Billy Joel

[Better Dan]

I've never seen him live, but I'm a fan.

[djklambake]

Fond memories of Billy Joel (although I think he's kind of an asshole)... I used to listen to him all the time. His River of Dreams tour that came through Chicago in 93 or 94 (I think?) was my first concert ever. It was pretty damn awesome. Saw him again in Milwaukee about 8 years later... Took my parents to that one (they're both from Allentown... they've got fond memories of him from way back). It was pretty decent... I like the guy's music, but he's a pretty arrogant son of a bitch.

[youngster]

"We are California's premier 80's Billy Joel tribute band. So let's keep it in the 80's, and keep it fresh.

"Play something from "The Stranger"

"We only do 80's Joel, sir."

"80's Billy Joel doo - wop sucks"

"Listen motherfucker, we only do 80's Joel! So take your skank hooker wife and get the fuc out of here.

[riotgrl]

Finally! Billy Joel is my other obsession. I agree with a previous poster that mentioned the crowd at his concerts. The last 2 shows I went to (2009) were so lame because the crowd just sat there! When they don't know Captain Jack....... Summer, Highland Falls is one of my favorites but I love some of his unreleased material the best. I have tons and tons of bootlegs and the early 70s shows are the best. Those small venues with amped up crowds. Billy is really interacting with the crowd and not just telling the same stories about each song and he really mixed up his setlists unlike shows today that are primarily greatest hits. If you've never heard any of his master class series you should definitely check those out. Short song clips but he spends more time interacting with the crowd and answering qeustions.

[EdsonNascimento]

Any Billy Joel fans here? I was a big fan when I was 10, 11 years old, took a break from listening, and have been listening to him a lot lately after watching his documentary, "Last Play at Shea", and listening to my dad's vinyl of the albums he has of his.

Huge fan. Growing up on LI, there's really no choice. My first show ever was him at the Coliseum in '86. I've since seen him a number of times including Last Play at Shea (night 1 which was supposed to be the actual last play, but let's play 2!!! - Not complaining). He puts on a great show and his entire catalog is incredible. However, I tend to side with his lesser known stuff - Laura, All For Leyna, Root Beer Rag.

He's definitely been through a few phases, but I find his unhappier times are actually his better albums (Glass Houses, Nylon Curtain, etc.), but still love Innocent Man, etc.

He also gave hope to all us average (?) looking LI boys when he dated Elle and married Christie.

And of course, My Life was the song I'd sing to my parents whenever they'd punish me as a little kid.

A did you know? His original stage name in the early 70s was Bill Martin (his middle name).

[Newch91]

"We are California's premier 80's Billy Joel tribute band. So let's keep it in the 80's, and keep it fresh.

"Play something from "The Stranger"

"We only do 80's Joel, sir."

"80's Billy Joel doo - wop sucks"

"Listen motherfucker, we only do 80's Joel! So take your skank hooker wife and get the fuc out of here.

I feel like I've heard this somewhere but don't know.

[Newch91]

Any Billy Joel fans here? I was a big fan when I was 10, 11 years old, took a break from listening, and have been listening to him a lot lately after watching his documentary, "Last Play at Shea", and listening to my dad's vinyl of the albums he has of his.

Huge fan. Growing up on LI, there's really no choice. My first show ever was him at the Coliseum in '86. I've since seen him a number of times including Last Play at Shea (night 1 which was supposed to be the actual last play, but let's play 2!!! - Not complaining). He puts on a great show and his entire catalog is incredible. However, I tend to side with his lesser known stuff - Laura, All For Leyna, Root Beer Rag.

He's definitely been through a few phases, but I find his unhappier times are actually his better albums (Glass Houses, Nylon Curtain, etc.), but still love Innocent Man, etc.

He also gave hope to all us average (?) looking LI boys when he dated Elle and married Christie.

And of course, My Life was the song I'd sing to my parents whenever they'd punish me as a little kid.

A did you know? His original stage name in the early 70s was Bill Martin (his middle name).

I just watched "Last Play at Shea" this weekend and now my dad is in the hunt for the CD of the show. Was night 1 with Paul McCartney or night 2?

I'm sure he gave up hope to a lot average looking boys across the country when he married Christie.

