The Complete Hits Collection 1973-1997

Billy Joel

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The Complete Hits Collection 1973-1997 Review

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Billy Joel could have made a great box set, compiling not only his hits, but significant album tracks, his handful of non-LP B-sides, demos, live tracks and assorted rarities. Instead, he settled for the four-disc The Complete Hits Collection, 1973-1997: Limited Edition, which merely reissues his three Greatest Hits collections and adds a live rarities collection previously released on a limited-edition Australian box set to commemorate the River of Dreams tour. Who this set is for is anyone's guess. Anyone who wants the hits will already own Greatest Hits, Vols. 1-3 (or they should purchase those three discs individually, since it's much cheaper), and any hardcore Billy collector will also own the fourth disc, rendering this collection without purpose. Granted, the songs on Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 have been restored to their album length and have been subjected to fine 20-bit remastering, and there is a 44-page booklet with handwritten lyrics, an essay, and unseen photographs, but if the discs themselves are necessary, all this window-dressing is superflurous as well.

Track Listing - Disc 1

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Piano Man Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:39	Spotify Amazon
2	Captain Jack Billy Joel	Billy Joel	06:57	Spotify Amazon
3	The Entertainer Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:40	Spotify Amazon
4	Say Goodbye to Hollywood Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:39	Spotify Amazon
5	New York State of Mind Billy Joel	Billy Joel	06:05	Spotify Amazon
6	The Stranger Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:09	Spotify Amazon
7	Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Billy Joel	Billy Joel	07:36	Spotify Amazon
8	Just the Way You Are Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:51	Spotify Amazon
9	Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:30	Spotify Amazon
10	Only the Good Die Young Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:54	Spotify Amazon
11	She's Always a Woman Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:20	Spotify Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	My Life Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:44	Spotify Amazon
2	Big Shot Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:02	Spotify Amazon
3	You May Be Right Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:13	Spotify Amazon
4	It's Still Rock & Roll to Me Billy Joel	Billy Joel	02:58	Spotify Amazon
5	Don't Ask Me Why Billy Joel	Billy Joel	02:59	Spotify Amazon
6	She's Got a Way Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:02	Spotify Amazon
7	Pressure Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:37	Spotify Amazon
8	Allentown Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:48	Spotify Amazon
9	Goodnight Saigon Billy Joel	Billy Joel	07:02	Spotify Amazon
10	Tell Her About It Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:50	Spotify Amazon
11	Uptown Girl Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:16	Spotify Amazon
12	The Longest Time Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:39	Spotify Amazon
13	You're Only Human (Second Wind) Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:49	Spotify Amazon
14	The Night Is Still Young Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:26	Spotify Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 3

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Keeping the Faith Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:38	Spotify Amazon
2	An Innocent Man Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:19	Spotify Amazon
3	A Matter of Trust Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:12	Spotify Amazon
4	Baby Grand Billy Joel	Billy Joel feat: Ray Charles	04:05	Spotify Amazon
5	This Is the Time Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:00	Spotify Amazon
6	Leningrad Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:04	Spotify Amazon
7	We Didn't Start the Fire Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:48	Spotify Amazon
8	I Go to Extremes Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:24	Spotify Amazon
9	And So It Goes Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:38	Spotify Amazon
10	The Downeaster "Alexa" Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:44	Spotify Amazon
11	Shameless Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:27	Spotify Amazon
12	All About Soul Billy Joel	Billy Joel	06:01	Spotify Amazon
13	Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:35	Spotify Amazon
14	The River of Dreams Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:11	Spotify Amazon
15	To Make You Feel My Love Bob Dylan	Billy Joel	03:53	Spotify Amazon
16	Hey Girl Gerry Goffin / Carole King	Billy Joel	03:57	Spotify Amazon
17	Light as the Breeze Leonard Cohen	Billy Joel	06:12	Spotify Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 4

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Billy Joel Spoken Intro/Music Concepts Billy Joel	Billy Joel	10:18	Spotify Amazon
2	Scenes from an Italian Restaurant Billy Joel	Billy Joel	07:50	Spotify Amazon
3	Beatles Influence Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:18	Spotify Amazon
4	A Hard Day's Night John Lennon / Paul McCartney	Billy Joel	02:53	Spotify Amazon
5	Why Vienna? Billy Joel	Billy Joel	09:28	Spotify Amazon
6	Vienna Billy Joel	Billy Joel	03:41	Spotify Amazon
7	History Through Music Billy Joel	Billy Joel	04:31	Spotify Amazon
8	We Didn't Start the Fire Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:13	Spotify Amazon
9	Music Source Billy Joel	Billy Joel	09:14	Spotify Amazon
10	The River of Dreams Billy Joel	Billy Joel	05:20	Spotify Amazon
11	Piano Bar Billy Joel	Billy Joel	07:46	Spotify Amazon
12	Piano Man Billy Joel	Billy Joel	06:31	Spotify Amazon

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