Hospital Radio: An ode to Billy Joel

When I bought the single ‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel in 1974, I did not realise that it was the start of a fifty year love affair with Billy’s music.

You could have been forgiven for missing the release of the record as it bombed in the UK, it’s hard to believe that after an  ignominious start to his recording career hat this has become his signature song. Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” was ranked among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs, Ultimate Classic Rock’s Top 100 , and preserved by the Library of Congress in 2015 for its cultural significance.

He had three fairly unsuccessful albums before ‘The Stranger’ was released in 1977, the song became one of his best-known and best-loved songs. I like to think I was ahead of the curve, someone who had spotted him before some of his more well known songs were released. I think if you ask people to name a Joel song, they might go for ‘Just the Way You Are’ or ‘Uptown Girl,’ but there is so much more to his songbook.

A classically trained pianist his head was turned when he saw The Beatles on TV in the early sixties and that put the notion in his mind that he too should become a rock’n’roll star.

He released 12 studio albums between from 1971 to 1993 that straddled the line between pop and rock. With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Joel is one of the world's best-selling music artists and is one of the most popular solo artist  the United States has ever known.

Strange to think that by the early 90’s he had fallen out of love with his gift for writing popular, instantly recognisable songs and stopped, just like that. He returned to his roots as it were and in 2001 released a one-off studio album of classical compositions. Whilst he has toured consistently playing to huge audiences he has never written anymore pop songs.

Quite recently he was given a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) a neurological condition where excess fluid builds up in the brain. It most commonly affects older adults and can be tricky to diagnose because its symptoms often mimic other age-related disorders like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. The result of the diagnosis is that he has cancelled all forthcoming shows much to the disappointment of his fans.

On a more positive note, you can still hear his music played live in a celebration of the great man by Elio Pace and his band. Only last week they performed  at the Princess Theatre. They are not a tribute band as such but they do play faithful recreations in a show called ‘The Billy Joel Songbook’ and I can highly recommend this high octane show by a group of polished musicians who are clearly loving what they do, paying homage to Joel and his legacy.

Elio Pace has thrilled audiences around the world for over thirty years with his soulful voice and amazing piano playing. He has performed with the likes of Brian May, Lulu and played for Sandra Bullock’s 30th birthday party.

Throughout 2010, Elio appeared live-on-air to millions each week as the Featured Artist & Musical Director on BBC Radio 2's 'Weekend Wogan' and in 2013 and 2014, he was invited to ‘fill Billy Joel’s shoes’, starring in five very special reunion concerts in the USA with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band.

He has been touring the current show on and off for over a decade. Okay it’s not the real thing but like me he has had a lifetime love affair with the music  and it shines out  when he and his band take to the stage.

We get some great shows here in the bay so check out the listings. For me now, it’s back to my turntable and time to give Piano Man a spin. It will seem as fresh as it did in 1974.