Billy Joel’s Foray Into Folk Music

Billy Joel is a popular American musician and songwriter. He has released many hit songs over the years, across various genres. Recently, he has ventured into the world of folk music with his album, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.’

Billy Joel’s musical career

Billy Joel is best known as a pop rock singer-songwriter from the 1970s and 1980s. But he has also dabbled in several other genres over the course of his career, including folk music.

Joel first began exploring folk music in the early 1960s, when he was still in high school. He played in a band called The Hassles, which performed both original songs and cover versions of folk standards. Joel continued to experiment with folk music throughout his solo career, both on his own albums and in collaborations with other artists.

In 1971, Joel released his debut album, “Cold Spring Harbor,” which included the folk-influenced song “She’s Got a Way.” He would later revisit the folk genre with the 1983 album “An Innocent Man,” which featured the hit single “Uptown Girl.”

In 2002, Joel teamed up with country star Toby Keith for a cover of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” The two performed the song live at the Country Music Awards that year.

More recently, Joel has been working with indie folk artist Elizabeth Ziman, better known as Liz Phair. The two have co-written several songs together, including “Zombie” and “All My Life.”

The release of Joel’s album “Goodnight Saigon”

In 1973, at the age of 23, Joel released his second album, “Piano Man.” The album was a commercial failure, but the title track, based on Joel’s experiences as a lounge singer in Los Angeles, became a popular sing-along and helped propel Joel’s career.

In 1974, Joel released his third album, “Streetlife Serenade.” The album was once again a commercial failure, but the single “The Entertainer” became a top 10 hit.

In 1975, Joel released his fourth album, “Turnstiles.” The album was a moderate success, but the singles “New York State of Mind” and “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” were both hits.

In 1976, Joel released his fifth album, “The Stranger.” The album was a massive success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning the hits “Just the Way You Are,” “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” and “Only the Good Die Young.” The Stranger remains Joel’s best-selling album to date.

In 1978, Joel released his sixth album, “52nd Street.” The album was another commercial success, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning the hits “My Life,”  “Big Shot,” and  “Honesty.”

After the release of 52nd Street, Joel began to branch out musically. In 1980, he released his seventh album, “Glass Houses,” which featured a more rock-oriented sound. The album was another commercial success, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning the hits “You May Be Right” and  “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.”

In 1982, Joel released his eighth studio album,  “The Nylon Curtain.” The album was a more personal and introspective work than his previous albums. It received mixed reviews but still sold well, reaching #7 on the Billboard 200 chart. Despite its mixed reception, The Nylon Curtain contains some of Joel’s best-known songs, including  “Allentown”  and  “Pressure.”

In 1983

Joel’s performance at the 1983 Grammy Awards

Billy Joel’s performance of “Allentown” at the 1983 Grammy Awards was a surprising departure from his usual style of music. The song is a folk-influenced ballad about the struggles of the working class in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Joel’s performance was well-received by the audience and earned him a standing ovation.

The critical reception of “Goodnight Saigon”

Critics and historians have long debated the merits of “Goodnight Saigon,” with some arguing that it is one of Billy Joel’s finest moment and others dismissing it as an act of opportunism. There is no doubt that the song was a commercial success, but its place in Joel’s canon is still up for debate.

Joel’s return to pop music with the album “An Innocent Man”

Joel released his album “An Innocent Man” in 1983, which was a return to his pop music roots after dabbling in the genre of folk music with the release of his album “The Nylon Curtain” in 1982. The album was a commercial success, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning the hit singles “Tell Her About It” and “Uptown Girl”.