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| spirit-of-rock.com |
HERC's interest in Billy Joel's music runs deep. The only artist that every single female HERC has ever dated and eventually married (Hi, Mrs. HERC!) shared a common interest in, the songs of Billy Joel are indelibly etched in HERC's mind, his heart and his brain. Joel and his music continue to inspire some fierce hatred among self-proclaimed music "fans" (as well as HERC's favorite rock rag, ROLLING STONE) so HERC is here to proclaim his admiration for the man's music and all of the good times it has accompanied throughout his life.
Joel's first solo album (after three albums as a member of relatively unsuccessful groups The Hassles and Attila from 1966-1970) was released in 1971 and due to an error in mastering, Cold Spring Harbor sounds sped up with Joel's vocals unintentionally sounding chipmunk-like. In 1982, Cold Spring Harbor was remastered at the correct speed and released with many musical differences from the original release. (FULL DISCLOSURE: HERC did buy the album upon its reissue solely for the original non-live version of one of his loveliest songs, "She's Got A Way", which was a hit that year as a single released from his live album of older, non-hit songs, Songs From The Attic.)
Probably the first Billy Joel song HERC can recall hearing was his initial single, "Piano Man" (from his second album, also titled Piano Man) which climbed into the Top 30 in early 1974. He wasn't really a pop artist, one that got airplay on AM Top 40 radio but he was a favorite of progressive FM stations who preferred his piano driven rock - Joel was somewhat of an alternative, American "Elton John" musically. Three more singles from the album failed to crack the Top 50 and the album itself peaked at #27. HERC discovered this album almost a decade later and his favorite track is the moody "Captain Jack". (Although there is another music video out there of "Piano Man", the video above was apparently filmed after Joel's later success in the 1980s for a video compilation of his greatest hits.)
Joel's third album failed to sustain the modicum of interest generated by "Piano Man". 1975's Streetlife Serenade was written and recorded quickly, Joel has said, and it shows - the album contains not one but two instrumentals! Only one single ("The Entertainer") was released and it stalled outside the Top 30. However, lurking within the lyrics of that song, Joel's biting New York born and bred cynicism can be heard as he mocks and criticizes the recording industry.
In 1976, Joel returned with Turnstiles, his strongest collection of songs, both musically and lyrically, up to that time. Obviously inspired by his relocation from Los Angeles back to his hometown New York City, Joel was able to self-produce the album and he wisely chose to use his seasoned touring band as backing musicians. Although only two non-charting singles were released from the album ("Say Goodbye To Hollywood" and "James"), several of the tracks did receive airplay on FM radio and became concert staples during subsequent tours including "New York State Of Mind", "Prelude/Angry Young Man" and "Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)". During an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1981, HERC watched Joel perform the latter track live from the recording studio (instead of onstage) and was blown away. The song remains a favorite to this day, especially when performed live.
With his fifth album, The Stranger, in 1977, Billy Joel finally received both critical acclaim and widespread popularity. The album spent six weeks at #2, held out of the top spot by Fleetwood Mac's monster-selling Rumours. Four Top 30 singles charted with three additional album tracks garnering significant airplay. And one of those singles "Just The Way You Are" won Grammy Awards as the Single and Record of The Year with Joel narrowly losing Album Of The Year honors to the juggernaut Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
Joel's maturity and experience as a writer and performer were enhanced by producer Phil Ramone and their successful partnership lasted more than a decade. The Stranger spent more than two and a half years on the charts and has been certified Diamond by the RIAA which signifies documented sales of at least 10,000,000 albums. Another one of Joel's albums has sold over 11,500,000 copies but let's not get ahead of ourselves...
Joel's maturity and experience as a writer and performer were enhanced by producer Phil Ramone and their successful partnership lasted more than a decade. The Stranger spent more than two and a half years on the charts and has been certified Diamond by the RIAA which signifies documented sales of at least 10,000,000 albums. Another one of Joel's albums has sold over 11,500,000 copies but let's not get ahead of ourselves...
Billy's second collaboration with Ramone was 1978's 52nd Street. It was his first Number One album, ended up being Number One Album of 1978 as well and went on to win Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male honors at the Grammys. Ramone and Joel offered a more sophisticated, jazzy style this time around resulting in three Top 25 singles: "My Life", "Big Shot" and "Honesty". (HERC's favorite cut is Side Two opener "Stiletto".)
In 1982, 52nd Street became the first commercially available compact disc but HERC didn't start buying compact discs until 1985 when Bruce Springsteen's Live 1975-1985 was released. Because he didn't yet have a player to play the shiny discs on, he would go to his friend Stephen's house and listen to the set there. To HERC's amazement and eternal gratitude, his friends pitched in and bought him a CD player for Christmas later that year. By that time HERC owned more than two dozen discs, including several he received as Christmas gifts. Although he has yet to confirm it, he's pretty sure Stephen pitched in the most just so HERC would stop hogging his player.
Joel's first album of the Eighties represented another stylistic shift, this time a more aggressive, in your face rock album reflecting new wave and even punk influences. Glass Houses was released in 1980 and topped the album charts and won yet another Grammy, this time for Best Rock Vocal Performance - Male. The album was "top heavy" with the first four tracks being released as singles - all made the Top 40, two climbed into the Top 20 and "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me" became Billy Joel's very first Number One Single. (Inexplicably, the song even charted on the Disco Top 100, rising up to 82!)
This was the very first Billy Joel album HERC purchased. He proceeded to buy each successive album - with the exception of the live in Russia album, - up until 1997's Greatest Hits Volume III. After marrying Mrs. HERC, HERC diligently went out and bought all of the earlier albums she didn't bring into the union, completing their collection.
This was the very first Billy Joel album HERC purchased. He proceeded to buy each successive album - with the exception of the live in Russia album, - up until 1997's Greatest Hits Volume III. After marrying Mrs. HERC, HERC diligently went out and bought all of the earlier albums she didn't bring into the union, completing their collection.
Joel's first hits compilation was 1985's Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II. It is currently tied with Pink Floyd's The Wall and Led Zeppelin's legendary fourth album as the third biggest selling album of all time here in the United States, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller and Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, both of which are currently tied for the top spot with 29,000,000 sold apiece. It is also tied with The Wall as 1) the biggest selling album on the Columbia label and 2) the biggest selling double album.
Tune in next week for the second decade of Mr. Joel's solo recording career...
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