KOHUEPT (Concert) (Live in Leningrad) Review

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(More customer reviews)This album captures the very essence of Billy Joel's concerts.Has some of his best songs including Allentown,Angry Young Man and A Matter of Trust.He does a great job of performing John Lennon and Paul Mc Cartney's Back in the USSR.

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Storm Front Review

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(More customer reviews)In March of 1990, when I was 27, my long time friend Betsy Matteis told me she had several tickets to Billy Joel's then-current Storm Front concert tour. She had watched (with some bemusement, I think) me become a Joel fan over the years, and three months before she had stood in line at a local Ticketmaster outlet for hours so we could go see the Piano Man perform live at the Miami Arena. At the last minute she could not go, but she arranged it so that two friends of hers would accompany me to Overtown and attend the concert.
Of course, Billy's live performances were never really replicated in the albums they promoted. Rather, they tended to be a mix of the new material being presented and a selection of older songs that audiences can sing along to. (The Billy Joel: Live from Yankee Stadium DVD is very close to the content of the Miami shows, down to the sing-along of "Piano Man.")
Storm Front was one of Joel's last pop music albums -- his last offering of original songs, River of Dreams, would come out in 1993 -- and it is one of his best. Six of the 10 songs in Storm Front were included in his Greatest Hits Volume III album, including "Shameless," "And So It Goes," "Leningrad," "The Downeaster Alexa," and "We Didn't Start The Fire."
"We Didn't Start The Fire" is a guitar based song (a rare such one for keyboardist/pianist Joel) that sums up major events in Billy's first 40 years. It's pretty catchy (but difficult to sing along to without the booklet of lyrics) and has had the unexpected but welcome effect of getting kids to remember historical events. Joel, in the DVD of Greatest Hits III, says that teachers would say to their students to listen to "We Didn't Start The Fire" and write the words down.
"Shameless" is a down-and-dirty tribute to the late Jimi Hendrix, who had insouciance to the max and would even chew gum as he sang. Well, here Joel also sings and chews gum at the same time, to the accompaniment of the guitarists in his band. The lyrics are very Hendrix-like, and "Shameless" is an ode to the power women have over their lovers: "I'm shameless, baby I don't have a prayer...."
"Downeaster Alexa," (the name being inspired by Joel's daughter Alexa Ray) is Billy's earnest attempt at writing a true folk song. With a driving backbeat (provided by drummer Liberty DeVito) reminiscent of Celtic music, it deals with the struggles of the Long Island fishermen. "I was a bayman like my father was before," Joel has his narrator inform us, "Can't make a living as a bayman anymore." The song mixes both defiance and wistfulness for a way of life that is passing.
"Leningrad" is an ode to the end of the Cold War. Its opening piano intro sounds very Russian, and the song itself tells the parallel lives of Viktor, a Soviet "child of war" who lost his father during World War II, and Joel, who was "a Cold War kid born in McCarthy times." It is both a requiem to the many victims of the Cold War and a hymn of hope for reconciliation ("we never knew what friend we had/Until we came to Leningrad") which resonates even 14 years after the song was written.
"I Go To Extremes," a song written especially for drummer DeVito, is really an ode to manic depression. In his remarks about the song on the Volume III DVD, Joel explains that most creative people tend to be manic depressive. Whether this is true or not I can't say, but this song is definitely a rock song. With the pounding drums, the restless keyboard, and the pulsing guitars, "I Go To Extremes" talks about the extreme highs and lows most of us face in life.
"And So It Goes" is perhaps the most melancholic song on this album. Dealing with the theme of star-crossed love ("So I would choose to be with you/That's if the choice were mine to make; But you can make decisions too/And you can have this heart to break"), it talks about the feelings lovers have when they know they are in a relationship they know can't last. It's sweet yet sad, and its stark simplicity simply adds to its power to elicit tears.

