Editing Billy Joel (section)

==Music career==
===1964–1970: Early career===
Influenced by early [[rock & roll]] and [[rhythm & blues]] artists, including [[Elvis Presley]] and [[the Everly Brothers]], Joel favored tightly structured pop melodies and down-to-earth songwriting.<ref name= OxfordMO>{{cite web| last= Tamarkin| first= Jeff| author-link= Jeff Tamarkin| title= Joel, Billy| url= https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/epm/13981?q=Billy+Joel&search=quick&pos=2&_start=1 |url-access= registration| work= Oxford Music Online |publisher= Oxford University Press| access-date= October 5, 2015}}</ref> After seeing [[the Beatles]] on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', Joel decided to pursue a career in music. He recalled:<ref>{{cite news| last=Crandall| first=Bill| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-musicians-who-saw-the-beatles-standing-there/| title=10 musicians who saw the Beatles standing there| publisher=CBS News| date=February 6, 2014| access-date=April 16, 2020| archive-date=February 7, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207051338/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-musicians-who-saw-the-beatles-standing-there/| url-status=live}}</ref>

{{blockquote|That one performance changed my life{{nbsp}}... Up to that moment I'd never considered playing rock as a career{{nbsp}}... (W)hen I saw four guys who didn't look like they'd come out of the Hollywood star mill, who played their own songs and instruments, and especially because you could see this look in [[John Lennon]]'s face—and he looked like he was always saying: '--- you!'—I said: 'I know these guys, I can relate to these guys, I am these guys. This is what I'm going to do—play in a rock band'.}}

At age 16, Joel joined the Echoes,<ref name="sing365">{{cite web |url= http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Billy-Joel-Biography/B5E6E558FEF8C8D1482568700013A7BC |title= Billy Joel Biography |work= Sing365.com |access-date= November 2, 2010 |archive-date= December 2, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101202131305/http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Billy-Joel-Biography/B5E6E558FEF8C8D1482568700013A7BC |url-status= live }}</ref> a group which specialized in [[British Invasion]] covers. The Echoes began recording in 1965. Joel played piano on several records released through [[Kama Sutra Records|Kama Sutra Productions]] and on recordings produced by [[Shadow Morton]]. Joel played on a demo version of "[[Leader of the Pack]]", which became a major hit for [[the Shangri-Las]].<ref>{{cite interview| url=http://www.bluebirdreviews.com/live-concerts/52-billy-joel-with-howard-stern-on-sirius-radio.html| title=Billy Joel with Howard Stern on Sirius Radio| publisher=Sirius Radio| via=BluebirdReviews.com| date=November 24, 2010| access-date=July 11, 2020| archive-date=December 1, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201115845/http://www.bluebirdreviews.com/live-concerts/52-billy-joel-with-howard-stern-on-sirius-radio.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Joel states that in 1964 he played on a recording of the Shangri-Las' "[[Remember (Walking in the Sand)]]" but he is unaware of whether he played on the demo or master version.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Billy Joel: 1994 Recipient of The Century Award |magazine=Billboard |date=December 3, 1994 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZwgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%2B%22artie%20ripp%22%20%2B%22red%20bird%22&pg=PA13 |access-date=October 28, 2015 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727120002/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZwgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13&q=+%22artie%20ripp%22%20+%22red%20bird%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The released single included a co-producer credit for [[Artie Ripp]],<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Leiber – Stoller – Goldner Present The Shangri-Las ''[advertisement]''|magazine=Billboard|date=August 15, 1964|page=5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QUUEAAAAMBAJ&q=artie%20ripp&pg=PA5|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727113029/https://books.google.com/books?id=QUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5&q=artie%20ripp|url-status=live}}</ref> who later was the first to sign and produce Joel as a solo artist after [[Michael Lang (producer)|Michael Lang]], who had given Joel a monetary advance, passed Joel along to Ripp to focus his attentions elsewhere.<ref name=schruers>{{cite book|last1=Schruers|first1=Fred|title=Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography|date=2014|publisher=Crown Publishing|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8041-4019-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pneBAwAAQBAJ&q=michael%20lang&pg=PT75|access-date=January 14, 2016|archive-date=May 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509161422/https://books.google.com/books?id=pneBAwAAQBAJ&q=michael%20lang&pg=PT75#v=snippet&q=michael%20lang&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late 1965, the Echoes changed their name to the Emeralds, and then to the Lost Souls. Joel left the band in 1967 to join [[the Hassles]], a Long Island group that had signed with [[United Artists Records]].<ref name= OxfordMO /> Over the next year and a half, they released four singles and two albums (''The Hassles'' and ''Hour of the Wolf''). All were commercial failures. Joel and drummer Jon Small left the Hassles in 1969 to form the duo [[Attila (rock band)|Attila]], releasing an [[:wikt:eponym|eponymous]] debut album in July 1970. The duo disbanded the following October when Joel began an affair with Small's wife, Elizabeth. The pair later married.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3587|title=Attila|publisher=AllMusic|first=Stacia|last=Proefrock|access-date=November 2, 2010|archive-date=February 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203025637/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3587|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1970–1974: ''Cold Spring Harbor'' and ''Piano Man''===
[[File:Nieuwste artiesten bij Phonogram, Billy Joel, Bestanddeelnr 925-8727 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Joel performing in September 1972]]
Joel signed a contract with the record company Family Productions,<ref name= CRose /><ref name= spyripp>{{cite journal |last1=Goodman |first1=Fred |title=An Innocent Man |journal=Spy |date=March 1991 |page=73 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G6J2BiVlRBkC&q=artie%20ripp&pg=PA73 |access-date=October 22, 2015 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727115022/https://books.google.com/books?id=G6J2BiVlRBkC&pg=PA73&q=artie%20ripp |url-status=live }}</ref> with which he recorded his first solo album, ''[[Cold Spring Harbor (album)|Cold Spring Harbor]]'', named for [[Cold Spring Harbor, New York|Cold Spring Harbor, a hamlet]] on his native [[Long Island]]. Artie Ripp, owner of Family Productions, states that he spent US$450,000 developing Joel;<ref name=spyripp /> nevertheless, the album was mastered at too high a speed and was a technical and commercial disappointment.<ref name=AllMusic-ColdSpringHarbor>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cold-spring-harbor-mw0000194331 |title=Cold Spring Harbor Review |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 10, 2023 |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003134646/https://www.allmusic.com/album/cold-spring-harbor-mw0000194331 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The popular songs "[[She's Got a Way]]" and "[[Everybody Loves You Now]]" were originally released on this album, but went largely unnoticed until being released as live performances on ''[[Songs in the Attic]] ''(1981). Columbia released a remastered version of ''Cold Spring Harbor'' in 1983, with certain songs shortened or re-orchestrated.<ref name=AllMusic-ColdSpringHarbor />

Joel began his ''Cold Spring Harbor'' tour in the fall of 1971, touring with his band, consisting of [[Rhys Clark]] on drums, Al Hertzberg on guitar, and [[Larry Russell (bassist)|Larry Russell]] on bass guitar, throughout the mainland United States and Puerto Rico, opening for such artists as [[the J. Geils Band]], [[the Beach Boys]], [[Badfinger]] and [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]]. Joel's performance at the Puerto Rican [[Mar y Sol Pop Festival]] was especially well-received; and although recorded, Joel refused to have it published on the Mar Y Sol compilation album ''[[Mar Y Sol: The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival (album)|Mar Y Sol: The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival]]''. Nevertheless, interest in his music grew.<ref name="unauthorized" />

