Description
Book SynopsisOver the course of his career, Billy Joel has released a series of remarkable albums that together chart his journey as an artist from relative obscurity to international success. In Experiencing Billy Joel, musician and writer Thomas MacFarlane explores that musical journey, from Joel's apprenticeship in the Long Island music scene to his experiences in both New York and Los Angeles writing and recording his own unique brand of piano rock and pop. After achieving a certain degree of musical success in the late 1960s, Joel embarked on a career as a singer-songwriter in the early 1970s. Although his initial albums demonstrated a precocious mastery that helped establish him in the field, his full potential as a recording artist blossomed on The Stranger (1977), created under the guidance of legendary producer Phil Ramone. Subsequent releases explored a variety of musical styles and helped solidify Joel's reputation as one of the most important pop composers of his era.Experiencing Billy
Table of ContentsChapter 1: A Portrait of the Artist Chapter 2: The Streetlife Serenader Chapter 3: I’ve Loved These Days Chapter 4: The Stranger on 52nd Street Chapter 5: Genre Games Chapter 6: Famous Last Words Chapter 7: Fantasies, Conclusions, and the Girl at the Party Appendix A: Interview with Ira Newborn Appendix B: Interview with Rhys Clark Appendix C: Interview with Don Evans
