A 1972 Billy Joel performance doesn’t sound like the concerts he’s been performing over the last 50 years. Instead, two live recordings from that year reveal an artist still finding his way – even if a few key elements were already in place. That year, Billy opened for Taj Mahal at the Boarding House […]
EP 139 – Concert Classics: Boarding House & Mar y Sol Pop Festival (1972) Read More »
In April of 1976, Billy Joel hit the road with the first incarnation of the now-legendary Lords of 52nd Street lineup. The band toured in support of the album Turnstiles, the first official audio document of this group. And, late that year, they recorded the first concert home video of Billy’s career. That program,
EP 125 – Video Retrospective: Billy Joel Tonight – December 5 & 6, 1976 Read More »
A storm arrived in Syracuse, NY in February of 1990 — two of them, actually. The region was hit by a major storm, dumping more than eight inches of snow. At the same time, Billy Joel brought his Storm Front tour to the Carrier Dome. This show was about two months into a string of
EP 124 – Concert Classics: Syracuse, NY – February 2, 1990 Read More »
Billy Joel’s 10-year monthly residency at Madison Square Garden is now in the past. But its legacy has been preserved for the public to enjoy. In fact, the same can be said for his entire career. In this last installment of our series covering Billy at the Garden, we sit down for a lengthy
The opening strains of Miami 2017 took on a new meaning on July 25, 2024. It was the final show of Billy Joel’s 10-year monthly residency at Madison Square Garden, and the classic opener kicked off the night. Suddenly, the song’s theme about thousands of people hunkering down to hear these songs for maybe the
Starting in the mid-2000s, Billy Joel cemented his Madison Square Garden legacy with two unprecedented engagements. The first was a dozen shows spread over 4 months in 2006. The setlists were filled with songs that were rarely, if ever performed live, and The recordings from these dates made up his live album 12 Gardens Live,
When BIlly Joel plays his final show at Madison Square Garden on July 25, 2024, he’ll be closing out a nearly 50-year run of shows. And, in this episode, we’re diving deep into the first half of that legacy. Starting in December 1978, Billy has played multiple nights at the Garden on all but one
Billy Joel’s groundbreaking 100th Madison Square Garden Residency Show was commemorated with an edited version of the concert airing on network television. The special entitled “The 100th: Billy Joel At Madison Square Garden” was broadcast in prime time on April 14, 2024 on CBS. For fans, this was a step up in production from even
EP 115 – Madison Square Garden Part 2 – The 100th show of the residency (TV Special) Read More »
Thanks to a recently-unearthed audience recording, fans can now hear Billy Joel’s first performance at the legendary Madison Square Garden. The performance took place on December 14, 1978, more than a decade after Billy first took to a stage as a professional musician. Listening to it in 2024, perhaps the most interesting aspect about Billy
EP 114 – Madison Square Garden Part 1 – The First MSG Show (December 14, 1978) Read More »
Since his days playing clubs and theaters in the early 70s, Billy Joel was always known for his passionate, high-energy concerts. That reputation only grew, literally and figuratively, as he graduated into arenas and stadiums after 1977’s The Stranger. That makes his stop at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on The Bridge tour a unique evening.
