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
Greatest hits album by
Releasedweek ending July 20, 1985[1]
GenreRock
Length1:53:45 (CD)
LabelFamily Productions/Columbia
ProducerMichael Stewart, Billy Joel, Phil Ramone
Billy Joel chronology
An Innocent Man
(1983)
Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II
(1985)
The Bridge
(1986)
Singles from Greatest Hits - Volume I & II
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record Guide: The '80sA–[3]

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 US.[4]

The album includes hits from 1973 to 1985 in chronological order with one exception. Some foreign pressings include "Honesty", in place of "Don't Ask Me Why".[5] 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.[6] "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" 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. Contrary to some sources, the sax solo on "New York State of Mind" was never re-recorded by Phil Woods for the release of Greatest Hits. The only time that Phil Woods performed on a Billy Joel recording was the song "Just the Way You Are" in 1977.

Double LP/Double cassette

Side one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Piano Man"Piano Man, 19735:36
2."Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live edited version)Songs in the Attic, 1981; originally from Turnstiles, 19763:54
3."New York State of Mind" (New saxophone solo, replacing Richie Cannata's original solo - not rerecorded by Phil Woods, contrary to popular belief)Turnstiles6:02
4."The Stranger"The Stranger, 19775:07
5."Just the Way You Are" (Radio edit)The Stranger3:36
Side two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:28
2."Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:53
3."She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:17
4."My Life" (Radio edit)52nd Street, 19783:51
5."Big Shot" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:43
6."You May Be Right"Glass Houses, 19804:09
Side three
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:54
2."Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses2:57
3."Pressure" (Radio edit)The Nylon Curtain, 19823:15
4."Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:48
5."Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:00
Side four
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Tell Her About It" (Radio edit)An Innocent Man, 19833:35
2."Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:15
3."The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:36
4."You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Previously unissued4:48
5."The Night Is Still Young"Previously unissued5:28

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 three.[7]

Double CD release

Disc one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Piano Man"Piano Man5:36
2."Captain Jack"Piano Man7:15
3."The Entertainer"Streetlife Serenade3:38
4."Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live edited version)Songs in the Attic; originally from Turnstiles3:54
5."New York State of Mind"Turnstiles6:02
6."The Stranger"The Stranger5:07
7."Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"The Stranger7:33
8."Just the Way You Are" (Radio edit)The Stranger3:36
9."Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:28
10."Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:53
11."She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:17
Total length:55:20
Disc two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."My Life" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:51
2."Big Shot" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:43
4."You May Be Right"Glass Houses4:09
5."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:54
6."Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses2:57
7."She's Got a Way" (Live version)Songs in the Attic; originally from Cold Spring Harbor3:00
8."Pressure" (Radio edit)The Nylon Curtain3:15
9."Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:48
10."Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:00
11."Tell Her About It" (Radio edit)An Innocent Man3:35
12."Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:15
13."The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:36
14."You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Greatest Hits Volume I & II4:48
15."The Night Is Still Young"Greatest Hits Volume I & II5:28
Total length:58:25

2017 release

Disc one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Piano Man"Piano Man5:40
2."Captain Jack"Piano Man7:01
3."The Entertainer"Streetlife Serenade3:42
4."Say Goodbye to Hollywood"Turnstiles4:39
5."New York State of Mind"Turnstiles6:06
6."The Stranger"The Stranger5:10
7."Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"The Stranger7:36
8."Just the Way You Are"The Stranger4:52
9."Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:31
10."Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:55
11."She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:22
Total length:55:34
Disc two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."My Life"52nd Street4:45
2."Big Shot"52nd Street4:03
3."Honesty"52nd Street3:55
4."You May Be Right"Glass Houses4:14
5."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:58
6."Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses3:00
7."She's Got a Way" (Live version)Songs in the Attic; originally from Cold Spring Harbor3:02
8."Pressure"The Nylon Curtain4:40
9."Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:52
10."Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:00
11."Tell Her About It"An Innocent Man3:53
12."Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:17
13."The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:39
14."You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Greatest Hits Volume I & II4:50
15."The Night Is Still Young"Greatest Hits Volume I & II5:29
Total length:62:37

There are three versions of the CD available. The initial 1985 release has "Honesty" as the third track on disc 2, second pressings onward had "Don't Ask Me Why" as the third track, and the 1998 remaster 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.[8]

On the original 1985 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).[9]

In 1998, the two CD set 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 three-disc compilation The Greatest Hits Collection, Volumes I, II & III were issued in 1998, to accompany the world tour.[9]

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[10] 9× Platinum 630,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[11] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[12] 2× Platinum 200,000^
France (SNEP)[13] 2× Gold 200,000[14]
Japan (RIAJ)[15] 3× Platinum + 1× Gold 700,000[16]
Netherlands (NVPI)[17] Gold 50,000^
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^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Greatest Hits Volume III

