Billy Joel : The Stranger 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition -- 7/8/08

[Decker]

Like they did with my other favorite album (Born to Run), Columbia is putting out a very thorough reissue for Billy Joel's The Stranger (though their timing seems to be off -- The Stranger came out in 1977). As I already have the long-out-of-print SACD version, the remastered sound doesn't impress me much. Still the box set's bonus material would make this seem like a must-buy for me.

http://www.billyjoel.com/sites/billyjoel/files/imagecache/discography_large/sites/billyjoel/files/albums/thestranger300.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410CmMvmESL._SS400_.jpg

Billy Joel's The Stranger 30th Anniversary
Legacy Recordings proudly celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Billy Joel's breakout album "The Stranger" with the release of two special editions -- a 2 CD Legacy Edition and a Deluxe Limited Edition including 2 CDs plus a bonus DVD -- of the best-selling multi-platinum collection which catapulted Joel into the upper ranks of pop music superstardom. Each of the 30th Anniversary editions of "The Stranger" will be available online and in stores on Tuesday, July 8, 2008.

Originally released in September 1977, Billy Joel's fifth studio album, "The Stranger," marked the first of Joel's highly successful collaborations with producer Phil Ramone, whose mastery of the recording studio provided a sublime sonic context for Joel's timeless songs and classic performances. "I was very happy that we chose Phil Ramone," said Billy Joel in a recent interview for the 30th Anniversary edition of "The Stranger." "He got it right away."

The resulting collection became one of the top-selling albums of the year (peaking at #2 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart); won two Grammys (Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Just The Way You Are," "The Stranger" was nominated for Album of the Year); overtook Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as Columbia Records Top Selling Album of the time, and generated four indelible singles -- "Just The Way You Are (#1 Adult Contemporary, #3 Pop Singles); "Only The Good Die Young" (#24 Pop Singles); "She's Always A Woman" (#2 Adult Contemporary, #17 Pop Singles); and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" (#17 Pop Singles) -- that remain radio staples to this day.

"I don't recall particularly feeling 'this is going to be the breakthrough,'" said Billy Joel in an interview for "The Stranger - 30th Anniversary Edition." "We were just happy with the album we were making at the time.... But now, in hindsight, I can see it was a real important album."

Billy Joel's first Top 10 album, "The Stranger" is still the iconic performer's best-selling non-compilation album ever. Ranked at #67 on Rolling Stone's prestigious "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list, "The Stranger" has earned the coveted RIAA Diamond Album certification (presented in recognition of US sales of more than 10 million copies).

"The Stranger - 30th Anniversary" will be available in two configurations from Legacy Recordings.

The limited deluxe edition of "The Stranger" includes a CD of the original album, in its entirety, remastered by producer Phil Ramone; a CD of a previously unreleased concert featuring Billy and his band, "Live At Carnegie Hall 1977," recorded at the historic Manhattan venue on June 3, 1977, one month prior to the sessions for "The Stranger" album and newly restored for the new editions of "The Stranger"; and a DVD showcasing two live promotional videos from "The Stranger" and the long-awaited release of Billy's fabled appearance on the BBC's "Old Grey Whistle Test," a seldom-seen sixty minute cavalcade from 1978 that has aired only once on the UK's BBC2.

Rounding out the limited deluxe edition of "The Stranger - 30th Anniversary" package is a 48 page booklet with liner notes from Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke and a multitude of photos, including never-before-seen images from the original photo shoot for the album.

Also available is "The Stranger - 30th Anniversary" Legacy Edition which includes the CD of the original album, in its entirety, remastered by producer Phil Ramone; the previously unreleased, newly restored "Live At Carnegie Hall 1977" CD; and a 24 page booklet with liner notes by David Fricke and unseen photos from the album's original photo shoot.