[pjhawks]

saw Billy a few times in the mid to late 80s at the Spectrum. great fucking shows. so many great songs. and love Summer in Highland Falls. Not enough piano in rock anymore.

[Mamasan23]

Whoa, yes!!! The Stranger and Glass Houses...my solid go-tos when I'm in drinking beast mode

[Save Me]

I'm glad someone started this thread. I'm a diehard Billy fan. He's my #1 favorite artist w/PJ 2nd. His music was the soundtrack of my early life. I'm also a singer/songwriter so I appreciate his writing which is on another level.

I love his deeper album cuts like Zanzibar (from 52nd Street), And So It Goes & Downeaster Alexa (Storm Front), Shades Of Grey (River Of Dreams) and the list goes on. I believe his non hits really show what kind of an artist he is. He could write in any style of music from jazz to country to doo-op to straight out rock. I've been to over 30 shows including the 1st ever concert at Yankee stadium in 1990. Went to 15 shows in 5 different states for his 2006 tour which was amazing because he was mixing up the set lists a ton. Doing a lot of album tracks like All For Leyna, Stilleto, Zanzibar and more. He even opened the 1st show in Sunrise w/Piano Man and closed it w/Famous Last Words. The crowd was stunned. I was in heaven. I think my favorite album is The Nylon Curtain. It's his darkest album and was recorded at the time Lennon was killed. There's a HUGE Beatles influence on the album (Scandanavian Skies, Suprises).

It saddens me that he hasn't written anything since River as an artist like that just has so much to say. I'd love to be hearing his thoughts on the world today and his life through his music but he just stopped. I think a ton of stuff in his personal life took a toll on him and I also think he got tired writing stuff that was so personal about him and his life.

I was lucky enough to go backstage at a Philly show in 2006 and also appeared in a documentary about his record breaking 12 sold out shows at Madison Square Garden in 2006. If anyone's interested the MSG doc is below. I'm "Billy Joel Fan-Paul Maged" on the doc. I appear somewhere after 2 minutes. It's a really good little doc on those amazing shows plus I added a couple of pics from that tour in 2006. He's an exceptional live artist. The voice, the musicianship, just awesome. And his band's always tight. Though I do miss Liberty on the kit.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1LxOmdEbdE

[EdsonNascimento]

I just watched "Last Play at Shea" this weekend and now my dad is in the hunt for the CD of the show. Was night 1 with Paul McCartney or night 2?

I'm sure he gave up hope to a lot average looking boys across the country when he married Christie.

Nope. Mellencamp (who was crap - I hate him, but yet he got bigger ovations than the others) and Mayer (who just played guitar, which was awesome) and Don Henley (another stellar performance on Boys of Summer), Tony Bennett (who was meh). He did play Please Please Me in a tip to the Beatles.

The REAL Last Play (night 2) got Paul (which I understand, but is sort of crappy the way it went down, but oh, well - and like he couldn't do BOTH nights instead of us getting John Cougar Mellenball?!?), Steven Tyler and Roger Daltrey (they also got Tony Bennett).

I have a mediocre boot of night 1. Got it cheap, and just wanted it for posterity. Don't really listen to it much b/c the quality is so-so.

[Dr. Delight]

Ridiculous catalog of great songs. One of the first songs I used to sing as a child was "My Life"
I own the majority of his records on vinyl.
Was at the Wachovia Center Show back in 2000(i think) in Philly when the raised the banner for recognition for the amount of sellout shows he's played in Philly.

[Dr. Delight]

Due ly noted...
The Stranger...

I'm hoping since i noted how much i loved the earlier stuff... The Stranger will suite me best...

Lookin' to buy my first record player this summer since the 80's...

I'll try and pick up the Stranger...

thanks for the tip...

pm me your address

[traveljunkie]

My interest in Billy Joel was also reignited after watching "Last Play at Shea"!

One of my earliest music obsessed memories is me begging my parents to let me stay up every night for the "Top Five at 9" on the radio to hear It's Still Rock & Roll To Me. And since it was always at the #1 spot, I got to stay up super late. I was so desperate to record it - but the DJ always wanted to talk over it!

[Black Diamond]

Love love love...

Seen him 10-12 times over the years... I guess starting with Glass Houses...

Had them all on vinyl back in the day...
I think my dad had 4 8 tracks of the stranger but kept wearing them out...