The Nylon Curtain [Enhanced]

Amazon.com essential recording
Billy Joel's chameleonlike leaps from style to style have never resulted in a more audacious album than 1982's Nylon Curtain. Gloriously overreaching both musically--Joel seems compelled to act as both Lennon and McCartney on this heavily Beatles-influenced disc--and thematically, he takes on everything from romance in an age of alienation ("Laura," "A Room of Our Own") to the sociopolitical causes of that alienation ("Goodnight Saigon," the moving recession saga "Allentown"). And it all works. As a portrait of a pop artist getting the Big Ideas out of his system, The Nylon Curtain is hard to beat. --Rickey Wright

The Nylon Curtain,Billy Joel,Sony,Album Rock,Pop,Pop/Rock,Rock,Singer/Songwriter,Soft Rock

Average customer rating: Billy Joel writes a novella for his generation Excellent! Billy Joel's peak is right here Fish out of water, somewhat Truly Superior

The Nylon Curtain Billy Joel Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classic Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Turnstiles [Enhanced Version] Glass Houses The Bridge Streetlife Serenade 52nd Street ASIN: B00000DCHF Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

1. Allentown
2. Laura
3. Pressure
4. Goodnight Saigon
5. She's Right On Time
6. A Room Of Our Own
7. Surprises
8. Scandinavian Skies
9. Where's The Orchestra?

Amazon.com essential recording

Billy Joel's chameleonlike leaps from style to style have never resulted in a more audacious album than 1982's Nylon Curtain. Gloriously overreaching both musically--Joel seems compelled to act as both Lennon and McCartney on this heavily Beatles-influenced disc--and thematically, he takes on everything from romance in an age of alienation ("Laura," "A Room of Our Own") to the sociopolitical causes of that alienation ("Goodnight Saigon," the moving recession saga "Allentown"). And it all works. As a portrait of a pop artist getting the Big Ideas out of his system, The Nylon Curtain is hard to beat. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Billy Joel writes a novella for his generation.......2007-06-11

"The Nylon Curtain," to me, was the moment where Billy Joel reached musical adulthood. After the youthful energy of "Glass Houses'" new-wave tilt, Joel suddenly found himself looking at folks of his generation trapped in the Reagan Era while swallowing a heaping spoonful of Vitamin Disillusioned. The recessionary blues of "Allentown" (where "the restlessness was handed down") takes a depressed industrial Pennsylvania city and personifies the growing frustration of the union classes and their loss.

The opening single (and MTV staple) "Pressure" also carried that theme of frustration, but pulled it back to the individual. It's also the song that brought the most baggage from "Glass Houses," with its pulsing synthesizers and big drums. But that is where the 80's stopped on "The Nylon Curtain." The mid-60's Beatles are the obvious touchstone of this album, with the McCartney flourishes on "Laura" and the Lennon sweet/sour of "Surprises" the poles between which Joel spread the sound-scape of "The Nylon Curtin," also giving him the freedom to explore his lyrical range.

Nowhere was that more clear than on this album's centerpiece. "Goodnight Saigon" is - simply stated - the best song Billy Joel has ever written. Conjuring up imagery as common as The Doors, "Apocalypse Now" and every Southeast Asia War story you have ever heard, Joel outlines emotions common to the soldiers of his generation in very plain but poetic language. "We came in spastic like tameless horses. We left in plastic as numbered corpses" may be the most devastating couplet ever used in a top 40 song to describe the mundane horror of wartime. Yet "Goodnight Saigon" ties the horror and humanity when the swelling "And we would all go down together" chorus chimes in. It's a single song moment that Joel has yet to surpass. (The bonus video on the CD marks the only appearance of the rare video for the song, as well.)

The ghosts of war also seem to haunt "Scandinavian Skies," with its offbeat travelogue of flying across Europe. The orchestrations here, as well as throughout "The Nylon Curtain," are frequently ambitious, adding to the seriousness of the general proceedings. The sad strains that accompany "Where's The Orchestra" add a near Broadway-ish coda to the album, again accenting the ambitions. While Joel and his band were definitely aiming for the big musical statement, that doesn't mean they weren't willing to play a little loose. If you listen closely near the end of "A Room Of Our Own," you'll hear drummer Liberty DeVito lose his place during one of the choruses.

"The Nylon Curtain" was nothing like any previous Billy Joel albums. It is also completely in a separate category from the albums to follow. While he may have tried to follow these ambitions later on ("We Didn't Start The Fire" and "Leningrad" both spring to mind), "The Nylon Curtain" holds its status as Joel's most adventurous and personal album.

