I've been a diehard fan of Billy's for over 42 years and counting 😊I'm a Billy Joel fanatic 😃for me, No.1 The Stranger, No.2 Turnstiles, No.3 Glass Houses
Always appreciate your ranking videos, Richard! You put a lot of time into them and it shows. Fond memories of Storm Front for me because my parents played it a lot while I was growing up. I still haven't heard Turnstiles. My faves are Glass Houses and an Innocent Man! :-) Enjoyed the video.
13 - Cold Spring Harbor ( He sounds like Mickey Mouse) 12 - River Of Dreams 11 - Storm Front 10 - Streetlife Serenade 9 - Turnstiles 8 - Innocent Man 7 - The Bridge 6 - 52nd Street 5 - Songs In The Attic 4 - The Nylon Curtain 3 - Piano Man 2 -Glass Houses 1 - The Stranger
I’ve only listened to his catalog once and it was this week, but here’s what I think from first impression: 12. The Bridge 11. River of Dreams 10. Storm Front 9. The Nylon Curtain 8. Streetlife Serenade 7. Turnstiles 6. Piano Man 5. Cold Spring Harbor 4. 52nd Street 3. The Stranger 2. Glass Houses 1. An Innocent Man It may seem crazy to put his debut so high and the nylon curtain so low, but this is based off of one listen to each album.
I enjoyed your video. Right now,the only Billy Joel I have 52nd Street. Great album. My favorite album of his nowadays is Glass Houses. The Stranger used to be my favorite. I'm thinking of playing some Billy Joel now. Thank you.
I love billy Joel's music and rate all of his albums Got into him in 1983 as a 12 year old as uptown girl and tell her about it where huge in England. His music then got me into a whole host of artists including the four seasons. Nice rating. My personal ranking is #1 The stranger - dont play it often but every time I do it's still awesome #2 Turnstiles every song is epic #3 52nd street grown on me over the years #4 An innocent man love the hits #5 The nylon curtain big music #6 Glass houses very Beatles #7 piano man great atmosphere #8 The bridge very underrated #9 River of dreams 2nd side is brilliant #10 Storm front great singles #11 Streetlife serenade low on the list but still a solid album #12 Cold spring harbour only one I don't own. Version I heard was too fast they messed up the recording couple of good songs though. I would recommend all of these albums and the order changes everytime I listen.
I just recently became a big Billy Joel fan and I have to say I was surprised with this mans music, now one of my top favorite 5 artists, my favorite album being “An Innocent Man”
Hey, I did a Billy Joel video! :) I think the Billy Joel/Elton John comparisons happen, not only due to the piano based music, but because they toured so often together. Also, his popularity was much bigger in my original home from Long Island where you couldn't escape his music - guaranteed in NY if you turn the radio dial you WILL find Billy Joel playing. The Cold Spring Harbor thing - the sped up version is impossible to find (only in the US) since the Columbia version is the de facto - but it also has added instrumentation - you can find a fixed version on youtube of the original mix where it isn't sped up but it isn't re-recorded also.
Cool ranking Rick. Here’s mine: 12. The Bridge 11. Streetlife Serenade 10. The River Of Dreams 9. An Innocent Man 8. Storm Front 7. Piano Man 6. The Nylon Curtain 5. Cold Spring Harbor 4. Turnstiles 3. Glass Houses 2. 52nd Street 1. The Stranger My fav from each album (in same order as my albums rank list): A Matter Of Trust, This Is The Time and Baby Grand The Entertainer, Los Angelenos and Souvenir All About Soul, Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) and The River Of Dreams. An Innocent Man and Keeping The Faith. The Downeaster Alexa, I Go To Extremes, And So It Goes and Leningrad. Piano Man, You’re My Home, The Ballad Of Billy The Kid, Stop In Nevada, Somewhere Along The Line and Captain Jack. Allentown, Pressure, Goodnight Saigon, Surprises and Where’s The Orchestra? You Can Make Me Free, Everybody Loves You Now, Turn Around and Tomorrow Is Today. Summer Highland Falls, New York State Of Mind, James, Prelude/ Angry Young Man, I’ve Loved Those Days and Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway). You May Be Right, Sometimes A Fantasy, Don’t Ask Me Why, All For Leyna, Sleeping With The Television and Through The Long Night. Big Shot, Honesty, My Life, Zanzibar, Stiletto, Rosalinda’s Eyes and Until The Night. I love every song on The Stranger, but my favourites are The Stranger, Just The Way You Are and Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.
