Billy & Albert [Explicit Lyrics]

billy & albert [explicit lyrics]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Budget-price reissue of 1987 album from Scotland's most famous comedian. EMI. 2000.

Billy & Albert,Billy Connolly,EMI Records [All429],Comedy,Observational Humor,Pop,Soundtrack,Spoken / Comedy / Radio Shows,Spoken Word Comedy,Standup Comedy

Billy & Albert [Explicit Lyrics]
Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 1-2
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Billy Joel - A Decent Compilation
  • Greatest Hits
  • WARNING: Not the Complete Versions
  • I love it
  • The Billy Joel conundrum
 Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 1-2
Billy Joel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DCHI
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

  1. Piano Man
  2. Captain Jack
  3. Entertainer
  4. Say Goodbye to Hollywood
  5. New York State of Mind
  6. Stranger
  7. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
  8. Just the Way You Are
  9. Movin' out (Anthony's Song)
  10. Only the Good Die Young

Tracks:

  1. My Life
  2. Big Shot
  3. You May Be Right
  4. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
  5. Don't Ask Me Why
  6. She's Got A Way
  7. Pressure
  8. Allentown
  9. Goodnight Saigon
  10. Tell Her About It
  11. Uptown Girl
  12. The Longest Time
  13. You're Only Human (Second Wind)
  14. The Night Is Still Young

Amazon.com essential recording

It's one of the cruel ironies of music today that Billy Joel has been relegated to a kind of adult-contemporary hell, where his legacy is measured by soft-rock staples such as "Just the Way You Are," "Piano Man," and "New York State of Mind." To be sure, well-crafted ballads are a part of his legacy, but they're hardly the whole story, as this collection of his early and mid-period hits amply demonstrates. From the unbridled biographical boasting of "The Entertainer" and the ambitious storytelling of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" to the careening abandon of "Only the Good Die Young" and the thoughtful social commentary of "Allentown," Joel was as complete an artist as the last three decades have produced. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Billy Joel - A Decent Compilation.......2007-06-11

These days Billy Joel is often lumped in with Elton John as being remembered only for his top 40 radio hits and mushy ballads from the past several decades. Many people forget that like Elton, Joel put out some really strong albums in his early and mid-career. The guy was a songwriter's songwriter and not only could play a hell of a piano, but could be a very clever lyricist as well. Like Elton, Joel's output could be very inconsistent. For every "Goodnight Saigon" or "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" he wrote more throwaway stuff like "Uptown Girl" or "Tell Her About It". This two disc compilation captures all of his singles and some of his album tracks up to 1985. For the most part the material here is good, as you hear him move from an album oriented artist to a more commercial singles oriented one over the course of a little over a decade. The first disc is the best and starts out with some of the best cuts from his pre-superstar days. "Piano Man", "Captain Jack", "The Entertainer", and "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" are all great tracks and show a much different side of Joel than much of his later output. "The Stranger" is also included here. Although I was never crazy about the music or the chorus to this one, the lyrics are some of Joel's all time best. The rest of disc one starts dipping into Joel's big hit territory with the mush ballads "Just The Way You Are", and "She's Always A Woman" (written for his 1st wife who he would divorce not too many years later). The big hits "Only The Good Die Young" and "Moving Out" are also included. Disc two is not quite as strong. Three strong songs open the disc "My Life", "Big Shot" and "You May Be Right" all decent songs that got played to death on radio. Then it is back to mediocrity land with "It's Still Rock n Roll To Me" (I always think of the Weird Al Yankovic parody "It's Still Billy Joel To Me"), "Don't Ask Me Why", and "She's Got A Way". The best part of this disc is the three tracks from what is in my opinion Joel's strongest album "The Nylon Curtain". For this one Joel took a serious turn and came up with some really great songs. The 3 singles from the album are all represented here and they are all good ones. "Allentown" is a portrait of the Pennsylvania steel town after the industry pretty much pulled out. "Pressure" is another good one about the pressure of modern day life. "Goodnight Saigon" may be Joel's best all time work, and is a striking portrait of the Vietnam War. The last half of the CD covers Joel's Do Wop period with "Uptown Girl", "The Longest Time", and "Tell Her About It" (songs about his second wife whom he would eventually divorce). I am not much of a Do Wop fan so these don't do a lot for me. Two new (at the time) songs close the disc out and are pretty much both throw aways in my opinion. In the end this is a nice compilation of early Joel material. If you are looking for an overview this would be a good pick up.

5 out of 5 stars Greatest Hits.......2007-05-11

Many "Greatest Hits..." albums and sets are lacking or down right suck. This set is great. The songs you want to hear the way you expect to hear them.

1 out of 5 stars WARNING: Not the Complete Versions.......2007-03-31

I don't often get "greatest hits" collections, preferring instead to buy original albums, but in this case I did, because there are a handful of Billy Joel songs I wanted in my collection, but I didn't want to invest enough to purchase all of his albums. Unfortunately, they don't tell you that what you get here, at least in some instances, are the "single" versions of these songs, not the full-length versions from the original albums. Case in point: One of my favorite Billy Joel songs is "Just the Way You Are," but the version on this set cuts an entire verse. I haven't done comparisons on all of the other songs, but if they'd pull that on this song, they probably did so on others as well. It's incomprehensible to me; if someone wants Billy Joel songs, the odds are that they want the complete songs, not truncated re-edits.

5 out of 5 stars I love it.......2007-01-11

I was familiar with a few of Billy Joel's songs, but I thought my disc collection would not be complete if I did not own a good sample of his material.
This product proposes a chronological approach and that suited me just fine. The two discs are loaded with all the classics. All of them wonderfully digitalized. I was able to appreciate the enormous range of Billy Joel. Great songwriter, great singer, great piano player. Although I am drummer, I do understand why people like him, or Sting, or Stevie Wonder, or Elton John, are on top of the music industry food chain. It is truly difficult to be able to master so many areas of music. And I am not talking about the performing, the band leading chores, the musical direction, production, publicity, all these extra skills to own in order to arrive where they are.
Getting one hit out is already a rare feat, but 35 or 40 like the ones presented in this compilation, require a truly great mind (something many one hit wonders wish to have).
I love this compilation. A great buy!

