"Cold Spring Harbor" is the debut studio album by American recording artist Billy Joel, released on November 1, 1971, under Family Productions. Despite Joel's talent and potential, the album initially sold poorly, partly due to a mastering error that caused the original LP release to play at a faster speed than intended, altering the pitch of Joel's vocals.
The album gained more attention after the success of Joel's subsequent albums, notably "Piano Man" in 1973. In 1983, producer Artie Ripp oversaw a remixed and speed-corrected version of "Cold Spring Harbor," which was released by Columbia Records. This revised edition addressed the pitch issue and allowed listeners to hear the album as originally intended.
While "Cold Spring Harbor" did not achieve significant commercial success upon its initial release, it is regarded as a starting point in Billy Joel's career, showcasing his songwriting abilities and early musical style. The remixed version helped to correct the technical flaws of the original release and introduced the album to a wider audience who appreciated Joel's distinctive voice and lyrical storytelling.
Overall, "Cold Spring Harbor" remains an important album in Billy Joel's discography, representing his early efforts and laying the foundation for his subsequent success as one of the most enduring figures in popular music.