Nice video! My top: 12. Storm Front 11. The Bridge 10. River of Dreams 9. The Nylon Curtain 8. An Innocent Man 7. Piano Man 6. Glass Houses 5. 52nd Street 4. The Stranger 3. Streetlife Serenader 2. Cold Spring Harbor 1. Turnstiles
My fave Billy Joel albums are Streetlife Serenade and The Bridge. I haven't heard Cold Spring Harbor. After that i agree with your bottom two. Hard to say how i would place the rest of the albums, only that i would put Glass Houses further up. Glad to hear you mention Songs From The Attic, it's a brilliant live album. Pasi
hard to rank records that are so good....i was suprised turnstiles so low but...my favs are all from same period..stranger,turnstiles,glass houses 52nd street...enjoyed the video thanks
Thoroughly enjoyed this Richard, although I have never bought a Billy Joel record in my life. We Didn't Start The Fire was a huge juke-box favourite of mine back in the day though. It's high-time I checked out some of these albums.
I jumped on the Billy Joel bandwagon because I thought he was the next Harry Chapin who I loved and seen many times before his car accident..Piano man my fav.....Capt Jack excellent song....good video Richard thanks for sharing your collection - Lisa ( Lis)
I discovored Billy Joel rather late so only have three albums (will get more in time). Here are my thoughts about them! River of Dreams: His last album and not really one many write positive about. It does have a rather bland production but it does rock quite a bit and I do like most of the songs. Could be worth a update I believe. I love the "On the Waterfront" lyrics in The Great Wall of China. Not a great record but much better than I would have thought just reading about it. An Innocent Man: Very upbeat and fun record. Great vocals and just a good time. Perhaps not an "important" record like Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the Moon but a good time nonetheless! The Stranger: For the longest time I thought Barry Whites version of "Just the Way You Are" was his. Now I know better. A lovely slow pop record with very memorable songs and good lyrics. Good show!
Laura and Scandinavian Skies are cool Beatlesque songs. I like a handful of other songs throughout his catalogue, but I was never a huge fan. I feel the same about John Cougar Mellencamp, many good songs, but don't I don't know. I'm from middle America and I got a bit inundated with both artists' hits. Great video Richard
@@CookieMusic43 You're right about Don't Ask Me Why. I probably should investigate deeper cuts. FM radio in the 1980s, at least in the midwest was very limited in scope
13. Storm Front 12. Cold Spring Harbor 11. Piano Man 10. River of Dreams 9. Streetlife Serenade 8. The Bridge 7. Songs in the Attic 6. Glass Houses 5. 52nd Street 4. Turnstiles 3. The Nylon Curtain 2. The Stranger 1. An Innocent Man It took me a while to like The Nylon Curtain and 52nd Street. The production history of Cold Spring Harbor is his producer sped up the audio when transferring the tape to record and he fired the produced right after.
You won’t hear this very often, but my favorite Billy Joel album is “Street Life Serenade”. I think that the instrumentals provide a lot of charm, both of them, but I especially like “The Mexican Connection” because it’s so cinematic.. I saw Billy in 79’ and a recording of “Connection” was played as a prelude to the concert right before the lights went down, it was kind of exciting..(he also did “Root Beer Rag”, I remember)..I’ve always preferred the stripped down, more organic sound of his early albums, I think that in general, by the late seventies, pop music was starting to sound a bit too slick and polished, and that was the period of Billy’s biggest success. Also, though it’s not really his fault, his music was way over played, and I can’t listen to “The Stranger” at all anymore. That being said, I think that he’s a very talented artist, even though he’s never been considered “cool”. Nice video Richard.
