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Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

cooby Jul 07 2016 01:46 AM

Only the Good Die Young...great song! I wish Scot had sung this to me

themetfairy Jul 07 2016 02:23 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

And he performed an awesome version of the National Anthem during the World Series!

Lefty Specialist Jul 07 2016 02:46 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Yankee fan. Ptui. Also, big fan of sliced bread.

themetfairy Jul 07 2016 03:27 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I don't think he's a MFY fan. I don't think he's particularly a baseball fan. But he definitely has an appreciation for the Mets as well as Shea Stadium's place in New York history - his interviews in Last Play at Shea are fantastic.

Fman99 Jul 07 2016 10:06 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

He performed at the Carrier Dome here last year and Fwife and I took in his show. It was a nice performance. I am a fan of some of his deeper album cuts from the 1970's, particularly.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 07 2016 01:09 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I love Billy! I do find it puzzling that he continues to be very -- very -- active touring but hasn't written any new rock material since River of Dreams in 1993. I know he's said that was his intention, but how do you just shut it down like that? So much talent.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 07 2016 01:16 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I think he's been writing, but for his own enjoyment. And I've seen photos of him out and about in a Mets cap, once as recently as last week. My guess is that he's one of those casual fans who can root for both New York teams.

d'Kong76 Jul 07 2016 01:58 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I like him better than Bruce and certainly Bon Jovi. Sliced bread, I'm not so sure... especially if there's butter on it!

Ceetar Jul 07 2016 02:28 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I rip my bread, I don't slice it.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 07 2016 02:36 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I don't even eat bread, at least if I can help it. It's only because of Wifey Bucket that I ever eat bread, cuz I would never buy that stuff, except as a bun for a berger. Billy purports to have stopped writing songs because he tired of revealing himself in his lyrics. I also think he was wounded by critics who more or less correctly chided him for running out of ideas 35 years ago. His early stuff was his best, but I've mostly forgiven him for the rest. It is amazin' to see him sell out the Garden every time. As a Long Islander I feel like I oughta see him just once. BJ is also an idiot to be honest. Drinks too much, repeatedly gets into bad relationships, can't drive.

d'Kong76 Jul 07 2016 02:59 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

The Garden thing is a tourist destination in addition to locals who can't get enough Billy. On of KB's nieces and her hubby were here from Cali and it was on the top of their list of things to do. See Billy and see the famed MSG. Still, selling it out monthly is kinda cool. Really though, the staying power of Bruce, Bon, and Billy is pretty impressive after all these years. (well, I guess Bon is more my age). All three can snap a finger and sneeze and sell out a stadium for a few nights in a row with little effort.

themetfairy Jul 07 2016 03:28 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I'm not a great Springsteen fan, but I give him credit for being in fantastic shape. Not just fantastic shape for his age, but fantastic shape period!

Edgy MD Jul 07 2016 03:56 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: BJ is also an idiot to be honest. Drinks too much, repeatedly gets into bad relationships, can't drive. It's the walking through Bedford Sty alone that gets to me. What's he trying to prove?

TransMonk Jul 07 2016 03:59 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Edgy MD wrote: It's the walking through Bedford Sty alone that gets to me. What's he trying to prove? That it just may be a lunatic you're looking for.

seawolf17 Jul 07 2016 04:15 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

That's DOCTOR Joel to you. I've always been a fan, and not just because I could be his stunt double.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 07 2016 04:20 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Dumbest SBU guy since Tom Kohler!

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 07 2016 05:53 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Dumbest SBU guy since Tom Kohler! They give out degrees there? :) Years ago, a friend was taking med courses there and gave me a tour of the anatomy labs. It was fascinating and horrifying all at the same time. Didn't see Tom Kohler, though.

Edgy MD Jul 07 2016 05:56 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

seawolf17 wrote: I've always been a fan, and not just because I could be his stunt double. He could use one. But gosh, you're a handsomer spectacle.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 07 2016 11:57 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

My top 5 Billy albums: 1) Glass Houses 2) 52nd Street 3) Innocent Man 4) Stranger 5) Storm Front Of the live albums, I like Songs From the Attic a bunch. The Shea concert is great, too. Confession: I hate "Captain Jack." The music is great, but those lyrics.... Pink Floyd's The Wall isn't that bleak and depressing, and they were really, really trying.

themetfairy Jul 08 2016 01:34 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Confession: I hate "Captain Jack." The music is great, but those lyrics.... Pink Floyd's The Wall isn't that bleak and depressing, and they were really, really trying. Agreed