During the spring of 1972, the [[Philadelphia]] radio station [[WMMR]]-FM began playing a [[live concert|concert]] recording of "[[Captain Jack (Billy Joel song)|Captain Jack]]", which became an underground hit on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]]. Herb Gordon, a [[Columbia Records]] executive, heard Joel's music and introduced him to the company. Joel signed a recording contract with Columbia in 1972 and moved to Los Angeles; he lived there for the next three years.<ref name="bio-allmusic1">{{cite web | last= Erlewine| first= Stephen Thomas| author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine| year= 2006| title= Billy Joel Biography| publisher= [[AllMusic]]| url= https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-joel-mn0000085915/biography| access-date= December 7, 2008| archive-date= September 9, 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130909081102/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-joel-mn0000085915/biography| url-status= live}}</ref><ref name= Villager /> For six months he worked at The Executive Room [[piano bar]] on [[Wilshire Boulevard]] as "Bill Martin".<ref name= CRose /> During that time, he composed his signature song "[[Piano Man (song)|Piano Man]]" about the bar's patrons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Major 7th chords – a talk with Billy Joel |publisher=The Actors Studio, USA |year=1999}}</ref>

Despite Joel's new contract, he was legally bound to Family Productions. Artie Ripp sold Joel's first contract to Columbia. [[Walter Yetnikoff]], the president of CBS/Columbia Records at the time, bought back the rights to Joel's songs in the late 1970s, giving the rights to Joel as a birthday gift.<ref>''The Last Play at Shea'' (documentary film). 2010. Interview with Yetnikoff.{{when|date=October 2012}}<!-- at what point in the film? --></ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=October 29, 2010 |title=Brenda, Eddie, Billy and Friends Bury a Ballpark |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/movies/29last.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630134640/http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/movies/29last.html |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Yetnikoff notes in the documentary ''The Last Play at Shea'' that he had to threaten Ripp to close the deal.

Joel's first album with Columbia was ''[[Piano Man (Billy Joel album)|Piano Man]]'' (1973). Despite modest sales, the album's title track became his signature song, ending nearly every concert. That year Joel's touring band changed. Guitarist Al Hertzberg was replaced by Don Evans, and bassist Larry Russell by Patrick McDonald, himself replaced in late 1974 by [[Doug Stegmeyer]], who stayed with Joel until 1989. Rhys Clark returned as drummer and Tom Whitehorse as banjoist and pedal steel player; [[Johnny Almond]] joined as saxophonist and keyboardist. The band toured the U.S. and Canada extensively, appearing on popular music shows. Joel's songwriting began attracting more attention; in 1974 [[Helen Reddy]] recorded the ''Piano Man'' track "[[You're My Home (song)|You're My Home]]".

===1974–1977: ''Streetlife Serenade'' and ''Turnstiles''===
In 1974, Joel recorded his second Columbia album in Los Angeles, ''[[Streetlife Serenade]]''. His manager at the time was Jon Troy, an old friend from New York's [[Bedford-Stuyvesant]] neighborhood; Troy was soon replaced by Joel's wife Elizabeth.<ref>{{cite web |author=Chesher Cat |url=http://everybodyishotisdead.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html |title=Everybody I Shot is Dead |publisher=everybodyishotisdead.blogspot.com |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708034606/http://everybodyishotisdead.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_archive.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Streetlife Serenade'' contains references to [[suburbia]] and the [[inner city]]. It is perhaps best known for "[[The Entertainer (Billy Joel song)|The Entertainer]]", a No. 34 hit in the U.S. Upset that "Piano Man" had been significantly cut for radio play, Joel wrote "The Entertainer" as a sarcastic response: "If you're gonna have a hit, you gotta make it fit, so they cut it down to 3:05." Although ''Streetlife Serenade'' was viewed unfavorably by critics,<ref>{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: J|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=J&bk=70|access-date=February 27, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com|archive-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525101409/https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=J&bk=70|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=December 5, 1974 |issue=175 |first=Stephen |last=Holden |author-link=Stephen Holden |title=Billy Joel ''Streetlife Serenade'' > Album Review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/streetlife-serenade-19741205 |url-status=live |access-date=November 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503104018/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/billyjoel/albums/album/200781/review/5942638/streetlife_serenade |archive-date=May 3, 2008 }}</ref> it contains the notable songs "Los Angelenos" and "[[Root Beer Rag]]", an [[instrumental]] that was a staple of his live set in the 1970s.

In late 1975, Joel played piano and organ on several tracks on [[Bo Diddley]]'s ''The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll'' all-star album.

Disenchanted with Los Angeles, Joel returned to New York City in 1975 and recorded ''[[Turnstiles (album)|Turnstiles]]'' (1976), the first album he recorded with the [[Billy Joel Band|musicians with whom he toured]]. Produced by [[James William Guercio]] (then [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]]'s producer), ''Turnstiles'' was first recorded at [[Caribou Ranch]] with members of [[Elton John]]'s band. Dissatisfied with the result, Joel re-recorded the songs and produced the album himself.

"[[Say Goodbye to Hollywood]]" was a minor hit, covered by [[Ronnie Spector]] and [[Nigel Olsson]]. In a 2008 radio interview, Joel said that he no longer performs the song because singing it in its high original key "shreds" his [[vocal cords]]; however, he did finally play it live for the first time since 1982 when he sang it at the [[Hollywood Bowl]] in May 2014. Although never released as a single, "[[New York State of Mind]]" became one of Joel's best-known songs; [[Barbra Streisand]] recorded a cover and [[Tony Bennett]] performed it as a duet with Joel on ''[[Playing with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues]]''. Other notable songs from the album include "[[Summer, Highland Falls]]"; "[[Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)]]" and "[[Prelude/Angry Young Man]]", a concert mainstay.