The Bridge River Of Dreams Streetlife Serenade Piano Man Storm Front Nylon Curtains Turnstiles Cold Spring Harbor Glass Houses An Innocent Man The Stranger 52nd Street Those are mine, good video too! You don't see much Billy Joel content these days.
I don't like his 1986-1993 albums, so after Greatest Hits 1985 I bought Greatest Hits 1997 which really included all the best songs from that period. It would be better if Billy Joel finished releasing albums in 1985 and later limited himself to singles.
Hi Richard I do have a soft spot for two billy Joel albums .. 52 street I love my life and until the night .. I’ve never owned it though and I also liked glass houses .. sleeping with the television on I used to like in particular and all for leyna I did own it many moons ago but I no longer have it ... thanks for sharing 👍
Sunday morning waking up to a Billy Joel 🤓🙉. Didn’t know BJ wasn’t as popular in the UK. I love the UK 🇬🇧
Er, um, one thing about a Billy Joel, it, I mean he, is popular throughtout the world lol
I've been a diehard fan of Billy's for over 42 years and counting 😊I'm a Billy Joel fanatic 😃for me, No.1 The Stranger, No.2 Turnstiles, No.3 Glass Houses
It's hard to argue with your top 3. What would make your 4 and 5?
@@CookieMusic43 Hi Richard, number 4. 52nd Street and number 5. The Nylon Curtain with Piano Man not too far behind 😃
Always appreciate your ranking videos, Richard! You put a lot of time into them and it shows. Fond memories of Storm Front for me because my parents played it a lot while I was growing up. I still haven't heard Turnstiles. My faves are Glass Houses and an Innocent Man! :-) Enjoyed the video.
Thanks Hanna, Turnstiles is well worth investigating. It was because An Innocent Man I started to investigate his back catalogue
13 - Cold Spring Harbor ( He sounds like Mickey Mouse)
12 - River Of Dreams
11 - Storm Front
10 - Streetlife Serenade
9 - Turnstiles
8 - Innocent Man
7 - The Bridge
6 - 52nd Street
5 - Songs In The Attic
4 - The Nylon Curtain
3 - Piano Man
2 -Glass Houses
1 - The Stranger
Hard to argue with that ranking! Thanks for commenting
I’ve only listened to his catalog once and it was this week, but here’s what I think from first impression:
12. The Bridge
11. River of Dreams
10. Storm Front
9. The Nylon Curtain
8. Streetlife Serenade
7. Turnstiles
6. Piano Man
5. Cold Spring Harbor
4. 52nd Street
3. The Stranger
2. Glass Houses
1. An Innocent Man
It may seem crazy to put his debut so high and the nylon curtain so low, but this is based off of one listen to each album.
Hi Hayden, it was quite a while before I started to appreciate The Nylon Curtain. Stick with it as it really does get better with repeated listens.
I enjoyed your video. Right now,the only Billy Joel I have 52nd Street. Great album. My favorite album of his nowadays is Glass Houses. The Stranger used to be my favorite. I'm thinking of playing some Billy Joel now. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting!
I love billy Joel's music and rate all of his albums
Got into him in 1983 as a 12 year old as uptown girl and tell her about it where huge in England. His music then got me into a whole host of artists including the four seasons. Nice rating.
My personal ranking is
#1 The stranger - dont play it often but every time I do it's still awesome
#2 Turnstiles every song is epic
#3 52nd street grown on me over the years
#4 An innocent man love the hits
#5 The nylon curtain big music
#6 Glass houses very Beatles
#7 piano man great atmosphere
#8 The bridge very underrated
#9 River of dreams 2nd side is brilliant
#10 Storm front great singles
#11 Streetlife serenade low on the list but still a solid album
#12 Cold spring harbour only one I don't own. Version I heard was too fast they messed up the recording couple of good songs though.
I would recommend all of these albums and the order changes everytime I listen.
Thanks for the detailed reply. It's hard to argue with your list
I just recently became a big Billy Joel fan and I have to say I was surprised with this mans music, now one of my top favorite 5 artists, my favorite album being “An Innocent Man”
I'm glad you discovered Billy Joel, an excellent artist!
