831 lines
32 KiB
Plaintext
831 lines
32 KiB
Plaintext
Last-modified: 22 Aug 1994
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**************************************************************************
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This is the Frequently Asked Questions List (FAQ) for the Usenet Newsgroup
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Alt.music.billy-joel. This list was last updated 8/22/94.
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The current version of this FAQ is posted to alt.music.billy-joel,
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alt.answers, and news.answers once every two weeks.
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It can also be anonymously FTP'ed from rtfm.mit.edu in the directory,
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/pub/usenet/alt.music.billy-joel . If you don't have anonymous FTP
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capabilities, send mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the word
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"help" and "index" (without the quotes) on separate lines in the body
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for information about obtaining the FAQ through e-mail. You can
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also obtain a copy through gopher from jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca and
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on WWW from http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/FAQ-List.html
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(under the "M"usic subheading). Information about copying and
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redistributing of this FAQ can be found at the end of this posting.
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--> An HTML version of this document is now available through
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--> World Wide Web (WWW). The URL is:
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--> http://www.cs.umd.edu/users/mike/billy-joel.faq.html
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Please send Corrections, Additions, or Suggestions to:
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Mike Steele (mike@cs.umd.edu)
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FAQ Maintainer for alt.music.billy-joel
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**************************************************************************
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INDEX
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============================
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I. History of Billy Joel
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1. Fact Sheet
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2. History of Early Years
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3. Awards
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II. Discography (arranged by year)
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1. The Hassles
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2. Attila
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3. Billy Joel (solo career)
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4. Singles
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5. Videotapes
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6. Other Stuff
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III. History of the Band
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1. Timeline of Band Members
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IV. Billy Joel Resources
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1. Books
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2. Magazine Articles
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3. Sheet Music
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4. Net Resources
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a. FTP Sites
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b. WWW Site
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c. Mailing List -- joel-request@chaos.bsu.edu
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d. Fan Club/Mailing List -- Keepers of the Faith
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V. Origins/Meanings of Songs, plus other Miscellaneous Questions
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1. Captain Jack
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2. Rosalinda's Eyes
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3. Downeaster Alexa
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4. The Bridge
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5. Vienna
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6. Big Shot
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7. Root Beer Rag (newsletter)
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8. Covers of Billy's Songs by Other Artists
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9. "Souvenir" Album
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10. Unreleased Songs
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I. HISTORY OF BILLY JOEL
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============================
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1. Fact Sheet
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----------------------
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[Info is from 1994 edition of Who's Who in America]
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Real Name: William Martin Joel
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Birthday: May 9, 1949 (in the Bronx, NY)
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Married To: Christie Brinkley (m. March 23, 1985)
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Children: Alexa Ray Joel (b. December 29, 1985)
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Address: Maritime Music, Inc
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200 W. 57th St.
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New York, NY 10019
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2. A Biography of Billy Joel's Early Years
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-------------------------------------------
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Billy Joel
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Before the Piano Man
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A look into Billy Joel's early recordings
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by Paul Maclauchlan (paul@moore.com)
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Copyright 1991 by Paul Maclaughlan
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William Joseph Martin (Billy) Joel, born May 9, 1949, in Levitown
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Long Island, New York. He began piano lessons at age 4. As a young
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teenager, Joel discovered the joys of reading books and decided to
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become a history teacher. Billy divided his time between music,
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street gangs and boxing. After 22 bouts he gave up the ring for
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piano. "...when I came to a difficult passage I'd start knuckling
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the keyboards." "I idolized The Beatles, especially Paul - nobody
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could come up with the melodies he could".
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His first band was a four piece beat band called "The Echoes". The
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Echoes played cover versions of popular hits, including songs by The
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Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Zombies and, of course, The Beatles.
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In late 1964, Billy was pressed into service by producer Shadow
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Morton, who was recording The Shangri-Las in a Levitown basement
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studio. Billy played on "Leader Of The Pack", but was never paid,
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since he wasn't a union member.
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The Echoes became "The Lost Souls" in 1965, "The Emerald Lords" in
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1966 and "The Hassles" in 1967. The Hassles were signed to United
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Artists (UA) Records in 1968. The Hassles featured: John Dizek
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(vocals), Billy Joel (Keyboards), Jon Small (drums), Howie Blauvelt
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(bass) and Richard McKenner (guitar). He occasionally billed himself
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as: Billy Joe Joel!
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The Hassles self-titled debut album contained original songs (by W.
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Joel) and covers. Produced by Tony Michael and Vinnie Gorman.
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United Artists 6631. [see discography below for track listings]
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Two singles from the album flopped: Every Step I Take, Every Move I
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Make b/w I Hear Voices and You've Got Me Hummin' b/w I'm Thinking.
