52nd Street is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released in 1978. It was the first of four Joel albums to top the Billboard charts, and it earned him two Grammys. Three songs reached the Top 40 in the United States, contributing to the album’s success: “My Life” (#3), “Big Shot” (#14), and “Honesty” (#24). It was similarly well received by critics, earning the 1979 Grammy for Album of the Year. This Grammy was presented to its producer, Phil Ramone. Upon Ramone’s death, 52nd Street’s Album of the Year Grammy was passed on to Joel. Additionally, the album is notable for being the first to be commercially released on the compact disc format, reaching store shelves on October 1, 1982 in Japan (though it wasn’t the first work to be pressed on the format, being predated by Richard Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony and ABBA’s The Visitors).
The title is a reference to 52nd Street, which 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. The studio where recording took place was also on 52nd Street, a block away from the CBS Building. – Wikipedia
The Stranger is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on September 29, 1977, by Columbia Records. While his four previous albums had been moderately successful, The Stranger became Joel’s true critical and commercial breakthrough, spending six weeks at number 2 on the US albums chart. Considered his magnum opus, it remains his best-selling non-compilation album to date, and was ranked number 70 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Once again it’s Wednesday; mid-week, (you know what we call it) and time for “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s.” On the playlist: Michael Jackson, the Manhattan Transfer, Luther Vandross, Dynasty, Gene Chandler, Donna Summer, Debbie Harry & Blondie, the Capris, Billy Joel, Stephanie Mills and others. The show begins at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT & 4PM PT. I’ll be looking for you later this evening for “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” at the home of the greatest hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s, RadioMaxMusic.Com. Happy You Know What Day. Later ‘Gator!
On this “Hump Day” evening when “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” comes your way, on the playlist will be: Atlantic Starr, the Gap Band, Billy Joel, the Bar-Kays, Gladys Knight, Hall & Oates, Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, Fat Larry’s Band, Oran “Juice” Jones, Major Harris and more post election “cut-in,” or “break-in” songs about elections past, by the likes of Dickie Goodman, Jak Yak and my former colleague and co-worker at WCBS-FM, Bob Shannon and I, calling ourselves the Strange Bedfellows and our look back at the “Great Debate of ’88,” plus other great 80s songs. It all begins at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT & 4PM PT. I’ll be looking for you later for “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” only on 
Today Labor Day 2016 we feature Live tracks all day from great artists all day then a special Vinyl Resting Place Labor Day at 5pm with Willie B. Today you will hear Live tracks from Joni Mitchell, Kelly Clarkson, Cyndi Lauper, Journey, Bob Seger, Elton John, Steve Miller Band, Genesis, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Kiss, Nils Lofgren, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Madonna, Vixen, Tom Petty, Lisa Marie Presley, John Fogerty and many more.
This evening on “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” I’ll be playing: Whitney Houston, Rick James, the Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Tyler; featuring my dear friend Rory Dodd, the Manhattans, the Reddings, George Duke, Sir Elton John, Vesta Williams, Barry White, Billy Joel and more. It gets underway at 7PM ET, 6PM CT, 5PM MT and 4PM PT. You won’t want to miss it when “Great Soul Performances 2: The 80s” comes your way on the best station on the internet, RadioMaxMusic.Com.
Join Willie B for another edition of the Vinyl Resting Place. 
