Is it bad that I kinda like every song on here?
― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 9 April 2012 03:32 (twelve years ago) link
^^^^
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 03:32 (twelve years ago) link
although I just realized I really fucking hate The Entertainer
like, a LOT
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 03:33 (twelve years ago) link
most of these, if i heard them on the radio once every 10 years, that would be cool
'you're only human' is not among them, tho
― mookieproof, Monday, 9 April 2012 03:39 (twelve years ago) link
yeah the synth on that kinda gives me the shits, tbh ...and it reminds me of Julian Lennon's 'Much Too Late For Goodbye'
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 03:44 (twelve years ago) link
In deferential fealty to the me that was, I feel as though I almost have to pick something from Glass Houses. I seriously no lie loved that album when I was 13-14, one of the first I ever picked and bought all on my own (through Columbia House, 12 for a penny). It seemed so smart and tough and full of hard-won grown-up wisdom, like a training wheels version of the Elvis Costello records I'd obsess over a few years later.
I dunno, though... It's awful damn hard to deny his earlier hits: "Piano Man", "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", "New York State of Mind", "Just the Way You Are", "Movin' Out", "Only the Good Die Young", "My Life". the Nylon Curtain songs are great, too, especially "Pressure", but I almost feel they're by a different guy. And I don't give a shit about anything after that.
Think I'm gonna go for "Only the Good Die Young", just for the joy of singing along with the "sinners have much more fun" bit. Such a dangerous Billy. Seems a crime that this set doesn't include "Miami 2017", "She's Always a Woman" and "Honesty", any of which might have a shot of being my favorite Billy Joel song tomorrow. He really was the Painter of Light.
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 03:53 (twelve years ago) link
snrub is probably right that "piano man" is the all-time best thing on here, but my favorite changes all time time, largely depending on which one i'm listening to/drunkenly singing along with
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 03:56 (twelve years ago) link
can't believe I'm voting for Just the Way You Are, but it's the only one I remotely like, in a really cheesy yuppie ballad kind of way. never cared for his corny badboy greaser stuff
― Chris S, Monday, 9 April 2012 04:08 (twelve years ago) link
This album (or rather, "album") is so ingrained in my childhood memories that I don't even know how to differentiate between the classics, the dross (though "Goodnight Saigon" was always skipped, and the record usually shut off before "Second Wind" could happen) and the (should be) guilty pleasures.
Voted for the joyous, ludicrous "Scenes From an Italian Restuarant."
― Look at how funky he is! (jer.fairall), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:19 (twelve years ago) link
First there's the whistling, then that brittle piano, and then the softcore guitar vamp kicks in....
― the hairy office thing (Eazy), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:26 (twelve years ago) link
Well we ALL fall in LOVE but we DISREGAHD the DANGER
― the hairy office thing (Eazy), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:27 (twelve years ago) link
baw bawbaw BAW bawbawbawbawbaw bawbaw BAW badabadabada
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:46 (twelve years ago) link
looking back, i think my first purchase from the columbia record & tape club was quite formative:
Billy Joel - Glass Houses: see aboveAC/DC - Back In Black: made me a manBlue Oyster Cult - Some Enchanted Evening: due to inclusion of The Greatest Song, set me on a path I follow stillTom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedos: foretold my later appreciation of "Don't Come Around Here No More" and that one Traveling Wilburys songLoverboy - Loverboy: kind of sucks, but "TURN ME LOOSE" (!)Aerosmith - Toys In the Attic: rock
i wish i could remember what else. they sent me some random shit i didn't order.
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:47 (twelve years ago) link
^ think Supertramp's Breakfast In America was in there too
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:50 (twelve years ago) link
and yeah, "scenes from an italian restaurant", completely forgot abt that one, listening now, flashback headspins :)
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 04:54 (twelve years ago) link
i vote for all of them lolhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcvVPuJVKcs
― billstevejim, Monday, 9 April 2012 04:58 (twelve years ago) link
Allentown vs. Don't Ask Me Why
i doubt anyone would vote for She's Always A Woman, but for some reason it's not included here
― billstevejim, Monday, 9 April 2012 05:04 (twelve years ago) link
It wasn't on the tracklisting
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 05:05 (twelve years ago) link
I got it off the CD list, but the MP3 list has it
ugh stupid
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 05:07 (twelve years ago) link
apparently there's a version that replaces "Don't Ask Me Why" with "Honesty" which is kind of a bummer
― billstevejim, Monday, 9 April 2012 05:07 (twelve years ago) link
this fuckin thing, there's like 5 versions!