Now Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Anniversary-Limited-Deluxe-Boxed/dp/B00168PTG0) list the box set as 3 cd and 1 DVD, but I think they're wrong in the product description. They're selling the box set for $35, but Speedy is repoting that Target is selling the 2CD vesion for $13.99 and the 2CD/1DVD for only $15.99! I'm hoping that's really the case :fc:

[Decker]

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
2. Stranger
3. Just the Way You Are
4. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
5. Vienna
6. Only the Good Die Young
7. Always a Woman
8. Get It Right the First Time
9. Everybody Has a Dream [Stranger Reprise]

Disc: 2
1. Miami 2017 [Live]
2. Angry Young Man [Live]
3. New York State of Mind [Live]
4. Just the Way You Are [Live]
5. She's Got a Way [Live]
6. Entertainer [Live]
7. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant [Live]
8. Band Intros [Live]
9. Captain Jack [Live]
10. I've Loved These Days [Live]
11. Say Goodbye to Hollywood [Live]
12. Souvenir [Live]

Disc: 3
1. [DVD]

Link to 3-minute trailer of The Stranger Making-Of documentary (http://youtube.com/watch?v=2n5WtqwnQP4)

[Decker]

Updates found online:

Amazon is wrong, it is just 2 CD + 1 DVD. There were plans for a second concert CD but they were dropped.

Best Buy will give a free exclusive "Bootleg" CD with the box set. They are charging $29.99 for the set. They won't be too happy when I ask them to PM Target at half that price.
While supplies last, it also includes an exclusive bonus bootleg CD, featuring these previously unreleased live tracks from a 1977 show at Nassau Coliseum:
"Just the Way You Are"
"Vienna"
"Billy the Kid"
"Get It Right the First Time"
"Summer Highland Falls"

Amazingly, Best Buy also has the out-of-print SACD available in-stock for $15.99 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4251561&st=sacd&lp=15&type=product&cp=1&id=1624032) if anyone's interested.

[Hollowgen]

thanks for this thread... very thorough!

i can't wait for this set. the Born to Run set is phenominal in presentation & content, so seeing another great album given the same treatment is exciting.

[civiclx]

I've been into hip hop for quite awhile but I enjoy most all genres of music and I have to say that Billy Joel is probably my favorite artist. He just has so many good songs that I like. I would't give myself the credit of being called a fan, but I really like his music. My first album was actually his last album, River of Dreams. (last rock album with lyrics right?) anyway, love every song on the album. I haven't bought any of his old albums but I did get the Essential Collelction and the My Lives box set.

Will definitely check this out. Thanks for the info!

[DaveWadding]

If I can get the box version for speedy's reported price, I'll be so there.

[nothingfails]

I like how affordable this is compared to the Born To Run anniversary

[Decker]

I like how affordable this is compared to the Born To Run anniversary
Well, Born To Run 30th Anniversary box set had a MSRP of $39.99
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/17/52/d912793509a0bd85e2136110._AA240_.L.jpg

while The Stranger 30th Anniversary box set has a MSRP of $49.99
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410CmMvmESL._AA240_.jpg

so any savings is just due to what is hopefully not a misprint in a Target ad, per Speedy.

Looking at the two pics above, it appears that the Stranger CD isn't going to be a black CD/vinyl replica like Born To Run and the Deluxe DYLAN collection are. Bummer, since those are so much fun to hold and look at -- they feel like collectables.

[civiclx]

decker, just curious but would you consider yourself a big billy joel fan?

[Decker]

decker, just curious but would you consider yourself a big billy joel fan?
Funny, because right now I'm wearing a Billy Joel 1999 concert t-shirt. :lol:

He's one of my all-time favorites, though I rarely listen to his music much anymore. I always enjoy his stuff but as I get older, it isn't as interesting to me as it used to be when I was a teenager and in college.

And I've NEVER liked Piano Man -- that song totally annoys me and I kinda wish he'd never written it. A colleague saw my shirt today and said "Hey, the Piano Man!". I grinned through gritted teeth.

So that's my long-winded answer. Yes, I am with some reservations. :)

[bigjim25]

Everybody from now on let's call Decker the PIANO MAN. :lol:

[civiclx]

bwahahahaha...do you remember some concert they used to play on disney back in like the mid 90s? I'm thinking it might have been the river of dreams tour. do you have any imported albums?