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Later the same year, 1968, The Hassles recorded and released their
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second, and final, album: Hour Of The Wolf. Produced by Thomas Kay.
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United Artists 6699. This album's songs were all originals by the
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band. [see discography below for track listings] Singles from the
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album were: 4 O'Clock In The Morning b/w Let Me Bring You To The
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Sunshine and Night After Day b/w Country Boy.
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The album was followed by a non-LP single, Great Balls Of Fire (Jack
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Hammer-Otis Blackwell) [the Jerry Lee Lewis song] b/w Travellin' Band
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(W.Joel) [not the CCR song]. Produced by The Hassles, that release
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sunk without a trace, and The Hassles were disbanded.
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Billy and Jon Small (The Hassles drummer) then formed Atilla, and
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recorded an album Billy later described as "psychedelic bullshit".
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The album was released on Epic (E 30030) and produced by Irwin Mazur,
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William Joel and Jonathan Small. All music and lyrics by William
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Joel and Jonathan Small. [see discography below for track listings]
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Billy eventually married Jon Small's wife, Elizabeth.
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Billy reportedly still loves Jimi Hendrix, but hates the album that
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was influenced by him. After Atilla, Billy worked as a rock
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journalist for Changes magazine and recorded a commercial for
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Bachmann's Pretzels with Chubby Checker.
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In 1971, he recorded his first "solo" album, "Cold Spring Harbor",
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for Family Records. Billy was embarrassed by the record, which had
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been mastered at the wrong speed. It was produced by Artie Ripp.
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All songs were composed by Billy Joel. [see discography below for
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track listings] Singles: Everybody Loves You Now b/w She's Got A
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Way and Tomorrow Is Today b/w Everybody Loves You Now.
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Discouraged by touring for six months to support the album, opening
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for acts like J. Geils Band and Badfinger, Billy moved to California.
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There he performed as Bill Martin at Corky's on Van Nuys Blvd and at
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the Executive Lounge piano bar on Wilshire Blvd. The experience is
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related in his first Columbia single: Piano Man.
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Information from this article is from liner notes by Glenn A. Baker
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and articles and books by Jeff Tamarkin and Peter Gabaccini. Also
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from the records themselves.
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3. Awards
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----------------------
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[Info is from 1994 edition of Who's Who in America]
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1978 Grammy Award for Record of the Year: The Stranger
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1978 Grammy Award for Song of the Year: Just the Way You Are
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1979 Grammy Nomination for Song of the Year: Honesty
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1979 Grammy Award for Best Album: 52nd Street
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1979 Grammy Award for Best Rock Male Vocal Performance
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1980 Grammy Award for Best Rock Male Vocal Performance
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1980 American Music Award for Album of the Year: Glass Houses
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1982 Grammy Nomination for Album of the Year: The Nylon Curtain
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1989 Grammy Nomination for Record of the Year: Storm Front
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1989 Grammy Nomination for Song of the Year: We Didn't Start the Fire
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1989 Grammy Nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
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1990 Grammy Nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
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1990 Grammy Nomination for Producer of the Year
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1990 Grammy Legend Award
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1992 Inducted into Songwriters' Hall of Fame
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1994 Grammy Nomination for Album of the Year: River of Dreams
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1994 Grammy Nomination for Record of the Year: River of Dreams
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1994 Grammy Nomination for Song of the Year: River of Dreams
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1994 Grammy Nomination for Best Male Rock Vocalist
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II. DISCOGRAPHY
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============================
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1. The Hassles
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----------------------
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[Thanks to Phil Hetherington (ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk) and Paul Maclauchlan
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(paul@moore.com) for this info]
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The Hassles (1967, re-release 1981) Hour of the Wolf (1968, re-release 1981)
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----------- ----------------
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Warming Up Country Boy
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Just Holding On Night After Day
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A Taste Of Honey Hour of the Wolf
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Every Step I Take (Every Move 4 O'Clock in the Morning
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I Make) Cat
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Coloured Rain Hotel St. George
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I Hear Voices Land of Despair
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I Can Tell Further Than Heaven
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Giving Up (Version #2)
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Fever
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You've Got Me Hummin'
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The Hassles (re-release 1992)
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-----------
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[All of the above tracks plus:]
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I'm Thinkin'
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I'll Be Around
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When I Get Home
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It's Not Enough
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Love Luck
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Look And You Will Find
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Blow My Mind
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Giving Up (Version #1)
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2. Attila
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----------------------
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[Thanks to Paul Maclauchlan (paul@moore.com) for this info]
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Attila (1970)
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------
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Wonder Woman
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California Flash
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Revenge is Sweet
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Amplifier Fire
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Part I-Godzilla
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Part II-March of the Huns
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Rollin' Home
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Tear This Castle Down
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Holy Moses
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Brain Invasion
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3. Billy's Solo Career
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----------------------
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[Thanks to Kevin Harter (HARTERK5863@cobra.uni.edu) for this info]
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Cold Spring Harbor (1971) Piano Man (1973)
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------------------ ---------
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She's Got a Way Travelin' Prayer
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You can Make me Free Piano Man
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Everybody Loves You Now Ain't No Crime
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Why Judy Why You're My Home
