Billy Joel - Nylon Curtain
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Billy JoelBrand: Columbia
Edition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1998-10-20
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Allentown
- Laura
- Pressure
- Goodnight Saigon
- She's Right on Time
- A Room of Our Own
- Surprises
- Scandinavian Skies
- Where's the Orchestra?
Free Music Notes for Nylon Curtain
Free Music Review: The musical apex of Billy's Career
Hit: 5 Stars
Billy Joel entered the 1980s and began to expand his musical horizons. This was evident on his ninth studio album, 1982's "The Nylon Curtain". This album wouldn't be a return to the days of "The Stranger" or "52nd Street", but it would mark Billy's return more toward a piano style of music. Despite what may not have been his best selling album, the result would be that Billy would produce an album that would be the creative high point of his musical career.
.
I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases. The first phase is what I call "Old Billy Joel". This basically includes all of his material from "Cold Spring Harbor" through "Turnstiles". These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material. The next phase is what I call "Middle Billy Joel". This was his most successful period and covers from "The Stranger" to "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2". Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues. The final phase is the "Later Billy Joel" phase - this covers "The Bridge" to "River of Dreams". In this phase, Billy would start to incorporate some of his older styles of music while not abandoning his desire to continue to explore new avenues. "The Nylon Curtain" clearly falls into the heart of this "Middle Billy Joel" phase.
"The Nylon Curtain" is a very different album that Billy Joel did. Albums such as "The Stranger" and "52nd Street" had the strong lyrical themes of "New York" and "Melting Pot". "The Nylon Curtain" doesn't have a strong lyrical theme, but it does have a strong style theme. Billy creates a set of songs in which the instrumentation creates an image of the song. For example, as you listen to just the music of "Allentown", you can almost visualize the Allentown, Pennsylvania. On "Glass Houses", Billy moved away from his traditional style more toward a Rock Music style. On "The Nylon Curtain", there isn't one overall style, but you can see a variety of influences - including The Beatles. As mentioned, Billy Joel would return more toward his piano based music. The big difference with a couple of exceptions, there is going to be an absence of the trademark horns that have been such a part of Billy's music throughout the years.
The best way to look at each track on the collection:
"Allentown": This might not be New York, but Billy creates an image of the town of Allentown, Pa - about 100 miles west of NYC. This is done by a combination of some clever percussion and piano playing. Combine this with the lyrics and you clearly get an image of how a town must deal with the mines and factories that made up its economy closing down.
"Laura": A very underrated track. A piano based tune. Even by just listening to the music without the lyrics, you can still get an image of a woman manipulating Billy Joel. Listening to the music and background harmonies - you can hear The Beatles influence.
"Pressure": Once again terrific piano, synthesizer, and percussion create an image of a "high pressure environment". Listen to how the piano and drums practically say "PRESSURE". Of course Billy throws more clever lyrics to complete the picture.
"Goodnight Saigon": Another masterpiece. This time Billy paints a picture of the story of two comrades who go off to Vietnam together. Billy integrates some nice percussion - including a helicopter sound to help create a virtual picture of Vietnam. The piano is going to be the instrument that moves this song - Billy hits the chords in all the right places. Billy also uses his vocals by using a variety of ranges to add to the emotion of this song. The background vocals add to the theme of camaraderie.
"She's Right on Time": This song might be the closest thing to a Christmas song that Billy has done. Once again a terrific combination of piano and percussion. Of all of the tracks, this one has the most "Classic Piano Man" sound.
"A Room of Our Own": On this song, Billy once again brings the piano to the forefront. On this song, Billy creates a Honky Tonk Piano sound.
"Surprises": Many people have said this is one of the most Beatle-esque sounds on the collection. I would agree with that. I can also hear signs of the Electric Light Orchestra and Jeff Lynne - particularly when Billy sings "It shouldn't surprise you at all".
"Scandinavian Skies": This is another extremely underrated song, but it is also a masterpiece. Once again, the instrumentation - with piano and percussion in the forefront do an outstanding job at painting a picture. This time the picture is (from a plane) of Scandinavian Europe during World War II times. There is a "marching band" sound prevalent during this track that helps support it. There is almost a psychedelic sound to it - bringing back memories of The Beatles. It is also worth noting Billy makes use of some intricate String arrangements. However, I think Billy's vocals bring his own style to this song and it helps to give it its own unique flavor.
"Where's the Orchestra": This shows Billy's interest in Classical Music. The song literally paints the picture of being in an Orchestral Theater. Billy does a great job at integrating a full orchestral ensemble (Strings, Brass Horns - they are on this song, Woodwinds, and Percussion).
The lyrics to each of the songs are included on this collection - as well as the musician and production credits. I was surprised this wasn't the "Album of the Year" for 1982, but it did have some worthy competition in Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly" and Toto's "Toto IV". That being said, this is one incredible musical collection - a must for not just Billy Joel fans, but for music fans.
Nylon Curtain Poster
Nylon Curtain (Remastered, Enhanced) Label: Sbme Special MKTS. Release Date: 2/1/2008 1 Allentown - 3:51 2 Laura - 5:06 3 Pressure - 4:41 4 Goodnight Saigon - 7:03 5 She's Right on Time - 4:14 6 A Room of Our Own - 4:04 7 Surprises - 3:26 8 Scandinavian Skies - 6:00 9 Where's the Orchestra? - 3:17Classic Rock Music CDs
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