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 Wonderful...especially for the lesser-known songs. May 08, 2008
I bought this double-CD in the Amazon Marketplace a couple months ago, and it's been playing on my iPod nearly every day since then. I LOVE it. And I've been surprised to find myself liking the lesser-known songs best! In particular, "Summer Highland Falls" and "2000 Years" are wonderful. Both of them put you in that front-porch, rocking-chair, glass-of-lemonade-and-a-sunset kind of mood.
Amazon's reviewer does make some good points, though. Billy's chatter at the end of most tracks can get annoying, but I don't think it's a deal-breaker. And it's fixable, too. If you use iTunes, you can change the start/end times (right-click the song, click "get info," and choose the Options tab). If you don't use iTunes (and the song's in an mp3 format), you can use Audacity to trim off any parts you don't want.
Once you do that, this double CD set is absolutely delightful. I haven't gotten sick of it yet, and I've been listening to it almost every day!
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Don't Bother! Save your money for the 12 Gardens CD Jul 20, 2006
As much as it pains me to say it this live cd is not a worthy billy joel release. In fact one wonders why it was released at all. Billy's voice is strained and is prone to over singing and the arrangements are overblown. From the sound of things Billy sounds like he was drunk or on medication. A lot of the running time is waisted with lengthy monologues with the audience. Why this was put on the CD is anyones guess but it just neans less songs!
However the good news is that this CD has now been blown away by his superb new 12 Gardens CD in which Billy is the Billy of old. The one who sung well and sung the songs straight as they were meant to be sung. 12 Gardens is crammed with 32 songs rather than the 26 on offer here and there's no timewaisting audience chat!!
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Columbia needs to put some time and effort into Joel's live CD and DVD repertoire. May 27, 2006
My excitement is building into overflow territory for the June 13th release of "12 Gardens," Billy's new live album of performances culled from his recent record-breaking run of 12 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.
Bruce Springsteen held the previous record of 11 sell-outs. To these ears, if anyone had to beat Bruce out for any title, Billy is the only other guy I'd want the title to go to. They are my two favorite writers, performers and singers - not just "singers," but emoters. They write passionate lyrics and sing them with all the emotion of that passion. Just as Springsteen uses the stage and crowd as his own personal church of rock 'n roll, Billy Joel hammers out his rock 'n roll gospel from his own pulpit of rock, blues, doo-wop and Broadway flare.
Both are better live than in the studio, and if you disagree based on the evidence in the market place, you are simply a victim of the fact that many of the examples entered in as evidence over the years by their record company have not translated accurately from the actual concert to the album or DVD. Springsteen's most recent work ("Live in New York" CD and DVD and the Barcelona DVD), however, came staggeringly close. Meanwhile, Billy has 3 live albums and one live DVD, all of which, while they vary in degree, fail to get the ultimate job done.
There are plenty of worthy tracks and worthy individual performances spread throughout all the live Joel releases to be sure, but each, as a whole, is nowhere near being indicative of just how great a Billy Joel live show is. The fact that Columbia records has gotten as close as ever recently in getting the gist of Springsteen across (giving us a full concert in the Barcelona package and fat 2-Disc compilation in the New York DVDs; and putting a cherry on top by releasing the audio on CD as well; not to mention the same treatment to the recent DVD/CD release of his '75 Hammersmith concert) it is surprising, since Joel shares the same record label, that amping up his live catalog has gone ignored.
Here's to my hope that this recent Joel tour will finally be the excuse Columbia needs to give Joel the same treatment they have bestowed upon the Boss. If any major classic-rock legend's fan base has been left wanting in this department, it's Joel's. And why not now, Columbia? New tour, new live album, renewed interest; go head, take advantage. For once we won't accuse you of doing so. We want this stuff. It's not taking advantage if you're giving us something we really want for our money.
Which brings me to this Millennium album (finally, eh?). I was saying all this same stuff back in the late 90's before this album was released. I saw Joel on this tour and it made me immediately renew my decade long tirade on the complete insanity and insult that was the fact that Billy Joel does not have a definitive live CD and/or video (we didn't say DVD at the time). So imagine the sound my jaw made when it hit the floor at the news that Billy Joel would release his New Year's Eve concert on CD - his first new release in 7 years (not counting "Greatest Hits 3"), his first live album since '87 and his first-ever 2-Disc live show from one actual concert. My hopes were high and right off the bat, this album did not disappoint. For the longest time (years, actually) I preferred to listen to the versions of "Movin' Out," "Summer, Highland Falls," "Angry Young Man," "Allentown," "Only the Good Die Young," "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "River of Dreams" from this album than their studio cuts.
I was, however, a bit turned off by "You May Be Right" with some chintzy-sounding horns thrown in for no good reason , a less-than-audible "It's Still Rock 'n Roll...," a cheesy synthesizer on "I Go to Extremes" and a "Goodnight Saigon" that isn't as tight or emotive as the one on "Khouept."
In fact, these few examples point out an underlying problem on this release: There is too much going on.
I was not at THIS show so I can't say if a lot of this is due to tinkering with the production for effect or if Joel just wanted to spice things up at the show for the New Year's event he must have felt obligated to turn the concert into. After all, as Billy states on the album, people paid "ridiculous" ticket prices - but he's sorry :). Either way, as the songs are presented here, there is simply too much added to many of them, from the horns and synthesizers I mentioned, to whatever is going on during "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" (I think both instruments decided to duke it out and both ended up throwing up all over the song).
