The 'List: Billy Joel

Hello, one and all.

My 2018 New Year's resolution is to make these 'lists more fun and challenging, and as promised; new genres explored, more decades explored as well as years in the rock era from every decade: 50s all the way to 10s. But, every now and again, with my good buddy Calvin (I'm Hall, he's Oates) Cherry, we will indeed profile many of our favorite singers, songwriters, artists and groups. So, with great fanfare and a tickle of the ivories, our first new year artist profile 'list highlights the career of one William Martin Joel, a.k.a. Billy Joel, a.k.a. The Piano Man.

A hometown boy like myself; Bronx native, but reared in Long Island, NY. Holding down odd jobs before breaking into the music business; he would work in a typewriter ribbon factory and even become a boxer, until a broken nose pretty much sidelined that prospect of going the way of Rocky Marciano. His 1971 debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, didn't exactly fly off record shelves, but 1973 would give Joel the breakout he needed, entitled, (no surprise) Piano Man. The title track, which was a Bob Dylan-esque retelling of his days playing lounge gigs in L.A. His next two albums: Streetlife Serenade and Turnstiles gave us a few hits like the Scott Joplin composition "The Entertainer," popularized in the film, The Sting, but this time with Joel singing and with lyrics. "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" from Turnstiles would be Joel's foray into the rock scene. But, in 1977 - paydirt! The Stranger would signal Joel's arrival with his sweet, tender ballad, "Just The Way You Are" being the lead-off single and putting Joel into the "sensitive man" arena that made him more popular with the female demographic. Oh, by the way, Joel's original hit song went top-3 and while it didn't hit number one like Bruno Mars' 2010 original hit; for my vote, Joel's song wins for most memorable song with that actual title.

It was on to 52nd Street in 1978, which pushed for an edgier rock/pop sound and gave Joel more fans, as well as a Grammy for 1979 Album of the Year and the first to be released as a CD (compact disc). It would be the 1980 album Glass Houses that would give him his first ever number one smash in "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me," which was a tongue-in-cheek potshot at the rising trend of new wave music. In 1983, his biggest triumph would be An Innocent Man, which was a labor of love for Joel as he explored the sounds of rock in the 50s and the 60s and still won the masses over. Another number one from that album was "Tell Her About It" which was a nod to the old Ed Sullivan shows and featured the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield in his "no respect" routine. His first greatest hits album released in 1985, and his big hit, "You're Only Human (Second Wind)," which was a deeply personal song about his struggles with depression and bouts with contemplating suicide. He would chart on into the late-80s until he released his final 80s album, Storm Front which yielded his final number one, "We Didn't Start The Fire," which was a kamikaze rock history lesson delineating eras and events from the 40s to the 80s. It would be the next to last hit of the 80s as Phil Collins would close out the decade with his ode to the homeless, "Another Day In Paradise." His hits dried up slightly in the 1990s, but he came back to form in 1993 with The River of Dreams which yielded the title track and is noted for the art by his then-wife, model/actress Christie Brinkley would gave him daughter, Alexa Joel.

Five Grammy Awards. 150 million records sold. Over 50 concert appearances and we're hoping, absolutely no signs of slowing down any time soon. My buddy's and my 'list in honor of the Piano Man.

Cherry Picks

His first official Top 40 hit. It peaked at no. 25, but that didn't mean it flopped. In fact, his Bob Dylan-esque hit remains his signature song to this day and showed his knack for a genre that has pretty much died out today. The "story song." The iconic harmonica sets the tone as well as the ragtime and jazz melody that keep you entranced. My buddy beat me to it, so clearly we agree that this deserves to be on both our lists; but, hey... I'll let him have this one.

The Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody" mystique isn't lost on this album cut from The Stranger; but the main difference is that it veers from light pop to jazz, to be-bop, to a much harder-to-light pop sound, then back to its jazzier opening. The saga of "Brenda and Eddie" was always intriguing to me and I imagine to my buddy, as this is his pick. "A bottle of red. A bottle of white" opening was allegedly inspired by a business dinner Joel had years before he hit the big time.

This almost a cappella track is one of the most enduring Joel tracks ever made evoking the 60s doo-wop sound Joel himself grew up on. All of the voices belong to Joel, but what keeps this song from being all a cappella is a light drum and a bass guitar; but Joel's vocals supersede all the instruments. Again, my buddy beat me to it—damn you!