Excellent!.......2007-05-14

I'm a Beatle fan, and I loved most of the songs of this album almost immediately. "She's Just in Time" is a GEM! "Allentown" has always been a Joel classic for me, always loved it. "Laura" simply incredible. "Pressure" is another of my favs. I really admire Billy's talent for great melodies and arrangements. I think I read somewhere Lennon admired him too, and he really like "Glass Houses".

Billy Joel's peak is right here.......2007-02-28

Billy's career and songwriting peak is here...Contains these 4 pocket symphonies by Billy Joel that are timeless.
Laura - Possibly Billy's best song ever
Goodnight Saigon - Still a live favorite
A Room Of Our Own - Underrated
Scandinavian Skies - Another forgotten classic

Fish out of water, somewhat.......2006-11-28

On this album, Billy Joel made his 'triumphant return' after taking a few years off, and tries to update his tin pan alley 70s sound to a more poppy, synthy 80s sound. This is a bit of a stepdown from the giddy "Glass Houses" and the earnest 'The Stranger'. The songs are just not as strong all the way through, although (1) "Pressure", "Allentown" and "Goodnight Saigon" were superb, instant classics, and (2) recordingwise, productionwise, the album has a 'snap' to it, I will admit.

Songwise, I find the rest of the album is more hit-and-miss. The Beatles influence is up front, like the background vocals in 'Laura', the Harrison stomp in "Room of Our Own", the McCartneyish melodic leaps in "Surprises". Not to mention the sluggish strings in "Scandinavian Skies", somewhat reminiscent of early ELO, Walls-and-Bridges era Lennon, and even Strawberry Fields. The songs themselves often sound a bit forced, like the "Room Of Our Own" which only lacks more silly screaming to fully capture the cheese of the 80s. "Laura" despite the clever background vocals, is a very annoying song, all in all, and I don't know if he thought using the F word would make him sound hip or what, but it just sounds stupid and ludicrous in context. "Scandinavian Skies" reaches high, has some interesting textures, but can get tiresome after a few listens. "Surprises" and "She's Just In Time" are better written, with mature, wry lyrics. In fact, the lyrics overall are probably the best he's written on any of his albums. "Where's the Orchestra" is a bit of pleasant fluff, but wisely not overextended.

Despite its shortcomings, this is a fine album by Billy Joel, the overall sound is very smooth and pleasing to the ear. Like the albums by ELO, Genesis, Moody Blues of this era, it has a very warm, keyboard layered production, without sounding all busy and brassy like typical mid 80s synth heavy stuff. And needless to say, fine musicianship throughout, not a bad note or unsteady beat to be found.

It's odd that some have said this is not his best album, but gave it 5 stars anyways. This isn't a Billy Joel fanboard. People read these reviews to make decisions on buying a product, not how even his weakest moments are better than anything else in the world. If you think your favorite artist needs 5 stars for everything they've ever done, odds are you are more a 'fanatic' than just a fan. Ironically, I've probably bought more Billy Joel albums (remember when they were 12" vinyl?) than most of these 5 star reviewers.

Truly Superior.......2006-11-07

Billy addresses the critics here who say he just does commercial fluff by doing some socially conscious songs ("Allentown," "Good Night Saigon.") The critics were unmoved, but the result is a fantastic album. Every song is great here. Obviously one of Billy's favorite albums, because several songs here were featured in his 12 night Madison Sqaure Garden Concerts this year (see 12 Gardens Live.) Another reason for that is these songs have all held up really well.

Average customer rating: Billy Joel writes a novella for his generation Excellent! Billy Joel's peak is right here Fish out of water, somewhat Truly Superior

The Nylon Curtain Billy Joel Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Rock General | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Turnstiles [Enhanced Version] Glass Houses The Bridge Streetlife Serenade 52nd Street ASIN: B0000025RY Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Allentown
2. Laura
3. Pressure
4. Goodnight Saigon
5. She's Right On Time
6. A Room Of Our Own
7. Surprises
8. Scandinavian Skies
9. Where's The Orchestra?

