(And my sister owned the cassette)
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:58 (twelve years ago) link
I always forget that An Innocent Man was as much a part of the post-Thriller zeitgeist: five (!) singles, saturation play on radio and MTV, etc.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:59 (twelve years ago) link
That one has the great Toots Thielman on harmonica. Xp
― Frank Youngenstein (Phil D.), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:59 (twelve years ago) link
one thing that strikes me is BJ is he's like a cynical, judgemental McCartney. He writes a lot of good storytelling songs but he often writes from the viewpoint of a judgemental 'other' witnessing the bad behaviours/failed lives of other people.Bit of an ivory tower thing, idk.
I could be full of shit, it just occured to me this afternoon.
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:01 (twelve years ago) link
"Everybody Besides Me Started The Fire"
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:06 (twelve years ago) link
that whole Stormfront period was just uggggghhh so gross.
At least we don't have to googleproof it here.
― pplains, Monday, 9 April 2012 21:16 (twelve years ago) link
If anything this thread has mostly convinced me that I probably should own the An Innocent Man album.
― Look at how funky he is! (jer.fairall), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
Someone wrote a long and brutal takedown of Billy Joel based largely around this idea. I think it was semi-recently linked and discussed somewhere around here. It's certainly true of certain Billy Joel songs: "Big Shot", "Movin' Out", "Captain Jack", "Angry Young Man", "Piano Man", etc. But it's never been his whole artistic POV, even in his most cynical years. And I don't think he's any more condescending or bitter than say, Mick Jagger, Elvis Costello or Mark E. Smith (lol ringer).
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:19 (twelve years ago) link
Also, wish I'd seen Hillary announcing her run for senate as "you just stay at home and masturbate" echoed behind her.
― Look at how funky he is! (jer.fairall), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:23 (twelve years ago) link
xpost yeah I probably should have switched often for sometimes/occasionally...he writes some really wonderful sincere stuff too
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:26 (twelve years ago) link
I always wrestle with that becuase I love the phrasing and hooks of Captain Jack, but the tone of it kinda irritates me sometimes.
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:28 (twelve years ago) link
i liked Leningrad when it came out. sorry there it is.
― piscesx, Monday, 9 April 2012 21:32 (twelve years ago) link
remember when everyone had a song about Russia
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:33 (twelve years ago) link
hey I liked We Didn't Start The Fire when it came out - but now I'm old I can pretend I didn't know what I was doing, lol
I really love the timing changes in Moving Out, and HEART-ATTACK-ACKACKACK
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:34 (twelve years ago) link
WEEELL I'M OOON THE DOWNEASTER "ALEXA"
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
Attila still fills me with sheer glee
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 9 April 2012 21:40 (twelve years ago) link
Innocent Man chart single I don't remember at all: "Leave A Tender Moment Alone"
yesterday at easter dinner with my in-laws the phrase "a tender moment alone" jokingly came into the conversation for some reason. We then had to go online to figure out where we picked it up from. Nobody remembered it was a Billy Joel song.
― da croupier, Monday, 9 April 2012 21:52 (twelve years ago) link
the context was something like "you'd like a tender moment alone with that ham, wouldn't you?"
― da croupier, Monday, 9 April 2012 21:55 (twelve years ago) link
ugh I forgot the synth helicopter on Goodnight Saigon, kinda ruins it
decided that I'm going to let my sister pick her favorite song and I'll vote for that one. Saves me the heartache, lol
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:37 (twelve years ago) link
well your MOTHER said that ALL THAT I could GIVE YA was a REPuTAtion
tbh I'll probably vote for "Pressure" which is the best of his synth pop stuff
― Frank Youngenstein (Phil D.), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:45 (twelve years ago) link
Ses. Am. E. Street.What. Does. It. Meeeean?
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:47 (twelve years ago) link
PRESSHHARRR
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:53 (twelve years ago) link
I suppose soon that somebody is going to sample the synth sequence from that song for a hit single.
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:55 (twelve years ago) link
The video looks for the most part like some Peter Gabriel thing, but then there are odd bizarre moments, particularly when the camera focuses on BJ's face.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyv905Q2omU
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:00 (twelve years ago) link
got the feeling he always fancied himself as an actor from his videos
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:04 (twelve years ago) link
The "homoerotic" images in the "Allentown" video reportedly amused him.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:05 (twelve years ago) link
xxp In many ways it's like many early 80's Elton John videos, big budget, few ideas, and the focal point is a not particularly rock star looking figure.
