1001 Albums Summary

Starting off with a band and album completely unfamiliar to me. Theatrical studio effects to simulate a “live” club experience. Singer has an interesting voice. Fun dance music with many layers of production. “Two Hearts in 3/4 Time” seems inspired by old European movie soundtracks circa 1972. “Flight Tonight” is another great dance track. There are record pops and scratches throughout that I could do without.

Movin Out - Ack ack ack The Stranger - Cheesy and does he always drop the r’s from the ends of words? No, he pronounces the r in the last “stranger”. So just a weird affectation “Just The Way You Are” is pleasant enough but Joel’s vocal limitations are evident. Nice sax though. “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” is memorable for its opening line and its rhapsodic structure but really seems like three different songs stitched together. “Vienna” is a nice showcase for Joel’s piano skills and lyrically is one of the more interesting songs on the album. “Only The Good Die Young” is a fun little homage to Joel’s beloved Fifties rock and roll and deserves its place among Joel’s hits. I could live without “She’s Always A Woman” and find it kind of misogynistic but in fairness it has nice acoustic guitar and flute. “Get It Right The First Time” is totally forgettable but it’s got a flute too. Makes a good ‘deep cut’ because most people have probably never heard it. “Everybody Has A Dream” has Joel in full piano lounge mode with vocals that seem forced. The full chorus and organ take it in a gospel direction that works here well enough for a pop star from LI. The song would be a lot better if it was two minutes shorter and we weren’t returned to the whistling.

This album is so freaking good. Don’t try to figure out what any of it means, just have a good time.