BILLY JOEL 100. Today: #35-31. More-  tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè presents:

THE 100 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS BY

BILLY JOEL

William Martin Joel was born in The Bronx, New York in 1949. He grew up on Long Island and began studying the piano in 1953. Billy joined his first band 10 years later. In 1971, he signed a recording contract as a soloist. That year, he released his solo debut album. Since then, his music has been the soundtrack for countless fans.

Here are 100 of his best works…

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35

YOU’RE ONLY HUMAN (SECOND WIND)

The other new song included on the compilation ‘Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II’ was “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)”. Billy donated royalties to a Youth Suicide Prevention charity. He had attempted suicide in his younger years. Billy reflects in the song’s lyrics: “I wouldn’t be telling you if I hadn’t been there myself”. The single was a Top 10 hit in America and Australia.

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34

THE LONGEST TIME

“The Longest Time” is Billy’s tribute to the doo wop a capella groups. In Britain, the single peaked at #25. The song reached #14 in the U.S. This was another single lifted off ‘An Innocent Man’.

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33

SHE’S GOT A WAY {Live}

Billy first recorded “She’s Got A Way” for his solo debut LP ‘Cold Spring Harbor’. He wrote the love song for his wife Elizabeth because he did not have the means to buy her a Valentine’s Day gift. Billy re-recorded the ballad for his ‘Songs In The Attic’ album. This new live version climbed to #23 in America.

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32

PRELUDE / ANGRY YOUNG MAN

“Prelude / Angry Young Man” is a highlight on the ‘Turnstiles’ album which not only gives Billy the opportunity to demonstrate his skill as a pianist, but also hints that he was now poised for mainstream success as achieved with his follow-up album.

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31

STILETTO

Billy injects a jazzy edge into “Stiletto”, one of the standout tracks on ‘52^nd Street’. Richie Cannata powers the song with his sax. Drummer Liberty DeVitto used an umbrella to make the sound of a switchblade.  

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Hear the songs as updated on this blog via the new Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rYz7gZBJy1zHNoITZ8HwV?si=7ba2b1960f404546