as pleasant vocal accents add character to the song. There is also a harmonica solo.

Tomorrow Is Today (3 stars)
Life is not what the singer had hoped for--its supposed to be better-- and time rushes forward to the conclusion of life though we are none the wiser. The piano churns out a sad but sweet theme which carries through most of the song. In the middle the singer takes on a deeper Gospel voice as if to express a deeper resolution to face up to life.

Nocturne (4 stars)
Beautiful little piano solo that plays a sweet almost haunting melody with obvious classical influences. Reminds me of a pop Chopin. The melody sways like trees in a strong breeze.

Got to Begin Again (3 stars)
Time marches on and dreams are disappearing, but you must go on. Mistakes were made, but hope in memory still inspires. The piano underscores the mood of the lyrics with sadness and quiet hope.


Album:
Vocals seem to dominate on the songs with piano a strong second and most other instrumentation a distant third. These songs are very short but they pack concentrated emotion and meaning. The lyrics often suggest a darkness and a struggling to arise above it.


MP3 recommendation:
The songs overall are very consistent in quality so my personal favorites do not stand out too much from my impression of the album overall.

Four stars (4 stars)
1. Everybody Loves You Now (4 stars)
2. Falling of the Rain (4 stars)
3. Nocturne (4 stars)

This one would have got a full "5" stars but the tracks should have been matched up against the original vinyl version in my collection on family records, yes, your saying, but dude, the original album (if your lucky enough to have it) is mastered at the WRONG speed, well, dude's here is why, slow down the tapes and re-master the original! I have the vinyl version on CD as well (got it and a different remaster with different mixing and a longer version of one of the tracks as a bonus for that other version in a trade for rare vocal only Elton John tracks). Here is the deal, Mr Joel PO'ed about this being released sounding so bad because he really was serious about not competing with the Chipmonks releases of the day that it was withdrawn from release (by the way got mine at a Hollywood swap meet at Capital records building on vinyl sealed for 35 USD in 1975)but Billy did not have to worry about it, he put out "Piano Man", it was a huge hit and it was mastered correctly and did not tank like this one when first released in 1970 & the rest, as they say, is history. Still a good album and should be very listenalbe by the average Joel fan.

Music fans, drop by my website for a look, it's googleable "Judemac Forever"