Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume Ii

undefined

Limited double SACD hybrid disc from Mobile Fidelity. Mastered from the original master tapes for the first time: hear unsurpassed analog sound on 'Piano Man,' 'Big ,' 'Pressure,' 'Allentown,' 'Uptown Girl,' and many more standards. It's the third best-selling record in American history. It contains nearly every one of Billy Joel's peak-era chart hits as well as a smattering of fan favorites. It encapsulates exactly why the singer-songwriter-pianist remains one of the most beloved, commercially successful, relentlessly creative, and oft-referenced artists in music. Spanning 1973 to 1985, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and 2 functions a hand-guided tour through pop, rock, doo-wop, blues, R&B, blue-eyed soul, and chamber jazz. It is rivaled by few - if any - other compilations. Mastered from the original master tapes, Mobile Fidelity's pristine hybrid SACD reissue of this ubiquitous classic finally does justice to the Hall of Fame caliber music. Part of the label's restoration of Joel's most crucial releases, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and 2 literally takes on new life. Devoid of the flatness, squelched dynamics, and limited soundscapes that defined previous versions, the collection brings Joel's genius and intentions into a more transparent light. Is it any wonder that this double set has moved more than 23 million copies to date? No. All told, 20 Top 40 singles line-up alongside six album-track favorites, the songs all instantly recognized by name. This is touchstone material that's long crossed over into multiple generations of listeners and eradicated genre boundaries, and formed the basis of Joel's constantly sold-out concerts for the past two-plus decades. As demonstrated on diverse fare ranging from 'Piano Man' to 'The Stranger,' 'Big ' to 'Uptown Girl,' and the pair of then-new tracks ('You're Only Human (Second Wind)' and 'The Night Is Still Young'), Joel always succeeds in wrapping his head around rich swaths of American pop, his music stopping by way of New Orleans, Kansas City, Memphis, Chicago, and other milestone cities.