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[ Greatest Hits: Volume III ]
[ The Essential Video Collection ]
[ Rock Masters: Billy Joel ]
[ The Last Play at Shea ]



"Billy Joel In Concert: 'The Entertainer' Plays Utah A Memory"
By: Elyssa Andrus
(December 3rd, 2007)

What's a "Piano Man" doing on the "Highway To Hell?"
 

If said "Piano Man" is legendary musician Billy Joel, he's playing electric guitar while a roadie named "Chainsaw" screams out a rowdy version of the 1979 AC/DC rock song.

It says a lot about Billy Joel - Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Songwriter Hall of Famer, the sixth best-selling artist in the United States - that he can cede the spotlight to a husky, sweaty member of his tech crew smack in the middle of a solo concert. And then take it back again seamlessly.

Self-deprecation was just a part of the slick routine at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City Thursday night. During the more-than-two- hour concert, Joel joked about his disappearing hair, his age (I'm actually Billy's dad. ...Billy wasn't able to make it here tonight, so he sent me,") his much-publicized car accidents ("I have ridiculous car insurance,") .

Sure, he's used the same jokes in other venues, but you'd expect a guy who has sold more than 80 million records and spent the better part of a decade touring with fellow piano legend Elton John to have the performing thing nailed down.

There was no opening act to kick off the evening, just Joel belting out "Prelude/Angry Young Man," off his 1976 album "Turnstiles. " The concert featured a mix of obscure tracks off old albums, fan favorites and intermittent Christmas carols on the piano.

"This is not a greatest hits show," Joel said, as he plunged into some "deep album stuff" that casual fans would be hard-pressed to recognize. Those songs included "Everybody Loves You Now," from the 1971 album "Cold Spring Harbor," "Zanzibar" from the 1978 album "52nd Street" and - the audience picked this from a couple of choices selected by Joel - "Vienna" from 1977's "The Stranger."

Dressed in jeans, a T-Shirt and blazer and sporting silvery stubble, Joel pounded out piece after piece on the piano, the JumboTron showing the intricate fingering for those in the cheap seats. Joel's piano was on a platform that rotated to give all sides of the audience a peak at the playing and the artist. That, said Joel, was the extent of the special effects and staging. It's "not a Pink Floyd show," he quipped.

Joel certainly doesn't need flashy lights and lasers to put on a good concert. If his voice has become a bit weaker over the years, his piano playing has only become stronger. Mid-concert, he did an impressive take on his instrumental piece "Root Beer Rag" that showcased his frenzied fingerwork and improvisational skills. Later, he ditched the piano to dance around the stage, tossing the microphone around and catching it with his foot, slapping his backside at the 40 year-old women pawing at him from below the stage.

The audience's energy picked up visibly when Joel launched into hits such as "The River of Dreams," "We Didn't Start The Fire," and "You May Be Right." Fans seemed happy enough with the deep album stuff, but delighted by the more recognizable tunes. By the time Joel started his famous "Piano Man" in the encore set, he didn't even need to sing. The audience supplied the lyrics for him.

Joel's enduring popularity is a testament to his talent, and Thursday's performance was a chance to watch one of the country's great singer/songwriters doing what he so clearly loves. To borrow from one of Joel's songs, in the music industry, the good may die young. But the great keep on pounding out the notes.


"The New Billy Joel Song Is, Um, New"
By: Glenn Gamboa
(December 4th, 2007)

Billy Joel's "Christmas In Fallujah," only the second song he has completed since switching his focus from pop music to other types of composition in 1993 after the "River of Dreams" album, hit iTunes this morning and, well, it's OK.

There are plenty of reasons that make the song hard to criticize. It's sung by Cass Dillon, a Long Island newcomer, not Joel. Proceeds from the single go to "Homes For Our Troops," a nonprofit that builds specially adapted homes for service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with severe disabilities. And its message about supporting our troops, especially during the holidays, is an important one.

Joel said he wrote "Christmas In Fallujah" earlier in this year after receiving letters from men and women serving in Iraq saying how they had found inspiration and comfort in his songs. However, he didn't think he was the right person to sing the song. "I thought it should be somebody young, about a soldier's age," Joel said in a statement. "I wanted to help somebody else's career. I've had plenty of hits. I've had plenty of airplay. I've had my time in the sun. I think it's time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience."

