Greatest Hits (Billy Joel albums)

Infobox Album
Name = Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Billy Joel


Released = September 2, 1985
Recorded = 1973-1985
Genre = Rock
Length = 108:03
Label = Columbia
Producer = Michael Stewart, Billy Joel, Phil Ramone
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fmd0ylkjxpnb link]
* Rolling Stone Album Guide, 3rd Edition Rating|4|5
Last album = "An Innocent Man"
(1983)
This album = "Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 (1973-1985)"
(1985)
Next album = "The Bridge"
(1986)
Billy Joel's "Greatest Hits" discs are a collection released in two sets. The first, released in 1985, contained the first two discs. The second was released in 1997. All songs but the last three, "To Make You Feel My Love", "Hey Girl" and "Light as the Breeze", were written by Joel. On October 14, 1997, a boxed set called "The Complete Hits Collection: 1973-1997 Limited Edition" was released that included all three CD volumes as well as a fourth disc that contains a Q&A with Billy Joel.

"You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night is Still Young" are only available on the first set. The other songs appear mostly in order of their release dates and generally represent Joel's most successful singles.

"Greatest Hits" has been certified diamond by the RIAA, selling over 10.5 million copies. "Greatest Hits" was highly successful, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and becoming the top-selling double album of all time by a solo artist.

LP release of "Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II"

ide one

# "Piano Man" Time: 5'36" Year 1973
# "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live edited version) Time: 3'53" Year 1981
# "New York State of Mind" Time: 5'58" Year 1976
# "The Stranger" Time: 4'55" Year 1977
# "Just the Way You Are" (Edited) Time: 3'34" Year 1977

ide two

# "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" Time: 3'27" Year 1977
# "Only the Good Die Young" Time: 3'53" Year 1977
# "She's Always a Woman" Time: 3'18" Year 1977
# "My Life" (Edited) Time: 3'50" Year 1978
# "Big Shot" (Edited) Time: 3'43" Year 1978
# "Honesty" Time: 3'50" Year 1978

ide three

# "You May Be Right Time: 4'09" Year 1980
# "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" Time: 2'54" Year 1980
# "Pressure" (Edit) Time: 3'13" Year 1982
# "Allentown" Time: 3'49" Year 1982
# "Goodnight Saigon" Time: 7'02" Year 1982

ide four

# "Tell Her About It" Time: 3'55" Year 1983
# "Uptown Girl" Time: 3'15" Year 1983
# "The Longest Time" Time: 3'35" Year 1983
# "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" Time: 4'47" Year 1985
# "The Night Is Still Young" Time: 5'27" Year 1985

Cassette release of "Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II"

Same as LP version, but since it is on one cassette LP side 1 and 2 are put onto one side, and LP side 3 and 4 are put onto one side. Aside from this, it is the same track listing and order.

CD release of "Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II"

Disc one

# "Piano Man"
# "Captain Jack"
# "The Entertainer"
# "Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
# "New York State of Mind"
# "The Stranger"
# "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
# "Just the Way You Are"
# "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"
# "Only the Good Die Young"
# "She's Always a Woman"

Disc two

# "My Life"
# "Big Shot"
# "You May Be Right"
# "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"
# "Don't Ask Me Why"
# "She's Got a Way"
# "Pressure"
# "Allentown"
# "Goodnight Saigon"
# "Tell Her About It"
# "Uptown Girl"
# "The Longest Time"
# "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
# "The Night Is Still Young"

The LP and Cassette have a total of 21 tracks. The CD has 5 additional tracks: "Captain Jack", "The Entertainer", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", "Don't Ask Me Why", & "She's Got a Way" (the live version, from "Songs in the Attic"). "Honesty" does not appear on the CD version, despite being present on both LP and cassette versions.

In 1998, this two CD set was digitally remastered and it was packaged with two bonus videos ("You're Only Human" and "The Night Is Still Young"). All of the songs that were edited in the 1985 package were restored to their original album length. Those songs were "Pressure", "My Life", "Big Shot" and "Just the Way You Are". Also, the live version of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" was deleted and replaced with the studio version from his 1976 album "Turnstiles".

"Greatest Hits Volume III"

Infobox Album
Name = Greatest Hits Volume III
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Billy Joel


Released = August 5, 1997
Recorded = 1983-1997
Genre = Rock
Length = 76:18
Label = Columbia
Producer = Phil Ramone, Mick Jones, Billy Joel, Danny Kortchmar, Joe Nicolo, David Thoener
Reviews =
Last album = River of Dreams (1993)
This album = Greatest Hits Volume III (1997)
Next album = TBA

The "Greatest Hits Volume III" album included hits from 1986-1997, including 2 hits from 1983:
# "Keeping the Faith"
# "An Innocent Man"
# "A Matter of Trust"
# "Baby Grand"
# "This Is the Time"
# "Leningrad"
# "We Didn't Start the Fire"
# "I Go to Extremes"
# "And So It Goes"
# "The Downeaster 'Alexa'"
# "Shameless"
# "All About Soul"
# "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"
# "The River of Dreams"
# "To Make You Feel My Love"
# "Hey Girl"
# "Light as the Breeze"

"The Complete Hits Collection: 1973-1997 Limited Edition"

On October 14, 1997 the entire CD collection was released as a boxed set. It also contained a fourth disc of a Q&A with Billy Joel.

Disc four

# "Billy Joel Spoken Intro/Music Concepts (Live)" 10:20
# "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (Live unreleased version)" 7:50
# "Beatles Influence (Live)" 5:18
# "A Hard Day's Night (Live unreleased version)" 2:53
# "Why Vienna? (Live)" 9:28
# "Vienna (Live unreleased version)" 3:41
# "History Through Music (Live)" 4:31
# "We Didn't Start The Fire (Live unreleased version)" 5:13
# "Music Source (Live)" 9:14
# "The River Of Dreams (Unreleased original studio recording)" 5:21
# "Piano Bar (Live)" 7:46
# "Piano Man (Live unreleased version)" 6:32

ee also

*List of best-selling albums in the United States