Billy Joel: A Personal File

Rating:
Summary: A layman's guide to Billy Joel
Review: Reading this book enriches the reader's appreciation for Billy Joel's music. It paints a picture of an artist who loves to make music, and accepts fame and fortune as a mere externality. While it is a very informed run-down of Billy's first few albums from a producer's standpoint (studio musicians, track order, commentary on lyrics), it leaves virtually untouched the analysis of Billy Joel's harmonic language and sense of melody. For someone who understands music theory and wants elaboration on the COOLNESS of, for example, the brilliant chord progression in "Falling of the Rain" on "Cold Spring Harbor", it's difficult to find ultimate satisfaction. All in all, a good read, loaded with interesting tidbits about the production of Billy Joel's albums, his dreams and attitudes, and his perception by the public eye. It traces his path from nowhere to somewhere, and it is interesting to read a book published before Glass Houses, The Bridge, Stormfront, River of Dreams, etc. The book concludes at 20 years ago! -A good biography to begin an exploration of Billy's life.