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Track Listings
| 1. Allentown |
| 2. Laura |
| 3. Pressure |
| 4. Goodnight Saigon |
| 5. She's Right on Time |
| 6. A Room of Our Own |
| 7. Surprises |
| 8. Scandinavian Skies |
| 9. Where's the Orchestra? |
Editorial Reviews
Released in '82; includes Allentown; Pressure , and more hits.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By jblyn
Format:Audio CD
While I like Billy Joel a lot, I've found that a number of his albums AS albums are hit-or-miss. Many of them have a number of great songs accompanied by a lot of not-so-great songs, or the quality of the production wasn't always up to snuff (especially on his earliest albums). None of those problems apply to THE NYLON CURTAIN. From start to finish, Billy Joel has made an album where every song is top-notch and flows as a perfect whole. He tackles subject matter that was more about where a lot of us were at that time (I'm now a fiftysomething but was a late-twentysomething back in 1982 when this was released) and does so alternating wit, anger and sadness without once sounding like he's straining when shifting gears. The production is fantastic, too---everything is crisp and clear, every nuance adds to each song, and the whole Billy Joel Band is in great form, especially Liberty DeVitto, one of rock's best drummers ever. THE NYLON CURTAIN is not only one of Billy Joel's best albums, it's a timeless example in this iPod age of what a good ALBUM could be and is, and why a good one such as this endures after so many years.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Nylon Curtain is a very dark album full of diverse gems completely influenced by The Beatles. A quasi-concept album about growing up in the baby boomer generation, "Curtain" contains some of Billy Joels best compositions to date.
As an album, each song flows very brilliantly together, though they each have their own identity and are diverse in their own right. Musically it is (in my opinion) Billy Joels finest hour with brilliant performances and excellent arrangements to his songs. Vocally we find Billy Joel still infusing his trademark whitty new-york style but with a very dark and moody spin.. tying it all together is the brilliant performances by his under-appreciated band and excellent production by the great Phil Ramone who deserves a lot of praise here for making sure this album was recorded so well that it has definitely stood the test of time sounding as fresh as it did back then unlike some of Billy's albums.
Though it's hard to pin-point my own personal favorite of billy's albums, I do have to say as an experienced musician and producer that it's definitely 'technically' His greatest achievement on record. Definitely buy this album if you have not and experience it for yourself!
All The Best,
Andy Anderson
As an album, each song flows very brilliantly together, though they each have their own identity and are diverse in their own right. Musically it is (in my opinion) Billy Joels finest hour with brilliant performances and excellent arrangements to his songs. Vocally we find Billy Joel still infusing his trademark whitty new-york style but with a very dark and moody spin.. tying it all together is the brilliant performances by his under-appreciated band and excellent production by the great Phil Ramone who deserves a lot of praise here for making sure this album was recorded so well that it has definitely stood the test of time sounding as fresh as it did back then unlike some of Billy's albums.
Though it's hard to pin-point my own personal favorite of billy's albums, I do have to say as an experienced musician and producer that it's definitely 'technically' His greatest achievement on record. Definitely buy this album if you have not and experience it for yourself!
All The Best,
Andy Anderson
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
'Nylon Curtain' comes across as a confident and creative piece of work, even now so many years later it resonates as it did in its' initial release.
Joel's piano playing and the harmonic arrangements are fluid and bold. This was not a typical fusion of his past work until then; as we had become familiar, nor was it merely an obvious throwback to old rock 'n roll as in 'Innocent Man' or the stylisitc, quirkiness and humour of 'Glass Houses', this album is yet another reflection of the soul of Billy Joel. He has always been both lyrically and melodically a confident artist and in this album all of his different influences and elements come together and it is strongly focused and thematic.
We can hear the past, present and future of Billy Joel on this album and we can hear the strong influence of his rock idols, including 'The Beatles'.
On 'Nylon Curtain, Joel is a master of his craft and an entertainer who gives it all his got!
Joel's piano playing and the harmonic arrangements are fluid and bold. This was not a typical fusion of his past work until then; as we had become familiar, nor was it merely an obvious throwback to old rock 'n roll as in 'Innocent Man' or the stylisitc, quirkiness and humour of 'Glass Houses', this album is yet another reflection of the soul of Billy Joel. He has always been both lyrically and melodically a confident artist and in this album all of his different influences and elements come together and it is strongly focused and thematic.
We can hear the past, present and future of Billy Joel on this album and we can hear the strong influence of his rock idols, including 'The Beatles'.
On 'Nylon Curtain, Joel is a master of his craft and an entertainer who gives it all his got!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The End of A Great Run
Billy's 1982 album The Nylon Curtain remains his last great complete album and marks the end of his classic period which began in 1976 with Turnstiles. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joelfan
5.0 out of 5 stars
I did not realize he was this huge a talent
i listened to alec baldwin interview billy joel and was hugely impressed so i decided to start listening to him again, i started here because he performed for baldwin a song on... Read more
Published 3 months ago by carol irvin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this CD
This is just a great CD. Do not believe reviews with 1 star.
People with an agenda should crawl back under a rock. Read more
People with an agenda should crawl back under a rock. Read more
Published 5 months ago by leeway63
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prime Billy Joel
He was at his very best and the songs just flow from one to the next. His best Allentown, Pressure and Goodnight Saigon. They describe Americanna at its best. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Tank
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easily his best album - give it a chance
Billy Joel's reputation has suffered ever since the Innocent Man album and he lost me along the way. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Spiderbucket
5.0 out of 5 stars
The twisted flipside of the American Dream, by way of a Beatles...
Billy Joel is angry, and he is searching, and on his 1982 release "The Nylon Curtain," he is at his most cynical, introspective and yet most creative. Read more
Published 20 months ago by John J. Martinez
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of Joel's best
The Nylon Curtain has the infectious PRESSURE, as well as ALLENTOWN and GOODNIGHT SAIGON as standout tracks. Read more
Published on October 23, 2010 by Todd7
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greastest Billy Joel albums.
I put this album in the dust for a while... I regret doing that, I just didn't relieze how brillant this album was till just two weeks ago. Read more
Published on March 29, 2010 by B. G. Ball
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Collection except for the 'F" word
I love this collection except when Billy swears on the song "laura"
Not very professional but its a great collection, including Allentown...
Not very professional but its a great collection, including Allentown...
Published on October 12, 2009 by Matthew A. Mattero
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Nylon Curtain
The Nylon Curtain being Joel's 1982 release and his 8th studio album contained such hits as "Allentown", "Pressure" and "Goodnight Saigon". Read more
Published on March 8, 2009 by Bjorn Viberg
