Mojo Filter's Top 40 Billy Joel Songs

[mojofilter]

Check out and leave comments on my previous threads listing my Top 50 Male Solo Artists (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=43287), Top 20 Female Solo Artists (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=43395), Top 50 Bands (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=42727), Top 30 Beatles Songs (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1389710#post1389710), Top 40 Michael Jackson Songs (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1414687#post1414687), Top 40 John Lennon Songs (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1418575#post1418575), and Top 30 Phil Collins Songs (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1419566#post1419566).


The following are my Top 40 Songs by one of the greatest solo artists of all time...

BILLY JOEL
http://9f1780.medialib.glogster.com/media/02cda8cf2056f5d602e76b3a74a68e995bdb196543ba81f8958c34b81088aaf8/billy-joel.jpg

40. PRESSURE
(1982, The Nylon Curtain)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyv905Q2omU
I remember watching and listening to this song on MTV when I was younger, and I remember the eerie feeling it gave me. One of Billy's darkest and brilliant songs. It's about being under pressure as the title entails.

[mojofilter]

39. LOS ANGELENOS
(1974, Streetlife Serenader)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuIvYrKsvnM
One of Billy's overlooked classics off his underrated third studio album. A cool song with a rock edge.

[mojofilter]

38. ZANZIBAR
(1978, 52nd Street)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A76NDvJhFA
Billy tends to play this song all the time at his live shows. A cool jazzy rock track off his highly successful sixth studio album.

[mojofilter]

37. SOMETIMES A FANTASY
(1980, Glass Houses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhJg1finpyU
Perhaps Billy's dirtiest song, about a man who misses his woman so much, he calls her in hopes of having phone sex, hence the "Fantasy". The song was from his highly successful seventh album.

[mojofilter]

36. TOMORROW IS TODAY
(1971, Cold Spring Harbor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xN3hbJG2tc
A song Billy wrote early on his career and during a dark time in his life. He penned this brilliant and touching piano-driven track off his debut album following a suicide attempt and realizing there was something to live for.

[mojofilter]

Billy's back catalog is rich with so many great songs and masterpieces that made this list hard to compile, but I truly believe I was able to gather the best songs throughout his entire career.


I hope you guys are liking the list!
What songs have you enjoyed the most so far, and what songs do you expect to see?

[ursaguy]

Great list so far. Don't ruin it with We Didn't Start The Fire.

[Tugg]

Billy's back catalog is rich with so many great songs and masterpieces that made this list hard to compile, but I truly believe I was able to gather the best songs throughout his entire career.
I'm excited. He's definitely one of the best musical artist ever and I like his style very much. But I'm not very familiar with his discography so I'm looking to find great surprises.
What songs have you enjoyed the most so far, and what songs do you expect to see?
I hope "Captain Jack" is there somewhere.

[mojofilter]

Great list so far. Don't ruin it with We Didn't Start The Fire.


That's actually one of Billy's least favorite songs of his. He mentioned during an interview with Howard Stern that the song was his most boring to play. But from a fan's point of the view, though, the song is terrific. It was my first world history lesson! :)

[mojofilter]

I'm excited. He's definitely one of the best musical artist ever and I like his style very much. But I'm not very familiar with his discography so I'm looking to find great surprises.

I hope "Captain Jack" is there somewhere.
He's a national treasure and his songs are cultural artifacts, in my opinion. I was lucky to see him live 2 years ago. It was the best concert I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot.


We shall see about Captain Jack. I love that song!

[mojofilter]

35. YOU'RE MY HOME
(1973, Piano Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDH2E2wWjc0
A song Billy wrote for his first wife as a Valentine's Day gift because, at the time, he was broke and couldn't afford to buy her anything. One of the highlight tracks on his sophomore album.

[mojofilter]

34. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJBoHa3GArA
Another Billy song with dirty connotations. Billy wrote this classic about a Catholic girl he once knew who refused to date him because she believed premarital sex was a sin. One of the highlights off his amazingly successful fifth studio album.

[mojofilter]

33. CAPTAIN JACK
(1973, Piano Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8fL4U-zaJA
One of Billy's earliest and most pivotal songs of his career as it garnered him a lot of media attention. The song is about a young man struggling with drugs and alcohol, and living a loser lifestyle.