===1977–1979: ''The Stranger'' and ''52nd Street'' ===
[[File:Billy Joel, Lehigh Epitome 1978 page 125.jpg|thumb|right|Joel performing in December 1977]]
Columbia Records introduced Joel to [[Phil Ramone]], who produced all of Joel's studio albums from 1977 to 1986. [[The Stranger (Billy Joel album)|''The Stranger'']] (1977) was an enormous commercial success, yielding four Top-25 hits on the ''Billboard'' charts: "[[Just the Way You Are (Billy Joel song)|Just the Way You Are]]" (No. 3), "[[Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)|Movin' Out]]" (No. 17), "[[Only the Good Die Young]]" (No. 24) and "[[She's Always a Woman]]" (No. 17). Joel's first Top Ten album, ''The Stranger ''reached number two on the charts and was certified multi-platinum, besting [[Simon & Garfunkel]]'s ''[[Bridge over Troubled Water]]''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS154750+31-Jul-2008+PRN20080731 |title=The Return of 'The Stranger'&nbsp;– 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition of Billy Joel's Top-Selling... |date=July 31, 2008 |work=Reuters |access-date=March 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726115257/https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS154750%2B31-Jul-2008%2BPRN20080731 |archive-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> as Columbia's previous bestselling album. "Just the Way You Are"—written for Joel's first wife, Elizabeth Weber<ref>{{cite book |last=Schruers |first=Fred |date=2015 |title=Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography |publisher=Three Rivers Press |page=130}}</ref>—was inspired by a dream<ref>{{cite book |last=Webb |first=Craig |date=2016 |title=The Dreams Behind the Music: Learn Creative Dreaming As 100+ Top Artists Reveal Their Breakthrough Inspirations |url=http://dreamsbehindthemusic.com/ |page=76 |access-date=October 31, 2016 |archive-date=November 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101041229/http://dreamsbehindthemusic.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and won [[Grammy]] awards for [[Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]].<ref name=billyjoelgrammy>[https://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=%22Billy+Joel%22&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All Billy Joel Grammy Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208160833/https://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=%22Billy+Joel%22&field_nominee_work_value=&year=All&genre=All |date=December 8, 2015 }} at [[The Recording Academy]]</ref> On tour in Paris, Joel learned the news late one night in a hotel room.<ref name="sing365" />  It also featured "[[Scenes from an Italian Restaurant]]", an [[album-oriented rock]] classic, which has become one of his best-known songs. It is one of Joel's favorite of his own songs, which has become a firm staple of his live shows,<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel/billy-joel-talks-scenes-from-an-italian-restaurant-i-couldn-t-do-a-show-without-it-1.10695315| title= Joel on 'Scenes': I couldn't do a show without it| website= Newsday| language= en| access-date= June 6, 2019| archive-date= June 7, 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190607003406/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel/billy-joel-talks-scenes-from-an-italian-restaurant-i-couldn-t-do-a-show-without-it-1.10695315| url-status= live}}</ref> and "[[Vienna (Billy Joel song)|Vienna]]", also one of Joel's personal favorites<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/arts/music/13barr.html?pagewanted=1 | work=The New York Times | first=Dan | last=Barry | title=Just the Way He Is | date=July 13, 2008 | access-date=February 12, 2023 | archive-date=February 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212102327/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/arts/music/13barr.html?pagewanted=1 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joels-top-5-favorite-songs-playlist/ | title=Billy Joel's Top 5 Favorite Songs Playlist | date=January 11, 2017 | access-date=February 12, 2023 | archive-date=February 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212102329/https://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joels-top-5-favorite-songs-playlist/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and as of 2022 one of his most streamed songs on the internet.<ref name = Grierson>{{cite news|url = https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/billy-joel-vienna-song-history|title = How Billy Joel's 'Vienna' Went from a Deep Cut to His Most Popular Song|date = April 17, 2022|accessdate = April 25, 2022|work = [[MEL Magazine]]|last = Grierson|first = Tim|archive-date = April 28, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220428040558/https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/billy-joel-vienna-song-history|url-status = live}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' later ranked ''The Stranger'' the 70th greatest album of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/billy-joel-the-stranger-19691231 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Billy Joel, 'The Stranger' |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718102518/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/billy-joel-the-stranger-19691231 |archive-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref>

Joel released [[52nd Street (album)|''52nd Street'']] in 1978, naming it after Manhattan's [[52nd Street (Manhattan)|52nd Street]], which, at the time of its release, served as the world headquarters of [[CBS Records International|CBS/]] [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]. The album sold over seven million copies, propelled to number one on the charts by the hits "[[My Life (Billy Joel song)|My Life]]" (No. 3), "[[Big Shot (song)|Big Shot]]" (No. 14) and "[[Honesty (Billy Joel song)|Honesty]]" (No. 24). A cover of "My Life" by Gary Bennett became the theme for the television sitcom ''[[Bosom Buddies]]''. ''52nd Street'' also won Grammy awards for [[Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male]] and Album of the Year.

In 1979, Joel traveled to [[Havana|Havana, Cuba]] to participate in the historic [[Havana Jam]] festival March 2–4, alongside [[Rita Coolidge]], [[Kris Kristofferson]], [[Stephen Stills]], the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the [[Trio of Doom]], [[Fania All-Stars]], [[Billy Swan]], [[Bonnie Bramlett]], Mike Finnegan, [[Weather Report]], and an array of Cuban artists including [[Irakere]], [[Pacho Alonso]], [[Tata Güines]] and [[Orquesta Aragón]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://storage.people.com/people/archive/jpgs/19790319/19790319-750-35.jpg |title=article on Havana Jam |work=People |date=March 19, 1979 |access-date=September 11, 2012 |archive-date=November 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120205041/http://storage.people.com/people/archive/jpgs/19790319/19790319-750-35.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> His performance is captured in Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary ''Havana Jam '79''.

''52nd Street'' was the first commercially released album on the then-new compact disc format, in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-first-compact-disc-released/|title=How Billy Joel's '52nd Street' Became the First Compact Disc Released|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=October 2012|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706021629/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-first-compact-disc-released/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===1979–1983: ''Glass Houses'' and ''The Nylon Curtain''===
The success of his piano-driven ballads like "Just the Way You Are", "She's Always a Woman" and "Honesty" led some critics to label Joel a "[[ballad]]eer" and "[[soft rock]]er". He thought these labels were unfair and insulting, and with ''[[Glass Houses (album)|Glass Houses]]'', Joel tried to record an album that proved that he could rock harder than his critics gave him credit for, occasionally imitating and referring to the style of [[New wave music|new wave]] rock music that was starting to become popular. On the album cover, Joel is pictured in a leather jacket, about to throw a rock at a glass house (referring to the adage that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones").

''Glass Houses'' spent six weeks at No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' chart and yielded the hits "[[You May Be Right]]" (No. 7, May 1980), "[[It's Still Rock and Roll to Me]]", (No. 1, July 1980), "[[Don't Ask Me Why (Billy Joel song)|Don't Ask Me Why]]" (No. 19, September 1980) and "[[Sometimes a Fantasy]]" (No. 36, November 1980). "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", Joel's first ''Billboard'' number-one single, spent 11 weeks in the top 10 of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and was the seventh biggest hit of 1980 according to American Top 40. His five sold-out shows at [[Madison Square Garden]] in 1980 earned him the Garden's [[Madison Square Garden Gold Ticket Award|Gold Ticket Award]] for selling more than 100,000 tickets at the venue.<ref name="BJ Kozak">{{cite magazine |last=Kozak |first=Roman |date=August 9, 1980 |title=Singer Alters Summer Tour: Double LP Set For November? |magazine=Billboard |volume=92 |number=32 |page=35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PAPA4 |via=Google books |access-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-date=May 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509161423/https://books.google.com/books?id=eyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PAPA4&l#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BJ Melhuish">{{cite news |last=Melhuish |first=Martin |title=The Pringle Column |agency=[[Sun Media]] |newspaper=The Interior News |location=Smithers, British Columbia |date=September 10, 1980 |page=b7 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30084182/the_interior_news/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330205924/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30084182/the_interior_news/ |url-status=live }}{{free access}}</ref>

''Glass Houses'' won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male. It also won the [[American Music Award]] for Favorite Album, Pop/Rock category. The album's closing song, "Through the Long Night" ([[B-side]] of the "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me" single), was a lullaby that featured Joel harmonizing with himself in a song he says was inspired by [[the Beatles]]' "[[Yes It Is]]".<ref name="unauthorized" /> In a recorded Masterclass at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], Joel recalled that he had written to the Beatles asking them how to get started in the music industry. In response, he received a pamphlet about Beatles merchandise. This later led to the idea of Joel conducting Q&A sessions around the world answering questions that people had about the music industry.<ref>{{citation |last1=Joel |first1=Billy |title=Billy Joel – Masterclass concert (Part 1) – 2001 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania}}</ref>

Joel's next release, ''[[Songs in the Attic]]'', was composed of live performances of lesser-known songs from the beginning of his career. It was recorded at larger US arenas and in intimate night club shows in June and July 1980. This release introduced many fans, who discovered Joel when ''The Stranger'' became a smash in 1977, to many of his earlier compositions. The album reached No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' chart and produced two hit singles: "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (No. 17), and "She's Got a Way" (No. 23). It sold over 3 million copies. Although not as successful as some of his previous albums, it was still considered a success by Joel.<ref name="unauthorized" />