His first track off his final 1980s album, Storm Front was a basic rock history lesson listing major events from the 40s to the 80s ranging from wars, celebrities, bucking trends, politics, headline news, murder and even the AIDS crisis. It would be his third and last number one overall. Phil Collins beat him to the punch as being the last number one hit of the entire 80s decade. "Another Day In Paradise" was the song and like Joel, dealt with heady social issues; this one being—homelessness.

Another nod to the 60s, channeling the hits of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, it was your basic poor-boy-loves-rich-girl-and-wins-her-in-the-end story song. Peaked at number three and became a sort of "losers can be winners" anthem of the 80s. His then-wife, Christie Brinkley, would appear in the popular music video set in a mechanic's garage.

A nod to the soul hits of Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson would be main hook of this light jazz/R&B gem. He would flawlessly hit that falsetto note in the chorus and it was the title track of his signature album.

A sort-of nod to Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" which used industrial sounds as part of the song, i.e. "factory whistle" and "gears grinding." It seemed to point out the recession troubles that plagued the Reagan-presidential-era. My friend pointed out a rather subtle homoerotic moment in the music video. Uh-okay! Catchy, but not exactly a fave of mine.

This sweet, tender ballad is what made Joel click with his audience. It basically narrates the feelings the singer has for his love and is making clear that all the bells and whistles are obviously not necessary to keep the love alive. Awwwww! Sensitive guys are sadly no longer in demand in the 2010s. Shit! Not remade by Bruno Mars coincidentally.

Another signature song that made waves as the 1970s drew to a close. An airy pop/light jazz nirvana piece that makes me think of my early life in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY. Former Chicago (band) lead singer Peter Cetera can be heard singing in the background. It was briefly used as a TV theme song for the late-70s Tom Hanks/Peter Scolari sitcom: Bosom Buddies, but was scratched off all syndicated airings due to licensing issues.

A rock ballad that I imagine was dedicated to his then-wife Brinkley. It was the followup to his hit "The River of Dreams" and may have been Joel's last official chart appearance.

My Picks

A lesser hit from his Glass Houses LP, it was a balls-out rocker about two very unique pastimes: masturbation and phone sex. Was it too risque for radio or for Joel's chart repertoire? Maybe, but it doesn't make it any less fun! The song was used in a montage in a 2006 flashback episode of the medical dramedy, Scrubs with Zach Braff.

A pop/soul/light reggae track and the last one from An Innocent Man; sixth overall. One more hit and he could've tied Michael Jackson with his seven hits from Thriller. Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen would do it with "Born In The USA". Moving on...

It's a snappy 60s-flavored hit evoking soul and doo-wop acts like The Drifters and The Miracles. The fun and funny video pays sweet homage to The Beatles' Ed Sullivan TV appearance and even feature comic Rodney Dangerfield crying about "not getting respect." His second number one smash.

Simple curiosity time. A hit, yes, in the late-80s and was the unsanctioned theme to the Bette Midler/Danny DeVito black comedy, Ruthless People; but Joel has all, but disavowed this song and has never performed it in concert since. He did write it though... and it's on my 'list for the fact that he melded the year of its release, 1986, into the lyrics. Genius, seriously!

This song seems to evoke the folk hits of Gordon Lightfoot; "The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald" seems to come to mind. It has that mournful maritime theme like that one and it was named after his daughter, Alexa. It followed up "We Didn't Start The Fire," but never cracked the 40.

A balls-to-the-wall rocker that proved that Joel could shake a room with a guitar-ladened face-smasher. Not sure about the content if its based on any true story, but the woman described by Joel who goes on that cocaine bender in the song must've really inspired Joel to crunch out this song and call her out!

Then... Joel went all sweet on us again with this tender ballad. A great song that didn't quite make the impact it should've, but is still on my favorite Joel mp3 'list.

An odd-duck song as it's a lilting and tender ballad, but it seems to simultaneously praise a woman for keeping true to her identity, and yet attacks them at the same time for being callous and unfeeling all at once. Ah, well—music is always been a subjective art form to me.

A sort of nod to Latin salsa music mixed with Paul McCartney/Beatles-esque musical sensibilities. Another triumph for the Piano Man. And finally...and shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

It has the clever distinction of having Joel do an internal monologue with a question and the answer. His coy observation is about the new trend hitting the airwaves which was punk rock and new wave and its delineation as to which was better (neither one wins as Joel observes it's just another form of rock taking the country by storm). His first number one and while there's no numerical system to this 'list—yes, it's my all-time favorite Joel song.

It was fun, folks. Until next time.

Next 'List Pending.