I feel like Turnstiles features some of Joel's best songwriting (not a bum track on that album), but it's held back from greatness by the fact that Joel himself produced it, making the studio versions of these tracks sound kind of flat. Any live version of any track from Turnstiles is better than its studio version,…

I feel like Turnstiles features some of Joel's best songwriting (not a bum track on that album), but it's held back from greatness by the fact that Joel himself produced it, making the studio versions of these tracks sound kind of flat. Any live version of any track from Turnstiles is better than its studio version,…

Joel has been upfront in interviews: "Piano Man" is flagrantly autobiographical. He even knew a Navy man named Davy.

Joel has been upfront in interviews: "Piano Man" is flagrantly autobiographical. He even knew a Navy man named Davy.

I'm a die-hard Billy Joel fan, but I hate "Uptown Girl" with a fiery passion. In fact, it's the main reason I don't listen to An Innocent Man in its entirety more often.

I'm a die-hard Billy Joel fan, but I hate "Uptown Girl" with a fiery passion. In fact, it's the main reason I don't listen to An Innocent Man in its entirety more often.

Bad bad bad music video (Joel didn't have any good ones, so no surprise there). I still think the song is defensible.

Bad bad bad music video (Joel didn't have any good ones, so no surprise there). I still think the song is defensible.

Wikipedia begs to differ:

Wikipedia begs to differ:

I know that that was what a lot of people at the time said, but… Wow, in retrospect it sounds like an audaciously silly claim, eh? I like Glass Houses and all, but Punk it ain't.

I know that that was what a lot of people at the time said, but… Wow, in retrospect it sounds like an audaciously silly claim, eh? I like Glass Houses and all, but Punk it ain't.

I'm perhaps a little too into Billy Joel, so it wouldn't be strictly accurate to say that I actually dislike The Bridge, but for my money, it's the least-good Joel album. I guess there really is a different taste for everyone.

I'm perhaps a little too into Billy Joel, so it wouldn't be strictly accurate to say that I actually dislike The Bridge, but for my money, it's the least-good Joel album. I guess there really is a different taste for everyone.

The Nylon Curtain is probably his most artistically accomplished album. To many people, that also makes it his best. Certainly, it has more underappreciated deep cuts than any other Joel album—"Surprises," "Scandinavian Skies," and "Where's the Orchestra?" all deserve more attention than they've gotten—but I think…

The Nylon Curtain is probably his most artistically accomplished album. To many people, that also makes it his best. Certainly, it has more underappreciated deep cuts than any other Joel album—"Surprises," "Scandinavian Skies," and "Where's the Orchestra?" all deserve more attention than they've gotten—but I think…

He looks like two Mikes from Breaking Bad. Smashed together.

He looks like two Mikes from Breaking Bad. Smashed together.

So, all these people who are making the argument that "She's not forcing anyone to play; it's on a strictly volunteer basis?" This is the component they've been missing. When you volunteer to play for an established musician for no pay, you're making it more difficult for all those struggling musicians out there who…

So, all these people who are making the argument that "She's not forcing anyone to play; it's on a strictly volunteer basis?" This is the component they've been missing. When you volunteer to play for an established musician for no pay, you're making it more difficult for all those struggling musicians out there who…