[Tugg]

CAPTAIN JACK
The song is about a young man struggling with drugs and alcohol, and living a loser lifestyle.


"Captain Jack" is about heroin user. Although in more loose terms it can be applied to any substance users.

[gbgoodies]

Billy's back catalog is rich with so many great songs and masterpieces that made this list hard to compile, but I truly believe I was able to gather the best songs throughout his entire career.


I hope you guys are liking the list!
What songs have you enjoyed the most so far, and what songs do you expect to see?


Billy Joel has so many amazing songs that I don't think I would even know where to start when compiling a list of my favorites. Some of the songs that I'm hoping to see on this list, (but don't really expect to see), are:

This is the Time
And So It Goes
New York State of Mind
She's Always A Woman
The Longest Time
The Night is Still Young
The Entertainer
Prelude/Angry Young Man
I Don't Want to Be Alone

There are more of his songs that I love, but I expect some of those to make the list.

[mojofilter]

32. THE ENTERTAINER
(1974, Streetlife Serenader)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYLMN2PSI3E
Written satirically about the entertainment industry and how artists are treated by the record label and the public, and were forced to shorten their songs (not more than 3 minutes and 5 seconds) in order for them to receive airplay, The Entertainer was one of Billy's earliest hit singles, and the only single released from his third studio album.

[mojofilter]

31. SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD
(1976, Turnstiles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9591zjK_n08
Billy wrote this song after leaving Los Angeles and moving back to his hometown in New York City in the mid-70's. One of Billy's biggest epic hit singles, and a highlight on his fourth studio album.

[mojofilter]

Here's a recap of numbers 40 - 31:


40. PRESSURE
39. LOS ANGELENOS
38. ZANZIBAR
37. SOMETIMES A FANTASY
36. TOMORROW IS TODAY
35. YOU’RE MY HOME
34. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG
33. CAPTAIN JACK
32. THE ENTERTAINER
31. SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD


To be continued tomorrow...

[mojofilter]

30. GOODNIGHT SAIGON//LENINGRAD
(1982, The Nylon Curtain // 1989, Storm Front)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjzjhl-QztE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgD_-dRZPgs
Billy wrote Goodnight Saigon as a tribute to Vietnam War veterans. Although Billy was never in the military and did not serve in the war, he met with some veterans who shared stories that ended up becoming lyrics in the song. One of Billy's most important songs, and the best song ever to be written about that unfortunate war. The song is tied with Leningrad, the song from his eleventh studio album, about a Russian clown named Viktor that Billy met while touring the Soviet Union in the late 80's. The song discusses the friendly relationship Billy made with Viktor despite the cold war, and proxy wars both the US and the USSR were involved in.

[mojofilter]

29. ALL FOR LEYNA
(1980, Glass Houses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzE1-NlOthY
An often overlooked song, Billy wrote this rocking tune about a guy who has a one night stand with a girl named Leyna and becomes obsessed with her.

[mojofilter]

28. WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE
(1989, Storm Front)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g
A song Billy wrote for his 40th birthday, this rock anthem plays like a history lesson, mentioning the people and events that were relevant beginning from the year 1949 until 1989. Billy had expressed during interviews that this song is his least favorite due it's repetitive rhythm, but it's still one of his biggest hits and a crowd pleaser.

[mojofilter]

27. IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME
(1980, Glass Houses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAQa4MOGkE
A satirical song Billy wrote in the late 70's about refusing to change his musical style to please a younger audience, who at the time were into new wave and punk rock music. One of his biggest hits.

[Holden Pike]

I love Billy Joel, unabashedly. I saw him in concert this past summer, which marks the third time seeing him live (also saw the Innocent Man tour in 1984 and the River of Dreams tour in 1993). The first album of any kind that I ever bought with my own money, when I was ten, was Glass Houses. I now have that framed in my house, it's that important a record for me. I don't listen to Billy Joel quite every day, but damn near. His songs have been the soundtrack of my life countless times, and continue to be.