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Falling of the Rain The Ballad of Billy the Kid
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Turn Around Worse Comes to Worst
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You Look so Good to Me Stop In Nevada
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Tomorrow is Today If I Only Had the Words (To Tell You)
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Nocturne Somewhere Along the Line
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Got to Begin Again Captain Jack
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Streetlife Serenade (1974) Turnstiles (1976)
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------------------- ----------
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Streetlife Serenade Say Goodbye to Hollywood
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Los Angelenos Summer, Highland Falls
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The Great Suburban Showdown All You Wanna Do is Dance
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Root Beer Rag New York State of Mind
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Roberta James
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The Entertainer Prelude/Angry Young Man
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Last of the Big Time Spenders I've Loved These Days
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Weekend Song Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights
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Souvenir go out on Broadway)
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The Mexican Connection
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The Stranger (1977) 52nd Street (1978)
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------------ -----------
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Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) Big Shot
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The Stranger Honesty
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Just the Way You Are My Life
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Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Zanzibar
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Vienna Stiletto
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Only the Good Die Young Rosalinda's Eyes
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She's Always A Woman Half a Mile Away
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Get it Right the First Time Until the Night
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Everybody Has a Dream 52nd Street
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Glass Houses (1980) Songs In The Attic (1981)
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------------ ------------------
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You May be Right Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights
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Sometimes A Fantasy go out on Broadway)
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Don't Ask Me Why Summer, Highland Falls
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It's Still Rock and Roll to Me Streetlife Serenader
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All for Leyna Los Angelenos
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I Don't Want to be Alone She's Got A Way
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Sleeping with the Television On Everybody Loves You Now
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C'Etait Toi (You Were the One) Say Goodbye to Hollywood
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Close to the Borderline Captain Jack
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Through the Long Night You're my Home
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The Ballad of Billy the Kid
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I've Loved These Days
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The Nylon Curtain (1982) An Innocent Man (1983)
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----------------- ---------------
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Allentown Easy Money
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Laura An Innocent Man
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Pressure Uptown Girl
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Goodnight Siagon This Night
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She's Right on Time Tell Her About It
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A Room of Our Own The Longest Time
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Surprises Careless Talk
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Scandinavian Skies Christie Lee
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Where's the Orchestra? Leave a Tender Moment Alone
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Keeping the Faith
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Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II (Double CD Set - 1985)
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----------------------------------
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Greatest Hits Volume I 1973-1977 Greatest Hits Volume II 1978-1985
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-------------------------------- ---------------------------------
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Piano Man My Life
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Captain Jack Big Shot
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The Entertainer You May be Right
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Say Goodbye to Hollywood It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
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New York State of Mind Don't Ask Me Why
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The Stranger She's Got A Way
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Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Pressure
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Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) Allentown
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Only the Good Die Young Goodnight Siagon
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She's Always a Woman Tell Her About It
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Uptown Girl
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The Longest Time
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You're Only Human (Second Wind)
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The Night is Still Young
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The Bridge (1986) Kohuept (1987)
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---------- -------
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Running On Ice Odoya
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This is the Time Angry Young Man
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A Matter of Trust Honesty
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Modern Woman Goodnight Saigon
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Baby Grand Stiletto
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Big Man on Mulberry Street Big Man on Mulberry Street
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Temptation Baby Grand
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Code of Silence An Innocent Man
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Getting Closer Allentown
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A Matter of Trust
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Only the Good Die Young
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Sometimes a Fantasy
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Uptown Girl
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Big Shot
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Back in the U.S.S.R.
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The Times They Are a Changin'
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Storm Front (1989) River of Dreams (1993)
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----------- ---------------
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That's Not Her Style No Man's Land
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We Didn't Start the Fire The Great Wall of China
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The Downeaster "Alexa" Blonde Over Blue
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I Go to Extremes A Minor Variation
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Shameless Shades of Grey
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Storm Front All About Soul
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Leningrad Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
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State of Grace The River of Dreams
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When in Rome Two Thousand Years
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And So it Goes Famous Last Words
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4. Singles
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----------
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Everybody Loves You Now / She's Got A Way
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Tomorrow is Today / Everybody Loves You Now
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Allentown / Elvis Presley Blvd. (record, 1982)
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An Innocent Man / I'll Cry Instead (live; cover of the Beatles) (record, 1982)
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Tell Her About It / You Got Me Hummin' (live; The Hassles) (record, 1983)
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Suprises / You're Only Human (second wind)
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We Didn't Start the Fire / House of Blue Light (cassette, 1989)
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All Shook Up / Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (by Ricky Van Shelton)
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(cassette)
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River of Dreams / No Man's Land (CD)
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All About Soul / You Picked A Real Bad Time (1994)
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Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) / ???
