Billy Joel C/D?

I think you speak for all of us.

You do know he played piano on "Remember (Walkin' in the Sand)" now don't you?

"Do you know who Billy Joel is?" Yes. "Good."

Oh no, dear Amateurist. I've had well over twenty years to build up to that one. ;-)

When you're forced to listen to something that much eventually you have to develop a relationship with it a little more complicated that pure antipathy.

Truly OTM. Ned may have built nothing but hostility toward the man over the years, but most of us have had to also admit his good points at one time or another. And that creates confusion. He sucks. mostly, but not in some opressive, ubiquitous, meat-headed Phil Collins way. I'll admit, much of The Stranger still charms me, especially "Vienna" and "Movin' Out." They're little New Jersey symphonies, for all that's worth, which is admittedly not much. But at leat Billy Joel doesn't distance himself from his material -- he always honestly comes off as exactly the schlub that he is. And that's kind of admirable, though again, not much.

I think that's "Scenes from An Italian Restaurant" from The Stranger. But that's not why I'm responding to this. I think all Billy Joel songs should from here on be referred to as BJ songs. That's hilarious.

I'm coming in late to this thread, and rading it in pieces, so forgive if my responses are out of order of importance.

Did he really say that? When? Because that's perfect. If he can sum himself up in such an astute way, my respect for him has just jumped three notches.

He said it on Tuesday night's episode of American Idol, for which he provided the "music" (ie, they all just sang his songs). I thought it was a pretty honest self-assessment, actually. I still don't like him tho.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. And as for that quote, it says nothing. I don't care if he's competent, for fuck's sake, I care if he (or anybody) does something that interests me, and he interests me only in the sense that I wouldn't mind browbeating him for all his albums-worth o' crap.

And "Uptown Girl" has this Nazi-step march ham-fisted oppression that top none other. I had his greatest hits I & II when I was in 7th grade, but just because I learned to play "She's got a way" for this girl I had a crush on. He is a miserable sod, on top of everything. He must hate life. He has his few, few moments, but on the whole, the most abhorrent artist I can bring to mind. Sorry.

see: Elvis Costello

Anyone seen "Movin' Out" yet?

WTF? Have you ever heard Elvis Costello?

Joel's addiction to WINE is also a bit sad. I mean, Christie won't even let him near the kids.

And that song "River Of Dreams"?

>quiver<

i've own all those "great" records he's made and really really tried to like him. really. i tried. i failed.

Maybe BJ can help me out here:

I must be looking for something
Something sacred I lost
But the river is wide
And it's too hard to cross

indeed.

I have a soft spot in my heart for "Pressure," "It's Still Rock n' Roll...," and the ultimate (wait for it)...

..."It's My Life." How can a guy who's song was used as the theme for "Bosom Buddies" be a dud?

I wish I had it. W!nterb3rg has like two copies, the bastard.

Ask Joey Scarbury.

hey d!390, we could always ask ol' W. if we could burn a copy...

eg & Alfred I would do a Billy Joel listening club like the Eagles or Rod

― Universal LULU Nation (upper mississippi sh@kedown),

DON: Well, yeah.

cool! ok! imma get on this TODAY

what would be the period covered?

I feel like everything? I dunno even in his peak period outside of maybe the Stranger I feel like there's lots of stuff ppl don't know?

that's a lot of material! When col and I have moderated them, the sheer drudgery of everyday posting required time limits. At least the Eagles catalog is small.

I was thinking chronological, but not including Hassles/Attila just cause that'd bog it down right at the start? (Maybe double back to those as special features though?). Basically, Cold Spring Harbor to River of Dreams.... open to other approaches though!

Agreed that it's a more unwieldy catalog than the Eagles. OTOH the most familiar stuff is smack in the middle of the chronology - would be weird not to get to Allentown and Don't Ask Me Why etc., but also unsatisfying not to delve into the lesser-heard records...

OK. I'm convinced.

I think there's a lot of ppl like me who know tons of Billy stuff but never really owned a lot of albums because he was always everywhere on the radio and MTV

Atilla is a whole different thing and doesn't count I'm, though I like it

So, I've been compiling a spreadsheet and I count 149 unique songs that could conceivably be included - - - though that's including later live covers of things, duets with Tony Bennett and Rosie O'Donnell, Elvis covers on the Honeymoon in Vegas soundtrack, etc., much of which could be eliminated, or consolidated by covering several related songs on a single day. If we really do stick to the 1971-1993 'core' discography it's more like 125 entries. How long was the Eagles list, roughly?

How would you handle Songs In the Attic?

I was pondering that but I think it'd be either a matter of just noting, when we hit those songs, that they later showed up on that album in 1980-era live recordings, or, when we hit 1981 it's like a little, OK, break time, this three-day weekend's listening is Songs in the Attic, share your thoughts and feelings. I mean, later live albums, who cares, but I feel like that one's kind of part of the 'canon' for Joel fans.