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 08 2016 12:09 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: My top 5 Billy albums: 1) Glass Houses 2) 52nd Street 3) Innocent Man 4) Stranger 5) Storm Front Of the live albums, I like Songs From the Attic a bunch. The Shea concert is great, too. Confession: I hate "Captain Jack." The music is great, but those lyrics.... Pink Floyd's The Wall isn't that bleak and depressing, and they were really, really trying. 1) Turnstiles 2) Stranger 3) 52nd Street 4) Glass Houses 5) Piano Man, I suppose 'Attic" is a great live record, but ranking studio efforts only.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2016 12:17 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 08 2016 12:21 PM

I'd have to go back and re-familiarize myself which exactly what was on each album in order to do a complete ranking, but I was always a TURNSTILES guy. I guess he started to lose me around INNOCENT MAN. Not that everything from that point on was dreck but in general it was all a sizable step below the run from PIANO MAN to NYLON CURTAIN

d'Kong76 Jul 08 2016 12:19 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Looking back at some stuff, it's pretty funny... [youtube:nhaybovh]5eAQa4MOGkE[/youtube:nhaybovh]

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 08 2016 12:54 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: My top 5 Billy albums: 1) Glass Houses 2) 52nd Street 3) Innocent Man 4) Stranger 5) Storm Front Of the live albums, I like Songs From the Attic a bunch. The Shea concert is great, too. Confession: I hate "Captain Jack." The music is great, but those lyrics.... Pink Floyd's The Wall isn't that bleak and depressing, and they were really, really trying. 1) Turnstiles 2) Stranger 3) 52nd Street 4) Glass Houses 5) Piano Man, I suppose 'Attic" is a great live record, but ranking studio efforts only. Just went back and looked at the track listing, I'd forgotten how stacked Turnstiles is. I'm more used to the live versions of those songs, and I forgot they were all on one album. I like Billy's stuff right through the end -- even River of Dreams, which is not that popular with a lot of folks. It's not as solid top to bottom, but there are some very high points there. It was interesting seeing him at the Nassau Coliseum all those years, then seeing him in Hartford when we moved to Connecticut then here in Michigan in Detroit. Very different experiences.

seawolf17 Jul 08 2016 01:38 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Top 5: 1. Turnstiles 2. Turnstiles 3. Turnstiles 4. Storm Front 5. The Stranger/52nd Street (tied) I'll give bonus points to "Attic" too, which I enjoy. Most of his live stuff is really good -- the Shea show, the Millennium Concert, etc.

HahnSolo Jul 08 2016 01:51 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I love Billy! I do find it puzzling that he continues to be very -- very -- active touring but hasn't written any new rock material since River of Dreams in 1993. I know he's said that was his intention, but how do you just shut it down like that? So much talent. I saw a 92nd St. Y interview with him and Don Henley, where he says he now enjoys writing music but hates writing songs, which I kind of never differentiated before, but I guess if you do it your whole life, it makes sense? My rank would be: 1. Glass Houses 2. The Stranger 3. Nylon Curtain 4. 52nd Street

Edgy MD Jul 08 2016 01:52 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Interesting, that folks acknowledge and agree on the cheap maudlin downside of "Captain Jack." Add on the overwrought sci-fi-ness of "Miami 2017" (we're only a year away!) and the gross historical inaccuracies and self-mythologizing of "The Ballad of Billy the Kid," and Songs from the Attic really betrays young Billy as a fevered and reckless nut of a young lyricist. But everybody agrees it's great live album, which it really, really is. Tell your friends! Sometimes (Queen, Meat Loaf, Jimmy Webb, T-Rex), absurd lyrics gives a good arranger license to really shine, to build an arrangement that lives up to the operatic scale of the lyric sheet. I think the album catches him at that moment.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 08 2016 02:14 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Edgy MD wrote: Interesting, that folks acknowledge and agree on the cheap maudlin downside of "Captain Jack." Add on the overwrought sci-fi-ness of "Miami 2017" (we're only a year away!) and the gross historical inaccuracies and self-mythologizing of "The Ballad of Billy the Kid," and Songs from the Attic really betrays young Billy as a fevered and reckless nut of a young lyricist. But everybody agrees it's great live album, which it really, really is. Tell your friends! Sometimes (Queen, Meat Loaf, Jimmy Webb, T-Rex), absurd lyrics gives a good arranger license to really shine, to build an arrangement that lives up to the operatic scale of the lyric sheet. I think the album catches him at that moment. I played it on the commute today. The combo of "Streetlight Serenader" and "Los Angelenos" is just amazing. And I don't know if he has done either of them live since -- though I don't know what he's playing at the MSG gigs. I love "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and "I've Loved These Days," too. The live album was my introduction to most of these songs, and Billy's right -- the live versions played with his own band are better than the studio versions. (I do skip "Captain Jack," though.) I was always surprised that Billy kept "Piano Man" off the live albums for so long. On the liner notes for Attic he says the song sounds the same, so why replicate. But it wasn't on the Russian live album or the Millennium live album. I don't think he released a live version until the boxed set of the Greatest Hits CDs, which included a fourth disc or rarities. I don't know if that was tied to the old dispute with the first manager or Billy being kinda quirky.

themetfairy Jul 08 2016 02:27 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Piano Man is on Live at Shea Stadium, which is a fantastic album. I heard him play Say Goodbye to Hollywood at MSG in April; love that song. But my favorite MSG concert moment was when he brought out Itzhak Perlman to join him for The Downeaster Alexa - it was simply incredible!

