The Essential Billy Joel (2CD)
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Free Music Notes for The Essential Billy Joel (2CD)
Free Music Review: The Essential Billy Joel
Hit: 4 Stars
Yes this is a great collection of songs by Billy Joel. Although, if you have any other volume of his greatest hits, it isn't worth the money. And it's missing a few "essential" Billy Joel tunes, such as "Big Shot" and "The Stranger." If this is to be one of your first Billy Joel albums like it was with me, you should get it. But for a die-hard fan, collect his albums individually.Free Music Review: Bottle of red......bottle of white.........
Hit: 3 Stars
I am totally confused to why this "essential" collection has been released. Maybe Billy needs the cash? All I know is that "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" has to be on any best of collection. That is ESSENTIAL!!!!! I already own Greatest hits volumes 1, 2, and 3. To me, really, the only hit missing from those two compilations is "honesty." Which, ironically, made the new essential collection. My advice is to get Volumes 1,2, and 3, then pick up "52nd street" and your collection will be complete and ESSENTIAL. This way, unless next Christmas they release a box set with every song he ever recorded in it, you will be safe til Greatest Hits Volume 4 is released in 7-8 years.Free Music Review: This is all you need
Hit: 5 Stars
I am really amazed at the people who have been dismissing this collection as not being essential. They seem to be completely missing the point. This is all the casual fan needs as it includes almost all of his best songs. I certainly don't miss songs like Big Shot, Pressure or Scenes From An Italian Restaurant as I have never cared for them. Of course, everyone has different opinions about the song selection. However, I agree that the absence of The Stranger is indeed rather strange. Apart from that, this is all the Billy Joel you'll ever need.Free Music Review: Essential means everything that matters, everything he is...
Hit: 5 Stars
I do agree with many here that many of his timeless pop hits are missing for some reason, such as Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, The Stranger, among others. I feel that if it was because of space restrictions, Sony could have perhaps released this on a 3-cd set. Indeed, it would inevitably cost more to buy, but then, Billy Joel fans I suspect will still go for it, provided that it was an intensely good collection.The tracks included though are not bad at all and a very good introduction of Billy's music to the younger generation. The sound quality is also very good with all the tracks digitally remastered.
Where I differ from most reviewers is that I think that it is quite a good idea to include those two classical tracks onto this collection. They provide a good snapshot of what his classical work sound like. The word Essential essentially means everything that matters, everything that is, and in this case, everything Billy Joel is about. And classical music has played a very important role in his life and his development as a musician, not to mention the release of his first classical album, Fantasies and Delusions, which by the way, is also very highly recommended.
All in all, The Essential Billy Joel is a must buy for all die hard Joel fans and stronly recommended for those who have yet to get their first Billy Joel album.
Free Music Review: Not quite so "essential" (unless you're new to Billy Joel)
Hit: 3 Stars
While this collection is a great introduction to Billy Joel's music for a younger generation (the kids currently into Britney and N'Sync), it would not make sense for someone who has most or all of his cds or the 3 greatest hits cds. Considering that they just remastered "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2" (along with all of his albums up to "River of Dreams) and released "Vol. 3" not too long ago, the timing of this is strange.I also have a problem with the omission of what I consider truly "essential" Billy Joel songs, such as "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant", "Big Shot", "Pressure", and "Prelude/Angry Young Man". I would have preferred these songs to be included over "The Entertainer", "She's Always A Woman", "Lullabye(Goodnight, My Angel)" and the two classical songs, which don't fit well on this compilation. At least they had the sense to include "Miami 2017" and leave off "Modern Woman", a top 10 hit but one of the worst songs he has ever done.
Overall, it's not a bad compilation but not "essential" to most Billy Joel fans.