Billy Joel

[riotgrl]

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

I have a bootleg of that Sunrise show and you're right that crowd is stunned. Would have loved to be there because it was an amazing setlist!

[Gary Carter]

I have a love/hate towards Billy

I love Billy cause obviously I'm from the island, so its a birthright to like him and all. I hate him cause he won't tour anymore and I feel he can still do it seeing as how Bruce and many others are still rocking.

[EdsonNascimento]

I have a love/hate towards Billy

I love Billy cause obviously I'm from the island, so its a birthright to like him and all. I hate him cause he won't tour anymore and I feel he can still do it seeing as how Bruce and many others are still rocking.

Bruce doesn't tour every year. Billy Joel just did a HUGE tour from the start of 2009 through the 1st quarter of 2010 that would make PJ blush in its hey day. And at the time, he said he'd do another tour, just needed a break.

I'm not sure why this board expects folks to tour constantly. Would you if you were in their position? The guy's 62 years old.

[_]

Billy Joel has been one of my favorite musicians since I was a kid! Glad I'm not the only one! I just wish I could see him live.

[Save Me]

I have a love/hate towards Billy

I love Billy cause obviously I'm from the island, so its a birthright to like him and all. I hate him cause he won't tour anymore and I feel he can still do it seeing as how Bruce and many others are still rocking.

Bruce doesn't tour every year. Billy Joel just did a HUGE tour from the start of 2009 through the 1st quarter of 2010 that would make PJ blush in its hey day. And at the time, he said he'd do another tour, just needed a break.

I'm not sure why this board expects folks to tour constantly. Would you if you were in their position? The guy's 62 years old.

Billy toured w/Elton in 09/10, not solo. His last solo concert was the Shea shows after which he basically said I don't know how we can top those and this is probably it for me doing these types of major concerts. Last solo tour started in Jan 2006 and continued straight up to those amazing Shea shows in 08. Many of those Face 2 Face shows w/Elton got cancelled due to an Elton and then a Billy "illness".

[Save Me]

I have a bootleg of that Sunrise show and you're right that crowd is stunned. Would have loved to be there because it was an amazing setlist!

riotgrl, I have the same boot. The show was amazing. It was Billy's first solo tour since the Millennium shows in 99/2000 so all us diehards had no idea what to expect. I was 10 rows back center and he blew everyone's mind that night w/the setlist. I know a lot of people who came looking for a hits show were dissapointed but I was on cloud 9. His voice was insane that night.

[riotgrl]

I have a bootleg of that Sunrise show and you're right that crowd is stunned. Would have loved to be there because it was an amazing setlist!

riotgrl, I have the same boot. The show was amazing. It was Billy's first solo tour since the Millennium shows in 99/2000 so all us diehards had no idea what to expect. I was 10 rows back center and he blew everyone's mind that night w/the setlist. I know a lot of people who came looking for a hits show were dissapointed but I was on cloud 9. His voice was insane that night.

Yes he was voice was just about perfect. I never listen to that boot though - really crappy quality - but I dig it out on occasion! I like the early 70s shows - they are so amazing and I am a superfan of all those early songs of his. You can't beat The Stranger but I've always had a soft spot for Cold Spring Harbor!

[Porchsitter]

I'm a huge Billy Joel fan thanks to my dad. We would spend hours on the road heading to my grandmothers listening to "Turnstiles" and "Glass Houses." I would say he's the reason why the piano is my favorite instrument.

[Newch91]

I took piano lessons in high school and I would always ask my teacher to play Billy Joel. It was great.

[Newch91]

Anyone see this?

http://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joe ... iral-video

[uninnocent-]

Billy Joel has a great back catalog of quality music. I consider him good comfort music, and I listen to him when I need a pick-me-up. That said, We Didn't Start the Fire has got to be my favourite of his.

[EdsonNascimento]

Billy Joel has a great back catalog of quality music. I consider him good comfort music, and I listen to him when I need a pick-me-up. That said, We Didn't Start the Fire has got to be my favourite of his.

I love that song, but if that's your favorite, you haven't dug deep enough. I mean that in the best way possible - there's more to uncover. And as always, I suggest starting at the beginning - Cold Spring Harbor (which was recorded incorrectly, but the distorted sound now somehow adds to the historical perspective). Enjoy!

And Eddie could learn something from the man -

"People who pay for your tickets, I don't think they want to hear who you're going to vote for and how you think they should vote."

[uninnocent-]

Billy Joel has a great back catalog of quality music. I consider him good comfort music, and I listen to him when I need a pick-me-up. That said, We Didn't Start the Fire has got to be my favourite of his.

I love that song, but if that's your favorite, you haven't dug deep enough. I mean that in the best way possible - there's more to uncover. And as always, I suggest starting at the beginning - Cold Spring Harbor (which was recorded incorrectly, but the distorted sound now somehow adds to the historical perspective). Enjoy!

And Eddie could learn something from the man -

"People who pay for your tickets, I don't think they want to hear who you're going to vote for and how you think they should vote."

My buddy is a big Billy Joel fan and made me promise to listen to more of his stuff. I've got a bunch on my iPod but I don't know most of the non-hits by name.

[Newch91]

Miami 2017 has always been one of my favorite Billy songs. His performance of that song at The Concert for New York City was incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThogWesU ... re=related

[Save Me]

I have a bootleg of that Sunrise show and you're right that crowd is stunned. Would have loved to be there because it was an amazing setlist!

riotgrl, I have the same boot. The show was amazing. It was Billy's first solo tour since the Millennium shows in 99/2000 so all us diehards had no idea what to expect. I was 10 rows back center and he blew everyone's mind that night w/the setlist. I know a lot of people who came looking for a hits show were dissapointed but I was on cloud 9. His voice was insane that night.

Yes he was voice was just about perfect. I never listen to that boot though - really crappy quality - but I dig it out on occasion! I like the early 70s shows - they are so amazing and I am a superfan of all those early songs of his. You can't beat The Stranger but I've always had a soft spot for Cold Spring Harbor!

Not sure if you have the CW Post boot from like 76/77. It was right before The Stranger came out but he debuted a couple songs off it like Scenes and I think Only The Good. His voice was sick at this show. Lot of stuff from Turnstiles which always sounds better live. That's why one of my faves is Songs From The Attic. The best versions of Summer Highland/Miami 2017, I've Loved These Days & Say Goodbye To Hollywood.

Cold Spring Harbor, though sped up, still has great songs. Tomorrow Is Today, Everybody Loves You Now and of course She's Got A Way.