That said, it's no "Goodnight Saigon" and, as unfair as it may be, any pop song Joel releases these days will be compared with his previous work – even if he isn't the one singing it. Lyrically, "Christmas In Fallujah" captures despondency and frustration well, though that doesn't exactly make it inspirational. Musically, it owes more to latter-day Nirvana than a classic Joel rocker.

For Dillon, the association with Joel should land more attention for his "A Good Thing Never Dies" EP, though his songs "Sliding" and "Lack of Game" probably offer better examples of what the promising 21 year-old singer/songwriter can do.


"Billy Joel's New Song Hits iTunes"
By: Stephen Williams
(December 5th, 2007)

Billy Joel has re-entered the pop music marketplace with a new song. But Billy Joel isn't singing it.

Enter Cass Dillon, a 21 year-old from Rockville Centre, whose recording of Joel's "Christmas In Fallujah" - a kind of echo of Joel's Vietnam epic from 25 years ago, "Goodnight Saigon" - debuted yesterday on Apple's iTunes online store.

"I've been lucky, and I've been blessed," said Dillon yesterday from Dallas, where he's appearing with Joel on tour to perform the single.

The young LIer, who has published his own songs, gained Joel's audience through the friendship of Tommy Byrnes, Joel's longtime musical director. Dillon had dropped out of Colby College in Maine and was working with Byrnes and management of the OCD Music Group.

About two years ago, "we went to Billy's house and played him some demos. He dug the stuff, and when it came time to find a new artist, he remembered."

Joel said he constructed the four-minute- plus song inspired by letters he'd received from servicemen and women. He concluded, though, that he wasn't the one to record it.

"I thought someone with a young voice should be singing this, someone just starting out in life," he told Billboard. "Plus, you know, I'm 58 years-old. My voice isn't the voice I was thinking of when I was writing; I was thinking of a soldier, someone of that age."

The song was recorded in mid-November in San Francisco.

"There's no piano on the songs, but [Billy] did a bunch of background vocals," Dillon said. "He really went to town on the chorus."

During a performance Saturday night in Chicago, Joel brought Dillon out about halfway through his set to sing "Fallujah." The performance ended with servicemen lining the back of the stage, shouting "oo-rah!" as part of the song's chorus.

Dillon said he doesn't anticipate becoming a Billy Joel cover artist. "I appreciate this opportunity and I'm grateful for it, but to be the guy that keeps singing Billy Joel's songs would be kind of weird."


"We Like Billy Joel Just The Way He Is"
By: Malcolm Mayhem
(December 5th, 2007)

Nearly 10 years after he "retired" from touring, pop singer-songwriter Billy Joel was back in Dallas on Tuesday night, a little balder, a little grayer, a little grittier, but still the wonderfully entertaining and wildly encyclopedic performer he has always been.

The Long Island-born singer quit touring after a 1999 tour to focus on writing classical music. One poorly received classical album materialized.

Then, two years ago, Joel played a string of 12 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. Those led to sporadic dates across the country, and now Joel's back on the road again.

"I need the money to pay for car insurance," Joel said Tuesday night during his two-hour show at the American Airlines Center. He was joking about car crashes he's been involved in over the past several years; Joel certainly hasn't lost his sense of humor.

Nor has he misplaced the emotional urgency and energy that runs through his varied music.

His songs Tuesday night were aimed at everyday people with everyday problems - those trying to get around dead ends, stuck in crummy jobs or discouraged by romance. And he delivered them with glee, hiding the despondency of "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "Allentown," and "My Life" under catchy melodies. If Joel's good at one thing, it's making you sing along to songs that, possibly, you shouldn't.

Joel's less pugnacious side turned up on "She's Always A Woman" and "New York State of Mind."

Since there was no new material to promote - save for Joel's new politically charged single, "Christmas In Fallujah," which guest vocalist Cass Dillon sang - Joel instead went through his catalog, pulling out some relatively obscure gems such as the jazzy "Zanzibar," the ragtime "Root Beer Rag," and "Everybody Loves You Now," a cut from his first album, "Cold Spring Harbor."

