Function Photograph: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com
Billy Joel’s profession is a narrative of relentless ambition, songwriting brilliance, and an unwavering connection to his viewers. Raised in Hicksville, Lengthy Island, he was drawn to music early, not as a result of it was anticipated, however as a result of he discovered an outlet within the keys of a piano. His classical coaching as a toddler formed his distinctive melodic sensibilities, however it was the rock and roll of the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties that fueled his artistic fireplace. In contrast to many who merely admired their heroes, Joel was decided to face amongst them.
Earlier than changing into the family title behind a number of the most enduring songs in American music, Joel paid his dues within the native band circuit. His early teams, together with the Echoes (later often known as the Misplaced Souls) and the Hassles, gave him his first style of the trade, albeit with little business success. A brief-lived arduous rock duo, Attila, proved to be one other lifeless finish, however these setbacks solely pushed Joel towards a solo profession. His 1971 debut album, Chilly Spring Harbor, suffered from a mastering error that made him sound unnaturally high-pitched, a rocky begin that might have derailed a much less decided artist. As an alternative, he took a job taking part in in Los Angeles piano bars—an expertise that impressed the music that might change every part for him: “Piano Man.”
With the discharge of Piano Man in 1973, Joel’s profession discovered its footing, and from there, his momentum by no means wavered. He adopted up with a string of albums that cemented his fame as probably the most gifted songwriters of his era. The Stranger (1977) turned his breakthrough, yielding classics like “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Track),” “Solely the Good Die Younger,” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” 52nd Road (1978) pushed his success even additional, incomes him the Grammy Award for Album of the 12 months. Joel proved himself a grasp of reinvention, embracing more durable rock with Glass Homes (1980) and tackling deeply private themes on The Nylon Curtain (1982). The Eighties noticed his dominance proceed with An Harmless Man (1983), a tribute to the doo-wop and R&B influences of his youth, producing hits like “Inform Her About It” and “Uptown Lady.”
By the early Nineteen Nineties, Joel had nothing left to show. After the discharge of River of Desires (1993), he walked away from recording pop music, focusing as a substitute on stay performances and composing classical items. Even with out new albums, his affect by no means waned. He turned a fixture at Madison Sq. Backyard with a record-breaking residency, proving that his music had transcended generations. His songs remained cultural touchstones, their storytelling and emotional depth as related as ever.
Joel’s affect extends far past album gross sales and chart positions. He has offered over 160 million data worldwide, making him one of many best-selling artists of all time. His accolades embody six Grammy Awards, inductions into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame (1992) and the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame (1999), and the Kennedy Middle Honors (2013). His music has been celebrated for its craftsmanship, lyrical honesty, and talent to seize the spirit of the American expertise.
Outdoors of music, Joel has been a devoted philanthropist, supporting causes starting from music training to veterans’ packages. His “Charity Begins at Residence” basis has funded quite a few initiatives within the New York space, and he has contributed extensively to catastrophe reduction efforts. A passionate advocate for the humanities, he has additionally mentored younger musicians, providing insights drawn from his personal hard-earned experiences.
Billy Joel’s legacy is outlined not simply by hit songs or platinum albums, however by the deep, private connection he has cast together with his viewers. His music tells tales that resonate throughout generations, whether or not it’s the working-class desires of “Allentown,” the nostalgia of “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” or the rapid-fire historical past lesson of “We Didn’t Begin the Hearth.” Even with out releasing a brand new studio album in many years, his presence within the music world stays as robust as ever—a testomony to the timelessness of his artistry.
(#)
52nd Road – 52nd Road (1978)
(A)
A Matter of Belief – The Bridge (1986)
A Minor Variation – River of Desires (1993)
A Room of Our Personal – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Ain’t No Crime – Piano Man (1973)
All About Soul – River of Desires (1993)
All for Leyna – Glass Homes (1980)
All My Life – Non-album single (2007)
All Shook Up – Honeymoon in Vegas Soundtrack (1992)
All You Wanna Do Is Dance – Turnstiles (1976)
Allentown – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
An Harmless Man – An Harmless Man (1983)
And So It Goes – Storm Entrance (1989)
Aria (“Grand Canal”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
(B-C)
Child Grand – The Bridge (1986)
Again in the united statesS.R. (Stay) – Концерт (1987)
Massive Man on Mulberry Road – The Bridge (1986)
Massive Shot – 52nd Road (1978)
Blonde Over Blue – River of Desires (1993)
C’était Toi (You Have been the One) – Glass Homes (1980)
Captain Jack – Piano Man (1973)
Careless Speak – An Harmless Man (1983)
Christmas in Fallujah (feat. Cass Dillon) – A Good Factor By no means Dies (EP by Cass Dillon) (2007)
Christmas in Fallujah (Stay in Sydney, Australia, 2008) – Non-album single and obtain (2008)
Christie Lee – An Harmless Man (1983)
Near the Borderline – Glass Homes (1980)
Code of Silence – The Bridge (1986)
(D-F)
Delusion – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Don’t Ask Me Why – Glass Homes (1980)
Downeaster ‘Alexa,’ The – Storm Entrance (1989)
Dublinesque – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Simple Cash – An Harmless Man (1983)
Everyone Has a Dream – The Stranger (1977)
Everyone Loves You Now – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