Back before I went to see him in Baltimore in July of 2015, I compiled a top ten list of my favorites among favorite songs for my Facebook wall. I've expanded it to thirty. I won't steal your thunder with lots of YouTube links and such, but here are my choices, with the album (or albums) listed beneath each track...

23593

1. "Summer, Highland Falls"
..Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
2. "Vienna"
..The Stranger
3. "Miami 2017 (I've Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"
..Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
4. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
..The Stranger
5. "I've Loved These Days"
..Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
6. "I Don't Want to Be Alone"
..Glass Houses
7. "New York State of Mind"
..Turnstiles
8. "She's Got A Way"
..Cold Spring Harbor/Songs in the Attic
9. "You're My Home"
..Piano Man/Songs in the Attic
10. "Just the Way You Are"
...The Stranger
11. "Sleeping with the Television On"
...Glass Houses
12. "An Innocent Man"
...An Innocent Man
13. "My Life"
...52nd Street
14. "Leave A Tender Moment Alone"
...An Innocent Man
15. "Everybody Loves You Now"
...Cold Spring Harbor/Songs in the Attic
16. "Goodnight Saigon"
...The Nylon Curtain
17. "The Longest Time"
...An Innocent Man
18. "Captain Jack"
...Piano Man/Songs in the Attic
19. "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
...Turnstiles
20. "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
...The Bridge
21. "Only the Good Die Young"
...The Stranger
22. "A Matter of Trust"
...The Bridge
23. "Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)"
...River of Dreams
24. "Piano Man"
...Piano Man
25. "Big Shot"
...52nd Street
26. "The Entertainer"
...Streetlife Serenade
27. "You May Be Right"
...Glass Houses
28. "Tell Her About It"
...An Innocent Man
29. "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
...Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
30. "Don't Ask Me Why"
...Glass Houses

The album I listen to the most is definitely Songs in the Attic, which is a live album that was released between Glass Houses and The Nylon Curtain where Billy highlighted some of his favorite songs pre-The Stranger, the record that made him a superstar. As much as I like those songs on the original albums, my favorite versions of them by far are the live tracks. Including my all-time favorite, "Summer, Highland Falls".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr25rO9zITA

From the Turnstiles album in 1976 through The Bridge in 1986, in those seven records over that decade he was incredibly prolific and outrageously successful. There are almost no bad tracks on those seven records, much less a dud album. The first few and last few records are a little more spotty in terms of overall quality track-by-track, but for his career he created a remarkable catalog. Not all of them were radio hits, though he had forty-two songs chart in the Billboard Top One Hundred, but somehow only three number ones: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Tell Her About It", and "We Didn't Start the Fire" (I cannot express to you how much I detest "We Didn't Start the Fire"). But as you can see from my list, it is the deeper cuts that didn't get much or any radio play that make up most of my favorites, anyway.

Last year somebody on Vulture ranked all one hundred and twenty-one of his songs. You can check out his list HERE (http://www.vulture.com/2015/02/complete-works-121-billy-joel-songs-ranked.html#) and compare it to ours and your own (he has "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" as his top pick).


But carry on, Mojo! Curious to see what your top ten looks like.

23594
*found the bottles this summer. But ti took two months between finding the Billy and finally coming across the Joel. Totes worth it, though.

[mojofilter]

I love Billy Joel, unabashedly. I saw him in concert this past summer, which marks the third time seeing him live (also saw the Innocent Man tour in 1984 and the River of Dreams tour in 1993). The first album of any kind that I ever bought with my own money, when I was ten, was Glass Houses. I now have that framed in my house, it's that important a record for me. I don't listen to Billy Joel quite every day, but damn near. His songs have been the soundtrack of my life countless times, and continue to be.

Back before I went to see him in Baltimore in July of 2015, I compiled a top ten list of my favorites among favorite songs for my Facebook wall. I've expanded it to thirty. I won't steal your thunder with lots of YouTube links and such, but here are my choices, with the album (or albums) listed beneath each track...