[Decker]

That concert video (although in edited form) is available as the fifth disc in the "My Lives" box set. It looks like crap and isn't that cleanly directed by today's standards, though it's much more easily watchable than that hideous abomination of the Yankee Stadium concert DVD. They really need to put together a great concert DVD, I'd love to see that HBO Russia show packaged with the "Matter of Trust" documentary and released together in remastered form -- maybe some day...

Anyway, here's the track listing from Amazon for the edited version of the River of Dreams Concert DVD:

Disc: 5
1. No Man's Land
2. Pressure
3. Ballad Of Billy The Kid
4. Leningrad
5. Allentown
6. My Life
7. I Go To Extremes
8. Shades Of Grey
9. The River Of Dreams
10. Goodnight Saigon
11. We Didn't Start the Fire
12. Hard Days Night
13. Big Shot
14. Piano Man


As far as imports, I do have one import/bootleg. I found it in an independant record store in the mid-90s. It's called (ironically) "A Matter of Trust" and it is the soundtrack to the Yankee Stadium concert. That's the only one I own.

[civiclx]

i still haven't opened the my lives set yet...just been savioring the "brand newness" i guess lol do you have a favorite album? I find it surprising but I do like piano man. I think the only song from the Essential collection that I don't like is "the entertainer" i forget the song...maybe it's miami 2017 about "i saw the lights go out on broadway..."
do you know what that song is about?

[Decker]

maybe it's miami 2017 about "i saw the lights go out on broadway..."
do you know what that song is about?
From the liner notes of "Songs in the Attic" (a fairly awesome 1981 live album of just older songs that had not been hits or well known to that point) :
"More science fiction now than then. A legacy for my unborn grandchildren". He poignantly played a somber, acoustic version of it during the Concert For New York after 9/11. Certainly not what he meant when he wrote the song and a little post-apocalyptic for such an event, but still strangely appropriate.

As far as favorites :
1: The Stranger (just....perfect)
2: 52nd Street (everyone knows side 1, but there are some good tracks on side 2)
3: The Nylon Curtain (very dark and underrated)
4: Glass Houses (huge bombastic stadium hits -- first album I ever bought myself)
5: The Bridge (beginning of the end, but some nice tracks on an uneven album)
6: Songs in the Attic

Amazingly enough, I dug out that "Matter of Trust" bootleg and itunes was able to locate the album information, albiet with spelling and gramatical errors.

[reverie]

I'll be at Best Buy for this one. Billy Joel's the first musician I really got into, and it's sad that he's basically retired these days. There's still a good handful of things out there that need releasing of his, including the Sigma Sounds Studio broadcast (with a great unreleased, rocking song "Josephine").

Speaking of Miami 2017, that's one of my favorite songs of his! ;)

[Decker]

OK, I got some clarification on sale prices in Speedy's weekly ad thread. It turns out that the $15.99 deal WAS too good to be true for the box set. :( It's acually an exclusive to Target version of the Legacy edition 2CD set. He's what I wrote in that thread:
OK, EXCLUSIVE dvd means something else. It looks like Target has arranged to have some sort of extra DVD concert footage packaged in with the 2CD legacy set. This is NOT the Deluxe box set. I found this link (http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/06/27/joel.good.die.young.legacyrecordings?iref=24hours) at cnn.com of all places showing a clip of Billy Joel singing "Only The Good Die Young". Looks to be about 1986; certainly not the 1977 concert video included in the box set.

edit : the text says "Billy Joel plays Russia". That would be the 1987 Концерт show. I wonder if it's the whole concert or just snippets

So there you go. Not counting vinyl, there are two versions of the release (a 2CD Legacy Edition and a 2CD + 1 DVD Deluxe Box set). In addition, there are two store exclusives - Target has some sort of a concert DVD showing at least one song from the Russian concert including with limited run of the legacy set, while Best Buy has a 5 song CD bootleg packed with the deluxe box set at $29.99. While the Target DVD might be awesome, especially if it includes the full Концерт show, Target exclusive DVDs tend to be reallly skimpy so this might just be a few songs. I can't locate any more information right now.