At one point, Joel asked the audience to choose from three other obscure songs. The piano ballad "Vienna" rightfully won.

For the most part, Joel sang extremely well. Only during the skyscraper notes of "An Innocent Man" did the age in his voice become audible. The fact that he even attempted the difficult song is further proof that if he's going down, he's going down singing.

Retirement is overrated anyway.


"Billy Joel In Iraq State of Mind"
By: Josh Grossberg
(December 7th, 2007)

Billy Joel took on the Vietnam War in "Goodnight Saigon." Now the "Piano Man" has emerged from semiretirement to tackle Iraq.

Sort of.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's latest single, "Christmas In Fallujah," premiered Tuesday on iTunes December 4th, 2007.

But not only is the track pianoless, it's also devoid of Joel's vocals. Instead, the pop legend has passed singing duties to Cass Dillon, a 21 year-old upstart singer/songwriter from his native Long Island.

On his web-site, Joel said the song was inspired by letters he received from soldiers who have taken solace in his tunes during their tours in the war-torn country. He combined their sentiments with his own impressions of the battle.

"We came with the crusaders to save the Holy Land," goes one verse. "It's Christmas in Fallujah, and no one gives a damn."

"I thought it should be [sung by] somebody young, about a soldier's age," the 58 year-old Joel explained. "I wanted to help somebody else's career. I've had plenty of hits. I've had plenty of airplay. I've had my time in the sun. I think it's time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience."

Joel was first introduced to Dillon through Tommy Byrnes. Joel's longtime guitarist and the musical consultant for the Broadway tuner "Movin' Out" has served as a mentor to the younger musician.

Joel and Byrnes flew the newcomer - who has mostly played bars and coffee shops in his short career, often covering Joel's hits - to San Francisco in October. The trio recorded "Christmas In Fallujah" on November 11th, 2007, Veterans Day.

"I feel so honored and blessed to have this opportunity, " Dillon said. "When someone of that stature, with that history of great songs behind him with such a huge catalogue asks you to sing something he's written, there's nothing you can do but be completely honored to perform."

Net proceeds generated from downloads of "Christmas In Fallujah" will be donated to Home For Our Troops, a nonprofit that builds specially adapted homes for severely disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to "Christmas In Fallujah," iTunes has also released a six-song EP of original Dillon compositions, "A Good Thing Never Dies."

Although Joel hasn't released a studio album in the longest time, "Christmas in Fallujah" is the second tune he's written in the past year. He wrote and recorded "All My Life" as an anniversary present to his new wife, Katie Lee Joel. The track was released in February - his first pop single since 1993's "River of Dreams" album.

Meanwhile, the ivory tickler, who performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl earlier this year, has also contributed a track to Five For Fighting frontman John Ondrasik's CD for the Troops, a free compilation produced exclusively for military personnel. Along with Five's hit "100 Years," the disc also includes Joel's 1977 cut "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong, " Josh Groban's "February Song," and the Fray's "How To Save A Life."


"Billy Joel Doesn't Sing On His Anti-War Song"
(December 7th, 2007)

Billy Joel has released a new pop single, the anti-war "Christmas In Fallujah." Just don't expect to hear his voice on it.

Billy Joel gave his newest song, "Christmas In Fallujah," to 21 year-old Cass Dillon.

At 58, Joel felt he was too old to sing the song, which was inspired by letters the "Piano Man" received from soldiers in Iraq. So he gave it to Cass Dillon, a 21 year-old singer/songwriter from Long Island.

"I thought it should be somebody young, about a soldier's age," Joel said in a statement on his web-site. "I wanted to help somebody else's career. I've had plenty of hits. I've had plenty of airplay. I've had my time in the sun. I think it's time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience."

Dillon said he was thrilled to be asked by Joel.

"When someone of that stature, with that history of great songs behind him with such a huge catalog asks you to sing something he's written, there's nothing you can do but be completely honored to perform," Dillon said in a statement.

"Christmas In Fallujah" went on sale Tuesday on Apple Inc.'s iTunes. Net proceeds will be donated to Homes For Our Troops, which builds homes for severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.