Hey, I did a Billy Joel video! :) I think the Billy Joel/Elton John comparisons happen, not only due to the piano based music, but because they toured so often together. Also, his popularity was much bigger in my original home from Long Island where you couldn't escape his music - guaranteed in NY if you turn the radio dial you WILL find Billy Joel playing. The Cold Spring Harbor thing - the sped up version is impossible to find (only in the US) since the Columbia version is the de facto - but it also has added instrumentation - you can find a fixed version on youtube of the original mix where it isn't sped up but it isn't re-recorded also.
Hi Kris, thanks for clearing the Cold Spring Harbor mystery up for me.
Cool ranking Rick. Here’s mine:
12. The Bridge
11. Streetlife Serenade
10. The River Of Dreams
9. An Innocent Man
8. Storm Front
7. Piano Man
6. The Nylon Curtain
5. Cold Spring Harbor
4. Turnstiles
3. Glass Houses
2. 52nd Street
1. The Stranger
My fav from each album (in same order as my albums rank list):
A Matter Of Trust, This Is The Time and Baby Grand
The Entertainer, Los Angelenos and Souvenir
All About Soul, Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) and The River Of Dreams.
An Innocent Man and Keeping The Faith.
The Downeaster Alexa, I Go To Extremes, And So It Goes and Leningrad.
Piano Man, You’re My Home, The Ballad Of Billy The Kid, Stop In Nevada, Somewhere Along The Line and Captain Jack.
Allentown, Pressure, Goodnight Saigon, Surprises and Where’s The Orchestra?
You Can Make Me Free, Everybody Loves You Now, Turn Around and Tomorrow Is Today.
Summer Highland Falls, New York State Of Mind, James, Prelude/ Angry Young Man, I’ve Loved Those Days and Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway).
You May Be Right, Sometimes A Fantasy, Don’t Ask Me Why, All For Leyna, Sleeping With The Television and Through The Long Night.
Big Shot, Honesty, My Life, Zanzibar, Stiletto, Rosalinda’s Eyes and Until The Night.
I love every song on The Stranger, but my favourites are The Stranger, Just The Way You Are and Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.
Brilliant comment, thanks!
Totally fair list... I would put River of Dreams above Storm Front and the Bridge, but that’s just shuffling the bottom around.
Great, honest, non-biased, review. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
Nice video!
My top:
12. Storm Front
11. The Bridge
10. River of Dreams
9. The Nylon Curtain
8. An Innocent Man
7. Piano Man
6. Glass Houses
5. 52nd Street
4. The Stranger
3. Streetlife Serenader
2. Cold Spring Harbor
1. Turnstiles
Great list!
My fave Billy Joel albums are Streetlife Serenade and The Bridge. I haven't heard Cold Spring Harbor. After that i agree with your bottom two. Hard to say how i would place the rest of the albums, only that i would put Glass Houses further up. Glad to hear you mention Songs From The Attic, it's a brilliant live album.
Pasi
Hi Pasi, I think it was an ingenious idea to release a live album of just lesser known tracks. It really does bring them to the forefront!
hard to rank records that are so good....i was suprised turnstiles so low but...my favs are all from same period..stranger,turnstiles,glass houses 52nd street...enjoyed the video thanks
Thanks Rich
Thoroughly enjoyed this Richard, although I have never bought a Billy Joel record in my life. We Didn't Start The Fire was a huge juke-box favourite of mine back in the day though. It's high-time I checked out some of these albums.
Hi James, I do think you would enjoy his albums especially his 70's output
I jumped on the Billy Joel bandwagon because I thought he was the next Harry Chapin who I loved and seen many times before his car accident..Piano man my fav.....Capt Jack excellent song....good video Richard thanks for sharing your collection - Lisa ( Lis)
Hi Lis! I agree, Captain Jack is an absolute classic as is The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
Richard McCook yes yes Ballad of Billy the Kid powerful!
I’m not a huge Billy Joel fan but if I wanted to own a few albums by him it would be Piano Man,The Nylon Curtain and 52nd Street.