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My Lives Review

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(More customer reviews)Below is some abridged information to help fans make their decision on this box set. Some of the information is from the included 58 page booklet and parts are from yours truly.DISC ONE (CD): 1965-1980
(1) My Journey's End
Previously Unreleased. Originally Recorded 1965 - Sony BMG. By group "The Lost Souls". Billy on Vocals and Keyboards.
(2) Time And Time Again
Previously Unreleased. Originally Recorded 1968 - Sony BMG. By group "The Lost Souls". Billy on organ and vocals (with John Dizek vocals).
(3) Every Step I Take (Every Move I Make)
Originally Recorded 1968 - EMI. By the Group, "The Hassles". Billy on organ and vocals.
(4) You've Got Me Hummin'
Originally Recorded 1968 - EMI. By the group, "The Hassles". Billy on organd and background vocals.
(5) Amplifier Fire
Originally Recorded 1970 - Sony BMG. Group "Attila". Instrumental only with Billy Joel on Keyboards and Bass. Jonathan Small on Drums.
(6) Only A Man
Never Released Before Demo. Originally Recorded 1971.
[REVIEWER: Chorus continually says "It's Not Easy"]
(7) She's Got A Way
Album Version. From Cold Spring Harbor. 1971, 1981 Sony BMG.
[REVIEWER: Yes, different from Live version you always hear from Greatest Hits II]
(8) Oyster Bay
Never Released Before Demo. 1973. Billy on Harmonica, Keyboards and vocals.
[REVIEWER: Nice soft blues/rock feel. "Taking it easy" is chorus.]
(9) Piano Man
Never Release Before Demo. 1973. Billy on Harmonica, Keyboards and vocals.
[REVIEWER: Slightly different verse lyrics and slower than regular version. Not the full song. A bit of echo in some words that can be a bit annoying. Raw, but beautiful work that was in progress.]
(10) The Siegfried Line
Never Released Before Demo. 1973. Billy on Harmonica, Keyboards, and vocals.
[REVIEWER: To me, this sounds like Billy vocals over an accoustic guitar. Good, but another unreleased song that seems to brief. Good lyrics like "Soon, soon they say the war will be over. Home, home we will come home in the summer."]
(11) New Mexico
Never Released Before Demo. 1973. Early version of "Worse Comes To Worse" song.
[REVIEWER: Simply the piano, harmonica, lead and backup voice from Billy.]
(12) Cross To Bear
Never Before Released Demo. 1974. Joel on piano and vocals.
[REVIEWER: Sounds like a second duet that he and the late Ray Charles should have done]
(13) Miami 2017
Never Before Released Demo. 1975. Original songs is from Turnstiles Album, Columbia Recording.
[REVIEWER: "I've seen the lights go down on Broadway" done with just piano and vocals - slow and easy. Good length though]
(14) These Rhinestone Days
Never Before Released Demo. 1976. Early version of "I Loved These Days".Billy on vocal and piano alone.
(15) Everybody Has A Dream
Version from "The Stranger" album. 1977 - Sony BMG.
(16) Only The Good Die Young
Alternate Version Never Before Released. 1977. Original song from "The Stranger album.
[REVIEWER: Interesting version. Dare I suggest its reggae style. No, I wouldn't do that to him! Not quite reggae, but dangerously too close for my tastes...]
(17) Until The Night
Album version from 52nd Street. 1978 - Sony BMG.David Friedman on orchestral chimes and percussion.
(18) Zanzibar
Unfaded album version. 7/13/1978 - A&R Recording. Original was on "52nd Street" album.
(19) It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
Album Version. 1980 - Song BMG. From "Glass Houses" Album.DISC TWO (CD): 1981-1988
(1) Captain Jack
Live Never Before Release Version. July 1981. Recorded live in Sparks Saloon on Huntington, Long Island.
[REVIEWER: Good polished version for a live cut.]
(2) The End Of The World
Never Before Released Demo. 1981 Media Sound. Early version of "Elvis Presley Blvd."
(3) The Prime Of Your Life
Never Before Released Demo. 12/7/1981 - A&R Recording. Early version of "The Longest Time"
(4) She's Right On Time
Album Version from "The Nylon Curtain". 1982 - Sony BMG.
(5) Elvis Presley Blvd.
Allentown B-side. 1982 - Sony BMG.
(6) Nobody Knows But Me
From a children's album, "In Harmony II". 1982 - CBS.
(7) An Innocent Man
Album Version from "An Innocent Man". 1983-Sony BMG.
(8) Christie Lee
Never Before Released Demo. 4/18/1983 - A&R Recording. Billy on Baldwin Acoustic Piano (SF-10), Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 and vocals.
(9) Easy Money
Album Version from "An Innocent Man". Also, on "Easy Money" Soundtrack. 1983-Sony BMG.
(10) And So It Goes
Never Before Released Demo. 1983. Billy on piano and vocal.
[Reviewer: On this one, personally I see little difference between this and the album version...]
(11) I'll Cry Instead
Live version from "An Innocent Man" B-side. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. 1983 - Sony BMG.
(12) Keeping The Faith
From 12" Dance Remix done on 1/20/1984 Hit Factory. 1983(?)-Sony BMG.
[REVIEWER: Although labeled a dance remix, not really any faster. Someone just added a back beat to me. Not a bad different version though, beat doesn't hurt the song any.]
(13) Modern Woman
Album Version from "Ruthless People" Soundtrack. 1985, 1986 - Sony BMG.
(14) Baby Grand
Duet with Ray Charles, this is version from album "The Bridge". 1986 - Sony, BMG.
(15) Getting Closer
Alternative Version Never Before Released. With Steve Winwood on Hammond Organ. Recorded at the Power Station. 1986. The original song was from album "The Bridge".
(16) House Of Blue Light
From "We Didn't Start The Fire" B-side. 4/8/1989 Hit Factory. 1989 - Sony BMG.
(17) Money Or Love
Never Before Released Demo. 4/8/1989. Billy on keyboard and vocals.
(18) The Times They Are A-Changin'
Live album version from "Kohuept" concert in Soviet Union. 1987 - Sony BMG.DISC THREE (CD): 1989-1999

