Greatest Hits (Billy Joel albums)
Billy Joel's Greatest Hits is a collection released in two sets, 12 years apart. The first set, consisting of two discs, titled Volume I and Volume II, was released in 1985. The second, single disc titled Volume III was released in 1997. "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night Is Still Young" were new songs and, at the time, only available on this compilation. All songs but the last three on Volume III, "To Make You Feel My Love", "Hey Girl" and "Light as the Breeze" were written by Joel. The other songs appear mostly in order of their release dates and generally represent Joel's most successful singles.
Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II | ||||
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Greatest hits album by Billy Joel | ||||
Released | July 1, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1973–1985 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 1:53:45 (CD) | |||
Label | Family Productions/Columbia | |||
Producer | Michael Stewart, Billy Joel, Phil Ramone | |||
Billy Joel chronology | ||||
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Singles from Greatest Hits - Volume I & II | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone Album Guide, 3rd Edition | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II has been certified double diamond by the RIAA, selling over 11.5 million copies (23 million units) and is tied with Pink Floyd's The Wall and Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV for third most certified album of all time in the U.S.[2]
The Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II album includes hits from 1973 to 1985 in chronological order with one exception. Some pressings do not include "Honesty", and instead include "Don't Ask Me Why".[3] The compilation includes two previously unreleased tracks, "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night Is Still Young". These two songs were also available as singles and, in 1989, on the 5-disc box set Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection which included the entire Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II (with "Honesty").[4] "You're Only Human" later featured on the compilation The Ultimate Collection released in 2000, and on disc 15, Collected Additional Masters, of The Complete Albums Collection box set, released in 2011. "The Night Is Still Young" was also included on that same disc 15. The sax solo on ‘New York State of Mind’ was re-recorded by Phil Woods for the release of Greatest Hits. It replaced Richie Cannata’s original solo, recorded in 1976 for the album Turnstiles.[5]
Track listing
Double LP/Double cassette
Side one | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "Piano Man" (1973) | 5:36 | ||||||||
2. | "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (1981) (live edited version) | 3:54 | ||||||||
3. | "New York State of Mind" (1976) (new saxophone solo by Phil Woods, replacing Richie Cannata's 1976 original solo) | 6:02 | ||||||||
4. | "The Stranger" (1977) | 5:07 | ||||||||
5. | "Just the Way You Are" (1977) (radio edit version) | 3:36 |
Side two | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" (1977) | 3:28 | ||||||||
2. | "Only the Good Die Young" (1977) | 3:53 | ||||||||
3. | "She's Always a Woman" (1977) | 3:17 | ||||||||
4. | "My Life" (1978) (radio edit version) | 3:51 | ||||||||
5. | "Big Shot" (1978) (radio edit version) | 3:43 | ||||||||
6. | "You May Be Right" (1980) | 4:09 |
Side three | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" (1980) | 2:54 | ||||||||
2. | "Don't Ask Me Why" (1980) | 2:57 | ||||||||
3. | "Pressure" (1982) (radio edit version) | 3:15 | ||||||||
4. | "Allentown" (1982) | 3:48 | ||||||||
5. | "Goodnight Saigon" (1982) | 7:00 |
Side four | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "Tell Her About It" (1983) (radio edit version) | 3:35 | ||||||||
2. | "Uptown Girl" (1983) | 3:15 | ||||||||
3. | "The Longest Time" (1983) | 3:36 | ||||||||
4. | "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" (1985) | 4:48 | ||||||||
5. | "The Night Is Still Young" (1985) | 5:28 |
Some original pressings omit "Don't Ask Me Why" and place "Honesty" after "Big Shot," pushing "You May Be Right" to the beginning of Side C.[6]
Double CD release
Disc one | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "Piano Man" | 5:39 | ||||||||
2. | "Captain Jack" | 6:57 | ||||||||
3. | "The Entertainer" | 3:40 | ||||||||
4. | "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" | 4:39 | ||||||||
5. | "New York State of Mind" | 6:05 | ||||||||
6. | "The Stranger" | 5:09 | ||||||||
7. | "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" | 7:36 | ||||||||
8. | "Just the Way You Are" | 4:51 | ||||||||
9. | "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" | 3:30 | ||||||||