EP 103 – Concert Classics: Live At The Spectrum, Philadelphia – 1986 Read More »
Unreleased for decades, Billy Joel’s 1972 Sigma Sound Studios concert was arguably the kick-start to his career. With a flop record in Cold Spring Harbor under his belt. Billy and his then-backing band performed live on the air for WMMR in Philadelphia. The session yielded a version of “Captain Jack” that became the station’s most-requested
EP 096 – Concert Classics: Live At Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia – 1972 Read More »
With a new album out and a New York-based band in place, Billy Joel was starting to heat up in 1976. His show at the Bottom Line in Manhattan on June 10th of that year is the proof. The album, Turnstiles, had just come out a few weeks prior. And the orchestra, as Billy was
EP 095 – Concert Classics: Live At The Bottom Line 1976 + Vinyl Box Set Announcement Read More »
Live in Frankfurt is probably the closest BIlly Joel got to being in a Spinal Tap sequel. The show, recorded on June 18, 1994, is just as notable for its mishaps as it is the band’s solid performance. The show captures the band on the River of Dreams tour, and the full video gives a
EP 088 – Concert Classics: Frankfurt, Germany – June 18, 1994 Read More »
Billy’s return to touring in 2006 included a stop at one of the oldest arenas in the world. The concert was captured for posterity with a beautifully-shot, full-length video available for free online. On July 31, 2006, Billy and the band, minus a key member, played outdoors at the Coliseum in Rome. It was many
EP 077 – Concert Classics: Rome, Italy – July 31, 2006 Read More »
Filmed over two nights in June 1990, Live at Yankee Stadium was a hit on VHS and on cable TV upon its release later that year. But, it’s been overlooked in the decades after, with only a handful of songs available and a production style that quickly felt dated. But, that’s all changed with a
EP 072 – Billy Joel Live At Yankee Stadium (Unboxing + Track By Track Overview) Read More »
There are make-or-break moments in every successful musician’s career. Sometimes they’re huge, cataclysmic events. Other times, they’re subtle nods that point a performer in the right direction. For Billy Joel, a pair of shows in November of 1973 was the latter. And, we have the tapes to prove it. Piano Man had just been released,
EP 070 – Concert Classics: Roxy Theatre – Northampton, PA – November 28, 1973 Read More »
By 1984, Billy Joel was known for changing styles from album to album. What’s less recognized was how often he changed voices. And, one night that year in England, those voices were all on display. Close listening to any Billy Joel record reveals a variety of tones, accents, and affectations in the singing. Add to
EP 065 – Concert Classics: Live in London, 1984 Read More »
With the appearance of the Kirin Dry Gigs from 1988 appearing on YouTube earlier this year, a long-lost footnote in Billy Joel history has finally resurfaced. This one-off gig in Japan finds Billy performing with just one member of his longtime touring band. They’re joined by players who performed on other tours in the 80s,
EP 057 – Concert Classics: Kirin Dry Gigs ’88 – Tokyo, Japan Read More »
Billy Joel released his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, in November 1971. Almost 50 years to the day, his fans are celebrating a string of exciting new announcements. In our most timely episode yet, we’ll cover the latest developments in the Billy Joel world. On Friday, November 5, Billy brought his record-breaking residency back
EP 046 – Vinyl Box Set, Return to The Garden, Billy & Metallica in Vegas …and more! Read More »
The fact that a Billy Joel bootleg is named after a Bruce Springsteen song should clue in the listener that this show’s a little different from what you may expect. Recorded at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall in Miami, FL on October 31, 1977, Thunder Road isn’t a radical change from the Billy we know. But,
EP 043 – Concert Classics: Thunder Road – Live in Miami, 1977 Read More »
By the end of the seventies, Billy Joel had found success with a formula that blended elements of pop, rock, and jazz around a singer-songwriter frame. And, he was about to turn all that on its side. The Live In Houston 1979 bootleg is proof of it. The video features Billy and the Lords of
EP 036 – Concert Classics: Live in Houston, 1979 Read More »
Date: May 14, 1974 City/State: Boston, MA Venue: Orpheum Theatre Supporting: Jesse Colin Young & Livingston Taylor The Setlist: Travelin’ Prayer Somewhere Along The Line Technical Difficulty Blues Piano Man The Entertainer The Ballad of Billy The Kid Worse Comes To Worst Everybody Loves You Now Captain Jack Ain’t No Crime —— In less than 50 minutes,
EP 020 – Concert Classics: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, 1974 Read More »
Michael & Jack take their first dip into a classic Billy Joel concert from the past. They discuss the famed C.W. Post College concert recorded in Greenvale, NY on May 6, 1977. This concert was also broadcast live in New York and Philadelphia as Billy and the band tear through some classics and road test two
EP 011 – Concert Classics: Live At C.W. Post, 1977 Read More »
Michael & Jack revisit the historic 2008 Shea Stadium concerts from Flushing, New York in Queens. The Beatles performed the first concert at Shea and New York’s son, Billy Joel, appropriately closed out the stadium with the final two concerts before the Shea’s ultimate demolition. This viewing / listening companion goes song by song through
EP 007 – Live Album & Video Retrospective: Live At Shea Stadium Read More »
Michael & Jack present a song by song companion of the 1983 home video concert release Live From Long Island. Having been out of print for some 30+ years now, this concert is a must see and highlights Billy and the band firing on all cylinders as they transition into an arena touring band in the
EP 004 – Video Retrospective: Live From Long Island Read More »