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5. Videotapes
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Eye of the Storm
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Live from Long Island
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Live from Lenningrad, USSR
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Live from Yankee Stadium
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The Russia Collection
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Shades of Grey
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The Video Album
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6. Other Stuff & Rare Stuff
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---------------------------
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"Nobody Knows But Me" -- Sesame Street's _In Harmony 2_ album (1981)
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Souvenir -- Promotional album released by Columbia in 1977. (see section
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5.10 for more info)
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"Why Should I Worry" -- Soundtrack from Disney's "Oliver & Company". Billy
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also did the voice of the dog (Dodger) in the movie
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Australian Souvenir CD Set -- Includes Greatest Hits Vol 1 & 2, Storm
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Front, an Interview CD, and a live CD from a concert at Yankee
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Stadium
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III. HISTORY OF THE BAND
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============================
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[Thanks to Claire Caterer (caterer@panix.com) for this info]
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The Hassles:
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------------
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Billy Joel (vocals, Hammond organ)
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John Dizek (vocals, percussion)
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Howie Blauvelt (bass guitar)
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Richie McKenner (lead guitar)
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Jon Small (drums)
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Attila:
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-------
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Billy Joel (vocals, keyboards)
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John Small (drums)
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Billy Joel's Band Through His Solo Career:
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------------------------------------------
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[Abbreviations: CSH = Cold Spring Harbor; PM = Piano Man;
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SS = Streetlife Serenade; TS = Turnstiles; S = Stranger;
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52 = 52nd Street; GH = Glass Houses; SITA = Songs in the Attic;
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NC = Nylon Curtain; IM = Innocent Man; GHITS = Greatest
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Hits Vol. I & II (original songs); B = The Bridge;
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K = Kohuept; SF = Storm Front; RD = River of Dreams]
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The Mainstays:
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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David Brown (guitar on GH, SITA, NC, IM, GHITS, B, S, SF)
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Richard Cannata (tenor and soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, organ
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on TS, S, 52, GH, SITA, RD)
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Liberty DeVitto (drums on TS, S, 52, GH, SITA, IM, GHITS, B, K, SF, RD)
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Russell Javors (guitar, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar on TS, GH, SITA,
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NC, IM, B, K)
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Billy Joel (vocals, keyboards, moogs, organ, piano, harmonica,
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synthesizers, hammond organ, hammond B-3, melodica,
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acoustic guitar, clavinet, harpsicord)
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Mark Rivera (alto sax, tenor sax, percussion, background vocals,
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syntharmonica on IM, GHITS, B, K)
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Doug Stegmeyer (bass, background vocals on TS, S, 52, GH, SITA, NC,
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IM, GHITS, B, K)
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The Famous Folks:
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Peter Cetera (background vocals on B: "My Life")
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Ray Charles (piano, vocals on B: "Baby Grand")
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Color Me Badd (background vocals on RD: "All About Soul")
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Cyndi Lauper (background vocals on B: "Code of Silence")
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Richard Marx (background vocals on SF: "That's Not Her Style",
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"Storm Front")
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Itzhak Perlman (fiddle on SF: "Downeaster Alexa")
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David Sanborn (alto sax on IM)
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Steve Winwood (hammond B-3 on B: "Getting Closer")
