Billy Joel - The Essential Billy Joel (2 Cd's)

Personnel includes: Billy Joel (vocals, piano); Ray Charles (vocals); Richard Joo (piano); Liberty DeVito (drums). Producers include: Michael Stewart, Billy Joel, Phil Ramone, Mick Jones, Steven Epstein. Compilation producers: Greg Linn, Mark Feldman. Recorded between 1973 and 2001. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Billy Joel (vocals, harmonica, piano, keyboards); Richard Huyghe (piano). Photographers: Patrick Demarchelier; Art Maillet. At the close of the 20th Century, it became apparent that Billy Joel was one of the premier pop craftsmen of the post-Beatles era. This generous two-disc compilation neatly makes a case for Joel's reign at the top of the musical heap by chronicling nearly 20 years of hits. Joel's melodic gift and lyrical acumen are amply displayed as THE ESSENTIAL BILLY JOEL moves from the introspective "Piano Man" to the sardonic, self-parodic "The Entertainer," from the Springsteen-like rocker "Only the Good Die Young" to the McCartneyesque