{"title":"Billy Joel","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Billy Joel\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWilliam Martin Joel was born in The Bronx, New York on May 9, 1949 and raised on Long Island. He began his recording career in the late 1960s, signing with Columbia Records in 1973. His breakthrough came with Piano Man (1973), and he developed into one of the dominant pop-rock songwriters of the late 1970s and 1980s. The Stranger (1977), produced by Phil Ramone, marked his first major commercial success; 52nd Street (1978) won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He stopped releasing new studio pop material after River of Dreams (1993), focusing on touring, classical composition, and the Madison Square Garden monthly residency that ran from 2014 to 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBilly Joel's sound combines pop rock, soft rock, and singer-songwriter traditions with piano-based arrangements and lyrical attention to New York City, Long Island, and working-class American life. His compositions move fluently across genre - doo-wop pastiche (An Innocent Man), Latin and jazz (52nd Street), new wave (Glass Houses), and classical-influenced piano writing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePiano Man (1973, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Stranger (1977, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e52nd Street (1978, Columbia) - Grammy Album of the Year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGlass Houses (1980, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Nylon Curtain (1982, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn Innocent Man (1983, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStorm Front (1989, Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRiver of Dreams (1993, Columbia) - final pop studio album\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Columbia pressings of The Stranger and 52nd Street are widely collected. Multiple anniversary reissues, box sets, and audiophile pressings of the Billy Joel catalog have been released, including 50th anniversary editions of Piano Man.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Billy Joel typically start with The Stranger (1977) or 52nd Street (1978). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pop-vinyl-records\"\u003ePop\/Indie-Pop\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/1970s-vinyl-records\"\u003e1970s\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"billy-joel-piano-man-vinyl","title":"Piano Man LP","description":"\u003cp\u003ePiano Man is the second studio album by Billy Joel, originally released on November 9, 1973. Featuring the legendary hits, \"Piano Man, \" \"The Ballad Of Billy The Kid, \" and \"Captain Jack\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540846358711,"sku":"210000084590","price":27.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/pian.jpg?v=1781154474"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-the-stranger-vinyl-30th-anniv","title":"The Stranger LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Stranger is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Billy Joel. While his previous four albums had been moderately successful, The Stranger became Joel's true critical and commercial breakthrough.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540873949367,"sku":"210000050356","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/billyjo.jpg?v=1781154571"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-the-nylon-curtain-vinyl","title":"The Nylon Curtain LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Nylon Curtain is the 8th studio album by Billy Joel, originally released on Sept 23, 1982. Includes “Pressure” and “Allentown.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540897083575,"sku":"210000098691","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/joel.jpg?v=1781154643"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-an-innocent-man-vinyl","title":"An Innocent Man LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of Billy Joel’s most iconic albums is finally available again.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540897247415,"sku":"210000098469","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4432139-3400709.jpg?v=1781154644"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-storm-front-vinyl","title":"Storm Front LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe didn't start the fire. it was always burnin since the worlds been turning.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540897378487,"sku":"210000098471","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4432141-3400719.jpg?v=1781154644"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-glass-houses-vinyl","title":"Glass Houses LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eBilly Joel puts less emphasis on his storytelling on Glass Houses, instead focusing more on his love for good old rock-and-roll.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540897542327,"sku":"210000098470","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4432137-3400707.jpg?v=1781154646"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-river-of-dreams-vinyl","title":"River Of Dreams LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eRiver of Dreams is the 12th studio album by Billy Joel, originally released on August 10, 1993. Includes “The River of Dreams” and “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540897607863,"sku":"210000098690","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/joell.jpg?v=1781154644"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-the-bridge-vinyl","title":"The Bridge LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Bridge is the 10th studio album by Billy Joel, originally released on July 25, 1986. Includes “A Matter Of Trust” and “Modern Woman.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540897771703,"sku":"210000098692","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/bridge.jpg?v=1781154644"},{"product_id":"billy-joel-greatest-hits-vol-1-2-vinyl","title":"Greatest Hits Vol. 1 \u0026 2 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eCertified Double Diamond + (23 million sold), this 2-LP set includes Billy's biggest hits from 1973 – 1985\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540978380983,"sku":"210000099479","price":34.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/joel_a0d3cc7e-e3cb-4b49-bd08-9c59388e31e5.jpg?v=1781154940"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/billy-joel.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}