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The Rest (by instrument):
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Piano/Keyboards/Synthesizers:
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-----------------------------
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Jeff Bova (B), Al Campbell (CSH), L.D. Dixon (CSH), Jeff Jacobs
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(SF, RD), Dave Lebolt (GHITS, K), John Mahonet (SF), Rob Mounsey
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(B), Leon Pendarvis (NC), Fender Rhodes (CSH), Richard Tee (S, IM)
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Drums/Percussion:
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-----------------
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Zachary Alford (RD), Jimmy Bralower (GHITS, B), Vinnie Calaiuta (B),
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Rhys Clark (CSH, PM), David Friedman (52), Steve Jordan (RD), Andy
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"Funky Drummer" Kravitz (RD), Mingo Lewis (TS), Ralph MacDonald
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(S, 52, IM), Mike McGee (CSH), Sammy Merendino (SF), Jim Saporito
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(RD), Danny Siewell (CSH), Crystal Taliefero (SF), Ron Tutt (PM, SS)
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Guitar/Acoustic Guitar:
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-----------------------
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Richard Bennett (PM, SS), Hiram Bullock (S), Tommy Byrnes (RD),
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Larry Carlton (CSH), Gary Dalton (SS), Mike Deasy (SS), Kevin
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Dukes (K), Howie Emerson (TS), Don Evans (CSH, SS), Eric Gale
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(52, IM), Al Hertzberg (SS), Joey Hunting (SF), Mick Jones (SF),
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Steve Kahn (S, 52), "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow (CSH), Dan Kortchmar
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(RD), John McCurry (GHITS, B), Ary Munson (SS), Dean Parks (PM, B),
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Roj Rathor (SS), Michael Stewart (SS), Sal De Troia (CSH), Mike
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Tyler (RD), Leslie West (RD)
|
|
|
|
Acoustic Guitar:
|
|
----------------
|
|
Steve Burgh (S), Howie Emerson (TS), Steve Kahn (S, 52), Hugh
|
|
McCracken (S, 52), James Smith (TS), David Spinozza (52)
|
|
|
|
Bass:
|
|
-----
|
|
Ron Carter (B), Schuyler Deale (SF, RD), Wilton Felder (PM, SS),
|
|
Emory Gordy (PM, SS), Lonnie Hillyer (RD), Jeff Lee Johnson (RD),
|
|
Larry Knechtel (CSH, SS), Joe Osborn (CSH), T.M. Stevens (RD),
|
|
Neil Stubenhaus (B), Chuck Treece (RD)
|
|
|
|
Accordion:
|
|
----------
|
|
Dominic Cortese (S, NC, SF), Michael Omartian (PM)
|
|
|
|
Banjo:
|
|
------
|
|
Fred Heilbrun (PM), Eric Weissberg (PM), Tom Whitehorse (SS)
|
|
|
|
Horns:
|
|
------
|
|
Dave Bargeron (trombone on B), Mike Brecker (horns on 52, B),
|
|
Randy Brecker (horns, tenor sax on 52, IM), Ronnie Cuber
|
|
(baritone sax on IM, GHITS, B), Eddie Daniels (sax, clarinet
|
|
on NC, B), Laurence Etkin (trumpet on RD), John Gatchell
|
|
(trumpet on IM), Arno Hecht (baritone saxophone on RD), Freddie
|
|
Hubbard (trumpet on 52), Osvaldo Melindez (trombone on RD),
|
|
"The Memphis Horns" (Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson) (horns on SF),
|
|
Lenny Pickett (saxophone on SF), Alan Rubin (trumpet on B),
|
|
Joe Shepley (trumpet on IM), Marvin Stamm (trumpet on B), Phil
|
|
Woods (alto sax on S)
|
|
|
|
Harmonica/Syntharmonica:
|
|
------------------------
|
|
Don Brooks (B, SF), Ronnie Cuber (IM, GHITS, B), Jon Faddis (GHITS),
|
|
"Toots" Thielemans (IM)
|
|
|
|
Other:
|
|
------
|
|
Billy Armstrong (fiddle on PM), Joe Clayton (conga on SS),
|
|
David Friedman (orchestral chimes on 52), The Georgian Singers
|
|
"Zhournalist" (vocals on K), George Marge (sopranino recorder on
|
|
52), Mike Mainieri (vibes, marimba on 52), Charles McCraken
|
|
(cello on NC), William Smith (organ on SS)
|
|
|
|
Background Vocals:
|
|
------------------
|
|
Mike Alexander (IM), Chuck Arnold (SF), Pattie Austin (S), Tom
|
|
Bahler (IM), Phillip Ballou (RD), Katreese Barnes (RD), Dennis
|
|
Collins (RD), The Creamers/Susan Steward & Co. (PM), Donnie
|
|
Dacus (52), Patti Darcy (SF), Rory Dodd (IM), Will Downing (RD),
|
|
Frank Floyd (52, IM, SF, RD), Babi Floyd (52), Wrecia Ford (RD),
|
|
Diane Garisto (RD), Milt Grayson (52), Lani Groves (S, IM),
|
|
Gwen Guthrie (S), Peter Hewlett (GHITS, B, K), Hicksville High
|
|
School Chorus (SF), Jeff Jacobs (SF, RD), Stephanie James (RD),
|
|
Devora Johnson (RD), Mick Jones (SF), Curtis King (SF), Ian
|
|
Lloyd (SF), Ullanda McCullough (IM), Brian Ruggles (SF), Zack
|
|
Sanders (52), Marlon Saunders (RD), Frank Simms (GHITS, RD),
|
|
George Simms (K, RD), Ray Simpson (52), Phoebe Snow (S),
|
|
Corliss Stafford (RD), Crystal Taliefero (SF), Ron Taylor (IM),
|
|
Terry Textor (IM), Eric Troyer (IM), Joe Lynn Turner (SF), Brenda
|
|
White-King (SF, RD), B. David Whitworth (RD)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IV. BILLY JOEL RESOURCES
|
|
============================
|
|
|
|
1. Books
|
|
----------------------
|
|
[Thanks to Claire Caterer (caterer@panix.com) for this info]
|
|
|
|
BILLY JOEL by Peter Gambaccini; Jove Publications: 1979
|
|
BILLY JOEL by Michael McKenzie; Ballantine: 1984
|
|
BILLY JOEL by Debbie Geller & Tom Hibbert; McGraw-Hill: 1985
|
|
BILLY JOEL by Jeff Tamarkin; Cherry Lane BOoks: 1984
|
|
ROCK STARS by Timothy White; Stewart, Tabori, & Chiang: 1984
|
|
|
|
2. Magazine Articles
|
|
----------------------
|
|
[Thanks to Michael Kidd (mkidd@julian.uwo.ca) for the
|
|
majority of this info]
|
|
|
|
"Billy Joel Tricks the Phillies." Rolling Stone. Jun. 20, 1974
|
|
"Billy Joel: The Miracle of 52nd Street." Rolling Stone.
