Billy Joel Songs

Billy Joel Music Q&A: Key Facts for Every Fan

Billy Joel is one of the world’s foremost singer-songwriters, with decades of success behind him and a legion of fans across the globe. But what are the biggest Billy Joel songs? Which of his albums have achieved the most sales? And what is his approach to composing his records? Find out in our Q&A!

What are the most successful Billy Joel songs?

Billy Joel’s most successful songs are an eclectic mix, demonstrating the Piano Man’s incredible versatility.

“Just the Way You Are”, released in 1977, reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the US Adult Contemporary Chart. It also performed well in Australia, Canada, and the UK.

Another of the biggest Billy Joel music releases is “My Life”, from 1978. This charted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, two on the US Adult Contemporary listing, and number 12 in the UK.

“Tell Her About It” stormed the charts in 1983, topping both main US charts and placing highly in other countries. This was followed by “Uptown Girl” (number one in the UK) and “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (number one in the US).

But 1993’s “The River of Dreams” is one of his most well-known releases, reaching the top three in multiple countries.

What are the highest-selling Billy Joel albums so far?

Billy Joel is one of the best-selling artists of all time, achieving more than 150m sales globally. His Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 is recognized as one of the United States’ top-selling albums, while others include 52nd Street, Glass Houses, and Storm Front. Each of these has been certified platinum multiple times.

Storm Front, for example, topped album charts in the United States and Australia. It also entered the top 10 in Canada, Belgium, New Zealand, and even Japan.

What is Billy Joel’s process for composing records?

As with all great artists, Billy Joel’s has a fascinating process for composing his records. He prefers to create the music first, before moving on to the lyrics when he’s satisfied with the sounds he’s conceived.

However, Joel took a break from recording songs with his own lyrics for around 14 years. The resulting song was “All My Life”, written for the second anniversary of Joel and his wife at the time. “All My Life” hit the number-one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Does Billy Joel tour?

Billy Joel has toured many times in the past few decades. He has played for fans in the US, UK, Ireland, South Africa, Japan, Hawaii, and Australia.

He began an arrangement with Madison Square Garden in New York in 2013, which would see him play one concert at the venue every single month for the foreseeable future. He has also been inducted into the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame, and received a Platinum Ticket Away from the Garden in 1984 for selling well over 250,000 tickets during his career.

Want to discover the legendary Piano Man’s music for yourself? You can find links to purchase Billy Joel music from Apple Music and Amazon above!