Latest news with #TheHassles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel Complements ‘And So It Goes' Documentary Release With 155-Track ‘Musical Companion'
A veritable treasure trove of unreleased and unheard Billy Joel material has arrived alongside the conclusion of the music legend's And So It Goes documentary. Celebrating the life and over 60-year career of the Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Billy Joel: And So It Goes made its debut on HBO on July 18, with its second and final part premiering a week later on Friday, July 25. More from Billboard Pantera Cancel Tour Dates to Mourn Ozzy Osbourne Ed Sheeran Expands 2026 Australia and New Zealand Tour Phil Collins Is in Hospital for Surgery, Not in Hospice, Rep Confirms Just hours after the conclusion of the film, an extensive 155-track 'musical companion' was uploaded to streaming services, compiling six-and-a-half hours of unheard material and live performances from Joel's storied career. Alongside early tracks from his time as a member of groups such as The Hassles and The Lost Souls, the 115 songs are also accompanied by audio clips of Joel and others providing introductions to the following selections. A number of live cuts from notable performances such as Joel's appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test and some recorded the day he signed with Columbia Records, are also present, as is the debut rendition of 'Scenes From an Italian Restaurant' – recorded on May 6, 1977 at C.W. Post College in Long Island. 'I always wanted to write a cinematic type of song about the lives of people I knew in high school,' Joel explains of the song. 'People who peaked too early.' Though never released as a single, the near-eight-minute song was later released on The Stranger that same year and would become one of Joel's most revered songs, along with his most-played. Produced by Steve Cohen, Bradshaw Leigh and John Jackson, the new collection is likely to be accompanied further releases of similarly unheard material in the future. 'There's a ton of stuff that's in his personal vault and there's a ton of stuff that's in Sony's vault, with not a ton of overlap,' Jackson told Ultimate Classic Rock. 'We are determined to go through both things in the coming years. The premiere of the new documentary comes just months after the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer canceled all of his upcoming shows due to his diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, writing in a statement at the time, 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding.' His team also shared at the time that he would be undergoing 'specific physical therapy' to combat the disorder, which has affected his hearing, vision, balance and performance capabilities. Joel provided an update as to his current health status during an appearance on Bill Maher's Club Random Podcast just last week on July 21. 'I feel good,' he explained. 'They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Joel Drops Massive 115-Song ‘And So It Goes' Companion Playlist
Following the premiere of the second part of Billy Joel's And So It Goes documentary, the Piano Man dropped a massive 155-song companion album on digital services featuring unreleased recordings and more. Never-before-heard music from Joel's archives are peppered throughout the five-hour HBO documentary, from his early days with Long Island rockers the Hassles to his orchestral and instrumental works. More from Rolling Stone Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' Documentary: How to Watch the Two-Part Film Online Billy Joel Gives Health Update After Brain Disorder Diagnosis: 'It Sounds a Lot Worse Than What I'm Feeling' Billy Joel Went to Extremes. A New Five-Hour Doc Shows How and Why The seven-hour And So It Goes, a 'musical companion' to the documentary, features dozens of unreleased live recordings and demo versions, including historic moments like Joel's first-ever live performance of his epic 'Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,' recorded May 6, 1977 at Long Island's C.W. Post College. The soundtrack also includes album tracks from the catalog, and in some cases Joel's own introductions to the songs. ''Big Shot' was a hangover song,' Joel explained in the intro to that track. 'I don't know how many times I woke up in the morning realizing I was an idiot the night before, felt like hell, had a hungover. You look in the mirror and you go, 'You had to be a big shot, didn't you?'' On Joel's YouTube, which also compiled the 155-song playlist, the songs are accompanied by their corresponding visuals when available, whether live concert footage or Joel's gloriously aged music videos. In Rolling Stone's review of the two-part doc, David Browne wrote, 'For all his foibles, his reputation as the 'brat' of pop music, as one critic put it, Joel remains strangely endearing, almost lovable, by the time the final credits roll. Unlike most of the rock-vet pals who weigh in on his saga, he truly does seem like someone you'd want to share a beverage with — even if you worry he'll purposefully pour it onto your lap if you say the wrong thing.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Billy Joel's documentary digs deep into past but he's 'not finished yet'
