February 2012
28 posts
This Thing In Other Places →
I answer a few questions about A Year Of Billy Joel over at Make Something 365. Check it out.
1 tag
Prelude/Angry Young Man
Song: Angry Young Man
Album: Turnstiles (1976)
PRELUDE!
Preeeeeeeeeeeeluuuuuuuuuuude!
That’s me calling out a request at the imaginary Billy Joel concert that is taking place in my brain right now because I think the Prelude portion of this song is terrific.
The “Angry Young Man” part of the song is pretty good too, but one thing at a time.
My personal feelings about Billy...
So This Is A Thing That Happened
One of the perils of being a guy who writes a Billy Joel blog is that you might have a Billy Joel Google Alerts notification pop up on your screen in the middle of a very serious presentation.
Another song recap coming up before this time tomorrow. Thanks for reading.
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James
Song: James
Album: Turnstiles (1976)
In the dead of winter in 1999 I took a trip from Long Island to Los Angeles. The temperature was below freezing when I flew out of JFK and it was 65 degrees when I arrived in Los Angeles.
After a week in Los Angeles I went back home. Within five weeks I had packed my record collection and clothes and shipped them out to my new address in LA. What little...
tardisnare asked: You commented on how Joel has ever said "I made this song for myself". I know you meant it more towards the song "New York State of Mind", but he has said that he makes most of his songs for himself. I cannot link you directly here, but if you go to youtube and type "Billy Joel - 52nd Street". It's on his VEVO. I dunno if that gives you any insight or anything,...
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New York State Of Mind
Song: New York State Of Mind
Album: Turnstiles (1976)
First things first, let’s clear up some old business. In the recap of the previous song “All You Wanna Do Is Dance” I missed some of the subtext of the lyrics and as a result attributed a sentiment to it that was not entirely accurate. To everyone who helpfully pointed this out, thank you. Your comments make this project a...
Streetlife Serenade: The Low Times Review →
Hey, do you remember Streetlife Serenade, the Billy Joel album I recently spent two weeks analyzing? Well you can check out the full album recap over at Low Times.
While you are there check out their podcast and some of the great stuff they have on the site.
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All You Wanna Do Is Dance
Song: All You Wanna Do Is Dance
Album: Turnstiles (1976)
There are two distinctly different but equally important things going on with this song. First there is the reggae musical arrangement and then the lyrics. I find them both interesting but for completely different reasons so I’m going to address them individually starting with the music.
Six weeks ago, maybe even six days ago...
Anonymous asked: If you think Billy Joel is going to talk to a nobody like you than you are as dumb as this blog.
Trying Again
Earlier this month I let it be known that I would be happy to meet Billy Joel for lunch. This wasn’t just a whim, I had a good reason for it inviting Billy Joel to lunch, which you can read about here.
We’ll it’s been almost two weeks since I put this out there and I have heard nothing from Billy or his people. I realize that he is a busy man but I saw yesterday that Billy Joel...
1 tag
Summer, Highland Falls
Song: Summer, Highland Falls
Album: Turnstiles (1976)
I could not have been more excited to listen to Turnstiles and it started off great with “Say Goodbye to Hollywood”, which now occupies the top spot on my personal list of favorite Billy Joel songs.
Now I’ve come to “Summer, Highland Falls” and I just can’t with this song. It’s not that I...
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Say Goodbye To Hollywood
Song: Say Goodbye To Hollywood
Album: Turnstiles (1976)
Last Friday afternoon my wife e-mailed me to say she’d be working late. This meant I’d have time to do my favorite thing; hang out with my dog and listen to records. Since I was scheduled to run 18 miles on Saturday (I’m training for the LA marathon) I was also planning to eat a lot of candy. On the way home I stopped at...
Anonymous asked: After three records, what are your feelings about Billy Joel?
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The Mexican Connection
Song: The Mexican Connection
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
No, no, no, no, no. Nooooooooooooo!
That is what I would have told Billy Joel had he asked me if he should include “The Mexican Connection” on Streetlife Serenade.
Since I was an infant when this record was released I was unavailable for consultation and that is one of the reasons this three and a half minute piece of...
Billy. Siriusly.
fuckyeabillyjoel:
deadmanhbk:
PLEASE make a new album.
Do you have any idea how much that would make my LIFE??
The fact that “River of Dreams” was the last album you released makes me immensely sad.
For the love of all which is holy…I’m begging you…one more album.
Just. One. More. Album.
Totally agree with everything except Fantasies and Delusions was his last album. And it really kicked...