ATTACHMENT 23593 NOT FOUND


1. "Summer, Highland Falls"
..Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
2. "Vienna"
..The Stranger
3. "Miami 2017 (I've Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"
..Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
4. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
..The Stranger
5. "I've Loved These Days"
..Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
6. "I Don't Want to Be Alone"
..Glass Houses
7. "New York State of Mind"
..Turnstiles
8. "She's Got A Way"
..Cold Spring Harbor/Songs in the Attic
9. "You're My Home"
..Piano Man/Songs in the Attic
10. "Just the Way You Are"
...The Stranger
11. "Sleeping with the Television On"
...Glass Houses
12. "An Innocent Man"
...An Innocent Man
13. "My Life"
...52nd Street
14. "Leave A Tender Moment Alone"
...An Innocent Man
15. "Everybody Loves You Now"
...Cold Spring Harbor/Songs in the Attic
16. "Goodnight Saigon"
...The Nylon Curtain
17. "The Longest Time"
...An Innocent Man
18. "Captain Jack"
...Piano Man/Songs in the Attic
19. "Prelude/Angry Young Man"
...Turnstiles
20. "Big Man on Mulberry Street"
...The Bridge
21. "Only the Good Die Young"
...The Stranger
22. "A Matter of Trust"
...The Bridge
23. "Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)"
...River of Dreams
24. "Piano Man"
...Piano Man
25. "Big Shot"
...52nd Street
26. "The Entertainer"
...Streetlife Serenade
27. "You May Be Right"
...Glass Houses
28. "Tell Her About It"
...An Innocent Man
29. "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
...Turnstiles/Songs in the Attic
30. "Don't Ask Me Why"
...Glass Houses


The album I listen to the most is definitely Songs in the Attic, which is a live album that was released between Glass Houses and The Nylon Curtain where Billy highlighted some of his favorite songs pre-The Stranger, the record that made him a superstar. As much as I like those songs on the original albums, my favorite versions of them by far are the live tracks. Including my all-time favorite, "Summer, Highland Falls".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr25rO9zITA

From the Turnstiles album in 1976 through The Bridge in 1986, in those seven records over that decade he was incredibly prolific and outrageously successful. There are almost no bad tracks on those seven records, much less a dud album. The first few and last few records are a little more spotty in terms of overall quality track-by-track, but for his career he created a remarkable catalog. Not all of them were radio hits, though he had forty-two songs chart in the Billboard Top One Hundred, but somehow only three number ones: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Tell Her About It", and "We Didn't Start the Fire" (I cannot express to you how much I detest "We Didn't Start the Fire"). But as you can see from my list, it is the deeper cuts that didn't get much or any radio play that make up most of my favorites, anyway.

Last year somebody on Vulture ranked all one hundred and twenty-one of his songs. You can check out his list HERE (http://www.vulture.com/2015/02/complete-works-121-billy-joel-songs-ranked.html#) and compare it to ours and your own (he has "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" as his top pick).


But carry on, Mojo! Curious to see what your top ten looks like.

ATTACHMENT 23594 NOT FOUND
*found the bottles this summer. But ti took two months between finding the Billy and finally coming across the Joel. Totes worth it, though.


Thanks for sharing your list and the Vulture list, too.


Some songs Vulture described as shlock or dull are songs I find amazing. I grew up in the 80's, and so the first songs I heard from Billy were his 80's hits, particularly from An Innocent Man and Storm Front. The first vinyl I owned for Billy was An Innocent Man.
It wasn't until 3 or 4 years ago when I explored his back catalog and discovered most of the gems that I am listing here.


Hope you enjoy the remaining 26 songs!

[Tugg]

Hope you enjoy the remaining 26 songs!
Bring them on! :)

[mojofilter]

26. ALLENTOWN
(1982, The Nylon Curtain)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnJp0oyOxs
A song about the struggles of the working class citizens of the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania when the steel factory shut down.

[mojofilter]

25. PRELUDE/ANGRY YOUNG MAN
(1976, Turnstiles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJf7_5vH1WE
This song starts off with a fast-paced piano-driven prelude before the youth angst anthem kicks in. One of Billy's epics, and it sounds so good when played live.

[mojofilter]

24. NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
(1976, Turnstiles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30yU6CtlWV8
Billy channeled Ray Charles when he wrote and sang this magnificent song when he returned to his hometown in New York after living on the West Coast for a few years.

