Billy Joel -- Still going to extremes at 57

Billy Joel is 57 today. (Meanwhile, the dreaded song Piano Man feels like it's 73.)  No word on how Billy will celebrate the day. (As long as it doesn't combine alcohol and motorcycles, he's free to do whatever he likes.) Maybe he could shave that beard so he looks a little less like Garth Brooks or Peter Gabriel.

Though he seems finished with his rock/pop recording career to date, Joel hasn't stopped producing greatest hits and live-concert collections. His latest effort -- 12 Gardens Live -- is a double-disc live collection from his recent 12-night stint at New York's Madison Square Garden. It's set for release in June, when Joel resumes his tour in Vienna.

Speaking of discs .... Did you know Joel had more albums in the 80s than any other decade? True enough. Seven in the 80s alone. Some of his best (Glass Houses, Nylon Curtain, Storm Front) and two of his worst (Innocent Man, Bridge).

We dare not leave without a list in honor of The Man. So here...

Top 5 Billy Joel albums:
5. Storm Front (1989): I Go To Extremes, And So It Goes
4. 52nd Street (1978): Big Shot, My Life, Zanzibar
3. Glass Houses (1980): You May Be Right, Don't Ask Me Why
2. Nylon Curtain (1982): Allentown, Pressure, Goodnight Saigon
1. The Stranger (1977): Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Only the Good Die Young, Movin' Out. (There's a reason it's the only album Judd Nelson wanted back in St. Elmo's Fire).

For new fans to the blog, check out older posts about Joel, including my long, rambling item about how much I hate the song Piano Man. And Sean Day's effort to rub it in during his review of Joel's show in Tampa. That's good bloggin'!

Comments

[chilledbongo]

ive never heard a billy joel album from start to finish and mighty proud. 'piano man' is the pre-dui anthem of all time.meanwhile, those pix(plus christopher cross) inspire a blog topic: rockers who have aged badly: bald,fat,skanky etc....its possible not to look too bad: dylan is a fright, but still scary. springsteen is hanging on. jagger. mccartney? hmmm. open to debate.

[Sherrie]

While I will admit to a deep and abiding love of the music of Billy Joel, I have to say that the beard/goatee thingee is the only thing keeping his appearance from being simply a creepy, creepy old guy. It's a thin straw to grasp, but it's something!As for rockers who have aged badly- I am also a big fan of wee little Paul Simon but I have to say that he is no where near an attractive man anymore (he was in the early 80's, trust me on this). Did you see the pic of him in the Times yesterday from New Orleans? Scary Simon!Sherrie

[Mirrorball Man]

I must admist Ive heard a few Billy Joel CDs from start to finish, but as to this day I still only own Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2.I think Joel between circumstance, bad management,lost self cofidence,along with the regualr booze and drugs final put him in a place where he simply doesnt care about any of it anymore. Beyond the clssical release he did a few years back ,some touring with Sir Elton and getting married to a woman his daughters age. He hasnt done anything musically in so long I think its possible that hes simply forgotten how to. Sad ,really.I hope he can pull himself together and put out something new and give himself some of his dignity back.MM

[Anonymous]

I don't know, I saw him and Sir Elton perform a couple years ago at the Forum and it is still one of my fave shows. Not to say that Piano Man is one of the most overplayed songs ever.