I feel like list the main studio albums

tbh, since he has almost zero non-album b-sides etc., there are virtually no 'iffy' cases until after The Bridge so i can kinda read the room at that point and see how we're doing. i mean we have to have "the night is still young" and "you're only human," and i mean leaving off "why should i worry?" just seems mean.

How long was the Eagles list, roughly?

TOO LONG!

But seriously, probably around 100 songs (counting reunion stuff).

I say, lets do the Cold Spring Harbour through River of Dreams discography, excluding live stuff (does Songs from the Attic have any non-album material?) but including the rare odds and ends like the GH bonus tracks, and perhaps "Why Should I Worry." Billy certainly has a more manageable discography than Elton, and didn't you guys do that (I didn't follow it)?

Also, I think doing the listening thread prior to the tracks poll makes sense as a way for those of us who only really know the hits to get deeper into his catalogue, even if it means suspending the tracks poll if its turn comes up in the queue. I think it'll make voting more interesting.

I love this idea. Joel is one of those artists I've always wanted to delve into - I basically only know his zillions of singles. I wouldn't vote in a poll until I've listened to at least some of his classic albums

got caught up in stuff today but i think i can launch thread tomorrow!

I like the idea of the Songs in the Attic interlude as suggested - i have never listened to his live stuff so a good core live album tucked in the middle would be kinda enjoyable imo

It sounds do-able!

i love you ILM.

just trying to find the exact right image to top the thread....

:D

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/fe/02/f6/fe02f61a81bbb2abc278ca1cfef834e9.jpg

or perhaps

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/89/b1/47/89b14728dd9f0efed4ee37ecc09fa24f--billy-joel-the-album.jpg

much as i love the guy, i went with something just slightly more punchable

IT'S BETTER THAN DRINKIN' ALONE: The Official ILM Track-by-Track BILLY JOEL Listening Thread

I wasn't sure which thread to put it on - this one? some other BJ? LC? - but here's this brilliance.

https://leonardjoelbillycohen.bandcamp.com/releases?fbclid=IwAR1mYTy6ZBCI17IYJCz2u9-bQKURJHdcptw_hd2rBECHE6Uexir7OMpjm8o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPHpKS04NJI

that's fantastic

yeah v interesting.

wanted that guy to cut his thumbnail and/or hold his pen differently though

missed the "Leonard Joel" / "Billy Coen" link JiC posted - thumbs up!

always nice to see a proud father giving away his daughter's hand in marriage

― balls, Monday, September 14, 2015 10:34 PM bookmarkflaglink

lol wait holy shit it really is. And I didn't even see the harmonica pic.

― on entre O.K. on sort K.O. (man alive), Monday, September 14, 2015 10:35 PM bookmarkflaglink

always nice to see a proud father giving away his daughter's hand in marriage

― balls,

and eating the rest of her

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, September 14, 2015 10:35 PM bookmarkflaglink

great billy joel performing cunnilingus, thx for that scenario soto

― balls, Monday, September 14, 2015 10:36 PM bookmarkflaglink

cunnilinguini at our Italian restaurant

― skateboards are the new combover (Dr Morbius), Monday, September 14, 2015 10:37 PM bookmarkflaglink

Billy Joel Biopic ‘Piano Man’ Greenlit by Michael Jai White’s Jaigantic Studios

writer/director: adam ripp, son of artie ripp, the producer who signed young billy to an awful contract and then fucked up cold spring harbor

producer: a dude who believes "Billy Joel is the key figure on the Mount Rushmore of American Music.”

billy: "is not involved with this film project, and no rights in music, name/likeness or life story will be granted."

the hassles: are mentioned

i: assume this can't be any worse than rocketman or bohemian rhapsody?

I didn't see either of those, but I will be seeing this.

Also, finally a movie that should have been directed by Hal Needham.

no rights in music, name/likeness or life story will be granted

All the characters are going to directly address the camera as "William" or "Mr. J.", and whenever the unseen protagonist sits down at the keyboard to play something, another character will run into the room to interrupt.

Billy Joel should have played himself, with or without digital de-aging

they're gonna call him Captain Jack the entire film, with zero variation

Billie Jorp-Jomp, I believe

They're going to put all his songs in the movie anyway, and then fight a legal battle that they do not formally count as "music".

so .....how is this going to work?

they're going to name him Jilly Bowl, and he's going to sing songs like "Maintaining the Belief", "For a Lot of Time", and "Shit That Happened at a Fazoli's"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QqMxXfaw0

This is going to be like "The Linda McCartney Story" where Wings plays "Kansas City" about a half a million times.

Starring new upstart singer Mikey Jim

Also, finally a movie that should have been directed by Hal Needham.

Exactly; skip all the music stuff and just write a movie about a Long Island neighborhood where some guy keeps crashing his car into people's houses.

give me a call, I'm the insurance man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXISPB6c1pw

my mom and i don't agree on everything, but the woman just detests billy joel. that's how i know she's all right