Forgotten Gems : COLD SPRING HARBOR by Billy Joel

If you are just a casual listener of Billy Joel, this one might have completely slipped under your radar. It was released in 1971 way before his fame, though he had done other projects before that, just not as Billy Joel... the singer song writer we know. Another reason for the obscurity of this album is, that when it was released, it was not on CBS but the small Family label.

The curious event of things surrounding this release is somewhat cloaked in mystery, but the devastating result was... the speed pitch of the masters tapes were wrong. The speed is severely too fast, making Billy's voice sound like a chipmunk, as he has himself called it. His voice was already very light and youthful at this point, and not the growly, smoky voice he would later aquire. Joel himself was so infuriated, that he threw the record out the window the first time he heard it and demanded a recall and remastering. But the owner of the label did nothing. Joel left the deal... but with huge consequences. The old label had to be paid 20% on all future earnings for 15 years. Imagine the goldmine this lowlife got his hands on by treating his music like shit. There are many stories like this from the early days of the business.

Then in 1983 the album was remixed and edited by CBS and issued, without Joel's consent, and with added musicians, shortened tracks and the wrong pitch maintained. No wonder that Joel no longer has any feeling for this very early and shamelessly underrated output. In fact, I will be so bold to say, it is Billy Joel's best album. The sheer sense of melody, his fantastic voice and the slightly understated expression, gives it a quality level that he would not be able to hold on other albums, even if they occasionally hadbetter tracks.

The version you see on the pictures here, is the 1983 mix on CD and it is good enough to get an idea of the album... but the best thing is to grab the privtrely made original "Family" vinyl to mp3 master with CORRECTED PITCH, done by a fan. This is a completely different experience. As I said his voice is light and has a fine vibrato, but everything seems to come alive in a natural way, played at the (subjectively) corrected speed. Go find the "Philip Cohen Collection" http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=665

"She's Got A Way" has become fan favorite and has survived into live shows, but the rest of this brilliant set of songs are forgotten. Now I would trade in any Leonard Cohen album for this one anytime. It has a more mainstream appeal, but keeps the balance with the progressiveness really well and most of all, Billy's voice never sounded better... pitch corrected. It is very Dylan'esqe and also have clear inspirations from Beatles and Cohen. Probably Elton John was an inspiration too.

The pitch corrected fan remaster is here