The Stranger: LIVE 1977

If you are familiar with the musician/singer-songwriter/recording artist: Billy Joel - then you might know that one of his biggest selling; most critically acclaimed; and fan favorite records was his breakthrough album of 1977: "THE STRANGER"
- (The previous album: "TURNSTILES" is probably my favorite B.J. album)

There is now a re-issue/ remaster / box set edition available - which contains video of vintage/period performances.
One - from British Television:
"The Old Grey Whistle Test" - an hour of brilliant Billy Joel and band LIVE -in their prime.(promoting the new album "The Stranger" - and playing through a rousing set of selections from that album - and past material of Mr. Joel's. )
The other - an historic performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.(From the same period.)(With the accompaniment of an orchestra)
These are just wonderful things to watch! - and I highly recommend procuring a copy to enjoy for yourself.
-I watched/ listened - and enjoyed them immensely.
Recorded at a time -(mid/late 1970s ) - when music on television wasn't so slick and sanitized.
There was sweat; and glare; and yellow, crooked teeth. (the teeth of the frontman / the star of the show!) - - - Unheard of these days!!! - (Billy's teeth today, are perfect white; straight rows of Chiklets.)

AND - The revolutionary concept of: actual musicians/singers performing REAL music on stage!

Here assembled - was a great group of backing musicians/ sidemen:
- Liberty DeVitto on drums: a longtime member of the Billy Joel band who employed a combination of jazzy and exotic rhythms - melded with pop rock power.(making it all so accessible)
Liberty was a perfect drummer to match Billy's use of a variety of unusual styles.(Pop; Rock 'n' Roll; Latin; African; Jazz; etc.)
-Doug Stegmeyer on Bass: another longtime member of the band. (Always playing lovely, solid, tasteful basslines - so integral to the records and stage shows.)
-Richie Cannata on Organ; Sax; Flute, and more: -He always added that rich, atmospheric, layered sound to Billy's records and shows.
Also, his various instrumental contributions helped to create this cool, jazz nightclub vibe.
-Howie Emerson on guitar/electric and acoustic: adding shimmer and edge to these performances.

This, to me, was Billy Joel's greatest period - he was still hungry/still angry -"THE Angry Young Man" / still having to prove himself.
He could still be called "The Piano Man".
Playing, (through most of the "Whistle" performance) on a Bechstein - baby grand? - which had a charming; old-timey jangle.
The band ran through a speedy-ragtime /vaudeville-styled instrumental called: "Root Beer Rag" - and also, "The Entertainer" - an early song about the pressure to stay on the charts - or risk ending up on the "discount rack -like another can of beans."

The success of "The Stranger" - and the next few follow up albums was definitely prolific - and yielded many quality songs - with growing commercial appeal.
"She's Always A Woman" brought the waltz ballad back to the mainstream.
"Just The Way You Are" made the Rhodes electric piano a household name.
"Only The Good Die Young" probably offended some hard-core Catholics - but was sweetly accompanied by strumming 12 string guitars - and drums played aggressively with brushes.
An even jazzier record followed : "52nd Street" - which brought the edgy rock hit: "Big Shot" -( a kind of fish out of water song )- on such a jazz-flavored record.
Though "My Life" (from the same record) was a pretty safe; commercial hit too.
This record led to more adaptable stylings - such as 1980's: "Glass Houses";
1981's: "The Nylon Curtain" - and 1983's: "Innocent Man" - the beginning of the Christy Brinkley years.
- - - eventually leading to the downfall of the former artist - and the rise of the has-been pop star - who married a supermodel...later, helping lead him to his near ruin.

Today, clinging to the frayed ends of his sanity; talent, and hair - Billy survives as a legend, who-( with all his blunders )- still has the respect of music fans.


Please, do yourself a favor - and check this one out!
Bye for now.
Philippus Van Yaas

hope for the funny-looking

Hello, Everybody: (AND - especially Boys in Bands)

This music video has given me hope.
"Natural Disaster" by Plain White T's.
To me - This is a "CLASSIC"-style music video.
-With dramatic lighting; a variety of attractive women; and a band frolicking/partying- and rocking out on stage. (pretending to perform their song.)
The thing that strikes me - is that: the lead singer of this band is pretty goofy / funny-looking. (with big; goofy ears and a big; flaring schnoz/nose.)
It gives me hope that a band - (with virtually only one big hit: "Hey There, Delilah")- gets to make a music video with all the trappings of rock and roll.
- Plain White T's are from a nearby suburb of Chicago, Villa Park,IL. (So, I've heard.) - this is another reason for hope.
-I'm a funny-looking guy from a Chicago suburb . . . Maybe I can make it too!

In the same way that "Country Music" makes obligatory and gratuitous use of these themes: pick-up trucks; drinking whisky and beer; overcoming life in small town/rural America, and thanking "the lord" - So too, rock music is guilty of it's use of hot babes/models; guys that appear to soon be "getting some" from said babes, and all the trappings of a cool rock band in a cool rock video. (You know? . . . all the smoke and mirrors)
The music business(as we used to know it) may be on it's way to extinction, but the last gasps have really brought it full circle.