Billy Joel - Innocent Man
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CD Details
Artist: Billy JoelEdition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1998-10-20
Music Label: Sony
Soundtracks:
- Easy Money
- An Innocent Man
- The Longest Time
- This Night
- Tell Her About It
- Uptown Girl
- Careless Talk
- Christie Lee
- Leave A Tender Moment Alone
- Keeping The Faith
Music reviews of Innocent Man
Music Review: Billy continues to Master New Horizons with a Retro Theme
Rating: 4 Stars
By the time 1983 had rolled around, Billy Joel had amassed an amazing string of high quality albums. Billy's work starting with "Turnstiles" through 1982's "The Nylon Curtain" has to be considered the most creative of his career. During this time, he had achieved incredible commercial success with "The Stranger", "52nd Street", and "Glass Houses". The follow-up to "Glass Houses" was "The Nylon Curtain". Although this collection didn't sell as well as some of the previous albums, it was probably the most creative album of Billy's career. On this album Billy explored some socially conscious themes. "The Nylon Curtain" also demonstrated just how much The Beatles had influenced him. But probably the most powerful statement is that Billy was able to create set of songs in which the instrumentation creates an image of the song. (i.e.as you listen to just the music of "Allentown", you can almost visualize the Allentown, Pennsylvania). No doubt, Billy had been dabbling in exploring new horizons following "52nd Street". His follow-up to "The Nylon Curtain" was his 10th studio album called "An Innocent Man". This would show Billy's most ambitious exploration to date - a tribute to those artists that pioneered the early days of Rock and Roll. In other words, it would be a late 50s/early 60s musical style - for each and every track on the collection.. It would be a 180 degree turn from the "darker" "The Nylon Curtain". But perhaps the biggest surprise was that not only did he do a good job, but it marked a bounce back for him in terms of commercial sales.
I look at Billy Joel's career as having three phases. The first phase is what I call "Old Billy Joel". This basically includes all of his material from "Cold Spring Harbor" through "Turnstiles". These are perhaps the strongest days as the piano sound, but they also contain most of Joel's least heard material. The next phase is what I call "Middle Billy Joel". This was his most successful period and covers from "The Stranger" to "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume 1 and 2". Joel would go through a transition during this phase - expanding his musical horizons and exploring different avenues. The final phase is the "Later Billy Joel" phase - this covers "The Bridge" to "River of Dreams". No doubt, "An Innocent Man" is a Phase 2 album as it explores the late 50s/early 60s theme. This includes a mix of Doo-Wop and Soul. As mentioned this album was a commercial bounce back for Billy - this was helped from some very creative music videos (namely "Uptown Girl" and "Tell Her About It").
On "The Nylon Curtain" one big change that Billy had made was a departure from a large amount of horns being used in his music. On "An Innocent Man", the horns are back in full force. The disappointment is that Billy's longtime Sax player, Richie Cannatta is not back to play the horns. This role is filled by a variety of horn players
The last four studio albums by Billy Joel had showed incredible depth in the music. While I applaud the effort of how Billy was able to pull off the 50s/60s theme, the songs aren't quite as deep as they were on the previous albums. Billy also incorporates areas of his personal life. This was the time when he was beginning his relationship with Christie Brinkley. There are two songs about her on this album. The most widely known song is "Uptown Girl" where Billy is a "downtown"/street-wise guy who falls for the "Uptown" (high society) girl - Christie Brinkley. Billy does a great job at masterfully integrating a 50s. "Grease" style of music to it. The lesser-known song is "Christie Lee". Although lyrically this may be a tribute to Christie - listen to the music of this song carefully. This is as close to a tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis as you can get - complete with his trademark piano and horns.
Billy's soulful "Tell Her About It" is the strongest song on the collection. It has a definite "Ed Sullivan" era feel for it. Although I am not a fan of videos because it spoils my vision of a song, this video was perfect for the song. Billy plays "BJ" the lead singer for "BJ and the Affordables" who get their big break to sing on Ed's show. The video highlights their performance as well as everyone getting into the song. This is a toe-tapping song and is a big contrast to some of the "darker" songs he did on "The Nylon Curtain".
Doo-Wop is alive and well on the tunes "The Longest Time" ,"This Time", "Careless Talk". "The Longest Time" features a very street-wise a cappella that once again demonstrates Billy's ability to conquer new horizons. "This Time" almost has a feel for a late 1950s romance - complete with the doo-wop background vocals. "Careless Talk" has a Doo-Wop feel that deals with gossiping. Although not a Doo-Wop song, "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" makes heavy use of the harmonica - combined with some great vocal ranges by Billy - the retro feel alive and well. The title track "An Innocent Man" is a nice ballad that will grow on you as you listen to it.
Although not my favorite track, "Keeping the Faith" is an interesting one. This track still maintains the retro sound. This is the collection's final track and it is one where Billy reflects back to the era (as well as justifies) he sings about. Just as the song closes, Billy sings "Now I told you my reasons; for this whole revival.... I'm going to listen to my 45's; Ain't it wonderful to be alive; When the Rock 'n' Roll plays".
The lyrics to all of the songs are included. All musician and production credits are listed. Although not his strongest effort, this is still a very good effort and proves that Billy is able to do something different. Highly recommended.
Description of Innocent Man
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