10. | "Only the Good Die Young" | 3:54 | ||||||||
11. | "She's Always a Woman" | 3:20 | ||||||||
Total length: |
55:20 |
Disc two | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "My Life" | 4:44 | ||||||||
2. | "Big Shot" | 4:02 | ||||||||
3. | "Honesty" (on first edition, instead of 'Don't Ask me Why') | 3:51 | ||||||||
4. | "You May Be Right" | 4:13 | ||||||||
5. | "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" | 2:58 | ||||||||
6. | "Don't Ask Me Why" (on second edition, instead of 'Honesty') | 2:59 | ||||||||
7. | "She's Got a Way" (live edition from Songs in the Attic) | 3:02 | ||||||||
8. | "Pressure" | 4:37 | ||||||||
9. | "Allentown" | 3:48 | ||||||||
10. | "Goodnight Saigon" | 7:02 | ||||||||
11. | "Tell Her About It" | 3:50 | ||||||||
12. | "Uptown Girl" | 3:16 | ||||||||
13. | "The Longest Time" | 3:39 | ||||||||
14. | "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" | 4:49 | ||||||||
15. | "The Night Is Still Young" | 5:26 | ||||||||
Total length: |
58:25 |
There are two versions of the CD available, the first version has "Honesty" as the third track on disc 2, the second version has "Don't Ask Me Why" as the fifth track on disc 2. However, the disc with "Honesty" does not have "Don't Ask Me Why" and vice versa.[7]
On the first releases, five songs are shorter than their original versions: ‘Just The Way You Are’ is only 3:34 long (1½ minute shorter), verse 2 is totally omitted (from “Don’t go trying some new fashion” to “ I want you just the way you are”) and the sax solo at the end fades early; ‘My Life’ is 3:50 long (nearly 1 minute shorter,) the intro is slightly shorter with piano notes at 0:25 omitted (before the first words), same notes are omitted between verses 1 and 2, then again after “You wake up with yourself”, piano passage also missing after “But not on my time” and the piano notes omitted several times at the end;‘Big Shot’ is 3:43 long (the ending with the “big shot… wow” is shortened by ½ minute approx.); ‘Pressure’ is only 3:13 long (1½ min shorter) with more than a verse omitted (from “I'll tell you what it means” to “I read it too, what does it mean?”); ‘Tell Her About It’ is 3:33 long (the end fades approx. 20 seconds sooner, leaving some wording out).[8]
In 1998, the two CD set with "Don't Ask Me Why" was digitally remastered and packaged with two bonus videos ("You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night Is Still Young") on disc 1. All of the songs that were edited in the 1985 package ("Pressure", "My Life", "Big Shot", "Just the Way You Are" and "Tell Her About It") were restored to their original album lengths. Also, the live version of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" was removed and replaced with the studio version from Joel's 1976 album Turnstiles.
Some limited editions of a 3 disc-compilation The Greatest Hits Collection, Volumes I, II & III were issued in 1998, to accompany the world tour.[9]
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[10] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[11] | Gold | 25,000x |
Canada (Music Canada)[12] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
France (SNEP)[13] | 2× Gold | 200,000[14] |
Japan (Oricon Charts)[15] | 3× Platinum + 1× Gold | 700,000[16] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[17] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[18] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[19] | Platinum | 50,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[21] | 23× Platinum | 11,500,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Greatest Hits Volume III
Greatest Hits Volume III | ||||
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Greatest hits album by Billy Joel | ||||
Released | August 19, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1983–1997 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 68:18 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Phil Ramone, Mick Jones, Billy Joel, Danny Kortchmar, Joe Nicolo, David Thoener | |||
Billy Joel chronology | ||||
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Singles from Greatest Hits - Volume III | ||||
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The Greatest Hits Volume III album includes hits from 1983 to 1997. Three previously unreleased studio tracks are included, "To Make You Feel My Love", "Hey Girl", and "Light as the Breeze". All three tracks are newly recorded covers (a rare occurrence in his catalogue); Joel originally recorded the song "Light as the Breeze" for a Leonard Cohen tribute album, Tower of Song, released in 1995.
Chronologically, Greatest Hits Volume III overlaps slightly with Volume II, as the first two tracks, "Keeping the Faith" and "An Innocent Man", first appeared on his album An Innocent Man.
Track listing
All songs written by Billy Joel except as noted.