The next wave of Joel's career commenced with the recording of ''[[The Nylon Curtain]]''. With it, Joel became more ambitious with his songwriting, which included highly topical songs like "[[Allentown (song)|Allentown]]" and "[[Goodnight Saigon]]". Joel has stated that he wanted the album to communicate his feelings about [[the American Dream]] and how changes in American politics during the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan administration]] meant that "all of a sudden you weren't going to be able to inherit [the kind of life] your old man had."<ref name="ncvideo">{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqc4U8uWTRU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Pqc4U8uWTRU| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Billy Joel on The Nylon Curtain&nbsp;– from The Complete Albums Collection |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also tried to be more ambitious in his use of the recording studio. Joel said that he wanted to "create a sonic masterpiece" on ''The Nylon Curtain''. So he spent more time in the studio, crafting the sound of the album, than he had on any previous album.<ref name="ncvideo" /> Production of ''The Nylon Curtain'' began in the fall of 1981. However, production was temporarily delayed when Joel was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on [[Long Island]] on April 15, 1982, severely injuring his hands. Still, Joel quickly recovered from his injuries, and the album ended up being delayed by only a few months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-motorcycle-accident/|title=35 Years Ago: Billy Joel Injures Both Hands in Motorcycle Accident|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=April 15, 2017 |access-date=July 14, 2017|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701011826/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-joel-motorcycle-accident/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1982, Joel embarked on a brief tour in support of the album. From one of the final shows of the tour, Joel made his first video special, ''Live from Long Island'', which was recorded at the [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]] in [[Uniondale, New York]] on December 29, 1982. It was originally broadcast on [[HBO]] in 1983 before it became available on VHS.

''The Nylon Curtain'' went to No. 7 on the charts, partially due to heavy airplay on MTV for the videos to the singles "Allentown" and "[[Pressure (Billy Joel song)|Pressure]]", both directed by [[Russell Mulcahy]].

===1983–1988: ''An Innocent Man'' and ''The Bridge'' ===
Joel's next album moved away from the serious themes of ''The Nylon Curtain'' and struck a much lighter tone. ''[[An Innocent Man]]'' was Joel's tribute to [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[doo wop]] music of the 1950s and 1960s and resulted in Joel's second ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' number-one hit, "[[Tell Her About It]]", which was the first single off the album in the summer of 1983. The album itself reached No. 4 on the charts and No. 2 in UK. It also boasted six top-30 singles, the most of any album in Joel's catalog. The album was well received by critics, with [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]], senior editor for AllMusic, describing Joel as being "in top form as a craftsman throughout the record, effortlessly spinning out infectious, memorable melodies in a variety of styles."<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-innocent-man-mw0000190510 |title=An Innocent Man&nbsp;– Billy Joel : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=September 12, 2012 |archive-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828050638/http://www.allmusic.com/album/an-innocent-man-mw0000190510 |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the time that the album was released, [[WCBS-FM]] began playing "[[Uptown Girl]]" both in regular rotation and on the ''Doo Wop Live''.<ref>YouTube (uploaded April 6, 2008).</ref><ref>Billy Joel's Interview on Howard Stern. 2011.{{which|date=October 2012}}</ref> The song became a worldwide hit upon its release. The music video of the song, originally written about then-girlfriend [[Elle MacPherson]], featured [[Christie Brinkley]] as a high-society girl who pulls her car into the gas station where Joel's character is working. At the end of the video, Joel's "grease monkey" character drives off with his "uptown girl" on the back of a motorcycle. When Brinkley went to visit Joel after being asked to star in the video, the first thing Joel said to her upon opening his door was "I don't dance". Brinkley had to walk him through the basic steps he does in the video. Their work together on this video shoot sparked a relationship between the two which led to their marriage in 1985.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/girlinsongtruest0000heat |title=The Girl in the Song: The Real Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics |first1=Michael |last1=Heatley |author-link=Michael Heatley |first2=Frank |last2=Hopkinson |pages=138–139 |date=2011 |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |access-date=February 1, 2025 |isbn=978-1-56976-530-2}}</ref>

In December, [[An Innocent Man (song)|the title song]] was released as a single and it peaked at No. 10 in the U.S. and No. 8 in the UK, early in 1984. That March, "[[The Longest Time]]" was released as a single, peaking at No. 14 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. That summer, "[[Leave a Tender Moment Alone]]" was released and it hit No. 27 while "[[Keeping the Faith (song)|Keeping the Faith]]" peaked at No. 18 in January 1985. In the video for "Keeping the Faith", Brinkley also plays the "redhead girl in a Chevrolet". ''An Innocent Man'' was also nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy, but lost to [[Michael Jackson]]'s ''[[Thriller (Michael Jackson album)|Thriller]]''.

[[File:USA For Africa 1985 (US Press Kit 001).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|Joel (second row, second from left) with other musicians for the recording of "[[We Are the World]]", January 1985]]
Joel participated in the USA for Africa "[[We Are the World]]" project in 1985.

Following ''An Innocent Man'', Joel was asked about releasing an album of his most successful singles. This was not the first time this topic had come up, but Joel had initially considered "Greatest Hits" albums as marking the end of one's career. This time he agreed, and ''[[Greatest Hits (Billy Joel albums)|Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and 2]]'' was released as a four-sided album and two-CD set, with the songs in the order in which they were released. The new songs "[[You're Only Human (Second Wind)]]" and "[[The Night Is Still Young (Billy Joel song)|The Night Is Still Young]]" were recorded and released as singles to support the album; both reached the top 40, peaking at No. 9 and No. 34, respectively. ''Greatest Hits'' was highly successful and it has since been certified [[Diamond album|double diamond]] by the [[RIAA]], with over 11.5&nbsp;million copies (23&nbsp;million units) sold. It is one of the [[List of best-selling albums in the United States|best-selling albums in American music history]], according to the RIAA.

Coinciding with the ''Greatest Hits'' album release, Joel released a two-volume ''Video Album'' that was a compilation of the promotional videos he had recorded from 1977 to that time. Along with videos for the new singles off the ''Greatest Hits'' album, Joel also recorded a video for his first hit, "Piano Man", for this project.

Joel's next album, ''[[The Bridge (Billy Joel album)|The Bridge]]'' (1986), did not achieve the level of success of his previous albums, but it yielded the hits "[[A Matter of Trust]]" and "[[Modern Woman]]" (both No. 10) from the film ''[[Ruthless People]]'', a dark comedy from the directors of ''[[Airplane!]]''. The ballad "[[This Is the Time (song)|This is the Time]]" also charted, peaking at No. 18. On November 18, 1986, an extended version of "[[Big Man on Mulberry Street]]" was used on a Season 3 episode of ''[[Moonlighting (TV series)|Moonlighting]]''.''The Bridge'' was Joel's last album to carry the Family Productions logo, after which he severed his ties with Artie Ripp. Joel has also stated in many interviews, most recently in a 2008 interview in ''Performing Songwriter'' magazine, that he does not think ''The Bridge'' is a good album.