1 out of 5 stars The Billy Joel conundrum.......2006-12-13

The first time I witnessed Billy Joel was on Saturday Night Live in 1978 performing "Just the Way You Are." And being it was the first time I saw the show and Billy Joel, it caught me by surprise when I found out his performance was not one of the skits. A group of us were trying to predict the punchline during the song and we all agreed halfway through that the camera was going to pan out and Mr. Joel would be wearing no pants as the lyrics seemed to be a sardonic ode to self pleasure. To our surprise, the song ended and they cut to commercial. We still thought we were being put-on, but after watching the rest of the show and seeing Mr. Joel perform "Only the Good Die Young," we joined hands and made sure to never mention this night to anyone. To this day I always wonder how Mr. Joel could have crashed his car into trees, houses, and fire-hydrants, and the only thing that keeps coming to mind was our prediction that Mr. Joel was wearing no pants at the end of the skit. Skip this and buy a pair of Bugle Boys instead...
Billy Idol - Greatest Hits
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I love Billy Idol!
  • Entertaining--sometimes for the wrong reasons
  • For some of the great guitar cameos in music
  • Awesome!
  • Billy's best
 Billy Idol - Greatest Hits
Billy Idol
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000059QYB
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

  1. Dancing With Myself
  2. Mony Mony
  3. Hot In The City
  4. White Wedding (Part 1)
  5. Rebel Yell
  6. Eyes Without A Face
  7. Flesh For Fantasy
  8. Catch My Fall
  9. To Be A Lover
  10. Don't Need A Gun (Single Edit)
  11. Sweet Sixteen
  12. Cradle Of Love
  13. L.A. Woman (Single Edit)
  14. Shock To The System
  15. Rebel Yell (Live And Acoustic)
  16. Don't You (Forget About Me)

Amazon.com

Billy Idol's secret is one that he shares with, of all people, Trent Reznor--the ability to take a pop base and disguise it with layers of other genres, most notably hard rock. His adaptability is on display throughout this 16-song career retrospective. It's amazing just how well the former Generation X frontman's songs have aged. Songs such as the disco-punk hit "Dancing with Myself," "White Wedding," and "Cradle of Love" are as appealing as ever, as is even "Shock to the System," just about the only listenable thing from 1993's Cyberpunk, an object lesson on the inadvisability of jumping blindly on a bandwagon. Fleshing out this best-of is a newly recorded cover of Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)," as well as a live, acoustic version of "Rebel Yell," and a few other choice rarities. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I love Billy Idol!.......2007-06-18

This CD is the best workout CD ever!! It's not crappy, overly synthesized music with fake drums that everyone expects you to work out to. It's Billy Idol's LOVERLY voice, and beautiful, gorgeous guitars and strong, steady drum beats that help keep your mind off the hard work. The best songs to jump rope or kick box or stair step or whatever you like to do are White Wedding, Rebel Yell (really gets your heart pumping) Don't Need a Gun,and Cradle of Love. Well, just listening to Dancing with Myself, To Be a Lover, L.A. Woman, and Shock to the System, at least makes you want to just get up and boogie which is better than nothing.

4 out of 5 stars Entertaining--sometimes for the wrong reasons.......2007-05-16

In the world of pop artists inspired by punk and new wave, Billy Idol is certainly above average. He didn't have nearly enough good songs to do toe-to-toe with Duran Duran or Depeche Mode, but the guy definitely had six strong singles that stand the test of time, and this album is worth having because you can find them all here. Dancing With Myself. White Wedding. Rebel Yell. Cradle of Love. Eyes Without a Face. Flesh for Fantasy. You'll find everyone of the greats, as well as his Mony Mony cover, which was also pretty successful.

Those songs along make this album a must-have if you like eighties music. But wait--there's more. Also with the album you get an acoustic, live version of Rebel Yell. That might sound scary, but it's actually not half bad.

On the other hand, you get Billy attempting to cover "LA Woman" by the Doors. No matter what you are imagining in your head, I promise you that it's worse. But it's worse in all the best ways--like a terrible movie that you watch over and over with your friends so you can make jokes about the diabolical acting, ridiculous plot twists, and run-of-the-mill dialog and action. Everyone should own this cover of "LA Woman" so you can break it out at parties and have a laugh with your friends. Equally atrocious--Idol takes a shot at "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (originally recorded by Simple Minds for the movie "The Breakfast Club.") While it's not a full on train wreck, it's pretty bad and good for a laugh when you're down in the dumps.

4 out of 5 stars For some of the great guitar cameos in music.......2007-05-15


Firstly, I'll just say that I rate AC/DC as the kings of the rock riff. What you get in Billy Idol's music, especially the good songs, are just a taste of a great guitar riff or lick. I.e. the riff/lick doesn't permeate the whole song, just a really cool bit of the song.

I'd say that this would have to be due to the guitar work of Steve Stevens. The songs that I rate highly on this compilation are:

Hot In The City, White Wedding (Part 1), Eyes Without A Face, and Flesh For Fantasy.

There are other good songs of course, and politically active songs like "You don't need a gun", as relevant as ever in light of the frequent massacres that occur in the US, always involving guns.

For examples of what I mean by great "cameo" guitar bits in songs, check out "Eyes without a face", which has a very fluid and mellow guitar break, and "Flesh for fantasy" which has a spiky and dirty sounding guitar riff with a cool synth drum beat. In AC/DC songs, often the riff forms the backbone of the whole song. With Billy Idol, the guitar is often the cherry on top of the ice-cream.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome!.......2007-01-12

This CD is one of the best greatest hits CD's I have heard in a long time. There are no songs that aren't worth hearing over and over again. Best value for the money I have made in a long time.

5 out of 5 stars Billy's best.......2006-11-26

I love this CD. I have been a fan of Billy's since the early '80s, and this CD encompasses all of his best songs. It finds its way into my CD player quite often, and I just never seem to tire of it!
Doin' Somethin' Right
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • good cd
  • Definitely Doin' Somethin' Right
  • Currington's Second
  • He must be doin' somethin' right
  • Doin' Somethin' Right - and he did!!
 Doin' Somethin' Right
Billy Currington
Manufacturer: Mercury Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AXWHQC
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

  1. I Wanna Be A Hillbilly
  2. Good Directions
  3. Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right
  4. Why, Why, Why
  5. That Changes Everything
  6. Little Bit Lonely
  7. She's Got A Way With Me
  8. Lucille
  9. Whole Lot More
  10. Here I Am
  11. She Knows What To Do With A Saturday Night

Amazon.com

With his sophomore release, the Georgia singer reinforces the trend toward redneck beefcake, matching a bare-chested sleeve photo with material such as the album-opening "I Wanna Be a Hillbilly" (apparently a hillbilly with a penchant for screaming, arena-rock guitars). He engages in some pillow talk with the breathy balladry of "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" and takes a turn toward a dreamier romanticism with "She's Got a Way With Me," featuring vocal support from Michael McDonald. A straightforward revival of Kenny Rogers's "Lucille" connects country present with country past, while the reggae tinge of "Little Bit Lonely" jumps on the contemporary country & Caribbean boat. The genial charm that he brings to mid-tempo fare such as "Good Directions" (despite its hackneyed story of the city girl who falls for the country hunk), "That Changes Everything," and "Here I Am" suggests that Currington is more engaging when he isn't trying so hard to be so sexy. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars good cd.......2007-05-12

Definitely a good buy. It has enough good songs on the cd to make it well worth the money.

