Turnstiles

This article is about the Billy Joel album. For the pedestrian gate, see turnstile.

Turnstiles
Studio album by Billy Joel
Released	May 1976
Recorded	Ultrasonic Recording Studios, Hempstead, NY; January 1976
Genre	Rock
Length	34:18
Label	Family Productions/Columbia
Producer	Billy Joel
Billy Joel chronology
Streetlife Serenade (1974) Turnstiles (1976) The Stranger (1977)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	C+

Turnstiles was the fourth album by Billy Joel, released in 1976. In part, the album was made to celebrate Joel's return to New York City after his sojourn in California. Three of the album's tracks reference New York: "Summer, Highland Falls", "New York State of Mind" and "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)". In addition, Joel begins the album with "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (inspired by Ronnie Spector), and also includes "I've Loved These Days", a tongue-in-cheek expression of regret at leaving behind Hollywood's decadence.

The songs were initially recorded at Caribou Ranch with members of Elton John's band, and produced by famed Chicago producer James William Guercio. Joel, however, was dissatisfied with the results and fired Guercio. Joel then took over the helm as producer and the songs were re-recorded in New York. Since Joel was producing himself, he was able to use his own touring band, consisting of Long Island musicians like Liberty DeVitto, Richie Cannata, and Doug Stegmeyer. Turnstiles marked the first time that Joel's band played on one of his studio albums.

Joel has stated in an online interview that the album cover photo was shot in "an abandoned subway station;" in the same interview, Joel notes that each of the characters on the album cover was meant to represent a particular song (i.e., the girl in headphones for "All You Wanna Do is Dance," the wealthy couple for "I've Loved These Days," etc).

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Billy Joel.

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

Personnel

• Billy Joel – keyboards, vocals
• Ken Ascher – orchestral arrangements
• Richie Cannata – saxophone
• Liberty DeVitto – drums
• Howie Emerson – electric and acoustic guitars
• Russell Javors – electric and acoustic guitars
• Mingo Lewis – percussion
• Brian Ruggles – basic track consultant
• James Smith – acoustic guitar
• Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (1976)	Position
Australian Kent Music Report Chart	12
U.S. Billboard 200	122
Chart (2004)	Position
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart	286

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Position
Australian Albums Chart	32

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)	Platinum	1,000,000^
^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone