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They Say...
Released in conjunction with Billy Joel's grand experiment with classical music, The Essential Billy Joel was a welcome reminder of Billy Joel's way with a pop song, improving on the previous Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 & 2 by extending into the '90s and delving deeper into his catalog. There were some casualties along the way -- it's easy for a fan to carp about the absence of personal favorites like "She's Right on Time" or "Travelin' Prayer," and it may even make some sense that "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" or "Shameless" didn't make the cut, but it's mind-boggling that "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" isn't here (we won't mention that the classical pieces that end the record, no matter how surprisingly good they are, are as out of place as Attila would have been) -- but for the most part, this has every one of Joel's heavy-hitters, and his craftsmanship, both as a songsmith and record maker, has never shone brighter. The biggest fault is that there is a notable drop-off in quality after 1986's The Bridge (which ends midway through disc two), but even so, this is as good a distillation of Joel's talents imaginable. In fact, as the first disc unfurls, even cynics may wonder why he's been dogged by the critics, since singer/songwriter pop doesn't come better than "Say Goodbye to Hollywood," "New York State of Mind," "Only the Good Die Young," "My Life," "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," "Don't Ask Me Why," "Allentown," and their seven companions.
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18 Total Tracks, 76:28 Total Length
This album includes one or more tracks available only with a full album download.
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
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We'll give you 24 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
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| 01. | ![]() |
Goodnight Saigon |
7:04 |
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| 02. | ![]() |
An Innocent Man |
5:18 |
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| 03. | ![]() |
Uptown Girl |
3:15 |
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| 04. | ![]() |
The Longest Time |
3:36 |
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| 05. | ![]() |
Tell Her About It |
3:49 |
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| 06. | ![]() |
Leave A Tender Moment Alone |
3:51 |
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| 07. | ![]() |
A Matter Of Trust |
4:08 |
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| 08. | ![]() |
Baby Grand
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4:04 |
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| 09. | ![]() |
I Go To Extremes |
4:20 |
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| 10. | ![]() |
We Didn't Start The Fire |
4:48 |
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| 11. | ![]() |
Leningrad |
4:03 |
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| 12. | ![]() |
The Downeaster "Alexa" |
3:42 |
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| 13. | ![]() |
And So It Goes |
3:36 |
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| 14. | ![]() |
The River Of Dreams |
4:06 |
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| 15. | ![]() |
All About Soul
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5:57 |
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| 16. | ![]() |
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) |
3:30 |
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| 17. | ![]() |
Waltz no. 1 (Nunley's Carousel) |
6:52 |
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| 18. | ![]() |
Invention In C minor |
0:59 |
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18 Total Tracks, 76:58 Total Length
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Credits
- Billy Joel - Harmonica // Billy Joel - Harmonica // Billy Joel - Piano // Billy Joel - Piano // Billy Joel - Keyboards // Billy Joel - Keyboards // Billy Joel - Vocals // Billy Joel - Vocals // Billy Joel - Producer // Billy Joel - Producer // Don DeVito - A&R // Mark Feldman - Marketing // Ted Jensen - Digital Remastering // Christopher Austopchuk - Art Direction // Art Maillet - Photography // Patrick Demarchelier - Photography // Andreas Meyer - Mastering // Richard Huyghe - Piano // Gary Montalvo - Art Direction // Greg Linn - Production Director // Greg Linn - Marketing // Sharon Czechowski - Administration // Jane Arginteanu - Administration // Richard Joo - Performer
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Performers
Ira Newborn // Will Downing // Brenda White King // Dennis Collins // Phillip Ballou // Billy Joel duet with Ray Charles // Corliss Stafford // Devora Johnson // Stephanie James // Frank Floyd // Diane Garisto // Color Me Badd // Katreese Barnes // Marlon Saunders // Marion Saunders // Philip Ballou
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