Amazon.com essential recording

Billy Joel's chameleonlike leaps from style to style have never resulted in a more audacious album than 1982's Nylon Curtain. Gloriously overreaching both musically--Joel seems compelled to act as both Lennon and McCartney on this heavily Beatles-influenced disc--and thematically, he takes on everything from romance in an age of alienation ("Laura," "A Room of Our Own") to the sociopolitical causes of that alienation ("Goodnight Saigon," the moving recession saga "Allentown"). And it all works. As a portrait of a pop artist getting the Big Ideas out of his system, The Nylon Curtain is hard to beat. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Billy Joel writes a novella for his generation.......2007-06-11

"The Nylon Curtain," to me, was the moment where Billy Joel reached musical adulthood. After the youthful energy of "Glass Houses'" new-wave tilt, Joel suddenly found himself looking at folks of his generation trapped in the Reagan Era while swallowing a heaping spoonful of Vitamin Disillusioned. The recessionary blues of "Allentown" (where "the restlessness was handed down") takes a depressed industrial Pennsylvania city and personifies the growing frustration of the union classes and their loss.

The opening single (and MTV staple) "Pressure" also carried that theme of frustration, but pulled it back to the individual. It's also the song that brought the most baggage from "Glass Houses," with its pulsing synthesizers and big drums. But that is where the 80's stopped on "The Nylon Curtain." The mid-60's Beatles are the obvious touchstone of this album, with the McCartney flourishes on "Laura" and the Lennon sweet/sour of "Surprises" the poles between which Joel spread the sound-scape of "The Nylon Curtin," also giving him the freedom to explore his lyrical range.

Nowhere was that more clear than on this album's centerpiece. "Goodnight Saigon" is - simply stated - the best song Billy Joel has ever written. Conjuring up imagery as common as The Doors, "Apocalypse Now" and every Southeast Asia War story you have ever heard, Joel outlines emotions common to the soldiers of his generation in very plain but poetic language. "We came in spastic like tameless horses. We left in plastic as numbered corpses" may be the most devastating couplet ever used in a top 40 song to describe the mundane horror of wartime. Yet "Goodnight Saigon" ties the horror and humanity when the swelling "And we would all go down together" chorus chimes in. It's a single song moment that Joel has yet to surpass. (The bonus video on the CD marks the only appearance of the rare video for the song, as well.)

The ghosts of war also seem to haunt "Scandinavian Skies," with its offbeat travelogue of flying across Europe. The orchestrations here, as well as throughout "The Nylon Curtain," are frequently ambitious, adding to the seriousness of the general proceedings. The sad strains that accompany "Where's The Orchestra" add a near Broadway-ish coda to the album, again accenting the ambitions. While Joel and his band were definitely aiming for the big musical statement, that doesn't mean they weren't willing to play a little loose. If you listen closely near the end of "A Room Of Our Own," you'll hear drummer Liberty DeVito lose his place during one of the choruses.

"The Nylon Curtain" was nothing like any previous Billy Joel albums. It is also completely in a separate category from the albums to follow. While he may have tried to follow these ambitions later on ("We Didn't Start The Fire" and "Leningrad" both spring to mind), "The Nylon Curtain" holds its status as Joel's most adventurous and personal album.

Excellent!.......2007-05-14

I'm a Beatle fan, and I loved most of the songs of this album almost immediately. "She's Just in Time" is a GEM! "Allentown" has always been a Joel classic for me, always loved it. "Laura" simply incredible. "Pressure" is another of my favs. I really admire Billy's talent for great melodies and arrangements. I think I read somewhere Lennon admired him too, and he really like "Glass Houses".

Billy Joel's peak is right here.......2007-02-28

Billy's career and songwriting peak is here...Contains these 4 pocket symphonies by Billy Joel that are timeless.
Laura - Possibly Billy's best song ever
Goodnight Saigon - Still a live favorite
A Room Of Our Own - Underrated
Scandinavian Skies - Another forgotten classic

Fish out of water, somewhat.......2006-11-28

On this album, Billy Joel made his 'triumphant return' after taking a few years off, and tries to update his tin pan alley 70s sound to a more poppy, synthy 80s sound. This is a bit of a stepdown from the giddy "Glass Houses" and the earnest 'The Stranger'. The songs are just not as strong all the way through, although (1) "Pressure", "Allentown" and "Goodnight Saigon" were superb, instant classics, and (2) recordingwise, productionwise, the album has a 'snap' to it, I will admit.