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 05:10 (twelve years ago) link
I love "Vienna" and "She's Always A Woman."
― the hairy office thing (Eazy), Monday, 9 April 2012 05:16 (twelve years ago) link
But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information...
― Popture, Monday, 9 April 2012 05:17 (twelve years ago) link
YAGOTTA NICE WHITE DRESS AND A PARTY ON YOUR CONFIRMATION...
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 05:21 (twelve years ago) link
otm
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 05:29 (twelve years ago) link
No "We Didn't Start the Fire" (I guess they wouldn't have been able to use the word 'Greatest' in the title if that had been on it!)
― Bloody Snail, Monday, 9 April 2012 08:57 (twelve years ago) link
This comp was released years before that single.'Piano Man' has to be easily the worst song on this ("and the microphone smells like a beer" oh FUCK OFF). Voted for 'You May Be Right' because a) I thought the lyrics were so clever when I was 13, and b) the breaking glass sound at the beginning is probably the greatest example of the sound of glass breaking in a song (better even than Kate Bush's 'Babooshka' although sometimes PSB's 'Surburbia' sounds better).
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Monday, 9 April 2012 09:24 (twelve years ago) link
always thought it was weird how there hadn't been a Greatest Hits volume 1 to start with, but instead a 1 AND 2 released at the same time on one compilation! pretty bizzare even for the wacky late 80s CD era. clearly a neat trick though cause it sold like crazy.
― piscesx, Monday, 9 April 2012 09:36 (twelve years ago) link
Voting "Movin' Out", just for a change.
― The GeirBot (Geir Hongro), Monday, 9 April 2012 10:22 (twelve years ago) link
nylon curtain is a really excellent album all the way through.
― I accidentally sonned your dome (stevie), Monday, 9 April 2012 10:34 (twelve years ago) link
had to vote for Movin' Out (my song) over the Innocent Man troika
― da croupier, Monday, 9 April 2012 10:37 (twelve years ago) link
This guy isn't quite as bad as some people claim though. There are many really good songs on this compilation. Besides "Movin' Out" there's "Piano Man", "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant", "The Stranger", "Just The Way You Are", "Honesty", "My Life", "Allentown", "Goodnight Saigon", "Uptown Girl" and "Tell Her About It". All great songs.
― The GeirBot (Geir Hongro), Monday, 9 April 2012 10:48 (twelve years ago) link
It'll have to be "Allentown" or one of the Innocent Man hits, although it sucks the title track ain't one of them.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 April 2012 10:49 (twelve years ago) link
it's nice, btw, to see this much concentrated joel-love in one place, especially on ILX. i've received more disdain IRL for my timidly admitted joel feelings than for any of my many other sins of taste.
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 17:13 (twelve years ago) link
Oh it's on Mr Veg's list of near-dealbreakers with me, lol (closely followed by Liza Minnelli, WWE and Project Runway)
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 17:16 (twelve years ago) link
ha – opposite experience for me. Most of the Joel hate I'll see online. All my friends - especially the ones not interested in music – adore at least a chunk of his catalog.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 April 2012 17:17 (twelve years ago) link
I've only come across a few people irl who will cop to Billy Joel love. And one of them's my sister.
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 17:25 (twelve years ago) link
i like how The Entertainer is REAL cynical yet REAL catchy.
― piscesx, Monday, 9 April 2012 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
I swear I find that track nigh on unlistenable
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 17:30 (twelve years ago) link
Xgau I think compares that one to Rick Wakeman, presumably just because of the Minimoog. I like it.
