Let me ask some Billy Joel questions to get to know you a bit better (PA is personal answer, for me BTW). Go in depth if you want!
What is your favorite Billy Joel album(s)?
PA: The Nylon Curtain and An Innocent Man. The Nylon Curtain was such a passion project for him and I can see why it's his favorite. An Innocent Man is simple but he clearly had a good time making it. For a casual listener, I'd recommend Greatest Hits I + II, as well as Volume III.
What is your favorite Billy Joel live album(s)?
PA: Songs in the Attic. It's unlike any other live album. Yankee Stadium is another, and 12 Gardens has one of the best track listings of all time.
Are there any unreleased projects you would like released from the archive?
PA: Video release of Live from Long Island, whenever those tapes are located, as well as a Record Store Day release on pink and yellow swirl vinyl, and a digital release with nothing cut (if you've heard the vinyl, you know parts of Movin' Out and Souvenir are missing). More 70s' stuff is always awesome, particularly from the Streetlife era. Innocent Man tour is a must-do, considering the only officially released material from that tour is "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" from the London show, this is also the case with the 52nd Street tour where no officially released media exists.
What is your favorite B-side (or really anything of Collected Additional Masters)?
PA: You're Only Human speaks to me, I personally prefer it to The Night is Still Young. I also dig Elvis Presley Blvd. and House of Blue Light. The Hey Girl cover hits hard.
What is your favorite Billy Joel song(s)?
PA: Leningrad or All About Soul (it honestly can change depending on my mood)
How many times have you seen Billy? If so, where? If not, do you intend to see him soon?
PA: I saw Billy in Detroit in July 2022, following a 2 year wait due to the pandemic. Maybe I'll make the drive to Cleveland in September.
Who is your favorite Billy Joel band member (can be past or present)?
PA: David Brown (I play guitar BTW)
Minus Liberty, what former band member would you like to see take a guest spot at a Billy show?
PA: Russell Javors (besides Lib, he's the only one of the Glass Houses band not to sit in with Billy, minus once in 2014)
What are your thoughts on Freddie Wexler working with Billy on new music going forward?
PA: I think the idea of Billy mailing Freddie a CD full of unfinished songs to work on is a great idea. I think the new batch will be better than "My Lives", considering most of that stuff (minus Cross to Bear, Money or Love, etc.), was demos for the most part that Billy never wanted to be released. Freddie is a very accomplished producer, I think he did a great job with "Turn the Lights Back On" (despite auto-tune), I can't wait for what's next, maybe "Pieces of Action" will be next.
What is your favorite piano, keyboard, guitar, drums, etc. part in a song?
PA: for piano, Lullabye hits me in the feels. Keyboard wise, what goes on in Pressure is unmatched. Guitar-wise, either This is the Time or A Matter of Trust (anything David Brown touches is amazing. The Clean-Up Woman-like riff done by Russell in Keeping the Faith is amazing. For drums, Angry Young Man is the song I'm going with and it sounds best with Lib pounding those drums. For sax and bass, definitely Scenes or Only the Good.
Are there any artists besides Billy that you listen to?
PA: Steve Miller Band is amazing, with some tasty licks, riffs and solos there - Les Paul was a great guide and godfather to him. The Beatles are great too, same with The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Huey Lewis and the News is amazing for their very 1980s sound, but has some great musical stuff going on. John Fogerty and his time with Creedance is amazing as well. Cream is a very talented trio, as well as Clapton when he's solo. A lot of guitar-heavy stuff is stuff I love to have on, but I also love doo-wop, such as The Four Seasons.
Danny - Billy Joel Archivist
Let me ask some Billy Joel questions to get to know you a bit better (PA is personal answer, for me BTW). Go in depth if you want!
What is your favorite Billy Joel album(s)?
PA: The Nylon Curtain and An Innocent Man. The Nylon Curtain was such a passion project for him and I can see why it's his favorite. An Innocent Man is simple but he clearly had a good time making it. For a casual listener, I'd recommend Greatest Hits I + II, as well as Volume III.
What is your favorite Billy Joel live album(s)?
PA: Songs in the Attic. It's unlike any other live album. Yankee Stadium is another, and 12 Gardens has one of the best track listings of all time.
Are there any unreleased projects you would like released from the archive?
PA: Video release of Live from Long Island, whenever those tapes are located, as well as a Record Store Day release on pink and yellow swirl vinyl, and a digital release with nothing cut (if you've heard the vinyl, you know parts of Movin' Out and Souvenir are missing). More 70s' stuff is always awesome, particularly from the Streetlife era. Innocent Man tour is a must-do, considering the only officially released material from that tour is "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" from the London show, this is also the case with the 52nd Street tour where no officially released media exists.
What is your favorite B-side (or really anything of Collected Additional Masters)?
PA: You're Only Human speaks to me, I personally prefer it to The Night is Still Young. I also dig Elvis Presley Blvd. and House of Blue Light. The Hey Girl cover hits hard.
What is your favorite Billy Joel song(s)?
PA: Leningrad or All About Soul (it honestly can change depending on my mood)
How many times have you seen Billy? If so, where? If not, do you intend to see him soon?
PA: I saw Billy in Detroit in July 2022, following a 2 year wait due to the pandemic. Maybe I'll make the drive to Cleveland in September.
Who is your favorite Billy Joel band member (can be past or present)?
PA: David Brown (I play guitar BTW)
Minus Liberty, what former band member would you like to see take a guest spot at a Billy show?
PA: Russell Javors (besides Lib, he's the only one of the Glass Houses band not to sit in with Billy, minus once in 2014)
What are your thoughts on Freddie Wexler working with Billy on new music going forward?
PA: I think the idea of Billy mailing Freddie a CD full of unfinished songs to work on is a great idea. I think the new batch will be better than "My Lives", considering most of that stuff (minus Cross to Bear, Money or Love, etc.), was demos for the most part that Billy never wanted to be released. Freddie is a very accomplished producer, I think he did a great job with "Turn the Lights Back On" (despite auto-tune), I can't wait for what's next, maybe "Pieces of Action" will be next.
What is your favorite piano, keyboard, guitar, drums, etc. part in a song?
PA: for piano, Lullabye hits me in the feels. Keyboard wise, what goes on in Pressure is unmatched. Guitar-wise, either This is the Time or A Matter of Trust (anything David Brown touches is amazing. The Clean-Up Woman-like riff done by Russell in Keeping the Faith is amazing. For drums, Angry Young Man is the song I'm going with and it sounds best with Lib pounding those drums. For sax and bass, definitely Scenes or Only the Good.
Are there any artists besides Billy that you listen to?
PA: Steve Miller Band is amazing, with some tasty licks, riffs and solos there - Les Paul was a great guide and godfather to him. The Beatles are great too, same with The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Huey Lewis and the News is amazing for their very 1980s sound, but has some great musical stuff going on. John Fogerty and his time with Creedance is amazing as well. Cream is a very talented trio, as well as Clapton when he's solo. A lot of guitar-heavy stuff is stuff I love to have on, but I also love doo-wop, such as The Four Seasons.
1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 9