Not many solo artists have had as much success as Billy Joel, with hits in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. A new Billy Joel album release was always an event. He is the sixth best selling artist in the US and has won a Grammy award six times. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. A prolific songwriter, he has recorded classical music too, which was an early interest for him when he was learning the piano. Nicknamed the Piano Man, it's a good thing for music that he gave up his successful amateur boxing career as a teenager.
1971, Joel released Cold Spring Harbor. Something very peculiar happened to this first Billy Joel album. It was released at the wrong speed! The next recording was a different experience and was a huge success. Called Piano Man, the title song proved to be the one most associated with him. The third album, Streetlife Serenade was not well received however.
The 1976 release, Turnstiles is best known for the standard song, New York State of Mind. Following this, the next Billy Joel album, The Stranger began an excellent working relationship with celebrated producer Phil Ramone who would go on to produce every studio album until 1989. This record reached number two on the US album charts and produced four singles chart hits. His track, Just the Way You Are is considered to be one of the finest romantic ballads ever written.
The hits continued through the 1980s, with the albums 52nd Street, Glass Houses, The Nylon Curtain and the live recording titled Songs in the Attic. The Billy Joel album from 1983, An Innocent Man included the hit single Uptown Girl, which scored Joel's only number one single in the UK.
In 1986, The Bridge contained some interesting collaborations. Ray Charles and Cyndi Lauper contributed to tracks and another song features Stevie Winwood on the organ. The Storm Front album gave Joel his third number one US single with We Didn't Start the Fire. A final original album appeared in 1993, titled River of Dreams. Joel has been in semi retirement since 1994, making occasional live appearances. Fans eagerly await news of a new Billy Joel album one day. Should it arrive, it will be an event once again. Joel will always be respected for his constant standard of songwriting ability and musicianship, whether he makes a comeback or not.
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