Wish this collecion was more singles-oriented than it was - several good ones missing, and I never had any use for "Captain Jack" or "Goodnight Saigon". I'm gonna vote for the McCartneyish "Don't Ask Me Why" - for all I know, Joel got the idea for the Latinish touches from "Goodnight Tonight".
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Monday, 9 April 2012 19:26 (twelve years ago) link
OMG - "You're Only Human" - the suicide song! It was so bad it couldn't even make it on an album proper or a Danny Devito soundtrack!
― hannahdoot, Monday, 9 April 2012 19:52 (twelve years ago) link
Hate to say it, but about half of this album is pretty great. The other half is total and absolute, irredeemable shit.
― Poliopolice, Monday, 9 April 2012 19:59 (twelve years ago) link
Pretty much BJ's career in a nutshell there.
― they do do doo doo sandwiches (snoball), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:00 (twelve years ago) link
Also, "An Innocent Man" should have been on this compilation, while one of those shit songs should have been removed.
― Poliopolice, Monday, 9 April 2012 20:01 (twelve years ago) link
snoball otm
and I didnt even include volume III
"iiiiiin the miiiiidle of the niiiiiight"
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:01 (twelve years ago) link
"An Innocent Man" might have been the best song on here, even
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPZ68Uc50iY
jesus, had completely forgotten that this even existed. so wretched. proof that the innocent man era should be destroyed.
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:01 (twelve years ago) link
Lou Reed: "I still am into doowop. When I can find it. I was amazed, we were in a restaurant the other day and they were playing this Billy Joel thing, where he does all the voices as acapella doowop, it was really good, I wish he'd do a lot more like that."
Lou otm, voted "The Longest Time"
― Euler, Monday, 9 April 2012 20:02 (twelve years ago) link
I might end up voting for JTWYABecause my heart is corn dipped in cheez-whiz
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:02 (twelve years ago) link
ohhhh Longest Time is pretty rad though
fuck you guys, I'm so confused!
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 April 2012 20:03 (twelve years ago) link
kinda the same with Joel altho I think he's much weaker in the melodies dept. I find his proto-doo wop stuff the catchiest.
― Jilly Boel (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:10 (twelve years ago) link
lol Taupin's best known non-EJ lyric is "We Built This City"
― some dude, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:12 (twelve years ago) link
starship really had to go get outside help for that one huh.
― pplains, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:13 (twelve years ago) link
fuckin lyricshow do they work
― Jilly Boel (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnrSqZwT2pg
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:52 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqg2rClfLIc&feature=related
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:54 (twelve years ago) link
Now you're posting Weird Al videos. Billy Joel wins again, my friend.
― pplains, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:55 (twelve years ago) link
You'd better cool it off before you burn it out. You've got so much to do and only so many hours in a day.
― pplains, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:56 (twelve years ago) link
and "These Dreams"!
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 17:57 (twelve years ago) link
hm, news to me!
― Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:06 (twelve years ago) link
good weird al vids
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:17 (twelve years ago) link
the deal with Bernie Taupin is he's kind of like what if language poetry met popular song. the only matter of import is whether the syllables sound awesome together when delivered by a good frontman, which they do. I don't doubt that if he put his mind to it, he could write a lyric consisting only of nonsense syllables that sounded good to him, and it'd still sound terrific once Elton John got hold of it.
― same old song and placenta (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:22 (twelve years ago) link
He did, and that song was called "Nikita." It was terrible.
― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:41 (twelve years ago) link
"Solar Prestige a Gammon"!
Taupin could write good lyrics when it suited him ("Hard Luck Stories," "Someone Saved...") but Elton didn't demand them.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:43 (twelve years ago) link
so Bernie Taupin is like proto-Elizabeth Fraser
― Jilly Boel and the Eltones (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 18:46 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, except the Leonard Cohen and Talking Heads song have menacing music that matches the lyrical mode. They're not some hoaky serenade set to some ersatz Elton boilerplate.
i know, i was defending joel's lyrics against aero's "worst lyricist of all time" slam. personally, i like his tunes too. "menacing" can be great, but i can't imagine that "miami 2017" would be any more appealing if they were less cheesily anthemic.
i have no real problem with taupin as a lyricist, either. a lot of his stuff is cringe-inducingly schmaltzy, sure, but sometimes the shmaltz just plain works. i've always found "daniel" quite moving, and that's a product of the lyrics as much as of the music and performance.
