The Nylon Curtain
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Rolling Stone | [2] |
The Nylon Curtain is the eighth studio album by Billy Joel. It was released by Columbia Records on September 23, 1982 and produced by Phil Ramone.
The Nylon Curtain peaked at number seven in the Billboard album charts, with two million sales in the United States alone. It was one of the first albums to be digitally recorded, mixed, and mastered.
Background
The album is among Joel's most ambitious albums, and Joel has openly acknowledged that it's one of his personal favorites, calling it "the recording I'm most proud of and the material I'm most proud of."[3] When he recorded the album, he said in an interview that he wanted to "create a sonic masterpiece." So he spent more time in the studio, crafting the sound of the album, than he had on any previous album. [4]He said that the process of making the album was "exhausting."[5] Critics have interpreted the album to be, in part, an homage to the music of The Beatles and John Lennon.[6]
Regarding the album's themes, Joel has stated "It was during the Reagan years, and the diminishing horizons in America at the time [meant that] all of a sudden you weren't going to be able to inherit [the kind of life] your old man had."[7] This pessimism about the American dream, in Joel's view, permeates most of the songs on the album.
The song "Allentown", which brought attention to the plight of America's declining steel industry, spent an unprecedented six weeks at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1983. It was one of the most played radio songs of the early 1980s, along with another Top 20 hit "Pressure".[citation needed]
Pop-culture journalist Chuck Klosterman praised songs from the album, specifically "Laura" and "Where's the Orchestra?," in his book Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Billy Joel.
Side one
- "Allentown" – 3:50
- "Laura" – 5:02
- "Pressure" – 4:38
- "Goodnight Saigon" – 6:58
Side two
- "She's Right on Time" – 4:11
- "A Room of Our Own" – 4:00
- "Surprises" – 3:28
- "Scandinavian Skies" – 5:59
- "Where's the Orchestra?" – 3:16
Personnel
- Billy Joel – Vocals, piano, synthesizer, hammond organ, melodica, Prophet V Synthesizer, Synclavier II On "Pressure"
- David Brown – electric guitar (lead), acoustic guitar (lead)
- Dominic Cortese – accordion on "Where's the Orchestra?"
- Liberty DeVitto – drums, percussion
- Eddie Daniels – saxophone and clarinet on "Where's the Orchestra?"
- Russell Javors – electric guitar (rhythm), acoustic guitar (rhythm)
- Dave Grusin – string and horn arrangement
- Charles McCracken – cello on "Where's the Orchestra?"
- Rob Mounsey – synthesizer on "Scandinavian Skies"
- David Nadien – concertmaster on all except "Laura" and "Scandinavian Skies"
- Doug Stegmeyer – bass
- "String Fever" – strings on "Laura" and "Scandinavian Skies"
- Bill Zampino – field snare on "Goodnight Saigon"
Accolades
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Nylon Curtain | Album of the Year[8] | Nominated |
Charts
Peak positions |
Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[25] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Japan (Oricon Charts) | — | 356,000[26][13] |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[28] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[29] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r10434
- ^ Holden, Stephen (1982-10-14), "Music Reviews : The Nylon Curtain by Billy Joel", Rolling Stone, archived from the original on 2011-08-17
{{citation}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 2009-02-20 suggested (help) - ^ Billy Joel Interview on Nylon Curtain[1]
- ^ Billy Joel Interview on Nylon Curtain[2]
- ^ Billy Joel Interview on Nylon Curtain[3]
- ^ Nylon Curtain Album Review[4]
- ^ Billy Joel Interview on Nylon Curtain[5]
- ^ "Rock On The Net: 25th Annual Grammy Awards - 1987". Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ "Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain - austriancharts.at" (in German). Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ^ Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-05
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ^ a b a-ビリー・ジョエル "Yamachan Land (Japanese Chart Archives) - Albums Chart Daijiten - Simon and Garfunkel" (in Japanese). Original Confidence. 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "charts.org.nz - Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
- ^ "Chart Stats - Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Allmusic - The Nylon Curtain > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
- ^ "Album Search: Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums '82". RPM. 1982-12-25. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- ^ 1982年アルバム年間ヒットチャート "Japanese Year-End Albums Chart 1982" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1983". RPM. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "日本で売れた洋楽アルバムトップ10 (Top-ten international albums on the Japanese Oricon Year-End Charts 1987". Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; September 17, 2007 suggested (help) - ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1983". billboard.biz. 1983-12-31. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". Music Canada.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ NVPI "de branchevereniging van de entertainmentindustrie". Retrieved 2011-08-17.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help)Note: User needs to enter "Billy Joel" in the "Artiest" field and click below "zoek" button. - ^ "Dutch album certifications – Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter The Nylon Curtain in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "American album certifications – Billy Joel – The Nylon Curtain". Recording Industry Association of America.