[mojofilter]

23. YOU MAY BE RIGHT
(1980, Glass Houses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo9t5XK0FhA
The opening track from Billy's seventh studio album is one of his rockiest hit songs that he's ever written. It's obvious from the way he sings the song that he was channeling Mick Jagger.

[mojofilter]

22. THE STRANGER
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdLPI6XhEN8
The title track off his highly successful fifth studio album, The Stranger is one of Billy's most recognizable hit songs.

[mojofilter]

21. THE LONGEST TIME
(1983, An Innocent Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_XgQhMPeEQ
Written as an homage to the 50's doo-wop music scene that Billy grew up listening to, and played almost entirely without instruments, with the exception of the bass, this song is one of the highlights off of his ninth studio album.

[mojofilter]

Here's a recap of number 40 - 21:


40. PRESSURE

39. LOS ANGELENOS

38. ZANZIBAR

37. SOMETIMES A FANTASY

36. TOMORROW IS TODAY

35. YOU’RE MY HOME

34. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG

33. CAPTAIN JACK

32. THE ENTERTAINER

31. SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD



30. GOODNIGHT SAIGON//LENINGRAD

29. ALL FOR LLEYNA

28. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE

27. IT’S STILL ROCK N’ ROLL TO ME

26. ALLENTOWN

25. PRELUDE/ANGRY YOUNG MAN

24. NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

23. YOU MAY BE RIGHT

22. THE STRANGER

21. THE LONGEST TIME


The Top 20 continues shortly...

[mojofilter]

20. THE RIVER OF DREAMS
(1993, River Of Dreams)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSq4B_zHqPM
The title track from his twelfth and final studio album, this bluesy gospel classic is one of Billy's biggest and most beloved songs.

[Tugg]

I didn't know "The River of Dreams" was his song, I love it. It's from 1993, the year I started listening to music.

[mojofilter]

19. STREETLIFE SERENADER
(1974, Streetlife Serenade)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TNrs1434DA
This song is often overlooked when it comes to Billy Joel songs, but that doesn't take away from its sheer brilliance. One of Billy's most captivating pieces of work.

[mojofilter]

18. TELL HER ABOUT IT
(1983, An Innocent Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0pM5dm--yQ
Growing up, this was one of my top favorite Billy songs. It's one of his biggest commercial pop hits with an homage to 50's doo-wop. The music video to the song is by far Billy's coolest and most entertaining.

[mojofilter]

17. DON'T ASK ME WHY
(1980, Glass Houses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQoDqAdoBkY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMuowQN1J0w
One of Billy's most well-known songs, and a highlight on Glass Houses.

[mojofilter]

16. AND SO IT GOES
(1989, Storm Front)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHO6a2H-pqY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJJS5ser3k0
One of the most brilliant pieces of work Billy had done, and a highlight on his 1989 release. The song sounds amazing when played live.

[mojofilter]

15. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJWM5FmZyqU
A song that was included on The Stranger at the insistence of Billy's friend and fellow musician Linda Ronstadt, which Billy had declined to include on the album initially, Just The Way You Are was one of Billy's biggest hits and the song that paved the way for more enormous hits.

[gbgoodies]

I'm very pleasantly surprised to see "And So It Goes" on your list. I think it's one of his most underrated songs. :up:

[mojofilter]

14. MIAMI 2017 (SEEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON BROADWAY)
(1976, Turnstiles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPbOjA_cWg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3vM0KxQ2Io
One of the many songs Billy wrote as an homage to his hometown when he returned to New York City after leaving the West Coast, this song is one of the finest songs he had ever written, and it sounds amazing live.

[mojofilter]

13. SUMMER, HIGHLAND FALLS
(1976, Turnstiles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC5dfGVOFfU
Written at what I consider to be the peak of his creativity, this song is simply one of the most beautiful songs on his 1976 release.

[mojofilter]

12. LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE
(1983, An Innocent Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHpIC4Kk0MU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuS6-Iksx4w
Written as an homage to Motown's soul music, particularly songs by Smokey Robinson, that Billy grew up listening to, this R&B track is one of the best songs on his 1983 release.

