Billy Joel - 12 Gardens: Live (2CD)
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Free Music Notes for 12 Gardens: Live (2CD)
Free Music Review: Classic Billy Joel - Mix of Favorites and "Forgotten" Tunes
Hit: 5 Stars
The last song of Billy's Joel's album, "The River of Dreams" seemed to be somewhat appropriate. On the song, "Famous Last Words", Billy sings the words "These are the last words I have to say; That's why this took me so long to write; There will be other words some other day; But that's the story of my Life". Billy Joel would soon proclaim that his 13th studio album, 1993's "The River of Dreams" would be his last original Rock/Pop album he would do. Following that album, Billy Joel would assume a place as an "elder statesman" of Rock. Instead of creating new music, he would spend his time, doing the College Lecture series (discussing his music), and dabbling in Classical Music. In a way, Billy would go into semi-retirement. During this semi-retirement, Billy would also do his share of touring - both with Elton John and solo. Recently Billy completed a record-setting 12 night run of concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden. These performances are captured on the collection, "12 Gardens Live" - Billy's fourth live CD. Mixing some of his popular tunes with some of his "forgotten" songs, Billy does not disappoint.
I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases. The first phase is what I call "Old Billy Joel". This basically includes all of his material from "Cold Spring Harbor" through "Turnstiles". These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material. The next phase is what I call "Middle Billy Joel". This was his most successful period and covers from "The Stranger" to "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2". Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues. The final phase is the "Later Billy Joel" phase - this covers "The Bridge" to "River of Dreams". The amazing thing is that "12 Gardens Live" does justice to all three phases of Billy Joel's career by including at least one track from each of Billy's 13 original studio albums - a phenomenal feat and a major plus to this collection
As mentioned "12 Gardens Live" is Billy's fourth live collection. Billy's first live album was "Songs From the Attic". This actually served two purposes: 1) It was meant to be a live collection of songs from several performances - as opposed to a single performance; 2) The portfolio of songs on the collection was meant to be focused around "Old Billy Joel" songs from early in his career - songs that had almost been forgotten about - or not heard much by the average fan. Billy's second live album was "Kohuept" (Russian for "In Concert"). For the most part, this would serve as a record of Billy's concert in Leningrad - although there was some stuff included that wasn't played that night. It would also serve the purpose of providing a long awaited live album that would be a better cross-section of his career. His third live set - "2000 Years - The Millennium Concert" takes all of its material from a single night. Although it omits some songs, it still does an outstanding job at representing that performance of New Year's Eve. While the liner notes don't say it, I believe that the material is taken from the 12 night run at Madison Square Garden in 2006. For the most part - there is something magical about hearing a great performance on a single night captured on a collection. I find that taking live songs from different concerts on different nights, the flow is disrupted. You also don't get the opportunity to hear the CD as if it were the concert preventing you from getting the full experience. However, this collection does a nice job at getting as close to creating a single night experience as possible.
What I like about each of Billy's live collections - it doesn't attempt to duplicate a previous one. I'm very impressed that an artist such as Billy - who is 30 years into his career can still find it in him to deliver songs that he hasn't performed in years. Songs such as "The Night is Still Young", "Zanzibar", "Laura", "She's Right on Time", "Vienna", "The Great Wall of China", "An Innocent Man", "Keeping the Faith", "The Downeaster Alexa", "A Matter of Trust", and "And So It Goes" are songs that have not been done for a while - and not done on any of the previous live albums. It is also worth noting that the album includes two "hidden" tracks that are not listed on the album's tracks. "A Room of Our Own" (another rare song from "The Nylon Curtain" not heard on any of Joel's previous live albums) is found at the end of the first disc while "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" is found at the end of the second album.
One negative about this collection is that Billy doesn't do a lot in the way of improvising. For the most part, we see Billy delivering a straight-forward performance of his songs. When you are 30 years into your career, I don't think there is much harm in taking "risks". Another negative is that there is little in the way of audience communication. "Kohuept" and "The Millennium Concert" were so great because both collections showcased how good Billy interacts with the audience and interjects humor - two of his strengths as a live performer. For the most part, this collection really doesn't have a lot in the way of audience communication.
The liner notes are pretty thin. There are no lyrics and little in production and musician credits. However, the music on this collection tells the whole story. I also didn't like the "digipak"-like packaging and would have preferred a jewel case. Overall, this is still a top-notch performance by Billy Joel. The inclusion of some of the lesser-known songs along makes this collection worth getting. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Great Live Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Compiled over a 12 night run in Madison Square Garden, this is Billy Joel's third live album and first since 2000. The original live LP was 1981's brilliant "Songs in the Attic"; a collection of live tracks representing Billy's first four albums recorded in the 70's. This was followed up by 1987's inconsistent "Kohuept", recorded in Leningrad and representing mainly his 80's career including a Beatles and a Dylan cover. "Live at Yankee Staduim" is a paltry 5 track effort of a very good concert, while "2000 Years: The Millennium Concert" is performed well but doesn't really add to Joel's discography.