I hope that clears things right up for y'all! -ptth-

[Decker]

Oh, also on CNN.com, I found another exclusive Target performance. This one is my "favorite song" (http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/06/27/joel.piano.man.legacyrecordings). It looks to perhaps be from a different show than the Good Die Young one. Can't tell for sure. No more information to be found right now.

[DaveWadding]

dammit.

[Decker]

http://www.bullz-eye.com/cdreviews/thompson/billy_joel-the_stranger_30th_anniversary_edition.htm

It’s easy to look back at Billy Joel’s fifth album, The Stranger, and compare it to an album like Led Zeppelin’s fourth LP. At the time, it wound up running like a short list greatest hits album: You had “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” “Just the Way You Are,” the title track, “Only the Good Die Young,” and “She’s Always a Woman,” all big radio hits. Later on, even the epic “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” would become a concert and fan favorite and would even be appended to the CD version of Joel’s Greatest Hits Vol. I & II for that very reason. In essence, it was a huge album, not only for Joel, but for rock and pop music at the time. The funny thing is, the album didn’t take off like crazy when it was first released.

This could have been the deal-breaker for Billy. After serving up three albums for Columbia Records – Piano Man, whose title track became a modest A.M. radio hit and won Joel his first gold record (and also included “Captain Jack,” the song that actually netted Billy his contract with Columbia), Streetlife Serenade, which featured the sarcastic “The Entertainer” and eerily predicted Billy’s early career trajectory, and Turnstiles, Joel’s back-to-New York album whose songs such as “New York State of Mind” were scoring better as cover versions by Babs Streisand and Bette Midler – it was time to have a hit, come hell or high water. For those keeping score at home, Joel’s botched 1972 debut Cold Spring Harbor was only picked up by the label when its mix was corrected and reissued in 1984.

At first, it looked like things were going to go the usual route. The leadoff single from The Stranger, “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” didn’t set the charts alight at all. It wouldn’t be until the love ballad “Just the Way You Are” and the infamous “Only the Good Die Young” were released that the album started selling like crazy and literally turned Joel into an overnight success – if by overnight we mean after seven years. The album was produced by Phil Ramone, who had everything to do with capturing the essence of Billy and his band as they were in the studio. Joel’s prior albums had capable but somewhat sterile production (Turnstiles had been produced by Joel himself, who had hated the overall sound of his first two Columbia LPs). On The Stranger, though, Ramone brought out a super-professional and warm sound from the mix, with the overall quality sounding not unlike the heights Steely Dan had been hitting for years with producer Gary Katz.

http://www.bullz-eye.com/music/images/assets/billy_joel/billy_joel-01.jpg
And so the rest is rock history. Billy Joel was never a stranger to the charts afterward. The Stranger begat 52nd Street which begat Glass Houses, and the list of hit albums and singles just keeps rolling on. Here it is 2008, and The Stranger has been dressed up as a “Legacy Edition” by Sony. This package comes in one of two editions. The first is a two-disc set featuring the original album remastered by Phil Ramone, plus a second live disc of Joel performing at Carnegie Hall in 1977 just before the album was released. It’s interesting to hear him at this point in his career, and hear the crowd cheer fan faves like “Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go out on Broadway),” “The Entertainer,” and “Captain Jack” while being absolutely quiet and respectful during the then “new” tunes like “Just the Way You Are” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”

The second version of this package features the two CDs, plus a bonus DVD featuring Billy on “The Old Grey Whistle Test” in 1978, and a deluxe 48-page booklet. For this review, I only received the two-disc set, so I cannot comment on the DVD or booklet. That said, the remastered disc by Phil Ramone sounds absolutely fantastic, sounding even better than the late ‘90s remaster of the album when Joel’s catalogue was given the complete overhaul treatment. There’s something even more immediate and “live” sounding about the album that it honestly never had in any previous versions. It sounds fresh and exciting all over again. Likewise, the live disc sounds just as great as Songs in the Attic – the recording is crisp and warm, and is certainly a treat for fans of all stripes. As stated earlier, it’s interesting to hear Billy in a concert setting prior to all the really huge hits.