In October 1986, Joel and his team started planning a trip to the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/arts/extra/24artsextra-joel.html |title=At Garden, Billy Joel Is Out to Prove He's in Control |first=Laura |last=Sinagra |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 18, 2014 |date=January 24, 2006 |archive-date=May 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509161449/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/arts/extra/at-garden-billy-joel-is-out-to-prove-hes-in-control.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There were live performances at indoor arenas in Moscow, [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]] and [[Tbilisi]]. Joel, his family (including young daughter Alexa), and his full touring band made the trip in July 1987.<ref name=":0"/> The entourage was filmed for television and video to offset the cost of the trip, and the concerts were simulcast on radio around the world. Joel's Russian tour was the first live rock radio broadcast in Soviet history.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.hewlettanderson.com/bio.html|title=Pete Hewlett| last=Hewlett| first=Anderson| website=Hewlett Anderson: Bios| access-date=July 11, 2020| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082859/http://www.hewlettanderson.com/bio.html| archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> The tour was later cited frequently as one of the first fully staged pop rock shows to come to the Soviet Union, although in reality other artists had previously toured in the country<!-- not a stadium shows! -->, including Elton John, [[James Taylor]] and [[Bonnie Raitt]].<ref name="Rocked the USSR">{{cite magazine| title=Billy Joel rocked the USSR in 1987| url=https://ew.com/article/1996/08/09/billy-joel-rocked-ussr-1987/| first=Michael| last=Sauter| date=August 9, 1996| magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| access-date=December 14, 2019| archive-date=December 14, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214073359/https://ew.com/article/1996/08/09/billy-joel-rocked-ussr-1987/| url-status=live}}</ref>

Most of that audience took a long while to warm up to Joel's energetic show, something that had never happened in other countries he had performed in. According to Joel, each time the fans were hit with the bright lights, anybody who seemed to be enjoying themselves froze. In addition, people who were "overreacting" were removed by security.<ref name=SeattelWeekly>{{cite web |title=Letters to the Editor |date=November 14, 2007 |url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-11-14/news/letters-to-the-editor.php?page=full |newspaper=[[Seattle Weekly]] |access-date=December 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117165213/http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-11-14/news/letters-to-the-editor.php?page=full |archive-date=January 17, 2008}}</ref> During this concert Joel, enraged by the bright lights, flipped his electric piano and snapped a microphone stand while continuing to sing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-27-mn-4135-story.html |title=Billy Joel Blows His Cool, Upsets Piano in Moscow |agency=Associated Press |date=July 27, 1987 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206022907/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-27/news/mn-4135_1_billy-joel |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web| url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/bjxq74/30-years-ago-billy-joel-had-a-meltdown-in-moscow| title=30 Years Ago, Billy Joel Had a Meltdown in Moscow| last=Ozzi| first=Dan| date=July 27, 2017| magazine=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]| language=en-US| access-date=May 6, 2019| archive-date=May 6, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506231555/https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/bjxq74/30-years-ago-billy-joel-had-a-meltdown-in-moscow| url-status=live}}</ref> He later apologized for the incident.<ref name=":0" />

The album ''[[Kontsert|КОНЦЕРТ]]'' (Russian for "Concert") was released in October 1987. Singer Pete Hewlett was brought in to hit the high notes on his most vocally challenging songs, like "An Innocent Man". Joel also did versions of the Beatles' classic "[[Back in the U.S.S.R.]]" and [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[The Times They Are a-Changin' (song)|The Times They Are a-Changin]]". It has been estimated that Joel lost more than US$1&nbsp;million of his own money on the trip and concerts, but he has said the goodwill he was shown there was well worth it.<ref name="unauthorized" />

===1988–1993: ''Storm Front'' and ''River of Dreams'' ===
The animated film ''[[Oliver & Company]]'' (1988) features Joel in a rare [[voice acting]] role as Dodger, a sarcastic [[Jack Russell Terrier|Jack Russell]] based on [[Dickens]]'s [[Artful Dodger]]. The character's design is based on Joel's image at the time, including his trademark Wayfarer sunglasses. Joel also sang his character's song "Why Should I Worry?".

The recording of ''[[Storm Front (album)|Storm Front]]'', which commenced in 1988, coincided with major changes in Joel's career and inaugurated a period of serious upheaval in his business affairs. In August 1989, just before the album was released, Joel dismissed his manager (and former brother-in-law) Frank Weber after an audit revealed major discrepancies in Weber's accounting. Joel subsequently sued Weber for US$90&nbsp;million, claiming fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, and in January 1990, Joel was awarded US$2&nbsp;million in a partial judgment against Weber; in April, the court dismissed a US$30&nbsp;million countersuit filed by Weber.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pore-Lee-Dunn Productions |url=http://www.classicbands.com/joel.html |title=Billy Joel |publisher=Classicbands.com |date=February 4, 2007 |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918190851/http://classicbands.com/joel.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first single for the album, "[[We Didn't Start the Fire]]", was released in September 1989 and it became Joel's third—and most recent—US number-one hit, spending two weeks at the top. ''Storm Front'' was released in October, and it eventually became Joel's first number-one album since ''Glass Houses'', nine years earlier. ''Storm Front'' was Joel's first album since ''Turnstiles'' to be recorded without Phil Ramone as producer. For this album, he wanted a new sound, and worked with [[Mick Jones (Foreigner)|Mick Jones]] of [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]]. Joel is also credited as one of the keyboard players on Jones's 1988 self-titled solo album, and is featured in the official video for Jones's single "Just Wanna Hold"; Joel can be seen playing the piano while his then-wife Christie Brinkley joins him and kisses him. Joel also revamped his backing band, dismissing everyone but drummer [[Liberty DeVitto]], guitarist David Brown, and saxophone player [[Mark Rivera]], and bringing in new faces, including multi-instrumentalist [[Crystal Taliefero]].

''Storm Front''{{'s}} second single, "[[I Go to Extremes]]" reached No. 6 in early 1990. The album was also notable for its song "[[Leningrad (song)|Leningrad]]", written after Joel met a clown in the Soviet city of that name during his tour in 1987, and "[[The Downeaster Alexa]]", written to underscore the plight of fishermen on Long Island who are barely able to make ends meet. Another well-known single from the album is the ballad "[[And So It Goes]]" (No. 37 in late 1990). The song was originally written in 1983, around the time Joel was writing songs for ''An Innocent Man''; but "And So It Goes" did not fit that album's retro theme, so it was held back until ''Storm Front''. Joel said in a 1996 Masterclass session in Pittsburgh that ''Storm Front'' was a turbulent album and that "And So It Goes", as the last song on the album, portrayed the calm and tranquility that often follows a violent thunderstorm.

In the summer of 1992, Joel filed a US$90&nbsp;million lawsuit against his former lawyer Allen Grubman, alleging a wide range of offenses including fraud, breach of fiduciary responsibility, malpractice and breach of contract.<ref>{{cite news |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/24/business/billy-joel-takes-his-lawyers-to-court.html |title=Billy Joel takes his lawyers to court |work=The New York Times |date=September 24, 1992 |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-date=November 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128114750/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/24/business/billy-joel-takes-his-lawyers-to-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The case was settled out of court in the fall of 1993 for US$3&nbsp;million paid to Joel by third party [[Sony Corporation of America|Sony America]], to protect its subsidiary [[Sony Music]]'s interests, as it had several other artists also using Grubman's law firm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cityfile.com/profiles/billy-joel |title=Profiles&nbsp;– Billy Joel |publisher=CityFile.com |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724010023/http://cityfile.com/profiles/billy-joel |archive-date=July 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; A Tangled Tale of a Suit, A Lawyer and Billy Joel|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/03/business/the-media-business-a-tangled-tale-of-a-suit-a-lawyer-and-billy-joel.html|work=The New York Times |date=May 3, 1995 |access-date=April 17, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140103105348/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/03/business/the-media-business-a-tangled-tale-of-a-suit-a-lawyer-and-billy-joel.html|archive-date= January 3, 2014}}</ref>

In 1992, Joel inducted the R&B duo [[Sam & Dave]] into the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]]. That year, Joel also started work on ''[[River of Dreams]]'', finishing the album in early 1993. Its cover art was a colorful painting by [[Christie Brinkley]] that was a series of scenes from each of the songs on the album. The [[The River of Dreams|eponymous first single]] was the last top 10 hit Joel has penned to date, reaching No. 3 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} Hot 100 and ranking at No. 21 on the 1993 year-end chart. In addition to the title track, the album includes the hits "[[All About Soul]]" (with [[Color Me Badd]] on backing vocals) and "[[Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)]]", written for his daughter, [[Alexa Ray Joel|Alexa]]. A radio remix version of "All About Soul" can be found on ''[[The Essential Billy Joel]]'' (2001), and a demo version appears on ''My Lives'' (2005).

