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Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
Greatest hits album by
Billy Joel
ReleasedJuly 1, 1985
Recorded1973–1985
Genre Rock
Length87:12 (LP/Cassette)
1:53:45 (CD)
1:57:38 (2017)
LabelFamily Productions/ Columbia
Producer Michael Stewart, Billy Joel, Phil Ramone
Billy Joel chronology
An Innocent Man
(1983) 		Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
(1985) 		The Bridge
(1986)
Singles from Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II
  1. " You're Only Human (Second Wind)"
    Released: June 1985 [1]
  2. " The Night Is Still Young"
    Released: September 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [2]
Christgau's Record Guide: The '80sA− [3]

Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on July 1, 1985. The album has been certified double diamond by the RIAA, selling over 11.5 million copies (23 million units) as sixth most certified album of all time in the US. [4] The album includes hits from 1973 to 1985 in chronological order with one exception. Some foreign pressings include " Honesty" in place of " Don't Ask Me Why". [5]

The compilation includes two previously unreleased tracks, "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night Is Still Young". These two songs were also available as singles and, in 1989, on the 5-disc box set Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection which included the entire Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II. [6] "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" later featured on the compilation The Ultimate Collection released in 2000, and on disc 15, Collected Additional Masters, of The Complete Albums Collection box set, released in 2011. "The Night Is Still Young" was also included on that same disc 15. Contrary to some sources, the sax solo on " New York State of Mind" was never re-recorded by Phil Woods for the release of Greatest Hits. The only time that Phil Woods performed on a Billy Joel recording was the song "Just the Way You Are" in 1977.

Twelve years later, this compilation was followed by Greatest Hits Volume III (1997) which included hits from 1983 to 1997. Chronologically, Greatest Hits Volume III continues from where Volume II left off.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Joel.

Double LP

Side one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." Piano Man" Piano Man, 19735:36
2." Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live edited version) Songs in the Attic, 1981;
originally from Turnstiles, 1976		3:54
3." New York State of Mind"Turnstiles6:02
4." The Stranger" The Stranger, 19775:07
5." Just the Way You Are" ( Radio edit)The Stranger3:36
Side two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:28
2." Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:53
3." She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:17
4." My Life" (Radio edit) 52nd Street, 19783:51
5." Big Shot" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:43
6." You May Be Right" Glass Houses, 19804:09
Side three
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:54
2." Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses2:57
3." Pressure" (Radio edit) The Nylon Curtain, 19823:15
4." Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:48
5." Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:00
Side four
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." Tell Her About It" (Radio edit) An Innocent Man, 19833:35
2." Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:15
3." The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:36
4." You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Previously unreleased4:48
5." The Night Is Still Young"Previously unreleased5:28

Some original pressings omit "Don't Ask Me Why" and place " Honesty" after "Big Shot", pushing "You May Be Right" to the beginning of side three. [7]

Cassette

Side one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." Piano Man" Piano Man, 19735:36
2." Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live edited version) Songs in the Attic, 1981;
originally from Turnstiles, 1976		3:54
3." New York State of Mind"Turnstiles6:02
4." The Stranger" The Stranger, 19775:07
5." Just the Way You Are" ( Radio edit)The Stranger3:36
6." Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:28
7." Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:53
8." She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:17
9." My Life" (Radio edit) 52nd Street, 19783:51
10." Big Shot" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:43
Side two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." You May Be Right" Glass Houses, 19804:09
2." It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:54
3." Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses2:57
4." Pressure" (Radio edit) The Nylon Curtain, 19823:15
5." Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:48
6." Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:00
7." Tell Her About It" (Radio edit) An Innocent Man, 19833:35
8." Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:15
9." The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:36
10." You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Previously unreleased4:48
11." The Night Is Still Young"Previously unreleased5:28

Double CD release

Disc one
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Piano Man"Piano Man5:36
2." Captain Jack"Piano Man7:15
3." The Entertainer" Streetlife Serenade, 19743:38
4."Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live edited version)Songs in the Attic; originally from Turnstiles3:54
5."New York State of Mind"Turnstiles6:02
6."The Stranger"The Stranger5:07
7." Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"The Stranger7:33
8."Just the Way You Are" (Radio edit)The Stranger3:36
9."Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:28
10."Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:53
11."She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:17
Total length:53:19
Disc two
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1." My Life" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:51
2."Big Shot" (Radio edit)52nd Street3:43
3."You May Be Right"Glass Houses4:09
4."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:54
5."Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses2:57
6." She's Got a Way" (Live version)Songs in the Attic; originally from Cold Spring Harbor, 19713:00
7."Pressure" (Radio edit)The Nylon Curtain3:15
8."Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:48
9."Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:00
10."Tell Her About It" (Radio edit)An Innocent Man3:35
11."Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:15
12."The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:36
13."You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Previously unreleased4:48
14."The Night Is Still Young"Previously unreleased5:28
Total length:55:19