Having now taken in this new version of The Stranger, I can only say that it would be great if the rest of Billy’s catalog could be given another remastering treatment by Ramone and the other respective producers. Regardless of that, this album remains one of the best of the ‘70s and certainly of Billy Joel’s career. It is the definite line of demarcation when he went from being an opening act to headlining stadiums all on his own. That the album escaped the trappings of the time in which it was recorded and still sounds as vital today is a testament to Joel’s talents as a songwriter and performer. The Stranger remains one of the best LPs of all time.

[Decker]

Seriously, we're just a couple of days away and I STILL don't know which version to get. I think at this point the 2-CD set at Best Buy with the 5 CD bonus "Bootleg" is probably the best deal, especially PMing Circuit City's $11.99 price. I'd like the box set, but honestly I just don't know if the old TV special and 30 min making-of doc is worht the $18 price difference between the CD set and the $29.99 box set. Gotta think a little longer on this...

[Hollowgen]

any rundown on the confirmed prices at retailers for both versions?

[Decker]

any rundown on the confirmed prices at retailers for both versions?
Ok.

Best Buy : Legacy Edition (2CD) $14.99, Box Set (2CD + 1 DVD) $29.99
--note : both versions come with a 5 song exclusive bonus live CD

Circuit City : Legacy Edition $11.99 -- note : ad describes the edition as CD+DVD, but that's wrong. It's 2 CDs

Target : Legacy Edition $13.99. Target Exclusive Edition $15.99 (2CD + 5 song live DVD -- all songs available elsewhere per joelfan.com forum)

Note that neither CC or Target mention the box set. When I hit stores on Tuesday, I'll post their prices plus Costco (they sometimes give better prices on Columbia box sets)

[Hollowgen]

Note that neither CC or Target mention the box set. When I hit stores on Tuesday, I'll post their prices plus Costco (they sometimes give better prices on Columbia box sets)

Thanks! Costco is so flaky with new releases, but I'll be checking there as well.

Some online prices for the box:

Barnes & Noble: (http://music.barnesandnoble.com/The-Stranger/Billy-Joel/e/886973080122/?itm=4)
$37.49 (or $31.87 with 15% off coupon floating around)
$33.74 for members (or $26.99 with 20% off coupon)
Includes free fast shipping for members.

FYE.com: (http://www.fye.com/viewfdsearch.htm?moreHitsFromSite=&category=&similarTo=&similarType=find&breadCrumb=&oldQuery=&begin=&page=&sortBy=&path=&searchBy=&seeAll=&profile=&query=billy+joel+the+stranger)
Regular Price:$48.99
Our Price: $35.99
After Rebate: $32.99
Member After Rebate: $29.39

Amazon.com: (http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Anniversary-Limited-Deluxe-Boxed/dp/B00168PTG0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1215472450&sr=1-1)
$29.99 - and claims to be 3 CD + 1 DVD
Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition - 4 Discs (3 CDs and 1 DVD)

CD of "The Stranger" remastered by the original album producer, Phil Ramone

CD of "Live At Carnegie Hall 1977"- previously unreleased - On June 3, 1977, one month prior to the recording of The Stranger album, Billy and his band performed at the historical Carnegie Hall.

Bonus CD of a 2nd live show circa "The Stranger' tour

Bonus DVD of BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test - approx 60 minutes PLUS 2 live promotional videos


---

Trying to decide where to get the best deal with combination of price + bonus material is as ridiculous as it was for people to decide where to get the new Smashing Pumpkins album!

[Decker]

I posted on the first page : The Amazon description is wrong. It's based on inital specs that were later changed. You can see both by the picture of the items in the set and by the track listings that it's a 2CD + 1 DVD set.

They're going to have some mighty pissed customers when the set comes out. On the other side of the coin, if you bought that from them, you'd have an airtight case to return it at Amazon's expense.

[Hollowgen]

I posted on the first page : The Amazon description is wrong. It's based on inital specs that were later changed. You can see both by the picture of the items in the set and by the track listings that it's a 2CD + 1 DVD set.