The song "The Great Wall of China" was written about his ex-manager Frank Weber and was a regular in the setlist for Joel's 2006 tour. "2000 Years" was prominent in the millennium concert at [[Madison Square Garden]], December 31, 1999, and "Famous Last Words" closed the book on Joel's pop songwriting for more than a decade.

===1994–2013: Touring and new singles===
[[File:Billy Joel 1994.jpg|thumb|Joel performing in June 1994]]
Beginning in 1994, Joel toured extensively with [[Elton John]] on a series of "Face to Face" tours, making them the longest running and most successful concert tandem in pop music history.<ref>[http://tampabay.metromix.com/music/concert/billy-joel-and-elton-downtown-area/808679/content Concerts: Billy Joel & Elton John] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115042336/http://tampabay.metromix.com/music/concert/billy-joel-and-elton-downtown-area/808679/content |date=January 15, 2009 }}. tampabay.metromix.com. Retrieved December 8, 2008.</ref> During these shows, the two played their own songs, sang each other's songs, and performed duets. They grossed over US$46&nbsp;million in just 24 dates in their sold out<ref name=livedaily>Evans, Rob (December 2, 2008). "[http://www.livedaily.com/news/15308.html Elton John, Billy Joel plan more 'Face 2 Face' time] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206101418/http://www.livedaily.com/news/15308.html |date=December 6, 2008 }}". [[LiveDaily]]. Retrieved December 8, 2008.</ref> 2003 tour. Joel and John resumed their Face to Face tour in March 2009<ref name=livedaily /> and it continued until March 2010, where it ended in [[Albany, New York]], at the [[Times Union Center]]. In February 2010, Joel denied rumors in the trade press that he canceled a summer 2010 leg of the tour, claiming there were never any dates booked and that he intended to take the year off.<ref>[http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2010/02/billy_joel_there_was_never_a_t.html Billy Joel: "There Was Never a Tour Booked This Summer!"]. ''Chicago Sun-Times''. Retrieved March 10, 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413210856/http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2010/02/billy_joel_there_was_never_a_t.html |date=April 13, 2010}}</ref> Joel told ''[[Rolling Stone]]'': "We'll probably pick it up again. It's always fun playing with him."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/billy-joel-dismisses-rumors-he-yanked-tour-with-elton-john-20100226|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419054649/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billy-joel-dismisses-rumors-he-yanked-tour-with-elton-john-106507/|archive-date=April 19, 2021|title=Billy Joel Dismisses Rumors He Yanked Tour With Elton John|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=February 26, 2010|access-date=February 16, 2024}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Billy Joel with guitar 1994.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Joel performing in June 1994]]
Joel and Christie Brinkley announced on April 13, 1994, that they had separated, and their divorce was finalized in August 1994. The two remained friends.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/article/2001/04/20/matter-trust-2/|title=A Matter Of Trust|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| first= Eileen|last=Clarke|date= April 20, 2001 |access-date=February 20, 2019|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190220170009/https://ew.com/article/2001/04/20/matter-trust-2/| url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:BILLY7.jpg|thumb|Joel performing at [[Madison Square Garden]], {{Circa|1995}}]]
Joel's ''[[Greatest Hits Volume III (Billy Joel album)|Greatest Hits Volume III]]'' yielded "[[To Make You Feel My Love]]" (a [[Bob Dylan]] cover) and "[[Hey Girl (Freddie Scott song)|Hey Girl]]". During his [[Central Park]] concert in 1997, Joel performed with [[Garth Brooks]], who had reached No. 1 on ''Billboard''{{'s}} country charts in 1991 with a recording of the song "[[Shameless (Billy Joel song)|Shameless]]" from Joel's 1989 album.  Joel was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. [[Ray Charles]] made the induction speech and mentioned the duet Joel wrote for the two of them, "[[Baby Grand]]" (a track on Joel's album ''[[The Bridge (Billy Joel album)|The Bridge]]'' released in 1986).

On December 31, 1999, Joel performed at New York's [[Madison Square Garden]]. At the time, Joel said that it would be his last tour and possibly his last concert. Two of his performances from that night, "[[We Didn't Start the Fire]]" and "[[Scenes from an Italian Restaurant]]" were filmed and featured that night as part of ABC's special New Year's Y2K coverage. The concert (dubbed The Night of the 2000 Years) ran for close to four hours and was later released as ''[[2000 Years: The Millennium Concert]]''.

In 2001, Joel released ''[[Fantasies & Delusions]]'', a collection of classical piano pieces composed by Joel and performed by [[Hyung-ki Joo]]. Joel often uses bits of these pieces as interludes in live performances, and some of them are part of the score for the hit show ''[[Movin' Out (musical)|Movin' Out]]''. The album topped the classical charts at No. 1. Joel performed "New York State of Mind" live on September 21, 2001, as part of the [[America: A Tribute to Heroes]] benefit concert, and on October 20, 2001, along with "[[Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)]]", at [[the Concert for New York City]] in Madison Square Garden. That night, he also performed "[[Your Song]]" with Elton John.

In 2003, Joel inducted [[The Righteous Brothers]] into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, noting that his song "[[Until the Night]]" from the album ''52nd Street'' was a tribute to the duo.

In 2005, Columbia released a box set, ''[[My Lives]]'', which is largely a compilation of demos, b-sides, live/alternative versions, and even a few Top 40 hits. The compilation also includes the software that permits people to remix "Zanzibar" and a live version of "I Go to Extremes" with their PC. A DVD of a show from the ''River of Dreams'' tour is included.

On January 7, 2006, Joel began a tour across the U.S. Having not released any new songs in 13 years, he featured a sampling of songs from throughout his career, including major hits as well as deep cuts like "Zanzibar" and "[[All for Leyna]]". His tour included an unprecedented 12 sold-out concerts over several months at Madison Square Garden. The singer's stint of 12 shows at Madison Square Garden broke a previous record set by [[Bruce Springsteen]], who played 10 sold-out shows at the same arena. The record earned Joel the first retired number (12) in the arena owned by a non-athlete. This honor has also been given to Joel at the [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]] (formerly the Wachovia Center) in [[Philadelphia]], where a banner in the colors of the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] is hung honoring Joel's 48 sold-out Philadelphia shows. On June 13, 2006, Columbia released ''[[12 Gardens Live]]'', a double album containing 32 live recordings from a collection of the 12 different shows at Madison Square Garden during Joel's 2006 tour.

Joel visited the United Kingdom and Ireland for the first time in many years as part of the European leg of his 2006 tour. On July 31, 2006, he performed a free concert in [[Rome]], with the [[Colosseum]] as the backdrop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/joel-and-adams-in-free-rome-concert-270269.html|title=Joel and Adams in free Rome concert|date=August 1, 2006|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202055650/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/joel-and-adams-in-free-rome-concert-270269.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Joel toured South Africa, Australia, Japan and Hawaii in late 2006, and subsequently toured the Southeastern U.S. in February and March 2007 before hitting the Midwest in the spring of 2007. A new song, titled "[[All My Life (Billy Joel song)|All My Life]]", was Joel's newest single (with second track "[[You're My Home (song)|You're My Home]]", live from Madison Square Garden 2006 tour) and was released in stores on February 27, 2007.<ref>Cohen, Jonathan (January 30, 2007).{{cite magazine |url=https://billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003539391 |title=Bily Joel Returns To Pop With New Single |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012145708/http://billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003539391 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}. ''Billboard''. Archived from the [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1055567/billy-joel-returns-to-pop-with-new-single original] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819204017/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1055567/billy-joel-returns-to-pop-with-new-single |date=August 19, 2020 }} on October 12, 2007.</ref> On February 4, Joel sang the national anthem for [[Super Bowl XLI]], becoming the second to sing the national anthem twice at a [[Super Bowl]], after [[Aaron Neville]].

