| Movies and Music
Our Movies and Music Store offers Online Shopping for a huge selection of DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, CD Music, Video On Demand, DVD Downloads, MP3 Downloads and the Kindle Store. One of the largest movie and music stores on the Internet. We hope you enjoy shopping at the Shack! |
|
|
| 
| Creator: Billy Joe
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $24.98
Buy Used: $6.89
You Save: $18.09 (72%)
New (57) Used (35) Collectible (2) from $6.89
Rating:  91 reviews
Sales Rank: 3591
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 86005
UPC: 696998600522
EAN: 6969986005222
ASIN: B00005OSX8
Release Date: October 2, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: All of our used items are 100% Guaranteed to play.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 91
Billy For Beginners February 3, 2008
Michael Kerner (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)
When it comes down great guilty pleasure artists, we often seem to forget what influence they've made on music today, especially back in the 80's. For those acts, we always will think of Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince. But, for Billy Joel, he really made the best that was still coming around. 35 years after he broke ground with Piano Man, he has still dominated with his music on the radio. While he hasn't recorded an album since 1993's River Of Dreams, his music still stands the test of time because it is worth while from beginning to end. But for those who seem more interested in acts like Britney Spears and anyone who has been on American Idol, and doesn't own a Billy Hoel record, than this is a start to download for your MP3 player. br / br /The Essential Billy Joel is a collection of over 30 tracks from Billy's long and successful career from the 70's, 80's and 90's. The songs here have all been remastered well, and chronicle a innocent man who has made the music of our times. The collection includes a lot of great standards he has made his own for over 35 years like Piano Man, River Of Dreams, We Didn't Start The Fire, the delight diddy Uptown Girl, and The Longest Time, all the way to #1 hits like My Life, It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me and Allentown. There is so much that is great in music, but there are a few of his great songs that were sadly overlooked like You're Only Human (Second Wind), Modern Woman and a few other good songs. But, those are small complaints, because those songs were only minor hits. Instead, the collectin includes some of his songs from his 2001 classical pop album instead. br / br /All in all, The Essential Billy Joel is a very strong and standard greatest hits album from beginning to end that is fun and a joy to listen to, whether you're a hard core fan, or anyone who is new to Billy Joel's songs. This album is definitely a great purchase to download off the internet, or buy from your local record store. Even though Billy Joel hasn't made anything new in awhile, his music is still making us go to extremes. br / br /Songs: B+ br / br /Price: B 1/2+ br / br /Remastering: A- br / br /Overall: B+
 Billy Joel CD January 7, 2008
Shopaholic (Beautiful Mid-Atlantic)
This is a great CD set by one of America's favorite singer, songwriters. br /Great price, fast shipping, it's a joy to listen to these songs over and over!
 Essential? Not quite, look what's missing... December 29, 2007
J. Miller (East Hartford, CT United States)
Billy Joel's contribution to CBS' "Essential" series is a carrear spanning 2 CD set that starts with 1973's "Piano Man" through his recent entry into the classical field "Fantasies and Delusions". While long time fans like myself have everything here, this is probably aimed at those who passed on his 2 previous collections or the pricey box set "My Lives". If you're a casual fan or buying this as a gift you'll find a perfect mix of certified hits and buried treasures. But I can only give this set 3 stars because while it duplicates much of what was on the first 2 sets, several classics are dropped (Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, The Stranger, Big Shot), Other classics are omitted yet again (Angry Young Man, The Legend of Billy the Kid, Just a Fantasy), or studio versions have been used when live versions are much more definitive. "She's Got a Way" first appeared on Billy's debut album "Cold Spring Harbor" and was revived for his first (and best) live album "Songs in the Attic", becoming a surprise Top 10 hit for him. "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" also appeared on "Songs.." and hit the Top 20 in its live version. So why is the inferior studio version from "Turnstiles" here? Same with "Miami 2017 (See the Lights Go Out on Broadway)", this song was a powerhouse rocker on "Songs.." and took on new meaning after 9/11. So why is the slower, studio version here? CBS should've taken the same approach they used with Bruce Springsteen's "Essential" disc. A special 3cd limited edition was released first, then phased out in favor of a 2 disc version. This way a third could've included the following; br / br /Stop in Nevada br /The Great Suburban Showdown br /You're Only Human (Second Wind) br /The Night is Still Young br /Angry Young Man br /Just a Fantasy br /To Make You Feel My Love br /No Man's Land br /The Legend of Billy the Kid (Live version) br /I've Loved These Days br /This is the Time br /The Mexican Connection br /Root Beer Rag br /Easy Money br / br /To be fair, CBS did correct 2 problems from previous collections. "My Life" is presented in its full-length album version from "52nd Street". "New York State of Mind" is minus the additional sax breaks that I thought were unnecessary. And while I prefer the live version of "You're My Home", the studio version here is a nice bonus.
