Ben’s 10 - Billy Joel

Billy Joel is my favourite artist and has been since I can remember. I have grown up with his music and seen the Piano man live multiple times, with each one being an unforgettable experience. Whilst most people are familiar with the big hits: "Piano Man," "Uptown Girl," "The Longest Time," etc. I think that many of Joel’s best songs are not necessarily those that you’ll find on his greatest hits album. Below are 10 songs that you may not know, but should definitely listen to if you’re a fan of Billy Joel.

1. "Baby Grand" ('The Bridge' - 1986)

My favourite song by Joel is his duet with the legendary Ray Charles. Joel named his daughter Alexa Ray Joel in honour of the great rhythm and blues singer and was asked to write a song for Charles to sing with him. The result was "Baby Grand," a bluesy song reminiscent of "Georgia on My Mind" in which the two piano players sing about their love for the instrument which has stood by them through good times and bad. Versions of this song can be found online in which Joel duets with his daughter in place of Charles. The song has come full circle!

2. "Summer Highland Falls" ('Turnstiles' - 1976)

A beautiful song about the highs and lows of manic depression. Musically this is a clever song in which the piano part rises and falls continually, reflecting the subject matter of the song.

3. "I Go to Extremes" ('Stormfront' - 1989)

Another song about manic depression—however, this one is much more up-beat. I guarantee that this song will be stuck in your head for hours after you first hear it! There is a great live version of this song on the Millennium album recorded at MSG in New York.

4. "Shades of Grey" ('River of Dreams' - 1993)

This album came out on the year I was born and remains the most recent of Joel’s popular music albums. "Shades of Grey" is a song about how as Joel ages, he finds that things are much less clearly defined than he had believed in his younger days. This is certainly a relevant song in today’s turbulent world.

5. "Ain’t No Crime" ('Piano Man' - 1973)

A gospel-inspired song which is, in my opinion, a highlight on one of Joel’s best known albums. I would like to place an honourable mention here from the same album, the more well-known song "Ballad of Billy the Kid" which Joel still performs live.

6. "Until the Night" ('52nd Street' - 1978)

My Grandad’s favourite Billy Joel song. I think that the only word which can do this song justice is "epic"—it is a true hidden gem on an album filled with some of Joel’s biggest hits such as "My Life" and "Big Shot."

7. "Sleeping with the Television On" ('Glass Houses' - 1980)

My second honourable mention goes to "Sometimes a Fantasy" from this same album. "Sleeping with the Television On" is extremely catchy and tells a great story if you pay attention to the lyrics.

8. "All for Leyna" ('Glass Houses' - 1980)

Whilst perhaps not generally a fan favourite, I have always loved this song for some reason. It is hard not to empathise with the protagonist in this song who falls deeply in love with Leyna, only to have her move on as he desperately waits for her to get in touch with him again.

9. "And So It Goes" ('Stormfront' - 1989)

Apparently based on the unusual metre of the traditional Irish song "On Raglan Road," this song is a tender piano ballad which stands apart from most of the songs on this album. "Leningrad" would have to be my third honourable mention from the same album.

10. "Tomorrow Is Today" ('Cold Spring Harbor' - 1971)

This song is from the often forgotten debut album from Joel which also features the love song "She’s Got a Way." It was written as a cry for help during a particularly dark time in Joel’s youth. A fantastic version of this song can be found on a radio broadcast concert included with the reissued deluxe version of the album Piano Man.