Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Volume 3: The Video

The Piano Man pores over his snapshots

Commentary tracks on music DVD collections are becoming more commonplace, but in the dusty old days of VHS it was relatively rare for the artist to be filmed introducing each song and explaining its origins and motives. Joel, however, one the most articulate and charming musos you could ever wish to meet, relished the opportunity on this compilation, which first appeared in 1998.

Self-effacing as ever, he’s almost apologetic when linking Leningrad and We Didn’t Start The Fire to his long-standing obsession with the Cold War, or describing I Go To Extremes as “an ode to manic depression”. His contention that the bombastic Shameless has its roots in the Jimi Hendrix hit Hey Joe may raise an eyebrow, even among his most devoted fans.

The videos themselves, it has to be said, are nothing special, typical of the soft focus fodder on heavy rotation on VH-1 over the last 25 years, but the singer’s insights and the wit with which he relays them are constantly surprising.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Columbia | COL 2019789

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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