While "Songs in the Attic" and "Kohuept" depicted certain periods in Billy Joel's career, "12 Gardens" highlights the whole of his career on 32 tracks (two of which are the 16th track of each disc).
Every studio album is represented (^ denotes song has not been included on a former live CD):
* Cold Spring Harbor by "Everybody Loves You Now"
* Piano Man by "Piano Man" and "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
* Streetlife Serenader by "The Entertainer"^
* Turnstiles by "Angry Young Man", "New York State of Mind" and "Miami 2017"
* The Stranger by "Vienna"^, "Movin' Out"^, "Always a Woman"^, "Only the Good Die Young" and "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant"
* 52nd Street by "My Life", "Zanzibar"^ and "Big Shot"
* Glass Houses by "You May Be Right", "Don't Ask Me Why" and "Still Rock and Roll" (hidden track)
* Nylon Curtain by "Allentown", "Laura"^, "Room of Our Own"^ (hidden track), "She's Right on Time"^ and "Goodnight Saigon"
* Innocent Man by "An Innocent Man" and "Keeping the Faith"^
* The Bridge by "Matter of Trust"
* Storm Front by "The Downeaster Alexa"^, "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "And So It Goes"^
* River of Dreams by "River of Dreams" and "Great Wall of China"^
* "The Night is Still Young"^ from the Greatest Hits II is also included.
13 of the 32 tracks haven't been released live before.
Notes:
* "Angry Young Man" is played in the reggae style of the album version as opposed to the rock version on Kohuept.
* "Allentown" has a beefier sound due to a more prominent guitar. I still prefer the Kohuept version.
* "Miami 2017" feels as though it is being sung in a prophetic way since the September 11 incident which makes it so much more meaningful.
* "New York State of Mind" is not quite as good as the Yankee Stadium version of 15 years ago.
* "Downeaster Alexa" is one of the most amazing songs ever written; it's imagery and emotion places me right there off the north east coast every time (and I live half a world away). I prefer the Yankee Stadium version with the violin and piano accordian which is unfortunately not released on CD. This version is not as haunting, but the lead guitar is worth having.
* Billy's singing range isn't as broad as it was 20 years ago. However, this is almost unnoticable (except on River of Dreams) and doesn't in any way affect one's enjoyment of the CD.
* Although the songs are a compilation from the 12 shows, they flow as if you are listening to a concert.
* The CD is missing gems from the "Innocent Man" album. I have no idea if the band played Uptown Girl, Tell Her About It or The Longest Time. At least Uptown Girl is on Kohuept. I'm also disappointed that "The Bridge", "River of Dreams" and "Glass Houses" are represented by the same songs again on "12 Gardens" as they have been in the past.
Overall, Billy's in fine form on this CD; there is no chatter between songs - the only obstacle on Kohuept and he is singing to fellow New Yorkers. "12 Gardens" is definately the live CD to buy for anyone wanting to add a bit of Billy to their broad CD catalogue. While it isn't as beautiful as "Songs in the Attic" (due to Billy's voice and song types) it is better value than "Kohuept" (although I do love the less well-known songs played on Kohuept like "Stiletto" and "Sometimes a Fantasy", and despite Billy's better singing performance on Kohuept). If I do have one criticism of "12 Gardens" it would be the non-singles are not my favourite Billy Joel songs, despite the fact they are superbly played. This is just personal preference anyway.
Finally, if you are a Billy Joel fan you must have this CD; it represents his career thoroughly and entertains as only Billy Joel can.
Free Music Review: Billy Joel's Best Live Album
Hit: 5 Stars
"12 Gardens Live" is definitely Billy Joel's best live album ever, and one worthy of attention to both those familiar with his elegant songwriting and those who aren't. If nothing else, "12 Gardens Live" demonstrates why Billy Joel isn't just an elder statesman of American rock and roll, but one of our most talented American songwriters working in any genre, having created a body of work which deserves comparison with those from George Gershwin and Cole Porter. Much to my amazement, Joel's singing is as robust as ever, with a deep vocal and emotional range, that will remind devout fans of his elegant singing from his classic mid 1970s and early 1980s studio albums. This splendid new live allbum is worth its weight in gold, merely for his magnificient performances of "My Life", "Only the Good Die Young", "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" and "Big Shot". But there are memorable performances of lesser known Billy Joel hits, including "Goodnight Saigon", "Laura", and especially, "Miami 2017". This splendid album also records the considerable enthusiasm and appreciation shown by Joel's fans at his Madison Square Garden concerts, most memorably in an audience sing-a-long version of "Piano Man".
