Billy Joel announced Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition on September 29, 2026. The four-CD and Blu-ray box set comes out December 11. It contains 67 audio tracks, 54 of them previously unreleased, plus 32 video performances, 24 of them never released before.
Key Takeaways
- The set includes “Oklahoma,” a Billy Joel song that has never been released before, in both demo and live versions.
- Fan favorite “Handball” gets its first official audio release.
- Four tracks come from the abandoned first recording sessions for Turnstiles, which featured Elton John’s rhythm section, bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson.
- The complete Billy Joel Tonight concert film, shot in December 1976 at Connecticut College’s Palmer Auditorium, has been transferred, restored, and mixed in HD.
- A newly restored concert from New York’s Bottom Line on June 10, 1976, and a Dolby Atmos mix of the original album are also included.
- The box includes a 40-page hardcover booklet with previously unseen photographs and new liner notes by music journalist David Fricke.
Turnstiles Is Billy Joel’s New York Homecoming Record
Turnstiles came out on May 19, 1976, and it marks a turning point in Billy Joel’s story. After several years in Los Angeles waiting out a bad record contract, Joel moved back to New York. The album he wrote about that move includes songs that defined his career: “New York State of Mind,” “Summer, Highland Falls,” “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” and “Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).”
Joel produced Turnstiles himself, and how it got made is central to the new box set. The first sessions took place in Colorado with producer James Guercio and members of Elton John’s band. Joel wasn’t satisfied with those recordings. He dropped them and re-recorded the album in New York with his own touring band, the musicians who would go on to form the core of his sound for years.
That makes Turnstiles the album where Billy Joel built his sound around his own band. Fifty years later, the 50th Anniversary Edition documents that shift in detail.
What 54 Vault Tracks Reveal About The Making Of The Album
The box set is structured more like a documentary than a standard deluxe reissue. Across four discs, it follows the album from early sketches to the stage.
The Abandoned Colorado Sessions Finally Surface
The most historically important material is the four tracks from the Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson sessions. For decades, fans knew about the scrapped version of Turnstiles mainly through stories. Hearing those recordings next to the finished album lets listeners compare the two approaches and judge the decision for themselves.
The box set’s session notes also show the new approach taking shape. An early take of “Miami 2017” lists bassist Doug Stegmeyer and drummer Liberty DeVitto, dated January 23, 1976. Stegmeyer and DeVitto became the rhythm section of Joel’s band throughout his run of classic albums, and here they appear on tape at the start of that partnership.
Demos And Early Versions Show The Songs Taking Shape
The first disc is devoted to demos and early versions. It includes material recorded at CBS Studios and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. These recordings show how the songs developed before their final form: changing arrangements, lyrics still in progress, and Joel working out the balance between his solo piano writing and a full band.
“Oklahoma” is the key find. A Billy Joel song that fans have never heard is rare at this point in his career, and the set includes it as both a demo and a live performance. That suggests Joel took it into rehearsals or onto the stage before it was left off the album.
Two 1976 Concerts Capture The Band On Stage
The live material places Turnstiles in the year of its release. The third disc is devoted to Joel’s June 10, 1976, show at the Bottom Line, the Greenwich Village club that was central to New York’s live music scene in the 1970s. Released three weeks after the album came out, it captures Joel playing the new songs in the city they were written about.
The fourth disc and the Blu-ray cover Billy Joel Tonight, recorded December 5 and 6, 1976, at Palmer Auditorium, Connecticut College, in New London. Parts of those performances aired in a 1977 television special. The new edition presents the full concert film, transferred, edited, restored, and mixed in HD, with a soundtrack that adds previously unreleased recordings from the same shows.
Two more archival pieces complete the set. The second disc pairs the original album with previously unreleased alternate versions and a 1976 radio interview with Philadelphia DJ Ed Sciaky, recorded June 18, 1976. Tracks from Souvenir, a 1977 promotional LP, are included as well.
A Catalog Release Built For Collectors And New Listeners
The box set also serves listeners focused on sound quality. A Dolby Atmos mix of the original album puts Turnstiles into immersive audio formats, which fits a wider effort to update classic catalogs for current playback systems.
For collectors, the physical package is substantial. The 40-page hardcover booklet includes previously unseen photographs and archival material, along with new liner notes by David Fricke. The official Billy Joel store limits orders to four per customer, an early sign of expected demand.
Legacy artists are active beyond archival releases, too. Classic rock acts are still announcing new work, as shown by Deep Purple’s plans for a 24th studio album and a world tour. The Turnstiles reissue takes a different approach: it goes deep into the history of one album instead of adding new music to the catalog.
Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition arrives December 11 through Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings. It is available for pre-order now.
FAQs
When Is The Billy Joel Turnstiles 50th Anniversary Edition Released?
Turnstiles – 50th Anniversary Edition comes out December 11, 2026. Pre-orders are open through Billy Joel’s official store.
How Many Unreleased Tracks Are On The Turnstiles Box Set?
The set includes 67 audio tracks, and 54 of them are previously unreleased. It also has 32 video performances, 24 of which have never been released.
What Is “Oklahoma” On The Turnstiles Box Set?
“Oklahoma” is a Billy Joel song that has never been released before. It appears on the 50th Anniversary Edition in both demo and live form.
What Concerts Are Included In The Turnstiles 50th Anniversary Edition?
The set includes a newly restored June 10, 1976, concert at New York’s Bottom Line and the full Billy Joel Tonight concert, filmed in December 1976 at Connecticut College. The Billy Joel Tonight film is presented in HD on Blu-ray.
When Was Turnstiles Originally Released?
Billy Joel originally released Turnstiles on May 19, 1976. It was his fourth studio album and includes “New York State of Mind,” “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” and “Summer, Highland Falls.”