I can't disagree with those choices
I discovored Billy Joel rather late so only have three albums (will get more in time). Here are my thoughts about them!
River of Dreams: His last album and not really one many write positive about. It does have a rather bland production but it does rock quite a bit and I do like most of the songs. Could be worth a update I believe. I love the "On the Waterfront" lyrics in The Great Wall of China. Not a great record but much better than I would have thought just reading about it.
An Innocent Man: Very upbeat and fun record. Great vocals and just a good time. Perhaps not an "important" record like Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the Moon but a good time nonetheless!
The Stranger: For the longest time I thought Barry Whites version of "Just the Way You Are" was his. Now I know better. A lovely slow pop record with very memorable songs and good lyrics.
Good show!
Thanks for your thoughts Anton
Laura and Scandinavian Skies are cool Beatlesque songs. I like a handful of other songs throughout his catalogue, but I was never a huge fan. I feel the same about John Cougar Mellencamp, many good songs, but don't I don't know. I'm from middle America and I got a bit inundated with both artists' hits. Great video Richard
I could count the number of John Cougar songs I know on two fingers. No surprise as to which two they are!
@@CookieMusic43 You're right about Don't Ask Me Why. I probably should investigate deeper cuts. FM radio in the 1980s, at least in the midwest was very limited in scope
13. Storm Front
12. Cold Spring Harbor
11. Piano Man
10. River of Dreams
9. Streetlife Serenade
8. The Bridge
7. Songs in the Attic
6. Glass Houses
5. 52nd Street
4. Turnstiles
3. The Nylon Curtain
2. The Stranger
1. An Innocent Man
It took me a while to like The Nylon Curtain and 52nd Street. The production history of Cold Spring Harbor is his producer sped up the audio when transferring the tape to record and he fired the produced right after.
Good list. It took me a while to get into The Nylon Curtain as well
You won’t hear this very often, but my favorite Billy Joel album is “Street Life Serenade”. I think that the instrumentals provide a lot of charm, both of them, but I especially like “The Mexican Connection” because it’s so cinematic.. I saw Billy in 79’ and a recording of “Connection” was played as a prelude to the concert right before the lights went down, it was kind of exciting..(he also did “Root Beer Rag”, I remember)..I’ve always preferred the stripped down, more organic sound of his early albums, I think that in general, by the late seventies, pop music was starting to sound a bit too slick and polished, and that was the period of Billy’s biggest success. Also, though it’s not really his fault, his music was way over played, and I can’t listen to “The Stranger” at all anymore. That being said, I think that he’s a very talented artist, even though he’s never been considered “cool”. Nice video Richard.
Thanks Thomas, Billy live in '79 must have been a great show
I agree that it's a better album than most people give it credit for. Can't agree that it's the best but it's Top 5 for me too.
The Bridge
River Of Dreams
Streetlife Serenade
Piano Man
Storm Front
Nylon Curtains
Turnstiles
Cold Spring Harbor
Glass Houses
An Innocent Man
The Stranger
52nd Street
Those are mine, good video too! You don't see much Billy Joel content these days.
Thanks for the comment!
I don't like his 1986-1993 albums, so after Greatest Hits 1985 I bought Greatest Hits 1997 which really included all the best songs from that period. It would be better if Billy Joel finished releasing albums in 1985 and later limited himself to singles.
Streetlife Serenade is #1. Then tough to list.
Nice to see Streetlife Serenade get your no. 1 pick
@@CookieMusic43 So underrated. Love the laid back vibe. Roberta is so good.
Hi Richard I do have a soft spot for two billy Joel albums .. 52 street I love my life and until the night .. I’ve never owned it though and I also liked glass houses .. sleeping with the television on I used to like in particular and all for leyna I did own it many moons ago but I no longer have it ... thanks for sharing 👍
Hi Rob, I've always loved those two 52nd Street tracks. Don't Ask me Why and Through The Long Night would be my favourite two from Glass Houses
I love Modern Woman. My least favourite is his debut. My favourite is Glass Houses
Glass Houses is a really good album