Zvon Jul 08 2016 04:43 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I love all of Billy Joel's stuff. I play Turnstiles now and I'm right back in 1976. I played the shit out of that album. I stopped buying his albums after Glass Houses. Not because I didn't like what he was doing. At this stage my younger brothers were buying BJ albums so they'd buy 'em, I'd record them to cassette. I think The Downeaster 'Alexa' might be the most beautiful songs ever written about a boat. I jumped on the BJ bandwagon early. I heard him play a live studio set on a Philly FM station, WMMR. This was before Piano Man was released, after Cold Spring Harbor. I had no idea who he was. Every weekend WMMR would have a live broadcast of an artist or group and I recorded almost every one. IIRC BJs gig took place in 1972. He played songs from Cold Spring Harbor and Piano Man. I recorded these on reel to reel tape recorder and transferred it to cassette. It's one of my favorite rare recordings. When Napster was just a baby I went there for music and I remember thinking lets see how good this Napster really is, and I began to search for the most obscure recordings I could think of (that were already in my music collection). #1 on that list was the BJ WMMT studio concert (also, live Cat Stevens "Saturnight", and the first three Klaatu albums and City Boy's debut disc). Incredibly, I eventually found all that stuff through Napster. The BJ WMMR live is a prized possession of mine. I gave copies of that out for Christmas 2002. If anyone's interested in a copy lemme know. This is the set list for the WMMR live gig from 4/15/72. As soon as I heard this I thought this guy is good, he's gonna go places. >The Falling Of The Rain >Travelin' Prayer >The Ballad Of Billy The Kid > She's Got A Way > Everybody Loves You Now > Nocturne > Turn Around > Introduces band members >Long, Long Time > Captain Jack > Josephine > Rosalinda > Tomorrow Is Today

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 08 2016 04:48 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Ed Sciacky of MMR was a star-maker back then. He was also one of Springsteen's biggest early backers, and performances with WMMR helped both Springy and Joely get deals with Columbia. Label tried to make both guys into solo singer-songwriter types, but Bruce was too much of a rocker for that, and Billy didn't really hit his stride till he left LA and did Turnstiles.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 08 2016 04:56 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Cool story, Z! I had no idea "Roselinda" was a product of that era. It's one of my favorites.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2016 05:06 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ed Sciacky of MMR was a star-maker back then. He was also one of Springsteen's biggest early backers, and performances with WMMR helped both Springy and Joely get deals with Columbia. Back when radio stations had the power to be tastemakers rather than just industry-fed jukeboxes and DJs were guys/gals with their pulse on the music scene rather than merely smooth-talking pitchmen.

Edgy MD Jul 08 2016 05:40 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ed Sciacky of MMR was a star-maker back then. He was also one of Springsteen's biggest early backers, and performances with WMMR helped both Springy and Joely get deals with Columbia. And both produced debuts named after their suburban base. I'm a big fan of "Introduces Band Members."

Ashie62 Jul 08 2016 05:58 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I have thought that Scott Muni, Meg Griffin, Vin Scelsa and the crew at WNEW were helpful in bringing Joel and Springsteen a wider audience.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 08 2016 06:33 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Edgy MD wrote: I'm a big fan of "Introduces Band Members." [youtube]MulLjGQzWRg[/youtube]

sharpie Jul 08 2016 06:36 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Not to rain on this Billy Joel lovefest, but this kind of encapsulates a lot of what I feel about BJ: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_ ... _ever.html

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 08 2016 07:04 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

That article was LOLOLLLLO, and kinda true, but like I said above I've forgiven Billy Joel for his sins.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 08 2016 07:06 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

sharpie wrote: Not to rain on this Billy Joel lovefest, but this kind of encapsulates a lot of what I feel about BJ: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_ ... _ever.html Wow. Is he ever wrong. I assumed he was a Californian. But I looked up his bio, and he's from Bay Shore. So he should "get" Billy. I have a feeling that his iPod and my iPod could each be filled with 10,000 songs, and not of them would be the same.

G-Fafif Jul 08 2016 08:20 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

This dude started out anti-Billy, spent a year immersed in his catalogue, came out on the other end a full convert.

