I like all three, but these days I'd probably take "It's Still Rock and Roll" over "Pump it Up" or "I'm the Man". The subtle production touches are a plus. Lyrically its perhaps the corniest - Joel is not a cool ironist like Costello or Jackson - but he's right about the music.
― o. nate, Tuesday, 27 July 2021 16:11 (two years ago) link
I don't like the production on a lot of Joel's later '70s hits, but it really helps that he was aping something that was by design stripped down. But the sound was getting formulaic and by the time "It's Still Rock and Roll" came out, Costello and Jackson had already moved on to other sounds because they were wary of New Wave clichés. I'm not the biggest Joe Jackson fan, but I think his instincts about ska were right - I absolutely love the English Beat's records, and their first and best album came out then. Love Get Happy!! too.
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 27 July 2021 18:22 (two years ago) link
i wish every single band that existed in that era had attempted at least one and maybe two albums in the Jackson/This Year's Model/Outlandos zone. I'm sure many or most would have been awkward failures but overall it makes sense that people would hear that music and wanna try playing it, it sounds fun!
― I honk along darkened Bobo-doors (Doctor Casino), Tuesday, 27 July 2021 21:04 (two years ago) link
"Close to the Borderline" is punkiest/Bernie Goetz Billy Joel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1fntXx2I4s
― ... (Eazy), Tuesday, 27 July 2021 21:10 (two years ago) link
Is "Close to the Borderline" Billy Joel's idea of punk?
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 27 July 2021 21:36 (two years ago) link
One clue about influences (related to that thread ^^) is the Wembley live version of the song, which he dedicates to John Peel in the intro and is sloppy af.
― ... (Eazy), Tuesday, 27 July 2021 22:00 (two years ago) link
Surprised that none of the recent thread bumps are about the (pretty great, I think) Olivia Rodrigo song that namechecks our guy.
― edited for dog profanity (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 01:02 (two years ago) link
Wait what which one?
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 14:35 (two years ago) link
One clue about influences (related to that thread ^^) is the Wembley live version of the song, which he dedicates to John Peel in the intro and is sloppy af.― ... (Eazy), Tuesday, July 27, 2021 5:00 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
― ... (Eazy), Tuesday, July 27, 2021 5:00 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
Oh wow, you're right -- and he leads it in with "This is a song for anytime you've ever gotten home from work and felt like blowing your brains out."
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 15:10 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cii6ruuycQA
― edited for dog profanity (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 15:35 (two years ago) link
(xp)
xp he doesn't do the Johnny Rotten r roll on "Rich man" in the Wembley version though
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 15:59 (two years ago) link
The best Billy covers: https://www.covermesongs.com/2021/08/the-40-best-billy-joel-covers-ever.html
I don't think I know any of these, but I'm definitely interested to hear a few of them.
― edited for dog profanity (cryptosicko), Monday, 2 August 2021 16:12 (two years ago) link
I remember listening to a different Muppets cover of "New York State of Mind" when I was 6 or 7 and thinking it was the most boring music I had ever heard...
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 2 August 2021 16:25 (two years ago) link
Hah, just listened to the entirety of this guy's Glass Houses cover. Not bad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HKO7q-eZHg
― pplains, Monday, 2 August 2021 17:16 (two years ago) link
Billy Joel relaxes on the beach before his performance at the Havana Jam Festival, Cuba, 1979 pic.twitter.com/bewehpFLL4— Barney Hurley (@barneyhurley1) December 25, 2021
― calstars, Saturday, 25 December 2021 22:10 (two years ago) link
Oh, Havana, I've been searching for you everywhere.
― pplains, Sunday, 26 December 2021 01:54 (two years ago) link
When will you realizeHavana waits for you
― ; (Ye Mad Puffin), Sunday, 26 December 2021 06:59 (two years ago) link
Cuba be rightCuba be crazy
― ... (Eazy), Sunday, 26 December 2021 09:30 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS9179RQKjM
"i don't care what they say anymore / nope / this is my life / billy joel!"
― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 19:07 (two years ago) link
location scout felt confident taking the day off after securing that spot, it would seem
― The creator of Ultra Games, for Nintendo (Doctor Casino), Wednesday, 9 February 2022 19:47 (two years ago) link
lol
― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 20:11 (two years ago) link
i loled (whole thread is p good)
The man who works at Mister Cacciatore's down on Sullivan Street was arrested for selling bootleg Neil Young records and marijuana paraphernalia in 1977. He cut a deal and cooperated with authorities to bust a drug ring. The man was and will always be a rat.— Jake Fogelnest (@jakefogelnest) May 30, 2022
Something tells me there's going to be some pretty sparkling fenders.— Jon Wurster (@jonwurster) May 30, 2022
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 30 May 2022 03:24 (one year ago) link
The fuck, mr cacciatores was an actual place?