|
|
Dec. 14, 1978, pp. 70ff.
|
|
"Rock Punk." Penthouse. May 1979
|
|
"Billy Joel is Angry." Rolling Stone. Sep. 4, 1980, pp. 37ff.
|
|
"Billy Joel." Playboy. May, 1982
|
|
"Billy Joel: Not as Bad as You Think." Rolling Stone. Oct. 28, 1982
|
|
"He Sang of Their Troubles, but Grateful Citizens Say Thank You
|
|
Anyway To Billy Joel." People. Jan. 10, 1983
|
|
"Billy Joel." Penthouse. Dec. 1985
|
|
"New Billy Joel LP A Star-Studded Affair." Rolling Stone.
|
|
Jun. 9, 1986
|
|
"Billy Joel." Rolling Stone. Nov. 6, 1986, pp. 46ff.
|
|
"Billy Joel." Life. Sep. 1987
|
|
"Billy Joel's Russian Roadshow." Rolling Stone. Sep. 24, 1987
|
|
"Billy Joel: Doing the Kremlin Rag." Life. Oct. 1987
|
|
"A Matter of Trust: Billy Joel in the USSR." Variety. Jun. 29, 1988
|
|
"Billy Joel Rides the Tide of Success into his 40's." Billboard.
|
|
Nov. 4, 1989
|
|
"Billy Joel Starts a Fire..." Rolling Stone. Nov. 16, 1989
|
|
"Billy Joel." Keyboard. Jan., 1990, pp. 50
|
|
"Talent in Action: Billy Joel." Billboard. Jan. 6, 1990
|
|
"The Rolling Stone Interview: Billy Joel." Rolling Stone.
|
|
Jan. 25, 1990, pp. 34ff.
|
|
"The Lessons of Rock and Roll: Billy Joel Presents History, the
|
|
Album (We Didn't Start the Fire)." Newsweek. Jan. 29, 1990
|
|
"Hometown Hero: Billy Joel." Rolling Stone. Aug. 9, 1990
|
|
"Classic Songs: Billy Joel's Top Ten Beatles Songs." Rolling Stone.
|
|
Aug. 23, 1990
|
|
"A Matter of Trust: Billy Joel Suing Former Lawyers." Billboard.
|
|
Oct. 3, 1992
|
|
"Billy Joel." Rolling Stone. Oct. 15, 1992
|
|
"Billy Joel: Of time and the 'River'." Billboard. Jun. 5, 1993
|
|
"The Last Songwriter--River of Dreams by Billy Joel." Time.
|
|
Aug. 30, 1993
|
|
"Picks & Pans--River of Dreams by Billy Joel." People. Sep. 20, 1993
|
|
"Billy Joel's New Legal Firestorm." Rolling Stone. Sep. 30, 1993
|
|
"Just the Way He Is." People. Oct. 25, 1993
|
|
"Billy Joel Agrees to Drop Suit against Grubman." Billboard.
|
|
Nov. 6, 1993
|
|
"Billy Joel." Rolling Stone. Dec. 23, 1993
|
|
"The Year in Recordings." Rolling Stone. Dec. 23, 1993
|
|
|
|
3. Sheet Music
|
|
----------------------
|
|
Sheet music for all of Billy Joel's songs is available. You
|
|
should be able to find it at your favorite local music store.