Part of MY problem is, being a big fan, I have managed to seek out many a rare live Billy Joel recordings. I know how great some live versions of songs like "You May Be Right" and "We Didn't Start the Fire" can sound when Joel and the band just rock 'em out like a bunch of 19 year olds in a garage. When I saw this setlist I was so excited that I would finally have that captured in a professionally recorded live album. I thought this album would be Joel's definitive live album, and these songs would be their definitive versions. Perhaps my expectations were too high. But that doesn't mean that the things I complained about on said tracks aren't there. If you don't like a lot of extra production, those songs will no doubt rub you the wrong way too.
None of this is to say these songs are bad. Not by any means, but there is no point in replacing the classic versions with them, and as such, I don't listen to them much on this album.
That's not to say I don't listen to the album. Some of the tracks DO capture that giddy straight-ahead rock I mentioned and are better for being slightly beefed up. "Movin' Out" and "Only the Good Die Young" are enough all by themselves to make you wish you were there and to recommend this CD, and next to maybe only "Movin' Out," a Mexican fiesta version of "Don't Ask Me Why" is this set's highlight. "My Life," friskier and more rebellious sounding than ever, is also a top contender. A cover of the Stones' "Honkey Tonk Woman" is fun and "New York State of Mind" benefits as well from its New York, New Year's Eve setting (and this is pre-9/11 mind you... imagine if it were after; it probably would have been put out as a single). Also, you get to hear the New Year's countdown which will bring back Millennium memories.
But as far as "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," we already had a great live version in the Greatest Hits boxset and it is light years beyond the overbaked one here (better sound quality too), the versions of "I've Loved These Days," "... Billy the Kid," and the afore mentioned "Saigon" are not as good as previous live releases on "Songs in the Attic" and Kohupet," respectively, and were the hell is "Piano Man?!" I know, I know; we've all heard the song a bazillion times, it's his signature song so its too obvious, yada yada. I may have been disappointed by it had they did put it on. Like "Scenes..." I feel the best live version has already been released on the Greatest Hits boxset, but this show would feel so much more complete with it. In its place is "This Night," which at first glance I was happy to see - I love that song - but this version, fine as it is, doesn't make me miss the all-time concert-ender that is "Piano Man." There is a bonus track on the import version of this CD after "This Night." "Piano Man?" Nope. "Just the Way You Are." I haven't heard it so I can't comment on its worth, but c'mon; they had a second chance to give anyone who felt it was sacrilege to leave off "Piano Man." Here's a tip: On the G.H. boxset version - it is so good - Billy ironically ends the song by saying happy new year and the usual, "Don't take any sh*t from anybody;" as well as wishing us, "lots of love, lots of sex, lots of happiness." If you ever burn a compilation of songs from this release, you could include that version of "Piano Man" and, with the New Year's comment, no one would be any the wiser.
This album is a worthy buy on any level, but die hard fans and those expecting something definitive may be left wanting. It is however worth it just for the versions of "Movin' Out," "Summer, Highland Falls," Don't Ask Me Why," "My Life," "Only the Good Die Young," and "River of Dreams" included here, not to mention it is an interesting time marker. And these versions of "Big Shot," "Big Man on Mulberry Street," "Allentown" and "Angry Young Man" are no slouches. I just think they, "like "Scenes..." "...Billy the Kid," "I've Loved These Days," and "... Saigon," have already had better versions released in the past. And "You May Be Right," "It's Still Rock...," and "We Didn't Start the Fire" - though never on a live album yet - are capable of much better renderings. I've heard them. So sad, but so true. So this 2/3 of a great album.
Let's hope what we've been waiting for is "12 Gardens." The setlist already looks better and more definitive of Joel's HITS AND FAN/ARTIST FAVORITES. It's the best selection and sectioning of the two types I've seen for any artist on a live album. Lets hope the sound and the performances of those tracks lives up to it. If the reviews of those Garden shows are any indication, they do.
So if you are thinking about purchasing this, wait a month, check out "12 Gardens" first. If that doesn't do the trick for you then try this. And let's hope that, unlike this release, Columbia finally learns from their Springsteen successes with accompanying CD and DVD releases, and gives us a "12 Gardens" DVD as well.
Fingers crossed, people. Fingers crossed.
6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
WHERE ARE THE LIVE DVD'S? Jan 28, 2006
BILLY HAS PREFORMED MANY GREAT CONCERTS IN HIS CAREER. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE SOME OF HIS BEST ON DVD LIVE? I SAW HIM A FEW TIMES & HE ALWAYS SOUNDS GREAT. BILLY WE NEED SOME MEMORIES OF YOU FOR YEARS TO COME.
 An Uneven And Decidedly Wasted Opportunity. Aug 26, 2005
By all accounts, Billy's 1999 / 2000 New Millenium Concert should've been the concert of his career. Unfortunately, as this album proves, it may have been quite the success it was intended to be. I was not at the actual show (I was 9), but if this album is any indication, the show itself was sort of an uneven affair and Billy himself did not seem to be on top of his game.
Joel was in the midst of his alcohol addiction at the time, so right off the bit he's not quite on his A Game. His onstage banter grows tedious very quickly, and his voice often sounds strained and offkey, and he falters notes he normally nails. His band is for the most part is more on the money (especially Liberty), save for lethargic, boring, slow and drawn out performances of "My Life" and "We Didn't Start The Fire." Some of the songs, namely "I Go To Extremes" and "This Night," manage to spark excitement here and there, but overall the show (which by the way, is missing about 10 songs, including "Uptown Girl" and "Piano Man"), but for the most part Billy seems to be going through the motions here, and only even attempts to come alive towards the rock block at the end. Otherwise, Billy's performance is inconsistent and unfocused.
Overall, it's a decent purchase but inessential.
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