Recorded during his sold-out 2006 performances at New York City's Madison Square Garden (The album's title makes an oblique reference to this, and the fact that he set a record for any artist by having twelve sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden.), Joel is ably supported by his band comprised by some long-time acquaintances and friends from his prior touring bands. The only notable omission is long-time drummer Liberty De Vito, though the current drummer does a fine job playing as if he was indeed De Vito. There are a total of 32 songs on this two CD set (There are two hidden surprises in store on each CD which I won't disclose.) that comprise a veritable musical history of Billy Joel's songwriting from the early 1970s to the early 1990s (Regrettably one notable omission is "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", which has been covered successfully by both Nigel Olsson, Elton John's original - and long-time - drummer and Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes.). My only criticism is the poor album packaging done by Sony Columbia, but it is a minor complaint when what is offered here is without question, Billy Joel's best live album.
Free Music Review: Welcome back, Billy....
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a Billy Joel fan since I was 8 years old, dancing to the Glass Houses album at my grandparents house with my cousin. My first album that I owned was 'Songs in the Attic', Billy's first live album. I wore that tape out and have never replaced it, to date, ironically, that is the only album I don't have. I have seen him live 4 times, including his famous Yankee Stadium show. He is an awesome performer and many of his songs actually sound better live.
That said, when I listen to 12 Gardens Live, I am taken back to those times I saw him in person. This is definitely better than Millenium and Kohept and even Songs in the Attic, in that his voice is now mature, yet not old. You can tell that he enjoyed tinkering with his classic arrangements, and the result is a new crisp sound.
This album is also refreshing in that he included some lesser known songs, like 'Vienna', 'Keeping the Faith', and 'The Night is Still Young' (still one of my personal favorites). Of course most of the classics are there and sound great.
The only song that wasn't in its greatest sound was, ironically enough, his most popular song, Piano Man. While the audience sung chorus still gives me chills, Billy himself sounded a bit tired; granted he IS pushing 60 and this recording was problably from night 11 or 12, so I do give him the benefit of the doubt.
I was also hoping for an update to 'We Didn't Start the Fire', when that song originally came out, it spanned historic events over the entire course of Billy' life. How cool would it have for him to write another verse or two to include the las 17 years since the song was written? Then he would have an 'exclusive' live version of a signature song, like Garth Brooks does for 'Friends in Low Places'
Yes, he did leave of some expected songs (i.e. Just the Way You Are, Longest Time, the obligatory classic Rock cover of <fill in blank>), but if he did include everything, then it would be no different than having the other discs. In my opinion, the songs he did include have been born anew. Overall I am very happy with the song selection, and I know if I want the others, I can just listen to one of the three other official live albums.
Now, if he would only give us something new from the studio...
Free Music Review: 4 1/2 stars. Billy Joel in top form on his best-ever live album
Hit: 5 Stars
Any and all fans of Billy Joel, diehard and casual alike, should take note of this fine live album. It is two and a half hours of excellent, committed performances, selected from twelve concerts held at Madison Square Garden in 2005.
There are ten musicians on stage, but nothing sounds opulent or cluttered (although I could have done without the synthetic sounding and sometimes too-prominent keyboard, especially those God-awful solos on "Angry Young Man" and "The Entertainer"). Some of the performances captured on "The Millenium Concert" may have seemed a bit tired, but on "12 Gardens" Billy Joel seems committed and even happy to be playing and singing these old songs again. His vocals are almost always strong and focused, unlike some live performances where you can all but hear the singer thinking "do I really have to sing this one for the 2.000th time?"
Disc one is 75 minutes, and the numerous highlights include "Don't Ask Me Why", "Allentown", a coolly swinging rendition of "My Life", a sharp "The Entertainer" (just wait for the keyboard intro to be over), and energetic versions of the grandiose "Miami 2017" and "The Great Wall of China".
The sound is excellent all the way through, and disc two is even better than disc one (and two minutes longer): A seven-minute "Goodnight Saigon". "An Innocent Man", pure, smooth 60s doo-wop. The powerful "Downeaster Alexa", one of Billy Joel's best lyrics. A tough, punchy "You May Be Right". "Piano Man", gritty harmonica and the crowd singing half the song. Oh, and don't worry, "It's Still Rock n' Roll To Me" is here, only it is "hidden" somewhere on disc two, an unlisted bonus track. And it sounds great, by the way.
I'm really not a huge Billy Joel fan, he is a little bit too "pop" for that, but these strong, well-chosen performances really showcase what kind of chops he has, and what an impressive catalogue of songs he has to choose from. Hardcore fans would perhaps have liked to hear a few more obscure and rarely played songs and a few less Billboard hits, and those who only know the hit singles may complain that they aren't all here. But "12 Gardens" is actually pretty hard to fault, and I can't imagine fans of Mr Joel being disappointed. This is a great live album, Joel's finest offering for many many years.