They're going to have some mighty pissed customers when the set comes out. On the other side of the coin, if you bought that from them, you'd have an airtight case to return it at Amazon's expense.

I did catch that, my bad. I was just hoping they were implying they have an exclusive extra CD as well.

...looks like the BB route is the best way to go.

[civiclx]

so who has gotten it already?

[Hollowgen]

Picked it up at BB today. Spinning the original album, and it sounds good.

I wish they'd offer all re-issues in a format like this :)

[MooMooMooMoo]

Bought the Best Buy for 29.99 + tax. They refused to price match Target or CC. There is a review on Amazon that someone received a 2 cd/1 dvd box from Amazon rather then the 3 cd that still is advertised as of this moment & they're furious.

[Decker]

No box set at either CC or Target today for me. Will pick it up at Best Buy tomorrow.

FYI : The bonus DVD at Target has 5 songs on it.
2 were from Live in Long Island
1 from Live in Lenningrad
1 from Live at Yankee Stadium
1 from Live fron the River of Dreams

[reverie]

I picked up the box from BB yesterday. So far I'm about 3/4 of the way through disc two and loving it. I'm really debating on the Target exclusive as well for the Long Island stuff.. is this on DVD yet? That was a great video.

[sportsfan64]

Did anyone happen to notice if Target is selling the box set and for what price? If so, did it come with the 5 song DVD like with the regular CD set?

[Decker]

Did anyone happen to notice if Target is selling the box set and for what price? If so, did it come with the 5 song DVD like with the regular CD set?
I checked one local Target and they didn't carry it. Besides, the DVD is priced in its own tier as a Target exclusive, so even if they had the box set, it wouldn't come with that DVD.

Well, I gritted my teeth and bought the goddam box set at Best Buy for $29.99. It's the third time I've bought The Stranger on CD and the fourth time overall (1981-cassette, 1986 - CD, 2005 - SACD, 2008 - CD box set). It's getting old. :rolleyes:

Anyway, a few thoughts : It sounds great. So much richer and clearer than the original CD master. I did a back-to-back with the SACD. It's not entirely a fair comparison, 5.1 vs stereo. Still I think I like this new mix better. It's so crisp and full sounding. Nicely done.

The live disc is very good. I was surprised at how much the performances sounded like those in Songs In The Attic. This could be the companion piece to that album, though it was recorded four years earlier, the track listings are very similar except that this one features some hits as well. Nothing wrong with that and it's kind of fun to listen to the differences (the sax solo on this version of Miami 2017 is a nice surprise). The disc sounds very good. I was pleased to see that the disc was produced by Phil Ramone, since he hasn't produced a Billy Joel album since The Bridge . It's really a good live album. The big revelation for me : this is, to the best of my recollection, the very first time I've ever heard Billy Joel perform a live version of Just The Way You Are. My favorite song and he never performs it. It was nice to FINALLY hear him do it. It's also interesting hearing the rather subdued crowd reaction -- it hadn't been released yet.

The bonus disc certainly pales in comparison sonically. It sounds muddy and tinny, unfortunately. Still, it's interesting in that it was recorded after The Stranger was released and features four songs that aren't on the other live disc (only Just The Way You Are overlaps). If you're a fan of Get It Right The First Time, here's your only chance to hear it live. Despite the lousy sound, if you look at it as a limited, free bonus for collectors I'd say it's certainly worth seeking out at Best Buy. Too bad they couldn't have touched up the recording a bit.

The packaging is nice. Haven't read through the essay by David Fricke -- it's long. The pictures are nice and glossy. The really cool item is a photocopy replica of Billy's notebook with lyrics and album ideas in it. Some fascinating stuff in there. Did you know that Allentown was supposed to be part of "Italian Restaurant"? I had never heard that before and I've heard him talk repeatedly about the origin of that song. Also seeing his very wise decision to change the original opening lyric of Just The Way You Are from "Don't go changing/ Now that I know you" made me smile. A lot of the journal is unreadable scribble, all crossed out, but still it's a pretty fun bonus. I actually think I prefer one lyric in the original version of Movin' Out "He works at Mister Cachetori's down on Sullivan Street/ Where everyone goes on a bender". :beer: :up:

Haven't watched the DVD. I'll post impressions once I have.

