Billy Joel - Cold Spring Harbor (Any Love?)

Billy Joel's first album came with a vulnerable sounding 22 year old young songwriter meshed with undeniable technical flaws within it's production. Most prominent, the album's mastering speed makes Billy sound almost chipmunk-like at times.

The album was re-mastered in the early 1980s, saving it a little bit, however not enough to make a noticeable difference in it's sound. I feel if the original album had come out without any master/technical flaws, more people would have appreciated the album upon it's original release and potentially for decades to come.

My purpose for this thread, though, is to gather opinions on this album. Apart from the technicalities that flaw this album, it's a treasure. His voice strains cry and resemble his vulnerable state. (Ex. the suicide note he wrote which developed into the song Tomorrow is Today - one of his most underrated songs.) If I had to summarize this album in one word, it would be dulcet.

Opinions?

 

it's good. i just wish there was a listenable version.

 

Love this album despite its flaws.
I didnt even know a pre-Piano Man album existed in the early 80,s.
Stumbled upon this in a record store
Beautiful if sonetimes naive lyrics matched with great music.
Very similar in style to the Elton John album, except EJ had more professional engineers and orchestration
My faves are Why Judy Why, Tomorrow is today, Turn around, Nocturne.
I prefer the orchestrated version of Tomorrow is today.
What are the main differences in mixes between versions ?

 

I bought the digitally remastered version on cassette in the late-80s when I was in my most rabid Billy Joel fandom...and I hated it.

I never made it through a full playing. Could not get past the comically incompetent production. I’m not sure if I still have that cassette.

dan c

 

Artie Ripp

How perfect.

 

Found a speed corrected original mix when they started making the Internet rounds about ten years ago. I enjoy it, the most of any of his albums.

 

It wasn't remastered in the 80s, it was a drastic remix with things left out, other things added and songs cut short.. I wish leastwise on this board people wouldn't be so lazy with the terms....

I like an speed corrected version of the original mix the best.

 

Back in the '70s I found a Family Productions cut-out 8-track of this album and played the heck out of it. I think it's got great tunes that stand the test of time, and I find it has much better tunes than "Streetlife Serenade". I particularly like the "Nocturne/Got to Begin Again" combo finale of the album, as well as "Tomorrow is Today", "Shes Got A Way", "Everybody Love's You Now".

Someone here at SHF posted a link to a fan fixed version of the original album and that's my go-to version. It's very well done. I am sure if you search the forum you will find quite a few threads on this topic.

NEVERMIND. I found it: Billy Joel's "Cold Spring Harbor" — fan restoration

 

Always wondered if Billy consciously (or not) copied Elton...
Cold Spring Harbor which I believe came out 1-2 years after the Elton John album, then Piano Man in 73 following Tumbleweed Connection with an Americana/country/Western motif.

 

Is the remaster from 1998 also at the incorrect speed?

 

I like most of it. I've always especially liked the combination of piano and organ on "You Look So Good To Me."

 

I’ve tried to listen to it a few times. Kept it for completist reasons. Good songs, not great. Production lives up to it infamy.

 

I liked it a lot when it came out. For some reason it reminded me of McCartney's songwriting on Ram. Then I heard about the speedup, and well...

 

I actually have always enjoyed this album. It's certainly the work of a young artist still finding his way, but the album has it's charms, and certainly isn't as bad as some (including Billy) make it out to be. Would love to see the original mix reissued properly. Obviously even Billy thought it wasn't that bad, resurrecting two tracks for Songs In The Attic, but I think there's other small pleasures like "Falling Of The Rain" and "Tomorrow Is Today" that hold up pretty well.

Hell, I still like this album a lot more than An Innocent Man. Hah.

 

Actually yes it was a remix. Because I'm pretty sure (for ex some drum parts were redone - in Everybody Loves You Now and others.

 

I believe it's at the correct speed, but it's still doesn't sound completely right.

 

Everytime there is a thread about this album, it needs to be reiterated once again that neither version of this album runs at the correct speed.

 

Is the 1998 remaster the remix?

 

The 80's remix is not entirely the right speed. It is too slow in places. There is a theory that they tried to make it sound more like the deeper-voiced older Billy Joel people were used to from his 80's hits. I don't know if that is the reason.

 

I prefer the flawed original version.

 

I really like this album. For years I'd only either heard the sped-up "chipmunk" version or the overdubbed remix from the early 1980s, but recently I found a remastered, speed-corrected version of the original album and it was a revelation -->

 

Great, underrated album in my opinion. I don't have a problem with any version.

 

Which version is in the complete albums box set from a few years back?
I must say I enjoyed the album much more than I expected to based on its reputation.


Peace and love✌

 

Great set of songs, unfourtunately the production killed it.

 

The 80's version is the only one used in any official digital release.