5 out of 5 stars Definitely Doin' Somethin' Right.......2007-05-07

Billy has a great combination of crooning sing-along-songs and songs with a kick on this CD. He can go from a romantic song like "Here I Am" to a turn-up-the-sound kicker like "She Knows What To Do On A Saturday Night".
When you listen carefully, you can hear that Billy is a good song stylist.

4 out of 5 stars Currington's Second.......2006-12-05

A very good second outing for Billy Currington. A very good listen from first song to last. Besides the two songs that were made into videos, I also like She's Got a Way with Me, I Wanna be a Hillbilly, Good Directions and Whole lot More.

An album where the skip button is an uneccesary option. Very smooth Country album, that's relaxing.

5 out of 5 stars He must be doin' somethin' right.......2006-11-08

That son stuck on my head up to the point I had to get the album and you know what.. it's great!

5 out of 5 stars Doin' Somethin' Right - and he did!!.......2006-07-15

This one sexy guy can make great music! Totally love his voice! His "Must Be Doin' Somethin'Right" is just mellow in every way. I Wanna Be A Hillbilly imagines you there and a free spirit song! Totally loved "Good Directions" - great wording and music and he is awsome singing it! "That Changes Everything" is tooo good to be true - just love the beat- you find yourself humming it during the day. I play this cd every day! You gotta get it and enjoy him! ( And I am a die hard Toby Keith fan - but Billy trips my trigger)!
Mermaid Avenue
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Maybe my favourite record
  • Thanks Nora! Great Idea
  • Walt Whitman previously unrecorded
  • An incredibly productive colloboration....
  • There are some real jewels here
 Mermaid Avenue
Billy Bragg & Wilco
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000007NC0
Release Date: 1998-06-23

Tracks:

  1. Walt Whitman's Niece
  2. California Stars
  3. Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key
  4. Birds And Ships
  5. Hoodoo Voodoo
  6. She Came Along To Me
  7. At My Window Sad And Lonely
  8. Ingrid Bergman
  9. Christ For President
  10. I Guess I Planted
  11. One By One
  12. Eisler On The Go
  13. Hesitating Beauty
  14. Another Man's Done Gone
  15. The Unwelcome Guest

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

A ghost, a band, a troubadour. Easily the strangest co-op project ever, and easily one of the finest and most evocative albums of the year. British socialist and folkie Billy Bragg was given unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unrecorded lyrics. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco and quoting from more than 50 years of country, folk, and rock music, Billy and company bring Guthrie's politics, poetry, and morality to the end of the century and prove he's as necessary now as ever. --Tod Nelson

Amazon.com essential recording

When you first heard that Billy Bragg and Wilco were teaming up to set some Woody Guthrie lyrics to music, you knew it'd be an interesting project. But did anyone realistically think Mermaid Avenue would also wind up being one of 1998's finest albums? That's exactly what it is, a distinction it pulls off by simultaneously honoring Guthrie and blasting away any folksy expectations we might have of his music. Walking Guthrie's World War II-era lyrics into the 20th century's second, rock & roll half, Bragg and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy take turns on lead vocals, and the entire group collaborates on a sound that draws on folk- and country-rock, from Bob Dylan and the Band to Gram Parsons and Uncle Tupelo. The results are nearly flawless, ranging from yearning laments and playful children's rockers to horny ballads and brave protest songs that are not merely political but also profoundly moral. Like all of Guthrie's work, Mermaid Avenue is music to live better by. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Maybe my favourite record.......2007-06-01

I think everything has been said already in the previous reviews so there's not much - or rather nothing - I can add.

All I wanted to say is that this is a very special record for me. I listen to a lot of music and own several hundred CDs but this one is really outstanding. I think that this record is really emotional but in a pleasent kind of way. A lot of songs on the album bring tears to my eyes everytime I hear them. The whole project was a great idea and one can feel that the participators put all their heart and love into it.

In short: Mermaid Avenue is one of the records that makes live worth living for me.

I'm a fan of Wilco but I love this one better than any of their studio-albums.

5 out of 5 stars Thanks Nora! Great Idea.......2007-05-19

We should all thank Nora Gutherie for selecting Billy Bragg and Wilco to put this album together. What a fantastic combination. There are several wonderful songs on this cd. My favorite is "Hesitating Beauty". I was lucky enough to see Wilco perform this on Prairie Home Comapanion last week. It caused me to revisit this album and I'm glad I did.

5 out of 5 stars Walt Whitman previously unrecorded.......2007-04-24

Billy Bragg and Wilco (what a combo!) team up on previously unrecorded Walt Whitman writings and the result is increcible. This is still one of my favorite albums, and, although my husband and I play a wide variety of music, this is an album that everyone likes. For me, it's perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

5 out of 5 stars An incredibly productive colloboration...........2007-04-08

This is one of my all time favorite albums. It is a great colloboration between Wilco, who is one of the greatest bands to come out of the 1990's. I think Jeff Tweedy may be the greatest songwriter working today. For all the talk of the 90's being the grunge, "ironic" decade, there were a few real artists working under the radar, and Wilco/Tweedy was one of them. Billy Bragg is very good here as well. The songs are absolutely wonderful, with the first 5 songs absolutely perfect. Walt Whitman's Niece is a rousing opening number, and California Stars is ethereral and delicate, one of the most beautiful songs ever. Christ for President is really good, along with the raucous I Guess I Planted. Sadly, there will more than likely no more Mermaid Avenue albums, as Bragg and Tweedy weren't seeing eye to eye on a lot of things. Bragg is a political activist, and really wanted to concentrate strictly on Guthrie's political writings. Tweedy wanted to do more of the personal lyrics, and wanted to stay away from the political stuff. Regardless, this album is a masterpiece, and I'm glad that Nora Guthrie instigated this project, and gave it to two passionate, immensely talented people to interpret her late father's lyrics.

