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Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volumes I & II is one of the top-selling albums of all time. Released in 1985, the two CD set was a solid collection of Billy's hits and also included some tracks that were never released as singles but which were essential to any Billy Joel compilation such as "Captain Jack," "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant," and "New York State of Mind" (the LP album version had fewer songs). For years, this was the definitive Billy Joel collection before The Complete Hits Collection came out in 1997.
As with any collection, there were some hits that were noticeably absent such as "Honesty" (though it was on some foreign versions) and since the collection was a "hits" album it did not include some of Billy's best songs like "Summer, Highland Falls" or "Vienna" which had never been released as singles. But overall Greatest Hits I & II does a good job of covering Billy's most popular songs from the 70s and early 80s. There were a few changes too such as Richie Cannata's saxophone solo on "New York State of Mind" was replaced with another one (performed by Michael Brecker). |
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Two new songs were included on Greatest Hits, I & II, "You're Only Human (Second Wind)," and "The Night Is Still Young." The first was a bouncy, synth-driven song that was a response to teen depression and suicide, but it sounds a bit contrived and dated today. In contrast, "The Night Is Still Young," is the kind of mature pop song that foreshadowed Billy's late 80s and early 90s work, and stands the test of time.
A television commercial for Greatest Hits, Volumes I and II can be seen here (YouTube link). To see a special MTV television program about Greatest Hits I and II on MTV's Liner Notes in 1985, click here. The next year in 1986 the first collection of Billy's music videos came out: The Video Album, Volume I and The Video Album, Volume II. Both were released on VHS. Most of the music videos from these two collections were re-released on DVD in 2001 as The Essential Video Collection along with music videos made after 1986. Greatest Hits, Vols. I & II was remastered and re-released in 1998. The original LP had included edited (shorter) versions of: "The Stranger," "Just the Way You Are," "My Life," "Big Shot," and "Pressure," as well as live versions "She's Got a Way" and "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" from Songs In the Attic. In contrast, the remastered version in 1998 had the full versions of these previously edited songs, and the studio versions of the two live songs. The 1998 version is the one to get. In 1997, Columbia Records released Greatest Hits, Vol. III and The Complete Hits (containing Greatest Hits I, II and III) in a boxed set. * * * * * * * * *
As above, here is a YouTube playlist of the songs on Greatest Hits I and II, plus a few bonus items.
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Columbia Records publicity photo (1985)
Back cover of original vinyl LP.
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Note: The above is the track listing for the US version on compact disc (CD). Per Discogs: "Several versions of this album exist, with altered track listings. The original LP version contains the 1981 live version of "Say Goodbye To Hollywood", "New York State Of Mind" with a re-recorded saxophone solo, and radio edits of several songs. Additionally, some issues replaced "Don't Ask Me Why" with "Honesty". The CD version of this album adds "Captain Jack", "The Entertainer", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", as well as the 1981 live version of "She's Got a Way", and replaces the live version of "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" with the original 1976 album version."
Also, foreign versions are slightly different. Some international markets released the album in two parts, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Also, foreign versions are slightly different. Some international markets released the album in two parts, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
Video Album - Greatest Hits, Vols. I & II
This is a YouTube playlist of the songs on Greatest Hits, Volumes I & II (video and audio).
Streaming
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Spotify
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Apple Music
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YouTube and Others
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Videos
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Music video for "You're Only Human (Second Wind)," one of to new songs on Greatest Hits, Vols, I & II.
A live performance of "Only The Good Die Young" from Farm Aid, just a few weeks after the release of GH I&II.
Meredith Viera interviews Billy Joel in 1985.
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Music video for "The Night Is Still Young" the second new song released on Greatest Hits, Vols., I & II.
MTV Liner Notes on Greatest Hits, Vols. I & II.
The Professor of Rock talks about greatest hits albums. His favorite? Billy Joel's Greatest Hits, Vols. I & II.
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