[mojofilter]

11. A MATTER OF TRUST
(1986, The Bridge)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yYchgX1fMw
The best song on what I consider his weakest album, this rock song, that features Billy playing guitar instead of the piano, about relationships, written for his then wife Christie Brinkley, has always been a personal favorite of mine.

[mojofilter]

I'm very pleasantly surprised to see "And So It Goes" on your list. I think it's one of his most underrated songs. :up:
I fell in love with this song when I heard it played live at his concert 2 years ago. It's beyond beautiful.

[mojofilter]

Here's a recap of numbers 40 - 11


40. PRESSURE
39. LOS ANGELENOS
38. ZANZIBAR
37. SOMETIMES A FANTASY
36. TOMORROW IS TODAY
35. YOU’RE MY HOME
34. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG
33. CAPTAIN JACK
32. THE ENTERTAINER
31. SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD

30. GOODNIGHT SAIGON//LENINGRAD
29. ALL FOR LLEYNA
28. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE
27. IT’S STILL ROCK N’ ROLL TO ME
26. ALLENTOWN
25. PRELUDE/ANGRY YOUNG MAN
24. NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
23. YOU MAY BE RIGHT
22. THE STRANGER
21. THE LONGEST TIME

20. RIVER OF DREAMS
19. STREETLIFE SERENADER
18. TELL HER ABOUT IT
17. DON’T ASK ME WHY
16. AND SO IT GOES
15. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
14. MIAMI 2017 (SEEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON BROADWAY)
13. SUMMER, HIGHLAND FALLS
12. LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE
11. A MATTER OF TRUST


Top 10 begins shortly, and concludes today...

[mojofilter]

10. PIANO MAN
(1973, Piano Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0
Billy's first hit single and signature song, of which the title has become his renown alias, this song is a fictional narrative of Billy's time working as a piano lounge singer in 1972. The song highlighted Billy's ability to write lyrics that described people, situations, and scenes that made the listener feel the moment, something he continued to do brilliantly throughout his career.

[mojofilter]

9. HONESTY
(1978, 52nd Street)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuFScoO4tb0
This powerful and soaring ballad about the word 'honesty' is definitely one of Billy's most brilliant pieces of work.

[Tugg]

All good songs in top 15, especially" Honesty".

[mojofilter]

8. MY LIFE
(1978, 52nd Street)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JFEfdK_Ls
Billy channeled 60's rock bands like the Beatles and Stones in this gritty pop/rock classic. One of the many songs that highlights Billy's swagger.

[mojofilter]

7. THE DOWNEASTER 'ALEXA'
(1989, Storm Front)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVlDSzbrH5M
Possibly Billy's most underrated song, and the highlight on his 1989 release, this song is sung in the persona of a Long Island fisherman who is struggling to make ends meet and keep his boat. The song's music and lyrics are powerful and captivating.

[mojofilter]

6. SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEO_2eFpSeQ
Although the song was never released as a single, it is considered one of Billy's most celebrated songs amongst fans, and a highlight during live shows. The song tells a story of a couple who reunite at their favorite hangout spot, an Italian eatery, and recollect their life over the years, with each part of their story depicted in a different song arrangement that comes full circle at the end.

[Tugg]

Now we have entered classics zone. All three songs are wonderful. Here I find out "My Life" and "Alexa" were his songs. Surprises I knew would come. They are worthy to be among greatest songs of all time, period. I'm pumped for top 5.

[mojofilter]

5. MOVIN' OUT (ANTHONY'S SONG)
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3U5rUkF2VE
Billy wrote this brilliant song about the working class people who work long hours to afford materialistic things and pretend to be part of the upper class, using characters like Anthony, Sergeant O'Leary, and Mama Leone to tell a story, and concluding that trading in a Chevy for a Cadillac, or moving into a house in Hackensack, New Jersey will cause them a "heart attack-ack-ack".

[mojofilter]

4. SHE'S GOT A WAY
(1971, Cold Spring Harbor)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMSo9ig_Mg8
The earliest song written by Billy, and originally released on his debut album, this incredible ballad was made famous 10 years later when it was featured on the live album Songs In The Attic.

