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Top 5 Billy Joel Songs |
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Psychedelic Paul ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 43759 |
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Billy Joel arrived from COLD SPRING HARBOR in New York with his first album back in 1971. The PIANO MAN delivered a STREETLIFE SERENADE of powerful but beautifully-crafted songs with a raw streetwise edginess to them.. Fans would soon be queuing at the TURNSTILES to see him perform his songs live at Madison Square Garden, NYC. One of THE STRANGER things about Billy Joel's recording career is the fact that he was nearly dropped by his record label Colombia in the mid-1970's, despite going on to become one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. He teamed up with producer Phil Ramone in the late 1970's at the famous A & R Recording Studios on 52nd STREET in New York City. His string of enormously successful albums with Phil Ramone constantly shattered records, in the same way as GLASS HOUSES are metaphorically shattered by people who shouldn't throw stones. As well as recording fresh material, Billy Joel also released an album of SONGS IN THE ATTIC from his early years. He re-emerged again and again throughout the 1980's, with successful album after successful album, just like Bobby Ewing re-emerging from behind THE NYLON CURTAIN in the infamous shower scene in "Dallas". Billy Joel's songs were fired-up with all of the passion and intensity of AN INNOCENT MAN on death row. Having crossed THE BRIDGE of no return, Billy Joel ascended the ladder of success to worldwide fame and acclaim and he continued to deliver a STORM FRONT of great songs throughout his long career on the musical RIVER OF DREAMS.
![]() All Billy Joel album titles in BLOCK CAPITALS in chronological order of release. ![]() Simply list your Top 5 Billy Joel songs in order of preference below and then I'll assign points to your listings as follows:-
1st song - 6 points 2nd song - 4 points 3rd song - 3 points 4th song - 2 points 5th song - 1 point Here are my Top 5 Billy Joel songs to kick-off with:- 1. A Matter of Trust {6 points) 2. All About Soul (4 points) 3. Leningrad (3 points) 4. Uptown Girl (2 points) 5. River of Dreams (1 point} Edited by Psychedelic Paul - June 29 2020 at 02:52 |
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Matti ![]() Prog Reviewer ![]() ![]() Joined: April 15 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 2149 |
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Nice intro text! Your song choices differ deeply from mine (ie. I don't much like those ones). I'll make the list later today...
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Psychedelic Paul ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 43759 |
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Thanks! It wasn't easy arranging all of Billy Joel's albums in chronological order. I've been writing and constantly editing the text since about 6 o'clock this morning. ![]() It's good to hear that your song choices differ significantly from mine. That's all part of the fun of a Top 5 Songs poll in finding out how varied our musical tastes are.
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Icarium ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() VIP Member Joined: March 21 2008 Location: Tigerstaden Status: Offline Points: 34086 |
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1. the Stranger
2. Goodnight Saigon 3. Honesty 4. My Life 5. Just the Way You Are |
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chopper ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20034 |
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Can't say I'm a massive fan but I do like "Downeaster Alexa" so that would be my number one but to be honest I can't think of another 4. Maybe "We didn't start the fire" at number 2?
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Matti ![]() Prog Reviewer ![]() ![]() Joined: April 15 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 2149 |
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That's right. So, let's see... I'm surely missing some later found gems as the youth nostalgia factor makes certain classics easier to remember. ![]() 1. New York State of Mind (I've also heard an excellent live cover by a Finnish female singer.) 2. Captain Jack (A powerful story-like song from Piano Man ; the famous and admittedly great title track is too often heard.) 3. Where's the Orchestra? (Largely forgotten ballad on The Nylon Curtain.) 4. Good Night Saigon (Especially on Live in Leningrad which concert I saw on TV as a teenager.) 5. Pressure (A tight and exciting 80's pop hit from The Nylon Curtain, and probably my introduction to Joel - with the aid of MTV.) |
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dwill123 ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: December 19 2006 Status: Offline Points: 4460 |
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Piano Man Big Shot Uptown Girl Captain Jack Only the Good Die Young
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Psychedelic Paul ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 43759 |
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That's okay. I'll add the 1st & 2nd place points from those two songs into the voting tally.
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MortSahlFan ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() Joined: March 01 2018 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 3075 |
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The Stranger Goodnight Saigon Scandinavian Skies Captain Jack Zanzibar
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https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition
https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List |
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chopper ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20034 |
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Thanks Paul, just realised I forgot about All For Leyna which is pretty good and I'll put That's Not Her Style at number 4, so just one more to go!
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Jeffro ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: March 29 2014 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 2201 |
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1 - New York State of Mind (incredible song that always puts me in a great mood when I hear it)
2 - Movin' Out 3 - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant 4 - Miami 2017 (live version from Songs From The Attic) 5 - The Stranger I'm a much bigger 70s Billy Joel fan than the 80s. However, I do like Downeaster Alexa, Pressure, and Allentown. Much like Elton John, I don't think Joel's post 70s output comes close to his 70s stuff.
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We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain.
My face IS a maserati |
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Argo2112 ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: June 20 2017 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 4462 |
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1.) Prelude / Angry Young Man
2.) Miami 2017 3.) Only the Good Die Young 4.) Downeaster Alexa 5.) The Balled of Billy the Kid Just missed the cut - Movin' out, Big Shot, Pressure, Summer Highland Falls, Zanzabar, A Matter of Trust...
Edited by Argo2112 - June 29 2020 at 08:36 |
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Grumpyprogfan ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: July 09 2019 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 12458 |
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1. The Entertainer
2. Captain Jack 3. Piano Man 4. She's Always a Woman 5. Movin' Out |
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kenethlevine ![]() Special Collaborator ![]() ![]() Prog-Folk Team Joined: December 06 2006 Location: New England Status: Offline Points: 9105 |
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I think he had a few highs and a lot of lows. To me one of the nadirs of 1970s pop was "Just the way you are", a song that is so beyond simply trite that it defies description, smacking of a play it safe approach likely due to his contract situation at the time. He had been unable to follow up 1974 success in any meaningful way so probably was a step away from being cut from a recording contract. Still, some high points especially early on
1. Piano Man 2. The Entertainer 3. Captain Jack 4. Ballad of Billy the Kid 5. You may be right (concession to post 1975 career)
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Psychedelic Paul ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 43759 |
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Here's how the Top 5 is currently shaping up after the first full day of voting:-
1. Piano Man (15 points) 1. Captain Jack (15 points) 3. The Stranger (13 points) 4. New York State of Mind (12 points) 5. The Entertainer (10 points) 5. Goodnight Saigon (10 points) Edited by Psychedelic Paul - June 30 2020 at 02:38 |
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Tom Ozric ![]() Prog Reviewer ![]() ![]() Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15926 |
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Does he have 5 good tracks ?? Allentown is the only song that I remotely even like.
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Psychedelic Paul ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 43759 |
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Oh well, I can't please everyone.
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Tom Ozric ![]() Prog Reviewer ![]() ![]() Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15926 |
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I find Billy J quite anonymous, bland, inoffensive, banal, unexciting etc. |
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Psychedelic Paul ![]() Forum Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: September 16 2019 Location: Nottingham, U.K Status: Online Points: 43759 |
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Tom Ozric ![]() Prog Reviewer ![]() ![]() Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15926 |
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