3 out of 5 stars There are some real jewels here.......2007-03-01

"California Stars" is as beautiful a song as I have ever heard, all the credit in the world to Wilco for really bringing those lyrics to life. I think Woody Guthrie would have been more than thrilled with the rendition. Moreover, Bragg does a nice job with "Way Over Yander.." I think these are the two clearly outstanding songs on the album. My problem with this album is that some of the other songs are a tad weak, especially the ones that tend to be Bragg numbers. I think Wilco does carry their weight for the most part, but if you are expecting "Summerteeth" or "Yankee Hotel.." you will be very letdown.
The Essential Billy Joel
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Joel on a Roll
  • A strong selection of Billy Joel's best
  • MARVELOUS COLLECTION!!!
  • A great compilation very much like the three Greatest Hits discs
  • Joe's Review
 The Essential Billy Joel

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005OSX8
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

  1. Piano Man
  2. You're My Home
  3. Captain Jack
  4. The Entertainer
  5. Say Goodbye To Hollywood
  6. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
  7. New York State Of Mind
  8. She's Always A Woman
  9. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
  10. Only The Good Die Young
  11. Just The Way You Are
  12. Honesty
  13. My Life
  14. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
  15. You May Be Right
  16. Don't Ask Me Why
  17. She's Got A Way
  18. Allentown

Tracks:

  1. Goodnight Saigon
  2. An Innocent Man
  3. Uptown Girl
  4. The Longest Time
  5. Tell Her About It
  6. Leave A Tender Moment Alone
  7. A Matter Of Trust
  8. Baby Grand (duet with Ray Charles)
  9. I Go To Extremes
  10. We Didn't Start The Fire
  11. Leningrad
  12. The Downeaster "Alexa"
  13. And So It Goes
  14. The River Of Dreams
  15. All About Soul (Remix)
  16. Lullbye (Goodnight My Angel)
  17. Waltz No. 1 (Nunley's Carousel) *
  18. Invention In C Minor*

Amazon.com

Early in his career, Billy Joel seemed cynical about fame, even as that distrust bore strange fruit: mainstream superstardom (thanks to "Just the Way You Are," "Honesty," and "My Life") and multiple Grammy awards, as well as the critic's-whipping-boy status that went with them. Maybe it was that restlessness--or undiluted cynicism--that inspired left turns into roots and nostalgia (the spunky "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me," "You May Be Right," "Uptown Girl," and "The Longest Time") as his career peaked. Perhaps not surprisingly, not long after Joel's songs seemed to find their most satisfying balance of angst and mature reflection on songs like "Storm Front" and "River of Dreams," he threatened to bolt the pop music business altogether. The 2001 recordings of "Waltz No. 1" and "Invention in C Minor" that round out this set are the unlikely products of Joel's commitment to classical music. Billy Joel remains both a true, if oft-lambasted, American pop icon and that rarest of animals: a bonafide crowd-pleaser with a serious case of 'tude. Both are well chronicled here. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Joel on a Roll.......2007-07-09

This 2-disc set is a very good overview of Billy Joel's music over the years. There's about 2.5 hours of music on the 2 discs, so definitely getting money's worth. All the songs you've heard on the radio are here, plus a bunch of lesser knowns. I note that Disc 2 contains 2 excellent lesser knowns: Lenningrad and Downeaster Alexa.

4 out of 5 stars A strong selection of Billy Joel's best.......2007-06-16

With as many "best ofs" as Billy Joel has, calling this "Essential" is a grossly deceptive marketing ploy. While the name alone might raise your hackles, the music most certainly should not. On these two discs, you can follow the growth of Billy Joel as he evolves from angry young Piano Man to the classical composer of "Essential's" final selection.

The troubadour that composed the slice of life "Piano Man" was a troubled wayfarer with an attitude. His peers were trying to cope with the ennui of everyday life ("Captain Jack") and his early romanticism ("New York State of Mind") began to show fruit. But he was a rapid changer, and by the time "The Stranger" hit the charts, his melodic sense had sharpened to the point where he began having hits ("Just The Way You Are," "Moving Out"). That commercial success also came with a critical drubbing...he was often accused of being a lightweight. By the time the 80's rolled around, this name calling and the emergence of New Wave caused Billy to lash out with energy on "Glass Houses," declaring "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" and hitting number one. It was also about now that he changed the course of his career from Piano Man to Arena Rocker.

But Billy had bigger musical ideas. His Beatle-esque concept album "The Nylon Curtain" portrayed the once angry young man as a more pensive baby boomer casting a jaded eye on the Reagan Era. It also contains one of the best songs Billy has ever written, "Goodnight Saigon." He followed that by looking even further back, with the youthfully nostalgic and love-fests on "An Innocent Man." The Four Seasons tribute in "Uptown Girl" made Billy more popular than ever, and effectively bookmarked a chapter in his ongoing evolution.

A more mature Billy Joel continued with such albums as "Storm Front" and "The Bridge," which gave the history lesson as pop-tune "We Didn't Start The Fire," then the wonderfully mature "River of Dreams." His love for Christy Brinkley and his daughter Alexa came through on "Lullaby," but Billy also claimed that he had gone as far as he could with pop-music and was turning his sights to the classical "Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10." While probably only fanatic would really be all that interested in those two songs presented here, they are from the last full album Billy Joel issued.

The strong points on all these songs remain their melodicism, Billy has always shared the same melodic sense as Paul McCartney (an obvious hero). What weakens the set is the omissions: where are "Pressure," "Big Shot," "You're Only Human/Second Wind" or "Keeping The Faith," to name a few. Also, a few obscurities might have spiced things up a bit, like "Why Should I Worry" from Oliver And Company: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack." Nevertheless, "The Essential Billy Joel" will fill a quick fix if you don't have many of Billy's 13 studio albums, and will certainly argue strongly that Joel's critics have been off-base all along.

