The Essential Billy Joel (2CD)
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Free Music Notes for The Essential Billy Joel (2CD)
Free Music Review: Is Billy Joel Crazy or a Genius?
Hit: 4 Stars
This is a good compliation of Billy Joel's work. It has a large range of his good stuff, although it could have been better. The first disc is mostly his older stuff, beginning with Piano Man. They are all well written and well sung songs. The mood of the music changes with almost every track. No matter what mood you're in, there will be a song to fit it.
Personally, I think that The Entertainer, My Life, You May Be Right, Miami 2017, and Movin' Out are the best songs on this CD. I have never cared for Captian Jack or Just The Way You Are, but that's an opinion. All in all, Disc One is probably a 9/10.
Disc Two isn't quite as good. The songs are of the same quality, but some of the last tracks are unesscary. While Disc One was a range of generas, this one is mostly rock, and that's OK. Joel does well with almost anything.
Uptown Girl is a classic, as well as We Didn't Start The Fire. Baby Grand will always be remembered, as it was a duet with Ray Charles. Together Joel and Charles are two of the best singer/songwriters, and this is a perfect song for them. I have always liked The River Of Dreams and The Downeaster "Alexa".
Lullabye, Waltz No. 1 (and hopefully last), Invention In C Minor, and Goodnight Saigon, were put on this album for reasons best known to Sony and Sony only. They were a waste of CD and aren't good tracks. Lullabye, however, does work to put people to sleep, and might be good if you have a young child. The CD that was wasted on these few tracks would have been better spent on Scenes From An Italian Resturant, Stranger, and Sleeping With The Television On. OK, that last one isn't known all that well, but it was a fun rock song that I never tire of. All in all, probably an 8/10 CD.
Besides the aforementioned, this is one of the best Greatest Hits/Essential CDs made, with only a few mistakes. If you are a Billy Joel fan, whether die-hard or just occasional, this is the CD for you.
IS Billy Joel crazy or a genius? Well, this CD gives grounds for either arguement. I think he's a little bit of both, as his songs are marvelous time and time again.
This compliation is 4 stars for me, but only because of the missing few tracks. With the few that I talked about above switched around, it would easily, very easily, be a 5 star CD.
Free Music Review: Remastering makes this album sound too harsh and bright
Hit: 3 Stars
I cringed when I first played the Essential Billy Joel on my KEF Q series speakers -- This album is one of the worst remastering efforts I've heard recently. The sound is way, way too bright (enhanced treble), and it really wears on the ears after a few songs if you're listening to it on good speakers.Free Music Review: In response to ajm1195 review
Hit: 1 Stars
All in all, this is an okay album, though it could've done without the atrocity that is "Captain Jack." I was about to blast the view stated above, then I noted the reviewer was only 13. IMO, Joel could have ended his career after this one song and been a success. In many ways, Joel never got any better than the Piano Man disc. Perhaps some day, you'll grow into it.
Free Music Review: A solid compilation...
Hit: 5 Stars
"The Essential Billy Joel" is yet another entry into this new, booming "Greatest Hits" trend. It seems like every artist from James Taylor to No Doubt is getting the "Hits" treatment, which should come as no suprise to anyone since they've been selling in massive amounts ever since the Beatles' "#1" album hit the shelves. That album's impressive sales records turned record executive heads, and thus Columbia/Sony began releasing their newfangled "Essential" catalogue. So, anyway, you've got the "Essential" Billy Joel and you've got the "Greatest Hits 1,2 & 3" Billy Joel. Which one should you buy? Well, if you want the three greatest hits albums, it's going to cost you a bit more than this particular set, especially if you want the box set (which also features a bonus disc of some dialogue and rare material). You'll get more songs, but the "Essential Billy Joel" contains a few songs not featured in either of the Greatest Hits discs, most notably one of my favorite songs of the piano man, "Leave A Tender Moment Alone." Unfortunately, there's a flipside to this coin. This compilation does not have "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," which is one of the greatest songs in the history of pop music. However, this really shouldn't suprise anyone. Greatest Hits discs are almost never perfect. Just look at Elton John's recently released "Greatest Hits 1970-2002," which omits the version of "Candle In The Wind" that was dedicated to Princess Diana.
The "Greatest Hits 1,2 & 3" are missing songs and the "Essential Billy Joel" is missing songs, so either way you figure it, a truly definitive Joel collection still has yet to be released. Until then, though, pick which collection you want in accordance to which songs you'd prefer. I have both collections, but prefer this one. Thirty six great Billy Joel songs on two discs at a great price. What more could you ask for (besides a few more songs, of course)?
Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: The "Essential collection" vs. "Greatest Hits 1 & 2".
Hit: 4 Stars
It really comes down to what songs you want most. The "Greatest Hits 1 & 2" have 24 tracks, and include "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant", "Big Shot", "Pressure", and "You're Only Human (second wind)", all of which are missing here. Also that set only goes through the mid-eighties. However, this "Essential Collection" is 36 tracks, and career-spanning. It includes "Miami 2017 (see the light go out on broadway)", "Leave A Tender Moment Alone", "A Matter Of Trust", "I Go To Extremes", "We Didn't Start The Fire", "Downeaster Alexa", and "River Of Dreams", all missing on the "Hits 1 & 2". Now the "Greatest Hits Volume 3" would complement the first two nicely, but then you're buying two collections. My guess is that if you're a casual fan, like myself, you'll be more than happy with "The Essential Billy Joel". Either way, "It's Still Rock n' Roll To Me".