"Billy Joel On 'Christmas In Fallujah'"
The 'Piano Man' Talks About What Drove Him Back To Songwriting, and Why He Stopped In The First Place

By: Andy Greene
(December 10th, 2007)

Question: What inspired you to write "Christmas In Fallujah?"

Answer: I guess just the cumulative effect of this war. We've been there longer than World War II. I've been getting mail from service people over there, and with the holidays coming on made this thing just popped out.

Question: Was there a certain letter that sparked it and made you sit down and start writing?

Answer: It was a couple of letters. There seemed to be a similar theme running through the letters, which was a sense of alienation from the home front. I think that a lot of people are starting to feel like they're forgotten.

Question: How long ago did you write the song, and where were you when you wrote it?

Answer: I wrote this back in September. I was at home in Long Island and I knew as soon as I wrote it that I wasn't the person to sing it. Not that I'm trying to distance myself from what I wrote, but I didn't think my voice was the right voice. I thought it should be somebody around the age of the people who were serving over there.

Question: How did you find Cass Dillon, who sings on the track?

Answer: Cass has been doing an album project with my guitar player, Tommy Byrnes. Tommy's been producing his recordings, he brought him to my attention about a year ago. When I finished this song, I spoke with Tommy. I said, "What happened to that guy whose stuff you played me a year ago?" And he said, "Well, he's coming out with his own album." I said, "Do you think he might like doing this song?" And ran it by Cass, he loved the song, he said he wanted to do it. We went into the studio on Veteran's Day, of all days. So it was an interesting zeitgeist there.

Question: Do you think it's fair to call it a protest song or an anti-war song?

Answer: I think it's a song about a soldier, about a marine. People can take it anyway they want. I don't get up on a soapbox and do political messages. I believe in talking about the human being, and the conditions humans find themselves in.

Question: Were topical songs something you avoided during your career?

Answer: I never liked when a rockstar got up on stage and told people how to vote. I find it insulting. But I believe if an artist feels strongly about something, it should be reflected in their art. Ultimately, everything's political. Even love is political.

Question: This is the second song you have written in the past year. What caused you to start writing again?

Answer: Well, the other song you are referring to was really just written as a gift from me to my wife. I had no intention of releasing that as a recording. I always thought that would be done by a singer like Tony Bennett. I actually thought of Tony when I was writing it. It was more of a mental exercise. "I wonder if I can write a song that Tony Bennett would sing?" Tony actually likes the song, or that's what he told me, but he hasn't recorded it yet. That is how I thought something like that would come out. I really had no plans to release that, but Columbia knew that I did the recording as a gift to my wife and they wanted to put it out. I was like, "Well, you're the record company, you can do what you want."

I wanted to get "Christmas In Fallujah" recorded while it was still new. I don't like a song to sit around for a long time. It starts to get moth eaten, which is why it all came together so quickly. Other than that, I have really been writing songs. I have said this many times, but I have no intention of stopping myself from writing songs. I just haven't felt the motivation to write that kind of music. I am much more interested in instrumental music these days. I have no plans of having those recorded either. I am pretty much just doing it for my own edification and mental exercise really.

Question: Your last pop album was a pretty big success, so why did you stop?

Answer: When you are in the pop music business and you are a rock star, there is always pressure to deliver more product, as they say. "When am I going to get that Billy Joel feeling?" I kind of wanted to get off the damn treadmill, because you are only as good as your next hit. You can have a big hit and then a couple of months go by and "Oh, he's washed up." I always rejected that concept. I finished the album with a song called "Famous Last Words." These are the last word I have to say. I kind of knew I was at the end of a particular point in my life, a particular chapter in that book, and I wanted to put an epilogue on it.

Question: You're still touring. Do you find that fulfilling?

Answer: I love to play. That is how I started out, before I was writing and before I was a rock star I was in bands. That is the real kick. It seems like history has gone back to that anyway. People played. Then someone invented the phonograph, then they started making recordings of the performances and that kind of took over. Recording artists became state-of-the- art, instead of just performances. Now with the industry and the deep doo doo it is in now, it has all kind of gone back to the live performance, because you can't replace that. That's where I started, and that is kind of what I enjoy - the synergy between musicians on stages. We haven't toured on our own in awhile. We were on tour with Elton for close to ten years. We were playing a lot of greatest hits stuff. That was fun for a while, but then it became kind of wrote rote and we wanted to see what it was like to tour on our own again and play our own set list of songs and album tracks, obscurities. Can we still do this on our own? And so far, the response has been really good. People still want to see us.

