• Billy Joel

  • The Definitive Biography
  • By: Fred Schruers
  • Narrated by: Kirk Thornton
  • Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (350 ratings)

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Billy Joel  By  cover art

Billy Joel

By: Fred Schruers
Narrated by: Kirk Thornton
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Publisher's summary

The all-access biography and unprecedented look at the life, career, and legacy of a pint-sized kid from Long Island who became a music legend.

Exhibiting unparalleled intimate knowledge, Schruers chronicles Joel’s rise to the top of the charts, from his working-class origins in Levittown and early days spent in boxing rings and sweaty clubs to his monumental success in the seventies and eighties. He also explores Joel’s creative transformation in the nineties, his dream performance with Paul McCartney at Shea Stadium in 2008, and beyond.

Along the way, Schruers reveals the stories behind all the key events and relationships—including Joel’s high-profile marriages and legal battles—that defined his path to stardom and inspired his signature songs, such as “Piano Man,” “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “New York State of Mind,” and “She’s Always a Woman.” Throughout, he captures the spirit of a restless artist determined to break through by sharing, in his deeply personal lyrics, the dreams and heartbreaks of suburban American life.

Comprehensive, vibrantly written, and filled with Joel’s memories and reflections—as well as those of the family, friends, and band members who have formed his inner circle, including Christie Brinkley, Alexa Ray Joel, Jon Small, and Steve Cohen—this is the definitive account of a beloved rock star’s epic American journey.

©2014 Fred Schruers (P)2014 Billy Joel

Critic reviews

"If you call yourself a Joel fan, you'll be reading this." –Newsday

"Schruers clearly realizes he has gold in his interviews with Joel, his friends, paramours and confidants... [He delivers] insights on individual songs that will surprise even the most studied Joel fan.... [and] has given us the most complete look at Joel’s life and career to date." –Dallas Morning News

[Billy Joel] not only lives up to its subtitle, but has the strengths of both an autobiography and biography.... [It] will likely end up as the most complete tome on the Bard of Long Island, with the most access to its subject." –Houston Press

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What listeners say about Billy Joel

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Fawning but likeable bio

What did you like best about Billy Joel? What did you like least?

This bio has much to love and hate, which seems to mirror the often dichotomous opinion people (or music critics) have of the Piano Man. Schruers covers all the bases of Joel's life from his ancestors hegira from Nazi Germany, to his early days on Long Island, through pop stardom and later touring years. As might be expected from Schruers somewhat abbreviated treatment, each episode is covered in an almost cursory way with little time for in depth exploration of Joel's musical influences, cultural context, or critical interpretation. The hits, loves, tribulations, drug and alcohol abuse just breeze by and readers hoping for critical analysis or even behind the scenes details may come away disappointed. Nevertheless, Billy Joel has its pluses. Schruers notes in his sources the hundred+ hours of interviews and access Joel gave him; add to this the interviews with others in Joel's entourage plus voluminous research and what you get is a book that brims with quotes for every occasion that often illuminates Joel's personality and humor. But therein also lies the problem. One gets the sense that this is less a biography than ghostwritten autobiography and Schruers' access may have come at the price of a reluctance to delve with any depth or criticism into the darker aspects of Joel's life. The end result is a sympathetic, almost fawning bio that will neither offend nor illuminate but should appeal to those interested in a quick, breezy read and whose curiosity about the Piano Man would be satisfied with a Joel on Joel treatment.

What about Kirk Thornton’s performance did you like?

I quite enjoyed the narration, particularly Thornton's stabs at imitating Elton John, Keith Richards and other musicians. That aside, the narration is jaunty and befits the material.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

It' s Ok but not what I expected

Pros - I liked hearing about information regarding Billy as like most artists, they have an interesting story to tell. There were some good stories regarding his relationships that included Paul McCartney and Elton John.

Cons- It was hard listening to the narrator. He was doing character impressions which I found hard to listen to. If you tell me that you're quoting a female I do not need to hear your voice go up two octaves when quoting them. The last two memoirs I listen to were read by the artists (Rick Springfield and Heart) and were fantastic.

Overall, I would recommend this book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

The reason I play piano

Would you try another book from Fred Schruers and/or Kirk Thornton?

Probably not, the voice of Billy Joel and others were just not believable

Would you recommend Billy Joel to your friends? Why or why not?

No, because of the narration

How could the performance have been better?

Better voice for Billy Joel specifically

Could you see Billy Joel being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No... but if they did they would hire someone who is an addict in denial..Maybe Charlie Sheen.

Any additional comments?

Man, Oh Man was I disappointed in Billy Joel...my hero who was the reason I started playing piano is an ass who needs to get serious about recovery..He seems to be his own God, and as a God, what a let down...He's got serious problems with drinking, and women less than half his age....To me this goes to show what kind of human he is...He may be a master songwriter and musician but as a human being he is an egomaniac

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this audible biography of Billy Joel

Great audible biography of Billy Joel. having grown up in Massapequa class of 65' ,and lived on LI most of my life, now in Fort Myers, Fl., I can relate to Billy's life in Hicksville ! My only regret is I wish I could have been a friend ,he was a good person surrounded by money hungry people!! Thank you Billy for sharing your life!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great for any Joel fan

If you are a Billy Joel fan, this is spectacular! I thoroughly enjoyed it and even thought the narrator sounded a little like him at times.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

More like a soap opera than a rockstar's biography

How lovely to hear about Billy's love-life, time after time. Would much prefer to learn about his journey as a rockstar. Oh, but then I remember, he wasn't one.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very well - rounded bio

Thoroughly enjoyed this Book. The story flowed extremely well, and really didn’t miss very many aspects of Billy‘s life or career. Thought it was essential that there were as many quotes from Billy, Christie, the rest of his wives, and those that were close to him. In fact, there were enough quotes from Billy that it almost made you wish he had taken the time to do the book himself. The narrator is good – I give him extra credit for pulling off effective British accents when imitating Elton John, Paul McCartney and Mick Jones – but there were times that his variance of voice to quote Billy directly seemed off-kilter. Overall, I highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The story. I grew up listening to Billy Joel. Love all the music.

I dove into this not knowing what to expect. I come with a deeper understanding of the artist and the man, that I have followed all my life.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Billy deserved better

Very pedestrian bio of Billy. Very little new information and almost zero insight on what makes Billy tick. Lots of quotes from other publications that every Billy fan already knew. Albums are mentioned in passing and songs are often quoted with wrong lyrics. “Piano sounds like a carnivore”? Are you kidding me??? It’s the author is deaf or too lazy to look at a lyric sheet. Very disappointing.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Nothing special!

Another music biography with recycled stories and very little new insight into the artist. It came off trying to be a fan tribute more than anything else.

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