Billy Joel is 68 years old today - William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) in the Bronx, New York City is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States..in his earlier life, Billy was a boxer,..'He boxed successfully on the amateur Golden Gloves circuit for a short time, winning 22 bouts, but abandoned the sport shortly after his nose was broken in his 24th boxing match.

Joel had Top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, achieving 33 Top 40 hits in the US, all of which he wrote himself. He is also a six-time Grammy Award winner who has been nominated for 23 Grammy Awards. He has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.


This is 'Scenes from an Italian restaurant' from 'The Stranger album [1977] - this live performance was at the New Orleans Jazz Festival [2013]..Billy can play that piano, and the sax player isn't bad either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7BliFKQ0bc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- if you are a fan, crack on..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJFmRA7ousE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One of my all time favourites. Love your choice but my preference is for this. Goodnight Saigon.

Thanks Hampstead, had the pleasure of seeing Billy Joel on six occasions.
Mark Rivera on sax has been with Billy for years and is part of an excellent band.
Write them, play them, sing them --can't ask for much more and he still sells out at concerts in spite of not having written/recorded anything new for years.

When I was in the RAF Central Band we had five musicians out of a total of 80 whose birthdays were on this day.

I will add this one to the collection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A76NDvJhFA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like strictly 80s Joel.

Thanks for those two, chaps...never heard that song about the Vietnam War before..excellent.

Billy Joel - 'Allentown' (from Live at Shea Stadium) NYC.. 2008
- from the album 'the Nylon Curtain' [1982]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3bcBBA9_68" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- a song about unemployment and factories closing down.

A classic.
https://youtu.be/ikWH9k_39po" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgD_-dRZPgs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Leningrad. Not just a piano man but a lyricist par excellence.

mikeS wrote:A classic.
https://youtu.be/ikWH9k_39po" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

just played this mike...my all time favourite!

never really liked him or ever bought a record/song he sung. All down to taste really

KateR wrote:never really liked him or ever bought a record/song he sung. All down to taste really

you are a blonde, under 50. yay or nay?

Was worried he'd died.

Some great songs highlighted on here. I really like Billy Joel pre 'Uptown Girl and that sort of stuff. If I had to vote for his best song it would be 'Allentown'

minnieclaret wrote:you are a blonde, under 50. yay or nay?

half right, yes to blonde and no to under 50

Saw Billy Joel in 1977 at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Prefer his early stuff.

Piano Man, it's what he was...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not a big fan but this used to be on the juke box in my local many moons ago.

The lyrics hit the spot then and sound quite prophetic today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duQIG2nKEH8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

One of my all time favourite singers. My kids still remember our trips over to France on holiday when they were young and I used to play his greatest hits on the car cassette player. (Yes cassette player )