Question: I was looking at the set-list from your first 2006 show, where you opened with "Piano Man," and played "Laura," and "Zanzibar," and "Famous Last Words," and all these rarities. By the next show you dropped some of those songs. What happened?

Answer: Well, we wanted to try something different. We wanted to see how it would work if we did the set backward, if we did a lot of obscurities, and the show was a real stinker. A lot of people went to the bathroom. A lot of people were disappointed. We didn't get the response that we normally get if we balance the show another way. People pay a ton of money for tickets now. We kept our tickets under a hundred bucks, trying not to squeeze out younger people. We want younger people to come to the shows, and they can't afford that much. You have to keep that in mind when you are on stage. They are here to hear stuff they are familiar with, as well as the stuff we want to be self-indulgent with. There is a balance you have to strike, and that is just experience from the road.

Question: Do you think you will just keep touring? Do you see a point where you will just want to stop?

Answer: No, I will stop. I am not going to say that it is going to be tomorrow. I don't want to make one of those grand retirement speeches. People thought I said I was going to stop doing it all together, but I never said I was going to stop being a musician. I just said I wasn't going to tour as much. I probably won't be writing a lot of songs in the near future. I probably won't be recording as much. I am 58 years-old and I see pictures of myself and am like "Oh God, you never looked like a rock star, but now you look like a rock star's grandfather. " There is a physicality to it. Once you get to a certain age, you just aren't going to be able to do it, grandpa. Although, the Stones seem to be pushing the envelope.

I just saw Chuck Berry a few weeks ago, and he's still going.

Guys like that from the old school don't even think about retiring. They are probably going to play until they kick. I just feel like I am going to wear out whatever welcome I am getting. I just feel like I'm going to potentially wear out whatever welcome I'm getting. You know, once I hit 60 I'm going to have to sit down and do some hard thinking...is this what I'm going to be doing for the rest of my life?

Question: Are you playing Shea stadium?

Answer: We're talking with the the Mets organization. Nothing has been locked in yet. I don't know how the word got out, but nothing has been really confirmed as far as I know. I would love to play there though.

Question: I've noticed that Liberty DeVitto is no longer playing drums in your band?

Answer: Well actually, I haven't worked with him since the last tour we did, which started in 2005.

Question: Why?

Answer: Let's put it this way...he knows why and I know why, and I'm going to leave it at that.

Interviewer: Fair enough; I'm not going to push that point.

Answer: That's OK, I get asked that a lot, but it was a personal situation and I'm not really going to talk about that.

Question: Do you think its possible that at some point in the future you'll write a new album?

Answer: Yeah, it's a possibility. I never discount the possibility of it, but I don't want to appear to be a tease and go, oh yeah, maybe I will. I honestly don't know. I really don't know. I am kind of a compulsive writer. I write in streaks and then there are periods of time where I don't write at all. Although I am writing music all the time, not necessarily songs, so, I honestly don't know. People who are looking for a definitive answer from me, I'm sorry, I have no idea. If I get motivated and write a whole album of songs, I'm not going to stop myself.


"Billy Joel To Play With Philadelphia Orchestra"
By: Phaedra Trethan
(December 27th, 2007)

The "Piano Man" is joining the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Billy Joel, whose songs have been a slice of Americana for the last 30 years, will perform with the venerable orchestra January 26th, 2008 to celebrate the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music.

The program, led by music director Christoph Eschenbach, will feature selections from Joel's pop repertoire, as well as classical and avant garde selections.

Joel and Eschenbach will be joined by Blue Man Group, whose work can best be described as eclectic, as well as soprano Disella Larusdottir, pianist Conrad Tao and host Chris Matthews of MSNBC's "Hardball."

This will be Joel's first appearance with a major orchestra. The annual Academy of Music Concert and gala that follows...at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue hotel this year...are among the institution' s most successful fundraisers, assisting with the upkeep and preservation of the Academy of Music, a National Historic Landmark.