1 tag
Souvenir
Song: Souvenir
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
This is a very good song.
I skipped the usual introduction because I wanted to emulate the song I’m talking about which gets in, paints a picture, sets a scene and then pulls the rug out from under the listener, all in a span of two minutes.
This is some straight up Raymond Carver science that Billy Joel has dropped on us here.
Here is...
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Weekend Song
Song: Weekend Song
Album: Streetlife Serenade
The best way to describe the Weekend Song is to call it the great hipster Billy Joel song:
Why you ask?
Because Billy Joel was working for the weekend long before everybody was working for the weekend.
More of the working class hero stuff from Billy Joel. Another song about somebody who will be okay as long as they have the one they love....
Anonymous asked: This in reference to a previous question you answered re reviewing Attila. A) Are you serious? and if the answer to that is yes, then B) Why after 'Turnstiles'? Thanks. I feel like you were trying to be funny with that response and you don't plan on actually reviewing Attila but it was difficult to tell for sure.
Anonymous asked: I have two questions: Why are you doing this and more importantly, will you be covering Attila?
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The Last Of The Big Time Spenders
Song: The Last of the Big Time Spenders
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
After listening to “The Entertainer” about 50 times over the course of two days I wanted to take a break before digging into the rest of the record. I was worried that after The Entertainer the rest of the songs would feel like a letdown. As luck would have it I got ridiculously sick last week and spent three...
Anonymous asked: You just need to believe, man! Believe in the power of the Joel!
Anonymous asked: During all of my years of living in NY I've hoped and prayed that I'd run into Billy on the street in the city somewhere, haha. But hey, man, your idea just may work, who knows.
3 tags
The Entertainer (An Alternate History)
Song: The Entertainer
Album: Streetlife Serenade
On December 17th 1977 The Sex Pistols were scheduled to appear on Saturday Night Live. However, due to travel visa issues and the fact that the band had basically imploded by that point, their appearance was cancelled. Taking the place of the Sex Pistols were Elvis Costello and the Attractions. This was the night where Elvis Costello famously began...
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Roberta
Song: Roberta
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
“Roberta” is another one of the songs on this record that feels incomplete. There is a good idea at the heart of the song; someone is longing to get to know a girl named Roberta who might be a sex worker of some sort. This is not an uncommon musical theme and Billy Joel does a commendable job trying to convey a sense of longing for her but it gives...
idontwatchsports asked: A fact that may or may not affect your enjoyment of "Los Angelenos." BJ gave an interview on Howard Stern sometime last year in which he explained that he often wrote songs "for other people." Meaning he imagined them singing when he wrote them. I won't spoil the others for you, but apparently "LA" was written as a Rod Stewart song--that is, Billy imagined Rod...
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Root Beer Rag
Song: Root Beer Rag
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
“Root Beer Rag” is one of two instrumentals that fill out Streetlife Serenade. It’s a breezy ragtime number that sounds like it could have been inspired by the ragtime piano soundtrack to The Sting, which featured the music of Scott Joplin. Based on the fact that “Root Beer Rag” had been a staple of Billy...
2 tags
The Great Suburban Showdown
Song: The Great Suburban Showdown
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
No word from Billy Joel or his people on lunch plans but now it’s time to get back to the music.
Of all of the songs I’ve listened to in the course of A Year of Billy Joel, “The Great Suburban Showdown” has me the most conflicted. On one hand it falls back on the tired idea of suburbia as some sort of wasteland, which...
January 2012
60 posts
1 tag
Time To Up The Ante
Recently I was telling somebody about this project and they had one question: What did I hope to accomplish by listening to every Billy Joel song?
I thought I had made that pretty clear. I haven’t been a fan of Billy Joel and I’m trying to give him an honest chance but is that an accomplishment?
Well now that I think about it, no. I want to have an informed opinion about Billy Joel...
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Los Angelenos
Song: Los Angelenos
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
While I’ve already knocked the Streetlife Serenade album as slight compared to Piano Man it does have some songs that I’ve enjoyed.
“Los Angelenos” is a song that I would have previously called a guilty pleasure but as I get older I realize I no longer have guilty pleasures, I just have things that I like. Calling a...
boobsradley asked: As a gigantic Billy Joel fan this hurts and confuses me, but it's interesting from an anthropological standpoint. You know, sort of why perfectly normal old Republicans like to read books about Nazis. Anyhow, if you want to have a live debate where we both wear animal pelts, I know a place that sells discount podiums.
