Greatest Hits Volume III
Piano-rock anthems and ballads from Billy Joel's golden era, all gathered in one tracklist.
Greatest Hits Volume III is the last pre-1986 Billy Joel compilation released while he was still recording new material, right before that long quiet stretch on studio albums. The earlier hits collections were basically single-by-single grab-bags from one era or another. This one pulls across his most prolific decade of writing, picking tracks that show the full range — the piano-driven rock, the pop ballads, the keyboard work underneath. Longtime Billy fans get a solid run-back; anyone hearing him for the first time gets the clearest on-ramp into that sound.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Billy Joel
- Released
- August 19, 1997
- Recorded
- 1983–1997
- Genre
- Rock
- Length
- 76:08
- Label
- Columbia
- Producer
- Phil Ramone
- Mick Jones
- Billy Joel
- Danny Kortchmar
- Joe Nicolo
- David Thoener
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
For fans, this collection is often viewed not just as a list of hits, but as a curated journey through the emotional landscape of the artist's life. It captures the transition from a local New York pianist to an international icon, preserving the energy of his live performances and the intimacy of his studio recordings. The inclusion of deep cuts alongside massive radio staples highlights the breadth of his catalog, ensuring that no single era defined him entirely.
Reader's Guide
Released in late 1985, Greatest Hits Volume III arrived at a pivotal moment when Billy Joel was transitioning into his most commercially successful period. The album was designed to capitalize on his massive popularity while offering a comprehensive overview of his work up to that point. Critics praised the collection for its curation, noting how it effectively showcased the artist's versatility across genres ranging from rock and roll to soft ballads. It performed exceptionally well on charts, becoming one of the best-selling albums in history and cementing his status as a global superstar. Key tracks included some of his most iconic singles, which had already become staples of radio play worldwide. The album's success demonstrated Joel's ability to connect with audiences across generations, proving that his songwriting transcended fleeting trends. Significantly, this release marked the end of an era before he stepped back from releasing new studio albums for several years.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keeping the Faith | 4:38 |
| 2 | An Innocent Man | 5:19 |
| 3 | A Matter of Trust | 4:12 |
| 4 | Baby Grand (Duet with Ray Charles) | 4:05 |
| 5 | This Is the Time | 5:00 |
| 6 | Leningrad | 4:04 |
| 7 | We Didn't Start the Fire | 4:48 |
| 8 | I Go to Extremes | 4:24 |
| 9 | And So It Goes | 3:38 |
| 10 | The Downeaster 'Alexa' | 3:44 |
| 11 | Shameless | 4:27 |
| 12 | All About Soul (Remix) | 6:01 |
| 13 | Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) | 3:35 |
| 14 | The River of Dreams | 4:11 |
| 15 | To Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan) | 3:53 |
| 16 | Hey Girl (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) | 3:57 |
| 17 | Light as the Breeze (Leonard Cohen) | 6:12 |
Track listing from the source article.
Did You Know?
- This compilation was released shortly after the massive success of his previous album, capitalizing on his peak commercial momentum.
- It is one of the best-selling albums of all time globally, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide.
- The tracklist includes songs that have been covered by numerous artists across different genres and decades.
- It served as a primary introduction to new fans who discovered Billy Joel in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
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