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re: Rank Billy Joel as a songwriter over the course of his career
Posted on 8/6/14 at 8:11 am to Darkknight
Posted on 8/6/14 at 8:11 am to Darkknight
quote:
Also there is a really good documentary about his tour in Russia
I bought the live album on vinyl when it came out in '88. At the end of side three, there's backmasking. When played backwards, Billy says "leave them along! For God's sake, leave them alone".
Posted on 8/6/14 at 8:34 am to AlxTgr
I saw the Elton John/Billy Joel tour about a decade ago and walked a way really impressed with Joel (and disappointed in Elton). Billy Joel always knew how to play to his strenghts.
The Stranger is a stone cold classic album. He's never done anything nearly as good, but the rest of his career, while uneven, has plenty of great songs. Hell, all the way through the Bridge or even Storm Front. By that point, the misses outnumbered the hits, but he could still unleash a Downeaster Alexa or Baby Grand.
I prefer to remember Joel for NY state of Mind, not Uptown Girl. The good far outweighs the bad. And again... the Stranger.
The Stranger is a stone cold classic album. He's never done anything nearly as good, but the rest of his career, while uneven, has plenty of great songs. Hell, all the way through the Bridge or even Storm Front. By that point, the misses outnumbered the hits, but he could still unleash a Downeaster Alexa or Baby Grand.
I prefer to remember Joel for NY state of Mind, not Uptown Girl. The good far outweighs the bad. And again... the Stranger.
Posted on 8/6/14 at 10:14 am to Hat Tricks
Grew up on Billy Joel. My dad was a huge fan and would play his songs on the piano and my sister and I would sing along as kids. I regularly still listen to Piano Man, Turnstiles, 52nd street. The Stranger album cover always creeped me out as a kid.
I hate what happened between him and Liberty DeVitto. He's still one of my favorite drummers.
I hate what happened between him and Liberty DeVitto. He's still one of my favorite drummers.
Posted on 8/6/14 at 4:25 pm to Cdawg
I tend to agree with those who say he ran the gamut from awful to excellent, but I also think that well over 50% of his output was just meh. Not bad, not great, just pretty forgettable.
While I agree that The Stranger was one of his best efforts, allow me to surprise you all with this: River of Dreams is just about as good.
While I agree that The Stranger was one of his best efforts, allow me to surprise you all with this: River of Dreams is just about as good.
Posted on 8/7/14 at 12:41 am to Hawkeye95
"but boy did it go south in the late 80s"
We didn't start the fire was an annoying song and I didn't like a couple of others like River of Dreams and I go to extremes. However, I think he had some very good stuff during this general period. Matter of Trust, This is the time, All about Soul, and Downeaster Alexa were all incredible songs from this era (1986-1990).
We didn't start the fire was an annoying song and I didn't like a couple of others like River of Dreams and I go to extremes. However, I think he had some very good stuff during this general period. Matter of Trust, This is the time, All about Soul, and Downeaster Alexa were all incredible songs from this era (1986-1990).
This post was edited on 8/7/14 at 12:45 am
Posted on 8/7/14 at 1:30 pm to Hat Tricks
A steady downward slide after Piano Man.
Posted on 8/7/14 at 10:47 pm to Tigris
quote:
A steady downward slide after Piano Man.
Lol
Posted on 8/7/14 at 11:55 pm to LSUTigers1986
Bunch of snobs in this thread.
I like Uptown Girl.
My Life is my favorite Billy Joel song.
I like Uptown Girl.
My Life is my favorite Billy Joel song.
Posted on 8/8/14 at 12:12 am to Choupique19
quote:I'm the only real snob here
Bunch of snobs in this thread
the others are just snobabes*
* Pronounced "snob-uh-bees"
Posted on 8/8/14 at 12:58 am to Tigris
Piano Man isn't even the best song on that album.
Unless you're talking about the album. Because it is fantastic.
But Turnstiles and The Stranger are just as good if not better.
So you're still wrong.
Unless you're talking about the album. Because it is fantastic.
But Turnstiles and The Stranger are just as good if not better.
So you're still wrong.
This post was edited on 8/8/14 at 1:03 am
Posted on 8/8/14 at 6:57 am to LSUTigers1986
Turnstiles was an incredible album. Summer, Highand Falls is one of my favorites.
Posted on 8/8/14 at 8:37 am to Hat Tricks
as good as it gets. as far as his longterm writing, very few artists are more productive as they age
Posted on 8/8/14 at 2:30 pm to Choupique19
"Bunch of snobs in this thread"
That seems to be a common theme on this board with fans of artists who first hit it big in the 70s. These fans act like everything artist like Billy Joel, Elton John, Genesis, Talking Heads, AC/DC, The Clash, and may other artists did in the 80s automatically sucked.
That seems to be a common theme on this board with fans of artists who first hit it big in the 70s. These fans act like everything artist like Billy Joel, Elton John, Genesis, Talking Heads, AC/DC, The Clash, and may other artists did in the 80s automatically sucked.
This post was edited on 8/8/14 at 2:31 pm
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