[too much]

I wasn't sure which version to buy, but decided on the box set.

The live CD is great! Billy and the band are in top form.

The 30+ minute "making of" feature is good! I was glad that the promotional videos were "live" and not just set to the album tracks. I haven't watched the concert yet.

The bonus disc is nice, not the best quality, but the performances are great. I would have liked to have had a few extra tracks, but am at least happy that they only overlapped one song (which is great).

I hope that Billy Joel/Columbia will someday release a commercial version of the promotional two record set "Live in Japan" that is shown in the booklet for "The Stranger" set! That set list looks amazing! They show the front and back covers and all four sides of the set. They should have just included an order form to purchase it!

[salamander2]

Bullz-eye.com is wrong, JUST THE WAY YOU WERE was the first single off the album, NOT MOVIN OUT!

Also, it would be nice to include the 45 versions of JUST THE WAY YOU ARE and MOVIN OUT, only for completist sakes. (I like the 45 version of MOVIN OUT as it omits the motorcycle sound)

[Decker]

Also, it would be nice to include the 45 versions of JUST THE WAY YOU ARE and MOVIN OUT, only for completist sakes. (I like the 45 version of MOVIN OUT as it omits the motorcycle sound)
SACRELIGE!!!!! The motorcycle is essential to the track. Ok, at least it should be on the album version. There's no need to include radio edits ever. They're moronic and insulting; heck, Billy even sings as much in The Entertainer.

Just got to watch the Old Grey Whistle Test show. I think it's great. It's amazing that it looks as good as it does. Yeah the reds bleed and metal on the mic stands cause fuzzy shadows, but overall it's amazingly sharp for a 1978 tv special shot on video. It sounds wonderful as well. Nice set list. It runs 46 minutes. I wish it were longer, but it is what it is.

The two promotional videos are more of what I was expecting. They look like crap. Still it's nice to have on disc and at least they're live performances and aren't embarrassing (picked up the ABBA release and those music videos are laughable and just awful -- this was the pre-MTV era).

[Decker]

Well, not really "The Stranger"-related, but Billy Joel news nonetheless. I don't think I've ever been upset that I don't live in New York until tonight. This sounds completely awesome. I pray it's recorded and released on DVD (or even better, Blu Ray) :

Billy Joel is in a Shea Stadium state of mind, playing ballpark's final concert

07-18-2008 9:37 PM
By JOSH HOFFNER, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (Associated Press) -- Billy Joel bade a stirring farewell to Shea Stadium on Friday during an electrifying, sold-out final show at the same ballpark where the Beatles famously ushered in a new era in rock 'n' roll four decades ago.

He was joined by an all-star lineup of friends including Paul McCartney, who told Joel, "Came here a long time ago. We had a blast that night and we're having another one tonight."

"Good evening, Shea Stadium. Is this cool or what?" Joel told the crowd at the New York Mets' home field, which is to be razed after the baseball season to make way for a new stadium across the street.

"They're gonna be tearing this place down, but I wanna thank you ... for letting me do the best job in the world," he said.

The show paid homage to Shea's baseball glories, with Mets highlights playing on jumbo screens during "Zanzibar." But the concert also was a mark of the stadium's place in music history.

The show came 43 years after the Beatles' legendary show at Shea _ the first concert at the ballpark. The concert came at the height of Beatlemania and demonstrated the sheer power of rock 'n' roll and the Beatles: 55,000 screaming fans at a U.S. ballpark was virtually unheard-of at the time, and the show gave the Fab Four even more cachet among the Beatle-crazed American public.

Joel has always strongly embraced his New York and Long Island roots, and that makes for memory-making concerts every time he plays in the city. Throngs of fans know his music so well they can pretty much take over any chorus they like.

And as if the "Piano Man" playing the last concert at Shea wasn't thrilling enough, high-wattage guests turned up the excitement level.

