Songs in the Attic

by Billy Joel

Overview

Having scored three multi-platinum hits in a row, Billy Joel took a breather, releasing his first live album, Songs in the Attic, as he worked on his ambitious follow-up to Glass Houses. Joel wisely decided to use the live album as an opportunity to draw attention to songs from his first four albums. Apart from "Piano Man," none of those songs had been heard by the large audience he had won with The Stranger. Furthermore, he now had a seasoned backing band that helped give his music a specific identity -- in short, it was an opportunity to reclaim these songs, now that he had a signature sound. And Joel didn't botch the opportunity -- Songs in the Attic is an excellent album, ranking among his very best work. With the possible exception of the Turnstiles material, every song is given a fuller, better arrangement that makes it all spring to life. "Los Angelenos" and "Everybody Loves You Now" hit harder in the live setting, while ballads like "She's Got a Way," "Summer, Highland Falls," and "I've Loved These Days" are richer and warmer in these versions. A few personal favorites from these albums may be missing, but what is here is impeccable, proving that even if Joel wasn't a celebrity in the early '70s, his best songs of the era rivaled his biggest hits.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/01/2008
Label:	Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC:	0886972296425
catalogNumber:	722964
Rank:	6421

Tracks

1. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
2. Summer, Highland Falls
3. Streetlife Serenader
4. Los Angelenos
5. She's Got A Way
6. Everybody Loves You Now
7. Say Goodbye To Hollywood
8. Captain Jack
9. You're My Home
10. The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
11. I've Loved These Days

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Billy Joel   Primary Artist,Synthesizer,Harmonica,Piano,Keyboards,Vocals
Richie Cannata   Organ,Flute,Keyboards,Saxophone,Wind
Liberty DeVitto   Percussion,Drums
Russell Javors   Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar,Rhythm Guitar
Doug Stegmeyer   Bass,Bass Guitar
Dave Brown   Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar

Technical Credits

Billy Joel   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Artwork
Jim Boyer   Engineer,Remixing
Phil Ramone   Producer,Liner Notes,Remixing
Brian Ruggles   Producer
Elliot Scheiner   Engineer,Remixing
Bradshaw Leigh   Engineer
Larry Franke   Engineer
John Naatjes   Tape Research
Michiko Oka   Contributor
Tom Roberts   Engineer