'In the beginning,' Billy Joel entertained Long Island locals with The Hassles and Attila before forging a solo career in 1971. One year later, the singer-songwriter-pianist captivated college students when 'Captain Jack' dominated the Philadelphia airwaves. 'And so, it goes…' Cold Spring Harbor was rife with barrelhouse piano and tear-stained balladry but with Turnstiles Joel realised his dream of forming a stellar band. The success of The Stranger led to sold-out arenas and 52nd Street honoured the heyday of American jazz, while The Nylon Curtain highlighted socio-economic inequities and wartime brotherhood, and 1993's River of Dreams fused reggae and world music.
Then, in the early 2000s, his celebration of classical works ushered in a sea change. Unquestionably, Billy's catalogue has thrived, despite constantly changing trends in the music industry and over a fifty-plus year span, many of his relatable songs have become standards, covered by countless performers. The third best-selling solo artist of all time in the U.S. has continued to attract multi-generational audiences across the planet, so if you're 'all in the mood for a melody,' read on.
Billy Joel On Track contains behind-the-scenes stories and an analysis of Joel's extensive studio recordings, many of which became top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Rock journalist Lisa Torem has written features, profiles and reviews for American and British outlets for over a decade, and has interviewed, among others, Ian Anderson, Colin Blunstone, Eric Burdon, Dave Brubeck, Dave Davies, Janis Ian, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sarah McLachlan, Robin Trower, Suzanne Vega and Dweezil Zappa. Lisa co-authored, Through the Eye of the Tiger with Jim Peterik in 2014 and All That Glitters with vocalist Ava Cherry in early 2022. In 2021, the native-Chicagoan also wrote Tori Amos On Track. Lisa lives with her blues-harpist husband and a trio of mischievous cats.