2017 release

No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Piano Man"Piano Man5:37
2."Captain Jack"Piano Man6:57
3."The Entertainer"Streetlife Serenade3:40
4."Say Goodbye to Hollywood"Turnstiles4:39
5."New York State of Mind"Turnstiles6:05
6."The Stranger"The Stranger5:10
7."Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"The Stranger7:36
8."Just the Way You Are"The Stranger4:51
9."Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"The Stranger3:30
10."Only the Good Die Young"The Stranger3:55
11."She's Always a Woman"The Stranger3:20
12."My Life"52nd Street4:43
13."Big Shot"52nd Street4:02
14."Honesty"52nd Street3:53
15."You May Be Right"Glass Houses4:12
16."It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"Glass Houses2:58
17."Don't Ask Me Why"Glass Houses2:59
18."She's Got a Way" (Live version)Songs in the Attic; originally from Cold Spring Harbor3:03
19."Pressure"The Nylon Curtain4:37
20."Allentown"The Nylon Curtain3:49
21."Goodnight Saigon"The Nylon Curtain7:02
22."Tell Her About It"An Innocent Man3:50
23."Uptown Girl"An Innocent Man3:16
24."The Longest Time"An Innocent Man3:39
25."You're Only Human (Second Wind)"Previously unreleased4:49
26."The Night Is Still Young"Previously unreleased5:26

There are three versions of the CD available. The initial 1985 release has "Honesty" as the third track on disc 2, second pressings onward had "Don't Ask Me Why" as the third track, and the 1998 remaster has "Don't Ask Me Why" as the fifth track on disc 2. However, the disc with "Honesty" does not have "Don't Ask Me Why" and vice versa. [8]

On the original 1985 releases, five songs are shorter than their original versions: "Just the Way You Are" is only 3:34 long (1½ minute shorter), verse 2 is totally omitted (from "Don't go trying some new fashion" to "I want you just the way you are") and the sax solo at the end fades early; "My Life" is 3:50 long (nearly 1 minute shorter), the intro is slightly shorter with piano notes at 0:25 omitted (before the first words), same notes are omitted between verses 1 and 2, then again after "You wake up with yourself", piano passage also missing after "But not on my time" and the piano notes omitted several times at the end; "Big Shot" is 3:43 long (the ending with the "big shot… wow" is shortened by ½ minute approx.); "Pressure" is only 3:13 long (1½ min shorter) with more than a verse omitted (from "I'll tell you what it means" to "I read it too, what does it mean?"); "Tell Her About It" is 3:33 long (the end fades approx. 20 seconds sooner, leaving some wording out). [9]

In 1998, the two CD set was digitally remastered and packaged with two bonus videos ("You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night Is Still Young") on disc 1. All of the songs that were edited in the 1985 package ("Pressure", "My Life", "Big Shot", "Just the Way You Are" and "Tell Her About It") were restored to their original album lengths. Also, the live version of "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" was removed and replaced with the studio version from Joel's 1976 album Turnstiles. Surprisingly, "Captain Jack" has been shortened instead, fading out about 20 seconds sooner (6:56 instead of 7:15).

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia ( ARIA) [27] 9× Platinum 630,000‡
Austria ( IFPI Austria) [28] Gold 25,000*
Canada ( Music Canada) [29] 2× Platinum 200,000^
France ( SNEP) [30] 2× Gold 200,000*
Japan ( RIAJ) [31]
Original release 		3× Platinum 600,000^
Japan ( RIAJ) [32]
2003 re-release 		Gold 100,000^
Netherlands ( NVPI) [33] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand ( RMNZ) [34] Platinum 15,000^
Norway ( IFPI Norway) [35] Gold 25,000*
United Kingdom ( BPI) [36] Platinum 300,000^
United States ( RIAA) [37] 23× Platinum 11,500,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 18,000,000 [38]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Great Rock Discography". p. 437.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Greatest Hits, Vols. 1-2 (1973-1985)". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "Billy Joel". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN  0-679-73015-X. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "RIAA List of Best Selling Albums" Archived 2007-07-01 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Sources for the Dutch and Japanese editions of Greatest Hits Volume 2:
    • Billy Joel (1985). Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Dutch Edition). Columbia Records.
    • Billy Joel (1985). Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Japanese Edition). Columbia Records.
    • Billy Joel (1985). Greatest Hits Volume 2 (South Korean Edition). Columbia Records.
  6. ^ Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection
  7. ^ "Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II". Discogs.
  8. ^ "Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II". Discogs.
  9. ^ "52nd Street Serenade ♪♪".
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 156. ISBN  0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0581". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 35. September 4, 1985. p. 18. Retrieved February 3, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN  978-951-1-21053-5.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  17. ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN  978-4-87131-077-2.
  18. ^ "Charts.nz – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  19. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  22. ^ "Billy Joel Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  23. ^ "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  24. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1985 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  25. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  26. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1986 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  27. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  28. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  29. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Music Canada.
  30. ^ "French album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved September 3, 2021. Select BILLY JOEL and click OK. 
  31. ^ "Japanese album certifications – ビリー・ジョエル – ビリー・ザ・ベスト" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 3, 2021. Select 1999年10月 on the drop-down menu
  32. ^ "Japanese album certifications – ビリー・ジョエル – ビリー・ザ・ベスト" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 3, 2021. Select 2010年2月 on the drop-down menu
  33. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Billy Joel" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Billy Joel in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  34. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Recorded Music NZ.
  35. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  36. ^ "British album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol 1 & 2". British Phonographic Industry.
  37. ^ "American album certifications – Billy Joel – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America.
  38. ^ "I Record". Corriere della Sera. April 3, 1999. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
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