Tony Bennett sang "New York State of Mind" with Joel on Friday, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed "Walk This Way," and Roger Daltrey of the Who did "My Generation. At the end of "My Generation," Joel smashed a guitar against the stage, breaking it in two.

McCartney came on at the end. He sang "I Saw Her Standing There" while on guitar and "Let It Be" on piano _ the last song of the night. Joel sat on top of piano and sang backup.

Garth Brooks appeared on stage earlier wearing a Mets jersey, and in the audience, one of Joel's famous fans _ ex-wife Christie Brinkley _ sang along, word for word, to the chorus of "She's Always a Woman."

During the first installment of Joel's "Last Play at Shea" on Wednesday, John Mellencamp came on stage to perform his hit "Pink Houses," and Don Henley underscored the baseball theme with his standard "Boys of Summer."

The Beatles and baseball shared the spotlight at the concerts. Joel played three Beatles songs ("A Hard Day's Night," "Please, Please Me" and "She Loves You") during Wednesday's set, and introduced his signature "Piano Man" with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." He also played the national anthem to start the show.

"I want to thank the Beatles for letting us use their room. Best band that ever was, best band that ever will be," Joel told fans Wednesday.

Diane Gentile saw the Beatles play at Shea in 1966 _ their second visit to the stadium after the historic show a year earlier. Her recollection of that summer night 42 years ago: "Oh, my God, there are the Beatles on that stage, and here am I."

"It was unbelievable. It was exciting; you could feel the electricity. Right before the concert we were singing `Happy Anniversary' to John because his anniversary was that day," Gentile recalled.

On Friday, Gentile was back at Shea to watch Joel for what she predicted would be the best concert she'll ever see.

___

Associated Press writer Frank Eltman contributed to this report.

[civiclx]

that does sound awesome and like you, I hope they release a video

[Decker]

that does sound awesome and like you, I hope they release a video
Good news! From the LA Times on 7/16/08:

Billy Joel will play the final notes at Shea on Friday in a performance to be documented for a film and DVD titled "Last Play at Shea," slated for release next year. Several guest artists are expected at the concert, which is one of only a handful that have been held at Shea in the 43 years since the Beatles played

[civiclx]

awesome thanks for the link!! hey decker do you own any imported stuff from Billy Joel? I'm not sure if I already asked you or not so if I did, I apologize for asking again :)

[Decker]

Yeah, I made a brief note in post #13.

As far as imports, I do have one import/bootleg. I found it in an independant record store in the mid-90s. It's called (ironically) "A Matter of Trust" and it is the soundtrack to the Yankee Stadium concert. That's the only one I own.

[civiclx]

oh that's right. I just ordered this one yesterday from a 3rd-party seller via amazon.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51q5T3xhySL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

I already have all those songs on other cds but I thought it would be cool to have an import and it wasn't too expensive. They have quite a few different versions of this cd
So Many To Choose From (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=piano+man%3A+the+very+best+of+billy+joel)

[reverie]

Wow, I can't wait for that concert, it sounds great! Thanks for the info and heads-up!

[Decker]

For those who were waiting on a better deal on this box set, it's at Costco along with their other Columbia box sets for $24.99. They will often have a coupon to make those box sets even cheaper.

[cck]

Yeah, I made a brief note in post #13.

As far as imports, I do have one import/bootleg. I found it in an independant record store in the mid-90s. It's called (ironically) "A Matter of Trust" and it is the soundtrack to the Yankee Stadium concert. That's the only one I own.


A fan like yourself should really try to seek out the studio outtakes bootlegs that came out a few years back. IIRC there were three of them.

There are also a couple of boots from various Face to Face gigs with Elton.

[Michael Corvin]

There are also a couple of boots from various Face to Face gigs with Elton.

I have a 3 discer from a Japan show, circa 1998. It's simply amazing. There should have been an official set out by now.

[Decker]

I would love a copy of a Face To Face show. There was a filmed version on HBO way back when, but not only did it never get released on home video, I missed it on TV as well. I might like a copy of that show, but I so hate bad audio quality I doubt it would be worth a purchase for me.