Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Billy Joel’s Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition, a newly expanded 4CD + Blu-ray box set commemorating the 50th anniversary of the artist’s pivotal 1976 album. The collection presents a comprehensive portrait of a transformative period in Joel’s career, documenting the creative journey that led from Piano Man and Streetlife Serenade to the breakthrough era that would soon follow with The Stranger. Hear “James” (band demo, June 12, 1975) here, and preorder the collection here.

Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition will be available on December 11.

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 50th Anniversary Edition 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.

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 Billy 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.’”

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.

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 acclaimed 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.

Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition stands as the most comprehensive exploration of the album ever assembled, offering an in-depth look at the recordings, performances, and archival material surrounding the creation of Turnstiles.

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