Rockin' Doc Jul 09 2016 12:52 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Took the future Mrs. Doc to see Billy Joel at the Charleston Civic Center during our time in undergrad (circa 1980). He and his band put on a really great show. Billy Joel was at his peak popularity when my wife and I were dating in college and his music comprised a large part of the soundtrack of our early years together. Like countless other couples, "Just The Way You Are" was our song during our wedding ceremony. Due to the fond memories and nostalgia associated with it, listening to Billy Joel's music has always been one of my guilty pleasures.

cooby Jul 09 2016 12:58 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

sharpie wrote: Not to rain on this Billy Joel lovefest, but this kind of encapsulates a lot of what I feel about BJ: http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_ ... _ever.html My main point was to say I wish Scot had sung Only the Good Die Young to me. Sigh. Not to say he hadn't tried but we were only 5 yrs old then

themetfairy Jul 09 2016 01:15 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

Who's Scot?

Zvon Jul 09 2016 03:24 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm a big fan of "Introduces Band Members." [youtube]MulLjGQzWRg[/youtube] If this track is out there the whole gig must be a lot easier to find these days. I remember in 2002 when that popped up on Napster I thought: OMG THE WEB IS WONDERFUL!

Ashie62 Jul 09 2016 12:52 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I lost out. My personal neter when young went towards the Sex Pistols, Clash, Iggy i.e. and passed on Bruce S. and Billy J. I am seeing Joel's and Springsteen's brilliance later in life.

d'Kong76 Jul 09 2016 05:10 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I was more into metal, punk, and new wave than acts like Billy. He has a good voice, and I like his lovey dovey songs much better (The Way, Always Woman, etc.) than his upbeat stuff. I especially don't like the songs where he sings to the audience with advice or some not-as-clever-theme-as-he-thinks-it-is type song. Tell Her About It, yeah I wanted relationship advice from Billy Joel. Some singers just don't do it for an individual. Bruce's voice makes my skin crawl sometimes, Van Morrison (another forum favorite) the same thing. Geddy makes some people convulse, he's one of my favorite performers. Plant was another. If ya watch that Rock n Roll video and the tough guy faces and going out of his way to look like some kind of 'wise guy' it's just a turn off. Like someone said, what's he trying to prove (to him- self and the audience)? OE: I admit to seeing him in the very early 80's I guess at MSG. I didn't pay for the ticket, filled in for someone at the last minute.

themetfairy Jul 09 2016 05:59 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

It's Still Rock 'n Roll To Me was one of my first running songs ever. Long before I really got into running - back when I still lived at home (maybe the summer between freshman and sophomore years in high school). That was the first song that had a beat that would really help me get into a running rhythm. I always think of it fondly because of that.

cooby Jul 09 2016 05:59 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

themetfairy wrote: Who's Scot? My first boyfriend at age five who knew it all, but alas by age 15 was gone from my life... Actually my mom warned me to stay away, and you know what that means. Full blown INTEREST

themetfairy Jul 09 2016 06:02 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

[youtube:3o2u2p5o]Xbd3C44fAHo[/youtube:3o2u2p5o] New York State of Mind is my living in exile anthem. One thing I love about this clip from the Shea concert is how at the end he made sure that the audience knew that Tony Bennet is a local boy - from Astoria!

themetfairy Jul 09 2016 06:58 PM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

And love him or hate him, this was cool of Billy. He deferred to Paul McCartney and made Let It Be the final song performed at Shea. He could have easily finished with Piano Man or one of his other songs - for goodness sake it was his big concert! But no - because the Beatles opened Shea, he wanted to finish up with one of their songs. [youtube:364jjbc7]ztcoi88M3BU[/youtube:364jjbc7]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 10 2016 03:38 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

I do still find Billy Joel a little ham handed, and chock full of weird petulance (see: "Still Rock and Roll To Me") and indirect self-abnegation ( "music" over "songs," e.g.). And the sound effects/production on a LOT of it all don't age well at all. But his best album? Come on, now. It's The Stranger, and it isn't close. "Scenes," the title track (even if the affected whistling... yoy), "Just The Way You Are," "Only the Good Die Young," "Movin' Out," "She's Always a Woman" AND "You can get what you want or you can just get old."

Frayed Knot Jul 10 2016 04:11 AM Re: Billy Joel- Best thing since sliced bread

HahnSolo wrote: I saw a 92nd St. Y interview with him and Don Henley, where he says he now enjoys writing music but hates writing songs, which I kind of never differentiated before, but I guess if you do it your whole life, it makes sense? Billy always seemed a bit ... sheepish?, slightly embarrassed?, about not putting his musical/piano training to better use than for just selling pop songs. I don't know that he wanted to do more as much as he just thought that it was talent wasted even that he didn't. Compounding all this was that his father, even though Billy for years had little contact with him after the returned to Europe following his parents divorce, was a classical pianist and a half brother through his father's later marriage is currently a classical music conductor. So, playing a little amateur Psych 101 here, there may be some guilt in feeling that, while those guys were the real musicians who took it very seriously, all he did was dumb it down in order to make a few billion dollars and land a super-model wife in the process.