[mojofilter]

3. SHE'S ALWAYS A WOMAN
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjv1gSPktdU
Billy knew how to write a ballad, and this one is definitely one of his very best, if the not the best. Simply breathtaking and captivating.

[mojofilter]

2. VIENNA
(1977, The Stranger)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wccRif2DaGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj5OyjnE8Jw
It should go without saying by now that 1977's The Stranger album is by far Billy's best release. This gem is the best track on the album. Billy himself considers this song, along with Summer Highland Falls, his best work.

[mojofilter]

1. UPTOWN GIRL
(1983, An Innocent Man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCuMWrfXG4E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDnhErj3xJ8
Since I grew up in the 80's, I'll have to be biased and consider this song my all-time favorite Billy song. The ode to 50's doo-wop, the upbeat music, fun lyrics, and rocking video that features his then wife superstar model Christie Brinkley dancing along with him outside a gas station. What's not to love about this classic pop hit?

[gbgoodies]

I love this list. There isn't a song on it that I don't know and love. (Here on Long Island, Billy Joel is practically a God. :))

Having said that, I'm a little surprised at your #1 pick. "Uptown Girl" is a great song, but I've never considered it one of Billy Joel's best songs. (It deserves to be on the list, but I just think #1 is a bit too high for it.)

[Tugg]

I'm fine with "Uptown Girl" being #1. Great list! Thanks, Mojofilter.

[mojofilter]

Here's a recap of my TOP 40 BILLY JOEL SONGS:
40. PRESSURE
39. LOS ANGELENOS
38. ZANZIBAR
37. SOMETIMES A FANTASY
36. TOMORROW IS TODAY
35. YOU’RE MY HOME
34. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG
33. CAPTAIN JACK
32. THE ENTERTAINER
31. SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD

30. GOODNIGHT SAIGON//LENINGRAD
29. ALL FOR LLEYNA
28. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE
27. IT’S STILL ROCK N’ ROLL TO ME
26. ALLENTOWN
25. PRELUDE/ANGRY YOUNG MAN
24. NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
23. YOU MAY BE RIGHT
22. THE STRANGER
21. THE LONGEST TIME

20. RIVER OF DREAMS
19. STREETLIFE SERENADER
18. TELL HER ABOUT IT
17. DON’T ASK ME WHY
16. AND SO IT GOES
15. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
14. MIAMI 2017 (SEEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON BROADWAY)
13. SUMMER, HIGHLAND FALLS
12. LEAVE A TENDER MOMENT ALONE
11. A MATTER OF TRUST

10. PIANO MAN
9. HONESTY
8. MY LIFE
7. THE DOWNEASTER ‘ALEXA’
6. SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT
5. MOVIN’ OUT (ANTHONY’S SONG)
4. SHE’S GOT A WAY
3. SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN
2. VIENNA
1. UPTOWN GIRL

[dadgumblah]

Great list, Mojo! I've been a Billy Joel fan for a long, long time and have seen him in concert four times. He was awesome every single time. I'm very pleased to see Vienna so high on the list, as that's my favorite Joel song. Just one of those "takes me away to another place and time" songs, where you just lose yourself while listening to it.

Another song I love that I hoped to see on the list was This Night, which is a doo-wop song where the chorus is "borrowed" from a melody by Beethoven. Just a great, great song where he sings his heart out.

Again, great stuff, Mojo!

[matt72582]

I listened to "Captain Jack" more than any other song in SF. I always have certain songs I listen to, that will always remind me of a place.

I love the verses (I don't care for the choruses as much)

[Holden Pike]

I saw Billy Joel again this past Friday! Madison Square Garden, on the floor, sixteen rows back. It. Was. Amazing.

This was his set list...

"Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"
"Pressure"
"Summer, Highland Falls"
"The Entertainer"
"Vienna"
"The Longest Time"
"Zanzibar"
"All About Soul"
"Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
"The Downeaster Alexa"
"Don't Ask Me Why"
"Allentown"
"New York State of Mind"
"My Life"
"Sometimes a Fantasy"
"She's Always a Woman"
"River of Dreams"
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
"Piano Man"
"We Didn't Start the Fire"
"Uptown Girl"
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
"Big Shot"
"You May Be Right"

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