Billy Joel's documentary digs deep into past but he's 'not finished yet' Show Caption Hide Caption Billy Joel's wife gives health update after singer cancels tour Billy Joel has canceled all upcoming tour dates after revealing he's been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a rare brain condition. unbranded - Entertainment NEW YORK – Billy Joel describes "And So It Goes" as his most definitive song. Fitting, then, that the sparse, pensive piano ballad that was never a huge hit but embodies Joel's world-weary vibe would title his new documentary, "Billy Joel: And So It Goes." The first 2 ½-hours of the two-part film premiered at opening night of the 24th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival on June 4. The Beacon Theatre crowd included not only festival co-founder Robert De Niro and producer Tom Hanks, but actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Mariska Hargitay and Joel's peak recording era band members Liberty DeVitto (drums), Richie Cannata (saxophone) and Russell Javors (guitar). The documentary is slated to hit HBO in July. Its second half, covering Joel's "An Innocent Man" period in 1983 through his record-breaking Madison Square Garden residency that ended last year, is about the same length as the front half shown at the festival. There is no shirking thoroughness here. While Joel, 76, was initially expected to attend the screening, his recently disclosed issues with normal pressure hydrocephalus nixed those plans. Joel's health struggles, which led to the cancellation of all of his stadium-filling concerts this year, made some of his commentary as filmed by directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin all the more poignant. At the start of the film, Joel marvels at the Long Island estate he gaped at as a kid while "New York State of Mind" plays in the background. In his voiceover, he talks about how he used to wonder about the residents of the stately mansion. "I own that house now. It's not finished yet," he continues in a tone both matter-of-fact and awed. "But neither am I." More: Billy Joel turns 75: His 75 best songs, definitively ranked Billy Joel almost ended his life twice The film adeptly combines recent sit-downs with Joel – always at a piano, often with a cigar in one hand – with requisite photos and film of his earliest days as a shaggy musician with a prominent mustache and heavy bangs over lidded eyes. Whether harmonizing like the Beatles in The Lost Souls, grooving with The Hassles or forming what musical partner Jon Small calls "probably one of the worst bands ever" in Attila (the album cover featured Small and Joel dressed as Huns and surrounded by hanging slabs of meat), Joel formed an extensive musical foundation. But with any great artist comes great emotional turmoil, and Joel's metastasized in the form of love toward Elizabeth Weber, who happened to be Small's wife. "I got punched in the nose, which is what I deserved," Joel says in the film of Small's reaction to their affair. Weber also appears extensively in the documentary, clear-eyed and definitive about the roles she played in Joel's life, essentially igniting a 45-year-career with one decision. But before he could get swindled by producer Artie Ripp, record his production-marred (thanks to Ripp) debut, "Cold Spring Harbor" in 1971 and embark on a Los Angeles adventure with Weber and her son, Sean, Joel attempted to take his life, twice. His sister, Judy Molinari, recalls getting him sleeping pills to help with insomnia. Joel ingested the entire bottle and was in a coma for days. He awakened with the grimly sardonic thought, "I can't even do this right." So he made a second attempt, drinking a bottle of furniture polish. It was Small, his estranged friend, who took him to the hospital. Joel, whose mother likely suffered from bipolar disorder as discussed in the film, soon checked into a mental observation hospital and left "chagrined" a couple of weeks later, realizing his emotional tumult didn't equal the "real problems" of the other patients. Bruce Springsteen says Billy Joel has better songs Joel's growth as a songwriter and performer (footage of his early concerts in dank clubs, tie loosened around his collar and cigarette tapping into an ashtray atop his piano are a delight) is heralded as he moves through career obstacles with a combination of grit, talent and luck. Musical peers, including Jackson Browne, Garth Brooks, Nas, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen, pop in sparingly to offer commentary about Joel's evolution and longevity. "He was a bridge and tunnel artist. As am I," Springsteen says with a grin. "But Billy is more identified with New York and that Tin Pan Alley influence is why his songs are better than mine." Joel's sound was almost irrevocably altered when it came time to record his fourth studio album, "Turnstiles." The album that produced fan-adored album tracks "Prelude/Angry Young Man" and "Summer, Highland Falls" as well as concert staples "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out On Broadway)" and "New York State of Mind," was recorded at Caribou Ranch in Colorado with members of Elton John's band. "It sounded horrible," Joel says. So he fired John's group and assembled a street-savvy New York crew of musicians, including DeVitto, Cannata and Javors and appointed Weber, then his wife, his manager. More: From Billy Joel to Miley, Tribeca Film Festival goes all in on music movies How Billy Joel's first wife is responsible for his success Without the influence of Weber, Joel might never have elevated from scrappy club singer in sneakers and a blazer to worldwide musical titan. After recording "The Stranger" in 1977, Joel and Weber sat in a room full of record label suits only to be told, "It's nice," but the execs couldn't identify an obvious hit single among the album tracks. Weber asserted herself and told the label they could choose the first single from the album if she had authority to choose the second. "Movin' Out," a quintessential Joel song stocked with Italian-American-New-York imagery, came first. Weber, who divorced Joel in 1982, partially because of his worrisome drinking, chose "Just The Way You Are," a song Joel disliked then as much as he's said he does now. The gooey, Grammy-winning ballad was "the turning point of my career," Joel says. It's also the song Paul McCartney wishes he had written, as the Beatle and longtime Joel pal reasserts in the documentary. Billy Joel knows life isn't about happy endings As the film tapers to a close, Joel is steering his boat – the Alexa, named for his daughter with ex-wife Christie Brinkley – with a cigar in his mouth and his eyes focused on the water of Oyster Bay. He reflects on the good fortune that resulted from his tireless recording and touring not with the gloating air of a multi-millionaire, but with realism. "I realize life doesn't always have a happy ending," he says. Or as the song says, "Every time I've held a rose, it seems I only felt the thorns / And so it goes, and so it goes."
