Billy Joel’s ‘Turnstiles’ Gets 50th Anniversary Expanded Edition

An outtake from the Billy Joel Turnstiles album cover photo shoot.

Billy Joel’s 1976 album, Turnstiles, is getting a 50th anniversary edition, a newly expanded 4-CD + Blu-ray boxed set. The collection presents a comprehensive portrait of a transformative period in Joel’s career, documenting the creative journey that led from 1973’s Piano Man and 1974’s Streetlife Serenade to the breakthrough era that would soon follow with The Stranger. Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition, from Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings—the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment—arrives on December 11, 2026. It’s available to pre-order in the U.S. here and in Canada here.

From the Sept. 29 announcement: Originally released on May 19, 1976, Turnstiles marked Joel’s return to New York after several years in Los Angeles and introduced songs that would become central to his catalog, including “New York State of Mind,” “Summer, Highland Falls,” “James,” “I’ve Loved These Days,” “Prelude/Angry Young Man,” and “Say Goodbye to Hollywood.” The new collection features 67 audio tracks, including 54 previously unreleased recordings, alongside 32 video performances, 24 previously unreleased, offering an unprecedented look at the album’s development through demos, studio sessions, live recordings, alternate mixes and archival film.

Listen to “James” (band demo, June 12, 1975)

Among the set’s highlights are the previously unheard song “Oklahoma,” presented in both live and demo form, and the official audio debut of fan favorite “Handball.” The collection also includes newly released recordings from Joel’s 1975 performances at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, rare piano-and-vocal demos, recordings from the abandoned sessions with producer James Guercio, and early performances featuring the emergence of the band that would become Joel’s classic touring lineup.

“The story of Turnstiles is the story of how the ‘Piano Man’ became Billy Joel,” writes John Jackson, Director of the Billy Joel Archives and producer of the collection. “The victories and setbacks experienced at every turn in 1975 and 1976 would have stalled any lesser performer. But not Billy. His vision and commitment to his artistry at all costs made him BILLY JOEL, no longer simply the ‘Piano Man.'”

As Best Classic Bands notes in our Album Rewind, “Turnstiles was not a commercial success, only rising to #122 on Billboard’s album chart, risking an ejection from his Columbia Records contract. But the extensive tour that followed in 1977 saw a culmination, with three sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall in June 1977. Producer Phil Ramone was in attendance and, shortly thereafter, began working with the musician on what would result in Joel’s commercial and critical breakthrough, 1977’s The Stranger.”

A centerpiece of the release is the complete Billy Joel Tonight concert film, newly transferred, edited, restored and mixed in HD from the original December 1976 performances filmed at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Broadcast as a television special in 1977, the film captures Joel and his band at a crucial moment just before mainstream success arrived. The Blu-ray also includes rehearsal footage, production inserts, rare performances, and archival material that has remained largely unseen for nearly five decades.

The audio portion of the box set spans four discs. CD1 (Demos and Early Versions) traces the album’s evolution through demos, live recordings, and abandoned studio sessions. CD2 pairs the original Turnstiles album with previously unreleased alternate versions and a newly released 1976 radio interview with Philadelphia DJ Ed Sciaky. CD3 presents a complete June 10, 1976 performance at New York City’s Bottom Line, newly restored from multiple audio sources. CD4 features the soundtrack to Billy Joel Tonight, including previously unreleased recordings from the Connecticut College performances.

Watch a featurette on Joel and his band, leading up to the Billy Joel Tonight performance

The Blu-ray concludes with a Dolby Atmos mix of the original Turnstiles album, mixed by Bradshaw Leigh and mastered by Ted Jensen and Adam Grover at Sterling Sound.

The package also includes a 40-page hardcover booklet featuring previously unseen photographs, extensive archival material, and newly commissioned liner notes from music journalist David Fricke, alongside detailed historical notes from John Jackson chronicling the album’s creation and the pivotal events that shaped Joel’s artistic direction.

Fricke describes Turnstiles as “the sound of Joel quitting L.A., taking charge in New York and finally getting the road on a record,” noting that the album captured the moment Joel assembled the Long Island musicians who would become his enduring band and forged the creative identity that defined the next chapter of his career.

The 50th Anniversary Edition pack shot.

TURNSTILES – 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 4CD + Blu-ray Box Set Includes:
Original Turnstiles album
67 audio tracks, including 54 previously unreleased recordings
Previously unheard song “Oklahoma”
Audio debut of fan favorite “Handball”
Complete Billy Joel Tonight concert audio
Complete Billy Joel Tonight concert film in HD
32 video performances, including 24 previously unreleased
Rare demos, alternate takes, live recordings, and studio sessions
Newly restored 1976 Bottom Line concert
Dolby Atmos mix of the original album
40-page booklet with unseen photographs and new liner notes by David Fricke and John Jackson