|
|
|
|
Billy Joel Complete Volume 1 (ISBN:0-7935-2070-3) [contains
|
|
first 6 albums: Cold Spring Harbor, Piano Man,
|
|
Streetlife Serenade, Turnstiles, The Stranger, and
|
|
52nd Street] 304 pages. US$27.95
|
|
Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
|
|
7777 West Bluemound Road
|
|
PO Box 13819
|
|
Milwaukee, WI 53213
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. Streetlife Serenade Newsletter
|
|
---------------------------------
|
|
Streetlife Serenade is a new newsletter put out independently
|
|
from Billy's record company. To obtain a free sample issue
|
|
(this is subject to change) and specifics on subscribing
|
|
(including current subscription cost), write to:
|
|
|
|
Suzan Wells
|
|
c/o Wells Ink
|
|
P.O. Box 2075
|
|
Garden City, NY 11531
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. Net Resources
|
|
----------------------
|
|
FTP SITES:
|
|
----------
|
|
ftp.uwp.edu:/pub/music/artists/j/joel.billy (good place to start)
|
|
/pub/music/lyrics/j/joel.billy (lyrics to almost all
|
|
songs)
|
|
/pub/music/guitar/j/Billy.Joel (guitar music for
|
|
a few songs)
|
|
/pub/music/pictures/j/joel.billy (one jpeg file of
|
|
poor quality--picture from back of "The Bridge")
|
|
ftp.eng.auburn.edu:/pub/billy-joel/fan-email-archive.z
|
|
(archives of Billy Joel mailing list)
|
|
/pub/billy-joel/README (description of mail folder file)
|
|
|
|
WWW SITE:
|
|
---------
|
|
For those of you who like to cruise the World Wide Web, check
|
|
out Mark Rotton's (rotton@gandalf.rutgers.edu) Billy Joel
|
|
WWW Site. The URL is:
|
|
http://www.usacs.rutgers.edu/~rotton/bjoel.html
|
|
|
|
MAILING LISTS:
|
|
--------------
|
|
|
|
The Billy Joel Mailing List
|
|
---------------------------
|
|
[Thanks to Chael Hall (nowhere@chaos.bsu.edu), Mailing List
|
|
Administrator, and Reid Fishler (redhead@chaos.bsu.edu),
|
|
Mailing List Moderator for this info]
|
|
|
|
Purpose:
|
|
This mailing list is for fans of Billy Joel and his music. Its
|
|
intention is to provide a forum for intelligent discussion of Billy
|
|
Joel, his music, concert dates, tour information, trivia, and other
|
|
related topics.
|
|
|
|
Membership:
|
|
Open Invitation.
|
|
|
|
Subscription:
|
|
To join the instant version (You get all the mail as it is sent):
|
|
mail to: joel-request@chaos.bsu.edu
|
|
subject: subscribe
|
|
|
|
To join the Digest version (One to two letters a day, containing
|
|
all the mail for the day):
|
|
mail to: joel-digest-request@chaos.bsu.edu
|
|
subject: subscribe
|
|
|
|
Questions:
|
|
Send mail to the list request address, joel-request@chaos.bsu.edu
|
|
with the subject line "MANUAL", and it will be forwarded to the
|
|
moderator (redhead@chaos.bsu.edu) and the mailing list administrator
|
|
(nowhere@chaos.bsu.edu.)
|
|
|
|
Keepers of the Faith / The Piano Bar
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
[thanks to Jason Dorough (jasond3345@aol.com) for this info]
|
|
|
|
Keepers of the Faith is a Billy Joel fan club. It is available
|
|
through Prodigy, INN, America On-Line, and the Internet at
|
|
large. A few of the things it has to offer are:
|
|
|
|
1) A weekly newsletter (The Piano Bar) sent through e-mail.
|
|
2) A recordings library where members can use audio/visual
|
|
material.
|
|
3) Frequent contests with prizes.
|
|
|
|
There is no fee for joining the club/mailing list. For more
|
|
information, send e-mail to Jason Dorough (jasond3345@aol.com).
|
|
To join, include your full name, e-mail address, and regular mail
|
|
address in your message to Jason.