[[File:BillyJoel.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Joel performing in [[Jacksonville, Florida]] in February 2007]]
On December 1, 2007, Joel premiered his new song "[[Christmas in Fallujah]]".<ref>{{cite press release| date= November 30, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080207165801/http://www.billyjoel.com/pressrelease_fallujah.html | archive-date=February 7, 2008 |title=Emerging Singer-Songwriter Cass Dillon Premiers New Billy Joel Song, 'Christmas in Fallujah', Exclusively on iTunes Beginning Tuesday, December 4| website= billyjoel.com| publisher= Billy Joel| url= http://www.billyjoel.com/pressrelease_fallujah.html }}</ref> The song was performed by [[Cass Dillon]], a new Long Island based musician, as Joel felt it should be sung by someone in a soldier's age range (though he himself has played the song occasionally in concert.) The track was dedicated to servicemen based in Iraq. Joel wrote it in September 2007 after reading numerous letters sent to him from American soldiers in Iraq. "Christmas in Fallujah" is only the second pop/rock song released by Joel since 1993's ''River of Dreams''. Proceeds from the song benefited the Homes For Our Troops foundation.

On January 26, 2008, Joel performed with the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]] celebrating the 151st anniversary of the [[Academy of Music (Philadelphia)|Academy of Music]]. Joel performed his classical piece "Waltz No. 2 (Steinway Hall)" from ''Fantasies & Delusions'', arranged by [[Brad Ellis]]. He also played many of his less well-known pieces, with full orchestral backing arranged by Mr. Ellis, including the rarely performed ''Nylon Curtain'' songs "Scandinavian Skies" and "Where's the Orchestra?".

On March 10, 2008, Joel inducted his friend [[John Mellencamp]] into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Joel sold out 10 concerts at the [[Mohegan Sun Casino]] in [[Uncasville, Connecticut]] from May to July 2008. The casino honored him with a banner displaying his name and the number 10 to hang in the arena. On June 19, 2008, he played a concert at the grand re-opening of [[Caesars Windsor]] (formerly Casino Windsor) in [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], Ontario, Canada, to an invite-only crowd for Casino VIPs. His mood was light and joke-filled, even introducing himself as "Billy Joel's dad" and stating "you guys overpaid to see a fat bald guy". He also admitted that Canadian folk-pop musician [[Gordon Lightfoot]] was the musical inspiration for "She's Always A Woman".<ref>{{cite news| work= [[The Windsor Star]]| title= Billy Joel (notes)| date= June 20, 2008}}</ref>{{failed verification| date= October 2012}}

[[File:WellsFargoCenterPhila 08.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|A banner at [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]] in [[Philadelphia]], commemorating Joel's 48 consecutive sold-out concerts at the Philadelphia venue as of 2008]]
On July 16 and 18, 2008, Joel played the final concerts at [[Shea Stadium]] before its demolition. His guests included [[Tony Bennett]], [[Don Henley]], [[John Mayer]], [[John Mellencamp]], [[Steven Tyler]], [[Roger Daltrey]], [[Garth Brooks]] and [[Paul McCartney]]. The concerts were featured in the 2010 documentary film ''[[Last Play at Shea]]''. The film was released on DVD on February 8, 2011. The CD and DVD of the show, ''[[Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert|Live at Shea Stadium]]'', were released on March 8, 2011.

On December 11, 2008, Joel recorded his own rendition of "Christmas in Fallujah" during a concert at [[Acer Arena]] in Sydney and released it as a live single in Australia only. It is the only official release of Joel performing "Christmas in Fallujah", as Cass Dillon sang on the 2007 studio recording and the handful of times the song was played live in 2007. Joel sang the song throughout his December 2008 tour of Australia.

On May 19, 2009, Joel's former drummer, [[Liberty DeVitto]], filed a lawsuit in NYC claiming Joel and Sony Music owed DeVitto over 10 years of royalty payments. DeVitto had never been given songwriting or arranging credit on any of Joel's songs, but he claimed that he helped arrange some of them, including "Only the Good Die Young".<ref name="Joel's Former Drummer Sues for Payments">{{cite web |url= http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2009/05/billy-joels-former-drummer-to-file-lawsuit.html |title=Billy Joel's Former Drummer Files Lawsuit, Liberty DeVitto Says He's Owed $$$ |first=Mal |last=Westerly |publisher=MusicNewsNet.com |date=May 24, 2009 |access-date=May 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615234343/http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2009/05/billy-joels-former-drummer-to-file-lawsuit.html |archive-date=June 15, 2009 }}</ref> In April 2010, it was announced that Joel and DeVitto amicably resolved the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2010/04/billy-joel-and-former-drummer-liberty-devitto-settle-lawsuit.html |title=Billy Joel and Former Drummer, Liberty Devitto Settle Lawsuit |publisher=MusicNewsNet.com |date=April 22, 2010 |access-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100427084650/http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2010/04/billy-joel-and-former-drummer-liberty-devitto-settle-lawsuit.html |archive-date=April 27, 2010 }}</ref>

2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of Joel's debut album, ''[[Cold Spring Harbor (album)|Cold Spring Harbor]].'' According to Joel's official website, to commemorate this anniversary, Columbia/Legacy Recordings originally planned "to celebrate the occasion with a definitive reissue project of newly restored and expanded Legacy editions of Joel's complete catalog, newly curated collections of rarities from the vaults, previously unavailable studio tracks and live performances, home video releases and more", although this never fully came to fruition.<ref name="Billy Joel's Website">{{cite press release |url= http://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joel-catalog-be-reissued-commemorative-cdsdvds-be-released |title= Billy Joel Catalog To Be Reissued, Commemorative CDs/DVDs To Be Released |work= billyjoel.com |date= October 20, 2010 |access-date= August 19, 2011 |archive-date= August 22, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110822150441/http://www.billyjoel.com/news/billy-joel-catalog-be-reissued-commemorative-cdsdvds-be-released |url-status= live }}</ref> ''[[Piano Man (Billy Joel album)|Piano Man]]'' was re-released in a two-disc Legacy edition in November 2011.<ref name="Billy Joel's Website" />

In 2012, Joel signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with [[Universal Music Publishing Group]] (UMPG), and its subsidiary Rondor Music International. Under the agreement, UMPG and Rondor replaced EMI Music Publishing in handling Joel's catalog outside the US. Additionally, the agreement marked the first time since Joel regained control of his publishing rights in the 1980s that he began to use an administrator to handle his catalog within the U.S. The agreement's focus is on increasing the use of Joel's music in movies, television programs and commercials.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Christman|first1=Ed|title=Exclusive: Billy Joel Signs Global Publishing Deal With Rondor and Universal|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/publishing/1083985/exclusive-billy-joel-signs-global-publishing-deal-with-rondor|access-date=July 17, 2015|magazine=Billboard|date=August 30, 2012|archive-date=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715111437/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/publishing/1083985/exclusive-billy-joel-signs-global-publishing-deal-with-rondor|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 12, 2012, Joel performed as part of [[12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief]] at [[Madison Square Garden]], a concert held for all the victims of [[Hurricane Sandy]]. He changed the lyrics to "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" to make it relate to all the damage caused by Sandy.