(1) The Downeaster "Alexa"
Album Version from "Storm Front". 1989 - Sony BMG.
(2) I Go To Extremes
Live Never Before Released. 4/1990 recorded in L.A. Sports Coliseum.
(3) Shout
From "Live At Yankee Stadium". 2000 - Sony BMG.
(4) All Shook Up
From "Honeymoon In Vegas". 1992 - Sony BMG.
(5) Heartbreak Hotel
From "Honeymoon In Vegas". 1992 - Sony BMG.
(6) When You Wish Upon A Star
From "Simply Mad About The Mouse". 1991 - Sony BMG.
(7) In a Sentimental Mood
From "A League Of Their Own" Soundtrack. 1992 - Sony BMG.
(8) Motorcycle Song
Never Before Released Demo. Early version of song, "All About Soul." 1992.
[REVIEWER: As much as I like "All About Soul", this is a good alternate version that should have been called "Jericho Road". In some ways, I like this song better as Billy doesn't seem to be forcing it as much...]
(9) You Picked A Real Bad Time
The "All About Soul" B-side. 1992, 1993 - Song BMG.
(10) River Of Dreams
Never Before Released alternate version. March & April, 1993. Hit Factory. Originally version from "River Of Dreams.
[REVIEWER: Similar, but bridge goes into "Lullaby {Goodnight, My Angel}" for a twist.
(11) A Hard Day's Night
From "A Voyage On The River Of Dreams - Live From The River Of Dreams Tour". 1997 - Sony BMG. Written again by Lennon & McCartney.
(12) Light As The Breeze
From album "Greatest Hits Vol. 3". 1995, 1997 - A&M Records. Clint Black on Harmonica. Trisha Yearwood on Background Vocals.
(13) To Make You Feel My Love
From album "Greatest Hits Vol. 3". 1997 - Sony BMG. Written by Bob Dylan.
(14) Hey Girl
1997 - Sony BMG. Everette Harp on the Saxaphone.
(15) Why Should I Worry
From Walt Disney's "Oliver & Company". 1988, 1998.
(16) Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)?
Album version from "Runaway Bride" Soundtrack. 1999 - Sony BMG.
(17) Highway 61 Revisited
Never Before Released Demo. 4/28/99 Hit Factory. Written and originally performed by Bob Dylan.
[Reviewer: Hopefully the skipping is only on my CD... If you haven't heard it before, it jams!] DISC FOUR (CD): 2000-
(1) Movin' Out
From "2000 Years The Millenium Concert". 2000-Sony BMG.
(2) You May Be Right
Never Before Released Live Version with Elton John from July 1994 Giants Stadium.
[REVIEWER: This is particularly cool for me since I was there at Giants Stadium in July '94 to see them.]
(3) Big Shot
From "The Essential Video Collection". 2001.
(4) Don't Worry Baby
From "An All Star Tribute To Brian Wilson". 2001, 2003.
(5) Goodnight, Saigon (Vietnam Veterans Version)
From Live Performance on "The Essential Video Collection". 2001.
[REVIEWER: What makes this different from the KOHUEPT and Greatest Hits versions?]
(6) Los Angelenos
Live version from "The Essential Video Collection". 2001. Original version was on "Summer of 1980".
(7) New York State Of Mind
From "America: A Tribute To Heroes". 2001 Sony BMG.
(8) Opus 1...Read more›

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Experience the evolution of a superstar! This stunning collection is a must-have for Billy Joel fans everywhere - 40 years includes 66 stellar performances captured for all time in this fabulous compiliation! Features live concert performances and includes 23 unreleased gems and demo versions.

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