― calstars, Monday, 30 May 2022 23:17 (one year ago) link
I think it's a comedy riff on the song
― assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 31 May 2022 02:25 (one year ago) link
Idgi
― calstars, Tuesday, 31 May 2022 02:42 (one year ago) link
You oughta know by now!
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 31 May 2022 02:52 (one year ago) link
well i thought it was funny :/
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 31 May 2022 03:33 (one year ago) link
you should never argue with a crazy mind
― assert (matttkkkk), Tuesday, 31 May 2022 03:57 (one year ago) link
Seems like a waste of time.
― pplains, Tuesday, 31 May 2022 13:13 (one year ago) link
A heart attackmatttkkk
― I am just a squirrel in the world (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 1 June 2022 13:35 (one year ago) link
the diner I'm at is tuned into some Sirius station that basically plays one Billy Joel song for every one oldie. over lunch, i've heard Uptown Girl, Movin' Out, We Didn't Start the Fire, and Only the Good Die Young, alternated with Blue Moon, Walk Like a Man, Do You Love Me and Stand By Me. the burger was not great but i think i may return.
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 16:55 (one year ago) link
Is it... the Parkway Diner perchance?
― Nutellanor Roosevelt (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 15 June 2022 20:37 (one year ago) link
HUWUNNTWOOOOHWUN TWOO THREEE FAWW
― Squeaky Fromage (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, November 8, 2017 1
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 June 2022 20:38 (one year ago) link
Squire's Diner in Lower Manhattan, sadly.
― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 20:43 (one year ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Ey9p5Un.jpgSomeone’s had enough of Billy and frankly I can’t blame them
― calstars, Saturday, 18 June 2022 18:35 (one year ago) link
i forgot to report that i went back to that diner the following week, and got almost the same lineup of songs. paying closer attention, i took them down in full, with Joel tracks in bold. quite a ratio!
Sherry, I Feel Good, Uptown Girl, Blue Moon, Don't Be Cruel, The Way You Do The Things You Do, We Didn't Start the Fire, A Hard Day's Night, Do You Love Me, Walk Like a Man, Get Ready, Stay, Only the Good Die Young, My Girl, (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay, Movin' Out.
during "We Didn't Start the Fire," someone in the next booth proclaimed "Billy Joel is really just dumb Bruce Springsteen." i refrained from enlightening them.
― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 19 July 2022 19:47 (one year ago) link
Sounds like a BJ Pandora station.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 19 July 2022 20:38 (one year ago) link
Mama Leone left a note on the door,Said, "Sonny, move out to the country,"
Was this a THREAT? "Hey, Sonny. Get your ass to the sticks if you know what's what."
Who leaves a note like this?
― pplains, Wednesday, 20 July 2022 22:10 (one year ago) link
xp Following the Bob Lefsetz thread, BJ Pandora station now sounds like an intergalactic whorehouse.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 20 July 2022 22:22 (one year ago) link
_Mama Leone left a note on the door,Said, "Sonny, move out to the country,"_Was this a THREAT? "Hey, Sonny. Get your ass to the sticks if you know what's what."Who leaves a note like this?
― calstars, Wednesday, 20 July 2022 22:58 (one year ago) link
I don't drink them, but I do make love to them.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Wednesday, 20 July 2022 22:59 (one year ago) link
I assumed Mama Leone's time to be similar to a grandma insisting you gotta eat some more, you're all skin and bones, you look at your brother Billy, he's big and strong, etc. etc.
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 21 July 2022 00:39 (one year ago) link
Er, Mama Leone's TONE.
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 21 July 2022 00:40 (one year ago) link
DON: Well, yeah.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 21 July 2022 00:47 (one year ago) link
she's warning him to stay away from the Long Island tollbooth
― assert (matttkkkk), Thursday, 21 July 2022 00:53 (one year ago) link
Gotta say, I do love every detail of the Sergeant O'Leary verse.
― deep luminous trombone (Eazy), Thursday, 21 July 2022 01:43 (one year ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/ghVT67H.jpg
"and that one lyric, 'You can pay Uncle Sam with the overtime,' haha, no one even comes close to you, Billy!"
"Well, that's nice of you to say, Mike..."
― pplains, Thursday, 21 July 2022 14:13 (one year ago) link
band class outcasts
― calstars, Thursday, 21 July 2022 14:26 (one year ago) link
dyin @ pplains
― your marshmallows may vary (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 21 July 2022 14:52 (one year ago) link