Billy Joel, The #8 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Five

 

(Continued from Part Four)

 

Joel released the compilation album Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and 2, a four-sided album and two-CD set that included two new songs.  This was one of them, in which Billy addressed the rash of teen suicides, something he himself had attempted earlier in his life.  Billy donated all royalties from this song to the National Committee for Youth Suicide Prevention, and "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" peaked at #2 on the Adult chart and #9 Popular.  

We found a fan comment very poignant:

Billy said the meaning of this song is dealing

with the Manic modes, and depressed states

that people suffering with Bi-Polar disease go

through (which they just called Manic

Depression when he wrote this song) ... when

he wrote the melody... he especially kept this in

mind as you hear the rising and falling notes

throughout the song.

The album has sold over 23 million copies in the U.S. alone.  Billy also timed the release of a two-volume Video Album including music videos from 1977 to the time of release.  He also filmed a new video for "Piano Man" for the project.

 

Joel released the album The Bridge in 1986, with "Modern Woman" leading the way.  It was featured in the movie Ruthless People--the song hit #7 on the AC chart and #10 overall.

 

The Bridge has topped two million in sales. While he has made a living being one of The Top 100 Keyboardists of the Rock Era*, Joel plays guitar on this song in concert.  "A Matter Of Trust" reached #3 in Australia and #10 in the States.

 

"This Is The Time (another #1 smash on the AC chart), with a peak of #18, is easily one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

Ray Charles is Billy's favorite piano player, and his daughter, Alexa Ray, was named after Charles.  The two collaborated on this song and to break the ice, the two played piano for each other before recording the song.  Appropriately enough for the two, the song is named after a type of piano--"Baby Grand", which peaked at #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 

"Big Man On Mulberry Street" is a jazz-influenced song in which the protagonist is concerned that no one will get to know the real him.

Billy ended his business relationship with Artie Ripp and Family Productions after the release of The Bridge.  In 1987, Joel performed live in the Soviet Union, with shows simulcast on radio throughout the world.  It was the first time that rock & roll was broadcast in the history of the oppressive regime.  The live album KOHLIEPT (Russian for "Concert") was released, and even though Joel lost more than $1 million of his own money, he maintains that the goodwill was worth the loss of money.

Billy lent his voice to the animated movie Oliver & Company in 1988, before recording his next album.  In August of 1989, however, it was discovered after an audit that there were serious discrepancies in accounting done by his manager and former brother-in-law Frank Weber.  Joel dismissed Weber and sued him for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty; Billy was awarded $2 million in a partial judgement in January of 1990.

 

The time capsule single "We Didn't Start The Fire" was released in advance of the album Storm Front, which became another #1 smash in the United States and New Zealand.  Described as "40 years in 4 minutes", it sold over two million copies.

Storm Front was the first album since his early years to be recorded without producer Phil Ramone.  Mick Jones from Foreigner came in to freshen Billy's sound, and it worked, as Storm Front became the first album since Glass Houses nine years earlier to go to #1.

 

The album has cleared four million in sales in just the United States.  The follow-up single was written about manic depression.  "I Go To Extremes", reached #3 in Canada, and #4 on the AC chart and #6 Popular in the U.S.  

 

Joel has always connected with the everyday man and woman; although a multimillionaire by now, he remembers his roots, which is highly commendable.  He wrote this great song about the plight of fishermen on Long Island, who get up before dawn and work hard only to find their returns diminishing.  Boating is a favorite hobby of Billy, and he owned a boat at the time called The Alexa (his daughter is named Alexa).  Enjoy this Top Track*--"The Downeaster Alexa".

We have another group of great Billy Joel songs.  Join us for that in Part Six!