Several years ago, I wrote about visiting New York locations from Billy Joel album covers. Joel’s recently launched New York State of Mind website provides an interactive, 3-D map featuring 50 special New York locations from his life and music.

NYSOM celebrates 50 years of Joel although his musical career actually goes back to the mid-1960s. The 50 years probably refers to the release of Cold Spring Harbor, his first album and one of the locations on the new site. A click on any of the locations marks it on the interactive map, along with displaying a relevant picture and short description.

Cold Spring Harbor.
Photo 232518058 © David Wood | Dreamstime.com

While I visited the steps from Innocent Man, the subway from Turnstiles and the building from 52nd Street, NYSOM goes well beyond album cover photos. There’s Elaine’s, the now-closed restaurant and bar mentioned in “Big Shot.” There’s also Mulberry Street from “Big Man on Mulberry Street.” Surprisingly, 52nd Street, from the song and album title, is not on the site although it was the site of one of his recording studios.

Mostly though, NYSOM lists significant locations from Joel’s life, including concert venues like Madison Square Garden, Nassau Coliseum, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall and more. There are more personal spots, like his high school, Hicksville High School.

Madison Square Garden.
Photo 233965186 © Dwong19 | Dreamstime.com

NYSOM is a winner on several levels. It would be awesome to spend a couple days in New York touring these locations. Even a virtual tour from home is fascinating to Joel fans. You don’t have to be a fan, though. Many of the locations are historic enough without the Joel connection. This site definitely has me in a New York state of mind.

Photo 133062902 © Thomas Lozinski | Dreamstime.com

— John Wroblewski, online writer