TRACKLISTING AND CREDITS
CD1: DEMOS AND EARLY VERSIONS
1. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (band demo, February 7, 1975) (2:58)
2. James (band demo, July 12, 1975) (4:07)
3. New York State Of Mind (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 12, 1975 – Set 1) (5:44)
4. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 10, 1975 – Set 2) (2:54)
5. Oklahoma (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 9, 1975 – Set 1) (4:05)
6. Everybody Has A Dream (live at The Great American Music Hall, June 10, 1975 – Set 2) (5:28)
7. New York State Of Mind (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (6:09)
8. I’ve Seen The Lamb Lie Down On Broadway (Miami 2017) (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (4:05)
9. James (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (3:28)
10. Oklahoma (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (2:32)
11. New Ideas (Say Goodbye To Hollywood, Angry Young Man, Brenda And Eddie) (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (2:23)
12. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (piano /vocal demo with percussion overdub, 1975) (3:51)
13. These Rhinestone Days (piano/vocal demo, 1975) (3:01) – previously released on My Lives
14. Prelude/Angry Young Man – take 9 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 19, 1976) (5:47)
15. I’ve Loved These Days – take 1 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 20, 1976) (4:29)
16. James – take 3 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 21, 1976) (4:07)
17. Everybody Has A Dream – take 1 (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson session, January 21, 1976) (3:12)
18. Sadness Or Euphoria (Summer, Highland Falls) – take 2 (Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto session, January 23, 1976) (3:24)
19. All You Wanna Do Is Dance – take 2 (Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto session, January 23, 1976) (3:12)
20. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) – take 1 (Doug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto session, January 23, 1976) (4:40)

All songs, words and music Billy Joel
All tracks previously unreleased, except where noted

CD2: ALBUM SESSIONS

The original album cover.

Turnstiles
Produced by Billy Joel
Originally released May 19, 1976 (Columbia PC 33848)
1. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (4:37)
2. Summer, Highland Falls (3:19)
3. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (3:45)
4. New York State Of Mind (6:01)
5. James (3:56)
6. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:16)
7. I’ve Loved These Days (4:35)
8. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:14)
Bonus Tracks:
9. James (alternate mix with strings; reprise with acoustic guitar, bongos and saxophone) (4:56)
10. Summer, Highland Falls (alternate acoustic version) (3:29)
11. Say Goodbye To Hollywood (alternate band take) (4:44)
12. I’ve Loved These Days (alternate orchestral mix) (4:33)
13. Conversation with Ed Sciaky, Philadelphia, June 18, 1976 (23:13)

All songs, words and music Billy Joel
All tracks produced by Billy Joel

CD3: LIVE AT THE BOTTOM LINE
New York, NY – June 10, 1976
1. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:13)
2. Somewhere Along The Line (3:09)
3. Summer, Highland Falls (3:44)
4. Piano Man (5:39)
5. Root Beer Rag (3:10)
6. James (3:46)
7. Travelin’ Prayer (5:30)
8. New York State Of Mind (6:39)
9. The Entertainer (3:51)
10. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid (8:30)
11. I’ve Loved These Days (4:38)
12. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:29)
13. Captain Jack (7:08)
14. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (3:30)
15. Ain’t No Crime (3:08)
16. Weekend Song (4:18)
17. Souvenir (1:53)

All songs, words and music Billy Joel
All tracks previously unreleased

CD4: BILLY JOEL TONIGHT
Recorded live December 5 & 6, 1976 at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, New London during the live video taping of “Billy Joel Tonight.”
1. Prelude/Angry Young Man (5:09)
2. Somewhere Along The Line (3:01)
3. Summer, Highland Falls* (3:07)
4. Piano Man (5:32)
5. Handball (5:11)
6. James (3:39)
7. Travelin’ Prayer (6:53)
8. New York State Of Mind* (8:21)
9. The Entertainer (4:19)
10. You’re My Home (3:21)
11. Root Beer Rag (3:17)
12. Roberta (4:01)
13. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid* (5:22)
14. I’ve Loved These Days (4:22)
15. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (5:00)
16. Captain Jack (6:52)
17. Souvenir* (2:19)

All songs, words and music Billy Joel
Billy Joel Tonight produced by Elizabeth Joel

BLU-RAY: BILLY JOEL TONIGHT
THE CONCERT
Recorded live December 5, 1976 at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, New London
1. Prelude/Angry Young Man*
2. Somewhere Along The Line
3. Summer, Highland Falls
4. Piano Man*
5. Handball*
6. James (includes Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon)
7. Travelin’ Prayer (includes “Jungleland” by Bruce Springsteen)
8. New York State Of Mind*
9. The Entertainer*
10. You’re My Home*
11. Root Beer Rag
12. Roberta
13. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
14. I’ve Loved These Days
15. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)*
16. Captain Jack*
17. Worse Comes To Worst
18. Ain’t No Crime
19. Weekend Song
20. If I Only Had The Words To Tell You
21. Souvenir

REHEARSALS AND PRODUCTION INSERTS
Recorded live December 6, 1976 at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, New London
1. Stop In Nevada (incomplete rehearsal) (includes “Behind Closed Doors” by Kenny O’Dell)
2. She’s Got A Way
3. Say Goodbye To Hollywood
4. Streetlife Serenader
5. The Great Suburban Showdown
6. All You Wanna Do Is Dance
7. I’ve Loved These Days
8. Honky Tonk Women (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards)
9. Covers Medley:
You Are So Beautiful (Billy Preston/Bruce Fisher)
Born To Run (Bruce Springsteen)
Hey Mister, That’s Me Up On The Jukebox (James Taylor)
Tell Me Why (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
Bennie And The Jets (Elton John/Bernie Taupin)
10. Souvenir
11. Nocturne* (include “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy)

All songs, words and music Billy Joel, except where noted
All performances previously unreleased except where noted (*), included in the original 1977 TV Special Billy Joel Tonight

Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition is available to pre-order in the U.S. here and in Canada here.