5 out of 5 stars MARVELOUS COLLECTION!!!.......2007-05-06

This is the pure Billy Joel; I was always waiting for a collection like this; every song in my favourite song, all of this album is perfect, for me is teh most complete compilation of Billy Joel's songs, from the mystic PIANO MAN, the finest song HONESTY, the great ballads JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, SHE'S ALWAYS A WOMAN and INNOCENT MAN, great rhythms like ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG, DON'T ASK ME WHY, RIVER OF DREAMS and MY LIFE, fast rockers like WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE, GO TO THE EXTREME, humanitarian songs like GOODNIGHT SAIGON, and lullabyes like AND SO IT GOES and GOODNIGHT MY ANGEL; also it has two instrumental piano compositions whom are very brillant... the work of a GENIUS!!!

5 out of 5 stars A great compilation very much like the three Greatest Hits discs.......2007-04-04

First,three volumes of GREATEST HITS material,and now this essential compilation covering Billy Joel's career,spanning exactly three decades,at the time of this release. However,the last two tracks on disc two are instrumental classical pieces which were recorded following Joel's semi-retirement from pop/rock music. The other tracks that Joel's fans know and love were all previously released. Some of them never made it to the GREATEST HITS compilations,one of them being LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE from 1983's AN INNOCENT MAN. As for SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD,a fan will wonder before purchasing this item,if the track is the TURNSTILES studio version or the live version from SONGS IN THE ATTIC. I would buy this item just for the classical tracks. Anyway,it's an excellent compilation.

5 out of 5 stars Joe's Review.......2007-01-05

I really enjoyed this CD and made it a part of my collection. I then went back and bought a second copy for my son who is a big BJ fan.
Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • What more could one ask for?
  • Definitive Is Right
  • Definitive Recordings of Copland's Popular Ballet Scores From Bernstein, NYPO
  • American Music at its Highest
  • The best of Copland
 Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony

ASIN: B0000029XG
Release Date: 1997-10-28

Tracks:

  1. Appalachian Spring: Very Slowly
  2. Appalachian Spring: Allegro
  3. Appalachian Spring: Moderato
  4. Appalachian Spring: Fast
  5. Appalachian Spring: Subito Allegro
  6. Appalachian Spring: As At First (Slowly)
  7. Appalachian Spring: Doppio movimento
  8. Appalachian Spring: Moderato - Coda
  9. Rodeo: Buckaroo Holiday - Allegro con spirito
  10. Rodeo: Corral Nocturne - Moderato
  11. Rodeo: aturday Night Waltz - Introduction - Slow Waltz
  12. Rodeo: Hoe-Down - Allegro
  13. Billy The Kid: Introduction. The Open Prairie
  14. Billy The Kid: Street In A Frontier Town
  15. Billy The Kid: Mexican Dance And Finale
  16. Billy The Kid: Prairie Night (Card Game At Night)
  17. Billy The Kid: Gun Battle
  18. Billy The Kid: Celbration (After Billy's Capture)
  19. Billy The Kid: Billy's Death
  20. Billy The Kid: The Open Prairie Again
  21. Fanfare for the Common Man: Molto deliberato

Amazon.com essential recording

Happy is the composer who has an advocate as passionate and talented as Leonard Bernstein. These Copland performances have been the preferred versions since they were first issued--better even than the composer's own, later recordings. Originally they were spread over two discs, but thanks to the extended playing time of the compact disc, you can now get all three great Copland ballets together, along with the ever popular Fanfare for the Common Man. Bernstein brings to this music the right sharpness of rhythm but also a typically open-hearted warmth. He coaxes a virtuoso response from the New York Philharmonic, which knows this music as well (or better) than anyone. Self- recommending. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars What more could one ask for?.......2007-06-27

Aaron Copland's masterful works are here interpreted by Bernstein. Nothing says the American sound like Copland, and there is no better interpreter than Bernstein. This recording is one of the best in my collection. I would recommend this to anyone (even non-classical music fans).

3 out of 5 stars Definitive Is Right.......2007-02-27

I have the SACD version of these recordings (except for the "Fanfare" which, in this case, is the version taken from Bernstein's recording of Copland's Third Symphony) and I must agree with others here that the performances are definitive. The "Rodeo" has more energy than any other recording I know of, in fact it can almost go over the top! "Billy the Kid" is quiet and tender, dramatic and bold and "Appalachian Spring" is dead-on. The last section of this ballet is one of my very favorite pieces of music and Bernstein's tempo and phrasing here could well be called perfect.

5 out of 5 stars Definitive Recordings of Copland's Popular Ballet Scores From Bernstein, NYPO.......2007-02-11

Without question, this splendid CD is my favorite recording of some of Aaron Copland's most popular orchestral ballet scores. In Leonard Bernstein he had both a good friend and a devout ally, who successfully championed Copland's music, helping to ensure his reputation as one of the greatest - if not the greatest - 20th Century American composer. Sony has done a superb job in digitally remastering this recording, offering some of the best sound I've heard from a vintage Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recording. But more importantly than the recording's superb sonic quality is the quality of these performances of Copland's scores. Bernstein leads in New York Philharmonic in these virtuoso performances, replete with lush, vibrant playing from the winds, horns and strings. His warm, truly heart-felt interpretation of "Applachian Spring" is truly mesmerizing, and the best I have heard from a recording. And yet, I am am just as impressed with his conducting of both "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid"; the latter replete with superb solos from the orchestra's timpanist. An elegant performance of "Fanfare for the Common Man" closes out this CD recording. Fans of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra shouldn't hesitate in acquiring this superb CD.

5 out of 5 stars American Music at its Highest .......2007-02-04

If I was forced to recommend one CD of American music, I would feel very safe in backing this one. These interpretations have yet to be surpassed, and not even Copland himself could muster the same type of perfection that Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic did in this recording. Bernstein's way with Rodeo is unbelievable, and this alone is worth the price of the disc. The music on this recording has a lot to do with why, as Americans, we can all be proud of our place in the history of western music.

With 39 reviews under me, I will dispense with the adjectives to try and describe each interpretation of each piece on this disc, and simply say that these performances have been recommended by almost everyone (professional critics included of course) since they appeared; get it and find out why.

