The piano man Billy Joel, known worldwide for his songs since the 70s, can add another collection to the archives. If you have not heard of this person you never turned on your car radio or looked at your parent’s record collection. Joel was as mainstream as it gets but there was something different about his music, he was anti-establishment and told it like it was with his Bronx attitude. He could sing a sarcastic angst filled tune, make it rock, and in the same instance really force you to think about the words he was singing or turn around and play a ballad with just as much impact. Then try not singing along, it was impossible! In addition to that entire core that drove his hit-making vehicle, he added saxophone and rollicking piano that brought you back to the place where you were the first time you heard the classic tune “Piano Man.”
My personal favorite album by Joel was 52nd Street which turned out to be a logical extension of The Stranger, another rock-pop masterpiece that made the critics inept and miscalculating every step of the way. His rock and pop combination with more than a hint of Broadway made him a huge superstar. On this brilliantly packaged Legacy Edition, you get the original album in all its remastered magnificence and a superb performance at Carnegie Hall, one month prior to the recording of The Stranger. Joel’s ability to write a powerful pop tune and be as skillful with melodic ballads put him into an iconic class with the likes of Elton John in the 70s and 80s, dominating Top 40 lineups on every radio station on the dial. This album is loaded with memorable hits, tracks one through nine is a roll call of some of Joel’s best work.
Now what makes this package more enticing besides the remastered sound is the 24-page booklet with several pictures of the star and a nice write up from Rolling Stone editor David Fricke. This is even more special for the artist and his fans because one of the ultimate honors for an artist is to play at the revered Carnegie Hall and this particular performance has finally made its way to us. It did not take Joel long to reach that lofty status. Joel had a hot band at the time and the live performance from June 3, 1977 is a joy to hear. He had the Joe MaIin Orchestra directed by Frank Owens and his own exceptional backing band that included Richie Cannata (sax, keys), Doug Stegmeyer (bass), Liberty DeVitto (drums) and Howie Emerson (guitars).
Some of dialogue between songs was interesting for the time; I was surprised to find that in 1977 they were so strict about not smoking. Carnegie Hall would turn on the lights if anyone violated that policy but Joel laughed saying, “They can turn on the lights but we will keep playing, they will have to drag me off this stage.” Being the ever defiant teenage at heart and rousing the crowd with his attitude, as if his music was not enough.
While I was never huge fan of Billy Joel boasting all of his recorded works, I have some of his best in my collection, now I can add this, and I look forward to more Legacy Editions coming out in the future.
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