I’m starting this thread because I think that Billy Joel is one of the few artists who didn’t produce a single bad album. Yes, some records like The Bridge aren‘t as perfect as albums like The Stranger, but nevertheless all of his LPs are always a great listen in my opinion. Do you agree with that?
Check out this podcast: Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia: Still Billy Joel to Me Part 1 on Apple Podcasts Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia: Still Billy Joel to Me Part 2 on Apple Podcasts
I agree and I disagree. I disagree that Billy was one of ‘the few’, as quite a number of writers and bands hit purple patches in the 70s. I do agree that ‘71-‘86 Billy era was a beautiful run, and I don’t even rate ‘The Stranger’ in my top three, while admitting, it is a stunner of an album. Such was his talent.
How do you rate: I haven't hear it myself, but my dad, who's into classical piano, wasn't impressed with it.
I never heard the final two but I think everything through The Bridge, with the possible exception of Cold Spring Harbor, is at least OK (i.e. better than "bad")
I'd agree, and The Bridge is still good. There's no such thing as lesser Joel. Mostly top shelf albums, and a couple items on the middle shelf.
I have this and have played in numerous occasions. It's a pleasant listen but doesn't blow me away.....I think had Billy performed the music it would have connected with me so much more, but I guess he wanted what he thought was the best representation of the compositions.
Depends on what you're looking for from him, I guess. I think he was very consistent through the early '80s, but feel like he fell off a cliff after The Nylon Curtain.
I actually agree - there are no bad Billy Joel albums - none that I wouldn't happily pop on and play. There are however some I love significantly more than others - so that puts a question mark over consistency.
I was a big Joel fan back in the 1970s, but I moved away from pop (to classical) and then came back to it via a more blues-based preference. A casualty along the way was Joel and his more traditional AABA song writing. I think that also explains my change of preference from McCartney to Lennon. But I nevertheless thought (even in the 1970s) that Joel's albums were a song or two away from being truly excellent. Does anyone really like "James" on Turnstiles?
First I heard of him was when I was in the record store looking for a new album to buy and saw 'Piano Man' . The cover looked interesting and I bought it on that factor. Doing this can be very much hit-or-miss but in this case I was quite pleased with this Billy Joel guy.
I don't think he has a "bad" album, but The Bridge is clearly below par, in my opinion. And despite the massive hit, so is Storm Front, though it's a little better. He went out very strong with River Of Dreams. So long ago. Who'd have thunk that is where he would really hang it up?
I kinda like „James“, no joke! I always thought it sounded like if you put Elton John‘s „Daniel“ and Paul McCartney‘s „Bluebird“ into a blender
Agree, there is no bad Billy Joel pop album. But I don't like "We Didn't Start The Fire" especially much ;-)
Consistent for sure - consistently bad. Many years ago, I was working on an away job with this girl I really wanted. Unfortunately, my car was being fixed, so we used her car for a week - a 100 mile, 2 hour round trip every day. Her car, her music. On at least 2 of the 5 days, 'her music' was a double cassette 'Best Of Billy Joel'. Excruciating as this was, the tape served as the musical equivalent of the movie 'Braveheart' - 'if she likes it, you know the relationship is a non-starter'.
I think he has a few spotty albums, but I really like Billy Joel a lot. He's not everyone's cup of tea but I just really like him. He seems (to me) like a combination of Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Soundheim. But still unique. (Never got the Elton John comparison other that that they both play piano) Big fan.
Just goes to show how tastes can differ, even radically. I like "We Didn't Start The Fire" and all of Cold Spring Harbor with its early seventies folkie, singer-songwriter vibe. But "like" and what I or anyone else thinks is good or bad can be two different things.
