STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - BILLY JOEL - 52ND STREET

[maggot]

Good morning, morning people and welcome back to the Sunday edition of Stuck In The Vinyl Again. Today we celebrate the 69th Birthday of Brooklyn born guitarist, Russell Javors, best known for his early work with Topper, later work with Billy Joel (1975 -1989) and now is part of the Joel tribute band, The Lords of 52nd Street. Happy Birthday Russell ! 52nd Street, Billy's sixth studio album, was released October 11, 1978 on the Family Productions label and produced by Phil Ramone. It peaked at #5 in Norway, #4 in Austria, #3 in Zimbabwe, #2 in France and Iceland, and #1 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Billboard 200 in America, where it has been certified 7X Platinum. The LP also won two Grammy's in 1980, one for Album of the Year and the other for Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male. Four singles were released ; "My Life" (#3 Canada, Ireland, Hot 100, #2 Canada Adult Contemporary, South Africa, US Adult Contemporary),  "Big Shot" (#14 Hot 100, #13 Canada, Cash Box Top 100), "Until The Night" (#50 UK) and "Honesty" (#9 US Billboard Adult Contemporary, #8 South Africa, #4 Canada Adult Contemporary, and #1 in France).

Side one

"Big Shot" – 4:03
"Honesty" – 3:52
"My Life" – 4:44
"Zanzibar" – 5:13

Side two

"Stiletto" – 4:42
"Rosalinda's Eyes" – 4:41
"Half a Mile Away" – 4:08
"Until the Night" – 6:35
"52nd Street" – 2:27

Billy Joel – acoustic piano, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, vocals

Richie Cannata – organ, saxophones, clarinet
Steve Khan – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals

David Spinozza – acoustic guitar (2)
David Brown – electric guitar (3)
Russell Javors – acoustic guitar (3)

Hugh McCracken – nylon string guitar (6, 8)

Eric Gale – electric guitar (7)
Doug Stegmeyer – bass, backing vocals

Liberty DeVitto – drums
Mike Mainieri – vibraphone and marimba (4, 6)
Ralph MacDonald – percussion (6, 7)

David Freidman – orchestral chimes and percussion (8)

Freddie Hubbard – flugelhorn and trumpet (4)
George Marge – sopranino recorder (6)

Robert Freedman – horn and string orchestration (2, 8)
Dave Grusin – horn orchestration (7)
David Nadien – concertmaster (2, 7, 8)

Peter Cetera – backing vocals (3)

Donnie Dacus – backing vocals (3)
Frank Floyd – backing vocals (7)

Babi Floyd – backing vocals (7)
Milt Grayson – backing vocals (7)
Zack Sanders – backing vocals (7)

Ray Simpson – backing vocals (7)

Production

Phil Ramone – producer, mixing
Kathy Kurs – associate producer
Carol Peters – associate producer
Jim Boyer – engineer, mixing
David Martone – assistant engineer
Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, NY)
John Berg – cover design
Jim Houghton – photography