5 out of 5 stars The best of Copland.......2007-01-09

For the Aaron Copland fan, this CD has the essentials: the most popular and easy listening of the Copland body of creations. Enjoy!
The Stranger
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • the best of Billy Joel's albums? certainly!
  • Billy Joel is Near His Peak Here
  • classic
  • The magnificent one, the beautiful one, the one and only one...
  • Melodically interesting
 The Stranger
Billy Joel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. 52nd Street
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ASIN: B00000DCHC
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

  1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
  2. The Stranger
  3. Just The Way You Are
  4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
  5. Vienna
  6. Only The Good Die Young
  7. She's Always A Woman
  8. Get It Right The First Time
  9. Everybody Has A Dream

Amazon.com essential recording

This, pop superstar Joel's breakout LP, came years after he first hit the charts with the novelty-ish "Piano Man." In the meantime, the New York-based songwriter released two lackluster and stylistically confused platters that blunted interesting songs with a sound that was neither Elton mellow nor Elton attitude. Produced by Phil Ramone, The Stranger took those who had written Joel off as a one-hit wonder by surprise ("Just the Way You Are" was among the biggest hits of 1977) and it remains a solid introduction to Joel's restless muse at a crucial point in his career. It invited a few comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, with its prominent sax breaks, hard-edged rebel-rockers ("Only the Good Die Young"), and slice-of-life dramatics ("Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"), recounting life in a lower middle-class (Eastern Urban) setting; but Joel's chameleonic, formalist approach to pop wasn't to be so easily pigeonholed (Glass Houses, The Nylon Curtain, An Innocent Man...). --Don Harrison

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars the best of Billy Joel's albums? certainly!.......2007-06-15

Luis Mejia (son)- This album is the first big hit album done by Billy Joel. when a person thinks about Billy Joel, 3 or 4 tracks of this album come to your mind. I can easily say that Billy Joel's greatest era were the seventies, and I say it because of masterpieces like Turnstiles, Piano Man, Streetlife Serenade and, of course, The Stranger. Well, lets talk abuot the album. Being released in 1977, is the fifth Joel's album. It's notable that the album great success is in part because of the collaboration with producer Phil Ramone. Also, in honor to Joel, a Broadway musical was named after the first track Movin' Out. Now I'll briefly describe the tracks:

1. Movin' Out (Anthony's song): a fast, greatly composed five stars song. Joel describes in this track the empty aspirations of the middle class and low class in New York.

2. The Stranger: the tittle track that starts and ends with a soft, street-sound musical piece characterized by a catchy whistle. The song is written based on a strange, non-seen before feeling of a given situation that Joel recites as "the stranger".

3. Just The Way You Are: a grammy award-winner song (record of the year), certainly one of my favorites because it's soft, melodic, catchy and nice for hearing in any moment.

4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant: my favorite Joel's song ever. It's a seven minute long song that has everything; soft pieces, tempo adjusts, quick enjoyable parts and a melody never seen on Joel's past cds.

5. Vienna: not much to say about this song, quite the worst among the best in this cd that is a common nice song.

6. Only The Good Die Young: a great enjoyable song, that, well, I can't quite say that it's a masterpiece, and it is a bit strange in the lyrics.

7. She's Always A Woman: a full piano song singed with great but simple style, also among my favorites Joel's songs. This would be the perfect track to represent the whole structure of the cd, and the best to hear first.

8. Get It Right The First Time: a perfect song for dancing, this is a track where Joel expresses a lot more espontaneous mood and catchy rythms.

9. Everybody Has A Dream: an inspiring song that I characterize mainly because of the great vocals that Joel applies on the song's chorus. I also can say that it's another masterpiece because of Joel great capacity of ending a masterpiece with a golden clip.

In conclussion this is my favorite Joel album, if you hasn't heard anything about Billy Joel or you've heard everything, this is certainly the perfect album for hearing. My sincere recommendations.

5 out of 5 stars Billy Joel is Near His Peak Here.......2007-05-21

After a long absence, Billy Joel came out with this gem. If you are a fan of his, you absolutely MUST grab this CD.

Billy Joel continues his musical adventures with his familiar rolling piano lines, using the entire range of the keyboard and complementing it with adventuresome melodies and heartfelt, clever lyrics. Yet Billy Joel is none too content to merely fit in with a trend. Here he has a band that is very complementary to his many melodic changes, his whimsical harmonics, and his utterly creative way of combining lyricism with melody.

The album is intended to be conceptual, and the LP opens with the thematic Stranger- a slow introduction with a soft piano line, then it breaks into the song itself, with jazzy, assertive sax/brass/lead guitar accompaniments.
Then the whimsical, jazzy, humorous Anthony's song with it's line "Trading in a Chevy for a Cad-i-lac-yac-yac-yac-yac, You oughta know by now". OK, so he does sing with a thick Long Island accent, but that's a part of his color. The beautiful hit "Just the Way You Are" is here, with its heartfelt lyricism and gentle electronic melodic piano- a Joel classic! The long "Italian Restaurant" is a scenic, moody, nostalgic piece with Joel's trademark rolling melodic piano lines- be patient and let yourself be drawn into this pop masterpiece. "She's Always a Woman" is an attractive heartfelt song, even if it seems a filler compared to the other material. It did become another hit for Billy Joel. The only imperfect song in this collection is "Everybody Has a Dream"- for some reason, Joel has an alternate vocalization that is grating to my ears. It's still an above average song.

Billy Joel is a unique pop talent who must have appealed to millions of listeners, as his record sales attest to. Once in a while, an exceptionally talented perfomer makes it big in entertainment. And few deserved to more than Billy Joel.

5 out of 5 stars classic.......2007-03-16

Very diverse, catchy, well-written, -arranged & -performed. I would put this up there with "Born to Run" by the Boss, "London Calling" by the Clash, "My Aim is True" by Costello, "Look Sharp" by Joe Jackson, "Howlin' Wind" by Graham Parker, "Highway 61" or "Infidels" by Dylan. Yes, they're somewhat different styles, but I'm referring to the various influences and genres played here.

5 out of 5 stars The magnificent one, the beautiful one, the one and only one..........2007-03-02

This album sizzles with energy, honesty, and "I'll MAKE you pay attention" entertainment spirit. This was his big breakthrough album and it's not hard to see why. Every single track is excellent, and each very different from what went before. From start to finish, the emphasis is on simple Beatleish rock arrangements, played with finesse by a great backing band, with the piano front and center. It starts off with plain rock and roll - Moving Out, with its thumpy rhythm and brilliant ending. The Stranger (apart from its stylish intro and outro) is a bit more funky, with a lovely bridge/chorus. The much maligned Just The Way You Are suffers from a bit of cheesiness in production (Billy Joel calls this "Phil Ramone's Bossa Nova version), but is still a good heartfelt song for his first wife (whatever happened to her anyways?). The centrepiece of the album is Scenes, this is Billy Joel's tour-de-force to show everyone what he can do on the ivories. Vienna is a beautiful ballad, and Only the Good Die Young is a hilarious dance tune, still racy 30 years later. Always a Woman is played a bit stiffly on piano, and borders on cheesy lyrics, but still a great tune. The next two tracks are a *bit* weaker, but have their moments and are still brilliant songs, just in comparison with what came before... He came close to topping this album on Glass Houses but this still stands as his finest album. If you're going to have just one of his albums, I would recommend this.

