Complete List of Billy Joel Songs From A to Z

Billy Joel’s career is a story of relentless ambition, songwriting brilliance, and an unwavering connection to his audience. Raised in Hicksville, Long Island, he was drawn to music early, not because it was expected, but because he found an outlet in the keys of a piano. His classical training as a child shaped his distinctive melodic sensibilities, but it was the rock and roll of the 1950s and 1960s that fueled his creative fire. Unlike many who simply admired their heroes, Joel was determined to stand among them.

Before becoming the household name behind some of the most enduring songs in American music, Joel paid his dues in the local band circuit. His early groups, including the Echoes (later known as the Lost Souls) and the Hassles, gave him his first taste of the industry, albeit with little commercial success. A short-lived hard rock duo, Attila, proved to be another dead end, but these setbacks only pushed Joel toward a solo career. His 1971 debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, suffered from a mastering error that made him sound unnaturally high-pitched, a rocky start that could have derailed a less determined artist. Instead, he took a job playing in Los Angeles piano bars—an experience that inspired the song that would change everything for him: “Piano Man.”

With the release of Piano Man in 1973, Joel’s career found its footing, and from there, his momentum never wavered. He followed up with a string of albums that cemented his reputation as one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation. The Stranger (1977) became his breakthrough, yielding classics like “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” “Only the Good Die Young,” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” 52nd Street (1978) pushed his success even further, earning him the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Joel proved himself a master of reinvention, embracing harder rock with Glass Houses (1980) and tackling deeply personal themes on The Nylon Curtain (1982). The 1980s saw his dominance continue with An Innocent Man (1983), a tribute to the doo-wop and R&B influences of his youth, producing hits like “Tell Her About It” and “Uptown Girl.”

By the early 1990s, Joel had nothing left to prove. After the release of River of Dreams (1993), he walked away from recording pop music, focusing instead on live performances and composing classical pieces. Even without new albums, his influence never waned. He became a fixture at Madison Square Garden with a record-breaking residency, proving that his music had transcended generations. His songs remained cultural touchstones, their storytelling and emotional depth as relevant as ever.

Joel’s impact extends far beyond album sales and chart positions. He has sold over 160 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His accolades include six Grammy Awards, inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), and the Kennedy Center Honors (2013). His music has been celebrated for its craftsmanship, lyrical honesty, and ability to capture the spirit of the American experience.

Outside of music, Joel has been a dedicated philanthropist, supporting causes ranging from music education to veterans’ programs. His “Charity Begins at Home” foundation has funded numerous initiatives in the New York area, and he has contributed extensively to disaster relief efforts. A passionate advocate for the arts, he has also mentored young musicians, offering insights drawn from his own hard-earned experiences.

Billy Joel’s legacy is defined not just by hit songs or platinum albums, but by the deep, personal connection he has forged with his audience. His music tells stories that resonate across generations, whether it’s the working-class dreams of “Allentown,” the nostalgia of “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” or the rapid-fire history lesson of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Even without releasing a new studio album in decades, his presence in the music world remains as strong as ever—a testament to the timelessness of his artistry.

(#)

52nd Street – 52nd Street (1978)

(A)

A Matter of Trust – The Bridge (1986)
A Minor Variation – River of Dreams (1993)
A Room of Our Own – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Ain’t No Crime – Piano Man (1973)
All About Soul – River of Dreams (1993)
All for Leyna – Glass Houses (1980)
All My Life – Non-album single (2007)
All Shook Up – Honeymoon in Vegas Soundtrack (1992)
All You Wanna Do Is Dance – Turnstiles (1976)
Allentown – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
An Innocent Man – An Innocent Man (1983)
And So It Goes – Storm Front (1989)
Aria (“Grand Canal”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)

(B-C)

Baby Grand – The Bridge (1986)
Back in the U.S.S.R. (Live) – Концерт (1987)
Big Man on Mulberry Street – The Bridge (1986)
Big Shot – 52nd Street (1978)
Blonde Over Blue – River of Dreams (1993)
C’était Toi (You Were the One) – Glass Houses (1980)
Captain Jack – Piano Man (1973)
Careless Talk – An Innocent Man (1983)
Christmas in Fallujah (feat. Cass Dillon) – A Good Thing Never Dies (EP by Cass Dillon) (2007)
Christmas in Fallujah (Live in Sydney, Australia, 2008) – Non-album single and download (2008)
Christie Lee – An Innocent Man (1983)
Close to the Borderline – Glass Houses (1980)
Code of Silence – The Bridge (1986)

(D-F)

Delusion – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Don’t Ask Me Why – Glass Houses (1980)
Downeaster ‘Alexa,’ The – Storm Front (1989)
Dublinesque – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Easy Money – An Innocent Man (1983)
Everybody Has a Dream – The Stranger (1977)
Everybody Loves You Now – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Fantasy (“Film Noir”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Falling of the Rain – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Famous Last Words – River of Dreams (1993)

(G-I)

