Billy Joel - The Ultimate Collection

It looks like “The Ultimate Collection” was a package of his greatest hits, a live disc and his latest album (Storm Front).  He must have been on tour at the time?  I’m not sure.  Whatever was the reason for this release, it feels like it’s a good value compilation. 

Billy Joel.  Ok, so he’s the Piano Man.  But he’s also a bit of a rocker, he’s a bit of a soul man.  He’s quite an old school musician who can really turn his hand to anything.  He goes from catchy pop We Didn’t Start the Fire (catchier than an airborne pathogen … too soon?) to the character study of Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, to the Motown influenced Tell Her About It, to more straight ahead rock (Only the Good Die Young).  He’s got a lot of good songs.   

But he’s also a bit naff.  Billy Joel seems to be one of those artists that was a staple of the radio when I was growing up.  It feels like the Ultimate Collection lives up to the title.  It’s probably all the Billy Joel you’ll need in your life.