In May 2013, it was announced that Joel would hold his first ever indoor Irish concert at the [[The O2, Dublin|O<sub>2</sub>]] in Dublin on November 1. He subsequently announced his return to the UK for the first time in seven years to perform in October and November. Joel played in [[Manchester]] and [[Birmingham]] as well as London's [[Hammersmith Apollo]].<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London, England | date=November 7, 2013 | page=36 | title=Billy Joel delivers a knock-out show | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108245778/bill-joel-2013-london-birmingham/ | access-date=August 24, 2022 | archive-date=August 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824205518/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108245778/bill-joel-2013-london-birmingham/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | location=London, England | date=October 25, 2013 | page=33 | title=Piano Man remains as proudly unhip as ever | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108245889/billy-joel-2013-manchester/ | access-date=August 24, 2022 | archive-date=August 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824205508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108245889/billy-joel-2013-manchester/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In October, Joel held a surprise concert on Long Island at The Paramount ([[Huntington, New York]]) to benefit Long Island Cares. The venue holds a capacity of 1,555 and sold out in five minutes. Joel headlined a solo arena concert in New York City for the first time since 2006 when he performed at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on December 31, 2013.

=== 2014–present: Madison Square Garden residency and "Turn the Lights Back On" ===
Joel announced a concert residency at Madison Square Garden, playing one concert a month indefinitely, starting January 27, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/12/03/billy-joel-will-be-first-music-franchise-at-madison-square-garden/3769651/ |work=USA Today |title=Meet Madison Square Garden's new franchise: Billy Joel |first=Elysa |last=Gardner |date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2017 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003135127/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/12/03/billy-joel-will-be-first-music-franchise-at-madison-square-garden/3769651/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first MSG show also launched the [[Billy Joel in Concert]] tour, which continued at the [[Amway Center]] (in [[Orlando, Florida]]) where Joel performed several cover songs such as Elton John's "[[Your Song]]", [[Billy Preston]]'s "[[You Are So Beautiful]]" (in tribute to [[Joe Cocker]]), the Beatles' "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]", "[[Can't Buy Me Love]]" and "[[When I'm 64]]", [[Robert Burns]]' "[[Auld Lang Syne]]" and [[AC/DC]]'s "[[You Shook Me All Night Long]]" (with [[Brian Johnson]]). Joel also performed an unusual set, including the song "Souvenir" (from 1974's ''[[Streetlife Serenade]]'') and excluding "[[We Didn't Start the Fire]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billyjoel.com/photos/live/billy-joel-amway-center-orlando-fl-december-31-2014-photo-1 |title=Billy Joel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724210312/http://www.billyjoel.com/photos/live/billy-joel-amway-center-orlando-fl-december-31-2014-photo-1 |archive-date=July 24, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:BillyJoel2016MSG.jpg|thumb|Joel performing at Madison Square Garden in April 2016]]
In 2015, Joel performed 21 concerts in addition to his monthly Madison Square Garden residency. His August 4, 2015, engagement at [[Nassau Coliseum]] was the final concert prior to the arena undergoing a US$261&nbsp;million renovation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel/billy-joel-gives-nassau-coliseum-epic-sendoff-1.10709635 |title=Billy Joel gives Nassau Coliseum epic sendoff |work=Newsday |access-date=August 7, 2015 |archive-date=August 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807165931/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel/billy-joel-gives-nassau-coliseum-epic-sendoff-1.10709635 |url-status=live }}</ref> Joel returned to Nassau Coliseum on April 5, 2017, to play the first concert at the newly renovated venue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7751694/billy-joel-nassau-coliseum-opening-concert-recap |title=Movin' Back In: Billy Joel Plays First Concert at Renovated Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island |magazine=Billboard |date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127121946/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7751694/billy-joel-nassau-coliseum-opening-concert-recap |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that month, he played the first concert at [[Atlanta]]'s new [[SunTrust Park]], the suburban home of the [[Atlanta Braves]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/music/billy-joel-show-prompts-mixed-reviews-suntrust-park-concert-venue/oYatfsTSTWu4gVDcvG719M/ |title=Billy Joel show prompts mixed reviews of SunTrust Park as concert venue |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901220924/https://www.ajc.com/blog/music/billy-joel-show-prompts-mixed-reviews-suntrust-park-concert-venue/oYatfsTSTWu4gVDcvG719M/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 24, 2017, he returned to Hicksville High School fifty years after his would-be graduating class received their diplomas,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel/fifty-years-later-billy-joel-to-address-hicksville-high-grads-1.13759575 |work=Newsday |title=Fifty years later, Billy Joel addresses Hicksville High grads |access-date=June 28, 2017 |archive-date=June 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627032010/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/billy-joel/fifty-years-later-billy-joel-to-address-hicksville-high-grads-1.13759575 |url-status=live }}</ref> to deliver the honorary commencement address. It was also the 25th anniversary of receiving his own diploma from the same high school.

[[File:PSX 20190119 094326.jpg|thumb|Joel at Madison Square Garden in June 2019]]
In 2019, Joel announced a concert at [[Camden Yards]], home of the [[Baltimore Orioles]], marking the first-ever concert at the baseball stadium.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-camden-yards-concert-20190109-story.html| title=Billy Joel to hold first concert in Camden Yards history| newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]| date=January 10, 2019| access-date=January 11, 2019| archive-date=January 12, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112145944/https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-camden-yards-concert-20190109-story.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Joel was forced to postpone his concerts between March 2020 and August 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

Joel and [[Stevie Nicks]] jointly announced plans to perform a series of concerts across the United States in 2023, tentatively beginning with [[SoFi Stadium]] outside Los Angeles on March 10.<ref name="joelnicks">{{cite magazine | last=Bowenbank | first=Starr | title=Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks to Co-Headline 2023 Stadium Concerts: How to Buy Tickets | magazine=Billboard | date=November 11, 2022 | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billy-joel-stevie-nicks-coheadline-2023-concerts-1235165641/ | access-date=November 23, 2022 | archive-date=November 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123231002/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billy-joel-stevie-nicks-coheadline-2023-concerts-1235165641/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:BillyJoelHydeP070723 (64 of 112) (53032270931).jpg|thumb|Joel performing at a [[British Summer Time (concerts)|British Summer Time]] concert in [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] in July 2023]]
On June 1, 2023, Joel announced that his residency at Madison Square Garden would end in July 2024 with his 104th performance in the series, marking his 150th lifetime performance at the venue.<ref name="Sisario2023">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/arts/music/billy-joel-ending-msg-residency.html|title=Billy Joel Will End Madison Square Garden Residency in 2024|last=Sisario|first=Ben|work=The New York Times|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=June 1, 2023|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601161044/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/arts/music/billy-joel-ending-msg-residency.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 22, 2024, he announced his first new pop single in years (and only his second pop song in more than two decades), "[[Turn the Lights Back On]]", which was released on February 1.<ref name="lights">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/billy-joel-first-new-song-in-years-turn-the-lights-back-on-1235585987/ |magazine=Billboard |title=Billy Joel to Release First Pop Single in Years |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=January 22, 2024 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-date=January 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240122190842/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/billy-joel-first-new-song-in-years-turn-the-lights-back-on-1235585987/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RCM 2024">{{cite web |title=New Billy Joel: Stream "Turn the Lights Back On," His First New Song in Decades — Playing the Grammys Sunday, Feb. 4 |date=February 2024 |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/billy-joel-turn-the-lights-back-on-new-song-listen/ |access-date=February 1, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202205931/https://rockcellarmagazine.com/billy-joel-turn-the-lights-back-on-new-song-listen/ |url-status=live }}</ref>