Billy Joel’s ‘Turnstiles’ Celebrates 50 Years with New Box Set

The recent news that Billy Joel’s normal pressure hydrocephalus has forced him to auction off his legendary motorcycle collection and permanently retire from the road is unfortunate for lifelong fans of the Long Island pop icon.

However, this sad turn of events is counterbalanced by the recent announcement that one of the Piano Man’s best albums, 1976’s Turnstiles, is being reissued in a lavish 50th anniversary deluxe edition set for release Dec. 11 via Legacy Recordings.

Originally released on May 19, 1976, Turnstiles marked a significant period of transition for Joel as he shifted from the developmental era of Piano Man and Streetlife Serenade into his dynamic star turn starting with 1977’s The Stranger. It would also mark Billy’s return to New York after spending much of the early ’70s in Los Angeles, evidenced on such certified Billy classics as  “New York State Of Mind,” “Summer, Highland Falls,” “James,” “I’ve Loved These Days,” “Prelude/Angry Young Man,” and “Say Goodbye To Hollywood.”

 

AUDIO: Billy Joel “James (Band Demo)”

“The story of Turnstiles is the story of how ‘The Piano Man’ became Billy Joel,” writes John Jackson, director of the Billy Joel Archives and producer of the collection. “The victories and setbacks experienced at every turn in 1975 and 1976 would have stalled any lesser performer. But not Billy. His vision and commitment to his artistry at all costs made him BILLY JOEL, no longer simply ‘The Piano Man.'”

The new 50th Anniversary Edition features 67 audio tracks, including 54 previously unreleased recordings, alongside 32 video performances, 24 previously unreleased, offering an unprecedented look at the album’s development through demos, studio sessions, live recordings, alternate mixes and archival film.

Among the set’s highlights include the previously unheard song “Oklahoma,” presented in both live and demo form, and the official audio debut of fan favorite “Handball.” The collection also includes newly released recordings from Billy Joel’s 1975 performances at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, rare piano-and-vocal demos, recordings from the abandoned sessions with producer James Guercio, and early performances featuring the emergence of the band who would become Joel’s classic touring lineup that would include saxophonist Richie Cannata, guitarist Russell Javors, bassist Doug Stegmeyer and drummer Liberty DeVitto. 

The main event, however, is the complete Billy Joel Tonight concert film, newly transferred, edited, restored and mixed in HD from the original December 1976 performances filmed at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Broadcast as a television special in 1977, the film captures Joel and his band at a crucial moment just before mainstream success arrived. The Blu-ray also includes rehearsal footage, production inserts, rare performances, and archival material that has remained largely unseen for nearly five decades.

The audio portion of the box set spans four discs. CD1 (Demos and Early Versions) traces the album’s evolution through demos, live recordings and abandoned studio sessions. CD2 pairs the original Turnstiles album with previously unreleased alternate versions and a newly released 1976 radio interview with Philadelphia DJ Ed Sciaky. CD3 presents a complete June 10, 1976, performance at New York City’s Bottom Line, newly restored from multiple audio sources. CD4 features the soundtrack to Billy Joel Tonight, including previously unreleased recordings from the Connecticut College performances.

The Blu-ray concludes with a Dolby Atmos mix of the original Turnstiles album, mixed by Bradshaw Leigh and mastered by Ted Jensen and Adam Grover at Sterling Sound.

The package also includes a 40-page hardcover booklet featuring previously unseen photographs, extensive archival material, and newly commissioned liner notes from acclaimed music journalist David Fricke, alongside detailed historical notes from John Jackson chronicling the album’s creation and the pivotal events that shaped Joel’s artistic direction.

As distressing as it’s been for Billy Joel fans to see our guy on the ropes with this unfortunate condition, the news of this definitive edition of one of his very best albums brings a sense of solace this upcoming holiday season. 

TRACKLISTING AND CREDITS

CD1: DEMOS AND EARLY VERSIONS

1. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (band demo, February 7, 1975) (2:58)
2. James (band demo, July 12, 1975) (4:07)
3. New York State Of Mind (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 12, 1975 – Set 1) (5:44)
4. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 10, 1975 – Set 2) (2:54)
5. Oklahoma (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 9, 1975 – Set 1) (4:05)
6. Everybody Has A Dream (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 10, 1975 – Set 2) (5:28)
7. New York State Of Mind (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (6:09)
8. I’ve Seen The Lamb Lie Down On Broadway (Miami 2017) (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (4:05)
9. James (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (3:28)
10. Oklahoma (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (2:32)
11. New Ideas (Say Goodbye To Hollywood, Angry Young Man, Brenda And Eddie) (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (2:23)
12. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (piano /vocal demo with percussion overdub, 1975) (3:51)
13. These Rhinestone Days (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (3:01) – previously released on My Lives
14. Prelude/Angry Young Man – take 9 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 19, 1976) (5:47)
15. I’ve Loved These Days – take 1 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 20, 1976) (4:29)
16. James – take 3 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 21, 1976) (4:07)
17. Everybody Has A Dream – take 1 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 21, 1976) (3:12)
18. Sadness Or Euphoria (Summer, Highland Falls) – take 2 (Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto session, January 23, 1976) (3:24)
19. All You Wanna Do Is Dance – take 2 (Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto session, January 23, 1976) (3:12)
20. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) – take 1 (Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto session, January 23, 1976) (4:40)