The Essential Billy Joel October 26, 2007
Bill B. (Edison, NJ)
If you love Billy Joel you gotta have this. If you like Billy Joel you gotta have this. If you love good must with a lot of variety you gotta have this.
fine two CD set with most of Billy's best... October 4, 2007
Matthew G. Sherwin
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Billy Joel makes some awesome music. Some people will tell you to get his "Greatest Hits" Volumes 1, 2and 3; and I think they have a good point. However, for the casual fan who never got around to buying all of Billy's albums, this is an excellent value even if it does exclude "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant." br / br /This two CD set is brimming over with solid Billy Joel hits. The first CD begins with his classic hit, "Piano Man." Billy both sings and plays the piano well and the harmonica adds to the number. Billy sings about his job playing piano in a piano bar--excellent tune! "You're My Home" is another beautiful ballad about the importance of having a stable lover in your life; Billy sings this well and his excellent diction enhances his performance. Similarly, "Captain Jack" gives us another remarkably good, solid Billy Joel number. "Captain Jack" features great piano by Billy as he sings of a lonely person with a life that isn't exactly all that fulfilling. br / br /"New York State Of Mind" pays tribute to New York City and all its wonderful attractions; Billy sings this with great sensitivity and he plays his piano flawlessly. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" deals with the frustration most young people eventually experience as they see that life isn't all that easy; listen for a strong musical arrangement for "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)." In addition, Billy cries out to young people to enjoy themselves with his rocking tune "Only The Good Die Young." The handclapping gives this tune a slightly 1950s flavor to it; and this works well for "Only The Good Die Young." br / br /"Honesty," one of my very favorite Billy Joel songs, features Billy singing of how he wants a woman to love him for himself instead of just pretending to love him while playing games. Billy's piano is beautiful; and the strings enhance "Honesty" as well. "Allentown" is another great number with percussion and a rocking beat to spare! br / br /The second CD continues the great numbers. "Tell Her About It" encourages young men to tell their girlfriends that they really love them; this ballad features a solid beat with a backup chorus to bolster Billy's vocals. "Baby Grand," another favorite of mine, features the great Ray Charles swinging soft and slow with Billy. Together they compare their love for women to their love for their pianos and the music they make. "Baby Grand" will please you very much. br / br /"I Go To Extremes," a number about manic-depression, features Billy singing better than ever! The percussion and drums greatly enhance "I Go To Extremes." "We Didn't Start The Fire" allows Billy to reminisce about major events in modern history and imply that the lust for life, the "fire," is something within all of us. br / br /"Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" gives us Billy singing a sweet song about communication between a man and his woman and their lasting bond as well. "Invention In C Minor" is thrown in, too, to demonstrate Billy's love for classical music. br / br /The liner notes include some great photos of Billy; and we get the recording years and albums from which these songs were taken. br / br /Overall, this is not as complete as it should be; we don't get song like "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" or "Pressure;" and many Billy Joel fans already purchased the albums that have the numbers on this two CD set. I have to take off one star for that to make this a four star review. However, this two CD set is great for a more casual fan like myself who doesn't own all of Billy's albums. If you like this but want something more satisfying, try Billy Joel's Greatest Hits, Volumes 1, 2 and 3. br / br /Thank you, Billy! br /
|
|
|
| |
