902. Billy Joel / Turnstiles. 1976. 3/5

Whether or not the album is written exclusively about Billy's own departure from the west coast of the US to return to his home back on the east coast and New York, the influence in the writing and the references to both are plentiful on this album. Everything seems positive in one direction and maybe not the other! As a device to produce a more enthusiastic follow up to the somewhat laid back effort that was Streetlife Serenade it has for the most part appeared to succeed.

The opening joyousness expressed in "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" kicks off the album on an uplifting note. Yes, Billy Joel's best music contains either positives overtones or an upbeat tempo in the song, and this does it best on both levels.
"Summer. Highland Falls" is characterised not only by a constant rolling piano playing that even sounds like a river gently flowing towards the falls, it has the clarinet in the middle of the songs that also brings up visions of that forest area that the river is flowing through. The reggae styling of "All You Wanna Do Is Dance" are probably what hinders the enjoyment of this song for me. Reggae is not my thing, and while the song itself is harmless it does detract from the album for me.
"New York State of Mind" is a brooding, moody song, one that finds its way forward in a stuttering way, mixed with sax and piano. It has become a favourite even though it was not released as a single. Personally I enjoy it enough to sing along to when I hear it, but it isn't a song I go out of my way to find. "James" then opens the second side of the album, and to be honest I feel the same way about it. It's a song that is well regarded within the Billy Joel community, but it doesn't strike a lot of chords with me.
Billy's story-telling songs are generally some of his best. In particular, those songs where he sings along at a speed where he seems to be trying to fit two lines in a space where there is only room for one are his most descriptive and most fun to learn and sing along with. "Angry Young Man" is such a song, and is one I enjoy for all of those reasons. Both sides of the story seem to come here, the description of the 'angry young man' and the reflective side from one who has seen (or been through) it all before. The frenzied piano keying of "Prelude" to start and then complete the song adds to the drama of the song. Terrific stuff.
"I've Loved These Days" brings the tempo and mood back a cog again, which is slightly disappointing on a personal level after the previous song, while "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" does build throughout the song, but in the end ends as so many songs of this era of Billy's music do, on a slow decline to a single tempo that is enhanced by his marvellous vocals and terrific piano, but as songs perhaps only just come in above the average.

This album has more than its predecessor to enjoy, both overall and in the choice of two or three excellent songs of their own accord. As a whole it does still sit within the range that all of his first four albums have done - great musicianship and some cracking tunes, though rounded out by many songs that eventually all have the same modus operandi, and thus not breaking them out of the average to the extraordinary.

Rating:   "And he's proud of his scars and the battles he's lost".  3/5.