 

All songs, words and music Billy Joel

All tracks previously unreleased, except where noted

 

CD2: ALBUM SESSIONS

Turnstiles

Produced by Billy Joel

Originally released May 19, 1976 (Columbia PC 33848)

1. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (4:37)
2. Summer, Highland Falls (3:19)
3. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (3:45)
4. New York State Of Mind (6:01)
5. James (3:56)
6. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:16)
7. I’ve Loved These Days (4:35)
8. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:14) 

 

Bonus Tracks:

9. James (alternate mix with strings; reprise with acoustic guitar, bongos and saxophone) (4:56)
10. Summer, Highland Falls (alternate acoustic version) (3:29)
11. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (alternate band take) (4:44)
12. I’ve Loved These Days (alternate orchestral mix) (4:33)
13. Conversation with Ed Sciaky, Philadelphia, June 18, 1976 (23:13)

 

All songs, words and music Billy Joel

All tracks produced by Billy Joel

 

CD3: LIVE AT THE BOTTOM LINE

New York, NY – June 10, 1976

1. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:13)
2. Somewhere Along The Line (3:09)
3. Summer, Highland Falls (3:44)
4. Piano Man (5:39)
5. Root Beer Rag (3:10)
6. James (3:46)
7. Travelin’ Prayer (5:30)
8. New York State Of Mind (6:39)
9. The Entertainer (3:51)
10. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid (8:30)
11. I’ve Loved These Days (4:38)
12. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:29)
13. Captain Jack (7:08)
14. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (3:30)
15. Ain’t No Crime (3:08)
16. Weekend Song (4:18)
17. Souvenir (1:53)

 

All songs, words and music Billy Joel

All tracks previously unreleased

 

CD4: BILLY JOEL TONIGHT

Recorded live December 5 & 6, 1976 at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, New London during the live video taping of “Billy Joel Tonight.”

1. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:09)
2. Somewhere Along The Line (3:01)
3. Summer, Highland Falls* (3:07)
4. Piano Man (5:32)
5. Handball (5:11)
6. James (3:39)
7. Travelin’ Prayer (6:53)
8. New York State Of Mind* (8:21)
9. The Entertainer (4:19)
10. You’re My Home (3:21)
11. Root Beer Rag (3:17)
12. Roberta (4:01)
13. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid* (5:22)
14. I’ve Loved These Days (4:22)
15. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:00)
16. Captain Jack (6:52)
17. Souvenir* (2:19)

 

All songs, words and music Billy Joel

Billy Joel Tonight produced by Elizabeth Joel

 

BLU-RAY: BILLY JOEL TONIGHT

THE CONCERT

Recorded live December 5, 1976 at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, New London 

1. Prelude/Angry Young Man*
2. Somewhere Along The Line
3. Summer, Highland Falls
4. Piano Man*
5. Handball*
6. James (includes Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon)
7. Travelin’ Prayer (includes “Jungleland” by Bruce Springsteen)
8. New York State Of Mind*
9. The Entertainer*
10. You’re My Home*
11. Root Beer Rag
12. Roberta
13. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
14. I’ve Loved These Days
15. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)*
16. Captain Jack*
17. Worse Comes To Worst
18. Ain’t No Crime
19. Weekend Song
20. If I Only Had The Words To Tell You
21. Souvenir

 

REHEARSALS AND PRODUCTION INSERTS

Recorded live December 6, 1976 at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, New London 

1. Stop In Nevada (incomplete rehearsal) (includes “Behind Closed Doors” by Kenny O’Dell)
2. She’s Got A Way
3. Say Goodbye To Hollywood
4. Streetlife Serenader
5. The Great Suburban Showdown
6. All You Wanna Do Is Dance
7. I’ve Loved These Days
8. Honky Tonk Women (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards)
9. Covers Medley:

You Are So Beautiful (Billy Preston/Bruce Fisher)

Born To Run (Bruce Springsteen)

Hey Mister, That’s Me Up On The Jukebox (James Taylor)

Tell Me Why (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

Bennie And The Jets (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

10. Souvenir
11. Nocturne* (include “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy)

 

All songs, words and music Billy Joel, except where noted

All performances previously unreleased except where noted (*), included in the original 1977 TV Special Billy Joel Tonight

 

DOLBY ATMOS MIX OF TURNSTILES ALBUM

1. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (4:36)
2. Summer, Highland Falls (3:15)
3. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (3:40)
4. New York State Of Mind (5:58)
5. James (3:53)
6. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:17)
7. I’ve Loved These Days (4:31)
8. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:12)

Mixed in Dolby Atmos by Bradshaw Leigh

Mastered by Ted Jensen and Adam Grover at Sterling Sound