Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Billy is in fine voice and has penned another terrific ballad... too bad we don't get more of him these days., February 27, 2007
The secret to penning a truly good romantic ballad and not just some sappy, overcooked piece of cheese is to lace the song with regret and pain - you know, things that actually happen in life and in relationships. Billy Joel has always understood this. Even his most overplayed ballads (with the possible exception of "Just the Way You Are," which is has admittedly lapsed into cliché) like "Always A Woman," "All About Soul," and "She's Got A Way" include lyrics that portray either the singer or the woman as someone who is other than perfect, often down-right unpleasant, but is saved by the other or their love for them - but almost always for being loved by them.
"All My Life" is no exception, and that it is the first song Billy has written lyrics to and recorded in nearly a decade and a half, makes it notable, special and means this woman must be a doozy. The woman, of course, is Joel's wife Katey, for whom he penned this ballad back in 2005 as a Valentine. Let's just say, as Valentine's gifts go, if all us guys could crank out lyrics like this for our women we'd be melting many a hearts and our night lives would be far more eventful and exciting.
Joel's biggest asset has always been his writing and it doesn't fail him here, but his words are backed by a beautiful orchestral band, his still deft ivory tickling, and his ageless voice that can turn from being as gruff and forceful as Springsteen to as smooth and silky as Elton on a dime. Here he embraces his inner Sinatra, but this is not some hack throwback ala a certain other classic rocker's recent stab at such things.
So he can still play, write and sing. And currently he's spent the last year and a half touring his brains out to adoring, sellout crowds and rave reviews saying he's as great an entertainer as he ever was. So why don't we hear more from Billy Joel? He hasn't done an album of new rock material since 1993's "River of Dreams." That album would be a fine note to go out on if must, but I'm hoping this song will galvanize him into remembering just what it was he loved so much about writing and recording new music.
Only time will tell, but here's to hoping we don't have to wait all our lives to find out.
** As a B-Side this single includes a live version of another ballad, "You're My Home," which is originally from 1973's "Piano Man" album. That song still holds up. This version was recorded during his current tour last year and was released as a bonus download along with a live "Sleeping with the Television On" to those who purchased his recent live album "12 Gardens Live" from Sony on-line.
*** One side note: If you go to Billy's website, there are maybe half a dozen neat pictures of a very dapper Joel from the recording sessions of this song and a short history of this song's evolution, yet three is no booklet with picture, lyrics, or notes from Joel included here. Too bad considering it's the first new thing the guy has put out in almost 15 years. Throw us a bone Columbia! I guess we can't complain for two bucks, though. The song is easily worth more than that all by itself.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Much to Criticize, April 24, 2007
I read somewhere that this song was a Birthday/Anniversary Gift to his Wife, and the studio said "hey, your fans might like this too. let's market it!" nothing wrong with that, and it IS at the least a halfway decent song. To carry on about how much you love or hate it seems decadent given the context of the tune. I am glad to hear new Billy Joel, take it or leave it.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Billy Joel My Life single, March 24, 2007
When I purchased this cd I did not know what to expect. I have been a Billy Joel fan for my whole life. I was very surprised during the first listen. Even though it sounded something like Frank Sinatra would write it still has the Billy Joel feel. Both with the music and timing. As this fan grows older this is a welcome sound. I hope there is more to come. Joseph Leonardi
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by Billy Joel 
