Sobre el álbum
El aclamado 52nd Street continúa la racha triunfal de Billy Joel, consolidando su estatus como una de las mayores estrellas del planeta. Tras el éxito de "The Stranger", en este disco de 1978 el artista y el productor Phil Ramone se adentran en un sonido más influenciado por el jazz y el pop sofisticado. De este modo, el álbum exhibe una mayor complejidad musical y unos arreglos exquisitos, con la participación de músicos de jazz de primer nivel.
Además, el trabajo fue otro éxito de ventas masivo y se convirtió en el primer álbum en ser lanzado comercialmente en formato de disco compacto. Por consiguiente, contiene hits inmortales como "My Life", "Big Shot" o la seductora "Honesty". Por esta razón, "52nd Street" no es una mera continuación de su predecesor, sino una obra de una elegancia y una calidad extraordinarias que le valió el premio Grammy al Álbum del Año, reafirmando su genio creativo.
Listado de Canciones
- Big Shot4:01
Letra
You went uptown riding in your limousine In your fine Park Avenue clothes You had the Dom Perignon in your hand And the spoon up your nose And when you wake up in the morning With your head on fire And your eyes too bloody to see Go on and cry in your coffee But don't come bitchin' to me Because you had to be a big shot, didn't you You had to open up your mouth You had to be a big shot, didn't you All your friends were so knocked out You had to have the last word, last night You know what everything's about You had to have a white hot spotlight You had to be a big shot last night They were all impressed with your Halston dress And the people that you knew at Elaine's And the story of your latest success Kept 'em so entertained But now you just can't remember All the things you said And you're not sure you want to know I'll give you one hint, honey You sure did put on a show Yes, yes, you had to be a big shot, didn't you You had to prove it to the crowd You had to be a big shot, didn't you All your friends were so knocked out You had to have the last word, last night You're so much fun to be around You had to have the front page, bold type You had to be a big shot last night Well, it's no big sin to stick your two cents in If you know when to leave it alone But you went over the line You couldn't see it was time to go home No, no, no, no, no, no, you had to be a big shot, didn't you You had to open up your mouth You had to be a big shot, didn't you All your friends were so knocked out You had to have the last word, last night So much fun to be around You had to have a white hot spotlight You had to be a big shot last night - Honesty3:50
If you search for tenderness It isn't hard to find. You can have the love you need to live. But if you look for truthfulness You might just as well be blind. It always seems to be so hard to give. Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you. I can always find someone To say they sympathize. If I wear my heart out on my sleeve. But I don't want some pretty face To tell me pretty lies. All I want is someone to believe. Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you. I can find a lover. I can find a friend. I can have security until the bitter end. Anyone can comfort me With promises again. I know, I know. When I'm deep inside of me Don't be too concerned. I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone. But when I want sincerity Tell me where else can I turn. Because you're the one that I depend upon. Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you. - My Life4:43
Got a call from an old friend we'd used to be real close Said he couldn't go on the American way Closed the shop, sold the house, bought a ticket to the west coast Now he gives them a stand-up routine in L.A. I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home I don't care what you say anymore this is my life Go ahead with your own life leave me alone I never said you had to offer me a second chance I never said I was a victim of circumstance I still belong Don't get me wrong And you can speak your mind But not on my time They will tell you you can't sleep alone in a strange place Then they'll tell you can't sleep with somebody else Ah but sooner or later you sleep in your own space Either way it's O.K. you wake up with yourself - Zanzibar5:10
Letra
Ali dances and the audience applauds Though he's bathed in sweat he hasn't lost his style Ali don't you go downtown You gave away another round for free Me, I'm just another face at Zanzibar But the waitress always serves a secret smile She's waiting out in Shantytown She's gonna pull the curtains down for me, for me I've got the old man's car I've got a jazz guitar I've got a tab at Zanzibar Tonight that's where I'll be, I'll be Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game But the Yankees grab the headline every time Melodrama's so much fun In black and white for everyone to see Me, I'm trying just to get to second base And I'd steal it if she only gave the sign She's gonna give the go head The inning isn't over yet for me, for me I've got the old man's car I've got a jazz guitar I've got a tab at Zanzibar Tonight that's where I'll be Tell the waitress I'll come back to Zanzibar I'll be hiding in the darkness with my beer She's waiting out in Shantytown She's gonna pull the curtains down for me, for me I've got the old man's car I've got a jazz guitar I've got a tab at Zanzibar Tonight that's where I'll be - Stiletto4:39
Letra
She cuts you once, she cuts you twice But still you believe The wound is so fresh you can taste the blood BUt you don't have strength to leave You've been bought, you've been sold You've been locked outside the door But you stand there pleadin', With your insides bleedin', 'Cause you deep down want some more Then she says she wants forgiveness It's such a clever masquerade She's so good with her stiletto You don't even see the blade She cuts you hard, she cuts you deep, She's got so much skill She's so fascinating that you're still there waiting When she comes back for the kill You've been slashed in the face You've been left there to bleed You want to run away But you know you're gonna stay 'Cause she gives you what you need Then she says she wants affection While she searches for the vein She's so good with her stiletto You don't really mind the pain She cuts you out, she cuts you down She carves up your life But you won't do nothng As she keeps on cutting 'Cause you know you love the knife You've been bought, you've been sold You've been locked outside the door But you stand there pleadin' With your insides bleedin' 'Cause you deep down want some more Then she says she needs affection While she searches for the vein She's so good with her stiletto, You don't really mind the pain - Rosalinda's Eyes4:40
- Half a Mile Away4:06
Letra
Little Geo is a friend of mine We get some money and we buy a cheap wine Sit on the corner and have a holiday Hide the bottle when the cop goes by Talk about women and lie, lie, lie Oh, my other world is just a half a mile away. Wait for mama to turn out the light Crawl on the roof and then I hit the night I should be sleeping tonight but I just can't stay I've given everybody so much time Now I need a moment that's mine... Oh my other world is just a half a mile away It's just a half a mile away Angelina save a place for me I've been livin' someone else's life and now I've got to be free Turn your transistor on and let the music play I try to keep the family satisfied But there's gotta be more to life than just try, try, try Oh my other world is only a half a mile away It's just a half a mile away - Until the Night6:35
Letra
I never ask you where you go After I leave you in the morning We go our different ways to separate situations It's not that easy anymore Today I do what must be done I give my time to total strangers But now it feels as though the day goes on forever MOre than it ever did before CHORUS Until the night, until the night I just might make it Until the night, until the night When I see you again Now you're afraid that we have changed And I'm afraid we're getting older So many broken hearts, so many lonely faces So many lovers come and gone I'll have my fears like every man You'll have your tears like every woman Today we'll be unsure, is this what we believe in And wonder how can we go on CHORUS When the sun goes down And the day is over When the last of the light has gone As they pour into the street I will be getting closer As the cars turn their headlights on While they're closing it down We're gonna open it up And while they're going to sleep We'll just be starting to touch I'm just beginning to feel I'm just beginning to give I'm just beginning to feel I'm just beginning to live Before I leave you again Before the light of the dawn Before this evening can end I have been waiting so long CHORUS - 52nd Street2:27
Letra
They say it takes a lot to keep a love alive: In every heart there pumps a different beat But if we shift the rhythm into overdrive, We could generate a lot of heat.... CHORUS On 52nd Street On 52nd Street We're gonna throw a little soul parade, Before they know the second bar was played We're gonna slip it to 'em short and sweet CHORUS