52nd Street is the sixth studio album by Billy Joel, released in 1978. It was also the first of many Joel albums to top the Billboard charts, along with his third and fourth Grammy win. (see 1978 in music). 52nd Street also became, in 1982, the first album to be released on compact disc by Sony Music Entertainment.

Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, helping to boost the success of the album. "My Life" reached #3, "Big Shot" reached #14, and "Honesty" reached #24. The album was also successful with critics, winning the 1979 Grammy for Album of the Year.
Allmusic credits Joel for expanding on the style of The Stranger, making it "more sophisticated and somewhat jazzy." (Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard guests on "Zanzibar.") The title is a reference to the street that was one of New York City's jazz centers in the middle of the century. Joel's label was headquartered on 52nd Street (in the CBS Building) at the time of the album's release. 52nd Street in Manhattan on the west side is called "Swing Street" for a series of jazz clubs located there.

The track "My Life" was featured as the theme to the situation comedy Bosom Buddies (performed by a different singer).

In 2003, the album was ranked number 352 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
52nd Street enjoys the distinction of being the first album to be made commercially available on CD, when the new technology was released to the market in 1982.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Billy Joel.

• "Big Shot" – 4:03

• "Honesty" – 3:53

• "My Life" – 4:44

• "Zanzibar" – 5:13

• "Stiletto" – 4:42

• "Rosalinda's Eyes" – 4:41

• "Half a Mile Away" – 4:08

• "Until the Night" – 6:35

• "52nd Street" – 2:27

Personnel

• Billy Joel – piano, Vocals

• Doug Stegmeyer – bass, background vocals

• Liberty DeVitto – drums

• Richie Cannata – saxophones, organ, clarinet

• Steve Khan – electric guitar, acoustic guitar

• Freddie Hubbard – trumpet on "Zanzibar"

• Mike Mainieri – vibes and marimba on "Zanzibar" and "Rosalinda's Eyes"

• David Spinozza – acoustic guitar on "Honesty"

• Donnie Dacus – background vocals on "My Life"

• Peter Cetera – background vocals on "My Life"

• David Friedman – orchestral chimes and percussion on "Until the Night"

• Ralph MacDonald – percussion on "Rosalinda's Eyes" and "Half a Mile Away"

• Eric Gale – electric guitar on "Half a Mile Away"

• Frank Floyd – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"

• Babi Floyd – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"

• Zack Sanders – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"

• Milt Grayson – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"

• Ray Simpson – background vocals on "Half a Mile Away"

• George Marge – sopranino recorder on "Rosalinda's Eyes"

• Hugh McCracken – nylon string guitar on "Until the Night" and "Rosalinda's Eyes"

• Robert Freedman – horn and string orchestration on "Until the Night" and "Honesty"

• Dave Grusin – horn orchestration on "Half a Mile Away"

• David Nadien – concertmaster

Chart positions and certifications

Album

Year-end charts

Singles

Awards

Grammy Awards