Songwise, I find the rest of the album is more hit-and-miss. The Beatles influence is up front, like the background vocals in 'Laura', the Harrison stomp in "Room of Our Own", the McCartneyish melodic leaps in "Surprises". Not to mention the sluggish strings in "Scandinavian Skies", somewhat reminiscent of early ELO, Walls-and-Bridges era Lennon, and even Strawberry Fields. The songs themselves often sound a bit forced, like the "Room Of Our Own" which only lacks more silly screaming to fully capture the cheese of the 80s. "Laura" despite the clever background vocals, is a very annoying song, all in all, and I don't know if he thought using the F word would make him sound hip or what, but it just sounds stupid and ludicrous in context. "Scandinavian Skies" reaches high, has some interesting textures, but can get tiresome after a few listens. "Surprises" and "She's Just In Time" are better written, with mature, wry lyrics. In fact, the lyrics overall are probably the best he's written on any of his albums. "Where's the Orchestra" is a bit of pleasant fluff, but wisely not overextended.

Despite its shortcomings, this is a fine album by Billy Joel, the overall sound is very smooth and pleasing to the ear. Like the albums by ELO, Genesis, Moody Blues of this era, it has a very warm, keyboard layered production, without sounding all busy and brassy like typical mid 80s synth heavy stuff. And needless to say, fine musicianship throughout, not a bad note or unsteady beat to be found.

It's odd that some have said this is not his best album, but gave it 5 stars anyways. This isn't a Billy Joel fanboard. People read these reviews to make decisions on buying a product, not how even his weakest moments are better than anything else in the world. If you think your favorite artist needs 5 stars for everything they've ever done, odds are you are more a 'fanatic' than just a fan. Ironically, I've probably bought more Billy Joel albums (remember when they were 12" vinyl?) than most of these 5 star reviewers.

Truly Superior.......2006-11-07

Billy addresses the critics here who say he just does commercial fluff by doing some socially conscious songs ("Allentown," "Good Night Saigon.") The critics were unmoved, but the result is a fantastic album. Every song is great here. Obviously one of Billy's favorite albums, because several songs here were featured in his 12 night Madison Sqaure Garden Concerts this year (see 12 Gardens Live.) Another reason for that is these songs have all held up really well.

Average customer rating: Great buy! Billy Joel Rocks The Worst of Billy Joel A review from Mr. Entertainment Lover

Bridge/Storm Front/Nylon Curtain Billy Joel Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Stranger Streetlife Serenade An Innocent Man ASIN: B000007T42 Release Date: 1998-06-30

Tracks:

1. Running On Ice
2. This Is The Time
3. A Matter Of Trust
4. Modern Woman
5. Baby Grand
6. Big Man On Mulberry Street
7. Temptation
8. Code Of Silence
9. Getting Closer

Tracks:

1. That's Not Her Style
2. We Didn't Start The Fire
3. The Downeaster 'Alexa'
4. I Go To Extremes
5. Shameless
6. Storm Front
7. Leningrad
8. State Of Grace
9. When In Rome
10. And So It Goes

Tracks:

1. Allentown
2. Laura
3. Pressure
4. Goodnight Saigon
5. She's Right On Time
6. A Room Of Our Own
7. Surprises
8. Scandinavian Skies
9. Where's The Orchestra?

Customer Reviews:

Great buy!.......2002-09-09

'Bridge' and 'Storm Front' are both great. 'Nylon Curtain' has one or two really good songs, but the rest of it just isn't my style. As a set this is a great buy.

Billy Joel Rocks.......2001-03-22

There are no bad Billy Joel albums!

The Worst of Billy Joel.......2001-03-16

Seriously, these have to be Joel's worst albums. "Storm Front" is okay but the first two are ridiculously excessive and very unnatural sounding. This is Billy Joel at his most boring, adult-contemporary stage.

A review from Mr. Entertainment Lover.......1999-05-29

This three box set contains Billy Joel Cds of The Bridge, Storm Front, and The Nylon Curtain. Billy Joel is one of the most talented rock stars out there. His music is a must for anyone, especially this set.

Average customer rating:

The Nylon Curtain Billy Joel Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000666W46 Release Date: 2004-12-13

Tracks:

1. Allentown
2. Laura
3. Pressure
4. Goodnight Saigon
5. She's Right on Time
6. Room of Our Own
7. Surprises
8. Scandinavian Skies
9. Where's the Orchestra?

Album Description

Japanese remastered reissue packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. Details TBA. Sony. 2004.

Album Details

Dsd Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Average customer rating:

Nylon Curtain ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000EWBC5G Release Date: 2006-05-30

Average customer rating:

Bridge/Storm Front/Nylon Curtain Billy Joel Manufacturer: Sony/Columbia ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005RGHN Release Date: 2001-10-09

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