Ranking Billy Joel's albums

**The_Lurker** · 04-02-2021

Hey everyone, sorry if this comes off as a bit of self-promotion but I thought some here might find it an interesting starting point for discussion if I shared my latest issue of Michael's Record Collection, in which I walk through Billy Joel's catalog and rank his studio albums (minus his classical compositions release).

This is part 1 of 2. The second part will drop tomorrow and I'm happy to paste that here as well when it drops. Let me know what you think I got right/wrong. (As if PE folks need that invitation

)

TL;DR version:

12. Cold Spring Harbor
11. River of Dreams
10. Piano Man
9. Streetlife Serenade
8. The Bridge
7. Storm Front

**BravadoNJ** · 04-02-2021

01 52nd Street
02 Stranger
03 Piano Man
04 Turnstiles
05 Streetlife Serenade

after Glass Houses i was done!

**MudShark22** · 04-02-2021

IIRC - Code of Silence was the first and only Billy tune that has a co-writing credit (Lauper)

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**GuitarGeek** · 04-02-2021

Originally Posted by MudShark22

IIRC - Code of Silence was the first and only Billy tune that has a co-writing credit (Lauper)

What about whichever song it was that where he co-opted Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata (the same melody, I believe, that Gene Simmons and/or Bob Ezrin co-opted on Great Expectations)? I thought he read he credited Ole Ludwig on that one.

after Glass Houses i was done!

Sorry to hear that. To be honest, I've never heard any of his albums all the way through, really. But The Nylon Curtain had Pressure (one of his best singles, in my opinion), the poignant Goodnight Saigon, and the very prog Scandinavian Skies. Oh yeah, and She's Right On Time was a pretty good tune too. So I'd rate rate that, by default, at number one.

**MudShark22** · 04-02-2021

Originally Posted by GuitarGeek

What about whichever song it was that where he co-opted Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata (the same melody, I believe, that Gene Simmons and/or Bob Ezrin co-opted on Great Expectations)? I thought he read he credited Ole Ludwig on that one.

Joel sings on the edgy “Code of Silence,” the last song he wrote for The Bridge. As Cyndi Lauper — who earned the first co-writing credit in Joel’s career for helping him through the composer’s block that gripped him when he started to write the tune

The Bridge review:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...bridge-252814/

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**GuitarGeek** · 04-02-2021

Originally Posted by MudShark22

The Bridge review:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...bridge-252814/

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Well, maybe not quite "co-writing" credit, but Joel did acknowledge where he liftged the chorus of This Night:

https://img.discogs.com/Tjitvb-Wbvfu...12377.jpeg.jpg

**MudShark22** · 04-03-2021

zzzz.....

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**loshammeros** · 04-03-2021

Well I'm living here-near-Allentown.....

**JKL2000** · 04-03-2021

I'm not much of a Billy Joel fan, Michael, but that was a good read anyway! It's a thoughtful piece of writing, as is the rest of the newsletter, so thanks for sharing it (I'm on the mailing list!).

**The_Lurker** · 04-03-2021

Originally Posted by JKL2000

I'm not much of a Billy Joel fan, Michael, but that was a good read anyway! It's a thoughtful piece of writing, as is the rest of the newsletter, so thanks for sharing it (I'm on the mailing list!).

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. And for signing up. I'm trying to coordinate schedules for interviews for some upcoming issues that might be more up your alley. With some venues starting to open up, many musicians are starting to scramble to finish working on studio projects since they'll be able to get out and do more live stuff soon.

**The_Lurker** · 04-03-2021

Here's Part 2 of my Billy Joel album rankings column as we look back at the top six of Billy's 12 studio albums.

**SteveSly** · 04-03-2021

I would go:

1. Turnstiles
2. The Nylon Curtain
3. The Stranger
4. Storm Front
5. Piano Man
6. Glass Houses
7. Streetlife Serenade
8. 52nd Street
9. An Innocent Man
10. The Bridge
11. Cold Spring Harbor

**MudShark22** · 04-03-2021

I enjoyed both parts and your rationale was well laid out.

For these ears -

Turnstiles
52nd St
Nylon Curtain

And I really love Songs from the Attic.
Friggin great.

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**pb2015** · 04-03-2021

I disagree about putting Cold Spring Harbor at the bottom, good early 70's singer-songwriter pop that would get more recognition if the original mix were available at correct speed. Aside from that, I think the run of 52nd Street, Glass Houses and Nylon Curtain was his best.

**JKL2000** · 04-03-2021

Michael, you said Streetlife Serenade didn't really have hits, but is that the the album with the song with the line "Bottle of red, bottle of white.." or "Bottle of white, bottle of red?" Maybe I'm wrong, but whatever song that is, I used to hear it on the radio a lot!

**MudShark22** · 04-03-2021

That's The Stranger

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**The_Lurker** · 04-03-2021

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Michael, you said Streetlife Serenade didn't really have hits, but is that the the album with the song with the line "Bottle of red, bottle of white.." or "Bottle of white, bottle of red?" Maybe I'm wrong, but whatever song that is, I used to hear it on the radio a lot!

That's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" from The Stranger. That was two albums after Streetlife Serenade.

**Digital_Man** · 04-04-2021

I think the only really well known song from Streetlife Serenade was "the entertainer." Not sure if it was actually a hit but I've certainly heard it on the radio.

**moecurlythanu** · 04-04-2021

I don't own any of his albums, but for me

1) Turnstiles
2) Glass Houses
3) The Nylon Curtain
4) Streetlife Serenade

Beyond that, I probably have little interest.

**moecurlythanu** · 04-04-2021

Originally Posted by JKL2000

I'm not much of a Billy Joel fan, Michael, but that was a good read anyway! It's a thoughtful piece of writing,

I have to concur. Well written and well thought out. Well done, sir.

**SteveSly** · 04-04-2021

Originally Posted by Digital_Man

I think the only really well known song from Streetlife Serenade was "the entertainer." Not sure if it was actually a hit but I've certainly heard it on the radio.

That song got some airplay in my area. I wouldn't say it was a big hit, but I heard it several times on AOR radio.