Fantasy (“Movie Noir”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Falling of the Rain – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
Well-known Final Phrases – River of Desires (1993)
(G-I)
Get It Proper the First Time – The Stranger (1977)
Getting Nearer – The Bridge (1986)
Goodnight Saigon – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Bought to Start Once more – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
Half a Mile Away – 52nd Road (1978)
Laborious Day’s Night time (Stay) – A Voyage on the River of Desires (1994)
Heartbreak Resort – Honeymoon in Vegas Soundtrack (1992)
Hey Lady – Biggest Hits Quantity III (1997)
Honesty – 52nd Road (1978)
I Go to Extremes – Storm Entrance (1989)
I Don’t Need to Be Alone – Glass Homes (1980)
If I Solely Had the Phrases (To Inform You) – Piano Man (1973)
I’ve Liked These Days – Turnstiles (1976)
In a Sentimental Temper – A League of Their Personal Soundtrack (1992)
Innamorato – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Invention in C Minor – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
It’s Nonetheless Rock and Roll to Me – Glass Homes (1980)
(J-M)
James – Turnstiles (1976)
Simply the Means You Are – The Stranger (1977)
Protecting the Religion – An Harmless Man (1983)
Final of the Massive Time Spenders – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Laura – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Depart a Tender Second Alone – An Harmless Man (1983)
Leningrad – Storm Entrance (1989)
Los Angelenos – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – River of Desires (1993)
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) – Turnstiles (1976)
Trendy Girl – The Bridge (1986)
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Track) – The Stranger (1977)
My Life – 52nd Road (1978)
(N-R)
New York State of Thoughts – Turnstiles (1976)
No Man’s Land – River of Desires (1993)
Nocturne – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
No person Is aware of However Me – In Concord 2 LP (1981)
Nunley’s Carousel – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Solely the Good Die Younger – The Stranger (1977)
Piano Man – Piano Man (1973)
Prelude/Offended Younger Man – Turnstiles (1976)
Strain – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Reverie (“Villa d’Este”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
River of Desires– River of Desires (1993)
Roberta – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Rosalinda’s Eyes – 52nd Road (1978)
Root Beer Rag – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Working on Ice – The Bridge (1986)
(S)
Say Goodbye to Hollywood – Turnstiles (1976)
Scandinavian Skies – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant – The Stranger (1977)
Shades of Gray – River of Desires (1993)
Shameless – Storm Entrance (1989)
She’s At all times a Girl – The Stranger (1977)
She’s Proper on Time – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
She’s Bought a Means – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
Shout (Stay at Yankee Stadium) – Non-album single (1990)
Sleeping with the Tv On – Glass Homes (1980)
Soliloquy (“On a Separation”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Someplace Alongside the Line – Piano Man (1973)
Typically a Fantasy – Glass Homes (1980)
Sorbetto – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Memento – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
State of Grace – Storm Entrance (1989)
Stiletto – 52nd Road (1978)
Cease in Nevada – Piano Man (1973)
Storm Entrance – Storm Entrance (1989)
Storm Entrance (Stay at Yankee Stadium) – Non-album single (1991)
Streetlife Serenader – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Summer season, Highland Falls – Turnstiles (1976)
Surprises –The Nylon Curtain (1982)
(T)
Temptation – The Bridge (1986)
Inform Her About It – An Harmless Man (1983)
That’s Not Her Model – Storm Entrance (1989)
The Ballad of Billy the Child – Piano Man (1973)
The Entertainer – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
The Nice Suburban Showdown – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
The Nice Wall of China – River of Desires (1993)
The Longest Night time – An Harmless Man (1983)
The Mexican Connection (Instrumental) – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
The Night time Is Nonetheless Younger – Biggest Hits – Quantity I & II (1985)
The River Of Desires – River of Desires (1993)
The Stranger – The Stranger (1977)
This Night time – An Harmless Man (1983)
This Is The Time – The Bridge (1986)
By the Lengthy Night time – Glass Homes (1980)
To Make You Really feel My Love – Biggest Hits Quantity III (1997)
Tomorrow Is At the moment – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
Travelin’ Prayer – Piano Man (1973)
Flip Round – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
Two Thousand Years – River of Desires (1993)
(U-Z)
Till The Night time – 52nd Road (1978)
Vienna – The Stranger (1977)
We Didn’t Begin The Hearth – Storm Entrance (1989)
Weekend Track – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Why Judy Why – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
The place Have been You (On Our Marriage ceremony Day)? – Runaway Bride Soundtrack (1999)
The place’s the Orchestra? –The Nylon Curtain (1982)
When In Rome – Storm Entrance
When You Want Upon a Star – Merely Mad About The Mouse (1991)
Worst Comes To Worst – Piano Man (1973)
You Can Make Me Free – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
You Look So Good To Me – Chilly Spring Harbor (1971)
You Might Be Proper – Glass Homes (1980)
Zanzibar – 52nd Road (1978)
Billy Joel’s Classical Album in numbered order
Opus 1. Soliloquy (“On a Separation”) – 11:26
Opus 2. Waltz #1 (“Nunley’s Carousel”) – 6:58
Opus 3. Reverie (“Villa d’Este”) – 9:31
Opus 4. Fantasy (“Movie Noir”) – 8:56
Opus 5. Waltz #2 (“Steinway Corridor”) – 7:00
Opus 6. Invention in C Minor – 1:04
Opus 7. Aria (“Grand Canal”) – 11:08
Opus 8. Suite for Piano (“Star-Crossed”): I. Innamorato – 7:46
Opus 8. Suite for Piano (“Star-Crossed”): II. Sorbetto – 1:30
Opus 8. Suite for Piano (“Star-Crossed”): III. Delusion – 3:37
Opus 9. Waltz #3 (“For Lola”) – 3:28
Opus 10. Air (“Dublinesque”) – 3:46
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