4 out of 5 stars Melodically interesting.......2007-03-01

Of course Joel will be known as one of the best melody-creators of our time. One can always hum a Joel melody effortlessly. Everyone knows Joel's famous tracks on this album, but I like "Get it Right...." because of the inherent truth to the title. It's a good song.

Still wondering if I should use "Just the Way You Are" at my wedding (like everyone else).
Tres Hombres
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Everything's alright...
  • Top's 1st Breakthrough (second being Eliminator)
  • zz top tres hombres
  • Captures the ZZ Top spirit
  • FINALLY! The original mix for this classic album has been restored!
 Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
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ASIN: B000CCD0HQ
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Tracks:

  1. Waitin' For The Bus
  2. Jesus Just Left Chicago
  3. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
  4. Master Of Sparks
  5. Hot, Blue And Righteous
  6. Move Me On Down The Line
  7. Precious And Grace
  8. La Grange
  9. Shiek
  10. Have You Heard?
  11. Waitin' For The Bus (Live)
  12. Jesus Just Left Chicago (Live)
  13. La Grange (Live)

Album Description

One of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll bands ever to strut the 50 States, these sharp-dressed Texas titans-Billy F. Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill-are a righteously hell rain' power trio boasting a 30-plus year hit-making legacy, both in the studio and at concert arenas. With their revved up blues 'n' boogie, they always make the most of their Texas birthright with with a distinctive sound that shakes up rock, blues, soul, garage-funk, Americana, and more. Nowhere is their force of nature musicianship better displayed than on these two album classics, revved up wtih red-hot bonus rarities. "You know what I'm talkin' about...an how how how how."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Everything's alright..........2007-06-09

Along with Fandango!, Tres Hombres is essential ZZ Top. There is one fantastic song after another on this recording, and while the FM staples might be what lures many in, it is the lesser known songs that sink the hook firmly in place. Precious and Grace, Hot, Blue, and Righteous, and Master of Sparks are all excellent songs that many have not heard before. The stinging, tasteful, and concise guitar work of Billy Gibbons can never be undervalued and perhaps one of the finer qualities of this master is how he never overplays. The band is always tight and razor sharp and this is an album that I never tire of. This is not only an essential Top album, it is a vital part of any rock fan's collection. ZZ Top is one of America's best bands and this brilliant cd demonstrates why.

4 out of 5 stars Top's 1st Breakthrough (second being Eliminator).......2007-04-24

This is where Top buckled down, got their sound straightened out, and focused on delivering one killer blues-rocker after another. Yeah, they had done so before with Rio Grande Mud (another good one), but this was a tighter, better album. Which is why it produced the group's breakthrough hit, the dirty-voiceover-meets-Hip Shake-riff-meets-stellar-guitar-solo La Grange. It didn't break the Top 40, but it came close enough and is today justly a classic rock radio staple. Speaking of which, I assume you've also heard cuts like Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago and Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers. Both songs are essential ZZ. Scorching, brilliantly simple blues-rock. Actually, that's what the whole album's like, so if you like those you shouldn't forget about Master of Sparks, Move Me on Down the Line or Precious and Grace. Those seven are good enough to make this ZZ's best album ever. But it's second to Deguello because some of it isn't very impressive - Hot Blue and Righteous could be my least favorite classic-era ZZ Top song, I don't know. But I'm not a fan of it. Ballads never were Top's strong suit in the first place. I'm not exactly blown away by Shiek or Have You Heard Either. But this should belong to anyone who appreciates the little ol' blues band from Texas.

5 out of 5 stars zz top tres hombres.......2007-03-28

great to hear it again. always wanted to buy it again. brings back memories.the first 3 albums were the best.jojo

5 out of 5 stars Captures the ZZ Top spirit.......2007-03-26

If you want one ZZ Top album to capture their spirit, it's not Eliminator, it's Tres Hombres. La Grange captures their classic Texas shuffle in a song that's become a movie soundtrack staple. Waitin' for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago are outstanding songs in their own right - the slide from one to the other is one of the smoothese medley transitions in rock. 2 great old school blues tunes fused together. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers captures the rowdy side of the band, while Hot, Blue and Righteous shows their love of the classic auto. Truly a definitive work of ZZ Top.

5 out of 5 stars FINALLY! The original mix for this classic album has been restored!.......2007-03-12

Having grown up with this album on vinyl, I've been consistently disappointed with all the CD releases of this gem. Buried under overdubs and mountains of reverb (most noticeable on the drums), somebody should've been smacked around for allowing the CDs to be released. With this re-issue, they finally got it right: crisp, immediate, in your face. Exactly what I remember from the vinyl but cleaned up. While the added live tracks are a welcome addition, the sound quality isn't the best. Nonetheless, this remains, in my opinion, ZZ Top's best work and a must-have.
1973-97-Complete Hits Collection
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • F*cking Awesome!
  • ONLY FOR AVID BILLY JOEL FANS
  • Billy Joel - 1973-97-Complete Hits Collection
  • A great compilation
  • Wonderful music and interactives
 1973-97-Complete Hits Collection
Billy Joel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002
  2. 52nd Street
  3. My Lives
  4. Turnstiles [Enhanced Version]
  5. 12 Gardens Live

ASIN: B00005NNM8
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

  1. Piano Man
  2. Captain Jack
  3. The Entertainer
  4. Say Goodbye To Hollywood
  5. New York State Of Mind
  6. The Stranger
  7. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
  8. Just The Way You Are
  9. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
  10. Only The Good Die Young
  11. She's Always A Woman

Tracks:

  1. My Life
  2. Big Shot
  3. You May Be Right
  4. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
  5. Don't Ask Me Why
  6. She's Got A Way
  7. Pressure
  8. Allentown
  9. Goodnight Saigon
  10. Tell Her About It
  11. Uptown Girl
  12. The Longest Time
  13. You're Only Human (Second Wind)
  14. The Night Is Still Young

Tracks:

  1. Keeping The Faith
  2. An Innocent Man
  3. A Matter Of Trust
  4. Baby Grand
  5. This Is The Time
  6. Leningrad
  7. We Didn't Start The Fire
  8. I Go To Extremes
  9. And So It Goes
  10. The Downeaster 'Alexa'
  11. Shameless
  12. All About Soul (Remix)
  13. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
  14. The River Of Dreams
  15. To Make You Feel My Love
  16. Hey Girl
  17. Light As The Breeze

Tracks:

  1. Billy Joel Spoken Intro/Music Concepts
  2. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live Unreleased Version)
  3. Beatles Influence
  4. Hard Days Night (Live Unreleased Version)
  5. Why Vienna?
  6. Vienna (Live Unreleased Version)
  7. History Through Music
  8. We Didn't Start The Fire (Live Unreleased Version)
  9. Music Source
  10. The River Of Dreams (Unreleased Original Studio Recording)
  11. Piano Bar
  12. Piano Man (Live Unreleased Version)

Amazon.com

The three volumes of Billy Joel's Greatest Hits albums make up the bulk of this catch-up set; a fourth disc features some live versions and discussion of the artist's composing methods. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars F*cking Awesome!.......2007-05-13

Some of the greatest music I have ever heard. The man is a genious and way underrated!

3 out of 5 stars ONLY FOR AVID BILLY JOEL FANS.......2007-04-16

Unless you are a die hard Billy Joel fan, this boxed set is not for you. It does not even live up to its name "Complete Hits Collection" because some of his hits have not been included notably "Sometimes A Fantasy" which was a top 40 hit and cannot as far as I know be found on any one of the numerous collections of Billy Joel retrospectives that have been issued over the years. For those of you who like his songs and would prefer a more handy and reasonably comprehensive collection I would recommend acquiring "Billy Joel The Ultimate Collection" which has 36 tracks including most of his hits. What's more, the lyrics for all the 36 songs are also provided and the sound quality is good too.

5 out of 5 stars Billy Joel - 1973-97-Complete Hits Collection .......2007-03-27

Grew up listening to Billy Joel, but never owned an album. Became re-interested in his music just recently, and this album fits the bill for what I wanted to hear of his work. I know others who are more familiar with his work have posted comments saying song "x" is missing from some of the greatest hits albums, and this may be so, I don't know. All I know is, everything I wanted to hear was on this album.

5 out of 5 stars A great compilation.......2007-03-13

Billy Joel has had a long and storied career as a singer. His style has morphed as his life has. This compilation of his hits spanning over 2 decades is both a tribute to his longevity and style of music. Listening to these songs gives you a great appreciation of how this style changed. From the catchy lyrics to the soulful ballads, this collection has it all. It's easy to just put a CD in the changer and get lost in the melodies that you grew up listening to. The quality of the sound from this collection is first-rate. If you are looking to follow along as a singer/songwriter matures, this is a great way to do it.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful music and interactives.......2007-03-12

Music, insight and lyrics. What else do you want from any artist.

Billy Joel delivers all that in this collection.

Skip the individual albums and get this definitive volume.

Very cool.
Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 3
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 3
  • Only 6 new songs added to his greatest hits!
  • A little bit of everything
  • Billy just continued to make great music....
  • Joel the genuis!!
 Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 3
Billy Joel
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 1-2
  2. Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002
  3. The Essential Billy Joel
  4. The Stranger
  5. 52nd Street

ASIN: B000002BBP
Release Date: 1997-08-19

Tracks:

  1. Keeping The Faith
  2. An Innocent Man
  3. A Matter Of Trust
  4. Baby Grand
  5. This Is The Time
  6. Leningrad
  7. We Didn't Start The Fire
  8. I Go To Extremes
  9. And So It Goes
  10. The Downeaster 'Alexa'
  11. Shameless
  12. All About Soul (Remix)
  13. Lullabye (Goodnight , My Angel)
  14. The River Of Dreams
  15. To Make You Feel My Love
  16. Hey Girl
  17. Light As The Breeze

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 3 .......2007-03-27

Doesn't have all his works, but is a nice blend of some of his earlier work, up to his last album of new work released in the 90's. Some of the work from the mid to late 90's isn't Bill Joel material in my mind. It's o.k, I can still hear his roots in there, but it's not the Billy Joel I grew up listening to and loved.

2 out of 5 stars Only 6 new songs added to his greatest hits!.......2007-01-11

Don't get me wrong. Billy Joel is Great. But this vol. 3 cd should have new songs added to the collection. Out of 17 songs there are only 6 that are new to the greatest hits collection. If you already have Vol 1 and 2 thinking that Vol 3 is the next series. You are mistaken! Vol 3 is over 75% of vol. 2.
It is a good cd. But I already had all but 6 songs. Maybe they should have found some more of his great music. Or called it a mini addition to his Vol 1 and 2.

5 out of 5 stars A little bit of everything.......2006-12-27

The great thing about Billy Joel is you don't have to wonder about the lyrics of his songs,his diction is crystal clear and every word can be understood. One gets the feeling he is telling his life story in song, sometimes romantic,sometimes down and blue and at times really exuberant. Lullabye is so tender,Leningrad a meaningful tale and To Make You Feel My Love worth the price of the CD all by itself. These songs touch all the emotions and you'll find yourself joining in on some of the lyrics. A stunning array, five absolute stars!

5 out of 5 stars Billy just continued to make great music...........2006-08-19

I love this CD, it shows that Billy Joel still had it, even in later years. The time represented here (mid 80's-mid 90's) is just great, with only the best songs here. This is a wonderful companion for his vol.1 and vol.2 compilation. Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Joel the genuis!!.......2006-06-19

there is no question in my mind that Billy Joel is a musical Genius up there with Elton John and Paul McCartney!! almost all the songs in this vol.3 cd are hits!! go buy it,and while your at it get vol.1 and 2!!

Music:

  1. Black Rain [Soundtrack] [Import]
  2. Blade Trinity [Explicit Lyrics] [Soundtrack]
  3. Bodysong [Enhanced] [Soundtrack]
  4. Brideshead Revisited [Soundtrack]
  5. Conan The Barbarian [Soundtrack] [Import]
  6. Cowboy Bebop V.2 [Import] [Soundtrack]
  7. Crime and Dissonance [Soundtrack]
  8. Dr. No [Original recording remastered] [Soundtrack]
  9. E=MO2/Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre [Live] [Import]
  10. Everything You Know Is Wrong

Music

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