Essential Billy Joel

Product Description

A 2-CD set spanning hits collection, digitally remastered with 34 hits and 2 new tracks. Track Listing: "Piano Man", "Goodnight Saigon", "Baby Grand", "Don't Ask Me Why", "Just the Way You Are", "My Life", "She's Always a Woman".

Amazon Review

Billy Joel seemed to have a cynical attitude towards fame in the early stages of his career. But at the same time, that attitude bore unexpected rewards. Superstar status (brought about by "Just the Way You Are," "Honesty," and "My Life"), numerous Grammy Awards, and the accompanying label of a criticized singer. Perhaps this discomfort or lingering cynicism led Joel back to his roots and nostalgia (represented by cheerful numbers like "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me," "You May Be Right," "Uptown Girl," and "The Longest Time"). And that's where his career reached its peak. Furthermore, he seems to have found a way to harmonize that anxiety with his maturity, which he reflected in songs like "Storm Front" and "River of Dreams." However, it's perhaps not surprising that he soon showed signs of severing ties with the popular music industry. In the 2001 albums "Waltz No. 1" and "Invention in C Minor," which conclude this collection, he even ventures into classical music. Joel remains a genuine American pop idol, often criticized, and a rare individual who embodies both assertiveness and sincerity. This album features songs that illustrate both of these aspects of his personality, arranged chronologically. (Jerry McCulley, Amazon.com)