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If you’re a Billy Joel fan, I think it goes without saying that you have been completely frustrated that one of your favorite musical artists has not released a new album since 1993’s River Of Dreams. This is not a rip on Billy Joel. The man has given us a lifetime of wonderful music. If he is not in the mood to write and record new material, then good for him for not giving in to what everyone else says about it. That attitude is what makes rock stars. How many rock stars have followed the rules in life and become famous rockers? It doesn’t happen that way. Billy Joel has repeatedly spoken about why he has not released a new album in over thirty years. For the most part, he argued that if he didn’t think he could come up with material that matched his past work, he would not push out substandard songs. Hey, you have to respect that way of thinking because, in the end, he is respecting his audience.
The last original song with lyrics that Billy Joel composed was called “Christmas in Fallujah.” The song was recorded by Cass Dillon in 2007. A year later, Billy Joel recorded a live version of himself singing the song in Australia. The song was released in a digital format.
The last original song and studio recording that Billy Joel released was entitled “All My Life.” It was released on February 14, 2007. It was a big deal back then because “All My Life” was the first pop song he had written and recorded in fourteen years. The song’s style tilted far more towards the style of jazz standards that fueled the careers of legendary singers like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, and all the rest. It was a magnificently written song that went straight to number one on the Billboard sales charts. When I first heard it, I thought that Billy Joel, who had already written a standard in “Just The Way You Are,” was about to embark on a new career direction. I was wrong. It was a one and done.
Just a few days ago, it was announced that Billy Joel will be releasing his first new song since “All My Life” and “Christmas in Fallujah.” The new song called “Turn the Lights Back On” is being released by Columbia Records. The song was written by Billy Joel, Freddy Wexler, Arthur Bacon, and Wayne Hector. Columbia has released a teaser video of the song, which opens up with Billy Joel turning the pages of the lyrics to the song “Famous Last Words.” That was the closing song on the album River Of Dreams in which he had written he would never write another song with lyrics again. Never say never……
Billy Joel To Release New Single February 1st article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