Get It Right the First Time – The Stranger (1977)
Getting Closer – The Bridge (1986)
Goodnight Saigon – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Got to Begin Again – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Half a Mile Away – 52nd Street (1978)
Hard Day’s Night (Live) – A Voyage on the River of Dreams (1994)
Heartbreak Hotel – Honeymoon in Vegas Soundtrack (1992)
Hey Girl – Greatest Hits Volume III (1997)
Honesty – 52nd Street (1978)
I Go to Extremes – Storm Front (1989)
I Don’t Want to Be Alone – Glass Houses (1980)
If I Only Had the Words (To Tell You) – Piano Man (1973)
I’ve Loved These Days – Turnstiles (1976)
In a Sentimental Mood – A League of Their Own Soundtrack (1992)
Innamorato – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Invention in C Minor – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Glass Houses (1980)

(J-M)

James – Turnstiles (1976)
Just the Way You Are – The Stranger (1977)
Keeping the Faith – An Innocent Man (1983)
Last of the Big Time Spenders – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Laura – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Leave a Tender Moment Alone – An Innocent Man (1983)
Leningrad – Storm Front (1989)
Los Angelenos – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – River of Dreams (1993)
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) – Turnstiles (1976)
Modern Woman – The Bridge (1986)
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) – The Stranger (1977)
My Life – 52nd Street (1978)

(N-R)

New York State of Mind – Turnstiles (1976)
No Man’s Land – River of Dreams (1993)
Nocturne – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Nobody Knows But Me – In Harmony 2 LP (1981)
Nunley’s Carousel – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Only the Good Die Young – The Stranger (1977)
Piano Man – Piano Man (1973)
Prelude/Angry Young Man – Turnstiles (1976)
Pressure – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Reverie (“Villa d’Este”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
River of Dreams– River of Dreams (1993)
Roberta – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Rosalinda’s Eyes – 52nd Street (1978)
Root Beer Rag – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Running on Ice – The Bridge (1986)

(S)

Say Goodbye to Hollywood – Turnstiles (1976)
Scandinavian Skies – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant – The Stranger (1977)
Shades of Grey – River of Dreams (1993)
Shameless – Storm Front (1989)
She’s Always a Woman – The Stranger (1977)
She’s Right on Time – The Nylon Curtain (1982)
She’s Got a Way – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Shout (Live at Yankee Stadium) – Non-album single (1990)
Sleeping with the Television On – Glass Houses (1980)
Soliloquy (“On a Separation”) – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Somewhere Along the Line – Piano Man (1973)
Sometimes a Fantasy – Glass Houses (1980)
Sorbetto – Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
Souvenir – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
State of Grace – Storm Front (1989)
Stiletto – 52nd Street (1978)
Stop in Nevada – Piano Man (1973)
Storm Front – Storm Front (1989)
Storm Front (Live at Yankee Stadium) – Non-album single (1991)
Streetlife Serenader – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Summer, Highland Falls – Turnstiles (1976)
Surprises –The Nylon Curtain (1982)

(T)

Temptation – The Bridge (1986)
Tell Her About It – An Innocent Man (1983)
That’s Not Her Style – Storm Front (1989)
The Ballad of Billy the Kid – Piano Man (1973)
The Entertainer – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
The Great Suburban Showdown – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
The Great Wall of China – River of Dreams (1993)
The Longest Night – An Innocent Man (1983)
The Mexican Connection (Instrumental) – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
The Night Is Still Young – Greatest Hits – Volume I & II (1985)
The River Of Dreams – River of Dreams (1993)
The Stranger – The Stranger (1977)
This Night – An Innocent Man (1983)
This Is The Time – The Bridge (1986)
Through the Long Night – Glass Houses (1980)
To Make You Feel My Love – Greatest Hits Volume III (1997)
Tomorrow Is Today – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Travelin’ Prayer – Piano Man (1973)
Turn Around – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Two Thousand Years – River of Dreams (1993)

(U-Z)

Until The Night – 52nd Street (1978)
Vienna – The Stranger (1977)
We Didn’t Start The Fire – Storm Front (1989)
Weekend Song – Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Why Judy Why – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)? – Runaway Bride Soundtrack (1999)
Where’s the Orchestra? –The Nylon Curtain (1982)
When In Rome – Storm Front
When You Wish Upon a Star – Simply Mad About The Mouse (1991)
Worst Comes To Worst – Piano Man (1973)
You Can Make Me Free  – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
You Look So Good To Me – Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
You May Be Right – Glass Houses (1980)
Zanzibar – 52nd Street (1978)

Billy Joel’s Classical Album in numbered order

Opus 1. Soliloquy (“On a Separation”) – 11:26
Opus 2. Waltz #1 (“Nunley’s Carousel”) – 6:58
Opus 3. Reverie (“Villa d’Este”) – 9:31
Opus 4. Fantasy (“Film Noir”) – 8:56
Opus 5. Waltz #2 (“Steinway Hall”) – 7:00
Opus 6. Invention in C Minor – 1:04
Opus 7. Aria (“Grand Canal”) – 11:08
Opus 8. Suite for Piano (“Star-Crossed”): I. Innamorato – 7:46
Opus 8. Suite for Piano (“Star-Crossed”): II. Sorbetto – 1:30
Opus 8. Suite for Piano (“Star-Crossed”): III. Delusion – 3:37
Opus 9. Waltz #3 (“For Lola”) – 3:28
Opus 10. Air (“Dublinesque”) – 3:46

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