Billy Joel – Songs In The Attic (2LP, 45RPM, Ultra Analog, Half-speed Mastering)
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Billy Joel – vocals, pianos, synthesizer, harmonica [click here to see more vinyl featuring Billy Joel]
David Brown – electric guitar (lead), acoustic guitar (lead)
Richie Cannata – saxophones, flute, organ
Liberty DeVitto – drums, percussion
Russell Javors – electric guitar (rhythm), acoustic guitar (rhythm)
Doug Stegmeyer – bass guitar
All songs written and composed by Billy Joel
2 LP, gatefold jacket
Limited numbered edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Half-speed Mastering
Gain 2™ Ultra Analog
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Live
Record Press : Record Technology Incorporated
Label : MOFI
Original Label : Columbia
Recorded live in June–July 1980 during Glass Houses tour:
- on June 24, 1980, at Madison Square Garden, New York, (A1, D2)
- on June 27, 1980 at Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA (B2)
- on July 5, 1980, at Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA(C2)
- on July 10, 1980, at Toad's Place, New Haven, CT (B1)
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on July 14, 1980, at Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI (C1)
- on July 16, 1980, at The Horizon, Chicago, IL (D3)
- on July 20, 1980, at St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN (A3)
- on July 23, 1980, at The Bayou, Washington, D.C. (A2, B3, D1)
Engineered by James Boyer, Bradshaw Leigh, Larry Franke
Produced and remixed by Phil Ramone
Mastered by Krieg Wunderlich
Originally released in September 1981
Reissued in 2014
Tracks:
Side A:
- Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
- Summer, Highland Falls
- Streetlife Serenader
Side B:
- Los Angelenos
- She's Got A Way
- Everybody Loves You Now
Side C:
- Say Goodbye To Hollywood
- Captain Jack
Side D:
- You're My Home
- The Ballad of Billy The Kid
- I've Loved These Days
Reviews :
“Having scored three multi-platinum hits in a row, Billy Joel took a breather, releasing his first live album, Songs in the Attic, as he worked on his ambitious follow-up to Glass Houses. Joel wisely decided to use the live album as an opportunity to draw attention to songs from his first four albums. Apart from "Piano Man," none of those songs had been heard by the large audience he had won with The Stranger. Furthermore, he now had a seasoned backing band that helped give his music a specific identity -- in short, it was an opportunity to reclaim these songs, now that he had a signature sound. And Joel didn't botch the opportunity -- Songs in the Attic is an excellent album, ranking among his very best work. With the possible exception of the Turnstiles material, every song is given a fuller, better arrangement that makes it all spring to life. "Los Angelenos" and "Everybody Loves You Now" hit harder in the live setting, while ballads like "She's Got a Way," "Summer, Highland Falls," and "I've Loved These Days" are richer and warmer in these versions. A few personal favorites from these albums may be missing, but what is here is impeccable, proving that even if Joel wasn't a celebrity in the early '70s, his best songs of the era rivaled his biggest hits.” Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ultra Analog™ : The GAIN 2 Ultra Analog™ Series stems from the use of the Gain 2 system, mastered at half speed from the original master tapes where possible, capturing and uncovering as before undiscovered sonic information.
Half-speed mastering. In half-speed mastering, the whole process is slowed down to half of the original speed. A typical 33 1/3 rpm record is cut at 16 2/3 rpm. The source material is also slowed down (reducing the pitch in the process) meaning the final record will still sound normal when played back. Slowing the whole process down allows more time, which means the end result sounds better and is more efficient — allowing engineering to minimize the effects of inherent limitations within the vinyl format. The result is a more accurate and more open high-frequency response in the half speed vinyl when compared with a normal speed recording.
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4 / 5 , Discogs : 4.81 / 5