Greatest Hits Volume III
Greatest hits album by
ReleasedAugust 19, 1997
Recorded1983–1997
GenreRock
Length76:16
LabelColumbia
ProducerPhil Ramone, Mick Jones, Billy Joel, Danny Kortchmar, Joe Nicolo, David Thoener
Billy Joel chronology
River of Dreams
(1993)
Greatest Hits Volume III
(1997)
2000 Years: The Millennium Concert
(2000)
Singles from Greatest Hits Volume III
  1. "To Make You Feel My Love"
    Released: 1997
  2. "Hey Girl"
    Released: 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[22]

The Greatest Hits Volume III album includes hits from 1983 to 1997. Two previously unreleased studio tracks are included, "To Make You Feel My Love" and "Hey Girl", while the third new track, "Light as the Breeze", was originally recorded for a Leonard Cohen tribute album known as Tower of Song in 1995. All three tracks are new songs of cover materials (a rare occurrence in his catalogue).

Chronologically, Greatest Hits Volume III slightly continues from where Volume II left off, 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 where noted.

No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Keeping the Faith"An Innocent Man, 19834:38
2."An Innocent Man"An Innocent Man5:19
3."A Matter of Trust"The Bridge, 19864:12
4."Baby Grand" (Duet with Ray Charles)The Bridge4:05
5."This Is the Time"The Bridge5:00
6."Leningrad"Storm Front, 19894:04
7."We Didn't Start the Fire"Storm Front4:48
8."I Go to Extremes"Storm Front4:24
9."And So It Goes"Storm Front3:38
10."The Downeaster 'Alexa'"Storm Front3:44
11."Shameless"Storm Front4:27
12."All About Soul" (Remix)Exclusive to the "All About Soul" single, 1993; originally from River of Dreams, 19936:01
13."Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"River of Dreams3:35
14."The River of Dreams"River of Dreams4:11
15."To Make You Feel My Love" (Bob Dylan)Previously unissued3:53
16."Hey Girl" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King)Previously unissued3:57
17."Light as the Breeze" (Leonard Cohen)Tower of Song, 19956:12

Personnel

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[12] Gold 50,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[15] Gold 100,000[16]
Netherlands (NVPI)[17] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997

The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–1997
Live album by
ReleasedOctober 13, 1997
Recorded1997
GenreRock, interview
Length1:18:03
LabelColumbia
ProducerBilly 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
No.TitleLength
1."Billy Joel Spoken Intro/Music Concepts" (Live and mostly spoken)10:18
2."Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" (Unreleased live version)7:50
3."Beatles Influence" (Live and mostly spoken)5:18
4."A Hard Day's Night" (Unreleased live version)2:53
5."Why Vienna?" (Live and mostly spoken)9:28
6."Vienna" (Unreleased live version)3:41
7."History Through the Music" (Live and mostly spoken)4:31
8."We Didn't Start the Fire" (Unreleased live version)5:13
9."Music Source" (Live and mostly spoken)9:14
10."The River of Dreams" (Unreleased original studio recording)5:20
11."Piano Bar" (Live and mostly spoken)7:46
12."Piano Man" (Unreleased live version)6:31
Total length:1:18:03

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1985-07-20. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Greatest Hits, Vols. 1-2 (1973-1985)". AllMusic.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1990). "Billy Joel". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  4. "RIAA List of Best Selling Albums" Archived 2010-01-17 at WebCite
  5. Sources for the Dutch and Japanese editions of Greatest Hits Volume 2:
    • Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Dutch Edition). Billy Joel. Columbia Records. 1985.CS1 maint: others (link)
    • Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Japanese Edition). Billy Joel. Columbia Records. 1985.CS1 maint: others (link)
    • Greatest Hits Volume 2 (South Korean Edition). Billy Joel. Columbia Records. 1985.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection
  7. "Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II". Discogs.
  8. "Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II". Discogs.
  9. "52nd Street Serenade ♪♪".
  10. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  11. "Austrian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  12. "Canadian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Music Canada.
  13. "French album certifications – Billy Joel – 52nd Street" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  14. "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. SNEP. Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  15. "Japanese certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  16. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  17. "de branchevereniging van de entertainmentindustrie". Archived from NVPI the original Check |url= value (help) on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-08-17. Note: User needs to enter "Billy Joel" in the "Artiest" field and click below "zoek" button.
  18. "New Zealand album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Recorded Music NZ.
  19. "Norwegian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  20. "British album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol 1 & 2". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Greatest Hits Vol 1 & 2 in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  21. "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. 
  22. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Greatest Hits, Vol. 3". AllMusic.
  23. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  24. "British album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol III". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Greatest Hits Vol III in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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