Customer Reviews

The Best of Billy Joel

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If you are an early intermediate or better pianist who likes Billy Joel's music this may be a great book for you. It contains complete arrangements of the following songs:

And So It Goes, Baby Grand, Honesty, An Innocent Man, Just The Way You Are, Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), My Life, New York State Of Mind, Piano Man, The River Of Dreams, Shameless, She's Always A Woman, She's Got A Way, This Is The Time, Uptown Girl, We Didn't Start The Fire

The songs are arranged as piano solos with no lyrics. So if you are a singer, get something like "Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2" which has many of the same songs.

This is not a transcription book. The emphasis here is on an acceptable solo piano arrangement. While not copying Joel licks etc. they do approximate his style and spirit for each piece as best can be done while supporting the melody and chords in an intermediate arrangement. They are intermediate, but on the easier side. They sound fine played as is. The ones I've played are in the same key as the recording. So what's nice is they provide a good foundation for further embellishment, arranging and/or improvising or even some play along. It would have been handy if chord symbols were included.

I enjoyed what I've played so far, however, if you are really looking to play like Billy get his "Billy Joel - The Keyboard Book". It has actual transcriptions. "The Keyboard Book" is a great book but harder to play as piano solo, which the book reviewed here does a good job of.

There are 2 versions of this book one for easy piano, one for intermediate. This review is for the intermediate version.

I was able to learn "Piano Man" in about 2 weeks, most of the other songs are easier to use, but I tell you, "We didn't start the fire" doesn't sound right sans guitar.

If you think Billy's music is pleasing to the ear, you'll entertain yourself for hours learning and performing.

Most rock and pop music is written for guitar, so pianists will appreciate lower intermediate level versions of Billy Joel's favorites. Publisher Hal Leonard offers a variety of Billy Joel's unforgettable melodies for all levels of playing ability. And Mr. Joel writes his own lyrics, making him a true master of the twentieth century.

Billy Joel is one of the greatest singer/songwriters to ever contribute to the musical world. This is a pretty good cross-section of his music. One wish that I have is to find the music Mr. Joel plays while he is singing; sadly, this isn't it. However, the transcriptions are good. So, if you like to play piano, and want to play Billy Joel Music, this is a great book for you.

I am very pleased with this purchase. Re-learning the piano after a 20 year gap I has been a real pleasure to be able to play recognisable favorites within minutes of sitting down. Some of the arrangements are a little strange, but this is the book I keep coming back to.

This is an excellent"easy piano" selection. The range of selctions goes from very easy to a bit more challenging. You get all of Joel's hits. It's an excellent purchase.