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Origins/Meanings of Songs, plus Other Misc. Questions
|
|
========================================================
|
|
Bear in mind that many of these songs can have other meanings. These
|
|
are just Billy's intended meanings. Feel free to interpret any of these
|
|
songs any way you like.
|
|
|
|
1. Who/What is Captain Jack?
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|
According to Billy Joel, Captain Jack was the neighborhood
|
|
drug dealer in his neighborhood when he was growing up.
|
|
|
|
2. Who is Rosalinda in "Rosalinda's Eyes"?
|
|
-------------------------------------------
|
|
Billy's Mom.
|
|
|
|
3. Who is the "Famous Violinist Incognito" who plays on "Downeaster Alexa"?
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Itzhak Perlman. They couldn't use his real name due to legal
|
|
complications about Perlman appearing on a different record label.
|
|
|
|
4. What is the significance of the record title "The Bridge"?
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
[From an interview in the back of the piano sheet music book for
|
|
The Bridge]
|
|
|
|
"I came up with the title THE BRIDGE about two-thirds of the way
|
|
through the album ... I I didn't really know why when I first said
|
|
it. Then when I thought about it, I realized there's been a lot of
|
|
connections made on this record. There's a duet with Ray Charles,
|
|
and Ray Charles is somebody I admired for years and years. That was
|
|
a connection made, so there's a bridge. There's a song that was done
|
|
with Steve Winwood playing the Hammond organ, and I've always
|
|
admired Steve--for years and years. So there's another bridge. The
|
|
album is probably more like an older Billy Joel album, harkening
|
|
back to 52ND STREET and THE STRANGER, in that it's not a concept
|
|
album. The songs are not necessarily related to one another, but
|
|
they were written in the same [time] period. And for that reason,
|
|
because there's a connection to the older stuff, there's another
|
|
bridge. I also see it as a direction into a future type of writing."
|
|
|
|
5. What's the significance behind "Vienna"?
|
|
--------------------------------------------
|
|
Billy's Dad lives in Vienna. He wrote the song after going there
|
|
to visit him once.
|
|
|
|
6. What (or who) was the inspiration for "Big Shot"?
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------
|
|
A very bad date with Bianca Jagger.
|
|
|
|
7. What ever happened to the "Root Beer Rag" newsletter?
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------
|
|
This newsletter was produced by Billy's former management
|
|
agency. When Billy broke up with his former manager, Frank
|
|
Weber, the newsletter ceased to be published.
|
|
|
|
8. Which of Billy's songs have other artists covered?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------
|
|
"Miami 2017" -- Richard Marx (_Now and Forever_)
|
|
"New York State of Mind" -- Susannah McCorkle
|
|
"New York State of Mind" -- Oleta Adams (_Evolution_)
|
|
"New York State of Mind" -- Rolf from the Muppets (_Old Brown Ears
|
|
is Back_)
|
|
"New York State of Mind" -- Barbara Streisand
|
|
"Say Goodbye to Hollywood" -- Nigel Olson
|
|
"Shameless" -- Garth Brooks (_Ropin' the Wind_)
|
|
"You May Be Right" -- Southside Johnny (Theme Music for CBS's
|
|
"Dave's World")
|
|
|
|
9. What was the "Souvenir" album?
|
|
----------------------------------
|
|
[Thanks to Carl Woodin (cjw4@psuvm.psu.edu) for this info.]
|
|
|
|
Souvenir was released by Columbia in 1977. It was released as
|
|
a half live, half greatest hits album. It was distributed mainly
|
|
to DJs, clubs, and fan clubs. A VERY limited picture disc version
|
|
was also released.
|
|
|
|
Side 1 (live) - Ballad of Billy the Kid
|
|
Summer, Highland Falls
|
|
New York State of Mind
|
|
Souvenir
|
|
(This live side was recorded on 12/5-6/1976 at the Palmer
|
|
Auditorium, Univ. of Connecticut, New London. It was recorded
|
|
during the taping of the Billy Joel tonight video.)
|
|
|
|
Side 2 - Entertainer
|
|
I've Loved these Days
|
|
Captain Jack
|
|
Los Angelenos
|
|
Say Goodbye to Hollywood
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. What songs has Billy written that were never released?
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------
|
|
"Money and Love" (written for Storm Front)
|
|
|
|
|
|
11. What about... ?
|
|
--------------------
|
|
If you know of something else that should be included here, let me
|
|
know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A big Thank You to all the contributors to this Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
List! God knows I wouldn't have wanted to write all this myself...
|
|
|
|
*************************************************************************
|
|
Feel free to quote from this document as long as proper credit is given
|
|
to the editor and (if specified) the contributor of the information.
|
|
If you intend to reprint or redistrubute the entire FAQ or quote large
|
|
chunks of it, please contact the editor for permission. All rights
|
|
reserved by the editor, Michael Steele (mike@cs.umd.edu), 1994,
|
|
except for "Billy Joel, A look into Billy Joel's early recordings,"
|
|
which is copyright 1991 by Paul Maclaughlan (paul@moore.com)
|
|
*************************************************************************
|
|
--
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Mike Steele INET: mike@cs.umd.edu voice: (301)405-2720
|
|
Univ. of Maryland Dept. of Comp. Sci. http://www.cs.umd.edu/users/mike
|
|
** Mail fotd-request@cs.umd.edu to join the Fruit-of-the-Day mailing list! **
|
|
|