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 19:24 (twelve years ago) link
^ not to say that i really admire taupin as a lyricist...
― preternatural concepts concerning variances in sound and texture (contenderizer), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
nor billy neither
In Praise Of... Billy Joel's "Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Down On Broadway)"
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 12 April 2012 01:18 (twelve years ago) link
Even though it's not on the greatest hits, "Summer Highland Falls" is my POO. I don't think he ever did something that good again--almost a one-off sadly. Songs in the Attic and Turnstiles (as well as The Stranger) are my go-to Billy.
― Iago Galdston, Thursday, 12 April 2012 01:24 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah "Songs In the Attic" is like an alternate "greatest hits."
IMO "Stranger" -> "52nd street" -> "songs in the attic" -> "glass houses" -> "nylon curtain" was a decent run, even though they all contain songs I hate, but I'd rather listen to a mix of my favorite 20 songs from those 5 albums than the greatest hits collections.
― billstevejim, Thursday, 12 April 2012 01:28 (twelve years ago) link
The thing is that Summer Highland Falls is basically a Ben Folds song with all of the smugness and immaturity taken out, and since I love Ben Folds but hate that side of him just like everybody else, that song is basically an ideal for me when it comes to piano-led pop.
Voted Allentown in this one.
― ascai, Monday, 23 April 2012 00:41 (twelve years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Saturday, 28 April 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
crap, never did vote in this - - - agggh!
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 28 April 2012 00:36 (twelve years ago) link
Got it down to these:
StrangerScenes from an Italian RestaurantMovin' out (Anthony's Song)Only the Good Die YoungUptown Girl
Still feel like in a way "Uptown Girl" is my straight favorite out of those but it feels weird not to pick one from the "classic" string of albums. Ahhhhh jeez.
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 28 April 2012 00:39 (twelve years ago) link
btw,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3ogFWISPuw
never knew this had a video. Don't think I've even listened to the song in close to ten years except maybe if I let the record keep playing and wasn't paying attention. Not as bad as I remember.
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 28 April 2012 00:44 (twelve years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Sunday, 29 April 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
wow...only 3 zeroes
― Iago Galdston, Sunday, 29 April 2012 00:07 (twelve years ago) link
Can I say I'm shocked by the result? I never knew "Allentown" really had a base of support anywhere. It sent a chill down my spine as a kid but it seems a little bit...heavyhanded and obvious? But I guess like I said above, dude's a populist and sometimes an unsubtle one, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Pretty great turnout!
― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 29 April 2012 00:38 (twelve years ago) link
Also - listening to Streetlife Serenade right now and really can't fathom having "The Entertainer" on this greatest hits. Don't think that's just being familiarity with the tracklist that we had growing up...I mean, I like the song a lot, it's just that it's so sonically removed from the other stuff. Really different vibe on the Los Angeles records.
― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 29 April 2012 01:30 (twelve years ago) link
Allentown and Movin' Out both the lead-off hitters on their respective albums.
Yeah, I don't think "Easy Money" really stood a shot.
― pplains, Sunday, 29 April 2012 02:58 (twelve years ago) link
Didn't see this poll at the time; the best song is clearly Movin Out.
This album, Graceland and the West Side Story soundtrack were the trifecta of childhood holiday car albums for me.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Sunday, 29 April 2012 03:19 (twelve years ago) link
Ooh yay what great results! And I absolutley will concur to the 3 zeros. The Entertainer alone irritates the HELL out of me
― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 29 April 2012 06:48 (twelve years ago) link
she's got a way is incredibly lovely, no? must have been a poll malfunction.
― keythhtyek, Sunday, 29 April 2012 13:40 (twelve years ago) link
veg, if you're out there, the listening thread needs your reaction to the "you're only human" video
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 4 November 2017 15:29 (six years ago) link