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:06 (twelve years ago) link
<i>I always forget that An Innocent Man was as much a part of the post-Thriller zeitgeist: five (!) singles...
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn).
Six, actually. And to a different comment way upthread, releasing "Volumes 1 and 2" of a GH as part of the same package wasn't without precedent when this comp came out - check the subtitle of Donna Summer's <i>On the Radio</i> back in 1979.
― do dat do dat do do dat dat dat (thewufs), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:18 (twelve years ago) link
My sister's ruling is in: I voted Uptown Girl. Most gleeful, funnest to singalong to, best encapsulates our childhood Lego-playing :D
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:22 (twelve years ago) link
He's no Dennis DeYoung, that's for sure
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:31 (twelve years ago) link
hahah
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:32 (twelve years ago) link
omg YES vegemite thank you for starting this! i can't let myself start reading this thread yet cause i'll want to reply to everything but i am stoked
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 9 April 2012 23:37 (twelve years ago) link
:D
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:37 (twelve years ago) link
a friend of mine, who lived abroad, had to show up a week early to his freshman year of university. to pass the time avoid needing a place to stay, he signed up for PROJECT WILD, a hippie-wilderness-bonding thing that the school sponsored.
part of the program involved going 'solo' for 24 hours, but my friend made the mistake of choosing a tree or whatever too near a guy who spent most of the 24 hours repeatedly playing the main riff -- the only one he knew -- of 'piano man' on a harmonica.
there was a lot of scarring
― mookieproof, Monday, 9 April 2012 23:38 (twelve years ago) link
oh fuck that would ruin you for life
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:40 (twelve years ago) link
what's wrong with "Friends"? Is it the theme song?― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, April 9, 2012 4:43 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post PermalinkI think its their haircuts iirc― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl)
Too cool to diss "Friends"? OK, then!
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 9 April 2012 23:43 (twelve years ago) link
not me :)
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:44 (twelve years ago) link
OK, I checked out the youtube for "Tender Moment", and I TOTALLY remembered it from the opening harmonica part! Mostly I remember the harmonica, which I always assumed was a Stevie Wonder guest spot. (Never heard of Toots Thieleman back then.)
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:47 (twelve years ago) link
"Allentown", "Italian Restaurant", "Just the Way You Are", "Only the Good Die Young", "My Life" (which I loved as a kid), "Big Shot", "Pressure", "Still Rock & Roll", even "The Entertainer" all worthy contenders. They must not have been able to fit some of these on the vinyl version I bought when it was new.
― everything else is secondary (Lee626), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:59 (twelve years ago) link
for some reason the only other ILM Joel Poll was Greatest Hits V1 -- I didn't know it was released as a single volume though? Was it?
I'm so google-lazy today, I swear I'll do better tomorrow
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
It was double disc.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:05 (twelve years ago) link
I'm kind of loving how Allentown is kind of a dark horse in this, I might just vote for that. Either that or Pressure for sure.
― THE SPACEMENT TAPES (loves laboured breathing), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:24 (twelve years ago) link
so hmmm... will ILM vote for synthpop, given the option? hmmm...
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:27 (twelve years ago) link
I'm beginning to suspect that Nylon Curtain might be one of those overlooked early-80s albums that I end up loving beyond measure (see: Cultosaurus Erectus, Return of the Giant Slits)
lol xp
― THE SPACEMENT TAPES (loves laboured breathing), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:28 (twelve years ago) link
i kind of want to go back and relisten, too. don't think i've heard it since i was 15, 16 tops.
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:29 (twelve years ago) link
Joel's favorite album reportedly. Is it any good?
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:33 (twelve years ago) link
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, April 9, 2012 5:35 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark
i'd be into that tbh
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZZ-CqtHjAnk/TPaW2-8mfkI/AAAAAAACAiA/VgWPNDdEhRE/s1600/Alexa%2BRay%2BJoel.jpg
― ghostface protocollah (some dude), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:40 (twelve years ago) link
She looks like she chewed Allentown with those teeth.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:45 (twelve years ago) link
i am all about the video for uptown GYUHRRHURRLLL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E
― these pretzels are makeing me horney (Hungry4Ass), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 00:58 (twelve years ago) link