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Top 5 Billy Joel Songs

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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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    Posted: June 29 2020 at 02:49
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. Smile
 
 
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Matti Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 03:00
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 03:10
Originally posted by Matti Matti wrote:

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...
 
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. Smile
 
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. Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Icarium Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 03:47
1. the Stranger
2. Goodnight Saigon
3. Honesty
4. My Life
5. Just the Way You Are
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chopper View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote chopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 03:48
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 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Matti Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 04:12
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

 
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. Smile
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. LOL Bubbling under: e.g. Leningrad, She's Always a Woman, The Stranger (for its moving whistle melodies).


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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote dwill123 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 04:21
Piano Man
Big Shot
Uptown Girl
Captain Jack
Only the Good Die Young
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 04:50
Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

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?
 
That's okay. I'll add the 1st & 2nd place points from those two songs into the voting tally. Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote MortSahlFan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 06:42
The Stranger
Goodnight Saigon
Scandinavian Skies
Captain Jack
Zanzibar
https://www.youtube.com/c/LoyalOpposition

https://www.scribd.com/document/382737647/MortSahlFan-Song-List
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote chopper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 07:04
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by chopper chopper wrote:

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?
 
That's okay. I'll add the 1st & 2nd place points from those two songs into the voting tally. Smile
 
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Jeffro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 08:11
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Argo2112 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 08:35
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Grumpyprogfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 09:00
1. The Entertainer
2. Captain Jack
3. Piano Man
4. She's Always a Woman
5. Movin' Out
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 29 2020 at 10:59
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2020 at 02:38
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Tom Ozric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 30 2020 at 02:49
Does he have 5 good tracks ?? Allentown is the only song that I remotely even like.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2020 at 02:34
Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Does he have 5 good tracks ?? Allentown is the only song that I remotely even like.
Oh well, I can't please everyone. Smile Maybe the first of my Top 7 Songs polls will be more to your tastes, featuring Barclay James Harvest...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Tom Ozric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2020 at 03:01
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Does he have 5 good tracks ?? Allentown is the only song that I remotely even like.

Oh well, I can't please everyone. Smile Maybe the first of my Top 7 Songs polls will be more to your tastes, featuring Barclay James Harvest...
Maybe, they have a bunch of great stuff.
I find Billy J quite anonymous, bland, inoffensive, banal, unexciting etc.
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2020 at 03:25
Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Does he have 5 good tracks ?? Allentown is the only song that I remotely even like.

Oh well, I can't please everyone. Smile Maybe the first of my Top 7 Songs polls will be more to your tastes, featuring Barclay James Harvest...
Maybe, they have a bunch of great stuff.
I find Billy J quite anonymous, bland, inoffensive, banal, unexciting etc.
Not your cup of tea then. Tongue By the way, how is Life on Mars at Olympus Mons?
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tom Ozric Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 01 2020 at 05:32
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Originally posted by Tom Ozric Tom Ozric wrote:

Does he have 5 good tracks ?? Allentown is the only song that I remotely even like.

Oh well, I can't please everyone. Smile Maybe the first of my Top 7 Songs polls will be more to your tastes, featuring Barclay James Harvest...
Maybe, they have a bunch of great stuff.
I find Billy J quite anonymous, bland, inoffensive, banal, unexciting etc.

Not your cup of tea then. Tongue By the way, how is Life on Mars at Olympus Mons?
 
Ha ha !! I’m not one for putting out details about myself.
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