Anonymous asked: I'm a huge Billy Joel fan (by which I mean I really like his music, not that I'm some kind of giant). My dad was a fan, and I grew up with his music. Like others though, I'm not so slavish a fan to not recognise the clunkers, and there are songs I skip past when I play him. I'm really enjoying your analysis. Will you be listening to the spoken word recordings (like "An...
kevinpalmer asked: As your knowledge of Billy continues to expand I think you can elaborate on a question that has torn at me forever.... Billy Joel versus a rabid wolverine in a fight to the death. Who wins?
Anonymous asked: I love Billy Joel and I have to say that I'm really enjoying reading your take on his albums and songs so far. It definitely brings up some points I haven't considered and allows me to see some things from different angles. I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of some of his mid-career albums, which is where my favorites are.
2 tags
Streetlife Serenader
Song: Streetlife Serenader
Album: Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Over the course of the month I’ve been working on A Year of Billy Joel, five different people have contacted me to warn me about the album Streetlife Serenade. Their messages boiled down to the following warning: Streetlife Serenade was a quickly recorded follow up to Piano Man and due to its hurried nature, its musical and lyrical...
Anonymous asked: Hello. Forgive me if I missed the technical details in an earlier post, but I'm curious how are you're listening to BJ (headphones, speakers in the living room, vinyl, cassette in your car, etc)? Also, do you think the way you're digesting his work now has any influence on your reaction or are you more tuned into the latent memories? Thanks for you time and please keep up the...
Anonymous asked: 'Streetlife Serenade' is, in Joel's own words, the worst album he ever made. His then-manager and the Columbia Records execs hurried him into the studio before he had a chance to write new material after extensive touring for 'Piano Man. The result was a measly 7 songs and two [!] instrumental tracks, all drizzled with moog synthesizer - a brand new instrument at the time. He...
Anonymous asked: The best Billy Joel song is You May Be Right. How come you haven't said anything about it?
Anonymous asked: This sucks! You Suck! You obviously can't understand Billy Joel's music. Drop dead!!!!!!!!
1 tag
Captain Jack
Song: Captain Jack
Album: Piano Man (1973)
Here we are at “Captain Jack,” the last song on the Piano Man album.
This song has loomed large in my head since I began A Year Of Billy Joel, in part because I have been told that I should listen to it by a number of people. The following is a rough approximation of how these conversations went:
Billy Joel Fan: So your from Long Island...
Anonymous asked: Hi Will, I grew up on the south shore of Long Island where, as you know, Billy Joel has a permanent home on pop radio. In middle school I did really get into his music around the time of his “final concerts” at Nassau Coliseum in 1998. Eventually I harbored a growing disillusionment with LI and wanted something that fit me better culturally. My question is if you also feel that...
Anonymous asked: 'Somewhere Along The Line', while certainly not a standout song, is interesting to note as a statement of Billy Joel's personal view of life which is expressed in many of his songs right up to his last album. Although he doesn't want to be a pessimist, he admits that he is one. He is always waiting for the other shoe to drop and expecting something bad to happen after something...
1 tag
Somewhere Along The Line
Song: Somewhere Along The Line
Album: Piano Man (1973)
Maybe I’m experiencing Billy Joel fatigue after listening to him every day for the past three weeks but I feel like this song is a snooze.
For the last three weeks I’ve followed the same basic routine: I go to work, I come home, say hello to my wife and then I head into my fortress of Billy Joel (A.K.A. - The second bedroom...
1 tag
If I Only Had The Words To Tell You
Song: If I I Only Had The Words (To Tell You)
Album: Piano Man (1973)
One of the stated goals of A Year of Billy Joel is to try and determine what exactly it is I haven’t liked about Billy Joel and his music. There are a number of reasons but today I’d like to discuss one of them: Music videos.
I was born in the mid 70’s and spent a lot of time in the 80’s time watching...
Anonymous asked: You are very brave for taking this project on.
Anonymous asked: You know I'm a Billy Joel guy 100%. His music speaks to me in a very visceral way. It's seen me through good and bad in my life. It's one of my constants. Still, I am not one of those insane fanwanks who refuses to hear another point of view, and I am loving every minute of your exploration here. I'm going back and trying to listen through your ears instead of mine, and...
Anonymous asked: Besides the best musician ever Billy Joel, what music do you like to listen to?
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Stop In Nevada
Song: Stop In Nevada
Album: Piano Man (1973)
Before I get into this song I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time to tell me what they think (good bad or a little of both) about A Year of Billy Joel. Thank you as well to everyone who has followed it and promoted it so far. I hope that you’ll continue to do so because I have eleven months of this to go.
Now back to our...