No. | Title | Length | |
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1. | "Keeping the Faith" | 4:38 | |
2. | "An Innocent Man" | 5:19 | |
3. | "A Matter of Trust" | 4:12 | |
4. | "Baby Grand" | 4:05 | |
5. | "This Is the Time" | 5:00 | |
6. | "Leningrad" | 4:04 | |
7. | "We Didn't Start the Fire" | 4:48 | |
8. | "I Go to Extremes" | 4:24 | |
9. | "And So It Goes" | 3:38 | |
10. | "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" | 3:44 | |
11. | "Shameless" | 4:27 | |
12. | "All About Soul" (Remix) | 6:01 | |
13. | "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" | 3:35 | |
14. | "The River of Dreams" | 4:11 | |
15. | "To Make You Feel My Love" (Written by Bob Dylan) | 3:53 | |
16. | "Hey Girl" (Written by Gerry Goffin & Carole King) | 3:57 | |
17. | "Light as the Breeze" (Written by Leonard Cohen) | 6:12 |
Personnel
- Billy Joel: keyboards, acoustic piano, Hammond B-3, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, clavinet, accordion, harpsichord, harmonica, lead and backing vocals
- Bob Bailey, Kim Fleming, Yvonne Hodges, Donna McElroy, Chris Rodriguez, Trisha Yearwood, Alex Brown, Jackie Gouche, Monalisa Young, Wrecia Ford, Marion Saunders, B. David Whitworth, Frank and George Simms, Patty Darcy, Frank Floyd, Mick Jones, Joe Lynn Turner, Ian Lloyd, Chuck Arnold (and members of the Hicksville High School Chorus): background vocals
- Emory Gordy Jr., David Brown, Russell Javors, Dean Parks, Joey Hunting, Mike Tyler, Danny Kortchmar, Tommy Byrnes, Phillip Nowlam, Bob Mann, Dann Huff, Mac McAnally: guitars
- Paul Franklin: pedal steel ("Light as the Breeze")
- Matt Rollings, Ray Charles: acoustic piano
- Steve Nathan: organ
- Robbie Kondor, Randy Waldman: keyboards
- John Mahoney: keyboards, keyboard programming
- Kevin Jones: keyboard programming
- Jeff Jacobs, Jeff Bova: synthesizers
- Doug Stegmeyer, Neil Stubenhaus, Schuyler Deale, T. M. Stevens, Chuck Treece, Jeff Lee Johnson, Will Lee, Willie Weeks, Randy D. Jackson: bass guitar
- Liberty DeVitto, Vinnie Colaiuta, Zachary Alford, Shawn Pelton: drums
- Crystal Taliefero: percussion, backing vocals
- Mark Rivera: percussion, alto and tenor saxophones
- Michael Brecker: tenor sax
- Ronnie Cutler: baritone sax
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
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Australia (ARIA)[22] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[12] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Japan (Oricon Charts)[15] | Gold | 100,000[16] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[21] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997
The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997 | |
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Live album by Billy Joel | |
Released | October 13, 1997 |
Recorded | 1997 |
Genre | Rock, interview |
Length | 1:18:03 |
Label | Columbia |
Producer | Billy Joel |
On October 14, 1997, a boxed set was released that included all three Greatest Hits volumes as well as a fourth disc (entitled An Evening of Questions & Answers... & A Little Music) that contains live tracks and a Q&A with Joel. Originally available in a long box format, the box set is also available in a compact box format.
Track listing
An Evening of Questions & Answers... & A Little Music | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
1. | "Billy Joel Spoken Intro/Music Concepts" (live, mostly spoken) | 10:18 | ||||||||
2. | "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" (unreleased version – live) | 7:50 | ||||||||
3. | "Beatles Influence" (live, mostly spoken) | 5:18 | ||||||||
4. | "A Hard Day's Night" (unreleased version – live) | 2:53 | ||||||||
5. | "Why Vienna?" (live, mostly spoken) | 9:28 | ||||||||
6. | "Vienna" (unreleased version – live) | 3:41 | ||||||||
7. | "History Through the Music" (live, mostly spoken) | 4:31 | ||||||||
8. | "We Didn't Start the Fire" (unreleased version – live) | 5:13 | ||||||||
9. | "Music Source" (live, mostly spoken) | 9:14 | ||||||||
10. | "The River of Dreams" (unreleased original studio recording) | 5:20 | ||||||||
11. | "Piano Bar" (live, mostly spoken) | 7:46 | ||||||||
12. | "Piano Man" (unreleased version – live) | 6:31 | ||||||||
Total length: |
1:18:03 |
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
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United States (RIAA)[21] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
See also
References
- ↑ AllMusic
- ↑ "RIAA List of Best Selling Albums"
- ↑ Sources for the Dutch and Japanese editions of Greatest Hits Volume 2:
- Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Dutch Edition). Billy Joel. Columbia Records. 1985.
- Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Japanese Edition). Billy Joel. Columbia Records. 1985.
- Greatest Hits Volume 2 (South Korean Edition). Billy Joel. Columbia Records. 1985.
- ↑ Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection
- ↑ http://billyjoel52ndstreetserenade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/the-great-showdown.html
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Joel-Greatest-Hits-Volume-I-Volume-II/release/386039
- ↑ "Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II at Discogs"
- ↑ http://billyjoel52ndstreetserenade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/the-great-showdown.html
- ↑ http://billyjoel52ndstreetserenade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/the-great-showdown.html
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1992 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Enter Billy Joel in the field Interpret. Enter Greatest Hits in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Canadian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Music Canada.
- ↑ "French album certifications – Billy Joel – 52nd Street" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ↑ "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. SNEP. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 UNSUPPORTED OR EMPTY REGION: Japan (Oricon Charts).
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ↑ "Dutch certifications" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
- ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.
- ↑ "Norwegian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "British album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Greatest Hits in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "American album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 July 2012.